Concordiensis T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F U N I O N C O L L E G E S I N C E 1 8 7 7 Volume. CLI, Issue XXV
concordiensis.com
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Return of in-person Prize Day for 112 distinct awards Daniel Greenman News Editor
On May 14, Prize Day was held in Memorial Chapel, in person for the first time since 2019. 112 prizes were given from academic and other departments to students. One of the top honors, the Josephine Daggett Prize for “a senior of the best conduct and character,” went to Unglid Paul ‘22. Paul also won the David Brind (1982) Memorial Prize in English for an outstanding senior English student, the George H. Catlin (1867) Prize for graduating liberal art senior with the best scholastic record and who is most promising for graduate study and work in col-
lege teaching, the President’s Commission on the Status of Women Senior Thesis Prize to a senior whose thesis contributed most to scholarship on women, and the Mrs. Edwin L. Rich Prize to an English major who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship. In awarding the Daggett Prize, President Harris recognized Paul’s focus on equity and equality at Union. Paul has been active in the Office of Intercultural Affairs, having led dialogue-based programs there. She also founded Spill the Tea to create a space for Union community members to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion. She leads Union’s Gospel Choir as well. Paul also lived and studied in Senegal, volunteering there with the Association des Juristes Séné-
galaises, a pro bono female lawyer’s group aiding children and low-income women who are domestic violence victims. “What means the most to me,” said Paul of the Daggett Prize, “was that there were people who saw the work I was doing, who saw my heart, my character, and my conduct[...] I love being a writing tutor. I love being a senior intern, and ambassador for this school. I love Spill The Tea and the amazing and tough discussions we have all over this campus. I love being a Posse Scholar. I am passionate about Black women’s history, Haitian history, poetry, writing, and teaching. The fact that I’ve been able to explore all of these passions the way I have so far says a lot about the opportunities available at
Courtesy of Office of Communications and Marketing Bethany Costello ‘22 is the recipient of the Bailey Prize.
Union.” The other top honor, the Frank Bailey (1885) Prize to
the “senior who has rendered the greatest service to the See PRIZE on page 2
Union College celebrates its second annual Pride Fest Dante Sasso Jr. Emeritus Editor-in-Chief
“[It is a] huge priority of mine for everyone to be themselves so that it is clear that you can be yourself here,” said Union College President David Harris at Pride Fest, in addition to remarking about how important it is that Union College fosters a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. On Saturday, May 14, several clubs and organizations at Union College gathered
together in the Schaffer Library Plaza to celebrate the second annual Pride Fest at Union College. Several activities were available for anyone attending to participate in, in addition to information and resources for those who identify as LGBTQ+ at Union College. Activities ranged from Iris House’s flag sorting game–– in which participants had to identify which flags were for LGBTQ+ identities, and which were unrelated––to decorating cookies in the shape of rainbows to represent the pride flag. Union College’s Pride Club is responsible for organizing
and planning the event, with President Daniel Wilcox ‘22 explaining “Pride Fest welcomes all people to simply celebrate being themselves.” Wilcox also spoke about how Pride Fest came to be after years of events celebrating LGBTQ+ community members, stating “this is the second year of Pride Fest, following a virtual Pride Week in 2020. Prior to that, we did an annual Pride Walk around Union’s campus, welcoming all of the Union, Schenectady, and wider communities. Union Pride’s previous president, Eva Erickson ‘21, worked with Christa Grant, the Assis-
Courtesy of Office of Communications and Marketing Flags symbolizing LGBTQ+ support set up in front of Nott.
tant Dean for Intercultural Af-
See PRIDE on page 2
We’re beautiful on the inside, too
Opinions. page 3 More on pride and what it signifies
World, page 4 Clubs host discussion of Roe v. Wade
Sci/Tech. page 5 Return of in-person Computer Science Fest
Arts, page 7 Steinmetz dancers and the Jazz Ensemble
807 Union St. page 8 Meet the Jackson’s Garden Rooster!
News
Thursday, May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
PRIZE Continued from page 1
College in any field,” went to Bethany Costello ‘22. Costello also won the Joel A. Halpern (1961) Prize for “a student who has made a commitment in service to the local community,” and the Ethel Kirchenbaum Memorial Prize to a
PRIDE Continued from page 1
-fairs, to revamp the Pride Walk into Pride Fest.”
senior with “best potential for furthering the ideals of the engineering profession,” and the Mortimore F. Sayre Prize to a senior with “the best potential for furthering the ideals of the mechanical engineering profession.” Costello chairs the sustainability club U-Sustain, Student Forum’s VP of Sustainability and chairs the Union’s Sustainability Committee. She has also won the $25,000 Green Fee, which
went to installing eight new water-bottle-filling stations at Union. She was also given a Udall scholarship, and a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, the latter granting the opportunity to travel to cities across Europe and Asia to aid environmentalist grassroots and policy organizations. She also co-organized Student Efforts to Advance Sustainability NY, a conference that involved over 140 students from 32
to the Concordiensis about why Pride Fest is important to them. For Wilcox, Pride Fest “is a continuous reminder of the integration of LGBTQ+ people on Union’s campus and in the wider world. For some people, this may play a small part in
be a massive part.” From the Union College Classics Department, Chairperson Stacie Raucci explained that “we want to support the LGBTQ+ community in the most visible way possible so that they know we are here for them.” In addition, Visiting Assistant Nick Winters explained that supporting the LGBTQ+ community should be important for everyone, and that “for classicists in particular, the ancient world was queer as hell. There was homosexuality all over the place… it’s an opportunity to understand how flexible and malleable gender identity and homosexuality were.” He also mentioned that due to the age of the study of classics, it is important that the department uses their prestige to make their support clear and known. Representing Greek life at Pride Fest, Ginde Baker ‘23 of Gamma Phi Beta and Nima Darafshi ‘24 of Kappa Alpha explained why supporting the LGBTQ+ community is important to fraternities and sororities alike. “Supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Greek life is extremely important because our organizations are based on philanthropy and community service. We’re not really doing the best community service if we’re not supporting all identities around us,” said Baker. “I am personally a gay man, and I thought joining Kappa Alpha was a very comforting enviroment that I would be able to express myself in. Being a part of the fraternity, I feel I also have a job to be very inclusive and help others who may have questions or concerns about any type of homophobia or anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination,” Darafshi added. Pride Fest of 2021 featured Pride Club’s then President
Courtesy of the Office of Communications and Marketing President David Harris gets his nails painted.
Wilcox, along with many other organizations, spoke
their identity, for others, it may
Jing Chen | Concordiensis Professor Abraham, Dang, and Song and his family (right to left) table to present well-known economists. One of which is Deirdre McCloskey, a transgender economist, distinquished professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and author of The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce. McCloskey served as a mentor to Prof. Bradley Lewis at the University of Chicago.
New York campuses. When asked to describe the work that won her the Bailey Prize, Costello highlighted sustainability as her “focus throughout four years,” involving her time in clubs, work like coordinating volunteers to man waste stations, and more. Costello hopes her work on Union’s Climate Action Plan will continue after she leaves. At Union she has worked with administrators and trustees to
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“move forward in really making a new Climate Action Plan” with the “required research needed.” She highlighted that in Harris’ essay on this year’s Bailey Prize, he mentioned the Plan. “I like to think I’ve involved enough other people and “talked enough to other students that they’ll pick up the cause.” To her the prize was “celebratory,” reflecting opportunities at Union she was “very grateful for.”
Jing Chen | Concordiensis Union Pride is the organizer of the second annual Pride Fest. Union Pride E-board consists of (left to right) Rhys Moger ‘22, Daniel Dickson ‘22, Daniel Wilcox ‘22, Ryan Cudworth ‘25, and (front) Katie Boermeester ‘24.
Erickson talking about how more change needed to be made for Union to be a safe place for LGBTQ+ students. Wilcox, when asked about how inclusive Union College is for LGBTQ+ students, explained that “I think there are improvements to be made, but the same could be said about any college campus, as well as in the wider com-
munity, and all around the world.” These improvements, according to Wilcox, include “increasing the numbers of LGBTQ+ students, as well as encouraging a wider political understanding, and making intentional connections between the diversity of identities that Union’s community has.”
Courtesy of Tam Vu Chi ‘24 Association of Computing Machinery-Women (ACM-W) proposes discussion questions to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ members who are pioneers in the field of computer science. This includes Alan Turing, Lynn Conway, and Edith Windsor.
Jing Chen
Steinmetz Highlight May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
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chenj2@union.edu
John Masci ‘22, Kiara Beckham ‘22, Will Duprey ‘22, and Sarah Worth ‘22 (left to right) are four Biomedical Engineer majors who presented their senior group project at the Steinmetz Symposium. Their project, titled” Weight Measurement System for Pediatric Transports,” is a comfortable and compact device that can accurately measure the weight so that Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can administer the correct dosage of supplemental oxygen. Their device utilizes force sensors configured on a flexible mat.
Dereck Wang ‘22, a Biology and Economics Interdepartmental Major and Chinese Minor, presented economics thesis research that “investigated how the expansion of eligibility of Medicaid that was enacted as a part of the Affordable Care Act affected mental health outcomes in the United States.” Titled “Mental Health is Wealth Too: Did ACA Medicaid Expansion Improve Mental Health Outcomes?” Wang’s research finds that Medicaid expansion was associated with an increase in both the prevalence of depression and drug overdose deaths.
Genesis Gonzalez Villatoro ‘22 is a Chemistry and Theatre Interdepartmental Major. Titled “The Science Behind Cosmetics: A Deeper Look into the Chemistry of Makeup in Theatre,” Gonzalez Villatoro’s research explores the history of makeup and different forms of cosmetics narrowing down on lipsticks themselves. She compares three organic, three synthetic, and three theatrical lipstick brands to test how their composition affects areas such as pigmentation/saturation, durability, and ease of application.
Meghan McVaigh ‘22 is a Biology major with a Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies minor from Ballston Spa, NY. Her research is titled “Disruption of Transcriptional Regulator Ust1 in Oyster Mushrooms Using CRISPR/Cas9,” which explores how genome editing with CRISPR, a family of DNA sequences found in genos, can be used to possible functions of the Ustilago maydis gene in oyster mushrooms.
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Jing Chen
Steinmetz Highlight May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
chenj2@union.edu
Maia Martinez ‘22, who is from Maple Grove MN and a Political Science major, researched on the recent history of US far-right movements, especially since Donald Trump’s presidency. Titled “21st Century Rise of Neofascism in the United States: How the Alt-Right Emerged and Why it Continues to Grow,” Martinez documents doctrines of those movements and their implications for neofascism.
Rebecca Tegiacchi ‘23, a Psychology major and a Seward Fellow, studied “Music to Your Ears - Effects of Musical Experience on Prosody in Science Production.” Tegiacchi’s research examines the effects of musical expertise and training on prosody in language production. Prosodic elements such as tone and rhythm, among others, are important in determining the meaning and context of speech. Tegiacchi finds that musicians are able to produce speech better than non-musicians, drawing to the important implication of music to everyday lives.
Paola Garcia ‘23, a Biochemistry major, presents her Minerva Exploration experience to Guy T. Logan ‘90, one of the trustees of the College. Garcia used the Minerva grant to engage with active music therapy that primarily focuses on the individual learning how to play and make music. Garcia learned how to play guitar to reduce anxiety and stress through the rhythmic nature, and played a variety of songs to self-reflect and alleviate stress.
Jake R. Miller ‘22, a Political Science and History Interdepartmental Major with a Spanish Minor, took a creative approach to “The Angels of Warsaw: The Warsaw Ghetto Story.” Miller created screenplays that encapsulate the experiences of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in 1943. Miller says that “this is a topic in history that is widely discussed, but this point is not well-known to many. It is important to show defiance and courage of the Jewish community during a time of darkness and challenge.”
Bianca Ring
Opinions
Thursday, May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
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ringb@union.edu
Why pride events are important for the LGBTQ+ community Bianca Ring Opinions Editor
May 8th was the start of Pride Week at Union College, which ended on Saturday with Union’s annual Pride Fest. Union’s contributions to the celebration of pride are just one small part of nationwide celebrations of pride. In the seven years since gay marriage was federally recognized in the United States, LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations have remained important to the queer community, in the form of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, large parades such as NYC Pride, smaller thousands of other local events across the country. Pride is a celebration of the queer community, a way to educate society about LGBTQ+ issues, and a reminder of how far our country has come in terms of acceptance and legal rights, but at its core, pride is a protest. The first “Pride” was the Stonewall Riots, a string of protests that occurred in response to the June 28, 1969 police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan. The local queer community rallied together to protest the
violence committed against Stonewall’s patrons by police, and every year consecutively a march was held in support of the queer community. Over 5 decades after Stonewall, those who celebrate pride in the United States are legally allowed to marry, and gay bars are no longer banned, but members of the queer community still gather every year for far more than just a commemoration of our history. Kali Jauregui Morris ‘24 argues that “pride events are so important because currently, those in government feel like they can restrict trans peoples’ rights, such as former president Trump removing our access to the military. It’s also more important than ever to spread gay education as Republicans try to ban us from schools.” Morris is a member of Iris House, the LGBTQ+ theme house at Union, and they helped run the Iris House table at Pride Fest last weekend. The battle for true equality is far from over for the queer community, as legislation such as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill continues to bar queer education and visibility in schools, and the parents of transgender children who re-
Courtesy of Raphael Kummer-Landau ‘22 A shot of the Nott Memorial the night before the Pride Fest. Rainbow lights were set up around the Nott to signify support to the LGBTQ+ community.
ceive gender-affirming treatments in Texas are sued for child abuse. Forbes reports that in 2020, 52 percent of transgender youth contemplated suicide in the United States. Pride continues to be a necessary protest against the inequality that LGBTQ+ individuals are faced with and a vital reminder that queer
identities should never be a source of shame. On a local level, having Pride events and holding space for LGBTQ+ education plays an important role in making Union’s community more accepting. Lack of education about queer identities leads to alienation, violence, and hatred towards queer people, and Pride events are a great way to make queerness visible and normalized to the average person at Union College. Allies at Union can only be properly supportive if they
stay actively informed about queer issues, and creating a welcoming community of allies at Union will make Union’s queer community safer and more comfortable on campus. When this year’s Pride Fest had students and staff turned out in such large numbers, it serves as a reminder that not only is there a strong queer community here, but the allies that show up are making an effort to respect and support queer individuals.
Concordiensis Vol. CLI, Issue XXV, May 19, 2022 Jing Chen & Michael Rosenbaum Editor-in-Chief Daniel Greenman, News Editor Bianca Ring, Opinions Editor Avanti Khare, Sci/Tech Editor Zahra Khan, World/Business Michael Rosenbaum, 807 Editor Editor Aavasna Rupakheti, Webmaster Trey Everett, Photo Editor and Business Manager
Jing Chen | Concordiensis Union celebrated its second annual Pride Fest on Saturday, May 14. Student clubs and offices on campus tabled outside of Library Plaza to support LGBTQ+ individuals on campus.
concordiensis.com Email: concordy@gmail.com Office: 406 Reamer Campus Center
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Zahra Khan
World / Business Thursday, May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
khanz4@union.edu
Intense heatwave in Pakistan and India reach record high Muhammad Hassan Aamir Contributing Writer
Global Warming and ever-rising temperatures continue to take their toll on the rest of the world; with its most recent victims being the 1.5 billion people of India and Pakistan. This past few months a heatwave has subjected the people of India and Pakistan to extreme heat and humidity. Responding to the heatwave, Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change called it “a springless year.” Concordiensis sat down with Akriti Dhasmana ’22 and Alisa Motiwala ’25 to get their thoughts on these heatwaves. International students from India and Pakistan
respectively, Dhasmana and Motiwala are no strangers to such intense heat waves. For India, this past April was the hottest in 122 years and followed the hottest March on record. For Pakistan, it was the hottest April in 61 years. Jacobabad, Pakistan was characterized by a 2021 Amnesty International Report as “unlivable for humans” when temperatures hit triple digits (120.2 degrees F). The most vulnerable group affected by these heatwaves is the labor force. A huge chunk of Pakistan and India’s workforce is in agriculture. During the harvest season, millions of people are having to work in these conditions or give up their livelihood. According to Vox News, at least
25 people have died in India and 65 further deaths have been reported in Pakistan although due to these harsh conditions, the true numbers are expected to be higher. After receiving the news from her grandmother, Dhasmana felt that things had begun to take a turn for the worse. She said, “it has gotten significantly worse over this period.” “Following the burning of a landfill mass, it has made the situation significantly worse with Delhi becoming engulfed in smog and toxic fumes,” she remarked. She continues “that it had become extremely difficult for one to go outside for some time.” Motiwala’s experience of heatwaves is very similar to that of Dhasmana. As a competi-
tive athlete, she says “Karachi experiences severe humidity with no cloud cover and as an athlete, it made it particularly tough due to outdoor training.” She continues, “These heat waves particularly affect those in low-income housing because of their inability to afford luxuries like indoor cooling and air conditioning.” Both Dhasmana and Motiwala agree one of the solutions to the effects of heatwaves should be providing relief to the people. Dhasmana argues India should “halt” its construction work at least during the daytime so workers can attain some sort of relief. Similar to Dhasmana, Motiwala too suggests methods of relief for the working population. She calls on
the government and other non-governmental organizations to further increase their efforts for the people affected. The governments of Pakistan and India however have responded to this event in different ways. Senator Sherry Rehman who serves as the Minister of Climate Change in Pakistan “recommends inclusive reforestation” and argues that the developed world should help Pakistan because after all “it is their pollution they are paying for.”
Philippine’s new president and what it means for nation Zahra Khan World/Business Editor
On May 9, the Philippines’ presidential election was held, resulting in Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s victory by 60% of the vote. While there was a relatively peaceful transfer of power from the previous president Rodrigo Duterte, many have reservations as to how this new presidency will look for the country. The primary concern is Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “the son and namesake of the dictator Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. who was overthrown in 1986. Under Marcos Sr., the years were consid-
ered to be some of the “darkest periods in the nation’s history” according to BBC news. Throughout this dark period, Marcos Sr. suspended the parliament, politicians opposed to him were arrested, the army and police tortured many of his opponents, and Marcos Sr. had taken full control of the courts. Throughout his presidency, there were a plethora of human rights abuses. Furthermore, millions of individuals lived in poverty, and the country’s debt only went up. It wasn’t until 1983 when a high-profile murder case which was the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino who lived in exile in the United States ended Marcos Sr.’s presidency. According
to BBC News, Benigno Aquino was “determined to bring democracy to his country” but was shot dead after flying back to the capital, Manila. Looking at the present day, the question then becomes, despite the bloody and unjust period under Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr.’s rule, why would his descendant get elected? Ferdinand Marcos Jr. secured victory by promising rather vague promises about his future goals for the nation, and NBC News reports the wide margin in which Marcos Jr. won was “tainted by rampant social media misinformation.” According to NBC News, Facebook and Tiktok specifically were “flooded with content casting
martial law and life under Marcos as a ‘golden age.’” These social media platforms are where many Filipinos get their information. On top of this, more than half of the country’s population was born after Marcos Sr. was overthrown in 1986. With the additional lack of learning about martial law (which was prevalent under Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr.’s presidency), no one can remember nor connect to the country’s dark past. The unofficial results from the vote were released which showcased Marcos Jr. securing “more than 31 million votes” which was double the votes of his opponent, current Vice President Leni Robredo. Marcos Jr. wrote in his speech
during the results of his victory “To the world: Judge me not by ancestors, but by my actions.” Despite this sentence, historians will keep a sharp eye on Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s future years as president of the Philippines.
60-Second News
“We are the last generation, thank you” was spoken by a young man in a viral video posted on Chinese social media after a hazmat suited police officer threatened a family for refusing to quarantine, saying he will punish the family’s next three generations.
The leaders of Finland and Sweden have applied for NATO membership as a result of the Ukraine and Russia crisis.
Protests against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaska emerged as a result of the nation being down to its last day of Patrol this past Monday
Zahra Khan
World / Business Thursday, May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
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khanz4@union.edu
Clubs react and respond to Roe v. Wade overturn Daniel Greenman News Editor
Since the draft Supreme Court decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization leaked on May 2, forecasting an overturning of Roe v. Wade, clubs including Women’s Union and Union’s chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action (PPGen) have held discussion events. On May 11, PPGen held “Reserving Roe: Documentary & Discussion,” which featured a screening of Netflix’s film Reversing Roe. The film covered modern US abortion policy, law, and activism, from all-male councils that mandated sterilization in exchange for abortions, to 1970s Roe v. Wade activists,
Elanor Holmes Norton, and many pro-life figures, like Operation Rescue president Troy Newman, and Texas Right to Life member John Seago. In a Q&A after the film, PPGen leaders Viola Li ‘24 and Margaret Peterjohn ‘24 discussed issues like anti-abortion laws affecting one’s choice of workplace and residence, points of surprise that the Republican party early in the Roe v. Wade debate was largely pro-choice, and more.
Fact Box: Abortion restrictions were lifted in 1970 in New York, three years before Roe v Wade.
Courtesy of Alexandra Minuto ‘22 Women’s Union raises discussion questions such as “is the Supreme Court apolitical?” and “how can other governmental bodies step up at this moment?” to recent Supreme Court history. The film especially covered evangelical voters and the decades-long strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade, which began when televangelist Jerry Falwell mobilized evangelicals to vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980. The film also contained interviews with many pro-choice figures, like Gloria Steinem and Congresswomen
In Women’s Union’s Roe v. Wade discussion, a presentation titled “Roe v. Wade[:] How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?” was shown, and detailed ideological leanings of current Supreme Court justices, the history of Roe v. Wade and influential Supreme Court decisions since, and covered the recent leak and political reactions since.
Courtesy of Alexandra Minuto ‘22 Organizations such as Union’s chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action and Women’s Union hold discussion of the consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade on campus to raise awareness among the student body about this issue. When asked if PPGen had received different materials from its parent organization, Planned Parenthood, after the Supreme Court leak, Li said that the club has seen many more Emails and notes from its coordinator on upcoming events. On March 14, Li noted, a march in New York was held; this event was part of the “Bans Off Our Bodies” effort, partly organized by Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Since the leak, Li noted that leading Union PPGen has been “more hectic” and that it “feels like we have to take more action.” The club started as a place for people to gather and discuss abortion issues, said Li, but now it is “faced with said reproductive issues.” Li also noted a positive change in support from concerned students after the leak and has been “impressed” that Union PPGen has experienced no notable resistance or pushback. Though “occasionally”, Li added, she has heard PPGen’s or Women’s Union events characterized as “a bit performative”. When
asked how people in New York can support choice, Li suggested research and outreach to organizations that support reproductive health care, like women’s shelters or
Fact Box: Roe is an alias. Her actual name is Norma McCorvey. Planned Parenthood, as well as organizations supporting men: “though Roe v. Wade is primarily women-centric, this overturning could affect reproductive services for more than just women.” Jackson Giammattei ‘24, co-President of Women’s Union and facilitator of its discussion, stated that the talk raised questions like “Is the Supreme Court an apolitical body?” and “How can other governmental bodies step up at this moment?” She also said that “In terms of Women’s rights it is an incredibly scary
time”, as “overturning this decision could lead to decreased access to abortion” and to “certain contraceptives”, as well as an “increase of unsafe abortions.” Giammattei also noted that “this issue is especially felt in low-income communities of color” and highlighted Schenectady as a place the decision can have “real consequences.” Giammattei also suggested “keeping an eye on the news” and “attending upcoming discussions on campus”. On behalf of Women’s Union, Giammattei stated that the “decision would have a ripple effect on issues such as marriage equality, interracial marriage, access to contraceptives, sex education in the United States” and “access to different kinds of healthcare.” On May 25, 12:50 p.m. to 1:25 p.m., in Karp Hall 105, Professors Brad Hays and Zoe Oxley will hold the discussion event “The Supreme Court and the Politics of Reproductive Rights”.
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Avanti Khare
Sci/Tech
Thursday, May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
kharea@union.edu
Computer Science Fest returns to celebrate CS and tech Jing Chen | Concordiensis Over 80 students and faculty members gathered at Wold Atrium to celebrate the annual CS Fest organized by the Computer Science department and ACM-W.
Emma Vu Contributing Writer
This past Wednesday, over 80 students and faculty members gathered at Wold Atrium to celebrate the annual CS Fest organized by the Computer Science department and Union’s chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery—Women (ACM-W). This is the first time the event took place in person after 2 years. Students and faculty had dinner from Tara’s kitchen, participated in a number of games to get to know each other like trivia, Uhm Actual-
ly. There were game stations available for bonding activities like Beat Sabor contest in VR, Turing Tumbler, advanced Tic Tac Toe, interaction with Valerie robot, etc. Near the end of the event, students from Professor Poorna’s User Interface course presented their group projects. The event turned out to be a success with great attendance.
Jing Chen | Concordiensis Fiona Shyne ‘23, the co-President of ACM-W and one of the student organizers of the event, says that It was so much fun to plan this event. I really enjoyed brainstorming question ideas with other ACMW members and seeing how people responded to them. It was also great to hear back from the CS professors when I sent out questions to them for trivia. Their answers were really amusing and honestly made my week. I was also impressed by the amount of people that came and how engaged they were. I look forward to seeing what we are able to accomplish next year.”
Prof. Matt Anderson, the main organizer of the event, remarks that “CS Fest is an annual dinner celebrating the computer science community at Union and is co-organized by the CS Department and ACM-W. Our last in-person CS Fest took place about a week before the college went remote because of the pandemic in 2020. It was great to have everyone back in person—this year’s event had a record number of attendees. We really appreciate everyone that came together to help make this event a success, including Fiona Shyne (and the rest of ACM-W) who arranged and emceed a number of computer science trivia games, Prof. Poorna Talkad Sukumar, who organized talks on interesting student projects from her CSC 380
Jing Chen | Concordiensis Prof. Aaron Cass, ACM-W Community Chair Celia Lane ‘23, and Riley Spagnuolo ’23 gather at the Turning Tumble. The Turing Tumble is a simulation kit to explain the logic of computers using marbles and fun.
User Interfaces course, and Cole Belmont, the Director of the MakerWeb Consortium, for allowing us to use the Imagine Lab for a Beat Saber contest in virtual reality.” The biggest thank the CS community wants to give is to Prof. Matt Anderson for managing all logistics that made this event possible.
60-Second Sci/Tech
ACM-W supports, celebrates, and advocates internationally for the full engagement of women in all aspects of the computing field
Women were more likely to report receiving lower salaries compared to their colleagues
Across all global regions, all disciplines, and all level of economic development, women were significantly more likely than men to report discrimination based on gender.
Women were 1.6 times more likely than men to report interruptions in their graduate studies
Women were less likely to report positive relationships with their doctoral advisors and a lower doctoral program quality.
Jing Chen
Thursday, May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
Arts
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chenj2@union.edu
Dancers take over Viniar Court on Steinmetz Synposium Craig Efrati Staff Writer
The dance performance at Steinmetz Day was captivating and brought to life dancers for the first time to the stage since the ceremony
was done in 2019. A variety of dances were featured that ranged from traditional Indian dance to Hip-Hop dance. The show drew a very large crowd and had been prepped for months by dancers of all talents and backgrounds. Upon reflecting on the show, Adenike Hickson ‘22, who
Trey Everett | Concordiensis This dance is the last one Miryam Moutillet, the creator of Union’s minor of dance program, will direct after 24 years teaching at Union.
is part of the African Dance Club and a soloist, remarks that “I loved being involved in the Steinmetz Dance Performance this year because the last time I performed at Steinmetz in-person was during my first year of college in 2019. It definitely felt like a ‘full-circle’ moment and it was bittersweet one too.” “It has always been a pleasure to watch and experience the diverse choreographies that individuals and groups have worked so hard on,” Hickson continues. “I will forever be grateful for having the chance to perform at such an amazing and lively event.” The energy and enthusiasm that Hickson brought to the performance was captivated both through her performance and charm on and off stage. Many of the dancers had been preparing for this moment for a long time and were excited to show off their talents on the big stage. This includes Sage Elizabeth ‘25, who notes that “the Steinmetz Performance gave me the opportunity to show
Courtesy of the Office of Communications and Marketing Clubs such as Hip-Hop, Bhangra Union, Union Dance Team, among soloists and dancers perform at Viniar Basketball Court for the 2022 Lothridge Festival of Dance. off the amazing dance department here at Union and how important the arts are to the education experience.” The performance was captivating and inspiring to watch for all. After three consecutive years of hosting Steinmetz Day online, the dance perfor-
mance gave much-needed light to a school that values visual art. The event brought the power of dance and happiness to the entire campus community and was the first time many Union students experienced the magic of Steinmetz day.
Jazz Ensemble concludes return of in-person Steinmetz Day Jing Chen Co-Editor-in-Chief
The Jazz Ensemble performance at the Taylor Music Center concluded the 32nd Annual Steinmetz Symposium. Directed by Professor Tim Olsen, who has been with the college since 1994, the ensemble marks the finalizes of the return of in-person Steinmetz performances and presentations in lively and cheerful applause. The ensemble performed a variety of songs from classical jazz to ones choreographed by its own members. The Jazz Ensemble comprises students as well as local community members.
Prof. Olsen says that as the college is slowly recovering from the repercussions of COVID-19, the ensemble is greeted with new revitalizing talents. This includes alto sax Grace Canepari ‘25 and guitarist Aarón Carretero Benites ‘25. When asked what the motivation was behind joining the ensemble, Carretero Benites says “I’ve been playing the guitar for twelve years, and Jazz is a music that involves coordination. If I weren’t here, I wouldn’t be able to perform the instrument I love.” Canepari responds “I always loved it in high school and I love music.” To Canepari, being part of the ensemble and playing music “is so fun and great, especially after
COVID-19.” Despite challenges from COVID-19, Prof. Olsen thinks that “When we finally all came back together in Spring, it was very special because I was seeing kids I hadn’t heard play live for a whole year. If COVID doesn’t stand in our way, next year we should have an even larger group than our current size of about 13.” Performing on Steinmetz Day is special to the Jazz Ensemble because the ensemble has been performing on Steinmetz ever since Prof. Olsen arrived at Union in the 1990s. “It’s an opportunity to play for an audience that might not get a chance to see us at other times of the year,” Prof. Olsen says.
Jing Chen | Concordiensis The Jazz Ensemble has been performing on Steinmetz Day ever since the 1990s. This tradition has halted as a result of COVID-19, but the group is recovering from the repercussions brought by the pandemic.
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Michael Rosenbaum
Thursday, May 19, 2022 | Concordiensis
rosenbam@union.edu
Union Men’s Lacrosse Advances to NCAA Quarterfinals Joshua Kent Staff Writer
Union lacrosse hosted its first two games of the DIII NCAA Men’s Lacrosse tournament this weekend and was able to secure two historic wins. The Dutchman defeated John Carroll University on Saturday by a score of 14-7, to advance to
gland University, by a score of 21-11, to make this the winningest season in program history and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the third time ever. Union was in a fight early against John Carroll with both teams scoring two goals to start the first quarter. Then the Dutchmen began to pull away, going on an 8-2 run to end the first half. Sam Bryne’s
Josh Kent | Concordiensis Midfielder Peter Kip ’24 takes a shot against Western New England University.
Josh Kent | Concordiensis Kieran McGovern ’22, Peter Kip ’24, Keaton McCann ’22, Peter Burnes ’22 celebrate a goal. the round of 16 and tie Union’s all-time win record of 15. Then on Sunday, the Dutchman dominated Western New En-
’22 and Matthew Paolatto’s ’24 dominance at the X, winning 19 of 23 faceoffs, as well as the quick transition game of
Josh Kent | Concordiensis Peter Kip ’24 takes a shot against John Carroll University.
the midfield helped to propel Union’s offensive dominance. The Dutchman would go on to outscore the Blue Streaks 4-3 in the second half, even after taking out many starters in the fourth quarter. Peter Burnes ’22 and Keaton McCann ’22 were standouts, both scoring three goals, while Brian Davis ’22 and Kieran McGovern ’22 had three points apiece. The win set up a matchup with the Western New England University (WNE) Golden Bears after they also defeated the University of Lynchburg on Saturday. The Dutchman cruised to a blowout victory over WNE on Sunday, propelled by Peter Burnes’ ’22 career-high 9 point day. Despite the game being delayed nearly 90 minutes, the Dutchman came out very strong. The Dutchman’s dominant faceoff men and defense smothered the Golden Bears, allowing their quickstrike transition offense to get off to a 7-0 lead. The Dutchman held WNE scoreless for the first eleven minutes of the game with the help of goaltender Dan Donahue ’24 who made nine saves during the game. The Dutchman would nurse their large lead the rest
of the game and would never truly be challenged, winning 21-11. The story of the game was Peter Burnes ’23, who outscored the Golden Bears through the first three quarters 7-6. It was a team effort, however, as ten different Dutchman players scored against WNE on their way to the quarterfinals.
Next, Union will travel to Christopher Newport University, VA, to take on Gettysburg College on Saturday. If the Dutchman defeat the Bullets on Saturday, they will continue their historic season and advance to the program’s first-ever NCAA semifinals.
Josh Kent | Concordiensis Midfielder Kieran McGovern ’22 cuts to the net against Western New England University.
807 Union St. C
Thursday, March 19. 2022 | Concordiensis
Daniel Greenman
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greenmad@union.edu
Woman of the Week (WOW): Hannah Soliman ‘22 Jackson Giammattei Staff Writer
What are your proudest accomplishments? I innovated a new research paradigm in psycholinguistics through my thesis while rebuilding and leading the Muslim Student Association throughout the pandemic! I’m proud of every way I’ve fostered every aspect of my identity as a student while being at Union. What are you passionate about? I’m passionate about painting, neuroscience, languages, theology and helping others, epecially kids and older
adults! Anything that sparks my curiosity, I never hold back from exploring it no matter what. Who do you look up to?
I look up to my parents; their career accomplishments and the balance between their perosnalities and how they raised me contributed so much to who I am. There’s not a day that goes by when I’m not in awe of them. What does being a woman at Union mean to you? Being a woman at Union means showing up for who I am as a woman in the STEM degree I am pursuing, and taking advantage of every possible resource a liberal arts college that’s applauded
for its women in STEM has to offer.
How do you think Union can do a better job at supporting women on our campus? INTERSECTIONALITY! Just because I wear hijab doesn’t mean I bite! Social Justice programs are ineffective unless we challenge our assumptions about our sisters in ALL faiths and cultures, especially when recognizing our assumptions come from patriarchial political propaganda. Make space for your Muslim women by cheering for them the way you cheer and encourage others. If I saw more of that at my time here, I couldn’t fully articulate the difference that would’ve made for me.
Courtesy of Women’s Union Hannah Soliman ‘22 is a Neuroscience major and Studio Arts minor. Soliman is active on campus, including being part of the Student Conduct Committee and the Organizational Misconduct Board.
May Day in Berlin Michael Rosenbaum Co-Editor-In-Chief
I decided that I wanted to go to May Day in Berlin. May Day parades take place every May 1 and are explicitly to represent socialist and leftist movements on the streets of Berlin. Berlin has a long history of May Day parades, for more than a hundred years. I thought it might be interesting to see what it was all about. In the United States, the idea of May Day is mostly a novelty. We have Labor Day in the U.S., which has its own long and significant history. But even on Labor Day, I have not seen the level of organization and mass mobilization that I saw on May Day in Berlin. May Day in Berlin meant both the sensationalized marches through historical working class neighborhoods that often result in clashes with police, but also organized marches of parliamentary political parties, trade unions and
international groups. These international groups are mostly groups who have nationals in Germany, like left-Kemalists from Turkey or Greek Communists. The defining characteristic of these marches is their size. They will stretch for blocks around Berlin’s downtown. And they are (or at least the march I attended was) extremely civil. The route is determined ahead of time and police guard the route. The black bloc protesters who are stereotypically associated with socialist marches were absent, although there were other protests that day. Why do they march? It’s unlikely that anyone in that crowd believed that a new wave of social legislation would be passed in the wake of May Day. Perhaps the most important of the social issues was Germany’s recent large increase to the military budget, which is believed to be anathema to continued growth of Germany’s social safety net. But really the marches carry on because it shows a
Michael Rosenbaum | Concordiensis Labor organizers associated with the German labor union confederation march with banners and signs in the heart of Berlin, near the federal parliament on May Day. tangible, boots-on-the-ground interest in the maintenance of the most progressive elements of Germany. It is an economic or social version of the idea in the United States that if you don’t exercise your rights, you will lose them.
And that level of mobilization is important in advocacy for social issues. From unionization, to debt relief, which are poignant issues at American Universities, to the successes of Germany’s social safety net. If you are unsure of
whether it is possible to affect social change in your local region, take up the example of the international movements and see how they put their boots on the ground to advocate for the issues they care about.
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Michael Rosenbaum
807 Onion St.
Thursday, May 19. 2021 | Concordiensis
rosenbam@union.edu
Disclaimer: the following article is satirical, and meant to be a humorous and exaggerated expression of perspectives of campus culture for entertainment purposes. This article is not intended to offend readers or stoke controversy.
Meet the handsome Jackson’s Garden Rooster Gabby Basil Contributing Writer
Jackson’s Gardens are a wonderful home for a variety of migratory bird species and ravenous, deranged squirrels. Recently, however, a new guest has made his way into the gardens: The Campus Rooster. If you haven’t heard of him, you must be living under a rock; The Rooster has captured the hearts of the campus community. Many students flock to the gardens to see
The Rooster for themselves. He even has his own Instagram account: @jacksongardenrooster. It’s as if this is the first time these young adults have seen a rooster before, but I do admit, he’s a marvelous sight with his iridescent greens and blues, and fiery orange feathers. Personally, like many others, I adore The Rooster. He doesn’t know it, but he’s my new best friend, begrudgingly allowing me to sit next to him at times, when he is in the mood to tolerate my excessive adoration. While roosters are known to be ter-
Courtesy of @jacksongardenrooster “A new friend has appeared, I’ve been getting to know her over the last couple days… will keep you all updated.” — The Rooster.
ritorial and occasionally even aggressive, The Rooster is a sweet and gentle boy. If you respect his space, he will come to you in curiosity. If you offer him seeds or a little bit of your lunch (don’t give him too much!), he’ll gently take the food right out of your hand. What a darling! But there’s more to this story besides our single rooster. On Springfest, my friends and I decided to eat in the gardens, and sought out The Rooster to accompany us. When we found him, we were overcome with shock and awe- there was another chicken! She was laying down, and appeared mildly injured and dehydrated. As a kind person would, our brave and benevolent Rooster never left her side. We gave her a small bowl of water, and fortunately, she perked up after having a hearty drink. Due to her condition, however, we needed a plan. I contacted my professor, Kathleen LoGiudice, and told her of the situation. We had already told her about The Rooster, and she contacted a local farm animal rescue. Bird flu is rampant right now, and we wanted to make sure our beloved companion stayed healthy. Disappointingly, the farm rescue was little help. They were successful in taking the injured chicken, but completely and hilariously failed to attain The Rooster. It must have been fate; The Rooster was clearly far too powerful for any mere human to handle. I
Courtesy of Emma Gray ‘22 For any questions, the Rooster can be reached at Instagram @jacksongardenrooster. must say, they really gave it their worst effort. It might not be a fan of it, but you can simply pick up a rooster with your hands. You’ll probably get pecked, and as I know all too well as someone who works with birds, getting pecked hurts, but you’ll live. It seemed that the threat of a pecking was too much of a concern for the animal “rescuers,” and The Rooster evaded their paltry attempts at a rescue. While I am concerned for The Rooster’s well-being, deep down (actually…not that deep down), I was elated that our lit-
tle buddy got to stick around. Every morning as I walk past the gardens, I hear The Rooster scream his roosterly call, saying to the world and anyone who will hear him: “BEHOLD! I AM A ROOSTER! HEAR MY CALL AND REVEL IN MY POWER!” And every time I hear him, it brings a smile to my face. I’ll be graduating in June, and while I’m ready to explore the world past the gates of Union, I know I’ll miss that charming little rooster dearly.
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