The Signal: Fall '18 No. 11

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Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLIX, No. 11

Pro-life activist defends political position

Miguel Gonzalez / News Editor

Hawkins is against abortion.

By Miguel Gonzalez News Editor

In the aftermath of this year’s contentious midterm election, TCNJ Students for Life held a presentation titled “Lies Pro-Choice Politicians Tell” on Nov. 7 at the Kendall Hall Main Stage Theater. The student organization invited Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, to debunk five myths of the pro-choice movement and how abortion undermines the mental health, physical health and dignity of women, according to the speaker.

Growing up in Wellsburg, West Virginia, Hawkins did not know about abortion because the subject was not discussed in her house, school or local church. By the age of 15, she favored the pro-life movement after first volunteering in her town’s crisis pregnancy center, a non-profit organization established to counsel pregnant women against having abortions. During her first day at the center, she vividly remembered how excited she was until she saw many clients around her age. At the time, the nearest abortion clinic to her hometown was 42 miles away in Pittsburgh. According to Hawkins, the majority of pregnant women were discouraged by the long trip. Looking back on her time as a volunteer who helped persuade women to not seek abortions, Hawkins appreciated that the center provided a safe environment for grieving clients who recently found out that they were pregnant. With that experience in mind, she asserted that college students are too distant from the issue to understand the struggles pregnant women deal with. see DEBATE page 5

Eickhoff reflects on his tenure as College President By Colleen Rushnak Staff Writer Former College President Harold Eickhoff’s name has long been part of the student body’s vocabulary — phrases like “Want to get Eick after class?” or “I live in Eickhoff Hall” are commonplace — yet many students are unaware of the scope of the impact he had on the College. Eickhoff was president of the College from 1979 to 1998 and played a large role giving the College a more elite reputation. When asked about his favorite part of his presidency, Eickhoff said “Watching it happen.” Before his tenure in Ewing, New Jersey, Eickhoff grew up in a much different part of the country. He was born in Kansas and grew up during the Great

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Depression as the youngest of five children. From a young age, Eickhoff’s mother was his main source of inspiration. Even though his family lived in poverty and lacked electricity and plumbing, her positivity never waned. “She was one of the most optimistic people I have ever met,” he said. “She believed that life should be joyful.” Even when she lost two of her sons, one in an accident and the other during World War II, his mother still managed to bounce back after trying times. The lessons he learned from his mother helped him during his time as the College’s leader. “I believe that from her I got this notion that life should be joyous,” Eickhoff said. “And when I was

Nation & World / page 7

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November 14, 2018

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president, I had to set this tone. It is a way to live — to appear as a person who believed that education should be fulfilling, as hard as it is sometimes.” Eickhoff was also inspired to devote his career to education by the writing of former U.S. President James Madison. “If I were to lead to a conclusion that I find that what ails us more than almost anything, it’s the fact that our education system is dysfunctional,” he said. “James Madison said,‘Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and the people who mean to govern themselves must be equipped with the power that knowledge gives.’ There it is. Why I found my niche in education.” see PRESIDENT page 14

Editorial / page 9

Aoki ‘takes the cake’ during Fall Concert

Aoki’s EDM tracks energize the crowd. By Nadir Roberts Arts & Entertainment Editor

Students, friends and other guests of the College made the Energizer Bunny look like a measly little ball of fur when the effervescent and lively crowd hopped into the Recreation Center ready to fist pump and dance to American electro house DJ Steve Aoki on Friday, Nov. 9 at the College Union Board’s Fall Concert. Aoki makes remixes and original music with everyone across the musical spectrum –– he has worked with big name artists including The Chainsmokers, Kid Cudi, Daddy Yankee, Desiigner, Lincoln Park, Travis Barker and many more. “Steve, Steve, Steve, we want Steve,” the crowd shouted shortly after DUCKWRTH’s opening performance. To add to the EDM and techno vibe of the night, foam flashing LED sticks were thrown to many people in the crowd, illuminating the black sea of the audience with spurts of white.

Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor

Granting the crowd their wishes — Steve Aoki finally appeared. His long hair bounced as he ran through the long platform in his yellow and black track suit and faced the crowd. “What’s up New Jersey!” Aoki shouted. To kick off the bass-filled night, Aoki started his performance with “Shakalaka,” an EDM song with a mariachi twist, that electrified the crowd. With strobe lights that were flashing at an extremely incredible rate, the crowd reveled in the sensory stimulation. Aoki kept the hype and excitement going the whole night as the crowd waited for the climactic bass to burst with increasingly loud sirens. “I wanna make sure that we go crazy all the way till the end,” Aoki said. He stood at his DJ booth which was split by a screen on the lower half, but was still synchronized with a screen behind him, creating the perfect jumbotron-esque see LOUD page 13

Stigmonologues counter detrimental assumptions about mental health By Lara Becker Correspondent

Junior psychology major Rachel Craig said she first witnessed mental health discrimination from her own doctor. “‘I always worry if I’m in a room with someone like that in case they become violent or something, you know?’” These are words from her doctor she will never forget.

Opinions / page 11

Features / page 14

Craig was surprised to hear someone with so much credibility making such judgements — she assumed a doctor would understand that mental illness does not automatically equate to violence or insanity. Co-sponsored by the College’s Psychology Club, Active Minds, the Public Health Communication Club, TriSigma and the Panhellenic Society, the College’s Counseling and Psychological

Services Peer Educators presented “Stigmonologues,” an annual event during which students present their personal experiences dealing with the stigma that surrounds mental health. The phrase “You are not alone” flashed across a projector screen behind the presenters, who spoke on Nov. 5 in the Education Building Room 212. see HEALTH page 14

Arts & Entertainment / page 17

Sports / page 24

Lions Plate Learn to make restaurant-style Buffalo Chicken Dip

Soloist Night Students perform both covers and originals

Women’s Rugby Lions complete 4-0 undefeated season

See Features page 15

See A&E page 17

See Sports page 23


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