The Signal: Spring '16 No. 2

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Vol. XLIV, No. 2

February 3, 2016

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Waka Flocka ignites crowd at Welcome Back Concert

Kimberly Ilkowski / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Waka Flocka takes the stage in Kendall Hall, jamming out to old classics such as ‘No Hands.’

By Sydney Shaw Managing Editor

To cap off the first week of the semester, the College was treated to an explosive performance by the “Turn Up God” at the College Union Board’s Welcome Back Concert on Saturday, Jan. 30. Rapper Waka Flocka Flame took the stage in Kendall Hall, commanding the audience with

his lyrical finesse, effortless dance moves and charismatic smile.

It was appropriate that Waka Flocka opened the night with “Wild Out,” a Borgore track from 2013 that highlights the rapper’s beginnings with electronic dance music.

“When I learned electronic music, I wasn’t in America. I was in Europe for… four months listening to, like, deep house,

dirty house, Dutch style… that’s how I learned it,” Waka Flocka told The Signal in a pre-show interview. “When I got to America… America was liking the shit Europe was liking five years ago.”

Waka Flocka returned to the U.S. with a new style of music that he learned to blend with the rap technique for which he had become notorious. His first mixtape of 2015, “The Turn Up Godz Tour” with DJ Whoo

Kid, showcased his new knack for incorporating electronic elements in his music.

Since that collaboration, Waka Flocka has dropped two more mixtapes — “Salute Me Or Shoot Me 5” in April and “Flockaveli 1.5” in November.

“I feel like mixtapes are albums,” Waka Flocka told The Signal. “At the end of the day, an album... just gets more technical because you gotta go by corporate standards. You gotta prepare for this day, two months down the line, and maybe the music don’t sound the same in two months.

So that’s why, in my opinion, people prefer mixtapes — because it’s right then and there. It’s the feeling.”

Waka Flocka also said he enjoys that mixtapes allow him to collaborate more often with other artists, such as his 2012 collaboration with Machine Gun Kelly. The brainchild of that pairing was the fierce track “Wild Boy.” During that particular song, Waka Flocka jumped off stage to sing, weaving his way up and down the aisles of Kendall Hall for a more intimate performance.

He followed that stunt up with 2010’s “Hard in da Paint” from his first studio album, “Flockaveli.” The track arguably put him on the map and earned him air time on big-name radio stations across the country.

Fans anticipated “Flockaveli 2” to drop in 2013, but when it didn’t, they took to Twitter to demand its release. see FLAME page 14

Collegiate Recovery Snowstorm effects on campus explored Community marks first full semester

By Chelsea LoCascio News Editor The Collegiate Recovery Community started at the College last semester with the intention of helping students who struggle with addiction and substance abuse as well as staying on the path to recovery. In an environment where filling weekends with alcohol and drugs might be common for some, the need for the program grows as students’ ideas of fun often turn into destructive dependencies.

Community Recovery Supervisor Christopher Freeman said that in the 2014 National College Health Assessment survey conducted by the American College Health Association, 54 percent of college students in the nation had negative consequences associated with substance abuse.

“We don’t know how severe the negative consequences were,” Freeman said, but these incidents could be as minor as embarrassing themselves at a party to as major as being arrested.

In a Signal article from Wednesday, Sept. 9, see RECOVERY page 2

INDEX:

Nation & World / Page 5

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The Signal @tcnjsignal

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

College grounds crews work to clear parking lots following snowstorms.

By Ellie Schuckman News Editor

While some grin ear-to-ear at the first talk of snowfall for the season, others cringe in anticipation of the

Editorial / Page 7

Opinions / Page 9

cold, bitter weather. Some race to buy carrots to craft snowmen, yet others hustle to buy cases of water while digging out snow shovels stored in the back of garages. For those of us at the College, with the start of the

Arts & Entertainment / Page 14

Spring 2016 semester just last week came Winter Storm Jonas, thus raising the question — how does our campus handle these monster snowstorms?

According to Dave Muha, spokesman for the College, the school decided to delay the start of classes as conditions proved too difficult for students to return to campus as originally scheduled on Sunday, Jan. 24.

“We are concerned about everyone’s safety when there’s severe weather,” Muha said. “But we’re also concerned about delivering a quality education for our students.”

Before receiving an email from Muha on Saturday, Jan. 23, that alerted students that classes would not start until Tuesday, Jan. 26, many were outraged that students were still expected to return to campus on Sunday afternoon. A post, which has since been deleted, was made on the College’s Facebook page stating that move-in would remain as scheduled — students could return starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24, and classes would begin on Monday, Jan. 25. see SNOW page 3

Features / Page 19

Sports / Page 28

South Africa Students recap experience studying abroad

WIRED Twenty-four-hour play competition a hit

Track & Field Lions place at McElligott Invitational meet

See Features page 19

See A&E page 14

See Sports page 28

page 2 The Signal February 3, 2016

Recovery / Program supports sober students College offers housing, therapy and nighttime activities continued from page 1 Freeman said that about 6 percent of college students, or around 200 students on a campus the size of the College, develop a substance dependence. Despite this statistic, a surprising lack of students have yet to utilize the program, Freeman said.

According to the addiction treatment website Elements Behavioral Health, a 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that about 20.8 million Americans aged 12 and over need treatment for substance abuse, but did not receive it, and 95.2 percent of those people felt they did not need treatment. Students might not seek treatment for several reasons. For example, they might not be ready to quit, do not know where to get treatment, fear what others will think if they stop using or do not having enough money for treatment, the same site reads.

Collegiate Recovery offers several easily accessible resources, such as Lion’s House — housing for students in recovery and a house mentor, according to tcnj.edu.

“There’s a lot of opportunities to be tempted,” Freeman said. “(Lion’s House allows the students to) come together and support one another’s goals of sobriety.”

Although Lion’s House is just for students in recovery, the program also provides counseling services for those who either have a personal history with substance abuse or know someone who does. One of the groups, Recovery Road, is specifically for students in recovery.

Campus Resources Alcohol & Drug Education Program: (609) 771-2571 Campus Police Department: (609) 771-2345 Counseling & Psychological Services: (609) 771-2247 Student Health Services: (609) 771-2889 If you or someone you know has a history of substance abuse, email Christopher Freeman at freemanc@tcnj.edu or call (609) 771-2134.

“It’s an opportunity for students to come together and talk about their experiences,” Freeman said. Group members also discuss other solutions to coping with problems rather than turning to drugs and alcohol, he said.

Another group, called Alcohol, Drugs and Me, is not necessarily for people with an addiction, but a way to educate anyone of their relationship to drugs and alcohol and how to prevent future abuse, Freeman said. He began an additional unnamed group that has grown from its three initial members last semester, and Freeman expects it to be even bigger when they meet for the first time this semester.

“We’re developing a group (of students) who don’t have a problem with substance abuse (but who want to get involved) because substance abuse has affected them.

Most people can identify someone of concern,” Freeman said. “They want to help them and help others.”

Although they have yet to determine a specific purpose for the group, Freeman wants to hold movie screenings followed by discussions about addiction to reduce the stigma surrounding it.

A big part of bringing people with or without a history of substance abuse together through the program is during their late night events, which they call RECreate Your Night. Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight in the Student Recreational Center are various games and crafts, Late Night Activities Coordinator Lisette Stanzione said.

“What I’m looking to do is create a community within the RECreate Your

Night events,” Stanzione said. “Hopefully (the students are) seeing the same faces coming back, meeting new people and becoming friends just from coming to these events.”

According to RECreate Your Night’s Facebook page, the group recently sponsored a dodgeball tournament on Thursday, Jan. 28, laser tag on Friday, Jan. 29, and volleyball on Saturday, Jan. 30, with more events to follow. Freeman said that over 2,500 students participated in the late night events last semester. According to Stanzione, anywhere from 10 to 75 students showed up for each event.

Stanzione said they wanted the name to highlight recreation and the idea of knowing how you spent your night.

“It’s an emphasis on the recreation and also with the (College Recovery Community) and everything that it means. You’re recreating yourself with the activities that you do,” Stanzione said.

Although these events are open to anyone, they are a good way to keep students occupied on nights when they might have otherwise turned to drugs or alcohol, Freeman said. For anyone battling an addiction, Freeman encourages them to get involved with the program to not only stop substance abuse, but to help their mental health as well.

“Mental health and addiction are two sides of the same coin,” Freeman said.

“For somebody with a history of addiction, getting connected with others is really important... We really want to get a community of support around them.”

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 3

Snow / College fairs well following Winter Storm Jonas continued from page 1 “From all indications, campus and area roadways would have been ready to receive students by Sunday morning,” Muha said. “We understand that conditions varied widely across the state and out of state, so the feedback was helpful.”

Muha noted that the decision to cancel classes in regard to weather concerns lays with Provost Jacqueline Taylor, in consultation with Vice President for Administration Curt Heurig.

“Making judgments about how to best ensure community safety in a weather event like Winter Storm Jonas are difficult,” Muha said. “In the end, (Taylor and Heurig) make the best decision possible based on the information they have available. I think the plan that was settled upon, giving flexibility to students to return on Sunday or Monday, was the right one for this set of circumstances.”

With students returning to campus, roads, parking lots and pathways had to be cleared, yet pushing the bulk of move-in to Monday, Jan. 25, allowed ample time for grounds to be cleared, according to Director of Building Services Ed Gruber.

“Obviously, it is better for us to remove snow with fewer people on campus,” Gruber said.” Move-in day brings a large number of vehicles to campus that otherwise would not be here, complicating the snow removal and access issues resulting from a storm.”

Gruber noted that by Sunday afternoon, the majority of campus was ready for students to return, however, the state of towns outside of the College varied.

“The conditions on campus are better than those in the surrounding region due to the intensity of our campus cleanup efforts and the compact nature of the campus,” Gruber said. “The campus can be perfectly accessible while surrounding roads and highways are not.”

The Grounds Department is responsible for plowing parking lots, roads and sidewalks, including clearing entrances to the townhouses and parking garages, while the Building Services Department is responsible for removing snow from building entrances and stairs, loading docks and wheelchair ramps, according to Gruber.

With icy conditions on pathways around campus, handicap-accessible areas and ramps are often of prime concern to be cleared for students and faculty alike.

“I received feedback from members of our campus community regarding areas and routes of concern and was able to alert the proper parties so that these concerns could be addressed immediately,” Director of Disability Support Services Meghan Sooy said. “We have staff working around the clock during these times, which is helpful in allowing us to address issues in real-time. We, as a campus community, are always working to improve accessibility for everyone.”

Kicking off the semester with a day of canceled class is not optimal for most, yet some believe that losing a day at the start of the semester was better than losing a day elsewhere.

“In a perfect world, I’d never cancel a class because I plan my syllabus very carefully, and when I lose a day it is hard to work

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Clearing building entrances is a priority after heavy snowfall.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Students are often cautious while walking on campus following snowstorms. it back in without cutting something out,” said Director of the Office of Instructional Design Judi Cook, who also teaches in the communication studies department. “For this term, missing the first day was a bummer, but it is also the easiest day to give up because the syllabus isn’t set in stone yet.”

Muha noted that while there is no limit to the number of days that classes can be canceled, “it’s possible that if too many days were missed… (administration) would have to consider make-up days.”

With changes in normal day schedules because of weather, dining options on campus often face changes as well.

According to Director of Dining Services Karen Roth and General Manager of Dining Services Patrice Mendes, weather conditions often factor into production planning, yet feeding students remains the top priority. As the largest dining facility on campus, Eickhoff Hall is the first eatery to be made operational, according to Roth and Mendes. They also noted that as weather conditions improve and employees are able to get to campus, more dining locations open.

None of the several major construction projects currently underway at the College were majorly impacted by the storm, according to Muha.

Snow had to be removed from both the STEM building and the Travers-Wolfe storm piping replacement sites before work could resume, Muha said. Crews only lost one day of work as a result.

In preparing for the storm, crews

checked to make sure fencing was secure and that there were no loose materials around the sites that could blow away, according to Muha.

“The College’s number one priority is the safety and security of our students, faculty and staff.”

—Ed Gruber

director of building services

Regardless of preparations made, when snowstorms hit, College departments often work together to enact plans for the betterment of all impacted.

“The College’s number one priority is the safety and security of our students, faculty and staff,” Gruber said. “We have a well-honed process and procedures for dealing with weather and other types of emergencies on campus. We appreciate the community’s cooperation during these events, as well as their feedback, as we strive to provide the highest quality services to the campus community.”

Pot-laced candy prompts call to police from panicked pupil Fumbling female forfeits gallon jug of flavored vodka

By Chelsea LoCascio & Ellie Schuckman News Editors • Campus Police responded to a report of broken glass on a vending machine in the Decker Hall lobby on Monday, Dec. 11, at 8 a.m. Upon arrival, the officer noticed a hole in the glass of a snack vending machine.

There was no glass on the floor and the broken glass was contained inside the vending machine, police said.

No items appeared to have been removed.

• At 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, Campus Police responded to a call from a student with a rapid heartbeat in Wolfe Hall. Police met the student in the main lobby and saw him standing conscious and alert. According to Campus Police, the student said he had a rapid heart rate and shortness of breath. Police escorted the man to a couch in Wolfe Hall’s main office where it was determined he had consumed marijuana-laced chocolate an hour prior. TCNJ EMS arrived and evaluated the student before transporting him to the hospital for further evaluation. No charges were filed, according to police.

•

A fire extinguisher was stolen from the fourth level

of Lot 11, Campus Police said. On Saturday, Dec. 23, at 9 a.m., Campus Police responded to a report of the theft. Police met with the Occupational Safety Specialist for the College who stated that on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m., a student worker performed a fire inspection of the extinguishers in Lot 11 and all of them were accounted for.

When the student repeated the inspection on Thursday, Dec. 21, at the same time, the extinguisher was missing.

The unit is valued at $70, according to police.

• Campus Police was dispatched to Travers Hall on Saturday, Jan. 23, after a report came in of an intoxicated female in the ninth floor women’s bathroom. According to police, the student said she was drinking alone in her room and had consumed seven shots of Smirnoff Vanilla. When a community advisor asked if she still had the vodka in her room, the student returned to her room and pulled out a gallon jug of vodka and a half liter of Smirnoff Peppermint from under her bed.

She was advised to dump the alcohol down the sink,

which she did. The student was evaluated by Ewing EMS and issued a summons for underage drinking, police said.

• A criminal mischief incident was reported to Campus Police on Sunday, Dec. 13, in Lot 13 after the victim noticed damage to her car’s passenger side tail light and brake light. The damage occurred between Sunday, Dec. 6, at 9 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and is attributed to an “unknown cause,” Campus Police said.

• Three Shure ULXD2/SM58 wireless microphone transmitters were stolen from the storage closet in the Decker Hall Social Space between Friday, Dec. 18, and 10:45 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, police said. A Brower Student Center employee noticed they were missing and called Campus Police, according to reports.

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

page 4 The Signal February 3, 2016

Android app sets sights on aiding mental wellness

By Jennifer Goetz Nation & World Editor

Not everyone is open to sharing their feelings, but senior interactive multimedia major Niveda Harishankar has created an app that will make it easier for students to express themselves.

The new TCNJ Wellness app, released in early January, directly connects students with resources and information to help them feel better. It even has the potential to save lives.

The app is designed to help students cope with emotional stress, depression and more. It aims to easily connect students to campus resources so that they always have a place to turn.

According to TCNJ Today, Harishankar is a recipient of the Andy and Maria Polansky Scholarship Endowment, which provides fellowship awards to students who have shown model leadership and a “commitment to enriching the community by applying their talent and skills in communication, media and technology.” She was given a $1,000 scholarship to attend the HOW Design Live conference in Chicago that introduced her to other designers and helped her pursue this project, according to the same article.

She got the idea for the TCNJ Wellness app in her mobile computing class

when thinking of a final project, and now that project has manifested into an app currently available for Android devices.

The app features four different tabs.

“One section is all about quotes, which is linked to a Twitter page called (@TcnjWellness),” according to Harishankar, who created the Twitter page.

Quotes with pictures are uploaded to provide a little pick-me-up for those checking the app. The Twitter page, which someone else from the College will take over after Harishankar leaves, also provides a way for the College to directly connect with students.

The video tab contains videos of TED Talks, as one of the goals for the app is “uplifting video repository,” Harishankar said. She explained that the College is also able to add videos to the app.

Another part of the app is the mood tracker, “so you can keep an ongoing track of the way you feel,” Harishankar said.

App users can add what they’re feeling, why they’re feeling that way and then rate their mood, Harishankar said.

People can also look back on all the different moods they’ve experienced since the last time they added a mood, according to Harishankar.

It provides data points that display how a person’s mood has shifted over time.

Not everyone is open about his or her underlying feelings, so this app provides a

Photo courtesy of TCNJ Wellness App

Harishankar’s app gives students another way to express their emotions. way for students to express themselves and track their moods without having to speak with someone face-to-face.

The app also includes a strategies checklist, or things to do to keep one’s spirit up. This section is devoted to actionable steps, like keeping a gratitude journal — a way to keep track of things you have for which to be thankful — or meditating, according to Harishankar.

The app also directly connects students to resources, such as the number to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and other hotlines aimed at providing assistance to students if they need it.

“When you’re feeling vulnerable,

you want to reach out to someone,” Harishankar said. “If there’s no light to show you the way, then you might not do it.”

The app was inspired by a classmate of Harishankar’s who died by suicide a few years ago.

“You feel the loss of a person,” Harishankar said. “It was really impactful to me and I thought maybe I could take some of those principles and make it concrete and address a real problem that’s on campus.”

Harishankar hopes to see the College and future interactive multimedia majors expand on what she has started.

Student presents poster at UN conference

Project promotes teaching kids environmental stability

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Liang

Hinitz and Liang attend the CTAUN conference.

By Tom Ballard Opinions Editor

Jennifer Liang, a senior early childhood education and psychology double major at the College, recently presented a poster at the 17th annual Committee on Teaching About the United Nations (CTAUN) conference held at the U.N. Headquarters in New York on Friday, Jan. 22.

“I presented a poster based on the research project I worked on during (the Mentored Undergraduate Summer Experience [MUSE] program) 2015 with my professor,” Liang said.

Her professor, Assistant Professor of elementary and early childhood education Lauren Madden, focuses on environmental and sustainability education, according to Liang.

This year’s conference was titled “Stewardship for a Sustainable World: Education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” and focused around the U.N.’s SDGs, which range from tackling poverty to bettering the environment, according to the conference’s website. “(The) project was focused on better describing young

children’s understandings and perceptions of environmental sustainability education,” Liang said. “We worked with preschool-aged children from three different early childhood settings in focus group interviews before a brief lesson about the environment (a week later).”

According to Liang, the three different settings served a variety of demographics in regards to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and student ability. Of the three preschools in the study, two were private and one was public. Of the two private schools, one was a traditional all-day childcare center with children ranging from infancy to pre-kindergarten and the other was a part-time, Christian-based private school that typically accommodated wealthier, more affluent families.

The public school was a full-day program based on a lottery system that placed students with special needs and low income at a priority.

Liang said that their findings show that more research in early childhood environmental sustainability education might prove beneficial for the field.

“In the end, we found that the children (in the study) were able to describe nature in more sophisticated ways after the intervention than before, suggesting that research in early childhood environmental sustainability education is possible and fruitful,” Liang said.

This was the first CTAUN conference that Liang has attended and she said that she found it to be an informative opportunity.

“Needless to say, (the conference) was a fantastic experience,” Liang said. “I was able to hear really great keynote speakers discuss controversial yet moving and incredibly important topics. I had the opportunity to interact with professors and students from different schools around the country and even different parts of the world. The only other conference I attended before CTAUN was a strictly education conference, but this conference included research and topics not just related to education. I spoke with different people about a variety of environmental issues all around the world.”

According to Liang, Madden and she worked on the project for eight weeks during this past summer and each put in approximately 35 hours of work per week into the project.

“When I initially approached Dr. Madden to do MUSE with her, we sat down and had a conversation about our different research interests. Dr. Madden’s main research focus is in environmental and sustainability education, and as an early childhood education and psychology double major, I am very interested in

young children and their development,” Liang said.

“So we just combined both our interests and came up with this awesome project.”

In addition to working with Madden on the project, Liang received encouragement from Blythe Hinitz, distinguished professor of elementary and early childhood education, to apply for the chance to present at the U.N. “Dr. Hinitz… is involved with CTAUN and has attended the conference numerous times,” Liang said. “Dr. Hinitz noticed that the research Dr. Madden and I had done was very closely related to this year’s CTAUN Conference theme, so she encouraged me to apply for the poster presentation.”

According to the conference’s website, the conference was attended by more than 500 educators and student participants at the daylong event.

“Dr. Madden just finished putting together our research in a journal article,” Liang said, noting that they also recently submitted the manuscript of their project to Environmental Education Research, an academic journal that focuses primarily on how environmental issues are taught in classrooms.

“Through my experience, I really fell in love with the process of research and the idea of continuously learning.

When I first came to (the) College, I was confident that I wanted to be a teacher, but after doing all this research, I am definitely considering going to graduate school and pursuing a career in education research.”

Liang said that she hopes her research and presentation at CTAUN will help encourage students in the School of Education to pursue research opportunities.

“I think in general, most people associate research with the sciences and social sciences,” Liang said. “Students rarely think about the kind of research that comes (out) of our education department. Even most education majors do not realize that it is possible to do research with a professor in the education department… There are so many questions and concerns in the field of education and I believe that research really helps us understand more about the development of children and learning.”

Last year, CTAUN also held three other conferences, one at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, and one each in Atlanta and Houston. The conferences ranged from celebrating the U.N.’s 70th anniversary with a reflection of the progress the body has made to exploring a global view of how using technology in the classroom is helping students better their skills and connecting classrooms to a larger global viewpoint with cultural awareness.

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 5

Nation & W rld

Walmart raises pay while cutting jobs

AP Photo

Walmart raises pay for employees but closes over 250 stores worldwide.

By Catherine Herbert Staff Writer

Starting on Saturday, Feb. 20, Walmart will be introducing a large scale wage increase for over 1.2 million Walmart employees across the nation, according to an announcement from the company made on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

According to the statement on Walmart’s website, workers hired prior to Friday, Jan. 1,

will be paid $10 or more an hour. CBS News reported that Walmart workers have been earning $9 an hour, almost two dollars over the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Workers already earning more than $10 will receive an annual pay increase at the end of February, regardless of how long they’ve worked for Walmart. By February, the wage for full -time workers will have risen to $13.38 per hour, with the wage for part-time workers rising to $10.58 per hour, on average.

This initiative is the follow-up to the twopart plan Walmart created several months ago.

Last April, the company implemented a wage increase of $9 per hour for 500,000 Walmart employees, according to CNN. While these wage reforms would seem to be a big win for Walmart workers, there is backlash against Walmart’s actions, suggesting that their two-part plan is nothing more than a publicity stunt to mold their public image into being one of fair and agreeable nature, CNN reported.

Jessica Levin, a representative for United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), spoke against Walmart’s actions and discussed how its employees should still be advocated for.

“It’s easier to find a unicorn than a Walmart worker who has gotten a meaningful raise or hasn’t had their hours cut,” Levin said, according to CNN. UFCW, as well as the organization Making a Change at Walmart, are major advocates for raising workers’ wages to a living wage of $15 an hour, as well as voicing

critique on the massive corporation, according to Walmart’s website. The organizations strive to open a discourse on the nature of the company and what exactly a living wage entails.

A major irony lying in the midst of this wage increase is that just a mere five days after the announcement was made, Walmart shared that it will be closing 269 stores across the world. Of these 269 stores set to close, 154 of them are located in the U.S., according to CNN. These store shutdowns will place 16,000 workers out of work.

In addition to these thousands of workers who will be out of a job, these shutdowns also place small towns in a position of having to travel greater distances for all the necessities that the local Walmart had previously provided, creating what Walmart Today calls “food deserts,” which are areas “in a rural or urban setting where access to affordable and nutritious food is limited.”

At least three of these “food deserts” will be created in rural and poor towns in Alabama and Kansas, CBS News reported.

Sweden refuses to accept more refugees

By John Walsh Correspondent

For the past few decades, Sweden has welcomed those escaping persecution and oppression in despotic regimes. In fact, the country boasts one of the largest refugee populations in relation to its size, according to Al Jazeera. CNN reported that Sweden took in more than 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015. In a complete reversal of character, however, Swedish authorities have decided to expel up to 80,000 refugees this year, according to CNN. This was announced after several controversies have stirred up relations between the Swedish population and refugees, including the alleged murder of refugee center worker Alexandra Mezher by a teenage asylum seeker, Independent reported, as well as the burning of two refugee shelters in 2013 and outcry over the poor conditions in many of the refugee centers. These events have left some to believe that xenophobia and political tensions have been the reason behind the decision to remove the refugees, including the anti-immigration party, the Swedish Democrats, that has risen in popularity, according to CNN. Just this year, Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ordered the construction of a fence on the border of Serbia to block out illegal immigrants, PBS reported. Germany

declared Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia “safe countries of origin,” in order to stem the influx of migrants, according to Time magazine. In another attempt to deter immigrants, the Danish parliament passed a law that enforces the confiscation of individual refugee assets worth more than 10,000 kroner ($1,450).

However, another salient argument exists for the Swedish authorities’ decision: simply that Sweden cannot take in that many immigrants as it does not have the wherewithal to do so. According to the Guardian, both Sweden and Finland “receive among the highest numbers of (refugees) per capita.” According to Al Jazeera, the conditions in many of the centers are overcrowded and full of vast numbers of unaccompanied refugee minors.

The problem at hand was best put by Swedish Minister for Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson when he told the Washington Post, “(Sweden is) willing to do more than anyone else, but even we have our limits.”

Whatever the reason may be, this legislation has sparked intense argument in the Swedish Riksdag, the national Swedish legislature, the Washington Post reported. Provocative comments made by several members of the far-right Sweden Democrats have brought animosity to a previously less argumentative Riksdag. One of the most provocative was by Markus Wiechel, a member of the Riksdag, who stated, “We need to send the signal that people wanting to come here are

AP Photo

Swedish protestors are against more refugees.

not welcome” the Washington Post reported.

The left-leaning Social Democrats support the assistance of the refugees and the admonishment of those who would seek to abandon those in dire need of compassionate legislative action. In response to the xenophobia of the Sweden Democrats, Johansson, a Social Democrat, told the Washington Post that, “(Sweden does) not see the refugees as burdens. These are people who are assets for Sweden.”

El Niño contributes to spread of Zika virus

AP Photo

Mothers with Zika can give microcephaly to unborn babies.

By Jennifer Goetz Nation & World Editor

Mosquitos exist in warm temperatures, and CNN reported that the warming waters and changes in precipitation patterns, referred to as “El Niño,” have had an effect on the recent spread of Zika

in the western hemisphere. As of Monday, Feb. 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global public emergency due to this virus, according to BBC News.

The Washington Post describes El Niño as a phenomenon that occurs every few years that causes extra warm temperatures by the

equator around late December.

As a result of humid, warm temperatures, mosquitos thrive and so does the Zika virus, the New York Times reported.

The mosquito-borne virus has been a serious problem for Latin America and the Caribbean and it continues to spread rapidly. Brazil, in particular, is considered to be the center of this epidemic, according to the Washington Post.

“Meteorological factors certainly play an important role in determining the global range of the virus-transmitting Aedes (aegypti species of) mosquitoes and how competently they can transmit a virus,” said Andrew Monaghan, a research scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric research, CNN reported.

According to CNN, the current El Niño episode began around mid2015, and the United Nations has

said that El Niño may trigger an “increase in vector-borne diseases including dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus due to increased mosquito vectors.”

The New York Times reported that this virus is related to “dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus.”

For some, the Zika virus has no lasting effects, but officials are particularly concerned for pregnant women, as the virus has caused a birth defect known as microcephaly, according to the New York Times. This is when a baby’s head is unusually small when they’re born, and since a baby’s head is still forming the first year of life, babies are affected based on the part of the brain that has been damaged, according to the New York Times.

The usual amount of microcephaly reported is somewhere around 300 cases a year, but according to the New York Times, this year there

has been around 4,000 cases.

The Washington Post reported that the side effects of this virus include, fever, rash, joint ailments and other flu-like symptoms.

The New York Times reported that the virus, which was first discovered in Uganda’s Zika forest in 1947, is common in Africa’s and Asia’s history, but not in the western hemisphere’s.

This is why the virus has been able to move so quickly—our immune systems are not prepared to combat it. The New York Times reported that because of the winter conditions in the tristate area, people have no risk of contracting the Zika virus in the New York area.

The New York Times reported that WHO has stated that the Zika virus has “exploded rapidly” in the Americas and warned that, by the end of the year, four million people could be affected.

page 6 The Signal February 3, 2016

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 7

Editorial For many sophomores and juniors at the College, the pressure is on to score the perfect summer internship. The process can come across as daunting in the beginning with the countless cover letters to fear is to just get started! Start anywhere, just to get your feet wet, and begin to understand what potential employers are looking for in their internship applicants. Once you get the ball rolling, you’ll be questions and market yourself to companies.

During the internship hunt, it’s important to branch out and go for as many positions that suit your skills and interests as possible. You yourself to just that internship. It’s extremely important to line up good backup options if you don’t get the internship for which you were hoping. Ending up with multiple offers will help alleviate a lot of stress and allow you to weigh your options more thoroughly.

Some of the best advice I’ve received on the matter came from my journalism advisor who told me to not be afraid to go for the big internships, even the ones that seem a little out of my league. Once all of those doubts are taken out of the equation, many more possibilities open themselves up to you. There’s no sense in limiting yourself and your opportunities out of fear of rejection. You never know what may catch an employer’s eye or what you can bring to the table, no matter where it is.

The College also offers a lot of great resources to help guide students in the right direction. LionsLink offers up-to-date job and internship postings that can be tailored to your skillset from organizations across the U.S. We also have the Career Center, which often hosts career and internships fairs as well as workshops for constructing resumes and being interviewed. The next installment of their career and internship fair will be held on Friday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Recreation Center.

So get out there, utilize our campus resources and land that internship!

AP Photo

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

Editorial Staff — Kimberly Ilkowski Arts & Entertainment Editor

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo and Sports editors and the Business Manager, 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.

Colleen Murphy Editor-in-Chief murphc16@tcnj.edu Sydney Shaw Managing Editor shaws4@tcnj.edu Ellie Schuckman Chelsea LoCascio News Editors schucke1@tcnj.edu locascc1@tcnj.edu Michael Battista Jessica Ganga Sports Editors battism3@tcnj.edu gangaj1@tcnj.edu Elise Schoening Features Editor schoene1@tcnj.edu Kimberly Ilkowski Arts & Entertainment Editor ilkowsk1@tcnj.edu Thomas Ballard Opinions Editor ballart1@tcnj.edu Kim Iannarone Photo Editor iannark1@tcnj.edu

Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718

Jennifer Goetz Nation & World Editor goetzj1@tcnj.edu Jackie Delaney Review Editor delanej2@tcnj.edu Sean Reis Production Manager reiss2@tcnj.edu Alyssa Sanford Web Editor sanfora1@tcnj.edu Andrew Street Connor Smith Social Media Editors streeta1@tcnj.edu smithc57@tcnj.edu

Emilie Lounsberry Advisor lounsber@tcnj.edu Ricky Zhao Business/Ad Manager zhaof1@tcnj.edu

“We have a well-honed process and procedures for dealing with weather and other types of emergencies on campus.”

— Ed Gruber, director of building services

“When you’re feeling vulnerable, you want to reach out to someone. If there’s no light to show you the way, then you might not do it.”

— Niveda Harishankar, senior interactive multimedia major

“Poverty in America does not compare to how it looks in South Africa, and I found myself even more grateful for the life and opportunities we have here.”

— Lauren Monaco, junior elementary education and English double major

page 8 The Signal February 3, 2016

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 9

Opinions

Race is still a necessary conversation for Americans

AP Photo

The Oscars has a lack of diversity in its nominees.

By Chelsea LoCascio News Editor

In 2016, we still consider race a significant and telling definition of one’s character. Despite years of learning how race scientifically and fundamentally does not define a human, Americans have yet to overcome the issue.

In an ideal world, one’s race would not be a thought in anyone’s mind, yet a long history of largely unjustified prejudice has made racism an impossible issue for Americans to give up.

As people still give power to the idea of race, the lack of progress we have made as a society is immediately evident through recent social media trends. Of the most notable are controversial issues like #OscarsSoWhite and actress Stacey Dash’s take on segregation in the media.

Being a white woman who is not an expert on race or race relations, I find it hard to place myself in this race war.

I consider myself to be an average American citizen and I genuinely try to be empathetic toward both sides, since it is as difficult to see other white people being targeted as the enemy as it is to see white people actually continuing to wedge a divide between the races.

There is a constant struggle between extremists in all races to assert their dominance over the others and it’s not working.

These close-minded crazies continue to fuel the racial fire with hate that is dividing and weakening our country.

I feel that I can speak for my hometown, which is a small, racially-homogeneous community made up of mostly middle- to upper-class, educated white people.

Being from a generally non-diverse area, many residents just do not see the injustices that continue to hurt non-white people. Why? Because these injustices are institutional and so deeply ingrained into society that most people are blind to it. In addition, the lack of diversity and exposure to racial tension in my hometown makes racism something most don’t seem to care about fixing. I can assume this kind of thinking also applies to other parts of America.

Some white people wonder why we can’t judge people on their merit and not their skin — in other words, just be colorblind. Although we should hope to achieve that one day, we cannot let that happen now. To avoid talking about race is to avoid progress. These subconscious racist actions, thoughts and profiling are why we need to talk about it. As the saying goes, the first step is admitting you have a problem.

The most difficult ideas for us to shake are stereotypes, since they are often true to a degree, which allows some people to feel justified when asserting their beliefs about someone of a particular race.

Due to these sometimes-correct generalizations, people act accordingly. For example, a Washington Post article from Dec. 4, 2014, about racial profiling used New York Police Department stop-and-frisk data from a 2011 study conducted by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) to show the discrepancies between how often a person of a certain race is stopped. The data showed that young black men made up 25.6 percent of the stops, young Latino men made up 16 percent and young white men comprised just 3.8 percent.

In an nyclu.org article from Dec. 10, 2015, stop-andfrisks have decreased since 2011. Some might consider this significant progress, but blacks and Latinos were still the prime targets — just one of many examples indicating that racial profiling has not gone away.

While issues like these are starting to gain recognition, some people are over-correcting the problem rather than resolving it in a logical manner. Some decided that filling a quota of black and Latino students at a college or

employees at a company would be a good solution — it’s not. It solves the problem of ensuring that at least some racial minorities are given the same opportunities as white people, but that gives way to other problems.

Ideally, applications should not ask for someone’s race because anyone of any race should be chosen on their capabilities, skills and intelligence, rather than their skin color.

Unfortunately, this issue of unequal recognition plagues Hollywood, as well. While I am not someone who actively follows Oscar nominees, I will say that perhaps the #OscarsSoWhite issue has less to do with the Oscars and more to do with the fact that racial minorities are not offered the same leading roles as many white actors are. On the other hand, people, like Michael Caine in his interview with BBC, would argue that there were some noteworthy performances from black actors this year, such as Idris Elba’s performance in “Beasts of No Nation.”

When it came to the Oscars, Dash said in an interview with Fox News that aspects of the black community, like Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Black History Month, perpetuate segregation in America and should no longer exist. Actress Gabrielle Union responded to Dash’s comments and the Oscars issue best when she was interviewed by the Associated Press.

“If you don’t see yourself reflected in mainstream awards, you tend to create your own,” Union said. “Until there is no longer a need for that, I celebrate the (American Latino Media Arts Awards), the same way I celebrate the Country Music Awards and in the same way I celebrate the BET awards and the Image Awards… The more that we focus on inclusion and a true representation of this country, I think that (Dash) will have less to say.”

We cannot stop talking about race or do away with things like BET until everyone is equally represented in a country that prides itself on being a melting pot. Americans first need to recognize that no race is superior to another and second, that race needs to be discussed by everyone in order to facilitate empathy, understanding and equality. If we ever get to that point, that’s when we can stop giving race as much importance as we do now — when we all can finally stop identifying first by our race, and instead choose to foremost be known as Americans.

Thirty years later: Don’t forget about the Challenger

By Tom Ballard Opinions Editor Between the stress of starting a new semester and the havoc caused by Winter Storm Jonas, it was easy to forget that it was also the anniversary of one of the saddest days in U.S. aeronautical history: the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 10 miles up in the air, killing all seven crew members on board.

According to a New York Times article from Thursday, Jan. 28, that marked the 30th anniversary of the disaster, there was evidence of erosion on the O-ring seals on one of the rocket boosters. The O-ring seals served as seals that connected joints in the rocket boosters that were meant to prevent leaks between the compartments.

The failed seal allowed a stream of hot gas to be released and ignited an external fuel tank. The unusually cold temperatures of the day is said to have possibly contributed to worsening the condition of the seals.

Engineers from the company that produced the rockets actually gave a warning about the cold weather to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) the night before the space shuttle was set to lift off.

“The recommendation was that we wait until it’s 54 degrees before we launch,” Larry Mulloy, then-NASA project manager, said in a 2014 video from Retro Report, a video producer that makes short documentaries for the New York Times.

According to a New York Times article that was published a day after the explosion, the temperature at the time of the launch “hovered in the low 20s.”

Recently, National Public Radio (NPR) caught up with Bob Ebeling, one of the five engineers who warned NASA a night before the scheduled lift-off to stop the launch. Three weeks after the disaster, Ebeling was one of two engineers to anonymously give NPR a detailed account of the hours leading up to the launch.

“I was one of the few that was really close to the situation… had (NASA) listened to me

and wait(ed) for a weather change, it might have been a completely different outcome,” Ebeling said in an interview with NPR, allowing the media organization to release his identity 30 years after the disaster.

It is important that we remember the

“They reached for the stars, and now... as the saying goes, they belong to the ages.” seven crew members of the Challenger: Lt. Col. Ellison S. Onizuka, Cmdr. Michael J. Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Francis R. Scobee, Gregory B. Jarvis, Ronald E. McNair and Judith A. Resnik. They were our fellow Americans — McAuliffe, in particular, was an ordinary citizen. She was a high school social studies teacher from Concord, N.H., who won a nationwide competition to become the first ordinary

American citizen to be sent into space.

They reached for the stars, and now, as the result of preventable tragedy, as the saying goes, they belong to the ages.

I do not believe there is any better line to sum up the sacrifices of the crew members than when President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation from the Oval Office about the Challenger explosion. He used lines from American pilot John Gillespie MaGee’s poem, “High Flight.”

“I have slipped the surly bonds of the earth,’” Reagan quoted, “and touched the face of God.” As for Ebeling, he still blames himself for playing a role in the disaster.

“I think that was one of the mistakes that God made,” Ebeling said in the same NPR report. “He shouldn’t have picked me for the job. But next time I talk to him, I’m gonna ask him, ‘Why me? You picked a loser.’”

Ebeling, you tried your best to prevent a preventable disaster. You are no loser. You are, like the seven crew members who lost their lives that day, a hero.

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

The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail 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.

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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 e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.

page 10 The Signal February 3, 2016

Twitter

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 11

Students share opinions around campus Is race still relevant?

What should happen to Forcina?

“Definitely... it’s still an issue because we still hear about racial issues (almost) every single week.”

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

“Honestly... I haven’t been here long enough to formulate an opinion.”

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

Lindsay Thomas, sophomore communication studies major.

Tyler Reich, junior computer science major.

“(The College should) make it look nicer... the elevator is shady...

(Forcina) is not bad, it’s just an old building.”

“Yeah... it’s still a big topic in politics and the world.”

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

Lauren Rothstein, senior elementary iSTEM education major.

Cassandra Budsi, sophomore computer science major.

The Signal asks...

Was the snow day a good call?

Tyler: “With the amount of snow, it was probably the right choice, especially for commuters.”

Cassandra: “Yeah... my driveway wasn’t even plowed yet.”

Lindsay: “Definitely. I’m from northern Jersey and we had three feet of snow... My town’s school district was cancelled until Wednesday.”

Lauren: “I think so. It was a movie-in day.

There were a lot of people coming from far away places.”

Rob Birnbohm / Cartoonist

After Winter Storm Jonas blanketed the Northeast, students at the College recieve a snow day.

page 12 The Signal February 3, 2016

Did you know that The Signal is active on social media?

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

Like us on Facebook to find out about campus events: /TCNJSignal

Follow us on Instagram for more! Stay tuned for upcoming Q&A’s with Signal editors! @tcnjsignal

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 13

Forcina Hall is a gem to the College community

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

Forcina Hall is home to many services, including the computer science department.

By Tom Ballard Opinions Editor

Forcina Hall: Yes, it feels old and grimmly, its hallways resemble those of a typical Catholic high school and the water from the water fountains on the second floor tastes like there are microorganisms floating around in it. That being said, Forcina should stay. The building has played a fundamental role in the history of the College and still hosts many important programs that the College offers today.

With a little care, some building maintenance and renovations, Forcina Hall can continue to stand as a valuable structure for the College in the future.

As a freshman who is not a computer science major, I haven’t spent a significant amount of time in Forcina. As a newly-minted editor at The Signal, I look forward to spending more time in the building.

Despite my lack of time in Forcina, there are still some things that I

know about the building.

First, the building used to house the College’s School of Education until it moved to the new Education Building in 2012.

This is evident to anyone who walks through the building, from the posters advertising alumni testimonies about how the College prepared them to be teachers to the outdated key on the third floor that directs visitors to the school’s old department offices.

Second, the building is not held in high-regard. Even my freshman friends from a wide-variety of majors, including computer science, express a certain tone of disappointment whenever Forcina is brought up in a conversation.

They typically say that it is outdated and is an eyesore to the campus.

Third, the building serves an important purpose to the campus community. From housing offices for the TCNJ Clinic to technical support to the Bonner Center to, arguably most importantly, The Signal (although I may be

a bit biased), Forcina hosts a wide variety of services for the students at the College that allow us to live comfortable and healthy lives while away from home.

Yet, despite its usefulness, some will argue that Forcina is a worthless eyesore, an outsider among newer, more modern buildings and that the building should be torn down.

The argument can, of course, be made that these services can be hosted in other buildings — the computer science department is set to move into the new STEM building once construction is complete — but for many of the programs currently housed in Forcina, the question is: Where would they go? Many of the buildings are already packed with a substantial amount of offices. Roscoe West Hall, home to services such as the Career and Tutoring centers, has an almost entirely empty basement that is not fit to house the services that Forcina currently provides.

To add, hypothetically, if the College does eventually decide to tear down Forcina Hall, what will take its place? A new building?

Providing that Forcina is still safe to occupy, it would seem counterproductive of students’ time and tuition dollars to tear down a building, only to replace it with another one. Perhaps the land could be used for a green-lawn for students to study or play outdoor activities on when the weather is nice. Although I have no objection to there being another nice, environmentally-friendly place for students to enjoy on campus, the cost would be losing a fourstory building filled with services in exchange for a plain of grassygreen land.

“The elevator... (has) lights that flicker like it is being possessed by a demon... while shaking like it is being rocked by a sonic boom.”

The College has already taken steps to improve the building. Last semester, the College renovated several of the windows in the staircases of Forcina. Furthermore, the College is currently utilizing space to build a nursing simulation lab fit-out, investing more money and time to keep Forcina in the future of the College.

Forcina needs a facelift —

that much is certain. Chipped tiles in the halls should be replaced with new tiles of a uniformed color on each floor, so that each floor doesn’t have a variation of green or yellow tiles. The elevator should be replaced with a newer, less terrifying one that does not have lights that flicker like it is being possessed by a demon from the College’s past while shaking like it is being rocked by a sonic boom. We should remember our past as a college, the old education classrooms should be outfitted with better desks and seats, providing students with an alternative place to study in lieu of the library or residence hall lounges.

Forcina Hall has been, and should still be, a vital place for the College community.

The College should consider investing more into its existence and not, as some may want, in its termination. In the meantime, when I get the urge to walk during production night at The Signal, perhaps I might wander around the classrooms with their seas of desks that come in a rainbow of colors, pass the cluster (the system of devices that provide internet service to the College) on my way to see the closet-like room on the fourth floor that only has a couch in it or maybe I might just relax in the old lecture hall on the second floor with its red stadium-like seating. One thing is certain about Forcina Hall: the adventures are limitless, and every time you walk around it, you are bound to find something you’ve never seen before.

page 14 The Signal February 3, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

Flame / Rapper revs up rowdy crowd

Kimberly Ilkowski / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Left: Students sing along to the rapper’s hit song, ‘Grove St. Party.’ Right: Waka and his crew get the audience dancing in their seats. continued from page 1

“(When I was in Europe), somebody stole my cameraman’s bag with like 14 videos, both albums — ‘Flockaveli 2’ and the sequel to the album that was gonna drop 45 days after the album, for free,” Waka Flocka told The Signal.

“Ended up losing my fucking hard drive.

Lost all my music.”

He recovered from the loss of his album by throwing himself into the Aokify America Tour with electronic artist Steve Aoki.

“His dad was, like, Benihana and I see Steve is fucking throwing cakes,” Waka Flocka told The Signal of his tourmate Aoki made a name for himself by throwing cakes at concert-goers, a trend he has since reserved for headline shows.

“I saw that and I thought, ‘O.K., these are my kind of people,’” Waka Flocka said.

The night wouldn’t have been complete without his most famous track, “No Hands,” during which Waka Flocka grabbed a frontrow fan’s phone, mid-video recording, and danced around the stage with it. The crowd

pulsed under the colorful strobe lights to the beat of the song’s chorus: “Girl the way you movin’ got me in a trance, DJ turn me up, ladies this yo jam...”

Waka Flocka kept the energy up by launching straight into “Round of Applause,” a 2012 track featuring Drake, and he threw it back to 2010 with the hit “Grove St. Party.”

Before he took the stage, Waka Flocka told The Signal that he’d rather be remembered as a real guy than a respectable rapper, and he showed that

authentic side of him when he ended the night with the track “How It Feel” from “Flockaveli 1.5.”

“They don’t know how I feel,” he sang, cross-legged on the floor, illuminated only by fans’ cell phone flashlights.

As for how he feels about the College, Waka Flocka made that patently clear in his pre-show interview with The Signal: “I can’t wait to come back.” Until then, students will remember that the Brick Squad and Waka Flocka Flame laid the groundwork for an unforgettable semester.

Wired competition brings hilarity and heart

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Actors only have a few hours to rehearse their scenes.

By Kelly Vena Staff Writer

The Decker Social Space was brimming with excitement on Saturday, Jan. 30, for the spring edition of WIRED performances.

WIRED, an All College Theatersponsored event, is a 24-hour theater competition in which six teams of writers create stories following specific themes and twists, with actors rehearsing and performing the plays the following day. The plays are judged by three alumni of the College who pick winners for various awards, such as best actor and best show.

The theme and sub-theme of this WIRED competition were magazines and childhood games, respectively. The plot of each play must revolve around these themes.

“The theme and sub-theme surpisingly made it easier to write,” said freshman women’s and gender studies major Molly Knapp, who wrote the play “More to Life than Rope…” alongside

fellow freshman creative writing major Hope Simiris. “Before having those restrictions in place, we just had too many ideas.”

Writers were also challenged to incorporate five twists into their story, which included posing a regular question as a “promposal” and using a Clue murder weapon as a prop.

“The twists actually came in at a good time in our script, and they enriched it with ideas we never would’ve come up with,” Knapp said.

Both the writers and actors were challenged to succeed under the time constraints of only a few hours.

“The struggle was more in the ‘creating a story’ than ‘overnight,’” Knapp said. “We actually cycled through a couple different plot concepts before settling on the one that ended up onstage around 10 p.m.”

While the actors were expected to work all night to create a story, the actors went to work all day to bring it to life.

“The challenge of learning your lines and actions is one of my favorite parts of WIRED,” said senior English and secondary education dual major Steven Munoz, who has written and acted for WIRED multiple times throughout his college career. “It’s a different challenge than writing.”

All of the writers’ and actors’ hard work paid off once it was time for the performances. Knapp’s “More to Life than Rope…” received big laughs from the audience. This play, whose magazine was Rolling Stone and childhood game was double dutch, centered around a rivalry between two children’s competitive double dutch teams. Senior engineering major Mike Krakower was awarded best actor for his role as the competitive and self-absorbed coach of one of the teams.

The second play, “The Good, the Bad, and the Deck,” focused on a Good Housekeeping editor-inchief’s desperate attempt at reclaiming her job by helping her neighbors through the use of witchcraft. Its theme and sub-theme were Good Housekeeping and dodgeball.

Following the hilarious charm of “The Good, the Bad, and the Deck” was “Scotch on the Rocks,” which depicted an American hopscotch team’s heroic efforts to defeat the famed German team, “Go-Step-O.” The theme and sub-theme of this work were Sports Illustrated and hopscotch. “Scotch on the Rocks” won big with the audience as well as the judges — it swept the categories of best director, best stage manager and best show.

“I think all of the plays were a big success. I’m proud of what

everyone did,” Munoz said.

After the intermission, the cast of “The Legend of Cubera Island” took the stage. The play revolved around a group of people brought to a tropical island for various reasons and their attempts at thwarting an evil plot. Its theme and subtheme were National Geographic and Go Fish. The wacky antics of this play awarded its creators, senior pyschology major Rachel Fikslin and senior biology major Ken Abes, the title of best writers.

“The Perfect Woman Hunt” was an empowering work centering around a young woman as she is suddenly whisked away to a laboratory dedicated to creating the perfect woman. She, along with the six other girls she saves from brainwashing, are able to overthrow the lab’s work as well as reject society’s standards of female beauty. The theme and sub-theme of this show were Cosmopolitan and manhunt.

“Jane’s First Day,” the final show of the night and winner of best ensemble, also won the audience’s

heart with its characters’ unforeseen connections with each other and the references to soda brands throughout the story. It details the hectic yet unforgettable events of Jane’s first day at an internship for Fresca, a self-proclaimed evil boss in the entertainment industry.

Freshman urban elementary education and iSTEM double major Carlie Horton won best actress for her role as Betty, an outcast who is later revealed to be Fresca’s daughter.

The theme and sub-theme of this show was Entertainment Weekly and 7-Up. “Everyone involved contributed to the success of our show,” said Munoz, who portrayed washed up hip-hop artist Dr. Pepper in “Jane’s First Day.” “The director, the actors and their talent, and of course our writers, (junior communications major) Brooke Buonauro and (junior journalism major) Kelly Corbett. A show all starts on paper and they were able to create something amazing for us to work with.”

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Scenes take a turn for the ridiculous during the show.

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 15

‘Brooklyn’ brings bravery and beauty

AP Photo

The film’s cinematography emphasizes the romance.

By Brooke Schmidt Staff Writer

Many Oscar-nominated films often have an underlying agenda. They want something from you, whether it’s money or emotional investment. “Brooklyn,” however, is not one of those films.

The film is an honest tale of a girl uprooted from her home in search of a better life, where she finds friendship and love, only to be taken back home due to tragedy. But that’s just the basic plot. As a viewer, I found myself instantly enthralled from the moment the first scene began until the final credits rolled.

Unlike many high concept films, “Brooklyn” is a simple story. Saoirse Ronan plays Eilis (pronounced Ay-lish), a young woman who leaves her beloved sister and mother in Ireland so she can search for prosperity in America. As the name of the film suggests, she winds up in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she must deal with events entirely out of her comfort zone. While the story eventually becomes romantic after the introduction of Emory Cohen’s character, Tony, Eilis is the main focus. Even when she must choose between two men, she is really choosing between two homes — the one she’s made in America and the one in Ireland where she was born.

Now that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has nominated “Brooklyn” for best picture and Ronan as best actress in a leading role, more people are becoming aware of the movie. Months earlier, “Brooklyn” was an indie film not many people knew of that opened at Sundance Film Festival. Yet, the film offers so much more than people give it credit for.

The wardrobe and production design are flawless, outfitting both the cast and the scenes with period-accurate beauty. The cinematography is equally as beautiful — it’s a true joy to look at — and that further emphasizes the romance. Whether it’s the romantic nature of the time or the romantic elements of the story, the cinematography and overall design really emphasize this quality.

“I never would have thought I’d get as emotionally invested in (‘Brooklyn’) as I was, but I got more than a little choked up,” Matt Atchity, editor-in-chief of Rotten Tomatoes, wrote in his review. “And I found myself, in the third act of that movie, getting really anxious, and then I realized I was really invested and really worried about the choices that Saoirse’s character was going to make.”

Like Atchity, I found myself cheering and yelling and crying over the film. Viewers can’t help but to root Eilis on throughout every point of the film, including when she finally leaves Ireland and gets a new job in America. The connection that the audience develops with Eilis makes the scenes when she’s presented with difficulty gripping. Eilis is such a sweet girl and as an audience, we experience her triumphs and tribulations with her. This intimacy creates a bond between protagonist and audience. Seeing her succeed makes it feel as if you have succeeded as well, and that’s a beautiful and necessary relationship in a film.

While there is little chance “Brooklyn” will win any of the Oscars for which it was nominated, it is a beautiful film that deserves to be seen by the masses. It’s worth it just to watch Ronan’s incredible performance, if not to see the beautiful cinematography. Ronan fits the role like a glove and it is truly a sight to see.

Ronan shines as young immigrant girl, Eilis.

AP Photo

Video game offers fun experience

By Kevin Shaw Staff Writer

Crazy, stupid, awesome, fun: “Just Cause 3” makes no attempt to hide its ridiculous nature. It is what I would consider “Explosion Simulator 2015,” and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Like in the game’s predecessors, players control the protagonist and antihero, Rico Rodriguez, in his epic quest to topple militaristic regimes around the world. Set six years after the events of “Just Cause 2,” Rico finally returns home to aid the rebellion in the liberation of Medici, a fictional Mediterranean island under the control of dictator General Sebastiano Di Ravello.

Also similar to its predecessors, the game’s storyline falls short of making

a significant impact on the gamer. It is mainly a sweep-and-clear game where you clean out enemy bases and occupy them with friendly rebels. But where it lacks in storyline, “Just Cause 3” triumphs in visuals and gameplay.

The game is stunning to watch and it utilizes the specs of the next-generation consoles very well. There are incredibly bright colors and dazzling fireballs that constantly fill the screen. You’d expect significant frame rate drops whenever you drive your tank through a gas station, but the game handles it surprisingly well — there is hardly any lag.

Rico can be thought of as a cross between Batman and Spiderman. He is well-equipped with an arsenal of cool weapons and gadgets, like a grappling hook, a rapidly re-deployable parachute

Youtube.com

The game’s graphics dazzle with bright colors and realistic images.

and a wingsuit for quickly getting around the map. Rico also carries your standardissue video game guns, such as assault rifles, rocket launchers and sniper rifles.

The grappling hook and parachute work together to allow you to slingshot yourself like Spiderman and float around the map. It is difficult to master, but very worthwhile. I haven’t seen anything like this in other games and it makes for some spectacular gameplay.

There is also an impressive lineup of vehicles, ranging from pedestrian scooters and sports cars to attack helicopters and tanks — all of which can be driven around the massive, open-world map.

The freedom of “Just Cause 3” is where it pulls ahead of similar games on the market. You can do anything you want in this game and play in any style. Need to clear that enemy compound? You can take the stealthy approach, snipe the guards from afar and be in-and-out like a ghost. Or you can strap a bunch of bombs to a plane and crash land it right on top of everybody for maximum carnage. No other game out there has the variety of gameplay that “Just Cause 3” offers.

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this game. Sure, the storyline was lacking, but I was having way too much fun to notice or care. With some of the best gameplay I’ve ever experienced, explosions that could teach Michael Bay a thing or two and the massive scale of the in-game world, I definitely recommend this game for anybody who enjoys having fun.

This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.

Band: Golden Bloom Album: “Searching For Sunlight” Hailing From: New York City Genre: Indie Folk Rock Label: Rhyme and Reason What began as a solo project from New York City musician Shawn Fogel, Golden Bloom has evolved into something much bigger than he could have expected. This evolution came from the mixture of sounds Fogel and his live band felt as they began to push each other in new directions. You can definitely hear the Death Cab For Cutie influence on this album. They have tight melodies and a colorful arrangement of instruments. The production is also something to point out because you can hear every instrument clearly, yet you can still get the entire vibe of them all together.

Searching For Sunlight has a fun, uplifting spirit that is palpable.

Must Hear: “Looking Up To You,” “Great Unknown,” “Fall Out of Line” and “Come Back Home”

Band: The Noble Thiefs Album: “It’s Tough To Be The Bad Guy” Hailing From: Winnipeg, Canada Genre: Soulful Blues Rock Label: Pipe & Hat In terms of soul and blues-centric retro music, 2015 and 2016 are poised to be two of the heaviest years. We’ve already seen Nathaniel Rateliffe and Elle King, and The Noble Thiefs are well on their way to being the next breakout stars in this genre. This album is chock full of blues and soul. It’s lush and full, as well as rough and angry. You can hear a little Lenny Kravitz in Myron Dean’s vocals.

This is a rock album the Blues Brothers could appreciate.

Must Hear: “How Can You Think Of Love,” “Give ‘Em Hell,” “Made of Stone” and “I Want You “

page 16 The Signal February 3, 2016

Fun Stuff

Twitter.com

Kanye

Wiz

- Net worth is about $100 million - 57 Grammy nominations - 21 Grammy Awards - Countless other awards & nominations - Married to Kim Kardashian - Two children - Presidential nominee 2020

- Net worth is about $45 million - 10 Grammy nominations - 0 Grammy Awards (3 pending) - 5 total awards won - Divorced by Amber Rose - One child (“Owned” by Kanye) - Not involved politically

I’mma let you finish But...

Waka Wins.

Kimberly Ilkowski / Arts & Entertainment Editor

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 17

Gallery features expansive nature of abstract art

Students view vibrant works from famous abstract artists.

By Melissa Natividade Staff Writer

When imagining abstract or modern art, you may picture swirling colors and surreal scenes that warp reality. What many may not realize, however, is that the term is much more complex and encompassing.

Revealing the different dimensions of this style of art is the “Abstract Expressions: Selected Works from the New Jersey State Museum” exhibition, now on display in the College’s art gallery in the Arts and Interactive Multimedia Building.

The special exhibition, featuring pieces loaned from the New Jersey State Museum, includes over 34 abstract artworks from 1950 to today by American artists who all dabbled in a spectrum of textures and mediums. The artists include Richard Anuszkiewicz, Clinton Hill, Ka Kwong

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Hui, Yayoi Kusama and Susan MacQueen.

“When people hear ‘abstraction,’ they think of Jackson Pollock or art with no subject,” said Margaret M. O’Reilly, curator of fine art at the New Jersey State Museum. “They think ‘I can do that.’ But it’s not so simple. It was groundbreaking when (Wassily) Kandinsky (was painting biomorphic forms). It was going against what was expected and Americans were slower to accept it. As an artist, if you don’t have talent and a basic understanding of the precepts of art — color, form — you can’t do it.”

As junior art and secondary education double major Abby Saiia was quick to observe, the diversity of artwork and the nature of inspiration of the pieces was large, from Anuszkiewicz’s optical illusion pieces and geometric abstractions to the free flowing organic pieces of Lee

Gatch and Dahlia Elsayed.

O’Reilly saw the exhibit at the College as a special opportunity to teach about the wide-ranging nature of abstract art, which is why she searched for the actual art pieces rather than just the digital archived versions. She sorted through racks and drawers to find a middle ground between the most well-known pieces and works that haven’t been exhibited in a while. Some worth special notice, such as those of Anuszkiewicz, were included in the collection.

“Abstraction is a broad term,” O’Reilly said. “At one end of the spectrum, abstract paintings may present subjects that are slightly distorted, yet still wholly recognizable. Contrasting these are works which are completely non-objective — that is, works which employ form, line,

color or texture with no recognizable subject matter.”

The exhibition, made possible in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission, opened with a reception on Wednesday, Jan. 27, with well over 100 attendees, according to the gallery’s records.

In summarizing abstraction, O’Reilly referenced the father of abstract painting, Kandinsky, by sharing a quote of his: “Of all the arts, abstract painting is the most difficult. It demands you know how to draw well, that you have a heightened sensitivity for composition and for colors and that you be a true poet. This last is essential.”

The exhibit is open from Thursday, Jan. 27, to Sunday, Feb. 28, and can be visited on Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

The exhibit showcases the wide variety of art that encompasses the style.

Comedy duo reunites

Poehler and Fey shine in film

By Jackie Delaney Review Editor

If you’re searching for a wild party, outrageous laughs and a big-name cast, look no further than “Sisters,” which delivers exactly what you’d expect from the comedic pairing of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

The film fulfills every obligation for a comedy from the two: a far-fetched plot, crude (yet sidesplitting) scenes and a cast straight out of a “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”) sketch.

“Sisters” is exaggerated and improbable, but if you are a fan of Fey and Poehler’s comedic chemistry, then you’ll be satisfied with their most recent movie together.

When Maura (Poehler) and Kate Ellis’s (Fey) parents put their house on the market, the dynamic duo reluctantly returns to their childhood home to clean out their bedroom and relive high school memories. The characters are cliche from the start — Kate, an irresponsible mother with no job or home, is the wild child of the family, known for scaling the brick chimney in their living room during parties. Maura, on the other hand is a goody two-shoes and recently-divorced nurse.

When the sisters reunite and attempt to sort through the glittery, pink mess of their childhood bedroom, they decide to throw a party to relive the glory days of high school.

The movie begins the same way Maura and Kate’s nostalgic house party does — a little sad and a bit boring. The film does its best to carry a believable plot, but ultimately falls short. Kate’s relationship with her teenage daughter is the main conflict, which sees its resolution when a sinkhole caves in the backyard and Kate comes to the rescue of her daughter. Maura’s pursuit of neighborhood love interest James

(Ike Barinholtz) is catastrophic — a fall through the attic floor and an encounter with Maura’s old ballerina music box make sure of it. But in a film that relies on outrageous characters and their quick oneliners, it’s no surprise the plot is improbable. In fact, it’s almost expected.

The cast features notable stars like professional wrestler, rapper and actor John Cena and Barinholtz of “MADtv” and “The Mindy Project.” A fair share of former and recent “SNL” cast members, such as Rachel Dratch, Kate McKinnon, Maya Rudolph and Bobby Moynihan, play high school blasts-from-the-past for Poehler and Fey. By the end of the movie, it’s clear that it is the cast that carries the humor in “Sisters” and brings the laughs. Fey’s quick wit keeps scenes fast-paced and funny, especially when quipping back and forth in the supermarket with her old high school rival, played by Rudolph. Poehler is the lovable dweeb who rescues dogs and awkwardly flirts her way through scenes with Barinholtz — their interactions range from sweet to cringe-worthy.

But it’s really the combination of Poehler and Fey that keeps the movie going.

From their coordinated dance routine to party dress shopping, it’s these two who make the movie worth watching.

New York Times critic A. O. Scott wrote, “‘Sisters’ is a movie to go out and see when you’ve run out of television to watch.”

Maybe he’s right — the unlikely plot and slow start does take away from the film — but a few things could be added to his analysis: “Sisters” is a movie to go out and see if you’re looking for silly entertainment, if you’re a fan of Fey and Poehler or if you just need a good laugh to lighten your day.

page 18 The Signal February 3, 2016

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 19

Features

Snow leaves students stranded in South Africa

Photo courtesy of Lauren Monaco

Students enjoy an extra week in Cape Town due to the storm.

By Sierra Stivala Correspondent

Literature is often our best attempt at preserving history, but textbooks can’t convey the anguish heard in oppressed voices. And documentaries don’t transmit the coarseness of battled soils.

With this in mind, the College designed a winter study abroad program to South Africa. For three weeks, nine students traveled around the country, immersing themselves in a post-apartheid culture that is still experiencing the effects left behind from systematic segregation.

Program directors Matthew Bender and Mindi McMann intended for the trip to expose students of the College to the ethnic, racial and gender issues that have plagued South Africa. The goal of

the experiential learning course was for students to foster a global perspective that would follow them back home.

“I feel the trip exceeded our expectations,” Bender said. “In terms of academic content, it was rigorous and fulfilling. The students were able to match up the assigned readings with field experiences in a powerful way.”

The course itself had students reading various novels and short stories that detailed the origins and rise of the apartheid system, the effects of which still linger today.

“Because apartheid was a relatively recent historical event, there is still so much in South African life that stems from this struggle,” said Rebecca Dalton, a senior secondary education and history dual major who attended the trip.

“What was surprising and

fascinating was how much pride these people have in their country and how far they’ve come and how proud they are to be South African,” said Alyssa Keenan, a junior secondary education and English dual major who also attended the trip.

The trip gave students the opportunity to experience everything from mountains and monuments to festivities and food. Students’ first stop was the vibrant city of Johannesburg. There, students visited the Apartheid Museum, Pilanesberg Game Reserve and a historic mine. They also toured the Cradle of Humankind, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage site that houses limestone caves and ancient fossils.

The remainder of the trip was spent in Cape Town, an area that has come to be known as a cultural melting pot. Its diversity ranges from the beaches of Camp Bay to the iconic Table Mountain, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. While visiting the Muslim community of Bo Kaap, students were given a personalized tour by a member of the community.

“I felt as if (the guide) was telling us a story instead of giving us facts,” junior elementary education and English double major Lauren Monaco said.

The students were further immersed in the Bo Kaap culture by attending a cooking class, which was taught in a resident’s home.

While in Cape Town, they were also able to attend local theater productions, wine tours and sporting events. A resident of an area that was formerly known as District Six even gave them a tour of the infamous area while providing a personal account of the hardships the district’s people endured under apartheid rule. On another day, students painted a mural in the children’s tuberculosis ward at the Brooklyn Chest Hospital.

However, a trip to Cape Town would not be complete without a visit to the breathtaking Table Mountain. The mountain overlooks the city and climbing it was a highlight of the trip for Keenan.

Above all, the trip exposed students to the inhumanities from which many Americans are largely sheltered, according to Monaco.

“Poverty in America does not compare to how it looks in South Africa, and I found myself even

more grateful for the life and opportunities we have here,” Monaco said.

Hearing the language and seeing the daily struggles of people in South Africa left a lasting impact on the students.

“This course has taught me to look at the little things in addition to the big picture,” Dalton said.

“There is so much to be learned from everyday life.”

The first year of the program was an overwhelming success, according to those who went on the trip, including senior secondary education and English dual major Christine Yarish.

“I never imagined that I would be watching the sunrise from the peak of Lion’s Head mountain, chilling with penguins on the beach, reliving the physical steps of Nelson Mandela and speaking with dozens of locals who inspire my memories,” Yarish said.

Photo courtesy of Alyssa Keenan

Hiking Table Mountain is a highlight of the trip.

Piccolo Pronto brings pizza to Campus Town

By Frank Festa Staff Writer

More than 40 million Americans will indulge in a slice of pizza on any given day, according to BBC. Despite the staggering number of domestic pizza lovers, the more surprising statistic may be the number of places you could score a savory, non-Sodexo slice at the College as recently as last semester: zero. Thankfully, much has changed since last semester and Piccolo Pronto has now opened in Campus Town to serve the pizza needs of students at the College.

Owner Fahmir Elabed has risen from humble beginnings to beloved business owner. He began his restaurant career as a dish washer at the age of 12 and eventually launched his first Piccolo Trattoria in 2001 in Newtown, Pa. Success soon followed, and with the help of his wife and co-owner Amali, Fahmir opened another Piccolo Trattoria Italian restaurant in Pennington, NJ, right down the street from the College.

Piccolo Pronto, which opened its doors on Friday, Jan. 22, is the “sister store” of the Trattoria that so many have come to love.

This new venture for the Elabeds, however, is looking to take a different direction from the previous Piccolo restaurants.

“We wanted to create a different concept here in Campus Town,” Fahmir said.

“The experience is more intimate. Here, we let people create their own pizzas.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

The new restaurant offers traditional and custom-made pizzas.

The customer has a chance to be both the artist and chef.”

The restaurant is predicated on the idea of getting customers in and out of the door in a timely manner without sacrificing anything in terms of quality or hospitality. You can choose between nearly 30 options of fully customizable, made-to-order pizzas, salads, sandwiches and pastas.

The variety of Italian-style food offered at the restaurant isn’t the only thing on the minds of the Elabeds. Fahmir and Amali are not only concerned with serving the College and Ewing communities, but also with giving back to those in need.

“Hearing things like ‘people have no food’ bothers me more than anything,” Fahmir said.

Amali reciprocated this passion for giving back: “Anybody can do ‘what,’ but it’s ‘why’ you do ‘what’ that matters. Our ‘why’ is giving back.

“That’s why we started the nonprofit Piccolo Family Foundation and our Feed the Knead campaign,” Amali continued.

“We collect from all of our Piccolo locations, take a percentage of our proceeds and disperse them throughout the community.

Working with places like the Trenton (Area) Soup Kitchen has been so rewarding, plus, giving (the College) the opportunity to work has been great, as well. I love that the kids are excited to be here. It’s high energy.”

Amali may or may not have been speaking specifically about senior accounting

major Roberto Guiducci, who is one of the many employees who can be noted for their outgoing, warm disposition.

“It’s a lot of work, but it doesn’t feel like work,” Guiducci said. “I never mind coming in. It’s a fun environment filled with fun people.”

Students on the receiving end of the deal are perhaps even more excited than Guiducci about what’s going on at Piccolo Pronto.

Sophomores Nicole Weber and Ryan McElroy from the Career and Community Studies Program at the College shared some laughs over lunch this past Sunday and were eager to sing Piccolo Pronto praises.

“It’s nice to have a pizza place within walking distance because there isn’t much else nearby as far as pizza goes,” Weber said.

McElroy went as far as saying that Piccolo Pronto could persuade prospective students to choose the College.

“I think Piccolo could draw a lot more students to (the College) because people love this kind of food,” McElroy said.

Just walking in and looking around can tell you everything you need to know about the restaurant. From the vibrant atmosphere and the delicious food to the inspirational quotes written on the walls, two things have become clear — that Piccolo Pronto is, in fact, different from the old Piccolo down the road, and yet, this new restaurant is sure to be a favorite for students, faculty and the local community for many years to come.

page 20 The Signal February 3, 2016

: March ‘10

The origins of Fat Shack

Elise Schoening / Features Editor

Fat Shack owner, Tom Armenti, is a graduate of the College.

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

The beloved Fat Shack returned to the College last week. The sandwich shop strives to satisfy those late-night food cravings with indulgent sandwiches unlike any other. Possible sandwich toppings include cheese steak, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, bacon and even french fries. Fat Shack is a must-try for all students of the College, especially because it was started by one our very own alumni back in 2009.

After graduating last spring, alumnus Tom Armenti realized that, unlike other schools, there was nowhere for College students to find food past 1:30 a.m.

Armenti acknowledged that an ideal business opportunity existed near campus and decided to bring the College its own grease-filled, late-night luxury, the Fat Shack.

“A bunch of huge companies come to big schools like Penn State University, Rutgers with Grease Trucks,” he said.

“No one pays attention to small schools like (the College), Ramapo College, Rider University. But everyone here still likes to go out at night and party too.”

Nestled inside RJ’s Bagel Shop on Parkway Avenue, the Fat Shack delivers sandwiches from 6 p.m. until 4 a.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays to students at the College and its neighbor Rider University.

To weaker stomachs the Fat Shack’s

french fry filled phenomena are too much, but the College’s hungry students have been devouring the delectable delivers.

“I think they’re an awesome late night snack,” Ben Swan, junior management major, said.

The Fat Shack began its endeavor by creating a page on Facebook, and within a few days the online group acquired more than 1,000 members.

Although it has only been open since Feb. 2, Armenti said, “Business started off really crazy. I was trying to open slowly so I could train people who hadn’t worked for me before, but I guess I underestimated Facebook. We had about 100 orders the first night. It was wild.”

Armenti decided to open the Fat Shack at the College after successfully opening a similar store in Ramsey, NJ two summers ago.

With the help of a few friends, he had opened CARS, another eatery, near Ramapo College, and said, “We were pretty much just trying to think of ways to not have jobs when we graduated, so we decided to open our own business.”

But what exactly is a fat sandwich?

When asked how he would define one, Armenti laughed, and at first said he did not know how to answer that question.

“It’s just everything. All the foods everyone likes on one large piece of bread,” Armenti said.

Celebritease

:

Have you been keeping up with the Kardashians? They’ve been pretty hard to miss lately, but in case you’ve been under a rock, here’s a quick recap.

In the very tangled web of romance, Rob Kardashian, Blac Chyna, Tyga and Kylie Jenner found themselves at odds this

week in the media. After an Instagram post by Blac Chyna revealed that she is seemingly dating Rob Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian took to Twitter to express what appeared to be her disapproval.

Rob has been growing distant from his public family recently and it seems Tyga may have taken Rob’s place in the Kardashians’s hearts. This might seem especially weird

By Jillian Greene Columnist Winter Storm Jonas brought many things to a halt, including the College’s first day of classes. Delayed one day thanks to spokesman Dave Muha’s trusty emails, students celebrated the first snow day of the year. Still, Jonas did some real damage to people’s outfits.

My first day of school outfit was ruined when I knew I had to rethink my new suede booties. Instead, I opted for my trusty Hunter weather boots, as I have learned the hard way that trying to be fashionable at the College on a snowy day will sometimes land you face down on the ground. Wearing my Hunters, however, means that I have to work my entire outfit around them since I have the mid-rise pair — one of my few fashion regrets.

As I walked to my Tuesday morning class, the Michelin men (and women) were everywhere. Students and faculty Flickr.com

Puffy winter jackets are making a comeback this season.

Flickr.com

Hunter boots are a winter must-have.

Krazy

The Kardashian family is no stranger to drama or tabloid headlines.

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist

Campus Style

AP Photo

since Tyga has a baby with Blac Chyna and is now dating Rob’s younger sister, Kylie.

Adding to the drama, Blac Chyna was arrested for public intoxication on Friday, Jan. 29.

Jenner did not comment on the arrest when she stepped out later that night, but a source close to her reported that she was not surprised by the arrest and another source reported that Tyga

alike were bundled up in their big, puffy jackets and snow boots. You may have even seen some turtlenecks in class! I remember when, just a few short years ago you wouldn’t want to be caught dead in a turtleneck, let alone big clunky snow boots or puffy jackets that make you look like you’ve gained the freshman 15 — even when you haven’t gained a single pound.

Fortunately, these fashion staples are making a comeback. Say hello again to the puffy North Face jackets and oversized clothing from high school. Now, if you’ve always wore these things, I applaud you. In my opinion, I don’t see why any one type of clothing should ever “go out of style.” If you like something, you should wear it regardless of what others think, especially if it’s well-suited for the winter weather and many snowstorms that are sure to come!

Kardashians

is worried for his son’s safety.

In other baby-mama drama, Kanye West took a break from his creative processes to update fans that he has changed the name of upcoming album from “Swish” to “Waves.” The name change sparked controversy that quickly turned personal.

Wiz Khalifa tweeted that he did not approve of the name change. West did not take kindly to the criticism, since Khalifa is in a relationship and has a baby with West’s ex, Amber Rose. West then went on a tweeting spree that consisted of 17 reasons why Khalifa is inferior to the “king of rap” and should not have opened his mouth — to put it politely.

Amber Rose eventually got involved, revealing interesting information regarding her intimate past with West, although West later denied an accusation she made involving his derrière.

Kim Kardashian-West did not get involved in the Twitter feud, but that didn’t stop the Internet

from speculating.

Of course, every KardashianJenner had to make news this week, so Kendall Jenner made sure to get her two cents in on Twitter, as well. Her bestie, Gigi Hadid, starred in Zayn Malik’s first solo music video, “Pillow Talk.” The chemistry between the pair in the video appeared to clear up any confusion over whether they are a couple or not, but alas, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Malik later said in an interview with Apple Music’s Beats 1 that they were just friends, so Jenner took to Twitter to have a rant of her own, making it clear that Hadid would make a great girlfriend for anyone, including herself. Later on, Malik and Hadid exchanged some pretty steamy yet vague tweets of their own, so there is still no definitive label on the two.

There is a lesson in all of this, readers — if you know your Tweets are straight fire, please type responsibly.

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 21

Sports Women’s Basketball

Team fights for a playoff spot in NJAC

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Angelica Esposito sends game into overtime.

By Anthony Caruso Staff Writer

The College’s women’s basketball team split their games, narrowly falling to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Stockton University on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 54-53, but coming up big against Rutgers UniversityNewark, 70-63, on Saturday, Jan. 30. The Lions head into their crucial remaining conference games with a 10-9 record.

The College is 6-6 within the NJAC and tied for fifth within conference play with Rutgers University-Camden, who has defeated the

Lions twice this season.

At this time, Kean University and William Paterson University are tied for fourth with 7-5 records and only the top six teams make the conference postseason tournament.

“I have every confidence in this team that we’ll be where we need to be when the season’s over,” head coach Dawn Henderson said. “I feel we can make the tournament.”

On Wednesday night, the Lions were defeated by the Richard Stockton Ospreys, 54-53, in overtime at Packer Hall for their third straight loss.

The Lions led for much of the game, except in the fourth quarter, when the Ospreys scored 14 points to take the lead.

In the waning moments of the fourth quarter, both teams battled for the lead, exchanging baskets with one another until the game was tied at 53.

“They’re a really good team,” sophomore guard Angelica Esposito said. “They’re doing really well and we expected them to come back on us. I think it proves that we can play with anyone if we can play to our potential.”

With 1.9 seconds remaining, Esposito was called for a controversial foul that sent Ospreys’s sophomore forward Sasha Williams to the free throw line.

“As I said to the kids, I didn’t see a foul,” Henderson added.

“What made me upset about it, (was that the referee) made a call against us in the final seconds of our last game. So as much as that’s upsetting, there were other things that we could have done better in the game.”

After missing the first shot, Williams completed the second one, giving Stockton the onepoint lead.

Henderson immediately called a timeout following the completed free throw. That advanced the ball to near court in hopes of giving her team a better chance of getting off

a good shot.

Sophomore guard Cindy Napolitano was given the opportunity to make the final shot, but was unable to get it off in time and the Ospreys escaped with the close win.

The game was also tied when the score hit 44, 46 and 48 points. Esposito had to make a two-point basket to send the game into overtime.

Williams was a force in the paint, as she scored 22 points for her team when they needed it, while her teammate, sophomore guard Lea Mendolla, added 19 points to the board. Treadwell had six points. “(Williams and Treadwell) are tough and they’re very good players,” Henderson said. “They have two shooters to balance it out. I thought we did the best that we could against them.”

Esposito scored a game-high 24 points. Napolitano and sophomore forward Nikki Schott had eight points each. Junior guard Kim Dana also had six points and senior forward Christina Merlin had four points.

The Lions’s largest lead was by nine points in the third quarter at 9:45. There was two lead changes and five time that the game was tied. The Ospreys’s largest lead was at 5:11 in the first quarter, when they led by

three points.

On Saturday evening, the Lions defeated the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders, 70-63, at the Golden Dome Arena in Newark, N.J. This was the Lions’s first win since Friday, Jan. 13, against Kean University.

There were nine lead changes in this game. The game was tied five times and the Lions led by nine points with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Esposito led the College with 23 points. Junior forward Katy Amato was the other player with double-figures, as she had 12 points. Senior forward Christina Merlin and Dana also added nine points each.

“I think we have to learn from our mistakes,” Esposito said.

“We’ve learned a lot from them and do our best. If we can do that and limit our mistakes, we have a good chance of winning on Saturday.”

Freshman guard Kate O’Leary had eight points. Sophomore guard Charlotte Schum and senior guard Jess Lynch had four points each and Schott had a point.

At halftime, Rutgers-Newark led, 28-24. But after the end of the third quarter, the Lions led, 52-49.

Then, in the final quarter, the College pulled ahead, scoring 18 points to secure the win.

The Scarlet Raiders were only able to score 14 points in the final session.

Wrestling

Wrestling continues success against ranked teams

By Connor Smith Social Media Editor The men’s wrestling team — currently ranked 10th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Division III poll — found itself engaged with some heated competition on Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Metro/New England Duals hosted

by Roger Williams University. The College returned to action on Sunday, Jan. 31, facing off against Springfield College and bringing their record in duals to a historic 16-2.

“We wrestle at a high level against every competitor,” head coach Joe Galante said. “We need to keep wrestling with confidence, poise and intensity. I believe in our wrestlers.”

The College has made a name for itself by dominating unranked competition this season, but their performances against ranked teams have been some of the best in the nation. This weekend was no different, as the Lions battled 16th-ranked Williams College and third-ranked Roger Williams University.

The Lions jumped into action on Saturday by defeating Bridgewater State University, 49-3. The landslide victory included three technical falls, four pins and a major decision — the College even maintained a shutout until the final bout, eventually losing 285 by a 3-2 decision.

Senior Doug Hamann added to his impressive season, scoring a technical fall at 174. Hamann ended the weekend, 3-1, with two wins by technical fall.

“We have very strong leaders this year,” Galante said. “(The late Lions wrestling coach) Dave Icenhower told me, ‘When you have good leadership, you can have a good team. When you have great leadership, you can have a great team.’”

The College was locked-in during their rematch with 16thranked Williams College — the Lions defeated Williams College, 24-17, in their last dual on Saturday, Jan. 9. The Lions found themselves tied, 9-9, this time around, when Hamann scored his second technical fall. The College dropped a major

Despite falling short, the team makes a great effort on the mat. decision at 184, but sophomores Constantine Rissiotis (197) and Kyle Cocozza (285) combined to put the Williams Ephs to bed by scoring a 5-2 decision and a technical fall, respectively. The final score was 22-13 for another Lions victory.

Third-ranked Roger Williams University was the College’s fiercest opponent of the weekend. The Lions opened the dual in exciting fashion with 6-4 overtime victory at 125. The Hawks fired back by scoring a 5-2 decision, tying it up at 3-3. The College amassed a 12-6 lead, thanks in part to an overtime victory at 157 by senior Antonio Mancella.

Although the Lions carried a 15-9 lead into the final two bouts, the Hawks eventually rallied by scoring decisions at 197 and 285. Now tied 15-15, Roger Williams

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

University was awarded the winning point due to scoring criteria. Now 15-2, the College was forced to regroup, despite the heartbreaking loss.

“We have knocked off highly-ranked teams before,” Galante said. “We were pleased, but not satisfied — beating the third ranked team in a dual is not our goal. Our goal is to be top four in the country at Nationals in March.”

On Sunday, Jan. 31, the Lions found themselves down, 13-15, to Springfield College, but three straight wins flipped the dual in the College’s favor. Junior Dan Wojtaszek capped off the match with a 4:12 pin.

The College will face off against Wilkes College on Friday, Feb. 5, in their first home match in Packer Hall since Winter Break.

page 22 The Signal February 3, 2016

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 23 Men’s Basketball

Lions fall short against NJAC opponents

Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Left: Sophomore forward Elias Bermudez attacks the rim. Right: Sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr. tries to slip past an opposing defender.

By Otto Gomez Staff Writer The Lions finished a disappointing week with two very tough, close losses against fellow New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponents.

On Wednesday, Jan. 27, at home, the Stockton University Ospreys were able to beat up on the Lions for most of the game. While getting off to a 21-8 start, the Ospreys were able to continue playing well during the first half and took a 26-22 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Ospreys continued to play strong basketball, stretching the lead to 56-35. However, after a pair of threepoint field goals from junior captain Eric

Klacik and two free throws from sophomore forward Elias Bermudez, the lead was cut to 13 points with 7:28 left to play.

A couple of minutes later, another three points by Klacik kept the Lions at bay as the game entered the final minutes. Klacik has made a point of being a leader on both sides of the ball.

“My impact this year has been focused on being a leader vocally and how I play,” Klacik said. “I also put a lot of my effort in on the defensive end to make sure we are working together.”

He ended the game with 17 points on five of nine shooting, but it was not enough, as the Ospreys maintained the lead and went home with a 77-68 victory.

Looking to shake off their previous

loss, the Lions traveled to Newark, N.J., to square off against Rutgers-Newark University. Unfortunately for the College, the team was unable to get off to a strong start once again, shooting just 28 percent from the field in the first half and giving the Lions a 31-24 deficit at the break.

The Scarlet Raiders continued to hold the lead for the rest of the game, and even when the Lions cut it to three points, the Raiders responded with a 13-3 run. Trailing by six with 1:27 remaining, Bermudez knocked down a pair of free throws.

After a defensive stop, guard Eric Murdock, Jr. hit a jumper in the paint to close the gap to 59-57 with 33 seconds left on the clock. Scarlet Raider senior guard

John Snow hit three free throws down the stretch to hold off the Lions and secure the home win.

After falling in two consecutive games due to slow first half starts, both players and coaches know what they have to do to be able to make the playoffs.

“One main adjustment we need to make is getting off to a good start each and every game,” Klacik said. “We have proven that we can pull off comebacks, but that’s not the game we want to play.

If we can jump out on teams early, then I believe we are talented enough to be very successful. One other adjustment is playing a complete game of basketball for 40 minutes. When we play a complete 40, we are tough to beat.”

Cheap Seats

John Scott wins MVP All-Star game history

By Michael Battista Sports Editor It’s rare nowadays that sports fans get to experience true, storybook endings.

Over the weekend, NHL fans were able to witness a two-month struggle end with a moment that will be etched into sports history.

John Scott, the Pacific Division AllStar Team captain with five NHL goals to his name, played like he belonged in the All-Star game on Sunday, Jan. 31, in Nashville, Tenn.

In the new 3-3 tournament format, the Pacific faced off against the Central Division late in the afternoon, where Scott scored two goals against All-Star goalies for his team on route to a 9-6 win.

During the game, Scott even got into a friendly scuffle with former teammate and Central Division team captain Patrick Kane. The crowd, who was just as against Kane as they were for Scott, ate it up.

In the championship game against the Atlantic Division, both teams played amazingly well. In an era where All-Star games are usually blowouts with little defense, the final score saw the Pacific Division win, 1-0.

When all was done and the Pacific began to celebrate, all eyes rested on Scott. The Most Valuable Player (M.V.P.) of the game, who is awarded a brand new car, is voted by the fans.

The fans in the arena knew who it was going to be from the start.

As Scott was being interviewed over the intercom system by NBC Hockey

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AP Photo

John Scott is celebrated as MVP. analyst Pierre McGuire, the crowd began to chant the three letters “M.V.P., M.V.P., M.V.P.!”

Seizing the moment, Scott’s teammates gathered around him and raised him in the air on their shoulders.

Picture this: A guy with only five NHL goals being lifted into the air by some of the game’s best players.

Scott would win the M.V.P., with multiple hockey teams’ social media outlets pushing for him as well, and the NHL Hall of Fame has asked for his All-Star Helmet to be displayed in its halls.

What started out as a simple joke has ended with a player, who didn’t belong, becoming intertwined with the history of the NHL. But that night, John Scott was only one thing: an M.V.P..

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page 24 The Signal February 3, 2016 Track

Swimming

Track / Falls short at meet NJAC / METs now in sight

continued from page 28

competition for a 1:00.67 finish, beating out a runner from Rowan for first. Her time ranked 15th nationally. Not two seconds behind, Randolph took third with a time of 1:02.44. For the men, Larkin took sixth with a time of 53.05.

In jumping events, senior Courtney Paciulli toppled her competition in the triple jump and scored the longest jump in the NJAC this season with a length of 35’10.5”.

In the pole vault, junior Tracy Prentice,

along with freshman Danielle Cozzarelli, soared the highest with heights of 10’2” and 9’2.25,” respectively.

On the men’s team, the Lions took second, third and fourth place in the pole vault. Junior Chris Guglielmo took third with a height of 13’11.25,” sophomore Nicholas Genoeso took fourth also at a height of 13’11.25” and freshman Sebastian Camacho rounded out the pack with a height of 12’5.5”.

The Lions will compete in a dual meet against local rival Rider University this Friday, Feb. 5.

Teams look forward in season

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The men’s team dominates the water and takes home an NJAC title.

continued from page 28

Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Left: The men’s team meets season goals. Right: The women’s team fares well.

the quartet got an impressive time of 3:42.20 in the always-exciting relay.

Strollo had a great night as well, as she took home top finishes in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events with times of 1:00.55 and 2:10.73, respectively. In the 100-yard back, the Lions completed the sweep with sophomores Katie Kilfeather and Jill Galindo swimming for times of 1:03.56 and 1:03.83, respectively.

The team remained motivated the entire night, something Harnett said was due to their friendly NJAC rivalry with Rowan.

“In general, it is always easy to be motivated for a meet against Rowan,” Harnett said. “We have had such a fun rivalry with them from even when I swim here. The challenge this year was that we were ready to swim last weekend. Since we had to move the

meet twice because of the snow, it changed some of training we were doing. We actually trained harder this week than last week to prepare for our upcoming taper.”

Both teams now look forward to the rest of the season, keeping their focus on upcoming meets that allow the team to continue their success while hoping to gain more.

“Our meet next weekend is our last NJAC meet against William Paterson as well as our final dual meet,” Harnett said. “Having already clinched the NJAC title takes some of the pressure off. It will be a great meet to focus on racing since they will be able to swim in some different events that they do not normally get a chance to swim during the year due to points that are needed in the main events. After that, it’s on to the MET Conference Championships!”

4 6

LIONS

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 25

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Sydney Shaw “The Ref”

Kevin Luo

Staff Writer

Sean Reis

Production Manager

Miguel Gonzalez Staff Writer

In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Sydney Shaw, asks our panel of experts three questions: Should Peyton Manning retire following the Super Bowl? Was Dennis Wideman’s hit on an official on purpose and is the new talent on the United States Women’s National Team helping or hurting them?

1. Do you think the Super Bowl should be Peyton Manning’s last game?

Kevin: I think this will be Manning’s last game if the Denver Broncos win. Manning going out on top, just like John Elway did, would be the perfect way for his career to end. He’s been pretty good during the Broncos’s playoff run. However, he’s now more of a game manager who’s being carried by an unbelievable defense. Also, if he wins, he’ll have won multiple Super Bowls, which is great for his legacy and ties him with his brother, Eli. If the Broncos lose, I think Peyton will want to come back. Someone in the league, whether that be the Broncos or another team, may see themselves as a quarterback away from competing for a Super Bowl. Along with being one of the great quarterbacks in NFL history, Manning is one of the league’s greatest competitors. I don’t think he will want to go out after losing in the Super Bowl.

Sean: Not only should the Super Bowl be Manning’s last game — it will be. After

AP Photo

beating the New England Patriots, Manning hugged New England’s head coach, Bill Belichick, and reportedly said, “This might be my last rodeo,” according to ESPN. Although Manning did not play the entire season due to an injury, his touchdowns (nine), interceptions (17) and passer rating (67.9) were enough to say that this was by far his worst season. At 39

years old, Manning does not have the strength in him to pass the football like he did in his prime. Manning may have always thrown ducks, but at least they were accurate. However, this past season, Manning’s passes had no accuracy and they merely floated up in the air, hoping to land in a receiver’s hands. Sorry, Peyton — you are a hall of fame player and

it was a pleasure to watch you play, but the Super Bowl will be your last game, so don’t be a Brett Favre. Please retire.

Miguel: The upcoming Super Bowl game should be his “last rodeo,” as Manning told Patriots head coach Belichick. Father Time is catching up to him. Fellow 1998 NFL Draft member Charles Woodson has already retired.

Manning even confessed to Belichick that Super Bowl 50 might be his last game. There is no worry for the future of Manning’s teams.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler has proven to be a great successor for the Denver Broncos — even Brady agrees. The Indianapolis Colts have Andrew Luck as their franchise quarterback. Currently, Manning has one more challenge before riding off into the sunset of his career: Beat a Panthers team with a swagger comparable to the 2013 Seattle Seahawks.

The only difference now is that Manning has a lockdown defense behind his back. My prediction for this Sunday, Feb. 7? Manning will somehow break Newton’s three laws of motion and perhaps defy gravity.

Kevin gets 3 points for considering Sunday’s outcome. Sean gets 2 points for mentioning his performance this season and Miguel gets 1 point for comparing Manning to Woodson.

AP Photo

2. Was Calgary Flames player Dennis Wideman’s hit on linesman Don Henderson on purpose or was he just disoriented?

Kevin: I think Wideman’s hit was definitely on purpose. I don’t think he meant to injure Henderson as badly as he did, but he was definitely annoyed that there was no call on a shot

he took just moments before from Miikka Salomaki. Wideman made no effort to avoid the ref and clearly put his hands up to shove him.

Like I said, I don’t think Wideman wanted to seriously injure the official with this hit, but he knew what he was doing and will deservedly get a significant suspension for this.

Sean: I’ve been watching hockey my entire life and never have I seen a hit on a linesman like Wideman’s last week. Whether it was intentional or not, it deserves suspension. That being said, in the replays, it looked quite clear that Wideman was “disoriented” when crosschecking Henderson. Wideman had previously taken a hit into the boards and when he rose from the ice, he lacked balance and he gingerly skated back to his bench. Ignoring the hit, Wideman’s skating to the bench seemed to me as though he had a concussion. While concussions vary from person to person, after receiving a concussion, it is expected that that person will be in a “disoriented” state, and that was the case for Wideman after being hit into the boards. Wideman did not cross-check the linesman on purpose because Wideman did not know who he was hitting. Accidents happen in sports all the time, however, this was an accident that deserves at least minimal suspension. After all, it was a hit on an official.

Miguel: There is no justification to relieve anger by tackling a linesman behind his back.

Wideman was more than conscious enough to skate around Henderson and enter the bench.

He asserted his arms out to hit Henderson. It was absurd that Wideman was not initially given a penalty for his hit. The NHL made the right decision to suspend Wideman from league play until the public hearings next week. Wideman’s actions send an inappropriate message of unsportsmanlike conduct to younger hockey players. There should not be a mentality of thinking a referee is an opposing player, regardless of the sport. While tension between hockey players is normal, tension between referees and players isn’t. I hope the NHL sends a clear message next week so not one player becomes as reckless as Wideman.

The last time an NHL player assaulted a referee, former Boston Bruins defenceman Billy Coutu was banned from playing in the NHL for life. He truly is “Dennis the Menace.”

Miguel gets 3 points for considering the influence of his actions. Sean gets 2 points for saying he should be suspended regardless and Kevin gets 1 point for pointing out frustrations.

3. How are the newest additions to the U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) helping or hurting the team’s chances of qualifying for the Olympics?

Kevin: I don’t think the team should have many issues qualifying for the Olympics.

Head coach Jill Ellis is infusing some young blood into this team, but I don’t think the new additions will make a huge impact on the team. The one player they will definitely need to replace is Lauren Holiday. There isn’t really an easy answer in who replaces her. Meghan Klingenberg or Julie Johnston can move up to that role and then a young defender could be brought in. Instead, she might replace Holiday with a young midfielder and keep that defense intact. I think the most important thing that the youngsters can do is push the veterans to not get complacent. Alex Morgan is the most talented forward the team has, but she was not in the best of form in the World Cup. If youngsters like Christen Press and Crystal Dunn can push her, it will only help the team.

Sean: Although the team lost multiple players, their chances of qualifying for the Olympics will remain a guarantee. The squad still

includes 13 players from the championship roster. While veterans will lead the team through qualifiers, they may struggle in the future due to a lack of depth when facing top teams. Nearly half of the selected squad was not a part of the team when the U.S. won the World Cup in the summer. One of the most important attributes in soccer is endurance and the top teams might give the U.S. women’s soccer team a run for their money.

Miguel: With a number of key players either injured or retired from last year’s championship team, the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament provides a perfect opportunity for Ellis to begin a new chapter in U.S. women’s soccer. With new faces on the team, Ellis can continue her team’s winning momentum and build a dynasty. Stephanie McCaffrey has already shown potential after scoring a goal against Brazil during team’s victory tour, while Mallory Pugh gained significant playing time and scored a goal during a 5-0 shutout victory against Ireland on Saturday, Jan. 23. All of the new, youthful, eager players will provide an arsenal for offense. Ellis and the USWNT are definitely prepared for any challenge.

Miguel gets 3 points for evaluating new members. Kevin gets 2 points for considering replacements and Sean gets 1 point for pointing out that half the squad is new.

Miguel wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.

AP Photo

page 26 The Signal February 3, 2016

Fun Stuff

Super Bowl 50 (Not ‘L’) Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos

Wait. But Vernon,wasn’t the last thing you caught the plane from San Francisco to Denver?

Honorable Mentions...

February 3, 2016 The Signal page 27

Cheap Seats

The Super Bowl is more than a game Entertainment and emotions cater to all

AP Photo

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform at Super Bowl XLIII.

By Matthew Ajaj Staff Writer

On the night of Feb. 5, 2012, a crowd of players gathered in the end zone to greet a football that fluttered for what felt like an eternity over the turf of Lucas Oil Stadium. In an instant, the ball clanked off a flurry of hands and fell to the ground as gently as it had left it. Incomplete. The game clock struck zero. The New York Giants had won the Super Bowl. For 16-year-old me, it was the happiest day of my entire life.

Regardless of what the United States government says, the Super Bowl is a national holiday. It embraces all ages, genders, races and religions. A holiday of such all-encompassing magnitude naturally warrants a slew of parties. The coasters emerge from the cupboards, assortments of chips and dips line the tables and every man, woman and child with a

whiff of football knowledge is wearing a jersey from one era or another. An unwritten tradition of the event is for each man in the room to bestow his wisdom upon all of the others, boldly exclaiming his pregame analysis and undoubtedly citing an interesting fact or two which bears little actual meaning on how the game will play out. Most are there to watch the sport, but there are also some who come just for the commercials and the halftime show. From the national anthem until the final play, there is not a moment to be missed. For all those watching, it is the ultimate four hours of sheer entertainment.

While the layfolk enjoy their salty snacks from the couches at home, the football players step onto the turf to star in what is perhaps the world’s greatest stage. Behind their helmets are not actors or celebrities, but human beings who have likely dreamed of this very day since they first picked up a football. They have

worked their entire lives to play in this ultimate game. Taking the field, at long last, they can bask in the day that they have waited to enjoy for so long.

Many participants in Super Bowl 50 carry emotional tales of triumphing over the trials they faced in life to reach this game. Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas did not have a mother around the house for most of his young life, as she had been in prison on drug charges. In 2016, she received her release and has since gotten to watch her son’s playoff games in person — she will be watching from the stands in this year’s Super Bowl. Carolina Panthers lineman Michael Oher was dealt a bad hand in life. His familial problems were depicted in the award-winning film “The Blind Side.” But Oher beat the odds, and has since won a Super Bowl and will get a chance at a second title this Sunday.

For men like Thomas and Oher, sports became a channel for success and happiness, and to make it to the Super Bowl despite facing such adversity is remarkable to behold.

Unlike the player, there is no pressure for the fan — he or she has no plays to call, balls to catch or tackles to make. And yet, the fan is overcome by nerves not too dissimilar from those afflicting the players on the field. As a 12 year old in 2008, I enjoyed watching the Giants win Super Bowl XLII. I was a fan, of course. I had a jersey laying around in the closet and had tuned into some games, but to me, football was just another T.V. show I would watch on the weekends. However, in

those four years between the Giants Super Bowl appearances, I gradually began to understand just how amazing an accomplishment it was to reach the big game. It takes a physically and mentally exhausting effort from an organization — from the front office to coaches to players — to somehow pull together a Super Bowlwinning team. In learning to appreciate these efforts, I became a superfan, and to a superfan, their team is like a second family. Albeit, the superfan has no genetic ties to this family and is not even allowed to participate in the family’s meetings and events, but it feels like a family nonetheless. And admittedly, superfans like me probably are not all that psychologicallystable to reach such a level of obsession and prioritize their emotional investments into a mere game. It might be difficult for those uninterested in sports to understand, but for a superfan, watching your team win the Super Bowl is like winning the lottery of emotions.

Keeping in mind the mentalities of these players and the superfans only adds to the Super Bowl experience. Whether you are a hardcore fan or just watching for the commercials, everyone can appreciate the entertainment and emotions brought on by the big game. Once the final whistle blows, there will be a bevy of polarizing emotional states from those on the field to those on the couches. Whatever happens, I’m glad that somewhere out there, a 16-year-old kid — maybe not all that different from my 16-year-old self — will get as much joy from seeing his or her team win the Super Bowl as I did.

Super Bowl 50 Predictions

Signal staff’s Super Bowl selections special In this week’s pre-Super Bowl 50 issue, we’ve asked members of The Signal staff who they think will come out of the game holding the famous Lombardi Trophy.

By Otto Gomez Staff Writer Five years ago, the first two overall picks in the NFL draft were Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller. Well done. Next week, these two forces of nature are going to face off in the biggest sporting event on the planet and I think Carolina will come out victorious.

Newton will all but surely collect the MVP trophy in a couple weeks and has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, alongside a very strong defense. While Denver’s D has been even better all year, I don’t think the historically-great Peyton Manning will be enough, and it pains me to say that we won’t be able to see him ride into the sunset — as much as we all want him to.

By Sydney Shaw Managing Editor Greg Olsen will win Super Bowl 50 and the rest of the Carolina Panthers will bask in his glory.

Olsen is a force to be reckoned with on all fronts and shutting him down should be a main priority for

the Broncos if they want a shot at taking home a ring (but ultimately, I don’t think they’ll be able to stop the 6’5,” 255-pound machine). Olsen has emerged as Cam Newton’s number-one target in the passing game, boasting more than 1,000 receiving yards for the second consecutive year and about as many catches as the Panthers’ secondand third-leading receivers (Ted Ginn and Jerricho Cotchery) combined. With an asset like Olsen, the Panthers can’t lose.

By Matthew Bowker Staff Writer

We have been spoiled with great Super Bowls lately. Well, except for the last time Peyton played in one.

And this time around, things will be more or less the same result for Manning. The Panthers are an allaround superior team compared to the Broncos. Both teams have comparable, opportunistic defenses that make a living on forcing turnovers.

Lucky for the Panthers, Manning has a wet noodle for an arm, so Josh Norman and the Panther’s linebackers will be able to force a few interceptions. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Broncos pose almost no threat in the run game and are going up against arguably the best front seven in football. With the Panthers’s huge advantage on offense and Cam Newton being

Cam Newton, I’m going with the Panthers in a blowout, 44-17.

By Michael Battista Sports Editor

Looking at Super Bowl 50, the game is going to be between a team that has been hot almost all season and a team thats flame has cooled with time. The Panthers were the only team this season to stay undefeated until the near the very end (with a loss that I called in Around The Dorm, thank you very much).

The Broncos started strong and faltered a bit with some injuries while still losing only four games. The absolute destruction the Panthers have caused in the playoffs shows they are not cooling off yet, while Peyton’s boys won close or ugly games in 2016. Their defense is good, but the Broncos can’t stop Cam Newton’s offense.

By Matthew Ajaj Staff Writer Coming off an impressive NFC Championship Game performance, Cam Newton looks poised to put a cherry on top of his MVP-caliber season with a Super Bowl win.

Helping him to the big game were young phenoms Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman, who headline the outstanding Carolina defense.

But believe it or not, the Broncos

AP Photo

Signal staff members predict who will win Super Bowl 50. defensive unit is even better. It will be a low-scoring affair that has no chance of hitting the over on the 45.5-point spread. For this nasty, hard-nosed showdown, the edge goes to the old man with a legacy on the line. Peyton Manning is an all-time great, and the football gods will be on his side as he takes the reins one more time for what is sure to be his final game.

By Sean Reis Production Manager The Super Bowl is always one of the hardest games to predict in professional sports because the underdog frequently comes out on

top. In Super Bowl 50, however, I do not foresee Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy late Sunday evening. Instead, I picture the league’s MVP (to-be) Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers defeating Denver in an extremely close game. Denver’s defense will be strong all game, scoring at least one defensive touchdown, but Manning will fail to produce on offense. In the fourth quarter, Carolina will trail by one field goal, but Newton will march the team downfield for victory and score the game-winning touchdown with his legs for the final score, 24-20.

Signal

Sports

Swimming takes home two NJAC titles

Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Right: The men’s team displays strong performances in the water. Left: The women celebrate an eighth-straight NJAC win.

By Jessica Ganga Sports Editor

It was an emotional night filled with celebration and good-byes for the College’s men’s and women’s swimming teams as the two squads captured New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) titles against Rowan University on Friday, Jan. 29. The seniors on both teams swam their last meet at the College, making the night bittersweet, but the wins for both the men and women made the meet an even more memorable one.

“I am so proud of this team,” said Jennifer Harnett, the head coach for the women’s team. “They work so hard and have such amazing team spirit that it is great to see them keep checking off the goals they have set for themselves this year. It let them realize that all their sacrifices are worth it.”

The hard work was evident across the board, as both teams had great performances in the water.

The men dominated Rowan by defeating their opponents, 162-136.

Senior James Shangle commanded the water, taking first in three events. In the 100-yard breaststroke, he swam for a time of 57.19, beating his Rowan opponent by just one second. Shangle beat his opponent again by a second in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall at 2:06.54. The two were neck-in-neck, but it was Shangle that held out and got the top spot. In the 200yard IM, Shangle once again beat his opponent, this time with a two-second difference, clocking in a time of 1:57.49.

Shangle also helped the Lions win the 200yard medley relay, swimming alongside classmate Joseph Dunn, junior Ryan Gajdzisz and

freshman Alex Skoog. The quartet was able to clock in a time of 1:32.65.

The young swimmer, Skoog, had great races in the water, winning both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events with times of 52.59 and 1:54.36, respectively.

In the 200-yard freestyle, the Lions went one, two and three, in what was another close and exciting meet. Junior Scott Vitabile touched the wall with a time of 1:42.80, with junior Jason Ivins and sophomore Phil Binaco following close behind with times of 1:44.32 and 1:44.56, respectively.

Men’s head coach Brian Bishop was proud of how his team swam and that they took home their fourth-straight NJAC title, eighth overall, but said it was important to note how they accomplished the win.

“While winning the NJAC title is a great accomplishment, the manner in which the

team won it is more important,” Bishop said.

“This squad has had somewhat of a difficult time finding its identity this season and the selfless, team-first approach that everyone took in preparation for this meet will pay dividends at the Conference and NCAA meets.”

The women’s team took home their eighth-straight NJAC title, having another successful night in the water, defeating Rowan, 187-107.

Senior Lauren Rothstein had an impressive final home meet, having top finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relay. In the close 200-yard freestyle, she clocked in a time of 2:01.28, one second before her Rowan competitor. Alongside teammates junior Brenna Strollo and sophomores Emily Rothstein and Allison Huber, see NJAC page 24

Track and field talent on display at McElligot

By George Tatoris Sports Assistant

Lions track had a strong showing at the Haverford Collegehosted McElligot Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 30, with debut performances and top finishes in multiple events.

“I thought the results were strong,” head coach Justin Lindsey said. “We competed well and things look good going into the championship month.”

For senior Roberto Guiducci, who ran a personal best in the 5,000-meter, the meet was vindication after a long slump that began with a disappointing end to cross country last year, when the men underperformed and finished ninth out of 37 teams.

“The team had goals throughout the cross country season that were obtainable,” Guiducci said.

“But by the end of the season, we fell short… It has been hard to recover.”

Lions’ Lineup February 3, 2016

I n s i d e

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The track teams garner success at the McElligot Invitational.

Guiducci took ninth in the 5,000-meter, crossing the finish at 15:40.22, and said he’s “looking forward to run faster in races to come.”

The 5,000-meter was a race of firsts for the Lions. On the women’s team, freshmen Natalie

Cooper and Emma Bean debuted in the 5,000-meter with third and fourth place finishes, respectively — Cooper crossed the finish at 19:11.81 while Bean followed at 19:33.50.

Sophomore Sarina Sokoloff finished off the pack of three in

fifth with her own personal best time of 19:39.05.

In the 4x400 relays, both the men and women had secondplace finishes for the College.

The men lost to first-place finisher and New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Rowan

University by a mere sliver of a second, as the College’s final leg, senior Laron Day, crossed the finish for a combined time of 3:28.96. Freshmen Nathan Osterhus and Kamal Williams and senior Mike Larkin put Day in position for the finish.

“Everyone was there to compete, and all the hard work we have been putting in definitely showed during the relays,” sophomore Emily Mead said.

Mead, along with senior Joy Spriggs, freshman Alesia Passaro and senior Kristen Randolph, comprised the quartet that took second in the women’s 4x400.

The women clocked in at 4:08.14, four seconds behind Rowan.

“We are all great friends, and you can definitely see that chemistry in the relay,” Mead said.

Both teams fared well in the 400-meter race, as well.

Spriggs sprang passed her see TRACK page 24

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