The Towerlight (February 13, 2018)

Towson’s campus and community news source

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February 13, 2018

LOVE ROAR

of all the love Towson has to offe n o i t a r r celeb pgs. 12 & 13

Photo by Marcus Dieterie, Photo Illustration by Victoria Nicholson /The Towerlight

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February 13, 2018

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Social

February 13, 2018

Editor-in-Chief Marcus Dieterle Senior Editor Jordan Cope News Editor Bailey Hendricks Asst. News Editor Mary-Ellen Davis Assoc. Arts & Life Editor Kerry Ingram Asst. Arts & Life Editor McKenna Graham Sports Editor Karuga Koinange Asst. Sports Editor Billy Owens

Senior Staff Writer Sarah Rowan

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VOLUNTEER AT MARYLAND FOOD BANK

10:45 a.m., Administration Building, Room 224.

David Fisher Simon Enagonio Marcus Dieterle Brittany Whitham Joe Noyes

Sarah Rowan General Manager Mike Raymond Art Director Victoria Nicholson

TU GLOBAL INTERNSHIPS BREAKFAST

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TU Serves provides students with the opportunity to volunteer at various organizations each month.

Transportation is provided from campus to the service site and back to campus at the end of the event.

EXHIBITION ASIA’S HEALING ARTS

BLACK HISTORY TRIVIA

Join HRL Weekends for Black History Month Trivia. It’s a fun way for students to compete against each other while learning more about famous African Americans in celebration of Black History Month.

Circulation Staff Shawn Halerz Dom Capparuccini Elssa Kenfack

TOWSON

TRENDING. 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.

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Please Recycle!

Explore the diverse healing arts of Asia which are now popular worldwide: yoga, taiji, acupuncture, shiatsu, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and more.

11 a.m., Asian Arts Gallery, CA Room 2037.

5 p.m., Paca House, MPR. Webmaster

Did you know that TU has a Global Internships program? Come to the Career Center on Valentine’s Day for breakfast and more information on gaining international work experience.

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 7800 York Road, Career Center Suite 206.

Staff Photographers Jordan Cope

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Free professional portraits for your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles. No appointment necessary.

4 p.m., 7800 York Road, Career Center, Suite 206.

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Staff Writers Desmond Boyle

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FEBRUARY

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MORE EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT

EVENTS.TOWSON.EDU

VALENTINE’S DAY

@ThatsAll_Folkes

@TowsonSAPE Want a love-filled Valentines Day? Come to Love Fest! Giveaways and more! Feb. 14 in the UU from 11-1 pm!

@Queen_Chey All these valentine’s day grams they doing at Towson just remind me how I never got one in high school :/

Valentine’s Day approaching. If y’all wanna ship me something/delivery to my job, all you need is the general address that the entire university uses— 8000 York Rd. Towson, MD 21252. You’re welcome!

@ ibrooksbitches_ Valentine’s Day i would love to take Sj to rain forest cafe why did they ever take it from Towson

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Opinion

February 13 , 2018

Dreamers lacking Chocolate is not going extinct But here’s why you should care about the rumors support from gov’t MARCUS DIETERLE Editor-in-Chief @marcusdieterle

On December 31, 2017, Business Insider published a misleadingly titled article called “Chocolate is on track to go extinct in 40 years.” In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, the article has made its rounds across social media. While the headline may not be truthful, it’s unsurprising that people panicked over the idea of their favorite sweet treat disappearing from the face of the Earth. In 2009, Americans purchased 58 million pounds of chocolate during Valentine’s week, according to Nielsen.

While there are several ways to express your love for a romantic partner (check out our Q&A with staff members from the Counseling Center in this week’s issue for advice on how to properly communicate with your partner), chocolate has become one of those time-honored gifts associated with the sweetheart holiday.

But within the panic that the article created, the story’s true message may have been lost on some. Cacao, the plant from which chocolate and other cocoa products are made, can only grow 20 degrees north and south of the equator. Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana produce more than half of the chocolate in the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. As human activity worsens the already

serious problem of global warming, the cacao’s current habitats could become too warm and dry to sustain the plant. As NOAA points out, the increased heat alone is unlikely to have a significant effect on cacao, which are made to survive hot temperatures. But without an increase in rainfall to accompany that heat, evapotranspiration – the evaporation of water from soil, plants and water bodies – could result in a lack of humidity that cacao needs to grow. NOAA predicts that by 2050, those warmer temperatures would push cacao plants over 1,000 feet uphill, but some of those areas are currently reserved for wildlife preservation. So while cacao probably won’t be going extinct in the next 40 years -- the International Union for Conservation of Nature will label a species extinct only if there is “no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died” -- the plant’s population could be dramatically reduced.

Some have offered carob, an evergreen tree whose pods can be ground into powder and mixed with vegetable fat and sugar, as a substitute for cocoa. “Of course, the same arguments can as persuasively be made in favor of dirt,” said “CHOCOLATE: The Consuming Passion” author Sandra Boynton.

So instead, scientists are looking for ways to save your beloved chocolate.

That’s where the Business Insider article comes in. Scientists at the University of California partnered

with the Mars company, which manufactures chocolate among other products, to explore the use of a gene-editing technology called CRISPR. The team hopes to use CRISPR to alter the DNA of cacao so the plant can survive in drier, warmer climates.

At face value, this possible scientific progress sounds pretty cool – and it is if done under the right circumstances. For example, creating plants that are able to grow in harsh conditions could decrease food insecurity and improve economic equity in less developed countries and regions. But there is something unsettling about altering our food’s genetic makeup as a solution to an issue that humans have caused. If we keep tweaking plants and animals to adapt to our problems, rather than reevaluating our behavior to better preserve the environment, we will lose the Earth that we know today.

Instead, look at the ways you are impacting the environment. Reduce your energy consumption by using cold water to wash clothes and dishes, taking shorter showers, turning off lights or unplugging electronics when not in use. Drive less or carpool if possible – even walking or biking across campus instead of driving from the Union to West Village garages can help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from your vehicle. Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost your waste -- and educate yourself about the proper procedures for doing so, don’t just throw stuff in those bins willy nilly. Over all, do your homework. We’re not perfect, but if everyone makes an effort to improve their environmental impact, the Earth and the future generations it will be home to will thank you for it.

Overall, do your homework. We’re not perfect, but if everyone makes an effort to improve their environmental impact, the Earth and the future generations it will be home to will thank you for it.

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MARCUS DIETERLE Editor-in-Chief

CONNOR McNAIRN Columnist

While there are many contentious issues that saturate contemporary political dialogues, there are perhaps none more prevalent than those concerning immigration. Within the past month, the United States government has shut down twice, though both occasions were quite brief. During these shutdown periods, Republicans and Democrats clashed over funding discrepancies, namely those surrounding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order. But on Friday, President Donald Trump signed into law a bill that, much to the dismay of Dreamers and those in pursuit of fiscal responsibility, added hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending and motivated no further discussions on comprehensive immigration reform.

Last Friday, in the early hours of the morning, both the House and Senate channeled collective anti-shutdown sentiments to pass bipartisan legislation by votes of 240-186 and 71-28, respectively. The bill’s passage marked a change in attitude for Democrats who, less than one month ago, forced a government shutdown over Dreamer protections.

With the new spending bill, while billions of dollars are dedicated to military programs and disaster relief projects, mention of immigration reform has remained relatively absent from both chambers.

Over the past several months, both parties have grappled over America’s responsibilities pertaining to both the welcoming of immigrants and the protection of its own citizens. Trump, aided by conservatives in both chambers of Congress, has often used the select misdeeds of illegal immigrants as political fodder against immigrants in aggregate and has ultimately advanced policy positions that aim to significantly reduce immigration numbers.

In stark opposition to Trump, the Democratic Party has used government funding as a bargaining chip against Trump’s anti-immigration bluster.

In September 2017, Trump ended the DACA program installed by former President Obama. While Republicans preached of the program’s unconstitutionality, Trump’s DOJ moved to stop accepting DACA authorizations. And in keeping with his usual pattern of irresponsibility, the president failed to outline or motivate any plans for restructuring immigration policy, effectively abandoning the massive collection of Dreamers (roughly one million) who needed this program to secure financial and educational stability.

Following the dissolution of the program, Democrats have moved to secure the support of and grant protection to Dreamers and, more broadly, immigrants. In fact, in late January, Democrats refused to compromise on a spending bill until comprehensive immigration reform was brought to the floor for serious and substantive debate – a refusal that would prove short-lived. After collectively supporting a temporary bill three days after the first shutdown of the year, Democrats have once again acquiesced with the latest GOP spending bill, and as before, no guarantees for Dreamers have been made.

It should be noted that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has allowed for more liberal immigration debate on the Senate floor, and it is possible that bipartisan immigration legislation could be articulated in these debates, as they were in the former GrahamDurbin legislation. Even so, in forfeiting its undying support of Dreamers in the passage of the latest spending bill, the Democratic Party has proved itself incapable of supporting Dreamers unconditionally, even in the face of government shutdown.

Opinion

February 13, 2018

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uninterrupted

U.S. Ice Hockey The strength behind #MeToo going for the gold Claims show women’s perseverance in workplace

KYNDALL CUNNINGHAM Columnist

Controversial writer Katie Roiphe recently published an article called “The Other Whisper Network” for Harper’s Magazine that focused on the dangers of the #MeToo movement grouping minor to criminal sexual offenses performed by men under the same umbrella of sexual assault. Her argument focused on the “Shitty Media Men” list in particular, which was a Google spreadsheet created by journalist Moira Donegan that allowed users to list warnings, rumors and personal accounts of sexual misconduct by men in media industries.

The list received pushback from both skeptics of the #MeToo movement and people who believe that sexual misconduct should be rightfully punished.

Anonymous accounts of sexual offense ranged from creepy text and leering to violent rape and assault.

In some cases, allegations got men fired or suspended when the list

became public, which raised concern as to whether the #MeToo movement completely ignored due process and the presumption of innocence.

Roiphe’s piece ultimately suggests that women and people that side with #MeToo ultimately have to make clear distinctions between everyday sleazy behavior, like unwanted staring, and violent acts of rape. She also states this movement is causing women to become infantilized and incapable of standing up for themselves or completely ignoring uncomfortable situations. This is an argument I’ve seen clutter my Twitter feed as the saga of sexual misconduct claims has continued since October, and particularly after the online magazine Babe published an article alleging an incident of sexual coercion by comedian Aziz Ansari.

The idea that women can’t differentiate between casual or minor incidents of sexual misconduct and criminal offenses is insulting. I’m certain that all women and men know that being raped by a stranger in a

back alley will have a greater mental, emotional and physical effect than your boss touching you on the butt.

However, it doesn’t mean that the latter should be taken lightly or considered acceptable. Criticizing both in the same conversation because they do exist on the same spectrum of harm doesn’t make them equal, but it does make them undeniably wrong. I think we have this notion in our culture that if something is casual or has been overlooked for years as normal behavior that it’s not worth discussing.

Women and men have had nuanced conversations about sexual assault before and after it entered social consciousness, and we shouldn’t stop now. It obviously scares a lot of men to know that behaviors that they thought were okay or knew were wrong and decided were okay are finally being punished and addressed for what they are. The #MeToo movement also isn’t infantilizing women or weakening them, as Roiphe insists.

The fear of rape or the experience itself is undeniably ingrained in the lives of women. The fact that so many women are just coming forward with utterly gross claims now shows how much we’ve had to persevere in the workplace and how long we’ve had to navigate these oppressive systems.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

JORDAN COPE Senior Editor @jordancope26

It seems like every four years, I’m left disappointed in the performance of the United States’ Men’s Ice Hockey team in the Winter Olympics.

In 2010 when Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal for Canada against the U.S. in overtime, I wanted to punch a hole in my television. Don’t even get me started on the team’s 2014 performance; falling to Canada 1-0 in the semifinals was one thing, but getting demolished by Finland 5-0 in the bronze medal game was horrific.

That’s all in the past though, and I’m incredibly optimistic for the team in 2018. Why? Because of the NHL’s decision not to send its professional athletes to the games in Pyeongchang.

That’s right, the NHL will not be sending its athletes to the 2018 Winter Olympics, marking the end of that fiveyear era. The league made the decision in April of 2017 to not send its athletes, citing that multiple parties were opposed to putting a halt to the regular season to participate in the games.

The U.S. will play its first game of the 2018 Winter Olympics Wednesday against Slovenia with its roster consisting of professional players from European leagues, professional players from the American Hockey League (AHL) -- a minor league system for future NHL players, so to speak -- and

college student-athletes. This change doesn’t completely bring back the once amateur nature of the Olympics, but it puts it to the next closest thing.

Looking through the United States’ roster this morning, there will be some recognizable names on the ice for the red, white and blue. Brian Gionta is the name most NHL fans will likely recognize. The Rochester, New York native played 15 seasons in the league for the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. Bobby Butler will also sport the stars and stripes in Pyeongchang. Butler hails from Marlborough, Massachusetts, and played six seasons in the NHL. Finally, there is Chris Bourque of the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Bourque has bounced between Hershey, and its NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals. That said, the United States should be in good shape when they hit the ice Wednesday. The team is also in a somewhat weak group. The biggest challenge for the United States will be Olympic Athletes of Russia team.

The other two teams in the group are Slovakia and Slovenia.

That leads U.S.A. Men’s Ice Hockey followers to the big question: Can the team overcome its biggest foe, Canada? They certainly have the help of its weak grouping in the preliminary rounds, a talented roster and no Sidney Crosby on the other side of the puck.

Like what you read in Second Stories this week? Check out more of our content online at thetowerlight.com Billy Owens/ The Towerlight Assistant Sports Editor Billy Owens enjoyed the 2018 Super Bowl as an underdog.

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February 13, 2018

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News

February 13, 2018

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Q & A w/ the Counseling Center Legislation could allow tattoo shops

The Towerlight asked Towson Counseling Center staff to pool together their expertise to give Towerlight readers advice on how to maintain a healthy relationship, how to deal with pressure people may feel during the Valentine’s Day season, and how to stay safe and get help if needed.

Questions answered by Coordinator of Sexual Assault Services Maria Wydra, Doctoral Intern Emily Brown, Doctoral Intern Michael Marquez, Staff Psychologist Chrissy Walsh, Coordinator of Eating Disorder Services Jaime Kaplan, Doctoral Intern Alex Pieraccini, and Counseling Center Associate Director Mollie Herman.

What are some healthy ways people can show their affection to others? Are there unhealthy ways to show affection? What do they look like?

There are many healthy ways of showing affection and everyone has personal preferences regarding how they like to show and receive affection, but healthy affection is always consensual, non-coercive, and nonviolent. To determine what works best for your own relationships, it can be helpful to consider Love Languages. Love Languages refer to how individuals tend to show and receive love, whether from romantic partners, friends or family. They include gift giving, words of affection, quality time, acts of service and physical touch. More information on Love Languages, including quizzes to determine your own Love Language, can be found online.

Some unhealthy ways of showing affection can include behaviors such as stalking, jealousy and controlling behavior, which can include keeping constant tabs on a partner or controlling who they can and cannot spend time with. Generally, anything that makes a member of the relationship feel uncomfortable or unsafe can be considered an unhealthy form of affection. It is important that all members of a relationship agree on what feels safe and comfortable to them.

Do you have any Valentine’s Day date ideas for college students?

Gift ideas?

When we think about Valentine’s Day, there is often a lot of pressure to be in a relationship and to celebrate the love of another. This is a good day to remind yourself about selflove, too! So it could be a good idea to do something nice for yourself.

Whether you are buying a gift for yourself or someone else, experienc-

es (dinner, ice skating, hiking) are always better (and more memorable) than material items that may lose its value/meaning after a few months.

What are some first date red flags?

Someone who monopolizes the conversation and doesn’t ask questions about you or seem interested in your life/stories. Pay attention to your gut feelings. Got a bad vibe?

Text a friend to call/message you to give you an excuse to leave.

What advice would you give a busy, stressed-out college student who is trying to manage school work, friendships, and also a romantic relationship?

Think about how much energy and time you truly have to devote to a relationship and then be honest with the person you’re dating about how much you can invest.

Occasionally check in with yourself to see if you need to reduce the amount of time you’re spending in one area or if you need to devote more time to another.

What are some common mistakes you see college students make in relationships? Any tips on how to overcome or avoid them?

Mistaking chemistry for compatibility. A great physical relationship, while important, is not a substitute for genuine affection and friendship.

Be honest with yourself about what you’re looking for in a relationship.

Do you want something short-term and physical? If so, be open about that with yourself and with partners. If you genuinely want more emotional intimacy and connection, then don’t settle for a great, but shallow hook-up. Another common mistake is staying in an unhealthy or unsatisfying relationship because it’s easier to stay than to end things.

If your relationship is making you miserable more often than making you happy, it’s probably not worth staying in it. And if the majority of your trusted friends and family members are telling you that your relationship is unhealthy, listen to them. They may be able to see something clearly that you’re missing. Relationships are about mutual happiness, growth, and companionship, and if you’re not getting those things from your relationship, it’s probably time move on.

What does a healthy relationship look like?

Healthy relationships can take many forms, but are always characterized by mutual respect and valuing of one another’s perspectives.

Good communication is a cornerstone of healthy relationships and involves speaking honestly and openly with your partner, even (and maybe especially), around topics that are difficult to discuss. Fight fair.

This involves listening openly to one another and sharing your viewpoint without needing to assign blame to your partner. Healthy relationships also involve admitting to your own mistakes and being forgiving toward your partner for their inevitable mistakes. Be willing to compromise, but healthy relationships also involve both partners seeking ways to get both of their needs met.

What does an unhealthy relationship look like?

Unhealthy relationships can take many forms with some characteristics more subtle and others harder to ignore. Some more subtle signs of unhealthy relationships include being critical of your partner or refusing to communicate openly and without blame during times of conflict. Failure to take responsibility for one’s actions are another sign of an unhealthy relationship. In unhealthy relationships, one partner may try to control the behaviors and interactions of the other, perhaps attempting to isolate them from other people in their lives or stop them from engaging in activities that do not involve that partner.

Less subtle signs of an unhealthy relationship include any threats to hurt a partner or the partner’s family or friends in any way. Attempts to control the partner through intimidation or threatening suicide if the partner leaves are also major red flags. Violence of any sort is also indicative of an unhealthy relationship, whether it be violence toward the partner, other people, or property. Manipulative or forceful behavior around sex is also indicative of a seriously problematic relationship.

If someone is in an unhealthy relationship, what would you recommend that person do? Where can someone go if they don’t feel safe in a relationship?

Tell that friend to go to the Counseling Center or Turnaround, a domestic violence help center. Let that friend know that you support them, that there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and that it’s important to get support from a professional in order to get help and figure out next steps.

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

- Compiled by Bailey Hendricks

MARY-ELLEN DAVIS Assistant News Editor @Mel_Davis_1998

Under current Baltimore County legislation, tattoo studios are only allowed to run in industrial areas alongside massage parlors and strip clubs. However, this may not be the case for much longer.

Councilman David Marks introduced legislation Feb. 5, that would allow for tattoo studios in downtown Towson, so long as they meet certain criteria.

“There would be a significant number of restrictions,” Marks said. “For example, the size of the space could not be larger than 3,000 square feet, the tattoo operation can only be done in conjunction with an art gallery, there would be limited hours. The establishment could only be open between 9 a.m. and 8:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. all the rest of the days. There would be limitations on signage. The signage could not actually use the word tattoo and could not have any neon.”

Marks believes people would be less concerned about tattoo shops in Towson if the shops’ exterior had certain restrictions on the way it looks.

“My personal opinion is that society has moved in a much more progressive manner, and that people are not so much against these businesses as they are concerned about how they look from the outside,” Marks said.

Deirdre Aikin, a tattoo artist look-

ing to open a shop in Towson, has been in talks with Marks about the legislation and believes that the restrictions are reasonable, compared to the current legislation.

“I was pretty offended by [old legislation] because it aligns [tattooing] with the sex industry and the adult industry, but there’s no correlation between tattooing and the sex industry,” Aikin said.

Some students feel there shouldn’t have been restrictions on tattoo shops in Towson to begin with.

“I feel as though it shouldn’t have been an issue in the first place because it’s a form of art and expression, it’s not anything negative,” said sophomore and exercise science major Aushuwa Johnson.

Some of the restrictions being put into place are following concerns brought up by the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations, whose some of their members worry that a tattoo studio could invite drunk college students to the area.

“It is general tattoo policy that you don’t tattoo people who are inebriated,” Aikin said.

Aikin said she is willing to work with the Towson community and understands their concerns.

“I also think that the legislation should be tight,” Aikin said.

“I mean, I understand the concerns about having the industry in there, but I’m willing to work with whatever they throw my way. I’m down to work with any of the communities.”

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

Courtesy of Deirdre Aikin

Aikin posted this tattoo piece, which she did on one of her client’s shoulders, to her Instagram @deirdreaikin in September.

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News

February 13, 2018

Student fees set to increase SOPHIA BATES Staff Writer @sbrookebates

Feb. 9: A commuter student damaged a wall in Smith Hall.

Feb. 1: TUPD recieved a complaint of an unauthorized use of a state vehicle in General Services.

Jan. 31: A communter students iPad was stolen at the 7800 York Road building.

Jan. 31: A commuter student was involved in a fraudulent transaction at Cook Library.

Jan. 30: TUPD determined a OneCard reported stolen was lost by the owner at the Public Safety Building.

Jan. 30: TUPD is investigating a theft from a dorm room in Glen Complex Tower A. Jan. 30: TUPD is investigating a destruction of property at West Village Commons.

Jan. 29: TUPD is investigating an assualt on campus in the Towsontown Garage.

Jan. 28: Two resident students were cited for CDS violation and charges are pending for another resident student in the Glen Complex Tower B. Jan. 27: A resident student was referred to OSCCE for false identification at Dowel Health Center.

Jan. 27: A non-affiliate was arrested for trespassing on campus at the TU Marriott Conference Hotel.

Jan. 26: A non-affiliate was arrested for CDS violation at Osler Drive and Campus View Drive.

Jan. 24: A resident student was cited for CDS violation in William Paca House.

Jan. 24: An unknown person took brass fire connections at the TU Marriott Conference Hotel.

Tuition and student fees are set to increase next year, according to the proposed schedule of tuition and mandatory fees for 2019.

Towson University and Student Government Association leaders held an open forum Feb. 8 in the University Union to discuss proposed fee increases.

The panelists included Vice President for Student Affairs Deb Moriarty, Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services Daniel Slattery, Associate Vice President of Financial Affairs Robert Campbell and Deputy Director of Athletics for Internal Operations Tricia Brandenburg.

The forum started with a disclaimer, noting that these are the proposed fee increases, and that they have not yet been sent to the University System of Maryland. The board will review the feedback from the forum with TU President Kim Schatzel, according to Moriarty.

Moriarty started the forum by acknowledging the increasing minimum wage from $9.25 to $10.10 as a leading cause of inflation throughout all the rate changes.

“In the auxiliary budget, a lot of the increase is from us having to cover inflationary costs as well as the impact that we’re taking on employees that are largely students that are getting paid minimum wage,” Moriarty said.

Under the proposed fee increases, room rates would rise four percent.

This increase provides opportunities to address the shortage of on-campus housing, upgrade residence halls and look toward a future of building more residence halls, according to Moriarty.

Slattery addressed the board

plans, which include increasing the costs of all meal plans, except for the 14 meals per week plan, which will remain at its current price of $2600 per semester or $5200 per year.

Parking fees will increase by two percent, from $349 to $356 for a student yearly pass. Slattery said the two percent increase every year will allow the University to keep up with increasing wages and costs of garage maintenance.

When addressing with the issue of finding and adding more parking for students with this fee increase, Slattery acknowledged the amount of parking the campus has.

“The problem with parking is that there are not enough spaces where everyone wants to be,” Slattery said.

“It’s not a problem with not having enough spaces.”

Junior and SGA Director of Higher Education Tyra Fields-Maynard addressed the issue of finding parking as a student living on campus.

“I can only park in one garage, since I live on campus, and that’s the West Village garage. I have trouble often in there finding parking,” Fields-Maynard said. “If I could calculate how much gas I spend on just going up the ramps trying to find parking, that’s a serious problem.”

Fields-Maynard also acknowledged the heft of the parking fee.

“I know you are only increasing it $7, but that $349 was already a big hit,” Fields-Maynard said.

“I think this is something you should reconsider.”

“As you know, auxiliaries are self-supporting,” Slattery said. “We don’t get any money from the state on this, so it must come out of the parking fees charged to students, faculty and staff to support the operation. As for the driving around and looking for parking, we are currently

looking into the electronic counters to aid and assist everyone looking for spaces.”

SGA President James Mileo asked whether faculty and staff parking fees will increase along with the student fee.

“The rates that faculty and staff have to pay are based on a salary scale, so it varies. The more you make, the more you pay,” according to Campbell. “Usually, the two rates go [up] together. Whatever the student fee increases, the faculty and staff share will increase as well.”

Brandenburg addressed that the increase in the athletics fee by 5.1 percent, or $910 to $956, is also to keep up with inflation rates and keep the athletics department at a good standing as of now.

Mileo questioned if the athletic experiences of students here will increase.

“I think that has been the hard part,” Brandenburg said. “We have been trying to keep up with what the mandatory increases are, and it’s staying status quo where our budget goes. That’s what gets us away from the athletic experience and those types of things.

We are trying to make gains by being creative and developing various partnerships.”

The forum opened discussion about the renovation of the Marriott Hotel, which is being converted to student housing.

“There is a really small number of beds relative to the size of housing on campus, and our most underserved population for housing is our transfer students, so they will get the first opportunity to reserve an apartment in that residence hall,” according to Moriarty.

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

Jan. 17: A commuter student was cited for CDS violation at York Road and Aigburth Avenue.

Jan. 16: Unknown persons wrote bias remarks on a wall in Cook Library.

Jan. 15: Several non-affiliates were arrested for burglarizing the Towson Center and taking Towson University property.

Jan. 13: TUPD is investigating a CDS violation at the Marriott.

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.

David Fisher/ The Towerlight

Vice President for Student Affairs Deb Moriarty, along with other leaders from the University and SGA, held an open student forum to discuss the proposed increase of student fees and tuition on Feb. 8.

News

February 13, 2018

Coaches, athlete discuss autism

Student’s PSA wins her $1,000 MARY-ELLEN DAVIS Assistant News Editor @Mel_Davis_1998

Courtesy of Towson Athletics

Keynote speaker Anthony Ianni (second from left) and panelists Pat Skerry, Diane Richardson, and Don Metil (left to right) discussed the effects of autism in everyday life during a diversity workshop.

GRAYSON TUMMINGS Contributing Writer

A panel of Towson University athletic coaches discussed their personal experiences with their children who are on the autism spectrum, and how to effectively communicate with an autistic individual during Towson’s “Diversity Awareness Workshop” Feb. 5.

Women’s basketball Head Coach Diane Richardson talked about her day-to-day life with her daughter, Dana, who has autism. She said not everyone understands how Dana communicates.

“Dana is non-verbal, and she is on the low-functioning end of the autistic spectrum,” Richardson said.

“When we’re out shopping and she walks up to someone and gets in their face, people automatically get defensive. That’s just how she communicates. She uses grunts and noises, and a lot of people just don’t understand that.”

Women’s volleyball Head Coach Don Metil spoke about his son, Hayden, whom he described as a “very highly functional autistic boy.”

“He is fully integrated in the classroom, he loves to socialize, and he absolutely loves to be hugged,” Metil said. “However, asking him open-ended questions increases his anxiety level.”

Dana and Hayden demonstrate that not every person with autism displays the same behavior or needs, and that there is a range of behavior for individuals along the spectrum.

“When you interact with someone on the spectrum, know that the spectrum is so wide between Dana and my son,” Metil said.

Disability Support Services’ Learning Disabilities Specialist Kelly Rogan, was one of the primary coordinators of the Diversity Awareness Workshop.

According to Rogan, Asperger syndrome is a milder form of autism. Individuals

with Asperger syndrome exhibit some of the same characteristics as other people on the spectrum.

“These are all disorders that have some kind of communication or social impediment,” Rogan said. “They may have sensory integration issues, or motor development challenges.

However, a person with Asperger’s is typically a high-functioning individual with autism, because they are outgoing, social and want to be engaged. While someone on the lower end of the spectrum may be non-verbal or non-social.”

The panel of coaches also expounded upon various behaviors that their children have that are often indicators of certain emotions or needs that they cannot express.

Men’s basketball Head Coach Pat Skerry discussed how his son, Owen, behaves when he is frustrated.

“When he gets frustrated, he will hit,” Skerry said. “Even though he loves his family very much, when he can’t express himself verbally, he will hit, and that is something that we consistently work on with him.”

Metil also discussed the difficulty his son faces when trying to express how he feels.

“We lost a pet and it was very hard on our family,” Metil said. “We would get calls from Hayden’s school because they didn’t know how to handle his crying. Hayden would say that if he couldn’t bring her back that he would try to be with her.

So he would try to harm himself because he couldn’t properly express his pain.”

Richardson said that autism is more recognized now than it was when Dana was initially diagnosed.

“33 years ago, the doctors said that she would be of no use to my husband and I,” Richardson said. “The doctors said that she would be a burden because she couldn’t walk, talk or eat at the time. There just weren’t enough resources 33 years ago.”

Richardson discussed some difficulties she experienced during a time in which people did not fully understand or recognize autism.

“We were even asked to not attend church because we were told that Dana was a distraction,” Richardson said. “So we said that if Dana couldn’t attend church, then we wouldn’t either.”

Now 33 years after her diagnosis, Dana attends a school during the day where she feels as though she can be herself is surrounded by other people that share her disability.

Most people who have autism also possess a type of sensory processing disorder. This means that certain textures, noises and sights can greatly irritate an autistic individual, more than a non-autistic individual.

“Hayden hates loud noises and places,” Metil said, “Once we had to leave a basketball game because the horn was too loud for Hayden.”

Each panelist expressed concern for their child’s well-being. They understand that while they care for their kids, the world may not.

“We worry about if our son will be able to get a job, and ultimately have a good future,” Skerry said. “Towson is a safe space. But the concern for us as parents is all of the unsafe spaces. It is so important that people are educated.”

Anthony Ianni, the first men’s basketball player with autism in NCAA history, was the keynote speaker at the workshop.

According to the Autism Society, over 3.5 million people live with autism. Ianni wants to be a voice for those people, and all people in need of encouragement.

Ianni urged audience members to be persistent in attaining their goals.

“Live your dreams and accomplish every goal you’re going to have in life,” he said, according to Towson Athletics. “Be relentless and attack them.”

Senior Raven Jackson was recently announced the winner of the 2017 Red Ribbon Campus PSA Contest after she submitted a short video promoting healthy alternatives to drug use.

The Drug Enforcement Administration flew Jackson out to Portland, Oregon, to attend the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Strategies Conference.

Jackson was joined by Allison Frey, a Towson health educator and co-director of the Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Abuse Prevention (ATOD) Center. Jackson and the ATOD Center were awarded $1,000 for Jackson’s video, which they will put towards more alcohol and drug prevention work on campus, according to Frey.

According to Jackson, the minute-long video was meant to point out the importance of finding healthy alternatives to drug and alcohol use, instead of focusing on what drugs do to your body.

“At first, I had the idea of taking the classic ‘this is your brain on drugs’ and trying to flip it,” said Jackson, who is also the Counseling Center’s student outreach assistant and a media content creator. “But I couldn’t think of ways to do that in an animation, so I wanted something that could also have the graphics and the icons that could be easily digested by the audience.”

Jackson also recognized that college students are used to “being thrown information telling us not to do things,” spurring her to create content that pointed students towards finding alternatives to drug use.

“The biggest thing at this point is to help people who have even been in those situations, or really don’t want to be in those situations,” she said.

Frey believed the video’s content fit perfectly with the messages that the Counseling Center is trying to send to students. Frey mentioned that one part of the video reminded her of Tigerfest, and how some of the other parts of the video were reminiscent of other alternatives on campus.

“We have a meditation room [in the Counseling Center] and just walking in the Union and seeing all those activities that people can just jump into at any moment versus get-

9

ting into alcohol and drugs, so it just fit perfectly,” Frey said.

According to Frey and Jackson, the money won from the contest will go towards bringing more attention to being safe on campus through initiatives like increasing social media presence, starting a bus campaign and drawing more people to the spring carnival.

“We do a carnival in the spring, and since I kind of anticipate we need to use this money by the end of the semester, that’s kind of my thoughts,” Frey said. “How we can beef up our spring, which is really a safe summer send-off message for students, so thinking how we can really make that more fun and bring in more students.”

The carnival is meant to celebrate the end of the semester while reminding and encouraging students to have a safe and fun summer. It will be held May 13 outside of Ward and West, and have a variety of activities like carnival games, grilling, and a dunk tank, according to Frey.

Frey and Jackson both stressed that they also wanted to connect students with various resources already available, such as counselors, collegiate recovery programs, or even just “party smart” strategies.

There are various groups that students can join if they are trying to get away from drug and alcohol use, such as the Towson University Collegiate Recovery Community. According to Jackson, TUCRC is there for students who want to get sober and stay off drugs and alcohol.

Sophomore Lee Zweiacher, a geography and land surveying major, said he thinks flyers would be a good step towards further alcohol and drug abuse prevention.

“It’s kind of hard to reach a lot of people on campus because emails are rarely checked, so you can’t put it in that because not a lot of people are going to see it,” Zweiacher said. “The best choice I think personally would be flyers on the elevators because there’s nothing else to really see in an elevator.

Junior Gloria Emelike, a nursing major, thinks Jackson’s PSA was informative, citing the misuse of opioids as an example of drug abuse.

“What [Jackson] said was kind of right,” Emelike said. “There’s other things you can do instead of misuse drugs. There’s campus activities, like she said, self-care, and the health center.”

12 February 13, 2018

Arts & Life

Academics and amour: how two alumni couples found love at Towson MARCUS DIETERLE Editor-in-Chief @marcusdieterle

Victor Brick knew his wife, Lynne, was the woman for him when she marched through the doors of Burdick Hall in a leotard and tights and waved at him – well, in his direction, at least.

It turned out Lynne was waving at a friend, but it was too late to tell Victor that. He was already captivated by “the twinkle in her eye.”

“She had that look of ‘I can do anything. I’m up for any challenge,’” he said.

Victor turned to one of his friends at the time and said “See that girl? I’m going to marry her.”

That was in 1975. He proposed at Christmastime of 1976 and the couple married in 1978.

Brick Bodies has been in business for over 30 years, but the road to forming the fitness franchise was paved with its fair share of frustrations.

After graduating, Lynne went into nursing, while Victor briefly worked as a physical educator until he realized the field was too restrictive for him and he got a job as a recreation director instead.

In August 1985, the Bricks bought the Padonia Fitness Center. But

when Lynne became pregnant with their son, Jon, she slowly had to reduce the number of classes she was teaching from 22 to 12 per week.

As the fitness center lost money and accrued a $10,000 debt, the Bricks considered selling it back to its original owner, but they ultimately decided to stick it out and were able to break even.

“That’s when I made up my mind to never quit on anything ever again,” Victor said.

After 40 years of marriage and 33 years of being business partners, Victor and Lynne credit Brick Bodies’ success to the love they have for one another.

“Sure, it has its challenges and misunderstandings and all that kind of stuff,” Lynne said. “That’s normal. But most important, we’re both very passionate about the business and our roles … We’re also passionate about each other.”

Victor said being business partners as husband and wife has been easy; it’s the kids who make it a trickier, albeit fulfilling, situation.

“It’s difficult enough as a parent to raise your children and have them make their own mistakes,” he said. “It’s even more difficult when one of those mistakes can affect the business. But if you’re always telling them what to do, they’ll never

Marcus Dieterle/ The Towerlight

Brick Bodies, which began as one center in Lutherville-Timonium, now has six locations across Maryland.

Founders Victor and Lynne Brick have since passed down the company’s CEO role to their daughter, Vicki. learn and they’ll never fulfill their full potential.”

Lynne said their daughter, Vicki, is now the CEO of Brick Bodies, and Jon works in the technology industry in San Francisco.

“Because of Towson, we were able to meet,” Lynne said. “We were able to create these amazing adult individuals. Now they’re giving back to society.”

The Bricks strive to share their love and be part of something bigger than themselves.

Marcus Dieterle/ The Towerlight

Victor and Lynne Brick have been together for over 40 years, after meeting as students at Towson in 1975.

“We believe ultimately you will be judged by what you give back to society,” Lynne said.

The Bricks started the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, a mental health organization named after Victor’s brother, which advocates for research about exercise as a method for improving mental health. The foundation holds various mental health advocacy and awareness events, like a 5K which will be hosted at TU in the fall.

Whether its running a business, maintaining a relationship with a significant other, or raising a family, Victor said you have to act as if you were holding a golf club or tennis racquet: firmly but lightly.

“You death grip a tennis racquet or a golf club, and you’re never going to have a good stroke,” Victor said. “So you have to learn to relax and enjoy it.”

If there’s anyone who understands the importance of enjoying every day, it’s the Bricks.

Lynne said that on January 19, 2001, Victor shook her awake, saying “Lynne, Lynne, are you okay?

You’re having a bad dream.”

Victor told Lynne that her hands went up in the air and that she started shaking. Lynne, who studied nursing at Towson and worked in shock trauma after graduating, knew that she had gone through more than just your average bad dream.

“It was more like a nightmare,” she said. “I had just experienced a grand mal seizure and I said in my

groggy state ‘I need to get to the emergency room right now.’”

Doctors ran a CAT scan and MRI, and told Lynne she had a brain tumor on her right frontal lobe.

The doctors removed the tumor, which turned out to be benign. But the incident helped the Bricks put their love and life together into perspective.

Victor said his father bought his mother a one-week cruise 30 years ago. When Victor’s father died five years ago, the Bricks found the still unused cruise ticket.

While Victor’s father was alive, Victor asked him “‘Dad, when are you going to take your cruise?’ He said ‘When I have the time, Vic.’ He never took the time.”

Victor’s advice for couples is to “never stop courting.”

The Bricks have a small mimosa every morning to celebrate the fact that “every day is a vacation.”

Victor surprises Lynne with practical jokes, like turning all the clocks forward to make her think she’s running late for a meeting, or with spontaneous trips.

“I’ll come to the club to work out and he says ‘you have a half an hour to shower and we’re leaving,’” Lynne said. “He’ll have my bag completely packed and he’s like ‘if I forgot anything, we’ll just get it there.’”

Whether you and your significant other are attending a Towson basketball game or going shopping together, the Bricks urge couples to look at each day as new opportunity for adventure.

Arts & Life “Keep the fun, be playful, keep the romance and never get in a rut,” Victor said.

Although this alumni duo knew it was love at first sight, another Towson couple took a little longer to connect.

Brandy Hall, assistant director of leadership in the Office of Student Activities, passed by her boyfriend Drew Stephens countless times in the basement of the Media Center while the two of them were students at Towson University.

Brandy was a mass communication major and Drew was an electronic media and film major, but they never had a real conversation.

“We’d passed each other so many times and we just said ‘hey’ or ‘what’s up’ but we never hung out after that.”

It wasn’t until they had both graduated and one of Brandy’s friends convinced her to try online dating that the two reconnected. The couple matched each other on OkCupid.

Brandy said the thing that first attracted her to Drew – aside from his good looks – was the fact that he listens deeply and genuinely cares about what you’re saying.

“Anybody who knows me knows I’m a little extra, I’m a little over

February 13, 2018

the top,” she said. “I embrace that and accept that about myself…. But the way when he talks to people, how invested and focused he is on you and your feelings at that time – for someone like me, who is always dealing with other people’s feelings and students’ concerns, it’s nice to kind of be able to step back and have a partner who wants to take care of you for a second.”

On their first date, Brandy came to Drew’s house in Canton where he had set up a taco bar for her.

“On that first date, I was like ‘this is about to be my best friend, ride or die,’” Brandy said. “I pretty much knew at that point.”

Since that night, tacos have become a tradition of sorts for them. The couple visits Nacho Mamas and Mama’s On The Half Shell every chance they get.

“When we go, those nights kind of bring us back to the first night when we were awkwardly looking at each other.”

Brandy said its those small efforts that build up to the grand love she and Drew share.

“Show affection and also be grateful for the little things that [your romantic partner does],” she said. “We don’t believe in doing

Courtesy of Amanda Codd

Brandy Hall and her boyfriend, Drew Stephens, share a moment of love. during a surprise photoshoot at Goucher College for Drew’s birthday.

extravagant things every weekend, spending crazy amounts of money.

But I think you, whoever you are, you know how you like to be loved.”

The couple will celebrate their one-year anniversary this April, but Brandy knew during the third month of dating Drew – when she accidentally dropped the “L bomb” – that this relationship was something that would last.

“Some people don’t think we get to pick and choose what we want in a partner,” Brandy said. “But when you love somebody, you love the whole taco. You don’t just throw out pieces of it and don’t acknowledge it.”

Brandy’s advice for people who are looking for love is to “find the person that’s like ‘I still love you even though you’ve got raw onions.’

And I like raw onions, but somebody might not.”

Brandy said the most difficult challenge they’ve faced together is learning how to deal with one another’s habits and behaviors.

“One thing we’ve had to work through is being able to understand what the other person is emoting,” she said. “For me, you get the physical tears or the anger, where with Drew he’s very calm, quiet even when he’s mad.”

She said the two of them have worked through those miscommunications to better understand how the other person is feeling and what they need.

While Brandy said it probably wasn’t love at first sight in the halls of the Media Center, she does think it was fate that brought her and Drew back together.

“We were in two different spaces and I had needed to grow up and go through some things, as did he,” she said. “But it’s no surprise to me that we’ve circled back at this point and that he’s my person.”

Brandy said it’s no coincidence that she and her boyfriend met at Towson because the University embodies everything she loves.

“I love that students feel comfortable to come and talk to me just about life and what they’re going through, and I can do the same vice versa,” she said. “It feels real. It doesn’t feel fake. I genuinely think that a lot of the staff here want to build something deeper than just you here to get a service. We’re really here to help you make a memory and that’s something that will be with you forever.”

Ultimately, any relationship is based on listening, understanding, and demonstrating small gestures to show your appreciation for the other person, according to Brandy.

“I’m a firm believer in date

13

Courtesy of Amanda Codd

Hall and Stephens crossed paths often during their time at TU. It wasn’t until they reconnected online that their love blossomed. nights,” she said. “I believe in setting time aside to talk to your partner and it not always be you venting at them, but thinking about the future, what do you love doing together, making sure you reserve

your time…. You need time to really foster that relationship. It doesn’t happen overnight. But the more time you spend together, the more reasons you’ll realize you’ll probably be together forever if it works.”

Courtesy of Brandy Hall

Hall and Stephens will celebrate their first anniversary come April.

Arts & Life

14 February 13, 2018

TU students swipe right on romance DEB GREENGOLD Staff Writer

point on the importance of the apps.

“You cannot force love,” Simmons said. “It’s hard to gener-

Towson holds over 20,000 students, and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, one can only wonder: What’s the best place to find love? According to a 2017 ABODO survey, entitled “Swipe Right For Love?” 91 percent of college students found that the best spot for creating romance was in the palm of your hands: mobile dating apps.

In today’s world, there are a number of dating apps to choose from, including Grindr, Bumble and Tinder. What makes dating more appealing through an app versus the casual pick up in the gym or the bar?

According to junior Lisa Lee, who has profiles on both Tinder and Bumble, there is a sense of enjoyment that comes from narrowing down your options.

“I enjoy the idea of rating guys by swiping left or right – it’s fun,” Lee said. “I joined Bumble because I heard there is a better selection of men, and women have the power to message first.”

Sophomore Justin Crum, on the other hand, said the apps are a positive cure for boredom.

“These apps keep me occupied when I am single and the end goal is to generate a relationship,” Crum said.

Despite dating apps serving as a convenient way of meeting new people and forming potential romances, some students expressed not feeling the same level of excitement with dating apps as with traditional dating.

Junior Ian Simmons, who used Tinder and Grindr, eventually got rid of his apps.

“I usually download the app when I’m bored,” Simmons said.

“But I don’t usually use it. I would rather … ask someone out in person.”

Lee said she felt technology was an important factor searching for “modern/millennial love” in today’s dating world.

“A lot of my friends have met their significant others through Tinder or Bumble,” Lee said. “I feel as though college students especially rely on these dating apps to meet people since they are too afraid to make a move in person.”

Simmons held an opposing view-

ate emotion through an app.”

Junior Becky Custis has been using Tinder for two years on and off. She agreed with Simmons, sharing that these apps are often used more for less-serious relationships than for true romance.

“I use Tinder for hookups,” Custis said. “I’ve met a lot of people that are skeptical about using it to find love because of the stereotype. I don’t even believe it can find love from what I’ve seen from it either.”

Despite the mixed reviews of effectiveness, each student agreed that their dating app experiences at least made for some interesting stories to tell.

“I actually matched with a Ravens football player on Bumble and almost went over for movie night,” Lee said. “He’s actually really nice and I made it a little inside joke to congratulate him on every win the Ravens had this past season.”

Crum shared that he had two experiences, both showcasing how small the world seems when being on a dating app.

“I swiped right on an ex, and a couple of days later he matched me back,” Crum said. “We ended up dating again and a couple of months later we broke up, so there’s that.”

Crum also described a time when he ran into a match at his workplace.

“I am a waiter at a restaurant and I ended up waiting for a guy and his family,” he said. “We had matched on Grindr and after the night ended, he messaged me saying he enjoyed my service. Weird, right?”

Custis also had a workplace story.

“I matched with a new employee at my work and he was flirting really hard,” Custis said. “One day, he saw me at work and realized it was me on Tinder.”

For Simmons, the “small world” cliché couldn’t have been more relatable.

“The funniest story would have to be messaging a guy I saw on the app because I thought he was very cute and then not speaking to him at all after,” Simmons said.

“Then him and I ended up sitting next to each other in our English class last year. Talk about a small world. We’re friends now though, so everything worked out.”

Songs your ears will fall for CHLOË WILLIAMS Columnist

At the heart of it, Valentine’s Day is the one day out of the year that celebrates love in all the forms that it takes. Whether you are going out with that special someone, or having a night in with friends, we’ve got your holiday soundtrack covered.

1.“Do You Love Someone” by Grouplove This upbeat indie-pop track starts out soft and groovy, then kicks in with exciting drums and a guitar in the chorus. The perfect song for any dance party, the bass keeps this song moving and the energetic vocals sustain the bubblegum vibe. Cheerful but pleading, this song is a cry out to take a chance on love.

2. “Everyone But You” by The Front Bottoms Fun and bouncy, this indie-rock song weaves the comical tale of someone who hates “everyone but you.”

The crisp vocals present an intriguing contrast to the muddled distortion of the guitar and faraway chimes of the synths. Ambient instrumentals paired with an ever-pounding drum lay the foundation for the unfolding vocal narrative.

3. “You Make Me Feel So Young” by Frank Sinatra This famous jazz piece features the iconic sound of muted brass, supporting bass, fluttering flute, and the golden voice of Sinatra.

The back-and-forth between vocals and instrumentals keeps the listener constantly engaged.

This continuously building love song escalates to a powerful last chorus, and slowly floats back down for a gentle send-off.

4. “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand This dynamic alternative track starts out with a strong rock ‘n’ roll intro that transforms itself into a grooving disco-inspired alternative vibe. Three very different moving lines of vocals and guitars are layered with pulsating bass and cymbal hits. This track transforms once more into a glittering pop-infused style, before settling back into its plead to “c’mon, take me out!”

5. “I’ve Just Seen a Face” by The Beatles A folksy song about love at first sight, “I’ve Just Seen A Face” features exquisite guitar work and earnest, fervent lyrics. This song is swiftly-moving with merry vocal interjections and two similar yet distinct feels that play well together. This track has all the sappy sweetness of a great love song presented in a singularly spectacular way.

6. “Chemical Machine” by Jule Vera This slow pop song has a mildly dark aura cultivated with ukulele, soft chimes, clean guitar, and a slow, steady beat. The floating, dulcet female vocals and lead guitar support and bounce off of each other in the build-up for the chorus. Haunting yet angelic, this song provides a unique take on love songs.

7. “Get Weird” by The Dollyrots Funny and quirky, this bubblegum rock track remains energetic and lively throughout its entirety. The sugary sweet female vocals work extremely well paired with the ever-persistent electric guitar. In this song, an eccentric romance unfolds that invites the listener to “come get weird!”

8. “Helena” by New Beat Fund This laid-back love song includes instrumentals that feel just out of reach, right up until the chorus, where they surround the listener completely. The vocals are present

and sincere, but fade into the atmosphere afterwards. The lyrics speak of taking the city by storm in a fit of budding romance.

9. “Undercover” by Nightmare and The Cat Lightly glittering in, “Undercover” lays a mellow foundation for what tumbles into a synth-based dance song.

The main voice is supported in both the high and low extremes during the chorus, cultivating a dynamic result.

The bridge is distant and dreamy, leading back into a powerful restatement to “keep this love undercover.”

10. “Fell In Love With A Girl” by The White Stripes This fast-paced rock song is an homage to a wild and wonderful new love.

Over before you know it, this song has everything you want from its genre: grungy vocals, fuzzy guitar and clashing drums. This head-banging tune is the song you didn’t know you needed on your Valentine’s Day playlist.

11. “400 Lux” by Lorde This chill pop tune describes the day-to-day of a relationship that is kind and easy. Filled with lyrical anecdotes, this song provides a simple synth track on top of perfectly blended vocals.

“400 Lux” flows, swirls, and echoes in all of the best ways, telling the story of two lovers who are wasting time and loving it.

12. “Stuck On You” by New Politics Setting the stage with sounds of crickets and piano keys twinkling like stars, the gentle vocals and singing strings are welcomed into this love ballad. The song then kicks in with drumset and guitars that keep the song steadily wandering on. This track eventually shifts to a dynamic, buoyant section, before bringing it all home with the impassioned question, “what did I do to get my mind stuck on you?”

Courtesy of thebeatles.com

The Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen a Face” is just one of the songs recommended for the perfect Valentine vibes.

e Arts & Life

February 13, 2018

Love is on the brain

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Romance’s effect on our minds LEAH VOLPE Staff Writer

Love is often described as “life’s greatest prize,” so what happens in our brain that causes our willingness to risk it all?

According to psychology professor Jared McGinley, there are a few discrete brain areas that are active and engaged when feeling the emotion of love, specifically the anterior lobe of our brain.

Our posterior lobe is also engaged when releasing oxytocin, often called “the love hormone.”

Whenever we feel bonding with another person, our brain will simultaneously release oxytocin and dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with addiction or finding something rewarding.

“When you deal with insecurity and stress, you can be addicted to someone and experience withdrawal when they’re not around,” McGinley said.

“Your brain would be wired to react this way.”

However, that feeling of bonding and need for your partner can quickly turn obsessive. One brain region, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), is a primal reward system that spreads dopamine to other areas of the brain.

The VTA becomes even more active when you are separated from the one you love, which leads to only craving them more. When the reality of losing

that bond with your special someone hits, another brain region, the core of the nucleus accumbens, is engaged and begins to process the rewards and losses in the game of love, according to psychology professor Bryan Devan.

Romanticlove can cause a similar reaction as the body has to food, sleep or water, because the body can see love as essential to our well-being. Because of the way we react and behave when we are experiencing this type of romantic love, it can be compared to an intense addiction, following through with stages of tolerance, withdrawals and relapse.

According to Lucy Brown, a brain anatomy specialist and professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, love is comparable to a cocaine addiction with similar symptoms of unpredictable behavior and lapse in judgement.

Love and highly addictive drugs like cocaine show similarities in their stimulatory effects. According to Brown, we experience a state of euphoria, and then it can all come crashing back down like a bad hangover.

One of the biggest challenges scientists and researchers face today is understanding the biology behind love and how deeply rooted it is within our brain.

This task of discovery has been undertaken by Helen Fisher, who has been researching the anatomy and science behind love for years alongside Brown.

Throughout her research, Fisher

has found that experiencing a cocaine-high and processing the effects of love include the same brain chemicals: massive amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine.

Fisher argues that love is one of the most addictive substances on the earth and can exist in species beyond humans.

One species in particular proves that life-long bonding is possible. Prairie voles are a species whose monogamy separates them from almost all other mammals. Just like humans, they form a partnership after mating and may experience grief when their partner dies.

If an individual never has a strong bond with another human, it may have long term health effects with negative outcomes on the body. Without interaction, a person can be at risk for higher rates of cardiovascular diseases and early mortality rates.

According to McGinley, humans are primarily social creatures; even if all other needs are taken care of, humans are no good without social interaction.

When we bond to another person, our brain associates this person with positive feelings, which can lead you to become more pro-social with improved self-confidence. These feelings are activated by the sympathetic nervous system in your body associated with intense positive emotions.

--Read the rest of this article online at www.thetowerlight.com.

“Maze Runner” takes final bow MATT MCDONALD Columnist

The final chapter of the “Maze Runner” series, “The Death Cure,” arrived in theaters this past month, after audiences had to wait an extended period of time as the lead actor, Dylan O’Brien, was massively injured in a stunt gone wrong, resulting in a concussion and a few fractures. If I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have even been able to tell that he had undergone such a physical ordeal, as I felt this was the best acting by him in any of these movies.

I have to admit, I haven’t read the series yet, although it is on my list, so I am going to base this review off of what I saw in the trilogy, not the story from the books. When

“The Maze Runner” came out, I was stoked. I thought this was such a cool idea, and in “The Scorch Trials,” I figured it was going to be as stated: more tests, a concept I really liked.

When I realized it was beginning to trickle into generic dystopian territory, however, I began to worry.

This movie proved me wrong. It took some of those clichés such as the “female leader in a white suit” (and a few others I cannot mention due to spoilers), and turned them on their heads. There were many moments and character arcs that were different from the normal dystopian movie, and in some cases from Hollywood movie plots in general. There were also a bunch of surprises and shocking moments that kept me engrossed, and one particular moment that almost

made me tear up.

There were actually a lot of great things about this movie, despite it being the ending of an another adult fiction series. It was very well directed and looked really crisp. I especially liked the music choices; they were strong and powerful and assisted the movie in really subtle but moving ways. The acting across the board was pretty well-executed, but there were a few actors who really brought it, including O’Brien, Thomas BrodieSangster and Rosa Salazar.

The big problem I found with this movie: convenience. There are several times where something happens that is very conveniently timed or located to get the heroes out of a tight situation.

--Read the rest of this article online at www.thetowerlight.com.

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Puzzles Puzzles

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● Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

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

Please support independent student journalism @ TU ● The numbers within the heavily

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2016 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by Universal Uclick for UFS. www.kenken.com

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See page 18 for answers to this week’s

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Sports

February 13, 2018

Towerlight

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starting off strong C L A S S I F I E D S Tigers triumph over No. 4 Penn State at Unitas CASEY COLLINS Contributing Writer

Towson women’s lacrosse opened its season with an impressive 14-13 victory Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium against No. 4 Penn State. This victory marks the team’s first win over Penn State in program history.

Towson came out of the gate fast and took an 11-5 lead into halftime.

The home team converted on 11 of the 15 shots they took in the first half, while Penn State only made 5 out of its 21 attempts in the first 30 minutes.

Towson played with a sense of confidence that Penn State couldn’t

seem to match, hustling for loose balls and playing physical defense. “[They put] a lot of emphasis coming into this game on going hard and playing fast but to also play with composure,” Head Coach Sonia LaMonica said. “[They] played with a lot of confidence and belief.”

The Nittany Lions looked more competitive in the second half, as they outscored the Tigers 8-3 in the period. The visitors scored four goals in the last five minutes, with their last two scores coming in the final 48 seconds.

Towson lead 14-13 with just over 37 seconds left to play in the game and forced a turnover on Penn

State’s next possession to seal the season-opening win.

Junior attacker Natalie Sulmonte and junior attacker Carly Tellekamp had solid outings for the Tigers.

Sulmonte scored three goals and recorded three assists, while Tellekamp scored three times and added one assist.

Freshman goalie Kiley Keating was a factor throughout the game as well, stepping up in big moments with several critical saves. She finished with seven stops on the day.

Towson continues its season Saturday, Feb. 17, against Georgetown at Johnny Unitas Stadium. The opening draw is set for 3 p.m.

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18 February 13, 2018

Sports

tu sinks against navy Team falls on the road, dropping to 1-2 on the year

PICK UP THE TOWERLIGHT NEXT TUESDAY FOR AN

IN-DEPTH LOOK AT

File photo by Jordan Cope/ The Towerlight

Senior Barbora Vasilkova winds up to return the ball in a match two seasons ago. Vasilkova and senior Nicole Shakhnazarova fell 6-2 in the No. 2 doubles match, but the TU posted a No. 3 doubles victory.

BILLY OWENS Assistant Sports Editor

Towson suffered a disappointing 7-0 loss to the Navy Midshipmen at the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis, Maryland, Sunday afternoon.

Towson was coming off a dominant 7-0 win at home against Mount St. Mary’s on Jan. 27, as well as a tight 4-3 loss at Penn State the day before to start its spring season.

“We were flat, we didn’t have the energy, we didn’t have the competitiveness that we needed to have,” Head Coach Jamie Peterson said. “We’re certainly capable [of winning], but there’s still some hard lessons we have to learn.”

The Mids gained early momentum in the match by seizing the open-

THE UPCOMING

SPRING SPORTS SEASON

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

● The numbers within the heavily

8-24-16

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

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2016 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by Universal Uclick for UFS. www.kenken.com

for Puzzles on page 16

● Each row and each column must

“

ing doubles point, as senior captain Amanda Keller and sophomore Kaylah Hodge defeated Towson’s No. 1 team of seniors A.J. Gomer and Renate van Oorschodt 6-0.

Senior Claudia Mackenzie and sophomore Emily Louie-Meadors defeated the No. 2 team of seniors Nicole Shakhnazarova and Barbora Vasilkova 6-2. A 6-3 win by the No. 3 team of senior Lucy Williams and junior Yevgeniya Shusterman over junior Catalina Rico and freshman Miranda Deng was not enough to keep Towson in doubles contention.

Navy carried its momentum into singles play, winning five of the six matches in straight sets. Keller topped No. 1 Shakhnazarova 6-3, 6-1 and LouieMeadors defeated No. 2 Williams 6-1, 6-3, while sophomore Ansofi Wreder beat No. 3 Gomer 6-2, 6-2.

Navy senior Carlee Conway defeated No. 4 Vasilkova 6-2, 7-5 and junior Josie Rogers won against No. 5 van Oorschodt 6-3, 6-3. The only match to go the distance was Mackenzie’s 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5) win over No. 6 junior Lucy Gloninger.

“In a few matches in the back half of singles, the girls started competing better in the second set,” Peterson said. “Other than that, Navy played well, but we did a lot to help them win that match.”

The Tigers look to bounce back this week with two more road matches.

The team will first head to Northern Virginia for a Tuesday afternoon matchup against Georgetown at the Arlington YMCA in Arlington, Virginia, before heading to the Springton Tennis Club in Pennsylvania for a contest against Saint Joseph’s Saturday night.

We were flat, we didn’t have the energy, we didn’t have the competitiveness that we needed to have.

We’re certainly capable [of winning], but there’s still some hard lessons we have to learn.

”

JAMIE PETERSON Head Coach

Sports

February 13, 2018

solid first impression

19

USTORE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Natalie Sulmonte Women’s Lacrosse

Photo courtesy of olympic.org

Jamie Anderson of the United States competes in the Snowboard Ladies’ Slopestyle Final on the third day of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. She won the gold medal in this competition.

JORDAN COPE Senior Editor @jordancope26

Bringing the world together in unity under the name of sports and friendly competition is the name of the game at the 2018 Winter Olympics, which are officially upon us. The games, which are being hosted in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 9 through Feb. 25, are sure to deliver entertainment and excitement for sports fans across the globe. Through it all, The Towerlight will have you covered on the can’tmiss action that only comes once every four years.

Where to Watch -- The 2018 Winter Olympics will be covered on all NBCUniversal platforms. Are you a member of HULU? HULU will be streaming all of the action through NBCUniversal, too.

A little background -- Amid doping allegations against Russian athletes, the International Olympic Committee banned Russia from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Instead, the committee is allowing a group of 168 athletes to compete under the title of “Olympic Athletes of Russia,” or OAR. OAR will fly the Olympic flag during the games.

What you missed this weekend -Seventeen-year-old Red Gerard won the first gold medal for the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, finishing first in the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle.

Gerard, a Colorado native, is the

youngest male Olympian to take home a gold medal since Billy Fiske won gold in the bobsled race in 1928.

In the Snowboard Slopestyle, competitors have three runs to impress the judges. Gerard was in last place entering his final run of the competition, but nailed a triple cork 1440, a move that consists of three full vertical flips while rotating backward 360 degrees four times.

Jamie Anderson won her second consecutive gold medal in the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle for the United States. Due to poor weather conditions Sunday, the qualifying round was canceled, and the contest went straight into the finals, leaving a bigger pool of competitors. The poor conditions continued Monday, and as a result, athletes were given just two runs instead of the usual three to prove themselves worthy of a medal. In her first run, Anderson hit a backside 540, and in her second run a frontside 720.

Chris Mazdzer won the first ever silver medal for the United States in Men’s Singles Luge. Mazdzer, who had fallen to No. 18 in the world rankings, used the sled of a Russian luger, who wanted to try to help the veteran succeed in the race.

The United States took home the bronze medal in the Olympic Team Figuring Skating contest. The performance of Adam Rippon put the United States two points past Italy, which was enough to secure his team the bronze medal. Canada took the gold, and the OAR took the silver in the event.

Also noteworthy: The United States’ Women’s Ice Hockey team knocked off Finland 3-1 in its first contest of the games. The Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament will run until Feb. 21, when the medal games are held.

Mirai Nagasu successfully landed her triple axel during the Women’s Free Skating event on Feb. 12, making her the first American to accomplish the feat during an Olympics.

Tonya Harding was the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition during the 1991 U.S. figure skating championships but never did so during an Olympics.

The United States’ Men’s Ice Hockey team will begin competition Wednesday, Feb. 14, against Slovenia.

In the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement, the league decided it will not be sending its players to the Olympics. Instead, the team will be comprised of American Hockey League (AHL) players -a minor league system for future NHL players -- college athletes and Americans playing professional hockey in Europe. Most notable on the U.S. Men’s roster is Brian Gionta -- a former NHL winger of the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres -- along with Bobby Butler -- a former NHL winger for the Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers -- and Chris Bourque -- a current member of the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate Hershey Bears.

Junior attacker Natalie Sulmonte showed out Saturday afternoon when the Tigers beat No. 4 Penn State 14-13 at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Sulmonte accounted for six points on the day as she recorded three goals and three assists. The win gave Towson its first victory over the Nittany Lions in nine all-t

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20 February 13, 2018

Sports

Troubled Tigers fail to find focus Joe Noyes/ The Towerlight

Sophomore guard Zane Martin drives to the basket against Northeastern sophomore guard Shawn Occeus. Martin extended his streak of double-digit scoring performances to 21 with 21 points, but it was not enough to caputre a Towson win. The team looks to bounce back when it hosts Delaware Thursday evening at SECU Arena.

KARUGA KOINANGE Sports Editor

Towson men’s basketball showed troubling inconsistency in a 77-62 loss against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponent Northeastern Saturday afternoon at SECU Arena. This game marked the home team’s sixth annual autism awareness game.

“It was a good turnout, and there was good energy in the building,” Head Coach Pat Skerry said.

“Hopefully we’ve raised a lot of awareness, and we appreciate everybody coming out and the support for it.”

The Tigers (17-10, 7-7 CAA) looked lackadaisical defensively to open the game as Northeastern (179, 10-4 CAA) got several open looks early.

“We just didn’t guard,” Skerry

said. “We didn’t keep the ball in

of it.”

front. We committed silly fouls, and we didn’t guard threes.”

Redshirt junior guard Vasa Pusica put on a show for the Huskies in the first half, recording 11 points in the period. He connected on two shots from beyond the arc, and drove to the basket well. Pusica recorded a game-high 23 points on an efficient 70 percent field goal percentage, as he capitalized off of Towson’s defensive breakdowns.

The Tigers struggled to make shots early, shooting a horrific 32 percent from the field in the first half, and looked disinterested at times defensively.

“When we don’t make shots, we’re not mentally disciplined enough to sustain our focus, and that’s hurt us,” Skerry said. “Guys are playing hard and want to win, but we’re not mentally focused enough to sustain defensive effort. You can go right down the lineup. Every guy is guilty

Fueled by Pusica’s strong play, Northeastern took an 11-point advantage heading into halftime.

Towson came out of the break much more energetic, cutting the deficit to six just five minutes into the period. However, Northeastern regained momentum with an 11-2 run.

With just under eight minutes remaining in the game, the Tigers clawed back within six once again, but the Huskies went on a 10-0 run to seal the victory.

Towson rotated well and played physical defense during their comeback attempts, but it only took a few quick made shots from Northeastern to demoralize the team.

“The energy level a lot of the time is based on our offense and that’s the challenging thing with this group,” Skerry said. “It’s easy to get excited when you’re making shots, but basketball doesn’t work that way.”

Towson only led twice throughout the game, both times occuring within the first two minutes of play.

Despite a talented group of seniors in Brian Starr, Eddie Keith and Mike Morsell, the team can’t seem to find stability in its play.

Skerry recognized that some of the weight has to fall on the coaching staff for not consistently getting the best out of players.

“I’m not getting the message through, and the guys that are with me aren’t helping get the message through,” Skerry said. “We haven’t been able to do it consistently with this group.”

The team won 11 of 12 games to begin the season, but has been struggling recently. They have the capability to right the ship though.

It’s simply a matter of mental preparation and fortitude.

“This group has been very up-anddown,” Skerry said. “We didn’t handle prosperity well and guys didn’t

do what is really important, but we’ve got the tools physically to defend.”

Towson looks to find consistency as conference play continues. The team will host CAA foe Delaware at SECU Arena Thursday, Feb. 15.

Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

NEXT@ 2/15 HOME 7:00pm