The Hawks' Herald | Oct. 8, 2020 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 6 FREE

Remembering Dean Robert Potter

Cluster of RWU community mourns loss of longtime SECCM dean COVID-19 cases prompts temporary dining venue closures on campus

With eight employees in quarantine, remaining staff will be consolidated to central areas Isabella Gentile Editor-in-Chief

Courtesy of Roger Williams University School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management (SECCM) Dean Bob Potter spent 21 years at RWU, serving 20 years as dean. He passed away on Oct. 7.

Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor The university community was informed on Oct. 7 that the Dean of the School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management (SECCM), Robert Potter, passed away early that morning, due to injuries sustained in a fatal car crash. Potter had recently announced he would be retiring at the end of the academic year after working at the university for 21 years. He served as dean for 20 years as well as the general manager for the RWU club hockey team. During his tenure, Potter held various other positions, such as interim provost for a time. “Dean Potter was a most impressive leader, not only for SECCM, but for the university, having been interim provost several years ago during a challenging time for the university,” said Susan Bosco, associate provost for academic affairs. “A true organizational citizen, he was also a generous colleague, always willing to have a conversation and take the time to listen. Dean Potter will be missed by so many — students — especially the hockey players, alumni, faculty, staff and fellow administrators.

His honesty and forthright demeanor were well known and respected. Personally, I will miss our parking lot encounters at the end of the day. He always had something amusing to share before heading home.” The news has shocked and saddened the campus community. Some professors in the school of engineering spent yesterday reflecting on Potter’s life and legacy at the school. He worked to get the new SECCM building and labs constructed and made the construction management program top-ranked nationally. “We are heartbroken for his wife and family who were looking forward to many more wonderful years with him once he retired,” Bosco said. “Even though I never had a class with Dean Potter, he always made conversation with me, this semester especially. I’m usually doing homework in the lab building in between classes and I’d usually see him. He would always ask me how I was doing and make sure everything was good in my life. I really enjoyed and looked forward to him strolling in the lab building saying ‘good morning,’” said Erica Dube, a junior engineering major. “Even after the class, he made

conversation with me about how electromagnetics was the same as heat transfer and radiation. This was so amazing, to see him trying to connect what seems like such different topics but when it comes down to it in theory it’s all the same. He will be missed very dearly [by] everyone in the engineering department. We will work harder in his light as he always insisted us to do,” Dube said. “He was an unbelievable man of great character. He seemed to remember everyone he crossed paths with and always wanted to make sure his students were happy,” said senior engineering major Chris Ruppert. Junior engineering major Olivia Chesney remembers the late dean fondly. “Dean Potter was an amazing person. He truly went above and beyond to make our voices, as engineering students, heard and supported. He made strong relationships with students and faculty, making this a great loss to a lot of people,” Chesney

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POTTER

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The Hawks’ Nest and School of Law Bistro will be closed for the next two weeks so dining staff can consolidate into central food venues on campus, as eight employees must quarantine after two positive COVID-19 cases were found among dining and retail staff members. “These cases warrant a deeper explanation and campus advisory on the effect that personal, off-campus behavior is having on our campus operations, whether by employees or students,” said RWU Chief of Staff Brian Williams in an all-student email announcing the closures on Oct. 7. Three new positive test results, all from staff members, were recorded on RWU’s COVID-19 Data Hub as of the night of Oct. 6. Williams said the university’s surveillance testing identified staff positive cases that included two dining/retail employees who live together and both contracted the virus off-campus. Both of these employees are now isolated at home. Aside from tracing through the Rhode Island Department of Health, Williams said the university has conducted its own thorough internal contact tracing investigation, which is what led to eight dining staff members being asked to quarantine for the next 14 days. With The Hawks’ Nest and School of Law Bistro closed, remaining staff members will be consolidated to prioritize operations at Upper and Lower Commons, Baypoint, GHH and

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SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

RWU ranked No. 31 in university ranking list

Adam Zerman Business Manager

U.S. News and World Report recently put out its 2021 college and university ranking list. On their lists, Roger Williams University ranked No. 31 among 176 universities in the northern region. However, that ranking comes in at a tie with Suffolk University and Salve Regina University. “I think it is amazing that we are ranked 31. RWU is a smaller school that not many people know about outside the East Coast. We’ve got great programs and everyone at this university works so hard to make this school a great place,” said junior Justine Monsell. In the ranking for best value schools, RWU came in at 52 out of 73 schools. “I’m honored to go to a school ranked that [high],” said sophomore Joshua Rowlands. “Roger Williams offers a wide variety of programs for its students to study. Most of their programs are fantastic and well run. I came to this school specifically for [its] international business program which not a lot of schools offer. While getting my degree, I’ve been able to explore other

aspects of the business world as well,” Monsell said. “RWU is dedicated to helping their students achieve their educational goals by giving us resources and experience. With the

“RWU is dedicated to helping their students achieve their educational goals by giving us resources and experience.” - Justine Monsell school having a lower population, it is easier for students to connect with professors one on one and they help them to understand the material. Smaller classes allow people to feel more comfortable among peers and ask more questions.” Last year, RWU advanced 15 spots to rank No. 28 on U.S. News and World Report’s rankings list for best regional universities in the North. The university remained on the list for best value schools in this year’s report.

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hello everyone! This week, the Student Senate worked together to amend a constitutional bill regarding the basis for an emergency election. We also passed a bill appointing Michael Arel to the Student Senate. Congratulations Mike! There will be no Senate meeting next week, but following that we will be introducing another new Senator. Stay tuned! Next week, rather than a Student Senate meeting, the Student Senate and MSU have invited the Sagamore Winds of Thunder of the Pokanoket Nation and Lorén Spears, executive director of the Tomaquag Indigenous Museum and award-winning Narragansett educator, for a virtual event titled “Indigenous in Rhode Island: Reflections on Courage and Community” at Roger Williams University. Please stop by! As always, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ 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.

October 8, 2020

POTTER

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said. “He was more than just a dean. He was a role model, educator and friend who cared about people whole-heartedly.” “Just last week, I remember seeing him hanging a picture frame in the new SECCM Labs with a group of students. The picture was of two construction workers on top of the new building, while it was under construction, holding up an American flag. He was the epitome of the word educator, pushing so we could have up to date technology and better learning experiences,” Chesney said. “He also cared about his students as people. While observing him hang up this picture, I picked up on banter going back and forth between the dean and students. Little moments like this are what made Dean Potter him. I will forever be grateful that I got the opportunity to meet and share many moments like these with him. May he rest in peace as he will be dearly missed.” RWU’s Society of Women Engineers shared fond thoughts about Potter on their Instagram page: “Dean Potter always filled the room with enthusiasm and passion when he taught. He was always so helpful inside and outside the classroom.” Members of the RWU hockey team were also shocked by the news, writing the following in a tribute statement on Twitter: “Known by the hockey team as Dr. P, Bob was loved by all who knew him. Dr. P was a driving force behind the hockey program and we owe all of our success to his dedication to the program.” There is no news yet on the search for another SECCM dean as the school is taking time to grieve this unexpected loss.

DINING

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C-Store in North Campus Residence Hall. Williams said the university will monitor COVID testing results for the quarantined dining employees, ensuring they follow all protocols before returning to work. He said this occurrence might raise concerns about food handling amid the pandemic but that safety of dining operations remains a top priority. “We continue to execute on all of the proper safety precautions for food handling and food distribution, as well as additional COVID-19 measures such as separating staff from students behind a plexiglass barrier, wearing gloves and face masks at all times,” Williams said. Though he wants students to feel safe regarding dining practices, Williams said it is important to note that offcampus behavior is just as key as oncampus actions in terms of university operations. “While compliance with our safety protocols such as wearing masks has been excellent across campus, we have experienced recent employee and student cases over the last two weeks demonstrating that the health safety precautions in our homes, with family members, and in personal interactions off campus must be at least as rigorous as the way we practice prevention on campus,” Williams said. Williams said RWU has done well so far but emphasized that members of the campus community must continue to be vigilant and make smart choices at all times, keeping health safety protocols in mind. “Please do your part. Please make sure these recent cases stand as a onetime occurrence and not the start of a pattern of concern,” Williams said. “The consequences and impact on our campus community are too great to not do so.”

ALL IN TIP OF THE WEEK Absentee ballots allow voters the ability to cast a ballot for the full ticket without travelling to a physical polling place. Each state has various deadlines for requesting and submitting your ballot. For specific information on your state’s rules, go to the website for your town clerk or secretary of state. RWU is now offering free postage for requesting or returning absentee ballots in the Mail Center. The All In Committee was formed with the goal of increasing voter engagement and education at Roger Williams University. For more information on the All In Committee, visit rwu.edu/go/votes. #RWUVotes #AllInToVote #HawksVote

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 8, 2020

Life imitating art

“It’s Chaos, Be Kind:” Managing your anxiety The evolution of parody during a pandemic

Luke Brennan Opinions Editor

Oscar Wilde once said, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” In some respects, that is an exaggeration, but anyone who saw last week’s presidential debate knows that statement can be all too true, especially in 2020. Watching two old, white men hurl insults and interrupt each other every five seconds did not inspire much pride for American democracy. Unsurprisingly, the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL) opened its season premiere with a parody of the debate. President Trump was once again portrayed by Alec Baldwin. His portrayal has been an SNL regular since 2016, winning him a Primetime Emmy in 2017 and another nomination the following year. Former Vice President Joe Biden was portrayed by actor Jim Carrey for the first time. Moderator Chris Wallace was played by regular SNL cast member, Beck Bennett. The sketch starts with a disclaimer about the debate that ends with “It was pretty funny to watch. As long as you don’t live in America.” From there, Chris Wallace (Bennett) looks to the camera and says “Good evening, I’m your moderator Chris Wallace and I think I’m gonna do a really, really good job tonight.” The sketch pokes fun at many aspects of the candidates’ behavior during the debate, such as President Trump’s constant interrupting and Biden’s closing statement in which he talks directly to the camera and says “the American people,” which followed him literally “pausing” President Trump with a remote control.

While Baldwin and Carrey’s impressions were very funny, they still managed to conduct themselves with more respect and subtlety than the candidates they were portraying. For example, the sketch made no mention of Trump’s attack on Biden’s son Beau, a remark many people felt crossed the line. Wallace’s performance as a moderator, however, was more effective in the parody than in the real debate. Any longtime viewers of Saturday Night Live know that presidential debates have been a cornerstone of SNL’s episodes during election years. I recently watched their sketch parodying the 1988 presidential debate between Governor Michael Dukakis (played by Jon Lovitz) and former President George H.W. Bush (played by Dana Carvey.) I was shocked to see how different this sketch was from the Biden/Trump one. While both candidates were mocked for their idiosyncrasies, it was far, far, FAR less dramatic than the trainwreck we witnessed at this year’s debate. There was no interrupting from either candidate nor were there personal attacks on the other’s family. The most off-color line was Bush responding to a question about his involvement in Iran-Contra, to which he replied “First of all, I didn’t know the Iran sale was going to the Contras, I was told the money was going for the bombing of abortion clinics.” While that joke might have seemed offensive in 1988, it would have been little more than an afterthought if we heard Alec Baldwin say it, especially considering Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

Luke Brennan Opinions Editor 2020 has given us no shortage of reasons to be anxious: the coronavirus, wildfires, police brutality and of course, the upcoming election. One of the hardest things for people living with anxiety to accept is the fact that there are going to be situations in life that are out of their control. The important thing to remember is that even if the situation is out of your control, there are steps you can take to reduce your anxiety. It’s fair to say there are many reasons to be anxious about the coronavirus, whether it’s someone close to you getting infected, or even dying or you getting infected yourself. Although we have learned about precautionary measures we can take to avoid getting infected, there is still the fear that we or someone we care about will be diagnosed with COVID-19. Here are some helpful tips to manage your anxiety during this pandemic. First, and this might be hard for some of you: GET. OFF. TWITTER. If you’ve been on Twitter even once, you know it is not exactly a positive environment. In fact, studies have shown that it can greatly increase your anxiety, as it is filled with toxic and downright mean content. While I am not suggesting avoiding Twitter entirely, your mental health will benefit tremendously from setting time limits for how long you can be on Twitter on a given day. You can use that time instead to decompress and engage in some stress-relieving activities, whatever those may be. It can be listening to music, reading a

book, or simply just talking to friends (not followers). I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but deep-breathing exercises really will help you calm down, especially if you’re in the middle of an anxiety attack. WebMD is a tremendous resource for deep-breathing exercises, as well as stress relief in general. Of course, none of these options are guaranteed to work, as there is always the chance of anxiety creeping its way into your mind. When you feel anxiety sneaking up on you, here are a few key phrases to say to yourself: “I’ve done well. I don’t have to be perfect. Look how far I’ve come. This will pass. I’ve been through worse.” I understand how overwhelming anxiety can feel, as can many of you, as well as how all of 2020 has almost felt like one big panic attack. However, like the phrase above, it will pass. By the time you read this, we will be 13 weeks out from the end of 2020. We don’t know what kind of world we will be in by the time Jan. 1, 2021 rolls around, but worrying about what “could happen” accomplishes nothing, I promise you. As my mother often says, “there are a lot of things that could happen, but only one thing that will happen,” and she’s absolutely right. Instead of worrying about things that might happen, concentrate on living in the present and being your best self. As crazy and unpredictable as the world is right now, remember that we’re all in this together, and now more than ever, we should treat each other with respect. I will leave you with the words of the late true crime author Michelle McNamara: “It’s chaos, be kind.”

Is there really a need for taxes?

Connor Naples Opinions Manager

Ayn Rand, a heavily influential Libertarian author, survivor of communist genocide in Soviet Russia and political philosopher from the 1950s and 1960s, brought up an interesting idea that caught my eye when I read her book, “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.” In one of her numerous essays, she makes the following statement: “When I say ‘capitalism,’ I mean pure, uncontrolled, unregulated laissezfaire capitalism — with the separation of state and economics, in the same way, and for the same reasons as the separation of the state and church.”

She goes further on to explain that theists or non-theists are buyers (in relation to her separation of state and church analogy) of religious ideologies and irreligious ideologies. The clergy are the sellers and the believers/nonbelievers are the buyers. In the case of the separation of the state and economics, the sellers would be the government and the buyers would be its citizens. This is under the assumption that no completely free-market economy has ever existed, which is essentially true. Taxes are, in essence, a form of oppression if this analogy holds true. They hold a citizen accountable for being a reliable and active member of its community (i.e.

to be held liable for not committing a crime and to continuously be enslaved to the industrial media-voting machine complex). What if someone doesn’t believe in taxes and doesn’t want to be part of the “community?” That’s where the term oppression comes in handy. One could say that taxes are an organized form of robbery, from a crime syndicate that has the source of the government. I personally believe both taxes and the government are of this nature. Should you be taxed into oblivion as politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders suggest, to give a greater balance in income inequality? Taxation is not worth the price we pay, literally and figuratively.

If we had a 100%, completely unregulated economy, then businesses would flourish. Some small businesses, if not most, cannot even survive on the current taxation system that the state places on us. America calls itself the “land of the free,” but are we upholding our potential? I don’t think we are. To get rid of taxes would mean to get rid of most things that we find convenient, of which in a better world, we could probably do ourselves, even without state funding. Practicing self-sufficiency and many other selftaught things would benefit our socalled “society” as a whole. We can live without taxes. So what’s holding us back?

SECTION EDITOR

Amy Martin amartin052@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES October 8, 2020

Animal of the Week

RWU’s favorite campus companion: Raccoons Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor By now, many students have become familiar with the local celebrity on campus, Brittany the Raccoon. Whether they’ve seen her in person or on the Barstool Instagram page, Brittany and her family are beloved staples of the Bristol campus. The raccoons seemed to develop a liking to the dumpsters behind Bayside and can be spotted munching on some trash after the sun goes down. Raccoons are native to North America and groups of them are referred to as a nursery; they most often inhabit dens that are located in trees or caves. These masked eye creatures are omnivores and prefer grasshoppers or berries but will devour whatever they can get their little hands on, which is why they are so fond of trash cans and dumpsters. These grayish colored creatures can be between seven and 20 pounds and often live an average of two to three

years in the wild, but can grow as old as 16. Raccoons are relatively solitary creatures throughout the year until breeding season which occurs in the first six months of the year. Mother raccoons have a gestation period of two months and give birth to three to seven baby raccoons on average. The babies will stay with their mother through the winter and then leave in the spring. Raccoons are adorable creatures and it can be tempting to get up close to the little bandits but it is strongly urged not to get too close. Raccoons are rather calm animals and are mindful of the humans around them but will become aggressive once they feel as though they have been provoked. It is important to remember that raccoons are known carriers of rabies and roundworm. Brittany and her species are quite fast on their feet and can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. They can also survive a fall from 40 feet above the ground.

Club Spotlight:

Add Nothing

Amy Martin Features Editor

From engaging games to exciting field trips, the Add Nothing Club at RWU provides students substance-free ways to have fun on and off-campus. In meetings, the club usually plans trips for members and tries to go on at least a couple a month. Depending on the budget and the number of members, they can go out on small trips, like bowling or apple picking, or on larger trips, like go-karting or the aquarium. The club is led by President Rebecca Holliday, Vice President Katie Shaw, Secretary Monaye Hinds and Treasurer Cody Bellucci. Meetings are held every Monday at 6 p.m. online on Zoom, where the first half is dedicated to updating members about trips, as well as helping plan future ones. The second half of the meeting is dedicated to playing games and hanging out. However, if a student is unable to attend, they can still join for trips. “We hope our members are able to

find a group of friends and a place they can go where they can just come and hang with people, and go on fun trips,” Shaw said. “It’s a fun place to make memories with good people.” Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the club has gone all online for now. During the online meetings, there is little to discuss for trip updates and such. However, officers are keeping their members posted about any news regarding holding in-person meetings. “Since our whole club is about getting off-campus and this semester all offcampus travel is not allowed, we are trying to find new things to do on campus while following guidelines,” Shaw said. As of now, there are discussions of holding in-person meetings for the club. Instead of a trip, the club hopes it can host a fun activity outside for students.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Brittany the Raccoon had some fine dining at the Bayside dumpsters.

“Fetch” may not be happening, but these National Days sure are Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor National Pasta Day Pasta lovers rejoice! Oct. 17 has been deemed National Pasta Day — a day to appreciate this delicious starch. Pasta is a food that can be eaten at any time of day, in any form, whether that is the shape of the pasta or the dish. Pasta is a universal comfort food that serves as a staple of college student life.

National Pumpkin Day A rather easy national holiday to guess is National Pumpkin Day, which falls on Oct. 26. This comes just in time for Halloween and gives a perfect opportunity to carve a Jack-O-Lantern for the days that follow. Carving isn’t the only thing a pumpkin is good for — the seeds can be baked and eaten or a puree can be created to add pumpkin flavor to any dish.

National Cat Day National Art Day Not that art needs a specific date to be celebrated, but as most things do, art has its own nationally recognized day. Oct. 25 is the day of Pablo Picasso’s birth, so it seems fitting to celebrate the beauty he and so many others have created. National Art Day can be celebrated by admiring artwork in everyday life or can serve as a day to take out the paintbrushes and paint away.

Another important national day is National Cat Day. Oct. 29 has been deemed the day to celebrate the lovable, furry companion that rules over the Internet. This day was probably created by cats themselves as a way to get extra treats and extra pets. Cats are beloved members of the families they rule over and deserve a day to be held up on a pedestal. It also gives cat owners a great excuse to fill everyone’s timelines with pictures of their cats.

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 8, 2020

Edwards prepares himself and the men’s soccer team for spring season Kristen Dansereau Sports Manager

Courtesy of Connor Edwards Senior captain Connor Edwards on a break away during a game.

Connor Edwards, born in Macclesfield, England, is the senior captain of Roger Williams University’s varsity men’s soccer team. He moved to Deerfield, Massachusetts in 2005 when he was around six years old. All sports at RWU have experienced a change in their seasons due to COVID-19. Athletes are required to wear masks at all times, including during practice, where they have been restricted to playing in pods. A pod is a group of athletes on a team that is placed together for a predetermined period of time for health and safety precautions. Individuals in these pods are required to use the same equipment each practice and only play with each other to limit possible exposure. Edwards said the team will soon be able to practice together and eliminate pods. Men’s soccer is utilizing the modified fall season to better the competitiveness of the team.

“The team has adapted well to our current situation,” Edwards said. “It is weird having practice in the fall but no competitive games, but we are taking this fall as a large preseason for the upcoming competitive spring season.” With the season pushed back, the team is working hard to maintain a competitive mindset. As captain, he had to adjust his ideas for team bonding because they targeted an increase in team-building activities outside of practices this fall — social distancing rules didn’t comply with those plans. “It is hard on the guys not having a season because we have been working so hard for this season. For it not to happen hurts,” Edwards said. “Over the summer, I would go on runs every morning as well as play pickup soccer with my housemates and teammates after work. My house also converted our garage into a little makeshift gym so that we weren’t missing out on weights when the gyms were closed.” If given the choice, Edwards said he would choose RWU all over again,

describing it as an enjoyable and life changing experience that he wouldn’t change even if he could. He said the ups and downs helped shape who he has become. He credits a major part of his positive experience at the school to being an athlete on a team that became like family to him. “Being a part of a team is very special, as you are surrounded by guys who have the same passions and goals as you do,” Edwards said. “When you surround yourself with those kinds of people, only positive things can come from it.” Edwards would advise underclassmen on the team to work hard on and off the field. “We are student-athletes and that mentality must be at the forefront of their minds,” Edwards said. “Along with that, I would say just to keep a positive mindset with everything they do. Not everything is going to go their way and that is completely fine. They must learn to overcome challenges and I have no doubt they can do that.”

For the love of the game Freshman volleyball player overcomes obstacles to play the sport she loves

Megan Julian Sports Editor “I was always very athletic and energetic as a child and I tried many different sports, but I could never find one that I really loved,” said Rachel Borzone, a freshman on the women’s volleyball team. Borzone fell in love with volleyball after she witnessed her younger sister try it and attend camps, so she decided to try it too. “I instantly got the hang of it,” Borzone said. “It was a lot of fun since there was always something to do at each point of the game. I then started practicing with my sister in our backyard and I attended some camps over the summer, and I was instantly hooked.” Borzone is from Syosset, New York. She has been playing volleyball since the sixth grade, playing school, club and summer beach volleyball. Throughout high school, she played on varsity and received the All-County award, had the opportunity to compete in the county finals for the first time in her school’s history and won her national’s beach

volleyball tournament in Atlantic City. With COVID-19 cutting her senior club season in high school short, she knew it left her wanting more of the sport. “I decided to try out for the team and continue my love of the sport,” Borzone said. “Once classes started and I saw that tryouts were coming up, I realized I could pursue my goal of being a college athlete and decided to contact Coach Soubliere to try out for the team.” Two years ago, Borzone attended a summer clinic run by Coach Soubliere and the team here at RWU. “I saw how welcoming and talented everyone was. I already knew I wanted to go to Roger, and after playing with the team at the clinic, I knew I wanted to be a part of this program,” Borzone said. Borzone couldn’t be happier to be back on the court. She said the first day of tryouts went really well, but on her second day, she sprained her ankle. “I was devastated,” Borzone said. Coach Soubleire allowed Borzone to try out again once her ankle healed. Borzone worked with one of the athletic

trainers, Kristina Keddie, who helped her get back on her feet. She completed tryouts and made the team. “It was one of the most gratifying feelings I have ever experienced,” Borzone said. “All of my hard work over the past seven years finally paid off and

led me to being part of this team.” Volleyball has helped Borzone in many ways on and off the court. It has helped her with academics, time Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

Courtesy of Rachel Borzone RWU freshman Rachel Borzone played volleyball throughout her life, pictured above in a match she competed in with her high school team.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

October 8, 2020

EDITORIAL: Students still adjusting to virtual focus during COVID-19 As we are reaching the midway point of the semester, it is safe to say that it has been a new experience for students and for professors alike taking online classes or hybrid versions of their courses. After speaking with several students and professors, there is a clear consensus that the online mode proves to be very different from having in-person classes, yet many have not felt totally negative about them. Assistant Professor of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition Dahliani Reynolds has found the online format to still have interactive elements within the synchronous class times. “I try to make sure there is some kind of interactive element to each synchronous class session, so there are more voices than just mine in our Zoom room,” she said. Although Zooming in hasn’t been all bad for her, Reynolds still expressed that there is a lack of connection between the students and herself. However, RWU students have proven to

be resilient and willing to go the extra mile to have that sense of unity in the virtual classroom setting. “I hear students listening to and responding to their classmates in our online discussions, being generous with their feedback and working to build connections, just as RWU students do in physical classrooms,” she said. Journalism student Nicholas Grefe has experienced the online and hybrid experience for his classes and has found that the online mode is not the best version of learning for him, which many students could resonate with. “Online classes are not my preference. I think it’s a lot easier to have real class discussion in person,” he said. There is also a lack of focus when it comes to taking classes virtually because you are not physically in a classroom. For Grefe, he finds that his attention span and motivation is lacking while in the online setting and he personally finds focusing much easier in real time, in person. “The temptation to pick up

my phone or find other ways to distract myself becomes too great too often,” said Grefe on taking classes online. It can be tough to stay focused, however, the opportunity to have classes in any sense is certainly a privilege. After hearing from fellow students and RWU staff, there

are positives and negatives to the virtual experience this semester, yet most are grateful to still have the opportunity to have any in person experiences. We are all working on finding ways to push forward within our courses and within ourselves to get through the semester successfully.

Courtesy of Gabriel Benois Students and professors are experiencing the negative effects of online learning as we hit the halfway point in the semester.

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CORRECTIONS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

SPLO ADVISOR

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PHOTOGRAPHERS Emily Dvareckas

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

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CONTRIBUTORS Joseph Brown

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

October 8, 2020

Fall activities to get you Companies are in the autumn spirit taking pumpkin spice

to the next level

This popular fall flavor is no longer just for coffee, tea and doughnuts Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor Fall is the prime time for companies to release their pumpkin spice options for customers. This iconic, seasonal flavor is so popular that coffee shops such as Dunkin’ start selling their pumpkin doughnuts and lattes in mid-August. Each year more and more companies implement different pumpkin spice concoctions to get in on the craze. While some of the marketed options make sense and sound like they taste good, other options are completely bizarre. So, to figure out what kind of pumpkin spice lover you are, check out the following products and see whether or not you would be bold enough to try them. Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Apple picking is a staple of fall and is a great weekend activity for college students.

Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager As the summer sun has faded away, the autumn season is taking flight! Whether you love getting into the fall spirit outdoors or from your bed watching movies, here are some fun fall activities to get you in the autumn spirit.

Go apple picking

Before all the apples are picked (or fall from the trees), head over to an orchard with your friends and family, following proper protocols of course, and get into the fall spirit. Narrow Lane Orchard in North Kingstown and Pippin Orchard in Cranston are great options for picking apples among all the other apple orchards in greater Rhode Island.

Visit a corn maze or pumpkin patch

What better way to welcome in the fall festivities than to visit a corn maze along with a stroll through a pumpkin patch. Take some autumn pictures to post on your social media feed or to keep for wonderful memories. Definitely plan to dress accordingly in your favorite fall-inspired pieces. Escobar Corn Maze in Portsmouth is a favorite for its complex themed mazes. This year, the maze celebrates the farmer and covers eight acres of land for you to find your

way out of – hopefully you won’t get lost! After finding your way out, head over to the pumpkin patch to pick out a natural fall decoration. Hayrides and more await at Escobar Farm.

Rock your autumn fashion

Speaking of fall outfits for autumn photoshoots, it can be super fun trading in shorts and tank tops for hoodies and leggings fit for the sweater weather that is coming our way! Add in some fall essentials to your wardrobe such as scarves, boots and cardigans with pops of autumn colors, such as reds, oranges, browns and more.

Pumpkin Spice Del’s Lemonade

That’s right, Rhode Island’s finest frozen lemonade business has proudly introduced its new 2020 flavor: pumpkin spice flavored lemonade. The new concoction is a mix of pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg; they’ll even top it off with whipped cream! The reviews on the product have been mixed but are mostly positive according to the company. If you’re looking to test out the new flavor, you can find Del’s Lemonade at 65 Child St. in Warren and at 337 Thames St. in Newport.

Watch Halloween movies

Who doesn’t love a festive Halloween movie on a chilly autumn night? Rewatch classic favorites like “Hocus Pocus,” all the “Halloweentown” films, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and more! Don’t forget the fall treats, like candy and pie to snack on while binging these spooky movies.

Hostess has expanded its Twinkies selection to include Pumpkin Spice Twinkies. The classic snack cake that every child in America has likely tried at one point or another is perfect for anyone who needs a sugar rush and loves pumpkin. The creamy inside is a sugary, pumpkin filling and packages can be found at your local Target. The product must be doing well as it has returned for the fall season each year since 2015.

Pumpkin Spice Jell-O

Marketed as both an instant pudding and pie filler, Pumpkin Spice Jell-O is already selling out at Walmarts across Rhode Island. This limited edition item is becoming harder to find, but don’t worry: Amazon still has some in stock! While the classic strawberry and cherry flavors may be your favorites, pumpkin spice could be a new favorite if you are daring enough to try it.

Boom Chicka Pop: Pumpkin Spice Drizzled Kettle Corn

Boom Chicka Pop is shaking up its popcorn flavors with its new pumpkin spice edition. The company says the flavor is a lot like “pouncing on a pile of crunchy autumn leaves while a pumpkin pie cools on a nearby window sill.” The reviews have been both positive and negative, but come to the same consensus: the pumpkin taste is minimal and it has more of a cinnamon and nutmeg taste. The treat, however, is a good option if you’re looking for food that will crush cravings with only 100 calories per cup. Pumpkin Spice Drizzled Kettle Corn can be found at Stop & Shop and Shaw’s.

Swiss Miss: Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Craft the perfect Halloween costume

Although Halloween will certainly look different this year, there is nothing stopping you from creating the perfect costume! Go for the homemade, DIY look or order a costume on Amazon to get into the spirit of Halloween.

Hostess Pumpkin Spice Twinkies

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Del’s Lemonade has unveiled a new pumpkin spice lemonade flavor for the fall.

Combine fall and winter and what do you get? Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa from Swiss Miss! While this season’s warmer temperatures may not have you in the mood for hot cocoa, this limited edition might be one to try. Although it’s expensive ($18.98 on Amazon), consider it an investment. The flavor has gotten strong approval ratings, and if you stock up now, you can have enough pumpkin spice until next season.

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Films to check out this fall

Joseph Brown Herald Contributor

It’s that time of the year when the leaves change color, and we start to get into campfires, colder weather and of course spooky season. What way better to celebrate this year than bundled up inside with a good movie? Here are 10 films to check out right now. “Knives Out” In this fun 2019 thriller comedy, we have mass detectives and private eye Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) dealing with the death of family patriarch Harlan Thrombey, a famous horror novel writer. The movie is set in a house where every member of the family could be a suspect and is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. “Good Will Hunting” This classic 1997 drama follows the story of Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor at MIT with a genius level intellect who after being viewed solving a graduate level math problem is taken in by a professor who helps him reach his true potential. This film not only contains a variety of fun quotes like “how ‘bout dem apples” but also offers a look into the lives of people our age who are still figuring things out. “The Social Network” The 2010 film adapted from the book “Accidental Billionaires” follows a young Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) as he reaches popularity from users and infamy from the people he wronged in the creation of the social media platform Facebook. This following of a college level Mark to former youngest billionaire is a steady paced film that draws you in the more you watch. “Remember the Titans” This 2000 Disney film follows the true story of new Head Coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) as he works to get a high school football team together during the school’s first year as a racially integrated school. This film very much portrays the fall time by showing the football season and giving every viewer the feeling of being back at a classic game. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” This 2000 childhood classic tells the

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beginnings of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his journey into the wizarding world where he begins to make new friends, learns to fly brooms and stops the evil Dark Wizard who murdered his parents.

October 8, 2020

Keeping it country Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor

“Halloweentown” What better way to celebrate the spooky season than with a childhood classic from 1998? This Disney original film follows the three Cromwell children who, after discovering their grandmother is a witch, follow her to the mythical land of Halloweentown — a place where all monsters live in harmony. “It” This 2017 take on Stephen King’s book shows the children of Derry, Maine, working together to fight off an evil clown with supernatural powers who preys on the kids of the town every 27 years. A wonderful film filled with slight scares comes off as more of a mystery film with comedy than that of horror. “Spiderwick Chronicles” I bet the name of this film reopened a memory you might have forgotten. This 2008 adventure film follows Jared, Simon and Mallory Grace who uncover a secret world of ogres, goblins and more after moving into an old home and finding the notebook of the past owner, Arthur Spiderwick. “Gremlins” A fan-favorite for horror films, this 1984 creation follows a teenager who is gifted a mogwai (a small, fluffy, furry creature) for Christmas that he names Gizmo. Taking care of a mogwai is relatively easy considering that it has three rules to taking care of it: don’t get it wet, don’t put it in sunlight and do not feed it after midnight. Naturally, this teen breaks all the rules, leading to a variety of mogwais that spawn from Gizmo that turn into the reptilian counterparts called Gremlins. This is a wonderful horror comedy that is fun for all ages. “Mean Girls” While we have already passed Oct. 3, “Mean Girls” is a 2004 comedy drama following Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) as she moves into a new high school in Illinois and learns of the realities of high school cliques. This film was produced by Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live.

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