Vandalism in freshman dorms draws attention across campus
By Aidan Mastandrea News Editor
A recent slew of vandalism in Wolfe and Travers Halls has caused the College to step in and take action.
Freshmen occupy both Travers and Wolfe, and like many years prior, there have been issues with students being loud and damaging the building. Throughout the fall 2024 semester, students in Wolfe received multiple emails regarding a multitude of issues, including but not limited to defecating on bathroom walls and writing slurs with feces, and damage to elevators.
“It’s important that you understand that
Photo by Andre Paras
this is not behavior that will be tolerated in the residence halls–or anywhere else on campus,” Residence Director Ky’Ara McCray wrote in an email sent to students on Dec. 4, 2024. “It shows a lack of maturity and a need for supervision that is greater than what a residence hall should need to provide.
The problems have carried over into the spring semester. Broken tiles in Wolfe in late February sparked an email to the students from Residential Education and Housing on Feb. 24.
“Students or their guests tore down ceiling tiles and urinated in the elevator. This behavior is unacceptable and disgusting,” the email said. “We recognize that this behavior
Over 100 protest Trump executive order at New Jersey State House
By Isabella Darcy Managing Editor
Over 100 protestors gathered at the New Jersey State House this afternoon to stand up against an executive order they believe threatens the United States’ democracy. The executive order, titled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” sparked outrage from activists who came from all across the state to voice discontent with the directive, as well as other actions taken by President Donald Trump and his administration.
The New Jersey branch of 50501, a political action organization that frequently protests the policies and actions of the Trump Administration, organized the demonstration. The opposed executive order, which, according to Lawfare, “expands presidential oversight of agencies and asserts ‘authoritative interpretation’ of executive branch law by the president,” was signed on Feb. 18. 50501 says the directive “makes [Trump] a king in all but name.”
“No king, no crown, we the people won’t back down,” the large and diverse crowd of passionate picketers
repeated. Rallyers kept up with that energy for the duration of the demonstration.
Along with chanting numerous anti-Trump rally cries, many of those in attendance carried anti-Trump signs. Some phrases written on them included, “IMPEACH FELON,” “WE DON’T WANT THIS” and “NO KING.”
does not reflect the upbringing and maturity of all our Wolfe residents, but it is something that we cannot tolerate.”
The College implored those who were not involved in the vandalism to speak out and report any knowledge they have regarding the incidents. There are many students who disavow the actions and wish it would come to a stop.
“I really feel bad for the custodial workers that have to clean up the mess of the people causing damage to the towers,” said Wolfe resident and freshman biology major Thomas Walega. “These people work hard to keep the towers clean, and to make their job harder is just being inconsiderate and disrespectful.”
On Feb. 28, Michelle Forbes, associate director of residential education, sent another email to residents of the towers, scheduling a mandatory meeting for all who live in Wolfe Hall.
“Nothing about this situation is funny; the fact that we have to inconvenience the entire community for a few people who are incapable of empathizing enough to maintain their community is extremely sad and a waste of people’s time,” Forbes wrote.
The College has threatened the student residents with having to split repair costs, regardless of involvement. Forbes’ email also stated that a student “took responsibility for some of the damage.”
Parents have gotten involved as the threat continues to rain down on possibly innocent students.
See TOWERS page 2
HSS proposes reconstruction to address resource challenges, improve efficiency
By Isabella Darcy Managing Editor
A proposal to reconstruct the School of Humanities and Social Sciences is currently being evaluated by the campus community. The reconstruction effort aims to address problems unique to HSS, reduce the stress of small HSS programs through resource sharing and more.
Christopher Fisher, the interim dean of HSS, presented the reconstruction proposal to students on Feb. 26 in the Intercultural Center. The current way HSS runs is “not sustainable,” according to Fisher.
“We have to split our resources between all of these departments and there’s just not enough resources to go around, so we’ve been cutting corners, which means, of course, we’re giving those departments and programs less support,” Fisher said.
The reconstruction proposal was developed by a committee made up of Fisher, 11 professors, a program assistant and two members of the dean’s office.
A significant part of the reconstruction involves reducing the school from 10 departments to six. No major, minor, certificate or class would change under the new model. Rather, the difference would lay within how HSS operates.
Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez
cates for mental health in visit to campus
By Alena Bitonti Arts & Entertainment Editor
Less than one month after “Saturday Night Live” star Marcello Hernandez performed a sold-out comedy show for students, the College Union Board brought another big name to campus: Laurie Hernandez, an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.
On March 4, Hernandez delivered a heartfelt lecture in Mayo Concert Hall, sharing her journey from childhood gymnastics to success, while emphasizing the importance of mental health and selfcare.
Doors for the event opened at 8 p.m. and the show began at 8:30 p.m. Students lined up early to secure their seats, as the event was first come, first serve and not ticketed.
“I wanted to come to Laurie Hernandez because I think she is such an amazing gymnast,” said Isabela Sanchez, a junior elementary education and art major.
In an interview with The Signal, members of CUB Live shared that it was initially uncertain whether they would host a lecture this semester. However, they were eager to bring an athlete to campus, as it had been quite some time since one had visited.
“We thought Laurie would be a perfect fit and a great way to kick off Women’s History Month,” said junior interdisciplinary business major Harrison Fehn.
Throughout her lecture, Hernandez shared about the mental challenges she faced during her career. She often found herself thinking the worst and struggled with anxiety during competitions. She credited her parents’ unwavering support for helping her persevere, saying, “Without that, I would not be sitting right in front of you right now.”
Hernandez spoke about her start in gymnastics at 5 years old. She recalled watching gymnastics on television, and knowing she wanted to do what those athletes were doing.
By 2013, Hernandez qualified for the U.S. junior national team and scored second. She shared that a major injury in early 2014, in which she dislocated her kneecap and tore her patellar tendon, took her out of the sport for some time.
After experiencing signs of burnout, Hernandez spoke about how she quit gymnastics in 2016. Although it only lasted three days, she ultimately learned the importance of pacing herself and taking breaks.
see LAURIE page 12
The College held a mandatory meeting for all Wolfe residents on March 3.
advo-
Photo by Isabella Darcy Protestors gathered on March 1.
ResEd offers temporary housing in Decker for juniors and seniors next semester
By Eddie Young Sports Editor
The College’s Residential Education and Housing has implemented a new policy, offering temporary housing on the first floor of Decker Hall to juniors and seniors who missed out on signing up for housing in Hausdoerffer, Phelps and the townhouses for the next academic year. The upperclassmen would then be offered a chance to switch into the apartments or the townhouses when spots open up.
Previously, if all of the spots in the apartments and the townhouses filled up, the remaining juniors and seniors would not be offered any temporary housing, as upperclassmen are not guaranteed on-campus housing.
“We know that we typically experience ‘melt,’ which means some students who applied and selected housing will not return in the Fall,”
Tina Tormey, director of residential education and housing, said in an email. “Those students leaving will open up spaces in the townhouses and apartments for many, if not all, of the students currently tentatively housed on Decker 1. It seemed to make sense to provide students with a temporary assignment instead of no assignment.”
According to Tormey, there are currently 28 upperclassmen students who are temporarily placed on the first floor of Decker. However, even
with the surplus of upperclassmen being placed here, this will not cause a problem for sophomore housing next year, as there are still spots available for late applicants and transfer students in sophomore dorms.
Tormey believes this new method will work out for all of the juniors and seniors who are placed in Decker at the moment.
“Last year, we had 358 returning students who selected a room but then cancelled their housing contract prior to the sign up timeline for Drop & Go,” she said. “Based on this melt, we anticipate both being able to shift the upperclassmen on Decker 1 into spaces in the Apartments and the Townhouses and meet the anticipated needs of transfer students seeking housing this summer.”
Sophomore Andrew Parisi will not be one of the 28 students temporarily placed on the first floor of Decker, as he did not want to deal with the possibility of staying there all year. Instead, he went for the more certain, yet more expensive, option of living in Campus Town for the next academic year.
As someone who is currently living in Decker, Parisi did not want to take the chance that he may be living in the same air conditioningless building again.
“I am in the Anti-Violence Initiative and I have to move in a week early to do prep for Welcome Week,” Parisi, a psychology major,
Towers / Parents and students upset
Continued from page 1
Parents have gotten involved as the threat continues to rain down on possibly innocent students.
On March 4. a parent of two students at the College penned a letter to the editor, outlining their concerns with living conditions in the towers.
“To now attempt to blame all the students of the Towers by passing those costs for the actions of a few is not appropriate,” the anonymous parent wrote. “While other universities in the area are investing and improving on-campus housing, the College has fallen behind the competition and is driving more and more students to off campus housing or commuting.”
The College quickly responded to the anonymous parent with a letter of their own, written by Sean Stallings, vice president of student affairs at the College.
“Many of our alumni and current students view living in the Towers as a rite of passage for first-year students that fosters deep connections
said. “Air conditioning is important.”
Parisi said that ResEd sent him an email explaining that he would most likely have the opportunity to move into a new dorm if space becomes available, but even with this reassurance, he still decided to take the guarantees that came with Campus Town.
“I was surprised that they offered Decker as the first spot for upperclassmen, arguably the worst of the sophomore dorms,” Parisi said.
“If I got the offer to stay in New Res or Eick or the townhouses I don’t think I would have jumped to Campus Town as quickly, but [ResEd] has been trying to help.”
Even though he originally wished to stay on campus, Parisi is still okay with his choice of housing for next year.
“I can have my own room, but that’s what most of my class was offered,” he said. “I had to flush out some more cash to do that.”
Decker and Cromwell halls to receive air conditioning in 2026
By Matthew Kaufman Former Editor-in-Chief
Decker and Cromwell will be the next residence halls on campus to get air conditioning, after the Board of Trustees approved the project at its meeting on Feb. 25.
The installation, which has an estimated cost of $2 million, has a targeted completion date of August 2026. The project is funded by capital housing reserves, according to the Board of Trustees meeting agenda.
The College has not yet settled on what specific type of air conditioning system will be used in the buildings, Sharon Blanton, the College’s vice president of operations, told The Signal in a statement. Norsworthy Hall received window air conditioning units at the beginning of this academic year.
overall cost of the project.”
High heat in residence halls has been a challenge for students of the College, especially at the outset of academic years. In the fall 2023 semester, several students sought medical attention due to the heat experienced in their dorms.
and lasting memories,” said Stallings in his letter. “With respect to the vandalism, we are working with Campus Police to try to identify the individuals responsible and hold them accountable for their actions.”
The damage to the tiles has been repaired, and according to students who attended the mandatory meetings, the cost of damages is around $2,000.
“Constantly hearing about the vandalism, destruction and misbehavior in the Towers is very unfortunate and frustrating,” said Wolfe resident and early childhood education and psychology major Lyndsey Lorentzen. “It is not fair for punishment, warnings or fines to be given to all students who do abide by the rules, for possibly just one person’s wrong actions.”
Editor’s note: Isabella Darcy, The Signal’s managing editor, is employed by Residential Education and Housing, but was not involved in the reporting or editing of this article.
“We are very excited to get the project started,” Blanton said.
The cooling upgrade will serve more than 600 students in total, according to Shawn Sarver, the College’s associate vice president for facilities management.
“The buildings are very similar so a single design, with some modifications, can be used for both buildings,” Sarver said in a statement. “This helps reduce the
This issue is not unique to the College, as universities across the country with older residence buildings have been grappling with keeping students safe and comfortable in the face of rising temperatures and longer-lasting heat due to climate change. In 2019, the student newspaper at the University of Maryland, The Diamondback, placed heat sensors in eight of the school’s residence halls without air conditioning and found that the average heat index in the buildings, which takes into account both heat and humidity, never went below 80 degrees during a week in September.
For students who are not in airconditioned buildings, Residential Education & Housing provides several recommendations for staying cool.
According to an email sent to residents in August 2024, these include putting your sheets in the fridge or freezer before bed, creating a cross-breeze in the room and wrapping frozen water bottles in a cloth.
Photo by Brooke Zevon
There are 28 current upperclassmen students temporarily placed in Decker.
Photo by Andre Paras
The project is estimated to cost $2 million.
The damages in Wolfe cost around $2,000.
Photo by Andre Paras
Proposal/ Fisher lays out possible changes
Continued from page 1
Some programs would be housed under different departments in the new model, but would “stay exactly the same,” according to Fisher.
Size and affinity were both factors for where programs are placed in the proposed structure. This approach aims to create more efficient departments.
“When you have small departments and you expect them to do what a big department is supposed to do, you’re going to burn people out,” Fisher said. “If you can group those programs together and they can share those responsibilities, it might actually release some stress.”
Reassigning current smaller departments to be programs within larger departments would also make them less likely to be targeted by administrative cuts, because smaller tends to equal first to go, according to Fisher.
Reconstruction could also make registration loads more reasonable for department chairs and program assistants, help each program “play to its strengths” and make HSS similar to other schools.
Some possible disadvantages of reconstruction could include the breaking up of programmatic pairings with histories and connections, increased overall workloads of PA’s and department chairs, and the need to select
Protest/ Crowd gathers at state house
Continued from page 1
Nicholas Incollingo, a 45-yearold from Delran, New Jersey, usually expresses his political opinions on social media, but decided to take his activism offline today. Incollingo told The Signal that he is fighting against blatant violations of the Constitution.
“It’s a disgrace,” Incollingo said. “I think everything the United States did right was moving away from the kings of the 18th century and prior to that. We were leading the world in the movement away from that and now we’re leading the world back to it.”
Sixty-five-year-old Jeffrey Haba traveled from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, to publicly oppose Trump, who he describes as a tyrant.
“For us as citizens, it [tyranny] is dangerous because we lose control of what we can do,” Haba told The Signal. “They’re taking away the rights of the people.”
Rylie, a 21-year-old college student who only felt comfortable giving her first name, attended the protest to speak out against attacks on her rights, and show her 6-year-old daughter that she too can feel empowered to stand up for what she believes in. Because of the current political climate, Rylie fears for the future of women’s rights, and what it means for
her and her daughter.
“It’s really important that she grows up in a world where she feels safe and protected in her body, and to have a decision when she’s older if anything were to happen,” Rylie said. “I can’t imagine, if something were to happen to her, her being forced to not have a choice.”
Like other demonstrators, 58-year old Teri, who only felt comfortable giving her first name, told The Signal she joined the picket because she is unhappy with the actions of Trump and his administration.
“I can’t think of anything that they’ve done that I actually support, or that makes America better,” Teri said. “I think it only hurts the average American, to the benefit of the oligarchs and the billionaires.”
Teri, along with many other picketers, brought up that the U.S. is set up with checks and balances to keep someone from being in absolute power.
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Teri said. “And we need to hold on to any checks and balances we have.”
Teri voiced her frustration with Republicans in Congress, who she says are letting power go unchecked, and the Supreme Court who she does not trust to uphold justice.
“It’s up to us now,” Teri said. “That’s all we’ve got. We’ve got to show up for each other.”
department chairs, according to Fisher.
While everyone in HSS would in some way feel the effects of reconstruction, PA’s and department chairs would be immediately and directly affected.
With four less departments, HSS would need four less department chairs than it currently has. Department chairs would be selected by faculty and staff within the programs of each department.
HSS PA’s would face reallocation in the case of reconstruction. The departments of psychology and English and world languages — the largest departments — would both receive two PA’s, and the other four departments would receive one each.
Fisher said he would aid PA’s and department chairs in the transition process.
“I would call on the chairs and PA’s to tell us what they need in order to be adequately supported,” Fisher said.
Reconstructing HSS would save the school an unknown small amount of money, according to Fisher, who emphasized that cost savings are not the only reason for the proposed effort.
Since becoming interim dean, Fisher has been tasked with refining HSS under expectations set by Academic Affairs. This is not unique to HSS.
Although Fisher and other HSS committee members conceived the ideas for reconstruction, it is not their call when it comes to whether they get implemented. Rather, the committee’s role is to gather feedback from the public about the ideas and then deliver the best
option to the president and provost. It has been doing this through presentations to faculty, staff and students.
Fisher will present the committee’s ideas to improve HSS to President Michael Bernstein and Interim Provost Suzanne McCotter in early to midMarch, in either a proposal, document or other format if determined necessary.
“I know if we make a decision to stay here [in the school’s current structure], the people who make that decision care about TCNJ,” Fisher said. “That’s valid, that’s fine…Everybody who’s working on this, whether they agree or not, they all are trying to do the very best they can for TCNJ.”
Trenton Elks build little pantry in Ewing
By Aidan Mastandrea News Editor
The Trenton Elks Lodge 105 recently built a little pantry with the goal of helping people in need. The pantry can be found at 42 Decou Ave. in Ewing.
According to their website, the Elks are one of the “largest fraternal organizations in the country,” with over 1 million members across the country. The Trenton lodge has around 450 members.
Every year, the Trenton Elks receive upwards of five grants from the national Elk organization. One grant specifies use for food and security, and after some brainstorming, the group decided to request money to build their own pantry.
“We found out about the little pantry project and it kind of spiraled into that,” said Trenton Elks Exalted Ruler Jim Castelize. “It was like a whirlwind of how it happened.”
The little pantry movement has started to gain traction nationwide as a way to support those who may need food or other essential goods.
As described on littlefreepantry.
org, “The mini pantry movement is a grassroots, crowdsourced solution to immediate and local need. Whether a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods.”
While there are already large pantries and other support set up for folks in the area, this “little pantry” can be an alternative for many. According to littlefreepantry, “29% of those experiencing food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs.”
“There’s a subset of people that are afraid to go to [other food pantries] for just straight embarrassment,” said Castelize.
At any time, anyone can take goods from the pantry, no matter their financial status. Castelize understands that some goods that are taken may not be of necessity.
“Who cares? It’s there for people to take stuff,” said Castelize. “I mean I don’t care if somebody’s [just] having a bad day.”
The Trenton Elks received $2,000 to help with the project, which gave them enough to stock up heavily on goods for the pantry. According to Castelize, they have already had to restock the pantry after less than a week.
“We’ve already had members donate, and the idea behind it… is that you take something, you leave something,” said Castelize. “The idea is that it should be self sufficient.”
The Trenton Elks are always looking to help the community. In 2024, they provided over 400 backpacks along with school supplies to the Trenton school district.
In just a week, the Elks’ decision to bring the little pantry movement to Ewing has already made an impact.
“It was one of those things we thought would be a great addition to the community,” said Castelize.
Photo by Isabella Darcy Fisher created the proposal with colleagues.
Photo courtesy of Jim Castelize
A group from the Elks stocked the pantry.
Chart by Isabella Darcy
Over 100 protestors were on site at the state house.
Photo by Isabella Darcy
Interim provost pays visit to Student Government before her departure
By Raeanne Raccagno Copy Editor
Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Suzanne McCotter visited Student Government to talk about her current responsibilities and the improvements underway in Academic Affairs at the College on Feb. 26.
On Feb. 13, President Michael Bernstein sent an email to inform the campus community that McCotter will be leaving the College at the end of June to become the dean of graduate programs at Bank Street College of Education in Manhattan. Before her departure, she discussed academic affairs’ accomplishments and what’s to come at the College for students.
This was the first time the provost was invited to a Student Government general body meeting. “I’m really excited to be here and talking with you today, so I’ll be here for the first time and for the last time. So you’re it, you’re my everything,” McCotter
said.
McCotter also leads the Council of Deans, which has been discussing scheduling and registration.
“Up until November, [course registration] might have sounded really boring to you, but I know that it doesn’t sound boring anymore,” McCotter said.
One of the ways McCotter sees registration problems easing up is by having more advising resources. Students will be assigned to faculty and professional advisors to help even out the number of cases counselors are overseeing.
She said this will help the College more effectively forecast what classes are needed in the future to avoid registration issues.
McCotter also mentioned that they will not have the same scheduling constraints as they did in the past due to financial issues because “today, we’re good for the next five years, we’ve got the money we need.”
According to McCotter, the budget
TCNJ debuts AED, Stop the Bleed kit and Narcan familiarization training sessions
By Tristan Weisenbach Editor-in-Chief
The College announced in a Feb. 27 email new familiarization training sessions on the use of automated external defibrillators, Stop the Bleed kits and Narcan administration. The sessions are open to all members of the College community.
“The training will cover the basics of how to recognize situations where these tools are needed and how to effectively use them,” Dan Posluszny, emergency preparedness and fire safety manager, wrote in the email. “Knowing how to respond in a medical emergency can make a significant difference.”
The familiarization trainings will last about one hour and will occur at the following locations and times:
• Recreation Center lobby – March 7 at 11 a.m.
• Brower Student Center Traditions lounge/stage – March 12 at 11 a.m.
• Education Building room 112 –March 12 at 2 p.m.
• Travers/Wolfe lounge – March 26 at 6 p.m.
• Cromwell Hall lounge – March 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Sharon Blanton, vice president for operations, told The Signal that these new in-person trainings were developed by incorporating feedback from Student Government after the implementation of the College’s first online mandatory student safety training last year, which included
hole came from the College not being efficient and holding themselves to a budget, so they would run multiple classes that had low enrollment, thus causing the school money.
“We overcorrected last year. We did not do a good job because we were told we didn’t have enough money to do a good job and that hurt a lot of people,” McCotter said. “We fixed it…I think the biggest hurt was the anxiety that it caused when people went home for winter break because they didn’t know exactly what their next semester was going to look like.”
Some of the methods Academic Affairs is using to fix any anxiety is having money ready to deploy for opening needed classes, getting accurate data for the demand of what and when classes are required and working on projects to have a centralized way of developing scheduling.
The department is also working on making sure the classrooms assigned to courses are the right fit to avoid classroom switches.
One proposal that’s gone through governance is giving majors and departments the option of reducing their requirements from 32 to 30 units, which still meets state requisites and may give more scheduling flexibility.
McCotter also sits on the Council for Strategic Plans and Priorities, which has been examining how to combine the College’s two strategic plans, one for 2027 and the other for inclusive excellence. According to McCotter, the group has also been looking at components that involve the College’s strategic priorities and external forces that may impact the school.
“There are headwinds for us so we’ll just keep on fighting those headwinds as best as we can,” McCotter said.
McCotter told the general body
to pay attention when the College reaches out for student opinions on what the new core curriculum should look like.
“One of the things that we need to get away from is separating professional preparation from the core. The core is professional preparation,” McCotter said.
Another provost project of McCotter’s has been nurturing the association between Academic Affairs and some non-academic units. She highlights how non-academic units, like the Center for Student Support, have a significant impact on students’ scholarly success.
She also stated that Academic Affairs has a close relationship with mental health counseling available at the College.
“If our students are not getting the support they need in terms of their mental health, then they’re not going to be successful academically,” McCotter said. “So it’s been a strong priority of mine to make sure that there are open lines of communication not only between myself and the other vice presidents of those divisions, but also among all the staff.”
McCotter also discussed math placement tests at the College after one general body attendee raised the issue of students not placing high enough and then having to graduate later. The provost said they are making sure that their placement tests are giving them accurate information and that they’re pondering a summer bridge program for students who are not “calc-ready.”
Other ambitions the provost has been a part of are digitizing forms for more swift processes and recognizing more efficiencies within the College. Additional changes are mergers of some departments to help divisions become bigger and have more resources.
Campus Town fitness center revamping its gym
video modules for topics including active shooter situations and fire emergencies.
“Rather than putting together a whole other series of videos, we decided, let’s try doing in-person so that we can actually take the AED off the wall. They can hold it, they can touch it, they can understand what it would be like,” Blanton said.
She clarified that these familiarization training sessions do not replace the mandatory online training, which is still required to be completed by all new students every year. However, the College is looking to better customize the online video modules to condense them and make them more specific to the needs of students in the future.
The familiarization trainings will also be offered to the staff senate and the faculty senate, and will be conducted by TCNJ Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety personnel.
Students, faculty, staff and other groups or organizations on campus are encouraged to contact Campus Police or the Emergency Preparedness office to schedule other safety training upon request, including fire and active shooter awareness, medical emergencies or general safety.
“Oftentimes, we’ll get questions like, ‘Hey, there’s certain times of day that I’m in this building in this room that’s all glass. If there were an active shooter, what should I do?’” Blanton said.
According to Blanton, additional training series will be added in the future depending on the level of interest in these first three topics.
By Victoria Gladstone Former Editor-in-Chief
The fitness center in Campus Town is getting an aesthetic make-over and more machines added to the cardio section — the first large revamp since opening almost 10 years ago.
Within the gym, all 12 treadmills have been replaced with better technology models, and two more were added to accommodate a higher demand. All wall paint has also been re-done, with more consideration for school colors and pride.
A new design layout for the cardio section has been created and the gym replaced a broken chest press machine, according to David Ilaria, the fitness coordinator for recreation and wellness at the College.
Ilaria says the new equipment and changes to the space will allow for a safer and more appealing exercise environment.
While still in the early stages, the fitness center staff and other staff from the College are considering adding in new logos and branding to the gym space and on all of the machines. The branding
would most likely be created through a partnership with a larger company to sponsor.
The sign-in desk at the lobby has also been replaced to become more functional, and has been relocated. With this, employees of the gym who work the front desk will have a better view of the entrance for safety purposes.
Gianna Sassi, who’s been working at the gym for over a year, says she believes the new look will attract more students to a cleaner space.
“It’s very presentable, so I think that more people will be inclined to come to the gym more often,” said Sassi, a junior marketing major. “At first, the yellow [paint] was very bright for me, honestly, but I like how clean it is.”
Rachel Malick, another junior marketing major who works at the Campus Town gym, says she likes the more professional look for the gym but does not believe that the changes will have a significant impact on the fitness center.
Senior world languages and linguistics major Arianna Harley says she thinks the gym looks fresh and new, though she only cares about whether or not the machines work. After coming back from a year studying abroad in Japan, she said she noticed the newer technology in the treadmills.
There is not a set date for when all renovations will be completed, though the treadmill installation and the new wall painting is finished. Students of the College can expect to see more changes to the gym once decisions are finalized as to how the staff plans to decorate the space.
The Signal and Campus Police work together on a weekly basis to inform the campus community about crime on and around campus. All records given to The Signal are public records and do not contain personal information. Some information provided may be triggering for some students.
Feb. 19: Nauseous student
At approximately 9:03 a.m., Campus Police responded to Cromwell Hall on a report of a student who felt nauseous. Upon arrival, they were met with the student who reported feeling ill starting at approximately midnight. She stated that she had vomited in the second-floor lobby and requested to be taken to the hospital. Capital Health EMS arrived and assumed care, and the patient was transported to Capital Health Hopewell for further treatment.
Feb. 20: Booted
Campus Police investigated a parking violation involving a black 2011 BMW 328i. According to NJ Department of Motor Vehicles records, the vehicle was originally registered as a red 1999 Chevrolet Prizm, but at the time of the citation, it displayed a different license plate. A VIN search confirmed the BMW’s registration, but a check through the College’s CAD system revealed no known association with the registered vehicle.
The BMW was ticketed for parking without a decal or permit and boot removal, bringing its total outstanding balance to $300. An immobilization device was placed on the front driverside wheel, along with two orange boot notices on the windshield and driver-side window. At the time of the report, it is unknown who is the suspect in the boot report as it is unclear who was operating the vehicle.
Feb. 21: Another boot
While conducting parking enforcement in Lot 5 at approximately 11:19 a.m., Campus Police identified a blue Subaru Impreza with three unpaid citations totaling $125. The three unpaid tickets were verified, and an orange immobilization tag was placed on the driver’s side window and a yellow boot on the driver’s side wheel.
Two additional tickets were issued and placed under the wiper — one for not having a decal and another for the boot placement — bringing the total fines to $225.
Feb. 21: Medical emergency
On the report of a student experiencing a seizure during class, Campus Police were dispatched to the Social Sciences Building at 2:04 p.m. Upon arrival, the student was conscious and standing as he packed his belongings. Campus Police escorted the student outside and had him sit in an empty chair in the hallway until Lawrence EMS arrived. The student refused further medical attention.
Feb. 22: Leak triggers alarm
At 5:06 p.m., Campus Police were dispatched to Forcina Hall for an active fire alarm. Strobes and audible alarms were active upon arrival, and a check of the Honeywell fire panel in the basement indicated a red light alarm on the third floor. After notifying the College’s fire safety specialist, officers discovered that two construction workers had accidentally hit an active water pipe on the fourth floor while cutting through concrete, causing a leak that triggered the alarm.
The Ewing Fire Department arrived at 5:16 p.m. and confirmed the alarm was due to the water leak. The Honeywell system was reset, but the fire alarm reactivated approximately 25 minutes later. Campus Police successfully reset the system without calling the fire department, and a technician would be sent to resolve the recurring issue.
Feb. 23: Hit-and-run
At 1:40 a.m., a hit-and-run occurred in Lot 7 involving a white Mercedes Benz and a parked white Nissan Altima. The Nissan owner reported that she came out to her vehicle and noticed damage on the back left bumper. She had moved her vehicle prior to reporting the incident but later returned to the scene. Upon inspection, a large dent and black marks were observed on the back left bumper.
A nearby CCTV camera captured footage of the incident, showing the Mercedes attempting to park beside the Nissan. The footage showed the Nissan shifting upon impact, after which the driver of the Mercedes exited the vehicle, inspected both cars, then re-entered and parked in another location under the same camera.
At approximately 9:30 p.m., the vehicle exited Lot 7. A review of the license plate reader confirmed that the Mercedes had entered campus just before the incident. The registered owner’s address matched that of a student. On Feb. 25, campus police spoke with the driver, who admitted to striking the vehicle. An inspection of the Mercedes revealed dark-colored streaks and dents down its right side.
Feb. 23: Sick student
Feb. 24: Not a seizure
At approximately 12:42 p.m., Campus Police arrived at The Atrium at Eickhoff for a report of a seizure. Upon arrival, the resident student was conscious and breathing, stating that he had only “spaced out” and did not experience a seizure.
The caller, a student, confirmed that the student did not lose consciousness, hit his head, or sustain any injuries during the episode. Ewing EMS responded and evaluated the student, but he refused further medical services.
Feb. 25: One last boot
Campus Police booted a gray Ford Escape parked in Lot 2. The vehicle did not display a parking decal or permit, and it was verified the vehicle was bootable due to three outstanding TCNJ parking tickets totaling $150.
An orange immobilization notice was placed on the driver’s side window, and two additional tickets were issued for lack of a decal and boot removal, bringing the total outstanding fines to $250. It was later confirmed that the outstanding tickets had been paid in full, and the boot was removed from the vehicle.
Feb. 25: Laundry day disaster
further evaluation. The patient refused further medical assistance.
Feb. 28: Too much tequila
An intoxicated male was found lying flat on his face, conscious but disoriented on the first floor of Lot 7. Campus Police arrived at approximately 1:55 a.m. and spoke with the individual’s friend. He stated that neither of them were students at the College, and they had come to campus to visit friends and had been out drinking earlier in the night. He reported that the intoxicated male had appeared normal when picked up but began vomiting upon arrival at Lot 7. The friend stated that the individual had been drinking tequila but was unsure how much he had consumed.
Lions EMS arrived on the scene and assumed patient care. At approximately 2:15 a.m., Ewing EMS arrived and later transported the individual to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.
Feb. 28: False alarm
A male student was experiencing persistent vomiting, prompting Campus Police to respond to Hausdoerffer Hall at approximately 12:11 p.m. The student was lying on his bed upon arrival, and stated he had been throwing up since approximately 6:00 a.m. after drinking the previous night.
Ewing EMS arrived and assumed patient care at 12:19 p.m. The student was transported to Capital Health Hopewell for further medical assistance.
Feb. 23: Big Mac or heart attack?
At 7:12 p.m., a dispatch was made to the rear entrance of Travers Hall in response to a medical call. Ewing EMS arrived on the scene simultaneously with Campus Police at 7:14 p.m. The patient reported calling 911 after eating two cheeseburgers and experiencing numbness in his left arm. Upon arrival, officers observed the patient standing on the curb, alert and speaking clearly, though slightly worried about his condition.
He informed officers and EMS that he had searched his symptoms online and believed he was suffering a heart attack. The patient expressed interest in being transported for further evaluation and was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for medical assessment.
Campus Police responded to an active fire alarm at Travers Hall at approximately 3:00 p.m. Audible and strobe alarms were activated upon arrival, and a full evacuation of Wolfe and Travers Halls was
underway. The fire alarm panel indicated that smoke detectors in the Travers Hall corridor near the laundry room had been triggered. A burning odor was observed coming from the laundry room. When the Ewing Fire Department arrived on the scene, they cleared the laundry room and determined that the cause of the alarm was a washing machine that had been overloaded with laundry. The fire alarm panel was reset, and Wolfe and Travers residents reoccupied the buildings.
Feb. 27: Bad pass
A patient who hit his head in the Recreation Center requested a medical evaluation. At approximately 9:30 p.m., Campus Police arrived and found the patient sitting alone in the lobby. The patient stated that he had been playing football with friends when a pass was thrown over his head. In an attempt to catch it, his momentum carried him headfirst into the exterior wall of the Rec Center.
The patient recalled raising his hand to absorb some of the impact before hitting his head. Initially, he saw strange colors and experienced blurriness in one eye, but the symptoms had since subsided. He did not lose consciousness and only reported minor pain on one side of his head. An examination showed no swelling or visible injury, and since lights did not cause the patient discomfort, a concussion was deemed unlikely.
Lions EMS arrived at approximately 9:36 p.m. and assumed patient care. Ewing EMS arrived at 9:41 p.m. for
At approximately 2:40 a.m., Campus Police were dispatched to Townhouses East for a fire alarm activation — returning to the same units that had experienced an alarm earlier in the night. Upon arrival, strobes and audibles were activated, prompting a full evacuation of three units.
The Ewing Fire Department arrived on the scene at 2:42 a.m., and was escorted to the room identified as the point of origin. No signs of smoke or fire were found. It was determined that the activation was likely the result of a malfunction.
The resident was informed that the alarm may have been triggered by a fan positioned at the top of a cabinet in close proximity to the smoke alarm. They were advised to turn the fan off or lower it to prevent further issues. Both panels were reset and all units cleared the scene.
March 1: Mac and cheese mishap
In response to an activated fire alarm, Campus Police were dispatched to Allen, Brewster, and Ely Hall at 6:40 p.m. There were no strobes or audible alarms sounding, and the annunciator panel indicated the activation was in a room in Brewster.
An odor of burnt food was detected in the hallway. The Ewing Fire Department arrived and confirmed there were no signs of smoke or fire. After speaking with the Brewster resident, the Ewing Fire Department confirmed that the alarm was triggered by burnt food. The resident explained that they had been cooking macaroni and cheese in the microwave. The alarms were reset, and all units cleared the scene.
March 1: Criminal mischief
Campus Police were dispatched to Townhouse South in response to a report of criminal mischief involving graffiti. The report was made by the residence director who was initially informed of the vandalism by the student manager of residential operations. It was determined that the graffiti occurred on the Townhouse South sign located on C Street and a banner hung at the Townhouse South gate.
Campus Police confirmed the locations and content of the graffiti. The Townhouse South sign was defaced with a depiction of male genitalia, while the banner featured the word “POOP,” with dots on the O’s, possibly suggesting female breasts. Both acts of criminal mischief were drawn in pink marker. An incident report was completed, and a work order was submitted for the removal of the graffiti.
Features
TCNJ campus deer have lost their animalistic instincts
By Raeanne Raccagno Copy Editor
Among the furry animals that travel across the College’s campus, no one visits the grounds more than the local deer. Seemly harmless, and a fun sight for students, these creatures have been a terror to the local ecosystem.
The deer have become habituated to the campus environment and act unbothered when people venture close and interact with them. This may seem like an amusing quirk you can tell your friends while comparing college experiences, but according to Janet Morrison, a
biology professor at the College, their tame nature toward humans is a bad phenomenon.
“They are wild animals that should be left alone for their own dignity,” Morrison said. “They have learned from experience that, on our campus, there is no hunting so there is little to fear from humans.”
It’s tempting to get closer and attempt to befriend the deer, but Morrison advises it’s best to move away and observe the mammals from a distance. She also warns against the possible diseases they could transmit.
Aside from potential illnesses, the deer have been plaguing the
TCNJ student conservation initiative supports a greener future on campus
By Parisa Burton Nation & World Editor
Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and the Outdoor Equity Alliance have partnered with the College to develop student empowered campus conservation plans. Kaitlin Muccio, FoHVOS land steward, and four student interns delivered a presentation detailing these plans on Feb. 21.
The presentation touched on the importance of land conservation, summarized steward and studentconducted field research, and concluded with four proposals and student recommendations.
FoHVOS, in partnership with OEA was awarded a grant from the New Jersey Audubon’s Watershed Restoration and Community Empowerment Program, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, to support the student internships and development of the plan, which has an estimated completion of 10 years.
“An overarching goal is to pilot a possible model for bringing conservation to college and university campuses in a way that prioritizes the student body participation,” Muccio said.
The first recommendation introduced the idea of implementing a white-tailed deer management program, coupled with the second proposal to perform invasive species control.
Using Geographic Information System data, the partners worked to identify habitat types and invasive species abundance on campus to
greenery on campus for years, leaving the grounds workers little room for creativity while creating garden spaces on campus. Mike Weber, manager of auto, grounds and landscaping, said the deer damage to campus foliage has been increasing over the past five to six years.
“They are eating just about every plant we put in the ground,” Weber said. “We specifically choose plants that are deer resistant, but they eat those too. Deer repellent helps a little bit, but they are even eating the plants that have the repellent around them.”
Morrison notes how the College provides a fair amount of “ideal deer habitat” with the small patches of fragmented forests with edge sections between the open grassy and wooded areas. These areas give the deer a buffet of plant foods along with shelter in the woods for when they rest.
While the campus may seem like a quintessential retirement spot, Morrison said there is nothing unique about the College and deer are just everywhere due to the state having an overabundance of the animals. She mentioned recent estimates that say there are about 45 deer per square kilometer in New Jersey.
“At the very high densities that these animals are at now, they are very destructive…they
browse on woody plants and graze on herbaceous plants,” Morrison said. “Nothing is wrong with that in theory, but at these very high densities, they over-browse and over-graze.”
According to Morrison, the reduced plant diversity has bad effects on the food chain, providing less food and habitat for insects, thus giving birds less of a food source. She said there is also evidence that deer help the invasion of deertolerant nonindigenous plants in some cases.
The deer have also lost their natural fear due to the Garden State being densely populated and pushing out their natural predators. Morrison explained how wolves have been extinct from the region for years, mountain lions avoid populated areas and coyotes have become more scavengers than hunters.
Aside from innately dying due to disease, lack of food and age, deers face death from automobiles and recreational hunters. Deer management hunts sometimes take place in an attempt to control the population, but Morrison said that all these factors combined are not enough to keep up with the current deer population.
The deer sightings have become such a staple on campus that students have made an Instagram account of deer features, @deeroftcnj, with almost 2,000 followers.
You still have the power
By Raeanne Raccagno Copy Editor
determine land patches to prioritize for stewardship efforts. They identified 48 invasive species, with 67% designated as “severe.”
The dominance of invasive species on campus prevents native plants from thriving, which many wildlife rely on for food.
“With deer eating everything at browse level, native plants fail to thrive, which eliminates essential biodiversity,” Muccio said.
The first recommendation involves reducing deer density to below 20 deer per square mile using NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife’s community-based deer management program, which offers alternatives to traditional hunting.
The second proposal focuses on implementing a strategic control plan for invasive species. This includes eradicating 25 emerging invasive species classified under Action Code 1 (limited distribution and highly threatening) and strategically targeting highly threatening species with widespread distribution classified as Action Code 2, such as autumn olive, burning bush and multiflora rose.
During fieldwork, the partners identified 118 native plant species and five endangered bird species, one being the state-threatened American Kestrel.
The third recommendation is to restore and protect older forest, meadows, wildlife corridors and waterbodies. Muccio highlighted the importance of older forests for carbon storage and water filtration, while wildlife corridors ensure safe animal passage between habitats.
Most people have the notion that the climate crisis of our planet is out of our hands, but there are still everyday swaps or habits you can do to accomplish your part in helping keep a cleaner Earth. “You still have the power!” is a bi-weekly column in The Signal advising on the little things you can do to become more ecofriendly.
Topic of the week: Low energy yields high rewards
Unplug those electronics when you’re not using or charging them. Power isn’t just being utilized when the appliance is in use. If it’s in the plug, it’s going to exert energy, so take it out! Take advantage of natural light when you can. Don’t be shy to open up those curtains!
It’s better for your overall health, warms up the room and will save you energy. On top of that, make sure you’re turning off the lights when you’re not in the room.
Watching videos on your Xbox or PlayStation uses about 15 times as much energy, compared to streaming on a computer or smart TV, according to Energy Star. So, do your binge-watching on a computer or smart TV.
Make the most of your laundry days. If you’re still washing in hot water, make the switch to cold water to save energy and prevent fading and shrinking your clothes. Additionally, only do laundry when you have enough for a full load.
As the warmer weather creeps up, use your ceiling fans, which use significantly less energy than air conditioning. If you don’t have a fan, make sure to replace the filter on your air conditioning for optimal use and longevity.
Photo by Brooke Zevon
A campus fawn lolling on campus.
Honors course offerings are getting gradually worse
By Tristan Weisenbach Editor-in-Chief
The College’s Honors and Scholars Program recently announced its fall 2025 course offerings, giving students a list of what classes they are eligible to enroll in to fulfill one of the five honors courses needed to complete the program requirements. Since my first semester back in fall 2021, I was never impressed with the courses that the honors program offered. I always found most of them to be related to topics that I was not interested in.
It was also consistently a struggle for
dents from a wider array of majors to enroll in classes that are more tailored to their interests, but it could also help expose honors students to more areas of study, revealing potential new interests.
Nine classes is also not enough to completely cater to the needs of all students in the program. Some courses in the honors list are not fully dedicated to honors students, but are regular classes with only a handful of seats reserved for Honors students.
Enrolling in five honors courses over four years may seem achievable, but in reality is quite difficult. First-year students often struggle to enroll in their first choice classes due to having the latest enrollment appointments. This, paired with course scheduling issues that have plagued students of all years at the College in recent semesters, makes it increasingly difficult to enroll in honors courses.
Photo by Andre Paras
me to enroll in honors courses because of how few were actually offered.
I am particularly glad that I am now a senior and have already finished my honors requirements after looking at the honors course offerings for the upcoming fall.
Only nine honors course sections are being offered, two of which are for the same class. Most of these classes cover the same general topics that are offered every semester, such as philosophy, music, literature and political science.
The Honors Program needs to have more variation in the topics that it offers courses in. Not only will this allow stu-
Letter to the editor: Disappointment at the Towers
By Lou Parent of two TCNJ students
As parents of not one but two students currently enrolled at the College, I have to question the deplorable conditions of the freshman dorms Wolfe and Travers.
In the 3.5 years since my older daughter was a freshman and resident of Wolfe and Travers to now my younger daughter staying at the Towers, I can clearly see in my visits how the school continues to ignore the updating and maintenance of these buildings while still charging students the same rate of room and board.
The constant barrage of false fire alarms, periods of no hot water, dirty restrooms and sweltering heat in August/September and sometimes even into October because of inadequate ventilation, and now the vandalism to the elevators and ceiling tiles over the weekend only shows that the College is not concerned over the well-being of its students in the Towers.
Where are the CA’s, the cameras and campus security, the president?
To now attempt to blame all the students of the Towers by passing those costs for the actions of a few is not appropriate. Should the students and parents deduct monies off their tuition for false fire alarms where students have to evacuate at all hours of the day/night, or should we make deductions when there is no hot water
or adequate ventilation that students cannot even stay in their rooms because they may pass out and instead be asked to go to air conditioned parts of campus?
The school has continued for years upon years to not have a plan for the Towers. Sure, many have been talked and written about, but with the schools financial issues and lack of leadership and planning, the facilities have fallen into disrepair all while still students pay premium prices.
Outside of the social aspects of the Towers, there are very few physical redeeming qualities of those buildings and I guess it’s because for most it’s a one and done and off to other housing.
The College struggles to retain and attract students to live on campus in part because many of the housing facilities are not appealing to students, that is lost revenue.
There is a great opportunity at the Towers to do something great and make it a social focal point of the university, but just like every year that goes by, nothing is ever done and the Towers continue to fall apart.
While other universities in the area are investing and improving on-campus housing, the College has fallen behind the competition and is driving more and more students to off campus housing or commuting.
Regards,
From very disappointed and frustrated parents of two current students
The honors program does allow for students to substitute two honors courses for an Honors-by-Contract. To do so, students can submit a proposal to have a non-honors course count for honors credit by adding on an additional project to their coursework for the semester.
While this is a good substitution for students who may want to take this route to fulfill the requirement, students should not be forced, in essence, to result to Honors-by-Contract because they are unable to enroll in enough honors classes.
The Honors and Scholars Program needs to take into consideration the vast interests that honors students across all seven undergraduate academic schools have, and offer a wider array of courses. The program also needs to ensure that it is offering enough honors classes so that students can complete the course requirements before graduating.
Some classes only reserve a handful of seats for honors students.
Letter to the editor: Addressing the Towers
Dear Editors:
I am writing in response to the recent “Disappointment in the Towers” letter from an anonymous parent of two TCNJ students.
The College acknowledges some challenges for residents of the Towers. We have worked diligently to address issues as they have arisen and remain committed to ensuring students residing in Travers and Wolfe a quality residential experience.
As the author notes — and our own data bear out — Towers residents consistently cite the strong sense of community and bonding as a source of satisfaction with this housing option. Many of our alumni and current students view living in the Towers as a rite of passage for first-year students that fosters deep connections and lasting memories.
I want to specifically address the situation with the fire alarms. During the fall 2024 semester there were several instances of fire alarms going off in the Towers. The College took every alarm seriously and investigated each occurrence. Some incidents were caused by malfunctioning heat sensors in the restrooms, which were promptly replaced, rectifying the issue. Other
instances were caused by inappropriate activity in rooms or students unnecessarily pulling alarms as a prank.
With respect to the vandalism, we are working with Campus Police to try to identify the individuals responsible and hold them accountable for their actions. We also strongly believe in a community-based approach to resolving these challenges. By fostering shared accountability, encouraging respect for communal spaces and reporting misconduct, we can ensure a more positive residential experience for all students.
The college remains committed to improving and enhancing the residential experience and diversifying housing options for our first-year students.
President Bernstein’s Housing Coordinated Action Team (CAT) has compiled a set of recommendations that is being reviewed and analyzed. This list includes renovations and improvements to existing spaces as well as the potential for new housing on and off campus.
We look forward to sharing our plans with the campus community in the coming weeks.
Sean O. Stallings, Ed.D. Vice President for Student Affairs
The College’s Honors and Scholars Program has far too few course offerings.
Photo by Brooke Zevon
Advice Column: Dear Lioness, I need help with…
By The Lioness
The Signal’s bi-weekly advice column provides feedback to anonymous questions submitted via our advice form. While The Lioness is always here to give advice, students seeking immediate help should contact their healthcare provider or emergency services.
“Not interrupting ppl (picked up a bad habit)”
First step (which you completed!) is recognizing your bad habit. Now make sure you’re recognizing it in the moment, apologize after interrupting someone, practice actively listening to what someone is saying and wait for them to pause before you add your input. Selfdiscipline is hard, but rewarding. If you do feel the need to interrupt, make sure it’s with a clarifying question.
Illustration by Sky Stewart
“I have a crush on a girl but I think she friend-zoned me, should I tell her I like her? She’s beautiful and we have so much in common but I could be happy as friends.”
If you haven’t already, make sure she swings on the same team before you make a move. On the other hand, props to you for wanting to express your feelings — others aren’t as brave. There are numerous ways to tell someone you like them, but if you’re nervous, start with a small gesture, like getting them their favorite candy or drink. If you’re feeling bold, tell them how you feel, just be prepared for the possibility of rejection. Also ask yourself: do you see this going somewhere or is this initial attraction?
“Understanding exercise science”
Find some YouTube videos to explain class concepts. You just
need to find explanations that work for you. When you’re taking notes, try and put it into your own words. This works for better understanding, so it sticks in your mind more. Also, don’t be afraid to use your professor’s office hours, or start a study group so you don’t have to suffer alone.
“Self-confidence”
Dance naked in the mirror. I am completely serious, and you’ll probably feel silly at first, but soon it’s gonna become a staple in your shower routine. Find a self-care routine and make it a morning or night ritual. Step out of the box with your style. Start small by wearing colors you normally don’t wear. Don’t fall into the trap of comparison. Easier said than done, I know. Everyone is unique for a purpose, so embrace whatever you’ve been holding back. Avoid negative self-talk, and if you catch yourself doing it, then replace it with positive affirmations.
“Moving on from first love”
First loves are hard and it’s important to let yourself feel these emotions so they don’t weigh you down forever. Limit contact with your ex — no shame in muting their social media so you can’t see them. Love yourself with self-care, and don’t stop doing activities you love or even try some new ones. Also, don’t forget to spend time with your loved ones. Let’s adopt healthy and not dangerous habits through this coping process.
“Doing basic hygiene when in the hole(depressed)”
Start small, and be realistic according to your energy levels. Can’t take a full shower? Wash your face, even a simple cold splash counts. Adopt a simple routine, not those 30-step drills you see on social media — ain’t nobody got time for that! Journal when you can do self-care, so you can look back on your progress. Don’t forget to celebrate and give yourself credit for what you accomplish.
“How to use the gym(femme person)” It may be intimidating to see people who seem like experts in the gym, but trust me, everyone is worried about their own goals. Wear clothes that you’re comfortable and confident in, get your favorite water bottle and your hype playlist. Also, don’t overexert yourself. Start with perfecting exercises by using your body weight, and then slowly implement weights if that’s your goal. There are plenty of social media influencers or YouTubers that have beginner workouts to help you learn how to do an exercise.
“Studying without the tutor center(bad experience before)”
Start a class GroupMe to discuss everyone’s study habits. Ask around campus to see if anyone took the class before, and what their test preparation looked like. If you struggle with self-discipline, set reminders on your phone to do work or leave sticky notes around the room. You can totally get on track without the tutoring center. Don’t be afraid to ask your professor for advice on your study plan also. They’re usually helpful!
It is not that hard to follow the Met Gala theme
By AJ Mun Correspondent
With the recent announcement of the 2025 Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” I felt it was important that we discuss the consistent predicament of guests missing the theme completely.
One would expect that guests of a dinner party thrown by one of the biggest fashion publications in the world would follow the provided theme. Unfortunately, for many guests that is simply not the case.
To elaborate, let me provide you with a few examples from past Met Galas. A broad example of this is men.
Male celebrities have a habit of wearing a simple black tux to formal events, regardless of whether there is a theme or not. One place a simple black tux has no business being seen is the Met Gala — one of the biggest fashion events of the year. With millions of dollars at their disposal, there
Met
some
is simply no excuse for playing it safe and boring.
A great example of a man following the Met Gala theme is internet fashion sensation Wisdom Kaye. For 2024’s “The Garden of Time” theme, Kaye appeared in a rose-red outfit that displayed scorch marks all over, telling the story of a wilting flower and decay. I propose that attending men use just a little bit of “Wisdom” and start figuring out how to bring something interesting to the table.
We can all agree that women are under a significantly harsher lens than their male counterparts, but that does not mean I’ll let them get away with wearing whatever they please. While a very pretty outfit, Kaia Gerber’s 2024 Met Gala look was disappointing at best.
As a model who gets paid to wear fashion, I expected immensely more from her than a simple white Prada dress with a few sequined
results despite how easy its themes are to follow.
scallops. Let me reiterate that playing it safe at the Met Gala is not impressing anyone. We must do better.
Now, a woman who never misses and should be an example to all those attending is none other than Zendaya. Law Roach, Zendaya’s stylist since 2011, has never let us down with her Met Gala looks, and 2024 was no exception.
Her twin looks were meant to represent the present and the past — with her first blue dress representing the present as a nod to the theme, and her second look, by John Galliano from the mid90s, acting as the past-half of the theme. No notes.
To circle back to the present day, Vogue describes the theme further with: “The exhibition is organized into 12 sections, each representing a characteristic … Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion,
Respectability, Jook (...a space for dancing, drinking, and other leisure activities), Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism.”
Knowing this, an attendee that I have the highest expectations for is Doechii. Doechii’s red carpet looks, specifically at the Grammys, are nothing short of creative and eye-catching. After watching how much love and care she put into that look, I have no doubt that she will give the fans exactly what they need.
At the risk of beating a dead horse, the Met Gala is one of the biggest fashion events of the year. An event like this should be treated with respect. Fashion is an art form, and especially when visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you should do your research to honor the theme and create statements. I can definitely say that a few Google searches would do us all some good.
The
Gala usually yields
lackluster
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The College’s Career Fair does not support ArtsComm students
By Signal Editorial Board
The College’s Career Center holds its biannual Career and Internship Fair every fall and spring, open to all majors. However, majors within the School of Arts and Communication bear the brunt of having the fewest opportunities available to them.
Based on the career platform Handshake’s list of registered employers for the fair, over 100 companies were slated to attend on Feb. 26. Despite many employers advertising themselves as open to all majors, approximately three were explicitly hiring from the ArtsComm pool based on their advertised sector.
The Career Center’s Interim Director Audrey Cooper told The Signal in a statement that the Career Center reaches out to a wide range of organizations across several industries, including arts, media, nonprofit, education and government to participate in the fair. Additionally, she recommended that students explore job descriptions, not solely the company names themselves to discover opportunities.
While this strategy may be effective, many ArtsComm majors may feel discouraged to even attend because of the lack of relevant keywords in their initial employer search. Students can and
should seek opportunities in seemingly unrelated companies, but these employers are more likely to prioritize candidates with backgrounds aligned to their industry.
The Career Center told The Signal that Keystone Engineering Group was specifically looking for design majors. However, a quick look into their “Opportunities” page suggests otherwise. Of the six listings, only the “electrical designer” role aligns — and it requires complex engineering design experience that traditional design majors may lack.
Even if employers are advertised as open to a variety of majors and educational backgrounds, there is not
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much room for ArtsComm success. For BioNJ and First Bank, two companies who are marked as “Hiring all majors” on Handshake, descriptions do not suggest much diversity in their hiring practices. BioNJ advocates for “careers in pharma, biotech, medical device technology, clinical operations and medical diagnostics,” and First Bank specializes in commercial banking and credit.
Business, engineering and medical students have an unfair advantage of direct options at their fingertips, whereas students in creative fields must network and research unconventional opportunities, as their roles may not be as clearly represented.
Cooper shared that the Career Center has worked on strengthening efforts to build more diverse career outreach programs, such as the Career Exploration Series, “which features panels with professionals from media, arts, nonprofit, and government sectors.” However, these events are not intended to provide job opportunities, rather advice and information from those who are already employed in a desired field. While this is helpful, students also deserve a career fair experience more aligned with their career goals.
The College holds the Education Opportunities Fair every spring, separate from the general career fair, to give students in the School of Education an opportunity to connect with school districts and education-related employers. A similar tailored approach could be applied to ArtsComm majors, giving them the opportunity to connect with media organizations, art museums and other creative companies without the uncertainty of navigating unrelated fields.
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More opportunities should be provided for students in the school of Arts and Communication at the College’s Career Fair.
24-hour economic blackout protests corporate DEI rollbacks
Parisa Burton Nation & World Editor
A 24-hour economic blackout on Feb. 28 aimed to stall all economic activity, predominantly targeting major corporations to show power elites that everyday consumers are the backbone of the economy. The movement, organized by The People’s Union USA, gained momentum among American customers on social media platforms.
The People’s Union USA is a grassroots organization that identifies as a “movement for ALL people, regardless of race, gender, religion, or political affiliation,” and as an advocate for “real systemic change.” Its founder, John Schwarz, encouraged people to abstain from shopping either in-store or online and to avoid fast food chains or filling their vehicle’s gas tanks, according to The Washington Post. The only exceptions were emergency essentials like food and medicine, as well as shopping from small, local businesses, according to Time Maga-
zine.
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 21 called for the immediate cease of diversity, equity and inclusion related activities in the federal workforce, and has sparked resistance since. Many Americans have been boycotting companies who have rolled back on DEI initiatives.
Brands such as Target, Walmart and Amazon have been targeted for DEI scalebacks, as consumers become more conscientious about supporting brands that align with their values, according to The Washington Post.
In January, Target announced it would end its Racial Equity Action and Change committee, which was established after the death of George Floyd to address systematic racism by increasing the representation of Black-owned businesses in stores. The company also revealed it would revoke previously set DEI goals, including increased hiring of marginalized groups and the recruitment of more diverse suppliers, accord-
ing to AP News.
The economic blackout built on previous boycotting efforts, clapping back at Trump’s recent large-scale federal worker layoffs and anti-DEI order.
The People’s Union USA website states, “Mega corporations have driven up prices, underpaid their workers, and outsourced jobs while raking in record profits…the system has been designed to keep us powerless, but that ends now.”
Marshal Cohen, chief retail advisor at market research firm Circana, revealed that by mid-day of the blackout, there were no clear signs of consumers cutting back on spending.
“It doesn’t look like anybody’s really pulling back,” Cohen said. “If you get 5% or 10% of the people that don’t shop, that could happen on any given day because of the rain.”
While the blackout’s immediate impact may not have been as significant as anticipated, many social media users expressed solidarity with the movement. Some opted to brew their coffee at home and pack their lunches, while others bought necessities in advance.
According to The Washington Post, Rachelle Biennestin, a first-grade teacher and content creator, did not hesitate to withhold her spending on Feb. 28. She has already reduced her “personal over-consumption” in support of “No Buy 2025,” and has redirected her spending to Costco, who reportedly stands behind its DEI programs.
“I’m not going to forget that they rolled back on DEI,” Biennestin said. “I’m going to remember that, and so will my wallet.”
The People’s Union USA has already planned a second blackout on March 28, while also promoting week-long boycotts
Trump announces plans for new gold card path to citizenship
By Lake DiStefano Opinions Editor
President Donald Trump announced on Feb. 26 that he plans to implement a new gold card program for foreign-born immigrants looking for a route to citizenship, according to AP News. Unlike previous programs, such as the green card, the gold card will be distributed via a commercial system and is set to be sold for $5 million.
Trump said the purpose behind this selling of citizenship is “to give [foreign investors] green card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship. And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying
this card.”
The cards would be rolled out in “about two weeks,” according to Trump. However, the President does not have the power to create or eliminate a visa; such an ability is congressional in nature. This plan would require the backing of Congress.
“Companies can buy gold cards and, in exchange, get those visas to hire new employees,” Trump said in a Cabinet meeting on the same day.
“No other country can do this because people don’t want to go to other countries. They want to come here.”
The proposed program is similar to programs in other countries, including Canada, New Zealand and Malta. In these countries, participants can
of specific retailers and global food giants, according to AP News. A boycott targeting Amazon is set for early March, followed by Néstle in late March and Amazon in April.
The movement has garnered over $80,000 as of Friday morning, through a GoFundMe page linked on The People’s Union USA website to help with the organization’s development, according to AP News.
Small businesses were initially concerned about the economic impact that the blackout would have on their sales. However, Mischa Roy, owner of a tea and home goods shop in Northampton, Massachusetts, told AP News that her “sales were brisk” on Feb. 28.
Large-scale economic losses for big companies due to the blackout event is unlikely. According to AP News, Anna Tuchman, a marketing professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, believes it “will likely make a dent in daily retail sales but won’t be sustainable.”
While company sales aren’t being severely affected, the movement has raised social awareness, with many consumers continuing to withhold spending at large corporations. Support for small, local and minority-owned businesses has grown, though the long-term impact remains uncertain.
“I don’t think that one day of a blackout is going to make a huge difference to big corporations,” Stephen Day, an economics professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, told WRIC-TV. “But I think today is a day to start making those changes and [start] supporting companies that are not removing their DEI programs.”
pay a fee or make an investment in order to secure a pathway to residency or citizenship.
Such a proposal comes after a series of federal crackdowns on immigration following Trump’s insistence on a mass deportation strategy. However, it is unclear as to how likely or far along this plan is, in relation to the proposed gold card policy.
Gold cards would effectively replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa program which, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, currently functions in a similar way. The program grants lawful permanent residence to foreign investors if they apply after meeting two qualifications: investing in commercial enterprises, and planning to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
If this policy is enacted, anyone without the initial $5 million will now be unable to access this type of citizenship.
The EB-5 program originally “was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors,” according to USCIS. Previously, such a monetary barrier did not exist, and thus gave access to a greater range of foreign investors.
It is unclear if Trump plans to campaign the idea in an effort to appeal to Congress. It also remains to be seen if this gold card means of citizenship will pass within the timeframe that the president has laid out for it.
Economic blackout protest emphasizes consumer power amid DEI rollbacks.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
After many federal changes regarding immigration policies, President Donald Trump now plans to introduce a new type of citizenship visa.
Trump’s Greenland land grab met with disapproval from Greenlanders
By Zo Terrana Staff Writer
President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal of the United States buying Greenland has drawn disapproval from a majority of Greenlanders, according to a poll produced by Danish publication Berlingske. According to NPR, Trump initially introduced this proposal on Truth Social in December 2024, stating, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
ßTrump reiterated this claim when his son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland in early January as a tourist, NPR reported. Again posting on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation…This
is a deal that must happen.” The president also stated that he wouldn’t rule out economic coercion or even military power to seize Greenland.
Trump’s main goal for acquiring Greenland is for “economic security,” according to NPR. Greenland has a substantial amount of rare minerals, uranium and various other materials that range from metals, coal, graphite, copper, lead and zinc.
The initiative for purchasing Greenland for mineral extraction reflects the U.S.’s broader attempt to reduce dependency on Chinese resources. China obtained 95% of the annual global supply of rare earth elements last year, which entailed Beijing to set the “worldwide prices” for these elements, according to the Pulitzer Center.
As of December 2024, in response to proposed tariffs from Trump, China has prohibited the U.S. from receiving exports of minerals like gallium and germanium.
This has heightened the Trump administration’s interest in Greenland’s mineral resources.
Gallium and germanium are also found in the Greenland territory. The element gallium is an essential mineral for the production of computer chips, solar panels and LEDs. China is the top supplier of this mineral, so the U.S. will have to navigate China’s blockage of obtaining such minerals.
Due to Greenland’s mineral supply and the territory’s geographical location, Greenland assumes a significant role in Arctic trade possibilities. According to Brown University, as a result of climate change altering the Arctic landscape, shorter and more eco-friendly trade routes could be created. Two Brown University climate scientists named Xueke Li and AmandaH.Lynch, working with a legal scholar at the University of Maine School of Law, Charles H. Norchi, stated within their study, “by 2065,
the Arctic’s navigability will increase so greatly that it could yield new trade routes in international waters.”
According to the Brown University study, climate change could be the driving factor in the reshaping of Arctic trade routes, making Greenland a desirable territory. According to Integrity Press, new trade routes could be carved due to the region’s climate alterations “revolutionizing global trade patterns,” according to Integrity Press Greenland’s fjords, which are long, deep and narrow bodies of water that reach inland, enable ports to be built along sea routes, according to the Pulitzer Center. Ports are essential for maritime trade, as they work as international entrance points. Greenland’s potential trade advantages could make the territory a key component in global oceanic trade.
Trump’s proposal has received backlash from Greenland’s people and its Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede. According to NPR, Egede said, “Let me repeat - Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland. Our future and fight for independence is our business.” These sentiments were also echoed by the people of Greenland. A recent poll revealed a vast 85% of Greenlanders disapproved of being a part of the U.S. However, the same climate change shifts that are opening trade routes could also lead to negative impacts on the country’s landscape, according to Inside Climate News. The thawing ice is initiating landslides near the fjords, destabilizing the landscape and making it unsuitable for infrastructure. It also results in “loose sea ice,” creating dangerous conditions for sea travel.
Trump’s proposal on the possible Greenland purchase has thrusted Greenland into the geopolitical spotlight while simultaneously drawing on the discontent of Greenland’s prime minister and people. This proposal has heighted trade relations within the Arctic region, adding to the geopolitical tension of the U.S.
Good News Lions: Gene therapy, mice giving first aid
By Aliyah Siddiqui Correspondent
Good News Lions is the Nation & World section’s bi-weekly news segment, highlighting positive news in the country and around the world. The theme of this article is lending a hand.
Gene therapy for kids born blind
A gene therapy treatment for children with a genetic form of blindness was recently designed. Although the treatment is still in its early stages, this therapy marks the continuous
efforts made by scientists to treat blindness.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Research, four children who were born with a rare genetic mutation in the AIPL1 gene, which causes retinal cells to deteriorate quickly after birth, were treated. Although the children can distinguish between light and dark, they are considered legally blind.
The treatment, which was developed by scientists at the University College London, works by injecting healthy copies of the gene into the retina, where they can replace the defective gene. According to the BBC, gene
therapy has been used previously to treat patients with another form of retinal dystrophy.
In an interview with the BBC, Brendan, the father of one of the children who received the treatment, described how his son’s sight has improved since the surgery.
“Pre-surgery, we could have held up an object near his face and he wouldn’t be able to track it at all,” Brendan said. “Now he’s picking things off the floor, he’s hauling out toys, doing things driven by his sight that he wouldn’t have done before.”
Eye specialists hope that similar treatment can continue to develop and help children with other forms of blindness.
“We have, for the first time, an effective treatment for the most severe form of childhood blindness, and a potential paradigm shift to treatment at the earliest stages of the disease,” said Michel Michaelides, an ophthalmology professor at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology to the NIHR. “The outcomes for these children are hugely impressive and show the power of gene therapy to change lives.”
Mice performing first aid
Helping others in times of crisis may be a natural response. A recent study from the University of Southern California found that mice attempt “first aid” on mice that have been knocked out through anesthetics.
The experiment worked by putting an anesthetized mouse back into its cage and observing how its cage mate responded. The scientists found that the cage mate would start to sniff and groom the knocked-out mouse, but
as its partner remained unresponsive, the mate would start to bite the unconscious mouse’s mouth and pull out its tongue.
According to NPR, the researchers posit that this behavior is instinctual as the mice have never previously encountered unconscious mice. They also rarely perform this type of behavior with asleep or active mice, and were also more likely to help familiar mice rather than strangers.
“That familiarity bias tells you that the animal’s not responding in a reflexive manner to the stimuli that they’re seeing,” said James Burkett, a neuroscientist at the University of Toledo who wasn’t involved in the study, in an interview with NPR. “They’re actually taking into account aspects of the situation and the identity of the animal when they’re forming their response.”
The researchers also found that the behavior from the awake mice, such as tongue pulling, helped the anesthetized mice recover as it expanded their airways. They also found that oxytocin levels increased in these helper mice, which is indicative that the mice are actively engaging, which scientists believe helped produce the “first-aid-like” response.
According to The Times, other mammals have been found to engage in life-saving behavior. For example, chimpanzees have been observed helping others that were wounded, and dolphins have been seen pushing pod members to the surface to help them breathe.
President Trump’s Greenland takeover plan has sparked disapproval from its citizens.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Graphic by Sandra Abrantes
The theme of this week’s Good News Lions article is lending a hand.
The history behind TCNJ’s “Kea and the Ark” performance
By Abigail Holliday Staff Writer
A performance was held in the Kendall Hall Main Stage Theater on March 1 and 2, sharing the story of “Kea Tawana and the Ark.”
This hour-long performance was filled with narration, interpretive dance, puppetry and handmade installations all used to transport the audience back to 1982, when 47-year-old Tawana began to build her ark. Tawana was a unique woman, artist and nomad, creating handmade pieces
made to spark conversation.
The story began with narrator and performance-maker Sebastienne Mundheim sharing her experience of being asked to make a performance about Tawana by Jill Kearney, founder and executive director of ArtYard.
Mundheim displayed pictures of what was left of Tawana’s belongings: hand-drawn blueprints, maps, journals, photographs, love letters to a man named Charles, handmade stained glass patterns and many trinkets. All of these items were stored in at least 30 hand-designed boxes.
Grounds For Sculpture receives historic donation
By Ashley Ragone Arts & Entertainment Editor
A $3 million donation from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation has become the largest single individual donation in Grounds For Sculpture’s history.
The foundation, named after Johnson herself, supports a continued interest in the arts and connection with nature. The foundation continues her philanthropy work, supporting institutions including the Liberty Science Center, Princeton Public Library and Lincoln Center. Johnson is the cousin of Seward Johnson, founder of Grounds for Sculpture.
Located in Hamilton, New Jersey, the 42-acre park boasts a variety of public arts works, an arboretum and galleries. The donation from Johnson’s foundation will aid in maintenance on the grounds of the park, along with preservation of the park’s landscape.
In a press release from the park, Grounds for Sculpture announced the significance of the gift for their funding. “With this gift, the total endowment for Grounds For Sculpture now exceeds $37
The atmosphere then came to life, with every prop purposefully placed and used by dancers Harlee Trautman, Payton Smith and Candra Kennedy at some point to animate the story. Music played by Daniel de Jesús set the tone and immersed the audience into the storyline.
Mundheim began telling Tawana’s backstory. An unreliable narrator, Tawana changed her backstory to each new person who asked. On her obituary, it reads that Tawana was born on a Native American reservation, though the most widely accepted story was that she was born in Japan. She was born to a civil engineer and his wife, alongside a brother and a sister. Her mother and sister passed away after a bombing during World War II, so her father and brother packed what was left and sailed to America, landing in California. They were placed in an internment camp where her father was later killed during a riot. She and her brother were split and sent away to two different families, never to see each other again.
Tawana would wander outside her new home late at night, staring up at the trees and feeling a kinship with the owls flying above because they both have made “temporary homes in borrowed nests.” The dancers, giving owl wings to Tawana’s puppet, flew her to her next adventure.
Tawana left her foster home when she was able and stowed away on a freight train to the New Jersey and New York areas working odd jobs at construction sites, shipyards and theater rigging.
It was around this time when Tawana heard that the city of Newark, New Jersey, was looking to tear down the homes of families who were coerced into leaving for “urban renewal.” Tawana offered the city a deal of $500 per house she tore down in addition to her being able to keep the materials from the homes.
The city accepted, and so Tawana set off to build her ark. Over the course of many years and using her experience from her odd jobs, Tawana had built an 86 foot long, 26 foot wide and three story tall ark on land that she didn’t own as a form of protest and also a memorial to the torn down homes.
Homes constructed from sticks were torn down and rearranged to form the bones of an ark. The dancers paraded the ark around the stage until it came time to dismantle the ark once and for all.
In 1988, Tawana was forced to take down her ark the same way she created it: board by board, nail by nail. She sold the wood for money and moved to a small apartment in New York where she stayed until she died in August 2016.
Mundheim, with the help of the immersive dancers and beautiful music, brought the story of the eccentric Kea Tawana and her ark alive again. Tawana had written once in her journal that, since she had no family, all of her belongings were to be surrendered to the state and thrown away. Kearney and Mundheim allowed her, the inspiring story of her life and her precious items to be remembered by hundreds through this performance.
million, representing a significant step toward safeguarding the future of GFS and enhancing its role as a cultural beacon in New Jersey and the surrounding region.”
In discussion of the memory of Betty Wold Johnson within their press release, Vice President of the GFS Board of Trustees Dr. Penelope Lattimer recalled a woman of strength and excellence.
“Betty was a woman of substance and grace…She spoke with conviction and shared her values ardently; and so, I am grateful that at the top was her belief in and support for the unique mission and values demonstrated by work presented in the exhibitions at Grounds for Sculpture.”
Executive Director Gary Garrido Schneider commented in the press release on the value of the donation, especially as the park pushes to excel and bolster local communities.
“This contribution not only enhances our endowment but also strengthens our ability to provide innovative exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives. We are committed to ensuring that Grounds For Sculpture remains a source of inspiration for generations to come.” Schneider additionally shared that this donation will provide stability financially, especially when weather fluctuation affects their business. “About 60% of our revenue historically has come from attendance. Being so reliant on foot traffic and being an outdoor venue, we’re very vulnerable: cold winter, hot summer.”
According to the park’s website, Grounds for Sculpture is exhibiting around 300 works for various renowned sculptors. The non-profit finances these works through bonds and private donations.
The park is open year-round. Visit www.groundsforsculpture.org for more information.
The gymnast attempted a comeback for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, moving across the country to train. However, she was injured again during warmups. It was during this time away from gymnastics that she began to consider what life after the sport might look like.
“Be patient with yourself. Give yourself time,” she told the audience. “If you don’t feel like you have your footing, you’re gonna get it.”
Hernandez realized her passion for the arts and her aspirations in television and film. Now a drama student at New York University with a creative writing minor, she is able to explore her creativity.
After the lecture was a question and answer session moderated by
Ally Uhlendorf, CUB’s travel chair and The Signal’s managing editor. When asked about her favorite Olympic memory off the mat, the gymnast shared a fun anecdote about slingshotting scrunchies out the window while living in the Olympic Village — a lighthearted moment amid the intensity of competition.
Hernandez emphasized the need for more mental health resources and open conversations. She stressed the importance of discussing mental health without judgement, both for oneself and others, and encouraged students to take their emotions seriously and work with them rather than against them.
To find more CUB events like this one, visit their Instagram page @tcnjcub.
Photo by Abigail Holliday
Sebastienne Mundheim and Jill Kearney curated a visual storytelling experience to share the interesting life of Kea Tawana.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Grounds For Sculpture has received a $3 million grant.
LAURIE / Olympic gymnast shares career journey
Hernandez shared about the mental challenges she faced during her career.
Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone
All the unforgettable moments from the 2025 Oscars
By Chiara Piacentini Staff Writer
At this year’s Oscars, there was no shortage of noteworthy moments by actors and actresses alike. The ceremony was hosted by Conan O’Brien in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 10.
“Wicked” co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo kicked off the awards show with a medley of songs including a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Home” and “Defying Gravity.”
“Wicked” itself earned 10 nominations, and out of those nominations snagged two Academy Award wins including Best Costume Design by Paul Tazewell and Best Production Design by Nathan Crowley
and Set Decoration by Lee Sandales. Tazewell in particular made history by becoming the first Black man to win the costume category.
“This is absolutely astounding,” Tazewell said. “Thank you [to the] Academy for this very significant honor...I’m so proud of this...Thank you [to] everyone in the U.K. for all of your beautiful work. I could not have done this without you. My Ozian muses, Cynthia [Erivo] and Ariana [Grande], I love you so much. All the other cast. Thank you, thank you, thank you for trusting me with bringing your characters to life. This is everything.”
“Emilia Pérez” scored the most nominations for this year’s Oscars, including nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing and more than one acting nomination. Karla Sofia
Gascón made history by being the first transgender woman to be nominated in an acting category when she received a Best Actress nomination for playing the film’s title role. However, this award went to Mikey Madison who played the title role in “Anora.”
Speaking of “Anora,” this film dominated this year with five awards to its name, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Sean Baker, the director for “Anora,” made a record for most Academy Awards won by one person in one year by winning four, tying him with Walt Disney. However, Baker won all four awards for the same movie while Disney won four awards for different projects.
“The Brutalist” actor Adrien Brody won another Best Actor award for his
role as László Tóth in the film. Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña won the Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress in a Supporting Role, respectively. Brody won his first Oscar in 2002 for “The Pianist” at just 29 years old, making him the youngest actor to win the award.
For the In Memoriam segment, Morgan Freeman paid homage to Gene Hackman, who was found dead in his New Mexico home on Feb. 26. Queen Latifah, Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg paid tribute to Quincy Jones, who died this past November.
The show also honored the firefighters fighting the Los Angeles wildfires, which caused the nomination announcement to be postponed twice in January.
You can stream the Oscars on Hulu Live TV and YouTubeTV.
Tate McRae shows real and vulnerable emotion in new album ‘So Close To What’
By Ally Uhlendorf Managing Editor
After releasing three successful singles teasing her next big project, pop star Tate McRae finally dropped her highly anticipated third studio album, “So Close To What.” The album brings a new sound to McRae’s discography with some more submerged-sounding R&Badjacent pop melodies.
“So Close To What” was released on Feb. 21, and reached over 11 million streams by the next day on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA. The record includes 15 songs, with
a total of 42 minutes of music.
As implied in “cut my hair,” the first track off of her last album, “Think Later,” the singer is sick of “singing about the same old stupid things,” and the “sad girl bit got a little boring.” This new album is definitely staying true to that proclamation, with a majority of the songs having an upbeat, pop girl feel.
This album is definitely for older audiences, as the 21-year-old placed a few tracks on the album that explore mature themes. As teased in her music video for “It’s ok I’m ok,” McRae is reinventing herself as a
star; with her scandalous outfits and themes in music videos, the artist is bringing back real pop music.
In a red carpet interview with Rolling Stone, the singer explained this new era “is inspired by pop videos of the early 2000s — old Britney, old Christina.” This influence is clear on the record and with McRae’s new image. “Sports car” has a classic Y2K sound, reminiscent of Britney Spears. Its whispered chorus, where McRae stutters, “we can uh-uh in it,” is the risque pop sound we needed in this generation.
The artist stands her ground in the opening track of the album, “Miss possessive,” with the introduction of the song saying, “no seriously, get your hands off my man.” McRae has been publicly in a relationship with singer The Kid LAROI since early 2024, and is now setting a direct boundary as their relationship dives into a more serious stage. Laroi is even featured on one of the tracks off the new album, titled “I know love.”
In a more vulnerable tone, “Revolving door” is a compelling mix of emotions. The song starts with an airy, moody sound as the singer begins with, “my cold heart is finally melting.” Thematically, the song discusses the struggles of revisiting a past relationship, even when you know the right thing to do is move on. McRae’s lyrical vulnerability is the star of the song as she confesses her inability to fully let go, comparing her return to these same old feelings as a continuous cycle, like a revolving door. The end of the song truly tugs on the heart strings, especially when accompanied by the music video, with McRae crying and begging, “I need a minute.”
On the surface, “Purple lace bra” may sound like just another
pop-style track off the album. However, this song has got to be one of McRae’s most raw and real songs off of the album, and one of my personal favorites. McRae told Rolling Stone the song discusses “the beautiful yet harsh reality of being a woman.” Being fresh in the scrutinous spotlight of Hollywood, the artist has already gone through the turbulence of being a woman in the music industry.
The theme of “Purple lace bra” is rooted from the artist’s two recent music videos for “It’s ok I’m ok” and “2 hands,” where she is seen in a purple lace bra. In a podcast episode with Jake Shane, McRae tells the story behind the lyrics.
“I was actually on vacation. I had a week off and I was just writing things in my journal and reflecting on life. I kept writing, ‘Would you hear me more if I acted like this? Would you hear me more if I talked like this or wrote like this?’ Feeling like sometimes I just wasn’t being heard,” McRae said.
The song is directed toward the media and the public, where she feels she is most criticized and tracked for her every move.
“And then I dropped a couple of music videos. My relationship with the media was what this song talked about. I would feel confident and empowered one day, in my own skin, and it would be completely misunderstood the next day,” McRae said.
McRae did not hold back on showing her true self in this album, and the public is loving it. As the artist is only growing more and more, there is a lot in store for her future in the industry. On Aug. 13, the singer is kicking off her fifth concert tour, the “Miss Possessive Tour,” where she will showcase this new album live across the United States and other countries.
Photo courtesy of Flickr
The Oscars are one of the most pretigious awards offered to artists and actors in the film industry.
Photo courtesy of Apple Music
“So Close To What” is McRae’s third studio album.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo kicked off the Oscars.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
The truth of Ruby Franke is shown in Hulu’s new documentary
By Heather Halperin Correspondent
The truth about Ruby Franke, the mother from the hit family YouTube channel 8 Passengers, is finally revealed in a three-part documentary series titled, “Devil in The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.”
On Aug. 30, 2023, Franke was arrested and later convicted of child abuse. After several court hearings, it was reported by NBC News that Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested and charged with six counts of felony child abuse in 2023. They both pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse and were sentenced to up to 30 consecutive years in prison.
Two years later, on Feb. 27, 2025, the documentary was released, and it held nothing back. It revealed deleted clips from Franke’s channel and interviews with neighbors in the community, former employees of Hildebrandt’s and the police in charge of the case. For the first time, Kevin Franke, her ex-husband, and their children Shari and Chad
are speaking about the abuse they suffered.
The documentary starts at the beginning of the family’s YouTube career in 2015. It highlights the positive start of the channel, with Ruby creating it as a way to share her “perfect” Mormon family.
As the channel grew in popularity and reached millions of subscribers, a switch was flipped. The channel mattered more to Franke than anything, including her own children. As the years went on, the channel grew as well as the family’s fame and their paychecks.
Their lives continued and everyone grew to love Franke — she became the “mother of YouTube.”
However, in 2020 everything came crashing down. In a now deleted YouTube video, Chad revealed that his parents had taken away his bed for seven months and he was forced to sleep on a bean bag chair.
This was the event that made viewers go back and analyze the family channel. Hate began to come in from all corners, calling Ruby an abusive and terrible mother. Cancel culture took over and down went 8
Remembering Roberta Flack: A legacy of creative music
By Michael McKee Correspondent
Pianist and R&B icon Roberta Flack died from cardiac arrest at the age of 88 on Feb. 24. At the time of her passing, she had been suffering from ALS.
Flack was one of the biggest stars of the 1970s, winning the Grammy Record of the Year twice in a row and receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. She is perhaps most well known for “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” as well as her covers of “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”
Roberta Flack was born on Feb. 10, 1937, in Blake Mountain, North Carolina. As a child, her life was intertwined with music, according to The Times. At the age of 15, she became one of Howard University’s youngest students after receiving a music scholarship.
By the late 1960s, she decided to pursue a career as a professional musician by singing in various nightclubs where she was noticed by musician Les McCann. McCann arranged an audition with Atlantic Records, and in February 1969 her first album “First Take” was released. Her stardom quickly rose through
Passengers.
Then came along Jodi Hildebrandt, the founder of a life coaching service known as ConneXions. Hildebrandt started as Chad’s therapist, then later became a friend and business partner to Franke. She was Franke’s savior, even moving herself into their home and helping to rebuild their family.
In the end, all of this only caused more destruction within the Franke family. Shari revealed some interesting theories about Franke and Hildebrandt’s friendship. Hildebrandt had a grip on Franke and began controlling every aspect of her life, convincing her to make life-altering decisions. This left the family defenseless against Franke’s abuse.
The final episode ends with the release of all the police camera footage, the recordings of the police interviews and everything that was disclosed to the public two years ago.
This documentary discloses the whole truth of everything Franke put her children through as well as how Hildebrandt’s control had a catastrophic impact on the family.
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The series also gives an update on where the family is now and how they have been coping over the past two years.
The story and truth behind the Franke family can now be streamed on Hulu.
Michelle Trachtenberg: ‘Gossip Girl’ actress found dead at 39
By Erica Remboske Correspondent
“Gossip Girl” actress Michelle Trachtenberg was found dead at 39 on Feb. 26. The cause of death is unknown at this time, but is suspected to be cardiac arrest. She was found unconscious after an emergency call was made to her apartment building in New York City. At the scene, Manhattan Police stated that no foul play was suspected.
the 1970s. She was featured in the concert film “Soul to Soul” in 1971, had four Billboard No. 1’s and won Grammy Record of the Year in 1973 and 1974. The subgenre quiet storm was heavily inspired by her work. During this time, she divorced her husband, jazz musician Steve Novosel, in 1972, who is still alive today.
In 2010, she performed “Killing Me Softly” in a duet with Gerald Maxwell Rivera at the 52nd Grammy Awards. In 2012, she recorded her final album “Let It Be Roberta,” which covered songs from The Beatles. In 2018, at the age of 80, she recorded a song called “Running” for the documentary “3100: Run and Become.”
Aside from her musical career, Flack also stood against animal abuse alongside the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and was an advocate for gay rights, according to The New York Times.
Roberta Flack was one of the most iconic figures in the R&B and 1970s music scene. She remained dedicated to her craft into her 80s, and was willing to stand up for what she believed in. Flack will be remembered as one of the most talented, hard working and influential voices of her generation.
According to People, Trachtenberg received a liver transplant a few months ago due to liver dysfunction from an alcohol addiction. This left a small gap in time between the transplant and her death, meaning there could have been a link, but right now it appears she died from natural causes. The family denied an autopsy.
According to the CDC, every year there are about 54,803 people who die from liver failure in the United States. Over 100 million people in the U.S. have some type of liver disease, but only 4.5 million adults have been diagnosed.
People Magazine also stated Trachtenberg was “really sick” and “struggling” in 2024. Her friends stated to People that she was open about how much, and how bad, she was struggling. Her friends also made it clear that she was “pale” and “very thin.”
Fans of the actress also spoke
out about her looks. Throughout her social media accounts, like Instagram, there were comments regarding Trachtenberg’s “sickly” looks. Her Instagram post from Jan. 19, 2024, made followers notice the difference in her appearance stating that this was a “warning” of what she was going through.
Trachtenberg was born in New York City in 1985. She started off her acting career around the age of 10. In 2000, Trachtenberg was in the popular television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as Dawn Summers, the sister of Buffy. In 2007, she starred as Georgina Sparks in “Gossip Girl,” which ran until 2012.
Trachtenberg was also a leading star in many other shows and movies such as “Harriet the Spy,” “17 Again” and an episode of “House” in 2006.
Over the years of her career, she was up for 10 nominations, winning five of them. The awards that she has won include, the Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a TV Drama Series in 200 and Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series in 1998, the Sarasota Film Festival award for Breakthrough Performer in 2007.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
The series brings to light new
about the Franke family.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Jazz musician Roberta Flack was one of the most iconic figures in the R&B and 1970s music scene.
Michelle Trachtenberg was found dead in New York City.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Trachtenberg starred as Georgina Sparks in “Gossip Girl.”
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Basketball gears up for NCAA tournament after getting at-large bid
By Joseph Caruso Staff Writer
For the first time since the 1990 season, the College earned an atlarge bid to the Division III NCAA Tournament, securing a first round matchup with the Pitt-Bradford Panthers on Friday, March 7.
The Lions saw their New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship
hopes end after their third loss this season to Montclair State University, where they had an abysmal day shooting the three and taking care of the ball, leading to an 80-62 defeat.
The College will try to get back to their winning ways, but they will face a tough Pitt-Bradford squad that tied a program record for wins this season, with 23 compared to just three losses.
Women’s lacrosse starts strong with win
By Tyler Fennell Staff Writer
The College’s Division III women’s lacrosse team opened their season on Saturday, March 1, against Ursinus and went home with an addition to the win column with a score of 20-8.
As the score would indicate, the College had an incredible offense. Most of the scoring, however, took place in the first half of the game, as they scored 14 in the first two quarters.
While they scored less in the second half, three in each quarter respectively, they only allowed three goals and eight shots in the second half, showcasing their sound defensive play.
Sophomore CJ Kole put up a stellar offensive performance with four goals and six assists, for a total of 10 points. She was involved in half of the team’s goals and had a perfect shooting percentage with all shots on goal being scored.
Sophomore Gabriella Roosa also showcased her offensive ability with seven goals and one assist for eight points. Those seven goals put her in fifth for goals per game in Division III women’s lacrosse for the season so far.
Fifth-year Ally Tobler had an impressive performance with four goals and two assists for six points. Tobler
This is the second straight season that the Lions have made it to the NCAA Tournament, having experienced a gut-wrenching loss by just one point to Eastern University last year.
Junior’s Nick Koch and Matthew Soloman both received All-NJAC honors for their seasons, with Koch receiving first-team and Soloman getting an honorable mention.
A historic year for Koch included reaching 1,000 career points, while ranking top three in the conference in scoring (20.8 points per game) and fourth in assists (4.1 per game). He scored 30 points or more three different times, and nobody in the NJAC made more field goals than him (201).
As for Soloman, this is his second consecutive year earning an NJAC honorable mention, averaging over 11 points and nine rebounds per game while accumulating eight doubledoubles, and led the team in field goal percentage and blocks as well.
The College will need both Koch and Soloman to play at their best, facing a Panthers lineup that plays at a fast pace and is third in all of Division III in points per game (104.4) and turnovers forced per game (23.4).
Baseball
also led the team in ground balls with four, as well as caused turnovers with three. Tobler also had the most draw controls for the team with eight, helping maintain possession for sustained offense.
Another notable performance in the game was junior Marissa Lucca, with three goals and three assists for six points.
Both goaltenders split the game, each playing 30 minutes. Fifth-year Julia Charest had only had five goals against and three saves. Senior Hailey Wexler only had three goals against and also had three saves to close out the game.
The College dominated in shots and ground balls, and also had nearly half as many turnovers as Ursinus. The win puts them at a record of 1-0 to start the season.
The College has its home opener on Wednesday, March 5 against Scranton to lead off a five-game homestand. The five-game stretch includes matchups against the aforementioned Scranton, Kenyon, Moravian, Middlebury and University of Chicago.
With their strong start in their first game, it is reasonable to expect another strong season out of this team if they can continue to play a possession-heavy game with limited turnovers and high shot volume.
Senior Jamarion Butler leads the way for Pitt-Bradford, averaging 21 points per game along with 7.3 rebounds. Their lineup features five different players who average double-digit points per game.
This has the making of a tough matchup for the College, who has scored 100 points in just two contests this year, compared to the Panthers, who have accomplished that in 17 of their 26 games.
In their previous game against Montclair, the Lions turned the ball over a season-worst 20 times, while also making just two of 14 threepoint attempts, also a new low for them this year. If the College wants to keep up with the fast-paced Panthers, taking care of the ball will be integral.
With a lot of defensive pressure on Koch, other guards like sophomore David Alexandre and senior Jack Vreeswyk will need to continue to step up. Senior forward and secondleading scorer Matthew Okorie will also continue to play a huge part for the Lions.
If the College comes away with a victory, they will play the winner of the Hampden-Sydney against Bryn Athyn game, at 6:40 p.m. on Saturday for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen.
kicks off their first week of the 2025 season
By Jhett Laurie Staff Writer
The College split a doubleheader against Dickinson and lost their home opener against Haverford in their first three games of the season.
The Lions started their season on March 1, traveling to Dickinson College to face off in a doubleheader. In the first game, they got off to a hot start with fifthyear graduate transfer Gianni Marano tallying an RBI double in his first Lions at-bat during the first inning. Dickinson quickly rallied back and took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on a misplaced throw to first, which allowed two runs to score.
The College struggled at the plate, having five strikeouts through the first three innings. Errors in the field only sought to worsen the Lions’ position as an array of errors and passed balls allowed Dickinson to take a 5-1 lead in the sixth inning.
The first game was called in the seventh inning when Dickinson took an 11-1 lead, enacting a mercy rule. Fifth-year pitcher Ben Amon gathered a loss, allowing four walks and three hits. Amon gave up four runs, however none were earned.
Going into the second game of the day, the Lions hoped for a shift in momentum, which they got. Senior second baseman Mike LaGravenis started the scoring in the second inning, tallying a two-RBI single. LaGravenis looks to have yet another hot start to this season as he held a 14-game hitting streak to start the 2024 season.
The College added additional runs in the third and seventh innings to make the score 4-0. Sophomore Braden Drombroski had two hits in his season debut at shortstop.
Senior pitcher Jackson Malouf had an outstanding start on the mound, allowing only four baserunners through seven innings, gathering five strikeouts along the way. Senior Dan Merkel took over for Malouf in the eighth inning, escaping the inning unscathed. Fifth-year Joe Ferrari would close the game in the ninth inning, forcing Dickinson into a double play to seal the win.
The Lions took on Haverford College for their home opener on March 4, falling 4-2. Lions pitchers had a strong outing with fifth-year starter Jordan Gray gathering seven strikeouts, allowing only one run through the first five innings. Gray, along with three others, combined for 13 strikeouts.
Defensive woes wrecked the Lions’ hopes of coming back from a 1-0 deficit with three errors in the sixth inning. A dropped fly ball and misplayed ground ball led to additional runners that would eventually cross the plate.
The Lions scraped together two more runs in the eighth inning. However, they were not enough to overcome a strong four-run lead from Haverford. Drombroski tallied two more hits, along with Marano. The College’s game on March 5 against Drew was postponed, but they look to return to action on March 6 when Ursinus travels to Ewing.
Photo courtesy of Arion Owes
The Lions are back in the NCAA Tournament.
Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone
The Lions went 1-2 in their first three games of the season.
Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone
Junior Marissa Lucca impressed with six points in the opener for the Lions.
Wrestling wins fifth straight regional title
By Olivia Trasser Staff Writer
The College’s wrestling team walked off the mat at Hitchcock Arena at Messiah College with another win secured, adding to their growing legacy as one of Division III’s toughest competitors.
The Lions secured their fifth consecutive Region III title at Messiah on Saturday, March 1, amassing an impressive 174.5 team points and finishing a commanding 37 points ahead of runner-up Alvernia.
Leading the pack were individual champions sophomore Garrett Totten (133), junior Hunter Mays (174) and sophomore D.J. Henry (197), who each delivered standout performances en route to claiming regional titles.
Totten, ranked fifth in Division III at 133 pounds, according to The Open Mat, showcased his dominance with a 19-4 tech fall win in the semifinals before pinning New York University’s Jacob Venezia in the finals.
Mays, ranked seventh nationally at 174 pounds, pulled off a thrilling overtime victory against Alvernia’s Nate
Lackman, a 2023 national champion. Meanwhile, Henry breezed through the competition, capping off his run with a decisive 10-3 victory over Elizabethtown’s Will Davis, the No. 6 ranked wrestler in Division III at 197 pounds.
The Lions’ depth was on full display as sophomore Matthew Griffin (125), junior Sam Kotch (141), senior Mike Conklin (149) and senior Nick Sacco (165) each secured second-place finishes to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championships.
Griffin’s path to nationals was particularly dramatic, as he overcame a 4-0 deficit in the semifinals to claim a 12-7 victory.
Kotch, Conklin and Sacco all battled ranked opponents in their respective finals, with Sacco facing top-ranked Matt Lackman in the 165-pound title bout.
Sacco, last year’s national champion at 165 pounds, put up a strong fight against the top-ranked contender, showcasing the skill and determination that earned him the title in 2024. Despite facing fierce competition throughout the season, he remains focused on defending his crown and making a run for backto-back national championships. The competition will be fierce, but Sacco has consistently risen to the challenge, proving he is more than capable of securing another national title.
The regional tournament was not just about the national qualifiers, as several
other wrestlers contributed to the Lions’ overall success.
Senior James Romaine placed sixth at 184 pounds, defeating Alvernia’s Hayden McClellan, 5-4, before losing a tough 2-1 decision to No. 14 Ryder Slayton of Messiah in the consolation semifinals. Romaine lost 4-1 to Ursinus’ Nils Updale in the fifth-place bout, giving him the sixth place finish.
Sophomore Matt Coon was one win away from qualifying for the NCAA tournament, but ultimately placed fourth at 285 pounds.
With seven national qualifiers, the College sends its largest contingent to the NCAA Championships since the 2003-04 season, marking a historic achievement for the program.
Conklin and Sacco will each be making their third trip to the national tournament, with Sacco entering as the defending 165-pound national champion. The other five Lions will make their NCAA debuts in what promises to be an exciting test on the national stage.
The Lions now turn their attention to the NCAA Championships, set for March 14 and 15 in Providence, Rhode Island.
With a talented squad, the College aims to make a strong push for individual and team accolades on the national stage. As they prepare for the biggest event of the season, the Lions will look to continue their momentum and add to the program’s storied history.
Women’s basketball season ends on tough NJAC Championship loss
By Tyler Morello Staff Writer
The College’s women’s basketball team’s magical season came to an end in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship game against Montclair State this past weekend, losing 7263. They were able to get past Kean University in the semifinals, winning 79-56, but fell short in the final round for the second season in a row.
In the semifinal, after a close game through the first quarter, the Lions took control from then on out, outscoring the Cougars 62-43. In the first quarter, it was junior Katie Fricker who led the way for the Lions.
She got the Lions on the board after a steal and assist from senior Nina Branchizio, the NJAC Player of the Year, followed by back-to-back converted and-ones to put her at eight points for the quarter.
Junior Myah Hourigan-Hutton strung together some smooth plays to start the second quarter, making a sweet reverse layup and throwing a backdoor pass to Fricker that caused Kean to call a timeout.
The Cougars hit a three out of the timeout to cut the score to 21-18, but the Lions got the momentum back a few possessions later after senior Arianna McCleod went coast to coast fighting off the defense for an and-one circus layup high off the glass.
The College led 34-25 at the half and was in control throughout the second half. They led by 14 before Branchizio got fouled shooting a three-pointer with two seconds left in the third quarter, knocking down two of three foul shots.
Sophomore Grace Kowalski added the exclamation point in the fourth quarter, hitting from a couple feet beyond the three-point line and later banking in a three to put the Lions up 20.
Fricker was the high scorer for the Lions with 20 points on the night, followed by Kowalski with 18 and McCleod with 15.
The College hosted Montclair State at Packer Hall for the championship game since they secured the top seed in the tournament by defeating the Red Hawks in the final regular season game. Despite being the lower seed, the Red Hawks came to play.
They got out to a 9-0 lead before the Lions could even blink. Fifth-year Jaclyn Feit was the first to answer the call and got the Lions on the board with a layup.
Freshman Amanda Baylock provided a much needed spark off the bench for the College, as she came in and had an immediate impact. She had six points in the first quarter, including two straight buckets to end the quarter and keep the Lions within striking distance trailing 20-10.
The Lions’ crowd got to their feet after a Kowalski layup out of the break and a McCleod three to cut the lead to five. The senior then got fouled shooting a three and converted on all three free throws putting the score at 22-18.
McCleod subbed out after the charity stripe visit, which caused the offense to seemingly stall for a bit before she checked back in and scored two buckets and dished to Feit for an and-one to make it a one-point game with about two and a half minutes to play in the second.
The Lions trailed 33-29 at the half but were able to grab some much needed momentum. Yet, every time they would make a move to get in the lead, the Red Hawks seemed to have a counter.
The College was putting together great defensive possessions for 25 out of the 30 seconds in the shot clock until
giving up a demoralizing three-pointer. Shannon Hughes of Montclair State had what felt like 10 of these, scoring 13 off the bench and hitting three late clock threes.
The Red Hawks were playing extremely out of body compared to what they were accustomed to as a team. They shot over 40% from three compared to their 26.9% they had on the season. They had even banked in multiple three pointers.
It was a quiet day for Branchizio who was held scoreless until she connected on a long range three as time expired in the third to put the score at 54-44, Red Hawks.
Montclair State’s defensive game plan worked very well on the NJAC Player of the Year. Their tricky full-court pressure was causing fits for the Lions all game, forcing it out of Branchizio’s hands and making their bigs bring up the ball.
Once again, when it would seem like the Lions were clawing back, the Red Hawks would answer with a timely bucket. They got it to a two possession game and were forcing the Red Hawks to scramble on offense late in the shot clock before they drained a three from about five feet beyond the three-point line. Those types of outcomes were the story of the game and ultimately lost the Lions their second straight championship game. They shot 15% from three, their lowest in any game this season, and lost 72-63. Kowalski, Feit and McCleod each had 15 points while Baylock put up a career high 13.
This Lions team has a lot to be proud of this year, and with only three players leaving following the season, they are set up for another exciting season next year.
Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone
The Lions are sending seven wrestlers to the NCAA Tournament.
