The Signal

Serving the College since 1885

Thursday April 25th

Opinions


With Smiskis and Sonny Angels always being closely associated with one another, there is much debate about which is better. (Photo by Kelly Kim / Correspondent)

OPINION: There is such a thing as the “superior” collectible

If you are part of the many who love to collect collectibles and figurines, congratulations, you have now joined those with an unhealthy obsession with spending whatever means necessary to fuel a newfound addiction. Some of the more sought-after collectible items are Smiskis and Sonny Angels, popular amongst those in all age groups who share a collective vigor to obtain as many as possible. 

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Following the introduction of the Lions Plan in December 2023, six working groups were charged to evaluate the practicality and sustainability of the College’s current practices. (Photo by Shane Gillespie / Photo Editor)

OPINION: The Lions Plan must aim to preserve our student experience

While much of the Lions plan makes sense, I strongly believe that two key elements of the College should not and can not be changed: the proposed changes to the R. Barbara Gitenstein Library and the academic standards to which we hold ourselves. Altering these two elements of student life — our sense of community and education — will create significant negative and lasting effects on the overall student experience.

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Billie Eilish, a multi-Grammy-winning artist, is encountering backlash due to a sustainability remark directed at bigger artists who release numerous vinyl variants. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

OPINION: Billie Eilish doesn’t deserve backlash about vinyls and sustainability

Following criticism, Billie Eilish is offering clarity regarding her comments in a Billboard interview about sustainability in the production of vinyl variations by well-known artists. As soon as people noticed Eilish criticizing larger artists for releasing numerous vinyl variants of their albums for fans to collect, they swiftly overlooked her accomplishments and efforts toward protecting the environment.

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Drama is the lifeblood of reality TV. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

OPINION: Reality TV is a far cry from reality

Although reality TV isn’t fully unpredictable, every show’s weekly cliffhanger leaves audiences on the edge of their seats with goosebumps. Viewers are captivated and even inspired by the “genuine” display of vulnerability exposed by real people on screen. The harsh reality, however, is that it is all a facade that crosses most ethical boundaries.

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Traditions offers a sub-par dining experience. (Photo by Shane Gillespie / Photo Editor)

OPINION: TCNJ students are settling for poor quality food and bad service at Traditions

Traditions is one of the most well-known and respected dining establishments at the College. Located in the Brower Student Center, students often go to Traditions to enjoy a sit-down meal, chosen from a menu with many options. However, I believe that our community is settling for less than we deserve, and recently, Traditions has been one of the worst places to dine.

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The spring's extreme amount of rain creates a gloomy atmosphere and contributes to seasonal depression. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / Mike Maguire, July 25, 2018)

OPINION: Spring is the worst season

With the arrival of spring, I began thinking about this season compared to others. Spring is thought of as a beautiful, peaceful time, but this perception of the season is rarely, if ever, true. When stacked against each other, I believe spring to be the worst season for many reasons.

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Stage productions are often what comes to mind when people think of musicals. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / Ayuntamiento de Guadalajara, Jan. 1, 2023)

OPINION: No, you don’t hate musicals

What interests me about the holistic hate of musicals is how people don’t understand musicals to begin with, and not in the sense that they don't get the point of them. For example, a common critique is that musicals take too long to get to the point of their story. This is a valid criticism. What I’m talking about is more related to what detractors even consider a musical to be.

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Amidst the media storm surrounding Kate Middleton’s whereabouts, the Princess issued a statement revealing her cancer diagnosis. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons / Tom Soper Photography, Sep. 12, 2012)

OPINION: Celebrities deserve the basic human right to privacy

Because celebrities choose to place themselves within the public sphere, society has grown accustomed to having the personal lives of these public figures within their reach. I know first-hand how easy it is to get wrapped up in every scandal publicized in the media; however, at the end of the day, we are only entitled to the information that a person chooses to share, celebrity or not. 

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OpenAI’s “Sora” converts text prompts into videos with advanced models. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons / Jernej Furman, May 22, 2023)

OPINION: OpenAI’s Sora does not need to exist

OpenAI's Sora has emerged as a groundbreaking text-to-video generative model, showcasing impressive capabilities and sparking excitement across various industries. However, as I delve into the depths of this technology, I find myself increasingly skeptical of its existence, primarily due to its potential to diminish the essence of human creativity in content creation.

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Rappers produce songs with lyrics lacking substance, whereas MCs such as Kendrick Lamar produce more complex content. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / Jon Elbaz, June 7, 2012)

OPINION: Too many rappers, not enough MCs

Speaking through songs reaches countless people. After all, everyone listens to music. Songs promote ideas, and ideas promote change. Gen-Z cares more about change than any other living generation, and famous artists miss the opportunity to communicate relative and valuable information.

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The College's Tap Ensemble, performing for Homecoming, 2023. (Photo by Briana Keenan / Correspondent)

OPINION: Passions often shift at the college level

Transitioning into and out of different phases of my life, I have realized that the pastimes I once saw as my main passions have shifted. Although the future is uncertain, I am excited to embark on a new journey and continue learning; and at the end of the day, I know that I will end up where I am meant to be in my career.

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A person’s politics are shaped by many factors including their upbringing, lived experiences, religion, race and socioeconomic status. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / dhendrix73, Feb. 2, 2012)

OPINION: People are more than their politics

At the end of the day, people are defined by how they treat and respect others and their desire for self-betterment – not by their politics. When you think of who you are as a person, is the first thing that comes to mind politics? I guarantee you that it’s not.

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Author Ali Hazelwood continues to inspire women of all ages through her romance novels. (Photo courtesy of Flickr / FutUndBeidl, June 10, 2012)

OPINION: Ali Hazelwood is changing the romance genre

Ali Hazelwood's books have a central and sustained pattern in which the storylines and the characters all have some connection to science, tech, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Hazelwood has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and understands the challenges women face in the field, ranging from imposter syndrome to discriminatory work settings to being the only woman in a male-dominated room. Regarding these struggles, she takes her real-life experiences and shares them through her characters, demonstrating the hardships women like herself must face to excel.

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