The Signal: Fall ‘17 No. 2

Breaking news, blogs and more at TCNJSignal.net.

Vol. XLVII, No. 2

September 6, 2017

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Infants partake in cognitive research studies

Students study infant behavior.

By Angeles Melecio Correspondent

A bright blue room plastered with decals of decorative trees is filled with the contagious laughter of infants. As the children settle down into this new environment, their parents are busy

Photo courtesy of TCNJ Cognitive Development Lab

arranging the most important details of their visit.

Although it may sound like a nice space for children to come and play, it is actually one of the many places on campus where important research is conducted.

This past summer the College welcomed its most adorable class of residents

yet: a group of 30 infants between the ages of 10 and 24 months old.

Despite their cute looks and playful nature, the infants took part in the first research studies conducted at the College’s new Cognitive Development Lab located in the Social Sciences Building.

“At the Cognitive Development Lab, we study how infants and children perceive and learn about the world around them,” said Aimee E. Stahl, an assistant professor of psychology and director of the lab.

The idea for this lab started with a simple question: How do infants learn?

Infants encounter an immense amount of new information every day but can’t possibly retain all of it. The lab’s main goal is to focus on how an infant determines what information is worth remembering.

Research conducted at the lab is done in a customized fashion to accommodate the skills and needs of every participant.

“Many of our subjects are not even walking or talking,” Stahl said. “We therefore have to design clever experiments that tap into their knowledge.” see LAB page 11

College welcomes record breaking freshman class

By Mia Ingui Staff Writer At 1,577 students, the College is now housing, educating and shaping the lives of its largest freshman class to date. Last year’s freshman class capped off at 1,473 students, according to the College’s website.

Moving in on Thursday, Aug. 24, incoming freshmen experienced all of the traditions of living on campus for the first time: Welcome Week, Playfair and the community atmosphere in the Towers, ABE, Centennial, and Norsworthy Hall.

“Welcome Week is probably the best week of college,” said Danielle Pernice, a freshman marketing major. “TCNJ did a great job organizing freshman activities and didn’t overwhelm us with more than we could handle.”

The class of 2021 has some impressive statistics.

The farthest domestic student is from California, and there are students from states such as Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin and Georgia as well, according to Luke Sacks, head media relations officer for the College.

The farthest international student is from Vietnam, but there are freshmen at the College from China, Columbia and India as well.

314 freshmen played an instrument in a band for see STUDENTS page 4

Students launch new mobile marketplace app, NeoBook

By Michelle Lampariello News Editor The cost of higher education is a serious issue for many students across the nation. Tuition, room and board, textbooks and other fees quickly add up, often causing financial distress for students and their families. That’s why senior marketing major Neophytos Zambas and Alumnus Agy Serghiou (’16) launched NeoBook — a mobile marketplace app designed for college students to buy and sell textbooks as well as other items and services.

“Our inspiration comes from solving an unmet need that will add consistent value to our users,” Serghiou said. “As a senior in college at the time, I understood that there wasn’t a streamlined way for students to connect with each other so that they can leverage their on-campus community. Higher education costs cripple students nationwide, and providing a platform for students that allows them to save and make money can go a long way for them.”

The NeoBook team hopes that students will not only save money on purchases made through NeoBook, but also that NeoBook will also be a safer and more secure environment since transactions are made with peers.

“Every person you make an exchange with will be from your school, as we verify all users when they’re signing up,” Zambas said. “NeoBook is essentially a safe and easy way to buy or sell anything at your school.”

Zambas and Serghiou recognized the advantages what they called a “hyper-local shared economy,” after they spent a combined total of over $1,300 on textbooks, according to a statement from Team NeoBook.

“The app generates value for both the buyer and the seller,” Zambas said. “If you’re selling books, you will get more than what the bookstore will give and if you’re buying you’ll get a better price as well.”

Despite only six weeks on the Apple App Store and

INDEX:

Nation & World / page 5

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Google Play with limited marketing, NeoBook currently has nearly 300 active users, according to the press release.

“The biggest challenge is accumulating a user base.

As the user base grows, the overall experience for the users becomes better as well,” Zambas said.

Spencer Viviano, a junior computer science major, is also on the NeoBook team, serving as chief technology officer. Serghiou, Zambas and Viviano are in contact every single day in order to keep the app running smoothly, according to Zambas.

“I handle all back end aspects of the business and oversee every decision that needs to be made,” Zambas said. “Agy, my cofounder, handles operations and is always networking to help us grow, since we’re still just a start-up. Spencer is our CTO and he handles all aspects that have to do with the actual app. He is in direct contact with our developers and helps us to bring out updates and to maintain a well-working platform.”

Currently, NeoBook revolves around transactions for textbooks, however, Team NeoBook plans to expand the app to include other items and services such as tutoring and ridesharing.

“While we started as just a textbook buy and sell app, we see this business adding value in other ways, and we have added functionalities and capabilities that will provide our users to not only buy and sell textbooks, but other miscellaneous items as well,” Serghiou explained.

“We eventually will expand the platform to include services so that the app will help students during textbook season and beyond.

While starting a business is a big step for college students, Team NeoBook learned to manage their challenges and learn from their difficulties.

“I think that startup costs are always a problem for young entrepreneurs,” Serghiou said. “However, I think the barrier to entry serves as a blessing in disguise. Every

Editorial / page 7

Opinions / page 9

Features / page 11

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Zambas oversees all business decisions.

rejection that we received allowed us to take a step back and refine our model, and it was extremely invaluable to obtain the feedback that we received from the original investors we pitched to despite them not being interested at first.”

Team NeoBook offered some advice for those interested in entrepreneurship or similar business ventures.

“I really think it ultimately comes down to having a customer-first mentality, while also having exceptional salesmanship skills,” Serghiou said. “Networking is also extremely important, especially in the tech space. Meeting more like minded people will always optimize your chances of success.”

Arts & Entertainment / page 13

Sports / page 17

A Cappella Night Various student groups perform in concert

Campus Style Check out the latest trends for this fall

Around the Dorm ATD is back in this resurrection edition

See A&E page 13

See Features page 12

See Sports page 19

page 2 The Signal September 6, 2017

September 6, 2017 The Signal page 3

Street sign and bicycle thieves keep Campus Police busy

By Brielle Bryan Opinions Editor Street sign stolen from its home On Monday, Aug. 28 at 1:15 a.m., a Campus Police officer was dispatched to the Soccer Complex, where a security guard observed two females carrying a Ewing Township street sign. Upon approaching the area, Campus Police observed a group of people alongside Metzger Drive, and at least one female carrying a street sign that belonged to the intersection of two roads in Ewing Township, police said.

As soon as one of the f emales in the group saw the officer’s patrol vehicle, the street sign was placed down on the ground behind a tree, and the group continued to walk as if nothing happened. When the officer approached the female he observed to be carrying the sign, she stated that she was not carrying the sign, and that she “saw it on the ground and picked it up,” according to police reports.

The street sign was recovered and logged as property, police said. TCNJ Dispatch contacted the Ewing Township Police Department and advised them of the incident.

Student seeks help for intoxicated friend On Monday, Aug. 28, at approximately 11:30 p.m., a female student requested that her community advisor contact College Dispatch for medical attention. Upon arriving at Brewster Hall, Campus Police spoke with the female student, who reported that a male resident advised her of another female resident who knocked on his door and did not look well to him, police said. The female student said that after meeting with the other female resident, she observed her to be in an intoxicated state.

The female student stayed with the intoxicated student and offered her water, according to police reports. The female student reported that the intoxicated student had a large bottle of Malibu and that there was not much left in it. The bottle had been disposed of prior to police arrival, Campus Police said.

TCNJ EMS arrived at the scene and evaluated the intoxicated student. The intoxicated student refused medical attention and TCNJ EMS did not deem it necessary for additional medical care, according to police reports. The intoxicated student was advised that Student Conduct may contact her to discuss the violation, police said. The

intoxicated student was not issued a summons at this time, as her cooperation and assistance from the female student that sought help for her was supported by amnesty.

Green Lane frat party goes wrong On Aug. 28 at 1:55 a.m., a Campus Police officer was dispatched to assist TCNJ EMS with an unconscious intoxicated student in Cromwell Hall. Upon arrival, the officer met with a female student in the hallway who directed him to the intoxicated student, police said.

The intoxicated student was on the floor of her dorm bathroom, vomiting into the toilet. Upon asking the intoxicated student questions, she responded incoherently and eventually stated that she consumed an unknown amount of vodka, police said.

TCNJ EMS arrived on scene, moved the intoxicated student to her bed and conducted a medical assessment. The intoxicated student’s friend stated that she was at a fraternity party on Green Lane with the intoxicated student, but only saw her consume vodka in the room prior to leaving for the party at approximately 10:30 p.m.,

according to the police report.

Ewing Township EMS arrived on scene and assessed the intoxicated student who refused any further medical aid, police said. Due to the New Jersey Lifeline Legislation, a summons was not issued.

New semester, new bicycle thieves On Aug. 25 at approximately 11 a.m., two Campus Police officers were dispatched to the front entrance of Hausdoerffer Hall to speak with a female student who reported a stolen bicycle. Upon arrival, the officers met with the student at the front bicycle rack on the right side of Hausdoerffer Hall.

Campus Police asked the female student what happened and she reported that she left her new bicycle on the rack in front of Hausdoerffer Hall at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 24. At approximately 10 a.m. on Aug. 25, the student noticed her bicycle was missing. The student described the bicycle to be a light pale blue color, manufactured by Glendale and valued at approximately $100, according to police reports.

Anyone with information can contact Campus Police at 609-771-2345.

Toxic algae returns to Lake Sylva Board of Trustees creates presidential search committee

By Heidi Cho Nation & World Editor College Spokesperson Dave Muha warned against fishing, drinking, swimming and coming into contact with water from Lake Sylva on Tuesday, Aug. 29., in a campus-wide email.

On Aug. 25, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was alerted of a potentially hazardous algae bloom in Colonial Lake in Lawrenceville, according to NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring Section Chief Victor Poretti.

During the summer, there was a toxic cyanobacterial algae bloom that originated in Lake Sylva that traveled downstream to Shabakunk Creek and Colonial Lake, according to Poretti.

“Because the last occurrence affected all three waterbodies, we resampled Sylva as a precaution,” Poretti said.

The sample results showed that the algae bloom in Lake Sylva is indeed toxic. Poretti said that the cyanobacterial bloom exceeded both toxin and cell count risk thresholds.

Cyanobacteria is usually a normal part of a lake’s algal community. Cyanobacteria is only harmful if there is an excessive amount, or when the toxin level exceeds risk thresholds, as it currently does in Lake Sylva.

Shabakunk Creek, however, harbors no such harmful algae bloom as of Aug. 31, according to Poretti.

The Ewing Health Department alerted the College of the return of

the toxic algae bloom that Tuesday, and no earlier, according to the College’s Head Media Relations Officer Luke Sacks.

By the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 30, advisories about the toxic bloom were posted, and samples of the water were collected and analyzed, according to Poretti.

Poretti listed possible reasons for the presence of a harmful algae bloom, also known as a HAB. Environmental factors like heat, still water and high nutrient concentrations can promote the growth of a HAB. High nutrient concentrations can be caused by geese byproducts, lake sediment or fertilizer runoff.

The specific reason for the return of the toxic algae bloom as of Aug. 31 has not been identified, according to Poretti.

Heat and still water caused the previous toxic harmful algae bloom to last a few weeks in the summer, according to the Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann.

The current harmful algae bloom is primarily composed of Anabaena sp., according to Poretti.

“Also noted to be present, but not in countable amounts were the taxa Aphanizomenon sp., Microcystis sp., and Coelosphaerium sp.,” Poretti said.

Algae blooms can last up to a few weeks, Poretti added.

“Disturbing or killing the algae can result in release of toxins,” Poretti said.

The current toxic bloom should subside naturally over time, as did the previous bloom, according to Poretti.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

The specific reason for the bloom remains unknown.

Gitenstein’s retirement is effective at the end of this academic year.

By Michelle Lampariello News Editor

The College’s Board of Trustees has established an 18-member committee responsible for selecting the College’s 16th president.

Current College President R. Barbara Gitenstein announced on July 11 that her retirement will be effective June 30, 2018.

The committee, chaired by Alumna Susanne Svizeny (’79), is made up of representatives from campus stakeholder groups, according to a campus-wide email from Jorge Caballero, the chair of the Board of Trustees.

“The committee will conduct a national search with the goal of recommending a candidate for the Board of Trustees consideration by early Spring,” Svizeny said. “The search committee’s first meeting will be the middle of September where they will receive a charge from Board Chair Jorge Caballero and will develop a timeline and work plan for the search.”

Caballero will serve as an

ex-officio committee member, and Alumna Heather Fehn (’94) will serve as secretary to the board and chief of staff.

Caballero also stated that Julie Tea, a partner at Storbeck/ Pimentel & Associates, has been hired as a consultant for the presidential search.

“We are pleased to have Julie Tea and the Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates team working with the Board of Trustees and the TCNJ Presidential Search Committee to help identify TCNJ’s next president,” Svizeny explained. “Julie Tea will assist the committee by meeting with members of the campus community to develop a position prospectus to share with potential candidates, and to help build a pool of outstanding candidates for the committee’s review.”

Campus input is highly valued by the committee and is considered an integral component of the selection process.

“Members of the Search Committee and the search firm will be hosting open fora to provide an opportunity for students,

tcnj.edu

faculty, staff and alumni to share their suggestions and ideas about the search. Those who cannot attend will have the opportunity to provide feedback through a feedback form,” stated the Presidential Search Committee’s page on the College’s website.

The College saw great advancements and improvements during Gitenstein’s tenure, including an increase in four year graduation rates, successful fundraising campaigns, programs to combat sexual assault and construction and renovations of several buildings.

The Presidential Search Committee hopes to find a new “leader with energy, vision and a commitment to the institution’s mission and values,” according to their web page. “(The College’s next President) will join a diverse, inclusive and collaborative community of faculty and staff, who are committed to delivering a student-centered experience and advancing the institution as guided by its strategic plan, TCNJ 2021: Bolder, Better, Brighter.”

page 4 The Signal September 6, 2017

Students / Unprecedented class of 2021 moves in for fall

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Left: The large class fills the towers to their maximum capacity. Right: The College welcomes 1,577 freshmen. continued from page 1 school or their community, 16 freshmen were class or student body presidents and 383 were varsity captains of 487 teams, according to Sacks. The class also includes 24 black belts, 196 students who performed in a play for their school or community theater organization and 47 students who participated in robotics clubs or competitions, Sacks added.

328 freshmen have relatives who are alumni of the College, 349 were presidents or vice presidents of 430 clubs or organizations in their respective high schools and 1,081 volunteered on 2,088

different projects and clubs, according to an article from NJ.com.

Included in the new class are eight sets of twins and two sets of triplets. The most popular names amongst the freshmen are Matthew for males, while Julia and Amanda are tied for the top female name.

As for most popular majors, biology, psychology and nursing are the top three, according to NJ.com.

Preparing the College’s amenities to accommodate the incoming freshmen was a huge challenge this fall, according Sean Stallings, assistant vice president of the student services division of Student Affairs.

“Housing was certainly challenged by

the large class,” Stallings said. “When we learned that the incoming class yield was higher than usual, it became apparent that we would need to maneuver to ensure that we were positioned to honor our guarantee and house all of the incoming first year students. To meet the demand, we transformed lounges in Travers and Wolfe into student rooms; these converted rooms are called quads. Also, we had to relocate approximately 60 second year students originally assigned to Norsworthy to other spaces around campus.”

Though student housing was challenged by the amount of incoming freshmen, the near-completion of the Brower Student Center

Instagram

construction is certainly advantageous.

“The student center is operating at near full functionality and it has been buzzing with excitement,” Stallings said. “The energy around the building has been well received and it’s wonderful to see the students enjoying the space. I think the larger class has only added excitement and vibrancy to our campus life.”

Pernice said that she was excited to be part of the largest freshman class the College has seen.

“It’s actually so cool,” Pernice said.

“Our incoming class has such a diverse group of people and I’m proud to say I’m the class of 2021.”

September 6, 2017 The Signal page 5

Nation & W rld

Courts find Samsung heir implicit in bribery scandal

By Anandita Mehta Staff Writer

The Samsung Group heir and de facto business leader, Lee Jae-yong, was convicted on Aug. 25 on charges of bribery and sentenced to five years in prison, The New York Times reported.

Lee was convicted for bribing former South Korean President Park Geun-hye in hopes of gaining government backing of a corporate merger that had been opposed by shareholders. The merger would have also given the Lee family greater control over the Samsung corporation, according to The New York Times.

Samsung was founded, owned and operated by the Lee family starting in 1938, Fortune reported.

South Korean family-owned business conglomerates like the Lees helped revive South Korea’s economy after the Korean war from 1950 to 1953, according to Reuters.

By helping to transform the nation into a “global economic powerhouse,” families such as the Lee’s were given immunity from the law, according to Reuters. For example, Lee’s father, Lee Kun-hee, received

Lee is led away by police.

two presidential pardons absolving him of any punishment for convictions of bribery and other charges, according to The New York Times.

Now Reuters reports that these same families actually stunt economic growth by stifling the prospects of small businesses.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has already announced that there will be no more presidential pardons, according to BBC.

AP Photo

Reuters also reports a rise in the share prices of Samsung when Lee was taken into custody, indicating public approval of the president’s action, and public disapproval of the youngest Lee. The youngest Lee, seen as awkward and nervous, only became the head of Samsung after health issues put his father into a coma.

Whereas his father and grandfather commanded respect as leaders that participated

in decision making, the youngest Lee was not taking part in the daily decision making of the business, The New York Times wrote.

Lee even told the courts that “he mostly reads American and Japanese publications instead of South Korean news outlets, leaving him ignorant of which officials he would need to influence to begin with,” The New York Times reported.

Lee and his lawyers have taken a stance of innocence, claiming that the documents signing over money as part of a bribe were signed without his understanding of their implications, according to The New York Times.

Samsung opened an office near Lee’s jail, therefore, his imprisonment did not create a power vacuum, and will not impede the operations of the company, according to The New York Times.

As for the president on the receiving end of those bribes, Park is facing her own trial and was forced to leave the position of the presidency, according to Fortune.

However, she is not without supporters, as those who oppose her trial were seen protesting outside the court the day of Lee’s sentencing because of the ill omens it holds for Park.

Texas set to recover after wreckage of Hurricane Harvey

By Alexis Bell Staff Writer

While the residents of Houston await rescue amidst devastation and flooding, another Texas city succumbed to Tropical Storm Harvey on Wednesday, Aug. 30, according to CNN. The mayor of Port Arthur, Texas, Derrick Freeman, posted on Facebook, “Our whole city is underwater right now but we are coming! If you called, we are coming!”

As of Wednesday, Aug. 30, Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath has caused at least 37 deaths that have been reported in Texas, according to CNN. One of the victims include Houston Police Department Sgt. Steve Perez. The Washington Post reported that the 60-year-old police sergeant drowned in his patrol car while attempting to get to work and aid the relief efforts.

“Unfortunately in the darkness, Sgt. Perez drove into an underpass that’s about 16 1/2 feet, drove into the water and he

died in a drowning-type event,” said Chief Art Acevedo, according to NPR. “Steve is one of the sweetest people in this department and I’ve been here only nine months. We have 6,500 employees and I knew who Steve Perez was because he was a sweet, gentle public servant.”

Other victims included a homeless man who drowned in a Walmart parking lot and a woman who died after a tree fell onto her mobile home, according to The Washington Post.

The New York Times reported one mother was swept away into a canal while her child survived.

Rescuers in Beaumont on Tuesday, Aug. 29, discovered the toddler in a pink backpack clinging to her mother’s body in the floodwaters.

The child was in stable condition with hypothermia.

“Had we been a few moments later, they would have been swept underneath (a trestle) and our boats wouldn’t have been able to get them … a true testament of a mother who put her own life at risk and sacrificed her life

Floodwater from Hurricane Harvey overcomes Port Arthur. to save her child. That was devastating,” said Haley Morrow, a spokeswoman for the Beaumont Emergency Management Office, according to CNN. More than 30,000 people are currently in 230 shelters across Texas, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said, but that number is likely to increase dramatically as more people arrive. In addition, 1,800 people have already been transferred from

shelters to local motels and hotels, according to The New York Times.

Houston finally has some sunshine in their forecast, after five straight days of rain that totaled up to 52 inches — the heaviest tropical downpour ever in the United States, according to CBS. The storm isn’t over. Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas held a press conference this Wednesday afternoon to discuss recovery efforts in response to flooding and continuing

AP Photo

rainfall, CBS reported.

“The worst is not yet over for southeast Texas,” said Abbott, according to CBS. About 2,000 more Texas National Guard members have been activated to assist in the efforts, making 14,000 the total number of Texas guardsmen deployed. 10,000 more members of the National Guard from other states are expected to arrive in the state soon and aid the relief efforts, according to Abbott.

North Korean missile test launches set world on edge

Kim inspects the hydrogen bomb.

AP Photo

By Jake Mulick Staff Writer

North Korea test-launched a ballistic missile directly over Japan in a brazen attempt to intimidate the country

on Aug. 28, according to The New York Times.

Former Senior Director for Asian Affairs Evan Medeiros remarked that the move by North Korea had serious thought behind it.

The goal of the launch was to test the alliance between the United States and Japan. The Atlantic reported that as tensions rise between the United States and North Korea, Japan runs the risk of being attacked because of its staunch alliance with the United States.

The test served as a reminder of Japan’s proximity to North Korea and the likelihood that North Korea will engage in military action beginning there, according to The Atlantic.

North Korea does have the nuclear capability to strike Japan and South Korea, both close neighbors to the country.

This fact could hurt relations between the two countries and the United States because of President Donald Trump’s continuing provocation of North Korea.

The Washington Post recently reported on Saturday, Sept. 2 that President Trump also plans on pulling the United States out from a free trade deal it has with South Korea, amidst the aforementioned nuclear threat from North Korea.

President Trump has threatened nuclear war with North Korea and worsened relations with Japan as of Saturday, Sept. 2, according to the New York Times.

Now Trump looks to dampen the economic relationship with our ally, South Korea.

Trump’s U.N. envoy, Nikki Haley, announced that the U.N.’s Security Council will hold an emergency meeting about North Korea’s latest hydrogen bomb test on Monday, Sept. 4., according to CNN. Only time will tell what the ramifications of these actions will look like, as military tensions between the nations are at their highest in years, according to the Washington Post.

page 6 The Signal September 6, 2017

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September 6, 2017 The Signal page 7

Editorial

Students should learn to love reading

Nearly every student, aside from my fellow English majors, says they don’t enjoy reading, deeming books too boring, long or difficult.

Additionally, they’ll claim they do not have the attention span to read or that they have better things to do, along with a multitude of other excuses. As an avid reader myself, it disappoints me deeply. Although many older generations would disagree, I do not think it is our fault that we don’t read as much anymore.

When debating why students don’t read as much as they once did, the most obvious reason seems to the many other forms of entertainment available at our fingertips — movies, television, video games, even our phones have fun pastimes to occupy our minds at any given point of the day. Of course, this is not our fault, as we are a generation raised with this technology and know nothing else, much to our elders’ grievances.

On the contrary, though, what I honestly think is the main reason that our generation doesn’t enjoy reading is our school curriculums.

When we are very young, around 5 years old or so, we are given colorful and enjoyable books that hold our attention and invigorate us to read more. Even as we grow older, we still read books that are imaginative, humorous and exciting. If you ask anyone our age, they’ll rave over the books they read in elementary school — “Junie B. Jones,” “Captain Underpants” and “Harry Potter” to name a few.

But once we reach a certain age, around middle school, it seems the number of people who enjoy reading goes on a steady decline. Why? I think because teachers give these strict curriculums — of course, which they are told to abide by — of books that are supposedly educational, but in reality are boring, and usually really really old. Go up to anyone our age and ask if they’ve read Shakespeare, and they will groan and roll their eyes and nod, shivering at the memories of deciphering old, outdated English. Middle school and high school are programming us to hate reading because they are giving us the wrong books. Because our minds are growing so much at that critical age, it is impressioned on us that books are equated to boredom. Also, I need to note that most of these books are written by tired, old, white men — there is absolutely no diversity among their voices as we read them to diverse students.

I remember my senior year of high school, my teacher boldly stated that he was going to work around the curriculum a little, and introduce to us to some books of his choosing that he thought would benefit us.

He assigned us Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner,” a story about two Afghani little boys that wove a story about classicism, regret, loss and suicide.

Typically, when I would ask my friends whether they had read for class, they would almost always reply “I skimmed it” or “I sparknoted it.” However for some reason when I asked about “The Kite Runner,” everyone animatedly would reply “Yes! I can’t wait to see what happens next!” My fellow students were exposed to a whole new world, and they loved every minute of it.

Of course, I’m not saying just throw uneducational, vapid, entertaining books at students, because I know that the point of English class is for educational purposes. However, there are so many educational books with beautiful symbolism and thought-provoking themes that are also entertaining. I truly believe that if we changed school curriculums, then we’d have a generation of readers who might put down their phones to read a few chapters because they genuinely enjoy it.

— Lily Firth Social Media Editor

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, unless otherwise noted.

Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.

Flickr

High school and middle school curriculums need to change.

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

Editorial Staff Connor Smith Editor-in-Chief smithc57@tcnj.edu Thomas Infante Alyssa Gautieri Managing Editors infantt1@tcnj.edu gautiea3@tcnj.edu Michelle Lampariello News Editor lamparm2@tcnj.edu Maximillian C. Burgos Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editors burgosm2@tcnj.edu gonzam23@tcnj.edu Ashton Leber Features Editor lebera1@tcnj.edu Elizabeth Zakaim Arts & Entertainment Editor zakaime1@tcnj.edu Brielle Bryan Opinions Editor bryanb2@tcnj.edu Kim Iannarone Jason Proleika Photo Editors

Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 iannark1@tcnj.edu proleij1@tcnj.edu Heidi Cho Nation & World Editor choh2@tcnj.edu Lily Firth Review Editor firthl1@tcnj.edu Eric Preisler Production Manager preisle1@tcnj.edu Kyle Elphick Web Editor elphick1@tcnj.edu Danielle Silvia Maddi Ference Social Media Editors silviad2@tcnj.edu ferencm2@tcnj.edu

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“Higher education costs cripple students nationwide, and providing a platform for students that allows them to save and make money can go a long way for them.”

— Agy Serghiou, Alumnus

“Lambda Theta Phi cares deeply about the community and will do anything to help out and uplift our community together.”

— Samuel Serrato, junior urban education and Spanish double major

“You don’t care.

You walk in 20 minutes late and you walk right up to the front row. I wanna be you. You don’t give a shit.

I wish I could do something like that.”

— Ramy Youssef, comedian

page 8 The Signal September 6, 2017

September 6, 2017 The Signal page 9

Opinions

Drinking and driving has fatal consequences

By Maddi Ference

For as long as I can remember, my parents have taken every chance they could get to remind me and my siblings not to drink and drive. Whenever a story would come up on the nightly newscast when we were sitting together as a family at home, my parents would give us a lecture based on other people’s mistakes to serve as a learning experience for us.

At age 12, when I was not even remotely interested in alcohol, my parents would constantly remind me to call them, for future’s sake, if I ever needed a ride as opposed to getting behind the wheel while in an altered state of mind. I would usually shrug off their comments and resume whatever unimportant task I was doing at the time. Now I’m thankful to my parents that they were so persistent with their reminders to never drink and drive. I can’t fathom how people can take such life-altering risks and see no harm in their actions.

Although not all parents are like mine and willing to pick up their child after a night of drinking, there are alternate resources available to avoid getting behind the wheel. Calling for an Uber or Lyft ride are convenient options for anyone with a smartphone. These apps are a small price to pay, and without them the price might be higher, such as a hefty

Driving while intoxicated can lead to serious injuries. ticket for a DUI, or worse — ending someone’s life.

If you’re tight on cash, asking a friend to come pick you up is another option. If you’re partying at a friend’s house, ask to stay the night and drive home in the morning. With so many ways to drink responsibly, how does

AP Photo

driving under the influence still seem like a viable or safe option?

I could go on and on with different ways to avoid drinking and driving, but the problem is that many people still think it is a sensible option, even with the number of resources available.

Recently, news broke that two women were killed in a car accident near my hometown and that the driver of the same car was charged with death by auto and also received a summons for driving while intoxicated. Not only is the driver facing criminal charges and jail time, but she also has to live with the fact that she took the lives of two innocent women, all because she decided to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. The surrounding community is shattered with the loss of the two women — two lives that could have been saved if the driver decided not to drink and drive.

Our generation has the ability to substantially decrease the amount of drinking and driving related incidents solely based on the technology we have available at our fingertips. With people like the driver stated above who are willing to drive under the influence, we are moving backward in our efforts to combat such irresponsible behavior. People in our generation still feel as though nothing will happen to them if they drink and drive — that is, until it is too late.

With every new semester comes parties, bar trips and other alcohol-related excursions. It is imperative to be safe this year and never get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Take an Uber, call a friend, or stay the night at someone’s house. No party is worth someone’s life, including your own.

Americans not over previous presidential election

Students speak out about previous election results.

By Ben Schulman The previous election cycle was very stressful and unorthodox for many Americans. After Trump won the U.S. presidency, I thought that all of the chaos of the election cycle would be over and the nation would move on. Well, I was wrong.

A story has been developing over the past few weeks with little media attention, but I think it is essential to call it out. During the 2016 presidential election, the Democratic National Committee was accused of favoring Hillary

AP Photo

Clinton over Senator Bernie Sanders, possibly costing Sanders the democratic presidential candidacy, according to the Washington Post.

The DNC was sued in Florida for fraud by people who claimed that the system was rigged and that they should get their political donations toward the Sanders candidacy back because they did not have a chance of winning and essentially threw their money away.

The courts in Florida threw the case out. This is shocking to me to hear that the case was thrown out and no one will get their political contributions back.

Attorneys representing the DNC claimed that the DNC would be well within their legal rights to go into back rooms, smoke cigars and pick its candidate that way, according to the Observer.

Also, the DNC reportedly argued that the organization’s neutrality among Democratic campaigns during the primaries was merely a ‘political promise,’ and therefore it had no legal obligations to remain impartial throughout the process, the Washington Post wrote.

Knowing this information, in my opinion, is very unnerving. It makes me wonder if the candidates of the Republican National Committee are chosen in a backroom, as well. I also question why we have primary elections if they truly don’t matter in the end. However, what we now know undoubtedly is that the DNC chose the democratic candidate rather than the people.

The DNC failed to serve the people of the United States.

However, I also feel that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Although the lawsuit was thrown out, it forced the DNC to show its cards and expose its inner workings. This

revelation that the establishment defied the people is big and can cause some upset among citizens, especially with the ones who lost money to a rigged system, according to the Observer.

But we also must remember that the constitution does not guarantee a legitimate primary.

Hell, the constitution gives no official legitimacy to political parties in general.

At the end of the day, no matter how much money was donated to a candidate and no matter how morally bankrupt it could be, the DNC reserves the right to go as far

as choosing a name out of a hat to pick their candidate, and it would be perfectly legal.

What has transpired with the DNC should be taken as a wakeup call to get educated about the constitution and about the political process in general. I hope that what happened will be enough to get Americans angry and hungry for change. The seeds of distrust have been planted by the DNC and their legitimacy is in question by the people. I wonder if our entire political structure will also come under question by the people, as well.

AP Photo

Some Sanders supporters believe the primary system is unfair.

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The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors.

The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via email to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office.

Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason.

All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs.

The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or email us at signal@tcnj.edu.

page 10 The Signal September 6, 2017

Students share opinions around campus “Do you feel that drinking and driving is an issue on campus?”

Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor

Kelsey Mancuso, a senior secondary education and mathematics dual major.

“Being in a sorority, I haven’t noticed anything significant about it. I don’t think it’s a big issue.”

Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor

August Fiorentino, a senior secondary education and mathematics dual major.

“Not that I know of. I haven’t noticed anything off about it.”

“Has the US moved on since the last presidential election?”

Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor

Kelsey O’Neill, a senior special education major.

“Not at all. People still talk about the election and are very upset over the outcome of it.”

Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor

Anthony DeVito, a senior psychology major.

“Half of us have and half of us haven’t.”

The Signal’s cartoons of the week...

September 6, 2017 The Signal page 11

Features

Lab / College welcomes infants to campus

Photos courtesy of TCNJ Cognitive Development Lab

Left: Students work as research assistants in the lab. Right: Researchers observe infants as they engage with their surroundings. continued from page 1 The type of study an infant participates in is determined by their age.

When conducting a study, the participant will be taken to a separate testing room where research assistants will perform a puppet show or showcase certain magic tricks.

Cameras are carefully placed in three different locations throughout the room to record the process and capture the infant’s reactions to the events. The studies share one common trait — the element of surprise.

Research has found that infants have preconceived notions about how the world around them should work, according to Stahl.

Infants become fascinated when events do not correspond to their expectations, therefore, they spend more time exploring different possibilities. This idea plays a crucial role in the main research developed at the lab.

In the span of just a few short months since June, the lab has found success in more ways than one.

Larissa Woods, a sophomore elementary education and psychology double major, expressed her excitement about the summer’s remarkable turnout.

“In just a few short weeks over the summer, we tested 30 babies and added around 100 families to our database,” Woods said.

This fall, the lab will be busier than ever as it expands its research studies to include infants between the ages of 24 and

48 months.

The wider range of ages included will provide further insight into the way an infant’s mind develops and changes as they reach and surpass two years of age.

The Cognitive Development Lab has come a long way since the idea for it was sparked years ago. said Emma Pranschke, a junior psychology major. “Basic research will help to know what’s normal and what’s abnormal. The more we know, the better we will be in helping babies and knowing what to expect.”

Little by little, the lab has been working to improve its own methods as well as contribute to the overall knowledge of child development that is commonplace today.

Lambda Theta Phi builds playground in Trenton

Photo courtesy of Samuel Serrato

Fraternity members give back to the community.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor Smiling children at Foundation Academy Primary campus can now be found climbing the monkey bars, playing hide-and-go seek and chasing after one another.

Thanks to the generous efforts of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, students at the Foundation Academy Primary school have access to an updated playground, complete with a slide, jungle gym and monkey bars.

It all started out as a request from Alumna Cynthia Cardona (‘12). Cardona, a fourth grade

math teacher at Foundation Academy Primary school in Trenton, asked the members of the College’s Lambda Theta Phi Latin fraternity to volunteer in the construction of the playground.

Cardona — also the daughter of the fraternity’s founding father, Hiram Cardona — cares greatly about the community.

According to Samuel Serrato, a junior urban education and Spanish double major, working with Cardona was a great opportunity for students at the College.

“It was amazing to work with Cynthia Cardona,” he said.

“She was so supportive of her

community and to our mission of helping all who are in need.”

Erly Solis, a senior psychology major and the fraternity’s community service advisor, said the idea came about when Cardona asked her father for assistance in building an ergonomic playground at her school.

Hiram Cardona suggested his daughter reach out to Lambda Theta Pi’s regional administration to help assemble the playground.

“We were more than happy to not only assist with this building project, but to honor one of our founding fathers,” Solis said.

Foundation Academies, a charter school system, received grants from Bai and Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s initiative, “Let’s Play,” to KaBOOM! and Good Sports also supported the project.

“Although this chapter has never worked with the foundation before, it was a pleasure creating a relationship with them,” Solis said.

After two days of preparation, more than 200 volunteers — among them, 16 Lambda Theta Phi members — began construction of the playground on Friday, Aug. 18.

The volunteers were able to complete the entire project in only six hours, working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The playground opened for use by the following week. More than 200 students at Foundation

Academy Primary campus can now enjoy the updated play area.

Solis immediately saw the playground’s impact on Foundation Academy students. cant,” Solis said. “We recruited as many brothers as possible from our local TCNJ undergraduates, alumni chapters and other chapters in the area to take part in this worthy cause. The undergraduates strive to stay connected to our local community during the school year and also during the summer, and this was one of the main projects scheduled for

this summer.”

Earlier this year, Lambda Theta Phi took part in a food drive to provide food for 19 families.

The fraternity also participates in an annual day of giving to strengthen their relationship with the community.

“We do an annual Lambda Giving day where we select 10 families from the Trenton community and give them groceries,” Serrato said. “Lambda Theta Phi cares deeply about the community and will do anything to help out and uplift our community together.”

Photo courtesy of Samuel Serrato

Volunteers complete the playground in six hours.

page 12 The Signal September 6, 2017

:

College inaugurates Gitenstein

Campus Style

Ashton Leber / Features Editor

Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories.

In Oct. of 1999, R. Barbara Gitenstein became the 15th president to serve the Colpus. This July, Gitenstein announced her plan to retire in June 2018, after serving 18 memorable years. Gitenstein will leave behind both academic and physical contributions to the College that have improved the institution’s focus on higher education.

Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein was formally inaugurated as the 15th president of the college last Friday in the Recreation Center.

The audience, comprised of faculty, staff the almost three quarters of the hall, which had been rearranged to accommodate a stage for the ceremony and a pit for the Wind Ensemble.

Dignitaries in attendance included Governor Christie Whitman, who was dressed in academic robes, and former TCNJ presidents Harold W. Eickhoff and Clayton R. Brower.

Bringing greetings “on behalf of the state of New Jersey,” Whitman cited the college’s superior academic and athletic

records in addition to some of Gitenstein’s accomplishments since joining the college nine months ago, including “an excellent singing voice.” female governor of the state of New Jersey, to share in the inauguration of the New Jersey,” she said. “Quite literally, as today’s theme proclaims, the face of leadership is changing.”

Dr. Daniel Crofts, chair of the history department, spoke on behalf of the faculty and staff, saying, “the faculty eagerly extends the hand of partnership to President Gitenstein and the administration team she has begun to assemble.”

According to Crofts, the faculty is prepared, as teacher-scholars, to engage students with imagination, commitment and effort.

“President Gitenstein,” Crofts said in his concluding remarks, “We are ready!”

Crofts was followed by SGA President Nick Sbordone, who reminded Whitman that years or so at which you are not the most important person.”

The Culinary Club Presents...

Lions Plate

Flickr

By Jillian Greene Columnist Although you may still be in summer mode, fall is right around the corner.

Temperatures have dropped into the high 60s and low 70s the past few days, forcing retail stores to clear out their summer merchandise and replace it with sweaters, boots and long sleeve shirts.

Soon the school work will become overwhelming and students across campus will become busier and busier. Before you know it, you’ll be dressed in fall clothes and wishing warmer weather was back.

Last fall there were some popular items that I’m sure students on campus will be wearing again this year. For example, bomber jackets were everywhere last year and will continue to be in style this fall.

These jackets come in a variety of styles

from light to heavy and are wearable for any season.

According to the fashion experts of the world (and what we saw during the most recent fashion week), the color to wear this fall is red. Personally, I’m excited because red is one of my favorite colors to wear and is practical for any occasion. Slip on a sleek red dress for a fancy event or dress it down with boots and a scarf for class.

Another item that’s still in this fall is over-the-knee boots. I’ve become so used to wearing these that any other style feels wrong. In just about every store, there are several styles being showcased. According to Elle Magazine, we can expect a lot of new trends this fall such as ’70s plaid, more fur, glittery boots and retro hats.

I’m excited to see what fall fashion will be displayed on campus this semester!

: Homemade ice cream

Flickr

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist While summer may be fading, it is still the perfect time for a cold treat.

Why make a complicated dish when two ingredients are all you need? Today, the College’s Culinary Club brings you one of our favorite recipes to make — ice cream!

This simple frozen treat can be made with nothing more than heavy cream and condensed milk. If you’re

looking for a sweeter taste, add vanilla extract to create spoons of melted butter and a ½ cup of Nutella.

Ingredients: 2 cups of heavy cream 1 (14 oz.) can of Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk Directions: 1. Using a mixer or strong kitchen spoon, whip the

heavy cream until it peaks. (The cream should stand up in little pyramids when you pull out the spoon from the mixture.)

2. For added flavor, mix 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract with the sweetened condensed milk in a separate bowl.

4. Pour mixture into a 2-quart-sized container and place in the freezer for at least 8 hours to solidify.

5. Enjoy!

September 6, 2017 The Signal page 13

Arts & Entertainment

A cappella groups showcase talent in concert

Left: The Treblemakers performs a touching rendition of ‘Gravity.’ Right: The Trentones puts its signature ‘aca-twist’ on popular songs.

By Mia Ingui Staff Writer

Four a cappella groups rocked Mayo Concert Hall on Monday, Aug. 28, at the annual, “Fellas, Bellas and A Cappella” concert, which brought Welcome Week 2017 to a close.

The concert began with the College’s Christian a cappella group, Voice of Hope. The group began with a mashup of “Going Home” and “Voice of the Lord,” which featured a fun rap portion to get the entire audience cheering. Voice of Hope followed with “One More Time,” and closed with the group’s alumni song, “Stand In.” Next up was the College’s all-female a cappella group, The Treblemakers. The group began its set with Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” The Treblemakers then followed that up with a tender performance of Sara Bareilles’ “Gravity,” and closed with an upbeat medley of “Chains,” by Nick Jonas and “Side to Side,” by Ariana Grande.

Korina Stelzenmueller, a senior biomedical engineering major and the president of the Treblemakers, told The Signal

that her group has a lot up its sleeves for this upcoming year.

“This semester actually marks our 10th anniversary concert, so we invited all of our alumni back and will be doing a few old favorite arrangements that they chose,” Stelzenmueller said. “We have songs by Sia, Katy Perry, Paramore, Andy Grammer, Martin Garrix and more.”

Following the Treblemakers were the iTunes — named for the incorporation of international music into the group’s repertoire. iTunes opened with a bubbly version of Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand.” After that was an iTunes favorite from last year, “Settle Down,”

by Kimbra, followed up with “Ghost,” by Ella Henderson. The iTunes has a cohesive, upbeat sound, as the group members are always on stage dancing and having a great time while performing.

Last up were the Trentones, the College’s only competition a cappella group, which attends the International Championship for Collegiate A Cappella. The Trentones opened with “Ain’t Got Far to Go” by Jess Glynne. After that was Bruno Mars’ hit “Chunky.” The soft “Skinny Love,” by Birdy followed. They closed

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

with “The Greatest,” by Sia, but with a twist, as the Trentones incorporated other Sia songs like “Alive,” and “Elastic Heart,” to create a medley.

Karaline Rosen, a junior business management major and member of the Trentones, enjoyed the performance.

“I think it was great. It’s always fun performing with them, and since we always hang out, this is just another big hangout for us. It’s awesome,” Rosen said.

Stelzenmueller was happy to be back singing with the Treblemakers.“We killed it,” she said. “We love singing together and I’m so happy to be back. We’re definitely excited to get new girls and our group has grown to blend so well together. I’m really proud of how hard we’ve worked and how far we’ve come.”

All four groups told the audience about their upcoming auditions, encouraging everyone at the College to come audition and find their “aca-fam.”

Auditions for each group will be held after the Activities Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 6 in the Brower Student Center.

Those interested in auditioning can sign up for an audition slot at the fair.

New single shows controversial side of popular artist

Swift shows off an edgier image with her new track.

By Lily Firth Reviews Editor

Most of Taylor Swift’s fans eagerly anticipated new music following her threeyear hiatus since “1989.” The single she released was nothing less than a surprise.

“Look What You Made Me Do” is different from anything Swift has released in the past, centering around dark instrumentals and using cryptic messages dedicated to her enemies who morphed her into someone she doesn’t want to be — vicious, hardened and vengeful.

This new Swift is surprising to fans and

YouTube

non-fans alike because the singer started out as a young, country-pop singer with an acoustic guitar, singing about boys and writing in her diary. We’ve seen her change over the years. Swift slowly shed her country sound, but she still kept up her girly signature style. Following her break, many people still expected similar bubblegum pop songs, but her first single was quite a divergence. Personally, I think Swift got exactly what she wanted — to show the world that she has shed her carefree, innocent self.

Like most celebrities, Swift has always been under harsh scrutiny and judgement

from the world, but it seems she has been a common target for mockery because she focused on boys and heartbreak. Critics argued that she played the victim and that she morphs her own experiences to make other people look petty. Critics called her “boy crazy” and claimed that she had no depth to her lyrics or her work, which is unfair considering the singer’s success.

Swift, likely tired of her victim persona, decided it was time to change her image.

The lyrics to “Look What You Made Me Do” show this change more closely.

She specifically says, “I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me” and that in the past, people have made her seem like a “fool.”

Now, however, she’s grown “smarter and got harder in the nick of time.” She also continually repeats the phrase, “look what you made me do,” to refer to how the media, other celebrities and haters have led her to this change. Perhaps the song’s most significant lyrics — a part of the song that have attracted a lot of attention — are “the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, because she’s dead!” The lyrics represent that Swift’s change is completed and there’s no going back to the way she was before.

The new Swift is here to stay.

The music video was highly talked about as well, premiering at the 2017 Video Music Awards. The first scene shows Swift

as a corpse, burying her former self. She then shows different versions of herself that are more acidic and evil, including her sitting on a throne with snakes, walking with a huge cheetah print coat and stilettos, lying in a bath of diamonds, strutting fishnets and heels, and leading robotic minions with a whip in hand. Many people who analyzed the video blame her critics, in addition to former friend Katy Perry, who wronged her, and rapper Kanye West, who famously dissed her in front of the whole world at the 2009 VMAs. The end of the video disturbed a lot of people as well. As Swift stands on top of a mound of people, it is soon revealed that the women beneath her are each an older version of Swift from major parts in her life, all screaming and trying to get to the top of the mound. But the new Swift kicks them all down. The scene is symbolic of her new image, representing that the old versions of herself are completely detached from who she is now.

The song overall has had many mixed reviews — many people love the new image, but some are upset and nostalgic for the old Swift. Some straight up hate the song and still criticize her for her new image, but it’s obvious that Swift is unbothered. With the song’s success and the publicity it brings, her upcoming album will surely continue to create more buzz.

page 14 The Signal September 6, 2017

Trio of comedians has audience in stitches

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Youssef’s subtle humor keeps the crowd roaring with laughter.

By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Editor

The night of the annual “3 For Free” comedy show was full of laughs, one liners and relatable stories. Comedians Ramy Youssef, Ricky Velez and Anna Drezen really brought the house down with their jokes and crowd interactions.

The night of Thursday, Aug. 31, was a

night to remember.

Youssef has starred in movies such as “Why Him?” with Robert De Niro and was on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert.

Youssef kicked the night off in a subtle but comical way when he joked about modern events, his life experiences and a few of his own failures in a very straightforward yet subdued manner.

The comedian made the night go from

good to great when he began interacting with the crowd. A student walked into the show 20 minutes late, soldered his way into the front row and sat in front of Youssef, shortly after Youssef had joked about risk takers. Youssef could not keep quiet.

“What’s up man how have you been,” he said to the audience member. “You don’t care. You walk in 20 minutes late and you walk right up to the front row. I wanna be you. You don’t give a shit. I wish I could do something like that.”

Velez’s approach to comedy was a little more aggressive than Youssef’s.

While Youssef kept the laughs going with his audience banter, Velez cracked very different jokes during his time onstage. Velez, known for his work on “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” on Comedy Central, does not pull punches.

He knows how to poke fun at himself — if his jokes about racism and being a paranoid stoner were any less funny, they would fall far too close to home.

Drezen is a different beast altogether.

She is known for being one of the “50 funniest people in Brooklyn,” according to Brooklyn Magazine. Drezen is also a

writer for “Saturday Night Live.”

She draws lots of laughs with her ability to almost catch you off guard with her jokes about herself and situational awareness.

She also makes awkward gestures and movements on stage while performing that draw laughs all on their own. All three acts were funny and memorable.

The attendance was a little sparse, however it was not due to lack of talent between the three comedians. They prepared well, and were really worth the time they put onstage.

The audience laughed at almost every joke cracked by the three comedians.

There were a few moments that invoked a little sympathetic emotion from audience members, but overall the night was enjoyable.

Sophomore physics major Allison Glantzberg enjoyed the show immensely and was glad that she went.

“I thought it was cool how he (Youssef) interacted with the audience,” she said. “He was able to make personal experiences funny without being degrading, and it made the performance engaging and relatable.”

Brand New hits hard with ‘Science Fiction’

By Thomas Infante Managing Editor I had given up hope years ago that Brand New would ever release a new album again. The indie/emo rock band enjoyed moderate success and developed a strong cult fan base throughout the 2000s when it released four albums that each took the group’s music in a different direction. After the mixed reception of its last album in 2009, “Daisy,” the band stuck to touring and avoided answering questions about future material.

Despite their absence, the members of Brand New have come back with some of their strongest material on their fifth album, “Science Fiction.” The band released the album with no promotion on Aug. 18, surprising fans by becoming the first album by the band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard top 200. While other bands from the same era, like Fall Out Boy, had to turn completely pop to achieve the same success, Brand New’s music retains its distinctive dark atmosphere without retreading old territory.

“Science Fiction” is noticeably mellower than any of the band’s previous work. Some of the band’s most famous songs rely on heavily distorted guitars and the ferocious screaming of lead singer and lyricist Jesse Lacey. This album takes a more reserved and minimal approach on many songs, including the opening track “Lit Me Up.” The vocals and instruments echo hauntingly throughout the song, and Lacey’s cryptic vocals about being lit on fire fit well with the vibe of the music.

The song “Waste” incorporates an acoustic rhythm guitar to complement a distorted lead electric guitar. Lacey’s lyrics sound regretfully directed at an old friend who is living in the past, or as Lacey puts it, “stuck in the waste.” Lacey pleads with this individual to let go of a past burden and move on.

The following track, “Could Never be Heaven,” is an intimate finger-picked acoustic ballad, a very unusual choice for a band that once heavily favored loud noise and power chords. Lacey’s lyrics seem to contemplate his place in heaven after many past misdeeds.

Not all the songs on “Science Fiction” are such a musical departure for Brand New. The track “Can’t Get it Out” features the distorted power chords and anthemic chorus that immediately call back to the band’s pop-punk roots. It’s by far the most familiar sounding song on the album, but among the more down tempo tracks of “Science Fiction,” it actually stands out.

The bulk of the great tracks are in the middle of the album, beginning with the song “Same Logic/ Teeth.” This track reaches both extreme ranges of Brand New’s

musical capabilities, with a chorus that starts with pretty, harmonized vocals and ends with Lacey’s most intense screaming on the album.

His lyrics are striking and poetic, examining the problems that arise from unchecked mental trauma.

“This is the same logic that got us into trouble the first time, when we discovered we could use,” Lacey croons on the chorus. “The same logic to get us out of trouble and shake off all the people we abuse.”

Like most of the songs on this album, the lyrics are pretty depressing, but the music itself never sounds sad.

The song “In the Water” is similarly captivating, with a bluesy rhythm guitar riff running behind Lacey’s prophetically delivered lyrics about life and the passage of time.

Lacey frequently uses water

Lacey fills lyrics with angst and hidden meanings.

as a symbol of death, but here it seems to function as a portal to the afterlife, a place to heal wounds and find answers to the unanswerable. Plus there’s a sweet guitar solo before the last chorus, and that’s always welcome.

The track is followed by another excellent song, titled “Desert.” Lacey’s lyrics on this song are from the point of view of an older white Christian American, who feels infringed upon by an ever-changing society.

The narrator denounces “bleeding hearts” and homosexuals, insisting that in the event of a divine judgment, he would be safe from damnation — hence the chorus, “don’t come running to me when they’re coming for you.” It also shows how an apathetic opinion on popular social issues contributes to the issue as a whole. The

Procrastinate! Music Traitors

lyrics here are clever enough that one could listen to the song several times without even hearing any social commentary.

The remaining songs are all solid, but don’t hold up as well compared to the album’s central tracks.

The song “Out of Mana” features quiet verses that build to explosive choruses, and finally to the best guitar solo ever recorded in a Brand New song.

“137” has some cool guitar work, but Lacey’s lyrical allusions to the apocalypse are by far the most contrived on the album.

“No Control” and “451” are both pretty good, but seem underwhelming and repetitive after so many other outstanding songs.

The album ends with the track “Batter Up,” a somber song with an American Football-esque guitar melody running throughout.

Lacey’s lyrics seem to dwell on the permanence of depression (“it’s never going to stop”), as well as his ability to overcome it (“batter up, give me your best shot”).

In addition to numerous references to past lyrics and songs by the band, there are also several production choices that add insight to his lyrics.

The album opens with a recording of a woman in therapy who talks about a dream she had of being at a crowded convention, and though “I don’t mind having all this going on inside of me…

I think I’m going to be relieved when it’s over.”

This, along with several other lyrics on this album, suggests that “Science Fiction” may be the last album that Brand New releases together.

If this is indeed the case, then I’m just glad that one of the greatest bands of the 21st century got another chance to solidify its status as such with some of its best material to date. The band that so long ago promised to stay 18 forever has finally grown up.

September 6, 2017 The Signal page 15

Iron and Wine refines acoustic niche

‘Beast Epic’ features fresh, relaxing tracks.

By Elizabeth Zakaim Arts & Entertainment Editor

Usually, the only time I listen to Iron and Wine’s smooth whispery vocals is if a song pops up on my Pandora playlist. I’m an old fan of his song, “Flightless Bird American Mouth,” and his cover of The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights.” And while I can’t say I’m a devoted fan, nor was I waiting at the edge of my seat for his new album to come out when it did on Aug. 25, I can wholeheartedly agree that “Beast

Sub Pop Records

Epic” is nothing less than a pleasure to experience.

“Beast Epic” is an album inspired by a concept that affects us all — time. No matter our age, we are always in some state of transition, Sam Beam, the singer behind the stage name, said on his website. With “Beast Epic,” Beam paints a picture of time passing by, rites of passage and coming of age throughout his tracks.

Beam has done what many artists these days are deciding to avoid — he’s staying true to

his own sound, and further burrowing himself in a comfortable niche. The only noticeable difference is his beard, which has grown longer and shaggier over the years. But, his music has stayed the same since his first album, “The Creek Drank the Cradle,” was released in 2002.

The album’s first song, “Claim Your Ghost,” is simple yet melodic. His pairs his feather light harmony with simple guitar and piano accompaniment, and it reminds me of how entertaining something so simple can be.

It’s always a treat to hear artists like Beam put out music that shows off raw vocal and acoustic talent. It gives the songs a more vulnerable tone, and gives listeners something new to discover.

While his tracks seem basic, Beam hides deep seated lyrics behind his quiet melodies.

Beam gives his listeners a choice — are his tracks background music or hidden poetry?

“Bitter Truth” sounds like nothing more than Beam’s signature acoustic sound until I realize that, through his lyrics, he’s reflecting on a negative time he may have experienced, like a

form of catharsis, the way any songwriter would.

Beam’s talent echoes a more serious James Taylor and a more melodic Neil Young. Both, “Call it Dreaming” and “Summer Clouds” are light-hearted yet nostalgic, like Young’s “Harvest Moon,” or Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind.”

While folk music isn’t my favorite genre, I like how “Beast Epic” infuses a little bit of acoustic rock to give each set some energy. My favorite track on the album, “Call it Dreaming,” is a perfect example of Beam taking folk to a more modern level. It starts off with his usual guitar intro, but his vocals grow clearer and more optimistic throughout the song.

Beam does a great job of giving folk a gentle twist, and I admire the fact that his style has been consistent throughout his musical career.

The album’s acoustic sound is a haven amidst a musical world of fickle artists and heavy electronic beats.

His album is a breath of fresh air for those looking to experience some softer and more alternative music.

Halsey’s vivid album tells touching tale

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

Band Name: Great Grandpa Album Title: “Plastic Cough” Release Number: 1st Hailing From: Seattle Genre: Lo-fi Garage Rock Label: Double Double Whammy Great Grandpa is chock full of homages to the powerhouses from the Seattle area, but bring a ton of 2010’s indie into the mix.

These guys handle different musical dynamics very fluidly and with ease. Their songs go from explosive rock to quiet bedroompop that are sure to catch any listener by surprise. Great Grandpa doesn’t reinvent the musical wheel, but with a cool name and some cool tunes, it’s worth giving them a spin.

Must Hear: “Teen Challenge,” “Favorite Show,” “Fade” and Expert Eraser”

Astralwerks Records

Flickr

Left: ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom’ is filled with literary allusions. Right: Halsey’s fans relate to her emotional lyrics.

By Nicole Zamlout Correspondent More often than not, a piece of music is powerful, but it only becomes brilliant when it is stitched back into the context of a movie, a musical or album. This is the case with Halsey’s new album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.” Each song alone makes you feel a myriad of emotions, however when listened to in order, it weaves a story of love, betrayal and acceptance.

The themes from the album seem to borrow from classic literature. Most explicitly, “The Prologue” begins the album by reading the prologue to Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” This tells the listener that the album is a story of lost love. However, the love lost here was not soft and romantic, and the end was not tragic like the abrupt end of the lives of Shakespeare’s lovers. But instead, the album explores the aftermath of a blessed and needed end. While the end of a toxic relationship should bring joy, it is rife with sorrow.

Another great example of her allusions to literature is in the song, “Angel on Fire,” which is inspired by the novel, “The Great Gatsby.” Just like Jay Gatsby fades from the party scene, Halsey is similarly forgotten. She is no longer the fierce, fiery lover she had become in “Heaven in Hiding.”

Rather, she is a shell of herself, anxious and removed from her own life. She longs for the attention she once held, but she also longs for recovery from the spiral her life has fallen into.

An endless cycle of finding love and abandoning it consumed her life, and she is now trying to find meaning again.

Alongside the allusions, the album’s use of edited music and distorted sound is quite unusual as well, which helps add to the story being told.

In “Prologue,” her singing voice is edited to give listeners an insight into her hazy life, where she lives in a state of constant partying alongside different partners.

In “Good Mourning,” her voice and the

music is warped slightly to add to the uneasy feeling she is experiencing about facing yet another day.

The twisted musical edits scattered throughout the album show that she knows some of the things she says are not true, and it symbolizes the feelings she is trying to bury and their fight to be seen.

These bits and pieces are only a part of what make the album an amazing track. The story of someone who has lost a relationship — toxic or otherwise — is a story we can all relate to.

We can find connections to our own experiences in her tragedy.

The fear of the future, the regret over not returning affection to someone, and the sorrow we feel after losing romantic partners is something we all have faced time and time again.

The album, much like the famous play it emulates, is a story of loss and love. It is less idyllic, less romantic, but no less true. It is a lovely tragedy for the ages.

Band Name: Oh Wonder Album Title: “Ultralife” Release Number: 2nd Hailing From: London Genre: Indie Pop Label: Island Records The second record from Oh Wonder shows a newfound self-assurance and vaulting ambition for the dynamic duo. This record is both an electronic and dance-influenced act that doesn’t rely solely on computers or synthesized sounds.

Their music features lots of live instrumentation, which contribute to the act’s overall authentic and punchy sound. Beat-driven, piano-driven, slinky and sensual, this album is worthy of a listen.

Must Hear: “Ultralife,” “Lifetimes” and “High on Humans”

page 16 The Signal September 6, 2017

Fun Stuff Try to find the correct path to the end of the maze!

September 6, 2017 The Signal page 17

Sports Women’s Soccer

Talented freshmen shine in Haverford Tournament

By Michael Battista Staff Writer

The Lions traveled to Haverford, Pennsylvania over the weekend to take part in the Haverford College Kick Off Classic, a pre-regular season tournament pitting the team against four other top notch squads. The Lions got a 3-0 win against York College on Saturday, Sept. 2, before beating No. 20 nationally ranked Arcadia University on Sunday, Sept. 3, in the championship game, 3-0.

Going into the weekend, head coach Joe Russo said he wasn’t going to use these games to practice with his new pool of freshmen.

“We’re going to play to win obviously,” Russo said.

“There’s three very good teams. York is returning 10 of their 11 starters, Arcadia was 19-2 and Haverford is always in the NCAA Tournament. We were concentrating on Saturday’s game at 4 p.m. against York.”

The team followed through on that concentration in what turned out to be a dominating performance over York College. Early on, the Lions scoring chances were being expertly blocked by the Spartan’s freshman goalkeeper Jessica Wieber.

The team was able to get off five shots in total before York even had a chance to get a ball towards sophomore goalkeeper Nicole DiPasquale in the 25th minute.

Russo used the halftime to bring out a few fresh players onto the field, including senior forward Hannah Richman.

During practices on the previous Wednesday and Thursday, Richman was observed standing off to the side and not practicing with the main group of players. Russo made a statement regarding Richman on Thursday, Aug. 31.

“Hannah got nicked up just a couple days ago, so we really don’t have any feedback on her,” Russo said. “She’s meeting with the trainers and seeing the team physician tomorrow. (We’ll) have to go with whatever they say.”

Richman’s injury didn’t hinder her play much. In the 36th minute, Richman was able to net a shot passed Wieber to give her team a 1-0 lead. The Lions would not look back as the team ended the first half with 15 shots compared to

the Spartans’ 3 shots.

The Lions continued their offensive dominance in the second half. However, the team kept missing scoring opportunities. Freshman midfielder Faith Eichenour stepped up for her team and scored in the 71st minute after smashing in a short corner kick from senior midfielder Jessica Goldman.

She wouldn’t be the only freshman to score in her debut match, when another late set of substitutes brought in freshman forward Julia Obst. After only three minutes of play and with over 20 seconds left in the match, Obst knocked in her team’s third goal off an assist from sophomore forward Gianna Zarra.

The immediate impact of Eichenour demonstrates the talent of the 12 freshman. Russo explained how much fans should look forward to seeing the new group play on the field.

“It’s a solid class across the board, from front to back,” Russo said. “There’s some exceptional backs, creative midfielders, some front runners I think that can score goals and a very good goalkeeper in that group. So really, it covers all our bases. It’s a good class.”

With the final score, 3-0, the Lions punched their ticket to the championship match the next day against Arcadia University, who bested tournament hosts Haverford College, 2-1, earlier that Saturday. Both teams came in ranked nationally with the Lions ranked 12th and Knights ranked 20th overall.

The Knights kept the Lions defense and DiPasquale on their toes by getting off three shots in the first 11 minutes.

The scoreless first half brought out intensity from both sides, with the Lions and Knights racking up a total of 14 fouls in the first 45 minutes of play. Going into the second half, it was that intensity that allowed the College to score thanks to a careless foul by the Knights. Senior forward Christine Levering was given a penalty kick. She easily launched the ball into the back of the net and gave her team a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute.

In The Signal last week, Levering was cited as leaving the team due to graduation. However, she has in fact returned for a fifth year.

In the last 10 minutes, Levering stepped up and

Field Hockey

Lions dominate season opener

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Richman starts off her season with a goal.

showed off the same skills that helped her lead the team in goals last season. In the 84th minute, freshman forward Julianna Bertolino set up Levering who sunk a shot into the lower right corner. Only three minutes later Levering intercepted a back pass to the goalie and completed a hat-trick. The Lions eventually won the Haverford Kickoff Classic title, 3-0.

The team now prepares for the regular season to start on Saturday, Sept. 9, in Collegeville, Pennsylvania where they will take on Ursinus College.

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Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on breaking news: @tcnjsignal

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Padilla leads the offense with one goal and two assists.

By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Editor

The field hockey team dominated against Catholic University in its season opener, proving why the Lions were ranked sixth in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s preseason poll. The Lions built a 4-0 lead in the first half and did not look back from there, ending the game 7-1.

Junior forward Taylor Barrett scored first for the Lions, earning the lead just 11 minutes into the game. Barrett then scored for a second time only two minutes later off of a rebound, putting the Lions out to a 2-0 lead.

In her freshman debut, forward Tori Tiefenthaler scored twice. Her first goal came when senior forward Elizabeth Morrison fed her a perfectly timed ball and she knocked it in for a Lions’ score. Tiefenthaler scored again in the first half when junior defenseman Jackie Schwartz gave her the assist off

of a penalty corner.

Junior midfielder Sidney Padilla also had a noteworthy game with two assists and a goal of her own that came late in the second. She was assisted by sophomore forward Cayla Andrews. It was skillfully played long shot. Morrison also claimed a goal of her own in the second half as well, capping the College’s scoring in the game and extending the lead to seven.

The Lions outshot their opposition 24-7 and had 17 shots on goal to Catholic’s four.

Senior goalie Christina Fabiano made three saves to preserve the Lions lead and eventual win. The College also had 15 corners to Catholic’s five.

The College travels to Hoboken, New Jersey to battle against Stevens Institute of Technology on Thursday, Sept. 7. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. They then travel to Juniata College on Saturday, Sept. 9, to play a 2 p.m. game.

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page 18 The Signal September 6, 2017 Cheap Seats

US soccer needs better developmental leagues

Jermaine Taylor plays for Minnesota United FC.

By Michael Battista Staff Writer

It’s no secret that soccer is the most popular sport around the world and it finally seems Uncle Sam is joining in. In recent years, television viewership for foreign leagues has skyrocketed in the U.S., with two top Liga MX matches scoring 1.7 and 1.55 million viewers on Univision, according to World Soccer Talk.

Despite these increases, I’ve noticed many flaws in America’s own league system during my summer internship with the North American Soccer League, a second division league in the U.S. Soccer Federation structure. Major League Soccer, the first division of the United States soccer league system, is unwilling to adapt to a tier structure like that of many European countries.

For example, English football has a more established and sustainable league system.

It’s a flowing pyramid system with the Premier League, English Football League Championship, English Football League One and lower tiers working together as a unit. Teams can earn promotions to higher

AP Photo

tiers through good performance on the field and ambitious management. Meanwhile, underperforming teams are relegated to lower tiers until they win more matches.

AFC Wimbledon is a perfect example of England’s effective structure. After its founding in 2002, the team has garnered fan support and surged to League One — the third highest tier in the English system — in record time.

U.S. Soccer desperately needs a promotion and regulation system that will allow American teams to start out small and reach new heights over time.

Another pressing concern for U.S. soccer is cities and existing clubs alike all making bids to become the next expansion side.

MLS imposes too many regulations for establishing an expansion team.

In a press release from late 2016, MLS released a list of criteria for teams hoping to join the league. After my internship, I realized the criteria needed revaluation.

Teams need “a comprehensive stadium plan that ensures the club will have a proper home for their fans and players while also serving as a destination for the sport in the

community,” according to MLS. In contrast to foreign clubs, American teams cannot justify building a 20,000 or 30,000-seat stadium. Many United Soccer League and NASL teams play in college stadiums, baseball stadiums or small soccer specific areas with around 10,000-person capacity. In a country where soccer isn’t the hottest ticket in town, perhaps it’s best to stick to smaller venues while fan support gradually increases.

One team that has applied to join MLS is North Carolina FC of the NASL. They are currently looking to build a new stadium, replacing their current home WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, that houses 10,000 people. New expansion clubs will also have to pay a fee of $150 million to MLS. During this past decade, MLS’s expansion hasn’t improved the quality of American soccer. Teams such as Montreal Impact and Minnesota United FC have endured years of struggle. Teams shouldn’t need to spend millions and create lavish arenas like Atlanta United. They need to focus on

pushing their salary cap to build a great team that can draw in new fans quickly.

Why can’t MLS just take teams in strong markets and allow them to develop naturally? A small North Carolina stadium isn’t anything like Red Bull arena in Harrison, New Jersey or Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, but it works for North Carolina FC and it should work for MLS. Joining MLS shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be something that a team can earn without forking over so much money.

U.S. soccer needs to end this bidding war and unite league structures. MLS, USL, NASL and every other promotion in the tiers need to collaborate more. National Independent Soccer Association and USL Division III have recently announced that they will work with higher leagues. This is a perfect start and will allow more teams to grow and gain fan support and stability.

Unless MLS opens its doors and treats every league around it with respect, it could all be for naught. If the country wants to be respected in soccer around the world, it needs to start respecting the game itself.

Montreal Impact fans cheer for their team.

AP Photo

Men’s Soccer

Lions open season undefeated, win FSU Tournament

Left: The Lions celebrate their victory. Right: Kassak scores the winning goal against the Bobcats.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

The Lions clutched out two second half wins at the Frostburg State University Tournament this past weekend, as they won 1-0 against Frostburg State University and 2-1 over Bridgewater College.

On Friday, Sept. 1, the Lions trekked south to Frostburg State University to compete in the FSU tournament. The team shutout the Bobcats, 1-0.

The first half remained scoreless as both teams couldn’t capitalize on opportunities. Sample shot on target in the 11th minute, but it was caught by Bobcats’ senior goalkeeper, Jackson Bicknell.

At the 58th minute, Kassak put the Lions ahead, 1-0, when

he scored off a corner kick with an assist from senior midfielder Peter Dresch.

Less than 10 minutes later, freshman midfielder Kevin Esteves launched a shot that bounced off the post. The team was then given a corner kick.

Once again, Bicknell squashed a Lions scoring opportunity when he caught a header shot from freshman midfielder Ryan Vazquez.

Despite the missed shots, the Lions withheld the Bobcats to only two shots and secured the 1-0 win. During the match, two freshman had standout performances. “(Freshman goalkeeper) Michael Kayal had a great game and came up huge for us while (Junior goalkeeper) Dan Walsh,” Kassak said. “He made

a good saves in the first half that really saved the defense.

(Sophomore midfielder) Sam Monaco dominated the midfield and won every ball that came his way, which took pressure off our defense.”

The following day, Saturday, Sept. 2, the team won their second match against Bridgewater College, and the tournament with it.

The Lions were down 1-0 at halftime against the Eagles. The Lions offense immediately pressured the Eagles and landed five shots. 10 minutes later, junior midfielder Nick Sample scored off a cross from senior captain forward Michael Kassak.

“When we were down 1-0, we felt very confident about our ability to come back,” Kassak said.

“We were dominating the run of play and we significantly outshot Bridgewater. When we put Bridgewater under pressure, they gave the ball away, which led to 2 of our goals on counter attacks.”

Kassak then intercepted a pass from the Eagles and gave freshman midfielder James Pike the chance to score the tiebreaker, which netted the Lions a 2-1 victory.

The Lions will play their season home opener against Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Lions Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Last season, the Ducks posted a 11-5-2 record and defeated the Lions 3-1.

“We are looking forward to proving ourselves against a

Photos courtesy of Sports Information Desk

solid opponent,” Kassak said.

“Stevens always has a good team and it’s going to be a great chance to show ourselves and others how good our team is going to be this year.”

On Saturday, Sept. 9, the Lions will travel south to Salem, Virginia, to compete in the All Sports Cafe Roanoke Invitational. The team will first play against Lynchburg College. Last season, the Hornets won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and reached to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Lions will then compete against Roanoke College on Sunday, Sept. 10. The men’s soccer team previously played Roanoke College on Sept. 6, 2015 and won 2-1.

LIONS AROUND THE

D RM

September 6, 2017 The Signal 19

Miguel Gonzalez “The Ref”

Thomas Infante Managing Editor

Benjamin Zander Maximillian C. Burgos Staff Writer

Sports Editor

In the resurrection edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asks our panel of three experts — Thomas Infante, Benjamin Zander and Maximillian C. Burgos — three questions: Who will win the college football National Championship? Who benefited more from the IrvingThomas trade, the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers? Who will win the men’s and women’s 2017 U.S. Open?

1. Who will win the College Football Playoff National Championship?

Tom: I would pick USC to win the National Championship this season. Sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold is an absolute beast and a strong candidate for the next Heisman Trophy.

After leading the Trojans to victory in the last Rose Bowl (and setting several records in the process), Darnold and his team have become a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA. Ben: I am telling you that the Lions are going to win the National Championship! Now, I know what many of you are thinking, “Ben, you crazy good looking buffoon, what are you talking about? We are Division III! How can we possibly win the National Championship?” This year we have new students, new talent and a new coach! I believe that we are going to do so well that the NCAA will make the College a Division I school and give us a spot in the National Championship! In the 1987-1988 NCAA Division I Conference Realignment, the Villanova Wildcats went from being a Division III Football team to

AP Photo

a Division I-AA team. The same thing happened in 1993 with the Buffalo Bulls and the UAB Blazers. So, while some people are polishing their Ohio State foam fingers, I will be right here with blue and gold face paint cheering on the mighty Lions all the way to

national fame.

Max: As it stands now, I think Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan and Florida State have a good shot of winning it all this year.

Alabama under head coach Nick Saban will always be a major contender for the National

Championship. He has the best recruits and has already proven that he can win. Ohio State and Clemson have a good shot in contending with Alabama since Florida State has already fallen to them and probably won’t make it to the National Championship.

Tom gets 3 point for talking about Sam Darnold. Max gets 2 points for mentioning Nick Saban. Ben gets 1 point because... TCNJ football?

AP Photos

2. Who benefited more from the IrvingThomas trade, the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Tom: I think both Kyrie Irving and Isiah Thomas are tremendous basketball players, but from a strategic standpoint, I think the Cleveland Cavaliers got more out of the trade than the Boston Celtics. Irving is a marginally better player than Thomas, but

the Cavaliers already have Lebron James to carry the team. They don’t need Irving, who wants a chance to shine on his own.

Thomas should easily be able to fill his role as point guard without being a major disruption to the team’s performance. The Celtics may see an improvement with Irving added to the team as well. Overall, the trade was beneficial for both teams and will make the

upcoming season even more exciting.

Ben: Ah, yes, the age-old debate about the Irving-Thomas trade. The team that benefited the most from this trade was the Celtics. Compared to Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving is legendary. For starters, Irving has represented the U.S. at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, the 2014 World Championship in Spain and in the

2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in San Antonio. However, the strongest argument I have is the fact that Irving grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. The same town my mom grew up in! My mom will always be my champion, so it is safe to say that Irving will always be a champion, too.

I know that there are many who disagree with me and believe that the Cavs benefited more by acquiring Thomas. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens on Oct. 17, when the Celts and the Cavs face off in the very first NBA game of the season!

Max: I think the Boston Celtics benefited more in the trade simply because Irving has more of an on court presence and size. He also shoots marginally better than Thomas.

At 25 years old, Irving is a skilled veteran in the NBA. He’s ready to become a franchise player. It’s a hard choice either way, but I think the Celtics benefited more.

Tom gets 3 points for discussing how both teams benefitted. Ben gets 2 points because Irving represents New Jersey. Max gets 1 point for mentioning Irving’s size.

AP Photo

3. Who will win the men’s and women’s U.S. Open?

Tom: In the U.S. Open, Rafael Nadal will win the men’s singles tournament and reclaim his title as champion. I originally would have bet on Novak Djokovic, but he sadly withdrew after hurting his elbow.

For the women’s singles tournament, I think the Czech player Karolína Plíšková will emerge victorious, but only because Serena Williams took a hiatus from tennis.

The men’s doubles team of Henri Kontinen and John Peers seems poised to claim the title in their category, but women’s doubles is a tougher call. Nevertheless, I think the team of Lucie Šafářová and Barbora Strýcová will come out on top.

Ben: While I haven’t really been following this year’s U.S. Open enough to give you a detailed response about who I think will win, I can tell you who is definitely not winning. That ball boy who got hit in the crotch by a tennis ball served by Venus Williams on Friday during her match against Greece’s Maria Sakkari. The ball was reportedly traveling at a speed of 99

Tom gets 3 points for talking about the doubles competition. Ben gets 2 points because I feel bad for the ball boy. Max get 1 point because percentages don’t matter in tennis.

mph! Hours later, Roger Federer shared a gif of the incident on Twitter and I’m in pain just watching it. Giving credit where credit is due, the ball boy still managed to not let the tennis ball hit the ground, so kudos to him for that one.

Max: I think Rafael Nadal and Karolína Plíšková will win the U.S. Open. According to some sources, Plíšková has a 22.6% chance of winning it all. However she has been dominant up until now and is showing signs of slowing down. Nadal already has a decorated career with 15 Grand Slam wins. He has a 30.9% chance of winning, but he does not seem like he is slowing down at all.

Winner’s Circle Tom wins ATDATD 9-5-49-5-4 Thomas wins “You missmiss 100%100% of the shots “‘You of the you don’tyou take”Faccus repe shots don’t take’ — Wayne Gretzky”

AP Photo

Signal

Sports

Lions shine at Houghton, challenge D-I competitors

Photos courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Left: Cardone posts a time of 21:01.02 Right: Saponara leads the Lions with a time of 15:45.0

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor The men’s and women’s cross country teams had a busy opening weekend. On Friday, Sept. 1, the Lions competed at the Houghton Short Course Twilight Invitational. Then on Saturday, Sept. 2, the Lions competed against Division I teams at Rosedale Park in Pennington, New Jersey. Both teams came in first at Houghton, New York.

The men swept the competitors as they claimed six of the top eight spots. Junior Matt Saponara led the Lions and finished

in third place with a time of 15:45.0. Senior Dale Johnson came in one second behind Saponara.

The women were more dominant as they represented five of the top six places. Junior Erin Holzbaur crossed the finish line in second place with a time of 14:51.2. Junior Natalie Cooper ran behind Holzbaur and claimed third place with a time of 15:02.1.

“The goal for the Houghton Invitational was to work on our pack running strategy,” said head coach Justin Lindsey. “I think we executed it well and we will continue to work on this as the season progresses.”

At the Blue/Gold Invitational in Rosedale Park on Saturday, the Lions excelled against Division I schools such as Rider University, St. Joseph’s University and the University of Pennsylvania. Freshman Matthew Kole ran the Lions fastest time, finishing in 15:53.82.

Junior Quinn Wasko followed Kole with a time of 16:10.03. A second later, freshman Pelle Nogueira completed the race at 16:11.16.

For the lady Lions, freshman Mary Kate Bailey had a solid debut. She finished with a time of 19:55.39. Freshman Jessica Hrnciar followed Bailey and completed at 20:52.47.

Senior Cassidy Cardone also finished with a time of 21:01.02.

“The freshmen showed strong competitive energy and they seem to be making the transition from high school to college cross country competition well,” Lindsey said.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams are scheduled to compete in the Osprey Open at Stockton University in Pomona, New Jersey on Saturday, Sept. 23.

“The focus for the Osprey Open is to get the freshmen used to the course as the conference championships will be held there again this season,” Lindsey said.

Football drops a tightly contested season opener

By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Editor

The football team showed promise in its season opener on Friday, Sept. 1, against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham at Lions Stadium, but the team ultimately lost, 38-24.

The Lions drove the ball well in the first half, dominating the opposition, but once senior quarterback Trevor Osler left the game with an apparent injury, the wind left the Lions’ sails. Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham made it rain with their passing game, dropping multiple 40-plus-yard bombs down the field, but the game was much closer than the stat sheet infers.

In the first quarter, the Lions built a 10-7 lead. Their first drive was very methodical, keeping the Lions ahead of the chains. Senior tight end Chase Vena caught the first touchdown of the game over the middle of the endzone.

The crowd went wild as the Lions scored their first touchdown on their first drive of the season. But the Devils answered with a touchdown late in the first quarter on a similar approach that depended heavily on their short-ranged passing attack.

The Lions went into halftime with a 17-10 lead. It looked liked the Lions were going to pull away in the

Lions Lineup September 6, 2017

I n s i d e

second half as long as they stayed on course. Unfortunately for the Lions fortunes changed when Osler went down with an injury. The rushing attack was still clicking, but the momentum of the game had shifted to the Devils and their aerial attack.

However, there were some standout performances on the field.

Senior running back Khani Glover had 75 yards on 10 touches and a pair of touchdowns. Junior running back Connor Owen also punished the Devils defense with his bruising running style and gained 65 yards of his own. Following the game, Glover maintained a positive outlook for the season.

“It felt great to back out here, first game under the lights,” Glover said. “I just did what I do best, run. I knew it going to be a battle and we had to come up with something on offense. We just have to fix our mistakes, look at the film and get better for next week.”

Stepping in for the injured Osler was freshman quarterback Andrew Donoghue. Donoghue was a tad rusty, but he showed glimpses of true athleticism and poise. He totaled 98 yards through the air and 11 on the ground.

Head coach Casey Goff showed confidence in his young quarterback in the case that Osler did not recover for the next week.

Women’s Soccer page 17

The Lions run onto the field for their first game.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

“If (Osler) doesn’t come back next week, Andrew’s our guy,” Goff said. “I think the youngster did a great job. He made a few young guy mistakes but his progression has been what we thought it could be. He’s a hell of a football player. If we have to get him out there earlier than anticipated, then so be it.”

Though the Lions defense allowed 593 yards in the air, they did manage to hold the FDU rushing attack to only 13 yards.

Senior linebacker Kevin Hennelly intercepted a pass over the middle in his second play in the game and made a decent return. The Lions could do little with the ball after Osler’s injury though.

Junior linebacker Max Busca led

the Lions with 10 tackles and sophomore defensive followed closely with nine tackles. Senior defensive lineman Shane Kelley also posted three tackles, and one of them for a loss. Still, none could stop the aerial attack that FDU demonstrated.

The Lions ultimately fell 38-24.

The Lions were clearly disappointed about the loss. Goff spoke about his thoughts on how his team did in the loss.

“I thought effort was there,” Goff said. “I just thought we made some fundamental mistakes, being out of position at times or poor angles to the ball and just missed tackles. I also harp on no big plays on the defensive side. I know they had some dudes, some matchup

problems but some people in position have to make plays. We have to take a look at what we are doing and that’s on me.”

There were many positives to take away from the game for the Lions. Their defense will need to work moving forward, but the offense showed the ability to score this year.

In their first game, the Lions scored more points than they did in the first six games of last season.

The Lions travel on Saturday, Sept. 9, to play Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland.

Frostburg is a fierce opponent that the College has struggled with before. Frostburg is heavily favored in the matchup, but Goff and his Lions seem up to the challenge.

Field Hockey page 17

Men’s Soccer page 18

Around the Dorm page 19