The Hawks' Herald | Sept. 10, 2020 by Hawks' Herald

www.rwuhawksherald.com Vol. 33, Issue 3 FREE

Students advocate for New satellite respiratory change on campus clinic opens on campus

Petition calls for administrators to stand with students of color and implement widespread initiatives Isabella Gentile Editor-in-Chief Undergraduate students and alumni are demanding change in how the university handles and addresses issues of ignorance and injustice on campus. A petition entitled “RWU: Black Lives Matter,” addressed to RWU Administration, Student Programs, Leadership and Orientation (SPLO) and the Board of Trustees, has been circulating in the community during the last several days. Posted through an anonymous account, the petition has gained almost 350 signatures. “We, the undersigned Students and Alumni of RWU stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and refuse to tolerate the racism and anti-blackness that has plagued Roger Williams University through white privilege, ignorance and hate,” the opening statement of the petition said. “We are the same students who have been called upon to have these discussions with our peers as a

replacement for formal education. We are the students behind MSU, SAGA, the Intercultural Center, all the celebrated diversity intersections that RWU markets egregiously to prospective students and families.” The Multicultural Student Union (MSU) and Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The students behind the petition want change in the way RWU addresses these issues. Creators of the petition want social justice at the university to be intersectional. They wrote that RWU commonly takes a stance on problems with one specific identity in mind, not considering how someone with multiple identities may experience something entirely different. Six demands are listed in the petition. It asks the university to acknowledge the history of the land that the Bristol

See

PETITION

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Mackenzie Conner / The Hawks’ Herald RWU’s new respiratory clinic is a trailer that sits outside the Center for Student Development.

Isabella Gentile Editor-in-Chief In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a new satellite respiratory clinic opened on campus on Sept. 9. Located outside the Center for Student Development, the clinic will serve students with respiratory illnesses and other COVID-19 symptoms. Family Nurse Practitioner Nancy

Hughes said opening day went well. Due to the small space capacity, only one student can come in at a time, but Hughes said they anticipate being able to increase capacity once some kinks are worked out. Hughes said the most important

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CLINIC

on page 3

The psychology department gets brainy New plasticized brain to enhance student learning

Rachel Dvareckas Managing Editor The university’s psychology department took the phrase ‘pick someone’s brain’ to a whole new level. This past summer, Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Victoria Heimer-McGinn received RWU’s new plasticized brain. The brain, which costs between $4,000 and $5,000, was paid for by the psychology department and Dean of the School of Social and Natural Sciences Ben Greenstein. Donated by an organ donor, it is a human brain that went through a preservation process. It was first covered in formaldehyde to stop it

from decaying and then shellacked to allow people to touch and interact with it safely. “There are few companies in the world that do that and we were able to find an American company that does it,” Heimer-McGinn said. The brain will be used in psychology courses like introduction to neuroscience (PSYCH 261). HeimerMcGinn has the brain in her house so she can use it to help her teach online classes this semester. “It’s a great tool because it really allows me to talk about the brain without speaking hypothetical,” Heimer-McGinn said. She enjoys that she can talk about the history of neuroscience with the brain

to keep students engaged. Next semester, it will be moving to the psychology pod in the College of Arts and Sciences building, where students will have the opportunity to check out the brain from the building for studying purposes. “If you want to check [it] out, you will have to get trained first in knowing what it is about the brain that you should know,” Heimer-McGinn said. “We obviously don’t want people just taking [it] and taking it to a party.” The brain will also be used outside college classrooms by Brain Week RI, a nonprofit organization co-founded by Heimer-McGinn that educates people on brain research, and in elementary schools by trained RWU students who

teach about the brain. The process to get the brain took about six months from the time Heimer-McGinn put in the order to when she received it. Only educational and medical institutions have access to obtaining human body parts, so RWU had to send in proof to the company that it is in fact an educational institution. The psychology department has already put in a budget request to get a full set of brain materials. “In the next five to 10 years, there definitely will be an increase in the spending for that kind of educational material,” Heimer-McGinn said.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

NEWS

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

COVID Q&A with President Miaoulis

Roger Williams University has dedicated time, effort and resources to implement measures and policies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Editor-in-Chief Isabella Gentile asked President Ioannis Miaoulis various questions regarding his thoughts on the university’s ongoing response to the pandemic. Q: As we enter the third week of this semester, what are your thoughts on the university’s response to COVID-19 and how things are going so far? A: I am very pleased with the overall response. If you look at our situation compared to other colleges that have had significant outbreaks or needed to reverse course and send students home, we have not needed to do that. As of today [9/8], we still have 77 days to get to November 24, but I am pleased with our work and operations so far. That said, reopening since being closed in March and figuring everything out has had some challenges. Technology set up, COVID testing, organizing our Baypoint isolation and quarantine process, revamping dining back up after being closed since March. There are things we need to fine tune, but it is great to be in the position we are. Q: What are your thoughts on the response from students, faculty and staff to all of the new policies and safety protocols, such as required maskwearing, classroom cleaning policies and social distancing rules? A: Overall, the response is great. Credit for our low numbers of positive cases goes to the entire community. How you take care of yourselves in order to return and to follow procedures will keep us all healthy. I know measures are hard right now, restrictions in residence halls, teaching with some students in front of you and others remote. These things are not easy. But we have had very few instances of students not showing up for testing, not wearing masks, no large gatherings. That is what it will take to get to November and I want to recognize that students have been exceptional in complying when we have asked them to isolate or quarantine. Q: Approximately how much has the university spent on supplies for precautionary measures for this year? What are the costs associated with oncampus COVID-19 testing? How has this spending impacted the university’s financial stability as a whole? A: Roger Williams is led strongly from a fiscal perspective. While issuing room and board refunds in the spring did impact us, we ended the year with more than a balanced budget and met all our debt obligations. That is testament to the resilience and

sacrifice of many at RWU; there were hard financial choices that affected the wellbeing of our faculty and staff, not just operating budgets. But we did it. We are still tallying our total spend on precautionary measures but near the start of the semester we had already invested over $5 million in COVID-related expenses. The Broad Institute testing program will likely be near a $2 million dollar investment that will last into the spring, most likely absent a vaccine. But as you go and get tested, many members of the RWU community testing are there on volunteer shifts, or staff are taking the time to courier tests to the lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Of course all these items have an impact on our budget and as always, we’ll begin the process to curtail expenses or seek to grow revenue to offset these absolutely necessary COVID costs. Q: I recently asked Vice President for Student Life John King about a testing metric where the university would see a shift to full remote learning. He told me there was not a hard and fast number of positive test results for that decision as of then, but that the university would reevaluate at different points. Do you see a certain number of positive tests that would trigger a shutdown? A: This is true. We review the numbers daily and share the results on our COVID dashboard. I think just saying we have “X” cases and we’ll go remote looks very different if the cases are unique cases or they are all connected from community spread. Scientifically, no two cases are the same either, are the positive cases symptomatic or asymptomatic? What was the Ct [cycle threshold] value of the COVID test, to understand the viral load of the positive case? I think our decision would also be different if the cases are centered on faculty, staff or students. It is a very complex decision making process. So no, there is not just one number we are looking for at the Cabinet or other conversations. Q: The university currently has a low overall positivity rate (0.05% as of 9/8). Do you think there is anything students, staff, faculty or the university itself can improve on at this point? A: Improvement is just in tightening up around the edges. I think now that we’re into the semester we can all settle into a pattern, perhaps see continued days with zero cases and think that we can relax a little. But [with] nearly 5,100 people interacting on our campuses regularly and coming and going from campus, we need to keep all our measures in place as a way of learning and working.

September 10, 2020

PETITION

from page 1

campus sits on and to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day on the academic calendar, which students have advocated for and protested in favor of in the past. Students are also demanding that policies and training be implemented, including mandatory implicit bias testing for employees and available sensitivity training for students and staff. RWU does have a nondiscrimination policy, but the petition pushes for a zero tolerance policy, saying university students are familiar with discriminatory bias incidents that only result in a conduct meeting and warning. The university prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct but the petition demands a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment and assault as well. The petition goes on to encourage non-paid students to refuse to plan campus events through SPLO and encourage alumni to stop donating any money to the university until these needs are met. Members of the Board of Trustees, staff within SPLO and other campus officials across departments were named and directly called on to help these efforts and stand with students of color at the university. In the comments below the petition, students supported the changes advocated for within. “I implore you to listen to the voices of your students. We are the ones who promote the university and keep the university going. We are the “faces” of this school. Our pictures are ones on the brochures you hand out, the ads you place online, the posts on your social media,” said junior Rachel Barrows. “Do not use our bodies to push a message of diversity without

supporting the diverse students you have in the community.” Student Body President Sam Avila said it was disheartening to read the concerns within the petition but that he was not surprised reading them. Avila said he has personally witnessed levels of white privilege, ignorance and hate from people in the RWU community. “I think especially during these times in our society, it is time that people speak up and stand for change because I know as a student of color how frustrating it is to continuously speak about my negative experiences on campus without any change being brought to our community,” Avila said. “Students feel unheard and that their issues are being ignored, which is not acceptable in any form.” He also acknowledged there is much work to be done, especially regarding the issue of students of color having to educate their peers on certain issues. “I do suggest that students, faculty and staff find ways to educate themselves on these issues because it shouldn’t take students of color here at RWU to continuously share their experiences to get people to pay attention,” Avila said. “Students are being burnt out by all the education they are trying to provide for others when it takes the individual themselves to do the work and be educated on these issues.” In terms of prior responses by the Student Senate on these issues, Avila said he thinks there has been a lack of a strong response against racism, anti-blackness and hatred when those situations were brought up to the organization. This year, Student Senate 47 released a statement of solidarity following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others in the Black community, along with sharing the history of land acknowledgement during their first meeting this fall. Avila is hopeful now that the Senate will be

Read the full story at www.rwuhawksherald.com

THE GAVEL

Your source for Student Senate news Hawks wear masks! This week the Student Senate met and discussed the Living Learning Communities’ new name of “Themed Communities.” Student Senate is in favor of changing the name to create a more inclusive environment for all students. The topic was deferred to Student Life, which meets on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. On Sept. 14, President Miaoulis will be attending our General Meeting. As always, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @RWU_Senate and try to attend our weekly meetings on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. over Zoom. You can find the Zoom link on our Hawk Link by clicking on our weekly meeting event. The Zoom link will be available as the location.

SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

CLINIC

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

from page 1

benefit of the clinic is that it takes possible COVID-19 cases away from other students and the general Health Services offices to be evaluated, thereby minimizing exposure to others. “We tried to separate possibleCOVID from unlikely-COVID patients in the clinic for the past week or so, and it was not easy to do,” Hughes said. “This setup is safer for all.” The clinic is open to all full-time undergraduate students and any graduate student who is eligible for

NEWS/OPINIONS

care at Health Services. Students will be seen by appointment only with no walk-ins allowed. Students experiencing symptoms including fever, chills, cough, congestion, sore throat, headache, runny nose, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and loss of taste or smell will be seen in the respiratory clinic for evaluation and treatment. COVID-19 testing will be done in the clinic as well. Hughes was part of the COVID Response Team for the Rhode Island Department of Health this summer, interviewing dozens of people regarding their symptoms. She learned

My Life as a Statue My Dearest Hawks,

I have seen quite a bit in my life, both while I was alive and during my time as a statue. I watch you pass by me with your masks, trying your best to stay safe. That is all I can ask of you, my friends, to help keep each other healthy. I know some of you think the new protocols may feel silly but they aren’t implemented to make your life hard. They are here to keep you safe and lower the risk of you, your friends or peers getting sick. I’ve missed seeing your faces and I am glad to see them now, even if it is just half of your faces. You all help bring life to this campus and contribute to making it as beautiful as it is. That is why I want you to stay and follow the protocols so you all receive the best educational experience possible. Everyone here is learning to adapt and I ask you to have patience. Some of your professors are still learning how to use Zoom properly. I don’t understand what being fast has to do with online teaching but I know it’s a new concept to them. Be kind and patient with them as we all learn together. Be patient with the restrictions put into place. We all must work together to combat the sickness. I can tell you from experience that patience is key. Being a statue requires patience. I can’t even itch my nose, I have to wait for someone to walk by to itch it for me. Patience may be difficult to master at first, especially when that itch just won’t go away, but with time it becomes easier and makes life better. Please stay safe and healthy whether on campus or at home. We will get through this together. We always do.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald The Roger Williams statue hopes everyone stays healthy and wears their masks.

September 10, 2020

they can vary greatly between cases. “The range of symptoms is just incredible, from no symptoms at all, to just a runny nose, to nausea and vomiting, to a persistent cough and shortness of breath,” Hughes said. “Not only is there a full range of symptoms, but a full range of duration and seriousness of symptoms, with some people having mild symptoms for just a few days, while others have serious symptoms that persist for weeks or are fatal.” Students can also seek care from the clinic for respiratory issues unrelated to COVID-19. “We definitely expect to treat a lot

of students,” Hughes said. “With this age group, there is strep and mononucleosis that can happen yearround. Many students have seasonal allergies. Additionally, there are just basic colds or other upper respiratory infections like sinusitis.” Director of Health Services Anne Mitchell said the clinic is being funded by the university’s Health Services department. She said it is a temporary installment, continuing through the fall and likely the spring semester. Long term plans to continue the clinic will depend on the prevalence of COVID-19.

Why do we idolize teenage TikTokers?

Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor

I have spent an embarrassing amount of time on TikTok, so much so that I shed a tear when my phone decides to send me a notification about my screen time. My For You Page is a mess that truly encapsulates my personality. I’ve got a 19-year-old Willy Wonka, an abundance of cats and a whole lot of TikToks that are deemed to be on the alternative side of the app. I am not privy to the short videos of Charli D’Amelio dancing to Doja Cat or Addison Rae dancing to a song most commonly associated with eating disorders. We get it, the lyrics in that The Kid Laroi song about you are heartfelt because you are, in fact, Addison Rae. Addison Rae is 19 years old and worth over $2 million, bringing in about $14,500 for a sponsored TikTok she posts. Charli D’Amelio is 16 years old. Let me say that again — SHE IS 16 and worth over $4 million. When I was 16, I was worth about $20 and a piece of chewed bubble gum. Of course, I would love the opportunity to be able to make $100,000 on a singular 15-second video of me dancing but that isn’t the point. Charli is not a bad person, she’s a good dancer and donates a lot of money to charity. What I don’t fully understand is how she got to be in that position. She posts videos on an app that people used to be embarrassed to even be on. She’s been given a platform that lets her earn money for moving her arms around. She is still a child being paraded around on TikTok, while being hailed as an inspiration and an idol to young kids. She is followed by

paparazzi on a daily basis and paid to collaborate with people. Celebrity culture is weird enough with society treating other humans as gods, and adding teenagers on TikTok to that pool of people is just a step too far. I do not see what the appeal is in idolizing a 16-year-old girl from Connecticut because of her short dancing videos. I am sure she is a lovely lady but she’s just a teenager who has a talent for dancing, something a lot of teenagers have who have spent many years practicing. Charli and Addison are not the only god-like creators on the app. There are literal mansions dedicated to housing these TikTokers. All they do on the app is post videos of them dancing and every time they post one, it’s like an asteroid has hit the Earth and changed the world. I can’t be the only one who thinks this is weird. I feel like we should have learned our lesson with the fame that came to a group of people from Vine. They were teenagers brought into the spotlight who quickly made heaps of money before becoming problematic. At least those creators were creating content that was (at a minimum supposed to be) funny. TikTok teenagers are forming egos that will continue to grow until they have to come face to face with the real world, where dancing for 10 seconds won’t get them thousands of dollars in a day. It is bound to happen and there will be consequences. So, please stop idolizing teenagers. It is possible to enjoy content and not see the creator as something beyond human or untouchable.

SECTION EDITOR

Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

FEATURES September 10, 2020

Film Production Collaborative and Photo Club prepare for a new kind of normal Emily Dvareckas Photo Editor As the semester progresses, students may start to feel antsy since the usual on and off-campus activities have been modified or discouraged. The Involvement Fair looked a little different this year but remained a vital part of finding extracurricular activities. RWU has numerous clubs and organizations that span many interests and make it easier for students to find their specific niche. Clubs that once met together, either in classrooms, studios or outside, have begun transitioning to meetings on Zoom. For the Film Production Collaborative, a usual semester consists of producing a film. The restrictions

and social distancing requirements have caused the club to shift its focus away from the filming aspect of the semester and focus on scriptwriting, events and activities that will help keep up club engagement. “We are also searching for the best ways for our club to have long discussions about different types of movies both during our meetings and outside of our meetings,” said Film Production Collaborative President Joe Brown. “One event we are looking to put a lot of focus on is movie nights, whether over Zoom or in person.” Another club that will see some changes is Photo Club. They plan to have a seamless shift from in-person meetings to meetings over Zoom that will keep the same structure. Club members will be able to submit their

weekly photos which will be added to a slideshow. The meetings will consist of cycling through the member’s photos with discussion. The club remains excited for the semester and plans to be more active on social media by adding guessing games and continuing to post their weekly winners. The executive board members will all be graduating at the end of the academic year and hope that the next two semesters will give the younger members the ability to embrace the club and be ready to take the reins. “With virtual meetings, we hope this

will create a nice break for our club members from other online classes and a haven [for them] to take a few moments to focus on what they enjoy,” said Photo Club Treasurer Katie Weir. Photo Club has begun incorporating social distancing into their club structure. In past semesters, field trips allowed for many photo-taking opportunities. Although this semester will look different, they hope to still go to photo op locations. One possible location is Colt State Park, where club members can safely meet while distanced and each member can find their own space.

Campus Happenings

Things to do instead of partying during a pandemic Amy Martin Herald Reporter We’re all tired of hearing it, but we are living in unprecedented times. Especially with the tight restrictions that are becoming our new normal, college is certainly not what any of us expected it to be. It’s unfortunate that our college experiences have been altered, but at least we’re having experiences, right? While we can’t do nearly as much as we could before, it doesn’t mean our experiences have to be boring. I don’t mean we can still go out and party. (Please don’t do that. None of us want to be sent home and have even less to do). However, there are a few acceptable ideas that involve more than just re-watching “Friends.” There are several things we can still do on campus. For instance, you can check out what Campus Entertainment Network (CEN) is planning on its Instagram or Hawk Link. As part of its 1, 2, 3 Weekend, CEN held a few virtual events, including the Magic Night IN event on Sept. 4, Virtual Paint Night on Sept. 5 and the Fall Concert featuring Cassadee Pope on Sept. 6. If you don’t feel like attending an event, you can do your own thing with a few of your close friends or roommates, like having your own paint night!

Another thing you could do on campus is to join some clubs you haven’t tried out before. You could join one of the larger organizations, such as the Multicultural Student Union (MSU), or try out one of the clubs on campus, such as Fishing Club. If you want to get outside, you could walk along the shell path and catch some beautiful views of the waterfront. For off-campus locations, there’s always Colt State Park that’s not too far from RWU. If you want to spice your walk up a little bit, there are a few apps you can download, such as Pokémon GO, Geocaching and Randonautica. As always with these types of apps, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and stay off private property. Last but not least, you could stop by a drive-in theater. The closest venue to campus is the Rustic Tri View DriveIn in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. This can be a fun experience for movie lovers who want to see classic movies like “Jaws” on a big screen. Make sure you have a portable radio handy to avoid having your car battery die. Hopefully, you’ve found some ideas to try in your free time! Stay healthy and safe as you try to make your college experience an enjoyable one, and please avoid attending parties during this pandemic.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Many students have been able to witness some new friends on campus. These two young deer have been making their rounds from Stonewall to the engineering building to CAS, making sure to taste the greens in every area.

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Students got creative during CEN’s 1, 2, 3 Weekend with a virtual paint night on Sept. 5. CEN distributed paint kits with all the necessities for students to follow along with a Bob Ross tutorial video. The end result was a painting of ocean waves and a sky full of clouds. Participants were encouraged to send their finished products to the CEN Instagram page, so people could vote for their favorite painting. The winner would receive a Fitbit Charge 3.

SECTION EDITOR

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

SECTION MANAGER

Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

SPORTS September 10, 2020

Hiring of Steve Nash draws concerns about coach diversity Andrew Hart Sports Reporter The Brooklyn Nets recently announced Steve Nash as their new head coach, signing the former twotime MVP to a four-year deal on Sept. 3. Reaction to the signing was mixed, with some applauding the Nets for signing a respected leader and alltime great point guard while others questioned the selection due to limited coaching experience compared to other available candidates — many of them being black. Possible candidates included the likes of the Nets’ interim head coach during the playoffs, Jacque Vaughn, Alvin Gentry, Mark Jackson, Nate McMillan, and even championshipproven Ty Lue. With the hiring of Nash, there are

only five black coaches in a league of 30 teams. At the start of the season in October 2019, there were seven. On opening night in 2012, there were 15 coaches of color in the league — 14 of them were black. “So many good point guards make good coaches,” said sophomore E.J. Nelson. “He [Nash] was such a good leader for so long on so many different teams.” “He’s been doing player development since he’s been out of the league, with KD [Kevin Durant] in particular,” Nelson said, referring to Nash’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors as a player development coach during Durant’s time in the Bay Area. On top of Nash’s relationship with Durant, he will also be paired with Kyrie Irving, a top point guard in the league who Nash will also be able to mentor as his coach. “I think from the perspective of

his contract, four years is too much, especially with the lack of coaching experience he has,” said junior Brett Grospitch. “I would’ve rather seen a one to two year ‘prove it’ deal instead of a long term contract,” Grospitch said. Choosing Nash, who is just 46 years old, shows the Nets are looking for a spark of energy to add to the franchise and willing to take a chance on a young coach with limited experience, on the return that he could be around for a while along with the likes of Durant and Irving. As far as candidates who were passed up, Grospitch thinks hiring a coach like Nash is just as much of a toss-up as the coaches many say were overlooked. “A lot of the coaches that were passed up on, regardless of color, weren’t super successful before so for the Nets to take a shot in the dark on Nash is pretty interesting,” he said.

Fall sports return with new restrictions Hawks are eager and excited to return to practice

Megan Julian Sports Editor Men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross-country, field hockey, sailing and women’s tennis have begun practicing this week in order to prepare for their competitions, now set to be held in the spring. Back in July, all the teams’ seasons were suspended as a result of COVID-19. This decision was made by the Commonwealth Coast Conference Board of Directors in order to keep the athletes safe. “We are all super excited to get back on the pitch and get going again,” said Connor Edwards, midfielder and senior captain of the men’s soccer team. The teams do have to follow new rules to make sure they stay safe and healthy. “All are required to wear masks, inside and outside,” said Athletic Director Kiki Jacobs. “Practices are going to be very different,” said senior field hockey midfielder Emma Stevens. “We are going to split up into small groups as well on the field away from the other groups.” Stevens said members will be working on a lot of individual skills since they cannot play contact yet. Sarah Porter, a senior and outside hitter on the volleyball team, said their practices will consist of the team being split into two groups for the first week. The groups will be practicing at the

same time but on separate courts with a curtain dividing them. “We show up to the gym 30 minutes before our practice time in order to get our temperature checked,” Porter said. “Each group will have designated equipment, so there will be no sharing of nets or volleyballs.” Women’s soccer will be focusing on ball skills, fitness and developing as players. “We plan to use the extra time this fall in our advantage, so we come back in the spring stronger, fitter and faster than previous years,” said senior Bailey Laviolette of the women’s soccer team. Athletes across the board have been putting in a lot of effort to stay in shape. “I’ve been trying to get a run in every day to get a solid base of training before we are able to practice as a team,” said Tyler Marchioni, a senior on the men’s cross-country team. Captain of the women’s tennis team Heidi Martin said she was able to get some practice in. “I played with a few girls on the team that were also living in Bristol over the summer and I came up with workout circuits to do in my backyard that were full body workouts,” Martin said. The sailing team stayed in shape and stayed connected by tracking their fitness through an app. Since the team has returned to campus, they have been doing a lot of workouts locally. “Since we have been back on campus, several team members bike together around Bristol and Aquidneck Island,”

said Sailing Team Captain Emily Gildea. RWU athletes are excited to be back playing alongside their teammates even if it is from a distance while wearing masks. “We have been waiting to play together as a team since last season so it will be great to get after it again with the lads,” Edwards said. Coming into this unique season, teams will still be facing some challenges. Porter believes the volleyball team’s biggest challenge will be attempting to normalize a season where nothing is guaranteed. “It might be hard to stay motivated or focused when there’s so much uncertainty about competing in the spring,” Porter said. “Our biggest challenge is going to be getting back to that same mindset we had last year. Last year, we were conference champions, and the way we got there was through our positivity and our sense of unity as a whole,” said Grace Depalma, captain of the women’s cross-country team. “A lot of that starts at preseason. Preseason is the foundation for our season as a whole and without those 10 days together, it really felt different coming into this year.” Although this season is full of unknowns, it seems as though the Hawks are ready to take flight. “COVID may have taken our seasons,” Depalma said. “It will not take our spirit.”

Meet the freshmen:

Aidan Maguire Kristen Dansereau Sports Manager Aidan Maguire, freshman on the cross-country and track and field teams from Brookline, New Hampshire, came to RWU for three main reasons. He wanted to study within the engineering program. He also wanted a close community and the chance to do something he enjoys: running. Maguire said he is happy with his choice. He joined the cross-country team to get to know people on campus. His teammates have become his desired social group, especially the other freshmen. “I’ve adapted to school fairly quickly,” Maguire said. “The upperclassmen on the team have made the adjustment easier as they helped us meet up early and get to know others early on.” Sports teams have recently begun to practice. Freshmen are beginning to experience the season, or rather the modified season due to COVID-19. Maguire and the other freshmen athletes will be able to integrate themselves more with their teammates during practices and build relationships. “It’s a lot different compared to what high school sports were like,” Maguire said. “Wearing the masks while working out, being so restricted with distancing and having no competitions makes the season an odd one for sure.” Athletes had to stay in shape on their own time during the summer by getting creative with what was available to them. Maguire stayed active by doing home workouts, with a focus on running, agility and other track workouts. He also worked as a lifeguard and participated in a lake house committee to stay busy throughout the summer.

6 EDITORIAL: Follow the rules for yourself and others SECTION EDITOR

Isabella Gentile igentile470@g.rwu.edu

EDITOR’S DESK

DESIGNER

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

With the second full week of classes coming to a close, we must remind ourselves that we are still in a pandemic. We are still at risk of transmitting a virus through our small community. Some larger schools across the country have not implemented strong enough measures to contain COVID-19 on their campuses. We do not want to be a statistic. Who would? Defying the rules put in place is not about going against “the man” or whatever people might call it. The rules are meant to keep everyone on campus safe. The rules are about staying healthy against a virus we do not know enough about. Wearing a mask, following the new rules and having good hygiene are such simple things to do, so just do them. Wash your hands often. Not only will it help stop the spread of the virus, it is also just a good thing to do all the time. You can also use hand sanitizer if you can’t wash your hands. There are stations all over campus where you can get some. This is also a good time to talk

September 10, 2020

about mask disposal. There are trash cans everywhere on campus. Please just walk the extra 10 feet and throw your disposable masks away if they break or you are switching masks, instead of leaving them on the ground. These are things that have been repeated over and over and we know this is not the first

time or last time you will hear these things. We are reiterating it so it sticks, so people will take responsibility for their actions and their health. If you put yourself at risk, you are putting an entire campus of students at risk. We cannot afford to only think about ourselves as individuals, we have to think about everyone. Hold yourself,

your friends and your professors accountable. As of Sept. 8, 10 positive test results have been reported on campus. It is up to us to keep that number down, so please wear your mask. Please refrain from gathering in large groups. Please do your part to keep us on campus and keep us safe.

Rachel Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Remember to wear your mask, wash your hands often and disinfect regularly.

THE HAWKS’ HERALD The student newspaper of Roger Williams University

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Rachel Dvareckas rdvareckas244@g.rwu.edu

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Emily Dvareckas edvareckas213@g.rwu.edu

Emma Bartlett ebartlett122@g.rwu.edu

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REPORTERS Andrew Hart Amy Martin

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

CONTRIBUTORS Jimmy Smith

PHOTOGRAPHERS Emily Dvareckas Rachel Dvareckas Mackenzie Conner

Adrianne Harris aharris@g.rwu.edu

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

Megan Julian mjulian020@g.rwu.edu

SPORTS MANAGER Kristen Dansereau kdansereau387@g.rwu.edu

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

September 10, 2020

HOT HITS:

Back-to-school fashions to try out A Blend of Genres for “Zoom University” Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager

Kayla Ivan Arts & Culture Manager

River, Massachusetts, is just one of the many thrift stores you can visit to select styles you may not find otherwise.

As the semester gets into full swing, one important aspect of taking courses in a mixed setting is the clothes you wear. Back-to-school shopping is definitely different this semester, but the style you bring to your term can be fresh and fun to discover. Here are some fashion inspirations to try out.

Tie-dye This pattern is certainly a throwback but it is back in style right now. Tie-dye clothes, whether pre-made or DIY’d, are super cute and cool to try wearing. Pair a tie-dye shirt with a set of jeans and you’re ready for your next class.

Sets A trendy style of clothing to wear right now is sets (i.e. a top and pants set). Some great places to purchase these sets include Old Navy and J.C. Penney since they always have a variety of color combinations for tops and bottoms. If that’s not your style, you can also opt for a comfy sweat set or go all out with a funky pattern. Thrift clothes Thrifting is one of the best ways to maximize your money while spending on clothes. It can be a lot of fun sifting through clothes to find the gems you’ll soon be taking home. Savers in Fall

RWU spirit wear Whether your classes are online or in-person, it is always a great idea to support your school with RWU spirit wear! Using university colors in your daily dress and supporting the place you call home is never out of style. Zoom University merch If you are in Zoom classes this semester, a staple fashion piece would definitely include Zoom University merchandise. Amazon and several other websites are selling Zoomthemed hoodies, T-shirts and more. Get into the spirit with these comfy pieces!

Emily Dvareckas / The Hawks’ Herald Fashion inspiration from a Zoom classroom setting.

SECTION EDITOR

SECTION MANAGER DESIGNER

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

Hot sneaker releases of the month Adam Zerman Business Manager Sept. 1

Nike Dunk Low “Ceramic” - $100

Sept. 4

Air Jordan 1 High OG “BIo Hack” $170

Sept. 5

Adidas Yeezy QNTM “Quantum” $250 Air Jordan 7 “Chile Red” (China Exclusive) - $200

Sept. 10

Nike Dunk Low Community Garden “Lemon Wash” - $100

Sept. 11

Air Jordan 1 High Zoom “Carter” $170

Sept. 12

Air Jordan 5 “Apple Green” (Oregon) - $225 Adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Pepper” $230

Sept. 17

Air Jordan 3 X Fragment “Black and White” - $200

Sept. 18

DENHAM X Nike Air Max 1 - $300

Sept. 19

Air Jordan 14 “Hyper Royal” - $190 Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Asriel” $220

Sept. 25

DENHAM X Nike Air Max 90 - $160 DENHAM X Nike Air Max 95 - $180

Sept. 26

Nike Dunk High “Michigan” - $120 Air Jordan 12 “Lucky Green” - $190

Sept. 30 Union X Air Jordan 4 “Guava Ice” $250 Union X Air Jordan 4 “Off Noir” $250

PLEASE RECYCLE

ARTS & CULTURE

Bailee Maston bmaston760@g.rwu.edu

September 10, 2020

Try these Bristol coffee shops for your next caffeine fix Emma Bartlett Arts & Culture Editor As classes pick up and homework intensifies, late night studying and early morning classes will cause college kids to seek an all too familiar refuge – coffee. While the campus Starbucks is a great place to pick up a cup of joe to go, there are a few local shops in Bristol that will have you hooked on all their hot, iced and frozen coffee options. Angelina’s If you’re looking for classic coffee favorites and new, unique signature drinks, check out Angelina’s at 301 Hope St. in Bristol. From their ‘Hip Drinks’ list, customers can choose the dalgona coffee, mushroom coffee, butter coffee and the golden milk latte. Currently, the coffee shop is doing take out only and has several two-person

tables set up outside on the sidewalk for visitors. Beehive Café This local staple for RWU students has a tasteful selection of coffee that will keep you energized throughout the day. With their lattes, cappuccinos and regular coffee options, it is hard not to find something that everyone in your party will enjoy. Beehive Café is also offering indoor and outdoor seating, so if you want to spend the day in downtown Bristol, this is a relaxing venue to start at. The café also makes it easy for customers who wish to order online and pick up to go. Beehive Café is located at 10 Franklin St. in Bristol. Empire Tea and Coffee Spend your morning by the waterfront sipping on coffee from Empire Tea and Coffee. Some of the store’s favorites

include the crème de menthe iced latte, cold brew with espresso and a dirty iced chai latte. There is currently no dine-in option for the store, but Independence Park is a quick three-minute walk away and has benches and great water views. Empire Tea and Coffee can be found at 251 Thames St. in Bristol. Sip-N-Dip If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a doughnut or bagel with your coffee, plan on visiting Sip-N-Dip at 775 Hope St. in Bristol. This small shop has a large variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee blends as well as delicious food options. Some of the frozen coffee options include mocha, chocolate peanut butter and java chip. You’re also able to purchase coffee by the pound if you’re looking to make Sip-N-Dip’s blends at home.

Pharrell Williams vs. Marvin Gaye: “Got to Give It Up” The “Blurred Lines” of copyright law

Jimmy Smith Herald Contributor

In 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, in pertinent part, the decision of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The district court found that Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and a publishing company infringed on Marvin Gaye Jr.’s copyright in “Got to Give it Up.” After a seven-day trial and two days of jury deliberation, the jury found that “Blurred Lines,” the world’s best selling single of 2013, infringed Gaye’s copyright in his 1977 hit song “Got to Give it Up.” The jury awarded Gaye $4 million in actual damages from Thicke and Williams jointly and around $1.75 million in individual profits from Thicke and Williams. Was this the correct decision, or was this simply the result of a jury trying to make the Gaye family whole after Gaye’s untimely murder at the hands of his father? To answer this question, copyright law must be reviewed. Although the case happened recently, we must look at copyright

law at that time. As the appeals court noted, “Marvin Gaye composed “Got to Give it Up” before Jan. 1, 1978, the effective date of the Copyright Act of 1976. Accordingly, the Copyright Act of 1909 governs Gaye’s compositional copyright. The timing of all this probably made civil procedure professors across the nation crack a smile. To be clear, Williams and Thicke admitted to getting inspiration for their song from Gaye. The issue then, was not whether “Blurred Lines” copied “Got to Give it Up,” but whether it copied too much. The real question is whether the copying is “substantial.” This is somewhat common knowledge since there are a set number of musical notes and only a certain number of combinations. It is also clear that one cannot copyright a style of music. That is akin to trying to copyright “the hero’s journey” in novels. However, even subconscious and unintentional infringement is punishable. Way too often, much comes down to the skill and actions of lawyers at trial. Unfathomably, neither Gaye’s attorneys nor Williams’ attorneys

filed for judgment as a matter of law. This is known as a Rule 50 motion which would have allowed the appeals court to review the sufficiency of the evidence. Thicke and Williams would have won on appeal or even in the lower court with a Rule 50 motion. Gaye was a victim of bad timing years before his death. The 1909 Copyright Act did not cover audiovisual works. The 1976 Act did. If Gaye made his song in 1978, his argument would have been more solid. All Gaye had to prove his copyright was the song’s sheet music. From the sheet music, it is apparent that neither the actual words of the song nor the melodies are the same. Since the 1909 Copyright Act only allowed a decision-maker to look at the “four corners” of this document, no reasonable factfinder could find in favor of Gaye. Therefore, on appeal, this issue could not be reviewed, and all that could be reviewed was an abuse of discretion. Weirdly enough, if the same jury ruled the exact opposite based on the same evidence, this would have been upheld by the appeals court as well.

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