The Hawks' Herald | April 15, 2021 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 17 FREE

Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey University alters announced as new commencement plans

Graduates now allowed two guests each for grad walks Isabella Gentile Editor-in-Chief Two guests per graduate will now be allowed to attend the grad walks for the Classes of 2020, 2021 and the RWU School of Law, which are happening between May 21-23. University President Ioannis Miaoulis announced the news on April 14, changing the previously announced decision that no guests were permitted. “Having the governor last week widen the state restrictions in the next phase of planning, all of the stars started to align,” Chief of Staff Brian Williams told The Hawks’ Herald. University officials were told that beginning May 1, larger outdoor events would increase to 10% capacity with up to 1,000 people with Department of Business Regulation approval. On the Reopening Rhode Island website, it is noted that events occurring between May 1-15 can apply to have up to 500 people indoors or 1,000 people outdoors with approval. The site shows the next capacity increase for venues of assembly beginning on May 15, reaching 50% capacity and up to 500 people indoors or 1,000 people outdoors. The Hawks’ Herald reached out to the Department of Business Regulation to confirm the May 1 capacity change. Assistant Director of University Commencement and Special Events Melanie Stone said they did not originally want to move forward with having guests if the state was going to impose further restrictions that would prevent that from happening. The increase in occupancy levels administrators heard about last week gave them an optimistic outlook on the month ahead and they submitted a final plan on Friday, April 9 that included guests. This plan was approved on Monday. “It was more of a safety net for us to know they’re increasing this rather than going the other way where they’re restricting it,” Stone said. “To feel like ok we can make this work, now we can add two guests because they’re not going to shut us down completely.”

Chief Diversity Officer

WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE

For the Class of 2020 and 2021 walks, each school will have its own time frame within the 8 a.m.-2 p.m. schedule. Students will be able to sign up for 15 minute time slots based on their school. Stone said each 15 minute set will consist of around 30 students, a limit that will control how many students are on campus at one time. Using the Field House and Upper Gym as staging areas, participating graduates will go into a line-up process with their two guests and staff will move that line forward for the grad walks. Guests for each graduate will be directed to a marker on the floor where they can watch the graduate cross the stage, receive their diploma cover and have their official photo taken. There will be no sitting during the event, adding to the practicability of the event design as there will be a constant circulation of people. Between arriving, assigned walking times and leaving the building, students and their guests are expected to be on campus for around 30 minutes. This flow will allow guests to be present because there will not be a large number of people seated on campus at one time to exceed the indoor capacity limit. On campus, everyone must wear a mask at all times and guests will have to show proof of a negative COVID test within the 72 hours prior to arrival in order to be allowed in. Williams said ensuring guests come with a negative test in hand is key and added that this will be a challenge. “To have a parent come to be here and then be told that they can’t come into the building because they didn’t bring a negative test is the on the ground, immediate thing we would be worried about,” Williams said. The walks will still be livestreamed so family and friends in other locations can watch and celebrate remotely.

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COMMENCEMENT

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Courtesy of Stephanie Akunvabey Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey will join RWU as the Chief Diversity Officer in early July.

Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor The search for a new Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer has ended with the university naming Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey for the position. Akunvabey held multiple positions at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York, most recently as the Interim Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. Akunvabey is looking forward to joining the Roger Williams University community. “I am incredibly excited to engage with the RWU community. I’ve had great conversations with students, staff, faculty and alum about all the things that make RWU great, some of the challenges and future possibilities. I’m excited to get to work,” Akunvabey told The Hawks’ Herald. University president Ioannis Miaoulis is excited for Akunvabey to join his cabinet. “Dr. Akunvabey has a breadth of experience working with student life earlier in her career and now serves in academic affairs, providing her with a great range of experiences to advance all aspects of our Equity Action Plan, from scholarship and education to student and employee equity and

success, and to be in solidarity with communities we serve,” Miaoulis said. Miaoulis believes that Akunvabey’s experience will appy well at RWU. “Another great asset for our DEI work is the fact that Dr. Akunvabey comes to us from a community college in one of the most diverse cities in America,” Miaoulis said. “Dr. Akunvabey’s experiences have prepared her exceptionally well to help RWU continue to serve more diverse populations and to enhance the focus on belonging and well-being of all students, staff and faculty.” Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Everett was the co-chair of the university’s search committee for the new CDO. She is also excited to welcome Akunvabey to the university. “I think Stephanie is going to be terrific. I’m looking forward to working with her,” Everett said. Everett said Akunvabey’s ability to connect with initiatives she implemented at Kingsborough Community College stood out to her. Everett also thinks Akunvabey is warm, engaging and authentic.

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AKUNVABEY on page 2

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 15, 2021

COVID-19 vaccines required for students returning this fall Jimmy Sadowski Herald Reporter Roger Williams University President Ioannis Miaoulis recently announced that the university plans for a fully in-person semester this fall and the COVID-19 vaccine will be required for returning students. The news came in an all-student email on April 1. “RWU’s goal for fall 2021 is to create as safe and engaging an environment as possible that allows our students to enjoy the fullest extent of learning opportunities and college life,” Miaoulis told The Hawks’ Herald. “Achieving a high level of community immunity will enable a fall semester with more options and fewer restrictions.” Students had mixed reactions about the decision to require the vaccine. Some students, including freshman Tessa Yudden, liked the idea. “I really think that it [requiring vaccines] should be implemented because there are other vaccines we’re required to get and this is a private university,” Yudden said. “They can ask us to get it under their circumstances, so I think that is a good idea.” Sophomore Mollie Feldman expressed a similar sentiment. “I think requiring vaccines could be a good thing,” Feldman said. “I think that everyone has to prioritize safety so that is really important and I plan on getting mine.” Sophomore Kieran Leary said he thought the university should not require students to be vaccinated. “I feel like the university shouldn’t require students to be vaccinated because a lot of people don’t really want the vaccine,” Leary said. “However, if the university feels that is the safest thing to do, then good for them.” Vice President of Student Life John King provided insight into the decision-making process, saying the topic was an ongoing discussion for the past few months at the cabinet level.

He said there were several discussions regarding how important it would be to be on the same page regarding vaccinations for the upcoming year. “I think that in order to have the fullest and most robust campus life and experiences for next year, both on and off-campus including volunteer work, internships, civic engagement, athletics, social events and clubs and organizations, having a campus that is almost fully vaccinated with the exception of any religious or medical exceptions is a very important component to reaching that level of normalcy we all seek,” King said. Miaoulis said having students vaccinated puts them in a better position for getting the internships they want. “Since we do not know what employers and community sites will require, ensuring vaccination for our students ensures our students will be well-positioned for internships, external research opportunities and community-engaged projects, which give our students real-world training and skills,” Miaoulis said. “Further, these opportunities require students to go out into different workplaces and interact with employers, customers, schools for student teaching and with the people that they serve, often working with the most vulnerable communities. Those employers, nonprofits and partners will feel more assured and confident in bringing our students to their site if they know our students have been vaccinated.” King said he and the rest of the President’s cabinet feel confident the university can have a fully in-person semester because of the vaccine requirement. Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Everett also expressed confidence in having an in-person semester. She said the university is planning to have in-person classrooms at full capacity.

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hey Hawks! This week Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Programs, Leadership and Orientation Carol Sacchetti and Associate Dean of Student Success Allison Chase Padula visited to discuss their strategic plan. 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.

“I’m very hopeful we’ll have a semester that has many fewer restrictions on all of our movement and ability to engage with others and to be in groups,” Everett said. “That, for me, is a really joyful thing.” Everett said classrooms will look more like what the university was like before the pandemic, with more students being able to do group work and interact with each other inside and outside of class. She said the university is working with its instructional designers to figure out ways faculty can continue using pandemic learning technology in a post-pandemic learning environment. “One sort of obvious thing we have benefitted from this year is that when you’re doing a lot of remote things,

you’re able to bring a great guest speaker who doesn’t have to get on a plane, come to your campus and stay in a hotel,” Everett said. “We’ve had some incredible speakers in the School of Business who are really amazing, accomplished people from industry and they wouldn’t ordinarily be able to take a full day off to come and speak to our students.” Many students, including Feldman and sophomore Ben Dubois, are looking forward to the fully in-person semester. “I think it’s a really important thing for everyone to just get back into a different routine,” Feldman said.

COMMENCEMENT

Student Senate and other places, it was like ‘let’s not submit that plan because there’s pushback and let’s wait until the last minute possible to submit our plan.’” Senior Zach DeNuccio is happy about the change to allow guests and added most of his friends are glad this is now a possibility too. “I’m definitely happy now that [my] parents can come and see me graduate in person, as were they to hear the news,” DeNuccio said. “Obviously it would be ideal to have other family members there too but I understand that given the circumstances this is the best we can get.” Dealing with constant changes, Stone said the experience has been a roller coaster for administrators too and added they empathize a lot with the students, who the situation has been really emotional for. “It’s still not a perfect situation, it’s not an ideal situation but we think it will help add to the day to mark this occasion for each student,” Stone said. “We’re doing what we can with the limitations that are given. We’re trying to make it as special as possible.”

from page 1

The keynote speaker, student National Anthem singer and student commencement speaker will be highlighted in a pre-recorded virtual ceremony that will be uploaded to the commencement website the day of the event.

CHOOSING TO MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOW

Williams said RWU was one of the last universities to submit plans to the state because officials were waiting to see any ease in restrictions. Williams said they did not wait to make an announcement until after plans were approved because setting a minimum expectation that this scenario might not happen was important to do. “At the time that we announced that [initial plan] and let people start knowing about commencement, we wouldn’t have been able to do the design we’ve done,” Williams said. “But hearing the feedback, seeing a student petition, Yannis listening at

AKUNVABEY

from page 1

“I was very impressed with her understanding of what students of color need in terms of support at a predominantly white institution, as we are, and her insights about the student experience for all students,” Everett said. Sophie Speliopoulos, a student on the university’s search committee, is thrilled to welcome Akunvabey to campus. “The entire search committee was dazzled by her initial interview with us. She demonstrated to us that she truly embodies diversity, equity and inclusion in everything she does. I think she will undoubtedly play a

Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

crucial part in making RWU live up to the title ‘the university the world needs now,’” Speliopoulos said. Akunvabey said one of her top priorities will be connecting with campus members to understand the needs of the community. She heard concerns from students and she plans to work with them to meet their needs. “During the interview process, I spoke with several students who highlighted so many great elements of the Roger Williams experience. They also voiced some concerns. I’d like to partner with various campus constituents to understand the root causes for some of those concerns and then make strategic decisions that will help to improve the campus climate,” Akunvabey said. Akunvabey will begin her role as VPEI-CDO at RWU on July 6.

SECTION EDITOR

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 15, 2021

Why you should listen to How to give yourself space music while running Luke Brennan Opinions Editor With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, exercise, specifically running, is a great way to take your mind off school work and stay in shape. While you may prefer to run without listening to music, it has been shown that doing so is not just for pleasure but also helps you become a better runner. According to a study done by Keele University in England, playing music while running reduces exertion levels, while also increasing your ability to focus. In addition, a 2020 study conducted by Frontiers in Psychology found listening to fast-paced music reduces the perceived effort of endurance. Essentially, you feel less out of breath when the music you listen to has a higher speed. Listening to music while you run can also help you keep a steady pace. A study published in PLOS One (Public Library of Science) showed that runners performed better when the

beat of the music matched their pace than when they ran without music. Keeping a consistent pace is a crucial aspect of running, as it prevents you from running out of energy early on in the run. Not only does music help you while you run, but it can also help you get amped up before the run. Sports psychologist Costas Karageorghis believes that “music elevates positive aspects of mood such as excitement and happiness and reduces negative aspects such as tension, fatigue and confusion.” In a world where no one can agree on anything anymore, music seems to be the one entity that is close to being unanimously enjoyed and it is a great addition to your morning or evening run. Not only is it great to listen to, but it has been proven to improve your performance and will pay off in the long run, pun intended. So the next time you put on your running shoes, grab your phone, go on Spotify and search for a “running playlist” to find some good songs to listen to.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Many students forget the necessity of taking a break every once in a while to relax. These students spent time outside during nice weather in March.

Luke Brennan Opinions Editor In the wake of the worst year anyone can remember, I think I can speak for everyone when I say summer cannot come soon enough. While COVID-19 cases on campus are thankfully on the downswing again, this has still been an extremely stressful school year and it is important to find time in the day to give yourself space from classes, work, friends or just life in general. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it can be extremely beneficial to remove yourself from what you are doing and do some deep breathing exercises. I know it sounds cliche, but while inhaling a deep breath quickens your heartbeat,

exhaling slows it down. Repeating this practice leads to your brain releasing endorphins, calming you down in the process. The next time an assignment is seriously stressing you out, put your hand on your chest, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth to calm yourself down. Another great way to give yourself space is going on a short walk. It gives you the opportunity to get some fresh air, take your mind off what you’ve been doing and get some exercise in the process. The weather these last few weeks has been very warm, so you should take advantage of this and take a walk through campus, maybe to the shell path or by the bridge. If you are working remotely this semester, try taking a walk around the block instead.

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Courtesy of Sangudo on CreativeCommons.org Running while listening to music has been proven to improve your performance.

Email your stories to stories.hawksherald@gmail.com

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 15, 2021

Udderly great historical SAGA’s Pride Week kicks off with Queerfest farms to visit this spring Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor On April 12, tie-dye, donuts and a mechanical unicorn were front and center in the Commons Tent for the first day of SAGA’s (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) Pride Week. The colorful event Queerfest was the first event in a week-long series dedicated to a celebration for the LGBTQ community. Pride Week and Queerfest are held around the world as a way to celebrate acceptance and destigmatization for queer and trans identities. Pride parades usually take place toward the end of the month of June, which serves as Pride Month. Marina Sprague, Vice President of SAGA, is excited for the week. “This is my first Queerfest so I am really excited; I never knew there was such a thing as a mechanical unicorn,” Sprague said. “We have lots of cool stuff planned and I’m hoping we get a lot of participation!” The Presto Strango Coffee Co. truck, a campus favorite, was parked outside the Recreation Center and offered students a variety of lemonades, such as lavender, cotton candy and coffee. Inside the tent, event-goers were able to

grab a donut decorated with a colorful rainbow from the Beehive Cafe. “Tie-dye is always super fun and you can’t go wrong with free food, but the best part was being able to see people I hadn’t in a really long time,” said Makayla DeCesare, a junior who attended Queerfest. Decorated tables lined the tent, each holding queer and trans information and resources, as well as masks, hand sanitizers and pride flags. White T-shirts embossed with the logo for Pride Week were available for students to tie-dye. Executive Secretary of SAGA Emily Sgritta is thrilled about the week-long series. “We get to show off our queerness and really celebrate what makes us who we are,” Sgritta said. SAGA’s Pride Week consists of Coming Out to Fairy Lights on Tuesday, April 13, then a lecture with Wade Davis on Wednesday, April 14, followed by Queer Beats on WQRI and LGBTQ+ Alphabet Soup on Thursday, April 15. The series ends with Drag Bingo on Friday, April 16. More information for the series can be found on SAGA’s HawkLink page and Instagram page @rwusaga.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Coggeshall Farm Museum is located at 1 Colt Dr. in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor With the weather warming and the desire to go outside heightening, outdoor museums serve as a great option for students. Historical outdoor museums allow patrons to immerse themselves in history while also having plenty of opportunities to remain distanced from other patrons. The following locations are close to the RWU campus and provide great experiences for people of all ages.

Coggeshall Farm Museum

The land that Coggeshall Farm Museum sits on was purchased by the state of Rhode Island in 1965 and was the property where the historic Samuel P. Colt house resided. In 1968, the Bristol Historical Society signed a lease so the property could become a museum and in 1973, Coggeshall Farm Museum became its own entity. Since then, it has served as a location for visitors to see what life was like in 1750 Rhode Island. Recently, in 2020, Coggeshall Farm Museum partnered with Old Sturbridge Village, which is located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Coggeshall Farm Museum sits on 48 acres of land and allows patrons to become immersed in the experiences of salt marsh farmers. The property has several buildings, including the forge, the spring house, the cheese house, the tenant farmhouse and others. The farm is also home to several animals, adding to the realistic feel of the museum. Visit https:// www.coggeshallfarm.org/ for more information. Hours: April 17 to Oct. 11. Open Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $10 for adults Location: 1 Colt Dr., Bristol, Rhode Island

Prescott Farm

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald SAGA hosted Queefest on April 12. The event consisted of tie-dye, a food truck and a mechanical unicorn.

Prescott Farm is a great place for students to visit to enjoy the outdoors and experience a little slice of history. Located in Middletown, this farm sits on 40 acres of land and functions as

a tribute to the agricultural history of Aquidneck Island. The land was purchased in 1969 by Doris Duke, who has established many historic buildings on the site. Most of the buildings on the property were saved from demolition. The farm has an impressive garden that is tended to by Master Gardeners from the University of Rhode Island. They harvest and donate an average of 700 pounds of food each year. Visit https://www. newportrestoration.org/prescottfarm/ for more information. Hours: Dawn to Dusk Cost: Free Location: 2009 West Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island

Watson Farm

Watson Farm is located in Jamestown, Rhode Island, and it offers a glimpse into early 1800s farm life in the state. The property was purchased in 1789 by Job Watson, who used the land to pasture his sheep and cattle. The farm has stayed in the Watson family and has remained a functional farm. For more than 200 years and spanning across five generations, the Watson family has cultivated the 265 acres of land. The residents of the house have opened their farm to the public. They produce grass-fed beef and lamb, as well as wool blankets, which are sold at local markets. Patrons are welcome to visit the farm and experience the vast land, visit the outdoor workshop, walk along the shore and see the grazing livestock, which consists of more than 100 cattle. The farm is open to the public beginning on June 1 and closes on Oct. 15. More information can be found on the Historic New England website: https://www.historicnewengland.org/ property/watson-farm/. Hours: Open June 1 to Oct. 15. Open Thursdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $5 for students and $10 for adults Location: 455 North Road, Jamestown, Rhode Island

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 15, 2021

‘We are a part of the solution, not the problem’

Athletics and Student Life moving forward together to follow COVID-19 protocols Megan Julian Sports Editor It has been about a month since Vice President of Student Life John King held a meeting with all spring sports captains to address an incident that occurred back in March, during which 41 student-athletes attended an offcampus gathering. According to King, 18 studentathletes ended up testing positive for COVID-19. Eight of these positive cases resulted from student-athletes who directly attended the gathering while the remaining 10 were close contacts who had tested positive while already in quarantine. Athletic Director Kiki Jacobs said there are still some athletes in quarantine due to close contacts from others on campus, not from other student-athletes. “All of our teams are playing this week. We had no student-athlete positives all last week,” Jacobs said. King said from Thursday, April 1 to Tuesday, April 14, only two studentathletes tested positive. “This week we have had 10 positive cases so far from testing on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday — none are student-athletes,” King said.

Courtesy of RWU Athletics The men’s lacrosse team comes together for a huddle after a victory against Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday, March 23. The team returned to competition on Saturday, April 3, holding a record of 4-2 so far this season.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald RWU’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at practice on Friday, April 9, getting ready to compete in their virtual meet on Saturday, April 10.

Jacobs said the athletes who tested positive have to follow a return to play protocol once they plan on competing again. “Those who test positive must get cleared by their doctor and go through a five-day return to play protocol, something similar to what they would have to do if they had a concussion,” Jacobs said. Spring sport athletes are now being tested three times a week. This was suggested by the spring sports captains. “It is going well. Captains thought this would be helpful, so we agreed to do it,” Jacobs said. She also believes she has seen vigilance in the athletes and coaches wearing masks. As for athletes complying with the testing protocol, she said it has been smooth. “Testing has never been an issue because if student-athletes didn’t test, they didn’t play,” Jacobs said. She said athletes are more determined than ever to have successful seasons. “Many student-athletes and coaches feel they are being unfairly targeted because a few made some bad choices. We are working hard to show we are

part of the solution and not part of the problem,” Jacobs said.

“We are working hard to show we are part of the solution and not part of the problem.” -Kiki Jacobs

King and Jacobs both believe spring teams have made a strong commitment to mask-wearing and staying healthy in order to be able to compete this season. “The vast majority of spring studentathletes didn’t travel home for the long weekend,” King said. “Spring student-athletes will continue to test three times a week for the remainder of April.” As for other, non-traditional season teams, they have also been returning with excellent results through their consistent testing, according to King. “The Athletic Department as well as Student Life is monitoring compliance,” King said.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 15, 2021

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor:

Dear RWU students,

I write to you in my capacity as President of the Roger Williams University Faculty Association regarding the story about commencement on page one of the March 25, 2021 Hawks’ Herald. That story contains a direct quote from President Miaoulis regarding commencement plans: “It’s not a money issue, it’s logistics… The faculty have a contract and they wouldn’t stay another full week just to go from commencement to commencement.” The President did not contact the RWUFA to discuss commencement plans, thus cannot characterize what the faculty would or would not do. The president’s statement leaves the impression that the faculty had been consulted and somehow influenced his decision. That is not the case. Should you wish to discuss the faculty’s position on an issue, or to fact-check the Administration’s characterization of the faculty’s position, please feel free to reach out to faculty leaders.

I attended the Student Senate meeting on March 29 to share updates on a number of fronts with the student leadership regarding recent and upcoming initiatives for the university. Those in attendance, or those of you that have read the April 1, 2021 Hawks’ Herald story, know that the meeting didn’t go as well as anyone would have preferred. No president, especially me, likes to see a headline characterizing a “clash” between president and students. As president, I have a singular responsibility to condemn racist actions and events on campus. I have been reflecting upon the incident impacting the Black LLC students last semester and the recent Maple Hall bias incident this semester. I recognize that our institutional replies have been inconsistent. The Maple incident communication originated from my office, but the Black LLC incident reply did not. My tendency has been to rely on administrators with the closest responsibility for decision making to lead responses directly for their area. However, after listening to students I appreciate more fully how important my personal involvement and signature on racial and bias incidents is. I heard students and understand more now how my signature, or the absence of my signature, affects our entire community. In a time of need or hurt, there should be no room for doubt as to where I stand on the issue. Going forward, if we believe a university incident involving race, hate or bias requires a campus-wide message, related communications will come directly from me and the Office of the President. There should not be any question as to where I stand on these important issues and I apologize in hindsight that my authoring of some and not all communications leaves my commitment in question. We all can do better and that starts with me. Our entire leadership team continues our inclusive leadership training with a timely session coming in late April on understanding and interrupting everyday bias as leaders. The selection of our next CDO is yet one more step needed to keep us moving forward. We will not always get things right. A signature feature of a community of higher learning must be our ability to work through a problem together and grow from mistakes. I hope this communication is received in that spirit. As we race toward the finish line of the spring semester, I wish you all the best in your classes and I hope to see you on campus in the rest of April and May.

With regards, June Speakman Professor of Political Science President, Roger Williams University Faculty Association

Yannis Miaoulis President

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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

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

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REPORTERS Spencer Wright Maggie Hurley 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 15, 2021

‘Demi Lovato: Dancing Artistic decisions in the with the Devil’ is a “Watchmen” comic book riveting documentary Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor a riveting documentary Emma Bartlett | Arts and Culture Editor Filled with raw honesty and the reality of substance abuse, Demi Lovato captivates audiences in her newly released documentary, “Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil,” as she addresses her 2018 overdose. Filled with interviews of family, friends and Lovato herself, viewers learn more about the singer’s difficulties with mental health, alcohol and drugs. The documentary consists of four, 25 minute segments. Lovato starts by discussing her overdose which landed her in the hospital after taking drugs that were laced with Fentanyl. At the hospital, Lovato had three strokes, a heart attack and permanent vision impairment that affected her depth perception. Though doctors informed her parents that Lovato had around four minutes to live, the 25-year-old miraculously recovered. But the road away from addiction was far from over. The film continued with stories of Lovato’s struggles to stay sober. As she received help, however, Lovato was able to address other traumas from her past, including sexual assault situations. The singer also brought up her relationship with her dad and how, because of his drug addiction, she chose not to have a relationship with him from a young age. In her twenties, her dad died at some point over Father’s Day and was found a week after he passed away. Lovato struggled

knowing that she will never know when her dad died, but also did not want that same fate for herself. In the fourth part of the documentary, Lovato addresses her sexuality and how she continues to discover who she is. After breaking off a four-month engagement to Max Ehrich, Lovato decided to focus on herself and explore sexuality outside of what she had been told growing up. Lovato’s film was extremely powerful with honesty at its core. The film captured the importance of mental health and developing a support system so people do not find themselves solving their problems with harmful substances. She also promoted the idea that not every mental health routine works for everyone, so finding one that works for you as long as it keeps you safe is important. Recently signing with Scooter Braun, Lovato is back to creating music and recently released a new album with her new song “Dancing with the Devil,” which talks about using drugs and alcohol. “Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil” can be viewed on YouTube. Viewers should be advised that there is content surrounding sexual abuse and substance abuse. Support services can be found in the video’s comments section. RESOURCES: ON CAMPUS Dr. Jen Stanley, Title IX Coordinator and Associate Dean | Contact: jstanley@rwu.edu or (401) 254-3123 Health Services: (401) 254-3156 Counseling Center: (401) 254-3124 Public Safety: (401) 254-3333 (24/7)

Courtesy of Demi Lovato/ Youtube The first episode of “Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil” was released on March 23.

Courtesy of ginnerobot/Creative Commons Readers who enjoy science fiction will find “Watchmen” to be in line with their interests.

Spencer Wright Herald Reporter The “Watchmen” comic book by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons reads as a tribute piece to the golden age of Marvel comics. Now adapted into an HBO series, it is a longer comic book that draws readers in from beginning to end. Starting as a murder mystery, “Watchmen” soon transforms into a multi-planet event, following superheroes from the end of WWII to the Cold War. Readers who enjoy science fiction will find this comic book to be in line with their interests. While there are many fascinating elements to the storyline, the authors’ decisions on how to depict colors and dialogue in the cartoon add to why the content is so popular. Colors: The comic is drawn in color and has a similar color palette to the 1960s Marvel comics. If someone were to read this comic without knowing the date it was published, it could easily pass as a comic written during the 1960s, with bright exaggerated colors. This comic, however, would not be as powerful if it were in black and white, or even using a more modern

color palette because the sharp, bright colors create an engaging atmosphere for readers and gives the feel of a traditional superhero comic. Dialogue: The dialogue in “Watchmen” is placed in traditional speech bubbles, but also in thought and narration boxes that are pasted onto pictures. In some cases within the comic book, there were whole pages that had no dialogue and relied solely on the pictures to tell the story. Lacking dialogue can be just as powerful as a full page of dialogue since it adds an interesting element to the story. Silence becomes as powerful as words in communicating what is going on. “Watchmen” guides the reader in closely analyzing the pictures and leaves the reader uncertain as to what is going to happen. Since the characters are unaware of what the future holds, readers are put on the same level of suspense. For those interested in the classic Marvel comics or a comic different from most of the others, “Watchmen” will definitely interest you. It is at times rather graphic in nature, so it should not be read by a younger audience. This comic will provide a great foundation to understanding the HBO show.

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

George Lucas’ homage to Alexandre Cabanel’s “Fallen Angel” Maggie Hurley Herald Reporter “From morn/ To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,/ A summer’s day.” – John Milton, Paradise Lost “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” details Anakin Skywalker’s fall from grace and his devolution into becoming Darth Vader. It visualizes his struggle and lends credence to the movies that came before. In “Return of the Jedi,” for example, Vader was saved as a result of his love for his son and “Revenge of the Sith” makes that development possible. Anakin, the Chosen One, prophesied to bring balance to the Force and the end of the Sith, fell to the darkness out of love that was corrupted and was brought back into the light through pure love. “Revenge of the Sith” has countless fascinating shots that are easy to miss if one is not paying attention. The most fascinating shot among these occurs at 1:10:29. The camera focuses on a single tear, as it falls from Anakin’s eye and rolls down his cheek. The cinematography and light design of this scene already make it one of the film’s most stunning, but it is this specific shot that stands out among the rest. In focusing on that single tear — born of confusion, anger, fear and frustration — George Lucas creates a subtle homage to Alexandre Cabanel’s “The Fallen Angel.” Interestingly enough, Cabanel’s piece interpreting Lucifer’s expulsion from Heaven and fall from God’s light was

not taken from the Bible, but rather John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” It is an apt comparison, as Anakin is believed by the Jedi to be The Chosen One and destined to bring balance to the Force. However, like many modern renderings of Lucifer, Anakin is a prideful, ambitious, frustrated character. Like Lucifer’s fall from Heaven casting sin upon the Earth, Anakin’s fall ushers in a 23 year-long period of darkness and oppression throughout the galaxy far, far away. When comparing the 2005 film and the 1847 painting through the lens of 2021, there is humor to be found. Just as “Revenge of the Sith” received abysmal at best reviews upon its premiere and has since taken on a sort of cult following amongst Star Wars fans, Cabanel’s painting has done the same. When Cabanel, only 24 at the time, revealed “The Fallen Angel,” also known as “L’Ange Dechu,” he was met with a great deal of pushback. His professors regarded the piece as deficient. The humor comes into play when considering the following question: What do these two pieces of media even have in common? The answer really is nothing. That being said, the similarities in the composition of Cabanel’s painting and Lucas’ directing choices are not insignificant. “Revenge of the Sith” is available to watch on Disney+. Individuals who are interested in watching the shot discussed above can find access to it on YouTube.

April 15, 2021

Hot Hits: Instrumental Influences Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager

Courtesy of Alexandre Cabanel A close-up shot of Alexandre Cabanel’s 1847 painting entitled “Fallen Angel.”

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