The Towerlight (Dec. 1, 2015)

Towson’s campus and community news source

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Dec. 1, 2015

Photo by Cody Boteler/ Photo illustration by Kara Bucaro/ The Towerlight

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December 1, 2015

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December 1, 2015

T OWSON TRENDING Weeks of 11/17-11/30

Students staged a sit-in at the University President’s office Nov. 18 in order to advocate for a number of concerns they had. Story on pgs. 7-8. Thanksgiving Break came and went too quick, and now campus is in the final stretch until the end of the semester.

#OccupyTowson

Sending out my love to the black student body at TU đ&#x;’–✨ They are fighting to create a safer environment at my school #occupytowson

@isyourobsession

History is being made on Towson’s campus.

Change is happening.

We’re working for the equality of all. #occupytowson #TowsonIsMizzou

@JoeyCracked

Keep fighting minority students of Towson University. We made the news. People are listening! #towsonismizzou #OccupyTowson

@rlandashante20

Back From Break

On my way back to Towson to suffer through 17 days of hell on earth

@Mallory_7815

Cant wait to go back to towson to do 800 papers and final projects and then wait for it... Study for finals!!! WOOOO!!! FCK YEA!!!

@julieferrelli

thank god I don’t have to fly back Towson tomorrow bc if have to pay extra for the bags under my eyes

@GiannaCirillo30

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Opinion

December 1, 2015

Editor-in-Chief Carley Milligan Senior Editor Cody Boteler News Editor Sam Shelton Assist. News Editor Nilo Exar Sarah Rowan Arts & Life Editor Annie Sragner

Assist. Arts & Life Editor Robert Wood

Thankful for the job, community

Sports Editor Assist. Sports Editors Jordan Cope Tyler Beard Staff Writers Tim Anderson Kati Day Helen Grafton Kristin Helf Ryan Permison Hailey Miller Tyler Young Christine LaFrancesca Caitlin Wolfarth Photo Editor Patrick Burke Staff Photographers Cody Boteler Adrilenzo Cassoma Nilo Exar Carley Milligan Video Producer Sarah Chmieloweic Staff Videographers Stacey Coles Joseph Hawkins Tyisha Henderson Proofreaders Desmond Boyle

For most of my college career I didn’t even know I wanted to be a journalist, and then even when I did know, I had no desire to write about anything very serious. At first, I only wanted to write about art, and music and fun things like travel and good food and wine. And, of course, I still want to, because who wouldn’t want to get paid to write about those aesthetic wonders that life gives to us?

But after two years at The Towerlight working in the Arts & Life section, I had the opportunity to meet and interview advocates like Laverne Cox. I also got to tell the stories of Towson students who were overcoming adversity and achieving their goals every single day. Suddenly, I realized that I also had

this burning desire to write about life and the journeys people take, and how beautiful they can be. But I shied away from hard news.

Then I spent the summer as an intern at Baltimore City Paper, where I was forced to engage with a range of news more than ever before. Gradually, overtime, I began to open myself up to the idea that maybe I could someday write about those things too. That brings me to this semester, where I have spent the last three months dedicating most of my life (and sanity) to the position of Towerlight Editor-in-Chief.

And finally, on Nov. 18, I unexpectedly found myself committing over twelve hours of one day to covering a breaking news story. Having followed the activist work of students John Gillespie, Korey Johnson and Bilphena Yahwon for most of the semester, I was invited to accompany them to Interim University President Timothy

Chandler’s office and cover the #BlackOutTowson sit-in. Myself and two other members of The Towerlight posted updates on Twitter, streamed part of the protest on Periscope and did our best to efficiently cover the movement. It was the first time I had ever done anything like that in my life.

The energy and adrenaline in the room was contagious, and even as a bystander simply observing and recording the situation, it was difficult at times not to feel moved by the intense emotions and determination of both the students and University administration.

Since Thanksgiving is still fresh on our minds, I want to say that I am thankful for having the opportunity to witness the movements that took place on Nov. 17 and 18. For me, they helped to give me an even greater understanding of those things that are currently plaguing not only our nation and our world, but our very own campus as

well. Seeing the way the University was completely invested in the concerns of their students reaffirmed what I consider to be the mission of higher education.

For those of you reading this editorial, I want to personally encourage you to take the time to really try and understand what this movement means, why it is happening and how your University and student body are reacting to it. Anything can be a learning experience, and this movement is an example of a great lesson in life. The ability that humans have to listen to and understand one another, and grow as individuals from that understanding, is a beautiful thing. Taking the time to be a part of that understanding, even if in the end you don’t agree with it, is the purpose of attending a university like Towson. For that reason, I am so proud to be a part of this community and thankful that I get to contribute to it every day.

Kayla Baines Kira McCall Chris Pretrides

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Please Recycle!

One of my least favorite questions to be asked by friends and family whom I haven’t seen in a while is the dreaded, “so how ARE you?”

I dislike this question because it puts me on the spot to come up with a way to summarize my current circumstances and identity.

Another strange aspect is that if I were asked how someone else I know is doing I could easily come up with a small list of their updates.

It’s an interesting phenomenon that we often find ourselves more familiar with the identities of others than we are with our own. It can be difficult to assess one’s own identity while living in it.

Society values identities because they are based on the categorization

fort zones and satiate our thirsts for inclusion, so those with secure identities often feel safe within their beliefs. This is why communities grow from the accumulation of likeminded individuals with similar beliefs and life practices.

To keep track of everyone, we use census data to document what kinds of people live where. It’s bizarre that the intricate and complex components of one’s identity can be easily summarized onto a single form, saturated with checkboxes and blanks to fill.

Although they have benevolent intent, the effects of these boxes and blanks ripple past the pages we fill out. For example, forms that only have checkboxes for “male” and “female” don’t take other possible sexes or identities into account. Individuals are either grouped in these exclusive catego-

ries, or they are exiled with a label of “other.”

These social identity groups also apply to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, class, age, ability, citizenship and body size – just to name a few. There are the popular groups within these categories which most people fit into, but the ones in-between are left just that: in-between.

These categories give us common experiences to share with others.

Those who do not fit these set categories are often silenced by their

inability to conform, but these individuals have valuable experiences that deserve to be heard. Those who live in unconventional ways in this conventional society have the power to challenge the cultural traditions most people just accept.

Even if you find comfort within the boxes you check, the exclusion of some affects all. Consider how much your identity has determined your inclusion or exclusion from certain aspects of culture and how much of that is based on traits you have no control over.

Consider how much your identity has determined your inclusion or exclusion from certain aspects of culture and how much of that is base on traits you have no control over.

Opinion

December 1, 2015

Learning from the Planned Parenthood shooting This past Friday, a shooting took place at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

According to CNN, the suspect mentioned some anti-abortion sentiments during his interviews with police.

Authorities are saying it’s too soon to know for sure what the motive behind the attack was, but many feel that Planned Parenthood was a target rather than an unfortunately coincidental setting.

Now, I am not writing this to speculate. I’m not writing this to tell you whether or not the suspect, who

x

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I refuse to name, took innocent lives in the name of a strong belief or not.

I want to make a different point.

During the shooting, three people were killed and nine were injured.

Among those killed was police officer Garrett Swasey, a man who, according to CNN, possessed strong Christian values including not being super supportive of abortion.

So why does this matter?

It matters because despite his personal beliefs, officer Swasey “rushed to the clinic to offer his assistance,” according to CNN. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t question the fact that people potentially participating in an act against his beliefs deserved safety and protection.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AT

the towerlight Monday - Friday 9-5 University Union rm. 309

“

He knew that they did.

This man gave his life to protect the people in Planned Parenthood

Remember Officer Garrett Swasey, and remember that sometimes we need to put aside our differences and help those who need us.

that day, despite their possible varying beliefs.

That, ladies and gentleman, is

a hero.

Without belittling the tragedy of the incident, we can all learn a little from Garrett Swasey. While we aren’t all police officers, it is still our duty as people to help and protect other humans. Denying another person help or protection because they may have or be of a different belief, sexuality, race, or religion than us is simply unacceptable. It is inexcusable.

When you hear stories on the news or online about the horror that occurred this past Friday, try not to take in the name of the shooter. Don’t look at the pictures of his face. He doesn’t deserve a spot in your memory.

Instead, remember the victims.

Remember the nine who were injured and the three who were killed.

Remember Officer Garrett Swasey, and remember that sometimes we need to put aside our differences and help those who need us. You never know when you might need help, and you don’t want to experience what it’s like to be denied assistance or protection because of something you can’t help. It would be corny to say that helping those in need unconditionally could make the world a better place, so I’ll just say this: it is part of human nature to need help and protection every now and then.

Let’s make it part of human nature to provide help and protection for each other.

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December 1, 2015

1860 Students Relaxing on the Newell Hall patio, c. 1950

1870 1880

1890 1900

Ward & West

1920

Residence Halls were dedicated in 1951. They were the first dormitories built for men, and were named after George Ward and Henry West, former MSNS Principles.

1930

In 1952, Peggy Whiteleather was crowned Towson’s first Homecoming Queen.

1910

1940

1950 1960

1970

1980

1990

Towson's students have always written stories, essays, and poetry. There were two literary societies to support these ventures. In more recent times, student literary magazine began publishing in the spring of 1952. Known then as The Publication, this magazine evolved into the current Grub Street.

By 1954, the State Teachers College opened its doors to African American students for the first time. These four young women were all graduates of Morgan who graduated from Towson with a “Fifth Year” certificate in 1956.

Myra Ann Harris was the first Towson graduate of color who attended for all four years; she graduated in 1959.

Vivian Kernes

Cornelia Juanita Martin

West Hall c. 1951 Studying in the newly-opened Ward Hall in 1951

Jeanette Cornilia Smith

Towson’s first cohort of “Fifth Year” Students

Dolores Elaine Snipes

2000

2010

To be continued…

Share your memory: TU150.towson.edu

Cover

December 1, 2015

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#OCCUPYTOWSON HAPPENED. SO NOW WHAT? Towson students John Gillespie and Korey Johnson have a history of activism on and around campus. In April, they organized a student march in downtown Baltimore in response to the death of Freddie Gray, on the first day of classes they gathered with students in Freedom Square to provide a safe space and, most recently, staged two sit-in style protests.

“My number one principle is that activism has to be an act of radical love,” Gillespie said in an October interview with The Towerlight.

Two weeks ago, Gillespie, Johnson and a group of student activists showed Towson’s campus and community what radical love looks like to them.

They presented a list of 13 demands, which aimed to improve the quality of life for the community of diverse students on campus, to both the Student Government Association and then to the University administration in two consecutive sit-in style protests on Nov. 17 and 18.

SGA President Kurt Anderson signed the demands, which hold the SGA and administration accountable for their promise to address the concerns. Then, following almost nine

hours of negotiation, Interim President Timothy Chandler signed a revised version of the same document.

“A lot of the backlash we got from this event was that it was radical, but deconstruction is radical,” Gillespie said.

The student activists said their demands will address concerns of students on campus, in particular those in the black community, by addressing the roots of the problems.

Johnson said that while eliminating smaller conflicts like microaggressions, which are small occurrences of hostile or derogatory slurs, is important to them, correcting what she called “structural antagonism” in the University’s system is a priority.

For many of the students, the combination of frequent microaggressions, in addition to larger systematic concerns, such as the low number of black professors who have received tenure at the University and a lack of cultural competency classes, have fostered their desire to join this movement toward change.

Some consider 2012-13 as a high water mark for the racial tension on campus due to the founding of “The White Student Union,” headed by Towson alum Matthew Heimbach.

Johnson said those events, among others, have shaped her perspective of

the culture of Towson’s campus regarding race relations.

“I can’t just forget the things that have happened to the debate team,” Johnson said. “I can’t forget that Matt Heimbach and his posse … were patrolling [campus] to make sure that black men didn’t rape white women and I was afraid to go to my dorm. All of those different things created for me a narrative of what Towson is.”

For student activist Bilphena Yahwon, her experiences at TU have fostered her desire to join the movement.

Since she arrived at TU in 2011, she has been involved in a number of various multicultural groups, held a position on the Council of Diverse Student Organizations, taken part in campus teach-ins and meetings, and worked with a number of faculty and staff.

“We have sat with University members and professors and said, ‘We have a problem we need to fix it,’” Yahwon said. “We have done that for four and a half years. Then when we finally explode people are like, ‘Oh my God. We didn’t see that coming.’ We had a White Student Union, and you wanna tell me you didn’t see this coming?”

Yahwon feels that her anger is warranted, yet said she believes some people in the campus community don’t

Cody Boteler/ The Towerlight John Gillespie and a group of other concerned black students stage a sit-in protest during the Student Government Association’s Nov. 17 general assembly meeting.

understand why.

“I think because they see our black rage that for them this level of anger means that we are disorganized, that we are wild, that we are crazy,” she said. “We earned our black rage and that’s what people don’t understand. I will not apologize for screaming at anybody because people don’t understand that I have been doing this for four and a half years.”

After the list of demands was publically released, Yahwon said that some people responded with shock that the document was “clear and concise.”

She speculates that the radical nature of their protests obscures the organization behind the movement for those on the outside looking in.

“We didn’t just get up one day and decide we are going to go occupy the president’s office,” Yahwon said after the Nov. 18 sit-in. “We did our research, we knew what we were doing.

Everything we do is intentional.”

Gillespie said that they planned every action within their movement as a team so that they would be able to most effectively convey their message.

During their Nov. 17 “SGA Takeover,” they planned their rebuttals and narratives to create a debate that used both logical and emotional factors.

The two sit-ins took place a week after the multiple protests at the University of Missouri, which led to the resignation of University of Missouri System President Timothy Wolfe.

Both Johnson and Gillespie said that for them, the argument that what happened at TU only happened because of what happened at Mizzou, does not negate the fact that the concerns they have raised in their list of demands are still relevant to Towson.

“Even if we are only doing it because Mizzou did it, which we are not, but even if that was the case that doesn’t take away from the necessity of it needing to be done,” Johnson said.

Gillespie also addressed that even as a black student, because he is a heterosexual cisgender male, he is still free of the discrimination that LGBTQI students face. He said hopes to work

more closely with the other diverse student organizations as the movement progresses and make the safe spaces at Towson even safer.

Gillespie, Johnson and Yahwon encourage students to ask questions about the movement and demands in order to better understand its origin and goals, and hope to see the University take a more active approach in addressing these concerns.

“It’s love,” Yahwon said. “We are doing this for everyone and we are putting ourselves as leaders on the line for everyone … while our main focus is black students … all students will benefit from what we are doing and I really want people to realize that.” *** Chandler signed the document around 12:45 a.m., after hours of deliberation and negotiation over the terms.

“It was a long and very, very important process that we went through, both learning from each other and I think putting the University in a better place in terms of understanding and appreciating their problems,” he said.

The Nov. 18 protest followed a “SGA Takeover” the previous night.

At the SGA meeting, students expressed that Anderson and his executive board, which ran on a platform of improved accessibility, transparency and diversity within the SGA, were not upholding the promises they made to the student body that elected them.

They hoped to hold the SGA accountable for their promises by asking for increased communication between SGA members and organizations, specifically diverse and multicultural organizations.

For example, they expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Director of Diversity Outreach, Xiomara Gonzalez, who said during the meeting that she had tried to get in touch with some of the groups via email but received no response. The students in turn argued that as a part of her job she should have sought them out in person rather than relying on virtual communication.

Story continues on Page 8.

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Cover

December 1, 2015

Story continued from Page 7.

Anderson said that although there is always more work that can be done, Gonzalez is currently fulfilling the expectations of her position. SGA will be providing her with more resources and according to Anderson, she is doing more outreach work than others in her position have done in the past.

Johnson reminded students that they have the right to impeach any member of the SGA who is not meeting the job requirements. She asked them to put pressure on the SGA members who are paid, since every full-time undergraduate pays $84 in SGA fees, part of which goes toward the paychecks some members of SGA collect.

Gillespie said that as an activist he is not “against the SGA,� but wants the individuals who represent him to understand what matters to him and other students. “I was very happy with myself and with the way our SGA handled it,�

Anderson said. “I felt like we were very professional and we did our job of hearing students out, and obviously we are working to address everything that they talked about.�

The negotiations in Chandler’s office addressed every concern expressed in the demands. Among these were a notable lack of tenured black faculty

members and diversity within the committees granting tenure, a need for a required cultural competency course for all of the colleges and departments, the incorporation of a required race relations course for all students, and a dissatisfaction with what the students consider to be inadequate representation on the President’s Diversity Coordinating Council.

Since the two days of on-campus protest, Anderson, Chandler and Gillespie have all released public statements via their organization’s websites or through The Towerlight.

Part of the agreement Anderson and Chandler signed was to release a statement, and in their comments both reflected on the efforts of the student activists as positive and reinforced their pride in both the students and the University for working together.

Chandler’s statement also reinforced the fact that the objectives were of mutual importance to both the students and the University and, in many cases, aligned with issues that are already actively being addressed.

Anderson’s statement discussed the steps that the SGA has taken so far to begin addressing the demands such as the formation of a task force, chaired

by Chief Justice Michelle Harrison,

and an informational website that will provide updates on the SGA’s progress.

One of the demands was for Chandler to advocate in the University System of Maryland to terminate contracts between the USM and the Maryland and Federal prison systems in which USM schools purchase furniture and other items produced by prisoners.

Since signing the document, Chandler sent a request via email to President of the USM Student Council, Gayon Sampson, who is also a Towson student, asking him to consider reviewing the contract for termination.

In a Nov. 24 response, Sampson said that after initial research and discussion, the council’s executive board has determined not to advocate for the termination of the contract.

Sampson said that the council’s directors of diversity and inclusion and governmental affairs have formed a taskforce comprised of student government presidents from each institution in the USM system to further investigate the contract, and draft a public and final report no later than March 1, 2016.

On Nov. 30 a TU Diversity Work Session was held in the Potomac Lounge where students and the President’s Diversity Coordinating Council were able to discuss the current climate of diversity on campus.

Visit thetowerlight.com for an upcoming article on this event.

Allen Stewart/ The Towerlight Towson University Interim President Timothy Chandler listens to student demands during the Nov. 18 sit-in protest inside his office.

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News

December 1, 2015

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Diving Coach charged with felony, lesser crimes Maureen Mead indicted in connection with locker room recording

Diving Coach Maureen Mead was indicted on criminal charges Nov. 23 in connection with an Oct. 16 incident involving a smartphone found recording in the women’s team locker room.

Mead has been charged with “interception of communication,” which is a felony, as well as misdemeanors “peeping Tom” and “altering physical evidence in a criminal proceeding.”

The felony charge carries a penalty of incarceration of up to five years and fines up to $10,000. The misdemeanor charges carry possible penalties of incarceration up to 30 days or up to three years and fines of up to $1,000 and $5,000, respectively.

A statement from the University said that members of the administration were notified of the indictment on the same day.

“The investigation continues regarding other members of the

coaching staff, and we will provide more information as it becomes available,” the statement said. “The well-being of our student-athletes remains and will continue to be our top priority.”

According to Marina Cooper, the president’s deputy chief of staff, the Towson University Police Department has been working “closely and collaboratively” with the state’s attorney’s office and decided that part of the investigation was ready to be presented to a grand jury Nov. 18.

Maureen Mead, Head Swim Coach Pat Mead and Assistant Coach Adrienne Phillips are no longer listed as coaching staff on the swimming and diving team’s website.

An Oct. 22 email, obtained through Maryland’s Public Information Act, from Phillips to Pat Mead, said that she would not be able to attend a meeting without her attorneys.

Both of the Meads and Phillips could not be reached for comment.

Maureen Mead does not have an attor-

ney listed on online court documents.

Maureen Mead has been on paid administrative leave since the original Oct. 16 incident, according to the University.

Pat Mead was put on paid administrative leave Nov. 17, according to swim team members, who wished to remain anonymous.

Director of Athletics Tim Leonard appointed assistant coach Jake Shrum as acting head coach for the swimming team Nov. 17, according to a statement from the University. The University has not, however, confirmed the employment status of Pat Mead.

According to the same statement, the University hired Tim Perkins as temporary diving coach.

A public relations firm interested in handling the case contacted Leonard soon after the phone was discovered, according to the emails obtained through the Maryland Public Information Act. Leonard said that central campus was handling communications.

He also said “police have the phone” in an email sent Oct. 18.

He promised “swift and decisive action” and said that there should be more facts within a week.

Over five weeks passed between the time when the phone was discovered and the grand jury indictment.

A number of the emails came from concerned parents, expressing frustration and concern about the way that the situation was being handled.

In addition, several emails were from members of the team emailing Pat Mead, asking to miss a practice.

While the teams have been updated as the incident has unfolded, no general announcements have been made to the entire student body.

According to the emails, Director of Communications Ray Feldmann told an officer from the Baltimore County Police Department Maureen and Pat and Maureen Mead “have been instructed to have no contact with the team until all the facts are known.”

Cooper replied and said that information was more than the

University’s counsel said that “[the University] can release.”

Another message from Cooper said that she “triple checked” with counsel and said that nothing could be said about employment status “until after criminal charge.”

An email from Deputy Director of Athletics Tricia Brandenburg to Pat Mead told Mead that “[the athletic director] wants to make sure that there are always at least two coaches on deck,” and to not talk about the investigation.

From the emails, it appears that Maureen Mead’s laptop was confiscated. In an email to Leonard, Pat Mead said that a managing app the team uses “was on Maureen’s laptop” and indicated they may need to purchase the app for an upcoming meet.

Maureen Mead is being charged in the Baltimore County Circuit Court.

No trial dates have yet been set.

The Towerlight will continue to update this story as events unfold.

--Sam Shelton contributed to this article

English Language Center celebrates 30 years Towson University’s English Language Center celebrated its 30th anniversary Nov. 19 with a multicultural ceremony in Potomac Lounge. The event featured tables displaying artwork and objects from the countries represented by the ELC, students dressed in traditional clothing, a buffet of international food, short speeches and musical entertainment.

ELC Director Lynda Mermell said that the ELC not only strives to strengthen its students’ language skills, but their cultural awareness as well.

“It’s so important to bring people here for this exchange,” Mermell said. “I think that in not just our school, but in any school, you’ve got to have this interaction and dialogue between all the different cultures.”

Founded by James Cook in 1985, the ELC works to help improve the English competency of international students from over 70 countries in order to prepare them for higher education, better jobs

in their home countries or for a more fluid adjustment to life in the United States.

The program offers six levels of English, from basic through pre-graduate school, according to Mermell.

Mermell said that the program has grown enormously in size, with around 160 total students currently enrolled.

One of the goals of the program is to create a sense of community and family among its students and faculty. Mermell described the members of the program as a “Thanksgiving dinner family,” who, despite some disagreements, come together as a community to embrace each other’s cultures.

The program itself has an important place on campus, according to Mermell. She expressed her wish that Towson put more effort into promoting globalism.

“It’s not enough to send Americans to study abroad in other countries, I think we need to bring students here,” she said.

Level five ELC student Julio Ramos, from Peru, attended the event and recognized the importance of the English Language Center to both international students and to Towson University.

Photos by Sarah Rowan/ The Towerlight Students participate in the English Language Center’s multicultural 30th anniversary celebration.

“I think ELC is an organization that embraces different cultures to provide this type of education,” Ramos said. “I’m really happy to be a member of this organization which allows me to have the opportunity to let everybody know

that [the ELC] will exceed farther beyond everybody’s imagination.”

In the future, Mermell hopes that the program will begin to further diversify. Most of the program’s students come from the Middle East, but the ELC is cur-

rently searching for more students from Africa, Central America, South America and Asia.

“People coming from different parts of the world need this type of education,” Ramos said. “Towson will embrace them.”

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News

December 1, 2015

TU fights national poverty, hunger

Nov. 21: In Barton House, four resident students were referred to OSCCE for alcohol violations.

Nov. 22: In Residence Tower, two resident students were referred to OSCCE for alcohol violations.

Nov. 23: At General Services, several tools were taken from a University facilities truck.

Nov. 24: At the University Union, an unknown student took the property of a commuter student after they left it unattended.

Nov. 24: At Cross Campus Drive, a staff member was cited for a CDS possession.

Nov. 24: At SECU Arena, a staff member had her phone taken after leaving it unattended. It was later returned by an unknown suspect.

The Towerlight’s “Police Blotter” is a representative sample of crimes occurring on and off campus. The blotter is not intended to be all inclusive.

For a list of all crime reports, visit www.towson.edu/police.

Towson University and its Office of Community Service recognized National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week Nov. 16-20 with events geared toward raising awareness of U.S. poverty.

The week recognized a nationwide effort to inform students about the issues of hunger and homelessness people face before the holiday season.

Office of Community Service graduate assistant Maggie Behlen coordinated and supervised the week’s events and student directors.

“This is something that is affecting the community and also students,” she said. “These are issues that are close to home with a lot of people.”

All week, the Maryland Food Bank collected canned food and clothing donations from Towson students.

Other events included a Hillelsponsored baking event “Challah for Hunger,” where students came together to bake challah bread that was sold the next day at the University Union.

The proceeds from the sales went to

the Maryland Food Bank.

Students also had the opportunity to donate extra, unused meals toward the end of the week.

The week closed with a Nov. 20 service event at community nonprofit, ReStore, which sells furniture donations at a fraction of their original cost.

While Behlen coordinated and supervised the events, many of the events throughout the week were led by student service leaders.

Office of Student Activities Community Service Leader Maggy Kay worked with Behlen to plan the activities the week, as well as to spread advocacy and give Towson students a chance to serve in support of hunger and homelessness. Both Behlen and Kay were pleased with the student turnout to week’s events.

“I am so happy to have seen so many

“

students come out to learn more and serve to support those experiencing hunger and homelessness in our community and all over the country during the week,” Kay said.

One of the week’s events, the iLEAD Workshop, brought student leaders from various campus groups together to learn how to properly lead using “educationally meaningful service.”

Madeleine Smith and Usjid Hameed led the event, and agreed on the importance of recognizing that poverty, homelessness and hunger are global issues that affect both worldwide communities and local communities.

“We just assume that we’re in this bubble of Towson sometimes,” Smith said. “It’s not about assuming things, it’s about understanding that there are people who need to be served around us.”

This is something that is affecting the community and also students. These are issues that are close to home with a lot of people.

MAGGIE BEHLEN Office of Community Service graduate assistant

News

December 1, 2015

Finding one’s authentic self

Activist Tiq Milan talks identity, discrimination

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Nilo Exar/ The Towerlight Tiq Milan speaks at Nov. 19 Transgender Remembrance event.

Writer and activist Tiq Milan spoke about his personal journey, transition and how transgender people should be true to themselves during Towson’s Nov. 19 Transgender Remembrance event.

“Transgender is a process, it’s a journey to our authentic selves,” he said.

Milan, who headlined the event, also spoke of the importance of having support networks, and spoke of his own mother and the support and love she gave despite her initial confusion with the transgender lifestyle.

“She loved me enough to challenge me to take up space and be respected,” Milan said.

Milan’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in June 2014. When she died, her last words included using the pronoun “he” for Milan.

“I promised her that as I built my legacy, I would cement her’s, as well,” Milan said.

Milan acknowledged in remembrance the transgender people who had lost their lives in 2015, many of whom were trans women of color.

According to a mid-November

report released by the Human Rights Campaign and the Trans People of Color Coalition, “In 2015, at least 21 transgender people have been victims of fatal violence in the the United States, more killings of transgender people than any other year on record.”

“The murder of trans women of color is not due to bad luck or the length of her skirt,” Milan said.

He also said that there is a lot of work to be done in the wake of marriage equality. Milan said that in many states transgender people can still be evicted and not hired solely do to their sexuality.

Milan also spoke of a tendency for society and the mainstream media to focus on transgender people’s biology rather than the discrimination issues facing the transgender community.

Globally, Milan believes the world is at a tipping point, and that a throwback to the future, when gender was seen as more of a spectrum rather than a binary, will be ever present in the foreground of society.

Milan closed his speech with a quote from his late mother.

“We have to be more concerned with building maps to our future than monuments to ourselves,” Milan said.

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Dear Towson, I hope this letter finds you all well, even if you’re super stressed about finals. It seems like this semester has been an all-around crazy one back in the states, with all of the political debates and movements that have been going on across the country. It’s been such a strange feeling, watching it all happen from across an ocean.

For my first couple months as the only American studying in Avignon (in the south of France), everyone – from French classmates to the other international students and even the professors – acted as if the United States was the center of the world, and watched along with me. And I guess in a way it was, with all the news centering on the elections and student protests, but the night of Nov. 13 flipped that around completely. That day, my university organized a trip for us to visit other French and international students in Nice. As we left dinner, we heard that there had been an attack in Paris that left 18 dead. We were all sad, but the night continued as planned with all of us thinking that was the end of it.

When we got back to the hostel at 1 a.m., we learned the extent of the attacks, and followed the news until we fell asleep in shocked

silence at 3 a.m.

The next day, they had the news on at breakfast. We ate in silence, with people bursting out in tears or sobbing to themselves quietly. I thought I could keep it together (I had cried the night before), but as I scrolled through Facebook and saw all of the posts about French support after 9/11, and how America was ready to return that favor, I broke down. I Now, after four months and over 4000 miles away and friends in 14 different countries, the world feels a lot smaller. People in Paris that night died doing things that I have come to love and identify with, things I do every day, the things that the rest of the world associates with the French “joie de vivre” – joy of living.

That Saturday, we were sitting a café nearly identical to the one attacked the night before, drinking espressos and watching the world carry on as usual. At noon, we heard what sounded like a gunshot go off. In that split second, I immediately tried to figure out the best strategy to keep both my friends and I safe from what we were sure was another attack. The people I was with went completely pale and froze. We found out from a group

15

of older women next to us that because it’s a coastal town, there’s a navy cannon shot of at noon every day. My friends later told me they thought they were going to die that day.

Why did I feel like I knew what to do? I asked myself that question at least a hundred times. I’ve never been anywhere near a terrorist attack or mass shooting, but I grew up 30 minutes from Washington and we had active shooter practice drills from the time we were five years old. Apparently, I found out, that isn’t the norm for anyone else. With the world’s eyes turned toward France, I felt like I was gaining a new perspective on both of the countries I call home. At 20 years old, I feel like I have to know what to do when a mass shooter attacks, something none of my friends here have ever thought about, and I didn’t realize how sad that was until I was forced to recognize it in myself.

Three weeks later, we still get our bags searched before we enter university, but life carries on as usual. We kiss everyone, we drink coffee and eat pastries in town squares and we eat dinner outside at 11 p.m. with friends. Nobody is going to stop anyone from enjoying France, and our joy of living here.

-Shaun McGovern

Letters from Abroad Students share travel memories from their experiences while studying abroad

Hiya Towson Tigers, I just got back from Edinburgh, Scotland and was one of the unfortunate people who got caught in the rain that hit a majority of the UK this weekend. I’m writing to you all from a lovely little city in the UK called Leeds. Like most cities I’ve visited here, there’s a lot of history and a lot of layers to uncover and discover as an international student. I found the most exciting part of being in the UK is that I’m finally amongst some of my favorite creative inspirations, from literature, to art, to architecture, to music and just about everything in between.

For a while now, I have felt like we are limited in our education in the States, we can really only afford to read the textbooks and process images or photographs we see, and it’s hard to visualize the context. While here, I have finally been able to make the textbooks come alive. I can go to galleries and see the paintings from my art history classes or I can go to physical location of where J.K Rowling wrote “Harry Potter,” and where Jane Austen wrote “Pride and Prejudice.” I can also go to the places that the characters visited.

The main reason that this is so incredible is that I have never been this far abroad on my own. It is liberating to do a lot of these things by myself. Yes, I do travel with other people, but I often find that I break apart for a bit and that’s when I stumble upon things and I get most excited.

It’s also been quite strange to be an American in Britain and trying to hold on to my “American” heritage while also embracing the British culture.

For the most part, both countries are similar but there a few things that pop up every now and

again that are different. For instance, slang.

Seeing as I’m in Leeds, it’s hard to get a sense of what it means to be a local Leeds-person and what that experience is like, since on the whole, Leeds is more of a visiting city rather than one that is inhabited with a collective culture. And so, when one British person says one slang term to another, if they aren’t from the same place they may have already insulted the person.

Another example of two varying cultures is something we are presently familiarly with, and that’s Thanksgiving. The funny thing is, what we call Thanksgiving dinner is just “Afternoon Tea” to the Brits. I find this terribly ironic because it’s the Pilgrims who first celebrated Thanksgiving and they decided to make Sunday Tea for their meal.

Today, obviously, we make this meal under the notion of giving thanks for our friends, family, school, etc. once a year, but the British make this meal pretty much every Sunday.

This year I celebrated Thanksgiving with two other American girls, as well as other international students. Trying to explain this concept to them was a little challenging, especially when we decided to go around the table and say what we are thankful for, they were at a loss for words.

I know right now I am thankful for a roof over my head, my incredibly supportive family and friends, and I am eternally grateful for this opportunity that I have to be abroad in another country.

How many people can say that? As part of their undergrad they decided to go on an adventure.

Anyway, hope all is well in beautiful Baltimore.

Good luck with finals, see you when I see you.

Cheers, Elise Tonelson xoxo

Dear TU family, I’ve spent the past semester talking all about my trips and giving advice for what you should do when abroad. Now I want to talk a little bit about how this experience has changed me as a person, and can hopefully change you too, if you make the decision to study abroad.

Starting out, I had no idea what to expect.

I did not know when I arrived what classes I would be taking, who I would meet, or even how to get from my host family’s apartment to the metro.

Study abroad has taught me that although you may sometimes feel like you’re flying blind, there’s always time to step back and appreciate the adventure that surrounds you.

Spain is amazing and if you study abroad, I recommend you at least take a weekend to come here. The best Spanish foods are paella (seafood and rice), huevos rotos (fried eggs and ham over French fries), fuet (like beef jerky, only awesome), croquetas (fried mashed potatoes with ham), bread (yes the bread is different here), and churros con chocolate.

The Palacio Real de Madrid is one of my favorite palaces out of the 20 I’ve seen this year, and Parque Retiro will forever be one of my places to go when I need to escape homework for a while.

Studying abroad has taught me two very important things: I’ve learned to plan weekend trips to other countries well in advance, and how to pack for said trips in less than

30 minutes. I’ve learned that forgetting things when packing is not the end of the world as long as you have your passport and boarding pass.

On the other hand, I’ve also learned to be spontaneous. Random trips to bakeries, cafés, restaurants or bars have become quite the norm.

I planned a day trip to Toledo two days before I went and that has been one of my favorite days thus far. The weekend trips to other countries are planned after one of my friends randomly blurts out a country and I say I want to go, so we go. The best part about all of this is that you can do it too.

Towson has incredible connections in the study abroad world, and not taking that opportunity is quite frankly a waste. It is a massive financial undertaking, I’m fully aware of that, as is my crying wallet.

However, the opportunities I have had to travel to Morocco, Poland, Portugal, France and Amsterdam (as well as all over Spain) have given me a new global perspective that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

So, although study abroad may seem to have a large price tag on it, in the end, it really is priceless. To those of you who think study abroad would be fun, don’t just think about how fun it would be. Do it. The memories will last a lifetime, and your wallet will once again thrive as soon as you come home and blow away your future employer with your application.

-Amanda Reid

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Arts

December 1, 2015

New GoT this Spring soothes back-to-school blues CAITLIN MOYNIHAN Columnist @cmmoynihan

As much as I enjoy Thanksgiving break, we definitely have a love/hate relationship. Although it brings me great joy and happiness in the form of food comas and family time, it also gives me a false sense of security.

The precious few days we are given off makes me think that all of my obligations and responsibilities have disappeared, but then Sunday morning happens and I wake up with the weight of all my assignments, exams and papers I have due this week on my shoulders.

While I should have been researching philosophers and analyzing results from my distributed surveys, I instead analyzed the new posters promoting HBO’s “Game of Thrones.�

The sixth season of the acclaimed television series is set to premiere in April. While there are still five months until it returns to our TVs, the hype is already building.

The fifth season ended with our beloved (spoiler alert) Jon Snow being left for dead, there was speculation from the moment the credits rolled.

Many fans analyzed and re-watched the episode searching for clues that would suggest that Snow was still alive and would not reach his demise.

The season six poster that was released by HBO’s official Twitter and is now on huge billboards in some cities features the bloodied face of a

particular Jon Snow.

Obviously, this sent everyone into a panic and makes April seem even further away. There is no caption or words accompanying Snow’s face to assist in analyzing what the poster really means. In interviews, some of the cast of “Game of Thrones� have heavily implied that Snow is definitely dead and not returning (I’m looking at you, Maisie Williams).

That being said, Kit Harrington, the man who plays Snow, has yet to cut his hair which gives fans hope that Snow will return once again.

We haven’t been given any direct confirmation on Snow’s future, but at this day in time, all signs point to Snow

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returning.

Without Snow, the plot of the show could easily move on and it would continue to be one of the most watched and talked about shows on TV, but it would be difficult to not see that beautiful face once a week. The upcom-

ing posters, commercials and show snippets will hopefully provide more insight into the new season and make the wait seem more bearable. While I wait for that to happen, I will spend my time reminiscing of the good days when Jon Snow was still invincible.

Movie Review: Spotlight

Journalism in action KYLE CASEY Staff Writer

As the season of award-winning films heats up, there is one film that has managed to stand out in a crowded field thanks to flawless execution. “Spotlight� earned little hype prior to its release, but has now solidified itself as the movie of the year so far. Centering on the 2001 Boston Globe investigation into the Catholic Church’s child molestation issues in Boston, the film is an edge-of-your-seat journalistic thriller.

The Spotlight team for the Boston Globe is a group of four incognito journalists who dive into and investigate groundbreaking material from a distance. The crew relentlessly pursues the truth, while also maintaining their cover throughout the process.

While it does not benefit from a rather slow, uneventful start, the story begins to pick up pace once the investigation begins, and doesn’t miss a beat during the final two thirds of the film.

Led by exceptional performances from Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton, as well as strong support from Rachel McAdams, the movie is perfectly cast, with all three effortlessly taking on new and challenging roles.

It is rare that a journalism movie hits home with a wide range of audiences, but “Spotlight� does.

The endless pursuit to uncover the truth by the Spotlight team throughout the film gives this movie the feeling of a thriller.

There is no blood, no violence, no peril for the protagonists, however the twists, turns and highintensity scenes lead to heart-racing journalistic cinema for viewers.

The script of the film reads with ease, and the cast nails each and every line. Standing above the rest is Ruffalo’s performance, as he fully engulfs himself in the role and provides the widest range of emotions of any of the cast members.

It is hard to ever deem any movie a “perfect� film, but in a year headlined by an endless slew of very-good-but-not-great films, “Spotlight� is the first great film of 2015. From prime acting, to a masterful script, to a surprising amount of thrill, “Spotlight� resonates as the type of film that does not fully sink in until a few hours after its completion. “Spotlight� gives viewers the precious yearning for more that many movies fail to achieve.

As it stands right now, “Spotlight� is comfortably in first place for Best Picture at the 2016 Academy Awards.

I give this film 9.75 out of 10 stars.

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Arts

December 1, 2015

Folk-tronic band tours U.S. IAN GILLEY Contributing Writer

Senior business major Danny Garrett has been busy the last few years, simultaneously playing music and doing schoolwork. He and his sister, Molly Garrett, who is a student at Harford Community College, have spent the better part of their time off from school touring the United States and playing shows in the band “Electric Molly.”

Molly Garrett sings and plays guitar, friend Walsh Kunkel plays guitar and bass and Danny Garrett plays harmonica, piano, guitar and bass in the band and takes a lot of inspiration from people who play multiple instruments.

Although Electric Molly hasn’t released an official album yet, both of the Garretts have solo albums. Danny Garrett is also currently recording an album where he plays all of the instruments on every song.

“It’s taking a long time because it takes a while to record on things that I am not used to playing all of the time,” he said. “I am also learning how to play drums, which is an endeavor.”

Due to Danny’s school schedule, he had to wait until summer to tour out west.

While on tour, the Garrett duo camped or stayed with family members. They took Molly’s Honda Fit all the way to Arizona. During the trek to

Towson club aims to better the lives of women globally

Welcome back everyone from a waytoo-short Thanksgiving break! I hope you got along fantastically with your extended family over the weekend.

And if you didn’t, I hope you had a little cousin to turn on Adele’s “Hello” every time family feuds got out of hand, a la Saturday Night Live. Even your sixyear-old cousin and great grandmother have heard “Hello” by now.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Adele’s album “25” sold 3.38 million copies in the U.S. during its first week on sale. Nielsen has been tracking music sales since 1991, and so far “25” holds the record for the largest single sales week, beating out *NYSNC, whose 2000 album “No Strings Attached” formerly held the title.

To put this in perspective, Taylor Swift’s “1989” sold 1.8 million copies during its first week on sale.

Adele’s previous record, “21,” has sold about 11 million copies in the United

in helping towards our cause.”

Along with showing the film each semester, Green expresses the club’s dedication to House of Ruth, a safe haven for women in children who are trying to escape domestic “Turning oppression into opporabuse situations in the Baltimore tunity for women worldwide” is the motto of members of the organizaarea. tion “Half the Sky” nationwide.

“Working with House of Ruth is Heavily influenced by the book going to be awesome, just because written by married couple Nicholas we’ve been waiting so long to be Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, “Half able to collaborate with them,” the Sky” strives to educate the pubGreen said. “We are helping them lic about the oppression of women with a clothing drive in December. and its global social and economic This is crucial for us because it’s effects on societies. our chance to educate. House of “Our goal is to raise awareness on Ruth has done amazing things for campus of the issues that women women and children who need help. face globally,” vice president Aida Just being a part of something with Weldeghebriel said. “This can them is inspiring.” range from human sex trafficking Showing the negative effects of to girls education, all women’s oppression of which are imporand suffrage while tant.” implementing stratWe want to improve Junior internaegies for positive the lives of these tional studies major change is the mission Jourdan Green joined of the group. girls so that they the “Half the Sky” “Joining this club can live happy, club three years has been one of the fulfilling lives. ago during her first best decisions I’ve semester at Towson AIDA WELDEGHEBRIEL made since I came to Vice President of Half the Sky Towson,” Green said. and is now the group’s president. ”Not only are we try“Just being a part ing to do more comof ‘Half the Sky’ is amazing, and munity service, but we also want to being president is incredible,” collaborate with the crisis hotlines.

Green said. “I love being able to Either volunteering or somehow show and educate people of the otherwise working with them, we plight of women all around the are constantly trying to find ways world. This cause is important and to help out while also getting new facing the harsh truths of what happeople interested.” pens to women in other countries is A central goal of the group is to a necessity.” improve the lives of women beyond Each semester, Green organizes the Towson community. a screening of the documentary “I want Towson to learn that “Half the Sky” welcome to all stuhalf the sky is a group of pasdents. The group coordinates these sionate individuals that want to screenings with the hope that it will truly make a change in the future inspire thought-provoking converof girls worldwide,” Weldeghebriel sation about marginalized women said. “We want to improve the lives around the world. of these girls so that they can live “We show ‘Half the Sky’ every happy, fulfilling lives.” semester because it’s a great visual representation of what is happening to our people,” Green said. “It’s Interested in finding also incredibly important to us that out more about Half we get a diverse group of students the Sky? E-mail Marjani interested and we think one of the Cephus at mcephus2@ ways to do that is to show this docustudents.towson.edu mentary and get people interested for more details.

CHRISTINE LAFRANCESCA Staff Writer @LaFrancesca27

Courtesy of Carl Hamilton

Arizona, the Garretts invented games as they went.

“We made up a game where we had to improvise five minutes of stand-up comedy, and Molly was the only one who would do it,” Danny Garrett said.

Although he missed the first tour, Walsh Kunkel came with the Garretts on the second tour. They took the same cramped Honda Fit all the way to Utah, only this time there were three people instead of two.

“We had a stack of guitars in the trunk, so many instruments, clothes, a tent, my giant pile of books,” Molly Garrett said. “The destination of our second tour was our family reunion in Utah. Walsh got a t-shirt that said

‘Garrett Family Reunion.’”

“He’s in our family portrait,” Danny Garrett said. “Walsh is an honorary member of the family.”

This summer, Electric Molly plans to tour the U.S. “We are definitely going to go to Yellow Springs, Ohio,” Danny Garrett said. “It’s where Dave Chappell lives— Dave Chappell and lots of hippies.”

Electric Molly plays Jan. 15 at the Main Street Oyster House in Bel Air, Maryland and plans to release a new album this summer.

In the meantime, be sure to look out for Danny Garrett and Molly Garrett’s solo albums “Raisin the Roof” and “I Have a Bearded Dragon,” respectively.

States—“25” is already over a fourth of the way there.

This new Adele album, from what I’ve heard of it so far, is completely deserving of all the attention and press it and Adele have garnered over the past few weeks. Adele’s album titles coincide with her age, so it’s astonishing that her first album is titled “19.”

I recently overheard a conversation between two people on the bus, discussing the fact that she was only 19 years old—“younger than me!”—when her debut album premiered and turned her into a megastar.

Unfortunately, these girls weren’t praising Adele for her incredible voice and songwriting ability that were, fortunately for Adele, discovered at a young age.

They were instead berating themselves for not yet having accomplished such feats.

“Adele was 21 and had two plati-

num albums—I’m 21 and working as an unpaid intern!”

Yes, we are poor college students working the poor, menial jobs of such college students.

And yes, there are enormously talented women like Adele to make us feel like failures at this point in our short lives, but just remember: unless your dream is to become a popstar, you’re on the path to—hopefully—doing whatever it is that will make you successful.

Getting discovered by a talent agent must be nice, but pursuing higher education and holding that associate’s/ bachelor’s/master’s degree you worked so hard for must feel even better.

Not to undermine Adele’s success, which at this moment in her career is next to impossible as she’s kicking ass right now, but just because she’s kicking ass in her field doesn’t mean you aren’t.

Adele sweeps music charts KRISTIN HELF Columnist @kristinelise_

Sky’s the limit

“

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December 1, 2015

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Puzzles

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9-12-14

● Each row and each column must

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● The numbers within the heavily

outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages

with the number in the top-left corner.

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December 1, 2015

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Tigers take two DESMOND BOYLE Staff Writer

Towson earned its first two wins of the season by beating UMBC 61-51 and Western Illinois 83-77 before losing to University of North Florida 74-72 in overtime.

Towson struggled in the first half of their game against North Florida on Nov. 28, trailing 21-10 by the end of the first quarter. The Tigers improved in the second quarter but the Ospreys still managed to take a seven-point lead going into halftime.

Then behind a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter, the Tigers took a sevenpoint lead of their own with under two minutes to play.

Scoring throughout the half from Martin, Bankston and Johnson was not enough as North Florida managed to tie the game with a three pointer with one second left in the game to send it into overtime. The Ospreys then hit a three pointer with 20 seconds left in overtime to clinch the 74-72 win over the Tigers.

The Tigers took on Western Illinois on Nov. 27 in what turned out to be a high scoring game. The first quarter featured a 6-2 run for Towson to start the game before the Leathernecks responded with a 10 to two run of their own.

Eventually the Tigers responded to that run by scoring the last six points of the quarter to take a one point lead going into the second quarter.

Three straight three-pointers in the

opening minutes of the second quarter helped Towson extend their lead before Western Illinois responded by scoring 11 of the next 13 points in the game. Three-pointers from freshman guards Martin and AJ Timbers helped the Tigers regain a five-point lead at halftime.

The teams traded buckets for most of the second half with the Leathernecks finding a way to gain a one point lead with just over seven minutes to go in the game. Towson then took control with consistent scoring and had a multiple point lead the rest of the way.

Martin finished the game with a team leading 23 points to help the Tigers get back to back wins.

“Tonight we had some other people step up and it was big.” Head Coach Niki Geckeler said, according to Towsontigers.com “We've shown we can rebound and tonight the inside offense showed how effective we can keep when it catches up to what our guards can do.”

The Tigers got their first win in front of their home crowd over UMBC last Tuesday. Following a slow start to the game from both teams, the Tigers took a seven to five lead going into the second quarter.

Guards Sianni Martin and Dominique Johnson then went to work hitting several jump shots and three pointers to help give Towson a 27-20 lead at halftime over the Retrievers. rebounds in the victory.

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● The numbers within the heavily

Solutions to Puzzles appearing on page 19.

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Sports

December 1, 2015

the NFL's overshadowing problem DESMOND BOYLE Staff Writer

The photos of Greg Hardy’s domestic violence victim released a few weeks ago were terrible, but they represent a greater issue. The domestic violence problem facing the National Football League is not new, and the league’s response has stayed the same throughout.

Before diving into the problem of lenient punishments, it should be known how willingly ignorant the NFL has been. Despite the fact that commissioner Roger Goodell knew that Ray Rice knocked out Janay Rice in that elevator, he decided that a two game suspension was a worthy punishment. Players get higher suspension for the use of performance enhancing drugs or the second violation of the

league’s substance abuse policy.

Once the infamous video of that incident was released by TMZ, both the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL decided to save face in the public eye by releasing and suspending Rice indefinitely. What is outrageous about these belated punishment is not only the fact that they were clearly a PR move for both organizations, but also that TMZ obtained the video with a single phone call. Both the NFL and the Ravens claimed that for months they were unable to obtain the video from the hotel.

The other major problem is something that the NFL has not addressed for decades. It is plain and simple, if you can play good on Sunday, there is a place for you on someone’s roster no matter what you’ve done in the past.

Ray Rice was coming off a year in which he put up career lows in touchdowns, yards and yards per game,

except for his rookie year in which he did not start. The league made the decision to suspend Rice indefinitely, and eventually Rice was reinstated after about a year. He has yet to be signed by a team following his release from the Ravens.

Adrian Peterson is an all-pro running back and one of only six running backs in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in NFL history. The Minnesota Vikings fended off interest from other teams to keep their pro bowl running back on their roster following his reinstatement to the NFL in February of this year.

Before being suspended for all but one game of the 2014 season, Greg Hardy had just put up two consecutive seasons with over 10 sacks. Hardy owns the Carolina Panthers record for sacks with four in a single game, and 15 in a single season. Hardy is set to make over 11 million dollars this year as part of a contract the Dallas Cowboys gladly signed him to this past offseason.

Make no mistake about it, if an NFL team thought Rice could help their team win a game this Sunday, they would sign him immediately. Even though there is no video of Peterson

abusing his son, you can see the star running back’s damage online as TMZ released several photos of the four year old’s arms which were severely scarred by a tree branch his father beat him with.

The smoking gun did not come in the form of a video for the Hardy case either. The website Deadspin released photos of Hardy’s ex-girlfriends scarred and bruised body that were taken after Hardy allegedly choked her, smashed

her against a bath tub and threw her on to a pile of guns.

The punishment from teams in the NFL does not depend on the severity of domestic violence or the proof of that violence, it depends on who is going to win games and make money for the owners. It’s a cliché that the NFL is a business and as long as this business continues to be the most profitable sports industry in the country, then why would the NFL’s owners change?

Courtesy of FOX Sports

Defensive linemen Greg Hardy was signed by the Cowboys this offseason, despite his domestic violence issues while in Carolina.

Hardy is set to make over 11 million dollars this year in Dallas.

GREEK NIGHT! HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF FRAT AND SORORITY IN ATTENDANCE WILL RECEIVE $250 FOR PHILANTHROPY!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 · 7 P.M.

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December 1, 2015

tu wins in overtime

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Tigers beats Coppin State 81-77 ATHLETE OF THE WEEK TYLER BEARD Assistant Sports Editor @tylerbeard2

Towson defeated the Coppin State Eagles 81-77 in overtime Saturday afternoon.

“It’s always good to get a road win,” Head Coach Pat Skerry said.

“We missed a lot of free throws, had a bunch of missed free throws and plenty of turnovers. We had around seven or eight fouls, which is something I haven’t seen before.

We found a way to get it though and I’m looking for that consistency.

The Tigers (4-3) led the Eagles (2-3) 69-67 after redshirt junior forward Arnaud William Adala Moto hit a pair of free throws with less than two minutes left in the game. However, the Eagles responded with two free throws of their own, which brought the two teams to overtime.

Moto led the Tigers in overtime with six points, including a jumper that gave the team a 75-71 lead with less than three minutes left in the game.

Coppin State came within two points of Towson’s lead, but another jumper from Moto and a layup from sophomore guard Eddie Keith helped put the game away.

Sophomore guard Byron Hawkins led Towson with 20 points, including 11 points from the free-throw line. The sophomore also had five rebounds and four assists.

Moto finished with 17 points and junior forward John Davis had 15 points and led the team with nine rebounds.

“John is probably three-quarters of the way back (from injury) and he’s a key piece to our team,” Skerry said. “In the second half he played like All-CAA John Davis.

What’s tricky is that he’s still has to get his condition and timing back down, but he’s a great leader for us.”

The Tigers started the game hot with a 7-0 run from four different scorers. The lead grew to eight points after senior forward Timajh Parker-Rivera made a free throw with less than seven minutes left

in the first half.

Coppin State came back with a 13-0 run in five minutes, which gave the team a three-point lead, but a pair of free throws from Hawkins put the Tigers ahead by one-point at halftime.

“

It’s always good to get a road win. We found a way to get through it and I’m looking for that consistency PAT SKERRY Head Coach

Towson held a consistent lead in the first five minutes of the second half, but the tide changed

when a foul and technical foul from Morsell resulted in four straight free throws for Coppin State. The play gave Coppin State a 55-50 lead with 11 minutes left in the game.

“The biggest thing for Mike is he needs to keep doing that,” Skerry said. “He needs to keep taking good shots. He’s very talented, as we saw from last season. He’s pressing a bit right now but he just needs to keep taking good shots.”

Davis provided a spark for the team the rest of the half with seven points, which helped Towson climb back into the game and get to overtime.

The Tigers shot 49 percent from the field but, only shot 65 percent from the free-throw line.

Towson begins a two-game home stretch against George Mason on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Sacred Heart on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Byron Hawkins Men’s Basketball Sophomore Byron Hawkins tallied 20 points, four assists and three blocks in Towson’s 81-77 overtime victory Saturday over Coppin State. For more on Byron, visit thetowerlight.com to see our Athlete of the Week video.

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Photo by Joseph Noyes/ The Towerlight

Sophomore guard Eddie Keith II drives to the basket in Towson’s 69-61 victory over Morgan State on Monday, Nov. 16 in SECU Arnea.

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December 1, 2015

New team, new year, same resolution JORDAN COPE Assistant Sports Editor @jordancope26

When the final horn sounded in last year’s Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association Championship game, Towson skated off of the ice defeated by the Drexel Dragons and finished in second place.

“The loss was tough, especially coming off of an emotional win over Villanova in the semi-finals,” team president Ryan Buccigrossi said. “It is always tough when the year ends because the seniors realize it is their last competitive game.”

This year marks a new chapter for the team and a season that they hope will be even more successful than the last.

“We have been working hard every day in practice to try to make another run in the playoffs,” senior Matt McGuire said. “Our season is very long. We start in August and playoffs are not until February, so we try to stay motivated and push each other to get better every day.”

The Tigers are fresh off of their 12th win of the season after earning a come from behind victory over the Temple Owls Saturday at Flyers Skate Zone North East.

“We did not know much about Temple going into the game because they were a division two school last

year,” Buccigrossi said. “However, they were big and fast which made them tough to defend against. But we are on a roll right now and despite being down 2-0 in the first we showed no panic and were able to come back and pull out a victory.”

Towson’s win over Temple was just one of many tests that the team has endured this year.

The Tigers also defeated a nationally ranked Rhode Island team and their arch rivals, the United States Naval Academy.

“This year we were able to sweep Rhode Island who was ranked twenty-third in the country,” McGuire said. “These were two big wins, considering we have not beat them in several years and we were able to beat them in their home rink.”

The Tigers next game will be against the Villanova Wildcats, Friday at Hatfield Ice Arena in Colmar, Pennsylvania.

“Villanova has been a very good offensive team in the years past,” senior Niko Vonakis said. “They always start the game very quickly and aggressively, so we expect to see them take a lot of shots and put pressure on our defensemen and goalie early on.”

Towson, however, feels that it is up to the challenge because of the team’s chemistry both on and off of the ice.

“The bond that we share with our

team is something beyond special,” McGuire said. “We like to think of each other as twenty-five brothers always having each other’s back. Our team is always consistently hanging out, taking classes together and going out when time permits. Our chemistry comes from long bus rides and spending countless hours together every week.”

Although the Tigers are hungry to down the Wildcats Friday, the team is looking at a much bigger goal for this season.

“Our goals this year are to finish at the top of our division in points, earn a spot in the ACHA National Tournament and return to the ECHA Championship and reclaim our title,” Vonakis said. “We know we are more

than capable of achieving all of these goals, so not achieving all three would be a failure.”

The next time the Tigers take the ice is Dec. 4 at Hatfield Ice Arena in Colmar, Penn. against Villanova University.

Courtesy of Kym Gabrielson

Towson goalie Tyler Stewardson prepares to make a save in last year’s game against Navy (above).

Towson forward Michael Chapin deeks a defender in last year’s game against Navy (below).