The Towerlight (Feb. 7, 2017): Towson's Best

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February 7, 2017

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February 7, 2017

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February 7, 2017

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Week of 2/7-2/11

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Editor-in-Chief Cody Boteler Senior Editor Sam Shelton

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News Editor Sarah Rowan Assit. News Editors Bailey Hendricks Marcus Dieterlie Assoc. Arts Editors Taylor DeVille Kristin Helf

Sports Editor Jordan Cope Assit. Sports Editor Karuga Koinange Staff Writers Lauren Cosca

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Nick Mason Sydney Douglass Desmond Boyle Alaina Tepper Bailey Hendricks Theresa Schempp Mary-Ellen Davis Jessica Ricks

Entrepreneurship Unplugged University Union, 306. noon-1:30 p.m.

Come see local entrepreneur Jasmine Simms discuss her Moms as Entrepreneurs program, which provides training in finance, team building, and more.

University Union, noon-2 p.m.

Talk to over 200 student organizations and campus departments to find new involvement opportunities at Towson.

Sarah Van Wie Amanda Carrol Nicole Shakhnazarova Rohan Mattu Photo Editor Alex Best Staff Photographers Cody Boteler

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Mark Dragon Sam Shelton Stephanie Ranque Jordan Cope Video Producer Stacey Coles Proofreaders Kayla Baines Alex Best Tyisha Henderson Stephanie Ranque Sarah Rowan Alaina Tepper

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Thursday Night Trivia Paws, 8-10 p.m Get your friends together and head to Paws on Thursday night to compete for prizes.

Step Afrika!

West Village Commons, 7-10 p.m.

Experience the movements, sounds and rhythms of the African American step tradition at the CSD’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Saturday.

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West Village Commons, 8 p.m-12 a.m.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day week with your SO, or with a group of friends, by coming to West Village for gladiator jousting on Friday night.

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Spring Involvement Fair

Feb

Was just surrounded by the Towson basketball team, way too tall

@Kassiee_Jayy

Congrats to Towson Basketball team for a great win #DubClubShawty

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Thank you Towson students, alumni, community for attending today’s basketball game! I can’t wait to see the attendance numbers - big turnout @TowsonHorse

Not how you start but how you finish!!!! Great win @ Towson_MBB!!! Hell yes!!!

Mentally tough! @Coach_Ambrose

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Opinion

February 7, 2017

Milo should come to campus MATT TEITELBAUM Columnist

Just last week, Breitbart News editor and public speaker Milo Yiannopoulos saw one of his speaking engagements canceled when a protest against him at UC Berkeley turned into a violent riot.

Rioters broke windows and took part in brutal beatings of Milo’s supporters.

I am not on the same side politically as Milo. I am a liberal, because I believe in liberty. First and foremost, my most cherished liberty is freedom of speech.

The entire idea of freedom of speech is predicated on the notion that one must protect not only speech which they agree with, but also speech they disagree with. That also extends to speech which *gasp* offends you.

The violent rioters at UC Berkeley are representative of a phenomenon I and other actual liberals call the “regressive left.” The regressive left doesn’t truly stand for liberty. Instead, they stand for the idea that anyone that says anything which offends them or doesn’t fit their narrative can and should be silenced.

This regressive mindset is not only wrong, it is incredibly dangerous. A healthy public debate of ideas never silences anyone who wishes to engage in an open and honest dialogue about important issues. Unlike many of his critics and the bulk of these rioters, I have actually listened to Milo speak.

When Milo is faced with a tantrum from a protester who disrupts his events, he mercilessly mocks them to no end. However, and this is crucial to my view of Yiannopoulos, when faced with a respectful challenge to his ideas, he’s extremely polite and gives very well thought out answers to genuine questions from liberals.

This is what public discourse between people who disagree is supposed to look like. It’s not supposed to look like the absolute temper tantrum that many regressive leftists throw at his events.

And when they’re not throwing tantrums, these regressives resort to the next most destructive thing, name-calling. You’ve all heard it over the course of the past year. Conservatives are racist, sexist, Islamophobic. Despite my progressive views and liberal credentials as a youth leader in the Democratic Party, I’ve been called all of these things when I speak freely about political issues. The one thing I have not been called is the utterly hyperbolic

“neo-Nazi.”

Milo has been called a neo-Nazi by many of his most fervent critics.

He is also a half-Jewish, openly-gay man. I will refer to my ethnic heritage when I say that calling Milo a Nazi is incredibly insulting to the memory of my ancestors and the millions of others who suffered during the Holocaust.

Milo is not an oppressor, he’s a messenger. I don’t agree with every aspect of his message.

However, I must admit, I agree with some of it. And that’s important. It’s important for people from different sides of the isle to listen to one another. That’s how you find common ground and come to a consensus. It’s how you change minds and strengthen your movement.

When you listen and engage in a respectful dialogue about your differences, that’s called making an argument; something many liberals, the regressives, are forgetting how to do.

Instead, they attempt to silence their foes by name-calling and throwing dramatic tantrums to distract from their weak debating skills.

If Milo comes to Towson, and I hope he does, don’t be one of these regres-

sive babies. Go to his event, listen, and if you disagree with something he says, ask about it during the Q&A. As a true, blue Liberal Democrat who vehemently opposes President Trump, I want avid Trump supporter and right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos to know that people like me exist. I want him to know that true liberals are here to debate him, not silence him.

And lastly, I want all the regressives to know that their childish antics will not be tolerated. To each and every one of you that would even think to engage in the kind of behavior that took place at UC Berkeley, or who calls their political opponents neo-Nazis in a pathetic attempt to slander them with false, ad hominem attacks which harken back to the tactics of McCarthyism.

You are the shame of the progressive movement and could not be more antithetical to true liberalism.

Learn to make actual arguments or get out of the debate hall. Right now, with this country in the state that it’s in, we adults don’t have time for your tantrums.

Don’t let UC Berkeley happen here DYLAN BRENNAN Columnist

The events at the University of California, Berkley, last week are symptomatic to the problems that are seeping from the bottom of the barrel, and quickly at that. Since Trump has been elected, the process has been accelerating so fast that the barrel overflows from time to time, as seen at Berkeley.

So this time, it’s the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement turning back on its roots and using violence to prevent free speech.

The protesters claimed that it was their duty to shut down Nazis, ignoring the fact that Milo Yiannopoulos is both gay and of Jewish descent, let alone ignoring that those who are calling him the Nazi are the ones burning books and using violence to suppress different opinions. And let’s not forget that they put hammers to ATM machines and graffitied the walls of independent businesses that read “Liberals get a bullet too.” Oh, and I almost forgot that out of all the innocent men and women they pepper-sprayed, launched fireworks at and beat in the streets, none of them were Yiannopoulos himself.

This is getting more and more common across campuses in America, and I don’t want those west coast lunacies

to spread to our corner of the east coast. These people are having a heavy debate (and I use the term lightly) about the ethics of punching Nazis.

Well clearly, according to their definition of what a Nazi is, that is giving them carte blanche to use political violence against others. That is the literal dictionary definition of terrorism. Don’t dare give these thugs and criminals an inch, because they’ll take more than just a mile. In a hypothetical sense, if I -- and I do -- see these people burning books and assaulting people because they aren’t part of their political movement, and I punch them because they’re the Nazis, this will eyefor-an-eye out into a civil war.

While foolish celebrities like Sarah Silverman and “Trainwreck” Director Judd Apatow cheer on these riots from their ivory towers, even calling for military coups, know that we as college students are on the proverbial front lines. I have very heated problems with many who have come to this campus, from Tim Wise to Laci Green -- who was scheduled to appear in the fall but canceled -- but I don’t start riots over them. If Milo or any other right-wing speakers come to this campus, please do the same for all our sakes.

Nobody can confirm that Winston Churchill ever said “The fascists of the future will call themselves ‘anti-fascists,’” but I can certainly confirm I’m saying it now, and I hope you will too.

Opinion

February 7, 2017

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Questions from a Muslim to a Trump supporter USJID HAMEED Student

Dear Trump Supporter, I do not believe I possess the vocabulary nor the strength to accurately describe my current feelings of despair.

The walls, the bans; it is all underway. Just last week Trump announced the building of the wall along the U.S.’s southern border and issued a complete ban on immigration from seven Muslim majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The ban also applies to individuals holding dual U.S. citizenship.

I have never, in my life, felt such anxiety. My grandmother will be traveling to Pakistan in the coming months. I am tempted to convince her not to go for fear that she will be not be let back into the country when she decides to return. Why do I feel this way? What have Muslims done to deserve such treatment? Have we done something so inhumane, so grotesque, that with a

stroke of a pen, we are deemed unworthy of setting foot in America?

Prior to the election, you casually remarked “he won’t be that bad” and “there’s no way he’ll do (Insert xenophobic policy here).” It seems that many Americans who either voted for Trump or chose not to vote at all, had a naive confidence in America’s institutions. It seems that you had faith in Republican leaders to stand up for those groups which Trump wished to marginalize. I am sorry to say that you were wrong. Very, very, wrong. Your negligent feelings towards Trump’s actual policies lead me to ask a few questions. I must admit, not only for my knowledge as an active citizen, but in large part, for my sanity as an American-Muslim that must live in a country which wishes to see his people banned.

The first is “why did you vote for him?” If you felt that he would not be able to follow through on his promises, by what merit did he deserve your vote? Analysts attribute Trump’s win

STUDY ABROAD

to a certain ‘feeling’ he gave voters.

What was that feeling? Please, tell me.

Did his promises to deport millions of people make you ‘feel’ good? Or maybe his idea to punish women for having abortions filled some long, deep, void.

Nevertheless, I completely understand his popularity. Borders matter.

National identity matters. The white working class of America feels forgotten. But does turning away refugees who only wish to find safety from a never-ending bombing campaign strengthen our national identity? Do walls and bans make you feel remembered?

As much as I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt, I cannot.

While his promise to bring jobs back to the U.S. was appealing, no doubt, he was not the only one to support such as proposal. Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were also supporters of curbing free trade. Yet, you still voted for Trump despite his repeated promises to remove and bar people of different faiths and races from this country.

I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that many voted for Trump not only for the economy, or security, but to live in an America which is controlled by white, straight, ‘Christian,’ men. An America which thrives off of appealing to people’s most fatalistic emotions. A country in which giving less to someone who isn’t Christian, or male, or, white, somehow gives more to you. Let me be clear, I am not calling everyone who voted for Trump a bad person. I am not calling you a racist deplorable. I am, however, calling you selfish. Despite all the outrage from women, Muslims, Hispanics, and people in the LGBT + community, you still voted for him hoping that somehow, disenfranchising the aforementioned groups, would make your life better in some imaginary, zero sum affair.

I do not know if I will be able to forgive you. I do not know if I want to forgive you, as you showed me something about this country I thought was long buried in its past. You showed me

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that America is not what I thought it was. You showed me that no matter how hard people of color or AmericanMuslims work to be good citizens, millions of our fellow Americans hate us for no good reason other than the fact that we somehow make their lives worse by simply existing. That is something we will never forget.

I pray that if you do not see the error of your deeds soon, you will see them before something much more sinister occurs. I pray that through marches and protests, we are looked at not as ‘crybabies,’ but as concerned citizens who only wish to see their country live up to its potential as the beacon of liberty and compassion we all know it can be. Finally, I pray that one day, American-Muslims can tell their children that their fellow countrymen and women stood beside them, steadfast, in the struggle against bigotry we currently face.

Usjid Hameed Towson Student. American. Muslim.

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February 7, 2017

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News

February 7, 2017

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BFSA hosts Black History Month kick-off event Black Faculty & Staff Association President Barry Evans says that people have a habit of walking past each other without saying ‘hello’ or getting to know people in their physical lives rather than just on social media. He wants to break that pattern.

And at the BFSA’s “Unifying the Village” Black History Month kick-off Feb. 1, community members of diverse backgrounds focused on communicating through honest conversations.

“The truth is that people have gotten to the place where they presume relationships when they don’t really have them,” Evans said. “We have virtual relationships. People are more connected with somebody on Facebook than they’re connected to the person next to them.”

Attendees filled out a chart with characteristics about themselves that they felt were easily noticeable -- like race, gender, physical attributes -- and characteristics that other people may not immediately notice: likes/dislikes, pet peeves, skills.

After taking a moment to consider their own identities, attendees paired off with one another to share a moment when they felt pride or pain about each of those characteristics.

The exercise was then repeated multiple times with different people.

During the event, religious leaders led the audience through Christian and Muslim prayers. Audience mem-

bers also joined together to sing “Lift Every Voice & Sing” and “Amazing Grace,” both of which have strong connections to Black culture.

TU’s inaugural Vice President of Inclusion & Institutional Equity Leah Cox asked the audience to consider how they define their own identity, how they define Towson as a community, and how the two fit into one another.

“We’re all a part of this group, this community, this village,” Cox said.

“But our identities are intertwined.”

Cox called on Towson to “share, accept, explore, engage and step back” as they work to create a collective village and become more unified.

“I want to be part of the change that happens at Towson because it’s really exciting,” she said.

Kalima Young, an electronic media and film lecturer at Towson, opened her speech with a quote from writer and activist Audre Lorde: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

“When we care for ourselves, we are protesting, we are resisting,” Young said.

Young said African-Americans live in a world that is built on their oppression. She emphasized the importance of self-care as a response to current pain, but also ancestral pain which she believes current generations continue to feel.

Young said that a woman is born with every egg she will ever have, and so she carries her family’s entire history with her.

Alex Best/ The Towerlight BFSA President Barry Evans speaks at the association’s second annual welcome reception Sept. 1 in the Potomac Lounge. BFSA hosted a Black History Month kick-off event Feb. 1.

“Not only did your mother carry you, so did your grandmother, so did her mother,” she said. “Energy flows both ways.”

Young closed her speech with another quote, this time from novelist and social critic James Baldwin: “It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death – ought to decide, indeed, to earn one’s death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life.”

Lena Ampadu, an English professor, read poet Robert Hayden’s poem, “Middle Passage.” Meanwhile, three students laid on/underneath chairs symbolizing the racks that African slaves were chained to on ships as they

were taken to America.

Vincent Thomas, an associate dance professor, performed a dance piece in accompaniment with the poem and the sounds of somber trumpet music.

The event concluded with BFSA Secretary Shari Groover reading poet and activist Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise.”

“I learned to not judge people and to just hang out with them, to get to know people more and I stepped out of my comfort zone a lot,” freshman Tim Fletcher said.

Fletcher, an undecided major, plans to take some of the lessons from the event into his everyday life to learn

more about other people and their perspectives.

Freshman music major Jemeyah Bagby saw the event as a great time to reflect on how she interacts with other people.

“I think that’s an important thing, going to college and meeting people and not being afraid to try to communicate,” she said.

Evans wants people to get to know the core of the person they’re meeting rather than merely assuming who that person is.

“The reality is that we have a lot more in common than what the outside says,” Evans said.

TU named in top LGBTQ-Friendly Online Schools list Towson University was named in the 2017 Top LGBTQ-Friendly Online Schools list by SR Education Group, an organization that creates websites aimed at connecting students with resources to help students finish their education.

This list includes 58 schools, giving “Campus Pride Index Scores” to indicate how LGBTQ-friendly each online school is.

Towson received a 4.0 out of a total of 5.0 on its Pride Index Score.

There were only six schools who received a Pride Score of 5.0.

“To develop this list, we employed data from Campus Pride,

a national nonprofit that worked with researchers to generate standards and tools for assessing LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs, and practices at higher education institutions,” SR Education representative Taitum Ridgway said.

“Our methodology considers Campus Pride Index scores along with online degree offerings in order to provide a list of the most LGBTQ-Friendly Online Schools in the nation.”

Each school on the list received a minimum score of 3 stars on the Campus Pride Index and offers at least 15 online degree programs.

The Campus Pride Index breaks down the “Overall Campus Pride Index Score” by having a Sexual Orientation Score and a Gender Identity/ Expression Score, both of

which impact the overall score.

Towson received a 4.0 on both of these scores.

The overall score also depends on what the school scored in inclusion factors. Towson scored a 3.5 in LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment, a 4 in LGBTQ Academic Life and a 4.5 in LGBTQ Student Life.

Towson also scored a 4.5 in LGBTQ Housing & Residence Life, a 2.5 in LGBTQ Campus Safety, a 5 in LGBTQ Counseling & Health and a 3.5 in LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention Efforts.

Towson was also given a “report card” with specific subcategories from the categories above to show what Towson does and doesn’t offer in regards to those categories.

For example, the LGBTQ

Housing & Residence Life category shows that TU does train HRL staff at all levels on LGBTQ issues and concerns, but doesn’t currently offer gender-inclusive/single occupancy restroom facilities in all campus housing.

“I think it’s really cool to be a LGBTQ [friendly] school because then everyone feels included and then everyone feels like they’re welcome to come here,” junior Katie Laskey said.

“I think [Towson making this list] will be good for Towson in the future because then people will want to come here,” Laskey continued. “I would agree Towson is LGBTQ friendly because I see a lot of [LGBTQ students] on campus personally, and I see people that are holding hands, and kissing

on campus who are gay or lesbian, and think people are accepting of that.”.

Sophomore Rylie Dufresne, a member of Queer Student Union, In the Life, PRIDE Mentor Program and SpeakOUT Speakers Bureau, said the news of Towson making this list makes them happy, but said “we may not be as queer-inclusive as the list might suggest” and that “we still have tons of work to do.”

Dufresne mentioned that some professors in various use outdated terminology regarding the LGBTQ community in their classes, and “aren’t exactly inclusive.”

Dufresne also said that some students are “a bit overt in not being friendly” and that Dufresne “would like that to change.”

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News

February 7, 2017

Newell reopens after eight months of renovations Newell Dining Hall and The Den have reopened this semester, following eight months of renovations.

The building received updates to its heating and air conditioning systems, plumbing, roofing, windows and lighting, while The Den itself has remained mostly unchanged aside from cosmetic touch ups, according to John Brady, director of operations for Dining Services.

The Den’s “Signature Deli” has been changed to a program called “Chop’d and Wrap’d,” a station

where students can purchase diced vegetables and proteins in salads and wraps, Brady said.

The deli has been moved upstairs as the “Boar’s Head Deli” in what used to be a seating area outside of the dining hall.

During the day, the deli is part of the dining hall’s all-you-care-to-eat program.

After the dining hall closes, students can still purchase sandwiches from the deli but it is not buffet-style, Brady said.

The dining hall is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays. It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

The Den is open from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. It is open from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.

The dining hall now includes a fully-dedicated kosher station with clear, symmetrical separation between dairy and meats.

The grill station, where chefs cook items like pasta and fajitas, has remained largely unchanged.

The area which Brady calls the “blue plate” station -- where students can get hearty, main course meals like roast beef, mash potatoes and green beans -- still has a place in the dining hall. However, the station has been shifted back toward the kitchens.

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The dining hall now includes a pantry which is set up to look like a home kitchen and holds breakfast items like coffee and waffles.

In the same area, diners currently have access to apple and orange juice. Brady said the dining hall plans to include soy milk and a juicing machine.

The center of the hall is dedicated to the salad bar, a carryover from before the renovations.

But the station now also includes omelets and other made-to-order items. The walls that used to house the kitchens have been opened up so students can see their food being cooked and can meet the chefs behind the meals they’re eating.

“The idea that you can see what’s happening in the back takes a little mystery out of it,” Brady said. “It adds some validity.”

If you were a fan of the old hotdog machine, don’t worry; it survived as well.

Last semester, Newell Dining Hall experimented with going trayless on certain days to help prevent overeating and food waste. This semester, Newell has gone fully trayless.

In the back area, where the kitchens used to extend, now exists a seating area and a bakery where students can pick up their favorite dessert treat.

Brady said the bakery plans to expand its role in the University and will allow students to purchase birthday cakes for their friends.

In addition to the seating area near the bakery, students can also sit in the renovated cathedral dining room.

The room, which looks like it’s been lifted straight out of Hogwarts’ Great Hall, has been outfitted with dark wood chairs, benches, long tables and iron chandeliers.

Senior Austin Tomaszewski said he’s pleased with Newell’s new

aesthetic.

However, Tomszewski, a criminal justice major, said he was disappointed that he was unable to find his favorite cheesesteak at the dining hall’s grill station.

Brady said he’s heard a few complaints about certain items that have been taken off the menu, but he assuages those concerns, saying that they are “not gone for good.”

He hopes that the dining hall will be able to adjust the menu and adapt to students’ dining desires as time goes on.

Junior Hannah Fields said she is excited to try Newell’s gluten-free options.

Fields, an anthropology major, said she does not have a gluten intolerance herself but that her family members do and so she’s grown up loving gluten-free foods.

Newell included gluten-free and other special dietary need options prior to the renovations.

Other renovations in the dining hall include repainting, new tiling, switching to LED lighting to increase energy efficiency, and making the bathrooms gender-inclusive.

According to Dan Slattery, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services, the renovations were completed just prior to this spring semester in late January, and the University is correcting any operational issues at this point in time.

Although the University is still waiting to learn the final cost of the renovations, Slattery said the combined budgets for the two projects were set at around $7 million, and he predicts that the projects came in on or under budget.

With the new stations, Brady said Newell has increased employment by at least six staff members. Students can speak with dining staff to meet any special dietary needs.

Responses are confidential and wiJ J help guide decisions regarding health and wellness on Towson's campus.

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For more info, contact afrey@towson.edu

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Joseph Hockey/ The Towerlight The renovated Newell Dining Hall now offers a pantry-like home kitchen area and a fully dedicated kosher station.

News

February 7, 2017

MD introduces two marijuana bills

l

TU will “assess and evaluate” campus effect

g ” l d s State senators Richard Madaleno and Will Smith, with State delegates sMary Washington, David Moon and eCurt Anderson, announced Monday the introduction of two bills that ,would legalize recreational marijuanna in the state of Maryland. r “Marijuana is safer than alcohol. sYet alcohol is legal, and marijuana .is not, in the state of Maryland,” dAnderson said. s Under the new bills, Marylanders who are 21 years or older would be gable to: - • Possess up to one ounce o of marijuana.

- • Possess up to five grams . of cannabis extract and up to 12 servings of cannay bis-infused edibles. e • Grow up to six cannabis g plants, with no more than e three mature at a time.

- • Prior convictions for adults 21 or older that are l made legal by this bill would e be expunged.

- In addition, the following tax spolicies would be set: d • Cannabis would be sube ject to a 9 percent sales tax — the same degree that d alcohol is taxed. y • Marijuana products would s face a $30 excise tax per t ounce, to be paid by the cultivator and adjusted annually for inflation.

Neither the taxing nor the legal regulations would apply to Maryland’s medical marijuana program.

The bills are being introduced as a tax bill and regulation bill. The legislators at the press conference that introducing the bills separately is the best way to approach the way that Maryland legislation works.

“Having a separate tax bill lets the state have the discussions about how the product can be used to fund priorities throughout the state,” Washington said. t Campus officials told The eTowerlight in an email that the University would “assess and evalu-

ate” how legal recreational marijuana would effect campus.

“Keep in mind, this is a non-smoking campus, and those rules apply to all forms of smoking,” Senior Director of Communications and Media Relations Ray Feldmann said.

State Sen. Jim Brochin, a Baltimore County Democratic who represents Towson, told The Towerlight that he would not support a push to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

“I don’t want to become a society that think it’s OK to walk around stoned all the time,” Brochin said.

Brochin reiterated that he did, however, support the decriminalization and regulation of marijuana for medical purposes.

Del. Steve Lafferty, a Democrat who represents Towson in the House of Delegates, did not respond to a request for comment.

Under the announced proposal, state revenue from marijuana sales would go 50 percent to education funding, 25 percent to addiction programs, including opioid addiction, 15 percent to “workforce development programs” and 10 percent to combat driving under the influence through public education and law enforcement training.

While the legislators did not announce a specific amount of revenue they expected would be drawn from the measure, if passed, an information sheet from the Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition noted that Colorado, a state with fewer residents than Maryland, drew in over $200 million in taxes and fees from legal marijuana in 2016.

Some limits on the use and possession of marijuana would still be prohibited. As it does under current Maryland law, smoking in public would carry a civil fine of up to $500 and driving under the influence would remain illegal.

Landlords would not have to allow the cultivation of marijuana plants on their property and employers would not be required to allow the use of cannabis products at work or let their employees work under the influence.

towson.edu/onecard To sign-up log onto towson.edu/dining -orStop by the Auxiliary Services Business Office In the Union,

across from the

University Store

9

10 February 7, 2017

News

County to discuss unruly social gatherings expansion At their next work session, the Baltimore County Council will discuss a bill that could expand the areas that are affected by Towson’s “unruly social gatherings” rule.

The council will discuss the bill in their work session Feb. 14 – a final vote is scheduled for Feb. 21.

County Councilman David Marks, a Republican who represents most of Towson, and the original sponsor of the bill, said the council decided to propose an expansion of the area that the bill covers after getting positive feedback from the original neighborhoods.

“We wanted to see if there was some success with the original program,” Marks said. “The additional neighborhoods have a fewer concentration of students than in the original program.”

The original legislation affected communities east of York Road. The new legislation, which would go into effect March 6, if the bill is passed,

could add Loch Raven Village, Rodgers Forge, Knettishall and parts of West Towson to the impact area.

The bill holds tenants and landlords responsible for violations of having a gathering of four or more people in a home on the surrounding area of nearby universities if it “includes conduct that disturbs the peace.”

“I want to do everything to encourage renters, including students, to be good neighbors with established residents,” Marks said. “Most students already are, but not all. There have been loud disturbances that impact and destabilize neighborhoods.”

If conduct disturbs the peace, an organizer, tenant or anyone who comes forward with accepting responsibility for the gathering is issued a $500 fine and 20 hours of community service, while the landlord is given a warning for a first violation of the bill.

After a second violation, the landlord is given a $500 fine, and the tenant is fined $1,000 and given 32 hours of community service.

Third and subsequent penalties include issuing the tenant a $1,000 fine and 48 hours of community service. At this stage, a landlord is

Courtesy of Greater Towson Council of Community Associations

This map shows the proposed expansion area for the “unruly social gatherings” rule. The Baltimore County Council will discuss the expansion at their next work session Feb. 14. also given a $1,000 fine and is at risk of getting their rental license suspended.

However, Marks said there are some safeguards in the program.

“First, no police officer is required to issue a citation,” Marks said. “A

police officer has the discretion based upon what he or she sees at the location. Also, the penalties are civil and not criminal. We do not want any students to have difficulties getting a job after they graduate from college.”

There have been 19 citations

given since the program was created last year, according to Capt.

Jay Landsman Jr., commander of the Baltimore County Police Department's Towson precinct.

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

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February 7, 2017

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14 February 7, 2017

Towson’s Best In order to find the very best of what the Towson community has to offer, The Towerlight conducted an online survey of what students like most. Over the next few pages, we’ll weigh in on what readers decided and share some commentary of our own.

This is Towson’s Best. (Blurbs and photos by Towerlight Staff)

Best residence hall: Douglass House

Best on-campus eats: Au Bon Pain in Hawkins Hall Before there was Au Bon Pain, there was a bare-bones, pseudo-cafe and fast casual eatery called Brick Street Cafe, and it just didn’t compare to what we have now. Brick Street, which closed in 2014, was good for the quick bagel or mac n’ cheese fix, but Au Bon Pain is a bonafide Panera Bread-esque testament to ciabatta and tummy-warming comfort food. Stocked with an abundance of baked goods, smoothie and salad stations, and of course, the ever-important sandwich line, ABP is a good go-to for any meal. Everybody knows how great it is -- which made naming it Towson’s Best pretty easy -- but that means the lines can get long, especially around lunch time. Luckily, the center soup station is there for you, for a quick and painless solution.

Grab and go.

Campu

William Strang-Moya/ The Towerlight

Au Bon Pain in Hawkins Hall offers hot sandwiches, salads, soups and a variety of baked goods.

Best place to live: off campus somewhere Basically everyone agrees that no matter where you’re living, you’ll enjoy your college experience more if it’s spent living off-campus. It might not be as convenient as living several steps away from a dining hall, but that’s a small sacrifice to make, especially if you live near a grocery store and a shuttle stop. Some students opt for city living (shout out to the Collegetown Shuttle) while others prefer to be closer by, but no matter what apartment complex you call home, it’s better than a room in pre-renovation Residence Tower.

Best place to park: pretty much nowhere

C’mon guys, really? Don’t get me wrong -- this is hilarious, and Towson is definitely lacking in the parking department. But nowhere? Yeah, it sucks driving around and hunting for a spot. But there are, sometimes literally, hundreds of unfilled spots. ...Wait, those unfilled spots are on south campus, half a mile away from the academic core? OK, yeah, that sucks a little bit. Never mind. Y’all are right. The best place to park is nowhere. Take the shuttles or ride your bike or walk. The other option is to show up like an hour before your class so that you can try and find a spot -- or find a spot at the Towson Center and walk to the core of campus. Neither is a great option.

Best way to improve TU: more parking

Is this really a surprise? We all have a hard time finding somewhere to park -- be it morning, noon or night. It’s hard. In a perfect world, yeah, maybe we could all plan ahead and park over by the Towson Center, where spots sit empty most days, but it’s just not realistic. People will run late, and people will wear uncomfortable shoes and not want to walk that far, and the shuttle schedule won’t work well for everyone or arrive on time. So please. Please please please please please please. Someone find a way to squeeze out a few more spaces closer to central campus.

Best shuttle route: the Gold Route

This on-campus route is a MUST when it’s raining, pouring, snowing or you’re still snoring on the way to class. The Gold Route hits every hot spot on campus, from West Village to SECU Arena and back again over and over and over. The route, which even runs on limited hours during the weekends, offers picturesque views of everything from Johnny Unitas’ bleachers to the CLA’s wide windows and the Stephens clock tower. And now, with an updated shuttle tracking system (www.tutigerride.com) and text alerts, you’ll know for sure when you’re better off walking to the shuttle stop or running to class.

Douglass House. The Doug. Whatever you choose to call it, there’s no denying that for the second year in a row, Douglass has the best on-campus housing. And why wouldn’t it? With one of the tightest-knit communities on campus, you’ll definitely feel at home here. Douglass is home to many of Towson’s Honors College students, and the study lounges are full more nights than not. But don’t let that fool you: The Doug knows how to have a whole lot of fun. Bonus: Residence Life Coordinator Andrea Polleys has a puppy named Pippa, who you can follow on instagram @douglassdog.

s

Best bathrooms: in the CLA

This is one that we don’t understand. The CLA bathrooms are kinda cramped feeling and if you don’t catch them at the right time, totally crowded. We guess y’all like them because they’re convenient and typically pretty clean? We dunno. We can’t pretend to support this pick. The only cool thing about the CLA bathrooms is the secret showers (We’re not lying, check out the first floor). If you really want the best bathrooms on campus, we’d recommend the third floor of the West Village Commons.

Best study spot: inside the CLA The College of Liberal Arts building is big, beautiful and spread out.

So spread out, in fact, that if you're looking for a quiet place to study, you can almost certainly find a table to place your textbook on -- or a comfy chair to slouch in. The CLA has a little-trafficked fifth floor -- with an area carved out with tables and armchairs that can be used for group or solo studying. There's the cafe on the fourth floor, open 7:30 a.m. to 7p.m. Monday through Thursday. and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday, so you can quickly refuel during cram study sessions. And, if you're looking for somewhere especially quiet, there's a study lounge on the fourth floor.

Best adminstrator: Kim Schatzel President Kim Schatzel started her time at Towson just over a year ago, and she hasn't stopped taking campus by storm since. Schatzel, whose office is across the street in the Administration Building, is frequently found at after-hours campus events taking selfies with students, shaking hands and getting to know the campus she now oversees. If you haven't checked out her Instagram yet, you absolutely should. Not only will she post some great pics from around campus, but you can get familiar with her ADORABLE trio of dogs.

Towson’s Best

February 7, 2017

15

Towson’s Best Best student group: SGA The Student Government Association is, really, the student group to end all student groups. Elected each year, these student leaders have their hands on the purse and determine, in part, how student fee money is distributed throughout other student groups on campus.

Yeah, seems pretty fair to call them the best student group, with that sort of influence on campus.

The members of the SGA have also been a driving force in some critical campus movements, notably #NotAtTU, to try and make campus a more welcoming environment. If the SGA sounds like your kind of group, keep an eye open. It won't be long before election packets go out and students can start running to be a senator -- or a member of the judiciary or executive board.

Best student-led initiative: #NotatTU

Diversity, inclusion and safety have all been hot button issues on Towson’s campus and around the world in recent years, and you guys have clearly responded. Relating to racial File photo by Patrick Burke/ The Towerlight equality actions like the November 2015 #OccupyTowson Members of the women’s soccer team push on toward a goal despite interference from rival players. and a bias incident at the CLA Cafe in April, the hate/bias language prevention and reporting campaign aims to make Towson University a more inclusive and welcoming place for all students by encouraging students to report hate/bias language Last year, the Tigers missed out on making the conference tournament and finished the season just 6-12-1, but a highlight was the perexperiences, which are then investigated by the university. formance of redshirt junior goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao. Sebolao was named Third-Team All-CAA and recorded five shutouts tying her for fifth-most in a single season. Another women’s that is worthy of the honor is lacrosse. Last season, the team went 16-4, won a conference On the campaign’s official website, towson.edu/notattu, championship and won an NCAA tournament game over Old Dominion 16-5. Head Coach Sonia LaMonica has maintained consistency students can report hate crimes and bias incidents and learn in the program, leading the team to six straight conference championship appearances. about available resources, like what to expect after submitting a report and various hate and bias examples. e , t t You guys provided a lot of reasons for this one, with no clear winner, but the closest thing we had to a consensus was e If you are looking for the best place to live at Towson University, look no further that Towson is a “big school with a small school feel” -- campus’ most famous phrase. uthan University Village. Located right across from the Center for the Arts, University In addition to being one of Towson’s best marketing points, this is also definitely, definitely true. Even though we’ve eVillage is just a short walk away from campus. University Village also has plenty of got over 20,000 students, I’ve never had a class with more than a few dozen. We can send an email to any of our profesamenities to keep its residents entertained. Hot day in the summer? Go take a dip in the pool. Need a quick workout? Go to the gym. University Village is without a sors and get a response. We recognize handfuls of people everywhere we go -- Towson University really does maintain a doubt one of the best places to live at Towson. community feel.

Best women’s team: Soccer

Best apartments: University Village

Best reason to attend TU: “Big school with a small school feel”

Best place to work out: Burdick Gym Best men’s teams: a tie between Basketball and Lacrosse The best place to workout on campus was no real contest--and if it was, Burdick probably wouldn’t have won. Unless you actually enjoy fighting for one of only twenty-or-so cardio machines, you’re probably better off getting some free weights and jogging around campus. We don’t mean to be harsh; at least Burdick has a machine for every muscle group--and ladies, you even get your own free weights upstairs, as long as you only lift up to 20 pounds. To avoid the crowds, your only option is to arrive between 6:30 and 8 a.m., or about an hour before the gym closes at 11 p.m. (Mon-Thurs). But what other local gym can boast a sweet rock climbing wall? Too bad it’s all under construction right now.

And the winner for best men’s team is… a tie between basketball and lacrosse! Both programs have made tremendous strides in recent years and have given Tigers fans an enormous sense of pride.

Head Coach Shawn Nadelen led Towson to a 16-3 record, a conference championship and an appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals last season. This year, the team is ranked 12th in the country.

On the hardwood, Towson surprised many folks last year by finishing 20-13. This season, the team was picked to finish second in the conference and almost Brooke Glenn/ The Towerlight upset in-state rival Maryland. Both teams are certainly worthy of the The Towson men’s lacrosse team is ranked 12th in the country going into the spring season. honor for best men’s team.

16 February 7, 2017

Towson’s Best

Towson’s Best

Best grocery store: Weis You just got back from class, and you’re out of food. But, let’s face it...you’re pretty comfortable at home and you probably don’t feel like going too far for groceries. Look no further than Weis Markets, less than a five-minute drive from campus. Here, you can find good eats at generally good prices...did we mention that you can buy a box of pierogies for less than $5? And, it’s never as busy as Target, so you can get in and out just in time for the next episode of The Bachelor. If you’re into that sort of thing.

Best Liquor Store: Wells Wells is huge. The sign out front currently reads, “If it’s in stock, we have it,” but jokes aside, they pretty much are always stocked with any wine, beer or liquor you could ask for. The other day I stumbled upon what I presumed was a box of wine only to realize it was a box of *Fireball*. (Who needs--or wants to admit they need--that much Fireball?) They have free tastings every so often, which is awesome, and they’re also pretty cheap and have sales all the time. However, if you’re looking to get a student discount, you’ll have to go to Crackpot Liquors on Loch Raven Boulevard. Just bring your OneCard.

Photos by William Strang-Moya/ The Towerlight

Greene Turtle patrons grab a drink inside the popular eatery on York Road earlier this semester.

Best bar: The Greene Turtle

Best Club: Torrent

Yes. Absolutely. The Towerlight agrees. Greene Turtle is within walking distance (which is SO important. Don’t drink and drive!) and close to other fine Towson establishments (which we’re just not gonna name right now). Turtle has a killer rooftop bar (with heat lamps and fire pits) that lets you enjoy a crowd without feeling crowded, because of the open air. Yeah, going to a bar is a little pricey. But Turtle has a hilarious “Turtle Bouncers” Twitter, some cool Towson-specific shirts and the great, but risky, “Twofer Tuesday.”

Commu

Best place to get coffee: Starbucks Best Pizza/Best Late-night Eats: Lotsa Yup, seems simple enough. Good coffee, close enough to walk... checks off all the boxes. It does get crowded and the drive-thru can be an absolute nightmare (especially when people cheat and enter the drive-thru from York!), but the staff almost always works as quickly as they can, and they stay really friendly while they do it.

It’s worth mentioning that the coffee shop in Cook Library is now a full Starbucks, too -- and that they accept meals and point after 4 p.m. But if you’re in Cook, there’s no escaping that you’re on campus. The Starbucks on York is a nice little break from the Towson Bubble.

It’s late on a Thursday night. You’re uptown, you’re hungry and you maaaaay have had a little bit to drink. Luckily, there’s a solution: Lotsa Stone Fired Pizza, conveniently located right down the street from places like Turtle, Lil Dicky’s and The Rec Room. Here, you can build your own pizza, or choose from a list of signatures like Buffalo Chicken or Old Bay shrimp. And bonus: it’s open until 3 a.m. on weekends. It’s a popular spot at any time of the day, but standing in line for a little while is well worth it. No matter when you go or what you order, we can definitely say that you’ll have Lotsa fun.

Best Happy Hour Menu: On the Border

Best Delivery: Towson Best Towson’s best delivery is, go figure, Towson Best. Chinese food that’s cheap and tastes good? Late-night delivery? Really, really good dumplings? That’s Towson Best. Even if wasn’t the Best, it’s only a five minute walk from campus and located uptown, so they’d still have our money anyway.

Best Dessert: Cheesecake Factory Whether you’re celebrating your birthday, want to reward yourself for acing your midterm, or you just need to satisfy the munchies, your best bet is dessert from Cheesecake Factory. Located in the Towson Town Center, Cheesecake Factory gives you over 30 cheesecake options to choose from -- and a few delicious non-cheesecake desserts too (but who actually orders ice cream or a bowl of strawberries from Cheesecake Factory?). If you’re trying to be healthy, go for the low carb cheesecake (with strawberries)-- the graham-walnut crust and Splenda substitute are surprisingly just as good as the more decadent options. But why not do yourself a favor and treat yo’self to Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple cheesecake or the new Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cheesecake (with Nutella)? You can thank me later.

Sam Shelton/ The Towerlight

Towerlight staff members sample a selection of foods from the On the Border happy hour menu.

College students live for affordable alcohol and affordable snacks, and On the Border, a staple of the Towson Square Complex, delivers on both. The Happy Hour menu (available Monday-Friday, 3-7 p.m. and again Sunday-Thursday 9-11 p.m.) boasts a medley of appetizer options -- including but not limited to queso, cheese quesadillas, chicken or beef empanadas, mini tacos and guacamole -- all under $4. Be warned, the portions are small, but it’s cheap and delicious, and On the Border customarily provides complimentary chips and salsa. As for the alcohol, select domestic drafts range between $2-$3, while the grande house margaritas (which are very good) and Coronaritas (which are also very good) cost only $4 and $5, respectively.

Grab a friend, get some margs and bask in the glow of your $15 bill.

For the second year in a row, Torrent Night Club was voted as the best club in the Towson area. The popular spot has seen no decrease in popularity since opening its doors in 2014. With performances by local DJs and the occasional theme parties, Torrent keeps the crowd engaged and coming back for more.

Complete with flashing LED lights and aggressive electro beats, there’s no better place to be on a Friday night.

nity

Best Hangover Cure: Towson Hot Bagels We’ve all learned two lessons very early on in our collegiate careers: Fireball is bad, and THB is so, so good. Waking up after a night of irresponsible drinking and debauchery is almost never fun, but THB helps make the morning a little less awful -- especially when OrderUp brings it right to your door. If you’re not one to order in, though, the short walk to delicious, savory bagel and breakfast heaven is totally worth peeling yourself up off your friend’s floor.

Per its name, THB offers an awesome assortment of bagels, bagel sandwiches and light bagel breakfasts, but its extensive menu also includes salads, paninis and assorted sandwiches good for any day-after. Kill the pounding in your head with a hearty breakfast and take the time to drink some water and replenish your electrolytes. Get your greasy-but-amazing breakfast sandwich freak on and then go take a nap, you crazy kid.

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18 February 7, 2017

Arts & Life

Digital art is body pos KRISTIN HELF Associate Arts & Life Editor @kristinelise_

Although she’s only been making digital art since December, sophomore Charlotte Smith has already discovered a distinct style and niche. Using Adobe Illustrator, she creates stylized portraits of her friends, role models and the female body in order to spread a message of confidence and body positivity.

“I’m really passionate about feminism and positive body image and talking about topics like that,” Smith said. “That sometimes we’re afraid to talk about and reveal our flaws.”

A former Towerlight columnist and occasional contributor, Smith shares her artwork on social media and has recently connected with the All Woman Project, an organization run by plus-size models who believe that all women should be represented

in the media, through Instagram.

Rather than only presenting “stick-thin girls and white girls,” as Smith said, the All Woman Project photographs women of every age, race and body type.

“I feel like we look down on our flaws so I want to romanticize them,” Smith said. “Like, hey, your stretch marks are beautiful. Your chub is beautiful.”

One of her favorite pieces she’s made is the Venus, or female, symbol outlined in flowers with “girl power” written beneath it, a print that she turned into a sign and carried at the Jan. 21 Women’s March.

Smith also recently created a series of illustrated “girl crushes,” or women in the public eye that she finds particularly empowering.

“I did Carrie Fisher when she died, because I really admire how she spoke so openly about having bipolar [disorder] and mental ill-

ness, but she didn’t let it define her. I thought that was really admirable,” she said. “I also did Winona Ryder, just because ‘Heathers’ is my favorite movie.”

Smith encourages every woman to tell her story and speak out, which is why in addition to celebrities, she also illustrates the women in her own life who have a story to tell -- like her friend Naomi, who Smith said inspired her.

“She’s adopted, and she always talks about her identity as an American and also being from China, and she’s hella feminist too.

She’s awesome.”

Because of her inclinations toward self-expression and her interest in other women’s art, Smith created The Wildflower Review, a website “by women, for women.” There, she publishes her artwork in addition to submissions from friends and strangers alike.

Courtesy of Charlotte Smith

Charlotte Smith’s art promotes social issues like body positivity.

“I get a lot of poetry about relationships and friendship and heartbreak and coping with depression,” she said. “I get a lot of stuff about mental health which is cool, because that’s something I’m really passionate about. I get a lot of artwork about feminism, which is super cool, lots of bodies and stuff. I feel like it has the same

themes as my artwork, which is really cool.”

Smith’s artwork can be viewed on Instagram, @charlottesmith.art and on Society 6, society6.com/ charlottesmithart. Anyone interested in submitting their original artwork or writing to The Wildflower Review can submit at thewildflowerreview.com/contact.

KERRY INGRAM

variety of tastes.

High Necklines: The sleek look of a higher neckline is going to be a major thing this spring. Mock necks paired with sleeveless tops and cropped hems will keep more coverage from becoming suffocating as the temperatures rise.

Pink: Believe it or not, this color is on the rise for both male and female fashion trends. Incorporating lighter shades of the hue into your outfits will add a pop of color that’s not too extreme for a busy day full of classes.

Forget just Wednesdays: on all days we wear pink.

Stripes: This semester, it’s about reading in between the lines. Stripes are the chosen trendy pattern for the spring, bringing interest without distraction. Whether you choose to rock some horizontal sailor stripes with a crew neck top, or cool vertical striped pants, your fellow students are sure to be lining up for this trend (I couldn’t resist putting in a semilame pun)!

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

Serve looks with “Arrival” avoids clichés spring trends Movie Review: Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival”

MATT MCDONALD Columnist

For anyone planning to see “Arrival” and expecting another generic guns blazing, clocks ticking, ship exploding alien movie, be prepared to be surprised. This movie does none of the above, and yet it is one of the best science fiction movies made in the last decade.

Starring Amy Adams, “Arrival” is a psychological and abstract film that keeps you guessing until the very end. When 12 extra-terrestrial pods land in different areas of the world, professional linguist Louis Banks is called upon to communicate with the aliens and discover the meaning of their trek to earth.

Through multiple visits with the aliens, and with the help of mathematician Ian Donnelly, played by Jeremy Renner, Banks is able to deconstruct the aliens’ language and use it to find out their purpose.

This movie absolutely blew me

away. I did not expect it to be as good, not to mention deep, as it was. It brilliantly avoids all the stereotypical space movie clichés and instead presents a slow-paced, but contemplative story -- not mindlessly blasting aliens, but using them as a bridge to larger themes, such as love, time, life and obviously language and communication -- all while sustaining a grounded element. Without giving too much away, it makes you think in great detail about the parts and uses of language and almost presents it as a puzzle. Adams gives an incredible performance that balances her character’s troubled backstory of losing her daughter while coping with the ever-growing connection she seems to have with the aliens.

I do have a few problems with the movie. First, while Donnelly is a quirky and lovable character, I did not see him do that much to further the story other than one scene, and he isn’t given too much time for himself. In addition,

Colonel Weber, played by Forest Whitaker, does not have much to contribute to the plot other than get Banks to the camp and tell her “no” to everything she does.

There is also a moment towards the end that feels very convenient for the plot and just doesn’t make sense how it would play out. One last nitpicky issue I had with the movie is that, while most of it is directed masterfully, director Denis Villeneuve seems to have a love for extreme close-ups and shots where the background is blurred. I found the constant use of this really claustrophobic at times.

“Arrival,” except for the character flaws, is an incredibly moving story with gorgeous scenery and a message to the world: we should work together on a global scale towards peace and communication rather than war. Complete with the most shocking plot twist that Shyamalan himself would praise, this movie deserves some Oscarworthy recognition. 4/4

Columnist

Congratulations: you’ve survived your first week back for spring semester!

Last semester, Trendy Tiger joined the Towerlight team, and one of my first fashion articles was a roundup of Fall 2016 fashion and beauty trends. To start off the second semester, I thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the season’s upcoming collegiate fashion expectations for spring 2017. I searched through the fashion industry’s top blogs and took note of the emerging patterns on our very own campus to create this list of Towson’s top five spring semester trends.

Bell-Sleeves: Looks like we’re throwing it back to the 70s this season! The look of flowy sleeves is rumored to be replacing the brief off-the-shoulder moment university students were rocking just this past fall. The look creates a carefree, gentle vibe that can still complement a

Arts & Life

February 7, 2017

19

Harlem arts return at New Black City MCKENNA GRAHAM Contributing Writer

Before you even get to Ballroom B, you hear it: the smooth jazz of the Harlem Renaissance, resurrected in all its soulful and emotional glory.

On Saturday, the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha put on their third annual New Black City talent showcase, honoring Black History Month.

When asked what to expect, senior and Vice President of TU NAACP’s membership Lauren Boyd said, “A great time of us being together and celebrating our black history.”

The audience was filled with dapper men dressed to the nines s and glamorous women in sparkling dresses that were made iconic in d the 1920s. A three-man band from t Morgan State University set the / mood with drums, keyboard and - saxophone, transforming the ball- room into a classy jazz club or, r perhaps, speakeasy. “[New Black City is] a great way

for the students to kind of be cultural and have something to do during the first week of school,” student Randall Phillips said.

Sophomore dance major La-Chelle Dickenson performed first, dancing to Patti Labelle’s “A Change is Gonna Come.”

“The song is really about change and life, and how we can’t lose hope in dark times,” she said. Her performance is a great start to the night: Beautiful, fluid, and graceful, she barely seems to touch the floor.

Performances ranged from singing and rapping to dancing and drawing art live.

“We tried to make sure that all of the art was Harlem Renaissance related, or gearing in that direction,” Towson NAACP Vice President Zhada Myrick said.

At intermission, senior Rickee White said that her favorite act was SOUL dance team’s performance. “It was really upbeat and it gave me a lot of energy.” she said.

SOUL dancers Jayla Mack

and Alexis Parry explained that, although dance is not their majors, they described dancing since they were three years old, and said it has been a lifelong passion.

Alumna and former Black Student Union President Tiara Swain was excited to return to campus to see some of her friends perform and to support the community in general.

“It’s really good to see over time, because I went to Towson a few years ago, the contribution and what’s going on [around] campus,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”

Different acts were interspersed with presentations about Josephine Baker and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, both hugely influential performers in black history. Host David Abraham called for a round

of applause for the pioneers of the arts and received a resoundingly positive response.

He identified the arts as “a form of advocating for social change.”

To any aspiring performers, Dickenson said, “Just try it. The worst that could happen is someone could say ‘no,’ and at the end of the day, ‘no’ doesn’t mean ‘never’. It just means ‘not right now.’”

example, will be trained to compost their waste and will attend training sessions where they’ll learn what materials are compostable, how to record their compost and how to dispose of their compost properly.

While the compost initiative is only open to two residencies this year, Campus Planning and Sustainability Manager Patricia Watson hopes that it will eventually spread to every residency.

“We wanted to make sure we were being successful in our approach and not just to open it up to anyone, because we do have to be pretty vigilant about the accuracy of the waste stream,” Watson said.

“There’s only one site in the state of Maryland at this time where we can send our compost, and if it’s too contaminated, they can deny us. And that would harm the program for the entire campus.”

Any student (or faculty or staff member) can take part in the events of the next eight weeks — and there are many, with opportunities for anyone to learn how to reduce their waste and leave a smaller footprint on the Earth: Monday, 2/6: RecycleMania Kick-off

The Eco-reps will be tabling from 10-12 p.m. in the Union lobby.

Interested students can stop by and learn more about RecycleMania, take a pledge to reduce their waste, play a few rounds of cornhole or the “decomposition game” and try to win coffee mugs, buttons and pens.

Thursday, 2/9: Zero Waste Basketball Game At SECU Arena from 6:30-10:30 p.m., while the Tigers play Hofstra University, volunteers will help fans learn how to sort their waste through games on the concourse.

The goal is to produce a zero-waste event (and a win for the Tigers, of course).

“By definition, zero waste is diverting 90 percent of the waste generated from the landfill, either through recycling or composting,” Watson said. “So you’re left with a tiny percentage of landfill waste.”

Tuesday, 2/14: I <3 Recycling Valentine’s Day event Interested in making a recycled Valentine’s Day card for your sweetheart? Students can participate in the DIY card-making activity from 10-2 p.m. in Cook Library, where they’ll also learn about reducing, reusing and recycling, and about

the library Starbucks’ new compostable cups.

“If the students check their cups and see if it says 100 percent compostable, they can throw it in the compost bin,” Watson said. “Even the lid should be compostable, and even the plastic cups.”

Wednesday, 3/1 – 3/15: #wasteEd Wednesday On these three consecutive Wednesdays, students can play games, learn about preserving the environment, and win #wasteEd t-shirts in the Union.

Thursday, 3/16: St. Patrick’s Day Green Out Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day one day early in Freedom Square from 2-4 p.m. with more games and a DIY craft that’s “green,” literally and figuratively.

There are also three field trips planned that in years past were exclusive to Eco-reps and are now open to anyone interested. The first trip will be on March 10, to the Prince George’s County Compost Facility, where the university’s compost gets sorted and processed.

On March 17, the field trip is to a recycling facility in Cockeysville, and in April, students can see what

goes on in the Baltimore incinerator. Anyone interested can sign up on the Eco-reps’ Facebook page.

Towson continues to strive for a more Earth-friendly campus.

“Our compost program has jumped dramatically,” Watson said.

“In 2015 we composted 103 tons and then last year was 166 tons of compostable material, which is over 332,000 pounds of material. In terms of landfill, it’s over 5 million pounds of waste coming off of this campus annually. So there’s a lot of opportunity to divert that, and most of that is food waste packaging. We consume a lot, we can divert a lot, so we need to be a lot better about doing that.”

Watson acknowledges that it isn’t always easy to keep track of waste and where it goes, but that’s one of the reasons why RecycleMania is important and currently in its eleventh year.

“It’s not necessarily the easiest or most interesting topic for some students to engage with. How do we make it relevant to them? And more accessible?” she said. “We know we have 22,000 students to help us reach our goals and help the environment.”

Courtesy of @NAACPTowson / Twitter

Brothers of Mu Rho Alpha perform a dance routine at the third annual New Black City talent showcase.

RecycleMania returns to campus KRISTIN HELF Associate Arts & Life Editor @kristinelise_

Since 2007, Towson’s Eco-reps and the Office of Sustainability have hosted an eight-week, campus-wide recycling and environmental awareness event called RecycleMania.

That time of year is approaching again, and 2017’s theme is an important one: waste reduction.

Daniela Beall, a graduate assistant for environmental initiatives who’s heading RecycleMania this year, said that almost all students care about recycling and taking care of the environment, but that they don’t necessarily know what the rules are.

“It’s a little confusing, and I get that,” Beall said. “That’s why we’re trying to educate students about it.”

RecycleMania runs through February and March with a litany of events and initiatives that encourage students to take better care of the environment. Since this year’s theme is waste reduction, recycling and composting will be emphasized.

Groups of students in Douglass House and Millennium Hall, for

February 7, 2017 20February 20 7, 2017

Puzzles Puzzles

Crossword Sudoku

? ?

Turn to page 22 for answers to today’s

9-1-16

● 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

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.

Please support independent student journalism @ TU

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

Puzzles

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February 7, 2017

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22 February 7, 2017

Sports

towson signing day central Ambrose announces TU’s largest ever signing class JORDAN COPE Sports Editor @jordancope26

Football Towson introduced its largest signing class in program history Wednesday.

Men’s Basketball Saturday: Towson 82, William & Mary 80 Thursday: Towson 104, Drexel 103 Women’s Basketball Sunday: College of Charleston 59, Towson 54 Friday: Elon 83, Towson 55

Towson introduced a 28-player signing class Wednesday, the largest class in program history, according to Head Coach Rob Ambrose.

The class includes six student-athletes who are already on campus and 22 others who will join the program in the fall.

“It’s a combination of things,” Ambrose said. “A large graduating senior class, couple guys who were injured who discontinued their careers, a couple defections and some cancer removal.”

Among Towson’s additions are two tight ends, mid-year enrollee Metise Moore of Denver who

”

played one season of college football at the City College of San Francisco, and signee Myles Wright of Baltimore who played at the St. Frances Academy.

Moore and Wright could be two welcome additions to the program.

The Tigers lost their leading tight end, Tanner Valley, to graduation.

“Myles is somebody who has been around forever,” Ambrose said. “Down at Saint Frances, he’s been to camp, he knows our staff and this is something that has been in the works for a long time.

[Moore] is a great physical specimen, but he’s a great dude.”

Towson will also welcome in two running backs, a position that Ambrose and his staff have recruited well over the years.

Mid-year enrollee Adrian Platt and signee Jaelen Thompson will

be the newest additions to the Tigers backfield.

Platt enrolled at Towson in January. The Germantown native rushed for 2,579 yards and 42 touchdowns his senior year at Seneca Valley High School.

Thompson, however, will not be on campus until the fall. The Middletown, Pennsylvania, native helped lead his team to a 14-1 record and the 3A state championship game. He finished his senior season rushing for 1,605 yards. “[Platt and Thompson] are all in the same vein as Shane and Deshaun,” Ambrose said.

“Extremely talented guys with good backgrounds, with good history.”

Overall, Ambrose is pleased with the potential of his signing class.

“Clearly we are not little old Towson anymore,” he said.

Towson will kick off its 2017 season Saturday, Sept. 9, at Johnny Unitas Stadium against crosstown rival Morgan State. Kick-off is TBA.

It’s a combination of things. A large graduating senior class, couple guys who were injured who discontinued their careers, a couple defections and some cancer removal.

”

ROB AMBROSE Head Coach

Solutions ● 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

9-2-16

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 20

File photo by Joe Noyes/ The Towerlight

Head Coach Rob Ambrose and the Tigers wait to take the field against New Hampshire at Johnny Unitas.

Sports

February 7, 2017

Sianni Martin Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball Sophomore guard Sianni Martin recorded 11 points and one assist in Towsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 59-54 loss to the College of Charleston Sunday at TD Arena.

Martin shot four of 15 from the field and three of eight from three-point range in the teams 11th loss of the season.

23

24 February 7, 2017

Sports

Towson secures two thrilling victories Photos by Mark Dragon/ The Towerlight

Junior guard Eddie Keith II brings the ball over half court Thursday night against Drexel at SECU Arena. Keith played 25 minutes on Towson’s double overtime victory (Above).

Junior guard Deshaun Morman looks over his options on offense. Morman registered nine points, three assists and three steals against the Dragons Thursday night (Below).

JORDAN COPE Sports Editor @jordancope26

What a week for Towson on its home floor. Saturday, the team defeated William & Mary in the final seconds of regulation, while Thursday they defeated Drexel in double overtime.

Saturday afternoon gave Towson fans a few extra gray hairs. The team struggled in the first half to find any rhythm offensively. They went into the locker room down 46-33 in large part to 12 turnovers.

The start of the second half didn’t get any better for the Tigers. They found themselves in a 17-point hole just four minutes into the half. As the half progressed, however, the Tigers buckled down defensively and began to chip away at the deficit.

Ten minutes in, William & Mary had gone ice cold from the field while Towson was beginning to heat up. Towson was closing in, down by only five points with 9:45 left in the game.

“I’m really proud of our kids just for fighting and hanging in there,” Head Coach Pat Skerry said. “These are my guys, they’re tough suckers.”

With 24 seconds left in the contest, Towson found itself down by one point with possession of the basketball. On the ensuing inbound, junior guard Brian Starr took the ball to the top of the arc and dished to fellow junior guard Mike Morsell on the flank. Morsell connected for a three-point bucket to give Towson an 82-80 lead with 10 seconds left.

“That’s probably the biggest shot of my career so far,” Morsell said.

“That was a big shot. Coach Skerry told me to have my feet ready to shoot, but the dude jumped out early, so I just pump faked and shot in rhythm, and it went in.”

Thursday night was a nail-biter inside SECU Arena. Towson saw its 11-point lead disappear late in the second half as Drexel battled to force two overtimes. It could have been a demoralizing loss for the team, but Towson hung on to win 104-103.

“It’s a committed group,” Skerry said. “We got guys that are disappointed in the way they finished the game in regulation. You like [that] as a coach but we told them enjoy it tonight and we’ll clean up the rest of it.”

After taking a 75-64 lead with 5:26 left in the game, the Tigers went ice cold from the field and shot an abysmal 25 percent. However,

they were able to knock down their free throws to prevent Drexel from stealing a win in regulation.

In the last seven seconds of the first overtime period, Baltimore’s own Kurk Lee kissed a layup high off of the glass to tie the game 96-96.

Towson had the chance to go down and win the game, but Davis missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Tigers had three three-point leads in the first overtime session but were unable to put the Dragons away.

“I was proud that they were able to flip the script,” Skerry said. “I thought we had a couple of good looks, both regulation and overtime but it’s important that guys don’t linger on the last play and move on to the next. I thought these guys did a good job of that.”

Midway through the second overtime, both teams were tied 101101 until Lee put Drexel up by two after knocking down a jumper. In Towson’s following possessions Davis hit a free throw and Morman hit a pair to give the team a 104-103 lead with 43 seconds left.

Fortunately for Towson, lightning didn’t strike twice as Lee missed two shots as the clock expired.

Towson will conclude its homestand Thursday against Hofstra before taking to the road for a rematch against Drexel Saturday.