The Signal: Spring '19 No. 11

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Vol. L, No. 11

April 17, 2019

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Awards night recognizes staff members’ work

Foster addresses campus controversies

By Lara Becker Reviews Editor The unparalleled elation of the award-winners and their families was palpable in the Education Building Room 212 on April 10 at the inaugural Staff Recognition Awards.

The ceremony began at 3:30 p.m. with opening remarks from College President Kathryn Foster, President of the Staff Senate Joseph O’Brien and Chair of the Staff Senate Christopher Larthey.

Foster discussed how the event was theorized by the Staff Committee this past summer as a way to give back to the faculty, who she said are greatly deserving of praise. She welcomed all guests and analogized the College staff to baseball coordinators on the shoulders of opening day.

“The game cannot happen without the staff,” Foster said. “They are the people who built the stadium, they fix the grounds, they print the programs, they take your ticket money, they design the logos, they do the play-by-play and they generally make sure that the game happens.”

The night then segued into personal recognition of College administrators.

The winning staff members were awarded a trophy, a “TCNJ swag bag” and a free parking space of their choice.

A total of seven awards were given, ranging from Outstanding New Employee and Unsung Hero to Lifetime Achievement.

Peers, colleagues and friends of each winner see FACULTY page 8

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

The president begins to reflect on her first year at the College.

By Elizabeth Zakaim Editor-in-Chief

As the College begins its recovery process from a rather tumultuous year, The Signal sat down with College President Kathryn Foster to assess how she has been processing her first year so far and what her hopes are for the rest of the semester.

While a typical day for the president might involve attending Gov. Phil Murphy’s release of his new plan for higher education –– think closing income inequality and more transparency around financial aid –– or meeting thousands of College alumni from all over the country, Foster has found some time to reflect on the highs and lows

of her presidency at the College so far and what she is still looking forward to come in April and May. For Foster, one of her biggest challenges was the transition from being just a visitor at the College to becoming its leader. This change involved countless meetings with cabinet members, the Board of Trustees and the foundation board –– all of whom help shape the College’s policies, fundraisers and other programming.

The process also includes putting together the budget for the next fiscal year.

Foster wants to see the discretionary budget being put to better use in terms of offering more support for disability services, health and wellness and the new division

of diversity, equity and inclusion.

An even longer term investment includes renovating the buildings on campus. Armstrong Hall is still in the midst of some necessary touch-ups, and Foster said that the athletics facilities and the residence halls are likely next.

“Our housing stock is old, we know it’s old, it’s been old for a long time,” she said.

“They’re tired and need some attention.

We’re being responsible for the physical fabric of the campus as well.”

Foster also had much to say about the recent campus controversies that occurred this past year in terms of how the campus has grown and how she is personally healing from those wounds.

Can you share how you’ve been feeling personally about the controversy surrounding the University of Maine at Farmington since the news first broke in January?

It remains difficult because I can’t satisfy the curiosity. These are issues that hit close to home. This is personal to me. You come to those cases as a decision-maker with a sense of the case and although that’s not satisfying for a lot of people because they can’t get details and people are into the details of it, I think it helped people too and helped me to try to say that these are very difficult situations. There’s a whole other deeper backstory that if only I could tell it. But the good news is, if there’s good see INTERVIEW page 3

College launches statewide PR campaign

Students participate in the social media contest.

By Camille Furst and Kalli Colacino News Editor and Production Manager

The two-letter word has been used countless times on hats, banners and in many advertisements promoting the inclusivity the College has been striving for throughout this past year. Now, the College’s “Hi” campaign has been promoted

both on and off campus since the College officially launched its new public relations campaign earlier this month.

The program has been active since April 2, when Associate Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Brand Management Dave Muha released a campus-wide email explaining the details of the campaign and its efforts to engage students and spread the word of the College

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Editorial / page 11

throughout the state.

The new program consists of a month-long contest with prizes for current students, a distinct social media presence using the hashtag #TCNJsaysHi and different spins on the word “Hi,” such as “Hidrate” as displayed on new College water bottles, and various terms such as ‘Hi energy’ and ‘Hi potential,’ found in the viewbook given to incoming students.

After the program’s inception in 2016, Muha found it necessary to include input from students at the College by hiring student interns. They would offer a fresh perspective and be able to tap into the mindset of the program’s intended audience.

The student interns consist of junior communication studies major Kristen Frolich, senior marketing major Collin Pecci, sophomore communication studies major Bryanna O’Keefe, junior marketing and communication studies double major Urja Sevak, senior business management major Kelly Kozar and junior biology major Teresa Dinh.

“By doing this, we wanted Opinions / page 12

to show mostly how we are a friendly campus … by saying ‘Hi TCNJ’ you’ll be able to find lifelong friends, internship opportunities (and) take cool classes,” Frolich said.

The interns said the main audience for the PR program is current students, and the goal is to promote a sense of community at the College rather than simply focus on academics.

“Dave has really been pushing us to show off the excellent community here at TCNJ,” Pecci said.

“A lot of people know we are a high-quality school … (but) we want to kind of bring the community back together … to remind people what kind of community is at TCNJ.” The interns also kept in mind the potential impact the program could have on incoming students.

Currently, there are multiple Instagram posts with the official hashtag of the campaign, #TCNJsaysHi, posted by incoming freshmen who have committed to the College for the class of 2023.

“We were able to help provide the student perspective and how

Features / page 15

students would be able to engage with the ‘Hi’ campaign,” Frolich said. “We were really able to kind of hone in on things that would pique the interest of students.”

The College’s official Instagram account has more than 10,000 followers and can reach a variety of current and future students. The interns used this platform to develop an interactive community engagement campaign –– an Instagram competition.

In his campus-wide email sent out on April 2, Muha shared the news of this month-long competition and the prizes that students could potentially win.

“This challenge will help us tell the story of our school,” he said in the email. “What makes this college special? It’s more than just the high quality of the education, it’s also the quality of our community. TCNJ is a place where people say ‘hi.’ We’re welcoming. We value and support one another.”

For this month’s competition, people must post a photo to their see BRAND page 8

Arts & Entertainment / page 19

Sports / page 24

Deepher Dude Competition raises funds for cystic fibrosis

Stand-up comedy night Students’ humor entertains crowd

Softball Lions continue 13game winning streak

See Features page 15

See A&E page 19

See Sports page 23

page 2 The Signal April 17, 2019

SFB funds Disability Pride, Lions Gaming, TMT

By Madison Pena Staff Writer

The Student Finance Board fully funded nine events and partially funded three others during its meeting on April 10 at 12:30 p.m.

The board fully funded Colleges Against Cancer $671.26 for its event, “One Campus, One Hope,” where students will be able to create goodie bags for pediatric cancer patients.

The money will go toward supplies for the goodie bags, an ice cream truck and a photo booth for participants. The event will take place at Alumni Grove on April 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TCNJ Musical Theatre was fully funded $1,000 for its biannual “WIRED” competition. “WIRED” is a 24hour play competition involving the production of several plays where participants can take part in the writing, casting and production process.

All students who audition are automatically cast in the plays and everyone is welcome. “WIRED” will take place on April 27 in the Decker Social Space, with rehearsals beginning at 8 a.m.

The Association of Students for Africa was partially funded $4,210 for its end-of-year “V Banquet,” which showcases African culture through food, music, performances and dance, according to Vice President Tiffany Thimba, a senior sociology major.

“My hope is that the event exposes the TCNJ community to the beauty behind and truths of African culture,” Thimba said. “This will be our fifth banquet and we are excited to keep growing and progressing as an organization, while giving our general body and supporters a fun event to enjoy themselves.”

The banquet will take place on May 4 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Decker Social Space. Expenses will go toward DJ Chi Orji, decorations, catering and other performers.

The American Medical Students Association was fully funded $400 for its seventh annual “Hippocrates Luncheon.”

The purpose of the event is to present the College’s alumni physicians to current students who want to pursue

a career in the healthcare field, according to Jack Trubiano, a senior biology major and president of the club.

The luncheon is open to anyone interested and will take place on April 28 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Decker Social Space. Funding will go toward the meal and utensils for all attendees.

Alpha Kappa Psi was fully funded $1,405 for its national retreat. From July 31 to Aug. 3, the organization is sending two delegates from its chapter to a biannual event in Dallas, Texas. Funds will go toward airfare and living arrangements.

The mission of the retreat is to represent the College and present a motion to change fraternal bylaws related to Title IX, sexual harassment or sexual discrimination conflicts. Though the College’s chapter has no reports of Title IX violations, the delegates hope to weigh in on the issue and reinforce the regulations.

The Chinese Students Association was fully funded $577.92 for its event, “Lanterns on the Lake,” which will take place April 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Education Building Room 212. The lantern release taking place on Lake Ceva behind the building.

Similar events have been held in the past three years in hopes of enriching students’ knowledge of Chinese culture on campus. The money funded will go toward catering for the event, as well as supplies for activities.

CSA hopes the event will act as a cultural exhibition through several activities including Chinese calligraphy and lantern making, which symbolize prosperity.

The College’s Swing Club was partially funded $857.93 for its annual spring swing dance, “Swing to the Future,” which will take place on April 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m in the Allen Hall lounge.

Expenses will go toward speaker systems, setup and decorations for the event. The dance will provide a place for experienced and non-experienced dancers who have been taking part in the classes offered by the club.

The Inter Greek Council was partially funded $6,530 for its annual Airband event, which is part of Greek Week and is open to all students and campus community members.

Airband will take place on April 30 from 8 p.m. to 11

p.m. in the Decker Social Space. Funds will go toward speaker systems and stage setup for the performances.

SFB fully funded the College’s Disability Pride $2,000 for its event, “GaySL: A Crash Course in LGBTQ+ American Sign Language.” Funds will go toward booking Hayden Kristal, a deaf and bisexual queer activist, for a workshop presentation on the intersection between deafness and LGBTQ+ culture.

The event will be held on May 2 in the Bliss Hall lounge from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Men of Excellence was fully funded $1,274.25 for its event, the “U.S./Ghana Business Summit,” which informs the campus community about the importance of thinking globally and expanding knowledge of business internationally, according to junior finance major and co-founder of the organization Lloyd Padmore.

Expenses will include bringing in guests to speak at the summit as well as other hosting costs. The event will take place on April 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Science Complex Room P101.

SFB then voted fully to fund $650 for its event, “Base Budget Lunch and Learn,” which will serve as a platform for the new base budgeting and allow students time to create budgets.

“We’re trying to show the campus community what this budget is going to look like,” said Lauren Bsales, executive director of SFB and junior iSTEM and deaf education dual major.

The event will take place on April 24 at 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Decker Social Space. The money funded will go toward pizza and beverages for the event.

SFB fully funded Lions Gaming $20,006.25 for its first-ever regional video game tournament, “King,” which focuses on the games Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

“Our attendance has grown exponentially,” said Ryan Strenkowski, a senior interactive multimedia major and president of Lions Gaming. “We are expecting between 350 entrants, an additional 100 attendees and more than 10 professional players who will speak on a panel.”

Students at the College will not be charged to attend the event, which will take place on May 5 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the Recreation Center.

April 17, 2019 The Signal page 3

Interview / President supports campus in face of tragedies

Some students of the College are still boycotting Landmark after the crash.

continued from page 1

news and silver linings here, is that it’s enabled us to focus on safety, Title IX, sexual assault, women’s issues ... so I’ve been to (the Women in Learning and Leadership program), I’ve been to women’s and gender studies, I’ve worked with AVI several times –– had them over to the house –– (I’ve) worked with the dean of students. I think that it helped some people to have revealed to them some supports that are on campus and some work that’s been going on. I hope to feel better about it even if they personally had challenges with what had happened in Maine, even without knowing what happened in Maine.

My hope for here, there (UMF), everywhere is that we never have so much hubris, or we never have so much certainty or we never have so much sense of ego that we would ever think we couldn’t have done something better as an institution, as a school, as a process, as a policy. I believe that’s happening there and I believe that that catalytic moment has helped us to do that here.

For more information about how UMF is handling its Title IX controversy, see the sidebar on story.

There have been a number of student deaths and suicides this year –– two last semester and two back in February. How have you dealt with this personally and as the College’s leader?

What would you say to students who might still be recovering from that tragedy?

I think there’s no more profound loss than a premature loss, and the two in the earlier part of this year were profound losses (and had) ripple effects. I think people have been walking around very sad. I think we’re all somber. We had the Lions’ Hour on loss and grief (on March 8) that everybody, faculty, staff, students, heard about that. How can we possibly look at that and say, ‘was there something more I could have done?’ And I think that’s a really hard place for a campus and for a community and for individuals to hold themselves.

I would say that I think one of the things students were concerned about was how we didn’t celebrate or have the big memorials and vigils, and I absolutely understand that reaction. It’s a national best practice and so the College educated me around this as well — it’s very important to not celebrate a death by suicide. Now, what I would say to the campus community about this is, ‘how could we celebrate the lives?

Jenna’s life, Charlie’s life –– how could you celebrate that concentrated life that was inside there and make that be something we could do on campus in a way that didn’t perhaps push some people (in terms of suicide contagion)?’ You’re always walking that fine line. Is there a way we could still celebrate a life without it jeopardizing some of the mental health of people who are here, and at the same time learn better so that maybe we feel more confident about it ourselves?

How do we see the signs of someone who may be in distress?

How could I recognize, in you maybe, that you might be in some kind of pain and at risk for harming yourself or harming others for that matter? We want to do some more intensive programming around that and see if we can do that and a little of it will happen in April (the THRIVE Expo on April 3 and the ‘Out of the Darkness’ suicide prevention walk on April 7) and some of it will happen more in the year to come.

People say, ‘what are you going to do to prevent suicide?’ ‘What are you going to do to prevent sexual assault on campus?’ And the answer is –– that’s not the question.

That would be a fool’s errand to imagine that the world will somehow not hit the bubble of (the College) and that what’s out there won’t happen here. Instead I think that, and this the silver lining, by being tested you either affirm, or recommit or double down on the processes. You

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

fix them, or you change policy or you support or shore up the kinds of systems or arrangements you might have. We debrief and we say, ‘OK, what went well and what could we have done better and what are the kinds of additional supports we might need?’

Communication has become a theme for us … you can provide information, or say things, or put them in writing or write articles and you may be perhaps stunned –– I think I was a little stunned –– that people would come up to me and say, ‘well you never told us.’ I’m like, ‘yes we did.’ I think that there’s not one place people go to for information. So, really learning about our audiences and saying, ‘how do parents get information, how do alumni get information, how do friends get information, how does the media get information, how do faculty, staff and students get information?’ You’re always trying to get better at that and you never hit every audience exactly the way they want to be hit. That’s especially true with crisis. Some people aren’t ready for certain messages at a certain time. Others say, ‘Why did you wait so long to give me that message?’

But again, the positive spin –– we have been tested in that way and I hope to always have continuous improvement, you always have to hope that.

Let’s talk about the Landmark crash. How did you first hear about it and what was your reaction?

That was an early morning crash, and so I got probably a text very early in the morning. There’s no other way to hear that news and not be devastated. That’s true of every death you hear about. There’s a protocol and the police are typically involved and certainly were in that case. We have public safety, Campus Police and we also have (resources on campus such as) health and wellness, dean of students –– we have teams that burst into action and we all become as present as possible. The campus usually knows before we do, by the way, let me just be real clear about social media –– many times when I’m hearing something, it’s after it’s already happened or gotten out there.

How did you react when you heard students were boycotting Landmark?

That’s a serious case. The state stepped in on that case. Landmark is not our property. They lease from the private partner that we have. It’s not a TCNJ facility, but that said, we’ve been very involved in discussions around that. There’s a legal side to it. The Alcohol and Beverage Commission has put some new rules on Landmark and those rules changed the hours and the serving that can happen and I imagine that business is down.

The College has announced different initiatives, such as the Bias Response Team, to handle any future racial bias incidents.

As President, how involved were you in the implementation of these initiatives? How effective do you think they will be?

So, I called for (the Bias Response Team). It was right after the forum. I also called for a vice president for diversity and inclusion and appointed (Ivonne Cruz) in January. This is a commitment for me, and I think a very important part of my presidency will be breathing energy and accelerating the pace at which we make progress in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. We can do more –– whether it’s through admissions, whether it’s through enrollment areas, whether it’s through faculty, our hiring committees or our recruitment. I went to the diversity council as well. I talked to them about how do we do an audit of every policy that we have and say, ‘how does it reflect inclusion? How could we identify if there’s inequity built into this? Is the language gendered in a way that will be offensive to some or at least make them feel excluded from that policy?’ We’re doing a top to bottom on this. A lot of policy change takes a long time (but other initiatives happen) a little more quickly.

Looking back at this year so far, what are you most disappointed with and what are you most proud of?

I suppose that because of the disruptions and the stresses

and the strains all through the year, I haven’t gotten to know as many people in their natural setting. I haven’t been able to just show up to classes, I haven’t been able be as present as much.

What I’m proud of –– the search committee and the people that come on campus and say, ‘take us to the next level and push us.

Be a set of fresh eyes on who we are and what we do.’ As an institution, we get complacent –– we get successful and once we’re successful we don’t have to push it anymore, and I’m proud to have been that disruption for the campus. I’m proud to have –– through my presentations or through meetings with the board or through meetings I might have with governance groups or the senate –– I’ve been able to say, ‘but have you considered why we do this and have we thought about doing that?’ (I don’t have all the answers because) I’m new and I can’t know all of the possibilities, but in the meantime I can at least ask those questions. Every time I’m on with the board, I’ve pushed the board a lot. Every time I’m with the cabinet, we push a little. This budget will push a little and we’ll see (if it really reflects) our priorities. I think I’m proud to be that person in my first year. I think we’ve tried to not wallow in the pain of (crisis) but say, ‘what is the opportunity to be better as an institution and as a community?’ I guess we can all be proud of that, I mean other people carry a lot of that, but I think I can be proud of sticking with it.

UMF Controversy –– how students, alumni and administration are handling the aftermath While the College has been handling a variety of change, UMF is also still dealing with the consequences of its sexual assault case controversies. Current students and alumni at UMF have been reacting to the case and the administration has been creating various initiatives to improve the current campus climate.

Interim President of UMF Eric Brown, who was aware of both Title IX cases before the news broke in the Bangor Daily News, said that since the two cases became public, many more students have stepped forward to speak about their own experiences with sexual assault. He appreciated the bravery amongst those who have made their stories known.

According to Brown, a student activist group called Look Us in the Eyes recently formed at UMF and held a demonstration last month to express concerns about how the campus handles sexual assault cases.

“I listened to every word, and considered every request and recommendation,” Brown said. “It was a powerful event with a number of wrenching personal testimonials.”

Brown said the school is making progress to follow through on the initiatives set back in January, which includes the drafting of an addendum to the Student Conduct Code that requires the president to refer final appeals to a three-person review panel, according to Brown.

Some students and former UMF faculty believe that the methods for handling sexual assault cases were poorly managed.

Tullio Nieman, who graduated from UMF in 1976, has since served as associate dean and director of student activities at Fitchburg State University from 1996 to 2006 and later the dean of students at Endicott College from 2006 to 2008, has been involved in many judicial decisions and appeal boards in higher education. From his experience, he said it would be rare that two similar cases, such as those at UMF, be reversed in such a short period of time and that college presidents would usually have an appeal board reverse a decision rather than take on the responsibility themselves.

“I did not know President Foster personally, so I cannot comment on her performance,” Nieman said. “However I found it surprising that she made the decisions that she did.”

From his experience on judicial boards at Endicott College, Nieman recalled the pressure the board felt to make the right see UMF page 5

Keely McConomy / Photo Editor, Farmington Flyer

UMF students protest against the controversy.

page 4 The Signal April 17, 2019

PASSING THE TORCH PLANNING TRANSITIONS FOR STUDENT ORGANIZATION OFFICERS Wednesday, April 24th 11:00am-2:00pm Decker Social Space We will discuss transition planning, preparing and submitting budgets with SFB, reviewing SAF policy changes/guidelines, and setting your organization up for success in the future!

SAF Funded

Middle schoolers take tour of College campus April 17, 2019 The Signal page 5

By Victoria Giardina Staff Writer

The College’s School of Education welcomed 275 students from Joyce Kilmer Middle School and Luis Munoz-Rivera Middle School to the brick building-lined campus for its second annual Trenton Middle Schoolers Day on April 10.

The purpose of Trenton Middle School Day was to maintain the connection between Trenton Middle School and the College, specifically the school of education. Student volunteers and faculty from the education department organized this event to create an opportunity to share and spread a love for education with a young audience. The event provided the middle school students with invaluable resources to learn and plan their academic futures both in college and beyond.

Under the mentorship of student volunteers, as well as teachers and principals from JKMS and LMRMS, in Trenton, the young students were greeted with a career fair at the lower level of Decker Hall at 9 a.m., followed by a campus scavenger hunt an hour later. They cheerfully soaked in what it felt like to be a college student with a lunch at Eickhoff Hall and musical performances by Association of Students For Africa, Treblemakers, Ritmo Latina and African-American cultural Greek life at Kendall Hall at noon.

“We did a lot of work trying to get a bunch of different majors and jobs at the career fair to expose

students to different bachelor and graduate degree programs,” said Jonathan Davis, an education professor at the College and coordinator of the day. “Seeing what it is like to be a college student is our end goal.”

Eileen Heddy, the College’s Interim Director for the Support for Teacher Education Programs office, provided her perspective on a great level of reciprocity between the College and Trenton Public Schools.

“I think TCNJ has a lot to offer the community of Trenton and we have a lot to gain from a positive relationship with the community,” Heddy said.

According to Dean of the School of Education Suzanne McCotter, education students at the College begin their observation hours in an early childhood, elementary, middle or high school classroom their sophomore year and student teaching their junior year. By their senior year, they spend a full semester student-teaching.

However, the College does not view education to be a one-way street. Aside from College students gaining teaching experience at Trenton Public Schools, a district among several others in Mercer County, middle school students also have the opportunity to see how a college in their home region operates.

Kaitlynn Kelly, a freshman accounting major, commented on the experience she shared with the attending middle schoolers.

Trenton youth explore opportunities available to them through higher education.

“What I truly love about TCNJ’s educational curriculum is the incorporation of CEL Day, or Community Engaged Learning Day,” said Kelly, a volunteer for the CEL program. “It is nice to see that the education in Mercer County is being reciprocated from one academic institution to another.”

While some may believe that middle school is too early to think about choosing a major, planning a career path and heading out on campus tours, Thomas Tocci, an eighth grade mathematics teacher at JKMS, thought differently.

“The earlier they get exposed,

especially in an urban district, the more prepared they will be for to career paths going forward in high school and then into college,” Tocci said.

The scavenger hunt across campus was an informative spin on the traditional campus tour, as it enabled students to conceptualize what their interests are before rushing to figure it all out during junior year of high school like most other students considering higher education.

“When they are juniors, they might not have taken the classes they need,” Heddy said.

Paula Bethea, the principal at JKMS, also believed that earlier

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engagement for students is better.

“I remember myself during junior or senior year saying that I wanted to go to college,” Bethea said. “Being able to experience that in your eighth-grade year makes it a more tangible experience than waiting until high school.”

Bethea also noted the accomplishment of a previous student of hers, who now attends the College.

“One of my former students is (now) a College ambassador,” Bethea said. “And that is a dream as an educator to see how far my students have gone. It is more than just the college experience.”

Vital Signs: Distracted driving kills UMF / Farmington reacts to Title IX case

Texting while driving is a dangerous distraction.

By Anna Kellaher Columnist April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, according to the National Safety Council. Every day, 100 Americans are injured and at least nine are killed in distracted driving crashes. Distracted driving includes all activities that take your attention away from the task of driving, such as talking on the phone, eating, putting on makeup or setting the GPS. Making a commitment to keep your focus on the road can save your life as well as others.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration describes three main types of distraction while driving to look out for.

Visual distractions involve taking your eyes off the road, such as turning around to see passengers in the backseat or looking down at a cell phone. Manual distractions can involve taking one or both of your hands off of the wheel

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to change the radio station, move side view mirrors and adjust climate controls.

Thirdly, cognitive distractions involve taking your mind off of driving, like talking to a friend in the car. This kind of distraction can be just as dangerous as visual and manual distractions.

Texting while driving is especially dangerous since it ties together all three types of distractions. Other combination distractions, such as eating and drinking, pose the same heightened chance of injury.

It takes about five seconds to read or send a text message. That may not sound like a long time, but at 55 mph, it’s long enough to cover the length of a football field. Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 23 times, according to the US Department of Transportation.

Keep your eyes and your attention on the road at all times while driving and remind your friends and family to do the same when you are a passenger.

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

Foster explains the privacy concerns regarding the UMF case. continued from page 3 decision. During his involvement with two cases there, the president at the time overturned either the decision made by him and the judicial affairs representative. In his opinion, the president’s decision proved to be a disaster in both scenarios.

He also wondered why Foster remains bound by privacy concerns if one of the victims has come forward and revealed her identity.

“Since the victims have come forward and revealed their names, it would seem that the reluctance for the president to not give more details of her decision making is a bit odd –– she can still honor FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and discuss the assailants’ names.”

According to the initial BDN article released in January, only the first student came out with her first and last name (Chloe Woodward). The second victim in the article was only identified as, “Sierra.”

Whether atypical or not, Foster and Brown maintain that due to the legalities at

hand, she must remain silent about the specifics of the cases –– a situation with which Brown sympathized.

“Kate was the most student-centered president with whom I have ever worked, so I am certain that response has been especially hard,” Brown said. “It is compounded of course by her being unable to discuss her reasoning in the case because of privacy concerns. Rather than focusing on an incomplete picture, I would encourage students to focus on the actions she is taking now and, if possible, speak with her directly.”

Students at UMF feel that while the school needs to improve its handling of Title IX cases, the campus is doing a lot to spark change, and that there is hope for a more improved campus climate.

“I do feel that UMF is making changes,” said Aurora Bartley, a senior English major at UMF. “Part of these changes are beginning with dialogue and talking amongst ourselves, clearing the air and creating a new atmosphere.

Talking about the issue of sexual assault and justice is part of the solution.”

page 6 The Signal April 17, 2019

April 17, 2019 The Signal page 7

#IAMTCNJ monologues inspire inclusivity

By Miguel Gonzalez Photo Editor

As part of Student Government’s Diversity and Inclusion week, the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted its second annual #IAMTCNJ monologues at 8 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall on Thursday, April 11.

Eashwayne Haughton, a senior philosophy major and SG vice president of diversity and inclusion, spoke in between monologues as students and administrators shared their perspectives on both the college and their personal identities.

Senior nursing major Joseph Ballesteros, who also spoke last year, spoke up again about his background. Ballesteros said that as someone who grew up Filipino, he has dealt with being called a “dog-eater” during his freshman year living in Centennial Hall. During his time at the College, Ballesteros found support through TCNJ Barkada, the campus organization that represents Filipino-Americans on campus.

“I’ve learned to tolerate the micro and macro aggressions I face here,” Ballesteros said. “I am who I am. I have found people who are strong as I am.”

Another memorable monologue came from Bianca Cherubin, a freshman psychology major, who spoke about her pride as an African-American woman.

“My blackness, this sh*t is magical,” Cherubin said. “Did you all see my skin? This sh*t is beautiful. My blackness is what makes my skin tough.”

Cherubin spoke about the lasting effect of the derogatory term, n*****. A word she claims she and her ancestors have been called.

“N*****, if I have to hear it, you all have to hear it as well,” Cherubin said.

“Speaks light and tongue.”

Cherubin concluded her monologue by asking students what blackness meant to them. Some said that it meant they had ambition, beauty and pride.

Acting Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Ivonne Cruz followed by speaking about her journey from being a student at what was then Trenton State College to rising to her current position. Cruz insists that her 29 years at the College has helped make it her second home.

Initially, Cruz had difficulty adjusting to Trenton State as a first-generation college student in part because it was harder for her to communicate with her parents as much as she would have liked.

“No cell phones, no emails,” Cruz said. “There was a phone at the end of the hallway if I was lucky. I timed it right and (got) my parents to call.”

In her time as an undergraduate at Trenton State, Cruz found support by joining Union Latina and the Minority Mentoring program, a precursor to the College’s current PRIDE Mentoring Program.

In her current position, Cruz strives to be a mentor and create an inclusive student community.

“I am privileged to be in this role,” Cruz said. “This is a new direction we are going in. I take this position seriously because this place is home. This is personal to me. It’s not about getting titles, credit or money.”

College President Kathryn Foster took the stage and emphasized the perspectives she brings to the College. Foster first explained different life experiences, or lack thereof, that help formed her present identity. She talked about her experience not being a mother or a military veteran.

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

Don Trahan discusses the College’s new diversity initiatives.

She further announced that she was not a bible believer and how she has not brought religion and spirituality to their life. She also admitted she has never worked a job that involved punching a time clock.

Foster said that her experiences with diversity –– she served as a Peace Corp volunteer in Swaziland –– and her experience as a kidney donor also helped her become the person she is today.

As a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, Foster had immersed herself in a new culture.

“You are the other,” Foster said.

“You are the visitor. You are the person that’s not like anyone else. And that has been an incredible experience for me as a person grown with a lot of privilege.”

At the same time, because of her minority status there, Foster felt looked down upon as a young white woman

in Swaziland. Despite those hardships, Foster said her experience has made her a better teacher, scholar and leader.

“For two years, I experienced what it felt like to be stereotyped and thought of poorly,” Foster said. “What it felt like to not be listened to. What it felt like to be treated (like), ‘oh, you’re just a woman.’”

Ten years ago, one of Foster’s close friends fell ill, which is when she decided to donate her kidney. After going through physical and mental tests, Foster learned her kidney was a match.

On March 23, 2009, Foster became a kidney donor, and although her friend eventually died, she is grateful to have helped someone in need.

“I can go through the rest of my life knowing I did something for someone,” Foster said. “It was probably the best thing I’ve done in my life.”

Campus Police urge students to secure property Students report vandalization of pro-life display

By Raquel Sosa-Sanchez Columnist Students receive court summons for marijuana possession On March 30 at approximately 8:37 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to a campus residence hall on account of suspected drug use.

Upon arrival at approximately 8:40 p.m., officers immediately noticed the odor of marijuana emanating from one of the rooms in the residence hall. Campus Police proceeded to knock on the door and was met with two students, whom the officers perceived to be visibly nervous.

Campus Police proceeded to question the students, asking if they had been smoking marijuana, to which one of the students responded affirmatively.

The same student proceeded to state that he had a marijuana vape pen on top of the bureau inside of the room. The pen appeared to contain a brown liquid substance that appeared to be THC oil.

At approximately 8:44 p.m., the student was placed under arrest and secured in handcuffs.

Campus Police then proceeded to search the other student with negative results.

Officers searched the room and found a glass bowl containing a

black tar-like substance believed to be marijuana resin. The other student was then placed under arrest and secured in handcuffs.

At approximately 8:52 p.m., Campus Police transported the suspects to its headquarters in marked patrol vehicles without incident. Upon arrival at approximately 9:08 p.m., the suspects were read the Uniform Mercer County Rights Form and both students opted not to waive their rights.

Both were processed and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Upon further search while processing, Campus Police discovered fraudulent Connecticut driver’s licenses belonging to both suspects.

They were then both charged with possession of false identification.

The students were then given first appearance notice forms for the Superior Court of New Jersey in addition to their respective complaint summonses.

Bias incident occurs in residence hall On March 31, at approximately 7:35 p.m., Campus Police responded to the third floor of a residence hall on the report of a “bias incident.”

Upon arrival, officers met with

faculty of the building and observed an unapproved poster that was hung on a bulletin board in the hall. The poster read, “I don’t trust something that bleeds for 30 days and doesn’t die.”

A faculty member said that the poster contained information in reference to the month of March being Women’s History Month.

The faculty member also said that she had received a message in a GroupMe chat of the residents on the floor that advised her of the poster prior to calling Campus Police. The student who advised the faculty member spoke with Campus Police and stated she did not know how long the poster had been there. She said that she had only just seen it while throwing out her trash.

Faculty told Campus Police that a floor meeting would be held regarding the incident. Campus Police took photos of the poster and advised faculty to contact its headquarters with any updates.

The case remains open.

Multiple thefts occur in Fitness Center On April 2 at approximately 4 p.m., Campus Police was contacted on account of theft. The

victim stated that he was using Campus Town Fitness Center facilities between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and had left his wallet wrapped in a hoodie in an unlocked locker in the men’s locker room.

He advised that when he returned at approximately 3:30 p.m., he found that $190 in cash had been taken from his wallet.

He stated that he spoke with Fitness Center staff, who advised him that they were not responsible for unsecured items.

On April 3 at approximately 12:15 p.m., Campus Police was contacted on account of theft of personal property in the men’s locker room of the fitness center.

The student reported that between 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on April 2, someone had removed a soccer jersey from his duffel bag in the men’s locker room. He advised Campus Police that his duffel bag was in a locker and not locked.

A search of the area was immediately conducted and yielded negative results.

Campus Police strongly recommend that students and faculty secure their property in public spaces with key or combination

locks. The case remains open.

Vandalism occurs on campus On April 4 at approximately 7:50 p.m., Campus Police responded to an incident that had occurred at the “Graveyard of the Innocents” display near the large display board between the Brower Student Center and Green Hall.

Upon arrival, Campus Police met with College students who advised that they were members of the TCNJ Students for Life organization and that three of the signs from their display had been vandalized.

One of the students stated that another member of the organization found the signs and informed him of the incident.

Upon further inspection of the vandalized signs, Campus Police observed that they appeared to have been stepped on and had coffee poured on them. The students also advised Campus Police that the metal H-shaped sign holders had been taken from the signs as well.

However, none of the red or blue flags on the display had been tampered with in any way.

Campus Police contacted dispatch to review security footage, which yielded no results.

The case remains open.

page 8 The Signal April 17, 2018

Brand / Project promotes student achievements continued from page 1

Instagram story with the caption #TCNJsaysHi. As long as the account is not private, they are entered to win Collegethemed merchandise, such as a hat or water bottle. Five winners are reposted daily on the College’s official account and different prizes are offered every week.

“One of the biggest goals was to engage the campus community and to highlight the people who have left a positive impact on the campus,” Sevak said.

Each intern also stressed how the recent tragedies at the College, including the deaths of students Jenna DiBenedetto and Charles “Charlie” Shulz, have impacted the strategies considered while producing the project.

“Unfortunately our campus has had a lot of tragedy this year — this PR program is not trying to hide away all of that,” Frolich said. “I think it’s more to embrace the culture of TCNJ and what it means to be a TCNJ student. I have a lot of pride being here. I really like this school, and I think this contest is able to show that excitement that people have for being here.”

Pecci also said how he and the other student interns had taken the recent tragedies into account when brainstorming different ideas.

“In other schools, it’s not as tight-knit,”

Pecci said in reference to the College’s response to tragedies. “There’s an emotional response rather than just a news headline.

And I think this campaign is coming in at a good time, to remind people that this is more than just a school. It’s a group of people that come together from every background.”

But one of the greatest challenges for the student interns in getting the program on its feet has been the fact that “anything could happen,” according to Frolich.

“We had to wait a while to launch this PR program, because one of the things that Dave said to us in the beginning — I’ll never forget this — ‘You never know when an unexpected situation will happen.’ (The death of DiBenedetto) happened just a couple days after,” Frolich said.

The interns are spreading the word about the College’s inclusiveness, according to O’Keefe, and the idea that the student population is “friendly and open to get to know other people.”

Each intern mentioned the importance of the word “Hi” and how just two letters can make such a big impact in welcoming members into the College community.

“We want to advertise our campus to neighboring states and even the country,” O’Keefe said. “We want more people to

Foster and former President Gitenstein say ‘Hi’ at Newark Airport.

know about it.”

Currently, more than 60 posts on Instagram use the hashtag #TCNJsaysHi as of April 13, and electronic banners throughout the campus and in Newark Airport display the new campaign, as shown on the official Instagram account for the College.

Instagram

According to the student interns, the PR program appears to be on the right track.

“I think people are starting to get more excited about TCNJ and what to post and to say to make them different from other students,” Frolich said. “I think TCNJ students are trying to see what makes them stand out.”

Faculty / Ceremony acknowledges TCNJ EMS continued from page 1

presented their respective awards and shared with the audience personal anecdotes of their favorite times and memories in all of their

collective work spaces.

Campus Police Sergeant Scott Leusner was honored with a Staff of the Year Award by his EMS students in training.

Kyra Herman, the student

president of TCNJ EMS, presented Leusner’s award along with several other members of the club’s dedicated staff.

The students agreed that no one was more deserving of

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

College faculty gather to recognize devoted educators, administrators and staff.

the award than Leusner, whom they said has been dedicated to law enforcement for 25 years, six of which have been at the College.

He has been persistent in his quest to better the relationship between the Campus Police and TCNJ EMS. “He establishes a sense of mutual respect and professionalism,” Herman said. “He inspires us all to be better EMTs and better at our jobs.”

Staff of the Year Award winner and TCNJ graduate Gem Perkins (’98) began working at the College shortly after her time as a student in 1999, which later led her to work in various offices at the College over the years.

“The best part of this award is that I get to work at TCNJ,” Perkins said. “Thank you to my colleagues for all of their support,

and for being there. I appreciate you all going with the flow.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award is granted to a staff member with 20 years or more of tireless experience at the College.

Joan Pageau of the financial assistance office was presented with the award by her friend and colleague, Wilbert Casaine, the director of financial assistance at the College.

Casaine described Pageau as “passionate about always putting the students first” and that her “dedication is unparalleled.”

Foster was glad to give recognition to faculty and staff at the College who deserved credit for their efforts.

“This is congratulations on behalf of a grateful and impressed college, for the model that you present to all of us on how to be in this world.”

SG votes on requirement for adjunct faculty office hours

By Alexandra Shapiro Columnist

Student Government voted on one organization and debated on two resolutions during its meeting on April 10.

SG first held a closed-session meeting with only members of the general assembly to discuss the performance of cabinet members and how they can improve their positions.

Next, SG opened the meeting up to the public, where it introduced a resolution, titled “In Support of Modifying the Adjunct Faculty Office Hours.”

The resolution requires that adjunct faculty members must have two office hours per week, as opposed to the current policy in which adjunct professors have no requirements for holding office hours.

SG argued that if adjunct professors

teach courses that are major requirements, they must be able to host office hours in order to foster an understanding of their major core curriculum.

College students utilize office hours often as an academic resource or to resolve concerns regarding course content, assignment reviews and general feedback.

The bill was ultimately tabled and will be further discussed at SG’s next meeting.

SG welcomed the organization Creo Consulting, whose members presented on why they should be a recognized student organization at the College.

The purpose of Creo Consulting is to provide the greater student body with opportunities to explore and gain experience in the field of business consulting.

The organization aims to build student

academic development through case interview training and practice business cases that are supplemented with presentations from industry professionals and information sessions.

The club will offer interview training services and practice cases as a non-profit to local companies and oncampus clubs to build a more engaged community throughout its process. As of now, Creo Consulting has 27 student members.

After debate, SG voted to recognize Creo Consulting as a student organization at the College.

Next, SG debated another resolution titled, “Against edTPA.” The resolution serves as an opposition to the edTPA assessment for evaluating student-teacher readiness, and urges for the New Jersey

Department of Education to revoke its implementation.

The edTPA assessment is a lengthy exam — approximately 30 pages in length. It costs $300 to take the assessment and $100 for every exam retake.

Lauren Katz, a sophomore elementary education and psychology dual major and senator of education, said that education majors at the College are receiving phenomenal instruction, and that students should not have to take the edTPA assessment.

“I have seen lots of opposition from both faculty and students within the School of Education,” Katz said.

“There are better ways to assess teacher preparedness. Teachers argue that there are other methods that assess readiness, not the edTPA assessment.”

The resolution passed after a vote by the general body.

April 17, 2019 The Signal page 9

Nation & W rld

Nielson resigns as secretary of Homeland Security

Trump says McAleenan will replace Nielson.

By Ariel Steinsaltz Staff Writer

After a meeting with President Donald Trump, Kirstjen Nielsen resigned from her position as the Secretary of Homeland Security, according to The New

YouTube

York Times.

Going into her meeting with the president, Nielsen hoped to make a plan to move forward with the situation of border security, which had long been a point of contention between her and the president.

She came prepared with a list of

ways to better the relationship with Trump, and thought in part that she could have a “reasoned conversation” with him, according to The New York Times.

In the weeks leading up to Nielsen’s resignation, the president had asked her to close entry ports at the border and stop allowing in those who were seeking asylum, of which Nielsen did not approve. During their meeting, the president wanted to ask for Nielsen’s resignation, which she ended up submitting afterward. “‘I hope that the next secretary will have the support of Congress and the courts in fixing the laws which have impeded our ability to fully secure America’s borders and which have contributed to discord in our nation’s discourse,’” Nielsen said in her letter, according to The New York Times.

Speaking out on April 8, Nielsen called the situation at the border a “‘humanitarian crisis.’”

She also made clear that she shares Trump’s goal of increasing border security, according to CBS News.

Before her resignation went into effect on April 10, the president announced that her replacement would be Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. Her resignation is part of a large shift in staffing for the Department of Homeland Security, largely organized

by White House advisor Stephen Miller, according to CBS News.

Nielsen had become known for supporting the “‘zero-tolerance’” policy enacted last year that took migrant children away from their parents as they crossed the border.

Nielsen justified the policy by saying it was continued from prior administrations and done to keep children out of danger, according to CBS News.

The resignation came while the president is trying to appear tougher on immigration in

preparation for the upcoming 2020 election.

The resignation also followed recently revealed pressure from the White House to immigration officials and the Department of Homeland Security instructing them to release detained immigrants in sanctuary cities in order to take action against the political enemies of the president, according to The Washington Post.

Despite her resignation not taking effect until April 10, Nielsen had left her Virginia home on April 8, where she expressed her gratitude to Trump before officially stepping down from her position. “‘I just want to thank the president again for the tremendous opportunity to serve this country.

I’m forever grateful and proud of the men and women of DHS who work so hard every day to execute their missions and support the homeland,’” she told reporters on April 8, CBS News reported.

Kidnapped tourist returns safely from Uganda

By Sarah Pawlowski Staff Writer On April 7, an American tourist and her guide were rescued unharmed after being kidnapped in a Ugandan national park several days earlier, according to Reuters.

Kimberly Sue Endicott and her Colongese guide, Jean Paul Mirenge, were taken at gunpoint from Queen Elizabeth National Park on April 2, according to USA Today. The publication, which identified the park as “‘Uganda’s most popular tourist destination,’” also reported that a Canadian couple spending time in the park alongside Endicott and Mirenge was robbed but ultimately left behind.

The kidnappers asked for a $500,000 ransom in order to secure the pair’s freedom, according to Reuters. CNN reported that an unnamed source “with knowledge of the exchange” confirmed the ransom as paid. According to USA Today, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed that “the United States does not pay ransom for its citizens.”

According to CNN, four men were responsible for the ambush and kidnapping. One kidnapper fled the scene as law enforcement and military officials arrived at the rescue

site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the wake of the kidnapping, forces rushed together to free Endicott and Mirenge. Ugandan authorities were aided by U.S. “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets and liaison officers,” CNN reported.

The incident sparked international responses from world leaders, including President Donald Trump, who took to Twitter, expressing that the kidnappers must be found before people could feel safe enough to visit the country, according to The New York Times.

CNN reported that upon the release of the pair, Trump tweeted, “‘Pleased to report that the American tourist and tour guide that were abducted in Uganda have been released. God bless them and their families!’”

The incident brought to light the potential dangers that come with traveling and generated important conversations about security worldwide. As reported by Business Insider, in the days after the pair’s rescue, the U.S. Department of State announced a new risk indicator for American travelers.

The department currently utilizes a four-level system of travel advisories, according to Business Insider. Level one advises travelers to “exercise normal precautions.”

Level two urges travelers to “exercise increased caution.”

Mirenge and Endicott arrive home.

YouTube

Level three urges travelers to “reconsider travel.” Finally, level level discourages travel completely, according to the State Department’s official website. Uganda is now a level two.

While social and political climates within countries are apt to change, the recent unsettling occurrence in Uganda may result in the country being watched by governments and anxious travelers worldwide.

Trump labels Iranian military force as terrorist group

The IRGC has a heavy political and economic influence in Iran.

By Viktoria Ristanovic Nation & World Editor

President Donald Trump announced on April 8 that he would be labeling

YouTube

an important and elite Iranian military force as a foreign terrorist organization, according to Politico.

The president and his aides have contemplated the action for months.

They decided to hold back until now, due to military experts warning that by not taking action, American troops will become endangered since the group — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran — is already facing multiple sanctions from the U.S., Politico reported.

However, according to Politico, Iranian officials have berated Trump’s announcement, and have warned of “‘consequences’ for U.S. troops in the Middle East.”

According to the country’s Mehr news agency, Parliament passed an emergency bill mandating that countries that detain U.S. troops should deliver them to Iran to face trial as terrorists, NBC News reported.

NBC News also reported that the Revolutionary Guard Corps was a powerful unit that has profound economic resources and that it can only respond to the rule of the country’s “supreme leader in the same category as al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.”

Trump deemed the designation an “‘unprecedented step’ that ‘recognizes the reality that Iran is not only a state sponsor of terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft,’” NBC News stated.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that “‘the Trump administration is simply recognizing a basic reality. The IRGC masquerades as a legitimate military organization, but none of us should be fooled. It regularly violates the laws of armed conflict and plans, organizes, and executes terror campaigns all around the world,’” he said, according to ABC News.

Senior State Department official Brian Hook stated that the objective is to cool down Iran’s economic investment by making the economy “‘radioactive,’” ABC News reported. Officials of the State Department reported that this would be next in the pressure campaign against Iran.

page 10 The Signal April 17, 2019

April 17, 2019 The Signal page 11

Editorial

Students should practice productive study habits

Now that we are in the final stretch of the semester, one of my more frequently asked questions as a tutor on campus is how to manage the increasing course load as the semester comes to a close. Even though some advice may vary with different classes or areas of study, there is some advice that I think applies to everyone.

Firstly, I would recommend getting a tutor for any class you are struggling in. Even though most students get a tutor near the start of the semester, it is never too late to sign up.

Tutors are free for all students at the College and are a great way to clarify what you do not know while finding other study strategies more specific to your class.

Since sessions are held weekly, they are also just a great way to make sure that you are studying a little each week and not cramming all the material before an exam.

On a similar note, students should take advantage of their professor’s office hours. I frequently take advantage of office hours to clarify material that I do not understand and have been told numerous times that I am one of the few students who actually taking advantage of the time.

More often than not, professors have said that the students who are struggling the most never come to office hours nor bother to schedule another meeting time to get help.

Whether it’s hosting office hours or group study sessions, professors make time in their busy schedules to help their students, and they want you to come to them. Even if you are not struggling in class, office hours can help you guide your studies.

There are also many smaller steps that students can take to help their studies. Ample sleep is hard to come by, but it can make a difference in the quality of your writing or your scores on tests. I have gone into many tests sleep deprived and have found myself unable to focus, which is the last thing you want if you have been studying hard.

Making sure you are studying in the right setting is equally crucial. With so many buildings across campus, you can usually find a good place to study that suits your preferences. In addition, surrounding yourself with the right people when studying is equally important.

Even though having friends around can really help to mitigate stress during this time, it’s important to make sure that they are not distracting you when you are trying to focus on your material.

That brings me to my last point— find time to relax. As important as your studies can feel, especially with final exams around the corner, it’s important that we remember to be kind to ourselves and de-stress when we feel too much pressure.

As you plan out your studies, remember to make time to hang out with friends, watch Netflix, read a book or do whatever takes your mind off the stresses of college life. After all, what we take away from our college experience will be less about the material we studied and more about the work ethic and memories we formed along the way.

— Muhammad Siddiqui Web 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.

Tutoring services can help those looking for extra help with their classes.

Flickr

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

Editorial Staff Elizabeth Zakaim Editor-in-Chief zakaime1@tcnj.edu Emmy Liederman Garrett Cecere Managing Editors liedere1@tcnj.edu cecereg1@tcnj.edu Camille Furst Nicole Viviano News Editors furstc1@tcnj.edu viviann1@tcnj.edu Christine Houghton Sports Editor houghtc1@tcnj.edu Jane Bowden Features Editor bowdenj1@tcnj.edu Nicole Zamlout Arts & Entertainment Editor zamloun1@tcnj.edu Isabel Vega Opinions Editor vegai1@tcnj.edu Viktoria Ristanovic Nation & World Editor ristanv1@tcnj.edu Lara Becker Reviews Editor beckerl3@tcnj.edu Miguel Gonzalez Photo Editor gonzam23@tcnj.edu Kalli Colacino Production Manager colacik1@tcnj.edu

Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Muhammad Siddiqui Web Editor siddiqm4@tcnj.edu Lily Firth Alexandra Parado Social Media Editors firthl1@tcnj.edu paradoa1@tcnj.edu Len La Rocca Distribution Manager laroccl2@tcnj.edu Richard Miller Opinions Assistant miller20@tcnj.edu Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Derek Falci Business/Ad Manager falcid1@tcnj.edu

“By being tested you either affirm, or recommit or double down on the processes.

You fix them, or you change policy or you support or shore up the kinds of systems or arrangements you might have. We debrief and we say, ‘OK, what went well and what could we have done better and what are the kinds of additional supports we might need?’”

— Kathryn Foster College President

“I’ve learned to tolerate the micro and macro aggressions I face here.

I am who I am. I have found people who are strong as I am.”

— Joseph Ballesteros Senior nursing major

“One of my former students is (now) a College ambassador. And that is a dream as an educator to see how far my students have gone. It is more than just the college experience.”

— Paula Bethea Principal at Joyce Kilmer Middle School

page 12 The Signal April 17, 2019

Opinions

Vandalism of abortion display detrimental to discourse

Photo Courtesy of The Students For Life

Pro-choice students deface the Green Lawn display.

By Clare McGreevy The debate over abortion rights is arguably one of the biggest dividing conflicts facing our country today. Unfortunately, the College’s campus community is evidently not immune to the drama surrounding the pro-life versus prochoice binary.

Following an almost yearly trend, the TCNJ Students for Life’s “Graveyard of Innocents”

was evidently stolen and replaced with a handwritten sign reading, “don’t make memorials to guilttrip women.” Based on a Campus Police report filed earlier this month, certain individuals (likely an anonymous pro-choice group or individual) decided to vandalize a peaceful and simple display of signs and flags representing aborted babies in the name of women’s mental health.

It goes without saying that

this is a dangerous affront to free speech, but the vandalizers’ supposition that the intention of the display was to “guilt-trip” women who have had abortions is almost even more troubling to me. As a pro-life feminist, I take this accusation very seriously and personally. Incidents like this one remind me that pro-life support is immensely misunderstood by prochoice advocates.

The Students for Life Club’s display included several signs with sensitive and sympathetic messages such as “there is hope and healing after abortion,” “society is failing these women and children” and “you are not alone.”

The display clearly exhibited sympathy for those women who are also victims, not villains, and even provided resources to help heal. While I understand that comforting messages cannot successfully bandage the wounds that these women might have, it is painstakingly obvious that the intentions of the display were not to “guilt trip” women.

There is only one foundational difference between pro-life and pro-choice beliefs –– the definitions of what or who constitutes human life. Both groups are advocates for human rights — prochoicers believe in the rights

of women to control their own bodies and lives while pro-lifers believe that the preservation of early human life often ethically supersedes this.

I am a pro-life feminist because I believe in the rightful power and freedom of women everywhere, including those women who are unborn and deserve a chance to live just like their mothers. I don’t think that this makes me a monster anymore than I think that my prochoice peers are monsters for disagreeing with me and valuing unborn life less than I do. I don’t think that it is reasonable to assume that all pro-life advocates are misogynistic oppressors just as I don’t think that it is reasonable to assume that all pro-choice advocates are murderers. These are examples of the appalling insults that believers on either side are constantly hurling at one another, and this is the type of rhetoric that prohibits understanding and mature respect between us all.

I understand that many women have painful experiences with abortion and seeing such a display, despite the pro-life attempt to provide supporting messages and resources, could be an emotionally triggering experience

for them. No situation involving abortion is easy.

But this is a college campus and we are all adults here. This is not some type of utopian community in which we ignore important political and humanitarian issues because they are unpleasant. We address them because we have to.

According to a 2018 gallup poll, pro-life and pro-choice citizens are evenly split at 48 percent each, with 5 percent undecided leftover. The right to abortion is an extremely relevant debate that can and should be addressed on college campuses, which are traditionally ridden with political activism. While a sensitive topic, abortion rights shouldn’t be ignored for the sake of hurt feelings. This is the time and place to talk about it.

I wish that everyone agreed with me, but I also understand that we all have different experiences that frame our vantage points. Pro-choice advocates are not bad or evil people — they just understand the principles of human rights differently than I do, which is something I always keep in mind. I wish that the pro-choice advocate(s) that vandalized the memorial would give the pro-life students on this campus the same respect and consideration.

‘Wrestlemania’ marks historic moment for female wrestlers

By Casey Lewis Earlier this month, more than 82,000 fans packed a sold-out Metlife stadium to watch the professional wrestling extravaganza known as Wrestlemania, according to WWE.com. The 35th edition of WWE’s biggest annual event was lengthy, clocking in a little more than seven hours, according to the New York Post. Throughout the event, fans were anticipating one special match, tuning in to watch Becky Lynch beat Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey in a triple threat match for the Raw and Smackdown Women’s championships. This wasn’t just another impressive match, but rather, a historical moment — it was the first time that Wrestlemania has ever featured a women’s match as the main event.

Women have always been viewed as inferior to men in the WWE. Only a few years ago, women’s matches were often referred to as the “bathroom breaks” of the show because they were kept incredibly short and given little significance. In fact, according to Bleacher Report, women did not even get a match at all in 10 of the 35 Wrestlemanias.

This all began to change in 2015 when WWE started to face public criticism for its treatment of female wrestlers. Since then, the company has worked to treat women’s wrestling with more respect, giving participants

more of the opportunities needed to succeed.

The WWE renamed the main title from the “Diva Championship” to the “Women’s Championship,” thus giving women more credibility. WWE began giving women the main-event slot for televised and pay-perview shows. In 2018, women even got their own pay-per-view event. Giving women the opportunity to headline Wrestlemania is by far the biggest step WWE has taken to legitimize women’s wrestling.

While it has taken far too long for women to be treated with respect in the industry, this was the perfect time for the momentous event to take place. In the past, WWE did not have the talent or big names in the women’s division to pull this off. This year, the main event features the perfect storm of some of the biggest names in the company today. The match included eight-time women’s champion and Smackdown Women’s champion Charlotte Flair, the daughter of pro-wrestling star Ric Flair. The most popular performer on the roster was Becky Lynch, who, according to Forbes, currently leads the company in merchandise sales. However, the most important part of this equation is the Raw Women’s champion Ronda Rousey. Rousey quickly became champion after leaving the UFC for the WWE a little over a year ago. Rousey made a name for herself through her quick victories in the octagon and helped elevate women to a

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Lynch holds the Raw and Smackdown Women Championship belts. higher status in the UFC. All three competitors are talented performers and big names in the industry. Their performance in Wrestlemania had a memorable feel — Charlotte Flair flew in on a helicopter while Ronda Rousey entered to a live performance of “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. All three wrestlers were more than qualified to perform under the pressure, and when the moment came, they really proved themselves.

The match received a four-out-of-five-star

rating from Bleacher Report and a B+ rating from CBS Sports. While some might argue that WWE was too late in giving women the spotlight they deserve, it is clear that timing is everything. Bringing women into the main match of pro-wrestling’s biggest annual event was the best possible move. The event did not feel like an undeserved spot on the card for the athletes involved. This spotlight was earned and these women proved to the WWE that they truly do belong at the frontlines of wrestling.

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 500 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.

April 17, 2019 The Signal page 13

Students share opinions around campus “How do you feel about the vandalized pro-life display?”

Isabel Vega / Opinions Editor

Jordanna Bernard, a freshman interactive multimedia major.

“People should have an open mind when it comes to different opinions and try to understand both sides.”

Kendel Stiles

Isabel Vega / Opinions Editor

Megan Macapagal, a freshman psychology major.

“Since it is a very touchy subject, people need to show respect for other opinions.”

“Should women receive fair representation in athletics?”

Richard Miller /Opinions Assistant

Zianab Karamat, a freshman political science major.

“Yes. It’s great to see women represented — it shows that women are just as strong as men.”

Kendel Stiles

Richard Miller / Opinions Assistant

Emily Mitchell, a freshman political science major.

“Yes, which is really great to see. Women should be equally represented.”

The Signal’s cartoon of the week ...

“Bible Believers” Protest Not As Lit As Last Year

By Tony Peroni and Vinny Cooper Correspondents Last year’s Bible Believers protest brought out some of the College’s most passionate students, counter-protesting the homophobic and misogynistic outcries of the moneygrubbing trolls who were begging to get assaulted and sue someone. But you have to admit, in hindsight, it was pretty lit.

Last year, more than 1,000 students gathered in Alumni Grove, screaming, chanting — all that jazz.

It was the talk of the town. If you didn’t go to the Bible Believers protest, you were really missing out on a sight to see.

“I really liked the big sign with all the different names on it” said Danica Pultz, a sophomore accounting major. “My favorite insult on it was ‘Anklebiter.’ What does that mean? I have no clue, but that’s what resonated with me.”

“The best part without a doubt was when the cops showed up and took me away in a headlock because I was antagonizing the Bible Believers!” said Chad Mueller, a junior open options business major, who still lives in Norsworthy because he “likes the atmosphere.”

The event made for a fantastic day on campus. Illegal vendors without business licenses were selling bootleg Tshirts, students were playing relaxing games of cornhole, dads brought their portable charcoal grills and the Zac Brown Band even showed up to perform for the huge crowd.

But alas, this year’s protest left many students underwhelmed. Instead of targeting their usual minorities, the Bible Believers were fed up with a different demographic this year.

“Down with gamers!” screeched the short man with the goatee and massive white Oakley sunglasses. “Repent or thee shall burn in eternal hellfire!”

“I really don’t understand where all this hatred is coming from.” said Paul Moccio, a senior interactive multimedia major and president of the Gamers United Society. “I’m a good Christian, I pay my taxes, but why am I doomed to face eternal hell fire? Is it because I like to relax and play games on my $1,700 custom-built PC on the weekends? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Gamers, though they were the target of the attention-craving act of hostility, were not the only ones who were disappointed with the protest this year.

Last year’s protest was considered by most students to be the “darty of the year,” which set the bar high for what type of action-packed day the Bible Believers would bring to campus. Anticipating the arrival of the ultra-conservative group, the College decided to prepare for the massive party that the group’s presence normally causes. By utilizing the recently increased tuition, the board of trustees was able to book “The Dirty Heads” to bring the sweet sounds of summer to the massive protest. Officially licensed T-shirts and snapbacks were manufactured in bulk, and the College even had the Sodexo staff grill 2,000 cheeseburgers.

This year’s Bible Believers protest was shaping up to be a Bartstool-tier rager. However, when the goateed, free speech advocate virgins finally arrived, there was nobody to scream at them. Absolutely no students showed up to look at the very offensive signs or the short white men holding them.

“Shit was lame,” said Marley Newton, a freshman biology major.

“I already get harassed by my CA on a daily basis,” said freshman philosophy major Greg Welts. “I don’t need a goateed, Oakley-sporting free speech Bible thumper to tell me that I’m a loser, too,” DISCLAIMER: This is obviously a satirical piece and does not describe a real event.

page 14 The Signal April 17, 2019

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Features

Community fights against walking dead Humans vs. Zombies event infects campus

By Elizabeth Zakaim Editor-in-Chief

Ragnarok is upon us. Or at least it was on Saturday, April 13 during TCNJ Manhunt’s annual day-long Humans vs. Zombies event. The club’s members, comprised of students, alumni and the local community, could be seen armed with their usual supply of Nerf ammunition and orange headbands as they took part in this year’s Norse mythology themed event –– Ragnarok was the “apocalypse” of the Greek mythology era.

Each year, Manhunt selects a theme through which to play Humans vs. Zombies, where the objective remains for the humans to fend off their zombie counterparts before they themselves get tagged and transform into the brain-eating creatures. The only

way for the humans to ward them off is by aiming well with their Nerf blasters, and therefore temporarily stunning them, during each of the six missions in the game. Whichever side has more members by the finale wins.

Maggie Paragian, a senior communication studies major and president of the club, served as the zombie’s moderator throughout the game. She was also in character with the theme –– she supervised each mission as Hel, the half-dead Norse goddess of the similarly named “hell,” and ruler of the underworld.

The moderator for the humans, sophomore secondary education major and Manhunt’s historian Steven Pae, played Freyja, the goddess of love. He wore a long white fur cape with an angel crown to complete his look.

Paragian wore a black corset

Photo courtesy of Steven Pae

The zombies dodge the humans’ attacks.

and petticoat, and had half of her face painted like a skeleton with a flower crown on top of her head to illustrate her distinct goddess character.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the players take the theme and run with it, and how they react to certain missions,” Paragian said. “We made them with a lot of fun intended and we were hoping the amount of fun we had in making the missions would translate while they were playing.”

Paragian helped organize each mission for the club members to take part in. During the first mission, “Frying with Freyja,” the humans had to maneuver around the zombies in order to find food for Freyja to eat. The zombie stun time was 20 seconds. The humans made it with enough time to debrief for their upcoming missions.

Sophomore computer science major Kevin Kalendeck, a human, had a great time gathering the food hidden outside between the Business Building and Bliss Hall.

“The humans have actually been doing really well this year, Kalendeck said. “We only lost around 10 people so far and it’s not that bad. The zombies always win, but this year we don’t know.”

It was soon time for the humans and zombies to face off in their fourth mission, “Everything’s Coming Up Loki.”

The zombies took turns evading humans while holding a

Photo courtesy of Steven Pae

Participants gear up for their next mission. bright red flag that gave them the temporary status of being trickster-god Loki. The humans had to defend one of their gods, Heimdall, against the wrath of his evil enemy. If a zombie got stunned, he or she had to pass the flag off to another available zombie player.

The humans assumed their positions for an offensive attack as the zombies egged them on.

“Do you wanna go,” they called as the humans on the front line kneeled with their Nerf blasters at the ready. “We all have to die someday!”

Heimdall came out alive and the humans emerged victorious.

“The humans won this mission pretty handedly,” said Jonah Dicorcia (’18). Yet he felt that while they may have won the battle, the humans would ultimately lose the war.

“We’re bleeding people,” Dicorcia said. “The humans are slowly losing out to zombies. It’s going to happen inevitably –– it’s gonna be all zombies.”

Yet, he admitted he would not be too disappointed to be turned into a zombie.

“It’s my life-long –– no, my death-long –– goal,” he said.

While the humans were happy to put up some fierce competition, they ultimately succumbed to the merciless zombies, as they do at every finale round.

“I liked seeing how people took the theme to heart and wanted to play the game honorably,” Paragian said in reflection of the event. “Whether they were human or zombie they played the game to the best of their ability and made it enjoyable to both participate and watch.”

Deephers support cystic fibrosis research

By Richard Miller Opinions Assistant

The Brower Student Center Room 100 was filled to the brim with excitement, laughter and suspenseful energy as the audience awaited an answer to an annual question –– who would be this year’s Deepher Dude?

On April 10 at 8:30 p.m., the sisters of Delta Phi Epsilon hosted their annual male beauty pageant, Deepher Dude, to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

According to its website, the foundation supports the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis while helping further improve the lives of those living with the disease.

“This is our biggest of the three philanthropy fundraisers we do each year and it means so much to us,” said Allison Longo, a junior communication studies major and vice president of programming for Delta Phi Epsilon. “It is so great to see the community come out and support such a great cause.”

The night opened with a message from Anna Payne, a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, who suffers from the disease herself. She talked about her love and appreciation for Delta Phi Epsilon’s continued support of the foundation and how it has personally impacted her.

The evening’s emcees, Nicky Howard,

a senior sociology major, and Diana Battaglia, a senior finance major, introduced the contestants, each of whom represented various organizations on campus. Such clubs included the chess team, the men’s basketball team and multiple representatives from Greek fraternities. The three judges included two Delta Phi Epsilon alumni and last year’s reigning Deepher Dude, junior biology major Conor Holden.

The contest consisted of three rounds –– outerwear, question and answer and the infamous talent round. During the outerwear round, contestants wore their favorite outfits, which included a unicorn onesie and a very small pair of overall ‘jorts.’

The question and answer round was divided into two parts. The first question was the same for all the contestants — what does Delta Phi Epsilon’s motto, Esse Quam Videri, which translates to “be rather than to seem to be,” mean to you? Answers to these questions ranged, but most answered in a joking manner. One contestant talked about how different the ‘deeph’ girls were because of this motto, another emphasized how important it was to stay true to yourself a “embrace your inner deeph.”

For the second part of this round, students were asked a series of light-hearted questions that were intended to make

the audience laugh. Questions in this round included, “finish the sentence, big deeph energy is…” and “What is your perfect date, and which ‘deeph’ would you bring along?”

After a brief intermission filled with music and food, the most important and entertaining part of the night finally arrived — the talent round. The most memorable talent was when a contestant played a variety of covers on his keyboard while he was blindfolded. Other contestants covered songs including,“Old Town Road” by Lil

Nas X, a sing-along to the Owl City hit “Firefly” and “Maybe It’s Time” from the film, “A Star is Born.”

At the end of the event, Jake Hill, a sophomore psychology major, was declared this year’s Deepher Dude.

“Deepher Dude is a fun and exciting interaction between a bunch of different organizations on campus,” said Wandally Vargas, a freshmen political science major who attended the event.

In the end, Delta Phi Epsilon raised a total $1,899 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Contestants compete to win the Deepher Dude title.

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

page 16 The Signal April 17, 2019

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April 17, 2019 The Signal page 17

: April ‘96

Campus Style

Charity concert benefits community

Photo courtesy of the TCNJ Digital Archive

Radiothon raises money for the Habitat for Humanity of Trenton.

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

This June, performers such as Miley Cyrus, Chance the Rapper and The Killers will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Woodstock in New York.

In an April 1996 issue of The Signal, a reporter wrote about the College’s version of Woodstock, “Radiothon,” which was a two-day charity concert that featured local musicians.

Radiothon ‘96, a charity concert benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Trenton, was, in the tradition of Woodstock, two days of performances, auctions and a merchandise sale consisting of CDs, posters and other music memorabilia.

WTSR Radio (91.3 FM) held its 24th annual Radiothon in the Rathskeller on Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11.

Local bands performed on the stage from 1 2 to 7 p.m. each day. AKU, Triple Vig and Half Kings, all from the Trenton area, performed on Wednesday along with All Else Failed and The Diane Linkletter Experience. Headlining on Wednesday night, from 7 p.m. until midnight, were Semi-Beings, Half Hour to Go and Moped.

The local bands that performed on Thursday afternoon were Generation 7, Silkworm, Flour, Mandolin Genesis and Fats. The lineup for Thursday evening included Duochrome, Highly I and Trip 66.

In past years, Radiothon has included

nationally-recognized bands as well as local talent of all musical genres. This year was no exception, and audience members commented on the “interesting” selection of music at this year’s concert.

The Radiothon served many purposes: it allowed everyone to enjoy l*o days of music and fun, it gave bands some exposure and it raised rooney for a charitable cause.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonProfit organization which works in partnership with underprivileged People to improve housing.

Established in 1976 to respond to the need :or belter, this organization challenges people to help renovate or wild decent homes for those who are living without adequate shelter.

As of September 1994, the Trenton chapter of Habitat for Humanity completely rebuilt six houses and as built 10 new homes in East Trenton, with new projects underway.

According to Paul Alfieri, assistant station manager of WTSR, the donation totals for Radiothon 96 are around $1,600. This total is slightly more than Radiothon received last year, and Alfieri is optimistic that even more money will be donated. He estimates that the final totals will be around $1,700$1,800, once all the money is tallied.

“I think the organization was a lot better this year than-it was last year. The quality of the bands were a lot better,” Alfieri said.

Derek Roseman (Radiothon ‘96 coordinator) started planning in August, which allowed us to get these better bands.

Lions’ Plate

Instagram

Left: Layering with jumpsuits adds detail to your springtime outfit.

Right: Pair overalls with sneakers for a light, casual look.

By Danielle Silvia Columnist Between gloomy, brisk weather and sporadic 80-degree days, figuring out what to wear in the spring can be complicated.

How do you plan out an outfit that keeps you warm during a frigid morning but won’t make you overheat later in the day?

Luckily, there’s an easy fix — layer with pieces that can be worn for every season.

1. Rompers. Rompers are definitely in style for both spring and summer. Not only are they easy to dress up or dress down, but they can be worn in nearly every type of weather. If the weather is chilly, grab a cardigan or light sweater to keep your shoulders warm. Pair solid color rompers with patterned cardigans or vice versa to strike a balance.

If the weather is warm, break out your sandals and summer hats.

2. Jumpsuits. Jumpsuits can fit the mood of practically any occasion.

They are perfect for dressy and lowkey occasions in both the summer and spring. For added detail, wear a belt and matching jewelry like a layered necklace. In the summer, wear toe rings or ankle bracelets.

3. Overalls. Overalls are truly a fashion statement that will never die out.

They are great for barbecues and other outdoor events because they are relaxed yet put together. Overalls come in all sorts of styles such as denim or khaki, so try all different types to see which goes best with your personality.

When it’s cloudy, wear a light sweater or long-sleeved shirt to keep warm.

Sweet Italian Easter Pie

Left: This sweet pastry can be eaten at any meal. Right: Pastiera di Riso, or the Easter Pie, is a traditional Italian dish.

By Shannon Deady Columnist

No family holiday celebration is complete without Pastiera di Riso, or the Easter Pie, as my family calls it. Although it is traditionally on our dessert table, my family makes so much of this dish that we eat it for breakfast, too. With sweet but hearty ingredients such as cheese, eggs and rice, pastiera di riso can be eaten at any time of the day.

The crust, or pasta frolla, for this particular pie is the sweetest part about it. Pasta Frolla is Italian for short pastry and can be used

as the base for quiches, tarts and pies alike.

Makes: 10-12 servings Ingredients: Crust Pasta Frolla: -2 cups flour -1 cup sugar -Pinch of salt -1/2 cup room temperature butter -2 eggs Filling: -1 1/2 cups Carolina rice -3 cups water (for rice)

-3 eggs -1 tsp vanilla -3 cups ricotta -1/2 cup butter -About 1 cup sugar to taste

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. For the crust, begin by combining dry ingredients before slowly adding in soft butter and eggs, and mix until dough forms. Shape into a ball and refrigerate for at least an hour.

3. To make the filling, first follow instructions for rice, placing both rice and water in

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a medium-sized pan and bringing to a boil before reducing the heat to low. Cook until the water is absorbed and the rice is sticky.

4. Remove rice from heat and add butter, sugar, ricotta and vanilla mixing until combined.

Once the mixture is room temperature, add the eggs and mix again until fully combined.

5. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll it flat on a cutting board with flour to prevent sticking. Transfer to one large pie tin or two small once properly rolled.

6. Add filling to the pie tin and place in oven for one hour.

7. Take out, let cool and enjoy.

page 18 The Signal April 17, 2019

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April 17, 2019 The Signal page 19

Arts & Entertainment

TCNJ SUCS hosts open mic night

Traditions lounge turns into evening of laughter

Left: Students take turns showing off their funny side. Right: The comedians use humor to lighten up heavy topics.

By Alexandra Bonano Staff Writer

The Traditions lounge, which was bustling with noise and conversation, was filled with an audience that was ready to enjoy a night of laughter at the Stand Up Comedy Society’s Open Mic Night on Friday, April 12 at 8 p.m. The stage was open to the public, and anyone from the audience was encouraged to take a shot at delivering a comedic performance for the crowd.

Those who were brave enough

to get up and perform admitted that they were making up jokes on the spot, which put their comedic abilities to the test.

Acting as the emcee for the night was Jason Thorpe, a sophomore history and secondary education major, who is an active member of TCNJ SUCS. “The goal is, generally, for our members to come out or even just anybody to come out and get a chance to try their hand at stand up,” Thorpe said.

As stated in the beginning of the show by Thorpe, the goal for

most of the acts is to last up on stage for at least five minutes, or long enough to perform a full set.

This is seen as a major accomplishment for those who are new at stand-up.

Most participants told their jokes in the form of stories or small anecdotes. The stories told of antics like of how one performer’s friend ruptured their spleen after a fun night out, or how another told of their experience with paranoia when smoking weed and their knowledge of hard drugs.

All the acts consisted of topics

that could be considered raunchy or even too taboo to be joking about, such as sex, alcohol and partying, –– not to mention the many expletives thrown around throughout the bits.

Despite these being such serious topics, the acts mixed their severity with a sense of fun and lightheartedness to elicit laughter.

“I’ve always loved and been interested in comedy, especially comedy shows like this,” said Allison Glantzberg, a junior physics major. “I would like to think that at some point I would

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

have the courage enough to go up there and perform.”

The purpose of this open mic night was to allow audience members to practice their standup skills while expressing their individual comedic tastes — the lounge became a space where college comedians step outside of their comfort zones.

“I admire how this event is a place for laughs and no judgement,” Glantzberg said of the event. “I think we need more things like this that promote that kind of environment.”

CUB Alt show strikes chord with audience

Bladh livens up the crowd with her distinctive sound.

By Len La Rocca Distribution Manager

The vibrant hues of the stage lights fused together to form a polychromatic aura of turquoise, purple and red, which set the scene for a night of alternative rock and entertainment. The CUB Alt Show captivated campus on Friday, April 12 at 6 p.m. in the Brower Student Center

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

Room 225.

Four bands stopped at the College on their tours across the country to shred their guitars, clamor their drums and sing their hearts out to college students seeking an alternative getaway.

The bands on the ticket were Career Opportunities, Fruits and Flowers, Leggy and the headliner, Slow Pulp.

The lineup’s hints of alternative magic

stirred up a mix of head-banging, hipswaying and mind-calming music in the diverse, modern era of alternative rock.

Slow Pulp produced tropical sounds that made for a soothing experience for the audience. The prowess of the band was evident in its teamwork — with every drum beat and guitar strum, every member was on the same page.The band performed without hiccups and delivered a cosmic-sounding guitar solo that melted faces.

Wrapping up their set, guitarist and vocalist Emily Massey showed hope that the growing band would continue to make strides toward greatness.

“Thank you everybody,” Massey said. “(This is) our first show in New Jersey and not our last!”

Slow Pulp took the stage after Career Opportunities, a band based in Toms River that performed a new EP called “Nothing, No One, Past Gone.”

The band members began their set by going full throttle with aggressive drums and beaming electric guitar. The track then calmed with low, strung-out singing floating atop light drums and an ambient, high-pitched guitar. A guitar solo ensued, which left the crowd in a satisfied daze.

In an interview after his set, Kahn paid homage to his artistic influences.

“Some of my influences are jazz rock based,” he said. “I love The Fall of Troy or George Benson. Our EP just dropped a month ago. It’s called ‘Nothing, No One, Past Gone’ and it’s available everywhere. Spotify and everything.”

Up next came Fruits and Flowers from Brooklyn, who brought a psychedelic take on alternative rock to the College.

The instrumental lineup was quite diverse — two guitarists, a drummer and a synth machine player wielding a saxophone. The combination was vibrant and mystic.

Once lead singer Caroline Yoder presented her sweet-sounding vocals, a trance was set upon the entire room.

“You better run, run baby as fast as you can,” Yoder sang. “You’ll be a sorry man if I ever see you again.”

Yoder couldn’t help but notice how different the College atmosphere was from her usual Brooklyn setting.

“It was a good time,” Yoder said.

“Definitely different from NYC.” Leggy, a band based in Cincinnati, Ohio, was up next. The guitarists sported an elegant, aqua blue guitar and a stunning all-white guitar. The band described its sound as “lush punk” and brought personality to the show with ripping guitar solos, anthemic singing and humor.

“For real if anyone has meal swipes we’ve been talking about going to a College cafeteria,” said lead singer Véronique Allaer.

The band’s humor persisted throughout the set.

“Do you have a soft-serve machine?” asked guitarist Kerstin Bladh. “Yes? Then we want to go.”

In all, the performances left audiences laughing and rocking out throughout the night.

page 20 The Signal April 17, 2019

April 17, 2019 The Signal page 21

“Shazam!” features new kind of hero

YouTube

Billy becomes the new wizard champion in the movie.

By Amani Salahudeen Staff Writer

In the midst of recent criticism that DC comic movies are “too dark” or “too serious,” the new film “Shazam!” provides a much needed breath of fresh air.

“Shazam!” details the captivating adventure of a foster child who becomes a superhero. Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is just an ordinary boy who encounters the extraordinary every time he says the word “shazam!”

While jumping from home

to home, grappling with adolescence and trying to find his birth mother, Billy finds himself in the middle of a superhero story. He soon befriends Freddy, who leads him to the wizard, Shazam.

Shazam selects Batson as a new wizard champion, who now has the ability to transform into an adult version of the wizard (Zachary Levi). The two then work together to combat the evil that is Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).

“Shazam!” is different from previous DC superheroes in that Batson is separated from his mom at a young age and never gives up in his journey to find her. It also has a much lighter and more colorful tone than previous films in the DC canon.

The cast thankfully looks like they are real kids and not 20-somethings playing the roles of young people, which is what usually happens. This gave the film a more realistic look, and was different from most of the characters I have seen in both Marvel and DC Superheroes.

The dialogue between some of the characters was engaging, and Batson’s responses and ideas actually sounded like things a kid his age would say, rather than sounding far

too old or too rigid.

One criticism I have is that the dialogue and relationships between the protagonist and the antagonist were both lacking. Within the script and the writing in general, I think there is certainly a lot of room for improvement.

The fight scenes were also not as good as the other superhero movies and shows that I have seen. I was left feeling a bit disappointed, as the action often lacked thrill.

Similar to other Marvel and DC superhero movies, “Shazam!” also has two postcredit scenes, so keep an eye out for those. Fans of “Shazam!” will be thrilled to know that there will be a sequel and the same writer (Henry Gayden) will come back to add his own magic to the next movie.

“Shazam!” is a familyfriendly comedy that’s about more than meets the eye. It not only shows a young boy encountering things beyond his wildest dreams, but also documents him on his journey to believing in himself.

The movie is about realizing that anyone has the power and potential to become a superhero, as long as it’s for the right reasons.

Jazz Ensemble transforms Kendall stage

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

Band Name: Centennials Album Name: Fin Release Number: 2 Hailing From: North Brunswick, New Jersey Genre: Indie Rock Label: Independent The Centennials are another prime example of New Jersey’s distinct indie music scene. Self produced and mixed, the groups latest EP features an interesting blend of heavy drums and chord progression that put you in a trance.

Each one of the melodies whisks you away into a focused state of mind. It’s the type of album to leave on in the background while doing some studying spending a nice relaxing day at home. However, I feel like their lycial craft leaves much to desire and often feels overbearing during the songs’ progressions. While they’re currently on hiatus to work on a full length album, I am interested to see what’s next for the group.

Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor

Left: The sound of the saxophones ring through the music hall. Right: Students showcase their musical abilities.

By Ariel Steinsaltz Staff Writer

Music burst through the air during the Jazz Ensemble’s performance on Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m. in Kendall Hall.

The ensemble, directed by Assistant Director of Music Gary Feinberg, opened with “Strike up the Band” by George Gershwin. After the first performance, Feinberg explained the show’s theme, which was a combination of swing, blues, bebop, hip hop and rock.

The band then played “Emancipation Blues” by Oliver Nelson, which is an important piece to Feinberg due to its ability to fuse African-American and mainstream jazz while bringing back the blues and gospel roots. The song began slow but transitioned to an upbeat melody, which pleasantly surprised audience members.

This selection was followed by the ballad “Carla” by Bob Mintzer and “Cold Sweat” by James Brown. Feinberg told the story of Brown being given the chance to open for the Rolling Stones in the 1960s

only for the Stones to say that they didn’t want to perform after him. According to Feinberg, the piece was special because it was the first funk tune and only includes one chord shift. The song, which included many solos, was also loud and upbeat.

“One of the things that a jazz band does, a student jazz band, is you do a lot of sight reading,” he said. “So from the beginning of the semester we read a lot of charts.”

Before a brief intermission, the crowd was serenaded in “Donna Lee” by Charlie Parker. Feinberg described this as a bebop song, which was a transformative movement in the revolution of jazz following an oppressive era in music.

Popular film and TV scorer Gordon Goodwin from the famed “The Incredibles,” made his song “Whodunnit” popular with the crowd.

Pat Metheny, a 20-time Grammy winner, was featured in a “Latin rock” song called “Have You Heard” with a seven-beat cycle that Feinberg said makes it hard to dance to.

A diversion from the tone of the program

took form in “Take The ‘A’ Train” by Billy Strayhorn. Feinberg explained the nostalgic side of this piece, saying it is a song that everyone should know.

David Cohn, a freshman psychology major, played the trombone in the show. When asked which song was his favorite, he said, “I like ‘Take the ‘A’ Train,’ it’s a classic.”

Feinberg explained that the jazz band is a class that has been rehearsing twice a week since the beginning of the semester.

After the show, Feinberg explained why he chose the songs for the show. “From the charts we read, I just picked out charts that the band sounded good on a couple weeks ago.”

“Jazz band is a super fun experience and I really enjoyed this concert,” Cohn said.

Gaia Hutcheson, a freshman music education major who came to the show to support her friends in the jazz band, said that although she doesn’t know much about jazz, she enjoyed the music.

“The jazz band is always really, really good,” she said. “Everyone is dedicated and wonderful.”

Band Name: Interpol Album Name: Marauder Release Number: 6 Genre: Alternative, 2000s Rock Label: Matador With the release of Marauder, Interpol further solidifies its influence on the alternative rock scene. This album is able to adapt and improve upon its classic Interpol elements. Like other Interpol songs, tracks such as “If You Really Love Nothing” and “The Rover” contain simplistic, yet memorable guitar riffs that encapsulate the alternative sound of the early 2000s. Fortunately, Interpol does not follow the trend of declining quality that haunts many other 2000s alternative bands; rather, Interpol sticks to its guns and is able to create a well produced album.

page 22 The Signal April 17, 2019

April 17, 2019 The Signal page 23

Sports Softball

Sweet, Namit dominate in NJAC play

By Malcolm Luck Staff Writer

After winning 13 straight games, including 10 consecutive conference victories, the softball team looks poised to make a deep playoff run in its 2019 season.

Most recently, the Lions dominated the University of Rutgers-Camden and Montclair State University in a pair of doubleheaders, holding their opponents to no runs over the course of the four games. This marks the team’s fifth consecutive shutout for the College’s dominating pitching staff, which was anchored by sophomore starting pitchers Eliza Sweet and Alanna Namit.

The doubleheader against RutgersCamden was held on April 10 following postponement due to rain just one day prior. In the first match, Sweet tossed another complete game shutout in a game where the Lions’ offense was relatively stagnant.

The team’s first runs weren’t posted until the bottom of the third inning. Senior catcher Jess McGuire scored junior infielder Megan Mayernik with an RBI single up the middle. Just one inning later, senior outfielder Gaby Bennett crossed home plate as an insurance run to extend the lead to 2-0. This would prove to be the final score as the Lions

captured the first of two games.

In the second match, a two-run single from sophomore infielder Elyse Nardozza in the bottom of the fourth was more than enough support for Namit. Namit allowed just two hits in her complete game shutout, sending Rutgers-Camden back home with just five hits over its two games against the College.

Montclair State couldn’t find an answer for the dynamic duo of Sweet and Namit in its doubleheader against the Lions on Saturday, April 13 either.

The Lions struck early in the first game, scoring their first run off the bat of sophomore infielder Lauren Conroy.

Her RBI double in the first inning set the table for McGuire’s two-run homerun one batter later. Before Sweet took the mound for the first time, she found herself on the right side of a 3-0 score.

Insurance runs were added in the fifth and sixth innings, but Sweet was locked in, as she allowed just four hits over seven innings and struck out five.

She improved her record to 10-2 on the season, as the Lions won by the final score of 5-0.

Namit followed with a gem of her own, tossing another complete game shutout while striking out eight.

The bulk of the offense came in the fifth inning to provide some late support

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

McGuire high-fives a teammate after a successful play.

for the team’s starting pitcher. A two-out rally was ignited with back-to-back singles from Mayernik and sophomore outfielder Katie Winchock.

Conroy ripped a two-run triple to center field to bring them home followed by an RBI single to right center field from

Lacrosse

McGuire to score the fourth run of the game — 4-0 was the final score, marking the 13th consecutive victory for the Lions.

Next up for the team is a road matchup against the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s basement dweller New Jersey City University on Saturday, April 20.

Track and Field

Women crush RU-Camden Lions run in Invitational

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Karnitsky moves to score her first career goal.

Carter sprints to her record time in the 100-meter hurdles.

By Christine Houghton Sports Editor

By Jordan Washington Staff Writer

Taking to the road this past week, the College’s lacrosse team was successful against both Rutgers University-Camden on Tuesday, April 9 and Salisbury University on Saturday, April 13.

Rutgers-Camden proved to be no match for the team, as it fell to the Lions 20-2. Less than half a minute into the game, the College started putting up a tally that would result in a 13-1 lead going into halftime.

Junior attacker Kasey Donoghue scored first off an assist by junior attacker Olivia Cleale.

About two minutes later, Cleale offered her help again, this time to junior midfielder Allie Gorman, and the pair put the Lions up 2-0.

In the first half, Cleale would score three times. Donoghue, junior midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick and junior defender Jessica Allen contributed two of their own goals while Gorman and sophomore midfielder Erin Jaffe both added one.

Coming back from the half with a 12point lead, the Lions were anything but merciful as they continued their scoring run. Junior attacker Talia Bouzakis started the scoring run off with an unassisted goal.

Jaeger found the net twice, while Gorman and freshman attacker Emma Karnitsky had a goal each. Graduate student midfielder Erin Harvey contributed two goals in the second half, with her last one closing out the game for the Lions.

On Saturday, April 13, the Lions traveled to Salisbury where they unfortunately fell 8-7.

In response to an early two goals by Salisbury, the Lions went on a four-goal scoring run with Donoghue scoring two, one assisted by Jaeger, and both Harvey and Fitzpatrick scoring one. The game would be tied 4-4 going into halftime. In the second half, Donoghue scored once, assisted by Fitzpatrick, while Cleale scored twice unassisted.

The Lions return to the field on Thursday, April 18, when they take on Colorado College at home.

The men’s and women’s track teams competed in the Hopkins/Loyola Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, April 12.

In an overall successful day for the Lions, Junior Kaila Carter made history by running the fourth fastest 100-meter hurdles time in the College’s history since 2000, blazing in at 14.77. In the same event, she finished second to a D1 runner from Towson University.

The women’s team had a successful day in the relay races as well. In both the 4x100-meter race and the 4x400meter race, the Lions took second place in a very competitive field. Junior Hailey Bookwalter ran into third place in the 3000-meter race with a time of 11:54.56, while junior Katie La Capria finished in fourth at 2:18.22 in the 800-meter race.

Carter also finished fourth in the long jump at 5.27 meters.

The Lions finished well in the javelin competition, led by freshman Amanda Murillo, who threw for 35.78 meters and

finished in third.

The men also performed well, as junior Mike Zurzolo finished second in the 3000meter steeplechase with a time of 9:46.60.

In the 5000-meter race, junior Luke Pacini finished in third with a time of 15:56.40.

Freshman Brett Schuett was seventh in the 400-meter race with a time of 52.01 and sophomore Anthony Lorenc finished in eighth place in the 100-meter race with a time of 11.29. The 4x100-meter race and the 4x400-meter race relay teams also did well with respective fifth and seventh-place finishes.

Juniors Jarryd Ley and Tim Reilly did an amazing job for the Lions’ field team.

Ley had a fifth-place finish in the hammer throw with 39.84 meter mark. Reilly jumped 12.71 meters in the long jump competition, which was good enough for a fifth-place finish as well.

The men’s and women’s teams will be back in action for the Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday, April 19 in Princeton, as well as the Widener Invitational from Friday, April 19 to Saturday, April 20 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Sports

Signal

Men win NJAC, Gavornik hits 100

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The players and their coaches pose with their championship trophy.

By Christine Houghton Sports Editor

It was a busy week for the Lions as men’s tennis took on both Rutgers University-Newark and Camden in a doubleheader on April 10, the University of Rochester on Saturday, April 13 and Goucher College on Sunday, April 14.

The women went up against Rochester on Friday, April 12 and then Rensselaer Polytech Institute on Saturday, April 13.

Going up against RutgersNewark, the College shut out its opponent 9-0, sweeping all singles and doubles matches.

Against Rutgers-Camden, the team produced the same shutout

result, winning yet again 9-0 and the NJAC conference title.

With four wins on the day, a singles and doubles match against each opponent, senior Tim Gavornik was able to hit 100 career wins.

On Friday, April 12 the women’s team took on Rochester at home and went on to win 6-3.

The team swept all three doubles matches and won three out of six singles matches.

Junior Audrey Chen and seniors Grace Minassian and Alyssa Baldi won their singles matches in two sets each.

The next day, the men’s team took on Rochester and won by a score of 6-3 as well. Following the women’s match to a T, the team swept its doubles matches and took half of the singles matches. Seniors Mitchel Sanders and Matt Puig won both their singles matches in two sets and freshman Matthew Michibata won his in three sets.

On Saturday, April 13, the women went head-to-head with Rensselaer, winning the match 8-1. The team of freshmen Liya Davidov and Katrine Luddy came out with an 8-6 doubles win. Minassian and Baldi took their doubles match 8-4 and the pair of Chen and freshman Sarah Phung also won its match 8-4.

Davidov, Chen and freshman Navya Yemula all won their singles matches in two sets. Davidov won 6-1 and 6-2, Chen was victorious 6-2 and 7-6 and Yemula closed out the match 6-1 and 6-3. Luddy and Baldi came out on top in their

singles matches in three sets each, with Luddy’s final set being 10-8 and Baldi’s being 6-1.

The next day, the men’s team took on Goucher at home, resulting in an 8-1 win and a full sweep of all matches by both teams. The team was able to sweep all three doubles matches and five out of six of its singles matches.

Gavornik and Michibata won their doubles match by a score of 8-5 and the team of Sanders and junior Gokul Murugesan won 8-2. Closing out doubles, Puig and sophomore Andrew Mok took their match 8-6.

Michibata, Gavornik and senior Achyuth Balijepalle all took their singles matches in two sets. Michibata won both sets 6-1, followed by Gavornik taking his match 7-6 and 6-2.

Balijepalle closed out the match, winning his sets 6-3 and 7-5.

Freshman Justin Wain and Puig both came out on top in their singles matches after three sets each. Wain won his final two sets with a 6-0 shutout and Puig won his final set 6-3.

The Lions return to the court April 24, as the men take on Stevens Institute of Technology. The women will face Haverford College on April 26.

Baseball

Baseball bashes conference opponents

By Miguel Gonzalez Photo Editor

The Lions kept on winning this past week, as they defeated Farmingdale State College and swept New Jersey Athletic Conference foes Stockton University and New Jersey City University.

During a Tuesday afternoon at George Ackerman Park, the baseball team halted Farmingdale State’s 13-game winning streak and smashed its opponent 10-1 on April 9. Leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the team exploded with eight runs. Senior infielder Danny Borup led the offense’s performance with four hits.

After the offense’s powerful inning, the team cruised by as freshman pitcher Tom Kelly blanked Farmingdale. By the end of his start in the bottom of the sixth, Kelly racked up seven strikeouts and only allowed three hits. The Lions then utilized a trio of pitchers to seal the win.

The team’s offense then transformed into a well oiled machine in a two-game series against Stockton University. Starting off with a another home match on Thursday, April 11, the baseball team chopped Stockton’s defense and won 17-1. Junior catcher David Cardona III and senior infielder Ryan Fischer led the offensive blitz,

Lions Lineup April 17, 2019

I n s i d e

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Felipe winds up to pitch during four scoreless innings.

as they both recorded three hits.

Moreover, 10 players recorded a hit, forcing Stockton to utilize a staggering six pitchers. In the midst of the blowout, senior pitcher Andrew Rowan left Stockton dry, allowing only one run and tossing a complete game.

Softball page 23

The Lions didn’t miss a beat when they obliterated Stockton again 12-1 in Pomona, New Jersey on Friday, April 12. While the offense continued to pound Stockton, the Lions turned to freshman infielder/ pitcher Matt Volpe and sophomore pitcher Joseph Felipe for solid pitching. Volpe

Track and Field page 23

managed to surrender only one run and Felipe tossed out four scoreless innings.

Heading into a doubleheader at home on Saturday, April 14, the Lions stood on top of conference with a 7-1 conference record. Their next opponent, New Jersey City University, didn’t appear to be strong opponents on paper as it stood second to last in the NJAC. When the two teams clashed, the Lions found themselves in a contentious match when they first defeated NJCU 3-0. Junior pitcher Peter Nielsen and NJCU junior pitcher Ian Ambrose entered into a duel. While Ambrose gave up three runs by the top of the fifth inning, he blanked the Lions offense for the rest of the game.

On the other hand, Nielsen tossed a complete game and struck out nine batters. The Lions then dismissed NJCU in the second game, shutting it out 9-0. Not to be outdone by his teammate, junior pitcher Michael Walley also pitched a strong shutout.

After going undefeated this past week, the Lions remain on top of the NJAC with an overall 23-3 record. The team is set to compete in another home conference match against Rowan University on Thursday, April 18.

Lacrosse page 23