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(11/15/16 3:27am)
By Michelle Lampariello
Features Assistant
The College’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) hosted its annual Stigmonologues on Monday, Nov. 7, to raise awareness for mental health and to reduce the stigma surrounding it.
Students gathered in the Decker Social Space to hear nine speakers share their journeys with mental health.
Speakers detailed their struggles and paths to recovery. Still, they acknowledged that the amounting societal pressures and stigmas can inhibit many of the mentally ill from receiving the care and acceptance they deserve.
“I hope we get to live in a society where people look at mental health the same way people look at asthma,” said EJ Paras, a junior marketing major.
A few speakers compared mental illness to physical injury to describe the pressure placed on the mentally ill to behave as if nothing is wrong.
“When you break your leg, you put a cast on it,” said Kevin Hurler, a junior physics major. “But when you have depression, you smile and you get over it.”
The pressure to pretend as if everything is fine is not only inflicted by society, speakers said. Family members and close friends of the mentally ill often react to the stigma surrounding mental illness, as well.
“The boy (my parents) thought had his life on track, all of a sudden his thoughts spiral out of control,” Paras said. “My mom initially wished I had diabetes rather than bipolar disorder.”
Student speakers said a significant step toward acceptance and tolerance is understanding that those who suffer from mental illness are far from alone in their struggles.
“You are not alone in how you feel,” said Alvin Tran, a freshman psychology major. “If you look to your left and to your right, I guarantee you one of these people is willing to be the ear to listen.”
While society continues to question the validity of mental illness, the speakers said that it does not matter what others thinks. Mental illness is a pressing issue facing many Americans — it cannot be ignored.
“I have depression, and I don’t care who believes me,” Hurler said.
Although it may be daunting to start a conversation about mental illness, junior biology major Anna Torchiano highlighted the importance of speaking up and raising awareness for mental health issues.
“Allow us to continue the conversation about mental illness in order to end the stigma,” Torchiano said. “To all those who have any kind of mental illness, please don’t be afraid to speak up. The secrets I just shared with you are the secrets you and a surprisingly large number of people have.”
Although many people struggle with mental illness, speakers said it doesn’t make them lesser than anyone else.
“I may be ripped at every edge, but I’m still a masterpiece,” Hurler said.
(11/01/16 12:29am)
By Michelle Lampariello
Features Assistant
The TCNJ Orchestra performed beautifully during its “Strictly Strings!” event on Wednesday, Oct. 26, in Mayo Concert Hall. The string orchestra consisted of 26 violinists, seven violists, seven cellists and five bassists. The violinists were split into two sections that each performed a different part.
The orchestra performed four pieces, three of which were conducted by viola adjunct Professor Harold Levin, a violist, composer and conductor. The first piece, “The Old Church,” originally composed by the late Stephen Paulus, was conducted by senior music major Steve Mejias.
Mejias introduced “The Old Church” with a poem of the same title by Della B. Vik. “The Old Church” set the scene and mood of the piece with lines such as, “The old church leans awry and looks quite odd / But it is beautiful to us, and God.”
Mejias explained prior to the performance of the piece that Paulus was able to sustain his career “solely on commissions,” which was a rare feat for a musician.
The second piece performed by the orchestra was “Symphony Number One” by William Boyce. Levin described how Boyce composed eight symphonies, but eventually went deaf. According to Levin, even Boyce’s largest symphonies were string pieces and had very little, if any, woodwind involvement.
“CY Music,” composed in 2010 by Levin, was the third piece performed by the TCNJ Orchestra. Due to the modernity of the piece, it is different from what the string orchestra is used to performing.
“I decided the players needed some experience playing some 20th century style pieces,” Levin said. “They don’t play music like this all that often, and they’re doing a really nice job.”
The average audience member would never have been able to tell that “CY Music” was the hardest piece for the orchestra.
“It’s nothing like anything most of us have done before,” said Christopher McEwan, a sophomore music education major. “You have to make sure you’re really paying attention to the conductor and listening to everyone as a whole.”
“If you think you’re playing it wrong, you’re actually playing it right,” said Lorena Limato, a junior music education major.
The fourth and final piece performed by the orchestra was “Serenade In E Minor, Opus 20” by Edward Elgar. This piece was well-liked by both the TCNJ Orchestra and Elgar himself.
“Elgar said on several occasions that this was his favorite piece,” Levin said. “This was one of his best known pieces.”
Limato and McEwan both expressed that Elgar’s piece was their personal favorites in the show to perform. “Elgar’s piece is very expressive, but in a fun way,” Limato said.
“I really like the Romantic era,” McEwan said. “And just the way it came together as a whole, I thought it was a beautiful piece.”
The String Orchestra not only came together beautifully during Elgar’s piece, but throughout each piece during the concert.
(10/25/16 1:10am)
By Michelle Lampariello
Features Assistant
Brave survivors of domestic violence gathered with supporters to share their stories during the Break the Silence Monologues, hosted by the College’s Anti-Violence Initiative (AVI).
Held in the Library Auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 20, the monologues are part of AVI’s ongoing campaign to raise awareness for domestic violence throughout the month of October.
Four domestic violence survivors bravely shared their struggles about coming to terms with their situation. Many felt isolated, ashamed and powerless.
AVI named the event “Break the Silence” with the hope that having survivors share their stories will allow others to realize they are not alone.
“Even on my bad days now, I’m still doing better than I ever honestly dreamed was possible,” sophomore psychology major Melissa Garfinkel said.
In a monologue titled “A Letter to Myself,” senior communication studies major Joanne Kim discussed her difficulty managing the whirlwind of emotions that come with being a survivor. Still, Kim acknowledged the great strides she has made with time.
“Look how far you’ve come despite what they’ve had to say about you,” Kim said. “And look how far you’ve come despite what you felt. I’m proud of you.”
In this letter to herself, Kim praised her abilities to heal from the abuse.
“I’m glad that you’re able to use your pain for something good, and that you can be open and vulnerable about your past,” Kim said. “The strong don’t need vengeance or revenge, and the strong don’t need to abuse power or control… They’re individuals, and they have an authenticity about them and a light that can’t be sucked out by this world.”
Between each story of survival, other speakers extended their support through poetry. One poem, “These are My Pieces,” addressed flashbacks and how it can be difficult to find love after suffering from abuse.
Another, “The Kindness of Strangers,” discussed the difference between emotional and physical wounds. Domestic violence victims often sustain physical injuries, but have to live each day as if nothing is wrong. “The Kindness of Strangers” called attention to the emotional wounds that are paired with physical abuse.
The brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon shared their support for power-based personal violence survivors and gave a joint statement at the monologues.
“We collectively are well aware of the severity of this issue, and our organization is dedicated to reducing the instances of violence and assault,” one member said. “Our organization has continually been proactively implementing a variety of… policies at all of our events in order to further prevent and intervene in these types of situations.”
AVI will continue to raise awareness, funds and supplies for domestic violence survivors throughout October. By “Breaking the Silence,” survivors are able to aid one another in the healing process.
“Know that it gets better. You deserve better. You are not alone,” one speaker said. “You are amazing, you deserve someone who is your equal, lets you make decisions for yourself and helps you love yourself. You are worth more than what you are being given.”
(10/17/16 10:51pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Staff Writer
Heartwarming and heartbreaking stories were at the center of PRISM’s annual Coming Out Monologues. On Wednesday, Oct. 5, and Thursday, Oct. 6, the Library Auditorium was packed with students eager to hear them.
Audience members found themselves laughing and crying during the monologues. Themes of struggle, betrayal and bullying were present in many stories, as the speakers described their journey to find acceptance and happiness. Still, the overall mood of the monologues was inspiring and empowering.
“Spoiler alert — gender is fake,” said Sarah Melamed, a speaker and senior psychology and criminology double major.
The comment generated a round of laughter from the audience, but Melamed’s story quickly turned serious. Melamed went on to describe the pain of never having the chance to come out to their late mother, who also identified as queer.
This year, veteran Coming Out Monologues speaker Rosie Driscoll, a junior history and women’s and gender studies double major, elaborated on her monologue from last year.
“What I didn’t talk about during that process was how I was feeling, and sort of the role of fear in my coming out process,” Driscoll said. “The first feeling I felt when I realized I liked girls was fear.”
Driscoll had an interesting issue to overcome when she moved into her residence hall during her freshman year.
“I was really afraid that I was going to be the only person on my floor — on my all-girls floor — who wasn’t straight,” Driscoll said.
However, Driscoll and the other speakers made it clear that the College is a generally welcoming and friendly community. Through organizations like PRISM, students on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum have a place to go that feels like home, one speaker said.
Support for the LGBTQIA+ community is not limited to PRISM. Several of the College’s clubs and organizations co-sponsored this year’s Coming Out Monologues and attended the event.
The event ultimately served as a source of support and inspiration for all students, and not just those on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
Driscoll touched on the coexistence of students of all sexual orientations.
“When I was applying to colleges, an older guy in my church who I had looked up to a lot pulled me aside,” Driscoll said. “He heard I was applying to… a women’s college, and wanted me to know that the lesbians might recruit me.”
(10/04/16 1:50am)
By Michelle Lampariello
Staff Writer
Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sorority’s Pink Out Week united the College community in an effort to end breast cancer and raise funds for the cause. All week long, students were spotted walking around campus with pink ribbons pinned to their backpacks. Even the water in the Science Complex fountain was dyed pink as a show of support.
Pink Out Week, which lasted from Monday, Sept. 26, to Sunday, Oct. 2, included various events and fundraisers, all of which aimed to raise awareness for breast cancer and educate the College community on the prominent disease.
The fundraising goal for the week was set at $10,000. All proceeds raised will be donated to further breast cancer research and support current breast cancer patients, according to Morgan Johnston, ZTA member and a junior urban elementary education and iSTEM double major.
Pink Out Week kicked off with a cupcake giveaway and T-shirt sale in Eickhoff Hall. The sisters also gave out pink ribbons that represented the sorority’s commitment to supporting breast cancer victims. The next day, ZTA swapped out cupcakes for smoothies and continued to sell T-shirts in the Brower Student Center.
ZTA worked with the Bright Pink Foundation on Wednesday, Sept. 28, for an educational session called Breast Cancer Basics. The event focused on the signs of breast cancer and how students can learn to protect themselves by identifying the disease in its early stages.
A pink pumpkin painting event was held in Eickhoff Hall on Friday, Sept. 30, despite the rain.
“The pink pumpkin painting is my favorite event,” Johnston said. “I like how it ties in Halloween and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, since they’re both in October.”
Rain did not stop the final and largest event of the week, Pink Party. On Sunday, Oct. 2, the Decker Social Space was transformed into a festive gathering for students and other supporters to celebrate the sorority’s weeklong efforts to end breast cancer.
Complete with pink balloon arches, music and even a few dogs, Pink Party reflected ZTA’s pride in its philanthropy and the sisters’ dedication to educating others about breast cancer.
“The pink party is my favorite event because it’s our biggest,” said Audrey Heylmann, a ZTA member and junior psychology major. “We get a good turnout from other organizations.”
In addition to its T-shirt sale throughout the week, the sorority partnered with Deli on a Bagel Café in Pennington, N.J., to raise additional funds for the cause. Donations and proceeds from the Deli on a Bagel fundraiser were a key component in helping the sisters of ZTA reach their fundraising goal.
“Breast cancer is a personal cause for some our sisters. I know that more than five have been affected,” said Catarina Ribeira, ZTA treasurer and junior elementary education and iSTEM double major. “I am so proud to be a part of an organization that is so passionate about a cause I hold close to my own heart.”
(09/28/16 2:53pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Correspondent
Ingrid Michaelson’s seventh and latest album, “It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense,” is a beautiful reflection of Michaelson’s recent struggles. After suffering from her own health complications, Michaelson lost both her mother and her dog before her marriage to musician Greg Laswell ended in February 2015. Michaelson channels her pain into the new record by mixing together ideas about moving on, drama and determination.
The first track, “Light Me Up,” was written by Michaelson and a few collaborators only days after the death of Michaelson’s mother. The song is based around the idea of focusing on the present and becoming happy again. Michaelson references her mother in the second verse with the lyrics, “And I want to keep us all alive / And I want to see you with my eyes / But I see you in the fireflies / And how extraordinary is that.”
The theme of adjusting to change is also present in “Light Me Up,” which makes it a great track to start off the album because it highlights not only how Michaelson has changed, but also how her music has changed since her 2014 album, “Lights Out.”
Michaelson’s mother is the subject of the album’s fifth track, “I Remember Her,” as well. Michaelson remembers her mother fondly, and sings about how her mother would “sing me lullabies / Gave me my hazel eyes / And then she’d call me beautiful.” The track is arguably the saddest song on the album, despite the influence of grief in every track. By the end of the album, the listener is left with the sense that Michaelson is empowered and independent following her divorce, but there is no silver lining after Michaelson lost her mother.
The sixth track, “Drink You Gone,” references Michaelson’s recent divorce. The line “How do broken hearts get strong?” is repeated throughout the slow, emotional track as Michaelson discusses how difficult it can be to move on from a broken relationship. “Drink You Gone” leaves the listener with the impression that Michaelson is still grieving over her divorce.
However, the following track and also the album’s lead single, “Hell No,” suggests that Michaelson is not grieving at all. Lyrics such as “Am I gonna miss you / Hell no! / Baby watch me up and go” show an empowered Michaelson navigating through her struggles with her head held high. She acknowledges that sometimes her journey is hard with lyrics like “In my bed / Late at night / Thinking of how you held me tight / Will I be lonely when I wake? / Did we make a big mistake?” then she restates her mantra, “Hell no! / Baby watch me up and go.”
Michaelson also references her mother numerous times in the track with the lyrics, “Mama said that boys like you / Never work out anyway.” “Hell No” proves that Michaelson is capable of channeling her grief for both her mother and ex-husband into her music, and even further into an ironically upbeat, catchy song that puts the listener into Michaelson’s spunky mindset.
“It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense” is proof that tortured artists often produce the best work. Despite the recent struggles Michaelson has faced, she still manages to balance the album with both upbeat and slower, more emotional tracks. Michaelson’s “Hell No Tour” kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 6, and fans will certainly say “hell yes” to a chance to hear “It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense” live.
(09/03/16 9:07pm)
Michelle Lampariello won The Signal's Summer Opinion contest.
“I am a freshman communications major. I like to describe my three favorite things as family, friends and food, but I also really enjoy writing. I can’t wait to get involved with The Signal at the College and I’m extremely excited for my next four years here."
By Michelle Lampariello
Apple recently announced its decision to replace the pistol emoji with a green squirt gun as a symbolic stance in America’s ongoing debate regarding gun control. However, this change reflects more on Apple’s stance on the First Amendment than the Second Amendment.
Supporters of the change argue that the pistol emoji promotes violence in everyday language, and that by keeping the pistol emoji in use, Apple would be feeding into the rise of gun violence. It is true that too many shootings occur in modern society and stricter gun laws are a critical component in solving the issue. However, Apple’s squirt gun emoji will not change actual gun laws — changing an image in a text message is certainly far less powerful than restricting a real-life weapon.
Critics of the switch see the change as ridiculous and even comical. A brightly colored squirt gun is the pistol’s replacement? This might result in the switch back ring, as people might see Apple’s decision as gun control taken too far or an example of major companies trying to brainwash youth. While Apple is trying to support gun control laws with this change, the company has the potential to hinder the movement by providing gun control critics with an example of where the gun control movement has overstepped its bounds.
Taking the pistol emoji out of an iPhone user’s vocabulary will not change their behavior. Whether they will simply type out the word, use the squirt gun instead or switch to using the knife emoji, those who wish to be threatening will always find a way.
As for those who use the pistol emoji to joke with their friends, this change will not affect them, either. The idea that replacing the pistol will help keep violence away from everyday language is rather naïve. Everyone has access to violent movies, TV shows, games, music, books and other forms of media that do not censor guns or any type of violence. Guns and other weapons are unfortunately already a part of Americans’ daily lives, with or without a pistol emoji.
Apple sometimes adds new emojis in software updates to allow users to be more expressive. Some changes were long overdue, such as the addition of an array of skin colors rather than strictly white characters. Some changes were solely for entertainment, such as the addition of a unicorn. Nonetheless, all additions to the emoji list were added in an effort to expand the options of an Apple customer.
Apple now seeks to restrict these options instead of increasing the freedom of its users. The elimination of the pistol is a symbolic disarming of Apple customers, but it is impossible to disarm people when their weapons are words. Emoji characters are language, not actions. Therefore, the replacement of the pistol is an infringement on Apple customers’ freedom of speech.
It is the job of lawmakers to impact gun control in America, not software. Replacing the pistol emoji with a squirt gun is taking a step backwards rather than a step forward. Symbolic changes like these only prolong the journey to safer gun laws. It is time that we focus on actual change rather than what emoji we choose when sending a text.