The Hawks' Herald | Oct. 21 2021 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 34, Issue 6 FREE

Housing experiences open positions this semester

Community Directors from three residence halls have departed the university

CDO responds to bias incidents on campus Jimmy Sadowski News Editor

Wilhelmina Giese/The Hawks’ Herald Residence Life and Housing has open positions throughout the department, in particular, three Community Director positions are vacant.

Jimmy Sadowski News Editor

The Roger Williams University Housing Department has hired a new Community Director (CD) for the Stonewall Residential Community who will start Nov. 1, according to Interim Director of Residence Life and Housing Katie Ribeiro. The name of the new Stonewall CD could not be revealed during a Monday, Oct. 18 interview with Ribeiro because housing is “still waiting on a background check and all the HR formalities.” The former Stonewall CD Caroline Tyler, formerly Caroline Fannoush, received an internal promotion to become the Area Coordinator that will oversee the new Stonewall CD as well as be the Willow Residential Community CD according to Ribeiro. Stonewall is not the only residential community that had staff depart. Bayside CD Chris Higgins and Assistant Director for Residential Education/Almeida CD Corey Brown also left. Housing is working to fill the Bayside position and “an offer is tentatively out and tentatively accepted,” said Ribeiro. HR formalities still need to happen for that position as well. The Assistant Director for Residential Education/Almeida CD position is being posted, but it is being “posted

differently” according to Ribeiro. “We decided the Assistant Director/ Community Director position wasn’t necessarily something that was the best option for the department,” said Ribeiro. “We’re finding that our Community Directors will come in, they’ll work with us for three years or so and then they’re ready for something else, that next step, that next promotion, and everyone that’s left us has left for a promotion.” Ribeiro said Housing staff departing for promotions like Higgins and Brown is “a positive.” She also said, “It shows that we’re developing our staff and preparing them for those next steps.” “What became glaringly obvious to us is that we don’t have those next steps within the department,” said Ribeiro. “Instead of posting another Assistant Director, which is typically a longerterm stay, about five to six years, we decided to split that into two Area Coordinator positions.” “Area Coordinators will manage an area, so they’ll have their own building that they’re Community Director of, and then they’ll supervise one other Community Director and that CD’s building,” said Ribeiro. “That’s a promotion that will allow us to retain good staff longer and give them an opportunity for more responsibility and something different with the promotion providing supervision experience to further get

them ready for that next step.” Caroline Tyler holds one of the Area Coordinator positions as Willow CD supervising the Stonewall CD and the other Area Coordinator position is posted and that will be for the Almeida CD position Brown left. Ribeiro said the timing of the staff departures was tough. “Typically, that [departing for promotions] happens in July,” said Ribeiro. “I think some institutions were dragging their feet because they didn’t know if positions would be frozen or allowed to post. I think COVID kind of dragged everyone’s search process out a little longer than it would be in a typical year.” Ribeiro herself is Interim Director of Residence Life and Housing and she did not know if she would stay in her position after this year. “I live really far,” said Ribeiro. “I commute two hours each way so I don’t see that being sustainable as a long-term option, but I think we’ll see what happens. We’re in a changing environment and we’ll kind of see going from there.” In regard to the staff departures and position changes, Ribeiro said, “I think we’re doing the best we can here with the staff that we have and I think our students are doing well and that’s what’s important.”

Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, Public Safety and the Bias Response Team have been investigating allegations that include racial slurs and offensive language being used toward students of color said University President Ioannis Miaoulis, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Stephanie Akunvabey, and Vice President for Student Life John King in a Wednesday Oct. 13 email to students. Two specific incidents appeared to have targeted Resident Assistants of color “who were on duty and performing rounds of assigned residence area,” according to Miaoulis. Akunvabey said the university is not disclosing the residential area where the two incidents occurred. Miaoulis said the allegations, if accurate, are “reprehensible and inexcusable at Roger Williams University.” “The University denounces these acts of bias unequivocally,” said Miaoulis in the email. “As a community committed to civility and respect for each other, we fully condemn any racist acts and will act swiftly to investigate reports of any such incidents that occur in our community.” In response to last Wednesday’s email Akunvabey said “students, staff, faculty, and administrators have collectively began to ask, what can be done to prevent these types of incidents?” “We recognize that bias, racism, and discrimination are complex matters that require equally complex approaches to addressing them,” said Akunvabey. “We are focused on the immediate nature of this incident, but also thinking about future steps that are required to build the type of community that we all want to be engaged in.”

See

INCIDENT

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SECTION EDITOR

Jimmy Sadowski jsadowski031@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS Upcoming events:

This week is Inter-Class Council’s (ICC) annual Spirit Week, the theme this year is “Having fun in the 401.” Thursday’s event is a trip to Factory of Terror (tickets had to be purchased on University Tickets before Oct. 20), Friday’s event is a co-spo with CEN called Swoopin’ Through the Air. This is an aerialist performance by Danny Drake. The event will start at 10 p.m. in the Upper Gym in the Rec Center, RSVP on Hawk Link. This weekend is Homecoming and Family Weekend. Friday night is Casino Night at 7:30 p.m. in the Field House. Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. is the 5K Road Race, it starts at the Rec Center and is open to families, students, alumni, faculty and staff. Autumn Fest is Saturday at 1 p.m. on the Commons Quad and the Rec Center. There will be food, crafts and other activities to enjoy. The weekend will end with a show by Mentalist Jon Stetson at 7:45 p.m. in the Field House. More information can be found on Hawk Link. Next week CEN’s Wicked Week begins. Tuesday’s event is “Monster Mash Potato Bar” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the GHH lobby. Wednesday is “Donut Go Crazy,” an event to decorate donuts and pumpkins at 8 p.m. in the GHH atrium. More information can be found on the CEN instagram @rwucen and Hawk Link.

October 21, 2021

INCIDENT

from page 1

Students have expressed concerns through various channels to the university, said Akunvabey. Specific charges cannot be disclosed at this time according to Akunvabey. “We are in the process of developing more transparent policies that outline how we approach bias incidents,” said Akunvabey. “We are focusing on accountability and tools that will help members of our community recognize and change harmful behavior patterns, as well as expanding the kinds of support that we can provide to individuals who have been affected by bias incidents.” Additionally, Akunvabey noted that she teaches a section of the First Year Learning Community

(FYLC) and this week they covered content related to understanding and unpacking bias. “This was a follow-up to themes that were introduced in firstyear orientation and the required student training in the Everfi platform,” said Akunvabey. “We are committed to developing institutional methods that will prevent and address bias in our community.” President Miaoulis said any student who has been offended or needs to process any incidents of bias may contact the Counseling Center at 401-254-3124, email the Student Life Office at rwustudentlife@rwu.edu, or contact Dr. Zoila Quezada, Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, at zquezada@rwu.edu for support and additional resources.

News:

The university held two flu shot clinics this week for campus community members to get free flu shots. Unlike last year, flu shots are not mandatory but they are highly recommended. The next and last flu shot clinic will be on Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Rec Center. Special elections for Student Senate and Inter-Class Council (ICC) will be held Oct. 26 and 27. Applications to run for open positions are due Monday, Oct. 25 at noon. Student Senate has open positions for general senators. ICC has open positions for Class of 2025 vice president, secretary and treasurer.

SEECM Lab building named

THE GAVEL Your source for Student Senate news Hi everyone - at Senate this past Monday, President Miaoulis and Chief of Staff Brian Williams came in to chat with the Senate about various student concerns and the Strategic Action Plan for the University. Students and organization leaders also shared their concerns on a variety of topics including communication from the Office of the President and the recent bias incidents on campus. We are continuing to move forward with our Ad-Hoc Committee to create the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council and the Sustainability Council with a focus on membership from the student body. We are having our Special Elections coming at the end of this month, with applications on Hawk Link due on Monday, Oct. 25 at noon. As always, follow us on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter @RWU_Senate and try to attend our weekly meetings on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Tefft White Center on the first floor of the library. Our meetings are recorded so if you cannot make the meetings, you can watch the recordings on the Senate YouTube page - so make sure to check those out!

Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald The SEECM lab building received a new name last week. It is now the Richard L. Bready Applied Learning Laboratories.

This gavel is contributed by the Student Senate and does not reflect the views of The Hawks’ Herald

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

Watch out for Wicked Week

Amy Martin Features Editor

It is almost time for Roger Williams University’s annual Wicked Week! Hosted by Campus Entertainment Network (CEN) and Where’s the Fun (WTF), prepare for a week of Halloween fun as the big holiday draws closer. Unlike last year, this year’s events are all in-person. CEN has bigger and better things prepared for students than what they’ve seen in the past. Starting on Tuesday, Oct. 26, WTF is hosting the Monster Mashed Potato Bar in the Global Heritage Hall (GHH) atrium. Make sure to stop by between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for some yummy mashed potatoes on a cool autumn day. On Wednesday, Oct. 27, CEN is hosting Donut Go Crazy! Stop by the GHH atrium again at 8 p.m. for all the free donuts you can eat. “We are very excited that there will be a number of events involving food, as last year had many limitations on what we could do with food,” said the Co-Chairs of the CEN Traditions Committee, Emily Williams and Megan Dosouto. “This year, we have a lot more options, and we know students love free food!” On Thursday, Oct. 28, CEN is going big and hosting the City Ghost Walk in Providence, starting at 6:30 p.m. Explore the hauntings of the city and try to catch ghost evidence of your own. “We are super excited for the City Ghost Walk because we did not have the ability in the past few years to do

an off-campus getaway during Wicked Week,” Williams and Dosouto said. On Friday, Oct. 29, WTF will host Speak to the Spirits in the Field House. Starting at 8 p.m., try to connect with the spirits that may be roaming the campus. You might get a response back. The week will finish off with the annual Halloween Carnival taking place outside of the Field House at 4 p.m. Check out all the fun rides and games it has to offer! “We hope that Wicked Week will help students become prepared and excited for Halloween, as well as become more involved in more campus activities,” the co-chairs said.

“We hope that Wicked Week will help students become prepared and excited for Halloween” -Emily Williams and Megan Dosouto

“These events may even inspire students to become involved with CEN in the future.” Students may come to as many events as they wish, and they can visit CEN’s table times in Commons to learn more information about Wicked Week on Tuesday, Oct. 26. They can also check Hawk Link as more information about these events become available.

More information regarding Wicked Week events can be found at CEN’s table times and on Hawk Link.

FEATURES October 21, 2021

Six ways to get in the Halloween spirit

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor

Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald Get into the Halloween spirit by painting or carving pumpkins.

1. Watch a scary movie

This may seem like an obvious way to get into the Halloween spirit, but nothing quite beats a scary movie on a cool October night. Grab some popcorn, a comfy blanket and start streaming a good scary movie. Turn on the TV and pick a spine-chilling film from Netflix, Hulu or Shudder for horror movie aficionados.

2. Carve or paint a pumpkin

Pick up a pumpkin at the local farm stands or grocery stores and carve away. Either pick up a carving kit that comes with various templates or try freehanding a design and get to work. For people who are not fans of the guts and seeds that come with carving a pumpkin, get some paint and paint the outside of the pumpkin. Whichever option you choose, the pumpkins are sure to look wonderful.

3. Make Boo Boxes

Courtesy of providenceghosttour.com CEN will be hosting the City Ghost Walk with the Providence Ghost Tour in Providence on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Get into the Halloween spirit by getting others into the spirit. Head to the Dollar Tree or the grocery store and pick out some Halloween candy and other goodies. Fill a box or bag with the goodies and give them to friends. Make it extra fun by leaving it at their door as an anonymous surprise.

4. Decorate!

Even on a college student budget, decorating for Halloween is possible. Dollar Tree has affordable decorations that are sure to spookify any dorm room. If going to the store is not possible, make some DIY decorations. Tissues and a black marker are all that are needed to make some scary ghosts. Add some yarn or twine and make a ghost garland that is sure to get people in the Halloween spirit.

5. Have a Ghouls’’ Night

Have some friends over for a fun night. The name is a play on words for “girls’ night,” but everyone is included in a haunting ghouls’ night! Wear costumes and play games or watch a spooky movie. Whatever the plan is, the night is sure to be fun. For the ghouls over 21, spice up the night with Halloween-themed cocktails, such as a Witch’s Brew, Vampire’s Bite Cocktail or a Zombie Cocktail.

6. Visit a Haunted House The best way to get into the Halloween spirit is to get spooked. Visiting a haunted house is a sure way to get a good scare. If being up close and personal with actors in clown and monster masks is a little too extreme, try a haunted hayride for similar spooks. Going to a haunted house or hayride with friends is a great way to make lasting memories.

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

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

ARTS and CULTURE

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

Hawk in the Spotlight

Art Club’s Abby Grove

Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager Why did you join the art club? I joined the art club to give myself a designated time to focus on my art and relax. I never schedule myself a time to create, but when I start I realize how much I needed it. Painting is such a stress relief for me because I don’t have to worry about being right or wrong. What is your major, class year and are you involved in the arts anywhere else on campus? My major is marine biology with a double minor in aquaculture sciences and visual arts; I am currently a sophomore. I usually attend the events on campus that have a craft or something to create. With my visual arts minor, I take an art class here or there, but art is more of a hobby for me right now. What inspires you in your artwork? Most of the time when I sit down to create something I do not know how it is going to come out, so I cannot say it is inspired by one thing or another. I would say my artwork is inspired by the urge to create. What is your favorite medium/ type of art to create? My favorite medium to work with is acrylic paint because it is so forgiving and versatile. I can create so many textures, values and colors with just one medium. Photo courtesy of Abby Grove

What makes art interesting to you? I love to create art because it gives me a sense of relief and freedom that I do not get in too many other places. It allows me to relax and focus on one thing rather than the 10 other tasks I may have to do at some point. What sort of art are you currently/have previously worked on? In the past, I have worked on many different things from crocheting to drawing to collaging. Growing up, my parents made a point to give me a space to create what I wanted. Because of that freedom, I experimented with as many different types of art as I could. Now it is a little harder for me to just have the resources I need for a project in my dorm room. I designated a drawer in my dorm just for art supplies so I have some things to choose from when I am feeling artsy. My current obsession is with vintage journaling/collaging. Something like that is a lot easier to create in a dorm because you can use found objects, papers and stickers to create whatever you are feeling that day. How has your art changed throughout the years? When I was younger, I used mostly pencils, colored pencils and paints. As I grew older I experimented with more crafting rather than traditional arts. Now I tend to mix the two and add some traditional art to my more crafty projects.

Check out Abby’s art on Instagram @sketches_ag13

October 21, 2021

‘Metroid Dread’: an adventure 19 years in the making

Grant Soedler Herald Reporter

“Metroid Dread” is the newest game in the “Metroid” series, released exclusively for Nintendo Switch. A sequel to 2002’s “Metroid Fusion,” “Dread” is the first new mainline “Metroid” adventure in 19 years. But just because a game takes a while to come out does not always guarantee quality. So, was the long wait worth it? “Dread” stars Samus Aran, a renowned bounty hunter who has saved the galaxy countless times. Fresh off the events of “Metroid Fusion” (where she survived isolation on a research station filled with deadly parasites that could infect, assimilate and then imitate any living being) Samus suddenly receives a transmission showing one of these parasites is alive on the planet ZDR. The Galactic Federation has already sent seven research robots called E.M.M.I. (Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifier) to investigate, but have lost contact. Wasting no time, the bounty hunter hurries to the planet. When she arrives, Samus discovers that the E.M.M.I. have become hostile and must now evade them as she

continues her investigation of the planet. Dread’s gameplay is very much what you would expect from the “Metroidvania” genre: players will explore Planet ZDR’s many environments as they search for upgrades, fight bosses and gain new abilities that enable them to progress further. While this game style has recently been largely dominated by the indie scene, with titles like “Hollow Knight” and “Axiom Verge,” the original “Metroid” was the first, and “Dread” shows that the franchise can still hold its own even among the industry’s new blood. The movement and controls of the game are incredibly refined, and it is very fun to run around and explore, making combat and puzzle solving very satisfying. Another place “Dread” excels in, is its difficulty level. Nearly every enemy has an attack that must be carefully countered, allowing you to deal lots of damage if you succeed but dealing lots of damage if you fail.

Read the full story on our wesbite at rwuhawksherald.com

Courtesy of Nintendo “Metroid Dread” is the sequel to 2002’s “Metroid Fusion” and has been released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.

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SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

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

ARTS and CULTURE

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

October 21, 2021

Look good, feel good

How your fashion choices can impact your confidence

Gabby Boretti Herald Reporter

Have you ever worn sweatpants and a baggy sweatshirt to class? Most college students’ usual answer is “Duh, Yes!” Throughout the day, have you felt lazy, unmotivated and just wanted to go home and sleep the day away? When people dress up, they feel more confident and are likely to perform everyday activities better than those who choose to wear a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt that day. Feeling yourself in an outfit can lead most people to being more successful in a day over those who are not feeling themselves. Pro tip: leggings and a tight athletic jacket or jeans and a sweatshirt can still be considered dressing up if it allows you to look good and feel good. A 2014 study conducted by the American Psychological Association showed that subjects (unaware of the study) who wore sweats compared to

it has an effect on how you feel and perform throughout the day. I got best dressed in high school, not to brag, but it definitely helped me through my younger days and it still helps me to this day.”Most people can agree that looking good simply makes you feel good. Feeling good in your clothing can allow you to perform better in all aspects of life, including school, social situations, work and whatever else it may be that might require you to be your best self. So, next time you are getting ready for class, start with something easy! Jeans and a boxy t-shirt could do the trick. Then, throw on a cute jumpsuit with slides the next day. If your vibe is more of a white t-shirt with jeans combo and crips Air Forces, it could be fun to experiment with khakis with no socks, a polo shirt and a Sperry shoe. Record how you feel each day and watch how your confidence is improved when you are looking and feeling good.

subjects who wore suits performed more poorly while engaging in a game against each other. The subjects in the suits seemed to feel more confident than the subjects in sweatpants and that could likely be a large reason for their stronger performance. Clothing can have the power to make people feel socially superior whether that be in a game, meeting or just eating lunch with one other. It is beneficial to feel socially superior, just as long as you are respectful about it and do not flaunt it in a rude way. If all college students took a shower before class and threw on boyfriend jeans and a stunning blouse paired with those Louis Vuitton red bottom heels or a collared shirt with loafers, yes, they may feel better about themselves compared to the hungover student who rolled out of bed and went to class with the t-shirt and sweatpants they slept in that night. It is so important to look your best

and feel your best to improve confidence; it has the ability to pull people out of their shells and allow them to have a better day, ultimately leading to a better life. For junior Hailey Winn, her day relies on this concept. “The way you feel has a huge impact on how you perform in school. When you feel good in an outfit that day, you are way more likely to put your best foot forward all day. Personally, if I show up to class in an outfit I end up hating or am not comfortable in, I am not as attentive in class compared to when I am feeling good in what I have on,” said Winn. Certainly there are students who simply do not care much about fashion and can wear pajamas to class and still get a 100 on an exam and meet new people for lunch. For others, fashion makes all the difference in academic and social settings. Giovanni Cacciatore, a junior, spoke to this notion, saying, “Yes, of course,

installations, Fissell targeted three areas: GHH, the university library and outside of the Fine Arts Center. Her questions were all different and consisted of “What is something you want to learn more about?” “What is something you are proud of that you have done in the last year?” and “What do you wish was more understood about you?” “I thought each of those locations were areas that people would pass by and purposely put them in each location that suited the question’s vibe,” said Fissell. The installations’ theme focused on drawing information out of people that they would not otherwise show and allowing students to learn about others by approaching the sculpture. Additionally, each installation had its own name: GHH was the wall of accomplishments, the library was the wall of growth, and outside of the fine arts center was the wall of understanding. Fissell attributed her project’s inspiration to her sculpture classmates. After an in-class prompt asking students to create a sculpture using objects in the art studio, Fissell grabbed a handful of paper tags and wrote a bunch of things on them. After presenting her project to the class, both students and the professor

suggested she should implement her what they find important. I think we idea in a larger format that allowed can never have enough of that,” Fissel people to respond to it themselves. said. Since the Fine Arts Center already Fissel’s installations will remain up had metal frames available, Fissell for a month. If you would like to add simply added foliage around the top a tag to any of the three installations, for decoration, printed and framed the you can find her sculptures on the question and set up the sculpture. first floor of the library, the first floor The installations are gaining of GHH and outside of the Fine Arts attraction after only one week on Center. campus — Fissell even received attention while setting up her work in GHH when a student came up and asked her what she was doing. After explaining her project, the student wrote on one of the tags and added it to the installation. Since then, more tags have been added each day. “I hope that they [students] learn something new about the people that have contributed to these artworks and open our minds to the Emma Bartlett/The Hawks’ Herald Kristen Fissell stands experiences of other next to her interactive art installation in Global Heritage Hall. people and Each tag represents things students are proud of.

New interactive art installation gains campus attention

Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor

It is not every day that we learn about a stranger’s cherished accomplishments or learning aspirations. Kristen Fissell, a firstyear student and visual arts major, is helping the RWU community discover more about each other through her three interactive art installations that are spread across campus. Each art installation consists of a metal frame wall with a question attached to it. Students can respond to the question by writing on a small paper tag and attaching it to the installation. “I’m interested in what people wish others knew but maybe don’t ask. Sometimes it’s those unseen things — things we wouldn’t know unless we asked,” said Fissell. Fissell, who is currently pursuing her second bachelor’s degree after completing a degree in marine and environmental science at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., is a Coast Guard veteran who spent seven years in active duty. This is her first public art installation, and she expressed her excitement in seeing others visit and interact with the sculpture. When choosing locations for her

SECTION EDITOR

Samuel Elwell selwell531@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS October 21, 2021

POLITICAL HEAD-TO-HEAD Should the U.S. government mandate COVID-19 vaccines? 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 Liz Sender Op-Ed Writer Federally mandating the COVID-19 vaccine can ensure that individuals are protecting themselves along with the health of those around them. Over 700,000 Americans have died due to COVID-19, more than the amount of Americans that died during WWII, WWI and the American Civil War combined. Many individuals believe that the vaccine was produced at a rapid rate without undergoing human trials. However, this is not true as the vaccine has been through clinical tests, backed by research while undergoing a peer review process, not to mention it has been FDA approved. In the areas where there is a high vaccination rate, COVID deaths have decreased but the opposite is seen in areas with low

vaccination rates. Yet almost half the United States population has not been vaccinated. Why? I believe that the vaccine should be federally mandated because I understand that there are times where I need to put myself second and others first, especially those who are high risk. My whole friend group is fully vaccinated and over the summer, one of my friends, who is at high risk, caught the virus, but the vaccine protected the rest of us from contracting and spreading the virus. I understand reasons for people to not get vaccinated because of religion or health issues, but mandating the vaccine will hopefully motivate more individuals to get vaccinated as well as force individuals to get vaccinated to put an end to this pandemic.

Courtesy of Sierra Gorkun A nurse practitioner administers a vaccine to a student on April 27, 2021 during an on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Roger Williams University. COVID vaccines were required for students, faculty and staff to return to campus for the fall semester.

republican Elizabethann Molina Op-Ed Writer Dating all the way back to 1789, it is constituted that we the people are protected against state infringement and prohibits states from interfering with privileges and immunities. I personally chose not to get vaccinated because I believe that the school mandating me to get vaccinations interfered with my constitutional and religious rights. The process I had to go through with the school was not only difficult but it was isolating. I was told I could not return to campus unless I gave a legitimate reason for not getting the vaccine. I fought and argued about how my religion would prevent me from getting the vaccine. I was told “Can you go deeper than ‘Free will’ so I can have more to go on? Free will, freedom of choice, is the same argument anti-vax individuals are making.” I am Christian and I stated that I was opposed to the immunization requirements because it contradicted the freedom of will I have been given by God. No man or institution of law has the right to impugn it. I dove in deeper and included that we can make our own decisions. Some are simple and some can affect the rest of our lives. Free will, given by God, allows us to make our own choices, whether temporal or eternal. In either case, each individual is the one who must make and live with those choices. Once again mandating the vaccine violates my individual rights from government and other interference.

My right to work, under equitable and satisfactory conditions, I am not required to have the measles and chickenpox vaccine. How can you mandate the COVID vaccine? It does not prevent you from getting COVID; All it can do is lessen your symptoms and prevent hospitalization. In addition to the COVID vaccine, there are therapeutics that, if done before symptoms appear worse, are just as effective in preventing hospitalization. “We are working to raise awareness about monoclonal antibodies because they save lives and reduce severe illness and risk of hospitalization,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. It seems that the current administration does not care about our constitutional rights and is only interested in certain drug companies’ benefits. “The vaccines are one of our best tools to prevent COVID, but if you become sick, whether you are vaccinated or not, we need safe and effective treatment and that’s where the monoclonal antibodies come in,” said FDEM Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth Scheppke. All the COVID-19 vaccine can do is help with symptoms from worsening and it does not prevent the spread of COVID. People should be allowed the right as to what goes into their bodies. With treatments becoming accessible to those who don’t believe the vaccine should be mandated, it can essentially help lessen hospitalizations around the world.

SECTION EDITOR

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

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

October 21, 2021

Genesis: Multicultural Showcase Barbershop Club’s event, Genesis: Multicultural Showcase, co-hosted by Multicultural Student Union, Hispanic and Latinx Student Association, Women of Color Club and Film Production Collaborative on Saturday, Oct. 16, was a big hit and enjoyed by over 200 people in the Field House.

Alessandro Pinto

Junior SainVil

Front: Blessing Pour Back: Zayila Howie

Anada Hines

All photos: Adam Zerman/The Hawks’ Herald

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CORRECTIONS

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

Emma Bartlett ebartlett122@g.rwu.edu

Sam Elwell selwell531@g.rwu.edu

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

Andrew Hart ahart360@g.rwu.edu

Grant Soedler Gabby Boretti

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

Adam Zerman azerman020@g.rwu.edu

SPLO ADVISOR Adrianne Harris aharris@g.rwu.edu

PHOTO EDITOR

Chloe Noyes cnoyes899@g.rwu.edu Emily Dvareckas Wilhelmina Giese Emma Bartlett Adam Zerman

Contributors

Liz Sender Elizabethann Molina

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

Kristen Dansereau Andrew Hart kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu ahart360@g.rwu.edu

Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

SPORTS October 21, 2021

Sailing into another successful season How the RWU sailing team continues to achieve victory Drew Hart Sports Manager The sailing team is arguably the most successful team walking the RWU campus, and it is no wonder why. After placing tenth in the Coed Division for the preseason College Sailing Rankings, the Hawks have since vaulted into sixth place with the release of the first regular-season rankings. Although success is present, the attention towards the sailing team sometimes remains absent. So what exactly goes into the success of the sailing team? A typical weekend for the sailing team differs greatly from that of the average college student and even the average athletic team. With a number of regattas or races over the weekend,

the team of 33 is split into three or four groups depending on how many regattas are taking place that weekend. These lineup decisions are made by the coach in the week leading up to the regattas depending on each sailor’s skill level and position on the boat. Each regatta has different levels of competition with A levels being the most competitive, B levels being less competitive, and C levels being the least competitive of the three. “Based on your performance at practice, at other regattas, in the classroom, and in the gym, coach will place you at an event she thinks you will be most competitive at,” said Molly Matthews, a junior on the team. Where a sailor is placed weekend to weekend can change based on their performance. Just because a sailor

Emily Dvareckas/The Hawks’ Herald The sailing team practicing on Sept. 15, 2021. The team started in tenth place during the pre-season but are now in sixth place.

has raced twice at an A level does not mean they may not be placed into a C level race in the next regatta. Once these lineup decisions are made and the sailors finish their traditional team breakfast on Saturday morning, they split into their groups and travel by van to where their respective regatta is taking place. Typically, regattas are held within the region on the Charles River in Boston, or the Thames River in New London, Conn., meaning these groups will travel back to RWU Saturday night and repeat the same process Sunday morning. Sometimes groups will find themselves competing in New York or even Maryland, requiring them to stay overnight. In addition to the usual Saturday and Sunday regattas and Tuesday through Friday practice schedule, members of the sailing team also spend at least four days a week in strength and conditioning workouts centered around bodyweight core and upper

body exercises like pushups, pullups, sit ups and cardio to build stamina, according to Matthews. Similar to other sports, each position on the boat requires different physical capabilities from every sailor. Skippers, the sailors who drive the boat, require more upper body strength according to Matthews because they must control the tension of the line that is connecting and controlling the position of the sail by pulling it while shifting their body weight away from the center of the boat. Crews, on the other hand, require lower body strength and explosiveness because they are the ones who are helping to maneuver the boat. Like skippers, crews must also shift their body weight away from the center of the boat or “hike” in order to help navigate the waters. The Hawks travel to St. Mary’s City, Md. this weekend to compete in the Coed Atlantic Coast Championship.