The Hawks' Herald | Oct. 22, 2020 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 7 FREE

13 individuals test positive for COVID-19 on campus but negative through state lab No determination on whether initial tests were false positives

Isabella Gentile Editor-in-Chief Of the 20 positive COVID-19 test results discovered last week with ties to the Marine and Natural Sciences (MNS) building, 13 individuals were retested through the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) state lab. On Oct. 20, University Chief of Staff Brian Williams reported the state’s testing produced a negative result for each of those individuals. The negative results can only confirm there is no presence of the virus detected at the time of the test. Per RIDOH’s guidance, Williams said the university is required to treat all positive results as positive cases, so all individuals who tested positive last week must continue to follow isolation protocols in accordance with state guidelines, with close contacts remaining in quarantine. “Because no viral material was

collected in any of these tests, there is no way to distinguish if these cases were truly a positive or if the presence of lab material was the signal of a positive result, therefore a false positive,” Williams said. RWU has not used the actual COVID-19 virus for research at any point in campus labs, but university officials have been focused on research involving non-viral lab materials in MNS on Oct. 10, working with RIDOH to determine if there were any connections between the cluster of positive test results and this research activity. Williams said in an email Oct. 20 that the university has not found a definite causal relationship between these variables. However, the non-viral lab materials used were designed to mimic the virus and can return a positive result in tests such as the university’s testing with the Broad Institute. Despite this potential, Williams said the research material

did not pose a direct safety or health hazard at any time. The university has begun an external review of the lab protocols surrounding this research and is coordinating this review with Broad Institute researchers along with the manufacturers of the lab materials used on Oct. 10. Williams said they will continue consulting with RIDOH and gather expert information

on proper cleaning and disinfecting of MNS, which will remain closed until proper treatment is completed. “RWU continues to follow state guidance to keep the safety and health of our campus community as the top priority… we are managing this spike with all the same protocols that have kept our community safety at the forefront all along,” Williams said.

Isabella Gentile / The Hawks’ Herald The Marine and Natural Sciences Building is home to the science labs on RWU’s campus.

Athletic activities allowed to resume after brief suspension Megan Julian Sports Editor Kristen Dansereau Sports Manager After a brief three-day suspension, Vice President of Student Life John King gave permission for in-person athletic activities to resume on Oct. 20. Athletic Director Kiki Jacobs confirmed that King asked her to suspend all in-person athletic activities on Oct. 17, as a result of increasing positive COVID-19 test results within the RWU community. Three varsity student athletes tested positive for the virus through campus testing last week. King said almost all of the university’s teams were engaged in some form of practices involving a significant number of student-athletes. “I made the decision to temporarily suspend athletic activities due to multiple positive COVID cases within teams and a general increase in cases campus-wide over the past three weeks,” King said.

After reviewing COVID related athletic activity, training procedures and compliance measures, Jacobs and King decided athletic practices can resume. “We did get permission to return to practice,” Jacobs said. “We plan to reaffirm the commitment to mask wearing and social distancing as much as possible and we are keeping with pods of 15 or fewer.” When student-athletes initially heard about the suspension, they were upset. “I was upset because I just had gotten cleared to practice and I was only able to participate for a week,” said sophomore Joseph Ortiz on the baseball team. Other athletes were not surprised by the suspension, like sophomore Sophie Araneo on the women’s basketball team. “I don’t think I was surprised about the suspension — so many new cases have been arising that I had a gut feeling that the suspension of sports would be inevitable,” Araneo said. Other athletes were frustrated by the university’s initial choice to suspend

activity. “My initial reaction to the suspension was frustration,” said senior James Lee of the men’s soccer team. “This was mainly due to the lack of communication between the few deciding the fate of athletics and the athletes themselves. We were following all protocols put into place and they did not bother to send out an email to the athletes or a plan going forward.” Lee said he was disappointed in the school’s lack of communication with the athletes when it comes to recent decisions. He said he found out about the suspension from the intramural sports site saying those sports were suspended before hearing a statement from the Athletic Department. King had the final say on the return to practices: “As a campus, we were starting to experience an uptick in general cases before the MNS cluster occurred and together with that group of cases occurring within a week, it was important to pause athletics, currently our most populated in-person group activity, for a few days and monitor both

situations as well as our quarantine housing capacity,” King said. This week, King said the testing results are more consistent with how they have looked throughout the semester. Taking that into account as well as the renewed emphasis on the COVID procedures for teams, Jacobs and King agreed they could re-engage with athletics. Moving forward, King said they will be requesting all students stay on campus and in the local community on weekends and avoid going home or visiting family and friends in their own communities. “We had several positive cases that were directly linked to students going home or interacting with family and friends on weekends during the first two weeks of October. With COVID beginning to rise again across the Northeast and the country, we will once again be urging students to stay local, not go home, stay in smaller stable groups and in support of the Governor – wear masks in almost every situation,” King said.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

As colder weather approaches, dining prepares for more students to head indoors Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor

The weather is getting colder and the dining tent has been removed from the Quad outside Commons. In order to minimize the number of students in Upper Commons, the large tent outside was meant to allow students to sit and eat in an open and safe environment. With the tent gone, dining employees are preparing for an influx of students indoors. The bistro in the School of Law will now be accepting meal swipes in order to spread out the number of students entering dining halls. It will be open Monday through Thursday from 4:307:30 p.m. beginning on Oct. 26. Orders can be placed on the GET app and picked up at the bistro. Takeout options will still be available from Upper Commons and the capacity will continue to be monitored. There are already plans in the works in case the number of people entering Upper Commons does increase. “If we begin to notice that guests trying to access the Upper Commons is higher than regulation limits, we plan

to increase the variety and amount of quick-service to-go items in order to move students through the café at a faster pace to maintain physicaldistancing and capacity conditions,” said James Gubata, general manager of dining. Gubata said the dining staff has been doing well with social distancing and sanitation regulations. He also says staff has transitioned well to the adjustments made in Upper and Lower Commons with the addition of plexiguards and changing self-serve areas. “Our sanitation and food-safe standards have always been in-depth and systematic so transitioning through COVID requirements has greatly been about reiterating those standards,” Gubata said. The dining team will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that students and staff are staying safe. There are no set plans yet for the tent going back up for the spring semester, but dining management will assess how the fall went and speak to Vice President of Student Life John King about the matter.

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hi everyone! Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Everett began our meeting with ideas for initiatives to promote dialogue and learning on campus. In terms of academics this year, she has a lot of great ideas in regards to engagement as well as promoting a diverse and inclusive campus environment. Make sure to check out the minutes for more! We also welcomed a new general senator this evening. Ashley Haryasz is excited and prepared with new ideas to bring to campus. The disc golf course is finally opening up! Your own frisbees and materials are required. In addition, remember to get your flu shots and check out the all-student email Vice President of Student Life John King sent out. It is required that you get your flu shot before moving in for the spring semester. As we begin to see more positive test results on campus, please remember to wear masks and adhere to proper social distancing and cleaning procedures. 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 HawkLink by clicking on our weekly meeting event. The Zoom link will be available as the location.

October 22, 2020

Students discuss their thoughts on voting in the upcoming election Amanda Plasse Herald Reporter The right to vote is considered a core right of citizenship in America. Since COVID-19 struck the nation, people are choosing to vote in a number of different ways. In a poll with 33 respondents, students at RWU shared how they will be casting their votes this year. 76% of the students surveyed will be utilizing mail-in voting, either through absentee or regular mail-in ballots. Despite any doubts, this is actually a safe option and accounts for less than 1% of voter fraud. 24% of student respondents said they would be voting in-person this November. The university usually has a polling station but was unable to do so this year due to the pandemic. The poll asked students what they think of this year’s election. There turned out to be a lot of similar responses, including statements like “Both candidates are bad,” “This election is more important than previous ones,” and “It’s sad and chaotic.” Based on the responses, it seems as though a lot of the students are afraid of the outcome, no matter who wins. Tensions are high and this election is putting a lot of stress on the students at RWU. In addition, this election looks rather different than any others, in the aspect that none of the candidates are following precedents

set forth by their predecessors. “I think this election is doing a poor job of representing how democracy should work because it’s supposed to be for and by the people,” said freshman Paloma Bellizzi. “I think this election is incredibly important as it will shape the future of the U.S. and each path that future could take is radically different from the other,” said junior Michaela Aptt. This election could possibly change the way in which the United States runs, for better or for worse, and no one really knows which candidate is going to represent the people in the way a president should. This doesn’t mean that people don’t believe one candidate is better than the other — it means that people don’t know what to believe. At this point, a lot of students believe they are simply choosing the lesser of two evils with whichever candidate they choose, instead of choosing a candidate they think is actually fit for the position. The All In Committee here at RWU, which is co-chaired by Student Body Secretary Adam Cavanaugh and Director of the Feinstein Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement K.C. Ferrara, has resources available that teach the RWU community about how to cast a ballot or register to vote. Free postage is available at the Mail Center to send in ballots.

ALL IN TIP OF THE WEEK Did you know that Election Day 2020 is technically already occurring? Tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots through early, mail-in and absentee voting. Don’t be left out of the democratic process this year! Help the All In Committee improve the past voter participation rate among students. In the last Presidential Election, only 47.5% of eligible students voted. That means that more than half of the eligible student body didn’t vote, even though 100% had a stake in the outcome! Let’s make history, Hawks! Cast your ballot and be heard this year! Visit rwu.edu/go/RWUvotes and turbovote.com for more information. #HawksVote #CivicScholar #AllIn #RWUaVoter

SECTION EDITOR

Luke Brennan lbrennan935@g.rwu.edu

SECTION MANAGER Connor Naples cnaples248@g.rwu.edu

OPINIONS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

October 22, 2020

POLITICAL HEAD-TO-HEAD Should the U.S. get involved in the Azerbaijan/Armenia conflict? 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 Ashlee Bartels Op-Ed Writer Unbeknownst to the majority of the world, the citizens of Armenia are facing an ethnic cleansing and genocide — an ethnic cleansing being the extermination of all Armenians from their homeland in a brutal conflict with Turkey. After an agreed ceasefire known as the Nagorno-Karabakh truce, the Turkish military began air raid attacks on Armenian civilian buildings including area hospitals and churches. On Oct. 17, Azerbaijan troops shot down an Armenian Su25 jet after Armenia launched a missile on the Azerbaijanian city of Ganja, killing 13 civilians. Since the ceasefire was broken, more than 670 people have died. Turkish President Recep Erdogan has since accused the U.S., Russia and France of providing support to Armenia since the violation of the ceasefire. There is certainly no argument that

Armenia is facing a humanitarian crisis that is in need of aid from the United States. Air travel has since been shut down in an attempt to prevent humanitarian supplies from reaching Armenia, an act meant to force “negotiations.” However, aid in times of war comes in a multitude of different ways. Humanitarian aid in the form of medical care and other such work enables the U.S. to get involved without placing its troops on foreign land. While Armenia is not a formal member of NATO, they are considered to be in positive relation and are involved in the Partnership for Peace program (PfP) which was designed to create an alliance between those in NATO and other countries in Europe, as well as the former Soviet Union, thus affording protection from those countries as well. Our country and our allies must stand with Armenia in its time of need.

The case for ranked choice voting Luke Brennan Opinions Editor The upcoming election has many people concerned, whether it’s the who people will vote for, the candidates themselves or the concern of voter suppression. Whatever it is, many people are unaware of the benefits of switching the voting system to what is called ranked choice voting. Ballotpedia gives a simple explanation of ranked choice voting: 1. Voters rank the candidates for a given office by preference on their ballots. 2. If a candidate wins an outright majority of first-preference votes (i.e., 50 percent plus one), he or she will be declared the winner. 3. If, on the other hand, no candidates win an outright majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is

eliminated. 4. All first-preference votes for the failed candidate are eliminated, lifting the second-preference choices indicated on those ballots. 5. A new tally is conducted to determine whether any candidate has won an outright majority of the adjusted voters. 6. The process is repeated until a candidate wins a majority of votes cast. While this system has already been implemented in certain towns and cities in the U.S., Maine is the only state to have implemented ranked choice voting at the state level. Two states, Alaska and Massachusetts, have ranked choice voting on the ballot in November. The Committee for Ranked Choice Voting argues that it “ensures that candidates with the most votes and broadest support win, so voters Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

republican Ainsley Iovanna Op-Ed Writer The region Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, is claimed by two separate countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia. In 1922, both Armenia and Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union. Despite the region being predominantly Armenian, the Soviets gave control over the area to Azerbaijan. The population in Artsakh remains heavily Armenian, with 99% of the country being ethnically Armenian, according to a 2015 census. In 1988, Artsakh’s legislature passed a resolution to join Armenia, despite their region being within Azerbaijan’s borders. This resolution has caused decades of fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia, with the most recent instance beginning on September 27, with hundreds of people killed since. NPR reports that Azerbaijani’s President said he intends to regain Artsakh by force, and their ally Turkey intends to help them, possibly by

recruiting Syrian mercenaries, but Turkey denies this. The U.S. has signed a joint statement with Russia and France condemning both sides for the escalation of violence, but the U.S. needs to do more. The U.S. should recognize Artsakh as a part of Armenia, which is how Artsakh wants to be recognized. Artsakh determined themselves to be Armenian in 1988, and their wishes should be honored by the rest of the world. In their eyes, they are not a part of Azerbaijan, yet Azerbaijan is determined to take Artsakh back without regard for how those in the region feel. While Artsakh does reside within Azerbaijan’s borders, that does not mean it belongs to Azerbaijan. They are a de facto independent state, with extremely close ties to Armenia, including using the same currency, the Armenian Dram. We should support Artsakh in their decision by stating we view them as a part of Armenia, since what the U.S. decides to do will affect how other countries react to this situation.

My Life as a Statue Ghostly Greetings Hawks, Look at all of you! You’ve made it halfway through the semester here at Roger Williams University, you should be proud. If I could, I would give you all a thumbs up. Now the air is getting cooler and the wind howls throughout the days. If I wasn’t stuck to a platform, I would have fallen over by now. Sometimes the leaves and small branches fall off the trees from the wind and then they hit my face and if there is rain, the leaves stick to my face; it is very annoying as I cannot take them off because of the whole being a statue thing. It’s almost Halloween and I am so excited. I love dressing up and I love seeing you all dress up. This year is going to be quite different but I hope you all can have fun while remaining safe. I’m used to staying in one place so social distancing hasn’t been a problem but I can imagine the changes you’ve had to make haven’t been easy. I can assure you that the changes you’re making are beneficial to everyone around you so as tempting as it may be to go out to parties for Halloween, I urge you to stay safe whether that is by staying in the dorms or by ensuring you practice social distancing wherever you may go. I hope Halloween can still feel as magical as it has in years past. I have big plans for October 31. Can you guess what they are? I will be standing in the D’Angelo Common the whole night. Quite surprising, I know. All jokes aside, I truly wish you the spookiest Halloween and hope you all have fun!

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

October 22, 2020

Over my dead body! Are you ready for Famous gravesites in Rhode Island

Wicked Week? “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Roger Williams” Amy Martin Features Editor

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Ida Lewis is buried in Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery. Her gravestone serves as a monument for her heroic acts as a lighthouse keeper.

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor H.P. Lovecraft - Providence In the spirit of Halloween, the list begins with horror author H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft was born in Providence in 1890, and he stayed in New England for the majority of his life, ultimately passing away in Providence in 1937. He is the creator of creatures such as Cthulhu, Azathoth, Yog-Sothoth and many others through his large collection of weird and horror fiction stories. His body is laid to rest at Swan Point Cemetery, located in Providence, Rhode Island. Mercy Brown - Exeter Another Halloween-themed grave is that of Mercy Brown, who died in 1892 at the age of 19. Her grave would not be anything special if it weren’t for the vampire hysteria that plagued New England in the early 1890s. Brown’s story begins with her brother Edwin who suffered from tuberculosis, which was unknown at the time and only referred to as consumption, which then also ravaged through the rest of the Brown family. The matriarch of the family passed away in 1883, followed by her 20-year-old daughter six months later. In the winter of 1892, 19-year-old Mercy Brown succumbed to the illness and passed. Edwin was still alive but barely, and his friends and family opted for a supernatural explanation of the illness once doctors could not help the dying boy. The townspeople began to conclude that Edwin’s mother, or one of his sisters, was not necessarily dead and actually a vampire. The people went to the cemetery and exhumed the bodies of Edwin’s mother and 20-year-old sister, expecting empty caskets, but they were greeted with the bones of the deceased. Next, they went to Mercy Brown’s casket and opened it to discover her body lying on its side, face flushed and blood in her heart and veins. They took this as proof that Mercy was a vampire so they took her heart and lungs and burned them. They then mixed the ashes with water and had Edwin drink the mixture. This, of course, had no effect on him and he

succumbed to tuberculosis two months later. Mercy Brown was not the first case of townspeople exhuming a family member’s body and burning the organs believing they were a vampire, but she was the last. Her grave is located in Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island. Ida Lewis - Newport Ida Lewis earned the title as “The Bravest Woman in America” during her 46-year tenure at the Lime Rock Light in Newport, Rhode Island. She was born in 1842 and, as a child, earned the reputation of being able to row faster than any man in Newport. She is known for saving 36 people from drowning starting at the age of 12. Her last time saving someone from drowning was at the age of 63. Her father had the official title of lighthouse keeper until his death and then Ida’s mother earned the title. When Ida’s mother died in 1879, Ida became the official lighthouse keeper. Ida passed in 1911 from a stroke but her memory lives on in Newport. She is buried at the Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island. Ann Franklin - Newport As the name suggests, Ann Franklin was the sister-in-law of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. However, she is much more than just Ben Franklin’s sister-in-law. Her husband, James, passed away in 1735, leaving Ann a widow at 39 years old. With his death, Ann inherited his print shop business. With very little money coming in, Ann petitioned to the General Assembly of Rhode Island and became the official printer for the Rhode Island colony. Later in life, Ann and her son started the Newport Mercury. When she was reaching her 60s, she tried to push the business toward her children but had to take over once again when all three passed early in life. In August of 1762, she became the only editor of the Newport Mercury, which made her the first female editor in the country. She held this responsibility until her death in April of 1763. She is buried at the Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island.

An annual week of spooky, Halloween fun is coming up next week! Who’s ready for Wicked Week, hosted by Campus Entertainment Network (CEN) and Where’s the Fun (WTF)? The week starts out on Monday, Oct. 26, with a costume contest cohosted with WTF. Students can either submit their Halloween costumes on Instagram to @rwucen, or stop by the CEN table wearing their costumes for a chance to win prizes! The Great Pumpkin Carve-Off, which is being co-sponsored by Habitat for Humanity is the next day on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Students can sign up for the pumpkin carving contest on HawkLink and join in on a live viewing of the classic movie”Halloweentown” from 7-9 p.m. Pumpkins and carving kits can be picked up at the CEN table the same day, and submissions of finished carvings can be sent to @rwucen on Instagram for voting in order to win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place prizes! On Wednesday, Oct. 28, CEN is hosting a Create Your Own Leaf Lantern event. Students can either join the organization in the Global Heritage Hall (GHH) Atrium from 8-9 p.m. to decorate their lanterns and eat some fall treats, or take their kits to go!

On Thursday, Oct. 29, CEN is hosting Swoop’s Spooktacular Scavenger Hunt! From 8-10 p.m., search the campus using the GooseChase app for a chance to win Hawk Dollars. The week will finish off with a Virtual Haunted House of the Winchester Mystery House in California on Friday, Oct. 30, which will be co-hosted with WTF, and a Halloween Carnival on Halloween! Check out the mechanical pumpkin, candy corn bowling and more in the D’Angelo Common from 3-6 p.m. Students should make sure they RSVP to any event they want to participate in. They can drop by the CEN Table Times outside the Rec Center between 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. throughout the week for any necessary supplies and information about the events. They can also pick up bags of candy when they stop by! “We want students to have a week full of fun and unique events,” the committee chairs of CEN said. “We hope to get students in the Halloween spirit with our theme ‘It’s the great pumpkin, Roger Williams.’” Wicked Week is jam-packed with spooky and autumnal activities to get students ready for Halloween, and they are definitely worth checking out! If students have any questions related to these events, they can send an email to cenrwu@gmail.com.

Spooky, scary Halloween decor ideas

Amy Martin Features Editor

Halloween is just around the corner! The time of scary movies, creepy costumes and yummy candy is approaching, but how many dorms are ready for it? Most of what makes Halloween spooky are the decorations. The night won’t be scary if the ambiance is off. However, nothing is spookier than overpriced decorations people will only use once a year. Luckily for students, they don’t need expensive items to make their dorms and apartments look scary. Dollar Tree is the best bet for cheap Halloween decor, and the store is stocked with a variety of trinkets and signs. However, Michaels also has a good stash of decorations for those who are willing to spend a little more

money for decor of better quality. The price difference is not too horrific, though! Now what does one do once they have all of these decorations? One idea is taking advantage of the long hallways of RWU’s apartments and suites. Students can make them into scary hallways by lining the ceiling with fake cobwebs, and then hiding plastic spiders and spooky lights within it. Students can take it a step further and place a speaker somewhere along the hallway to play eerie sounds or music. Hang a few more decorations along the walls, or whatever else students may have bought, then turn off the lights and boom — a spooky, scary Halloween hallway. Some simpler ideas are buying window stickers and covering the Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

SECTION EDITOR

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

SECTION MANAGER

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

SPORTS

October 22, 2020

Breaking the press

How coaches are dealing with recruiting during a pandemic Andrew Hart Sports Reporter “The obvious answer is that it’s really different,” said Kelly Thompson, head coach for the women’s basketball team, when asked about recruiting during a global pandemic. “We’ve had to really make adjustments on a grander scale, but also just week to week in some cases,” Thompson said. Technology has flexed its muscle when it comes to connecting with others in the time of a pandemic, and it has proven no different for coaches seeking out the next blue chip prospect to entice toward their program. Despite the unorthodox nature of this year’s recruiting process, some coaches are finding themselves in a better position than they would be under normal circumstances. ‘Weirdly enough, we are ahead of where we would normally be,” Thompson said.

Kelly Thompson Guest Writer

Thompson emphasized that she received an early commitment from a recruit and is awaiting decisions from two others — all before the first week of November, which under normal circumstances, is when the first game of the season would be played. While on a recent conference call with other women’s basketball coaches from across the country, Thompson noted the moment longtime University of Rochester Coach Jim Scheible asked if other coaches had been receiving more early commitments than normal. The response was overwhelming. “Every single coach in the call said ‘yes,’” Thompson said. Justin McKenna, an assistant coach for the men’s lacrosse team, echoed the same sentiment. “I actually think we’re a little bit ahead when it comes to juniors and sophomores… seniors we’re about on par where we usually are,” said McKenna, when referring to recruits in their high school classes. State to state travel restrictions and

concerns for personal health have left coaches unable to evaluate prospects in-person at practices, games and showcases as usual. Game film has come to play an even larger role in the recruiting process because of travel restrictions. “There are obviously a lot less inperson events. But there are in-person events and on the lacrosse side of things, we actually get film sent to us from those events [tournaments, showcases]. Those films are sent out with contact lists and master schedules,” McKenna said. Access to these types of films and contact lists are due to actions taken by the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, the governing body of college lacrosse, which made it mandatory for showcase events to distribute these resources to coaches. Additional restrictions put in place by the university have made it impossible for recruits to come to campus on official overnight visits, an important step in fully experiencing a day in the

life as an athlete at RWU. Some coaches have relied on technology to overcome this hurdle too. “We were really quick to jump on virtual recruiting sessions,” Thompson said. These meetings were designed for prospects interested in playing at RWU, while also offering an opportunity to meet current team members and coaches. Although recruits are not allowed on official overnight visits, they are still allowed to tour campus while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines imposed by the university. Despite the efforts coaches have made to attract athletes, some still seem to be closely examining their next moves on school and athletics due the fluidity of the pandemic. “We’ve seen that a lot, like outer region prospective student athletes are looking to stay closer to home due to COVID,” McKenna said. “We’ve had to get really creative, for sure,” Thompson said.

“I’m (Not) Good”

In this exclusive piece for The Hawks’ Herald, RWU Women’s Basketball Coach Kelly Thompson reflects on how COVID-19 has taken its toll on her, student-athletes and the athletics program at the university. Three days a week, I sit in my partitioned cubicle in the Field House to administer COVID-19 tests to members of the RWU community. With every person who walks in, so follows the typical pleasantries, most frequently, “How are you?” Each time I’m asked, I respond with “good.” Well, the truth is, I’m not good. The truth is, I’m not okay. I don’t think our student-athletes are either. Just like the rest of the country, the college athletic world shut down on March 12, 2020. Seasons ended early, some before they even started. Seniors who would never get one last chance to win a championship, or even practice with their teammates. Unfinished business of the worst kind. We have all experienced disappointments because of COVID. Missed milestones, canceled events

and a completely altered way of life as we trudge forward. Some have had to wonder how their loved ones were doing in the hospital or experience the heartbreak of losing someone to this terrible virus. That perspective is not lost on me. I have a job (for now), a home and my family is healthy. I know I’m luckier than a lot of people. When I think of that, I feel guilty for not feeling “good.” But what I’ve learned is that you can feel lucky and shitty at the same time. It is hard to earn a spot on a college athletics team. In most of the sports sponsored by the NCAA, less than five percent of high school athletes will go on to play at the collegiate level. Harder still is making it through all four years. The challenges go far beyond the physical — student-athletes are expected to be socially, mentally and emotionally accountable. Not to mention balancing the “student” with the “athlete.” But they do it, and here at Roger Williams, most of them do it incredibly well. They are leaders in their craft, but also in demonstrating resilience, teamwork and work ethic. Ultimately, they are so passionate about their sport, that the sacrifices they make in other areas of their lives are worth it. When you’re a college student-

athlete, in many ways, you feel like your sport defines you. Your friends are your teammates. Your schedule will always include something to do with or for your team. Your food, exercise and social choices impact your performance and ultimately your team’s performance. You become so invested in the collective team goal — whether it’s making the playoffs or winning a championship — that in some ways it consumes your life. You think about it in the morning when you wake up and when you go to sleep at night. Falling short of your goals is devastating. In some ways, coaches are just grownup student-athletes. We love our sport so much we made it our profession. Like our athletes, we set goals and dedicate our lives to our program. We sacrifice time with our loved ones to develop our Hawk family. For me, coaching is mostly about the women I coach. They become extensions of my family. I have a love for them that is second only to my own children. When they hurt, I hurt. Right now, I see them hurting. Like the rest of the students at RWU, they are happy to be back on campus but struggling with the new class format. They’re adjusting to not being able to hang out with their friends in the same

way or eat a meal without worrying about contracting COVID. But they also are missing their sport. Sure, we can practice. But practicing with a fraction of your teammates four times a week with no games in sight is not the same as preparing for a season. Not to mention the masks — I’m over here huffing and puffing when I walk up the Rec Center ramp, and my players are completing full two-hour basketball practices without complaint. Like I said before, resilient. Not knowing if we will play games is unbearable. The waiting is excruciating. We search for any information we can get, speculate about what might happen and dwell on rumors. As a coach, I’m trying to prepare them — and to be honest, I’m not sure if I should be preparing them for games or disappointment. I see tears in the eyes of my seniors any time we are outside of practice because even the thought of our season being canceled crushes them. I look at my underclassmen and wonder if we will have the chance to see their growth from a year ago. I ache when I think about the possibility of not getting the chance to reach our goals with this team. Sure, most of us Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

October 22, 2020

EDITORIAL: Zoom breakout rooms: An uncomfortable attempt to fill an inevitable void “So I’m going to put you in breakout rooms now,” you hear your professor say via your Zoom class. It’s a statement we on the RWU campus, as well as students on campuses around the country, have heard by now. They have basically become second nature to us college students. By this point, some of us are dreading every second of going into breakout rooms, with our cameras off, muted, not looking forward to sitting in awkward silence with classmates while we stare at one another’s names on the screen. Depending on the course, there might be some students who actually have their cameras on and are ready to lead a discussion with their fellow classmates, enjoying the virtual socialization. But who looks forward to entering a breakout room where no one wants to say the first word? Who is excited to be placed in a breakout room with three other students when none of the students feel like interacting with each other, other than to say “I’ll just paste what I wrote in the chat.” When it comes time for the breakout room, the only reason some of us are thankful is because we get a small break from the class discussion, to laugh and say “So, what are we supposed to be doing? or

“Are you just as confused as I am? Okay good.” Depending on the day and type of person you are, you may switch back and forth between loving and hating breakout rooms. We understand why professors are utilizing them and realize there aren’t great options for replicating that discussion we long for

during these times. But we also realize that in-person conversation isn’t meant to be replicated, and the void in interaction is unfortunately inevitable. Some might say Zoom breakout rooms have proven to be effective, but with our experience of low energy and too much awkward silence, we believe they have not.

Courtesy of Roger Williams University Zoom breakout rooms seem like a good idea in theory, but with low participation, they don’t seem very effective and can’t really make up for face to face interaction.

THE HAWKS’ HERALD The student newspaper of Roger Williams University

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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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 Emily Dvareckas Isabella Gentile

In the Aug. 27 issue, a chart on new restrictions said the number of students allowed in classrooms was limited to 15. This limit only applies to personal or group social gatherings, not formally approved events or teaching instruction. 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 Amanda Plasse Andrew Hart

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

Tips for telling a scary ghost story

Courtesy of Stefano Pollio | Unsplash Scary ghost stories are a staple of Halloween and telling a good one can leave listeners feeling like they just watched a horror movie.

Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor If you’re going to share a spooky ghost story that will make everyone in the room check under their beds before they go to sleep, there are a few key tactics you can implement into your tall tale. Be sure to follow these top storytelling tips so everyone listening to you will have to sleep with the lights on. Pick a spooky place Of course, the ultimate area to share scary stories is around a campfire since every rustle and twig snap in the woods makes people jump. If you are unable to gather around a fire this Halloween, try creating a spooky scene within your apartment or dorm room. Have your guests gather in a circle or sit on couches and dim the lighting. If you’re feeling especially brave, completely turn off the lights and use only a flashlight as your light source for the maximum level of spookiness. Use the basis of a true story You don’t have to follow a particular memory but be sure to keep your story grounded to reality so people believe it actually happened. Taking an experience and adding some creepy characters will make the story easier to remember and tell while also giving the tale a human/supernatural vibe. Maybe you remember a time you were home alone and you heard a noise upstairs; that noise could very well be the new ghost of your story. Don’t rush the story The worst thing you can do with a ghost story is tell it too quickly. Let the fear and suspense take over your listeners as they settle into their seats. While telling your tale, you should

be able to play off your audience’s reactions to see if you need to quicken the pace or take it nice and slow. Make sure you leave them with goosebumps! Tell the story like it just happened When sharing your spooky lore, keep the story in the present tense. Using the present tense will make the story more pressing and immediate. People tend to be more scared of things that are in the present and not the past because the past creates this perception of being far away. As a result, your listeners will feel safe and out of the hands of a creepy mysterious being when really you want to be doing the opposite. Practice! Practice! Practice! If you want to pull off a good ghost story, you need to know what you’re going to say ahead of time. You’ve heard it in school, and you’re going to hear it again: practice! Use a mirror to rehearse your story so you don’t forget the key points. After you feel confident in your story, incorporate facial expressions and nuances to your voice that will help grab your audience’s attention. Additionally, acting anxious will keep your listeners on the edge of their seats, causing them to squirm with anticipation of what is about to come. End with a cliffhanger Leaving your listeners with a “what’s next?” thought will leave them thinking about your story long after it’s finished. A person’s imagination is full of creativity, so play into this by alluding to how your mysterious ghost or being is still prowling the Earth. People will naturally come up with the “what if I’m next?” thought, and if that’s the case, they will just be scaring themselves.

October 22, 2020

Have yourself a horror movie marathon

Veronica Rodriguez Herald Reporter

Hello Hawks! Are you ready for Halloween this year? No matter how you’re feeling this fall season, October is the perfect month to have a horror movie marathon. Be warned: some of these movies contain gore and should be watched at the viewer’s discretion. Let’s start with the classics, dating far back to when your parents were teenagers who were also looking for movies to send chills down their spine and make goosebumps rise on their skin. Check out films like “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Psycho,” “Friday the 13th,” the “Halloween” series and more. Additionally, “The Silence of the Lambs” is sure to thrill; it came out in 1991 and brought the name Hannibal Lecter to infamy. “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage,” released in 1970, is next on the list. This is a more suspenseful film as the character in the movie, Sam Dalmas, leaps into an investigation of an infamous serial killer after he sees a strange figure trying to commit a murder. He must avoid becoming a victim himself. From 1998 comes “Disturbing Behavior,” which can be described as a cult film. The horror movie relies a lot on the overall mystery of a town called Cradle Bay, where every student in the clique known as the Blue Ribbon appears to be a poster child of excellence and perfection. Steve Clark, the town’s newcomer, pairs up with Rachel to dig out the truth about the Blue Ribbons.

A more recent release comes from 2002 with “Crazy as Hell.” The movie features an interesting plot, with psychiatrist Ty Adams going to film a documentary at Sedah State Mental Hospital. After an exciting run-in, he starts treating a man with a mysterious background. The man claims that he is the devil and throughout the film, he continues to appear as an all-knowing person or a creature. This leads to Dr. Adams, his psychiatrist, having to reconsider his entire outlook on life with an interesting twist at the end. In recent years, horror films such as “Get Out,” “The Cabin in the Woods” and “Us” have been successes in the entertainment world. In 2019, “In the Tall Grass” showed a curiously interesting story of a brother and sister entering a field of grass to rescue a young boy, but with deaths taking place it could not be ignored that there was something mysteriously sinister lurking within the tall grass. “Nocturne” and “#Alive,” released this year, are also full of thrilling surprises that you won’t want to miss. A horror movie marathon for Halloween would not be complete without the movies most of us remember from our childhood: “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Corpse Bride,” “Coraline,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Beetlejuice,” “9” and so many more. Whether you’re looking for real scares, horrific imagery, a suspenseful thriller or hoping to bask in the nostalgic trauma of youth, The Hawk’s Herald wishes you a terrifying horror movie marathon night!

PHOTO CLUB WINNER:

Alexandra Lindell

THEME: FOOD

8 Spooky BOOze HOT HITS:

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

October 22, 2020

DIY drinks (Non-alcoholic and with liquor)

Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager

It’s the most haunting season of the year, and now is the perfect time to concoct some fun, new DIY drinks. Whether you are of age or are just looking for new beverage recipes to try, here are some spooky booze drinks to make for yourself – but beware: these refreshments could be terrifyingly delicious!

POISON APPLE

WITCHES’ BREW

Ingredients 1/3 cup apple cider 1/3 cup cranberry juice 2 ounces Fireball (Optional for 21+) 1 ounce grenadine 1/4 teaspoons edible gold glitter Ice cubes

Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 8 medium kiwifruits, peeled and quartered 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves 1 cup vodka (Optional for 21+) 1 liter ginger ale, chilled Ice cubes

COCKTAILS

Monster mash Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor

How to use special effects makeup for your 2020 Halloween costume Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor Looking to step up your Halloween game this Oct. 31? Sure, we’re still practicing social distancing and you can’t show off your creative costume to everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress up with your friends and still have a good time. If you’re looking to keep the cost low on your costume this year, try working with special effects makeup (SFX) that will give you a spooky glow and scare away all campus ghosts. SFX makeup is cosmetics used to create special effects, usually for the camera or live-action theater. People also enjoy using it for Halloween makeup to create blood, wounds and other creepy things that make people jump. Being able to do a good job with SFX makeup can be difficult and take a lot of time. However, if you’re patient and learn how to use the tools properly, you may be the next winner in a Halloween contest. Angelique Rivera, a junior at RWU, has been using SFX makeup since her sophomore year of high school. She became interested in it after attending haunted houses and fright fests as a kid. In talking about her experience with SFX makeup, she mentioned the importance of easing your way into it. “Practice beforehand and watch

PLEASE RECYCLE

tutorials to find and learn techniques to help,” Rivera said. As a beginner, using scar wax to create small scars, warts, wounds and different nose shapes will be the easiest options. Individuals who are more experienced with SFX makeup may want to advance their techniques by using the makeup for things that involve covering the mouth, hair and eyes. When shopping for SFX makeup, Ben Nye products are the best materials to use. This professional brand was founded by a legendary Hollywood makeup artist who created quality color cosmetics so people off the screen could have fun using makeup to sculpt themselves into someone or something else. Ben Nye makeup can be ordered online, so be sure to order soon to get it for Halloween. In addition to makeup, sculpting tools, sponges and foundation that matches your skin color are a must. These products can be picked up at CVS, Target, Walmart or any other store selling cosmetics. If you’re having trouble coming up with an idea on what to do with your SFX makeup, check out some tutorial videos that will not only help you come up with cool ideas but allow you to practice your skills. You can also browse through Pinterest for inspiration. Happy Halloween!

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