The Towerlight (Aug. 30, 2016)

Towson’s campus and community news source

TheTowerlight.com

August 30, 2016

FALL 2016

PREVIEW Photo By Cody Boteler. Photo Illustration by Jordan Stephenson /The Towerlight

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August 30, 2016

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August 30, 2016

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Opinion

August 30, 2016

Editor-in-Chief Cody Boteler Senior Editor Sam Shelton Associate News Editor Sarah Rowan Arts & Life Editor Sports Editor Jordan Cope

Staff Writers Lauren Cosca Kristin Helf Ryan Permison Hailey Miller Alaina Tepper Christine LaFrancesca Bhavisha Dave Billy Owens Theresa Schempp Nick Mason Jessica Ricks Desmond Boyle Chris Wells

County councilman welcomes TU students DAVID MARKS Baltimore County Councilman

As the 2016-2017 academic year begins, I wanted to welcome both new and returning students to Towson University. I am honored to represent Towson University and nearby neighborhoods on the Baltimore County Council.

Towson University is a leading academic institution, and my colleagues

and I in the county government are glad you chose this campus as the place to pursue your education.

Baltimore County is stronger because of Towson University. Many of you will graduate and work in the area; you are our next generation of scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs, and artists.

While studying at Towson University, you will be part of a growing community. Over the past six years, there has been a major emphasis on rede-

veloping Downtown Towson. Walking up York Road, you will notice major construction at Towson Row, soon to be the site of a Whole Foods supermarket, apartments, restaurants and other businesses. The long-dormant Towson Commons is experiencing new life. Townhouses are being built in east Towson, and luxury apartments in West Towson near Washington Avenue.

And I'm sure you will catch a movie or enjoy a bite to eat at Towson Square.

To better prepare for the growth that is transforming Downtown Towson, I have pushed for new initiatives like the Towson circulator, a free shuttle that will whisk people all around the area. Governor Larry Hogan's administration has been very supportive of this concept. We are also working to improve bike and pedestrian connections throughout Downtown Towson.

To read the full letter online, visit thetowerlight.com.

Senior Staff Writer Nilo Exar

Photo Editor Chris Simms Assist. Photo Editor Alex Best Staff Photographers Cody Boteler Mark Dragon Sam Shelton Stephanie Ranque

Light punishments On creating a new are normalizing rape wave of thinkers

Proofreaders Tyisha Henderson Kayla Baines Sarah Rowan Alaina Tepper General Manager Mike Raymond Art Director Jordan Stephenson

Webmaster Lola Akinleye Circulation Staff Shawn Halerz Nilo Exar

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. ©2016 by The Towerlight, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252. All rights reserved.

Please Recycle!

It seems like every week we hear about another rapist getting away with a mere inconvenience of a sentence.

Certainly not the first of these cases that came to light this summer, but one the most prevalent, was Brock Turner’s, whose name is now branded on my mind.

Turner was found guilty of intent to commit rape of an intoxicated/ unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person.

With these convictions, two witnesses, which are rare to have in a sexual assault case, and a powerful statement given by the victim, which you should read (it’s online), you’d think Brock Turner would be severely punished for his actions.

He wasn’t.

It starts off OK. The court required Turner to register as a sex offender, and he was banned from U.S. swimming leagues, preventing him from advancing within the sport.

Then it goes downhill. Turner was sentenced to only six months in jail, potentially only serving three for “good behavior.”

Austin James Wilkerson was found guilty on one count of sexual assault of a helpless victim and one count of unlawful sexual conduct. He offered and promised to safely take his intoxicated acquaintance home, but decided to rape her in the process. He was sentenced to two years in jail under

work release. This means he can leave jail to go to school or work, so long as he spends the night there.

David Becker, 18, accused of sexually assaulting two of his high school classmates, will face no prison time. He will just be held on probation for two years.

What do these cases have in common, aside from these unfathomably light sentences? The judges all claimed in some way that they didn’t want to ruin their lives. They are young, white men.

These sentences show no regard for the victims of sexual assault -- not only the victims in these particular cases, but in general. We are proving to women that even if you go through the trauma of taking your attacker into the legal system, even if they are convicted, you will receive no justice.

We are proving to young, white men that if you do rape someone, it won’t end that badly for you.

These sentences are normalizing rape. Instead of worrying about how prison could ruin these rapists’ lives, we need to focus on how they have already ruined, or at least scarred, the lives of their victims.

We need to focus on the hopeless, gaping holes that are growing inside of women all over due to the realization that the only victim the legal system acknowledges is the rapist.

We all make mistakes. But if your mistake involves taking another person’s body without consent -- as if it is an object that belongs to you -then call me radical, but you deserve a hell of a lot more than a couple months in jail.

DION PERRIN Adjunct prof., Dept. of Theatre Arts

I’ve been around for 60 years now; at least 50 of those I’ve been cognizant of the things going on around me. Now, for all of you thinking this has nothing to do with you, don’t stop reading just yet, because in the long run, it will have everything to do with you.

In those 50 years, I’ve lived through a lot of movements—the civil rights movement, the women’s liberation movement, the gay rights movement, the peace movement and many more lesser known crusades to obtain equal rights and humane treatment. At this point, you would think we, as a society, would have learned enough to know when we are repeating the same old patterns that so many have fought to eradicate. And much to my surprise, disappointment and sadness, we never really seem to.

Now, I’ll admit, in the midst of so many looming atrocities going on all over the world, my reason for writing this may seem trivial, but really, it’s not. Why? Because it deals with the foundation of values we hold true to, that will ultimately be used to make decisions affecting what is yet to come. If we can’t recognize that the foundation of our past beliefs hasn’t changed, then we can’t see that what we’re building our future on lacks the necessary structure to support a new way of thinking. So what exactly is my issue and what has it to do with our foundation of values? Well, bear with me, I’m

getting there.

Recently, I received two emails from the President’s Office updating faculty and staff on the search for two key positions: the Vice President for University Advancement and the newly created position, the Vice President for Inclusion and Institutional Equity. If you’re unfamiliar with the responsibilities of these positions, let me briefly say what they are. The VP for University Advancement oversees those accountable for increasing “financial resources and alumni participation;” bottom line, this person deals with the search for, acquisition of and the management of financial sources to advance the University’s strategic plan. The VP for Inclusion and Institutional Equity is expected to design and promote the University’s effort to deliver “best-practice diversity, inclusion and cultural competency… across campus;” bottom line, this person is responsible for diversifying the campus, making sure differences are respected and complying with the laws governing equal rights and protection. Both positions are needed, for sure. But here’s my problem, and the reason I’m writing this letter. The make-up of the search committees charged with the duty to recommend a candidate for these positions fail to exemplify the forward thinking values the University strives so hard to promote. Why do I say this? Keep reading, I’ll explain.

To read the full letter online, visit thetowerlight.com.

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August 30, 2016

EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO DO events.towson.edu

PART-TIME & ON-CAMPUS JOB FAIR Tuesday, August 30 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

University Union | Potomac Lounge

Meet local and on-campus employers who are ready to hire TU tigers.

• Bring copies of your resume • Dress appropriately – casual but conservative • Come early! The first 100 students will receive a free water bottle

Log in to Hire@TU for a complete list of employers.

www.towson.edu/careercenter

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August 30, 2016

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August 30, 2016

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Towson celebrates new students at convocation TAYLOR DEVILLE Staff Writer @artvandelady

The new class of 2020 had an average high school GPA of 3.59 and comes from 32 different states and 26 foreign countries.

The 2,771 freshmen and 2,210 transfer students were selected from a pool of around 16,000 applicants, according to Director of Admissions David Fedorchak.

They filled SECU arena to celebrate their class and all they would achieve on Friday, Aug. 26 for their convocation. When Provost Tim Chandler took the stage in SECU, he reminded students that, now that they’re in college, they’re responsible for their lives.

“Be the author of this chapter of your life and take charge of your education here,” Chandler said.

President Kim Schatzel had her own advice: “Meet someone new, learn something new, try something new every day.”

Schatzel asked students to start a new tradition with her by rubbing the ear of one of the bronze tiger statues around campus “for good luck” before the start of classes.

Student Government Association President Taylor James said a few words on the importance of overcoming obstacles She stated, “If you can master the art of resilience, you’ll find an abundance of success.”

Freshman Ryan Watkins closed convocation by singing Towson’s Alma Mater.

Taylor DeVille/ The Towerlight President Kim Schatzel addresses the class of 2020 at their convocation on August 26 in SECU arena.

TU installs 4000 new Students looking for refunds campus solar panels might need to adjust settings Towson University officials worked to get about 4,000 solar panels installed on campus over the summer.

Steve Kolb, Towson’s energy manager, said that when the panels go online in a couple months, they’ll be able to produce just under 15 percent of Towson’s energy needs on the “best case scenario” day—one with lots of sunlight.

Kolb said that the panels should be turned on around mid-October.

While panels have already been installed on the Union, Union Garage and Douglass and Barton houses, a lot of “behind the scenes” electrical work needs to happen before the pan-

els can start contributing to Towson’s energy budget.

Towson entered into a 20-year power purchasing agreement with Washington Gas Light, meaning, as Kolb said, ”there’s no out of pocket cost.”

Under the terms of the PPA, Towson isn’t paying for the solar panels, but leasing them and paying for the energy they produce.

Kolb said Towson was able to lock in to a fixed cost for the length of the PPA at a rate that’s “actually lower than what [TU pays] for electric.”

While nothing has been announced, Kolb said that there has been some talk of pursuing a second phase to the solar project, with the Towson Center and Towsontown Garage being potential sites for more solar panels.

Courtesy of Steve Kolb Towson installed about 4,000 solar panels on campus over the summer. There has been talk of a second phase of the project.

Towson University’s Bursar’s Office will now issue student rebates and refunds through a new third party business partner, BankMobile Disbursements.

To decide how to get their refund, students will have to log in to their Disbursement Online Center (DOC) account and adjust their settings with BankMobile.

If a student does not log-in and adjust any settings, the refund will, by default, be sent to their permanent address.

However, if a student does not adjust his or her settings, BankMobile will sit on the refund for an additional 21 days, “waiting” for the student to decide how to receive the money, before mailing the check.

The new rules and regulations, which have been in effect since July 1, will not only affect Towson, but higher education institutions across the nation.

“Late last year, the Department of Education issued new regulations which called upon universities, like Towson, to make significant changes in certain agreements they have with banks,” PNC Bank Vice President and Senior Manager Marcey Zwiebel said in an email.

According to the Department of

Education’s informal final regulations, the new rules were put into place to protect students and to simplify the process for them.

They are designed to protect private student information from providers, to make the process more convenient to students and to eliminate fees regarding access to these aid funds.

“

PNC Bank values our affiliations with Towson University and we are proud to serve its student body.

MARCEY ZWEIBEL Vice President, PNC Bank

“The regulations were to protect students with checking accounts and overdraft fees that the Department of Education felt needed to be developed and established.

We certainly want to comply with that,” TU Bursar Office Director Thomas Ruby said.

PNC vendors who had previously processed refunds were unable to meet the new regulations, so the TU Bursar’s office immediately contacted other vendors and found BankMobile to be the most compat-

ible, Ruby said.

Other Maryland colleges and universities, such as Salisbury and UMBC, have already been using BankMobile.

“We agree with the spirit of the regulation, and we believe that, as written, there may be better avenues for the delivery of this service,” Zwiebel said. “We mutually agree that their finding a new partner is in the best interest of all involved.”

Money can be electronically deposited into a checking or savings account through any bank via direct deposit.

Another option for disbursement will be to have the money put onto a special debit card which can be used at specific ATMs and retail stores.

By default, every student’s disbursement will be sent through a check mailed to their permanent address.

To change this, students can log in to their student center.

From there, they can scroll down to finances and access their DOC account login.

“No other arrangement PNC Bank has with Towson University is being affected. Therefore our on campus branch, ATMs, ID Card Linking and other services will remain in place,” Zweibel said.

“PNC Bank values our affiliations with Towson University and we are proud to serve its student body.”

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News

August 30, 2016

Career Center to Changes to parking regulations host job fairs, dinner will affect on-campus freshmen The Towson University Career Center will host a variety of events during the fall semester and will introduce academic and career-planning resources available to students online.

“When you walk across the stage, what are you walking for?” Assistant Director of Employer Relations Cary Smedley said. “We want [students] to be walking toward a job and get a kick-start on their career by finding something they like.”

The center’s largest event this semester will be the Fall Career & Internship Fair, held at SECU Arena on Oct. 7.

The location can host over 200 local, regional and national employers. The fair will include a LinkedIn photo booth and a pre-fair workshop.

Last year’s fair hosted 92 employers and brought in over one thousand students.

On Aug. 30, the Career Center will

host a Part-Time & On-Campus Job Fair in the Potomac Lounge of the University Union.

Attendees should dress in business casual attire and bring multiple copies of their resume. The job fair will bring local employers to Towson, which will be convenient for students who do not have vehicles or transportation, according to Smedley.

“These job fairs are to help students find employment,” Smedley said.

In November, the Career Center will host a free, multi-course etiquette dinner, sponsored by the International School of Protocol.

In the past, the dinner has brought about 150 students in attendance to learn how to interview while dining.

“Be interested before you’re interesting,” Smedley advised.

On Sept. 23, the College of Business and Economics will host its annual Accounting Open House in the West Village Commons Ballroom.

--To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.

With the addition of two new residence halls on campus, several changes to Towson University’s parking and transportation services will go into effect for the 2016-2017 school year.

According to Director of Parking and Transportation Pam Mooney, the biggest impact will affect freshmen. Freshmen resident students are restricted from buying a parking permit or having a vehicle on campus until they have earned 30 credits.

Freshmen commuters are not affected by the change. “[The restriction] used to be in place years ago and we were able to lift it,” Mooney said. “With the new housing and all of the events and everything we do around campus, we have to balance the needs on campus and restrict freshmen residents from having cars.”

A freshman may obtain a pass under limited exceptions, such as a

Nick Mason/ The Towerlight Pam Mooney, Towson’s director of parking and transportation, stands in front of a campus map. medical reason or for transportation to a job that mass transit does not reach. However, there are plenty of

alternatives, according to Mooney.

--To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.

News

August 30, 2016

Towson starts search for diversity vice pres.

In a campus-wide email May 17, Towson President Kim Schatzel announced the formation of a search committee to find a new vice president for inclusion and institutional equity.

Now, with classes starting and September creeping closer, Provost Tim Chandler, one of the co-chairs, said the committee is together and ready to find someone to step into the position.

According to an email that was sent to the Social Justice Collective listserv at Towson, the committee will have a membership of around 20. t While that is large for a search ,committee, the provost’s office said that it was important to “err on the side of inclusion over manageability,” according to the obtained email.

Chandler said that he hopes the committee will be able to announce someone for the position by

December or January.

Issues of racial inequality and exclusion started gaining traction on campus when a group of student led a march in Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.

Things came to a head on campus when a group of students occupied Towson’s president’s office last November. The group of students and administrators were in the office until early in the morning.

The sit-in came to a close when Chandler, who was then interim president, signed a document from the students expressing his commitment to working on a number of issues, including diversifying administration and faculty on campus.

The sit-in briefly propelled TU to the national stage when the university was mentioned in a TIME Magazine person of the year article.

Since the sit-in, TU administrators have updated The Towerlight on progress that they’ve made on each of the demands.

--To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com

The Division for Student Affairs offers the

Student LIFE Line

From the Towerlight Survival Guide: shuttles

Last week, our survival guide issue didn’t touch much on the topic of shuttles and off-campus transportation. But never fear, an avid shuttle-rider and public transportation-reliant is here.

Long story short, the free off-campus shuttles cater to a wide variety of neighborhoods and locations nearby.

Current routes include shuttles to Timonium/Cockeysville, Goucher, Kenilworth, Loch Raven and Rodgers Forge, in addition to on-campus routes and the Tiger in Town bus, which serves downtown Towson.

In addition to the Tiger in Town route, which already heads along York Road and around the Towsontown Center mall, the University is looking to add an additional York Road/ Southerly route this fall, per the University’s website.

According to the site, the route will

serve Uptown Towson and residential areas of Southerly Road and will begin circulating during the second half of the semester.

For more on this story, you can check back in with us here at The Towerlight in the coming weeks, but for now, here’s what you need to know about the shuttles.

They are free. They are convenient.

And they are usually on time.

To make the most of your shuttle-riding experience, keep your OneCard (which you’ll need to show shuttle drivers in order to board) handy and get a feel for where the stops are before you need to use them.

On and off-campus shuttle stops are listed through the University’s website along with projected schedules and arrival times.

It’s also good to know that the shuttles can get a little crowded at peak hours (usually around 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.).

Plan accordingly and be prepared to face standing room only.

This telephone line assists students with any question they may have about the University. LIFE Line is staffed and ready to assist callers Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After these hours, a voice mail message can be left and will be responsed to on the next business day.

You can also contact us with your questions via e-mail at studentaffairs@towson.edu.

(5433) 33) 410-704-LIFE (54 E-mail: studentaffairs@towson.edu

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August 30, 2016

Towson welcomes new Director of Student Activities What drew you to Student Affairs?

What drew me? My mentor said, “B., you’d be really good at Student Affairs,” and he was someone I trusted. He was someone who supported me. He was someone who did not judge me and let my light shine, and he never wanted to try and change me. This was after losing my mom to brain cancer in six months, so I believed in my mentor and that’s why I’ve always stayed.

I think the other piece is, “Do I think this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life?” I don’t know. What I do know is that I enjoy working with young people. I enjoy supervising. The opportunity to work with young people and supervise professional staff fits in with my strengths and my talents. My ultimate purpose, I think, is that because my mentor saw something in me, I always want people to know that I see something in them. That’s why I do student affairs.

Why did you come to Towson?

So Towson is a big school with a small feeling, and I really love that.

I am drawn to the size. I really like the large numbers. That used to intimidate me, but it doesn’t really. I like the small knit of the small classrooms. People know people here. They talk to each other. There’s a mutual level of respect. I absolutely loved it when I interviewed. I love the area. I love the culture here. Truth be told, I always wanted to live in Maryland, because of the water, because of crab, because of the amount of cultural diversity, and Towson I believe represents that.

This opportunity for me serving as Director of Student Activities is a huge growth opportunity for me on my way. I want to become a vice president one day, that’s my ultimate goal.

Compiled by Sarah Rowan

Sarah Rowan/ The Towerlight New Director of Student Activities B. Nathan sits at her desk in the Student Activities office. Nathan came to Towson fro m Vassar College. In her position, she will work with students and supervise professional staff.

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August 30, 2016

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Arts

August 30, 2016

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Students catch ‘em all at library carnival KRISTIN HELF Staff Writer @kristinelise_

Freshmen students and their families took shelter from the heat on Thursday and Sunday at Cook Library’s annual Library Welcome Carnival, hosted by campus librarians and student intern A-LISTers.

Mary Rose Pedron, a senior A-LISTer (which stands for Albert S. Cook Library Leadership Institute for Students) sat outside under the “big top,” a white tent outside the library where students could get a free button and the chance to spin a prize wheel. They could also pose for pictures with Al, Cook Library’s blue-furred, bow-tied mascot.

“My role, along with my A-LISTer Emma, is we plan all of the activities and set it up,” Pedron said.

“We were just like, ‘What would be fun for students?’ Because part of the A-LIST program is to get a student perspective on how to benefit

the library.”

Library personnel encouraged students to take part in an obstacle course outside and go on a Pokemon Go-themed scavenger hunt throughout the library in order to win gift cards.

Pokemon team-colored buttons were awarded to anyone who would write out an answer to questions about favorite books and study playlist songs, and family members were encouraged to take part in the fun.

“There was a freshman with her little brother, he couldn’t have been more than six years old,” Pedron said.

“He was running around doing the scavenger hunt. He had more morale than most of the freshmen did.”

Carissa Tomlinson, Cook Library’s assistant librarian for Access and Outreach Services, has been involved in organizing the library’s outreach program for five years.

“We want to have a fun way for students to get to know the library and know that we’re here,”

William Strang-Moya/The Towerlight Cook Library’s mascot, Al, takes photos with students during Thursday, Sunday’s annual Welcome Carnival.

Tomlinson said. “We don’t expect to be teaching them too much at this point, but just getting them in the door, knowing that librarians are friendly and here to help.”

Both Tomlinson and Pedron said they most enjoyed meeting the new students and welcoming them to Cook Library.

“It was really great because the

students were moved in and they were just trying to find something to do,” Pedron said. “We just want them to get to know the library [and] feel welcomed.”

Set It Off! welcomes freshmen, transfers Students meet with Greek Life, CSD groups KRISTIN HELF Staff Writer @kristinelise_

On Sunday afternoon, Tiger Plaza became an expo for fraternities, sororities and multicultural student organizations. Set It Off! welcomed new students to explore Greek life and the various organizations advised by the Center for Student Diversity.

“We start involving [new students] as soon as they get on campus during orientation because we don’t want them to isolate themselves, to stay in their rooms, to get depressed, to get homesick,” Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Santiago Solis said.

Despite the afternoon heat, plenty of freshmen and transfer students left their rooms to check out the tables, music, games and prizes.

“I’m really just trying to get out there and meet new friends, find

cool places to go,” freshman Randy Bowers said.

Junior occupational therapy major Alison Holler sat at Pasión Latin Dance team’s table and encouraged students to discover their inner dancer.

“There’s so many people we know who would never think to dance but love it anyways,” Holler said. “You just meet all sorts of friends and you kind of get the whole college experience.”

CSD Associate Director Mahnoor Ahmed helped man the CSD tent, which provided students with information about the event and getting involved with the Center for Student Diversity.

“I think it’s important for [students] to find communities,” Ahmed said. “So they might come here and find an organization and not commit, but they might make a friend there. It’s just one more way for them to find community.”

William Strang-Moya/ The Towerlight Student groups prepare their tables for Sunday’s Set It Off! welcome event in Tiger Plaza near Burdick Hall.

Solis echoed the importance of new students finding community.

“The more friends they make, the better they’re connected, they won’t want to go home on the weekends,” Solis said. “And that’s what we

want. We worked very hard to plan additional weekend programs, so we want to keep them here.”

Solis encourages students to check out the upcoming involvement fair, use social media and utilize their

RAs and on-campus community to become involved on campus.

“It’s called Set It Off! to set the tone for the rest of the year,” Solis said. “We want it to be very festive, very positive.”

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Arts

August 30, 2016

SGA hosts TU Takeover LAINEY TEPPER Staff Writer @alainatepper

Towson’s Student Government Association decided to welcome Towson’s newest tigers in a big way Friday: with the TU Takeover, an event aimed at teaching new students the ins and outs of Towson and alleviating the stress of move-in.

“We wanted to welcome all the freshmen to Towson,” SGA Director of Diversity Outreach Rishell Chambers said.

The event went from 9 to 11 p.m. and spanned all three floors of the Union, while Burdick Field hosted outdoor activities such as flying disks and Spikeball.

The second floor of the Union hosted arcade games in the Potomac lounge, bingo in Loch Raven, spray-painted bags, wire art, psychic readings and inflatables in Susquehanna and a DJ in the lobby.

“It’s just a great atmosphere,” freshman Zachary Conroy said.

The Chesapeake rooms housed all of the food and free stuff, which freshman nursing major Monica Hatton said was the best part of the night.

Transfer Student Representative Gabrielle King said the takeover was planned, “To bring together all the new students to have fun, they get to have free food, free shirts, get prizes and meet new people.”

Book Review: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

“The Cursed Child” can’t quite live up to the legacy TAYLOR DEVILLE Staff Writer @artvandelady

Warning: spoilers ahead.

Like all avid Harry Potter fans, I counted down the days until “Cursed Child’s” release.

Yes, I had high expectations—how could I not, after spending eight years wondering at the fate of characters I grew up with and loved like they were real?

I knew that the script wasn’t written by Rowling, but every reservation I had disappeared when I read her glowing dedication to Jack Thorne, the author. About a quarter of the way through the book, I realized that “Cursed Child” is not only a wildly disappointing follow-up to Harry Potter’s legacy, it’s just plain… not good.

So not good, in fact, that I’m having trouble figuring out where to even start.

Mostly, it felt like I was reading fan fiction— not only because of the underwhelming plot, but also because of the corny, flat dialogue— The members of the golden trio feel like shadows of who they were in the books, familiar but empty. Ron, especially, is a completely different character.

The owner of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, his only notable attributes are that he tells terrible jokes, that he likes to prank his family and that he's totally useless. Ron might have occasionally functioned as the comic relief in the books, but Thorne didn’t seem to know the first thing about him—and given that Rowling herself has explained that Harry and Ron become Aurors later in life, it just feels inauthentic.

Hermione was only slightly better. I have mixed feelings about her serving as Minister—on one hand, it seems like a natural progression for her, but on the other, the thought of Harry and Hermione as Ministry suits doesn’t sit well

with me. My main issue with Hermione is the glimpse we catch of her in an alternate reality, one in which she and Ron don’t marry.

She’s painted as a mean, bitter Hogwarts professor with a reputation for being verbally abusive to her students. This idea that if not for Ron, Hermione would have never A) married someone else and B) launched herself into a successful career, is steeped in sexism.

And for all the ingenuousness she showed in the series, she hid a valuable, sought-after artifact in a bookshelf with no more than a few riddles to defend it. Come on.

And what about Harry? His dialogue was cheesy and unnatural and his parenting skills are questionable (at best), but my biggest issue with him was the fact that he spawned such a horrible, unappealing child—Albus.

Albus, the protagonist we’re supposed to empathize with and cheer for, is not much more than a spoiled, self-absorbed, sullen teenager.

He treats his best friend, Scorpius Malfoy (the only redeemable part of “Cursed Child”), like his sidekick, putting his own feelings and needs first at any given opportunity.

Even when the two reconcile the events of the book, it doesn’t feel as though Albus has progressed as a character. His main functions were to continuously ruin the wizarding world just to prove something to Harry, and to over-explain everything, since Thorne seems to think his audience is unable to grasp simple concepts unless they’re spelled out at a fifth grade reading level.

And for those who argue, “You have to see it live to really experience it”—Yes, the special effects are reportedly incredible. But isn’t that kind of gimmicky?

Watching the moving staircases and witnessing Harry and Draco’s duel might be mystifying, but it doesn’t change the uninspired plot or the entirely one-dimensional characters.

Puzzles

August 30, 2016

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Fall Sports Preview

August 30, 2016

FAll 2016 sports preview

The fall 2016 sports preview is designed to give you a first look at all the sports that Towson Athletics has lined up for the semester. In the following pages, you’ll find your first look at football, field hockey, volleyball and every other sport Towson has to offer this season. We’ve talked to coaches and players to give you a comprehensive picture of what to come.

The Fall sports previewed was compiled by Desmond Boyle, Jordan Cope and Chris Wells.

tigers look for a strong start on the road

File photo by Patrick Burke/ The Towerlight

Towson swimming competes against swimming alumni at the 2015 alumni meet at Burdick Pool.

Towson will kick off its 2016 season with an alumni meet at Burdick Pool on Sept. 17 and next be put to the test in its Oct. 6 meet against Penn State.

“Our first true meet is travelling to Penn State,” Head Coach Jake Shrum said. “We’re really going up a weight class, so my expectations are going to be use every race as an opportunity to compete and against some of the fastest swimmers on the east coast.”

The Tigers will also see Georgetown, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, William & Mary, George Mason, Bucknell, Bowling Green, Navy and Delaware this fall.

Although both the men’s and women’s teams are composed mostly of freshman and sophomores, Towson will return some veteran leaders to both groups. Veterans on the men’s side include seniors Nick Breschi and Brandon Ress.

“Brandon Ress and Dominic Breschi had terrific summers,” Shrum said. “I’m looking forward to watching and assisting them become great leaders.”

Sophomore Jack Saunderson

will also be returning to the men’s team. Saunderson competed in the Olympic Trials this summer and placed fifth at the U.S. Open.

On the women’s side, Towson has just two seniors on the team who Shrum expects will help lead, but he wants to see the handful of juniors on the team step up and be a positive factor this season.

“While our two seniors will definitely be leaders, I’m really looking toward the juniors to step in and not just lead, but really be mentors to their younger teammates,” Shrum said. “Kendall Krumenacker, Jacy Icard and Caitlin Manthe are a few girls who will have a huge say in how this team develops this year.”

With the start of the 2016 fall season quickly approaching, Shrum and the Tigers are itching to get back in the water.

“I couldn’t be more excited to start our season,” Shrum said. “We had a few kids on each team really put together some great meets this summer. It’s always exciting to see your student athletes using that period of time to better themselves, and their team, in the process.”

hitting the green Towson will return five golfers and open up its 2016 season with the Chesapeake Bay Invitational hosted by Navy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Following its first round of golf this season, Towson will host the Towson Invitational at Eagles Nest Country Club in Phoenix, Maryland.

“We are looking forward to the beginning of the season,” Head Coach Kate Schanuel wsaid. “We have had a good history at both events and it’s a challenging course that fits the team well.”

The Tigers will then attend East Carolina’s Lady Pirate Invitational and the Yale Invitational.

Towson will conclude its season with a match against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival Delaware in Newark, Delaware.

Senior Stephanie Bosdosh, junior Mackenzie Rice and sophomores Jenny Buchanan, Alexis Hios and Alix Lowe will all return to the team this fall, while the team will also welcome two new golfers, freshmen Erica Han and Josephine Jung.

“I expect our upperclassmen to step up and lead us this year,” Schanuel said. “I also expect Erica and Josephine to step up and earn their way into the lineup as well.”

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Fall Sports Preview

August 30, 2016

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young Tigers look to continue success Don Metil, who is entering his fourth season as head coach of Towson women’s volleyball, has a challenge in front of him some coaches might shy away from.

During the offseason, Metil paid attention to small details more than anything and spent time hammering some practice lessons into his new team that a veteran squad would be more accustomed to doing on their own.

“We wanted to work on this young team,” Metil said. “Preseason was a little slow, a lot of deliberate discussions. 95 percent of the kids are young."

More than half of the 2016 roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores.

“If we get injury plagued then it might hurt us more than others being so young,” Metil said.

The Tigers are ready to start the season strong after ending 2015 in a 3-2 defeat against UNC Wilmington in the CAA semifinals, however,

Towson went 26-6 (12-4 CAA) in the regular season and tied for first in the CAA standings.

In a preseason poll CAA league head coaches voted Towson to finish third in the standings this season.

“

We wanted to work on this young team.

Preseason was a little slow, a lot of deliberate discussions. 95 percent of these kids are young.

DON METIL Head Coach

“On the outside looking in being ranked third is flattering,” Metil said. “Last year we were voted fifth and we ended up tied for first.”

Three Tigers, senior Jessica Lewis and sophomores Jocelyn Kuilan and Anna Holehouse, were named to the Preseason All-CAA team.

File photo by Patrick Burke/ The Towerlight

Senior Jessica Lewis spikes the ball at SECU Arena in 2015 (above).

Sophomore Anna Holehouse celebrates a win over JMU (below).

In 2015, Lewis was selected to First Team All-CAA and named to the CAA All-Tournament team. She had 349 kills, 37 blocks and 18 assists in 32 matches.

Holehouse appeared in all 32 matches and was named CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year, a member of the Third Team All-CAA and the CAA All-Rookie team. She recorded 596 digs which ranked second in Towson history for a season.

Her digs per set (4.77) was second best in the CAA. Kuilian was named CAA Rookie of the Year and a member of the Second Team All-CAA. She joined Holehouse on the CAA All-Rookie Team. She recorded 426 kills, 36 service aces along with 94 digs, 56 blocks and 11 assists.

The Tigers started the 2016 season strong going 4-0 in the Alabama State Tournament this weekend.

Next up for Towson is a trip to New Jersey to compete in the Seton Hall Tournament.

File photo by Patrick Burke/ The Towerlight

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August 30, 2016

Fall Sports Preview

t

Cody Boteler/ The Towerlight

tigers look for a strong start on the road Last year, Towson finished the season 7-4 and won five of its last six games. Now, the team is eager to get back on the gridiron to continue its winning ways. The Tigers will begin their season with a game against FBS opponent University of South Florida Saturday, Sept. 3, at Raymond James Stadium.

“I sure hope people haven’t finished their summers off and they want to take a trip to Tampa, because it’s going to be a hell of a weekend,” Head Coach Rob Ambrose said.

Towson has a history of playing FBS teams tough and in 2013 earned its first victory against an FBS opponent with a 33-18 win over Connecticut.

The team will later travel to Richmond to take on the Spiders, who were picked to win the CAA, along with Villanova and arch rival Delaware.

“It’s tougher to win on the road,”

Ambrose said. “But one of the things that we kind of pride ourselves on the last five or six years has been the ability to win on the road. It seems like we’re even a little more focused when we go into hostile territory. That’s a sign of a veteran group and good coaches who keep them focused, so I’m not worried about it.”

Towson will have a stable and experienced offensive line, along with a deep backfield led by senior Darius

“

Victor, junior Marquel Dickerson and redshirt freshman Shane Simpson.

However, the Tigers will have a new man under center taking the snaps after Connor Frazier graduated in 2015.

Morgan Mahalak, a transfer from Oregon, was recently named starting quarterback. He was competing with sophomore Ellis Knudson and senior Heath Dahlgren for the job.

Mahalak was set to take over

for now-NFL quarterback Marcus Mariota and was once rated the ninth best quarterback in college football

by ESPN.com, while Knudson has been with the program for two years and has appeared in four games.

“Offensively, I think we have a veteran group and enough weapons to do some damage,” Ambrose said.

Towson will be anchored by a strong defensive line and depth at the linebacker position.

It’s tougher to win on the road. But one of the things that we kind of pride ourselves on the last five or six years has been the ability to win on the road. It seems like we’re even a little more focused when we go into hostile territory.

ROB AMBROSE Head Football Coach

Senior Max Tejada, redshirt junior D’Sean Cummings and junior Zain Harps Upshur will returning to the defensive line. Each player recorded over 20 tackles each last season.

Redshirt senior Jordan Mynatt, who finished second on the team with 60 tackles, will be returning to the linebacker core along with senior Eric Handy, redshirt junior Bryton Barr and sophomore Chris Tedder.

Towson was picked by the CAA selection committee to finish sixth in the conference, but with a veteran group of players returning on each side of the football, Ambrose is optimistic about the upcoming season.

“Every year is a new year,” Ambrose said. “But I think as long as we stay healthy, we’ll be pretty good.

It’s what happens when young guys play together and get beat up for an extended period of time. They tend to find themselves together and the more they play, the better they get.”

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August 30, 2016

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towson prepares for tough caa Towson will hope to finish strong this season, even if that means sacrificing wins early on.

Last year, the Tigers were riding a six game win streak before they opened conference play, then wins became hard to come by. Towson only earned one win throughout conference play and finished second to last in the CAA. This year, the Tigers have a plan to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

“We had a really not strong conference schedule last season which didn't prepare us for the CAA because the CAA is a really strong conference,” senior goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao said.

“So we've been playing some really strong teams like George Washington and ECU to help prepare us.”

The Tigers lost to Georgetown 6-0 before losing 2-1 to East Carolina.

While Towson came up short in both of those games, senior winger Natalia

Pinkney believes that the Tigers will benefit from early struggles.

“We have a great conference and with our schedule changing a little bit it's going to help challenge ourselves early,” Pinkney said. “I think that putting ourselves against great teams early will help us for our conference and show them what Towson is really made of.”

Sebolao and Pinkney are two of five seniors returning this year, the other three are forward Izzy Letour, midfielder Marissa Green and defender Lexi Murphy. Pinkney was Towson’s leading goal scorer last season. She scored seven goals and was the only Tiger to register more than 30 shots last season.

The Tigers will open conference play against Elon on Sept. 23. Before then, Towson will face tough tests from teams like Temple, Penn and George Washington.

“I hope we learn from these games

same expectations Despite a new year and some new faces, Head Coach Brian Yaniger has high expectations for his team.

“We expect to be a team that is in contention to win the CAA Championship,” Yaniger said. “The greater expectation is that every student athlete gives 100 percent effort every time he steps on the course.”

The Tigers will begin their season Sept. 19, in Hartford, Connecticut, at the Hawk Invite.

Towson will then compete in the Patriot Intercollegiate, the Matthews Auto Collegiate Invitational and the Donald Ross Intercollegiate before rounding out its season at the Georgetown Hoya Invitational.

“We are very happy with our schedule, as we will play in some very competitive events,” Yaniger said. “We should see nationally-ranked teams at each stop along the way. It will be nice to return to the Georgetown Hoya Invitational since, besides being a great event, it allows us to play close to home, and hopefully some of our supporters can come to Four Streams and root us on.”

This year, senior James Grem will be

hitting the fairways for his final season with the Tigers.

Grem received second-team AllCAA honors this season after finishing tied for 20th place in last year’s CAA Championships.

“Jimmy Grem had an outstanding year last year, and we expect him to be a team leader this year,” Yaniger said. “He has worked hard during his entire career at Towson, and now he is reaping the rewards.”

Along with Grem, Yaniger is expecting a big year from sophomore Dylan Stein, who finished third among the Tigers last fall with a 73.6 stroke average.

“Dylan Stein had an outstanding year, and we are expecting big things from him on the course, as well as setting an example for the younger players,” Yaniger said. “Dylan is one of the most dedicated players I have had during my time at Towson.”

Towson will welcome two freshmen, Spencer Alexander and Arthur Muller, to the team this fall. Alexander was a two-time MVP at Imagine High School in Newton, Massachusetts, while Muller ranked 347th in the recent French national rankings.

how to win,” Head Coach Greg Paynter said following Towson’s scoreless draw with Saint John’s. “A game like this late in the season against Delaware or Drexel we're going to need to find a way to win.”

Only time will tell if this Towson team learns how to win once CAA games come around.

File photo by Patrick Burke/ The Towerlight

Senior goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao passes the ball versus Penn.

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Fall Sports Preview

August 30, 2016

CLean slate for tu Jessica Lewis

Volleyball

Senior outside hitter Jessica Lewis recorded 51 kills, 25 digs, six service aces and four blocks in Towson’s weekend wins over Jackson State, Texas Southern, Alabama State and Alabama A&M. Lewis was also named CAA co-offensive player of the week.

With a new year comes a fresh start, and Head Coach Carly Campana expects her team will work toward self-improvement this fall. Last season, Towson finished 2-16 on the season and 0-6 in CAA play.

“True change takes patience and requires discipline and attention to detail,” Campana said. “I expect the team to focus on those areas of athletic performance this year.”

Even though the women on the team are relatively young, Campana said that she was happy overall with their preseason performance.

“There are nine new members of our team that are just learning the tactical changes we implemented this spring,” she said.

Towson will kick off its season with a contest in Farmville, Virginia, against the Longwood Lancers, before returning home to Johnny Unitas Stadium for its home opener against Rider University.

Other non-conference games include Saint Francis (PA), Lock Haven, La Salle, Ohio, Lafayette and LIU Brooklyn.

“We will get to see many different styles of field hockey being played

which will only help prepare us for our conference play,” Campana said. “It gives us the opportunity to refine our own play so that we are best prepared going into conference.

The Tigers will take on the Hofstra Pride during their first CAA home game at Johnny Unitas Stadium Oct. 7.

Junior Emilee Woodall and seniors Allie Stauffer and Morgan Skavdahl

will return as team captains.

“It’s important to note that we have a lot of strong leaders on this team and each does a fantastic job fulfilling their role on this team,” Campana said. “We have a lot of freshman that will be able to step up and make an impact on the field this year. They are eager to learn and have solid fundamental skill coupled with hockey intelligence.”

File photo by Patrick Burke/ The Towerlight

Towson opens up its 2015 season at home with a win over Lehigh.

Towson prepares for 2016 The Tigers finished their 201516 season with a 7-1 home record and will look to continue to take advantage of home court when they open up their season by hosting the Tiger Classic.

The Tiger Classic, hosted the weekend of Sept. 9, is one of five matches for the team this fall and the only home match of the season. From there, the Tigers will take to the road for four straight matches to conclude their fall season.

Towson will see Navy, Mount St. Mary’s and Virginia Tech.

The team will also compete in the USTA/ITA Atlantic Regional Championships in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Tigers will return their entire roster from last season, including junior Barbora Vasilkova who led the team with 19 victories.

Towson will also return senior Sophie Lessage who finished the season with an overall record of 15-9.

With an experienced group of veterans returning to the team, the Tigers are looking to improve upon their last season.

File photo by Chris Simms/ The Towerlight

The Tigers take their new tennis courts for the first time last year.

f , e

Sports

August 30, 2016

Tu shutout DESMOND BOYLE Staff Writer

The Tigers played two games this weekend without scoring a goal, falling 3-0 to the George Mason Patriots Sunday, but tying 0-0 against St. John’s Friday.

The Tigers hung with the Patriots through the first half, with both sides managing one shot on goal. However, the opening half was scoreless as neither team took advantage of its scoring chances.

In the second half, the Patriots exerted more dominance, shooting nine times with four on target. Three of those shots got past senior goaltender Taylor Sebolao as Rebecca Callison, Nicolette Herdegen, and Nia Elbeck each found the net.

Friday, St. John’s dominated possession and registered 26 shots.

Sebolao saved all eight shots that the Red Storm put on target to help the Tigers secure a draw.

“We didn't get a goal but we got a good result,” Sebolao said. “The first weekend was a little tough. We had some things not go our way, so to bounce back against a really good St. John's team is going to lead to good things in the future.”

Sophomore winger McKenzie McCaul had Towson’s only two shots on target and came closest to scoring for the Tigers 30 minutes into the game.

Freshman Elizabeth Coletti chipped a ball over the Red Storm defense and McCaul found herself one-on-one with St. John’s goalie Diana Poulin. Poulin came out of her net early and managed to smother McCaul’s shot.

In the second half, the Tigers could not keep a hold on the ball and were forced to defend for the vast majority of the final 45 minutes.

The Red Storm hit the woodwork twice and forced Sebolao into several saves.

-To read the rest of this story, visit: thetowerlight.com.

Tigers take four CHRIS WELLS Staff Writer @cgwells00

Towson’s season started just the way the Tigers had planned, with four wins and zero losses.

The Tigers took a trip south to compete in the Alabama State Tournament where they earned victories over Jackson State, Texas Southern, Alabama State and Alabama A&M. “We did what we were supposed to do,” Head Coach Don Metil said.

“We went down there with the expectation to win.”

In game one of the tournament, Towson coasted to victory against Jackson State 3-0. The final set scores were 25-11, 25-8 and 25-11.

Game two didn’t prove to be much more of a challenge as the Tigers defeated Texas Southern 3-0.

Towson won set one 25-12 and set two 25-10. Set three proved to be the most difficult, with the Tigers trailing 11-8 at the beginning of the game, with a later 9-1 run to open up a 17-12 lead and finish the day off with a 25-17 victory.

Despite emerging victorious, the Tigers still have things to improve on, but the potential for a great season was evident.

“Freshman setter Marrisa Wonders put up some hittable balls and really showcased her talents,” Metil said. “We need to work on stoppage in the play, team defense, communication and feedback. We need to take care of the ball and be efficient.”

In game three of the tournament, Towson continued its trend, defeating Alabama State 3-0.

-To read the rest of this story, visit: thetowerlight.com

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