4.14.21

HAMLINE UNIVERSITY | ST. PAUL, MN | 4.14.21 | VOL. 132 | NO. 17 | HAMLINEORACLE.COM

Out with mini donuts, in with vaccines

PHOTO | AUDRA GRIGUS, ORACLE The Minnesota State Fair is usually the center of carnival rides and delicious fried food, but starting on April 14 the fairgrounds will operate as a COVID-19 vaccination site.

According to Gov. Walz, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be distributed over eight weeks.

Hamline strongly encourages the community to sign up for Minnesota Vaccine Connector with the newest vaccination site at the State Fairgrounds.

Anika Besst Senior Reporter abesst01@hamline.edu Vaccine distribution in Minnesota is now open to everyone 16 and older, and Hamline students have options to get vaccinated.

Hamline was named a vaccine site in December 2020 but has not yet received any vaccines largely due

to challenges including lower prioritization of higher education communities, staffing, temperature control and questions about medical liability insurance for staff.

Jenny Kluznik, Public Health PA, and Jodi Metz, director of Health Services, have been in communication with the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Ramsey County Public Health about setting up a vaccine site on campus.

No official documentation has been shared with Metz at this time, but she has received word through contacts and colleagues at other schools that the State of Minnesota, MDH, and local public health counties and coalitions are unlikely to distribute vaccines to higher ed institutions, especially in the metro area.

“We will absolutely continue to prepare for the event

that things change as well as pursue other avenues to bring vaccines to campus. Right now, this means reaching out to pharmacies that are hosting clinics,” Metz said. “The bottom line is that we do not know if or when Hamline will be allocated COVID-19 vaccine for distribution.”

On April 4 the federal government and the State of Minnesota announced that the Minnesota State Fairgrounds will open for vaccinations starting on April 14. Due to how close this location is to Hamline, just over a mile away, this could affect the university from receiving vaccinations.

Presidential plans could aid Minnesota The Biden administration aims to generate jobs and build quality infrastructure.

AJ Washington Senior Reporter awashington02@hamline.edu The Biden administration has proposed a plan that will invest federal funds into fixing infrastructure.

President Joe Biden referred to the plan as a “blueprint of the infrastructure needed for tomorrow” in his speech last Wednesday.

“We need to start seeing infrastructure through its effect on the lives of working people in America. What is the foundation today that they need to carve out their place in the middle class to make it,” Biden said.

The president compares the U.S., ranked 13th in overall infrastructure

quality, to China, well known for their investment and development of technology and efficiency.

“Take a look, do you think China is waiting around to invest in this digital infrastructure or research and development?” Biden said. “I promise you, they are not waiting. But they are counting on American democracy to be too slow, too limited, and too divided to keep pace,” Biden said.

Released on March 31, the plan includes access to affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband as a part of infrastructure and funds for fixing highways, 10 of the most economically significant bridges and repairing 10,000 smaller bridges within the $2 trillion plan, including a $20 billion program to reconnect neighborhoods disrupted by historic investments. If passed, federal dollars could assist Minnesota’s construction of the Rondo land bridge over Interstate 94 and reconnect the

Rondo neighborhood that once housed 80% of Saint Paul’s African American population.

“Nearly 90% percent of the infrastructure jobs created by our American Jobs Plan can be filled by people who don’t have a college degree.

75% percent don’t need an associate’s degree,” Biden said.

T h e B i d e n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’s infrastructure plan mirrors proposed bills in Minnesota’s legislature. As the legislative session nears closure in several weeks, Minnesota legislators will be voting on bills to provide funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, energyefficient buildings and renewable energy sourcing, all of which align with the White House’s mission to create quality infrastructure.

The second part of the package, The American Families Plan, is expected to be released in the next coming weeks, as well as a tax plan to finance the plan.

see VACCINES page 2 To see a photo collection from the candlelight vigil, see page 3 To read about the Theatre Department’s most recent performance and future projects, see page 6 To catch the SAAC DIII Week Recap, see page 10

For details on commencement, see page 12

2 News

EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION Editor-in-Chief Carmen Danz Managing Editor Molly Landaeta News Editor Audra Grigus Business Manager Elizabeth Lowe Ad Manager Julien Halabi Design Editor Melanie Hopkins Social Media Director Ella Smith Web Editor Aidan Stromdahl Opinion Editor Mien Le

Vaccines (continued from front)

Health Services strongly encourages students, faculty and staff who wish to receive the vaccine to register with the Minnesota Vaccine Connector. Those living in the zip codes eligible through the fairgrounds vaccination site, which includes on-campus students, are especially encouraged.

“The goal of any vaccination event is accessibility. We want to do all we can to make sure as many people as possible have the ability to easily get to a location where they can receive a vaccine,” said Melinda Heikkinen, COVID-19 coordinator. “The upcoming event at the fairgrounds...is focused on providing access to vaccines to folks from specific ZIP code that may have had difficulty getting to other sites. The Midway Hamline area is included.”

If vaccines are allocated to Hamline, many factors would affect the timing and physical location on campus, but it would likely be held similarly to how the flu shot clinics or COVID-19 testing events have worked, according to Metz.

It would also be a requirement to provide the surrounding community access to any vaccines.

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 “While we understand the reasons for this, it has also been one of the main barriers to obtaining the vaccine for the Hamline community,” Metz said. “Counseling & Health Services does not provide services to the public or even to Hamline employees, we do not have the technology infrastructure or staffing in place to schedule appointments for anyone other than Hamline students.”

Health services will continue to share information on how to directly schedule an appointment as it becomes available.

ZIP codes eligible for the State Fairgrounds site: 55454, 55103, 55130, 55411, 55404, 55117, 55428, 55119, 55107, 55106, 55407, 55430, 55412, 55102, 55429, 55421, 55104, 55114, 55432, 55118, 55420, 55413, 55402, 55109, 55406, 55423, 55415, 55405, 55408, 55425, 55112, 55111, 55403, 55101, 55344, 55435, 55113, 55458.

Sports Editor Cathryn Salis A&E Editor Olivia Koski Variety Editor Andrea Lindner Copy Editors Eliza Hagstrom, Lydia Meier Illustrators Leo Coughenour, Abdirahman Ali Senior Reporters Kelly Holm, Anika Besst, Robin Doyscher, Jilly Wortman, Sarah Sawyer, Ethan Hermann, Leslie Perez, Jack Fischer, Z Martinez, Lyla Lee, Kathryn Robinson, Hayden Hayes, AJ Washington

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Reporters Coby Aloi, Nicole Espinoza Senior Columnists Emily Brown, Will Nelson, Hafsa Ahmed, Andrew P Weston, SJ Welch Senior Photographers Melanie Hopkins, Antonio Risso, Aidan Stromdahl, Emily Lall, Cait Quinn, Dasiyah Franklin-Carter Photographers Taleah Alldritt Distributor Robin Doyscher Advisers David Hudson, Trevor Maine

Source: hamline.edu/covid-19/dashboard

As of 4/06/2021

POLICIES

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PHOTO | TALEAH ALLDRITT, ORACLE Various COVID-19 testing sites, such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy, offer convenient drive-thru testing. Simply schedule an appointment online to confirm your day and time for testing.

To find out where to get tested for COVID-19, go to mn.gov/covid19/ get-tested/testinglocations

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

News 3

COLLAGE | MOLLY LANDAETA, ORACLE PHOTOS | TALEAH ALLDRITT AND JACK FISCHER, ORACLE The Hedgeman Center and Women’s Resource Center hosted a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, April 7 to honor victims of sexual, domestic and intimate partner violence during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This event occurred only two weeks after the Minnesota Supreme Court decision that being “mentally incapacitated” does not extend to those who voluntarily consumed drugs or alcohol, according to the Star Tribune, and nearly a month after the mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia that resulted in eight deaths, six of which were Asian women, according to the New York Times. In the wake of violence in the United States, especially against marginalized communities, this event gave an opportunity for vulnerability and healing within the Hamline community and beyond.

4 Puzzle

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Bird Search

Birds:

Crow Cardinal Pelican Hummingbird Great Horned Owl Goldfinch Mourning Dove Sandhill Crane Bald Eagle

Bluebird Grouse Robin Blue Jay Swallow Sparrow Loon Wren

WORD SEARCH |LEO COUGHENOUR

A&E 5

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Fulcrum highlights student growth For this year’s edition of the Fulcrum journal “Ephemerals,” there is an exploration of themes of growth, rebirth and renewal after destruction. With a curated blend of visual and literary contributions from Hamline students, readers are guided through cycles of emotional birth and death.

of the journal, students will get stickers, snacks and even seeds to grow. For students who would rather order copies, the Fulcrum has provided an online ordering form to get the journal mailed. Both Doty and Harrington expressed that an online format is in the future for the Fulcrum, while it is not yet an option.

“Thank you to all the students who submitted,” Harrington said. “[I] hope everyone submits next year.”

Sarah Sawyer Senior Reporter ssawyer04@hamline.edu Ephemeral. It is an adjective to describe something that lasts a short period of time. An ephemeral plant is the first to grow after a forest fire. The seeds that survive and grow in a decimated place. This was the guiding theme for the Fulcrum’s 2021 journal.

Emma Harrington is a junior and the Fulcrum’s editor-in-chief. She wrote a note at the beginning of the piece acknowledging the difficulties of this past year, reaching out to students to tell them they have not been alone in their struggles.

Harrington believes that everyone has been grappling with major changes and difficulties in their lives this year. Many of the included pieces indirectly touch on major events in 2020. While everyone wrote about different topics, Harrington, along with the rest of the Fulcrum board, saw a theme of growth going through this year’s student submissions.

Some of the content in this issue is dark, a reflection of the struggles students experience. Pieces with touchy subjects have been marked with an asterisk in the table of contents to ensure accessibility to all readers. The content warnings are placed for topics of eating disorders, body dysmorphia and suicide.

One of the coolest things to see this year for Harrington were pieces that seemed to be made to exist with each other. A testament to the universal struggle of figuring out our place in a world that is on fire. This aided in the process of creating an intentional order for each of the pieces. Abby Doty, senior and managing editor for the Fulcrum said that “ideally [the journal] would be read beginning to end.”

To read the journal, students can find the Fulcrum tabling in Anderson Center on April 20, 22, 27 and 29 from 11-1 p.m. In addition to receiving up to five copies

COVER ART | COURTESY OF MOLLY LANDAETA

Review: The film that would win the Oscar any other year While Aaron Sorkin’s script soars and Sacha Baron Cohen gives the performance of an era, the retelling of the infamous 1969 trial lacks substance.

Jacob ‘Coby’ Aloi A&E Reporter jaloi01@hamline.edu When entering into the world of “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” audiences are quickly met by snappy dialogue, Shakespearean-like performances and a true story from American history that seems more timely than ever. However, what seems like a slow burn film with loads of potential, ends up feeling like an extended episode of “American Crime Story.”

Though brilliant, and with a stellar team full of Oscar, Tony and Emmy winners, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” misses out on an opportunity to truly make a statement.

The film is based on the true story of the trial of seven anti-Vietnam war protestors who were accused of inciting the highly publicized 1968 democratic convention riots. Part courtroom drama, part biopic, part dissection of America at the height of the antiVietnam movement in the late 1960s, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” seems to get lost in the kind of story it is trying to tell.

Despite the wonderful plot and some truly mesmerizing performances — Sacha Baron Cohen’s

“Abbie Hoffman” is particularly memorable — the film loses me and I am sure plenty of other audience members along the way. The constant premise throughout the piece is to not let the trial be about just the trial, make it about the men who are being sent over to die in a useless war and made to kill innocent people. At times, I honestly forgot this was the major thesis of the piece — that the trial is political and about so much more than starting a riot, despite some characters saying it.

While the message was clear at the beginning and at the end, the piece felt a bit hollow in actually delivering what they wanted to say. That is to say, in any other year “The Trial of the Chicago 7” would have a better shot of winning the best picture award at the Oscars. However, in a year with films like “Judas and the Black Messiah” that hit the nail on the head with the message they are trying to impart to audiences, it feels like the film is a long shot.

“The Trial of the Chicago 7,” while timely and powerful, feels like a solid mid-2000s biopic or even a good late 2010s mini-series, but not exactly top award worthy. That is not to say I did not enjoy it or would not recommend it, in fact, I give it a four out of five star rating. I would however suggest going in knowing that while the film does not always hit the mark, the performances and themes themselves are wholly worth the watch.

“The Trial of the Chicago 7” is available in select theaters and on the streaming platform Netflix.

SOURCE | IMDB

6 A&E

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

The show goes on each day COVID-19 has drastically changed the landscape of entertainment across all mediums, and one Hamline University theatre department play tackles this head on.

Robin Doyscher Senior Reporter sdoyscher01@hamline.edu Hamline University’s theatre and dance program has entered its nineteenth season, and this landmark in its history has been interrupted by the global pandemic of the past year. The most recent spring performance—held over the video-conference program, Zoom—was an adaptation of Suzan-Lori Parks’ “365 Days/365 Plays.” The plays were directed by theatre assistant professor Laura Dougherty.

“I’ve worked extensively with Parks’ work in the past. She’s the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize. She’s a current working playwright in the country. I think she’s one of the most vital voices in theater in the world right now,” Dougherty said.

Parks wrote 365 plays — one for each day of the year — with the purpose of various theatre groups being able to choose which plays to perform in any order. Dougherty mentioned the department’s goal to further introduce and expand students’ understandings of theater beyond the established canon.

“It’s important to me, and to the department of theatre and dance, that we’re producing works by women, and queer folk and BIPOC folk — that the work that we produce and engage with, with our students and for our communities, reflects who we are,” Dougherty said.

The primary question on Dougherty’s mind was how theater could most efficiently operate in a postcovid.

“Would we be able to rehearse in the theater together? Would we not?” Dougherty said.

The format of “365 Days/365 Plays” lent itself easily to the format of the theatre and dance department’s current use of Zoom for performing.

“Because the plays are so super short, and some of them kind of abstract, in tone, an existential right, that it felt like there were possibilities that we could meet the challenges of COVID,” Dougherty said.

“Maybe that works in this weird, disjointed zoom world that we live in.”

Because the play was filmed and presented virtually, there was a change in medium and format that needed to be done. Dougherty explains that it was a major departure from the usual strengths of live theater — one that they eventually adapted to.

“From a director’s point of view, it was hard.

Because I’m not a film director… film is an entire artistry all on its own, that people spend lifetimes, studying and getting good at and that’s not what we do. So we knew there was a very steep, very steep learning curve,” Dougherty said. “[Senior Ian] Olson was a double major in DMA and theater. So he has some experience with filming and we filmed projects in the fall. And so he was the cinematographer and we had a sound editor.”

“365 Days/365 Plays” premiered on April 2 and 3. The theatre department will next be hosting the dance showcase “New and Slightly Used Dances” on April 23 and 24. Attendance is free and spots in the Zoom can be reserved at Tinyurl.com/hudance2021.

SCREENSHOTS | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE TOP: In the performance of “Empty,” junior Bridget Benson and sophomore LaNiesha Bisek discuss interpretations of empty; does empty mean all is gone or simply that there is room for more?

MIDDLE: In “Holey,” Oracle editor and junior Andrea Lindner and junior Bridget Benson use a hole in the ground as a reference to ego; why do we feel lost or helpless without ego and how do we let it go?

BOTTOM: Sophomore Essence Boe plays “Mrs. Keckley,” a formerly enslaved woman who pampers and dresses Oracle reporter and sophomore Anika Besst’s “Mrs. Lincoln.” Mrs. Lincoln’s overly familiar behavior towards Mrs. Keckley highlights the uncomfortable dynamic between the two.

A&E 7

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Lil Nas X under fire for new music video Lil Nas X has hit headlines once again for his success in the Billboard charts, as well as for sparking controversy with the release of his new music video.

The Fulcrum

Instagram: @fulcrumjournal

Nicole Espinoza A&E Reporter nespinoza02@hamline.edu@hamline.edu Lil Nas X has hit number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart once again after the release of his new single “Montero (Call Me by Your Name),” but the accompanying music video has faced controversy. While the video’s launch was wildly successful— currently it boasts over 100 million views—and is dubbed by many as a symbolic masterpiece, backlash has come from others, in particular the Christian community, with ruffled feathers.

Filled to the brim with expert symbolism regarding internalized homophobia and Greco-Roman art pieces, the music video starts off with Lil Nas X in an ethereal landscape, presumably in the garden of Eden. After falling to sin with the snake, he is put on trial and supposedly found guilty. With death as his punishment, it initially appears as though he will ascend to heaven, until he does a sudden pole dance down to hell in thigh-high latex boots and a stylish pair of black Calvin Klein briefs. Lil Nas X reaches the fiery gates of hell, giving Satan a lapdance and subsequently killing him, donning the fallen angel’s horns. Written on the floor of the throne room reads: “Damnant quod non intelligunt,” Latin for “they condemn what they do not understand.”

The master marketer celebrated his successful music video launch with a series of tweets, thanking his fans. He also followed with his launch of ‘“Satan shoes” a pair of sneakers designed with satanic imagery and even said to contain a drop of human blood, fanning the already spiking flames of backlash. Nike swiftly filed a lawsuit against the shoe’s designer, MSCHF, but not before the 666 available pairs had immediately sold out.

In addition to his music video release, Lil Nas X dropped the browser game“Twerk Hero.” Fans all across the globe can control an animated Lil Nas X and shake away “temptations” while dancing to his hit song. Lofi remixes, new alterations of the music video — such as Satan’s extended version — and Tik Tok duets have further projected the song’s popularity.

Despite the provocative appeal, the singer wanted to normalize queer representation throughout pop culture.

On Billboard, he breaks down the meaning of the lyrics, as well as detailing how his telling of his story has impacted himself and others. “It has so many key points even surrounding the song… which is why it’s going to be super important for me, and for so many other people.”

Lil Nas X’s unapologetic style of embracing himself gives his audience a

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message about self love and acceptance.

In an interview with Time magazine, Lil Nas X explains: “I wanted to use these things that have been around for so long to tell my story, and the story of so many other people in the community, or people who have been outcast in general throughout history.”

His inspiration for the song, being an actual relationship with another

SOURCE | SPOTIFY man, creates an altered perception of the genre itself. Binary depictions of gender and relationships have dominated representation of pop culture since the beginning of music. Lil Nas X challenges the norm, asking those to rethink the depictions bestowed upon us and protesting the rejection of queer narratives.

Instagram: @hu_radio

STAFF PICK OF THE WEEK TOPIC: Musical Audra Grigus News Editor

Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 “The Great Comet is a beautiful showcase of a 70-page snippet from Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. The show was totally robbed of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2017 to Dear Evan Hansen and I’m still a bit bitter.”

COLLAGE | OLIVIA KOSKI, ORACLE

8 Opinion

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Letter to the editor THANK YOU FOR the opportunity to respond to the editorial in the March 17th Oracle. The comments attributed to me did not come from an interview with Oracle staff, as the editorial implies, but in response to questions asked by HUSC members during a recent meeting. Given the absence of context in framing questions and responses for the opinion piece and the veracity of the judgments expressed, I believe a response is necessary.

First, as President of Hamline University, I am committed to maintaining our United Methodist roots. I support the work of the religion faculty. I support our chaplains, the Wesley Center, and our AVP of Inclusive Excellence as they ensure and showcase our connection to our religious commitment and underpinnings.

Second, as president, I am actively engaged in the higher education United Methodist organizations, both domestic and international. Recently, we received re-accreditation from the higher education arm of the United Methodist General Conference to maintain our designation as a UnitedMethodist-affiliated institution.

In regard to religion studies at Hamline, I have consistently stated

that religion will remain an integral part of our academic curriculum.

Because of declining enrollment in the programs and the fact that our religion and global studies departments have no more than two faculty apiece, the decision was made, after a formal process, to combine them.

This decision was expressly made to strengthen religious education at Hamline, respecting our student body’s global nature. This seemed exciting even to our United Methodist accreditors. We can create a more vibrant and robust academic unit that could, in my opinion, more fully embrace our own global history through our religious tradition founder, John Wesley.

It is a false equivalency to argue that religious studies cannot exist at Hamline unless we have a free-standing, single-discipline department. If one knows the history of academic structures, then one can appreciate this fallacy, as departments have not always existed as part of them.

So, while the question of process might stymie some, it should not hinder the intellectual and academic innovation that should come from merging two academic

Speakout

units. Religious studies remain at Hamline and the faculty in the new combined unit has been charged with determining its identity, name, and curriculum. The Religion Department can still provide exciting study opportunities for current and future students, but not as its own entity.

Now to the Aramark question. First, I need to correct the article. I did not say the dining services at St. Thomas resulted in a $10 million budget expense. That was their total expense due to COVID-19, which included dining personnel. I also discussed the impact an internal dining service would have on Hamline. We are a tuition-driven institution; our annual budget is made up of compensation and overhead expense.

If we were to take on the expense of internal dining services, we would need to significantly increase tuition to cover compensation costs for employees, which include benefits.

I neither minimize nor dismiss the idea behind the desire to change to in-house dining. As president, however, is it my job to make sure we can meet all of our financial needs and obligations through fundraising and other efforts.

Also, it is not a “threat” to state the

truth. Within our current budget, supporting in-house dining would impact money provided to students.

And yes, our Aramark colleagues here at Hamline have worked with us to provide the best possible options for students and the university as a whole during the pandemic. This has lessened the financial impact of COVID-19 on Hamline, which will affect us for many years to come.

I respect the opinions of all members of our community. I would hope that what I have stated and shared is respected and accepted in the manner intended. We strive to make the best decisions we can for all members of our community.

Some will applaud, others might be disappointed, and still others might remain disappointed and not participate.

But, change is inevitable. It is how you embrace change that makes the difference. If we do the right things and be the institution that embraces change and, thus, innovation, Hamline University will not only survive, we will thrive.

Fayneese Miller, PhD President

How has anti-Asian hate impacted you?

Saabera Khan Junior

Sydney Anderson Sophomore

“Racism has been a different experience for me throughout the [last] two years. In certain situations, I’ve also felt people treating me in a certain way after learning that I’m not an American. More than the words for me it has been the way people look at me which at times does make me selfconscious, but at the end of the day... how the people I love treat me is all that matters and gives me the drive to go forward. I’ve been lucky to have great friends, both American and international, and the best mentors who have given me the strength and the courage to move forward and move on and to be confident about being me.”

“I am obviously not an Asian woman but I do have friends who are Asians. I do worry about them a lot. I am really sad for them that they are at such an increased risk for violence. It makes me frustrated that there’s not much being done in terms of helping to alleviate this violence.”

Manisha Ram Sophomore “It impacted me in both good and bad ways...seeing/ hearing about these attacks has really been sickening to comprehend or even imagine. At times it was so bad to see these vicious attacks especially to our elders that social media became too much... The recent attacks have brought the spotlight on how often violence, racism and xenophobia is directed to the Asian American community and how it’s easily overlooked, because of these attacks I’ve wanted to become a voice to those who aren’t able to speak up and finally call out the justice that the API and MANY other communities deserve.”

Opinion 9

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

The myth of the model minority

Will Nelson Senior Columnist wnelson08@hamline.edu

How the model minority myth is impeding honest discussions about racism against Asian Americans.

IN

THE PAST year, hate crimes against Asian Americans have skyrocketed, increasing by 149%.

Many of these attacks have been on elders, and the majority of them, 68% according to a study done by Stop AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) Hate, have been on women.

It’s no coincidence that antiAsian American hate crimes have increased over the course of the pandemic, especially considering the rhetoric of our former president.

Trump’s use of terms like ‘the China virus’ and ‘the Kung Flu’ legitimized anti-Asian sentiment, and is certainly responsible in part for the recent increase of hate crimes against AAPI people.

But attributing all the blame on the vernacular of Biden’s p re d e c e s s o r w o u l d b e a n oversimplification. The crackling embers of racism against Asian Americans have been here all along, and they’ve been primarily fueled by one thing; the model minority myth.

By now, most of us are probably familiar with the model minority myth and some of its pernicious effects, but in case someone’s been left out of the loop, I’ll take a moment to explain it.

The model minority myth operates on the assumption that Asians have played the American game and won. It paints all Asian Americans as hard working, industrious people whose children are mathematical and musical prodigies spurned to success by ‘Tiger moms.’ According to this myth, Asian Americans have transcended racial barriers through sheer work ethic, and now live politely and quietly among white America.

What makes this stereotype so difficult to talk about is the fact that it’s mostly positive in nature.

Unlike racial stereotypes like the welfare queen that perpetuate negative attributes like laziness and manipulation, the model minority stereotype mostly features desirable traits; hard work, intelligence, industriousness, etc.

Finding negative counterexamples to a mostly p o s i t i v e s t e re o t y p e h a s a completely different energy to finding positive counterexamples of negative stereotypes. This complicates things.

Like all racial stereotypes, however, the effects of the model minority stereotype are overwhelmingly and indisputably negative.

Stereotyping based on race is a bad idea in and of itself, especially w i t h m a rg i n a l i ze d g ro u p s.

Making generalizations like that removes individuality, further dehumanizing a group. It also ignores cultural differences; the term ‘Asian’— by which the model minority myth is understood — is an umbrella term that encompasses thousands of different cultural backgrounds.

Perhaps less obviously, the model minority myth makes it increasingly difficult to talk about the increasing anti-AAPI sentiment. It poses the question: if Asian Americans are so successful, how could there be widespread

racism against them?

As we know, the model minority is a myth, and racism against AAPI people is proliferating. So how do we combat the myth?

An important part of deconstructing a stereotype is understanding its history.

The model minority myth was constructed in the aftermath of the Japanese Internment during WWII as fuel for anti-Black sentiment.

The depiction of Asian Americans as a racialized group that had still succeeded in America was used as a justification for the idea that Black America could simply ‘pull itself up by their bootstraps’ but simply chose not to.

This conflict can still be seen interrupting inter-racial solidarity today. Not only does it justify racist beliefs, but it also pits one marginalized group against another, shifting the focus away from the original oppressors.

The model minority myth is significantly hindering our ability as a society to talk about antiAsian American racism. If we hope to fully understand the recent increase in hate crimes in order to prevent them in the future, we have to have some serious and honest conversations about it.

ILLUSTRATION | LEO COUGHENOUR, THE ORACLE

10 Sports

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

SAAC Supplies Students with Division III Week

This past week was SAAC’s annual Division III week with events each day Jilly Wortman Senior Reporter jwortman01@hamline.edu

SCREENSHOTS | @HAMLINESAAC ON INTSAGRAM After two semesters filled with COVID-19 related complications, rain delays were a refreshing change of pace despite their inherent inconveniences.

Division III schools have a lot of attractive qualities to student-athletes, one of which happened last week. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee just wrapped up their Division III week, which was April 5 through 9.

SAAC is a committee of student athletes who work to bridge the gap between administration and fellow student athletes. Each year, SAAC plans a week full of interactive events for all Hamline students to participate in.

“The purpose of D3 week is to show our appreciation for attending a Division III school,” SAAC co-vice president Megan Rubbelke, a senior on the volleyball and softball team, said.

Like everything else this year, Division III week was no different in the way the pandemic affected the celebration. In a normal year this week is centered around coming together “so that we can celebrate our time together at a D3 school,” Rubbelke said.

The committee worked hard to make fun and safe activities for the Hamline population to take part in.

Starting on Monday, SAAC was handing out free Hamline t-shirts to anyone

who wanted one. They tabled outside of Anderson Center handing out t-shirts and flyers with the rest of the week’s activities.

On Tuesday there was a virtual trivia game on the SAAC Instagram, @ hamlinesaac. The game consisted of questions about Hamline athletics and NCAA athletics in general. People who participated still had the opportunity to show their competitive side while playing. “The fastest to answer was the winner for that question,” Rubbelke said.

When Wednesday rolled around so did the sandwiches. SAAC gave out free sandwiches from Nelson’s Cheese and Deli, a local Saint Paul restaurant.

There was supposed to be dinner and a show but the women’s softball game was rescheduled due to weather.

Thursday was a day full of talent.

This day was another virtual event in which athletes could submit a talent to be highlighted on the SAAC Instagram story. The talents ranged from the women’s soccer team doing a team pyramid to track athletes doing backflips to a softball player naming all the United States presidents. Viewers of the talent show had the opportunity to vote on how good they thought people performed with a sliding poll feature.

Finally, on Friday, Hamline students had the chance to test their skills at the riddle scavenger hunt around places on campus. This day was viewed as a way to “admire what our campus has to offer,” Rubbelke said.

This week gave the Hamline community a way to feel like one again after this long year of being distant.

“We do a week full of activities every year so that we can celebrate our time together at a Division III school,” Rubbelke said.

With the season finally back in swing, SAAC has been able to help support other sports through attending outdoor events and checking out the sporting events schedule.

“I hope the athletes take away that as much as our lives and sports have changed with COVID, we are still making the best effort to appreciate everything we have been given this year,” Rubbelke said.

PHOTO | COURTSEY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS

PHOTOS | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS The Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) has faced a year with unprecedented challenges, both on and off their courts. After an entire semester of having no student athletes to advise, DIII week has been an excellent change of pace.

Presidents Maria Lewis (top left) and Jarick Reiffer (top right) are both seniors and are competeing in their sports, lacrosse and track, respectively. Vice President Megan Rubbelke (bottom left) is competing in her senior seaons of volleyball and softball, making waves all the while, and still remains extremely involved in SAAC’s event schedual. The other vice president, Will Conzet (bottom right), is missing out on his senior football season due to COVID-19 protocols.

Sports 11

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Weekly MIAC round-up Conference games are beginning for Hamline teams and the Pipers are showing strong performances in the league!

Cathryn Salis Sports Editor csalis01@hamline.edu

event.

Women’s throwers had a strong meet as well.

Sophomore Alexandra Kolstad won the shot put with a distance of 13.15 meters. Sophomore Jenneel Rodney competed in the discus throw, achieving 41.69 meters and taking first. Rodney also earned first place in the hammer throw with a distance of 47.33 meters.

Baseball at Bethel April 6, 2021 W 7–3, L 4–13

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS First year Connor Prok placed sixth in the discus competition with a distance of 32.10 meters thrown.

All the track athletes showed up to represent their school with pride and perserverance at their first outdoor meet of the season.

Track and Field Easter Eve Invite April 3, 2021 The Piper track team put up competitive times and won many events in their invite on Easter weekend.

The meet was hosted at Hamline on Klas Field and was a competition between Augsburg University, University of St. Thomas, St. Catherine University, University of Northwestern and Hamline University.

On the men’s side, the 4x100 Hamline relay team won against Augsburg with a time of 43.60 seconds.

The Hamline 4x400 relay team won their event with a time of 3:38.06 over Augsburg’s time of 3:38.33.

Both senior Fernando Benitez and first year Jeremey Davie completed the men’s 5000 meter race in 15:11.54 and 17:33.63, respectively. Sophomore Aric Brodie beat seven other competitors in the men’s 1500 meter race with a final time of 4:13.04, almost 20 seconds ahead of the second place finisher from Augsburg.

First year Josh Lynch won the pole vault competition, clearing 3.95 meters. First year Micheal Braun won the long jump with a distance of 6.30 meters.

On the women’s side, first year Tisana Lowe was the only Hamline racer in the 100 meter dash to finish sub-13, earning second place with a time of 12.81. First year Lindsey Bernardy took the 400 meter run at 1:01.02, 50 seconds before the second place Northwestern competitor. Sophomores Alexandra Maddux and Lucy Hoelscher lead the 800 meter run securing first and second place, respectively.

Junior Helen Dolan was the only runner in the 1500 meter run to finish sub-5 minutes, finishing in 4:48.11 and claiming first place.

Only Hamline runners competed in the 5000 meter run, and sophomore Miranda Ekelberry finished in first place with a time of 20:49.33. Sophomore Emma Mader was only .02 seconds behind Ekleberry. Senior Emily Danzl also finished this intense race, with a time of 22:08.71 to earn third.

Junior Cecelia Miller won the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 16.34. First year Maddie Sowinski vaulted 3.05 meters to win the pole vault competition and first year Briana Gilbert jumped a height of 10.49 meters in the triple jump to claim second in the

In the Piper’s doubleheader against Bethel on April 6 the two games could not have been more different in regards to the conditions for the Pipers. The second game had two separate weather delays, six different pitchers on the mound, and five unearned runs for Bethel in one inning alone. The first game was much more conventional.

The defense was errorless in the first game. A 4-6-3 double play was among one of the most exciting plays the defense executed.

First year Mac Enlow hit two home runs and drove four more runs home, hitting 3-4. Junior Cullen Buck also hit his first home run of the season, along with a single and hitting 2-4. First year Colin Schuetz also hit what would become the last home run of the game.

Junior Will Tzavaras pitched for five innings in the first game, striking out two and only giving out two earned runs. Sophomore Braden Schneider finished the first game, pitching the last two innings.

The tide, unfortunately, shifted in the second game, though the Pipers were the first to record runs off of two Bethel errors. However, the Royals answered quickly and after three complete innings, the score was 3–2 Bethel.

Two Piper errors extended the third and fifth innings and in the sixth, the score of 13–4 was reached and would remain for the rest of the game.

First year Elijah Erickson pitched the first two innings, sophomore Jonah Smallfield took the loss, and four other players also pitched relief for the Pipers in the second match.

Women’s Volleyball vs Concordia College April 8, 2021 W 3–1

The Pipers have won their last three games in a row, and are hoping to continue their winning streak as they continue their conference season. This match went to four sets with Concordia taking the second set and two impressive comeback runs, one from each team.

The Pipers served very well, recording 10 aces.

First year Julianna Boyum, who holds the MIAC lead with nine aces on the year, served six of the 10 aces in this match. Sophomore Rachel Rettmann led the team in kills, hitting .300 and earning 15 kills. Senior Megan Rubelkke recorded 51 assists and 15 digs.

The first set saw a 9 point run for Concordia that made up their deficit and pushed the game to 25, however, the Pipers were able to lock it down. In the second, the score was close and very back-and-forth, but Concordia ended up on top.

The Pipers led the third set by five points and made the win 25–17. The fourth set, which secured the Piper’s victory, saw a seven point run for Hamline and ended the match at 25–20.

Women’s Lacrosse vs UW-River Falls April 8, 2021 L 5–17 The women’s lacrosse team took this non-conference game to honor their four seniors on the team.

Maria Lewis, Ashley Hessler, Tara Westerlund and Alyssa Bryan-Jeffries were all recognized for their dedication to the sport and to the Piper community.

The seniors also led the game for the Pipers, with Westerlund making four draw controls, Bryan-Jeffries with 12 saves in the net, Lewis being the first to score for the Pipers and Hessler leading with three assists.

Hessler and Lewis scored the first Piper point with a little less than half of the first half’s time to go, making the score 5–1. The Pipers scored twice more in this half but the Falcons pushed hard and took the lead of 10–3 into halftime.

The Falcons were able to carry this momentum into the second half of the contest and scored four goals in the first eight minutes. They only scored three more times after this and the Pipers fought for two more goals of their own. The game ended at 17–5 after Maya Hernandez put away the Piper’s final goal of the game.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS First year Mac Enlow led the Pipers in his strong preformance at bat. He hit two home runs, went 3-4 and drove home four runs, which was vital to Hamline’s success in their first game against Bethel University.

Variety 12

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

An inspiring group of commencement speakers After enduring a long year of virtual events, commencement 2021 will be in person.

Kathryn Robinson Variety Reporter krobinson12@hamline.edu After the class of 2020 was unable to have a ceremony because of the pandemic, many students feared the same fate for the class of 2021. Luckily with the speed of the vaccine rollout and the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, this year’s ceremony will be held in person in a smaller format, and an inspiring group of students will honor the class of 2021.

In a normal year, commencement is held either on Old Main Lawn or in Hutton Arena. This year the ceremony will be held off campus at the RiverCentre Grand Ballroom, located at 175 West Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul. There will be multiple ceremonies to ensure social distancing, with three commencement speakers instead of one. There will also be a ceremony to honor the class of 2020.

This year’s commencement speakers are Dieu Do, Rose-Marie Athiley and Sideena Grace.

Athiley has prepared these past four years for the chance to become commencement speaker.

“I was actually working at the Oracle during my first year and I interviewed the person who was commencement speaker for that year and I thought that I could definitely do this,” Athiley said.

“So I’ve been planning on it for four years.”

One of the biggest ways she has prepared has been immense involvement on campus.

“From being an RA, working at the Oracle, Hedgemen Center, track and field photographer and a lot of random

ILLUSTRATION | ABDIRAHMAN ALI, ORACLE stuff,” Athiley said. “I’ve touched a lot of different spaces at Hamline, so I felt like I was a good representative that can relate to everybody in some way.”

It was important for Athiley to know that the commencement speaker is someone that many students have interacted with in some capacity.

Sideena Grace is an applied physics major with an emphasis in engineering.

She is the first African-American woman at Hamline University to graduate with an applied physics degree. Her next steps involve graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the Aeronautics and Astronautics department to work on spacesuits. Her message for the

2021 Commencement Schedule: Class of 2020 Friday, May 7 at 7pm Friday, May 7 at 9pm Class of 2021 Undergraduate Saturday, May 8 at 9am Saturday, May 8 at 11am Saturday, May 8 at 1pm Class of 2021 Graduate Saturday, May 8 at 3pm Saturday, May 8 at 5pm

class of 2021 is clear — be the first but not the last.

“I want to be the senior speaker at the commencement because I want to be the voice of all perspectives for the class of 2021: minorities, women, scientists, teachers, leaders, creatives, innovators and the voices of justice,” Grace said.

All of the commencement speakers have taken their role seriously and are excited for the opportunity.

“My role as a commencement speaker is to encourage the graduating class to continue to go for their dreams and make room for those who come behind them,” Grace said. “I’m really grateful and excited for the future.”

Do’s list of achievements is far reaching and never ending. She has been incredibly involved on and off campus as an RA, new student mentor and much more, currently serving as a Newman Civic Fellow.

“I’m ecstatic to be able to celebrate our resilience, patience and achievements with my fellow students after four hard years,” Do said. “I wanted to be our commencement speaker and deliver this speech as my final thank you to everyone who has changed my life and I hope sharing my story with others will give people the power and courage to be vulnerable and own their stories and lives, even its flaws.”

What to know about commencement: -Each graduate can invite two guests -Graduates must RSVP for a commencement time at

hamlinecommencement.wixsite.com/2021tickets -RSVP closes April 25, or when ceremonies reach capacity -Unclaimed tickets will be placed in a lottery that students can sign up for May 3-5 -Commencement will also be available to stream online