The Signal: Spring ‘17 No. 19

Breaking news, blogs and more at TCNJSignal.net.

Vol. XLVI, No. 10

April 5, 2017

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Towers go wireless Travers and Wolfe get Wi-Fi

By Ellie Schuckman Staff Writer

At long last, Travers and Wolfe halls have Wi-Fi. Central housing for all freshmen, the Towers’ lack of wireless internet connection has long been a hot-button issue, but as of Wednesday, March 29, the two buildings are ethernet-only no more.

“We’re really excited,” said Sharon Blanton, chief information officer and vice president of Information Technology. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to give something to the students at an unusual time of the year.”

Getting Wi-Fi for the Towers has been a priority, but finding a feasible and affordable way to do so was no easy feat, according to Blanton.

“We were struggling with the right timing to install Wi-Fi,” she said.

With Travers and Wolfe initially set to be demolished, installing any type of wireless internet connection would have been a waste of money, according to Blanton. With the recent decision to, instead, renovate the buildings, it became possible to give see TOWERS page 3

Musical mixes love and law in Kendall

Students sing onstage for TMT’s ‘Legally Blonde.’

By Paige Finnerty Correspondent

With a Delta Nu sign hanging outside of Kendall Hall,“Legally Blonde: The Musical” hit Kendall’s Main Stage from Wednesday, March 29, to Sunday, April 2.

Presented by TCNJ Musical Theatre, the

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

musical consisted of two acts packed with 22 songs. Freshman physics major Cynthia Reynolds played the part of Elle Woods, a Delta Nu sorority president determined to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner.

Woods embarks on a mission to show Warner, played by freshman business management major Anthony Sofia, that she can

be serious, too, by enrolling in the same law school as him.

She wants to show Warner she can be “somebody who wears black when nobody is dead,” as Woods says in the musical.

Woods is ready to trade in her signature pink for black, all in the name of love.

“My favorite part of the play was seeing the moment when Elle won the case and the audience was just clapping and cheering for her and realizing that the ditzy blonde they’ve been following for the whole play was actually capable of doing something,” said Sarah Pawlowski, a freshman journalism major.

Woods is, in fact, able to achieve greater things than she thought possible. Along the way to achieving greatness, Elle meets Emmett, an aspiring lawyer who has a lot to prove. Emmett, played by freshman communication studies major Jason Monto, and Elle sing “Chip on My Shoulder” together along with chorus and ensemble members.

The quirky hairdresser Paulette, played

by Kate Augustin, a freshman elementary education and psychology double major, becomes a close friend and confidante of the pink-loving law student. Audience members laughed while Paulette sung “Ireland,” a powerful song about her dream of marry an Irishman.

Speaker shares harrowing suicide survival story

Hines shares his life story in the Decker Social Space.

By Chintal Shah Correspondent

A 17-year-old Kevin Hines packed his school bag on Sept.

25, 1998, at 6 a.m. with nothing but a suicide note. He walked over to his father’s bed, startled him awake and said, “I just wanted to tell you that I love you, Dad” for what Hines thought was the last time.

As his father fell back to sleep, Hines sat on the floor in a cross-legged position, rocking himself back and forth, trying to face what he had to do.

Hines went back into his room at 6:30 a.m. and described what felt like bugs crawling up his body. After he rejected his father’s offer to spend the day with him, Hines walked into the City College

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Student interns at eco-friendly farm The Signal See Features page 14 @tcnjsignal

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

of San Francisco at 7 a.m. and dropped 9.5 of his 12.5 credits — no questions asked from the counselor.

He then proceeded to his one English class to see his “gorgeous” teacher one more time and finish writing his note.

Hines went onto the bus after class and sat at the window.

He looked at his reflection and thought, “This man hates me Opinions / page 11

and is telling me what I must to do.” What started as a trickle of tears down his face soon turned into sobs as the bus finally stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Hines lived to tell his story, and he came to the College on March 27 to talk to students about mental health in the Decker Social Space. Hosted

by Counseling and Psychological Services, Hines addressed his own issues as well as those of many victims of suicide.

“Are you OK?” “Is something wrong?” “Can I help you?” — Hines promised himself that if someone asked him those questions, he would not have jumped.

When the time came, however, all the bus driver had to say to the sobbing young man was “C’mon kid, get off the bus, I gotta go.”

So, Hines got off at “what others call the most beautiful man-made structure ever created, the ninth wonder of the world,” but what he calls “the harbinger of death.”

see MUSICAL page 20

Film delves into campus sex crimes

By Elise Schoening Staff Writer It happens in college dorms. It happens in off-campus houses and fraternities. It happens to both men and women.

Sexual assault happens.

On Wednesday, March 29, the College’s Office of Title IX held a screening of the documentary film “The Hunting Ground.”

The purpose of the event, which was co-sponsored by Residence Education and the Inter-Fraternity Council, was twofold: to shed light on the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses and spark a discussion within the community that supports survivors and works toward solutions.

“I am always trying to find different ways to highlight the issue of campus sexual assault and I believe that this is a very well-made documentary that is relatable to the college population,” said Jordan Draper, the College’s Title IX coordinator.

“The purpose of the event is to continue highlighting the important our students know their rights and resources if an incident ever happens to their friend or themselves,” she added.

see SUICIDE page 3

Features / page 14

see ASSAULT page 17

Arts & Entertainment / page 20

Sports / page 28

Poetry in Bliss Chinese poets explore life and spirituality

Lacrosse Lions beat No. 2 team in the nation

See A&E page 20

See Sports page 28

page 2 The Signal April 5, 2017

Alumnae discuss how WGS helps in real world

By Kevin Rehberger Staff Writer

Alumna Monique Hankerson (’03) started her college career in the history department, but realized it just didn’t feel right. One day she met Janet Gray, chair of the women’s, gender and sexuality studies department. While they spoke, Gray handed Hankerson a copy of the book “Sister Outsider.”

“It literally changed my life,” Hankerson said.

After meeting Gray and reading the book, Hankerson switched over to WGS. “I was blessed to find the major,” Hankerson said.

Hankerson was one of three WGS alumnae a part of a panel on Wednesday, March 29, in the Library Auditorium who discussed how their degrees have helped them since graduating.

As part of Women’s History Month, Kelsey Martin (’12) and Jessica Penaranda (’06) sat on the panel with Hankerson, who spoke via Skype, which was projected on the auditorium screen.

Martin did not realize how much the WGS major would shape her identity until after she graduated. She became a sixth grade teacher in Washington D.C. and always instills love, tolerance and acceptance into her students.

She tries to teach students that

Panelists agree that work still needs to be done for women’s rights.

if you don’t completely understand others, you still need to try to accept them for who they are.

“The population I’m with now needs to hear this message,” Martin said.

The alumnae were asked about how they used the knowledge they learned from readings in college.

The panelists needed time to think, so they pointed at Hankerson to answer first.

“I like how you throw it to the person on Skype,” Hankerson said, laughing.

Hankerson used this opportunity to talk about her current job as the director of Housing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. As a woman of color, she notices how there aren’t as many students of color attending the university or as many people of color working there.

She believes that those who are there must face similar challenges to her own.

“When I see students of color, I know they feel the exact same way,” Hankerson said.

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

The alumnae also gave advice to current WGS majors. Martin wished she could have fully embraced all of her classes, and if she were to start her college career over, she would have been more involved in the WGS department.

She regrets not taking advantage of more opportunities while at the College, and she does not want current students to make the same mistake.

“I wish I dove headfirst into every single class,” Martin said.

Penaranda wished she had

more courage during her time at the College, especially when it came to asking for help when she needed it.

Hankerson advised students to build relationships, even with professors they don’t have a class with, during college, as they can help in the future.

“Build those relationships,” Hankerson said. “Take advantage of every opportunity.”

During the short Q&A, the alumnae were asked about the kinds of changes they have seen in the world.

Martin said she is glad that people are talking about the bigger issues more, but she feels that “there needs to be more action.”

The alumnae agreed that movements like the Women’s March in Washington D.C. on Jan. 21 helped to spread awareness for issues related to women’s rights and racial equality, but that is not enough.

Hankerson said she felt inspired by marches like the one in D.C., but she doesn’t like when these kinds of movements fade away, especially when serious related incidents occur.

“I’ve been pretty frustrated,” Hankerson said.

While she faces many frustrations, Hankerson will continue to fight for what she believes in and spread positivity as far as she can.

SG chooses names for art installation Stop signs mysteriously stickered

By Brielle Bryan Production Manager

SG discusses what to name the incoming art installation.

By Megan Kelly Staff Writer

Student Government held its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 29, to approve a new club, pass a resolution and pick names for the Brower Student Center art installation.

The new club, a bi-weekly newspaper focusing specifically on politics and business called “The Bull, Bear and Lion,” was approved. The newspaper currently has nine seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and 20 freshmen working on it.

Despite the School of Business funding the newspaper, students of all majors are encouraged to join the newspaper and write articles. The Bull, Bear and Lion sought recognition in order to recruit members, post fliers and have a table at the Student Involvement Fair.

SG also passed resolution R-S2017-04, which urges Gov. Chris Christie to sign Assembly Bill 34 into law.

The resolution says SG “supports the governor of New Jersey signing Assembly Bill 34 into law, which appropriates the remaining $34,297,697 from the ‘Building Our Future Bond Act’ for public and private institutions of higher education.” The act originally allotted $750 million for grants for public research universities, state colleges and universities,

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

county colleges and private institutions.

The resolution also states that SG acknowledges that the Bond Act has benefitted the College by funding projects like the STEM and Chemistry buildings. The remaining funds from the Bond Act might potentially be allocated toward other interests in New Jersey.

SG chose between 11 different name suggestions for the new art piece to be displayed in the student center, which will feature a circular LED screen that shows the positions of the sun and moon and is surrounded by brass disks. SG settled on three options to present to the artists: “(The) Lunar Lion,” “Solarion” or a combination of the two, meaning that “Solarion” would be potentially displayed on the LED screen during the day and “(The) Lunar Lion” at night.

SG members had a difficult time deciding between “Lunar Lion” and “The Lunar Lion,” so they opted to place the “The” in parenthesis to let the artists decide.

“Whatever the artists say, goes,” said Kevin Kim, executive president.

The Class of 2018 announced that there are nine confirmed acts for TCNJ’s Got Talent, but there might be more. The talent show will take place on April 13 in Kendall Hall.

The Class of 2019 also announced that it is holding a fundraiser on April 11 at Chipotle, and 50 percent of the profits will go to the Class of 2019.

Couch caper confounds cops At approximately 2:29 p.m. on March 10, a Campus Police officer was dispatched to Bliss Hall on report of five missing couches. Upon arrival, the officer met with a College staff member who stated that the couches were taken sometime between March 2 at 2 p.m. and March 8 at 2 p.m.

The staff member said two of the couches were in the first floor annex lobby and three of the couches were in the second floor annex lobby.

The staff member reported that there was a work order to relocate the furniture for the Active Shooter Training that Campus Police held during spring break, according to Campus Police. The items stolen consisted of three Kreuger International couches, valued at $3,000 each, and two loveseat couches, valued at $20 each, Campus Police said.

The officer advised the staff member to contact Campus Police if she finds the couches.

STOP, CHRISTOPHER At approximately 12:15 p.m. on March 22, a Campus Police officer observed a white sticker on various stop signs throughout campus while on patrol. According to Campus Police, the sticker was white with the name “Christopher” handwritten in

black permanent marker on it. Photographs were taken of the sticker. A voicemail was left on TCNJ Facilities Grounds’s phone for removal, police said.

Jewels taken from a tower At approximately 2:30 p.m. on March 22, a Campus Police officer was dispatched to Travers Hall to meet with a resident. The student said that sometime between 9 p.m. on March 19 and 11 a.m. on March 20, someone entered her room and stole her threetiered, white ceramic jewelry stand that contained various pieces of jewelry.

The jewelry stand is valued at $20, according to police reports. The student said the stand had necklaces, rings and bracelets, but she was unable to describe what exact pieces of jewelry were on the jewelry stand.

The student valued the miscellaneous jewelry at about $300, Campus Police said.

She stated that while she was unpacking between the hours of 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on March 19, she left her room unlocked for approximately 30 seconds to use the restroom, located directly across the hall from her room. Besides this time, she said her door is locked on a regular basis. The student was provided a Victim Notification Form, which she filled out, according to police.

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

The College’s stop signs are now sticker-free.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 3

Suicide / Speaker’s survival story leaves students shaken continued from page 1

Hines’ problems stemmed from trauma faced in his infancy. His birth parents battled substance abuse and were diagnosed with manic depression, now known as bipolar disorder. They would leave him and his brother in hotel rooms to buy, sell and consume drugs.

After a couple months, Hines — then Giovanni Gabriel Pasad Ferales — and his brother were passed from one foster home to another, contracting mental and physical illnesses from malnourishment and lack of love. His brother died from the mistreatment and Ferales was placed in a transitional home.

At nine months, Debra Hines walked into the home and fell in love with a little red-haired, freckle-faced Ferales playing horseshoes on the carpet. She adopted him and named him Kevin.

Because of the trauma he faced and his family’s history with mental illness, Hines always struggled with his mental health.

At 17 years old, he started experiencing waves of paranoia, thinking that everyone in the room was out to kill him, but the most haunting person was himself.

“The vision in my mind was clear,” Hines said. “I am a horrible person. I am a burden to everyone who loves me. I couldn’t see it, I couldn’t hear it, but the voice was overwhelming.”

After getting off that bus,

Hines’ passion strikes a chord with students.

Hines jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. The moment he began free falling from 220 feet at 75 mph, he felt an “instant regret for my actions and a 100 percent recognition that I made the greatest mistake of my life.”

The moment he hit the ocean, something happened that he didn’t plan for — he began to drown. He said to himself, “Kevin, you can’t die here. No one will know you didn’t want to.”

Hines does not label those who commit suicide as “selfish.” To be selfish, he said, you have to want to inflict pain on someone else, but selfish people don’t jump off bridges — those

in insurmountable mental and emotional pain do.

After spending what felt like ages in the ocean, Hines was lifted by the Coast Guard and became the lucky one, as roughly one in 57 bodies survive the fall. Even more miraculously, he fully regained physical mobility despite the one in five odds.

Hines’ lecture left an impact on the audience.

“It was so inspirational to hear him talk about topics that we do not mention very often,” said Diego Ramirez, a junior public health major. “It breaks down barriers for those who are struggling with their mental health.”

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

Unfortunately, the College community is readily familiar with the pain of suicide. In a recent Signal article, College President R. Barbara Gitenstein said the College is a survivor campus.

In the past four years, there were five suicides committed by students and faculty.

In 2013, senior and tennis captain Paige Aiello jumped into the Hudson River just months before graduating from the College.

Michael Menakis, a member of the men’s basketball team, died by suicide in May 2014 after serious brain injury and a coma.

In October that same year, freshman Sarah Sutherland died

by suicide in her hometown of Scotch Plains, N.J., where she was a member of her high school’s color guard.

Pat Donohue, retired assistant provost for the community engaged learning program, was confirmed dead shortly after jumping off the George Washington Bridge in July 2015.

In September 2015, junior computer science major Daniel Thielke died by suicide.

Senior psychology major Emily Maragni recalled that during Mental Health Awareness Week in her first two years at the College, “they put out backpacks outside the Social Sciences Building representing the victims of suicide, but still, nobody really talks about it — it’s just shown.”

At the end of his talk, Hines said people have to watch out for each other.

“We are nothing if not our brother’s and sister’s keepers on this planet,” Hines said. “We are not here for our own betterment or gain, we are here to give back.”

Simple actions like smiling or saying “hello” could change a person’s life. Hines stressed how he constantly battled his inner voice, but he reminded the audience that tomorrow is always a new day. He left the audience with a quote from the film “Kung Fu-Panda.”

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift — that’s why they call it the present,” he said.

Towers / Travers-Wolfe celebrates going wireless with waffles continued from page 1

students wireless devices.

“Once the decision was made to remodel, we had, then, a real timeline,” Blanton said. “The remodeling isn’t going to start for another few years and then there’s a year or two before it’s ready for the rooms to be (occupied). We didn’t want students to go that much longer without (Wi-Fi).”

Kicking off the Wi-Fi celebration, alternating rooms on each floor had a golden ticket slid under their doors.

Students then went to T-Dubs to trade in their ticket for the wireless device and instructions on how to use them.

Individuals simply plug the ethernet cable from the Wi-Fi unit into the wall jack and then connect it to a power adapter.

“These access points are the very same access points that we have installed all throughout campus, so they’re capable of maintaining many more connections,” Blanton said. “These aren’t like your home Wi-Fi. They’re enterprise class devices.”

In an effort to make the event more festive, free waffles were served in T-Dubs for students to enjoy while collecting the devices.

How did they decide on waffles? Alliteration.

The idea for “Waffle Wi-Fi Wednesday” was contrived with merely a week’s notice, according to Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Sean Stallings.

“We put this together very quickly,” Stallings said. “(The golden tickets) were an attempt to kind of have fun with it and we knew that we wanted to try to grab people’s attention. … Those who have (the units) have to have them plugged in and active in order for all students to benefit.”

For freshmen currently in the Towers, hearing they would finally have wireless internet access came as a shock.

“I was relieved and surprised when I found out the Towers were getting Wi-Fi because I thought that if it was that easy they would have just done it from the beginning,” said Michelle Ardiff, a freshman communication studies major.

While having Wi-Fi access is pleasing to many, some upperclassmen feel at a disadvantage.

“Of course there is a part of me that is a little bit bitter about the situation,” said Nina Paranjpe, a junior biology

major. “But I think that if everyone had that attitude, then nothing would change about the school. Sooner or later the mentality of ‘because I had it rough, then you have to, too’ has to go away.

“I don’t think that it is unfair, I think that many alumni will be a little bitter, but if the school finally has the resources to supply Wi-Fi to all buildings, then the school should do so,” she added.

With less than two months left till the end of the school year, Blanton hopes providing the devices now will be a good test run for next year’s freshman class.

“I know it’s toward the end of the semester, but this will give us a really good test,” she said. “It’s our hope that we can work out any bugs that there might be over these next few weeks and then we’ll be in even better shape for the fall.”

Now that Travers and Wolfe have Wi-Fi, next on the

College’s list is the Townhouses, which are set to have the same devices installed over the summer. Come the Fall 2017 semester, those living in Townhouses South, West and East can expect wireless internet connection, according to Blanton.

“Our plan is to do installation in the Townhouses this summer,” she said. “We’ll have it all set up before the students move in.”

Though the Towers now have Wi-Fi, students may see improvements or alternate forms of wireless internet connection in the future.

“I want to emphasize that this is not the intended solution or end product, but we believe that this is a great way to give students Wi-Fi sooner,” Stallings said. “If everyone cooperates and follows the instructions with keeping their units live, then the building should have significant Wi-Fi strength throughout.”

Students exchange golden tickets for wireless devices.

Ellie Schuckman / Staff Writer

page 4 The Signal April 5, 2017

Initial Registration Period for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Tuesday, April 4, Through Friday, April 14

●

Your enrollment appointment reflecting the first time you will be eligible to register for the Fall 2017 semester can be accessed via your PAWS account. To view your scheduled enrollment appointment, visit the ​Enrollment Appointment​ section in the PAWS Student Center. Once eligible, students remain eligible throughout the registration period. Undergraduate students who do not register by 11:59 pm on Sunday, April 16, will be subject to a late registration fine. Graduate Students have until Saturday, July 15.

Late Registration Fine​ ​Undergraduate:​ $150 ​Graduate: ​$125

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The Fall 2017 Schedule of Classes is available on PAWS and can be viewed by using the Search for Classes​ button. Both ​Summer 2017​ and ​Winter 2018 registration​ are also open along with Fall 2017 registration. Check PAWS frequently for any updated summer/winter course offerings and consult with your advisor for appropriate course selections.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Graduate Students: ​If you are a non-matriculant who is applying for Fall matriculation, you should not register during this timeframe. If accepted for matriculation, you will be invited to register during the Graduate Orientation session in June.

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

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 5

SFB elects new executive director, funds speaker

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Left: SFB elects next year’s executive director. Right: SFB funds Finch’s lecture on neurodiversity.

By Olivia Rizzo Staff Writer The Student Finance Board funded an educational speaker and theater performance, and elected an executive director for the 2017-18 academic year at its latest weekly meeting.

Friendship and Unity for Special Education was fully funded $3,750 to bring speaker David Finch, an Asperger’s and autism advocate. After having been tabled last week over concerns about hosting a repeat event, Finch’s lecture “Oh, You Need Me to Pay Attention?

Classroom Perspective from a Deceptively Remarkable Student” will take place on Wednesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. in room 115 of the Education Building.

“Finch will change his speaking points to discussing neurodiversity and creating opportunities for lifelong inclusion,” said Christine Hahn, FUSE treasurer.

“Other discussion points will include reframing autism

through strength-based assessment and understanding the shared experiences of neurotypical and neurodiverse people.”

Funding will cover the costs of Finch’s speaking fee, and his travel and lodging costs.

The Muslim Students Association did not receive funding for its Interfaith Dinner. The board felt that food was not necessary for the event to achieve its goals of fostering an interfaith dialogue.

“We want to start a conversation with the TCNJ community to mend the tension that have recently been created with the Muslim community,” said Shaziya Ahmed, MSA treasurer. “We want to start a conversation to bring other organizations together and start to promote unity within our diverse community.”

MSA’s Interfaith Dinner is meant to be the main event for the third week of the club’s Islam Awareness

Month in April, according to the proposal packet.

Chi Upsilon Sigma was funded $3,325 to bring “Eddie’s Perejil: A Cultural and Political Story” to campus on April 19 in the Don Evans Black Box Theater.

“The play explains the origins of the racial tensions and the cultural divide that occurred due to the manifestation of the racial and social constructs’ effects on the island’s ancestors and current people,” said Luisanna Lugo, Chi Upsilon Sigma treasurer. “Dr. Edward Paulino puts on a one-person performance and compares the racial history of the racial tensions on the island to that of the United States.”

Paulino is an assistant professor of history at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Funding will cover Paulino’s performer fees as well as the Black Box Theater and staff fees.

The board also elected Ziyi Wang as SFB’s executive director for the 2017-18 academic year.

Trump’s promises echo Latin American populism, expert says

Aaron Wilson-Watson / Staff Photographer

Torre discusses the divisiveness of populism.

By Heidi Cho News Assistant Adolf Hitler, Evo Morales and Donald Trump — what do they all have in common?

Carlos de la Torre, a widely published expert on Latin American populism and politics, can answer that question: They are all populists.

That is what Trump, with his millions of dollars, shares with Morales, a llama shepherd who “would see buses going into his community and people would throw from the window, peels of oranges and bananas… that he would eat. His dream to grow up was to ride in a bus,” Torre said.

Morales, the current Bolivian president, shares his humble beginnings with the impoverished majority of his country. Trump shares his thirst for change and

ideals with his own people.

Torre spoke on March 28 in the Library Auditorium about the ties between Trump’s populism and lessons to be learned from populism in Latin America.

When defining populism, there is no founding text.

It is not an ideology.

Populism is a political strategy intended to take dissent in the populace and divide groups even further.

“In Latin America, we have deep crises of political representation, political parties, Congress, the courts, all institutions of democracy,” Torre said.

In America’s Rust Belt and Bolivia, people are affected by economic distress and live in impoverished conditions. People see how they live and believe that the government, the established system, has failed them.

“Populism is a response to a crisis,” Torre said.

Bolivia and America have found themselves in these crises where people are willing to look for a scapegoat for the unfortunate state of their lives.

Populists find or make common enemies to rally against in their political campaigns, whether it be the media, government, big business or all of the above.

“Because for (populists) politics is creating, recreating, inventing enemies, confronting enemies,” Torre said.

While creating enemies for the people to attack, they proclaim to belong to the class of the common folk.

“These leaders do not aim only to represent the people — they claim that they are the people, that they are the embodiment of the people, and those who are not with them are enemies of the people,” Torre said. With Trump, only two sides seem to exist.

“Either you are with him and the people, or you are an enemy of the people,” Torre said.

Torre listed the media as one of Trump’s many enemies.

“Trump doesn’t have friends — he has enemies,” Torre said.

Trump also opposes globalization, North American Free Trade Agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and socialized medicine. He linked national economic decline with the absence of industrial production. He singled out corporations for moving factories overseas, according to Torre.

These views fall in line with

the acts taken by Latin American populists while in power: censorship of media, taking control of all state institutions and laws to control non-governmental organizations or NGOs, according to Torre.

While Torre never specified Hitler as a populist, Pope Francis did in his interview with El País, a Spanish newspaper, while Trump was being sworn in as the 45th president.

In the same way that Rome did not fall for a single reason, but many, it is hard to fix a system in need of many repairs. It is easier for someone to aim the public’s dissent at the Jewish people, the Mexicans and the Muslims.

Using the same techniques as Hitler, populists gather and rally the people en masse to go against all those that oppose them. Populists also tend to go from a leader

into a character larger than life like a father figure to the country.

“Populists always promise to bring power back to the people, but in Latin America, they ended up creating a totalitarianism,” Torre said.

Will America follow that same path? Torre is unsure. The pessimistic path would see a rise in xenophobia, racism and hate speech, where division fragments democracy. The optimistic path Torre suggests is one where democratic institutions prevail.

“Are the foundations of American democracy and the institution of civil society strong enough to resist Trump’s brand of radical right wing populism?” Torre asked the audience.

He invited the audience to discuss it with him, as the future of America is, in one word, uncertain.

Trump’s style mimics that of Morales.

AP Photo

page 6 The Signal April 5, 2017

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April 5, 2017 The Signal page 7

Nation & W rld

Cincinnati nightclub fight leads to fatal shooting

Cameo has a history of gun violence.

By Eric Preisler Staff Writer

One person was killed and 16 others were injured on March 26 when gunfire broke out in the Cameo nightclub in

AP Photo

Cincinnati, CNN reported.

The man who was killed has been identified as 27-year-old O’Bryan Spikes, according to The New York Times.

Cornell Beckley and Deondre Davis face charges for the shooting, ABC reported.

Beckley has been arrested, however, Davis was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, as he is in critical condition from gunshot wounds, according to ABC. The same source reported that both men have a criminal history. Beckley has served time for aggravated assault in 2008, and Davis pleaded guilty to criminal damage a few weeks ago after damaging property inside of an AT&T store.

During the shooting, club patron Mauricio Thompson said that among the chaos, he heard about 20 shots.

“Once I got outside, people (were) coming out bloody, gunshot wounds on them, some of their friends carrying them to the car, rushing them to the hospital,” Thompson said, according to The New York Times.

Police determined that most of the people who were harmed were caught in the crossfire.

“When you’re talking about something tightly packed like that, I think intended targets aren’t going to be the only thing that’s hit,” said Sgt. Daniel Hils of the Cincinnati Police, The New York Times reported.

According to the same source, it is believed that the shooting started from a fight that escalated to gunfire.

“What we know at this point in the investigation is that several local men got into some type of dispute inside the bar, and it escalated into shots being fired from several individuals,” said Eliot Isaac, Cincinnati police chief.

Despite using detection wands and having pat downs, multiple firearms still made it into the club, according to The New York Times.

Cameo hires off-duty police officers as security, and that night, there were two officers at the club’s entrance and two in the parking lot, according to CNN. Jackie Davis, Deondre Davis’s father, was in shock.

“I’m still puzzled on how my son is accused,” he said. His son is in critical condition as of Friday, March 31, CNN reported.

Cameo has a history of gun violence, as there were two shootings at the club in 2015, Reuters reported.

This shooting is not related to terrorism, but that did not diminish the clubgoers’ fear.

“What difference does it make to you what the motivation of the shooter was?” said John Cranley, mayor of Cincinnati, according to CNN. “We live in a city and a country where you should be able to go out and have a good time and not be terrorized by gun violence.”

Russia experiences widespread anti-corruption protests

By Zachary Sobol Correspondent

Thousands of people participated in anti-corruption protests across Russia on March 26.

The protests were in response to the findings in an anti-corruption investigation conducted by Alexei Navalny, a fervent opposer of the Kremlin. Hundreds of people were arrested for their participation, including Navalny, according to CNBC. A 50-minute report was uploaded to YouTube on March 2 that claimed Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev created “a corruption empire” that included several luxury properties and possessions, according to CNN. Medvedev is an obsessive online shopper who ordered 73 T-shirts and 20 pairs of sneakers in just a few months, NBC reported.

Navalny has been preparing for a bid in the presidential election in March 2018, however, the

government believes he is not allowed to do so after being found guilty of several charges including embezzlement, according to the same source.

Navalny will be jailed for 15 days because of his participation in the protests, CNN reported.

Russian authorities said the official number of arrests was about 500, but opposing groups say as many as 1,000 citizens were apprehended in Moscow alone, according to the same source.

Few protesters carried posters in fear of being immediately arrested by authorities, however, rubber ducks were seen throughout the protests in response to Medvedev having a house for ducks at one of his various extravagant homes.

Protesters also hung sneakers on trees in response to Medvedev’s affinity for expensive sneakers, CNN reported.

The same source reported that individuals painted their face green to

Protesters oppose Medvedev’s ‘corruption empire.’

support Navalny, who was attacked with green liquid just last week.

The state media for Russia decided to implement a nationwide blackout that completely ignored the protests, CNN reported.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri

Peskov implied that since there were so many young people at the protests, they must have been given financial incentives to participate.

“We cannot respect people who knowingly mislead the underage kids, in fact, asking them, while

AP Photo

promising some sort of rewards, to participate in an illegal event,” Peskov said, according to CNN. Russia’s public sector is interpreted as “highly corrupt,” according to the Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Terror attack in London leaves five dead, 50 injured The perpetrator was 52-year-old British man Khalid Masood, CNN reported.

The attack killed five people, including Masood, and injured 50 more. Among the injured are people from the U.S., U.K., Romania, Greece and South Korea, according to BBC. Masood repeatedly drove his Enterprise rental car into pedestrians walking on the bridge. He then embarked on foot, stabbing and killing a policeman inside of the Palace of Westminster, according to the BBC. The Telegraph described Masood’s vehicle as a Hyundai SUV rented shortly before the attack.

Masood had a criminal history and spent some time in prison where he was possibly radicalized, according to The Telegraph.

Masood is being investigated for violent extremism in the past, CNN reported.

Amaq, an ISIS-affiliated news channel, said Masood was a AP Photo member of ISIS. Although there is no evidence of any connecThe attacker’s affiliation with ISIS is disputed. tion between Masood and ISIS, his actions were inspired by

By Anandita Mehta international acts of terrorism, CNN reported.

Staff Writer Masood spent some time teaching English in Saudi Arabia and was born in the West Midlands. He converted to Islam later A terror attack occurred near the Houses of Parliament over in life, according to BBC. the Westminster Bridge in London on March 22, BBC reported.

Masood also went through multiple name changes, going by

the name of Adrian Ajao at one point, The Guardian reported.

There is speculation that Masood was not shot by the police, but by a bodyguard of the British defense secretary, according to The Telegraph.

About a dozen arrests have been made in conjunction with the attack, BBC reported.

Most of the suspects, however, have been released, according to The Guardian.

The same source reported that in the aftermath of the attack, approximately 3,500 witnesses from the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster have contacted the police in an effort to aid the investigation.

The U.K. government is urging social media companies to do their part to combat terrorism so their platforms cannot be used to spread terroristic messages. This is likely a measure taken as a result of Masood’s activity on his WhatsApp account moments before the attack, according to The Guardian.

A candlelight vigil was held in Trafalgar square on March 23, CNN reported.

Muslim, Christian and Jewish people came together for a moment of silence to honor the victims. Members of the royal family have visited victims in the hospital, The Guardian reported.

page 8 The Signal April 5, 2017

Who Will Win?...

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April 5, 2017 The Signal page 9

Editorial

Students need to get involved on campus

At first glance, our campus does not seem like the most exciting place to live.

The campus is dead past 9 p.m., considering Eickhoff Hall closes for the day and most students retire to their room or go out off campus. It’s small, quaint and usually pretty quiet. And don’t get me started on the lack of food options, which I already ranted about in an opinion piece titled “Campus dining options need improvement.”

With all of this in mind, I believe that you get out of your campus what you put into it. The College has so many incredible opportunities for involvement if you keep your eyes and mind open to new possibilities.

As a freshman — crazily enough, I am almost finished being a freshman — I feel that the only way to become acclimated to campus and start feeling at home is to get involved. Even for the upperclassmen who are stuck in a rut and are looking for something new, it is never too late to get involved.

The beautiful thing about college is that there is a club or organization for just about any talent, sport or hobby. Getting involved is as easy as showing a little bit of interest and taking the time to attend a club meeting. This is such a great way to meet new people and take part in something you feel strongly about. No judgment from current club members and nothing lost if you wind up not liking the club.

Many freshmen make their first friends on their floor. I have to admit, becoming friends with the people on your freshman floor is pretty awesome. They’re your built-in friends. You all land at the College on your first day in the same situation, looking to just make one friend you can stick with to feel less alone.

From there, great friendships blossom. I met incredible people on my floor and I hope we remain friends. I can honestly say that some of the best people I have met on campus are also a part of the various organizations I am in, and I’m thankful for putting myself out there and allowing myself the opportunity to meet them.

I was a theater nerd in high school, auditioning for shows as a bitty freshman and sticking to it ever since. I found my home, my people, my best friends in my high school drama club. Parting with theater was something I never wanted to do. So, as soon as I moved into the College, I attended my first TCNJ Musical Theatre meeting and have been having a blast ever since.

Also a member of The Signal staff, I am exposed to the many wonders of this campus. I shyly entered The Signal office three days after moving in, and the rest is history. I am now a section editor writing an editorial and couldn’t be more grateful.

Though the campus is your oyster, sometimes it gets pretty monotonous living in it. Since they cannot have cars on campus, freshmen can consider themselves stranded, and doing homework all day is not the ideal way to enjoy yourself. Having various clubs that you are a part of is a great way to look forward to something else besides going to class, and who knows, maybe try something new. Having a little courage could turn out to be one of the best decisions you ever make.

— Mia Ingui Opinions Editor

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

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

Ewing, NJ, is not known for its nightlife.

Connor Smith / Managing Editor

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

Editorial Staff Chelsea LoCascio Editor-in-Chief locascc1@tcnj.edu Connor Smith Managing Editor smithc57@tcnj.edu George Tatoris News Editor tatorig1@tcnj.edu Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor gonzam23@tcnj.edu Alyssa Gautieri Features Editor gautiea3@tcnj.edu Thomas Infante Arts & Entertainment Editor infantt1@tcnj.edu Mia Ingui Opinions Editor inguim1@tcnj.edu Michelle Lampariello Nation & World Editor lamparm2@tcnj.edu Elizabeth Zakaim Reviews Editor zakaime1@tcnj.edu

Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Brielle Bryan Production Manager bryanb2@tcnj.edu Kyle Elphick Web Editor elphick1@tcnj.edu Ashton Leber Social Media Editor lebera1@tcnj.edu Jason Proleika Photo Editor proleij1@tcnj.edu Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant maxburgos66@gmail.com Heidi Cho News Assistant choh2@tcnj.edu

Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Thomas Munnia Business/Ad Manager tmunnia@gmail.com

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift — that’s why they call it the present.”

— Kevin Hines, motivational speaker and suicide survivor

“I am interested in the phenomena of art activism. It’s rather about changing the aspects and culture of society through art activism.”

— Morehshin Allahyari, an activist, artist and educator

“(Farm Sancuary) is the kind of relentless organization that I think many of the politically and socially active students (at the College) would appreciate.”

— Caitlin Flynn, a senior journalism and political science double major and Farm Sanctuary intern

page 10 The Signal April 5, 2017

Fridays, 12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunches welcome www.tcnj.edu/bbs Mayo Concert Hall Music Building TCNJ Campus

Creating Concrete Change in the Digital Age: Using Social Media for Advocacy and Public Education This lecture will discuss how real change can happen at the intersection of commerce, personal relationships and social good.

Summer Business Institute for Non-Business Majors June 19 – July 26, 2017 Gain essential business knowledge in a single course.

Curriculum combines project-based study, company site visits, skill-building workshops, and guest speakers to cover integrated program themes: • Introduction to the business world • Development of strategic perspective • Financial performance measurement and evaluation • Strategic management, organization, and leadership • Ethics, corporate responsibility, and

businessinstitute.tcnj.edu

entrepreneurship

Questions?

Contact George Hefelle, TCNJ Business Institute, hefelleg@tcnj.edu or 609-771-2540

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1/30/17 12:45 PM

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 11

Opinions

Unequal access to Wi-Fi unfair for students

Flickr

Left: Students get routers in the Towers. Right: Kendall Hall is one of the academic buildings with unreliable Wi-Fi.

By Kristen Frolich Travers and Wolfe halls were filled with happy students on Wednesday, March 29, thanks to the new addition of Wi-Fi in the Towers. Freshmen will no longer have to use ethernet cables or go over their data plans when using the internet in their rooms.

While adding Wi-Fi in the freshmen buildings was a huge step forward in the renovation of the Towers, Travers and Wolfe halls were not the only buildings on

campus that were lacking Wi-Fi. Some of the buildings that do not share the luxury of a strong internet connection include Townhouses East, Forcina Hall and Kendall Hall.

Although it is understandable that adding internet across campus is an expensive project, it is an obvious problem that not every single building has Wi-Fi. The internet has become essential for communication, school work and much more. So, it tends to bother students that two academic buildings do not have a strong connection.

Forcina Hall is home to the Department of Computer Science while Kendall Hall houses the Department of Communication Studies along with the Main Stage Theater.

Both of these halls contain majors in which having Wi-Fi is crucial for their education and field of study.

As a communication studies major, I can relate to this struggle since I have several classes in Kendall. This semester, I have two classes in which I don’t have Wi-Fi. How can I be expected to learn media communication

tcnj.edu

if I do not have access to one of the most important means of transmitting media?

While I am not demanding for this issue to be solved immediately, the campus should be informed, if they are not already, about how their is unequal access to Wi-Fi for certain majors. All students should have access to the internet, whether it be in their room, classroom or when walking around campus.

While the Towers might have finally obtained Wi-Fi, the struggle of internet access around the rest of campus remains.

Dreams don’t always hold deeper meanings

By Kareema Vernon When it’s time to go to bed, I usually look forward to dreaming. I find that as a college student who never gets enough sleep, dreaming is a nice escape. It’s a personal getaway for everyone because it’s the only time you can visualize your own thoughts. I believe dreams have a greater meaning in our lives, too.

But do our dreams have deeper meanings, or am I just dreaming?

This whole concept came about when I started experiencing recurring dreams a couple weeks ago. I began to feel weirded out and questioned if the daily stresses of tests and papers were causing my brain to overload.

Instead, I realized that these dreams corresponded to a particular networking event that I went to a couple months ago. It involved me meeting many people, but one person in particular started to consistently appear in my dreams.

I began to think that I could change my current dreams if I thought about different things before bedtime, but that didn’t work. My subconscious still had the same images playing on repeat, and I could not rid myself of them.

I began to do research about this subject, and I found so many articles on the website Dream Dictionary stating that there is a real reason for my recurring dream. Many of the websites also discussed solutions to prevent me from excessively dreaming about this particular person, but they didn’t work.

The trip I took weeks ago included me meeting one particular guy. This guy was nice, and I liked him, but I did not realize this until well after I began having these dreams.

I did not dream every night. Still, every dream I did have included him and I being in love. Was my dream trying to tell me something?

I could not answer these questions until I began my research. I was advised through this website that he was the man that I should marry, and that I needed to tell him how I felt because I dreamt about him.

All of this after one meeting with this guy? He could have been my future husband and I let him out of my life.

I don’t believe that, though. When we met, he never made an effort to make sure I would become his wife, therefore, this could never be true. There is no research that can show that him and I shared the same dream. Since he probably did not dream that we would be together, then how could we be?

Dreams can often be eerily similar to one’s real life.

I do not believe that dreams depict our inner feelings 100 percent of the time. Dreams can tell how you feel about something or someone, but they are not always accurate. Relying on dreams to live your life will only leave you disappointed.

If life was based solely on dreaming, it would be so much easier, but is that not what makes life so unexpected? Dreams can only show what we know, but cannot change about our lives. If something is meant to be, it will happen.

So, the next time you dream that you’re going to marry Justin Bieber or Beyoncé, think twice. Dreams cannot predict anyone’s love life.

Flickr

Policies

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

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

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

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

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

page 12 The Signal April 5, 2017

The Alan Dawley Prize

The Alan Dawley Center for the Study of Social Justice will award an annual prize for the best essay, film, work of art, or other creative project that addresses a social justice issue, from any disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspective, produced by a TCNJ undergraduate in the current academic year. The prize honors the life and work of TCNJ Professor of History Alan Dawley whose scholarship addressed historical and contemporary issues of social justice as a complex dialogue of many voices both in the American context and globally.

Social justice encompasses a wide range of topics and issues that address the notions of social equality, the fair distribution of social and economic benefits and burdens, the exercise of personal liberties and the protection of human rights. There are different philosophical and religious interpretations of social justice, and social justice issues can be looked at through a variety of different lenses, including class, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and the intersection of these aspects of identity. Social justice issues can also be studied from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and can often be seen as related to issues of public policy, economics, social relations, and various environmental concerns.

Submissions of essays or other creative works for the Dawley Prize will be due on Friday April 14, 2017. A multi-disciplinary faculty committee will select three finalists and the chosen finalists will be asked to present their projects at the Celebration of Student Achievement. Following these finalist presentations, the Dawley Prize committee will select the best project. The 2017 awardee(s) will be announced at commencement, and the winner(s) of the Dawley Prize will receive a certificate, a cash prize of $250, and recognition on a plaque displayed on campus.

For further information on the Dawley Prize and other activities of The Alan Dawley Center for the Study of Social Justice contact: Professor Christopher Fisher fisherc@tcnj.edu or x 2717.

Program Dates: July 2 - August 3, 2017 Program Co-Directors: Dr. Deborah Compte and Dr. Agustin Otero Courses: ● SPA 103 – Beginning Spanish III (NB: SPA 103 completes language requirement) – taught by Dr. Otero ● SPA 171 – “Cultural Sites and Explorations: Madrid and Beyond” (mandatory 0.5 unit) ● SPA 203 – Intermediate Oral Proficiency (1 unit) – taught by Dr. Compte* ● SPA 216 – Current Events (1 unit) – taught by Dr. Compte* ● SPA 370 – ​Spain is Different​: Exploring National Identity through Spanish Festivals (1 unit) – taught by Dr. Otero* *Count toward a Spanish minor or major

The program cost includes course tuition, lodging, meals, and guided excursions within and outside of Madrid.

For more information, see the Center for Global Engagement website or contact: Dr. Compte at ​dcompte@tcnj.edu​ or Dr. Otero at ​otero@tcnj.edu

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 13

Students share opinions around campus “How do you feel about the campus Wi-Fi?”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Richard Condon, a freshman biology major.

Ryan Aschoff, a freshman mathematics major.

“You only notice it when it doesn’t work. It’s not worked for me only once.”

“When it shuts down, it sucks, but usually that doesn’t happen.”

“Do you think dreams reflect your real life?”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Emmalee Kugler, a freshman biology major.

“Actually, I definitely do. I’ve read dream interpretations, and they kind of make sense.”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Peter Stahl, a freshman mechanical engineering major.

“Yes, you dream about things that have happened in your real life.”

The Signal’s cartoons of the week...

page 14 The Signal April 5, 2017

Features

Mardi Gras Masquerade brings NOLA to College

Left: Students experience the atmosphere of New Orleans. Right: Cool jazz music echoes through the Decker Social Space.

By George Tatoris News Editor The smells and sounds of New Orleans — hot jambalaya and cool jazz — percolated the Decker Social Space on Wednesday, March 29, where the Alternative Break Club hosted its seventh annual Mardi Gras Masquerade.

ABC organized the event to share the essence of the Big Easy with the campus community through authentic food from Beck’s Cajun Café in Philadelphia and a live jazz band, Patricia Walton and the Jazzin’ All Stars. While the All Stars performed and food was served, the College’s Swing Dance Club danced the night away.

Although the tone of the music was warm, like the city itself, underneath the upbeat tempo ran a bluesy undercurrent. The event’s main purpose was to raise awareness for the city’s persistent struggle to come back from Hurricane Katrina. Twelve years later and there is still work to be done.

“There’s a lot of issues that prevented people from coming home and even over a decade later, it’s something that they’re struggling with,” said Ashley Fuzak, ABC president and a senior secondary education and history dual major.

In addition to the Mardi Gras Masquerade, ABC also organizes three trips to New Orleans — one in the winter, spring and summer — to help rebuild.

Around 90 students go down to New Orleans for the winter trip and between 20 and 30 attend the summer and spring trips, according to Jenn Pagliaro, vice president of ABC and a senior special education and history double major.

During the trips, students work with Project Homecoming, a nonprofit working with the Presbyterian Disaster

Alliance and the Presbytery of South Louisiana to rebuild neighborhoods gutted by the hurricane.

The club is also involved in other missions. After Hurricane Sandy, ABC helped a resident of Union Beach, N.J. They also work with Give Kids a World, a nonprofit that gives children with life-threatening illnesses a free Disney World vacation. Despite this, New Orleans is “definitely at our core,” Fuzak said.

New Orleans is constantly fighting forces of nature that wish to reclaim it. Once the hurricane shattered the levees keeping water out of the city, 80 percent of the city was submerged. More than 1,800 people died.

In early February, a tornado ravaged the same areas of the city as Hurricane Katrina. Project Homecoming’s Volunteer Village — a second home for many members of ABC — was destroyed in the disaster.

Despite this, there has been some progress. A study held in March 2017 for the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp, stated the city is finally reaching pre-Katrina tourism levels.

The club has worked to improve New Orleans’s condition for more than seven years. Fuzak credits the club’s founders for the large numbers they pull for trips in recent years.

“We’ve had lulls as a club, we’ve had growth as a club.

I would say, overall, (the club’s founders) really set the foundation for us to bring down the massive numbers we try to bring down now,” Fuzak said.

The Mardi Gras Masquerade has also grown. When the event first started, the only music played came from an iTunes playlist put together by the club. As more students started to attend, the club began bringing in live bands to

Meagan McDowell / Staff Photographer

provide an authentic feel.

For Pagliaro, part of that authentic feel is the attitude of the people. Pagliaro was in awe of the residents’ kindness in the face of disaster.

“So many bad things can happen, but you still have this positive attitude and it really makes you reconsider the way that we look at things,” Pagliaro said. “There’s people that literally lost their homes and still have a smile on their face.”

Fuzak saw those smiles her first day in the city. Her job was to survey the city to find houses still damaged by the storm. The kindness of the residents she spoke to let her know she would be back again.

“They asked us if we were OK with Hurricane Sandy,” Fuzak said. “Their neighborhood had been hit in such a hard way, the fact that they had asked how New Jersey was faring after a hurricane was amazing. There’s something about the city that just reels you in.”

Fuzak also acknowledged the members of ABC who helped out in organizing the trips.

“The people that are willing to give up their breaks, donate their cars, give their time and really take in the city for what it is, is something that’s so unique and special,” Fuzak said.

For students who wanted a mouthful of gator gumbo, an earful of New Orleans jazz and a heartful of Big Easy benevolence, ABC hopes the Mardi Gras Masquerade provided all of that.

“We really wanted it to feel like you were in New Orleans because that’s something we all get to experience while we’re there,” Pagliaro said. “We wanted to bring a piece of that to TCNJ to show why it’s so important that we rebuild.”

Student intern finds sanctuary at New York farm

By Jennifer Goetz Staff Writer

Imagine learning about farm animals, the food industry and the nonprofit sector all while living away from home and sticking to a strictly vegan diet.

This is exactly what Caitlin Flynn, a senior journalism and political science double major, did last August when she interned for Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y. The organization serves as a safe haven for rescued farm animals in need of rehabilitation.

Farm Sanctuary, which also has locations in Los Angeles and Orland, Calif., looks for employees, volunteers and interns who care about animal rights.

Fitting the part, the company hired Flynn as a human resources and communications intern over the summer.

“I found out about (the internship) because the president (and cofounder), Gene Baur, was on ‘The

Daily Show’ a year or so back,” Flynn said.

After watching the show, Flynn decided to purchase Baur’s book, where she found “the organization to be compelling and worthwhile.”

Flynn is one of the many students that have interned with Farm Sanctuary.

Each year, the New York location provides a number of internships for students all over the world interested in nonprofits, communications, public relations and more.

While Flynn worked in an office, the nonprofit also searches for shelter interns to provide hands-on care for the animals.

Additionally, the internship can span anywhere from a month to three months, but according to Farm Sanctuary’s website, interns who stay longer have greater opportunities. “(The New York location averages) around 90 individual participants in our program annually,” said Holly McNulty, the director

of resources and volunteer programs at the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen.

The 175-acre sanctuary gives interns housing for the duration of their stay and provides volunteer interns an educational opportunity.

“Interns have many learning opportunities, whether from conversations with staff or during weekly education presentations,” McNulty said. “We strive to help our interns use what they gain from their experience to continue to advocate for farm animals and encourage participants to identify how they can incorporate this into their daily lives moving forward.”

While students gain educational experience through presentations and discussions, they also gain life experience by immersing themselves in the farm’s culture.

Because the nonprofit is focused on supporting and protecting animal rights, interns are required to commit to a vegan lifestyle during their stay at Farm Sanctuary out of

respect for the animals.

“I think the best thing about the program is it pushes for progress, not perfection,” Flynn said.

Farm Sanctuary brings awareness to issues facing farm animals and the issues of factory farming,

which takes a toll on farm animals and the environment, as “raising so many animals in one place pollutes our land, air and water,” according to Farm Sancutary’s website.

Farm Sanctuary protects its animals.

see FARM page 17

Flickr

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 15

Mindfulness benefits social activists

Randell Carrido / Staff Photographer

Students perform love and kindness meditation exercises.

By Jessica Bell Staff Writer

The mind is a highway full of moving vehicles, some speeding and some driving slowly. Each car represents a different experience, thought or feeling.

Nathalie Edmond, a clinical psychologist who led the second workshop in the “Activism 101 and 102 Series” on Wednesday, March 29, used a metaphor to describe the nature of the human mind.

“Mindfulness is being able to sit on the side of a highway, observing it all, but not getting into a particular car,” she said, citing Andy Puddicombe, the creator of Headspace, a meditation app, and the first to use the metaphor.

Edmond, who is also intensively trained in dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy, guided an intimate

group of students and faculty through various meditation exercises.

The workshop, which was sponsored by the Office of Involvement and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, linked the practice of mindfulness to activism to help those involved in social justice deal with the harsh emotions that are tied with making a change.

Edmond performed a love and kindness meditation exercise in which she asked participants to envision wishing well on those from both positive and negative relationships.

“People are often mean because they have suffered,” Edmond said. “When you embody love, it helps to soften anger and intense emotion.”

Edmond also discussed the concept of multiple truths, in that people have different viewpoints that sometimes cannot be

changed. Still, Edmond said compassion is the best way to “call people in instead of calling them out.”

While there is no one viewpoint, there are also multiple attitudes in mindfulness.

Edmond opened a discussion about the different types of attitudes. The first is the practice of approaching every experience, no matter how mundane, as if it is a first experience. Noticing life and utilizing all five senses can allow individuals to better appreciate all interactions.

The second attitude revolves around human’s innate tendency to judge.

“We have a negative bias built into us for survival purposes,” Edmond said. “When we notice that we are forming judgments, we can (stop them from) being automatic.”

Edmond also spoke of equanimity, which follows the practice of staying grounded and not getting swept up in emotion.

“A lot of times people have these myths about mindfulness or meditation, that it is this idea that you have to control your mind or be totally Zen,” Edmond said. “Rather, mindfulness is just showing up and being curious about whatever arises — whether it be bliss, tension or nothingness.”

Ann Warner-Ault, a Spanish professor and interim assistant dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, helped coordinate the workshop because she wanted to do her part for students at the College.

“I felt like (planning this event was) something small that I can do for the campus,” she said. “Even though I feel overwhelmed by a lot of what’s going on in the world, I feel very encouraged by (the College’s students).”

Senior political science major Katherine Wallentine was moved by the workshop.

“(Mindfulness) is a new way for me to interact with the world around me and to practice being grateful for the experiences I have,” she said. “Mindfulness has helped me let go of feelings of frustration and inadequacy, as well as loosen up the tensions in my body.”

Maureen Hudson, a senior elementary urban education and integrative-STEM double major, also stressed the connection between mindfulness and the human body.

“I believe the body is a highly politicized vehicle and our relationships with our bodies are informed by the heteronormative white supremacist capitalist patriarchy,” Hudson said. “Thus, I believe we all deserve to have a way of undoing this harmful view of ourselves and others. We deserve to be able to see our bodies as our own, worthy of love and care.”

Hudson, the former president of Circle of Compassion, used the practice of mindfulness to support her full recovery from an eating disorder.

“Mindfulness has helped me reshape my relationship with my body and come to love it as it is,” she said.

The workshop taught students that through self-care and active listening, it is possible to be adamant about social justice issues and help others while also helping themselves.

Edmond’s main piece of advice to those looking to incorporate mindfulness into their lives is simple: Put down the phone and start noticing.

“Find something you like to do or something you do all the time and just slow down and notice the experience,” she said. “Notice your breathing, notice nature and notice the people around you.”

Alpha Phi Omega hosts day out for kids

Left: Kids Day Out kicks off with games. Right: More than 40 children enjoy a relaxing day at the College.

By Ellie Schuckman Staff Writer Walking up to the Loser Hall lawn, people could hear music blasting in the distance. The sun shines bright from above as the sound of high-pitched laughter echoes and a bouncy house gently sways while children jump inside — Kids Day Out has officially kicked off.

Alpha Phi Omega’s sixth annual community service event geared toward benefitting local, disadvantaged children, took place on Sunday, April 2.

“For many of the kids, they’re living in situations of homelessness or extreme hardships, so it’ll be they’re only meal of the day,” said Kate Bailey, service vice president of APO and a sophomore international studies major.

The all-day event began in Roscoe West Hall with a catered lunch and then moved to the Business Building where participants made crafts and could have their faces painted. Afterwards, the kids moved to Loser Hall Lawn

for carnival-style games.

Roughly 40 kids were brought in from HomeFront — an organization devoted to helping Central New Jersey families who struggle with poverty and homelessness — for the event, according to Bailey.

“The kids from HomeFront look forward to this every year, which is a really nice thing to have for them,” said Joanna Felsenstein, a fifth-year special education graduate student. “It’s like a day off for them, which is great.”

The campus-wide event allowed the children to take their minds off their everyday struggles.

“When you’re homeless, you’re thinking about so many other things,” Felsenstein said. “A lot of individuals who deal with homelessness are also dealing with economic issues at that time. To have just a day of fun is something very important. Be a little less responsible for a day, worry less and just participate in something fun.”

The participants were split into groups of roughly six individuals, with at least two APO members guiding

Meagan McDowell / Staff Photographer

them around campus, according to Felsenstein.

“Although our campus can be some type of a bubble, outside of our campus doors there’s a lot of people facing hardships,” Bailey said. “I think that sometimes we see TCNJ as our bubble, so it’s really good for us to be involved.”

Other campus organizations that helped sponsor the event included Delta Sigma Pi, Theta Phi Alpha, Alpha Xi Delta, Beta Theta Pi and Secondary Education Teacher’s Association.

“I’m really happy that a lot of other organizations wanted to get involved and that means a lot to us,” Bailey said.

For APO members themselves, the event symbolized being able to support those less fortunate than them.

“I think it’s a good way to give back in a sense because we are doing this for the kids,” said Riana Joseph, a freshman biology major. “I think it’s a great representation of not just APO, but TCNJ as a whole that we’re doing this big event for the kids.”

page 16 The Signal April 5, 2017

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 17

Assault / ‘The Hunting Ground’ fights stigmas

Photos courtesy of Radius

Left: Students in the film protest sexual assault stereotypes. Right: People share their stories to spread awareness. continued from page 1

Last year’s showing of “The Hunting Ground” took place in the Library Auditorium. Due to popular demand, this year’s venue was moved to Kendall Hall. Even so, the room quickly filled to capacity. By the time the opening credits rolled, there was not a spare seat in sight.

The documentary depicts a harrowing tale of sexual assault. According to the film, more than 16 percent of women are sexually assaulted while in college. Of them, nearly 88 percent do not file a report.

“Rape is a scary word,” said one student in the film. “You don’t want to fall into a category. You don’t want to be a victim.

The film demonstrates that the few survivors who do step forward and share their stories publicly are often met with disbelief and blame.

After reporting his assault to college administrators, one student was told to drop out of school until “everything just blew

over.” For another, a counselor she confided in later admitted to having completely forgotten about her report.

“The Hunting Ground” is a deeply personal and powerful film. Many students left Kendall Hall with tissues in hand and tear-stained cheeks.

The reality of sexual assault on college campuses is a harsh truth to face. By giving voice to survivors and presenting shocking statistics, “The Hunting Ground” succeeded in making this difficult topic both tangible and approachable.

“We can’t be naïve that issues like these haven’t happened at TCNJ in the past and that they’ll never happen in the future,” said Andrew Statkevich, Inter-Fraternity Council president and a sophomore communication studies major. “Joe Biden hit the nail on the head last year when he spoke to Congress and he said, ‘We are never going to solve this epidemic until men get involved.’ They have to be a part of the solution.”

Following the film, students broke out into small discussion groups. The women, as well as the men, were encouraged to speak up, share their thoughts on the film and develop ideas for enacting positive change on campus.

“Screening this film is a powerful way to continue the conversation outside of the educational setting of a classroom,” said Aditi Mahapatra, a community adviser and a senior public health and psychology double major. “The documentary is powerful and, at times, dark, but we want to remind students that they can be empowered and empower others through advocacy and activism.”

Before and after the film, counseling resources were projected on screen, urging survivors to seek help and utilize one of the many on-campus resources available.

“The movie puts colleges in a negative light, so we want you to understand that while this is highlighting an important issue, it’s not reflective of the values that we have here at TCNJ,” Draper said. “We

want students to report incidents and know their resources. We want to help provide a safe environment for all students, and we want to provide fair and equitable adjudication processes should students choose to pursue holding the person who harmed them accountable.”

The College is fiercely committed to addressing sexual assault, and its pledge to protect survivors spans all levels of administration, according to Draper.

“We saw a huge highlighting of college presidents that have had some issues with whether or not they take reports seriously,” Draper said. “At TCNJ, President Gitenstein has been invited to the White House at least on two separate occasions to talk about sexual violence, so this is an important issue to her and that trickles down to the entire College.”

Students seeking support for themselves or others are encouraged to visit the Office of Title IX, located in room 201 of the Brower Student Center.

Farm / Sanctuary takes on interns and volunteers continued from page 14

Farm Sanctuary is not a factory farm, and because none of the farm’s animal products are consumed, interns get to experience life on a farm that respects animals.

The cows are not milked, according to Flynn, and the chickens produce eggs at their natural pace, unlike most farms that feed chickens hormones to increase eggs production.

Flynn also said the animal rights organization has led her to be more conscious of her eating habits. “(My experience) made me more mindful of my day-to-day decisions,” Flynn said.

Interns are not the only group of people interested in Farm Sanctuary. In fact, the nonprofit has earned attention from comedian Jon Stewart, his wife Tracey, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and actress Emily Deschanel.

The Culinary Club Presents...

Lions Plate

“We have regularly worked with celebrities throughout our 30 years — from creating PSA’s to participating in our events to being active on our board of directors,” McNulty said.

Due to the efforts of Tracey and Jon Stewart, who proposed the idea last October, Farm Sanctuary will open a new location in Collingsworth, N.J., in 2018. Last year, the couple bought a farm with the intention of partnering with Farm

Sanctuary. Since the new location’s approval, the Stewarts plan to work with the organization throughout the process.

“We are working with them in the early planning stages — such as permitting and site development — but hope to be open to the public sometime in 2018,” McNulty said.

While the new location does not yet have plans to create an internship program, the nonprofit will eventually have volunteer

: Microwave Potato Soup

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist Even as the spring weather approaches, there is nothing quite like enjoying hot soup on a rainy day. Potato soup is a personal favorite of mine because it is inexpensive and easy to make. You can follow this recipe for a variation on a flavorful classic. The best part of this recipe is that it can easily be made in the comfort of your dorm. Break out your favorite coffee mug and within a few minutes, you could be enjoying a delicious lunch, dinner or midnight snack. Any time of the day can be a great time for soup.

Flickr

Potato soup satisfies cravings in all seasons.

opportunities, McNulty said.

Whether an intern or volunteer, the experience at Farm Sanctuary is unlike any other. “(Farm Sanctuary is) a great nonprofit organization and is a nationwide entity that influences pop culture, legislation and the food industry,” Flynn said. “It is the kind of relentless organization that I think many of the politically and socially active students (at the College) would appreciate.”

Ingredients: ¾ cup of water 3 tablespoons of potatoes, cut into small cubes 1 tablespoon of chopped white onion 2 tablespoons of cheddar cheese

2 teaspoons of cornstarch ½ cup of chicken stock ¼ cup of milk Salt and pepper to taste Optional: 1 tablespoon bacon, cooked Directions: 1. Cut potatoes into small cubes.

2. Combine water and potatoes in a microwaveable large mug and microwave for 3 minutes — stirring halfway — until the potatoes are tender.

3. Drain the water out of the mug.

4. Add bacon, cheese, onions and cornstarch and stir.

5. Stir in the chicken stock, milk, salt and pepper.

6. Microwave for 3 minutes or until soup thickens.

7. Top with cheese and bacon. Enjoy!

page 18 The Signal April 5, 2017

E A L S I W N O G N FOR

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For MORE INFORMATION & TO Apply TODAY VISIT

campustowntcnj.net E: campustown@cocm.com • P: 609.273.7925

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 19

: Feb ‘01

Campus Style

Student bullied for sexual preference

Discrimination makes student feel unsafe.

Alyssa Gautieri / Features Editor

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

After a homosexual student read “Die Faggot” on a flier delivered under his dorm room door in 2001, the student was concerned for his safety. He criticized the College for its lack of focus on student safety, however, the College did not respond to the incident lightly and promised to “fight hate.” At the time, students in the College’s “support group for homosexuals” were determined to fight the offensive comments.

One student found inspiration in the discrimination, using the threat as motivation to spread awareness and combat prejudice across campus. Sixteen years later, students at the College continue to make strides to promote diversity and open-mindedness.

A Community Commons resident returned to his room Sunday evening to find a hate message under his door, according to Jesse Rosenblum, associate vice president for College Relations.

Ed Drago, a junior psychology major, said he feels threatened and unsafe after finding the note, which includes the phrase “Die Faggot” on one side and the word “Beware” with a drawing of a swastika on the other.

The homophobic message was scrawled in marker on a flyer for The Haven, a support group for homosexuals that was cofounded by Drago in fall 2000.

Due to Drago’s prior involvement in The Haven and his position as treasurer for the Gay Union of Trenton State (GUTS), the incident was not random, according to college officials.

“It appears that he may have been targeted due to his sexual preference,” said Rosenblum.

Drago said he has never felt physically threatened before.

“I feel deeply offended and I am very much concerned about my own safety here on the campus,” said Drago. “This event has added additional pressure to my daily life.”

Drago said he has no idea who could have done such a thing, but the person “obviously knows who I am; that’s the sad part.”

Betsy Housten, GUTS president and senior English major, said that the kind of message encountered by Drago cannot go ignored.

“Perpetrators of such hateful acts usually want to shut the members of a minority up through their threats and intimidation, but that will not work with us,” said Housten. “This kind of thing only strengthens our resolve to spread our message to this campus, raise people’s awareness and education about our issues. We refused to be silenced and we refuse to go away.”

The College is doing a lot to help combat these kinds of incidents, said Drago, especially through “funding different organizations that are trying to fight hate.”

But Drago said more should be done to make students feel secure.

“After academics, the College should make protection of students its highest priority,” said Drago.

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Left: Metal belts make a simple outfit pop. Right: Cropped flare jeans are in style this season.

By Sierra Stivala Columnist As spring officially kicks off, it’s time to get up-to-date with this season’s hottest trends. Here is what you should look for across campus.

Mesh From loose tees to tight bodysuits, mesh is in. Not only is mesh a super light and comfortable material, it allows you to layer creatively. I love pairing neutral mesh tops with intricate bandeaus. If you’re feeling daring, you can try a colored bandeau to make your outfit pop.

Cropped flare jeans Cropped flare jeans are back in style and hotter than ever. They are a great

way to elevate your denim while keeping it casual. You can pair the jeans with a cute crop top to go out or you can tuck in a flowy blouse and head to class.

Belts Belts are a great way to add flare to a simple outfit. Leather and suede belts are great for winter, but this spring, you can mix it up with some metal. Metal and chain belts are super trendy and can jazz up your wardrobe.

Skirts and shorts If you’re anything like me, you love throwing on a quick sundress or romper.

This season, put an edgy twist on the classic go-to with a skirt or short set.

You can even have fun mixing off-theshoulder tops with wide-legged bottoms.

Celebritease :Love and heartbreak in Hollywood

Left: Evans and Slate split. Right: Urban writes ‘The Fighter’ about his happy marriage.

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist With a lot less pressure on his shoulders during MLB opening day, a newly retired Alex Rodriguez strolled around New York City on Sunday, April 2, as his former Yankee teammates took the field in Florida. Rodriguez was spotted enjoying the spring weather with his new flame, Jennifer Lopez. The two have been dating since March and Rodriguez recently spoke about the relationship on “The View.”

“We’re having a great time,

she’s an amazing, amazing girl, and one of the smartest human beings I’ve ever met and also an incredible mother,” Rodriguez said.

Despite no longer being together, Chris Evans and Jenny Slate have said nice things about each other post-breakup.

“She’s so vulnerable, so honest, so interested in other people more than herself, she’s incredibly compassionate, there’s just nothing to not love about her,” Evans told PEOPLE. Slate has used the breakup as a way to start fresh. She moved into

a new apartment, where she will live alone for the first time.

Despite initially feeling that she wasn’t Evans’s type, the two dated for nine months, according to E! Online.

“Chris is truly one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, to the point where sometimes I would look at him and it would kind of break my heart,” Slate told Vulture. “His heart is probably golden-colored, if you could paint it.”

In the end, the two felt that their lifestyles were too different to make the relationship work. Slate felt that

she needed to be alone, while Evans said he is ready to settle down.

In my opinion, it is refreshing to see the two exes put each other’s wellbeing above fame.

Also this week, Nicole Kidman revealed that her husband, Keith Urban, made her cry, but for a great reason. He shared that his romantic song “The Fighter” was written about her.

“I remember when he first played it for me, and I started to cry because he writes these things, and they come out of I don’t know where. They’re like beautiful gifts,”

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Kidman told PEOPLE. In other news, the 52nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards aired on Sunday. Hosts Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley kicked off the show with a series of photos featuring the duo in sexy cowboy getups.

While Urban was the most nominated musician at the award show, Sam Hunt also proved himself.

During his performance of “Body Like A Backroad,” Hunt left the stage to sing to his fiancée Hannah Fowler. His soon-to-be wife was adorably shy on camera, leaving the audience swooning.

page 20 The Signal April 5, 2017

Arts & Entertainment

Musical / ‘Legally Blonde’ has love and laughs

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Left: Woods is determined to become a successful lawyer. Right: Woods and Paulette talk about life. continued from page 1 Woods studies hard with the help of Emmett and goes on to earn a highly sought after internship from the intimidating Professor Callahan, played by Kyle Elphick, The Signal’s web editor and a sophomore journalism major. Callahan is hired to defend Brooke, played by sophomore business management major Karaline Rosen, against murder charges.

Elle saves the case when she concludes that the pool boy, who claims to have been Brooke’s lover, is actually gay. In the song “Gay or European,” the cast sings about trying to figure out if the pool boy is gay or “just European.” Audience members laughed at the scene’s hilarity.

In a turn of events, Woods decides to quit law school

after her law professor kisses her. Woods is defeated and discouraged until her friends convince her that she is “Legally Blonde” and that’s not a bad thing to be.

Dressed in her famous pink suit, Woods combines both her legal and fashion expertise to win the case. Audience members like Pawlowski rejoiced in her success and newfound self-confidence.

“My second favorite part was when she ditched Warner and realized that, first of all, she didn’t need a man and, second of all, she needed someone who was going to support her and it definitely wasn’t him,” Pawlowski said in reference to Woods turning down Warner’s proposal.

The end of the musical showed the characters years later: Woods is valedictorian of Harvard Law, showing all those who doubted her that she is more than her blonde

hair and nice clothes.

Warner quits law school to become a model, and Emmett defends Professor Callahan’s wife in a costly divorce.

Not to mention, Paulette eventually finds herself an Irishman named Kyle, a local delivery man she accidentally punches earlier in the musical during “Bend and Snap.”

“Legally Blonde” mixes humor and poignancy to create a production that had students like Kailey Fitzgerald, a freshman elementary education and psychology double major, touched by the performance.

“Seeing a musical that has such a dear place in my heart done so well was really special,” Fitzgerald said.

“The cast was amazing, sets were beautiful and the (orchestra) was well practiced.”

Chinese poets recite powerful and spirited works

By Alexis Blacknik Correspondent Poets Li Guitian and Huang Xiang from China shined while reciting their poems in Chinese, as Japanese musician Glenn Swann played his shakuhachi, a type of Japanese flute, on March 28 in Bliss Hall.

Jane Wong, the dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, handed out poems for students and faculty members in the audience to recite. Each piece of paper had the poems in both Chinese and English. After the poet read one in Chinese, the audience member holding that poem would recite it aloud in English.

Swann, a Japanese Shakuhachi master performer, played the shakuhachi as both Guitian and Xiang recited their poems. The shakuhachi is a long Japanese wooded end-blown flute that resembles a large recorder, which produces airy, breathy notes.

Wong gave a warm welcome to the three performers and encouraged students to give their undivided attention, saying how “generations and generations, classes and classes of TCNJ students” were going to be moved that night.

Guitian, nicknamed “Red

Square,” is a famous poet from China. She is also a tea master, calligrapher and ceramic artist.

Draped in bright white fabric and hair tied up in a bun on the crown of her head, Guitian read her favorite poem, “Red,” first.

Her tone of voice continuously fluctuated as she covered ideas ranging from love to fear and talked about different aspects of life represented by various shades of red.

“It was interesting how much she relied on the color red in her writing,” said Lauren McNulty, a freshman international studies major. “The flute in the background really helped tell Red Square’s story.”

The topics varied from the color red to food and drinks, like bread and tea, to her beloved family.

Wong then introduced Xiang as an important contemporary Chinese poet who is similar to Walt Whitman.

Between 1959 and 1995, Xiang was in prison six times in China.

He insisted on freedom of speech for all Chinese citizens.

Currently residing in New York City, Xiang has a reputation as a great calligraphy artist, poet and publisher.

One of his scrolls, in fact, is

featured in the Bliss Hall Lounge.

As Xiang recited his poems, his artwork projected behind him, featuring a range of colors and style of brush strokes.

They embodied his poems and brought together different aspects of his work.

Xiang was very theatrical, constantly changing his body language throughout his performance. The volume of his voice changed based on the content of

what he was reciting.

During one of his poems, he acted out how he felt, curling himself into a ball and jumping up and down, “What had unfolded is now curled up. What had been hidden is now revealed/ In the dim thick dark, one always jumping up somewhere; one always coming down somewhere,” he said.

Xiang’s pieces will be recognized at The Maridon Museum in

Butler, Pa., from Saturday, April 8, to June 3.

“Huang Xiang’s stories in particular were extremely moving,” said Juliana Rice, a freshman international studies major.

“It was an honor to be able to hear his poems in person.”

When the poetry reading came to a close, audience members in awe of the artistry they witnessed showered the performers with gratitude and applause.

Xiang performs his poetry with passion and energy for the audience.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 21

Coolshark brings surf rock sound to CUB Alt

Dana Gorab / Staff Photographer

Left: Pile plays original songs with an indie rock feel. Right: Coolshark opens the night with a grunge and surf-rock inspired set.

By Amelia Ortman Correspondent CUB Alt’s latest show introduced students to four new bands that rocked the Decker Social Space. The crowd on March 27 started off light, but as the walls began to shake with the sounds of Coolshark, Pile, Palehound and Two Inch Astronaut, more and more people started to trickle into the basement.

Coolshark opened the night with a sound that resembled a mixture of relaxed, beach, surfer rock and Nirvana-like hard rock music. The band immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention with unorthodox noises that came from the vocals and instruments.

The blend of surf rock and hard rock

didn’t come to the band right away, according to drummer Andrea Denunzio.

“All members of the band have a heavier punk sound background, and when we got older, we wanted to branch out and have a product that was so different from what we normally play,” Denunzio said.

“We came up with the sound when we would hang out, groove and have a good time in the garage where we practiced — it’s summer music.”

The variety of music changed throughout the night with each band playing its own special blend of music. Two Inch Astronauts played “Good Behavior” off “Personal Life,” and Coolshark played “Bossa Nova” off its album “Brokesummer.”

Palehound played “Cinnamon” off its album “Dry Food,” while Pile played its

hit “Prom Song” off the album “Dripping.”

Max Falvey, CUB Alt co-chair and a sophomore communication studies major, helped pull the event together seamlessly with his contagious smile and hard work ethic.

“I work with the event from top to bottom,” Falvey said. “I handle all communication with agents and managers, I solidify all contracts and everything for the day of the show.”

Booking bands and immersing himself in new music is clearly his passion.

“I’ve been booking locally for four years and booking for CUB Alt for one year,” Falvey said. He also buys food for the bands for the green room — the hospitality room for bands — which includes hummus, pita chips and veggie trays, according to Falvey.

“Everyone is a vegan these days, especially in indie bands,” he said.

The CUB Alt shows take place on Tuesdays and Fridays, and audience members range from fans of the bands to first-time listeners, like junior communication studies major Sabrina Axelrod.

“This is normally not my type of music, but I did enjoy it,” Axelrod said. “The shows are always put together in a great way, making it more of an experience and not just a concert.”

Axelrod said she loves to attend the events that CUB Alt puts together.

“I would definitely go to another Cub Alt band night,” she said. “I always look forward to their events. They are great at finding up-and-coming talent to show the campus community.”

Blunt steps outside his comfort zone on ‘The Afterlove’

By Elizabeth Zakaim Reviews Editor Most of us probably haven’t heard from James Blunt since his widely received single “You’re Beautiful” back in 2004, which people either loved or couldn’t stand.

While his voice hasn’t grown that much since that song and other hits like “Bonfire Heart” and “Goodbye My Lover,” the release of his new album, “The Afterlove,” on March 24 was not as painful to listen to as I thought it would be.

Blunt steps out of his comfort zone in an attempt to serenade us with a more bubble-gum pop sound that, while not perfectly suitable for his voice, does let you explore a side to Blunt you’d never think you’d see.

The album opens with “Love Me Better,” a sassy comeback song about how he’s better than the people who have put him down. He even references his wellknown classic in his lyrics, singing, “Saw you standing outside a bar/Would have said you’re beautiful, but I’ve used that line before.” It’s a fresh sound –– it’s something confrontational and brave, which adds some dimensions to the singer’s repertoire.

At the ripe old age of 43, Blunt makes himself a central heartthrob on the track “Bartender.” The admittedly faster pace and more upbeat message surrounds Blunt’s plea with the bartender to help him fall back in love with his sweetheart.

“Can you pour me some love?” he asks, which is reminiscent of Usher’s theme in “DJ’s Got Us Fallin’ in Love” back in 2010. Two very different artists, yet Blunt may be channeling his inner Usher in an attempt to sing about the feverish club life he so desperately attempts to navigate through in the rather new age of EDM, Skrillex and technopop.

The mood, however, shifts again in “Time of our Lives,” where a calmer, yet slightly autotuned Blunt reminisces on the early days of love, meeting his lover’s parents for the first time and seeking their reluctant approval. The soft electric guitar gives the song a nostalgic feel, which goes a long way in painting the story of Blunt crooning to another girl about her beauty and how much he loves her.

“California,” the sixth track on the album, is Blunt’s most blunt attempt at entering into the impenetrable world of pop. The song is about living in the present, seizing the moment and not worrying about tomorrow –– all long overused messages delivered to us from other artists with better breath support and more original lyrics.

Both “California” and “Lose My Number” sound too much like tired pop songs. The beat drags and Blunt swallows his words as he sings “California” almost as if he’s less invested in the song than I am. A well-played synthesizer would have done both songs much good in terms of diversifying the sound and keeping both Blunt

and his listeners awake throughout.

Blunt’s album has reminded me that every artist must find their own voice, and I just wish he would work harder to find his niche instead of trying so hard to fit in where he musically doesn’t belong.

It’s true, I haven’t heard from Blunt in years, but did I really want to? Despite all of his sharp “s’s” and whiny falsetto notes, the singer, while perhaps better left in 2004, did inspire me with his triumphant new album.

Blunt unintentionally reminded me of the importance of stepping out of my own comfort zone and that lesson alone makes it worth giving the album a try, if not a full listen.

Blunt melds his own sound with modern pop on ‘The Afterlove.’

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page 22 The Signal April 5, 2017

Art exhibit showcases Cuban existence

Left: Some photographs depict the vibrant Cuban civilization. Right: Artists’ work show a stark portrayal of the Cuban cityscape.

By Dariyah McKee Correspondent

The College’s 2017 Cuba Art Show opened with a reception on Friday, March 31, illustrating a two-week student trip to Cuba in January. The “Landmarks: Cuba” art gallery featured photographs that captured the most memorable moments of the nine students who attended, as they explored Cuba’s culture, nature and city life.

Each series of photographs displayed on the wall showcased aspects of the country. Some even captured events with native Cubans.

A majority of the photographs showed Cuban mountainsides, ocean, houses,

villages and cities. Each photograph distinctly captured the true nature of Cuba.

The exhibit also featured a video that displayed a first-hand perspective of the country’s daily village life and scenery.

One of the most noteworthy artistic pieces was created by Margaret BeaneFox, a senior Spanish and sociology double major.

Beane-Fox displayed a collage and a Spanish poem also translated into English that detailed her experiences.

Her poem reflected on the ocean, musical instruments and concept of home.

“I am one with the senses/ I am one with the spirit of the country/ I am home,” part of the poem read.

“I focused my project on images that exhibit how the Cuban concept of home is created, maintained and conveyed to others, especially those who would stereotypically be considered outsiders,” Beane-Fox said.

Beane-Fox believes that “home exists as a socially constructed phenomenon” and traveling to Cuba broadened her understanding of the universal meaning of home.

“I desire for my photos and my poem to be considered one cohesive unit, so that one may better understand their personal conceptualization of ‘home,’ including how it relates to the island of Cuba and its beautiful people,” Beane-Fox said.

Similarly, Larry Palifini, a sophomore

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

biology and public health double major, outlined his Cuban experience with three beautifully captured photos of Cuban life.

Palfini defines his artwork by the verb “to resolve,” which in Spanish is “resolver” — the title of his work.

“Cubans resolve by making the most of what they have, no matter how little it may be, as a way to face life’s many struggles,” Palfini said. “Essentially ‘resolver’ is the art of getting by.”

The nine students artists and their experiences in Cuba translated into a wonderful art exhibit for all to see and appreciate.

The 2017 Cuba Art Show gives attendees a little piece of Cuba and will be on display until Friday, April 9.

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 23

Artist, activist hosts Brown Bag

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Allahyari uses her artistic visions to raise awareness of larger issues.

By Jesse Stiller Correspondent

As rain drenched the College’s campus on Friday, March 31, students gathered inside the Mayo Concert Hall for the weekly Brown Bag lecture. As they took their seats, Arts and Communications Interim Dean James Day, alongside Iranian-born activist Morehshin Allahyari, greeted the crowd.

“Allahyari is an activist, artist, educator and occasional curator. She is also a recipient of the Leading Global Thinkers of 2016 award by Foreign Policy Magazine,” Day said.

After a brief introduction, Allahyari stepped up to the podium and wasted no time describing her passion for art, especially 3D technology, and how she infuses activism

into her work.

“I am interested in the phenomena of art activism,” Allahyari said. “It’s rather about changing the aspects and culture of society through art activism.”

Allahyari displayed one of her many art samples on the screen. Allahyari showed off her “Dark Matter” series, which consisted of several 3D sketches, most of which were humorous, such as a Barbie with a VHS tape for a body.

“I have a sense of humor about it,” Allahyari said.

After going through her “Dark Matter” series, everyone’s attention locked onto Allahyari as she phased into the crux of her presentation: activism in art.

A term popped up on one of these slides:

“#additivism” — an amalgam of “activism” and “additive” that focuses on using 3D printing and technology to preserve culture and heritage.

“We want to think of it as a movement… such as attending workshops and having discussions to provoke thought,” Allahyari said.

“We have a large and great community.”

Allahyari then mentioned the “The 3D Additivist Manifesto.”

“We call for artists, activists and others to respond to our call… to be a part of this project,” Allahyari said.

Then came the most gripping moment of the entire afternoon.

She showed the audience an ISIS video that went viral a few years ago that showed members ravaging the Mosul museum, pulverizing every artifact in sight.

After the video was released, Allahyari, who was born in Iran and educated in Tehran, went to work.

“I started to contact archaeologists, historians and many others to gather info on the artifacts that were destroyed,” Allahyari said.

Allahyari tried to recreate the destroyed artifacts in Mosul by using 3D technology and printing.

“It had to be done from scratch,” she said.

Allahyari explained the process of making these artifacts in a 3D software like Maya and showed a time-lapse video of a 3D printer creating one of these artifacts.

Allahyari said the 3D software files used to recreate these artifacts would be stored inside the artifacts in small makeshift holes to save time and preserve the culture in case they are destroyed again.

“These tools will save the political and cultural aspects of heritage. We have to take advantage of these tools,” Allahyari said.

She ended her presentation by emphasizing the importance of remembering and preserving history.

“Always, always think about looking back,” Allahyari said.

Latest ‘Ghost Recon’ game revives series

By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant Few games boast a world as immersive as the one in “Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands.” The game offers many stunning environments for the player to traverse while trying to complete missions in any way they see fit.

This tactical shooter by Ubisoft Paris was promised to be the best and most realistic installment in the “Ghost Recon” franchise.

Graphically, the game exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere is realistic and textured.

Players can fully customize their characters, too, making them look as serious or goofy as possible. The characters tell jokes and share some hilarious dialogue on long journeys that make the game pretty enjoyable.

Some jokes are so absurd they can leave the player in stitches.

While the game does have many hours of explorable content, its mechanics quickly grow frustrating. The game has a huge variety of weapons, but there’s a backbreaking catch: The players must find each weapon and weapon part or accessory while they travel through the game’s enormous map.

In order to save time, players can pay to unlock the weapons

and attachments through the Ubisoft shop. It will save the player hours of exploring and fighting enemies to get better weapons, but the price gets really steep once all the crates add up. When will big game companies realize that gamers aren’t made of money?

What makes this game stand out is its missions. The game will not force players into any kind of linear combat since each mission is open-ended. This

means that players can partake in missions whenever and however they want.

Some missions do require precision and stealth, so be warned that the game cannot be played like a western shoot ’em up movie.

Unlike all the other “Ghost Recon” games, this game trades futuristic for more realistic and modern settings. Set in Bolivia, the game feels like a more modern third-world country experience.

That being said, the game does offer the player technologically advanced gadgets, like drones, to use in combat.

This installment in the “Ghost Recon” series has proven to be a great gaming experience. With the content it comes with, it is worth the $60 price tag, however, you may need to set aside another $20 if you’re planning on unlocking any weapons to save time and avoid endlessly searching for them yourself.

‘Ghost Recon: Wildlands’ takes place in modern-day Bolivia.

YouTube

This week, WTSR Music staff members Adam Petrillo and Jonah Malvey highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.

Band Name: White Lies Album Title: “Friends” Release Number: 4th Hailing From: London Genre: Synth pop & post-punk Label: BMG I had never heard of White Lies before, but after listening to the album, a variety of music and eras began to resonate with me. White Lies is a power trio featuring guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Most of their songs start off at a slower pace and then ramp up in an uplifting beat. The band’s songs are mostly about love, which seems sad, yet they are disguised by the chill and fun melody. The album gives a summer night vibe – something you would listen to with friends out on a long drive. In all, I enjoyed the songs and wouldn’t mind hearing them on the radio.

Must Hear: “Take it Out on Me,” “Morning in LA,” “Hold Back Your Love” and “Don’t Want to Feel it All”

Name: Tim Darcy Album Name: “Saturday Night” Release Number: 1st Hailing From: Montreal, Canada Genre: Art Rock, Indie Rock Label: Jagjaguwar Tim Darcy, the lead singer of Ought, releases his first solo album, “Saturday Night.” The defining characteristic of this album is Darcy’s signature vocals, which sound like a mix of Lou Reed and Ian Curtis of Joy Division. The album is basically stripped down indie rock, occasionally complemented with a choir and strings. The songs transition from ’60s pop nostalgia to standard indie rock with some experimental twists. Overall, the album is a self-indulgent experiment by Darcy, composing songs without the restrictions of a full band and with little regard to what his audience will think.

Must Hear: “Tall Glass of Water,” “Still Waking Up” and “You Felt Comfort”

page 24 The Signal April 5, 2017

Fun StufF Vegetable Matching

Draw a line between the statement and the picture it corresponds with.

Artichoke

Squash

Watercress

Kale

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 25

Fun Stuff Vegetable Scramble

Unscramble each of the clue words to find the hidden message!

page 26 The Signal April 5, 2017

Sports

Track and Field

Gutsy Lions keep up with Division I runners

By Nicole DeStefano Staff Writer

The men’s and women’s track and field teams took their talent to Williamsburg, Va., for the Colonial Relays hosted by William and Mary College from Friday, March 31, to Saturday, April 1. The Lions competed against a field of dominant Division I competition.

Senior Jake Lindacher placed 14th overall in the 110-meter hurdles, sprinting to a 15.74 finish. He returned in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 11.72.

In the 400-meter hurdles, freshman Daniel Pflueger improved his seed time by nearly two and a half seconds, crossing the finish line in 58.17. Sophomore Daniel Brennan also lowered his time in the 1500-meter race to 4:02.88.

The duo of sophomore Matt Saponara and senior Andrew Tedeschi competed in the 5000-meter race. Saponara took 10 seconds off his time, clocking in at 14:48.85.

Tedeschi also improved his seed time by more than 10 seconds, finishing in 14:56.61.

“I felt that my performance at the Colonial Relays was a good season opener,” Saponara said.

“Unfortunately, we had to deal with a lot of last second changes in the schedule due to the tornado warning. It threw everyone

Tedeschi finishes the 5000-meter in 14:56.61. off, but many of my teammates ended up making the best of the situation. Getting the chance to see them run so well prior to my race motivated me to deal with the changes and make the best of the opportunity. Considering that, I was content with the race, but I am still looking to improve as the season continues.”

During the relay races on Saturday, Lindacher, sophomore Nathan Osterhus, freshman Nick Aromando and senior Zakaria Rochdi placed 19th in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 43.79.

In the 1600-meter relay, Lindacher, Osterhus, Aromando and

sophomore Thomas Livecchi placed 17th overall with a time of 3:37.44.

Some of the Lions also competed at the Stockton Invitational on Saturday. Freshman Connor Holden finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 1:00.13. Meanwhile, freshman John Otters cleared 3.80 meters in the pole vault, securing a second-place finish.

Freshman Justin Brown placed fourth in both the long jump and triple jump.

The women also had a successful weekend. Freshman Kristen Hall placed 29th overall in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.86. In the 400-meter hurdles,

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

junior Jenna Ellenbacher clocked in at 1:05.58 to finish in 24th place. Freshman Samantha Gorman also finished 24th in the 400meter dash with a time of 59.31.

Sophomore Emma Bean ran a personal best time of 18:38.03 in the 5000-meter run.

“I was happy that I improved my time in the 5K,” Bean said. “I’ve been feeling really strong in workouts and it feels great knowing my training has paid off. My goal is to keep lowering my time in the 5K.” In the Colonial Relays on Saturday, Gorman and the freshman trio of Christine Woods, Allison Zelinski and Katie LaCapria finished

21st in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 4:01.94. Zelinski, Gorman and LaCapria teamed up with junior Danielle Celestin for the sprint medley where they placed 10th with a time of 4:10.50.

Members of the women’s team also competed at the Stockton Invitational. Freshman Angela Rambert placed third in the discuss with a throw of 32.10. Junior Tracy Prentice finished third in the pole vault with a height of 3.20 meters.

“We have a lot of good opportunities coming up this month,” Saponara said. “What I really want from these next races is to continue dropping time and get as close as possible to the national qualifying standard. As a team, our main goal is to maximize the amount of athletes we send to Nationals.

“Qualifying is not only self gratifying, but it motivates your event group and allows the team to build off of your success. My teammates and I have seen so many others achieve that high standard and we are all driven to become national caliber athletes.”

The Lions will compete next at the Sam Howell Invitational hosted by Princeton University on Friday, April 7, and at their Home Invitational on Saturday, April 8, at the Track and Field Complex.

Cheap Seats

Wrestlemania provides ‘thrill ride’ with many bumps

By Michael Battista Staff Writer Months of buildup from WWE culminated on Sunday, April 2, at its biggest show of the year, Wrestlemania 33, in Orlando, Fla. While the show started off with big matches and tremendous moments, I became increasingly disappointed as the seven-hour event went on.

From the pre-show at 5 p.m. until midnight, Wrestlemania 33 featured many matches that were perfectly delivered to the sold-out Citrus Bowl crowd, however, there were many letdowns and boring moments that took away from the excitement.

The pre-show matches of the night accomplished what they are supposed to: energize the crowd. The cruiserweight championship bout between Austin Aries and defending champion Adrian Neville helped show what the underutilized high flyers could do. With Monday Night Raw only giving cruiserweights about fiveminute matches, the short showing put both wrestlers on a pedestal for the fans.

The “Andre the Giant” Memorial Battle Royal was a great way for 33 wrestlers to take part in the show. New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski helping young wrestler Mojo Rawley win the match was a nice way to get starpower into the event. Rawley’s victory in the battle royale also helped turn the crowd in his favor.

When the main show started, the crowd was treated with four back-toback matches. The U.S. Title match was a 15-minute clinic of athleticism and

storytelling. My favorite moments were Kevin Owens yelling lines like “Did that hurt? Like when I stabbed you the back?” at Chris Jericho or reaching for the bottom rope with just his index finger. He showed why he is the best heel on the main roster.

The loudest reaction of the night came during the tag team match with Matt and Jeff Hardy returning to WWE for the first time since 2010. The original match pitting champions Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows against the tag teams of Claudio “Cesaro” Castagnoli and Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly, and New Jersey-native Enzo Amore and Big Cass was amazing. Adding the hottest free-agents in the wrestling industry to a ladder match was one heck of a way to spike interest.

While I wanted Enzo and Cass to win, I hope to see the Hardy Boyz continue their “Broken” personas in WWE. Two of the last three matches of the night went under six minutes each. The night ended on a disappointing note for wrestling fans watching around the world. Roman Reigns against The Undertaker was down right sad to watch.

The Undertaker is 52 years-old at this point and his body can’t endure hard impacts. Seeing Reigns hit him with spear after spear, trying to put him away — it was harder to watch Reigns kick The Undertaker for the final blow.

Even Reign’s hesitation to finish off the legend was impressive to watch.

After he finally laid down for the three count, WWE had to lower the volume of the microphones that picked up crowd

Reigns celebrates his win against The Undertaker.

reaction to silence the fans’ boos. The Undertaker laid on his back after Reigns left before sitting up and leaving his trademark gloves, coat and hat in the middle of the ring before slowly walking up the entrance way.

It may be the last match of his historic career and Undertaker went out in a very old school way.

Overall, Wrestlemania 33 was a B+ show as it started off with incredible matches, but seemed to give its payoff early. In the middle of the show, Seth Rollins vs. Triple H suffered greatly from fan fatigue since it

AP Photo

ran longer than 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, John Cena actually proposed to his girlfriend in the middle of the ring after their win.

If both the Smackdown and Raw shows had their own events for these feuds, with as much buildup as they had, the overall payoffs could have been much better. But everything shoved together into a sevenhour “thrill ride,” as WWE advertised, meant the show sometimes dragged on.

It still delivered a lot of impactful moments, though, which can be replayed on their own for future enjoyment.

April 5, 2017 The Signal page 27 Baseball

Lions blast Scarlet Raiders in conference opener

Left: Follet hits a double against Haverford College. Right: Cirillo strikes out 10 Scarlet Raiders.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

The Lions dropped two consecutive out-of-conference games before sweeping Rutgers University-Newark with 8-1 and 13-5 victories on Sunday, April 2.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Lions were overwhelmed by Widener University, 19-4. Despite only recording 10 hits, the Pride drove in 19 runs. In the bottom of the third inning, the Pride scored 11 runs with a series of walks, singles and RBIs. The Lions pitching staff struggled to tame the Prides hot offense.

“Widener University likes to run a lot, and we didn’t do a

good job on keeping them off the bases and they exposed that,” head coach Dean Glus said.

At the top of the fourth, the Lions fired back with two runs when freshman outfielder Jacob Simon drove in two baserunners off a single. Afterwards, the Lions were not able to score another run.

For the remainder of the game, the Pride pitching duo of junior Matthew Guarino and freshman Ricky Collings limited the Lions to five hits.

In the following match at Haverford College on Thursday, March 30, the Lions were plucked by the Black Squirrels, 7-3.

The Black Squirrels jumped to a fast start at the bottom of the

second inning. With two outs remaining, Black Squirrels junior outfielder Thomas Vollaro and freshman outfielder Ethan LeeTyson hit back-to-back singles to drive in three runs.

The Lions tried to rally in the top of the seventh inning. With a 5-1 deficit, junior outfielder Mike Follet doubled into centerfield, allowing sophomore infielder Ryan Fischer to score.

Another scoring run at the next at-bat slashed the Black Squirrels lead to two runs.

After two consecutive losses, the Lions rebounded and swept Rutgers University-Newark in their first conference doubleheader.

In the first game, junior pitcher

Photos courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Joe Cirillo had a dominant performance as he struck out 10 Scarlet Raiders and permitted one earned run. Cirillo’s pitching was aided by the Lions offense as they slammed 11 hits.

The Lions offense continued to ignite in the second game when they detonated the Scarlet Raiders, 13-5. From the third to sixth innings, the Lions accumulated 10 runs before the Scarlet Raiders marked the scoreboard.

“I believe we can produce more runs with a little better approach and getting that good feel in the batter’s box,” Glus said. “This past weekend got us off to a good start for the rest of the week. We look forward to

competing with all the teams in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The NJAC is the best Division III baseball conference in the country and you must come out everyday with your ‘A’ game to be able to compete against any team in the NJAC.” The Lions resume their quest to win the NJAC as they take on Rutgers University-Camden at George Ackerman Park on Thursday, April 6, at 3:30 p.m. The Lions will return the favor on Friday, April 7, and compete away against the Raptors at 3:30 p.m.

On Saturday, April 8, the team will travel north to Mahwah, N.J., for a conference doubleheader against Ramapo College.

Softball

Softball sweeps first conference doubleheader at home

Platt wins two games for the Lions.

By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant

The Lions softball team played Cabrini University and Rutgers University-Newark this past week in two doubleheaders.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Lions fell to the Cavaliers, 9-6, allowing seven runs in the sixth inning after leading, 5-2. The second game was a different story as the Lions held onto their lead and won, 8-2.

The Lions then swept Rutgers University-Newark, winning the first game, 3-1, and the second game, 11-4, on Sunday, April 2. Junior pitcher Sam Platt earned the win for both games, completing a full game, getting a total of five strikeouts and pitching a total of 10.2 innings.

In the first game, the Lions allowed two runs early. Trailing by two runs in the fourth inning, the Lions blew up the scoreboard with five runs. Freshman infielder Megan Mayernik opened the inning with a double and scored with a hit by sophomore outfielder Gaby Bennett.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Junior catcher Jenna Schwartz tied the game, walking with bases loaded.

Freshman infielder Danielle Carey pulled a two-run RBI double, driving the score to 4-2. Sophomore outfielder Arielle Couso brought the fifth run in with a fielder’s choice.

Cabrini University rallied in the sixth, scoring seven runs. The team scored an unearned run in the seventh inning, bringing the score a little closer. The Lions ultimately could not pull it out in the end. The game ended 9-6.

The second game had a far different outcome. Sophomore outfielder/infielder Jess Santelli sparked the Lions fire early in the first inning, belting a two-run homer and giving the Lions an early lead.

From there, the Lions asserted their control of the game. Freshman pitcher Kristen Barrera also won her third game of her rookie season.

In the second inning, the Lions scored six runs. Couso hit a double, putting runners at second and third base. Junior outfielder

Madison Levine hit a sacrifice fly to bring senior outfielder Nerylix Cerda for a run.

Cabrini University got one run back at the bottom of the inning.

Afterwards, Sophomore infielder/ catcher Jess McGuire drove in a run in the third inning with an RBI-single.

Freshman infielder/outfielder Annalise Suitovsky batted in a run in the sixth inning, pushing the score to 8-1.

The Cavaliers countered in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Lions held onto the victory.

In the start of the doubleheader against Rutgers University-Newark, Suitovsky blasted a two-run homer to put the Lions on board.

The Scarlet Raiders responded later in the inning with a run of their own. After the earned run, Platt dominated at the mound, not allowing any runners into scoring position for the remainder of the game.

In the fifth inning, Suitovsky popped up

a sacrifice fly ball to score Levine for the third run. The Lions won, 3-1.

In the second game against the Scarlet Raiders, Santelli ripped a two-run double in the bottom of the first, and she scored another run when Carey popped up a sacrifice fly ball. At the top of the second, the Scarlet Raiders answered with a two runs off a single and tied the game at the top of the fourth at 4.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lions ripped the game open. Freshman shortstop Megan Mayernik hit a RBI-single to break the tie and Suitovsky followed with a two-run double to break the game open.

The game ended 11-4.

The Lions go into their next game with a record of 10-6 against Rutgers University-Camden in a doubleheader at home, starting at 3 p.m. After that, the Lions have a doubleheader against William Paterson University at Wayne, N.J. The games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Suitovsky hits a double against the Scarlet Raiders.

Signal

Sports

Lions lose to reigning champions, best No. 2 Bullets

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

The lacrosse team was put to the test this week while competing against nationally ranked opponents. The Lions took their first loss of the season on March 27 against reigning national champion Middlebury College, 6-4.

The team prevailed on Thursday, March 30, over No.1 ranked Gettysburg College, 7-6.

Coming back from an impressive 15-3 win against Ursinus College, the Lions received a rude awakening from Middlebury College. The team held a 4-2 lead in the second half until the Panthers scored four consecutive goals and snatched a 6-4 win.

Panthers sophomore goalkeeper Katy Furber shunned the Lions offense in the first half.

Freshman attacker Kasey Donoghue nearly landed a goal on a free position attempt until Furber deflected her shot.

In the midst, both teams fought for possession. Sophomore defender Brooke Lionetti caused three turnovers against the Panthers, and an additional whooping 33 fouls were committed between both teams.

At the 17th minute, the Lions scored first when freshman midfielder Allie Gorman poked in her shot through the net. Two minutes later, senior attacker Mia Blackman gained a free

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Gorman scores against the Panthers. position attempt until her shot was blocked by Panthers sophomore defender Alex White.

Both teams held each other scoreless until junior attacker Emily Kratz broke through with a goal. Junior midfielder Amanda Muller passed the ball to Kratz as she cradled past Panther defenders and found an opening to shoot.

With the first half winding down, the Panthers snuck in a goal when freshman attacker Kate Zecca scored off a free position attempt.

The Lions scored quickly in the second half. Sophomore midfielder

Kathleen Jaeger threw a fast shot into the Panthers net and recorded her 17th goal of the season.

Afterwards, the Panthers pounded the Lions and scored four consecutive goals. The remainder of the game proved to be shaky for the Lions, as they committed six turnovers and 14 fouls, and were issued two yellow cards.

Three days later, the Lions rebounded and won a close game against the first ranked Gettysburg College. The Lions faced the undefeated Bullets in Gettysburg, Pa. Freshman midfielder Alexandria

Fitzpatrick scored the first goal within a minute.

In the next possession, Jaeger scooped the ball and landed a shot straight at Bullets senior goalkeeper Shannon Keeler. Five minutes later, the Bullets countered and netted in three consecutive goals.

The Bullets attacker trio of senior Emma Christie, junior Maggie Welsh and junior Maggie McClain overwhelmed the Lions defense with multiple shots, turnovers and free position attempts.

Down by 3-1, the Lions responded with an offensive barrage

and scored three goals. Blackman and Jaeger continued to rack in more goals as they netted in their shots from free position attempts.

“The entire game was pretty back and forth even though we dominated the score,” said Elizabeth Morrison, junior defender.

“They were aggressive and had strong players that really wanted to score for their team before the game ended.”

The second half proved to be suspenseful as both teams scored back and forth. In the 39th minute, Bullets junior attacker Katie Landry tied the match at 4 with an assist from junior attacker Katie Willis.

Less than two minutes later, Gorman threw in a goal and regained the Lions lead, 5-4. The Bullets immediately pressured the Lions and caused three turnovers.

The Bullets countering peaked when Landry shoveled in a pass to Christie, who then leaped in and tied the game at 5.

With seven minutes remaining, the Lions rallied and scored two consecutive goals to put themselves ahead, 7-5. The Bullets then scored another goal and raced to the Lions goal until junior defender Elizabeth Morrison blocked a pass to secure the 7-6 win.

The Lions will play their first conference match of the season in Lions Stadium on Saturday, April 8, against Montclair State University at 1 p.m.

No. 29 Eagles serve losses to men’s and women’s tennis

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor The men’s and women’s tennis teams were setback this week. The Lions conceded to New York University on Wednesday, March 29, in a competitive 5-4 loss. Both teams were dominated on Saturday, April 1, by the University of Mary Washington.

The Violets, ranked 29th in the nation, beat the Lions in doubles, 2-1. The senior duo of Mike Stanley and Jack August got the Lions only doubles win after beating Violets freshman Michael Li and sophomore Benedict Teoh, 8-4.

Afterwards, the Lions surged ahead into the singles competition. In the first singles match, sophomore Mitchel Sanders defeated Violets senior Umberto Setter in three sets. With two more singles wins from August and sophomore Omar Bokhari, the Lions gained a 4-3 lead.

The team’s lead soon evaporated as the Violets won three consecutive singles matches.

On Saturday, the University of Mary Washington was no joke to the men’s and women’s teams, as the Eagles blasted the Lions, 8-1, and blanked the Lady Lions, 9-0.

In the doubles competition, the No. 16 nationally ranked Eagles swept the Lions. Despite the Eagles domination at singles, the Lions fought competitively in each loss.

In the first singles match, Sanders pushed Eagles sophomore Matt Miles to a third set before losing, 7-4. Afterwards, August went for the distance and fought to a fourth set against Eagles sophomore Patrick Hughes.

Lions Lineup April 5, 2017

I n s i d e

Reedman takes a loss against the Eagles.

Bokhari was the only Lion to win a singles match. He edged out Eagles freshman Michael Fleming in three sets.

Meanwhile, the Lady Lions were shut down by the Eagles, 9-0. After being swept in doubles, the Lions tried to slow down the Eagles momentum in the singles competition.

Junior Brittany Reedman conceded to Eagles senior Taylor Diffley in the third set, 10-5. In the following match, senior Katie Buchbinder endured her first loss of the season against Eagles junior Caroline Mosberg.

Track and Field page 26

Baseball page 27

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

“(The University of) Mary Washington gave both teams quite a challenge,” head coach Scott Dicheck said. “We’ll definitely rebound at home this week.”

The men’s and women’s teams will play at home this week. On Wednesday, April 5, the men’s tennis team will compete against Lafayette College at 3 p.m. Then on Saturday, April 8, both teams are scheduled to play against Ithaca College at 3 p.m. The men’s team will also compete against Franklin and Marshall College on Sunday, April 9, at noon.

Softball page 27