The Alvernian April-May 2021

March/April 2021

what’s in THIS ISSUE

Adult Education

Finals Week

Volume 58 Issue 8

Alvernia to Host In-Person Commencement Joely Griffith Contributing Editor The COVID-19 pandemic has produced uncertainty among college students throughout the past year.

Among these uncertainties are seniors’ concerns over whether they will be able to experience walking across the stage at graduation. After already losing countless senior experiences, many seniors were not very hopeful for an in-person graduation.

However, Alvernia has elected to properly recognize seniors from both the Class of 2020 and 2021in a pair of in-person ceremonies.

“One of my biggest worries going into this semester was that we would have a repeat of last spring and have no commencement ceremony, so I am incredibly thrilled to be having an in-person one! I am so thankful to those who are working to make this possible for us,” Sidney Goodman, a senior English student, said.

The Class of 2020, which was previously recognized in a virtual ceremony last spring, will have the opportunity to experience a more normal commencement

and celebration of degree conferral. “President Loyack and I are grateful for the Alvernia Commencement Committee who have spent months in preparation of our commencement events the weekend of May 14-16.

From exploring new outdoor venues that can accommodate both students and their guests, to reviewing COVID19 health safety protocols with the university’s Pandemic Response Team, the committee is excited to offer a proper send-off for both our Classes of 2020 and Classes of 2021,” said Dr. Glynnis Fitzgerald, Alvernia Senior Vice President and Provost. To ensure the greatest amount of safety, the commencement will be held outdoors and follow CDC guidelines such as masking and physical distancing.

For both ceremonies, graduating students will be granted four guest tickets each. Although this may be a change from other years, the opportunity to have family present is not going unrecognized by seniors.

“Being able to have my family, friends, and supports there is truly something special,” said

Max Horn, a senior Sports Management student.

The commencement festivities will be held on Saturday, May 15. at First Energy Stadium in Reading, the home of the minor league baseball team, the Fightin’ Phils. The Class of 2020 will begin to walk across the stage at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Class of 2021 at 2:30 p.m.

While full details regarding the commencement have not been released, seniors at Alvernia are grateful that they will be celebrated and recognized for their hard work in earning a degree.

“Having an in-person graduation is something I did not think was in the cards for me as a 2021 graduate. I am beyond thrilled that I will be able to walk across the stage in a beautiful ballpark with my family in the stands. After such a tumultuous year, this ceremony will be even more bittersweet than in years past!” McKenzy Lilliock, a senior Human Resources student, said.

According to a press release by Alvernia University, the commencement will even feature a guest speaker as usual: “Health care visionary

Thomas E. Beeman, Ph.D., FACHE, FCPP, Rear Adm. (ret), longtime president and CEO of Lancaster General Health (LGH) and chief operating officer of University of Pennsylvania Health System, will serve as the guest speaker at both ceremonies.”

Beeman had previously planned to guest speak at last May’s commencement before COVID-19 abruptly triggered its cancelation.

Despite a still uncertain future, Alvernia seniors will experience a semi-normal commencement ceremony to properly celebrate one chapter of their life and send them into the world on their next journey.

For More Information About Commencement, Click Here!

2021

Alvernia announced it will hold an outdoor commencement for the Class of 2020 and 2021 at First Energy Stadium, home of the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

Photo Courtesy of https://www.oursportscentral.com

Video Games of

Photo Courtesy of Amanda O’Donohue

Service in Reading

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COMMUNITY

February/March 2021

Helping Elementary Schools in Our Community Lizzy Barndt Contributing Editor

Managing Editor Sidney Goodman Layout Mackenzie Coombs Sidney Goodman Section Editors Lizzy Barndt Mackenzie Coombs Joely Griffith Jared Montalto Anastasia Tomko Contributing Writers Kailey Conrad Aleksandra Kolesnikova Amanda O’Donohue Raven Metas Nicole Sanchez Mia Sluder Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange

The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University.

To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.

Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu.

The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.

The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.

© 2019 The Alvernian

As part of a servicelearning project here at Alvernia, students in Event Planning will be helping both Millmont and Tyson Schoener Elementary Schools this semester. These underprivileged schools are within the Reading Area School District. According to the PA Future Ready Index, 89.6% of students at Millmont and 93.9% of students at Tyson Schoener are economically disadvantaged. The families of economically disadvantaged students rely heavily on assistance programs because their household income is below average.

Dr. Jodi Radosh, the professor of this course, is excited about this project.

“During this pandemic, it is nice to see the students gain real-world experience by helping several community partners, including the Reading School District and the Holleran Earth Day event,” Dr. Radosh said. “It has been such a challenging year; we are hoping to put a smile on the faces of elementary school children with our virtual carnival

videos and themed baskets full of donated goods.”

Millmont’s Carnival will be held virtually again this year due to the pandemic. Each student in the Event Planning class will be making a short video for the kids to follow along as part of the activities.

These videos will range anywhere from being a craft video to a guide on yoga.

Alvernia’s students are turning to their contacts and local business to collect donated baskets to be raffled off in hopes of raising funds for the schools. As of now, CHB Sports kindly put together a basket holding items from Colonial Sports and Berks Lanes.

Marley Werner, a junior Behavioral Health and Communication major, was able to obtain the basket through her job with CHB Sports. “I’m really excited about this project because I love to give back to my community, and I love to see businesses in the community working together with our university to help give back some fun to these kids,” Werner said.

Other items that are also being collected are books and school supplies for both in-person and virtual learning. So far, over 50 books

Photo Courtesy of Marley Werner & CHB Sports

t h e alver nian

Vol. 58 Issue 7

The donated Raffle Baskets Courtesy of CHB Sports

have been donated, and more are expected. A local used bookstore, Starr Books, located in Douglassville, contributed towards the book donations. As for the school supplies, the Staples in Exeter donated three boxes of hand sanitizer and three boxes of tissues. Other school

supply donations that are being sought after including notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers, glue sticks, kid scissors, backpacks, personal wipe boards, computer mice, headphones, and smoke alarm batteries. The deadline for donations is Monday, May 3, 2021.

MISSION MOMENT “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: And, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.”

— C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”

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COMMUNITY

February/March 2021

Vol. 58 Issue 7

Non-Profit Guidance: Flaw Anastasia Tomko Contributing Editor From concept to established organization, non-profits first must find partnerships, mentors and many other resources in order to gain backing. Before we dive into how they can become as successful as Fight Like A Warrior (FLAW), let’s first define what a non-profit organization entails.

What is a non-profit?

A non-profit organization: • Does not usually participate in trading activities, but instead focus on providing services to members of the organization and the society built around it.

• Is not expected to earn profit, but is organized for social, educational, religious, and charitable purposes.

• Takes the form of a sports and arts club, hospital, library, or charitable institution such as orphanages, educational institutions, or religious institutions.

How do non-profits earn any money?

Most non-profits that work with Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute for

Economic Development and Entrepreneurship fall under the category of a 501 (c)(3). This means that these organizations have been approved by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) as a tax exempt and charitable organizations. This way, they earn their money from donations for the cause.

Through FLAW, there are many options on where your money goes when donated.

For $5, a card can be sent to a chronic illness warrior. This amount can go up to $250, where one can fund the FLAW

website for an entire year!

By contributing any way one can, a non-profit can have opportunities to further their outreach and create events, fund their volunteers, and help others as well.

Why should I start a nonprofit, or any small business in general?

Creating a non-profit opens the door to many amazing opportunities.

Through creating an organization, FLAW’s founder, Alexa Chronister, has created a lasting relationship with Dr. Jodi Radosh, associate

professor of communication.

Radosh serves as one of FLAW’s board members.

“Dr. Radosh’s experience and expertise has helped me tremendously in furthering our work at Fight Like a Warrior,” Chronister said. “I am so thankful for her ongoing guidance and willingness to talk through new ideas, help our organization find resources, and connect us with likeminded individuals.”

Expert help is the pillar of creating a non-profit from the ground-up.

Chronister encouraged potential founders to network extensively as part of developing their organizations. “Build a passionate team of individuals with a variety of skill sets and learn from their experiences, perspectives, and input.”

Another non-profit that has also been highlighted in various other articles in past issues is The Camel Project.

Just like FLAW, these nonprofit organizations are built around mission and vision statements. This way, the organization has clear goals to further their outreach to the public and gain valuable donations that will help it to prosper and grow to a national level.

If this article inspires one to start their own nonprofit organization, the good first step is to reach out to Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute.

Their trusted graduate assistants can get you on the right track and kickstart one’s entrepreneurial goals free of charge.

Connect with both of these nonprofits by heading to their websites: thecamelproject.org and fightlikeawarrior.org.

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ON CAMPUS

September/October 2019

Vol. 58 Issue 4

Amanda O’Donohue Contributing Writer Attending college can often be a challenging experience for students, but the benefits of a college education can be invaluable. The people that may know this the best are the adult learners at Alvernia. Many adult students attend school while working a full-time job, often on top of caring for a family. The time investment that adult students make to further their education is significant, but for some, the decision to go back to school was a necessity.

Like many students, Michael Diaz, a business major, wanted to pursue advancement in his workplace. “To be promoted to the next level, I needed to have a degree, so I needed to go back to school,” Diaz said.

Jennifer Spillane, an adult BSN student, also needed to go back to school to advance.

“There is a push for hospitals to have all their nurses be at the BSN or higher level,” Spillane said.

Although she works with patients in their homes, Spillane recognizes the importance of advancing her education while working to follow through with getting her bachelor’s degree.

“It was always my goal to get a BSN, because it does open up a bunch of possibilities for nursing as far as going into management,” Spillane said. “If you’re going into leadership, you really need that bachelor’s degree.”

Although career advancement may seem like the most obvious reason to attend college as an adult, some adult students see their education as an end within itself.

“I am really doing it for self-accomplishment and a goal,” Cathleen Toryak, who is studying business science, said. Toryak is a community manager of a private, gated homeowners association in the Poconos. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to hold my degree and have that completed and have that satisfaction of completion.”

Another adult student, Amanda Hnot, attended RACC for several years after high school before stopping to work full-time. Now she stays at home with her daughter while attending Alvernia online.

“I was always told I would never be able to go to college due to having dyslexia,” Hnot, a psychology major, said. “So, when I stopped working to be with my daughter, I decided to go back to school, what better time? I have always found school enjoyable. So, in my case I feel it is both enjoyable and a tool for my career.”

Despite their differences, many adult students face the same challenges while attending college. Many have families, full-time jobs and various other responsibilities that come along with adulthood.

“It’s tough to juggle as a full-time employee somewhere and going back to

“Reach out to other classmates, especially online, because they’re struggling too and they’re not going reach out to you. But if you do you’d be surprised how much people are willing to talk, so try and initiate that.” - Jennifer Spillane

school,” Spillane said. “When you get a full life where you have family and friends and responsibilities and different work things, that makes it difficult.”

Managing a full life as an adult student is no small feat, but it also comes with its benefits. Adult students have the unique privilege of being able to apply their realworld experiences to their education and in turn take their education and apply it to their current work daily.

“I’m always one that enjoys gathering more information and education, so as a manager I can bring that knowledge and information to my managers, they in turn can bring it to their employees,” Toryak said.

“And I report to a board of directors and ultimately to 15,000 plus residents who I am responsible for in my community, so the more information that I have makes me more well-rounded and makes me able to perform my current duties in an expeditious way.”

Networking also helps adult students as much as traditional students. “Don’t lose track of the networking aspect of it, even online, try to reach out to people as much as possible,” Spillane said.

“If you work with an adult learner, take time to get to know who we are. This is an excellent opportunity to build your connection and network for future opportunities.” Diaz said.

Your classmates aren’t the only people you can connect with, whether it’s for networking or for help with your classes.

“Don’t be afraid reach out to your professor,” Spillane said. “You may hesitate because you are behind or think you should have asked sooner. They want you to succeed. They are more supportive than you may think.”

College is a great time for anyone at any point in their life to learn and make connections. It’s never too late to achieve the goals you aspire to reach.

“You can obtain any goal as long as you just stick with it,” Toryak said. “Don’t get defeated.”

Photo Courtesy of Amanda O’Donohue

It’s Never Too Late To Learn

ON CAMPUS

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February/March 2021

Vol. 58 Issue 7

Stress-Busting Events On Campus Who is ready for summer break? There are a few weeks left of the semester, and the weather around campus is becoming more enjoyable and relaxing. Alvernia is offering many activities to do in these last couple of weeks of the semester, each complying with COVID19 safety precautions and implementing social distancing. These activities are intended to get students’ minds off from schoolwork and life situations.

The first activity that was hosted was the Psychology of Play. This fun event took place on Wednesday, April 21, from 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the tent in front of Bernardine Hall. The Psychology Club hosted this event.

During this event, Dr. Erin Way, Associate Professor of Psychology, spoke on the impact and importance that comes with play in our lives.

Students and professors then made their play kits with items provided by the club.

“I looked forward to this Psychology of Play event!

Alvernia offers many events, and I love to participate in every one of them,” Melanie Sanchez, sophomore nursing major, said.

Many of the events offered towards the end of the semester focus on students’ mental health and making resources available for them.

“Being a nursing student sometimes can be difficult, but as the semester comes to an end, I will put my mental health first and go to at least one of these events and try to have a great time,” Mackenzie Maurer, a sophomore nursing major, said.

Another successful event that the school hosted was Food Truck Wednesday: Sweet Ride Ice Cream. Many students and their friends enjoyed this event and made sure to take advantage of the delicious ice cream after

eating dinner. This event took place on Wednesday, April 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This event was hosted by Alvernia’s Student Activities.

Throughout the spring semester, Student Activities offered many fun events. where students could enjoy time with their friends. All these events are free, and all the students are welcome.

“I will grab a group of my friends, and we will take advantage of ll these events that Student Activities offer!

Especially being a first-year student, finals can be very stressful, but taking this time out and participating on campus is what I look forward to,” Dahirys Pepin, first-year psychology major, said.

If you find that you enjoyed yourself in these activities, download the CORQ application. Using this application and typing in Alvernia University will provide you with information on all the upcoming events

that student activities and clubs have planned until the semester ends.

For more information,

contact Student Activities on the second floor of Campus Commons, or visit Alvernia’s PAX page.

Melanie Sanchez was very pleased to join the Psychology Play event! Adult play kids and coloring are therapeutic.

How-To Video: No Bake Snacks!

Photo Courtesy of Nicole Sanchez

Nicole Sanchez Contributing Writer

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FINALS WEEK

February/March 2021

Vol. 58 Issue 7

Raven Metas Contributing Writer The end of the semester is coming, which means so are finals. Finals can make people start to panic and stress like crazy. There is so much to study, and it feels like there is no time at all. Some may get overwhelmed, while others may not even try at all.

Either way, stress is bound to happen, but students need to try and remain calm.

There are many things to do to make sure to have a stress-free finals week.

It is always a good idea for starters to make a list of when exactly each final is.

“When I do this, I am able to keep track of what final is first and which to order to study in,” Jessica Barnes, junior at Gwynedd Mercy, said.

It’s also a good idea to spread your studying out. By taking breaks, one can take a step back and not overwork themselves with everything.

For instance, spend an hour studying, then take an hour break, or work on one subject for a little then take a break and come back to a different subject. “I always feel overwhelmed when I look at notes for too long, so taking breaks really helps,” Brian Boyle, senior at Penn State, said. “It stops me from being stressed.”

Something else to do to make studying less stressful is to study in groups. “I find group studying to be extremely helpful,” Barnes said. “Everyone looks over something different, then we all come together to share.”

However, study groups are not for everyone. Some students might find it easier to study on their own. This could be because working in a group could be stressful itself.

Another thing that could be beneficial to remain stress-free is to enjoy friends’ company. Studying can be too much at times, so going out with friends’ students

can push aside the stress and have fun. If one starts to feel overwhelmed, don’t get worked up. Take a step back and do something else.

Looking at notes for a long time may bring more stress to someone, especially if they do not fully understand the subject at that time.

Students want to do well, but sometimes a person can be so anxious that they can’t consciously access things they learned. In this case, putting the work down and taking the final head-on might be their only option. Although this sounds bad, it could turn out to be okay because sometimes when taking a test the knowledge might come back to you once seeing the questions.

Finals may be rough, but they also signify the end of the semester. So, while studying may be the most important thing to do, spending those final weeks with friends is also good, especially since this is the last

Photo Courtesy of Raven Metas

Stress-Free Finals For All

Keeping track of your schedule and materials is a key part of reducing finals stress.

time to see them until after summer. Students want to do well, but their mental health is way more important than stressing over a final.

For most students, their specific grades at the end of a term do not determine their futures. Grades do not matter when it comes to getting a job, and the experiences and your portfolio. Don’t

spend time stressing over something so tiny in reaching the end goal. Relax and take it one step at a time, enjoy friends and make memories.

If you start to feel stressed when studying, take a break and if you feel like studying is getting nowhere, remain calm and take the test head-on.

Reduce Stress by Enjoying Nature!

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FINALS WEEK

February/March 2021

Vol. 58 Issue 7

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Paper Shine Sidney Goodman Managing Editor With the end of the semester fast approaching, many professors have begun preparing their term paper assignments. Even if you like to write, these papers can be quite daunting. How do you start? How do you keep a paper concise and focused?

Here are some tips and tricks to help you write a grade-A term paper without stressing yourself out.

First, make an outline with a thesis statement.

Many students prefer to just start writing and skip this step, but an outline can be an incredibly useful tool, especially when you don’t know what to write about next. It does not have to be complicated by any means, but you want to have a clear understanding of your main position and how you will support your claims.

Second, do your research and gather your quotes before you start writing. Once you have an outline, you can look for sources that support your claim and gather quotes that you want to use in your paper.

While you might end up with more information than you need, you won’t have to constantly break the flow of your writing to go back and look for more information to meet that word count.

The library database is an amazing research tool that is often underused by students.

The database will make the research process so much simpler, and since you can access these resources from your own computer, there’s no need to leave the comfort of your room. The library can even request electronic articles from other databases and have them sent right to your inbox.

It is also important to make sure that you get the correct citation format for your paper. “The most common mistake that I encounter is a fundamental misunderstanding of the bibliography/citation process,” Ben Foster, writing mentor at the ASC and Alvernia junior, said. There are multiple resources to help with this process, including the tutors at the ASC and websites that will do your citations for you. One of the most reliable websites is Purdue Owl, which gives you not only the basic blueprints for citations in many

different writing formats, but specialized ones for unusual sources.

Equally as important as researching is proofreading.

Many people skip this because they run out of time or just want to be done with the paper, but you can lose points quickly if you have grammatical and spelling errors. Aside from the built-in proofreaders in Word and Google Docs, there are many free applications, such as Hemingway.com and Grammarly, that can provide helpful insight and streamline the process.

Grammarly is an especially crucial tool for anyone undertaking a term paper. As an Alvernia student, you also get Grammarly premium for free through the university.

All you have to do is go to grammarly.com/edu, click “Join Your Organization,” and log in with your Alvernia email (the firstname.lastname version). In addition to doing basic proofreading, the premium version adds a tone checker, sentence flow, and many other perks.

The Academic Success Center (ASC) is also an amazing resource for proofreading and any additional questions that you might have about your paper. You can schedule an appointment with one of their student tutors, who will go over your paper with you to strengthen your writing and catch any formatting errors that you might have missed.

“At the ASC, we strive to cultivate self-sufficiency with our pupils,” Foster said.

“Our philosophy focuses on curbing anxiety and helping students break otherwise daunting writing assignments down to manageable chunks.”

Last, and perhaps most importantly, give yourself enough time to research and write your paper. Research can often take longer than you initially anticipated, especially if you must request additional sources via interlibrary loan. Having enough time to thoroughly write and think through your topic will save you from making sloppy mistakes as you rush to meet your deadline. Keep in mind that professors will often have term paper or final project due dates scheduled close together, so you want to have ample time to work around other assignments.

There is no set formula for writing a paper, as many things work for one person but not for another. But if

Image Created by Joely Griffith

you are struggling with term papers or don’t know where to start, these tips can help you build a strong paper

and alleviate some of your worries. Happy writing!

8 February/March 2021

LIFESTYLE

Vol. 58 Issue 7

MLB Decides on New All-Star Game Location With baseball season officially underway, everything in the world of baseball feels normal. Even with delays due to COVID exposure, that isn’t getting to the players, as they are excited for this season. One event in during the season is the All-Star game. In a sense, it’s a rite of passage for any player in the Major Leagues.

This season, it was supposed to be held at Truist Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves. Nevertheless, things changed rather quickly after Georgia passed controversial voting laws.

Laws that enforce more requirements to vote due to Biden’s presidential win.

The All-Star game will now be held in Colorado, at Coors Field—home of the Colorado Rockies.

However, the Braves have stayed quiet amid this situation. In the response

to MLB moving the AllStar game, the Braves responded, “This was neither our decision, nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city. Our city has always been known as a uniter in divided times and we will miss the opportunity to address issues that are important to our community,” they said.

Another thing that the Braves are keeping quiet about is their controversial tomahawk

in their logo—which surprises many, as many professional teams have been changing their team names.

Of course, this situation isn’t what anyone expected, but the Rockies were a leading contender in hosting the AllStar game in the first place.

The Commissioner of the MLB, Robert Manfred Jr., described moving the midsummer classic “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport,” and that it “fundamentally

supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box.”

This cancellation caused many small businesses in Atlanta into devastation, as this event was something that this city was looking forward to. However, this move make businesses in Denver to explode; this event will boost the city’s economy.

Knowing that the game is being moved for viable reasons, it’s also noted that this move might help the

The new location of the MLB All-Star game is big news for Colorado.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Chow on Unsplash

Mackenzie Coombs Contributing Editor

Denver Broncos get the NFL Draft this year. Either way, this is great for the Denver community. This is only the second time that the Rockies have had the honor of hosting the Midsummer Classic since 1998. Other runner ups for the All-Star game were Milwaukee, New York and Chicago.

In addition to the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby, the MLB Draft will also be a part of the festivities for the first time ever. “We’re going to have to get things moving here quickly because a lot of times, cities have years in advance to plan,” Colorado Rockies Manager Bud Black said. “But I have tremendous confidence in our city and our ballclub as a great host. So, I’m excited for everyone. I know that there’s a little bit of buzz around here today with the news.”

This is a great opportunity not only for this baseball team, but for the beautiful, sleepy city of Denver.

The 2021 NFL Draft Spring has sprung, and with its arrival comes the NFL draft. Hope blooms eternal for some teams who look for a franchise saving player while some look to fill missing pieces hoping for a Super Bowl run.

The 2021 Draft will be held in Cleveland, Ohio starting on April 29 through May 1.

Draftees will be allowed to be in person for this year’s draft unlike last year’s draft. There will also be a capacity limit for fans wanting to attend this year’s draft, things are starting to feel almost back to normal with the draft being in person.

Each draft has a different position that a lot of teams are seeming to aim for. The 2021 Draft class will contain

many impressive, starterready quarterbacks. This class contains star QBs like Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), Justin Fields (Ohio State), Zach Wilson (BYU), Trey Lance (North Dakota State), and Mac Jones (Alabama). All these QB’s are expected to go in the first round, possibly in the first 15 picks.

During the past six NFL Draft’s QBs went number 1 except for Myles Garrett getting drafted out of Texas A&M to the Cleveland Browns to play defensive end. This year looks like the trend will continue with Trevor Lawrence going first to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After the Jags beat the Indianapolis Colts in the first week, it looked like the Jaguars could have a positive season but then went on to lose 15 straight games.

Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

Jared Montalto Contributing Editor

The 2021 NFL Draft is getting closer and closer. The 1st round begins on April 29 at 8 PM.

“Trevor Lawrence is locked in as the No. 1 guy.

Nobody is even close,” NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper said.

The Jaguars have been looking for a quarterback for some time now after playing musical chairs at the quarterback position.

Trevor Lawrence is the most hyped QB to come out of college since Andrew Luck (Stanford) in 2012. This seems like a sure pick for some time now with Justin Fields being discussed to get drafted because of new head coach Urban Myer.

The consensus of NFL Draft experts is that Lawrence is going to Jacksonville in the hope to revive the franchise.

He also will not be in attendance because he wants to watch the draft at Clemson University.

Another highly anticipated prospect is Ja’Marr Chase (LSU) along with Devonta Smith (Alabama), Jaylen Waddle (Alabama), and Kyle Pitts (Florida). All players are wide receivers except for Pitts who is a tight end. This 2021 draft class is also filled with receivers who are all likely to get picked early and be playmakers immediately.

Ja’Marr Chase is likely to go first out of the receivers

this year. He put up a 4.38 40-yard dash at his pro-day along with a 41-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump. In most expert mock drafts, he’s expected to be the first nonquarterback off the board.

Reigning Heisman winner, Devonta Smith did not take the field on his pro-day the same as his teammate Jaylen Waddle. Smith seems like he has proven on the field what he can do, and a proday isn’t likely to change his draft stock. He also is still not 100% after a finger injury in the National Championship game versus Ohio State.

Waddle is coming off an ankle injury that also kept him off the field.

Kyle Pitts out of Florida University is a prospect that has caught the eye of many fans prior to this year’s draft. The 6’6” 245 tight end clocked in at a jaw-dropping 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at his pro-day. He could have launched himself to possibly a top-5 pick because of his pro-day numbers. He plays like a receiver at the tight end position which makes him a mismatch. Pitts could be a huge playmaker for whatever team picks him up.

Some more draftees to look out for this year is Penei

Sewell offensive tackle out of Oregon who will go early to protect a QB’s blindside.

Patrick Surtain II (Alabama), Jaycee Horn (South Carolina), and Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech) are all cornerbacks expected to go early and make an impact right away.

Micah Parsons (Penn State) is a linebacker who has dropped in some mock drafts but is for sure the top linebacker in the draft. Asante Samuel Jr. (Florida State), Najee Harris (Alabama), Gregory Rousseau (Miami) are all players to watch out for in this year’s draft.

“As a Cowboys fan, we need better players on our defense.

I think we’ll take Patrick Surtain II out of Alabama.

Kyle Pitts would be a fun pick just because our offense could score 40 points a game.

Guess we’ll see what happens on draft day,” freshman Jacob Montalto said.

This year’s draft will be a fun watch because there are so many possibilities that could happen across the board. From players falling, to trades, to the excitement of these young players finally getting their name announced to get drafted to an NFL organization and fulfill their childhood dreams.

L W K E R Y X H K I B A S E B A L L O P R D Y B R U I H

E V O J T L F B A N L R N Y J P A I X J E P A I A M D R

C X U G P J I G R A D U A T I O N U L I Q S L Y I G W J

SPRING WORD SEARCH

R A T Y L A C E J D S E R I F K X Y P M R U V E N E A L

I T D S J P D T T S H O W E R S R S H A P R E S B X R U

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ALVERNIA APRIL

PUDDLES RAINBOOTS

BASEBALL FLOWERS

SENIORS SHOWERS

FRESH AIR GRADUATION

SUNSHINE TRAILS

MAY OUTDOORS

RAINBOWS WARM WEATHER

10 February/March 2021

LIFESTYLE

Vol. 58 Issue 7

Upcoming Astronomical Events for Alvernia Students Although the COVID-19 pandemic is looking up in light of mass vaccination and treatment, life isn’t quite back to how it used to be before March 2020.

Social interaction and life experiences are still on hold with the need for social distancing and caring for personal health. These circumstances, alongside the financial burden brought on by a failing economy, have caused many people to sit

at home in boredom with nothing to do. However, there are plenty of free, socially distanced events available for Alvernia students to attend or witness. Some events that are especially easy to witness are astrological events, such as solar eclipses, supermoons, and meteor showers.

2021 has four consecutive super moons that take place this year - March, April, May, and June. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s perigee. A moon’s perigee is the point in the moon’s

A Pink Supermoon, just like the one that will be happening from April 16th to April 30th.

Photo Courtesy of Martin Adams on Unsplash

Mia Sluder Contributing Writer

elliptical orbit where it is closest to earth. As a result, supermoons may appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter. Although March’s Super Worm Moon, which took place on March 28th, 2021, and April’s Full Pink Supermoon, which took place Monday April 26th, 2021, have already passed, there are 2 more supermoons that students can witness.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the next supermoon is May’s Flower Moon. Named after the month’s bloom of flowers, the Flower Moon will coincide with the first total lunar eclipse seen in North American since January 2019. According to NASA, the Flower Supermoon is the closest of the super moons at 357,462 km from Earth.

It’s set to occur on May 26th, 2021 around 7:14 a.m. EST, moving into Earth’s central umbral shadow to cause a 15-minute period “Blood Moon,” colored reddish-

copper. As it takes place so early in the morning, it may be harder to view than other upcoming astrological events.

The last supermoon to round out the 2021 list is the Strawberry Moon. Named after wild strawberries starting to ripen during early summer, the Strawberry Moon is set to take place on Thursday June 24th, 2021 at 2:40 a.m. EST. Every 20 years or so, the Strawberry Moon coincides with the summer solstice, which is either June 20th, 21st, or 22nd. Although that won’t happen this year, it’s still an event everyone should witness!

The next big astrological event available for students of Alvernia to witness is the Lyrid Meteor Shower, set to take place between April 16th. to April 30th. The Lyrid Meteor Shower appears for ten nights or so every April and is visible worldwide. At its peak between April 22nd and April 23rd, you might be able to see a shooting

start every four minutes if skies conditions are clear.

The meteor shower will be competing with the Full Pink Supermoon.

The final astrological event to see is the Annular Solar Eclipse, taking place on June 10th, 2021. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the Sun, totally or partially obscuring the image of the sun for those on Earth. Although this eclipse will have a visible path across parts of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, and Nunavut), Greenland, Siberia, and Russia, it will not be seen locally. However, it will last 231 seconds and plenty of pictures and videos will be made available

by NASA and other space programs. “I think this event is great because it will get more students involved in the sciences and to learn more about astronomy!” said freshman Nursing student Kayla Duncan.

Aleksandra Kolesnikova Contributing Writer Spring means that we can put away our sweaters and fluffy jackets and bring out flowy dresses and shorts.

Social media is filled with current trends and new outfit ideas for fashionable people to flaunt. While there is no argument that social media can put extensive pressure on people to dress, act, or speak in a certain way, it can also be a source of creativity and inspiration for our everyday lives.

If you go onto TikTok, Instagram, or even Twitter right now, the first thing you will see is bright colors and crazy patterns, which are a big jump from the nude tones and monotone outfits made popular by celebrities like Kim Kardashian. Teenagers today are highly inspired by the fashion trends of the past and are adding their own modern touches to those styles.

Fashion is like a domino effect. Anyone can start a trend or an idea, and that changes the perspective of millions of people all over the world. For example, South Korean influencers have become increasingly popular

across the world. South Korean fashion in particular is becoming increasingly popular. Baggy pants, oversized blazers, and unique color matching have always been fashionable in Korea and are now a trendsetting staple. This shows how cultures can impact each other just from a social media post.

A couple of things that I have found that significantly define the age we are in now are gender-mixed clothing, and pop of pattern like vintage flowers from the 2000’s, cow or zebra prints from the 90’s and tie-dye styles from the 80’s: Women are once more in blazers and baggy pants while men are focusing on skinny jeans and showing more skin than usual. Teens and people in their early 20s want to capture the nostalgia of earlier generations and are doing so through their clothing choices.

How do you accessorize with popped patterns and bright colors? Get a 90’s style satchel bag that is small but fit. For a sharper look, switch the baggy jeans and pants with flower skirts and tight dresses.

You can find these outfits

online on various different websites, or at in-person retailers. For anyone who does not want to go out but still wants to refine their wardrobe, going to sites like Shein or Depop are excellent alternatives to concrete stores. Shein is a global clothing site that is cheap and easy to use. Their shipping is quick and generally affordable, and they have everything from clothes to beauty products.

Depop is a new website for anyone who is looking to sell or buy clothes. Their price range goes from low to high and stays in the modern look rather than Shein’s wider range of styles.

Expressing yourself through fashion is a way to show people your genuine identity. Fashion is not about what skirt you should be wearing or how you can imitate celebrities by copying their outfits. Instead, fashion is about ideas and creativity, allowing people to experiment with things that inspire them. Don’t be afraid to try something different and stand out from the crowd!

Baggy, brightly colored pants are very in-fashion this year, so experiment with some bright colors this summer!

Photo Courtesy of Aleksandra Kolesnikova

Fashion Trends of Spring

11 February/March 2021

LIFESTYLE

Vol. 58 Issue 7

Game Releases of 2021

Befriend monsters, and travel with Ena to discover the truth about the recent environmental anomalies.

Photo Courtesy of Square Enix

With summer around the corner, there’s no doubt that there will be an increase in free time. Thankfully, there are some interesting games planned to drop this year. So, instead of partying, or going on a big vacation, students can play it safe, grab their favorite console, and play a game. So, without further ado, let’s get gaming.

Set a few years after Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, the next installment of the series is set to be released on May 7. The story follows Ethan and Mia winters, who live with their daughter Rosemary. Their peaceful life changes when Chris Redfield appears, and takes Rosemary, leaving Ethan to traverse a mysterious European village to get her back. The singleplayer game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Mario Golf: Super Rush is coming out for the switch on June 25. Play golf with the Mushroom Kingdom characters and up to three other players (either locally or online). With different modes, you can play normal golf or speed golf, or even play through a gold RPG adventure. In addition to this, you can also enroll your personalized MiiTM character in a country club and train them from beginner to pro by facing off against your fellow Mushroom Kingdom classmates.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin releases July 9 for both PC and Switch players. A spin off of the Monster Hunter series, Wings of Ruin is the sequel to the first Monster Hunter Stories game. Wings of ruin follows the protagonist as they explore diverse landscapes and form deep connections with the creatures around them.

In August, HUMANKIND and New World drop (on the 17 and 31 respectively).

Both games are available to PC players. For fans of civilization and world building games, HUMANKIND is right up their alley. Players are tasked with creating a civilization that can change the story of humankind.

Like civilizations today, the civilizations in HUMANKIND are all unique, having different cultures, histories, and values that are controlled by the player. In addition to this, players can customize the leader of their civilization, allowing for a truly immersive and unique experience.

For MMORPG fans, there’s New World, MMO sandbox game that allows players to explore the fiction island of Aeternum. Character customization is just the tip of the iceberg with this game. Players can play in groups with each other, join factions, craft items, control settlements, simply explore, or fight other players and monsters.

A new Life Is Strange game releases on September 10. Life is Strange: True Colors will be available on

Photo Courtesy of Capcom

Kailey Conrad Contributing Writer

Explore Haven Springs, make friends or find love - all while using the power of empathy to find out the secrets of your brother’s death.

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. The game will follow the story of Alex Chen, who has the psychic power of empathy. To find the truth behind her brother’s death, Alex needs to accept her power.

Back 4 Blood, a co-op FPS, releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 12. The game is from the creators of the Left 4 Dead franchise and takes place in the middle of a war with terrifying creatures that were once humans.

Players, either with three of their friends or alone, can go through the story campaign, working to survive difficult missions.

That’s about as far out as planned release dates go.

However, there are several other games planning to come out this year. Among them include: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are coming late this year for the Switch. Both games are reproductions of the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, made for the Switch.

Like their older versions, both games take place in the Sinnoh region, and enable players to visit different

locations while trying to become the Champion of the Pokémon League. Players start the game by picking either Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup as their first companion, and encounter many Pokémon on their journey – including legendary Pokémon like Dialga or Palkia.

Rainbow Six Quarantine, a three-player co-op shooter, takes place in the future of the Rainbow Six Universe.

Players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, will face off against a mutated alien parasite that infects human hosts and the surrounding world.

In addition to this, Riot is also planning on releasing a new champion, Gwen, on League of Legends. The release is expected to happen sometime on April 14, which at the time of writing this article hasn’t happened yet.

Gwen is a doll come to life, who uses a giant scissors for her weapon.

Dead by Daylight recently released their All-Kill Chapter, with a new killer and survivor - both created around the industry of K-Pop. Though the chapter dropped on March 31, it’s still relatively new, enabling players to play as

either a killer, Ji-Woon (or “The Trickster”) or Yun-Jin, a survivor who was Ji-Woon’s producer. In addition to the update, Dead by Daylight is also going to be releasing new struggle skill checks, that will make it easier for players with wrist issues to play.

With these releases and more, there will be a plethora of indoor games to play – both by yourself and with friends – offering a safer alternative to summer parties, and end of semester get togethers. No matter which game you decided to pick up – new, old, or none at all – just remember to stay safe and have fun.

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