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The Spectator takes a stance on the latest UWEC racist incident.
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THE SPECTATOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
spectatornews.com
Thursday, Feb.11, 2021
VOL. 101 NO. 1
Campus calls for justice Community demands change in UW-Eau Claire policies Lea Kopke MANAGING EDITOR
Ta’Leah Van Sistine EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Students and faculty at UW-Eau Claire are calling for justice after photos of a student’s private Snapchat stories, titled with racist language, were leaked on social media. A private Snapchat story is a collection of photos and videos which disappear after 24 hours and can only be seen by select people. The name of the story can be changed. At one point the story was titled “Salt & Vi* chips,” with an emoji of a Black farmer being used in reference to the N-word. At another it was titled “George Floyd’s Breathing Tips,” referencing George Floyd, a Black man who died shortly after a police officer kneeled on his neck and pinned him to the ground for 8 minutes and 46 seconds during an arrest May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis. Nick Starich, a second-year business finance and economics student, said he sent videos in the private Snapchat story the night of Friday, Feb. 5. Photos of the story were spread across social media beginning Saturday, Feb. 6. While the incident draws certain parallels to that of the racist messages sent by members of the Blugold football team in November 2019, this case is expected to be handled somewhat differently. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, a history and women’s, gender and sexuality studies professor, said the case may involve a more complicated legal situation because it lacks a clear threat. She also said administering a punishment which both gives consequences to the student involved and makes the victims feel like they have been taken seriously may prove difficult. “The problem with the system code… is that it’s kind of all or nothing,” Ducksworth-Lawton said. “So finding something
SUBMITTED Photos of a student’s private Snapchat stories, titled with racist language, exploded across social media on the night of Feb. 6. appropriate that doesn’t force the victims to have to swallow their outrage. That’s the hard part.” Because of this, Ducksworth-Lawton said students from Black Male Empowerment are advocating for an update to be made to both the Blugold Student Conduct Code and the UW-Eau Claire Faculty and Academic Staff Rules and Procedures. A document Ducksworth-Lawton shared entitled “BME’s Goal to Change Student Handbook and Faculty and Academic Staff Rules and Procedures Handbook” includes a list of alterations the organization hopes to make. The (wanted) alterations read as followed: 1. Any form of racial harassment such as physical, verbal, or electronic harassment is an expellable offense; 2. Such hate crimes are in line with other federal anti-discrimination
laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; 3. Electronic harassment can be defined as video recording, audio recording, voice calls, social media platforms (including group chats on any social media platform or any device) on any form of technology that targets specific organizations, ethnicities, religions, sexes, or national origins in a negative manner; 4. Creating a safe academic environment safe from discrimination for all students, staff and faculty; 5. The demands of BME from the incident last year; 6. The definition of harassment follows this Form from Wisconsin Code 947.013 on Harassment Ducksworth-Lawton said she believes UW-Eau Claire could be hesitant in adopt-
ing these changes due to a 1991 court case in which a federal district judge shut down a systemwide hate-speech code. According to a 1991 The Chronicle of Higher Education article, under the 1989 UW Rule, students were barred from using “slurs or epithets that were based on a person’s race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic origin” and would be penalized “if the slurs created a ‘hostile learning environment’ for someone.” The American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit on behalf of the UWM Post and of several students who believed the code violated their First Amendment rights. A statement released by Teresa O’Halloran, interim vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion, said several reports were filed with UW-Eau Claire’s Bias Incident Reporting team over the weekend regarding the Snapchat stories.
>> JUSTICE page 2
COVID on All Talk and no show We demand transparency from Campus our administration Lauren Spierings NEWS EDITOR In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, several vaccines have sprung up around the world to combat the spread. Currently, two vaccines have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Association to be administered to the population: the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. According to CNN, the Moderna vaccine is different than the Pfizer vaccine due to the fact that it can be stored in normal freezers and does not need to be kept “super-cold” while in transit like the Pfizer vaccine does. Both vaccines use a messenger RNA system to prep the body to fight an actual infection. Both also are administered in two doses to patients. The AstraZeneca vaccine is another approved vaccine, although it has yet to be cleared for use in the United States. According to Prevention, the AstraZeneca vaccine is unlike the other two because it can be stored at a higher temperature and costs less per dose. The AstraZeneca vaccine also happens to use a different method than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Instead of using messenger RNA, it uses adeno-virus technology. This means that the vaccine is a modified
version of a common cold virus that does not make humans sick — it still carries the necessary characteristics to evoke an immune system response and build an immunity against a real COVID-19 infection. Regarding vaccination in Eau Claire, the Eau Claire County Information Hub has a page dedicated to vaccination in Eau Claire. Currently, the only people eligible for a vaccine in Eau Claire are: • Frontline healthcare workers, emergency medical services and other direct patient care • Those who live in long-time care facilities • First responders • Corrections personnel • People who are 65 or older Vaccinations are available at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital/Prevea, Marshfield Clinic, Mayo Clinic and Oakleaf Clinics. Appointments are to be made online using the links on the Information Hub page. >> COVID page 2
The Editorial Board A pattern of racist acts across UWEau Claire have resulted in faculty and students demanding for action — action that hasn’t yet been executed. This past weekend, a student’s private Snapchat stories were leaked onto social media, titled with racist language in reference to recent social justice events, including the death of George Floyd. This incident has not been the first racist incident at UW-Eau Claire. Last November, students protested on campus about racist Snapchat messages between members of the Blugold football team which used raciallycharged images. Chancellor James C. Schmidt has made public comments to address his viewpoints on the racist actions at the university throughout the last year — specifically, that the university administration must do better. “You should expect transparency from us. You should expect action from us,” Schmidt said to a crowd at a silent walkout following the football team incident in 2019. This message has continued to be reiterated by the Chancellor and administrators alike, but never fulfilled. In light of the most recent Snapchat incident, the administration has not officially released a statement — as of
Feb. 10 — to the student body on the issue. Students and faculty feel that every time there is a racist incident on our campus, the time it takes for administration to address the situation, and come up with a resolution that satisfies the victims affected, is overdue. The student who posted the private Snapchat stories has gone to local news outlets to address the situation; however, the issue has not been talked about from the perspective of those affected. The editorial board feels the emphasis of this incident should not be on the perpetrator, but instead on the victims and their perspectives of the incident. UW-Eau Claire is no stranger to racist incidents and by focusing on the perpetrators, there is no focus on trying to bring justice to the victims or educating others on how to prevent further incidents from occurring. Instead of adding attention to the student who created the Snapchat and sensationalizing his actions, the focus should be on the heart of the matter: boosting voices in the Black community and what change they want to see. >> EDITORIAL page 9
NEWS THE SPECTATOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Ta’Leah Van Sistine Managing Editor Lea Kopke News Editor Lauren Spierings Currents Editor Evelyn Nelson Sports Editor Sam Janssen Op/Ed Editor Grace Olson Multimedia Editor Owyn Peters Chief Copy Editor Ashlie Fanetti Copy Editors Amira Lunderville Chloe Smith Staff Writers Allison Hinrichs Avery Shanahan Emma Steiler Miles Plueger Reonna Huettner Rosa Gómez Sami Geiger Spencer Kristof Vicky Thao Freelance Writers Caleb Doyle Madeline Fuerstenberg Staff Photographer McKenna Dirks Graphic Designer Bethany Mennecke
The UW’s MBA Consortium nationally recognized As online programs get more competitive, the consortium holds its place Amira Lunderville COPY EDITOR The University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium program has been ranked as the top online Master of Business Administration program in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, making it one of the top 10 programs in the nation. According to the U.S. News & World Report website, the consortium ranks as the 10th Best Online MBA Program, eighth Best Online MBA Program for Veterans and 17th Best Online General Management MBA Program. “The ranking is based on the number of criteria including faculty credentials and training, admissions selectivity, student engagement and acof the UW MBA Consortium, said. More information about how the U.S. News & World Report evaluates each school can be found on its methodology page. fourth year the consortium has ranked among the top 10 programs nationally. As one of the creators of the UW MBA Consortium program, he said he was excited about this achievement. Paula Lentz, academic director of the UW MBA Consortium Program, said she was also excited about the ranking.
BUSINESS Business Manager Joel Meier
Due to the pandemic, a lot of top schools have moved their graduate degree programs online, Rachel Funk-Johnson, MBA program advisor said. She said noting that, with changes in the educational process from kindergarten all the way through graduate school, it shows that the UW MBA Consortium had a solid foundation. “Since the program was originally founded at UWEC, we can take pride in the historical presence, the growth and the potential these recogEach of the four original UW MBA Consortium partner campuses originally had campus-based online MBA programs which served people The campuses began working together in 1996 to explore ways they
“Since the program was originally founded at UWEC, we can take pride in the historical presence, the growth and the potential these recognitions provide for us
CONTACT THE SPECTATOR: ADDRESS: Hibbard Hall 104, Eau Claire, WI 54701 EDITORIAL E-MAIL: c-j02@uwec.edu ADVERTISING E-MAIL: c-j03@uwec.edu BUSINESS E-MAIL: c-j51@uwec.edu FACULTY ADVISER: Mike Dorsher MDORSHER@uwec.edu Like our Facebook page (The Spectator) Follow us on Twitter (@spectatornews) Follow us on Instagram (@spectatornews) Add us on Snapchat (@spectatornews) and check out our website (spectatornews.com) for exclusive, up-to-date content.
UW-Eau Claire is one of three partner schools that currently collaborate on the UW MBA Consortium, Lentz said. The recognition reinforces the university’s commitment to be part of programs that promote the excellence it proudly stands for. The partnership among the three universities brings faculty, instructhem the opportunity to provide an outstanding program for the students, Franson said. “To be in the realm of these professional, working adults from diverse looking to be the change, sometimes within their organization, but also Students in the program are in professions such as sales directors, educators, physicians and product developers, Lentz said. The program is
The ranking came from the hard work of the students, the faculty As the program prepares to graduate its 700th student in 2021, Franson said she looks forward to exploring how the program can continue
online MBA programs in the nation.
JUSTICE from page 1 morning of Feb. 8 to discuss the incident and is “now reaching out to the individuals who made the (BIRT) reports and to the student who made
The incident Starich said he was hanging out with friends on Friday night when he posted a video of “two
CORRECTION POLICY: While The Spectator continually strives for excellence and accuracy, we resign the fact that we will occasionally make errors. When these errors are made, The Spectator will take responsibility for correcting the error and will maintain a high level of transparency to be sure all parties are formation does not spread. Contact Editor-in-Chief Ta’Leah Van Sistine at VANSISTR6741@uwec. edu or (920) 676-4268.
“Web formats became so popular because you could do just about
Lunderville can be reached at lunderar0406@uwec.edu.
PR Representatives Mikayla Soltis Vee Kie Tan
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said. “Almost everyone in the program is a working adult and needs on-
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develops both their knowledge and skills to be leaders in their organiza-
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Thursday, Feb. 11
PAGE EDITOR: Lea Kopke
the private stories he made, which he said only his friends were added to. Spanish graduate, then shared the screenshots on Twitter and posted about the incident in the UWEC Solidarity with People of Color on Campus Facebook group after receiving the screenshots from an undisclosed person.
because individuals who shared them originally believed Starich was on the Blugold wrestling team last year.
denounced him on Twitter. “It has been brought to our attention that one of our employees has been making racist
actions to distance ourselves from this behavior Starich said he will meet with university administration regarding the incident and that he reached out to Ducksworth-Lawton on Saturday night to see how he can “make things
proper handling of this situation would have to involve administration providing resources to those hurt by Starich’s actions. “I think that the victims of this — I think the students who had to see that, whether they were white or students of color, they need
In classes Monday, Ducksworth-Lawton said she spoke with her students about their thoughts on the racist incident. “My white students in my classes today were they would agree with that language and that were, ‘How long do we have to put up with this?’ And this guy has a black roommate, so you never
Starich said. “I have no real excuse for what I to contact “administration and the athletics
photos to her after receiving them from someone whose friend was on the private story. across social media, receiving 108 reactions and 18 comments on Facebook and 135 retweets and 387 likes on Twitter, as of Feb. 9. Kayde Langer, a fourth-year sociology student, was one of the individuals to post about the incident, mentioning Starich in a tweet that screenshots of his private stories. According to Langer’s Twitter, Starich then messaged Langer and said, “I apologize for my actions on that post, I’d really appreciate if you could take it down, I’ve apologized to everybody
“At this point it’s clear that there’s a pattern to Starich said he is continuing to work with Ducksworth-Lawton. Shortly after this article was posted, Ducksworth-Lawton refuted this claim in a Facebook comment, saying “For the record, I have talked to the young man once. He is not
Campus response Chancellor James C. Schmidt did not respond to The Spectator’s email request for comment. In a statement provided to The Spectator, O’Halloran said UW-Eau Claire, as an institution, is working “to create a more inclusive learning
UW-Eau Claire students are organizing a sittransparency from administration and a change in campus policy regarding its handling of racist incidents. Ducksworth-Lawton said she plans to attend the protest if she can, because she believes these changes are vital to the future of UW-Eau Claire. students of color feel welcome, we won’t have
“Hateful speech is antithetical to our mission said, “and poses a threat to our ability to provide a safe living, learning and working environment
Blugold Athletics was tagged in social media posts in response to the leaked screenshots
something big. So if they don’t address it now, it’s just going to keep blowing up in their face every
Ducksworth-Lawton said she believed the
Kopke can be reached at kopkelg3003@uwec.edu. Van Sistine can be reached at vansistr6741@ uwec.edu.
COVID from page 1 In Eau Claire County, there have been a total of 10,788 positive cases of COVID-19 as well as 46,377 negative tests, according to the Information Hub. There have been 104 deaths due to COVID-19, which is a death rate of 0.96%. Currently, there are 244 active cases of COVID-19. The information hub also reports 344 cases of COVID-19 that lead to necessary hospitalization.
As of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, there are no new cases of COVID-19 among Arena at UW-Eau Claire. According to the UW-Eau Claire COVID-19 dashboard, there are
The Barron County data has no new positive test results since it was reported on Feb. 3. However, there have been 18 self-reported positive tests by Barron County students as well as two that were self-reported
The amount of UW-Eau Claire student-connected cases since September of 2020 now rests at 1,037 cases. The number of UW-Eau cases is now at 41 cases.
campus, with another 12 currently in quarantine. There have been 10 positive tests out of the 11,454 tests given since Jan. 23.
As of 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 8, the information from the Eau Claire City-County Health Department said there are 35 new student-connected positive cases of COVID-19 and one
Spierings can be reached at spierilp1654@uwec.edu.
NEWS
NEWS EDITOR: Lauren Spierings
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Thursday, Feb. 11
Counseling Services Regents Diversity Achievement Counseling Services Department recognized for their improvement and involvement towards EDI initiatives Avery Shanahan STAFF WRITER
SUBMITTED The UW System’s Board of Regents selects up to three individuals, departments, programs or teams who have implemented positive changes in their institutions.
Shanahan can be reached at shanahal2085@uwec.edu.
Multiple crashes occur, lost and found key chain Reonna Huettner
President Ziebell also announced senate elections will take place two weeks early Spencer Kristof
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
Towers Parking Lot crash
UW-Eau Claire Police assist Eau Claire Police with crash
Read more at spectatornews.com.
Read more at spectatornews.com.
THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS PAGE EDITOR: Lea Kopke
Thursday, Feb. 11
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Antigen testing continues in Zorn Arena
MCKENNA DIRKS / The Spectator Multiple UW-Eau Claire students wait to receive the email with their results. In order to leave the testing site, students must show proof of an email received with their test results.
MCKENNA DIRKS / The Spectator Two antigen testing nurses converse at a station. At stations like this one, students and faculty getting tested swab their own noses after receiving instruction from a nurse.
MCKENNA DIRKS / The Spectator A student worker checks in a student for their antigen testing appointment. Before entering the gymnasium, students have their temperature checked and are asked if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
OWYN PETERS / The Spectator to COVID there are no tables set up for dine in, but SHIFT is open for carry out.
OWYN PETERS / The Spectator 615 Graham Ave, Eau Claire.
SPORTS
Thursday, Feb. 11
SPORTS EDITOR: Sam Janssen
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Blugolds escape with tie, win against Stevens Point to open season Sam Janssen SPORTS EDITOR The UW-Eau Claire women’s hockey two games of the season last week, earning tie in the season opener. UW-Eau Claire hosted the Pointers at matchup. The game ended in a 2-2 tie after the game into overtime. After UW-Eau Claire fell behind, Ella Ierino, a third-year forward, scored the Blugolds’ minutes to go in the second period to cut the Midway through the third period, Samantha Scherling, a second-year forward, scored a goal to tie the game at 2-2. The game ended in a tie as neither team period. Stephanie Martin, a third-year goalie, start for the Blugolds. Despite the game ending in a tie, the Blugolds had a large lead of 36-18 in shots on goal in this matchup. In the second game, on Feb. 5 the Blugolds travelled to UW-Stevens Point and earned Erik Strand, UW- Eau Claire’s head coach, said his team showed improvements from the
SUBMITTED / The Spectator
second goal of the week to put the Blugolds ahead 2-0, and the Blugolds closed out their
Strand said this was a particularly strong showing from his team considering how difPoint.
the season. Peterson redirected the puck into the goal
Kylah Krause, a second-year goalie, saved 20-20 shots on goal in her third career start for UW-Eau Claire. Strand said both goalies made some great saves in this game to keep the matchup close. Scherling agreed with her coach that her team showed improvement in Friday’s game from Wednesday’s opener. “It was nice to be able to have that time to
from the point. Just a few minutes later, Ierino scored her
Scherling said.
Stevens Point. “The group as a whole was so much more accurate with how they played on Friday’s After both teams were held scoreless fourth-year forward, got the Blugolds on the
a full 60-minutes of good Blugold hockey in Scherling said despite the NCAA’s ruling to cancel Division III winter national championships for the 2020-21 academic year, her team is still embracing the chance to compete for a conference championship. “Playing your whole life, training to go play college hockey, you are really grateful for
Blugolds win both games against UW-La Crosse
The Blugolds return to action on Feb. 17 and 19 when they will play two games against Northland College. games of the regular season last week to UW-River Falls, falling 13-0 in both matchups. Strand said despite Northland College’s golds will need to take them seriously in their preparation. for granted because that’s usually how the Janssen can be reached at janssesd6907@ uwec.edu.
Sports competition in the WIAC returns UWEC matchups to resume Feb. 3 Sam Janssen SPORTS EDITOR
SUBMITTED / The Spectator 5’10” point guard Jessie Ruden competes for the Blugolds as a second-year player
After endless days of practice and anticipation, the UW-Eau Claire women’s basketball team was able to suit up and season. Both games were played against UW-La Crosse on Feb. 3 and 5 and the Blugolds were able to start the season 2-0. Home vs. UW-La Crosse came out strong, dropping 23 points in al 18 points by the end of the second. Coming out after the half with a 17 point lead, the Blugolds expanded their ever, they slowed down in the fourth only
ed their opponent 76-58. The leading scorer for the Blugolds was Katie Essen, a fourth-year center, with 18 points. She was followed closely by Maizie Deihl, a fourth-year point points. Away vs. UW-La Crosse Going into the second match the Blugolds continued to score as they took their second game against UW-La
Crosse with a 64-48 win, putting them 2-0 for the overall season. Leading in scoring for the Blugolds was Jessie Ruden, a second-year point guard, who scored 22 points. Ruden commented on her ability to play and score the way she did during the game. “A lot of the help comes from the
Ruden came in as a freshman last year playing for the Blugolds and came back sophomore year to compete. Coach Englund spoke about Ruden post-game and the kind of player she is. “When I recruited Jessie this is what glund said “This was the plan, was that she was able to play as a freshman and as a sophomore be one of the best players The UW-Eau Claire Women’s basketball team is scheduled to return to the court with a home game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 against UW-Stout. News regarding NCAA canceling the winter championships On Wednesday Feb. 3, the NCAA made the decision to cancel the Division III winter championships based on the
number of schools not participating in sports this year. NCAA Chair of the Presidents Council, Faynesse Miller put out the following statement: sion to cancel our Division III winter “While some institutions have been able to safely return to sport, the recent declaration form data show that more than half of our division has not returned to winter sport practice and competition to be in a position for NCAA national Dan Schumacher, UW-Eau Claire’s athletic director, commented on the decision. Schumacher said. “We just don’t have enough teams and it’s a technicality based on percentages. You have to reach a certain percent participation rate for universities participating in the tournament and we just couldn’t get there. This is the second year in a row these student-athletes have had their championWIAC teams will continue playing their scheduled regular season games, but no further games will be played this year outside of conference play. Huettner can be contacted at huettnrl8982@uwec.edu.
Sports competition is returning at UW-Eau Claire after being shut down for almost a year. In December, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) voted unanimously to begin winter sports competition the first week of February. The first day of competition for UW-Eau Claire will be Feb. 3. The teams will be competing on shortened schedules and will only be facing conference opponents. State and local health and safety guidelines will be met at all WIAC contests and spectators will not be allowed for the duration of the winter sports season. UW-Eau Claire’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will each play an eight-game regular season schedule, leading up to the WIAC conference tournament that will begin on March 1. Tonja Englund, UW-Eau Claire’s head women’s basketball coach, said she was proud of how her team has handled the uncertainty leading up to the season finally starting. “It’s hard to stay motivated and to see the goal when you go 50 straight practices without being able to play UW-Eau Claire’s home games will be played at the McPhee Strength and Performance Center this year to accommodate for COVID-19 testing that is being conducted at Zorn Arena. “It is going to be a lot different to not be in Zorn and The women’s team opens their schedule against UW-La Crosse at McPhee on Feb. 3, and the men’s team opens at UW-La Crosse that evening. Men’s ice hockey will complete a 10-game regular season schedule, and the women’s hockey team will play eight games. The hockey programs will have two matchups a week with games on Wednesdays and Fridays, each being home-and-home matchups against the same team. Matt Loen, UW-Eau Claire’s head men’s hockey coach, said this schedule will offer his team the opportunity to look at film and prepare for their matchup with the day in between, whereas in a standard year they would play every Friday and Saturday. “It will be nice to have video and see what we can Loen also said his team realizes that their set schedule is all pending their COVID-19 testing results, and
Janssen can be reached at janssesd6907@uwec.edu.
CURRENTS CURRENTS EDITOR: Evelyn Nelson
Thursday, Feb. 11
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MCKENNA DIRKS / The Spectator
CHIEF COPY EDITOR February is recognized as Black History Month and the UW-Eau Claire Office of Multicultural Affairs has planned a calendar full of events for the UW-Eau Claire campus and Eau Claire community to celebrate together. Michael Thomas, a student services coordinator at OMA, said the purpose of Black History Month events is to provide an opportunity for people to recognize the contributions Black people have made to American society. “Black History Month is important in making sure that there is a narrative that speaks truth in spaces that are for the upliftment of Black people, their identities and experiences,” Thomas said. Thomas said it is specifically important for the UW-Eau Claire community because it is a predominantly white institution with multiple marginalized identities — including Black people. It is important to intentionally include a variety of Black experiences in celebrations to further advance the institution’s equity, diversity and inclusion efforts, Thomas said. “We need to make sure that we continue to acknowledge and engage with the history of Black people in a way that adds value to what we do as an institution,” Thomas said. OMA has planned a range of events for people to attend and participate in for Black History Month with these purposes in mind. Here are three to look into: The Trap N Paint event is an opportunity for people to paint a Black History Monththemed art piece. Participants can either paint their own picture or follow a video tutorial of a Black History Month painting. Participants will also enjoy music by Black artists as they create their art. Thomas said it was important for OMA to host this event because it included the arts and recognized Black peoples’ contributions to the arts. “This is a super fun activity for people to participate in and you can really make it your own,” Thomas said. The Trap N Paint event is currently scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 22. It is currently a virtual event. You can RSVP for the event here. The Black Multicultural Hair and Skin Drive is happening the entire month of February. Thomas said the event came about when two student organizations — the Black Stu-
dent Alliance and the African Student Association — teamed up to support area youth of color. A drive like this is especially needed in the Eau Claire area as it is a predominantly white community where many black youths are the adopted children of white families who don’t always know how to care for Black hair or what products to use, Thomas said. “This is a really tangible way to give back to underrepresented communities,” Thomas said. Jasmine Rosario, president of BSA, said BSA and ASA wanted to find a way to give back and help Eau Claire area youth of color. “It is especially difficult for Black individuals to access hair and skin products that are affordable when they are less fortunate,” Rosario said. The BSA and ASA planned the BHM drive with this in mind. The goal of the event is to get community members to donate products for Black hair and skin so that the products can be given to Black youth and their families in and around Eau Claire who need them, Rosario said. Donations for the BHM Drive can be dropped off in the box in the OMA office at UWEau Claire located in Centennial Hall 1106, next to Einstein’s Bros. Bagels. In addition to all of the events people can participate in, OMA is also hosting a number of guest speakers throughout the month starting this week. The first speaker will serve as the keynote for the fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration among other speakers. According to the event page, Damario Solomon-Simmons will speak to the importance of civil rights and social justice and how it aligns with the legacy of MLK. Solomon-Simmons is a civil rights lawyer based out of Tulsa, OK. He has represented clients at all levels of court. The Fourth Annual UW-Eau Claire Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration can be viewed live at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 at uwec.ly/live. Another guest speaker will be hosted at 12:00 p.m. on Feb. 11 virtually. Cecilia Brown J.D. will speak on police brutality in communities of color as part of OMA’s Blugold Dialogue Series. Read more at spectatornews.com.
UAC hosts annual Winter Carnival tion” Isaacson said.
STAFF WRITER Winter is in the air as the University Activities Commission welcomes students back to the second week of school with its annual Winter Carnival celebration. Starting from Feb. 7 through the 13, students can enjoy a large array of classic Winter Carnival favorites and newly created events. Joann Martin, UAC advisor, has put on the Winter Carnival in the past, but with social distancing and restrictions put in place, some changes needed to be made, she said. “We were forced to start fresh because we were unable to do any of our usual events (chili feed, dog sledding or Rocky Horror),” Martin said. “But for how cold it’ll be next week, I think the virtual events will be perfect.” Working alongside Martin is Co-Chairman Retta Isaacson, a fourthyear geology student, who is also adapting to the change. “We have had a winter carnival every year since around the 1940s. It has been a tradition almost as long as homecoming,” Isaacson said. “Despite those traditions taking a break planned.” Although the events were altered, Martin and Isaacson said there is still much to look forward to and an increased opportunity for student engagement when it comes to the Winter Carnival. think outside the box from our normal events but hopefully, that means we can better engage the student popula-
was the winter art contest, where students were able to get crafty and tag the UAC’s Instagram page for a chance to win a prize. The winner will be selected through student voting starting on Monday and the art piece with the most votes will receive a craft kit. The results of this contest will be announced on Wednesday. Next up on Monday, the UAC put up multiple locations around campus where students could visit and collect a Winter Carnival sticker. On Tuesday at 7 p.m. students can livestream a performance by comedian Michigan and has done comedy acts in multiple comedy festivals throughout his career. This event requires no registration and can be accessed through Zoom with the passcode: 472573. Moving on to Wednesday is the “Pay It Forward and ‘Snow’ Some Kindness” event. All throughout the day, UAC said they are working to spread lots of kindness and positive vibes to students who encounter notes that will be placed around campus. Students are encouraged to leave a positive note of their own to continue providing other people with kindness. Next up in the week, the UAC is partnering with Campus Recreation to give students the opportunity to go snowshoeing from 5 to 7 p.m. Students should dress according to the weather and be ready for a nighttime walk full of safe, distanced social interactions. If interested in participating, students should meet at the Ropes Course main entrance located on upper cam-
Eau Claire eats
pus. As the end of the week approaches there are two more Winter Carnival events students can participate in. On Friday, UAC will be livestreaming a Singer-Songwriter Slam at 6 p.m. at uwec.ly/live and no event registration is required. All content comes from UW-Eau Claire’s students and the winning performer will receive a paid cabin performance in the Fall of 2021. Huettner can be contacted at Huettnrl8982@uwec.edu.
OWYN PETERS / The Spectator
STAFF WRITER Are you eager to satisfy your sweet-tooth cravings, while supporting local businesses? Look no further to these Eau Claire spots with great pastries to try. SHIFT Cyclery and Coffee Bar (615 Graham Ave, Eau Claire): community praise for its lo-
SUBMITTED Although events were altered, Martin and Isaacson said there is still much to look forward to and an increased opportunity for student engagement when it comes to the Winter Carnival.
of your biking resource needs and unique atmosphere. Not to mention, its delicious house-made pastry items. Shift has a baked goods
town in eastern Belgium. They are made from dough that is a lot like bread dough, thick and sticky. Inside of the dough are balls of pearl sugar that caramelize during the baking procrunchy coating. sugary glaze that covers every and out. fect bite-size snack, the perfect amount of sugar without making it too sweet,” Dominic Draghicchio, a fourth-year information systems student, said.
cookies, scones, brownies and Read more at spectatornews.com.
CURRENTS PAGE EDITOR: Evelyn Nelson
7
Thursday, Feb. 11
Blu’s Org Bash continues virtually
We pick three
Blugold Connect mobile app will host event
Upcoming events to attend in Eau Claire
SUBMITTED The Blugold Connect platform will allow students to engage and sign up for organizations from any location — 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Allison Hinrichs STAFF WRITER Last semester, COVID-19 precautions forced UW-Eau Claire event coordinators to get creative by holding the Blu’s Organizations Bash virtually through UW-Eau Claire’s Activities, Involvement and Leadership YouTube channel. This semester, Sarah Thommesen, senior coordinator of engagement, said she has contributed to the Blu’s Organization Bash and Showcase since 2006. For this year’s event, she wanted to change things up. “The pandemic has created an opportunity for us to experiment with various online approaches,” Thommesen said. “This spring, we are utilizing the Blugold Connect platform not only to showcase all 210 student organizations, but to ensure students become more familiar with the platform and know where to go when researching student organizations that they are interested in joining.” Blugold Connect is the official UWEau Claire Events app that allows students to stay connected and updated on events happening around campus. UW-Eau Claire has been using this app to inform students about events on campus for the past four years, but this is the first time it has been used to show-
case Blu’s Org Showcase. “We want to be as intentional as we can to ensure students are staying safe,” Thommesen said. “At the same time, they are made more aware of the Blugold Connect platform and how it can enhance their co-curricular experience,” UW - Eau Claire’s Activities, Involvement and Leadership community said the app offers many opportunities for students to participate. The Blugold Connct App allows students to take part in the showcase safely and remotely Will allow students to be informed of all student organizations, not just the ones that set up stands during the previous showcases when it was still in person Students can directly request to join any organization via the app Students can also contact student organization leadership easily from the app with any questions they might have Unlike previous BOB showcases, the Blugold Connect platform will allow students to partake in the event from any location — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, instead of the showcase only being available at certain times. Read more at spectatornews.com.
SUBMITTED “We pick three” is a rotating column where Spectator writers pick their top three upcoming events in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley.
Emma Steiler STAFF WRITER Eau Claire’s indoor winter farmers market The Eau Claire farmers market is a popular destination for community members in the summer months. During the winter season, the market continues indoors in the main floor ballroom of the Lismore Hotel each second Saturday of each month. Take advantage of this monthly opportunity this Saturday, Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to show your support for our local farmers and markers from the greater Chippewa Valley and purchase farm products directly from the people who produce them. They have a wide variety of items including high-quality local vegetables, meat, eggs, bakery, honey, hummus, baba ghannouj, chips, maple syrup, popcorn and beverages. Good morning bedlam On Saturday evening, if you’re missing live music, invite a few friends over to watch Good Morning Bedlam perform live online at uwec.ly from 6-8 p.m. “You will be treated to a haunting waltz, whistling, jazz scatting and the euphoria of the violin melodies,” the band said on their website. Read more at spectatornews.com.
Student run Instagram page aids in local anti-racism work, action Rosa Gómez STAFF WRITER Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to congress, said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.” Chisholm is one of the many featured Black activists on the popular instagram page woke. pdf. The midwest-based education page is run collaboratively by Sophia Flood Elyfai, Miranda Copeland and Lexie Kane. Flood Elyafi and Copeland are alumni of the UWEau Claire class of 2020 and Kane is a current fourth-year graphic communications and Spanish student. The account was created in June of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department. Flood Elyafi said they spent most of the month of June preparing their content to begin posting in July. Run collaboratively, the account provides information on current events and important Black figures and contributions; it also provides resources to aid individuals in their allyship journey to people of color. They focus their content toward people in Eau Claire or the surrounding communities to harbor greater support for racial justice. “I felt like there was a gap in knowledge in this area because people were constantly reposting infographics, just
small things that got the information across,” Flood Elyafi said. “I thought it would be more impactful if somebody from this area was also doing it.” The account provides a link with various local organizations that work toward racial justice. They said one of their goals was to highlight some of the ways that people are able to become involved in their community. “A lot of things happened around us in a short period of time, which I think radicalized a lot of people,” Kane said. “It’s just harder to get people engaged when they don’t see it, which is also part of the goal of us talking about it, is to get people to realize what’s actually going on.” Copeland said she felt it was her role as a white person, who stands in a position of privilege, to take the initiative to educate herself on these topics. “It is my responsibility to know these things and not just go to a member of that minority group to figure it out,” Copeland said. Kane echoed this belief and referenced their conservative upbringing and community. “I have to unlearn those things that I’ve been taught,” Kane said. “Nobody is going to do it for me. I have to put in the work to unlearn racist behaviors and ideas and be a better ally to those communities.” Flood Elfayi has been posting daily during the month
of February to commemorate Black History Month. She features profiles of Black individuals who have made monumental contributions to American society and culture. Learning about lesser known Black Americans is critical in gaining a greater understanding of the importance of Black History Month, Flood Elfayi said. She explained that Black History Month is often capitalized on, resulting in the same information being circulated by corporations and individuals alike. “They choose the most digestible historical figures,” Flood Elfayi said. “People that have already been whitewashed enough that the mass will just consume more information about them.” They said that providing context to the Civil Rights Movement — emphasizing how recent it was — highlights a parallel with the modern-day Black Lives Matter movement. “This is human rights, it’s not a political statement,” Copeland said. Kane said this is simply about working toward equality in the United States. “Working towards equality is just something everybody should do,” Kane said. This month is a time to express gratitude for everything that Black people have given this country, they said. It is important to be celebrating Black excellence and to make a conscious effort to refocus societal standards so they are not centered on white people, Kane said. A major facet of the account, in addition to fostering an educational space, is providing people with the resources to continue to do personal anti-racism work. All three of them emphasized how social justice needs to exist outside of activism-based social media bubbles. “You can read a bunch of Instagram posts, but that doesn’t mean you’ve actually changed anything about yourself or your mindset,” Flood Elfayi said. Flood Elfayi said that it is important to include their sources for each post in order for people to feel compelled to continue their research and pursue education on these topics outside of social media. People need to put in a greater effort outside of interacting with, or running an educational account, for that work to really be impactful. Social media should be a “stepping stone” to furthering your self-education, they said. Flood Elfayi, Copeland and Kane said it is their hope that this account plants a seed in those who interact with it, to encourage them to work toward racial justice through self education and community involvement. Gómez can be reached at gomezrd4749@uwec.edu.
OPINION/EDITORIAL
OP/ED EDITOR: Grace Olson
Thursday, Feb. 11
8
Mental health in isolation Grace Olson
• •
OP/ED EDITOR
suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat • have one
stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or
• • someone in your faith community
feel so anxious and embarrassed about these flaws that they may avoid social situations.
suffer from other mental disorders as well. These compulsive disorder or depression.
Some symptoms may include believing that you believing others make fun of you because of your
from depression may feel a sense of hopelessness and worthlessness. These feelings could lead to a furthering their thinking patterns contribute to their symptoms and how to change those thoughts.
to others. These thoughts and actions can be extremely difficult to control and are mostly unwanted. They can
To abide by social distancing guidelines and other
negative thought patterns.
There is help out there and it is more than possible to make progress and pull through.
are done online. are not comfortable with doing therapy through a video chat or online option.
Olson can be reached at Olsongm1225@uwec.edu.
a close loved one for support. continue to suffer without help. out for help through the following:
SUBMITTED Bezos is not only the head of Amazon, but also owns several ventures like the Washington Post and others under Bezos Expeditions.
Bezos steps away, Amazon continues exploitation The immorality of a multinational company and its now former CEO
SUBMITTED Try FaceTime movie dates to keep online dating interesting.
Valentine’s Day during COVID-19 How Valentine’s Day and dating could look different during a pandemic
Lauren Spierings
Chloe Smith
NEWS EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
One of the biggest headlines from the past week how we do almost everything
and into the position of executive chair.
meeting new people is to start out with a Zoom date. or any other type of video communication platform are a simple and safe way to get to know someone you meet
the past 27 years.
recent discovery that it has stolen tips from delivery that make this current decision suspicious. drivers that it would pass the tips on to the drivers. grown nearly 69% in the past year alone.
a serious romantic relationship. As someone who is very single and still trying to date been looking for some fun ways to stay safe while also trying to meet new people.
with less media scrutiny.
hear them fully without the constraints of social distancing or wearing masks. Zoom dates can be fun if you plan them out ahead of time. movies together and chat about them as we watch.This might
grown to be essential. the spotlight to take his place.
actions.
its transgressions. A way to go about this would be to actually enforce antitrust laws. This would allow other businesses to get a foothold without being crushed by
workers rights.
online dating through a few Zoom dates is to cook the same recipe at the same time in our separate homes. do is pick out a recipe you can another option for myself since meeting people in person has
competition. There are pages that intend to bias workers against worker unions.
and workers who try to establish them. The United States established during the industrial revolution that worker unions are a necessity for the common person to be treated with dignity and respect for their rights.
A warehouse worker reportedly died of a heart attack in the warehouse and remained on the ground for 20 minutes before anyone came to help him. with these heavy violations of their rights and having earlier that same worker had misplaced an item and was corrected for the mistake within a few minutes of making it. This is just one example of several incidents
in getting to know from these tips from these experiences that could help others in their
sure you are both on the same page about safety concerns with
and time and cook your meals together over Zoom. A third option for virtual dating is to play online games over your Zoom call. Game platforms such as multiple options for fun online games you can play together over FaceTime. This can be both a fun or both of you are competitive. Read more at spectatornews.com.
Spierings can be reached at spierilp1654@uwec.edu.
you are comfortable with doing. awkward very fast.
OPINION/EDITORIAL
9
OP/ED EDITOR: Grace Olson
Looking through the next chapters of ‘Six of Crows’ Chloe Smith COPY EDITOR interesting. Kaz Brekker, our main character, had been kidnapped and was convinced to take a job to rescue a man named Bo Yul-Bayer from an impenetrable, fortressed city for $30 million. We were also introduced to another one of our main characters, Inej. Inej, we have since learned, is a refugee from a foreign country in the midst of a war. We also learned that she spent a lot of time as a slave within a brothel. Luckily Kaz found her and convinced his gang leader to purchase her freedom. In return, Inej was to provide her skills of stealth and combat to Kaz’s gang. As another fun development, we have been introduced to the rest of Kaz’s criminal crew who will be helping him rescue Bo Yul-Bayer. First, we have Jesper the sharpshooter. He is a long-time friend of Kaz, and his skills with a gun made him the perfect choice to assist Kaz and the rest of his team with breaking into the Ice Court — the impenetrable city holding Bo Yul-Bayer hostage. Next, we are introduced to Nina. Nina works in a brothel, much like Inej, however, she does not work in terms of pleasure. Nina is a heartrender, which is a form of magic the Grisha in this universe can possess. Nina’s power as a heartrender gives her the ability to temporarily relieve emotional pain and to stop another person’s heart. Kaz also made the decision to break a man named Matthias out of a tortuous jail for his knowledge of the Ice Court. broken man. So broken, that he tries to kill Nina. Nina and Matthias seem to have a really complex history together. Despite Nina’s love toward Matthias, Matthias hates her because of her power and his history of murdering Grisha.
However, I get the feeling that Nina and Matthias have a lot more history to be explored later on in the book. I am actually very excited to learn more about their history together because despite what we know so far, I am becoming very attached to Matthias’ character. Finally, the last member of the crew we meet is Wylan. Wylan is the son of the man who kidnapped Kaz, and Kaz is using him as collateral to make sure he receives his $30 million. Wylan is also meant to be decent with explosives which could help them break into the Ice Court. As far as I can tell, though, I think he will be more of a hindrance to the crew than anything because he seems to be scared of everything the crew is about to do. After we were introduced to all six of the crew members, Kaz informs them of his plan for them to sneak out of their city on his ship. But as they are meeting on the docks to board the boat, the ship explodes and they are ambushed by members from some of the other gangs in the city. up was not their real ship, but a decoy he set up just in case something like this happened.
After everything I’ve learned so far this week reading “Six of Crows,” I am actually beginning to form a more negative opinion of Kaz. While I can tell he is a complex, morally grey character, I think he is unnecessarily vague with his crewmates, and he does not provide them with the information they deserve until the last second. Hopefully, by the end of this book, Kaz will have developed into a more likable character for their journey toward the Ice Court. Smith can be reached at smithcj6626@uwec.edu.
Editorial from page 1 In addition, the Center for Racial and Restorative Justice — created in the fall of 2020 — works alongside BIRT forms to evaluate situations related to equity, diversity and inclusion. Several BIRT reports have already been made in light of this incident by the campus community, according to Teresa O’Halloran, interim vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and student affairs. Students have also transformed the same social media outlets used for the racist act to promote their efforts toward justice for the Black community and people of color on campus. Like Ducksworth-Lawton said in an interview with The Spectator, the editorial board believes if we do not change now — to address the transparency of systematic oppression toward the BIPOC community — we are not going to have a campus to come back to. We should and do expect the UWEau Claire administration to address the issues of racism at an institu-
tional level. If we do not hold those — like Schmidt — in higher power accountable, the message on how the university views minority groups is already writing itself. The Spectator Editorial Staff recognizes that we are an all-white editorial board and that we do not have the experiences of a person of color. We acknowledge that we too have steps to make toward fostering a more equitable, diverse and inclusive environment. The editorial staff can be reached at c-j02@uwec.edu.
Characters from books and movies are relatable A love for writing through inspiration of book and movie characters
Vicky Thao STAFF WRITER characters and the way writers portray their lives, whether you relate to them or not. There’s one movie and book in particular whose characters inspired me to write. Harper, one of the main characters in the a sports editor in hopes to one day become a great writer just like them. The problem is, she seems too busy with running errands for her boss. breakdowns from all the articles and papers she could’ve written during her leisure. During high school, I wasn’t very proud of the grades I achieved during my writing courses and my reading scores. Just like Harper, I feel as though I was too focused on trying to please other people through the work I did. I realized it may have been an excuse to not write. I always knew I loved writing, but I had so many reasons not to write anything. I thought I wasn’t the greatest writer in the world, and I told myself that several times. Luckily, Harper had a friend who said, “You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and just write something bad.” She was totally right. Even as a writer, I will always make mistakes. I am bound to have them, and learn from them. To get better with my vocabulary as a writer, I eventually found myself reading books and stumbled upon a book called,“The Guernsey Literary and the Potato Peel Pie Society” by Annie Barrows and
SUBMITTED I always knew I loved writing, but I had so many reasons not to write anything.
Juliet Ashton, who is quite the opposite of Harper, is a well known author and journalist in the book. Ashton one day receives a letter from a man named Dawsey Adams. He greets himself as a fan of her writings, and tells her about his life of the potato peel pie society, which was formed near the islands of Guernsey. Ashton seemed intrigued by who this Adams person was, and the dying question of, “what is a potato peel pie?” The secret behind this society isn’t the about them, but is refused. The thing with rejection for me is, I probably would’ve given up and gone home. But Ashton, continues to push this story. I thought she was very irritating, but I came to realize that Ashton never gave up. Read more at spectatornews.com.
The ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season everone has been waiting for Sami Geiger STAFF WRITER The season every “Grey’s Anatomy” fanatic has been waiting for: the question on whether COVID-19 will be incorporated into the episode. Season 17 episode one starts out the same way each episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” does: with a voice over from Meredith, head of general surgery. In episode one, Meredith is on a beach talking about disaster ethics. The scene then cuts to April 2020, during the middle of the pandemic, where everyone is applauding medical workers. Back at the hospital, Dr. Webber is back and ready to work. As a refresher, Webber had cobalt poisoning at the end of season 16, which left him weak and sick. Dr. Bailey, chief of surgery, isn’t sure if Webber, general surgery attending, should be back to work so soon, especially in the middle of a pandemic. But, Webber assures Bailey that he is back and better than ever. Bailey, being Bailey, makes sure that Webber wasn’t experiencing any more symptoms of cobalt poisoning. After clearing him hand: COVID-19. Bailey also reveals to Webber that Dr. Deluca, general surgery attending, isn’t a resident anymore. While it isn’t mentioned right away, Deluca is a general surgeon attending. Lines are forming outside of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital to get temperatures done before going inside. Dr. Pierce, co-head of cardiothoracic surgery, is amongst one of the individuals waiting in line. While she is waiting, she calls her boyfriend, Winston, whom she met at a medical conference. Dr. Avery, ENT and head of plastic surgery, overhears the conversation between Pierce and Winston, and to seem funny, he teases her about it. Pierce is portrayed in the show to be a lot like Dr. Yang, former cardiothoracic fellow and board member — someone who is in love with surgery before being in love with an individual. Avery teases her because he doesn’t have much of a love life himself, after his girlfriend at the time, Vic, showed up at his apartment with nothing but a trench coat on. Vic whips her coat open after Avery answers the door with his daughter in his arms. Panicking, she covers herself, while also breaking up in the process — what a night for her. We then return to Bailey, who is talking with Webber through all the changes that were made following the pandemic, now that they only accept COVID-19 patients and no one else. They make their way to the east wing -
pearance in the episode. She is seemingly stressed out and distraught after losing her fourth patient of the day. For those who avidly watched “Grey’s Anatomy,” Erin is back. For those who don’t know, Erin was a patient in season 16 who came into the clinic with her “aunt” complaining of abdominal pain. Deluca has sus“aunt” Opal. Bailey asks Deluca to go with Erin. Deluwere right. Deluca’s sister – Carina – isn’t happy that Bailey allowed him to be on the case after seeing what happened the last time. Deluca takes Erin to get tests done where she tells him everything that happened to her over the past two years of her life. Dr. Hunt, head of trauma surgery, and Avery tend to a trauma brought in, a burn victim who broke isolation to go to a party. Dr. Wilson, general surgery attending, joins them on the case. After Dr. Karev, former interim chief of surgery and head of pediatric surgery, left Wilson in season 16, Wilson wants to try and forget about him. This causes her to ask Avery to have a one-night stand. Back to reality, the parents of the burn victims arrive and are stressed when they cannot be allowed in the hospital. While looking at the new safety protocols, Webber ing for her son. Webber obliges to let one of the burn victims’ mothers see her son, despite Avery’s protests. Later on, Meredith arranges to have a patient’s family come say goodbye to their parents. Being burnt out, Meredith cries and trashes the supply room. Deluca shows up in time to help calm her down. She vents to him about all the lives she has lost. nurses’ masks at mass. Bailey is thankful for the idea, but still worries about him being at the hospital. He reassures her that he wants to be there, and the hospital couldn’t ask for a better chief of surgery. In the COVID-19 friendly waiting room, Bailey goes around while Dr. Schmitt, general surgery intern, speaks to Dr. Nico, orthopedic surgery fellow, about how he is doing throughout all that is going on. Nico doesn’t say much and walks away. The episode ends with the fathers of the waiting room. In the midst of this, Bailey injures her leg after getting caught up between Geiger can be reached at geigersa6816@ uwec.edu.
PUZZLES PAGE EDITOR: Lea Kopke
10
Thursday, Feb. 11
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Students who complained endlessly about safety of UWEC last semester return for another semester Caleb Doyle FREELANCE WRITER (Disclaimer: This article is satire and is not meant to be taken seriously. It does not reflect the views of The Spectator or UWEau Claire.) Many students voiced their concerns last semester to the university administration about the safety of students on campus amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with new classroom capacity guidelines, mask rules and required antigen testing, many students still felt unsafe. Administrative Assistant Brad Dole was happy to report that plenty of students returned for the spring semester, even amidst their concerns for safety. “Some students called for all classes to be online, others demanded refunds after already agreeing to pay for their tuition and housing months before,” Dole said. “We are happy that they have all changed their minds.”
Dole explained that UW-Eau Claire students were well aware of what the fall semester could possibly bring, but many students still demanded refunds and complained about the unfairness of the situation. “Most of these discussions and complaints can be seen on the toxic cesspool that is ‘UWEC Memes for Trend-Setting Teens,’ the student-run Facebook meme page,” Dole said. “Only time will tell us what they will complain about next.” Many students did indeed return to campus this spring, even following lessthan tasteful experiences with campus faculty and staff. One of these students is third-year music student Connor Spiers. Spiers was one of the “heroes” who tweeted directly at the Chancellor about how unsafe he felt, and even tweeted at news stations in an attempt to get bad press on the Chancellor. “Yeah, I’m back, it was all a bluff,” Spiers said. “I was really hoping they would let every class go online, but what am I going to do, miss a semester? Do I
look that stupid?” Spiers explained that everyone who complained had no real solutions that would benefit everyone in the student body, so they just appealed to themselves. “I don’t really care if you would learn better in an in-person environment or need to have a professor be there with you in some stupid lab — this pandemic is scary,” Spiers said. “COVID is too dangerous for us to be on campus now, and we need refunds.” Spiers assured The Tator that he was indeed returning for this spring semester. Another student who was demanding a refund last semester was second-year psychology student Chad Belle. Belle said he sent passive aggressive emails to housing more than halfway through the semester and well past the date of refunds being available because he felt unsafe.
“Cases were on the rise, and yes, I knew this was a possibility going into the semester, but I took that chance,” Belle said. Belle said he was able to go home once his classes went online in November of last year, and proceeded to demand his refund even then. “Yeah I lost my gamble, but I was no longer going to be at school, so I should get my refund,” Belle said. “It’s not like the university needs to make money or anything. Their goal should be to appease any and all students, even during a pandemic.” Belle assured The Tator that he was indeed returning for this spring semester. Students have until Feb. 12 to withdraw and receive a full refund on tuition. Doyle can be reached at doylecb9058@ uwec.edu.
Crossword Answer Key: 1) ORGANIZATION, 2) WOMENSHOCKEY, 3) GREYSANATOMY, 4) REGENTS, 5) MOONLIGHT, 6) UNIVERSITY DRIVE, 7) TOWERSLOT, 8) HIBBARD, 9) VALENTINESDAY, 10)ZIEBELL, 11) WOKEPDF