The Signal: Spring '18 No. 9

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Vol. XLVIII, No. 9

March 28, 2018

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Kathryn Foster named College’s 16th president

By Michelle Lampariello Managing Editor The Board of Trustees announced its unanimous selection of the College’s new presidentelect on Tuesday, March 27 ­— Kathryn Foster, an accomplished scholar and educator, will return to her home state to serve as the College’s 16th president on July 1.

Foster, a Verona, New Jersey native, is currently the president of the University of Maine at Farmington. Before her tenure at UMF began in 2012, Foster spent 18 years at the University at Buffalo, serving as the director of the school’s Regional Institute, chair of the Department of Urban and Regional planning and as the associate chair for undergraduate education and director of undergraduate studies.

While Foster is excited to return to her home state, and mentioned her affinity for New Jersey “at least three times in the cover letter,” she made it clear to the large crowd gathered in the Brower Student Center Room 225 East that the College’s location is not

Foster eagerly anticipates her tenure beginning in July. the only factor that drew her to the school.

“If all I wanted was to come back to New Jersey after many years away, I could’ve done that any time,” Foster said. “It took this opportunity at this magnificent institution to tug at me, to yank at me actually, to apply for the only position I have wanted or

sought since assuming my current presidency in Maine.”

Foster cites the College’s reputation and values that align with her own as primary factors in her decision to apply for the position.

“TCNJ is eminent, it is accomplished, it is a place of academic excellence, it is a place where the values of the school resonate with

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

me, about engagement, about inclusivity, about integrity, about self-reflection,” Foster said in an interview with The Signal.

Presidential Search Committee Chair Susanne Svizeny (’79) expressed her confidence in Foster’s leadership skills, and how Foster’s values, including the support of shared governance,

played a large role in her success in the presidential search.

“We knew the charge was hard to find the right person that really could take TCNJ to that next level, and we believe and we are very confident in her capabilities,” Svizeny said.

Foster will remain UMF’s sitting president until her tenure at the College begins after current President R. Barbara Gitenstein retires on June 30. Foster explained that she does not want to infringe upon Gitenstein’s last few months in office, but plans to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

“We have talked about having some regular conversations to make sure that the pass of the baton, which sounds easy but it is really an event that requires some skill in athletics as well as in presidential transitions, that that pass of the baton is as smooth as it could be so that the school is continuing to advance, and we don’t lose any momentum and I am apprised of the issues that I see ELECT page 2

Guest speakers discuss obesity stigma

Kappa Delta raises money to prevent child abuse

By Samantha Malnick Correspondent

By Alexander Edelson Staff Writer

The College’s Schools of Science, Business and Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science teamed up with global health care company Novo Nordisk to present the third seminar, “The Biology of Obesity and its Management,” of the four-part lecture series “Understanding Obesity: A Multidisciplinary Challenge” in the Education Building on March 20.

Guest speakers Dr. Jason Brett, Novo Nordisk’s senior medical director of clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs, and Dr. B. Gabriel Smolarz, the company’s medical director for obesity, began the lecture by defining obesity and its relevance to society.

“Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat that impairs health and/or longevity,” Brett said. “A disease that is affecting nearly 95 million people in the U.S. alone.”

The American Medical Association recognized obesity as a chronic disease in June 2017 to which other professional organizations such as the Federal Drug Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

The women of the Zeta Theta chapter of Kappa Delta braved Winter Storm Toby to celebrate Shamrock Week, which was comprised of daily events beginning on March 18 to raise money for child abuse prevention charities. The sorority donates money to two organizations, Prevent Child Abuse America and its local subsidiary Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey.

On Monday, the sisters raised money through a donut sale and photobooth.

“We actually did really well with that and I didn’t expect that since it was the first day back from spring break,” said Lindsey Harris, a sophomore journalism and professional writing major and community service chair for Kappa Delta. “We completely sold out, we even had to close early!”

On Tuesday, the sisters collaborated with Red Berry in Campus Town to host a fundraiser. Anyone who mentioned Kappa Delta or presented the event flyer would have 20 percent of their order’s proceeds donated to Prevent Child Abuse America.

The sorority had planned to host a loaded potato sale on Wednesday, but were unfortunately unable to because of the snow day.

Thursday’s event was one of the more lighthearted events of the week: Pie a KD, which took place on Alumni Grove. During

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The food truck festival is the most popular event of Shamrock Week. the event, students were able to smash a pie in the face of any Kappa Delta sister for the price of a small donation to Prevent Child Abuse America.

“It’s actually doing really well,” Harris said. “Some people just donate since they feel bad pieing people.”

The biggest Shamrock Week event is the annual food truck festival, where Kappa Delta brings in various food trucks for students to enjoy in Lot 12. This year’s food truck festival was far more ambitious than prior years’ because it took place on the

Opinions / page 8

Arts & Entertainment / page 10

same day as Lions Day, which serves as an opportunity for the College’s Admissions Department to showcase the school to prospective students.

“This year we are going to have all those prospective students there, it’s going to be very full,” Harris said.

The momentous task of planning the food truck festival became even harder when the sisters of Kappa Delta learned that the College was also hosting a major event on the see FUND page 13

Features / page 13

Sports / page 18

Lunafest Traveling film festival visits campus

TCNJam Students fundraise for pediatric cancer

Women’s Tennis Lions defeat Rider and Swarthmore

See A&E page 10

See Features page 13

See Sports page 18

page 2 The Signal March 28, 2018

Elect / Foster hopes to further advance College page 2 The Signal March 28, 2018

continued from page 1

need to be aware of,” Foster told The Signal.

The campus community is excited to see what Foster will do as president.

“She brings a tremendous amount of energy, and I think she will be a tremendous asset going forward to this institution,” said Jorge A. Caballero, chair of the Board. “I think it puts us on a path not only continuing the tremendous growth that President Gitenstein has done over the last 19 years, but also take us to the next level.”

Foster admires the impressive legacy Gitenstein leaves behind.

She has studied some of Gitenstein’s initiatives and accomplishments during her tenure at the College to learn more about the school and how to effectively serve as its leader. She appreciates that Gitenstein strives for quality and excellence to give students the flair of a private school at a public institution, and that Gitenstein works to ensure that the College’s reputation matches reality.

As Foster grows more familiar with prominent campus issues, one sticks out to her — diversity and inclusion. Foster served in the U.S. Peace Corps from 1987 to 1989 in Swaziland, a landlocked African nation, before the end of Apartheid, and she believes this experience helped her to become a better and more understanding teacher, administrator and president.

“I experienced what it was like for two years to live as a young white woman in a nation where those things did not count for much, those were not categories if you will, categories of who you are that were important and that were respected,” Foster told The Signal. “It was an important learning experience for me and it was an important set of emotions and feelings to have about what is it like to be in a place where people make decisions about you, stereotype you, decide what you’re worth, essentially because of who you are and what you look like.”

Foster explained that while this is only her personal story, she feels that her experience in Swaziland has made her a proponent of “authentic inclusion,” and the idea that a diverse community is stronger than a homogenized one.

Students were happy to discover during Foster’s introductory speech to the campus community that she is an approachable leader with student-centered values.

“I’m excited to see what she does. She seems like someone who’s really relaxed and wants to hear what the students think and listen to our voices,” said Morgan Fligel, a junior finance major.

Gitenstein, who is well-liked by students and faculty members, will be missed by the campus community. However, students are hopeful that they will form a similarly fond relationship with Foster.

“I’m obviously going to miss the

Photo courtesy of Peter Murphy

Foster shares the College’s values of shared governance and student-centered initiatives.

Git, but I’m looking forward to what (Foster) can bring to our campus in the future,” said Diana Da Silva, a freshman public health major.

Foster ended her address with an anecdote about her interview process for the job. She explained that after her flight was cancelled and her luggage went missing, she had no choice but to attend the final round of “speed dating” interviews with College constituents clad in a sweatshirt. She was embarrassed, and knew that “candidates who wear sweatshirts to the final interview typically do not get the job,”

but decided to meet with Search Committee members, alumni, students, faculty, staff, union leaders, foundation leaders and Gitenstein regardless of her wardrobe.

“You do what you can, you do it in a sweatshirt, you call on some inner resilience and you show them that you can take a punch,” Foster said.

While the importance of resilience is certainly a lesson learned from Foster’s decision, she wanted to leave campus community members with a different message.

“The fact that I am standing here, that I got the job after all, says far less about me than it does about you,” Foster said. “Only a college with the confidence, character, kindheartedness and touch of craziness would look past the sweatshirt and intrust me with this astounding privilege and responsibility … I cannot think of a more honorable, meaningful or joyful way to spend the coming years of my life. Together we will do great things, and I cannot wait to get started. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and go Lions!”

March  28,  2018  The  Signal  page  3

Novo   /  Obesity  comorbid  with  other  health  issues Â

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

Left: Brett and Smolarz introduce new approaches to prevent obesity. Right: Brett believes obesity treatments should be made more affordable. continued from page 1

by relating it to the logistics behind thirst, analogizing it with the Association of Clinical Endo- concept of tire pressure. crinologists the American AssoWhen humans are thirsty and ciation of Clinical Endocrinolo- choose to go grab a glass of wagists soon followed, according to ter, it is an involuntary action, Brett and Smolarz. according to Smolarz. “We are in an era where we’re “When the body is dehydrated, just scratching the surface of un- our tire pressure sensors, or osmoderstanding the biology and ac- receptors, pick up on this and send cepting (obesity) as a disease,� signals to the brain to give us a Smolarz said. sensation of thirst,� Smolarz said.

Meagan Rodriguez, a senior “Once you drink, the water gets abbiology major, honed in on the sorbed and that sensor sees that the stigmas behind the disease. volume went up again. It then feeds “When we talk about eating back and says, ‘OK, we don’t need disorders and weight problems, to say ‘thirst’ anymore.’â€? there isn’t a lot of focus on obesiThe problem with obesity is ty,â€? Rodriguez said. “Many peo- that this system Smolarz described ple assume overweight people registers low tire pressure, even are lazy or unhealthy slobs, and ZKHQ WKH WLUHV DUH IXOO\ LQĂ DWHG that’s really not the case at all.â€? which causes people to overeat.

6PRODU] VLPSOLĂ€HG WKH ELRORJ\ “So the cycle continues, and

unfortunately for human beings, it’s not the light that goes on,� he said. “It’s a sensation to eat.�

One concerning factor, and one of the main reasons why Novo Nordisk believes obesity should be treated, is because obesity does not always stand alone as a disease. Obesity is associated with many other diseases, or “obesityrelated comorbidities,� according to Brett. “Some of those are metabolic in nature such as Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease,� Brett said. “We can also see mechanical illnesses related to obesity — chronic back pain, obstructive sleep apnea and arthritis, not forgetting mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression.�

If health care professionals were to become more engaged

with obese patients, just a 5 percent reduction in weight loss could contribute to a decrease in obesity-related comorbidities, Brett explained. “With a 5 percent reduction in (body mass index) on a national level, we could avert 3.6 million cases of hypertension, 6.3 million cases of cancer and over 4 million cases of diabetes,� Brett said.

Nationwide weight improvement would also positively contribute to the U.S. economy, saving nearly $230 billion in just a few years, Brett explained.

Although Brett and Smolarz brought up several methods of how to treat problems like obesity, some audience members reacted with some skepticism toward their suggestions.

Rodriguez brought up the

concern of the affordability of treatments such as drugs, lifestyle changes and surgeries. “Obviously not everyone can afford surgery and medicines,�

Rodriguez said. “Knowledge is so important and when people WU\ WR JHW KHDOWK\ DQG Ă€W RIWHQ times they have to pay so much to even get a nutrition plan.â€?

Access to affordable medications is one of the biggest challenges Brett and Smolarz have seen, which is because many health insurance companies and SKDUPDFHXWLFDO EHQHĂ€W PDQDJHUV often treat obesity medicine differently from others. “One of the approaches that we have to do is not just educate health care professionals and patients, but also educate payers and employers,â€? Brett said.

SFB funds multiple events through conference call

By Eric Preisler Staff Writer Seven events were funded and two events were tabled at this week’s Student Finance Board meeting held over a conference call on March 21.

Iota, Iota, Iota, The Association of Students for Africa, PRISM, Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity Incorporated and the Union Latina Student Organization were fully funded to have Andrea Ritchie speak at the College on April 19 at 6 p.m. in the Education Building Room 212.

Ritchie is an African-American immigrant, attorney and activist who will be speaking about topics in her new book, “Invisible No More,â€? which delves into UDFLDO SURĂ€OLQJ SROLFH EUXWDOLW\ DQG LPmigration enforcement against women of color, according to the event’s proposal. “Her experience as a lawyer, her work as an activist and advocate for impoverished women who are victims of state violence and her personal history as a survivor of violence uniquely positions her to educate TCNJ students,â€? the proposal stated.

The Black Student Union was fully funded $3,363.70 for its Around the World Fashion Show, which will be held on April 14 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Brower Student Center Room 100.

Funding for the event includes the FRVWV IRU D GHVLJQHU D '- D 6QDSFKDW ÀOter, lighting, pipes and drapes.

Three separate clubs are contributing clothes for the fashion show. Union Latina is contributing clothes for a Havana, Cuba scene. The Association of Students for Africa is contributing clothes for a Lagos, Nigeria scene and the Indian Students Association is donating clothes for a Mumbai, India scene.

The purpose of this event is to showcase

the diversity of multicultural organizations on campus.

7KLV IDVKLRQ VKRZ EHQHÀWV WKH FDPSXV community by providing a way for multicultural organizations to celebrate their diversity, which is one of the College’s core beliefs, according to the proposal.

Union Latina was partially funded for its Copa event, which will be held on April 21 in the Decker Social Space.

The organization was funded $2,544 for the costs of food, decorations, a DJ and a photobooth, but funding for professional dancers was tabled.

According to the proposal, Copa is an annual Carnival-themed event that comELQHV /DWLQ $PHULFDQ FXOWXUDO LQĂ XHQFHV to create an evening for students to enjoy. “Copa is an annual event that combines Latin American cultures into one XQLTXH DQG IXQ HYHQLQJ Ă€OOHG ZLWK SHUformances, Latin food and music,â€? said Erica Bello, a freshman Spanish and psychology double major and Union Latina’s Latino Awareness Chair. “This year’s Carnival theme allows Union Latina to embrace different Carnival traditions into one evening.â€?

The Mixed Signals were fully funded $4,100 for its event, Rock, which will be held on April 14 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall.

This event will consist of an improvisation performance featuring four trained actors and comedians, as well as an improv workshop, the proposal stated.

The Iota Beta chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was tabled for its event, Delta Lessons, which would be held on April 10 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Business Building Room 122.

The event would consist of a professional and life development skills workshop, the proposal stated.

SFB requested more information

faculty, staff and students by starting from within, the proposal stated. “We want to offer the campus an experience where they can attend to learn about how they lead, but also why they lead the way they do because of who they are,� the proposal explained.

SFB tabled this event because of high costs and also recommended for Zeta Phi Beta to consider different speakers.

Prism was fully funded $1,000 for its event, Authoring Our Stories, which will be held on Tuesday, April 10 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Education Building Room 204.

This workshop will help participants Freshman Spanish and examine the ways in which events and psychology double major and Union people shape life experiences, according to the proposal. /DWLQD¡V $ZDUHQHVV &KDLU Prism’s event, Big Gay Nooner, which about the workshop before deciding on would be held on April 16 from 11 a.m. its funding. to 1 p.m. on Green Lawn, was tabled.

Chi Upsilon Sigma was fully funded This event would promote the celfor its event, Paint your Stress Away with ebration of gender and sexual diversity a Twist, which will be held on April 19 while allowing students to de-stress by from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Education providing crafts and snacks, the proposBuilding Room 115. al explained.

The organization was funded $2,130 SFB tabled this event to get more into cover the costs of painting materials, formation about the Nooner, as well as cups and mixed fruit. to understand how giveaways of T-shirts A visual artist, Louie Blaka, will teach and food would promote the mission of attendees how to de-stress through paint- the event. ing at this event, the proposal stated.

Medicine, Education and Development Chi Upsilon Sigma will also educate for Low Income Families Everywhere WKH FDPSXV FRPPXQLW\ DERXW WKH EHQHĂ€WV was fully funded $3,191.18 for its event, of juicing and healthy eating by allowing A Taste of South America, which will be guests in the audience to create their own held on April 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. smoothies using fruits and vegetables. in the Brower Student Center Room 225.

The Omicron Epsilon Chapter of the Funding will cover the costs of food, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was tabled for its utensils, table cloths, balloons, streamers event, The Empowerment Summit: Revi- DQG Ă \HUV talizing Your Why, which would be held MEDLIFE will be providing tradion April 7 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the tional South American food with an emBrower Student Center. phasis on Peruvian culture, according to The purpose of this event is to empower the proposal.

“Copa is an annual event that combines Latin American cultures into one unique and fun evening Ă€OOHG ZLWK SHUIRUPDQFHV Latin food and music.â€? — Erica Bello

page 4 The Signal March 28, 2018

Professor hosts book launch party to fund Womanspace

By Tiffany Rutkowski Staff Writer

An alumna and adjunct professor of counselor education at the College proudly shared a glimpse of her lifelong battle with anxiety at her book launch party and fundraiser for Womanspace at Piccolo Pronto in Campus Town on Friday, March 23.

Womanspace is a non-profit agency in Mercer county that provides services to those impacted by domestic and sexual violence. The book launch party raised $259 in cash donations.

Corinne Zupko, author of “From Anxiety To Love,” took the floor with an intimate audience to disclose her own personal struggle that began at age 2 –– a diagnosis of separation anxiety, which followed her all the way to her time as a student at the College and led to the birth of her book.

“It’s very meaningful for me to be at The College of New Jersey,” Zupko said. “It’s where I was first diagnosed with some of my issues.”

As a sophomore living in Cromwell Hall, Zupko experienced one of her first anxiety attacks. She had recently heard the news that a student at the College had died suddenly from meningitis. As someone who was hyperfocused on medical issues, she was instantly fearful.

“I calmed myself during the

Writing about her anxiety helps Zupko process her feelings. day,” Zupko said, “But, at 3 a.m., I woke up with what felt like a punch in my stomach.”

As she faced this wave of panic in the darkness of her dorm room, she trembled from head to toe, struggling to make her way down from her top bunk. Her roommate was unaware of her battle with anxiety, according to Zupko.

“Many people around me didn’t know what was going on because I always put a smile on,” she said.

For anyone suffering with similar feelings of fear or anxiety,

Zupko encourages them not to hide behind a smile and to seek out support and ways to cope with their issues.

“In the climate that we’re in, people need to learn about being in touch with themselves and this book is really starting that conversation,” said Kathleen Spata, program coordinator for the New Jersey Support Service Providers program at The Center on Sensory and Complex Disabilities at the College.

For Zupko, her healing began after her mother handed her a

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

copy of “A Course in Miracles,” a three-volume curriculum that teaches the way to achieve universal love and peace.

Although the text helped her, Zupko realized she still wasn’t targeting the heart of her battle with anxiety, especially after later suffering from a debilitating attack that was worse than the one she experienced in Cromwell Hall, according to Zupko.

Zupko began writing in 2010 as a way to deal with her anxiety.

“I started writing about what was helping me,” Zupko said.

“That’s when things started to fall away.”

As Zupko began the six-year process of writing “From Anxiety To Love,” she realized she had finally begun to heal. Writing this book allowed her to process her experiences rather than push them away, according to Zupko.

“During her time as my professor, she was really doing all the fine tuning of her book,” said Anna Nase (’17), an alumna of the College’s graduate counseling program. “I wanted to come back and support her after all the support she provided me, even while writing a book.”

Today, even after using “From Anxiety to Love” as a tool to self-reflect and heal her anxiety, Zupko still deals with fears in her daily life.

“Now, when I feel overwhelmed and when I have a todo list, what happens is I meet that to-do list with a very different energy — like I can do one thing at a time,” Zupko said.

In “From Anxiety To Love,” Zupko uses her stories and her knowledge from “A Course in Miracles” to introduce readers to their inner therapist and to take them through the process of undoing anxiety-based thinking in order to restore awareness of peace.

“No matter what you’re going through, the light in you is too bright to fail,” she said.

Vital Signs: Get screened for STIs

Young people have a higher risk of getting STIs.

By Anna Kellaher Columnist

While sex education is required in New Jersey high schools, students may find that one marking period of their gym teacher showing movies about teen pregnancy did not provide enough information.

Each year, 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur in the U.S. These infections are disproportionately common in young people –– 15 to 24-year-olds account for 50 percent of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many STIs are asymptomatic, meaning that most people infected with an STI do not show any visible signs. Even though the disease may not be noticeable, it is still contagious and can have severe long-term consequences — including infertility — if left untreated, according to the CDC. One of the main reasons why young

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people are at a higher risk of getting STIs is insufficient screening. The CDC recommends annual screenings for all sexually active women under the age of 25 for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The recommendations for sexually active young men are less structured — the frequency of testing is mostly based off of sexual history and the doctor’s opinion.

Screenings for less common STIs, such as HIV, herpes and syphilis, may be recommended by a family physician based off of a person’s sexual history, according to the CDC. Frequent screenings allow for early action, which minimizes the longterm effects of infection and the spreading of disease. Student Health Services provides free screenings for chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV, as well as low cost screenings for syphilis and trichomoniasis. If a test is positive, the health care providers at SHS can connect students with the necessary resources.

Nation & W rld

March 28, 2018 The Signal page 5

Western powers respond to nerve gas attack

By James Wright Staff Writer Leaders of the U.S., U.K., France and Germany signed a statement on March 15 that condemned Russia’s use of a nerve agent to poison a former Russian spy and his daughter on British soil, leaving them both hospitalized in critical condition, according to The New York Post.

British authorities have insisted that the March 4 attack of 66-year-old Sergei Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England was directed by the Kremlin.

The statement has received support from other countries within and outside the EU in regards to the blaming Russia for the incident, according to CNBC. The poison was identified as the nerve agent Novichok, which was secretly developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s, according to CNN. No country other than Russia is known to have ever created or used the poison.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, British Prime Minister Theresa May expelled 23 Russian diplomats from British soil, according to BBC. The expulsion is the largest in the U.K. in over 30 years. The individuals, identified as “undeclared intelligence officers,” have one week to vacate the country.

“We do hold Russia culpable for this brazen, brazen act and despicable act,” May said during a visit to the attack

site, according to BBC. Russian government officials denied any connection to the attack, including President Vladimir Putin, who called the accusations “delirium and nonsense,” according to CNN. The statement of condemnation concluded that there is “no plausible alternative explanation” to Russia’s alleged involvement in the attack. It referred to the incident as the “first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War,” and “an assault on U.K. sovereignty,” according to BBC. U.S. President Donald Trump, one of the statement’s signatories, described the attack as a “very sad situation,” according to BBC. “It certainly looks like the Russians were behind it,” Trump said.

The EU is split on administering additional sanctions on Russia, especially considering that different countries have varying national interests. For example, countries in Eastern Europe have closer connections with Putin and would likely see their own economies suffer as a result of imposing sanctions on Russia, according to CNBC. Delivering a unified response may prove more difficult than expected, according to Otilia Dhand, senior vice president at Teneo Intelligence, in a report by CNBC. “I don’t get the feeling that among EU leaders there is a big appetite for additional economic sanctions on Russia,”

AP Photo

Russia denies any ties to the attempted murders.

Dhand said. “In fact, this is quite unlikely. Individual sanctions? Probably, yes.”

Several western countries are in agreement about Moscow’s ties to the nerve-gas attack on British soil, but Putin has denied any wrongdoing in the case. Just hours after U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson claimed that Russia has been stockpiling Novichok for years, Putin affirmed Russia’s innocence, according to CNN. “The first thing that came to my mind: If it was military grade agent, they would have died on the spot, obviously,” Putin said, according to CNN. “Russia does not have any such agents, we destroyed it all.”

Footbridge collapses over main Miami road, kills six

Rescue workers search for victims among the wreckage.

By Viktoria Ristanovic Staff Writer

A pedestrian bridge near downtown Miami collapsed on March 15, killing six people and injuring at least 10, according to CNN. After days of picking through the rubble, the search came to an end on Saturday after the remains of all six victims were recovered, according to CNN. Amongst those pulled out from the 950 tons of steel and concrete were 18-year-old Florida International University student Alexa Duran and father-of-three Brandon Brownfield.

AP Photo

The bridge had been moved into place over Miami’s Southwest Eighth Street with motorized lifts on March 10, and was not yet completed or opened. It collapsed five days later, crushing numerous cars below, according to the Miami Herald.

The bridge was intended to protect pedestrians from traffic on the busy Miami road. In August 2017, an FIU student was fatally struck by a vehicle on the same street.

The bridge was scheduled to be open for pedestrian use next year, according to CNN. FIU President Mark Rosenberg honored the victims of the collapse.

“Even as we grieve, we all have an interest in getting to the bottom of what happened,” Rosenberg said, according to CNN. “It will take time for our community to heal.”

FIU held a moment of silence on March 19 at 1:47 p.m., the time of the collapse.

The bridge’s design was a recipe for disaster, according to the Miami Herald. The bridge only had a single row of trusses running through its center for support, while similar truss bridges usually have two sets of vertical pylons to increase stability. Preliminary evidence suggests that the failure of a diagonal support truss at one end of the bridge contributed to its entire collapse.

Two days before the tragedy, Denney Pate, a lead engineer from the company presiding over the bridge, placed a call to the Florida Department of Transportation to warn that he observed “some cracking in the north end of the pylon span,” according to The Washington Post.

“Obviously some repairs or whatever will have to be done but from a safety perspective we don’t see that there’s any issue there so we’re not concerned about it from that perspective although obviously the cracking

is not good and something’s going to have to be, ya know, done to repair that.” Pate said, according to The Washington Post.

The message was not received until after the collapse because the Department of Transportation official was out of office on an assignment, according to The Washington Post.

The family of Ronaldo Fraga, a truck driver who was killed in the collapse, filed a lawsuit against FIGG Bridge Engineers as well as Munilla Construction Management, the contractor for the bridge, according to NBC. “Post-tensioning operations should not be done without first providing for public safety by precluding any active movement under the structure,” the suit stated, according to NBC. FIGG Bridge Engineers released a statement one day after the collapse. “[We are] carefully examining the steps that our team has taken in the interest of our overarching concern for public safety,” the statement read, according to The Washington Post. “The evaluation was based on the best available information at the time.”

Troops killed in helicopter crash near Iraq-Syria border

By Megan Mayernik Staff Writer

Seven U.S. service members were killed on March 15 after their helicopter crashed in western Iraq, according to CNN. The crash left no survivors and is not believed to be a result of enemy activity.

The HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed near Qaim, a city located near the Syrian border, shortly after takeoff, according to The New York Times. Preliminary investigations suggested the helicopter suffered from a technical malfunction, as the crash occurred relatively close to the city’s U.S. military base that is used as a hub to direct logistics and supplies.

A nearby American helicopter immediately reported the crash, according to NBC. The scene was quickly secured by a team of

responding Iraqi security forces and coalition members.

“While the investigation is still ongoing, there is absolutely no reason to believe this involved enemy action,” said Colonel Thomas Veale, a spokesman for an American coalition in opposition of the Islamic State, according to NBC. “All indications are this was an accident during a routine troop movement.”

The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has continued to work with Iraqi forces as well as the Syrian Democratic Forces to ensure that foreign fighters and insurgents are monitored across the region, according to NBC. Two of the victims were members of the New York City Fire Department, according to CNN. One day after the crash, Lieutenant Christopher J. Raguso of Division 13 and Fire Marshal Christopher T. “Tripp”

Zanetis of the Bureau of Fire Investigation were memorialized by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“They are truly two of New York City’s bravest — running into danger to protect and defend others, both in New York City and in combat overseas,” de Blasio said, according to CNN. “On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest condolences to their families, loved ones and fellow service members and FDNY members.”

Raguso was recognized for his bravery and honored by more than 100 mourners who gathered at the fire station where he served, according to the New York Post.

Raguso and Zanetis were also honored during the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, according to CBS. President Donald Trump also offered his condolences to the

AP Photo

The crash is likely a result of a technical malfunction.

families, according to CNN. “Their sacrifice in service to our country will never be forgotten,” Trump tweeted on March 16.

The crash is a grim reminder of the international conflict that has continued for years in the Middle East. In a public statement, Brig.

Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, the director of operations for the fight against

the Islamic State, commended the bravery of those killed as the fight against ISIL continues in the region.

“This tragedy reminds us of the risks our men and women face every day in service of our nations,” Braga said, according to The New York Times. “We are thinking of the loved ones of these service members today.”

page 6 The Signal March 28, 2018

March 28, 2018 The Signal page 7

Editorial

Students should not fear change

Days before I started my freshman year at the College a year and a half ago, I was extremely anxious. I did not know what to expect from this new chapter of my life and was beginning to get cold feet. So many thoughts swirled around my head. Was this the right decision? Should I have gone to another school? Will I make any new friends?

My worries stemmed from the fact that I was stepping outside of my comfort zone. I was leaving the comfort and familiarity of my home and family that I was used to.

The car ride up to the College on move in day was particularly nerve wracking. I knew I couldn’t change my mind. Little did I know at that moment, my decision to come to the College and step outside of my comfort zone was one of the greatest decisions I ever made.

I realized this was the right school and I made plenty of new friends.

The College has become a place where I thrive. It only took me being momentarily uncomfortable to make that transitional jump.

When I use the GPS on my iPhone, it uses the College as my home address — which is fitting, because the College really has become my home.

Had I stayed in my comfort zone, I would not have grown the way I have. Leaving it instilled character in me, and has bettered me as a more independent person. Since then, I have met people and encountered opportunities that I would have missed out on.

I had to remember the benefits of leaving my comfort zone when I was faced with another opportunity to leave it.

Early in my college career, I knew I wanted to study abroad as a junior for a semester. However, that was a decision that had to be made in advance of my junior year. The College had become my new comfort zone, and now I had to choose if I wanted to step outside of it.

As a sophomore, I discovered that the study abroad program I desired the most would work best during the fall semester of my junior year. At the time of this discovery, I realized there was not much time until the application deadline.

I had to make a big decision. Many questions came to my mind. I thought, “What if I’m not ready to spend months in another country by myself? What if I’ll get homesick? What if I won’t make any friends on the program I go on?”

I realized that all of my what-ifs and worries were quite similar to the ones I had before I came to college. Moving an hour away from home versus moving across the Atlantic ocean seemed incomparable.

This would be a large step outside my comfort zone. However, I remembered that taking a leap of faith in coming to the College brought the best change to my life.

Instead of worrying about the negative possibilities of studying abroad, I thought of all the positive potential. Since I’ve grown so much in coming to the College, I realize how much more I would grow leaving it for a semester. Immersing myself in a new culture and language different than my own can truly teach me independence.

I decided that even though it may be scary to study abroad, I had to apply. It is again time for me to leave my comfort zone, and to see what awaits in life’s next chapter.

Leaving your comfort zone is a chance for a new start. It is a way to shake up the monotonous schedule of day-to-day life and embark on a new journey.

You will learn things about yourself that you never knew, and gain memorable life experiences. Even if your experiences outside your comfort zone aren’t always positive, you will surely learn something.

You will be happy to know you had the courage to be uncomfortable.

The only way to progress and grow in life is to start taking risks. If you find yourself feeling that you’ve felt comfortable for too long, you know what to do.

— Julia Marnin Production Manager

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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Studying abroad can be a chance for students to break out of their comfort zones.

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Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Nadir Roberts Reviews Editor robertn5@tcnj.edu Meagan McDowell Photo Editor mcdowem4@tcnj.edu Julia Marnin Production Manager marninj1@tcnj.edu Heather Haase Web Editor haaseh1@tcnj.edu Maddi Ference Kristen Frohlich Social Media Editors ferencm2@tcnj.edu frohlik1@tcnj.edu Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Thomas Munnia Business/Ad Manager tmunnia@gmail.com

“You do what you can, you do it in a sweatshrit, you call on some inner resilience and you show them that you can take a punch.”

—Kathryn Foster College President-Elect

“Many people around me didn’t know what was going on because I always put a smile on.”

—Corinne Zupko

Professor, author and alumna

Correction:

In an opinion piece published on March 21 titled “Higher education admissions ignore intersectionality,” it was stated that The College Board should distribute its test prep materials for free. They do so online as part of a partnership with Kahn Academy.

page 8 The Signal March 28, 2018

Opinions

Harassment reactions reveal double standard

Perry’s advances make Glaze feel uncomfortable.

By Alexandra Raskin Katy Perry, one of three judges on ABC’s “American Idol” reboot, has recently made headlines due to a property dispute with Californian nuns. This scandal overshadowed an instance of sexual misconduct on Perry’s part during the show’s prerecorded auditions.

A 19-year-old hopeful, Benjamin Glaze, mentioned during his audition that he had never kissed a girl. Perry replied, “Come here. Come here right now.”

Glaze offered Perry a kiss on the cheek.

Youtube

After asking for another, Perry turned her head and kissed Glaze on the mouth, raising her arms victoriously.

“I felt a tad bit uncomfortable,” Glaze, who was rejected after his audition, said, according to The New York Times. He does not consider the experience to be sexual assault, and while his role as the receiver of unconsented action allows him to make this judgement, the situation has been a definitive reminder of the many double standards regarding sexual misconduct and of the value of consent.

Perry’s actions, though not as severe

as many recent incidents in the media, exemplify a number of concerning patterns present in our society, though Perry’s advances on the young man were nonetheless unacceptable.

Men and women are often not held to the same standard concerning harassment and assault— Female perpetrators are more easily forgiven, and male victims are less frequently believed. Perry’s actions would likely not have been excused if they were carried out by one of her male co-stars.

This double standard is reminiscent of the widespread misconception that men are inviolable. Males are seen as the perpetrators of sexual misconduct — they are often assumed to be dominant, strong and hypersexual, making it difficult for society to believe that they could be victimized.

For this reason, the violation of “hypersexual individuals” of every gender is largely invisible. While white males are the most common perpetrators of sexual crimes, males can also be victims. Because they are labeled as hypersexual, they are consequently deemed inviolable.

Following the onset of the #MeToo movement, a few male celebrities have come forward with their own experiences with sexual assault.

“This whole thing with Harvey Weinstein is giving me PTSD. Why? Because this kind of thing happened to ME,” tweeted actor and former NFL star Terry Crews.

Others male victims include Anthony Rapp, Brendan Fraser and Michael Gaston.

“I understand the unwarranted shame, powerlessness & inability to blow the whistle. There’s a power dynamic that feels impossible to overcome,” James Van Der Beek tweeted after recounting his own experiences as a young actor.

Based on everything from Perry’s actions to the actions of Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by 84 women according to USA Today, we are reminded that consent should be a right for all people.

Perry’s actions have reminded us that it is always crucial to seek something that is often forgotten — expressed consent.

“Would I have done it if she said, ‘Would you kiss me?’ No, I would have said no,” Glaze told The New York Times. “I know a lot of guys would be like, ‘Heck yeah!’ But for me, I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable immediately. I wanted my first kiss to be special.”

All people are deserving of consent, regardless of race, class, sexuality, occupation and gender. Consent is often seen as a privilege and not a necessity, an implication or an afterthought.

In order to perpetuate a culture in which we view others as deserving, we must remember to give victims the space to speak, and must become proactive seekers of consent. We are all deserving of respect, and by actively seeking consent, we protect ourselves as well as others from victimization.

Online ‘ghosting’ leaves students in darkness

By Danielle Silvia As a child, ghosts were a symbol of entrancing fear for me. Being “ghosted” on Halloween meant finding candy and a note from a friend on my doorstep. I would make it my mission to find out who “ghosted” me and plot who to spook next.

It’s funny how words can acquire so many meanings — in its most common modernized context, “ghosting” refers to when a person whom you are seeing or talking to suddenly leaves the relationship without a trace, never to be heard from again. Many millennials no longer associate ghosts with white sheets and two holes cut out for eyes — they are now associated with broken hearts.

78 percent of millennials claim that they have been victims of ghosting, according to Fortune.

Ghosting has become so prominent among young people because we can hide behind screens instead of working through a conflict face-to-face.

We no longer have to break off a relationship in person — we can do it with a call or text message instead. Someone who normally replies to messages instantaneously can drive another mad by leaving the message on “read” indefinitely, forcing the other to wonder what they did wrong and why they haven’t received a reply.

It is common for people to ignore messages or even block someone’s number. It’s all a huge game of manipulation, and it hurts deeply when you know the other person could be acting this way out of spite.

What makes ghosting especially painful is that it can happen at a time that you would otherwise think the relationship was going well, and it feels like all those ghosts from your childhood have come back to haunt you. It can be difficult to decide how to approach the situation or how to move on.

When a relationship ends, there must be closure for both parties. The only way for this

to be done fairly is face-to-face, giving each person an equal chance to express his or her feelings. When someone is consistently and inexplicably ignored when trying to reach out, that person is denied any semblance of closure or clarification.

It is concerning that the increasing popularity of online dating has also made ghosting more popular. Dating apps make ghosting much more common and socially acceptable than in relationships that begin without any communication over the internet.

While the hook-up culture commonly associated with apps like Tinder existed long before anyone ever set up an online dating profile, today’s technology makes it much easier to exit a relationship, as people can easily hide behind their phones and refuse to return calls or texts.

Being ghosted is never easy, and the confusion and uncertainty that the victim is burdened with is both frustrating and devastating. Life is a culmination of experiences good

Instagram

Social media makes it easier to abruptly end relationships. and bad, and such experiences develop your character.

Reflecting on such an experience with peace, as opposed to hostility or fear, makes you

a stronger person. In the end, it is most important to recognize your own self worth and not let anyone affect the respect and love you have for yourself.

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March 28, 2018 The Signal page 9

Students share opinions around campus “Does sexual assault have a double standard?”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Ambar Grullón, a freshman English major.

“Women are often seen as submissive, making it easier to question if they can perpetuate assault.”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Emma Neuberger, a sophomore English major.

“Society often considers sexual assault carried about by women to be a favor.”

“How has technology changed relationships?”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Thomas Astarita, a freshman finance major.

“Technology makes it easier to leave someone hanging since there is less face-to-face interaction.”

Emmy Liederman / Opinions Editor

Jessica Shek, a freshman English major.

“The more access you have to talk to someone, the easier it is to cut off communication.”

The Signal’s cartoons of the week ...

page 10 The Signal March 28, 2018

Arts & Entertainment

Lunafest casts spotlight on women in film

Students help facilitate the feminist film festival.

By Kaitlyn Njoroge Staff Writer

The diversity of the crowd in the Library Auditorium mirrored the diversity of the mediums, voices and visual techniques seen on screen on Friday, March 23 when Lunafest came to the College. The traveling film festival showcased award-winning short films created by and for women.

Hosted by Women In Learning and Leadership, the film festival made the College one of its stops for approximately a decade. Nine films were screened, in addition to a showcase of artwork created by girls at Maple Shade High School in Maple Shade, New Jersey. Multiple pieces depicting visuals of women, girls or just whatever the student was imagining when conceptualizing the artwork

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

were hung for all to see.

“We want to show women in a multitude of ways — not just film, but also different forms of art,” said Jenna MacDonald, a sophomore history and secondary education major and member of WILL. “We’re just showing what is out there, and that there’s more than what is in the actual movie theatres. And there are amazing, talented young girls in high school whose art may not have been seen by many people if it wasn’t shown here.”

The festival featured films with a wide range of storytelling methods and genres from documentary to fiction. Three of the films used animation techniques to tell their tale.

Bekky O’Neil’s film, “Last Summer, In the Garden,” was shown in a style reminiscent of watercolor painting to express one woman’s journey of almost losing a friend or lover.

Meanwhile, “Girls Level Up” by Anne Edgar incorporated Pokémon-style animation into her documentary about a summer camp geared toward young girls who want to learn how to make video games.

Audience members could not help but laugh when the film “Fannypack” by Uttera Singh was shown. This fiction film depicts a young Indian-American woman who wants to follow her dreams to become a photographer, and was surprised to find her father waiting for her in the trunk of her car as she journeys to the airport to fulfill her dreams.

As the film’s name suggests, the father is sporting a fanny pack, but with a thread of floss hanging out that he forgot to tuck away when he zipped it. The director cleverly uses that as a vehicle later in the film to describe the tension between the Transportation Security Administration and Indian-Americans, when the TSA mistakes the fanny pack as a bomb.

Switching to a darker tone, “Waiting for Hassana” by Nigerian-American filmmaker Ifunanya Maduka brought the kidnapping of 276 teenage girls in 2014 by the extremist organization Boko Haram to the forefront of people’s minds.

The plot revolves around one of the girls who managed to escape the first night, and her best friendship with a girl named Hassana, who is still in the arms of Boko Haram.

The director made viewers feel what it was like to be present the night of the kidnappings, from staging the fire that burned down the girls’ school, to their footsteps walking through the forest at night and the headlights of the extremist organization’s cars as they sped toward the girls.

Elizabeth Nemec, a freshman biology major who spearheaded the event for WILL, believed the event was successful in both showcasing and focusing on voices not typically heard in Hollywood, and bringing the campus community together for a common cause.

Next to Maple Shade High School’s artwork section were two tables with 11 raffle bags, each with a theme ranging from “Spa Day” to “Bookworm Starter Pack.” Festivalgoers could purchase tickets to win one of the raffle bags, which were all donated by either by a local business or campus organization.

Nemec was happily surprised by the positive responses from businesses and organizations, considering all proceeds from the event — from admission to the raffle tickets — were to be donated to Chicken & Egg Pictures and a local beneficiary, Womenspace.

“I didn’t know what to expect, or how people, especially businesses, would respond to something like this,” Nemec said. “I was absolutely blown away by the generosity of our community.”

This event helped bring the College and the surrounding community together over a common cause — helping women.

“We’re here by Trenton, and we’re part of a community that we don’t always reach out to, and I think that this was one of the ways to make those steps,” Nemec said.

This event was co-sponsored by Student Government, Student Nurses Association, Amnesty International, She’s the First, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Sigma Sigma Rho. More information about the films featured at this event can be found at lunafest. org. Information about Chicken & Egg Pictures can be found at chickeneggpics.org.

CUB Alt crowd scoffs down Japanese Breakfast

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

Left: Japanese Breakfast plays songs spanning the band’s career. Right: Zauner adds acoustic elements to her experimental sound.

By Sean Reis Staff Writer In lo-fi purple and red lighting, a somber scene was set for the College Union Board’s latest CUB Alt show on Friday, March 23. From headliner Japanese Breakfast to the two openers, Long Beard and Mothers, the three female-led tri-state area acts created an atmosphere that filled the Brower Student Center.

“This lighting kind of reminds me of our press photo,” Michelle Zauner, who is better known as her stage name Japanese Breakfast, remarked during her banter with the crowd.

Zauner added that she picked the press photo’s aesthetic because

“it made me feel like Steve Jobs and I wanted to be taken seriously (as) a mysterious musician.”

Zauner’s artistry was fun and playful, and she brought a whimsical humor with her superlative stage presence.

She opened her set with the song, “Diving Woman,” off her most recently released album, “Soft Sounds from Another Planet.”

It was plain to see that she was a music industry veteran in the making, and the same could be said when listening to, reading or watching her work.

She created a companion book for her sophomore album, “Soft Sounds from Another Planet,” and she directed the music video for her song “Boyish” — a hit compared to

not only other Japanese Breakfast videos, but also music videos for similar musicians.

True to the name of her album, Zauner’s work transcended the music she performed on the CUB Alt stage. Zauner does not always write her music with a specific image in mind, however.

“I think that the images come much later after a song is completely done because a song can change so much with production and arrangement,” Zauner said in an interview with the College’s radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR. “Especially with Japanese Breakfast songs, a lot of them start in a certain way and end in a totally different way.”

This was specifically true for the

song “Boyish,” which was originally written for Zauner’s previous project — the punk rock band Little Big Leagues. The song ultimately had to be reproduced for her solo career as Japanese Breakfast, which featured a drastically different, experimental pop sound.

“Boyish” was among the likes of “Road Head,” “12 Steps” and “The Body Is a Blade” from the same album, but Zauner did not limit herself to her sophomore record.

Her cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries was well-received by the crowd, and the song that followed was the high-energy favorite, “Everybody Wants to Love You,” from her debut record “Psychopomp.”

Japanese Breakfast was not afraid to take a downtempo turn

during her set.

“This is a love song written in the only way I know how,” Zauner said in the introduction for the next song. “Which is to incorporate my fear of death.”

The love song, “Till Death,” stood out as a soft and bittersweet beauty amidst an especially energetic end to the evening, but was nothing compared to Japanese Breakfast’s finalé.

Zauner left the confines of the stage or as she called it, her “keyboard cubicle,” to enter the crowd and dance during the breakdown of the final song, “Machinist.”

It was in that moment that crowd members reached into their last reserves of energy to close out another successful CUB Alt concert.

March 28, 2018 The Signal page 11

‘Love, Simon’ warms viewers’ hearts

Twitter

Robinson (right) convincingly portrays a quirky student.

By James Mercadante Staff Writer

The shunned, tucked away film that Hollywood has declined to produce for so long — a film that introduces a LGBTQ+ character at the center of a love story and deviates from complying with the stereotypes of a “gay movie” — finally hit theaters on March 16.

Based on Becky Albertalli’s

2015 novel, “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” “Love, Simon” is a coming-of-age story about Simon Spier, a student who struggles to come to terms with his closeted sexuality, and is willing to do whatever it takes to not be outed by another student who knows about his attraction to men.

The film proves to be significant for several reasons, including the representation it provides.

The cast of the film is diverse, as half of Simon’s friends are people of color, which gives a more authentic presentation, as they promote variety and equal opportunity to be on the screen.

The movie also focuses on giving more LGBTQ+ representation, as gay audiences rarely have a chance to witness a love story that represents them. The film successfully normalizes LGBTQ+ romance for those who do not identify with the community.

“Love, Simon” diverts from being classified as a “gay movie,” as the film appeals to all audiences. Simon, portrayed by Nick Robinson, is a flawed, quirky and hilarious character that many people can relate to.

The movie encourages audience members to connect with Simon by including issues in the plot that nearly anyone can relate to. Simon fears he will no longer be liked due to who he truly is, and feels alienated from his peers.

Anyone, regardless of their sexuality or gender, can relate to the universal and constant search for genuine human connection.

The film contains other authentic and applicable elements, like family.

Jennifer Garner, who portrays

Simon’s mother, conveys a raw performance as a nurturing parent who feels the pain of her child, who is grappling with his sexual identity. She steals the whole movie in one scene in which she articulates to her son that he is beautiful and is worthy of love — something every child should hear from their parent.

The audience was tremendously vocal in their reactions to the movie, as people loudly cheered for the romance and openly shed tears over Simon’s pain.

Children, especially those of the LGBTQ+ community, are going to be taking their parents to see this film because of its potential to open up minds of people who are not familiar with the idea of homosexuality.

The movie normalizes homosexual romance and provides a happy ending for those who have doubts — which gives hope to anyone who can relate to Simon’s story and fears to share their true identity with the public.

“Love, Simon” is definitely worth going to see in theaters. The appealing and emotional film may not be Academy Award material, but it captures difficult adolescent moments, and it’s definitely something Hollywood needed.

‘Board Games Day’ makes past interactive

This week, Arts & Entertainment Editor Heidi Cho highlights some of the best new albums that The Signal staff is listening to.

Band: Good Field Album: “Surface Tension” Release Number: 3rd Hailing From: Nashville, Tennessee Genre: Warm Melodic Guitar Pop Label: Self-released The shoegaze pop band takes their sound to another level on their third full-length release. All the acoustic elements retain their integrity and get their own time in the spotlight. The album has a sound that is distinguishably more melodic than others in the band’s genre. The bassline while repetitive and grounding never brings down the upbeat piano and guitar riffs in “Endless Nights” and “Necessary Feeling.” The album was written when the band stayed in Texas. Inspired by the heat of the desert, this album can keep listeners warm and please a crowd.

Must Hear: “Endless Nights,” “Necessary Feeling” and “Surface Tension”

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

Left: Weisbecker bases his games on computers. Right: Heisey enjoys working for the Sarnoff Collection.

By Alexander Edelson Staff Writer

The Sarnoff Collection is known for hosting innovative and original exhibitions. As part of a temporary exhibit the collection has been hosting called “Playing with Innovation: The Games of Joseph Weisbecker,” usable works and games were featured as part of “Board Games Day” on Saturday, March 24.

During the interactive event, students could play with some of the board games Weisbecker originally invented. The event ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second floor of Roscoe West Hall.

Joseph Weisbecker was a computer scientist and a game designer who began his work in the 1950s. Most of Weisbecker’s inventions were simple educational aids intended to teach people unfamiliar with computers about the principles of computer science in an entertaining way.

Some of his inventions include a computer that plays tic-tac-toe and a plastic game structured around basic computer concepts. He also was involved in introducing the early personal computer as a recreational and educational tool, Flexible Recreational and Educational Device.

Weisbecker liked to refer to it as F.R.E.D. Some of his greatest contributions to computer science have spawned from F.R.E.D. and brought about prototype microcomputers.

“He thought that computers should get small so people could play games on them,” said Florencia Pierri, the curator of the Sarnoff Collection. “So we have this temporary exhibit about his computer games, but they aren’t computer games as we would think of them.”

Weisbecker made the board games out of traditional paper, plastic and pencils — an unusual approach to teach the general public about computers and programming logic.

A strategy game called “Psychedelic No. 9” and “The Amazing New Enigmatic Stack Puzzle” were among the games at the exhibit. Both of the games consist entirely out of paper cutouts and are intended to teach logical thinking.

“Psychedelic No. 9” is a two-player game in which each player has a card and takes turns picking one puzzle piece from the nine in a shared pot. The objective is to pick three pieces that will fit over the player’s card perfectly, or put back a piece in the pot before picking up another one.

“They are sort of board games with computer games,” Pierri said.

Although the games are true to the original design of Weisbecker, they are not Weisbecker’s original pieces.

“We recently had an artist in residence, Imin Yeh, from Carnegie Mellon who recreated some of these games,” Pierri said.

“She is an artist who works with paper so

she crafted a paper blue LED and also these games. She recreated them so they are playable because the original prototypes are museum pieces but she made them exactly the same so people could play with them today.”

The turnout was higher than workers at the Sarnoff Collection expected for a sunny Saturday.

“We’ve gotten a few people — we’re not very well trafficked but we got more people than usual,” Pierri said on the popularity of the event.

Students appreciated the chance to learn more about Weisbecker’s hybrids between computer games and board games.

“I’m very lucky to have this position. It relates to what I study and learn about,” said Leighton Heisey, a student worker for the Sarnoff Collection and a senior art history major.

Heisey found the exhibit both interesting and educational.

“I’ve haven’t had any good experience with computers or technology, but working here, I learned a lot about the field,” Heisey said. “A lot of computer science people actually come in for classes, and their professors often send them here to look at one of the exhibits, so I think that’s cool.”

The games built in the ’60s can still teach and intrigue people decades later in an exhibit that showcases the best of Weisbecker and his continuingly relevant contributions to education and computer science.

Band Name: Sufis Album Name: “After Hours” Release Number: 3rd Hailing From: Australia, Globally Genre: Laid Back Psychedelic Pop Label: Burger Records The writing duo Calvin Laporte and Evan Smith makes the band’s third release, “After Hours,” a wonderfully psychedelic experience. An almost Jamaican and ska-like bounce replicated with synthetic-sounding instruments gives songs like “Till I Get Home” and “Mercy” an up tempo and sparkly sound. The repeated and simplistic lyrics sung in a breathy, deep voice can lull listeners into the same lackadaisical mood as the singer. It reflects the same dreamy quality of music from the ’60s with 11 songs that manage to stay upbeat despite the lyrical content. This band brings the psych scene to the listener with the catchy album.

Must Hear: “Till I Get Home,” “After Hours” and “Mercy”

page 12 The Signal March 28, 2018

FALL 2018 REGISTRATION APPOINTMENT PERIOD Initial Registration Period for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Tuesday, April 3, Through Friday, April 13

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Your enrollment appointment reflecting the first time you will be eligible to register for the Fall 2018 semester can be accessed via your PAWS account. To view your scheduled enrollment appointment, visit the Enrollment Appointment section in the PAWS Student Center. Once eligible, students remain eligible throughout the registration period. Undergraduate students who do not register for Fall 2018 by 11:59pm on Sunday, April 15, will be subject to a late registration fine. Undergraduate Late Registration Fine : $150

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The Fall 2018 Schedule of Classes is available on PAWS and can be viewed by using the Search for Classes button. Both Summer 2018 and Winter 2019 registration are also open, along with Fall 2018 registration. Check PAWS frequently for any updated winter/summer course offerings and consult with your advisor for appropriate course selections.



Visit the PAWS HELP website for complete information on how to log-in to PAWS, search for classes, browse the Course Catalog, view your Holds, add courses to your Shopping Cart, and register for classes: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/

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Use the Validate feature directly from your PAWS Shopping Cart to check for potential pre-requisite issues before registration! For more information on the Validate feature, visit: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/files/2011/07/validate1.pdf

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Check PAWS early and frequently for Holds that will prevent you from registering. All Hold Flag information can be viewed under the Holds section in the PAWS Student Center.

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Access your Academic Requirements Report on PAWS to view your degree requirements via the Advising Tools link.

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Make an appointment to see your advisor to discuss your Academic Requirements Report. Your advisor’s name and email address can be located in your PAWS Student Center.

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Double-check course numbers and course sections prior to your registration appointment for schedule changes and periodic updates.

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Graduate Students: If you are a non-matriculant who is applying for Fall matriculation, you should not register during this timeframe. If accepted for matriculation, you will be invited to register during the Graduate Orientation session on May 31. or August 16, 2018.

THE OFFICE OF RECORDS AND REGISTRATION Green Hall 112, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

March 28, 2018 The Signal page 13

Features

Fund / Kappa Delta hosts Shamrock Week

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

Left: Sisters of Kappa Delta brave the cold to fundraise for child abuse prevention. Right: Students enjoy Kappa Delta’s annual food truck festival. continued from page 1 same day.

“I had to get approval from admissions because Lion’s Day is their big event. I also had to get permission to have it hosted in a lot on campus, which was a little difficult because Lions Day takes up a lot of parking,” Harris said.

“So we got the staff parking lot and it’s in the middle of campus so hopefully a lot of people will walk by that.”

When the day finally came, all of Harris’ hard work paid off. The festival featured food from WTF? Where’s

the Food, Philly Fry, Dump’n’roll, Cas’ Pierogi and Kielbasa Food Truck, 1 Potato Two, Zinna’s Bistro, Jeremiah’s Custom Cuisine and The Little Sicilian. The event also had a DJ, a seating area and plenty of school spirit.

“The food truck festival is my favorite event of the year,” said Hope Sirimis, a sophomore communication studies and English double major and Kappa Delta sister. “We all come together for one purpose. It’s a positive event and a good environment and we all just really want to help the kids.”

Although the festival is a fun opportunity for students

to socialize, the sisters never lose sight of the true purpose of the week — to raise money for charity.

“Our money goes toward providing mothers with resources they wouldn’t normally have and a lot of education,” said Diane Danch, president of Kappa Delta and a junior psychology major. “It’s really great because there are so many people on campus, so we get the foot traffic from the Lions Day tours. Prospective students come in and see that these types of events take place on our campus. It shows that we are a community that likes to show support for each other.”

Students ‘jam’ out with B+ Foundation

By Alyssa Louis Staff Writer

The fourth annual TCNJam brought students, cancer survivors and their families together to celebrate life, remember those who have succumbed to the disease and raise money for those battling childhood cancer.

For months, students have raised money for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, a pediatric cancer charity, which culminated in the dance-a-thon on Sunday, March 25 in the Brower Student Center.

A sea of Greek letters, the space was

representative of the College’s fraternities and sororities and their dedication to raising awareness and bettering the lives of children suffering from cancer. “(TCNJam) ties our whole community together,” said Sophia Grigolo, a junior criminology major and a sister of Alpha Xi Delta.

The dance-a-thon was rightfully kicked off with a spirited performance from the College’s dance team.

Aside from dancing, students could play cornhole and jump rope while money continued to be raised, getting TCNJam board members to their $100,000 goal.

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

Sisters of Delta Phi Epsilon show their support at TCNJam.

Appearances from the College’s Synergy Dance Company and Waldo Black, an activist and performer who recently visited Penn State University for THON, a similar dance-themed charity event, kept the energy up for the long afternoon.

Joe McDonough, the founder of the B+ Foundation, spoke to the TCNJam participants to show his appreciation for the time and effort devoted to the cause by all of its participants.

“You guys have been a big part of the success of the B+ Foundation,” he said.

McDonough founded his organization in honor of his 14-year-old son who lost his battle with cancer in 2007. The B+ Foundation provides funding for cancer research and alleviates the disease’s financial strain for many families.

“When a child gets cancer, the whole family gets cancer,” McDonough said.

The B+ Foundation also creates a community of support for the children and their families while they endure treatment.

“B+ Heroes” are childhood cancer survivors affiliated with the foundation. Heroes are often paired with Greek organizations at many colleges and universities across the country.

“It’s important to put faces to childhood cancer,” said McDonough as he introduced the parents of some B+ Heroes to share their heart-wrenching, yet hopeful stories.

The B+ Heroes had a blast hanging out with their paired fraternity or sorority.

The brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity tossed around a football with their

honorary member and B+ Hero, Will, who beamed with happiness. Will is currently in his fifth year of remission.

Darius Horne, a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a junior business management major and entertainment director of TCNJam, was moved by his experience with Will.

“Going to see Will has such an impact on me. We go to see him two or three times a year. He has so much energy,” Horne said.

Allyson Vilanova, a senior history and special education double major, sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma and the public relations chair for TCNJam, also sees the impact that the B+ Foundation and Heroes program have on these brave children.

“When you see the Heroes, they are happy and full of life and it hurts to see part of their childhood taken away because of childhood cancer,” Vilanova said.

A lively B+ Hero, Lilly, was given the stage and a microphone to perform “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys. Students moved closer and closer to the stage, dancing and singing with the inspirational young girl.

TCNJam raised $102,740.78 for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation this year, surpassing their goal.

The College has been increasingly successful in raising money and awareness for childhood cancer –– but there is still a long way to go.

“We’re not close to winning at all. We have a lot of work to do and we need you on our team,” McDonough said.

page 14 The Signal March 28, 2018

Nowruz celebration begins Persian new year

Left: The tar is both a musical instrument and a piece of art. Right: The band plays lively, traditional Persian music.

By Elise Schriener Correspondent Surrounded by colorful flowers and upbeat music, friends and colleagues joined together on March 22 in the Brower Student Center for the College’s ninth annual Nowruz celebration, hosted by the Eurasian/Middle East Society.

Every year, millions of people all around the world celebrate the Persian new year, also known as “Nowruz.” In Iran, the new year falls in the beginning of spring and is commemorated by traditions that are over 5,000 years old.

The sense of community in the room was evident — as people entered, they greeted each other with hugs and smiles. Colorful quilts and floral centerpieces gave the room the essence of springtime. Typically the room would also be decorated with a Haft-Seen table, but they were unable to get the supplies due to the recent storm.

The Haft-Seen table is traditionally decorated with seven traditional Persian items that pertain to important aspects of the culture. Each item on the table would start with the seen letter in the Persian alphabet, explained as “the 7 S’s.”

Joanne Gross, a professor of Middle Eastern and Central Eurasian history at the College, prefaced the musical performances by giving thanks to the students who helped put together the event.

“Nowruz is a celebration of spring, even though we just experienced a snowstorm. It is about renewal, rebirth and all the good things that we look forward to,” Gross said.

One of the musicians, Amir Alan Vahab, summed up the holiday as “new year, new dress, new suit.” He explained that as a child, he did not truly understand what the traditions meant or why they were celebrated, but as he grew older he began to recognize the true meaning of the holiday.

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

Vahab sang traditional Persian music with a Persian instrument called a tar. He explained that the tar is made from all-natural materials including mulberry wood, animal skin and bison horn.

“The tar has been around for over 1,000 years and is commonly known as ‘the instrument of lovers,’” Vahab said.

As Vahab and the rest of the instrumentalists performed with smiles on their faces, they urged people to dance. Students joined the band in the front of the room to joyfully dance along with the music.

As the band performed, the food was brought into the room, and the smell of the traditional Persian cuisine filled the venue. After the band finished their performance of both music and poetry, the crowd surrounded the tables of food and continued to enjoy the atmosphere of the event.

“The holiday is such a special day to us. It represents similarities and oneness and unity between us. Sometimes we forget that,” Vahab said.

March 28, 2018 The Signal page 15

: Sept.’91

Campus Style

Students push for rape awareness

Photo courtesy of the TCNJ Digital Archive

Rape is still a prevalent issue on all college campuses.

Every week, Features Editor Lily Firth hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories.

Rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment are still problems on all college campuses, especially with regard to alcohol-related incidents. While colleges and universities have worked to raise awareness for rape and increase education about how to identify and stop a potential sexual assault, these efforts have failed to completely eliminate sexual assault on college campuses. In 1991, students advocated for better rape awareness programs.

What constitutes an act of rape? Rape is nonconsensual sexual intercourse between two persons, usually accompanied by force or intimidation. Because the legal definition of rape is based on the notion of consent, any sexual contact with a person who is too drunk to be capable of giving consent is technically also a crime.

According to Dr. Mary Kossa, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Arizona, who conducted a comprehensive study on date rape on college campuses, one in nine college women have been raped and 80% knew their attacker, while less than five percent reported the crime.

If 80% of the victims knew their attacker it can be implied that it is possible for anybody to be a rapist. Studies show that the major motives in rape are aggression, anger and hostility, not sex. The rapist desires to exert power over his victim.

Clearly, rape is a tremendously serious problem, no matter how infrequently it is reported or occurs. To begin to solve the problem of rape, we need to address it as a community.

The intense emotional trauma victims suffer affects relationships and the ability to enjoy life.

Victims of rape are forced to confront so many emotions after an incident; such as shame and a loss of pride and hope.

Victims often tell of how attacks leave their lives full of hate, anger and worst of all, guilt.

Kossa’s study found that one in twelve college men, responding to a survey, admitted committing acts that meet the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, yet only one percent who could be the girl next door, your sister, or your girlfriend.

The study also discovered that 50% of rape victims and 75% of their attackers had been drinking before the rape occurred. Because alcohol is a large factor in rape cases and is a large factor of college life, precautions need to be taken.

The administration and the Office of the Dean of Student Life should expand their efforts and implement a comprehensive plan to battle rape at TSC. If we truly believe in diversity, our vision needs to increase its emphasis on women. We have to generate a greater understanding between women and men.

In terms of education, TSC should incorporate rape awareness into the program of “Welcome Week” and College Seminar to ensure that all TSC students will be given the knowledge to protect themselves from being victims. Finally, whether you are a student, a professor, or an administrator, each of us, as members of a community, must take up arms in this battle. What will you do to make our campus safe from rape?

The Culinary Club Presents...

Lions Plate

Baked ziti and lasagna go hand in hand as staples in most Italian households. As a proud Italian-American and an e-board member of Culinary Club, I made sure one of the first recipes we made together was baked ziti. We brought a tray of the gooey goodness to the Astronomy Club’s Star Party last year — it was gone within minutes.

Left: Black and white striped sweaters match with any outfit. Right: Dresses with stripes are an effortless choice for a warm day.

By Lexy Yulich Columnist Stripes have always been my go-to pattern for as long as I can remember. At one point in my teenage years, a majority of my wardrobe was filled with black and white stripes. As I grew older, my love for stripes continued. Luckily for me, stripes have been appearing in all the recent spring fashion lines. While stripes may seem like an overwhelming, busy pattern, there are simple and easy ways to bring stripes into your style. Here are five outfits that involve stripes.

1. Striped black and white sweater, with ripped jeans and slip-on grey suede shoes. Whenever I’m indecisive on what to wear, I always gravitate toward this outfit. The sweater provides warmth and the stripes provides a flattering effect for any body type.

2. Striped T-shirt and an olive-green jacket. I typically pair the top and jacket with my favorite pair of leggings for a more casual look. If I want to dress the outfit up, I’ll add a pair of dark wash jeans and either booties or flats. For jewelry, dainty

pieces such as gold bracelets or a simple necklace is best worn with stripes.

3. Striped pants and a black shirt. This outfit is edgier than any other striped outfit, but the right pair of striped pants looks amazing with a simple top and shoes.

Since the pants are a statement, I keep my makeup and accessories to a minimum.

This outfit is perfect for whenever I need a confidence boost.

4. Striped crewneck. I found the perfect crewneck from Madewell. It is warm but still flattering. The best part about a striped crewneck is that you can dress it up or down depending on the look you want to achieve. For example, a crewneck looks great with leggings, but I can also add ripped jeans or even dress trousers. I always feel put together wearing the crewneck because I know that I’m going to be comfortable, but still trendy.

5. Striped dress. Dresses are my favorite fashion secret because they make you look fashionable and dressed up, but in reality you only have to coordinate shoes and jewelry rather than come up with a whole outfit. There are striped dresses in every style, but my favorite is a striped Tshirt dress or a striped maxi dress.

Delicious Italian baked ziti

Baked ziti is full of hearty ingredients like melted mozzarella cheese.

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist

Instagram

Ingredients: 1 lb ziti pasta 1 lb ricotta cheese 3 cups mozzarella cheese, grated 3 cups marinara sauce 3 tbsps olive oil 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped Salt and pepper, to taste

Flickr

Here is the Culinary Club’s version of baked ziti. Of course, the best way to make this would be with homemade sauce, but we used Barilla’s Traditional Marinara sauce to save time and money. Some Italians add cooked ground beef to their baked ziti, but this dish can stand without meat.

Makes: Six servings

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cook ziti according to directions on box. After it has been cooked and drained, toss ziti in a large bowl with 2 tbsps olive oil.

3. Add ricotta cheese and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.

Stir well.

4. Coat a 13x9 inch pan with the remaining olive oil.

5. Add 1 and 1/2 cups of marinara sauce to the pan.

6. Pour ziti mixture into pan. Cover pasta with remaining marinara sauce.

7. Add parmesan cheese and the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Sprinkle with fresh basil.

8. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the top layer of cheese has melted. Top with salt and pepper.

9. Enjoy!

page 16 The Signal March 28, 2018

Fun StufF

Finish the maze to survive April Fools Day!

March 28, 2018 The Signal page 17

Fun Stuff

page 18 The Signal March 28, 2018

Sports Cheap Seats

Loyola-Chicago brings harmony to March Madness

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor So, who exactly are the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers?

Are they the team that shattered millions of brackets and miraculously emerged out of the South region filled with perennial powers like the University of Virginia, University of Kentucky, University of Arizona and the University of Cincinnati?

Are they the team that captivated the nation with the warming, enchanting spirit of Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt?

Are they the team destined to win its first NCAA championship since 1963, when they became the first team to start an all-AfricanAmerican lineup?

Perhaps, but Loyola-Chicago is no cinderella — they’re just an exceptional basketball squad capable of beating anyone.

Unlike powerhouse schools with potential NBA lottery picks, Loyola-Chicago is a cohesive group of amateurs that thrive under the spotlight. Loyola-Chicago has proven to be a breath of fresh air compared to players sporting massive egos like Duke University’s Grayson Allen and University of Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton.

For example, junior guard Marques Townes once helped

Fairleigh Dickinson University to a 2016 NCAA tournament as the 16th seed. As a sophomore, Townes showed potential when he scored 13 points and recorded three assists in an losing effort against past cinderella Florida Gulf Coast University. After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer regulations, Townes grew to be an essential staple and sunk a crucial three-pointer during Loyola-Chicago’s 69-68 win against the University of Nevada, Reno in the Sweet 16.

Another glaring example is senior guard/forward Donte Ingram. After three seasons of disappointment in the Missouri Valley Conference, Ingram has become a strong contributor to the team. In the 78-62 victory over Kansas State, Ingram dropped 12 points.

Then there’s redshirt junior guard Clayton Custer, who first started as an ineffective bench player at Iowa State University. After sitting out his sophomore year, Custer flourished with Loyola-Chicago, as he averaged 11.6 points per game and completed 46.4 percent of his shots from the field.

Custer is a stellar student-athlete as well. This season, he was named on the CoSIDA All-District V selection with a 3.52 grade point average.

With these team-orientated

Townes scores a crucial three-pointer against the University of Nevada, Reno. players, Loyola-Chicago burst onto the March Madness scene and outperformed higher seeded teams like the University of Miami, University of Tennessee, University of Nevada and Kansas State University.

Former President Barack Obama took notice of LoyolaChicago’s success, tweeting “Incredible to have a Chicago team in the Final Four. I’ll take that over an intact bracket any

day! Congratulations to everybody @LoyolaChicago - let’s keep it going!”

With a trip to the championship game on the line, LoyolaChicago will face its ultimate counterpart, the University of Michigan. What sets Michigan apart from Loyola-Chicago’s previous opponents is its sheer talent and experience. During this past decade, Michigan has reached the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and the

Tennis

AP Photo

national championship. Despite its consistency, Michigan has not won the national title since 1989.

The team is certainly no stranger to the sheer unpredictably of March Madness.

Will Loyola-Chicago become the ultimate cinderella or succumb like past cinderella teams like George Mason and Butler? Regardless of the outcome, LoyolaChicago has caused pure madness in this year’s NCAA tournament.

Lacrosse

Ace / Lions serve losses to opponents Cradle / Lacrosse shuts out Brockport continued from page 20

Ursinus’ consistent counters broke through in the 13th minute when senior defender/midfielder Franny Liberatoscioli secured a goal from a free position attempt.

The Lions immediately responded by firing four goals into Ursinus’ net. During the offensive burst, Gorman, Jaeger and sophomore midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick all scored. With less than six minutes to go in the first half, Ursinus cut the Lions lead to 6-3 off two consecutive goals by DiGiorgio. However, the Lions kept building their lead when Fitzpatrick snuck in a goal before the first half concluded.

The Lions took command in the second

half. After Ursinus’ senior attacker Taylor DeBernardi flickered in a goal, the team scored six unanswered goals and accumulated a favorable 13-4 lead. The team never looked back, claiming a 15-6 win against Ursinus. After a successful week at Lions Stadium, the lacrosse team faces a familiar foe at home on Thursday, March 29. The team will have a chance to avenge last year’s national championship loss against Gettysburg College.

Gettysburg is currently ranked No.1 in the nation with an undefeated 6-0 record, according to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll. The Lions are ranked sixth nationally.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Baldi emerges victorious in both singles and doubles. continued from page 20

Dicheck was satisfied with the team’s strong performance.

“It felt like we were in control throughout the match,” Dicheck said. “I felt really good with that performance.”

Unfortunately, the men’s tennis team could not replicate the women’s effort as the team endured its first defeat of the season against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Sunday, March 25, at the Recreation Center. RPI is currently ranked No. 27 in the nation according to Oracle/ITA Division III men’s national team rankings.

The Lions started well at the doubles competition. Juniors Omar Bokhari and

Tim Gavornik earned a 8-7 victory against RPI freshman Clay Thompson and Brian Niguidula. From then on, the Lions couldn’t earn a single victory.

The Lions lost two doubles matches before being swept in all six singles matchups. The team put up a good fight as Gavornik, along with junior Matt Puig and senior Chris D’Agostino managed to take a set in each of their matches. With the defeat, the men’s tennis team improve to a 3-1 record while the women’s team maintains a 2-0 record.

Both the men’s and women’s teams go on the road to take on Haverford College on Wednesday, March 28. They then return to the outdoor courts to compete against

Fitzpatrick tears through Brockport’s defense.

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

March 28, 2018 The Signal page 19

LIONS AROUND

D RM

Miguel Gonzalez “The Ref”

Vinnie DeTommaso ATD Correspondent

Kevin Kistner ATD Correspondent

Andres Arango ATD Correspondent

In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asked our panel of three experts — Vinnie DeTommaso, Kevin Kistner and Andres Arango — three questions: 1. Did the Giants make the right call in trading Jason Pierre-Paul? 2. Can the Philadelphia 76ers qualify for the playoffs? 3. Will pitcher Shohei Ohtani help the Los Angeles Angels contend for the American League West division title?

AP Photo

1. Did the Giants make the right call in trading Jason Pierre-Paul?

Vinnie: The Giants made the right move trading defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul because they are looking toward the future. After last season’s 3-13 record, it only makes sense for the Giants to clear cap space to allow young talented players to prove themselves. The Giants also changed their defensive scheme to a 3-4, which outside linebacker Olivier Vernon fits well in. With no large role for Pierre-Paul along with his large salary, it’s time for the Giants to move on.

Kevin: To me, I agree with the Giants trading Pierre-Paul. However, that is only if the Giants are

going to take defensive Bradley Chubb from North Carolina State University in the 2018 NFL Draft. Pierre-Paul was an elite defensive end before his injury and if the Giants do not see the same potential in him now, I believe the Giants made the right call for the future.

Andres: I think the Giants made an excellent choice trading Pierre-Paul. Not only does the departure of Pierre-Paul open up an enormous amount of salary cap, but it also helps the Giants gain much needed drafts picks to continue their rebuilding. Although Pierre-Paul is an elite player, the Giants need more passionate players that are capable of excelling together and not individually.

Vinnie gets 3 points for mentioning the Giants’ defensive scheme. Kevin gets 2 points for suggesting a draft pick. Andres gets 1 point for being vague.

2. Can the Philadelphia 76ers qualify for the playoffs?

Vinnie: The 76ers are most likely qualifying for the playoffs. The 76ers are only one win or one loss from the Detroit Pistons away from clinching a playoff spot.

Currently standing as the fourth seed in the Eastern conference, it is highly unlikely that they crumble and fall below the eighth seed. This is where center Joel Embiid can prove to his fans and the rest of the NBA that he has what it takes to lead his team to the finals.

Kevin: Without a doubt, the Philadelphia 76ers will qualify for the 2018 NBA playoffs. As of right now, the 76ers are the fourth seed in the Eastern conference.

With the East being very weak compared to the Western conference, the 76ers have a good chance to continue their season once the regular season ends. Embiid is a tremendous player but he still has some stuff he needs to prove to NBA fans. This year, he will prove that he is capable of bringing the 76ers to the playoffs.

Andres: In my opinion, the Philadelphia 76ers will most likely qualify for the playoffs. The 76ers are currently the fourth seed in the East which, in my opinion, is not as competitive as the Western conference. The 76ers have a talented team with players that are itching to prove their worth. It will be a driving factor for much of the team.

AP Photo

Vinnie and Kevin get 2 points for praising Embiid. Andres gets 1 point for his short answer.

3. Will pitcher Shohei Ohtani help the Los Angeles Angels contend for the American League Division West title?

Vinnie: Some say that pitcher Ohtani is the Babe Ruth of Japan. In a shocking turn of events, Ohtani chose to sign with the Angels instead of divisional powerhouses like the Houston Astros or Texas Rangers.

With the addition of a potential superstar like Ohtani, the Angels are turning heads and are serious contenders for the AL West title. On top of Ohtani, the Angels already have stars like two-time MVP center fielder Mike Trout, left fielder Justin Upton and future hall-of-famer designated hitter Albert Pujols. With talented fielders, Ohtani’s 100-mph fastballs will only compliment the Angels’ play.

Kevin: With the addition of Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels add a very nice scare tactic to their team. He pitches over 100 mph and can hit bombs. He is one of the

most highly recruited players in the league this year will have a chance to prove himself. He gives the Angels a six-man rotation, which is sometimes necessary to give pitchers some rest. While he seems to be a great player and person, his talents can only up the Angels so much. The Astros as a whole are still a way better team than the Angels and for these reasons, I do not believe the Angels will come out champions of the American League West.

Andres: Shohei Ohtani is without a doubt a phenomenal player — his pitching is second to none. I believe his talents will improve Los Angeles’ chances of contending for the American League West crown and having a player of that talent will inspire and boost the team morale.

However, I believe L.A. lacks depth and unity. They will only have a chance of clinching the AL West if they are able to overcome these obstacles.

Winner’s Circle Kevin winsATD ATD 8-6-3 Tom wins 9-5-4

AP Photo

Vinnie gets 3 points for highlighting the Angels’ roster. Kevin gets 2 points for acknowledging the Astros. Andres gets 1 point because boosting team morale takes more than talent.

“You miss 100% of the “To understand the world ofshots sports, you you don’t take”Faccus repe have to look at it with a bird’s eye view.”

Signal

Sports

Pfluger claims 500th lacrosse victory

Flagler’s stellar defense contributes to the College’s shutout of Brockport.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

While prospective students, families and ambassadors roamed around campus on Saturday, March 24, it was just a routine day for the College’s lacrosse team — bombarding opponents with goal after goal, check. Picking up clean sheets, check. Staying on top of national rankings, check. Fulfilling another milestone for Head Coach Sharon Pfluger, check.

On Saturday, the Lions bulldozed through The College at Brockport, SUNY, 16-0, as Pfluger became the first

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

NCAA women’s lacrosse coach to win 500 matches after the team’s earlier win against Ursinus College, 15-6, on March 20 at Lions Stadium The Lions were in full force against Brockport during the 16-0 win. Within 40 seconds, sophomore attacker Olivia Cleale netted in the team’s first goal. Brockport attempted to counter on the next play, but senior defender Elizabeth Morrison thwarted it and forced a turnover.

In the sixth minute, senior midfielder Amanda Muller scooped the ball and scored the team’s second goal. The Lions then doubled their lead to 4-0 with back-to-back goals from sophomore attacker Kasey Donoghue and

freshman midfielder Erin Jaffe.

Afterward, Brockport prioritized on defense as the Lions missed several opportunities and Brockport senior goalkeeper Sarah Brown recorded three saves. In the 14th minute, Donoghue weaved through Brockport’s defense and fired a shot for the Lions’ fifth goal. Jaffe followed up by netting her second goal with an assist by junior midfielder Kathleen Jaeger.

The team never stopped scoring as Donoghue, Jaeger, Jaffe and Cleale broke past Brockport’s net. By halftime, the team held a commanding 10-0 lead.

The Lions continued their barrage of goals in the second half. Less than two minutes into the half, Donoghue struck again and recorded her fourth goal with an assist

by Cleale. Sophomore midfielder Allie Gorman further extended the Lions’ lead to 12-0 when she intercepted a long pass from Brown and shoveled a shot through the net.

In the 39th minute, Gorman netted her second goal off a pass from Cleale. Donoghue then rocked Brockport’s defense and scored a pair of goals to help the Lions compile a 15-0 lead. Following another goal by Jaffe, the Lions spent the rest of the match draining the clock with safe passes.

The wintry weather didn’t bother the Lions in their 15-6 win against Ursinus College. The Lions got on the scoreboard first when Muller received a free position attempt and hurled in a goal. Ursinus then launched a counterattack led by junior midfielder Emily DiGiorgio.

The Lions were able to withstand Ursinus with a tremendous effort by junior goalkeeper Miranda Chrone, who recorded two crucial saves. In the 11th minute, junior midfielder Erin Harvey scored the team’s second goal off a free position attempt. see CRADLE page 18

Women’s tennis bounces off Rider, Swarthmore

Left: Rangu wins her match in 6-1 and 6-2 sets. Right: Puig takes a set in the College’s loss to RPI.

By Rohan Ahluwalia Staff Writer Continuing where they finished last semester, the women’s tennis team began their spring season with two massive victories over Rider University, 8-1, and Swarthmore College, 6-3, while the men’s team suffered its first defeat of the season to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 8-1.

A great week for the women’s side began on Thursday, March 22, defeating Rider University, 8-1, at the Student Recreation Center.

The Lions had a strong start in doubles, winning two out of three matches. Senior Maddy Stoner partnered with junior Grace Minassian to defeat their opposing Rider

Lions Lineup March 28, 2018

I n s i d e

duo, 8-4. Juniors Alyssa Baldi and Sneha Rangu then worked together to claim an 8-2 win.

In singles competition, the Lions managed to win all their matches in straight sets.

Rangu won her match in 6-1 and 6-2 sets while her fellow teammate, Baldi, emerged victorious with 6-1 and 6-0 sets.

Stoner won her match in 6-2 and 6-0 sets while her teammate Minassian beat her opponent with scores of 6-1 and 6-3. Meanwhile, sophomore Audrey Chen narrowly earned a victory over Rider freshman Sydney Jeffrey, 8-7.

Finally, senior Brittany Reedman secured the victory for the Lions with 6-1 and 6-2 wins over Rider.

Two days later, the Lions traveled to

Lacrosse (continued) page 18

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania where they took on Swarthmore College. This would prove to be a challenge for the College as Swarthmore is ranked No. 40 nationally, according to the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division III women’s national team rankings. However, the Lions managed to claim victory, 6-3.

“We knew it would be a hard match,” head coach Scott Dicheck said. “The ladies stepped up and played extremely well.”

Similar to their previous win, the Lions ended the doubles competition with a 2-1 lead. Rangu and Baldi continued their unbeatable partnership, taking a very close 8-6 victory over senior Rachel Bronkema and junior Arya Jemal. With the victory, Rangu and Baldi now have seven victories with no

Tennis (continued) page 18

Cheap Seats page 18

Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

defeats as a tag team, which impressed their head coach.

“They were down 6-4 and then came back the last four games against a very good team,” Dicheck said. “I was very impressed. They are both experienced players and the two of them have really built really good chemistry as a duo.”

In singles competition, the Lions found it tough against their nationally ranked opponents. Minassian and Stoner suffered defeats in their matches against Swarthmore senior Anna Scheibmeir and sophomore Audrey Haring, respectively. Despite the defeats, the Lions managed to earn four wins and the overall victory. see ACE page 18

Around the Dorm page 19