The Quad 118-06

The Quad

Volume 118, Issue 62 March 2, 2020

The Student News Service of West Chester University

APSCUF PRESIDENT TALKS PROBLEMS WITH PA HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING

BY ALISON ROLLER COPY EDITOR

$39,302 avg. student debt after

2 YE ARS 4 YEARS in a collegiate program

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UNITED STATES HIGHER EDUCATION POWER RANKINGS

46. South Carolina 47. Alabama 48. Rhode Island 49. Louisiana 50. Pennsylvania

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n 2018, The Simple Dollar ranked Pennsylvania fourth in its list of the worst states for college affordability.

This ranking was based on statistics such as the average student loan debt of $39,302 students were left in after leaving four-year and two-year colleges and average in-state tuition.

For 2018 and 2019, Pennsylvania was ranked 50th in higher education by the U.S. News and World Report. Across reports and rankings, PA is consistently ranked among the lowest for college affordability, higher education funding and student loan debt. In an interview with Ken Mash, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, he said a lot of it comes down to funding.

STA FF WR ITER

hough popular science deems multitasking a myth, Toni Davis, Lead Cashier at the P.O.D. in West Chester University’s Main Hall, might give cognitive psychologists a run for their money. At 12:15 on a Thursday afternoon, the P.O.D. proved to be a hotspot for hungry students, faculty and staff fixing for a lunchtime pick-me-up. Despite the seemingly endless influx of customers, Davis still managed to complete this interview and perform her job flawlessly. Since the beginning of my academic career three and a half years ago, I’ve witnessed Davis’ endless energy and enthusiasm in her work life. I decided

BY SHANNON MONTGOMERY SPECI A L TO THE QUA D

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A&E UNLIMITED DARLING’S “SAW A FLOWER” REVIEW

COPY EDITOR

Continued on Page 3

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Op-Ed 5 MODERN NOVELS TO READ IF YOU FEEL LIKE FEELING FEELINGS

to ask her a series of questions in order to better understand the woman who has become a campus icon.

After all, in the words of graduate student Meg Barnett, Davis is “the heart of Main Hall.”

Antoinette, AKA Toni, Davis was born and raised in Philadelphia. She’s lived in Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, Texas and Maryland, though she currently resides in her hometown, the City of Brotherly Love. Davis has worked at West Chester University for 12 years, faithfully managingthe P.O.D. for six. Out of the several locations she’s worked at across campus, the P.O.D. is easily her favorite.

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AWARD WINNING AUTHOR DOROTHY ALLISON VISITS WCU

BY JUSTIN BIFOLCO

“THE HEART OF MAIN HALL”: AN INTERVIEW WITH TONI DAVIS

BY Celine Butler

Features

BY ALI KOCIK COLMUNIST

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Sports WCU GYMNASTICS STRIVES FOR BACK-TO-BACK NATIONALS APPEARANCE

BY JESSICA MEAK IM Photo by Noah Salzman (CC 4.0)

ON THE GO? FIND MORE ON WCUQUAD.COM

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March 2, 2020

News

QUADNEWS@WCUPA.EDU

FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRELAND MARY ROBINSON SPEAKS AT WCU

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BY CAROLINE HELMS STA FF WR ITER

he former president of Ireland and climate justice advocate Mary Robinson spoke at West Chester University last Tuesday.

The speech, which was followed by a Q&A session with WCU President Chris Fiorentino, covered Robinson’s experiences with the United Nations as well as around the world.

Though you may know her from her viral Ted Talk, Robinson served as the seventh president of Ireland from 1990 to 1997. Originally a lawyer, she became the first woman president as well as the first person to win the election without support of the Fianna Fáil party. She is also credited with making the position more prominent and influential in Irish politics.

During her time with the United Nations, Robinson was the High Commissioner for Human Rights. She credited this role with allowing her to see the human rights violations caused by the climate crisis and ultimately leading to the environmental activism she participates in now. Robinson created “Realizing Rights,” a non-governmental organization that was active from 2002-2010. The organization noted their goals “to integrate concepts of human rights, gender equality and enhanced accountability into efforts to address global challenges and governance shortcomings.”

During her speech, Robinson promoted her new book “Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience & the Fight for a Sustainable Future,” a collection of stories from climate activists around the world. She proudly joked that “climate change is a man made problem that requires a feminist solution” as she cited that the majority of her stories were

about female activists.

Throughout her speech, Robinson discussed four ways that the climate crisis affects human rights: the thirdworld countries that face coastal and

world countries being able to build their economy with fossil fuels before transitioning to clean energy.

In order to lessen these effects, Robinson emphasized the need for a “just

“Originally a lawyer, she became the first woman president as well as the first person to win the election without support of the Fianna Fáil party.

She is also credited with making the position more prominent and influential in Irish politics.” island effects, the way in which women are burdened by extra demands, the way in which children are burdened by the demands of their future and how it blocks developmental pathways. These developmental pathways include third

transition” to clean energy. She used the example of fossil fuel workers, suggesting pension for the older workers and funded retraining for the younger workers. This idea of “just transition” is very similar to the aforementioned de-

Photo by United Nations Information Centers via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0).

t t [ h d velopmental pathways, both of them y allowing countries and citizens to re- C adjust to a sustainable future. t At the end of her speech, Robinson s took a more personal approach and 2 reached out to the audience, suggest- f ing that many of the people gathered i in the Asplundh Concert Hall had their f own anxiousness about the climate j crisis. She encouraged the audience to engage in three steps: taking the issue S personally and therefore making personal changes, getting angry and get- “ ting active in the world of protest and imagining what the solution to the climate crisis may look like.

The last of her three steps is one that is not often heard. Robinson went on to remind the audience that just because not all of us are politicians does not mean that we cannot conceive po- y litical solutions. n West Chester University president l Chris Fiorentino took to the stage for M a Q&A with Mary Robinson. She ex- m pressed pride in the university’s sustainability efforts as lead by students and faculty. When asked how WCU students could be thinking about their future in tandem with the environment, Robinson said that as long as someone follows the three steps, they will be doing all they need to.

Robinson left the stage after a total of three standing ovations and over an hour dedicated to the climate crisis. Her speech made the climate crisis seem personal and solvable, giving a new purpose to an audience seeking climate justice. Robinson will continue to speak at universities and events throughout 2020 and beyond.

Caroline Helms is a first-year student majoring in English and minoring in political science. CH923631@wcupa.edu.

March 2, 2020

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APSCUF PRESIDENT TALKS PROBLEMS WITH PA HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING Continued from front page The high costs of higher education, he said, are a “direct result of the Commonwealth’s failure to fund [higher education].” Pennsylvania’s higher education funding has gone down significantly within the past ten years especially, with a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reporting a $2,451 decrease in PA state spending per student between 2009 and 2018, and average tuition at a four-year public Pennsylvania college increased by $3,006 in the same time frame. Both of these numbers are adjusted for inflation.

According to the Inquirer, the State System had asked for a 2% increase in

fund the state system” as well as community colleges and state-related schools. “The commonwealth has an obligation to make it affordable,” he said.

The affordability of college also affects admission rates, which affects the overall college population. This is something Gov. Wolf aims to change with his scholarship proposal. One stipulation of the tuition assistance is that the student must stay in Pennsylvania for as many years as they receive the scholarship. If not, the money is converted into a loan the student must pay off. This is in hopes that it will increase the younger population of Pennsylvania, which is quickly declining. However, Mash said the decline of high school graduates is “undeniable” in the commonwealth, but PASSHE

“The affordability of college also affects admission rates, which affects the overall population. This is something Gov. Wolf aims to change with his scholarship proposal.” yearly appropriation, which Wolf did not give. Instead, he allocated $13 million for a redesign. In a perfect world, Mash said, “our legislature, our policy makers, [would] start to adequately

rates are falling faster than the rate of decline of high school graduates. This is, he believes, directly related to the cost of going to college. Since its peak in 2010, there has been a 20% enrollment loss across the State System. In

Photo by Tom Wolf via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).

2019 alone, enrollment dropped 2.6%.

West Chester University is one of only a few PASSHE schools where enrollment increased in 2019, but only

much student debt, we’re hurting the overall economy here in Pennsylvania.” He goes on, “Students that graduate aren’t able to buy a house, afford a

“While funding for the PA higher education system decreases, student loans increases.” by less than one percent, according to the Post-Gazette. WCU is also PASSHE’s largest school with over 17,000 students. Other universities in the PASSHE system, such as Cheyney, increased 32%, which brought their total population up to 618. The reason that WCU is different from other PASSHE schools, said Mash, is the city itself. “Location, location, location,” Mash said. West Chester’s population is growing, so the university benefits from that. In contrast, many PASSHE schools are located in places where the population is declining, thus leading to a decrease in enrollment.

While funding for the PA higher education system decreases, student loans increases. According to Forbes, Pennsylvania ranks 49th in student loan debt per capita. For families with modest means, Mash said, “you’re looking at Mt. Everest.” The amount of debt students are in once they leave college will also hurt the overall economy, said Mash. “When students are carrying so

mortgage, buy a car.” Furthermore, the drop in enrollment will “impact the future of the Commonwealth because we’re going to need people who are educated,” he said. “We’re not going to be able to attract good employers [...] if we don’t have enough educated people.”

Mash called the state of public higher education in Pennsylvania a “dire situation.” But, he believes that it can be turned around with students themselves. “We need students to step up,” he said. He called on students to make their voices heard by going to rallies held at the capital and contacting their legislators. As far as the Nellie Bly scholarship, Mash is thankful that the government is taking this issue on, and students need to “make their voices heard to try and make sure that this actually does happen [and] that it’s not just a proposal.”

Alison Roller is a fourth-year student majoring in English and minoring in journalism. AR875447@wcupa.edu.

Photo by GotCredit via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

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March 2, 2020

SYMPOSIUM PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTION IN WCU’S R ACE CONVERSATION

BY BR ENDAN LOR DAN A SST. NEWS EDITOR

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ast Thursday, two dozen students, teachers, alumni and West Chester community members gathered in the lower level of Phillips Autograph Library for a short symposium titled “Can We Listen About Race?.” The gathering, organized by the West Chester University group United to End Racism, served as a community response to the results of a survey done earlier this year on the racial climate at WCU. The goal of the event? Simply put, to listen.

Wednesday’s event put the attendees themselves at the center of the conversation, a common theme among UER events, which seeks to create an antiracist community though peer support.

After some brief introductions, the group was led through the general philosophy of United to End Racism by co-leader of UER-WCU, Dr. Michael Burns. “There’s definitely structural oppression that exists, but it’s individuals that hold those structures up,” said Dr. Burns, “and so while ultimately the whole goal of liberation has to do with broad structural change, we don’t

actually get there unless we’re in the correct mindset to imagine those relationships on a personal level.”

The flyer for the event reflected the same idea. “UER assumes that overcoming structural inequalities and implicit biases requires ongoing: discomfort, work, connection and community.”

Following this introduction and a few words by UER co-leader Dr. El-

community.

One participant described the fear they experienced as a person of color during the buildup to the 2016 election, citing Donald Trump’s rally at the university as a particularly scary time.

Others recalled racism shown towards peers and friends both at WCU and in their high schools and home communities.

Each story was met with an un-

“Dr. Brown hoped the lessons of the event could be applied to conversations about race in the broader WCU community. ‘I think racism is also held in place by painful emotions,’ she said.” lie Brown, attendees split into small groups, each led by a UER member.

These groups were structured less as conversations, where statements could be referenced and responded to, and more as a safe and trusting environment in which attendees could process their experiences with racism without fear of judgment or misunderstanding.

The stories shared reflected the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of those telling them, casting a light on the pervasive impact of racism on our

derstanding smile and an occasional prompt or reaffirming statement, gestures marked with a steady assurance that the speaker was being heard.

After the small groups, participants had the opportunity to share their experiences with the rest of the room before Dr. Brown and Dr. Burns concluded the meeting.

While the event did not focus on a specific guest speaker or other outside material, it was no less informative than if it had. The act of listening and

the comfort of being listened to fostered understanding and vulnerability between those present. “What we want to try to do is offer correct information to disrupt the way that pain interferes with how we think about ourselves, in terms of making better choices in the way we interact with other people in the world,” said Dr. Burns about the purpose of the gathering and the grander goal of UER. Dr. Brown hoped the lessons of the event could be applied to conversations about race in the broader WCU community. “I think racism is also held in place by painful emotions,” she said.

“Part of the point here was to share strategies for listening to one another so we can process the painful emotions and be able to think more clearly about how to build relationships with each other and take effective action toward ending racism, so I hope there’s something about the insight of that that people will take away from this event.”

Brendan Lordan is a third-year student majoring in English and minoring in journalism.  BL895080@wcupa.edu.

Photo by West Chester University via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

Photo by Brendan Lordan

Features March 3, 2020

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QUADFEATURES@WCUPA.EDU

“THE HEART OF MAIN HALL”: AN INTERVIEW WITH TONI DAVIS

Continued from front page When asked about her favorite part of the job, she didn’t hesitate with her answer: the people. She smiled and gestured to the students buying snacks and coffee and recognized the faculty and staff for their kindness. When I asked how she gets through difficult days, she explained that her customers never fail to improve her mood. For every customer that passed through the P.O.D. that day, I could tell that the feeling is mutual.

Davis enjoys watching cooking shows and comedies on television. After asking her if she cooks, she replied with, “Of course!” Naturally, I followed up with a question about her favorite meal, and she declared steak and potatoes to be her number one pick. “I know you’re a vegetarian,” she relayed with a laugh, showcasing her incredible memory and attention to detail. I hadn’t mentioned my diet in months, and despite the heaps of people that pass through daily, Davis still remembered my dietary preferences. I took her comment as evidence for why the WCU community loves her – she listens to and laughs with every person she encounters. In an often fast-paced, high-stress world, it helps knowing that someone out there cares about the details.

Davis listed her family as her proudest achievement. When I asked her about her children, there was one main takeaway: they are all good parents. She has four children, one son and three daughters, and each has provided her with beautiful grandkids to cherish and enjoy. She admires each of them for their commitment to their kids and remarked on their efforts to give each child love and opportunities.

Photos by Celine Butler

Her mother is also her role model, and when I asked why, she put it simply: “She is just a good mother.” Davis also told me that she resembles her mother quite a bit in character and personality. If Davis is any indication, then her mother must be a remarkable woman.

While a trip to the emergency room

isn’t exactly the definition of a fun night out, Davis found a welcome surprise during a recent visit to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. According to Davis, one of the men working at registration is a WCU alumni, and he recognized her the moment she came in. “This lady, she took care of me

when I was in school,” he exclaimed to his co-workers. The exchange left her smiling, despite the unpleasantness of the situation that landed her there. She also relayed another heart-warming encounter, this time shopping at her local grocery store. “Your voice… It sounds so familiar…” a former student proclaimed. After a bit of reminiscing, the fellow shopper remembered the source of the familiarity. From there, the two struck up a happy conversation.

If you ever see Davis out and about, make sure you say hello. Based on the enthusiasm with which she shared these stories, it makes her feel good.

And, knowing how I feel after chatting with her, it will undoubtedly brighten your day as well.

Ann Kennedy, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, expressed appreciation for Davis’ wonderful energy. “She literally makes me laugh every day,” she said. “I enjoy having her here, and I look forward to seeing her on a daily basis. When she’s not here, we feel it.” Davis makes an effort to talk to each and every customer that visits, going above and beyond to spread joy to everyone who crosses her path. She described herself as lovable, fun and giving, though these three words alone cannot do justice to Davis’ incredible spirit. Davis’ influence transcends Main Hall, and she has done wonders to improve morale across campus. In her own words, she “will go a million ways to make sure things are done right.” For this, she deserves endless appreciation.

Celine Butler is a fourth-year history and psychology double major with a minor in French. CB869071@wcupa.edu.

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March 2, 2020

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR DOROTHY ALLISON VISITS WCU

By Shannon Montgomery Special to the Quad

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enowned author and National Book Award finalist Dorothy Allison visited West Chester last week as part of the university’s Creative Writing Reading Series. She was on campus for two days, holding a craft talk on Monday and two events on Tuesday; a meet-and-greet with creative writing students and faculty in the afternoon, and a public reading in the evening.

The reading took place in Sykes Auditorium at 7 p.m., where Allison was introduced by Professor Luanne Smith, who spoke about the influence that Allison had on her as a “baby writer” in the 1980s. Smith was born and raised in a working-class town in Kentucky and, like Allison, draws heavily upon this background when writing. This was at a time however, when critics in the field denounced writing about working-class communities, calling it “K-mart fiction.” When Allison’s debut novel, “Bastard Out of Carolina,” was published in 1996, Smith recalls, it was a “hallelujah moment.” It was the first time she had ever felt validated as a writer.

“She believes that the “uncomfortable is the best we all can hope for.””

Allison started by talking about her childhood love of science fiction and her affinity for Star Trek’s “Deep Space Nine.” She recalled that she wanted to have been born in a different world, and sci-fi was an escape for her. She was inspired by the descriptive language used in these stories and always tried to emulate it in her own writing.

She also had some advice for the writers in the room: she encouraged them to “write me something your mama will be scared of.” She believes that the

“uncomfortable is the best we all can hope for.”

She shared her short story, “Jason Who Will Be Famous,” which is about a teenage boy who dreams of being famous. He fantasizes about being interviewed on TV and idolized by his peers. This fame, he imagines, will come after being kidnapped and confined to a basement. He brainstorms about everything that he could accomplish in captivity: he could learn to play

There was time for a few questions and answers. A man asked Allison if rhythm was important in her writing.

She answered, “Major.” She said that she was raised in the Baptist church and grew up on rock n’ roll, which she believes influenced the rhythm of her writing. She advocated for reading one’s writing out loud, explaining that “good fiction should be extended poetry.”

She asked herself in jest, “How did

“She was the first member of her family to graduate from high school and received a scholarship to go to college. She felt like she didn’t belong among her wealthy peers and became depressed and suicidal.” the guitar, write music and especially write poetry, the kind that “makes your neck go stiff.” He pictures himself getting in shape—he’ll have to get thinner with only the food his captors provide, and everyone keeps some old weights in the basement. When he’s famous, Jason reckons, his parents will finally recognize his talents. His mother always rags on him to work harder. His father left when he was a child and they don’t talk much. He imagines reconciling with him once he’s famous.

As the story comes to a close, Jason hears a vehicle headed toward him and imagines it’s his kidnapper. Things have to change, he thinks. “God, God let it change.”

Afterward, Allison explained her inspiration for “Jason Who Will Be Famous.” She lived in a small town in northern California, a “little white trash town.” One day, while stopped at a red light, she looked around at the teenagers hanging around on the side of the road. She felt annoyed by them, calling one a “goddamn son of a bitch.”

She hadn’t meant to say it out loud and was ashamed of herself. She started wondering about that kid, wondering “What does he dream of?” She started writing “Jason” that night.

you become a writer, Dorothy?” She explained that her mother was one of 11 children. Each of her six sisters had eight to ten kids, so she had a lot of cousins. As the oldest girl, Allison was often put in charge of them. Many of them had a propensity for violence— she notes that several went to prison and that “they all deserved it.” She started telling stories, “terrible stories,” to occupy them.

She was the first member of her

“She left all the “baby writers” in the room with one hope: that they too would have a come-toJesus moment.” family to graduate from high school and received a scholarship to go to college. She felt like she didn’t belong among her wealthy peers and became depressed and suicidal. When she didn’t receive a scholarship to graduate school, she moved to Orlando and worked at a grocery store. Once, four teenagers came in to rob the store. One of them put a silver pistol to her head.

Photo courtesy of West Chester University Creative Writing Series.

She thought to herself, “I didn’t do anything.” They didn’t shoot her, and she recalled that she “was determined to do something” after surviving the robbery. This was the catalyst for her writing career, calling it a “come-to-Jesus moment.” She left all the “baby writers” in the room with one hope: that they too would have a come-to-Jesus moment.

Shannon Montgomery is a third-year English major with minors in creative writing and women’s & gender studies SM916394@wcupa.edu.

March 2, 2020

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20TH POETRY CONFERENCE: PLANNED WITH STUDENTS IN MIND

faculty will be offering open studio hours as well as slideshow discussions of their work. In the first week of April, when the semester is starting to reach its boiling point, taking a load off and sharing some fantastic creativity is just the shot in the arm we all may need.”

Do not be dismayed if you are new to poetry and are nervous about attending the conference. The events are very relaxed settings, allowing for a creative and memorable experience.

You will rub shoulders with accomplished poets and scholars, learning from them and making connections.

In terms of preparations for the confer-

By Maria Mar abito Features Editor

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eople might know West Chester University by name due to its strong education program and successful marching band, but West Chester is famous for a poetry conference as well— fun fact: West Chester’s Wikipedia bio includes info about the conference.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the conference, which is now being held in April instead of during the summer, allowing more students to attend, and attend at a discounted rate.”

The poetry conference, concerned with formal poetry, started on campus in 1995 during a time when formalism was largely being overlooked. The conference’s focus on form, prosody and craft has attracted poets and scholars from all over the country, making West Chester the nation’s premier poetry conference destination. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the conference, which is now being held in April instead of during the summer, allowing more students to attend, and attend at a discounted rate.

Jesse Walters took over as director of West Chester’s Poetry Center and conference in 2018. In an interview about the Poetry Center and conference, he said, “[It] is a resource I’ve always been aware of as a poet, and its reputation in the poetry community has always been top notch. When I was offered the opportunity to be part of its future vision, I jumped at the chance.” During his time as director, Walters has worked towards cutting the cost of the conference for attendees, down by over 50%, allowing all kinds of people interested

Photo courtesy of West Chester University Poetry Center Facebook.

“The workshops provide an intimate, casual experience with some of the most talented poets writing today. . .” in poetry to attend.

While the theme of the 2019 conference was “Setting out for the Sublime: Voice, Verse & Craft,” this year’s theme, marking the 20th conference held at West Chester, is “Form, Flight and Ferocity.” Walters said the theme was inspired by the works of conference keynote speaker, Molly Peacock, award-winning poet and author of seven books. According to Walters, “Molly Peacock is truly the voice of flight and ferocity! Her work is both accessible and vibrant, absolutely readable while literally taking your breath away. She will offer a special one-day workshop, while a variety of other poets will offer workshops for all sorts of poets.”

The conference will be running from April 2-4 with a special event for teachers on the fifth. Attendees should expect various panels, presentations, workshops and readings throughout the four days, including an open mic night for anyone interested in sharing

poetry. On the first night, Molly Peacock will share her keynote reading in the Ware auditorium in Swope; students are invited to attend. Other presenters and workshop leaders to expect include Annie Finch, George Green, Juliana Gray, Susan de Sola, Shirley Geok-lin Lim and Kaveh Akbar. They will be hosting workshops ranging in topic from feminine voice to sonnets to ekphrastic poems.

According to Walters, attendees should expect “a really good time!

Whether you’re a professional writing major here at the University obsessed with poetry or an occupational therapy major who can’t remember the last time they read a poem, there’s something here for everyone. The workshops provide an intimate, casual experience with some of the most talented poets writing today, and the scholarly presentations are simply fascinating explorations of art and the written word. As a special addition this year, our incredible art students and

“You will rub shoulders with accomplished poets and scholars, learning from them and making connections.”

ence, Walters advises a Google search, “Take a look at the faculty who are offering workshops, and simply give them a Google. Read some of their poems, and I think you’ll find words and ideas that are very accessible and thought-provoking.”

Attendees outside of West Chester should expect to pay about $500 to attend, though West Chester students have the opportunity to participate at a significantly discounted rate. Interested undergraduate or graduate students can attend everything except for the workshops for free though they initially are required to put down a $49 deposit, which will be refunded at the end of the conference. To ensure a refund, students’ attendance must be recorded by conference personnel. To attend the workshops, students must put down a $99 deposit, $50 of which will be refunded. Students can register online and should contact Cyndy Pilla in the College of Arts and Humanities with any registration problems.

Maria Marabito is a third-year English major with a minor in literatures and diverse cultures. MM883631@wcupa.edu.

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March 2, 2020

WINDOW TO WEST CHESTER: ALI CASTRONUOVO

By Emma Bickerstaffe Assistant Features Editor

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alking with Ali Castronuovo around the West Chester University campus is an entirely sociable experience, there are waves, there are hellos, there are hugs. Everyone knows Castronuovo – and for good reason.

A third-year Media and Culture major with a focus in production and a minor in history, Castronuovo is a former Sykes Student Union employee, Treasurer for the WCU History Club and a DJ for 91.7 WCUR FM The Curve, on top of being the station’s Programming Director.

Following in the footsteps of her older brother, Castronuovo came to WCU from Bucks County, PA, “College is stressful in general, being in your 20s is stressful but WCU feels like home…

I love West Chester, I think the area is beautiful, our Media and Culture program is wonderful, I just like being here,” she explained.

When it comes to being a WCU student, Castronuovo has more than

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made her mark on the university. As the Programming Director for WCUR, she’s in charge of making schedules for the entire general and executive staff. In a process that took over two weeks, Castronuovo arranged a timetable around the needs of 138 people, all while ensuring that the station would have enough covered broadcasting time. In general, she says that she’s here to help the station.

“Anything that our General Manager [Mike Quin] needs! I’m one of the first people that someone can reach out to if they need something or if anything goes wrong. Mainly, I’m here to make sure that everyone has a good experience.”

Regarding the WCU History Club, Castronuovo started her freshman year off as the T-Shirt Chair and has since moved up the ranks to Treasurer.

She communicates regularly with the SSI office to ensure that the budget is together and functioning; a process described as “tedious but fun,” due to her love of the club and the SSI’s Laura Sheehan.

“Being in the History Club, I like the amount of freedom that we have.

With it being completely student-run, we go on a lot of trips and I love being immersed in the history… for WCUR, it’s just awesome. You get to broadcast your voice to everyone. It’s a very unique opportunity that only a fraction of West Chester students have or even know about. Once every week I get to enforce my music taste onto the entire West Chester area!”

One of Castronuovo’s favorite parts of her WCU involvement? Meeting people. “Oh my god, I know so many people!” she said with a laugh. “I’m very active, I know a lot of people but I spend most of my time at the station.

When I worked at Sykes, I got to know everyone in Student Affairs and so much of the administration. And even now, I love to help people – I’ll help out wherever anyone needs it.”

Undoubtedly, when it comes to her on-campus experience, Castronuovo’s passion lies in WCUR: “It’s the voice for the West Chester students, it really is whatever whoever is on-air wants it to

be. Having your own show is just a really cool experience; it’s a time to put yourself out there to the world. I just love it so much!”

Every Monday, Castronuovo’s program, “The Ali Show,”runs live from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on 91.7 WCUR FM. “It’s the first show on Monday mornings, m and I try to make it as fun and upbeat m as possible. Middle school jams, anyt thing that will make you dance! For c anyone who’s listening, and for myself, w I want it to be happy and a great start b to the week. I really believe that if you b start your week out that way, it should f continue to be good.”

“It’s wonderful to walk around campus and not feel like you’re surrounded y by strangers. You meet so many people doing what I do, it makes the college c process easier. Honestly, I got involved s with WCUR because I needed somec thing to do, but I really, truly found my a people here.” i l Emma Bickerstaffe is a third-year English m major with minors in journalism and p antrhopology. EB891492@wcupa.edu. p

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BIG KID CONVOS: ASKING FOR HELP

By Hannah Barr as Staff writer

his week, I wanted to have a conversation about what I am currently trying to do — ask for help. I want to write this column to create open conversations about subjects we don’t talk about often. Everyone is different; we don’t know anything about what is going on in someone’s mind. We can benefit from listening to other people’s opinions, for it allows us to learn something about ourselves.

We’re all humans, after all. Part of the human experience is asking for help, so why is it so difficult?

When we’re young, we ask for help with everything. I remember asking my mom for help, and she would ask me if I tried it myself first. I always answered no. As a child, I did not hesitate to ask for help. So, why then, is there a sudden urge to stop asking and taking

everything on ourselves? We develop the idea that there is a difference between small problems and big ones.

We’re confident that our mom knows where our sneakers are, but we’re not sure she can tell us why we’re so anxious. But why should those things be any different?

One of my good friends from West Chester has taken this step – getting professional help. She told me that, while it’s great to seek help from friends, family and those who give you comfort, those people are helpful for temporary problems. She says this is because “even if your friends have the best intentions and generally solid advice, professional help can be extremely beneficial because they have the training and education to help you take solid steps towards working through your issues.”

I asked my friend why she thinks

people are hesitant to ask for help. She feels that getting help is sometimes like admitting defeat. “We are so reluctant to make mistakes or do something wrong that we don’t want to seek help when we need it… There are many different reasons for somebody to experience mental illness. Our pride gets in the way and tells us that it’s our fault and that we did something wrong and need to fix the problem ourselves.”

Taking that step is the hardest and most important part of feeling better.

If we don’t take that step, we become complacent with these problems. I think that we tend to become complacent for any number of reasons: we feel our problems are not as bad as others or that our problems are not worth the time. We are taught to be big kids and do things ourselves. We ignore our problems to avoid letting them consume us. In this ignorance, we

are hurting ourselves by letting those problems intensify. Seeking help, perhaps professional help in particular, forces us to stop ignoring what we’re doing to ourselves.

The thing is, you’ve never gone through anything like what you’re gow ing through now. Even though other w people may be going through someo thing worse, you are going through the e worst thing in your world. Give it the i attention it deserves. I’m grateful for c the conversation I had with my friend, f as she is a great example of what bec ing brave and getting help can do for you. She says, “In general I am a big fan of getting help. If you had the flu, you would go to the doctor, so why should h mental health be treated any differf ently?” s Hannah Barras is a third-year communications major with a journalism minor. HB888984@wcupa.edu.

i d

March 2, 2020

GUIDE TO SURVIVING MIDTERMS WEEK

By Sabrina von Ahrens

but studying can make you feel restless and unfocused. Going for a walk can help reset your motivation and clear your mind of distractions.

Special to the quad

T

he time has come, the seventh week of the semester is here.

This can only mean one thing: midterms. Midterms are one of the two most stressful times in a semester, with the other being finals. It is easy to succumb to stress, but you can fight it off with preparing for what the week will bring. Here are some tips to help you to be your most productive and successful self during this stressful week.

1. Look at your syllabi and talk to your professors.

Check what your syllabus for each class says so you have a basic understanding of what your midterm will consist of. Talk to your professors and ask for a detailed explanation of what is to be expected. Asking about things like the content and format of your midterm will not only help you in your prep work, but also help you mentally prepare yourself for how much and what type of work lies ahead.

2. Get organized.

Know the dates of your exams and

“Talk to your professors and ask for a detailed explanation of what is to be expected.”

write them down! There is nothing r worse than missing an exam. Be clear on the date, time and location of your e exam. It is helpful to write down the e information in an organizer to ensure clarity. Be sure to know all of your pro, fessors’ office hours and emails just in case you have questions for them. r 3. Plan, Prepare and STUDY! There are three main components to having a successful, minimally stressful midterms week: plan, prepare and study!

Plan: In your agenda, block out times in around classes/extracurriculars to dedicate solely to midterm prepara-

Page 9

"Emotional Signs Of Stress" by maheen49 is licensed under CC PDM 1.0.

tion; hold yourself accountable and stick to your plan! You’ve come so far this semester, don’t let all of your hard work fall apart because of procrastination or overbooking.

Prepare: Be sure to do your prep work! Do things in advance: make those comprehensive study guides and note cards, get to work on making outlines for papers, retrieve all research before crunch time comes.

Study: Study the material! Give yourself an adequate amount of time to go through the material at least three times or until you understand it. Be sure to know your professors’ office hours and study before them so you can go to your professor for one on one support if need be.

4. Take care of your body.

It is easy to be neglectful to yourself during times of high stress, but it is crucial to tend to yourself as much as, if not more than, your studies. While it is tempting to live solely off of caffeine during midterms week, it is anything but helpful to do this.

Fenn’s Coffee truck gives a 25 cent discount if you bring your own reus-

able mug! You get to save some cash and the environment getting your next coffee, all while supporting a great local business. They’re located just outside of Schmucker Science Center.

Buy some of your favorite foods to indulge in when you need the extra bit of comfort. Fuel your body right and stay ahead of your busy schedule by meal prepping nourishing meals for the week. Keep healthy snacks with you to keep you going all day long.

Take a break from work while eating meals, use the time instead to relax by

“Build a network of support with your peers and your friends, checking in with one another is great for morale.” doing something passive like watching Netflix, listening to music or browsing social media. Try to go for a walk and get some fresh air; being confined inside for hours on end, doing nothing

5. Take care of your mind.

Just as it is easy to neglect your body during times of high stress, the same goes for the mind. Be sure to check in with yourself and listen to what your body is telling you. Do not get discouraged or defeated. You have accomplished so many things so far in your life’s journey already, midterms are just another hill to climb over. You can do this! Build a network of support with your peers and your friends, checking in with one another is great for morale.

Be aware of the resources on campus that can help you deal with stress, like the counseling center and the therapy dogs that always come to say hello.

Make sure you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep—the amount and quality of rest you get can really affect you and your day, so make it a good one by catching enough z’s!

It is important to try your hardest and do your absolute best on your midterms, but if they don’t go as planned— it is not the end of the world, you will be okay. You have the rest of the semester ahead of you still to perform better in your classes and bring your grades up.

Ask your professors about extra credit opportunities to help boost your grade.

We only have to make it through this week of hecticness until we’re able to bask in the sweet freedom that spring break brings. While spring break is a literal break from classes, don’t neglect scholarly responsibilities over the week off. Procrastination will only make you stressed. Know what you have to get done for when you return to classes and work on a portion of each assignment daily. We’re all in this together and we’ve got this. Go study!

Sabrina Von Ahrens is a third-year Engilish major with minors in French and linguistics. SV915865@wcupa.edu.

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By Claudia Cava Special to the Quad

I

t is no secret that coffee is a staple in college life. In an attempt to balance classes, activities, social events and all the other chaos of college, students often find themselves running on fumes… and a ton of caffeine. Plus, now more than ever, coffee is associated with social gatherings, status, tastes and ultimately “the aesthetic.” Coffee drinking is about so much more than just the beverage— college students love everything the bean juice scene embodies.

As a college student, I know how much I rely on coffee myself, but as a barista, I have the opportunity to be behind the bar and behind the scenes in the coffee world. It is an amazing perspective to see what goes into making all the café drinks that are so popular.

From coffee secrets and hacks, to personal favorites, I will be offering my ex-

CAFÉ Corner: Non-Coffee Options

pertise here in the café corner.

Welcome back to the café corner! The past few weeks, we have looked into all things espresso and highlighted drinks where the espresso shines. This week however, we will be taking a different route.

Your friend invites you to a coffee shop. You’re excited, but definitely a little worried. There’s a small problem: you don’t like coffee.

It happens. It’s incredibly common.

Coffee is not for everyone! But what do you do when you don’t drink coffee and you end up at a café? What do you order? This week we will be discussing how to tackle the coffee shop scene for non-coffee drinkers.

Fortunately, coffee shops offer so many beverage options that are not coffee. Specifically, teas are a great alternative to coffee, and there are plenty of different kinds of teas and tea-based drinks. For starters, cafés typically boast countless kinds of hot teas, both

caffeinated and herbal. Some cafés also serve iced teas as well!

However, if you are looking for a coffee substitute more along the lines of a latte or another fun coffee drink, you may want to venture from regular brewed teas to more tea-based beverages. One incredible tea drink is the matcha latte, which is made of green tea finely ground to a powder. The matcha latte is served with steamed milk, creating an overall sweet refreshing flavor with evident hints of the green tea. Just like regular lattes, matcha can be iced, too.

Another great tea drink is the wellknown chai tea latte. Highlighted in a previous café corner that discussed the dirty chai, the classic chai tea latte is made with chai tea, a strong black tea, spices and either steamed or cold milk.

Black teas are strong and are actually the most caffeinated of teas, making any black tea drink a great substitute for coffee. The chai tea latte specifi-

March 2, 2020

cally has a sweet and spicy flavor, with strong tastes of cinnamon and ginger.

The final tea latte we will discuss is the delicious London Fog. The London Fog is made from the Earl Grey tea, which is also a black tea, sweetened with vanilla and steamed milk.

Although it is most commonly served as a hot latte, the London Fog can also be made iced.

Overall, cafés love to serve drinks other than just coffee, and teas are fantastic drinks that are in generous supply and variety. So in the event you end up in a coffee shop and are looking for something other than coffee, rest assured that there are plenty of non-coffee options for you!

From, your barista.

Claudia Cava is a third-year finance and economics major with a journalism minor. CC887936@wcupa.edu.

ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS PT. 1

By Mason Ziegler, Matthew Kr amer and Nicholas Hughes Specials to the quad

M

y father was an asteroid miner. Three years ago, when I was 16, I began working in the same business as him, although I soon learned I was nothing like him. Apparently he was loved by many; talkative, outgoing and charismatic. None of those characterized me, and there are precious few people out here that those qualities could describe. They liked me well enough because I did my work and when I opened my mouth I never pissed anyone off.

This job doesn’t pay well, but it’s practically the only work that’s left. The laborers on an asteroid mine mainly operate machinery and mining equipment. It’s grueling work and the conditions are dangerous. Despite this, work continues. Across the empire’s star systems, every asteroid mining operation is equipped with an AI overseer called Viviane to ensure the mines are functioning and stable. Human over-

seers are employed to manage more specific mining operations. One day during operations, one of the miners working alone deep in the asteroid excavated a metallic, alien object. As soon as the news was brought to the overseers, standard operations ceased for the day, while the AI analyzed the artifact. All of the miners lingered as close to overseers’ quarters as they could get. Even I was a little interested, and listened in on their wild theories.

“What kind of asteroid are we digging in? I have never seen anything like that in all my years here.”

“I’ve seen all types of artifacts uncovered too, but none as intact as that.

It could be a weapon, maybe it’ll be useful for the war,” said a speculator.

“What’s a bit ‘a junk from the old days got tae do with the war?”

“The hell with the war, what if it makes money? Will we see any of that dough?” retorted a miner from behind.

“Lads, get a hold of yourselves!” yelled an overseer. “Viviane is analyzing it for us,” he continued calmly.

As I peeked into the room from where I stood, I saw the strange object

being scanned by a blue light sweeping back and forth. After a while, the Head Overseer of the mine came out and informed us that the artifact has to be opened for the AI to continue to study it. Many people tried, but no one was successful in opening the artifact.

Even the strongest men of the mine were left befuddled when they couldn’t crack it open.

“The only one of us that hasn’t tried to get this sucker open is Artie. Why don’t you have a crack at it?” asked one miner.

“That scrawny little pipsqueak couldn’t even open a tin can! Maybe his father could, but him...”

That really got to me, but I was determined to prove him wrong.

Let me see the stupid thing.” I snatched it and it immediately opened up into what looked like a handle. My hair stood up as the artifact discharged static into my hand. Despite the initial shock, holding it felt natural. It contoured to my fingers like it was made for me. I felt some innate energy within the faintly glowing object.

“Well, whaddya know, the kid opened

it!” said the Head Overseer, striding towards me. “Now hand it over for further analysis.”

I reluctantly surrendered the now opened artifact.

“Get back to work!” the Head Overseer commanded. They brought the hilt into overseers’ quarters and we returned to our work.

The following day, they all avoided me. Whether it was out of jealousy or fear, I did not know. As the day headed to a close, a fancy imperial ship landed and one man clad in military armor marched out.

“Hello, my name is Lancelei and I am with the Galactic Order of the Knights.

It has been brought to my attention that one of you has opened a relic of great power. I am seeking whoever opened that relic.”

“It was that kid, Arthur!” said the Head Overseer, pointing in my direction Mason Ziegler, Nick Hughes and Matt Kramer are students at West Chester University.. MZ940321@wcupa.edu; NH930602@ wcupa.edu; MK936542@wcupa.edu.

March 2, 2020

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Arts & Entertainment

QUADENTERTAINMENT@WCUPA.EDU

WCU PRESENTS “THE VISIT”

By Samantha Walsh and Christoforos Sassaris Editor-in-Chief and Arts & Entertainment Editor

though the comedic effect it holds on the audience is well-placed.

While the plot was unique, it could

this, the plot was relatively engaging in the first two acts, and gave me a good laugh at the odd characters and hu-

Photo by Christoforos Sassaris

O

n Friday night, we both attended the showing of WCU Theater’s “The Visit,” a three-act play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt about a woman who visits her poor childhood hometown to seek revenge upon an old lover who wronged her as a child.

Bizarre and colorful, the play was an intriguing experience that both surprised us and left us morbidly curious as the show progressed.

Viewers are introduced to the small town of Gullen, a poor, run-down town in Germany that’s known nothing but financial ruin and despair for years.

Upon the return of a cold, billionaire woman known as Claire Zachanassian, the town members rejoice as Alfred, her childhood lover, convinces her to donate a hefty portion of her wealth, $1 million, over to the town and the families that reside there. The town is ecstatic, though they quickly realize the money will only be theirs if they agree to Claire’s terms: kill Alfred, who left her pregnant, disgraced and alone when she was only 17.

Mob mentality and the seduction of money and wealth lure the town members, causing them to grow deep into debt as they decide, one by one, that killing Alfred may be what’s best for the desolate town as the individual members begin taking on individual debts. This is symbolized by the new yellow shoes that each town member can be found wearing throughout the course of the play. Absurd and nihilistic, “The Visit”’s plot is not a happy one,

“All in all, ‘The Visit’ was another successful production

by WCU’s Department of Theatre and Dance ...”

Much of the plot’s resonance depends on a vivid portrayal of life as a whole — from youth to old age. In short, for the play to powerfully illustrate the longterm effects of past actions and experiences, the production must convincingly portray characters of different age groups. While the acting, outfits, makeup and props of the production were all fantastic, they could have been utilized in a way that made the characters look like the age they were supposed to be. For example, several lines in the play state that Alfred Ill, Zachanassian’s former lover, is supposedly 70 years old. While the actor’s performance was great, he never looked a day over 30, with a full head of brown hair. Moreover, his children looked the same age as him.

As always, the E.O. Bull Center’s Main Stage Theatre made for a unique theatre-going experience, as its layout allows for audiences to sit along three of the four walls that surround the stage. While the stage design was somewhat minimalist — with the most props used during the scenes in Ill’s store — it nonetheless succeeded in evoking the aesthetic of a small, rundown rural town.

All in all, “The Visit” was another successful production by WCU’s Department of Theatre and Dance, which will also produce “Student Written OneActs,” “Spring Awakening” and “Spring Dance Concert” this semester.

Samantha Walsh is a fourth-year student majoring in

have been a bit shorter. Some scenes tended to drag, and its messages of greed, paranoia, mob mentality and deception rang clear very quickly and at times felt over explained. Despite

morous timing.

The odd thing about the plot was not the plot itself, but rather the choice to perform it in a university with a cast comprised of students of similar ages.

special

education

and

English

writings.

SW850037@wcupa.edu.

Christoforos Panagiotis Sassaris is a fourth-year

student majoring in English literatures with a minor in computer science. PS868710@wcupa.edu.

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March 2, 2020

THEATRE TALK WITH VANESSA SHOW OF THE WEEK: “SWEENEY TODD”

By vanessa rodriguez-mclean

Image in Public Domain

columnist

W

elcome to Theatre Talk with Vanessa! Here I will give a brief synopsis of musicals that I have listened to and give you my in-depth opinion on my favorite and least favorite aspects of the show. Feel free to send in any shows you want me to write about or listen to if I’m unfamiliar with the show!

“It is truly music to your ears when it is performed correctly, but quite a horrendous sound when you are beginning to get a feel for the notes you are playing and singing.”

Most of you do not know, but I was very involved in my high school’s theatre program. One of my favorite shows that we ever put on was “Sweeney Todd,” which we did my senior year. The show, based on the book by Christopher Bond with music written by the legendary Stephen Sondheim, is about a barber named Sweeney Todd who has had many troubles in his life and is an ultimate pessimist who wants the world to pay. The show has many twists and turns that I would never want to spoil and many dark moments as well. This is for sure not a show suitable for kids under 15 years old.

“Sweeney Todd” opened on Broadway with the principle cast of Len Cariou as the title character; Angela

Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett, a struggling baker: Sarah Rice as Johanna, Todd’s daughter and Edmund Lyndeck as Judge Turpin. The original production opened on March 1, 1979 and closed on June 29, 1980, with 557 performances and 19 previews. There have also been many tours around the USA and internationally, even in London at West End. Tim Burton even directed a movie adaption of the musical with Johnny Depp as Sweeney Tood and Helena Bohnam Carter as Mrs. Lovett.

The show’s music is very hard, but is so much fun to perform. It is truly music to your ears when it is performed correctly but quite a horrendous sound when you are beginning to get a feel for the notes you are playing and singing. Some of my favorite songs include “No Place Like London,” “Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir” and “A Little Priest.”

I loved being in this show because I was able to play many different characters, all while still displaying a dark demeanor to the audience. My favorite character that I played in the show was a lunatic in the insane asylum, and I love playing crazy characters so this was a big treat for me. Being in the ensemble is without a doubt the best part of the show. The principle characters are amazing, of course, but as an ensemble member you are able to be so many different characters in one show.

Overall, I believe that “Sweeney Todd” is a great musical to see if you are tired of seeing all of the happy-golucky musicals and want a story that is truly sad and depressing. Stephen Sondheim is a household name that most theatre fans would know, so add this to your list of shows by Sondheim that you know, and have yourself a great time! Or at least the best time that you can… it is a show about death, after all.

Vanessa Rodriguez-Mclean is a second-year student

majoring in media and culture with a minor in journalism.  VR925245@wcupa.edu

“Sweeney Todd” was based on “The String of Pearls,” which was serialized from 1846 to 1847

g s s n n s n t e y a

March 2, 2020

UNLIMITED DARLING’S “SAW A FLOWER” REVIEW PHILLY SUBURB INDIE ROCK OUTFIT MIMICS THE TANGLED SOLITUDE OF BUCKS COUNTY SCENERY

By Justin Bifolco Copy Editor

B

ucks County, PA presents an interesting condition to its resident artists that is out beyond s the dense, tedious roar of urban life.

Further still, past the soporific neighd borhood murmur of suburban life, a d far more hushed, yet infinitely resol nant, muse resides. It meddles deeper.

The artistic stimuli offered out here is e much closer to the ground, often times sowed firmly within it. The roots jut out at you, as if to lunge for your feet I while you walk. Stumbling, you entwine with the fray of the unfettered k earth and burn like dry brush. Out e here, you are mined by inspiration, not s the other way around.

I Among the contemporary artists s residing within the natural boundaries of the southeastern Pennsylvania t woodlands, Upper Black Eddy indie s rock band, Unlimited Darling, sits meditatively. Providing a unique and o startling insight into its solemn green . backdrop, Unlimited Darling released y “Faded Pink Hospital Curtain” in late u 2019. The record expresses, through ten tracks, a seasonal motif; it turns t with the leaves and ices with the river. n The first track of the record, “Saw A t Flower,” acts as a microcosm of the red cord to come: m a Saw A Flower t I saw a flower yesterday r

t

n

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wasn’t supposed to bloom till may & I screamed at it to go away, please & it’s response was too decay & that’s the way things are now that’s just the way things are

“Saw A Flower” sees songwriter and brainchild Derrick Miller arrange a stark, folky instrumental backdrop, over top of which he employs a minimal, though increasingly stimulating, terrain of sonic wilderness.

It is faint but nevertheless present.

Image reproduced with artist’s permission

“The track mirrors its author’s own secluded scenery.”

In this way, the track mirrors its author’s own secluded scenery. The mild, exurban manner of Upper Black Eddy, Bucks County, the fertile soil from which the band is bore, sits humbly by the Delaware River, lulled by its dull babel. Quaint, and yet, the potential for intemperate growth wades patiently.

The acoustic guitar grumbles in low, sweeping arpeggiations, up and down in vine-like passages, and the guitar sways. Tasteful, effective use of autotune, to accentuate a tone of voice committed to conveying the drab and wistful, just barely peaks its jaundiced eyes out from under the subdued and bass-heavy mix of this track.

Twenty seconds in, subtle but rhythmic waves of bitcrushed snare drum can be heard pulsing in reverse. The implication is structure, its content, even. This sentiment is paralleled by its lyrical accompaniment. Resigned to their predicament, our protagonist chants in a somber, cagey, almost bitter voice: that’s just the way things are now.

Just short of the one minute mark, a chorus of whistles rise from the near bare landscape. It is the wail of some plaintive passerby stuck in lament over

the previous summer in the face of a new spring. Bare but not barren, the entirety of the track runs under a minute and a half; it airs its grievance and leaves.

While “Saw A Flower” is just the first glimpse of a ten-track, 30 minute, full-length excursion, it provides the foundation for the journey. The record sees themes of engrossing doubt and reluctant reconciliation recur often. A subtle pining for forgiveness coats the lyrical contributions. It deliberates and concludes in seasons, reciprocating its

environment’s cycles. The entire record is inextricably bound to its formative surroundings, into which it stares mindfully and sees its own nature reflected back at it.

“Faded Pink Hospital Curtain” is Unlimited Darling’s debut full length record, and their first released work since 2017.

Justin Bifolco is a fourth-year student majoring in English with a minor in journalism.  VR925245@ wcupa.edu.

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March 2, 2020

OZZY OSBOURNE RELEASES FINAL OPUS

By Joseph Gill

Special to the Quad

T

he ‘Godfather of Metal’ has returned with a vengeance. Following a 10-year hiatus, Ozzy Osbourne released his 12th studio album on Feb. 21 called “Ordinary Man.” To say these past few years have been stressful on the “Prince of Darkness” would be an understatement. In January 2019, he suffered a brutal fall which forced him into a lengthy recovery. He was sent down a spiral of personal depression from which he could not have escaped without the help of his family and newly-discovered friend, Post Malone. In fact, he had been asked while still in recovery if he wanted to record with Malone on a piece to appear on the rapper’s new album. After recording “Take What You Want,” Osbourne seemed to find a new spirit that was kindled by his family and friends to make one emphatic finale to his legendary career. Featuring legendary musicians such as Slash, Elton John, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith and Duff McKagan, this final opus has exceeded expectations and is the former Black Sabbath lead singer’s most introspective work to date.

Leading off the album is the power-

Photo released to Public Domain by F darkbladeus via Wikimedia Commons

ful anti-drug anthem, “Straight to Hell,” where he narrates as an addictive substance preying on his victim who will suffer “hell tonight.” This hard-hitting sentiment echoes his notorious past which was littered with days spent as the victim of the substance that poisoned his mind. Next comes another glimpse into his past in “All My Life”.

Osbourne visits his younger self who questions his present state and asks if he will remain with the same reckless and dishonest habits that he so despises. This is one of a few on this album that Osbourne seems to be digging deep into himself and unleashing several demons who he must come to grips with as he passes the age of 70.

“Goodbye,” the album’s third track, begins with a very similar beat to that of Black Sabbath staple “Iron Man,” and then delves into a flurry of soulmesmerizing guitar serenading which backs a quiet and regretful tone by Osbourne. This soon transitioned to a quicker more aggressive tone. The title track, “Ordinary Man” offers a ballad of a rocker who knows the end is near but wants to thank his beloved fans for everything. Joining Osbourne on this track are two other iconic rockers, Sir Elton John and Guns N’ Roses legend, Saul Hudson, better known as Slash. This fan favorite tells the story of Osbourne’s quick rise to fame and his fall from grace. Yet, through it all, Osbourne recognizes his fans’ loyalty and begs them to not “forget me when the colors fade.” A superb orchestrabacked farewell, “Ordinary Man” paints Osbourne in a picture that his fans will forever hold in their hearts.

“Under the Graveyard” describes the story of one of the darkest moments of Osbourne’s life as he found himself at the depths of his decline into neardeath. Longtime fans might recall a time when the rocker spiraled out of control after his release from Black Sabbath and disappeared from the world for days, surrounded by his demons. However, “Under the Graveyard” shows us how he escaped the clutches

Photo by Kevin Burkett via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

of his demons. His future wife, Sharon, came to him in his hour of most desperate need and did not allow him to “die alone.”

“Eat Me” describes just what the title implies as the narrator shouts for an outside power to eat him in vintage “Ozzy” style. Transitioning from a harmonica solo into a strong bass, “Eat Me” has a very powerful introduction that captivates listeners from the start. The seventh track is titled, “Today is The End.” It reads as another introspective piece by Osbourne as his narrator notes the “black sun” and “red sky” surrounding him as he nears the inevitable end. Next is a catchy tune: “Scary Little Green Men” tells of an alien species living amongst humanity. Lines such as, “they’re silent, they may be violent,” beckon the listener to consider this work to be something past a story of aliens from outer space. Even if the piece means nothing beyond the story on the surface, the tune is played with what can, again, only be described as “vintage Ozzy.”

Next is my personal favorite piece from this album: “Holy For Tonight.”

In this intimate track, Osbourne addresses his fans from the perspective of no longer the rocker, but the

71-year-old man who understands life is temporary. Backed by an emotionally charged string ensemble and an equally charged choir, Osbourne bids a final loving wave to his fans. Following this piece is a song featuring Post Malone which falls into the category of “chaotically awesome.” There is really no other way to describe the collaborative piece, “It’s a Raid.” This is the type of song that will be keeping neighbors awake, as all good metal artists love to create.

“The Prince of Darkness” now faces retirement along with several struggles, such as his continued recovery from his fall and his recentlyannounced fight with Parkinson’s disease. Fans of rock, metal and any other genre can not thank him enough for his inspiration and contributions to the world through his music and his legendary comeback from the depths of despair. When he lays his head down for the final time, Ozzy Osbourne can rest assured that he will be forever remembered as anything but an “ordinary man.”

Joseph Gill is a first-year student majoring in English writings.  JG923276@wcupa.edu.

March 2, 2020

Page 15

PAR ASITE AND THE YEAR OF CLASS STRUGGLE IN FILM

By Kelly Baker WCU Alumnus

2

019 was an all-around good year for movies, but something occurred to me after I finished watching “Parasite” for the first time.

The South Korean film, by the now Academy Award winning director Bong Joon-Ho, has been the proverbial talk of the town among movie critics and filmmakers around Hollywood and the internet. Having seen “Parasite” today, I can say, without any doubt in my mind, that it certainly deserves all the praise it gets. However, this column is not a review for “Parasite” itself, but rather an important theme that is central to “Parasite,” and several other films this year: the theme of class division.

“Parasite,” “Ready or Not,” “Hustlers,” “Knives Out” and “Joker” have all been outspoken in their ideas about the divide between the working class and the bourgeoisie. “Hustlers” was about a group of exotic dancers scamming Wall Street suits for their part in the 2008 subprime mortgage scandal.

“Ready or Not” follows a young bride-

narratives about class divides. Several big examples include such works like “Taxi Driver,” “Spartacus” and even “Titanic.” What is unusual is for many of these movies to be released within the same year. It is unusual for Hollywood screenwriters to be so vocal about the widening class divides in our society and for all of these films to feel so raw and relevant to how moviegoers feel today.

Years back, many Hollywood screenwriters, and by extension studios, were afraid of making movies that were too outspoken about the divide between the rich and the poor for fear of being blacklisted. Even after the Hollywood blacklist ended, in the neoliberalism era, it seemed as if studios weren’t interested in making such movies with an emphasis on lass divides, possibly out of fear of being “too controversial” and hurting box-office winnings.

However, since we now have been living in an era of late capitalism, arguably since 2008, Hollywood screenwriters have become more and more bold. Does this mean that all Hollywood screenwriters have been reading Marxist theory for the last few years?

”Having seen ‘Parasite’ today, I can say, without any doubt in my mind, that it certainly deserves all the praise it gets.” to-be from a working class background as she is hunted like an animal by her fiance’s rich family. “Knives Out” deals with a group of people from both sides of the class divide fighting over a dead author’s estate. “Joker” deals with a working class man beaten down by a late-capitalist society until he cannot take it anymore and fights back.

It’s not unusual for Hollywood and non-Hollywood screenwriters to craft

Probably not, but it may be because of something that has been central to all forms of art since the time of the ancient Greeks and beyond. That is, all great works of art can be seen as a parable of the times they were made in.

Hollywood movies often act as an opiate for the woes of our daily lives, but some movies prefer to stay as close to real life and current events as possible. These movies act as a parable

to our lives and the problems we face, even if the names and locations may be changed. Such movies can be uncomfortable because they remind us

makes a strong case for treating social services as important for the working class and respecting people suffering from mental illness. “Hustlers” ac-

“These movies about class struggle have got all of us talking and thinking about one of the biggest issues of our time.” of what’s wrong with the world, but in a way, it’s important that they do. We could stick our proverbial heads in the sand with escapist fantasies, or force ourselves to look at the harsh truth about our world.

Each of the films this year have been forthright in their ideas about what’s wrong in the world in ways that we can’t help but agree with, sometimes in subtle ways or as loud as a bomb. “Parasite” acknowledged that while the upper class may be cheerful and friendly, they inadvertently see the lower classes as little more than robots. “Joker”

knowledged that there was no serious punishment for people responsible for the 2008 subprime mortgage scandal.

Finally, “Ready or Not,” although an exaggeration, correctly pointed out how the bourgeoisie often profit of the suffering of the lower classes.

These movies about class struggle have got all of us talking and thinking about one of the biggest issues of our time. All I can say to these screenwriters is to keep up the good work!

Kelly Baker is a WCU alumnus.  KB819687@wcupa. edu.

Photo by Kinocine PARKJEAHWAN4wiki via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Page 16 OURS By: Tyler Jefferson

March 2, 2020

March 2, 2020

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March 2, 2020

Arts & Entertainment

YACHT CLUB GAMES REVEALS PROGRESS ON PROJECTS

By Edward PArk Columnist

O

n Feb. 26, Yacht Club Games released information through Yacht Club Games Presents, which went over currently developing projects as well as additional features added to released games.

The announcements began with a new game that is a collaboration between Yacht Club and Mechanical Head called “Cyber Shadow.” The story follows Shadow as he tries to stop a legion of robots from completely ruining the world. The gameplay looks quite a bit like “Ninja Gaiden” in more ways than one, with a rather significant twist. In the gameplay there are a couple shots that show off some of the abilities that Shadow can use. Quite a few of them have a very familiar pattern which may not be completely derided from “Shovel Knight” but they share many of the characteristics of the characters of “Shovel Knight.” “Cyber Shadow” is releasing in fall of 2020.

For games that are currently out,

“King Knight: King of Cards” now has a multiplayer mode to the card game which was a rather strongly requested feature. They’ve also released a balance update to “Shovel Knight Showdown,” their competitive party fighting game,

is bugs. They also were ready to give more details about the release of the game. It is currently the only game that will be released next year.

They then announced a completely new project set in the “Shovel Knight”

“... Yacht Club Games seem to have quite a few years of intense work ahead of them.” by reducing the length of time some of the characters can fly. They also added an additional mode where you and a friend can work together in the target gauntlet from the arcade mode of the game.

They also had an update for their upcoming rogue-like game, “Shovel Knight: Dig.” They first announced Hiveknight, another member of the Hexcavators, this game’s version of the Order of No Quarter. Hiveknight, like most of the other knights in the “Shovel Knight” series, has a strong focus on one particular trait which in his case

series called “Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon.” The gameplay of the trailer seems to follow the match four style of gameplay that we’ve seen in many other games. However, when they go into more detail about the game, we learn the many differences between this game and others of similar ilk. From the trailer, it seems to play a lot more like a rogue-like game, with puzzle elements sort of in the mold of “Crypt of the Necrodancer,” except within one screen instead of an actual dungeon and a stronger emphasis on puzzles.

While we weren’t given many details

about the game, they have said it still has a long way to go and were not confident to give it a release date just yet.

Yacht Club Games then began to talk about where they will be next. They said that they would be at PAX East showing off quite a few different experiences from the many games that they were working on as well as a competition. There they will have a new level for “Cyber Shadow,” the first playable demo for “Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon” and another chance to play “Shovel Knight: Dig.” As a summary, Yacht Club Games seem to have quite a few years of intense work ahead of them. It’s quite incredible that they have so many projects currently in the works based purely off the once distant dream of the original “Shovel Knight” that has now allowed them to make new IP that we have yet to see.

Yet, as always, it is better to be cautious.

Edward Park is a third-year student majoring in English education. EP909756@wcupa.edu.

LOCAL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEK Art Exhibition: “A Species of Writing: Practical and Ephemeral Approaches to Drawing” MONDAY – FRIDAY 9 AM – 4 PM in EOBull

Faculty Recital:

Concert:

“Emily Bullock, mezzo-soprano”

“Winter Choral Festival”

MONDAY 7:30 – 9 PM

THURSDAY 8:15 – 9:45 PM

in Swope

in Swope

Art Exhibition: “An Incomplete Image of the Universe” FRIDAY 9 AM – 4 PM in Swope

March 2, 2020

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CINEMA PERCEPTION “AMERICAN FACTORY”

By Nicholas Bartelmo Columnist

H

as there ever been a time when so many American factories that once came to prominence in the United States suddenly disapk pear from existence? Oscar-winning y Netflix documentary film “American t Factory” provides deep insight on why - a General Motors factory closed its t doors, and how the Chinese company - Fuyao grew in its place to inspire hope w toward American job growth but po- tential scorn among its employees. For t a reader that is looking at this review: y spoiler alert.

Throughout the documentary, there s is great significance in its plot and - conflict, as the story includes varie ous points of view from American y and Chinese employees. In the plot, d there was a sense of distrust between f the two groups. Although there were s t

l -

no actors and the actual story was not scripted to benefit a selective audience, there was indeed tension within the film. At one point, there was a moment when it seemed there might have been significant conflict that left the viewer to ponder if a fight would break out. In

ing in America. Other than its plot, the film’s run time did not disappoint, and since it was a Netflix film, it was fun to watch at home.

In regards to its negatives, there were a few. To start, the film had no action.

Since it was a documentary film, there

“... the story includes various points of view from American and Chinese employees.” addition, the film successfully delves into the barriers between the two groups. There was one scene in which American workers went over to China to experience Chinese culture and understand how they do their work, whereas another scene showed the Chinese worker’s point of view of be-

is a sense that the film was only documenting on the specific details about companies. Another issue the film suffered from was that it had no clear antagonist. The only antagonist that the film presented was the actual company that took over General Motors, leaving the viewer confused as to if the film

was taking a side. Despite this, the film did a good job in delivering on what was going on in the factory.

Overall, “American Factory” delivered in captivating the viewer in questioning the intentions of companies and the actual story that it plays out.

As it is a documentary film, I place it as four and a half out of five stars for its riveting narrative, diverse viewpoints on both sides, and people on screen not being actors. If this documentary does not appeal to you, there is also the Ken Burns collection on varied topics about America. To anybody that has thoughts or comments about this review, feel free to email at my WCU email with your deep insight about the film. Until next issue, this is Nicholas Bartelmo signing off.

Nicholas Bartelmo is a fourth-year student majoring in history.  NB790429@wcupa.edu.

-

n

A WEEKLY Q& A SEGMENT OF TOPICS INVOLVING PERSONALITY, ENTERTAINMENT, POP CULTURE, & INTERESTS By jimmie johnson columnist

I

n last week’s Actual Factual of DC Comics’ Nightwing & Marvel Comics’ Daredevil, on a vote of seven to six, Matt Murdock/Daredevil would beat Dick Grayson/Nightwing.

“What would you do if you won Powerball, Mega Millions, or Cash4Life?”

If you were to win one or any of the multi-state lottery games, what would you do with your earnings?

Please send your responses to JJ863332@wcupa.edu or actualfactual1983@gmail.com Jimmie Johnson is a fourth-year student majoring in professional studies with minors in media and culture and studio arts.  JJ863332@wcupa.edu.

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O

March 2, 2020

CRITICAL MOVES ROADMAPS

By Edward PArk Columnist

nce upon a time, there existed a universally agreed notion that once a game is released, there is no helping the reception of the game because there was no chance to go back and change things. This is mainly because things such as online gaming were either extremely novel concepts or simply not possible with the hardware at the time.

It is truly quite shocking to me nowadays that I consider those times to actually have positives in the wake of our current gaming industry. A land where barely-finished games are released on to online platforms, such as Steam, the same way zombies latch onto survivors and just as well weight the platform down. However, this piece isn’t talking about the concept of early access. As poisonous a concept that has turned into, there are now more significant concepts that currently inundate the store fronts.

So here’s how the first person must have thought of the idea in our modern industry. “We have to think of a way to avoid using terms such as early access to categorize our game because we are in dire need of money but want to avoid the obvious negativity that early access has drawn in the past few years.” Thus was born the roadmap.

Obviously this idea has existed before, but now it has taken on a life of its own within the gaming community.

Roadmaps used to be for games that already had an immense amount of content that were simply given more to lengthen the lifespan of the game.

However, nowadays it is often used for games that were either too cowardly or aware to use the term early access and then barely finish their product to a crowd of people that so often say the same damn thing: “the game has potential.” Such a phrase is completely worthless because you are giving a game value that it doesn’t deserve.

What it has shown you is the skeleton of a game and you’re filling in the gaps with your no doubt vivid imagination. What this causes is people giving games positive reception when, honestly, many hardly deserve it. Where is this bizarre amount of confidence that they’ll even follow the roadmap in the first place coming from?

ously not being received well, decided that all the improvements to the game would come later in the infamous roadmap of “Anthem.” Quite a bit of time has passed since that roadmap was promptly taken down like the dreams of those who wished that “Anthem” was a better game with an indeterminate period of time between each up-

“Nowadays, with the luxury of online access, gaming companies seem to think that the very last thing they need when they sell a game is a finished product.”

There is no obligation on their part to finish the product in accordance with this roadmap in the first place.

I have grown to despise people who seem to think that once a roadmap is made, there is no way that they can stray from the development of the content that they planned to have within a certain timeframe. There are startling examples of games that promised further updates to their games that never ended up happening.

date. That was until they said they were overhauling the entire experience to attempt to make some money on the next platform. Who even knows what that would mean for the game. What changes are currently being made to the project? Will it even resemble the game that is currently out? Will current fans even like this updated experience that is coming out? Who knows? What we do know is that the entire roadmap, except for one thing, was not com-

“... pay attention and hold companies to their word about what they promise in their game ... ” The obvious example of this is “Anthem” and honestly this is the most perfect example of a roadmap going poorly. The released product was such a mundane and poorly-received experience that “Anthem’s” reputation with the general gaming public was about as good as Hitler’s amongst literally any sensible human being on Earth.

The few that were devout enough to enjoy the current experience and, despite the fact that the game was obvi-

pleted and was never spoken of again.

They even removed it from their website without announcement or reassurance.

This is a potential issue with many games that follow the roadmap model. Back in the beginning of the piece, where I made a point to be nostalgic about a period I was barely a part of, remember the key aspect of the period? They almost always released completed products. They didn’t have the

luxury of the online landscape that we now do have and thus needed to make sure the game was of decent enough quality before selling it to the public.

The obvious weakness of this period was that if the game had a critical error like crashing bugs, then there was no way to fix it except to release and sell a new version of the game.

Nowadays, with the luxury of online access, gaming companies seem to think that the very last thing they need when they sell a game is a finished product. And unfortunately, these trends always start at the top and move downward. Some indie games now release not in early access, but as a completed project to then announce that the content that is coming down the line will fix the issues with the game and have more robust content.

There is a game called “Mirador,” its concept was very intriguing and it was honestly quite an ambitious project for the number of people that are working on it. However, they are obviously not mentioned here because they did something right.

They released the game on the Steam platform as a completed game, not in early access, despite the fact the game felt extremely rough. If one were to look at the reviews for the game now, many will say or ask the same thing: why did this game not go into early access? Because it should have, considering the content of the game at the time. Now this conceptually multiplayer game has hardly a single player in it at a single time because of the very poor communication.

In short, pay attention and hold companies to their word about what they promise in their game and, I can’t believe I need to say this, if a game isn’t finished, don’t say it may be a good game in the future. Tell people if it’s currently a good game.

Edward Park is a third-year student majoring in English education. EP909756@wcupa.edu.

e e h . d r o a

March 2, 2020

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“SURVIVOR: WINNERS AT WAR” UPDATE By jeffrey babcock asst. sports editor

T

his past week on “Survivor: Winners at War,” we saw gamechanging moves and crazy ree actions at Tribal. o But before we get to that, let’s recap d d what happened on this past Wednese day’s “Survivor” episode. In this week’s e episode, it consisted of constant para- noia upon the Sele tribe, as once again - Sele went up against the Dakal tribe t in their immunity challenge and lost. e Adam, winner of “Survivor: Millennie als v. Gen X,” decided that now was the time to target a member of the sups posed “old school alliance,” Parvati. s However, Adam decided to do this unr der completely wrong circumstances - by telling one of her alliance members, y Ethan, who in turn relayed it to Parvati d and the “Godfather” Boston Rob. Because of this, the entire Sele tribe, after e the challenge they had lost moments , prior, ended up in a quiet afternoon e of nothing but silent stares at one ane other. e Fellow castaways Ben, Denise, Mie chelle and Jeremy were all blindsided o that Adam had told Ethan the plan they , had to blindside Parvati, and it was t complete and utter chaos. Meanwhile - at Dakal, they had the last three out of r four immunity wins, with the one loss y resulting in Amber’s boot and a divine reward of chicken kebabs. At the Edge d of Extinction, those players who were t booted off so far this season had to find t a specific advantage in order to offer to t the players still in the game by trading d fire tokens, which are your life on Edge s of Extinction.

The first to be voted out, Natalie, found the advantage and offered it to n Sarah, who is on the Dakal tribe. This intrigued her greatly because the advantage was to “steal a vote,” which means you can steal another tribe

member’s vote at tribal council. But it was hidden at the other tribe’s camp in a torch, so Sarah relied on her “Cops-RUs” member Tony to help camouflage her, and Sarah went and infiltrated the Sele camp and got the advantage.

While Dakal was living their best life, Adam over on Sele was simultaneously blowing up his entire game before his eyes. Parvati knew of the plan to blindside her, as well as the entire “old school” players alliance. This put Michelle and Jeremy in a terrible spot because they quickly became the swing votes of the tribal council that very evening. At Tribal, Rob and Adam got into a war of words, as they went back and forth about what was talked about at camp a few days prior, with Rob ultimately calling Adam out in front of the entire tribe and Jeff Probst. Unfortunately, however, due to not knowing much about the “find a bunker” ideology and the fact that Jeremy and Michelle decided to stick to their guns, Rob’s plan to flip the votes on Adam flopped. It sent a shockwave through the tribe as Ethan, winner of the third season of “Survivor” was blindsided and voted into the Edge of Extinction without even having a clue of what was going on.

Now, going into next week, I don’t really know how it will stand. Dakal has a two-person advantage over Sele now, and that can be huge going into the next immunity challenge and the rest going forward before the merge.

I hope that Sandra or Ben gets voted off, mainly because they are two big threats, especially the two-time winner Sandra, and I feel like by taking out a huge target early on, they will have a much better chance of winning the $2 million. Find out what happens next this Wednesday at 8/7c only on CBS. Jeffrey Babcock is a third-year student majoring in communications and minoring in journalism. JB884128@wcupa.edu.

TOP 10 SONGS The Box – Roddy Ricch Life is Good – Future ft. Drake Circles – Post Malone Dance Monkey – Tones and I Don’t Start Now – Dua Lipa Roxanne – Arizona Zervas Memories – Maroon 5 Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi Intentions – Justin Bieber ft. Quavo Blinding Lights – The Weeknd

TOP 10 ALBUMS Changes – Justin Bieber Artist 2.0 – A Boogie With da Hoodie The Slow Rush – Tame Impala Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial – Roddy Ricch All About Luv – MONSTA X Hollywood’s Bleeding – Post Malone When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish Meet the Woo, V.2 – Pop Smoke Music to Be Murdered by – Eminem Manic – Halsey

WEEKLY BOX OFFICE The Call of the Wild – $32,655,651 Sonic the Hedgehog – $31,991,981 Birds of Prey – $9,158,118 Bad Boys for Life – $7,752,740 Brahms: The Boy II – $7,147,619 Fantasy Island – $5,742,583 1917 – $5,609,600 Parasite – $4,225,522 The Photograph – $3,733,115 Jumanji: The Next Level – $3,641,487

Page 22

Op-Ed

March 2, 2020

QUADOPED@WCUPA.EDU

Dear West Chester,

253 Sykes Student Union West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383 610.436.2375

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QUADEIC@WCUPA.EDU

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SAMANTHA WALSH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | QUADEIC@WCUPA.EDU

KIRSTEN MAGAS MANAGING EDITOR | QUADMANAGING@WCUPA.EDU

I’ve been loosely following the news of the coronavirus, and I feel like I should address some of my thoughts on the spread of the virus as I see it. We’ve had two articles in The Quad addressing the outbreak thus far, and I wanted to say a couple of words.

The outbreak is undeniably an issue that raises legitimate cause for concern - especially among the elderly, the very young and those who are already immunocompromised. An outbreak such as this inevitably draws politicization and sensationalism that only creates a larger issue out of one already present.

I discourage articles about the coronavirus in The Quad for this reason. Much of the information and statistics can be found scattered across every major news outlet, and I see little to no need to report on the same information that only makes other people worry more than they already are. There’s a blurry line between sensationalism and relaying critical information that may be cause for concern to the public; it’s a line I don’t want to cross.

Knowing the facts and understanding the impact of the virus to better protect yourself against the outbreak are the best things anyone can do right now. If you can afford it, stay home when you’re sick. Visit your doctor, get your flu shot, wash your hands and get a good night’s sleep. Even simplistic preventative measures can be more than enough.

Don’t panic and stay wary of your health, West Chester. Put in the work to keep yourself and others safe. Be mindful of where your information is coming from.

Sincerely,

EDITORIAL BOARD ALEXIS LINCOLN | NEWS EDITOR CASEY MEYER | OP-ED EDITOR MARIA MARABITO | FEATURES EDITOR CHRISTOFOROS SASSARIS | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR TYLER GRACE | SPORTS EDITOR NAJAH HENDRICKS | A VOICE AT THE TABLE EDITOR JOHN DELANEY | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

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March 2, 2020

Page 23

FIVE MODERN NOVELS FOR STUDENTS TO READ IF YOU FEEL LIKE FEELING FEELINGS

By Ali kochik Columnist

E

veryone loves a good book that makes them feel things. Even if you aren’t a big reader, when approaching a book as a young person, we are far more inclined to keep picking it up if it engages our emotion.

Especially as a college student, where so much of our reading is done with scholarly articles and research-heavy material.

In the last decade alone, there have been an innumerable amount of fictional novels published which have captivated readers and caught the attention of the public. Among those novels, so many of them have tugged at readers heartstrings and brought about the feeling of raw sentiment.

Ranging in topic, setting, time period and even forms of narration, there are five books that immediately come to mind when thinking about books that are sure to give student readers a break from the facts and statistics and keep us on the edge of their feelings.

1 - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer Set in New York City immediately following the tragic attacks that occured on 9/11, the story follows the life of 9-year-old Oskar Schell. Oskar is a unique little boy who struggles with unnamed mental health issues that allow him to see the world and his life in a different way.

After his beloved father, Thomas, is killed in the World Trade Center, Oskar discovers a vase with a mysterious key in Thomas’ closet. This prompts him to go on a year-long search across the entire city to discover the lock that matches the key, hoping to unlock information about his deceased father.

Narrated by his grandmother, his estranged grandfather and Oskar himself, the book captures the joys and the sorrows that each of the characters embody as they navigate their lives and the tragedies they are living through.

As a result of the stunning plotline as well as the shifting first person narrations, review sites such as publishersweekly.com have marked this book “a book of outstanding quality.” The quality, in this case, allows readers to feel emotionally engaged as they accompany Oskar on his journey for discovery and peace.

“There are five books that immediately come to mind when thinking about books that are sure to give student readers a break from the facts and statistics and keep them on the edge of their feelings.”

2 - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Without a doubt one of the most necessary and relevant novels of this decade, this novel tackles the topic of police brutality and racism by telling the story of a 16-year-old girl named Starr.

While driving home from a party with her friend one night, a white police officer pulls the two black teens over, including Starr’s friend, Khalil, who is asked to step out of the car.

While standing, Khalil leans his head in the window and is immediately shot by the officer, killing him right in front of Starr’s eyes.

After witnessing such trauma at the hands of racism, Starr is forced to make a choice: try to process her pain and remain hidden as the neighborhood riots on behalf of Khalil or use her voice and her position to speak out, gain justice and try to end the cycle of violently racist police behavior in America.

As readers delve into this novel, not only do they accompany Starr on the heartbreaking journey of healing and growth, but they are actively challenged to stand up against prejudice

and violence, regardless of their race or identity.

“While it is not for the faint of heart, this book is an incredibly potent story of light and dark and sometimes the smallest things can be the strongest.”

3 - The Book Thief by Marcus Zusac There is certainly no way to avoid feeling raw or vulnerable when reading a tale that is literally narrated by Death.

Set in Nazi Germany in the depths of World War II, Liesel Meminger, the protagonist of the story, is a young girl attempting to navigate the world while the world around her is filled with nothing but hatred and fear.

As she grows, she begins to realize the difficulties that come with maturing, particularly as her innocence is lost to the horrors that surround her.

Determined to hold onto any power that she can, she takes to learning how to read and write, sneaking out after Nazi book burnings to see what she can salvage from the flames.

Every word of this 584 paged novel keeps readers hanging on and rooting for Liesel to survive as Death keeps its eyes on everyone. While it is not for the faint of heart, this book is an incredibly potent story of light and dark and how sometimes the smallest beings can be the strongest.

4 - Mockingbird by Katheryne Erskyne If you are really looking to feel a lot, there is no book more suited for the task than one that has so many elements which evoke emotion.

Caitlin is a 10-year-old girl living with Asperger’s, which manifests itself in ways such as her fascinations with dictionary definitions and sketching.

Further complicating her story is the loss of her older brother Devon, who

was shot and killed in a school shooting, which was based on real events that took place at Virginia Tech in 2007.

Struggling to move forward and be understood by the people around her, Caitlin works with a counselor who gives her skills on how to approach people with words such as “empathy.”

Through her discoveries, Caitlin is eventually able to provide healing to others who are hurting after the tragedy, including her own father and other kids at school who have suffered loss.

With so many emotional topics explored throughout the story, readers are left feeling just as vulnerable and exposed as Caitlin, all while learning the importance of sympathy and closure right along with her.

5 - Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous With a book that opens with the line, “I liked hurting girls,” readers are immediately made aware that they are in for an experience that will make them feel something.

Revolving around a young alcoholic who literally gets pleasure from baiting women to fall in love with him and then breaking their hearts and wrecking them emotionally. This blunt, crude novel is only for those who are up for laughing, crying, raging and understanding all at once.

While the book isn’t all that long, only coming in at 160 pages, it is packed with a rollercoaster-like experience a damaged person who is satisfied by damaging others, with the self awareness to know that he is a pretty bad person doing pretty bad things.

Although the experiences of the narrator are relatively extreme, his vile actions will hook every reader in and get them to examine their own lives and all of the people they have touched, loved and gotten to loven them.

Ali Kochik is a second-year student majoring in English writings track with a minor in journalism.  AK908461@wcupa.edu.

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March 2, 2020

INFLUENCERS HAVE THE UPPER HAND ON SOCIAL MEDIA

By K athryn Schill Special To The Quad

W

hen you are scrolling through Instagram, reflect on the amount of influencers that you come across in such a short span of time. Most likely, you will see at least a few. Influencers are taking over social media by storm and have quickly gained the power to sway the opinion of their audience with just one post.

While some may look at influencers as insignificant, it is important to understand just how dominant they really are.

According to Merriam-Webster, an influencer is a person who is able to generate interest in something, such as a consumer product, by posting about it on social media. If one of my favorite influencers post about a certain product that I am interested in, I will trust their judgement and most likely buy it for myself.

Influencers are able to gain complete trust from their audiences by branding themselves as authentically as much

as they possibly can. Once they gain trust from their audience, they have them wrapped around their fingers.

Whether it be makeup, skincare, fashion or a recipe, influencers have the capability of completely swaying their audience’s opinions on something.

According to BigCommerce, 19% of marketers will spend $1,000-$10,000 per year on influencer marketing in 2020, while 18% are spending between $100,000-$500,00 per year. This statistic proves that marketers and businesses put a lot of their trust into influencers to sell their products for them.

Undoubtedly, it must be working pretty well.

A substantial part of influencer marketing is when an influencer teams up with a brand or company for a paid partnership, which is how this field has become so profitable. At my internship, I am able to see this first hand. When an influencer gets a brand deal, they are required to post the product that the company sent to them. Often, the influencer is obliged to reveal to their followers that the post is an ad, sometimes through the form of a hashtag.

Depending on the success and engagement rate of an influencer, some brands are willing to pay thousands of dollars for one single post. I do not think that people recognize how many sales an influencer can help to drive through one Instagram post. If a product’s sales go up after the influencer posts about it, they make a certain amount of money from the sales as well.

One of the most well-known fashion influencers right now is Danielle Bernstein, who goes by @weworewhat on her blog and Instagram. Bernstein is trendy, business-savvy, opinionated and unapologetically herself.

Bernstein has around 2 million followers on her Instagram and has helped to shape the influencer industry into what it has become. She was in Forbes “30 Under 30” before the age of 25 and has cultivated an exceptionally successful career.

Bernstein is just one particular example of a woman who has started out as a blogger for fun but has turned her blog into a career and lifestyle.

She has an eye for fashion and always

posts about the latest beauty trends.

Berenstein posts aesthetically pleasing photos to her feed at least twice a day which can be addicting to follow along with.

One may ask, why should I care about what influencers are doing? Al-a though you might not have an interest in following influencers on socialg media, they are still prevalent and willt c continue to gain attention.

As a business owner or entrepreneur,w

it can certainly be beneficial to look into influencer marketing to help sellh a brand, product or service. Influencerl marketing can also help to gain brandt awareness.

Whatever you do, do not underes-B timate influencer marketing and thed power of influencers, because theyr are taking over social media more andp d more each day. d Kathryn Schill is a fourth-year student majoring c in media & culture.  KS868875@wcupa.edu. s i s e a

THE PROS AND CONS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE By juliana mckee Online Editor

I

t’s a Friday night. You’re wasting your youth answering phones at a pizza shop. There are four lines on hold, but you’ve been explaining the difference between linguine and fettuccine to an old lady for the past 10 minutes. When the call finally comes to an end, you tell her it’s an hour wait.

She tells you to cancel the order because the wait is too long and hangs up. You look at your coworker and say “I quit,” and then, “Thank you for holding, how may I help you?”

As I come up on my sixth year of working behind front desks and cash registers, I always find myself at the same conclusion: I hate customer service… but I love it at the same time.

It’s exhausting. It tests your patience.

You deal with hundreds of people a day.

“The customer is always right,” even

when they’re dead wrong. Lastly, and one of my favorites – it becomes blatantly obvious when you’re interacting with someone who has never worked in customer service.

Here’s an example for that last one: the food is taking longer than the customer would like it to, and they’re “in a rush to get out of here.” You tell them you’re so sorry, and you’ll have their food out right away, knowing damn well they’ve only been waiting for eight minutes and their food will be at least another 20. In your head you tell them that they should’ve gone to McDonald’s, and then you come to terms with the fact that you’re getting a lousy tip.

It’s been six years of mentally preparing for every shift. It’s been six years of dealing with people who make me hate people.

So why do I do it? Because it’s worth it.

Like I said, you learn patience. You

learn what you can and can’t say. I’m thankful that when a customer tells me they’re never coming back, I’m able to refrain from saying “good.”

Another thing I’ve gained from this life-sucking job is communication skills. Problem solving is up there too.

Both are in the top five skills that employers look for, according to Udemy for Business. You’re forced into knowing the right thing to do at any given moment. You learn what to say when you’re getting yelled at by a stranger. You also learn how to talk on the phone. I know people in their twenties who still can’t make their own doctor’s appointments (if this sounds like you, please do better).

Finally, people do exist that can make you love other people. After meeting 50 people who make you want to walk out on the spot, it only takes one person to make it all worth it. My favorite story (and one of my only positive ones) to

m c e tell is the time I was behind the counter s of a full restaurant, ready to rip my hair out at any moment. I handed a girl herc order, and when I apologized for thet

wait, she said, “It’s okay, I used to be a waitress,” and tipped me $20. I almostd cried. People like her give me hope thatl t the world isn’t so bad.

As I come to the closing of whatw quickly became a rant, the conclusionp is that customer service is still kind ofo awful. However, I’ve realized that af-t ter all these years I’ve learned so mucht about working with people and how tos keep my composure in any situation.

Most importantly, I know that I’m wayfl better off than the person who needsp their mom to order their Chinese foodp d (seriously, figure it out). i Juliana McKee is a third-year communications y major with a journalism minor at West Chester w University.  JM886634@wcupa.edu. c

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March 2, 2020

Page 25

DEMOCR ATIC SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM AND THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF BERNIE SANDERS

By Kyle Gombosi Columnist

e James Carville said, “At least I’m not -a communist!”

- Michael Bloomberg stated, “We’re not lgoing to throw out capitalism. We tried lthat. Other countries tried that. It was called communism, and it just didn’t ,work.” k Donald Trump commented, “I think lhe’s a communist. I mean, you know, rlook, I think of communism when I dthink of Bernie.”

These quotes are all in reference to -Bernie Sanders, the longtime Indepenedent senator from Vermont and curyrent front-runner for the Democratic dpresidential nomination. Sanders, back during the 2016 presidential campaign, described himself as a “democratic socialist,” and his incorporation of that scary “s-word” has since driven many intelligent, savvy political minds – and some not so intelligent or savvy – to express confusion, contempt, panic and quite a lot of emotion in between.

But why? What is so terrifying, for so many Americans, about the word “socialism,” and is it fair to say that Sanders, should he become president, will r seize the collective wealth of our sor rciety and redistribute it? Simply put: ethat’s a firm, unyielding “no.” a Before I explain, a disclosure: when tdiscussing my personal political betliefs, I label myself a socialist. I believe that capitalism, as a societal frametwork, incentivizes the prioritization of nprofit over the comfortable existence fof the citizens of our society. I believe -the system of capitalism to be immoral, hthat it will not regulate itself and so deoserves to be abolished. . Many readers of this article are yflinching right now, and it’s to be exspected – in American society and dpolitics, the concept of socialism is dramatically different from the capitalism we’re used to. I won’t tell those of you who are uncomfortable that you’re wrong to feel that way, either; this article isn’t a defense of socialism, though

one of those may be in my future.

There are, however, two things I would say that should offer some solace: First, it could be worse, if “worse” is the word you’d like to use – communism goes much farther in the pursuit of full equality. Via the online dictionary Lexico: “Communism (noun) – a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advo-

political talking heads of all stripes decry his intent to tax everyone – including the middle and working classes of America – at obscene rates and consequently drive more Americans into poverty. Since this article is for a publication, I’ll address that accusation more politely than I would otherwise: it isn’t based in anything close to fact.

According to PolitiFact, from 1953

“But why? What is so terrifying, for so many Americans, about the word ‘socialism,’ and is it fair to say that Bernie Sanders, should he become president, will seize the collective wealth of our society and redistribute it?

Simply put: that’s a firm, unyielding ‘no.’” cating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.”

Marx himself described the concept of socialism as a necessary stepping stone toward the institution of communism. Where communism abolishes private property in all senses and the system of economic classes, socialism retains the existence of private property, only seeing the means of production owned publicly and communally.

Also according to Lexico: “Socialism (noun) – a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned and regulated by the community as a whole.”

Second, Sanders’ does not advocate for public ownership of the means of production, let alone the abolition of private property. The democratic socialism he believes in and has campaigned on only seeks to reign in American capitalism – not abolish it – in an effort to make the lives of all people more equitable.

But how, exactly, does Sanders plan to achieve that? You might have heard

to 1961, the top marginal tax rate was 91%, and affected individuals making at least $200,000 a year or couples making at least $400,000. That is the equivalent, today, of about $1.7 million per year for an individual or $3.4 million for couples. Those of you who know your history know that Dwight D. Eisenhower – a Republican – was president during those years, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’d accuse a Republican of being a communist.

The proposed top marginal tax rate of Sanders’ plan, by contrast, is 52% – and that only on incomes above $10 million a year. With a lower top tax rate on a relatively higher income compared to Eisenhower, the Sanders tax plan seems downright merciful. Not to mention, the existence of taxes precludes any intent to seize the wealth of the rich and redistribute it.

One of Sanders’ flagship proposals is “Medicare for All,” a plan to guarantee all Americans access to healthcare without the necessity of paying for it out of their own pockets. It’s been attacked as being – surprise! – communism, which is, of course, laughable.

The plan makes no mention of eliminating all private property to pay for

Medicare for All – because of course it doesn’t. The Sanders’ campaign’s website details funding for his universal healthcare plan, but put simply, it will be paid for through several different taxes.

It’s not lost on me that those accus-

“[...] arm yourself with the facts, including doing more research outside of this article.” ing Sanders of being a communist aren’t making those accusations because they know what truly communism is, and genuinely believe that Sanders subscribes to it; rather, they believe that anything that raises taxes and expands the scope of the federal government is communism. We must disabuse as many people as possible of that notion. Career politicians and political pundits, like the men I quoted in the opening, however, are too smart not to know what communism is and disingenuously accuse people like Sanders of being a communist as a scare tactic. These people should simply be ignored.

I also recognize that most students reading this article already know much of its contents. If that’s you, congratulations on being politically informed; now, help others learn the facts as well.

Spring Break is next week, and many of your parents and other family members don’t have this information. Take a copy of The Quad home with you, arm yourself with the facts, including doing more research outside of this article, and have meaningful conversations with family about what Sanders has actually proposed – and how it’s a far cry from communism.

Kyle Gombosi is a senior music: elective studies major with a minor in journalism.  KG806059@wcupa.edu.

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March 2, 2020

MENTAL HEALTH AT WCU: HOW WE CAN IMPROVE

By Olivia Chieffallo special to the quad

health and the people who personally struggle with it or who have family or

out college students are struggling with.

S

ometimes, college students need a day. A day where they can sleep in, relax, take care of themselves and truly refuel their mental well being. The answer is simple: West Chester University should implement an excused mental health day in each professor’s syllabus. Therefore, students can take a day off and not feel guilty for putting their mental health first. This is one of the best ways to help students struggling with their minds. It could be a day that they realize the impact of not taking care of themselves, the day they reach out for help or just a day to unwind and reset.

As college students, the hectic weeks can pile up each semester: this makes it hard to prioritize their mental health.

WCU continuously emails the student body with resourceful events like workshops, seminars and other activities in the Sykes Student Union. They ask for students to participate, but realistically, someone with a mental illness feels overwhelmed by the other tasks they have to do on top of that.

An article on National Health Institution states, 38.4% of adults experienced mental health issues from ages 18 to 25. Currently there are 17,005 students that attend this university. Therefore, around 6,460 students potentially experience mental health issues between those ages on WCU’s campus.

The good news is that mental health awareness is spreading throughout the campus. NAMI, the National Alliance for Mental Health, is a new club coming to West Chester’s campus advocating for the mental health of its student body. Hannah Crespy, the incoming president, is excited for this proposal and the push on advocating for students suffering. “West Chester University is excited to hopefully get approval from the SGA for the start of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) club on West Chester’s Campus. NAMI will be a club that has a goal of raising awareness about mental

Photo by Alysha Rosly via Unsplash

friends who are affected by it. We also want to educate our potential members and the community about the different struggles and stigma that is associated with mental health in a fun and interactive way. Our potential NAMI club will welcome new members, and if there are any questions please email us at namiwcupa@gmail.com!”

An article in the New York Times explains that two states recently passed a law where students can take mental health days off from school. This issue is not something to take lightly on college campuses. Especially with all the attempted suicides, mass shootings and other horrific incidents stressed

An abundance of information and events regarding mental health and other concerns can be found on wcupa.edu. They have plenty of information available to students on identifying their mental health, counselors that are available and other monthly events. Let’s be completely realistic here, if someone is struggling with depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts they are highly unlikely to dig through all that cluttered information. Within all that information, there are specifically a couple events that stick out to me as being useful with time management for students. WCU tries to recruit students to participate in activities

like “Take A Mental Health Day” and “Checkup From The Neck Up.” The Counseling Center and the Office of Wellness Promotion hosted a “CheckUp from the Neck Up’ event in Sykes Ballrooms from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 18, where students could opt for a mental health screening. There will be information tables and giveaways as well as WCU’s therapy dogs, Darla and Tucker. The information on “Take A Mental Health Day” 2019 was filled with workshops, speakers and discussion groups students and faculty were invited to attend. These events, held on a Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 3:30 pm to 8:00 p.m., truly did not fit within students’ busy school schedules. In addition, dog therapy is another activity WCU really tries to pull students who are struggling with a mental illness into.

This could be another social activity for students to participate in; however, how are they going to get there with their busy schedule? Nevertheless, go to the Sykes Student Union to pet a dog and hope their negative thoughts and busy schedule get miraculously better.

The WCU President Fiorentino should conduct a meeting implementing a mental health day into each professor’s syllabus. The student should e-mail the professor letting them know of the excused day off. The professor can then follow up with direct mental health resources and other contacts the student can have direct access to.

Students need a day to relax, rest and reset their minds for the wellbeing to accomplish what they came to do at this school. That is, get a college degree from a great university and not damage their mental health in the process.

Olivia Chieffallo is a third-year student majoring in communications major with minors in media & culture and international business.  OC884293@wcupa.edu.

March 2, 2020

Sports

Page 27

QUADSPORTS@WCUPA.EDU

WCU BASEBALL LOOKS TO CONTINUE STRONG START

By Jeffrey Babcock

photo courtesy of www.wcupagoldenrams.com

Asst. Sports Editor

T

his past week, our Golden Rams Baseball team ended up with a solid 3-1 record on the weekend.

They won three out of the four games with their two doubleheaders, sweeping Thomas Jefferson University on the Sunday card while splitting with the College of Saint Rose the day prior.

Leading the charge with a total of six runs and eight at bats against Jefferson was SS Justin Horn, racking in a solid two and three run totals against the Jefferson College batters, which gave pitchers Braeden Fausnaught and Tyler Forbes their first wins of the season.

Against the College of Saint Rose, we saw a complete blowout in the first of two games, as Horn kicked off the run party with a grand slam and four total runs, LF Zach Wright and RF Drew Jarmuz also putting up stellar performances with four runs and two RBIs each before getting into a tight game later on last Saturday afternoon, unfortunately falling 7-5 in extra innings later that night. Looking ahead to the home opener, West Chester returns to Serpico Stadium and faces St. Thomas Aquinas College in yet another doubleheader.

Both West Chester and St. Thomas Aquinas have had a rather high run history, as they’ve faced one another a total of four times to date, dating back all the way to Feb. 28 2016. The historical record against St. Thomas Acquinas is split 2-2, with the run differential of 25 to 23 in the favor of the visiting team. This will also be the first time West Chester has hosted St. Thomas Aquinas College, as the past four meetings have been on the road in

Pictured is third-year infielder Nick D’Amore preparing to field a ground ball. While at the plate opening weekend, D’Amore went 9-14 and was named Atlantic Region Hitter of the Week as well as PSAC Athlete of the Week.

Virginia and New York state. Last time these two powerhouses faced off in April of 2018, St. Thomas Aquinas took the victory with a finishing score of 12-8, causing West Chester to go into this exciting matchup with a two-loss streak against the college.

This should be an exciting, highscoring bout that we have for our weekend baseball, as PSAC Athlete and Atlantic Region Hitter of the Week Nick D’Amore comes in with a hot hand at a .643 batting average and going fivefor-five in each of the doubleheader games with two home runs and drove

in 14 runners over the course of this past weekend.

On the other hand, St. Thomas Aquinas comes into West Chester after a grueling road trip to Myrtle Beach, SC and splitting last Friday’s doubleheader, losing to Post University on Saturday and Sunday’s win against Felician University. St. Thomas Aquinas College is also coming into West Chester University with a season record of 2-2, and attempting to start a winning streak against our Golden Rams.

Looking ahead to this coming weekend, West Chester begins their gruel-

ing road trip from March 6 to March 13, against Franklin Pierce University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Cary, NC. Afterword, come show your support for our Golden Rams when they return from their road trip on Wednesday, March 18 in the Bill Giles Game against Thomas Jefferson College at Serpico Stadium here on South Campus. Go Rams!

Jeffrey Babcock is a third-year student majoring in communications and minoring in journalism.  JB884128@wcupa.edu.

Page 28

March 2, 2020

WCU GYMNASTICS STRIVING FOR BACK-TO-BACK NATIONALS APPEAR ANCES

By Jessica Meakim Staff Writer

photo courtesy of www.wcupagoldenrams.com

T

he Golden Rams gymnastics team has been having a very impressive season thus far. They have two more regular season meets left and then their Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships on March 21 at home for the Golden Rams. The Golden Rams are very excited about hosting their championships this year, and they are looking forward to it. They will compete at Rutgers on March 6, and then they will also compete at home on March 14. March 14 will be the senior meet for the Golden Rams where the senior gymnasts will be recognized for all of their time as a Golden Ram gymnast and student.

Looking into post season, gymnastics works a little different than most sports. The Golden Rams are involved in another division that involves all six Division II teams in the country as well as Division I teams that do not have fully funded programs. In order to qualify to nationals, teams must be placed in the top eight within this USAG Division. Last year, the Golden Rams finished in the eighth spot, and they secured their spot as a team to nationals at the ECAC Championships. This was only the second time in program history that West Chester had qualified as a team. The Golden Rams are currently sitting in fifth place in the USAG Division with three more meets left to the season. They are looking pretty good at the moment, but it is really anyone’s game until the very end.

The Golden Rams are hoping to qualify as a team again this year, and they are hoping to be very competitive while they are there. Nationals is a three-day competition. On the first day, the top eight teams compete in two different sessions: four teams versus four teams. How and when each team competes depends on the seeding going into the meet. The top two teams from each session advance to

Third-year Yoli Nodarse and first-year Samantha Kelly were both recognized his week by ECAC. Nodarse was named Specialist of the Week, while Kelly received Freshman of the Week honors. the team final competition the very next day. On the second day of competition, the national champions are named. The Golden Rams are not only hoping to qualify as a team to nationals this year, but they are also hoping to make it to team finals for that second day of competition. If the Golden Rams are able to put together a meet, they could have a chance at doing so.

When asked about the feel of the team right now and how they feel about the rest of the season, head coach Barbara Cordova stated, “I think the team is setting themselves up very well in order to fight for a conference championship as well as qualify to the national championship and perform well. The team works very well together, and they have put a strong team effort in every week.” Assistant coach Steph Plaugher stated, “The team feels very unified right now, and it is amazing to see how

invested they are in each other. Confidence is continuing to build each week and excitement for the remainder of the season is growing. After today’s meet, we are currently ranked fifth with one more day of competition left to determine the full weekly rankings.

If we keep putting in the work, success will come. I am so proud of what this team has accomplished so far this season, and I know there is more to look forward to!”

NEXT MEET: FRIDAY, MARCH 6 @ RUTGERS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE AVENUE GYM NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ FOR MORE GYMNASTICS

Jessica Meakim is a third-year business management and international business major with a Spanish minor.  JM883960@wcupa.edu.

UPDATES, STAY TUNED TO THE QUAD!

March 2, 2020

Page 29

WEST CHESTER SAC SIXERS TRIP

By Erick Klambar a staff Writer

W

est Chester University’s Student Activities Council is an organization that plans different and exciting events for students to partake in. One of these events took place on Monday, Feb. 24, when the SAC took students on a trip to the 76ers game at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Sixers were playing host to the Atlanta Hawks, a team that they have struggled mightily against in the past.

The team was without star point guard Ben Simmons, who left the previous game with a back injury and is expected to be out for at least two weeks.

After a strong first half in which they led by a score of 59-42, the team struggled in the third quarter, and they saw their lead wiped away by the start

of the fourth quarter. The Hawks outscored the home team 40-22 in the third quarter, and went into the fourth quarter with a lead of 92-91.

However, the Sixers would not let up, and they refused to disappoint their home crowd. Heading into the game the team compiled a record of 26 wins and two losses in front of their fans, and they fought tirelessly to send them home happy. Sixers star center Joel Embiid dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points, putting on a show for the fans. He finished the game with a fantastic statline of 49 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. The Hawks simply had no answer for Embiid, or anyone else, in the fourth quarter, and the Sixers ran away with a 129-112 victory.

Tickets were made available for this event on Feb. 10, and were available to students at the box office in Sykes Stu-

dent Union at the cost of $15. Students and faculty taking part in the trip left for the bus at 5:30 p.m., and upon arrival at the stadium, they sat in Wells Fargo Center’s new Assembly Room.

The section is above the 200 level and features a bird’s eye view of all the action. The section includes limited seating for fans and provides for a pleasant viewing experience for all sports fans.

West Chester’s SAC provides students with activities all year long to take part in. Along with opportunities to attend sporting events such as Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games, the organization also has trips planned to Washington, DC, Williamsburg, Virginia, New York City, New York and more. While the Flyers, Sixers and New York City trips have already passed, students still have the opportunity to take part in the DC and Williamsburg trips that are taking place very soon. Every weekend, SAC

offers students the chance to catch a movie in Sykes Theater.

These are just some of the events that are offered, and if you are interested in finding out more information on them, look for flyers located in Sykes Student Union. You will be able to find advertisements for these events at the box office on the ground floor as well. Costs for these events vary, but they are all very affordable and provide for great entertainment and memories that you will never forget.

Erick Klambara is a first-year student majoring in media and cultures.  EK924666@wcupa.edu.

THE NBA MEDIA RUSHED TO ANOTHER (FALSE) CONCLUSION

By Daniel Weiss

special to the Quad

J

oel Embiid hates it here. It’s so obvious with how he always jokes around on social media and laughs with teammates during games. Imagine a generational talent with great aspirations comfortable in a city suited to his likeness: how absurd.

Sarcasm aside, I’m supposed to believe Embiid and Philly don’t mesh at all, yet the man radiates positivity. It’s almost as if the “hatred” isn’t actually real. The media promotes drama in the NBA. Monday evening, Joel Embiid, frustrated, posted on Instagram and claimed to be the villain. This followed the Sixers’ winless road trip and criticisms that Embiid was too out of shape, or simply didn’t want to win bad enough. Never mind that Embiid just recovered from a hand injury that side-

lined him for nine consecutive games and most of January. Never mind the continued scrutiny of the Sixers’ starting rotation, that often does less to enhance their strengths than amplify their weaknesses.

Former teammate Jimmy Butler responded to the post and cryptically invited Embiid to join him on the Miami Heat. The sports media landscape proceeded to have a field day, while Sixers fans went into full meltdown mode. Rumors that Embiid wanted out of Philly bombarded my Twitter, Instagram and Reddit feed Monday night, as I quietly hoped this was all part of some very unfunny joke. Then Joel proceeded to drop a casual 26-pointwinning performance against one of the best teams in the NBA and sent us to bed with the most simultaneously enraging-yet-relieving ‘gotcha’ Instagram post possibly ever. I have seldom

seen such a nothing story cause such an overnight ruckus and be forgotten about before bedtime the next day.

This is, unfortunately, not uncommon for NBA media coverage. A network swears by their trusted sources that a player is unhappy on a team, even if wholly untrue.

“Embiid wants to be the man… Simmons wants to be the man. They’re jealous of each other,” said ESPN Analyst Chris Broussard in a 2020 interview.

They then cover the story that was elevated by none other than themselves and pat each other on the back for a job well done. This is dangerous because, while the drama covered may be mostly imaginary, the potential to cause real problems with enough insisting is very real.

“They always trying to break up a good team like the 76ers... the media

turn the two stars against each other ....,” said former player Nick Young on Twitter.

This isn’t to say that Joel isn’t partly responsible for the pandemonium.

The coverage was effectively a reaction to Embiid and Butler’s exchange. However, those who report have to uphold the responsibility to be truthful, not speculate and present it as truth. The race to be first or have an interesting headline is a dangerous one, especially in a sport where, in the Sixers’ case, building to get a player of Joel’s value takes three years.

It just wouldn’t be Philadelphia sports if it didn’t feel like us against everyone.

Daniel Weiss is a third-year student majoring in media & culture and minoring in business and technical writing.  DW887053@wcupa.edu.

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March 2, 2020

PHILADELPHIA FLIES UNDER THE R ADAR DURING NHL TR ADE DEADLINE

By Nicholas Holdofsky special to the Quad

T

he NHL Trade Deadline came to an end on Feb. 24th at 3:00 p.m., and it was a busy one for the Flyers and many teams across the league. The Flyers’ front office completed three trades that afternoon and improved their forward depth as the team tried to not fall out of the playoff picture. The team acquired journeyman forward Nate Thompson from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick. Thompson has played for seven teams in the past 13 years and gives the Flyers that veteran fourth line center they’ve been looking for. Thompson is an experienced defensive forward who also has a great penalty-kill ability.

The Orange and Black also acquired forward Derek Grant from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Kyle Criscuolo, who is currently on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and a 2020 fourth-round pick. There were many rumors going around that the Flyers had Grant as one of their trade targets and you can’t blame them. Grant, just like Nate Thompson, was also a fourthline center, is excellent on the penalty-kill and has a very physical style of play. Grant is only 29-years-old and gives the team that forward depth they needed for their young players currently on the roster.

General Manager Chuck Fletcher knew the team did not have a lot of cap space to work with as the team sat at around $2 million in cap space before the deadline. They knew the players they were to pick up had to be rentals, and that’s what they get with the contracts of both Thompson and Grant. Both players are unrestricted free agents after the season and do little damage to the Flyer’s cap space.

Thompson only gives the team a cap hit of $1,000,000, and Grant has a cheaper cap hit of $700,000.

The team also made a minor trade

David Krejci and Nate Thompson by slidingsideways via Flickr

with the Chicago Blackhawks as they sent Phantoms defenseman T.J. Brennan in exchange for forward Nathan Noel. Noel also brings forward depth to the team, but he is likely to only see time with the AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

However, the Flyers did not make the biggest splash during the trade deadline, especially compared to the other teams in the Metropolitan division. It was a busy day for the division as many big names were being dealt to new teams.

The New York Islanders acquired young forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who the Flyers were rumored to have interest in, for a 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 second-round pick, and 2022 third round pick. The Carolina Hurricanes showed they are not giving up in their push for another playoff berth

as they acquired forward Vincent Trocheck from the Florida Panthers, and they also acquired defenseman Sami Vatanen from the New Jersey Devils.

A pair of veteran forwards, that can still put up solid numbers offensively, also found new homes in the stacked Metropolitan Division as well. The Capitals were able to pick up Ilya Kovalchuk from the Montreal Canadiens, and the Penguins acquired Patrick Marleau from the San Jose Sharks as both teams hope to make another run to the Stanley Cup. Both teams only had to give up a third-round pick to snag these players from their teams.

The New Jersey Devils traded away Flyers fan favorite Wayne Simmonds to the struggling Buffalo Sabres for a 2021 fifth-round pick. It has been a year, but it still feels strange for Flyers fans to see the Wayne Train in a jersey that is not

orange and black.

All of these trades that took place show that the final push for the playoffs is on, and teams know they have to do whatever they can to get in. The Flyers realized that after the moves they made today, but some fans are understandably skeptical on whether or not the team did enough to still have firm control over their third place ranking in the division.

General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Head Coach Alain Vigneault believe in their team and think they have the ability to make some noise in the playoffs. The road to when the playoffs begin on April 8 will surely be a bumpy one for not only the Metropolitan Division, but the entire NHL as well.

Nicholas Holdofsky is a first-year student at West Chester University.  NH928667@wcupa.edu.

March 2, 2020

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MEN’S BASKETBALL TO HOST PL AYOFF GA ME MONDAY NIGHT WITH WIN OVER MILLERSVILLE

By Tyler Jefferson Asst. Sports Editor

It has been an up and down season for West Chester men’s basketball team.

After the best start in program history with 13 straight wins, the Golden Rams struggled and went on a six -game losing streak. In order to make a push into the playoffs, the team needed to play perfect basketball to secure a spot.

They’ve been able to do just that.

After winning their last four games, the Golden Rams will travel to East Stroudsburg for their final game of the regular season. The Golden Rams came up short earlier in the season when the Warriors visited Hollinger Field House back in January.

Photo courtesy of Tyler Jefferson

Whether West Chester is able walk out with a win or not won’t hold too much significance, as they’ve been able secure a home playoff game for the first round. With their most recent win over Millersville, the Golden Rams locked up third place in the PSAC East Division.

The backcourt combo of freshman Robbie Heath and senior Malik Jackson proved to be too much for another opponent, with both of them combining for more than half of the team’s points.

Heath led all scorers with 26 points and Jackson poured in 20 of his own.

The “Aussie Assassin,” Heath, continues to shine during his freshman campaign. After his last performance, he finds himself second for most points ever scored in a single season with 620.

He currently stands 20 points behind

Ramzee Stanton who set the record in the 2002-2003 season.

With his 20 points, Jackson raised his average to 17.6 points per game.

This is the 12th time this season Jackson has scored 20 or more and the third straight game he has done so.

The team also received a huge contribution from sophomore Josh Samec. Off the bench, Samec poured in 15 points, being the only other Golden Ram in double digits. Going 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep, Samec was able to help West Chester keep the lead when Millersville happened to fight back.

The Golden Rams held a comfortable 52-28 lead early in the second half and looked like they would control the game for the rest of the game. However, after Millersville responded with a

28-6 run of their own, the lead was cut to just three. It was senior guard Malik Jackson who went on a personal run to extend the lead back to double digits.

The golden Rams walked away with an 85-69 victory.

As the third seed in the PSAC East, the team will host the 6th seed Lock Haven University, who they split their two meetings with this season. The game is scheduled for Monday, December 2nd, with a tip-off of 7 p.m.

Tyler Jefferson is a fourth-year student majoring in communications and minoring in journalism.  TJ876613@wcupa.edu.

Photo by Tyler Jefferson

WCU BASEBALL LOOKS TO CONTINUE STRONG START STORY ON PG 27 | PHOTO BY: WCUPAGOLDENRAMS.COM

WCU GYMNASTICS EYEING NATIONALS

WCU MEN’S BASKETBALL BEATS MILLERSVILLE

STORY ON PG 28

STORY ON PG 31