The Signal: Fall '19 No. 5

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Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. LI, No. 5

September 25, 2019

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

confront rape Foster signs letter in support of DACA Students culture at Slut Walk

Jennifer Somers / Photo Editor

The College’s president stands by the 7-year-old program.

By Garrett Cecere Editor-in-Chief

College President Kathryn Foster has signed a letter to Congress calling for bipartisan legislation in protecting those who are affected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Her announcement came in an email to the campus on Sept. 9, close to the two-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s decision to end the program, which allows for undocumented people who immigrated to the U.S. as children to stay in the country. In her email, Foster wrote that while

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is still accepting renewals from those who are enrolled in DACA, the agency is not taking any new applications. “The deferred action is on deportation,” Foster told The Signal. “This is a profound deferral, and although you can continue to apply for renewal of your deferred action, to the degree that the program has been suspended by the Trump administration, that’s where uncertainty is (high).” Foster co-signed the letter with presidents from over 600 institutions around the nation. She said the American Council on Education wrote the letter and offered it to leaders from colleges and universities to sign. According to ACE’s website, over 1,700 institutions comprise its membership. The deadline for leaders to sign the letter was Sept. 13. The letter stated that a CNN poll in February 2018 showed that more than 80 percent of Americans believe Congress should protect those who are affected by DACA. see LAW page 3

By Emili Kovell Correspondent

Onlookers stopped and stared at the marchers as they lifted signs and bellowed chant after chant across the College’s campus. On Sept. 18, students joined forces and voices to protest against slut-shaming and victim-blaming for the annual Slut Walk. The College held its first Slut Walk in 2011, and the protest has become an annual event on campus. This year, the group of participants — both men and women — gathered on the steps of Green Hall before the walk began. Rebecca Melton, a sophomore English and secondary education dual major who organized the event, asked them to close their eyes and raise their hand if they were or knew someone who was a victim of sexual violence or harassment. Then they opened their eyes — almost every hand was raised. “(The Slut Walk) is a space to let out all your frustration with the current systems and current prejudices in place, especially on campus-wide levels,” Melton said. “This is a place where you can go, ‘that sucks. I want to do something about that. I want people to know I’m angry.’” Hosted by the Women in Learning and Leadership see PROTEST page 14

‘Impractical Jokers’ comedian visits College By Mary DiRienzo Correspondent Kendall Hall buzzed with excitement on Sept. 17, as students stood in line for hours to see America’s favorite cat-hating, germophobe comedian, Sal Vulcano. Tru TV’s mega hit show “Impractical Jokers” is a staple in many college students’ show rotations. The four jokers — Vulcano, Joe Gatto, James “Murr” Murray and Brian “Q” Quinn — have used their fame to branch off into their own platforms and passions. As part of CUB’s fall comedy show, Vulcano came to the College to showcase his passion for stand-up comedy and leave students in side-splitting laughter. The night opened with Chris DeStefano, a Long Island comedian who had the room in tears by connecting with the audience’s college experience. Vulcano’s portion of the show began with roaring applause as he took the stage. From stories of breaking up with a girl because she only ate flax seeds to having the belief as a child that moths were going to take over the Earth because of his grandparents’ obsession with moth balls, he sent the audience into a fit of laughter over his relatable, observational humor on seemingly ordinary situations. The highlighted joke of the evening went right into Vulcano’s niche of being paranoid 24/7. Being a child of the 1980s, he was afraid of Gloria Estefan’s hit, “Rhythm is Gonna Get You” — he

INDEX:

Nation & World / page 8

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Jennifer Somers / Photo Editor

Vulcano brings laughter to the students. literally feared that the rhythm was going to get him. After a spooky reading of Estefan’s lyrics “at night when you turn off all the light...no place to hide...the rhythm is gonna get’cha,” Vulcano was so afraid of these lyrics his mother would use the “rhythm” to scare his sister and him into behaving. Vulcano also talked about his wild ride on “Impractical Jokers,” which he used to tie in different strands of humor. Editorial / page 9

Lions’ Plate Homemade guacamole makes for healthy snack See Features page 15

Sophomore special education and elementary education dual major Hudson Waller said that students across the board appreciated his efforts to talk to the audience and connect with them. “He would talk to audience members a lot, and kind of build off of their reactions,” Waller said. “So, for example, if someone didn’t laugh at a joke he would poke fun at them. It felt more like comedic discussion because he based his humor on

Opinions / page 11

how the crowd was feeling. He was telling a lot of jokes about New Jersey and things that really connected to our age group.” Students agreed that for a Tuesday night, the show was an enjoyable way to spend their time. “The energy was wild,” Waller said. “Everyone was so hyped to see Sal. When someone that’s that well-known and beloved among this age demographic comes in, the energy becomes insane.”

Features / page 14 Arts & Entertainment / page 17

“Dancing with the Stars” Premiere The 28th season comes with changes See A&E page 17

Sports / page 20

Field Hockey Women’s team remains undefeated See Sports page 20


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