The Towerlight (Dec. 8, 2015) by The Towerlight

Photo by Allen Stewart, Illustration by Sydney Adamson/ The Towerlight

December 8, 2015

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December 8, 2015

TOWSON TRENDING Week of 12/1-12/7

With finals week closing in, the stress is building. The end of the semester brings regrets of not trying harder, and hopes of boosting grades at the last minute. Good luck Tigers, see you in January!

Finals Week

Finals week update 1: Spirits are low, energy is lower. How much do strippers make again?

@ayana_ava

I’m gonna write a song called “It’s Finals Week” and it’s just four minutes of uninterrupted screaming

@Chief_Keefner

How do I unsubscribe from finals week

@iThurnis

End of Semester Stress

Hoping I can redeem myself this week for all the L’s I took throughout the semester...

@_AlmightyJOSH

catch us next time with our finals week special: Things I Wish I Did Differently This Semester: A Memoir

@mikavellii_

This semester has been OD stressful but at least I didn’t pull out my hair this time

@darriqueenn

Opinion

December 8, 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 Sports Editor Assist. Sports Editors Jordan Cope Tyler Beard

The cliffhangers at the end of a semester Contribute to the next chapter for Spring 2016

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 Kayla Baines Kira McCall Chris Pretrides General Manager Mike Raymond Lead Designer Sydney Adamson Art Director Kara Bucaro Production Assistants Daniel Andrews Christine Kim

Just like the end of a really fantastic Netflix original series, the end of the Fall 2015 semester has left the Towson community with a number of cliffhangers. Will any of us be able to pass our final exams? When will the steps in the front of the Center for Arts be rebuilt? What will incoming university president, Kim Schatzel, be like, and how will she assimilate into Towson’s culture? Will Interim President Chandler be able to keep his promise to advocate for and enact the 13 demands when he returns to his position as Provost? What will happen next with the #BlackOutTowson movement? What kind of effect will the new group the Organized Network of Student Resistance (read about it on page 10) have on campus?

Will Fetty Wap make it to campus in January? Who will be the TigerFest artist this spring? And will the men’s basketball team make it into March Madness this season? Towson has all this and more to look forward to when we return to campus in just 48 days. I know, it doesn’t seem long enough, and for those taking minimester classes like I am, it’s going to be even shorter. But it’s still an opportunity to take at least a handful of days to sit down, regroup, rest and pat yourself on the back for making it through another semester. Even if you have to keep working or going to classes, I encourage everyone to try and take some time to reflect on what you have accomplished this semester. And, with the New Year approaching, set a few goals for yourself for when you return. One thing I personally hope to provide you Towerlight readers

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8000 York Road University Union Room 309 Towson, MD 21252 business: (410) 704-5153 editorial: (410) 704-5141 editor@thetowerlight.com thetowerlight.com

The Towerlight print edition is published by students of Towson University on Tuesdays. The Towerlight is owned by nonprofit Baltimore Student Media Inc., BaltimoreStudentMedia.com. The Towerlight’s advertising deadlines are firm: Wednesday noon for space; Friday noon for art. Cllassifieds appear onlline and in print and are self-service at TheTowerlight.com/classifieds. We encourage letters to the editor and online feedback. Commentaries, letters to the editor, editorial cartoons and other editorials express the opinions of their authors and not necessarily the views of the newspaper. The Towerlight does not discriminate based on age, color, condition of handicap, marital status, national origin, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. ©2015 by The Towerlight, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252. All rights reserved.

Please Recycle!

Year of the feminist As 2015 comes to a close, I’m sure you’re all wondering the same thing: what awesome things did feminism do for us this year? Well don’t you worry, you equality lover you, ya girl went ahead and figured all that out for you. Here is my list of five fantastic things feminism did for us so far in 2015: 1) Hotline Bling, by Drake. Some of you may be wondering what this song has to do with feminism,

while others are more like, “hell, yeah.” Well, for those who aren’t sure, listen to the lyrics. The song is about a woman whose man “left the city,” so she “started wearing less and going out more, [drinking] glasses of champagne out on the dance floor, hanging with some girls [Drake] never seen before.” This dude up and left her, so she got some lady friends, confidently showed off her rockin’ body, and lived her damn life. Yaaas queen. To read the rest of this column online, visit thetowerlight.com.

with when we return is meeting you where you are. In your classes, at club meetings and events, sporting games and campus activities and even online. Yes, the purpose of The Towerlight is to report the news surrounding Towson’s campus and community, but it’s also to provide its readers with things that might need, or just want to know. And in order to know what you want to know, The Towerlight needs to be where you are. We can’t do it all on our own. Just as we need to seek you out, we want you to come to us as well. Tweet at us, message us on Facebook, send in a letter to the editor about whatever it is you are feeling and get it published in print or online. Come visit us in our office on the third floor of the University Union, room 309, and tell us about your club, new book of poetry, or amazing award you just won. Even if all you have to say is that

you are having a bake sale, we want to know about it. And most of all, contribute to our efforts. You don’t have to agree to work for a lifetime, or even a semester, but if you have any desire to write, read, talk to students, faculty and staff, take photographs or video, or design graphics or a website, we can give you an opportunity to do so. You don’t need any prior experience, and it’s an easy way to learn about your campus and get a little something to put on your resume. So please, pick up a copy and tell your friends to read us online or in print. Sign up to receive our Towerlight Today emails Mondays through Thursdays (at thetowerlight.com/ subscribe) so that you can stay upto-date on everything happening around you. Happy Holidays, safe travels, and Happy New Year. Best of luck on your final exams Tigers!

Opinion

December 8, 2015

The cells and the city While preparing for my cell biology final, I was thinking about how the operation of a cell is similar to that of a city. Like a little community, each cell in our body—all 37.2 trillion of them— functions independently but also regularly communicates with other nearby cells to distribute signals. A cell relies on the activity of proteins in order to function properly. Just like people, proteins are the movers and shakers of the cell community, with a diverse array of appearances and function. It all begins with the parents, the ribosomes, which synthesize the proteins and send them into the microscopic cell-world. The genetic code of each protein determines what kind of job it will have in the cell when it is fully developed. Once a protein is born, it says good-

bye to the ribosome and enters the endoplasmic reticulum. The ER is the elementary, middle and high school for proteins, where they learn about how they specifically fit and function in the cell. While at ER, they are instructed by chaperone proteins, which mold and shape each youngster to help them move closer to entering the “real world” of the cell. After a little maturing, proteins can either leave the ER to go straight to work, or they can go to the next level of cellular education, the Golgi apparatus, for further maturation. The Golgi is the university of the cell, where proteins can further specialize their skills. Once the instructing chaperones declare that the proteins are mature and correctly folded, proteins can then leave school and head out into the cell-world. To read the rest of this column online, visit thetowerlight.com.

Earn College Credit Over Winter Break! Pick up a course at Howard Community College. Winter term begins January 4. Register now! howardcc.edu

Application for College of Education Scholarships for awards during 2016-2017 now available. — Application deadline is January 30, 2016, 4 p.m. — The College of Education scholarship application is now available on the College of

Education homepage (www.towson.edu/coe), Announcements panel on the right side. To be eligible to apply, you must be enrolled in a program in the College of Education (undergraduate, graduate or doctoral; full-time or part-time).

(If you are an entering freshman or transfer student, you must have been formally admitted to the University for the fall 2016 semester and have a TU ID number.) • A typed essay (300 words, double spaced) responding to the question, ‘’Which of your past professors or teachers most influenced your desire to become a professional educator?’’ The quality of your writing and the depth of your explanation are paramount. • A resume, emailed to coescholarships@towson.edu. Include the following in your resume: – Your permanent address and contact information – Teaching/Student Teaching Experiences

– Education

– Other Related Work Experience

– Honors and Awards o Volunteer and Community Service – Involvement in Professional Organizations – References: Two Towson University Professors/Instructors as references – include their email and telephone contact information. • A letter of recommendation from one of the two Towson University professors/instructors you listed on your resume. Please ask your professor/instructor to email 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway | Columbia, Maryland 21044

the letter of reference directly to coescholarships@towson.edu by January 30, 2016.

December 8, 2015

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December 8, 2015

Safe spaces for living and learning Kez Hall settles into his bed with his MacBook. His room, much like any college student’s, is sparsely decorated and cluttered. On his windowsill is mango Chap Stick, Adidas cologne, a few cups of stale water, and his wallet. He reaches for the wallet and pulls out a photo of an infant girl. She’s beaming from ear to ear in a white dress covered in a fuchsia floral print. She wears a sizable white bow in her curly dark hair, white booties on her feet and delicate silver jewelry on her wrist and in her ears. “I never felt female in any aspect,” 22-year-old Hall says, reflecting on his younger self. “It was terrible because I was always trying to fit in with a certain sect only to have the fact that I was female being pushed upon me.” As a transgender male, the senior electronic media and film major took advantage of Millennium Hall’s gender neutral housing this fall after three years of commuting to campus from Harford County. Gender neutral housing allows Hall to live truthfully and safely. “I think it’s needed,” he says. “I feel like the whole point of coming to university is being able to have a choice in who you cohabitate with.” Having been able to make that choice, things have come full circle for Hall. “When I was growing up, before I transitioned, I would always be in girls lockers rooms,” Hall said. “Girls are really catty so it’s not always fun to be around. As funny as it is, now I live with two girls.” *** Over the past seven years, increasing numbers of Maryland institutions have begun offering gender neutral housing. Among them are UMBC, Johns Hopkins University and Towson. Gender neutral housing allows students to live in the same room with any other student regardless of sex, birth gender, biological gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. Jackie Wilson, assistant director for residential operations at UMBC, said that UMBC first offered this option in 2008 when students brought it to the attention of Residential Life. The office worked with The Rainbow Alliance (a now defunct LGBTQIA+ club) to make it available. At UMBC, gender neutral accommodation is based on demand and thus changes from year to year. Of the 4,000

beds on campus, 60 to 100 of them, or about 2.5 percent, are typically gender neutral, Wilson said. However, the housing is different between specific residences. In Walker Avenue Apartments and Residential Life Apartments, students have access to gender-neutral apartments. In other residence buildings, students have access to gender neutral suites – two rooms joined by a bathroom. Johns Hopkins University also offers gender neutral housing, but with a different approach. “It isn’t a particular location on campus. It can be anywhere,” JHU Director of Housing and Operations Tracey Angel said. “We did that on purpose because we didn’t want to call attention to them.” Instead of offering the accommodation in certain buildings, the school allows students wishing to live in a gender inclusive space to choose any residence. When a student chooses a room, it becomes exclusively gender neutral. This means the other residents in the room must wish to live in the same environment. When the university implemented the program in 2013 it was used by 35 students, or 0.48 percent. This year, 95 students, 1.3 percent, are living in gender inclusive housing. Towson’s gender neutral housing option is similar to UMBC’s. Assistant Vice President of Housing & Residence Life Jerry Dieringer said that HRL first offered gender neutral housing for the 2012-2013 school year, after consulting with the Center for Student Diversity. The option started as a pilot program and became a permanent fixture. Out of the 15 residences on-campus, Millennium Hall, Barton House and Newell Hall are the only to offer gender neutral housing. In the 2016-2017 school year, it may be available in the new Carroll or Marshall Hall as well, Dieringer said. Less than one percent of students use gender neutral housing, so implementing it in every building would not make as much sense as putting it in only certain halls, Dieringer said. Dieringer also noted that the university changed any single-person public bathroom from male/female to gender neutral at least four years ago. “For practical reasons it doesn’t matter who goes in it,” Dieringer said. “For programmatic reasons and supporting our community, it makes perfect sense.” *** As a transgender man, Hall faces the possibility of being outed every time he

must present a form of identification. “I go to the same liquor store on Joppa Road every two weeks,” he said. “I buy a bottle of peach moscato and I buy some beer. I give Mr. Lang my license. Mr. Lang looks at my license. Mr. Lang looks at me. Mr. Lang takes off his glasses, then looks at me.” Hall said this happens to him at the airport, too. Most days he can pull off “passing,” which Hall describes as presenting as the gender he identifies with. Because his license and passport are both branded with an “F,” passing isn’t an option when identification is involved. Hall has been a member of a club for LGBTQIA+ minority students on campus since he transferred three years ago. It’s been helpful having a group of people to turn to when he’s going through rough times, he said. Joining the club also allowed him to meet other students he could relate to. “I got some sense of, ‘Hey, this is okay. You can be this way. You’re not gonna die. People are still gonna love you.’” *** There are two Student Government Association recognized, open-for-all, LGBTQIA+ clubs that serve Towson’s student body of over 22,000 students. In The Life, which has existed for 10 years, strives to create a “community within a community” through events and weekly meetings, club president Franklin Nunez said. “We talk about the workplace, societal pressures and gender pressures,” Nunez said. “We sit together as a group and dissect the issues and make sure everyone just talks it out.” It’s a necessary club for LGBTQIA+ students who want to discuss issues that directly affect them, Nunez said. “We have the Queer Student Union here, but we needed a more central theme for In the Life to talk more about minority groups,” he said. The QSU has existed in some form since the mid 1980s, Lisa SimmonsBarth, the club’s faculty advisor, said. The name has changed over the years, but it has always been a space where LGBTQIA+ students can feel safe. Simmons-Barth said the QSU is an integral part of the campus community. “Despite what everyone thinks about progress being made, it’s not there,” Simmons-Barth said. “We need a place for folks to see and be around folks like them.” The club hosts events and holds weekly meetings that include safe space. Safe space happens at the end of meetings and gives students a chance

Allen Stewart/ The Towerlight Senior and electronic and media film major Kez Hall, poses outside Millenium Hall, where he lives in gender neutral housing. to vent about their issues and ask for help working through them. “It’s meant to be different than our overall meeting in that people can come and say, ‘Hey, I’m struggling with this,’” Simmons-Barth said. “The executive board will sit and listen.” Former QSU president Stephanie Hunt said the existing clubs help, but more can be done. “There are things that aren’t being addressed simply because if you have a group like the QSU that’s trying to work for the entire community, it’s just impossible to address all those needs,” Hunt said. Joel Bolling, senior director of student retention at the CSD, said that the GenderBLUR club was created around 2010 when a transgender student noticed there wasn’t a place for students discuss their challenges and experiences as transgender. “When it first started it was for all trans students but the leadership of the group and the focus of the group focused more heavily on the transsexual student experience,” Bolling said. “As the years went on the group focused more in general about all trans people and people who identified as gender nonconforming.” Due to a lack of participation, the group was unable to make a transition in leadership from one year to the next, Bolling said. The group moved to using Facebook to connect but involvement has dwindled over the last six months. There have been periodic attempts to revive GenderBLUR and create new clubs for transgender students. Bolling said such a club would be helpful to students, but efforts have

not yet yielded results. “I don’t know if the need just isn’t there or the scheduling hasn’t worked out,” Bolling said. “Some of the questions and challenges that some of the students are facing could be addressed in a group format with their peers.” *** Being black and transgender — a minority within a minority — is not easy for Hall. Even more difficult is enduring transphobia from the members of the black community. “What I kind of notice is that there’s this stigma that’s attached and it’s not a good one,” Hall said. “And I can’t seem to figure out why they’re more concerned with how I’m living my life.” One member of the community has mis-gendered Hall by using female pronouns. Hall had to correct him multiple times. “You don’t know the struggle that I had to go through to get here and to be comfortable enough to be here, so for you to take me back to a place where I was not happy, it’s not fair,” Hall explained to his friend. Enduring transphobic behavior has caused Hall to consider the intersectionalities of his race, gender identity and sexual orientation. “I don’t know if my duty as a person of the LGBT community that’s also African American is to educate, or if it’s to just live at peace for once,” Hall said. “There’s so much other stuff that I’m fighting, so do I really need to fight the people that are in my community?” Though he may face some doubts, Hall knows one thing for sure. “I really don’t like labels that much. I’m Kez and I’m happy.”

News

December 8, 2015

Housing eligibility requirements change Carroll, Marshall halls set to open in Fall 2016

Towson Housing and Residence Life have announced changes to oncampus housing eligibility in order to accommodate both new freshmen and returning students for the 20162017 academic year. New West Village apartmentstyle housing options, Carroll and Marshall halls, will open Fall 2016, while Residence Tower will temporarily close during Summer 2016 for two years of renovation, according to Assistant Vice President of HRL Jerry Dieringer. The altered criteria for eligibility will take effect beginning Fall 2016, and will not affect students returning for Spring 2016. “We hope this helps inform them, so that if they are thinking about off-campus versus these apartments, they know they have this option,” Dieringer said. New freshmen are guaranteed housing for four consecutive semesters. Current freshmen living oncampus will be eligible to return to on-campus housing, as long as they submit their housing contract and deposit by March 10. Students who live on-campus with 90 or more credit hours by the end of Fall 2015 are not eligible to return to on-campus housing. Millennium Hall, as well as many off-campus housing options are available to these students. Students living on campus with between 30-89 credit hours at the end of Fall 2015 are eligible to return to on-campus housing, as long as they submit their contract and deposit by March 10. These students will be required to live in the oncampus apartment options: Towson Run, Carroll Hall or Marshall Hall. Full-time undergraduate students in their sophomore, junior or senior years are eligible to live in Millennium Hall, but Millennium is run through Capstone Management, not HRL. Paca and Tubman Houses will be considered on-campus for eligibility purposes, and they count as part of the guarantee for two years of on-

campus housing. Exceptions to the eligibility rules include students living in an exempted Residential Learning Community, such as Honors College housing, or students with disabilities that require them to remain in residence halls. “We want to make sure we honor our guarantee for everyone who wants to live on campus,” Dieringer said. Residence Tower currently houses 500 students, made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores. Carroll and Marshall Halls will house 700 students. “We have about 1100 beds in the apartments, between Carroll, Marshall and Towson Run,” Dieringer said. “We want as many upperclassmen over there as we possibly can.” Financial aid eligibility will not change for students who are no longer eligible to live on campus, unless a student chooses to move back into their parents’ house. The current rates for Towson Run are $4,073 per semester for a 1-bedroom, $3,850 per semester for a 2-bedroom and $3,295 per semester for a 4-bedroom residence. The tentative rates for Carroll and Marshall Halls are $5,050 per semester for a 2-bedroom and $4,950 per semester for an apartment with four bedrooms. The rates for Carroll and Marshall are subject to change, but the cost for Towson Run could increase by up to four percent. Dieringer said that HRL recognizes that the rates for Carroll and Marshall are more expensive than other housing options. However, students living in Towson Run, Carroll and Marshall are not required to purchase a meal plan, which will cut some of the extra cost. “We are well aware that these prices are a little bit higher, because they are new buildings,” Dieringer said. “There is an affordable point in terms of the four-bedroom apartment in Towson Run. It’s almost the same price as a regular double room in regular housing.” “We are very sensitive to people’s financial needs,” he said. HRL will be sending more information out to students and parents before the semester ends.

News

December 8, 2015

Towson University names 14th president

EMU administrator Kim Schatzel to fill position in late January

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents has appointed Eastern Michigan University administrator Kim Schatzel as the next President of Towson University, according to a Dec. 4 campus-wide email from USM Chancellor Bob Caret. Schatzel, who currently acts as EMU’s interim president, provost and executive vice president of academic and student affairs, will fill her new position effective Jan. 25, 2016. “The more I learned about Towson, the more I thought it was a great fit,” Schatzel said in an interview with The Towerlight.

Caret said some determining factors in the selection were Schatzel’s “high energy” and “unique background.” “She’s been in the private sector and academia,” Caret said. “It’s both worlds, which we like.” According to the statement, current Interim President Timothy Chandler will return to his previous position as Towson’s provost and vice president for academic affairs in late January. Caret said that Chandler was considered as a finalist for the job of university president. Chandler was appointed interim president in December 2014, when President Emerita Maravene Loeschke announced her retirement due to health reasons. He served as acting president during Loeschke’s leave of absence earlier that semester. “Under his watchful eye, Towson didn’t miss a beat as it moved forward to greater excellence,” Caret said in the statement. “The Board of Regents and I applaud Dr. Chandler’s exemplary leadership during this period of transition.” “I’m really looking forward to

working with [Chandler],” Schatzel said. “He’s done a terrific job in the interim role.” During the selection process, Schatzel came to campus to act as what she called a “mystery shopper.” Schatzel said that she and her husband took a walk around campus to talk to faculty and staff — without letting anyone know that she was in the running for the job. Schatzel said she was most struck by “how positive everybody was about the school.” Prior to her appointment as interim president of EMU in July, Schatzel was an assistant marketing professor before becoming dean of the College of Business at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, after which she moved to EMU to join the university’s leadership team. Schatzel has acted as EMU provost and executive vice president of academic and student affairs since 2012, per the EMU website. Schatzel also has 20 years of corporate, new venture, and start-up

Courtesy of Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University administrator Kim Schatzel will become TU’s next university president in January 2016. experience from working for a multinational and industrial firm as the founding president, chief operating officer and chief executive officer. She holds a doctoral degree in business administration from Michigan

State University. The on-campus introduction and welcome reception for Schatzel will be on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. in the University Union’s Potomac Lounge.

News

December 8, 2015

TU looks to add 3,000 beds, bike beltway Updated university master plan outlines new academic buildings, walkways

Towson’s campus could look a lot different in the coming years, according to the recently-updated University master plan, which projects that central campus enrollment could increase by nearly 5,000 students by 2029. To combat this, the University plans to increase on-campus housing capacity by roughly 3,000 beds, according to the Campus Master Plan Executive Summary. About a third of those beds will come from a potential housing and mixed-use development in the south of campus, across Osler Drive. Carroll and Marshall halls, referred to in the master plan as West Village housing phases three and four, will open in Fall 2016 and contribute an additional 700 beds. Once the Enrollment Services building is replaced by a new facil-

ity between Burdick Hall and the Towsontown Garage, another phase of West Village housing will add 600 more beds. “This new housing will add enough capacity to the campus to facilitate the phased renovations of the Residence Tower and the Glen Towers over the next ten years,” according to the plan. The Residence Tower renovation will account for another 450 new beds. According to Director of Planning Kris Phillips, the master plan’s top three academic priorities are construction of the new science building, a College of Health Professions building and the renovation of the aging Smith Hall. According to a Cook Library chronology, Smith Hall opened in 1965. The College of Health Professions lacks a centralized location. Its facilities are currently scattered between six different buildings. “We are working to have all three of these projects completed with the next ten years,” Phillips said

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in an email. According to the master plan, the new science building will be located south of Stephens Hall and adjacent to 7800 York Rd. The introduction of the new 316,000 gross square foot facility will allow the later “adaptive renovation of Smith Hall for Visual and Communication Arts,” per the master plan summary. The health professions building will “provide 250,000 gross square feet of new classroom and lab space,” but the plan says that program spaces in Burdick Hall and the Towson Center will also be maintained. Another aspect of the master plan aims to improve campus’ walkability through the implementation of pedestrian and bicycle paths. The executive summary mentions a “bike beltway,” a 10-foot-wide pathway built along Towsontown Boulevard, York Road, Cross Campus Drive and Osler Drive for pedestrian and cyclist-use. “The path will be constructed

to connect to Baltimore County’s bicycling pathway network and be an amenity for on and off campus communities,” Phillips said. According to the plan, priority will also be placed on connecting the inside of campus “hill-top to hill-top” to mitigate “current topographical challenges through pedestrian bridges and landscape treatments.” “Constructing pedestrian walkways from hilltop to hilltop will provide quicker and better pedestrian connections and improve ADA accessibility,” Phillips said. “This will help to improve the walkability of campus and make it easier student to go from class to class.” The executive summary also proposes pathways and a pedestrian bridge over Osler Drive to connect campus’ Lots 12 and 14 and therefore, central and southern campus. The plan will add 1,700 parking spaces to campus, Phillips said. And the proposed bridge would make existing parking in the southern portion of campus more accessible.

“Currently we have a surplus of about 400 parking spaces every day in the stadium region,” he said. “The problem is that many of those spaces seem remote and need to be better connected to campus.” Phillips said that Parking and Transportation Services incentive programs like off-campus shuttle services, Zipcar usage and MTA subsidies help to reduce the number of cars and traffic on campus. Other projects outlined in the updated master plan summary include renovations of Newell and Glen dining halls as well as other academic buildings, an expansion of the University Union and an assessment of campus sustainability. Work on the $34 million Burdick Hall renovation and expansion is currently underway. The master plan is updated every five years and all projects are subject to funding approval from the Board of Regents and the state, according to a Dec. 2 university press release.

Student resistance group formed Student activists John Gillespie and Bilphena Yahwon announced the formation of a new, student-led activist group last week, during a Dec. 2 workshop related to last month’s #OccupyTowson sit-in. A board of nine students, who hold leadership positions in different areas of the Towson University community, will lead the group called the Organized Network of Student Resistance (ONSR). “The way we want this to work is we navigate throughout a network… so the best way to get involved with this organization is to get involved with an already started black organization or colored organization,” Gillespie said. “We’re going to be networking and talking and making sure we can do things in the future with each other.” ONSR will operate on four main tenets: education, culture of action, intersectionality and intra/intercollegiate communication. The education tenet applies to informing students of the history and persistence of racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia at Towson,

as well as giving students the tools to verbalize how they are oppressed. “We want to make sure that our members are familiar with various terms and can discuss their oppression,” Yahwon said. “I think one of the reasons that oppressed groups are oppressed even more is because they don’t have the language to express their oppression.” ONSR will also stress a culture of action to “ensure that the network of students involved are willing to put their bodies of the line in the fight for social justice across all intersections of oppression,” according a PowerPoint presented at the workshop. Gillespie said that the group might go “door-to-door” next semester to get students thinking about race. The intersectionality tenet will focus on fighting for justice on the behalf of students of color and all underrepresented groups. There will be at least one LGBTQIA+ student on the board, and Gillespie and Yahwon promised to work with the In The Life group, and alongside the LGBTQIA+ community more closely and actively. Yahwon, who describes herself as a womanist, says that the group’s intersectionality is one of her favorite parts. Yahwon says womanism “focuses on

the gender oppression of black women.” “I think a lot of times within activism, there are certain identities that get lost, and I think that’s something that John and I have been very mindful of,” Yahwon said. “It’s all love, and we want to advocate for everyone, making sure no one in our community feels left out based on their identities.” The intra/intercollegiate tenet will help to increase communication among blacks, people of color, and other underrepresented groups at universities in Baltimore and within the University System of Maryland. The ONSR will reach out to similar groups and student leaders and coordinate with the facultyled Social Justice Collective. “In order to community build, you have to go to these other organizations,” Gillespie said. “In order to have direct action, you have to have a committee of people who work out the plans for those actions. It’s important for people to know that this is about community-building at its core.” ONSR will host and coordinate multiple events next semester, including a teach-in on the contract between all USM schools to purchase their furniture through the Maryland Correctional Enterprises program, which uses low-wage inmate labor.

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In 1963, the State of Maryland made five of the State Teachers Colleges, Towson as well as Bowie, Coppin, Frostburg, and Salisbury, into liberal arts colleges, and Towson’s name changed to Towson State College.

Towson State College in 1966 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Stephens Hall Richmond Hall Newell Hall Prettyman and Scarborough Halls College Centre & Dining Room (later Newell Dining)

6. Wiedefeld Gymnasium 7. Van Bokkelen Hall 8. Albert S. Cook Library (Media Center) 9. Science Building (Smith Hall) 10. Tennis Courts 11. Dowell Health Center

12. Glen Esk (president’s residence) 13. Gardener’s Cottage 14. Ward and West (men’s) Residence Halls 15. Lida Lee Tall School 16. Athletic Fields

The state, realizing the difficulties of educating the anticipated members of the nation’s Baby Boom Generation, decided to turn all the teaching colleges into liberal arts schools. Towson was already offering degrees in programs other than teaching, and was in a good place to expand. In 1965-66, the College celebrated its 100-year anniversary with a year-long celebration that included many prominent guest speakers and performances. The late 1960s and early 1970s were a period of rapid growth for the College, as the campus grew westward from its York Road beginnings. In 1968, Linthicum Hall opened and quickly became the most heavily used classroom building on campus. In the summer of 1969 the new Cook Library opened.

Dr. Hawkins cutting the cake at the Centennial Tea in 1965

Students in line to register for classes at Wiedefeld Gymnasium in the 1960s

2000

2010

To be continued…

Share your memory: TU150.towson.edu

Arts

December 8, 2015

Student actors channel educational frustration ROBERT WOOD Assistant Arts & Life Editor

Last week, a production of “No Child,” a play based around the No Child Left Behind policy of the George W. Bush administration, made its way to Towson. Professor Rosiland Caruthen, the director of play, knew of the piece before she was asked to direct it. “I read the piece about five or six years ago and really fell in love with it,” Caruthen said. “As a teacher and artist myself, the piece really resonated with me on many levels.” Caruthen describes the play as “about the struggles faced by students, teachers, administrators and even custodial staff in today’s urban school system. It also explores what happens when a dynamic, driven, naïve yet talented artists comes into a classroom from the outside to do a residency with a group of students.” Students play an integral part in the performance, like senior acting major

Samantha Yangilmau who plays one of the students. For Yangmilau, reflecting on her years in high school helped to shape how she played her character. “I still understand poverty and feeling trapped in circumstances I can’t control,” Yangmilau said. What was great was the freedom these reckless characters allowed.” Caruthen had personal experience being a part of something that couldn’t be controlled. She was a full time public school teacher when No Child Left Behind began. “It was really difficult,” Caruthen said. “I saw the culture of the schools swing rapidly into a testing culture. We were asked to give up arts periods and study halls and lunch breaks and planning periods to help ‘coach’ students who couldn’t pass the test.” Finding the right actors for certain roles during the audition process was not a problem, Caruthen said, because she knew she was looking for something unique within the actors. “I love when someone does some-

thing unexpected or out of the box,” Caruthen said. “I was also looking for similarity of energy between the actor and each character.” After the auditions last spring semester, rehearsals began in October and lasted about a month and a half. “From the beginning, we were encouraged to make dynamic decisions about our characters and blocking,” Yangmilau said. “We had in-depth discussions with her [Caruthen] and our great stage management team about the issues in our play that affect our daily lives and the world around us.” In rehearsals, one of the things Caruthen had to do was transform the play from its original one-woman staging, to an ensemble staging. “Everyone really pulled together and worked so hard, from the actors to the tech team to the lighting and sound designers,” Caruthen said. “Many of the designers are students, and it has been so cool to come to my alma mater and have this experience.” Caruthen also said that the play

Holiday music celebration KRISTIN HELF Columnist @kristinelise_

It’s nearly impossible to get into the holiday spirit without listening to the classic, seasonal songs that have been brainwashing us with holiday cheer since birth. Bing Crosby comes to mind, and even if you don’t know who he is, you’ve likely heard his incessant crooning about mistletoe and sleigh rides throughout the years. Crosby is a holiday staple, so much so that my dad bought a singing, moving 3-foot-tall Bing doll at a thrift store a few years ago. Our mini Bing is both cute and obnoxiously cheerful, much like his music. My dog is terrified of him, and it’s adorable. When you’re looking to rediscover some old favorite holiday songs, Joni Mitchell’s “River” is a great place to start. Branch out your holiday music palette while celebrating whatever it is you celebrate this December. I’m here to provide you with a list of the best holiday albums that you should hear this season. “Home for Christmas” by Dolly Parton A cozy, country Christmas calls for children’s hits like “Rudolph The

Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and hymns including “Little Drummer Boy” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” that celebrate the birth of Jesus - if that’s what you celebrate. Parton’s certainly full of faith and spirit, which she celebrates in this album, certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Also hear her 1984 duets with Kenny Rogers in “Once Upon a Christmas.” “Christmas Portrait” by The Carpenters I’ve always been a big fan of the Carpenters, especially Karen Carpenter, whose sweet voice perfectly suits this time of year. “Christmas Portrait” features traditional songs overlapping Dolly’s “Home,” but also an original Carpenters song, “Merry Christmas Darling.” Brother and bandmate Richard Carpenter acknowledges “Darling” to be one of Karen’s best recordings, and I’d have to agree. “The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album” by The Beach Boys Side one of the efficiently titled “Beach Boys’ Christmas Album” contains almost all original songs written by Brian Wilson, including “The Man with All the Toys” and “Little Saint Nick,” which, since their 1964 release, gained classic-Christmas-carol

status. It should also be noted that while their famous “Pet Sounds” has no holiday or season affiliation, it’s another Beach Boys album filled with jingling bells that always makes me think of the holidays. “A Very She & Him Christmas” by She and Him She and Him are musician M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel, who is multitalented enough to not only venture into the world of indie music, but of Christmas tunes, too. Both of their voices are as calm and peaceful as the holidays should be, and mingle together beautifully on the twelve tracks of this album. “The Holidays Don’t Have To Be So Rotten,” by various artists For a more modern, oftentimes cynical outlook on the holidays, try all four volumes of “The Holidays Don’t Have to Be So Rotten.” Tracks range from the expected “Yuletide” and “Christmas Day,” to “Happy AlcoHolidaze” and “Orgy In The Elves’ Workshop,” all in my favorite, volume three. Especially take a listen to “Alp Shades” and “Snow Face,” by the fantastic band Candy Claws. And that’s all for now. Happy holidays, everyone! I prefer older, classic holiday favorites myself, so if you need any more suggestions, I will kindly point you toward Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

Courtesy of Jay Herzog

Student actors Zoe Jenkins and Dean Whitfield get heated in “No Child.” relates to other Towson students outside the show, due to the University’s long history as a teacher’s college. “We still have a strong education major and college wide emphasis on teaching and learning,” Caruthen said. “So, I think it’s perfect for teachers and students to witness this play that highlights the ups and downs of our

education system.” In the end, Yangmilau wants audiences to take away something valuable from the play. “We are finally at an age where we get to vote and have a say in law-making,” Yangmilau said. “I want people to look at this play, learn something new, and use the power they have to make a change.”

Real, clean food for all SYDNEY DOUGLAS Contributing Writer

The “Real Food Challenge” is a movement to bring more local, humane and ethical eating to Towson University, something the group calls “real food.” “Our main initiative is to basically convert Towson’s budget from purchasing industrial farm food into purchasing more sustainable local humane food for our dining services,” junior biology major Haley Molnar said. Senior and environmental studies major and founder of the TU group, Judith Rosenberg, started the campaign in 2013 with a small group of students. The campus group is a part of a national initiative with over 365 universities as part of the collective. A key goal of theirs is to make a billion dollar shift to supporting more real food. “Because we’re students, we kind of pay a lot to the dining system,” Rosenberg said. “Therefore, we have a say in how our dining dollars are spent. Also, we’re in a really unique place here at the university because we’re in a consistent spot for four years where we have places to influence the dining.” Next semester, the group plans to audit Towson’s dining services and

the food invoices to assess whether Towson falls into the real food category. The group is getting research credit from different departments at Towson for their action and has teamed up with professors and other groups, like Veg Club and Eco Reps. “There are four categories that the national organization goes by: fair, ecological, humane and local,” Rosenberg said. “So, within each one of those, there’s specific qualifications that sort of identify a group or a product as being one of those.” For the food to be considered “local,” it has to be with a certain distance from the source depending on the food. “Fair” is how the workers are treated and “humane” is the treatment of animals. “Ecological” is the environmental impact of agriculture in that it uses a big amount of resources to grow food.

To become involved with Real Food Challenge, email jronsen51@students.towson.edu or like the Facebook page “Real Food Challenge Towson University” to stay updated with events.

Arts

December 8, 2015

Students take the ‘Plunge’ ALAINA TEPPER Contributing Writer

Towson hosted the Towson University Plunge, a prelude to the upcoming Polar Bear Plunge, to raise money for Special Olympics Maryland Dec. 5. Despite the cold weather, members of the Towson community slid down an inflatable water slide into a pool full of icy water to support the Special Olympics Maryland athletes. While University of Maryland, College Park holds a University Plunge annually, Towson hosted the University Plunge for the first time this year. “Special Olympics has been involved with Towson for the last 45 years,” President and CEO of Special Olympics Maryland Jim Schmutz said. “The first ever summer games were held here in 1970, but this is the first time we’ve done a polar bear plunge here on campus. It was natural for us, given the relationship with Towson, for us to have it here.” All participants appeared dedicated to the event, coming out at 11 a.m. on a Saturday in the chilly temperatures to plunge into the icecold water. However, supporting Special Olympics Maryland wasn’t the only incentive for plungers. Participants also got a free University Plunge

SYDNEY ENGELHARDT Staff Writer

Chris Simms/ The Towerlight

shirt and a voucher for free food at the basketball game later that day. In total, 50 students took the plunge on Saturday. “It’s kind of just bringing the community together,” Student Government Association Senator Kelly DuPont said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in Greek Life or involved in sports or anything like that because everyone’s coming out and doing it.” While some students participated just to support the cause, for others it was a much more personal event. “It’s really amazing to support the Special Olympics,” planning committee member Ben DiBastiani said. “My little brother has Down syndrome and he participates in the Special Olympics.”

The event raised $4,500 in total for Special Olympics Maryland and the 7,169 athletes who compete in the state. “Our athletes participate at no cost, so we have to raise all the money to support the uniforms, equipment, facilities—like when we come to summer games, training, all [those] types of things, so this will go and help support the athletes,” Schmutz said. The full Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics Maryland will be held Jan. 30 at Sandy Point State Park and will celebrate its twentieth anniversary, according to Schmutz. If you missed Saturday’s event, you can donate to support the January Polar Bear Plunge at http://www. somd.org/

free time?” This idea led to Hoppen, which gives its users access to all types of events in and around the community. The app includes how far away a user is from the event, its date and time, and if the event is private or public. “It revolutionizes the way you socialize,” Marketing Community Manager Cara Clements said. Hoppen takes the event aspect of Facebook and makes it easier and simpler to use. “I think that the really cool thing about Hoppen is that it’s first a utility,” Clements said. “It will help you make plans, and execute them, and invite your friends and do all those things. Then it’s a social media app. Within each plan, you can take a photo, you can comment on it, you can find a driver, ask what everyone is wearing all within the comments section.” Currently, the app is mostly used

on Towson’s campus by sororities and fraternities, but it is expected that usage will expand. Hoppen has hired several student ambassadors to help get the word out about the app and encourage more students to check it out. “It’s really great for organizations around Towson because it’s free promoting and free advertising and just another social media platform that people are using around here and to get the word out,” ambassador Carly Ferrari said. Hoppen usually posts restaurants’ happy hours, but it hopes to create a relationship with businesses where the restaurants themselves post their events. With winter break approaching, the Hoppen team looks to utilize this down-season to plan marketing and promotion of the app in hopes of making Hoppen a well-known mechanism for student socializing.

App makes plans easy LAUREN COSCA Staff Writer

Imagine you’re sitting at home on a Friday night all dressed up and ready to go out, but you can’t find a single thing to do. Now imagine that there is an app that has different types of events that can tell you exactly what people are doing around you, where and when. Thanks to high school student Megan Schaller, that convenience is now a reality with the app Hoppen, available free in the app store for iPhone and Android. “I was living this really inauthentic life, and even though I love social media, it wasn’t enriching my life,” Schaller said. “So I had this idea – what if there was a social media . . . that helped create this place to find authenticity, to find things to do, and to go out and do something instead of just going on your phone in all your

Man of poetry Junior marketing major John Hulede started writing poetry during his senior year of high school. After almost three years of writing poems, he decided to self-publish his first poetry book. “I just thought ‘what would be the next step to getting my poetry out there?’” Hulede said. “I have several social media accounts for my poetry and thought the best way to show people I am serious about poetry is to make a book.” Hulede’s poetry book, “Becoming Man,” tells the story of journey into manhood by taking the reader through 21 stories. The main themes are family, racism, stereotypes, religion and love. He learned about Amazon’s CreateSpace and went through the process of publishing his own work. Hulede wrote seven new poems for the book and worked with an editor, Damian Elson, from the writing center to make sure everything was perfect. The hardest poem for Hulede to write was one titled “My Honest Poem,” because it was so personal, he said. “After writing poetry, I have been able to talk about things that I have been struggling to talk about for years,” he said. Hulede never imagined that he would enjoy writing poetry. His high

school English teacher encouraged him to take a poetry class, and he did not give in until the last semester of his senior year. “I had an opening and decided to take it,” Hulede said. “I also decided to take it because I needed a way to express myself, I was really, really private and rarely talked about what I was thinking because I thought a lot of people would not understand where I was coming from.” He started by writing poems about love, but then moved to more serious subjects like the ones featured in “Becoming Man.” Some of his favorite poets that inspired his work are Rudy Francisco and FreeQuency. FreeQuency’s book, “Becoming// Black,” is about her experience as a black immigrant in America, and is also what inspired the name for Hulede’s book. Now that his first book is published, Hulede is selling them for eight dollars. His goal is to sell 100, and he is more then half way there with 55 copies sold, at time of writing. “I want people who buy my book to relate to my poems,” Hulede said. “Even though it’s personal and mainly about me, it is still very general and other people can relate and enjoy the book. It might make them think.” If you are interested in purchasing one of Hulede’s books you can contact him through his website jchulede. wix.com/huledepoetry or on Twitter @hulede_dogsout.

Courtesy of Kanji Takeno

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December 8, 2015

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Arts

December 8, 2015

Campus events on the horizon for Spring 2016 ANNIE SRAGNER Arts & Life Editor @anniesragner

Student Activities is hard at work planning events in preparation for the Spring 2016 semester. Upon returning to campus after winter break, students can kick off the spring semester with nighttime fun at TU After Hours. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Jan. 29, the University Union will hold unique latenight activities including a silent disco, giveaways, crafts, carnival games, custom artists, free food and the highly anticipated rockstar karaoke that will feature a live band to back singers. In February, students can attend LIVE TOWSON Feb. 4 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the West Village Commons Ballrooms to learn more about the surrounding Towson community. “This is a brand-new event that we’ve never done before,” coordinator of marketing and social media Megan Byrd said. “We’re showing students

how to live, work, serve and play in their community.” LIVE TOWSON will bring in local businesses, vendors, non-profits, offcampus housing and public transportation officials, employers and music festival volunteers to show Towson students how to get the most enriched experience during their time here. For students passionate about philanthropy, Student Activities will also offer an alternative spring break connection to those interested in volunteer service projects around the country. In past years, students have gone to Atlanta, Tennessee, New Jersey, Miami, Texas, and North Carolina to help build communities. “Rather than going to Cabo and blowing a ton of money, we actually take students to service sites across the country,” Byrd said. “If you’re looking to travel the country and do something great, this is a fantastic way to do it.” For more information follow Student Activities on Twitter at @TowsonSAM.

Center for Student Diversity Events •

MLK Celebration - Jan 30, Potomac Lounge, 7 p.m.

•

Black Student Leadership Conference - Mar 4, WVC Ballrooms, 10-4 p.m.

•

Diversity Speaker Series Mar 23, WVC Ballrooms, 6 p.m.

•

Multicultural Conference Apr 1, University Union third floor, 8:15-6 p.m.

•

Social Justice Awareness Day - Apr 9, Chesapeake Rooms, 10-4 p.m.

•

Lavender Celebration - Apr 28, Potomac Lounge, 6 p.m.

CHRISTINE LAFRANCESCA Staff Writer @LaFrancesca27

Chairperson of the Department of Dance Susan Kirchner plans for a riveting spring semester and wishes the best of luck to our graduating seniors. “Our seniors will be in CFA 1003 theatre in April for their final capstone performance presentation,” Kirchner said. “This will demonstrate all of their tremendously hard work and showcase their original choreography and performing.” While seniors will be busy working on their capstone performances, other dancers will be participating in the anticipated company concert. “In the first two weeks of May, we will be back at Stephens Hall Theatre,” Kirchner said. “Our company concert this year is ‘Unearthed.’” When it comes to which future events the department wants to

hold, Kirchner likes to leave the decision up to the students, who help tailor to their personal interests. “Our events are all driven by our students demonstrating their mastery of the curriculum for a BFA degree in choreography and performance,” Kirchner said. “The events showcase our alumni’s talents and faculty’s scholarly creative research.” Kirchner hopes that all Towson students, dance and non-dance majors alike, will appreciate the sweat and dedication that has poured into each of the department’s performances, past and future. “I want TU students to see that their peers are being trained as professional performers and choreographers,” Kirchner said. “They are learning the skills to keep them thriving in dance for a lifetime. This could be such inspiration to any TU student as they see their peers reach such accomplishments.”

Wondered about your alcohol use?

Want some feedback you can use? E-‐Check Up To Go will provide this feedback. Go to http://www.towson.edu/atod/resources/ to find out more.

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Puzzles

December 8, 2015

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Puzzles

9-12-14

● Each row and each column must

contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

● 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

Turn to page 20 for answers to today’s

Sports

December 8, 2015

tigers drop two tigers host preseason meet DESMOND BOYLE Staff Writer

The Tigers dropped two games away from home this week, losing 88-60 to Cornell on Wednesday and 105-86 to Minnesota on Sunday. Towson traveled to Minnesota Sunday to take on the Gophers. Towson started strong behind three point shooting from senior guard Dominique Johnson and junior guard Raven Bankston, to open up with an 18-7 lead over the Gophers. Minnesota then rallied to narrow the deficit to 20-19 going into second quarter. The Gophers then opened up a nine point advantage with just under two minutes left in the first half. Towson closed out the half scoring 10 of the final 13 points in the second quarter to trail 48-46 at the break. Despite Johnson keeping Towson in the game with perimeter shooting throughout the second half, Johnson set a school record of most three pointers in a single game with nine. Johnson finished with 35 points while Bankston finished with 25, but these high scoring efforts were not enough, and the Tigers again struggled in the fourth quarter. Minnesota outscored the Tigers by fourteen points in the fourth quarter en route to their 105-86 victory over Towson. Towson started off well

Wednesday, keeping up with the Big Red for much of the first quarter. Sophomore center Daijha Thomas added three buckets to help the Tigers stay close to Cornell going into the second quarter down 17-20. Cornell opened up an eight point lead to start the second quarter before Towson went on an eight to two run behind solid shooting from sophomore guard Markeema Crawford. The Big Red then went on another scoring run to close the half with a 44-37 lead. The Tigers then struggled offensively for much of the second half, turning the ball over several times and converting on fewer shots. Towson only managed 23 points in the second half while Cornell scored 25 points in the fourth quarter alone. For much of the second half, the Big Red carried a double-digit lead before closing out the 88-60 victory. Freshman guard Sianni Martin led Towson in scoring with 18 points and Johnson was the only other Tiger to score double digits with 10 points. “We’ll take advantage of two weeks off we have to work on putting more points on the board and fixing things defensively,” Head Coach Niki Reid Geckeler said. “We have a young and inexperienced lineup and these tough out of conference games will help them when we get to CAA play.” Towson continues its out of conference schedule December 20, at 2 p.m. at home against Auburn.

ALEX TORIBIO Contributing Writer @xoxo_Alexxandra

The Towson gymnastics team held a preseason intersquad scrimmage Friday at SECU Arena to open up its 2015-16 season. The women were split into two teams, the gold team and the black team. They were then rotated between the bar, vault, floor and beam events, as if they were in a dual-meet setting. The gold team consisted of junior Bridget Steffen, sophomores Tyra McKellar and Gabby Yarussi, and freshmen Cortni Baker, Danijela Jergan, Amanda Pratt, Brittney Ranti and Aysia Sharif. The black team consisted of senior Lydia Thompson, Juniors Bailey Fobes, Bailey Gallagher, sophomores Lauren Cahalan, Noelle Harada and freshmen Mary Ellen Arduino, Katie McGrady and Erin Tucker. The scrimmage was not scored, but the girls on the team still competed fiercely. “The girls did fantastic, especially because more than half of the girls had never used the equipment and space in the arena before,” Head Coach Vicki Chliszczyk said. “As for the coaching staff, we wanted to see how the girls would perform in front a crowd and for them to get those first nervous kinks out of the way before the real season starts.” Not only was this meet for the gymnasts to feel comfortable with a crowd watching, it was also a run-through for the support staff. This was the first

time since last season that the support team had to set up for the different events and work the system. Everything seemed to go smoothly and they didn’t have any obvious technical problems. After the final event was over, each gymnast had their own post-meet autograph signing.

“

It’s a team sport, everyone has to be confident and ready to go. VICKI CHILSZCZYK Head Coach

This will be a regular post-meet occasion for fans to acknowledge their favorite athlete. “We will have new posters for the gymnasts regarding the autograph sign-

ings at each home meet,” Chliszczyk stated. The main challenge for the coaching staff is still finding the first athlete to start each event. Many factors go into play when the selection is made. The coaches have to look for someone who will set a calm and cool tone for the event. It’s important for the coaches to know what girls will be able to bounce back if they happen to mess up so the next girls in line aren’t worried and can keep their focus. “It’s a team sport, everyone has to be confident and ready to go,” Chilszczyk said. The girls only have a couple more practices till their first meet Jan. 10 at the University of Pittsburgh. Coach Chilszczyk says the practices are going be light during finals so the girls aren’t too stressed out. Then, they have a short break before they’re back at it Dec. 27 with two-a-day practices.

9-15-14

contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

● The numbers within the heavily

Solutions to Puzzles appearing on page 19.

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

● Each row and each column must

Photos Courtesy of Towson Athletics

Sophomore Gabriella Yarussi takes the beam at Towson’s Intrasquad meet Friday (Above). Sophomore Tyra McKellar participates in a floor event at Towson’s Intrasquad meet Friday (Below).w

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December 8, 2015

Sports

December 8, 2015

warriors proving they are for real GEOFFREY PARKER Staff Writer @TUno_tengo_swag

The Golden State Warriors have somehow surpassed all expectations, so far, this season. Coming into the 2015-2016 NBA season, the defending champions were actually underrated in some basketball circles. NBA head coach, Doc Rivers, referred to their title run as “luck” in a recent interview with Grantland and said, “You need luck in the West. Look at Golden State, they didn't have to play us or the Spurs.” With the Clippers and the Spurs adding pieces to their championship puzzle in the offseason, many had them and the LeBron-led Cavaliers as their favorites to win the title this season. Comments, like the ones from Rivers, did not sit well with the Warriors roster and was enough to get them motivated to start the season. Early on, it was apparent the Warriors were on to something special. Their small ball line-up of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green

has been blowing teams out, although none of them are even 6’9” (about the expected height of a power forward). Through the first 15 games of the season, they played about 56 minutes on the court together, eight more minutes than an actual NBA game. The Warriors’ small line-up has outscored opponents 200-119 through that time while shooting 66% from the field and 67% from the three point-line. All this while playing at a pace that would outdo the league leader in possessions per game, the Sacramento Kings, with a possession rate of 109 possessions per 48 minutes. Their possession rate, coupled with a 46 to 13 turnover ratio, has led to a historic 22-0 start. This is the fastest paced, most efficient offense of all time. Another key to their improved start that can’t go unnoticed is Stephen Curry shooting at a historic rate. Since the turn of the century, the three point shot has become a key to

every team’s success on offense. Last year, the final four teams in the playoffs were the top four three point shooting teams in the league. The Warriors deadly offense becomes unstoppable when Steph Curry enters the game. Curry is the fourth most efficient shooter and has taken over 200 shots behind Kyle Korver, a spot up shooter, DeAndre Jordan, a dunking center and Kevin Durant, a power forward. Over the past few seasons in which this efficiency was recorded, Curry has taken over 1,600 shots while no other player has even attempted half of that. He is on pace to make 704 three pointers over the last two seasons. He’s expected to make about 418 this year – and made 286 last year – to break the record for most threes in a season, a record he already owned and has three of the top five spots. Larry Bird had a total of 649 in his 13-year career. He has scored 14 points in the final minute and 53 seconds of a quarter. His ability to shoot from

anywhere on the court is no hyperbole and the stats speak for themselves. His volume of shots, coupled with his high efficiency, makes him the deadliest shooter in league history, bar none. If Golden State replaced their entire offense with just the bottom quartile of Curry’s threes, they would still have the best offense in NBA history by a large margin. As of Monday morning, the Warriors are 22-0 (best start to a season for all four of the major sports since the 1884. St. Louis Maroons in baseball who

went 20-0 before losing), 89-15 since last season, and are not looking to let go of the gas pedal anytime soon. With the best start ever for a defending champion, (and yes that includes all of Jordan’s Bulls, including his 72 win season), and being favored to win literally every game for the rest of the season, just when can we expect the Warriors to lose? The scary thing is no one can give you a definite answer. Watch out LeBron, after you coast through the soft Eastern Conference, you may have another NBA Finals loss looming.

Courtesy of Verge Campus Golden State Warriors point Guard Stephen Curry helped lead his team to an NBA Finals Championship last season and a 22-0 start this season.

Basketball Doubleheader Women’s Basketball vs. Auburn at 2:00 PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 · 4:30 P.M.

VS.

sSports

December 8, 2015

starting on the right foot

e o

JORDAN COPE Assistant Sports Editor @jordancope26

l Towson competed in its first indoor n meet of the season Tuesday, Dec. 1 at - the Navy Lid Lifter and shattered a , school record in the indoor 4x400s meter relay. n “It was a local meet with local talt ent,” Head Coach Mike Jackson said. e “It was a great way to get started. e Tuesday is not the most fun day to have a meet, especially coming off of Thanksgiving, but they were able to pull things together and I thought that it was a solid start.” The team of freshman Liz Reid, juniors Zanae Freeland and Amanda Famularo, and senior Kelsey Fiddes, finished the 4x400-meter relay race in second place with a time of 3:53.91, breaking the 2009 record of 3:54.25. “At the end of the day, if you play to win great things can happen,” Jackson said. “They definitely went out there and were aggressive, but at the end of the day 3:53 is a pedestrian division one time in my opinion. Based on where we are as a program, it is definitely a great sign and I am

really glad to see the direction we are headed.” Freeland also finished third in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.79. Freshmen Rachel Laryea and Arianna Waller finished just behind and tied for tenth place with a time of 8.03, which ties the ninth fasted time in school history. “Zanae is hardworking, communicative and one of our best in every way,” Jackson said. “She has some great leadership qualities, a great attitude and represents our program really well, but we still have to work on some mechanics for her too. I’ve looked at the tape a few times and it’s given me an opportunity to look at what we need to do to help her get even better.” In the 200-meter dash, Waller finished in second place with a time of 25.44. Freeland finished just behind Waller in third place with a time of 25.63, and Reid finished just behind Freeland in fourth place with a time of 25.67. Senior Wilhelmina Austin tied a personal best and placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.31. Sophomore Brittany Shields finished in seventh with a time of 9.36.

In the field events, the Tigers had a trio of top-10 finishes in the 20-lb weight throw. Senior Jader Godsey finished in seventh (13.75-meters), freshman Lauren Coleman followed in eighth (13.14-meters) and senior Leone Evans-Anfom finished 10th (12.17-meters). In the triple jump event, Austin placed second and set an indoor personal best with 11.46-meters. In the pole vault event, junior Brynn Washington placed second and set an indoor personal best with a height of 3.45-meters. Senior Maggie Rampolla followed in third place with a height of 3.30 meters and junior Courtney Rose placed sixth with a height of 3.15-meters. “I thought they had a solid performance,” Jackson said. “Anytime you have a personal best it’s always encouraging. I have a strong pole vault background, so I am big on that event and I think that they will be able to do very well this year in conference and be able to score some big time points for us.” The Tigers will have a month off before competing at George Mason’s Father Diamond Invitational Jan. 9 in Fairfax, Virginia.

USTORE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Zanae Freeland Track & Field Junior sprinter Zanae Freeland helped her relay team break the school record in the 4X400-meter relay race. Freeland also took third place in the 60-meter dash at the Navy Lid Lifter. Freeland and the Tigers will return to action on Jan. 9 in the Father Diamond Invitational hosted by George Mason.

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December 8, 2015

towson earns pair of weekend wins TYLER BEARD Assistant Sports Editor @tylerbeard2

Towson’s 49 rebounds helped the team come away with an 83-61 win against Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon. “It was a good win and I’m really proud of the guys,” Head Coach Pat Skerry said. “I’m really pleased with the ball movement and I think we’re starting to see some of the things we’ve been talking about. We’ve got a lot of good players.”

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I thought the guys were locked in for an early game and did what they needed to do. PAT SKERRY Head Coach

The Tigers (6-3) had five players score in double figures and William Adala Moto lead the team with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Sacred Heart (1-6) was held scoreless for the first four minutes of the game, but only trailed Towson 8-7 with 14 minutes left in the first half. However, junior forward Walter Foster came off the bench and

quickly scored six points, which brought the Tigers to a 33-17 lead. Foster scored a season-high 15 points in the game. “Towards the end, I started realizing it,” Foster said of his seasonhigh performance. “It makes me feel confident going into conference play.” The Tigers kept a consistent lead the rest of the first half and junior forward John Davis hit a buzzerbeating 3-pointer and extended the team’s lead to 42-25 at halftime. Towson outrebounded Sacred Heart 25-15 in the first half, including seven rebounds from Moto. Sacred Heart climbed back into the game by cutting the lead to 10 points five minutes into first half, but Towson pulled away with a 9-0 ru n in the middle of the second half. Foster and senior forward Timajh Parker-Rivera combined 26 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the game. Towson’s defense limited Sacred Heart’s leading scorer to 10 points, including just one point in the first half. “We pride ourselves on defense,” Parker-Rivera said. “Coming into every game, we want to prevent teams from their strengths. It’s defense first, that’s what we preach, and that’s what we did today.”

Sophomore guard Mike Morsell scored 11 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field, and sophomore guard Eddie Keith put up seven points, five assists and three rebounds. “Our guys generally like each other, as we’re still growing and learning,” Skerry said. “I think they did a good job playing for each other and we certainly talked about playing for our seniors today. I thought the guys were locked in for an early game and did what they needed to do.” The Tigers move on to a two-game road stretch, which starts off with an in-state matchup against the Loyola Greyhounds (1-7). Tip-off is Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

NEXT @ HOME DEC.

Photos by Patrick Burke/ The Towerlight

Mike Morsell plays against George Mason Dec. 2 in SECU Arena (above). Timajh Parker-Rivera plays in the same game (below).