Fall '24 Issue No. 4 by TCNJ Signal

The Signal

In memory of Patricia Harp: A legacy of love and generosity

By Ally Uhlendorf Managing Editor

Patricia Harp, President Michael A. Bernstein’s partner of 23 years, was the embodiment of generosity and kindness. On Sept. 23, Harp died due to complications from Alzhimer’s disease, leaving behind a legacy of warmth and love.

Born and raised in Montana with her brother and two sisters, Harp’s early experiences shaped the kind of person she was — a humble, generous person who always wanted to give back to others.

“I think that had a lot to do with her background. She grew up in very modest circumstances in Montana, where she did not have a lot as a child,” Bernstein said in an interview with The Signal.

Harp attended business school for around 10 months, where she learned dictation and typing skills. Not long after, the TransAlaska Pipeline System project began.

“That project started and Patti and her inimitable, no-nonsense decision making style reasoned they would need a lot of bookkeepers out there,” Bernstein said. “So, she was right and moved to Anchorage. She was in Anchorage for a year and a half.”

Afterwards, Harp had saved up her money and moved to California, where she met Bernstein.

Harp and Bernstein were introduced to each other in early 2001 by a fellow colleague at the University of California, San Diego, where Harp was a management services officer and Bernstein was a faculty member. Their connection grew from a simple friendship to a loving partnership

Michael Bernstein and his partner of 23 years, Patricia

that would span over two decades.

In the summer of 2007, Bernstein became the provost at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he and Harp moved together. Harp decided to retire that year.

“She enjoyed retirement, she never looked back again,” Bernstein said. “The leadership at Tulane was interested in offering her a job — she said ‘No, I’m not interested in the job.’”

After living in New Orleans for about nine years, Bernstein left Tulane and was subsequently hired as the provost at Stony Brook University in Long Island, where they resided for four years.

In 2017, the couple’s lives took an unfortunate turn. Harp was suddenly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The two then returned to San Diego, where they have had a home ever since they

TCNJ named top-ranked college in region

By Raeanne Raccagno Staff Writer

The U.S. News & World Report released its 2025 Best College Rankings on Sept. 24, naming the College No. 1 in the Regional Universities North category.

Regional universities are classified as schools that offer a vast range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs, but few doctoral programs, according to the U.S. News and World Report website. It splits them into four geographical regions: North, South, Midwest and West.

Since 1991, the College has been sitting on the podium for being the best public college in the North region, but this year it triumphed over all public and private institutions, being named the top school overall.

“We’ve always focused on providing the highest quality education and are gratified that U.S. News has acknowledged that consistency in this way,” said Luke Sacks, head media relations officer for the College.

The 40th annual ranking of Best Colleges takes into account the qualities students consider while picking a school, like academic reputation, cost of attendance and return on investment. U.S. News and

@tcnjsignal

World Report factored in these components after reading survey results by Why Higher Ed? by Strada and Gallup, and Factors That Influence Student College Choice by the U.S. Department of Education.

In a recent interview with The Signal, President Michael Bernstein said, “I’m certainly not putting down on the elite privates like Princeton…Good for them, [but] that’s not us. We’re delivering a remarkable experience for students at more than half the cost.”

After the U.S. News and World Report updated its ranking procedure, more than half of a school’s rank now depends on outcome measures related to a school’s success with enrolling, retaining and graduating students from diverse backgrounds with manageable debt and post-graduation success.

The College’s current retention rate is 90%, with a 76% graduation rate for four years and an 86% graduation rate for six years.

“We continue to focus on student success and keeping students on track to graduate on time through advising, mentoring and our other student support services,” Sacks said.

Psychology department embraces new department chair and advising model

By Kate Zydor News Editor

The College’s Department of Psychology has adopted a new cohort advising model, grouping advisees and assigning them to an advisor based on class year. Full-time faculty members within the department now work exclusively with firstyear, sophomore, junior or senior students.

Alongside the updated advising model came the appointment of a new department chair, Shaun Wiley, who stepped into the role on July 1. This followed the departure of the former department chair, Jason Dahling, who is currently on sabbatical.

“The benefits of the new model are that advisers can focus on the unique issues that face their cohort,” said Wiley. “They can ask questions, share information and give guidance that is specific to a particular cohort at a particular developmental stage.”

Before the implementation of this model, advisees were, for the most part, randomly assigned to advisors. Students with specializations, however, were assigned to advisors who work in their field of interest. This burdened professors of industrialorganizational and clinical psychology, the

OPINIONS page 6

Halloween nostalgia Halloween is a timeliness holiday that allows us to express our creatvity and brings us back to our childhoods.

most popular specializations, according to Wiley.

“The [psychology] professors all genuinely care about their students and want to help us,” said Hannah Tobin, a sophomore psychology major. “My only complaints have to do with them having to overload on advisees, which makes it stressful for faculty and students.”

As of this fall, faculty members John Ruscio, Andrew Lynes, Jean Kirnan and Jason Dahling are on sabbatical, conducting research in their scholarly capacity as faculty members of the College.

“With about 800 majors and 13 fulltime tenure track faculty advising, most faculty members have just over 60 advisees this term,” Wiley said. “This is due to the popularity of our major, which has grown in recent years, and recent retirements and sabbaticals.”

When the four professors return from sabbatical, the number of advisees each faculty member is responsible for will decrease to approximately 53 in spring 2025 and then 47 in fall 2025, according to Wiley.

See PSYCHOLOGY page 2

SPORTS page 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT page 13

‘A Different Man review’

Dark comedy by Aaron Schimberg, ‘A Different Man,’ sheds light on the realities of insecurity and the male identity.

Field hockey dominates

As of Oct. 12, head coach Sharon Pfluger set a record for most wins as a head coach in Division III history.

Harp.

Photo courtesy of Luke Sacks

Cop Shop: Fire alarms in buildings, bad head in dorm room, lots of boots on cars

By Isabella Darcy News Editor

The Signal and Campus Police work together on a weekly basis to inform the campus community about crime on and around campus. All records given to The Signal are public records and do not contain personal information. Some information provided may be triggering for some students.

Sept. 30: Booted

Campus Police booted a white BMW in the early morning. The vehicle was bootable because it had already acquired three outstanding parking tickets and was parked without a permit in Lot 17.

Two more tickets were issued to the vehicle: one for a parking offense and the other for boot removal.

Sept. 30: Carbon mo-not-xide

A student called Campus Police in the late afternoon to report a carbon monoxide alarm going off in her Hausdoerffer Hall room. When officers arrived at her room, the carbon monoxide detector was not going off, nor were smoke detectors.

Campus Police requested that fire departments check the room to confirm that carbon monoxide was not present. Ewing Township Fire Department and West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company responded to the request.

While the firefighters were checking the room for carbon monoxide, the student said that she felt dizzy. EMS was called, and EMTs evaluated the student when they arrived. The

PSYCHOLOGY / Advising

Continued from page 1

According to Wiley, faculty members will follow their advisees throughout their undergraduate careers, from freshman to senior year, aligning with the best practices of other New Jersey colleges and universities.

“Research suggests that [this model] is more effective in building community and ensuring students graduate on time,” said Wiley. “As we build out the model, it will create opportunities for shared events within cohorts.”

The department will collect feedback regarding the model during this semester’s course registration and during the spring 2025 registration period, acknowledging that it will be an adjustment for students.

“I did find difficulties registering for courses [last semester],” said Taylor Aldridge, a sophomore psychology and criminology double major. “I am hoping this new advising model will provide more ease when it comes to registering.”

With this, Wiley said three visiting assistant professors and numerous adjunct professors have been hired to ensure that students do not miss out on opportunities to enroll in their desired courses.

“We have 800 students, all of whom have full and complicated lives,” said Wiley. “It is not mathematically possible for every student to have all of their desired sections within the department every semester…We work very hard to ensure that students do not miss courses that would delay their graduation.”

Alongside the department’s changes to its advising structure, it has commenced its search for a new full-time biopsychology professor and a tenure-track assistant professor in clinical and counseling psychology. Both faculty members will begin in fall 2025, Wiley said.

“I know these are anxious times — in the world, in the nation, at TCNJ,” said Wiley. “You have a wonderful group of faculty at TCNJ who think about you all the time. The ride won’t always be smooth, but we’ve got you.”

student declined further medical treatment after the EMS evaluation was complete.

The firefighters found no signs of carbon monoxide in the room.

Oct. 1: Bad head

Hausdoerffer Hall was evacuated after a smoke detector triggered the building’s fire alarm in the late afternoon.

Campus Police and Ewing Township Fire Department both responded to the alarm and checked the room where the triggered smoke detector was. The responders found no signs of smoke or fire.

The Hausdoerffer resident who lives in the room, told responders that the alarm went off as soon as he walked into his room and put his backpack on the ground.

Daniel Posluszny, emergency preparedness and fire safety manager, said he suspected that the head of the smoke detector was faulty and would be replaced.

Oct. 5: Piping hot pizza

Burnt pizza triggered a smoke detector in a Brewster Hall room, causing the ABE fire panel to activate in the early morning. Smoke was only detected in the room, so ABE was not evacuated.

Campus Police and Ewing Township Fire Department responded to the call and found no signs of smoke or fire. Students who were in the room told the responders that they had used a microwave to heat a pizza. The microwave was empty and responders did not notice any odor of burnt food.

The room was deemed safe and the fire panel was reset.

Oct. 10: Booted

Campus Police booted a white Toyota RAV4 while doing parking enforcement in the morning. The vehicle was bootable because it had already acquired three outstanding parking tickets, and was parked without a permit in Lot 17.

Two more tickets were issued to the vehicle: one for parking without a permit, and the other for boot removal.

Oct. 10: Another boot

Campus Police booted a white Acura TL in Lot 6 while doing parking enforcement in the late morning. The vehicle was bootable because it had already acquired three outstanding parking tickets.

One more ticket was issued to the vehicle for boot removal.

Oct. 11: My biggest fear

A resident who lives in Townhouses East was drying her hair in the evening after putting in heat-protecting oil, when the smoke detector in her bedroom caused a fire alarm to activate. The entire unit was evacuated.

Campus Police and Ewing Township Fire Department responded to the alarm. When the responders entered the unit they found “a slight smoke condition, which became heavier” as Campus Police approached the resident’s bedroom.

Firefighters completed a check of the area and deemed it safe to re-enter.

Oct. 12: Intoxicated student

A student who was intoxicated in Phelps

Hall was referred to Student Conduct after giving first responders a hard time when they tried to evaluate him in the middle of the night.

Campus Police were first alerted about the intoxicated student when they were flagged down by a woman who said that the student was lying in the hallway of Phelps. When Campus Police found the student, he was still lying on the ground. The student, however, quickly got up when Campus Police made contact with him.

Campus Police suspected that the student was intoxicated because his eyes were glassy, he was swaying while moving, some of his speech was unintelligible, and he had dirt and vomit on his clothing. The student denied consuming any drugs or alcohol.

When asked, the student refused to provide his full name or an ID. Instead, he continued to repeat that he wanted to get back to bed and sleep. Campus Police told the student that he could sleep once he let EMTs evaluate him.

Lions EMS responded to Phelps and asked the student for his name. The student refused to answer. The EMTs continued to ask the student questions but received no response. The student ignored the EMTs by looking at his phone and attempting to walk away.

Campus Police then informed the student that he needed to give his name or ID, otherwise he would be arrested for trespassing since they could not identify him as a resident of Phelps without his information. The student showed his ID to the EMTs, but not Campus Police. He was confirmed to be a Phelps resident.

The EMTs completed their evaluation and cleared the student. Campus Police then referred the student to Student Conduct for being uncooperative.

Dialogue for Democracy promotes civil discourse between TCNJ students

By Alicia Henry Correspondent

With election day around the corner, TCNJ Votes!, along with Student Government, hosted the College’s first Dialogue for Democracy. The College Democrats and College Republicans came together in the Brower Student Center to discuss the various issues facing the country today.

The event was moderated by The Signal’s editor-in-chief, Matthew Kaufman, and managing editor, Ally Uhlendorf, who were responsible for maintaining time limits and keeping the participants of the debate on topic. The dialogue was open for all students.

For each topic, the organizations were allowed 30 seconds of thinking time, two minutes to answer the moderator’s questions and two minutes of open discussion.

The dialogue started with opening statements and why each organization felt that the nominee for their party was the best choice.

Representing the College Democrats were Daniel Wilson and George Donnelly, who said that Vice President Kamala Harris was the best option because she could relate to the American people, and for her promise of a better global future.

Representing the College Republicans were John Rendzia and AJ Difalco, who stated that the economy was better under former president Donald Trump.

The first topic was immigration. The Republicans began by prefacing that they were not against legal immigration, while also pointing out that many members of the audience descended from immigrants. The Republicans continued by asserting that illegal immigration takes away many resources from American citizens.

As a rebuttal, the Democrats said that the immigration process is much harder now in comparison to a couple of decades ago. They proposed a solution to make the immigration process easier to reduce the number of illegal immigrants.

Another issue covered was the economy. Both organizations agreed on the need to end tax loopholes for the wealthy. The Republicans stressed the importance of tax cuts and how recent inflation was caused

by what they believe was unnecessary spending during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The final topic before a five-minute break was abortion. The Republicans stated that the decision should be at the state level, and the Democrats said that reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade will lower the current mortality rate of unsafe abortions or medically dangerous pregnancies.

During the open discussion, the Republicans questioned when the Democrats believed life begins, to which the Democrats responded saying that would be a moral debate, not a political debate.

This break prompted discussions about voter turnout, the aim of TCNJ Votes!, and a goal for the host of this dialogue.

“I knew I wanted one of my main goals for TCNJ Vote! is to increase voter education, increasing voter empathy, and just bettering the understanding of students all across campus,” said Aria Chalileh, Student Government’s vice president for government affairs and senior political science major.

After returning from the break, the topic was healthcare. The Democrats started, stating that Americans need affordable and quality healthcare. The Republicans then introduced the problem of healthcare firms merging and forming monopolies to increase prices. Both organizations agreed that stronger regulations are needed to stop price increases.

The organizations were then asked about the environment, specifically after the recent events of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Republicans stated that the $750 in aid that people received after the hurricanes was an incredibly low amount considering the damage.

The Republicans also argued that too much environmental regulation stifles the economy, and America needs to focus more on nuclear technology.

While the Democrats agreed that the financial aid from the government was considerably low, they stated that a federal carbon tax would incentivize industries to reduce their carbon emissions to limit the effects of climate change.

According to FEMA, the $750 payments have been mischaracterized as the only aid victims will receive. In fact, the payment is

just one of several opportunities for federal relief.

On the topic of foreign policy, the Republicans claimed that the United States should focus on itself. One example mentioned was the United States sending money to Ukraine, with the Republicans claiming it has not helped Ukraine’s efforts against Russia. The Democrats responded saying that peace around the world is in everyone’s best interest, including the U.S.

The last topic was education, with the Republicans saying that the government should not play a larger role in higher education. They also said there should be more options for private and charter schools because funding public education does not seem to be working well in its current state.

The Democrats argued that Americans should have the opportunity to receive higher education without going into debt.

During the open discussion, the Republicans said that community college is an option instead of the government getting involved in canceling student loan debt.

After the debate closed, there seemed to be a positive reception to the dialogue.

“There was more common ground that we found than I initially expected, frankly, and I think everyone did a great job,” Donnelly said.

The College Republicans and College Democrats were able to show a more intimate side of politics that students may not have been able to find during the presidential debate.

“When you go to something like this and you see both sides talking about what they believe in and what they stand for, that adds that personal layer, that adds a face to the policy,” Rendzia added.

Audience members remained very civil and voiced the pleasant surprise of a productive dialogue

“A lot of people beforehand may have had different expectations from the event, but it was nice to see everyone just come out and be respectful,” said Keya Chatterjee, a senior marketing major who was in the audience.

Before the night came to an end, both parties made sure to stress that the future is in our hands and that there is power in voting and showing up.

new first-year residential requirement policy at Student Government

By Raeanne Raccagno Staff Writer

Residential Education and Housing’s presentation at the Student Government general body meeting on Oct. 2 revealed first-year students will be required to live on campus starting in the fall of 2025, along with other dorming updates.

Tina Tormey, director of Residential Education and Housing, presented some statistics on how living on campus enhances the college experience. These were the main considerations in piloting the first-year housing requirement.

“Multiple national studies show that living on campus has very significant academic and social benefits,” Tormey said.

According to Tormey, students can submit a housing exemption request if they meet the following criteria: Are a Pathway student, have dependents or are married, are 21 or older, reside with parents or legal guardian within a 10-mile radius, have lived on campus for two full semesters at another college or university, identify as veteran status with at least six months

of active duty status, exhibit financial hardship that would impact their ability to live on campus or have a medical need that on-campus housing cannot provide.

Exemptions will launch on Oct. 15 and applicants will be notified if they are required or not to live on campus on April 1, so they can take it into consideration before making their college decision.

“You know we have data that contributed to us deciding to do this, but we also know that there’s all of this stuff that’s unknown, and that unknown is the stuff that we’re going have to monitor through that process,” Tormey said. “Yes, we’re piloting this, we’re trying it out, but we have to see if it actually helps the institution or hinders us meeting our goals.”

Changes that have already been implemented by ResEd are differential pricing for this academic year. Students who live in doubles pay a lower rate than those who live in singles. Tormey explained this was something students and parents have been suggesting for years.

A first-year housing requirement was previously considered for the current academic

year, but the department decided not to enact it.

Another change was adding air conditioning into all dorms in Norsworthy and to the first through third floor lounges of Travers and Wolfe.

ResEd also increased the expansion of mobile swipe entry, meaning students can use their student ID card or phone to get into their rooms in Eickhoff Hall and Townhouses East and West.

Along with allowing Mercer County Community College students to live on campus, ResEd has also started allowing graduate students to have on-campus housing this fall.

Tormey also reviewed changes that are not new but have not been discussed with SG yet, like virtual dorm tours for prospective students and showrooms in all first-year housing options. The showrooms became a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic when students were not comfortable with showing their rooms for tours, and it was against COVID-19 protocols at the time.

The director also brought up how firstyear students are allowed to pick their own roommates and rooms. “This gives students a lot more choice, which we know is not necessarily something that they get to experience at other colleges, especially in the state of New Jersey,” Tormey said.

In the past, transfers had to wait a long time to get housing, but now they can choose their dorm as soon as they are put into the College’s system. Additionally, to help support out-ofstate students, they are guaranteed housing for all four years.

This year was the biggest year for Recovery Housing, which started in the fall of 2015. “That is something that we’re really proud of and it’s a great resource for students,” Tormey said.

Lion’s House is the College’s substancefree residential program for students actively in recovery. The recovery program is integrated with substance-free housing, but recovery is the priority. ResEd will fill all needed recovery spots and the remaining spots are for students interested in substance-free housing.

Tormy also shared that the biggest thing ResEd pays attention to is assessment. “We are very thoughtful about making data-driven decision-making and feedback opportunities,” she said.

She said they had an amazing response rate with the questionnaire they sent out to resident students, which had a 60 percent response rate. The survey helped them decide to let first-year students select their own rooms and allow students to do an online room change process.

To wrap up her presentation, Tormey went over what the expenses students pay for housing go toward.

Housing keeps 15.2% of the funds, which is put directly back into the residential experience, consisting of salaries of those who work in housing, operational expenses and programming.

30.2% of the money goes toward facilities. This includes building services personnel and their supplies for cleaning the residence halls, housing repair personnel and supplies or equipment.

The biggest portion is the “others” category, where 54.5% of expenses go towards. These are things that support both residential and nonresidential students.

ResEd’s budget also pays for some police officers because they serve in the buildings in times of crisis.

93% of the total revenue comes from housing fees, 5% comes from commission and less than 1% is from summer camps or conferences on campus, according to Tormey.

Tormey reiterated that moving forward, ResEd will make data-driven decisions, have policies and practices that support belonging in equity, develop or maintain a program that supports healthy, engaged communities, have students maximize all of the resources they pay for through tuition and housing costs, be good stewards of housing fees and serve the College’s mission.

“We very much believe in the educational opportunity of living in the residence hall,” Tormey said. “We don’t want to be a hotel.”

Student Government briefed on Middle States visit, talks possible initiatives

By Raeanne Raccagno Staff Writer

Student Government was given an overview of what the upcoming Middle States Commission on Higher Education visit will entail before discussing possible initiatives at its general body meeting on Oct. 9.

Middle States, a global institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Secretary of Education since 1952, according to their website, will be visiting the College from Oct. 20 through 23.

The presentation on the Middle States visit was led by the College’s leadership team, consisting of Joseph Baker, faculty cochair and chemistry professor, and Jennifer Palmgren, assistant provost and Middle States accreditation liaison officer.

“This is a voluntary process, but if institutions want to be recognized as offering quality programs, they need to be accredited,” said Palmgren. “Institutions are required as part of this process to go through reaffirmation of their accreditation every eight to 10 years.”

The College’s last reaffirmation was 10 years ago, but Palmgren and Baker started the self-study process two years ago, in the fall of 2022. This involved the assembly of the leadership and data inventory team and attendance at the self-study institute.

Each semester, the leadership and data inventory team have been completing more components of the process, and the operation will conclude with the visit of peer evaluators. The visiting team is chaired by Darrell P. Wheeler, president of SUNY New Paltz.

“They’ll be evaluating us both to make sure we meet basic federal compliance standards, but also for the overall quality of our programs and what we have to offer for students, faculty and staff,” Palmgren said.

The visit will kick off on Oct. 20 with an open reception once the team arrives where they will see posters from students who

participated in the Mentored Undergraduate Summer Experience and learn more about the creative work and activities that occur on campus.

This will lead to the formalities of the visit, which start on Oct. 21. About 30 meetings will occur in two days. The campus community is invited and encouraged to engage in some of the open sessions where they can hear directly from the team on Oct. 21 from 9 to 9:45 a.m. in the Business Building Lounge and Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to noon in the Library Auditorium, where the team will read their final report.

The general body then switched gears and had a brainstorming activity where they set up posters around the room with different areas of interest on campus that included dining, parking, academic services, housing, mental health services, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Students then broke into groups and crowded around the topic they felt most passionate about to discuss any potential proposals.

An issue brought up in the diversity, equity and inclusion area was the certain stigma surrounding specific majors.

One student said, “there’s so many majors that have a lot more stigma … coming in, people defer away from those majors because they’re afraid that they’re not going to feel comfortable or accepted. And so people are actually pushed out of their interest because they’re like, well, ‘what if people, you know, are going to treat me wrong or not include me in all their things?’”

The group of students suggested having more advertisements or promoting the departments in the College have diversity to help diminish any anxiety potential first-years may have toward some programs.

A group of commuters flocked to the parking poster where they talked about expensive parking passes and enforcing the

parking requirement because they noticed how a large number of students were not paying for parking.

Additionally, the group suggested a new feature on the ROAR app where students can check out their parking spot once they arrive on campus to help other students determine where available spots are while arriving for classes.

One student who discussed mental health services said, “I never really learned my mental health awareness in high school, so I feel like I never was aware about [it] until I started meeting people here about it.”

They suggested SG give handouts to clubs and other organizations regarding spreading awareness of mental health services and incorporating them more into campus activities.

Another topic that sparked dialogue was housing, where SG members reiterated that living conditions need to be improved. They also ranked first-year housing options with Norsworthy being first, followed by Cromwell, Centennial, ABE and lastly the Towers.

In academic services, students proposed the idea of having online tutoring, similar to Khan Academy, and the idea of free test prep. They also said there should be more study and common areas in each academic school.

In the dining services group, the students talked about those with dietary restrictions or

allergies having limited options on campus and how more options should be available to students on the weekends.

“I really don’t want the conversation to just end here though,” said Jared Williams, the executive president of SG. Williams stressed how the SG cabinet members are willing to support students along the way while pursuing initiatives on campus, before the meeting transitioned into its new business portion.

Aria Chalileh, SG’s vice president for governmental affairs, shared how a pickleball club is looking to become a recognized student organization.

The organization has been working with Recreation and Wellness to host some of its events, but is looking to expand its outreach and resources. Pickleball club has around 200 members in its GroupMe, including an active executive board which holds elections each year.

The prospective student organization wants to teach other students how to play, host tournaments and have speaking sessions held by some alumni who are involved in the sport to share their experience. The club will be attending the next general body meeting on Oct. 16 to give a presentation and seek approval for becoming a recognized student organization.

Photo by Albert Nunez

Residential Education and Housing will soon require first-year’s to live on campus.

Photo by Raeanne Raccagno Student Government was prepared for the Middle States Evaluator team visit.

Features

TCNJ professor honored as Addiction Educator of the Year

By Kayla Del Correspondent

Professor Sandy Gibson is a recognized leader in addiction counseling and education. Her dedication to the field recently earned her the prestigious Addiction Educator of the Year award from the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, an organization that represents over 100,000 addiction professionals in the U.S. and abroad.

This annual award is presented to an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to addiction education by positively impacting students and advancing the field through their work.

Gibson started her career as an addictions counselor in Alexandria, Virginia, where she worked with clients mandated by probation and parole. After completing her doctoral degree, she transitioned to research and teaching at Temple University. An encounter with faculty from the College led her to begin teaching as an adjunct, where she now holds a tenure track position.

Gibson’s courses are known for going beyond textbooks and PowerPoint presentations. She prioritizes personal interactions by bringing guest speakers — individuals and families touched by substance use and recovery — into her classroom.

A key aspect of her courses is

providing students with real-world exposure, including field trips to Prevention Point in Philadelphia, the largest harm reduction center on the East Coast. Gibson’s students volunteered at the center before the pandemic.

“[The students] were making safe injection kits, safe smoking kits, safe sex worker kits, handing them out to people, handing out water and snacks,” Gibson said in an interview with The Signal. “They were walking the streets with staff with Narcan first aid bags and actually administering Narcan for people who were overdosing on the streets. You can’t do that in a classroom.”

Students would also work in the mailroom, helping displaced people collect their mail, and sit in on clinics focused on HIV, Hepatitis C testing and wound care.

In her teaching, Gibson pushes students to rethink their beliefs about addiction, often challenging misconceptions.

“There’s an enormous amount of misunderstanding because we have intentionally misinformed people for decades and decades and decades,” Gibson said.

She encourages an open environment where students feel comfortable exploring difficult topics, learning from one another and growing through meaningful discussions.

Gibson’s courses have had a profound effect on her students, many of whom leave her classes with a completely new

outlook on addiction and recovery.

“People write these long, like twoparagraph-long things that [the course] changed the way they saw their family, and it changed their relationship and their whole schema on how they see the world,” Gibson said.

Her students have gone on to work in addiction centers across the country, crediting her classes with inspiring their career paths.

“I love when people write to me, ‘I got my first job, guess where I am?’ And they’re working at addiction centers,” Gibson said. “We need good people in these spaces.”

While Gibson focuses on addiction education at the graduate level, the College’s Collegiate Recovery Community, also known as the CRC, offers support to undergraduates, providing a safe space for students in recovery.

“The CRC addresses the feelings of loneliness that many students in recovery feel by providing an amazing community of like-minded people,” said Jillian Perez, senior psychology major and CRC executive vice president.

Beyond offering a sense of community, the CRC plays a vital role in breaking the stigma around addiction and mental health on campus.

“Students often struggle to reach out for help due to the stigma,” said Perez. “The biggest reason I think students are hesitant to reach out is fear.”

Eddie’s Edventures: Killarney, Ireland and Cardiff, Wales

By Eddie Young Former Sports Editor

Eddie Young, The Signal’s former sports editor, is studying abroad in the United Kingdom this semester and will chronicle his travels each print edition.

Killarney and Cardiff will not be the first two cities that people think of when they think of great European cities. Most Americans have probably never heard of Killarney, and while Cardiff is the capital of Wales, it can be overshadowed by other cities in the United Kingdom. However, while both cities may be on the smaller end, they are both definitely worth visiting at least once in your lifetime.

Killarney is a small town of only 14,000 people on the western coast of Ireland in County Kerry. It lies along the beautiful Ring of Kerry and is a vacation destination for many Irish citizens wanting to stay in the country. Many foreigners do not vacation here, but I had in the past during a tour of Ireland, and it was such a wonderful place that I had to make a trip back.

The town is known for its gorgeous landscape, as it sits right next to Killarney National Park, which is filled with green hills and light blue lakes. A hike through the park will lead you to understand why Ireland gets called “The Emerald Isle,” as there will be stretches where the only color you can see is green. The sights in this national park alone make Killarney worth visiting.

In the city itself, the majority of the action is packed into a couple of blocks. One of these roads is filled with colorful, Amalfi Coast-esque buildings that are a stark contrast from buildings you would see on a main road in the United States. I stayed at a hotel right next to this street, and the vibrant buildings took my breath away every time I went past them.

The pubs serve nice traditional Irish food, like shepherd’s pie, which I chowed down on in my one night there. They also have a lively Irish nightlife, as every pub seems to have a live musician and is packed with locals and tourists who seem to have no interest in leaving until it is time for the bar to

close. Staying out late is not just for the youth in this country; if you are there for a good time, no matter your age, you will be welcomed all night long.

Now, even with all of the beauty, Killarney is small and can be entirely traveled in a day or two. I would not advise planning a week or so in the city by itself unless you were planning on traveling to other places in Ireland. I only stayed here for one night and felt as though I saw everything the town had to offer. However, it would be the perfect base for a trip where you explore the Ring of Kerry or other parts of the country’s west coast.

Unlike Killarney, Cardiff is quite a large city, with a population pushing 400,000. It has two main sections to see: the city centre and Cardiff Bay.

The city centre contains the majority of the fun in Cardiff. It has a few walking streets filled with shops and restaurants where you can get all kinds of food, like a turkey roast, which was my personal lunch of choice on my day in the city.

If you decide to plan your visit to the city on the day of its annual half marathon (like me) it is okay, since even though seemingly all of the streets are closed off, you can walk pretty much anywhere (I logged 23,000 steps one day). The city centre will be filled with people all trying to have a good time.

Right at the edge of the city centre is the city’s centerpiece, Cardiff Castle. Cardiff was built around this castle, and it is quite the place to visit. It is a site that dates back to Roman times, and is filled with history from throughout the British Empire. It rains constantly in the United Kingdom, and it was pouring during my tour of the castle, but it was still the highlight of my trip even with the bad weather.

Right behind Cardiff Castle is Bute

Park, which is a wonderful park to go to for a nice jog or walk. It is 130 acres, so while it may not compare to the size of Central Park or other well known parks, it still has a lot of ground to traverse and is worth a visit.

Cardiff is a city on a bay, so while most of the city is situated in the city centre, there is a lot to see along Cardiff Bay. The Wales Millennium Centre is here, hosting all different types of plays and concerts for people in Cardiff to enjoy. Also, Mermaid Quay is right on the bay, filled with restaurants and bars, all with a nice view of the water. At night, this section comes alive and is filled with Welsh locals looking for a good night. This section was my go-to dinner spot, and in my two nights there, it did not disappoint.

Like Killarney, you can see everything you want to see in Cardiff in a day or two. You do not have to stay here long, but you will have a good time during your stay. I pretty much only did a daytrip of the city, but I do not feel like I missed out on anything. Killarney and Cardiff both had their own life to them, though, as they felt very Irish and Welsh, respectively. These two cities were a very nice change of pace from the big and bustling city of London, and it is definitely worth it to make trips there if you are close enough to go.

Photo courtesy of Sandy Gibson

Professor Sandy Gibson received the Addiction Educator of the Year award.

Graphic by Sandra Abrantes

Photo courtesy of Eddie Young Killarney National Park.

TCNJ alumni create film, ‘Life and Roosevelt’

By Olivia Consuelo Ramos Correspondent

Gary Gellman, a 1989 alumnus of the College, collaborated with Alana Denenberg, a 2023 graduate, and a camera operator to produce the historical documentary “Life and Roosevelt.” The film captures the struggle of Jewish immigrants assimilating to the U.S.

Gellman graduated from the College in 1989 as a communication studies major with a minor in journalism.

The documentary has ties to the production’s heritage, as both Denenberg and Gellman have a Jewish heritage. Gellman’s father was Jewish but his mother was Italian catholic and he was raised in that religion.

The state of New Jersey awarded a grant to the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, which wanted to construct a documentary that focused on the town of Roosevelt and its historic foundings tied to a community of Jewish American families. Gellman Images, owned by Gellman, was asked to create this documentary.

The movie explores the town of Roosevelt, a small community located

in Monmouth County. It was established during the Roosevelt administration and was inhabited by Jewish immigrants over the course of a few years who sought to escape antisemitism. It was originally named Jersey Homestead, but its name was changed to Roosevelt after the death of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The federal government built 200 cinder block homes for families to move into, and generations of families have lived in the town for about 90 years. The government wanted to create more commercialism in the suburban area that was made of mostly farmland.

The town has one synagogue and no churches, and it also has only one school that teaches children in kindergarten to eighth grade. The founders of Roosevelt are buried in the Roosevelt cemetery.

Three participants, along with the town historian and the executive of the city’s art council, each tell their story about how they and their families came to live in Roosevelt. Through their stories, the film paints a picture of the town’s history.

Gellman got into contact with the people who wanted to give their personal

stories about the town. He found the participants through family friends and relatives who lived near the town.

“People didn’t want these Jewish people in their community, so history always repeats itself, and if we can learn from history we are so far ahead than if we say it will never happen again,” said Gellman, a former communication studies major and journalism minor.

Ben Shahn and his wife, Bernarda Shahn, were commissioned by the town to create a mural in the town’s only school. Coincidentally, the town attracted a plethora of artists, including painters, musicians and writers.

Denenberg, who was an interactive multimedia major with a minor in communication studies, is the editor of the movie and helped her fellow coworkers in gathering the participants and researching the town’s origins.

Denenberg gathered information and historic photos of the town. This helped her edit and compile the footage they had of the town and of the participants into a cohesive story.

Along with information about the origins of the town, miscellaneous historic artifacts were found, including a video of Eleanor Roosevelt.

“I find that really interesting, all these little pieces and you’re just kind of making a puzzle in the end,” Denenberg said.

Denenberg edited the film similar to the style of Netflix documentaries, editing shots and images gathered from the layout of the town and compiling footage of the interviews into a story next to images of the town’s scenery.

The documentary will have a public premiere at the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County on Oct. 20, which will conclude with a panel questionnaire from participants and residents of Roosevelt.

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A breakdown of the Electoral College and your vote

By Franc Romanowski Correspondent

The election is now less than a month away, and for many students across the College’s campus, they will be voting in their first presidential election. One of those students is Salley Salley, a junior Finance major.

“For the first time, I’ll actually be voting,” he said. “I feel good.”

However, with the Electoral College as the factor determining presidential elections, he is one of many students who feels his vote for president is not going to count.

“The biggest thing is, I feel like New Jersey is always blue,” he said. “So whether I vote or not, I feel like we’re going to win the Democrat side.”

Taking a deeper look into the Electoral College might explain Salley’s feelings.

The Electoral College is how the president and vice president of the U.S. are elected. It was put in place in 1789, when the Constitution was ratified, and was used to elect the nation’s first President George Washington and Vice President John Adams.

With the creation of America and its new system of democracy, the founding fathers lacked confidence in the American people to choose a president, political science professor Daniel Bowen said in an interview. The big fear among them: the person the people elected would try to instate themself as king.

To protect democracy, the founding fathers refused to place sole power with the American public. They needed people who, in their eyes, would be knowledgeable enough to choose the right leader. Those people would be the nation’s first electors. And since the Electoral College is still

in place today, even though New Jersey voters will be casting a vote on Nov. 5 for the next president and vice president, none of those votes are going to the candidates themselves. Instead, those votes are going to the electors of New Jersey, which have been selected prior to the upcoming general election.

“In the Constitution, it is the Electoral College voters that vote for president,” Bowen said. “We’re choosing the people that will make the decision.”

It is this Federalist-era ideology that has caused the Electoral College to become a topic of debate in recent elections.

The Electoral College no longer serves its purpose, Bowen said. There are times when the candidate who doesn’t get a majority of the votes becomes the president and “that’s a problem.”

Even though some students feel like their vote will not count, like three out of four students who were surveyed on the subject, all four believe that the Electoral College is still an effective system.

One of those four students, Salley, recognizes that the winner of the Electoral College rarely loses the popular vote.

According to USA.gov, there have only been five instances when the winner of the popular vote lost the Electoral College, the most recent being the 2016 election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Salley also believes that the more populated states should exert influence through the amount of electoral votes they get.

But Bowen argues that these large states are not the main focus of the presidential election. In fact, he argues that a majority of the states are not going to be the focus of the presidential election.

“We still care most about Pennsylvania, and Georgia, and Michigan, and North Carolina,” he said, adding that the only way a state will matter is if it becomes competitive.

He gave the example of Texas. Assuming that the Democratic candidate won the popular vote in Texas, as well as the other states that are already blue, then the election would be biased in favor of the Democrats due to Texas’ large electoral vote count. If such a situation occurred, you would likely have both candidates focusing on Texas to gain control of their electoral votes.

“Whoever is close, those are the votes that really matter,” Bowen said of the competitive swing states. “That’s where the parties are going to compete.”

Salley is open to the idea of the popular vote being used to decide elections in certain cases.

If neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, then it should be the

popular vote that determines the winner, not Congress, Salley said, as in the current system. If Congress votes against the winner of the popular vote, then it defeats the whole purpose of our vote.

Even if you feel as if your vote is not going to count because of the Electoral College, Bowen recommends you still vote.

While it may be true that, for president, your vote won’t matter as much in New Jersey as it would in a state like Pennsylvania, Bowen said, there are many reasons why we vote. We vote to have a say in our government and for those races where the Electoral College doesn’t play a role.

Salley is taking a similar message to heart.

“I feel like it’s my duty to vote,” he said.“Especially being the first time, I definitely want to participate in it and I think it will be an exciting new thing for me.”

Photo courtesy of Gary Gellman

Gary Gellman ‘89 and Alana Denenberg ‘23 collaborated on the documentary.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Map of the Electoral College.

Pop culture and social media are bringing in younger voters

By Tasnim Oyshi Correspondent

“You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?”

These famous words have been circulating through the phones of Americans since Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said them at a White House event in May 2023, according to Forbes. With the out-ofcontext clip gaining millions of views on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, the quote has become a well-known meme among the younger voter generation.

Some have even started calling Harris’ campaign “Operation Coconut Tree.” Other members of the Democratic party have also joined in on the joke with Hawaiian Senator Brian Schatz posting a picture on X of himself climbing a coconut tree with the caption, “Madam Vice President, we are ready to help.”

The post was one of Senator Schatz’s most popular, at 4 million views. With such high engagement on posts referring to this beloved meme, it seems Gen Z has been enjoying the outcomes of social media use among candidates.

In 2024, over 40 million Gen Z individuals are eligible to vote, according to Good Morning America. If every member of Gen Z were to participate in the upcoming election, it could make a significant difference in who will be running the U.S. for the next four years.

America’s newest generation of voters was practically raised on social media and is known for creating and interacting with most of the viral content that arises from apps like TikTok and Instagram. It seems like the Democratic and Republican parties are beginning to realize this, as evident in their strategies of using social media and pop culture to rake in young supporters.

Halloween conjures a nostalgic child-like spirit

By Parisa Burton Opinions Editor

Halloween has been around for over a thousand years, and its roots stem from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan religious observance that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

It was celebrated on Nov. 1 each year, but the festivities started the evening before. People believed the souls of the dead returned home on this day, so they established a tradition of dressing in costumes and lighting bonfires to keep evil spirits away.

Many people are not aware of the holiday’s religious origins, and today it is simply a fun occasion for children to dress up with their friends and collect free candy from strangers.

The magic of Halloween isn’t exclusive to children, however. Teenagers and adults also partake in this holiday and find joy in dressing as their favorite fictional characters, celebrities or supernatural beings.

The only difference is that adults typically don’t go trick-or-treating. Instead, they celebrate by hosting or attending costume parties, going to nightclubs, enjoying parades and exploring themed attractions like haunted houses and hayrides. As a child, each Halloween felt like a ticking clock as I counted down the years before trick or treating would be considered too “childish” for my age. I was worried I would never feel the same joy and creativity as I did for dressing up ever again. Fortunately, I was mistaken.

I think most adults can agree that Halloween feels like a much-needed break from reality and a rare opportunity to let loose with friends. As a college student, the anticipation of Halloween at the end of

As of right now, Harris has a TikTok account with 5.8 million followers and 50 million total likes, while former President Donald Trump’s account has 11.6 million followers and 60.7 million total likes. On Instagram, Harris has 18.5 million followers and Trump has 26.6 million.

Moreover, Harris has been making good use of celebrity endorsements from Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Bill Nye and more. Her most celebrated meme regarding celebrity endorsements has definitely been Charli XCX, who posted “kamala IS brat” on X on July 21. The tweet accumulated 55.8 million views and has been referenced both by Harris’ campaign and Gen Z online.

Harris isn’t the only one using social media and pop culture to relate to Gen Z. Republican candidate Trump has also had his fair share of viral moments in his campaign so far, namely his assassination attempt on July 13 of this year. A photo of him fist-pumping the air after he was shot in the ear spread like wildfire online in his support, according to Axios.

Like Harris, Trump has also had his own celebrity endorsements. Retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan made an appearance at the Republican National Convention, where he tore

First-year

October serves as motivation for me to push through every exam, paper and assignment, knowing there’s a fun reward waiting at the end of the month.

Even Christmas does not elicit the same excitement as it did during childhood. After the soul-crushing realization that Santa isn’t real, along with the diminishing amount of presents under the tree each year, the holiday serves as a bittersweet reminder of growing up.

Halloween, on the other hand, feels like a timeless holiday that allows us to express our personality and interests through our costume choices. It encourages creativity, as we mix and match various clothing elements to achieve our vision.

When I was younger, I didn’t have the same creative imagination and freedom that I do now. My parents would purchase whichever cute costume they thought suited me from our local Halloween stores. When I was 11, I was stuck wearing a horse costume because I was obsessed with the animal at the time. Looking back, however, it’s just embarrassing.

Fast forward to today, I avoid storebought costumes and strive to embrace originality by using pieces I already own or purchasing unique elements from thrift stores or online. Last year, while studying abroad in Milan, I had the opportunity to embody three different characters — Bratz doll Jade, Monster High’s Draculaura and a leopard.

In Milan, Halloween wasn’t as big of a deal as it is in the U.S., which made finding a costume challenging. Luckily, I started my search early and found pieces at several different sustainable stores, flea markets, and last-minute accessories from Claire’s.

The treasure hunt-like aspect is my favorite part of Halloween because it fills me with pure nostalgic bliss, awakening childlike excitement and curiosity. Although Halloween celebrations look different now, and it isn’t socially acceptable to trick or treat, I argue that celebrating Halloween as an adult is even more fun.

Not only do we have the freedom to choose our own outfits, but we also don’t have a bedtime, allowing us to temporarily let go of our responsibilities and trade the sugar rush we once got from eating too much candy for a sense of care-free joy.

off his shirt mid-speech, declaring, “Let Trumpa-mania run wild, brother.” While being less viral than Harris’ “brat” memes, this moment has become well-known in the internet’s Republican community.

Non-partisan organizations have also started relying on the power of pop culture to attract young citizens to register. The Instagram account @headcountorg has promoted events and partnerships with celebrities including Sabrina Carpenter, Noah Kahan and Ariana Grande. They have also been posting countdowns to important days such as National Voter Registration Day in popular meme formats.

The Democratic and Republican campaigns for the 2024 election have been unlike those of the past with their utilization of pop culture to gain the attention and support of Gen Z voters. While Trump has been an active user of X in the past, none of his former opponents have ever really been up to par with his social media usage. Harris, however, has stepped up and made quite a name for herself in the social media world. This campaign has set up a successful precedent regarding social media strategy that candidates will most likely follow in future elections.

residential requirement is Still the worst possible decision

By Tristan Weisenbach Managing Editor

Nearly a year after Residential Education and Housing postponed its plan to implement a requirement that all first-year students live on-campus, with a handful of exemptions, the College announced earlier this month that it has reversed course and will once again implement this requirement beginning in fall 2025.

In November 2023, ResEd decided to stop pursuing a first-year residential requirement after receiving pushback from students and worries about how the development of the plan would impact the workloads of the department’s staff.

Kelly Hennessy, assistant vice president of student development, told The Signal at the time that there were no plans to implement a first-year residential requirement again in the upcoming years, but that the department would potentially examine the policy in the future.

The re-implementation of this policy was announced by Tina Tormey, director of Residential Education and Housing, during a Student Government meeting on Oct. 2. In her presentation, Tormey stated that national studies have shown positive benefits for students living on campus, but also said there are a lot of unknowns that will need to be monitored throughout the implementation of the policy at the College.

Little has changed over the past year at the College to convince me that now is a better time to implement this policy. Because of this, my opinion on why this policy is not the right choice has not changed from last year.

One of the main reasons I chose to attend the College instead of another school was because of its affordability and close proximity to where I live, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. By living only 12 miles from The College — just a 25 minute drive — I save more than

$6,000 per year by not paying the cost of room and board and a required meal plan.

ResEd’s residential requirement plan will institute an exemption, among others, for any student who lives with a parent or guardian within a 10-mile radius of the College. If the policy were in place when I was a first-year student, I would not have had the option of commuting because I live two miles too far. In addition to the cost-saving benefit, living in a dorm doesn’t appeal to me, whether it’s at the College or at any other school. When committing to a college, I wanted to choose a school where I could commute, and I’m sure many other students prefer this option as well. The College wants to implement this plan because of the academic and social benefits it would provide. While this may be true for some students, forcing first-year students to live on campus is not an all-encompassing solution to providing a well-rounded educational and social experience.

From my experience as a senior commuter student, my social interaction at college over the last three years has stemmed from meeting people in my classes and becoming involved with student organizations, such as The Signal. A better policy idea to bolster student interaction would be a requirement for all first-year students to be an active member of a recognized student organization. The College has an impressive list of over 200 RSOs, providing ample opportunity for any student to find something that interests them.

Not only would such a policy provide a stronger sense of social community for students, but it would also give them an additional experiential component to include on their resume.

ResEd’s decision to implement a first-year residential requirement was clearly made with positive student outcomes in mind, and in theory could improve some students’ college experiences. However, it fails to recognize the implications of such a plan on the portion of the student population that intentionally chooses to attend the College because of the option it currently provides to NOT live on campus.

I strongly encourage ResEd and other departments in charge of implementing this policy to rethink their choice and explore other policy options, such as requiring student organization involvement, before they allow a detrimental policy to discourage some prospective students from applying in the coming months.

Pop culture is attracting Gen Z voters.

Halloween is a timeless holiday.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Photo by Andre Paras

Freshmen do not need to live on campus.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Casual listening is dead and why that matters

By Lake DiStefano Arts & Entertainment Editor

When I think back on my history with music consumption, especially in my earlier years, I can only recall the entire experience being a haze of enjoyment. If you had asked me about my favorite artists then, I’m sure my answer would’ve been shallow. I couldn’t have pointed you to anyone particularly niche, let alone the deepcuts from the big acts at the time.

Looking back it makes sense. An album cost money, and if you weren’t willing to waste hours trying to find

it online, going through the catalog of an established artist became a very costly endeavor. So I was content with the hits that played on the radio during the drive to school. I knew what I heard, and it was as simple as that.

Nowadays, with the advent of streaming services, I can easily listen to an artist’s discography — with no adverse financial effect besides maybe paying to get rid of the ads. Sure, those radio-hits still exist, but these days, any real fan would know the unreleased demo that artist never played live before.

Podcasts are getting out of hand

by Andre Paras

Podcasts often portray harmful messages.

By Lacey Okamura Staff Writer

It seems that nowadays everybody has a podcast. It’s simple to do really — you buy a microphone, set up a camera and say whatever is on your mind for an hour or two.

Recently, podcasts have been the latest social media trend to blow up. When scrolling on apps like TikTok, every other video is of someone filming a podcast.

Before it became a trend, podcasts were typically centered around a specific topic. True crime, sports and comedy were all genres of podcasts that you could find on Spotify or NPR. These types of podcasts still exist, but they’re being overshadowed by conversational and interview podcasts.

Some of these podcasts have become increasingly popular and have even drawn the attention of celebrities and other well-known people. Ranked number one on Spotify’s charts is an interview-style podcast created by Alex Cooper named “Call Her Daddy.” Cooper has interviewed notable stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus and Chase Crawford. Her latest episode was a one-on-one exclusive with U.S. Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

As podcasts gain more traction and attention, content creators are rushing to get their slice of the pie. Not everyone has the same credibility as “Call Her Daddy” to be able to secure famous interviewees, so many of them

This is all to say that, in recent years, I’ve noticed a cultural shift happening when it comes to how we listen to and engage with music. The act of casual listening, and by proxy, being a fan of said artist, is fundamentally dead — or at least severely reduced from what it used to be.

The effects of this unlimited access to music have manifested in a few outwardly visible ways, such as fanbases being more defined and combative, as well as musical journalism no longer being about telling people what albums are worth spending money on. These changes aren’t inherently good or bad, but they have undeniably affected the way in which music is received and discussed by people.

Now, I find myself contending with this new world, where expressing enjoyment for a more popular song by an artist immediately registers as me being a lesser fan to some. While music fan bases were always organized, there are now cultures and habits associated with them, and it makes engaging with the artist far more taxing — especially if you are merely a curious outsider. You almost have to engage with this mob mentality, since any idea of casual listening is associated with your opinion having less weight and merit.

I will admit there is some truth to

this idea. No longer can someone’s uninformed take on an artist’s singular hit deter people from listening to an album. These people are simply categorized as outsiders who simply don’t get the art, and modern artists have a much easier time succeeding because of this.

However, there is some purity that is lost in the idea that one can only engage with an artist if they fully commit to being devoted to them — lest the fans discover their perceived phoniness. You can’t just like a song anymore. Everything must be considered in context with everything that artist has ever done, or your opinion will hold no value.

This intensity has unfortunately deterred me from fully engaging with certain artists in the past, and that truly disheartens me. I want to express enjoyment for any art that resonates with me, even if I’m not fully abreast or onboard with the rest of the creator’s work. I want to be able to like things without having to consider and contend with preconceived notions before sharing that fact.

I unfortunately don’t see this culture changing anytime soon, and while it isn’t enough to discourage all my discovery of new music, I find myself wishing there could be some happy middle ground between these two different periods of being a music listener.

turn into conversational podcasts based on the lives and opinions of the hosts. Some creators focus on drama, while others try to give advice to their listeners. But are any of these people really qualified to lead these conversations?

Three-time Olympian Simone Biles said it best: “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.”

While it’s amazing how podcasts are able to reach large audiences, the messages being portrayed can sometimes be misleading or even harmful. Just a few years ago, a man named Andrew Tate had a large social media presence, appearing on and hosting a number of podcasts.

Tate was known for his misogynistic views, spreading his vile and demeaning opinions of women. Before being arrested on sexual assault charges, Tate was able to speak freely without reprecussion, meaning many people were listening to and internalizing his words.

Andrew Tate may be an extreme example of how hateful podcasts can be, but there are still many with unfavorable takes out there. Most podcasts you’ll find on TikTok are centered around people giving opinions on someone’s life and drama. By normalizing these kinds of podcasts, it makes it seem acceptable to talk about other people’s business. In many ways, podcasts have turned into public gossip sessions.

Gossip is fun and amusing until you are the person being put on blast. Social media already faces massive criticism for the hate and bullying it generates, and podcasts are only adding to it.

Podcasts that serve as an open invitation to make fun of and criticize anything the host pleases are simply unnecessary. While we are all entitled to our own opinion, there should also be an understanding of online etiquette, and all commentary should be kind and respectful. Creators should step away from the mics, and let this podcast trend die out.

Casual listening has slowly died out with the advent of platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Photo

The importance of fact-checking election content

By Ally Uhlendorf Managing Editor

Having a well-informed voting public is the key to having a democracy. In a generation centered around social media and surrounded by information being spread easier than ever, it is crucial to factcheck the substance you are consuming.

According to Pew Research, 48% of adults ages 18-29 receive their political news from social media.

But misinformation is a rapidly growing threat that could impact voters in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Additionally, with the rise of artificial intelligence, the spread of fake news can seem more realistic than ever. This year, the News Literacy Project launched its Misinformation Dashboard, which compiled more than 600 of the most viral

fake, AI-generated and misleading pieces of content they’ve seen going around social media.

With social media platforms at our fingertips at all times, it is so easy to gain our information from TikTok or Instagram. Every now and then, I will see a clip or a photo taken completely out of context from a political event and watch people in the comments jump to conclusions with little to no substantial information. It is not only crucial to factcheck the information you are seeing, but to avoid the spread of misinformation. To secure a well-rounded vote, every voter is responsible for going beyond the social media they regularly consume and seek out a credible, non-bias source. Although voters may be dedicated to a specific news source, it is key to find a nonpartisan outlet to avoid misguided voting

decisions based on false information.

Placing a vote based on false information not only weakens the democratic system, but also weakens the public’s trust. As college students and young voters, we have the power to educate ourselves and others prior to the upcoming election.

Finding a credible source, verifying that source and understanding the difference between biased and unbiased information are the key components of becoming well-educated on political facts.

For first-time voters, the stakes are even higher. Political identities are still being formed, and the process of voting can become overwhelming. These upcoming votes and the choices young voters make will shape the future of politics.

Social media algorithms are designed to show users content that aligns with their previous searches and beliefs. With this, it can create a space where users are only exposed to information and viewpoints that they already agree with. This can consolidate political discussions and cause users to be very close-minded in regards to political information. Due to this polarized nature, people will be less likely to want to engage in conversations with differing opinions.

To break out of this, young voters can educate themselves in a more holistic way when it comes to election information. By learning more about both parties’ beliefs and standings, young adults can make a more well-rounded vote.

By believing and spreading fake news, it is a great risk that policies will be shaped on lies rather than the values of the public. To protect democracy, it is vital for all voters to make informed decisions that reflect reality, not distortion.

As election day approaches on Nov. 5, it is so important that students go out and vote, and even more important that they are well-informed when doing so.

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Business Email: thesignalbusiness@gmail.com Editorial Staff

Matthew Kaufman Editor-in-Chief

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Parisa Burton Opinions Editor

POLICIES

Letter

to the editor: Where are we heading?

At World Languages and Cultures, we recently had to reduce 11 adjunct sections for the spring and summer because this year we can only use a maximum of 42 adjunct sections for the whole academic year.

However, due to the Voluntary Separation Agreement, we lost two tenured faculty members just last year, which equals 12 classes per academic year. Another one retired the previous academic year, which equals six more classes per academic year.

And, three years ago, two others took retirement packages right after the pandemic, which equals 12 classes per academic year. That is a total of 30 classes for which we have not received any replacements.

We are basically relying on adjuncts to be able to run most of our classes. If we do not have enough faculty AND we also do not have enough adjuncts, who is going to teach our classes? And I am talking about classes that students need, not elective ones.

On the other hand, the institution is promoting three-year programs so that students find it attractive to come to TCNJ. But, if we are not offering the classes they’ll need to graduate in those three years, we are basically and unethically lying to them.

Let’s also not forget that the institution is accepting more students than ever before, however we have much less tenured faculty and adjuncts. How will these students also be able to find the classes they need and graduate on time?

One does not need a magic ball to predict that this lack of class availability and investment in our current programs will inevitably take a toll on TCNJ. Students will get disheartened and simply go somewhere else.

By Marimar Huguet Jerez

Department Chair, World Languages and Cultures Re: Personnel Departures at TCNJ Impact Workloads of Those Who Remain

Rebecca Heath Features Editor

Aidan Mastadrea Sports Editor

Aliyah Siddiqui Nation & World Editor

Administrative Staff

Elizabeth Gladstone Multimedia Coordinator

Ela Kirimca Social Media Editor

Jenna Weldon Web Editor

Liam Simonelli Editorial Cartoonist

Kathleen Webber Faculty Advisor

The Signal is published bi-weekly during the academic year. It is not financed by the Student Activity Fee but solely by advertisement revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal.

The Letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed.

The Signal willingly corrects mistakes. If you think we have made a mistake, contact us signal@tcnj.edu.

Misinformation is a rapidly growing threat that could impact voters.

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October Word Search

HARVEST MOON SCARECROW CRANBERRY FESTIVAL TWILIGHT

HARVEST PUMPKIN

BONFIRE HAYRIDE

AUTUMN

LEAVES

SPOOKY SPIDER

CHILLY

FOREST

TRICK

TREAT

APPLE

FOGGY

EERIE

GOURD

ACORN CORN OWL

TikTok faces multiple lawsuits over alleged harm to children’s health

By Gauri Patel Staff Writer

Attorneys general from 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the social media platform of deliberately designing features that have “addicted” young people and contributing to a youth mental health crisis.

The lawsuits stem from a national investigation launched in 2022 by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general. They were each filed separately by members of the coalition in their respective state courts, co-led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and California

Attorney General Rob Bonta. The lawsuits highlight several concerns with TikTok’s features, such as its endless scrolling feed of content, “challenge” videos that may encourage dangerous behavior among young users and latenight push notifications that may disrupt sleep.

In the filings, the attorneys general also highlight TikTok’s use of AI-driven beauty filters, which can alter users’ physical appearance. James emphasized that these filters have been especially damaging to young girls, contributing to body image issues and eating disorders, according to NPR. New York investigators claim that TikTok did not adequately inform users about the potential risks of beauty filters and promoted them to younger users.

According to Reuters, the attorneys general claim that these elements intentionally aim to maximize user engagement at the expense of young people’s well-being. The coalition also argues that TikTok’s practices are designed to keep users hooked for hours, boosting revenue from selling targeted advertisements.

“TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits,” Bonta said in a statement. “TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content.”

The lawsuits against TikTok echo previous legal actions taken against other social media

Hurricane Helene strikes southeastern U.S.

By Gauri Patel Staff Writer

Hurricane Helene brought life-threatening flooding to parts of the southeastern United States on Sep. 27, killing hundreds of people and leaving many more missing. The high winds, storm surge and torrential rain made Helene the deadliest hurricane to make landfall on the mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, according to The Associated Press.

Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane packing 140 m.p.h. winds before cutting a devastating path through several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Heavy flooding and landslides have devastated entire towns, wiping out homes and businesses and leaving millions without drinkable water or electricity for days. Widespread power outages and limited cellphone signals complicated officials’ efforts to respond to emergency calls.

According to The Associated Press, more than 1.1 million customers had no power in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia a week after Helene made landfall. Utility companies have been working diligently to restore service, but the extensive damage, such as downed power lines and washed-away poles, require more time for repairs and reconstruction.

In addition, the scale of the devastation from the aftermath of Helene has slowed efforts to find many missing victims and get supplies to stranded communities. In many states, residents and communities have become isolated due to flooded or broken-up roads, fallen trees and other debris. In eastern Tennessee, helicopters rescued more than 50 people from the roof of a hospital after rising floodwaters prevented ambulances and emergency vehicles reaching the facility, according to The New York Times.

The death toll from Hurricane Helene climbs daily as rescuers and volunteers continue to search for survivors. As of Oct. 4, officials have reported at least 228 deaths in six states including Florida and Virginia, caused by flooding, vehicle crashes, fallen trees and a tornado, according to The New York Times.

North Carolina has been among the hardesthit states, with some areas receiving over two feet of rainfall. At least 116 deaths have been reported

platforms, including Instagram and Facebook’s parent company, Meta, according to The Associated Press. Last year, states sued Meta over Instagram’s alleged role in worsening youth mental health through addictive features.

TikTok faces an additional hurdle. Under a federal law passed earlier this year, the app could be banned from the U.S. by mid-January of 2025 unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, divests from the platform. TikTok and ByteDance are currently challenging this law in court.

In response to the lawsuits, TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek expressed disappointment, noting that the lawsuits follow more than two years of negotiations with the attorneys general.

“We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading,” Haurek said, according to The Associated Press. “We’re proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we’ve done to protect teens and we will continue to update and improve our product.”

TikTok has said that it has voluntarily launched other safety features, including the proactive removal of underage users, default screen time limits for young users and optional parental oversight tools, according to NPR.

Despite TikTok’s claims that the platform is safe for children, states have expressed that the

company’s current safety features have been able to be easily circumvented by children, according to NPR. They argue that the features like content restriction for users under 18 and privacy defaults for minors under 16, are ineffective, as children can bypass them by providing false information about their age.

According to The Associated Press, the District of Columbia alleges TikTok’s livestreaming feature is being exploited by underage users who host live-streamed videos and receive “gifts” from viewers through a digital currency system, likening the feature to a “virtual strip club” without proper age restrictions. The attorneys claim TikTok is running an “unlicensed virtual economy,” allowing users to purchase coins, exchange them for gifts and cash them out, with TikTok taking a 50% commission. However, TikTok has not registered as a money transmitter with the U.S. Treasury or local authorities.

The coalition of attorneys general is seeking to impose significant injunctive and financial penalties against TikTok to address the misconduct, including requiring the company to change product features and seeking compensation for users that have been harmed.

The outcome of these lawsuits could not only influence TikTok’s future but also set a precedent for holding social media companies accountable for their impact on youth mental health.

Florida faces Hurricane Milton’s terror

in the state, with over half of those in Buncombe County. The county, which includes the hardhit tourist city of Asheville, has about 75 active missing persons cases remaining, according to The Associated Press.

President Joe Biden traveled to North Carolina and South Carolina to meet with officials and survey the damage. He took an aerial tour of Asheville in the Marine One helicopter, flying over roads flooded with muddy, brown water, submerged houses and splintered trees, with extensive damage in areas near the rivers.

“You can see homes that have moved clearly from one side of the river down the river to another side,” Biden said in Raleigh, according to Reuters. “And I can only imagine what it’s like to have been in one of those homes.”

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris visited the storm-ravaged city of Augusta, Georgia, where she praised relief workers for their efforts and emphasized the importance of coordinating local, state and federal support in helping the community recover.

Former President Donald Trump, who is running against Harris in the upcoming presidential election, made false claims about Biden’s response to the natural disaster in a visit to the battleground state of Georgia.

According to Reuters, Trump falsely claimed that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp “was having a hard time” reaching Biden to discuss Hurricane Helene’s impacts on his state. However, earlier in the day, Kemp told reporters that he was able to connect with Biden after initially missing his call and said he was grateful for the federal assistance Biden had offered.

Trump has also claimed that federal emergency relief money meant for Americans hit hard by Hurricane Helene had instead been spent on migrants in the U.S. illegally. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has responded to this claim on its dedicated fact-checking page, saying the assistance “has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.”

A statement from the White House stated that, so far, more than $110 million have been given to communities affected by Hurricane Helene. FEMA has also shipped over 11.5 million meals and more than 12.6 million liters of water, and more than 5,600 federal personnel have been deployed on the ground to help in recovery efforts.

By Fiona Espinoza-Castro Staff Writer

During the span of 13 days, Florida faced two deadly hurricanes back to back. Both Helene and Milton left irreversible damage to infrastructure and Floridians. Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct 9. as a Category 3 hurricane after being downgraded from a Category 5. In anticipation of the disaster, Florida officials declared a state of emergency for 5.9 million individuals in 11 counties, according to Al Jazeera.

The Weather Prediction Center warned citizens about catastrophic flash flooding and rising sea levels, Al Jazeera reported. According to PBS, emergency managers let owners know that animals should not be left at home if they are in evacuation zones. Residents were told to turn off gas, electricity and water in their homes.

During the storm, Milton reached winds up to 120 miles per hour near Siesta Key on Florida’s west coast. Due to the force of the storm, neighborhoods flooded, and electricity and cellular connections were lost, according to the New York Times.

More than 120 homes were destroyed by Hurricane Milton, while others remained untouched. Milton’s damage varied across counties in the state. The New York Times reported that the Tampa Bay region did not experience the expected storm surge, but the Gulf Coast area still received 18 inches of rain.

Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed that at least 19 tornadoes also hit Florida on Oct. 9, hitting the Everglades wetlands and the state highway system, Interstate 75. Along with this, 125 homes — primarily in mobile and senior citizen communities, were destroyed, leaving citizens in vulnerable positions as they fought for their lives, Al Jazeera reported.

Katelyn Ferral, a Tampa Bay resident of two years, moved to Florida after her fiance began a new job. They settled in the town of Lutz, Florida, which was not given an evacuation order before the hurricane, so they stayed, according to the New York Times.

“I made preparations in anticipation of losing power: froze water bottles, filled bathtubs, charged batteries and moved everything out of the yard that could become a projectile in the wind,” said Ferral. When the hurricane reached their town, there was no thunder or ruckus—it

seemed like a simple rainstorm. However, once Ferral awoke, things took a turn for the worse. Ferral remembers seeing an oak tree smashed against their house, their driveway ruined, and a section of their roof missing. Their house suffered the most damage out of all of their neighbors. Despite the catastrophic event, the community members of Lutz rallied together to help.

“I noticed the sound of generators in the neighborhood like everyone cutting their grass at the same time. It is a distant, rhythmic hum, and it reminded me that we were all going through something together,” recalled Ferral. This showed how disaster can bring unexpected unity as individuals form and deepen their relationships. “Picking up tree limbs. Learning names. Managing without power. For the first time, I felt bonded to the community.”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, DeSantis pooled support for the state. The governor deployed 9,000 National Guard personnel and 50,000 electricity grid workers to assist in recovery efforts, reported Al Jazeera.

Florida has also received approval for federal disaster relief by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This includes both individual assistance and Public Assistance, according to Ron DeSantis’ page.

Individual assistance included residents and households in areas such as Charlotte, Glades, Hardee or St. Johns. Public assistance included emergency work and the replacement of damaged facilities. This assistance included counties like Brevard, Hendry, Highlands, Putnam and more.

Though the damage was severe, Floridians remain resilient and plan to rebuild and move forward with their lives after these destructive 13 days.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Attorneys general say Tiktok harms kids.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Hurricane Milton displaced many.

Good News Lion: Pet friends, nuclear disarmament and Megan Thee

By Janjabill Tahsin Staff Writer

The Good News Lion is the Nation & World section’s biweekly news segment, highlighting positive news in the country and around the world. The theme of this article is raising awareness.

Hundreds of pets adopted and fostered ahead of Milton’s landfall

Animal shelters on the west coast of Florida, such as Tampa, Sarasota and others, anticipated a surge of animals displaced by the Category 3 storm Hurricane Milton, which had already devastated many parts of the state.

Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control had to quickly figure out where to relocate their animals before Milton made landfall, so they could make space for the cats and dogs displaced by the hurricane.

However, with more than 200

homeless cats and dogs already in its shelter near West Palm Beach, the shelter issued a plea for help to the Palm Beach County community last Monday, seeking foster homes and forever families for their animals, according to the Palm Beach Post.

The shelter’s phone lines were flooded with questions about how to help and had a line of people that stretched the length of the building waiting to foster or adopt one or more animals. Within two days, the shelter connected 117 cats and 113 dogs with adopters and fosters.

Animal shelters in other parts of the country have also joined in the effort to help those down south. This includes Best Friends, a coalition of public and private shelters, rescue groups and other animal welfare organizations across the country. According to The Guardian, they have transported nearly 200 animals adversely affected by Milton and last month’s Hurricane Helene to shelters with more capacity as far north as

New York and Massachusetts.

Sharon Hawa, an emergency services manager at Best Friends, said there is a “national crisis” with shelters being overrun right now and underscored the importance of adopting or fostering.

“I think the main message that the public has to understand is the impacts of when adopting from a shelter, they’re actually saving two lives,” she said. “They’re saving the animal’s life that they adopted, and then also they’re making space for another animal.”

Five shelters in North Texas will also receive 130 animals, consisting of 49 dogs, 77 cats, 3 Guinea pigs and a rabbit, according to CBS News.

Japanese organization wins Nobel Peace Prize

Nihon Hidankyo, a group of survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Founded in 1956, the organization sends survivors to travel worldwide to share their experiences of living with the effects of radiation exposure from an atomic bomb. They attest to the “atrocious damage” and suffering caused by the use of nuclear weapons, according to the BBC.

“It has been said that because of nuclear weapons, the world maintains peace. But nuclear weapons can be used by terrorists,” Toshiyuki Mimaki, the co-head of the group, said when criticizing the idea that nuclear weapons bring peace. He was three years old at the time the nuclear bomb dropped in Hiroshima and could still recall dazed and burned survivors fleeing past his home.

The group has been nominated many times for the Nobel Peace Prize in the past, including 2005, when it received a special mention by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Nobel Committee Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes said the group had “contributed greatly to the establishment of the nuclear taboo.”

The prize, composed of a diploma, a gold medal and a cash award of around $1 million, will be presented at a ceremony in Oslo in December, marking the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the scientist and prize creator.

Megan Thee Stallion partners in youth suicide prevention campaign

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) launched its Never a Bother campaign in partnership with Grammy Awardwinning artist and mental advocate Megan Thee Stallion on World Mental Health Day to heighten awareness of suicide prevention tools and resources before, during and after a crisis.

The Never a Bother campaign video features Megan Thee Stallion talking about her mental journey, the need for transparency in conversations about the subject and the free crisis resources available to youth through the initiative.

“It took me a long time to be comfortable talking about my mental health,” the rapper shared at one point. “Asking for help doesn’t make me weak. Asking for help actually built my strength… going to get the help gave me the tools to be stronger. So I just definitely want to talk to the Hotties and let them know it’s OK to ask for help… Hotties, you are never a bother.”

The video appears on the Never a Bother website and its social media channels in addition to being posted on Megan’s Instagram and TikTok channels, according to the Billboard. The site also presents real stories from young people who have felt overwhelmed by life and their friends who have helped them. Resources can be found on the website as well.

3-day port worker strike ends with tentative agreement to increase wages

By Leah Cruz Staff Writer

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) reached a tentative agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Oct. 3, 2024 that includes a 62% wage increase over six years for U.S. port workers.

The agreement followed a three day strike by port workers from Maine to Texas that halted shipping along the east coast as well as the Gulf coast. The union’s previous contract with the USMX had expired at midnight on Oct. 1, marking the beginning of the massive strike with over 45,000 participants, according to AP News.

The strike, which lasted three days and affected 36 U.S. ports, was the union’s first since 1977, Reuters reported. Workers formed picket lines at ports including Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey, with many holding signs that said, “No work without a fair contract.”

CNBC reported that unwinding the congestion of the strike and returning U.S. ports to normal operations may take a minimum of three weeks.

Harold J. Daggett, president of the ILA, has been leading the union since 2011 and is a third-generation dockworker. According to a New York Times video, Daggett spoke to port worker strikers in Elizabeth, N.J. about the history they are making and

the reason for the strike.

“We are fighting for our families and we are fighting for their rights so that we have a right to get a piece of that money that they got so much of,” said Daggett. “And we’re going to do it. We’re going to walk away with a great contract.”

While the new master contract with the USMX included a wage increase, concerns about automation technology remain unresolved. Dock workers around the nation are worried about the development of automated technologies, such as gates, cranes and container-moving trucks, putting them out of jobs.

“The ILA is steadfastly against any form of automation—full or semi—that replaces jobs or historical work functions,” the ILA wrote in a statement. “We will not accept the loss of work and livelihood for our members due to automation. Our position is clear: the preservation of jobs and historical work functions is non-negotiable.”

According to the AP, many picketers held signs with messages that read, “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.”

This agreement marks the end of major shortages of goods and blockages of container ships that caused congestion in supply chains. NYT reported that perishable goods especially, were at risk during the strike as close to “three-fifths of

annual container trade goes through the East and Gulf Coast ports.”

The White House sided with the ILA, with President Joe Biden expressing his gratitude for port workers and commending their efforts in contributing to the U.S. economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement made on Oct. 3, Biden pushed for the USMX to provide the ILA with a strong contract, commenting on the impact of collective bargaining.

“Collective bargaining works, and

it is critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up,” he said in his statement. The tentative agreement is a significant step forward in the labor negotiations of ILA union members, but it is not the end. Peter Sand, the chief shipping analyst at Xenata — a supply chain intelligence firm — says that “shippers are not out of the woods just yet” as automation technology discussions continue and USMX extends the master contract to January 15, 2025, pending a final agreement.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The theme of this week’s Good News Lion article is raising awareness.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The International Longshoremen’s Association has reached a tentative agreement.

A behind-the-scenes look at the BFA Senior Solo Exhibitions through art

By Chiara Piacentini Staff Writer

Walking into AIMM 119, a wall of leaves graces the left side of the room. Past that, you’ll find the story of Abigail Buckley, a senior fine arts major who spent four months creating an art exhibition called “The Journey of Life” as part of the Senior Solo Exhibitions.

“I actually came up with this series by accident, but it was a happy accident because it turned into something that I believe is beautiful,” Buckley wrote in an email.

This “happy accident” turns out to be a series of eight watercolor paintings that are an allegory of Buckley’s life dating back to this past February when she experienced sexual assault. She fell into a period of depression and “was abandoned by a close friend” during that time.

“Having all of this slowly bottling up inside of my head, I needed to find a healthy way to let it all out,” Buckley wrote. “That’s where the art came in, and I started to form a story with my paintings.”

The story follows a girl who journeys into the forest, determined to reach the mountains behind it to find her life’s purpose. She befriends a wolf and a lion along the way.

One of the paintings, “Head Held High,” is meant to illustrate her sexual assault experience. It portrays the girl standing on a rock, face to face with a cheetah, who is meant to represent her assaulter, on a separate

“The lion…symbolizes a friend that I had at the time of the assault, who helped me to get through it,” Buckley wrote. “It was the friend

colors that I used, to the animals that I incorporated, I created a happier and safer reimagination of my story.”

Alongside Buckley’s exhibition is senior photography and video art major Joy Park’s artwork, “In Harmony.”

A photo collage of images ranging from interlocked hands to scenes of nature, trampoline springs and railroad tracks spans one wall.

A photo of a knotted rope in the middle of the collage with a physical rope connected to it ties the whole montage together.

Park’s imagery is inspired by the relationships she made from elementary school to college. She claims that people tend to forget about what helps them get through hard times, so she hopes this work can act as a “reminder that they always have somewhere or someone to rely on,” as her artist statement says.

AIMM 111 tells two other stories by senior visual arts, video and photography major Nate Johnson and

that I was abandoned by later in the year, and I had painted this around the time that he went away.”

At the end of her journey, the girl realized that she was being too hard on herself and that it was okay to not know her purpose yet.

“I enjoyed being able to create a positive story from a very negative one,” Buckley wrote. “With the

from his “attachment to the internet,” as his artist statement suggests.

Two of Johnson’s creations pay homage to historical pieces of artwork. “Virtual Man” is a modern take on Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man,” and “The Creation of the Internet” is a spin-off of Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.”

Another image displays Johnson’s face, which gradually takes on the face of a cyborg. A hand with the word “Misinformation” hovers above a line of Johnson clones.

Opposite this art piece, a computer screen plays a video of Johnson on a loop. In the video, he is sitting in his room with his laptop while someone in the background tries to coax him off his device.

“The internet is a great place; there is a vast amount of information readily available at your fingertips,” his artist statement read. “But, with all great things, there are many flaws; misinformation, a lack of identity, an addiction to the screen.”

Juxtaposing Johnson’s work, Romano presents a wide range of emotions that tell a story of how she navigated trauma from an abusive relationship through a series of eight acrylic paintings, titled “Navigating - Closure.”

“Through the use of acrylic paint, I seek to translate the often inexpressible feelings associated with trauma into tangible forms,” Romano’s artist statement read. “The work is rooted in vulnerability— inviting viewers to explore their own emotions evoked by experiences in their own lives.”

senior fine arts major Sarah Romano. Johnson’s darkened side of the room takes a digital approach to art with projections of a network apparatus vector overlaying his artwork titled “A View From the Floating Hourglass.” Through this design, he focuses on how the rise of the digital age presents a challenge to our society, drawing inspiration

From right to left along two walls, Romano illustrates the stages of trauma with the first painting being a black canvas called “Navigating,” which represents when we first encounter trauma. What follows are paintings that portray the ensuing stages of trauma, including trying to let go, the pain of trauma, traumatic relapsing and the eureka effect.

In a full circle moment, the last canvas is painted black, but this time it’s called “Closure,” which brings both Romano’s and the viewer’s interpretation of trauma to an end.

The Senior Solo Exhibitions in AIMM rooms 111 and 119 opened to the public on Oct. 2 and will be available for viewing until Oct. 30.

boulder. The lion stands behind the girl, ready to protect her.

Photo by Brooke Zevon

Abigail Buckley’s “The Journey of Life” in AIMM 119.

Photo by Chiara Piacentini Joy Park’s “In Harmony” in AIMM 111.

Photo by Chiara Piacentini

Nate Johnson’s “A View From the Floating Hourglass” in AIMM 111.

Photo by Chiara Piacentini

Sarah Romano’s “Reverberations,” part of her “Navigating - Closure” exhibition.

Justice in the digital age: A re-examination of ‘The Menendez Brothers’

By Ashley Ragone Staff Writer

Two brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez, were convicted for the murders of their parents in 1996. After two trials, they were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Now, after 34 years of incarceration, the new Netflix documentary “The Menendez Brothers” tells their side.

At the time of the murders, Erik and Lyle were 18 and 21, respectively, living in affluent Beverly Hills, California. Their family appeared to embody the quintessential American dream, their father Jose a successful businessman and mother Kitty a devoted homemaker. However, testimonies and personal anecdotes during the trials revealed a far more tumultuous and dysfunctional home life.

On the evening of Aug. 21, 1989, the brothers shot their parents in their home, and despite initially presenting as grieving sons blaming the mafia for the heinous crime, their questionable actions led to further investigation.

Their $700,000 shopping spree after acquiring their parents’ inheritance raised eyebrows, and after suspicion of their financial motive, they were arrested after Erik’s therapist’s ex-girlfriend informed the

police of the brothers’ involvement.

Released to further cover the situation after the previous “Monsters” documentary from last month, this documentary contextualizes the trial within the landscape of the late 80s and early 90s. It highlights the influence of the growing media presence, particularly the new television station “Court TV,” which transformed the real-life crime into a public spectacle. This heightened visibility was also combined with broad distrust in the judicial system, especially in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and beating of Rodney King.

The defense’s primary argument for the Menendez brothers centered around the claim that they acted out of fear, having suffered from years of abuse and violence at the hands of their parents. This revelation added complexity to the case, challenging their portrayal as “dumb, jock killers” by head prosecutor Pamela Bozanich.

In interviews with the jurors, however, this defense was not entirely effective; the first trial resulted in a hung jury, with female jurors sympathetic to their story, while male jurors struggled to accept the idea of male victimhood.

This narrative is all too familiar. According to the CDC, almost one in four men in the United States have experienced a form of sexual violence. Northlake

‘Heartstopper’ season three brings new mature feelings

By Heather Halperin Correspondent

Netflix’s original “Heartstopper” is back with its third season. After its release on Oct. 3, the show continues to capture the hearts and minds of its watchers through the comforting yet mature feelings it brings out.

The first season of this show explored the beginning of Nick and Charlie’s relationship. The two of them form an unlikely friendship that evolves into something more. As the season continues, the two of them slowly realize their feelings for one another and begin their relationship. The second season begins with the difficult stage of their relationship, as Nick struggles to figure out his sexuality and come out.

Season three continues to have a warm and joyful undertone, but it does dive into more mature topics, such as the different kinds of mental illnesses the characters struggle with.

While Nick and Charlie continue to be the center of this story, season three gives more insight into the other characters in their friend group. This season allows the audience to get more of an inside look into all the relationships that are included in

Behavioral Health studies how male victims “often face significant barriers to disclosing their experiences due to shame, fear of disbelief, and societal taboos surrounding male victimization.”

Within the last few years, the media has had a reignited interest in the Menendez case. The social media platform TikTok has assisted in this resurgence, as thousands of accounts and videos aim to spread information about their case and share potential new evidence that could corroborate their stories. Within the documentary, Erik expressed his appreciation for this awareness, emphasizing the importance of dismantling what he describes as a “culture of silence” surrounding male victimization.

In May of 2023, flanked by online supporters, the brothers filed a habeas petition to vacate their murder convictions, seeking re-examination of new evidence in their case. This includes the affidavit of Roy Rossello of boyband Menudo, where he alleges he was assaulted by Jose. They are still waiting for a decision from the district attorney, while their case continues to spark discussions about the complexities of trauma in the justice system.

This documentary reflects on the intricacies of the justice system as it comes into contact with trauma and growing media. The brothers now reside in the same

and encourage the sharing of their

The documentary does a great job of giving the brothers the space to share their thoughts on how their case played out, and uses a fresh perspective on what experiences could have factored into their decision to kill their parents. I think the case is truly fascinating, and a great watch for any true crime fan.

‘A Different Man’: A dark comedy on male self-identity

this show. In addition to all the struggles, each character is going through, whether it be their own sexual orientation, gender identity or romantic relationships.

Season three begins with a discussion of the mental illnesses Charlie has been struggling with since last season. Charlie begins to open up about the fact that he is struggling with anorexia and obsessive compulsive disorder. This brings about new challenges for Nick and Charlie’s relationship that have not been seen before.

This plays into Nick’s urge to put others before him, causing him to put Charlie’s struggles before his own. This causes Nick to forget about his own problems, like what universities he will be applying to and what his future is going to look like.

While this creates rifts in their relationship, it also causes them to form a stronger emotional connection. All this plays into Nick and Charlie coming to terms with wanting to say “I love you” to one another — along with wanting to take their relationship to a more intimate level.

The audience also gets to see Elle and Tao grow stronger as a couple, even though they are each going through their own hardships. The audience learns about Elle’s experiences as a trans woman, with her art on Instagram has been brought into the limelight. On the other hand, Tao losing his father at a young age triggers his fear of losing Elle as well.

Darcey and Tara also go through difficult times this season. Darcy struggles with figuring out her gender identity, and Tara begins to suffer from the anxiety that comes with figuring out her future after high school. Finally, the audience gets an inside look at Imogen and Isaac continuing to figure out their sexual identities. Towards the end of the season, Tori, Charlie’s sister, starts to experience her own newfound romance with a boy named Micheal.

The newest season of this show does an excellent job of diving into mature topics in a careful yet relatable way. These struggles are not sugar coated, however the show depicts them in a comforting and understanding way.

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By Andre Paras Staff Writer

“A Different Man” is the new A24 film from Director Aaron Schimberg, which got its wide-theatrical release on Oct. 4. It’s his third feature film and his second about art and facial abnormalities. Even bigger than that, this film is a dramatized dive into masculinity and self-image.

After being treated to a whole life full of ridicule, Edward, an aspiring actor, gets a life-changing procedure done to better his appearance. However, when a new role he finds was made based on him in his past life that is taken from him, he’s sent into a spiral of insanity trying to recreate what once was.

Notably, this is Schimberg’s second time collaborating with Adam Pearson, a British actor with neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic order “at the extreme end of the severity spectrum” that causes tumors to grow on his skin, Pearson told NPR.

Along with acting, Pearson is known for his campaigns that create awareness and reduce the stigma against those with deformities. His first movie with Schimberg was “Chained for Life,” released in 2018, about a beautiful actress and a disfigured co-star, played by Pearson.

While “A Different Man” has lots of great critiques, it showcases them in some of the most absurd, unconventional and obscene ways, which is why a lot of it won’t land with general audiences. However, for me, this was a wild and inspired treat, with not much else to name like it.

The film opens without context, with Edward on a film set overacting a scene. We find out shortly, through a harsh cut to a satire spoof corporate workplace video, that Edward is type cast in these poorly made videos designed to be informative on his facial abnormalities, rather than the merit of his acting alone.

This cruel, but well-executed, joke sets the tone for the rest of the film’s humor. The film doesn’t hold your hand or really explain anything about where it’s going, you just have to learn to accept the chaos

of this universe.

In the beginning of the movie, Edward discovers a radical medical procedure he believes can solve all his problems, and this is where all the conflict begins. In order to get his dream face, Edward has to slowly rip off his old face over time, and these are the sequences where you’ll find all of the film’s gross body horror.

The camera does not shy away from the blood and gore, and whether or not you love or hate this movie, it’ll be hard to erase certain stills from your mind.

The whole procedure was reminiscent of a Frankenstein creation, and its color palette felt so intentional, as it did with the whole movie. Edward, in a solid orange jumpsuit, is prisoner to this procedure in an all-white room. This film was great at effectively using color theory, along with vivid tones for the audience, to focus on certain characters or props.

Without discussing where the plot goes afterward, this movie gets pretty meta, making commentary about events that have happened beforehand in the film.

cell block in Donovan Correctional Facility,

story.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

The Menendez brothers are now regaining media attention.

Photo courtesy of IMDb Season three of “Heartstopper” explores Nick and Charlie’s evolving relationship.

Edward, an aspiring actor, gets a procedure done to better his appearance.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Ringing in ‘Brat autumn’ with Charli XCX’s new remix album

By Andre Paras Staff Writer

Pop superstar Charli XCX created the music and aesthetics for “Brat summer,” and now the pop sensation is back for more with the new soundtrack for “Brat autumn.” As a remix album that only loosely interpolates its predecessor, it felt like I was hearing “Brat” for the first time, in the best of ways.

In an oversaturated world of halfbaked deluxe albums, remixes and even vinyl record variants, Charli XCX’s new remix album “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” serves as a reminder of why these should exist in the first place.

It features the likes of Ariana Grande, The 1975, Caroline Polachek, Lorde, The Japanese House, Julian Casablancas, Billie Eilish and many more artists. Each track has a new revamped instrumental and verse or

vocal part from Charli XCX, and its collaborators make each track feel like their own.

With “Brat” as a whole serving as Charli XCX’s club-inspired songs and all of the dance music she listened to growing up, it only makes sense for this record to be full of remixes and even get its own remix album.

This remix record brings 16 new tracks, reimagining all of “Brat’s” original tracklist, along with “Guess” from the deluxe album. Upon the confirmation of this new album’s release, billboards with the backward font from the album cover and Brat green background were up all around the world. They advertised all the artists to be featured on the record and were placed in these artists’ respective hometowns.

The album begins with the lead single “360 featuring robyn & yung lean,” which brings together both Swedish electronic-pop artist Robyn and cloud-rap innovator Yung Lean. This unexpected trio with Charli XCX has great chemistry, with lots of charisma and with these three artists on the song praising each other through the seamless transitions from who takes the lead on vocals. No artist has one dedicated verse to themselves, but Yung Lean brings an addictive new melody to its chorus.

“Club classics featuring bb trickz” combines elements of “365” from the original album, while also bringing a brief, new and modern Latin flow to the mix that left me wanting more from Spanish rapper BB trickz. It’s fun and even has a more danceable groove, which its title suggests.

Arguably the biggest new track,

‘Lonely Planet’: The story of Moroccan magic

By Mia Shea Staff Writer

“Lonely Planet,” released on Netflix on Oct. 11, follows the rom-dram love story of Katherine and Owen as they embark on a vacation to Morocco as strangers on an excursion. Katherine, played by Laura Dern, is on an idyllic writers retreat to help with her writer’s block. This is where she meets Owen, played by Liam Hemsworth, who works in private equity.

Owen arrives at the retreat with his girlfriend Lily, played by Diana Silvers, but his job and work calls begin to take priority and Lily grows frustrated as tensions rise between them. As this continues, Katherine takes a fond interest in Owen and the two begin exchanging passing glances at each other.

Dern and Hemsworth’s performances in “Lonely Planet” were certainly memorable, as their chemistry throughout was evident and showcased well. Even in scenes where

“Sympathy is a knife featuring ariana grande,” adds a lot more new context to Charli XCX’s vulnerability in the public eye from journalists, miscommunications and her everchanging sound and persona. The contrast of its upbeat, raving instrumental with such transparent lyrics always drew me to the original, and now again with the remixed version of the song.

As someone who likes Grande’s work, I feel like I’ve yet to hear her discuss these kinds of topics in her own songs, but it’s great to see her opening up about her body and others’ false accusations of it. Alluding to toxic fans, like Charli XCX’s, both of the artists sing “It’s a knife when somebody likes the old me and not the new me,” where both artists find their connecting line as big, constantly evolving figures in the pop realm.

In contrast to this beloved song, the next track, “I might say something stupid featuring the 1975 & jon hopkins,” seems to be the most hated, as fans expressed their dismay on X before it even came out, in response to The 1975 frontman Matty Healy’s recent controversies. However, as someone who’s been a longtime fan of both Charli XCX and The 1975, this was one of my favorite songs on the record and one of the few cases where I preferred the remix over the original song.

The track is an innovative but refreshing flashback to The 1975’s self-proclaimed “Music For Cars” era, which ranged from 2018 to 2020 on their third and fourth full-length studio LPs. It features raw vocals from Healy and stripped-down, ambient and elegant piano playing and production from

Hopkins.

“Everything is romantic featuring caroline polachek” already felt inspired by art-pop star Polachek without her on the track, but she makes it feel like her own with angelic vocal runs, rich string instrumentals and the song’s pulsating “Fall in love, again and again” rhythm that repeats throughout the track.

Still, without the success of all the big singles from this record, this entire remix album might not have existed in the first place.

“Girl, so confusing featuring lorde” left the pop music world in shambles as fans heard live from two women in the industry pitted against each other “work[ing] it out on the remix.” Lorde and Charli XCX opened up about previous insecurities the two have had with each other in the past and the complexities of being a woman in the music industry.

“Guess featuring billie eilish” brought indie sleaze producer The Dare to the top of his scene and let Eilish continue to embrace her sexuality to the mainstream through its direct, lustful lyrics and delivery.

Finally, “Talk talk featuring troye sivan” has served as Charli XCX and Sivan’s SWEAT tour grand finale, another fun collaboration for the two and a treat for their big fan base crossover.

Charli XCX has had the best album rollout she could’ve asked for, and as a result, the spotlight has been on her for the past year. This is all a reward thanks to her team marketing “Brat,” her skills pioneering in the dance-pop genre the past decade and everything she stands for as a woman navigating this toxic industry.

Katherine and Owen were simply sharing a passing glance, the chemistry is highly recognizable and makes this film a fun watch. However, I believe that the two leads may have been overqualified for roles as simple as these due to their previous professional experience.

Overall, the movie was your average, cheesy Netflix romance film. However, the storyline itself was quite unique because of the individual stories of the characters, and Katherine being a newly single writer. It was definitely refreshing to have some variety rather than the same Hallmark, cookie-cutter-type love story.

The film received only a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which honestly is not very surprising. As unique as the storyline was, at its core, there wasn’t much happening, and the way that the plot falls when Lily and Owen break up is almost “too perfect.” I would have loved for the film to go in the direction of Lily and Katherine fighting over Owen.

I felt as though making the story focused more in the direction of either Katherine’s writing or her relationship with Owen would’ve been beneficial to the plot, as it often felt all over the place. The plot flipped back and forth too much between Katherine as a character, the love story and her work.

The movie is short in length — only 96 minutes long — and the content itself is not super exciting as the plot only begins to pick up around halfway through the film. I believe that if the movie was a little bit longer, they could have gone into more depth about what happened in the process of Katherine writing her book about Owen and why their relationship was so memorable for her.

The theme of this movie is finding love in unexpected places. It was a cute film, but severely lacks in both depth and plot. I think it is a fun date night watch, but there are for sure better things to watch on Netflix.

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

The record is a victory lap for the popstar.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

“Lonely Planet” is about love found in Morocco.

Two AFC East trades with interesting ramifica

By Aidan Mastandrea and Joseph Caruso Sports Editor and Staff Writer

The NFL season is flying by as week seven is now approaching, signally that a third of the season is over. Only a few teams are content with where they stand, while many front offices are desperately looking to improve.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 was one of the most active days when it comes to NFL moves with the Jets acquiring Davante Adams from the Raiders and the Buffalo Bills trading for Amari Cooper. Both of these AFC east teams feel that this move may take them over the top and into playoff contention

and further, but it’s possible these aging receivers will not change much.

New York Jets

With all of the preseason hype for the second year in a row, Jets fans continue to be let down. The season is still young, but if things don’t turn around soon they are staring at a full rebuild for next year. The owner, Woody Johnson, is known to make rash decisions, as seen in the almost random firing of head coach Robert Salah a week ago.

A 3-point loss on Monday, Oct. 14 brought the Jets record to 2-4 through six weeks, with their only wins being against the lowly Titans and Patriots. Well here comes the savior… Davante

Adams! Well, at least that’s how some Jets fans and the organization sees it.

Adams is a soon-to-be 32-year-old receiver who is just out of his prime. He still has a lot of the tank and could definitely help many super bowl caliber teams in their quest for a ring.

Unfortunately, the Jets just are not close to that level. Their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is a sliver of what he used to be, claiming to want to bring a ring to New York, but is doing the opposite of what is needed.

With his finger on every move the Jets have made, Rodgers now has his ex-running mate Adams and we will see if they are able to turn the season around quick enough to make the playoffs and beyond.

If this trade proves to be unsuccessful, The Jets organization will have to face the hard reality that acquiring Rodgers and allowing him to run the franchise behind the scenes was a mistake. There are still 10 games left to see if the Rodgersto-Adams connection can spark a resurgence.

Buffalo Bills

As for the Buffalo Bills, they made their own move to acquire a different disgruntled pass-catcher in Amari Cooper. Cooper, now 30 years old, is being traded for the third time in his career as he goes from the woeful Cleveland Browns to the Bills for the cost of a future third-round draft pick.

Cooper has been miserable this season, setting career lows in yards per target, catch percentage and yards per game. However, much of this can be blamed on Cleveland’s quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has seemingly

forgotten how to play football since his Houston days.

Cooper, a rather quiet player, was often visibly frustrated and outspoken about his and the team’s struggles, leading to him being dealt. He’ll be out of excuses now, as he heads to Buffalo to play with Josh Allen, one of the top quarterbacks in all of football.

Allen and the Bills had a disgruntled wideout of their own last season in Stefon Diggs. With Diggs moving on to the Texans in the summer, Allen was left without a go-to guy for the first time in his career. Between firstround draft pick Keon Coleman, and other returning pass-catchers Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir, Allen has spread the ball through the first six weeks of the season.

To this point in the season, Allen is averaging under 200 passing yards per game and is on pace for his lowest passing yards total this decade, in part because of the lack of talent the Bills have dealt with at wide receiver. With that being said, Josh Allen and his new-found love of not turning the ball over has provided stability in the Buffalo offense, leading them to a 4-2 record as they sit atop the AFC East.

The duo of Allen and Cooper should provide excitement, as Cooper has never had a quarterback of Josh Allens’ caliber throwing him the ball. Cooper has struggled with drops this year, but with a careerhigh 1,250 receiving yards in 2023, there is no reason to believe he won’t immediately be Josh Allens’ new favorite target and give the Bills the boost they need to maybe get over the hump and win a championship.

Pfluger tallies record 667th win as TCNJ Field Hockey continue win streak

The Lions now have a record of 8-5.

By Joseph Caruso Staff Writer

The College’s field hockey team began their New Jersey Athletic Conference play this week, taking both games against Kean and William Paterson. The win against William Patterson on Saturday, Oct. 12 gave head coach Sharon Pfluger the record for most wins as a head coach in Division III history.

Pfluger has been at the helm of both the field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams at the College for over three decades, winning a multitude of trophies. Her players love playing for her, and she is proven to bring success to the College.

“Our alumni and co-coaches are incredibly special to me, Our bonds are something I will always cherish,” Pfluger said in an interview after her 650th win in 2023. She passed Ezra

Steele, former University of Lynchburg coach, for first on the all time wins list.

After dropping four consecutive games in September, a rarity for the Colleges’ field hockey program, Pfluger aimed to get the Lions back on the right track in time for conference play. They responded with three wins in a row including an impressive victory over #16 Ursinus, prior to traveling to Union to take on the Cougars of Kean University.

Game 1

Looking to improve upon their 3-2 conference record from 2023, The Lions looked to make a statement in the NJAC. Just one minute into the game, senior Rayhanah Ahmed meandered through the defense to give the Lions the very early lead. Along with scoring her eighth goal of the season, she tallied an assist finished by junior Mackenzie

Hart. Another score from sophomore Isabel Maher put the College ahead 3-0 going into halftime.

Although the Lions failed to score in the second half, their performance was about as dominant as it could be, specifically on the defensive end. Kean had just one shot on goal, compared to 21 for the College.

A huge bounce back, as the Lions earned their fourth consecutive shutout victory to begin their conference schedule with a win.

Game 2

On Tuesday, the Pioneers of William Paterson University came to Ewing to try and snap a losing streak of their own. However, it was much of the same for the Lions who jumped out to a 4-0 first-half lead.

With two more goals on the day, Ahmed became the team leader and the first to reach double-digit scores with 10. The 2023 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year also recorded an assist on a goal scored by freshman Avery Vacca, giving her 24 points on the year and 98 for her career. Freshman Ali Simmons scored back-to-back goals in the 3rd, marking the first of her career.

Similarly to their previous bouts, the College remained stout on the defensive end — just two shots for William Paterson compared to 32 from the Lions. It was another shutout for junior Brigitte Racey, despite not having to make a save for the third straight game, a testament to the Lions’ defense. It marks the fifth consecutive shutout victory, as the College smashed the Pioneers, 7-0.

Over this win streak, the College has allowed just 10 shots on goal. Over that same span, they have taken 61 and are beating their opponents by a combined

score of 19-0. Utter domination from Coach Pfluger’s squad, as she looks to secure her 39th straight season having more wins than losses. Every win from here on out will add to the record and Pfluger’s legacy.

The Lions will look to continue their hot stretch as they travel to Glassboro to take on Rowan University on Wednesday.

TCNJ Athletics Schedule

Men’s Soccer

Saturday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m Home against Rutgers-Newark

Cross Country

Saturday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m

Mike Woods Invitational

Swimming and Diving

Saturday, Oct. 19, 12 p.m

Away at Seton Hall University

Field Hockey

Saturday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m Home against Montclair State

Football

Saturday, Oct. 19, 3 p.m Home against Kean

Women’s Soccer

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 3 p.m Away at New Jersey City

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Amari Cooper will make Buffalo his new home.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

Ava Curtis’ journey and farewell to college soccer

By Fiona Espinoza-Castro Correspondent

As a senior business major, Ava Curtis is preparing to finalize her journey as a Lion for the women’s soccer team. After spending years dedicated to the sport, Curtis has not only grown as a player but has emerged as a leader, guiding her teammates both on and off the field.

Growing up in a family where athletics was always a priority, she was surrounded by the sport from a young age.

“My parents were both athletic growing up and always prioritized leading a healthy lifestyle,” said Curtis.

Her two older sisters were put in different sports at an early age but chose to play soccer, which meant Curtis was always on the sidelines, watching them play.

“I never really remembered a time without the sport…when I was old enough to start, I only ever wanted to play soccer,” she said.

By the time she was three years old, Curtis started what she called “stepping stone” lessons. After playing recreational soccer for a couple of years, she tried out for her first travel team at 6 years old for Players Development Academy, also known as the PDA, a nationally renowned competitive program.

Curtis has always had a soccer ball at

her feet. Whether she was at home or out and about, she was constantly dribbling and passing it against walls. Her technical ability grew naturally through this and the training she had at PDA.

One of the most challenging aspects of the game has been developing her soccer knowledge, which requires you to understand the game and make quick decisions during high-intensity situations.

“You can’t really practice it on your own since it is something you garner just by experience like playing and watching a lot,” said Curtis.

She recalled how her Dad would go to work early so he could drop her off at 5 p.m. practices for years. Her true inspiration is her family’s support.

“My parents always went, and still do, to every single one of my games and would not hesitate to support me, which was definitely hard because it was very time and financially consuming,” Curtis said.

Many young kids between the ages of 9 and 12 often lose interest in their sport because they were initially pushed into it by their parents, rather than developing a genuine interest in it.

However, Curtis never felt that sense of not wanting to play soccer thanks to one of her coaches, Larry Hart. Hart made the sport fun and there was never a day Curtis wasn’t excited to play.

“He was such a great coach and he

made our team excel which in turn made it more fun to be a part of,” said Curtis.

Despite her early success, Curtis faced her fair share of challenges. For an athlete, burnout is common, but she learned to stay grounded by focusing on why and who she plays for.

“To me, it is important to consider the effort my family has put in for me to accomplish my goals, the teammates who have my back and have endlessly supported me, and my younger self who loved playing more than anything,” she said.

The College’s women’s soccer program is a welcoming environment that promotes hard work and dedication toward the team. Curtis remembers Paul Blodgett, an old coach, who taught her a lot about the game and life itself.

Both of Curtis’ older sisters are alumni of the College, with Arielle having graduated in 2019 and Amelia in 2022. She has been surrounded by this supportive community since she was 11 years old.

“I’ve always had a love for the school and after COVID hit and my recruiting process got affected, I just knew at the end of the day TCNJ would always be home for me,” Curtis said.

She recognized that college soccer is a different game. Top players are competing against each other, and the play is faster and it is more demanding mentally and physically. Balancing the demands of soccer and academics has never been easy for Curtis, but through time management, she said she has found the balance.

Although it is easy to get caught up in the environment during a game, Curtis makes sure to take a step back and remember all of the opportunities and relationships the sport has brought her.

“You have 30 new automatic friends,” said Curtis “We all met in pre-season so before school even started we were able to form friendships and strong bonds and help each other out with the transition into college life.”

Her success on the field is not only her talent, recognized as NJAC Rookie of the Year (2021), 1st Team All-NJAC (2021, 2023), 2nd Team All-NJAC (2022), NJAC Defensive Player of the Week (11/6/23,

9/3/24) and more accolades. Instead, she relies on the strong bond she shares with the team.

“I truly love my teammates and would do anything for them,” Curtis said.

As a team captain this year, Curtis has embraced the role and responsibilities that come with it and is determined to be a good role model for her teammates. “I try to be friends with everyone, be someone they feel comfortable going to, and to make all the girls feel as welcome and supported as possible,” said Curtis. “This team is like all our second family so we work hard to keep that true for every girl on the team.”

Curtis’ time at the College has been transformative for her character. The biggest difference she has noticed from her freshman year has been her confidence and ability to lead. As a first year, she was always focused on proving herself and doing her duties effectively. But now as a senior, she is more comfortable on and off the field and able to step into a leadership role without doubting herself.

“A valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of resilience, as I bounce back quickly after a mistake and learn from it. The focus is not on how or why you made a mistake but on how you react to fix it,” she said.

The season is nearing an end and Curtis feels bittersweet to face the transition from being a student-athlete to life beyond college soccer after graduation.

“Soccer has been a huge part of my life and identity and I know it will be tough once it hits me I won’t be able to put on a TCNJ jersey again,” Curtis said.

She feels a mix of nostalgia and anticipation for the future, feeling grateful for everything that it has taught her and the friendships she has made.

Her advice to young student athletes is simple:

“Be patient with your progress and don’t compare yourself too much to others. Every minute on the field, whether in games or practice, is a chance to learn and improve,” said Curtis. “Most importantly enjoy the experience as much as possible, because it goes by faster than you can imagine.”

Men’s swimming and diving takes opener over Salisbury

By Joseph Caruso Staff Writer

The College defeated the Seagulls of Salisbury University in their first matchup in a dual meet by a score of 172-90 on Saturday, Oct. 12 . Looking to build another successful season from their 2023 campaign in which they finished 7-2, facing a Salisbury team who went 8-3 themselves, it would not be an easy task.

The preseason was all about preparation for the Lions, looking to build on the success from a year ago.

“One of the core things we do as a team to excel is creating an environment where champions are inevitable,” said junior finance major Andrew Kidchob. “Early in the season we have a bunch of team bonding events and get each other going by hyping up each other during early season practices and lifts.”

The relay team of junior Kidchob, senior Ryan VanDeVeen, junior

Richard Park and freshman M.J. Hoban got the meet started.

Kidchob, a three-time NCAA AllAmerican and a member of the 2024 1st Team All-NJAC team has picked up right where he left off, continuing to be stellar for the College.

VanDeVeen is another star for the Lions. The athlete is five-time NCAA All-American, while also being first team All-NJAC in back-to-back seasons.

Along with VanDeVeen, senior Ryan Higgins and sophomore Steven Bendoraitis each took home individual events to lead the Lions to victory.

Like Kidchob, Higgens is a three-time NCAA All-American and has also been 1st Team All-NJAC three years in a row.

As well as this, both relay teams also came out on top, with junior Gavin Forman concluding the day with a solo win of his own. Forman is a six-time NCAA All-American who also won NJAC Rookie of the Year in 2023.

“We were very confident that we were going to win, we had confidence in ourselves and the team that we had the capabilities to pull off the win without

a doubt,” said Kinchob. “Salisbury still put up a great performance and competition.”

With this win, the Lions still have yet to lose a meet at home since the 2019-2020 season, winning 12 straight in Ewing. Sixth-year coach David Dow has already taken home two NJAC championships and has been NJAC Coach of the Year three times. He is looking to lead the College to yet another successful season at the helm. The team has lofty yet attainable goals for this season including hopes of hoisting an NJAC championship trophy and have individuals named as All-Americans. That being said, their goals are not just accomplishment based.

“[We want to] create an electric e nvironment on the pool deck through hard work and building off the energy of each other,” said Kinchob. “And succeed in both the classrooms and at the pool by working with each other to get better everyday.”

The Lions season is now in full swing as they will head to South Orange to take on Seton Hall on Oct. 19.

Photo by Derick Zelaya

Curtis and the Lions will look to claim another NJAC championship.

Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone

The College’s next matchup is at Seton Hall University.