Volume 92/Issue 17
THE
March 4th, 2019
ANCHOR
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Dr. Cornel West delivers a message of love in Black History Month lecture Tim Caplan News Editor
Anticipation filled the air as every seat in Roberts Hall Auditorium filled on Thursday night in anticipation of renowned intellectual, author, and civil rights activist Dr. Cornel West. Dr. West is a Harvard Professor who has been active in public life since 1979 writing books, giving lectures,making TV appearances, and participating in social and political activism. West was invited to speak for the culmination of the Black History Month celebration by the RIC campus club Harambee. The Anchor caught up Dr. West was a very vowith Dr. West before his speech to discuss poli- cal supporter of the 2016 tics, his philosophy and Bernie Sanders Presidensome of his influences. tial Campaign, and has
Photo by Thomas Crudale
once again thrown his support behind the democratic socialist from Vermont for 2020, “But this
time he’s going to win”. “I think people are hungry for the real thing, many fellow citizens they
thought they were going to get it with Trump, but now
Late Monday afternoon, strong gusty winds toppled a massive tree on
the Rhode Island College campus in the Fogarty Life Science building parking lot on three cars, one of which was occupied by a student at the time of the incident. The student was treated for minor injuries at Health Services and was released. All three cars were majorly damaged by the tree, which was then sawed up and removed. There were no further reported injuries from this on-campus incident.
The winds also blew over several other trees, as well as power lines, which knocked out power to thousands of National Grid customers in the surrounding area. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts into the 50s and low 60s. These winds not only took down large objects but also turned up sand and pebbles making protective eyewear a necessity when walking from class to class. There was nothing that could have predicted or prevented this tree from crashing down on campus. RIC did not release the identity of the student in their statement.
RIC students impacted by strong squalls Abigail Nilsson Anchor Staff
What do trees, cars, and RIC students have in com-
mon? All were affected by the powerful wind gusts last Monday and Tuesday.
Photo by Abigail Nilsson
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Continued on page 4, “Dr. Cornel West”
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The Anchor is student-run and published weekly during the academic year. Editorial decisions for The Anchor are made by a majority vote of its student editorial board. No form of censorship will be imposed by the college. Any material found to be unsuitable or unacceptable in the board’s opinion will not be published. The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body. The Anchor is not funded by and is independent from Rhode Island College. The first copy is free. Each additional copy is $2.25. Newspaper racks on the Rhode Island College campus are the property of The Anchor Newspaper. Only The Anchor Newspaper publication will be permitted on these racks. Any other publication or advertisement that is placed on the racks will be given one (1) warning for violating this policy. After two (2) violations, the business/publication will be billed at the rate of a full page advertisement. Copyright © 2016 The Anchor. All rights reserved.
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News
Bishop Joe Walker III and Dr. Stephanie Walker discuss what makes a relationship work
Erica Clark Assistant News Editor
Harambee, a multicultural student group focused on promoting cultural and social awareness of African and Caribbean students held an event discussion Monday night in Gaige Auditorium with co-authors of “Becoming A Couple of Destiny: Living, Loving and Creating A Life That Matters” Bishop Joseph Walker III and his Wife, Dr. Stephanie Walker. Joseph Walker is highly renowned for being the charismatic pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church located in Nashville, Tennessee. His wife, Steph, is a former Assistant Professor of Neonatology at Vanderbilt University. The overall theme of Monday night’s discussion was the question, “What makes a relationship work?” When most people are asked that question they think loyalty, consistency, honesty. Though, in the simple words of the couple, “Because if you know, you know.” Bishop Joe and Dr. Steph
bring the audience into detail on why they think we can’t be selfish with who is brought into our lives. “We are never brought together by our own pursuits,” said Dr. Steph, who believes she met Bishop Joe to come together to inspire people about religion and their book. The Walkers started their discussion on perspectives of women in relationships and the expectations they have, comparing it to being a little girl playing with Barbies. “When you play, you idolize the idea of a white picket fence, a dress… Then there’s Ken.” Women going into relationships, overall, mature at a faster rate than men, especially in their early 20s. This is a time in many female’s lives they realize how different men are wired. Bishop Joe continued with the roles we play in each other’s lives. “You have to make a system that works for us,” said The Walkers, distinguishing the idea of learning to adapt to make their marriage work. Having roles will help
with the effectiveness and the Walkers believe if you create a perspective of a person, an image has to be created. The Walkers also discussed the reality many college students deal with on a daily basis— seeing and creating images online that are not based in reality. “When you meet a person who is not serious about perception, they begin at integrity” Dr. Steph made the audience con-
scious of how much work it truly takes to understand someone’s reality, that isn’t always easy to relate to. One thing that many college students find it difficult to bear with the lack of commitment in 21st-century relationships. The Walkers gave the audience the analogy of putting your relationship in a box. “People have different definitions of com-
mitment. Once you get in, there’s no way out. There’s no escape. You have to understand it might get heated and ugly, but it’s our box, and we own it” said Dr. Steph. “Every wedding I’ve done, the same vows are spoken. What we don’t factor in is what those words really mean. It’s easy to detach or find a way out” Bishop Joe explained over the analogy of getting urges to leave the box.
central nuclear research facility, that the U.S. lift all of its sanctions against the “Hermit Kingdom.” North Korean officials dispute this, claiming that they only wanted a fraction of the sanctions lifted. Many U.S. officials from both parties have praised President Trump’s decision to walk away from the discussion, with the belief that turning a deal down is better than agreeing to a negative one. The President is, however, not free
from critics. Former Vice President Joe Biden has criticized the President’s self-proclaimed talent for deal-making as false. “He treats everything like it’s a real estate deal,” said Biden. He went on to say that the President needs to focus on empowering those in his cabinet for future negotiations, rather than taking a single personal approach. The President has also been receiving criticism in regards to his handling of the death of Otto Warmbier, an American student
who died soon after being released from North Korea, after a long sentence of hard labor in a prison camp in 2017. President Trump insisted that he did not believe Kim Jong-Un or any other high ranking officials knew of Warmbier’s treatment. He went on to say that because it would not be of directly beneficial to him, Kim Jong-Un would not condone such treatment. That family of Otto Warmbier have spoken out against the President saying, “Kim and his evil regime are re-
sponsible for the death of our son, Otto… No excuses or lavish praise can change that.” These negotiations were pivotal for the Trump administration, as diplomacy with North Korea has been historically tense and difficult. While the President has been enjoying the the approval for his handling of the negotiations themselves, it seems he is still struggling to shake the public opinion that he admires and rubs shoulders with absolute, autocratic leaders.
Photo by Thomas Crudale
Second Summit with North Korea ends with “No Deal”
Sean Richer Anchor Staff
Last week, President Trump and Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un met in Hanoi, Vietnam to continue negotiations regarding the denuclearization of the North Korea. While hopes were high after the first summit, the talks quickly broke down. According to the president, Kim JongUn requested that in exchange for dismantling his
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“Dr. Cornel West” Continued from cover
it’s backfired in a number of different ways, but you have to have someone who can generate real passion and enthusiasm for something bigger than them, and Bernie has an integrity that’s hard to find among politicians, most politicians say one thing and change their mind in two years, Bernie has stayed consistent,” says West, “People
can see the authenticity”. West publicly campaigned for former President Barack Obama in 2008 as well, however over the years has expressed his strong discontent for several Obama Administration policies and practices, such as drone strikes in the Middle East and a what he sees as a suspicious relationship with Wall Street. When asked
Photo by Thomas Crudale
News if he was worried a Sanders presidency would produce a similar disappointing result, West was unbothered. “Bernie is a different kind of person, he’s got a stronger backbone, he’s got a stronger determination to fight against very entrenched interests of Wall Street,....(Obama) already had alot of Wall Street folks in his campaign,” says West, “It was clear his whole economic team were in the back pocket of Wall Street” West’s philosophy centers around the ancient Greek concept of “learning how to die”, or letting your ideas change all the time based on new evidence, this, based on the socratic and what he calls the “prophetic legacy of Jerusalem” form his philosophy on life. West talks about the difficulty “learning how to die” in the politically polarized social media age of America has become. “People are fearful of being vulnerable, everybodies defensive, and when you have that kind of fear on the one hand, and the sense that you can’t really trust the other person, so you have fear and distrust together, then
paideia doesn’t have a lot of space to operate”. He began his speech the way he always does, thanking various members of the community including Harambee President Mariama Coker-Kallon, and saying that his greatest honor after 65 years was still being the son of his parents, and that “I am here because someone loved me”. West’s lecture focused on love while observing Black History Month. He
Photo by Thomas Crudale
referred to the works of James Baldwin and Aretha Franklin and most notably “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane, which West feels was the embodiment of facing cruelty and injustice with love. His speech focused on his influences in music and literature, referring to a wide range of works and quotes from Plato to Frederick Douglass. This was the last in a series of events held this past week held by Harambee for Black History Month.
Photo by Enrique Castaneda-Pineda
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News
SCG and President Sanchez address declining enrollment and R.I. Promise Sean Richer Anchor Staff
Last Thursday, the Student Community Government, along with President Frank Sanchez and Dr. Jason Meriwether, discussed the lack of enrollment at Rhode Island College (RIC) and the future of the R.I. Promise. President Sanchez began his statement to Parliament by clarifying the details of the R.I Promise. As it currently stands, the framework for the R.I. Promise requires students to have accumulated 60 credit hours by the end of their sophomore year, as well as maintain a 2.5 G.P.A average in order to receive support for the last two years of your undergraduate degree. Furthermore,
the R.I. Promise only covers class tuition and mandatory fees. It does not cover other expenses such as housing and meal plans, and would only apply to Rhode Island Residents. President Sanchez addressed the SCG saying, “We’d like Student Parliament to back this resolution, and help fight misinformation regarding the R.I. Promise.” The President of the SCG, Josh Percy expressed his concerns with the current state of the prospective bill, specifically in regards to the potential workload undergraduate students would have to take, many of whom hold a job outside of college. President Sanchez responded by saying, “Perhaps with the knowledge
that the state will cover their last two years, they can relax their hours in order to focus on school.” Particular attention was made towards summer classes at RIC, which would most likely have to be taken in order to meet the 60 credit prerequisite. The RIC administration plans on expanding the programs available during the summer, including 6 credit hour courses. As it stands now, the proposal is still not finalized, and requires approval from the state. The second motion of the night focused on RIC’s chronic lack of enrollment. Applications have been in decline for the last decade, and the administration is continu-
ing to look for solutions. Dr. Jason Meriwether of the Student Success Department shared his plan to remedy this issue. Instrumental to this plan is the expansion of the Northeast Neighbors Initiative, a program designed to cater to potential applicants in neighboring New England states. “We have been focusing on revamping our advertising efforts, specifically in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.” explained Dr. Meriwether. This includes an increased number of “RIC Days” in order to advertise the offerings on campus. The first of these RIC Days is set to happen in Hartford C.T. on April 16th. President Sanchez chimed in
saying, “You’re going to start seeing advertisements for Rhode Island College more frequently. We are currently looking into a new newsletter system, to encourage people to apply and register for classes.” So far their efforts have not been fruitless, as the number of applicants from New Hampshire has doubled since last year to 60 applicants, as well as an increase in Connecticut from 62 to 105 to-date. While the progress on both fronts seems promising, it is clear that there is still much progress to be made. Many question remain unanswered, particularly in regard to funding and student programs.
the beginning of an episode of ‘Friends’ and we kinda just talked,” said Charron. The elevator became very warm while the students had to wait. Two students were minorly injured in the process of firefighters and police getting them out. “Well, the ceiling came
down and cut my finger open,” said Daly. The elevator ceiling grate also hit Connors on the head. A hatch in the elevator had allegedly been welded shut due to a campus visit from former President Barack Obama in 2014. This delayed the process of authorities getting the students out.
“I’m never going in that elevator again I can tell you that,” said Daly. Despite being made late for class and minor injuries, the students talked for a few minutes about their experience, made a demand for better elevators, and then went their separate ways.
Greek life students have bonding time in stuck Student Union elevator
Marisa Lenardson Online Media Manager
Six students were trapped in the elevator in the Student Union last Wednesday. Cameron Charron ‘22, Isabel Connors ‘21, John Daly ‘22, Shannon Joyce ‘20, Zack Pierce ‘21, and Randy Sai ‘20, who all knew each other through
Greek life, were confined in the elevator, which had become stuck between two floors. They called Campus Police. After an hour, the students were freed and provided water and granola bars. “Overall it was a good, nice bonding moment for all six of us. We watched
Photo by Marisa Lendarson
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News
This archived article is from the February 26, 1979 issue of The Anchor. Catherine Enos Opinions Editor People like to think of college as a time where students take on more mature roles and start their transition into adulthood. Apparently, this didn’t seem to be happening in 1979, when food fights in Donovan Dining Center started to become commonplace. Authors Bill Hardman, David Medberry and David Gorham didn’t seem to enjoy the frequent flinging of food in the dining center and told The Anchor as much in a letter to the editor 40 years ago. In the letter, they express their contempt for their fellow students (or “animals,” as they refer to them) and ask for the administration to create a more high schoollike environment, asking for repercussions such as suspension. On one hand, times seem to have changed-- luckily, no one in the dining center is throwing food at others. A curious, somewhat unrelated ending to the letter shows us that maybe things haven’t changed so much: “RIC does not want to become another URI.” It seems as if URI had already obtained its status as a “party school” as far back as 1979. Though it’s a minor part of the article, it shares with us a part of Rhode Island’s history.
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Health&Sciences
A noisy effect on brain health Britt Donahue Photo Editor In 2017 Alzheimer’s disease was the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. An estimated 5.7 million Americans are currently living with the disease. Currently, there is no cure. This issue is personal for me, as it is for many people in our country. My best friend’s mother, an amazing woman who was loving and supportive to me all through my teenage years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about four years ago. Watching her memory continue to fail her and her quality of life decline has been heartbreaking. Scientists are unsure of the exact causes of Alzheimer’s, apart from aging and possibly genetics as risk factors, but a recent study out of China may point to another possible answer: chronic noise exposure. The team of scientists studied the effect of gut
bacteria on cognition, and whether or not noise could have long-term effects on the gut microbiome and the brain by using genetically modified mice that are prone to accelerated aging. They had an interest specifically in the gut’s effect on the brain. In order to test their theories, the scientists trained the mice
for a variety of spatial and memory tasks before exposing different control groups to varying volumes of noise. They found that the mice who were older and exposed to higher volumes performed their tasks
more slowly, and had reduced levels of two chemical messengers which are produced by friendly gut bacteria and are essential for maintaining the brain’s cognitive function. The changes in the guts microbial makeup also led to a
deterioration in the gut lining itself. More research is required before these findings can be confirmed and applied to humans, but researches are hopeful that this will lead to a deeper understanding of this disease and the ways risk factors can be mitigated.
Graphic courtesy of UPMC Health Beat
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Arts&Entertainment
An interview with Rhode Island-based duo, Soul Babe Esther Watrous Anchor Staff
Local music artists, Mary Gipson and Helena Widmann, have been performing as Soul Babe, an R&B, Hip-hop, Funk, and Neo Soul group, for almost two years. Besides performing together, Widmann is a 2018 RIC graduate and a voice instructor, and Gipson is a cosmetologist and radio personality at 101.1 WBRU. The Anchor: You’re both very talented musicians, how did you meet? Helena Widmann: We were both a part of a showcase called, “The Wave,” curated by BO8 Studios, and we were the only two women who were a part of the show. We exchanged information and that’s how we met. Mary Gipson: Yeah, we networked a little bit. I was really impressed. When you go to showcases, especially the hip hop and R&B community, everybody is singing over a track, but she had a guitar player, and she just brought a whole different vibe. The Anchor: What is the meaning and purpose behind Soul Babe? Mary Gipson: When you’re an artist, you put your soul out there to view and see and criticize. That’s one thing that I wanted to incorporate in the name of Soul Babe. The fact that she does her own thing, and I do my own thing, I thought, let’s use this as a platform together and let’s do some live stuff. The Anchor: Are you working on any originals together? Mary Gipson: Not yet. We both live crazy lives right now. I think this year we’re really focused on getting at least a couple originals, even if it’s just basement tapes where we’re just vibing. The Anchor: How do you choose cover songs to sing together? Helena Widmann: There needs to be attention put towards popularity, so, what people like. My type of vibe is much more like an acoustic setting. People want to hear upbeat dance music. They want to drink and have fun. We have to focus on incorporating music that is soulful because that’s part of the band name, but it needs to be something that people are going to recognize.
Photo courtesy of Soul Babe
The Anchor: Who has the most stage confidence? Helena Widmann: Mary all day. I’m just more introverted and I don’t always like people watching me like a fish bowl, but I like performing. I like to sing, but I’m not as good at entertaining. Mary Gipson: I’m awkward too but I just make fun of myself half the time. I think I’m funny, and I was always one of those kids who was like, look at me, look what I can do. So it just comes naturally with me. The Anchor: Helena, How did you get into teaching voice lessons? Helena: When I was in high school, I had developed this habit of pushing when I sing and it really made my voice hoarse all the time, and limited my ability to perform and use proper dynamics. It took away a love that I had because it was painful to sing. Over time, I had to learn from different teachers to sing in a healthy way. I like to help people achieve their best sound through what I’ve learned. The Anchor: Mary, you released the single, “Therapy” recently. Do you have any more singles coming soon or any bigger projects? Mary Gipson: I have another single coming out very soon. I want to release a video at the same time because its a fun track and I feel like with the video and some dancers it would gain a lot more attention than just releasing the song. The Anchor: How do you find inspiration for both your group projects and your independent projects? Mary Gipson: We all have separate lives. We all do what we need to do, especially with the band, it’s hard keeping everyone together and on the same page. You just have to keep that inspiration alive. I would say other bands that we go and watch inspire us to keep what we have going. Helena Widmann: I write poetry a lot. That’s something that I enjoy doing because there’s no pressure. But I know that if I can take something that I wrote and turn it into a song, then I’ve already done half my work.
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Arts&Entertainment
There’s no place like Nowhere Jonathan Weaver Assistant A&E Editor
Something many college students look forward to during the week is, naturally, the weekend. There’s few ways better to start off the weekend than with Thirsty Thursday. This past Thursday, I left the Anchor office with a few friends, setting out to find a bar to start my weekend in. Luckily, one of the best options to a RIC student is also one of the closest spots to campus. Camp Nowhere located on Smith Street, no more than a 4 minute drive from campus, is a wildly popular spot for a college crowd, and rightly so. Do you know any other bars that close to RIC’s Campus? Between $3 drinks, $3 food, and a couple $20 fish bowls, it doesn’t cost much to have a good
night. I’ve been to many places around Providence where for three times the total I only received a fraction of the alcohol. Camp Nowhere may be inexpensive, but they don’t skimp on your drinks. The servers are awesome, and if you treat them right they’ll take care of you. This is a group of people who know you’re out to have a good night and want to make sure that happens. Beyond the prices and awesome service, the spot and vibe are great too. Everytime you walk in, the place is always packed full of people having a good time, good music playing, and games on the TVs. In addition to never being
Photo courtesy of onlyinyourstate.com
dull, Nowhere is always hosting some type of special or event. A highlight of these would be trivia on Monday nights. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never enjoyed trivia before in my life. That being said, this trivia has a twist, so bring friends at 9pm on a Monday, get a few drinks, and
see how much you ACTUALLY know. Camp Nowhere has something for everyone: an awesome craft beer list, $3 glasses of wine, shots for $3 (top shelf is $5), bloody marys for people who like to drink ketchup (Alec, our A&E editor), cheap but delicious food,
and their iconic fish bowls
elimination of quick-timed events for an attack, the player now has a list of action commands that pop up after using certain abilities like magic or the typical attacks. The dynamic team attacks, magic attacks, and attractions that can be used throughout a fight can be extremely fun and keeps the player engaged, using each move strategically rather than sporadically. The game falls flat in some of the world design, with some of the best design coming from the open platforms, like in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Monsters Inc.” worlds. However, the world of “Frozen” was one of the biggest disappoint-
ments. Already not being a major fan of “Frozen,” the world felt shoe-horned in for Disney to build more hype around it. After the announcement of the second movie, I knew for certain that it was just a welltimed advertising move. The world was bland and with so many better Disney properties to choose from, it truly slowed down the games momentum. Even the world of “Big Hero 6” was not as impressive as I expected, with verticality preferred over discoverable expansion. The main story did feel dragged out, as the most important things to happen throughout the game were in the beginning and then
in the last few hours. However, when the last few hours of the game came along, the build-up from the previous titles showed as all the stories from each game tied together with the final fight. The finale left most longtime fans satisfied; however, it isn’t a Kingdom Hearts game without making the plot more confusing. As the last few frames of the ending still haunt me, and the secret ending left me confused and wanting more, the series has a blank slate to do anything they want. Hopefully, though, it won’t take them another decade or longer to make the next one.
complete with a rubber duck floating inside. So be sure to check them out, they always have something going on, the spot is great, and remember; you’ll always have a great time, so make sure you tip your servers well.
“Kingdom Hearts 3” fulfills every fans wishes
Enrique Castaneda-Pineda Senior Layout Editor After over a decade-long wait, one of the most anticipated conclusions in videogame history, finally arrived. Closing the door on the “Dark Seeker Saga,” “Kingdom Hearts 3” reinvigorated the series with the new title, while still having room for improvement. The series is a combination of original and Final Fantasy characters, joining forces with Disney characters. After being stuck in the Playstation 2 era of gaming, the Kingdom Hearts series made its way onto next-gen consoles, with this title being the first
available to Xbox owners. However, as the series faces an incredible challenge with having so many games on different consoles, the finale may leave many confused on what is going on. Luckily, the new title has options to look back at synopses of previous games so new players can be somewhat in the loop. The series is known for its semi-open Keyblade combat, where you basically mash the attack button until the enemy is dead. As the series progressed, the mashing and occasional magic attacks got more complex, and this new edition proves its evolution further. Despite the
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Arts&Entertainment
Sophie Kahn: Machines for Suffering
Abigail Nilsson Anchor Staff
This past week, Rhode Island College once again hosted another incredible art installation. Sophie Kahn’s “Machines for Suffering” are 3D print models and designs based on the choreography of hysteria. These models are eerily stunning. Kahn uses a laser scanner to help create her work and captures dancers and performers reenacting poses from pictures that were used to diagnose women in the 19th Century of illness that truly could not capture the underlying psychological cause of their distress. Kahn essentially takes a model, digitizes their emotion, and renders it a 3D print to bring it back into the world in an altered form. Kahn’s prints demonstrate the physical and emotional brokenness that torture women. The models on display exhibit hysteria in different pos-
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Photos by Thomas Crudale
es. Her printouts possess both archaic and futuristic characteristics to them. They are industrialized in the sense that they look like pieces of robots that have been weathered and
broken down, then put back together with what was left of them. Kahn stated that they are painted in “creepy grey” and resemble “death masks” to capture the emotional resonance of suffering. Her work industrializes hysteria and takes a grave look into the negative space that holds the emotion together. Her work
raises questions such as, what does the border look like between nothing and something? What is holding this person and emotion together? What broke this person and emotion apart? These models have Victorian and Greek traits with a modern twist. The suffering and madness is clear in Kahn’s work and
depicts that humans are “Machines for Suffering.” Sophie Kahn: Machines for Suffering is facilitated by Professor Frank WANG Yefeng and is on display in the Bannister Gallery in Roberts Hall from Feb. 28 - March 22. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday from 12 - 8 p.m., or by appointment.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Arts&Entertainment
Nicholas Cage and an acid trip through hell
Alec Ematrudo A&E Editor It’s no secret that Nicholas Cage, a former Oscar-winner for Best Actor, has been deep within the hole of straight-to-DVD movies for the better part of the last decade. The once celebrated actor, has become a meme, the face of countless B-grade and even C-grade films, and has almost entirely descended into what many
Graphics courtesy of infamoushorrors.com/film
might call a series of mental breakdowns. If he had just stolen one more historical declaration, or just decided to not play Ghost Rider, things may have been different for Cage these last several years. That being said, Panos Cosmato’s “Mandy” which debuted last year to audience and critical acclaim, may have just launched Cage’s career into a culthit renaissance. Hold my
beer and let me explain. “Mandy” premiered this past year and swept film festivals by storm. Critics hailed it as a masterpiece and possibly one of Cage’s best performances in years, if not ever. This film, which you almost certainly have never heard of, pits Cage’s character; Red Miller, against a fanatical hippy cult, and several interdimensional demons who ride quad bike
and motorcycles. Sounds insane right? It most certainly is. Once you add in a moody synth-wave soundtrack and an incredible use of color and psychedelic/gothic imagery, you’re in for a wild ride. There’s also a tiger and a chainsaw battle... but we don’t need to get into that right now. “Mandy” is most certainly not for everyone. I don’t want to mislead you into thinking this is a fun action flick. It’s a slow-burn color orgy for around seventy percent of the film. However, against all odds, this movie is satisfying and legitimately really good from both a filmmaking and narrative perspective. On top of all that, Cage does in fact give his performance his all. There’s a scene where the camera doesn’t cut away and allows Cage to have one of his signature freakouts all in frame and it’s incredibly well acted and equally as engaging to watch.
In other news, Cage is currently filming and starring in a film adaption of H.P. Lovecraft’s “Color out of Space.” All signs are indicating that this film will, like “Mandy,” be another beautifully chaotic cult hit amongst film buffs and dedicated H.P. Lovecraft fans alike. I will provide more info on that movie as it comes out but expect it to be released either later this year or first quarter of 2020. Nicolas Cage might be making a comeback and I’m all here for it. Regardless, I highly recommend that you all should watch “Mandy.” The director has a sequel idea in mind, where it would have Cage fighting Nazi punks in a bombed out city and I for one really hope that comes to fruition. Mandy is available for purchase on Amazon Prime and iTunes, as well as available for streaming on Shudder.
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Arts&Entertainment
“Apex Legends” and the gaming industry stuck in repetitive mediocrity
Enrique Castaneda-Pineda Senior Layout Editor The gaming industry often floods its audience with mediocre games and false promises throughout the year. Countless first person shooters (FPS) are released, with the occasional game rising above the rest, and providing players with a new experience. EA is no stranger to publishing shooters, with games such as “Star Wars: Battlefront,” “Battlefield,” “Titanfall” and the newly released “Apex Legends.” “Apex Legends” is sweeping the industry, collecting over 25 million players in the first week of its release. As people wonder whether it will kill “Fortnite,” the battle-royale juggernaut that had everyone hooked since late 2017, there are few who see the bigger picture. The game “Apex Leg-
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ends” is actually a mediocre cash-grab by EA, that was forced onto Respawn; the company behind the “Titanfall” franchise. EA had directed the company to make a battle-royale game instead of working on the next installment for “Titanfall,” which led to the company using lower end assets to put together their take on the battle-royale subgenre. The company managed to sneakily include lore of the “Titanfall” world in this new game, which works to their benefit to keep the series relevant. However, “Titanfall” was known to add mobility to the FPS genre, bringing a fresh take on a consistently rehashed genre. That mobility is still there in “Apex Legends,” but is severely downgraded for
the new game. At the end of the day, the game, like several others, consists of getting a gun and killing the enemy. There is not much thought put into it, thus making it just another mindless shooter. It is not “God of War” and it is definitely not “The Last of Us” in which combat was enhanced. Specifically,“The Last of Us” managed to incorporate stealth, strategy and close combat to make each enemy encounter feel fresh, yet dangerous. As much as the game had been over-hyped, “Fortnite” grew immensely because of its new take on a shooter, by building your own cover against enemies. While other innovative games were released, EA published “Anthem:” a shooter that includes a suit of armor that lets you
fly around the map. This was a colossal failure due to the promises of what it could be, and the delivery of a much worse product. The FPS genre has been filled to the brim with the same game over and over. The same problem is now occurring with attempting to make a battle-royale mode with every game. Meanwhile, the same typical shooter, reskinned and named something different, remains near the top of people’s attention. This only makes people more eager for an engaging story, a new take on an existing combat style, and/ or a fun game to play with their friends that isn’t the same thing over and over again.
| Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Arts&Entertainment Marisa Lenardson Online Media Manager
Thursday Mar. 7 PVDlive Presents International Women's Night
Friday Mar. 8 Shakespeare in the Dark: Whomst Hath Done It?
Saturday Mar. 9
Sunday Mar. 10
Star Wars: A New Hope Live in Concert
Jazz Night Watch "Star Wars: A New Hope" in an entirely new way, Spend the night with Enjoy some vegetarian food as the Rhode Island Hamlet, Lady Macbeth, Featuring poetry, song, and while listening to smooth jazz. Philharmonic Orchestra Puck, Malvolio, and a stand up comedy. a portion of Featuring saxophonist, performs John Williams’ handful of other profits benefit Girls Rock Leland Baker, musical score. Shakespearean characters Rhode Island. for a night of revelry, deceit, The Grange Providence Performing Arts and murder. Askew Prov FREE // 8-10 p.m. Center $10 // 7-12 a.m. $58-$128 // 8 p.m. Shakespeare on the Green $5 // 9-11:30 p.m. Magic Lantern Cinema LEFT ON PEARL Presents: 24 Frames PVD Flea Spring Pop-ups (Abbas Kiarostami) Providence Emo Night Live A film about the surprise ending of an International Shop from local vintage The film is composed of Playing emo, pop/punk, post Women’s Day rally in 1971, vendors, artisans and twenty-four segments, each hardcore classics all night where hundreds of women makers. There will also be of which involves a still image long and featuring a live took over a Harvard live music, food vendors, and that has been “brought to life” performance from Eddie University-owned building food trucks. through digital means. Reyes. and occupied it for ten days. Hope High School Granoff Center for the Fete Music Hall Brooklyn Coffee Tea & FREE // 10-4 p.m. Creative Arts $10 // 9- 1 a.m Guest House Brown University $20 // 7:30-9 p.m. FREE // 7 p.m. Cocktails & Screens: Women's Short Film Night Submissions of short films, trailers, and music videos from female writers, directors or producers in honor of Women's History Month. Black Box Theater FREE // 7-10 p.m.
Friday Evening Jazz Enjoy jazz in the Music Mansion's elegant hall with candlelight chandeliers and remarkable acoustics. The Music Mansion $10 // 7:30-10 p.m.
Providence Bruins vs. Hershey Bears Watch the Bruins take on the Hershey Bears. Dunkin' Donuts Center $14-$35 // 7 p.m.
Spring Feels The Poetry Play Festival
Hardcore Comedy
A festival of plays written by kids apart of The Manton Avenue Project's after school playwrighting course.
Laugh away the week's stress with a lineup of top comics. Hosted by Brian Beaudoin.
The Wilbury Theatre Group FREE // 7-8:30 p.m.
Comedy Connection $15 // 10:30 p.m.
The 5th Annual Providence Tattoo and Music Festival Listen to rock and metal bands while checking out different tattoo and peircing shops. Fete Music Hall $30-$35 // 12 p.m.
Drag Brunch
Get in the spirit of spring and get your picture taken by professional photographers among a wide assortment of colorful flowers, chalkboards & wagons.
Unleash your inner diva for brunch and drag queens. Hosted by Gia Devaroux, Viza D. Klein and Jealousy Jonz.
The Cheeky Hound $20 // 11-2 p.m.
The Black Sheep FREE // 10 a.m.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |
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Opinions
Trash collection won’t save our coastline. Governor Raimondo, will you? Lucille DiNaro Business Manager Rhode Island, known for its 400 miles of coastline, is projected to witness sea level rise up to nine feet by the year 2100. Talk about ‘Ocean State.’ Governor Gina Raimondo’s response? Allocate an additional $1.5 million to the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Underwhelmed? Disappointed? Me too. While I’m always happy to hear that our government is investing in state parks, a more efficient maintenance staff at Misquamicut Beach isn’t going to protect us from the consequences of climate change. As the Governor of Rhode Island, a state extremely vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding and erosion, Raimondo can do better. The $1.5 million that Rai mondo’s parks initiative calls for will be used to support the personnel costs of eight new employees at the DEM; six maintenance staff and
two business development officers. This comes with the hope that more maintenance staff will ensure that basic needs of patrons are met, such as clean facilities and bathrooms. This initiative is accompanied by a proposed 33 percent fee increase at beaches and campgrounds statewide. The assumption here is that well maintained parks will draw more patrons, and the more time people spend outside the better apt the state is to produce environmentally conscious citizens. If you’re looking for impactful legislation, this is not it. With little to no organization or consensus on climate change at the federal level, it is up to the states to be proactive about waste reduction, clean business practices and incentivizing choice. Sustainable business practices don’t just happen overnight. Unless it is a personal choice or it is cost efficient, no business owner is going to completely overhaul their day to day operations over a climate prediction. No
“Warwick residents Snoop, Argos and Rider enjoying their time in one of RI’s state parks.” Photo by Britt Donahue
school system is going to hire additional custodial staff to ensure proper waste management and recycling. And the list goes on. My frustration with Raimondo’s park’s initiative lies in her lack of urgency and foresight. For someone who has stated that she wants to “...make sure that our kids have the same opportunities that we did,” this $1.5 million check to the DEM doesn’t cut it. It’s no secret that coastal resiliency, flood manage-
ment, and waste management are critically important to the future health of our state. Members of the General Assembly have proposed excellent legislation this session that addresses climate change head on. Our legislators are working diligently to ensure schools comply with recycling and composting laws, retailers cut down on plastics, and greenhouse gas emission goals are met; and that barely scratches the surface. When these bills
reach Raimondo’s desk, I hope they earn her signature. Climate change is always a tough budget item to negotiate. With limited resources, prioritizing climate change can be hard to rationalize. However, in a state with a traveller economy, environmental resilience is of the utmost importance. In her next four years as Governor, I implore Governor Raimondo to support our legislators and to support Rhode Island.
#Metoo and #Himtoo can coexist Alexis Rapoza Anchor Staff
asking for it by wearing tions. In fact, based on a against women which is able enlisting the help of provocative clothes. But study done by the Nation- mostly true. About one in law enforcement. Talking the most popular criticism al Sexual Violence Re- three women will be vic- about these crimes is the of the #MeToo movement source Center, only about tims of sexual violence, first step of combating Countless women and is that the victims were two percent of reported but at the same time one rape culture. So while I men who’ve been victims simply lying and that the sexual violence cases are in six men will be victims. empathize with the men of sexual violence have real victims are the men deemed as false. Two Men are more likely to be who are falsely accused used the hashtag #MeToo being falsely accused. percent is not a big num- victims of sexual assault of sexual assault or rape as a way to share their sto#HimToo is a count- ber especially when only or rape than they are of and I don’t think it #Himries, bringing awareness er movement against the about sixty-three percent being falsely accused of too should be done in to the growing rate of sex- false accusations of men of sexual violence victims committing sexual vio- order to silence those ual violence. But just like committing sexual vio- report to the police and lence. Likewise, male vic- who are actual victims. with any movement #Me- lence. While I don’t dis- even less make it to trial. tims are even less likely Both conversations Too has its own set of vo- agree entirely with #Him- #HimToo is a movement to seek medical attention can coexist without cal criticizers. Some peo- Too, I think it’s important being used to victimize or report these crimes. speaking over each othple claim that that those to point out that this move- men instead of focusing We need to normalize er - a lesson everyone can using the hashtag are ment is based on discred- on the actual problem. the reporting of sexual learn, especially in tocapitalizing on the move- iting the victims of sexual When discussing sex- violence and make it so day’s political climate. ment to get attention or violence rather than bring- ual violence we mostly men, women and non-bithat the victim was simply ing justice to false accusa- talk about it being a crime nary people feel comfortThe views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body.
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Opinions
The greatest horror movie ever
Derek Sherlock Anchor Staff
“When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.” This is the tagline from George A. Romero’s 1978 horror classic “Dawn of the Dead.” I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of horror movies from all over the world, old and new, but I believe “Dawn of the Dead” is the best film in the history of horror cinema. It is both iconic and influential - one of the reasons it is superior to other classic films such as the original “The Thing,” “Halloween,” and “Jaws.” Some might argue that Romero’s first film “Night of the Living
Dead” is his best film, but I believe that it set the bar for horror movies after its release in 1968. “Dawn of the Dead” is the genesis of modern horror movies in terms of slow burning terror, its special effects and storyline. Although it is about zombies, it is not just another zombie movie. “Dawn of the Dead” further expanded the lore of the flesh-eating ghouls. Many zombie-esque films take their cues from this film. Some skeptics might believe the film to be dated because it is a product of the 1970s, but the satire the movie possesses still resonates today. In “Dawn of the Dead,” Romero compares the zombies, who aimlessly
Graphic courtesy of GamesRadar
shamble around a mall, to the un-living-dead who walk around malls shopping for the latest thing to hit shelves. Just go to Providence Place Mall on a weekend and observe so many people mindlessly buying products. In comparison to his first zombie film, Rome-
Considering atheism (Part 1)
ro’s characters are more fleshed out (no pun intended), showing his growth as a director. It has spearheaded the splatter-house type of films that made up the 1980’s horror films like “The Thing,” “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Friday the 13th.” I wish many horror
movies today would be like “Dawn of the Dead.” Instead, we are stuck with the same old jump-scaregore-fest type movies like “Saw.” If the greatest horror director, George A. Romero were here, things would be different. I doubt we’ll have another like him.
Victor Martelle Tehnology Director
people wouldn’t trust an were once followed in atheist like myself, pri- many of the popular relimarily based on my mor- gions are now disregarded Atheists are a largely al standing aired by my or excused. From this evundiscussed and misun- atheism. How could they idence, it looks as though derstood population. though, when I ultimate- morals are built through Pew Research suggests ly have no divine laws to many years of both Dar45 percent of Americans adhere to? In the words of winian and philosophical state that belief is neces- Steve Harvey, “…if you evolution. sary to have good values, don’t believe in God, then While atheists are not and astonishingly, a pleth- where is your moral ba- bound to laws set by a ora of studies propose rometer?” A thought-pro- god, truth be told, you can atheists are at trust levels voking question! Where still trust them as much as of rapists. When it comes do my morals come from? anyone else. Hypothetito voting with respect to How can you trust me if I cally, if you decided to be religion, a 2015 Gallup seemingly have none? atheist, would you sudpoll claims Americans If we want a direct an- denly become unhinged? would vote for a Chris- swer, we can look toward Unless you can cut evotian (95 percent), a Mus- science and philosophy. lution, the answer is allim (60 percent), and at From there, one can make most certainly not. And if the bottom of the list, an a case that morals are you’re confident that you atheist (58 percent). Some deeply rooted in evolution would indeed abandon states even forbid atheists and culture, where even your morals under this from holding office. Per- right and wrong are ob- circumstance, then perhaps, consequently, not a served in other “non-reli- haps the atheist barometer single person in Congress gious” intelligent species. shouldn’t be questioned, Graphic courtesy of Saatchi Art identifies as an atheist. Morals have also your individual self-conI believe this discrimina- changed throughout time trol ought to be instead. ists not believe in some- I will be answering this tion arises from perceived with the advancement of Putting morals aside, the thing that so many people question, and perhaps origination of morality. philosophies, ideas and more important, imme- do? Maybe there is some even convince you that What I gather from these laws. So much so, that diate question is “why?” merit to it. atheism is a sensible and statistics is that many even some teachings that Why do I and other atheIn next week’s article, reasonable position. The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The 17 Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body.
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Sports
Africa gets its first ever UFC Champ, Jones defends title
Tim Caplan News Editor
Photo courtesy of Esther Lin/ MMAFighting.com
Kamaru Usman became the first ever African born fighter to win a UFC world championship on Saturday when he won the welterweight title in a dominant 5 round decision against longtime reigning champion Tyron Woodley in the co-main event of the evening. UFC 235 took place at a sold out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 2. “The Nigerian Nightmare” pressured Woodley in every aspect of the fight. He cut off the cage and took Woodley down repeatedly, who looked tired and unlike his usual explosive self throughout the fight. In the post-fight Octagon interview, holding his young daughter in his arms, Usman paid
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respect to Woodley, who had defended his title four times before this, saying, “ When you talk about the best welterweights of all time, that man needs to be in the conversation.” The Nigerian born Usman improved to 15-1 and became just the fourth fighter in UFC history to start his career 10-0. Woodley, who has been undefeated since 2014 with six wins and three finishes falls to 19-4. The main card started off with a match between former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody “No Love” Garbrandt and number nine ranked 135 pound Brazilian Pedro Munhoz. This was Garbrandt’s first fight since being knocked out twice by the current champion TJ Dillashaw. The two began throwing heavy leather after a short feeling-out process and
pandemonium ensued in the Octagon during one of the most exciting bouts of the night. The fighters bit down on their mouthpieces and after exchanging a series of hooks Munhoz caught Garbrandt with a left hand that buckled his knees and sent him to the floor. “Funky” Ben Askren made his much anticipated Octagon debut on Saturday as well in a fight against former 170 pound champ and number six ranked “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler. After being dropped on his head and punched repeatedly, Askren managed to secure a bulldog choke and was declared winner after a controversial stoppage by referee Herb Dean at 3:20 of the first round. Lawler’s arm seemed to go limp but contested that he hadn’t gone out imme-
diately following the stoppage. Askren’s record is now 19-0-1 and will warrant a top five opponent in the division if not a title shot. The main event was a match for the 205 pound UFC Light HeavyWeight Title between champion Jon “Bones” Jones and Anthony “Lionheart” Smith. Jones came out cautious as he tested the range and made reads on Smith throughout the first round, landing a few spinning back kicks and hooks to the body. Down the stretch, Jones’ cage pressure, along with his elliptical and outside leg kicks built a heavy lead in his favor. Smith was unable to deal with the eight inch reach advantage of Jones and although he landed intermittent strikes throughout the
first three rounds, was visibly unable to match Jones’ skill and experience. Aside from an illegal strike in the fourth round that cause a two point deduction, it was a flawless performance for the Jackson-Wink MMA fighter Jones. This was Jones’ first title defense since winning it back after a series of suspensions spanning over three years. It is unclear at this point who Jones will fight next, because he fought and beaten every top contender at 205 pounds since 2010, Brock Lesnar is a name that Jon has mentioned before, but as of right now UFC President Dana White says that Brock is still under contract with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and will be in contact when he is ready to fight.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Sports
Firefly; a retelling of NFL protest Jordan Moment Anchor Contributor
A friend of mine once wrote a poem in a literary journal that started off with the stanza “Black women are not your gods,” and I invite you to keep that in mind for the duration of this article. To talk about injustice and institutions in the United States is more than likely a fruitless task considering that was the reason this great odyssey started when a reporter asked the then quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers why he wasn’t standing for the national anthem—a task in which no one has ever been obligated to do. What happened next was, well, history. In the beginning, God sent three ships across the Atlantic via proxy of a king and queen, to a land that existed centuries before the bible. In Haiti, a prophet took seven minutes to carefully crafting the genesis for the conquest of the “New World.” The fall of Nineveh might
have been rivaled by the fall of Tenochtitlan, Cortez channeling Abraham bound entire nations as a sacrifice, but there was no messenger other than horse’s hooves, black powder, Spanish steel, and smallpox. Notice that in this reimagining of the Americas that there is no Messiah, which is fitting, because I doubt that Colin Kaepernick ever wanted to be one. Nor do I expect that he wanted to be a martyr for black activism or a scapegoat for white America’s fascination of blaming black and brown bodies for every interpreted challenge to their perceived or unperceived power and privilege. The problem is that to even compare the two is a fallacy and validates the belief that there
is equal weight to both of these vantages, that the way people “feel” justifies the continued discourse which undoubtedly makes this article worthless. If the mere act of a black man taking the simplest and inoffensive stand against half a millennium of systematic oppression translates to two years of outcry where even the President mocks him, then article means nothing. If during Black History month 55
years after the singing of the Civil Rights Act, we reflect on a legacy currently being disregarded and dismantled, then this article means nothing. If every essentially every institution built on these two continents was by built at the detriment of black, brown, and indigenous bodies and their dissent towards them is written off as “sensitive” or “uppity,” then this article means nothing.
Photo courtesy of Sporting News
So, we then have the two sides of apathy in the United States, this article which there is not enough ink in the world to describe the ways that this article is one of many written about a subject that remains fundamentally unchanged throughout the centuries, and the Nike bonfire side which has spent centuries looking for things to burn. Kaepernick challenged the system in the most passive way and he was able to present a case strong enough that the NFL decided that the payout was less costly than a trial, and that does signify at the least that he was well prepared or at the most that the world is maybe changing after all—and I’ll let you decide on which. But remember that in a time that exists in your memory or your parents he would have been killed for this, or crossing the street, or selling CDs, or going to a corner store. Or a lie that stretched from Chicago to Mississippi, a small town to a river in the woods never to be forgotten under
Anchorwomen relish underdog label as season draws close Joseph A. Griswold Assistant Sports Editor
Entering the 2019-2020 season, the Rhode Island College softball team is ranked last in the preseason Little East Coaches poll. The team looks to capitalize on their underdog label and learn from last year’s 10-20 record. The team will be led by second year head coach Brian Claypool. From the outside, Claypool understands why the team is placed where it is, “We lost three kids that hit over .300 last year and with only 12 players on the team, do the math.”
Coach Claypool, however, is not on the outside, “Fortunately, for me I get to live the reality with these girls and see how they have grown and developed over that last year.” In his first year, Coach Claypool focused on laying the foundations of a championship team and instilling his philosophy that “sport is a metaphor for life,” and being time-oriented, disciplined and forward will benefit you far beyond the softball diamond. At the end of the season Coach Claypool understood improvements need-
ed to be made, especially in the number of the players on the team. Now in his second season, Coach Claypool was able to fill a full roster, “Competition generates improvement, these girls now understand that they do not own their position themselves,” Claypool said. “If we all push each other this team will get better.” Despite a small roster last season, RIC has nine returning players which they plan to lean heavily on. Two of the important players are senior pitchers Briana Gough and Erica Fleming, who will be crucial in determining
how the season goes for the Anchorwomen. Both Gough and Fleming will handle a majority of the team’s pitching and have, “grown a lot from last year both as far as physical strength, pitching ability and a lot between the ears,” Coach Claypool said. Senior catcher Emma Simmons serves as the energy and spark to the team while senior Cristin Chiaverini, “has made the most growth of any player in 12 months,” Claypool said. The returning core will look to mold the incoming talent and grow this team into a contender in the Little East. This process
begins with the Anchorwomen’s trip to Virginia Beach for spring training to play some top-talent. This trip is aimed to help the Anchorwomen to meld together, form chemistry and learn to handle the big moments. The future of the Anchorwomen looks bright, but only time will tell if all the pieces can come together and dispel the preseason poll. The Anchorwomen open their home schedule in a March 18 double-header against the Coast Guard Bears.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |
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Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |
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