The Towerlight (October 10, 2017)

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October 10, 2017

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October 10, 2017

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October 10, 2017

Editor-in-Chief Marcus Dieterle Senior Editor Jordan Cope Assoc. News Editor Bailey Hendricks Arts & Life Editor McKenna Graham Asst. Arts & Life Editor Kerry Ingram Sports Editor Karuga Koinange Senior Staff Writer Sarah Rowan Staff Writers Desmond Boyle Jesse L. Baird Natalie Bland Lauren Cosca Amanda Carroll

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Opinion

October 10, 2017

The time is now for solidarity in politics Gerrymandering under review DYLAN BRENNAN Columnist

There were a multitude of pestilent, threatening and downright despicable topics that I could’ve picked this week, but I think we all know which one I simply had to address. Everyone is shocked and stunned about the atrocity that happened in Las Vegas. However, I don’t think anyone is shocked or stunned at the reaction by the talking heads and pundits we’ve been surrounded by our entire lives. From people on the left politicizing the event -- like Hillary Clinton, who ridiculed the National Rifle Association on Twitter a day after the shooting -- to people obscurely blaming this on white privilege or toxic masculinity -- like YouTuber Riley Dennis, who tweeted “#BanAllWhiteMen” -- the left has completely lost the plot on crises that should -- and make no mistake, that used to -- unify the nation in solidarity.

Believe it or not, I am completely and utterly in favor of banning -- not restricting, but banning -- the now infamous bump stock. A device that completely transforms a legal gun into a ridiculously unsafe version of another

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should not be allowed. I’ve talked with friends who are regional experts on guns, and they literally cannot come up with any reason for bump stocks to exist at all, aside from firing uncontrollably and rapidly until the gun is emptied.

Don’t squander this opportunity for the gun control you’ve always pressed for! Now is the perfect opportunity for both sides of the aisle to unite under one legal action.

Don’t muddy the waters with political identities or shallow oppor tunism.

These 58 people didn’t die to validate your petty viewpoints.

These 58 people died from a lunatic monster who nobody could have seen coming. Thankfully even the hardest-line Republicans and gun groups are willing to take a stand against this. Let us unite not only in spirit, but in action.

Don’t seize this golden opportunity with amendments tacked on to any bill that will come of this, and don’t blame “the other side” for any of the actions by one sick human being. Let Las Vegas not be a horrific event to divide our political gap, but give us reason to hold hands across each side so that we may come together as a nation, and helping our country heal.

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Don’t squander this opportunity for the gun control you’ve always pressed for! Now is the perfect opportunity for both sides of the aisle to unite under one legal action.

DYLAN BRENNAN Columnist

Gill versus Whitford examined by SCOTUS

CONNOR McNAIRN Columnist

On Oct. 2, the U.S. Supreme Court heard its first cases of the new term. The Court has been surrounded by drama and controversy for the past year. The addition of provocative Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Court, paired with the numerous contentious issues set to preoccupy the Court, will set the stage for a substantial new term. One of the most prominent issues currently being examined by the Court revolves around gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the process through which state legislatures with partisan, political motivations redraw congressional districts (every 10 years per the census) to favor their own party.

Before examining Gill v. Whitford – the current gerrymandering case before the court – it is necessary to articulate both the origin and application of gerrymandering as it pertains to political influence and constitutionality.

At first glance, the word “gerrymandering” does appear odd.

The term is derived from Elbridge Gerry’s notorious Massachusetts redistricting plan of 1812. Gerry, who was then governor of Massachusetts, signed into law a plan that would design electoral districts to specifically favor Republican representatives. The districting plan, which formed the shape of a salamander, blatantly packed Federalist votes into few districts and expanded the influence of Republican votes. Thus, because Elbridge Gerry established a partisan-driven districting process, and because the districts resembled a salamander, the term “gerrymander” was popularized.

Since 1812, gerrymandering has drastically impacted election and policymaking processes in the U.S. Though both parties use the tactic to secure political influence, the Republican Party has been the key beneficiary since 2014.

Republicans secured 31 out of 50 governorships and 68 of 98

state legislative chambers in 2014.

Though these results were representative of general political sentiment throughout the United States, gerrymandering surely contributed to the Republican domination.

In the 2014 House elections, Democrats won roughly 1.4 million more votes than Republicans. That said, Republicans won 46 more seats than Democrats. The dissonance between Democratic voting tallies and ultimate Republican victories suggests that gerrymandering plays a substantial role in American politics. Voters should find this process reprehensible.

The aforementioned gerrymandering statistics properly introduce Gill v. Whitford. In Gill, gerrymandering processes in Wisconsin serve as the key focal point. In 2010, Wisconsin Republicans secured the governorship and a majority in both the state assembly and senate.

After securing control, Republicans redrew district lines in 2011 to secure control for the foreseeable future. After the redistricting faced legal challenges on constitutional and statutory grounds, a federal court determined that the plan violated neither the “one person one vote” precedent established in 1960’s apportionment cases, nor the Equal Protection Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment.

The challengers (plaintiffs) in the Gill case argue that Wisconsin gerrymandering is unconstitutional and dilutes the votes of Democratic voters within the state. In evaluating this case, the Supreme Court must focus on a variety of factors. First, the Court must scrutinize the decisions of the district court and determine their validity. Additionally, the Court must determine whether or not partisan gerrymandering is a justiciable issue. The Court last dealt with

partisan gerrymandering in Vieth v. Jubelirer in 2004. In Vieth, the Court determined that political redistricting is “unlawful” but felt the federal courts were not responsible for solving the problem.

The Gill decision will greatly influence the future of gerrymandering and election processes within the U.S. If the Court determines that this issue is justiciable and that the district court erred in its decision, partisan gerrymandering may very well meet its demise.

Simply put, gerrymandering is not a justifiable practice. In an era where democratic politics is already threatened by campaign finance laws, voter suppression, income inequality and much more, gerrymandering only further contributes to anti-democratic political sentiment. It is not acceptable for either political party to exploit its influence in efforts to undermine the votes of citizens. This process undermines the integrity of our democratic republic and further disarms the American voter.

Rather than allowing partisan state legislatures to draw district lines, the judiciary, alongside motivated American citizens, should push for universal bipartisan districting commissions. One other possible solution to gerrymandering is the use of technical, computerized programs which fairly create mathematical districts. The Gill decision will likely not flesh out a specific approach to solving gerrymandering; this will be a lengthy process. That said, the decision will ultimately provide a contemporary framework through which the country perceives the districting process.

Opinion

October 10, 2017

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uninterrupted

What you need to A dive into female friendships see in Charm City KYNDALL CUNNINGHAM Columnist

It’s easy to forget the joy someone brings you when your most recent memory of them is an ignored text message, a missed FaceTime call or an opinion you never asked for.

Those tiny fractions of time can easily overshadow the fact that your best friend is the only person keeping you from flushing your life down the toilet. Then there are times when your instincts are right, and you’re forced to confront the “bad friend” or worse, the “self-destructing friend.”

When you enter your 20’s, your friendships might take you for a whirlwind. When you’ve been friends for years, those growing pains between adolescence and adulthood can really take a toll on your relationships. The magic that you once felt in your female friend groups might start to dwindle away, but it doesn’t mean that it’s vanished.

Theoretically, women are supposed to be the best friends. We’re more comfortable with our emotions, affectionate and open-minded - theoretically. That’s why there are so many movies and television shows about girlfriends and female bonds. “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants” is still my all-time favorite girlfriends movie. The consistent and open communication, the painful honesty, the fierce protectiveness - even the fight scene was beautiful.

My obsession with movies and shows about gal pals continued when I discovered “Sex and the City” reruns, Girls, “The Babysitter’s Club” and every chick flick that came out before 2008. Strong female bonds never looked exaggerated to me on screen, even if they didn’t mimic my reality. I always figured that if you knew someone long enough and you knew everything about each other, you would have a friendship worthy of cinematic treatment.

That might be true up until you turn 18 or 19 or whenever the real world begins to finally hit you. It’s easy to manage friendships when

you’re in middle school or high school and you have no bills to pay, your parents drive you everywhere and you think your life will work out the way you want it to. It’s another story when you’re constantly broke or when you’ve been dating the same guy for too long, or when your life is so busy that you no longer want to pick up the phone.

This might be incorrect, but I can only imagine that my friendships would be a lot smoother if we all came from super rich families and attended college without any financial struggles. But money doesn’t stop people from making bad personal decisions, or going through emotional hardships.

It’s especially hard to confront a friend whose life is being controlled by depression, low self esteem or any poor mental health situation that’s draining the life out of them. It’s hard to be a good friend when you’re going through personal hardships yourself.

A guest speaker in one of my classes last week said that an empty person has nothing to give. It sounds simple now, but I guess it hit me hard when I first heard it. Your relationships can’t flourish if you don’t take care of yourself, or know what you want in life. As someone who was raised to be super goal-oriented, I never empathized with people who had no plans.

It’s still hard for me to understand not knowing what you like to do, but it takes patience and compassion to watch your friends grow and figure out adulthood.

I don’t know what it’s like to grow into a man, but becoming a woman is pretty hard. Managing work, dating,

friendships, mental health, your physical appearance, reaching your goals by a certain age - not to mention, all the expectations from social media and the world at large of how you’re supposed to look and behave can really mess with you. We carry a lot, and we’re the only people that can truly understand each other. That’s why I value and hold on to the female bonds in my life, whether it be my friends, my sisters or even my little niece.

Your best friend might not be the Carrie to your Miranda when you need her to be, but give it a little time.

Of course, you should be wary of an actual bad friend, someone who constantly makes you feel small, ignored o r worthless. Do not damage your mental health holding on to someone who is not good for you, no matter how much you love them.

But a lot of the time, we women get in the habit of complaining about a certain friend for so long or pointing out their wrongs or the petty things that can get us upset that we aren’t thankful for the friendship itself and what that person has done and continues to do for us that makes us want to still be friends with them. Your friendships might be more magical than you realize, or you could need a break.

Either way, female friendships are complicated. I haven’t lived long enough to know how long that period of tension and awkwardness lasts or if it remains forever. But patience, compassion and most importantly reflection will go a long way towards achieving that Carrie-Miranda dream dynamic.

Like what you read in “Uninterrupted” this week?

Visit thetowerlight.com for more of Kyndall’s columns.

JORDAN COPE Senior Editor @jordancope26

Although the weather has been hot, fall is here and I’ve been seeing a lot of Ravens attire coming in and out of the Union. Since I’m currently a senior and have absolutely no idea where I will be in the country this time next year, it got me thinking about how much I love Baltimore. With that being said, these are the things I want to do for my last hurrah in Charm City; and things you should do before you leave the area, too.

1. Visit Federal Hill: If you like bar hopping on the weekends as much as I do, you have to visit Federal Hill.

Although Federal Hill is incredibly expensive, it is hands down better than uptown. Fed Hill is full of adults who know how to be mature when it comes to consuming alcohol; mainly because the bars don’t let in underage college students. It also has a local community vibe, and some beautiful views of the city. Cheers!

2. The National Aquarium: Who doesn’t love a good fish face? At the National Aquarium, there are close to 20,000 animals including amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates and many

more. If you are filled to the gills with homework and studying, going to the aquarium is the most relaxing and soothing experience. Staring into the tanks and hearing the gentle sounds is sure to make you feel better about that upcoming exam.

3. Go to an O’s and Ravens game: Some of my favorite memories in Baltimore have been at Oriole Park and M&T Bank Stadium. I’ve only been to a few other MLB stadiums, but Camden Yards is by far the best. The warehouse in right field and the Baltimore skyline beyond center field makes Oriole Park the best stadium in all of baseball.

M&T Bank Stadium is just as fun as Oriole Park. Tailgating before and after the game, and experiencing the game itself make for an awesome experience.

4. Eat at The Red Star: The Red Star is a pub located in Fells Point that you have to try. Although it’s small, the atmosphere in the bar is awesome. The restaurant was once an old row home, which makes for a very unique environment. The food is reasonably priced and incredible. Get a burger, wrap or salad and you won’t be disappointed.

Before you leave, get an order of sweet potato fries with brown sugar aioli sauce to dip them in. You’re welcome.

- To read the rest of this column online, visit the towerlight.com.

Jordan Cope/ The Towerlight

Senior editor Jordan Cope visits Fells Point in Baltimore, Maryland.

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October 10, 2017

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Q & A with Sexual Assault Peer Ed.

October Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Towson University Sexual Assault Peer Educators (SAPEs) placed 6,677 purple flags on the Cook Library Beach to represent the number of Towson students that have been, or will be, impacted by an unhealthy or abusive relationship in their lifetime.

Those flags remained at the Beach from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6.

In addition to the purple flag campaign, the SAPEs also held a service project on Oct. 6, to fill 100 “blessing bags” to donate to The House of Ruth, Maryland, a domestic violence center in Baltimore that helps battered women and children who are seeking safety and security.

Becca Robbins is the lead peer educator for SAPE. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

What is the purpose of the Sexual Assault Peer Educators?

Why did you decide to become one?

The purpose of the Sexual Assault Peer Educators is to help inform our peers on campus about the importance of healthy relationships, consent, bystander intervention, sexual assault etc. The perk of having peers communicate with others about these more intense subjects is that students seem to find a comfort in talking to individual’s closer to their age. I personally joined SAPE after seeing a presentation in my Health 101 class back in 2014. The topic focused on domestic violence and healthy relationships. I was instantly fascinated. I had known I wanted to graduate from Towson feeling like I impacted students, I felt that being a peer educator could do just that. I have now been a SAPE for all four years of college, and I truly feel like I have benefited from it. I have had countless conversations with students about intense topics, and though draining at times, it is refreshing to know I could be keeping my peers safe, knowledgeable and healthy mentally or physically.

What do you like most about being a SAPE? What I love about SAPE is when you have a conversation with a student and they walk away with a whole new outlook on the topics we cover. It is an amazing feeling when faculty and students also thank me for covering such topics. Without

this organization, I don’t believe some students would have half the knowledge they grasp after stopping by one of our tabling events or coming to one of our events.

What is the significance of October being Domestic Violence Awareness month?

The reason domestic violence awareness month is in October is because it began after “The Day of Unity” which was held in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The purpose of “the day of unity” was to connect advocates who were focused on ending violence against women and children.

Why do you feel it is important to educate students on domestic violence and sexual assault?

I believe it is important to educate our students about sexual assault and domestic violence because though scary statistics, most of our students are at the age most people are in unhealthy relationships, ages 18-24. It has also been stated that one-in-three women are in an unhealthy relationship within their lifetime and one-in-four men are in an unhealthy relationship. That is why we placed 6,677 purple flags on Cook Beach; though a high number, that is the amount of men and women at Towson who could be in an unhealthy relationship.

How would you define domestic violence?

I believe people don’t realize how many forms of domestic violence can occur in a relationship. There can be abuse in terms of finances, mental, physical and emotional.

I believe many students feel as though domestic violence is purely physical, but that is not the case, and that is an important conversation we tried to have with all of the students who spoke to us during the purple flag campaign.

How would you define sexual assault?

When students first approach SAPE and discuss sexual assault, I believe they have this idea that sexual assault is what they see in the movies or TV shows; that is not the case. SAPE defines sexual violence as sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, sexual intimidation and sexual exploitation.

Another point we try to make for

Courtesy of Twitter.com/TowsonSAPE

The Sexual Assault Peer Educators on campus help to inform students about the importance of healthy relationships, consent, bystander intervention and resources for survivors of sexual assault. students is that, if there was not an active, ongoing, coherent, willing and affirmative “YES” then the act could be classified as sexual violence.

What was the purpose of the purple flag campaign? Why were the flags purple?

The purpose of the purple flag campaign was to take a week out of October to discuss the importance of healthy relationships and educate students on domestic violence.

Earlier in the week SAPEs and other organizations placed 6,677 purple flags to represent the number of Towson students who could be in an unhealthy relationship within their lifetime. The flags are purple because the color is meant to represent courage, peace, survival, honor and dedication to ending violence, such as the Purple Heart given to soldiers in the military over the same values.

What are some signs of an unhealthy, abusive relationship?

There is actually a cycle called the “Cycle of Abuse.” Tension Building: the abuser may decrease communication within the relationship, they may start getting angry and violent, they may also start abusing the victim. The victim may feel like they are walking on eggshells or become fearful and feel the need to placate the abuser. Incident is when any type of abuse occurs (physical/sexual/emotional/verbal). One’s partner may show anger, blaming, arguing, threats. Reconciliation is when the abuser apologizes, gives excuses, blames the victim, denies the abuse occurred, or says that is wasn’t as bad as the victim claims. The abuser may also promise it will never happen again. Some victims may not experience an apologetic abus-

er. They may just see a decrease in tension building or incident before another cycle starts. Calm: incident is “forgotten,” no abuse is taking place. The “honeymoon” phase: the abuser acts like the abuse never happened. Promises made during the “Reconciliation” phase may be met. The victim may hope that the abuse is over. The abuser may give gifts to the victim.

Can you explain what some red flags are to look for in a relationship?

There are many signs of an unhealthy relationship such as isolation, change in mood, dramatic change in values, lack of communication with other individuals, quick involvement, controlling behavior, unrealistic expectations, blaming significant other for problems or mistakes, hypersensitivity and making the other person in the relationship feel responsible for all emotions, etc.

What would you tell someone who is in an unhealthy, abusive relationship? What are some resources that Towson has that could help them?

If a student came to me and disclosed they were in an unhealthy relationship I would simply listen, be supportive in their decisions, be nonjudgmental, and let that individual know about the resources on campus, such as the Counseling Center and Health Center, along with resources off campus such as Turn Around located in Baltimore, which has a 24-hour helpline (443279-0379). I don’t believe people realize how hard it is to leave a relationship, let alone one that is unhealthy. It is a vicious cycle and that individual is the only one who

truly has the power to break it. I would simply be supportive and let that individual know they are not alone and they are heard.

What other events and campaigns do the SAPEs host?

SAPE tries to table rather frequently just to make sure students know who we are and what we focus on. SAPEs will be tabling at I Love Female Orgasm, Wednesday, Oct. 11 and Thursday Oct. 12. We will be a part of the Counseling Center’s Halloween party Oct. 24, but also, we have many big events in the spring such as “Let’s Talk About Sex” which is an event that focuses on educating students about healthy relationships and how to have healthy and safe sex. We also have an event in the spring called “Take Back the Night” where students can share their support, but also where survivors of sexual violence can come and share their story in a safe and trusted area. We also have an event called The Clothesline Project, where students can come and make a shirt that shares their story of sexual violence or their support, we then hang them up on a clothesline so other students can read students’ stories and support those individuals.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I would just like to always invite students to come and talk to us. I believe education is a key factor in life, especially in terms of topics like these. We truly just want to educate our students and keep them as safe as possible so that they are able to have the healthiest and the best college experience they can while at Towson.

- Compiled by Bailey Hendricks

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News

October 10, 2017

Campus debates kneeling

Oct. 4: A commuter student was being harassed by another commuter student at Burdick Hall.

Oct. 4: A commuter student had their bike taken after leaving secured near Lecture Hall.

Oct. 4: A non-affiliate was arrested for trespassing.

Oct. 1: A resident student had their bike taken from a secured location near Newell Hall.

Sept. 30: A resident student had their bike taken from a secured area near Tower C. Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Sept. 29: A faculty member had their bike taken from a secured location near the Liberal Arts Building.

Sept. 29: TUPD is investigating pictures that were sent to a resident student’s phone.

Sept. 28: An unknown person attempted to take property from 7800 York Rd. Sept. 28: An unknown person took an unattended purse from Cook Library.

Sept. 28: An unknown person took brass valves from a fire hose line.

Sept. 27: A resident student had their bike taken after leaving it secured near Newell Hall.

Sept. 27: A resident student was assaulted by a commuter student after a soccer game at Burdick Field.

Sept. 27: Charges are pending against three resident students for CDS/Alcohol Violation at Paca House.

Sept. 26: TUPD is investigating a destruction of property at Lot 19.

Sept. 25: A commuter student had their phone taken at Burdick Hall after leaving it unattended.

Sept. 22: TUPD is investigating a theft of a One Card.

Sept. 25: A non-affiliate and resident student were in a physical altercation in Millennium Hall.

Sept. 24: TUPD is investigating a theft of a bike on Cross Campus Drive.

Sept. 24: A commuter student had their bike taken after securing it near Cook Library.

Sept. 23: TUPD is investigating a theft from motor vehicle at Bill Bateman’s.

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.

A New York Times talk entitled “Kneeling for What?” occured Oct. 4, at Towson with the purpose of discussing the recent social controversy of athletes kneeling during the national anthem.

KEARSTEIN JOHNSON Contributing Writer

Attendees at an Oct. 4 New York Times talk entitled “Kneeling for What?” discussed the nationwide social controversy of athletes taking a knee during the national anthem.

The Center for Student Diversity, the Military and Veterans Center, and the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility hosted the talk to spark conversation about the controversial topic and to have people of different viewpoints listen to one another.

“The goal is not to get us to agree on one view or place more value on this topic than the others going on in the world,” said Associate Director for Cultural Competency and Education Brian Jara. “There is not a cut and dry take on this.”

Jara acknowledged that despite the controversy of the kneeling of athletes, such events could lead to positive change.

“This protest is clearly pointing out the inequality minorities have in our country,” he said. “Stating that, the start of this protest could be a door opener to create positive change in our country for those that do not really have a voice in our nation.”

Director of the Military and Veterans Center Benz Armstrong shared the perspective on the social issue from a veteran’s standpoint.

Armstrong said that not around the nation. all veterans are against this Sierra said the New York developing movement, and Times talks help to showcase that social media coverage is the importance of engaging in exploiting the military’s side. discussion by those who are “When I first heard about directly and indirectly affected this movement I was shocked,” by current issues. she said. “How could any of “This not only creates a better them take a knee during the understanding of those around national anthem?” us, but also turns education Now being a veteran transiinto empathy,” he said.

Sierra acknowledged that tioning back into civilian life, social issues Armstrong impacting socisaid her perspective on ety today may “Protest is meant this topic is spark change in changing. the future. to make people “To be “There is so uncomfortable. stripped much police bruThat’s how change of our contality that is still a chronic issue stitutionhappens. The plus in our country,” al right to side of all of this he said. “People e x p re s s national tension is of color are disourselves is horrible,” proportionately that conversation is she said. affected.

The happening.”

“What are development of LUIS SIERRA we fighting Asst. Director for Civic Engagement this hot social for at this issue is going to point? You spark some form don’t have to agree with me, of change in the near future. It but I would take a knee.” may not be tomorrow or the next Armstrong stressed the day, but change will come.” importance of having American Sierra said conversation and voices heard in a politically education on the issues concerntense climate. ing our nation is what will keep “Question everything,” she this controversy growing and said. “Challenge everything.” that is how change will come.

Assistant Director for Civic “Protest is meant to make Engagement Luis Sierra hosts people uncomfortable,” he said. the on-campus New York “That’s how change happens.

Times talks throughout the The plus side of all of this semester. The discussions are national tension is that convershaped by controversial issues sation is happening.”

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News

October 10, 2017

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First Fridays program gives back BHI helps support MARY-ELLEN DAVIS Staff Writer

The First Fridays program gives Towson University students the opportunities to volunteer both on and off campus.

The program is held on the first Friday of every month from September through May, and it gives students a way to volunteer at different organizations.

According to Lisa Hill, the coordinator of community service for Towson University, any student can participate in First Fridays, so they don’t need to be affiliated with a certain group or club to volunteer.

Transportation is also provided to each of the service sites, so students do not have to worry about finding a way to get there.

“I often get emails asking if there are volunteer opportunities,” Hill said. “Especially students looking for if they have limited transportation, they’re looking for an opportunity that is either on campus or close to campus, or just something that’s got transportation provided. These programs really fit that need for students who want to get involved but are looking for a program they can connect to.”

Carmen Robinson, a graduate assistant for Community Service, said the Department of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility holds First

Fridays to provide students with a way to meet service goals.

“We wanted to provide students with an opportunity for additional ways to meet service goals and also to give back and make connections with the community,” Robinson said.

“And also to connect with like student groups and give people an outlet to earn service hours…. It’s a good way to network. “ According to Hill, each First Friday is based around a similar structure where students start by meeting at a designated spot to get to know each other a bit.

“You’re going to spend a couple hours with these people, you want to at least know their names,” she said. “We talk about the organization where we’re going and the volunteer work that we’re going to be doing.”

After talking about the organization, the group heads to where they will be working to meet with a representative who will tell them more about the organization before they get started.

Once they complete their time there, students are given an opportunity to reflect on the work they did, what they learned and what they saw before heading back to Towson’s campus.

When deciding on a service site, Hill and Robinson look for a community or organization that has a social issue that students can base a discussion around. They also talk with the

organization first, to make sure they are alright with having volunteers.

“Whenever we’re doing a First Friday or another volunteer event, we’re looking at what’s the need that the organization serves,” Hill said.

“And also something that we like to keep in mind of [is that] our students are only going to be there for a couple hours, so you want to make sure that there’s something to contribute, that our students aren’t going to be causing harm when we’re going there.”

The program’s first event of the semester took place Oct. 6, at Therapeutic Alternatives of Maryland, or TALMAR. TALMAR focuses on work-skills development, vocational training and horticultural therapy.

Students who volunteered for the trip helped organize and clean one of the barns at the facility, specifically judging the quality and organizing reemay, which is used to cover plants to keep them warm in colder temperatures, and helps prevent them from becoming sun scorched.

Freshman Ariana Quick said that she wanted to do First Fridays because it would be a good opportunity to get involved. She was also excited about the types of activities she would be doing while there.

“I saw on the website that I would be working on gardens and plants and stuff, and I’m a big fan of the earth and physical geography so I thought it would be cool,” Quick said.

Mary-Ellen Davis/ The Towerlight

Student volunteers unfold a sheet of reemay to determine if it’s in good enough shape to reuse during the First Friday program’s October volunteer event at the Therapeutic Alternatives of Maryland.

Jewish scholars

Robert Sobus/ The Towerlight

The Baltimore Hebrew Institute support Jewish students, and is helping others better understand the Jewish community.

ROBERT SOBUS Contributing Writer

Through Judaic studies programs and cultural events, the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University is fostering an understanding of the Jewish community at Towson and preparing students for life after college.

“The Baltimore Hebrew Institute has three main things that it does,” said Hana Bor, the program director for the Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service graduate programs. “It supports the students that are taking courses in the program of Jewish Studies. It helps students get scholarships and fellowships, and also sponsors events that bring speakers onto campus to discuss diverse topics.”

For 90 years, the Baltimore Hebrew University was located in northwest Baltimore in Park Heights.

In 2009, Towson University absorbed the Baltimore Hebrew University to form the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson.

Towson University offers several master’s degrees, dual-degrees, and post-baccalaureate certificates through BHI. One of those program’s is BHI’s master’s degree program in Family Science and Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service, which allows students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years.

“I started my graduate courses during my senior year at Towson,” graduate student Stephanie Aseraph said. “I took nine graduate courses during my senior year and those counted towards my undergraduate credits. You’re condensing the amount of time to get your master’s degree because it goes along with the bachelor’s degree.”

In addition to what they offer

academically, the BHI also focuses on community-building and cultural education “BHI provides many community programs both at the University and with partners off-campus,” Baltimore Hebrew Institute Director Jill Max said. “Over the last eight years, we have hosted numerous scholarly lectures, movies, authors and other programs that range from Jewish history, to Modern Hebrew language instruction, to contemporary issues in the Jewish community and beyond. We are involved in President Schatzel’s diversity initiatives on campus as well.”

Towson University also helps further the BHI’s efforts and resources.

Cook Library showcases numerous Judaic books and artifacts, one of the largest university collections of Jewish studies materials in the mid-Atlantic region.

Becky Berger, who is finishing a master’s degree in Leadership with a concentration in Jewish Education, emphasizes the amount of resources and services the University provides. “[Towson offers] lots of personal care,” Berger said. “My academic advisor, Dr. Hana Bor is wonderful. She takes really good care of students. We have seminars, guest speakers, career mentorship, scholarships and study abroad opportunities. There are lots of resources.”

Bor said students can look forward to promising job prospects after graduating.

“Our students find jobs 100 percent of the time after graduation,” Bor said.

“I am very proud of our students.”

For some, the BHI is more than a support system for academic studies.

“BHI is like family,” Aseraph said. “The professors cared for us, most students knew one another, and we would work together so that we could see each other succeed.”

12 October 10, 2017

Art & Life

“Hunger” not a tale of motivation, simply her story MCKENNA GRAHAM Arts & Life Editor

JESSICA RICKS Staff Writer

Roxane Gay stepped onto the stage in the West Village Ballrooms to applause from an eager audience.

The acclaimed author, New York Times contributor and first black female lead writer of Marvel Comics came to Towson on Thursday, Oct. 5, to discuss her memoir, “Hunger.”

Following an introduction by Center for Student Diversity Associate Director Mahnoor Ahmed, Gay read several excerpts from “Hunger,” which explores her struggles with her body image after being sexually assaulted at the age of 12.

“Books that are the most intimidating, the most terrifying to approach, end up being most intellectually satisfying, and that was definitely the case with ‘Hunger,'” Gay said.

It was a difficult book for her to write, but it allowed her to look back at experiences that shaped her into the person that she is today. It also allowed her to take a hard look at herself, and patterns she had developed, and to realize that it was okay to let down the walls she had put up around her.

“Sometimes we’re marked by terrible experiences,” she said. “And it's okay to linger in those feelings.”

Gay’s honesty and relatability were aspects of the show that the audience enjoyed. In her talk as well as her

books, she didn't hold anything back.

Her struggles aren't meant to be a success story, but a true story to give people a sense that they aren’t alone.

“On a weird level, it was like I could relate to her in certain aspects,” said freshman Ashley Lawton. “It makes her work better knowing you related to the writing and brings you closer to the author.”

“One of the things I wrote about was how much I hate exercise,” Gay said to the audience. “I think exercise is the work of the devil.”

The first excerpt she read mentioned her personal trainer, TJ, and how his life is fitness; she said he “glows with youth” and enthusiasm, but she pities him as well.

“Not a session goes by that he doesn’t mention some aspect of his diet that makes me so sad for him,” Gay said.

Gay transitioned from talking about exercise to talking about food by mentioning her personal trainer’s dietary habits - “I worry that he doesn’t know about spices… or anything that makes things delicious” - to her own attempts to become a vegetarian without knowing how to cook.

She described her love of The Food Network, and how she learned to cook from Ina Garten’s show, “The Barefoot Contessa.”

“I love Ina Garten so much that one of my wireless networks at home is named ‘barefoot contessa,’” Gay said.

“It’s like she’s watching over me.”

Gay highlighted the way Garten handles herself with a self-assuredness in everything she does, not just cooking but as well going to the market and shopping.

“What I love most about Ina is that she teaches me about fostering a strong sense of self-confidence,” Gay said.

“She teaches me about being at ease with my body. From all appearances, she is entirely at ease with herself.

She is ambitious, and knows she is excellent at what she does, and never apologizes for it.”

Gay looks up to Garten not just because of her poise, but because she “gives permission” to love food, to buy the “good” ingredients to make good food for yourself, and to embrace your ambition and believe in yourself.

When the audience was laughing and applauding at the end of those excerpts, Gay said, “A couple of years back, I decided to look up the ringleader of the boys who assaulted me, because surely that would end well.”

The room went quiet. Gay read, “I looked up this boy from my past. I wanted to know what had become of him… I looked and looked and looked - it became a minor obsession.”

She described how she Googled him daily, how it became a minor obsession, how when she finally found him she couldn’t stop thinking about him - what kind of car he drives, if he has a wife or kids, if he has become a good person, how he takes his coffee.

“I wondered if I would recognize him,” she said. “I shouldn’t have.

There are some faces you don’t forget.”

She ended the excerpt by describing a moment one day when she called his office, and his secretary patched her through to him, and she dropped the

(Above) Courtesy of bustle.com, (Below) Photo by Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Roxane Gay visited Towson University on Oct. 5, to bare to attendees the truths that she had to come to terms with in writing her newest book, a memoir called “Hunger” that reflects without sugarcoating.

phone when she heard his voice.

“When I picked up the phone again, he kept saying ‘hello?’ ‘hello?’ ‘hello?,’” Gay said. “This went on for a long time. He wouldn’t stop saying

‘hello.’ It was like he knew it was me, like he’d been waiting.”

When asked if she has figured out from where the desire to know about her assaulter in the present, Gay described it as “protection,” and a little bit of curiosity.

“When someone, for better or worse, has such an impact on your life, I think it’s natural to wonder, ‘Do you even remember?’” she said, describing it as morbid curiosity. “It’s like picking at a scab.”

Gay was also asked about the phrasing or labeling of her as a survivor of assault, and she said she prefers to say she “was a victim,” and that her assault is something that happened to her, but it is not who she is.

In addition to reading from “Hunger,” Gay spoke about “Bad Feminist,” her book of essays looking at stereotypes of today's feminism.

“People throw around the feminist label every time a woman does something competent,” she said. “Let's raise the bar for ourselves.”

Despite the public acclaim for “Hunger” and “Bad Feminist,” Gay said her favorite book she's written so far is “The Untamed State.”

“I think of myself as primarily a fiction writer,” she said. “No one else does, but I do.”

With her wit and sense of humor, Gay kept the crowd laughing throughout her presentation. After the reading and the Q&A, people had the opportunity to have their copies of “Hunger” signed and take pictures with her.

“I love how she brings up things she knew were controversial,” said junior Dena Appleby. “She knows the implications and understands the views of someone else, even if she doesn't agree.

Just because someone has one view it doesn't allow them to have power over someone else.”

Gay was all about opening up about topics of diverse self-identity, regardless of whether or not people feel comfortable talking about them.

“This is a book about what it’s like to in a different kind of body in a world that is not entirely open to different kinds of bodies,” Gay said.

Gay sets the record straight from the beginning of her talk. The story of her body is not a story of triumph or motivation. It’s not a weight loss memoir either.

Instead, Gay said “Hunger,” is “simply a true story” and one that was “the most difficult writing experiences of my life, one more challenging than I could have ever imagined.”

Gay said that writing “Hunger” forced her to look at her “guiltiest secrets” but she is glad she did it.

“Writing this book is a confession,” Gay said. “These are the ugliest, weakest, barest parts of me.

This is my truth. This is a memoir of my body… stories of bodies like mine are ignored.”

Ahmed said that Gay was chosen to speak at Towson because she “has been a leading voice on feminism and body size.”

“Everything Roxane touched upon, from Charlottesville to struggles with body weight, are relevant to our community,” said Ahmed. “We are already having many of these dialogues as a community. Hearing her opinions on it helps us further the ongoing discussions and introduces our students to new perspectives.”

A

Arts & Life

October 10, 2017

13

A fresh cinematic masterpiece

LUKE PARKER Columnist

If Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece “Blade Runner” forecasted the culmination of humanity, then “Blade Runner 2049” seeks its resurrection, spending the entirety of its 163-minute runtime devoted to what it means to be human. The line between the replicant species – robots bioengineered for slave labor – and their creators is quickly fading, as their emotional and physical variances have nearly reached a plateau.

Replicants are no longer outlawed on Earth; they walk among the people, work jobs and sleep under the same roofs. Their lives are not devoid of discrimination (derogatory terms such as “skin job,” “skinners” and “skin head” are thrown around by neighbors, coworkers and strangers) but their legal place within society has been established.

With that said, there are still blade runners – those whose job it is to track down and “retire” rep-

licants – but their targets consist primarily of the few rogue remains of the Tyrell Corporation’s Nexus 8 models. K (Ryan Gosling) is one of the officers; incongruously, he too is a replicant, a newer architype designed by the Wallace Corporation.

Set 30 years after the events of the first film, “Blade Runner 2049” manages to create a setting even more apocalyptic and chaotic than the original. A nuclear blackout has since occurred between the stories, extinguishing nearly all electronic data and bankrupting Tyrell. Now, there is only filth, as entire cities host an array of metal scraps and scum, and the teeming streets are just as fetid. It is here that cinematographer Roger Deakins goes to play with what may be his best work since “No Country for Old Men,” and what should easily be a direct path towards his first Oscar win.

On all accounts, “Blade Runner 2049” is as immaculate a viewing experience as there is. Deserted

Courtesy of vox.com

The stunning cinematography may just earn Director of Photography Roger Deakins his first Oscar. sculptures the size of Ozymandias atop sand-drenched highways, three-dimensional advertisements of neon glow, and groggy farm homes deprived of crops collaborate with Canadian director Denis Villeneuve to form pictures as pristine as air.

A film like this, which relies so heavily on computer-generated imagery, must be perfect in its execution of the real image in order to transcend the barrier of implausibility. “Blade Runner 2049” does so and it is a marvel, taunting audiences with visual treats as vivid and beautiful as Rutger Hauer’s

All that glitters is... makeup?

Fenty Beauty’s holiday collection will be golden KERRY INGRAM Asst. Arts & Life Editor

Just when we thought Sephora couldn’t get any busier, celebrity icon and beauty industry breakout star Rihanna decides to get festive.

Fenty Beauty, Rihanna’s new makeup line, launched at Sephora and Harvey Nichols locations Sept. 8, making a HUGE impact.

The line prides itself on the wide range of shades, textures and quality products that allow for anyone and everyone to feel included.

The line sparked a shopping frenzy at Sephora stores across the nation. The company saw a clear increase in their number of African American consumers, who spend roughly $7.5 billion annually on cosmetics, according to an

Essence panel report.

Rihanna teased her holiday collection for the first time via Instagram on Sept. 21, just two weeks after her initial launch.

The collection is expected to have more color cosmetics than her initial line, including an eyeshadow palette with a mixture of 14 shimmery jewel and neutral tones, four lipsticks in bold shades, liquid eyeliners, cosmic lip glosses that provide a galaxy-inspired glaze on the lips, and a mystery lip product. The collection will come in an exclusive holographic packaging inspired by the finish of the products themselves.

After trying out Rihanna’s original Fenty collection, both on myself as well as on clients, I can truly say that this holiday collection holds a great amount of potential for the beauty world.

Fenty’s signature collection products are all long-lasting, work well on a wide range of complexions and don’t overwhelm the skin – all while remaining at an affordable price point. If her holiday collection is anything like her first, Rihanna is sure to find success in its launch as well.

According to a story by Refinery29, Rihanna’s original Fenty products began selling out within a matter of days, and that is based on products that are permanent in the collection.

One can only imagine how intense the demand will be for this limited edition collection, which launches Oct. 13.

My advice: if you’re a makeup-lover, get ready for some early holiday shopping. You may not be able to get your hands on this line if you don’t.

moments lost in time.

The dissimilarities between the old and the new on display rebirth the drowning concept of long-period sequels. Hampton Fancher and Michael Green’s screenplay is a pioneer in its capability to stand without the crutch of its predecessor; and after the evident unoriginality of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” this is exactly what the genre needed.

Yes, both plots revolve around the actions of a blade runner, but now the switch between Rick Deckard, a man, and K, a replicant, makes the machine’s longing

for humanity much more romantic, prominent and intimate.

No matter how similar his biological blueprint is to that of a human’s natural one, K is envious.

When he addresses these jealousies to his Lieutenant (Robin Wright), she calmly reminds him that he has done just fine without a soul. wBut does K have a soul? His holographic girlfriend, Joi (Ana de Armas) certainly thinks so, and as the journey grows increasingly personal for K, his emotional range expands remarkably.

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

TIMOTHY COFFMAN Columnist

his songwriting was never the greatest, with the exception of “I’m Outta Time” from the final Oasis album, “Dig Out Your Soul.”

The album opens with the song “Wall of Glass,” which announces Liam’s foray back into rock music.

Although Liam has stressed that this album is pure rock and roll, I was shocked at the amount of acoustic instrumentation and string sections that appear on some songs. This comes from the influence of Greg Kurstin, who is a pop guru nowadays for making Adele’s “Hello” a smash hit, as well as working with Sia. The album is reverential to the rock and roll of the past with a modern twist. Liam seems to be reaching for different styles. While “Wall of Glass” is certainly rock, “For What It’s Worth” is a straightforward ballad, “You Better Run” is a bluesy rocker a la Rolling Stones, and “Chinatown” evokes the feeling of walking down an Eastern city street. For someone who says they only want to rock, Liam certainly has a range that is out of left field.

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

Oasis frontman is trying a solo career Liam Gallagher is probably known more for feuding with his brother, Noel Gallagher, than he is for his music. He was the lead singer of Oasis, along with his brother, and made hits like “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall,” the song played by every dude with a guitar at a house party.

After the band split in 2009, Liam put together a band called Beady Eye with every member of Oasis but his brother Noel. As Noel seemed to be garnering more critical respect, Beady Eye split up so Liam could focus on business ventures.

The new album “As You Were” finds Liam with a whole new lineup of a backing band. Meanwhile, Noel has hired the ex-Oasis, ex-Beady Eye members to play for him. In this album, Liam left his own devices to create a musical statement. So how does it hold up?

It’s truly shocking to hear this album sound as good as it does.

While Liam sang the Oasis classics,

14 October 10, 2017

Art & Life

A musical night celebrating cultural heritage ANN MORENO Contributing Writer

The Garifuna Collective and featured performer Umalali shared their culture with Towson students, members of the community, and the U.S. ambassador of Belize by using songs, dancing, costumes and many different types of instruments.

The Foreign Languages Department and the College of Liberal Arts collaborated to bring the performers to Towson University on Oct. 4 and 5.

Garifuna is the African language that the group sang all of their songs in.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization officially proclaimed in 2001 that the The Garifuna Collective is a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

The performance featured Towson music professor and ethnomusicologist, Lauren Poluha, who studied Garifuna music for her doctoral research while she was living in Belize. Poluha was invited to play the drums on stage for a portion of the performance.

“I love my professor a lot, and when I found out that my professor was also an ethnomusicologist, that really inspired me to come to this event,” said soph-

omore music and Spanish major Carly Hufford. “I want to do something with music and culture, so I need to get experience listening to those types of music and becoming familiar with different musical instruments and cultures.”

The Belize ambassador to the United States, Daniel Gutierrez, came to Towson University from Washington D.C., to see The Garifuna Collective perform.

“I heard that this group from Belize would be here, and once they were here, I had to be here,” Gutierrez said. “I’m honored, I’m grateful for the invite from both The Garifuna Collective and the University. I’m happy to see that the University is promoting this unusual, but very Central American music.”

Gutierrez said that his favorite part of the performance was the drums, since he just arrived in America from Belize this past July, and he grew up listening to this music.

“When those drums rumble, the soul yearns for the motherland,” Gutierrez said. “When the music starts, it really takes you back. We don’t hear that everyday in D.C., so that was the most special part. My daughter got up and started dancing, so that is truly special.”

Sophomore vocal music education major Kirsten DiBastiani said that the best part of the performance was dancing with the group.

“I liked getting to come up here

and let myself go for a night,” DeBastiani said.

Freshman business administration major Allison Taylor said that she is taking a class on Latino identity and music, and that she came because her professor Lea Ramsdell coordinated the event.

Taylor said that the group came into their classroom for an interview earlier that day, all wearing different costumes than they wore in the show. They spoke about growing up in Belize, and the ways that culture has impacted them.

“They talked about how they educate people in Garifuna in Belize, and how they are the main educators,” Taylor said. “They have the only bilingual school there. I loved dancing in the front with them, and just feeling everyone in the audience get up and come to dance.”

Veronica Arzu, one of the performers, said that she grew up in Seine Bight, a village in Belize, and that her grandfather inspired her to start performing because he was a singer and a dancer in her village.

Arzu says that her love of dancing has been within her from a young age because her grandfather would take her out to dance every year around Christmastime.

“That’s the reason why I keep on doing it -- because it’s something that I love,” Arzu said.

Annie Moreno/ The Towerlight

UNESCO has heralded The Garifuna Collective as a masterpiece of human heritage for their work sharing their culture’s music.

The intersection of art, race and gender CHLOË WILLIAMS Columnist

“Art of The Black Woman” featured the work of six black women artists, presenting an opportunity for aspiring artists to network and learn from those with experience in their fields.

The event was sponsored by the Center for Student Diversity and highlighted the work and experiences of artists Anne Sophie Amegah, MarieCharlotte Amegah, Londoun Jackson, Cat Mayes, Jasmine Williams and Bilphena Yahwon. The women held a question-and-answer panel and had their work on display in the Towson University Lecture Hall.

One topic brought up during the panel was how an artist is able to find their worth.

“You have to value yourself more than anyone else around you,” said Mayes, who works as a film production assistant, film production coordinator, and freelance photographer.

Mayes said her dream is to become

an executive producer and/or director in the world of film, and her work can be found in her book, “New Growth,” and on her website catmayes.com.

Yahwon commented on the fact that writers should be paid for their work.

“My brilliance and what I’m teaching you is worth money,” said Yahwon, a writer, editor, speaker, contractor and nonprofit worker who also holds workshops.

After writing and editing for “Rise Africa,” Yahwon started her own website and brand, Gold Womyn, where she writes about gender, race and her identities. She can now be found on Instagram and Twitter at @goldwomyn, and on her website goldwomyn.com.

These women on the panel stood up for the idea that artists work hard and should be paid for what they produce.

Many of them expressed frustration at being asked to work or share their methods for free, especially by people they know.

“Support your friends no matter what… especially if they’re a person of color,” Jackson said. “We need the

most support.”

Jackson started doing cosplay in high school by dressing up as Korra from “The Legend of Korra.” Since then, she has been making costumes, competing with her cosplay, and displaying her work on Instagram at @theblackcrystalcosplay.

The artists also discussed how they keep positive mental health, even under pressure and stress to constantly be creating new and great work.

“If I’m not inspired I’m not going to force inspiration,” said A. Amegah, adding that she creates work not for public consumption, but for herself.

A. Amegah is a photographer and artist who aspires to be a documentary filmmaker, and her work can be found on her Instagram at @sophievisually.

She currently works as a film teacher at the nonprofit Wide Angle Youth Media where she is creating films about Black Lives Matter with students.

The artists discussed how they deal with criticism.

“I will never talk about something that I don’t know… I listen to everyone’s

opinion, but take everything with a grain of salt,” said Williams, a freelance conceptual artist and portraiture photographer whose goal is to become a photo editor.

Williams has created logos and book covers, and does fashion photography shoots. Her work can be found on Instagram at @jwilliamsportfolio.

While reflecting on presenting her works dealing with race in front of mainly white classmates, Williams noted that she relies on a sort of mantra, “They’re not me,” when her audience can’t understand or relate to her art.

Another topic brought up was how artists can deal with the people of the same skill level or lower receiving more attention and opportunities than them.

“A lot of it is style,” said M. Amegah, who works with drawing, painting and printmaking, and whose work can be found on her Instagram account @macha.pdf.

M. Amegah also works for a nonprofit as a teaching artist, and she hopes to help make art more accessible to children in low-income schools in

Baltimore city.

She said that she doesn’t get jealous of other artists since different visions will appeal to different people.

“I look at it more from an inspiration standpoint than from a competition standpoint,” said A. Amegah, who went on to note that “how you present yourself and how your craft stands out” are what makes an artist unique.

“I’m forced to stand out no matter what just because I’m a black woman in cosplay,” Jackson said.

Jackson added that her experience working at a black hair salon around and being around a lot of black artists gives her a perspective that non-persons of color do not have.

Mayes commented on black representation in the film industry by explaining how there are far more black people in front of the camera than behind the scenes.

“We [black women] may be in different fields, but we’re all in the same boat,” said Mayes. “You have to recognize where your competition should be.”

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10,10, 2017 16 October October 2017 16

Puzzles Puzzles

Crossword Sudoku

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Puzzles

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8-12-16

● 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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Sports

October 10, 2017

KARUGA KOINANGE Sports Editor

The Baltimore Ravens snapped a two-game losing streak with a 30-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Ravens (3-2) connected on big plays and converted on scoring chances early, while preventing the Raiders (2-3) from getting the ball into the hands of their playmakers.

Baltimore came out firing as quarterback Joe Flacco hit wide receiver Mike Wallace for a 52-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage.

The big play put the team near the red zone where wide receiver Vince Mayle would eventually cap off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown on an end around handoff.

Oakland looked to strike back on its opening drive, but committed a costly turnover when tight end Jared Cook fumbled the ball near

midfield after being hit from behind by linebacker Patrick Onwuasor.

Cornerback Jimmy Smith recovered the ball and sprinted down the sideline for a 47-yard touchdown to put the Ravens up 14-0 just under five minutes into the game. The Raiders responded with a field goal on their next drive, but the Ravens did not get complacent with their early lead.

The Ravens put together a 15-play scoring drive that chewed eight minutes off the clock, feeding running backs Alex Collins and Javorius Allen all the way to the endzone. Flacco also made some difficult throws on that drive, most notably a six-yard toss with two defenders draped on his back to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin on a crucial third down.

Allen finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, giving his team a 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter. However, Oakland connected on a big scoring play just under three minutes later

when quarterback EJ Manuel found wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the end zone on a broken play for a 41-yard touchdown.

The second half was more of a defensive battle, and the Ravens were up for the challenge.

Rookie cornerback Marlon Humphrey matched up with Crabtree and held his own, preventing any big plays.

The pass rush also stepped up as Manuel was sacked twice in the second half. The Raiders did cut their deficit to seven, but Manuel could not get comfortable enough in the pocket to complete the comeback.

Despite a banged up offensive line, Baltimore chewed clock in the second half with a strong power running game. Allen finished with 73 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while Collins added 55 yards on just 12 carries.

The Ravens look to add to the win column next week as they host the Chicago Bears Oct. 15. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

17

Courtesy of BaltimoreRavens.com

Wide receiver Mike Wallace runs past the Oakland defense Sunday.

towson clashes with richmond Five things you need to know heading into Saturday’s game against the Spiders JORDAN COPE Senior Editor @jordancope26

Towson enters Saturday’s game winless in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The team has fallen to Stony Brook and Villanova to open up conference play. Towson hosts Richmond at Johnny Unitas Stadium Saturday in desperate need of a victory. Here are five things you need to know heading into the contest: 1. Colonial Woes: Towson has dropped seven of its last 10 games against CAA opponents dating back to 2016. It is no secret that conference play is where Towson needs to excel in order to get back into the FCS playoffs, and the road is

only going to get tougher for the team after they host Richmond. Towson faces New Hampshire, Delaware, Elon, William & Mary and Rhode Island down the stretch. It is now or never for TU. 2. Kick ‘em while they’re down: Richmond comes into Saturday’s game ranked 13th in the FCS. Don’t ask me how, because I don’t know. The team is only 3-2 on the season, with one of its two losses coming against Elon at home.

Richmond’s three wins have been by a slim margin of victory against opponents they should have blown out of the water. This matchup against a struggling Richmond

team is one that Towson needs to take advantage of.

3. Defense wins games: This season, Towson’s defense has held its own with the exception of the contest against Maryland. The Tigers defense is allowing only 15.75 points per-game.

It will be important that Towson’s defense continues its dominance Saturday against a high-powered Richmond offense, if the team is going to have any shot of winning.

4. Will the TU offense please stand up: Simply put, Towson’s offense this season has been horrendous. The most points that the team has scored in a game this year is 17. Ryan

Stover is showing potential that he can be the quarterback of the future for the team. He is mobile and can make impressive throws. The Tigers backfield is also dominant. What is really hurting this team is turnovers.

If this Towson team can take care of the football Saturday and for the rest of the season, they have a chance to turn this ship around.

5. Restore the glory days: For a very brief, and I mean brief, amount of time this Towson program was a force to be reckoned with. The team won the Conference Championship in 2011 and made a trip to the FCS National Championship in 2013.

The team had a dominating offensive line and a monster running back in Terrance West those years. It’s easy to say that those teams were special, and don’t get me wrong, they were.

But at some point in time, every team across the country graduates its seniors or loses players to the NFL Draft. It’s time that this program steps up and finds a way to bring in a talented group of student-athletes year after year.

NEXT@ 10/14 4:00pm

18 October 10, 2017

Sports

THE LIGHT R E W TO

tournament troubles

...

IS

Towson slowly drops out of CAA playoff contention

AND

HARD TO

BEAT !

NEWS

?!

There is only one thing we can do...

!!

m e th

Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Junior defender Xavia Lemott leaps for the ball while fending off a nearby defender. The Tigers defense held the College of Charleston to just one shot in the second half and that shot attempt was not on goal.

@THETOWERLIGHT

DESMOND BOYLE Staff Writer @THETOWERLIGHT

Solutions

for Puzzles on page 16

● Each row and each column must

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

● The numbers within the heavily

8-13-16

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

THE TOWERLIGHT

Towson’s chances at a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament berth continue to fade as the team dropped two matches over the week, falling to 1-4-0 in conference competition.

Sunday, Towson fell 2-1 in an overtime heartbreaker to College of Charleston on the road. The loss came just days after they were beaten 3-0 by Hofstra at home.

“It’s fatigue,” Head Coach Greg Paynter said about his team’s overtime struggles. “We absolutely battled once we got down a goal and we played great soccer, but we just came up short.”

Laura Ortega put Charleston in front after heading home a cross from Leah Deutsch in the 20th minute of the game.

The Tigers equalized before halftime when senior midfielder Maddie Bové ripped a shot into the back of the net on a feed from sophomore

midfielder Justine Stoner.

Towson had scoring chances before halftime, but couldn’t convert.

In the 95th minute, Alyssa Beck drilled the ball past Towson goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao off a pass from Mary Kate Bowers to give Charleston the victory.

“Our players gave everything today,” Paynter said. “Sometimes even when you do that, it’s not enough.”

Thursday afternoon, Towson fell 3-0 at home to Hofstra, a team that is currently 6-0 in conference play.

While the Tigers nearly managed to keep their opponent off the scoreboard in the first half, the Pride were dominant in the midfield and used their physicality and speed.

Hofstra's pressure paid off when Maya Watkins scored off Madeline Anderson’s free kick from the other side of the field with just six seconds left in the first half.

In the second half, Hofstra capitalized on Towson’s poor passing for its second goal. Kristin Desmond netted a high near-side shot in the 65th minute following a Towson turnover to give Hofstra a 2-0 lead.

Bella Richards sealed the win for Hofstra in the 82nd minute with a curling effort from the edge of the area off an assist by Ashley Batista.

“We need to be ready [to] play with this same intensity that we did today,” Paynter said. “We played well enough to win today.”

Up next for Towson is a trip to Harrisonburg, Virginia, as the team takes on James Madison Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Sports

October 10, 2017

towson loses two more Tigers fall to 1-13 following weekend contests

19

USTORE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Silvia Grassini Volleyball

Mark Dragon/ The Towerlight

Sophomore middle blocker Silvia Grassini recorded 14 kills and two aces in Towson’s 3-1 victory over UNC Wilmington. Towson’s win over UNC Wilmington snapped the team’s three-game losing streak.

Senior attacker Taylor Kvilhaug runs past a VCU defender. Kvilhaug was one of seven seniors honored before the game on senior day. The senior class has compiled 292 games played and 169 games started.

JILL GATTENS Staff Writer

Towson fell 3-0 to nonconference opponent Virginia Commonwealth Sunday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium on senior day.

The Rams (9-4) controlled the pace of the game early. Spencer Tossone beat Tigers’ (1-13) senior goalkeeper Emilee Woodall five minutes into the game to take a 1-0 advantage.

“We could’ve done a better job of focusing on the details,” Head Coach E.A. Jackson said. “We didn’t take care of the ball, and we created a lot of turnovers.”

At the 12:05 mark, Tossone registered her second goal of the afternoon to give VCU a 2-0 lead. Four minutes after Tossone’s second

“

goal, the team scored again to take a 3-0 lead at the half.

In the second half, Towson’s defense kept VCU scoreless.

However, TU was unable to find the back of the cage and dropped its fourth straight game.

On Friday, Towson fell 3-1 to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponent and the 18th ranked William & Mary Tribe at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

The Tribe (9-4, 3-0 CAA) took an early 1-0 lead just 7:34 into the contest on a shot from the top of the circle that was redirected into the back of the cage.

William & Mary continued to pressure the Towson defense, registering seven shots and three penalty corners. However, the Tigers held them to just one goal in the first half.

In the 40th minute of the contest, junior midfielder Katie McNeel net-

ted the equalizer with a direct shot off a penalty corner from the top of the circle.

“Our players continue to show tremendous improvement every game and they fought hard for the whole duration of the game,” Jackson said.

“We’re not putting as many goals as I would like, but we’re creating attacking situations.”

Following McNeel’s goal, William & Mary answered nine minutes later with a goal off a rebound after an initial save from Woodall.

The Tigers pressured the Tribe’s defense with back-to-back shots, but could not convert on the opportunity. The Tribe added an insurance goal late in the game to ensure a 3-1 victory over the Tigers.

Towson heads on the road for its next three games. The team will travel to Philadelphia to face Drexel, Delaware and LaSalle before returning home to face James Madison.

We could’ve done a better job of focusing on the details. We didn’t take care of the ball, and we created a lot of turnovers.

EA JACKSON Head Coach

”

GEAR UP FOR THE

GAME! VISIT OUR STADIUM STORE!

USTORE /TUSTORE

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20 October 10, 2017

Sports

Tu heads down the stretch strong File photo by Jordan Cope/ The Towerlight

Senior A.J. Gomer returns in a serve in a match last spring against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival Charleston at the Tiger Center Courts in Towson, Marlyand.

BILLY OWENS Asst. Sports Editor

Towson put up a respectable performance at the Navy Blue & Gold Invitational tournament this weekend at the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis, Maryland.

The three-day tournament, which split players into six flighted singles brackets and three flighted doubles brackets, featured players from 11 different schools including Maryland, Rutgers, UConn and host Navy.

“Through the entire weekend, we put ourselves in so many positions to be successful and didn’t do as well under pressure,” Head Coach Jamie Peterson said.

In the A singles flight, Nicole Shakhnazarova fell in her opening round match to UConn’s Yelyzaveta Pletnyeva 6-3, 6-2. She won her consolation quarterfinal match against Morgan State’s Danielle Thompson 8-6, but lost to Rutgers’ Maya Jacobs 9-8(3) in the consolation semifinals.

Also in the A singles flight, Lucy Williams lost a close opening round match to Rutgers’ Mingxiu Du 6-7(7), 6-0, 11-9. In the consolation singles quarterfinal, she was beaten by George Washington’s Maria DeCamps, 8-2.

In the B singles flight, A.J. Gomer advanced to the semifinals, defeating Binghamton’s Samara Eisenberg 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 and Navy’s Josie Rogers 6-2, 7-5, before falling to another Midshipmen, Carlee Conway, 7-6(1), 6-2.

Also in the B singles flight, Alexa Martinez dropped her first-round match to Howard’s Yassmine Khiri 6-2, 6-0. She advanced to the consolation semifinals, beating George Mason’s Hannah Yang 8-5 before narrowly losing to Rutgers’ Chloe Lee 9-8(8).

In the C singles flight, Barbora Vasilkova fell in her opening round match to Rutgers’ Isabelle DaSilva 6-3, 6-1, and lost in the consolation quarterfinals to George Washington’s Victoria Kogan 9-7.

Also in the C singles flight, Renate van Oorschodt was defeated in her

first-round match by Navy’s Miranda Deng 1-6, 6-2, 10-3. She received a bye into the consolation singles semifinals but lost to Binghamton’s Olga Ostrovetsky 8-6.

In the D singles flight, Lucy Gloninger advanced to the quarterfinal round, defeating Rutgers’ Lee Levy 6-2, 7-6(1) before falling to Navy’s Catalina Rico 2-6, 7-5, 10-7 in a tight match.

In the E singles flight, Claire Bedi received a bye into the quarterfinals, but was edged by Hannah Cianciola 4-6,6-4, 10-6. She made the final of the consolation backdraw, topping Binghamton’s Emily Kong 8-1 and George Mason’s Nicole Haigwood 8-4 before ultimately losing to Navy’s Meghan O’Malley 8-3.

Also in the E singles flight, Jane Shusterman received a bye into the quarterfinals but was defeated by George Mason’s Kayleigh Hahn 4-6, 6-2, 10-8. She won her consolation quarterfinal match against Morgan State’s Oriane Yeheounou 8-4, before falling to O’Malley 9-7 in the semifinal round.

In the F singles flight, Theodora

Francu beat Binghamton’s Maria Haykal 6-2, 6-2 in the first round before losing to Navy’s Danika Kahatapitiya 6-2, 6-1.

“There were six or seven match points between numerous matches that we weren’t able to close out and ended up losing those matches,” Peterson said. “We lost a bunch of super tiebreakers and tiebreakers in the consolation eight-game pro sets.”

In the A doubles flight, the team of Gomer and van Oorschodt fell in their opening round match to Rutgers’ Du and Jacqueline Cochrane 6-4. They won their only match in the consolation backdraw, defeating Binghamton’s Eisenberg and Ashley Granieri 6-2.

Also in the A doubles flight, the team of Williams and Shusterman dropped their first-round match against Navy’s Emily Louie-Meadors and Claudia Mackenzie 6-1. They also won their only consolation doubles match, beating Morgan State’s Thompson and Asmara Faluke 7-5.

In the B doubles flight, the team of Gloninger and Martinez lost their opening round match to Navy’s

Amanda Cyr and Deng 6-4. They won their lone consolation match against Rutgers’ Lee and Levy 7-5.

Also in the B doubles flight, the team of Shakhnazarova and Vasilkova advanced all the way to the semifinals, defeating Binghamton’s Kong and Alli Roma 6-1 and George Mason’s Hahn and Haigwood 6-3 before falling to Navy’s Aimee Dervishian and Kahatapitiya 6-3.

In the C doubles flight, the team of Bedi and Francu beat Howard’s Christina Joynes and Sajela Harlow 6-3 in the quarterfinal round before losing in the semifinals to Navy’s Isabel Balsavage and Tina Li 6-2.

“I felt like we played and competed better than a few weeks ago from the beginning of the season, even though the end results may not show it,” Peterson said.

This was Towson’s last full team event for the fall season.

Shakhnazarova and the doubles team of Gomer and van Oorschodt will compete at the USTA/ITA Atlantic Regional Championships hosted at Virginia Tech starting this Friday, Oct. 13.