The Signal: Spring '16 No. 8

Breaking news, blogs and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLIV, No. 8

March 23, 2016

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Lyric Theatre Students ‘Got Talent’ in annual event shines on stage By Sean Reis Production Manager Although the atmosphere on stage had been chaotic at times, the energy was electric. Filled with the hustling of feet, harmonizing of vocals and accompanying piano, success was in the air as the cast stood atop large platforms with smartphones in-hand, while messages and photographs were projected on three screens overhead — the College’s Lyric Theatre was hard at work putting together the spring musical, “Company.” For the first half of the spring semester, students practiced week after week and later rehearsed night after night, transforming Kendall Hall’s Main Stage into their own modernized version of the musical “Company,” based on the book by George Furth, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Under the direction of Adjunct Professor of Music Jennifer Little, the students who enrolled for Lyric Theatre devoted more time into their already-overloaded schedules than ever before. Excluding the final week leading up to the play’s two performances on Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27, Lyric Theatre see LYRIC page 19

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Pirrera and Statkevich are crowned the winners for their mashup of Justin Bieber’s hit songs. By Craig Dietel Staff Writer Three judges, two hosts and seven unbelievable student performances made for one incredible night in Kendall Hall on Wednesday, March 9. The auditorium was glowing as the Student Government’s junior class council held its annual TCNJ’s Got Talent, a take on the TV show, “America’s Got Talent.”

This was a night for students to not only shine in the spotlight, but to also have the chance at winning some extra cash. The first-place prize was a $100 Visa gift card, while the second place victor won $50 and the third place winner was awarded $25. Hosted by junior class President Rob Kinloch and senior marketing major Alex Moskal, the show started off strong with comedic intros. But the pair quickly directed the audience’s attention to the

meat and potatoes of the night — the student performances. Not just anyone was able to grace the stage at Kendall Hall, however. “There were about 20 auditions. Junior class council was looking at quality and originality of performances,” junior interactive multimedia major and Vice President of Public Relations for the event see TALENT page 14

FSP award breakfast honors professor Golden Key

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Students and faculty gather at the ceremony in celebration. By Julia Livesey Staff Writer Philosophy Professor Richard Kamber was recently selected as the first recipient of the Robert Anderson First Seminar Instructor of the Year Award at the First Annual First Seminar Program (FSP) Award

Breakfast on Wednesday, March 9. Held in the Education Building, the FSP Committee also selected Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program Specialist Todd McCrary and English Professor Michele Lise Tarter as finalists. The award recognizes faculty excellence within the Liberal Learning program.

INDEX: Nation & World / Page 7 Editorial / Page 8 Interactive multimedia Follow us at... History of IMM program explored The Signal See Features page 17 @tcnjsignal

Opinions / Page 9

FSP Coordinator Lisa Grimm began the event by acknowledging and thanking all FSP instructors for their hard work and dedication to the program. FSP courses are a blend of disciplinespecific questions, community-engaged learning and experiences that go beyond the classroom, as well as first-year mentoring and skill development. These courses enable students to work closely with a professor and their fellow classmates on a topic of their choosing outside of their major that will help them to accelerate to a higher level of thinking and engagement. “We work so hard on this campus to embody our first signature experience,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jacqueline Taylor said in regard to the FSP program. Taylor believes that these courses allow students to really think outside of the box and are much more rigorous than other FSP-type courses nationwide. “What separates TCNJ students from others is that from the time they enter to the time they leave, they have become life learners and critical thinkers,” Taylor said.

chapter marks two milestones By David O’Keefe Correspondent

When junior communication studies major Abigail Hosonitz received an invitation to join the College’s chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society nearly a year and a half ago, she was skeptical. The organization now has a membership fee of $95. “I don’t have $95,” Hosonitz said. “Well, I do, but not if they aren’t legit.” Following some parental encouragement to look into the organization, Hosonitz was inducted as a general member in November 2014 and accepted the position of chapter president that following April. It’s rare for a general member to jump immediately to president of the chapter, but the circumstances of an executive board filled with graduating seniors dictated that a general member step up to fulfill

see FSP page 3 Features / Page 14

see KEY page 3

Arts & Entertainment / Page 19

Sports / Page 32

Art gallery Image Tech exhibition opens to College

Baseball Annual trip to Florida is a success

See A&E page 20

See Sports page 32

page 2 The Signal March 23, 2016

Purim Decades Party Wednesday, March 23rd 7-9pm STUD Atrium Come dressed like your favorite decade:

20’s    

50’

70’s

80’s

Arcade Games-Ms. Pac Man, Skeeball, Donkey Kong Jr. Tie-Dye T-shirts Instant picture photo booth Root Beer Floats, Hamentashens, and Italian dinner!

Questions? chabad@tcnj.edu

*SAF Funded*

*Cosponsoring with Hillel and AEPi*

90’s

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 3

Key / Honor society recognized for excellence

Chapter members look to gain recognition on campus. continued from page 1 the role, and Hosonitz now lists becoming president so quickly as one of her proudest achievements. This year, she and the rest of the members celebrated a milestone as the College’s chapter of Golden Key was not only formally recognized with the organization’s highest and most prestigious Key Chapter Award, but on Friday, March 4, marked the chapter’s 15th anniversary. The Key Chapter Award is presented to those who have reached a “gold” chapter standard

Photo courtesy of Ashley Lai

—having fulfilled “all activity and service requirements,” according to goldenkey.org. When talking about the chapter’s original charter date of March 4, 2001, Assistant Director for Academic Advising and the chapter’s Co-Advisor Erica Kalinowski beamed with excitement and pride. Kalinowski has the chapter’s original charter framed in her office. “It’s a big deal,” she said. “A lot of other organizations have been here for five or six years and it feels like they’ve been here forever, but we really have been here forever. It’s amazing that we’ve been here

for 15 years and people still don’t know that we’re a legitimate organization.” Golden Key invites sophomores, juniors and seniors in the top 15 percent of their class to become lifetime members. Since 2001, over 2,500 students have been inducted into the College’s chapter, according to Hosonitz. Members receive benefits ranging from potential leadership experience, networking opportunities and access to exclusive scholarships and grants. Interactive multimedia alumnus Josh Lewkowicz (’15) said that listing his membership with the honor society helped him stand out from other applicants and land a job at DreamWorks. “I think I have gotten a level of recognition and pride, as well as a connection to my peers in the society,” he said. In addition to providing personal perks, Golden Key also gives back to the community, Kalinowski said. The honor society spearheads the SPARK a Change initiative, which aims to raise $40,000 for at-risk youth, along with dedicating 400,000 hours of community service to local communities by 2017, according to Golden Key’s website. Here at the College, during finals week each semester, the group hosts what it calls a signature event during which graduating students can write letters of gratitude,

expressing gratefulness to anyone who has made an impact on campus. Hosonitz said that this includes the custodial staff and food service employees. Looking forward, Hosonitz said that the most important piece of advice that she wishes to impart upon the chapter’s next president is to empower those on the executive board and delegate responsibilities to them.

“... I have gotten a level of recognition and pride, as well as a connection to my peers in the society.”

—Josh Lewkowicz interactive multimedia, ’15

“Without them, I’d be drowning,” she said. As for the organization’s next 15 years, Hosonitz wants members who join long after she has graduated to continue to spread the word about what Golden Key has to offer and to “take advantage of the opportunities Golden Key gives.”

Screams send police on search for student By Chelsea LoCascio News Editor

• On Friday, March 4, at approximately 1:40 p.m., Campus Police met with a student who reported a stolen cell phone, according to reports. The victim said that at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, he last had his phone when walking past the outdoor tennis courts before returning to his room in Travers Hall to retrieve his student ID. Around 7:35 p.m. he realized his phone was missing and searched his room as well as around the tennis courts but found nothing. According to Campus Police, he tried to call the phone several times, but no one answered. The cellphone is a white Samsung Galaxy S5, valued at $600, with a black Kate Spade phone case, valued at $15, according to police reports. • Campus Police were dispatched to Travers Hall on Saturday, March 5, at 12:40 a.m. after receiving multiple calls

where they could only hear screaming on the other line, according to police reports. After tracing the calls back to Travers Hall, Campus Police tried several times to reach the student and were unsuccessful, the report said. Police said they went to Travers Hall and met with a Community Advisor (CA) who knocked on the student’s door with no response. Campus Police tried knocking on the door, received no response and then opened the unlocked door to check on the welfare of the student. Upon entering, the police saw beer cans scattered throughout the room with no residents present. At 12:54 a.m., the student exited the elevator while the police spoke to the CA in the floor’s lobby. The CA identified the student and the officers asked the student about his welfare and if he knew about calling them several times. Campus Police said he smelled of alcohol and admitted to drinking eight or nine Keystone Light beers at an off-campus house. The student was issued an

underage drinking summons, according to police reports. • A CA in Travers Hall called Campus Police on Monday, March 7, at 10:35 p.m. to report the smell of an odor of what was believed to be marijuana emanating from a dorm room, police said. Upon arrival, Campus Police met with the CA and requested that she wait in the lobby while they speak to the resident. Police knocked on the resident’s door and announced their presence. After asking the resident who else was in the room, the police were introduced to the resident’s friend. Both of them said they had not been smoking marijuana, according to police. From the doorway, Campus Police said they did not smell any marijuana or observe any smoke, controlled dangerous substances or drug paraphernalia in plain view. Anyone with information can contact Campus Police at 609-771-2345.

FSP / Kamber named FSP ‘Instructor of the Year’ continued from page 1

Sociology Professor Robert Anderson, who has been at the College since 1967, also appreciates the forward thinking nature of the program. The award is named in his honor, as Anderson has played a significant role in the program’s development and growth. The devoted former assistant provost of Liberal Learning described the history and expansion of the program throughout the years and marveled over what it has become today. “There is such a need for broad-based learning,” Anderson said. “I am honored beyond belief just to have my name on this award.” According to Grimm, the award, which will be given annually, is bestowed upon an instructor who meaningfully blends all of the components of the program to create an intellectually engaging and supportive experience for first-year students. Kamber is a seasoned professor and has taught for the FSP program since 2004. His current course, “Morality, God and Free Will,” offers students the chance to help inmates prepare résumés for post-release employment, visit major cultural resources in New York City and learn from guest

speakers in special areas of philosophy. Before Kamber received the award, junior political science major Arianna Chatterjee lauded him for being such a noteworthy and influential professor. “Professor Kamber was one of the best professors I have had the privilege to study under both as a freshman and now as a junior,” Chatterjee said. She said that Kamber teaches with an enthusiasm and love for the subject that emanates across his face when he discusses Plato, Kant or any other philosopher. Chatterjee believes that his incorporation of Socrates Café — the questioning and exchanging of ideas — really made her feel that she was now a part of something larger than herself and it gave her a more realistic sense of what college is about. “It is not simply to get a piece of paper with your name and major, but to leave here as a better person, capable of changing and shaping our corners of the world for the better,” Chatterjee said. Humble and modest, Kamber took to the front of the room to accept the award. Though his speech was cut short due to time, he reminded his counterparts of the importance of the Liberal Learning program and how it provides students with the

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Kamber is recognized at the breakfast for excellence in teaching FSP courses. skills, knowledge and vision that extend far beyond the classroom that they will need to be successful. “You never know what skills are going to be critical in your future in your personal life or career-wise,” Kamber said. “We do our students a disservice if we don’t prepare them for these opportunities.” Kamber believes that an undergraduate education needs to reflect aspects from three key areas: careers, citizenship and personal fulfillment. In his speech, he used Steve Jobs’s take on Apple as a metaphor to explain

the importance of Liberal Learning. “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough — it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing,” he said. Kamber continued by detailing the responsibility of the College to give a wellrounded education. “I believe wholeheartedly that we at TCNJ have an obligation to help students get good jobs,” Kamber said. “But I also believe that we have an obligation to help our students get good lives.”

page 4 The Signal March 23, 2016

Dining Committee addresses student feedback

David Colby / Photo Assistant

Students express their dining concerns to staff. By Alex Kooistra Correspondent

What do Eickhoff Hall workers Eve Cruz and “Big Larry” Stevens and College spokesperson Dave Muha have in common? All three have participated in the Mindful Mile, which was a topic of discussion at the Dining Services Committee (DSC) meeting on Wednesday, March 9. Nine students and seven Dining Services employees met in room 324 of the Social Sciences Building at 2 p.m. to discuss current events and promotions available at oncampus dining establishments, as well as student feedback. Dining Services’s Unit Marketing Coordinator Vince McNeil led the meeting and had the attendees introduce themselves while he handed out the meeting’s agenda. The meeting began with the students separated from the Dining Services team, but McNeil wanted a more relaxed environment and asked attendees to adjust their chairs so everyone could sit in a circle. Among the people present were Dining Services Registered Dietician Aliz Holzmann, Director of Culinary and

Contract Services Karen Roth and senior special education and history double major Joanna Felsenstein, who has been attending these meetings since the spring semester of her freshman year. “I have been the Dining Services Committee liaison for Chabad, one of the Jewish groups on campus,” Felsenstein said. “This means I communicate with DSC to ensure that there’s kosher food in Eick, specialty foods for holidays, like latkes for Hanukkah, and kosher food for Passover.” One of the issues discussed at the meeting was the menu at Eickhoff Hall and the Lion’s Den for Passover, which begins on Friday, April 22. Exercising her role as liaison, Felsenstein addressed her concerns about what style of kosher would be served at the dining facilities because of some issues with last year’s kosher menu, specifically the inclusion of corn salsa and pasta shells. Roth alleviated Felsenstein’s concerns and promised her any issues would be promptly fixed. Traditions, the new restaurant in the Brower Student Center, was another topic of discussion as the Dining Team cleared up some confusion. “We do serve brunch on weekends,” McNeil said after he learned that students were unaware of that fact. Discussing the agenda encompassed the majority of the meeting and both the students and the Dining Team were relatively content with all of the included agenda items. The first half of the agenda discussed various promotions and specials at the on-campus dining facilities. The Lion’s Den will feature the ultimate meatball sandwich and the Cali smoke turkey and aioli Italian sub from Sunday, March 13, to Saturday, April 2. In addition, Eickhoff Hall plans on celebrating certain food days, including World Water Day, which was on Tuesday, March 22. After discussing the various specials and promotions, Holzmann discussed dietary options on campus and how she is promoting fitness, specifically the Mindful Mile. The next Mindful Mile of the semester was on Monday, March 21, outside The 1855 Room at noon and will continue every Monday. She leads the participants in a

mile walk around campus joined by various prominent figures around campus, such as Stevens, Muha and Cruz last semester. Holzmann also led the discussion about nominations for the DSC staff member of the month. “It’s great morale for them to be recognized, not just by us, but by the students,” she said. Keeping with the topic of honoring the hard workers around campus, the Chef Spotlight series was also mentioned. The Chef Spotlight allows the College’s chefs to showcase international cuisine in The 1855 Room, since they do not always have the opportunity to do so in their day-to-day work. The meeting continued with McNeil updating the group about the advice they received and how they put the students’ feedback into action. As a result of these requests, Eickhoff Hall now has blueberry syrup and has added Golden Grahams into its cereal rotation. Finally, the students were able to give feedback about what they feel needs to be improved. Some concerns that were addressed included the direction of the line at Eickhoff Hall’s Roscoe’s Tacos and a proposition that breakfast remain open later on Wednesdays, since many students do not have class. The Dining Team members promised to look into serving breakfast later, but they felt the taco line had to stay the same in order to make sense with the flow of the service. The students and the Dining Services team were open in their communication with one another as the students were not afraid to say what they want and Dining Services was honest about what it can and cannot do. “Working with the administration and Sodexo is really great as a professional experience, but I am really interested in the DSC because I like to know that I can work on making TCNJ better,” Felsenstein said. Dining Services is looking for the College’s feedback, which can be shared by filling out comment cards around campus or attending the next DSC meeting on Wednesday, March 23.

SFB funds upcoming cultural and religious events By Roderick Macioch News Assistant

During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 9, the Student Finance Board (SFB) agreed to fund a variety of upcoming events. Some will highlight the College’s cultural diversity, while others are purely for entertainment. Representatives of TCNJ Manhunt entered to propose their plan for Humans versus Zombies. As stated in the request proposal, the event is “an opportunity to get outside and participate in a fun game.” TCNJ Manhunt requested funding for equipment, such as bandanas, a megaphone, Nerf darts and Nerf Hammershot Blasters. After a motion to fund only the bandanas failed, the board voted to fund all of the equipment, except the blasters, in the amount of $143.79. Unlike past TCNJ Manhunt events, this will be free of charge. The daylong event will take place on Saturday, April 2, at various locations on campus and will begin at 9 a.m. The Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) then proposed several events for Islamic Awareness Week, including MSA’s Flower Handout, Art Gala and Islamic Calligraphy and Peace by Piece: A Night of Poetry. These events all seek to “enlighten the (College) community about (Islam) and expose them to the religion of Islam,” according to the request form. The Flower Handout, intended to highlight Islam’s peaceful nature, received $160. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 28, in Alumni Grove and the Brower Student Center. The Art Gala, which is scheduled for Wednesday, March 30, in the Lion’s Den, was also funded in the amount of $1,163. Likewise, the requested $75 was granted for Peace by Piece, in which “a diverse

group of performers will be selected to perform and share their stories, beliefs and values on the theme of peace,” as quoted in the request form. The event is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, in the Lion’s Den. The Indian Student Association (ISA) then requested additional funding for Bollywood Night 2016, parts of which were tabled in a previous meeting. Although it was previously tabled, $100 of funding was granted to pay for a disc jockey (DJ). The event will take place on Saturday, March 26, from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. in room 212 of the Education Building. Synergy Dance Company requested funding for its Spring Spectacular. The event is a recital in which the company is “able to perform for the (College) community, family members and anyone else who is inspired by dance.” The board voted to fund part of Synergy’s request in the amount of $3,369, which will cover expenses such as the booking fee and costumes. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 24, in Kendall Hall and will begin at 1 p.m. Union Latina proposed its COPA Night. According to the request form, “the purpose of this activity is to spread Latino Awareness throughout the campus community by presenting traditional Latino music.” In all, Union Latina requested $4,601.34 to cover expenses such as a band and DJ to provide music, food and a photobooth. The board’s funding guidelines mandate that “any requests for food in an amount over $250.00 should include at least two quotes.” Because Union Latina had failed to do so, the event was tabled. Gospel United Ministries requested funding for its Gospel Extravaganza. According to the request form, the event “is a celebration of gospel music with a full

Members approve funding for the Spring Spectacular. live band experience and traditional choirs. It is an opportunity for students of faith to share a corporate worship experience with other college students and TCNJ alumni who have continued spreading their faith and music abroad.” The event will feature performances by the Ahmad Sanon Band and Will Morris — Christian music artists and alumni of Gospel United Ministries. The board voted to fund the event and these performances in the amount of $400. Voice of Hope, the College’s Christian a capella group, requested funding for Tim Be Told, an Asian-American Christian band, to perform at the College. The event will be co-sponsored by the Chinese Student Association, the New Jersey Christian Fellowship, the Protestant Bible Fellowship, the Korean Student Association and the Asian American Association. In its request form, Voice of Hope stated that attendees “will be uplifted by encouraging music, opportunities to pray and opportunities to meet and work with people from different organizations on campus.” The board passed a motion to fully fund the event in the amount of $3,672, which

David Colby / Photo Assistant

will cover Mayo Concert Hall booking fees and the band’s appearance fee. The event will be held on Friday, April 1, at 7 p.m. in Mayo Hall. The final order of business was Student Government’s (SG) Spring 2016 T-shirt Swap. The event will “give students the opportunity to exchange T-shirts from their high school or other colleges with a TCNJ shirt,” according to the request form. The board hesitated due to the large amount requested — $11,044.87 — and also expressed fears that the event would be redundant, considering that an almost identical event was held during the fall semester. However, deciding that the event was likely to still have enough appeal to be a success, the board passed a motion to grant $7,800 for the shirts, but to not fund the stickers, smoothies or balloons for which SG had also requested funding. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 30, on the Green Hall lawn. *Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 5

SG discusses potential updates to Loop Bus

Members talk about SG’s upcoming elections. By Alyssa Sanford Web Editor The Wednesday, March 9, general body meeting of Student Government (SG) opened with a discussion about possible changes to the Loop Bus service on campus, updates on the library hours proposal sent to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jacqueline Taylor several weeks ago and an announcement that the College is seeking applicants for a director of the newly-formed Office of Student Involvement. Vice President of Administration and Finance Tyler Holzer, who serves on the Loop Bus task force, discussed a resolution with general body members that the task force would submit to the College’s administration for further consideration. According to Holzer, 150 students responded to a Loop Bus survey in Spring 2015 and offered feedback and suggestions for changes to the service. One of the most frequently requested changes was a revised schedule “to make it more accommodating to students,” Holzer said. The revised schedule, if approved by the administration, would include a daily route for commuting students, staff and faculty. The Loop Bus would start running at 7 a.m. to pick up students at the Trenton Transit Center and drop them off before 8 a.m. classes start, and would then return to the train station at 7:45 a.m. for those who start classes later in the day, Holzer said. There would also be a shuttle between the College and the train station starting at 5:30 p.m. each day, and it would make several trips back and forth during rush hour, Holzer explained. Holzer said that he is considering making the Loop Bus schedule accessible as a mobile app because the existing copy of the schedule is difficult for students to read and interpret. “Frankly, I don’t even understand (how to read it),” Holzer said. “(The proposed app would allow you to) input the time and location of where you want to go.”

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Holzer also said that the Department of Computer Science and the Student Finance Board (SFB) would possibly collaborate with him on creating the app. If any changes to the Loop Bus service are implemented, Holzer says that there “will likely be a nominal increase in student activity fees,” but when asked just how nominal these increases would be, he explained that “it’s kind of up to the Student Finance Board for funding.” Ultimately, Holzer said that passing the resolution would mean that SG supports the proposal, “not that these changes are actually going to go through” immediately. The resolution passed with no debate. Holzer will present more information about different options for Loop Bus routes at the general body meeting on Wednesday, March 23. Vice President of Academic Affairs Darshak Vekaria announced that he received “verbal confirmation from the dean of the library that the library will be open until 3 a.m. during finals week” and that the extended study areas will be open 24/7 once the main floors close. Vekaria also said that Dean of the Library Taras Pavlovsky and Taylor are working on adding the cost of keeping the library open 24/7 “to the base budget of the fiscal year,” so that next year, SG will not have to apply for SFB funding for the event. Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and SG Advisor Elizabeth Bapasola congratulated the general body for securing funding through the administration for finals week library hours. “You really represented your student voice, and the administration heard you,” Bapasola said. Bapasola also announced that as of late last week, the College began searching for applicants to become the new director of Student Involvement. After the former Director of Student Activities Tim Asher retired earlier this semester, the College has been searching for someone to

fill his shoes. Under Asher’s direction, the Office of Student Activities used to oversee many aspects of student life, including management of the Brower Student Center and Greek life. Over the last decade or so, Asher’s position on campus “evolved over time,” and new offices formed to oversee his duties — Seth Zolin became the Brower Student Center manager and Dave Conner became the assistant director for Fraternity and Sorority Life on campus, Bapasola said. Bapasola explained that during the Fall 2015 semester, external consultants visited the College and concluded that fraternity and sorority life on campus “has been growing quite a bit in the past eight years or so.” The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is expanding and ultimately requires more than a single staff member to manage all of its business, Bapasola said. As a result, the College decided to merge the Office of Student Activities and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to create the Office of Student Involvement, according to Bapasola. “About 50 percent of his or her job will be advising all the councils” involved in Greek life on campus: the Inter-Greek Council, the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council and the Unified Greek Council, Bapasola said. Additionally, the new director will be responsible for co-advising SG. While Bapasola will handle “advocacy issues” and direct committees toward the appropriate offices and faculty members on campus, the director will handle class council affairs and programming needs for campus-wide events, Bapasola said. The final three candidates will come to the College in early May for interviews with SG members and the College’s administration, according to Bapasola. Bapasola also spoke about changes to the way the College manages organizations on campus. For instance, Bapasola said she understands that students hate spending an entire Saturday doing “Passport to Programming” each year — a program that

organization leaders are required to attend in order to learn about programming. “We’ll never do it again as it stands now,” Bapasola said, followed by a round of applause. She added that the College is exploring doing these training exercises as a leadership conference of sorts, or possibly as a series of online tutorials and quizzes. During the cabinet members’ reports to the general body, Vice President of Governmental Affairs Ceili Boles reminded members that SG is co-sponsoring Union Latina’s debate night on Monday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Library Auditorium. Parliamentarian Ken Rubin provided more information about the event, explaining that “both sides, (Democratic and Republican), will be represented,” and that students will give short presentations on each candidate’s platform and stance on various issues. Professors from the history department will also give presentations “on why it’s important to vote,” Rubin said. Vice President of Community Relations Brittany Angiolini discussed the upcoming Youth Outreach Day on Saturday, April 2, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Vice President of Equity and Diversity Priscilla Nuñez announced that TCNJ Epcot will be held on Thursday, March 24, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Brower Student Center. Alternate Student Trustee Dana Disarno then announced upcoming spring elections for cabinet, class council and head senator positions. Interest sessions will be held between Monday, April 11, and Friday, April 15. All paperwork for candidates is due on Wednesday, April 20, and elections will be held on Thursday, April 28. Sophomore class President Kelsey Capestro, noting that many students didn’t seem enthused about the class’ “Date Auction” fundraiser, announced that the class will now hold a competitive eating contest between different student organizations on Wednesday, April 13, and suggested that there might be a cash prize for the winning organization. More details will follow in upcoming weeks.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

The sophomore class council announces a competitive eating contest.

Students attend annual Sigma Tau Delta conference

By Roman Orsini Staff Writer

Thirty members of the College’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, attended the Sigma Tau Delta 2016 International Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., from Wednesday, March 2, to Saturday, March 5. The event hosted 612 students from 189 colleges around the country who presented their original works and participated in roundtable discussions. This annual conference centered around the theme “Finding Home,” something the written works and activities intended to reflect. This year’s theme was chosen by the College’s own Diane Steinberg and Felicia Steele, assistant professors of English and co-chairs of the conference. English Department Chair Glenn Steinberg and Associate Professor of English Emily Meixner also attended the conference in support of the College’s chapter. The conference hosted two main guest speakers, chosen by Steinberg, who have authored books relevant to the theme. The first speaker was author Charles Baxter, whose novel, “The Soul Thief,” was a recommended reading for those who attended the conference. Baxter spoke to the theme of finding home by saying that

through literature, one develops the ability to empathize and feel connected to people he otherwise considers strangers, Steele said. The second speaker was Kao Kalia Yang, whose work, “The Latehomecomer,” recounted the resettlement of her people, the Hmong — a southern Chinese minority persecuted for aiding the U.S. during the Vietnam War — as political refugees in the U.S. The conference also provided students with a platform to network with one another through professional development workshops. Students gained a further understanding of the job opportunities associated with the English major, all while appreciating each other’s work. “Students could really get a sense of the range of careers that are accessible to them,” outside of more conventional professions one typically expects to find English majors, like editing and teaching roles, Steele said. Students were exposed to professionals who applied their English education toward more diverse fields such as nonprofit work, research and development and writing for developmental agencies, according to Steele. Several students from the College were recognized at the conference for their work. Senior English major Andrew Ryan won third place for the Diversity Award for

his critical writing. Senior English and marketing double major Julia Woolever won first place in the Critical Essay category for British or World Literature. “Winning was especially gratifying because last year my submission wasn’t even accepted. Going from one extreme to the other was totally unexpected for me, and I’m thrilled that I was able to do so,” Woolever said. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of the English Department here at TCNJ.” In addition, junior English and secondary education dual major Samantha Miller and junior English and secondary education dual major Caitlin Mannion won second and third place for the English Education and Pedagogy awards, respectively. The conference also awarded students with leadership positions. Miller was elected to a student advisor position and will sit on the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors for two years. Junior English and secondary education dual major Jenna Burke became an associate student representative for the chapters in the eastern region of the U.S. “The profile of the College... amongst active Sigma Tau Delta chapters is very high… We have managed to create a very high reputation for ourselves at the convention,” Steinberg said.

page 6 The Signal March 23, 2016

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 7

Nation & W rld

Flint, Michigan, debate continues in DC

AP Photo

Gov. Snyder defends himself in Flint hearing.

By Olivia Rizzo Staff Writer

It has been months since the news of the water crisis in Flint, Mich., first broke, where residents had been exposed to water tainted with lead, causing irreversible illness to some of the residents of the city. And although conditions are slowly mending in Flint, many citizens

and local government officials have yet to feel that justice has been brought to their community. There has been an effort to understand what led to the disastrous situation in Flint. Congress has been questioning the knowledge of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local and state government officials to try and get to the bottom of how the situation in Flint got so out of hand. According to ABC News, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has hosted several hearing in which they question top officials’ role in covering up how drastic the contamination was, which ended in several members of Congress calling for the resignation of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and EPA Chief Gina McCarthy. The hearings became heated as congressmen grilled the governor and EPA head. Democrats focused their anger on the Republican governor and other state officials, while Republicans on the panel placed blame on the EPA. The most heated moments of the hearings came when Snyder and McCarthy tried to place blame on others. “We just couldn’t get a straight answer anywhere. People don’t deserve that out of their government,” McCarthy said after being called to step down from her position by committee chair Rep. Jason Chaffetz

(R-Utah). “I will take responsibility for not pushing hard enough, but I will not take responsibility for causing this problem. It wasn’t the EPA at the helm when this happened.” The issues in Flint began when the city’s water source was switched from the Detroit water system to the Flint River, in order to cut costs. The water from the river was not treated properly for erosion and lead from old pipes seeped into the city’s water supply, causing a health crisis within the city. Gov. Snyder maintained throughout the hearing that he was misled about the water crisis for more than a year, according to ABC News. He insisted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality told him water from the Flint River was safe and that he did not become aware that the city’s water had been contaminated until Thursday, Oct. 1. “The governor’s fingerprints are all over this. It looks like almost everyone knew about this problem but you. You were missing in action. That’s not leadership,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the panel. Although Snyder and McCarthy have apologized and have accepted partial blame for the health crisis in Flint, neither of them has stepped down from their positions despite the outrage and frustration expressed by members of Congress and the people of Flint.

Paris terror suspect is detained in Belgium By Tom Ballard Staff Writer

Salah Abdeslam, a suspected terrorist involved in the Paris terror attacks four months ago that left 130 people dead, was arrested by officials in Belgium on Friday, March 18, according to CNN. According to the Washington Post, 26-year-old Abdeslam was shot in the leg while police succeeded in arresting him and four other suspected terrorists. The same Washington Post article stated that Belgian authorities found Abdeslam’s fingerprints in an apartment that was raided by police on Tuesday, March 15. Ever since finding the fingerprints, authorities had closed in on the area and found Abdeslam hiding in an apartment in Molenbeek, a neighborhood in Brussels, at around 4:45 p.m. Abdeslam, who is suspected to

be the eighth person the Middle Eastern terrorist organization ISIS said took part in the Paris attacks on Nov. 13, 2015, was able to get past a security checkpoint at the French-Belgian border just hours after the attacks before he was identified as a suspect, according to NBC News. The attacks caused havoc at several locations, including a cafe and a concert hall. “I have no doubt that the (Belgian) judicial authorities will address very quickly a request for (the) extradition (of Abdeslam to France),” French President François Hollande said in a press conference on Friday, March 18. “I’d like to thank the Belgian justice minister and the prosecutor (for their work).” According to an ABC News article, Abdeslam allegedly rented a car that carried a group of terrorists to the Stade de France soccer stadium in Paris, along with the car that carried terrorists to the Bataclan

theater in Paris where three gunmen took the lives of 90 people. Four days after the Paris attacks, Abdeslam, a native of Brussels, had returned to the city and frantically tried to receive help from friends. According to ABC News, Abdeslam called friends while trying to find a way to secretly travel to ISIS-controlled land in Syria in order to evade authorities. Following Abdeslam’s arrest, world leaders and politicians congratulated Belgian authorities for tracking down one of the most wanted terrorists in the world. “Abdeslam’s arrest sends the message to terrorists around the world that they cannot hide and that it’s only a matter of time before they answer for their heinous crimes,” Jeanne Shaheen, a senator from New Hampshire and member of the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security

Cooperation, said in a statement. “I want to congratulate French and Belgian investigators and law enforcement on their diligent work that led to this arrest,” she said. Jean-Charles Brisard, chairman of the Paris-based Center for the Analysis of Terrorism, said that Abdeslam’s arrest will allow authorities to better understand the planning of the Paris attacks, according to the Washington Post. “It’s really crucial,” Brisard said

of the arrest. “Abdeslam had a role in virtually every stage of the planning and the preparation. He could be the missing link to the masterminds (of the attacks).” A BBC article reported that Abdeslam is the only suspect from the Paris attacks that has been captured alive. Nine suspected terrorist from the attacks have been confirmed dead and authorities are still looking for Mohamed Abrini, another suspected terrorist from the attacks.

Abdeslam is taken into custody by Belgian police.

AP Photo

Alaska school budgets cut in the midst of oil crisis

Alaskan oil drains have not been producing as much oil to sell.

By Danielle Silvia Correspondent

The University of Alaska; Alaska’s largest school districts, such as Anchorage; and tiny rural towns, like Nightmute, are all facing budget cuts because Alaskan drillers are pumping less oil. In the state of Alaska, the decrease in

AP Photo

oil supply is becoming a serious issue for students and adults because oil is an important export for them. Alaska is a common hot spot for oil and the state sells it to customers who must pay hefty taxes for it. These taxes are what the state of Alaska uses to pay for many of its in-state affairs, such as public schooling. Recently, there has been less

oil and this has caused many Alaskans to fear for the closing of many of these publicly funded expenditures. With the decrease in the oil prices, the price per student must also decrease, reducing the overall quality of education in Alaska. Alaska pays close attention to the well-being and education of its students. In fact, “Alaska spends $17,390 per pupil, according to Census Bureau data, more than any other state in the nation, in part because it is expensive to operate schools in far-flung villages” according to the Washington Post. Many Alaskan students will now be at a disadvantage. According to James R. Johnsen, the president of the University of Alaska, “At every one of (the university’s) campuses, something is likely to go away,” the New York Times reported. Students will not be able to take advantage of many academic and social opportunities that other students across the nation have, such as making updates on

campus, up-to-date college-provided material, clubs and activities to fill the time after classes and even the chance to study abroad. Many parents have banded together and formed groups to demand more funding in schools. In addition, state representatives, such as Marcia Davis, a deputy chief, says that the predicted landslide of education due to decreased funding will not happen in 2016 at least, which gives Alaska and its people at least nine months to figure out some sort of alternative plans or solution. The Anchorage School District Superintendent Ed Graff proposed making significant cuts early on into the oil crisis, according to Alaska Dispatch News. The proposed budget, that was eventually approved, was announced on Thursday, Jan. 21, that the school system already had plans to cut 53 teachers and increase class sizes. “I think that what we’ve understood and realized is that we have a state challenge ahead of us,” said Graff, “we want to be prepared for the future as best as possible.”

page 8 The Signal March 23, 2016

Editorial

‘Carpe diem’ resonates with graduating seniors

Carpe diem — seize the day — is probably my favorite phrase. It’s short yet so powerful. Those two little Latin words serve as a wake-up call to do something worthwhile with your life, every day. Yes, it’s my favorite phrase and I try to do it justice each day, but, man, sometimes I just don’t want to carpe my diem. This past week, I sat on my couch, catching up on all of the shows my schoolwork forced me to miss. Was I seizing those days to my fullest potential? Absolutely not, but I’m OK with that. Though carpe diem is my favorite phrase, it is also the phrase that stresses me out the most. It makes me feel as though if I don’t do something impactful with my day, then I have wasted a day on Earth. But this break, I didn’t let myself feel guilty. I loved every second of “American Crime” (it’s the best show I’ve ever seen, watch it), “American Idol” (yes, I still watch it) and “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” and not once did I say to myself, “Wow, I am not seizing this day.” I seized my days of break the way I wanted to, and that was by watching TV. After all, with graduation coming and (hopefully) a job on the horizon, I probably won’t ever have another time to lounge like that, days on end. It was my last hurrah. With my couch now at home, my homework staring me in the face again and graduation coming closer, I am now back to viewing “carpe diem” in the more traditional way: I want to make every last one of my days at the College worthwhile. I’ll attend as many on-campus events as possible, soak in the classes I will ever attend and enjoy the ease of having food cooked for me in Eickhoff Hall before I have to figure out how to make my own meals (I don’t think microwavable popcorn can cut it anymore). “Carpe diem” can be a daunting phrase, for it forces us to make the most out of the present and might make us feel guilty if we’re not doing that. But as the school year winds down, try to remember to seize each day you are lucky enough to experience here so that you’re time here is the best is can possible be. Come on, everyone. Let’s carpe the heck out of this diem. — Colleen Murphy Editor-in-Chief

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.

tcnj.edu

Seniors should strive to seize every day they have remaining at the College before commencement in May.

Quotes of the Week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Business Office (609) 771-2499 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu

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“IMM (interactive multimedia) is essentially people of varying backgrounds coming together to make cool stuff... It’s a bridge between art and technology. I’ve always felt the purpose of IMM is to give you the technical skills to take ideas and bring them to life with the proper tools and techniques.”

— Josh Lewkowicz, alumnus of interactive multimedia, ‘15

“Music is something that you really have to commit to because you love it. You have to love doing what you do and for all the right reasons. That’s what makes the large time commitment worth it.” — Nicole Myers, junior vocal education major

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 9

Opinions

Changes to College’s cable has mixed results

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PhiloTV has benefits and downfalls for the College’s student body. By Danielle Silvia Campus life at the College is always changing, and a recent addition to technology in student’s everyday lives is adding to those changes. The new type of cable system on campus is PhiloTV, which operates by using television through the internet instead of through an ordinary television. While PhiloTV proposes benefits, there are also some negative outcomes, resulting in a neutral effect. A benefit of this new television system is the addition of a personal digital video recorder (DVR), which

allows students to record television shows or movies and then watch them at a later date. This is one of PhiloTV’s strongest features. As a college student, I typically have a lot of work to do during popular air times, so recording my favorite series and being able to watch it later when I have time to relax is very appealing. In addition, what makes PhiloTV a positive advancement in technology at the College is the feature of high definition quality on most channels. This is very exciting for many students because the high quality enhances the colors and the

overall setting of the television show or movie. What amazes me is that this feature works on both computers and a downloadable app for PhiloTV. The app and website administer all of the same effects and features. When I tried watching on both the website and app, the quality, sound and speed of PhiloTV were spot-on. PhiloTV is also free to on-campus residential students at the College and is, in my opinion, an enormous benefit. So many people are required to pay for television platforms, such as Netflix or Hulu, while PhiloTV is simply free as long as you live on campus. Over spring break, I found out that neither the app nor the website works from anywhere else besides the campus. When I attempted to open the app at home and watch television, I wasn’t allowed to, since I was not at the College. I was disappointed in this fact, as I will be commuting to campus next year and I will miss having my television with me wherever I go. There is another downside to PhiloTV, which is the fact that the campus no longer operates by cable television. One night, I wanted to lie on my bed and enjoy television like I did in the “good old days.” But then I learned that the cable through

televisions does not operate anymore and that a television can only be used if it is connected to a computer through PhiloTV. As impressed as I have been with PhiloTV, it truly disappoints me to not be able to enjoy television as it always once was. In fact, this shows not only the College’s movement toward technology, but also the world’s. For example, almost everyone owns a smartphone, most people prefer mobile media rather than a paper copy of the news and cellphones have dominated landline phones. Thus, the addition of PhiloTV and the suspension of “regular” television is just the beginning of so many more replacements due to technology to come. Is PhiloTV for the better or for the worse? While that answer truly lies in the eye of the beholder, in my opinion, the features of PhiloTV creates a balanced effect. While there are some upsides and downsides to this so-called improvement to technology and the College at large, it comes with the next wave of technology and with that, acceptance for the changes. The features of this new piece of the future allows for students at the College to explore something new and unordinary, for the good and bad features, creating such a balance.

PhiloTV don’t give no pucks — or other local sports By Michael Battista Sports Editor When I was informed of the switch to PhiloTV online cable from the traditional coaxial cord in the wall version we had at the College, I was pretty excited. We were promised HBO and high-definition channels. We even get all the major sports networks, like National Hockey League (NHL) and National Football League (NFL) networks. I was sold... until I decided that I wanted to watch the New York Rangers play against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, Feb. 29. I got my account set up for the first time and was ready to watch the game. There was one issue: PhiloTV doesn’t carry the MSG Network — which owns the rights to broadcast most of the Rangers’s regular season games — or any versions of it on its channel lineup. That wouldn’t be an issue, though, since PhiloTV includes the NHL Network, which covers most of the NHL teams and periodically covers Rangers games. The problem, though, is that PhiloTV doesn’t have complete coverage of local teams because, in this area, the games get blacked out due to contracts that teams like the Rangers have with television networks like MSG to cover the games. The NHL regular season ends in early April and the playoffs will be covered on the NBC networks along with NHL Network, I assume. However, the fact that I can’t watch my local team is ridiculous. The Rangers are battling to keep their top three spot in the Metropolitan Division, and in order to experience the games live, I am forced to stream games illegally or listen to the radio. I’m a simple person, TCNJ. I’m a simple person with a simple need to watch guys skate around on a sheet of ice and hit a small black puck into a net while mercilessly beating the crap out of one another. Why couldn’t you find a provider that could let me watch my team do that? Then I started to realize that the College is also missing

coverage of a lot of New York and Philadelphia sport teams because of PhiloTV. The absence of the MSG Network means no regular season games for teams such as the New York Knicks, New Jersey Devils or New York Islanders. If I were an Islanders fan, I would want to see my team battle for a higher seed in the division. If I were a Devils fan, while they may not be in the playoff race, if I had missed Martin Brodeur’s retirement ceremony, I would be beyond pissed off. Are you are a baseball fan? That’s too bad, because students at the College no longer receive the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network with the new PhiloTV services, which means no New York Yankees regular season games. To top it off, this also means no more New York Nets basketball games — but is that really a loss considering how awful the Nets are this year? New York Mets fans are also unable to receive the SportsNet New York (SNY) channel, which means that they can’t “get your New York sports here!” Philly sports fans get the shaft, too, since we lack Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, which covers Philadelphia teams such as the Phillies, Flyers and 76ers. I understand that Comcast isn’t the best provider of cable, and I bet this PhiloTV deal was great in terms of the College coming out with something more for its students, but the fact is that local professional sports is a major part of life for many of the College’s students. The College’s radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, broadcasts Trenton Thunder baseball games, the Double — an affiliate minor league team of the New York Yankees. So, the College is OK with broadcasting those games themselves, but puts in a cable system that blocks legal access to watching the major league team? The only major sport not affected by this is the NFL, America’s most popular and lucrative sport, since basic cable channels such as NBC, CBS and FOX are all

available — along with the NFL Network. I’m happy the playoffs are starting soon in the NHL, since at least then I can watch the Rangers battle it out there — if they make it. However, I really wish the College could have made a deal with a television provider that didn’t screw so many people out of their favorite pastime. Whether it is baseball, hockey, basketball or even Major League Soccer — which gets partially eliminated due the lack of Fox Sports 1 — people love these games for a plethora of reasons. A father taking his son to a ball game could start a lifelong love that he wants to keep going. Two brothers shooting baskets outside with aspirations of playing in the National Basketball Association won’t get to watch their favorite team play from a TV at the College. Imagine a father and his daughter taking shots on a frozen pond, fostering a dream to play for her country in the Olympics, only to have her attend a college where she can’t watch NHL games on TV. We all have our own reasons to watch local sports, but with PhiloTV, we don’t have a way. I ask the College to please fix PhiloTV either by working with them to add more local sports channels or giving students the option to add the channels themselves via a new service or by some other means.

AP Photo

PhiloTV cuts students’ access to local sport teams.

Policies The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office. Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs. The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.

page 10 The Signal March 23, 2016

Announcing the NEW African American Studies Major!

Enroll Now for Fall 2016

TCNJ’s Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies is intended for undergraduate students who wish to pursue a wide range of careers including education, journalism, social work, civil service, medicine, business, state government, urban planning and policy, etc. The skills taught in this major are also well suited for students interested in graduate programs in many disciplines. The AAS major is not only an ideal complement to professional majors and programs at TCNJ, but also to Pre­med programs in New Jersey and beyond. This major provides students with the cultural competency needed to flourish in an increasingly diverse workforce and is designed to accommodate minors, second majors, and international travel.

Major Core: • AAS 179 / HIS 179: African American History to 1865 • AAS 180 / HIS 180: African American History 1865 ­ Present • AAS 378 / HIS 378: African­American Literature 1920­1980 • Co­Requisite in Methods/Statistics • AAS 495: Senior Capstone: Independent Research Any Questions? E­mail Dr. Piper Kendrix Williams at williamp@tcnj.edu

This major requires 5 electives. These courses complement several academic plans, and students may cross­count up to 3 courses.

THINKING ABOUT SUMMER ALREADY?

SO ARE WE!

At Delaware Valley University, summer doesn’t mean a break from school. It’s the best time to get ahead or caught up! REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 14 *students are advised to verify course equivalency with their home institution

- Online and on campus - Accelerated and full term - Credits are easily transferable * No application fee required for visiting students

delval.edu/summer-collegenews

700 E. Butler Ave. Doylestown, PA 18901 | cps@delval.edu | 215.489.4848 16 College of NJ .indd 1

2/16/16 1:52 PM

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 11

Fame should never excuse sexual assault

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Better Off has recently faced claims of sexual assault. By Connor Meany

It is currently 1:44 a.m. on Monday, March 14, where I’m sitting in bed and trying to make sense of what has come to light during past three days. Writing this article is not exactly how I expected to spend my spring break. On Friday, March 11, Luke Granered of Equal Vision Records’s Better Off posted a lengthy statement on Facebook announcing that he and the rest of his live performance band will be dropping off their current tour with The Maine and Mayday Parade. This announcement comes at the heels of allegations of sexual assault toward David Hobbs, the band’s fill-in bass player. Granered made the claim that it was best for Hobbs to leave the tour, but the band as a whole decided to drop the remaining dates. Granered said that he

doesn’t care “how it affects my band or my career,” but would rather focus on making sure Hobbs doesn’t feel alone in this situation. Better Off will “be going silent for the foreseeable future,” according to the group’s Facebook post. Yet, the most notable part of the five paragraph post is the final three sentences. “Lastly, get off the internet. It’s not your reality. Good luck to all those who continue to pursue what they love in the spotlight and try to withstand the constant critiquing of their character.” As if Granered’s whole post wasn’t enough to ring a bell yelling “rape apologizer” (you can read the whole post on the Better Off Facebook Page), may this last statement serve as the icing on the cake. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what Granered was trying to get at here, but to me, all

this statement says is “We as a band will not think about the situation and its victim(s), but instead would rather focus on how people shouldn’t be mean to us because rape culture is institutionalized and this behavior is to be accepted.” I’d like to make the disclaimer that I am not trying to stir up drama by making false accusations, but based off the information that has been presented to me (and that I’ve found in my searches), the issue of Hobbs, Granered and Better Off should and will be addressed in this manner. A Facebook user has revealed herself as the victim and spoke out publicly on Better Off’s rape-apologetic status with the following statement: “David has been admitting it for eight months to me, the victim. He’s written it down on pen and paper by his own merit. He’s admitted to other people. Just because he suddenly wants to take it back doesn’t mean I’m trying to ruin his life. I gave him eight months to reflect and hold himself accountable. Abusers ruin their own lives. None of you will get me to be silent any longer.” She goes into detail about how Hobbs, a former bandmate, manipulated her into making it seem like it wasn’t a big deal and how she watched the people in her life she thought she was closest to disregard her emotions and experiences for their own personal reasons and gains. I’m writing because every time something like this comes to light, I falsely fall under the impression that it could be the last time. I know in

the back of my head this isn’t true, as something will come out where some member of a band gets called out for violating another human. But it’s wishful thinking at most. At 1:31 a.m. (about 13 minutes before I decided to quit watching Netflix and began writing this), I received a message in one of my group chats consisting of a screenshot of a Facebook status from an unaffiliated source that is making the claim that Ricky Sampson, guitarist for the emo outfit Foxing, is a perpetrator of sexual assault. I know what you’re thinking. “Does Connor get all his information from Facebook statuses?” Probably. I refuse to reject the notion that a person is innocent until proven guilty, but I also believe that context is important. In the case of Better Off, enough information has been presented to me to accurately deem Hobbs guilty and prove that Granered is a rape apologist. I am writing about Foxing with pure intent to spark discussion on sexual assault, especially within music, rather than to accuse based off initial internet gossip. Many people online are claiming that they knew of this, but in the hours since the initial status was posted, a number of different stories from various outlets have surfaced. The band has decided to try to clear the air with a lengthy statement on its Facebook page outlining Sampson’s experience. Additionally, an email thread between Josh Coll, the band’s bassist, and a fan surfaced at nearly 5 a.m. on Monday, March

7, and can be found with a quick Google search. I’d like to note the language in which both Better Off and Foxing have presented the issue and how exceptionally different their statements are from each other in terms of accepting responsibility and and being accountable for one’s actions. Foxing wrote in its statement, “Our hope is not to squash, but rather to share a view and open a dialogue,” while Sampson himself wrote, “To everyone reading this, I am sorry if I let you down.” I believe that the most important thing to take away from the past four days is that rape apologists exist and are vocal within society. This is not only dangerous, but also promotes an extremely hazardous environment. Further, I believe a discussion needs to be held in regards to receiving consent when engaging in conduct with another person. I believe a discussion needs to be held in regards to properly handling situations where one feels uncomfortable. This discussion begins on an individual level. I plead with you to not let cases of sexual assault in any community go unheard, unseen or unaddressed. I plead with you to not make excuses for people who do bad things just because they’re in one of your favorite bands. I plead with you to speak about the topic, to watch for negative behavior and to call out those that violate others. I plead for your help in ending sexual assault.

Labeling of meats is a fundamental right By Tom Ballard Opinions Editor

It is a common occurrence in American grocery stores: A person walks up to the meat section and is faced with a large selection of varying pink-colored meats he or she can buy. The meat is wrapped in clear plastic with a rectangular, white label with basic black print that gives information on the package’s contents. Until last year, these labels included Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which stated from where in the world the meat came. But due to political and economic interests, these labels were eradicated and so was the people’s right to information. On June 10, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives passed “H.R. 2393: Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015” by a margin of 300-131, according to govtrack.us, a website dedicated to tracking the condition of proposed legislation in Congress. The legislation, which passed with a large amount of bipartisan support, began to gain traction after the Canadian and Mexican governments filed a complaint in 2008 against the U.S. to the World Trade Organization (WTO), an intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade. According to the complaint, Canada and Mexico claimed that COOL, which required that meat products must include information on where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered on the package, discriminated against meat from foreign countries. A summary of the dispute raised by the two countries stated that COOL “(imposed) less favourable treatment to imported livestock than to like domestic livestock… creating an incentive for U.S. producers to use exclusively domestic livestock and thus… (creating limited) competitive opportunities of imported livestock.” The problem with the viewpoint of our neighbors to the north and south is that their goal is one of purely economic benefits to their countries, while COOL legislation was meant to protect and inform the American people. According to an article from The Chicago Tribune from Monday, Jan. 4, the repeal of COOL, which took effect

on Friday, Jan. 1, only applies to beef and pork and not to chicken or lamb products, which still requires labeling. An NPR article from Dec. 17, 2015, showed that some members of Congress supported the repeal of COOL not because they found the labeling harmful to Americans, but because of fear of retaliation from the Canadian and Mexican governments. “It doesn’t matter if you support COOL or if you oppose COOL,” Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts said, according to the NPR article. “You cannot ignore the fact that retaliation (from Canada and Mexico) is imminent and that we must avoid it.” The same NPR report explained that the WTO gave Canada and Mexico the green light to charge American businesses $1 billion in tariffs after the U.S. lost its final appeal to the WTO in July. These tariffs would not have only applied to foreign meats, but also to other goods, such as furniture, metal tubing and jewelry. But Americans love eating meat. In fact, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average American consumed 195 pounds of meat in the year 2000. According to an NBC News article from Oct. 26, 2015, Americans now eat an average of 270 pounds of meat each year, an increase of 75 pounds in just 15 years. The same NBC News report stated that the average American consumes 71 pounds of red meat a year (beef, veal, pork and lamb). With Americans consuming so much meat that does not fall under current COOL regulation, Americans are often left in the dark over where their meat is from. Consumers should have the right to know from where their meat comes. If Americans choose to buy domestic beef, which arguably has its own downfalls (but that’s a debate for another day), then they should have the right to do so. If Americans decide they want to stay away from U.S. beef, then that should also be their right to know and do so. In a world plagued with the occasional regional breakout of some meat-related disease, COOL would make it easier for consumers to know which meat is at risk and would allow them to make the decision of whether or not purchasing meat from another country is worth the risk.

Also, consumers might be worried about the conditions of which meat are bred and slaughtered in and might opt to support meat from countries with high standards that ensure that the animals are treated humanely and that labor laws protects the workers. To be entirely honest, if I were in a supermarket looking to pick up ground beef, I would most likely not care enough about where it came from to look at the labeling. But as an American, it should be my right to be able to ignore the label and not have the outside governments of Canada and Mexico dictate to me that those labels should be nonexistent altogether. The repeal of COOL keeps Americans who actually care about the origin of their meat from having the opportunity to make their own decisions while shopping. While Washington politicians caved to political and international pressures, the governments of Canada and Mexico celebrated the defeat of a “discriminating” measure that gave Americans the right to know where their meat comes from. This land, my land, your land, our land is a little less free than it was a year ago before Congress and other world powers squashed the American people’s right-to-know.

AP Photo

COOL labeling has other countries crying foul.

page 12 The Signal March 23, 2016

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March 23, 2016 The Signal page 13

Students share opinions around campus Sexual assault in music?

COOL labeling on food?

“I feel that (the music industry) shouldn’t promote (sexual assault)... But if they are putting out stuff that promotes it, then they should take it out.”

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

“I think it would be interesting to (include COOL labels), but I don’t think it’s a necessity.”

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

Ben Campos, junior physics major.

Teagan Nurnberger, sophomore deaf education and mathematics double major.

“I would say (that the industry should raise awareness of the topic), but they would need to go about it (in) the right way... If they took a more serious tone, (I would say yes).”

“(The government doesn’t) have to, but they can. It would probably be more informative for people.”

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

Danielle Kierner, senior economics major.

Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor

Irene Kontogiannis, sophomore biology major.

The Signal asks... What do you think about PhiloTV? Teagan: “It’s very convenient. I don’t have a TV at school... (I heard that students) can record (shows)... and that’s awesome... I haven’t personally used it yet.” Irene: “I’ve heard... good and bad (things). You don’t really get to (use) your TV.” Ben: “I feel that everyone has a laptop (to watch PhiloTV), so it’s probably (very) useful.” Danielle: “I think that it has its good and bad parts... I think that it’s good that we can record TV, (but I don’t) like how you need an HDMI cable to plug in your computer to watch it on TV... Overall, I think it’s a good thing.”

Rob Birnbohm / Cartoonist

With the College’s recent switch to PhiloTV over regular cable, some students still don’t see a difference.

page 14 The Signal March 23, 2016

Features

Talent / Students showcase skills at annual show

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Left: Pirrera and Statkevich win first place for their Justin Bieber medley. Right: Richards’s saxophone performance earns him third place.

continued from page 1

Samantha Williams said. “We wanted to have a lineup that was varied. While we had a great deal of very impressive singers, this was TCNJ’s Got Talent, not TCNJ’s ‘American Idol.’” There was clearly a wide range of talent on the stage that night. The few singers chosen to perform were there for a reason. As far as originality is concerned, senior communication studies major and singer/guitarist Julia Malak brought something completely

new to the table with her hilarious rendition of Lil Jon and The East Side Boyz’s hit song, “Get Low.” Malak approached the stage and took her seat while telling the audience she was about to play her favorite song. The audience was taken by surprise when the rap lyrics of “Get Low” came out of her mouth with a beautiful new tune and rhythm. From original songs to Justin Bieber mashups to impressive instrumentalists, there was never a dull moment. This made choosing a winner exceedingly difficult for

the judges: Brower Student Center Manager Seth Zolin, Director of Planning and Administration Ceil O’Callaghan and Dean John Laughton of the School of Arts. “It was a hard choice for the judges,” Zolin said. “All of the contestants were worthy.” That being said, a winner had to be chosen. Vocalist Joe Pirrera, a freshman communication studies major, and guitarist Andrew Statkevich, a junior health and exercise science major who has played the instrument for 10 years, were the ones to walk

away with the coveted $100 prize for their impressive Justin Bieber mashup. The talented duo incorporated fan-favorite songs like “Love Yourself,” “Baby” and “What Do You Mean” with acoustic guitar and vocal flare. “We entered the talent contest toward the end of the deadline, so we only had about two weeks to prepare for the show,” Statkevich said. “But we practiced nearly every day to make sure we brought our best performance to the show. I had an awesome time playing in the show. The atmosphere was

great and the rest of the talents were great. You will definitely see me back next year.” The pair ended up splitting the winnings. Junior marketing major Eva MacDuff was awarded second place for her talented singing and junior sociology major and saxophone player Matthew Richards took home the title of third place. This was the junior class council’s seventh annual TCNJ’s Got Talent event and the College can expect another showcase of student talent next year.

Sorority hosts night of female empowerment

By Elizabeth Zakaim Staff Writer

There might not have been a dry eye in the Cromwell Hall lounge during Sigma Lambda Gamma’s “What Empowers You” event on Tuesday, March 8. The multicultural sorority hosted the event as part of its Women’s Appreciation Week and encouraged the women on campus to come together to open up about their role models and sources of empowerment. “Sigma Lambda Gamma is an organization that believes in empowering women through academics, community service, cultural awareness, morals and ethics and social interaction,” senior political science major Dalmiry Puello said. Puello serves as the sorority’s Cultural Awareness and Scholarship Development chair. “We are new on campus and want to help the women at TCNJ feel more empowered to embrace who they are.” Members of Sigma Lambda Gamma and other sororities on campus spoke at the event, acknowledging the different role models in their lives that have inspired them and helped them get to where they are today. “Sigma Lambda Gamma does often advocate for women’s rights, being that it is our national vision to empower women to succeed academically, socially and culturally,” Puello said. “When we first wanted to create this event, we were thinking of putting together something to really make women at TCNJ feel included and empowered to embrace their gender.” Senior business management major and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority

David Colby / Photo Assistant

Speakers share stories about the women who have inspired them.

member Mayra Apurto was one of the speakers at the event. She spoke about how hard it was for her mother to move on after her father left them so suddenly, but also said that her mother has come a long way since then. Apurto’s mother plays an important role in her life because they supported each other through life’s challenges. “She empowers me by constantly encouraging me to do the best I can and does her best to allow me to have many of the opportunities she did not have,” Apurto said. “I aspire to be at least half the woman she is because a woman who does not let life determine her future is someone to look up to. She does not let anything stop her (from achieving) what she wants.” Apurto’s speech inspired others in the audience to share their stories with the

audience, including junior Spanish major Amanda Hernandez. “My mom tells me some stories of the struggles she had to go through to get to where she is today, and through that, I see how much of a strong and independent woman she had to be in order to have accomplished everything that she has,” Hernandez said. Her mother left Honduras in order to come to the United States, where she believed she could better provide for her family. “A year after I was born, she left me with my father and sisters to come to the United States to work and send money back home,” Hernandez said. After some time, Hernandez’s mother was able to bring her to the U.S., but unfortunately had to leave her father and other siblings behind. The family has

been split up ever since, she said. “In 2001, we got our papers and came into the U.S. as residents while my siblings and father stayed in Honduras. After I got to New Jersey, I would go back to Honduras every two years,” Hernandez said. Living this way took a lot of adjustment, she said. “I spent most of my life away from my father and siblings, which was very hard because I never got to have what I would call a complete family,” Hernandez said. “My mother was not only a mom, but she was also a father to me.” Hernandez told the audience that she admires her mother’s willfulness. “Despite every wall she had to face and every obstacle making her feel like she was lost at sea, she still made it,” Hernandez said. “Because of her, today I get an education and I am motivated to be the best woman I can be.” “What Empowers You” was the perfect outlet for women, like Hernandez, Apurto and so many others, to speak about the struggles their families went through to get them to where they are today. For the most part, the spotlight fell on their mothers, whom worked diligently to provide for and encourage these young women to do their best and pursue their dreams relentlessly. “I think it is important for someone to have a role model because we all need some type of guidance,” Hernandez said. “I grew so much as a person after I found a reason to be a better me and after I realized why my mother worked so hard all throughout her life. Having a role model that empowers you gives you a reason to thrive in life and make your goals and dreams into a reality.”

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 15

: Mar. ‘04

Campus Style

Faculty caught with coke

Elise Schoening / Features Editor

A former College official pleads guilty to possessing crack cocaine.

Every week, Features Editor Elise Schoening hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories. What happens on spring break stays on spring break, unless you are an official of the College, that is. In 2004, The Signal reported that former College official and Ewing Mayor Al Bridges was charged with possessing crack cocaine. Bridges worked at the College until 2002, but the drug charges at hand date back to February 2000. Al Bridges, former vice president to the dean of Admissions at the College and Ewing mayor, pleaded guilty on Feb. 18 to possessing crack cocaine. The charges allege that Bridges was in possession of the drugs while he was mayor of Ewing, vice president to the dean of Admissions at the College and vice president of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Bridges cooperated with the US attorney’s office and entered the guilty plea. As part of the plea Bridges agreed to assist the government in investigating and prosecuting others involved with drugs. Also in accordance with the plea, Bridges waived his right to appeal the charge. Bridges’s sentencing is scheduled for May 24. Until then he is free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Bridges could face up to a year in prison, $100,000 in fines or a combination of the two. If he cooperates with authorities in other drug investigations he could receive a lesser sentence.

According to The Times of Trenton, Bridges admitted to U.S. District Judge Garret E. Brown that he was in possession of 0.8 of a gram of crack cocaine on Feb. 10, 2000. Lisa Van Hoeck, Bridges’ attorney and Trenton federal public defender declined to comment on the case. According to College President R. Barbara Gitenstein, Bridges’s career at the College was long and wonderful. Bridges retired effective June 1, 2002 but stopped working at the College in April 2002. During his last year at the College, “Bridges worked in government relations because he had wonderful contacts throughout the state,” Gitenstein said. “He knew everyone and was kind to everyone.” The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office also declined to comment on the case. According to The Times, the alleged incident occurred in 1999 in Bensalem, Pa. Bensalem police were investigating a carjacking case when they found Bridges’s municipal car was in the trailer park. Bridges said he had tire trouble and left the car there. Drug paraphernalia was discovered under the front seat. Bridges was surprised by the discovery. The Ewing police department knew investigating Bridges would create a conflict of interest so they contacted the Mercer County prosecutor’s office.

Celebritease

Swift and Harris take a break from the music industry.

Didn’t make it to a warm beach this spring break? That’s OK, you can live vicariously through Taylor Swift and her dream vacation with boyfriend Calvin Harris. The couple set off for a tropical celebration of love, which included kissing on the beach and riding jet skis. When the couple had to get back to “reality,” they headed to Las Vegas, where Swift partied in the crowd, supporting Harris in concert. The duo wasn’t the only couple

By Jillian Greene Columnist

Spring break is the perfect time to unwind from the craziness of the semester. Many students from the College took to the beaches and even traveled across state lines to soak up a little sun. The warmer weather means bathing suit season is now upon us, and it’s finally time to break out your summer clothes. While vacationing in the Sunshine State over break, I got to see some of the up-and-coming trends for this season. But thanks to social media, you don’t have to look further than your phone to see what’s in style. Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter have all become perfect places to show off your outfit of the day, or for those of you who spent the break poolside, your bathing suit of the day. If you’re an avid Instagram user like I am, I can guarantee that you’ve

Flickr.com

Vintage frames are back in style.

:Stars on spring break

Twitter.com

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist

Flickr.com

Fancy one-piece swimsuits are the hottest beachwear this season.

seen a fancy one-piece swimsuit in your newsfeed at least once this past week. That’s right, people — the onepiece is making a comeback. I can remember a time when you wouldn’t want to be caught dead in a one-piece, but now it’s a must-have item. In fact, I feel a little out-of-the-loop because I don’t own one… yet. Along with the one-piece swimsuit movement, we’re seeing a blast from the past this season with more and more people wearing vintage, round sunglasses. From celebrities to our fellow classmates at the College, these glasses are coming back into style and for good reason. They are a simple yet bold accessory choice that can dress up a simple outfit or get paired with your favorite pair of yoga pants. As the warmer weather starts to roll in, be sure to grab your vintage sunglasses and one-piece swimsuit before heading to the beach and keep an eye out for other trendy styles coming back this summer.

to take some time off from hectic schedules — Amy Schumer and Ben Hanisch were spotted on a tropical getaway, paddle boarding and jumping off boats. When the comedian and furniture designer returned with tan lines, they jumped on the bandwagon to see the hit Broadway show “Hamilton.” Now back to Swift, who didn’t sit still for long — she stopped by Reese Witherspoon’s 40th birthday party on Saturday, March 19. As Witherspoon looked fabulous in a sparkly dress and not a day over 30, Swift took the stage to sing “Shake

it Off.” Kate Hudson posted a collage on Instagram from the night and Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Courteney Cox and Matthew McConaughey were also attendees. If only Witherspoon would give out her secret for never aging. Rob Kardashian also celebrated his 29th birthday over the weekend. Despite the recent drama surrounding his relationship with Blac Chyna and avoidance of his family’s reality television show, his famous sisters came out to celebrate. Kardashian, the family’s sole male, didn’t have his girlfriend at the party, but sister Kourtney’s ex-boyfriend, Scott Disick, was at the bash. Instagram blew up with pictures of the Malibu dinner, which marked a new step for Rob, who had been hidden from the limelight for the past few years. Nick Lachey seemed to try to avoid the spotlight on St. Patrick’s Day, but even with a faux red beard, he couldn’t evade the paparazzi with wife, Vanessa, in Dublin, Ireland. The cute couple attended the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the heart

of Ireland, while also packing in some sightseeing. They stopped by the Guinness Factory on Tuesday, March 15, and even stopped to take pictures with fans. Prince Harry embarked on an adventure of his own on Saturday, March 19. He visited sites in Nepal that were affected by the recent earthquake and paid tribute to strength of the people there. The prince sat with locals and used traditional tools to help restore local carvings that had been damaged

in the April 15, 2015 earthquake. On Sunday, March 20, he visited a temporary camp that currently shelters 250 people and was seen speaking with a 15-year-old survivor. He met with Nepal’s first female president, Bidya Devi Bhandari, and told her he was looking forward to opening the Girls Summit later in the week — swoon. Even though spring break is over, I could take some time off to accompany the prince on any of his upcoming trips.

Prince Harry visits Nepal to aid with relief work.

AP Photo

page 16 The Signal March 23, 2016

ALAN DAWLEY MEMORIAL LECTURE

PRESENTED BY: TIMOTHY SNYDER, YALE UNIVERSITY

The Holocaust has defined countless lives and reshaped our world— and yet, when it comes to our understanding of just why and how this genocide took place, we know so little. One of our generation’s most acclaimed and respected historians, Timothy Snyder has spent years in the painstaking effort to recover the experience of the victims, the intentions of the killers, and the history of the Europe they shared. The result is BLACK EARTH: The Holocaust as History and Warning, a remarkable work of scholarship that offers a new and innovative interpretation of the Holocaust—and a frightening warning about our future.

March 30, 2016 3:30-5:30 p.m. Library Auditorium

TIMOTHY SNYDER

is the Housum Professor of History at Yale University and a member of the Committee on Conscience of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He is the author of five awardwinning works of history, including Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin, which received the Literature Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Free and open to the public. Book signing and reception following the talk. Sponsored by: Alan Dawley Center for the Study of Social Justice, School of Business, Honors Program, Center for Global Engagement, English Department, History Department, Phi Beta Kappa, Modern Languages, Hillel, and CICPC

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 17

IMM department blends art with technology By George Tatoris Sports Assistant

Before teaching at the College, professors Kim Pearson, Philip Sanders and Ursula Wolz were scattered across three different fields and three different states. Pearson was in New Jersey writing about new technology at Bell Labs, Wolz was at MIT’s Media Lab in Massachusetts and Sanders was in New York using technology to create art. Despite the differences, the brilliant ideas from all three professors would soon come together and give rise to the College’s fascinating yet bewildering department: interactive multimedia (IMM). “IMM is essentially people of varying backgrounds coming together to make cool stuff,” said IMM graduate Josh Lewkowicz (‘15), who is now working at DreamWorks Animation. “It’s a bridge between art and technology. I’ve always felt the purpose of IMM is to give you the technical skills to take ideas and bring them to life with the proper tools and techniques.” The major teaches students skills across technological fields. According to the College’s website, the major focuses on three main areas of interest: digital media, interactive computing and professional writing. Lewkowicz chose to focus on cinematography, photography and video editing during his undergraduate years, but other students within the major can go for topics like graphic design, website design and even digital music. The idea behind the IMM major sprouted from collaborative projects between the journalism, computer science and art departments. One such project was “unbound,” an online publication that was started in the year 1996 and combined Pearson’s magazine

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

IMM focuses on digital media, interactive computing and writing. writing class and Elizabeth Mackie’s graphic design class. The magazine was run by students for years and can still be found at tcnj. edu/~unbound. The idea for the major began to spread around campus and in 2003, a proposal was submitted to the school and the IMM major was born with Sanders as its coordinator. “We were an experiment,” Pearson said, speaking of the early days of the major. The major grew quickly, though, and in 2005, the College was one of three winners of a highly-coveted Microsoft grant worth $80,000 to fund a video game design major. The interdisciplinary IMM major provided a perfect counterpart to the art of game-making, which calls upon skills from a berth of different areas, including digital arts, music and computer science. Around this time, the major hired its first professor: Chris Ault.

While the three founders had their backgrounds in specialized fields, Ault was more of a generalist with a focus on graphic design. Pearson put it bluntly: “Chris was the person we were looking for.” Ault’s interests range from computer programming to design to music, which is reflected in the décor of his current office — in a corner toward the back of the room sits an old MacBook next to a miniature musical keyboard. He fiddled with a LEGO brick as he spoke. “I kind of avoided being pigeonholed and focusing in on one, narrow thing,” Ault said. “I always like mixing everything together.” Pearson noted that Ault already understood aspects of design that the founders thought IMM students should know. As more students and professors funneled in, the major began to gain credence.

No longer were they a bold experiment — interactive multimedia had a greater foothold as its own field developed around it. Soon, IMM was its own department, with Sanders as its first chair. In 2010, the department upgraded from the cold recesses of Holman Hall to the high-tech Art and Interactive Multimedia Building. Ault took over as chair for the next five years, followed by Assistant Professor John Kuiphoff in Spring 2015. Meanwhile, Wolz left the school to start her own company, RiverSound Solutions. For IMM to work, the catalog must upgrade each year, Ault said. Learning about outdated software does not prepare students for the job market. “If we end up teaching the same class the same way two years in a row, it probably means we’re not being responsible enough,” Ault said. Recently, the department added minicourses taught by alumni that specialize in one specific skill. Pearson said this new addition is essential. While it’s good to be a jack-ofall-trades, the professor said, students shouldn’t graduate as masters of none. Alumnus Andrew Kuserk said such courses allow students to “have access to the more small and niche of what this program can teach.” These mini-courses are the latest example of what Ault believes is the strongest element of the IMM department: community. And Kuserk found just that during his time with the department. “No matter what, there is never going to be enough professors to cover every single topic in the IMM major, so there (are) going to be some holes,” Kuserk said. “The other students and their specialties is what will fill those holes. Learning from each other is one of the most important parts of being an IMM major.”

TCNJ Business Institute for Non-Business Majors Summer 2016

KNOWLEDGE • SKILLS • PERSPECTIVES Earn eight credits while you learn from TCNJ School of Business Faculty and Visiting Business Executives

BLOOMBERG BUSINESS WEEK’S #1 UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOL IN NEW JERSEY Questions? Contact George Hefelle at BI@tcnj.edu or 609.771.2540 businessinstitute.tcnj.edu

page 18 The Signal March 23, 2016

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 19

Arts & Entertainment

Lyric / Students commit time and talent to show continued from page 1

committed three hours every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday night to practice. “Although it was quite the time commitment, it was definitely rewarding,” said sophomore vocal education major Alex Medawar, who played Sarah. Despite the time commitment, junior vocal education major Nicole Myers, who played Joanne, agreed that the hard work they dedicated to create the production was “worth it” because in the end, they showcased their creation. “The production was for class, but never felt like it,” Myers said. “The rehearsals were so much fun because I felt productive while having fun with my friends at the same time.” As an obligatory class for their major, the students of Lyric Theatre started “Company’s” production in the classroom during the fall semester, but they took what they learned to the stage this semester with practices that included cleaning nights, stumble-throughs and dress rehearsals. During cleaning nights, like on Thursday, Feb. 11, Little and the cast worked to clean up specific moments because not everyone had theater experience and some scenes needed more practice than others to ensure their positioning and timing on stage was perfect.

The following night was one of the “Company” stumblethroughs, where Little and the cast looked at the overall arc of the play for any possible holes in the plot that they might have been able to fill with minor changes to the script. The final week leading to the play’s two performances was entirely dedicated to dress rehearsals that gradually intensified. “The earlier run-throughs were more talking about what we were going to do,” Medawar said. “As we got closer to opening night, we were definitely under more pressure to know our lines and pull everything together.” As the pressure built during the week of opening night, the stumble-throughs suddenly became full dress rehearsals once other production aspects, such as lighting, costumes and the live orchestra, were introduced. The actors and actresses had been studying “Company” for weeks and the time had finally arrived for them to perfect their performances. Sunday, Feb. 21, marked the first full dress rehearsal and by Tuesday, Feb. 23, with very few rehearsals remaining, Lyric Theatre practiced as if ready to perform the real deal. Although the actors were ready, Kendall Hall was not complete for “Company” quite yet. Other aspects still needed to be prepared before the show was ready to run, like audio levels,

Students exude passion during rehersals and on the main stage.

lighting and makeup. Sound checks were run each night, but it was also vital that the lighting and makeup worked well together because if done incorrectly, the actors’ faces might have been seen as flat from the crowd’s perspective. “Every small detail is important and we always need people working tech and making sets,” Myers said. “This show had a lot of tech stuff, too, so that’s why it was important to have people behind the scenes.” Without the people behind the scenes, “Company” could not have been possible on opening night. And when the time had finally arrived on Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27, the Lyric

Theatre students, with help from the crew, created an amazing production of “Company” not only for their class, but also for the College. “The cast put in long hours, both during rehearsal and over winter break. They were unafraid to take risks, shake things up and constantly challenge themselves to elevate their quality of the storytelling,” Little said. “This ensemble really showed in the final performance. I was incredibly proud of the work each and every cast member invested in ‘Company.’” Although Lyric Theatre’s class will continue to meet once a week for the rest of the spring semester to create new scenes to perform, “Company” was their

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

capstone project. With classes, practices and music-related extracurriculars, those majoring within the Music Department agree that all of their work is worth it because it is not just a major — it is a passion. “I bet there are people that really do love what they major in, but I absolutely know that I’ve met people within those majors that are only pursuing it for money or because their families want them to,” Myers said. “Music is something that you really have to commit to because you love it. You have to love doing what you do and for all the right reasons. That’s what makes the large time commitment worth it.”

Brian Sella returns solo to the College By Sydney Shaw Managing Editor

“I’ve never played by myself before, so I don’t know if this will be any good,” Brian Sella said as he took the stage to headline CUB Alt’s show on Tuesday, March 8. “I’m in a band called The Front Bottoms. That’s how we usually play, but tonight, it’s just me.” After only the first song, “Twelve Feet Deep,” it became clear that Sella performing solo on stage is just as striking as the usual four-piece model of his Jerseybased band, sans the keys, drums, bass and trumpet. Students helped to replace the missing instruments throughout the evening by clapping the backbeat to “The Beers” in place of Ciaran O’Donnell’s keys and singing backup vocals for “Maps” as Sella smiled through the chorus. “Most of these songs are about college,” he told the audience in the Lion’s Den food court. When Sella was in college in 2007, he started The Front Bottoms with drummer Mat Uychich. Two years later, they independently released the album “My Grandma vs. Pneumonia.” “We’re going to revisit the ‘Grandma’ series,” Sella told The Signal before the show. He played “Flying Model Rockets” from that particular release, as well as a refreshing mix of songs from the band’s back catalog. One song Sella didn’t play, though, is a track released just the day before he

Kimberly Ilkowski / Arts & Entertainment Editor

The show marks the first time Sella played without a full band.

visited the College — “Noodle Monster.” “We recorded that in Switzerland,” Sella told The Signal. Uychich, who came along to support Sella during his first solo performance, said the song was recorded during soundcheck for the show “Portlandia.” Season 6, episode 10 of the show bears the same name as the band’s new song. The episode is set to air on Thursday, March 24. “I think a lot of people are confused by it,” Uychich said through laughter. The song, which was released on Fueled by Ramen’s YouTube channel, peaks

when Sella eerily whines, “It’s a noodle monster, baby.” The Front Bottoms signed to the label Fueled by Ramen in June 2015 after spending four years with Bar/None Records. “I think it’s easier now to do our crazier ideas than it was before,” Uychich told The Signal. “They let us kinda do what we want to do and they just let us have fun.” Sella appeared to have fun as he slid around the stage in black socks. He has earned himself a reputation for performing shoeless — during the College’s Fall Concert in 2014, Sella donned a pair of

rainbow, striped socks. He brought along a batch of 50 red lighters with “Sella” printed on the side, which were available to purchase for $5 each. “You’re all going to be rich one day and you’re not even going to remember that lighter, but it’ll help me out a lot right now,” Sella said. All 50 lighters sold out by the end of the night. Before he left, the singer showcased his knack for storytelling with the song “Handcuffs,” which was released last April on a split record with GDP entitled “Liberty and Prosperity.” “But with my pain came rage, a light so bright I feel blind,” Sella sang. “So I reach with my hands and a rock is what I do find. He stops for a moment, I gather my strength, just enough to swing quickly and put the rock right through his face.” Sella told The Signal that he wants to start telling stories in a medium other than songwriting. “I’m gonna write a book and do an audiobook along with it,” he said. “I’m going to soundscape it and we’ll see what happens… It’s just a fictional story about nothing, basically.” The College may have said “Au Revior” to the singer-turned-author, but Sella and The Front Bottoms will be on tour through the end of May. The band is also in the lineup for Coachella in Indio, Calif., in April. “It feels good,” Sella said. “We’re just going to keep doing what we love — touring and making music.”

page 20 The Signal March 23, 2016

New art gallery explores post digitalism By Kristen Solis Correspondent

The College celebrated the opening of a new art exhibit inside the Art and Interactive Multimedia Building art gallery on Wednesday, March 9, entitled, “Image Tech: Making Pictures in a Post Digital Age.” The public was treated to the new artwork as well as an artist panel featuring Trudy Benson and Lucas Blalock, whose work is in the gallery. Mauro Zamora, assistant professor of art at the College, served as exhibition curator. Zamora opened the artist panel with his vision behind the exhibition. He quoted a new media artist, TheoMass Lexileictous, in the exhibit program, saying, “The description of our current age is … #postdigitalism, where artists are extracting the digital into the physical world.” In 2007, what changed for Zamora was buying an Inkjet Printer. “It was a long journey for me, with my practice,” Zamora went on to write in the exhibit program. “If the screen can be the

conceptual nexus of today’s art making, then the output device, the printer, is one of the screen’s destination. All of the artists in the gallery explore this concept of the digital affecting how they make their art and how people view it. Post-digitalism is breaking down barriers between what defines a painting, a photograph or a print. The works installed in the gallery illuminate how the collapse of distinct categories gives freedom to artists to not be restricted to just one media or just one type of art. Zamora remarked during the panel how the digital changes the way we think of the structure of the image. Walking into the gallery, on the right wall hangs an enormous red painting by Benson, titled “Red Giant,” displaying robust scribbles created using acrylics, spray paint and oil paint on canvas. “The scale is impressive and I’m really drawn to the layers,” said Matthew Pembleton, a College alumnus and the gallery’s coordinator. Benson, who started off as a painter focusing on representational figures, now

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Students walk through the gallery, which features whimsical pieces.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Abstract paintings are created using Windows Paint and Photoshop.

creates abstract paintings inspired by early versions of Windows Paint and Photoshop after she allowed herself to experiment. Her work is the perfect example of how the categories of digital and physical art are no longer separate. “You really can’t separate paintings from the digital world.” Benson said. “Most people view paintings on a computer screen.” Blalock is another artist featured in the gallery who uses Photoshop features, such as the cloning tool, digital erasing and masking, to manipulate photographs into whimsical pieces of art. Blalock wants to move beyond just “light on paper,” referring to the darkroom process of photography. His work explores the middle ground between what is a photograph and what is a painting. “Painting is an activity of making an object,” Blalock said. “Photography is an attempt to relate to something in the world.” Another piece in the gallery is a large inkjet print of a Cheetos Bag with acrylic flowers painted over it, similar to graffiti, by artist Tom Holmes. “From afar, it looks like it’s suspended

(in the) air, but then up close, it’s mounted on the wall,” senior fine arts major Jessica Hargwood said. “I guess it’s just the way the light hits it, since it’s printed on aluminum, but it’s a really cool effect.” The image that sums up the latest gallery at the College is a large print by artist Wolfgang Tillman. It is an image of a messy desk, two large computer screens, a Macbook and a beer, titled “Studio Still Life.” It is an obvious picture of where Tillman works. It also pays homage and pokes a bit of fun at the age old artist practice of creating still lifes, yet beautifully illustrates the theme of this exhibit. “The main concerns of these works seems to be the actual image and their meaning — the potential network, the relevance to culture and connection to image history — not a specific connection to a painting or photography nor to representation or abstraction,” Zamora wrote in the exhibit program. “These artist work in a completely fluid manner, moving between digital space, physical space and even the cultural space with no barriers or self-imposed restrictions.”

College alumna Sarah Blake recites her poetry By Shayna Innocenti Staff Writer

It is a special moment when alumni of the College get the chance to return to campus and share their wisdom and success with students. Zany poet and 2006 graduate Sarah Blake gave an intimate poetry reading in the Library Auditorium on Thursday, March 10, as part of INK’s Visiting Writing Series. Blake’s poetic success began with her debut book, “Mr. West,” an “unauthorized lyric biography” of hip-hop artist Kanye West. The book not only features defining moments in West’s career, but also weaves in Blake’s own experiences throughout her pregnancy. The book was published in March 2015 by Wesleyan University Press. At the event, Blake read several poems including the anatomybased “Kanye’s Digestive System” and poems that featured defining career moments for West, such as “God Created Night and it was Night.” Many of the poems were accompanied by photos from the Pinterest board that Blake created for readers to use as reference. Blake admitted that the first question she usually gets about the book is, “Why Kanye?” This question is especially prompted

by interviewers, she said, as she has never met West. Despite how the media often portrays the hip-hop artist, Blake explained that she connected with West differently than most. “Kanye lost his mother, Donda West, around the same time when I lost my grandfather,” Blake said. Two years after her grandfather’s passing, Blake became interested in writing poetry about hip-hop. She thought back to West’s loss and his 2008 album, “808s & Heartbreak,” as she wrote what would be the first poem of her book, “Kayne’s Circulatory System.” “The book kind of morphed into this whole other project,” Blake said. “Kayne fascinates me and the media’s fascination with him fascinates me. The book ended up being a lot about (the) media’s portrayal of people and the falsehood we often forget.” The oddity of a poetry book featuring the life of West drew in both avid poetry readers and curious bystanders. Sophomore special education and English double major Alexa Anderson admitted that while West’s music wasn’t her genre, she was interested in learning about this work written by the recent alumna. “I think that the poetry is really interesting,” Anderson said. “It

was an odd take on her personal life — mixing it into Kayne’s nonpersonal life that is very media based. I thought that was cool.” While the piqued interest of the audience was stemmed around this fantastical Kanye-poetry, it was hard to ignore just how hard Blake is striving to revolutionize the way poetry is presented to the general public. Her poem “A Day in the Mall Reminds Me of America” was adapted into a Motionpoems film by director Ayse Altinok and hauntingly portrays the mischiefs of two adolescent sisters. Similarly, Blake published the book-length sci-fi poem “The Starship” in illustrated installments online. She read aloud a handful of poems from this newer work, along with some pieces from “In A Wood, With Clearings, It’s Spring,” a narrative told via 60 prose poems. This summer, Blake will also be releasing an activity book that will be a compilation of poetry, writing prompts and creative puzzles. Blake explained that she had written a chapbook, or half of a book of poetry, about the death of her grandfather, but wanted to present it in a fresh way that would be appealing to a wider audience. “At the time, I was really jealous. My son is four and he has

these incredible workbooks that he can spend hours doing,” Blake said. “I thought it looked fun.” So much like the current trend of coloring books for adults, Blake replicated these timeless activities to accompany every other poem in the book and is currently having them redrawn by a commissioned artist. The rest of the poems were sided by prompts that can be geared for both the poetic audience and the general public. “So instead of reading a sad poetry chapbook, you can spend

a few hours having a weird poetry experience. That was my goal,” Blake said. Moving forward, Blake explained that she wants to extend this idea of transforming poetry. “I am always thinking about different ways for people to interact with books,” Blake said. “A book of poetry is not going to be the experience of a novel and it never will be. But that shouldn’t be upsetting or discouraging — that should be really exciting. So what could it be? It could be anything.”

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Blake’s debut book revolves around Kanye West.

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 21

‘The Family’ offers chills, suspense

Twitter.com

Adam returns after a mysterious disappearance. By Lillian Firth Staff Writer

The new ABC show “The Family” is for lovers of mystery and suspense. The thriller, which aired on Thursday, March 3, and will run through the rest of the month, will keep you guessing about a mysterious disappearance throughout its drama-packed episodes. The show has many complex layers and definitely does not follow a one-dimensional plotline — it features characters that all have different yet intersecting issues. It also highlights every human flaw imaginable: lying, kidnapping, framing, infidelity, suspected murder, mistaken identities and intense family fighting. “The Family” will keep you invested from the start. The plot starts as something we’ve all watched before — the picture-perfect suburban family with three happy kids and loving parents enjoying a picnic. The parents are busy with mother Claire Warren’s (played by Oscar-nominee Joan Allen) Senate campaign. The older children, Danny and Willa, are in charge of watching younger brother Adam, but of course, he goes missing while under their supervision. This is where the plot strays from expectations. Now, 10 years

after his disappearance, Adam returns, damaged after being tortured for 10 years and, even worse, returning to a family who believed he had been murdered. Many questions now emerge: Who has been keeping him captive? How did he come back after all these years? And the worst question yet: Is it really Adam? It’s up to the viewer to pick up on the subtle clues the show presents. Each episode reveals more and more, but still teases the viewer with clues and turns. The characters are relatable and realistic. Claire is trying hard to keep her family together but is overcome by her devastating emotions, has countless breakdowns and fights with her husband John, evidently pushing him away. John lashes out at everyone and buries his grief into cheating on his wife. The oldest son, Danny, drinks himself into a stupor every night and separates himself from his family, trying to escape the guilt he feels for his negligence. Willa buries herself in her work, managing her mother’s campaign for governor, pushing hard for her to win even when it is not good for the grief-stricken family. Adam is mostly quiet in his return, haunted by his rape and torture over the years. He chooses to sleep in his closet because the enclosed space reminds him of the pit he lived in while captured, which now oddly comforts him. Then there is the neighbor, Hank, who secretly spent time with Adam before his disappearance, where he showed him how to make ship bottle models and genuinely loved him like a son. He is an odd, quiet man and Adam was very special to him because he saw past his awkward appearance. Hank was framed for Adam’s supposed murder, however, and spent 10 years in prison before it was revealed that Adam is still alive. Hank is more quiet than ever after living in the harsh conditions of the prison, angry with the accusations pinned on him. Only four episodes have aired and each one of them has been captivating. The characters are intriguing, and the mysterious plotline itself is enough to keep viewers coming back. I would recommend it to any lovers of mystery and suspense. If these first few episodes are anything to go by, I suspect the rest of the season will be just as chilling with many cliffhangers and nailbiting scenes. “The Family” delivers a mystery that will definitely be discussed as it continues this month.

‘Rocket’ launches to new platforms By Michael Battista Sports Editor

Sometimes, it’s the simplest ideas that are the most entertaining. “Rocket League,” the PlayStation 4and PC-exclusive game since the summer of 2015, was released for Xbox One on Wednesday, Feb. 17. It has already become one of my top games of the year. The entertaining game drops you into an arena with two teams where you take control of RC cars and play soccer. The genius of “Rocket League” is its simple-to-play form. The right trigger accelerates, the left trigger breaks, the control stick steers the car, holding the “B” button uses up the limited yet easily-refillable boost and the “A” button lets the car jump into the air. You control the car and drive it into a ball in an attempt to get it into the opposing team’s net within the time limit. These basic controls are one of the reasons why “Rocket League” is so fun. It’s simple enough for someone who has never played to jump right in because of its easy-to-grasp concept. If you invest time into the game, however, you will learn more advanced plays and techniques just from practicing. There is no story to the game, although some people have tried to put together bits and pieces about its world and setting. The only game modes are season play, exhibition games and online play. Season play puts the player on a team of three, with two artificially-intelligent (AI) players. You pick your team’s logo, name and even what type of car your teammates operate. From there, you can choose the number of games and then play against other AI-based teams whose difficulty is also controlled, all in an effort to make it to the playoffs and win the season trophy. It’s kind of pointless, but is definitely great practice on the lower difficulties. If you want a real test, trying to make it to the playoffs against an All-Star level AI is

a seriously fun challenge. Exhibition is just what it sounds like, with the player going against AI in a match type that they control. The number of AI, their difficulty, the stadium and other factors can be edited. It makes for a great way to practice against tougher opponents. The main meat of the game is the online play. While AI can be challenging, nothing compares to playing against other human beings. Once again, you can search for games ranging from one-on-one to four-onfour, with one mode changing the game up entirely by replacing the ball with a hockey puck and the grass with ice. The games can range from quick blowouts to stressful overtime showdowns, just like in real soccer. Each game is a different experience — you can have a team that just connects with one another, whether it be with friends or strangers, or you can be in a zero-chemistry situation where you all just ram your car into the ball hoping it goes into the goal. However, with any game that has a thriving online community, server issues can be an annoyance. During the first few weeks, the game’s servers were unreliable, taking minutes to connect to games, with some never actually connecting. Other times, the

games would be stopped mid-match due to players being kicked out. As time has gone on, these issues have died down, but it’s worth mentioning that online play isn’t always perfect. In my time playing, no matter what game mode I was in, the frame rate never dipped below 60 frames per second — and if it did, it was hardly noticeable. The matches run smoothly, so long as everyone’s connection is fine, which means the match’s momentum never slows. Regardless of the final score, you earn experience at the end of every game, no matter the mode or type, and you unlock new car modifications. These modifications range from different paint types, hats and flags to decorate your car with to new car bodies entirely. While the type of car you use doesn’t matter (no one body is better than another), the sheer amount of customization allows players to truly stand out. This is a game that will suck you in for countless hours. It’s fun, easy and has the potential of becoming a competitor in the eSports scene. With a recent Microsoft announcement that cross video game platform play would be coming soon, PS4 vs. Xbox One “Rocket League” is the perfect first test.

The game’s online feature allows users to play against anyone.

Twitter.com

This week, Brigid Barber, WTSR music staff member, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.

Band: Crater Album: “Talk To Me So I Can Fall Asleep” Hailing From: Seattle, Wa. Genre: Grungy Electronic Pop Label: Help Yourself Records Crater slides swiftly into the ranks of Seattle-based electronic artists with its debut “Talk to Me So I Can Fall Asleep.” Ceci Gomez and Kessiah Gordon have sculpted an album, which stutters, burns and breaks, yet holds your attention throughout this industrial pop record. Many of the brooding sounds created by this power duo have been taken from their internet collection in a desktop folder titled “Black Hole.” These samples have stemmed from gifs and torrents, which are completely relevant to current meme culture, but very subtle. No matter what internet noise the brain baby of each song was made from, this record will not make you doze off, even if the title makes you think otherwise. Must Hear: “Ain’t Right Habits,” “Die Slow,” “Hardly At All,” “Holy Ground” and “Brew”

Band: Jon Patrick Walker Album: “People Going Somewhere” Hailing From: New York, N.Y. Genre: Blues Rock Label: Walksly Songs Influences such as David Bowie, The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley permeate within Jon Patrick Walker’s sophomore release. The actor-turned-writer is inspired by rock, blues and folk, which creates a sound reminiscent of classic rock. Familiar and present, “People Going Summer” emphasizes the idea of original techniques in song making and rejects new age genres and styles. This album seems to reflect on creating music nestled in the artist’s roots, which he aims to portray in his original songs. Your dad would probably really like this album. Must Hear: “Mother’s Going To Shrug Us Off,” “Taillights,” “Never Win” and “Oh, Rosie”

page 22 The Signal March 23, 2016

FALL 2016 REGISTRATION APPOINTMENT PERIOD Initial Registration Period for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Tuesday, April 5 Through Friday, April 15



Your enrollment appointment reflecting the first time you will be eligible to register for the Fall 2016 semester can be accessed via your PAWS account. To view your scheduled enrollment appointment, visit the Enrollment Appointment section in the PAWS Student Center. Once eligible, students remain eligible throughout the registration period. Undergraduate students who do not register by 11:59pm on Sunday, April 17, will be subject to a late registration fine. Graduate Students have until Friday, July 15: Late Registration Fine Undergraduate: $150 Graduate: $125



The Fall 2016 Schedule of Classes is available on PAWS and can be viewed by using the Search for Classes button. Both Winter 2017 and Summer 2016 registration are also open along with Fall 2016 registration. Check PAWS frequently for any updated winter/summer course offerings and consult with your advisor for appropriate course selections.



Visit the PAWS HELP website for complete information on how to log-in to PAWS, search for classes, browse the Course Catalog, view your Holds, add courses to your Shopping Cart, and register for classes: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/



Use the Validate feature directly from your PAWS Shopping Cart to check for potential pre-requisite issues before registration! For more information on the Validate feature, visit: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/files/2011/07/validate.pdf



Check PAWS early and frequently for Holds that will prevent you from registering. All Hold Flag information can be viewed under the Holds section in the PAWS Student Center.



Access your Academic Requirements Report on PAWS to view your degree requirements via the Advising Tools link.



Make an appointment to see your advisor to discuss your Academic Requirements Report. Your advisor’s name and email address can be located in your PAWS Student Center.



Double-check call numbers and course sections prior to your registration appointment for schedule changes and periodic updates.



Graduate Students: If you are a non-matriculant who is applying for Fall matriculation, you should not register during this timeframe. If accepted for matriculation, you will be invited to register during the Graduate Orientation summer orientation sessions.

THE OFFICE OF RECORDS AND REGISTRATION Green Hall 112, M-F 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 23

Fun StufF

page 24 The Signal March 23, 2016

 Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov  TCNJ’s College Code is 002642  Remember income tax data can be easily transferred from the IRS to your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool  IRS Tax Return Transcripts will be required if you are selected for verification & if you do not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool  Parents & students are required to have a FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA  The FAFSA must be filed by 6/1/16 for Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) consideration  Don’t forget to respond to the additional questions required by the State of NJ on the 2016-2017 FAFSA confirmation page

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT APPRECIATION WEEK APRIL 4–8

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 Aromatherapy & Yoga Intro with the Humanitarian Yoga Club 4–5 p.m. Brower Student Center, 210

Cupcakes and Conversation with Faculty, plus raffle prizes! 4–5 p.m. Education Building, Room 205

THURSDAY, APRIL 7 Resume Reviews 1:30–3:30 p.m. Career Center, Roscoe West Hall

For more information or to RSVP, see www.tcnj.edu/tcnjgrad

grad uate stud ents

on

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

Attenti

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 25

Sports Tennis

Lions rebound with backhand to Bates College By Connor Smith Social Media Editor

While many students at the College unwound in tropical climates over spring break, the women’s tennis team ventured to Fredericksburg, Va., to compete against three top-ranked opponents in the BlueGrey Invitational from Friday, March 18, to Sunday, March 20. The Lions, currently ranked No. 29 in the NCAA Division III (DIII) rankings, fell to No. 12 Johns Hopkins University in a close matchup on Friday. The women bounced back from a loss on Saturday to No. 21 Case Western by shutting out Bates College in the tournament’s finale on Sunday. “I was really impressed with the energy and effort from the team,” head coach Scott Dicheck said. “They really ended the weekend on a high note.” The invitational began on Friday, March 18, against the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays. Freshman Grace Minassian and sophomore Maddy Stoner combined for an 8-2 blowout on court one. The Blue Jays fired back with an 8-4 win on court two. However, freshman Alyssa Baldi and junior Anna Prestera helped the Lions carved out an early 2-1 lead in the doubles competition with

8-3 victory of their own. “We’re very happy with the three doubles teams right now,” Dicheck said. “All three teams are feeding off of each other in a positive way while drawing out the best skills in each other.” The Lions’s lead was shortlived, as a dropped second-set tiebreaker tied the score at two. Senior Emma Allen responded well on court two, earning a win in straight sets (6-2, 6-4) to put the Lions ahead once again. Freshman Sneha Rangu rallied from a one-set deficit on court three to earn herself a three set victory (2-6, 6-3, 7-5). One win away from clinching a victory, adversity struck the Lions. Johns Hopkins earned victories on courts four and five, leaving the sixth court as the match-deciding competition. The point went to Johns Hopkins in straight sets, securing a 5-4 loss for the College. “We knew they were a very experienced team,” Dicheck said. “They’re the team that knocked us out of NCAA’s last year. To play a team of that caliber and show that we can battle with them gives us a lot of confidence going forward.” Following their first loss of the season, the Lions found themselves another tough opponent in No. 21 Case Western Reserve University on Saturday, March 19.

Case Western swept the doubles competition, however, each matchup was closely contested. The Lions lost court one, 8-5, and courts two and three, 8-6. The singles competition went similarly, as the Lions were unable to convert crucial opportunities, dropping every court aside from Baldi on court six (6-3, 6-2). “They played better than us today,” Dicheck said. “We didn’t win a few of the key points and it got away from us. It was really the first adversity that we’d face all season.” Reeling from back-to-back tough losses, the women were challenged once again on Sunday, March 20, against Bates College. The day began with a Lions sweep of the doubles competition, as Minassian and Stoner earned a 9-7 win on court one. The senior combo of Jasmine Muniz-Cadorette and Allen pulled out an 8-6 win on court two, while Prestera and Baldi won won 8-1 to complete the sweep of doubles. One day after facing a nearsweep, the Lions flipped the script on Bates in the singles competition to complete a 9-0 shutout. “It didn’t feel like a 9-0,” Dicheck said. “It was another nailbitter. We were losing the first set on all top three singles. The way the team has been, they fought back

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Freshman Alyssa Baldi keeps the Lions on track.

and won in three sets.” Sophomore Brittany Reedman, Allen and Rangu were the women who rallied from behind. Reedman survived a second set tiebreaker to keep her competition alive. With a third set forced, the sophomore won the clinching set, 10-7, earning a 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 10-7 victory. Allen’s win on court two (5-7, 6-2, 6-3) clinched the College’s lone victory of the invitational. With a 5-0 lead, the next three Lions won in three sets. With the pressure of a sweep on her back, Baldi was awarded a win, as her opponent was retired. “We’re gonna face these type of

Wrestling

teams again in NCAA’s,” Dicheck said. “I think it gives us a sense that we can compete with these teams. We don’t play until May, so we have plenty of time to work on these things.” According to Dicheck, the trip was certainly a successful one. “We got out of it what we wanted,” he said. “We’re excited going forward, and I think they’re all motivated to take this to the next level.” The women’s tennis team (9-2) will return to the court on Saturday, April 2, as they visit Swarthmore College. The men’s tennis team will open their outdoor season on Tuesday, March 29, against Muhlenberg College.

Track and Field

Pride / Team looks ahead Freshman flaunts feet Qualifies for NCAA finals By Nicole DeStefano Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Senior Doug Hamann finishes eighth in the wrestleback bracket.

continued from page 32

“Antonio had a great career for the Lions,” Galante said. “He was an AllAmerican, two-time NCAA qualifier and two-time NCAA East Regional finalist. He led by showing and doing. We will miss having him on the team.” At 165, junior Nick Herring wrestled close but was edged out by a tight 3-2 decision. Herring ended his season by dropping a 7-4 decision in wrestlebacks, closing out the season with a 22-5 record, which included an NCAA Eastern Regional Championship. With the College’s hopes of an AllAmerican on his back, Hamann bounced back from an early 12-4 major decision to carve out an eighth-place finish through the wrestleback bracket.

“Doug did a fantastic job rebounding from a tough opening match,” Galante said. “He was trained to handle adversity and did just that.” Although this is Hamann’s senior year at the College, he is athletically eligible to return next season due to a year lost to injury. Hamann will serve as a veteran presence, filling the massive shoes of Mancella. With the College’s 46th straight year of winning a national citation secured, the Lions will have another eight months to eat, train and prepare for their 20162017 campaign. Although they will be without the veteran presence of seniors Mancella, Jimmy Gill, Stephen Schneider and Joe Paton, the Lions should still feel confident. The team will be riding on a mixture of budding young talent and seasoned competitors.

Freshman middle distance runner, Kathleen Jaeger, settled into a starting stance in lane three for her final 800-meter race of the season on Saturday, March 12. She was wearing her go-to pair of lucky blue-striped socks. At the shot of the starting gun, she edged out quickly with the hopes of achieving an All-American Title at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Grinnell, Iowa. Jaeger, the only freshman in the country who qualified for the 800-meter final, did not need luck. She relied on strategy, training and instinct to help her secure a seventh-place finish. Jaeger kept up with most of the pack throughout the race, making her final move with about 400 meters left and clocking in at 2:15.34. “The main goal was to not overthink the race and go in with confidence,” Jaeger said. “There are a lot of talented girls that made nationals, so I knew I would face good competition and I just wanted to run my hardest.” Despite being the only athlete on both the men’s and women’s side from the College to qualify for nationals, Jaeger did not feel alone. Her teammates wanted to make sure she felt their presence, even if they were over

1,000 miles away. “All my teammates are incredibly supportive,” Jaeger said. “I received a lot of texts and FaceTimes from my teammates wishing me good luck and encouraging me to do my best. Their support is awesome and I can’t thank them enough for how much they help me. Many of them watched online and texted me immediately after. There is no better feeling than knowing your team is supporting you from halfway across the country.” To qualify for the NCAA finals, Jaeger ran a 2:13.91 on Friday, March 11, during the preliminary race — making her the first Lion to represent the College in the national 800-meter finals since 2011. Jaeger’s personal best time of 2:13.43 on the season and her performance at nationals tied together an outstanding rookie season with the Lions. With the indoor track season behind her, Jaeger now is looking forward to a successful lacrosse season at the College. The team will be looking for its 13th NCAA title, first since 2005, and its fifth New Jersey Atletic Conference title. “Kathleen performed tremendously out at nationals,” head coach Justin Lindsey said. “She has a very bright future. I look forward to see what she can do. We look to support her as she transitions into lacrosse for the spring season.”

page 26 The Signal March 23, 2016

20% off any regularly priced item (excludes specials & take-out) Graduate Studies

TCNJ | Leads the Way It’s your move.

Find out more by visiting www.tcnj.edu/tcnjgrad Or call 609.771.2300

4 6

LIONS

March 23, 2016 The Signal page 27

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Colleen Murphy “The Ref”

Kevin Luo

Staff Writer

Michael Battista Sports Editor

Jennifer Goetz

Nation & World Editor

In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Colleen Murphy, asks our panel of experts three questions: How did the NCAA selection committee do this year? Was Adam LaRoche right for quitting baseball because of his son and who is to blame for the 100 athletes suspended for using a newly-banned substance?

1. How good of a job do you think the selection committee did with choosing this year’s March Madness teams? Kevin: The selection committee did a horrible job picking the field for March Madness this year. Syracuse University, Michigan State University and University of Tulsa shouldn’t have been in the field of 64 and teams like Valparaiso University, Saint Mary’s College and Monmouth University all deserved to get in over these three. The committee needs more basketball people on it (former coaches, media members) and a better-defined criteria for who gets a bid and who doesn’t. Right now, the committee is a mess and I don’t know if it’ll get any better the way it is right now. Michael: I want to say the committee did a bad job, but honestly, I like what they did. There were some incredible snubs this year, especially Monmouth, whose bench would be amazing to watch in the tournament. However, there isn’t a clear-cut winner this year and I honestly love that. A majority of

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the time, we have this bracket where we say, “This team is going to go to the Final Four and win.” This year alone, many brackets have been busted thanks to the losses by

Michigan State, University of Kentucky and West Virginia University. This year, a record 10 double-digit seeds made it to the Round of 32, and honestly, they all have a chance

to keep playing on. While there were — and always will be — snubs, this bracket has been very entertaining. Jennifer: The selection committee team repeats the same procedure every year when it comes to deciding the 68 teams that make it into the tournament. Every year, there are surprises in the choices the committee picks and this year they didn’t disappoint. My grandpa, Walter, an avid college basketball fan, felt that Seton Hall University should be seeded higher than sixth, considering they won the Big East Championship recently. However, he retracted that statement the following day because on St. Patrick’s Day, Seton Hall had no luck against Duquesne University, losing, 97-76. As for the women, the University of Connecticut has dominated the past three years, and this year, predictions are in their favor. The most well-known teams that have dominated in previous years seem to have a better chance at seeding higher. The more reliable the team, the better the seed!

Kevin gets 3 points for giving a solution. Michael gets 2 points for saying the selections made the games entertaining and Jennifer gets 1 point for mentioning the women’s bracket.

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2. Chicago White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche retired after the team told him to stop bringing his 14-year-old son to the clubhouse so often. Which side do you think is in the right and why? Kevin: Personally, I have no issue with

LaRoche bringing his child into the clubhouse. However, I side with the White Sox in this case because they have the right to say that he can’t bring the son in there. The baseball clubhouse is still a workplace and there needs to be some

semblance of professional standards. At any other job in America, if workers brought their children into the office every day, it would be a disaster. Michael: The White Sox were in the right, but part of me respects LaRoche in a weird way. The team has the final say on what happens in the dugout — who comes in and what goes on in there. I doubt the kid would be a nuisance, but maybe management thought he could be a distraction that may hurt the team later on. Then again, with the recent story about St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer Tyler Dunnington quitting baseball because of the homosexual death threats his teammates openly talked about, when at the time he kept the fact that he was gay a secret, maybe having a kid away from a clubhouse isn’t a bad thing. Even if it wasn’t happening in Chicago, I’m sure there are some things said in a clubhouse

that a kid shouldn’t hear. In the end, though, I can’t dislike a father who put his son first. Jennifer: There is nothing like fatherson bonding time, however, the time a player spends in the team clubhouse to train and work on improving his skills is important, too. Ken Williams, the team president who told LaRoche to “dial down” the amount of time his son spends in the clubhouse, said to Fox News, “You tell me, where in this country can you bring your child to work every day?” The White Soxs have encouraged players to bring their children to work with them, but the constant presence of Drake LaRoche, the 14-year-old son, might have been a distraction to his father, who struggled in 2015, batting just .207 with 12 homers. LaRoche turned down his $13 million contract in order to spend time with his son because #familyfirst.

Jennifer gets 3 points for suggesting the son could be a distraction. Kevin gets 2 points for putting the workplace first and Michael gets 1 point because bad things are everywhere. 3. About 100 athletes have been suspended for using the newly banned substance meldonium. Where do you think the blame for this high number of suspensions lies most? Kevin: The sports officials of the countries and the athletes are at fault. Athletes need to know exactly what’s going into their bodies, as the rules for doping around the world for sports is often strict and confusing. However, there are clearly some issues with the specific national federations, since there are large numbers of athletes, specifically in Russia, that are testing positive for this drug. There are question marks on whether this drug is actually a performance-enhancer, but if it’s illegal in the sport, everyone involved needs to be aware. Michael: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and sports officials should be clear what drugs are going to be banned and give some time frame. I am not defending athletes who are actually trying to get an edge in their respected game, taking steroid B since its legal, unlike steroid A. I’m defending the athletes who have actual medical conditions or being nursed back to health, only to find out the substances they were taking are now

banned. The groups looking to keep the games clean should tell athletes ahead of time, “This substance may become banned in a future rule.” Now, while you can say this may give cheaters an advantage, it would mean treatments could be altered. Jennifer: The WADA has suspended athletes for this drug pretty often in the past three months… maybe because this meldonium has just been officially banned as of 2016. Basically, meldonium is a drug that’s prescribed to treat heart disease and to increase a blood flow to organs. It cannot be sold in the U.S. and can only be found in Latvia. This drug can enhance one’s performance and can boost one’s oxygen uptake. Sharapova had been taking this Latvian drug for the past ten years and was unaware that Mildronate was the same thing as meldonium. The WADA sends emails to all athletes when new restrictions have been added and Sharapova, in particular, did not click on the link to check. The blame for the high number of suspensions probably lies most heavily on the negligence of athletes who don’t double check to see if a new drug was added to the list of banned substances.

Kevin gets 3 points for putting the blame in the right place. Michael gets 2 points for showing empathy and Jennifer gets 1 point for pointing out athlete carelessness.

Kevin wins Around the Dorm 8-5-5.

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page 28 The Signal March 23, 2016 Lacrosse

Overtime / The Lions win in dramatic fashion

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The lacrosse team celebrates after an intense win against Gettysburg. continued from page 32

remaining in the six-minute period, senior attacker Cortney Natalicchio sent the ball sailing toward the net and scored her 16th goal of the season, and 102nd goal in her collegiate career. The sixth-ranked Lions won, 10-9. The team’s record rose to 5-0 while the fifth-ranked Bullets left the stadium with a record of 5-1 and their first loss of the season. “It is the first time we have played a sudden death overtime, so I knew taking that shot that it may have been the last shot

we would take in the game,” said Natalicchio, who led the College’s offense with four goals and two assists. “If I missed or the goalie made a save, they would have the opportunity to end the game — I knew I had to make it count.” The Lions struggled in the first half. Junior attacker Mia Blackman made a goal just 40 seconds into the game, but the Bullets kept the Lions from tallying again for another 18 minutes. Meanwhile, Gettysburg scored three goals. Out of 10 shots in the first half, only three found their mark. Meanwhile, the Bullets hit the Lions with a barrage of shots — out of 12 shots, six hit the back of the net.

At the break, the Lions were down, 6-3. “We started off a little slow and were having trouble finishing our shots,” Natalicchio said. But that all changed in the second half. “Being down by three at the start of the second half, we knew we were really going to have to work to chip away at their lead,” Harvey said. With 5:18 left on the clock and the College trailing, 9-7, Harvey took a low shot and brought the Lions one step closer to a tie. Harvey was shooting high all game and adjusted her shot based on head coach Sharon Pfluger’s advice. “We could only be happy about that goal for a second,” Harvey said. “The team and myself had to refocus on gaining possession off the next draw so that we could have another possession on attack and try to tie.” With 3:30 remaining, freshman goaltender Miranda Chrone made a point-blank save to keep the Lions a goal away from tying. “Being able to keep the score within one or two goals gave my team the motivation they needed to tie and eventually win the game,” Chrone said. Chrone made seven saves the entire match, which is her highest yet this season. Devlin, who ended the game with three goals and an assist, showed the Bullets that the Lions were not going down without a fight, scoring a goal just 15 seconds into the second half. Eight minutes later, Natalicchio scored her 100th goal as a Lion. “I was so wrapped up in the game that I did not even realize it was my 100th when I scored it,” Natalicchio said. “It is a great memory to have. Reaching that career marker and also winning the game in overtime is something I’ll never forget.” Natalicchio scored two more goals after that milestone, including the one that ended the game. Chrone felt “pure joy” after witnessing the final goal. “I have never had that feeling before after a win,” Chrone said. “And even two days later I still smile just thinking about it.”

SUMMER AND WINTER SESSIONS

AT T C N J

START THIS SUMMER IN SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS! LIT / WGS317 / ENGL670 THE WITCH IN LITERATURE For more details on this Session 1 course please email summer@tcnj.edu, or visit us at: http://www.tcnj.edu/intersession Memorial to those who were killed during the 1692 witch trials in Salem.

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March 23, 2016 The Signal page 29 March Madness

Lions Television (LTV) vs. The Signal First Round March 17-18

Second Round March 19-20

Sweet 16 March 24-25

Elite 8 March 26-27

Vanderbilt (19-13)

Holy Cross (14-19)

Wichita St. (24-8)

Southern (22-12)

South 11 Seed

Kansas (30-4) Austin Peay (18-17) Colorado (22-11) Connecticut (24-10) Maryland (25-8)

1 16 8 9 5

South Dakota St. (26-7) 12 California (23-10)

4

Hawaii (27-5) Arizona (25-8)

13 6

Wichita St. (24-8)

11

Miami(FL) (25-7) Buffalo (20-14) Iowa (21-10)

3 14 7

Temple (21-11)

10

Villanova (29-5)

2

UNC Asheville (22-11) Oregon (28-6) Holy Cross (14-19) Saint Joseph’s (27-7) Cincinnati (22-10) Baylor (22-11) Yale (22-6) Duke (23-10)

15 1 16 8 9 5 12 4

UNC Wilmington (25-7) 13 Texas (20-12) 6 Northern Iowa (22-12)

11

Texas A&M (26-8)

3

Green Bay (23-12)

14

Oregon St. (19-12) VCU (24-10) Oklahoma (25-7)

7 10 2

CSU Bakersfield (24-8) 15

Final Four April 2

West 16 Seed

March 15-16

Final Four April 2

Kansas Connecticut Maryland Maryland

Sweet 16 March 24-25

Michigan (22-12)

Florida Gulf Coast (20-13)

Tulsa (20-11) East 11 Seed

F. Dickinson (18-14) East 16 Seed

South

Wichita St.

Elite 8 March 26-27

2016 March Madness Bracket

Kansas

Hawaii

Championship April 4

North Carolina North Carolina

Providence Indiana Indiana Kentucky

East

Louisville, KY

Second Round March 19-20

Notre Dame

Philadelphia. PA

Notre Dame

Miami(FL) Miami(FL)

SF Austin

Iowa

Wisconsin Villanova

Wisconsin

Villanova

Xavier

Oregon

Virginia

Oregon

Virginia

Saint Joseph’s

Butler

Champions

Yale

Little Rock Iowa St.

Duke Duke N. Iowa

West

Iowa St.

Midwest

Anaheim, CA

Gonzaga

Chicago, IL

Texas A&M

Gonzaga

Texas A&M

Utah

VCU

Syracuse Oklahoma

Syracuse

Oklahoma

By EJ Paras LTV Director of Media and PR Watching this season as a casual fan, it really caught me by surprise to see how tumultuous the rankings have been. Powerhouse teams like Kentucky and Duke falling out of favor in the rankings at times? That’s amazing. The heroics of Buddy Hield, the lack of Louisiana State University in any tournament with Ben Simmons — lots of great stories this year. My final four is pretty conservative in terms of rank, but how these teams get there in my brackets are pretty interesting: I have the University of North Carolina (UNC) vs. Michigan State, and Kansas vs. Oklahoma in my Final Four. I then have UNC beating Oklahoma at the national championship by a score of 68-62. I really don’t have too many bold picks, but a few of my choices stand out. I have last year’s runner-up, Wisconsin, going out in the Round of 64 against Pittsburg and Northern Iowa beating Texas in the Round of 64. As far as how I treated the No. 1 ranked teams, Virginia is the only one in my bracket that does not make it into the Elite Eight, while I have Oregon losing in the Sweet Sixteen, Kansas going down in the Final Four and UNC ultimately winning the whole shebang (call it my bias, but whatever — filling out these brackets is really hard!). Best of luck everyone!

Mid. Tennessee

PrintYourBrackets.com By Michael Battista Sports Editor The selection committee may be coming under fire by some for some egregious snubs, but this year’s tournament looks to be (and has been) one of the best in recent memory. My Final Four consists of No. 1 Kansas, No. 4 Kentucky, No. 4 Duke and No. 2 Michigan State. Call me crazy for having two No. 4 seeds in there, but Kentucky always seems to go all out when they need to most and Duke’s regular season impressed a lot of people. Kansas will redeem themselves from 2012 and beat Kentucky, 6759. There is a plethora of upsets that I see coming this year, starting off with the No. 12 seed, Ivy League Yale Bulldogs knocking off the No. 5 seed Baylor. Yale’s first appearance in the big dance after a 54 years drought comes during an impressive 23-6 season. The Ivy League has been impressive the past few years, with Harvard getting to the second round in 2015, and I think the trend continues this year. Another upset I predict is No. 13 seed Hawaii taking down No. 4 California. While I know Hawaii is a good team, Cali isn’t a major threat. The losses during the season against Colorado and Arizona just show me they can get sloppy in their game. The off nights are big and if that happens again, the luau will be massive.

By Sean Reis Production Manager

By Otto Gomez LTV Sports Producer

“LET’S GO TAR HEELS!” — never have I ever uttered such an appalling phrase before. However, this year, Roy Williams and the University of North Carolina is my pick to win NCAA’s March Madness. Joining the Tar Heels in the Final Four, I have Kansas, Texas A&M and Michigan State, but come Monday, April 4, the Tar Heels will sadly have to end Texas A&M’s Cinderella Story to become the NCAA National Champions. Before the championship, I picked many upsets because season after season, there have seemed to be more and more. Starting in the South region, No. 11 Wichita State upsetting No. 6 seed Arizona, as well as No. 7 Iowa also losing to No. 10 Temple, who will “keep calm and cherry on” to later upset the second seeded Villanova in the Round of 32. Back to the Round of 64 though, I also have No. 12 Yale over No. 5 Baylor and No. 10 Virginia Commonwealth over No. 7 Oregon State in the West. Next, for the Round of 32, I picked another upset with the East’s two seeded Xavier University losing to the No. 7 University of Wisconsin. Nonetheless, until the end of the tournament this Duke Blue Devils fan will be yelling… Go Tar Heels?

March Madness, for the most part, comes down to star players and head coaches on each team. I think this year will be no exception, as I have No. 2 Michigan State coming out triumphant in my bracket. Their head coach, Tom Izzo, has led the Spartans to a national championship and seven Final Fours during his tenure, while making the Tournament 19 years in a row and only missing it his first two seasons with the team. To go along with that, Denzel Valentine has proved himself a candidate for the John R. Wooden all year along with his excellent play. Together, I believe they will go far this year. To round out the Final Four, I have No. 2 Oklahoma, led by fellow Wooden candidate Buddy Hield, No. 3 Miami, a well-coached under-theradar team, and No. 9 Providence, led by star point guard Kris Dunn. While I don’t have a lot of huge upsets other than Providence, and No. 12 Yale over No. 4 Duke, I think crazy things can, and will happen, as they do every year in the tournament. Further, to prove how wrong I will be about my picks, I have made a second bracket with all opposite upsets and a different Final Four entirely. Let’s hope I submitted the right one in this group.

1

First Round March 17-18

North Carolina (28-6)

16 Florida Gulf Coast (20-13) 8

USC (21-12)

9

Providence (23-10)

5

Indiana (25-7)

12

Chattanooga (29-5)

4

Kentucky (26-8)

13

Stony Brook (26-6) Notre Dame (21-11)

6 11

Michigan (22-12)

3

West Virginia (26-8)

14 Stephen F. Austin (27-5) Wisconsin (20-12) 7 10

Pittsburgh (21-11)

2

Xavier (27-5)

15

Weber St. (26-8)

1

Virginia (26-7)

16

Hampton (21-10)

8

Texas Tech (19-12)

9

Butler (21-10)

5

Purdue (26-8)

12

Little Rock (29-4)

4

Iowa St. (21-11)

13 6

Iona (22-10) Seton Hall (25-8)

11

Gonzaga (26-7)

3

Utah (26-8)

14 7

Fresno St. (25-9) Dayton (25-7)

10

Syracuse (19-13)

2

Michigan St. (29-5)

15

Mid. Tennessee (24-9)

ESPN BRACKET STANDINGS (As of March 21) 1: Sean Reis Points: 450 Projected Points Remaining: 1120 Percent Correct: 92.1% 2: EJ Paras Points: 420 Projected Points Remaining: 1080 Percent Correct: 73.9% 3: Otto Gomez Points: 380 Projected Points Remaining: 480 Percent Correct: 36.5% 4: Michael Battista Points: 360 Projected Points Remaining: 800 Percent Correct: 22.6%

page 30 The Signal March 23, 2016

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March 23, 2016 The Signal page 31

Lions claw their way to victory in Florida By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Assistant While students from the College were on spring break recess, the softball team headed down to Clermont, Fla., for a 10-game series. Along the way, the Lions compiled six wins and four losses for an overall record of 8-5 on the season. For the week of March 16, freshman infielder/outfielder Jess Santelli was announced as the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rookie player of the week for her consistent hitting during the Lions’s victory against Keene State College. On Saturday, March 12, the Lions endured two narrow games with a 10-9 victory against the Calvin College Knights and a 3-4 loss against the Wesleyan University Cardinals. At the top of the sixth inning against the Knights, the Lions were leading 4-0 until junior Knight outfielder Caitlin Bell drove a double onto the right field and sent senior infielder Ashley Riemersma and sophomore outfielder Kimiko Hinatsu to home plate. The Knights then proceeded to take a 5-4 lead when freshman outfielder Kristen Newman scored from a triple and freshman shortstop Maddie DeGroot exploited a Lions’s error on third base to score. The inning launched a constant back-and-forth notion of the Lions surging from run deficits until the bottom of the eighth inning. Down 9-8, the Lions broke open when

senior outfielder Kristen Fitzsimmons scored from a double to even the score at 9-9. Senior infielder Steph Vuono miraculously scored off a wild pitch from Knights junior pitcher Paige Groom and sealed a 10-9 victory. Following the dramatic game, the Lions’s offense was pecked by the Wesleyan University Cardinals. Down 3-4, the Lions failed to get on base during the top of the sixth and seventh innings. The Cardinals would ultimately take the win at 3-4. On Sunday, March 13, the Lions’s offense roared toward a resounding 7-0 victory against the Keene State College Owls. The Lions accumulated 10 hits while sophomore and freshman pitchers Sam Platt and Nicole Frank secured the shutout. Afterward, the Lions were shutout themselves by the Frostburg State University Bobcats in a 2-0 loss. Bobcat sophomore pitcher Allison Short regulated the Lions to only two hits, while Lions senior pitcher Ashtin Helmer conceded two runs. “Competition brings us together. It is pivotal for everyone to know each other and play the game together, especially first year players,” head coach Sally Miller said about the vigorous opponents. “Good bonding is more than necessary to play at such a high level of competition.” With a stronger team bond

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Despite the loss, Helmer pitches a solid game for the Lions.

developing, the Lions swept the Fitchburg State University Falcons and took home a win against the Westfield State University Owls in 5-0 and 9-3 victories, respectively. Despite the momentum, the Lions endured a two-game losing roadblock against the Bethel University Royals and the University of New England Nor’easters. Locked in a 1-1 stalemate at the top of the sixth inning, the Royals earned themselves a 2-1 lead when sophomore infielder Wendy Roberts hit a single towards center field and senior outfielder Abbie Bircher scored from third base. Similar to the matchup against Wesleyan University, the Lions failed to score another run during the bottom

of the sixth and seventh innings. The Lions finished their last two matches with two wins, including an intense eighth-inning, 7-6 win against Amherst College. With a 5-1 deficit in the top of the sixth inning, the Lions initiated a comeback when freshman outfielder Gaby Bennett scored from third base. The Lions evened the score in the following inning when sophomore outfielder Madison Levine slammed a single to left field and allowed freshman infielder Daniella Marino and Bennett to score. The Lions added assurance by extending their lead to 7-5 on top of the eighth inning. Senior catcher Jamie Purcell scored from a triple and senior

infielder Steph Vuono astonishingly stole home plate. The Lions proceeded to shun Amherst College’s comeback and close the match. “It’s a tough schedule,” Miller said. “(There are) a lot of good teams with good pitching and defense. We can’t let a team open the door on us towards the end — we have to sharpen our defense.” The Lions travel to Allentown, Pa., on Wednesday, March 23, for a doubleheader against the Muhlenberg College Mules. After, the Lions arrive at Dr. June Walker Field for a doubleheader against the Red Dragons from the State University of New York at Cortland on Friday, March 25.

Baseball

Lions / Slugging in the sun continued from page 32

taken the freshmen under their wings to show them support, guidance and how to work the right way at their skills,” Glus said. “The freshman class has a lot of ability and they feel they are big part of the success.” Fitchburg State jumped out early and scored in the first inning, but the Lions’s offense answered back with a run. Rizzi reached base after being hit by a pitch and eventually darted out to steal second. Senior catcher Garren Turner smacked the ball up the middle for a single and earned himself an RBI as Rizzi touched home. The team went on to score seven more runs, with Fischer allowing only two in the fifth and last inning of the game. Similarly to how the Lions came close to overtaking Fitchburg State, the team was able to keep Eastern Connecticut State University at bay on Thursday, March 17. The College got on the board quickly with sophomore infielder Zach Shindler leading the charge. Shindler earned himself four hits and three RBIs in just five at-bats. The Lions took control over the game in the fourth, advancing the lead to 10-1. Turner blasted the ball into the field for a run-scoring triple. Shindler then stepped up to the base and slapped the ball to the middle, scoring Turner. Shindler eventually reached home on a single by sophomore outfielder Mike Follet. In the eighth inning, Eastern Connecticut inched closer to a victory by scoring six runs in the eighth inning, making the score 10-9. It was sophomore pitcher Matt Curry’s turn to shine on the mound as he kept the opponents’ offense back. The 6’4” righthander went one-two-three, ending the

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Come on over

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Pitching shines in Florida games.

game with a fly ball to center. For Glus, the close win was a game that stuck out in his mind after the trip came to a close. “We took a 10-3 lead and they came back to make it 10-9 and then we shut the door,” Glus said. “It’s not easy being up and then in a tight game and having the confidence to close it out.” The Lions met the coach’s expectations during the week they were in Florida, defeating Babson College, 10-1, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 20-3 and Westfield State University, 4-0 and 6-2. “In the first 10 games, they met all expectations and more so,” Glus said. “The coaching staff set expectations for each player to take the next step in their games and for the most part, they have done that.”

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Signal

Sports

The Lions stay hot in the Sunshine State

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Volpe pitches two great games for the Lions while in Florida.

By Jessica Ganga Sports Editor

The weather in Florida was hot, but the bats of the College’s baseball team were hotter last week during the team’s annual trip to the Sunshine State. From come-from-behind wins to earned double-digit runs, the team demonstrated what the true

definition of “teamwork” really is, something that has so far been evident in the beginning of the season. The Lions took home seven wins out of eight games played, bringing its overall record to 9-1 on the season. The Lions’s first game on Saturday, March 12, against Roger Williams University set the momentum for the rest of

Lacrosse proves to be bulletproof By George Tatoris Sports Assistant Freshman midfielder Erin Harvey stood at the center of Lion’s Stadium on Saturday, March 19, her lacrosse stick poised for the draw. She knew what was at stake. The fight against the fifth-ranked Gettysburg College Bullets would have ended just moments ago if not for senior midfielder Megan Devlin, who tied the game up, 9-9, with just 26 seconds on the clock. The game went into overtime. “With the new sudden-death goal rule this season, I knew how important it was to get possession right away,” Harvey said. NCAA’s new rule, which went into effect just this year, states that games that go into overtime are decided by the next goal. Harvey lobbed the ball towards sophomore defender Elizabeth Morrison, who gained control. After an intense few minutes of play, with both teams missing scoring chances to end it and 1:39 minutes see OVERTIME page 28

Lions’ Lineup March 23, 2016

I n s i d e

the trip. With the leadership of the team’s seniors, including pitcher Steven Volpe, the Lions defeated the Hawks, 12-2. Volpe dominated the game, getting his first 15 outs in only 39 pitches. The veteran pitcher allowed only two opposing runners to reach home and struck out five during his complete game. The Lions took the spotlight,

with play after play throughout the game. Senior center fielder John Rizzi showed range by making six putouts during the game. Rizzi’s nonstop effort gave Volpe the confidence to attack all parts of the strike zone against the opposing hitters, allowing him to give them his toughest pitches. “The players have all worked

hard in all aspects of the game,” head coach Dean Glus said. “They have paid attention to details and that has built confidence in each one to go out and play to their ability.” The team’s hitting was on fire throughout the game, with the offense recording 15 hits while runners were on base. “The hitting by the entire team was outstanding,” Glus said. “After 10 games, I believe we are hitting at a .380, clip and that is outstanding. The starting pitching was very good, as we had over five complete games by our starters. “ The next day, Sunday, March 13, the team split two games in doubleheader against Fitchburg State University. Even though the Lions outhit their opponents, 12-8, the team couldn’t come back after Fitchburg State exploded in the fifth inning with five runs. The Lions fell to them, 10-7. In the afternoon, the Lions drew their claws, defeating Fitchburg State, 8-3. Freshman Michael Fischer made his first collegiate start and had an impressive debut, pitching all seven innings for a complete game. The freshmen have made their mark early in the season and have helped the team tremendously during the start. “The veteran players have see LIONS page 31

Wrestling has a season to remember By Connor Smith Social Media Editor The wrestling team capped off its 2015-2016 season by competing hard in the NCAA Division III Championships on Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although no Lions won their opening bouts, senior Doug Hamann managed a tremendous run in the wrestleback bracket to secure an eighth-place finish and earn All-American honors. “We had a great season,” head coach Joe Galante said. “We won a lot of dual meets, had four east regional finalists and a champ… For the past 46 years, we’ve had an All-American at NCAAs. We believe in academics and athletics, and I couldn’t be more proud of our team’s efforts.” The College began the tournament on Friday, March 11, when sophomore Ryan Budzek grappled with tough opponents and adversity in the 141 competition. Despite Budzek’s best efforts, the young wrestler was forced to cut his

run short in the wrestleback bracket, forfeiting the bout due to injury. “(Budzek) is a tough wrestler and a good person,” Galante said. “If he applies those attributes to wrestling, good things will happen. If he applies it to life, there is no telling what he could accomplish.” Senior Antonio Mancella wrapped up a

memorable wrestling career at 157. Mancella was sent to the wrestleback bracket following a 7-2 decision. Fighting off elimination, Mancella managed a 10-3 victory, but the veteran eventually fell 5-4, ending his hopes for back-to-back AllAmerican honors. see PRIDE page 25

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Hamann earns himself All-American honors.

46 53 Around the Dorm page 27

Track page 25

March Madness page 29

Softball Page 31