The Signal: Spring ‘17 No. 13

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Vol. XLVI, No. 13

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

PRISM charity show not a drag

By Kelly Corbett Staff Writer Grab a free condom and a raffle ticket, and take a seat.

Kesha and Lady Gaga tunes blasted in the background as a mix of performers channeled their inner diva and took the stage. They looked so flawless, you might have mistaken them for Beyoncé.

Soon a posse of fraternity brothers only wearing Calvin Klein underwear, socks and glitter pranced across the floor, collecting money in Easter baskets. Dollars waved in the air, but for a good cause.

At PRISM’s Annual Charity Drag Show on Thursday, April 20, it didn’t feel like the Brower Student Center anymore, but a galaxy far, far away where Miss Queen of the Universe would be crowned.

The celestial spectacle brought in money for HiTops in Princeton, N.J., which is a youth education center that provides LGBTQ+ services, such as support groups and youth

April 26, 2017

External firm audits SFB over SAF usage

By Olivia Rizzo Staff Writer

from Trenton, N.J., Rhedd Rumm from Asbury Park, N.J., and Princess Sequoia from Florence, N.J. The night wouldn’t be complete, however, without student performers who competed for the title of Miss Queen of the Universe.

At its latest meeting on Wednesday, April 19, the Student Finance Board discussed the circumstances of a recent external audit.

According to Student Finance Board Executive Director Robert Mitchals, Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht had invited an external firm to audit the Student Activity Fee. According to Mitchals, the board was not properly notified that this external audit was going to occur, and the Office of Student Affairs did not seek input of students or the board.

“We welcome all audits,” Mitchals said. “In the past, we have audits conducted by the College, but we’ve never had one done by an external firm before.”

Executive board members of the SFB met with consultants from CohnReznick on March 18 to discuss the way the board allocates funds to student organizations.

During the meeting, board members became concerned with the line of questioning from the consultants, and they began to question the level of independence and objectivity of the audit.

“They flat out told us the way we run things is wrong,” said Alexandra Wallach, SFB’s financial director. “It felt like this audit was looking for something wrong. That they went in with a mindset that everything is wrong.”

Currently, when an organization requests funding for an event, they must break down

see DRAG page 22

see FUNDS page 5

Meagan McDowell / Staff Photographer

Student and professional performers take the stage for HiTops. forums. The night consisted of student acts and professional local acts donning the most fabulous of attires, while treating the audience to some stellar moves and lip-synced tunes.

The event was hosted by drag queen alumna Davida Sky (’16), who took the stage in a green and black

Students find College water drinkable after investigation

By Elizabeth Zakaim Reviews Editor

The first time freshman journalism major Dylan Calloway wondered about the College’s water quality was when he saw a picture of a moldy pipe near Eickhoff Hall on TCNJ.snap. This inspired him and several other students to research further into the College’s water quality, as part of a group project for their journalism class, Writing for Interactive Multimedia.

“It was just to raise awareness,” Calloway said.

“If someone becomes aware, then they might spread (that concern) to somebody else, and we’ll all become more well aware.”

With videos of Flint, Mich., citizens setting their water on fire, students have become concerned about their own drinking water’s quality. The issue in Flint sparked pushes for lead testing in institutions nationwide, including the College.

Heidi Cho, The Signal’s news assistant and a freshman journalism major who is in Calloway’s journalism class, was shocked when Calloway spoke about the picture of the moldy pipe on campus, so she tried to do some digging.

The pipe, located near Eickhoff Hall, appeared severed, and while Cho doesn’t know if it had ever served the College, she and her classmates are continuing to research the process of how the College’s see PIPE page 3

outfit and silver ombre hair.

She knew how to captivate the audience, whether it was through smooth moves or jokes.

When an old song played, she joked, “That song is gone like... Eve.” The night also included some drag queen acts from professionals: Cyannie Lopez

Student films grace Kendall Hall

By Connor Smith Managing Editor

Beyond a red carpet entrance and into a dimly lit Mayo Concert Hall, the Campus MovieFest finale on Wednesday, April 19, was a night of careful celebration and uncertainty.

CMF provided computers, software, cameras and sound equipment for students to write, shoot and edit their own five-minute films in one week. Out of 46 films, 16 were screened, and only four were granted Jury Awards to advance to the national level.

The prizes ranged from a personal drone with a builtin camera to a trip to the national competition at the 2017 TERMINUS conference and festival. The hosts also got the audience involved with raffles and giveaways.

The four Jury Awards went to two teams: The Aperture Legacy for “Obsidian” and

INDEX: Nation & World / page 7 Editorial / page 9 ‘Night of Shorts’ Follow us at...

Students perform variety of plays The Signal See A&E page 15 @tcnjsignal

The Aperture Legacy team accepts their Jury Award.

“Arke” and Burnt Toast Productions for “Just The Tip” and “Recollection.” Four Silver Tripods were also awarded for sound design, best special effects, best performance and production design. Unlike Jury Awards, Silver Tripod

Opinions / page 11

Awards are divvied out by onsite CMF representatives and it’s not guaranteed a school will earn any.

Anyone could enter the competition, which included groups from Lions Television, the Student Film

Arts & Entertainment / page 14

Photo courtesy of Campus MovieFest

Union and the School of Arts and Communications.

Kevin Walsh Jr., a sophomore communication studies major, sat front and center with his friends and Burnt Toast see PREMIERE page 14

Features / page 19

Sports / page 28

Relay for Life Students adorn capes and tights for cancer

Baseball Shindler gets 100th hit in Devils bout

See Features page 21

See Sports page 26

page 2 The Signal April 26, 2017

All the College is a stage and all the students merely players

tcnj.edu

Kendall Hall hosts a number of theatrical performances.

By Kyle Elphick Web Editor

In 2017, theater is a major part of student life at the College. Hundreds participate in groups like TCNJ Musical Theatre, All College Theatre and Lyric Theatre to get their theatrical fix.

Up until the turn of the millennium, theater was more than an extracurricular at Trenton State College. Back then, you could major in it.

A university known for education, business and engineering once hosted a thriving theater department.

It featured four full-time professors — including Terry Byrne, a current communication studies associate professor — a host of theater arts specific courses and required performances of musicals and plays.

It began in the mid 1960s. For the first time in its history, then Trenton State College produced its first graduates with four-year degrees in theater. The department was operated out of the theater and communication studies department, a predecessor of the College’s School of

Arts and Communications.

“It was a true liberal arts theater degree,” said Kay Potucek, an adjunct professor who taught some of the major’s classes. Theater faculty aimed to give students a comprehensive understanding of theater as an art form.

“It focused a little bit more on acting,” said Dale Simon, who was hired as a scenic designer for the program in the early ’90s. Now, he oversees Kendall theater facilities and serves as the building’s captain.

The major emphasized acting as an academic discipline and sought to instill proper technique.

Acting courses were known as “studio classes” and would touch on trades related to performing, like directing.

“We had theater production classes to teach you the technical side of what was going on,” Potucek said.

These included lighting, scenic design and makeup. Professors saw their students find connections between their courses, utilizing a skill learned in a behind-the-scenes class when performing on stage.

“You had to take a couple of theater history courses,” Potucek said.

Professors emphasized that understanding theater then was vital to understanding theater now.

“Toward the end, I also created an internship course, so that students could earn credit for working in productions on campus or off,” said Lincoln Konkle, an English professor involved with the program during its final years.

Putting on full-length theatrical productions, combining the experience of professional professors and the youthful energy and innovation of students was the department’s flagship strength.

“We had a six to eight show academic season. We did plays and musicals” Simon said.

Students, staff and faculty filled the Kendall Hall Main Stage and the Studio Theater — now a scenic shop to build sets for today’s productions — to watch theater put up by theater majors.

In the 1980s, the theater department would receive what seemed like a major boost. The College’s board of trustees approved a major renovation to Kendall Hall in the wake of the discovery of asbestos within the building. The theater department would have more space than ever before.

“They made the decision to invest in Kendall Hall,” Simon said. “The primary purpose of this building was to house that theater department.”

By the time Simon was hired, Kendall’s major upgrade was complete. Theater majors and faculty now had access to a renovated Main Stage, a scenic shop for set design, two floors of new classrooms and a new venue for intimate productions: The Don Evans Black Box Theater.

Things were looking up for the College’s theater program. How then, did it manage to dissolve just a few years later?

“The program kind of died by attrition,” Potucek said.

By the ’90s, the tenured professors who built the theater program from the ground up some 30 years before began to reach the age of retirement. In a few short years, the theater department was left without its high-ranking professors to steer the ship.

It was the beginning of the end.

“As they retired, they gave their faculty lines to other departments,” Simon said.

In a tumultuous period of changing deans and tight budgets, the duties of theater professors were folded into other departments. Many of these fell within the School of Arts and Communication.

“They weren’t gonna put any resources towards (the theater department),” Potucek said, “Instead, they looked to putting the resources towards television and film.”

The College shifted focus to its rising communication studies major instead of its fading theater one. These courses filled the classrooms and studios of Kendall Hall.

With that, the major was ended.

Waning student interest also proved to be a death blow for the flagging department.

“When we originally discussed the possibility of reviving a theater program, we thought, ‘If we build it, they will come’ because clearly there was a lot of interest in theater among students,” Konkle said.

However, Konkle and others came to realize that, in practice, the theater major’s total enrollment never came close to that of other majors.

It never eclipsed 100 students.

Many interested students were prevented from enrolling by already overpacked course schedules. The major’s required classes didn’t naturally fit into the busy schedule of a typical college student.

Now, those that remember the College’s theater program are left

to reflect on what’s missing now that it’s gone. They believe studying theater academically — and the resources that came with theater being an official major — provided students with welcome support from faculty and staff.

“Theater is actually a disciplined art,” Simon said.

He believes the College’s students would be benefitted by studying theater through an academic perspective.

“To have a full-fledged theater program with a bachelor of fine arts… I think this area of New Jersey is under served,” Potucek said.

If given the resources of a proper major, she sees College productions reaching new heights.

“We were putting the outstanding theater facilities on campus (Main Stage, Black Box, scene shop, green room) to good use: educational theater as well as the already established productions by ACT, TMT,” Konkle said, referring to his favorite part of the theater program.

Konkle believes a theater major would fully utilize the campus’s performing and rehearsal spaces, and complement the works done by TCNJ Musical Theatre and All College Theatre.

Former professors of the theater department believe that, major or no major, the future of theater at the College is bright.

“TCNJ students interested in theater are very fortunate that there are two theater groups who have funds to put on plays and musicals and... some really nice facilities in which to do so,” Konkle said. “So I have no doubt that, as long as ACT and TMT continue to receive SFB funding, there will be theater at TCNJ.” Simon hopes theater will continue to be a mainstay at the College.

“Theater can change the world, it brings down dictatorships,” Simon said. “We should take it seriously.”

Students barter for bikes to reduce carbon footprint

By Gabrielle Beacken Staff Writer

Students were encouraged to shift from their cars to bikes on Wednesday, April 19, at the Bonner Institute’s and the Environmental Club’s second annual Bike Sale on Green Lawn. The event was part of Bonner Scholars’ Earth Week and was sponsored by the Environmental Club’s TCNJ Unplugged initiative.

The bikes were donated by the Boys & Girls Club Bike Exchange of Trenton and are fixed up by Bonner Scholars, with help from the shop’s volunteers, to ensure that the bikes are safe to ride.

Bonner Scholars then bring the bikes to campus to sell at a reduced cost to students.

The shop itself hosts a similar program where fixed up bikes are sold at a reduced cost to the Ewing and Trenton, N.J., communities.

“This is really good for the Trenton and Ewing communities because it provides a means of transportation for people who can’t afford cars to get to work, and it gives them a way to exercise,” said Claire Paul, an Environment Division Bonner Scholar and a sophomore biology major.

The sale was put together by the Bonner Scholar Environment Division, one of the larger divisions among the Bonner Institute.

The division works with the President’s Climate Commitment Committee, known as PC3, to work on carbon-reducing initiatives on the College’s campus, according to Paul

who is also the site leader for PC3.

“Most people who live off campus live two miles away and still drive to campus.

Moreover, they drive by themselves and don’t carpool,” said Allie Davanzo, an Environment Division Bonner Scholar and a freshman public health major. “We’re releasing a lot of emission into the atmosphere. By selling these bikes, we can reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainable transportation.”

A PC3 study that broke down the College’s campus by percentage of carbon emission indicated that the second biggest source of emissions comes from cars commuting to campus.

If more students were willing to either walk or bike to campus, the College could reduce its carbon emissions by 20 percent, according to the same source.

While students may recognize that driving a bike to campus is more environmentally friendly than driving a car, one concern for students is the safety component of riding a bike to campus, especially on main roads.

Recognizing this concern, the Bonner Environment Division paired up with the Ewing Green Team, a local organization promoting sustainability, to kickstart a bike routes project. To help create a bike route to campus, Bonner students surveyed each neighborhood and main road of Ewing and took note of each potential path and obstacle.

“We’re working right now to try to create more bikes lanes and to make Ewing a more bikeable town,” Paul said. “There are ways to

Randell Carrido / Staff Photographer

Bonner Scholar Environment Division sells bikes outside.

bike in Ewing, you just have to find the paths.”

In addition to the Bonner Scholars’ efforts, according to the College’s 2016 Climate Action Plan, the College has increased its spending on bike racks by 80 percent and is continuing their endeavor to connect existing bike paths in the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and Mercer County, N.J., “to create a seamless network of bike routes to and from the campus.”

The Bonner Environment Division often works with other environmental organizations on campus partnered with PC3. To promote Earth Week, the Bonner team has been working closely with the College’s Environmental Club, which also ran TCNJ Unplugged this past week.

In addition to bike sales, Bonner Scholars engage in a multitude of activities, Davanzo

said. These include Meals on Wheels, where students go to homebound citizens in Trenton five days a week; thrift projects, where upcycled clothes are sold on campus and the proceeds are donated to the Trenton Rescue Mission and working in the College’s garden, where students collect 900 pounds of fresh produce each year that is donated to food desserts, including Trenton.

This year’s bike sale sold six bikes and two bike locks while also repairing two bikes.

The total revenue of this year’s endeavor was $288, but the total revenue for all bike sales within the past year was $1,592. This includes two bike sales in the Spring 2017 semester, one in the Fall 2016 semester and one in the Spring 2016 semester, according to Paul. All proceeds from the sales are contributed toward the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County.

Pipe / Students concerned over campus water April 26, 2017 The Signal page 3

continued from page 1

water is treated and filtered.

“We talked to a professor about the water quality here on campus… and she led us towards the issue of pollution coming from storm run-off drains,” Cho said.

She learned that any chemicals in the water running off of cars in a rainstorm down through unfiltered storm drains and later through the Delaware River could eventually reach their drinking water. What the group hadn’t realized was the middle step in the process –– Trenton Water Works, the local water filtration plant.

The College’s water comes from TWW where water is treated and filtered before it arrives to the school. TWW Superintendent William Mitchell said impurities found in pretreated water often come from farm runoff. This includes fecal matter, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizer and storm water discharge. During the winter, for example, chloride levels in the water increase after a lot of salting for snow and ice.

TWW treats and filters its water before it reaches local tap, according to Mitchell. The filtration process involves flash mixing of treatment chemicals to the water, coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation –– small solid particles, or flocs, stick together and become heavier in the water and begin to sink to the bottom. These impurities are then removed from the water.

Following public concerns about contaminated drinking water in the New Jersey area, the College hired EnviroTrac, an environmental consulting and contracting firm, to sample and evaluate the water quality.

The company took samples of lead and copper from lines entering campus directly from TWW, such as all on-campus dining locations and athletic fields. The analysis did

The Signal tests a vial of water from Forcina’s water fountain.

not detect any concentrations of pollutants at or above the state and federal limit, according to EnviroTrac’s report summary.

As of 2015, Trenton public schools reportedly did not contain any lead in their water, according to NJ Future, a nonprofit organization that promotes infrastructural and environmental redevelopment.

Yet in an NJ.com article from 2016, 26 samples from 10 schools were found to have lead levels as high as 100 parts per billion.

According to a 2016 Trentonian article, the New Jersey Department of Health published a Childhood Lead Poisoning report in 2014, which stated that out of the 3,421 tested in Trenton and other state municipal agencies, 6.3 percent of children under the age of six had elevated blood levels higher than children in Flint, where about 3 percent of children had elevated lead levels.

The Signal sent a water sample from the water fountain in the Bliss Hall basement to

PRO-LAB in Florida on April 17. The report cited a lead level of 2.7 ppb. The federal limit for lead levels is 15 ppb.

The Signal also conducted its own water quality test on Feb. 20 using a water fountain on the second floor of Forcina Hall.

The water did not have any measurable levels of lead, pesticide or bacteria.

The total chlorine level reached 0.5 parts per million, which is under the federal limit of 4 ppm. Nitrate nitrogen levels were at 5 ppm, which is under the federal limit of 10 ppm. The test found a copper level of 1.3 ppm in the water, which just meets the federal limit. There were no levels of iron found in the water, and the pH level of 6.0 was under the federal limit.

The hardness level of 6 grains, or 100 ppm, found exceeded the federal limit of under 50 ppm, yet the maximum contaminant level cited by TWW is 250 ppm. As of 2015, TWW reported having 90

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

ppm in its water, which was not deemed a violation.

Both the Bliss Hall Annex and Forcina Hall were built in 1979 and 1969, respectively, said Luke Sacks, the College’s head media relations officer. Most homes that were built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

However, the College is not aware of lead pipes in its buildings, according to David Muha, the College’s spokesperson.

Keith Pecor, an associate professor and department chair of biology whose research focuses on freshwater ecology and invertebrates, said all he can conclude from The Signal’s assessment is the state of the water quality specifically in the Forcina water fountain, not the College’s water quality as a whole.

The fountain’s hardness level is due to calcium and magnesium, according to Pecor. The disadvantages of too much water

hardness are primarily aesthetic — it might require more soap or water softeners during laundry and can contribute to scaling in industrial equipment, but hardness is not considered a health risk under the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards.

However, the state of New Jersey has had health risks from its water in the past.

One contributor to New Jersey’s industrialization and prosperity was Ciba-Geigy, a company that manufactured chemical dyes in Tom’s River, N.J., from 1952 to 1990. Although, as Dan Fagin documented in his book “Tom’s River: A story of science and salvation,” that prosperity had downsides: The company was dumping toxic waste chemicals into aquifers that polluted the town’s drinking water, which may have contributed to childhood cancers among other diseases.

New Jersey’s water quality continues to pose problems.

New Jersey is still in the midst of cleaning its lakes, rivers and other bodies of water more than 40 years after the Clean Water Act was passed, according to a 2014 article from NJ.com. The EPA cited more than a thousand instances of contaminated water across the state, NJ.com reported.

The struggle for better water comes from the efforts of organizations like Isles, which provides services aimed to help the Trenton, N.J., community. Its efforts include lead testing in community homes and educating local citizens on environmental issues.

Isles Managing Director Pete Rose recommends replacing lead fittings with inline filters in drinking fountain pipes to prevent lead from dissolving into the water at schools. “(This is) cost effective and easy to do,” Rose said. see TEST page 6

SG approves two engineering and two political clubs

By Megan Kelly Staff Writer Student Government approved four new clubs at its weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 19. The first club approved was the Civil Engineering Honor Society, which was previously the only engineering honor society not recognized by the College, according to Justin Brach, SG’s constitutional review chair and a sophomore finance and political science double major.

The Civil Engineering Honor Society “has a strong relationship with the National Civil Engineering Honor Society, Chi Epsilon, but can only receive funding after a one-year trial period,” Brach said.

The primary reason the honor society is seeking recognition at the College is so it can begin its trial period. The organization also wishes to honor high academic achievement. The honor society is not seeking funding from the Student Activities Fee, Brach said.

The National Society of Professional Engineers was also approved. This organization prepares engineering students for life after graduation and provides

resources to members, particularly networking opportunities, Brach said. The society also hopes to host an “engineering-focused career event to help alleviate the difficulty in finding a position after graduation,” Brach said.

Currently, the society has 20 members and has hosted a general engineering seminar on campus. Being a member in the society also counts for credit for the ENG 099 course called “Senior Professional Seminar,” according to Brach. The society wants recognition at the College so they can book spaces for meetings, gain more members and reinforce engineering opportunities.

SG approved the Hamilton Society, a place for students to discuss political issues using a Mock Trial and Model Congress format, differing it from the debate team, according to Brach. The Hamilton Society primarily wants recognition so it can represent the College at competitions held by the American Mock Trial Association and does not need to be funded through SAF, as the organization uses out-of-pocket funds, Brach said.

The Hamilton Society currently has 48 members and an executive board

made up of non-political science majors, demonstrating that students from all majors are welcome, Brach said.

The Young Americans for Freedom Club was also approved. “(The organization) creates a unique community on our campus by championing conservative and libertarian issues,” Brach said.

YAF hopes to host different speakers on campus, as well as co-sponsor events with other clubs and other YAF chapters from universities, such as Rutgers and Ryder. The club hopes to encourage students to get involved in politics and eventually raise funds to build a memorial at the College to honor the victims of 9/11, according to Brach.

SG approves new clubs in last week’s meeting.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

page 4 The Signal April 26, 2017

Self-help book is smoking gun in fire investigation

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 5

By Brielle Bryan Production Manager

Pyromaniac extinguished At 8:55 a.m. on April 14, a Campus Police officer was conducting a stationary post on the north staircase of Wolfe Hall between the first and second floors.

The officer heard a staircase door open above him, along with the sound of a lighter attempting to ignite. The officer immediately ran up the staircase and observed the sixth-floor doorway closing.

There was a strong odor of burnt paper, according to police reports.

The officer entered the sixth floor and saw a male student with short black hair wearing a green T-shirt, blue jeans, black and white sneakers and a gray and red backpack, Campus Police said.

At this time, the officer observed a blue lighter in the male student’s right hand. The male began running away from the officer, according to police reports. The officer ran after the

male, shouting for him to stop. The officer apprehended him and he was handcuffed. Three other officers arrived on the scene.

Campus Police searched the male.

During the search, the officer observed a bulge in the male student’s waistband, and found a charred, rolled up piece of paper inside. The officer asked the student if he was burnt and the student replied, “No.” The scorched paper was a photocopy of “The Mindful Way Through Anxiety: Break Free from Chronic Worry and Reclaim Your Life,” which were the same pages of a book that was found charred on a few other occasions when a fire was started, according to Campus Police.

There was little damage done to the tile floor in the stairwell of Wolfe Hall, with the floor being slightly discolored from the dripping wax, according to police.

At 9:07 a.m., the male student was transported to Police Headquarters by

one of the officers. He was processed, read his Uniform Mercer County Rights Form and waived his rights. The male student was then interviewed by two officers and admitted to setting fires on four separate occasions, all on the stairwell of Wolfe Hall on different landings, police said.

The male student was issued a summons for criminal mischief and for risking widespread injury. The male student was also suspended from the College, according to police reports.

At 1:40 p.m., the male student was released and escorted back to his residence so he could remove his belongings.

Heineken dazes student At approximately midnight on April 15, two Campus Police officers were dispatched to one of the women’s bathrooms in Wolfe Hall in reference to an intoxicated female student. Upon arrival, the officers observed a female vomiting in the sink. When she spoke, an odor of alcohol emanated from her breath.

The female student wasn’t coherent and

would not answer any of the officers’ questions, according to Campus Police.

One of the officers spoke to the community adviser, who said two of the residents had observed the intoxicated female student in the woman’s bathroom vomiting and offered her help. The intoxicated female student’s roommate identified her to Campus Police.

TCNJ EMS and Pro-staff arrived at the scene. TCNJ EMS advised Campus Police that the intoxicated female had one Heineken, and her roommate confirmed. After further questioning, the roommate admitted she drank, too, police said. The roommate said she drank a Korean alcoholic beverage called Soju, as well as two Heinekens while she was with her sick friend.

Ewing Township EMS arrived on scene and transported both females to the hospital, according to police reports.

Both females were issued a summons for underage drinking.

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

Funds / SFB upset over audit ASL filmmaker shares experiences

continued from page 1

A description of what is being purchased and its approximate costs must be included in each budget line.

All of the budget lines added together create the full budget for the event, according to Ziyi Wang, SFB’s operations director.

The consultants expressed that no other educational institutions go about allocating funds this way, according to the board. The consultants said the board should do away with the budget line system and simply vote on whether or not to fund an event’s full budget. The consultants advised that in the event an organization spends more than their allotted amount a reserve budget would cover the extra costs.

In the past, student organizations have expressed that they’ve felt that the current budget line system is restrictive. Similar sentiments have been expressed by members of staff in the Office of Student Affairs, according to Wang.

There was a reason why CohnReznick was chosen to conduct the audit, according to Hecht.

“CohnReznick had provided the College with a proposal to conduct a best practices review of TCNJ’s payroll operations and Treasurer Lloyd Ricketts was impressed with their methodology,” Hecht said. “He shared their name with (me) as a firm experienced in this kind of business process review.”

Concerns were also raised over the price of the audit, as the firm was paid $29,000 for its services, which was taken from the SAF reserves. In comparison, when the SAF is internally audited, it costs approximately $15,000, according to Mitchals.

“The purpose of the reserves should still align with the SAF, we don’t think the audit aligns with the goals of the SAF,” Mitchals said. “We just want students to know this is happening, and we want to encourage them to ask questions.”

During regular business, the board allocated $3,740.90 to MEDLIFE for its event, A Taste of South America.

“A Taste of South America is a multicultural event that will be addressing public health issues in South America, specifically in Peru and Ecuador,” said Adrian Diogo, MEDLIFE’s president.

“We will be providing traditional South American food with a specialization of Peruvian food, which will provide students with the opportunity to be subjected to the foods of a different culture,” Diogo added. “We want to raise awareness of public health issues in South America through audiovisual aids to demonstrate the realities of poverty that many people face in these regions.”

Funding will cover catering, plates, cups, utensils and streamers.

A Taste of South America will take place on May 4 in room 212 of the Education Building at 6:30 p.m.

SFB discusses the external audit.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Wood expresses his love for filmmaking.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor Movies aren’t simple.

It’s not easy to captivate an audience with stunning visual effects, a sophisticated screenplay and sound effects.

On Wednesday, April 19, 46-year-old director Mark Wood, who is deaf, didn’t need sound to entertain students in room 115 of the Education Building.

Wood was the guest speaker for Deaf Hearing Connection’s Deaf Awareness Day Wood introduced himself by joking about his last name, stating his last name is not “Woods” like professional golfer Tiger Woods.

Wood discussed his childhood growing up in Berkeley, Ca. Wood was born deaf with a long history of deaf family members, his parents included. Wood said he was inspired by the Arthur Penn’s 1962 movie “The Miracle Worker,” which focused on Helen Keller’s deaf teacher, Anne Sullivan, to create movies suited for deaf and muted audiences.

“I loved watching movies, especially ones that came from projectors,” Wood said.

However, Wood’s all-time favorite film is Peter Wolf’s “Deafula” from 1975.

“It was amazing to see how people killed and sucked each other’s blood while communicating in

sign language,” Wood said.

Later in 2005, Wood and his friend Mindy Moore established ASL Films to produce cinema tailored to American Sign Language audiences, according to aslfilms.com.

“Wood is the first of his kind,” said Larisa Yañez, a senior deaf education and Spanish double major. “His films have no sound, yet he is providing a strong voice for the ASL community.”

For the rest of the event, Wood briefly discussed each film ASL Films has produced. Wood recalled ASL Film’s first project, “Forget Me Not” in 2006. In the movie, a family encounters a menacing stranger after winning the lottery. Managing a small budget of $30,000, Wood endured a lot of doubts during pre-production.

Wood said he wanted to teach and demonstrate deaf culture through his films, leading him to produce “Forget Me Not” and his subsequent productions. He wanted to counter the media portrayal of people who are deaf being oppressed and miserable.

“People are too sympathetic,” Wood said. “I was frustrated with the negative perceptions. I wanted my films to show deaf people living everyday lives, not being poor, disabled people.”

ASL Film’s initial success with “Forget Me Not” led to larger productions like “Wrong Game” in 2007 and “The Legend of the

Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor

Mountain Man” in 2008.

According to Wood, “The Legend of the Mountain Man” turned out be ASL Film’s most popular film because of its special effects, elaborate costumes and adventurous plot centered around three children discovering Bigfoot.

Woods talked about his struggle to maintain his health and weight while making his films.

By the time ASL Film’s “Hit the Can” rolled into theaters in 2014, Wood was stressed out, so he decided to take a break. His current side project is designing exercise weights.

Wood concluded his lecture with advice on getting into the film business.

“You really have to go around and find the best actors. Some actors are too cartoonish,” Wood said. “Put it this way, I want to believe what I’m seeing. Actors need to embrace the character.

For example, portraying an alcoholic. You need to think and understand an alcoholic. Maybe there was physical abuse or sleep deprivation. No one is born an alcoholic. You don’t make him or her wobbly.”

Wood recommended aspiring directors, actors and cinematographers to get involved.

“Go through the hardships and tribulation,” Wood said. “No one (comes) in and hires you. You have to network and connect with the right people.”

page 6 The Signal April 26, 2017

Test / Campus water is safe, according to investigation

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Key: CHMR = Cromwell Hall mechanical room, CDGMS = Cromwell/Decker garage mechanical space, E = Eickhoff Hall, BSC = Brower Student Center, T = T-Dubs, Ed = Education Building, B = Business Building

Sources: EPA.gov, NJ.gov, Personal water testing kit, TWW 2016 report. *This information was provided by Muha, who read from EnviroTrac’s data report. continued from page 3 Because of federal regulations, the risks to water quality are not what they used to be. Nicky Sheats, director of the Center for the Urban Environment at Thomas Edison State College, researched water pollution before her focus shifted to air pollution.

Sheats said both forms of pollution contributed to the phenomenon of acid rain that gained a lot of national attention during the ’80s and ’90s.

According to the EPA’s website, both sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide were gases emitted from different industry power

plants across the country. Sheats said when contaminated with these elements, rain would flow into surface water, making it more acidic and dangerous to consume.

The EPA established the Acid Rain Program in 1995, which offered incentives to power plants to reduce emission. By 2010, emissions were reduced to about one-half of what they were in 1980.

Despite past and present attempts at improving the water quality, Sheats’ biggest fear has become the Trump administration’s role in environmental protection.

“We’re really afraid that (the president) is going to cut back on existing laws that’s become a bedrock of Signal environmental page 8 The April

protection,” Sheats said. “I’m worried about the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.” President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will allow him to essentially roll back on regulations under the 1972 Clean Water Act, according to an NBC news article published in March.

This includes former President Barack Obama’s 2015 clean water rule, which gives the federal government the right to limit pollution in major bodies of water and other streams that flow into larger waters.

The rule stirred some controversy, according to the article, regarding the federal government’s right to exert such broad authority.

Rural organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation have been against the rule, as they argue it forces them to apply for federal permits to use fertilizer near streams that might flow into larger bodies of water.

While Trump’s legal orders may take longer than his term to be put into action, a more lenient prohibition on water pollution will make filtering and treating water an even more critical process.

Rose is most worried about the administration cutting back funding from the EPA and other environmental agencies.

Those cuts won’t just threaten the health of the communities Isles is trying to help, but it will likely hurt “the health and well-being of all Americans.”

Cho believes that the government should continue to focus on environmental issues.

“I think that if the laws were more lenient, businesses would take the most cost-effective option to getting rid of waste, which is usually to the detriment of the ecology of the surrounding areas,” she said.

It’s important to take care of local communities and be mindful of the potential damage people can cause, according to Mae Calacal, a junior journalism major who is Cho’s and Calloway’s classmate.

“The fact that (government) funds will be cut shows that these issues are not of great concern to these major figures,” Calacal said.

This is issue is not just in the hands of anonymous public officials –– it is the average citizen’s responsibility, too.

“It should definitely be focused on more,” she said. “What happens in the environment affects everyone.”

19, 2017

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April 26, 2017 The Signal page 7

Nation & W rld

US military uses MOAB to combat ISIS

AP Photo

MOAB is the most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

By Zachary Sobol Staff Writer

Around 94 ISIS fighters were killed when the U.S. military used the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb to destroy an ISIS-controlled cave and tunnel system in Afghanistan on April 13, CNN reported.

The weapon is considered to be the most powerful bomb that is not nuclear and often referred to as the “mother of all bombs,” according to Vox. The weapon weighs 21,600 pounds, is 30 feet long and has the power to destroy an area the size of nine city blocks. It was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft at 7:32 p.m. local time, CNN reported.

According to the same source, the destroyed ISIS cave and tunnel system is located in the Achin district of the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, which is considered to be a rural part of the country that borders with Pakistan.

The Achin District is a center of activity for ISISKhorosan, which is the name ISIS uses for its Afghanistan sector, according to Vox. “Don’t be fooled by the claim circulating in some quarters that the explosive yield of the MOAB rivals that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The reported yield of the MOAB is approximately 11 tons. The Hiroshima bomb was approximately 15 kilotons,” said Kingston Reif, the director for disarmament and threat reduction policy at the Arms Control Association, according to Vox. General John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, approved the use of the bomb. This is the first time the MOAB has been used in the battlefield,

CNN reported.

According to the same source, MOAB was designed in 2003 to be used in the Iraq War for “psychological operations” in the hope that the blast would scare the Iraqi troops into surrender.

“As ISIS-K’s losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense,” Nicholson said, according to CNN. “This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K. U.S. forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. U.S. Forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K is destroyed in Afghanistan.”

ISIS’s forces have dropped by 75 percent since 2015 and has lost a tremendous amount of its territory, according to Vox. U.S. military officials believe that ISIS-K has 600 to 800 fighters located in Afghanistan, but is primarily located in two to three districts in southern Nangarhar, according to CNN. Military officials also believe that ISIS-K is made up of terror groups like the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, CNN reported.

According to the same source, three thousand families have fled the area since ISIS established itself in the region just last year.

North Korea fails missile launch test in Sinpo

By Michelle Lampariello Nation & World Editor

North Korea attempted to test launch a missile from the city of Sinpo on April 16, according to CNN. The test failed, as the missile blew up a few seconds after it left the ground, The New York Times reported.

The U.N. condemned the launch and demanded that North Korea cease all prohibited actions that violate U.N. regulations, according to CNN. North Korean missile tests are growing increasingly frequent, according to BBC. U.S. satellites have recorded increased activity in Sinpo, which is also used as a shipyard for submarine activity, throughout April, CNN reported.

The failed launch occurred the

day after a large military parade in the capital city of Pyongyang, during which several ballistic missiles were displayed, to honor the 105th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birth, CNN reported.

There is speculation that sabotage by the U.S. may have caused the launch to fail, since other recent tests have been successful.

Kim Jong-un reportedly ordered an investigation to determine if American spies were sabotaging the North Korean nuclear missile building program, according to The New York Times.

The same source reported that due to sophisticated North Korean cybersecurity, it is unlikely that the U.S. sabotaged North Korea with a cyber attack.

However, it is possible that the U.S. sabotaged the supplies used to manufacture the missiles, according to The New York Times.

North Korea hopes to complete the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile by late 2017 or early 2018, according to BBC. The U.N. has demonstrated its “utmost concern over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s highly destabilizing behavior and flagrant and provocative defiance of the Security Council,” CNN reported.

According to the same source, North Korea found this statement to be “impudent words.” “(The U.S.) must distinguish who is responsible for the current severe situation of the Korean peninsula being aggravated to the brink of war and should behave AP Photo impartially and with caution,” The failure is unexpected after the Pyongyang parade. the Permanent Mission of the Democratic People’s Republic of created a situation in which “nucle- Pence said the U.S. and its allies are Korea said to the U.N., according ar war could break out at any time,” determined to “achieve a peaceable to CNN. NBC reported. resolution” to the conflict, according North Korea claims the U.S. has However, Vice President Michael to NBC.

UN calls for Chechen torture camps to be investigated

The secret prisons and torture are a global concern.

By Rebecca Colnes Staff Writer U.N. officials are requesting that Russian authorities investigate the abuse of gay men in Chechnya, according to TIME. Chechen authorities arrested more than a hundred men suspected of being homosexual and had some of these men killed, according to

Twitter

the same source. At least three have been killed thus far.

These men are being sent to secret prisons described as “concentration camps.” Many of the men have been reportedly beaten and tortured with electric shocks, The Washington Blade reported.

According to the same source, the U.S. State Department has advised the Russian

government to speak out, conduct an investigation and ensure the safety of those detained.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said the U.S. is incredibly disturbed by this news, The Huffington Post reported.

“If true, this violation of human rights cannot be ignored—Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these allegations, hold anyone involved accountable and take steps to prevent future abuses,” Haley said, according to The Huffington Post.

The same source reported that LGBTQ+ advocates have praised Haley for her stance on the matter.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland described the situation as “reprehensible” and encourages the Russian government to “preserve the safety of all persons in Chechnya due to their sexual orientation,” according to The Washington Blade.

According to the same source, former Vice President Joe Biden is “disgusted and appalled” by the incident in Chechnya.

Israeli LGBTQ+ rights advocates held a meeting to discuss ways to help, while the Brazilian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and

Trans Association urged the U.N. to investigate the allegations, according to The Washington Blade.

CNN spoke to a man who wished to remain anonymous and recently fled after being arrested.

“My car got stopped at a Chechen police checkpoint and they asked me for my documents,” he said.

Another man told CNN the story of his abuse. At a safe house, he said, “They started beating me with their fists and feet. They wanted to get names of my gay friends from me.”

He said the men also electrocuted him with “special equipment,” CNN reported.

According to the same source, “security forces have consistently been accused by human rights groups of abductions, killings and other abuses” in Chechnya.

The primary concern of the men who spoke to CNN was being outed as gay.

“If my family finds out that I’m gay, then no authorities, no troops are needed. They will kill me themselves,” one man said, according to CNN.

page 8 The Signal April 26, 2017

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 9

Editorial

Students need to be more careful behind the wheel

Maybe it’s the drunk driver in my hometown that made a boy spend his tenth birthday in the hospital with a severe head injury last month. Maybe it’s my little sister getting her permit this week and my concern for her safety. Maybe it’s hearing that a friend decided to get in a car with someone who had been using drugs that night.

For whatever reason, I cannot shake the thought that people need to stop thinking they’re invincible and start paying more attention on the road.

There are several distractions that can cause people’s eyes to deviate from where they should be, but especially among college students, texting tends to be a common component in accidents.

Drivers under the age of 20 are at a greater risk to be involved in a distraction-related crash compared to older drivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Why do we risk our lives so often when we have the most to lose?

Our lives are just beginning. There is so much in front of us and so many opportunities to experience, yet we are willing to risk it all in one car ride. As busy students, we can be tempted to check our phone when we hear it buzz with an email alert.

But trust me, that Canvas notification about the test you were unsure about won’t matter if you end up in the hospital.

Aside from distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also continuing to take too many young lives.

Every year, 1,825 college students die as a result of “alcohol related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes,” according to College Drinking Prevention.

There is always going to be a presence of drinking on college campuses, but we can prevent loss of life because of it. We can make the choice to not be a drunk driver and choose to not get in a car with someone who has been drinking.

When we go home for summer break, there are going to be plenty of opportunities to be on the road. Trips to the beach, visits with family and friends and traveling back and forth from work and home will have me spending a minimum of 30 minutes a day driving. I look forward to this time, especially since I have spent my freshman year without my car on campus. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous.

The most dangerous month to drive is August, according to Forbes. There needs to be an understanding that even if we are free from our academic responsibilities over the summer, we still need to drive responsibly.

Summer can be a great time to travel and make memories.

When it comes to trips, I was always taught that “half the fun is getting there.” So, be safe this summer, keep the journey fun and keep your eyes on the road.

— Michelle Lampariello Nation & World 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.

Distracted driving can yield fatal results.

AP Photo

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“In drawing creativity from a lack of time and resources during the one-week film festival, we’ve learned not only how to jumpstart a production but the value of connections and collaborations in and outside of our production team at The College of New Jersey.”

— Chris Lundy, a senior interactive multimedia major

“It seems very childish. But I like how we all just come together and play one silly game.”

— Maggie Paragian, vice president of Manhunt Club and a sophomore communcation studies major

page 10 The Signal April 26, 2017

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 11

Opinions

Trump reflects changing American values

AP Photo

Trump reflects a changing America.

By Kevin Moran

Many Americans can agree that President Donald Trump’s victory is a sign and a result of a dramatic shift in societal values. At the core, people want more of a voice. This shift of values may be the warning signs of a more radical shift away from the status quo toward something completely different.

By emerging as an anti-establishment and populist candidate, Trump tapped into the frustrations of millions of Americans all across the country. However, Trump consistently demonstrates that he is neither capable

of executing the solutions he promised nor attending to the rapidly evolving needs of the American people.

The gap between the wealthy 1 percent and the rest of the population continues to grow, and this has manifested in increased civil unrest, including the Black Lives Matter movement, Occupy Wall Street and more. To no surprise, younger Americans, such as Generation Z and millennials are increasingly identifying as democratic, liberal or independent, representing a critical shift of values in the very future of our country, according to Pew Research Center.

The 767 million people living on less than $1.90 a day in 2013 certainly can’t worry about carbon emissions, according to World Bank. They are worrying about access to clean water and healthcare. I believe that it is our duty as a society, with the wealth of knowledge and technology we are privy to, to spread the prosperity we have with the rest of the world in more sustainable and equitable ways.

My biggest wonder is if there will ever be a middle-ground political party that fuses socialistic and democratic values with Republican and capitalistic values.

I believe Trump is that exact faux “thirdparty,” “outsider” and “fresh-voiced” candidate that Americans thought they wanted and believed may have been the solution to their frustrations.

It’s imperative for the rapidly expanding middle class to recognize the agency they possess to unite as a single and a more powerful party, instead of

remaining divided between two parties that simply refuse to work cooperatively toward tangible solutions.

The standard two-party system is approaching its demise. Ideally, this new party could alleviate citizens’ distrust of government by advocating transparency and equality. Furthermore, they could aim to eliminate the greed, cronyism and corruption that has become rampant in American politics.

Currently, the ruling class in America — the titans of industry and huge corpor\ ations — hold all the power in American politics. Lobbying is legal bribery. I believe it is in their best interest to keep America divided because America is less powerful divided than united.

But do you not see the exact irony behind that? We shouldn’t be fighting as Republicans or Democrats. We should be fighting together against the institutions that have historically created vast racial and economic inequalities, for a better way of life or wage for the poor and fair policies for the middle class.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”

This is our current America.

According to the United Nations human development report, 20 percent of the world’s people in the highest income countries account for 86 percent of total private

consumption expenditure, while the poorest 20 percent consume a mere 1.3 percent. This stark disparity is disconcerting.

Martin Luther King Jr. continues, “I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values.

We must rapidly begin the shift from a thingoriented society to a person-oriented society.”

Maybe Trump being elected is evidence of this larger ideological shift toward person-oriented. This type of societal change is an iceberg: It moves extremely slow, which makes it difficult to realize it’s happening.

Beyond the economic, sociocultural and environmental factors that collectively impede progress toward a sustainable society, I truly believe that our desire to create sustainable solutions has been tainted by our reluctance to accept change. I’m talking about everyday citizens, such as the students of at the College, but also government institutions and large corporations whom all have their own best interests to think about.

Albert Einstein succinctly sums up this dilemma: “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

Therefore, if we want to create meaningful changes toward a more sustainable and equitable society, we must leave our ethnocentrism at the door and change the way we think about everything we once considered the norm.

Could Trump’s election victory be the necessary wake-up call America needed to get back on track?

Students should take advantage of outdoor study spots

By Alyssa Gautieri Staring out the window at the shining sun and blooming flowers as you sit in a stuffy classroom with fluorescent lights and white walls — does this scene sound familiar?

I bet you don’t have to imagine this scenario because chances are you’ve experienced it. And if you’re an upperclassman like me, you’ve experienced it too many times.

As the semester’s end approaches, students have a harder time focusing during class. While the craving for a break from schoolwork plays a large role, the desire for sunlight and fresh air also has a lot to do with student’s lack of concentration in the classroom.

As finals near, excessive amounts of schoolwork begin to pile up. With little to no free time, I only get to spend the quick 10 minutes in between classes enjoying the fresh air and the scent of blossoming flowers.

We all know that natural light and fresh air can help keep us awake and allow us to better concentrate, so why don’t we take advantage of the College’s many outdoor study areas?

As students, we should all make more of an effort to utilize the campus’ outdoor seating.

I know what you’re thinking: You have no time!

Well, for students constantly on the go, having class outside is the most convenient way to spend some time outdoors.

In order to increase productivity and improve students’ health, professors need to start embracing the spring weather and hold more classes outside.

Benches around Lake Sylva, Bliss Hall and Green

Lawn, picnic tables surrounding the Library and open grass field in the Science Complex — the campus has outdoor seating scattered across campus to support studying outside, yet most professors are against it.

Every spring I ask my professors to bring us outside, and I usually get the same response: “Students will be too distracted outside of the classroom.” I would argue the exact opposite, though.

Students appreciate the change of scenery and are likely to focus more among the campus’ nature. Instead of being in a sweaty and unstimulating classroom, students will be able to take a deep breath of clean air and concentrate on their professor’s lesson with a clear mind.

For professors who choose to take my advice, students will also appreciate your flexibility. On the rare occasion that my professors have agreed to take my class outside — which has happened three times in three years — my respect for those professors drastically increased.

Professors that are willing to take their students outside for a class period prove that they care about their students’ well-being.

I understand that most lessons require technology, and professors use that as a valid excuse to avoid outdoor classes. But has our world become so technologydriven that we cannot spend even a portion of a class period enjoying the scenic environments the campus has to offer?

Every professor — whether teaching chemistry, mathematics or marketing — can make the effort to bring their students outside for at least a half an hour

at some point throughout the semester.

If just one professor reads this and is motivated to bring their students outside — or one student is encouraged to persuade their professor — then I can deem my efforts a success.

Alumni Grove is a great outdoor study spot.

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page 12 The Signal April 26, 2017

TCNJ Clinic director responds to clinic closing

By Jen Sparks TCNJ Clinic Director

As part of its core beliefs, “the College regards education in the service of human welfare as its chief end,” according to its website.

With the close of the TCNJ Clinic slated for June 30, there has been much debate about Counseling and Psychological Services and the future of mental health services on campus. CAPS is a wonderful team of dedicated, licensed professionals with a genuine concern for the students and their well-being. We are fortunate to have them on campus.

Once opened, InFocus Urgent Care is sure to find its niche. That being said, we need to acknowledge that nothing can replace the TCNJ Clinic.

Our services are special. We offer couple, family and individual counseling to students and community members alike. We operate on a sliding scale, with services dipping as low as $5 per session, supporting our clients as long as services are needed. This is health and wellness support for our entire community.

The TCNJ Clinic embodies the College’s mission and values. We are a rare blend of passionate and committed learners under the close direction and supervision of experienced clinical teachers and researchers.

We strive to bring high quality, low-fee, long-term counseling to both students and community members.

We offer internships for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students, training the best and the brightest. These students return to their local communities and continue their work impassioned with the same mission and values the College seeks to edify.

There is nothing in Mercer County, N.J., that comes close to resembling the TCNJ Clinic.

As the TCNJ Clinic director, I am deeply saddened and disheartened by the College’s decision to close the clinic.

Conflict on campus is clearly growing in response to this decision. When conflict and disagreements are swept under the rug without a thorough, transparent debate, growth is stifled. Creativity and innovation cease to flourish.

Suddenly, the words that give substance and life to our mission and values appear empty and hollow. I am moved by those of you on and off campus who have taken a stand, requesting to be heard. Change starts at home!

The mission our college has authored beckons a new kind of ethics from both its leadership and constituency. It is one that understands that the whole is far more grand than the sum of its parts. As former President Barack Obama stated in his 2009 Inaugural Address, “The stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.” The authors of our mission hold us all to high standards.

Our mission states: “We hold the highest expectations for ourselves and support each other in achieving (our accomplishments).”

“We work together to enrich our local, national and global communities.”

“We work together in a spirit of fairness, cooperation and transparency.”

TCNJ Clinic is located in Forcina Hall.

“We recognize the unique worth of each member of our community.”

“We nurture ongoing campus dialogue to ensure that we adhere to our mission, vision and values.”

I appreciate the College’s foresight and vision in establishing a mission that gives voice to the people, not alone, but in conversation with its leadership. This gives rise to transparency, cooperation, fairness and truly honoring the worth of each community member.

In the spirit of the College’s 2021 Strategic Plan, “Bolder, Better, Brighter,” please join us in respectfully requesting that the administration reconsider the closure of the TCNJ Clinic. Go to tiny.cc/tcnjclinic, “Save the TCNJ Clinic,” and join more than 1,300 other campus and community members who have signed our petition.

As cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

tcnj.edu

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 13

Students share opinions around campus “Do you take advantage of outdoor study spots?”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Trisha Basak, a freshman English and secondary education dual major.

“Yes, obviously.”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

London Morse, a freshman accounting major.

“Of course, we’re outside right now.”

“How do you feel about Trump’s presidency so far?”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Jenna Salerno, a sophomore graphic design major.

“Interesting.”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Alyssa Angel, a sophomore graphic design major.

“I also would say interesting.”

The Signal’s cartoons of the week...

page 14 The Signal April 26, 2017

Arts & Entertainment Premiere / Campus MovieFest debuts student films

Loretta keeps warm during the filming of ‘Arke.’ continued from page 1

Productions teammates. This was his second CMF finale, and he and his team, mostly members of Lions Television, were just hoping a few of their four total entries would be screened.

Walsh and company didn’t have to wait very long: The first film screened was the group’s comedy “Living the American Meme: The Story of Jebediah Dartmouth,” which was written and directed by sophomore communication studies major Tyler Law. Law’s mockumentary followed a farmer who tries to support his wife and son by growing

plants that sprout memes, which were printed out and attached to stems. When compared to its often-serious competition, the lighthearted nature of “Living the American Meme” drew some of the loudest laughs of the night.

As the night progressed, anxiousness gave way to a mix of celebration and desperation, as the odds against the majority of entries began to unravel. For Ryan Laux and Chris Lundy, both senior interactive multimedia majors and former DreamWorks Animation interns, the question was never “if” their two films would be screened, but “when?”

Laux and Lundy are CMF veterans, with multiple best special

Photo courtesy of Andrew Cislak

effects awards and top five national placings when working with IMM alumni Josh Lewkowicz ( ’15) and Andrew Kuserk ( ’15) as part of The Aperture Process production team.

“Last year, after Josh and Andrew graduated, Chris and I were left to build our own crew and continue the legacy that our former teammates had left,” Laux told The Signal. “This certainly wasn’t easy, but we found some great students that helped us to produce ‘Lucidity’ in 2016, which went on to win special effects nationally, as well.”

Lundy’s and Laux’s new team, The Aperture Legacy, witnessed their films’ impact

first hand when “Obsidian” premiered on Wednesday night.

The film, about a deep-space mission gone wrong, mixed a powerful message and astonishing visuals. When the credits hit, there was silence — the audience sat in awe of what they had just witnessed.

“We had so much fun experimenting with new techniques that we never tried before,” Laux said. “For the ‘take off’ scene, there was no VFX involved at all — it was literally just a black sheet, plastic photo frame cover, projector and a fog machine all set up in our basement.”

Both Lundy and Laux credit CMF for much of their growth as filmmakers.

“In our first year at CMF, I had never held a DSLR nor any kind of advanced video/audio equipment. I just wanted to make a film,” Lundy told The Signal.

“Through CMF, Ryan Laux and I met friends and now TCNJ alumni that would grow to be our mentors (Josh Lewkowicz and Andrew Kuserk) and happily collaborate and share in the filmmaking process. By learning from others and gaining experience anyway you can, great things will happen.”

“As a senior IMM student, I now have an impressive portfolio of award-winning films and have come to be known for filmmaking on my college campus and beyond,” he added.

Another standout was the film “Luna,” which was written, directed, acted and edited by senior

communication studies major Gracemarie Loretta, and featured Loretta’s character fighting her way through would-be attackers in a late-night parking garage.

The film earned a Silver Tripod award for its sound production.

Loretta also starred in The Aperture Process’ second film, “Arke,” which energized the crowd in its four-minute runtime, and also brought home a Silver Tripod for best special effects. In contrast to “Obsidian’s” experimental practical effects, “Arke” utilized heavy VFX to tell its story. In the piece, Loretta’s character uses advanced technology to relive her last memory from before her brother disappears.

The memory was filmed by the ocean in Beach Haven, N.J., and the temperature dropped to 40 degrees by the time the shoot wrapped, according to Lundy.

“When it comes to CMF, really anything goes to get the production done,” Laux said. “For the beach scene in ‘Arke,’ we decided about 12 hours before we went to shoot that we wanted to go at all. I actually joked about it, but then everyone was like ‘Hey, why not?’ I totally think the trip was worth it.”

Walsh and his teammates, meanwhile, would witness all four films screened in the top 16. To contrast its mockumentary was “Recollection,” which included two homosexual subjects being tortured in gay conversion therapy. see CMF page 16

Alumni musicians and bands perform at CUB Alt

By Thomas Infante Arts & Entertainment Editor

Students gathered in the Decker Social Space the evening of April 18 for CUB Alt’s Alumni Band Night. The crowd, a small group of music lovers and friends that lined up in front of the stage, experienced a diverse arrangement of music from bands Kate Dressed Up, Cool Company and Debt League, who were all fronted by a graduate of the College.

First up was indie folk singer-songwriter Katie Miller, who performs solo under the name Kate Dressed Up. To compensate for the lack of a full band, she uses an accessory for her guitar called a loop pedal that allows her to layer several guitar melodies on top of one another, seemingly playing several guitars at once.

“Most of my music is played with the acoustic guitar,” Miller said in an interview with the Signal. Miller, a political science and history double major, graduated from the College in 2014.

“I’ve been performing for my whole life,” Miller said. “In college I was part of the Trentones and I performed at student soloist nights.”

Miller’s guitar-driven bluesy folk musicianship complemented her high-pitched and soothing vocals. She opened with her song “Keep me Close,” a love song that set

an intimate tone for the rest of her set.

“I’ve been doing nothing for the last 3 years,” Miller said before playing her song, “Anxiety Blues,” featured melancholy lyrics about the difficulty of opening up to people about things that bother us. The song featured a classic blues structure, allowing for Miller’s captivating vocals and poignant lyrics to cut through.

“I just try my best to observe the world around me when writing lyrics,” Miller said.

The final song in her set, titled “Spirit Bird,” showed the true extent of the sound Miller can achieve as a solo artist.

She created a steady percussion beat by hitting the body of the guitar and looping it back. From there, she layered many guitar melodies on top of each other with near perfect timing.

Next up was hip-hop duo Cool Company, consisting of rapper Yannick Hughes and DJ/producer Matt Fishman. Yannick graduated from the College in 2011 with a major in graphic design, and Fishman in 2012 with a degree in music.

Despite both being alumni of the College, they didn’t begin to make music together until after graduation.

“For me it was a hobby that became serious,” Hughes said. “After college I started performing and after about three years I met Matt who was making all these beats and needed someone to sing over them.”

Fishman’s production is reminiscent of ’90s alternative hip-hop, with some jazz and electronic influences present as well.

“I’ve been making music since high school,” Fishman said. “I take a lot of inspiration from soul and R&B music, as well as whatever I’m listening to at the time.”

They performed their song “Faded,” a catchy song with a funky beat laden with heavy bass and synthesizers. The upbeat and catchy hip-hop quickly engaged the crowd.

Hughes’ combination of quick rapping and mellow crooning fit well over Fishman’s groovy and danceable beats. Their first song, “Oh No,” features Hughes rapping quickly but with a smooth and laidback delivery.

His lyrics about accidentally catching feelings for someone glide over the mellow synthesizers on the beat. see BANDS page 15

Thomas Infante / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Debt League shreds through their heavy punk rock set.

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 15

All College Theatre performs one act plays

Sarah throws her drink on Jeremy’s head in disgust.

By Mia Ingui Opinions Editor

From telling the touching story of one couple’s love through Post-It notes to an outlandish take on a murder mystery, An Evening of One Act Shorts was filled with love, light and laughter.

All College Theatre presented An Evening of One Act Shorts from Friday, April 21, to Saturday, April 22, in the Kendall Black Box Theater. The show consisted of five short plays of several genres, including drama, comedy and murder mystery.

One Acts provided an opportunity for the young writers and directors of ACT and TCNJ Musical Theatre to show off their skills, with two of the shows written by students at the College and all of the shows directed

by students.

The first show of the night was “Post-its (Notes on a Marriage),” written by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman and directed by Sam Franz, a sophomore communication studies and English double major.

The story of a couple, played by sophomore technology and engineering education double major Evan Noone and freshman elementary education and psychology double major Kate Augustin, is told through the reading of the various Post-It notes they left for each other throughout the entire relationship.

The story began with the actress reading off notes about the great nights she spent over at her boyfriend’s place, with him reading similar notes he left for her. They started off basic, with the reoccurring theme

Natalie La Spisa / Staff Photographer

of needing milk. She eventually permanently moves in with him, marries him and has their baby girl named Euginia.

The struggles of balancing marriage with work and caring for their child takes a toll on the couple. The actress writes a note that she’s taking some time away from the house, and her husband realizes that “All I want, all I’ve ever wanted, is for her to happy.”

Reunited, the couple is now growing old together. The lights go down on Augustin, symbolizing her death, and Noone’s character is still writing notes to her, with the last sadly saying they need milk.

“Admissions” was up next, written by Colleen Neuman and directed by Sam Miller. Starring junior English and secondary education dual major Jenna

Burke as Mary, junior communication studies major Lauren Vogel as Evelyn and sophomore marketing Katie Marciniak as the ensemble, this story told Evelyn’s struggle to accept that she has died and now is at “admissions,” awaiting a decision on where she spends the rest of her afterlife.

Prim, proper and only 56 years old, Evelyn cannot accept the fact that she has died. Mary tries to convince her throughout the play that she is, in fact, in the afterlife, showing Evelyn her Aunt Sylvia and recapping her life for her.

Mary asks her about her sins and contributions to society like helping the environment.

Evelyn tells Mary that she didn’t see why she needed to help.

“I had a small, little life,” she said.

“All lives are the same size,” Mary responded.

Evelyn comes to terms with her current situation after making peace with her past life.

“You Can’t Kill a Cactus” was written and directed by senior communication studies major Brooke Buonauro, telling the story of what seemed to be a simple “morning after,” but turned out to be a deep reunion between friends.

Natalie, played by sophomore business management major Karaline Rosen, returned home to attend the funeral of her good friend Jason, and wound up back at her house in bed with her old friend Ronan, played by freshman secondary education and history dual major Casey O’Neill.

The two did some much needed catching up, with a few interruptions by Natalie’s outlandish stepsister Cassidy, as played by sophomore communication studies major Gretchen Newell.

The next play was “Framed,” written and directed by senior journalism major Jonathan Edmondson, a serious play about what lies beneath the surface of those around us.

The young Ethan, as played by sophomore biology major Matt Fertakos, checks into a motel to escape his past of sexual assault and confusion.

He is comforted by the motel owners, Hunter, played by junior chemistry major Eric Schreiber, and Scarlett, played by junior communication studies major Kristen Gassler, and his newfound friends, Violet, played by sophomore secondary education and history dual major Kelly Colleran, and Zoe, played by freshman marketing major Gail Cervallos.

The last play of the night, titled “The Mystery at Twicknam Vicarage,” was just as outlandish as it sounds. The murder mystery was written by David Ives and directed by senior English major Henry Albright.

This group of wacky individuals, including Dexter, played by freshman computer science major Lenin Cruz Navas, Roger, played by sophomore history major Chris Loos, Mona, played by junior art major Haley Witko, and Sarah, played by sophomore elementary education and psychology double major Kira Cohen, all attempt to figure out who killed Jeremy, played by junior graphic design major Rob Birnbohm, who was every character’s lover.

The show was a success, said Edmondson, who is writing and directing for a third time.

“It was so exciting and nervewracking. It was so gratifying to see the cast bring this show to life,” Edmondson said.

Bands / Alumni play various musical genres continued from page 14 Although Hughes’ lyrics were pretty basic, their musical approach and production was diverse enough to keep the audience engaged.

Their song “Do It Now” features saxophone and piano in the beat, as Hughes softly sings over it.

The following song, “Why You Gotta Make Me Do It,” takes more musical influence from EDM and Dubstep than the other songs, but still fits in with the rest of Cool Company’s repertoire.

The duo closed their set with the song “Slice of Paradise,” an R&B song similar in style to singer Anderson Paak. Every sound in the song, from Hughes’ vocals to the jazzy production evokes euphoria as he sings about taking a vacation with his girl.

The final act of the night was Alternative rock trio Debt League. The band is based out of Woodbridge, N.J., and was founded by drummer Zachary Nocciolo and co-singers/guitarists/bassists Brian Chesney and Joshua Spielman.

Only Chesney, who graduated in 2014 with a degree in music education, is an alumnus of the College. The members of the band were friends growing up and have been performing together since high school.

“In college I played in a cover band

called ‘R. Barbara and the Gitensteins,’” Chesney said. “We played regularly at The Rat, we covered mostly ’70s experimental rock like the Velvet Underground and Steely Dan.” Unlike the Gitensteins, Debt League’s music is original and takes much more influence from punk rock. They opened

with the song “Apnea,” off of their only full-length album “Akimbo.”

The trio’s experience playing together was immediately evident, as they flawlessly matched each other’s pace and energy on the loud and up-tempo song.

Chesney shouted lyrics and slammed on his guitar, hyping up the audience.

Thomas Infante / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Chesney ferociously shouts angst-filled lyrics and strums his guitar.

The next song “Tangled Head,” began with the drummer and bassist forming the rhythm section of the song, Chesney’s guitar kicks in around the pre chorus, syncopating his strumming with the rhythm of the song.

Like many of Debt League’s songs, Chesney’s lyrics are full of angst and a tad depressing, but do not detract from the energy of the song.

Before playing their song “Emulating You,” Chesney and Spielman switched instruments and Spielman took over lead vocals. Spielman’s singing was whinier than Chesney’s, but their guitar/bass skills were both solid. Musically, the song is uplifting, and Spielman’s lyrics about lost love and drinking alone contrast from the peppy and buoyant song.

They ended the night with their song “Green Eyes,” the song began with a lively drum rhythm before the bass melody comes in. Chesney resumed singing on this song, shouting intimate and lovestruck lyrics in between heavy power chords. In the last third of the song, the band slowed down for an instrumental breakdown, before speeding back up into a cacaphonic crescendo. The three bands gave the audience a great sample of the different kinds of talented musicians that were, and always will be, a part of the College community.

page 16 The Signal April 26, 2017

CMF / Student filmmakers win Silver Tripods

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Photo courtesy of Andrew Cislak

Left: The directors of the film commiserate while filming the lead actors. Right: Law thanks his supporters for helping him reach his victory. continued from page 14

“We knew we wanted to do a drama, of sorts, and then some comedies,” said Ellie Schuckman, a junior communication studies major. “I’m not great at writing comedies, so I was like ‘Let’s take a stab at the drama!’”

The initial script faced several criticisms from a member of the LGBTQ+ community, whose feedback the team sought.

“It kind’ve blindsided us when that happened, and we really took a step back and ultimately came together as a team to rewrite certain parts of it,” she said.

At one point, it’s revealed Vice President Mike Pence was involved in the experiments, which Schuckman believes helps viewers realize the film is grounded

in reality.

“This is what our government believes in, in a sense, and this is our way to take a stance against that,” she said. “It wasn’t even about the line, it was about the story we were telling.”

The final film to earn a Jury award, “Just The Tip,” was a tremendous underdog. The piece was an homage to alumnus Dylan Short (’16), who ate an entire pizza for his 2016 CMF entry. In similar fashion, Law begins eating a whole pizza when several increasingly absurd encounters brings him full circle.

“We were probably saying there was a 50/50 chance that ‘Just the Tip’ could even get screened,” said Peter Weiland, a junior communication studies major. “When we saw it screened, we were going nuts. We

were like ‘That’s amazing!’”

With all the winners on stage to accept their awards, Walsh couldn’t believe the company his films were keeping, side by side with Laux and Lundy.

“It’s a position I’d never imagined I would be in,” Walsh said. “They are so great. I’ve watched their stuff last year, and even before I came to TCNJ, just looking at the Campus MovieFest channel, and it’s always so beautiful. Their stories are so creative. When you have a perfect story and you just know everything about VFX and production design?

That’s them.”

For Lundy, CMF will always be a formative experience for both he and Laux.

“CMF has been an intrinsic force in providing a motivation for refining our craft

and building our portfolios,” Lundy said.

“In drawing creativity from a lack of time and resources during the one-week film festival, we’ve learned not only how to jump start a production, but the value of connections and collaborations in and outside of our production team at The College of New Jersey.”

While both he and Laux are set to graduate this May, Lundy is confident this won’t be the end of their award-winning partnership.

“We plan on staying very well connected with each other as well as our past and present teammates after graduation,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, Campus MovieFest was only the beginning of our collaboration and aspirations as content creators.”

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 17

‘Newtown’ documents tragic aftermath Danielle Silvia Staff Writer

Dec. 14, 2012, was a day that changed American history for the worst –– Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., was the target of a deadly school shooting.

The documentary “Newtown” expresses the grief and rebuilding of families since 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed 20 students under the age of seven, and six educators, including the principal of the school. Over the years, Newtown has been trying to pick up the pieces and help the victims’ families and friends try to recover from this unimaginable loss.

Directed by Kim A. Snyder, the film was first produced four years after the tragedy and aired in October 2016, but it became available to the public on April 3 when it aired on PBS. The documentary included commentary from a few of the victims’ families, specifically from the families of 7-year-old Daniel Barden, 6-year-old Dylan Hockley and 6-year-old Benjamin Wheeler. Each of the families discuss how their lives have changed since the tragedy and how they plan to live for their children and honor their memories.

Natalie Barden, Daniel Barden’s sister, was just 10 years old when she lost her brother. She talks about how her parents encouraged her to write down memories of her young brother in an effort to remember who he was, since she was so young when he passed away.

Nicole Hockley, Dylan Hockley’s mother, spearheaded The Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit organization created by some of the victims’ families to spread awareness of mental illness and gun violence.

Dylan, who was autistic, lived such a short life and inspired others to live life to the fullest, Nicole said. He may have faced

challenges due to his disability, but he still lived a happy life.

The film vividly recreated that fateful day with 911 calls and video footage of the surrounding area. I liked how the screen would go black when people spoke about what happened on Dec. 14, like when surviving students’ parents spoke on their behalf.

In addition, teachers who survived the event spoke about what they remember from the shooting. These blackouts convey the sense of fear and shock that many of the witnesses and victims’ families experienced on the day and days following the tragedy.

I also found the film to be very inspirational. These victims have lost so much yet continue to live for the small joys life still

brings them. Nicole Hockley spoke about how butterflies remind her of Dylan and help her cope during the darker moments of her recovery from grief.

The documentary used very little music and was mostly dialogue and reactions. I learned a lot about the aftermath of Newtown, too –– the state paid $50 million to rebuild the school, which was torn down in 2013, most likely in an effort to tear apart the damage and ugly memories permanently sewn within its walls.

But most of all, this film taught me that life is so precious. Everyday, we all face onerous challenges and disappointments, but we must remember to put things into perspective. Each day is a treasure and a gift.

Band Name: Future Islands Album Name: “The Far Field” Release Number: 5th Hailing From: Baltimore, Md. Genre: Pulsating Indie Synthpop Label: 4AD

Hockley’s parents work to spread awareness of gun violence.

YouTube

Noname mixtape fuses rap and poetry

By Lily Firth Staff Writer Most people might only be familiar with “Noname” from her features on Chance the Rapper’s popular mixtapes “Acid Rap” (2013) and “Coloring Book” (2016). But the Chicago native is capable of much more than a few select verses, something she has proven with the release of her debut mixtape, “Telefone.”

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

Fatimah Warner, better known by her stage name Noname, was raised in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, where she developed an interest in blues music and poetry. She competed in local open mics and slam poetry competitions, and even placed third in Chicago’s annual “Louder than a Bomb” competition, the largest youth poetry festival in the world, according to its website.

Noname’s lyrics sound more like slam poetry.

Flickr

But her interest in poetry eventually gave way to a love for freestyle rap, which led to a feature on fellow Chicago native Chance the Rapper’s second mixtape, whom she had met while practicing and performing locally.

“Telefone,” which was released last summer to critical acclaim, is predominantly “jazz rap,” a fusion subgenre of hip-hop and jazz music that emerged in the late ’80s. Noname’s 2017 tour started off with a bang as she continues to amaze audiences with her distinct sound. Noname plans to give Philadelphia and New York City a taste of her music with tours scheduled for June and July this year.

Noname’s use of this genre as a staple of her music marks a key difference in her style of rap in comparison to other popular female hip-hop artists. In short, it allows her to do what so many others in the genre fail to do in their attempts to mimic their more mainstream predecessors.

She does not try to rap in the harsh, aggressive ways that are characteristic of some prominent female rappers like Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj, and the result is something raw and genuine, a refreshing and honest work of art.

Noname’s roots in slam poetry are extremely evident throughout the entirety of the work. She raps with a smooth, lyrical style that is more reminiscent of recited poetry than traditional rap. Coupled with Noname’s powerful lyrics are a number of notable features and verses provided by an array of talented artists, including Saba and Smino.

The mixtape addresses a number of topics, from love to drugs, death to opportunity, all finding its way to relate back the African American culture that she feels so deeply connected to.

The tone varies slightly from song to song, from the mellow, nostalgia-inducing “Bye Bye Baby” to the brighter, more upbeat “Sunny Duet,” and the almost too catchy “Diddy Bop,” a masterful composition that offers a glimpse of Noname’s earlier life.

While “Telefone” might not be the ideal mixtape to listen to during an intense workout session, it is the perfect listen for virtually all other settings, from a casual walk around the Metzger Loop to background music while you complete your morning routine.

Give it a listen — you won’t be disappointed.

Future Islands’ hooks on “The Far Field” undeniably stand out. Samuel T. Herring’s crisp voice carries the songs through. His lyrics have a central theme: There is power in emotional vulnerability. You can find a way to laugh and cry in the same breath, and be stronger for it. The bass is awesome throughout — groovy basslines add to the texture of each song. They’ll continue to grow their fanbase as they play festivals this year like Coachella, Panorama, Bonnaroo and more.

Similar Sounds: Glass Animals, Mac Demarco, alt-J Must Hear: “Time on Her Side,” “Ran,” “Cave” and “North Star”

Band Name: Nana Grizol Album Name: “Ursa Minor” Release Number: 3rd Hailing From: Athens, Ga. Genre: Indie Folk Rock Label: Orange Twin Is this Neutral Milk Hotel in 2017? Well actually — two of the band members are from NMH, so you can be forgiven for that assumption. These melodies are familiar — you can tap your foot to most of the songs on this record.

Horns are a definitive part of this band. The mature musicality and songwriting shines through. Lead singer Theo Hilton narrates a story and weaves the imagery of the nature-filled settings seamlessly.

Similar Sounds: Neutral Milk Hotel, Pinegrove, Weakerthans, The Decemberists Must Hear: “Nightlights One,” “Mississippi Swells,” “Nightlights Two” and “Tacoma Center 1600”

page 18 The Signal April 26, 2017

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 19

Features

Assault survivors tell empowering stories

Personal stories captivate the audience.

By Shannon Deady Staff Writer

Despite one usually being a stranger to the person beside them, an intimate atmosphere of understanding and support filled the dimly lit basement of the Business Building as students gathered to share the raw details of their most personal stories.

Sexual assault survivors spoke about their experiences at the annual Take Back the Night event on April 18. While each story was different, they all shared one common theme: empowerment.

Traditionally, the event has begun with a

Meagan McDowell / Staff Photographer

peaceful protest in which students reclaimed their right to walk safely at night, free from the threat of sexual assault or violence. This year, however, this iconic portion of the event was cut.

“Marching was not the focus we want anymore. We wanted to create a safer, more open space for those who wanted to tell their story,” said Abbey Moor, vice president of Women In Learning and Leadership and a sophomore special education and women’s, gender and sexuality studies double major.

WILL successfully created a welcoming space. More students spoke this year than in years prior.

Alison Daks, program coordinator at Womanspace, a nonprofit that provides services to individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence, kicked off the event.

The cost of rape has a large physical impact on society and survivors, according to Daks.

The economic burden of a rape survivor throughout the course of their lifetime is estimated to be $122,000, including health implications, criminal justice costs and lost productivity. This doesn’t include the emotional burden, though.

With 25 million survivors in the U.S. alone, the nation needs to spend more money on prevention and ways to help survivors, according to Daks.

At Womanspace shelters and hospitals, Daks often interacts with survivors of sexual assault. Time and time again, Daks has seen the effect an assault has on survivors.

“The impact on every individual who has experienced sexual assault is just that — individual,” Daks said. “What we know, what we hear from survivors, is that there was a me before the experience and there is a me after the experience.”

For survivors who are learning to cope, the event gave students a way to express their experiences.

A sophomore psychology major spoke about how last year’s event — where she told her story for the first time — has impacted her.

“It was only until this event last year when I approached the podium — my heart in my throat — and poured a very

nonsensical version of this story to the audience,” she said. “Afterward other people and other survivors spoke to me, they empathized and understood. That connection was something that I needed for so long.”

Six other survivors shared their stories through tears, smiles and even some laughs.

Each speaker reminded the audience that being a victim of sexual assault has nothing to do with strength.

Most students know to carry pepper spray, not walk home alone and say no, but it isn’t always that simple. Sexual assault can happen to anyone, even the strongest of people.

Fear of negative reactions from peers or being accused of lying are the biggest reasons that college students choose not to report their sexual assaults.

As a result, another common theme among the speakers was the importance of knowing how to respond to a friend who thinks they may have been assaulted.

The anecdote, told by Molly Knapp, a sophomore women’s, gender and sexuality studies major, is simple. Just say three things: “I’m sorry,” “I believe you” and “How can I help?”

Frankie DiMedio, a sophomore elementary education and women’s, gender and sexuality studies double major who attended the event, was left with an everlasting memory of this anecdote.

“More students need to come out to events like this. It is more popular of a problem than we even realize on college campuses,” she said. “(The event) was such an eye-opening experience for me.”

Humans battle zombies in day-long event

By Elizabeth Zakaim Reviews Editor

Nerf blasters, sock flails and rubber duckies. Students wasted no time arming themselves with “weapons” as they congregated on the lawn behind the Library.

A student cocks his nerf blaster. Another crouches in defense. The games are about to begin.

On Saturday, April 22, room 101 in the Physics Building transformed from a lecture hall to a villain’s debriefing room filled with characters like the conniving Count Olaf, sadistic Joker and voluptuous Poison Ivy. The Manhunt Club held its semesterly day-long Humans vs. Zombies event, a game that started with a debriefing in the Physics Building, but soon spread across campus.

The game, painstakingly planned throughout the semester, is a battle for survival. Humans are tasked with attacking the players that began the game as zombies, in order to “stun” them and temporarily prevent them from turning more humans into zombies. However, if every human is tagged and turned into a zombie by the end of the day, then the zombies win the game.

This semester’s game was villain themed. All six of the game show-styled missions were hosted by moderators, or club members dressed as a villains who made sure the game ran smoothly.

“We want everyone having fun,” said Kristina Malmstrom, president of Manhunt Club and a senior English major.

“That’s the only reason we do this.”

Malmstrom was also a moderator at the event. With her hair tinged fluorescent green and her eyes shining brightly against the two large bruises around them, her look as the Joker was complete.

During the first mission, “Zeporady,” humans scrambled to pick up cardboard cutouts with different categories labeled on them, each worth a certain amount of points, according to Maggie Paragian, vice president of Manhunt Club and a sophomore communication studies major.

Paragian was also a “zombie moderator” in charge of her “hyper-organic beings,” as she called them. Both her eyelids

and fingertips were a sparkly green, the product of her transformation into the DC Comics villain Poison Ivy. The humans then brought the category to the host of the mission, in this case the Joker, and she challenged them with a “Jeopardy”-style clue. While the humans racked their brains for the answer, the zombies were hunting vulnerable humans to tag.

Hassan Al Dawod, a sophomore biomedical engineering major and one of the original zombies, was tasked with tagging as many humans as possible. It was not his first manhunt expedition, and he embraced the challenge of being only one of the three original zombies.

To Al Dawod, the game is more than fun, it also gives him the chance to get to know other students.

“I’m naturally (an introvert),” Al Dawod said about getting to know other Manhunt members.

He is happy with the friends he’s begun to make in the club.

“It (helps) me get to know people,” he said.

In the next mission, “Legend of the Zombie Temple,” the humans must build a tower of stuffed animals before the zombies get the best of them. The humans won the round and then took a break in their “safe zone,” where they could reboot and plan future strategies.

During other missions like “The Price is Fright,” humans had to guess the price value of different objects labeled on cardboard that were strewn about outside. For example, a piece of cardboard labeled “box of Oreos” might be price ranged at anywhere from $2.50 to $3.50, according to Jonah Dicorcia, public relations officer of Manhunt Club and a junior interactive multimedia major.

“It’s just like ‘The Price is Right’ except they also have to deal with zombies attacking them,” he said.

Dicorcia, dressed as Count Olaf from the book series “A Series of Unfortunate Events” –– complete with an eye tattoo on his ankle and a wiggly unibrow –– later hosted a mission of his own. The objective of “Z-vivor” is similar to a relay race, he said. Humans had to race each other in the bunny hop, wheelbarrow and other forms of relays.

The humans who were not racing protected their teammates

against impending zombies.

The final mission, “The Generators,” was left up to the few humans who were left.

They had to fill two of the four generators, by filling up empty soda bottles with water, to power open the gates and allow them to escape from the zombies for good.

Who will win?

The tables turned in the zombies’ favor, and they ended the day with victory on their side.

Paragian, who trusted her zombies’ savvy skills on the playing field, was excited to see how both groups responded to the different challenges of the game.

“At the end of the day, we’re just here to have fun and have a good time,” she said. “It’s a good way to get a whole group of people together that you normally wouldn’t see.”

With the end of the semester drawing near, it’s easy to get caught up in impending exams and assignments, but the Manhunt Club knows how to cope with all of that stress –– they play to take a break and enjoy themselves.

“It seems very childish,” Paragian said. “But I like how we all just come together and play one silly game.”

Photo courtesy of Maggie Paragian

Manhunt Club arms for mission.

page 20 The Signal April 26, 2017

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April 26, 2017 The Signal page 21

Students learn to embrace their true selves

By Jessica Iacobazzo Correspondent

There are more than 7 billion people in the world, and every single one is different.

Race, religion, personality — these are just a few of the things that can make people original.

On April 18, Sigma Lambda Beta International hosted its fourth annual “A Walk in My Shoes,” which reminded students that being different is not bad.

At the event, speakers shared their experiences with adversity and what led them to appreciate their true identities.

Meme Cisse, a junior African American studies and sociology double major, shared a personal story about her high school boyfriend.

At age 16, Cisse dated a white male. One day, her boyfriend’s parents asked what she wanted to study in college.

When she responded that she wanted to study biomedical science, Cisse was taken aback by their response. They proceeded to ask why she didn’t want to do social work or work in an urban area because to them, she “didn’t talk white.”

The comment made Cisse feel self-conscious and it slowly ate away at her self-esteem.

As her relationship progressed, the idea of getting intimate with her boyfriend seemed nerve-wracking. While she decided that she wasn’t ready to be intimate, her boyfriend was extremely adamant on having sex.

At 16, Cisse was raped by her boyfriend. She never reported the incident, not even to her family or friends.

However, as time went on, she changed her mind.

“I realized it’s OK to talk to people, to let people in, to be vulnerable, to be a crier,” Cisse said.

Slowly, she learned to embrace her culture. She encouraged the audience to remember that they are not alone and that there are people who have had similar experiences.

Cesar Cruz, a junior biology major, talked about his childhood, reflecting on the significant role his grandmother played in his life. While his mother and sister lived in the

Speakers encourage students to connect with their peers.

Dominican Republic, Cruz and his brother lived in Passaic, N.J., under the care of their grandmother.

Growing up, Cruz always tried to make his grandmother proud. When his mother came to America, they grew extremely close, but his mother’s life slowly went downhill.

She was involved in a drug deal in a nearby city, Paterson, N.J., and arrested. After his mother was arrested and missed his high school graduation, Cruz was forced to step up and be strong for his brother and sister.

Cruz recalled the challenges of caring for his siblings while his mother was in jail.

With his mother now out of jail, Cruz said his family has gotten him to where he is today, despite the ups and downs.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

“The people around me are what motivate me, even though they’re not exactly what you call a functional family unit,” he said.

Damani Walker, a junior computer science major and the secretary for SLB felt the event was a success.

“Everyone seemed passionate about their stories and it seemed as if they all overcame a big struggle in their lives,” he said. “The audience was great, more people came out than we expected and they were very engaged with each performer.”

Despite skin color, ethnicity or religion, “A Walk in My Shoes” taught students that there is a way to connect with their peers and to be there for one another despite any differences.

Volunteers walk the rec center to fight cancer Relay for Life raises more than $55,000 for ACS

By Brielle Bryan Production Manager

Students adorned themselves in capes and tights on Friday, April 21, as they launched themselves into the superhero-themed 12-hour event Relay for Life to support the fight against cancer.

Colleges Against Cancer hosted the 12th annual Relay for Life — co-sponsored by Delta Tau Delta,

Student Government and Phi Kappa Psi — in the Student Recreation Center to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

“Everyone is connected by cancer,” said alumna Amanda Parks (’14), an ACS member who works as a staff partner for Relay for Life. “It doesn’t discriminate against anyone.”

Last year, the event raised more than $97,000, according to Parks.

Students walk to raise money for cancer.

So far, this year’s event has raised around $55,000, according to Parks. However, the season continues until Aug. 31, so that number will likely increase.

During Paint the Campus Purple Week, the week leading up to Relay for Life, student organizations across campus began fundraising, according to Julia Lester, a senior biopsychology major and CAC’s event chair.

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

Multiple student organizations set up tables during the Relay for Life event.

While Kappa Delta sold bracelets, Sigma Kappa sold chocolatecovered popcorn. Instead of selling jewelry or food, Delta Tau Delta raised money through a game called “Jail Bail.”

“People pay two tickets to put someone in jail and then it takes four tickets to get them out,” said DJ Kleinbard, philanthropy chair of DTD and a junior marketing major.

The “jail” was set up in one corner of the recreation center and was just one of the many games set up by student organizations.

Many students were passionate about fundraising for the event because of their personal experiences with a family member or loved one who had cancer.

“For me, it’s really personal.

My dad and my aunt had cancer,” Lester said. “It’s so cool to have a community that supports you and so many people who are united in a common mission.”

Parks’ grandfather is a skin cancer survivor.

Kleinbard’s uncle passed away a few years ago from cancer.

Christine Beverin, a member of Kappa Delta and a senior special education major, participated because her mother currently has leukemia.

“My family has benefitted a lot from American Cancer Society, so I really love to support them,” she said.

At 10 p.m., all of the students sat on the floor and the lights were

dimmed as the Luminaria Ceremony began. The Luminaria Ceremony began with a slideshow, which showed different cancer survivors, as well as those still fighting.

When the slideshow ended, guest speakers shared their stories about encounters with cancer.

First, Alex Caronna, a communication studies major, shared a story about his dad.

During his sophomore year spring break, Caronna’s dad proposed the idea of going on a Disney cruise in the summer. Caronna went back to school and began planning for the summer cruise.

Talking about his excitement to his mother, she told him that the trip would have to be cancelled.

“Dad’s not feeling too well,” his mother said.

Caronna laughed in disbelief when he heard his mom’s response.

“This guy was my superman,” Caronna said in reference to his dad. “When I heard that he couldn’t go on a Disney cruise because he was feeling a little sick, I just didn’t believe it.”

Caronna’s family then told him that his father had a rare form of cancer.

“We’re going to beat this,” Caronna’s father told him.

Caronna then spent the whole summer driving up every weekend to Boston, where his father went for treatment. Summer eventually ended, and Caronna went back to the College to begin his junior year. see CANCER page 22

Cancer / Stories of survivors impact students page 22 The Signal April 26, 2017

continued from page 21

On Sept. 10, 2015, Caronna rushed to the hospital because his father’s condition drastically declined.

Caronna arrived at the hospital to say goodbye to his father.

However, his father was in a medically-induced coma, and could not speak or see anyone.

“Three months ago I was going on a Disney cruise and now I have to say goodbye to my father,” Caronna said. “I just thanked him for everything, for an amazing childhood, the lessons he taught me and for dressing up as superman when I was a kid.”

Caronna looked at his father, and even though the doctors said it was impossible, his dad’s eyes opened.

“I remember thinking, ‘That’s my superman,’” Caronna said.

Caronna’s story, as well as the stories of the other cancer

survivors, touched the crowd.

Students waved their phones in the air to honor the family and friends that they relayed for.

As the speeches ended, students walked a silent lap around the gym to remember those affected by cancer. White paper bags, with fake candles nestled inside, lighted the pathway for students to walk on.

Students wrote who they were relaying for, or what cancer they were battling, on each white bag.

After the Luminaria Ceremony, there were student performances at around 11:50 p.m. by the College’s i-Tunes and Trentones a cappella groups, the Circus Club, Jiva and TCNJ Musical Theatre.

At 1 a.m., a relay pageant took place where different representatives from various student organizations went through a talent portion.

“It’s just a way to keep everyone moving and going throughout

the night in order to stay awake,” Parks said.

The event ended at around 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, with a closing ceremony.

Cancer is a disease that has touched everyone’s life in some way. Relay for Life gave students a chance to honor their loved ones.

While cancer may win a battle, it hasn’t won the war. By raising money for the ASC, students made the decision to join the fight to save everyone’s superhero.

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

Students play games to pass the time.

Drag / Students receive condoms and raffle tickets continued from page 1

Audience members donated throughout the night to their favorite acts. Donations were collected by a slew of almost naked fraternity brothers from different organizations on campus.

The first student act was Dorina Dovely, who performed to Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell.” Her act included props, mainly junior political science major and Phi Alpha Delta brother Nicholas Gangemi, and a paper plate.

There was some booty grinding and an outfit quick-change by Dovely, who went from a striped dress and red stockings to a white fur coat with black stripes and some pearls. She also lost her wig in the process.

Next to take the stage was Ebony Dark’ness Dementia Raven Way, singing Evanescence’s “My Immortal.” Typically a dark tune, Ebony brightened it up with her pink headband, scarf, pigtails and skirt.

The student acts took an impromptu intermission after some technical difficulties arose and raffled off space-themed items including a galaxy pillow and a star projector.

Then, a runway contest allowed audience members to show off their sickest strut.

The strutter with the most claps was deemed the winner.

Lopez took this time to share some wisdom with the audience.

“Milk does the body good, and I’m not

Performers compete for Miss Queen of the Universe.

The Culinary Club Presents...

Lions Plate

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist Now a popular food trend, smoothie bowls started this year at the Jersey Shore chain Playa Bowls. For those who may be unaware, a smoothie bowl is made with natural and fresh ingredients. Some travel to the Jersey Shore to enjoy smoothie bowls, but others have brought them into the kitchen.

Smoothie bowls are customizable and can be made more or less healthy. Add protein powder or chia seeds into the smoothie to sneak nutrients into your diet. If you love sweets, then throw some chocolate syrup, nutella or peanut butter chips on top. All you need for this recipe is a blender, fruit and an imagination.

Creating this snack may seem daunting, but trust me, it is not that hard. I encourage you to make this summery snack as a reward for finishing your homework or going to the gym. Enjoy this recipe for a nutritious treat for on-the-go students.

talking about the milk you buy,” she joked.

“That man milk.”

Despite being married, she joked about polygamy, as well.

“Men are like the 601 and 609 bus,” she said. “They are all going to the same place.”

Lopez then selected a man from the audience and gave him a pop quiz.

“How many legs does a rooster have?” she asked.

He answered two. Then she asked, “How many teeth does a cat has?”

When the boy didn’t know, she responded, “You know more about cock than pussy!”

The student performances then got back into full swing with duo Hyde N’Sique, performing Fall Out Boy’s “Uma Thurman.”

The pair role-played the song.

Miss Virginia Hamm, wearing a fulllength zebra striped dress and a furry black scarf, closed the show with “Fabulous Baby” from “Sister Act.” She literally kicked off her performance, even hitting an audience member with one of her shoes.

As the performances commenced, the winners were announced and awarded a tiara and a gift card. Third place went to Ebony Dark’ness Dementia Raven Way, second place to Hyde N’Sique and first place to Miss Virginia Hamm.

By the end of the night, the event raised more than $400 for HiTops.

: Custom smoothie bowls

Smoothie ingredients: 1 heaping cup of frozen mixed berries 1 ripe banana (frozen) 2 or 3 tbsp of coconut or almond milk Toppings: 1 sliced strawberry 2 tbsp of blueberries 3 tbsp of granola 1 tsp of honey Directions: 1. Cut the frozen banana into slices, then add the banana and frozen berries to a blender.

2. Add coconut or almond milk. Blend on low.

3. Continue blending until the entire mixture has a smooth consistency.

4. Scoop mixture into a serving bowl.

5. Add toppings.

6. Enjoy!

Students can enjoy a healthy snack.

Flickr

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 23

: Feb ‘01

College mishandles rape reports

Campus Style

Alyssa Gautieri / Features Editor

Professor accuses the College of not reporting rape crimes.

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

The College hosts a variety of events throughout April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in order to continue the conversation about sexual assault and rape culture. The College discusses sexual assault and promotes its available resources in order to encourage survivors to come forward. In 2001, a professor at the College accused administration of failing to report rape crimes on campus. While the College denied the claims, sexual assault has become a hot-button issue around the world and the College has begun to focus more on combating sexual assault and rape in recent years.

The College of New Jersey had only one reported forcible sex offense in 1999, according to statistics submitted to the Department of Education. Some question whether the College is really so safe.

Howard Robboy, sociology professor at the College argues that the number is, “a blatant lie.” Robboy says that the College fails to report crimes, especially sex offenses, in order to keep its image clean.

The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities to report campus crimes to the Department of Education, which posts the information for public viewing.

Robboy is convinced that the College directly violates the Clery Act in order to keep the statistics low. He says that a

failure to correctly report rapes hurts the students in many ways. “If an institution reports rapes, they will make an effort to do something about it.”

He went on to explain that if students are not aware of the real statistics, they are not as likely to take all the necessary precautions. In addition, the rapists are not punished, nor or they made aware of their crime. The victims continuously suffer.

“The victim gets raped twice. First by the rapist, and then by the College,” Robboy later stated.

Jesse Rosemblum, associate vice president for college relations said “forcible sex offenses don’t necessarily mean rape.

There are definitions within definitions.”

According to the Clery Act definitions, forcible sex offenses are classified as, “Any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that person’s will; or not forcibly or against the person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent.” This is consistent with the College’s definition on its annual security report.

In response to the other accusations, Rosemblum stated, “If anyone claims knowledge of crimes on campus that allegedly have not been reported by the College, I believe there is an obligation to substantiate those claims. I would welcome such evidence.”

Flickr

Photo courtesy of Fox

Left: Students wear white after Labor Day. Right: On set, Kaling embraces bright colors.

By Jillian Greene Columnist In the fashion world, there is often a debate over when it is acceptable to wear white. Around this time of year, everyone starts talking about it. In fear of breaking fashion rules, a friend recently asked if she should wear white jeans. My answer to her question was simple: Wear whatever you want, whenever you want.

These so-called “fashion rules” are becoming outdated. The rules that say to never wear white after Labor Day or before Memorial Day began in the 1930s. I say it is time to break the rules.

Fashion is a way to express yourself.

In my opinion, your style is individual to who you are and it shouldn’t be limited

by any rules.

For example, in the recent movie “Me Before you,” Louisa Clark, played by actress Emilia Clarke, has an interesting sense of style. While most people may criticize her wardrobe, she walks proudly in her brightly colored leggings, funky patterns and puffy skirts.

Hopefully Clarke has inspired others to embrace their own distinct sense of style.

Another actress whose style I admire is Mindy Kaling from “The Mindy Project.”

In the show, her wardrobe consists of bright and fun colors. She is limitless in her style and never afraid to show off something new and trendy.

So, my advice to you is to be more like Clarke and Kaling. Be bold, and wear those white jeans, regardless of the time of year.

Celebritease : Williams confirms baby on the way

Left: Pratt joins his wife and son at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Right: Williams announces her pregnancy.

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist Whether or not you’re a fan of the new Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino, everyone’s reactions to the new drink were priceless. Katy Perry was among those who tried the drink, but she spit it out after her first sip. If the sour drink wasn’t for you, don’t worry, plenty of big news dropped this week.

Chris Pratt attended his Hollywood Walk of Fame star unveiling with his adorable family. While he recently faced criticism for comments regarding the lack of “blue collar Americans” representation in movies, he later quote-tweeted an article that criticized him for the remark.

“That was actually a pretty stupid thing to say,” he admitted. “I’ll own that. There’s a ton of movies about blue

collar America.”

While the comment was not well-received, his appearance on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was met with high praise.

The morning of the ceremony, Pratt’s wife, Anna Faris, live-tweeted photos of the down-to-earth couple getting ready. From Pratt doing yoga to playing the guitar, she wasn’t afraid to show her husband at his most vulnerable. In a sweet post, Faris showed Pratt teaching their son, Jack, how to tie his tie. Then, the family was all smiles on the red carpet.

Also this week, Selena Gomez attended her former onscreen brother’s wedding. The “Wizards of Waverly Place” cast reunited for David Henrie’s wedding on Friday, April 21.

Gomez took to Instagram to commemorate the occasion.

“Very much in my feelings about my big brother getting married,” Selena wrote. “Even though we for sure knew it

AP Photos

would be him first. May God bless you and your beautiful wife Henrie!”

She included a collage of photos that featured a throwback to the cast on set and present shots from the wedding.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams, who is engaged to Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian, confirmed on Wednesday, April 19, that she is pregnant with their first child. Williams was already almost two-months pregnant when she won the Australian Open on Jan. 28, and no one had a clue.

“I’m elated for her; I’ve seen her with our son, and she will be a great mother,” said Andy Roddick, a tennis player and a childhood friend of Williams, according The New York Times.

If all of this is a “Sign of the Times” as Harry Styles has been signing, there is good fortune ahead.

page 24 The Signal April 26, 2017

Fun StufF April showers...

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 25

Fun Stuff ...bring May flowers!

page 26 The Signal April 26, 2017

Sports

Baseball

Baseball dominates, Shindler achieves milestone

By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant

The baseball team started the week off on April 18 at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham and ended it at home on Sunday, April 23, with a doubleheader against New Jersey City University. The Lions won three games, while dropping two closely contested home games to the Gothic Knights and Rowan University.

The Lions won their first game on April 18 against the Devils, 7-5. Freshman pitcher Nickolas Kleftogiannis stood tall on the mound, earning his first win of the season.

Junior pitcher Matt Curry came in the ninth to earn a save and keep the Lions on top.

During the third inning, junior infielder Zachary Shindler earned his 100th career hit, driving a ball directly over the pitcher and into center field for an RBI-single. The Lions continued to rally, scoring in the following two innings.

The Devils battled back and kept the score close, 5-4, by the end of the fifth inning. The Lions scored two more times and gave up a run in the ninth, securing the victory 7-5. The team had eleven players hitting during the game and allowing only one error.

The Lions traveled to Rowan University on Thursday and won by landslide, 9-2. The offense scored nine runs on 14 hits. Junior pitcher Brandon Zachary pitched six innings and allowed only one run on four hits en route to a win. It was Zachary’s third win, which evens up his record at 3-3 this season.

Juniors utility player Austin Lindsay and outfielder Mike Follet each knocked in

three hits, helping the Lions blow the game to 7-0 by the sixth inning. The Profs answered the Lions back with two runs in a desperate attempt to get back.

On Wednesday, April 21, the Lions hosted the Profs in a heated rivalry game. Both teams had nine hits and forced each other into a plethora of errors, totaling 7. The Profs ultimately came out on top, handing the Lions a tough loss at home, 5-4.

In the third inning, Shindler hit an RBI-double, trying to spark the Lions explosive offense. Senior catcher CJ Gearhart captured some of the spark, hitting a RBI-triple in the same inning.

In the seventh inning, the Profs extended the score to 5-2. The Lions clawed their way back with two runs, but they could not get over the deficit. The loss put a blemish on freshman pitcher Michael Walley’s record, handing him his first loss of the season.

Fast forward to Sunday, the Lions hosted a doubleheader against New Jersey City University. The Lions splitted the series, thrashing the Gothic Knights in the first game shutout and losing in the closely contested second game.

Junior pitcher Joe Cirillo dominated the first game with his pitching performance.

Cirillo struck out for a career-high 10 batters for the third time this season. He only allowed four hits and walked one batter. In his last 36 innings on the mound, Cirillo has proved to be invaluable ace for the Lions, allowing only two earned runs and striking out 37 batters.

Gearhart geared the Lions offense to a solid start by ripping a two-run single.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Shindler records his 100th hit against the Devils.

Lindsay also scored two runs on a single later in the game. The Lions only ran away with the score from their while Cirillo silenced the opposing offense, earning the Lions a 7-0 shutout victory.

The Lions then lost a close game, 6-4, putting a second blemish on sophomore pitcher Michael Fischer’s record and making it 5-2.

After hitting a solid triple, freshman outfielder Thomas Persichetti scored on a wild pitch that got away from the opposing catcher. He dashed to home plate and put the Lions on the board from the Gothic Knight error.

The Gothic Knights countered aggressively and commandingly with four straight runs in the second inning. The Lions then manufactured a run in both the fourth and

fifth innings. The Gothic Knights immediately answered and scored one run in the sixth and seventh innings. The Lions tried to mount a rally, scoring in the eighth, but ultimately fell short.

The Lions have improved their record to 23-8, maintaining their high status and flexing their muscles in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

The Lions will return to George Ackerman Park to play against conference rival William Paterson University on the Thursday, April 27, at 3:30 p.m. The Lions then travel to William Paterson University for a second game on Friday, April 28. The team ends their season at home on Saturday, April 29, against Kean University for a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m.

Softball

Lions fight to stay competitive in conference play

Left: Mayernik records three hits against Stockton University. Right: Platt secures the win against Kean University.

By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant

The softball team had another rough week, dropping two games, tying one and winning their last home game of the season. The Lions traveled to Stockton University on April 18 for a doubleheader, losing 2-1 and tying at 5.

The Lions split their Senior Day doubleheader on Sunday, April 23, against Kean University, losing, 9-3, and winning, 3-2.

The Lions lost their first game against Stockton University in a fierce defensive game, 2-1. Junior pitcher Sam Platt allowed one run in seven innings, forcing the game into an extra inning.

Sophomore infielder/outfielder Jess Santelli hit a double at the bottom of the sixth to get on base. Sophomore outfielder Gaby Bennett then hit an RBI double to bring Santelli home for the Lions only run of the game.

The Lions fell in the eighth when the Ospreys drove the winning run. The Lions earned eight hits and one run. Freshman infielder Megan Mayernik managed to get three of those hits.

The second game started the same way as the first. The Ospreys scored in the first and launched to an early lead. However, the second game did not result in a win nor a loss. Both teams answered each other’s runs in the fourth

inning. Bennett scored for the Lions. Meanwhile, pinch runner and sophomore infielder Francesca Pugliese scored on an errant throw, dashing across the plate.

In the eighth, both teams scored three runs and kept the game tied. Freshman infielder/ outfielder Annalise Suitovsky hit a lead off RBI-single. Bennett and Sophomore catcher/infielder Jess McGuire both hit RBI-singles to push the Lions to a 5-2 lead. Stockton University tied the game at 5.

The Lions played Kean University on Senior Day at Dr. June Walker Field. The Lions split the doubleheader, losing the first game, 9-3, and winning the second, 3-2.

In the first game, the Cougars scored early the first and second innings. McGuire responded with a booming homer over the center field wall.

The Cougars then silenced the Lions by scoring two runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the in the sixth. The Lions tried to rally and scored two runs in the seventh inning, but they lost, 9-3.

In the second game, the Lions flipped the script and came out triumphant. Santelli scored to put the Lions in a 2-0 lead with a booming hit.

In the second inning, freshman outfielder Helena Coppola and junior infielder/catcher Danielle Carey both hit singles.

Photos courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Coppola scored a run on a sacrifice fly ball.

Kean University fought back in the fourth and the fifth innings and scored one run in both. Sophomore pitcher Sara Bielamowicz closed the door on their offense, restricting them from scoring anymore.

Junior pitcher Sam Platt closed the game out, ensuring the victory.

The Lions currently sit in seventh place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. They are four points behind sixth place Stockton University. The Lions record is currently 12-15-1.

The team will play its last games of the season in a doubleheader at Montclair State University on Saturday, April 29.

April 26, 2017 The Signal page 27 Cheap Seats

Blackhawks loss shows impact of NHL salary cap

By Michael Battista Staff Writer

In this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks, the highest seeded team in the Western Conference, were swept in the first round by the Nashville Predators.

If I guaranteed this outcome earlier this season, I would have been admitted into a psych ward. But that’s exactly what happened, and while it was amazing to watch, it also served as a reminder of how much the salary cap matters in the NHL. For those who are unaware, a salary cap in sports means that every team in a league has a limited amount of money they can spend on players’ salaries. Its purpose is to keep rich teams from buying all the talented athletes, which would leave other teams at a disadvantage. However, it has a side effect in the NHL where traditional championship dynasties have virtually disappeared.

The NHL had a history of teams winning multiple consecutive championships. The last time it happened was when the Detroit Red Wings won back to back in 1997 and 1998, just over a decade before the NHL set a hard salary cap for the 2005-2006 season.

On his show, “Pardon the Interruption,” ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon explained this situation in regard to the Blackhawks.

“When they won the Stanley Cup in 2010 by beating (the

Philadelphia Flyers) and the hard NHL cap forces you to basically turn your team over by half… they came back in three years and they won (in 2013),” Wilbon said.

“And they had to go away for another year, and they came back and they won (in 2015). And this is the cycle you have to have.”

Every year after the Blackhawks won, the team lost players in order to make room for new talent or resign contacts. After a team wins, the next season can see big roster changes thanks to contracts expiring and players wanting more money or traditional young talent getting a chance to play. As a result, hockey fans see the Blackhawks win the championship in 2015 before falling in the first round of the playoffs the next two years.

Hockey will never see a time like the ’60s to ’80s ever again.

The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup 12 times between those years. The New York Islanders won four cups in a row between 1980 and 1984 before falling in the 1985 final. Their opponent, the Edmonton Oilers, went on to win five of the next seven Stanley Cups.

All of these teams had incredible arsenals that didn’t have any restrictions. Montreal had players like centers Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau and right winger Yvan Cournoyer who all won at least 10 cups with the team. Edmonton had

Predators celebrate after upsetting top-seeded Blackhawks. the power trio of centers Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and defender Kevin Lowe.

These teams basically housed half of the league’s all-star team.

Teams with no money, like the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers, posed no threat and were left with little to compete with.

But it isn’t doom and gloom in regard to repeated success, it’s just a new process in effect. With the cap currently set at $60 million and teams able to spend up to $70.2 million in certain circumstances, brand new “salary cap” era dynasties took place.

The aforementioned Blackhawks are a perfect example, as they have been able to balance franchise talent like right winger

Patrick Kane and center Jonathan Toews with young rookies, including five on this year’s roster. The constant reshuffling and rebuilding allows this team to be a constant presence in the playoff hunt and three recent Stanley Cups.

The Los Angeles Kings are another great example, no matter how much I hate them. They won two times in three years between 2012 and 2014. Young talent like defenders Brayden McNabb and Drew Doughty mixed with experienced players like goalkeeper Jonathan Quick are what got the Kings its rings. Even though they beat the New York Rangers in 2014, I respect their organization’s strategy.

The Edmonton Oilers are using

AP Photo

a similar strategy right now. They haven’t been in the playoffs since 2006 when they lost in the Stanley Cup finals. Now with center Connor McDavid in his second year and a sustainable Oilers team around him, these Edmonton boys look like they can become a team to recon with as shown by their playoff series win against the San Jose Sharks this season.

So, in the end, I love the salary cap. Sure, my rich New York Rangers can’t rule the world like their baseball brothers in the Bronx did in the late ’90s or buy a ring in 2009, but it maintains parity for everyone. Plus, if a team does repeat as champions, it makes the accomplishment even more special.

Lacrosse

No.1 lacrosse hits two birds with one defensive stick

Morrison receives IWCA Defensive Player of the Week honor

Chrone leads the Lions strong defense.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

The No.1 nationally ranked Lions continued their dominance in conference play. On the road, the team defeated Rowan University, 11-1, on April 18. The Lions then followed with a more hefty home win against Ramapo College, 17-1, on Thursday, April 20.

The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association announced junior defender Elizabeth Morrison as the Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, April 19.

The Lions offense threw goal after goal against the Profs. During the game freshman midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick netted in three goals, while sophomore midfielder Kathleen Jaeger, senior attacker Mia Blackman and freshman midfielder Allie Gorman all scored two goals apiece.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

“The team is really meshing,” said Brooke Lionetti, a sophomore defender. “I think it’s the culmination of three months of focused, hard work through practice and games. We’ve been able to maintain possession of the ball very well recently, which has created scoring opportunities for us.”

The Lions were hungry for goals, as Jaeger and Gorman took shots off of free position attempts in the first minute. Fitzpatrick broke through the Profs defense when she grabbed a rebound from Jaeger’s shot.

Gorman then scooped up the ball and hurled it in for the Lions second goal. The Lions continued their attack, while the defense only allowed four shots in the first half.

At the 16th minute, Fitzpatrick cradled through Profs junior goalkeeper Erin Horner and scored the Lions fifth goal. The team finished the half with

back-to-back goals from Fitzpatrick and sophomore midfielder Erin Harvey.

The Lions toned down their offense in the second half as the defense stopped the Profs from staging a comeback. The Profs lone goal of the game came when sophomore defender/midfielder Taylor Gretz sprinted past sophomore goalkeeper Miranda Chrone.

Jaeger added a finishing touch to Lions win when she scored her 31st goal of the season in the 44th minute.

In the home match against the Roadrunners, the Lions pounded their opponents and recorded whooping 29 goals. Seven Lions recorded multiple goals, while Morrison slowed down the Roadrunners.

The Lions dominated the Roadrunners during each minute of the first half. From the sixth to eighth minute, the Lions netted

in four goals. The Roadrunners halted the Lions for a moment when freshman midfielder Ava Rinaldi scored with an assist from sophomore midfielder Molly Warner.

The Lions cruised to a 17-1 win in the second half with the help of their stingy defense. With the win, the Lions now carry a seven-game winning streak.

“Even though our team is dominating, we can’t let our guard down,” Morrison said. “We need to keep improving for the NJAC and NCAA Tournament.”

The team will conclude their season on road against Kean University on Saturday, April 29.

“I’m looking forward to the semester wrapping up so that the team can focus on lacrosse and reaching our ultimate goal of winning a National Championship,” Lionetti said.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Morrison is the IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week.

Signal

Sports

Track and field goes the distance at Princeton

By Nicole DeStefano Staff Writer

The Lions track and field teams competed in the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton University and the Widener Invitational at Widener University on Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22.

At Princeton, freshman Katie LaCapria competed in the 800-meter dash, clocking in at 2:13.32 for 38th place overall.

LaCapria currently has the fastest 800-meter time in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and the 10th fastest among Division III runners in the nation.

Sophomore Erin Holzbaur competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase, taking 26th overall. She clocked in with a time of 11:00.20.

Her performance currently ranks ninth in the nation this year and first in the NJAC conference.

Meanwhile, sophomore Matt Saponara had an impressive race in the 5000-meter run. He clocked in with a time of 15:11.18. Saponara holds the NJACs second fastest 5000-meter in the season.

He ran it in 14:48:85 during the Colonial Relays at William and Mary College.

At Widener University, the sophomore duo of Madeleine Tattory and Emma Bean competed in the 5000-meter run. Tattory ran a season best of 18:17.32 to secure sixth place. Bean finished in ninth with a time of 18:22.99.

On the men’s side, senior Andrew Tedeschi set a personal record in the 5000-meter run. He placed third with a time of 14:55.02.

During the Widener Invitational, three runners finished in the top 10 for the 1500-meter run. Senior Brandon Mazzarella placed fifth with a time of 4:00.04. Sophomore Luke Prothero was under a second behind, clocking in at 4:00.83 for seventh place. Sophomore Daniel Brennan placed ninth with a time of 4:01.52.

Freshman Dan Pflueger took first at the 400-meter hurdles in 56.70. Sophomore Kenneth Klopf also finished fifth overall, clocking in at 57.99.

At the 800-meter dash, sophomore Jack Wood placed 18th with a time of 1:57.58. Sophomore Noah Osterhus finished second in 1:57.74.

Senior Jake Lindacher won the 110-meter hurdles and ran a personal best of the season at 15.03.

In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Thomas Livecchi ran a 50.20 for ninth place. The 4x400 meter relay, comprising Noah Osterhus, sophomore Nathan Osterhus, senior Zakaria Rochdi and Livecchi, came in second place with a time of 3:20.88.

“I feel pretty good about my 800 performance,” Noah Osterhus said. “I’m just coming off of injury, so I’m not quite where I want to be, but I’ll get there later on in the season. The team overall

Mazzarella runs 4:00 in the 1500 meters.

is doing great. Everyone is going out there and always trying to win their heats, and it’s fun watching your teammates get better times and progress. With conference in two weeks, I think our team as a whole is ready to compete and get after it.”

The Lady Lions also had strong performances on Saturday. Freshman Nicole Tampone took second with a time of 1:05.64 in the 400meter hurdles. In the 200-meter dash, freshman Samantha Gorman finished in second, clocking in with a time of 25.40.

Freshman Katie LaCapria returned to the track for the 400-meter dash. She placed seventh with a time of 1:00.02.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

In the 1500-meter run, junior Allison Fournier ran at 4:54.42 and finished in 17th place. Following behind was sophomore Abigail Faith, clocking in at 4:54.47.

Senior Laura Straub raced in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She clocked in a time of 11:28.25 for third place.

“The steeple was fun because there were 25 girls in the heat, which is unheard of for a steeplechase,” Straub said. “Gabby Devito and I both did really well for our first steeple of the season. It was raining all day, but we didn’t care because we were bound to get wet anyway. The team showed that we’re ready for NJACs in two weeks.”

In the 110-meter hurdles, freshman Kristen Hall clocked in at 15.82, taking ninth place. In the same event, junior Megan McGourty ran at 15.89 to take 11th place.

McGourty also placed ninth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1.08.47.

In the field events, senior Tracy Prentice placed fourth after clearing a height of 2.81 meters in the pole vault.

Freshman Angela Rambert threw 32.57 meters for eighth place in the discus event and 10.55 meters for 13th place in shot put.

The Lions will host the Lions Invitational at the Track and Field Complex on Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29.

Both tennis teams finish on strong winning streaks

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

August and Stanley team up for a doubles win on Senior Day.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

The men’s and women’s tennis teams concluded their seasons on a tear. At Stevens Institute of Technology, the Lions narrowly

Lions Lineup April 26, 2017

I n s i d e

defeated the Ducks, 5-4, on Wednesday, April 19. The Lions then thrashed St. Lawrence University, 9-0, at home on Saturday, April 22.

On the same day, the Lady Lions escaped with a 5-4 win against St. Lawrence

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University. The women’s team then capped off the season by trampling Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 9-0.

The men’s team kept their winning momentum against the Ducks. After being swept at doubles, the Lions rallied their way to a 5-4 win. Senior Jack August started the rally when he defeated Ducks junior Kyle Henry. Three singles wins later, freshman Gokul Murugesan delivered the clinching victory by outlasting Ducks junior David Schulz.

In their last home match, the Lions left no doubt of earning an at-large NCAA tournament bid when they blanked St. Lawrence University, 9-0. Sophomore Mitchell Sanders headlined the match when he did not concede a single point against Saints freshman Eric Tecce. Meanwhile, sophomore Omar Bokhari and junior Chris D’Agostino narrowly escaped their singles matches.

Meanwhile, the Lady Lions overcame the Saints in a 5-4 victory. Sophomore Sneha Rangu and freshman Audrey Chen won the Lions only doubles match against Saints freshman Katherine Apt and junior Lia Petersen.

Both teams bounced back and forth in singles. With the Lions down 4-3,

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sophomores Alyssa Baldi and Mackenzie Holleran launched a comeback and won both of their singles.

The following day, the Lions dismantled the Engineers, 9-0, in their last regular season competition. After winning closely contested doubles, the Lions dominated at singles. Seniors Katie Buchbinder and Anna Prestera left one last strong performance at the Tennis Complex with dominant singles wins.

Both the men’s and women’s teams finish their year at 14-3. Overall, the women’s team recorded six shutouts and the men’s team recorded four. During the year, seniors Jack August and Mike Stanley achieved their 100th victories. Meanwhile, Prestera won 14 singles throughout the year and only dropped two.

“Both teams worked hard and grinded each win,” head coach Scott Dicheck said.

“They consistently improved. Buchbinder, Prestera, Stanley and August all had great careers. I can’t wait to see how we perform at Nationals this year.”

The men’s and women’s teams now await their seeding at this year’s NCAA National Tournament, which is scheduled to take place at Salem, Va., from May 22 to May 27.

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