The Hawks' Herald | Feb. 4, 2021 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 11 FREE

No break from virus challenges Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald COVID-19 testing stations on campus have become a familiar sight for students.

Administration puts case numbers in context The first week of classes is almost complete and the university has already administered more than 8,500 COVID-19 tests on the Bristol campus. As of Feb. 3, 55 people have tested positive resulting in an overall positivity rate of .6%. “We need to keep our positivity rate in perspective and context. We reopened the university in mid-August and the positivity rate in Rhode Island was 2%. This past week, the positivity rate for Rhode Island was near 8%,” said Chief of Staff Brian Williams. Williams said the university was prepared and expected a higher number of positive cases at the beginning of the semester. “This is much lower than the communities around us and lower than some of the data available on the rates of Rhode Island universities around us,” Williams said. “Also, if the state of Rhode Island was under 1%, all businesses, restaurants and group setting restrictions would be drastically changed. So it is high but still, a community with an incredibly low rate compared to what is happening around us.” Sam Rivkin, a junior, feels relatively safe being back on campus. “It’s not the ‘new normal’ this is

normal. I got a flu vaccine with no side effects and feel completely at ease at RWU. As long as guidelines are followed and protocols are in place, it’s all good,” Rivkin said. Junior Kathryn Wood doesn’t feel as safe being back on campus, in part because of university testing requirements. The university expects 100% testing compliance, but if someone does not get tested regularly, they are not allowed into campus facilities like classrooms or the fitness center. “I think clearance testing went fine, but honestly I don’t feel especially safe back at Roger because the school is doing very little to enforce the twice weekly testing. There are no penalties for not filling out the daily COVID screening and the only consequence for not being tested twice is not being able to use the gym, so as of now it is more a matter of not trusting my fellow students to be tested regularly,” Wood said. Vice President of Student Life Dr. John King said the move-in process

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Changes to campus life, data portal

The spring semester has started and with the pandemic still ongoing, the university is making changes to ensure the safety of faculty and students. New guidelines have also been established for students that will be revisited in a couple of weeks. These new guidelines include a ban on inter-residence hall visitations. Students living on campus are only allowed to visit with other students from the same residence hall. This will be reconsidered on Feb. 10. Student positivity rates, quarantine and isolation numbers and testing compliance will determine if interresidence hall visitation will be allowed again. “I do think we can return to interresidence hall visitation and Residence Life and Student Life understand how important that is for students within our residential communities. In essence — when we do is dependent on student decisions these next few weeks,” said John King, Vice President of Student Life. King advised students to practice mask wearing, social distancing and not to attend off campus gatherings. The data portal on the Reopening Roger site will be revamped later this

month. Changes like a mobile-friendly version of the dashboard, campus vaccination data, and tracking positive cases from non-campus testing are among the changes. A chart with the business of testing times was removed from the dashboard to make room for four new sections. “We removed this because the community generally has their one or two set times to test each week. Seeing that it is quieter at 8 a.m. on Thursdays was not something that needed to take up that much “real estate” on the dashboard,” said Chief of Staff Brian Williams. These new sections include the number of active and recovered cases, quarantine and isolation numbers, positive cases now compared to the fall semester and positive cases at RWU compared to regional data. Williams said the decision to add a chart comparing cases to the region serves as a reminder of what is happening on campus and in the state. “To me, this section is a daily reminder that things are good on campus but we are not in a bubble,” Williams said. Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

February 4, 2021

Outdoor ice rink closes before it can open

Amanda Plasse Herald Reporter

Administration, faculty and staff at Roger Williams University have been working hard to come up with creative and safe recreational activities for students during this pandemic, which is what sparked the ideas for the disc golf course in the fall and an ice rink for the winter. The rink, originally located on the tennis courts, was scheduled to open on Jan. 27 but inclement weather prevented the opening from happening. Mike Gallagher, Associate Director of Athletics for Recreational Services and Facilities, said the snow from a mild

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and clearance testing went well. Those who did test positive during this time were quickly quarantined and isolated. “By immediately isolating positive cases and placing close contacts in quarantine, we were able to suppress campus spread and we are starting to see the benefits of that in our most recent testing numbers,” King said. Students who tested positive over the break were required to inform Health Services before returning to campus. “The approximately 200 students who reported testing positive for COVID over the break will return to the RWU testing program once 90

storm on Jan. 26 led to an abundance of water and slush as the rink had not frozen completely yet. Though Facilities tried using a heated power washer to smooth out the ice, Gallagher said the rink was very uneven and that it would freeze in an unusable form. The university is not sure as to when or even if the rink will open. Fortunately, there is still a possibility that it can be up and running sometime this semester. If it does open, it will be open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. For those anxious to get out and skate, there is some good news. “If this winter proves successful and students use the rink, the university

days have passed from their positive test result. This is consistent with CDC recommendations in place at this time,” King said. The university expects high compliance with testing in order to maintain the health and safety of university community members throughout the semester and keep the overall positivity rate low. “As we start the semester, our planning moving forward is to make sure the community settles into high compliance with our community standards and gets into their testing regimen,” Williams said. “Together, we should see our positivity rate get down closer to the 0.2% rate we enjoyed in the fall. We can do this again.”

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Welcome back Hawks! Your Student Senate is so excited to begin working with you all on so many different things that can help make RWU a better place. At our first official meeting of the semester, Vice President of Student Life John King came to chat with us about the new COVID policies and spring move-in. Check out our meeting minutes on Hawk Link for more information on that. 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.

will happily sponsor the rink in future years,” said Vice President of Student Life Dr. John King. Students were excited to have an ice rink on campus but saddened to hear it might not be opening. “I was interested in it for sure! I know all my friends brought skates, so I was excited and it seemed safe and fun. It was a great idea. Maybe next year,” said Eileen Mullen. “When I first found out about the ice rink, I texted my friend and she was equally as excited so we both brought our skates and we’re a little bit disappointed that they might not be able to get it up and running this winter,” said Ashley Haryasz. Gallagher initially presented the idea of an ice rink to King and William Seymour, Assistant Vice President of Facilities and Capital Projects, and said they both loved it. “I’ve seen several backyard rinks [and] I thought, why not here, it’s New England? It sounded like a fun idea and a great way to have outdoor recreation,” Gallagher said.

A lot of work was put into this project, starting with the location. “Our first choice was the North Campus basketball courts. Although it looks flat, there is actually over a foot of grade change from one side to the other. The location finally selected, at the tennis court, had a 5-inch change in elevation side to side and that was manageable. The tennis court location was also proximate to several residence halls, had lights, parking and seating,” Seymour said. Another decision that had to be made was how they were going to go about building the rink. Originally, Gallagher suggested they purchase a kit, but considering Seymour and Facilities built the disc golf course last semester, they felt they could handle the challenge. If the ice rink does open this winter, students will need to bring their own skates and sign-up for a reservation time on Hawk Link. The maximum number of skaters allowed at a time is 25 in order to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.

SECTION EDITOR

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS February 4, 2021

How do we move on in a post-Trump America?

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor

The orange man is out of the White House, finally. We can all take a breath after holding onto them for the past four years. Donald Trump is gone. He is gone from our TVs and gone from social media. He is but a distant memory. Or is he? Trump may be out of Washington D.C. but the impacts of his actions still live on in American society. We will not be able to fully get back to the democracy we knew before Trump took office. Democrats and Republicans have always butted heads but as a nation, we survived. The Trump Republicans came through our country like a tsunami leaving chaos in its wake. So how do we move forward? How can we as a nation pick up the broken pieces of our democracy? Inaugurating a new president is a step in the right direction but it only serves as a BandAid that lays upon a deep wound. The transition of power was not entirely peaceful. Our nation’s fundamental principles were treated like an option and not a requirement. Trump views himself as above the law and frankly, it is beginning to feel like he is. He spits on the process of fair and free elections and defies our First Amendment rights. He created an environment filled with racism, injustice and inequality. Trump serves as a puppeteer to those who follow him, making their every move for them. Just because he is out

of office does not mean he has put down those puppets. They live on in our society, continuing his disregard for peace and order. These people are the reason we cannot move on and leave Donald Trump in the past. His ideas live on. Some may argue these people were in our society before Trump, so what is different now? Trump created an America filled with hatred. He made it seem okay to be a Proud Boy or a member of the KKK. The once hidden minority has now risen up to think

they are above the law. They stand in the streets with AR-15 style weapons, weapons of war they deem necessary to display on a town’s main street. Does this not anger you yet? How about Kyle Rittenhouse? The 17-yearold boy who murdered two people and injured another in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was treated like he was innocent of any wrongdoing by several people who have platforms on television. Tucker Carlson, Ann Coulter and Mike Lindell, yes the man who wishes to sell you a $50 pillow on his repeated

commercials, all praised Rittenhouse’s actions. Incidents such as the Kenosha shooting feel commonplace. Rittenhouse is just one of multiple people who participate in the same actions. These people are still here and still part of American society. They are the residue of Donald Trump. This incident among others is why we cannot fully move toward a pre-Trump world. We must move forward, but how do we do it?

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Donald Trump may not have a platform to speak on anymore, but his ideologies still seem to plague our nation.

A brave new world:

Managing expectations of the pandemic post-2020 Luke Brennan Opinions Editor One of the most common questions people have regarding the coronavirus is “when are we going to get back to normal?” The simple answer is, we are not. There is no going back to before COVID-19. We are living in a new world, with different standards and practices when it comes to health and wellness. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we can adjust to our new definition of normal. Whenever COVID-19 “goes away,”

there will still be safety measures from this period that will remain in place to make sure a pandemic like this does not happen again. In this new reality, when someone is experiencing flulike symptoms, they could be required to wear a mask in public, even if they have already received the coronavirus vaccine. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m still wearing my reusable masks into my 30’s. The constant presence of hand sanitizer in public places will also probably not be going anywhere. While these inconveniences are a small price to pay compared to the

more than 2.2 million deaths caused by COVID-19, they are nevertheless aspects of our life we will have to face years after the current pandemic is over. Americans are optimistic by nature, sometimes to a fault. Despite clear instructions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the incompetence of our government combined with the blind optimism and ignorance of our citizens has resulted in close to half a million deaths. The fact that cases are still rising almost a year into the pandemic shows there are still

a lot of people who just aren’t taking this seriously. That cannot continue if we want any semblance of normalcy. Hopefully, in a country where nobody can agree on anything, this new administration can unite the country behind one idea: we can do better. In order for that to happen, we all need to accept that while the world we knew is gone, we are still here and we still have to live in it, so we should do it right. Let’s keep ourselves and each other safe, get vaccinated, continue to practice social distancing and wear face masks in public.

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES February 4, 2021

Intercultural Center’s Black History Month event series aims to leave a mark on campus Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor February 1: “Know the Name” Poster Series February 4-5: Black Excellence Photo Shoots February 8-12: BLACK EXCELLENCE WEEK February 8 @5:30pm: RWU AOCN Black Excellence Conference February 9 @6pm: Stop the Stigma Wellbeing Workshop February 10 @6:30pm: BIPOC Open Mic Night February 11 @7pm: BIPOC Student Led Ted Talks February 12 @6:30pm: I Am Not Your Negro Movie Night February 16 @5pm: MLK & the Strength of Shared Dreams February 17 @6pm: The 16th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Keynote Address February 18 @6pm: Stomp the Stigma Wellbeing Workshop February 22 @5:30pm: Black Power Book Club February 23 @6pm: Allyship Seminar February 24 @6pm: Stomp the Stigma Wellbeing Workshop February 25 @6pm: Stomp the Stigma Wellbeing Workshop February 26 @6:30pm: Black Power Mixtape Movie Night

February may be the shortest month of the year but it holds great importance. Feb. 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month and with that, the beginning of a month-long event series presented by Roger Williams University’s Intercultural Center. The event series begins on Feb. 1 with the “Know the Name” poster series followed by Black Excellence Photo Shoots from Feb. 4 to Feb. 5. Black Excellence Week lasts from Feb. 8 to Feb. 12 with events occurring each night. The rest of the month consists of events such as the Black Power book club, allyship seminar, a movie night and more. A full list of events can be found on the Intercultural Center’s Instagram, @rwu_interculturalcenter. For students who may only be able to attend one or two events, Graduate Assistant David Hayes recommended the student-led TED Talks occurring on Feb. 11. “This idea originated from a student and we’re so excited to be able to materialize their idea,” Hayes said. “We want the campus community to hear from members of the student body on issues of great importance regarding social justice advocacy.”

“We want the campus community to hear from members of the student body on issues of great importance regarding social justice advocacy.” -David Hayes

Another event Hayes recommended is the Dialogue on Diversity. The event explores the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his fight for economic justice, a story not often shared. Hayes welcomed students to tune in for the two movie nights: one on Feb. 12 with a showing of “I Am Not Your Negro” and one on Feb. 26 with a showing of “Black Power Mixtape.” Both events will be held at 6:30 p.m. “’I Am Not Your Negro” is a great documentary about James Baldwin’s relationship to civil rights leaders Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers. The latter we seldom hear about, but he is nonetheless important in the conversation about civil rights. It explores themes like the Black identity in America and

the conditions and experiences that Black Americans continuously face,” Hayes said. “We are also showing “Black Power Mixtape,” which more in-depth explores the Black experience in the U.S. during the later civil rights era of the late 1960s and 1970s with the emergence of the Black Power movement.” Hayes is excited about the event series and hopes to create a campus community that is more informed on Black history and culture. He hopes students are inspired to create changes in their own communities and plan events and programs for what they are passionate about. “It’s important to educate the students of campus on Black history and culture and show them there truly is far more to Black history, not only in the States but across the Black diaspora,” Hayes said. “A better understanding of history will result in a more informed public which creates better social spaces in general, helps build allies and ultimately works to reform the white power structure that has belittled Black history for so long.” Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Zoila Quezada is also excited for the event series. She shared her thoughts on why the series is so important. “The question should be why wouldn’t we celebrate it! Black History is United States History,” Quezada said. “African American, Black and Black Indigenous folks have been left out of many history chapters and it is our role to commemorate, honor and celebrate this history while also celebrating and uplifting our current community while providing spaces that celebrate Black excellence with students, alumni, staff and faculty.” Quezada hopes the legacy of the event series is able to live on and produce similar series on campus and that more students will participate in the events and help create new programs. She also hopes more faculty, staff and student leaders will use their positions to get the word out about events and encourage students to join. For students unfamiliar with the Intercultural Center, Quezada said “it provides support, it provides a space, it provides a family away from home, it provides inspiration, it provides life — have you been in the IC? It is always a party. We love it here.” The Intercultural Center is currently supporting students in person and remotely. Students can contact Quezada at zquezada@rwu.edu.

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 4, 2021

Set sail for change

RWU Sailing team highlights importance of discussion on inclusivity, diversity and equity Megan Julian Sports Editor In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests of last summer and the killing of George Floyd, sailing teams from across the Commonwealth Coast Conference have decided to make some changes. All 52 teams within the conference are part of the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA). Now each team is also a part of the TIDE Committee, which stands for The Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee. The committee’s purpose is to build diversity, equity and inclusion within the NEISA community. Their mission statement says the following: “NEISA TIDE is dedicated to fostering a culture of sailing that embraces and empowers all members of the NEISA community and creates an environment that supports the development of a diverse group of

sailors. We are dedicated to doing this by expanding and building trust within the NEISA community in the following ways: ● Building strong connections within teams and across NEISA ● Engaging in critical dialogue and promoting inclusive language ● Maintaining transparency in our initiatives to remain accountable to our goals ● Expanding sailing opportunities for those traditionally unable to access the sport and expanding the recruiting pool ● Reaching out to the community and facilitating mentorship opportunities” Each university within the conference has to have a representative within the committee. Representatives are responsible for administering an education program within the university to their team. Sophomore George Higham on the sailing team is RWU’s representative. The education program consists of a PowerPoint that the team will have

a conversation about based on the information within the presentation. The topics could include race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or citizenship status. This past October, Higham had his first educational program on race. The team ended up having about an hour and a half long conversation about the information within the presentation regarding statistics captured through sailing. They also discussed different things that occur within their sport and how the team can use its platform to create a change. “It was a lot of good dialogue between teammates... there was a conversation that needed to be had,” Higham said. The representative is also required to do work for their subcommittee. The NEISA TIDE committee is broken down into three subcommittees: Education, community outreach and recruitment. Higham is a part of the community outreach subcommittee. Right now, community outreach has been difficult for the teams

due to COVID-19. When pandemic restrictions lessen, they hope they can get back on the water and do many different things. “We’re looking to do in-person stuff with reaching out to members of our community, maybe bringing students in from local schools to come to practice and stuff like that. We’re really not 100% sure [what] we want to do in person yet, but we’re trying to get ideas for when we can,” Higham said. One of the community outreach programs the team has been able to do is called a NEISA gearbox. “Essentially it is a gear exchange,” Higham said. “We formed it with the intentions of making a network that can connect old gear to new gear. It eliminates the economic barriers that could happen in order to get into college sailing.”

Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

Student athletes react to fall and winter sports cancellation Kristen Dansereau Sports Manager During the last few weeks, Roger Williams University and the Commonwealth Coast Conference made the decision to cancel all fall and winter sports for the 2020-2021 season. The verdict for winter sports cancellation was made on Jan. 11 and announced on Jan. 13 in an official statement on the RWU Athletics website. A short while later, athletics confirmed fall sports were cancelled as well. University President Ioannis Miaoulis, Vice President of Student Life John King and Athletics Director Kiki Jacobs were at the forefront of this choice. Jacobs explained the factors that led to the decision to cancel the athletic seasons. With a consistently high number of COVID-19 cases and a new, increasingly contagious strand of COVID-19 being discovered, the

statistical incline was too great to risk for the RWU community. “What we do in athletics can affect the entire campus,” Jacobs said. “This decision was not made lightly.” While they are disappointed, the athletes understand the reasons for the cancellation and believe the health and safety of the RWU community should always take precedence. Sam Mancinelli, senior captain of the women’s basketball team, initially felt shocked at the realization that her senior year season was being called off. She said nothing could have prepared her for this reality. “It’s one of the worst feelings I have ever felt,” Mancinelli said. “The best word I can use to describe it would be unfinished. I feel so unfinished not just because I got my last season stripped away, but because I got my last season stripped away from me with THIS team.” As sad and disappointed as she feels, Mancinelli has been uplifted by her team members, who reassured

her they are there for her during this challenging time. Bailey Laviolette, senior captain of the women’s soccer team, spoke on behalf of her team in saying they were disappointed to hear fall sports had been canceled. “We hoped for better news coming back to Roger but we are happy to be able to support our fellow spring sport athletes,” Laviolette said. Spring sports were canceled for the 2020 season after campus life unexpectedly shut down due to the pandemic. If the spring sports season is canceled this year, it would be the second season in a row. “Red shirts” is a term used to describe an athlete’s ability to gain a year of eligibility to play in a collegiate sport if they are unable to compete during a full season throughout their years at college. Since all athletes no longer have the opportunity to play in a regular season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the acceptance of an athlete’s ability or reason to “red shirt”

has been reconsidered. “The NCAA has given all studentathletes (fall, winter and spring) the opportunity to have another season of eligibility,” Jacobs said. Rudy Jean, a senior on the men’s basketball team, decided he would take advantage of the opportunity to “red shirt” and play a final season. “I feel like everyone should get four years to play college basketball, so with that being said, I’d stay just to play,” Jean said. “Since [I was] a little kid I’ve always wanted to play college basketball. I’d want to finish off my career properly when the time’s right and it’s safe to play.” Laviolette decided she won’t “red shirt” her senior year season. “I plan on beginning my career in marketing after I graduate this May, but I can’t wait to come back and cheer on my teammates next fall,” Laviolette said. Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

6 EDITORIAL: Acknowledging and coping with burnout

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Multiple words and phrases have become commonplace in daily vocabulary during this pandemic. One of the words we have seen consistently in recent weeks is one you might have seen, heard or felt yourself: burnout. COVID-19 has impacted everyone in the RWU community in a variety of ways. Students, faculty and staff alike were forced to adjust to an entirely new way of learning last spring and made to adjust once again last fall as many returned for hybrid learning and some were learning from their childhood homes. Students have lost their jobs or had to pick up extra employment to support themselves or their families. Some members of our communities have been sick with the virus themselves, watched loved ones deal with severe illness or suffered immense grief from losing someone they cared about to this disease. At this point, burnout seems like an unfortunately accurate word to use to describe how a lot of students feel during these times. We have been living with COVID-19 for almost a year now, and there have definitely been periods of mental and physical exhaustion as we try to keep a semblance of hope that life can return to what we knew as

February 4, 2021

normal. Sitting in three virtual classes in a row, not being able to play the sport or fully participate in the activity you love and not even being able to interact with people in other residence halls are just some of the factors that make us sad and tired of living under these restrictions, even though we know they are established with the necessary intent of keeping our community healthy and safe. If you are feeling burnt out, know you are not alone and that a lot of students are probably feeling the same way. Our biggest piece of advice is to be honest with yourself about how you are feeling and what you can emotionally handle at that time. Set aside time for breaks from studying, homework or even thinking about school in general. Indulge in self care, take naps and do small things that still make you happy. Remember to acknowledge that you are living through all of the chaos this pandemic brought with it, doing the best you can under the circumstances you were given. RESOURCES: RWU Counseling Center: (401) 254-3124

Courtesy of Luis Villasmil on Unsplash Take some time to relax this semester to minimize burnout.

THE HAWKS’ HERALD The student newspaper of Roger Williams University

2020-2021 STAFF DIRECTORY

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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 Rachel Dvareckas Spencer Wright

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

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Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

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REPORTERS Amanda Plasse Veronica Rodriguez Spencer Wright

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 4, 2021

Reliving the most memorable Super Bowl halftime performances

Adam Zerman Business Manager

With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, it is a good time to look back at some of the most memorable halftime performances. Michael Jackson (1993) This halftime performance by The King of Pop is one of the most important of all time since it changed the culture around Super Bowl halftime shows. Prior to this Super Bowl, the halftime performance was never a big spectacle but when Jackson took the stage, that

changed and suddenly people began tuning in for just the halftime show. The performance opened with Jackson jumping onto the stage to a roar from the crowd that literally lasted over a minute and a half. During this time, Jackson stood there like a statue. Jackson then began his set with a dance filled version of “Billie Jean.” After that, Jackson went into “Black or White” and finished the night with a medley of “We Are The World” and “Heal The World.” During this finale, Jackson was surrounded by 3,500 adolescents while a giant globe inflated from behind and the audience held paintings made by

children of Los Angeles. Together, the paintings depicted kids of all races holding hands.

U2 (2002) On Feb. 3, 2002, U2 took the stage for the halftime show at the 36th Super Bowl, only this one was a little different. Almost five months prior, the U.S. was attacked by foreign terrorists and the country was still mourning. The nation was looking for something to unite them and that is exactly what this British rock band did. The show started with “Beautiful Day” as Bono walked through the crowd and

up to the stage. The song ended and “September 11, 2001” appeared behind the band as they began to play “MLK” and move into “Where the Streets Have No Name.” As they played these songs, all the names of the people who died on 9/11 were projected behind them. Then, at the end of the performance, Bono opened his jacket and revealed an American flag lining.

Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

Book Review: “In The Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692”

Spencer Wright Herald Reporter

The book “In The Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692” by Mary Beth Norton is a history book that aims to cut through the suppositions about the Salem witch trials and instead look at the hard facts and links that can be drawn and observed between all the accusations and trials. The book also includes informative graphs to show the rising number of witchcraft accusations that occurred as the trials progressed. The theme and thesis of this book is to broaden readers’ perspectives from the narrow mindset of Salem to the overall connecting themes between Salem and the larger colonial New England world. Norton makes sure readers know the histories of King William’s War, King Philip’s War and the Salem witchcraft crisis are linked in many ways. The Salem witchcraft crisis was not an isolated incident that existed in its own sphere, but rather part of a much larger narrative which this book acknowledges. This book is also about the perspectives of the people who were affected by the witchcraft trials and gives an overview of the crisis as people in Essex County experienced it in 1692. This point is a key takeaway from this book since many histories of the Salem witch trials place emphasis on the events rather than the people impacted in the situation. Norton, in dispelling and sifting through countless earlier works on the Salem witchcraft trials, points

out that even the name is not entirely accurate. She writes on page eight that the accused “came from twentytwo different places, fifteen of those in Essex County. Although the crisis began in Salem Village and the trials took place in Salem Town, a plurality of the accused (more than 40) lived in Andover. Thus the term Salem Witchcraft Crisis is a misnomer; Essex County Witchcraft Crisis would be more accurate.” Just by changing the name to more accurately reflect the event, Norton causes readers to broaden their views and realize this was not an event contained within the limits of Salem, but rather one that had far-reaching effects. Norton also notes that when looking at the people involved in the events, one realizes that young women and girls were considered credible accusers and taken very seriously. To a modern reader, this might not sound at all out of place, but in the 1600s, this was wildly outside social norms. Norton spoke about how girls and servants of lower ranks were supposed to be seen and not heard, in accordance with social norms. They also completed whatever tasks were assigned to them. During the witchcraft crisis, however, all of that suddenly got turned upside down. Norton points out on page 10 that “during the crisis others tended to them, and magistrates and clergymen heeded their words.” Society itself was radically altered. The chapters in the book are organized around a key topic. For example, chapter four is titled “The Dreadful Apparition of a Minister”

and centers around accusations that the minister George Burroughs was appearing to the afflicted as an apparition in an attempt to get them to become witches and sign the Devil’s Book. The chapters’ organization makes it easy to go back and reference or re-read certain sections without having to go through the whole book to find a specific piece of information. The two best parts about this book are how Norton presents all the facts in an easy-to-read manner as well as how she guides readers through the connections that she makes between people, places and events. Readers are never left wondering how she came up with a point or came to a conclusion. At 313 pages, this is a shorter history book

and makes its points without the need for any filler. This book is great for those interested in social cultural history, colonial New England/Atlantic World history or those interested in witchcraft history — specifically the Salem trials. It is extremely factual in nature, delving right into the small and intricate details, so I think it would appeal to undergraduates, graduate students and those researching the Salem witchcraft crisis. If you’re interested in reading more books written by Norton, check out “Founding Mothers and Fathers” (1996) and her most recent story “1774: The Long Year of Revolution” (2020).

Spencer Wright / The Hawks’ Herald If you’re looking for a history book on the Salem witchcraft crisis, Norton’s book is a must read.

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ARTS & CULTURE

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February 4, 2021

Send It On is Set up a weekend impacting the Rhode watch party with Island community one of these four

wholesome movies Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor

Courtesy of Send It On Send It On members gather around their donations.

Veronica Rodriguez Herald Reporter Last semester, a new club named Send It On sprouted with the intention of helping the homeless. Its mission was to help spread awareness on the subject of homelessness, which they did by partnering with shelters and raising donations for them. As of right now, Send It On has collaborated with Crossroads Rhode Island and is looking to make connections with other organizations. Send It On’s President, sophomore May Kapadwala, has a passion for helping others that led her to start the club. “I’ve always had a passion for wanting to help others so I would in smaller ways when I was younger, like bringing food and baked goods to a shelter in my home city,” Kapadwala said. In February of 2020, Kapadwala met with Dr. Jeremy Campbell about this passion. Dr. Campbell, director of the University Honors Program as well as an associate professor of anthropology, is now Send It On’s advisor. Campbell and Kapadwala considered a few ideas on how to bring the program to life and decided that Send It On could either be an independent program completely separate from Roger Williams University or a university club. After speaking to individuals who are now club officers and doing extensive research on how to achieve the desired goal, it was decided that a club would be the best approach. Kapadwala also

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expressed that she would love if Send It On could become a program known outside of RWU. Students might be wondering why this club officially started just last semester. The simple answer is paperwork. Kapadwala, along with the other officers, began the process of becoming a club almost a year ago as freshmen. In that time, they had a lot on their plate with getting accustomed to college life and getting to know their peers and faculty. From March to July of last year, they had to do some prep work, figure out how to become a club and form a connection with Crossroads Rhode Island before they could apply to be a trial club. From that point on, they contacted the school and began what needed to be done in order to be a trial club. Send It On focused on Crossroads Rhode Island because they knew Rhode Island was the location they wanted to start their work in. Jesse Sands, the club’s secretary, suggested Crossroads Rhode Island as the first shelter they partner with. Their public relations officer, Maeve Haldeman, reached out to the organization and was able to set up a meeting to discuss the current partnership the two entities now have. For in-person volunteering events, Send It On was only able to host one in-person event due to the pandemic and their efforts on working to be an official club. Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

Disney Plus’ original movies have proven to be a huge success with endearing stories that captivate audiences and pull at the heartstrings. While other streaming services like Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime offer their own assortment of original content, Disney Plus has truly beaten them by developing a strong and unique variety of films that bring nostalgia to every viewer. So, as you settle into the spring semester, snuggle up on the couch with your roomies and check out the following four films. “Clouds” Based on a true story, teenage Zach Sobiech has just finished celebrating being cancer free and is settling into his normal life. When a strange cough develops after a few months, Zach’s mother takes him to the hospital where the news is grim. Zach’s cancer is back and he has only a matter of months to live. Zach attempts to make his remaining time on Earth worthwhile by becoming the famous musician he wanted to be. While his song “Clouds” takes off and makes it on the radio, Zach continuously fights for every breath. He is soon offered the chance to perform a concert in front of a huge audience, but he has only weeks left to live. Will Zach be able to make it to the performance as his cancer starts to get the best of him? “Clouds” is a great twohour movie that will melt your heart as you get to know Zach and watch as he attempts to live his life to the fullest. “Godmothered” Similar to “Ella Enchanted,” the movie “Godmothered” tells the story of young Eleanor Fay Bloomingbottom, an aspiring godmother, who finds herself out of her fairytale land and in a new place called Earth. Eleanor secretly takes on a mission to save her home since it is falling apart because the people of Earth no longer believe in fairy godmothers. After finding an unanswered letter from a young girl named Mackenzie who needs help, Eleanor sets off to restore the faith in

fairy godmothers. When Eleanor does find Mackenzie, however, the 11-yearold child she was looking for is now a single mother in her mid-thirties who is on the verge of losing her job. Can Eleanor help this woman get her happily ever after while also saving her homeland? “Godmothered” is an hour and 53 minutes long and is filled with comedy that will keep you laughing throughout the film. “Safety” Ray McElrathbey is a new freshman football recruit at Clemson University. After receiving word that his mother has been sent to rehab and his younger brother is about to enter the foster care system, Ray decides to take care of his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr by hiding him in his room at Clemson. Based on a true story, Ray learns the value of family as friends help take care of his brother. Disaster strikes when the coaches find out and Ray’s spot on the team is put at stake. With further complications that involve appearing before the NCAA, Ray must prove why he deserves to remain on the Clemson football team while also being the sole caregiver of his younger brother. “Safety” is two hours long and shows Ray’s passion and commitment not only to sports but to family. “Soul” “Soul” is an animated film that tells the story of Joe Gardner, a band teacher who aspires to be a full-time jazz pianist. After landing a gig with one of the most famous jazz musicians, Joe has a near-death experience where he gets stuck in the afterlife. He wakes up to find his soul walking toward the light and realizing where he is, Joe tries to escape. He ends up in a new land called the “Great Before” and is recruited to help Soul 22 find a life purpose so she can be sent to Earth. With an adventure of their own, Soul 22 and Joe must both decide if they are ready to take the next step that fate has laid out for them. “Soul” is an exciting hour and 47 minute long film following Joe’s adventures outside of himself.

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