November 16, 2020

November 16, 2020

Volume 102, Issue 7

West Haven, Conn.

THE

CHARGER BULLETIN

The student news source of the University of New Haven.

UNTIL NEXT YEAR

Students reflect on the fall semester Story on pg. 12 Photo courtesy of Hunter Lang, Photography Editor

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November 16, 2020

BU L L E T I N B OA R D

Bulletin Briefs

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Charger Bulletin

Page 3

300 Boston Post Road | West Haven, CT 06516

University offers free winter classes

Page 4 Accessibility issues follow-up

Page 6 New movies to watch this November

Page 10 Election results reactions

ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu | www.ChargerBulletin.com Office: 203.932.7182 Our office is located on the second floor of 46 Ruden Street, Room 202.

Editor-in-Chief Kayla Mutchler Managing Editor Amanda M. Castro Student Life Editor Beth Beaudry Sports Editor Joe Klaus Entertainment Editor Tiara Starks Opinion Editor Kristen Marcus Staff Writers Kelly Adkins, Earl Alexander Givan, Cameron Hailey, Isabelle Hajek, Barry Lewandowski, Mia Steadman, and Tyler Wells Multimedia Editor Jada Clarke Associate Editor for Photography Hunter Lang Associate Editor for Graphic Design Christopher Colquhoun Advertising Manager Hannah Providence Associate Editor for Videography Nick Meaney Community Engagement Editor Victoria Cagley

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To view previous issues, go to issuu.com/chargerbulletin

From resident to commuter

Page 12

Students reflect on the fall semester

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The Charger Bulletin staff strives for excellence and accuracy in writing and reporting. We recognize that mistakes may occur and encourage readers to notify the Bulletin if they feel a correction is necessary. Please email the Editor-in-Chief at chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu.

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Since 1938, The Charger Bulletin has been the official student news source of the University of New Haven.

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All submissions by outside writers to The Charger Bulletin, unless otherwise approved by the Editor-in-Chief, will be treated as letters to the editor.

Letters to the Editor are published under the discretion of the Editor in Chief, and not every submitted letter will be published. The Charger Bulletin also reserves the right to withhold Letters to the Editor that are excessively vulgar or nonsensical, or do not meet our editorial standards.

Letters can be sent via email to ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu and must contain the writer’s name and contact information for verification purposes. The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are of the authors themselves and not The Charger Bulletin.

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November 16, 2020

NEWS

Page 3

University offers free winter intersession courses to students

BY KAYLA MUTCHLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

T

he University of New Haven has recently announced that students can “take charge at no charge” with one, free winter intersession course offered to all undergraduate and graduate students for the 2020-2021 school year. Classes will be fully online; students must be registered for the spring semester and not have an outstanding bill on their account to partake.

Gregory Eichhorn, vice president for enrollment and

success, said this decision came from members of the One Stop office, faculty advisors, academic deans and others in an effort to help students during the COVID-19 pandemic who may have financial difficulties or need a class for other reasons caused related to the pandemic.

Class spaces are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are classes across multiple areas of study, such as criminal justice, economics, English, music, some engineering courses, among others. For a full listing, visit the university’s intersession course schedule website.

Any course listed will be free.

If a student decides to take more than one course, the regular tuition cost will apply. Undergraduate courses come at a rate of $670 per credit while graduate courses are $965. The total cost for a three-credit undergraduate course would be $2010 and a graduate course would be $2895.

“The intent is that it will help students stay on track or get ahead towards meeting their respective graduation requirements,” Eichhorn said. “We also [hope] it keeps students academically engaged during the winter break.”

Grace-Oriana Andre, sophomore business management

major, plans on taking a course called “Leadership during COVID.” She said, “I am very glad that the university is allowing students to take a free course because, as a fast-track student, it is important that I make sure I gain all my credits at a certain time and this is giving me and countless others the opportunity to do that without worrying about paying for the course.”

Andre said that this will positively affect her time at the university. Rather than being focused on how she will pay for the course, she can concentrate on doing well.

Eichhorn said that the university “hope[s] that all remain

healthy and get quality time with their families and friends over the break.”

Registration for winter intersession courses is now available. For more information, visit the university’s website.

Charlie the Charger

Photo courtesy of The Charger Bulletin

November 16, 2020

NEWS

Page 4

Accessibility issues prompt student with wheelchair to leave university

BY BETH BEAUDRY AND TIARA STARKS STAFF EDITORS

C

ontinuation of “Student with Wheelchair Speaks Out About Campus Inacessability and Safety Issues.”

Maria (Ria) Maisonet spent her freshman year at the University of New Haven fighting to make the campus more accessible. Maisonet has Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1E, a neuromuscular disease that affects muscle and nervous system function, requiring her to use a wheelchair. Maisonet had faced issues including teachers being unwilling to move classrooms that were not wheelchair accessible and living on the second floor of Bergami Hall, an on-campus dormitory where it would be difficult for her to exit the building safely in case of a fire drill.

The year of struggle to get proper accommodations ended with Maisonet filing a grievance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The dean’s office opened an investigation against faculty members that she had difficulty working with, including former dean of students Rebecca Johnson and director of the campus Accessibility Resource Center (ARC), Linda Copney-Okeke.

After filing and receiving the results of the grievance, Maisonet said that the results were ineffective and decided to leave the university.

Maisonet said that the publication of the article helped students become more aware of the accessibility issues on campus. It led to The Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) reaching out to see

if she wanted to be the senator for disabled students. Maisonet originally planned to accept the offer, but by the third week of August, she had withdrawn from the university. As of now, the senator for disabled students position has not yet been filled for the fall 2020 semester.

Maisonet said that COVID-19 was a factor in her decision to withdraw, but that she had already been considering transferring because of her negative experience with the university.

“With COVID, watching all those town halls of everything that was gonna change. Things were going to be limited,” said Maisonet. “The very few things that I enjoyed were getting rolled back, scaled back, minimized. I just took a hard look in the mirror and was like ‘is this worth it?’”

“I am transferring from my university because I am disabled, accessibility is horrendous and they are abiding that they are not going to change,” said Maisonet.

Photo courtesy of Ria Maisonet

Maisonet said that she saw other students be proud to be a part of the university community, but could not understand why. She said, “It made me bitter and it even made me a bit resentful in the fact that I could not understand or connect with other people at school.”

“I wasn’t proud to say where I went to school,” Maisonet said.

When researching new schools, she made sure to research previous accessibility issues that the schools had. When talking to admissions at schools such as Vanderbilt University, located in Tennessee, and the New York Film Academy, Maisonet found that the admissions counselors were not afraid to admit what their schools needed to work on.

This was a surprise to Maisonet, as she said that the University of New Haven had falsely promoted accessibility on campus.

Maisonet stated that she felt like a “token disabled student” through noticing that the university used her in promotional material highlighting diversity on campus. She said that photos

were always being taken of her and that an article about her was published on the university website before she came to campus.

Maisonet said that she had one professor reach out to her after the publication of the article, but that ARC and other offices did not.

The Charger Bulletin emailed the senior associate dean of students Ric Baker and Copney-Okeke, who were both involved in Maisonet’s case, and the new dean of students Ophelie Rowe-Allen. Each was emailed individually to ask how student feedback has impacted the plans to improve accessibility on campus and was provided with a link to the article. On Nov. 3, the three staff members sent the Charger Bulletin a combined statement about the issue.

The statement said, “At the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester, the Dean of Students formed an Accessibility Working Group with the ARC to continue to assess all spaces across campus and the support services available to ensure we continue to provide reasonable accommodations for all students.”

“We encourage students who have concerns regarding any University accommodations to contact ARC as soon as possible to resolve any questions they might have,” it said.

Vice president for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer Lorenzo Boyd is working towards improving accessibility on campus. Boyd said that he read the article on Maisonet before stepping into his new position and now works closely with the provost office and ARC. He said that they always think of the students first and that when they create events or try to anticipate issues, they look at it from all angles,

including accessibility.

“We are trying to predict ahead of time what is likely to happen or what is likely to be [an] impediment for students, and we’re trying to remove those before you get to it,” said Boyd. “So if you can move through without barriers, that means we’re doing our job.”

One of the ongoing issues on campus is that many of the old buildings aren’t wheelchair accessible because of how long ago they were built. Boyd said that he does not know of any plans to update any buildings, but that he believes changes are being considered. Boyd also said that one of the first things he asked for when he received his new position was an increase in gender-inclusive bathrooms.

When talking to the assistant vice president of facilities Louis Annino, Annino responded by acknowledging bathrooms need to become more handicap-accessible.

“So I know that they know about it,” Boyd said. “My thought is, if they’re thinking about it on a finite level like a bathroom, they have to be thinking about it at a macro level, like a building.”

“We’re always looking to expand, we’re always looking to increase access for students,” said Boyd.

Maisonet’s withdrawal from the university because of these accessibility issues shows that work still needs to be done.

“They can’t increase the percentage of disabled students for campus to be more diverse because it all depends on who applies, but [the university] can make it a safe space so that people are more apt to apply and they feel more comfortable picturing themselves for the next four years there,” said Maisonet.

November 16, 2020

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

How COVID-19 has affected musicians: Has it all been negative?

BY CAMERON HALIEY STAFF WRITER

W

ith limited sponsorships and record deals, the music industry and rising artists have been hit hard by the pandemic. Concerts were some of the first events to be canceled worldwide when the pandemic began, and, for many artists, this was not an easy transition, with most revenue coming from live events and advertising.

However, some artists found ways around this issue, digital events, such as digital festivals or Twitch live stream concerts, grew in favorability.

Some music scenes have experienced a tremendous rise in digital shows using platforms such as ones created in Minecraft, and even some made entirely for the event, such as a digital world created for Porter Robinson’s Secret Sky festival.

Pop and electronic artist, Duumu, said, “Interestingly, I’ve had more performance work with COVID due to digital events, but they are usually free, so my income has taken somewhat of a hit.”

Duumu and his music have shifted since the pandemic hit.

He has made electronic music for years since his time in high school. However, he said his streaming numbers on his electronic music have gone down.

He has said he is transitioning his style to be more pop-influenced.

Other artists have chosen a similar change of pace in their music, as the pandemic affects more than just revenue or viewing numbers on their music, but

their mental health.

Nebita, a New England artist, said, “I have made a lot more music than I have in previous years, which is ironic considering the overwhelming feeling of guilt that I have felt during the pandemic for beating myself up for not being nearly as productive as I feel that I can be.”

Because of show cancellations, the pandemic has also impacted concert venues. Smaller venues do not have the space to adapt to open-air venues that can do drive-in style concerts.

With many festivals such as Coachella and more being canceled, venues and event holders will need to find strategies to survive the current crisis.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, digital concerts have been an adaptation that allows fans to see their favorite artists, first without a ticket purchase and the ease of simply logging on to the streaming platform.

Secret Sky was notable as a successful example of the use of

digitizing a normally in-person style event. With over 4 million active viewers, it was more than the capacity of any standard festival while being completely free to attend.

Nebita said, “Online shows have been booming since the start of the pandemic. Myself and my friends run an online show agency called “Open Pit,” where we host multi-day music festivals within the video game, ‘Minecraft.’ The demand for these shows skyrocketed at the beginning of the pandemic, and we were able to host many shows with insane amounts of success.”

Duumu said, about whether COVID-19 has affected his career positively or negatively, “For my career, I would say neither. It opened my eyes to more possibilities and opportunities, but as I said, my income’s taken a hit, so overall neutral.”

Duumu

Photo courtesy of Duumu’s Instagram

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Writer’s Choice

BY SYDNEY BEDNARZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Follow the Charger Bulletin on Spotify!

I

absolutely love music, and I cannot go one day without listening to a song. These are my current favorite songs that give me the motivation to get through the day.

Waves by Dean Lewis Dean Lewis is an Australian song writer and this song was a single in 2016. He said that the song is about how life’s excitement dwindles as we get older.

Everyone Changes by Kodaline Kodaline has many songs about life, this, specifically, about a break up. It says how the relationship “wasn’t right” and that “everyone changes.”

Good Things Fall Apart by Illenium and Jon Bellion Jon Bellion is known for his single “All Time Low.” This is another song about a relationship. It talks about reminding yourself that some good things fall apart.

Hot Girl Bummer by Blackbear “Hot Girl Bummer” is definitely a song that you can blast in your car with the windows down with your friends. This is also a parody of another song, “Hot Girl Summer,” by Megan Thee Stallion.

Bang! By AJR “Bang!” by AJR was released in February of 2020. It is about transitioning from childhood to adulthood while going out with a “bang.” This is a good song for college students to listen to because we are still transitioning to adulthood.

Good as Hell by Lizzo This song is very uplifting, especially for people who are going through a rough time, like in the lyrics “Come on now, come cry your eyes, you know you’re a star, you can touch the sky.”

Black or White by Michael Jackson The king of pop was a very open-minded person and he was accepting of everyone regardless of their race. I feel like this song is important to listen to especially because of what has been going on in society.

I Don’t Think I’m Okay- Bazzi This song focuses on finally admitting that you may not be okay -and it is okay to admit that you’re not okay.

Positions by Ariana Grande This song is about Ariana Grande’s past relationships and her not wanting to repeat history with another one. This song is upbeat and a song that you can dance to. I feel like some women can relate to the meaning of “positions.”

So What! By Jxdn Jxdn is a Tik Tok star who also dabbles in music. This is his third single. The song relates to his life and relationships. I simply just like this song because you can jam to it while doing homework.

November 16, 2020

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

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TikTok strikes agreement with Sony, continues its reign as a top-downloaded app

BY SELENA SOTO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

ikTok, the viral video-sharing app, is popular among Generation Z teens, with more than 2.3 billion all time downloads and 100 million users throughout the U.S., says the Business Insider.

Despite its popularity, the fact that TikTok was owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance resulted in the Trump administration threatening to ban the app if it could not be sold to an American company.

The uncertainty of how much access the Chinese government had to user data on the app was one of the biggest motivations behind the ban, as they believed

the app was a threat to national security.

The Trump administration continued its efforts to move forward, but the creation of a new U.S.-based company called TikTok Global stopped the app from being banned. TikTok Global includes American companies in the ownership of the app, says CNBC. The board for TikTok Global includes five seats, in which Americans hold four of the seats, and ByteDance’s CEO holds the fifth. The Oracle and Walmart are two of the companies that now own a portion of TikTok Global.

TikTok continues its reign, with the sharing of current news that the app struck a new licensing agreement with Sony Music, says Techcrunch. In fact, earlier this year, TikTok had struck short–term licensing deals with

Sony, Warner and Universal.

The new licensing agreement with Sony Music will allow TikTok to continue offering the use of songs by Sony Music artists to creators on the app.

This agreement also includes both companies partnering to promote Sony artists and TikTok spokespeople said the partnership will drive “new and forward–looking opportunities for fan engagement with SME’s artists and music,” according to Techcrunch. The sound clips will include a variety of music from current hits to even classics by none other than the “King of Pop” himself, Michael Jackson.

Although TikTok had to increase its payments to music labels like Sony to secure such partnerships, the app is not without its own power. Accord-

ing to Techcrunch, TikTok has helped drive more hits by Sony artists than any other app, such as one, Doja Cat’s “Say So.” Since many artists had to cancel in-person concerts because of the pandemic, TikTok has helped artists reach fans and promote new music. With more songs being introduced to the video-sharing app, it will con-

tinue to climb in popularity as more users click the download button. For all the TikTok users out there get ready for more viral dances outside of the Carol Baskin. Now you can open up the app and get your “Thriller” on.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

New movies to watch this November

BY TIARA STARKS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

W

ith COVID-19 delaying the production and release of many movies, it might be hard to figure out what’s available to watch next. As the year comes to an end, here is a list of upcoming movies you can add to your watchlist this November.

Uncle Frank In 1973, Beth, played by “IT” actress Sophia Lillis, leaves her hometown to move to New York and study at New York University, where her estranged uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) is a wellknown literature professor. She soon discovers that her uncle is gay and has been living with his longtime partner, Walid. After

the sudden death of Beth’s father, Mac (Stephen Root), Frank and Beth return home for the funeral where he has to come to terms with being “out” and confront his fears of rejection from his family.

Uncle Frank will be released on Amazon Prime on Nov. 25.

Run This movie stars Sarah Paulson, most famous for her roles in the “American Horror Story” television franchise, and newcomer Kiera Allen who play mother and daughter, respectively. Paulson’s character is the overbearing mother of her homeschooled child, Chloe, who begins to uncover a secret that her mother has been trying to conceal from her, leading to a more troubling secret that threatens the pair’s relationship.

Not only does Allen’s charac-

ter use a wheelchair, but Allen herself does. This movie is one of few releases this year to include an actress with disabilities. The movie’s director, Aneesh Chaganty, said, “I was told recently that this is the first thriller to star an actual wheelchair user since the 1940s…

That statistic is insane, and pretty much answers the question of ‘Why was it so important to cast with authenticity?’ for itself.”

“Run” will be released on Nov. 20 on Hulu.

Hillbilly Elegy This Ron Howard-directed film is based on the 2016 novel, “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,” written by author and venture capitalist J. D. Vance. Actor Gabriel Basso stars as J.D. Vance, the former Marine and current Yale Law student who

is just about to get his dream job when he’s forced to return home to southern Ohio to tend to a family crisis. The film also features the talent of Academy Award-nominated actress Glenn Close and Academy Award winner Amy Adams.

Hillbilly Elegy will be released on Nov. 24 on Netflix.

Superintelligence Comedic actress Melissa McCarthy stars in this high-energy action movie as Carol Peters, an average woman who’s been selected for observation by a powerful superintelligence played by late-night talk show host James Corden. His observations end up taking over her whole life as she’s tasked with proving that humanity is worth saving as the superintelligence plans to take over and destroy everything.

This movie is set to be released on Nov. 26 on HBO Max. Watch the trailer here.

Black Beauty This film is based on the 1877 novel of the same name written

by Anna Sewall and stars Mackenzie Foy and Kate Winslet, who voices the horse. Though there is not much information available regarding the film, this will be the eighth adaption of the novel, having been produced for the screen in previous years such as the 1994 version starring Alan Cumming. It’s being considered a “reimagining” of the novel. It’s been noted that the plot of the film is not linked to the plot of the novel aside from the horse, Black Beauty, narrating the story.

“Black Beauty” will be released on November 27th on Netflix.

November 16, 2020

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Page 7

Get ready to watch these six returning shows

BY BETH BEAUDRY STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

T

he worst part of binge-watching a series is waiting to see if the show will be renewed for another season. In the time of COVID, where productions are being cut short or put on hiatus, fans are wondering when their favorite shows will be back.

Well, the wait is over. Here are some popular shows that are returning this November.

Undercover In this Belgian-Dutch Netflix series based on a true story, two investigators go undercover at a campground in an attempt to infiltrate a drug operation.

While the first season centered around illegal drugs, the second season will also have a focus on illegal weapons. Both of the main actors, Tom Waes and Anna Drijver, will be returning for the second season.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

Season two of “Undercover” will be available to stream on Netflix on Nov. 9.

Grey’s Anatomy The return of this multiaward-winning medical drama has been highly anticipated among fans. Since March, there has been uncertainty of the show’s future, as production of the previous and upcoming season were cut short due to COVID-19. Luckily, on Sept.

17, an announcement of the show’s return was posted on the show’s Instagram.

“Grey’s Anatomy” season 17 will premiere on Thurs. Nov. 12 on ABC. The show first aired in 2005, and starred Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey. Other notable cast members and season regulars include Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson and Jesse Williams.

The Crown “The Crown” is a Netflix series about Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern day. For the first two seasons, Queen Elizabeth II was played

by Claire Foy, and then the role

was switched to Olivia Colman for the third and upcoming season. Imelda Stauton is scheduled to play the queen for the fifth and sixth season. The show premiered in 2016 and is based on Peter Morgan’s play “The Audience.”

Season four will be available on Netflix on Nov. 15.

The Neighborhood This sitcom focuses on Dave Johnson and his family as they move into a new neighborhood.

Dave tries to win over his neighbor Calvin Butler as both families get used to the change that the new neighbors bring.

The main cast includes “New Girl” actor Max Greenfield as Dave and actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer as Calvin Butler.

Season three of “The Neighborhood” will air on CBS on Nov. 16.

NCIS Since the 2003 premiere, “NCIS” has been a fan-favorite, and was even announced by Nielsen to be the most streamed show this past year. “NCIS” follows a team of agents as they

investigate crimes, with Mark Harmon in the lead role of special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

This show is a mix of action and drama and perfect for any crime show fanatic.

The 18th season of “NCIS” will premiere on Nov. 17 on CBS. Due to COVID-19 impacting filming, the season will only be 16 episodes rather than the standard 24.

Virgin River Netflix released this romantic drama series in 2019 with Alexandra Breckenridge as the

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

leading actress. “Virgin River” follows Brekenridge’s character Melinda Monroe as she moves to Northern California and finds new friends and relationships.

The trailer that Netflix released in Oct. shows that season two will continue Melinda’s story as she tries to cope with her past and move forward.

“Virgin River” will be available to stream on Netflix on Nov. 27.

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November 16, 2020

Page 8

S P O RT S

Derrick Henry: The next possible NFL MVP

BY DAVIN ROY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

S

econd round pick and Tennessee Titans running back, Derrick Henry has been having an immaculate season so far Derrick Henry

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

in 2020. Henry made a lot of noise last season when he led the Titans to the playoffs and to the AFC Championship game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, making it past Tom Brady’s New England Patriots and upsetting the 2019 MVP, Lamar Jackson, and the 14-2 Baltimore Ravens. He finished those three playoff games with 446 rushing yards and three

touchdowns. Henry made his presence felt as an elite running back in the NFL last postseason, and he has not slowed down in 2020 whatsoever.

Through the first six games of the 2020 season, Henry has put up 663 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Henry has been an important factor of the success for the Titans this season, starting out 5-1 on the year and only losing to the 6-0 Pittsburgh Steelers. While quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, has shown a vast amount of improvement this season, it is still clear that Henry is the leader of that offense. Henry is on track to have a historic season, he is playing like he could potentially win the Most Valuable Player Award.

His success this season is a threat to the elite quarterbacks of the league looking to have an MVP season.

The NFL MVP is typical-

ly awarded to a quarterback because they are typically the most important component to a team’s major success, but in this case, Henry is the impact weapon on Tennessee. The last five MVPs have been Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and Cam Newton, which are all quarterbacks. The last non-quarterback to win an MVP was future Hall of Fame running back, Adrian Peterson, who won the award in 2012. Peterson put up incredible numbers, 2097 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Peterson played for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 that barely made it to the playoffs that season, Derrick Henry looks to have a stronger case for MVP because he has a better supporting cast. While Henry may not finish with over 2000 rushing yards, he is on pace to get more rushing touchdowns than

Peterson and more importantly, the Titans are on set to get the number three seed in the AFC and win their division. The fact that the Titans have more than only Henry to rely on will help his resume for MVP. NFL quarterbacks are hungry to be recognized as the league MVP. The quarterbacks that are making the strongest statements to win MVP this season are Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray and Josh Allen.

These quarterbacks all have one thing in common, they have to play hard if they don’t want Henry to take home the MVP title. Derrick Henry winning MVP is very realistic. If his success, along with the Titans’s success continues, then quarterbacks should beware of Derrick Henry snatching the 2020 MVP crown and a change coming to the league.

Are NFL players getting out of control?

BY DAVIN ROY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

E

very Sunday from the first week of September to the first of February, many Americans turn on their televisions to watch one of the most popular sports leagues in the country, the National Football League (NFL).

Opinion The NFL has done wonders, seeing stars such as JJ Watt disrupting NFL offenses while giving back to his community, Derrick Henry succeeding on the field and not being cocky about it, and Alex Smith coming back to play football after almost losing his leg in a

gruesome injury in 2018. All of these players have something in common, along with a lot of other NFL players -- they are role models for communities and individuals across America and the world. However, not all of these players are people that kids should be looking up to.

There have been many instances of players fighting on the field especially in recent years.

In 2015, New York Giants wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. and Carolina Panthers cornerback, Josh Norman, could not keep their hands off of each other, ultimately leading to multiple fights throughout the game.

Beckham received three personal fouls while Norman received two throughout the game.

In 2017, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, AJ Green, got into a fight which included tackling to the

turf and even punches thrown to the head. Both players were ejected for the rest of the game.

Also in 2017, New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver, Mike Evans, got into a scuffle where Lattimore shoved Evans from behind and Evans retaliated by ripping Lattimore’s helmet off.

Lattimore received a 15 yard penalty and Evans received nothing.

These fights are nothing compared to a fight from week 12 of the 2019 season.

Last season’s Week 12 presentation of Thursday Night Football, which was nationally covered, was a 21-7 victory for the Cleveland Browns over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the final few minutes of the game.

A brawl broke out between the two teams: punches were thrown, benches cleared, players

tackled each other, and Brown defensive end Myles Garrett ripped off the helmet of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and hit him in the head with his own helmet.

One of the commentators of that game, Joe Buck, said that it was “One of the worst things I’ve ever seen on a professional sports field.”

Suspensions were given out because of the scuffle, Garrett facing the harshest punishment, being suspended for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Garrett has returned this season after speculations of the NFL extending his suspension.

Yet again another fight took over the headlines of the NFL. In week eight of the NFL season, Chicago Bears wide receiver, Javon Wims, went up to New Orleans Saints cornerback, CJ Gardner-Johnson and punched him in the face

twice for no apparent reason.

Wims is suspended for the next two games following the fight.

Chicago Bears head coach, Matt Nagy, after the game said, “I am really, really bothered by that third-quarter incident. That bothers me. I’m being completely honest with you guys. It bothers me.”

Wims’s teammate, Akiem Hicks, also spoke out on the altercation, “I think that I’ve lost

Continued on pg. 9 Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

November 16, 2020

Page 9

POLITICS

Out of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be control U.S. president and vice president Continued from pg. 8 my cool before, ya know?” he said. “It’s part of the game. The elite, and if you want to be elite, you have to be able to control some of those moments. You have to be able to put whatever emotion you’ve got going on in a pocket. Because your team needs more.”

The NFL needs to get these players under control. Like many other Americans, I love to turn on my television and watch the best football players in the world, but I hate watching these fights. If I wanted to watch the fights, I would just watch UFC. Football is a sport that should let the game take care of any potential hatred that certain players have for each other, they should not resort to fighting.

What is even worse is that there are millions of children who watch the NFL every weekend and witness these fights. Many kids have dreams of becoming NFL players and they want to be like them. What if kids start getting into fights because they see NFL players doing that and they think it is ok or think it is just what NFL players do. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should give out more serious fines and suspension periods for players involved in fights because there needs to be less of them. These fights can potentially injure players for multiple weeks, poison the minds of younger NFL viewers, and give the NFL and football as a whole a bad reputation. The fights are getting out of control and something doesn’t need to be done next season, something needs to be done right now.

BY KATIE KLEMME CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

mericans took to the polls, by mail, drop-off ballot, and in person on Nov. 3 with a record turnout. The fight for the presidency between current President Donald J. Trump and former vice-president Joseph R. Biden has been long, and many Americans felt the need to vote this year, specifically with both parties having strong, differing opinions during this four-year period Counting the ballots this year was a long process, and some states still have not finished counting. Americans across the country waited as states like Nevada and Pennsylvania finished

counting.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a historic number of people voted using mail-in or absentee ballots, causing a delay in the counting of votes.

Due to a shift in some states Biden and Harris

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

from party to party, websites that showed the results maps had different opinions on when to call a state for a certain person. This has led to different information for sites as to whether the electoral votes can be counted or not.

According to the Washington Post’s live election map, Biden

won the presidency with 279 electoral votes, compared to Trump’s 214. At this point, some states are still in play, but Trump would not be able to reach 270 even if he won the state that he is currently leading in.

Biden is currently leading in Arizona and Georgia, while Trump is leading in North Carolina and Alaska. This gives Biden the win as these are the only states left to be counted.

This win is not definitive, however, as Trump has started several lawsuits about the counting and fairness of the election.

Until these lawsuits are resolved by the supreme court there can be no definite winner. For now, Joe Biden has won the race for president and he and Kamala Harris are the new president and vice president-elect.

Donald Trump announces day for Americans killed by “illegal aliens,” same day as Día De Los Muertos

BY CAMERON HAILEY STAFF WRITER

O

n Oct. 30, Pres.

Donald Trump released a proclamation for a new national Remembrance Day to take place on Nov. 1, which would focus on Americans killed by “illegal aliens” and concentrating on border security.

This remembrance day is on the same day as Día de Los Muertos, a holiday observed by Mexico and regions in the U.S. and abroad with Mexican pop-

ulations. The holiday is about celebrating life rather than death for those who have lost their loved ones.

The holiday is primarily celebrated by the people targeted in Trump’s words. Undocumented immigrants make up a small percentage of the U.S. population, about 3.2 percent.

Although there is no official tracker of crimes committed by the population, the number was falsely claimed to be higher than 10,000.

The proclamation went into detail over the deportation, particularly to the southern border.

The statement was a message to bolster the president’s “Law and

Order” rhetoric from his campaign, increasing the number of national guard personnel and his goal of building a wall.

The Biden administration says its border priorities are, “Addressing the Trump-created humanitarian crisis at our border, bringing our nation together, reasserting our core values, and reforming our immigration system will require real leadership and real solutions.”

The Trump administration has yet to comment on the proclamation since its release on Oct. 30.

The Mexican flag

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

November 16, 2020

POLITICS

Page 10

Election Day results prompt mixed reactions from voters

BY ISABELLE HAJEK STAFF WRITER

A

fter four days of deliberation and tallying, Joe Biden was declared President-elect on Nov. 7 after the Associated Press called Pennsylvania and Nevada for Biden, giving him 290 projected electoral votes.

There were many predictions made regarding what would happen following election night, and while many missed the mark, the overwhelming belief that demonstrations and conflict would occur was correct.

On Nov. 4 Donald Trump began his claims of fraud regarding the election when he tweeted, “We are up BIG, but they are trying to STEAL the Election. We will never let them do it. Votes cannot be cast after the Polls are closed!”

On Nov. 5 he continued this sentiment tweeting, “STOP THE COUNT!” two days before the results were called.

Reacting to the calls to stop counting mail-in ballots and votes cast after polling places were officially closed, multiple demonstrations broke out in the days before and after results were called. This time the Tweet courtesy of Donald Trump’s Twitter

demonstrations volleyed cries of “Count every vote” and “Stop the steal.” While some demonstrations turned violent, most were overwhelmingly peaceful.

In New York City, dozens of people were arrested for inciting violence during a peaceful protest. In Detroit, protesters gathered outside the building where absentee ballots were being counted chanting “stop the vote.” In Chicago, protestors marched downtown for a “Defend the Election” rally that Chicago Police categorized as a peaceful protest.

After the announcement of Biden and Kamala Harris’ win on Nov. 7, the elected addressed the nation. Harris said in her speech, “To the poll workers and election officials across our country who have worked tirelessly to make sure every vote is counted — our nation owes you a debt of gratitude as you have protected the integrity of our democracy.”

Biden said in his speech, “To all those who volunteered, worked the polls in the middle of this pandemic, local election officials — you deserve a special thanks from this nation.”

After the announcement on Saturday, Trump said that the election was “far from over” and “Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated,” In a press conference held

at the Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia.

Trump’s attorney, Rudi Giuliani said that “Trump won’t concede” and “Networks don’t get to decide elections” a reference to many individuals’ outcry against how the Associated Press has called the election for Biden.

As the country dealt with the aftermath of the election results, the University of New Haven continued with little election-based interruption.

In a prediction regarding the aftermath of the election, Thomas Reynolds, political science professor said, “With education we learn to seek out credible sources, to be skeptical consumers of information, to listen critically, to challenge our assumptions, and to engage in thoughtful dialogue. Our own university models these civic virtues and they will be crucial to healing our divisions and rebuilding our democratic institutions.”

On Nov. 4, the Center for Student Engagement, Leadership, and Orientation (CSELO) hosted “Take a Seat, Make a Friend” event, followed by the Myatt Center’s “doom scrolling” event, which tackled the issue of finding a balance between staying updated via social media and mental health. Later that day The School of Health Sciences & WeEmbody Lab held “The Day After: Unpacking the Election.”

The following day, Nov. 5, CAPS & Military & Veteran Services hosted a Zoom event, “Personal Steps: How to Move Forward.”

After the election results, university president, Steven Kaplan sent an email that said, in part, “No matter how you voted or your personal feelings on the result of the presidential

election – or other federal and local races – I am encouraging everyone to remain civil and to be respectful of each other.”

A debriefing after the election results event has been scheduled

Tweet courtesy of Joe Biden’s Twitter

by the Myatt Center; details have yet to be established.

Charger Polls Check out chargerbulletin.com each week for a new Charger Poll!

Results as of Nov. 14

November 16, 2020

OPINIONS

Page 11

The difficult transition from resident to commuter

BY KRISTEN MARCUS OPINION EDITOR

W

ith senior year of college on the horizon, my friends and I decided we wanted to live off-campus. However, when things didn’t pan out with the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself having to commute from home in New York City.

Being an on-campus resident was fun my first two years of college because all of my friends were on campus, as well, everyone lived close and we had more time to socialize while doing our work on campus.

Also, with most of my friends on campus, it was much easier to set things up like outings and events we wanted to attend, and exploring the West Haven and New Haven area.

There were also many not-sopleasant things about living on campus, such as rude resident assistants. There were some annoying and loud residents who lived on my floor. The washWest Haven train station Photo courtesy of Kristen Marcus

ing machines and heat barely worked, and some of the dorms didn’t have air conditioning.

The dining hall hours did not accommodate my class schedule times. The biggest factor is that it is so expensive to live on campus, thus prompting my friends and me to try to live off-campus for our senior year of college.

Ultimately, because of the pandemic, we decided to find our own options that were cheapest for everyone and the safest option depending on whether the campus closed for the fall. Then, I made a tough decision to commute from home -- I say tough because I wouldn’t be able to hang with my closest friends who are living in the near West Haven area, and I would have had to take a leave of absence at my new job.

Upon making this decision, I had to move my classes to a set schedule that would limit my commute to less than three days a week. I tried to find classes that I was interested in that also fit my requirements so I can graduate on time. I also hoped I could find online asynchronous classes and remote classes, too.

Being from the city, I am not a seasoned driver, so relying on

public transportation was the best option for me. I already knew the commute from traveling to and from school for breaks and I didn’t think it was bad at the time.

Now, on Wednesdays, I wake up around 4:30 a.m. to get myself ready to get on the 5:48 train from the Bronx to West Haven train station. My dad has work early in the morning, so he can drop me off. The morning

train has no transfers, so it is an hour and 45-minute ride to West Haven, which is great because I have some time to relax before I really get my day started.

Wednesday is the day I see and talk with my friends in-person at the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI).

We are able to do work, collaborate on projects in our clubs and have some sense of normalcy.

Since the food trucks started, we have been getting baked potatoes for lunch. I spend a lot of time at the CDI between classes and am glad that I have made connections with so many people in this space while I was a resident.

Wearing a mask for over 12 hours is another feat. It is not like I have a dorm or car to which I can retreat, so I can’t take it off. I only take it off when I eat.

After my class ends at 6:45 p.m., I take the 7:43 train and get back home around 9:30.

While on the train, I catch up on work and assignments or I relax,

West Haven train station

Photo courtesy of Kristen Marcus

listening to music and having my thoughts consume me as I am drained from the long day.

Being a commuter has taught me so much about being a bit more independent in my life.

Upon seeing other people starting their commute at the same time as me, it has given me a lot of time to think about what my future would look like, if I have to commute for a job. I also see the stark differences between city life in New York and suburban life in West Haven.

Commuting was not what I saw for myself during my senior year of college. However, I know I am not the only person who had to make hard decisions during these past months. I am reminded of how lucky I am to still be attending school and have all of the tools I need to succeed. I may not have the same exciting and cool experiences as before, but better times are ahead and I can’t wait for it.

November 16, 2020

STUDENT LIFE

Students reflect on the fall semester

BY BETH BEAUDRY STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

T

his was a semester like no other. Students had to adjust to campus life amid a pandemic.

This called for new guidelines such as online or hybrid classes, online events and limited social interaction.

Since the beginning of the semester, the university was vocal about strict COVID-19 guidelines, but also understanding the challenges this new climate brought. The university increased student resources, implemented “re-charge days” which canceled classes for those select days, brought in food trucks and hosted online events.

While the university’s effort was there, students have mixed feelings on how their semester went and how the university did at modifying campus life.

Junior communications major Emily McDonough said she believes that the university did well enforcing COVID guidelines and that she felt safe on campus after seeing how active the sanitation team is. Still, McDonough said that the semester brought challenges with how little she could see her friends.

“There were times during the Outside of Celentano Hall Photo courtesy of Kayla Mutchler

semester where I was questioning why I moved back to campus because I was just taking all my classes in my dorm,” said McDonough. “I also felt that professors were assigning more work than usual which stressed me out because I constantly feel behind.”

Communications senior communication major Kelly Nelson also said that she felt that compared to other universities, the University of New Haven was prepared to deal with COVID. Nelson said that she felt safe while on campus and was glad that all students living on-campus could remain until the end of the semester.

Alec Baez, a senior biology major and commuter student, said that for the most part, he believes the university handled the spike in cases well. However, he thought that the university should have conducted more random testing.

“I would’ve liked to see a larger sample of campus be called for asymptomatic testing each week from the start, rather than increasing the testing as cases increased,” said Baez.

“I think the university did a great job keeping us in person for a large portion of the semester, but I feel like I could barely trust fellow students based on what I was seeing on social media,” said Baez. “I understand

that it’s not representative of the whole campus, but I wasn’t surprised by the outbreak based on what I saw.”

Baez said that in his previous years at the university, he tried to spend as much time on-campus as possible, but that it was difficult this semester. While he could come once a week for the food trucks, there were other parts of campus life he missed.

“I was looking forward to joining [Tri-beta] and maybe a club for the first time in my last year here, but my job and the workload of my mix of in person and online classes makes me think I can’t manage that this semester,” said Baez.

Junior forensic science major Rachael Malizia said that she hopes to see more reliable, on-time updates to the COVID dashboard and for the university to hold more outdoor events.

Malizia said she needed to be quarantined for three days until a family member’s test results came back. Malizia said that after the test came back negative she contacted multiple university offices about leaving quarantine, but none replied. She said it was not until she made a post on the university’s Facebook group page that a faculty member answered and she was allowed to leave quarantine.

“There should definitely be an easier way to get out of quarantine,” said Malizia. “My suggestion, again, would be to have a person within the COVID taskforce/Office of Residential Life who can easily be contacted with the results of a negative COVID-19 test so that students can get out of quarantine faster.”

What the spring semester will be like is unpredictable. While the university is intending to have in-person and hybrid classes again, it all depends on the status of COVID-19 in late January.

Page 12

SCOPE presents Q&A with John Mulaney

BY TIARA STARKS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

A

s part of the Student Committee of Programming Event’s (SCOPE) Comedy Week, actor, writer and comedian John Mulaney appeared in a Zoom webinar, where he answered questions submitted by students.

The Q&A was moderated

by Elizabeth O’Neill, senior forensic science major and the president of SCOPE. During the virtual seminar, students asked Mulaney a wide range of questions such as who he would play in a sitcom.

He said, “If I could be anything on a sitcom, I’d be the nosy neighbor.”

“It is by nature repetitive,” said Mulaney on doing the same round of jokes for every show. “I like doing stand up because it’s ephemeral. Each performance is different. I like to highlight that by having some spontaneous chit chat.”

Another student-submitted question mentioned his longtime collaborator, comedian, and “Big Mouth” co-star Nick Kroll and prompted Mulaney to speak on one of the duo’s most recognizable projects. “‘Oh Hello’ on Broadway. I love “Big Mouth” and I’ve loved everything we’ve done but ‘Oh Hello,’ the off-Broadway play and the Broadway play was absurdly fun. It was the most fun you could ever have in show business.”

Mulaney spoke about his feelings on not doing in-person shows during quarantine.

“Being a comedian, I’ve obviously haven’t been able to do shows so there’s been a big subtraction from my life,” said Mulaney. He even acknowl-

edged his sympathy towards college students during this time when he said, “being disrupted by this, you’re dealing with a lot more of a dysregulated experience.”

Mulaney was also asked what his favorite “Saturday Night Live” sketch was. He said, “We’ve done a few more of these since, but I would say Diner Lobster. That was very fun because, one, it seems like it was popular and we had written it in 2010, Colin Jost and I.” Students also found out whether the comedian preferred intimate shows or large crowds.

“If I have to pick one, intimate shows, but certainly don’t mind large crowds. It feels like talking to the ocean.”

At the end of the Q&A, Mulaney expressed his gratitude for being able to share his experience with the student population and wished them good luck on the rest of the semester.

Junior communication major Shaylen Stancil said, “It felt really personal considering the Q&A was over Zoom. It was really fun to be able to hear him answer all the questions.”

John Mulaney talking to us was absolutely amazing,” said Maddie Oliver, a junior communication major, “not only did he fill the time answering questions we submitted but he was able to find a way to make jokes at the same time and the whole thing was really engaging and felt natural just like any normal conversation would.”

Mulaney is most famous for his stand up specials, “Kid Gorgeous,” The Comeback Kid,” and “New in Town,” as well as his children’s special, “John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch,” all of which can be found on Netflix.

November 16, 2020

STUDENT LIFE

Page 13

How have students’ academic lives been affected by university COVID adjustments?

BY AMANDA M. CASTRO MANAGING EDITOR

I

n response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of New Haven shifted to, approximately, a 30 percent remote learning format in order to “minimize any disruption of the academic calendar and student schedules” during the fall 2020 semester, according to a June 22 email to students. Though remote learning may be the best option to “prioritize the health and well-being” of New Haven students, is it the best option for all students to get the most out of their academics?

Communication professor Maxwell McGee said, “I have noticed a slight decline in students’ grades in class. The transition into this new online world is not an easy one, and now, even some of my top students are having a difficult time with assignments and submitting work in a timely manner.”

According to a University of Colorado study, 40.6 percent of students believe that they are working harder to maintain Graphic courtesy of Christopher Colquhoun

their grades since the start of the pandemic and online classes; 43.4 percent of students say that their academic experience has declined after beginning an online learning format.

Rachael Fortier, junior criminal justice major, has two fully online courses this semester.

She said that her grades have experienced a decline since the university’s learning format changed in the fall and is finding it hard to stay engaged in class.

“I do not think that I would take online classes if it was not for the virus,” said Fortier, “For some of my classes, it is one of the only options because of the virus. It is hard to stay away from online classes.”

Junior forensic science major Morgan Fitch, who is taking two hybrid and two online courses, said, “I don’t feel that engaged in my online classes. I don’t have to turn on my camera, I don’t have to talk, and the professors just lecture at you.

There’s really no way to be engaged. I would much rather everything be in person but understand how that’s not possible right now.”

Junior criminal justice major Emily Brown, however, said, “I

feel engaged in my classes, but I feel that there is an increase in the amount of coursework to compensate for what is lost in face-to-face discussions.”

“I miss being in the classroom,” said biology professor Rozina Jaser. “I miss reading my students’ body language, their facial expressions. All tools that help me better educate them. I shared this with my students this semester. I told them that, although they are not required to share their videos, I miss seeing their faces.”

McGee said that he has been able to come up with productive ways to keep his students engaged in his virtual classes, “I try to take advantage of every piece of the technology, switching from PowerPoint to videos, then to the whiteboard, then back to videos, showing pictures, creating hands-on exercises, and even starting class off with a 5-10 minute ‘chat’ where we take a fun poll together such as ‘What’s your favorite season?’ and then talk about it.”

Jaser has also tried to make things more fun. She said, “I’ve started a fun ‘dad-jokes segment’ in my Zoom sessions.

I started sharing some a few weeks ago to leave them on a positive note, with smiles. Now, the students have started offering their own. It’s been great!”

Students, however, have felt an increase in stress and anxiety because of their lower grades in some of their online classes.

Fortier said that her mental health has been affected because of her grade decline and “because it was hard to stay motivated and do work when we weren’t able to really have any human contact outside of our family units.”

“I struggle with mental health to start with and now with the pandemic, I’m being hit hard,” said Fitch. “My grades are lower which makes me anxious and that anxiety causes me to not be able to function well which leads to lower grades. And it’s just a continuous cycle.”

“Students and I have done well to overcome the distance together,” health sciences professor Michael French said regarding his students’ mental states. “We’ve still been able to have great conversations regardless of the format used.

In my experiences, students are working harder than ever to turn

in quality work in spite of the obstacles they’re facing.”

Jaser said that students are carrying the anxiety and “stress of battling situations due to social and environmental changes they’re enduring, especially as college students,” and this, according to a Suicide Prevention Resource Center study, contributes to a decline in grade point averages among students.

Overall, though, Fortier said that faculty have been lenient and understanding in regard to deadlines. “I personally do not feel more pressure than in other years. All of my professors have been very understanding if I needed extra time to complete an assignment.”

Brown said, “I do not feel more pressure, if anything I feel that professors are more understanding and empathetic than ever before.”

For academic assistance, students can set up a virtual appointment with the writing center, the Center of Student Success or the Center for Learning Resources. For mental health aid, students can visit Counseling and Psychological Services support groups, including one on COVID Adjustment.

November 16, 2020

FUN AND GAMES

Negatives - Election anxiety and the future of our nation.

- The hours I have spent on social media.

- The semester is coming to a close.

- We’re in “Yellow Status” on campus.

- It’s fall and 70 degrees, so, climate change?

By Kristen Marcus

Page 14

Positives + Twitter’s content of election memes about Nevada and Georgia. + Free winter intersession classes. + Election fancams. + Pretty fall scenery while it’s 70 degrees.

Submit your positives and negatives to chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu!

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