Feb. 4, 2021
|
Volume CII
|
Est. 1929
|
www.sjuhawknews.com
|
The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University
IT’S SNOW TIME
Students slide down a hill between Barbelin and Mandeville Halls using a makeshift sled on Feb 2. A nor’easter brought 8-12 inches of snow to the Philadelphia area. PHOTOS: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
Two students walk past Villiger Hall toward Campion Student Center on Feb 1.
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
@SJUHAWKNEWS
Some students studied in the warmth of Post Learning Commons on Feb 2.
FEATURES
EDITORIAL
04
The Hawk staff urges community members to follow COVID-19 safety protocols
08
Books to read for Black History Month
SPORTS
11
St. Joe’s guard leads nation in assists per game among freshmen
2
News
The Hawk Newspaper
Feb. 4, 2020
University expands COVID-19 testing strategy DEVIN YINGLING ’22 News Editor The university expanded its testing procedures this semester by mandating pre-arrival COVID-19 testing for all residential students, in addition to on-site entry testing for all undergraduate students. Weekly surveillance testing will be conducted as it was during the fall semester among undergraduate students, according to a Jan. 29 university announcement. Residential students obtained self-swab nasal test kits by mail ahead of their arrival and were instructed to follow the step-bystep instructions to collect a sample. Students had to send their sample to the testing lab on the same day they collected their sample. The university needed to receive students’ results no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival time. After moving into their residence halls, residents were required to take a follow-up self-swab COVID-19 test on campus. The tests were provided through Color, a genomics and testing company partnered with St. Joe’s. Color will continue to provide surveillance testing services. At the beginning of the fall 2020 semester, the university only mandated one-time on-site entry testing. The university received approximately 4,600 tests by the Aug. 28, 2020 deadline to take a test, as reported in the Sept. 2 issue of The Hawk. On-site campus testing was highly recommended at first in the fall, but was made mandatory after approximately 2,000 community members completed a test. Other universities in the greater Philadelphia area are expanding their testing programs this spring as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia is now over 100,000, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health. Villanova University, for example, implemented pre-arrival testing for all students and is continuing surveillance testing from last semester. Villanova now reports 262 active COVID-19 cases as of Feb. 2, according to their university dashboard. As of Feb. 1, St. Joe’s reported 26 total positive COVID-19 tests through the entry-testing program, according to the SJU Dashboard. The Hawk reached out to Jill Bodensteiner, chair of the university’s testing working group, for the total number of pre-arrival and entry tests administered so far this semester. In response, Gabrielle Lacherza, public relations and communications specialist, wrote in response to written questions from The Hawk that “all available
testing and case data is provided through the University’s dashboard.” The dashboard does not list how many pre-arrival tests were submitted by residential students, how many entry tests have been conducted thus far or how many positive cases were determined through pre-arrival testing. As of Jan. 29, there are a total of seven isolation and quarantine housing spots occupied, and the dashboard will reflect a daily snapshot of available spaces to isolate and quarantine beginning on Feb. 8, according to Lacherza. Entry testing on campus, originally scheduled to conclude on Jan. 26, has been extended to Feb. 2 and Feb. 3. This is to “allow additional community members, especially voluntary testers, the opportunity to participate” in testing procedures, Lacherza wrote. Faculty, staff and graduate students were encouraged to do on-site testing but were not required to complete tests. Cary Anderson, Ed.D., associate provost and vice president of Student Life, said the university decided to implement pre-arrival testing per the guidance of “available science, public health indications and our experience from the fall semester.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) health and safety recommendations for institutions of higher education, “Symptom screening, diagnostic testing and contact tracing are some of the strategies that can be taken to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19.” The CDC also lists, in addition to masks, social distancing and hand washing as mitigation methods. Jeffrey Morris, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics and the director of the biostatistics division at the University of Pennsylvania, said the keys to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in larger populations include pre-arrival testing combined with entry testing, continued systematic testing and enhanced contact tracing protocols. “The forest fire analogy is a good one because this virus spreads so fast that when it really gets going in a closed population, it does get to become like a forest fire that’s hard to manage, but when it’s just starting, it’s a spark, and there are little brush fires,” Morris said. “If you find it then you can put it out. You can isolate it, and it won’t burn the forest down.” Anderson said because most transmission last semester was identified within the residential student population, those students were selected to complete pre-arrival testing as a preemptive isolation strategy. Maura Farrell ’23 was a residential stu-
dent in the fall and decided to continue living on campus for the spring semester. Farrell said implementing both pre-arrival and entry testing eased some of her worries about moving back. “Knowing that the people you’re living with were negative coming in, and then re-testing and knowing [their results] right away is just better,” Farrell said. “More testing is better.” On the other hand, James Gilhooley ’23, a residential student during the fall 2020 semester, decided to go fully virtual for the spring despite supporting the expanded testing protocols. Gilhooley ultimately decided not to return to campus even after completing pre-arrival testing. “I have personal concerns about the new COVID-19 strands and the atmosphere at school is just so different,” Gilhooley said. “Most of my classes had also transferred to hyflex, so it made sense for me to stay home.” The university will also conduct weekly surveillance testing among undergraduate students only, and systematic testing within populations of concern throughout the semester, according to Anderson. Students who are fully remote, received a positive COVID-19 test in the previous 90 days or are in isolation or quarantine are exempt from surveillance testing. The surveillance testing is aimed at detecting asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, according to a Jan. 29 university announcement. “Each week, a sample will be identified
for testing,” the announcement stated. “Initially, this will only be among undergraduate students but if needed, this will expand to include graduate students, employees and affiliates.” Community members who are selected for testing will be notified by email. Students who did not or do not comply with testing protocols will be contacted by someone in the Office of Community Standards, according to a Jan. 28 university announcement. “Disciplinary action could result. Further non-compliance will result in suspended access to student services in The Nest,” according to the announcement. “This could affect registration, access to financial aid information and other important information.” Morris said noncompliance is a variable in any COVID-19 testing strategy. “This type of testing strategy is not going to be absolutely perfect,” Morris said. “But it’s going to catch a lot of the positive cases and keep them from getting onto campus.” Morris added in order for testing strategies to be most effective, it’s important for students and the larger community to participate in testing programs and to continue to do their individual part in reducing transmission. “It’s probably going to be annoying to a lot of students and staff to do this, but just keep in mind that this might be the key to enabling a college life that’s much closer to normal this spring,” Morris said.
Students dropped their entry test sample into a box for shipping to the Color lab. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
Department of Public Safety reports (Jan. 18 - Jan. 29) Jan. 18
Jan. 24
No incidents to report.
No incidents to report.
Jan. 19
Jan. 25
No incidents to report.
Jan. 20 No incidents to report.
Jan. 21 No incidents to report.
Jan. 22 No incidents to report.
Public Safety was notified of a fire alarm in Lannon Apartments. Public Safety officers responded. The preliminary investigation revealed a student cooking activated the alarm. The alarm was reset.
Jan. 26 Public Safety was notified by a St. Joe’s student in regards to an unknown person removing their laundry basket from the basement of Villiger Hall. Residence Life was notified. The incident is under investigation.
Jan. 23
Jan. 27
No incidents to report.
Public Safety was notified of a fire
alarm in Lannon Apartments. Public Safety officers responded. The preliminary investigation revealed a student cooking activated the alarm. The alarm was reset.
Jan. 28
ALCOHOL RELATED INCIDENTS
1 0
On campus
Off campus
No incidents to report.
Jan. 29 Public Safety was notified by a St. Joe’s employee in regards to an unknown person removing a catalytic converter from their personal vehicle while it was parked in the Mandeville parking lot. The Philadelphia Police were notified and a report was taken. The incident is under investigation.
DRUG RELATED INCIDENTS
0
On campus
0
Off campus
Call Public Safety:
610-660-1111
News
Feb. 4, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
3
Preferred names now allowed on university documents CARA SMITH ’21 Copy Chief Jordon Constantino ’22, who identifies as transgender, now has a student ID that matches his preferred name after two years of being identified by a name that no longer belonged to him. “My Hawk Card is huge,” said Constantino, referring to his student ID. “That’s something [I use] everyday that nobody really thought about.” St. Joe’s students, faculty and staff are now able to select their chosen name, gender identification and gender pronouns to be displayed across most official university systems, according to a Jan. 19 university announcement. Constantino said having his preferred name displayed across multiple interfaces alleviates anxiety that is brought on by every new semester. “The fact that it’s showing up in the directory is also huge, in terms of emailing my professors my preferred name,” Constantino said. “Here’s the professor who has all the power to say no to my identity. Going forward, having it reflected and be in the directory and then not having to go through that at all is great. That’s a really big deal to have the possibility of denial of my identity kind of removed.” A student’s preferred name will appear on class rosters, The Nest, Canvas, some Residential Life information and diplomas. However, a student’s legal name is required to be on billing information, tax documents, official transcripts, National Student Clearinghouse information and payroll information. Community members are not charged for new IDs with their preferred names. Chris Heasley, Ed.D., head of the Transgender Inclusion Working Group, has been working with the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) for the past year and a half to implement preferred name guidelines.
“The reason it’s been complicated is because the university has multiple platforms and software systems that it uses,” Heasley said. “It’s not all just housed in one center, central software. There’s been a need to trace every place where these different social identities exist.” Amanda Sciarra, director of application services for OIT, said the university purchased an integration platform to manage different social identities across systems. “That is the mechanism that is allowing us to now pass it to other systems in a coordinated way,” Sciarra said. “The more systems that we move into our integration platform, the more we’re able to propagate where appropriate. There are some systems where the legal name is required, but everywhere we can [use preferred names] we do that.” Students, faculty and staff can update their chosen name by logging into The Nest and accessing the School Services tab. Users should then locate the Administrative Services menu on the right hand side, click the Personal Information menu to expand it and click the General Profile link. Next, users should select Personal Information on the menu button. In the Personal Details box, users can click the blue Edit button and will be able to input their preferred name. These technological modifications are vitally important to creating a safe and comfortable community at St. Joe’s, according to Heasley. “It reinforces our commitment to allow our members to be their authentic selves, express this social identity in a way that best represents who they are and where they want to be in the community,” Heasley said. Constantino said he was included in some discussions with the Transgender Inclusion Working Group about the implementation of the preferred name guidelines. “It was good that they were including somebody who actually knew what it felt like to be having this issue,” Constantino said.
Constantino displays his new student ID card in the Post Learning Commons. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS '22/THE HAWK
“At the same time, it’s a little bit frustrating just because as a student, and just like only being somebody putting my thoughts in there, I couldn’t have as much control and power and influence as I wanted to.” Nicole Stokes, Ph.D., associate provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), was also involved in the implementation of the guidelines. “It is so critical to our values of seeing God in all things and valuing the whole person,” Stokes said. “And identity is valuing the whole person.” St. Joe’s is one of seven Jesuit colleges and universities that have similar preferred name guidelines, according to Stokes. There are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. According to Campus Pride, a nonprofit that supports the rights of LGBTQIA+ college students, about 262 colleges and universities nationwide enable students to use a chosen first name on campus records and documents.
Heasley said the next step is modifying St. Joe’s StarRez Housing program, a third party housing accommodation automation software. Right now, preferred names must be manually entered into the system as they do not automatically populate the system through The Nest. “That’s an outdated system, so we’re going to have to work with StarRez headquarters in Denver with their project management team to make those changes,” Heasley said. Sciarra said she is working on modifying the system as soon as possible. “I just hope students know that this was a really great start. We’re not done,” Sciarra said. “As new systems get brought into the technological platform, or landscape, that exists at St. Joe’s, it’s going to start there. There’s no conversion. It’s always going to be inherently there from the jump.” Kaylah Hernandez ’23 contributed to this story.
St. Joe’s implements new dining regulations CARLY CALHOUN ’21 Copy Editor Eliminated and restricted seating in St. Joe’s dining halls and eating areas at the start of the 2021 semester are the result of new dining regulations in the City of Philadelphia that went into effect on Jan. 16. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health issued the regulations to help slow the spread of COVID-19. They include limiting indoor seating capacity to 25% occupancy, according to Matt Rankin, COVID-19 media relations assistant for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. In response, St. Joe’s temporarily eliminated seating in Campion Student Center, including both dining halls and at the tables across from Saxby’s, and shifted to graband-go service only, according to Director of Dining Kevin Bargeron, in a written response to questions from The Hawk. Seating in the Merion Hall Atrium outside of Einstein Bros. Bagels is limited, and the tables and chairs are spread out to encourage social distancing. Bargeron wrote that university administrators are in continual contact with the city in order to keep up with ever-changing information regarding COVID-19 and regulations that impact the university. “Leadership of the university, including SJU Dining, take part in a call each week with the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health where all universities/col-
Campion Food Court (DB) is open Monday -Friday from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
leges in Philadelphia County come together to discuss the regulations and how to best implement them,” Bargeron said. Other universities in the Philadelphia area are following similar guidelines. According to Villanova University’s dining website, limited seating is available in their dining halls, and take-out “is standard at all dining locations.” Additionally, the University of Pennsylvania is not allowing any seating in their dining halls, serving all meals in to-go containers and “limiting the number of people
who can be in the dining café at one time,” according to their website. The university announced dining modifications for the fall 2020 semester on Jun. 23, 2020, which included a reduction of price for meal plans and the expansion of seating to Doyle Banquet Hall South. In addition to the fall semester modifications, this semester the university added additional lighting and furniture on Villiger Lawn and on Barbelin Beach to facilitate outdoor eating and socializing. The tent on Villiger lawn is also an area for
students to eat. Rebecca Maurizi ’23 said the current lack of designated spaces for students to dine inside on campus has been an adjustment. “I live in Ashwood, so I don’t really have a dorm that I can go back to easily, sit down and eat,” Maurizi said. “So I’m stuck with sitting outside, especially when it’s really cold.” Although Ellie Gallo ’24 understands the dining and seating regulations the university has put in place, sitting in the dining hall was one of the only times she would socialize with her close friends. “If we want to hang out [now], we have to find something to do off campus or maybe outside, but it’s freezing outside,” Gallo said. “It just doesn’t really give me a good opportunity to spend good quality time with my friends.” Kevin Villec ’23, dining chair for University Student Senate, said he has communicated with Bargeron about the impact of the new regulations and other initiatives SJU Dining has taken. “We’re planning a meeting, hopefully this week, to have another look at all the changes,” Villec said. “Hopefully, as virus rates start to go down, we’ll start to get more seats available in Campion and DB, and as the semester goes along, we’ll be able to use the tent more on Villiger lawn and eat outside more at the tables.” Kaylah Hernandez ’23 contributed to this story.
4
Feb. 4, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
Opinions
We can’t let our guards down
Responsibility doesn’t just fall on university administrators
Editor in Chief
Jackie Collins ’21 Managing Editor Ryan Mulligan ’21 Copy Chief Cara Smith ’21 Faculty Adviser Shenid Bhayroo Contributing Adviser Jenny Spinner
Copy Editor Celia Hegarty ’21 Copy Editor Carly Calhoun ’21 Multimedia Editor Nick Karpinski ’21 News Editor Devin Yingling ’22 Assistant News Editor Eddie Daou ’22 Assistant News Editor Christine DiSanti ’21 Opinions Editor Tayler Washington ’22
Although St. Joe’s students are better able to navigate campus in a pandemic this semester, we cannot ease up on following COVID-19 protocols. The “new-normal” of our college experience is defined by how we are choosing to handle this pandemic, and we must take the precautions necessary to prevent the virus from overtaking our campus and surrounding communities. Many students shared that they feel safer with the pre- and post-arrival requirements for returning to campus this semester in comparison to the fall semester’s protocols, when testing wasn’t required until the first week of classes. But, as we’ve seen, these new requirements still do not assure absolute protection from the virus. Even if we managed to escape the virus last semester, it does not mean we can do the same this semester. A majority of undergraduate students returned to campus the weekend of Jan. 22, and were required to take a “pre-arrival” COVID-19 test if they lived on campus. However, even though this test was mandatory for students to take before their return, we heard from many students that they were not asked about their test result status, or if they had even gotten results back yet, when moving in on Jan. 22, 23 or 24. Other universities, such as the University of Pittsburgh for example, were much more meticulous about allowing students to physically return to campus with a negative COVID-19 test. It delayed an in-person start until all COVID-19 test results were in, to assure that all students attending any in-person gatherings had negative results. It would have behooved St. Joe’s to adopt a similar model to avoid having students with positive test results, possibly unknown due to the lack of checking during move-in, on
campus and in shared public spaces, such as classrooms. However, the responsibility does not fall solely on university administrators. This lack of structured accountability means that it is essential that students act responsibly and get tested. If you’ve neglected to get tested, you’re letting your St. Joe’s community down. Some students tested negative for the pre-arrival testing and then attended classes, only to receive a positive COVID-19 test result
“The ‘new-normal’ of our college experience is defined by how we are choosing to handle this pandemic, and we must take the precautions necessary to prevent the virus from overtaking our campus and surrounding communities.” for their on-site entry testing. These students unknowingly attended in-person class. Vulnerable members of the community are the ones who suffer when there are cluster outbreaks and spikes in cases. The responsibility of getting tested doesn’t only include basic health and safety protocols, but it also includes transparency. If we have come in contact with someone who has tested positive, it is our responsibility to self-isolate, get tested as soon as possible and fill out the
official self-disclosure form. The university recently added more testing dates and availabilities to ensure that all students get tested. In addition to getting tested, students should be taking all necessary precautions to limit the spread of the virus in our community. Using breaks to travel and take vacations is irresponsible, as well as gathering in Manayunk over the weekend for parties and bar-hopping. These reckless behaviors are not a way to “blow off steam,” as they’re only prolonging this “new normal” and continuing the spread of the virus, especially with new variants. Additionally, there is indisputable scientific evidence that masks limit the spread of COVID-19 significantly. Masks are required by the university, as stated in the iCare Pledge, which all members of the community signed upon returning to campus. Recently, Dr. Fauci even recommended that we wear two masks when indoors and within six feet of others. Regardless of your political beliefs, and what you hear from politicians and others peddling misinformation, you must wear a mask, or two, in order to slow the spread. This goes for faculty and staff as well. Faculty and staff cannot expect students to follow guidelines when they are in classrooms lowering their masks to lecture, or taking them off completely. This encourages students to do the same. In order for things to “go back to normal,” as we’ve all been wishing for for months, we have to take responsibility now. Tackling this virus is a collective effort and requires willingness from all members of the university. - The Editorial Board The Hawk welcomes Letters to the Editor, typically no more than 300 words. They can be emailed to hawk.editorial@gmail.com.
Assistant Opinions Editor Sehar Macan-Markar ’22 Assistant Opinions Editor Maggie Brennen ’22 Features Editor Giana Longo ’22 Assistant Features Editor Nenagh Sheehan ’21 Assistant Features Editor Elaina Wall ’21 Sports Editor Riley Frain ’21 Assistant Sports Editor Tyler Nice ’23 Graphics/Illustrations Editor Casey Wood ’23 Photo Editor Mitchell Shields ’22 Social Media Manager Sam Jenkins ’21 Business Manager Angela DiMarco ’22
NOSE SWAB BEST SWAB Okay, we know this might seem like a strange “hot,” but we can’t be the only ones who feel this way. If we had to choose between the nose swab and last semester’s spit test, the nose swab would win every time. It was quick, painless and we didn’t have to fast beforehand.
SNOW DAYS ARE A THING OF THE PAST We hate to be the ones to break the bad news, but in the days of Zoom university, it seems unlikely that there will ever be a real snow day again. It’s okay to cry. We did too.
DOUBLE MASKING IS TRENDY People are saying that double mask layering is like when girls in grade school made layering camis a thing in the 2000s. Women now have a layering superpower that protects against the virus.
NETFLIX AND NO CHILL Sadly, so many iconic shows and movies left Netflix in the past few months. What are we supposed to do now that we can’t rewatch “The Office” or “Gossip Girl”? To make matters worse, Netflix is planning to raise subscription prices by the end of February. We still love you Netflix, and don’t worry we aren’t going anywhere, but we are disappointed in you.
DUNKIN'S VALENTINE'S DAY MENU Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and whether you’re excited for the holiday or not, we can all agree to be excited about the new options at Dunkin’. Heart-shaped doughnuts that are cute and delicious? We are here for it.
WE'RE FREEZING OUT HERE! That feeling when you wake up in the morning, check your weather app and see that it’s less than 30 degrees outside— no thanks. It’s just not fun walking to campus when it feels like you’re in the Arctic. Time to make friends with people who have cars so we can hitch a ride down City Avenue.
Assistant Business Manager Colin Messenger ’22 Assistant Business Manager Danny Remishevsky ’23 Distribution Manager Alec Mettin ’24 Distribution Manager Deborah Duong ’24
Opinions
The Hawk Newspaper
Feb. 4, 2021
5
Biden’s Executive Orders
What the recession tells us about economic fragility MAX GIULIANA ’24 Columnist Within hours of his swearing in, U.S. President Joe Biden got to work introducing his vision for the U.S. With several strokes of a pen, the president reversed Trump-era policies such as the construction of a border wall and the “Muslim Ban.” President Biden also began introducing his own agenda on immigration, climate change, health care and racial justice. Despite being an efficient method for enacting a president’s policies, executive orders can not be President Biden’s only instrument for change – especially when it comes to the financial crisis we find ourselves facing. The 46th president publicly stated that he wants to pursue a $1.9 trillion economic rescue package that includes greater funding for vaccinations, another round of stimulus checks and a host of other investments. This type of government stimulus is needed to help improve American lives, save American jobs and help our economy gain momentum. However, the necessity of such spending is indicative of a deeper issue that America is unwilling to acknowledge. The American market needs reforming. In my lifetime alone, I have seen two economic recessions. One was caused by unregulated Wall Street greed, risk taking and predatory loans, and the other by a global pandemic the world was clearly unprepared for. Based on what I have seen in my 18
TODD ERKIS Columnist Professor Erkis, GameStop has been all over the news lately as its price has been up a huge amount. Why is this happening? Is it too late to buy the stock? - multiple students Yes, we live in interesting times. At the close on Friday, Jan. 29, the price of GameStop stock was around $330 per share, down from a high of $483 per share. This column is not advocating buying or selling any stock or stock options. For full disclosure, at the time of this writing, I own a financial instrument (a put option) that will profit if the price of GameStop stock decreases below a certain level. Readers should consult a financial advisor before making any investment decision and should not rely on anything in this column as financial advice.
years in America, I would be led to believe that this type of economic volatility is natural. Recessions happen, right? As I was reading former U.S. President Barack Obama’s “A Promised Land” over winter break, I found myself constantly re-
ly surviving. President Biden and his team believe the nation needs more massive government spending, and given our current system and circumstances, they are correct. But, as COVID-19, it also reinforces what many people felt during the financial cri-
“Nobody should be devoid of health care, whether it be public or private. Nobody should be a productive member of society one day, and then worry about how they will feed their children the next, out of no fault of their own.” flecting on his handling of the 2008 financial crisis. As Obama writes about his economic team’s decision making and thought process while they were stewarding the nation’s economy, I found myself agreeing with the policies they pursued. I believe that the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), and more importantly the Recovery Act, were policies that were correct short-to medium-term solutions. They saved people’s jobs, homes and led the economy to 75 straight months of job growth. However, they did require massive government spending. As I was reading, I kept thinking to myself - “Is this sustainable?” I always came to the same answer - no. Today, we find ourselves at a similar inflection point. While thousands die per day from COVID-19, the billionaires are thriving and the average American is bare-
sis of 2008; something about the American economy is not right. No system, no economic modality that requires massive stimulus and bailouts twice in two decades is without need of improvement. We need a change. Wall Street needs to be regulated. Those at the top should not be allowed to watch their wealth exponentially grow as the overall economy suffers. The fact that the stock market is at its highest point ever is further evidence that the stock market is not an indicator of the economy as a whole. Furthermore, the pandemic is proof that our social safety nets need to be improved. Millions found themselves uninsured and without income simply because of a pandemic. This cannot happen. Nobody should be devoid of health care, whether it be public or private. Nobody should be a productive
As for the explanation, here it goes. Stock prices are determined in the short term by supply and demand. This is basic economics. More demand leads to higher prices and less demand leads to lower prices. Many people believe that over the long term, a stock’s price should reflect the company’s long-term profit potential or the company’s intrinsic value. GameStop has been closing stores and having financial issues due to the pandemic. The stock price was about $13 per share in November 2020 and rose to $18.84 at the end of 2020. The stock price jumped to $39 in early January when the company added new board members. Often, the addition of new board members leads to optimism that a company can turn things around financially. The optimism sometimes is valid and sometimes is not. During this time frame, some large investors, called hedge funds, believed the stock’s price was too high and would soon
fall. These hedge funds decided to “short” the stock by borrowing GameStop shares, selling them immediately and then expecting to later repurchase the stock at a lower price to end the loan. Hedge funds often short stocks on a huge scale and can profit handsomely when it works. In this case, things did not work out as the hedge funds expected. Individual investors, using social media, said they were going to buy GameStop stock and hold onto it no matter what the price does (HODL) and suggested others do the same. This additional demand led to further stock price rises. As the price started to increase, more and more people saw the price going up, thought it would continue and also bought the stock. This led to rocket-like increases in the price of GameStop’s shares. The hedge funds who shorted the stock had losses and many attempted to buy the stock back to end the loan. Unfortunately for them, they needed to quickly buy a lot
member of society one day, and then worry about how they will feed their children the next, out of no fault of their own. Now, I am aware my rhetoric may sound bitter or radical, but it is the opposite. I am more frustrated that America is less than what it can be. I am not advocating for socialism, but a reformed version of capitalism–one where those at the top don’t receive bailouts, those at the bottom don’t cover the nation’s losses and the economy works in a way that creates prosperity for everyone. In addition, the social safety nets that we have in our society need to be strengthened. Social Security will no longer be viable without reform, the Affordable Care Act needs improving and we need to move towards an economy that puts money into the hands of the middle and lower class of society and doesn’t have tax breaks for the 1%– because history has taught us trickle-down economics do not work. I look forward to watching what the Biden administration does. I believe their shift towards renewable energy is just one example of how they are changing the economy for the better. I believe their pursuit of a return to bipartisan politics is the correct strategy to shift Washington and the nation away from our increasing polarity. I believe President Biden will be able to remind Americans what Obama loved to say - in the end, the presidency is still a job, and a job in which you are supposed to work for the benefit of the majority of your constituents, not the few.
of stock before they experienced even larger losses. This rush to buy, coming at the same time, made it difficult to find people willing to sell (this is called a “short squeeze”), leading to higher and higher prices. Like every buying mania, those who buy early can make a lot of money. For example, 50 shares of GameStop purchased at $20 per share at a cost of $1,000 would now be worth $16,500 at $330 per share. Those buying at higher prices often lose money as the stock price over time should find the level close to the company’s intrinsic value (i.e., what the company is really worth over the long run). As the old saying goes, “What goes up, must [eventually] come down.”
6
Opinions
The Hawk Newspaper
Feb. 4, 2021
Representation in government Why it matters
SEHAR MACAN-MARKAR ’22 Assistant Opinions Editor When Joe Biden campaigned for president, he spoke about how he was determined to make his administration reflect the U.S. His administration has made several groundbreaking moments, the most obvious of them being Kamala Harris, the first Black, South Asian and woman vice president. Even in terms of his cabinet, Biden has made many firsts: the first Indigenous Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, the first Latinx Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas and the first Black Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. Even Congress is currently at its most diverse ever, with an 84% increase in minority members since the 107 Congress of 2001-03. While these “firsts” and numbers look great, it is important to look at the whole picture. Biden’s cabinet is still majority white, with only six minority members. Only about 22% of the members of Congress are ethnic or racial minorities. These increases are great, but do not change the fact that the government is still mostly white, and not fully representative of the American people. Having Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) in the government is important. The saying “representation matters” has been floating throughout social media for some time, but many people do not understand the true meaning and importance of the phrase, especially in terms of government.
Representation goes beyond the superficiality of “looks.” For children and young adults, seeing people who look like them in positions of power is empowering. Even though politicians are not perfect and can make mistakes, seeing people who are breaking these barriers make these positions of power more accessible and is invaluable to BIPOC. Also, it is important to remember that no politician should be idolized. Politicians exist to serve their
that; a more diverse, equally represented government is a better government. The background and experiences that people have can change the way they view the world. These different perspectives are important in bringing a multitude of issues to light that otherwise would be overlooked. People cannot advocate for issues that they are unaware of. BIPOC are more familiar with the difficulties that their own groups and communities face, and therefore are able
ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’23/ THE HAWK
constituents. They are still people who can make mistakes and should be held accountable for their actions. Governmental positions that were once solely dominated by white people, that seemed unattainable, suddenly seem to be a more realistic goal for BIPOC. The power that this brings cannot be understood by white people. But it goes even further than
to bring awareness and potential solutions. A study that looked at whether lawmakers who are members of minority groups are more likely to advocate for these communities shows the crucial impact of having BIPOC in congress. The results showed how legislators from minority groups disproportionately advocate for their respective communities. They are also
much more likely to hear from constituents of the same race. This makes sense, as the shared background breeds understanding and connection. Interactions such as this give America’s often ignored constituents a much needed voice. Lived experiences can lead to higher levels of understanding, solutions and hopefully an America that gets closer to equality for all people. Of course representation is important, but it is also necessary to realize that while shared experiences exist within different minority groups, they are not identical. While BIPOC lawmakers can certainly advocate for their communities, it would be unrealistic to believe that they have undergone the same issues as every single member of those communities. The intersectionalities of people are complex, and the issues of one person of color are seldom identical to another person of color. Within BIPOC roles, there are different factors that play into diversity, such as gender, socioeconomic background and sexual orientation, to name a few. While representation does not automatically lead to a perfectly equal America, it is an extremely important factor. The power, inspiration and compassion that comes from a more accurate portrayal of America is indispensable. Working towards a diverse and more just society takes hard work, but it becomes more attainable when all of America is represented in government.
“Zooming Home”
How St. Joe’s sororities ran virtual recruitment MAGGIE BRENNEN ’22 Assistant Opinions Editor Freshman year, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and participate in formal sorority recruitment. I was absolutely terrified. While I had become more outgoing since high school, I still felt like a shy kid at heart who could never handle the hours of constant conversation necessary for the process. By the end of the weekend, I got to meet so many amazing women, had grown more confident in my networking skills and found my home at Alpha Omicron Pi. As a sister, I have loved working to give students the same positive experience I had during recruitment, and had no idea what it would look like when I found out it would be fully virtual this year. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw all of the potential new members (PNMs) were able to have a recruitment experience as normal and exciting as possible to help them find their new “homes.” Of course, virtual recruitment could not perfectly replicate the in-person experience. For example, my sisters missed yelling chants in the Campion banquet halls while
PNMs waited outside the doors (if you are unfamiliar with the art of sorority chants, I suggest doing a quick YouTube search). As a PNM, it’s both exciting and terrifying. As a sister, it feels silly and cheesy at first, but once you get into it, it’s so much fun and an
welcomes by sisters, and they will hopefully get a chanting experience sometime soon. Something both sisters and PNMs did not miss out on was the opportunity to dress up for their laptop cameras. Everyone I spoke to was excited for the opportunity to
ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’23/ THE HAWK
incredible memory with your sisters. Instead, PNMs entered Zoom rooms like they were going to class, but were still given warm
do their hair and makeup and pick out an outfit, maybe for the first time in months, to make a good first impression. The best part?
Others could be wearing sweatpants below the camera which is a luxury not afforded by in-person recruitment. The most important part of recruitment, the conversation, did not suffer in the virtual format. Instead of talking in pairs and small groups in a crowded room, we were put into Zoom breakout rooms to chat with each other. This made for even easier communication because we did not have to shout to understand each other. It was amazing to get to meet so many new people after months of isolation. Panhellenic recruitment was one of the most exciting experiences I have had since the pandemic hit. It truly felt like I was networking at a crowded party from the comfort of my own home. I am so excited for the new members of Greek life to have more virtual events to look forward to in this era, where Zooms can be the highlight of your week, or even your month. While I hope we can have an in-person recruitment in 2022, this year has proven that Greek organizations can overcome just about anything. The weekend also showed PNMs, now new members, how Greek life sisters and brothers are still spending time together and are able to give members the fullest Greek experience possible, from their bid day to their senior send off.
Features
The Hawk Newspaper
Feb. 4, 2021 7
CineHawk Review: “Outside the Wire” JAYLEN DOTSON ’21 Columnist “Outside the Wire” is the superficially subversive but ultimately forgetful story of a disgraced drone pilot who, in the distant future of 2036, is assigned to the command of a combat cyborg whom he teams up with to prevent nuclear armageddon. Directed by Mikael Håfström and written by Rob Yescombe and Rowan Athale, it features recurring action star Anthony Mackie and “Snowfall” lead Damson Idris in the main roles, supported by Emily Beecham, Michael Kelly, Pilou Asbæk, Kristina Tonteri-Young and Bobby Lockwood. The film is currently available to stream on Netflix. Set in war-torn Ukraine, the film begins with an unconventional way to endear the audience to the drone pilot protagonist: have him ruthlessly kill two of his fellow service members to take out an enemy vehicle, while blatantly disobeying the orders of his commanding officer no less. This lands 1st Lt. Thomas Harp, who has never set foot on a battlefield, in prison for the rest of his life. Well, this would have happened in real life, but this is, after all, an action movie. So, instead, Harp is assigned to the singularly named Captain Leo, an advanced fourth-generation android soldier. Harp soon learns that he was specifically picked by Leo to accompany him on a dangerous mission. Under the guise of delivering vaccines, they aim to obtain intelligence on a pro-Russian warlord attempting to gain the codes to Cold War-era nuclear weapons, which would give him the potential to end the world as we know it. The film makes a superficial attempt at saying something substantive and intelligent about the modern state of war. The opening shows some of this promise, with
ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’23/THE HAWK
a stinging critique of the depersonalization of drone warfare. As the U.S. Marines are desperate to make it through a chaotic warzone, Harp is calmly sitting in his chair, utterly removed from the horror he is watching. Backing this up is the introduction of the “Gumps,” robotic soldiers that were recently created and are slowly replacing their flesh-and-blood counterparts. They are soulless automatons who kill without a thought and present a horrifying vision of automated combat, best illustrated in a scene during the film’s midsection where they slaughter several civilians in a crossfire. The expositional texts make reference to a “peace-keeping” operation conducted by the U.S. to protect Ukraine from pro-Russian insurgents, but it soon becomes clear how this mission statement is clearly a flimsy pretext for the U.S. to sow chaos in the former territory of its long-time enemy. This plot point does add a layer of commentary to the narrative, but only a thin one. The film does acknowledge a problem but does not fully commit to its message, ultimately resulting in the story falling back on the “well-inten-
tioned extremist” trope that allows the conclusion to stick to a familiar formula. While many films have managed to connect audiences to anti-heroic characters, Harp executing two Marines who were actively trying to be saved by their comrades, and then subsequently showing no remorse, really strains the viewer’s ability to care about him as the main character. Idris’ cold performance, combined with the supposed career soldier’s complete disrespect for authority, could drive some viewers to find his brutal beating by the comrades of the men he killed quite cathartic. There are scant references to his personal life, including a fianceé and an implied troubled past, which could have potentially rounded out his character but had to be pushed aside for the sake of action. Luckily, Harp’s character is offset by Captain Leo, who is made to feel much more human, thanks in no small part to the always charming Mackie. Equal parts charismatic
and confident, Leo at first glance seems to be the perfect counterpoint to the cold and detached Harp, teaching him the humanity that he clearly lacks. However, it quickly becomes apparent that all is not right with Leo, as he uses the mission to carry out his own clandestine agenda. Unfortunately, as the audience gets a closer look at Mackie’s true nature, Mackie’s performance begins to falter, giving way to a less interesting, more cookie-cutter characterization of Leo that is all too typical of this genre. The action scenes in the movie are mostly competent, which also serves as their biggest flaw. They truly offer nothing more remarkable than any of Netflix’s other sci-fi action offerings. Leo’s cybernetic enhancements allow for some elevated choreography and spectacle but are ultimately the same generic displays of super-soldier ability that can be found in almost any superhero movie. The only saving grace is that the filmmakers had the decency to avoid an over-reliance on shaky-cam, as it is always better to see the dynamic movements in front of us. The film’s action scenes are done no favors by its special effects, which strain credulity from the opening act, particularly with the often unnecessary presence of the “Gumps.” Overall, “Outside the Wire” is unlikely to leave an impact on most viewers, even with an amusing performance by Mackie. It simply plays too safe to stand out in its crowded genre, resulting in a promising premise completely wasting its momentum towards the endpoint. Rating: 4 Hawks out of 10
Winterfest showcases St. Joe’s community ELAINA WALL ’21 Assistant Features Editor Hawk Hill Productions (HHP) and the Office of Student Leadership & Activities (SLA) hosted Winterfest, an outdoor and in-person event on Jan. 29 on the Maguire Wolfington Welcome Center lawn, to bring students together and learn more about student organizations on campus. The event featured classic winter activities, including ice skating and curling, warm and delicious French toast bites and nachos and the spring semester Activities Fair featuring various student organizations and clubs on campus. Mikayla Miranda ’22, co-president of HHP, said that she is glad that HHP is able to provide a safe way for students to build community with one another during the coronavirus pandemic. “I know a lot of people said that [Hawktoberfest] was an event that, especially for the freshmen, really shaped their fall semester because there was such a sense of community on campus,” Miranda said. “Throughout the semester with Winterfest and for the rest of our events throughout the spring, we’re hoping to continue to foster that sense of community.” The inspiration for the winter event came from the National Association for Campus Activities National Convention, a conference that members of the HHP attended last February in Denver, Colorado, according to Miranda. At the conference, you get to meet a lot of different vendors, and one of the compa-
Students enjoy outdoor ice skating at Winterfest. PHOTO: LESLIE QUAN ’22/THE HAWK
nies that we met does artificial ice rinks,” Miranda said. “We stored it in the back of our mind as something that we could use for an event in the future.” Patrice Romano ’24 attended Winterfest this semester because of how much she enjoyed seeing other people at HHP events last semester. “Last semester, one of the only times I went out and saw people was [at] the DeStress Fest, so events like this are really going to help bridge the social gap a little bit,” Romano said. Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D., director of SLA, said the Activities Fair was included in the event to showcase how students can build
connections, participate in campus activities and develop leadership skills. “My hope in all the work that we do here is that by students participating in some of these programs that they feel more connected to the university as well as other students,” Hagovsky said. “I also hope that they’re actually seeing how they can potentially be involved here on campus or start to become a leader.” Michaela Walsh ’24 said she felt comfortable at the event with the COVID-19 protocols in place, including mandatory masks and social distancing. She thought it was a great chance to see upperclassmen and get a sense of the student body at St. Joe’s.
“When you’re just going to classes, you don’t get to see that bond that upperclassmen have with their friends, which I think is super cool,” Walsh said. “St. Joe’s is making sure everyone is staying safe and I feel so comfortable coming to these in-person events. I wish they could do more in-person events.” Hagovsky said that all student organizations were told to continue to plan events, virtual and in-person, and ways to connect with students this semester. “My message to them has been to please continue to connect online in a virtual way with your members for the next few weeks,” Hagovsky said. “Then, my hope is that by mid to late February, we’re going to be able to start to do more.” Hagovsky said that right now, the university is allowed to do outdoor programming this semester based on guidelines set by the City of Philadelphia, but space restrictions are still pretty limiting. The City of Philadelphia has restricted outdoor space capacity to 10 people per 1,000 square feet. The Welcome Center lawn is the largest outdoor space on campus, but can only fit 240 people at any given time due to the restrictions, according to Hagovsky. Victoria Myers ’22, programmer for HHP, said that, as an organization, HHP is always looking for more ways for St. Joe’s students to enjoy time with one another. “We already have some in-person events planned coming up soon,” Myers said. “As the guidelines change, as we’re able to do more stuff in person, we will definitely do that.” Sarah Harwick ’21 contributed to this story.
8
Feb. 4, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
Features
Features
The Hawk Newspaper
Feb. 4, 2021
9
10 Feb. 4, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
Sports
Women’s basketball starts strong despite multiple quarantines AARON TULLY ’23 Hawk Staff Sticking together, staying connected and keeping a positive mindset were integral to the St. Joe’s women’s basketball team’s 5-2 start this season, according to junior guard and co-captain Katie Jekot. The Hawks had four of their games postponed from Dec. 19-Jan. 3 and another three games postponed from Jan. 15-22. At times, the team only had five players practicing in person with the rest participating over Zoom. According to freshman guard Olivia Mullins, the team was doing anything possible to stay in basketball shape. “We have been doing workouts at home trying to stay conditioned,” Mullins said. “But for the people who are still here we’ve been doing extra lifting, extra cardio and even doing one-on-one individual workouts with one of the coaches in the gym.” Jekot said they have a focused group of players this season who remained strong despite the team’s multiple quarantine periods. “We’ve been through five quarantines,” Jekot said. “Every time we just do our best to stay positive and stay together.” According to Head Coach Cindy Griffin, veteran leadership has been valuable to her team with the stop-and-start nature of the season. She said co-captains Jekot and senior guard Mary Sheehan have been fantastic leaders, and instrumental to her team’s 5-2 start. “I would be remiss to not say that they’ve been fantastic,” Griffin said. “It’s one thing to have a great coaching staff, but it’s also another thing to have great leadership, and just the maturity and the work ethic and connectivity that they provide for our team.”
Mullins said the team leaders emphasized staying positive and focused throughout an unpredictable season. “They have been reiterating just trying to keep a positive mindset through all of this,” Mullins said. “They rein us back in to tell us that our love for the game outweighs everything that’s going on around us.” Griffin said that the team was prepared to deal with adversity related to the coronavirus pandemic going into the season. “Unfortunately we knew what the routine would be,” Griffin said. “We knew what we had to do to get through this season.” It was important to Griffin that her team continued to take steps forward despite quarantine challenges. “It could be keeping up with their conditioning, if they were healthy enough to do so, [or] staying connected with your teammates and then going over some strategic offensive and defensive schemes,” Griffin said. Mullins said the coaching staff urged the players to always be ready for the unexpected amid an uncertain season.
“[We could] be getting subbed into a game, coming off a quarantine break.” Mullins said. The Hawks have improved across the board. They opened with wins against Lincoln University and Monmouth University. Three weeks later the Hawks split their two games against La Salle, winning at home and losing on the road. They beat George Washington University at home before a short road trip, defeating University of Massachussetts 76-69 and falling to University of Rhode Island 50-48 in overtime. Griffin said underclassmen, in particular sophomore forward Gabby Smalls, have grown and developed well this season. “Gabby Smalls is one of our best rebounders, she’s grown from her freshman to sophomore year,” Griffin said. “I think she brings out the best in our rebounding.” For Mullins, the transition from high school to college has been made more difficult by the pandemic, but it’s made her a better player and teammate. “It’s making me become more prepared
as a person,” Mullins said. “I’m making sure that I’m prepared for any type of situation that comes up, staying resilient and being more connected with my team.” Jekot said that the underclassmen have done a great job adapting throughout the season. “Coming in as a freshman during this year can be very hard,” Jekot said. “They are taking all the input that we’re giving them and have been very responsive.” Additionally, graduate transfer guard Alayna Gribble has also allowed the offense to diversify. “Gribble has been a great addition to our team,” Griffin said. “She is shooting over 50% from the three-point line and just being able to shoot the longball on a consistent basis really frees up the inside game and vice versa.” Jekot is currently averaging career highs in points per game, assists per game, shooting percentage and three-point percentage. Jekot said that she’s done well in her move to point guard this season, and has worked to improve as an on-court leader. “Our team has been very successful executing plays and scoring in transition,” Jekot said. “I’ve been helping my teammates get to spots that they need to be at.” While the team has had to overcome a lot of adversity in the face of the pandemic this season, they are still managing to find success on the court, according to Jekot. “Our team does want to play and we want to win this year,” Jekot said. “We are determined to have this season.”
The team gathers around Griffin during a timeout in a Jan. 24 game against George Washington University. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
Winter basketball updates fought 63-61 win over their Atlantic 10 (A10) opposition on Jan. 24 led by co-captain and junior guard Katie Jekot ,who shot four Women’s Basketball of seven from behind the three-point line. Overall Record: 5-2 In their most recent contest, the Hawks Atlantic-10 Conference managed a 76-69 win over the University of Record: 3-2 Massachusetts, led by graduate transfer forThe St. Joe’s women’s bas- ward Alexis Santarelli, who’s having a strong ketball team found success season in her first year on Hawk Hill, and across the first half of their again Jekot, who’s been a consistent part of season. They started off the year with two the Hawks starting lineup across their first wins over Lincoln University on Dec. 13, six games and leads the team in average with a score of 72-64, and Monmouth Uni- minutes per game. versity on Dec. 15, who the Hawks beat by With A-10 conference play set to cona margin of 80-52, led by a 19-point perfor- tinue for the women’s team within the commance from graduate guard Alayna Gribble. ing weeks, it will be exciting to see how this However, the women’s team had to talented group of Hawks finishes out their postpone contests due to personnel within season and where they are within the conferthe program testing positive for COVID-19. ence standings come A-10 tournament time. Following the victory over Monmouth, the team was forced to pause all games and Statistical Leaders as of Feb. 2: practices for two weeks, which caused Alayna Gribble (graduate) - 67 points them to miss a number of key matchups Katie Jekot (junior) - 35 assists against conference opponents, as well as Gabby Smalls (sophomore) - 44 Drexel University. rebounds After their short break, the Hawks came Katie Jekot - 11 steals back with both a home and an away game Gabby Smalls & Jaden Walker against La Salle University. St. Joe’s took the (sophomore) - 7 blocks victory at Hagan Arena and lost at La Salle’s Katie Jekot - 31.3 minutes/game Tom Gola Arena. Gabby Smalls - .581 FG% However, it would be another twoweek pause for the women’s team as anMen’s Basketball other tier one personnel tested positive for Overall Record: 1-14 COVID-19, marking the second time that Atlantic 10 Conference Record: 0-9 the team would have to postpone games and It has been a tough year thus far for halt all basketball activities. the St. Joe’s men’s basketball team due to a The team missed three games with plague of struggles and injuries throughout their comeback to the court coming against the first half of the 2020-21 season. George Washington University in a hard The Hawks showed flashes of potential RILEY FRAIN ’21 Sports Editor
early in the season by taking a solid Auburn University team to overtime in their opening preseason matchup, which they lost 9691 but were led by a 28-point performance from redshirt junior forward Taylor Funk. Just a day later, they would play the nations No. 6 team at the time, the University of Kansas, in a competitive matchup where the Hawks were beat 94-72 after tiring in the second half following the previous day’s overtime performance. However, after the game against Kansas, St. Joe’s season would be put on hold as a tier one personal member tested positive for COVID-19, postponing two of the Hawks games against Bradley University and Temple University. The team then played Drexel University in a City 6 matchup following a two week pause. This was a game the Hawks should have won, but they were edged out by the Dragons who shot over 46% from the floor, 81-77, all in spite of redshirt senior guard Ryan Daly dropping 30-points on the night. In the annual Holy War against Villanova University, the No. 7 team in the nation at the time, the Hawks played a tightly contested first half only down 41-33 heading into the locker rooms. However the Wildcats took off in the second half and ran away with a 88-68 victory over St. Joe’s, defeating the Hawks for the ninth straight season. While it’s obvious the Hawks have struggled this year, there are a few factors at play that are hurting the Hawks on the court. The first is the strength of their game schedule. According to college basketball reporter Ken Pomeroy, the Hawks have played one of the top 30 most difficult schedules in
the nation. It’s unusual for St. Joe’s to play such a touch schedule particularly being part of a mid-major conference in the A-10, but Head Coach Billy Lange has brought some aggressive scheduling tactics to Hawk Hill with his teams anytime, anywhere attitude toward opponents. The Hawks lost 2019-20 A-10 leading scorer Daly in late December, as he has been out with a thumb injury. Names like redshirt sophomore guard Greg Foster Jr, senior forward Anthony Longpré and sophomore guard Jack Forrest have all missed time due to injuries, or other undisclosed reasons, throughout the course of this season. The Hawks managed to pick up their first win against the University at Albany on Jan. 9 with a final score of 67-64, led by freshmen guard Jordan Hall who managed 13-points and 9 assists in the contest. However, having played their first nine conference matchups already, the Hawks are still in search of their first A-10 victory, which should be aided by the return of Daly in the coming games. Statistical Leaders: Taylor Funk (Redshirt Junior) - 243 points Jordan Hall (freshman) - 88 assists Taylor Funk - 87 rebounds Jordan Hall - 18 steals Taylor Funk - 11 blocks Ryan Daly (redshirt senior) - 33.0 minutes/game Anthony Longpré (senior) - .609 FG%
Sports
The Hawk Newspaper
Feb. 4, 2021
11
Hall leads freshmen nationally in assists per game TYLER NICE ’23 Assistant Sports Editor At Atlantic 10 (A-10) Media Day on Nov. 11, St. Joe’s men’s basketball Head Coach Billy Lange said Jordan Hall is “[one of the] top seven floor vision [player] that I’ve ever coached or coached against.” So far this season, the 6-foot-7-inch guard and forward’s passing abilities provided evidence for Lange’s effusive praise. As of Feb. 1, Hall leads all freshmen nationally in assists per game. Through 15 games, Hall’s 5.9 assists per game ranks first amongst freshmen and No. 13 nationally. Hall also has the second most assists per game in the A-10 Conference, trailing only Yuri Collins of Saint Louis University. To contextualize Hall’s average assists, no Hawk men’s basketball player has averaged as many assists for a season since Jameer Nelson in the 2001-02 season. Like many of Hall’s favorite passers, including Magic Johnson, Jason Williams and Steve Nash, the basis of Hall’s court vision stems from an intuitive knowledge of the game and his ability to understand and orchestrate an offense. “I just try to think of the game one play ahead,” Hall said. “I try to be a quarterback on the court.” According to Hall, the foundation for his passing ability was established when he was young. He said he played on the perimeter growing up before he reached middle school and high school. As he grew into a forward’s body, he retained his guard skills,
and despite his height, he considers himself a point guard. “When I grew and got bigger, my position changed, but I kept my fundamentals,” Hall said. “I think that’s what makes me unique. A 6-foot-7-inch point guard that can pass, dribble and shoot.” In high school, Hall served as one of Neumann-Goretti’s primary ball handlers. Carl Arrigale, head boys’ basketball coach for Neumann-Goretti, said that Hall’s unique passing vision was evident as a high school junior and senior. “He’s just a natural born passer,” Arrigale said. “If you’re open, the ball gets to you on time and in a good pocket to be able to shoot it.” Many of Hall’s assists come from pickand-roll action in St. Joe’s perimeter-oriented offense. With the ball in his hands as he dribbles off of a ball screen, Hall has the option to shoot, drive to the basket, pass to the roll man cutting towards the basket or pass to an open player for a perimeter jumpshot. In making a split-second decision when presented with these options, Hall said he trusts his basketball instincts. “Playing basketball for so long, I know how the defense is going to rotate,” Hall said. “I go one way and I know the defense is going to react.” According to Arrigale, St. Joe’s will have the option to utilize Hall’s passing in even more capacities on the court as he develops more strength.
Hall managed a career-high 11 assists in two separate games this season. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
“We used him in the post a lot in high school,” Arrigale said. “It wasn’t even for him to score. He was picking people apart as a point forward.” As Hall’s court vision and awareness became a focal point in opposing defenses scouting reports, he is able to showcase different skills that defense are not as focused on limiting. “The passing opens [my game] up a lot,” Hall said. “It opens up driving lanes and being able to create more.” According to Hall, teams that pass well and keep the defense moving have the most
success. He said that it is important to put teammates in a position in which they have an opportunity to make a play. “Every team needs to have good passers,” Hall said. “Especially if you have great shooters like we do, like Taylor Funk and Jack Forrest. If you can’t deliver them the ball in the proper layout, it makes it harder for them to hit shots.”
Campus Recreation opens updated cardio and strength rooms RILEY FRAIN ’21 Sports Editor Campus Recreation opened new strength and cardio rooms for students, faculty and staff looking for a safe place to workout indoors. Reservations to use the workout rooms, located in the O’Pake Recreation Center on the Maguire Campus, can be made up to 48 hours in advance. Ninety-minute reservation blocks will help maintain maximum occupancy limits of 15 people in the room during any given session, according to Assistant Athletics Director for Campus Recreation Angie Nagle. The pandemic provided the Campus Recreation team with the opportunity to reevaluate some of their current workout spaces and give them the updates they desperately needed, Nagle said. “Up until this past year it was just one crowded room for both our strength and cardio rooms,” Nagle said. “I think the pandemic forced us to space things out, look at how we can use all the space in our building, look at the equipment we have and make changes
that were long overdue.” People who use the workout rooms are expected to follow a number of safety protocols to restrict the spread of COVID-19, Nagle said. “At least six feet apart, masks on at all times even while you’re doing your workout and we’re asking students to wipe down the equipment before and afterwards,” Nagle said. That’s in addition to a student cleaning crew that will come in and sanitize each workout station after a session, Nagle said. “We have 90-minute reservation blocks throughout the day, so we have 90 minutes of workout, then we close the room for 30 minutes for cleaning,” Nagle said. Spotting will also not be allowed and Nagle said people may have to adjust their workouts accordingly. “They’ll have to pick conservative weight loads when doing say a max bench press,” Nagle said. Campus Recreation Coordinator Alex Kissinger said she feels these changes will help boost the student workout experience
The new cardio room is located on the lower level of O’Pake. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMPUS RECREATION
while also keeping everyone safe and following the pandemic guidelines. “In a way, the pandemic helped us enhance the facility to the best of our ability,” Kissinger said. “There was a lot of planning and moving equipment around but overall we think it turned out great. Now there is more equipment available and more room for our students to get a good workout in while social distancing.” The new workout rooms contain a range of equipment, including a few new purchases the Campus Recreation department made to help improve the variety offered in each workout space, Kissinger said. “The fitness center located on the lower level [of O’Pake] holds all cardio equipment including treadmills, bikes and cross trainers,” Kissinger said. “The multipurpose room located at the far end of the building holds all strength equipment including squat racks, benches, free weights and selectorized equipment. We added new functional equipment such as kettlebells, battle ropes and slam balls to provide students with increased flexibility
for their workouts.” Alexandra Pla ’23, one of the first students to use the new strength room, said while navigating some of the pandemic protocols can be challenging, she thought people were doing a great job respecting the rules. “My first experience at O’Pake was good,” Pla said. “I liked the setup of the room because it was spaced out. I went early in the morning, so I was able to use all the equipment that I needed for today’s workout. People in the strength room were good about wiping everything down.” Pla said the new workout spaces are a viable replacement for a classic gym set-up and noted she plans to continue taking advantage of their availability while on campus. “I like to stay active and lift weights, where in my apartment, before this gym opened, I just watched body weight videos,” Pla said. “I potentially see this being a replacement because we are in a pandemic and the setup is laid out so nicely.”
The new strength room includes equipment such as squat racks, free weights, kettlebells and slam balls.
12
News
The Hawk Newspaper
Feb. 4, 2021
Open Spaces Ryan Mulligan ’21, Managing Editor
Where can I study or take a Zoom class? Twenty five reservable • Bellarmine Hall, Barbelin Hall, Mandeville Hall, Post Learning Commons (PLC), Campion Student Center and the Science Center. • PLC study rooms - single occupancy. • There is a limit of four hours per day. Students can reserve rooms by scanning the QR code.
On campus
Where can I Safely socialize outSIDE? • Tents outside of Villiger Hall and Admissions Building • Additional lighting and outdoor seating added to Barbelin Beach outside of the library as well as on Villiger Lawn • Thursdays from 5-7p.m. - regional food trucks on the lawn outside of the Admissions Building. Trucks will feature women and minority owned businesses.
Unoccupied classrooms - walk-in only Abide by occupancy listed outside of the room • • • • •
The Perch (walk-in only) PLC - students can sit at designated tables Merion Hall Atrium Mandeville Hall end spaces Tents outside of Villiger Hall and Admissions -walk-in only
Where can I Eat? • Campion Dining Hall - Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.- 8 p.m., grab-and-go only • Campion Food Court (DB) - Monday-Friday 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. • Campion P.O.D. - Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. • Mandeville P.O.D. - Monay-Thursday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. • PLC P.O.D. - Monday-Thusday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Einstein Bros. Bagels - Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. • Full hours of all campus dining options can be found by scanning the QR code. • Students are encouraged to eat in the tent outside of Villiger Hall. • In all indoor study spaces, food and beverage consumption is prohibited.
Where can I Exercise? • O’Pake Recreation Center is available by appointment only. • Reservations are for 90 minutes and can be made up to 48 hours in advance of the desired time slot. • Students may use the cardio center and the strength center. • O’Pake Pool by reservation, only for 50 minutes at a time. • Students can make reservations by scanning the QR code. • Running trails near St. Joe’s include Merion Botanical Park, Bala Cynwyd Park and the Cynwyd Heritage Trail, the Belmont Plateau and the Manayunk Towpath.
