The Montclarion

05/01/2024

Join us for NJPAC's Standing In Solidarity program honoring AAPI Heritage month on 5/6! Experience the acclaimed documentary Far East Deep South, chosen as the PSEG True Diversity Film. Meet filmmaker Baldwin Chiu! Secure your spot: njpac.org/stand

04/19/2024

Discover the joy of staying healthy at the NJPAC Wellness Fair! Dive into a world of free and innovative health resources. Find your inner calm with I'm So Yoga, Learn Jersey Club, and stand a chance to win fantastic prizes this Wed, 4/17 from 11am-2pm. Don't miss out! Register now: https://www.njpac.org/event/2024-wellness-fair/

09/06/2023

After 40 years as the Red Hawks’ head coach, Rick Giancola hung up his headset, leaving behind a legacy no one is soon to forget. The now-former head coach left behind an overall record of 260-143-2 (.644) and was one of the winningest coaches among current coaches through all collegiate levels. He leaves the program and such a great career behind. But who better to step in than someone who has been in the program for years as both a player and a coach?

Enter Mike Palazzo.

Palazzo spent the last nine seasons as the recruiting coordinator as well as a defensive coach for the Red Hawks. But before that, Palazzo was a student-athlete at Montclair State as part of the football team and track and field.

“I never would’ve thought I was going to be here,” Palazzo said. “I had no idea what I wanted to do. I chose Montclair State because they had a football team. I really wanted to go to Rowan but I got rejected. It was between Stockton and Montclair and I decided maybe I can walk on at Montclair.”

Palazzo stood at 5 foot 9 inches and was never given a second look by coaches. He decided to try out anyway and see what could happen.

“I tried out in the spring. They put me at linebacker, I never played that before and I got cut,” Palazzo said. “It was that motivation that kept building. The more people that said ‘no.’ the more I wanted to get it done. Even when I played as a freshman, I had coaches telling me I should get into coaching.”

A Fresh Start for Montclair State football leaves the team excited for the upcoming season.

09/05/2023

School is back in session for the 2023-2024 school year, and that can mean only one thing. It is field hockey time!

The Montclair State University field hockey team is back on Sprague Field and are getting back into the swing of things through both their practices and preseason games for this upcoming season.

Head Coach Eileen O'Reilly, who is now in her ninth season being in charge, reflected on what she has liked the most from this team so far.

"Yeah, it's hard to pick one thing. Something that stood out to me during our preseason and first couple practices, I'd say is our grit, mental toughness," O'Reilly said. "We've really challenged this group with some different things throughout preseason. Mental challenges, physical challenges, emotional challenges, and they're rising to the occasion day-after-day and pushing their limits in different ways. Which tells me we are a team that's ready to compete, ready to fight, and it's exciting. We're looking forward to our first game."

The Red Hawks split their first two games and are 1-1 but have a lot to look forward to as the season grows older.

09/05/2023

Players is one of the largest organizations on campus, offering student-run theatre to students of all grades and majors on campus. As of 2023, Players has roughly 800 members, and the numbers are constantly growing. Some well-known Players alumni include Drag Race star Olivia Lux and everyone's favorite action star Bruce Willis, for whom the Player's annual banquet “The Bruceys" is named after. Players creates incredible opportunities for new and returning students every year, so here is a sneak peek at the exciting lineup Players has to offer this year!

The first Players event of the season is a brand new one for the organization: a Variety Show, performed at this year's Homecoming. Performances include a 30 minute selection from the cast of last year's Dance Show “Camp Little Falls," a 30 minute selection from the cast of last year's Players musical “9 to 5" and a one hour preview of our newest improv league special, “M**F All Stars.” M**F All Stars will include well-known M**F (Montclair Improv League and Friends) alumni playing fan favorite M**F games!

Check out what Montclair's very own Players have in store for the Fall 2023 semester!

09/05/2023

I can’t speak for everyone, but Peter Pan might just be the most significant movie of my childhood. For the select group of people who agree, I think that it’s safe to say that it’s a story that grows with you. While some may think that I am referring to the plot line of how creativity and overall happiness die as we grow older, I’m actually talking about how it made me realize at a young age that I have a type for tall, dark, and handsome villains with a serious need for therapy.

If whoever is reading this also has that problem, then I would definitely recommend "Hooked" by Emily McIntire.

Hooked is a modern twist on the story of Peter Pan, where Captain Hook is the owner of a nightclub along with a couple of other nefarious job titles, Wendy is the daughter of sketchy millionaire businessman and airline owner Peter Pan, and pixie dust is the drug of choice that runs rampant through the streets. Wendy, canonically referred to as Pan’s little shadow, has been stuck within the cold empty rooms of her father’s mansion, working as a coffee barista only for the chance of basic human interaction.

This was the type of book that you have to read in a corner of a room, or just in a room alone. The faces of pure “HUH?” that you will most definitely make will easily catch the attention of anyone around you. And since this is a book that is best kept to yourself, save yourself the embarrassment. I say this out of experience since I was the genius who was reading this book on a plane, next to a nosy old lady and a pr***en with extremely magnified glasses.

If the disclaimer list scared you off, I would personally like to say that you have nothing to worry about.

09/05/2023

We are a part of Montclair State University's largest student body ever in our school's 114-year history. It's exciting to break the record for the largest student body this university has ever seen, but at what cost?

In 2022, Montclair State welcomed 4,065 students as the Class of 2026. This increased our total number of students to a whopping 21,671, making it the biggest body of students this school has ever seen, "a feat accomplished for the second consecutive year under President Jonathan Koppell."

But what does that mean for us?

Naturally, one would assume it means more money for the university. And more money means more renovations and new experiences for us.

However, the large number of students being accepted into the freshman class also creates more problems for every student currently enrolled here.

It's exciting to break the record for the largest student body this university has ever seen, but at what cost?

05/10/2023

It was a massive weekend for the Montclair State University outdoor track team at the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships with the men’s team placing third and the women's team finishing in eighth.

The third place finish by the men’s team is the highest team finish since the 2015 season, which was also third.

The team still has a lot to improve on but they have been making some serious progress according to sophomore sprinter Samael Milevoix.

“It means a lot to be performing the way we are at the moment, we’ve been working as a team day in and day out to improve in our respective events,” Milevoix said. “We still have a long way to go to win the conference but we are making crucial progress.”

Montclair State has had a phenomenal season thus far. From many personal records (PRs) being broken to podium finishes and to just steady improvements, the Red Hawks have been performing this spring.

And the season is still going as the AARTFC Outdoor Regional Championships will take place on May 17-18 at Susquehanna University.

Montclair State made their presence known at the NJAC Championships.

05/10/2023

Well, we've made it to the end of the year. Another memorable semester in the books.

We were blessed this year with our new collective pet Pebbles, President Jonathan Koppell's selfies called Kopellfies and finally, new dining services which include a pub. All of these have certainly taken the edge off the stress of being in college.

But sadly, it's time for the seniors to get ready to leave Montclair State University and venture off into the real world. Whether that be graduate school, a career or a job to help them move out.

While the event of graduating is important to students, some students rarely care about the ceremony itself. Why? Because ours just doesn't feel as special.

A lot of universities get celebrities to speak at their commencement ceremonies.

New York University got the legendary pop-country-indie singer songwriter Taylor Swift to speak at their graduation.

Harvard got "Saturday Night Live" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Andy Samberg.

It's not just the Ivy leagues.

Even Falls Church High School in Fairfax, Virginia got Oscar winning actor, writer, and director Ben Affleck to give a speech at their graduation ceremony.

We're not even having a speaker this year. We didn't even get a speaker last year.

What's it going to take to get a celebrity speaker at commencement? If we have to give Taylor Swift another honorary degree then that's what we have to do. We have plenty of those.

Read more at the link in bio!

What's it going to take to get a celebrity speaker at commencement? If we have to give Taylor Swift another honorary degree then that's what we have to do. We have plenty of those.

05/10/2023

Ever since they exploded onto the big screen in 2014, the once-obscure Guardians of the Galaxy have become beloved mainstays of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But, unlike many of the seemingly-endless story arcs of the MCU's superheroes, the ragtag group gets a proper farewell tour with James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3."

Following the death and (sorta) resurrection of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) in "Avengers: Infinity War," the Guardians of the Galaxy have settled down and turned the once crime-ridden planet of Knowhere into a safe haven for refugees across the galaxy, but their captain Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is more despondent than ever. But when Rocket's (Bradley Cooper) life is endangered, the Guardians are forced to journey through the troubled past of his creation at the hands of the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji).

The film takes the darkness that has always been something of an undercurrent in the "Guardians" films- after all, the iconic opening credits dance of the first film comes only after we witness Quill's mother succumb to cancer- and brings it to the forefront. That doesn't mean the film doesn't have many of the same laugh-out-loud moments that made its predecessors iconic, writer and director James Gunn simply trusts that audiences are invested in the characters' stories enough that they don't need to be placated with silliness.

The Guardians face the music in their emotional farewell tour.

05/10/2023

In general, events such as the Montclair Literary Festival keep the excitement of the literary world alive. Especially now that a large portion of books is being read digitally, it’s important to continue to host book signings, meet and greets, and informal sit-downs with storytellers who have successfully pushed their novels from the confinement of their Google Docs onto the bookshelves for all to read and experience.

Watchung Booksellers’ booth was easily the most visited, as authors were signing their novels adjacent to the stacks of colorful debut novels. As was the Pitchapalooza event, where aspiring authors were given one minute to pitch their novels for a chance to be chosen and published.

Montclair Literary Festival opened my eyes to a world of local literary enthusiasts.

05/10/2023

Some students may feel anxious or overwhelmed as finals week approaches. These feelings can be difficult to navigate and could cause stress.

The Office of Health Promotion and other campus organizations collaborated to give students a week of de-stressing before finals this semester.

Montclair State University students were able to learn new ways to combat stress and were provided with some tools to cope with it. From May 1 to May 5, the Office of Health Promotion invited students to meditate, pet and play with therapy dogs and write positive affirmations in chalk near the Drop In Center for themselves and other students passing by.

Students were encouraged to take time for themselves to put their minds at ease.

The Office of Health Promotion hosted de-stress events for students before the arrival of finals.

05/09/2023

The Montclair State University men’s lacrosse team rode a second-half rally to overcome an early deficit to defeat the University of Mary Washington 18-14 in the opening round of the inaugural Coastal Lacrosse Conference (CLC) tournament.

The Eagles, despite coming into the tournament with only a single conference win, were in control throughout the first half. The Red Hawks could not find an answer to Mary Washington senior attacker J.D. Nosemack, who scored five goals within
the first 30 minutes of play.

Montclair State head coach Matt Poskay said that his team did not start off the game the way they needed to.

“It was the tail of two halves,” Poskay said. “We weren’t doing the best job in the defensive transition and they were just getting behind us and [scoring].”

Going into the locker room at the half, the environment in the Montclair State locker room was calm. Poskay said that the Red Hawks knew exactly what they needed to do to get back into the contest.

“When I looked around the locker room at halftime down three, I wasn’t panicked and they weren’t panicked and we knew [that] we just needed to simplify things a little bit, get in on defense,” Poskay said. “When we had the ball we were doing some nice things you know and when the ball was going in for us we just had to be a little less careless and take care of it.”

The script flipped completely in the second half.

After losing the lead early on, the Red Hawks fought back and will face Salisbury in the semifinals.

04/17/2023

I have done it. I have finally given Sarah J. Maas’s “Throne of Glass” series a second chance. It was only after 20 consecutive “Throne of Glass” TikToks and three months of my sister’s persistent badgering to get me to reread the series from the beginning. You must be wondering what I mean by “from the beginning,” but don’t worry: I'll leave my small bone to pick for the end of this review.

I do not know why, but I’ve always been reluctant to read current best-sellers. Maybe it’s my subconscious attempt to disrupt the publishing patriarchy. Or maybe it’s my internal ego that gets fueled whenever I mention a book that no one has heard of.

Either way, I have specifically heard rumors about Maas, and how she is a notorious “fluff” writer. Meaning that her editors simply push all of her books through to publishing without reading and deriding the story from the unnecessary details. But after reading “Throne of Glass” for myself, I have decided that although that is true, she has definitely gained the title for her editors to trust her enough to publish whatever she wants.

I have finally given Sarah J. Maas’s “Throne of Glass” series a second chance.

04/17/2023

Recently, there have been numerous reports of phishing scam emails being sent out to Montclair State University students and professors.

Though some may be able to quickly recognize and report the email, others may believe that it is real.

Kieran Barrett, chief of Montclair State’s police department, shared his thoughts.
"Unfortunately, scams such as the one described are fairly common at colleges and universities," Barrett said.

Though an intriguing email can contain information that would make someone react by providing personal information, it may not be the best idea.

"It is essential we understand that offers that are too good to be true are almost every time a scam," Barrett said. "On occasion, a [Montclair State] community member may respond to an offer of a job or solicitation for concert tickets (Taylor Swift tickets seem to be a popular national scam) or a romantic proposition on social media."

Scammers use their abilities to target professors and students.

04/11/2023

With a combination of filmmaking, faith, and leadership skills, Albaner Eugene, Jr is determined to be a voice for a generation.

Eugene is a 2018 Montclair State University alumnus who has grown his platform as a multi-talented spiritual leader. Eugene moved around North Jersey often as a child but settled down for high school in Union, New Jersey.

He currently works a variety of jobs: he is the founder and president of the non-profit organization Let’s Move Inc., a minister at Love of Jesus Family Church in Orange, New Jersey, a counselor and a filmmaker for his production company, Ace Productions.

Albaner Eugene, Jr. is a minister, filmmaker, founder of a non-profit, counselor and more.

04/11/2023

An appreciated aspect the film delivers is the intention and intelligence its characters possess. The film does a great job of flipping the norms of the past where many characters are in dire need of rescue rather than fighting back.

Where the movie falters, however, is its logic in how things are concluded. There are many times when the actions raise some confusion. The twists are as entertaining as they appear, but the pay-offs still feel a bit wobbly and short-circuit, and sometimes clues seem vaguely connected. Plus, some of the characters’ endings raise the question of how it's even possible, but knowing the franchise, the filmmakers are aiming for a nostalgic effect, which to some, might seem cheap.

Still, the film is super entertaining with many action sequences that keep most viewers on the edge of their seats. It encapsulates the feel and energy of the original with fresh takes on the genre and characters. The change of atmosphere does help the movie to venture outside of the franchise’s scope, constructing new, exciting elements for future installments. Yes, its narrative and logic need to be fleshed out and re-examined, but the film still delivers a satisfying experience. “Scream VI” might not be the best in the franchise, but with many blood-pumping action set pieces and entertaining conclusions, it surely is a killer good time.

While its meta-craze on the slasher genre might falter at times, “Scream IV” still manages to deliver a killer good time with interesting twists and turns that will keep the audience guessing.

04/11/2023

I am not the first to say I have read my fair share of books. However, I can not always say that I absolutely adore every single book I read. Being as it is, it is truly a special thing to find a book that really sticks with me that makes me want to share it with every avid reader I know. "The Lost Apothecary" by Sarah Penner is a special book with a storyline that had me completely hooked until the very end.

After the apothecary being lost for over 200 years, can this novel be found and popularized in the book community?

04/11/2023

The executive board for the Montclair State University Student Government Association (SGA) has been announced for the 2023-2024 administration.
The winners are Richard Steiner-Otoo, executive president, who held the position the prior academic year, Mikayla Houston, executive vice president and Krisha Rana, executive secretary.

The two-day voting process allowed students to pick who they thought was best fit for the three positions.

This year, 1,023 students voted. The breakdown consists of 65% residential students, 35% commuter students, 709 females and 312 males, 229 freshmen, 246 sophomores, 294 juniors and 254 seniors.

On Wednesday, March 29, the student votes were counted and the winners of the 2023-2024 SGA executive board have been selected.

04/03/2023

"Daisy Jones and The Six" delivers indie and vintage styles, drama, spice, a new perspective for fans of the book and a wonderful world to be immersed in for both old and new fans. If you want to see dedication and love for music, look no further. This is the time to view this series and live the groupie lifestyle of your dreams from the comfort of your own bed.

"Daisy Jones and The Six" has exceeded all expectations and become a sensation that welcomes old and new fans of the rock genre.

04/03/2023

During the monthly Senate meeting held on Wednesday, March 22, Montclair State University's Student Government Association (SGA) and deans discussed updates and changes on campus. There was mention of emergency services on campus, CARE reports, and continued talk of the new financial literacy program, iGrad, as well as new registered organizations.

The university held its monthly Senate Meeting this Wednesday.

04/02/2023

A cast of morally questionable convicts and honor-bound executioners more loveable than baby animals, mystic fight scenes bordering on body horror, and a mystery as dangerously seductive as the setting itself, all packed into 13 volumes of a manga that’s nothing short of a masterpiece. Underneath the bloody exterior of Yuji Kaku’s “Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku,” is a story filled with heart and humanity, held up by a charming rogues' gallery of characters and artwork gorgeous enough to frame.

Since “Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku” is manga, for those unaware, manga are comics originating from Japan, written and read right-to-left, top-to-bottom rather than the American left-to-right.

The plot follows a group of ten death row convicts in the Edo period of Japan, sent to a mysterious island believed to be paradise, with their assigned executioners to find a rumored elixir of immortality in exchange for a criminal pardon. Soon finding themselves in over their heads as they encounter the island’s monstrous guardians and eerie inhabitants, the characters must survive against each other and their new threat to have any hope of finding the elixir.

This breakout hit dark fantasy manga is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

04/02/2023

Montclair State University held the "12th Annual Evangelina Menendez Women's History Month Celebration and Trailblazer Awards" on Sunday, March 26 in its Memorial Auditorium. Hosted by New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, the event included a keynote speech by Hillary Clinton and honored five women from New Jersey who have positively impacted their communities.

Clinton spoke of the advancements made for women, reminding the audience that when in the year her mother was born, women across the country were not able to vote. And that when Clinton herself was in college and law school she was unable to open her own credit card and had she become pregnant, could have been victim to discriminatory laws that would not protect her from unemployment.

"All the changes that we see, that have been so beautifully addressed by the mayor, and the congresswoman and the senator, have taken place in a relatively short period of time," Clinton said.

However, all of this progress has not stopped others from attempting to halt it.

"For every advance that we have made, and thank goodness they have been so quick and so positive over so many years, we are living now, at a time where there is a concerted effort to push women aside," Clinton said.

With everything going on in the current political landscape, Clinton expressed her desire for women to continue to fight for their rights to be codified as well as practiced, in all areas of life.

With Clinton's powerful speech resounding in the audience's mind, Menendez then called up the honorees of his award.

The first awardee, Lourdes Cortez, was honored for growing the North Jersey Federal Credit Union, in turn helping small business accounts to grow, and for supporting non-profits.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at Montclair State University this weekend.

03/23/2023

An investigation is underway after criminal mischief happened two nights in a row in Morehead Hall.

On Thursday, March 16, some students and faculty arrived at Morehead Hall to find it vandalized. In New Jersey, the crime commonly known as vandalism is referred to as criminal mischief.

The first-floor lounge in Morehead Hall is decorated with students' photographs covering the walls. To the students' and professors' surprise, when arriving for classes around 12 p.m., they found the pictures flipped upside down, trash all over the floor and the pantry soaked in laundry detergent.

An investigation is underway after criminal mischief happened two nights in a row in Morehead Hall.

03/21/2023

It has been almost five years since the general public first heard the voice of Don Toliver on a major album. Travis Scott's last album, "Astroworld," first broke the airwaves in the summer of 2018, and not only was it one of the best rap albums in recent memory, but it also carried a newly signed voice on "CAN'T SAY."

Now, after a couple of successful albums and features with artists like SZA, Skrillex and Lil U*i Vert, the Cactus Jack Records artist is back after a decent break with a new album called "Love Sick." Not even a week after its release, Toliver dropped a deluxe version of the album with four new songs.

After a two-year hiatus, the Travis Scott signed artist is back with another project filled with solid features and groovy beats.

03/21/2023

Popular book retailer Barnes & Noble has always evoked mixed emotions within the reading community, whether it be their takeover of local bookshops or their lack of lesser-known authors on shelves.

Recently, they’ve just added another reason for customers to shop elsewhere.
Barnes & Noble CEO, James Daunt, announced a few weeks ago that the retail chain would be phasing out the company's current membership plan in favor of a newer one. Members of the current plan are now being informed in-store and online that they must switch or forfeit their memberships entirely when their current periods are up.

Formerly, the $25 membership would get customers 10 percent off in-store purchases, free shipping on their website, exclusive deals and access to events and special birthday offers.

Going from a $25 annual fee to the new $40 fee, one would imagine a mandatory $15 hike up would nearly double the benefits.

Instead, the lackluster new rewards tacked onto the old ones include 10 percent off on their website, a size upgrade at the Barnes & Noble Cafe, a treat at the cafe for your birthday and one tote bag each year.

The new membership plan seeks to drive out the old one as well as long-time members.

03/21/2023

Whether you heard about it from a classmate, the news or one of the latest episodes of "South Park,” you've probably heard of Chat GPT.

If you haven't heard of Chat GPT, their website describes it as "a conversational AI model developed by OpenAI, a research organization founded in 2015 with the goal of promoting and developing friendly AI that benefits humanity."

Taking the world by storm, Chat GPT has grown in popularity due to its ability to create different kinds of writing such as essays, scripts and stories. It even has the ability to write HTML code.

The possibilities aren't endless, but they are extensive when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI).

With growing popularity comes growing controversy.

If you decide to use Chat GPT for anything other than for fun, there are some factors you should weigh in.

Whether you heard about it from a classmate, the news or one of the latest episodes of "South Park,” you've probably heard of Chat GPT.

03/16/2023

Miley Cyrus, a superstar of the 21st century, has released her eighth studio album, titled "Endless Summer Vacation." The album is her first since 2020's "Plastic Hearts," a rock-heavy tracklist made right in the midst of the pandemic.

As a huge fan since the premiere of "Hannah Montana" in 2006, I have been there through all of the Cyrus eras: the Disney teen idol era, the chopped pixie-cut, twerking, rebellious "Bangerz" era, the psychedelic, experimental "Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz" era, the wholesome country "Younger Now" era and many more.

Just as Cyrus is one of the most versatile artists we know, she has collaborated on this album with a cluster of interesting musical figures you would not normally see on the same work. Artists like James Blake, Sia, Justin Tranter, Mike Will Made-It, Greg Kurstin and even her own boyfriend Maxx Morando all have credits on this album.

Cyrus has talked about how "Endless Summer Vacation" is split into two parts; the first six tracks are the A.M. side of the album and the last six are the P.M. side. The A.M. side is to resemble the feeling of morning energy and a brand new day ahead of you while the P.M. side is to resemble the fun, wild, glitz and glamour of a night out.

The latest album from the multifaceted star is the perfect culmination of all of her talents.