The Signal: Spring ‘17 No. 7

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Vol. XLVI, No. 7

Bookstore competes with ‘Noble’ prices

March 8, 2017

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Former ‘Hamilton’ star shares hard-won wisdom

By Alyssa Gautieri Features Editor You’re searching for the best price for your textbook, shuffling between the six different tabs on your laptop to find the best price. One tab displays your online bank summary, and it isn’t looking too hot.

What do you do?

It may seem like the easiest option is always the cheapest, but staff at the College’s bookstore, Barnes & Noble in Campus Town, would tell you otherwise.

Cristina Webster, assistant store manager, has heard some horror stories from students who have ordered from sketchy websites in search of the lowest price — including one who found drugs within their textbook’s package.

“When you buy from the bookstore, you know you’re getting the right book, and you know it won’t be ripped, damaged or missing an access code,” Webster said. “You know it will be exactly what you need for class.”

While the bookstore has always been convenient, it now has better prices, as well. This past year, the bookstore has upped its game by offering in-store price matches to Amazon and the Barnes & Nobles website.

“Obviously we have noticed that we have been losing sales because there were times when we just couldn’t see BOOKS page 2

Jackson discusses playing George Washington in ‘Hamilton.’

By Michael Battista Staff Writer

Unlike the real George Washington, Christopher Jackson did not need to cross the Delaware River to enter a fortified Trenton, N.J. Jackson’s troops — in this case, students — gathered outside of Kendall Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 28, to await the former “Hamilton” star for the College Union Board’s Spring Lecture.

Most recognized for his performances as Washington in “Hamilton” and Benny in “In The Heights,” the multi-faceted star told students he wasn’t going to

let anything stop him from speaking at the College.

“I was stranded at a hotel in Beverly Hills the day before yesterday, watching my friend get nominated for an Oscar,” Jackson said, to which the crowd erupted in cheers. “But I came all the way across the country so that I could be with you guys.”

Jackson started off the night by telling the audience a little about himself: what it has been like to be an actor, singer and writer since 1995 and how he is currently working on a CBS television show called “Bull,” in which he plays a hairstylist

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

named Chunk Palmer.

“I’m still coming to terms with that,” Jackson said.

Jackson said he got where he is today by taking life one step at a time, and it’s incredible how his experiences continue to shape his life.

He wasn’t there just to lecture students — that was something they get enough on a daily basis, he said. Jackson was more excited to turn the house lights up and start a dialogue with the audience.

Talking about his time in “Hamilton” as Washington, Jackson told the crowd just how much time went into preparing

for the performance, which included reading biographer Ron Chernow’s work “Washington: A Life.”

Jackson has read the book four times to date.

In an interview with The Signal, Jackson said he had one mission in mind when getting into character as America’s first commander in chief.

“My aim was to just portray him as truthful as I could,” Jackson said. “As far as my approach from an acting standpoint… I researched Washington himself for about three and a half years.

“And everyday that I was in the role, I was constantly researching,” he added. “Constantly trying to draw as much from his real life experience as I could.

To have had any other kind of approach to it wouldn’t have served the piece very well.”

Walking the same grounds and seeing the same sights as Washington himself helped Jackson believe he could play the character. To walk around Valley Forge and other historical sites helped him understand the character just as much as reading about them, he said.

“I just try to stand up, say the words and believe them,” he told see JACKSON page 2

Heartfelt concert memorializes accomplished alumnus

By Elizabeth Zakaim Reviews Editor

To many, he was a composer and arranger, and to others, a teacher or mentor.

Those most close to him thought of him as a family member, father or brother. But to all, alumnus Jerry Nowak (’58), who died two years ago, was an inspiration and a beloved friend who will be missed by many.

On Saturday, March 4, a concert in Mayo Concert Hall paid tribute to him and his many accomplishments.

Nowak graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education and later received a master’s degree in music composition. He was internationally revered for his music and teachings in different universities worldwide.

He formed the Philadelphia Saxophone Quartet in 1968 and founded and directed the Delaware Valley Wind Symphony in 2006.

Both of these ensembles performed some of Nowak’s thousands of musical arrangements, and all proceeds benefitted the Jerry Nowak Scholarship Fund of the Delaware Valley Wind Symphony, a registered nonprofit organization, according to the College’s Lion’s Gate webpage.

Nowak’s son, Christopher Nowak,

helped put together the event and chose to hold it here at the College to truly honor his father’s memory.

“He was a teacher and a mentor first,” Christopher Nowak said. “So, it was appropriate to honor him not in a professional concert hall, but at his alma mater.”

From an early age, it was clear that Nowak was destined to be more than a musician — he was a leader, as well. He had a knack for teaching and a passion for music, something his older brother, Henry Nowak, noticed early on in their lives.

Although he could not attend the memorial concert, Henry’s niece and Christopher’s sister, Amy Novak, read her uncle’s eulogy to the audience.

“Jerry and I got our musical instruments — Jerry a clarinet and myself the trumpet — as birthday presents probably because the kid next door played clarinet,” Novak said, reading her uncle’s words.

In his speech, he described their years in band at Trenton High School, which used to be the largest high school in the country at the time. The school led a yearly weeklong competition in which students would divide up into two teams, the red team and the black team, and compete in sports,

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Nowak’s music career spanned several decades.

dance and music.

Nowak led the black team’s band to victory every night, his older brother recalled.

Years earlier, when Henry Nowak led the red team’s band, he did not have the fortune of beating the competition.

“Jerry was consistent about getting things done right. I think Jerry just thought it was the practical way to live,” his eulogy read.

Features / page 12

Henry Nowak still remembers the advice of his younger brother when it came to the gritty and sometimes frustrating aspects of arranging music.

“Once he gets stuck, bogged down, trying to figure out how to compose his way out of a difficult modulation, he would simply see NOWAK page 17

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page 2 The Signal March 8, 2017

Jackson / Actor and singer speaks at Spring Lecture continued from page 1

the audience.

Jackson brought up how he felt both connected and disconnected to Washington. From an emotional standpoint, he said his character’s anger and distance affected him in real life, but he’s become a happier person since leaving the show.

He also felt disconnected with Washington, as he owned slaves. Jackson said he wasn’t asked to reconcile that fact, but as an actor, “You have to make sense of the things that don’t make sense.”

The actor mentioned his co-worker and friend Lin-Manuel Miranda throughout the night, referring to him as his brother. Jackson noted how the lyricist, composer and fellow actor helped him land roles in other projects, such as Disney’s 2016 animated film “Moana,” in which he was the singing voice of Chief Tui, Moana’s father.

Jackson told The Signal that relationships like this are one of the most important things in his industry. “(Relationships are) more valuable than the work itself,” Jackson said. “The power of the team that assembled around ‘In The Heights’ — and it assembled in layers and levels over time — really created the piece itself. I don’t think Lin gets to write for me unless he understands who I am. … Unless we form a friendship that is as close to a brother as anything that most of us will ever experience.”

Jackson said his relationship with people like director Tommy Kail and music composer Alex Lacamoire have also

Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer

Jackson discusses the importance of relationships in show business.

helped bring projects to life.

“It is a moment in time that happens when you are connected with people that you share such kindred spirits with,” he said. “And I think that is reflected in the work that Lin wrote, and what I have been able to bring to life. … There’s an implicit level of trust that exists. Lin and I have literally done thousands of shows together. I’ve spent more time onstage with him than a lot of the people that I’ve known for years.”

Jackson also acknowledged the impact

his work has had throughout the world, for example, how he saw inspired high schoolers take part in programs to see how “Hamilton” was created.

When a student asked about “Hamilton’s” biggest impact on others, instead of mentioning this, he said, “We’ve yet to see it.”

He also saw how his work has touched on important issues like race and immigration. Jackson made light of growing up in Illinois and being proud of Barack Obama for becoming the first

black president in 2008.

He said he had the honor of singing “One Last Time” of then-President Obama under Washington’s portrait before he left office — an experience no parent could ever envision for their child.

As the evening came to an end, Jackson announced he had time for one more question. The student related to Alexander Hamilton’s desire to create a legacy and asked Jackson how the idea of leaving behind a legacy influenced his actions.

Jackson took a moment, as he was happy that this seemed like the perfect way to end the show, and said how Hamilton and so many of the Founding Fathers were constantly worried about their legacies.

So much so, he said, that these men impeded their work as they were more worried about what others would think than the possible impact of their actions.

Jackson told the audience he used to be that way, working on his legacy everyday in the form of keeping the lights on and feeding his family. Now, he works on sharing rich experiences with others and not worrying about what will be written in his obituary.

“Your personal legacy is what you do when you get up in the morning,” Jackson said. “You gotta live. You gotta live for yourself. You gotta live for your neighbor.

You gotta live for the person around you.

You gotta live for your parents.

“Meet their expectations, confound their expectations,” he said. “Confound your own expectations. Wake up and go further than you thought you could possible go when you went to bed last night.”

Books / Campus bookstore offers competitive prices to students continued from page 1 compete with competitor prices,” alumna Kristin Linke (’04), the bookstore’s textbook manager since 2011, said. “But we want to keep the sales here, and price matching has helped us take back some of those lost sales.”

The Fall 2016 semester was the first time the bookstore offered price matching on new, used and rental textbooks, but most students did not take advantage of the opportunity until the spring.

“This semester, there was much more communication with students including email blasts and social media marketing,” Linke said.

Last semester, the bookstore sold approximately 25,000 books and only about 155 of those were price matches.

“I don’t have the exact numbers for this semester, but I know from dealing with customers in the store that we did a lot more price matches than last semester,” Linke said.

In order to be eligible for a price match, students must go to the bookstore prepared with proof of a lower price from either Amazon or the Barnes & Nobles website. The bookstore does not match third-party sellers. “(Not being able to price match third-party sellers) is often misunderstood by students,” Linke said.

Third-party sellers are able to sell textbooks for extremely low prices because the deliveries are often being shipped internationally or sold by individual sellers.

Third-party sellers do not guarantee a quality textbook and will often take longer to ship.

While the bookstore provides

convenience and new lower prices, students are still looking for the cheapest price.

Despite this semester’s price match, some have still found cheaper options elsewhere.

“I usually shop at Chegg just because it is usually cheaper than the bookstore,” said Allison Vergano, a junior communication studies major.

Junior management major Christina Fabiano agreed.

“I don’t usually get my textbooks at the bookstore. My go-to is Amazon because it is usually cheaper,” she said. “While the bookstore is convenient because it on the way to and from class, I usually only shop there when they have sales.”

While the staff acknowledged the harsh costs of textbooks, Linke is frustrated by the stereotypes that the bookstore is out to get students.

“I think the bookstore gets a bad rap,” Linke said. “We will often hear students say that the bookstore is overpriced, but, unfortunately, we don’t set the prices. Instead, we try to implement programs, such as price matching, to help lower the costs for students because we know it is expensive, and we want to save them money.”

Webster agreed.

“We do all of this for the good of the school and its students, not for ourselves,” she said.

Apart from price matching, the bookstore has other alternatives for price-conscious students including renting and buying digital versions of the book.

“Money is tight for many people, and we know that some students are paying for their textbooks

on their own, and we really are trying to come up with different ways to help students afford their textbooks,” Linke said.

Additionally, the College receives a portion of every sale made at the bookstore and a loss of sales has an impact on students at the College.

In a typical semester, the bookstore completes around 4,000 to 5,000 online textbook orders.

Starting a month before classes begin, the staff shuffles through online orders, allowing students to quickly pick them up in store.

Typically the staff sorts through 250 to 300 online orders each day, but on one particularly busy day this semester, when the staff arrived at the store, they found more than 500 online orders in their queue.

“We walked in, and we were all really shocked,” Linke said. “Because of days like that, it definitely seems like we had more online orders this semester.”

According to Diego Ramirez,

a bookstore staff member and a junior public health major, many students came to the bookstore with screenshots of competitor prices on their phones looking for better deals.

“We definitely received more traffic during our ‘rush weeks’ — the first couple of weeks before and during the semester — than expected,” he said. “We also saw a huge increase in people buying and renting textbooks this semester.”

While price matching allows the bookstore to compete with other outlets, it is also easier than buying online, according to Webster.

“Amazon orders can easily fall through. I’ve had students come to me and say, ‘Well, I ordered from Amazon, but the order was canceled, backordered, never came,’ etc.,” Webster said.

The bookstore is not only a reliable outlet, but it is convenient to those on campus. If a student realizes they need a book last minute, they can walk in, find their book and

buy or rent it within minutes, as opposed to ordering online and having to wait or pay extra for shipping.

Dealing with a person face to face rather than a computer screen, easy returns and lower prices are just a few of the reasons students took their business to the bookstore this semester. “(All the staff at the bookstore) are here to support students. We don’t want them to pay more. That is not our goal,” Linke said. “So, if they do find the book cheaper online, we want to be able to give them that pricing.”

Many students spend their hard-earned cash on textbooks each semester, spending anywhere from $100 to $500, or more, biannually.

“I personally love helping people find the best deals because, being a student myself, I, unfortunately, know the pain of having to shell out hundreds of dollars on textbooks for a single semester,” Ramirez said.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

The bookstore price matches with Barnes and Noble’s website and Amazon.

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 3

Eickhoff serves students delicious biodiversity

By George Tatoris News Editor

There are around 400,000 plant species on Earth, but only 7,000 of them are edible and cultivable. Among those 7,000, just 90 are commonly cultivated around the world, and out of those 90, three — wheat, rice and corn — make up 50 percent of the average human’s daily calories.

The lack of biodiversity on our plates was the theme of the biology department’s campus-wide Tasting the Tree of Life event held on Feb. 28, which included a revamped Eickhoff Hall menu designed for diversity and a keynote lecturer in Mayo Concert Hall, botanist Nyree Zerega.

Each station in the Atrium was repurposed to reflect a specific theme of biodiversity.

Field guides were positioned at each station, ready to explain the exotic foods being served. The menu included foods like alligator sausage, frog legs, jackfruit sandwiches, breadfruit cakes and roasted crickets. Familiar dishes were being served with a twist, as well — Quimby’s Rotisserie served cumin roasted lamb and a clam and bacon pizza was served at Ceva Pizza.

So, why is biodiversity in food necessary?

“All levels of diversity are important, especially within that food domesticate, whether it be plants or animals,” Zerega said.

More biodiversity within a species can prevent famine because the species would be better equipped to fight new diseases or threats with their genetic reservoir, according to Zerega. A lack of diversity can lead

to disasters such as the Irish Potato Famine.

She added that biodiversity can also provide people with more varied nutrients that they otherwise could not get. Certain food varieties can also be adapted to parts of the world experiencing drought or famine.

Zerega explained the three main branches that create the tree of life: eukaryotes, bacteria and archaea. Bacteria and archaea are single-celled organisms, however, archaea tend to live in extreme places such as hot springs and salty environments. Eukaryotes are organisms made up of cells that contain a nucleus and other more complicated structures.

The menu at Eickhoff featured 149 ingredients across all three of these branches.

There was even a salt-tasting station where students could taste archaea. A manybranched tree diagram demonstrated the variety of ingredients used throughout the day.

Including all of these branches creates phylogenetic diversity. Zerega showed the audience a photo of a bison near some hot springs to demonstrate the point.

“You got this picture and you think of what’s in there in terms of biodiversity, you see some trees… a bison. It doesn’t look that diverse,” Zerega said. “But, if you think about it in a phylogenetic sense, you got these hot springs, which are home to many different species of bacteria and archaea… and then you got eukaryota.”

Zerega said biodiversity can be found within a branch of the tree of life as well with a slide of a rainforest. Every organism pictured was a tree, but there were many

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Zerega discusses the importance of biodiversity in our diets. different types.

There can also be biodiversity within the same species, such as with different breeds of dogs. Similarly, the plant Brassica oleracea — possibly a child’s worst nightmare — has been bred over the years to yield cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower.

Kohlrabi, another variant of Brassica oleracea was one of the 149 ingredients in Eickhoff on Tuesday.

Two others are the jackfruit and the breadfruit, two plants Zerega is familiar with — she studied both as a part of her research into underutilized crops.

“An underutilized food crop is a plant species that has some sort of proven food use, it’s been shown to be cultivable at some point, but for some reason, it’s currently less

cultivable than it could be,” Zerega said.

These are crops that might be more nutritious or better-suited to locations that can’t grow more-widely known crops, but because of economic, cultural or political reasons, they are not widely cultivated.

The breadfruit is a semi-tropical fruit found in the South Pacific with many positive, underutilized traits, according to Zerega. The fruit is versatile and nutritious and the tree itself can live a long life in places lacking food. Zerega showed two maps, one showing areas where the crop can be grown and another showing places devoid of food, overlapping in certain areas.

The jackfruit, a relative of the breadfruit, see MEAL page 4

Campus Police hunts for public masturbator outside gym

By Brielle Bryan Production Manager Masked-turbator strikes On Wednesday, March 1, Campus Police sent out an emergency text alert regarding a suspect seen masturbating outside of the Campus Town Fitness Center. According to Campus Police, the suspect is a white male with a light complexion, approximately 6 feet tall and of an unknown age. The male was wearing a black sweatshirt, black ski mask and khaki pants, according to the alert. Anyone with additional information were advised to contact Campus Police.

Unknown female in the Haus On Feb. 28 at 2:10 a.m., a Campus Police officer was dispatched to investigate a suspicious female in Hausdoerffer Hall. Upon arrival, the officer met with three Community Advisers who stated the female had been in the lounge area for approximately three hours, according to police reports.

One of the Hausdoerffer residents said the female told her that she was a freshman at the College who had been dropped off by her cousin. The officer on the scene heard the door close from the lounge area to the rear patio and followed the female student outside.

The female was walking toward the rear of a house on Pennington Road when the officer

caught up with her and asked if she had exited the building.

According to Campus Police, the female said, “Yes. I was just charging my phone.”

The officer told the female that she was not free to go and had her detained until it could be determined if whether she was allowed to be in the residence hall. According to Campus Police, the female said she did not have any form of identification, and she was originally from New York.

The officer asked the female her name and date of birth. The name and birthdate that the female gave did not show up in Campus Police’s system, according to police reports. The female also told the officer that her cousin was a student and had dropped her off so that she could charge her phone.

When the Campus Police officer asked the female about her cousin’s first and last name, she said she didn’t know his last name. The officer escorted the female from the patio back into Hausdoerffer’s lounge. Another officer arrived on the scene for assistance. The female then admitted to withholding her cousin’s last name, which she provided with his cell phone number, Campus Police said.

The officers tried to call the female’s alleged cousin, who did not pick up the phone, and were informed by dispatch that the cousin was not a student.

After viewing the female’s valid New York Driver’s License, police said the last name and birthdate of the female was

different from what she had described. At 3:20 a.m., the female asked to plug in her cell phone, police said.

While she was sliding over a couch toward an outlet, the female complained of pain in her left arm. The female said she “tweaked” an old injury and requested to go to the hospital, according to Campus Police.

TCNJ EMS and Ewing Township EMS arrived on the scene at 3:43 a.m. The female was issued a summons for trespassing and was transported to a hospital at 3:55 a.m.

Lighter leads to weed On Feb. 26 at approximately 9:05 p.m., two Campus Police officers were conducting foot patrol near Green Lane Fields when they briefly observed a flame believed to be coming from a lighter.

The officers walked toward the location of the flame and observed two male students sitting on a metal bench. According to Campus Police, as they got closer to the male students, the smell of burnt marijuana grew stronger. After identifying themselves, the officers instructed one of the males to place his pipe on the ground, turn around and put his hands behind his back.

Around 9:15 p.m., he was placed under arrest.

The other officer frisked the other male student on the scene to check for weapons. The officer felt something in the student’s front left jacket pocket. Campus Police said the student pulled a metal marijuana grinding tool out of his jacket pocket, and the male student was placed under

arrest. Upon further search of the male student, the officers located a white prescription pill bottle containing two Ziploc bags with marijuana residue. The officers also found a multi-colored glass pipe, approximately 5 inches in length, containing burnt leafy residue believed to be marijuana.

Both males were transported back to Police Headquarters for processing at 9:27 p.m. They were read the Uniform Mercer County Rights Form at 9:35 p.m., and both males students were fingerprinted, photographed and issued a summons for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. At 11:30 p.m., the students were escorted back to their residence halls.

Student did start the fire On Feb. 28 at approximately 9:10 p.m., a Campus Police officer was dispatched to Lot 10 on a report of a group of males starting a fire. Upon arrival, the officer said she saw four males and one female standing near the back wall of Lot 10, according to police reports.

When the officer pulled her vehicle up to the group, a few of them looked at her and started to walk away. The officer exited her vehicle and told the group to stay there and move back to the wall.

According to Campus Police, there was an odor of smoke in the air, but no smoke or fire in plain sight. All five individuals complied and moved against the wall. Two more officers arrived on the scene. The individuals were then instructed to spread out against the wall and show the officers their IDs, to which they

complied, according to police.

The officers asked the group what they were doing there, and the individuals said they were just hanging out. When asked if they were doing anything with fire or smoke, the group denied all questions and said they were not playing with fire, according to Campus Police.

The individuals agreed that they also smelled an odor of smoke, but did not know where it was coming from.

While continuing to question the individuals, the officers observed a pile of ashes in the middle of the roadway in Lot 10, with a pile of napkins sitting next to it. One of the officers pointed to the pile and asked them about it.

Two of the individuals said it was a pile of ashes, Campus Police said. One of the officers asked where it came from, but they said they didn’t know.

One of them then admitted that he was responsible for the pile of ashes, and he used his lighter to light the napkins. When asked why he did it, Campus Police said he responded by saying, “There is no good reason,” according to police reports.

The other four individuals were released. The individual who admitted to starting the fire was placed under arrest and transported back to Police Headquarters. The male was issued a summons for criminal mischief and was released at approximately 10:05 p.m.

Anyone with information can contact Campus Police at 609771-2345.

page 4 The Signal March 8, 2017

Meal / School of Science caters Eickhoff theme day

George Tatoris / News Editor

These diagrams show students where their food lies on the tree of life. continued from page 3

the ones that do have seeds cannot be dried or frozen. This means the crop can only be can be found in tropical regions and is also maintained as a tree. One way to fix these underutilized, according to Zerega. Jack- problems is by researching the crop’s relafruit is the largest fruit to come from a tree, tives on the phylogenetic tree so a better growing up to 50 pounds. variant can be bred.

The massive fruit was on display at the Crops aren’t the only foodstuffs being 31 North Deli in Eickhoff, where it was underutilized — we avoid certain animals, used in a barbecue jackfruit sandwich. too, based on cultural norms and political Breadfruit cakes were served alongside the reasons, namely insects. There are more sandwiches. At the grill station, a jackfruit than 2,000 species of edible insects, mostly Reuben was being served. beetles and caterpillars, but there is a stigEvelyn Kulesza, a sophomore biology ma against using them as food in the West. major and field guide, said the jackfruit “There are so many species (of insect) tastes a bit like mango. Ruth Sanchez de la that are efficient and nutritious, and arRosa, a senior biology major and field guide, guably delicious depending on how you compared the taste to an apple or pear. prepare them and what you are used to,” The problem with breadfruit is that most Zerega said. cultivated variants are mostly seedless, and2017 Compared to cows, pigs and chickens, page 6 The Signal February 22,

insects produce the most food in relation to the size of their bodies, meaning there is less waste, according to Zerega. Less feed is also needed to maintain a healthy supply of crickets than other animals.

Crickets and cheese-flavored larvae were served to students in Eickhoff on Tuesday. The crickets had a slightly nutty taste and a crunchy, flaky texture while the larvae tasted kind of like Cheetos.

The Eickhoff overhaul needed eight months of planning between students, faculty and Sodexo staff. Okxana CordovaHoyos, a senior biology major, was a part of the Scientific Planning Committee that helped plan the event. She said the main point of the event was to spread an understanding of science through something everyone enjoyed — food.

“We figured everyone loves food so we combined the two (food and science),” Cordova-Hoyos said.

She said the event was designed to make students think of their food in a different way.

“It’s a different way of thinking about balancing a meal,” she said.

Wendy Clement, an assistant professor in the biology department and committee chair, went into detail about that different way of thinking.

She hopes that students “recognize that every ingredient on their plate is a living organism that has a story of its own and that what they eat represents many different lineages of the tree of life.”

Kathryn Elliott, as assistant professor of biology and member of the committee, hoped students learned something about the richness of life on Earth.

“We really wanted to convey that all organisms on life are related in one big

family tree, the Tree of Life, that there is an incredible amount of biodiversity on Earth, which we tried to illustrate by showing how diverse your foods can be, and that humans have an impact on that biodiversity,” Elliott said.

After the committee approached Sodexo with a list of ingredients, Executive Chef of Resident Dining Lauren Franchetti went to work designing a menu.

“We have over 300 different foods on inventory in the Eickhoff kitchen, it is not often that we get to work with an ingredient that is completely new to the kitchen team,” Franchetti said. “It was a great experience to break from the norm and have some fun tasting and working with something completely new to us.”

The professors and Franchetti came out of the eight-month experience with new knowledge and a palette for exotic foods.

Elliott enjoyed the jackfruit cake and Franchetti liked the frog legs. Clement enjoyed the jackfruit Reuben, but what she liked the most was something familiar that reminded her of home.

“I’m a New Englander at heart, so I did also enjoy the clam and bacon pizza,” Clement said.

George Tatoris / News Editor

Jackfruit on display.

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March 8, 2017 The Signal page 5

SFB funds awareness events and job opportunities

By Olivia Rizzo Staff Writer The Student Finance Board funded a variety of events at the latest meeting that will allow students to explore different cultures and professional opportunities.

The Deaf Hearing Connection Club returned to seek funding for its Deaf Awareness Day speaker, and the event was fully funded in the amount of $4,250.

The event was tabled earlier in the semester with hopes that the organization could bring down the cost of the speaker or fund a larger venue for the event.

The keynote speaker, Mark Wood, is the owner and director of ASL Films, which produces movies in American Sign Language and does not use dialogue nor soundtracks.

Wood grew up in an all deaf family, which he plans on highlighting during his presentation.

Funding will cover the costs of Wood’s speaking fee, travel expenses and showing fee in order to view one of Wood’s films entitled “Versa Effect.”

The movie and presentation will have subtitles and ASL interpreters for those who do not know ASL. Deaf Awareness Day will take place on April 19 in rooms 113 and 115 of the Education Building.

The board tabled the Association of Students for Africa’s

request for additional funding in the amount of $3,500 for its Akwabaa Banquet, which was originally funded last December.

Upon factoring the additional funds into the $4,264.96 the organization was originally funded, SFB tabled the request due to the high cost per student.

The additional funds would have been used to bring a performance group to the Akwabaa Banquet that would play and dance to traditional and modern African music.

According to the proposal packet, the event “will showcase to the TCNJ community that ASFA has arrived and is fully operating to bring a taste of the African culture to campus. Africa is one of the biggest continents in the world and TCNJ students should be exposed to its culture.”

The Akwabaa Banquet will take place on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Decker Social Space.

The Environmental Club was funded $1,850.32 for a bus trip to the Climate March in Washington D.C. in late April.

Funding will cover the costs of one bus and its parking fees. A second bus was tabled in order to see if the organization can show enough interest in the event to have a second bus.

The Climate March Bus Trip will take place on April 29.

The American Medical Student Association received $750

SFB discusses funding a Deaf Awareness Day speaker. in funding for its Hippocrates Luncheon. It was revealed during the presentation that AMSA had already advertised for the event with a Facebook event page, violating SFB guidelines, but since the organization could confirm that the event could still take place without SAF funds, the board was still able to consider funding.

Funding will cover the costs of food and decorations. According to the proposal packet, the luncheon brings together students interested in pursuing a career in medicine with alumni who currently work in the field.

The board tabled the organization’s request for $1,000 to cover alumni’s travel expenses in order

to get a clear number of alumni planning to attend.

The Hippocrates Luncheon will take place on April 2 in room 212 of the Education Building.

Synergy Dance Company received $3,855 in funding for its Synergy Spring Spectacular. According to the proposal packet, the event is an annual spring dance recital and will feature studentchoreographed performances.

Funding will cover the cost of Kendall Hall fees, costumes, flowers for graduating members, advertising materials and a DVD recording of the performance.

The Synergy Spring Spectacular will take place on April 23 in Kendall Hall.

The board did not fund Student

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Government Class of 2019’s request for a class formal at Adventure Aquarium in Camden, N.J. Since the Class of 2019 received funding for a moonlight cruise formal last semester, SFB denied funding for the requested amount: $6,166.75.

Student Government received $3,511.94 for its T-Shirt Swap. According to the proposal packet, the event looks to “promote school spirit… and gives students who are not affiliated with an organization a TCNJ shirt to wear.”

Funding covers the costs of 1,000 T-shirts and tablecloths.

Student Government’s T-Shirt Swap will take place on March 29 on the Green Hall Lawn.

Former diplomat discusses Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Kurtzer is a former ambassador to Israel.

By Thomas Infante Arts & Entertainment Editor Students and faculty welcomed the U.S. ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2005 to the Library Auditorium on Friday, March 4, in a presentation about the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Daniel Kurtzer outlined the possible routes that Israel and Palestine could pursue to bring about and maintain peace.

He explained the diplomatic conflicts that would arise for each possible solution.

Kurtzer began working as a diplomat with the U.S. State Department in 1981, working primarily with regions in the Middle East. He retired in 2006 and now works

AP Photo

as a professor of middle eastern studies at Princeton University.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is undoubtedly a complicated one due to the cultural and religious roots that are embedded in the violence.

“It goes deeper than the boundary,” Kurtzer said. “The conflict affects the selfimage of each group.”

Israel declared its independence in 1948, after the former British territory of Palestine was divided up into an independent Palestine and Israel. Since the SixDay War between the two states in 1967, Israel has annexed and settled on previously-held Palestinian land, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Although the

exact borders have changed over time, Israel still controls the majority of the region, to the chagrin of the Palestinians.

“The Palestinians are trying to negotiate their own independence from Israel, while at the same time negotiating their own recognition as a state,” Kurtzer said. “I think of the situation as a multi-dimensional chessboard, but it’s not rocket science.”

Kurtzer, with the help of extensive flowcharts, detailed the different paths that Israel and Palestine could choose in the quest for long-standing peace.

“Most Israelis want democracy in the region,” Kurtzer said. “However, it is impossible to have a democratic occupation — it’s a conundrum.”

Even territories like the Gaza Strip that are technically under Palestinian control still rely on Israel for food and water, among other public provisions.

“Some people think of it like Apartheid,” Kurtzer said. “On the other hand, some say that the interest of preserving the holy land outweighs the need for democracy.”

According to Kurtzer, the majority of the region’s population favors the idea of a two-state solution, in which Israel and Palestine can coexist as independent states in the region. However, Israel still has not relinquished territory that used to belong to Palestine and continues to occupy areas like the West Bank, which Palestine holds claim to.

“Israel would work harder at brokering peace if other nations, including the U.S., actually applied political pressure,” Kurtzer said. “People pay attention when our politicians unify and provide more than just words to help a situation.”

According to Kurtzer, the last election for prime minister of Israel was almost

locked at in a 50-50 split, with Benjamin Netanyahu barely winning reelection. Although Netanyahu said he favors a peaceful two-state solution. He has made no territorial concessions to the Palestinians and continues to support Israeli settlement building on Palestinian land.

In an interview in 2015, he called the establishment of a Palestinian state “yielding territory for radical Islamic terrorist attacks against Israel.”

“Even Israelis are split on how to handle the conflict,” Kurtzer said. “Perceptions of who the enemy is in the Middle East are changing, partially because politicians don’t have a clear endgame.”

Additionally, Palestinians are split on how to handle the loss of so much of their land. According to Kurtzer, Palestinians are slowly becoming more industrious and gaining more autonomy as they wait for the situation to improve. True brokerage of peace could only realistically occur with the help of a large nation like the U.S. “There are some Palestinians that want a declaration of independence and democratic elections,” Kurtzer said. “There is also resistance in the form of ‘intifada’ — violent uprisings against Israel.”

Despite complaints from the United Nations and European Union, Israel has not conceded any territory. Violence continues to break out, and Kurtzer wonders if President Donald Trump will contribute anything more than strong words.

“Diplomacy requires more than just getting around a table and talking about the problems,” Kurtzer said. “Inflammatory remarks towards Palestine will just make incite violence towards Israel. What happens on the ground impacts the government’s ability to negotiate.”

page 6 The Signal March 8, 2017

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 7

Nation & W rld

Suicide attack in Homs kills 32 people

Multiple groups linked to Al-Qaeda claim to be responsible for the attack.

By Zahra Memon Staff Writer

Syrian armed forces were attacked by suicide bombers on Feb. 25 in Homs, Syria. Thirty-two people were killed, including a senior officer who was in charge of

AP Photo

state media and military intelligence services, according to CBS News.

The same source reported that the two security agencies that were attacked were 1.2 miles apart from each other.

The suicide bombers who conducted this operation wore suicide belts, allowing the bombs to be detonated

and completely demolish the buildings, according to CBS News.

“There were at least six attackers and several of them blew themselves up near the headquarters of state security and military intelligence,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, according to Al Jazeera.

The governor of Homs Province, Talal Barzani, said approximately 20 people were injured from three blasts in two locations, according to Al Jazeera.

The rebel group that claimed responsibility for the attacks, Tahrir al-Sham, is also known to have served as AlQaeda’s Syrian branch, Newsweek reported.

According to the same source, Tahir al-Sham recently broke its alliance with Al-Qaeda to form an allegiance with the global jihadist movement last year.

In addition to Tahrir al-Sham, the Levant Liberation Committee has also claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to CBS News.

The suicide attacks took place to prove to the Assad regime that it is not close to obtaining victory, according to France 24.

The attacks were also a message to those in Geneva discussing solutions to the war in Syria, according to Al Jazeera.

Bashar al-Jaafari, leader of Syria’s government delegation during the Geneva ceasefire talks, said this attack was a “message to Geneva from the sponsors of terrorism,” Al Jazeera reported.

Kim Jong Nam’s murder under investigation

By Anandita Mehta Staff Writer

North Korea’s Kim Jong Nam was killed while waiting for a plane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on Feb. 13, Time magazine reported.

Since then, there have been several recent developments surrounding the murder.

Kim is the son of the deceased North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Il, and elder halfbrother of the current leader of the Republic, Kim Jong Un, according to Time magazine.

Airport security cameras captured two women, Siti Aisyah of Indonesia and Doan Thi Huang of Vietnam, attacking Kim with a cloth soaked in a liquid confirmed by Malaysian authorities to be VX, a military grade chemical weapon, The New York Times reported.

The drug causes increased heart rates and blurry vision. In larger doses, convulsions, loss of consciousness and death through respiratory failure occur. Kim died while he was being rushed to the hospital after reporting the incident to airport authorities, according to CNN. While both women have denied any

knowledge of the results of their actions, they have since been arrested and charged with Kim’s murder, according to CNN. The same source reported that if they are found guilty, they will face the death penalty.

Aisyah and Huang said they were under the impression they were playing a prank and did not understand the severity of the chemical, according to The New York Times.

The rarity and strength of the drug suggests the North Korean government was behind the attack, according to NPR. North Korea said Kim died of a heart attack, but failed to acknowledge the deceased man as Kim and, instead, referred to the body as a North Korean national named Kim Chol.

No family members have identified the body yet, which has prevented Malaysian authorities from turning it over to North Korea, according to NPR. Since no North Korean officials were Twitter present, North Korea has also denounced The North Korean government is a suspect. the Malaysian autopsy report that pinpointed the cause of death as VX, NPR reported. from the Democratic People’s Republic of tensions have taken the form of economic Kim’s death has increased the United Korea, The New York Times reported. isolation, as China has halted all imports of Nations’s desire to distance themselves According to the same source, escalating coal from North Korea.

Tom Perez elected chair of Democratic National Committee

Perez is the first Latino elected to the position.

By Cait Flynn Staff Writer

AP Photo

The Washington Post reported.

Perez, who served under former President Barack Obama, was an Former Labor Secretary Tom establishment favorite to win, garPerez was elected the new chair of nering the support of former Vice the Democratic National Commit- President Joe Biden and former tee in an unusually narrow race, Attorney General Eric Holder, The

Washington Post reported.

Perez won after two rounds of voting, earning 213.5 in the first round, just one vote shy of the 214.5 votes needed to win. After the second round, Perez won 235 votes and Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota won 200, The New York Times reported.

According to the same source, Ellison, who was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, is the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress.

After Perez’s nomination, the chant “Party of the people, not big money” rang out among Ellison supporters in protest, according to The New York Times.

Outgoing Deputy Chair R. T.

Ryback had to quiet the crowd for Perez to announce he would name Ellison deputy chair. The two have remained cordial with each other throughout the race in order to avoid repeating the vitriol felt during the 2016 primary between Hillary Clinton and Sanders, The New York Times reported.

“We don’t have the luxury to walk out of this room divided,” Ellison said after being named deputy chair, according to The New York Times.

The same source reported that the Democratic Party has many key elections coming up, including the gubernatorial race in New Jersey and 2018 midterm elections.

Perez is the first Latino elected to the position. The son of Dominican

immigrants, Perez has held various state and federal jobs throughout his career rising to labor secretary under the Obama administration, The New York Times reported.

Perez graduated from Harvard Law School and served as assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, according to his official website.

“When we have these conversations, sometimes spirited, sometimes difficult, that’s not a sign of weakness, that’s a sign of strength as a party, and that’s what we’re going to keep doing,” Perez said in his acceptance speech delivered partially in Spanish, according to The New York Times.

page 8 The Signal March 8, 2017

Editorial

Students need to step outside of their comfort zones

Night had fallen in Milan, and a sudden shower soaked the streets below. The thin raindrops could only be seen when reflected against the yellow light of the streetlamps, but anyone caught outside without an umbrella or raincoat was still drenched.

Amongst the luckless few were myself and the woman who would become my first girlfriend — we were in the city on a weekend trip while studying abroad in Spain. We were not prepared for the weather — she was even wearing open-toed shoes. As the raindrops fell, we were looking for a restaurant we saw on Yelp.

We were together in the city by accident — the trip was supposed to be for her and her friend, but the friend couldn’t get a visa in time.

On the spur of the moment, I bought the spare plane ticket off of her.

Though I planned very little for the trip and barely knew the girl — and Italian even less — Milan became a life-defining moment for me.

Studying abroad in Spain taught me that stepping out of my comfort zone and living in the moment can lead to new experiences. Some of my most cherished college memories were the result of spontaneous decisions.

Introverted students like me often stick with the familiar parts of the College community, but I got so much more by just forgetting my fears and diving head first into new things. Two years after Milan and Spain, that dive is still making ripples.

As the weather worsened, we splashed through puddles looking for cover. The strap on her sandal snapped in the process and all we could do was laugh. Her hair was matted and her face glistened.

We abandoned all hope of reaching that restaurant, which at that point was a few blocks away, and went into the next restaurant we saw.

The place was small, but crowded and brightly lit.

We looked like a mess under the white lights having just stepped in from the rain. We shared jokes and stories over a delicious plate of pasta alla norma cooked al dente, a ham pizza and glasses of the house wine.

She still insists it was not a date.

We didn’t become official until after we returned to the United States.

Since I’ve been back, I’ve been stepping further outside my comfort zone. I got more involved with The Signal and took up an internship for Courier News and Home News Tribune. If you’re shy like I am, trying new things and meeting new people can be terrifying, but in the long run, I promise it will be rewarding.

And yes, we’re still dating.

— George Tatoris News Editor

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, unless otherwise noted.

Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.

Spontaneity can lead to life-changing experiences.

Photo courtesy of Victoria Simonton

Quotes of the week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Business Office (609) 771-2499 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu

Editorial Staff Chelsea LoCascio Editor-in-Chief locascc1@tcnj.edu Connor Smith Managing Editor smithc57@tcnj.edu George Tatoris News Editor tatorig1@tcnj.edu Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor gonzam23@tcnj.edu Alyssa Gautieri Features Editor gautiea3@tcnj.edu Thomas Infante Arts & Entertainment Editor infantt1@tcnj.edu Mia Ingui Opinions Editor inguim1@tcnj.edu Michelle Lampariello Nation & World Editor lamparm2@tcnj.edu Elizabeth Zakaim Reviews Editor zakaime1@tcnj.edu

Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Brielle Bryan Production Manager bryanb2@tcnj.edu Kyle Elphick Web Editor elphick1@tcnj.edu Ashton Leber Social Media Editor lebera1@tcnj.edu Jason Proleika Photo Editor proleij1@tcnj.edu

Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Thomas Munnia Business/Ad Manager tmunnia@gmail.com

“Confound your own expectations. Wake up and go further then you thought you could possibly go when you went to bed last night.”

— Christopher Jackson, actor, singer and writer since 1995

“Recovery is possible, and there’s always hope. It’s not going to be easy. It’s not going to happen overnight, and there’s going to be plenty of bumps in the road. But it’s possible, and everyone is capable of it, and everyone’s worth it.”

— Olivia Gorski, sophomore health and exercise science major

“If you want to do something, then do it. If you’re not motivated by yourself, no one will be able to push you. You’ve gotta be the one to start the car.”

— Esteban Martinez, IMM alumnus and documentary filmmaker

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 9

Opinions

Campus dining options need improvement

By Mia Ingui

I’m always hungry on this campus.

No matter what dining option I choose — out of the few places to eat at the College — I am always unsatisfied with my meal. Worse than that, I’m always still hungry. If there is one complaint I have about the College, it is that the dining options need improvement, and fast.

Let’s begin with Eickhoff Hall. It is great that there is a dining hall on campus that students can access as many times per day as they would like, but I leave Eickhoff undernourished and unhappy every time.

Though the dining hall has a decent number of options, there are only a select few that, as many students at the College have discovered, are remotely edible. It is difficult to serve a college that has more than 7,000 students, all with different tastes and dietary needs, however, grilling a few more pieces of chicken isn’t difficult.

Then there is Traditions. This is a decent option, I’ll give it that. It’s nice to go to a sit-down restaurant every now and again when I have the time, and the food is not bad. But the service is slow and the menu is limited, which gets frustrating.

The revamped Lion’s Den offers some decent options, as well. Admittedly, I love the sushi, but the Lion’s Den is usually way too crowded to traverse during meal equivalency, and getting lunch could take more than half an hour.

Students just do not have this kind of time to waste in the middle of their day.

There’s also the Education Café, which is overcrowded during meal equiv and carries a lot of the same unfilling options, as well as the KinetiCart in Armstrong Hall that is

tcnj.edu

Traditions is a sit-down dining option on campus.

mostly convenient to engineering majors.

The last two dining options are the Library Café and TDubs. The line at the Library Café is always out the door, and T-Dubs is not open for meal equiv.

So, there you have it: our unimpressive, on-campus dining options. None of them really focus on healthy, fresh options nor are quick and efficient. None of them are consistently good every time.

Over in Campus Town, there’s more food at Mexican Mariachi Grill, Yummy Sushi and Panera Bread. Hold on, don’t get too excited. Even though there are some

great dining options over in Campus Town, any food purchased at these dining establishments is not included on our meal plan.

This may be the most unfair part of dining. Waving great places to eat right under poor, unsuspecting college students’ noses and then ripping it away. The cruelty.

I am a paying, enrolled student, and I can’t understand why the Campus Town dining options are not included on our meal plan. According to each college’s website, Temple, Rowan and Rutgers universities all have outside dining options near their campuses, such as Dunkin Donuts or Pizza Hut, that take “points,” or the allotted amount of money on students’ meal plans. All of the campuses include a main dining hall, but chain or locally owned eateries cater to college students and accept their meal plans.

Why can’t we do that?

I understand that Campus Town is considered an “offcampus” entity, but that is the case at the other schools, too, and all of them still accept students’ meal plans. That’s just the right thing to do. Campus Town should find a way to better accommodate its main population of customers: students here at the College.

Coming from a big Italian family, the one thing I miss from home more than anything else is being well-fed.

There’s a loaf of Italian bread in just about every corner of my house. I would love for our college community to be able to treat themselves each day to a great meal without worrying about money or points, and to be full, nourished and happy.

A decent meal is a necessity, and I really think that the students’ laments on dining should be heard, acknowledged and acted upon.

Phil Murphy: right choice for New Jersey governor

By Jack Baldwin If you have been keeping up with the news, you probably know that Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order on Jan. 17 that declares New Jersey’s opioid epidemic a public health crisis. This is a serious issue facing our state, as staggering statistics have shown.

According to NJ.com, almost 1,600 people in New Jersey died of drug overdoses in 2015; a 22 percent increase from the previous year. The same source reported that the Garden State’s death rate by heroin overdose is currently about 2.5 times the U.S. average, and 128,000 New Jersey citizens are addicted to heroin.

These numbers are sobering, and they place New Jersey at the forefront of the national opioid epidemic. The social stigma of drug addiction has kept us, and the Christie administration, from speaking openly about the deleterious effects of opioids in our communities for too long.

Since Christie was elected to office, heroin- and morphine-induced deaths have risen exponentially. According to NJ.com, from 2010 to 2015, New Jersey’s Office of Attorney General reported a 214 percent increase in opioid-related deaths, but the governor waited until Jan. 17 — 366 days before he leaves office — to take action.

The writing has been on the wall for years. Thousands of people have lost their lives to opioid abuse, and those individuals

left behind their grieving families and fractured communities.

As New Jersey residents, we need to take a stand against the idleness of indifferent politicians and take action toward electing individuals who have always represented our interests and values as concerned voters.

Phil Murphy is such a leader, which is why I’m the political organizing director for the TCNJ for Phil Murphy campaign. For the aforementioned reasons, I believe he is the best choice for New Jersey governor.

Concerning the opioid epidemic, Murphy has already produced a six-point action plan to take on this crisis.

Murphy promises to first expand access to drug treatment facilities in New Jersey by pooling state, federal and private-sector resources to extend treatment to those who need it before it is too late.

There are too few drug treatment beds to meet present needs, and far too often people only receive treatment after being arrested for committing a crime related to their addiction.

Murphy also wants to increase access to preventative medical treatment, in which health insurers are required to cover Medication-Assisted Treatment: a holistic, multi-faceted approach to recovery that includes medication, counseling and support from family and friends to meet the individual’s needs.

Step three: Murphy will establish a seven-day limit on initial opiate prescriptions.

Since doctors will be required to limit the

amount of painkillers prescribed, the chance of developing a dependence or overdosing is reduced.

He then wants to lower the cost of Narcan: a drug that reverses the effect of an opioid overdose. This exceptionally effective drug is underutilized due to its high cost, and Murphy has promised to help provide it at a discounted rate.

Murphy’s next step is for New Jersey to fund a public awareness campaign about opioid addiction prevention. We need to educate New Jersey residents about the real consequences of opioid abuse. Only through an informed public can we begin to take the necessary strides to battle an epidemic of this proportion.

Finally, individuals who overdose and receive Narcan will immediately be treated for their underlying addiction. Murphy will work with local partners and recovery specialists to offer and expand support structures for people when they need it the most.

The New Jersey opioid epidemic has claimed the lives of too many already. As Murphy likes to say, “Voting is necessary, but not sufficient.” We need to be active and informed citizens in order to fight the widespread mechanisms of opioid addiction, and that battle begins now.

Murphy’s message is powerful because he believes in New Jersey and knows that we will overcome this epidemic together. I trust Murphy, a governor who has our back.

The rate of heroin-induced deaths has almost tripled since 2010.

NJ.com

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The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via email to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office.

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The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or email us at signal@tcnj.edu.

page 10 The Signal March 8, 2017

Graduate Studies

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Find out more! www.tcnj.edu/gradstudies Or call 609.771.2300

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March 8, 2017 The Signal page 11

Students share opinions around campus “How do you feel about campus dining options?”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Alexa Natalicchio, a freshman marketing major.

“They’re OK, but there could be more variety.”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Kelly Ganning, a sophomore graphic design major.

“Let’s just say that I feel sick no matter where I eat on campus.”

“Is drug addiction an issue in New Jersey?”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Carmen Carusone, a freshman physics and secondary education dual major.

“Yeah, I would definitely say so.”

Mia Ingui / Opinions Editor

Kiira Jeffers, a freshman history major.

“Yes, I think so.”

The Signal’s student cartoons of the week...

page 12 The Signal March 8, 2017

Features

Best Buddies fights to end r-word

Left: Monologues spread awareness for the r-word’s impact. Right: Students share personal stories.

By Kaitlyn Njoroge Correspondent

“There’s an old saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. … But boy, is that a lie.”

Alumna Kelly Reymann (’03), assistant director for The Center on Sensory and Complex Disabilities and an adjunct professor of education, is one of many who disdain the r-word: retarded.

“Of course, negative words are hurtful.

We’re human,” Reymann said.

Hosted by Best Buddies, the R-Word Monologues on Thursday, March 2, provided a space for students and faculty to share how the word has personally affected them or the people they love.

The sense of community could be felt around the Library Auditorium as people filled up the chairs and leaned against the walls while chatting with one another.

The audience’s attention was brought to the front of the room as a screen displayed the words “unity,” “inclusion,” “friendship” and “respect.”

The night began with a video — one that elicited smiles and small fits of loving

laughter from the crowd. The video also explained the night’s mission: to spread awareness for the r-word’s impact.

Shanaya Panday, co-buddy director of Best Buddies and a junior career and community studies major, understands just how much the r-word can hurt.

“There were definitely times where I was called ‘retarded,’ but there is one story I remember that still haunts me every day,” Panday said.

When she arrived to her classroom during a typical day in high school, Panday found a note on the door directing students to go to another room. Panday thought it was a better idea to stay put because no one knew which room the note was referencing.

When asked by a group of boys why she was waiting in the classroom, Panday, with strength and poise, explained her logic.

Then, one of them turned to her and said, “Well, you’re retarded.”

With as much thought as it takes to blink or breathe, a label was bestowed upon her. It didn’t matter if Panday was right or wrong, what mattered was that the student never stopped to consider how using the r-word

might make her feel.

Reymann believes changing this negative mindset toward people who are different begins with teachers.

“Teachers are role models,” Reymann said. “And they have several little fans, like my 6-year-old son, who every year looks up to his teacher and hangs on to their every word. And guess what? All of those little fans are the future employees, colleagues and friends that will live in the same community, go to the same churches and stores as their peers with disabilities.”

Reymann recently shared a moment with her son that she will never forget.

On a sunny autumn day, Reymann and her son took a walk. During the walk, her son told her that his class was asked to sing the alphabet to another class of differently abled individuals. He described the happiness on the kids’ faces as his class sang to them.

At the end of the song, his best friend turned to him and said, “Those kids were so weird.”

To Reymann’s surprise, her son’s response encompassed everything she hoped he had learned throughout the years.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

“They are not weird, they just sound different. Different is cool,” he told his friend.

This is the kind of mindset members and friends of the Best Buddies program hope to foster here at the College and within the larger community.

Abbi Ankar, president of Best Buddies and a senior special education and psychology double major, wants to promote the idea of an inclusive community long after she leaves the College.

“What I really want to do is continue that conversation with my future students,” Ankar said. “I want my students to know that all people are capable, and everyone can be educated.”

The event concluded with the audience pledging to remove the word from their vocabulary.

The monologues were a part of Best Buddies’s Spread the Word to End the Word week that ended on Friday, March 3, with a party celebrating the week’s success.

But the movement does not stop here.

“If people will listen, people can change,” Ankar said. “What we need to fix is the prejudice that our society has created out of a fear of those we don’t understand.”

IMM department celebrates largest graduating class

By Hannah Fakhrzadeh Staff Writer Due to heightened interest in interactive multimedia, the College’s department will celebrate its biggest graduating class.

This May, students will take part in IMM history, according to Rachel Lichtenberg, the IMM department’s program assistant.

“IMM had three graduating seniors in its first class, and we will now have 44 graduating seniors,” she said.

There are currently about 160 IMM majors and 60 minors.

In 2001, IMM became a major at the College thanks to the hard work of Kim Pearson, an associate professor of journalism and professional writing, Phillip Sanders, a professor of art and interactive multimedia, and Ursula Wolz, an associate professor of computer science.

Their goal was to connect JPW with the growing field of technology, so they began the lengthy process of writing a proposal.

The professors wanted the graduating students to use the knowledge they acquired to excel in a variety of professions, according to Pearson.

“We hoped that IMM would be a place of interdisciplinary collaboration that would also enrich its complementary disciplines,” she said. “We wanted it to be structured enough so that a student would have a firm foundation in writing, digital media and interactive computing, but flexible enough for each student to acquire depth and experience in the areas of the student’s choosing.”

Fast forward to 2017: IMM has become a popular major due to its adaptability, according senior IMM major Chris Lundy.

“IMM is a non-traditional major in the sense that we are

IMM students learn a variety of skills.

tcnj.edu

always taking advantage of new technologies and constantly changing the curriculum to match trends of the various fields,” Lundy said.

Senior IMM major Ryan Laux agreed.

“Technology is at the core of IMM, and everything we do embraces the newest technologies that exist, from new camera gear, to 3D printing and virtual reality,” he said.

The lessons learned in IMM courses are applied to students’ everyday lives. For example, alumnus Joshua Lewkowicz (’15), an assistant animatic editor at DreamWorks Animation, acquired the bulk of his skills through his classes.

“After graduating from the IMM program, the technical knowledge of how to use and apply these programs was able to directly translate into the workflow and environment of

DreamWorks Animation,” he said. “Whenever I run into a technical issue with a program, I am able to troubleshoot the problem myself.”

Lundy believes both current and future IMM majors of different specializations will continue to explore the everchanging digital landscape.

Laux agreed.

“The internet has certainly taken over much of the professional industry, and nearly everything we learn in IMM has an application in many avenues, from entertainment to advertising, to physical installations and even government,” Laux said.

Each year, the faculty sets a goal of attaining 15 new IMM majors, but Pearson is ecstatic that the program has exceeded their goal.

“It has been gratifying to see (the department) grow beyond our expectations,” Pearson said.

This year not only marks the IMM department’s largest graduating class, but the Fall 2016 semester welcomed the largest incoming freshman class, as well.

IMM was once a male-dominated field, so Lichtenberg was excited to see the incoming freshman class split 50-50 between male and female students.

“I know from talking with IMM women alum that this is particularly exciting, as (the former students) recall that their IMM classes had fewer women colleagues,” she said.

Although it is hard to predict the future, John Kuiphoff, an associate professor and chair of IMM, believes the program has a long and experimental future.

“I think we are going to continue to grow, and we are going to be able to offer even more,” Kuiphoff said. “My hope is that our students and alumni will help to create a future that is bright. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring.”

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 13

: Sept. ‘01

Campus Style

College still lacks a party scene

Alyssa Gautieri / Features Editor

Student shares her opinion on the College’s social scene.

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

A student wrote an opinion for The Signal in 2001 about the College’s lack of a party scene. Since the beginning, the College was never considered a party school.

Even now many students would agree that the College could be more exciting on the weekends. The recent addition of Campus Town has helped to liven up the campus, but should the College be doing more to encourage students to stay on campus on the weekends?

A college town.

I think that is Princeton.

A Frat row, possibly a College Ave. Not here, but you could try University of Maryland.

There is 7-11 around the corner, but the nightlife here isn’t anything to write home about.

After going to class all week we want to have a good time. And yes, it probably does include beer.

It is not a secret that TCNJ has the weekend social life cards stacked high against them. And what it does have in its favor the students have created for themselves.

So for the part of the student body that doesn’t empty out of here on Friday, there is a system in place to ensure there is little fun.

Creating and keeping the social scene alive are fraternities, sororities and the

sports teams who open their houses to the student body every weekend and provide rides to all wanting to go due to the distance from campus.

Behind Travers and Wolfe Residence Halls is where herds of students wait outside to get picked up.

But the system is meeting some adversity with campus police. A few weeks ago the police blocked off the road that leads into T/W parking lot, and even threatened to arrest freshmen for loitering.

Programming is not the answer.

Please don’t try to convince me programing is going to stop my peers from drinking.

The administration is concerned with underage drinking. It has to be. And yes, underage drinking is illegal. But this is college.

Many colleges and universities find a common ground. Rutgers, a public New Jersey university offers buses on the weekends that shuttle their students around safety when going out.

On a campus that is so desperate to create an environment that keeps people around, it is time to realize it is the people that keep people around. It is the socializing and the party atmosphere that keeps college kids on campuses.

The administration better smarten up and realize something has to be done to help, not hinder, the social life on this campus.

The Culinary Club Presents...

Lions Plate

AP Photos

Left: Berry pulls off a glamorous look at the Oscars. Right: Ahmed wears a blue suit on the red carpet.

By Jillian Greene Columnist Stars strutted the red carpet on Feb. 26 at the annual Academy Awards. If you missed it, no need to panic — I will catch you up on the fashion you missed.

On the red carpet, celebrities showed off their fashion choices, posed for photos and talked to reporters. The first question every reporter asks: “Who are you wearing tonight?”

Ever star will quickly spit out an elite designer’s name — Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry or Tom Ford. These luxury designers custom-create each outfit for the big event.

Typically the red carpet is a place to show off. The ladies wear extravagant dresses and hand-crafted jewelry. Some of my favorite looks this year were worn

by Emma Stone and Halle Berry.

Stone wore a Givenchy Haute Couture

: Delicious Caramel corn chocolate syrup, dunk it in Nutella or add pretzels and M&M’S to make a sweet and salty trail mix.

If you have leftover caramel, dip some apple slices and munch on them while you wait for the caramel corn to harden. If you have leftover caramel corn, store it in an airtight bag and snack on it tomorrow.

Caramel Corn (Serves 4-6)

Caramel corn is a quick snack.

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist

It’s 3 p.m. and you’re hungry, but it’s too early for dinner and too late for lunch. What should you eat? Sometimes a good snack is all you need to transform your afternoon, and caramel corn is

dress made of a mix of gold and creamcolored beads, which perfectly matched her red hair.

Berry blew everyone away in a shimmery Atelier Versace gown that encompassed black, gold and silver.

For the men, it can be a lot harder to differentiate a tux. Many familiar faces showed up in the classic tux including Ryan Gosling, Matt Damon and Justin Timberlake.

However, we saw some color variety with Dev Patel’s white jacket, David Oyelowo’s white and black jacket and Riz Ahmed’s blue tux. While it can be hard to pull off, color is a great way for men to make their outfits pop.

Year after year, fashion at the Oscars is hyped up, and the designers better not disappoint. The public has been busy talking about celebrity’s red carpet outfits all week and will continue to do so until the next big event.

Flickr

the perfect solution to tame your sweet and salty cravings. This recipe is quick, simple and made from ingredients found entirely on campus. I recommend treating yourself to this tasty treat.

Don’t be afraid to get creative: You can top the caramel corn with vanilla ice cream and

of water, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved.

4. Add butter and salt to pot, stir until melted. Stir mixture until it turns a dark brown color (about 10 minutes).

5. Thoroughly coat the popcorn

and peanuts with the hot caramel.

6. Transfer popcorn to the parchment paper, spread it out and let it cool in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Once completely cooled, break into pieces and enjoy.

Ingredients 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter 3 cups of popped popcorn 1/2 cup of salted roasted peanuts 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt 3/4 cup of sugar 2 tablespoons of honey Directions 1. Cut a piece of parchment paper about the length of your forearm and place it on a baking sheet.

2. Combine popcorn and peanuts in a bowl.

3. In a pot on medium heat, heat up sugar, honey and 2 tablespoons

Flickr

Personalize your caramel corn with nuts or M&M’S.

page 14 The Signal March 8, 2017

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Students share struggles with eating disorders March 8, 2017 The Signal page 15

NEDA Monologues supports students.

By Jessica Ganga Staff Writer

“Imagine loving food and fearing food. Imagine fearing your favorite food.”

This is the reality that Fabriana Andriella, a sophomore deaf education and psychology double major, faced when she had an eating disorder.

“I’ll admit I’ve had a complicated relationship with food, and I’ve suffered many years from poor body image,” she said.

Eight students shared how they struggled to overcome their eating disorders on Feb. 27 at the National Eating Disorder Awareness Monologues hosted

by Counseling and Psychological Services Peer Educators and Delta Phi Epsilon.

No two monologues were the same, but each shared similar themes including losing friends, struggling to have a normal lifestyle and fighting to take back the control the disease had over them.

“At the time, I liked the control I had over myself,” said Olivia Gorski, a sophomore health and exercise science major. “I

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

admired myself for being able to adhere to the strict eating patterns I had developed. Looking back now, I can see how distorted my thought processes were back then. The things that I was doing actually seemed normal.”

According to Gorski, her eating disorder developed from positive parts of her life like her love for eating healthy and running.

But those spiraled into negatives, causing her to miss out on other aspects of her life that could break her newfound eating patterns.

“I usually found myself avoiding going out to dinner with my friends or barbecues in the summer because it was just easier for me not to put myself in the position where I’d have to eat unhealthy or possibly go over my calorie limit,” she said.

Andriella said that in her case, even if she was happy with how she looked, the disorder was always there.

“Control. It’s all about control. Even when I’m comfortable in my skin, I know it’s because of control,” Andriella said.

Though difficult, the women talked about how they slowly

took charge of their lives.

Maya Beal, a freshman communication studies major, did what most people with an eating disorder do: She focused solely on calories. Now, her focus is on schoolwork and being comfortable with what she is eating.

“The control is now aimed at bringing my feet back to the ground when I get carried away and not keeping myself afloat on really nothing but self-destruction,” Beal said.

Sophomore marketing major Kerry Silverman personified her eating disorder and named it “Ed,” a common strategy for those with eating disorders, as the voice inside their head becomes a separate entity that they tackle.

“I wasn’t living for Kerry anymore. I was living for Ed,” she said.

Silverman ended up in the hospital because she developed a heart condition. Now, Silverman shares her success story as she is in recovery, something she said wouldn’t have been possible without people by her side.

“An illness like anorexia is something that can’t be fought alone, and luckily, I had an army fighting alongside me,” she said.

For others, the support they received helped them accept and love themselves.

“Having that constant love and care and support has activated my self-love and self-acceptance,” Andriella said.

Senior psychology major Lauren Plawker didn’t just use her support system to help on a journey toward recovery, but rather the monologues themselves. Plawker had already spoken in two NEDA monologues prior to this one.

“Speaking at the monologues was one of the most cathartic things I had ever done,” she said about her first NEDA monologue.

She shared with the audience

that it was during her first monologue that she first spoke the words “I have an eating disorder” to people who weren’t a part of her recovery process.

Now, she uses the monologues to inspire others.

The following year, a girl approached Plawker and said she was the reason that she had sought treatment for her eating disorder.

“It was the most incredible and heartbreaking thing that had ever happened to me,” Plawker said.

During Silverman’s recovery, she published a series of articles, which she shared on her Facebook wall. Eventually, people reached out to her for advice.

Like Plawker, she chose to speak at the monologues to help others.

“I’m here sharing my story today so no one has to be alone as I once was,” Silverman said.

Plawker labeled eating disorders as an addiction with some good or bad days, and some not so easily defined. According to Plawker, recovery from an eating disorder is not a day-to-day process, but rather

a second-to-second process in order to keep from relapsing.

Today, Plawker is making the choice to live her life, something she said she finally understands.

“I didn’t get to choose my addiction, but I eventually got to choose to fight back against it,” Plawker said. “I actively make choices to allow me to keep thriving.”

As the monologues came to a close, the speakers offered messages of hope for those who are battling an eating disorder. For Silverman, she gained strength.

“It’s one of the hardest things I’ll ever endure, but I’m stronger because of it,” Silverman said.

“Life is beautiful, and I am finally able to realize that.”

Gorski assured the audience that there is a chance to get better, and recovery is possible for everyone.

“Recovery is possible, and there’s always hope. It’s not going to be easy,” Gorski said. “It’s not going to happen overnight, and there’s going to be plenty of bumps in the road. But it’s possible, and everyone is capable of it, and everyone’s worth it.”

Students tell stories of recovery.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Celebritease : Coldplay star throws birthday bash

AP Photo

Left: Martin celebrates his 40th birthday. Right: Adele marries her longtime love.

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist

Just when it seemed there was no good news left in the world, Adele surprised us with her marriage. During a concert on Saturday, March 4, in Brisbane, Australia, the artist confirmed that she and longtime partner Simon Konecki said “I do.”

While introducing her hit song “Someone Like You,” Adele spoke about the hard feelings associated with breaking up and moving on.

“Obviously, I can’t go through with those feelings because I’m married now. I’ve found my next person,” she said.

Konecki and Adele first met in 2011, but kept their relationship mostly out of the spotlight until the couple announced their pregnancy in 2012. Their son Angelo is now 4 years old.

In other news, Coldplay’s Chris Martin turned 40. To celebrate, he threw himself a party with a “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” theme. Guests such as Orlando Bloom and Rob Lowe were given golden tickets in order to enter the event.

This was Bloom’s first public appearance since his recent split with Katy Perry. The couple dated for a little over a year and decided to take some time apart.

Martin’s ex-wife of 10 years, Gwyneth

Paltrow, still took the time to wish him a happy birthday on Instagram.

Emma Watson confronted critics who suggested that posing with her breasts partially exposed for a recent Vanity Fair photoshoot was hypocritical of her feminist views.

“It just always reveals to me how many misconceptions and what a misunderstanding there is about what feminism is,” Watson said in an interview with Reuters.

“Feminism is about giving women choice.

Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality. I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it.

Flickr

It’s very confusing.”

In the photo, taken by acclaimed fashion photographer Tim Walker, Watson posed topless with a white shawl draped over her shoulders.

Meghan Markle was spotted partying with some of Prince Harry’s closest pals at a wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Thursday, March 2. The wedding was the couple’s first public event together.

During the wedding, an onlooker told PEOPLE that the two shared plenty of public displays of affection, including a sweet kiss.

As long as the prince isn’t walking down the aisle anytime soon, there is still hope for the rest of us.

page 16 The Signal March 8, 2017

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 17

Arts & Entertainment

Nowak / Concert honors musician

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

The Delaware Valley Wind Symphony performs in Nowak’s memory. continued from page 1

stop and go mow the lawn,” Novak read.

Once his attention seemed to be elsewhere, the back of Jerry Nowak’s mind was busy working his way through the roadblock.

“When Jerry returned to the piano, the solution came up effortlessly,” Novak read.

Nowak’s dedication and focus on his music were not fruitless efforts.

Early on in his career, he toured and played with renowned artists like Burt Bacharach and Stevie Wonder, and according to the event program, Nowak’s writing career began in the ’70s as an arranger for Paul Simon’s companies, Charing Cross Music and Big Bells.

Nowak’s other arrangements were tailored for both professional and youth ensembles, such as his composition “Suite for Three Muses.”

The Delaware Valley Wind Symphony performed one of Nowak’s last pieces, which he dedicated to his granddaughters, who were present in the audience. The piece symbolized his love for his family, mentoring and music education.

He taught high school students at Hunterdon Central High School from 1959 to 1969 in Flemington, N.J., and

college students at Bucks County Community College thereafter until 2005.

He also taught classes in conducting and phrasing at different universities in the northeast and around the world, Christopher Nowak said.

According to the event program, he also taught graduate-level courses in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and at schools in the states, such as The University of the Arts at Villanova University.

“He left behind a style that everybody is going to miss for his depth of musical understanding,” alumnus Stephen Hudak (’82), a longtime friend, coworker and percussionist, said.

The two played together for more than 30 years, and Nowak even played at Hudak’s wedding.

“Jerry would think about musical color quite a bit when he was doing an arrangement,” Hudak said. “He would explain the arrangement and say, ‘Well, this isn’t the color I want, I want this color.’

And he would tell musicians how to get what he wanted.”

Hudak said his perfectionism rubbed some people the wrong way, “but that was one of the things I enjoyed about Jerry.”

Hudak admired his level of commitment

and instructiveness when it came to his music.

“His arrangements were outstanding,” Hudak said. “He truly was a remarkable man –– a genius at arranging and composition and a heck of a nice guy, too.”

According to the event program, Nowak also returned to his alma mater as an adjunct professor for a couple years before his passing.

Music alumnus Ron Pruitt (’15) was a part of the wind ensemble his sophomore year, where Nowak was his conductor.

Now a professional saxophonist and music teacher, Pruitt appreciates what Nowak has taught him.

“It’s the kinds of things that stick with you wherever you go, wherever you’re teaching, and it sticks with me until today,” Pruitt said.

Pruitt recalls Nowak’s motivation was evident, especially to his students.

“It goes so much past his conducting ability or ensemble rehearsals,” Pruitt said. “He really wanted people to sound good.”

The last piece of the evening, “Sinatra in Concert,” arranged by Nowak was especially poignant for Pruitt.

“That was the last piece I played in high school,” Pruitt said. “I’ve known and loved Jerry Nowak’s music for many years.”

Nowak has left a legacy behind him: His arrangements are likely to fill the music folders of high school band students and professional musicians around the world.

Even those who did not know Nowak personally may still know him through his teachings and through his music.

“He entertained people very well,” said Al Seioer, an extended family member. “He was a very sociable, very giving and very nice person.”

Nowak’s influence was widely known, and he touched the hearts of those closest to him, as well. His son acknowledged all he had learned from his father’s career and character.

With his voice growing thick, Christopher Nowak recalled his father’s values.

“The reliance on self and the commitment to excellence and drive and independence,” he said.

Nowak has inspire others and left a long lasting legacy behind him for both his family and the rest of the world.

“He has always been an independent thinker, but still a very strong collaborator,” Christopher Nowak said. “Everything from his values, his work ethic, his dedication to excellence set the bar and a standard for how I live my life.”

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Nowak’s legacy lives on through his works with the symphony.

‘Stop Kiss’ explores diversity of love

By Michelle Lampariello Nation & World Editor Students, faculty and staff have recently been confronted with a question: “Do you know me? Do you know who I am?”

This line from All College Theatre’s production of “Stop Kiss” graced promotional posters throughout campus, and people gathered in the Don Evans Black

Box Theater every night from Wednesday, March 1, to Saturday, March 4, to try to learn the answer.

At first, this question seemed to be in reference to the play’s theme of identity. However, viewers learned that this line actually comes from a scene in which Callie, the main character, is begging for Sara, her love interest, to wake up from a coma and recognize her.

Set in fall 1998 in New York

Natalie La Spisa / Staff Photographer

The plot revolves around the humanity and nature of love.

City, “Stop Kiss” appears to be a love story between two women, but becomes complicated once a stranger attacks them after seeing them share their first kiss on a park bench.

The director, assistant director and cast members made it clear during the talks following Wednesday’s and Thursday’s performances that “Stop Kiss” carries much more meaning than the average love story.

“Stop Kiss” encouraged viewers to see Callie and Sara not as outsiders, but as average human beings.

“This show is just so human,” said Haley Witko, a senior interactive multimedia major who played Callie.

The humanization of characters is an important element of reducing prejudice that many members of the LGBTQ+ community face.

“When a group dehumanizes another group, that’s where we have an issue,” said Julien Blanchard, a sophomore English major who played Peter, Sara’s ex-boyfriend.

Director Janet Quartarone hoped “Stop Kiss” would encourage dialogue between students about tolerance.

“Theater has the power to send people out thinking,” Quartarone said.

Quartarone commented on the gray area that many LGBTQ+ individuals find themselves in regarding their identity.

“We didn’t play some of these characters in black and white,” Quartarone said.

“Stop Kiss” included several emotional scenes, many of which focused on the attack on Sara and Callie that left Sara in a coma.

“It’s hard to be in (Callie’s and Sara’s) shoes,” Witko said. “I think we all took a bit of a journey with this show.”

The attacker was not cast in the play and did not appear in the production. However, Witko was encouraged to envision the attack in her mind in order to relate better to her character.

“As a director, it’s hard to ask an

actor that I really like to go on an unpleasant journey,” Quartarone said.

During the attack, only one woman, Mrs. Winsley, intervened.

Winsley was played by Molly Knapp, a sophomore women, gender and sexuality studies major.

“It’s so easy to go the other way,” Knapp said of her character’s lifesaving intervention.

Knapp encouraged the audience to think about “what you can do to be that active bystander” like Winsley.

Despite some of the darkness and violence, love was the overwhelming theme of “Stop Kiss.”

“One of the most important aspects of this show is, frankly, about finding love. … The world needs love,” said Kelly Colleran, a sophomore history and secondary education dual major who played Sara.

Colleran later elaborated on the show’s theme of love with respect to the LGBTQ+ community, saying, “Love: Seek it, celebrate it, find it with whomever the hell you want to.”

page 18 The Signal March 8, 2017

Students ‘slam down the walls’ with poetry

Left: Stiles-Schatz’s raw emotion captivates the audience. Right: Newcomers and experienced writers alike share their poetry.

By Rebecca Kaploun Correspondent Slam Down The Walls, a slam poetry competition hosted by the College’s creative writing club, INK, had the Bliss Hall Lounge filled with students the night of Friday, March 3.

Kyle Siegel, co-president of INK and a senior biology major, began the night with a heartfelt address to the audience.

“I was part of the board back in 2014 when we first started Slam Down The Walls three-and-a-half years ago, and it’s just been really wonderful and amazing to see how there’s always such a lovely turnout and such awesome support for the performers,” Siegel said.

To begin, Siegel asked the audience members to pick a number between one and 25. Those who guessed right became judges who had to assign a score between one and five to each of the performer’s three poems.

These scores would later be tallied to determine the winner.

First up was freshman English major Ine’a Smith, a newcomer to Slam Down The Walls. She performed her three pieces, captivating the audience with her lyrical rhymes and powerful voice as she discussed living in a home run by her single mother and not knowing her father.

“She was absolutely amazing,” said Camille Huynh, a sophomore biology major in the audience. “The pain in her voice made me sympathize with her.”

Siegel introduced the next performer as someone who “writes to express herself when other words can’t.”

INK regular Kristen Celafoni, a freshman secondary education and math dual major, recited from memory poems that were relatable and heartfelt, capturing the audience’s attention with her memorable lines centered around feelings of not being “good enough.”

“I loved it,” said Julia Pugliese, a

sophomore secondary education and English dual major in the audience. “I really liked when she said, ‘It’s that I always seem to need people more than they need me,’ and ‘Being treated as an entertainment system wasn’t the same as being loved.’”

Freshman psychology major Mariam Ali followed with poems centering on self-love, with lines like “You are a commotion of miracles.”

Next came Alexia Guzman, a freshman psychology major who “writes to get the words out of her head,” Siegel said.

Guzman’s poetry taught the audience a few lessons, with lines such as “Talking does not necessarily equate to communicating,” and “Our lives are decided by the cottonmouth king” — a beautiful metaphor for money.

Finishing up the performances was political science major Kendel Stiles-Schatz, who “writes to express herself through different lenses,” Siegel said.

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Her tone, movements and pauses left the audience captivated.

“I love writing poems where it’s two people, but it’s spoken just by one,” Stiles-Schatz said after the show. “I basically construct two personalities, and I either do a change of voice or I do a change of expression, and that’s how it indicates which one’s which.”

The audience appeared to appreciate Stiles-Schatz’s creativity, including Pugliese, who said, “She was just so good.”

After all the contestants had performed, the judges quickly tallied their scores and a winner was announced: Stiles-Schatz.

After accepting the winning certificate, Stiles-Schatz said she loves slam poetry because of the effect poetry can have on the audience.

“You can say one word and (the audience will) laugh, or one word and they’ll gasp or snap, and you’re now relating with every single person in the crowd,” she said.

“I love it. I thrive when I am up there.”

Alumnus talks filmmaking career in Brown Bag

By Samantha Roberts Staff Writer If you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life: an age-old adage alumnus Esteban Martinez (’11) challenged in his Brown Bag lecture entitled “From Dreams to Films” on Friday, March 3, in Mayo Concert Hall.

Martinez, a documentary filmmaker, discussed the process of turning one’s dreams into a reality.

“You will only work harder” when you reach your dreams, he said. “You will want to do more.”

Martinez first realized this when he left his job with the Philadelphia Eagles as a front end web developer to pursue his dreams as a filmmaker, a transition that came with several sacrifices, he said.

“Even though I worked for the Philadelphia Eagles, which is great on paper, it wasn’t what I wanted to do,” Martinez said. “I knew that

my passion was video.”

Martinez set goals for himself, made the transition and is now a videographer who’s done competitive fighting game coverage for companies like Red Bull, Bandai Namco and ESPN. His first big project, however, was a film of his own: “FGC: Rise of the Fighting Game Community,” in which he documented the culture of competitive fighting games like Capcom’s “Street Fighter.”

Jason Proleika / Photo Editor

Martinez talks about the process behind following his filmmaking passion.

According to Martinez, the transition from web development to video did come at a cost.

“I didn’t have a social life for two years,” he said. “I spent most of my days at my computer with (the editing software Adobe) Premiere open.

“There were steps I took to balance things out,” he said.

“Like choosing what and how to sacrifice in order to stay sane and keep myself on deadline.”

Martinez said that everyone will have different priorities, and it’s up to the individual to find the balance that’s right for them.

One ambition Martinez set for himself was to “get a documentary out as soon as possible while also maintaining quality, telling a story and being well done,” he said.

“FGC: Rise of the Fighting Game Community” was a culmination of all these goals.

Another goal of Martinez’s was to make his projects digestible and easily understood, even to those outside of the gaming community.

He joked that although his grandmother hadn’t yet seen the film, she was his goal, as someone that had no familiarity with these kinds of gaming competitions.

Andrea Palermo, a senior elementary education and iSTEM double major, believed Martinez’s clips did their job.

“As someone who is not involved in gaming, I can still say that I received and understood his message,”

Palmero said after seeing a portion of the film. “The film was very well done and professional.”

Martinez also hoped to have a seamless transition in turning his visions into reality, however, this was and is not always the case in the creative processes.

Martinez discussed having his camera break mid-filming and having his mics go out during production. While these were setbacks, quick thinking led Esteban to improvise, something he says is crucial in filmmaking or any similar pursuit.

When Martinez covered the Capcom Cup 2016 “Street Fighter 5” tournament for ESPN, these adaptation skills were put to the test yet again. Martinez needed to mold his shooting style to the needs of his client. He was also filming in a dark arena and was asked to provide an abundance of crowd footage, so he dedicated much more of his time than usual finding the best crowd shots possible.

Martinez said he faced great pressure working with a crew he’d just met and knowing his footage would air on ESPN2 the next day.

Still, he rose to the occasion.

Martinez took questions from the audience and ended with what he believed was the key to his success.

“If you want to do something, then do it,” he said. “If you’re not motivated by yourself, no one will be able to push you. You’ve gotta be the one to start the car.”

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 19

Little Big Town releases new album

‘The Breaker’ has a catchy country-pop sound.

By Jamie Gerhartz Correspondent

The popular country band Little Big Town released its eighth studio album “The Breaker” on Feb. 24. While this album has an old country feel to it, there are some modern twists that give it a fresh sound. The four-person band is currently touring the U.S. with this new album, and it seems to be a hit.

The album starts off with “Happy People,” an upbeat song with a pop sound. Although not a fan favorite, it’s still a nice light way to start off the album. It has an older country feel to it, which might speak to some classic country fans.

The album transitions into “Night On Our Side,” which starts out with captivating a cappella harmonies that grab our attention. Throughout the song, the

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harmonies continue — a notorious Little Big Town move.

According to the song’s iTunes description, Karen Fairchild, one of the band members, describes the next song, “Lost in California,” as the “standout track on the album.” This song has a chilling, yet calm melody accompanied by subtle harmonies that give the song a bit of an edge. It’s definitely one of the stronger songs in “The Breaker.”

The album later goes into “Drivin’ Around,” a fun song that starts off with strong a cappella harmonies, which seems to be a popular tactic for this album. The country/rock aspect of “Drivin’ Around” makes it an exciting listen that reminds us of the summer nights spent driving around with the windows down.

Though that song as well as “We Went To The Beach” exude nostalgic summer vibes, the

latter is lighter with some soft harmonies that make it a chill listen. The vocals are soft, yet still on point.

Written by Taylor Swift, “Better Man” is tinged with her usual break-up song bitterness. The lyrics are sad, but genuine, which fits into the theme of the album, and the harmonies in the chorus tie the whole song together.

“Rollin’” is a fun, head bobbing song, however, it is the outcast on the album. Most of the songs are either slow and emotional or fun and dancy, while this song has more of a rock/country vibe.

The last two songs on the album are slow ballads that have a lasting impact. “When Someone Stops Loving You” is a beautiful melody laden with sadness and nostalgia as it describes what it

feels like when someone’s love for another is no longer returned.

It’s a somber, yet realistic expectation of modern-day romantics.

You can feel the emotion and passion behind the song through the powerful vocals and harmonies.

“The Breaker” is soft and slow with great guitar melodies and some accompanying harmonies.

It’s the perfect fit for the album title because it combines several aspects from their previous songs.

It almost serves as a reflection for the rest of the album in terms of its sound and theme.

This album’s intricate harmonies and passionate lyrics seem to be a trend, as they are in Little Big Town’s other albums. Although there are a couple of stragglers in “The Breaker,” the album is worth a listen.

‘Better Man,’ written by Swift, deals with loss.

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All Time Low finds inspiration in ‘Dirty Laundry’

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist Since 2008, the lyrics to All Time Low’s “Dear Maria, Count Me In” could be heard blasting from house parties and old, beat-up cars across the nation. Teens everywhere became drawn to this messy and raw pop punk band from Towson, Md., as people they could relate to and be inspired by.

As the band grew in popularity, so did the recognition of the sound it branded. As the band matured, however, so did the lyrics and the music’s aura. The band’s fan base was stunned when All Time Low dropped its newest single, “Dirty Laundry,” and new

image in mid-February.

This single was released in anticipation of All Time Low’s impending tour, which begins on Friday, March 10, and the release of the newest album, “Last Young Renegade,” on June 2. With more than six albums dating back to 2005, this one is expected to be a departure from the band’s pop punk/pop rock sound. The biggest indication of that is “Dirty Laundry,” which is influenced by today’s electronic music scene as well as the nostalgia infused into the band’s sound.

All Time Low has been working since 2003 to shape its own image. Inspired by artists like blink-182, a ragtag group of high school students formed a pop punk

YouTube

‘Dirty Laundry’ is about inner demons that change our self-perceptions.

cover band. Several years and a few record labels later, All Time Low was playing for thousands of screaming, moshing fans across the globe.

After being signed to Fueled By Ramen, the same label as Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco and Paramore, All Time Low solidified its legacy in the hypothetical Pop Rock Hall of Fame. That could be a reason for the recent departure from the band’s usual aesthetic.

“Dirty Laundry” addresses this in the lyrics, which touches on the theme of the unattainability of perfection. More prominently, the song is about growing up and evolving. “(The previous album called) ‘Future Hearts’ was written from a perspective of us talking about our youth, and all the things that got us to where we were then,” frontman Alex Gaskarth said in an interview with altpress.com. “So, it was written from the perspective of if we were a lot younger and all these stories about wanting to grow up and get out of Baltimore and chase after our dreams. With (‘Dirty Laundry’), we’re writing it from the other perspective.”

The “dirty laundry” mentioned in the song is an overarching metaphor for the hardships, failures and secrets we carry throughout our lives. As the song progresses, the dirty laundry becomes less of a burden and more of a badge of courage. These mistakes are something we identify with, but do not define ourselves by. As a band trying to create a new image, this song becomes almost cathartic for the band and it’s fanbase.

As a longtime fan, it’s hard to see a change in the performers that I’ve come to know so well —“Don’t Panic” and “Nothing Personal” will always hold a special place in my heart. Just like any band, the members of All Time Low have matured. They’ve grown as people and should have the freedom to grow as artists, too.

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

Name: Thundercat Album Name: “Drunk” Release Number: 4th Hailing From: Los Angeles Genre: Smooth Experimental R&B Label: Brainfeeder Records Singer, songwriter and bassist Thundercat is back with yet another phenomenal record. The follow up to 2013’s “Apocalypse” finds the bass virtuoso doing just about the same thing: cranking out sweet R&B jams. Jazz-influenced bass lines (see “Uh Uh” for a two minute bass solo/jazz odyssey) and a nice landscape of electronic sounds provide the perfect musical bed for Thundercat’s smooth falsetto cooing about topics like the friend zone, anime and, of course, being wasted. Thundercat brings in his buds like Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, Kenny Loggins and Wiz Khalifa to round out the aural serenade that is “Drunk.”

Must Hear: “Jethro,” “Show you the Way,” “Walk on By,” “Tokyo” and “Friend Zone”

Band Name: Modern English Album Name: “Take me to the Trees” Release Number: 8th Hailing From: Essex, England Genre: New Wave Label: Self-released You may recognize the name Modern English from their 1982 megahit “I Melt With You,” probably the dorkiest song to ever get anyone laid. You would think the band would put out a wholly unnecessary album in 2017, but let me tell you, “Take Me to the Trees” is high-quality, genuine new wave with hints of post punk to keep it interesting. If you like steady rockers with hazy synths and sweet guitar melodies providing the hooks, this album is for you. A pleasantly surprising success from an old band.

Must Hear: “You’re Corrupt,” “Trees” and “Moonbeam”

page 20 The Signal March 8, 2017

Fun Stuff

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 21

Fun Stuff Saint Patrick’s Day Games Connect the dots!

Help Lucky the Leprechaun find his pot of gold!

page 22 The Signal March 8, 2017

Fun StufF

Be sure to catch a movie with bae over spring break!

“Beauty and the Beast” hits theaters Saint Patrick’s Day!

March 8, 2017 The Signal page 23

Sports

Lions score, breeze through Devils at home Lacrosse

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

The Lions followed up their first victory and crushed Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham 11-4 at Lions Stadium on Saturday, March 5.

On a chilly afternoon, families and students watched the Lions unleash a total of 34 shots on the Devils and scored 11 goals. Both sophomore midfielder Kathleen Jaeger and freshman attacker Kasey Donoghue led the belligerent offense, scoring three goals apiece.

The Devils could not withstand junior defender Elizabeth Morrison’s pressure as she caused two back-to-back turnovers in the first five minutes.

In the seventh minute, Donoghue netted in the Lions first goal off a long pass from junior midfielder Amanda Muller. The team then struggled to gain possession as two Lions committed fouls.

The Devils later countered in the 12th minute when senior midfielder Frances Maggio shot the ball straight through Lions sophomore goalkeeper Miranda Chrone.

Jaeger then netted in a goal off a free position attempt, pushing the Lions ahead, 2-1. The Devils were never able to respond until late in the second half.

The Lions continued their

Blackman scores a goal against the Devils.

offensive momentum by having junior attacker Emily Kratz, freshman midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick, Jaeger and Donoghue constantly circle around the Devils goal and pass around until there was space to shoot. The tactic was used to pressure the Devil defenders to foul and give free position attempts to the Lions.

The next two Lions goals followed the same tactic. Jaeger scored her second goal off another free position attempt while senior attack

Mia Blackman hurled in a goal.

With the Lions sitting on a comfortable 4-1 lead, the Devils clamped their defense. Devils sophomore goalkeeper Megan Nemeth shutout the Lions for the remainder of the first half. However, the Lions snuck in a last minute goal when Donoghue heaped and ripped a shot from the left.

The Lions offense remained hot in the second half until the Devils scored two consecutive goals at the end of the game.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

In the 32th minute, freshman midfielder Allie Gorman shot from the 10-yard line and netted in her first career goal. The Devils nearly scored a minute later when Chrone caught a fast shot by Devils senior attacker Joelle Manganella.

Meanwhile, Nemeth kept deflecting the Lions offense. She grabbed four consecutive saves until Donoghue broke through and scored her their goal of the game.

Blackman scooped up the ball in the middle of the field and threw

a long pass to Donoghue, who then skipped through Nemeth on a over-the-head shot.

Morrison then joined in on the offensive bombardment when she cradled past the Devils defense and slipped in a ground shot.

“It all happened so fast,” Morrison said. “I got the ball off the draw and sprinted as fast as I could down the field. I tried to go straight down the middle, but their defense forced me a little wide. I still had a good angle, so I took my shot from there and scored.”

Jaeger then completed her third goal of the game. She intercepted a pass from the Devils and slammed a shot down the Devils net as the ball bounced into it for a goal.

With five minutes remaining, the Devils scored a second goal when senior midfielder Brienna Reasoner threw a fast shot from a free position attempt. The Lions quickly responded in the following possession.

Kratz scored the Lions 10th goal off an assist from Fitzpatrick.

Although the Lions were ahead by nine points in the last two minutes, the Devils continued to pressure them and scored two goals.

On Wednesday, March 7, at 7 p.m., the Lions will compete against Cabrini University at Lions Stadium. The team then plays its first conference match against Ramapo College on Saturday, March 11, at 1 p.m.

Cheap Seats

Cuban should focus on team, not Twitter GIFs Michael Battista Staff Writer Two weeks ago, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made a decision that wasn’t in his playbook. It wasn’t proposing a trade that would elevate his NBA team out of the lower levels of the Western Conference nor was it funding some wacky invention or company on ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

He went out and decided what was news and what wasn’t.

Bleacher Report posted a tweet on Feb. 24 with a GIF showing forward Dirk Nowitzki messing up a shot attempt.

The caption with the tweet read “DIRK FOREVER” and fit in with the website’s usual postings. These types of quickhit content that convey an emotional message — be it humor, sadness or respect — are common in the sports world.

Cuban didn’t find the tweet amusing. Being a calm, rational owner of a million dollar sports franchise, he did what he deemed to be an appropriate response — bully the owner of the website to take down the post.

In an email sent to David Levy, president of Turner, which owns Bleacher Report, Cuban eloquently titled the message “Are you fucking kidding me?” He said he “expected an apology” before criticizing the website’s social media team.

Levy responded, saying his team does what it can to reach a millennial audience. Bloopers like Nowitzki’s and other quick content are perfect for that.

Cuban disagreed, saying he could communicate with the millennials and would do so if the tweet wasn’t taken down immediately. All of these messages were CC’d by Cuban to Adam Silver, the current NBA commissioner, and were later tweeted out to the public by the owner himself.

The offending tweet was removed not long after, and the website released a follow up tweet saying how much of a legend Nowinski is.

To use the owner’s exact words, I’d like to ask, “Are you fucking kidding me?”

Cuban doesn’t get to decide what is news nor does he decide who is capable of creating content for a website.

While it’s a stretch to say he’s acting like Joseph Stalin or Kim Jong-n — as some have been doing over the past few days — the fact is telling journalists what to say and do is exactly how news stops being news.

It becomes what those in power want you to hear and not the truth. It becomes advertizing and not storytelling.

Why can Cuban throw his weight around and get away with this? The incident proved he can act like a thinskinned crybaby, whining until he gets what he wants.

If he doesn’t, he threatens the company by turning their own audience against them. I can’t say if this would have worked or not, but threatening people’s jobs over an air ball is stupid.

Maybe I’m overreacting, right? What does a guy who tweets GIFs for Bleacher Report have to do with quality journalism? This isn’t the type of content that garners Pulitzer Prizes. It’s not like a president is telling a newspaper to not release files they deem too important. But then again most news isn’t.

“The strategy is simple. Fans tell us what they want and we create, curate and deliver the content they are seeking,” a part of Bleacher Report’s mission statement reads. “Regardless of market size, our robust staff of featured columnists and breaking-news writers across the country work around the clock delivering only the sports news and topics that fans care about — all in real-time.”

Fans decide what is newsworthy and what isn’t, not Cuban. Fans decide what they want to see and how they want to respond to it. If the people who had the most money got to determine who was criticized in the sports world, I don’t think readers would see as much hate for the New York Yankees or New England Patriots.

Cuban tried to clear the air by reaching out to Dallas SportsDay a few days later.

“I (couldn’t) care less about the video,” Cuban told Dallas SportsDay. “It was the caption that made it disrespectful. When it was up, there wasn’t a single reply saying it was funny. Just the opposite. Did you laugh? Find anyone who did? Aren’t blooper reels supposed to be funny?

Cuban owns the Dallas Mavericks.

AP Photo

“No one is saying I missed the humor,” he added. “They are just commenting about my being adamant about it coming down. Sometimes humor attempts go wrong. This was an example of an attempt gone wrong.”

No, it wasn’t. Sometimes people don’t like a joke. The only difference here is that I can’t swing my college tuition bill around and see whatever was bothering me disappear. I need to get over it and so should Cuban. With everything going on in the world today, especially with Cuban’s own disdain for President Donald Trump, it shocks me that he’d pull a move out of Trump’s playbook.

The only playbook he should be using is the one for his team, which, in any case, needs reworking as the Dallas offense is currently sitting at the bottom of the league in both points-per game and total points, according to ESPN.

Signal

Sports

Runners qualify for National Championships

By Nicole DeStefano Staff Writer

The men’s and women’s track teams had numerous top performances at the Fastrack Last Chance and Tufts University meets in Staten Island, N.Y., and Boston, respectively.

At the Fastrack Last Chance Meet on Feb. 25, senior Andrew Tedeschi won his heat in the 300meter run with a season best time of 8:47.85. In the 1000-meter race, senior Brandon Mazzarella placed sixth with a time of 2:34.78.

In the pole vault, senior Chris Guglielmo cleared a height of 4.65 meters and placed fourth.

On the women’s side, freshman Kaila Carter finished sixth overall in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in season best at 9.07.

The Lions also competed at the Boston University Last Chance meet on Feb. 26.

The men, comprising sophomores Nathan Osterhus, Noah Osterhus and Thomas Livecchi as well as senior Zakaria Rochdi, shined in the 4x400-meter relay race. Their converted time of 3:20.46, due to the banked track, ranks 12th among Division III runners, however, they hold on to the 10th spot since the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Wisconsin-Eau Claire have duplicate teams among the leaders.

Noah Osterhus clocked in at 1:53.06 for the 800-meter

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Lindacher holds the fourth-best time nationally in the 60-meter hurdles.

dash. He secured the 11th fastest time nationally. Meanwhile, Nathan Osterhus competed in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 49.86.

Senior Jake Lindacher finished fifth overall in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.17. Lindacher currently holds the fourthbest time nationally in the 60-meter hurdles.

“What stands out most to me

is the team’s energy and how excited everyone gets to compete and support each other each week,” Lindacher said. “There is always room for improvement, so everyone needs to stay committed to improving each day.”

On the women’s side, sophomore Kathleen Jaeger secured the 16th fastest time in the nation at the 800-meter run. She clocked in at 2:13.65.

Freshman Samantha Gorman came up big in the 400-meter dash.

She ran a personal best of 57.68.

The 4x400 women’s relay team of Gorman, Jaeger, junior Jenna Ellenbacher and freshman Katie LaCapria finished in 3:58.53.

The Lions competed at Tufts University on Saturday, March 4, for the Tufts Final qualifying meet. This was the final meet for the Lions to qualify for the

NCAA D-III Indoor Track and Field Championships.

On the women’s side, LaCapria took second place in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2:15.45. Gorman came in eighth with a time of 1:00.52 in the 400meter dash.

In the 3000-meter run, sophomore Erin Holzbaur clocked in at 10:34.85, securing 10th place.

Freshman Kaila Carter also ran a 10.66 in the 60-meter hurdles.

On the men’s side, Lindacher placed second overall in the 60meter dash with a time 7.06. He also placed first in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.17. His time currently ranks fourth in the nation with 8.06.

In the mile run, Mazzarella finished in a time of 4:24.94 to place 13th overall.

The men’s 4x400-meter relay, comprising Noah Osterhus, Nathan Osterhus, Livecchi and Rochdi, came in fourth with a time of 3:20.37. “(The Lions) stepped up in many areas, and we are pleased with that,” head coach Justin Lindsey said. “The goal is to get as many people as we can to the NCAA championships.”

Qualifying members of the men’s and women’s track teams will compete on Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11, in the NCAA Indoor D-III Track and Field Championships in Naperville, Ill.

Lions light up Griffins, Black Squirrels and Brewers

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

D’Agostino takes a match against Haverford College.

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor

The men’s tennis team began its spring season with three victories, as they beat Chestnut Hill College (6-3), Haverford College (8-1) and Vassar College (8-1).

On Wednesday, March 1, the Lions

Lions Lineup March 8, 2017

I n s i d e

squared off against the Chestnut Hill College Griffins, who compete in Division II. Heading into the Student Recreation Center, the Griffins were undefeated with a 3-0 record. The Lions were not intimated, as sophomore Mitchel Sanders got the Lions first points in singles after defeating Griffins junior Lucas Bocaletto.

Lacrosse page 23

“Sanders, along with the rest of the team, are capable beating any opponent,” head coach Scott Dicheck said. “They may have the statistics and records, but everything is settled at the court.”

The Griffins returned the favor when Griffins sophomore Pierre Kohler defeated senior Jack August. The Lions then dominated the rest of the single matches and won four consecutively.

The team was not as successful in the double matches as the Griffins won two of the three matches. The underclassman duo of sophomore Matt Puig and freshman Gokul Murugesan won their match in two straight sets against Griffins freshman Antoine Gautier and sophomore Victor Love.

The following Saturday, March 4, the men’s tennis team hammered Haverford College at home, 8-1.

The Lions chased away the Black Squirrels and won all the single matches.

Junior Chris D’Agostino, sophomore Tim Gavornik and senior Mike Stanley all won their first single matches of the season. The Black Squirrels lone victory came in the double matches when Puig and Gavornik were defeated by Black Squirrels freshman Raja Arul and sophomore Nick Sweeney.

Despite the breezing weather outside, the Lions continued their hot start inside the recreation center and swept the Vassar College Brewers on Sunday, March 5. Like the previous meet, the team dominated the single matches.

Sanders fought in three sets to defeat Brewers senior Nick Litsky. Sanders was close to clinching the victory until Litsky came back by winning the second set, 3-6.

In the third set, Sanders narrowly escaped and won the match.

At the doubles competition, the Lions only dropped one match. The duo of Sanders and Stanley were bit by Black Squirrels sophomore Jamie Anderson and Litsky, 8-3.

The Lions are now ranked No. 39 nationally in the NCAA Division III and ranked No. 13 regionally in the Northeast.

“We have a very talented group this season,” Dicheck said. “They are hard working and train vigorously every day. Our goal this year is to keep the team consistent and reach further into the NCAA tournament.”

This spring season, the men’s tennis team will be playing 14 of the 17 meets at home.

The Lions will compete against Colby College on both Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, in the recreation center at noon.

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