The Towerlight (March 26, 2019) by The Towerlight

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March 26, 2019

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TU hosts an array of international athletes on different teams. Read about their journeys from their native country to Towson, pg. 16 Illustration by Victoria Nicholson/ The Towerlight

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March 26, 2019

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Editor-in-Chief Karuga Koinange Senior Editor Bailey Hendricks News Editor Mary-Ellen Davis Asst. News Editor Keri Luise

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Sophia Bates Arts & Life Editor Kerry Ingram Asst. Arts & Life Editor Alex Helms Meg Hudson Sports Editor Tim Klapac Asst. Sports Editors Muhammad Waheed Jordan Kendall Staff Writers Jessica Ricks Anthony Petro Albert Ivory Glenn Kaplan John Hack Suzanne Stuller Cyan Thomas Aaron Thomas Marcus Whitman Jalon Dixon Brooks Warren Photo Editor Brendan Felch Asst.Photo Editor Brittany Whitham

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General Manager Mike Raymond Art Director Victoria Nicholson Webmaster Circulation Staff Scott Halerz Dom Capparuccini Elssa Kenfack Kirsten Tildon

8000 York Road University Union Room 309 Towson, MD 21252 (410) 704-5153 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. Classifieds appear online 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. ©2019 by The Towerlight, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252. All rights reserved.

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@Call_Me_Dutch Congratulations @Towson_WBB for earning a spot in the NCAA tournament! Proud to have you represent Maryland and we will be cheering you on this Friday as you make history! #TUProud #MD02Proud #ncaaW @ZKRedhead Incredible, historic year for @ Towson_WBB. 20 wins, @CAABasketball champions and first NCAA Tournament appearance in university history. Can’t wait for the future, and can’t wait for future Tigers to ride the wave. #staylegendary #TowsonTough @rayfeldmann0523 Regardless of the final score, it’s very cool to see the @Towson_ WBB team on national TV in the NCAA Tournament. This is only the beginning, folks. The best is yet to come for @CoachDianeRich and this program!! #TUProud

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@CoachDianeRich Feeling blessed and proud of my staff @Towson_WBB for the wonderful journey this yr as conf. champs and competing in the NCAA Tournament. Thx to our administration, family & fans, U fueled our fire to continue to play hard. Stay with us because we aren’t done. We Will Be Back

CHECK OUT OU R PHOTO OF TH E WEEK! The Towerlight went bowling ov er spring break. What did you do? Tweet us!

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Opinion

March 26, 2019

The India-Pakistan conflict Dems: Do something What is going on in Kashmir, India? CONNOR MCNAIRN Columnist

In August 1947, Britain, which dominated a large chunk of the Indian subcontinent, created a geopolitical division which would drive political conflict for decades. To the east, the predominantly Hindu, yet secular, India would independently control a massive territory of land. And to the west, the Muslim Pakistan, anchored in Islamabad, would seek to project its own power. Kashmir, a critical land territory settled north of India and northeast of Pakistan, per the language of the Indian Independence Act, would have the right to decide the power with which it would align. After rounds of fighting and destabilizing violence, the territory of Jammu and Kashmir was split into three parts by a line of control, which allocated the northern portion of the territory to Pakistan (35 percent), the southern portion to India (45 percent), and a northeastern portion to China (20 percent). But a simple territorial division has done little to quell increased tensions and military engagements between the nuclear-powered India and Pakistan. In India-administered Kashmir, 60 percent of the population practices Islam; the original British partition of the Indian subcontinent aimed to assign borders reflective of religious

divisions. But given that Indianadministered Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority state in India, paired with the rampant human rights abuses and unemployment that currently plague Indian Kashmiris, it is no surprise that conflict ensues. In fact, large swaths of Kashmiris within the India-administered regions do not express allegiance to the Indian government and would prefer independence or union with Pakistan. Throughout the last decade, violence has reemerged in the region and the risk of nuclear exchange between the two states is arguably higher now than it has ever been. In February 2019, in a region of India-administered Kashmir, a bomb exploded near a convoy of Indian paramilitary personnel, killing at least 40. The bombing was conducted by the Pakistani Jaish-eMuhammad (JEM), which both the United Nations (UN) and U.S. designate as a terrorist organization. In response, India conducted a series of airstrikes on a supposed terrorist training camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkwha Province. The Indian-led air attacks were the first since the conclusion of the IndiaPakistan war of 1971. In response to the Indian air attacks, Pakistan launched its own retaliatory attacks on sites within Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan also shot down one Indian jet and

captured an Indian pilot. The backand-forth exchanges between the two states are undoubtedly concerning and pose a serious risk to international stability. So, how should the United States respond? Historically, the U.S. has maintained a relatively hands-off approach to the situation. Given that the roots of the Indian-Pakistan conflicts deal specifically with cultural divisions and territorial disputes among Pakistani and Indian populations, there is little that the U.S. has done to try and impact the course of the conflict. The United States’ strategic partnership with both India and Pakistan also complicates the future of conflict resolution in the region. With regard to Pakistan, Washington and Islamabad have worked directly in efforts to curb international terrorism and facilitate American pullouts from Afghanistan. As for India, the U.S. has also developed a stronger relationship with New Delhi, as India serves as a potential strategic counterweight to China in Asia. In the immediate future, it seems there is little that the U.S. could do to simmer tensions in the region. And while President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have provided vague commentary on potential approaches to the conflict, it is unlikely that significant policy change from Washington will come anytime soon.

Self-care is vital to health SAMUEL SMITH Columnist

Self-care. What is it? Self-care is any behavior that you choose to do that improves mental or physical health. So why am I talking about it? I’ve noticed the last couple of semesters, especially the beginning

of this one, that I’ve been neglecting taking care of myself in favor of focusing on work and school. While getting work out of the way can be beneficial and a form of self-care, it can get into unhealthy territories. So, what do you do if you find yourself starting to neglect yourself? Take baby steps in your self-care journey. You don’t have to do anything super out there. Even going

for a small walk can be helpful in refreshing and restarting your brain. Plus, spring is here, the weather is really nice now! You can also buy a small, nice face mask that aligns with what your skin needs (A quick Google search can help you find what you may need) and pamper your face for a night. - To read the rest of this column online, visit thetowerlight.com.

about Baltimore City Financial corruption from Mayor Catherine Pugh MATTHEW PIPKIN Columnist @MattPipkinJr

1942. This was the last year that there was a Republican city councilman representing a district within the city of Baltimore. That is a whopping 77 years since a Republican even had a seat at the table to discuss issues in B a l t i m o re from the city council. And the last time there was a Republican mayor in Baltimore? 1967. So in total, Republicans have been completely out of the equation in Baltimore for an astonishing 52 years. Fiftytwo years of practically a single-party system for the city. So please tell me Democrats, what do you have to show for it? Mayor Catherine Pugh seems to have embraced what it means to be the head of a city with no checks and balances. While most of the country has had their eyes glued to CNN awaiting the results of the Mueller Report, one needs to only look at the most recent edition of the Baltimore Sun to see what true corruption looks like. It seems that the mayor of Baltimore, who is on the board for the University of Maryland Medical System, had no issue selling $500,000 worth of books to the system while on the board. It is reported that some of that money has been used to directly contribute to her campaigns from both her time in the state senate and as mayor. Is she sorry for what she did? Nope. In fact,

the mayor seemed quite proud of the work she had done. Pugh was quoted in a statement, stating “Despite all that has happened, I am glad that the important messages in the book reached our city’s children.” Not sure if all the city’s children got that message, as approximate ly 8,700 of her books currently languishes in a w a r e house. T h i s is nothing short of textbook corruption on the part of Pugh. But honestly, what else should we expect from a mayor of Baltimore? Sheila Dixon, who became infamous for stealing gift cards that were reserved for the poor, nearly won her reelection in 2016 against Pugh. This sort of corruption happens when there is not a viable opposition party to keep them honest. It’s upsetting to see the city in the state that it is, but what can a Republican like me do? It’s been over 50 years since a Republican had any direct say in Baltimore affairs. And with the political climate the way it is today, I doubt anyone in Baltimore is seeking any Republican opinions at the moment. So, Maryland Democrats, it falls back to you. Are you going to continue to condone this sort of corruption in Maryland’s largest city? Are you that apathetic to where you won’t publicly condemn this? Will Maryland Democratic Chairwoman Maya Rockeymoore Cummings speak out, or is she too busy with calling Larry Hogan a racist? It’s your city, Democrats. Do something about it.

Opinion

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March 26, 2019

Social media helping millennials be environmentally aware KAYLA HUNT Columnist

There have been various studies that examine environmental attitudes across generations. Which group is more environmentally aware, millennials or baby boomers? Which group is more likely to take action? Social media challenges are a great way to interact with other users across different platforms and encourage people to participate – whether it be simply for fun or to

adhere a cause. #Trashtag is an Internet challenge that has recently gone viral, encouraging users to pick up trash in public spaces. The challenge is to post before and after pictures of the littered area. The hashtag was initiated by Byron Román, who posted two pictures in an outdoor location: one photo showing an outdoor woodsy area cluttered with trash and the next photo showing the area cleaned up. In his post, Romàn stated that this was “a new #challenge for all you bored teens.” This new challenge is a great way

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to encourage people to be more environmentally conscious and participate in keeping their communities clean. However, the challenge shouldn’t be specifically targeted to a single group because the cause affects us all. Even though millennials are the highest users of social media, according to the Pew Research Center, there has been an increase in the social media presence of older generations. Everyone should participate in making sure their communities are safe, green and healthy. Targeting out a single group seems to discourage the cause. The environmen-

talist movement is an inclusive one and using social media tactics, such as Internet challenges, is an effective method to get people aware and involved. T h e r e are a plentiful amount of options for those interested in

becoming environmentally friendly. A small change in your routine makes a difference such as conserving energy by not leaving the lights on, wasting less food, composting, recycling and reusing. There are also environmental organizations that you can join if you want to be more informed.

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News

March 26, 2019

Radebaugh Park construction continues AMANDA MURAYAMA Contributing Writer @amunders

The development of Radebaugh Park in Towson prepares to enter phase two of its construction after a wet 2018 delayed the seeding of the grass. The anticipated Radebaugh Park, established on land that was purchased by the county from the Radebaugh family’s floral company in Towson, is finishing up the first phase of its three-phase long project. The floral company is still in business and operates on Burke avenue, according to Carol Newill, co-founder of the Green Towson Alliance. The Green Towson Alliance, an organization of environmental activists from the neighborhoods in Towson, has been instrumental in the development of the park, said Paul Hartman, vice president of Aigburth Manor, a neighborhood next to the park. Newill established a Radebaugh Park work group within the alliance where they have monitored and helped the county get the park ready. She recruited three professional landscape architects for the work group who created a design that sculpted the land into terraces, hillsides and swales for the storm water. The county agreed to adopt most of

the plan, according to Newill. The first phase of the park was to shape the land and put down topsoil and grass. The land has been shaped, but still needs to be planted on. Once the grass has grown in enough to be walked on, the park will be open to the public. “The land’s been shaped and to finish this phase one we’re going to put down about six inches of topsoil and then put grass,” Newill said. “The park will open to the public as soon as the grass has grown in enough that people can walk and play on it, which I hope will be this coming August.” Phase one was planned to be finished last fall, though the record-breaking rainfall of last year made the ground too wet to be planted on. “Right now, it’s just a pile of dirt,” Hartman said. “The plan right now is to put sod down, which should be done fairly shortly, and then later in the spring over seed with grass seed to help fill in all the gaps and things.” According to Newill, phase two has been set in motion and consists of bringing in park amenities. These amenities include trees, benches, bike racks and paved pathways to get to the benches. The design for phase two has been developed and is waiting to be funded.

Mary-Ellen Davis/ The Towerlight

Towson based Radebaugh Florist and Greenhouses sold land to Baltimore County that is currently being converted into what will be Radebaugh Park once the three-phase project is completed. “Right now, I’m focused on trying to get the money to pay for phase two,” Newill said. “I, and two members of my work group, submitted a grant application about a month ago for money to pay for some shade trees at the entrance to the park.” Maryland Delegate Steve Laferty and State Senator Chris West have sponsored a state bond bill to pay for phase two, which Newill and her

Mary-Ellen Davis/ The Towerlight

Radebaugh Park, located on Maryland Avenue off of Burke Avenue, is anticipated to open to the public this fall as long as weather does not further delay the completion of the first two phases.

husband testified in support of in Annapolis a few weeks ago. “If we get it, that could be $100,000 and the county would match the money,” Newill said. “Then we would have $200,000, plus this other little grant if we get that, to pay for the items for phase two, starting with the trees and the benches.” As the park enters phase two of development, the Green Towson Alliance has organized a community group called Friends of Radebaugh Neighborhood Park. The group is made up of neighbors of the park that want to get involved. The group held their inaugural meeting last month at the First Church of Christ, Scientist right next to the park. The group wants to weave, plant daffodils, help come up with celebrations to encourage people to use the park and create a committee for park security. “I live right next door to the park so it’s going to be delightful to look out the window and see grass growing,” said Richard Ames-Ledbetter, a member of Friends of Radebaugh Neighborhood Park. “They’re getting ready to plant or seed or sod the field within the next month so that’ll be a big thing when it turns green.”

Phase three, which isn’t expected to be started for a few years, consists of connecting the park with the Herring Run stream and Aigburth road. Funding for phase three will need to be raised after phase two is completed. The park, located on Maryland Avenue, off of Burke Avenue, is in close proximity to off campus housing for Towson University students, making Radebaugh park a green space for students in the community to use. “I hope the students help too,” Newill said. “There are a lot of students in the Donnybrook apartments, and I hope they feel like this could be their neighborhood park too and they could come out and help plant and weave and pick up trash and be able to have picnics there.” Hartman added that the park’s abundance of space will allow more areas for community residents to hang out. “It will be a great place for people just to go,” Hartman said. “Green space is very important, and in the Towson area we have a deficit of green space. There aren’t a whole lot of great park areas that people can go and throw the frisbee around or sit on a bench and enjoy the outdoors, so this will be a really good place.”

News

March 26, 2019

BCPL forms LGBTQ+ book club

Towson Library group engages community

March 24: A resident student was issued a civil citation for under 10 grams of marijuana in William Paca House. March 22: A commuter student was found to have taken possession of unattended property for personal use in Cook Library. March 14: A contract worker verbally threatened another contract worker in West Village Commons. March 12: A non-affiliate verbally threatened a resident student in Residence Tower. March 12: A housing safety check resulted in two resident students referred to Student Conduct for paraphernalia with marijuana residue in Millenium Hall. March 12: An instrument was stolen from a locker in the Center for the Arts. March 12: A resident student implying a weapon stole property from another resident student in Frederick Douglass House. March 11: A campus security authority referred two resident students to Student Conduct for an alcohol violation in Prettyman Hall. March 7: The odor of marijuana and recovery of paraphernalia with residue resulted in five students referred to Student Conduct in Residence Tower. March 6: Two contract workers had physical contact during a verbal argument in Newell Den. March 6: A ring left unattended in a bathroom was missing upon return in Cook Library. March 6: A noise complaint resulted in four students referred to Student Conduct due to the finding of marijuana paraphernalia with residue in Glen Complex Tower C. March 4: A resident student was issued a civil citation for under 10 grams of marijuana in Glen Complex Tower C. March 3: Money was discovered missing from a dorm room in Newell Hall. March 3: A guest was issued a criminal citation for damage to a fire alarm cover in the Towson Run Apartments. March 1: A resident student received a threatening message in Clara Barton House. March 1: A resident student was involved in an altercation with a non-affiliate dating partner in Glen Complex Tower C.

The Towerlight’s “Police Blotter” is a representative sample of crimes occurring on and off campus. The blotter is not intended to be all inclusive. For a list of all crime reports, visit www.towson.edu/police.

Nikki Hewins/ The Towerlight

The Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library system created an oriented book club where participants meet monthly to discuss novels that deal with LGBTQ+ community topics.

SOPHIA BATES Assistant News Editor @sophiabates23

The Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library is launching an LGBTQ+ oriented book club that will meet the last Tuesday of every month from 7 to 8 p.m. starting March 26. According to librarian and club organizer Rhiannon Harlow, the first three meetings are planned out, starting with the novel “Time Was” by Ian McDonald for the March 26 meeting. The following months will study “Speak No Evil” a novel by Udodinma Iweala and “Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality” by Sarah McBride. The three planned novels all have a relation to the LGBTQ+ community, but according to Harlow, the book club could branch out depending on what the members would like to study. “It’s going to be very flexible depending on what the participants want to do. I’m not here to tell them what they should be doing in a book club. If they want to pick books that are not necessarily within the LGBTQ community, but they want a space where they feel safe, sure, we can do that,” Harlow said. Harlow kick-started the idea to fulfill not only personal interest, but

the goals of the Baltimore County Public Library system as well. “I actually graduated from Towson University in 2016 with a women’s studies major and LGBT studies minor so it’s something that’s personally a real interest to me in my life,” Harlow said. “One of [the BCPL] goals is cultivating a connective, inclusive and thriving community and trying to serve as a reliable community connector.” Adult and Community Engagement Manager for the Baltimore County Public Library Julie Brophy noted that the libraries have made the LGBTQ+ community a focus for engagement and connection before the book club. “Throughout the year we make sure that we are always thinking about diversity in all its different forms,” Brophy said. “For the last couple years, we’ve been doing work with the LGBTQ+ community in a couple of different ways.” According to Brophy, the human library project has served as an engagement for the community. “We have the human library where we have had a transgender man and transgender woman, and a gay mom, and sharing their stories to show how we’re all kind of the same,” she said. Towson’s Assistant Director of LGBTQ+ Student Diversity and Development Erin Rook moved to Maryland about a month ago and

noticed that there was a need for the community to develop programs like these in order to develop safe spaces and education around the LGBTQ+ community. “I think it was my second week here when there was an email about a church that had an inclusive sign talking about being inclusive to different sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression as well as other faiths, and that sign was defaced,” Rook said. “I think that if you’re an individual in the community, especially a younger person, and you’re even just seeing that [the book club is] something the library offers is such a huge sign of relief.” Harlow noted that the libraries strive to seek out underrepresented groups for community engagement. “According to the ALA website, the LGBTQ community does count as a traditionally underrepresented group, so it is in line with our goal with what we’re trying to do as a library system,” Harlow said. Rook said developing this program at the library sends positive messages to the Towson community. “When a library is trying to build a whole program around it, bring in the community and is willing to have these conversations, I think that’s huge and sends a really strong message. I think it’s really cool what they are doing,” Rook said.

News

March 26, 2019

TU hosts speaker series Sheds light on international issues MARCUS WHITMAN Staff Writer

Towson University’s Journal of International Affairs hosted one of many segments in the Eric Belgrad Speaker Series on March 12 in an attempt to shed light on international issues. Jack Fruchtman, a political science professor at TU, discussed the history of the American political system in his presentation “‘Just One Race Here:’ Foreign Law and International Norms in Constitutional Interpretation.” Fruchtman discussed the British, Greek and Roman influences that have shaped the formation of American politics, as well as the idea behind the separation of power in the three branches of government. Later, he related these topics back to his overarching theme by discussing times when he believed that presidents, past and current, had taken action that overstepped the boundaries of the executive branch. “I changed the topic to something going on currently, and I wanted it to be more than just the history of the politics,” said Fruchtman. Fruchtman said that politics and law have always been interesting to him. “It is a moving topic, it is con-

stantly changing, and you need to spread the word for student engagement,” Sierra said. “With our relabe on top of it,” Fruchtman said. Paul McCartney, another Towson tionship with Dr. Paul McCartney, political science professor, said that he mentioned to Chris [Jensen, Fruchtman’s speech was as out- Director of Civic Engagement & standing as he expected. According Social Responsibility] about the to McCartney, Fruchtman is retir- lecture, and we discussed it and ing soon and as such was invited to decided that it was way to be civically engaged.” speak this time around. According “This was to the journal’s a good send website, the off,” said series was creMcCartney. ated in honor L i n d s e y of Eric Belgrad, Robbins, a a Towson 2018 Towson Political Science alum, said what Professor who Fruchtman said died in 2015. was interesting, Those who are and she enjoyed invited to speak the lecture. are encouraged “I was in to help guide the Political the audience S c i e n c e to think more Department, clearly about the and I knew topic discussed he was a realJACK FRUCHTMAN ly good proTU Professor of instead of using Political Science “predetermined fessor,” said conclusions Robbins. Luis Sierra, the assistant director meant for the sterile kinds of ideofor civic engagement, said that the logical ‘debate.’” The website also says that the department decided to co-sponsor the event in order to help with series is held in the hopes that it event costs and keep it eco-friendly. will invite a wide variety of stu“We also try and partner with dents to have conversations and the faculty and student groups to participate in independent analysis.

“

[Politics] is a moving topic, it is constantly changing, and you need to be on top of it.

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TU Political Science Professor Jack Fruchtman discussed times when he felt American presidents have overstepped executive boundaries during his speech at the Eric Belgrad Speaker Series.

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Arts & Life

Towson alum bikes across the country to beat cancer Andre Nguyen prepares to participate in the 2019 4k for Cancer KERRY INGRAM Arts & Life Editor @Glaminista08

For many, bike riding is seen as a leisurely activity done for enjoyment, exercise, or as a pure means of transportation. For Andre Nguyen, however, bike riding is his ticket to helping end the battle against cancer. Nguyen, a Maryland native and Towson University graduate, will be participating in 4K for Cancer this summer, a program of the Ulman Foundation that helps raise money to fund services and support for cancer patients. The foundation was started in 1997, after founder, Doug Ulman, was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a malignant tumor located on a rib in his back, when he was just 19 years old. The Ulman Foundation was founded as a way to provide support and information to young adults going through similar experiences. 4K for Cancer came about just five years later, when a group of Johns Hopkins University students opted to combine their support for fighting cancer with their love for cycling. The program began as just an annual summer bike ride from Baltimore to San Francisco, but has since grown an entire nonprofit organizational movement that allows for multiple rides with different end destinations to take place each year. The Ulman Foundation acquired 4K for Cancer in 2011, and the program has since raised over $7 million in support of the fight against cancer. “The 4K enables college-age individuals to not only connect with like-minded individuals from all across the country, but also enables them to create a community of support and inspiration for those impacted by cancer,” said Parker Gray, one of the coordinators of the program. “Last year our 4K teams raised a total of $900,000, with 87 percent of those funds going towards our different programs and services that are provided to young adults going through or impacted by cancer.” Some of the services provided to patients include patient navigation, financial support for fertility preservation, college scholarships and Ulman housing, where patients can stay for free during their treatment at a local hospital. Nguyen was first introduced to 4K

for Cancer during his time at Towson. He served as a founder for TU’s Theta Chi fraternity in 2012, in which some of his fellow brothers had spoke on having done the program. “It never occurred to me embark on this ride,” Nguyen said. “I didn't think I was capable of such a feat. However, I'm at an age where I've reflected a lot on my past, and I have family issues that haven't been resolved.” Nguyen had been directly affected by cancer prior to college, when his grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She lived states away, and his only opportunity to visit consisted of seeing her bedridden and unwell. She suffered from a stroke and passed in 2013, her life being the one Nguyen ultimately chose to honor in his decision to participate in the 4K for Cancer program. “Due to the distance, I wasn't there for my grandmother during her treatment, but my care and consideration shouldn't finish there,” Nguyen said. “I need to pay it forward and do what I can for those families fighting cancer right now. It's the least I can do.” This idea of “paying forward”

is something Gray expressed was the underlying purpose behind 4K for Cancer. “The ultimate goal for 4K for Cancer is to create a community of support and awareness for young adults impacted by cancer,” Gray said. “The 4K aims to spread the Ulman Foundation's mission and work, while also allowing college-age students to visit and serve those going through cancer as they visit different hospitals and cancer centers throughout their trip.” Gray noted that her time in college helped influence her outlook enough to join 4K for Cancer. She began as a rider during her junior year, traveling across the country to Seattle, before eventually signing on to be part of the coordinating team. Nguyen’s time at Towson University was eye-opening enough to impact his 4K for Cancer decision. Originally planning to attend TU for a marketing degree, Nguyen switched his major to Interdisciplinary Studies in Animal Behavior after failing an exam in an intro course for economics. - To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.

Courtesy of Andre Nguyen

Nguyen enjoys animal-based research. He graduated as an Interdisciplinary Studies in Animal Behavior major at Towson.

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Arts & Life

March 26, 2019

Jordan Peele shows the two sides to American society “Us” gives the horror movie genre a new, socially introspective twist KERRY INGRAM Arts & Life Editor @Glaminista08

If you thought Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” was a psychological thriller that would be nearly impossible to follow, then prepare yourself. The director/writer has done it again in 2019’s “Us,” bringing to theatres a new horror movie that not only excites the viewer, but also forces those who watch to question American society in order to fully understand the horror aspects of the film. As someone who is not a professional movie critic, I have to first start off by saying that this film was so encapsulating that I undoubtedly knew I had to write a review on it the moment I left my seat in the theatre. Although this review will not contain spoilers, I will be sprinkling a few Easter eggs worth paying attention to come your time to watch this film. The movie takes place in modern day California, but begins with a flashback to the 80s in which the film’s main character, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) is a little girl. She goes to a beach carnival with her parents, where she wanders off into a mirror maze, only to eventually run into a doppelganger

of herself. The film makes it very clear from the beginning that the little girl she sees in the maze is, in fact, another being (and not a reflection, which most would assume), however, it leaves the flashback at that, with the viewer being responsible to fill in the rest of the story of what happened that night as the film develops. Once back to modern day, Adelaide’s family takes a vacation to that exact beach she was the night she met her “clone.” After coincidences start occurring, Adelaide begins to panic in remembrance of the trauma she experienced that night. After communicating her fears to her husband, Gabe (Winston Duke), her worries start to come to the surface when an entire family of doppelgangers intrudes her home. The rest of the film consists of this battle between “real people” and their “shadows,” a huge and clear metaphor in and of itself. Okay, so now for the film analysis: this film is a HUGE screaming message towards American society. Where “Get Out” was Peele’s film to speak on racial issues and disparities, “Us” is his film to speak about classism and privilege in American society. And if you have any doubts about it being about this country, look no further than the title. “Us” has a double meaning, not only to speak about us as people, but to speak

Courtesy of rollingstone.com

Lupita Nyong’o stars as the lead lady, Adelaide, in Jordan Peele’s latest movie release, “Us.” The film features a family having to fight off dopplegangers while uncovering hidden truths about America. about the “U.S.” more specifically. More clear signals of this are found in the beginning of the movie, in which an old 80s “Hands Across America” commercial plays (which is then strung along throughout the entire film), as well as the fact that the battle between people and evil doppelgangers only occurs within the United States. (Another Easter egg for you: the daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) mentions early on in the film that the government is putting fluoride in the water as an experiment to spy on citizens. This serves as a gentle wink to the country-wide doppel-

Courtesy of bustle.com

Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o) had a traumatic experience at a beach when she was a child, and upon finally returning with her family as an adult, her fears from her past start to come to life.

ganger experiment to come). Something I truly appreciated about this film is the representation that comes with it. For once, Black people are the main characters in a horror film and (*tiny spoiler) they DON’T die first. That’s a win just by itself, honestly. But all jokes aside, I truly value how in both of Peele’s now iconic films, Black people are portrayed as everyday people, rather than as extreme social stereotypes. It allows viewers to not only see that people of color can live normal lives. It also forced people to see life through the eyes of someone in that perspective. Again, “Get Out” was clearly made for race issues, in which a Black man is made into the protagonist as a way for all people to see what African Americans face in today’s society, but “Us” takes that notion one step further by also focusing on class systems. Adelaide’s family is upper-middle class, and as the story unfolds, Peele’s message about classism between those privileged enough to be “real” and those born as experimental doppelgangers rings loud and clear. Another thing to note in this movie review, Nyong’o’s acting skills are SUPERB in this film. I’ve never had any doubts of her acting before, but she develops two deeply layered characters throughout the course of the film that make it impossible for you to watch without thinking about it for the next few days.

Ultimately, the use of doppelgangers (called “the tethered” and “shadows” in the film’s story) is meant to showcase the idea that we all have sides to our story that are less than ideal. We all have pasts, things we try to hide or run away from and things that can ultimately destroy our lives so long as we choose not to properly acknowledge them. This idea of role duality in one’s life also has double meaning (a giant theme throughout this movie) - it can be applied individually, to each person’s own life and story, or it can be applied to the country, as a way to say that we’ve been in denial of our nation’s past and running away from the truth about privilege and inequity, and now that it's finally catching up to us, the people who have benefitted from these lies are now scared to lose them. Seems like a stretch? Watch the movie and then come talk to me. Peele has fantastically brought another thought-provoking film to the box office, one that I recommend everyone sees. Although it’s a horror film, Peele refrained from making it excessively gorry, which I assume was a choice made to encourage more people to see it. It will make you uncomfortable in all the right ways, lead you to question society and the role you play in it, and will ultimately make you so upset once you watch the last minute of the entire film. That’s the largest Easter egg, but the one I’m definitely not spoiling.

14 March 26, 2019

Arts & Life

You like my hair? Gee thanks, I just got it blown out

Arts & Life Editor Kerry Ingram temporarily says goodbye to her curls KERRY INGRAM Arts & Life Editor @Glaminista08

This week’s Trendy Tiger is going to be a bit different. Why? Because I decided to get a little exoerimental. Let me start off by saying this: if you have curly hair, you already know “le struggle.” Curly hair takes a lot of emotional strength, patience and perseverance to manage. You have to deal with things like shrinkage, dryness, frizz and your hair ultimately having a brain of its own. Despite this, curly hair is still the bomb dot com, and then some. It allows us to have natural texture, a mother-nature-induced “pizzazz” that those with straight hair have to resort to heat tools for. Curly hair is, indeed, le struggle, but it’s also pretty awesome once you get a hold of it. I spent the first 17 years of my life not knowing how to get a hold of my curls. I resorted to constantly flat-ironing my hair, which worked well when I had virgin and healthy hair in elementary school. However, that hair only lasts so long, and by the time I got to high school, my hair was shouting for help. “Ayudarme!” my little spanish curls would scream, but no. I silenced them until I realized my hair was getting shorter without me having to cut it. My junior year of high school, I chose to start wearing my hair natural and the rest was a rough history of me trying to get my life together. I must admit, I had no clue how to handle my natural hair until around the end of my freshman year of college, but I eventually got the hang of things. Now, my hair is 80 percent thriving and 20 percent doing something else, but I’ve made a lot of progress. I’ve learned how to style my hair, how to keep it hydrated, how to twist it to elongate my curls etc. The one thing I still haven’t mastered? How to wear a hat with curly hair. This is ultimately why my no-heat journey came to a screeching halt this past week. As a Towson senior, I will be

walking down a stage to get my diploma in less than two months, and part of that requires me to wear a “formal” square on top of my head. Unfortunately, curly hair and graduation caps don’t mix too well (cue my 2015 graduation photos of my FLAT hair on top and frizzy hair on bottom, all thanks to the cap I donned for two hours). I decided to get my first blowout over spring break, as a way to test the waters of how I would feel if I wore my hair straight for graduation. As I’m typing this, my hair is still straight, silky and smooth, so you can already guess what the result of this experience was. This article is meant to give you a rundown of everything that happened, plus my tips for those of you who may decide to do the same thing. Let’s back it up to the beginning. Things to do before going: Take care of your hair! I recommend doing a D.I.Y. conditioning treatment with some good ol’ fashioned coconut oil in order to hydrate your hair prior to it being blown out. Just take some unrefined coconut oil from your local market, apply it to your hair from scalp to ends, wrap your hair up for two hours and then rinse. Your strands will thank you. Also make sure to just take care of your hair in general. Don’t wear too-tight of hair styles, refrain from regularly using heat or lighteners on your hair, and keep it hydrated and clean. All of this will make getting a blow out easy-peasy. Find a hair-inclusive salon: I decided to visit the Haute Blowdry Bar in Towson, a hair studio that specializes in blowouts for all hair types and textures. This is one of the keys to getting a quality service without sacrificing the health of your hair. This salon knew not only what products my curls needed, but also how to handle my hair so as not to put too much heat on it or damage it. I also want to point out that this location was pretty swanky - the bright teal and white colors paired with the elegant decor surely made the experience for me since it was #extraAF. Nourish your hair: I started off by getting my hair washed and conditioned, which included a scalp massage, an essential for stimulating the scalp enough to help promote further growth. Afterwards,

my stylist applied conditioning heat protectant to my hair, but she DIDN’T put me under a dryer. The 3-heat method is popular in Dominican blowouts, but is what ends up frying your hair. Rather, my stylist just parted and untangled my hair before blow drying it with larger round brushes and a blowdryer. (Bonus points for getting to listen to today’s pop hits and watching chick flicks as I got my hair done. The environment was definitely relaxing enough throughout my stay, and allowed for me to enjoy the experience without being anxious about my hair.) Make sure they limit heat usage: My blowdry time took no longer than 20 minutes, which surprised me considering how long my curly hair actually is. It allowed for her to stretch my curls without frying them, and since my hair was dried before straightening, it limited the amount of time it took for flat iron my hair afterwards. She ended the service by adding some curls to my ends and bam. I became a brand new woman (temporarily anyways). Don’t make this a habit: Even though experienced and knowledgeable stylists can blow out your hair with the least damage as possible, still refrain from scheduling these services often. Embrace your natural texture! It’s sure to still blow everyone away. All in all, I have to say my first

Kerry Ingram/ The Towerlight

Ingram’s blown out hair survived her first day back at the gym. experience getting a blow out was way better than I was expecting. My hair was full, soft, bouncy and everything else you’d expect to only see out of a Pantene adver-

tisement. I plan to revert back to my curls later this week, but for now, I’m a-okay with catfishing people for a little bit with my new blown-out look.

Kerry Ingram/ The Towerlight

Arts & Life Editor Kerry Ingram took a trip to Towson’s Haute Blow Dry Bar to get her hair straightened for the first time in four years. Her experience went a lot different than she had expected.

Puzzles Puzzles

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March 2019 March 26,26, 2019

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16 March 26, 2019

Sports

Towson garners global athletes International athletes provide a unique experience for TU players and coaches KARUGA KOINANGE Editor-in-Chief

Jocelyn Kuilan adjusted to her new high school after bouncing between schools three times. But Kuilan was about to change schools one more time. She finally settled down at the Bayamon Military Academy, close to her hometown of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Kuilan was committed to pursuing a collegiate volleyball career outside of Puerto Rico since she was 15 years old, but her constant shuffling of schools put a strain on her ambitions. “I did like it because you meet new people and play with new people, but I didn’t like it at the same time because I was lost,” Kuilan said. Now, the senior right side hitter has found a home away from home at Towson University. Kuilan’s love for her sport started at an early age, much like many of Towson’s student athletes. Her

father, José, was a high school volleyball coach and pushed her on to the sport at just six years old. She was given the option between pursuing ballet or volleyball, and her competitive nature helped her reach a decision. “In ballet, you just dance for fun, but in volleyball you compete to get your position,” Kuilan said. Growing up, she was friends with former Tigers Julymar Otero and Carola Biver, who graduated in 2018 and 2017 respectively. Kuilan and Otero were neighbors in Toa Baja and competed in volleyball matches throughout school many times. In Kuilan’s junior year of high school, coaches from Towson noticed her at the annual Jeep Volleyball Championship tournament in Puerto Rico. Kuilan said they liked her power, so they gave Kuilan their contact information and set up a visit to Towson in her senior year. Kuilan said she fell in love with SECU Arena during her visit and was excited to join the same team as Otero

and Biver. “Coming here and knowing that they’re both here, it makes me more comfortable to come because my language wasn’t the best thing in the whole world,” Kuilan said. Despite the aid of her friends, Kuilan struggled with one of the most common issues that some international athletes face – learning English. Kuilan said that her first semester at Towson was the “worst in the entire world.” She said she struggled in her English courses and had to record most of her classes because she couldn’t keep up with the pace of the language. She switched her major from speech-language pathology to foreign languages the following semester in order to learn more about her native tongue. Kuilan said she wants to be a translator or a teacher after her volleyball career ends, so that she can educate others and prevent them from enduring the same problems she faced as a foreigner. She said Towson’s international

MALIK TYNE (ONTARIO, CANADA) BRODY MCLEAN (ONTARIO, CANADA) JAYLA KANG (BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA) MELISSIA TEMKOV (ONTARIO, CANADA) JULIA PORTER (ALBERTA, CANADA)

NAKARIN KORNPATLERDSIN (BANGKOK, THAILAND) KOBDECH RODRAT (BANGKOK, THAILAND)

NORTH AMERICA

EUROPE

ASIA

SHAMIKA BURTON (KINGSTON, JAMAICA) ZELLIE CHARLES (MARIGOT, DOMINICA) JOCELYN KUILAN (TOA BAJA, PUERTO RICO)

TIBO DEBAILLIE (GISTEL, BELGIUM) ZEYNEP BALTO (ISTANBUL, TURKEY) PHOEBE COLLINS (LONDON, UK) THEMIS HALIOU (STROVOLOS, CYPRUS) YEVGENIYA SHUSTERMAN (SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE) MICHELLA OBIJIAKU (LONDON, UK) MARIJA TOMASEVIC(UZICE, SERBIA) SILVIA GRASSINI (PADUA, ITALY) EMA KRALJEVIC (RIJEKA, CROATIA) FAY BAKODIMOU (ATHENS, GREECE)

AFRICA

SOUTH AMERICA

JESSICA ASSENMACHER (JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA)

JODIE BURCHELL (QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA)

AUSTRALIA AMELIA LAWSON (WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND)

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athletes provide a unique perspective to Americans and to each other. “You can learn different cultures and different people,” Kuilan said. “You learn more things and more people that are struggling through the same things that you are.” Kuilan’s journey from a young, ethnic child who loved a sport to excelling in that sport is a commonality shared among many of Towson’s international athletes. Yevgeniya Shusterman grew up playing tennis with her family in Simferopol, Ukraine. Towson’s coaches reached out to her in her senior year of high school, and she joined Towson’s tennis squad in spring of 2015. Head Coach Jamie Peterson took the helm in fall of 2017. He said he strived to make sure the roster remains half American and half international since joining Towson. Each year, he contacts prospective international athletes through email and Skype. He requests game tape for him to evaluate and coordinates visits for them, so they can familiarize themselves with Towson. Now, the team has five international athletes all from different countries: Ukraine, South Africa, Cyprus, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. “I don’t limit myself to a specific place,” Peterson said. “There’s a lot of good players outside of the United States. It brings a different flavor to the team and brings diversity. It’s a really good dynamic.” Shusterman said having other international athletes on the team helped her connect with her teammates. “We were going through the same experiences, and we were able to connect on the same levels at some point,” she said. “Sometimes, if you didn’t know something, we would be arguing between the Europeans and then ask Americans. Things such as taxes, driving tests, the ways Americans do school, you learned it from your roommates, your teammates. It’s nice not being the only one not knowing anything.” Not all of Towson’s international athletes share that path from playing a sport basically since birth to being recruited to TU. Kobdech Rodrat just wanted to stay

in his home in Bangkok, Thailand and play League of Legends or Dota 2 in his down time, but his father, Supdech, had different plans. Rodrat said his father thought he was gaming too much, so at nine years old he swapped his gaming controller for a golf club. But he did not like the change of pace from gaming to golf one bit. Rodrat said golf was initially boring and he struggled to learn how to properly play, but his viewpoint shifted once he began competing in tournaments. His first trophy ever was from a first place finish at just 11 years old. “I just like that feeling of winning so much that I just loved competing in golf,” Rodrat said. “I felt really accomplished and thought I could do well playing golf.” At just 15 years old, Rodrat moved to Florida to attend the IMG Academy Golf Club. He said the shift from living in Bangkok with his family to staying in America alone was rattling. “It was disastrous,” Rodrat said. “Me being alone and not with my parents, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t able to help myself. Even small stuff like doing laundry, I was learning so much from not having my parents around me.” One of Rodrat’s coaches at the academy knew Brian Yaniger, Towson’s former head golf coach of 20 years. This led to Rodrat visiting Towson and joining the team in 2017. He said it was difficult adjusting to a class schedule and living in a dorm, but his trust in his coaches helped him persevere. “You gotta grind,” Rodrat said. “You gotta keep being persistent and do what coach says and think that it will help you improve. Just the belief of improving in the future just helps me drive through all the stuff I do.” Rodrat’s unfamiliar path from gamer to golfer is a testament to the varying journeys of international athletes at Towson. “If we can bring in somebody from another culture that gives us a different perspective and educational opportunity, we think that’s great, particularly if they can help us win some ball games,” said Athletic Director Tim Leonard. - Tim Klapac contributed to this article

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18 March 26, 2019

Sports

Expanding horizons Serving up a Football coach takes a recruiting trip to Europe pair of wins TIM KLAPAC Sports Editor @pacofkla

Nearly every major sport in North America has representatives of nations outside of this continent. The NBA’s Dirk Nowitzki has put together a Hall of Fame career, the NHL is full of players from Russia, Germany and the various Scandinavian nations. New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius hails from Amsterdam. However, the NFL is severely lacking in European representation. European athletics are dominated by soccer, rugby and cricket, leaving it difficult for football to get any attention. However, the sport, characterized as “America’s Game,” is gaining popularity overseas, which is something that Towson has taken notice of. “It’s very counterculture there naturally because of soccer,” said Towson football Assistant Coach Konstantinos Kosmakos. “They’re very prideful that they play football.” Kosmakos traveled to Europe in January on a 10-day recruiting trip, visiting football academies and helping players understand the commitment necessary to succeed at the NCAA Division-1 level. Kosmakos raved about the appreciation they had for Towson while he was there. “Going to those cities and clubs, the gratitude they had was tremendous” Kosmakos said. Kosmakos visited six different countries during his trip, traveling almost 12,000 miles by planes, trains and automobiles. His adventures were well-documented on his Twitter page @Coach_Kosmakos, where he posted some of the food he sampled, the tourist attractions he visited and the football camps he attended. “I can’t put into real words how grateful people were that a Division-1 coach was there to recruit,” Kosmakos said. “No one’s really gone there to scavenge for talent the way we did.” The trip was not without its difficulties, though, as Kosmakos encountered small hotel quarters in France, his first snow of the year while in Germany and had to take a train after an airport strike abruptly cancelled his flight. “I think I made it look a lot easier

than it was,” Kosmakos said as he discussed one day in particular that was grueling. “I would be in a hotel by 2:30 a.m., wake up at 6:30 a.m., get to Rig Academy at 8:00 a.m., be there for three hours, then drive back to the airport by noon, fly to Helsinki, get to the hotel, eat dinner and go to practice that night. That’s two practices in two different countries in one day.” Among the programs Kosmakos paid a visit to were the Helsinki Roosters and the National Swedish Football Academy. Kosmakos said the composition of these European programs was the main difference he noticed from American programs. “They don’t have the same structure as us.” Kosmakos said. “Three Hamburg kids go to the same school, but they play on three different club teams and they have different divisions within that, similar to the English Premier League.” Kosmakos believes that, over time, these programs will begin to adapt to a more North American formation. “Their schedules are starting to mirror our conference set up, and I think they’ll eventually bridge to a Euro National championship or playoff,” he said. “They wanna be very similar to NCAA.” Kosmakos’ trip was in the works for years, thanks to the efforts of former NFL players Brandon Collier and Evan Harrington. Collier founded PPI Recruits, a program that specializes in giving European players exposure to NCAA schools. Harrington runs another notable program, Europe’s Elite. “We’ve got some people over there that we’re connected with that had brought young men here to get evaluated and see where they might fit,” said Head Coach Rob Ambrose. “That’s kinda how we got Tibo.” Junior defensive lineman Tibo Debaillie is the lone European player currently on the Tiger’s football roster. Debaillie fell in love with football at a young age and aspired to play in the NCAA. “It started being a dream at age 9 and from then on, I didn’t take my eyes off of that,” Debaillie said. Debaillie hails from Gistel, Belgium, where he helped to lead his team, the Ostend Pirates of the

Belgian Football League, to the Belgian Championship before committing to Towson in early 2017. Despite being the defensive MVP of that championship game, Debaillie was not getting a lot of attention from NCAA schools. Thanks to Europe’s Elite, a recruiting service for European athletes, Debaillie was able to try out for multiple universities before signing with the Tigers. “I came here on my own with Europe’s Elite and some coaches didn’t know they played football outside of America,” Debaillie said. “Seeing Europe getting this attention shows how football is making big steps.” Kosmakos said the coaching staff was blown away by Debaillie’s demeanor. “When he came to one of our workouts, he blew us away in 98 degree weather,” Kosmakos said. “He gives effort at everything he does, both on the football field and in the classroom.” Kosmakos made sure to pay a visit to Debaillie and his family while he was in Europe. “That shows how much he loves his players,” Debaillie said. The level of talent Towson was discovering overseas was intriguing to Ambrose, which is what made an in-person recruiting trip so important to the program. “The players we’re seeing over there are well more educated in the game than we think and they’re more experienced than we think,” Ambrose said. “We had a list of probably 30 guys that we wanted to evaluate and we probably saw upwards of 70-80 guys.” A trip of this magnitude required all-around support from the coaching staff. Once they had enough film on the European prospects, the desire to see them in-person was evident. “With the backing of other coaches, like Scott Van Zile and Matt Applebaum, Ambrose’s excitement made sense,” Kosmakos said. Kosmakos’ journey was eventful, and the coaching staff doesn’t expect it to stop with just one trip. Ambrose said there’s “no doubt” about making future trips back to Europe. “I think the doors are continuing to open in so many places,” Kosmakos said. “There’s more talent to be had.”

California road trip yields two victories for improving Tigers CYAN THOMAS Staff Writer

Towson rose to 4-10 on the season last week after wins against St. Katherine and Concordia Irvine, combined with a loss to Clemson. On Thursday, the Tigers swept St. Katherine to clinch a 7-0 victory in San Diego, California. Head Coach Jamie Peterson was proud of his team’s effort on the day. “The girls did a great job coming out and being focused, taking care of business,” Peterson said. “The last three singles matches were 6-0 victories, very impressive to finish off our three matches.” Freshman Jessica Assenmacher, junior Claire Bedi, freshman Phoebe Collins, freshman Themis Haliou and freshman Amelia Lawson all overwhelmed their opponents in singles play, taking 6-0 wins in straight sets. Senior Lucy Gloninger also took a victory for the Tigers, winning 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, the teams of Haliou and Collins and Bedi and Lawson swept their opponents to secure 6-0 victories. The duo of Assenmacher and Gloninger clinched a 6-1 victory to ensure the doubles victory over St. Katherine. On Tuesday, the Tigers bested Concordia Irvine 4-3, but fell to Clemson 4-0. “Concordia Irvine is not nearly as strong as Clemson,” Peterson said. “We didn’t play that well against Concordia Irvine, but we competed well and found ways to win.” Against the Eagles (7-7), Towson came from behind to steal the win. Concordia secured the doubles point, putting the pressure on the singles matches. Sophomore Alexa Martinez won the first singles match in straight sets. Senior Yevgeniya Shusterman and

Collins both secured comeback victories in their singles matches in the third set. Shusterman won 6-4 while Collins won 7-5. Bedi’s singles win secured the point for Towson and gave the Tigers the overall victory. Against Clemson (8-10), Shusterman, Lawson and Gloninger’s singles matches were not completed and thus were not counted in the final game total. Martinez, Bedi and Collins were toppled in their singles matches to give Clemson the singles point. Towson was unsuccessful in doubles and were swept, giving Clemson an uncontested 4-0 victory. The Tigers have a busy week as the team will travel to Mount St. Mary’s on Wednesday, March 27, California University of Pennsylvania on Friday, March 29 and West Virginia on Saturday, March 30. The Tigers next home games will be on Friday, April 5 when they will host a double header. Towson faces UNC Wilmington in their conference opener at 2:30 p.m., followed by Delaware State at 6:30 p.m. Both home matches will take place at the Towson Center.

Sports

March 26, 2019

another tough loss Towson falls to Denver for third straight defeat Jordan Cornelius Women’s Golf

Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Senior midfielder Jimmie Wilkerson gathers the ball during an earlier game this season. Wilkerson has already set a season-high in ground balls this year as the Tigers prepare for their conference opener. JOHN HACK Staff Writer @johnhack10

On a chilly and windy day at Johnny Unitas stadium, the No. 7 Tigers looked to end their losing streak against the No. 13 Denver Pioneers. But the Pioneers downed the Tigers in a heartbreaking fashion, 7-6. “It was a pretty even game for the most part, ‘ said sophomore midfielder Koby Smith. “We had a few too many turnovers throughout the game, and we let the lead slip away from us.” The game started off at a slow pace, with neither team finding the back of the net through the first nine minutes. After that, the two teams would exchange goals until halftime, with the score tied at four, despite the fact that the Pioneers outshot the Tigers 20-10 in the first half. For the black and gold, turnovers that have caused headaches in the team’s game plan in recent weeks reappeared on Saturday. “It’s just us not executing,” Smith said. “We’re making mis-

takes, we’re beating ourselves.” The turnover concerns spread to the goal as well with Denver scoring a goal off of save by junior goalie Tyler Canto. Canto’s save deflected off of a Towson defender and went in the net. “Little things we can work on and definitely improve on,” Canto said. “That’s something we’re definitely going to work on, for sure.” Canto did his best to keep Towson in the game with 11 saves. The second half started out well for Towson as senior attack Brendan Sunday and senior midfielder Timmy Monahan scored the only two goals in the third quarter as the Tigers went into the fourth quarter with a 6-4 lead. Ultimately, it was the final stanza that determined Towson’s fate. A controversial no-call on what could’ve been a possible crease violation saw the Tigers’ lead cut to one just 77 seconds into the fourth quarter. “[The referee] said his feet weren’t airborne when he batted at the ball.” said Head Coach Shawn Nadelen, explaining why the offi-

cials didn’t take the Pioneer goal away for a dive into the crease. “It’s a call in the game. You gotta live with it and move on. We definitely had opportunities.” After the non-call, Towson’s defense gave Denver’s offense more problems with a stingy double team while forcing the Pioneers to take low-percentage shots around the net. Despite the strong defensive pressure, the Pioneers tied the game at six with 4:48 remaining. The lack of an offensive threat from Towson made regaining the lead a difficult task as the Tigers could only muster five shots in the fourth quarter. Denver took the lead with 1:13 remaining in the game and Towson could not respond, suffering its third straight loss. The Tigers look to end their losing streak on Saturday, March 30 in the team’s first conference game of the year. Towson will host the Hofstra Pride at Johnny Unitas Stadium at noon. The game can be streamed for free online on the LAX Sports Network.

Freshman Jordan Cornelius had her best performance of the season in the final round of the Avenue Spring Break Classic in Hawaii last week. Cornelius tied teammate Alix Lowe’s school record with a four-under 68, including five birdies and an eagle on the 18th hole as teh Tigers finished sixth.