The Signal: Spring '18 No. 3

Page 1

Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLVIII, No. 3

February 7, 2018

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Yearbook’s fate sealed By Elizabeth Zakaim News Editor

Members of this year’s graduating class will leave the College with their diplomas, senior portraits and four years of education under their belts, but one memento of their time at the College will be missing –– yearbooks. Due to low demand and a lack of incoming leadership, the College’s yearbook club, The Seal, is no longer an active organization on campus. The Seal’s editor-in-chief during her junior and senior years, Angela Arguson (’17), could not find a successor to lead the club before she graduated. Ziyi Wang, president of the Student Finance Board and a senior marketing major, said the club has also been in debt for years. The College is not the only school that said goodbye to its yearbook in recent years. In the past decade, there has been a decline in the production of college yearbooks nationwide, according to David Chappell, the College Media Association’s yearbook committee chairman and professor of media and journalism at Northwest Missouri State University. Schools like Towson University in Maryland published its last yearbook in 2009, and the University of Maryland printed its last copy in 1986, according to a 2016 Baltimore Sun article. Chappell pointed out that this trend is specific to colleges, not high schools. The culture in high schools, where there are fewer students who are also familiar with each other, is vastly see CLASS page 2

Minhaj fights hate with humor

New Wi-Fi system to replace TCNJ-DOT1X By Jesse Stiller Correspondent

and the Muslim Student Association on Friday, Feb. 2. Touching on timely political issues, Minhaj’s set intertwined current events with a running commentary of his experiences as a Muslim-American. The crowd roared with laughter and applauded as Minhaj talked about his

The College’s Wi-Fi network will complete its long-awaited makeover this semester with hopes of a more reliable and optimized experience for students and guests. The new user-friendly service, known as “Eduroam,” will replace the current TCNJ-DOT1X system in late February. Just before winter break, the College’s Department of Information Technology sent an email notifying the campus community of the nearly completed project and its planned implementation. “The infrastructure has been evolving for two years, so it’s been a really big project,” said Chief Information Officer and Vice President for Information Technology Sharon Blanton. The plan was greenlit and fully funded for some time, but had trouble getting off the ground for implementation until recently. The new plan will add wireless access points and upgrade existing points on campus, increasing reliability of connecting to the WiFi regardless of a user’s location on campus. Blanton said that the new network also aims to optimize the current outdated system for a faster and more reliable one, and increase bandwidth around campus so that students and faculty do not have to worry about shoddy

see CROWD page 16

see TECH page 4

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

Minhaj shares his journey to fame as a Muslim-American.

Gianna Melillo Copy Editor

Touching on topics like immigration, the refugee crisis, terrorism and racism, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” correspondent Hasan Minhaj graced his audience in Kendall Hall with a politically charged comedy show co-hosted by the College Union Board

College renovates Student Health Services By Ariel Steinsaltz Staff Writer

This past summer, the College had the offices of Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services renovated for the first time since they moved into Eickhoff Hall in 1992. “It was kind of dark and things were worn,” said Director of Student Health Services Janice Vermeychuk. “It really needed to be updated.” Costs for health services have not changed. There is no cost for office visits and treatment, and minimal cost for lab tests, vaccines and physicals. Talks of renovations began as early as the fall of 2014, but it was a long process before renovations could begin. At the end of the spring 2017 semester, both offices left their original location in Eickhoff 107 and moved into the basement of Decker Hall for the summer. Both moved back into Eickhoff at the beginning of the current academic year. The renovations were supervised

by the Office of Campus Construction and by Angela Lauer Chong, the Interim Vice President of Student Affairs. However, Vermeychuk and Mark Forest, the director of CAPS and interim assistant vice president for Student Affairs, oversaw most of the details and worked closely with the architects and designers. Several physical changes were made to the offices. The waiting room used to have two separate doors, one for each office, which meant that people could see who had come for medical services and who had come for psychological services. Now, there is only one door, which Forest said will “enhance privacy and confidentiality.” Vermeychuk described the waiting room as “brighter and more modern,” and said that now it looks more like a real doctor’s office. The reception area was also updated. Computers were also installed for future use, according to Vermeychuk. She hopes that they will serve as possible check-in stations or ways to fill

INDEX: Nation & World / page 7

Follow us on... The Signal @tcnjsignal

Editorial / page 8

RECreate Your Night

Photo courtesy of Student Health Services

Vermeychuk describes the waiting room as ‘brighter and more modern.’

out questionnaires or brief surveys needed for SHS and CAPS. Several new rooms were added as well, including two new counseling offices, a group counseling room and a new examination room.

Opinions / page 10

Since students schedule appointments during lunch time, staff members eat in a lounge in Eickhoff and do not go out for lunch. This lounge was updated, and a new emergency exit door was added on the CAPS side of the office

Features / page 13

Bellows and Bows

so that in case of an emergency, students would not have to be taken to the other side of the office. Forest explained that this provides a more efficient flow of patients. see MED page 4

Arts & Entertainment / page 16

Sports / page 24

Women’s Basketball

Students enjoy sober activites

Trio performs a variety of musical pieces

Lions defeat Rowan and Ramapo

See Features page 13

See A&E page 16

See Sports page 24

 page  2  The  Signal  February  7,  2018

Class / The Seal stops production

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

The Seal has been a part of the College for over 100 years. continued from page 1 different than in colleges. “A sense of community disappears,â€? Chappell said. ´<RX¡UH QR ORQJHU LQ D FRQĂ€QHG VSDFH KRXUV D GD\ ²² there’s less of a sense of belonging and the yearbook isn’t as important.â€? The yearbook is dying out across college campuses for more reasons than the lack of a strong sense of community. ´,W¡V D TXLFN Ă€[ IRU XQLYHUVLWLHV ZLWK EXGJHW SUREOHPV Âľ Chappell said. “Yearbooks are not cheap to print.â€? 7KH 6HDO XVXDOO\ VROG WR FRSLHV D \HDU WKRXJK WKHUH DUH DERXW WR JUDGXDWHV LQ HDFK FODVV DFFRUGLQJ WR 'RQQD 6KDZ DGYLVHU RI WKH 7KH 6HDO IRU \HDUV and professor of journalism at the College. Last year, the \HDUERRN VWDUWHG DW IRU WKH HDUO\ SXUFKDVH GLVFRXQW DQG

WKHQ LQFUHDVHG WR E\ WKH HQG RI WKH \HDU 6KDZ LPDJLQHG LW ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ WKH VDPH IRU WKLV \HDU DV ZHOO 6WXGHQWV KDYH IRXQG D OHVV H[SHQVLYH DOWHUQDWLYH WR WKH \HDUERRN WKDW DOVR IXQFWLRQV DV D PRUH FRQYHQLHQW DOWHUQDWLYH ²² VRFLDO PHGLD ´6WXGHQWV WKLQN Âś,¡OO DOZD\V KDYH WKDW FRQQHFWLRQ , don’t need a yearbook for that,’â€? Chappell said. 7KH 6LJQDO FRQGXFWHG D )DFHERRN VXUYH\ WR KHDU IURP VWXGHQWV RI WKLV \HDU¡V JUDGXDWLQJ FODVV 2XW RI SDUWLFLSDQWV SHUFHQW UHSRUWHG WKDW WKH\ ZLVKHG WKH\ KDG D \HDUERRN DV D ZD\ RI UHPHPEHULQJ WKHLU WLPH DW WKH &ROOHJH DQG SHUFHQW VDLG LW ZDV HLWKHU WRR H[SHQVLYH WR ERWKHU SXUFKDVLQJ RU WKDW WKH\¡G UDWKHU NHHS LQ WRXFK ZLWK friends through social media. $UJXVRQ ZKR VWDUWHG ZRUNLQJ DV D OD\RXW HGLWRU IRU 7KH 6HDO GXULQJ KHU VRSKRPRUH \HDU UHFDOOHG KRZ OLWWOH

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9LZPKLU[Z Ă„UK MLJLZ PU KVYT YVVT [YHZO JHU By Brielle Bryan News Editor

Students awake to human feces in their trash can 2Q -DQ DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ S P &DPSXV 3ROLFH ZDV GLVSDWFKHG WR :ROIH +DOO WR VSHDN ZLWK WZR IHPDOH UHVLGHQWV ZKR EHOLHYHG someone came into their room the SUHYLRXV QLJKW DQG GHIHFDWHG LQ WKHLU trash can. 8SRQ DUULYDO &DPSXV 3ROLFH PHW ZLWK WKH WZR IHPDOH UHVLGHQWV DQG D PDOH UHVLGHQW ZKR OLYHG LQ WKH room across from them. The female UHVLGHQWV UHSRUWHG WKDW WKH\ ZHQW WR EHG DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ D P and had left their door unlocked for WKHLU IULHQG WKH PDOH UHVLGHQW ZKR VDLG KH ZRXOG EH VSHQGLQJ WKH QLJKW in their room, according to police reports. They did not detect any foul or strange odors in their room at the WLPH WKH\ ZHQW WR EHG Shortly after the female resiGHQWV ZHQW WR VOHHS WKH PDOH UHVLdent came into the female residents’ URRP DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ D P DQG IHOO DVOHHS ZLWKRXW ORFNLQJ WKH GRRU police said. The male said that at the time of his entry, he did not smell any type of foul odor. :KHQ WKH WKUHH VWXGHQWV DZRNH DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ D P WKH WZR IHPDOH UHVLGHQWV DGYLVHG WKDW WKH\ smelled a foul odor in their room, according to police reports. At that

time, they thought that the male UHVLGHQW ZKR VOHSW RQ WKH Ă RRU could be the cause of the smell. They proceeded to get ready for the day, and all occupants left the URRP DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ D P police said. When the residents returned DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ S P WKH\ QRWLFHG WKDW WKH RGRU ZDV VWURQJHU DQG GHFLGHG WR LQYHVWLgate the room further. They soon found that one of their trash cans ORFDWHG QH[W WR WKHLU GRRU FRQWDLQHG ZKDW WKH\ EHOLHYHG WR EH human feces and urine, police said. They asked the male if he did it, and he said that he had not. The residents then cleaned out the trash can and contacted &DPSXV 3ROLFH WR KDYH D UHSRUW ZULWWHQ DW WKDW WLPH DFFRUGLQJ WR police reports. Campus Police asked the female residents if they had any idea ZKR PLJKW KDYH GRQH LW DQG WKH\ stated that they did not. Campus 3ROLFH DVNHG LI DQ\RQH ZRNH XS to any odd sounds, or if the male noticed anything unusual before KH FDPH LQ DQG WKH\ DOO DGYLVHG they did not. The residents also informed Campus Police that nothing in WKHLU URRP ZDV PLVVLQJ RU RXW RI SODFH &DPSXV 3ROLFH DGYLVHG WKH residents to contact them if they had any further information.

Suspicious males run from Campus Police after assaulting student worker 2Q -DQ &DPSXV 3ROLFH ZDV GLVSDWFKHG WR WKH Student Recreation Center on a report of student assault. Upon DUULYDO &DPSXV 3ROLFH PHW ZLWK D VWXGHQW ZRUNHU ZKR stated that he completHG KLV VKLIW DW S P ZKHQ KH EHJDQ SOD\LQJ EDVNHWEDOO ZLWK D group of males. The male student stated he got LQWR D YHUEDO GLVSXWH ZLWK RQH RI WKH PDOHV DQG ZDV SXQFKHG LQ WKH face, according to police reports. He said he backed off because he IHOW KH ZRXOG JHW LQ WURXEOH LI KH JRW LQWR D ÀJKW +H WKHQ ZHQW WR WKH OREE\ DQG DGYLVHG DQRWKHU ZRUNHU RI ZKDW KDSSHQHG DQG DVNHG KLP to call Campus Police, police said. +H VWDWHG WKDW KH RQO\ ZDQWHG WKH VXVSHFW UHPRYHG DQG GLG QRW ZDQW to press any charges. The male student pointed out WKH VXVSHFW ZKR ZDV VWDQGLQJ RQ the opposite side of the gymnasium ZLWK WZR RWKHU PDOHV SROLFH VDLG All three proceeded to the rear door ZKHQ WKH\ VDZ &DPSXV 3ROLFH DSSURDFK &DPSXV 3ROLFH DGYLVHG WKH males to stop, but all three ran out the door, according to police reports. $ ORFDO EURDGFDVW ZDV SXW RXW JLYLQJ

a description of the suspect and other WZR PDOHV &DPSXV 3ROLFH VHDUFKHG WKH DUHD ZLWK QHJDWLYH UHVXOWV The male student stated that KH EHOLHYHG WKH VXVSHFWV ZHUH QRW VWXGHQWV DW the College, police VDLG :KHQ DVNHG KRZ the suspects entered the Rec Center, he said that KH EHOLHYHG WKDW VRPHone inside opened the rear door to let them in.

GLG QRW NQRZ WKH QDPH RI WKH IUDWHUnity house or the address, according to police reports. She said she became concerned for her friend’s safety and called Campus Police. 7KH &$ DGYLVHG &DPSXV 3ROLFH WKDW KH ZDV LQIRUPHG RI WKH LQWR[Lcated female’s condition by student ZLWQHVVHV DQG WKDW WKH IHPDOH VWXdent’s friend called Campus Police EHIRUH KLV DUULYDO :KHQ VSHDNLQJ ZLWK WKH LQWR[LFDWHG IHPDOH &DPSXV 3ROLFH REVHUYHG WKDW VKH KDG DQ RGRU RI DOFRKROLF EHYHUDJHV HPDQDWLQJ IURP KHU EUHDWK DV ZHOO DV YRPLW FRYHULQJ WKH VLGH RI KHU SDQW OHJ according to police reports. TCNJ EMS stated that the student did not require transport for further medical treatment. The release of mediFDO DWWHQWLRQ IRUP ZDV VLJQHG SRlice said. 3UR VWDII DUULYHG RQ VFHQH DQG spoke to the CA and Campus PoOLFH &DPSXV 3ROLFH DGYLVHG WKH CA and Pro-staff that the student ZRXOG QRW EH FKDUJHG IRU XQGHUDJH GULQNLQJ GXH WR WKH $Pnesty Act, according to police reSRUWV &DPSXV 3ROLFH DGYLVHG KHU WKDW VKH ZRXOG EH KHDULQJ IURP WKH 2IÀFH RI 6WXGHQW &RQGXFW LQ the near future.

Tequila and Svedka vodka mix poorly for student 2Q -DQ DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ S P &DPSXV 3ROLFH ZDV dispatched to the rear of Wolfe +DOO LQ UHIHUHQFH WR D \HDU ROG LQWR[LFDWHG IHPDOH 7&1- 'LVSDWFK DGYLVHG DOO XQLWV WKDW 7&1- (06 DQG D ORFDO WRZQVKLS %DVLF /LIH 6HUYLFHV ZHUH GLVSDWFKHG DFFRUGing to police reports. Upon CamSXV 3ROLFH¡V DUULYDO WR WKH ORFDWLRQ 7&1- (06 ZDV DOUHDG\ RQ VFHQH DORQJ ZLWK D FRPPXQLW\ DGYLVHU &DPSXV 3ROLFH VSRNH ZLWK D IHPDOH VWXGHQW ZKR ZDV D IULHQG RI WKH LQWR[LFDWHG IHPDOH 7KH IHPDOH VWXGHQW VWDWHG WKDW WKH LQWR[LFDWHG IHPDOH FRQVXPHG DSSUR[LPDWHO\ three or four shots of tequila and 6YHGND YRGND SROLFH VDLG 6KH VWDWHG WKDW WKH\ ZHQW WR D Anyone with information can IUDWHUQLW\ SDUW\ ZKHUH KHU IULHQG EH- contact Campus Police at (609) FDPH VLFN DQG VWDUWHG YRPLWLQJ EXW 771-2345.

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 3

page  4  The  Signal  Februrary  7,  2018

SFB funds TMT’s ‘Spring Awakening’

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

TCNJ Chess Club receives funding for a future tournament. By Eric Preisler Staff Writer

president of Lambda Theta Alpha. The board’s request was made to encourage the sorority to show more initiative in TCNJ Chess Club, TCNJ Musical The- planning the event, and to prevent the Colater, College Union Board and Chabad were lege’s academic departments organizing the all funded for events, while Lamda Theta event and choosing the speakers, since funds Alpha Latin Sorority’s event was tabled at are intended for student use rather than dethis week’s Student Finance Board meeting partment use, SFB explained. on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Most of the funding for the Lamda Theta Alpha Latin event would come from the Sorority’s event, “The Latinx African American Studies DeExperience in the Age of partment, Women’s, Gender Trump and the Alt Right,â€? and Sexuality Studies departwhich would be held on Feb. ment and the Women in Learn22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the ing and Leadership program. Education Building Room 115, was tabled TCNJ Chess Club was fully funded $414 after SFB requested that the sorority pro- to compete in the World Amateur East tournavide more research about the speakers listed ment, which will be held from Feb. 17 to Feb. and that the organization look into inviting 19 at the Hilton in Parsippany, New Jersey. other speakers. Funding will include the tournament enDr. Rebecca Martinez from the Univer- try fee, a hotel room and gas. sity of Missouri and Dr. Romina Pacheco World Amateur East is one of the few IURP )DLUĂ€HOG 8QLYHUVLW\ ZHUH LQYLWHG WR chess tournaments in which players do not speak about the Latinx experience follow- compete solo, according to Andy Chen, ing the election of President Donald Trump. president of TCNJ Chess Club and a junior Latinx is a gender-neutral term for the words mathematics major. Latino and Latina. “This is one of the few events where it is “They will be talking about their experi- four on four and you have to work in a team HQFHV EXW DOVR WKHLU UHVHDUFK LQ WKHLU Ă€HOGV environment,â€? Chen said. “This is a really of study, bringing in their publications unique opportunity for our members.â€? about the Latino experiences on college TMT was fully funded $3,300 for lightcampuses,â€? said Thelma Carrera, a senior ing equipment for its annual musical, “Spring philosophy and Spanish double major and Awakening,â€? which will be performed from

March 28 to March 31 in the Kendall Main Stage Theater. Lighting plays a critical role in the production of this show, members of TMT explained. “This production is a very lighting and tech-intensive show� said Thomas Hudson, a senior communication studies major and a lighting designer for TMT. “(We) want to be able to evoke the moods using lighting equipment to help the audience deal with the major issues that are discussed in the show.� After being tabled last week, CUB was fully funded $25,000 to hold an outdoor concert at Funival, which will be held on May 4 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Lot 6. The concert component of Funival will create a positive and stress-free environment for students, according to the event’s proposal packet. “Adding a live music component to Funival will provide the event with an energetic and enjoyable atmosphere that will undoubtedly enhance the recreational experience of attending the College’s end-of-theyear legacy event,� the proposal stated. CUB took SFB’s advice, as members cut expenses and allocated more money from different parts of Funival’s budget, reducing the requested amount by $2,900. Chabad was partially funded $4,408.27 and tabled for other requested funds for its Purim event, which will be held on March 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. the Education

Building Room 212. Funding includes the costs of a Jewish freestyle rap artist, traditional Purim cuisine and other supplies. “We are trying to incorporate all of the different aspects of the holiday,â€? said Erica Levin, a junior biology major and president of Chabad. Costs for a caricature artist, jester and balloon artist were tabled. SFB advised Chabad to give a more descriptive itinerary of its event and to provide PRUH MXVWLĂ€FDWLRQ IRU WKH WDEOHG LWHPV This event is intended to be celebratory and educational, according to the event’s proposal packet. “Often considered the most festive and joyous holiday on the calendar, it commemorates the miraculous survival of a persecuted people,â€? the proposal stated. The carnival theme, caricature artist, jester and balloon man will represent aspects of royalty and the beauty pageant present in the story of Purim. According to Levin, planning for this event is different from previous years. “For our past Purim events we have done very similar things and we are trying to really branch out,â€? Levin said. “We are trying to incorporate the story of Purim to have a more educational side to it this year, so everything we are doing does have an aspect that relates to the story of Purim and the holiday itself.â€?

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

SFB partially funds Chabad’s Purim event.

Med / Health center renovated Tech / College implements new ‘Eduroam’ Wi-Fi system continued from page 1

about 8,000 visits a year, according to Vermeychuk. Use of the service is exSHS provides many services, including pected to increase due to the addition treatment for illnesses and minor injuries, of the women’s reproductive services. certain laboratory tests, vaccinations, Vermeychuk said women’s reproducphysical examinations and tuberculosis tive services has been booked every day testing. CAPS provides various services since opening. including individual counseling, group CAPS’ appointments are longer than counseling, crisis intervention and online SHS visits, and range from 45 to 50 minmental health screenings. These services utes. Clinicians see about nine to 12 peowere not affected by the renovations. ple seen per hour, according to Forest. One added service in SHS includes CAPS gets close to 4,500 appointments women’s reproductive services to replace booked yearly, and sees about 12 percent the College’s Planned Parenthood, which of the student body, which is higher than closed over winter break. Vermeychuk the national average of students receivsaid that since Planned Parenthood could ing counseling –– 10 percent –– accordnot provide the three days of service per ing to Forest. week required of them, its services were CAPS has nine licensed mental health incorporated into SHS instead. professionals and four trainees. AppointMany students including Molly ments for SHS and requests for CAPS Knapp, a junior public health and wom- can be made online through the College’s en’s, gender and sexuality studies double Online Wellness Link. major, was pleased with this change. Reactions from students to the renova“I know there’s been some rumblings tions were generally positive. on campus about the dismantling of the “I think it’s really great that they’re tryPlanned Parenthood,â€? Knapp said, “but ing to be more accommodating,â€? said Kelit’s actually an improvement.â€? ly Ganning, a junior graphic design major. %RWK RIĂ€FHV LQFUHDVHG WKHLU VWDII LQ 9HUPH\FKXN VDLG WKDW WKH RIĂ€FH LV OLNH order to accommodate the growing need a “home away from homeâ€? for her and for their services. CAPS has increased its Forest, and it is important to them that the VWDIĂ€QJ E\ PRUH WKDQ SHUFHQW VLQFH RIĂ€FH LV UXQ HIĂ€FLHQWO\ DQG UHPDLQV D VDIH 2014, and SHS hired a new practitioner. place for students. 6+6 HPSOR\V Ă€YH QXUVH SUDFWLWLRQHUV and one physician. SHS sees patients For more information on CAPS call (609) every 15 to 30 minutes,which add up to 771-2247 or email CAPS@tcnj.edu

continued from page 1

they aren’t disconnected at inconvenient times, according to Blanton. connection while in class or studying. %ODQWRQ ZDV RSWLPLVWLF DERXW WKH EHQHĂ€WV RI “We will have increased our capacity by al- implementing this new service, especially when most threefold. In the last couple of years, we students bring more than two internet-connected went from 1,200 wireless access points up to devices to campus. DERXW VR LW¡V D UHDOO\ VLJQLĂ€FDQW LQFUHDVH Âľ ´2QH EHQHĂ€W LV HDVH RI XVH Âľ %ODQWRQ VDLG ´,W Blanton said. has a lot more capacity to handle more devices.â€? In addition to increased network speed, the QHZ :L )L V\VWHP ZLOO DOVR Ă€[ WKH ´WLPLQJ RXWÂľ issue that students have when logged on to the College’s network, which would randomly disconnect students from the network for anywhere IURP VHFRQGV WR Ă€YH PLQXWHV While there are some hesitations about the new Wi-Fi system, students are optimistic that the changes will improve their academic success DQG DELOLW\ WR FRPSOHWH DVVLJQPHQWV HIĂ€FLHQWO\ “I’ve lost my Wi-Fi plenty of times while &KLHI ,QIRUPDWLRQ 2IĂ€FHU DQG 9LFH walking around campus,â€? said Kaitlyn McSweeney, a senior English and secondary education dual major. “I don’t know if it was a dire 3UHVLGHQW IRU ,QIRUPDWLRQ 7HFKQRORJ\ need, but it’s helpful to the College.â€? The new network will allow students to Kirk Amiaga, a freshman political science roam around campus without fear of having major, acknowledged the new system’s ability their internet connection interrupted. Under to streamline students’ to-do lists. the old system, students would regularly lose “I would say it’s an important change to the their Wi-Fi connections almost immediately campus,â€? Amiaga said. “It would allow me to after entering or exiting certain buildings on save time on my assignments.â€? campus. This new system puts a “blanketâ€? on Despite the perks, Blanton warned that the top of the College, or a thick layer of strong new system may need to be changed frequently Wi-Fi connection covering the entire campus, due to the increasing demands of technology allowing the Wi-Fi to “roamâ€? with its users so and its use of bandwidth.

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February 7, 2018 The Signal page 5

CAPS program undergoes changes

Tyler Steele / Staff Photographer

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

Left: CAPS’ Eickhoff Hall office is recently renovated. Right: Community Counseling Collaborative provides long-term mental health counseling. By Nadir Roberts Reviews Editor Due to a significant increase in requests for counseling over recent years, the College’s Counseling and Psychological Services has expanded its program to meet the needs of students, according to an email by Mark Forest, the director of CAPS. According to Forest, CAPS has seen a 50 percent increase in staff since he became director in 2014. The new positions include clinical case managers, diversity and inclusion initiative coordinators and LGBTQ+ specialists. CAPS, which in the past has typically specialized in short-term treatment, has begun to implement more resources and

options for long-term mental health treatment. These services include the Community Counseling Collaborative, which opened in December on the fourth floor of Forcina Hall. While still in development, the program brings licensed mental health providers to campus for long-term care at low costs for students. The mental healthcare component of InFocus Urgent Care, Cavi, is another long term mental health program due to open in Campus Town this semester. The business is working to expand the number of insurance plans they accept, according to a campus-wide email. The new Center for Integrated Health, Education and Learning, formerly known as the TCNJ Clinic, will offer training opportunities for students and local community

members. Long-term health services will be limited this semester, but will expand by next year. The new center, located on the first floor of Forcina Hall, will soon offer new physical health plans, massages and yoga. “It’s going to be more holistically framed,” Forest said. “It’s sort of an integrated health model.” CAPS has also developed a database with a growing list of mental health providers in the local community. The program filters information based on the qualifications of a patient’s insurance company and other specific needs of the client. According to Forest, all 180 community providers have been screened, and are specialized to meet the needs of the students. Ewing Township is a smaller community

compared to neighboring areas, and there are not as many doctors, therapists or other healthcare providers near the College, which makes it harder to accommodate students or other residents of Ewing who have difficulty finding transportation. The Community Counseling Collaboration allows for those living in Ewing, as well as students at the College, to use its services. “The demand is so high and we’re trying to provide the most service to the most people as we possibly can,” Forest said. Costs for treatment will vary depending on each student’s health insurance plan. While there are more improvements currently in the works, CAPS has made many of its updates available to students seeking assistance.

Game-U CEO greets students at first Brown Bag of semester

Kawas is a successful game designer.

tcnj.edu

By Ria Teitelbaum Correspondent

Michael Kawas, a video game developer and CEO of Game-U, delivered the first Brown Bag lecture of the spring semester on Friday, Feb. 2. Once an environment and visual effects artist for game studios like LucasArts and Activision, Kawas is now the CEO and founder of Game-U, an after-school program for kids who want to make their own video games. Game-U also provides programs for children interested in robotics and coding. Game-U is a start-up Kawas created after meeting kids who wanted to make their own games. He realized there wasn’t a structured, safe environment for kids to learn, and found a need that had to be fulfilled. He made sure to mention that all kids are welcome at Game-U, and that they also have programs specifically for kids with special needs. Game-U currently has 10 locations, including locations in Flemington and Paramus, New Jersey.

“How many of you have had the same career goal since you were six?” Kawas asked at the opening of his lecture. Only a handful of audience members raised their hands. When Kawas proceeded to ask audience members how many of them who were undecided on a career path after graduation played video games more than five hours a week, most of them raised their hands. During his lecture, Kawas provided statistics on the gaming industry. Self-identified gamers, estimated to be about 2.2 billion people, are a significant portion of the worldwide population. In 2017, the gaming industry generated more than $27 billion in America, alone. Globally, the gaming industry grossed $110 billion and is expected to continue growing. With a market that large, it takes more than just game developers to keep the industry moving. Art design, sound design, writing and coding are all integral parts of making a video game come to life. Kawas went on to detail the many careers that exist in the gaming industry that students don’t think of. The industry needs people who can manage projects, market, advertise and assure the quality of products and services. “Consider games as something you can do,” Kawas said. Kawas went to school at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1996. At his second job post-graduation, he used 3-D modeling to map out buildings to “slap metal pieces of antennae” onto. He later found he was able to apply his modeling skills in different fields, such as animation. After getting rejected from Dreamworks and Pixar, Kawas responded to an ad desperately looking for someone who knew architecture and 3-D modeling. What Kawas described as a “serendipitous moment” sparked his career in the gaming industry. The game in question was “Test Drive Off-Road 3,” which launched in October, 1999. Kawas’ lecture detailed the different stages of his career, from his humble beginnings as an architect for a truck washing facility to CEO of Game-U. He also offered lessons he learned from his own experiences in

the industry. Some of his games, such as “Test Drive Cycles,” were cancelled, which taught him that games need to be profitable for the developer, and tough decisions like pulling the plug on projects sometimes need to happen. He advised that people should share with their teammates, and said that teaching others makes people better at their own crafts. He learned this after his experience working as the lead environmental artist for “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.” Besides making games for entertainment, Kawas talked about “Project Evo,” the first game to seek Food and Drug Administration approval to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Kawas encouraged the audience to take the initiative to make anything they had an idea for, and even build something in their dorm room if they had to. The lecture wrapped up with a question and answer portion for audience members seeking advice on breaking into the gaming industry. “Don’t worry about how you’re behind,” Kawas said as his final piece of advice. “Just start tomorrow.”

Horacio Hernandez / Staff Photographer

Kawas encourages gamers to focus on the future.

page  6  The  Signal  February  7,  2018

SG  passes  two  bills  impacting  student  organizations By Brielle Bryan News Editor Student Government passed two bills requiring student RUJDQL]DWLRQV WR JR WKURXJK WKH 2IÀFH RI 6WXGHQW ,QYROYHPHQW ZKHQ PDNLQJ FKDQJHV WR WKHLU FRQVWLWXWLRQV DQG UHJLVWHULQJ WKHPVHOYHV DV UHFRJQL]HG RUJDQL]DWLRQV GXULQJ LWV weekly meeting on Jan 31. %URRNH &KOHERZVNL 6*·V YLFH SUHVLGHQW RI JRYHUQPHQWDO DIIDLUV DQG D MXQLRU VSHFLDO HGXFDWLRQ DQG L67(0 GRXEOH PDMRU ZDV DVNHG E\ WKH 2IÀFH RI 6WXGHQW ,QYROYHment to write bills B-S2018-01 and B-S2018-02. B-S2018-01 requires student organizations to review DQ\ FKDQJHV PDGH WR WKHLU FRQVWLWXWLRQV ZLWK D VWDII PHPEHU IURP WKH 2IÀFH RI 6WXGHQW ,QYROYHPHQW DV WKH ÀQDO VWHS EHIRUH DQ\ FKDQJHV DUH DSSURYHG “Besides going through Student Government, they ZRXOG DOVR KDYH WR JR WKURXJK WKH 2IÀFH RI 6WXGHQW ,QYROYHPHQW ZKLFK LV FUHDWLQJ D FKHFN WR WKDW V\VWHP µ Chlebowski said. “God forbid any organization wants to FKDQJH VRPHWKLQJ LQ WKHLU FRQVWLWXWLRQ WKDW GRHVQ·W DELGH E\ WKH 6WXGHQW &RGH RI &RQGXFW µ B-S2018-02 states that students have up to three weeks DIWHU D VHPHVWHU EHJLQV WR FRQWDFW WKH FRRUGLQDWRU RI VWXGHQW RUJDQL]DWLRQV LQ WKH 2IÀFH RI 6WXGHQW ,QYROYHPHQW WR UHJLVWHU WKHLU FOXE DV D UHFRJQL]HG VWXGHQW RUJDQL]DWLRQ )DLOXUH WR GR VR ZRXOG KDOW DFFHVV WR SULYLOHJHV DV D UHFRJnized organization. ,I D FOXE LV QRW UHJLVWHUHG LW ZLOO ORVH DFFHVV WR SULYLOHJes on Lion’s Gate and will be unable to register for events, DFFRUGLQJ WR &KOHERZVNL ,I D FOXE GRHV QRW UHJLVWHU LWV HYHQWV RQ /LRQ·V *DWH LW FDQQRW UHFHLYH funding for its events. After both bills were passed, Chris Blakeley, 6*·V H[HFXWLYH SUHVLGHQW DQG D MXQLRU FLYLO HQJLneering major, brought up an item of old business. /DVW VHPHVWHU %ODNHOH\ ZDV DSSURDFKHG E\ D PHPEHU of Georgetown University’s student government. Blakeley was told that the university was putting together a letter SURSRVLQJ WKH VFKRRO·V VWDQFH RQ FKDQJHV WR 7LWOH ,; SROLFLHV 7LWOH ,; KHOSV VWXGHQWV VHHNLQJ KHOS UHJDUGLQJ VH[XDO YLROHQFH GRPHVWLF YLROHQFH DQG VWDONLQJ %ODNHOH\ DQG

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SG discusses potential ways to reward campus organizations for their achievements. 200 other student government presidents signed this letter. 1LNL 7DQHMD 6*·V YLFH SUHVLGHQW RI DGYDQFHPHQW DQG D MXQLRU ÀQDQFH PDMRU DQQRXQFHG WR PHPEHUV RI 6* WKDW VKH ZRXOG EH PHHWLQJ ZLWK &ROOHJH 6SRNHVSHUVRQ 'DYH 0XKD WR WDON DERXW GLIIHUHQW LVVXHV VWXGHQWV KDYH EHHQ HQFRXQtering with the College’s website. ´,QIRUPDWLRQ LVQ·W XSGDWHG IURP VHPHVWHU WR VHPHVWHU µ VDLG 6KULVK -DZDGLZDU 6*·V SDUOLDPHQWDULDQ DQG D IUHVKPDQ SROLWLFDO VFLHQFH PDMRU -DZDGLZDU VDLG WKDW ZKHQ KH ORRNHG XS LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ PXVLF auditions, the College’s website shows audition information WKDW KDV EHHQ LUUHOHYDQW VLQFH $XJXVW Other members of SG said that there were more problems ZLWK DFFHVVLELOLW\ WR FHUWDLQ OLQNV RQ WKH &ROOHJH·V ZHEVLWH DQG QDYLJDWLRQ EHWZHHQ GLIIHUHQW ZHE SDJHV FRXOG EH GLIÀFXOW at times. 2QH PHPEHU RI 6* VDLG WKDW RQ WKH &ROOHJH·V 2IÀFH RI

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February 7, 2018 The Signal page 7

Kentucky school shooting leaves two dead By Gabriella Gerace Correspondent A mundane morning at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky became a harrowing scene on Jan. 23 when a 15-yearold male student killed two and seriously injured several more during a shooting spree, according to The New York Times. The Benton community is mourning the deaths of two students, Bailey Holt and Preston Cope, both aged 15. An estimated 18 additional people were injured, according to CNN. It is the deadliest school shooting of 2018 thus far. Kentucky state police said three students were in critical condition and one student was stable, according to CNN. Three victims were shot in the head, according to Dr. Oscar Guillamondegui, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s intensive care unit. “We’re just as devastated as anybody

would be,” Guillamondegui said, according to CNN. “Luckily, we’re trained and prepared.” The shooting began in the school’s common area where students were socializing before classes started. Lexie Waymon, 16, was conversing with friends when shots rang out. “I blacked out. I couldn’t move,” Waymon said, according to CBS. “It was so close to me, I just heard it and then I just, everything was black for a good minute. Like, I could not see anything. I just froze and did not know what to do.” Waymon and nearly 100 other students fled the school when the shooting began, according to CBS. “You could see students dropping their bags and just start running, pushing past each other. Everyone in cars started turning around and driving away,” said Taylor Droke, a junior at Marshall County High School, according to CNN. The mother of one victim, Daniel Austin,

Benton residents come together in mourning.

a 17-year-old special needs student, thanked those who helped her son. When Daniel was shot in the arm, a student and teacher rushed Daniel to a car and took him to a hospital, according to CNN. The perpetrator, whose name has not been released due to his age, was arrested at the scene. According to The New York Times, law enforcement officials stated that he would be charged with two counts of murder and

AP Photo

multiple counts of attempted murder, but have not determined whether to try the 15-year-old as a juvenile or an adult. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has released a statement on the shooting, according to CNN. “It is unbelievable that this would happen in a small, close-knit community like Marshall County,” Bevin said. “This is a tremendous tragedy and speaks to the heartbreak present in our communities.”

Former Olympic doctor sentenced in landmark trial

AP Photo

Nassar listens to dozens of victim testimonies.

By Grace Gottschling Staff Writer

Larry Nassar, a former doctor for USA Gymnastics, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison on Jan. 24 as part of an ongoing trial regarding his repeated sexual abuse of minors, according to CNN. The trial notably featured passionate testimonies from dozens of his victims. “Larry Nassar preyed on us for his own pleasure, leaving in his wake traumatized and broken girls,” said 17-year-old Jessica Thomashow in her testimony, according to BBC.

Thomashow was the first gymnast to file a Title IX complaint against Nassar. She was molested by Nassar at the age of nine, according to CNN. 65 of Nassar’s alleged 265 victims were scheduled to confront Nassar during the final three sentencing hearings, according to BBC. Nassar was convicted of possessing child pornography and is currently serving a 60-year sentence for those charges. Among those who testified against Nassar were three sisters — Lauren, Morgan and Madison Margraves. Two of the sisters spoke of Nassar’s abuses in court on Feb. 2 with their father Randell Margraves, who stood solemnly nearby. When the testimonies concluded, Randell Margraves asked to speak openly in the courtroom. He proceeded to ask Judge Janice K. Cunningham to allow him “five minutes in a locked room” with Nassar. Judge Cunningham denied this request, to which Margraves asked if he could be granted one minute with Nassar. When Cunningham paused to respond, Margraves lunged across the courtroom in an attempt to reach Nassar. Margraves was promptly pulled to the ground by court authorities, but was released with no charges, according to The New York Times. Later allegations against Nassar began to pour in as early as 2014, according to CNN. Victims came forward from USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University where Nassar held an associate professorial position. He often treated young women on the university’s athletic teams. In addition, Nassar targeted several Olympic athletes, including gold medalists Jordyn Wieber, Simone Biles, McKayla

Maroney and Aly Raisman, according to TIME. In an interview with “60 Minutes,” Raisman revealed she had spoken to the FBI about Nassar following the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following allegations against USA Gymnastics of withholding reports of sexual abuse. USA Gymnastics released a statement stating that every director on the board has stepped down. The organization will be running with an interim board of directors, according to BBC. Maroney took to Twitter in October 2017, joining the #MeToo movement and coming forward about the abuse she suffered by Nassar while on the national gymnastics team. Maroney said the abuse began when she was 13 and continued until she left USA Gymnastics in 2016, according to ABC. “This is happening everywhere,” Maroney wrote. “Wherever there is a position of power, there is the potential for abuse.” It is expected that at final sentencing, Nassar will have an added minimum sentence of 25-40 years, according to BBC. Roughly 140 victims are pursuing USA Gymnastics, Michigan State and Nassar in a civil suit accusing the institutions of ignoring the assault allegations, according to BBC. CNN published US Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s full address to Nassar. “As much as it was my honor and privilege to hear the sister survivors, it was my honor and privilege to sentence you. Because, sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again,” Aquilina said. “You have not owned yet what you did. I wouldn’t send my dogs to you, sir… I’ve just signed your death warrant.”

Ambulance bomb kills over 100 in Afghanistan By Cassie Sokoloff Correspondent

103 people were killed and 235 were injured when an attacker detonated explosives concealed in an ambulance in Kabul on Jan. 27. The bomber cleared police checkpoints by claiming to be transporting a patient to a nearby hospital. While stopped at a second police checkpoint, the attacker detonated the explosives, according to TIME Magazine. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Weeks earlier, the militant group killed 22 in a siege at the Intercontinental Hotel, a major hotel in Kabul, according to The New York Times. While the Jan. 27 attack is the deadliest in recent months, violence has become frequent in Afghanistan’s capital city. Two separate attacks in May, one claimed by the

Taliban, and another by reported Taliban affiliate Haqqani, have killed more than 300 people total, according to BBC. Hospital patients were close enough to hear and feel the shock from the blasts. A midwife at the nearby Malalai maternity hospital commented on the regularity of such attacks, according to the The New York Times. “It has become normal in Afghanistan,” she said. “Every day, we hear these kinds of sounds.” Masoom Stanekzai, the Administrator of Defense Ministry of Afghanistan, announced that four people have been detained in relation to the explosion, according to TIME. Shah Hussain Murtazawi, the presidential spokesperson, has said that in response to the violence, the Afghan government flew flags at half-staff, made Jan. 29 a holiday

and reserved Jan. 30 as a day of prayer for the victims, according to CNN. The Afghan government also accused Pakistan of lending support to the attackers. Pakistan has denied such claims, according to BBC. Afghanistan’s citizens are angry with their government’s failure to prevent violence. One man, whose son was killed in the explosion, cursed President Ashraf Ghani and his coalition partner Abdullah Abdullah, according to The New York Times. “May God punish you, may Allah punish you both,” he said. “There is nothing left for me anymore — come kill me and my famAP Photo ily too.” Kabul endures its deadliest bombing in months. The U.S. has responded with support to the Afghan government, U.S. Central Command Gen. Jo- commitment to Afghanistan,” he according to CNN. Outside an air- seph L. Votel spoke about the recent said. “As horrible as this is, to me, base in Jordan on the day following terrorist aggressions. it strengthens our resolve to help the explosion, Commander of the “(The attacks do) not impact our them move forward.”

page 8 The Signal February 7, 2018

Editorial Education system needs reform I am running out of my dorm to make it to my 8 a.m. class. I am running on three hours of sleep because I had work the night before. I am running, and the camera pans out and I ask myself why I’m so overwhelmed, because I did everything right. I did everything my professors, my guidance counselors and my parents told me to do — get an education, get a job and get a life. This time, I wondered, “what if?” — something my teachers taught me to never do. What if school started later? What if all my classes taught lifelong skills that could improve my quality of life? What if the education system worked better? This might sound like I’m the kid in class who asks the teacher, “what do we need to bother learning this for?” But I wasn’t that kid in class. I kept my head down and did my work, and the teachers liked me well enough. But it doesn’t take a jerk to criticize a system that can be improved. methods to learn and retain information that will help students live better lives. If it was, class would have started later years ago, when a 2015 study from University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement found that high school students perform better academically when their school days begin as late as 8:55 a.m. The same goes for college students. A 2017 study from the University of Nevada, Reno, proved that college students learn better in classes starting around noon and ending before evening. this continuous sleep deprivation. Recount how many times someone has fallen asleep in class unintentionally, or a friend snapping at you for a wayward comment and apologizing afterward because it wasn’t warranted. Maybe it was hard to remember information or focus during class. Sleep deprivation can be the cause behind all of those scenarios, including higher risk of anxiety, depression and hypersexuality, according to Dr. James Maas’s research. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether the traits associated with “lazy” teenagers are related to the sleep loss accumulated over the years. Maas, a psychologist and former professor at Cornell University, gave a speech on sleep deprivation in 1995 that is still discussed today, just like many other issues with education. I would be rich if I had a penny for every time I heard someone criticize the public school system. It’s an equally troubling problem when people say they learned more at their job than in school, or that they never found a use for their education. Some lessons can simply be outdated or not be practiced enough in real life to be useful. With modern technology, memorization is pointless unless you need to access that information in under the time it takes for a Google search. The practicality of what a student learns can vary from integral to obsolete. It would be more relevant to learn practical life and career skills. In general, it would help to learn how to program, balance a check, do taxes heart attack or medically accurate sex education. It would be great to know how government or our health care system works. It could help to learn how to actually communicate effectively. School can help holistically improve lives. There have to be ways people can learn how to healthily cope with stress and deal with emotions instead of using drugs. It can help to learn about mental health or active listening in school, or even just how to ask for help when you need it. Education is important, but there is so much to learn outside of pure theory and statistics that can help people be better citizens and have better relationships with one another. What you learn and how you learn it matters so much when people spend most of their youth in school. There has to be a balance between learning theoretical information, and practicing it in real life. Maybe it would be easier to lead my life if school had taught me the skills needed for adulthood, higher education and my I don’t regret the education I have had so far, but I wonder where I would be now if I hadn’t been sabotaged since the beginning. Maybe I wouldn’t be running everywhere. — Heidi Cho Arts & Entertainment 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.

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Today’s education system often fails to prepare students for the real world.

Quotes of the Week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 (609) 771-2499 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu

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““How is every crazy white dude part wolf? How are they all Team Jacob?” — Hasan Minhaj, Comedian and TV personality

“Who knows how we will stay in touch with old friends 30, 40 or 50 years from now? The yearbook may be retro, but decades from now it will still be somewhere in your house and you can pick it up and read through it.” — Donna Shaw

Professor of Journalism and Professional Writing, Yearbook Club adviser

“Don’t worry about how you’re behind. Just start tomorrow.” — Michael Kawas

Video game developer and CEO of Game-U

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 9

page 10 The Signal February 7, 2018

Opinions

Health is not always a choice

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Fast food is a cheap and accessible option for people in food deserts. By Deanna Amarosa While discussing health inequalities in my epidemiology class, I was reminded of the times I’ve heard statements like, “being healthy is a choice,” “fat people choose to be fat” and “everyone has an equal opportunity to be healthy.” One semester of classes as a public health

major at the College has proved to me that these statements are simply untrue. While the U.S. might seem like the land of equal opportunity, life expectancy gaps between places short distances away from each other have skyrocketed. The New Jersey cities of Princeton and Trenton are 13 miles away from each other, but the life expectancy of a Trenton resident is 14 years lower than a

resident of Princeton, according to The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This gap is even worse in cities like Baltimore, where a 20-year life expectancy gap is defined by short walk down the street to a wealthier neighborhood within the same city, according Michael Marmot, professor of epidemiology and public health at University College London. The solution to this inequality is not as clear as it may seem. You may think that impoverished Americans can just use government aid programs like food stamps and Women, Infant and Children checks to help supplement the higher cost that comes with eating healthy, but these programs are often not enough. Many Americans live in areas where there are no nearby grocery stores stocked with healthy foods. A car can be too steep an expense to afford, so their only options are to use public transportation or walk to far away supermarkets. These options are not ideal for carrying full bags of groceries, and would take a lot of time out of their day which would likely otherwise be devoted to working a minimum wage job. It is much easier, quicker and cost efficient to walk down the street and go to the local corner store or fast food joint — a sad reality that contributes to the growing health disparity in the U.S. This lack of healthy food, however,

cannot be solely to blame for the life expectancy gap, as low-income are frequent hotbeds for violence and civil unrest. Since it is common to hear about incidences of gang violence or police brutality in poorer areas, residents are facing constant stress that is absent from neighboring wealthier areas. This stress builds and takes a toll on their health, and can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Some residents in poorer neighborhoods are pressured into dropping out of high school to devote their time to partaking in illegal “street” activities that provide fast money and instant clout with peers. This lifestyle comes at a price — a shorter lifespan. Due to more frequent violence, more residents in urban areas are killed at younger ages, contributing to the life expectancy gap. Since education levels are lower as well, high-paying jobs are elusive, so members of this population often lack health insurance and health management services, putting people of a lower socioeconomic standing at further disadvantage. We are very lucky to be at the College, but it often shelters us from the lack of opportunity that others face a few miles away in Trenton. Everyone should open their eyes to the world around them before assuming that being healthy is a choice that is equally feasible for all.

More women belong in the workplace

Equal opportunities would benefit everyone By Harrison Kelly In light of recent sexual assault allegations against many prominent male businessmen like Harvey Weinstein, women are speaking up against gendered injustice. While men continue to make up the majority of employees in leadership roles in industries like finance and technology, women are making big leaps to change the system that has left them disadvantaged. Evidence suggests that collaboration between diverse groups of people leads to prosperity and long term success, but men continue to disproportionately benefit from the outdated assumption that women aren’t as fit to serve leadership roles. For generations, men in top positions have been able to assault and harass women without facing repercussions. Diversity in the workplace is undoubtedly beneficial for all. Author Warren Berger made a great point about diversity in his book, “A More Beautiful Question: The

Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas.” “As you look for potential collaborators, aim for people with different backgrounds, cultural experiences, and skill sets that differ from your own: diversity fuels creativity,” Berger wrote. Despite research supporting the importance of this concept, most company cultures do not promote an atmosphere for workplace diversity. In Silicon Valley, men still make up a disproportionate percentage of hierarchical roles. According to a New Yorker article, “women make up only a quarter of employees and 11 percent of executives in the (tech) industry.” By making it difficult for women to move up the corporate ladder, men are putting themselves at a disadvantage. Many women are just as qualified, yet they are not often given chances for promotion, equal pay or the chance to offer serious contributions. The few women who find themselves in positions of power

are still not given the same treatment. In a recent survey of 200 senior-level women in Silicon Valley, 66 percent said that they were not included in important company events because of their gender. This type of discrimination is all too frequent, and needs to change. Kathryn Minshew, founder of the website The Muse, put it well when she said, “For so many years, it felt like talking about (gender discrimination in the workplace) was the kiss of death in your career. This summer was the first time I’ve ever seen consequences for bad behavior. And that is empowering.” At tech companies, such as Uber and Tesla, women have Flickr begun to speak out on such misDiversity in the workplace is beneficial for all. conduct. Uber’s former CEO Travis Kalanick, a Tesla and SpaceX starting to see the repercussions to be truly equal, society as a board member named Steve Jur- of mistreating women and not whole will benefit, not just specifvetson and the former President giving them equal prospects of ic industries. Although there has of The New Republic, Hamilton moving up the corporate ladder. been recent progress, there is still Fish, are examples of powerful Hopefully, those against equal a lot more to be done. In 2018, I men being let go for their mis- opportunity in the workplace will hope we see a serious shift in the treatment of women. Skeptics are see that in giving women the right attitudes of corporate culture.

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 300 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.

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 11

Students share opinions around campus “Does everyone have an equal opportunity to be healthy?”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Zane Thompson-Bradley, a freshman interactive multimedia major.

“No, because some have a really hard time affording a simple doctor’s appointment.”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Jash Patel, a sophomore economics major.

“It is harder for some because of the lack of grocery stores with healthy options in urban areas.”

“Should there be quotas for women in the workplace?”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Kristen Coleman, a freshman accounting major.

“There should be more diversity, but a quota should not lessen the chances of a deserving candidate.”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Samantha Stanford, a freshman psychology major. “There shouldn’t be a mandate, but companies should acknowledge inequality in the workplace.”

The Signal’s cartoons of the week...

page 12 The Signal February 7, 2018

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 13

Features

World Crêpe Day provides free, tasty treats

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

Left: Students enjoy freshly made hot crêpes. Right: Students add toppings like ice cream and Nutella to make their crêpes even sweeter.

By Kareema Vernon Staff Writer

Eager to indulge in tastier desserts than those served at Eickhoff Hall, students enjoyed delicious crêpes in celebration of World Crêpe Day on Friday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. in the Recreation Center. Many of the students were attracted to the free food at the event, which was hosted by RECreate Your Night. Students chose from a wide variety of toppings to complete their crêpes, such as vanilla ice cream, Nutella, pineapple pieces and raspberries. Jennifer Largo, a sophomore early childhood education and biology major said that crêpes were probably one of her favorite breakfast foods.

World Crêpe Day started off smoothly, but the line for crêpes started to get longer and move slower. Many students grew weary, some wondering if the crêpes were even worth the wait. Claire Lowande, the program coordinator of late-night activities, quickly explained to everyone in line that a fuse blew, so some of the waffle irons had to be moved. “The fuse issue was annoying, but things happen, so we had to find a way to fix it,” said senior elementary education and iSTEM double major Crystal Nzegwu, who helped coordinate the event. Many students didn’t mind the wait — once they had a chance to try a crêpe, they felt it was well worth the wait. “Half of the fun is making the crêpe look pretty for Instagram,” said Sumayah Medlin, a junior English major.

Other students weren’t as fond of the treats. Kevyn Teape, a junior marketing major, said that the crêpes were tasty and sweet, but he was disappointed that there were limited options for toppings. “When life doesn’t give you chocolate toppings for your crêpes, you cry a little on the inside and pretend that apple slices will be enough,” Teape said. Some students were more fond of the toppings than the crêpes. “Honestly, I felt that the ice cream was more enjoyable than the crêpe itself. They were more like dessert tacos,” said Matilda McDougall, a freshman English major. Even for students who were not crêpe fans, the event provided a fun space to socialize and unwind at the end of the week.

RECreate Your Night helps students have sober fun

By Julia Dzurillay Staff Writer

Students sporting red pinnies and colorful shirts watched breathlessly as the time on the scoreboard ticked down to zero. Then, a buzzer went off. The golden snitch, rather a brunette in a Gryffindor tank top, whizzed off into the gymnasium, with two other players trailing closely behind. Minutes later, they were visible through the windows above the court. The two seekers practically tackled her to the ground and both teams burst out laughing. No, this isn’t Hogwarts. This is RECreate Your Night — a program, in conjunction with the Collegiate Recovery Program, that provides alternative activities to drinking for students who desire a night of sober fun. These events are free and open to the entire student body and are a late-night favorite for students of all majors. The events can be anything from scary movie nights, to crafting mermaid message boards or playing canoe Battleship in the TCNJ Aquatic Center. Last semester, RECreate Your Night hosted 46 events, with an average of 100 students attending each event, according to Claire Lowande, the program coordinator of late-night activities. “We have a student in recovery who comes to a number of our events,” Lowande said. “They are always so appreciative of the opportunity we offer to socialize, have something fun to do, and get out of the house for a few hours without being tempted by

drugs or alcohol. This student really exemplifies the restorative nature of recreation.” According to the College’s 2016 annual safety report, alcohol referral violations on campus declined by 5.5 percent in two years, from 292 cases in 2014, to 276 cases in 2016. The drug referral has decreased by 45.2 percent, from 115 cases in 2014, to 63 cases in 2016. In 2013, there were over 340 alcohol referral violations. Liquor law violations on campus, which includes underage drinking, has also decreased (five less arrests) when comparing 2016 to 2014. “There are a lot of people that get into trouble from drinking and for certain majors, like mine, it’s a bad idea,” said Kaitlyn Bruce a junior elementary education and iSTEM double major. “It can affect your career so much. I think it would be a great thing if people were drawn away from that.” Students who receive an alcohol referral are subject to reprimand from the Township of Ewing. The punishment can be anything from community service to education mandates, suspension or expulsion, according to the College’s Alcohol and Other Drug Policy. Bruce estimates that she has gone to between 10 and 20 RECreate Your Night events, with tie-dye night being her favorite. “Our friends get so into it and it’s one that we can all enjoy together,” Bruce said. “I used to tie-dye with my grandma, so I guess it brings me back to fun times as a kid.” Students appreciate a convenient and

inexpensive opportunity to make crafts with friends. “It’s nice to have a creative outlet,” said Catherine Rant, a junior biology major. “My favorite (event) was probably mug marbling night. Even though some of the mugs came out bad, we still had fun with it.” The coordinators of RECreate Your Night aim to foster a fun, inclusive and relaxed environment for everyone. Vivian Louie, a sophomore marketing major, started working at RECreate Your Night as an event assistant last September. “I went to a lot of the events as a freshman,” Louie said. “I just really enjoyed them. They made my freshman year experience

Students enjoy a game of Quidditch.

easygoing and less stressful. I’m glad to be a part of something that made my freshman year so special.” RECreate Your Night has several programs prepared for the spring semester that include games, snacks and crafts. “This semester I’m excited to co-sponsor a weight-lifting competition with Exercise is Medicine on Campus,” Lowande said. “I’m also planning an Escape Room trip, as always, we have some really great food events this semester like international grilled cheese night. And I’ve got a few more ideas that haven’t worked themselves out yet but that I’m looking forward to.”

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

page 14 The Signal February 7, 2018

:

Jan.‘79

Campus Style

Meningitis almost takes student’s life

Photo courtesy of the TCNJ Digital Archive

Illness easily spreads on a campus with students in close contact.

Every week, Features Editor Lily Firth hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories. This year, the flu has been a serious public health concern, especially since it is so contagious. In some cases, even a flu shot cannot protect against infection from certain strains of the virus. The 2018 flu season has caused more hospitalizations in one single year than any in the last decade, according to The Washington Post. In 1979, there was a health scare at the College when a student became hospitalized after she contracted bacterial meningitis. A Trenton State College freshman was admitted to St. Francis Medical Center Thursday morning for spinal meningitis, a disease which caused mass inoculations after an outbreak in 1974. Pamela Spiegel, a resident of Decker second floor is in guarded condition in the intensive care ward of the medical center, according to reports in yesterday’s Trentonian. Spiegel has contracted bacterial meningitis, a different form than the viral meningitis which plagued the campus five years ago, claiming one student’s life, Kathleen Piekielniak, director of TSC’s health service facilities reported. Based on recommendations by the Federal Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta, and the State Department of Health, no mass inoculation is being planned.

Dr. David Fraser of NCDC said that this form of meningitis is “more severe, but less contagious” than the previous strain in 1974. The mortality rate for Spiegel’s form is twice the rate of the previous type. Spiegel’s suitemates were removed from campus over the weekend and given antibiotics, according to Jere Paddack, dean of students. Paddack said that the chances of other students catching the disease was fairly remote, although it was possible in close-contact situations. Residence hall students were notified by memo on Friday, advising them to get plenty of rest, food and liquids and avoid crowds. Results of tests conducted on Spiegel have not been released, although Piekielniak said that she responded well to treatment. It is not known where or how Spiegel contracted the disease, which is most prevalent during cold weather. “It is a common disease where people are in close contact with each other like the Army, Piekielniak told The Trentonian. The previous outbreak of the disease was due to dirty glasses in The Pub and many of those stricken were Pub employees. The entire student body was inoculated against the disease, which claimed the life of a student in 1974.

The Culinary Club Presents...

Lions Plate

Photo courtesy of Olivia Grasing

Grasing encourages people to wear outfits that make them happy. By Lexy Yulich Columnist

Today, we are catching up with Olivia Grasing, a junior journalism and professional writing major. When she’s not writing, she’s reading fashion magazines and rocking her individual style. LY: How old were you when you became really interested in fashion? OG: At the age of 14, I got a Teen Vogue magazine and never looked back. I was hooked on fashion and I devoured any fashion magazine I could get my hands on. LY: Who is your fashion icon? OG: I have two, Gigi Hadid and Alexa Chung. They both bring different styles to the table, but whenever I want to wear something eccentric, I always look to them for inspiration. LY: What is your favorite trend for this particularly cold winter? OG: I’m really loving big, fluffy wraparound scarves. They add a lot of depth and style to an outfit, but are practical because they keep you warm. LY: What is your favorite place to shop ? OG: Although people might say I’m addicted to online shopping, I constantly go back to American Eagle, Urban Outfitters

and Zara. They often have sales, and I always find something that fits my style at those stores. LY: How would you describe your style? OG: On any given day, I try to aim for comfort and color. I tend to lean towards more bohemian vibes. LY: What is a current staple piece in your wardrobe? OG: I always gravitate toward my leather jackets. I have six to date, some with embroidery, and some are on the plainer side. Leather jackets add edge to any outfit, and they make me feel confident and put together. LY: What is your favorite pair of shoes? OG: I love my Michael Kors heels. They were a steal at Nordstrom Rack, and are comfortable, cute and go with everything. LY: What piece of advice do you have for those who want to step outside their comfort zone? OG: Don’t be afraid to try new things! My cardinal rule is that if you like something, wear it. Don’t worry about it not being trendy or popular. If you wear something and it makes you feel confident and happy, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t wear it. Be yourself and wear what makes you feel good.

Savory Pizza Grilled Cheese

Left: Pizza grilled cheese is a simple treat that still tastes homemade. Right: Add veggies for a fresh, flavorful twist.

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist

Pizza is a crowd-pleasing classic, but making it at home takes so much effort! This is your chance to partake in one of the biggest pizza-related innovations since the calzone. This pizza grilled cheese takes everything there is to love about pizza, and smashes it into a

flavor-packed sandwich. For pizza lovers who enjoy a twist, make a Hawaiian grilled cheese with slices of ham and sweet chunks of pineapple. If you love veggie pizza, sauté some sliced peppers and onions and add those to your sandwich.

Ingredients: 1/3 stick of butter 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1 tsp minced garlic 2 slices of Italian white bread 2 tbsps shredded mozzarella cheese 2 tbsps marinara sauce 6 pieces of pepperoni (optional)

Makes: One pizza grilled cheese

Directions: 1. In a frying pan on medium-low

heat, melt butter and add Italian seasoning and minced garlic. Let simmer for about five minutes as you prepare your sandwich. 2. Spread marinara sauce on both slices of bread. Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella on one slice of bread. Add about six slices of pepperoni to the other slice of bread, if desired. 3. Place two pieces of bread

Flickr

together to make a sandwich. Place sandwich in frying pan with the butter mixture. Raise the temperature to medium heat on the stove. 4. Using a plate or a spatula, gently press down on the sandwich, so the cheese melts faster. Cook for about three minutes on each side, or until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 15

The School of the Arts and Communication Visiting Artist Series Presents

Whitney Dow, “Facing Whiteness”

Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 5 PM Education 212 White people and white culture have been the dominant societal and political forces in our country since its inception, but only recently has the idea of whiteness as unique racial identity gained prominence in the ongoing American racial discussion. What does it mean to be a “white”? Can it be genetically defined? Is it a cultural or social construct? A state of mind? An ethnicity or a race? How does one come to be deemed “white” in America and what privileges does being perceived as white bestow? Award winning filmmaker Whitney Dow has been traveling the country for five years gathering data and interviewing hundreds people who are white, or partially white his multi-platform Whiteness Project, which he is doing in partnership with PBS and Columbia University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Innovative Theory and Empirics (INCITE). Dow will discuss what he has learned by leaning into the uncomfortable discussion of whiteness, and his journey from directing low budget liquor commercials to leading the first large-scale academic study on white identity by a major research institution. Sponsored by The School of the Arts and Communication, The Office of Institutional Diversity, The Department of Communication Studies, Alan Dawley Center for the Study of Social Justice, and The Bonner Center for Community Engagement and Research.

Government and Non Profit Meet & Greet February 21, 9am—10:30am, Rec Center

2018 Spring Career & Internship Fair February 21, 11am—2pm, Rec Center

Employer Lists found on the App CareerFairPlus & tcnj.joinhandshake.com

page 16 The Signal February 7, 2018

Arts & Entertainment

Crowd / Minhaj lights up Night of Comedy

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

Minhaj satirizes current world issues to students’ amusement.

continued from page 1

experience working on “The Daily Show.” At one point, while talking about a trip to the Mexican-American border and viewing various prototypes for President Donald Trump’s wall, Minhaj referred to the different constructions as the “Goldilocks of racism.” The audience was stunned when Minhaj said that when out on assignment for “The

Daily Show,” “the best stuff doesn’t even make it on camera.” He recounted a story to the audience about a trip to Alabama, where it costs around 10 dollars to obtain a conceal and carry permit for a gun. When Minhaj went into a gun shop with cameras to purchase a weapon, he recounted the clerk refusing to sell him one because “(he) could be in ISIS.” In addition to recounting stories about his

time on “The Daily Show,” Minhaj asked the crowd if it’s “alright if I test out some stuff for a new program” to which he received tremendous approval. Minhaj’s first stand-up special “Homecoming King” is available now on Netflix. Accompanying Minhaj on the stage was a screen on which various graphics, pictures and videos appeared periodically throughout the show. Flashes of newscasts from Fox News and Alex Jones’ “Infowars” lit up the screen, chronicling the organizations’ responses to Syrian refugees entering the U.S. “It’s like the brown-walkers are coming,” Minhaj said, referencing the show “Game of Thrones.” On a more serious note, Minhaj elaborated on the double standards news organizations have when covering terrorist attacks. Minhaj discussed racial profiling and referred to the phrase “lone wolf” that is often used to describe a white perpetrator of violence. He pointed out how people of color are more likely to be referred to as terrorists than white people. In response, Minhaj joked, “How is every crazy white dude part wolf? How are they all Team Jacob?” Pulling up charts depicting the most common causes of death in the U.S., Minhaj pointed out that Americans are more likely to die from a furniture accident than they are

from foreign terrorism. He then joked, “Ikea counts as both.” Meghan Bedard, a sophomore Spanish and communication studies double major, was excited for Minhaj’s highly-anticipated visit to the College. “I watched his White House Correspondents’ Dinner and I thought it was the funniest thing ever,” Bedard said. Minhaj ended his nearly hour-long set by taking questions from the crowd. Some audience members inquired how Minhaj handles hecklers and racists at his shows, while others asked how he got started in comedy. Minhaj credited his skills in part to doing speech debate in high school. When asked what he went to college for, Minhaj replied, “I started off as pre-med.” He paused while the crowd roared. He then smiled and said, “That failed.” Throughout his set, Minhaj worked to shatter stereotypes Muslims commonly face in American society — a concept MSA was happy to share with the campus community. “It was like a dream come true, and kind of a graduation gift,” said Kanza Tahir, president of MSA and a senior biology major. “A lot of people were anticipating this event and asking us when he would come.” With a track record that includes T.J. Miller, B.J. Novak and now Minhaj, the bar is set high for the next comedian to light up Kendall Hall at the College’s spring comedy show.

Talented trio takes a bow and bellows

Left: Borowsky and McMahan create intricate melodies. Right: Borowsky and Barcyzk harmonize together. By Heidi Cho Arts & Entertainment Editor Three tight-knit musicians turned a frigid evening into a heartwarming and breathtaking night at Bellows and Bows: A Potpourri of Chamber Works for Violin, Cello, and Accordion in the Mayo Concert Hall on Saturday, Feb. 3. Robert Young McMahan is an accordionist and professor of music theory at the College. McMahan is a long-time friend of cellist Cecylia Barczyk, and together with violinist Emmanuel Borowsky, Barczyk’s son, the trio performed harmoniously. “Triologue” was the first piece of the night, in which all three musicians played together. “It’s a combination of instruments you don’t get to hear a lot, especially in the classical world,” said Meaghanne McBride, a sophomore music major and a student of McMahan.

“Bambuco Almirante” is a Colombian folk dance made famous by the musical ensemble of two brothers known as Los Hermanos Martínez. Borowsky transcribed the piece originally intended for piano and two violins to fit one violin and cello. The next piece, titled “Spanish Rhapsody, op. 9” was written to show off every possible trick a skilled violinist can produce with the instrument. Borowsky is indeed an extraordinary violinist that made the instrument sing in a solo piece that exemplified the skills he has honed over a lifetime of practice. Borowsky started studying violin when he was four years old. He represented North America at the World Child Prodigies Concert. Borowsky and Barczyk have played across the world, and applied their practice and worldliness to the concert. “Prelude and Sarabande” provided a respite from the quick and

lively tempos of the preceding pieces. McMahan introduced the piece as a “peaceful meditative moment in the program.” As the only accordion solo of the concert, McMahan proved his skills as both an accomplished accordionist and composer. McMahan’s wife, a classical pianist, baroque recorder player and West African percussionist, knows how much her husband has dedicated to his instrument. “Bob (McMahan) is as committed to his instrument today as he was that day fifty years ago, when he walked so easily into my life and never left,” she said. “Introduction and Allegro” was created by Mátyás Seiber, an established and accomplished Hungarian composer who wrote most of his pieces in the U.K. “2 Chôros bis, W227” was originally intended to be an encore piece to be performed after a concert of pieces, all concieved by Brazilian

composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. Chôros is Brazilian street music, a type of music characterized by “definite and defiant rhythms,” or “spicy music,” as Borowsky called it. Designed to pull passerbyers from the streets, the wily and unpredictable nature of the piece similarly had audience members on the edges of their seats. “Dance Suite for Two” has traditional Scottish folk elements with a distinctly Irish essence, split into multiple parts. Charming and heartfelt, it was a breath of fresh air in the indoor concert hall. By intermission, McBride found “Introduction and Allegro” to be her favorite piece. “It was very lively. It was fun. It had a lot of character,” McBride said. “It was really great to see my professor performing.” “Romp 5” premiered in New Jersey, meaning it was never publicly played before this concert. The piece

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

was composed by McMahan as part of his “Romp” series named for the “rambunctious, somewhat tonguein-cheek nature” that the pieces share, according to McMahan. According to Robert Seltzer, a senior music major and former student of McMahan’s, “Romp 5” was a natural and powerful finale written by a professor who “knows so much about everything music.” This was the first time Seltzer has heard McMahan play live in his time at the College. “(Romp 5) was amazing, super, super jarring… it was powerful and emotional,” Seltzer said. “It did a good job blending all three instruments. It sounded so natural.” The musicians received a standing ovation from the audience of students, both current and past. “Playing for music for a pleasant audience is very rewarding,” Barczyk said. “(The audience) shared a lot of interest and understanding for music — it’s the best reward.”

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 17

Glover retires Gambino with ‘EP’

Twitter

Gambino ends his musical career on a high note at the Grammy Awards. By Nadir Roberts Reviews Editor

Donald Glover, or Childish Gambino, rereleased his 2011 project titled “EP” at the start of February. Glover has amassed a huge fanbase over the course of putting out three studio albums and a multitude of mixtapes in the past few years. After leaving the 2018 Grammy Awards with five nominations and one win for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his 2016 hit “Redbone,” the artist now may be done releasing material as Childish Gambino. The

re-released EP is speculated to be the last work released under that moniker. The five-track EP brings back a nostalgic era of Glover that many fans love and reminisce about. With the hit song “Freaks and Geeks” finally available for streaming on listening services besides Soundcloud and YouTube, fans are ecstatic. Many thought that this album was new, but the young and “childish” bars that Glover raps about are pretty immature, but are a nice throwback to his earlier music career. “Honestly, I’m rapping about everything I go through. Everything I’m saying, I’m super

sayin’ like Goku,” rapped Glover in “Shine.” The release of ‘EP’ at this time, right after his Grammy performance and win, really allows people to see the evolution of Glover not only as an artist, but as a person as well. The first song off of the project, titled “Be Alone” is able to express the loneliness that Glover felt when he started to gain a following. Although he always had people around him, he was still feeling lonely and unfulfilled. “It seems the more I try to connect with the world, I am feeling more alone that I ever have felt before,” rapped Glover. Compared to his other projects, this release was definitely needed and showed a different aspect of him that newer fans wouldn’t have seen before. Considering his last release, 2016’s “Awaken! My Love,” gravitated musically toward R&B, fans have not had the chance to appreciate new rap music from Glover since he released his mixtape entitled “STN MTN / Kauai” in 2014. The mixtape included songs like “Pop Thieves (Make it feel good),” “Retro (Rough)” and “Late Night in Kauai.” Since Donald Glover is supposedly no longer performing as Childish Gambino, no one knows what he else he has in store for music, other than the speculated Chance the Rapper collaboration.

Grammy Awards disappoint viewers

This week, WTSR’s EJ Paras highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.

Band: Chain Wallet Album: “Chain Wallet” Release Number: 1st Hailing From: Bergen, Norway Genre: Chill Indie Synth Pop Label: Jansen Plateproduksjon Newcomer Alex Lahey cranks it up to 11 with her debut album. Her funny, biting and sardonic lyricism is a highlight on its own. You come for the stellar beats and instrumentals and stay for the lyrics. Lahey draws heavily on pop-punk influence and brings choruses that make you want to burst into song. It’s one of the more recent additions to the Ultimate Indie playlist on Spotify, so keep an eye out for Alex! I spy a boom in her popularity soon. Must Hear: “Every Day’s The Weekend,” “Lotto in Reverse,” and “I Love You like a Brother”

Left: Kesha wows the audience with powerful vocals. Right: Bruno Mars wins Record of the Year. By James Mercadante Correspondent The biggest night in music, better known as the Grammy Awards, aired live on Jan. 28 from New York City, and proved to be another misfortunate evening. A lack of diversity remained within this year’s selection of winners. Since 2017, the award show’s ratings have dropped tremendously for a few reasons. For one, some feel that the show has grown to be too politically biased. Embedding politics in national television programs can divide viewers along demographic lines, which may explain the drop in ratings this year. James Corden, who hosted the Grammys this year, included political skits that took time away from musical performances. Seeing the list of 2018 nominees was truly exciting, as we witnessed a significant amount of black artists being nominated for Grammys, like Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Childish Gambino. The Recording Academy

paid attention to viewers’ outrage last year, and recognized the controversial patterns in predominantly handing out awards to white musicians. Although nominees were more diverse this year, audience members still did not witness more than three women win an award that was televised. The academy did a number of things wrong in this area. They did not offer Lorde a solo performance for the night, even though male artists like Bruno Mars, Gambino and Lamar performed all on their own. Ella Yellich O’Connor, a selfmade lyricist and producer, was the only woman nominated for the Album of the Year award. She refused to perform a duo, because she felt that she deserved the same respect as the other male nominees. This lends itself to the presumption that there was gender bias in the selection process for performers. Another moment that infuriated audiences was when Ed Sheeran won Best Pop Solo Performance for “Shape of You.” The rest of the nominees were all women,

including Lady Gaga, P!nk, Kelly Clarkson and Kesha. Right after Sheeran’s win, audience members took to social media to discuss the absurdity of “Shape of You” being valued over “Praying,” since Sheeran’s vocals and lyrics were less emotive, insightful and compelling than Kesha’s. Kesha’s “Praying” sends a message about surviving sexual assault and contains powerful vocals that are extremely challenging, yet impactful. The best part? Sheeran didn’t even attend the ceremony. Even after the Grammys tried so hard to be progressive, it was set back by the Recording Academy deeming a song about sex worthier than one about surviving sexual assault. Decisions like these cast doubt on the standards used by the academy to judge one song as superior to another. Despite the poor decision-making, there were many highlights of the night. Lamar opened the ceremony with his performance of “XXX” and “DNA,” two songs that promote the message of black

AP Photo

empowerment through their lyrical themes. Kesha sang “Praying” with a variety of other supporting women behind her, representing the countless number of women participating in movements like Time’s Up or #MeToo, who have also endured the trauma of sexual abuse. Blue Ivy Carter stole the show, as the camera zoomed in on her gracefully demanding her parents to stop clapping. Maren Morris, Eric Church and Brothers Osborne dedicated a beautiful rendition of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” to the 81 victims of the Las Vegas and Manchester shootings. The Grammy Awards were not perfect this year, but perfection is impossible to achieve. While it’s hard to please everyone, the academy has plenty of room for growth in where they can reconsider the selections they make for the future. These choices have a deeper meaning than just which piece of music the academy believes to be better. It speaks volumes to who we are as a society and what we are comfortable with recognizing as excellence.

Band Name: Various Artists Album Name: “Like a Version” Release Number: 1st Hailing From: Australia, Globally Genre: Indie-pop covers Label: Triple J Triple J’s compilation “Like a Version” is a fun play-on-words of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” This song has become one of the definitive segments for the radio station, where bands come in to play one original song and a cover. This album is full of some of the best covers done at the station over the past few years. Bands are encouraged to put their own spin on a song that isn’t necessarily in their genre. For example, the indiepop band Cub Sport covered rapper Kanye West’s “Ultralight Beam.” The results are usually really fun, and some people end up preferring the covers over the originals. The album highlight is “Get Lucky” covered by WTSR favorite, San Cisco, who puts a fun spin on the Daft Punk classic. Must Hear: “Get Lucky” and “Ultralight Beam”

page 18 The Signal February 7, 2018

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 19

Sports Track and Field

Rider tramples College in Lawrenceville

McGourty places second in the high jump. By Malcolm Luck Sports Editor

Against tough Division I opponent Rider University, the men’s and women’s track and field teams could not prevail on Friday, Feb. 2.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The competition was fierce, with the men’s and women’s teams leaving Lawrenceville, New Jersey with final tallies of 111-37 and 10060, respectively. Rider was responsible for firstplace finishes in 30 of the 32 total

events. Each of the Lions’ two firstplace finishes came from the women’s side, where they took both first and second places in the mile run and 3000-meter events. Junior Danielle DeVito claimed first place in the mile run with a

time of 5:22.10. DeVito, who owns the top 3000-meter mark for the season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, displayed her versatility by earning the Lions five points with her first-place finish. Completing the race behind DeVito was junior Abigail Faith, clocking in at 5:26.37. Faith’s time was good for the fifth-best mile time recorded in the NJAC this season. In the 3000-meter event, junior Emma Bean raced to an impressive first-place performance, finishing the race in 11:02.39. Freshman MaryKate Bailey earned second place with her time of 11:20.25, finishing less than two seconds before the topplacing Rider competitor. Other notable performances from the women’s team came in a pair of record setting leaps by senior Meagan McGourty and freshman Tamika Voltaire in the high jump. Despite their respective second and fourth-place finishes, the women tied for the top high jump mark in the NJAC this season at 1.60 meters. The men’s side featured stellar performances with many second

and third-place finishes. In the 55-meter dash, senior Nicholas Genoese narrowly missed first place by .04 seconds, finishing in 6.63 against Rider freshman Marquis Smallwood. This mark sets his personal record for the season. Junior Nathan Osterhus captured third place in the 400-meter dash, finishing in 52.62 and earning the Lions two points. Sophomore Richard Gruters also contributed two points to the final score with his third-place finish in the 3000-meter event, clocking in at 9:09.97. Freshman Matthew Kole completed the race seconds later with his time of 9:11.41. In the field events, sophomore Tim Reilly led the Lions with a pair of strong performances. In the long jump event, Reilly earned third place and two points with his mark of 6.39 meters. In the triple jump, Reilly secured another third-place finish and two additional points with his 12.73-meter performance. After a disappointing weekend, the Lions look to bounce back at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University on Friday, Feb. 9.

Men’s Basketball

Men’s basketball rocked by Rowan and Ramapo By Alexander Reich Correspondent Despite a strong effort by the Lions, the men’s basketball team could not prevail in last week’s games. The Lions first dropped a home loss against Rowan University, 93-84, on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Later on Saturday, Feb. 3, the team endured a 64-60 loss to Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. The game began with great offense from Rowan, taking an 8-2 lead only three minutes into the first half as the Lions struggled to put points on the board. Rowan continued scoring throughout the first half while also countering the College’s fast paced transition offense. With seven minutes left in the first half, Rowan kept heating up. The Lions couldn’t get momentum going, with Rowan blowing away their chances of recovering from the 28-18 deficit. Before going in to the half, sophomore guard Tommy Egan cut Rowan’s lead to 49-39 off a three-pointer. The College was only down by seven points. In the first half, the College was five for 19 from the three point line while Rowan went five for 11. The Lions had a total of 20 rebounds, but the effort didn’t help them in their offensive transition. When the second half started, sophomore guard Randall Walko came onto the court with determination. Walko scored eight points in the last four minutes of the game. Even though the Lions were sloppy at times, they never gave up their ability in transition. At the same time, senior guard Eric Murdock Jr. tried to maneuver his way through defenders to get the offense going. With 10 minutes left, Rowan was up, 68-60. The Lions then worked hard to cut their deficit to only one point at 76-75. Sophomore guard Niall Carpenter got fouled with three minutes to go and made both his free throws. As the clock ticked down to one minute, the Lions remained down, 86-84. Murdock was completely dominating

The Lions struggle to push through Rowan’s tough offense. the lane in the paint and got fouled once. With only seconds remaining, Rowan clinched their victory with a few buckets. The Lions ultimately lost, 93-88. Head Coach Matthew Goldsmith believes the team’s slow start was too much to overcome. “We came out slow and unfocused and sometimes the only thing that wakes you up is a big deficit,” Goldsmith said. “We responded once we were down 17, but it was too little, too late.” On the road, Ramapo College also proved to be another challenging conference opponent for the Lions. “Ramapo is always challenging and even more so when they are at home,” Goldsmith said. “They are physical and athletic. I think they wore us down with their depth throughout the game. Road games are always difficult in the NJAC and Saturday was another example of that.” With only three conference games remaining, the

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

Lions will make a late-season push for the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s top seed. The team is currently in third place and trail only behind New Jersey City University and Ramapo College. The team will play its last two home matches of the regular season this week. The Lions will compete against William Paterson University on Wednesday, Feb. 7, and Montclair State University on Saturday, Feb. 10. Despite a tough week, Goldsmith believes the Lions will finish the regular season strong. “This team has a great collective character,” Goldsmith said. “I fully expect them to bounce back and be ready for our next three opponents. The only thing we can do is focus on improving today. If we can get better each day and take advantage of each practice and each game, we will be ready to perform on the court.”

page 20 The Signal February 7, 2018 Cheap Seats

Neither Super Bowl team worth celebrating By Michael Battista Staff Writer Well Philadelphia, you did it. Backup quarterback Nick Foles and the underdogs finally have a ring to call their own. It doesn’t matter that Eagles fans have trashed the city and made their cars thoroughly “lit.” They can finally join everyone else in the National Football Conference East as Super Bowl champions. I’m glad some people are happy. The past two weeks have been awful as a New York Giants fan. There was no right answer when I was asked who I wanted to win Super Bowl LII. Yet here at the College, I’ve seen more green than ever, and I’m fairly sure some of the fans who supported the city of brotherly love are defectors of the Big Apple. The American Football Conference was terrible this season, so it was pretty much a guarantee that Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots would be playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. When the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars can all make the playoffs, every fan should realize something isn’t right. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Patriots were having off years and constantly playing down to their competition in regular season games. But, when the Dallas Cowboys failed to achieve their playoff expectations, leave it to Philly to have a franchise year. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Carson Wentz as a quarterback before he got injured. He’s a nice guy. It’s also awesome to see running back Jay Ajayi getting a chance to play for a team that isn’t in the same division as the Patriots. But in this championship game, no Giants fan should have taken a side. In fact, this game should have been watched with a golf clap mentality. No loud cheering, respecting the play on the field and hush discussions. The only exception I can think of was when Foles caught a touchdown off a trick play and the Eagles went for it on the fourth down from their own end of the field. I couldn’t help but applaud the guts it took to call those plays. For those who support the Eagles because they simply beat Brady and the Patriots, you’re only looking at the short term. Get ready to hear Philly fans boasting about finally

Foles admires the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win.

winning a Super Bowl, and how their team is the future. Does an offseason filled with “Nick Foles is an elite quarterback” and “trust the process” sound fun? If someone is quick to drop their allegiance to a team in support of a division rival, it brings their character into question. The memories of the second miracle at the Meadowlands in December 2010 may be fading after nearly a decade, but the scar still exists. Let it be known that being an Eagles fan is better than being a Cowboys fan, but being second worst isn’t anything to write home about. If any Giants fans thought, even for a second, that they should support the Patriots, I don’t know what to say to them. Sure, Bill Belichick was a defensive coordinator for the team and helped the Giants win two Super Bowls, but times have changed. The Patriots are the New York Yankees of professional football. No one should root for them unless they are from the team’s area. They are never underdogs and they are

AP Photo

never fan-favorite stories. No matter who won the game, people lost. If I looked at the game in a utilitarian sense, where the right course of action is the one that causes the best outcome for the most people, than I believe the Eagles winning would cause less misery to everyone. But when I have to bring philosophy into Super Bowl Sunday, I don’t know if it’s even worth watching. I hope you enjoyed game day as best you could, even if you raised false flags in support of the enemy. It was an incredible game with great performances from both teams, and it could have gone either way. Even though Philadelphia won, the majority of people in northern New Jersey and New York weren’t happy, but you can’t win everything. Am I overreacting a little bit? Sure. But after a 3-13 season, two front office firings and possibility of Manning leaving on the table, I can be as cynical as I want.

Lions maul opponents at Messiah College Open

Left: Gagliano earns second place honors in a perfect 4-0 performance. Right: Mele takes home sixth place. By Maximillian C. Burgos Staff Writer The wrestling team continued to prosper this past weekend, winning their fifth consecutive dual meet on Friday, Feb. 2, against Wilkes University, 42-6. The College also excelled at the Messiah College Open tournament on Saturday, Feb. 3, in which eight Lions placed and two were champions. With this weekend’s performance, the Lions are now 14-4 for the season with only two dual meets to go.

The Lions got off to a roaring start on Friday. Sophomore Dan Ortega got the momentum on the Lions’ side going early, with his 10-0 major decision victory at 125 over his opponent. Senior James Goldschmidt triumphed at the 133-pound match by pinning his opponent and putting the Lions up 10-0 after the first two bouts of the night. After conceding a pin at 141, the Lions proceeded to shutout Wilkes. The Lions won their next six bouts. Junior JT Beirne and senior Pat Schinder both earned

pins for the College at the 157 and 197 respectively. Sophomore Dan Kilroy and senior Kyle Cocozza both earned major decisions at the 174 and heavyweight brackets as well. The Lions ended the night winning 42-6, earning their 14th win of the season. The Lions traveled to Messiah College the next day to wrestle in the Messiah College Open tournament. Freshmen Anthony Rua and Jacob Falleni both took first place at their respective weights of 133 and 125. Falleni earned a major decision, a decision, a technical

fall and pinned an opponent to take home first. Both wrestlers went a perfect 4-0 on the day. Sophomore Anthony Gagliano worked his way to the finals at the 149-pound bracket. In the process, he earned a decision, a major decision, a technical fall and a pin, but came up short in the finals losing by just one point. Nevertheless, Gagliano took home second place. Freshman Dominic Fano finished third at the 157-pound bracket. Fano went 4-1 on the day, earning two pins, including one in

Photos courtesy of Ernie Monaco Jr.

his final match to take third. Senior Austin Maltez and sophomore Mike Plaska both took fourth place at their respective weights of 125 and 133. Sophomore Nic Mele and freshman Jake Giordano placed sixth and seventh respectively. The Lions dominated this weekend, and look to keep the winning-streak going at Packer Hall on Friday, Feb. 9 against Delaware Valley University. They then travel to Messiah College for their last regular meet on Saturday, Feb. 10.

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 21

Fun Stuff 5 cards to send your crush for Valentine’s Day:

Help Cupid find his way to the heart!

page 22 The Signal February 7, 2018

February 7, 2018 The Signal page 23

LIONS AROUND THE

D RM

Alexander Reich “The Ref”

Michael Battista Staff Writer

Sean Reis Staff Writer

Malcolm Luck Sports Editor

In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Alexander Reich asked our panel of three experts — Michael Battista, Sean Reis and Malcolm Luck — three questions: 1. Will the Los Angeles Clippers continue to be relevant in the NBA without Blake Griffin? 2. Is Alex Smith a good fit for the Washington Redskins? 3. Will snowboarder Shaun White medal in the halfpipe at the Winter Olympics?

Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers for the Clippers. Although Austin much. Coming out of the Univeror (sometimes) the San Antonio Rivers has been a strong leader at sity of Oklahoma, a lot of his hype Spurs, it doesn’t matter what they point guard, the team was not the came from a slightly above averdo for the foreseeable future. Grif- same after Paul left. With the sur- age postgame and a jaw-dropping fin helped the Clippers stay rel- prising Griffin trade, this is just the ability to dunk the ball. While evant to the public. However, their organization accepting that fate. dunking is cool and all, he did not presence on the court won’t really DeAndre Jordan’s trade rumors do nearly enough to make his abchange because of his trade to the are now afloat, and it is only a sence endanger the franchise’s relDetroit Pistons, since the team matter of time before the Clippers evancy. He really hasn’t achieved hasn’t been producing consistent- fall back down to the bottom of the that much in general. Being a five ly as of late. They sit around ninth totem pole, far from relevancy. time All-Star might seem impresplace in the western conference Malcolm: This question is tough sive, but the NBA All-Star voting standings and only one player, to answer because there is no de- is nothing more than a popularity Lou Williams, is averaging above finitive timetable. The team still contest. He has never made an All20 points per game. The team lost plays in one of the biggest markets NBA first team and has never done a superstar, and now need to find in the realm of sports and although enough to put the Clippers in the a new one as a centerpiece for a they share Los Angeles with the Western Conference Finals, even AP Photo mediocre organization. Lakers, they won’t have trouble with DeAndre Jordan and Chris 1. Will the Los Angeles Clippers weren’t really relevant in the first Sean: The Los Angeles Clippers filling seats. Griffin is undoubt- Paul playing with him. Blake Grifcontinue to be relevant in the place. The Clippers play in the were already struggling to stay rel- edly one of the best athletes the fin is by no means an irreplaceable NBA without Blake Griffin? western conference and unless evant, so no. Chris Paul’s depar- Clippers have seen in its franchise player and the Clippers will conMichael: Not really, since they your team is the Golden State ture was the beginning of the end history, but that’s not really saying tinue to be relevant without him. Malcolm gets 3 points for writing about the Clippers’ future. Michael gets 2 points for supporting Lou Williams’ big impact. Sean gets 1 point for talking about other players. 2. Is Alex Smith a good fit for the Washington Redskins? Michael: Does anyone know what a “good fit” is for the Redskins? What plan or trade has really worked for them the past few seasons? This trade seems like a typical move by Redskins owner Dan Snyder to me, and I can prove it fits his pattern. This trade shows that the Redskins are the champions of the off-season. This team spends tons of money on players that are past their prime, or are toxic and overrated. From Deion Sanders and Andre Reed to Josh Gordon and Albert Haynesworth, Snyder never makes the right call. Looking solely at Smith, maybe he can jump them a few spots in the total offense category, but that’s if he plays. I guarantee Kirk Cousins gets franchise tagged and he will battle it out with Smith for the starter spot. I’m not sure if fans will like that. Sean: Yes and no. I think Alex Smith can be a good fit in most organizations. He’s a smart quarterback who knows how to read the defense and lead his team downfield as long as you don’t tell him to play too conservatively, like the Kansas City Chiefs did time after time. Smith has the potential to be a top quarterback in the league, especially in Washington. With that said, he also needs help from his backfield. Smith had a 50-26 regular season record during

his five years with the Chiefs and a large part of those wins came from Jamaal Charles and Kareem Hunt. Smith will be a good fit in Washington, but he needs that backfield behind him. Malcolm: I think Alex Smith is a good fit for the Redskins, but not the quarterback they need if they plan on getting any further than the divisional round of the playoffs. Prior to this season, Alex Smith earned his living in the NFL as a “game manager,” earning his paycheck every year by using his ability to limit turnovers. His career 1.91 touchdown/interception ratio places him at No. 16 all-time and in front of Hall of Fame talent like Big Ben, Brett Favre and Dan Marino. While that number is impressive, Smith is notorious for relying on a top-tiered run game and a West Coast offensive approach that emphasizes short routes and screen passes. The Redskins haven’t had a significant run game since the RGIII and Alfred Morris rookie era. With that said, Smith is going to have to step a little out of his comfort zone and trust his instincts. If the Redskins can improve their previously awful offensive line and inevitably improve their run game, Smith would be an excellent starting quarterback and would be part of a team that parallels the San Francisco and Kansas City teams he had success on.

AP Photo

Malcolm gets 3 points for talking about Smith’s skills. Michael gets 2 points for discussing fan reactions. Sean gets 1 point because he didn’t go into detail. 3. Will snowboarder Shaun White medal in the half-pipe at the Winter Olympics? Michael: I’m not really sure. In 2014, White didn’t even medal and that speaks to both the volume of the competition and, possibly, his age catching up with him. But coming into this year, the San Diego native scored a perfect 100 at the U.S. Grand Prix to qualify for the Winter

Olympics. Not only that, but his routine includes the Double McTwist 1260, which he patented, and the frontside double cork 1440. Both are incredibly difficult maneuvers. I think that regardless of what happens, he’s really going to shred the gnar. He’ll just need to be careful while he’s tearing it up, in case the Korean half-pipe gives him chatter.

Sean: It pains me to say this, but sadly, White will not medal in the half-pipe at the Winter Olympics. At 31 years old, White has passed his prime as a snowboarder. He inspired most of the young talent that he will face in the coming weeks, and sadly, they will beat him. He may not be “old” per se, but he’s seen better days in a young man’s game. As much as I would love to see him bring home the gold, or even medal, I honestly do not think it is going to happen for White in his most likely last Olympic performance. Malcolm: I don’t think White will medal in the half-pipe this year. In 2014, White was four years younger and still failed to medal against his foreign competitors.

Now, at age 31, White is past his prime. In certain sports, athletes like David Ortiz, Vince Carter and Tom Brady continue to age and still maintain at least an average level of success. This same phenomenon can’t apply to a sport as strenuous as snowboarding. In order to wow the crowd and judges, snowboarders have to do combinations of twists and turns that are almost impossible to pull off past a certain age. In the 2014 Olympics, men’s half-pipe gold, silver and bronze medalists were ages 25, 15 and 18, respectively. Athletes are getting younger and more innovative — I don’t think White has what it takes to perform at a level worthy enough to beat competitors half his age.

Winner’s Circle Malcolm Tom wins wins ATD ATD 9-5-49-6-3

AP Photo

Malcolm gets 3 points for comparing White to other athletes. Michael gets 2 points for mentioning White’s tricks. Sean gets 1 point for his pessimism about White’s age.

“You miss 100% of the shots “Count...cadence...count you don’t take”Faccus repe cadence

delay, cadence delay, cadence count...”

Signal

Sports

Women’s basketball wins three straight games By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor While the Philadelphia Eagles flew high this week for a Super Bowl win, the women’s basketball team killed two birds of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. On Wednesday, Jan. 31, the Lions defeated Rowan University, 87-77, in Packer Hall. The team then trekked north to Mahwah, New Jersey and plowed through Ramapo College, 74-55, on Saturday, Feb. 3. The Lions were on top of Rowan throughout the game. Senior guard Charlotte Schum scored the Lions’ first points off a jump shot. Afterwards, senior forward Nikki Schott caught a defensive rebound and sent a pass to sophomore forward Jen Byrne. Byrne dribbled across the court and scored a layup on a fast break. The Lions never looked back, taking a commanding 23-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. In the 11th minute of the game, Rowan began to fight back. Senior center April Szymczyk hit back-toback layups. Freshman forward Taylor Gardner and sophomore guard Dominique Peters followed up with layups of their own to diminish the

O’Leary scores 13 points in a blowout win over Rowan University. Lions lead to 25-20. The Lions responded with offensive plays of their own. In the 17th minute, Schott jumped high for a putback layup. On the next play, Byrne went on a fast break and scored a layup. Despite the Lions building a 4227 lead by halftime, Rowan was not finished. The Lions’ defense endured a series of layups and free throws by Szymczyk, Peters and senior guard Summer Crilley. In the last two minutes of the

third quarter, Schott slowed down Rowan’s momentum by making four free throws and a layup. By the fourth quarter, the Lions held a slim 60-54 lead. The remaining 10 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth roller coaster for the Lions and Rowan. Rowan senior guard/forward Alex Raring started off with a jumper. Byrne responded with a mid-range basket of her own on the next Lions possession. Raring then sunk another jumper. On the

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

next play, Schott jumped into the action and drained a three-pointer. Raring proceeded to score a three-pointer of her own to cut the Lions lead down to 70-64. With one minute remaining, Byrne sealed the Lions victory by sinking six free throws. She finished the game with a towering 30 points and 12 rebounds. Head coach Chessie Jackson was impressed with Byrne’s dominating performance. “Jen came out against Rowan

with a ton of energy and focus,” Jackson said. “She’s naturally talented, no doubt, but Rowan was a great representation of how her talent can pair with energy to help her statistically. I played her a ton of minutes and she rose to the challenge.” On the road at Ramapo, the Lions offense ignited with doubledigit scoring performances by sophomore guard Lauren Barlow, junior forward Samantha Famulare, junior guard Kate O’Leary and Byrne. The team’s defense also had a stellar performance and forced 19 turnovers against Rowan. Jackson says the team’s growing chemistry is leading them to immense success. “We’ve been talking about the pressure and the expectations that can come along with winning,” Jackson said. “Our team is staying hungry and focused on our goal. We’re getting tougher every day, becoming more and more competitive and building chemistry as a group.” The team will be playing its last two home games this week in Packer Hall.The Lions will face William Paterson University on Wednesday, Feb. 7, and Montclair State University on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Swimming and diving team brushes off Pioneers By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

After a memorable last home meet, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams capped off their regular season on a tear at William Paterson University on Saturday, Feb. 3. Both the men and women outpaced William Paterson, achieving final scores of 167118 and 139-97 respectively. At the 1000-freestyle, freshman Kai Michaud claimed first place with a time of 10:17.68. Just five seconds later, fellow freshman Griffin Morgan placed second with a time of 10:22.98 followed by junior Sam Maquet in third with a time of 10:28.93. The rookies kept the momentum going when freshman Joseph Skotnicki earned first place in the 200-freestyle, clocking in at 1:51.04. At the 100-backstroke, sophomore Derek Kneisel swam to first with a time of 54.17. Meanwhile, senior Logan Barnes secured yet another first place finish for the Lions at the 100-breaststroke, clocking in at 1:02.62. The Lions were also dominant in the 200medley relay. The underclassmen squad of freshmen Patrick Bakey, Andrew Thompson, Kneisel and sophomore Brian Tucker pushed their way to first with a time of 1:41.35. Bakey was not done yet, as he won the 50freestyle and clocked in at 22.59. Thompson then dominated the 100-freestyle and

Lions Lineup February 7, 2018

I n s i d e

snatched first place with a time of 49.03. Sophomore Harrison Yi continued the Lions’ success as he won the 200-breastroke with a time of 2:18.51. Fellow sophomore David Madigan also captured first place at the 500-freestyle with a time of 5:03.74. At the diving board, freshman Jay Soukup performed well at the 1-meter event and earned first place with a score of 231.01. Men’s swimming and diving head coach Brian Bishop was satisfied with the win at William Paterson. “It was a nice comeback win after the tough loss to Rowan,” Bishop said. “Everyone was hyper-focused and it showed with a couple of early sweeps.” The Lions’ domination was similar on the women’s side. Women’s swimming and diving head coach Jennifer Harnett said the team was well prepared coming into William Paterson. “We knew they did not have a strong team but we set some team goals for ourselves and came in with great energy for the meet,” Harnett said. “There were some great races both with William Paterson and within our own team.” The freshmen were well represented at the 200-medley relay. The freshmen squad of Elise Fraser, Melanie Fosko, Kayla Krisak and Jamie Bowne took first place with a winning time of 1:58.01. Bowne secured another win in the 200butterfly with a time of 2:27.83. Bowne’s

Track and Field page 19

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Michaud claims first place in the 1000-freestyle. effort was overshadowed by junior Hailey outlasted the competition at the 1,000-freestyle, Thayer’s hat-trick performance. clocking in at 11:17.07. Thayer started off with a victory in the Senior Jillian Galindo secured another 50-freestyle, clocking in at 26.17. She then victory for the Lions at the 200-breastroke swept the 500-freestyle, recording a time of with a time of 2:43.50. At the diving board, 5:39.55. Thayer capped off her performance senior Hannah Raymond displayed a first at the 200-individual medley with a winning place performance at the 1-meter event and time of 2:27.37. scored 272.93 points. Meanwhile, the Lions showed no signs of Harnett complemented Raymond’s efsophomore slumps. It all started with sopho- forts to be on top. more Annie Menninger capturing first place “Hannah is extremely talented and a hard at the 200-freestyle with a time of 2:02.22. worker,” Harnett said. “She makes everyFellow sophomore Samantha Askin then thing look so easy. It has been great to see her claimed first in the 100-breastroke with a shine in her senior year.” time of 1:15.24. Sophomore Kazia Moore The Lions now prepare for the upcomalso secured first place in the 100-freestyle ing Metropolitan Conference Championand clocked in at 56.79. ships. The meet is scheduled to be held at The team’s upperclassmen had stellar Rutgers University-New Brunswick from performances as well. Junior Gabi Denicola Feb. 16 to Feb. 18.

Men’s Basketball page 19

Wrestling page 20

Around the Dorm page 23

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