The Hawks' Herald | Nov. 5, 2020 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 8 FREE

Black LLC incident still under investigation

Placement of Blue Lives Matter flag sparks major discussions on campus and social media Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor The investigation into an incident that occurred last week in the Black Living Learning Community (LLC) is still underway, according to Vice President of Student Life John King. On Oct. 26, residents of the Black LLC noticed a Blue Lives Matter flag displayed on a resident’s door. These students felt it was a sign of disrespect as the Blue Lives Matter movement is seen as a countermovement to Black Lives Matter. The incident was initially brought to the public’s attention via the Instagram page @unity_empowerment, with a post explaining the incident gaining more than 650 comments from current students and alumni. Many expressed their disdain with the behavior of the student who hung the flag. Students like @thecharlotteruss on Instagram commented saying “never have I been more embarrassed and disappointed to attend this institution. This isn’t a crazy concept, it is basic human rights. if you can’t see that maybe you shouldn’t have been accepted into college in the first place.” “We all know that this is not about politics or “just a flag being hung up.” It is about the clear intention of one student wanting to corrupt one of the few spaces BIPOC have on this campus,” commented “thatsokatv.” A few users commented in support of the student’s behavior, arguing the student had the right to express their opinion. “Whether you agree with the flag or not, he has the right to have those views without you guys saying he should be expelled,” @thelukewing commented on the Instagram post. But many were quick to bring up underlying issues with the student’s action and push to hold Residence Life and Housing and the university itself accountable to give a response. “HOLD YOUR STUDENTS RESPONSIBLE @myrwu @ rwuresidencelifeandhousing THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND RACIST. PLAIN AND SIMPLE...” @lkenslea said. @craeside said, “Complete joke if the university doesn’t address this appropriately.”

The university decided not to comment on the post as they did not want to cause any more issues than were present in the comment section. During the Student Senate meeting on Nov. 2, King said the university will be compiling the comments and reviewing them. He said they may have conversations with students who posted concerning comments as the university did over the summer during Black Lives Matter protests. The university responded to the incident four days after it occurred with an all-student email on Friday, Oct. 30, in which King initially said the university was investigating the matter. Director of Student Conduct Diana Proto has been working on the investigation and Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Zoila Quezada has been consulted as well. King has publicly apologized to the students in the Black LLC as he feels this is a situation that should never have happened. He recognizes that students in the LLC were disrupted and harmed due to the incident. “This incident has led to an immediate review by Residence Life focusing on the application, placement and orientation processes for all students assigned to a Living Learning Community. These processes will be changed and improved moving forward,” King said. Director of Residence Life and Housing Abbas Hill has been working on the matter alongside King and Proto. “In addition to our immediate on-call response and support to this incident, our staff has worked with Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to support the students within the Black LLC. Our two offices facilitated a meeting with the students of Black LLC (accompanied by the presence of Dr. King) and we are also working to coordinate a Support Meeting for our Black, Indigenous and Students of Color,” Hill told The Hawks’ Herald. “The Department of Residence Life and Housing supports Black Lives Matter and we support and stand in solidarity with our Black, Indigenous and Students of Color. We acknowledge the harm and pain that this incident and subsequent comments have caused and we are doing the work to continue supporting the students who have been impacted,” Hill said.

President Miaoulis announces search committee for new Chief Diversity Officer Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor The search for a new Chief Diversity Officer is still underway at RWU. In an all-student email from President Miaoulis on Nov. 2, a panel of campus community members was announced that will lead the search and selection process for the position. The group consists of a mix of students, alumni, faculty and staff who will be in charge of interviewing possible candidates and sharing information with the campus community. A few of the people involved include Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Everett, Director of Recruitment and Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment Shamika Cameron and David Moskowitz,

an associate professor of political science and chair of the faculty senate diversity committee. The university is partnering with Spelman Johnson, a national search firm that specializes in identifying leaders in education, advocacy associations and social impact organizations. “We are committed to doing the deep work of eliminating bias and strengthening inclusive behaviors in our leadership of the university,” Miaoulis said in the email. “Throughout the spring semester, Cabinet members and Deans will complete a structured, three-part inclusive leadership diversity training that will build upon the work we’ve undertaken through our Intercultural University program and our Equity Action Plan.”

Pre-Halloween gatherings on and off campus result in consequences

Isabella Gentile Editor-in-Chief

Two separate gatherings that violated the state’s social gathering limit have since resulted in university fines, three suspensions from residency and multiple students being placed on probation for the rest of the academic year. On Oct. 31, students were made aware of an off-campus gathering on Oct. 30 that had more than 30 RWU students in attendance. Vice President of Student Life John King delivered this news via allstudent email, in which he said the university received notice from the Bristol Police Department and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) pertaining to a large gathering at a house rented by RWU students on Prospect Street in Bristol. According to the police report, Bristol Police received a tip in regards to a large house party on Oct. 30, stating many college aged individuals were coming in and out

of the Prospect Street residence in costumes. Police estimated between 60-75 individuals observed to be at the party, according to the report. Officers began to attempt to ID all remaining parties at the scene but reported that a high number of individuals fled before and upon their arrival. A majority of the parties involved were observed without masks or face coverings while inside the residence or speaking with police, the report said. “We are in a pandemic and in the United States, the last two days set back to back records for the most cases recorded in a single day since the pandemic started,” King said in the Oct. 31 email. “Attending a large gathering given all of the information and warnings that have been provided by the CDC, the state of Rhode Island, and the university is reckless and endangers not only

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SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

HALLOWEEN

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individuals attending but all those you come in contact with along with those individuals’ close contacts.” In an interview with The Hawks’ Herald, King said the Office of Student Life is aware of a large gathering that occurred in Bristol on Oct. 30, though he could not confirm if the gathering being investigated by the university was the party cited in the police report on Prospect Street. King said a hearing was held by Student Conduct on Saturday, Oct. 31, when it was decided that the hosts of the off-campus party would be placed on probation for the remainder of the academic year. Each host is also receiving a $500 fine from the state of Rhode Island for violating Gov. Raimondo’s executive order, which reduced the social gathering limit from 15 to 10 on the same day the gathering was held. If these individuals are involved in any additional violations, consequences will be more severe. “Their hosting or attending of another gathering in violation of the executive order will result in suspension from the university,” King said. In this interview, King also referenced a separate, same-day incident on campus, which he said occurred in a residence hall on the night of Oct. 30. He said three students hosted a gathering of approximately 30 people in their residence hall room, which led to these hosts being removed from residency for the rest of the semester. The three hosts and party attendees are being fined $100 each by the university for health and safety violations. All

proceeds from these fines will go toward the university’s testing funds. “It is our hope both in Student Life and the university that students will understand that this past weekend was problematic and that there are significant consequences for violating the state executive order and the university’s public health expectations,” King said. “We need to stay together, stay close and pay attention to mask compliance, social distancing and limiting the number of people we are with at any one time.” WPRI 12 reported the daily rate of positive coronavirus tests in Rhode Island passed 5% last weekend for the first time since late May, citing data released Monday by the Rhode Island Department of Health. 466 new positive cases were identified in the state on Nov. 3 alone, with a 3.6% positivity rate for that day, according to RIDOH. As of Nov. 3, the university’s COVID-19 Data Hub recorded seven new positive test results, with a total of 21 active positive COVID-19 cases in the RWU community. In the Oct. 31 all-student email, King said those in attendance at the off-campus gathering who were not documented still needed to be identified by the university, and that their COVID testing would need to be monitored during the two weeks that followed. King declined to comment on whether university contact tracing has revealed any positive test results in connection to either of the gatherings. “Halloween was not good,” King said. “We’re not shocked that we had difficulty, that we had increased positives this week, but students need to take this seriously.”

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hey Hawks! These past two weeks have been very eventful for the Student Senate. Two Mondays ago, we introduced three open debate topics. One was about providing the Pass/No Pass option for students this semester, which was introduced and passed as a resolution this week. Another was about encouraging alternatives for credited internships due to the limitations that COVID-19 has placed upon them, and that topic was also introduced and passed as a resolution this week. In order for the open debate topics to move forward, they need to be introduced as resolutions. In order for the resolution to be acted on, they need to be acted on by the people who the resolution was sent to. There was also a discussion about implementing a civil discourse statement and how that would benefit the RWU community. This past Monday, we had an open debate topic on mandatory implicit bias training for faculty. We also discussed working on a physical land acknowledgement in respect of the Pokanoket land that RWU was built on. Resolutions for those are expected soon! We also want to let the campus community know about some exciting Senate events coming up. Student Senate is holding a weeklong event called Penguins to Prizes. The event is all about promoting the Senate to the general campus population with a chance for students to win some amazing prizes. We are also hosting a movie screening of the movie “On the Basis of Sex” in Architecture 132 — space is limited. Check out the Senate Instagram for more! As always, make sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok @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.

November 5, 2020

Cash elimination in Lower Commons sees support into the semester

Adam Zerman / The Hawks’ Herald Lower Commons eliminated cash payment for the fall semester.

Jimmy Sadowski Herald Reporter A person walks into Lower Commons with a wallet full of cash. They reach to pull it out. “It’s only the app or card now,” the cashier says. Now they have to pull out their phone, log onto the GET app and put the money away. “I asked one of the Lower Commons cashiers if I could pay with cash and they said no because of COVID,” said freshman Lucas Wigley. “I did not want to scan the app and I happened to have $150 I wanted to spend.” In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lower Commons decided to switch over to non-contact payment for the fall semester, which includes GET Mobile — an app that allows students to manage funds, make purchases and more. That also meant the elimination of cash inside the venue. Lower Commons workers favored the payment method transition. Lower Commons Retail Manager Joe Solmonese said the business made the decision to use non-contact payment and not accept cash to mitigate exposure to coronavirus. The GET app now holds student’s meal swipes, hawk dollars and unicard points to pay at Lower Commons. They still accept credit and debit as well. Solmonese said workers and students seem to like the app. “Workers love it and the students seem to love it too,” Solmonese said. “Everything is right there on their phone. All their hawk dollars, unicard and meal balances are located in one application now.” Lower Commons cashier Karen Perry said she liked the change. “I think it is the smart thing to do especially with COVID,” Perry said. “I think it is a lot easier for the students because they have the GET app so it is no contact at all, they just scan their phones and off they go.” Solmonese said he thought the app helped students keep track of their meal finances more. “In real time they are up to date on how much money they have to spend

and how many meal swipes they have,” Solmonese said. Perry said not accepting cash made her job easier. “In the beginning of the morning, when we accepted cash, I had to count because I had so much I had to keep in my drawer,” Perry said. “Then, at the end of the night, I had to count my cash and I had to have someone else count it with me to make sure we came up with the same amount. Right there not accepting cash saves a lot of time in the morning and a lot of time at the end of the day.” Lower Commons cashier Jen Choco agreed. “Not accepting cash is faster, easier and accessible to everybody,” Choco said. Solmonese said he thought noncontact payment did not make much of a difference for Lower Commons economically. “I do not think it really has an effect on the guest’s decision if they want to come here or somewhere else,” Solmonese said. “If they do want to use cash, they simply can go to the ID office and add funds onto their ID.” Most students were fine with Lower Commons’ transition to not accepting cash. Senior Andrew Kirschenbaum said he thought the app was quick and efficient. Some students like sophomores Jenny Kroon and Mackenzie Conner said they never used cash at Lower Commons anyways. A few students like Wigley felt not accepting cash was inconvenient in cases when they were carrying a lot of it, but were fine with using the app. “I think that long term this is actually a great move,” Solmonese said. “The new GET program allows us to do a lot of online orders, which we see the business kind of trending toward anyways. We see that online ordering is here to stay. The GET app is here to stay.” “I think contactless is the wave of the future,” Kirschenbaum said. “I think the transition has been smooth and I think it should continue going forward for Roger Williams and our community as a whole.”

SECTION EDITOR

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

SECTION MANAGER Connor Naples cnaples248@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS November 5, 2020

POLITICAL HEAD-TO-HEAD What are some problems and potential solutions in regards to voting in America? In this column, the College Democrats and College Republicans of RWU go head-to-head on a different topic each week, chosen by the club members themselves. Check back every week to see a new topic being discusssed.

Democrat Adam Rose Op-Ed Writer America: the land of the free to vote or the home of the brave enough to fight for the right to vote? This is an important question when discussing the American voting system as it stands today. Additionally, we can all recognize the checkered past of voting in our country, from the denial of women and African American citizens of the right to vote to the debate over felon voting rights. Voting as a component in our system of democracy is corrupt at its core to this day, and many Americans live in blissful ignorance of this fact. We are complicit when it comes to voter suppression; COVID-19 has shown us that much. There are clear flaws in our system when mail-in voting can be so scrutinized that it appears immoral but nobody speaks to its statistical efficacy, when the government can

decide to close voting locations in large urban communities on a whim, or when fear of COVID-19 is used as a political tactic to suppress voter turnout. These problems are extremely worrisome, especially in 2020. The question we must ask is “what haven’t we tried yet that could fix these societal plights?” My first suggestion would be to conduct extensive research into our voting system in the wake of the 2020 presidential election. We need to know the statistics on voting access and turnout across the country and the number of mail-in ballots that were and were not counted. We also need to know the reasons why, as well as how this information can be used to pass legislation to protect the right to vote for every American regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or otherwise. Change can only come when we have both passion and facts and can argue for change together.

republican Christopher Troccolo Op-Ed Writer The election is the most important and sacred part of our democracy. It’s what gives us as citizens the chance to let our voices be heard and our concerns addressed. In recent years, this process has been under attack by foreign entities and has deteriorated in security internally. No matter the party you align with, if we can’t trust our election process, we lose the most important piece of our country. If I was to list the many problems that we face with our election process, I might be here all day, so I’ll generalize into main categories: security and efficiency. Those are the two most important aspects that have suffered over the years. Starting with security, we have to ensure that the only people that are voting are U.S. citizens. One thing that

has been brought up many times by Republicans is a voting ID. This ID is its own independent card that you can use to prove your identity at the voting booths. The only requirement there would be to receive one is to prove your U.S. citizenship to your town clerk and it would be free, so the barrier of entry is next to nothing. I don’t have the space to go into detail about more plans but here’s a broad overview of what’s recommended: We need to require voter verified records of every ballot cast and look into replacing old, outdated voting machines that are vulnerable to attacks. Look into auditing the whole system to analyze it. Require minimum cybersecurity standards, share between states’ potential threat information and finally work toward creating a network between states and federal agencies to increase security.

Bracing for a tense Thanksgiving with relatives Luke Brennan Opinions Editor After Halloween has come and gone, Americans typically shift their focus to Thanksgiving. At least, that’s what happens in a non-election year. The 2020 presidential election has caused a tremendous deal of anxiety for U.S. residents. According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, nearly 70% of U.S. adults say the presidential election is a significant source of stress. No matter what the outcome is, experiencing Thanksgiving with relatives who hold vastly different political views than you is almost certain to create an uncomfortable holiday. Here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving as stress-free as possible. First, as much as you can, keep the conversation away from politics. Whether it’s a new movie you want to see or a random fact about pumpkin

pie, avoiding talking about politics altogether is the best way to ensure it doesn’t come up. Conversation starters are a great way to steer a discussion in a particular direction. Mydomaine.com has a page dedicated to conversation starters for the holidays, ranging from “what’s the best restaurant you’ve ever been to?” to “what holiday movie are you looking forward to seeing?” Taking short breaks throughout the day can be very helpful as well. Stepping outside for five or 10 minutes to get some fresh air and taking a few deep breaths can help keep your anxiety levels down. Taking a walk around the block can also help you collect your thoughts and take your mind off the myriad of stressors Thanksgiving brings. You can also plan a fun activity that keeps people’s minds occupied, such as watching a movie or sporting event together. As tempted as you might be to drown your stress in alcohol, this is not a good idea. Setting the health hazards aside, it’s likely to make you

more aggressive and argumentative, which will only make the situation worse. At the end of the day, America is like a family member; we didn’t choose them, but we’re stuck with them, so for

yours and everyone else’s sake, try to keep things respectful. You don’t have to agree with them, but remaining calm and keeping things in perspective is your best chance of having a pleasant, or at least tolerable Thanksgiving.

Courtesy of Element 5 Digital | Unsplash Thanksgiving is known for bringing uncomfortable political discussions, especially in an election year.

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Tips for getting through finals during a pandemic Amy Martin Features Editor Finals season is only a month away! Professors are piling on more work and expectations for students, but have we forgotten that COVID-19 is still around? While many classes are online, it does not make anything any easier. Usual preparations for finals might have to be altered, or even exaggerated, in order for students to successfully conquer their first semester back on campus during the pandemic. However, students can get ahead on their projects and studying before crunch time hits. Here are some tips to try out: 1. Get organized: Create a schedule of distributed practice for when to work on assignments and when to study throughout the month. Cramming everything until the last minute will create additional stress that can be avoided through careful planning. Also. keeping track of due dates and exam times through a calendar can benefit students and help them remember more easily, especially when the professor is not as present to remind them. 2. Form study groups: Studying with peers can be immensely beneficial. While working as a group in the library is not advisable, Zoom is still an option. It will allow students to be more motivated when there are others there working on the same problems. 3. Get a change of scenery: Students might feel trapped in their rooms now without an escape to the library or study rooms across campus, or even other students’ dorms. However, students can step away from their work every so often and walk around, whether inside or outside, to stimulate their minds again. 4. Eat well and take a break: Eating healthy meals and snacks in between study sessions can make working much easier when students are not working on empty stomachs. It is also essential for students to take a break once in a while because working hours on end is draining, and there is such a thing as over-studying! 5. Reach out for help when needed: While COVID-19 may make everything seem more isolating, it does not mean there are no resources for students to access. Students can still contact their professors, administrators or peers if they have any questions or worries. The Counseling Center is also open virtually Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For appointments, students can call (401) 2543124 and leave a voicemail with their first and last names, phone numbers, current cities/states and multiple times during the center’s hours of operation when they would be available to receive a return phone call to coordinate scheduling.

November 5, 2020

Good for the sole

Professor Knights’ sneaker collection sparked by New York City culture Adam Zerman Business Manager Alexander Knights, a management professor, advisor and leadership researcher in the Gabelli School of Business at Roger Williams University, has a special love for sneakers and sneaker culture. He currently lives in Rhode Island, but he was born in Brooklyn, New York, which is considered a capital of sneaker culture and sneakers in general. Knights is a veteran of sneaker culture, as he began collecting shoes around 2003. At that time, he started earning disposable income and really became interested in shoes, with fashion in New York City serving as a big inspiration. “I’d be on the train and see people dressing in all different colors and patterns. It’s not uncommon to see people in secondhand clothes that look really good,” Knights said. Knights loves sneakers for what they are and wears every pair out of the 80 pairs he owns. His most

sentimental pair is the Jordan 11 Cherry Lows as they were the first pair he bought with his own money back in junior high. However, his favorite pair is not one that many sneakerheads would expect: the Jordan 1 New Loves. The Jordan 1 New Loves are one of few Jordan 1’s to feature a black and yellow colorway. These shoes currently sell for around $400, which may seem like a lot of money for sneakers, but in the sneaker world isn’t that much. Knights said the most he has ever paid for a pair is $275. He doesn’t just love a sneaker for its price tag, but rather for how it looks. “What I don’t like now is, one, there are far too many people exploiting the essence of the culture. For a lot of people, it’s artwork. With the high resale prices and things like bots, I’m over it.” While the Jordan 1 New Love is his favorite shoe of all time, Knights said that his grail shoe, otherwise known as the one rare pair of shoes someone wants more than any other pair, is either the Stussy X Nike SB Dunks or

the original Nike Pigeon SB Dunks. When asked about his favorite designers in sneaker culture, Knights mentioned Sean Witherspoon and Travis Scott. However, he said his favorite is the brand Sacai and the products they created with Nike. Knights also talked about how he never likes to pay resale prices for shoes and thinks that some of the shoe prices today are outrageous. He said he has always paid retail price for all of the shoes he owns, including shoes such as the Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard and the Air Max 97 Forest Green from the Powerwall series. One of the ways he used to do this was by camping out the night before sneaker releases. He reminisced on stories from camping out at Niketown in NYC. “We camped out for the Fantastic Four Pack. Me and my brother got all of them. I got my Spizikes signed by Spike Lee from camping out,” Knights said. “I’m into it like people who like books,” Knights said. “There’s always new shoes.”

Three cheers for Thursday Shopping local in the East Bay

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor Thursdays on college campuses are usually dedicated to unwinding after the week before the weekend arrives. In the East Bay, certain Thursdays are dedicated to supporting local businesses. This year, the First Thursdays Shop & Dine Local event will occur on Nov. 5 and again on Dec. 3. The event aims to support local businesses in the East Bay area by inviting locally owned stores and restaurants to participate. From 5-7 p.m., consumers are invited to visit a list of businesses at their own pace. Most of the businesses usually offer a discount or special promotion for the special event. First Thursdays Shop & Dine Local hopes to bring foot traffic to businesses in Bristol, Barrington and Warren and help them gain exposure. It is put on by the East Bay Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by

BankNewport and Atria Aquidneck Place. Participating stores and restaurants in Bristol include Thames Waterside, Caron Jewelers, Portside Tavern, The Wave, Anytime Fitness and Rivers & Rhodes. Thames Waterside is located on Thames Street and offers local seafood and other comfort meals. The restaurant provides beautiful views of the bay year-round. Caron Jewelers is located on Hope Street and sells unique pieces of jewelry that are sure to brighten someone’s day. Portside Tavern is located on Thames Street and boasts a modern and fun dining experience for everyone. The menu offers burgers, steak, seafood and more. The Wave is located on Metacom Avenue and has a menu full of pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches and other options. Anytime Fitness resides on Metacom Avenue and is open 24 hours a day with fitness trainers on the ready to support anyone in their fitness journey. Rivers & Rhodes is

located on Thames Street and is a recent addition to the town, ready to make its mark. The menu is full of flatbreads, burgers, salads and more. Participating stores in Warren include Sprout CoWorking, Made in Warren, Time & Place Studio, Rhody Roots, The Barrington Sound, Bywater Restaurant and Jossy Lownes Art. Participating stores in Barrington include The Book Nerd, Piccolo Children’s Boutique, East Bay Strength & Conditioning, Leon’s Cafe & Catering, Grapes & Grain, Barrington Books, Better Business Bureau, OPT Physical Therapy and Secrets in the Kitchen. For students who have a couple of free hours, this event is a great way to explore more of the area that surrounds campus and remain socially distanced while doing so. As the holiday season approaches, the First Thursdays Shop & Dine Local event provides a great opportunity to find unique gifts for loved ones.

SECTION EDITOR

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

SECTION MANAGER

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

SPORTS

November 5, 2020

Temporary sports suspension leaves lasting mark on athletes Andrew Hart Sports Reporter The fall semester at RWU has been tough for all, especially student athletes who must live with the uncertainty of whether or not they will be able to compete in the sports that have made their time here worthwhile. On Oct. 17, the uncertainty surrounding the semester was magnified when the university decided to suspend all in-person athletic activity following seven positive COVID-19 test results processed by the Broad Institute, the school’s testing partner. Three of these positive results came from varsity student athletes. Teams were allowed to resume

practices on Oct. 20, but that did not change the feeling athletes experienced during the three day hiatus. “It was initially panic,” said Emma Sheehan, a sophomore on the volleyball team. The sudden change in policy was understood given the uptick in cases at the time. However, the decision caused a feeling of disappointment that the precautions the school was taking were not fully effective. “It just was disappointing, to think that all the efforts we put to stay safe didn’t pay out,” Sheehan said. Athletes also expressed their confusion based on how the decision was communicated. Coaches were notified in an email on Oct. 17 by Athletic Director Kiki Jacobs

that all in-person athletic activities, including varsity and club sports, were suspended. The announcement came at the request of Vice President of Student Life John King. Athletes were told by their coaches with the limited information that was communicated to them, but never heard an official statement from the university. “All the information we got was directly from our coach. I don’t believe I ever received news directly from the university,” said Kaylin Reen, a junior on the women’s basketball team. “As soon as she heard the news she reached out to all of us,” Reen said. “If my coach was not communicating everything she knew to us and we were just left in the blue, then I would be frustrated. I can only imagine how

some other athletes feel,” Reen said. The return to play after only a few days was the best case scenario for athletes. “We were excited to be back and getting active,” Sheehan said. The few days of uncertainty left a mark on the minds of athletes as they returned to practice. Some felt a sense of mental exhaustion from the sudden and rapid change of events, while others approached the game with a completely different mindset. “It was different [the return to play],” Sheehan said. “I think we realized this really is a privilege and we should be thankful for the time we get on the court.”

Athletes reflect on a season like no other Amid COVID restrictions and added pressure, teams identify the positives

Megan Julian Sports Editor With only about a month left of practices for all sports teams here at RWU, teams are reflecting on how the season has been. “I think the season has been a lot better than I was expecting it to be,” said Jillian Houle, senior midfielder on the women’s soccer team. Houle said she had pretty low standards coming into this school year considering all the obstacles that university officials and athletic coordinators had never faced before. “I didn’t think we’d be able to practice much, if at all. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that my team has been able to practice nearly four days every week since the start of the season. Even though we still aren’t doing contact, and even though we can’t play games yet, we are working on really valuable technical and tactical skills that I hope we can implement in competitions come the spring season,” Houle said. Houle said one of the biggest challenges the women’s soccer team had to overcome was breathing with their masks on during practices. “Wearing masks to practice has been extremely difficult, especially during the September practices when it was still 70-80 degrees out. I think we’re getting used to the limited air supply that the masks provide us with, and in turn, I feel like it’s got to be making our endurance just eons better, or at least I

hope it is,” Houle said. She said the no-contact rule has been a challenge, but distancing restrictions are not hard to follow since they do use the large turf field. Many athletes said that they have felt a significant amount of pressure this entire season with COVID. “I do feel a sense of extra pressure as an athlete during the tough times with COVID. I can sense the fear from the university that athletics is what could be the cause for a brief spike in cases or the reason we close campus. I always carry this fear in the back of my head, but in a way, it makes me more cautious. My teammates and I know the risk the school is taking in letting us play, and we do not take that for granted,” Mancinelli said. Houle said she absolutely feels an extra amount of pressure as an athlete. “If I catch the virus, God forbid, and I don’t know it, and I bring it with me to practice and infect all my other teammates, who then go back to their dorms, off-campus houses or even home to their families, I would feel horrible. There’s such a massive potential web that could be affected by me if I were to unknowingly bring the virus to practice — more so than if I were to go to a socially-distanced classroom, just by nature of breathing heavily around other people. Masks or no masks, distance or no distance: heavy breathing is dangerous nowadays.” She also said she feels a lot of

pressure to be a role model on campus to promote mask-wearing. Tyler Marchioni, senior on the men’s cross country team, believes the team has made the most of this unique season. “We just recently had a mile race against our own team for fun. That was the closest we have been to a real feel of the season and it was a blast,” Marchioni said. Marchioni added that it has also been difficult. “It feels like we have a spotlight on us, but we do feel that it is our responsibility to set a good example and be good role models for the university as a whole.” As a result of the athletes being constantly watched, they all have been trying to be as cautious as possible. “We are more careful about what we do on and off the field because we know how impactful even just one poor choice can be,” Houle said. “I’m always wearing RWU Soccer gear, so if my mask slipped below my nose and an administrator walks by me and sees it, it will 100% negatively impact their opinions and feelings toward not just my team, but athletics in general.” Sam Mancinelli, senior captain of the women’s basketball team, said the team’s time together so far has also been different. “With being in pods, having teammates be in quarantine and going through each phase has had its ups and downs. I think this season has been good. I get to be with my teammates

and coaches. Although it is not the same, we get to be on campus and we get to practice together, a luxury that other schools and students may not have been given the opportunity to do.” Mancinelli believes restrictions due to COVID guidelines have made the women’s team the strongest and most resilient team she has ever been a part of. “We have overcome so many obstacles and uncertainties, which in a sense has brought us closer together,” Mancinelli said. “We have found different ways of coming together during times where we are instead encouraged to remain apart. This is resilience. It is strength, and I see it every day in the face of my teammates when we walk into the gym.” With the positive does come the negative, however, with Mancinelli saying the experience has been tough. “We must push through wearing our masks for the duration of a two hour practice. We have to remember to consistently sanitize our hands and the basketballs. We can’t play each other in the traditional 5 v. 5 format that brings out the peak of our competitiveness,” Mancinelli said. Yet she is optimistic — she knows her team has found a way so far this season and that they will continue to do so. “We will find a way to make it work with the circumstances that we are given,” Mancinelli said.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

November 5, 2020

EDITORIAL: Staying silent is not an option This editorial comes with a bit of hesitancy. We are journalists and because of that, there are certain ethical practices we must follow in order to bring unbiased and objective news to our audience. But we are also students and we are humans and we cannot silently stand by when our peers are targeted. We understand that we are gifted with freedom of speech. We would not have the ability to share this message if it were not for freedom of speech and press. This matter does deal with the right to have and share your own opinion, but the incident occurring on Oct. 26 where a Blue Lives Matter flag was displayed on a resident’s door in the Black LLC comes off as disrespectful and a direct

attack on the students living there. The Blue Lives Matter movement is seen as the countermovement to Black Lives Matter and for that reason, this incident is viewed as a deliberate attack. If we as white students and members of The Hawks’ Herald stay silent on this matter we will undoubtedly be part of the problem. The students of color on this campus deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and RWU should feel like a safe place for all students. We need to support our peers, not target them. Some of the comments under the @unity_empowerment Instagram post are concerning and show this is an incident

that has caused division among students. White students here at RWU do not face the uncertainty that the students of color face daily. White students do not know the struggles of students of color and never will, so instead of causing further harm, students need to support each other. We need to come together to make everyone feel safe at this university no matter what. It is important to get the attention of administrators, but students also need to join together to fight for change on our campus. We need to do better and remember that Black Lives Matter.

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CORRECTIONS

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

OPINIONS MANAGER Connor Naples cnaples248@g.rwu.edu

PHOTOGRAPHERS Spencer Wright Adam Zerman

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 Veronica Rodriguez Andrew Hart Jimmy Sadowski

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

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

Historical highlights of November Veronica Rodriguez Herald Reporter Good day Hawks! It’s suddenly November! As we enter into the month of Thanksgiving harvests & chilly fall weather, it’s time to look back on some moments in history during the month of November: Nov. 1 & 2 These days mark the beginning and end of Día de los Muertos, which is a Mexican holiday that is celebrated over the course of these two days and is associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. All three of these holidays involve coming together, praying and remembering loved ones who have passed on. Nov. 4 On this day in 1922, the tomb of King Tut was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in Luxor, Egypt. Nov. 8 The electromagnetic wavelength range we know as X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen, a German mechanical engineer and physicist, on this day in history. Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day in the U.S., formerly known as Armistice Day, is a day when we honor those who served America with parades and military memorial ceremonies. Nov. 19 This marks the day when Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, during ceremonies which dedicated 17 acres of land of the battlefield as a National Cemetery. His speech, although significantly shorter than that of Edward Everett who preceded him, has come to embody the very definition of democracy. Nov. 30 This date brought forth the end of America’s War of Independence in 1782 as a provisional peace treaty was signed between Great Britain and the United States. The final treaty was not signed, however, until Sept. 3, 1783, in Paris, France.

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

November 5, 2020

SNL’s Trump and Biden skits continue to dominate the stage Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) 46th season has roasted, toasted and burned both 2020 presidential candidates in its latest five episodes. From the cold open to Weekend Update with Michael Che and Colin Jost, viewers across the nation are welcoming the muchneeded comic relief that counters the stressful and exhausting nature of the actual election taking place right now. The SNL cast has spent a lot of time perfecting the role of Donald Trump. He was first implemented into the show’s skits in the late 1980s, but it wasn’t until 2016 that Trump became a frequent character on the show. The current Trump is played by Alec Baldwin, who has mastered the President’s facial expressions, gestures and ways of speaking. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, who is played by Jim Carrey, has taken a prominent role this season in the show’s cold open and Weekend Update. While Carrey continues to settle into his new

character, his acting keeps audience members laughing. Laughter is especially needed with the continuous mayhem that ensues within and between the opposing parties. Most Americans who watched the First Presidential Debate probably recall the disbelief that came with both candidates speaking over each other; the night was a train wreck and extremely unproductive. Individuals may also remember the town hall event that stood in place of the Second Presidential Debate because Trump refused to participate in the function virtually. While the country carries on in disarray, SNL continues to make people laugh by addressing the absurdity of the political climate by poking fun at both presidential candidates’ childish actions. In the most recent episode leading up to the presidential election, SNL’s cold open for Halloween had Biden reciting a new version of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.” The poem’s premise spoke of Biden writing his acceptance speech when predictions suggested that Trump would still win. The skit

poked fun at Trump and his supporters with lines like “for some Trump voters, this [Halloween] is the only day they’ll wear a mask.” The late-night show has gotten extra creative by adding clever plots to its skits. When a fly landed on Vice President Mike Pence’s head during the Vice Presidential Debate, SNL turned the fly into Joe Biden who accidentally turned into the insect when he attempted to teleport to the Vice Presidential Debate from his home. While most of the jokes are comical, some of the material comes off a bit risky. For instance, when the President was diagnosed with COVID-19, Che and Jost’s Weekend Update included jokes about the president’s positive case in some insensitive ways. If you’re a fan of the political skits SNL puts on, it’s safe to say the show will have a great next four years of content no matter which candidate is chosen. If you haven’t already seen the newest political skits from this season, they are worth the watch.

RWU Theatre presents Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” with a modern twist Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor It’s not every day that actors walk on stage in hazmat suits or use miniature grabbers with dinosaur heads to act out two individuals kissing. Yet, for RWU Theatre, these unique costumes and props are some of the ways the school’s acting community has worked around the pandemic to put on a show for students, faculty and staff that pokes fun at COVID-19. “There’s something about if we do this like a normal play it will bring some comfort in a way because although we are in a pandemic, we can still have arts,” said freshman Oliver Sherry. The cast will be performing William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” with an additional title called “Love in the Time of COVID.” The second name suits the cast’s theme by bringing the setting into a modern day climate during COVID-19. The plot follows two love stories after Benedick, Claudio and Don Pedro return from fighting what is known as the “Covid Wars.” One romance is between Beatrice and Benedick, who were old lovers who now despise each other, yet family and friends attempt to trick them into falling in love again. Meanwhile,

the second love story follows Hero and Claudio while the sinister Don Pedro sets out to falsely prove that Hero has been unfaithful to Claudio. The fourteen-person cast has spent a lot of time working on adding comedy to the play by heavily focusing on props. Since physical contact is limited, small grabbers with dinosaur heads are being used to show characters kissing. Additionally, there will be a night watch known as the COVID Police who use whistles to yell at people who are not six feet apart. “Many of the creative ways we work

around the social distancing and other parameters put in place by the pandemic add comedic effect. We went for silly, and I think we nailed it on the head,” said freshman Korbin Johnson. The cast also had to work around the current COVID-19 restriction of having only six individuals on stage at one time. Some scenes in the play called for more than six individuals so the cast solved this issue by using mannequins to stand in place of characters. Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

Courtesy of Olivia Hauvuy RWU actors and actresses must remain six feet apart on stage due to COVID-19 restrictions.

8 Book Review: “Murder on the Links” HOT HITS:

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

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

Spencer Wright Herald Reporter

“Murder on the Links” by Agatha Christie involves famous detective Hercule Poirot and is the perfect read when you’re stuck inside on colder days. This book sees Poirot and his friend Captain Hastings travel to Deauville, France, for a holiday... or so

Spencer Wright / The Hawks’ Herald If you’re in need of a chilling mystery, “Murder on the Links” is your next read.

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

they think. Murder, blackmail and kidnapping are afoot in this seaside sports town with the kidnapping appearing strangely familiar to Poirot; it is almost as if he’s seen it before, but how? With seemingly everyone having a motive, the case will test Poirot’s ‘little gray cells’ as he and Captain Hastings race to solve the case before the murderer kills again. Eventually, the French inspector on the scene claims to have solved the case, leaving readers to wonder if Poirot failed. Christie expertly weaves the events together within her novel by throwing in false clues and witness statements that seem contradictory to the point where you think you might have the case solved yourself. In the end, she reveals the true solution and baffles even the most studious of readers. For those who have never read an Agatha Christie mystery, this is not a cheap thriller, but instead, an expertly woven web of clues and suspects that will keep you guessing until the very end. Any of her books can be picked up and easily read, with most under 200 pages and no continual plot line between books. The only link involves the same recurring main characters being forced to figure out a new group of suspects and cases. This book, like all of Christie’s works, will be hard to put down once you start reading.

November 5, 2020

Mellow Beats Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager

Hype sneaker releases of the month

Adam Zerman Business Manager

Nov. 7 • Pharrell X Adidas NMD Hu “Yellow” $220 • Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 V3 “Safflower” $200 Nov. 9 • Nike Air Max 3 “Radiant Red” $140 Nov. 10 • Nike Dunk Low “Veneer” $100 Nov. 11 • Nike X Atmos Dunk Low “Elephant” $110 • Jordan X Trophy Room Air Jordan 1 Retro High $170 • Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Fade” $220 Nov. 12 • Air Jordan 5 “What The” $220

PLEASE RECYCLE

Nov. 13 • Nike X Sacai VaporWaffle “Royal Fuchsia” and “Black and White” $180 Nov. 14 • Air Jordan 1 High OG CO.JP “Midnight Navy” $170 Nov. 21 • Nike X Concepts SB Dunk High “Mallard” $120 Nov. 27 • Nike Kobe 5 Potro “Brice Lee” and “Alternate Bruce Lee” $180 • Adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Onyx” $230 Nov. 28 • Air Jordan 4 “Fire Red” $200 Nov. 30 • Adidas Yeezy Boost 500 “Utility Black” $200

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