The Hawks' Herald | April 1, 2021 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 16 FREE

Tent on the quad to return next week President

and students clash over participation in CDO search Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Students dine in the outdoor tent on Sept. 2, 2020. The university plans to bring the tent back to the quad starting April 8 for multipurpose use.

Jimmy Sadowski Herald Reporter On April 8, a new outdoor tent will go up on the Commons Quad for the rest of the spring semester. This time around, the space can be utilized for eating and a variety of other activities. The Student Senate passed a bill allocating funds for the outdoor tent on March 22. The bill noted that a tent for an outdoor seating area for a fiveweek period will cost approximately $70,000. Student Senate will be allocating up to $10,000 from the Student Senate operating budget toward the cost. Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Programs, Leadership and Orientation (SPLO) Carol Sacchetti said Student Life, SPLO, Student Senate and the Admissions Office are working together to fund the tent. “The idea for the tent came from a few administrators saying ‘where is that space on campus,’ a space for admissions events, a space for some of the events we want to do,” Sacchetti said. “The tent is going to be used for a variety of events [including] admissions events and meetings with clubs and organizations.” Dining was the tent’s primary use last fall. This semester, students will still be able to dine in the tent but there will not be any food service or lines like it previously had.

“I think people, especially as it gets nicer out and there is no rain and the weather stays nice, will appreciate not having to eat in their rooms. I know I saw some people eating at those small tables behind GHH,” Sacchetti said. “I think it just gives another option to our students.” Sophomore Ray Cerro said he liked the idea of a new tent. “I do like the idea of eating outside,” Cerro said. “I think it’s good to have overflow from Commons [dining in the tent].” Sacchetti said the physical structure of the tent would be the same as last semester, with lights, clear sides and a floor. Freshman Lauren Alves said she had an issue with the smell inside the tent last semester. “I thought the tent smelled bad,” Alves said. “The grass underneath was decomposing because of the padding they put on the floor so it created a rancid, barn kind of smell. I like that there is going to be club usage out of the tent but I think they should use different flooring or leave it barren.” Sacchetti said she will help put out a daily schedule for the tent, which will display events, meetings and free time for students. “Each day, I’m going to put the schedule out so students know there might be time where there is nothing going on where the tent can be a study space or space for a group project, or it can be a space where students can

get their dinner and sit outside and eat together,” Sacchetti said. “As a student you like to know, ‘ok, can I go in here or not go in here?’” Because the tent will have lights under it, Sacchetti said meetings will be able to happen at night. Groups that want to utilize the tent for an event or meeting will have to schedule a time they want to use it. Students will be able to fill out a reservation form that goes to Sacchetti and another campus administrator, who will then schedule the tent out. Sophomore Cole Wolkner said he hopes the putting the tent back up goes as well as the university wants it to. “I’m sure they have some reason for wanting to put up a tent in the first place, like clubs, and thinking on it now I feel like there are definitely clubs that can use that space,” Wolkner said. “It definitely seems like a useful space for the right club if they are looking for some way to meet but they really can’t because of COVID or they just want a change of pace from meeting on Zoom every day. I definitely see where the tent could be useful. I just hope that the people that it’s there for find it as useful as I feel like it is in theory.” Sacchetti said she is hopeful as well. “I’m hopeful students will utilize the space for different reasons,” Sacchetti said. “I hope a schedule outside posted each day will let students at least know when they can use it.”

University President Ioannis Miaoulis attended the Student Senate meeting on Monday, March 29 to discuss updates on the search for the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) among other topics. Most of the conversation with Miaoulis centered around his disappointment in student participation in four virtual interviews for potential CDO candidates and students’ disappointment with him. “I have been a little bit disappointed in student participation,” Miaoulis said. “During my listening sessions on how we would replace the Chief Diversity Officer, we had lots of very vocal students.” Miaoulis said there has been a very small number of students who attended the virtual campus interviews. Two of the three interview sessions only had two student participants. The interviews began on March 25 and the last one was held on March 30. Some students were not happy about Miaoulis’ disappointment, along with the handling of the Black LLC incident last semester and the Maple Hall bias incident that happened at the end of February. “Frankly, asking students to do the work to find the Chief Diversity Officer when they are already doing so much is a huge disappointment,” said Emily Craig, a student who attended the Student Senate meeting. Craig said students have already told Miaoulis and the university what they want in terms of change on campus. “Taking an effort to challenge the racist campus culture is what students have asked [Miaoulis] again and again to do,” Craig said. Miaoulis disagreed with Craig and spoke about students using their voice on campus instead of complaining or sitting back and not doing anything.

See

CDO SEARCH on page 2

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 1, 2021

A strange new state symbol Professor Koty Sharp makes the case for state coral

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor Coffee milk, the red chicken and the quahaug are all symbols of the state of Rhode Island. From the state ship to the state appetizer, there are plenty of Rhode Island staples that make this state unique, but what about a state coral? Koty Sharp, an associate professor of biology, marine biology and environmental science at Roger Williams University, is on a mission to make the Astrangia poculata the official state coral of Rhode Island. This coral serves as an important piece of Rhode Island as it is the only species of coral in New England. Sharp has spent many years studying Astrangia poculata, a coral that can withstand a range of temperatures, unlike tropical coral. It is similar to those found in the Florida Keys but has distinct differences that make it an ideal specimen for research. Similar to tropical coral, the species deposits a hard skeleton that contains the animal inside, but these are much smaller. “They are different from tropical corals in a lot of other ways too. It’s

those differences that actually make them really ideal for using as kind of model organisms to learn more about the diseases and coral bleaching problems that tropical coral face and identifying new ways to try and address those problems and even come up with cures,” Sharp said. RWU students play an important role in Astrangia poculata research as they work with the coral in the Wet Lab, which is located in the MNS building on campus. The research team is student-led and they work on different topics regarding the coral. “We are using it to learn more about the microbiology of coral disease and that is the research that really applies to the problems in tropical corals,” Sharp said. “We are learning a lot about how corals can recover from disease and disturbance by using Astrangia and some microbiology experiments.” Senior marine biology and applied mathematics major Natalie Danek has been working in Sharp’s lab since May 2019. Danek said she would love to continue research on coral after working as a marine educator. She values her time spent in Sharp’s lab and said she developed valuable laboratory skills. “I love the problem solving aspect of research and how everyday is

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hello Hawks! This week both President Miaoulis and Vice President of Student Life John King came to discuss recent COVID-19 numbers on campus, the Chief Diversity Officer search, the work that has been done on the Statement on Civility, commencement and more. Following that, King engaged in discussion about the rising number of COVID-19 cases on campus. Thank you to all who attended and remember that Student Senate meetings are always open to the student body. Both ICC and Student Senate declared their intent of running for their respective positions at the meeting, with many new and returning candidates running for positions in their organizations. Good luck to everyone who is running in the elections! With March coming to a close, the Senate has selected our Student, Club and Senator of the month. Emma Trahan was chosen for student leader of the month, International Relations Organization was chosen for club of the month and finally, with a tie, both Michaela Appt and Ashley Haryasz for Senator of the month. As always, follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @RWU_Senate and try to attend our weekly meetings on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. over Zoom. You can watch meeting recordings on the Senate YouTube page, so make sure to check those out! You can find the Zoom link on our Hawk Link by clicking on our weekly meeting event. The Zoom link will be available as the location.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Dr. Koty Sharp displays the skeleton of Astrangia poculata.

something new,” Danek said. “It is also fun to be able to work through the development of methods for certain things that have never been done before, rather than just following an already written procedure.” Sharp began her journey to make the coral an official symbol by contacting state Rep. Terri Cortvriend, who was excited to bring this topic to the state legislature. Cortvriend sees the coral as an opportunity to make a platform for a new K-12 STEM curriculum with a focus on issues like climate change. Cortvriend and Rhode Island state Sen. Jim Seveney proposed bills to the Rhode Island House and Senate. Sharp then testified in front of the Senate on March 3. She collected letters of support from community members in Rhode Island. “I think it should be the state coral for a few reasons,” Sharp said. “We like to say that it’s a hearty New Englander just like Rhode Islanders. It can handle

warm summers and it can handle really cold winters, so it’s emblematic of Rhode Islanders in that way.” Sharp said the response from the community has been very positive. Now the committees will vote on whether or not the bill should be moved to the floor in the legislature. “We like to think of it as Rhode Island, that it’s local, but it’s poised to address big global problems,” Sharp said. Sharp is looking forward to the future and she hopes to expand and collaborate on new K-12 climate change initiatives. “The sky’s the limit really. My number one priority is to continue to provide research experiences for the Roger Williams students,” Sharp said. “I mean that’s why I’m here, that’s the main purpose of my lab. I have been really thrilled with the research the students have achieved so far and I think we’re just going to keep working on these important problems.”

CDO SEARCH

“Showing up means more than just going to a Zoom meeting,” Trahan said. “Students are showing up. They attended protests last year, they write letters to [Miaoulis’] office, they meet with their superiors. They tell me, as an RA, they don’t feel safe living here. That is showing up.” Sophie Speliopoulos, a student on the CDO search committee, said one of the reasons students were not at the virtual campus interviews is because they had classes at the time of the interviews and did not know the times of the interviews in advance. “I am disappointed. Although we are inviting students to give valuable opinions and only two people show up, to have folks criticize me and my administration for not caring, I think it’s ridiculous,” Miaoulis said.

from page 1

“If you want a voice, you should put this voice in place and participate in picking this leader,” Miaoulis said. Craig said it is a problem for the university to only consider student voices and opinions valid if they attended the CDO candidate interviews. She brought up the protests that occurred on campus last semester and the demands students have made, including increased communication when racist or bias incidents occur on campus. Emma Trahan, a student who also attended the Senate Meeting, said people are using their voices but not at the CDO candidate interviews.

SECTION EDITOR

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

An open letter to my 10-year-old self Luke Brennan Opinions Editor Dear Luke, I am writing to you because I am turning 20 in a few months and I have been reflecting on the last decade of my life, including the good, the bad and the ugly. I know back in 2011, life isn’t so bad. Tom Brady is still a New England Patriot, John Cena is still the WWE Champion and Barack Obama is still the president. Do not ask who the next one is, though. You would not believe me anyway. I know you have already been through a lot, things no kid should have to go through, and I wish I could tell you it is smooth sailing from here on out. However, this is not the case. The next 10 years are going to be really rough and you are going to feel like nothing will ever be okay again. While it may seem that way, I promise you that all of these experiences will make you a stronger person in the long run. All of the adversity you are going to face in the coming years will shape how you view yourself and the world around you, as well as what it means to take part in this crazy place we call Earth. Not to bury the lede, but we are currently in the middle of a pandemic (a lot of sick people), so do not feel too bad for yourself right now. Things in 2021 are pretty messed up. To say you won’t experience anything good in the next 10 years is far from

the truth. You are going to meet some pretty amazing people and do awesome things. Making lifelong friends, learning to play the guitar and going to prom are all incredible experiences that I would not trade for anything. Your teenage years, frankly, are going to be really hard. You’re going to find out some things about yourself that are going to be really hard to come to terms with, but I need you to hear this: it is not your fault and it does not define you. You have so many great qualities, so do not let this take over your life, because it will only make you feel worse. You are better than that and you do not need to hold onto it your entire life. Come to terms with it and move on. As grim as this may seem, understand that life is never only good or only bad. Oftentimes, it is both at the same time. I do not expect you to understand all of this at 10 years old, but in time you will know what I mean. Some of the best moments you’ll have will be during the worst times of your life. But I promise you this — the good far exceeds the bad and as long as there is breath in your lungs, life is worth living. Get out there and live it. Sincerely, Luke (P.S. Invest in a company called Zoom Video Communications sometime before 2020. You will thank me.)

OPINIONS April 1, 2021

Lil Nas X’s “Montero” is the gay anthem we needed

Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor

Lil Nas X recently released his new song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and the music video sparked controversy. The video opens with Lil Nas X playing a pink guitar under a funky tree in a fantasy world as a giant snake slithers around. He is then seen wearing a pink wig being chained up surrounded by blue wigged versions of himself. It appears people started to get pretty upset when Lil Nas X, wearing a pair of briefs and thigh-high boots, gracefully pole danced his way down to Hell and proceeded to give a CGI Satan a lap dance. Personally, I love the imagery and the fantasy world Lil Nas X created. The song and video show just how versatile he is, especially when you compare it to “Old Town Road.” It is also a statement that he is not afraid to be himself and do what makes him happy. On March 26, Lil Nas X tweeted a letter to a younger version of himself about coming out as gay. He addressed the message to “14-year-old Montero,” using his given name, Montero Lamar Hill. “I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist,” Lil Nas X wrote. I know Lil Nas X is not alone and I love that he is using his platform to share his own experiences as a gay man, as he becomes comfortable being

gay and a celebrity. I love this song and I have been listening to it on repeat for hours. I have also watched the music video an embarrassing amount of times, but it is just so good. The biblical symbolism is abundant and although I see no problem with it, a lot of people do. The number of tweets I have seen where people say the video is disgusting or Lil Nas X should be canceled is too high. Many religious people are upset at the “Satan worshipping” that is happening or the sensual nature of the video. Then there are the parents who are upset that the video is not suitable for children. Are you kidding me? Not every piece of media has to be okay for children. Parents think that since they let their children listen to “Old Town Road” (which can also be argued is not okay for children), Lil Nas X should only create child-friendly content. Lil Nas X, a 21-year-old, is not responsible for raising children and it is up to parents to tell their children what is right and wrong. He has made it clear that these people will not change him as he has responded to a lot of the tweets, including those of Kaitlin Bennett, a literal party-pooper and right-wing “activist.” Bennett was outraged by the song and video and tweeted she was grateful to be blocked by Lil Nas X. He responded by saying he still sees her tweets and she responded by asking if he still sees his dad (a man that is quite proud of his son, might I add). Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

Do we ask too much of politicians and too little of ourselves? Luke Brennan Opinions Editor

It seems like no matter what your political affiliations are, everyone has an opinion on politicians. They are either genius and beloved or incompetent and despised. Eventually, even if they are well-liked, they are constantly fighting a barrage of attacks from both sides of the political aisle for the decisions they are or are not making. When President Biden won the 2020 presidential election back in November, people were literally dancing in the streets, celebrating like everyone just won the lottery. Now, only four months later, centrists and even Democrats have already begun to turn on him. While he certainly has

made some questionable decisions in his first few months in office, it is unfair to write President Biden off as “just another incompetent politician.” This is especially ironic coming from Americans, many of whom know little to nothing about how the government actually works, so I ask you: why do you feel like government officials are not doing their jobs properly when you do not know what their jobs are? We created a society whose citizens have completely checked out of the democratic process and we only have ourselves to blame. While I am not asking every man, woman and child to have a master’s degree in political science, the lack of awareness of the political process in this country is inexcusable. According to a 2017 poll from market research

firm Haven Insights LLC, only 37% of Americans can name their representative yet 65% think they are overpaid. A 2019 Civics Knowledge Survey from Annenberg Public Policy Center found only two in five American adults could name the three branches of government and one in five couldn’t name any. Who your congressional representative is and which government branch they belong to should not be a difficult question. You can easily look it up online and have the answer in minutes. But no, use that time to tweet something stupid and gross at Chrissy Teigen. Yay, America! I’m not picking on millennials, either. This is by no stretch of the imagination a new problem that has cropped up in the last couple of years. In 2003, when

the U.S. was preparing to go to war with Iraq because they were involved with 9/11 (which they weren’t) and had weapons of mass destruction (which they didn’t), seven in ten Americans believed Saddam Hussein was directly involved, even after both the Bush administration and congressional investigations openly said there was no evidence to believe that was true. President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Do you know what you can do for your country? Put down the phone and pick up a book. Learn what the Bill of Rights is. Learn what Roe v. Wade is. Learn about this government you know nothing about but feel you can criticize relentlessly.

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 1, 2021

The foolish origins of April Fools’ Day Amy Martin Features Editor With April quickly approaching, it is time to prepare for the annual April Fools’ Day. Full of practical jokes and pranks, the holiday is full of fun for anyone to partake in. But hijinks are not the only things this day consists of. There is a mystery surrounding its origin. It has been speculated that April Fools’ Day dates all the way back to 1582, which is the year France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. In the Julian calendar, the new year began with the

spring equinox, which was around April 1. Many people during that time did not seem to get the memo about the new year starting on Jan. 1. As a result, they continued to celebrate the new year at the beginning of spring. They were made fun of and pranked on by everyone else, earning the title of “April fools.” One of these pranks included having paper fish placed on the backs of unsuspecting fools and referring to them as “poisson d’avril” or “April fish.” It allegedly was to symbolize how these gullible people were comparable to young, easily-caught fish. April Fools’ Day has also been linked

to other festivals, including Hilaria, which was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of March. Cult followers of Cybele took part in this celebration, dressing up in disguises and mocking citizens and authority figures alike throughout the day. During the 18th century, April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain. In Scotland, the holiday became a twoday event. On the first day, which was traditionally called Huntigowk Day, people would “hunt the gowk,” or send others on phony errands. The term “gowk” referred to a cuckoo bird, which is also a symbol for a fool. The next day, traditionally called Tailie Day, pranks would be pulled,

especially in regards to a person’s derrieres or buttocks. Pranksters would pin things on others, such as fake tails or signs that read “kick me.” Times have not changed much since then. In modern day, people have created elaborate April Fools’ Day pranks. With access to social media now, pranksters try to pull ultimate hoaxes to garner attention. April Fools’ Day is a day to cause mischief, no matter what the exact origins are. After centuries of pulling pranks on one another, there is no sign of people stopping this tradition any time soon.

The ABCs of Rhode Island birds

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor

American Goldfinch

The American goldfinch is a small finch weighing between 11 to 20 grams. These birds live in weedy fields and floodplains but can also be seen in the backyards of homes as frequent visitors to bird feeders. They can be found hanging onto weeds and they usually hang out in large groups. When they are in flight, these finches will make calls and bring attention to themselves. National Geographic Kids describes this finch’s call as “pota-to-chip.” Their colors also change with the seasons. For instance, adult males are bright yellow with a black head in the spring but are brown with blackish wings in the winter. Female

goldfinches, on the other hand, have a duller body color than males and appear more greenish. American goldfinches breed later than most North American birds in order to collect more fibrous seeds from plants, which these birds use for their nests as well as food for their babies. The American goldfinch is the only finch that molts the feathers on its body twice a year.

Black-Capped Chickadee

The black-capped chickadee is part of the chickadee and titmouse family and they are usually found in deciduous forests. They live in cavities, such as holes in the ground or rotten wood, and they tend to mate for life. These birds have small heads and plump bodies and they are recognizable with

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Male cardinals are bright red while their female counterparts are brown with red tinges.

their black heads, white cheeks and grayish, tan bodies. Their calls also sound like their name: “chick-a-deedee.” They are also able to alert their flocks of predators by chirping more “dee-dees.” The more “dee-dee’s,” the bigger the danger. The black-capped chickadee feeds on seeds, small insects and berries. They tend to store their food for later, all in different locations, and they are able to remember thousands of locations. They can get rid of neurons to wipe their memories in order to create new ones, allowing them to hold more information.

Cardinal

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald American goldfinches are the only finches that molt their feathers twice a year.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Black-capped chickadees are common visitors to backyard birdfeeders.

Cardinals are large songbirds that have thick bills and weigh between 1.5 and 1.7 ounces. However, the males and females look very different from

each other. The male’s feathers are a bright red with a black mask while the female’s feathers are brown with red tinges in the wings, crest and tail. Cardinals feed mostly on seeds, berries and insects, and they love sunflower seeds, which explains their common appearance at bird feeders. Cardinals have not always been up north since they mostly live in the southeast. However, they have migrated northward over the past few decades. Scientists theorize that the migration is a result of a higher frequency of bird feeders. In Rhode Island, there are northern cardinals, but four other species of cardinals also exist, which are the blue cardinals, the pheucticus cardinals, the chat cardinals and the ant tanager cardinals. Overall, these birds usually live in vines or tangles of shrubs.

SECTION EDITOR

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

SECTION MANAGER

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

SPORTS April 1, 2021

‘Tennis is my life’

Alessia Cahoon reflects on her tennis career so far Megan Julian Sports Editor

Chloe Noyes / The Hawks’ Herald On March 29, Alessia Cahoon was named Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Week for helping the team receive its first victory over Nichols College since 2015.

At three years old, she attended a “Tennis for Tykes” class and never looked back. “From then [on] I never put the tennis racket down,” said sophomore Alessia Cahoon of the women’s tennis team at Roger Williams University. “I fell in love with the sport and it came natural to me.” Cahoon has played tennis year-round for around 18 years. She played varsity tennis for six years at Ursuline Academy in Dedham, Massachusetts. Prior to that, she competed for multiple club teams and in the United States Tennis Association individual tournament. During her college search, she attended an open house for RWU and immediately fell in love with the school. She met the tennis coach during the tour session and said they clicked right away. Cahoon is studying construction management with a minor in business. Outside of the classroom, she truly enjoys her team environment. “I absolutely love the girls on the team and the dynamic that we have. We’re like a family and these girls are my sisters. The energy on this team is

immaculate and something so special that separates us from all other schools, that makes us unique,” Cahoon said. Cahoon thinks family culture is important within a team. Men’s and Women’s Tennis Head Coach Barry Gorman created that atmosphere within the tennis program at RWU. When she found out that this mindset was shared, she knew this was where she belonged. “I knew that this was my home and this was the team I wanted to play for. When I met coach, his vision for the team aligned with what I was searching for,” Cahoon said. Cahoon said tennis is her life and her happiness. She could not live without it and she firmly believes it has shaped her into the person she is today. “It’s my favorite hobby, my job and my passion,” Cahoon said. “It taught me to never give up, practice hard and be confident in myself and those around me. It brought me so many friendships from around the world that I will always cherish.” Tennis is a competitive sport but Cahoon said competing is not about winning or losing. “It’s about the effort and dedication you put into something you love,” Cahoon said.

Behind the bat with Emma MacLean

Kristen Dansereau Sports Manager

Sophomore Emma MacLean has been playing softball for nearly 14 years. Her love of the sport stemmed from her parents who both played sports growing up. When she was around five or six years old, they asked her if she wanted to try softball and it took off from there. “I think I remember saying ‘what’s softball’ and they signed me up for the town league,” MacLean said. Not only does MacLean currently play at the collegiate level but she has also taken up coaching for her old club team. She said she has learned a lot about the sport as an assistant coach, regarding how to teach others and how to reflect on herself as a player. Her passion extends to helping other players be the best athletes they can be. “As an assistant, I didn’t think my role would be that big until my players came up to ask me for hitting advice and fielding drills and how they can do better both in practice and during a

game. I found out that I know so much about the sport,” MacLean said. The few hours a day she gets to spend playing softball are hours when she pours herself into the game and forgets about everything else. She said it gives her peace even on off days because there is nowhere else she would rather be. MacLean recently discovered another hobby that she loves. “Besides softball, one of my hobbies is weightlifting which not a lot of people know about,” MacLean said. “The last few years I’ve really gotten into it and a bunch of teammates do it and my friends do as well. It also helps me get stronger and ready for softball in the off season... it’s something that I’ve really gotten into and really enjoy.” MacLean hopes to have a sportsrelated career to stay in close proximity to sports that have had a huge impact on her life. She will always have fond memories of her tennis experience. “It somehow feels like it went by so fast but I don’t regret a single moment of it at all,” MacLean said.

Kristen Dansereau / The Hawks’ Herald Sophomore Emma MacLean on her way to first base in a game against Nichols on March 27, 2021. The final score was 11-1 giving Roger Williams University another win.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 1, 2021

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

ANSWER TO MARCH 18 PUZZLE

RWU Community, On behalf of the Athletics community, I am writing to apologize for the conduct and behavior among some of our programs this past week. We have made mistakes that have impacted our campus community. Some student-athletes hosted and attended a party the weekend of March 20, which resulted in some students ending up in quarantine and isolation later this past week; other student-athletes were pictured with masks pulled down and not practicing social distancing while on the sidelines at games. A core part of being a student-athlete is to model leadership qualities on and off the field and actions last week have failed to live up to the community standards we expect of all of our Hawks. I am writing to clarify that the actions of a few individuals have reflected poorly on our entire program. The recent party included individuals from seven of our 23 athletic teams. Some student-athletes who did not attend the party have felt unfairly called out by previous campus-wide emails and Hawks’ Herald articles. It is difficult to distinguish between spring sports and other sports since almost all 23 teams are practicing at the moment. Please know that the majority of our 520 student-athletes are doing the right thing by masking and keeping their social circles small. I want everyone to know that we have addressed these behaviors and are moving forward. Some student-athletes have been suspended. Some teams were forced to pause all athletic-related activities. Some teams lost contests. These are hard but necessary lessons for our studentathletes to learn. These few individuals’ actions should not detract from the fact that our student-athletes recognize that we are in this together. The Athletics Department is committed to the success of Roger Williams University. We are in the trenches doing much of the daily COVID testing and contact tracing. Like everyone, we have had to adjust and make the best of a tough situation. These incidents were setbacks that we are working to correct. As a department, I promise we will do better. The coaches and student-athletes are committed to doing the best we can to make this a successful end of the semester. If you have any comments, please feel free to reach out to me at kjacobs@rwu.edu or find me in the Testing Center almost every day of the week. Stay safe, Kiki

THE HAWKS’ HERALD The student newspaper of Roger Williams University

2020-2021 STAFF DIRECTORY

DISCLAIMER

THE HAWKS’ HERALD is a student publication. The views, statements, opinions, depictions, and/or representations (expressions) contained herein are solely those of THE HAWKS’ HERALD and do not, and are not, meant to represent or be attributed to the expressions of Roger Williams University, any trustee, officer, agent, employee, student, or representative of Roger Williams University, and either are such expressions authorized, accepted, or condoned by the university. THE HAWKS’ HERALD is dedicated to providing news to the university in a fair and accurate manner.

CONTACT

Letters to the editor, suggestions, corrections, story ideas and other correspondence should be addressed to THE HAWKS’ HERALD, Suite 212, Campus Recreation Center, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, R.I., 02809, or sent via e-mail to hawksherald@gmail.com.

ADVERTISERS

THE HAWKS’ HERALD welcomes advertisers both on and off campus. Advertising rates vary based on the patron’s specifica-tions. For pricing inquiries, please contact igentile470@g.rwu.edu to request a copy of the Media Kit. For all other media inquiries, please call the THE HAWKS’ HERALD office (401) 254-3229 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or e-mail hawksherald@gmail.com at any time.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

SPLO ADVISOR

FACULTY ADVISOR

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

CHIEF DESIGNER

PHOTO EDITOR

ARTS & CULTURE MANAGER

SPORTS EDITOR

FEATURES EDITOR

SPORTS MANAGER

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

Janine Weisman jweisman@g.rwu.edu

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

Emma Bartlett ebartlett122@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS EDITOR Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

PHOTOGRAPHERS Emily Dvareckas Chloe Noyes Kristen Dansereau

CORRECTIONS There are no corrections this week.

The Hawks’ Herald · Suite 212, Campus Recreation Center · 1 Old Ferry Road · Bristol, R.I. 02809

Kayla Ivan kivan850@g.rwu.edu

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER Adam Zerman azerman020@g.rwu.edu

Adrianne Harris aharris@g.rwu.edu

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

REPORTERS Veronica Rodriguez Jimmy Sadowski

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

Emma Bartlett Kayla Ivan ebartlett122@g.rwu.edu kivan850@g.rwu.edu

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 1, 2021

Visual arts seniors’ “Unintentional Feedback” exhibition to show in local museum throughout April Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor Starting the first week of April, Roger Williams University’s visual arts seniors will be hard at work installing their artwork for an in-person and virtual exhibition titled “Unintentional Feedback” at the Bristol Art Museum. The event will last until April 30 and display a variety of mixed media including painting, printmaking, digital photography, sculpture and video. The exhibition is the final component of the visual arts senior studio course which focuses heavily on creating works that take risks and are important to students. This installation will also be the first time that students will see their classmates’ work. With COVID-19, most of the in-person class time was spent going over the hanging process amongst other learning objectives, so many students completed their artwork on their own time. With the chance to place the work in an actual gallery, students are excited to see their fellow classmates’ projects and share them with friends, family and the Bristol community. “I’m looking forward to having people outside of my friends see my art. This is not something I’ve experienced before, so having the opportunity to have other people see it is really cool,” said senior Kaitlyn Minichiello. Throughout the senior studio, Professor of Art Anne Tait has worked with students to discuss what they wanted to accomplish in the class. Many individuals came into the course

with proposals of work they did in the past and wanted to continue exploring. Some of the topics ranged from body positivity to experimenting with color and lighting. Since most students worked outside the classroom, many found creative places in homes and residence halls to make art. Sarah Herrmann and Olivia Estner set their studio space in their bedrooms. “I tend to work messy and always have magazines and books around. It’s easier to have the mess in one spot instead of carrying it all around,” Herrmann said. Estner described how her setup allowed her to work on her own time. Taking breaks and getting back into her pieces made her room the preferred spot for art-making. The senior studio has three students who are working from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Greece, so this year’s exhibition will look a bit different. While students closer to the school may be able to drive their pieces down for the show, Sophia Pipa, an international student who lives in Athens, will have a video projection of her work. “It [has] definitely been a challenge, but at the same time exciting because I wanted to show culture through my work. It’s easy to show culture virtually,” Pipa said. Pipa’s work focuses on showing Athens and its colors and gives her audience a peek into Greek culture. Another one of her paintings focuses on the feminine body image and beauty. From April 6 to 9, students will

Courtesy of Ashley Marino Marino worked with a variety of mixed media for her pieces including watercolor, acrylic on wood, ink and collage.

install pieces and work together to discuss where certain pieces should be placed. Being able to showcase their work during the pandemic is extremely meaningful to them. “It’s nice that we get to do this. I’m appreciative of Anne and everyone. It means a lot to us as seniors to do something that seems normal,” Herrmann said. “I would like to acknowledge that I wouldn’t have made the progress I

have made without the support and insight of all of my RWU visual arts professors,” said senior Alexandra Lindell. Beginning April 10, “Unintentional Feedback” will be open to the public Friday through Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. until its closing date on April 30. An artist reception will be held on April 17 at 6 p.m. For anyone interested in a virtual showing, please visit ww.bristolartmuseum.org.

University ends Women’s History Month with presentation on the life of Mary Williams Veronica Rodriguez Herald Reporter On March 30, Roger Williams University held a historical event titled “More Than Roger’s Wife: Writing Mary Williams Into the Historical Record,” presenting Mary Williams, the wife of the university’s namesake, as a prominent figure. In honor of Women’s History Month ending, the event was a conscious attempt to write Williams into history. In past discussions and in historical records, Mary is mentioned only as being the spouse of Roger, without much other information documenting her life and who she was. Dr. Charlotte

Carrington-Farmer, Associate Professor of History at RWU, headed the event. Dawn Williams, who presented herself as one of the last relatives to carry on the Williams name in connection to Roger Williams’ lineage, introduced Carrington-Farmer at the beginning of the event. Mary was born as Mary Barnard or Bernard — her last name is shown to be written both ways. She was raised in the south of England in the town of Worksop, located in Nottinghamshire. Unfortunately, not many written records from Mary herself remain, so historians must rely on the records written by the people around her or people who are related to her. As such, her story begins when individuals look

into the fact that Roger was actually head over heels in love with a woman named Jane Whalley. Note: Mary and Jane had a connection. Mary worked as a maid, though in the 17th century she was seen as a companion rather than a servant. She worked in order to be trained in household arts, management and manners. Whalley was the cousin of her employer’s wife. However, Whalley’s aunt forbade Roger from marrying her due to his social status and only seven months later it was shown that he married Mary on Dec. 15, 1629. It is unclear whether Mary knew of his previous affections. It might seem odd that Mary and Roger ended up together but the

connection runs deeper. Mary and her family lived in Worksop and knew at least some of the families who started the Plymouth colonies. It is also known that like Roger Williams, Mary’s father, Reverend Richard Bernard, had ideas that pushed the envelope as he participated in pamphlet wars. From his publications, historians infer that Mary experienced a devoutly religious childhood. Her father wrote extensively on cases of witchcraft and religious education of youth. He wrote about the role of women in the household and household government. Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

Emma Bartlett Kayla Ivan ebartlett122@g.rwu.edu kivan850@g.rwu.edu

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 1, 2021

Dance Theatre’s Junior/Senior Dance Showcase goes virtual for spring 2021 Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor It takes a team to put on a show – especially during a pandemic. Through dedication and the desire to be back onstage, Dance Theatre’s 14 performers prepared an hour-long showcase that live-streamed via Zoom on March 26. Roger Williams University’s Associate Professor of Dance, Cathy Nicoli, planted the idea for the event by inquiring whether this was something the dancers would be interested in doing or not. “A lot goes to Cathy Nicoli to inspire us to continue. This show was an option... She was the catalyst to push us to keep leading,” said senior Dance Theater member Ashley Marsden. Marsden and the rest of the Dance Theatre group immediately jumped at the opportunity. The showcase included 14 numbers, with 13 solos and one group dance. Dancers used the whole stage to display their talent of controlled and precise movements that were done with grace. Several dancers used props such as a chair or a large wooden block. Some of the songs dancers performed to included “White-Odd Future,” “Octopus’s Garden” and “Harvest

Moon,” with several numbers consisting of a compilation of songs. While the Barn could have up to 13 audience members, Dance Theatre decided to keep the event virtual after seeing that COVID-19 cases were rising. Having a live audience would have been nice, but the Zoom webinar format had its benefits. “I have family in a lot of places, some of which are not close,” said Dance Theater member Nicole St. Laurent. St. Laurent commented that the livestream allowed more of her relatives to watch, including her sister and her family who live farther away. Zoom’s easy access for friends and relatives meant that more viewers could attend. Additionally, since most acts were solos, dancers would pop into the Barn’s vacant seats and watch friends, thus giving the feel of a live audience. The night was filled with passionate dancers sharing their talents. When the show came to a close, all 14 performers came out from backstage and danced to Abba’s “Dancing Queen.” The Zoom chat proceeded to blow up with virtual applause and congratulations for a job well done. “Amazing dancers! Thank you so much RWU Dance Theatre for livestreaming the show!” commented

Courtesy of Natasha McLeod Senior Dance Theatre member Sarah Barakian performs her piece “An Honest Contemplation.”

mleslie, one of the audience members. “It’s so nice to hear the excitement of a live show,” wrote an RWU professor. While the showcase ended, the dancers were grateful for the unique opportunities that the pandemic gave them. The group expanded their video skills by taping dress rehearsals from different angles and will be working on creating a personalized video of each dancer’s performance. “I have a visual arts minor, and this is an opportunity that I wouldn’t have with a normal show,” St. Laurent said.

Being behind the camera was also a humbling experience since dancers saw what it was like to be on the other side of things. For seniors who reminisced on their time performing in the Barn, the last opportunity to perform on the RWU stage in over a year has been meaningful. “Everyone says this barn is magic and the space is magic. That is something that so many alumni come back and say, and it resonates so deeply with all of us,” said Dance Theater member Natasha McLeod.

Tips for spending Easter on campus Adam Zerman Business Manager With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases on campus, Roger Williams University has advised students not to go home this upcoming weekend. Since this announcement will likely cause individuals to spend Easter on campus away from family, here are seven ways to celebrate the holiday safely while remaining local.

1. Dress the part

Many people have different traditions for what to wear on Easter. Some wear bright pastel-colored clothing just to church, while others prefer to stay in their fancy outfits all day. Whatever you enjoy wearing on the holiday, continue that tradition while on campus!

2. Find a local, virtual church service to attend A big part of Easter and Easter

PLEASE RECYCLE

weekend is going to church on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Due to COVID-19, attending mass in person can be risky since you do not know where other people have been and whether they have been following COVID-19 guidelines. For this reason, some churches have been livestreaming their services, so people can attend from the comfort of their home, or in this case residence hall rooms. Search for a local church service, such as Mount Hope Church in Bristol, which posts sermons weekly and livestreams services. St. Mary’s Parish in Bristol livestreams services at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Hint: Your home church might have livestreams from their service or posts, so search their websites to find out more.

3. Egg painting

Egg painting and dying is a huge tradition in most families for Easter. Many craft stores, supermarkets and other general stores sell cheap kits so

be sure to check them out. If you get the chance, pick up a kit or two and spend the weekend painting eggs with your roommates and friends for a festive activity.

4. Easter egg hunt

Once you are finished painting your eggs (or buying plastic ones to fill with goodies), you can have a roommate hide them while the rest of you can search for them. For a fair and fun twist, color code the eggs you can find. Alternatively, for everyone to participate, you can color code the eggs and have each person hide one color and search for another and so on. Remember, this is your egg hunt — make it work for you!

5. Decorate apartment

your

room/

If you miss being home for Easter, decorate your room for the holiday to bring the cozy, family-feel to you instead. Incorporate bright colors, table

ornaments, Easter bunnies and eggs throughout the room or apartment. Hint: If you are on a budget, you can find a lot of great decorations at a local Dollar Tree or Family Dollar.

6. Have a family Zoom call

Seeing family over Zoom is a great opportunity to catch up with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and many more. Even though you are not going home, this does not mean you cannot use this time to see family for the holiday.

7. Cooking

If you miss the home-cooked meals you would normally enjoy and you live in an apartment, find easy online recipes and spend the weekend with your roommates cooking your favorite Easter meals. Websites such as delish.com and foodnetwork.com have created simple recipes for classic Easter meals.

FOR ALL BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES, FOLLOW US @THEHAWKSHERALD