The Hawks' Herald | April 29, 2021 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 19 FREE

Students and employees vaccinated at on-campus clinic

Jimmy Sadowski Herald Reporter

330 students and employees at Roger Williams University signed up for the university’s first on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Tuesday, April 27, where those with appointments were administered doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Vice President of Student Life John King said the majority of those signed up were students. Prior to this clinic, University President Ioannis Miaoulis announced in an April 1 email that all RWU students would be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine for the fall semester unless they had religious or medical exemptions. From Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25, the university also provided continuous shuttle service to students without transportation to a point of distribution in Middletown, Rhode Island to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Approximately 120 students signed up for vaccinations at that location, according to King. Senior James Shapiro, who received his vaccine at the clinic, said he thought the vaccination process went pretty well. “It was pretty smooth and quite nice,” Shapiro said. “It was very official and I quite enjoyed it.” Sophomore Joe Lombardo, who was also vaccinated at the clinic, expressed a similar sentiment.

Sierra Gorkun / The Hawks’ Herald A nurse practitioner administers a dose of the Pfizer vaccine to a student on April 27 during an on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Roger Williams University. 330 students and employees signed up for the clinic.

“It was really good and really fast,” Lombardo said. “It was very easy to follow. There were people helping every step of the way.” “It was actually kind of an exciting experience to get the vaccine and be part of an important history,” Lombardo said. Students and faculty who received

the vaccine at the clinic had different reasons for doing so. Sophomore Brianna Simmons said she got the vaccine so she could see her family. “I got the vaccine mainly for my family because I haven’t been able to see them in a while,” Simmons said. “I’m from Bermuda so I haven’t seen them in like a year. I want to go back

home and see them really bad.” Junior Michelle Correia said she got the vaccine for the people she lives with at home.

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VACCINES on page 2

Pandemic disrupts counseling services Amanda Plasse Herald Reporter The Roger Williams University Counseling Center had a drop in the number of counseling sessions offered virtually to students in the fall of 2020 due to the pandemic, according to new data released by the university. Last semester saw 22% fewer individual therapy sessions offered compared to the fall of 2019 when students could meet a counselor in person, said Dr. Christopher Bailey, a psychologist and Director of the

Center for Counseling and Student Development. “This is true nationally and there are a lot of theories why,” Bailey said. “One, in spring 2020, many people found treatment providers at home when they left school and stayed with them for the remainder of 2020. Two, some people don’t like virtual sessions and three, students were stressed in the fall with trying to adapt with masking, physical distancing and remote learning and maybe counseling wasn’t the first thing on their minds.” A session is typically 50 minutes

long and is completely confidential. There are 12 counselors — six fulltime and six part-time — as well as one psychiatrist on staff. But this spring semester so far has seen a 36% increase in counseling sessions since last fall, Bailey said. When compared with the disrupted spring semester of 2020, this semester had a 13% increase. Last fall, the Counseling Center added a crisis phone service for afterhours, weekend and holiday use for students, administrators, faculty and staff. Callers follow prompts and are

immediately connected with a clinician who can provide crisis intervention. The top three reasons why people seek counseling services are stress and anxiety, depression and relationship problems. Bailey said the 2020 presidential election was a topic that came up during counseling sessions with students last fall, a sign that it may have been a significant stressor for some students.

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COUNSELING on page 2

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Hawk’s Nest to get renovations this summer Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor The Hawk’s Nest will look a little different when students come back to campus in the fall. During the summer, the lounge area on the bottom floor and the upstairs Hawk’s Nest will be getting renovated. The Hawk’s Nest Cafe will also be getting some updates. The upper part of the Hawk’s Nest will be named “The Perch” and the lower section will be named “The Hawks’ Hangout.” The Student Senate has allocated $90,000 for the entire project. “This includes funding to renovate the walls and floors of the space, purchase new furniture and purchase new gaming equipment,” said Senate Treasurer Jacob Hartzler. The walls near The Perch, including the involvement wall and the walls of Hawks’ Hangout, will be renovated with wall wrap rather than paint. Student Senate Advisor Blair Carroll said in the April 19 Senate meeting that the involvement wall will be covered and photos of students will not be put up again, so the area can stay clean and timeless.

The curved bar in the lower level will be removed to free up space and all the furniture will be removed for different furniture and new gaming equipment. These funds will come from the Senate Reserve Fund, an account with the accumulation of unused funds from past years. Hartzler said the Senate is in a position where funding this project is manageable. “This space is being updated now because we are anticipating that the coming years’ students will place a priority on in-person gathering spaces which our campus community has been deprived of for the past year due to the pandemic,” Hartzler said. “This space is in dire need of an update as the Hawk’s Lounge has not been touched in several years and as a result, it no longer satisfies the demands of students.” The renovations will start this summer and the project is expected to be completed before students come back to campus in the fall. “When it all comes together, this will be a very welcoming space for current students and prospective students that will maximize the potential of this under-utilized area,” Hartzler said.

April 29, 2021

VACCINES from page 1 “I got the vaccine because I live with my grandparents, so that’s a big reason,” Correia said. “Also, I feel like it would help make it safer and get us out of this sooner.” Freshman Emily Salvi said she got the vaccine in preparation for summer plans. “I leave for California the first week of June so I needed to have the vaccine soon,” Salvi said. Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach Kaelin Hogan said she got the vaccine because of her job. “I’m a teacher but I’m also the

COUNSELING from page 1 “The buildup to the election, the aftermath of the election and the insurrection caused a lot of stress on many of the clients,” Bailey said. Fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and social justice issues were also cited as mental health concerns by students. Students expressed awareness of the social disparities in health that put Black and Latino people at disproportionately higher risk of serious illness from the virus. “A high number of clients of any race are very preoccupied by the events and discussed it in the sessions,” Bailey said. The Jed Foundation conducted a study at the start of the fall 2020 semester, which found that 82% of students are dealing with anxiety, 63% with depression and 60% have difficulty coping with stress. 63% of

assistant lacrosse coach so just to be safe,” Hogan said. King said the university was grateful to those who helped with the clinic. “The university is grateful to the Department of Health and the Bristol Fire and Police Departments for making it possible for our students and employees in Bristol to enjoy easy and convenient vaccine appointment scheduling on campus,” King said. “Achieving the most complete vaccination rate possible is the clearest pathway to herd immunity and returning to the robust, fully engaged and interactive campus experience that students attending RWU expect and miss greatly.”

students also said the pandemic has negatively impacted their emotional health. The Hawks’ Herald requested data on the number of requests for an appointment in the past year, but Bailey said the university does not track appointment requests. “We know we are able to provide services to the vast majority of students who request them from the Counseling Center,” Bailey said. The university has avoided a waitlist for the Counseling Center for the past five years, despite waitlists being relatively common at other universities. If someone were to call on a Monday, they should expect to get an appointment the following Monday, unless any cancellations arise. There are no in-person visits because of the pandemic, but students can call the center between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays to make an appointment and speak with a counselor. To reach the Counseling Center, call (401) 254-3124.

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hello Hawks! This week at Student Senate we had an open debate topic about event registration for on/off campus parties as a way to ensure student safety. It did not seem the Senate majority was in favor, however, there will be further discussion on the topic as there were a lot of questions. A resolution calling for elected officials to double the maximum Pell Grant Award amount for students was also passed. Stay tuned for more details! Next Monday is the last Senate meeting for Senate 47 and that will be when the new Senate, Senate 48, is officially sworn in.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald The Hawk’s Nest, located in the Recreation Center, will be renovated during the summer.

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.

SECTION EDITOR

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS April 29, 2021

Do we From the womb to the tomb really The struggle of being my own person need two Dakotas? Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor

Luke Brennan Opinions Editor

Now that the House of Representatives has approved a bill that would make Washington, D.C. the 51st state, it has raised many questions as to whether or not it should be. The most common argument in favor of the change is that citizens of D.C. have no representation in Congress. While their lack of representation is at the forefront of this bill, it is never acknowledged that there is a serious overrepresentation issue in several states, notably in North and South Dakota. While each state has a different number of U.S. representatives, they each have exactly two senators, therefore having 100 members of the U.S. Senate. This may sound like a good idea on paper, but the simple fact is some of these states are egregiously overrepresented. According to a 2019 estimate by the United States Census Bureau, North and South Dakota have a combined population of about 1.6 million. In the same estimate, California was shown to have a population of 39.5 million. How do you look at these two population sizes and think “they should have the same numbers of senators?” I understand the U.S. population was much, much smaller when the Constitution established each state gets the same number of senators, but the fact that nothing has been done to change this is ludicrous. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is if North and South Dakota became one state, the Republican party would lose two locked-in senators and the gap between them and the Democrats would only become bigger. So, for the foreseeable future, two states whose combined population is less than that of the city of Los Angeles will have the same amount of representation in the Senate as a state with 39.5 million people. Hopefully, the bill passes the Senate and D.C. becomes the 51st state, although I cannot imagine a majority of Republican senators voting to pass it. Whether it passes or not, we should not ignore this enormous representation imbalance that has gone on for far too long. There is no reason the Dakotas should have four senators in Congress while California only has two. Unless, of course, you are a Republican.

Which one are you? I have heard this question so many times during the past 21 years that I have begun to expect it. Being a twin will always have its perks though. I have a built-in best friend for life and someone who knows me better than I know myself. Growing up, I always had a friend to play with and I never had to nervously ask someone to be my partner. I would not trade my twin for the world and I honestly do not know if I would be able to survive without her. We have always done everything together. Whether it was softball, figure skating, soccer, basketball or field hockey, we have always been interested in the same activities and hobbies. We have basically been connected at the hip and often are viewed as one person. I have accepted that I will be called the wrong name and will answer to either Emily or Rachel because I find it easier to go by Rachel than to correct the person. I often make the joke that my sister and I are the same person but as I get older, it has become harder to figure out who I am without my sister. We go everywhere together — if one of us does not want to go somewhere, we both do not go. I have been actively trying to separate myself in the slightest ways, by going somewhere like a friend’s room even if she does not want to go. To that point, we have the same friends and always have, and even they will tell us that they think of us as one person and not

two separate people. We are always referred to as “the twins,” even within our family. All of this contributes to my struggle of finding myself because I am no one without my twin sister. I know I need to find who I am before I go into the real world so I do not find myself lost. We both study at RWU but we went into two very different majors, and it was the first time we actually went down different paths, although we do participate in the same extracurriculars. We grew up thinking we were fraternal twins but people always liked to question us because they thought we looked so much alike. We only recently found out we could be identical, but I do not think we look identical. I do not understand how people think we look so similar, especially now as adults. When I was 15, I got a terrible

concussion and remained symptomatic for 10 months. It left me with multiple lasting effects, one being weakened eyes. So, when I was 18, I got glasses. That was the first time I had a distinguishing characteristic. I thought the glasses would be my saving grace beyond making it not hurt to see. Even though I thought my sister and I looked different before the glasses, I thought they would help people recognize that I am Emily and not Rachel. Somehow, they were not enough and I still end up having to tell people which one I am. The glasses are not the only thing that make me different though. I have dyed hair, which I have had since I was 13, as well as a nose ring. What more do I have to do for people to remember that I am Emily and I am my own person?

Courtesy of Emily Dvareckas Emily and Rachel Dvareckas as toddlers. Growing up, they were always told they looked the same.

Is the U.S. ready for a Green New Deal?

Sam Elwell Herald Reporter

Two years ago, a very popular and controversial resolution was introduced to the United States Congress advising for a strong and immediate response to climate change. This call for a Green New Deal from New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey called for the country to switch focus toward green technology, energy and jobs as a way of combating the looming climate crisis. While the resolution was able to pass in the House of Representatives in 2019, it was not able to garner enough support in the Senate. Just over a week ago, Ocasio-Cortez and Markey reintroduced the resolution.

Though support for a Green New Deal and climate justice is as strong as ever, its cost and time frame of 10 years to accomplish these goals has drawn just as much criticism. This begs the question: Is the United States ready and willing to undergo a complete overhaul of American infrastructure and make climate change the primary national focus? On April 20, 2021, Markey and Ocasio-Cortez held a press conference to reintroduce the resolution for a Green New Deal as well as a bill to create a Civilian Climate Corps as a way to create new jobs and combat climate change. One of the biggest complaints from critics is that the potential Green New Deal would cost nearly $100 trillion during the 10-year goal, with $93 trillion being the most cited figure. However, it has been noted that it is

nearly impossible to put a definitive price tag on the plan. Douglas HoltzEakin, president of the American Action Forum, estimated the cost of a Green New Deal and stated the $93 trillion estimate is misleading. He said a more accurate representation would be $50 trillion to $90 trillion. Even still, the hefty potential cost of the Green New Deal may end up being a burden on taxpayers, but it doesn’t have to be. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen has advocated for private investors and wealthy Americans to aid in paying for a green economy and believes many are willing to do so. Yellen cited an estimate of $2.5 trillion a year to be handled mostly by private capital. Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Beep beep! Make way for the food trucks

Local food trucks offer unique and delicious food

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Championship Melt is the only wrestling-themed gourmet grilled cheese food truck in the world and offers a twist on the classic sandwich.

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor Presto Strange O Coffee Co.

Presto Strange O is a mobile cafe that has been specializing in catering events since 2010. The truck makes appearances throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and it has recently been growing in popularity on campus. The trucks are headquartered in Warwick and soon a storefront will be open. The company is planning for the grand opening to be at the beginning of June. The locations of the trucks are posted weekly on the cafe’s Instagram (@prestostrange_o_coffee) and Facebook. The menu consists of many options. It has the typical selection of coffee and teas for a cafe as well as specialty drinks that make it one of a kind. At SAGA’s (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) Queerfest, which took place on April 12, 2021, the options included lavender lemonade and cotton candy lemonade. Some specials they have offered in the past include a blueberry pancake latte, a cosmic brownie latte and a peanut butter cookie latte.

Championship Melt

FEATURES

DESIGNER

Championship Melt markets itself as the only wrestling-themed, gourmet grilled cheese food truck in the world. Its grilled cheese selections start with

the traditional recipe for grilled cheese: bread and cheese. The menu is full of family recipes that have been passed down through the generations and have added to the bread and cheese. The sandwich prices range between $5 and $12. One of the sandwiches contains cheddar cheese, peanut butter, banana, hot sauce, bacon and a fried egg. Other sandwiches contain buffalo chicken, chili, apples and a variety of cheese choices. The location of the trucks can be found on the company’s Twitter @champmelt.

April 29, 2021

Cast a line for the Spring Bass Derby Amy Martin Features Editor During the last few weeks, the Roger Williams University Fishing Club has been hosting its first-ever competition for RWU students. The Roger Williams Spring Bass Derby began on Saturday, April 10 and it will be ending Friday, May 7. Prizes will be awarded on Saturday, May 8. “If the derby continues to show the promise it has so far, we hope to make it an annual event,” said Fishing Club President Charles Heyder. “Going forward we would probably choose to have a more expansive version in the fall semester when fishing conditions tend to be more favorable.” Students can submit entries in three different categories: the Schoolie Class, the Slot Class and the Largemouth Bass (LMB) Class. For the Schoolie Class category, the person who catches the most schoolie bass by the end of the derby wins the prize of a plug bag full of saltwater lures. These fish can be caught along the coast and are attracted to both bait and artificial lures. Striped bass that are under 28 inches in length are also included. For the Slot Class category, the person who catches the largest striped bass by the end of the derby wins the prize of a Shimano Stradic 3000. Slot fish are typically between 28 to 35 inches in length, however, the Fishing Club hopes to see some that go above and beyond that size. Finally, for the LMB Class category,

the person who catches the largest largemouth bass by the end of the derby wins an assortment of freshwater baits. While the other categories are for those who enjoy fishing for saltwater fish, this category is for freshwater fishermen. “We hope students gain an appreciation for the location of our campus and truly begin to understand all it has to offer,” Heyder said. There are still a few weeks left for students to enter and the waters should be getting warm enough for stripers to return to the bay before students leave for summer break. To enter, students must contact the Fishing Club through Hawk Link, where they can also find more information regarding the derby under the club documents section. It is important to note that students must also include proof of a Rhode Island Fishing License, which can be purchased online through https:// www.ri.gov/DEM/huntfish. All entries must be submitted to the Fishing Club Derby Instagram account @rwu_fishing_derby, where each will be posted. Participants should make sure to include a photo or video of their fish being measured as well as the date the fish was caught. One way to do it is to include a phone’s lock screen in the shot. “Fishing is a prominent part of the Bristol culture and the favorite pastime of many Roger students, which is why creating a community of individuals who share a common passion has been a primary goal of our e-board,” Heyder said.

Rocket Fine Street Food

Rocket Fine Street Food is a food truck originating in Providence. Its menu includes burgers, hot dogs, egg sandwiches and pork. The company is heavily invested in using honest and quality ingredients and products. It serves Yacht Soda, which has been made in Providence since 1915. Its beef comes from Niman Ranch, which ensures it raises livestock humanely. All of Rocket Fine Street Food’s menu items are made from scratch and are always fresh. Menu items have unique names, such as the Fox Mulder burger, the Ron Swanson burger and the Roswell burger. The truck also offers veggie burgers, hot dogs and pork sandwiches. The food truck’s schedule can be found on its website rocketstreetfood.com.

Courtesy of RWU Fishing Club Tyler Pratt shows off the bass he caught for Fishing Club’s fishing derby.

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 29, 2021

My biggest competition yet

Courtesy of Leonard Yui Megan Julian is captured here with her camera equipment after finishing an on-camera interview for her journalism capstone course.

Megan Julian Sports Editor Growing up, I tried every sport — you name it, I tried it. I started with peewee soccer, attempted horseback riding in third grade, played softball until I was around 11 years old and finally found out which sports I loved by seventh grade. There was basketball, lacrosse and most of all, field hockey. I was a

three-sport athlete for the majority of my life. I loved nothing more than putting on my uniform after school or for a tournament in all three of these sports. I never wore something with so much pride. I loved to compete. During every practice and every game, I put my heart and soul into those two-hour time periods when I could do what I loved most. My athletic career came to an end

after high school was over. That chapter ended but my passion for sports was still so deep and alive inside me. The competitor in me was not done. I had found journalism during my senior year of high school, when I wrote stories for the school newspaper, covering a variety of topics. I specifically remember writing a story on the spring athletes at my school and that is when I fell in love. I loved interviewing athletes and getting to tell their stories, shining a light on who they were on and off the field. This carried over when I arrived here at Roger Williams University. As a freshman, I found The Hawks’ Herald and joined the sports section immediately as a reporter. I started writing as quickly as I could. The excited, nervous and eager feelings I felt when beginning to write about sports games or conduct interviews with student-athletes, coaches and members of the athletic department reminded me of the same feelings I would get as an athletic competitor. I realized the competitive spirit in me was still alive and well, just in a different way. I realized this even more when I took on the role of sports editor after two years as a reporter. I became one of the 12 captains on a new team, The Hawks’ Herald. I got my new uniform, my Hawks’ Herald windbreaker, and I was on my way. From that moment on,

I was a leader and that was something I always strived to do as an athlete growing up. During every game I competed in growing up, I would play my heart out from start to finish. I found myself doing the same for every story I wrote, conducting as many interviews as were needed, chasing the hard stories, running from practice to game to get photos of different athletes and doing all these tasks before the new game was over, in order to make my deadline. That was the ultimate competition for me. With my time as sports editor coming to an end and graduation right around the corner, I reflect back with the heaviest and most grateful heart and see someone who has grown more confident and resilient than she ever thought she could be. I know now more than ever that I am prepared to succeed in the game of life, which is the biggest competition of them all. Thank you to every student-athlete, athletic department member and coach, Athletic Director Kiki Jacobs and especially The Hawks’ Herald for giving me the opportunity to have my love for sports and competition grow larger than I could have ever imagined during these last four years. Thank you all for making me who I am today and who I will be in the future.

An emotional goodbye to senior sports editor Megan Julian Kristen Dansereau Sports Manager As her four years at Roger Williams University come to a close, the Athletic Department and Hawks’ Herald members are gearing up to say goodbye to senior sports editor Megan Julian. She put her passions for sports and journalism together through the paper and it has shown in her work over the years. She has built connections with many staff and students in the Athletic Department. While she makes it look easy, she is a hard-working person, especially when it comes to the paper. Julian has covered features, game stories, video stories and everything in between. Recently, she worked to increase the video platform in the sports section with digital stories, including her interviews with RWU’s baseball coach and multi-sport architecture student Emily Slusarczyk. Slusarczyk, a senior captain of the women’s swimming and diving team and runner for the track and field team, expressed that she had a great experience during her interview with

Julian. “I felt comfortable sharing my experiences with her, even when I was behind a camera where I am usually not comfortable,” Slusarczyk said. “Wishing the best of luck post graduation!” Slusarczyk felt she was wellrepresented from all of her experiences as a swimmer, runner and architecture student. Julian often worked with staff members such as Athletic Director Kiki Jacobs, Associate Director of Athletics for Recreational Services and Facilities Mike Gallagher and Men’s Head Basketball Coach Michael Tully. She covered some incredibly tough situations, especially throughout the pandemic, but Jacobs appreciates the approach Julian has taken. “She asked challenging questions, but also is good about presenting both sides of the story. Many times athletics has been labeled as the ‘bad guy’ in situations, especially during the stress of COVID,” Jacobs said. “We are recognizable with the apparel studentathletes wear around campus and a few bad eggs spoil it for all of us. She

has done her best not to promote this stigma.” This past year has been one unlike any other and through it all, Julian has worked to keep sports content flowing. Whether the story came easy or difficult, she has remained neutral in her writing, providing truth to the community. Gallagher appreciates the professionalism Julian has in her reporting and respects her as a journalist. “She asks straight forward questions and reports on the answers I give without taking the quotes out of context,” Gallagher said. Julian has also had an impact on various coaches. Coach Tully enjoys seeing the genuine interest Julian has in the athletics program, bringing support and encouragement for school spirit provided through sports. “Megan has been great to work with,” Tully said. “She has been very consistent and has given great coverage of our team and I know I am speaking for the entire program and athletic department when I say it is much appreciated.”

He believes her coverage to be honest and truthful, leaving the department to trust her reporting. The Athletic Department expressed its hopefulness and good luck wishes for Julian in the future. “Continue to ask the hard questions, no matter what profession you choose to pursue,” Jacobs said. As an editor, Julian has been able to balance writing articles and leading her section’s staff members in developing stories, helping them as young journalists. As a writer for Julian, I have had the privilege of looking up to her as a journalist, editor and student. Being in charge of something gives leaders responsibilities they may not have been ready for. Julian has been incredibly helpful to me in so many ways. I value her as a person and journalist, forever seeing her as a role model. She is always understanding and encouraging of me as a student-athlete and sports writer, guiding me in the right direction. She has had a huge impact on the sports section and is leaving a positive legacy behind.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 29, 2021

Saying goodbye Isabella Gentile Editor-in-Chief

The last four years have brought incredible highs and hard-hitting lows. Still, as I look back on my career at Roger Williams University, I consider these some of the best years of my life so far. The Hawks’ Herald played a huge role in that. I joined this staff as a timid 18-year-old freshman year, speaking up only when spoken to. As the years went on and I moved from features manager to features editor and then editor-in-chief, I had countless opportunities to grow. I covered breaking news stories, interviewed spring concert artists, traveled throughout the country and made connections in the journalism industry that I still have to this day. From day one, I met people who inspired me in every way. People who were fiercely passionate, who fought for our reporting and put every ounce of effort into this newspaper, which is not something many people understand. The hours upon hours that go into producing this product every week is something you really only get a feel for with an inside look. My colleagues became my friends, and over time those friends became family. Staff from each graduating year left lasting impacts on me and this paper, and the relationships I have with them are ones I still cherish today. My experience on this paper the last four years and especially this past year has taught me so much about strength and perseverance. It has helped me grow exponentially and I say without hesitation that my involvement with The Hawks’ Herald changed my life. To my amazing staffs of both last year and this year, I cannot thank you enough for your dedication to our work. COVID threw us more curveballs than I could have ever imagined, and all of you pushed through every step of the way. To Megan and Bailee, my fellow seniors, it has been a privilege to work with both of you and to call you my friends. To Rachel, who I know will excel as editor-in-chief next year, know that I am here for you whenever you need me. I am confident that the entire staff will continue working hard to produce coverage this community needs. The resilience I witnessed in the past year confirms what I already knew in my heart: The Hawks’ Herald team can accomplish anything. Love, Isabella

A NOTE FROM THE DESIGNER Bailee Maston Chief Designer

For the past three years, I have had the privilege of having an inside look at The Hawks’ Herald production. Since day one, I have never ceased to be amazed by the time and passion that every single person on the staff puts into this newspaper. I am constantly inspired by the dedication and drive that this staff holds, no matter the circumstances. Even through the toughest of times, they did their jobs. I feel lucky that I have had the opportunity to understand what the world of reporting looks like, and it has given me the greatest respect for journalists. To Isabella - a leader who has inspired every single person on this staff to be better, as writers and as people - I will forever be grateful for the friendship that this paper gave us and for you always letting me have fun on these pages. To Megan - the hardest working person I know - I knew from day one that we would be friends and I am so glad that we have been able to be by each other’s sides as we grew over the last three years. It has been such a fun ride and I am excited to see how this paper continues to flourish in the future, as I know it will. -Bailee

THE HAWKS’ HERALD The student newspaper of Roger Williams University

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.

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2020-2021 STAFF DIRECTORY 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

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.

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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.

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

Emma Bartlett ebartlett122@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS EDITOR Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

PHOTOGRAPHERS Emily Dvareckas Sierra Gorkun

CORRECTIONS

On April 22, a sports feature was published about multi-sport athlete Emily Slusarczyk. Her last name was misspelled in the print version of the story. 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 Amanda Plasse Sam Elwell Jimmy Sadowski Veronica Rodriguez

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

Spend more time in nature with these outdoor activities Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager Nature is a beautiful place to clear your mind and relax as the end of the semester approaches. As sunshine makes its way through the windy Rhode Island coastline at RWU, here are a few outdoor activities that will get you out and about in nature:

1. Take a walk

As simple as this might sound, one great way to spend time outside is to go for a walk. Take a stroll along the shell path and sit by the rocks decorating the coast of Mount Hope Bay, or explore downtown Bristol by walking along Bristol Harbor and into the heart of town. No matter where you roam, enjoy the warmer weather and breezes that will undoubtedly refresh your mind.

2. Go for a hike

Are you an adventurous person? Whether you think so or not, another great way to spend more time in nature is to go exploring on a hiking trail. ExploreRI.org features trails at different levels of difficulty, with Mount Hope Farm right down the road from campus listed as easy to very easy in difficulty with 2.5 miles of trails. The Sakonnet Greenway Trail in Middletown is listed as moderate in difficulty with 10 miles of trails. Check out this website and play around with the trail finder to locate the destination for your perfect hike!

3. Head to the beach

Here in Rhode Island, there are many beaches to choose from, with seven state-managed beaches and several others run by towns. Some lovely beaches to choose from include Second Beach (Sachuest Beach) in Middletown and Narragansett Town Beach in Narragansett. Days of sunshine and coastal fun await at more than 40 miles of coastline for you to choose from.

4. Visit a state park

Rhode Island is home to many beautiful natural spaces, including state parks. In the Ocean State, there are fifteen state parks to choose from. Why not take a day trip to Colt State Park, which wraps around the breathtaking Narragansett Bay? You could also try out bouldering, a classic activity for all ages at Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, where there are many boulders to be climbed. With so many options, your outdoor activities will be jam-packed with adventure and fresh air.

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 29, 2021

RWU theatre wraps up 2020-2021 season with a filmed tribute to movie musicals

Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor

Many students are used to viewing theatre productions in RWU’s Performing Arts Center, The Barn, which is why their last show of the semester is shaking things up by filming musical numbers across campus and homes. “You Can’t Stop the Beat: A Filmed Tribute to Movie Musicals” consists of an eight-person cast whose songs were professionally recorded and compiled into a film that students and parents could view on Vimeo. The virtual event debuted on April 23 and highlighted songs from numerous movie musicals. Students received a list of songs to choose from for the performance. With a total of nine numbers, selections included “Singing in the Rain,” “The Way He Makes Me Feel,” “One Day I’ll Fly Away” and more. Gillian Snyder, a junior theatre major who has been in a variety of shows since her freshman year, sang “Don’t Rain on My Parade” for her audition and used it to close the performance. “That was a song that I have always loved and it’s a song I’ve always wanted

to perform on stage. While it couldn’t be in person, I’m very glad that I had the opportunity to share my take on the song with an audience,” Snyder said. With creative costumes and dance moves, each musical number held anticipation for what would pop on screen next. In “Good Morning Baltimore,” freshman Alexis Dascher dressed as Tracy Turnblad from “Hairspray” and started her song by singing in bed before eventually walking down the street like she was on her way to school, similar to the character in the original number. Meanwhile, fun camera tricks were implemented in the show to reveal instantaneous costume changes, such as in Gigi Robertiello’s rendition of “Hold Me Tight” where Robertiello, a junior, suddenly switched from wearing a flapper dress to a retro 1950s dress. It was evident that each singer brought their own inventiveness to their performances, which added to the audience’s enjoyment. Various locations were utilized as settings, including the beach, shell path, dance studio, parking lot and in front a bathroom mirror. “Singing in the Rain” was the only duet in the film, which made preparing for the

show different than past performances where actors and actresses were more reliant on their cast members. “Rehearsals were very interesting because none of us really rehearsed together, but that made our rehearsal process very individualized and it also allowed us to focus more specifically on our own songs, instead of being concerned about the entirety of the finished product,” Snyder said. After spending two months prepping songs and preparing for filming, the show offers a new type of entertainment for both singers and viewers. “It was definitely a really unique experience and I’m honestly just so grateful that RWU was able to put on a musical in the time of COVID. It was a bit of a learning process for everyone involved, but once we all figured it out, it started to come together. I’m really happy with the way it came out in the end,” Snyder said. The remaining dates to view “You Can’t Stop the Beat: A Filmed Tribute to Movie Musicals” are April 28, 30 and May 1. The half-hour performances can be accessed through vimeo.com/ rwutheatre and can be viewed at 7:30 p.m. each day.

‘Chazan! Unfiltered’ is a must-read for passionate artists Veronica Rodriguez Herald Reporter “Chazan! Unfiltered” is a local biographical graphic novel written by Lenny Schwartz and illustrated by Erminio Pinque. The novel depicts the life of local medical practitioner, Dr. Joseph A. Chazan. The book reads in a free-flowing form and shifts between the past and the future. This creative decision, however, does not make it difficult to read. The book’s progression was beautiful and it was interesting to see how passionate Chazan was for medicine and where art came into play in his life. Seeing the build up of these two passions helped reinforce his values and ideals when, later on in the novel, there is further explanation about how Chazan became intertwined with art and why he viewed his work as important. Due to Chazan’s personal philosophy, “life cycles through us,” the story’s

structure adds to Chazan’s character and brings more personality to the biography. Those reading will clearly gain a sense of his character. Cycling through Chazan’s life was deeply enriching. Dr. Chazan lived a life full of perseverance, yet he never gave up when he had a goal in mind. The novel showcased a few pop culture references, like “Jurassic Park” and the “Vitruvian Man.” This was greatly counterbalanced by incorporating real-life events, such as the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing that took place in 1963 in Alabama and the destruction of the old Jamestown Bridge in 2006. The illustrations within the biography were notable and interesting to look at. The art style displayed in the novel changed when Chazan cycled through different parts of his life, with an artistic progression that reflected his experiences. It was incredibly powerful to see the transition of pages after his wife Helene’s passing, when the vibrant colors turned into an absence

of color on the page. “Chazan! Unfiltered” is a lovely and greatly recommended read, especially to those who love graphic novels as there is much to be appreciated in how the illustrations are stylized differently from page to page. It would have been interesting to see how Chazan’s parents being immigrants impacted him or perhaps how it did not impact him since the text mentioned he was a firstgeneration American. Seeing as how the main focus was on Chazan’s career and love for art, it is understandable why that may not have been included. Those with a passion or appreciation for art would also greatly enjoy this book. As Chazan expresses how important art is as an escape for him, the novel is full of many great pieces and speaks very briefly of the artists he has met throughout his life that have left a lasting impression on him. If you are interested in reading “Chazan! Unfiltered,” please visit: neverenoughbooksri.com/home.

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

April 29, 2021

Dance showcases Disney and Nat Geo feature performing release ‘Secrets of the groups across RWU Whales’ for Earth Day Adam Zerman Business Manager

Courtesy of RWU Event Operations Dance showcases on April 24 featured dance groups from across campus.

Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager Several dancers and singers took to the stage in the Field House on Saturday, April 24 to perform their dance showcases for viewers online, where they shared their hard work from this past semester despite all of the limitations. Among those performing were the Hawkettes Dance Team for its annual benefit show, Ballroom Dance Club, Drastic Measures A Cappella and RWU Dance Club. The Hawkettes opened the night with seven dances including jazz, hip-hop and slower contemporary and lyrical pieces. Several choreographers created the dances showcased, including Kristen Cullen, Alexus Moniz and Talia Laurito. During their show, they featured several school dance teams within the area with performances by Springfield College Pride Dance Team, Curry College Dance Team, Suffolk University Dance Company and Southern Connecticut State University. Next, the Ballroom Dance Club brought together seven dancers, including three graduating seniors, as they featured six dances with styles of rumba, cha-cha and salsa. The performers were Abby Camire, Julia Derocher, Alexis Eley, Rhe Flores, Emily Kiehl, Kaitlyn O’Connor and Nick Polinsky. Throughout their showcase, Ballroom Dance Club

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featured videos of what their club is all about, the dance styles they learned, competitions from the past years and slideshows for each senior graduating (O’Connor, Kiehl and Polinsky). Drastic Measures A Cappella group took the stage next with two great songs: “Gives You Hell” by All American Rejects, featuring soloist Caroline Alexandre and “When the Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish, featuring soloists Olivia Lozier and Shannon Petrie. The graduating seniors from the group included Courtney Caouette and Kailyn Preston. Last but certainly not least in this full night of performances was RWU Dance Club with 19 unique and entertaining dances that included jazz, hip-hop, tap, lyrical and many other styles. Each e-board member, including Domenica Caico, Michaela Curcio, Nicole Pike and Meghan Marchetti, performed solos that left lasting impressions on the audience as part of the class of 2021 among several other seniors who were featured in the final dance of the show, choreographed by Curcio and Pike. The talent from these Hawks on display Saturday night was electric and proved these students’ hard work, dedication and love of performing, even in the midst of a global pandemic that reshaped the way their rehearsals and performances have been this past year.

In honor of Earth Day last Thursday, National Geographic and Disney released a new documentary on Disney Plus called “Secrets of the Whales.” The documentary is a four-part series narrated by Sigourney Weaver and directed by Brian Armstrong with James Cameron as an executive producer. Each part focuses on a different whale species, including orcas, humpback whales, beluga whales and sperm whales. Throughout each part, photographer and National Geographic explorer Brian Skerry aims to get a special look at each of these whale species. The first episode of the documentary series opens with Weaver saying “whales are the world’s most intelligent giants... but they’re still a mystery. Only now are we beginning to understand their secrets.” The rest of the series then looks to uncover as many secrets as possible about these majestic animals. The series especially focuses on the culture that each of these whale species has and the impact their locations around the world have on their behavior. In episode one, the series focuses on orca whales, more commonly known as killer whales. The documentary talks about the importance of family and the culture surrounding the whales and their families in different parts of the world. Furthermore, the episode talks about the different hunting and feeding styles of orca families around the world. This episode also does a good job of depicting that these whales are actually completely harmless to humans in the wild and that we should not be afraid of them despite their “scary” nicknames.

At one point in the segment, the whale even offered a stingray it caught to one of the divers, mistaking it as a potentially lost orca. The second episode of the series focuses on beluga whales and much like the first episode, it talks about the importance of family to the whales. The episode also puts a heavy focus on how the animals are always happy and playful, even with humans. It also talks about the different hunting and feeding styles of these whales around the world while addressing some of the dangers they face. In the third episode, humpback whales are highlighted, one of the most commonly known whale species. This episode also talks about the importance of culture and family to the whales and references their use of whale songs in communicating. While all four episodes explain the methods of communicating for these whale species, this episode puts an emphasis on the humpbacks’ use of whale songs. It even claims that some humpback whale songs are able to be heard 1/5 the way around the world. The final episode of this series called “Ocean Giants” talks about sperm whales. The episode focuses on a family of sperm whales located in Dominica and a family located in Sri Lanka, and the differences and similarities in how two families hunt and feed. Similar to earlier parts of the series, it talks about the importance of family and culture. However, this part looks into why, unlike the other species, sperm whales will sometimes gather in groups much larger than any other species of whale. There are some incredible moments, footage and photos captured throughout the entire documentary and it will teach you so much about the secrets these magnificent creatures have.

Courtesy of Disney+ Disney+ has recently released its new documentary series, “Secrets of the Whales.” The series consists of four episodes with each one dedicated to a type of whale.

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