The Hawks' Herald | Feb. 11, 2021 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 12 FREE

Upper Commons reopens for seated breakfast

More decisions to come on in-person dining Jimmy Sadowski Herald Reporter Upper Commons reopened yesterday for breakfast only after campus officials assessed the university’s ability to provide dine-in seating late last week. Students were allowed to sit in pods of four or less to enjoy their meals or they could take food out from the dining hall. James Gubata, General Manager of Dining at RWU, said he and Vice President of Student Life John King anticipate Upper Commons will be able to reopen for all three meals today as long as final approvals go through. A confirmation announcement is set to be made at 3:15 p.m. on WQRI 88.3 FM. Sophomore Joey Bucci said he liked his first in-person breakfast experience in the dining hall this semester. “So far it has been good,” Bucci said. “I think we could definitely have breakfast in-person because I feel like there are a lot of people that don’t eat breakfast, so the numbers are pretty low. Right now, there are only 10 people here and everyone is spaced out.” “I think Upper Commons could reopen for lunch and dinner because a lot of people just get their meals to go, so I think the numbers of people dining in for lunch and dinner would be low too,” Bucci said. Junior Katherine Plotas was happy to be back in Upper Commons. “I definitely feel like it’s good to be back because it’s like a sense of normal,” Plotas said. In a Feb. 9 all-student email, King

Isabella Gentile / The Hawks’ Herald Students waiting in line for breakfast in Upper Commons on Feb. 10. Spring semester dining started out as take-out only but the venue opened for breakfast in pods of four or less yesterday.

cited a decreasing positivity rate as a reason why Upper Commons can begin a phased reopening. Gubata explained why the semester began without the option to dine in. “We started without dine-in service because it is the safest way to provide food to students,” Gubata said. “It’s not the greatest in terms of community dining, but at least we can make sure the students are getting decent meals, beautiful meals.” “We’re still buying local food,” Gubata said. “We’re still buying high quality ingredients.” Gubata and King have been making dining decisions based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Isabella Gentile / The Hawks’ Herald Multiple students dining in Upper Commons as breakfast came to a close on Feb. 10 were sitting by themselves or in sets of two. Students were able to dine there in-person in pods of four or less.

and the Rhode Island Department of Health. With plexiglass barriers on tabletops in the dining hall and a reduced dining capacity from a maximum of six at a table to four, the university is practicing precautions to make in-person dining a safe experience. “I’m just glad they took their time to make sure it was safe when they reopened,” said junior Breanna Bailey. If the positivity rate continues decreasing and “things look like they are moving in the right direction,” Gubata said Upper Commons may go back to six people at a table. The curbside pick-up option at Lower Commons and the Law School Bistro being open from 5 to 7 p.m. have helped to reduce population density coming through Upper Commons, according to Gubata. “We have now taken 750 meals per day out of Upper Commons and [are] serving those meals out of the Lower Commons,” Gubata said. “Approximately 75 to 100 students per day are going to the Law School Taqueria instead of Upper Commons.” “I think dining has been alright,” said sophomore Isabella Cirignano. “I like the take-out aspect, but the food

can get repetitive especially when they don’t serve what they say on the email.” In-person dining at Baypoint reopened for lunch on Feb. 5. Gubata said Baypoint was able to reopen before Upper Commons because there is a much smaller group of students that eat there together and the majority of the time only students who live in Baypoint eat there. Students from other residence halls are not typically dining there. Gubata said take-out has not been the most environmentally friendly option. “Take-out service goes against a lot of our sustainability values in dining because of all the extra paper and plastic,” Gubata said. “In recent years, we have made such great progress in reducing our disposables. We don’t like having to do this, but the safety of the students is the first priority.” Gubata said RWU dining is welcome to feedback from students during the semester. “Dining is open to any feedback from students,” Gubata said. “If you see something, say something. If you have a good idea, we really want to listen and hear those ideas. We want to be everything the students need us and want us to be.”

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

February 11, 2021

As COVID-19 vaccine rollout progresses, some students will get vaccinated earlier than others Connor Midgley Herald Reporter The distribution of COVID vaccines has started for the older population in America. RWU senior Lea Peterson moved from the end of the line to get a COVID-19 vaccine to the front because she is working as an Emergency Medical Technician at the Bristol Fire Department and for a private ambulance service. She received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 19, 2020, at Bristol’s Quinta-Gamelin Community Center, at the entrance to Colt State Park, and returned there for the second dose on Jan. 27. The shots, which must be given at least 28 days apart, were found to be 94.1% effective at preventing people from catching COVID-19. “I feel very grateful, fortunate and hopeful for our future,” Peterson said in an email. “The only shot we have as a society of going back to a version of our ‘normal’ is trusting in science and experts, as well as getting vaccinated when the opportunity arises.” But most RWU students will have to wait at least a couple of months or longer. This is because the distribution of the vaccine is being done in phases,

and there is currently not high enough supply for the vast amount of people who need it. Only two vaccines have been approved here in the U.S., although more are in the pipeline. In Rhode Island and elsewhere, healthcare workers and others on the front line have been the first to receive the vaccine in December, January and February. According to Gov. Raimondo, Rhode Island has administered nearly 130,000 doses of the vaccine as of Feb. 10. Under the state’s phased rollout, people 75 years and older became eligible this month, which will be followed by people ages 65-74 later in the month, people 60 to 64 (as well as those 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions) in March, 50-59 in April, 40-49 in late May and 16-39 in July. Vice President of Student Life John King recently attended a Student Senate meeting, wherein he said the university applied to become a vaccine distribution center. When reached for comment, he said it was premature to talk about that possibility given the state’s evolving distribution plan and supply chain issues. “There simply is not currently enough information about the availability of vaccines to project whether or not the university will have the opportunity to serve as a vaccination center for

our campus community later in the semester,” King added. “That said, the university will eventually require evidence of COVID-19 vaccination for enrolling students and employees once there is mainstream availability. It is still too early in the vaccination process to project if that requirement will be in place for the start of the next semester. The university is willing and able to be a point of distribution for vaccinations if supply allows and we are asked by the state to provide that service.” As with any vaccine, the COVID vaccine has been known to come with side effects. Peterson, for example, said she and others she worked with experienced flu-like symptoms for 12 to 48 hours. Nonetheless, people she knows are glad she got vaccinated. “Most people are happy to know that I am vaccinated and hopeful to get vaccinated themselves,” Peterson said. In addition to Moderna, another USapproved vaccine has been created by Pfizer. Both were developed using messenger RNA technology that has existed for over a decade. Both are also inactivated vaccines, meaning they are not made using the live virus. Since the virus was sequenced in Jan. 2020, clinical trials were able to start quickly in mid-March, as part of a project created by the Department of

Health and Human Services. The goal of this project, known as “Operation Warp Speed,” was to develop 300 million doses of COVID vaccines by January 2021. Tens of thousands of people participated in clinical trials, in which it was found that the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective and the Pfizer vaccine was 95% effective. An ever-important piece of discourse concerning the COVID vaccines has been the hesitancy many people have felt about getting it. These anxieties range from those concerning the vaccines’ efficacy to fears they may have been rushed into production. The best thing for people to do with regards to this is to keep informed via reliable sources and decide for themselves whether to get the vaccine or not. College opinion polling platform College Pulse conducted a survey on Jan. 27, asking 1,000 college students whether or not they believe colleges can make their students get vaccinated before returning to campus. 71% agreed, 19% disagreed and 10% said they weren’t sure. Here at RWU, students have been required to fill out a COVID-19 Student Community Pledge in order to return to campus, as well as take two clearance tests and test negative for both before beginning regular testing.

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news

Hi Hawks! This week, the Student Senate swore in Fiona Dolan. We are excited to have her on board and to now have a full Senate again. As always, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @RWU_Senate and try to attend our weekly meetings on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. over Zoom. You can find the Zoom link on our Hawk Link by clicking on our weekly meeting event. The Zoom link will be available as the location.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Two CVS vaccination sites have opened in Rhode Island so far, but no COVID-19 vaccines are available yet in this location at 10 Turnpike Ave. in Portsmouth.

SECTION EDITOR

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS February 11, 2021

Destigmatize male mental health Luke Brennan Opinions Editor Be a man. Man up. Act like a man. If you are a male over the age of five, you have probably heard one or all of these expressions at some point in your life. Our society teaches us that, as a man, the only emotions you are allowed to feel are happiness and anger. Any emotion that does not fit into that extremely narrow margin is considered “unmanly.” Punching a wall is more socially acceptable for a man than crying because boys don’t cry. Not only are these ideas antiquated and incorrect, but they are also extremely harmful to the mental health of men who have been raised with this mindset. It makes them incapable of being able to understand and express themselves, especially with other people. According to a poll conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), nearly one in 10 men of the 21,000 polled reported experiencing depression or anxiety, yet less than half sought treatment. This is because they have been taught their whole life to “suck it up” and bury their emotions deep down and never talk about them, either by their parents, peers, TV and movies or society as a whole. We are going through a cultural shift in the world, where traditional gender norms are going away, leaving room for more well-rounded individuals. Invariably, this has led to more men

being comfortable with expressing feelings that 20 years ago would have them laughed at or looked down upon. This has also led to a change in what it means to be a man. For centuries, being a man meant being strong, stoic, aggressive, loud and often violent. Tamping down your emotions does not make you strong. Hurting yourself to try and adhere to outdated stereotypes does not make you strong. True strength is letting yourself be vulnerable when you need to be. True strength is talking about your emotions, validating them and sharing them with others. Most of all, true strength is accepting help when you need it. For any men who are reading this, I want to make something clear to you: it is OK not to be OK. It is OK to cry. It is OK to have anxiety. It is OK to have depression. It is OK to express your feelings. We are not our fathers’ generation. We do not need to selfsabotage to prove our “manliness.” You do not need to be ashamed of the fact that you are imperfect, also known as being human. Being born a male does not predispose you to be less affected by trauma or mental illness. If you feel like you need help, you have every right to seek it out. It does not make you weak. It makes you strong. As motivational speaker and former Congressman Les Brown once said, “Ask for help. Not because you are weak, but because you want to remain strong.”

Do you have opinions? Want your voice to be heard?

Email your stories to stories.hawksherald@gmail.com

Courtesy of Nik Shuliahin | Unsplash According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 36.8% of U.S. adult males get treated for mental illness compared to 49.7% of females.

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

A very vivacious Valentine’s

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor

Valentine’s Day has many traditions that are celebrated each year. These include giving loved ones chocolates, roses, cards and anything heartshaped. It is a day for expressing love in various ways. Here are some interesting ways people celebrate Valentine’s Day around the world. Wales: A Welsh tradition that began around the 17th century sees men gifting love spoons to the women they were trying to woo. The spoons would be carved by the men and contain symbols of love and show off the capabilities of the man. A nicely carved spoon would let the woman’s father know he was a good woodworker and capable of taking care of his daughter. Slovenia: Valentine’s Day in Slovenia is celebrated on March 12 and called St. Gregory’s Day. March 12 used to be the first day of spring and is the first day of working in the fields. Slovenians celebrate their first day of work and participate in a longlived tradition of walking into the fields barefoot in order to watch the birds. The tradition began because it is strongly believed that the birds propose and marry their loves. In order

to view the ceremony, one must walk on the frozen ground barefoot. Norway: There is a tradition in Norway that consists of someone writing a poem or letter to their crush and sending it without signing the card. Instead of signing it, the writer must sign it with dots with the amount of dots equalling the number of letters in their name. The recipient must then guess who the admirer is. If they are correct, the admirer must give them an Easter egg. If they guess the wrong person, the recipient must buy the admirer an Easter egg. Japan: In Japan, chocolate does the talking. Feb. 14 is the day women show their admiration for the men in their lives in the form of chocolate. Giri choco is given to men that the woman does not have romantic feelings for like bosses or male relatives; giri choco is translated to obligation chocolate and is usually cheaper, grab and go chocolates. Tomo choco is given to female friends and is translated to friend chocolate. The chocolate that is given to a woman’s significant other or one she has feelings for is called honmei choco, translated to favorite chocolate. This chocolate is usually homemade or fancier and expensive.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Valentine’s Day in Slovenia is celebrated on March 12 and is believed to be the day that birds propose and wed.

February 11, 2021

SAGA sets new goals for spring semester

Amy Martin Features Editor

Community is one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. The Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) at Roger Williams University is able to provide just that for students who are a part of the LGBTQ community. “SAGA, before anything else, is a resource for RWU’s queer and trans students and an environment where they can gather and be authentically themselves,” said Public Relations Chair Sophie Speliopoulos. With the start of a new semester, SAGA is introducing and prioritizing three new pillars in order to better focus their efforts: Acceptance & Community, Education & Understanding and Activism & Justice. The organization aims to provide a safe space for LGBTQ students on campus, as well as educate others about LGBTQ issues and make genuine change, both on and off campus. “I want to stress here on the topic of Education & Understanding that we welcome any and all questions you may think are relevant to SAGA,” Speliopoulos said. “Even if you think it’s a stupid question. There are no stupid questions and we’re happy to answer.” In addition, SAGA is making a conscious effort to be inclusive of all marginalized students, ensuring they provide support and community to everyone. “We try to be clear about the intersections of race with queer and trans issues, as well as generally not center whiteness in our conversations and educational efforts,” Speliopoulos said. In terms of COVID-19, SAGA made major changes in order to meet safety guidelines. The weekly meetings are now held on Zoom and many events had to become digital as well. There is also a Discord server where students are able to chat with each other, which is tinyurl.com/rwusaga for those who wish to join. However, this has not stopped SAGA members from working hard on spreading awareness on various issues. For instance, SAGA held an event where they premiered a video about the history of Trans Week of Remembrance on their YouTube channel. Many of the changes applied to the Queer and Trans Resource and Advocacy Center (QTRAC), where

students used to gather to hang out or study. It has also been used to hold meetings for different clubs and organizations focusing on issues regarding gender and sexuality. “Due to the history of mistrust toward the medical community from queer and trans folks, many queer and trans students on campus have not felt safe in small public spaces and have opted to not use the QTRAC,” said Gabby Porcaro, Assistant Director of Queer and Trans Student Initiatives. As of now, only six people are allowed to be in the QTRAC at once on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Feb. 15. However, much of its community building program will be virtual. The Trans Affinity Group (TAG) meets weekly on Zoom, as does the Kinship Collective Mentors and Mentees. In addition, work study students are using Discord to host game nights and movie nights, as well as to share educational information regarding various social justice topics, which can also be found on Instagram via @rwusaga. There are also several upcoming events that SAGA will be hosting, especially during Health Week, which is the week of Feb. 15.

“This week is for providing resources and promoting conversations...” -Sophie Speliopoulos

“This week is for providing resources and promoting conversations about health in all of its many facets, be it health related to COVID-19, sexual health, health disparities in marginalized communities,” Speliopoulos said. On Feb. 15, students can pick up masks, hand sanitizer, and stickers at SAGA’s table time. On Feb. 16, there will be an Instagram campaign that explores how health intersects with poverty, racism, homophobia and transphobia. On Feb. 17, there will be a workshop on queer and trans health. Finally, on Feb. 18, there will be a fun presentation titled “Motorboat Your Myths,” which will bust myths about sex and sexual health. For those interested in attending these events, there will be more details on SAGA’s Instagram, as well as on their Hawk Link page.

SECTION EDITOR

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

SECTION MANAGER

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

SPORTS February 11, 2021

RWU Athletics is hopeful for return of spring competition Preparation for season could include new COVID-19 restrictions

Courtesy of RWU Athletics Members of the RWU Men’s Track and Field Team running through campus wearing masks.

Megan Julian Sports Editor Preparation for the 2021 spring sports season is underway, according to Roger Williams University Athletic Director Kiki Jacobs. “We are a go right now. We are hopeful we can pull off the season,” Jacobs said. Practices for spring sports began on Monday, Feb. 8. Taking Jacobs’ input into consideration, President Ioannis Mioulis and the university cabinet will have the final say on whether or not spring competition will occur. The planned start date of spring sports competition is March 27. If competitions resume, teams may have to follow some new COVID guidelines in order to compete. There may be a requirement for all athletes to wear masks during competition.

“Right now, it would be a challenge to play indoor competitions safely. We have to be concerned about the entire campus community when having outside competition. We don’t want to introduce the virus into the campus community from a contest,” Jacobs said. “Our goal as a university is to stay in person all semester. We don’t want to go remote like other schools have recently done.” Jacobs acknowledges the possible challenges athletics could face but she and other Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) athletic directors are looking into some testing protocols that could be implemented if the season starts in late March. This possibility is keeping Jacobs hopeful in terms of spring competition. “We want to set a baseline testing protocol that all schools follow. At

Courtesy of RWU Athletics Junior Francesca Cioffi of the RWU Women’s Softball Team practices in the gym.

this point in time, RWU is committed to twice per week testing as are some of the other CCC schools. It is our hope that all CCC schools will test a minimum of twice per week in order to play,” Jacobs said. There are not a specific number of games scheduled yet due to the shortened semester. Having no spring break is also making it challenging to reach the full number of contests for each sport. Joyce Maudie, Head Coach of the Women’s Softball Team, said the hardest part about this whole process has been the loss of this past 2020 season and the unknowns surrounding this season. “Many of our team members need the game for varied reasons. It brings joy, balance, comradery, normalcy,” Maudie said. “We are hopeful to have as much of a season as possible.”

She said the softball team began team practices in the fall, which ended on Nov. 13. As of now, her players have been training on their own or with teammates that live near them. According to Maudie, the team took a much-needed break from Zoom. “We had been zooming since March of 2020 and throughout the summer. We spent the fall practicing and we treated this break (Thanksgiving through late January) like summer vacation and connected on a personal level but stayed away from team zoom sessions. Now we are back and ready to prepare for our season,” Maudie said. The team’s main goals during the past year included providing a support network for each other, cherishing the moments they have together and winning some games when they get to compete again.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

February 11, 2021

EDITORIAL: Some kind of normal can still be possible

We have been living under COVID-19 restrictions for almost a year now and yet we entered the spring semester with more uncertainty in sight. Upper Commons reopened yesterday for in-person dining for the first time this semester. Students have only had the option to take out their food from Commons and eat inside their rooms for the past couple of weeks. We think the university is taking careful time to plan and we appreciate their efforts in trying to keep the community safe. But we also understand that the mental health of students needs to be a top priority. Interaction is arguably the most important part of a college community and helps students not to feel alone while they are navigating the pressures and new experiences of college life. College students already deal with high levels of anxiety and depression and now with the pandemic raging on those feelings are heightened. According to a study conducted by a psychologist from Clemson University, 85% of students surveyed said they have experienced moderate to high amounts of distress since the beginning of the pandemic. Students who live on campus or who attend in-person classes are required to get tested twice weekly. Our rigorous testing program has proven to be immensely beneficial in terms of identifying positive cases and quickly being able to isolate or quarantine those students. As long as the overall positivity rate on campus does not put students’ physical health and safety at

risk and proper precautions are practiced, in-person dining should be allowed for all meals. We believe this logic also applies to the current ban on inter-residence hall visitation, though an announcement on that ruling is set to come out today. Since the semester officially began, we have heard some students in the residence halls are feeling really isolated from their friends. Students have also made the argument that they could easily travel off campus to grab lunch with friends from different residence halls, questioning why interacting between buildings would make that much of a difference. We do not say this without acknowledging that physical health and safety come first but it is hard not to see truth in that perspective. We also recognize that in order to retain a semblance of normal and have these abilities, students need to play their part too, by making smart decisions and continuing to follow mask-wearing protocol and other necessary precautions. Comparing our campus with others throughout our region, we can see that as a community we have done a good job managing the spread of the virus here on campus. We adapted and worked together to slow the spread of the virus last semester and we think we can do that again. We must not forget to take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and others safe, so that we can have communal spaces like Commons open and keep them open for the remainder of the semester.

Isabella Gentile / The Hawks’ Herald Plexiglass barriers sit on tabletops in Upper Commons, asking students to scan a QR code at their tables and log when and who they are dining with for contact tracing.

THE HAWKS’ HERALD The student newspaper of Roger Williams University

2020-2021 STAFF DIRECTORY

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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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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

SPLO ADVISOR

FACULTY ADVISOR

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

CHIEF DESIGNER

PHOTO EDITOR

ARTS & CULTURE MANAGER

SPORTS EDITOR

FEATURES EDITOR

SPORTS MANAGER

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

Janine Weisman jweisman@g.rwu.edu

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

Emma Bartlett ebartlett122@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS EDITOR Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

PHOTOGRAPHERS Emily Dvareckas Isabella Gentile

CORRECTIONS There are no corrections this week.

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

Kayla Ivan kivan850@g.rwu.edu

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER Adam Zerman azerman020@g.rwu.edu

Adrianne Harris aharris@g.rwu.edu

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

REPORTERS Jimmy Sadowski Connor Midgley

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

February 11, 2021

Machine Gun Kelly’s “Downfalls High” is an emotional rollercoaster

Adam Zerman Business Manager

Colson Baker, better known as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), released his first “musical film” called “Downfalls High” with the help of musician Mod Sun last month. As of late, it has amassed almost eight million views. This film is the first of its kind and is redefining the typical music video. The entirety of the film plays like a short movie with Baker performing his entire album “Tickets to My Downfall” while each song matches what’s happening within the story. The film follows two high school kids named Fenix and

Scarlett. Fenix is played by TikTok star Chase Hudson while his counterpart and love interest Scarlett is played by Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney. The film also features Travis Barker, Iann Dior, Trippie Redd and Blackbear. When talking about the movie, Baker explained he wanted to break the mold of happy, fairytale endings that we are so used to seeing in movies. In an interview with James Corden on “The Late Late Show,” Baker said, “To me, love is kind of helpless… without it, it feels almost like death.” This movie is centered around the lead character never truly getting over the tragedies he’s faced even when met with fame.

In movies, there is typically a happy ending. In this particular musical film, it never comes. In an interview with Jess Cagle, Baker said, “I just wanted to highlight themes that aren’t made in movies.” In various interviews, including the one with Corden, Baker also said the film was not autobiographical and had nothing to do with true life stories. Baker, whose music (especially lyrically) is usually very personal, talked about how the film gave the album a whole new life. Baker also said in a video with Sweeney that two of his favorite scenes were actually improvised. The first

features the song “Bloody Valentine” while a plane flies overhead. The music cut and Fenix asked Scarlett if she liked planes and she responded by saying “I f****** hate airplanes,” to which Fenix said “same.” The music then cut to Baker saying “what the f***.” Another favorite scene he claims was improvised was when Scarlett asked Fenix what he wanted to be when he grew up while lying in a field. Fenix says “dead” to which she responded, “Well, I can’t be with you if you die.” For the full article with a further description of the film (with spoilers), visit our website at rwuhawksherald.com.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with ‘To Go’ ordering Bristol restaurants cater to students’ socially distant dining needs

Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor With COVID-19, it seems every holiday comes with precautions: limited social gatherings, mask wearing and physical distancing. While all these rules are put in place to keep us safe, it can be difficult to figure out what to do and how to do it safely. If you are trying to find ways to share a romantic meal with a significant other this Valentine’s Day, consider ordering and doing curbside pickup from a local eatery. You can bring the food you love straight to the comfort of your apartment or dorm. Check out some of our students’ favorite restaurants and make plans for your pickup today!

Aidan’s Pub

When students are not dining at Upper or Lower Commons, you can likely find them at Aidan’s Pub enjoying wings or nachos from their plentiful appetizer menu. This local pub has a variety of Irish classics along with 80 beers from around the world. Check them out this Valentine’s Day if you are looking for a savory meal that will not disappoint. Their dessert options are also too delicious to ignore, so be sure to order a molten lava cake or Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake. Aidan’s Pub is located at 5 John St., Bristol and can be reached at 401-254-1940. Guests can view Aidan’s menu at aidanspub.com.

Bristol House of Pizza

Another staple to the Bristol community, Bristol House of Pizza (BHOP) offers a variety of pizzas, grinders and sandwiches that will make your mouth water. If you are a pizza lover, Valentine’s Day may be the perfect time to have a pizza tasting night by ordering multiple small pizzas and experiencing all the different flavors. They have everything from steak bomb pizza to chicken alfredo pizza. BHOP’s food is perfect for any couple looking to spend a relaxing night watching a movie or playing games. Bristol House of Pizza is located at 55 State St., Bristol and can be reached at 401-253-2550. To see their menu, visit bhopri.com.

Casa Margaritas Mexican Restaurant

If you are ready to spice things up this Valentine’s Day, consider ordering out from Casa Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. This restaurant serves authentic Mexican food and drinks all made from family-owned recipes that are sure to make your taste buds go wild. Casa Margaritas has an extensive list of appetizers and entrées and will cover all your enchilada, burrito, taco and fajita needs. For dessert, get ready to try their fried ice cream and churros. If you’re 21+, you will want to take a look at their delicious cocktail choices. Casa Margaritas Mexican Restaurant is located at 200 Gooding Ave., Bristol and can be reached at 401-396-8933. To see their menu, visit casamargaritastogo.com.

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Ways to treat yourself on Valentine’s Day

February 11, 2021

LGBTQ romance novels to pick up this Valentine’s Day Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor Romance novels always offer a safe haven for when we need to decompress and get away from our academics. With Valentine’s Day approaching and the celebration of all kinds of love, choose a feel-good romance novel that will melt your heart. Numerous authors have released new and exciting LGBTQ content, so check the following novels out this holiday.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Adult coloring books are a great way to relax on Valentine’s Day.

Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager Love is in the air — but what about self-love? When the day of hearts and chocolates rolls around each year, it may seem like you have to find someone to spend that time with. If you are spending some time with yourself this year for Valentine’s Day, especially in the midst of COVID-19, why not treat yourself? Here are some fun and positive ways to spend some time for YOU this V-day. 1. Spend time unwinding As a college student, it can be hard to find the time to pause and let yourself fully relax while enduring the new normal we are all experiencing blended into our daily tasks. On Feb. 14, try spending the day doing things that relax you; anything that can calm you and settle your mind is the right way to go! Perhaps that means silencing your phone and simply listening to your favorite music or maybe giving yourself a mini spa experience using all your favorite products that you seem to never find the time to use. It’s your time to unwind. Do it right in whatever ways feel best for you. 2. Grab your favorite candy Valentine’s Day equals Cheat Day. Go for all the sweet treats and enjoy the hand-picked goodies specially selected by you, for you. Chocolate is a staple for treating yourself. Not into the sweet stuff? Pick out your favorite salty or sour treats and indulge in the day of love. 3. Buy yourself something nice Have you been eyeing a new outfit or bag online that you want but don’t know if you should get? V-Day might

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be the moment you’ve been waiting for to treat yourself to something nice. Jewelry and flowers are not off limits here either. Get yourself something special — you deserve it. 4. Connect with your passions Sometimes the speed of life can distract us from our passions and finding the time to do the things we enjoy. Connect with these interests this Valentine’s Day. Maybe that means disconnecting from the virtual world to connect with the outdoors on a walk around campus or crafting with materials you like to use to create a new work of art. Whatever the passion, don’t be afraid to explore it even more this year. 5. Binge your favorite show or a new movie Although many of us have been spending a lot more leisure time watching movies and TV shows this past year, it can always be fun and helpful to relax by turning on a good show. Try something you might not have seen recently or discover a new series or film that may become one of your new favorites. Be kind to yourself Self-love and appreciation might not come very easily all the time. It can feel like vanity or feel silly for us to want to enjoy ourselves and be in our own company. Having love for who you are, however, is very important. On the day of love, please be kind to yourself. You have made it through so much, big and small, and are doing an incredible job wherever you are right now. Treat yourself with words of gratitude for the blessings in your life and/or with self-affirming words, even if they aren’t always easy to believe. You are enough. Happy Valentine’s Day!

“Felix Ever After” Written by Kacen Callender, “Felix Ever After” tells the story of Felix Love who – despite his last name – has never been in love. As a young transgender teen trying to understand his identity, Felix wonders why everyone around him seems to find love so easily. While dealing with his desire for a significant other, an anonymous student begins harassing Felix on social media by posting his dead name and leaking photos of him before his transition. Felix decides to get revenge which surprisingly leads to an unexpected love triangle. “Felix Ever After” is 290 pages long. Barnes and Noble Rating: 4.9/5 “Like a Love Story” Reza is an Iranian immigrant who just arrived in New York City with his family. While starting his first year at an American high school is nervewracking enough, Reza fears his secret of being gay will slip out. With it being 1989 and the AIDS crisis at its peak, Reza keeps his dream of being openly gay to himself. Instead, he focuses on school where he befriends Art and Judy. As the three become closer, Reza

dates Judy to hide his feelings for Art, who is openly gay. Will Reza be able to continue with his secret or will he finally decide to let people know who he truly is? “Like a Love Story” was written by Abdi Nazemian and is 331 pages long. Barnes and Noble Rating: 4.4/5 “Let’s Talk About Love” “Let’s Talk About Love” follows the story of Alice whose girlfriend recently dumped her for disclosing she was asexual. Devastated by the breakup, Alice loses hope for finding love and goes about her summer working at her local library. When a new employee is hired, Alice finds a renewed sense of romance which she explores by trying to understand identity and love. This debut novel was written by Clair Kann and is 289 pages long. Barnes and Noble Rating: 4.6/5 “Kings, Queens and InBetweens” This feel-good novel introduces readers to Nima Kumara-Clark, a 17-year-old girl who is a lesbian and in love with one of her best friends who is graduating. Nima is an awkward adolescent who’s struggling to move past her mom’s decision to unexpectedly leave her. At a local festival, Nima discovers drag and is instantly mesmerized by it. Feeling called to try it herself, drag brings Nima closer to understanding love and gaining confidence. “Kings, Queens and In-Betweens” was written by Tanya Boteju and is 384 pages long. Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald LGBTQ romance novels can be found at bookstores in the young adult section.

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