September 28, 2020

Volume 102, Issue 3

September 28, 2020

West Haven, Conn.

THE

CHARGER BULLETIN

The student news source of the University of New Haven.

ELECTION DAY ON THE HORIZON

Students discuss their votes for the 2020 presidential election Story on pg. 9

Graphic courtesy of Christopher Colquhoun, Graphics Editor

The Charger Bulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

September 28, 2020

BU L L E T I N B OA R D

Bulletin Briefs

The

Charger Bulletin

Page 3

300 Boston Post Road | West Haven, CT 06516

UNH rises in rankings

Page 6 Ava Max’s new album

Page 8 The growth of esports

Page 9 Students talk voting

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 Since 1938, The Charger Bulletin has been the official student news Managing Editor Amanda M. Castro source of the University of New Haven.

Student Life Editor Beth Beaudry Advertising Sports Editor Joe Klaus The Charger Bulletin ad rate sheets are available upon request or by callEntertainment Editor Tiara Starks ing 203.932.7182 or via email at chargerbulletinads@gmail.com. The Opinion Editor Kristen Marcus Charger Bulletin reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. AdverStaff Writers Kelly Adkins, Earl Alexander Givan, and tisements within The Charger Bulletin are inserted by outside sources identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the UniverCameron Hailey sity of New Haven. Advertising material printed herein is solely for informational purposes. For the most up-to-date information, visit Multimedia Editor Jada Clarke www.ChargerBulletin.com/advertise.

Associate Editor for Photography Hunter Lang Associate Editor for Graphic Design Christopher Letters to the Editor The submission deadline for letters to the editor is 5 p.m. on Friday Colquhoun for publication in Monday’s issue. Letters to the Editor are also pubAdvertising Manager Hannah Providence lished online the same day as the release of print issues. Letters should Associate Editor for Videography Nick Meaney not exceed 300 words if they are to be considered for print publication.

All submissions by outside writers to The Charger Bulletin, unless otherwise Community Engagement Editor Victoria Cagley 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.

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

Page 11 Why come to campus?

Page 14

Racial consciousness virtual discussion

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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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1st Place - ASPA Annual Contest/Review for Scholastic Yearbooks, Magazines and Newspapers, 2018 Honorable Mention, Mobile App of the Year - Pinnacle Awards by College Media Association, 2017

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September 28, 2020

Page 3

NEWS

University of New Haven rises in rankings

BY KELLY ADKINS STAFF WRITER

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mid the centennial celebration, the University of New Haven is also celebrating its prestige. The university was included among this year’s top schools in the U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, and the Bachelor’s Degree Center.

U.S. News ranked the university at 59th in the North region for the 2021 “Best Colleges” report, which prospective-students and their families often utilize to find future colleges and gain awareness for the resources a university has at hand.

The university has risen nearly 40 spots within the last two

years in this category, and this year’s achievement marks the third consecutive year of rising in these standings, and 11th consecutive year of being acknowledged by the U.S. News.

U.S. News also ranked the university 31st in the category of best colleges for Veterans, moving up seven spots from last year. Located within the second floor of Maxcy Hall is the university’s Veteran’s Success Center which doubles as a resource center and common space where student-veterans can unwind in between classes in an atmosphere of similar-experienced people. Veterans also have access to various other resources to ensure their success during and post-education and financial and health benefits.

The U.S. News also notably ranked the university as 72nd in the best undergraduate engineer-

ing programs and acknowledged rankings in other areas.

“Our continued rise in the U.S. News rankings, in particular our dramatic rise during the past two years, is a clear indication of the significant value and relevance of a University of New Haven education,” said university president Steven H. Kaplan.

Kaplan said it is the university’s high-achieving students, talented faculty and staff, and distinguished alumni and stakeholders that created the “vibrant University community where innovation, engagement and creativity fuel our continued momentum” that is seen today.

Additionally, this year, the Bachelor’s Degree Center -- a website that aims to lead prospective college students to the best educational program most suited to their financial,

educational, and personal situation -- ranked the university’s cybersecurity program at number 24 among the best 25 in the country.

In the Bachelor’s Degree Center’s ranking article it noted that UNH’s cybersecurity degree has a high return on investment, “proven by the fact that most careers in cybersecurity earn a student over $100,000 per year.”

With the successes of the engineering and the cybersecurity programs, the university will establish the Connecticut Institute of Technology within the Tagliatela College of Engineering building. The institute will offer disciplines in cybersecurity and networks, computer science, data science, AI -- a subset of data science, and electrical and computer engineering.

The new Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Inno-

vation officially opened this fall as a part of the centennial celebration and offers new technology resources, student study and hangout spaces, collaborative classrooms, engineering and science labs, video production studios, a maker space, and an esports training and competition space.

Outside of Maxcy Hall Photo courtesy of The Charger Bulletin

Business and engineering students participate in Innovation Sprint

BY HANNAH PROVIDENCE ADVERTISING MANAGER

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early 100 students in the Pompea College of Business and Tagliatela College of Engineering participated in an entrepreneurship pitch competition on Sept. 12th. Brian Marks and Stephanie Gillespie -- lecturers for both colleges, respectively -facilitated the virtual event also known as the “24-Hour Innovation Sprint.”

Across two days -- Friday and Saturday -- students were tasked to identify a problem, create a solution, illustrate the value-proposition and then determine how to bring that solution to market. They transformed their work into a 60-second pre-

sentation for several University of New Haven alumni to review and judge.

Before the students were able to begin these tasks, they first had to pick from a list of challenges that 10 Conn. entrepreneurs identified. The challenges

The Zoom event

Photo courtesy of Hannah Providence

varied, from finding a way to redesign personal recreation vehicles to meet CT’s safety requirements, to figuring out how to safely socially interact with loved ones in assisted living facilities.

The students worked late in the evening Friday, and early on Saturday with 32 mentors and

judges to develop and produce their final product. Bill Mallin ’98 EMBA was a Saturday night feedback mentor. He worked with some of the groups to help improve their presentation style before they presented it to the judges.

“I found myself enjoying it,” said Mallin.

Joe Schechter ’98 EMBA worked as a Friday night-owl mentor and reviewed four groups’ 30-second problem-statement videos to critique for articulation and problem validation.

“They all understood what the challenge was for that night -- to describe the problem, and I thought they did a really good job of that!” said Schechter.

On Wednesday night, the deans of the Pompea College of Business and Tagliatela College of Engineering participated in

a virtual closing ceremony with some of the students, alumni, and faculty involved. During this event, four of the student groups were recognized for “Exemplary Performance in Subject Matter and Delivery.”

You can view the list of winners below: 1st Place - Team 18: Anthony Trigueros, Ashley Fiorianti, Conor Patterson, Filipe Jorge 2nd Place - Team 6, Bazintranoitz & Co.: Gabriella Zint, Justin Caron, Nicholas Babich, Niko Dickervitz, Trent Coltran 3rd Place - Team 19, HotHeaded Balloons: Janel Slade, Keron Barbour, Laela Butow, Olivia Travers, Owen Santos, Stephanie Munda 4th Place - Team 4, Street Legal Dirt Bikes: Aidan Halloran, Alexander Castromonte, Anna Ort, Eric Acuna

September 28, 2020

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NEWS

It’s National Campus Safety USGA President’s Awareness Month Corner

BY TIARA STARKS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

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ow more than ever, campus safety has been a hot topic across colleges across the nation. Every September, colleges and universities promote initiatives during Campus Safety Awareness Month.

The University of New Haven Police Department has been recognized for its commitment to keeping its campus safe by engaging in helpful dialogue with students. Officers Onoria Sierra and James Mroczka were recently awarded a MADD Certificate of Appreciation for education and community involvement.

Making sure students and faculty are aware and practicing social distancing has become an added component to campus safety initiatives as the spread of COVID-19 cases has Photo courtesy of University of New Haven

increased across the country.

The university has put policies in place to curb the spread of the virus so that students are at a low risk of contracting it.

On Sept. 19, Officer James Baker met with Westside Hall residents for a “Meet and Greet” and to facilitate a discussion on safety. This program occurs during a regular academic year.

Police officers are assigned to a dorm hall where residents are invited to participate in a “Meet and Greet” with that officer. The police department is still actively working at keeping students educated on campus safety procedures while staying within the guidelines of the school’s COVID-19 restrictions.

Sargent Luis Dos Santos, the police department’s community outreach coordinator, who oversees all the campus police to student programming, spoke about what he thinks is the best way for students to take precautions during this time: “Follow the outlines that the Covid Task Force set forth. I’m

sure everyone’s looked at them online,” he said. “My basic recommendation is to follow those guidelines and abide by them. I know it can be an inconvenience walking around with the mask on but it’s just to keep everyone safe. I’m sure we’ll get through this, it’s not going to last forever”.

“I feel the student body is really handling all these new rules super well,” said junior communication major Maddie Oliver.

“We haven’t had any serious increase in cases at our school and I feel it is because we are all working together to try and be able to stay at the University throughout this semester since it already is short enough.”

Students can directly make sure campus stays safe by utilizing the “Report It, Don’t Ignore it” Reporting Options on the university’s website for incidents regarding crime, behavioral intervention, bias, and COVID-19 violations.

discussed what programming during a pandemic is like and the state of the mental health of our students on campus. With the discussion here, we hope to provide more programming from a university level and weekend programming!

This Week

Hello Chargers! My name is Sofia Martinez, President of Undergraduate Student Government Association. Welcome to the President’s corner. I have some fun updates from USGA. We meet weekly on Fridays at 2:30 PM via Zoom (anyone can attend -- check out our Instagram @humans_of_usga for more info!) Last week, we

We will be revisiting the COVID-19 Initiative Assessment Commission -- a commission with the intention of assessing what we need as students on campus and recommend how USGA should help! This was inspired by previous USGA President Ian Maloney’s actions last spring when he created the food insecurity initiative and reimbursed residential students back partial room and board.

If you are interested in participating in this conversation, come join us on Oct. 2!

September 28, 2020

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

“Folklore” ties record

BY SHAYLEN STANCIL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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n July, Taylor Swift surprise-dropped her eighth studio album,“Folklore.” This release is less than a year after her seventh album, “Lover.” It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 charts and remained there for six weeks until it rose to #5.

“Folklore’s” success has been great enough to break records.

So far, it has been the first album since 2016 to top the 200 charts for six consecutive weeks. Swift also surpassed Adele for most weeks at number one for any non-R & B and HipHop album by a female. The biggest accomplishment for this album so far, however, is that it tied -- at 46 weeks -- Whitney Houston for most weeks at #1 by any woman (across all studio albums).

Photo courtesy of Taylor Swift’s Instagram

Houston achieved this record with her four albums released between 1985 and 2009.

Swift announced the release of her album in an Instagram caption on July 23 after posting a series of black and white photos of the woods that grace the album cover. In the post, she said that the last thing she expected to do in 2020 was release an album.

“I wrote and recorded this music in isolation but got to collaborate with some musical heroes of mine,” said Swift. Some of those “musical heroes” include co-writers Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver, and album photographer Beth Garrabrant.

“Folklore” has two editions, a standard with 16 tracks and a deluxe edition which includes a bonus track titled “the lakes.”

“Folklore” is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music, with physical copies available to purchase at Target and Walmart.

The album is also available for purchase on Swift’s website, along with signed copies and merchandise.

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The future of concerts

BY KAREME RAY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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ot too long ago, concert-going was a little more than a typical pastime for music enthusiasts. One might check out the venue before going to find parking or the best route from the train station, but no matter the travel method, a packed venue was usually the destination. Since COVID-19 has taken the global stage, those once joyful musical outings have become cherished memories that concertgoers wish to go back to. However, when the time comes, what will become the new norm?

The short answer is that there is no definitive answer. Those with a vested interest in music around the world have been experimenting with what to do next in the age of COVID-19.

In the city of Stratford, Connecticut, Make Music Day is a celebration that is taken to the streets, but this year due to COVID-19, the roundup of musicians released video performances to the cause to be posted on YouTube in a playlist. One of these performers was Housatonic Community College faculty member, Yotisse Williams.

Williams is a musician that is often seen performing with his children at gigs. He can be found in local restaurants and bars, or at the very school he works at, playing music for crowds. Since the slow reopening of venues throughout the state, Williams had not received word from his regularly played sites. He had, however, received word from ‘Make Music Day’, where he was asked to send in videos of his music. Williams participated, but could feel the

impact of not having been able to perform live, saying, “There’s a real beauty in playing.”

For some, producing musical content via pre-recorded videos is the easiest solution, even though this solution was not shared by every city participating in Connecticut’s Make Music Day. Make Music Day-Stamford took to downtown to have in-person musical shows, whereas New Haven live-streamed their events online. Had Williams been approached by another city for Make Music Day, he may have been able to hold a semblance of the impromptu performing he misses.

With any one city choosing to celebrate “Music Day” differently from one another, it may be hard to assess which format should become the norm. Looking to other festivals and events, however, can give a bit more clarity. Currently, both methods used by Stamford and New Haven are favored for shows in the future.

As Make Music Day-New Haven did, so too does Rolling Loud. Rolling Loud, the popular annual hip hop music festival, postponed its concert from May 2020 to February 2021.

Amid the waiting for their next event, Rolling Loud established a Twitch channel where they had their first live-streamed concert on Sept. 12 and 13.

Live-streaming is not a novel idea. The Stamford Symphony adapted quickly to the change in the societal climate. From the haunting realization that live events were to be suspended, they opened the Stamford Symphony Channel, which produces pre-recorded videos for people to enjoy alongside live Zoom calls with musicians. There are endless examples of live streaming becoming the answer people have found for this dilemma, but there are examples of in-per-

son concerts happening in more recent times.

Even under the same category of in-person concerts, there are different executions of the format. On Aug. 8, the world saw Taiwan’s first ten-thousand-person concert. This concert did not make room for social distancing in the arena, but masks were mandated. This concert allowed the same energy that many are used to from Pre-COVID concert-going. Newcastle, UK’s Virgin Money Unity Arena has created a venue that promotes socially-distanced concert viewing. Unity Arena created 500 raised platforms for groups of up to five to join one another to enjoy the concert. Up to 2,500 people may not be the same for 10,000, but the ability for venues to start managing these large numbers during the COVID era creates an auspicious outlook for future endeavors in concert-going.

While there is no definitive consensus on how musical venues will continue in the coming year, what we can observe is that with the prevalence of live-streaming, and the isolated cases of in-person performances, the norm may be a mixture of these two formats. With the ease of live-streaming concerts, making private and limited sessions with platforms such as Zoom, sticking to online concerts may be the norm, with a slow rise in in-person performances happening over the next year. This may ultimately lead to in-person concerts eventually overtaking online concerts as the dominant viewing choice, or for both to become concurrent powerhouses in musical showmanship. Either way, it is going to take time for gig musicians to find the norm that they once were settled in.

September 28, 2020

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Writer’s Choice

BY JESSICA ELLIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Follow the Charger Bulletin on Spotify!

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his playlist comes from criminal justice major, Jessica Ellis. If you’d like to contribute a “Writer’s Choice” playlist, email aechargerbulletin@gmail.com.

I’ve always been passionate about music because it really is what keeps me getting through classes and this semester! These are some songs from different genres that I’ve been listening to on repeat for the past couple of months.

“Dissolve” by Absofacto This song, most popular on the app Tiktok, is catchy and mellow to listen to. Absofacto has a soft voice that makes you feel calm when you listen to the song, especially the chorus.

“Summer” by Brockhampton This song reminds me of summer, hence the song title. It has great instrumentals and the lead vocalist has a great voice. It reminds me of driving around with my friends on a summer night and I never skip this on my playlist!

“Golden” by Harry Styles I always add this song to my playlists because I can listen to it no matter what mood I’m in. “Golden” isn’t played too much on the radio, so it’s not overplayed or overhyped. it’s truly too much of a special song to get sick of!

“New Light” by John Mayer John Mayer has written some of my all time favorite songs, he has such a nice voice. This song and the instrumentals are catchy, as well as the lyrics. If you like happy and instrumental music, you might love this song!

“Dang!” by Mac Miller and Anderson Paak If you like R&B, you’ll like this song. The instrumentals of trumpets in the background make it so much fun to listen to.

“Sincerity is Scary” by the 1975 If you like alternative/pop music, this song and the artist’s discography is worth listening to. I love the different vocals and instrumentals that are used in their songs.

“Do It” by Chloe x Halle I love these two sisters’ voices together. They are so talented and this song has such controlled vocals -- all of their music is so good!

“Mariposa” by Peach Tree Rascals This song is so fun to drive to on a sunny day, it puts me in such a good mood, and I like the combination of the genres in their music!

“Wurli” by Dominic Fike If you liked the famous song “3 Nights” by Dominic Fike, you’ll love his new album, especially this song on it.

“Softly” by Clairo Clairo is one of my favorite artists and is really popular right now with her “bedroom pop” genre. This is one of my favorite songs on her first album, and I’m so eager to see her make more music!

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Ava Max releases “Heaven and Hell”

BY LINDSAY MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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n Sept. 18, Ava Max finally released her long-awaited album, “Heaven & Hell.” The album lives up to its name, as Max incorporates a combination of light, energetic songs with ones that take on a darker, moodier approach.

Recording over 100 songs for her album, she spent months selecting the best 15 songs for “Heaven and Hell.” In 2018, after Max released her breakthrough single, “Sweet but Psycho.” Included in her new album, the song became a top hit in 22 countries.

The 26-year old set out to bring back the feel of 2010 pop music. This album does much more than give off a carefree feel as it also preaches feminism. “Heaven & Hell” kicks off on an upbeat melody with the song “H.E.A.V.E.N,” before moving on to one of the biggest songs in 2020, “Kings and Queens.”

Also known as ‘the feminist anthem’, “Kings and Queens” displays its message though its lyrics and can be heard through-

out the chorus, “if all of the kings had their queens on the throne // We would pop champagne and raise a toast.”

Max is no rookie when it comes to incorporating powerful messages into her pop songs.

While some people argue that her lyrics lack personality or are manufactured, messages of female empowerment are clear.

The album is split up into three sections: heaven, purgatory, and hell. The heaven section has a lighter sound with brighter messages, while hell has darker themes.

“Torn” is the only song in the purgatory section, which is in the middle of the album. One lyric says, “I’m torn in between heaven and hell.” Torn came out in Aug. of 2019, so this was a hint to the album’s title.

The album ends with one of her biggest hits, “Sweet but Psycho,” which gained popularity in the U.S. in 2019.

Max is often recognized for her iconic style and has been known to have an “ostentatious presentation.” With platinum blonde hair, an untamed personality and against the grain fashion statements. Max has been criticized for portraying a persona that is too similar to Lady Gaga.

However, success did not always come easy for Max. Her career began having many demos rejected by big record labels. It wasn’t until Max released “Anyone but You” on SoundCloud, and the song gained traction, that she signed with Atlantic Records in 2016.

Since then, Max has released 14 singles, 14 music videos and as of recently, an album.

Max describes herself as “100% Albanian” and noted she receives pleasure from giving back to the community.

Using inspiration from artists like Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Celine Dion, Max was determined to make a name for herself. By 3-years old, Max was participating in Radio Disney singing competitions.

Having a family history in music, her mom in opera singing and father trained on piano, Max received endless support.

When she was 14-years old, Max and her mother left their family home to move to Los Angeles, and eventually South Carolina, to pursue Max’s career in music.

“Heaven and Hell” is available for streaming on all major streaming platforms.

Ava Max

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

September 28, 2020

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“Robin’s Wish:” Bringing awareness to a degenerative disease

BY ELISA D’EGIDIO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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t has been six years since the news broke of comedian Robin William’s death. In the newly released documentary, “Robin’s Wish,” viewers can take a look at William’s last months and his diagnosis of Lewy body dementia. This tribute highlights his accomplishments and shares the perspectives of his loved ones as they watched him fade during his final months.

Directors Tylor Norwood and Susan Schneider Williams — William’s wife — reminisce on how he was handling his illness.

Schneider recalls Williams crying, saying, “I just want to reboot my brain,” which is the main statement focused on throughout the film.

Robin Williams

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

The “Night at the Museum” director Shawn Levy says that his “spark was diminished” as Robin was not himself while filming. During his final films he was struggling to memorize lines and even complete a scene, whereas normally he was known to creatively come up with dialogue. With a false diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, he knew he was disintegrating and anxiously tried to fight it.

Dr. Bruce Miller, Director of the Memory and Aging Center at UCSF, along with other specialists, share their expertise on how this type of dementia physically and mentally depletes someone. At the level in which his disease was, Dr. Miller says, “it really amazed me that Robin could walk or move at all,” but he pushed through it. Within six months that he was suffering, his symptoms quickly became unbearingly worse although many tests and brain scans showed that nothing was wrong.

This documentary serves as a diary of showing these scary final days, where he felt as if he was slowly losing his mind.

Many friends and neighbors of Williams were interviewed to share how they viewed his worsening conditions. Williams’ early life as an entertainer is shown, and it is no secret why he is loved by millions as he was filled with joy, humor and energy. His neighbors saw him as an ordinary and normal man.

“Robin’s Wish” glances at Robin’s early life as he was a student studying at Julliard to the moment where he met his wife Susan. They touch on the many hardships he faced from his divorces, history of drug use, death of his good friend John Belushi and the paralysis of his friend Christopher Reeve. Snippets of his projects are broad-

casted, showing off his work in “Aladdin” and his friendly nature with the soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq he would often visit on tours.

A majority of the documentary focuses on his Lewy body dementia. His final years show him as a while he is depressed, paranoid and filled with agony.

His misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s disease tormented him. This documentary celebrates his life and shares a new perspective on the tragedy of his suicide, on Aug. 11, 2014.

“Robin’s Wish” highlights

Robin as who he truly was: a comedic genius with a loving soul, struggling to battle his demons along with an undiagnosed neurodegenerative disorder.

The New York Times said Williams was “a matchless improviser, an unpretentious neighbor and a man who had a gift for consoling others suggest the world lost not just an uproarious presence but a kind one.”

The greatest tragedy of them all is that Williams died not knowing what was wrong with him. This film helps erase any

of the rumors that surfaced during his untimely death and brings new information on the devastating disease that is Lewy body dementia.

“Robin’s Wish” is now available on most major streaming services.

BROADWAY SINGS FOR THE

CENTENNIAL BALL OCTOBER 3, 2020 6 PM NEWHAVEN.EDU/2020BALL Featuring performances by cast members from: Wicked, Hamilton, e Lion King and more!

Hosted by Six-Time Tony Award Winner,

Audra McDonald

September 28, 2020

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S P O RT S

The growth of esports A new addition to the Rec Center

BY CAMERON HAILEY STAFF WRITER

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niversity officials made a decision to invest in a new academic major at the Pompea College of Business, esports management, and esports and gaming. With the high-quality equipment in the new “Stable” training arena located in the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation, the growth of the esports club, competitive varsity team, and academic programs has started.

Jason Chung, executive director of esports at the university said, “Esports is a relatively young industry, and what they are finding they need more of, is people on the business aspect of the industry.”

The program is focused heavily on the business behind the scenes in esports, focusing on courses on video games and management. For Chung, it was the reason he came to the University of New Haven.

The university program recently announced an academic partnership with the streaming app, Twitch. This deal was made to allow students an inside view of the industry from a leading busi-

Inside of The Stable Photo courtesy of Kayla Mutchler

ness in gaming entertainment.

This was the second major sponsorship of the university’s program, the other being HyperX, a gaming peripherals company.

“The Twitch partnership is validation, we are trying to build a much more rigorous program, we want students to have a deep understanding of the industry,” said Chung.

The esports industry has grown by millions of dollars in revenue over the past decade, and in 2019 surpassed the $1 billion mark. To Chung, this is important news and he believes that the program prepares students for all aspects of the industry.

Chung says that he wants to give each student a leg up while entering the industry in the area they are interested in, whether varsity or business.

“We want to produce generalists who can think like great specialists. We are trying to build long-lasting partnerships in the industry for the students to be able to take advantage of,” said Chung.

A master’s program in Esports is also in development at the university. While there is little information about this program, the university released a form that students can submit if they are interested in enrolling when the program launches.

BY NEVA BOSTIC CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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o book a spot in the Beckerman Recreation Center for a workout, you may notice a new area to make reservations for.

The “Auxiliary Weight Room” is a new COVID-modified area where athletes and teams undergo their weight training. You may think that the athletes have been lifting in the weight room at North Campus, but they are actually in Beckerman due to a recent change.

However, the move isn’t unfortunate for the athletes. The space boasts many platforms

with multiple benches and racks of dumbbells and barbells. It’s a great space to workout. Anyone can book a spot in this room from 7:30-9:45pm.

There are rules set in place because of COVID-19 and enforced by those working at the Rec Center, such as the inability to do “buddy workouts.”

These are workouts that involve spotters, so athletes should make sure to work on form and other smaller workouts during this time.

Working out indoors has been a struggle for gyms across the country, but the university has allowed for a large enough space for students and athletes to work out while following social distancing standards.

Being granted this opportunity, athletes and students should be

Photo courtesy of Charger Rec’s Instagram

sure to wipe their equipment down after use.

Those interested in reserving a spot should go to @chargerrec on Instagram and click the link in their bio. It will take you to the MyCharger login where you can select your time and reserve your spot.

A University ID Card and cleared status on CoVerified are required to enter the Rec Center.

Return of the NFL

BY TYLER WELLS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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he quiet Sunday afternoons that punctuated the end of every week during the COVID-19 pandemic have been filled with an age-old staple: the return of football. The NFL season started on Sept. 10, becoming another one of the nation’s beloved sports to return amid the worry of a season impacted by the pandemic.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans squared off in the season opener with limited fan capacity; the NFL is the second major sports league behind Major League Soccer to allow fans into events. This kicked off week one, which saw all 32 teams play.

The NFL plans to play a full, 256 game season over a 17-week span, with each team

playing 16 games, like a normal year. According to ESPN, the league plans on testing athletes daily, except on game days, in hopes of limiting any COVID outbreak.

Teams were also not allowed to have the typical, four-week preseason schedule as they normally do, causing many of them to hit the ground running with no build-up of competitive play.

It may not seem very significant given the state of the pandemic, but the return of football is yet another welcomed norm that many have been yearning for over the past six months.

This is most evident in the University of New Haven’s Bartels Hall on a Sunday night.

While sitting and eating dinner, the picturesque view of sports’ importance in a state of disarray becomes clear. Clusters of students, none allowed to eat more than four or six at a table together, all united as the week two matchup of the Chiefs and

Los Angeles Chargers played on the television.

“Everything just seems like a normal Sunday night, eating at the dining hall with my friends,” said sophomore, criminal justice major, Kymani Yearde. “It’s a nice escape.”

On TV, Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, rolled out of the pocket to his right and threw across his body, on the run -- a pass that has become the signature of last year’s MVP. The ball found wide receiver Tyreek Hill as he fell and rolled into the endzone for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

The Bartels crowd responded with a variety of “oohs” and “aahs,” pleased by the skill displayed on screen.

For a moment, everyone who watched the game as they ate dinner seemed to forget about the situation around them. In a time of utter abnormality, the scene could not have felt like a more normal Sunday night.

September 28, 2020

POLITICS

Page 9

Decision 2020: Who are students voting for?

BY BARRY LEWANDOWSKI

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

he 2020 presidential election is just over a month away, and with absentee ballots soon to be distributed, students at the University of New Haven are making the case to vote for their candidates.

According to a recent poll by Change Research and Crooked Media, 30 percent of undecided voters believe their votes don’t make a difference. 15 percent of voters say they don’t know enough about the candidates, and 21 percent say they dislike both candidates for president.

“The mindset of my vote doesn’t matter is little more than a worm that spreads,” said sophomore computer science major, John Leone. “And if enough people believe it, then your opponent automatically wins.”

Some students at the university believe there are plenty of

Joe Biden

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

good reasons to vote for either candidate.

On Trump, Leone said the president would sign “legislation to curtail American-based companies from bending to the will of foreign powers, as well as bringing more production back to the states.”

Leone also believes with another four years of the current administration, he would look forward to “change in social programs to reduce dependency on the state, as well as reducing handouts to illegal immigrants while still helping those who need it: Veterans, mentally-ill individuals and the handicapped.”

“My priority is teaching American exceptionalism in schools,” said Nick Thompson, a sophomore political science major. He believes that President Trump’s commitment to American exceptionalism sets him apart as the best candidate this year.

“In recent years, we’ve definitely seen a decline in how our generation sees America. There is a widespread rejection of Americanism,” Thompson said.

“These base ideas of life, liberty and the pursuit of property are things that are being rejected at large, and those ideas are deeply and intrinsically tied to the idea of being an American.”

Senior fire science major, Sean Kennedy, said the current president deserves another four years.

“President Trump oversaw two of the largest gains in stock market history, and with another four years that trend will very likely continue,” said Kennedy.

Other voters at the university believe Biden has earned their vote.

“I really like [Biden’s] policies on education,” said senior forensic science major, Elizabeth Cote. “Biden would be increasing funding, especially in early education and adding more psychological professionals, as well as increasing teacher pay.” “[Biden] is genuinely for the people,” said senior forensic psychology major, Jordyn Napier.

“If you were to have the top public health officials saying that opening up the economy immediately is a bad idea, and could kill thousands of Americans, Biden would listen to that,” Napier said. “He really wants to make this country better, and to make sure citizens aren’t dying when they don’t need to be.”

“A Biden presidency will take the steps necessary to put Amer-

Donald Trump

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

ica on the right track, and bring our prestige back on a global stage,” said junior forensic science major, Chris Cheslog.

Cheslog also said he believes “[Biden] has a lot of foreign policy experience and knows how you have to act with and around other world leaders to get stuff done.”

With just over a month before ballots are counted across the country, the next few weeks are critical in deciding who will be president in 2021. But of all the decisions potential voters will have to make, the most important is to go out and vote.

“Just because you’re one person doesn’t mean your vote doesn’t matter,” said Napier.

If every person in the United States said that, there would be no election. If you give your voice, it encourages other people to use their voice, and that gets everybody involved… regardless if you’re voting for Biden or Trump it’s important to vote.”

September 28, 2020

POLITICS

Page 10

Trump opposes mail-in voting, You’re not settling: Republican party concerned The case for Joe Biden

BY AMANDA CASTRO MANAGING EDITOR

P

resident Donald Trump’s operation to prevent mail-in voting for the elections this fall is raising fears among Republicans – especially in swing states – that his actions could negatively affect their party, come election night.

According to Newsweek, GOP senators said on Thursday that the president’s attacks on mailed ballots are false and should stop as Trump posted more false claims to his Twitter.

On Sep. 17, Trump continued expressing his dismay at the reality of mail-in voting in November, building upon criticisms he has made this week, by objectively tweeting about the practice.

Recently, the president has sought to discriminate between states that habitually give mail ballots to all eligible voters and those that make people submit a

postal ballot, but he has gravely skewed the procedure.

On Aug. 24, Trump said in a press conference that turning to mail-in voting for the elections during the coronavirus pandemic is “the greatest scam in the history of politics” because it may lead to voter fraud. However, according to NPR, there is no evidence to back his claim of the possibility of this.

It has been six months since he initiated his plan to block universal mail-in ballots, and Trump has still not stopped any state from giving voters the “unsolicited ballots” he believes will lead to fraud.

Voter fraud has proven to be rare. Based on analyses of previous elections, the Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 said that the probability of ballot fraud lies between 0.0003 percent and 0.0025 percent.

Trump said that other votes would be harvested by specifically Democratic individuals who go door-to-door to gather ballots not submitted by the electorate. Furthermore, he says some states do not validate

signatures on ballots. He did not back his claims.

According to AP News, Trump’s efforts are currently being challenged in court in the states of Nevada, New Jersey and Montana. In California, his challenge was avoided by the state legislature.

Political scientist and law professor Rick Hansen, in a recent New York Times op-ed, said that the president has made “at least 91 attacks on the integrity of voting so far this year (and more than 700 since 2012) and backed up his complaints about mail-in ballots with lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Iowa.”

Hansen also said, “We cannot count on Mr. Trump to speak responsibly about the fairness of the 2020 vote count. Indeed, he is one of the biggest threats to the integrity of the election.”

Social media outlets, such as Twitter, have taken action to flag Trump’s mail-in ballot tweets with a link that leads to an information webpage that explains why voting by mail is “safe and secure.”

BY BARRY LEWANDOWSKI

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

ccording to the US Census Bureau, in 2016, just over 60 percent of eligible Americans exercised their right to vote. While there is no specific reason turnout was so low, the narrative that permeated the election was the idea that neither candidate was good enough.

Opinion In 2020, the Democratic Party seeks to inspire voters to drive up low voter turnout and to prevent a defeat this November.

However, the strategy most are leaning into is not inspiring hope.

Settle for Biden is a self-described grassroots organization, made up of former Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren supporters, who believe that former Vice President of the U.S., Joseph Biden, “isn’t fantastic but Trump is far, far worse.”

Settle for Biden’s Instagram account has over 150 thousand followers, with posts that refer to Biden as Trump’s better alternative.

This strategy may intend to encourage voters, but it will not work. The idea of former Vice President Biden being Pres. Donald Trump’s better alternative is not inspiring. The narrative that Trump and Biden are both bad candidates breeds cynicism.

Here’s a better message: In 2020, Vice President Biden is uniquely positioned to succeed as President of the U.S., and he

Joe Biden

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

should enthusiastically receive your support, for two key reasons.

The first? The Democratic Party and American democracy has never been more polarized.

Many times, when discussing whether someone should be President, their policy is the most important criteria. This mindset is not working. The coronavirus pandemic requires informed solutions. It requires action, not talking points. We need someone who will listen to experts and govern. Biden is a politician who believes in listening.

After Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race for President, members of Sanders’ and Biden’s campaigns met to form a unity task force. This group worked together to form a 1110page document detailing their recommendations inspired by both Biden and Sanders’ policy ideas and goals.

A president should make decisions based on policy the American people believe in.

They need to work with people who may disagree with them.

Biden has proven he can do that.

A governing politician, who is trusted by many, listening to the

Read more on pg. 11

September 28, 2020

You’re not settling

OPINIONS

COVID and college: What’s the point of coming to campus?

Continued from pg. 10 progressive ideas around him and modifying policy accordingly.

The second, and the arguably most important reason we need to support Biden, is the state of our country. More than 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, and fires are destroying the West Coast, prompting emergency evacuations for thousands of Americans.

“We are a country in terrible anguish right now,” said Jon Stewart, former host of “The Daily Show” in an interview with Stephen Colbert.

“When I see Biden… I see a guy who knows what loss is, who knows grief,” said Stewart “What I think in this moment this country needs is a leader of humility… (who) understands that he doesn’t understand, that understands the humanity of this experiment and the difficulty that it is in maintaining it, and that we have to connect with each other on a much deeper level without the bullshit,” he said. “And it gives me hope… that maybe he is the man of the moment.”

Joe Biden is not your Trump alternative. He is a man of humility and dignity. He’s the man who met a 13-year-old boy named Brayden, and helped him with the same stutter Biden has pushed through his entire life.

He’s a man equipped to govern based on facts. In 2020, he’s a candidate to get behind, regardless of the incumbent President.

Don’t settle for Biden. Vote for Biden. Fight for Biden as if your life depended on it. Because with the coronavirus pandemic, fires on the West Coast and hurricanes hitting the U.S. with more and more frequency, it just might.

Page 11

BY TIANA FRIAS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

C

oming to college is something a young adult thinks and dreams about from an early age. Television shows and movies show what “college life” looks like and give students expectations about it. Though these are dramatic overstatements, living on campus is something that every student looks forward to. The parties, the social events, always look like they’re one for the books.

But what if you never got the

Outside of Rec Center Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

chance to participate, and what does college life really even look like right now?

As a first-year student starting college and moving to a different state for the first time, I never expected life to be the way it is. I admit that I had moments where I wondered, “What even is the point of living on campus anymore?”

Here’s one example: Growing up, you think about all the parties and fun you will have on campus with friends. However, starting the same year as the coronavirus came around took away these experiences. I often sat thinking about how boring life on campus would be and how awful it would be to have to wear masks most of the time.

Fortunately, my experience was nothing like I expected.

In the three weeks that I’ve been at the University of New Haven, I have had the opportunity to meet some of the best friends I’ve ever had. Although meeting people is odd in these times, it is not impossible. If you’re a freshman like me, don’t be afraid to talk to someone walking by or compliment them.

It can be tough to talk to others in classes because of masks and things being awkward, but it can happen. I’m sure events on campus are different than before, but I still feel the kind of campus community that was talked about during campus tours. Being able to go to Twisted Thursdays with my friends and make silly little bears makes

our week. Yes, we’re stuck in our rooms most of the time, and yes we’re not allowed to do most things that come with college life, but when it comes down to it, is it all that bad?

I think that living on campus has been amazing so far, and I can’t wait to finish the semester out. And who knows, policies can change and there is also next semester to have fun with friends. If there isn’t another semester, then make the most of it and remember all the fun you had in your previous years.

Although I don’t know what life on campus is supposed to look like, I am grateful that I got to experience COVID in college, because it’s something I’ll never forget.

September 28, 2020

Page 12

OPINIONS

Mental health in the wake of COVID-19

BY ISABELLE HAJEK CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, discussions of physical health have taken precedence over mental health, and as National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month begins, this disparity is being noticed. As the government temporarily shut down businesses, created isolation guidelines, and has enforced mask mandates, unintended mental health side effects may have developed.

Life stress theory dictates that certain events and situations a person is exposed to can affect their mental state and behaviors. In a 2019 article from the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, it was hypothesized that loss, physical danger, role change/disruption, and difficult to escape situations, are indicators of increased suicidal thoughts or actions. Much of the literature on depression and suicidal thoughts corroborates this hypothesis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created such life stress; namely great life change and threat of physical danger. Not only have people had to adapt to lifestyle changes, such as wearing masks, but people have had to reimagine their finances and the new levels of risk associated with ordinary tasks and activities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 31.3 million individuals in the U.S. reported that they were unable to work due to the pandemic. This statistic does not include individuals who had to make the choice to stop working because of their own or a family member’s preexisting condition.

Photo courtesy of University of New Haven

As of Sept. 23, approximately 200,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the U.S. and nearly one million worldwide.

Respectively, the infection rates are 36 times and 32 times greater than the death tolls. Telling of the danger of COVID-19, such rates have been a major source of anxiety and stress.

Experts are drawing parallels between the possible mental effects of COVID-19 and other outbreaks. Going as far back as the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu, literature shows that suicide rates mirror infection rates.

As infection rates increase, so do suicide attempts. After the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, suicide, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and depression rates also increased.

Similar findings were found in individuals impacted by the Ebola virus in 2017.

With these shocking trends,

people are asking what they can do to combat the negative mental effects of COVID-19.

In July, the Center for Disease Control published a statement on how to cope with various stressors related to COVID-19.

Among other private health groups, the New Direction Behavioral Health group recently published a fact sheet titled, “Social Distancing, Quarantine & Isolation: How to Cope.”

Both sources highlight the importance of community and compassion in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to stay connected to those you care about and pay attention to each other’s behavior. Symptoms such as feelings of hopelessness, becoming withdrawn from loved ones, trouble sleeping, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities are all symptoms of depression. Hypervigilance and trouble sleeping are indicative

of anxiety disorders.

Aside from lack of resources, the biggest barrier in improving mental health is the stigma associated with diagnosis and treatment. If you or someone you know is experiencing these or other symptoms, be sure to be there for them and provide them with resources for self-care and treatment. More than anything it is important that you show compassion.

One community that experienced unprecedented life changes as a direct result of the pandemic are college students.

As many students were sent home early last spring semester and are facing drastically different fall semesters, colleges are focusing on how to support not only their physical health but their mental health as well.

According to the American Council on Education, eight out of 10 university presidents they interviewed perceive mental health as a growing concern on their campus and over one third of presidents intend on investing more into student mental health initiatives.

These initiatives may include changes in class structures to quell fears related to COVID-19, accommodations made in grading and attendance policy, and increased mental

health resources.

At the University of New Haven, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has implemented a “COVID Adjustment” support group, among others. They are asking that those interested contact aaudette@newhaven.edu.

The university has adopted various forms of online and hybrid classes to accommodate students’ anxieties related to exposure to COVID-19. The COVID-19 Emergency Academic Policy Changes have also been extended through the fall 2020 semester. These changes include allowing for pass/fail designation to courses and extended class withdrawal deadlines.

Despite the changes and initiatives, the university has provided, there is still reason for concern regarding mental health. College creates a unique environment for various life stressors to occur during a period of development. This increases the vulnerability for students’ mental health during the pandemic.

For information and help regarding emotional distress and suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255.

September 28, 2020

STUDENT LIFE

Page 13

How COVID-19 impacted Virtual career fair the theater program

BY TIARA STARKS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

C

OVID-19 has made it difficult for live theater to make its comeback, prefacing what the future of professional theater will look like as of now. As the university continues to uphold its social distancing policies, the theater program on campus has had to adapt similarly to the Broadway scene with updated regulations to live events.

“The Fall 2020 production season is designed to be rehearsed and performed in a way that offers flexibility and adaptability as circumstances dictate, whether in small venues for limited audiences, using online platforms (e.g., Twitch, YouTube, Discord), or developing other new models for live performance says Margaret Savilonis, an associate professor for the university’s Division of the

Students perform in “Melancholy” in 2019 Photo courtesy of Hunter Lang

Performing Arts and a co-coordinator of the theater program. Savilonis will direct the science-fiction play, “R.U.R.”

by Karel Čapek, which will be performed virtually Nov. 1114. “R.U.R.” will be streamed online as part of the digital fall season and rehearsals will be arranged for remote and safe socially-distanced sessions.

Another performance will come from the Community Impact course, an offering from the theater program that brings important messages to light through performance. “The class content centers on theater that inspires, informs, and explores pressing national and global issues, and helps to bring them to the fore[front] in compelling and evocative ways,” said Jonathan Yukich, practitioner-in-residence, and co-coordinator of the theater program.

“From the pandemic to racial justice to the mounting devastation of our planet due to climate change, among other issues,’’ said Yukich.

The exact date for the production is still to be determined but will take place sometime in

November.

The university’s student-run theater club has remained active as well. In a statement from theater club president, Stefania Sassano, the club has continued engaging its members and offering events and opportunities for people to enjoy theater.

“The University of New Haven Theater Club has adapted to the COVID-19 regulations by holding meetings virtually via Zoom,” said Sassano. We do everything from viewings to discussions, to play readings, all from the comfort of our homes/ dorms. Even though we are not meeting in person, we still manage to involve ourselves in theater in a way we believe is the safest for us.”

The Theater Club meets over Zoom every Thursday from 4 pm-5 pm. Email theaterclub@ newhaven.edu for more information.

Contact Prof. Margaret Savilonis at msavilonis@newhaven. edu and Jonathan Yukich at jyukich@newhaven.edu to learn more about the Theater Program and ways to get involved.

BY BETH BEAUDRY STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

T

he University of New Haven held its annual career expo on Sept. 16. Although it looked different this year because of COVID-19 restrictions, students were still able to meet virtually with possible employers.

Rather than hosting tabling in the Recreation Center, students were given a list of the employers available, and were able to make a virtual appointment with them through Career Fair Plus. Some companies required students to reserve a meeting time with them, while others provided a link where students could join without reservation.

Most companies offered both options.

There were 48 companies present, ranging from communication to criminal justice, engineering, finance, and more. Some present companies included the U.S. Capitol Police Department, Amazon, the Peace Corps, Turner Construction, Webster Bank, and more. There were 800 available appointment slots between all 48 companies, and about half of the time slots were reserved in advance.

The Career Development Center (CDC) Instagram promoted the event throughout the week and offered tips for students attending. They offered step-bystep tutorials on how to reserve a meeting, and ways to impress the employers, such as dressing properly and having clear camera quality and good lighting.

Operations and events manager of the CDC, Katie George, said, “Students were still excited to have the opportunity to network for possible internship opportunities. Students were

Photo courtesy of CDC’s Instagram

also happy to have dedicated time slots to chat with employers versus walking up to career fair tables and trying to immediately stand out from the crowd of other students.”

While there were some technical difficulties, the fair still ran smoothly and students, faculty, and employers remained patient and enthusiastic as they learned how to interview virtually, according to George.

George said that while the career fair is always popular, the CDC presents opportunities for students to network year round.

She said that many students wait until being close to graduation to visit the CDC and look for jobs, but she advises students to get involved starting their first semester, and stay involved throughout the school year.

“When students choose to work with our office from early on [first year on campus], what tends to happen is not only do we [CDC staff] build rapport with you [students], but you’ll be closer to the relationship we have with all of our employer partners,” said Geroge.

The CDC has weekly Zoom opportunities for students to work on their resume and cover letters, practice their interviewing, and get help finding a job or internship.

11September

28, 2020

STUDENT LIFE

Page 14

Let’s Talk Media! Discussion on racial consciousness

BY BETH BEAUDRY STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

T

he recent revival in activism for the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked needed discussions on race and discrimination. University New Haven communications professor Wayne Edwards recently worked with Digital Media CT to host a discussion about racial consciousness in the media.

The discussion was held Sept. 15 on YouTube Live. The discussion took place as a Zoom recording with Edwards, Marvin Louis, Digital Media CT staff member, and a panel of communications workers including vice president at Xander, Tony Franklin; assistant news director at NBCUniversal Media, Akemi Harrison; freelance media producer, Mallory Mason; IBM’s visual designer, Janiel Richards, and senior coordinating producer at ESPN, Michael Fountain.

“The events of 2020 have certainly opened a greater awareness of social injustice and systemic racism that has occurred for centuries,” said the video caption. “Black citizens from all socioeconomic backgrounds have, at some point in their career, been the recipient of bias or worse in the workplace. This is no different in the media industry.”

The discussion focused on racism in the workplace. Members of the panel talked about the struggle to be recognized in their position.

Fountain shared his experience about presenting an idea in a meeting and not receiving the reaction he anticipated, only for a colleague to present a similar idea and to have it approved. Or, how he would be corrected in a harsh tone by his boss for mak-

ing a mistake, but his coworker would make the same mistake and be corrected in a nicer tone.

He talked about having to recognize bias in his industry, and having to work against it.

“Believing in yourself is key,” said Fountain.

Franklin said the best solution was to push back against discriminatory behavior and addressing it directly with coworkers. When these situations happen, Franklin tells himself, “I am going to make sure you see me.”

He talked about how he was once pulled into his boss’s office for “advice,” but the advice was to talk and act like the supervisor. Eventually, Franklin realized that he didn’t have to change who he was and addressed that with his boss.

The panel also spoke about how they were taught that they would have to work harder than their white colleagues, and how it would be more difficult for

them to be heard.

Richards said that on several occasions people at her office have assumed she was an office cleaner rather than their visual designer. She shared a story of how she would be washing her own dishes after her lunch break, and other workers at the office would put their dirty dishes in the sink and assume she was going to clean it for them.

“It’s interesting how we’re conditioned to go through life.

My mom has always told me, even if someone disrespects you, hold your own and try to be respectful as much as possible,” said Richards.

Franklin said, “It doesn’t matter how many wins you have, as a Black executive I always have to prove myself.” With that, he shared his fear of how when white employees get fired, they can almost immediately find a new, similar job. As a Black employee, Franklin fears that if he ever got fired, he wouldn’t

get that chance again.

Harrison shared a story of how she was starting at a new job and went to shake an employee’s hand but was dismissed. Or, how her team was covering a story on a graveyard by a name that included the N-word, and her white coworker continuously read the full word out loud.

Harrison had to step up and say that their behavior was inappropriate.

“You may be the only person of color [in your workplace],” said Harrison, “and you have to be the voice for that community.”

Panel members talked about their experiences of being the only or only one of a few Black employees, which meant fewer opportunities to find mentors.

Panel members said they always looked forward to mentoring interns or younger employees, that way they could help them navigate the challenges.

On the topic of being few

The Zoom event

Photo courtesy of Beth Beaudry

Black employees, Harrrison shared a story of how she was one of two Black women in her office, and how her colleagues would mistake their names frequently.

Mason talked about her experience, and how she encourages Black people to ask their colleagues to use their full name,unless they give permission otherwise. She talked about white fragility in the workplace and ways that it is projected. She said that while this is not always the case and a nickname may be given with good intentions, people should not be afraid to say how they want to be addressed by their colleagues.

“Make them say your full name…[shortening your name, or giving you a nickname] is a tactic they use to diminish you,” she said, “and I had to learn that . . . Have them address the way you want to be addressed.”

September 28, 2020

STUDENT LIFE

Page 15

Marching band plays on through pandemic

BY KAYLA MUTCHLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A

mid the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of New Haven marching band has defied the odds, being the only marching band in Conn. to continue their season as planned, while keeping it safe for students, staff and spectators.

This year’s show is entitled “The Best of Times.” It features student’s favorite songs that the band has played in the past decade. Songs include: “Can’t Help Falling in Love”

by Elvis Presley, “Take on Me” by a-ha, “Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga, “Best of Times”

Members of the mellophone section Photo courtesy of University of New Haven

by Styx, “Sound of Silence” by Disturbed, “Wipeout” by The Surfaris, “Daylight” by Maroon 5, and “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down.

Jason L. DeGroff, senior lecturer and director of bands, said that this year has similarities and differences to a regular season. Students still get to play together and learn drill (the coordinates on the field.)

However, there are new precautions in place aimed to enforce COVID-19 policies.

“All rehearsals, whether standing still or marching, we maintain 6-10 foot distances,” said DeGroff. “Everyone wears masks and the students and staff have been great.”

Students are not allowed to share music stands, water, slide grease or valve oil for their instruments. There are more breaks during practices with staggered stop and start times so that there are less people on the

field at once.

Each instrument also has bell covers -- a mask-like material that prevents the spread of saliva -- to further protect the people around them.

The band rehearses at North Field on Monday and Friday from 3:55 to 6:45 p.m. Each rehearsal day, DeGroff sends a schedule to the band of what the plans are and what goals they have.

Typically, they rehearse and memorize music in sectionals -- which is when students break into groups by instrument -- and then they do a full ensemble -- which brings the entire band together to put the music to drill -- and more, said Kristyn Petrillo, senior music major and one of the drum majors.

DeGroff said that this year is slower-paced than in previous years because there aren’t many performances to prepare for.

However, the band is try-

ing to get some performances approved. Currently, they are working to for approval of a drive-in performance on Oct. 3, where spectators can drive into the North Campus parking lot to watch them perform. It would not be a marching show, but they would still perform the music.

Michael “Ike” Ireland, senior forensic science major and tenor drum section leader said, “We aren’t in a rush to complete the show, which truly just shows that we are all playing this season because we all have the common goal of our love for music.”

“The band is working hard and trying to make the most of this time,” said Petrillo. “It [is] awesome for us to create live music again and hope to share it with the school soon in the safest way possible.”

“We still have a schedule to follow and our goal of pro-

ducing the best music we can is really what pushes us,” said Ireland.

“This season, we really just hope to keep some sort of normalcy, not only for us but for the entire university,” said Ireland.

“The chargers marching band is always and will forever be a family,” said Petrillo. “I personally find it gave me back a lot of normalcy to my life with being able to participate in band.”

“I never take for granted a day at band, even when they are long rehearsals and we are all tired”, said Petrillo. “I want us to use this time to become even better than we were before so that the day we get to go back to normal is the day everyone gets blown away.”

Kelly Nelson

Photo courtesy of UNH marching band’s Facebook