The Signal

Serving the College since 1885

Monday November 17th

Opinions


The College is introducing a new tiered housing plan. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / Yellowstone National Park, Oct. 28, 2020)

OPINION: TCNJ’s new tiered housing rates are too costly

If you live on campus and have yet to look at the recent emails from Residential Education and Housing, it is important that you do so. On Nov. 5, ResEd sent out an email to students with the subject, “Upcoming Housing Changes.” The email discussed three significant updates that we can expect to see next year in the College’s housing plans.

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TV shows have begun to release their seasons in two parts to generate viewership. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / Andy Thrasher, Oct. 4, 2007)

OPINION: Shows need to stop splitting their seasons into parts

The development of streaming services has made watching shows more convenient than it has ever been. No longer do viewers have to rely on only their television screens for entertainment,  be available at a specific time or sit through commercials (although this is changing with streaming platforms adding cheaper plans that include ads). One can simply pay a monthly subscription and they will be able to watch what they want, when they want. 

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The hosts of “The Kill Count” webseries on the “Dead Meat” channel are Chelsea Rebecca, James A. Janisse and Zoran Gvojic. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

OPINION: Spooky YouTubers are perfect for Halloween!

During the much-loved spooky season, it is often appropriate to watch horror movies and shows, read classic horror literature or play horror games. While these are wonderful ways to spend October, it is important not to overlook online content creators who make excellent videos for people to watch for the Halloween season. With all this in mind, it might be interesting to explore some of these Youtubers to get a better understanding of their underrated and undervalued content.

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Peter Dinklage stars as the titular corruption-fighting, monstrous do-gooder in “The Toxic Avenger.” (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

OPINION: ‘Weapons’ vs. ‘The Toxic Avenger!’ What’s the best horror-comedy of 2025?

“Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein.” “Army of the Dead.” “Scream.” The tradition of horror comedy has a long and celebrated history, and is not as contradictory as its name might imply. This year, we saw the two most recent entries in this genre: box office smash “Weapons” and the largely unnoticed “The Toxic Avenger.” While both films are excellent in their horror and comedy elements, the question remains: which film is better?

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“...Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it,” said Cady Heron in “Mean Girls.” (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

OPINION: Halloween is a true divas fashion week.

Let’s make one thing clear: Halloween is cool. No matter what anyone says about it, we cannot deny that anyone who likes fun and joy loves Halloween. If we use our critical thinking skills, Halloween season gives us an excuse to eat all the candy we want, bring China Anne McClain’s music back from retirement and dress up as anything we want to be, all the while making an array of bad decisions and blaming it on “Halloweekend.”

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Recent political campaigns seem to have embraced social media. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / Bret Bostock, Aug. 20, 2019)

OPINION: Political campaigns have become a form of entertainment

With the New Jersey gubernatorial election and the New York City mayoral election coming up on Nov. 4, you might have seen clips on TikTok or Instagram from debates or even political advertisements that criticize specific candidates. Whether it’s Zohran Mamdani being questioned about legally purchasing marijuana or the “High Tax Jack” ads, my feed has been filled with memes, ads and edited clips from the campaigns for the past few days.

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The most popular horror films nowadays are too reliant on jumpscares. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / James Watt, Aug. 20, 2020)

OPINION: Modern horror movies need more creativity

If you’re a horror fanatic, October might be your favorite month. After all, it is the perfect time for settling down with a blanket and snacks, turning the lights off and putting on horror movies to enjoy at nighttime. At some point in your viewing, however, you might come to the conclusion that most of the horror films that have come out in the past two decades or so follow a specific formula.

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There are too many limitations on Meal Equivalency swipes. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons / Tomwsulcer, April 17, 2013)

OPINION: TCNJ should revamp the Meal Equivalency system

If you have a meal plan at the College, you are likely familiar with the concept of Meal Equivalency swipes. Considering the complexity of the meal plans, it can be hard to truly understand it, no matter how many times it’s explained to you, until you actually start using your meal swipes, Flex Points or Meal Equivalency swipes at their particular, designated times. 

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The Four Musketeers (left-to-right: Pete, Ray, Olsen and Art) serve as the film’s main characters. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

OPINION: ‘The Long Walk’ deserves Oscars praise and your attention

With the year coming to an end and critically acclaimed films such as “Sinners”, "Caught Stealing” and “One Battle After Another” gaining attention as shoe-ins for Oscar nominations and possibly even wins, there is one film that has sadly gone under the radar. That film is “The Long Walk,” which was released on Sept. 12 and directed by Francis Lawrence, adapting the 1979 Stephen King novel of the same name.

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The lack of empty study rooms at the library can be frustrating. (Photo courtesy of Tasnim Oyshi)

OPINION: TCNJ needs to let students reserve group study rooms at the library

On Sept. 26, @tcnjlibrary, the Instagram account for R. Barbara Gitenstein Library, posted an image of the third-floor study rooms with the caption, “Fun fact: Gitenstein Library has more group study rooms than any other public college library in NJ. Get your group work done today. No reservation needed. Study rooms are first-come, first-serve.”

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Commuter waiting in a subway station (Photo courtesy of Pexels  / Reelssman)

OPINION: Commuters don’t get the full college experience unless they are willing to put in extra effort

For many students, the college experience includes dorm rooms, late-night study sessions and having a newfound freedom away from home. But for commuters, students who travel to and from campus every day, life becomes a different balancing act — one that consists of gas stations, late-night car rides and a lingering feeling of “do I belong here?”

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Consumer culture urges customers to spend money on Labubus. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / Jonathan Cutrer, June 9, 2021)

OPINION: Labubus are the epitome of consumerism

Collecting is a hobby that has been enjoyed by many for ages. The fun in this activity lies in its versatility, as it can involve virtually anything. Whether you harbor a passion for pens, coins or even spoons, everyone is familiar with the concept of gathering various items of the same type and keeping them as a way to cherish them. This is a fairly innocent pastime that can prove to be gratifying for those who partake in it. The problem, of course, begins when money gets involved.

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