The Hawks' Herald | April 28, 2022 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 34, Issue 19 FREE

Snapshots of SASH 2022 By student-reporters in Dr. Bernardo Motta’s JOUR 170 class Projects from 2021 fall semester Grace Dolan Herald Contributor

Joseph Membrino presented a sailing center that he created for the Narragansett area that would be ideal for fishermen in the early hours of the morning or late at night since there would be a light built on the structure so it would be easy to spot from the harbor. This structure would become a part of the fishing community. Membrino wanted to base it on a beacon structure and spot where people could come together. The top floor would be for fishermen only and the first floor would be open to the community. The whole point of this structure is to look inviting and warm, essentially creating it as a community center. Grass and trees surrounding the center would appeal to people to stay around. The main thing that Membrino learned is that a community center can “make or break” a town depending on how nice it is.

Gracie Munnie Herald Reporter

Parker Schwartz presented “Transphobia in Shrek: an Anti-Feminist Attack” during the Student Academic Showcase on April 21. Courtesy of Parker Schwartz

LGBT issues in animated pop culture

Bilingualism in law

Anthony Bambus Importance of reducing food Hannah Morrissette-Drowne Herald Contributor Megan Dosouto, a legal studies waste Herald Contributor and Spanish major at RWU, presented Shannon Gribbins and Parker Alivia Adolf her honors capstone project on Schwartz presented on LGBTQ issues Herald Contributor “Bilingualism in Law.” Dosouto Julia Sullivan and Maddie Hyer presented a virtual infographic on the serious impact that food waste poses on the current environment. The two explain how carbon dioxide levels have rapidly increased in the past 50 years and the increase has been directly linked to human activity. In comparison to restaurants’ food waste, at-home food waste is almost double. In offering solutions, Sullivan dove right into the benefits of meal planning. “Set up a meal plan for yourself. Know what foods you want to eat and how much you will actually eat,” Sullivan said. Hyer then explained that part of meal planning is making a list. “Shop from a list when you go to the store. Check your cabinets and see what you have. This will stop you from overbuying,” Hyer added.

The class of 2026 and admissions during the pandemic

in animated pop culture and used two childhood movie favorites for their presentation. Schwartz’s presentation was called “Transphobia in Shrek: An Anti-Feminist Attack” and mentioned how one of the characters was a female but had a male voice and looked manly which is how most women in the transgender community are seen. Schwartz also mentioned how Pinocchio was shamed and laughed at for wearing women’s underwear. Gribbins’s presentation was called “The LGBTQ Subtext of Surf’s Up: Progressive Understanding in Children’s Animation” and mentioned how the movie involves queer coding, which is easy for people in the LGBTQ community to pick up on but not for people who identify as heterosexual. She mentions how the main character is a straight male with feminine characteristics and he and his friend Cody are seen as the “other” or as outsiders.

addressed the need for multi-language attorneys for clients not fluent in English. With 13.5% of the American population being foreign-born, the need for bilingual attorneys is quite high. While conducting research for her project, Dosouto was able to connect with a local bilingual lawyer. During the interview, she found that being a bilingual attorney gives them an upper hand allowing them to assist clients who are not fluent in English. According to Dosouto, bilingual attorneys are also very useful in the way they assist immigrants and other foreign-born clients understanding legal jargon along with getting the justice and equality they need and deserve.

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Accepted Students Days took over the Roger Williams University campus on March 26 and 27 and April 2 and 3, and has left current students wondering: What is the class of 2026 like? Dean of Admission Amanda Marsili gave some insight into what can be expected from the incoming class. Marsili said that RWU received over 8,000 applications this year, and 7,300 of those applications were accepted. This admission season — From July 1 to the current day — provided over 4,000 tours. “We have a holistic application review process so we look at all the components of a student’s application and identify potential in students in a multitude of areas,” said Marsili. “It is important to note that we have maintained the average GPA of the students being accepted over the last few years.” With over 1,300 people attending the Accepted Students Day events, Marsili said there was a welcoming atmosphere and a positive response from the students and their families. “Many were very appreciative and happy to be in person and seeing the campus first hand,” said Marsili. “Much of the feedback revolved around the positive interactions with faculty and staff and pleasure with the information obtained during the academic presentations, and many also noted the welcoming campus community.” As for what events the students were able to take part in, she said RWU offers students a preview of what learning in the classroom will be like with academic presentations as well as allowing them to find out more about clubs, organizations, sports, and campus offices with a Life Outside the Classroom Fair. Students also got to tour residence halls and try RWU food.

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CLASS OF 2026

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SECTION EDITOR

Jimmy Sadowski jsadowski031@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

SASH

Determination of the from page 1 magnetic field dependence of the surface resistance of Should local school boards superconductors control which books are in the school library? Will Nichols

Hannah Morrissette-Drowne Herald Contributor Herald Contributor A team of students including Alfred Kaitlyn Kelsey presented a poster about local school boards controlling books in school libraries. Certain books such as “Harry Potter,” “The Catcher in the Rye” and “To Kill A Mockingbird” along with others are banned from libraries, which is limiting kids’ education about certain events, especially books that are based on real life events. Kelsey thinks that parents should not allow their children to read these types of books when they are young, but as they get older, the kids should be able to choose whether or not they want to read that particular book. Most books become banned because parents suggest to the libraries that they be banned.

Caro, Kate Gilbert, Alexa Larson, Jasmine Leavitt, Nicole Rosa, and Elizabeth Wexler presented a poster on the “Determination of the Magnetic Field Dependence of the Surface Resistance of Superconductors.” They were approximating the solution of a problem that was proposed to them by a company that uses superconductors. Using calculus, the team used two types of equations that could approximate the solution, which would give the company more information about their instruments. Hasala Gallolu Kankanamalage advised the team of students from his Mathematical Problems in Industry course.

April 28, 2022

CLASS OF 2026

from page 1

Marsili said Accepted Students Day events have a meaningful effect on enrollment. “We know that when students visit campus and interact with our campus community – faculty, staff and current students, that they are significantly more likely to yield. So having these events is really vital to our ability to enroll a new class,” said Marsili. “We regularly survey students who have enrolled and those who have not enrolled and in both cases students always list interactions with faculty and staff as one of the most important deciding factors.” The college admissions process has been impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides a decrease in in-person college fairs and high school visits, Marsili said there is also the issue of if other universities that went standardized test optional will make them mandatory again or not. RWU has been test optional for

over a decade. Hosting some events virtually will continue to be a part of RWU’s visit experience. In regard to admissions planning during the pandemic, Marsili said, “We needed to adapt and be flexible and we will have to continue to be nimble as we continue to navigate the unknowns. We had to pivot quickly to figure out how to still recruit and yield students when we couldn’t use traditional methods so you saw a lot of virtual opportunities being created.” Overall, Marsili said she is excited for students of the class of 2026 to experience life at RWU. “We know that we offer students a wonderful overall experience from academics to co-curricular opportunities and are just excited for them to join the community, learn from our impressive faculty and staff and enjoy all the opportunities available to them including our vibrant student life, study abroad and engaged learning opportunities.”

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hi, everyone! This past Monday, Student Senate was visited by President Miaoulis, who discussed his role, Dr. Fauci coming for commencement, the $20 million partnership with the Cummings Foundation and updates on the master plan. If you would like to see our discussion with the President, check out the meeting recording on our YouTube page. Two resolutions were passed on Monday. First, a resolution encouraging access to class resources for extended class absences and, second, a resolution asking for the implementation of Title VI deputies. We also passed a bill creating a charter class for affinity groups that will allow clubs that fit the parameters of the requirements to engage in a more expansive funding process and more that will improve the experiences of affinity-based groups on campus. We are still looking for students to apply for the positions of Parliamentarian and Director of Communications for the next academic year! If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please email marel065@g.rwu.edu by April 29 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 social media @RWU_Senate and come to our weekly meetings on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Tefft White Center. 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

RWU accepted 7,300 out of 8,000 applications from potential students. Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

Amy Martin Features Editor The week every Roger Williams University student has been waiting for is here: Spring Week! After dealing with COVID-19 for the last few years, the Campus Entertainment Network (CEN) is excited to bring back their full-scale Spring Week. Take a break from studying for finals and participate in these fun events that each have their own tropical charm.

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor

FEATURES April 28, 2022

Spring Week

Spring Concert When: Thursday, April 28 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Field House The annual Spring Concert is back and in person, and this year’s headlining performance is Bryce Vine, with openers Social House and Olivia Knox. Tickets are still available through University Tickets for $15, so make sure to grab them!

Surfboard and Connect 4, and the Flat Waves and Black Dog Donuts food trucks.

Quad Fest When: Friday, April 29 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Commons Quad Swing by the Quad for an array of games, such as the Mechanical

Block Party When: Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m. Where: North Campus Parking Lot Enjoy carnival rides and games at this year’s Block Party. Don’t forget to check out a variety of food trucks,

Final Comedian When: Friday, April 29 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Field House Spend a night of laughs with Saturday Night Live comedian Chris Redd.

including Spike’s Junkyard Dogs, Twisted T’s Bread Cones and Del’s Lemonade, as well as a barbecue from Commons. Fireworks When: Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m. Where: GHH Lawn Join CEN to celebrate the end of Spring Week with fireworks. Relax on the GHH lawn and enjoy the show as you eat a tasty treat from an ice cream truck. For more information about Spring Week events, visit CEN’s page on Hawk Link.

Events on campus

Hawk the Block

Makin’ Waves

WQRI hosted the annual Hawk the Block event on April 23. The event had two student performances by Armani Dotson and Hot Soup. Hot Soup is comprised of Gigi Robertiello, Greg Tocket, Nathan Watlington, Nick Ratteree and Adam Zerman. The main act was Dylan Chambers. The event had a food truck and different activities for students put on by the other organizations.

CEN kicked off its annual Spring Week with “Makin’ Waves” on April 25 in the Commons Quad. Students could buy Spring Week merch, get ice cream from Clementine’s Ice Cream, ride a mechanical shark, bungee trampolines and rock climbing.

Armani Dotson performing at Hawk the Block on April 23. Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald

Students were able to get wristbands to ride the mechanical shark, bungee trampoline or rock climb at Makin’ Waves. Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald

Hot Soup performing at Hawk the Block on April 23. Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald

Free ice cream from Clementine’s Ice Cream was available at Makin’ Waves Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald

SECTION EDITOR

DESIGNER

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

ARTS & CULTURE April 28, 2022

RWU Theatre’s ‘Small Mouth Sounds’ runs the emotional gambit Nicole Kowalewski Arts & Culture Editor

With RWU Theatre’s latest play, “Small Mouth Sounds” by Bess Wohl, what you see is what you get– literally. Centered around a group of people struggling through an, often painfully, silent retreat, the play contains little conventional dialogue. This forces the characters to communicate through laughs, grunts, groans, sighs, coughs, grumbles, wails, hums and an endless amount of miming, causing viewers to wonder whether they have stumbled into an animated short film or a roomful of video game NPCs by accident. This does, however, place an unusual emphasis on physical acting, allowing the student actors to explore ways of expressing their character arcs and emotions in unconventional ways. The lack of verbal dialogue

unfortunately makes for a lot of confusion in regard to the audience as well as the play’s characters. I often found myself clueless as to what in the world the actors/characters were trying to say– a lesson in faulty communication that admittedly fits the show quite well. This same drawback, however, makes for a lot of situational and visual humor. Puzzling out what is happening on and beneath the surface with nothing much to go on besides an actor’s body language and an empty stage is surprisingly fascinating. Despite my lack of observational skills in terms of all the miming, I do not think I missed anything important, which is truly a testament to the cast’s skills. The emphasis on silence and the small noises we make (both purposefully and inadvertently) causes

the few monologues to take on a greater impact. Hearing an actor begin to speak is often startling, which is an essential element of both the humor and emotional impact of each spoken word segment. It was a relief to hear the characters unburden their souls aloud after being stuck in the dark for most of the scenes, especially given the actors’ superb execution. The lament of a hapless man, Ned (Connor Nugent) whose life is in shambles and the desperate plea of a tearful woman, Joan (Amanda Neff) to her critically ill lover seem to reach right through the fourth wall and tear one’s heart to pieces. Yet, the wordless cries of Joan’s partner, Judy (Devyn Siegel) are no less heart-wrenching. “Small Mouth Sounds” is not so much a story as a portrait of life, captured through snapshots of six

men and women’s overlapping searches for answers. Undoubtedly the most poignant scene (and probably what should have been the last) has the retreat’s teacher (Jayson Dixon) admitting that he has no answers to give, and is merely floundering along with his recruits. He does, however, offer one piece of truth: “You are not alone.” “And if you don’t believe me,” he adds, pausing, “well, you are not alone.” “Small Mouth Sounds” was written by Bess Wohl and is directed by Lori Lee Wallace. The play runs April 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center (The Barn). Tickets may be purchased at the door in cash or at rwu.booktix.com for $15 (general admission), $10 (senior citizens) or $5 (students).

‘Bridgerton’ season two: better than the first?

Soraya Bettencourt Herald Reporter

Tensions continue to rise in the second season of Netflix’s smashhit period romance “Bridgerton,” released last month on March 25. If you have not watched season one yet, I recommend putting down this article and watching it immediately. The show is based on the popular “Bridgerton” novels by bestselling author Julia Quinn, with season one specifically following the book titled “The Duke and I” and takes place during England’s Regency Era. Daphne, the fourth of the eight Bridgerton children, is caught in a scandalous moment with a duke named Simon, forcing them into marriage to maintain their “honor.” They end up falling in love as their unmistakable lust shines through the screen, earning the couple’s story a place in the audience’s hearts. Season two focuses more on the palpable tension and surprising intimacy of budding relationships rather than the physical aspects as in the first season. It is based on Quinn’s second “Bridgerton” novel, “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” and features Anthony, firstborn son and heir to the Bridgerton estate, along with a new character named Kate. The iconic enemies-to-lovers trope the plot brings has us all obsessing over Kate and Anthony’s relationship. From start to end, the audience is engaged and rooting for the moment these

two characters finally confess their obvious love and attraction toward one another. The male lead, Anthony, is played by actor Jonathan Bailey while his love interest, Kate Sharma, is played by Simone Ashley. These two actors were perfectly cast as their connection and excellent chemistry make the book come to life. Each of them individually is incredibly skillful and plays their roles in the series to perfection. In my opinion, whether we are speaking of the acting or the storyline, season two is much better than the first and is definitely a must-watch.

Compared to the book, the show added very different elements throughout. To keep from spoiling anything, I suggest that fans of the show also read the book to uncover the different relationship trajectories between the lovers and dive deeper into the twisted love triangle that the show creates. Seasons three and four have already been confirmed by Netflix and are set to follow the next two “Bridgerton” books, respectively honing in on Benedict, the second oldest brother, and Colin, the third oldest.

There is also a lot left unresolved between best friends Penelope Featherington and Eloise Bridgerton after the last season that fans hope will receive more attention in the next. The release date has not been set, but fans eagerly wait to hear the news so they can mark their calendars. If you are not already familiar with the series, I highly recommend that you give it a watch before season three airs. Seasons one and two of “Bridgerton” are streaming on Netflix now.

The second season of “Bridgerton” was released on Netflix on March 25. Courtesy of Netflix

SECTION EDITOR

Samuel Elwell selwell531@g.rwu.edu

Alexa Davignon Herald Reporter

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

April 28, 2022

Astrology: Movie Edition

No matter what movie genre you gravitate towards, there is always a main protagonist or ensemble. Now maybe this is just me, but I have a long list of characters I resonate with. To save you some thinking, I have compiled a list of characters I associate with each zodiac sign. These are based on their personalities, not necessarily their fictional birthdays.

Aries

You are strong-headed and passionate. You would put those you care most about above yourself and make sacrifices to keep them happy. However, you also tend to get tunnel vision towards what you want, and that little voice in your head that tells you to stop kind of fades away. Aries, you are Ferris Bueller from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Megara from “Hercules” and Cher Horowitz from “Clueless.”

Taurus

The word temperamental comes to mind. You love stability, comfort and indulgence. When you want something (or someone) you will not stop until you get it. You have a logical optimism until someone irritates you and you become terrifying. You are determined and experience love very intensely. You are Tinkerbell from “Peter Pan” (specifically this movie), Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games” and Jack Dawson from “Titanic.”

Gemini

You, Gemini, are not two-faced like you may have heard. You simply have many passions and skills. You are comfortable in the spotlight and you adore feeling proud of yourself. You like making others feel comfortable and confident. You crave

Sam Elwell Opinions Editor

OPINIONS

DESIGNER

knowledge and love finding new hobbies. You are Tony Stark from “Iron Man,” Edward Cullen from “Twilight” and Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde.”

Cancer

You love with your entire body. Nothing in this world means more to you than your loved ones. You are a people pleaser and will wreck yourself to make others happy. You need to feel loved and appreciated to feel worth something. Sadness is your comfort emotion and you are kind of addicted to self-pity (sorry not sorry). You are Juliet from “Romeo and Juliet,” Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” and Bridget Jones from “Bridget Jones’ Diary.”

Leo

You have main character energy, but only a few characters properly match you. You are loyal, brave and a born leader. You take charge and stand up for what you believe. You love fiercely, like any fire sign. Sometimes you take on too many responsibilities at a time, but you believe you can make a difference. You know you are destined for something great. You, Leo, are Harry Potter from “Harry Potter,” Simba from “The Lion King” and Danny Zuko from “Grease.”

Virgo

Libra

Empathetic, moral, charismatic Libras. You have an intense moral compass and always try to do what you believe is right. The moral compass may get a little skewed when it comes to lying, but your natural charm has to come out somehow. You would willingly give a stranger the shirt off of your back and would do anything for someone you love. Seeing that “Legally Blonde” was probably a spiritual awakening for many Libras, you are the epitome of a romantic comedy protagonist. You are Jenna Rink from “13 Going on 30,” Sandy Olsson from “Grease” and Andie Anderson from “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”

Scorpio

The boldest, most mysterious sign in the zodiac. You are creative and passionate, and you probably think you feel emotions more intensely than anyone else. You have a vast library of mystical thoughts and ideas stored in your mind, but you would never share them. You are the one I would call if I needed to hide and body (not that I would need to do that). You are Anakin Skywalker from “Star Wars,” Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” and Sirius Black from “Harry Potter.”

Sagittarius

Stressed and perpetually tense, you definitely embody the anxious character. Beyond that, you are practical, kind and poised. You have a tendency to hyperfocus on your personal problems, but when you are truly listening your advice is top tier. You cling to those you care about and would definitely be at their side through any obstacle. You are Hermoine Granger from “Harry Potter,” Peter Parker from “Spider-Man” (particularly starring Tom Holland) and Bella Swan from “Twilight.”

The first word that comes to mind when I think of Sagittarius is free-spirited. You have a love for exploration, honesty and optimism. Of course, you can be a bit overzealous at times, but you mean well. You are the best person to have a long, open discussion with. And you go above and beyond fighting for what and who you love, you end up in jail over it. You are Lara Croft from “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” Sophie Sheridan from “MamaMia!” and Ian Miller from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”

expanded with the introduction of cable television around this same time. The point of broadcasting is to be able to transmit information over the largest area possible, be accessible to the public and frame this information as broadly as possible so as to not cater to a specific demographic. For a long time, this was the case with Walter Cronkite delivering the evening news on CBS or Ed Murrow reporting on his program “See It Now.” Back then, there were only a few options for gathering news in an auditory or visual manner; the three major networks were NBC, CBS, and ABC. Now, in the twenty-first century, we have such wide access to any and all information since the World Wide Web became available to the public in 1993. We do not just have widespread access to information though, we also have widespread access to communication as well. Because of this greater ability to

communicate with anyone at any time all around the world, what was once broadcasting has become narrowcasting where there are many more outlets to receive information, but this information is more likely to be catered to its specific audience. Whether it be the framing, tone or lack of context, much of the content being presented to narrowcast echo chambers have some agenda behind it that discourages any opposition. The question now is: is it better to have fewer media outlets with broadcasting and the information or is narrowcasting better with greater access to information where anyone can share thoughts, news and opinions but the content being shared is so catered to a specific audience that it may cause a cultural or political divide? Personally, I believe there is some way to find common ground between narrow and broadcasting. The trickiest part is being able to

Capricorn

My favorite workaholics. You are sensitive, driven and structured. While that may sound boring, you are also one of the funniest zodiac signs. Sure your humor mainly consists of dry sarcasm, but that is my favorite kind of humor. You are extremely gifted and I have no doubt you will outlive us all along with the cockroaches. You are Jay Gatsby from “The Great Gatsby,” Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice” and Severus Snape from “Harry Potter.”

Aquarius

Clever, clever Aquarius. You are intelligent, unique and independent. You do not suffer from that need to fit in and be like everyone else, you thrive on being different. You are self-reliant and can come off as cold at times, but you are just picky about who you trust. You radiate the same energy as Nancy Drew, I feel like there is no problem you cannot solve. You are Dumbledore from “Harry Potter,” Luna Lovegood from “Harry Potter” and Yoda from “Star Wars.”

Pisces

Ethereal Pisces. You embody peace, sympathy and creativity. You seek out harmony in your everyday life and are no stranger to the occasional scream/cry into your pillow. You are very emotional at times, but you are very aware of these emotions and they make you, you. Your tranquil energy can calm people down simply by being in your presence. You are Dorothy Gale from “The Wizard of Oz,” Ron Weasley from “Harry Potter” and Lizzie McGuire from “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.”

Broadcasting versus narrowcasting

One of the most pressing issues affecting news media right now is the emergence of misinformation, echo chambers and content meant to rile up an audience who already has gravitated towards these bubbles of close-minded and fabricated information. This form of content and media is called “narrowcasting” where a wide variety of content is available, but the content is so geared towards a specific audience and demographic that it often does more harm than good. Before this narrowcasting, there was broadcasting where outlets lacked variety, but the quality of the content released was uniform and not curated to one group of people. Broadcasting dates back to the early 1900s with the inception of the radio. By the 1950s, broadcasting had widely expanded to television and further

discourage misinformation without completely censoring those voices since, from what I have seen, this does not do anything to change the minds of those who follow more narrowcasted content and just reinforces their opinions. One of the better solutions I see is to bring as much awareness as possible to fully researched and unbiased content and information whether it be through word-of-mouth or social media sharing. In my ideal world, there would be a wide variety of media outlets but the information presented by all of them was very similar with very little bias, though bias would inevitably occur given so many people are producing content. However, I do not see this as a likely scenario and I do hope that, in the future, media consumers become more conscientious about the information they take in and are critical of it regardless of the outlet’s bias.

SECTION EDITOR

DESIGNER

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

EDITOR’S DESK April 28, 2022

Osprey on campus

These osprey live on campus and have built their nest on top of the light pole by the baseball and softball fields. Osprey mate for life and this couple will most likely start to incubate eggs soon as they have recently made their nest. Their nesting period is around 50 days and typically lay one to four eggs a season. Keep an eye when walking by the fields for these birds. Photos courtesy of Joseph Westgate

SECTION EDITOR

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

April 28, 2022

Thank you, RWU Rachel Dvareckas Editor-in-Chief I cannot believe this is my last issue as Editor-in-Chief, the past four years seem to have flown by and now I will be graduating in less than a month. I entered my first year a shy and anxious girl who would have rather hide in her room than go out and socialize with anyone. I was scared to do anything without my twin sister by my side, but then I joined The Hawks’ Herald. I was not instantly cured of my anxiety and follower mentality, but as the years progressed I came out of my shell more and more. If I had not joined The Herald I would not have found the career path I wanted to follow and I would probably still be that shy girl from 2018. Being a member of The Herald staff has been my greatest joy these past four years. I have met so many amazing people and learned so much about myself. I will always be grateful for the opportunities The Herald has given me and the friendships I have made. Serving as Editor-in-Chief has been an honor that I have never taken for granted. I would like to thank all the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of working with during my time at RWU. Adrianne Harris is the backbone of The Herald, she always makes sure we are supported and running smoothly. Her guidance has always been appreciated. Janine Weisman, our trusty advisor, has

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

provided so much assistance in ensuring we are following journalistic standards and providing assistance with her vast knowledge of newspapers and The Herald. Carol Sacchetti is our strongest supporter. She was always looking out for us and I will always be grateful for that. To my staff, thank you. Your hard work and dedication this past year have not gone unnoticed. I admire you all and I cannot wait to see what you do in the years to come. You have all adapted to your roles and I have loved seeing you all grow and become more confident. It is never easy to say goodbye, but knowing the kind of work you all do and the kinds of people you are, I trust this is not a permanent goodbye. To the RWU community, thank you for bearing with me as I transitioned into my role as Editor-in-Chief. I tried my hardest to bring you the best work possible every week, but I know some weeks were slacking. I had to pick up the job of designing the paper without any experience in graphic design, and although there were some issues along the way I think as the weeks progressed the quality of the paper got better and better. Thank you for allowing me to grow into the woman I am today and for the ability to find who I really am. I have the utmost confidence that The Herald will become even more successful in the coming year. I am so excited to cheer on the staff from the sidelines.

Spring at RWU Q I A O U T S I D E G V T O H

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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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Hawks hitting their stride

April 28, 2022

Catching the passion for everything she does Isabelle Rosado explains her success on and off the field

Kristen Dansereau Sports Editor

Ben Bonavita locks in for the next pitch. He was one of the eight seniors honored on Senior Day. Chloe Noyes/The Hawks’ Herald

Andrew Hart Sports Manager A dominant Senior Day showing and an out-of-conference victory by the baseball team was enough to maintain the Hawks’ third-place position in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) as of April 27, with postseason action rapidly approaching. A doubleheader victory on the special day over Wentworth Institute of Technology by 20 and 10 runs respectively happened by way of potent pitching performances from graduate students Justin Garcia and Chris Flynn and aggressive at-bats by the senior led cast. Following the commanding victories, the Hawks traveled to the University of Massachusetts Boston for a matchup under the lights, again, capturing another victory behind formidable pitching by senior Kyle Schafer to extend the Hawks winning streak to eight games. “Our biggest strengths are our depth, the veteran leadership we possess, and the culture of the baseball team as a whole,” said Kevin Kelley, head coach of the baseball team in an email response. “We play very good defense, we hit, and we pitch well. The leadership demonstrated by our upperclassmen and captains is definitely a bonus.” Along with the current eight-game winning streak the Hawks are on as of April 27, the team also rattled off a winning streak of 10 games to start the

season and seven games following a brief setback. During the stretch from March 5 to April 2, the Hawks flexed a 17-1 record. “Every time we step onto the field, whether we are home or away we are 0-0,” said Kelley. “The confidence we possess comes from our preparation throughout the week. We are constantly reminding the guys that we need to practice how we play; we can’t have an average week of practice and expect to play great on game day.” The success under Kelley is nothing new for the Hawks. In his second season at the helm, the Hawks have earned back-to-back 20-win seasons. Besides cracking the national rankings for the first time in program history, the team has also won the third-most games in a season in their history so far this season. With the CCC Tournament less than two weeks away, the focus for the team is simple — it’s all about them, what they can control and how they can prepare. “Just focus on us. We firmly believe that the only team out there that can beat us is the name written across our chest,” said Kelley. The Hawks made the short trip to Salve Regina University for a conference matchup on April 27, which they tied with earlier in the season after play was suspended due to darkness. They will look to defend Paolino Field on April 28 against Eastern Connecticut State University. The first pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.

Isabelle Rosado, from Central Islip, N.Y., has eagerly competed on the field during her junior year on the Roger Williams University softball team. Rosado is a member of the RWU Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program and was sworn into the military last year. She gained many life skills as she balances academics, the ROTC program and athletics. “It is challenging, but it builds a lot of character,” Rosado said. “This year I focused a little bit more on softball because last year, my sophomore year, I focused a lot on ROTC because I had just sworn in.” There are times when she has to miss one commitment for another, but she works to put her best foot forward for whichever of her many commitments needs her and to balance out her schedule as efficiently as possible. “I communicate a lot with my softball coach [and] my science instructors,” said Rosado. ”They are very understanding and they work with me.” Rosado got into the sport as a mere 3-year-old as she played on a boys’ tee-ball team before the girls’ leagues came into play. By the time Rosado headed into slow-pitch softball she was already in sixth or seventh grade, as she recalls. “My mom was a pitcher in high school and my aunt was also a pitcher, and one day they asked me ‘Do you want to play softball?’” said Rosado.

“And I was like ‘Yeah the ball is soft right?’ Little did I know.” This past weekend, Rosado sustained an injury during the first inning of the team’s second game against Wentworth Institute of Technology. The ball unexpectedly hit the ground and shot up at her face, leaving her to sit the rest of the game out with a broken nose. On the field, you will likely see her playing infield, positioned at third base. When learning the game, she originally wanted to play as a pitcher but her mom convinced her otherwise. Rosado said her mom explained that you need to have a strong mindset and constant composure, especially under stress. She has a strong mindset, but she agrees with her mom that she would struggle to maintain composure in high-pressure situations at the collegiate level. After falling in love with the Bayside Apartments as she toured the campus, Rosado made a last-minute decision to commit to Roger Williams University contrary to her intended enrollment at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Luckily, she has been given the opportunity to house in the Bayside Apartments this year, enjoying one of the biggest selling points of this school for her. Rosado said that, in a heartbeat, she would say yes to coming to RWU if she had to do it all over again. Outside of all her other responsibilities you will likely see Rosado either eating dinner with her teammates or wrapped up in a movie, of which her favorite is “The Breakfast Club.”

Isabelle Rosado is a junior on the women’s softball team as well a member of the ROTC. Courtesy of Isabelle Rosado