The Hawks' Herald | April 21, 2022 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 34, Issue 18 FREE

A Q and A with Senate President-Elect Mike Arel Jimmy Sadowski News Editor Q: What’s your major, minor, and core concentration? A: My major is criminal justice. I have a minor in political science and my core concentration is political science. Q: How does it feel to be elected President of Senate? A: Well, there have been a lot of emotions with it. But one of the biggest things to know is there’s a lot of excitement with it, but it’s really good to make sure I keep that level head with it and make sure I remain calm. That’s why I don’t try and get too over joyous with it, but there’s a lot of excitement.

Q: Could you tell me a bit about yourself?

Q: Why did you want to become Senate President?

A: I am a very procedural person in nature, which is why I’ve started to take roles such as being an RA on campus for North Campus Residence Hall, joining Student Senate, and with my classes in criminal justice and political science, there’s a lot of procedure to it. I also try and make sure I have time for fun, so another commitment I do is serving as President of Roger After Dark.

A: Originally, at first I didn’t want to run for Student Body President, but it was actually the motivation of some peers that really helped drive home why I wanted to run. A lot of people were saying, “Mike you should run for this position!” That became a very big motivating factor for why I wanted to run. Now that I had that motivation, I was able to look into what I want to change and noticed there was all those talks about a lack of communication and a lack of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Q: Do you have any goals you’d like to achieve as President? A: I do have a few goals and expectations I have set. I have an expectation that I will be making a primary focus towards improving communication with all student body members, transparency inside and outside of Student Senate, and then using those to work towards diversity, equity and inclusion. I have a bunch of goals and they are something that are going to be willing to adapt and change depending on dissenting opinions from senators, roadblocks faced by faculty members and administrators, and time constraints. A short term goal is going to be looking at how we can better communicate when it comes to organizations and making sure they’re put at the forefront as well as doing outreach to clubs. A long term goal is diversity, equity and inclusion. I want to make sure that those voices are still heard and see how we can better make our own Senate as well as the whole campus more inclusive. Current sophomore Mike Arel has been elected as the Student Body President for 2022-2023. Courtesy of Mike Arel

Q: For those who don’t know, what other positions did you hold on Senate and what did you do for each of them? A: I’ve had three primary positions previously. The first position I had was General Senator, the second was Academic Affairs committee, and the third was Finance Committee. As a General Senator, that’s me trying to find my footing and seeing if it was really a place for me. It was mainly working on legislation such as bylaw bills and getting my feet wet. When I became Academic Affairs Chair, it was really trying to set the groundwork for moving forward and one of the primary things out of that committee was our Dessert with the Deans event. I ended up having that switchover to the Finance Committee because it was believed that I would be able to perform a bit better and what we’re doing there is communicating a lot with clubs who come in and allocate them funding. Q: What made you want to join Senate? A: I received an email via the Executive Board account saying they wanted to appoint someone for a position and I thought that would be the perfect way to actually get involved in the community and figure out what I want to do. Q: What do you want to tell the RWU community as Senate President? A: It’s always good to take a leap of faith. If there’s something you really want to achieve, try and go for it. If I’d told myself I would be student body president for Roger Williams University or even join Student Senate or any form of student body government, I would have told myself that, that would never happen. But those small decisions you can make can make a large impact and help define you as a person.

See

AREL

on page 2

SECTION EDITOR

Jimmy Sadowski jsadowski031@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

April 21, 2022

AREL

from page 1

Q: How will you benefit the Student Senate?

Engineering Minigolf

A: I think one of the things I can be a benefit within Student Senate is it’s going to be that completely new face. Currently, with Student Senate, we’re having a lot of people who are going to be turning over, we’re going to have a lot of new people coming in, and I think that I have that vision that can help redefine what Senate is and try and make it into something very personable.

April 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at D’Angelo Commons

Q: What do you want to do for a career post-Roger?

Cake Off

A: That’s something I’m still trying to work into, it’s definitely going to be

Upcoming events: Wellness Workshop April 22 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (location TBA)

April 22 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Field House Hawk the Block April 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Rec Center Courtyard RWU Spring Concert featuring Olivia Knox, Social House and Bryce Vine April 28 at 8 p.m. in the Field House

something in the criminal justice field. I was thinking of working in a form of intelligence for criminal justice or counterterrorism. Q: What do you want to see change at the university during your time as Senate President? A: I feel like there are a lot of things I’d like to change. I want to change that campus culture to make it so that it’s just all about oneself but it’s more of a community and we’re all in this together. I’ve noticed there has been quite a bit of tension and figuring out what that tension is, is something I’d like to find out. We have areas of tension such as with diversity, equity and inclusion and that’s something that definitely needs to be addressed on campus.

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hi, everyone! This past Monday, Student Senate and the InterClass Council had their declarations of intent for the upcoming special elections. Elections will take place on April 20 and 21. A link to vote will be sent through email. If you have any questions regarding the elections, please contact elections.senate@g.rwu.edu. Next week, April 25, President Miaoulis will be coming to Student Senate to discuss his role as President of Roger Williams, Dr. Fauci coming to RWU for commencement, the new $20 million partnership with the Cummings Foundation, and updates on the master plan. We hope to see you all there! As a new Student Senate is forming for the coming academic year, we are looking for students to apply for the positions of Parliamentarian and Director of Communications! If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please email marel065@g.rwu.edu by April 29, 2022 at midnight. Interviews will be held between April 25 and April 30, and a speech will have to be presented on May 2 to the Student Senate after the general meeting. As always, follow us on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter @RWU_Senate and try to attend our weekly meetings on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Tefft White Center on the first floor of the library. Our meetings are recorded so if you can’t make the meetings, you can watch the recordings on the Senate YouTube page - so make sure to check those out!

The gavel is contributed by the Student Senate and does not reflect the views of The Hawks’ Herald The tulips around campus have begun to bloom. Take some time to enjoy the beautiful weather! Rachel Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES

DESIGNER

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

April 21, 2022

Learning culture through dance

Rhythm and Roots brings something new to campus Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor Learning about each other’s cultures through the power of dancing is the mission of Roger Williams University’s Rhythm and Roots club. The club, which has been active for three months, has already left a big impression on campus. The club has already held a number of great events, including their Twerk and Whine event, co-hosted with Women of Color Club, and their co-sponsoring of the Soca Pool Party with The Barbershop, Hispanic and Latinx Student Association (HALSA), Multicultural Student Union (MSU) and Women of Color Club. According to the club’s e-board, its mission is “to bring everyone together for a new experience. To teach and be taught different cultural dances and hopefully get more people to come out

to experience and celebrate different cultural backgrounds.” Their club offers something new and different to the RWU campus. They offer a chance for members to learn more about others through their culture and dance. They allow their members to discuss what culture they should acknowledge next, then consult on the historical portion of the culture to ensure they are covering everything. The club also plans to keep the Twerk and Whine night as a yearly event. They are also planning events for Heritage Weekend and TikTok night. For those interested in Rhythm and Roots, they welcome everyone. They view the club as an experience to grow as a community and to meet new people. Their meetings occur every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. Other information about the club can be found on their Hawk Link page and their Instagram, @rwurnr.

Photo from Twerk and Whine event held on March 25. The event welcomed guest choreographer Kaydioree. Courtesy of Rhythm and Roots

The Great Roger Cake-Off Amy Martin Features Editor

The annual Cake-Off event is finally back! Join the Inter-Class Council (ICC) as they throw their own version of “The Great British Baking Show” and allow students to put their cake decorating skills to the test for the chance to win exciting prizes! This year, all the money the decorating contest raises will support the Confetti Foundation of Middletown, R.I. For only $20 for entry, contestants can help the charity in its goal to bring birthday parties to children in hospitals. “Typically, ICC does a week of fundraising leading up to Cake-Off,” said Kyle Villella, the ICC Traditions Chair. “However, this year, we wanted to go bigger and have been doing a month of fundraising leading up to Cake-Off with the goal of raising even more money than previous years!” Teams for Cake-Off can consist of two to six people, and each team pays the $20 fee on University Tickets in order to enter. Teams must register prior to the event on Friday, April 22, starting at 7 p.m. in the Field House. Teams will have 45 minutes to decorate their cakes, and they are required to remain at their stations The Cake-Off is being held on April 22 in the Field House. Students can participate in teams of 2-6. Courtesy of ICC

unless a contestant is getting candy for their cake. Contestants are also only allowed to use the tools ICC will supply. Cakes are judged based on three different categories: Overall Uniqueness, Creativity and Most Fitting with the Theme. The Overall First Place Prize is given to the cake that excels in all three of these categories, with the winners receiving a movie basket, including goodies such as a popcorn machine and a weighted blanket. The Most Creative Cake is awarded to the most unique cake that fits well with the overall theme. The winners will receive a Roger Williams University merch basket. The Best Theme Fitting award is given to the cake that best fits the contest’s theme. Because the ICC is helping the Confetti Foundation with its mission of bringing birthday parties to sick children in hospitals, this year’s theme is going to be birthdays. More specifically, contestants will focus on decorating birthday cakes. Villella encourages students to participate in Cake-Off. “This is such a fun event and is a great way for us as Roger students to give back to the community!” Villella said.

SECTION EDITOR

DESIGNER

Nicole Kowalewski Emily Dvareckas nkowalewski683@g.rwu.edu edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

ARTS & CULTURE April 21, 2022

‘Kirby and the Forgotten Land’: an allnew dimension of gameplay to explore

Grant Soedler Herald Reporter

“Kirby and the Forgotten Land” is the newest entry in the “Kirby” series, developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo on the Nintendo Switch. This game sees Kirby on an adventure in an entirely new world after a portal appears in the sky above his home planet and begins sucking things in left and right. Though he tries to escape it, Kirby is pulled in, and he awakes in a mysterious new dimension filled with abandoned buildings, theme parks and power plants. However, Kirby soon comes across a group of animals known as the Beast Pack capturing everyone who was sent to this new dimension. Along with his new companion, Elfilin, Kirby sets off to stop them. While not the pink puff’s first foray into a 3-dimensional setting, “Forgotten Land” marks its first use for a mainline series entry outside of racing or puzzle games.

You would think that translating a style of gameplay from two dimensions to using the z-axis for the first time would leave a lot of rough patches, but “Forgotten Land” is able to take the “Kirby” formula in stride. In a plot reminiscent of “Super Mario 3D Land,” players work their way through a series of worlds, rescuing as many Waddle Dees along the way as they can while they run, jump, float and swim through the game’s many levels. While “Kirby” games are known for being easy and “Forgotten Land” is no exception, there are parts of the game that were legitimately very challenging, such as completing every level’s side objectives or tackling this game’s boss rush mode. The 3D setting allows for some very fun gameplay, something best showcased in each of the boss fights. New additions to Kirby’s move set such as being able to dodge-roll and counterattack make each fight feel truly dynamic and challenging. “Forgotten Land” still features copy

abilities, a series staple where Kirby can inhale and swallow certain enemies to gain their powers (i.e. the ability to use a sword, throw bombs, or breathe fire). However, many of these feel considerably nerfed in comparison to previous “Kirby” games, something obviously done in order to make the functions more balanced for the 3D setting. While it is a bit disappointing that you can not do as many crazy things with individual abilities as you could in the past, “Forgotten Land” makes up for this by letting you upgrade each of them as you progress through the game, increasing their power and potential and enabling you to do some truly insane things. In addition to the returning abilities, “Forgotten Land” also adds a new power to Kirby’s arsenal: Mouthful Mode. Due to traveling through the portal at the start of the game, Kirby can now stretch his body to extreme proportions, allowing him to swallow huge objects like a car, ring or staircase, stretch his body over them and take control. While this can look a

“Kirby and the Forgotten Land” was released on March 25, 2022 and is available on the Nintendo Switch. Courtesy of IGDB

bit… grotesque, all 13 mouthful modes are a ton of fun to use and add some good variety to the gameplay. Probably the biggest issue with the game, though, is the story. While “Kirby” games aren’t really known for their strong stories (the plot of “Kirby: Squeak Squad” almost solely revolved around Kirby trying to get back a single slice of cake), “Forgotten Land” leaves the player with almost no information about the new world or characters until the very end of the game. This is especially disappointing when you compare it to the previous “Kirby: Planet Robobot,” which had both an interesting premise and recurring villains that kept it engaging. This is ultimately a nitpick, however. The bits of lore that are given at the end are so strange and interesting that they almost make up for their absence throughout the rest of the game. “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” is available now for the Nintendo Switch and can be played in single-player or co-op.

SECTION EDITOR

DESIGNER

Nicole Kowalewski Emily Dvareckas nkowalewski683@g.rwu.edu edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

‘Moon Knight’: sleepwalkers, Egyptian gods and Oscar Isaac Nicole Kowalewski Arts & Culture Editor

This is a story about an avatar. No, not James Cameron’s blue people or the popular animated series– the Egyptian kind in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Not sounding familiar? I don’t blame you. Even the main character had a hard time wrapping his head around it. “Moon Knight” is the latest in a long line of Marvel Disney+ series and the first to focus on a protagonist not previously introduced to the MCU. Having established several familiar faces (mainly the Avengers) in their previous limited series, Marvel and Disney are taking a bit more of a risk with this one, but it seems to have paid off…so far. The show follows the awkward but charming Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a gift shop employee at the British Museum who struggles with what he believes is a sleeping disorder. Things escalate when he begins to experience blackouts and terrifying dreams of violent escapades, and soon Steven is faced with the truth (no pun intended): he shares a body with the ruthless mercenary Marc Spector. As it turns out, those powerful Egyptian gods Steven studies every day at work? They are real– and Steven/Marc serve as one of their avatars. Refusing to sit back and watch Marc’s violent work unfold, Steven struggles to decide between friend and foe as his body’s two identities wrestle over control. “Moon Knight” on the whole is definitely engaging, but because we as the viewers follow Steven/ Marc’s points of view, things often become confusing. Anyone who read the series description would know that Steven has dissociative identity disorder, which ostensibly explains the odd phenomena he experiences in the first episode or two. Some parts of this, like Steven’s blackouts, are straightforward– he does not

remember asking such-and-such woman out because Marc had control during that point. But other occurrences, such as Steven’s fish magically regaining his lost fin and losing it again, make no sense. It is left up to the viewer to surmise what happened. Of course, a little mystery never hurt anyone, and there is always the chance such details will be explained in later episodes, but a fine line exists between mysteries and plot holes. A big factor contributing to the confusion is the filmmaking style, which is actually a strength in its own right. The show is visually striking, and the camerawork contributes to the off-kilter feeling of the plot. A great example is the portrayal of Steven vs. Marc. When the pair are speaking to each other, the personality in control of the body will catch sight of their reflection in some sort of mirrored surface. That reflection will have a will of its own, speaking and moving apart from the physical body of Steven/ Marc. It is a credit to Oscar Isaac how marked the subtle differences between Steven and Marc are. Of course, he is helped by the fact that Steven speaks with a British accent and Marc does not, but the differing mannerisms, inflections and body language between the two go a long way. Based on the initial two episodes– a new installment is released every Wednesday on Disney+– “Moon Knight” checks all the Marvel boxes with action, humor, a hint of future romance and stunning visual effects. Throw in the old existential crisis every superhero seems to go through and BAM, you have a hit. Though these characters are much less widely recognizable than the Scarlet Witch or Hawkeye, “Moon Knight” seems to have an icon in the making. To decide for yourself whether “Moon Knight’’ will join the ranks of classic Marvel hits, stream the show on Disney+. New episodes premiere every Wednesday.

Oscar Isaac plays the mild-mannered Steven Grant, a charming everyman thrust into chaos when he discovers he shares a body with a ruthless mercenary. Courtesy of Disney

ARTS & CULTURE April 21, 2022

Olivia Rodrigo drives home 2 U

“Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U” follows Rodrigo as she travels from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and talks about her debut album. Courtesy of Disney

Soraya Bettencourt Herald Reporter Even if you have not seen the Disney Channel show “Bizaardvark” or the more recent “High School Musical the Musical the Series (HSMTMTS),” you most certainly have heard the hit song “Driver’s License” and, as a result, the name Olivia Rodrigo. She released the smash-hit single on January 7, 2021, a day earlier than the original date to surprise fans. Also notable is her billboard hit “All I Want,” which became popular through “HSMTMTS.” “Driver’s License” spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot 100, four of those weeks at number one. It is no surprise that this marked the beginning of a rapid rise to fame as four months later, in May of that same year, Rodrigo released her debut album, “Sour.” “Sour” consists of 11 songs that she wrote herself, each one becoming just as popular as her first hit single. On April 3 of this year, Rodgrio won three Grammy Awards as a result of her success– Best New Artist, Pop Vocal Album and Pop Solo Performance. This 19-year-old has earned more accomplishments in the first year of her career than most artists dream of achieving in a lifetime. On March 25, 2022, “Driving Home 2 U,” a documentary following Rodrigo’s creation of “Sour” and the subsequent whirlwind of fame, was released on Disney+. The film was directed by Stacy Lee and starred Rodrigo alongside Dan Nigro, her album’s co-writer and producer. The documentary did a good job

portraying the singer’s writing process and her emotional state during that time. I think her goal was to appear as angsty as her music, and if so, she definitely hit the mark. As a fan of Rodrigo since her Disney Channel days, it was interesting to see her in such a different light. In the film, she says she feels like she has aged five years in just the past year– I would have to agree with that. She seems older, but also different in that she is not as vulnerable in the documentary as she is in her songs. Music is the way that she communicates, and I think that explains why there is not much behind-the-scenes content or dialogue in the film portraying the star as her true and vulnerable self. Rodrigo has announced on many occasions that her biggest inspiration is Taylor Swift. Swift also took over the music industry at a young age, and I think that is where they connect. While Taylor Swift has since had time to define herself, Rodrigo is still figuring that out. Overall, “Driving Home 2 U” is a good watch for big fans of Olivia Rodrigo but did not entirely meet my expectations. Her music will always be beloved, but I wish I knew more about the person behind the songs, and this documentary just did not do that for me. The film would have been better if it were created after the artist had some time to reflect on the experience, like Taylor Swift in her documentary. I can imagine it is difficult to be placed under such a huge spotlight as your heartache is put on blast, so in time there may be more of a story to tell.

SECTION EDITOR

Samuel Elwell selwell531@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS April 21, 2022

The zodiac roast Antidepressants and sex Libra Alexa Davignon Herald Reporter

Astrology can be a wonderful tool to dig deeper into your own personality or the personalities of those close to you. While most people associate their zodiac sign with positive attributes (and sometimes stereotypes), astrology reveals all traits, good and bad. So think of this roast as a humbling experience.

My fellows Libras, where do I start? For one, would it kill you to go through with one plan? Stop flaking on everything. Second, stop pretending to be some fake (annoying) version of yourself to get people to like you. It does not work.

Aries

Scorpio

Please stop yelling. You allow yourself to get so angry over minor inconveniences and end up hurting others. Maybe hold off on the cuss words and death threats the next time someone minorly crosses you.

Taurus Your greatest skill is making excuses every time you do something wrong. People do not want to hear why you do what you do, they just want you to stop doing it. Just own up to your mistakes.

Gemini Stop throwing tantrums when you do not get your way. I understand you are impulsive and struggle to stay in one place for too long, but please quit the “woe is me” act every time you are denied something.

Cancer Pick another emotion besides sadness to be obsessed with. You adore self-pity and playing the victim because that is the only place you feel comfortable. The world is not out to get you Cancer, you are the only thing standing in your way.

Leo Knock down the entitlement a few notches. Just because you want something does not mean you automatically deserve to get it. Also, stop freezing people out when you do not get what you want.

Virgo Talk about someone else’s life for a change. Your anxious nature leaves you second-guessing yourself, but that does not make it fair for you to constantly assess your life decisions with whoever will listen.

Sneaky, sneaky Scorpio. Your life is not a thriller, coming-of-age film, stop acting like a mysterious main character. Some people that have known you for years probably do not even know your middle name. Open up to others.

Sagittarius You might think I would dig on your short-temper, but no. You need to stop starting problems you cannot finish. Your short temper may spark an argument, but your flighty, conflictavoidant nature has you leaving the discussion before the problem is resolved.

Capricorn Have some fun, Capricorn, please. I mean truly, do it for everyone around you. The world may require you to be serious to survive, but you are torturing yourself and everyone around you that must listen to you complain.

Aquarius Avidly trying to avoid being basic, kind of makes you basic. You want nothing more than your tombstone to read: “Not Like Other Girls.” Your actual individuality is being squashed by your incessant attempts to be quirky.

Pisces Your spirit animal should be a rabbit based on the way you jump to conclusions. You are so quick to assume everyone has a personal vendetta against you. Gather all the facts before you strike.

Picture this: you are with a hookup or your partner and things are getting steamy. You both have the desire to have sex but when it is time to do it, you fall short. For those with a penis, you may find it difficult to get an erection and for people with vaginas, you may find it difficult to get physically aroused. You may think something is wrong with you or you may be embarrassed but the answer to why this happens may lie in your medicine cabinet. According to Statista, 17% of college students in the United States are prescribed antidepressants. For people on medication under the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) umbrella, libido is more likely to be affected. Medications such as Zoloft, Prozac, Cymbalta and Lexapro are all SSRIs that often lower sex drive. Time for a little science lesson! SSRIs work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that carries signals between brain nerve cells. SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin into neurons. Before, during and after sex there are a lot of hormones being released in your body. With an SSRI, serotonin, which is a crucial part of sex and libido, is not being absorbed in your neurons. Without serotonin absorption, erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness and low libido are more likely to occur. Now that you know what may be causing issues in the bedroom, what can you do?

The answer is not to stop taking your medication if you need it. Sex is great but being healthy is even better. If sexual dysfunction is happening, talk with your partner and let them know what is happening and why it is happening. The last thing you want is for your partner to feel unattractive because you can’t get an erection. Having sex before you take your medicine can help decrease sexual dysfunction since your body will have a lower amount of the medication. You could also talk to your doctor about the sexual side effects that come with the medication and see if switching medications may help. It may also help to keep the same medication and add another medication such as Wellbutrin which treats depression and increases sex drive. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you have to listen to your body. Do not take drastic measures on your own; talk to your doctor and keep your partner in the loop.

xoxo, Stacy

SECTION EDITOR

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Rachel Dvareckas Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

April 21, 2022

Roger Riddle Last week’s question: My face does not match my name, all year long I look the same. Who am I?

Answer: The Roger statue

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Ready to race

Equestrian’s own Sarah Baker heads to nationals Kristen Dansereau Sports Editor Three members of the Roger Williams University Equestrian team competed in Zones at Mount Holyoke in South Hadley, Mass. on Saturday, April 9. That day opened up an exciting opportunity for Sarah Baker, senior captain, as she placed first in intermediate over fences. With that result, Baker qualified for the intermediate over fences event at the IHSA National Championships. “I was really happy that I was able to move on given it being my senior year,” Baker said. She is excited about the opportunity she has to compete in nationals. “Regionals was not my best show at all and I think that gave me a little bit of a kick in the butt to be like ‘okay get it together,’” said Baker. “At the beginning of the year I was still being competitive but it wasn’t to where I could be and I knew that and I think my coaches knew that as well. Just working hard throughout the whole year has really paid off for me.” As all athletes know, practice makes perfect and Baker is no exception. “One of the biggest [things] for me personally is just riding as much as I can and practicing as much as I can,” said Baker. “Also, my coach Nora Harris has been a great help to me. [Since] coming in my freshman year I’ve grown so much from her.” In high school, Baker knew she wanted to continue to ride, but with a balanced collegiate career. “My mom grew up riding horses so I started at a pretty young age and I really enjoyed it,” said Baker. She desired to participate in sports in addition to learning and social aspects of college.

SPORTS

DESIGNER

She felt RWU gave her this opportunity and met with her coach a few times prior to deciding which solidified her decision. She also enjoys the fact that she spends time with her teammates outside of the sport. In 2019 the entire team qualified for the national championship, which was the first time in the program’s history. While the entire team did not qualify this year, Baker is prepared to represent her team at the national level. “I’m definitely a little anxious for it and ready for it to be here already,” said Baker. “I’m not as nervous as I was going to Zones, just because once you are at nationals you can’t get any further.” “It’s such a big thing for me to go to nationals so I’m really excited to get there and ride my best.” As a team, their biggest focus was rallying the team together and building the bond that was not able to strengthen over the last couple of years as a result of COVID. “Last year I didn’t really meet any of the freshmen so it’s really just getting them to feel like we are a team. And we are here for each other and if they need anything they’ll be able to reach out to me.” “I think our team feels pretty close by the end of this year and I think it’ll progress as the years go on.” Her favorite memory thus far was the team winning Zones in 2019 and the unreplicable excitement that filtered through the entire team once they won. “We were not expecting it at all and it was really a big thing for not only the team but the school as well. We were going against teams that recruit kids,” said Baker. “We were the total underdogs, especially because we had never gotten to that point as a team before.”

Sarah Baker jumps in her winning round at Regionals, qualifying her for Zones where she went on to qualify for IHSA Nationals. Chloe Noyes/Hawks’ Herald

April 21, 2022

Douglas dashing back to form

Nathan Douglas rounds the curve and prepares to hit the straight away. Courtesy of Victoria Colon

Andrew Hart Sports Manager “At that point your legs are dead. You’re tired. Everything is starting to sink in….you can’t stop before the line,” said Nathan Douglas, a senior on the track and field team. Douglas, who competes in the 400-meter, 400-meter relays, the 200-meter and an occasional appearance in the high jump, does not mind the suffering it takes to reach the finish line considering this year is the first time he has been able to experience it since high school. As a first-year student, Douglas did not try out for the team. The following year, as he was gearing up to start his first season, the pandemic stopped athletes in their tracks, impeding any opportunities for a spring season. With hopes of normalcy approaching last year, Nathan’s shot at running would have to wait another year as he received a diagnosis that most athletes could not conjure up in their worst nightmare — a torn ACL and meniscus — requiring surgery, time on crutches and a challenging physical therapy routine. “It kind of sucked,” said Douglas when asked about his recovery time. Besides not being able to train for his events, he was unable to play basketball — something he enjoys doing outside of his time on the track. “It was the first time in my life without playing basketball or even doing any type of physical activities for that long. I was just so bored some days,” said Douglas. His return to the track on March 26 for the first time in four years was nothing short of a breath of fresh air.

Competing for less than three minutes in a day full of events at a meet, Douglas fills his time by preparing for his events and supporting the other Hawks on the track. Along with stretching and warming up before he hits the blocks, Douglas uses his time to prepare by shuffling through his J. Cole playlist and listening to “Intro” by G Herbo before each race — a source of familiarity as he combats his pre-race jitters that manifest through an uneasy stomach and sweating. “I get nervous pretty bad,” said Douglas, pointing to his first race after his injury earlier this season. “It was the first race after I had been hurt. I didn’t know if I was going to get hurt again.” As soon as he gets situated on the starting block, his nerves around injury and starting slow and beating his goal time dissipate as he turns his focus to the one-lap sprint around the track. Racing slower than he was before sustaining the serious knee injury, Nathan’s focus is on returning his performance back to his times before the injury within the upcoming meets. “I’ve been trying to do speed workouts here and there throughout the week before practices,” said Douglas. These workouts start with sprinting 150 meters, 100 meters and 50 meters all out, one after another. Through the four meets, the Hawks have had this season, Douglas has placed second in the 400-meter dash twice. “I missed running. I missed running in the meets and missed being a part of a team. It’s been fun; it’s been a nice experience,” said Douglas.