Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. LI, No. 7
October 16, 2019
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NBC White House correspondent reflects on career experiences
Jackson details her coverage of the 2016 campaign trail.
By Camille Furst Managing Editor
Every morning, Hallie Jackson stands before the White House, with the sun rising above the Washington Monument in the background and the sense of history overwhelming. “And you just think, ‘man, this building has seen so much throughout the decades,’” she told The Signal. “And I get to work here.” As the chief White House correspondent for NBC News, Jackson reports to the famed building every day, speaking with foreign diplomats and top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration. But on Oct. 2, Jackson came to Mayo Concert Hall to discuss her expertise, experiences and advice with students, faculty and local community members. She started by going back to the beginning — specifically, when she
Julia Meehan / Photo Editor
worked at WBOC TV 16, a local news station in Maryland, reporting on general assignments and any issues with local farms. “It truly was grad school,” she said to the audience. “When you’re getting the number wrong on the acreage of soybeans at the local farm that you’re covering, it’s not quite as big a deal as messing up something about the president of the United States. So it was an opportunity to test out the kinks and go from there.” When responding to Maurice Hall, the Dean of the School of Arts and Communications, who interviewed her at the event, she couldn’t further stress the importance of going outside one’s comfort zone. She said she recommends sending one’s resume and clips to locations throughout the country and working in those areas a few years for experience. “It actually can’t hurt — it’ll only
make you better, and can only help you grow,” she said. Aspiring journalists making their work known is an experience that Jackson deems invaluable. She said that by leaving the New York and Washington, D.C., “bubble,” a journalist is exposed to various perspectives held by individuals all throughout the nation. “You see America,” she said. “Not even … on purpose, but because you have to eat dinner, (so) you go to a diner or you need to have breakfast, so you go to a coffee shop. You’re just having these interactions and these experiences very organically.” After getting the attention from NBC News, which experienced a lack of reporters necessary for the 2016 campaign trail, she earned her way to cover the candidates and scored interviews with Trump and see POLITICS page 3
Mannequin Pussy lights up first CUB Alt show By Connor Iapoce Staff Writer In front of the tricolor glow of the stage lights, three bands took control of the semester’s first CUB Alt show, where they provided demanding performances for an intimate crowd who threw the energy right back at them. The College welcomed alternative and indie rock bands Mannequin Pussy, Steep Leans and Shelf Life to the stage in the Brower Student Center Room 225 on Oct. 1. The crowd filled up as the night went on and sounds collided in a way best described as punk rock. Mannequin Pussy, a modern punk band from Philadelphia, unleashed a frenzy of guitars, sludgy bass and pounding drums mixed with powerful sonic vocal punches. The set was blistering, with the band speeding through its set and hitting fan favorites such as “Drunk II” and the title track of its recent album “Patience.” Fronted by singer Marisa Dabice, the band thanked the crowd for coming out on a Tuesday, as people eagerly began to roll in for the headliner. “I’ve been getting into Mannequin Pussy recently, so it was really cool seeing them live,” said Sara Weingartner, a senior graphic design major. Dabice offered up an apology to the crowd, as she had a bit of a cold, but it wasn’t apparent as her vocals ranged from an impassioned howling to powerful whispers without skipping a beat. The band thought it had some technical issues with the music, but Dabice noted that “it was good enough for a conference room.” Under a haze of feedback and crunchy guitars, the songs were short and sweet, demonstrating a fierce creativity and never wasting a second of time. As the set closed down, with the band playing frantically through its last three songs and Dabice giving it her all on stage, the crowd lit up with a swell of energy from dancing, moshing and banging their heads. The first support was Shelf Life, an alternative rock that also hails from the City of Brotherly Love. With aspects of a jam band, Shelf Life chilled out the atmosphere in the early stages of the night. The standout piano and driving drum beats led the intimate music, under the crooning vocals of frontman Scotty Leitch. see ROCK page 15
Sorority promotes women’s rights
By Diana Solano Distribution Manager
Since the beginning of time, there have been barriers that women face in having access to their reproductive rights. On Thursday, Oct. 10, Sigma Lambda Gamma invited students to its event, “Know Your Rights,” which was held in the Education Building Room 205 and allowed students to learn about the current state of women’s reproductive rights in America. Stephanie Cajamarca, a senior public health major and member of Sigma Lambda Gamma, presented the topic. “It could change the whole dynamic of the government not just on a national level, but at a local level as well,” Cajamarca said. “With the elections coming up this year, the more our community is educated on their reproductive rights, the better.” The presentation acknowledged the history in the U.S.
INDEX:
Nation & World / page 5
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of outlawing abortion, banning birth control clinics and the barriers that women had to overcome. A key point in the discussion was the pivotal Roe v. Wade case in 1973, which allowed for a pregnant woman to have an abortion and not be restricted by the government in any way. The presenters showed a diagram of what the U.S. would be like if the case didn’t pass — many states would have made it illegal and inaccessible to obtain an abortion. Without Roe v. Wade and other laws in place, many women would’ve been pressured would have to take matters into their own hands and potentially harm themselves. “There are barriers that women face on a daily basis, which is not acceptable and there needs to be more exposure on this topic so that everyone can play a role in the change,” Cajamarca said.
Editorial / page 7
see EQUALITY page 11 Opinions / page 9
Features / page 11
Darby VanDeVeen / Staff Photographer
Dabice livens the crowd.
Arts & Entertainment / page 15
Sports / page 20
Lions’ Plate Pumpkin spice coffee perfect for fall
‘Joker’ New movie is both thrilling and horrifying
Football Lions win first game of season
See Features page 13
See A&E page 17
See Sports page 19
page 2 The Signal October 16, 2019
Diversity Education Series mends race relations
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Left: Students get involved with activities promoting inclusion. Right: OIDEI hosts its second event of the semester. By Isabel Vega News Editor As part of the fall semester’s Diversity Education Series, the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion held “Exploring Early Messages on Race and Cultural Differences” on Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Brower Student Center Room 225. Robin Parker, the executive director of Beyond Diversity Resource Center, welcomed the audience, introducing himself and his colleague, Pamela Smith Chambers, the training director of the Beyond Diversity Resource Center. The series started off with a large group activity. Participants formed an inner and outer circle and proceeded to think about early messages that one is given as a child about different groups of people.
The groups agreed that early messages are preconceived ideas about people who are different from them and that people usually learn these messages from parents, childhood experiences or teachers. The two groups faced each other, and the people in the outer circle moved one person to the right after having 30 seconds to answer the question with their partner. Parker began asking the groups diversity-based questions to challenge them to think about the messages sent to them in their childhood. “What were your early messages about white people living in the United States?” he asked the participants. “What were your early messages about Pacific Islanders?” Calleigh McGinley, a junior psychology major, acknowledged that the activity was initially difficult, but she emphasized
its importance. “(The activity) was uncomfortable and intimidating at first, but it is crucial to learn about other people’s ideas and stories.” After the activity, Chambers led a group discussion where she asked participants to describe how they felt during the exercise. Many agreed that they felt frustrated because they were unsure of how to answer a lot of questions due to their lack of experiences with certain groups growing up and not learning about them. “What’s the message of not talking about race or experiencing people that are different than you?” Chambers asked. “It’s simply not important to you.” Many brought up the point that their parents did not teach them about other groups of people, so many never had early messages. “I think parents work very hard to
give us an ideal childhood, but there were things I could not avoid leaving the house,” Chambers said. Chambers also promoted the idea that “talk creates change.” “The fear of being judged badly about race keeps us from talking about it,” he said. “If we don’t understand our rough edges, there is no opportunity to smooth them out.” Chambers told the audience that everyone has some prejudice, and that once society admits it, people can better understand the differences among people. “Conversations we had today helped us to dispel myths and stereotypes,” Chambers said. “We need to talk about our racial differences — the better we understand, the deeper relationships we can build … we have to make a commitment that we are going to be lifetime learners.”
SFB funds Women in Business Vital Signs: Blueberries add Union Latina presents to board superfood to college diet
Ian Krietzberg / Staff Writer
The members fully fund the cost of bus tickets for ‘Wall Street Walks.’
By Ian Krietzberg Staff Writer
Over its past three meetings, The Student Finance Board fully funded two organizations and partially funded two other ones. On Sept. 25, the professional business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, requested $450 for bus tickets for an event called “Wall Street Walks,” where it will be doing a tour of Wall Street in New York City. The request was fully funded. To start the meeting on Oct. 2, Union Latina requested $1,000 for art supplies, food and prizes for its ‘Paint Your Flag’ Nooner, which took place on Thursday, Oct. 10 in Alumni Grove. The event allowed all students to express their identity and culture through art, and served as a way to get students more involved in Hispanic Heritage Month. The event also included the option to play a traditional Latin game
called Loteria, a game similar to bingo. SFB fully funded the program, which was co-sponsored Union Latina and the College Union Board. The board also reviewed the base budget for Women in Business. The organization requested a total of $80 for posters and poster materials, and received $50. The request of $30 for “posters for companies coming to campus” was tabled, pending further clarification, according to the meeting agenda. Women in Business also requested $1,360 for its Women’s Student Leadership Summit, which will occur either in March or April in the Education Building. The organization received $1,340, as the request of $20 for additional posters
was tabled pending further clarification. SFB also fully funded Women in Business’ $75 request for food for its Christine Cox-West Talk, which is set to take place on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. in the Social Sciences Building Room 326. Cox-West, who is a partner and director of insurance brokerage at the Fortis Agency, will explain career opportunities for women in a professional setting. At the meeting on Oct. 9, Alpha Phi Alpha requested $1,715 for a Professional Presentation open to both high school and College students, which is scheduled for Oct. 26 in the Brower Student Center. The fraternity received a partial fund — the request for food and photographer expenses was fully funded, but money for prizes was zero funded due to a lack of feasibility.
Students can buy fresh fruit from the C-Store.
By Victoria Giardina Columnist
You may see these juicy superfoods at the grocery store, but why pick blueberries up? After all, baking up a blueberry pie may not be on your to-do list as a college student. But here’s why you shouldn’t pass up this healthy fruit. Blueberries Are Antioxidant Rich You may have heard that blueberries are a good source of antioxidants, but what does that actually mean? Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are “molecules that can damage your cells and contribute to aging and diseases, such as cancer,” according to Healthline. While these health benefits are not as visible, blueberries can fill your body with plenty of goodness.
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Blueberries Can Improve Memory Do you have to memorize over 100 vocabulary terms for your biology class? Blueberries will not guarantee you that A, but they are known to give you a memory boost! A 2012 study of over 16,000 individuals by the American Neurological Association found that blueberries are connected to almost three years of mental aging prevention. So it may be a good idea to toss a crate of blueberries into your shopping cart. Where You Can Find Blueberries on Campus If you don’t have access to a grocery store as a college student, the C-Store next to Eickhoff Hall has shipments of blueberries and other fresh fruits on a routine basis. You can also pick up blueberry muffins from on-campus cafés for a sweet, healthy treat.
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 3
Politics / Jackson highlights rise in media, perks of career in reporting
door and asking someone to talk to you with a camera,” Jackson said. “You talk about responsibility, there is no bigger responsibility than that.” She advised aspiring journalists to show humanity while continuing to stay detached from the story, because “it’s not you at the center of it, it’s your team, and the story itself.” College President Kathryn Foster reflected on the event afterward. “It’s really exciting — it’s always exciting at the College when we bring in well-known, highly regarded professionals and have an opportunity to interact with them,” she told The Signal. “I found her warm, genuine, authentic, honest, intelligent about the issues. Just a really eye-opening very informative event.” John O’Brien, a freshman computer science major who attended the event for a sociology class, admired how Jackson presented herself and spoke of journalism. “It gave me a new perspective on journalists,” he said. “She was a really good speaker. I noticed she had a good presence … she was a reporter, so she had practice for it.” In an interview with The Signal, Jackson summarized her news career and explained how she looks forward to more reporting with the upcoming election year. “It’s a breadth of experiences,” she said. “I can’t even imagine what experiences I’ll be making as we move forward over the next year and a half.”
The correspondent stresses the importance of journalistic integrity. continued from page 1
Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, among others. While she now travels less often, she would travel every day while on the campaign trail. “I would be at 5:00 at night not knowing where my flight was at 7 p.m.,” Jackson told The Signal. “I was on the road for several weeks at a time, I’d come home to re-pack my suitcase, do some laundry and get back on the road. And that was about a year and a half of my life.” Now being based mainly in the White House, her days consist of waking up at around 5:30 a.m. and working until 6:30 or 7 in the evening. At the forum, Hall shifted the conversation toward journalism ethics, specifically in the context of America’s sharp partisan divides and the recent impeachment inquiry against the president. Hall then asked Jackson for her definition of “fake news.”
Julia Meehan / Photo Editor
“I don’t know,” she said. “You have to ask the president, because he’s the one that talks about it … I don’t connect to that phrase because I think it’s just not worthy of what we want to have a conversation about in this country.” She described how Trump changes his perspective on what he regards as fake news depending on if it fits his agenda. Jackson deems getting the facts right as one of the highest responsibilities as a journalist and, for her, “responsibility” is a big word. “The stakes are really high,” she said. “This isn’t chicken farms and soybeans in Salisbury, Maryland, this is the president. This is our political world that’s happening that affects all of us.” One of Jackson’s most difficult days as a reporter was when she interviewed the family of a 12-year-old boy who had just been killed in a car accident. “The worst feeling as a reporter is knocking on somebody’s
“The worst feeling as a reporter is knocking on somebody’s door and asking someone to talk to you with a camera. You talk about responsibility, there is no bigger responsibility than that.” —Hallie Jackson
Chief White House Correspondent, NBC News
Students report THC vaping emergency Campus Police respond to purse theft By Jennifer Somers Photo Editor Campus Police respond to report of intoxicated person On Sept. 21 at approximately 2:15 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the sidewalk by Bliss Hall on a report of an intoxicated person. Upon arrival, Campus Police met with a witness, who stated she was walking down the sidewalk and noticed a male and female assisting a second female who appeared intoxicated. Upon the witness’ encounter with the group, she noticed the intoxicated female needed help walking. At this time, she stated she was going to call Campus Police for assistance and she left the scene immediately prior to Campus Police’s arrival. The male student assisting the intoxicated female stated that they were drinking whiskey at a small party. The smell of alcohol was emanating from his breath. The intoxicated female was unstable to stand on her feet. Campus Police then had her sit on a bench. She was unable to form complete sentences when asked questions about her actions that evening, became very emotional and began to cry. TCNJ EMS was dispatched and arrived on the scene to evaluate the intoxicated female. Due to the cold
weather, Campus Police had all the individuals move inside the Music Building for warmth. The male and female assisting the intoxicated student were cooperative when asked about their whereabouts that evening, and the other female who left the scene was cleared to remain on campus. Pro Staff arrived on the scene and spoke to both of the individuals. Campus Police escorted them back to their rooms. Amnesty was granted due to their compliance with Campus Police’s questions. Student reports theft of purse On Sept. 27 at approximately 4:43 p.m., a female student arrived at Campus Police Headquarters to report a theft. She stated that her handbag was stolen on Sept. 26 from the Travers/Wolfe Lounge. The student said she was studying with friends until approximately 1 a.m. on Sept. 26 and went upstairs to her room afterward. However, she could not recall if she left her handbag on the table in the lounge or if she brought it to her room. According to the student, when she awoke at 9 a.m.
for class, she discovered that her handbag was missing. The total monetary loss for the handbag was valued at approximately $145. Students report THC-induced incident On Sept. 27 at approximately 12:54 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Travers Hall on report of a female student with complaints of dizziness and rapid heart rate after using a Controlled Substance. Upon arrival, Campus Police met with students who stated she had smoked out of a THC oil pen and started to feel nauseous and dizzy, and that her heart was racing. TCNJ EMS members arrived on the scene and began patient assessment. One of the students stated that the THC oil pen was hers, and Campus Police confiscated it. The female stated that she wanted to go to the hospital. A Ewing EMS unit arrived on the scene and transported her to a medical center. No one involved was arrested under the “NJ 911 Lifeline Legislation Act,” which allows for amnesty to be given to those who reach out for help in an emergency.
page 4 The Signal October 16, 2019
Student Government passes new bills
Members wrap up their fifth meeting of the semester. By Caroline King Staff Writer
Student Government introduced one bill and voted on four others at its fifth meeting of the year on Oct. 2 in the Education Building Room 115. The meeting started with an announcement of a treasured staff member’s eventual departure. Don Trahan, the Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will be leaving the College. His last day will be Friday, Oct. 18. “I want to continue to work with you in any capacity as it pertains to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Trahan said to the general body. He continued by saying he is relocating to Washington, D.C., and that his departure is “not goodbye, but see you later.” SG followed Trahan’s announcement by bringing forth a new bill, making it the only New Business for that week’s meeting. B-F2019-11, named the Attire Bill, and was brought forth to “ensure that members of the student government are presenting
themselves in a manner that is conducive to the nature of their responsibilities and position,” the bill’s description stated. It was noted that this bill does not require any particular dress code, but would simply put forth the need for SG members to dress in an appropriate and professional way when carrying out their duties. Following the meeting’s only resolution introduction, bills that were introduced at the prior meeting were brought to a vote in the general body. Bill B-F2019-06, Mandating Special Elections, states that “in the event that a cabinet position becomes vacant by resignation, impeachment, or any other means, the President of SG will have the power to appoint a suitable individual to the position through an application process, with the exception of the Student Trustees.” The bill was called to vote, and passed. The next bill, B-F2019-07, Equitable Senator Cohort Positions, would change the model for which senator cohort positions are determined. Currently, the senators from each school are determined by the school’s population.
Photo courtesy of Rajbir Toor
The bill would change the population-based model to be a more static number based on three tiers of school sizes. Smaller schools like the School of Nursing would get six senators, midsize schools like the School of Arts and Communication would get seven and larger schools like the School of Business would get eight. This attempt to make the senator cohort positions more equitable was questioned by some, as it was argued during an open debate that there was still room for an even more equitable approach. Following an open debate, with two members stating pros and another two stating the cons, the bill was voted on and failed to pass. The final two bills, B-F2019-09, Judiciary Board and Recall Proceedings, and B-F2019-10, Membership Accountability, passed, the latter with an 80-percent approval. Both bills had been brought forth and voted on before, with amendments made to be able to bring the bills back to the floor for a vote.
Nation & W rld
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 5
Explosions at Oktoberfest celebration injure five By Ariel Steinsaltz Staff Writer
An explosion at an Oktoberfest celebration in Huntington Beach, Calif., left several people injured just after 8 p.m. on Oct. 5, according to CBS News. The event, an American version of the German celebration, usually lasts for two months, according to NBC News. The Washington Post reported that the event is held annually at Old World Village in Huntington Beach, which is a “German-themed shopping and dining complex.” The city’s fire department battalion chief, Jeff Lopez, said that two firefighters and two restaurant employees were being treated for minor injuries, and a third restaurant employee had moderate to severe injuries, according to CBS News. Firefighters arrived on the
scene at around 8 p.m., investigating a possible electrical fire with a security guard, according to CBS News. When they went to the vault, they reported an explosion. The fire reportedly caused heated mineral oil inside the transformers to be sprayed during the explosion, which might have caused the subsequent explosions, according to CBS News. There were three explosions in total, with the first apparently occurring just as firefighters arrived on the scene to respond to a reported electrical fire, according to CNN. The first blast knocked people to the ground and blew the door to the underground electrical vault off its hinges, according to The Washington Post. The door was made of metal and weighed 50 pounds, according to ABC News.
Of the three transformers in the vault, only one exploded, according to ABC News. “‘Once the other fire crews arrived, they worked to ensure that the fire was isolated to the vault and to search the structure for any remaining occupants,’” Lopez said to CNN. Among the five people injured was the owner of Old World Village, Bernie Bischoff, according to The Washington Post. About forty minutes before the blast, Bischoff had smelled something strange coming from the area of the vault, and evacuated the dining area. A few hours earlier, the area had held a children’s birthday party, according to CBS News. Bischoff received second- and third-degree burns to 38 percent of his body, and his hair was on fire. He is being hailed as a hero for preventing more people
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. from getting hurt. Megan Houck, a witness to the explosion, described it as a “‘giant fireball.’” Flames reportedly went as high as 40 feet in the air, according to The Washington Post. Pat Brassil, an attendee at the festival and witness to
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the explosions, described the event. The Washington Post reported that he told The Los Angeles Times that “‘(the flames) just lit up the sky. Everyone was going pretty crazy and screaming. The tent exploded once and then exploded again in the same spot.’”
Pope opens debate on requirements for priesthood
The synod provides a discussion on celibacy rules for clergymen.
By Muhammad Siddiqui Web Editor
Facing shortages of clergymen in some of the more remote areas of the world, Pope Francis has called for dialogue among the Catholic Church’s bishops at the synod — a gathering at the Vatican — starting on Oct. 6. The Wall Street Journal reported that the meeting is part
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of an effort to discuss whether to ease the celibacy requirements on priesthood. Specifically concerned with the lack of priests in the Amazon region, the pope is seeking a remedy to the shortage by accepting men into the clergy who are already married or fathers, according to The Wall Street Journal. The shortage of priests is a pressing matter in the Amazon, where an estimated 85
percent of villages are not able to participate in Mass, according to The New York Post. According to the BBC, this discussion would not be the first time the Catholic Church has dealt with issues regarding celibacy vows. In the past, it has allowed Catholic converts who were previously Anglican to join the clergy. Eastern-rite churches have allowed for married men to be in the clergy as well. Official documents for this month’s synod propose the acceptance of “‘elders, preferably indigenous, respected and accepted by their community, even if they have an existing and stable family,’” according to The Wall Street Journal. However, there is already debate over the issue. The Wall Street Journal reported that Canadian Cardinal Mar Ouellet recently published a book, in which he argues that the move would be detrimental to the spread of the faith in the region. According to Ouellet, clergymen are welcomed into local communities in the Amazon because of their celibate status, which he said adds weight to their preaching as a reflection of their dedication to God.
According to The Wall Street Journal, another argument is that inadequate evangelization, stemming partly from fear of disrespecting local cultures, is to blame for the lack of qualifying priests. Martín Lasarte, a priest from Uruguay, said it would be better for the Church to increase its efforts to teach the Catholic faith, so that its preaching efforts match its push for charity and social justice in the areas. However, another concern is that if exemptions from the celibacy vows are created in the Amazon or other remote areas, there could be calls for similar changes in other regions. In Germany, there are already plans to discuss the issue of celibacy, along with homosexuality and the ordination of women, according to The Wall Street Journal. Despite the concerns, some South American bishops have shown support. It is possible that the pope, being from South America, will support the measure. The Wall Street Journal reported that although the synod can make a suggestion of actions to take, the decision ultimately lies with the pope.
Trump refuses to comply with impeachment inquiry By Ian Krietzberg Staff Writer White House lawyer Pat Cipollone expressed on Oct. 8 that President Donald Trump’s administration would not cooperate with the ongoing impeachment inquiry, which officially began on Sept. 24, according to a letter published by The New York Times. The letter, which was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Chairmen Elijah Cummings, Adam Schiff and Eliot Engel, cites the memorandum of a July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The New York Times also reported that the letter alleged contact between the first whistleblower and Schiff as reasons that “‘President Trump and his administration reject your baseless, unconstitutional efforts to overturn the democratic process.’” “In order to fulfill his duties to the American people, the Constitution, the Executive Branch, and all future occupants of the Office of the Presidency, President Trump and his Administration cannot participate in your partisan and unconstitutional inquiry under these circumstances,” Cipollone stated in the letter, according to The New York Times. The letter was sent to Congress after the State Department blocked Gordon Schonland — the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, who is said to be a key witness in the
investigation — from testifying before the House of Representatives, according to NBC News. “‘This letter is manifestly wrong, and is simply another unlawful attempt to hide the facts of the Trump Administration’s brazen efforts to pressure foreign powers to intervene in the 2020 elections,’” Pelosi said in a statement on Oct. 8. “‘Despite the White House’s stonewalling, we see a growing body of evidence that shows that President Trump abused his office and violated his oath to “protect, preserve and defend the Constitution.”’” Pelosi further warned the White House, in the same statement, that continued attempts to avoid Congressional subpoenas and hinder the investigation would be considered an interference. A second anonymous whistleblower, who claims to have direct knowledge of the incident between Trump and Ukraine, stepped forward, according to NPR. The whistleblower has not yet filed an official legal complaint, and will therefore likely serve as a corroborative witness to the reports documented in the initial whistleblower complaint. In the days since Pelosi’s response to the letter, the president has taken to social media, with 19 of his 35 tweets pertaining to the inquiry. “Only 25 percent want the President Impeached, which is pretty low considering the volume of Fake News coverage, but pretty high considering the fact that
The president denies any wrongdoing.
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I did NOTHING wrong,” he tweeted on Oct. 9. “It is all just a continuation of the greatest Scam and Witch Hunt in the history of our Country!” According to the most recent averaged polls by FiveThirtyEight, which were last updated on Oct. 9, 48.8 percent of people support impeachment, while 43.6 percent are against it. In comparison, according to FiveThirtyEight, in the days before Congress voted to open an official investigation, on former President Richard Nixon, only 38 percent of people supported impeachment.
page 6 The Signal October 16, 2019
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 7
Editorial
Students shouldn’t look forward to break
You know the feeling — two essays, a lab and an obnoxiously long online homework assignment, all due by the end of the week. You feel as though you are being held underwater by your academics, begging to rise to the surface for air. This is how many students feel before a break. I’ve found in my life that the present has never been something I could embrace. My eyes have paced the calendar constantly, hoping that it would make the days move faster until I had a break. My ideology was that once break came, I would feel energized and overall better. This has never been the case and is why I argue that students shouldn’t look forward to break. As counterintuitive as it sounds, stress is a motivator. We are stressed to earn a fruitful internship, find a job and make money. On the cusp of adulthood — and many of us already having entered fullblown adulthood — we can see the next chapter of our lives through our older friends and just how little leeway the real world allows. A phone bill will never take it easy on you and give you extra time to send payment. Work will never recommend that you take a week off of your craft. The idea that break is something that we as students are entitled to, regardless of workload, is irresponsible. We must embrace the overwhelming tendencies of life to our fullest extent to not only get things done, but to increase our threshold of tolerance in anticipation for a life full of unexpected twists and turns. This is not to say that I am anti-break. I am pushing for less breakoriented thinking and a more goal-oriented mindset. Work for the reward of accomplishment rather than being one step closer to leaving your dorm for a week. I find that mini breaks are the best ways for me to charge my batteries. One-hour Netflix sessions or going out for ice cream is far more relaxing than finding yourself on a weeklong binge with nothing in your plans but your sofa and laptop. It is in those moments of “now what?” where I ironically wish I had something to do. When I do find myself with a week off, I like to plan at least two event-based things for me to do, such as kayaking or going to a sporting event. Doing something that creates memories rather than unplugging completely is the ultimate way for me to enjoy a break while returning without the feeling of dread as I open my laptop for the millionth time. Although, plans can sometimes be hard to come by amidst weather and the schedules of friends. This is why I’ll never plan on looking forward to a break full of uncertainty again. My ideology is to enjoy the present, as tumultuous as it may feel, and not to live for the break.
— Len La Rocca 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.
Individuals can be stressed by a lot of homework assignments and projects.
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Editorial Staff Garrett Cecere Editor-in-Chief cecereg1@tcnj.edu Jane Bowden Camille Furst Managing Editors bowdenj1@tcnj.edu furstc1@tcnj.edu Isabel Vega Len La Rocca News Editors vegai1@tcnj.edu laroccl2@tcnj.edu Christine Houghton Sports Editor houghtc1@tcnj.edu Viktoria Ristanovic Features Editor ristanv1@tcnj.edu Lara Becker Arts & Entertainment Editor beckerl3@tcnj.edu Richard Miller Opinions Editor miller20@tcnj.edu Liya Davidov Nation & World Editor davido11@tcnj.edu James Mercadante Reviews Editor mercadj5@tcnj.edu Jonah Malvey Project Manager malveyj1@tcnj.edu
Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Jennifer Somers Julia Meehan Photo Editors somersj2@tcnj.edu meehanj3@tcnj.edu Madison Oxx Production Manager oxxm1@tcnj.edu Muhammad Siddiqui Web Editor siddiqm4@tcnj.edu Kalli Colacino Madison Pena Leigha Stuiso Social Media Editors colacik1@tcnj.edu penam9@tcnj.edu stuisol1@tcnj.edu Diana Solano Distribution Manager solanod1@tcnj.edu Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Mina Milinkovic Business/Ad Manager milinkm1@tcnj.edu
“The stakes are really high. This isn’t chicken farms and soybeans in Salisbury, Maryland, this is the president. This is our political world that’s happening that affects all of us.” — Hallie Jackson Chief White House Correspondent at NBC News
“We need to talk about our racial differences — the better we understand, the deeper relationships we can build.” — Pamela Smith Chambers
Training director of the Beyond Diversity Resource Center
“I think it’s important that we talk about the people before us ... and remember them, because what the department is and the people who are in it wouldn’t be the same without them.” — Gaia Hutcheson Sophomore music education major
page 8 The Signal October 16, 2019
Fun StufF
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 9
Opinions
Society needs to stop romanticizing mental disorders
Shows like ‘13 Reasons Why’ should not glorify suicide. By Angie Tamayo Having a mental illness is not a good thing. This should be a clear and self-explanatory statement. However, through the long process of destigmatizing mental illness, the movement has drastically changed towards a trend of romanticizing mental illness. Though mental illness isn’t something people should be ashamed of, it also isn’t something that people should aspire to have. To understand the root of the problem, one should examine when the trend began. People nowadays are believing
that pain and tragedy are sufferings that everyone must go through. At the same time, people think that pain and tragedies are beautiful, thus using the words interchangeably. However, the terms “beauty” and “pain” are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. So why are people everywhere talking about how pain is beautiful? According to a study featured in Stanford Journal of Neuroscience Mental Illness and Creativity, they claim the link between romanticizing mental illnesses is creativity. “(The) legend of the tortured artist … the genius who creates great artwork because of (their)
mental illness,” the study stated. Creating works of art may be beautiful, but the mental illness itself isn’t beautiful — it is debilitating. Mental illness is all-encompassing, all-consuming and it hurts. A mental illness isn’t beautiful simply because pain isn’t pretty. We throw around mental illnesses every day as if they are adjectives to spice up our lives. People say things like, “I’m so depressed, I failed my midterm,” or, “my room always needs to be organized, it’s my OCD.” Girls call each other anorexic because they physically look skinny, or call a person bipolar
because they simply experience different emotions. But none of these justify a mental illness. On the contrary, they make it harder for people with these issues to come forward and seek help. But when did we start selfdiagnosing ourselves and others with terms we don’t know much about or only know a stereotyped representation of a mental illness portrayed by the media? In addition, movies and television shows play a massive part in romanticizing mental illnesses because of their unrealistic portrayal. The Netflix show “13 Reasons Why” glorified the idea of suicide and wrongfully displayed triggering images of the protagonist’s death, all the while emphasizing the potential love between the two main characters. The character commits suicide primarily as revenge on the people who wronged her, but this is a terrible misrepresentation of death and mental illnesses because it causes viewers, mainly young and susceptible teens, to believe that suicide is a way out without any resources. Society’s shift in the attitude of mental health and the portrayal of them in social media caused teenagers in middle and high school to flaunt their visible self-harm scars
as a way to bring them attention. I don’t mean that their experiences are invalid, but the culture of romanticizing self-harm as something almost beautifully tragic only encourages and increases unhealthy relations to mental illness. Mental illness should not be romanticized in society because they aren’t beautiful things to go through or live with. Perhaps we, as a society, have gone too far in trying to destigmatize the talk around mental illness that it’s created a new facade. Society has turned mental illness into something that is “cool” or “glamorous.” Suddenly, everyone thinks they are plagued with a mental illness, and it will aid them in being beautiful and bring depth or mystery to their character. Sadness doesn’t make you more attractive — it only makes you hurt. The romanticism of mental illnesses hurts people who actually suffer from them. It can hinder them from receiving the real help they need. Mental illness then becomes desensitized because “everybody has it.” In the end, having a mental illness isn’t something to be proud of, it isn’t something people should want to have and it definitely isn’t something that society should romanticize.
People should send handwritten letters to friends By Jane Bowden Managing Editor Like most Generation Z adults, I’ve been using technology to communicate with the world around me since I was about 8 years old. In 2007, online games like Club Penguin and Webkinz connected me with my friends from across town without leaving the comfort of my family’s computer room. In 2010, Tumblr was a bridge between myself and others who were my age and lived across the country. In 2014, social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat introduced more ways to interact with my friends, family members and people from all corners of the globe through the ease of a few clicks. But within the past few years, I’ve discovered a newfound love for an ancient means of communication — sending and receiving handwritten letters. This love for snail mail started in 2016 when two of my friends were moving to outof-state colleges — one to North Carolina and the other to Hawaii — and I was still in our hometown going to community college. It was hard for us to part ways, as we had become best friends in high school, and part of me feared that even with the ease of texting,
we’d lose the strong bond we had. That’s when we vowed to write letters to each other every few months. We wrote about everything — how school was going, what we’d do the next time we’d all be home and, most often, how much we missed each other. Every time I received a letter from them in the mail, it felt like I had just discovered money in my pocket that I didn’t know was there, finding a lost item that had been missing for months or buying a shirt you thought was full price only to find that it’s on sale — it was like a surprise that I never got tired of. Three years later, and about 15 letters later, my friends and I still write to each other every so often. It’s through these years that I’ve realized how heartfelt letter writing is and how it can really transform your relationships. In today’s day and age, texting is as simple as it can be. You can connect with another person in a matter of milliseconds, without much thought and while multitasking. Just think — how many times have you watched a Netflix movie only to realize that you didn’t even really watch it because you were on your phone the entire time? However, when you write a handwritten letter, you’re forcing yourself to focus solely on the person you’re writing to. Sure, you
Penning notes can be a therapeutic process. can still listen to music or play a movie in the background. But you’re more concentrated on physically writing out what you want to say in a way that you can’t do with texting, which is therapeutic in and of itself. Writing letters also shows the other person how much you care about and appreciate them. You’ve taken the time to get a piece of paper and a pencil, write your thoughts down, enclose the letter in an envelope and send it to them, all of which takes a lot more time and effort than sending a text or even an email. Finally, writing a handwritten note is like creating a homemade gift for someone. You’re writing it in your own handwriting, not in Times New Roman size 12 font, and you’re
giving someone a piece of yourself that they can physically hold onto for the rest of their lives, something I’ve been doing for the last few years with my friends’ letters. As the years pass, our world will inevitably become more technologically advanced. It might even be that holograms will replace texting, and everything we know today will become a thing of the past. But one thing we shouldn’t forget is how meaningful a handwritten letter to our friends and family can be. All it takes is a piece of paper, a pen and a few minutes of your time to show how much you are for those in your life.
Policies
The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. 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. Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs. 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 October 16, 2019
Students share opinions around campus “Should people start writing letters more often?”
Richard Miller / Opinions Editor
Megan Warker, a sophomore elementary education and English dual major
Luke Sulsenti
“Yes, I think letter writing exercises different skills that modern communication often does not.”
Richard Miller / Opinions Editor
Bella Salerno, a sophomore special education and psychology dual major “No, I don’t think it changes the impact of the message all that much.”
“Should students talk about mental illness more carefully?”
Richard Miller / Opinions Editor
Maggie Maley, a sophomore special education and psychology dual major
“Yes, people should be more sensitive to the words they’re using and how it impacts others.”
Luke Sulsenti
Richard Miller / Opinions Editor
Amanda Felten, a sophomore secondary education and history dual major “I think mental health should be spoken about more openly, but not abused by people.”
The Signal’s cartoon of the week ...
The Chip: Q: What Are Saturdays For? A: The Boys! By Tony Peroni Correspondent A healthy routine is an absolute necessity for any hard-working, dedicated college student. In the morning, I wake up, wash my below-average looking face and choke down a dry cinnamon pop tart before attending my 8 a.m. astronomy lecture. After class, I sit in the library and watch Twitch live streams of two dudes from Sweden playing FIFA, until I notice it’s far past ‘meal equiv’ and I have to dash to my 2 p.m. microbiology class. When
I get home, I sit in my quiet, quiet room and do my homework until it’s time to wash the layer of grease off my face and call it a night. I do this every day. It gives my existence order and something to look forward to in every part of the day! When I wake up on Fridays, there’s a different type of smelly smell in the air. Ahhhh, it’s so sweet and so close. What’s that smell? No, it’s not cotton candy and loving hugs from your grandma. And no, it’s not the three-week-old guacamole I left on my nightstand. It’s Saturday! And it’s so close! The weekends are a totally different animal in my little life. In fact, I can’t even remember a weekend that wasn’t momentous or outrageous in any way shape or form! Sometimes on the weekend, I wake
up at 7 a.m. and breathe in the fresh Saturday Morning Air. This air is very different from the air during the week. It smells like the weatherman pumped good smellin’ chemicals into the air for Saturdays and Saturdays only. This air is unlike the air during the week. This air … smells really good! At 7:15 a.m. I stop sniffing the air and make myself a big cup of coffee in my favorite mug. The mug is very funny and very sarcastic. It says, “don’t even THINK about talking to me before I’ve had my coffee!” I usually laugh at it, until I realize my entire family is asleep and nobody would get to hear my joke. I sit in silence and watch more Swedish dudes play FIFA until my father, Boris, wakes up from his slumber, with work boots on and a big tool belt around his waist. I help him build a bench for
sitting and sitting only until the late afternoon. It’s just me and him, my father and I, Boris and his son (NAME REDACTED). Haha, it’s just the Boys! This is what Saturday’s all about, right?!? The Boys. When my mother, who was given the name of Patty by her parents, comes to check on us, Boris and I hiss at her like feral cats. Patty doesn’t belong in the garage with the Boys. It’s Saturday! Haha just kidding I actually really like my mom. We have a really close relationship and she actually helped us out a lot while making the bench, If you’re reading this, I love you, Mom. But yeah haha, you get it, right? Saturdays are for the Boys, and sometimes your mom. Disclaimer: This is obviously a satirical piece and does not describe a real event.
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 11
Features
Equality / ‘Know Your Rights’ empowers, educates
Students learn about importance of safe abortions
Left: The participants paint impactful messages and images. Right: Members discuss the impact of access to birth control.
continued from page 1
Audience members were asked to paint their response to what women’s reproductive rights meant to them. The blank canvases that were handed out by the sisters then converted into colorful ones that were filled with
empowering quotes and images. Odalys Quito, a senior psychology major, painted a coat hanger in a red circle with a line across it. “In a nutshell, this is my response to the question,” Quito said. “Women that use coat hangers use them because they
are the last resort to end a pregnancy. They feel like they have to use dangerous and unsafe methods because they don’t have other viable options, such as a safe abortion or birth control.” Quito and many others in the audience proudly displayed their canvases
on what reproductive rights meant to them and left the event knowing more on the topic. “Reproductive rights to me are having the right to do what you wish with your body, as well as the right to have an abortion or take birth control,” Quito said.
Alumni share career advice with aspiring writers By Garrett Cecere Editor-in-Chief When Matt Huston (’12) got one of his first internships at The Philadelphia Inquirer during college, he was surprised by how little assistance he had from his boss. “There are some internships where they’ll … throw you in the deep end,” he said. “So it’s good to … be prepared for whatever it is you’re going to do.” His editor sent him out to a railroad crossing where a car had been hit by a train. Huston drove out, took notes and came back, only to have his editor ask him about a detail that he couldn’t recall. “(He asked me) whether the gate was up or down, and I didn’t take note of that at all,” he said. “At some internships, a supervisor might hold your hand and … guide you through that process. Here, they (said), ‘go do it and … let’s see what you do.’” After graduation, Huston interned at Psychology Today, where he has worked for seven years and is now a senior associate editor. He shares his passion for writing with fellow alumni Jamie Primeau (’13) and Kathryn Brenzel (’11), who reunited at the College on Friday, Oct. 11, to share their experiences with students at the “Making a Living as a Writer” event in the Education Building Room 113. Primeau, who double majored in journalism and English, has spent the last five years working for Bustle, where she has worked her way up to being the celebrity and entertainment news editor. While her job always involves
discussing tasks with a team of part-time writers who submit two to three stories during their six-hour shift, the experience changes every day with the news of the celebrity world. “Whether (it’s) more lighthearted news like celebrity dating rumors or more serious things like celebrities opening up about mental health and other topics, it’s … a whole mix of stuff,” she said. Since 2015, Brenzel has been reported on the latest New York real estate news for The Real Deal, where she has covered areas like corruption in construction and the local carpenters’ union. “I try to find something that’s tangentially related to real estate,” she said. “The elevator safety in the city was a pretty big issue in recent years … We did an investigative series on the state of safety standards and what that’s meant for people.” But whether they’ve written about myths of the human mind, the latest celebrity breakup or elevator safety standards at their respective publications, the trio’s fascination with writing began at the same place — the College. Huson wrote for TCNJ Magazine, as well as The Signal, where he worked his way up to editor-in-chief. Despite what his current publication’s title may suggest, he never majored or minored in psychology. “(In college, I didn’t think) I was going to become a journalist writing about psychology for seven years,” he said. “I had the opportunity, working with TCNJ Magazine, to write a couple pieces that were related to psychology … because we have professors here who do research and write books.”
During her time as a student, Brenzel was a member of Ink and worked on The Signal’s editorial staff. She was also a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society, which co-sponsored the event with the journalism and English departments. Brenzel’s college experience also helped her discover her direction. As a senior, she interned at W. W. Norton & Company, where she found that publishing wasn’t her main interest. “(The internship) taught me that it wasn’t exactly the right fit for me,” she said. “But it was a really good experience because I thought that I really wanted to do that.” Brenzel interest in writing about real estate didn’t come to her until she started working for The Real Deal. “I had done a couple of … real estate stories for (The) Star Ledger, but … it was almost like learning a new language in that … there’s a bunch of lingo that goes with real estate. You have to really understand business and finance,” she said. Primeau, on the other hand, was no stranger to interviewing and writing about celebrities when she started at Bustle. When she covered the 2011 spring concert for The Signal, she sat down with LMFAO. “Getting to sit down with them and ask them questions, in my job now, I don’t get to do that as much as I would like, but I’ve gotten to interview Chrissy Teigen, which was super exciting to me, and I got to talk to Lindsay Lohan on the phone,” she said. Primeau also worked for Her
Photo courtesy of Emilie Lounsberry
The journalists discuss their lives after graduation. Campus and, like Huston, was The Signal’s editor-in-chief. In answering students’ questions about necessary skills and finding opportunities, she emphasized the importance of search engine optimization. “(SEO involves) making sure that when you’re writing a headline or writing a story, you’re taking into account … what someone would Google, and making sure that your stories are … search-friendly, but don’t sound robotic,” she said. While Primeau stressed that using LinkedIn and Indeed are necessary, she noted every job she had since college has been through word of mouth. “My first job, I got (it) because my old internship boss recommended me for it,” she said. “I think there’s so much value in building a strong network and people who will vouch for you and look out for you.” The alumni also felt that using various skills in reporting is vital, as Brenzel noted that she has had to use photography and video in
her recent jobs. “Having to take pictures to go along with my stories was a big part of my last job at nj.com,” she said. Primeau acknowledged that getting a job can be difficult, saying the difference between career searches and getting involved at the College is that students have so many activities with which they can get involved. But she ultimately advised students to be easy on themselves and realize that it takes time. “Everyone finds something, but it takes time,” she said. “It definitely takes a toll on your self-esteem afterwards when it’s hard to get a job, but … it’s hard for everyone.” Huston looks back on his brief experience with The Philadelphia Inquirer as a valuable one, saying that if people are able to adapt to a job environment where there’s more independence, then they get more responsibility. “The trade off is that you have to be prepared for lessons,” he said.
page 12 The Signal October 16, 2019
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October 16, 2019 The Signal page 13
: Oct. ‘94
Campus Style
Anorexia affects female college students
Bulimia is one of the most common eating disorders. Every week, Features Editor Viktoria Ristanovic hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories. With World Mental Health Day being last week, it’s important to shine a light on mental health issues that are not discussed frequently. According to The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, every 62 minutes, at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder. In this October 1994 issue of The Signal, a writer shined a light on the fact that eating disorders were on the rise in American colleges, with women being at a higher risk than ever. Twenty-five years later, not only are eating disorders prominent in college students, they affect all races and ethnic groups. Eating disorders are on the rise in American colleges and women are at a higher risk than ever. One out of ten women today suffers from bulimia, the most common eating disorder. Victims of bulimia, sometimes called “the disease of secrecy,” binge, then purge the food they have eaten by vomiting, taking laxatives or exercising excessively to prevent weight gain. Bulimia can also cause other serious medical problems, such as tearing of the esophagus, bleeding of the stomach and intestines and kidney problems. Anorexia, also referred to as the disease of denial, is the second most common eating disorder.
Anorexics starve themselves because they have an intense fear of gaining weight. The anorexic’s self image is so distorted that no matter how much weight is lost, he or she continues to view him or herself as fat. More than 15 percent of people with anorexia die either from the direct effects of malnutrition or by suicide. In addition, anorexics who do survive may suffer from amenorrhea (loss of senses), abnormal heartbeat and constant fatigue. Research through the years has consistently shown that the typical victim of an eating disorder is a white middle to upper class woman in her late teens. In fact, 90 to 95 percent of people who suffer from eating disorders are women. These women are usually well educated. This causes many to wonder how intelligent people can practice such dangerous eating habits. Dr. Henry Wang, chairman of the department of Psychology at Trenton State College, said, “Most women with eating disorders are good students with good grades. They are very achievement oriented. They have always been encouraged to achieve by their families, and they strive very hard to be beautiful.” Assistant professor of Physical Education and Health, Dan Schmidt said, “It all comes from within the home. The seeds are planted early on, before the girl gets to college usually.”
Lions’ Plate
Left: Wear a turtleneck under a slip dress for a chic fall look. Right: A leather jacket and animal print skirt make an edgy outfit. By Diana Solano Distribution Manager Have you ever felt like your outfit could be taken up a few notches by adding something onto it to tie all the pieces of your outfit together? The answer is to accessorize. Accessories can range from belts to jewelry with everything in between like shoes and purses. For example, take a regular outfit that consists of blue jeans and a knit sweater. Tuck in the sweater, put on a black belt with a gold buckle and add a matching black purse or statement earrings, and your outfit just got taken up a few notches. 1. Animal Print The animal print trend started last winter and has only grown since. It began with snake print skirts, but has now taken over dresses, jackets, shoes and scrunchies. The leopard print has continued the trend, but what sticks out is how this trend has gone with accessories. An animal print belt can add color to a regular all-black outfit. An accent of animal print on a small black purse
or shoes can put your outfit into a whole new dimension. The print may be simple, but it stands out very well. 2. Belts Belts aren’t just there to hold up your pants; they can also define your waist and bring your outfit to the next level. Belts can match your shoes, coat and even your purse, and are available in solid colors like tan or black. Besides a solid color, you can follow the animal print trend and get a belt with a zebra or leopard print on it. Aside from those options, one trend on the rise is the chain belt, which can add an edge to your fall look. 3. Jewelry Rings, bracelets and necklaces can add so much to your look. Whether you are going for an edgy or chic look, accessorizing with jewelry is a good place to start. Jewelry of any kind adds an expensive element to your look. A collection of jewelry doesn’t just start overnight. You have to collect it over time. The best part about jewelry is that no one else is going to have the same combination of items like you. You’ll have a distinct set of bracelets, rings or earrings that no one else has acquired.
Simple Pumpkin coffee
Left: Add a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness. Right: This hot drink is perfect for a cold fall night. By Elizabeth Casalnova Columnist A classic favorite for the fall weather is a pumpkin spice latte, but stopping by your local Starbucks every day will easily drain your
wallet. On the days I have an extra minute in the morning, I open up a can of pumpkin puree and start making my own version of pumpkin coffee. This drink is warm and delicious, but if you’re someone who drinks iced coffee all year
round, this can be served over ice and still taste amazing. The rest of the canned pumpkin can be saved in the fridge and used throughout the week. Ingredients: -1 cup coffee, freshly brewed
-1 tbsp canned pumpkin puree -1 tsp pumpkin pie spice -Drizzle of honey or agave, to taste -Milk or cream of choice Directions: 1.) In a mug, stir pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice until combined.
2.) Next, pour brewed coffee, and mix until dissolved. 3.) Add sweetener and milk of choice, and enjoy. 4.) For an extra treat, top it off with whipped cream and a little sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. 5.) Enjoy!
page 14 The Signal October 16, 2019
Fun StufF
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 15
Arts & Entertainment
Rock / Shelf Life sends waves through campus Punk groups shake students with heavy sound
Darby VanDeVeen / Staff Photographer
Left: The band creates a chill atmosphere with its songs. Right: Dabice belts her lyrics while playing her guitar. continued from page 1 Leitch built a rapport with the audience, asking them a series of “this or that” questions like “Queen or Led Zeppelin?” and “Moon or Sun?” and the infamous story of Van Halen and brown M&M’s. Leitch told the crowd exactly what was coming up next by saying, “we’re going to play a rock song.” “Welcome to the drop d portion of the show,” he said, in describing the change of the guitar tuning to create a heavier sound. Audience members bobbed their heads against Shelf Life’s rocking back-and-forth
on stage, creating pensive harmonies between the floor and stage. Leitch said the band was happy to be there and would play for three hours if that’s how much time was left in the set. “I’m definitely going to check out Shelf Life, because they had a really cool sound,” Weingartner said. The main support came from Boston’s Steep Leans, a moody, ambitious indie band mixing elements of lo-fi and surf rock. Lead singer Jeffrey Gray Somers stood stage right as the band commanded a dominating presence while working its way through the chaos of its personal rock
and roll. The slick guitars swirled against the droning drums and bass, creating a groovy and sometimes wavy, art punk sound. Songs were powered from the rhythmic, jangly guitars finding purpose under the haze of Somers’ melodic vocals. “I thought Steep Leans had a really amazing set,” said Alana Staskiewicz, a senior urban education and mathematics dual major. “It felt like a movie. At one point, I caught myself closing my eyes and listening and just being amazed.” Somers said little on the stage as the set never slowed down, but he thanked the
crowd for coming out to the first show in which the band played new songs from its album “Naukeag.” The band seemingly never misstepped while powering through the set, in sync as the members raised their guitars in unison to bring them crashing back down in an act of dramatic punk energy. “I thought the show went great,” said Somers. “It’s fun coming back to Jersey. I’m a Philly, at sometimes, native, so it’s good to be back in the hood and in the area. Love coming out and seeing some college kids. Good time playing these shows, for sure.”
TCNJ Chorale honors late professor at fall concert
Julia Duggan / Staff Writer
Students sing ‘My Spirit Sang All Day’ at the event. By Julia Duggan Staff Writer
TCNJ Chorale performed its fall concert in Mayo Concert Hall on Saturday, Oct. 12. The performance, conducted by associate music professor and director of choirs John Leonard, was dedicated to Byron Steele and his wife Ernestine, who died in 2009 and 2018, respectively. Steele taught at the College from 1964 to 1983. His wife accompanied him and most of his students, both at the College and privately. Both honorees had donated a gift to the College to establish the Ernestine and Byron Music Scholarship Fund. This
scholarship has already been awarded to several students at the College, some of whom participate in TCNJ Chorale. The concert opened with the Chorale performing “Sing Joyfully” by William Byrd. TCNJ Chorale sang from the balconies above rather than onstage, surrounding the audience and creating this beautiful sound. The harmonies could clearly be heard throughout this song, which ended with the audience giving a warm round of applause. “I always love hearing the chorale perform, and this concert was special too because of the dedication to the Steele family,” said Gaia Hutcheson, a sophomore
music education major. The members then moved from the balcony to the stage, where they performed “Music for a While,” which was written by Henry Purcell and arranged by Gunnar Eriksson. After the song, Maurice Hall, the dean of the School of the Arts and Communication, welcomed the audience and explained why TCNJ Chorale chose to dedicate the concert to the Steeles. Hall acknowledged guests in the audience who are colleagues and former students of Steele, as he explained how grateful the College was for the new scholarship. In addition to teaching, Steele began The Opera Workshop, which has now evolved into TCNJ Lyric Theater and TCNJ Musical Theater. The concert continued with the Chorale singing “My Spirit Sang All Day” by Gerald Finzi, “The Coolin’ (The Fair Haired One)” from “Reincarnations” by Samuel Barber and “Even When He is Silent” by Kim André Arnesen. The audience enthusiastically clapped after every song. TCNJ Chorale then performed “Amor, lo Sento L’alma” from Six, “Fire Songs” by Morten Lauridsen and
“The Road Home” by Stephen Paulus. “The Road Home” featured soloist and soprano Brianna Carson, a senior music education major, who sang her part effortlessly as her voice rose above the rest of the voices in the group. Wayne Heisler, the chair of the music department, then took to the stage to show the audience a video dedicated to Steele and his wife. The video expressed the department’s gratitude and had a former student share a fond memory them. The concert continued with “No Mirrors in My Nana’s House” by Y saye M. Barnwell and “Exultate in Domino” by Hyum Kook. “Exultate in Domino” featured Jacob Ford, a sophomore music education major, on the Djembe, a wooden box used as a drum. As Ford sat down to play on the Djembe, he created additional texture to the music that encouraged audience members to sway along. The concert continued with a beautiful performance of “They Say It’s Wonderful” by Irving Berlin arranged and by Steve Zagree, featuring a solo performed by Kathryn Cole, a junior elementary education and
music dual major, who was confident and collected as she sang her solo. The concert ended by featuring a sextet. Six members of TCNJ Chorale were featured in the beginning of the final song with the rest of the group performing in harmony. They sang “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit” (with “Walk Together, Children”) arranged by Allen Koepke. After the performance, the audience broke out into a thunderous round of applause and did not stop even when the group had left the stage. TCNJ Chorale then returned to the stage to perform a brief encore of the final song, which audience members enjoyed, as they gave the performers another loud response. Hutcheson said that as a part of the music department, she enjoys learning about its rich history, including the people that made it what it is today. “I think it’s important that we talk about the people before us every once in a while and remember them, because what the department is and the people who are in it wouldn’t be the same without them,” she said.
page 16 The Signal October 16, 2019
Tuesday Recital showcases variety of student talent First concert of semester celebrates French music By Lana Holgado Correspondent The music department’s students and faculty convened in Mayo Concert Hall on Oct. 1 to listen to their peers perform in the first Tuesday Afternoon Recital of the semester. At least once per semester, all music students are required to perform a piece of repertoire that they are currently working on. Although all were works from the Western art music tradition, the program showcased four different performances varying in mood, instrument and era of composition. First up was Nicholas Marsola, a sophomore music and psychology double major. He took on an ambitious piano piece “Gargoyles, Op. 29” by the modern composer Lowell Liebermann, who is known for his distinct take on modern tonality. Marsola performed two select movements that showcased his technique and expressive range. The first movement he played had a beautiful clear melody that floated above the swirling arpeggios. The second was fast and aggressive with
complicated fingerings, earning him thunderous applause the second he stood up from the piano bench. Next was Matthew Schlomann, a junior music education major who sang “Le Bestiaire (The Bestiary)” by Francis Poulenc, a late 19th century French composer. He and the following two performers were accompanied by staff pianist Nicholas Gatto. Schlomann prefaced his performance by explaining that it was a song cycle, a collection of short songs, which told a story about different animals at a zoo. He encouraged the audience to pay attention to the piano accompaniment for the representations of the different animals. Though Schlomann sang in French, the distinct character of each animal was clear, from the lethargic, swaying camel to the bouncing, jovial dolphin. “My favorite is the carp because in the introduction you can really see the swishing of the tail in the bass notes of the piano,” Schlomann said. Following Schlomann’s performance was Maxwell Mellies, a junior music education major. Mellies along with Gatto performed a movement
Photo courtesy of Miranda Inglese
Cook plays ‘Concerto in E-flat Major’ on his trumpet.
Photo courtesy of Brianna Carson
Schlomann’s repertiore brings a new sound to the stage. from “Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano” by Bernhard Heiden. The 20th century piece incorporated jazzy melodic lines into a traditionally classical form, a subtle juxtaposition that Mellies brought to life beautifully. From start to finish, he appeared composed and confident. Last on the program for that afternoon was Bryan Cook, a junior music education major. Accompanied by Gatto, he gave a great performance on his trumpet of “Concerto in E-flat Major” by Johann Nepomuk Hummel. The selected movement, “Allegro con spirito,” was lively and triumphant, as Cook’s clear tone rang proudly throughout the hall. “I think (my performance) went really well,” Cook said. “The repertoire I chose really challenged me, but I think that’s the point of it. You’re supposed to get out of your comfort zone and play your very best.” Given his confident demeanor and stage presence, the audience had no way of knowing Cook found the piece challenging. The music students waited in the
lobby of Mayo to greet the performers with cheers and hugs of congratulations as they emerged from the basement. The students know what it’s like to feel the pressure of performing, and they always show support for their friends. “I think everyone either sang or played very well,” said Casey Ackerman, a junior music education major who had performed in previous recitals. Schlomann, as both a performer and page-turner, was able to experience the recital in his own way. “I page-turned for Maxwell, so I got to hear his performance, and I thought that went really well,” he said. “It was also my first time page-turning, so I thought it was really interesting to actually be able to follow along with the music while he was playing, so I thought he was great.” Ackerman felt that the show’s success was demonstrated through the effort the performers put into the pieces. “I thought it was a great start to the Tuesday Recital season,” she said. “I thought the confidence and presence from all the performers were exceptional from everyone.”
Band Night fills campus with captivating sounds Groups perform variations of jazz, rock songs By Chelsie Derman Staff Writer
Musical groups at the College came together on Friday, Oct. 11 for Student Band Night – a lively night for both music and non-music majors. In the Brower Student Center Room 225, two bands performed their music live for the awaiting guests. The first band, All Things Brass And Beautiful, played trumpets as dancing arose from the crowd, proving they were moved by the performance. Playing popular songs like “Oops!... I Did It Again” by Britney Spears, the band took well-known songs and created captivating renditions. Gaia Hutcheson, a sophomore music education major who played in the band, said that pop songs connect with a wider audience than the classic genre most music majors are accustomed to listening to in the classroom. Moreover, organizer of the band, Joey Gibbs, a sophomore music education major, discussed how the band came together. Gibbs felt inspired to perform
for the music graduation last year. As a result, he formed a band with Hutcheson and Ryan Haupt, a sophomore music education major. The trio shared a common passion – music. “I feel like a rock star,” Gibbs said. “I feel like a celebrity.” Haupt also discussed why he enjoys playing music as a hobby. “It’s something that’s universal,” Haupt said. “You don’t have to be a music major (to enjoy the songs).” The band also took the time to explain its black-and-white clothing. The men in the band wore all black, while the women wore all white. This decision was deliberate and planned to make a powerful statement. “The white was to highlight and support females who play brass instruments,” Hutcheson said. In the male-dominated world of brass players, the band wanted to put emphasis on how women brass players are just as valued. “As (future) music teachers, we can encourage students to pick instruments,” Hutcheson said. Hutcheson explained that females do not have to gravitate toward the flute and clarinet, while males do not always have to pick
All Things Brass and Beautiful plays ‘Oops!... I Did It Again.’ the brass. “We don’t want to make (people) feel like they have to pick those instruments,” Hutcheson said. “It’s OK for them to choose what they’re drawn to.” The second band, Möbius Stripteas, performed rock songs with bass guitars and drums. The band had two members present, both guitar players, leaving the drum player a
substitute. With the sound flaring through the room, the audience’s mood only escalated, as the number of people dancing increased by the second. Keegan Stahl, a freshman international studies major and one of the band’s guitarists, explained how he borrowed his friend’s bass guitar until he bought his own and discovered what he loved. “I tried a bunch of other
Julia Meehan / Photo Editor
things and it practices so tedious, but it’s so much fun to play the bass guitar,” Keegan said. “It’s the one I really meshed with, I guess.” Following the performance, audience members expressed their enjoyment with applause, while some wanted even more. “I wished they played 17 more songs,” said Devon Almont, a junior psychology major.
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 17
‘Joker’ sparks controversy with dark themes Phoenix’s chilling performance wows audiences
YouTube
The clown terrorizes the people of Gotham City. By Lara Becker Arts & Entertainment Editor Deep in the underbelly of sludge and slime, Gotham City is unearthed once again, but this time in a whole new light – or perhaps a lack thereof. Released on Oct. 4, director Todd Phillips’ “Joker” is more than a comic book fantasy. The film raises questions of morality for audience members, corporations and society, as seen through the eyes of an already popularized character.
“Joker” follows Gotham citizen Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) and his escape from his grim life as he transforms into the Joker. Taking form as the symbol of revolution for the impoverished population that makes up the heart of the city, Fleck internalizes inner and outer demons and becomes a symbol of the world around him – evil. While it was easy for the upper-class citizens of Gotham to write off Fleck and his new followers as “clowns,” the 99
percent made their opposition clear, turning the infamous city on its head. The amount of controversy surrounding this film was unparallelled even before the first screenings. Thought to be a glorification of violence and gore, the film had less than favorable initial reactions. Yet, what the film expresses so brilliantly is how this type of review is the exact social reaction Phillips is commenting on through his filmmaking. The film’s critics cower
behind their fear of delving into the deeper layers of “Joker,” which explores how the beaten-down can be so easily demonized without a second glance. “The Joker is the same as Batman, he just chooses the wrong path,” said Chris Stuckman, an often trending YouTube film reviewer. The movie explores this concept – the lines between good and evil are blurred when the world seems to be out to get you. After dealing with devastating blow after blow, Fleck unravels secrets behind his childhood, wrestles with an unaccepted mental illness and comes to the conclusion that nothing really matters anymore. Contrary to the belief of some reviewers, this is not to say that the film sympathizes with Fleck in the slightest. The camera serves as an omniscient eye into this man’s life and his descent into madness as a result of his troubles. What “Joker” is unabashedly bold in creating in every exquisite shot is discomfort. From devastating close-ups, painstaking emotion and incredible
longing shown through both acting and directing, the film is a revelation. Phoenix’s acting alone is enough to generate Oscar buzz, as his portrayal of Fleck’s sheer melancholy and distress reaches out from screens to shake viewers to their very core. The film is a marvel in its ability to squeeze every emotion out of audience members as they travel through a different kind of Joker story – one that is certainly memorable. And yet, reviewers from The New York Times and The Washington Post postulate that the film is a pointless nothing, with no direction to be found. Shying away from terror is perhaps the scariest thing of all in this case. Are critics too fearful of confronting the realities of true tragedy? Their cowardice pales in comparison to the audacious combination of Phillips’ direction and Phoenix’s acting. What results is nothing short of a masterpiece, all while wearing crimson tweed suits, green hair dye and a shining sanguineous smile.
Blink-182’s ‘Nine’ revamps classic sound
Left: Hoppus dances alongside kids in the music video for ‘Darkside.’ Right: The band performs ‘I Really Wish I Hated You’ at an NFL halftime show. By Debra Kate Schafer Staff Writer Aptly named “Nine,” Blink-182’s latest full-length album is more musically riveting than you would expect for a band that is best known for its angsty, ‘screamable’ lyrics like “work sucks, I know” and “girls are such a drag.” This new record, on the other hand, has a lot less eye-rolling, hormonal, teenage boy perturbation. It’s mature, lyrically and sonically, with a heavier hand on the pop side of pop-punk. Although, with Travis Barker’s insane drumming, the band will never be able to sound too soft. “Nine” consists of 15 beat-heavy, danceable, anthemic tracks that, in total, clock in at just over 41 minutes. It has the same authentic rage and lovelorn anxiety that only Blink-182 has always been able to put into music so melodically and memorably. It has twinkling moments of
electronica that pull on the eccentrism that this toeing-the-line of pop punk record owns wholeheartedly. With its former frontman, Tom DeLonge, being the alien-believing, UFOinvestigating man that he is, the band took on Matt Skiba, who was previously Alkaline Trio’s lead singer. This decision was wise, for he has not only taken the touring role on phenomenally since 2015 by giving old school Blink fans the same feeling that DeLonge provided without trying to overshadow him, but he also once again allowed this new record to reach heights that it might not have been able to if head-in-the-clouds Delonge still fronted the group. Skiba’s vocals are his and he knows it. On this album, and even on stage, he isn’t trying to be Delonge and he isn’t trying to recreate the early sound of Blink-182. His strengths are clear — crisp vocals, the occasional electric guitar shredding
and a breath of fresh air between bassist Mark Hoppus’ sharp singing and endearing awkwardness. Barker, a musical icon in his own right, keeps the pace of the album fast and furious, but still harmonious and in tandem with the technique of each song. The bass lines and drum beats may seem like they overshadow the rest of the instrumentation and vocals at times, but I would leave that to the slightly over-compressed production that the album’s producer, John Feldman, has a tendency to do when getting his hands involved with other people’s music. Feldman, who has previously worked with pop-punk artists like Good Charlotte and All Time Low, mostly has a history in ska-punk with bands like Goldfinger, which have more of an in-your-face edge to their style. “Run Away,” “Hungover You” and the record’s lead single, “Blame It On The
YouTube
Youth,” are some of this album’s most notable songs, drawing on the late ’90s, emo nostalgia that fans have been craving. At least, mostly, since “On Some Emo Shit” is a musical dad-joke in the making, complete with Hoppus’ signature humor found right in the title. Most importantly, the album has belting-from-the-soul lyrics, such as “I don’t really like myself without you” and “all of this frustration inside of my brain,” which are honest and relatable to both new fans and old. Now that the fan base spans generations, the album is applicable to everyone looking for something to scream at the top of their lungs. While staying in tune with its core values, the band has also added in the important aspect of modern-day selfawareness to prove that Blink-182 has indeed matured from its skateboarding, turd-singing, prankster ways.
page 18 The Signal October 16, 2019
TCNJ Dining Services Commuter Focus Group TCNJ Dining is conducting a focus group for commuter students to receive feedback based on their dining experience on and off-campus. Snacks, refreshments, and TCNJ Dining swag will be provided. We will hold four focus group sessions, please select two sessions that work best with your availability. You will be confirmed to one of the two options you selected based on capacity. We are looking to have 8-12 participants per group. Once we receive the 12 max participants in a group, you will be assigned to the other option you selected. Note: The focus groups will be facilitated by the Dining Services marketing team and an out-of-campus marketing specialist. Share this sign up form with your commuter students.
The sessions will be held in Administration Services Building (ASB) 103 at the following times: Wednesday, October 23: 10am - 11am Wednesday, October 23: 5pm - 6pm Thursday, October 24: 10am - 11am Thursday, October 24: 5pm - 6pm
Scan the QR code below to sign up OR email benjamin.zingaro@sodexo.com with your two preferred time slots. Please expect a confirmation by Monday, October 21st. Please note that this is a first come, first serve basis.
October 16, 2019 The Signal page 19
Sports Football
Football falls to 1-1 in NJAC By Matthew Shaffer Staff Writer The College’s football team earned its first victory of the season on Oct. 5, when it traveled to Wayne, New Jersey, and defeated William Paterson University by a score of 17-14. With the win, the team improved to 1-3 on the year and 1-0 in the conference. The Lions won the coin toss and confidently elected to receive. Four plays and 72 yards later, they found themselves on the board thanks to a 54-yard touchdown catch by junior receiver Ean Craig, the first of his career. A couple drives later, William Paterson tied the game with a 10-yard rushing touchdown at the 4:41 mark in the first quarter. Things started to look bad when the College fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and William Paterson scooped it up for a touchdown return, making the score 14-7 after the first quarter. Senior defensive back Xavier Santos came up huge with a timely interception just before halftime. However, the Lions went three and out, leaving the team down 14-7 at halftime. Santos struck again early in the third quarter with another interception, which led to a field goal. With just under six minutes left in the third quarter, senior defensive lineman Erik Graham came up with a huge fumble recovery around midfield, setting junior quarterback Andrew Donoghue up for an eventual fouryard rushing score to give the Lions the lead. The Lions’ defense completely stifled William Paterson’s offense for the remainder of the game, as Santos
came up with his third takeaway to seal the game near the end of the fourth, allowing the Lions to run out the clock and head to the locker room victorious for the first time this season. The Lions traveled back home fired up, and took on Montclair State University in a conference matchup on Saturday, Oct. 12. While the score in this game was close, it wasn’t in
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Graham moves for his third sack of the game.
favor of the Lions, who fell 10-7 and dropped to 1-4 on the year. On the opening drive, the Lions marched down the field with the help of a 35-yard catch by Craig. Two rushing plays later, Donoghue hit senior receiver Vinny Guckin on a fade route for a short touchdown, getting the College off to a fast start with a 7-0 lead. Montclair State wasted no time marching right back down the field, getting the ball inside the 10-yard line for a first-and-goal opportunity. The College’s stout defensive line was able to hold Montclair State to a field goal, making it 7-3 just two possessions into the game. For the rest of the first quarter, the score remained unchanged due to stellar defensive efforts that resulted in six punts. Montclair State then drove down to the 33-yard line, only to get pushed back 10 yards on a holding penalty. The next two plays were sacks by Graham and junior defensive lineman Anthony Cortazzo, pushing Montclair out of field goal range. The teams’ defenses continued to shine the second half, all the way until the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. After a short punt, Montclair State found itself at midfield, leading to the eventual 10-yard desperation touchdown pass on fourth down, which gave it the lead 10-7. The Lions had two more chances to get within field goal range, but they couldn’t string together enough yardage in time. A win could have put the College in a first-place position in their conference, but they are now 1-4, while Montclair State improves to 2-3. In a highly anticipated matchup, as the Lions will face Kean University in their homecoming game at Lions’ Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Cross Country
Draw / Soccer ties two XC runs to success, men take fifth place Men’s Soccer
continued from page 20 The Lions’ defensive unit was able to contain Rutgers-Camden for the rest of the match and seal the win. The team outshot Rutgers-Camden 16-15. Mecadon collected six saves that night, as well as his third shutout of the year. On Oct. 5, the men tied with William Paterson University by a score of 2-2 at Lions’ Stadium. William Paterson scored first in the 26th minute and added to its lead to begin the second half, but the Lions refused to surrender. Junior midfielder Kevin Esteves sent a pass to Dominique, who went one-onone with a William Paterson defender, ultimately sending a pass in from 13 yards out of the net and giving the Lions their first goal of the afternoon. The goal was Dominique’s third score of the season. The equalizer for the Lions came in the 62nd minute, when sophomore midfielder Ryan Santos connected on pass to Yates, who punched it in from the left post and collected his third goal on the year. Neither team was able to break the 2-2 score and the match was sent into overtime. In the second overtime, Dominique had a shot on goal, but it was deflected by the William Patterson goalkeeper. With nine seconds left in the game, William Paterson got called for a handball, which allowed the Lions to attempt a free kick that Esteves sent in. But the William Paterson goalkeeper saved it, ending the match in a 2-2 tie. Mecadon had four saves on the afternoon, while the Lions held a 24-15 advantage in shots. On Saturday, Oct. 12, the men tied with Kean University by a score of 1-1 at Lions Stadium. The draw pushed the Lions to an overall record of 9-2-3 and 1-1-3 in
NJAC play. In the 20th minute, junior midfielder Ryan Vazquez took a header off a free kick that was heading towards the top of the net, but the Kean goalkeeper came up with the Kean scored first in the 67th minute to take a 1-0 lead, but the Lions answered back in the 83rd minute when freshman defenseman Joseph Schlageter scored his first collegiate goal off a loose ball from a shot attempt by Bettino. Dominique had a shot in the 86th minute that sailed just outside of the right post, sending the match into overtime minutes later. Vazquez had a chance to seal the win for the Lions with just under a minute left in the second overtime, but his shot was sent just high of the goal. Mecadon collected five saves on the night for the Lions. The men will be back on the road for an NJAC game against Stockton University tonight at 7 p.m. They will then take on NJAC opponent New Jersey City University on the road on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Maltese throws the ball in.
By Ann Brunn Staff Writer The College’s country teams competed in the Highlander Challenge at New Jersey Institute of Technology on Oct. 5, where the women finished in 14th place and the men came in fifth. The women’s team finished 14th out of 29 teams in a field that consisted of teams from all three NCAA divisions. Senior Hailey Bookwalter finished with a time of 19:54:02 in the 5-kilometer event, which was good compared to the 47th-place finish for the Lions. Freshman Valentina Palomo and sophomore Christina Cauley placed 63rd and 75th, respectively, with times of 20:16:61 and 20:33:86. Freshman Liz Askin and juniors Katelyn Morgan, Casey Hopkins and Sarah Carlson rounded out the scoring places for the Lions. The men finished fifth out of 31 teams in the field, while placing second among Division III competition. Sophomore Stuart Gruters was the top runner for the Lions, posting a 30th-place finish in the 8-kilometer race with a time of 26:50:25. Freshman Kevin Christensen placed close in 35th at a time of 26:59:22. Freshmen Tyler Balas and Michael Bond, sophomore Fabian Mestanza and junior Alex Carideo all placed within 12 seconds of each other, finishing between 41st and 51st place. Sophomore Michael Iannotta rounded out the scoring positions for the Lions with a 59th-place finish. Both teams were back in action on
Saturday, Oct.12, racing in the Ronald C. Hoffmann Invitational at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. The men finished seventh out of 21 teams and had the chance to preview the upcoming regional course. Junior Robert Abrams paced the Lions with a 12th-place overall finish in the 8-kilometer race, running in at 26:02. Sophomore William Mayhew finished in 28th with a time of 26:26:07. Senior Evan Bush and sophomore Patrick Mulligan placed in 45th and 48th, respectively, with nearly identical times. Junior Matt Kole finished in 59th place, while senior Mike Zurzolo and freshman Steven Mendez completed the scoring placements for the Lions. The women finished in ninth place out of 20 teams, while also having the opportunity to preview the upcoming regional course. Sophomore Kelsey Kobus led the charge for the Lions with a 39th place finish in the 6-kilometer race with a time of 24:21:8. Sophomore Nicole Fenske and senior Gabby Devito finished 44th and 47th, respectively, with times of 24:28:2 and 24:33:8. Junior Emily Forester and sophomore Emily Prendergast placed 60th and 72nd, respectively, while senior Ryann Reagan and sophomore Hanna Batchelder rounded out the scoring for the Lions. The men’s and women’s teams will run again on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they compete in the St. Joseph’s College Cross Country Invitational in Patchogue, N.Y.
Sports
Signal
Women’s soccer team shuts out two more NJAC opponents By Christine Houghton Sports Editor
The women’s soccer team started the week with 1-0 a shutout win against William Paterson University on Oct. 5. Junior midfielder Kelly Carolan started off the game with a goal in the 21st minute off an assist from junior forward Randi Smith. This would be the one and only goal for both teams in a game where the Lions grossly outshot their opponent 22-2, with 10 shots on goal compared to WPU’s one shot. Senior goalkeeper Nicole DiPasquale was able to pick up her fifth shutout of the season while the team’s defense held strong. Saturday, Oct. 12, yielded yet another conference win for the team, as it took to the road to compete against Kean University. DiPasquale posted yet another shutout, as the team won 4-0. Early in the game, junior forward Julianna Bertolino kicked in the first goal off an assist by junior defender Faith Eichenour. The 1-0 lead lasted into the early minutes of the second half, when senior midfielder Taylor Nolan scored her third goal of the season. Freshman forward Lindsay O’Keefe moved the lead to 3-0 over Kean with the help of freshman forward Nina Carlson. Senior defender Ally DiRiggi kicked in the final goal of the season thanks to a pass by junior defender
Carolan moves to kick the ball upfield.
Ally Weaver. The College outshot Kean 29-0 with 12 shots on goal, effectively shutting out Kean in every category
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
except for fouls and saves. The team returns to the turf in Lions’ Stadium tonight at 6:30 p.m. against Stockton University.
Men’s soccer ties Field hockey improves William Paterson to 2-0 in conference By Ann Brunn Staff Writer
By Christine Houghton Sports Editor
The men’s soccer team kicked off October with a win over Rutgers University-Camden and a draw against William Paterson University, improving to 9-2-2 overall and 1-1-2 against New Jersey Athletic Conference opponents. On Oct. 2, the Lions bested RutgersCamden under the lights of Lions’ Stadium by a score of 2-0. The Lions struck first in the 30th minute when sophomore defenseman Dante Bettino connected on a header assisted by freshman midfielder Luke Yates to give the College a 1-0 advantage, marking Bettino’s fourth of the season. Junior goalkeeper Daniel Mecadon came up with a save in the 35th minute when Rutgers-Camden had a shot on goal. Mecadon then came up big again three minutes later to keep RutgersCamden scoreless. The rain came pouring down just as the second half began. But the monsoon didn’t deter the Lions. In the 69th minute, freshman forward
The leaves may have changed, but the Lions’ dominance never let up during their strong fall break, as they’ve limited their last three opponents to just one goal combined. Starting off their conference play on Oct. 5, the Lions faced off against Ramapo College, shutting it out 5-0. Sophomore midfielder/defender Camryn Ley scored first for the Lions off a corner from freshman midfielder/defender Jess Hatch, giving them a lead they would carry into halftime. Ley and senior forward Cayla Andrews both scored during the third quarter, moving the College’s lead to 3-0. Senior forward Tori Hannah then found Andrews for the fourth score of the game to start off the final quarter. Hannah scored a goal of her own to close out the game, improving the team to 16-0 against Ramapo all-time. The College outshot its opponent 28-6 and had 19 corners compared to Ramapo’s four. The team stayed at Lions’ Stadium on
Lions Lineup October 16, 2019
I n s i d e
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Dominique battles for possession.
Justin Dominique was fouled by the Rutgers-Camden goalkeeper inside of the box. Bettino intercepted a pass on the sideline, which he was able to center to Dominique, allowing for senior midfielder Michael Maltese to send in a penalty kick and stretch the Lions’ lead to 2-0 while claiming his third goal of the season. see DRAW page 19
Football page 19
Oct. 8 to take on Eastern University in a matchup that ultimately went in favor of the College by a score of 8-1. Hatch, Hannah, Andrews, freshman forward Emmalee Olsen and junior midfielder Samantha Reed all each had one goal during the game. Junior forward Tori Tiefenthaler had an impressive day, with five shots on goal and three total goals throughout the game. The Lions outshot yet another opponent, this time 30-5. Saturday, Oct. 12, yielded a 4-0 shutout over William Paterson University. Peterson scored twice during the game, one in the second quarter and one in the fourth. Hatch assisted one of Peterson’s goals and scored one of her own in the second quarter. Hannah offered an assist to Tiefenthaler at the start of the second quarter for the first score of the game and Tiefenthaler’s 100th career goal. As usual, the team outshot its opponent, this time 36-13. The Lions return to the turf on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they will travel to Montclair State University for a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest.
Cross Country page 19