The Quad 122-04

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES Love Bug Trumps Suicide Alden Heller explains the personal message one man is spreading about mental health and suicide prevention via his vintage Bug car in his piece, Love Bug Trumps Hate.

Volume 122, Issue 4

March 7, 2022

Russian War on Ukraine

By Rachel Potter Special to The Quad

As of this past weekend, Russia had occupied Ukraine for more than a week, and Moscow has intensified its military push with Vladimir Putin making direct references to Russia’s nuclear weapon stockpile. However, Russia has faced stronger than expected resistance from Ukrainian citizens and the Ukrainian military. Pushback has been seen around the world, as economic sanctions have been imposed on Russia by numerous countries, including the United States. Recently, Switzerland

joined the European Union by imposing economic sanctions on Russia, thereby deviating from its historical neutrality.

Putin’s invasion has received strong opposition from Russian citizens as well, and according to CNN, more than 4,000 Russian citizens have been detained since Vladimir Putin launched war against Ukraine.

I spoke with Dr. Peter Loedel, a Professor of Political Science at West Chester University, who is an expert on International Relations and Comparative Politics regarding the global response to Russia’s invasion.

Continued on page 3

Page 10

OP-ED Nothing Being Done: The Chancellor and Free Public Higher Education Nick Marcil demands more from Chancellor Greenstein with the fight for better access to education.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Winter’s Tale Interview

Ukrainian citizens protest on Times Square against the war after Russia started the invasion of Ukraine. Photo

by JANIFEST via deposit photos..

A look into the most recent production by West Chester University’s own theater and the Department of theater and dance!

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Chancellor Greenstein Holds Open Forum at WCU

By Olivia Schlinkman Copy Editor

This past Thursday, Mar. 3, the Chancellor of PASSHE (PA State System of Higher Education), Dan Greenstein, visited West Chester University to learn more about the university’s various initiatives to create a more equitable, opportune, and meaningful educational system, as well as to hold an open forum.

During the visit, the Chancellor spoke with campus groups to learn about the Moon Shot for Equity Partnership, programs under the Office for

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the educational experience that the SECC building will provide. However, one of the highlights of the visit was an open forum held in Sykes theater, giving students, faculty and staff the opportunity to voice their concerns about PASSHE’s handling of higher education.

The Chancellor started the forum by speaking on the topic of how divided the current state of Pennsylvania politics is right now, citing the difficulty that exists in garnering the 177 bipartisan votes necessary to effectively pass legislation. Specifically,

legislation that much of the PA public is asking for. “The governor’s office is Democratic and the house and senate are Republican so in order to get legislation passed, we have to do the most difficult thing in American politics today, which is to build a coalition in the senate,” said Greenstein.

However, upon progressing to the Q&A section of the open forum, Greenstein was met with many concerns regarding free public education, diversity and the university integration process underway under PASSHE. Continued on page 4

SPORTS New Look In NFL Broadcasting?

Isaiah Ireland tells us about the potentially major shift in the way we watch football this upcoming season.

With names like Troy Aikman, Joe Buck and Al Michaels potentially on the move, what will it look like?

Page 33

On the go?

Find more on WCUQuad.com

Page 2

News

March 7, 2022

NEWS quadnews@wcupa.edu

The National Blood Shortage: A Major Problem

By Hally Everett Staff Writer

M

arch is Red Cross Month, so I wanted to bring awareness to the issues around blood donations in the US. Currently there is a massive blood shortage — there are more people who need blood than people who are donating. Please consider donating today!

Blood donations help more than just emergency situations — they also help patients with cancer and chronic illnesses.

According to the Red Cross website, there has been a 10% decline in blood donations since March 2020, when the pandemic started. Also due to the pandemic, the number of blood drives at schools has gone down by 62%. To put it into perspective, before the pandemic, 25% of donors were students. That’s a huge amount of donors lost. The Red Cross accounts for 40% of the United States’ blood supply, so they’re definitely essential to the health of people all over the country.

The blood shortage really started around the time that the Omicron variant started getting worse. According to the Red Cross, this is the worst shortage in over a decade. I can’t imagine being a doctor and having to pick who gets the blood just because there are simply not enough donations.

Chief Medical Officer of the Red Cross, Dr. Pampee Young, says, “We’re doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient

and drinks after donating (yum), they also usually give you some kind of gift card or reward. For example, when you donate blood in March, you get a $10 Fanatics gift card and a chance to win a trip to the MLB All-Star game. You can also choose to donate plasma or platelets, which can be especially helpful to cancer patients.

The process to donate blood is relatively easy. After signing up, make sure to stay hydrated and eat well before your appointment. Once you get to the center, they will have you answer some questions and take a blood sample to make sure you have enough iron (hemoglobin levels). After this, they set you up on the bed and clean the area. Then they insert the needle, and once the bag is full, the needle is removed and you get to eat and drink. It’s a very simple process! I’ve done it multiple times and every time I always feel like I’m making a difference. Let’s hope this blood shortage ends soon!

Photo credits: “Blood Drive” (CC BY 2.0) by notdavidbrooks

can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors. We need the help of the American people.” It’s important to remember that blood cannot be “stockpiled” or made artificially; the only way to get blood donations is from people.

You might be asking, why donate

blood? There are many reasons. First of all, you get to help others and know that you’re making a difference in the world.

You are literally saving lives by donating blood! Plus, you never know when you might be in that situation yourself.

The Red Cross also has lots of perks to giving blood. In addition to free snacks

Hally Everett is a fifth-year Media & Culture major with minors in Health Sciences and Entrepreneurship. HE885418@wcupa.edu

The Quad

News

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The Russian War On Ukraine: Two Local Perspectives

By Rachel Potter Special to The Quad

Continued from front page Loedel explained, “The economic sanctions imposed on Russia [by the United States] are the strongest […] economic sanctions that [he’s] ever seen.”

Loedel continued, saying the United States has recently “cut off Russian banks from accessing the international financial system,” which he claims is “historic” and “unprecedented.”

When asked about how he believes the domestic United States will be impacted by the war in Ukraine, Loedel identified that Americans are already being impacted by rising prices of gas and economic instability. Additionally, Loedel explained, “militarily I don’t

think there’s going to be much significant change;” however, “if you have a family member who’s in the military, they might be moving.” Loedel detailed that one of his students had a family member recently “deployed to Europe

eration, and People’s Congress of PASSHE is actively organizing an anti-war protest on campus. Rodriguez provided a written statement in which he detailed his perspective on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Rodriguez wrote:

way they can respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the only courses of action that the United States can take are, as Loedel said, “bad options or not very good options.” Nevertheless, it is necessary that the United States, and

from Texas.” Loedel explained that he believes that most of the impact felt in the United States will be economic.

The United States has taken a stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine; moreover, an anti-war sentiment is undoubtedly present in the United States.

Furthermore, pushback against the Russian invasion can be seen here at West Chester University. Student Mateo Rodriguez, a member of the Students for Socialism, Party for Socialism and Lib-

“[We] are taking a stance against the war in Ukraine… We are saying no to sanctions - as they often hurt innocent working class individuals, no to escalation, and no to U.S.A. involvement... We want peace and diplomacy instead of the jingoistic call to arms that we see constantly in the media.” The anti-war protest planned by Rodriguez will be held on Tuesday, March 8 at 1 p.m. in front of the Fredrick Douglass statue.

The United States is limited in the

we as individuals, take a stand against tyranny and show support to Ukraine in their fight for sovereignty and democratic freedom.

Photo credits: “2022.02.26 Stand with Ukraine, The White” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by tedeytan

Rachel Potter is a second-year English major. RP964675@wcupa.edu

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News

March 7, 2022

Chancellor Greenstein Holds Open Forrum At WCU

By Olivia Schlinkman Copy Editor

Continued from front page First discussed was the call for free public higher education and whether the Chancellor would be making any moves upon that request. Numerous attendees spoke of the considerable amount of student loan debt they found themselves in after college, calling on the state legislature and the Chancellor himself to increase funding towards public higher education and reduce tuition.

Upon questioning Greenstein on his plans, members of a group in the audience promptly displayed pieces of cardboard, of which each had their own amount of student loan debt written, in a demonstration of the extensive impact that increasing tuition cost has caused. However, to this Greenstein starkly replied with, “I am doing nothing to advocate for free college. I am not advocating for free college,” to which public outcry ensued.

Another topic discussed was PASSHE’s current plans to advocate for diversity in the educational system and address concerns about a lack of diversity in both enrollment and employment.

Measures discussed included the current use of the Systemwide Campus Climate Survey.

“We’re really interested in getting a read on what the state of the climate is on this campus and that will help us understand what kinds of conversations we should be having,” said WCU President Christopher Fiorentino, regarding the survey currently underway.

However one of the more contested topics voiced by members of the audience was the consolidation of 6 of the 14 PA public higher education universities that has begun in recent months. The consolidation consists of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield Universities combining into one entity in the Northeast and Edinboro, Clarion and Califor-

Photo credits: Audience members display their student loan debt. Photo Credits: Rob Cuthill

nia Universities combining in the West.

With this movement there are a great many concerns, one of which being the large number of faculty and staff who will be laid off as a result.

“What’s going to come out of this is at

People’s Congress of PASSHE was involved in a number of protests this past summer, taking a definitive stance in opposition to the integration.

Other concerns for the consolidation include the decreased accessibility of

higher education enrollment as justification for the integration. However, the neglect of consideration for other factors that directly impact students such as rising tuition costs, the quality of education, as well as the impact upon laid

least 1500 jobs within the state system that are going to be lost… It’s important to me because I support my faculty colleagues across the state that will be losing their jobs,” said Dr. Curry Malott, a faculty member of the Department of Educational Foundations and Policy Studies here at WCU and a member of the People’s Congress of PASSHE. The

higher education that it will create for some students. “If you’re far from [the university] you’re just going to have to do the online classes and that’s unattainable for a lot of students, and during the pandemic that really kind of revealed itself,” said Malott.

PASSHE cites the fact that there has been a drastic decrease in Pennsylvania

off employees causes the integration to remain in controversy, being opposed to by many in PA. Olivia Schlinkman is a first-year Psychology major with a minor in Studio Arts. OS969352@wcupa.edu

The Quad

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This week at West Chester University MONDAY

March 7, 2022

WELLNESS PROMOTION DECISIONS ABOUT DRINKING WORKSHOP 10-11:30 a.m. on Zoom, Decisions about Drinking is a workshop for all students to engage in learning about the impact of alcohol use on the brain and body, the individual and community impacts of alcohol use, as well as how to identify when and how to support a student who may need medical attention.

WEDNESDAY March 9, 2022

OCEANOGRAPHY CLUB MEETING Dive into the oceanography community throughout meetings every Tuesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM in the new SECC building, room 112!

TUESDAY March 8, 2022

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WITH ARCHIE MESSERSMITH-BUNTING Peer Educators Nick & Megan will be talking about the correlation between physical activity and stress (Physical activity decreases stress!). They’ll ask you to write down a benefit of physical activity and will have stress relieving giveaways!

VEG OUT X ART CLUB TOTE BAG NIGHT From 5:30-7:30 pm, join Veg Out and Art Club for a night of tote bag fun! We will be painting Tote Bags together, with club members being able to keep their finished product!

Expect Tote Bags, Paint, Vegan Food, Music, and Friends!

FRIDAY March 11, 2022

All photos taken from Ramconnect.com

THURSDAY March 10, 2022

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS HEPSA PREVIEW DAY An online event from 9am-12:30pm, this program is for prospective and admitted students to the Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs (HEPSA) master’s program to learn more about the HEPSA curriculum and WCU Student Affairs and University College, and network with students, faculty, and staff.

See more fun events this week on ramconnect.wcupa.edu!

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Features

March 7, 2022

FEATURES quadfeatures@wcupa.edu

4 Ways to Help Manage Procrastination

By Monica Zielger Copy Editor

D

id you know that there is science behind why you procrastinated studying for midterms? Procrastination has affected everyone at some point in their lives, and is especially noticeable during midterms or finals week when planning ahead usually pays off. If you consider yourself to be a procrastinator like I do, and find yourself submitting most assignments at 11:58 p.m., then times like this are particularly stressful. Sadly, planning ahead is not exactly our forte. I decided to do some research on this topic, and after many hours of watching TikToks and avoiding the task, I put together some tips on how to manage procrastination.

1. Try meditation.

This might sound a little bit intimidating, but what I am suggesting is a very simple form of meditation known as mindfulness. In an article from the website Real Simple, Amy Spencer and Maggie Seaver describe it as “letting yourself become fully aware of what’s going on, both around you and within you at a given moment.” Procrastination is about your brain trying to avoid accomplishing a task for as long as possible, and the key to overcoming this is figuring out why. Taking the time to sit with yourself and examine why you are reading an article about conspiracy theories rather than writing the paper you have due in a few hours can help you get to the root of the issue. In my experi-

ence, procrastination comes along with a lot of anxiousness about starting an assignment which is avoided with more procrastination. Using mindfulness to acknowledge these emotions, and then picturing the “positive results” of “actually getting our work done” is what Judson Brewer MD, PhD suggests later in the article. This process can really help you see the benefits of getting started on your task, and help you get motivated past procrastinating.

2. Capitalize on your good moods.

In an article from the Association For Psychology Science, author Eric Jaffe compiles a lot of useful research on procrastination, and many of the studies revealed that procrastination is closely linked to managing your emotions.

A procrastinator is going to do what makes them feel good in the moment even if it will lead to negative emotions later on. One study that was included found that, “self-control only succumbs to temptation when present emotions can be improved as a result.” This means that the best time to work on projects is when you are feeling naturally happy and motivated. If you try to start a project when you are feeling down or tired, you will be much more likely to get distracted. Pick a time in the week or day when you know you typically have the most energy and are feeling at your best mood-wise to work on assignments. For

example, I am a night owl so I typically start assignments after dinner because that is when I am usually feeling my best.

make assignments more tolerable and less likely to be things you avoid for as long as possible.

4. Forgive yourself for 3. Find the fun in what procrastinating. you are doing.

Fuschia Sirois from Bishop’s University said that his studies, which are also included in the article by Eric Jaffe, caused him to conclude that, “the best way to eliminate the need for shortterm mood fixes is to find something positive or worthwhile about the task itself.” If you need to get a task done, then try to make the experience as fun and fulfilling as possible.

Procrastination is about your brain trying to avoid accomplishing a task for as long as possible...”

One suggestion that has worked for me is picking topics that I am genuinely interested in whenever it is possible.

When that is not an option, then try to make the experience of doing work enjoyable in any way you can. Customize your environment to appeal to you.

Listen to your favorite music while you work or take breaks to eat your favorite snack. This could also mean inviting over a study buddy, or facetiming one, to keep each other accountable and have fun while you work. Things like this can

Procrastination is a continuous cycle that most students participate in.

Studies have shown that beating yourself up over the issue will only make it continue. A study was included in the journal Personality and Individual Differences on this issue. It was centered on a group of university students and their procrastination while studying for their midterm exams. It was concluded that students who forgave themselves for procrastinating on one midterm, were more likely to break the habit for the next one. So, if you did procrastinate this time around, do not let it hold you back for the next round of finals in May. Look at finals as a whole new experience to tackle, rather than letting any procrastination guilt make you put off studying again.

Monica Ziegler is a third-year Communication Studies major with a minor in Journalism. MZ928023@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Features

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Therapy 101: What’s In It For Me?

By Hally Everett Special to The Quad

T

he word “therapy” can elicit mixed reactions from people. What does it make you feel? Unfortunately, there is a negative stigma surrounding therapy and therapists because mental health is not as widely accepted as physical health. To help reduce this stigma, I want to advocate for therapy and how it can help you.

Like my therapist always says, “I believe everyone needs therapy.” There doesn’t have to be something “wrong” for you to see a therapist — you can see them just to talk about things and figure out life! Is therapy something that you could benefit from? Check out these points below and think about it.

Coming from someone who goes to therapy weekly, there are SO many benefits to it! First of all, seeing a therapist can help you solve problems,

Photo credits: “Brain” (CC BY 2.0) by NHardeman

and who doesn’t have problems in their life? Having an impartial person to listen to you can make you feel heard and help you work through these issues.

Therapy can give you the ability to talk to someone without judgment, which can be really helpful. There’s also a ton you can learn from therapy. About yourself, about the world, about others… And most importantly, how to help yourself.

After all, you are the only one who you can count on for your whole life, so why not be the best you can be? I know, I know, that sounds cheesy. But it’s true!

So you’ve decided to go to therapy. Now what? This can feel very overwhelming, but it’s a good first step!

It’s important to make sure you find the right therapist. Finding someone with similar beliefs as you and who you feel comfortable with is essential

if you want to really work on yourself.

If you’ve found the right therapist, you feel comfortable with them. You should be able to trust them and tell them important details about your life so that they can best help you. If you feel like you can tell them anything, then you’re in luck — you’ve found the therapist for you!

On the other hand, there are some signs that you’re seeing the wrong therapist (and don’t get me wrong, it might take multiple times to find the right person)! If you feel like you can’t open up to your therapist, that’s an issue! Trust is essential. Also, if you dread going to your sessions and tend to feel worse after the session, that could be a sign to “break up” with your therapist.

But don’t worry — therapists are used to this. They know that finding the right

person is in your best interest, so do what’s best for you! While in therapy, it’s important to keep an open mind and to continue working on yourself. Your therapist can only do so much — you have to do the rest!

I hope this article has helped you realize what the therapy process looks like, and maybe you’ve even been convinced to see a therapist yourself! I want to say thank you to my therapist, Alexis, for everything she has done for me. If you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness, or think you could benefit from therapy, reach out to the WCU Counseling Center today!

Hally Everett is a fifth-year Media & Culture major with minors in Health Sciences and Entrepreneurship. HE885418@wcupa.edu

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Features

March 7, 2022

Personal Finance in College

By Brian Long Special to The Quad

T

he goal for many students in college is for their degree to help them find a job for after graduation. However, most of us do not want to work till the day we die, we are looking to enjoy life too. One of the ways we can ensure that we do not have to work forever is to have a plan for our personal finances and a plan for the future. When managing personal finance, we have many different factors to consider. It is extremely personal, so it varies from person to person. However, there are some things that remain constant for all, which will be discussed throughout this article.

The first idea is living below your means. This simple idea is one that can set you up for success in personal finance for years to come. It means just spending less than what you make. If you are able to save for the future, you will be able to live more freely later in

life. The only way to do this is to spend less now. One of the things holding us back from living below our means is the idea of “keeping up with the Joneses.” This is what pushes so many of us away from living below our means and in some cases pushes us to live above our means, forcing us into debt. Obviously, treating yourself every now and then can be a good thing, as it allows you to work towards a goal or to mark a major life event (graduation!), but the trap of keeping up with the Joneses has us buying goods that we truly don’t need.

The next idea, which goes hand in hand with living below your means, is having a budget and sticking to it.

Knowing what each dollar’s purpose is before you have them in your account can save you a decent amount of money. Knowing that you have a certain amount of money you can spend on

going out ensures that you do not overspend. If you fail to stick to the budget, it defeats the purpose of having one.

Dave Ramsey, a personal finance professional, has the idea of assigning every dollar a “name” so you know what to do with it once you have it.

The budget is where personal finance gets really personal. There is no onesize-fits-all budget — it is based on your spending habits and also your income.

Additionally, it could be different due to the situation you are in. You may need to factor in things like costs of medications you use, or if you like to work out, having a gym membership. If you are saving to buy a house or car, you might want to put more money aside for those purchases. Knowing what you need and what you spend your money on will help you set up a budget.

A way to ensure that you are set up

for success later on in life is to invest the funds you have saved in accounts for retirement. These investments could be things like a type of IRA, 401K or another account. When investing into these accounts, remember that these are for the long-term. They have penalties for pulling out funds early with certain exceptions. Additionally, every investment has risk and when investing, you must be prepared for the possibility of losing some of that money.

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, there are great books and podcasts about this, such as The Ramsey Show, The Richest Man in Babylon and The Psychology of Money.

Brian Long is a fourth-year Economics and Finance double-major with a minor in IT. BL965811@wcupa.edu

Frontier and Spirit Make Themselves One

By Isaiah Ireland Special to The Quad

S

tudents across campus are preparing themselves to make West Chester University a distant memory with the anticipation of spring break approaching. However, for those of us trying to travel and vacation outside of Pennsylvania or the US in general, there has been some airline news that’s been trending recently and could affect your plans.

It’s being reported that Frontier and Spirit Airlines will be merging to make one of the biggest airlines in America.

CNBC reports that, “The deal, valued at $6.6 billion, is structured with Frontier Airlines controlling the merged airline and Spirit holding the remaining 48.5%.” If you ask almost anyone in America, Frontier and Spirit are two of the most notorious airlines in the country. Between the low prices, complaints, overall experience and cancellations,

these two airlines have made a name for themselves.

CNN reports that “Spirit had by far the highest number of passenger complaints, with 13.25 complaints per 100,000 passengers, according to stats from January through September 2021 kept by the US Department of Transportation. JetBlue had the second most complaints on that basis with 6.85, while Frontier had the third-most in the industry with 5.76. Frontier had by far the worst rate of complaints in the same period of 2020 when it recorded 60.24 complaints per 100,000 customers. Frontier and Spirit also had the industry’s worst customer satisfaction ratings, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.”

This could turn out good or worse for these airlines because both have a lot to work on in terms of public reputation.

Especially with college students across the country gearing up for spring break and the summer, both of which are peak times for airlines. Additionally, both airlines over the past two years have seen millions of dollars worth of revenue loss.

Now, this deal won’t be set in stone until later in the year with all the legal logistics that have to be done. But the merger will see some challenges from the President as well. CNN reports that “Whether or not the merger will be approved by federal antitrust regulators remains uncertain. The Biden administration has taken a much more aggressive approach on antitrust issues.

It recently blocked an alliance between American and JetBlue that fell short of a full merger. Increasing competition in the airline industry is one of the issues that the Biden administration has cited

as a priority.”

Savanthi Syth, airline analyst, gave a statement about the obstacles in the merger’s way: “In a normal environment we would not expect any regulatory hurdles given the relatively small market share of each airline. But given the Biden Administration’s ‘big is bad’ approach we would expect some objection.” We will see in the coming months if this deal stands the test of time. In the meantime, we have one more week until spring break, so make sure you stay focused and get your plans ready to let off some steam and have some well-deserved relaxation.

Isaiah Ireland is a first-year Media & Culture major. II978280@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Features

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From Me To You: Passion

By Evan Brooks Asst. Op-Ed Editor

T

he day you decide to act on your passions is the day you begin to figure out who you truly are. When talking about an individual’s passion, two pieces of advice are usually given: either follow your passion no matter the money, or save your passion for your hobbies rather than your career. Both pieces of advice are beneficial to listen to, depending on the circumstances, and should be heeded as warnings at the very least.

Passion, in the most basic sense, is having a strong emotion towards something. In most cases, a positive if you want to pursue a career in what you are passionate about. Being passionate about something usually means you not only gravitate towards it, but you spend a great deal of time studying that subject or skill. The more time you dedicate towards something, the more likely you are to become proficient in or master the subject of study.

An article in the University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine, Danielle Dreilinger touches on the importance of passion and how it relates to culture. In the article,Dreilinger states, “those who felt passionately about math, science, or reading were more likely to post better scores in each subject,” highlighting the correlation behind passion and proficiency. The higher scores were even more apparent “in cultures with an ‘individualistic’ orientation such as the United States and Australia,” as opposed to “collectivist societies such as China, Thailand and Colombia.” The difference may lie in the collectivist society, “where the students felt that having family support for their interest was just as important,” meaning if there was no complete buy-in on a certain passion, then time would not be invested towards that passion.

What has been proven so far is if you dedicate time towards something, you

Photo credits: Evan Brooks

are likely to become more proficient.

You are also more likely to dedicate time towards subjects you have an inclination towards, or a passion for. But what if you have no clue what you are passionate about? How should you go about finding your passion?

In an article published by Harvard College, by Kathleen Bellon Pizarro,

be to enter a field dominated by people who don’t look like you.” Pizarro went on to elaborate how they knew how it felt “when certain people aggravate those differences instead of celebrating them.” First, differences should be celebrated because diversity is proven to aid in the expansion of creative ideas and provide important perspectives from

about, every subject has a level of importance within your life, and it is up to you to determine that importance.

Some of your passions may be best served as a hobby, while others are matched by a large skill pool you possess within that subject, and can also translate into a career. Lastly, anyone and everyone is able to have a passion

they state, “if you can’t find something you’re interested in pursuing, try focusing on something you don’t like.” We are quicker to point out subjects we are not passionate about, compared to areas we have an interest in. Take the time to run through each subject and field, study that subject, and see where you stand within it. Pizarro also stated, “I know firsthand how intimidating it can

different cultures.

Pursue your passion, but do not forget to also focus on necessary skills for life. We may not be the most passionate about business, accounting, economics or finance, but the basics of them all are necessary to know in everyday life. Just as mathematics, science and English are necessary, so are music, sports and art. No matter what you are passionate

in anything, and it is imperative we encourage diversity in all fields we hold passions in.

Evan Brooks is a fourth-year Business Management major with minors in Economics and Civil & Professional Leadership. EB916132@wcupa.edu

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Features

March 7, 2022

Love Bug Trumps Suicide

By Alden Heller Copy Editor

I

Photo via @lovebugtrumpshate

n a time of conflict, uncertainty and hopelessness, one can fall into a very dak place. Depression and suicide are nothing to joke about and are very serious issues across our campus, as well as abroad. There are some brave people out there who work selflessly to spread awareness about suicide prevention and make it their personal mission to do so.

Enter Gabriel Nathan, a mental health and suicide awareness advocate from the Philadelphia suburbs who drives a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle daily. Why is this car so important, you may ask? It’s because this specific Beetle is a replica of Herbie the Love Bug, the charming little car from the 1969 film “The Love Bug.” Nathan, who is a self-described “Herbie freak,” uses Herbie to attract attention to the these issues that plague humanity through the use of a rear window graphic, which reads “Drive out suicide, Stop suicide now,” as well as lists both the website www.DriveOutSuicide.org and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Many people may not know this, but Herbie the Love Bug is the only car to ever attempt suicide in motion picture history. By knowing this, Nathan knew he had to use Herbie, a car that many people recognize and love, to draw attention to suicide awareness.

Nathan bought Herbie back in 2017 from a gentleman in New Jersey. When he was purchased, Herbie was just a plain, off-white Bug with a few issues here and there. Over the past five years however, Nathan has restored Herbie to an impressive state and has spent countless time and money doing so. He put on the graphics, a faux sunroof, wider racing wheels, three-point shoulder belts and chemical fire suppression system for safety, front disc brakes and modern electric wipers in place of the original vacuum-operated ones. All these items help Nathan both reliably drive the car daily and spread the message of suicide awareness more effectively. Everyone

recognizes Herbie, and even if you don’t, a 59-year-old VW will catch your eye.

That is the ultimate goal, after all: that maybe, out of the hundreds of thousands of people whose eyes lock on to Herbie’s rear window, they see the number and call if they need help.

Other than driving around in his best friend, Nathan has also done work on his own, such as giving a TEDx talk in West Chester on how to change the stigma and dialogue surrounding suicide. He has also created and been featured in his own professional documentary film, “A Beautiful Day Tomorrow: Taking Suicide Awareness on the Road,” which covers an 1100-mile journey with both Gabe and Herbie travelling around the east coast attempting to decrease stigma and spread awareness by collecting stories from suicide loss and attempt survivors.

Nathan is doing the work that many people often overlook in our society.

But suicide prevention doesn’t require everyone to do what Nathan is doing.

Everyone can prevent a tragedy like suicide from happening. Nathan says it best: “Anyone can be at risk for taking their own life. Anyone. And the flip side of that is, anyone can prevent a suicide.

Anyone. It’s a matter of paying attention to the people around you, knowing when someone’s behavior is inconsistent with how you know them to be, knowing risk factors and warning signs, and taking action: ask someone if they’re suicidal.

Ask. It’s an incredibly powerful thing, and it opens conversations up that you’d never believe you could have. And that could save a life.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7/365 by calling 1-800273-8255 or texting HOME to #741741.

Alden Heller is a fourth-year English major with a minor in Journalism.

AH901260@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Features

Page 11

Organization Of The Week: Daedalus Literary Magazine

By Evan Brooks Asst. Op-Ed Editor

O

rganizations at West Chester University (WCU) are meant to serve the students involved and the community as a whole. The Daedalus Literary Magazine is celebrating their 50th year in print, as they have published poetry — both fiction and nonfiction — plays, photography and even art throughout each of their issues. The organization has acted as a place for students to showcase their work to the community and is looking to continue their publication for another 50 years.

History Serving as WCU’s literary magazine for the past 50 years, Daedalus has worked to ensure all students within the community have a chance to showcase their work. Taking in pieces of creative writing to works of art, the publication is one of the oldest standing organizations still active on campus. The organization is a part of a small group of media and publication organizations at the university and continues to look for opportunities to grow.

Uniqueness Daedalus serves as one of only a few media and publication organizations at the university. The uniqueness of the organization is derived from the publication it creates. Through providing students an opportunity to share their work, Daedalus gives students a chance to share their creative voice. Each submission is welcomed by the literary community and art world. Through reviewed submissions, any accepted work earns the student the honor of being published in the literary magazine.

Besides submitting your own work, you can work as an editor within the organization, joining a community of

individuals with similar interests. Editors view submissions in a blind vetting process that delves into the content and design elements of each work. After the blind reviews, the group votes on the work. Should you want to join a welcoming group, and see all the outstanding work put forward by the WCU community, then being a part of Daedalus may be a unique and rewarding experience for you.

Service The service provided by the organization is in the form of uplifting a diverse set of creative individuals, and their voices, to showcase to the community at large. Daedalus looks to also support the cultivation of cultures, lessons of literature, and abstract and other subsets of art. Through occasional cash prizes, the organization also supports those that take the time to produce their creative works. Daedalus serves as an outlet for those looking to express their creativity, whether that be through photography, creative writing, poetry or other means.

Experience The experiences expressed below are from a group of students who are grateful they were able to join the community within Daedalus. If any of the experiences provided resonate with you, it might be a good idea to seek out the organization.

Allison Weissman, Magazine Designer, has been with the organization for a year and a half. Weissman stated, “I joined Daedalus because I fell in love with West Chester’s creative writing workshops.” Being a part of Daedalus, they “feel so lucky to get to see the creative projects” of their fellow students.

Overall, Weissman stated, “my experience has been wonderful. It’s so great to engage with other writers and see new perspectives in a safe, supportive space.”

Echo Rogers, Vice President, has been with Daedalus for three years. Rogers stated, “I wanted to join because I was part of my high school literary magazine, and I really enjoyed creating a space for students to showcase their talent.” Elaborating on their time within the organization, they stated, “my time with the magazine has been awesome.

I’ve really enjoyed meeting together with people and workshopping and discussing the arts.” Rogers went on to say how not everyone within Daedalus is an “English or Art major,” making “it very interesting hearing different perspectives on art, poetry and writing.”

Kristine Kearns, Secretary, has been with the group for the past two years.

Kearns stated, “I spent my teenage years teaching myself how to read and submit pieces of creative writing to literary magazines. Daedalus as an organization is one of the most passionate publications I could be a part of.” If you are passionate about creative writing, literature, poetry or any related subject, then Daedalus might be for you.

Events The organization ended their acceptance of submissions on Feb. 14, but should you want to submit to the literary magazine in the future, utilize the following guidelines: - Prose Length: “We usually look for prose that’s about 5 double-spaced pages or less.”

- How To Submit: “Send your work to wcudaedalus@gmail.com. For prose/poetry, please submit as a .docx or .doc file.

For art/photography, please submit as a JPEG or PNG. (Note: We will be printing

at about 8.5” by 11.” 300 DPI is ideal, so we can make sure the work looks good in print.)”

- Does It Cost Anything?: “Submitting is free!”

After the submissions have been reviewed, out of those selected to go into the literary magazine, there will be cash prizes for the top three submissions within each of the categories in the publication.

The winner of the art or photography category will most likely end up on the cover of the magazine itself. Specifically, 50th anniversary-themed cover designs will be picked this time around though. Also, at the end of this spring 2022 semester, a launch party will be hosted by the organization, which will feature a reading of the publication.

The authors of the accepted works are especially invited to come and present their own pieces, as well as bring their friends and/or family. The showcase and the reading will most likely take place in late April of 2022. Lastly, if you would like to join Daedalus, feel free to join via their Ramconnect page for emails, or see their social media. The organization meets every other Tuesday currently, in Main Hall or via Zoom.

Academic Makeup (Of Those Featured): - Majors - English Writings, English.

- Minors - Creative Writing, Graphic Design.

Evan Brooks is a fourth-year Business Management major with minors in Economics and Civil & Professional Leadership. EB916132@wcupa.edu

Page 12

Features

March 7, 2022

Flash Fiction • Poetry • Creative Writing

Joseph Gill is a third-year English major with a minor in Journalism. JG923276@wcupa.edu

WRITE FOR THE OUTLET! The Quad’s home for creative writing. The Outlet accepts flash fiction, poetry and other creative works up to 500 words in length. Submissions can be sent to the Features Editor at quadfeatures@wcupa.edu.

The Quad

Op-Ed

OP-ED quadoped@wcupa.edu

Page 13

253 Sykes Student Union West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383 610.436.2375 • QUAD@WCUPA.EDU • WWW.WCUQUAD.COM

JULIEN PADILLO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | QUADEIC@WCUPA.EDU

ALI KOCHIK

Dear West Chester, Hang in there Rams, spring break is within our grasp! It’s lying in wait, sitting on

MANAGING EDITOR | QUADMANAGING@WCUPA.EDU

EDITORIAL BOARD

our front porch, on standby for the moment that the final minute of our final class of the day strikes: anticipating when we finally open the door to let that spring

MATTHEW SHIMKONIS | NEWS EDITOR

breeze in.

LARA INGBER | FEATURES EDITOR KRISTINE KEARNS | OP-ED EDITOR

As I write this letter, the newsroom is running a bit hotter than normal (I like to think it’s because of our wonderful and beautiful Editorial Board). West Chester is warming up to the returning sun, and I am thankful for it.

EDWARD PARK | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JOE GILL | SPORTS EDITOR

EMMA HOGAN | INTERIM NEWS EDITOR EVAN BROOKS | ASST. OP-ED EDITOR

My hands still run a little cold. The mornings are still a little chilly. But at least we’re inching towards a gentler air, where the windshield no longer needs defrosting and we can study outside with the sun on our faces.

HENRY CAMPBELL | ASST. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ERICK KLAMBARA | ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

TESIA WIEPRECHT | LEAD COPY EDITOR OLIVIA SCHLINKMAN | COPY EDITOR

Let’s take a break and a breath, West Chester — and return from spring break

MONICA ZIEGLER | COPY EDITOR

better than ever.

ALDEN HELLER | COPY EDITOR SAMANTHA STONE | FAST TRACK COPY EDITOR

CHERRY KIVUMBI | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR OLIVIA CARZO | PHOTOGRAPHY INEZ OLIVERAS | DESIGN EDITIOR

Sincerely,

ANTHONY ECKERT | ONLINE EDITIOR EVAN BROOKS | DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

DR. BENJAMIN KUEBRICH | FACULTY ADVISER

@TheQuadWCU @wcuquad

Julien Padillo, Editor-in-Chief

facebook.com/wcuquad

Copyright ©2022 The Quad. No work herein may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief. Opinions expressed within the letters to the editor, columns, and commentaries are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Quad, its editorial board or the student body, faculty, or administration of West Chester University. Founded in 1932 as Quad Angles, The Quad was re-named as such in 1975. The Quad is the independent, student-run newspaper of West Chester University of Pennsylvania. The Quad is published on 10 Mondays each academic semester and has a weekly newsprint circulation of 3,000. The Quad is funded primarily through advertising sales and, although we receive a budget through SGA and the student activity fee, The Quad is run solely by students and is not edited or altered in any way by University faculty, staff, or administration. The University has no prior review of the content. Rates and mechanical requirements for display Guest and opinion columns, letters to the editor, political or social commentary, and artwork is accepted during the academic year. All material may be sent to the attention of the editor in chief, The Quad, 253 Sykes Student

advertising can be found on our website at www.wcuquad.com. Inquiries may be placed at the addresses or phone

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should be sent to the aforementioned e-mail address. All submissions must include a name and at least two forms of contact information, such as an e-mail address and phone number, for verification purposes. Students should

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include information such as an on-campus address, class standing, area of study, and/or organizational position. Material is only published if the author/artist can be confirmed as a standing member of the University. Such

Quad exercises care to prevent omissions and factual errors. Corrections for any published error will not exceed

distinctions include students, staff, faculty, administration, and alumni. We do not accept submissions from members of the community who are not associated with West Chester University. Letters to the editor should not

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exceed 250 words; columns and commentaries should be between 500 and 1,000 words. All material may be edited to adhere to our policies, AP style, and space restraints. Opinions expressed within the letters to the editor,

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columns, and commentaries are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Quad, its editorial board or the student body, faculty, or administration of West Chester University. The deadline for all Op-ed submissions is the Saturday before Monday’s publication by 2 p.m.

The Quad is printed by Journal Register Offset in Exton, Pa.

Page 14

Op-Ed

March 7, 2022

Early Classes Will Ease into a Great College Lifestyle

By Michael Leach Special to The Quad

P

icture this: you wake up from a glorious nap, and you look at the time.

It’s 1:30 p.m. and it’s still bright outside.

All of your classes are already over, and you are ready to do some school work before having the rest of the day to your-

also increase productivity. When I finish all of my classes, it is still early in the day, and I don’t want to go back to my dorm because I know I will just relax for a while. So some days, I decide to go to the library instead and spend a few

ence that those early morning walks have been one of the best parts of my college career — so far. Not to mention you don’t have to spend hours looking for a parking spot. If you commute or live off-campus, finding a parking space

self. That doesn’t sound so bad. Taking early classes will provide a better stability for your college experience.

Students have stressful lives. College is not all about parties and having fun.

Most of the time, students are either in class or studying, even at night. Surprisingly, late classes are available, some of which end at 10 p.m. Late classes can increase student fatigue and stress, but choosing early classes can avoid all of this. It can reduce the weight of all the work being put on your shoulders and help to ease your mind.

Most students may have other opinions, thinking that this is a terrible idea and wondering what “monster” would want to take a class at eight in the morning. But truthfully, it isn’t as bad as you think. Waking up early means you have the whole day ahead of you. Once your classes are over, you still have multiple hours in the day to do whatever you need. This means you can get a lot of schoolwork done while it is daylight, and still have enough time to yourself later. You can wake up early, finish your classes by lunchtime and then get done whatever you need to do. This will give you less anxiety and lead to less stress.

Early classes make it easier to focus.

When you wake up early, you have a clear mind. You feel refreshed, ready for a new day and prepared to learn. I know from experience that getting an early start on the day has helped me to concentrate more and has guided me to get my assignments done. Focusing is easier while it is still daylight out, since it feels like you still have plenty of the day left once you finish an assignment. This can

hours getting work done. This is a strategy that I have used many times and has really helped me.

Choosing early classes is good practice for life after college. Most likely, when you get a job, they will expect you to come in bright and early and stay until late at night. Waking up early for classes is a great habit to start getting into, which will help prepare you for adulthood. When waking up in the morning, you will most likely fall into a routine to help prepare you for the day. This is also something that you would do when you get a job. You must plan when it is best for you to wake up and when to get ready, eat breakfast and leave for the day.

can be such a hassle in the middle of the day. I remember I once needed to head to a class I had early but decided to sleep in instead, which was a huge mistake. I spent 45 minutes trying to find a space and ended up being late to class. If you don’t want to take the “walk of shame” of coming in late and having students stare at you as you sit down, I suggest getting an earlier start to the day.

Early classes can also deliver better grades. Your mindset will be in a better place, which can greatly impact your GPA. If you are having trouble with your grades or confused about something you are learning, you can always go to your professor for help, regardless of when your classes are. Furthermore, since professors’ office hours vary throughout the day, having early classes gives you the advantage of being done early, giving you a higher chance of meeting them during those times.

Some students have told me they appreciate the extra time to rest or prepare for the day. Others have stated that they prefer to sleep in and have more time to themselves, which is totally understandable. I am explaining how this strategy helps me and may help other people, but it is totally fine if others do not feel the same way.

The main point of this is to identify the best way to prepare for a great college experience, which can be influenced by scheduling early classes, being focused and organized and planning for the future. This will lead to a stress-reducing semester and can prepare you for a better life.

Taking early classes is the way to go.

“You are fresh and ready for a new day and prepared to learn.”

One of the best things about taking early classes is definitely the peaceful environment. When you are up in the morning, barely anyone is on campus.

Not many students want to take early classes, so it’s nice to take a stroll down the empty and quiet streets. The quiet time is perfect for you to prepare before your class. I know from experi-

Photo credits: Sandra Kaas via Unsplash

Your college experience will greatly improve. Even if it doesn’t feel like it at the moment, it will surely help in the long run. But if you are ever doubting yourself about morning classes just remember, sometimes earlier is better.

Michael Leach is a second-year Media and Cultures major with a minor in Music Production. ML954692@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Op-Ed

Therapy: Let’s Talk About It

By Cole Fiadino Special to The Quad

W

e drink glasses of water before bed, restrict screen time and take mental health walks. But is this brand of “self care” really aiding in the way we need it? Starting therapy is a pivotal step for students in ensuring their emotional, social and academic wellbeing.

simply being able to sit down and sort out thoughts and emotions translates to a more clear and balanced personal and academic life.

Despite the overwhelming upsides of therapy, a survey conducted by Student Voice in April 2021 found that while 65%

At a time when nearly half of college students report feelings of depression and anxiety, a slice of lemon in a glass of ice water is not the answer. Collective traumas of a deadly global pandemic, civil unrest and staggering debt loom over students means depression is on the rise, and along with it, suicide — the second leading cause of death for 17–24 year olds. While therapy may not be the absolute solution to everyone’s situation, it’s a starting block for the long journey that is working through mental illness.

Many students wouldn’t consider themselves to have a mental illness.

However, therapy can be a big part in realizing undiagnosed or overlooked illness. Difficulty handling school workload, feeling overwhelmed or panicked, low energy and changes in sleep schedules are all traits easily blamed on the lifestyle of a college student. However, a lot of these struggles are also signs of depression and anxiety. It was only months after I began seeing a therapist that I realized I have depression. From there, I was able to get help better suited for my needs and the positive results have been tremendous.

The benefits of therapy extend beyond offering support for mental illness.

Having a professional dedicated to hearing and helping you can make the world of a difference for tough days, breakups, finals and drama. Psychotherapy doesn’t have to be week in and week out of intense talk. Sessions can be one-onone, group, in-person, online or with a furry friend in animal-assisted thera-

of students reported their mental health status as fair or poor, 74% reported not having accessed mental health services.

Unfortunately, negative stigmas surrounding therapy and mental health still hold substantial importance. Societal and cultural factors have built an obstacle course of toxicity, pride and insurance bills around access to better mental health care. The good news is, most universities, including West Chester University, offer free mental health counseling. So if it’s not a good fit, you walk away having lost nothing. However, psychotherapy is individualized and counselors may need more than a few sessions to get to know you, so be prepared to give it a good chance before saying it’s not a good fit. The crucial note is that patience is key and to start psychotherapy is to open a door to new options of useful exercises, eye-opening discussion, a counselor or program that is a good fit and medication.

Let’s face it, talking about feelings is hard — being vulnerable is hard and facing stigmas surrounding mental health is hard. But dealing with stress, anxiety or depression on your own is, arguably, a greater burden. We need to move forward talking openly about therapy and mental illness. Having honest dialogue supporting mental health addresses the shame and stigmas that isolate ones affected by it. While exercise, social time and proper rest are important, we can’t use these band-aids to heal our wounds of trauma and mental illness.

py. Regardless of frequency or approach,

Cole Fiadino is a third-year Media and Culture major. CF987228@wcupa.edu

Photo credits: @finnnyc via Unsplash

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Page 16

Op-Ed

March 7, 2022

Foreign Censorship: An Infringement on Our Free Speech

By Zachary Cannon Special to The Quad

Y

our freedom of speech is in danger — but not from whom you may think. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has censored its media for years,

such accusations, despite a UK Tribunal in December of 2021 determining China committed genocide against the Uyghurs, particularly in the way of pre-

insulting to those who identify with a queer sexuality and/or have been diagnosed with AIDS, but is also an attack on the progress U.S. has made regarding

but China is not the only nation impacted by these harsh policies. Freedom of speech is an integral part of the United States, and the U.S. needs to take anything that could threaten that freedom seriously. The CCP censorship hurts more than just the Chinese people and threatens our First Amendment rights.

The CCP’s censorship allows the regime to hide its heinous transgressions.

In recent years, many countries have suspected and accused China of a genocide against the Uyghurs, a Muslim ethnic group mostly within China’s Xinjiang region. Due to ethnic tensions in the region, China has cracked down on the Uyghurs; in 2017, China engaged in sending as many as one million Uyghur people to facilities which resemble reeducation camps. China has denied all

venting births. China has still managed to hide clear evidence of direct genocide.

A regime such as the Chinese Communist Party will not restrict its actions to its own borders. The American media is an unfortunate victim of the CCP’s efforts to enact its will upon the globe. American media transcends borders like no other nation; however, censors in China are particular about the content permitted in the media it shows within the country. After the release of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2019), all references to Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality were removed from the Chinese version of the film. Many subtitles were changed, some of the film was cut and censors went so far as to simply silence a scene where Mercury announces his AIDS diagnosis. Not only is this

inclusion.

American media, especially films and television, are often tailored so that they can remain relatively unchanged when marketed to China’s population of 1.4 billion. In the 2019 film “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” two women are seen sharing a kiss near the end of the Disney film, and the shot barely lasts for a few seconds. This scene in particular caused controversy when it was removed in Singapore. Although China itself did not censor the scene, the situation marks the threat that China’s censorship poses to American media.

Singapore’s removal of the shot exemplified how American companies take the censorship plaguing China into account when making films. If China did not want the gay kiss in the movie, there could have been another cut of the movie easily made without it because the scene was so brief. If Disney had truly cared about gay representation, it would have included a more prominent gay character, but doing so would not allow for as much money to be made from the Chinese market.

For years, we have heard calls for more diversity and inclusion in our media in the U.S., and the answers to those calls are long overdue. Many people would place the blame on writers, directors or producers for the shortcomings of representation in Hollywood. Although audiences should hold filmmakers accountable, regimes like the CCP have stuck to primitive and ethnocentric outlooks on the world and the people in it. The CCP’s agenda is holding our own media back from moving toward a more progressive state.

Photo credits: @lazycreekimages on Unsplash

“For years, we have heard calls for more diversity and inclusion in our media in America, and the answers to those calls are long overdue.”

The issue even impacts what American celebrities say and do. During the promotion for “F9” in 2021, actor and former WWE star, John Cena, made a post on the Chinese social media app Weibo, in which he refers to Taiwan as its own country. The CCP does not rightfully recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, but as a province of China. To save face among Chinese audiences, Cena made an apology video for his “mistake,” though he never explains what he did wrong. Cena’s apology was met with criticism for adhering to the CCP’s lies and censorship, similarly to LeBron James in 2019.

If our media is to be an example of America’s diversity, we need to stop letting the policies of the CCP dictate what our media can and cannot do. We need to demand that our media companies give all different Americans the representation they deserve. If we adhere to the censors of the CCP, we are complacent in the crimes and atrocities committed by tyrants. To American media companies: quit being cowards that refuse to stand up for the right thing. Take a stance against the CCP and take back our free speech.

Zack Cannon is a third-year Media & Culture major. ZC985543@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Op-Ed

Page 17

The Importance of Opinion

By Evan Brooks Asst. Op-Ed Editor

E

veryone has opinions, and being able to properly elaborate upon your own opinions is an important and necessary skill for life. Anyone can have an opinion, but taking the time to formulate yours with facts and concrete

to be diverse so they can be challenged, and the best practices for certain tasks can be settled on, but sometimes there just is no right answer.

In a blog post, published on the Huffington Post website by Katie Hoffman,

evidence goes a long way. In our day-today lives we should seek to understand not only the reason behind our opinions and ideals, but also to understand the ideas of others through listening intently and actively.

First, how often do you really take a deep dive into what you believe, what opinions you hold and the reasons behind them? I am assuming not all that often, even though doing so is imperative in the process of developing solid, understandable and defendable positions. We all stand somewhere, so why Photo credits: Evan Brooks not take the time to really gauge why it is you stand where one of the 15 “important truths” about you do? In other words, take the time to opinions is that, “what makes sense and understand the origin of your opinions, is obvious to one person” may not be as and do research to see how based in re- “transparent to someone else.” Hoffality they are. man’s example of “I refuse to concede After you have taken the time to eval- that whipped cream is a legitimate cake uate your own ideas, there should be an frosting solution,” is something you emphasis on how you deal with others may feel differently on. and their opinions. Realize that no one If we understand the idea that not evthinks exactly the same, and that fact eryone sees the world as you do, then we is perfectly fine and even necessary for can begin to approach encounters where a diversified pool of thought. Ideas need opinions are plentiful and not get over-

whelmed by them. Carrying out a hostile attack on someone else’s engrained ideas of the world will no longer become necessary when you realize those ideas have been planted through their environment and personal experiences, and

not out of any place of evil.

In an article from a fellow student newspaper, the Loyola Phoenix, the Phoenix Editorial Board wrote on the importance of opinion sections within newspapers. The article stated how “opinions not only give readers the chance to respond to one another’s views, but they also provide a platform to criticize” any articles that may have been published within that very same newspaper.

The reason why newspapers like The Quad have sections for individuals to voice their opinions is because it allows for accountability and a larger spread of free thought. Know though, that when you spread your opinion it might be challenged.

Challenges to other’s opinions should be based in fact and should intend not to persecute someone, but rather offer another viewpoint that the individual can adopt without much changing cost.

Overall, try to understand your own opinions, where they come from, why you have them, and develop them further through research and listening to others. When listening to others and their opinions, be respectful and cognizant of the fact that everyone has lived different lives and may have come to a different conclusion from your own. Lastly, it is important to share your developed opinions, and a way you can do that is by writing for the Op-Ed section of The Quad student newspaper.

Evan Brooks is a fourth-year Business Management major with minors in Economics and Civil & Professional Leadership. EB916132@wcupa.edu

Page 18

The Quad

March 7, 2022

West Chester University

Photos by Olivia Carzo Photography Editor

March 7, 2022

The Quad

Welcomes Springtime

Page 19

Page 20

Op-Ed

March 7, 2022

Shopping Second-Hand Saves More Than Just Money

By Anna Luchetti Special to The Quad

C

ollege: a place where, somehow, young adults can learn and grow into themselves while living off of microwave ramen, getting little sleep and worse — dealing with student debt. As a financially-struggling college student, I have found that shopping second-hand is crucial, not only because it helps me spend (and save) efficiently, but it also positively affects the environment.

Throughout my time in school, I have noticed a lot of other college students also having a hard time financially, which can be a major stressor when trying to balance everything at once.

With paying for classes, housing, groceries, utilities and more, college students suddenly have a lot of expenses to keep track of, so this amount of financial responsibility can cause large amounts of stress. One way that college students can help minimize that stress is by choosing to shop second-hand.

To start, second-hand shopping is cost-efficient. In popular stores like American Eagle, jeans can cost $80. Yet, in second-hand stores like Plato’s Closet, jeans can be as little as $10. Thrift shopping promotes smart spending and saving, offering quality items at much lower prices.

In addition, second-hand shopping allows college students to shop for vintage clothing for affordable prices. With so many vintage looks coming back into style, many college students are hopping on these trends to keep up with the ever-changing fashion climate, but the expense of fashion can hurt college students’ bank accounts. Rather than shopping from expensive brands advertised on social media, college students can shop for genuine vintage clothing at second-hand stores. While, yes, they can buy high-end items from mainstream sites and stores, by shopping second-hand students can find unique vin-

Photo credits: @beccamchaffie via Unsplash

tage clothing at much more affordable prices. According to Keely Cohen-Breen, “Thrift stores have clothes that aren’t sold in mainstream stores today. Graphic sweaters from the ‘90s, flannels with oversized look and even retro boots are just some of the things people can find in a thrift store.”

Second-hand shopping is also eco-friendly because thrifting can positively affect the environment. Shopping from mainstream companies like American Eagle or Forever 21 causes environmental harm through waste created by factory production and shipping. Alternatively, second-hand shopping reduces a shopper’s carbon footprint by recycling pre-existing clothing

without the need for factory production.

With so many college students participating in environmental activism, second-hand shopping is an excellent way for them to positively affect the environment. According to Laura Matusheski, Senior Reporter of The UD Review, “Environmental sustainability may be a leading factor, as many consumers have already taken to shopping secondhand for sustainable reasons long before 2020. Today’s generations, like Gen Z and millennials, are interested in helping the environment and reducing waste. Studies have found that 77% percent of millennials prefer to buy clothing that helps the environment.” The choice to shop second-hand can help

college students get one step closer to helping make that environmental healing a reality.

Some shoppers are wary of previously worn clothes. The idea of wearing someone else’s old clothing may make some students feel uncomfortable, and they may only prefer purchasing clothing items that are new from stores, so second-hand shopping may not appeal to them. Some people also might not be on board with shopping for less popular brands if more expensive ones are trending. Younger generations are growing more materialistic through influence of social media, and although a lot of fashion trends today are based on vintage looks, there is also an emphasis on buying expensive designer brands.

Because of this, for some college students, there may exist a stigma for purchasing cheaper or less high-end branded clothing.

Not all second-hand stores are the same, however. Some, like Plato’s Closet and Style Encore, sell more modern and higher-end products to consumers at lower prices. Rather than looking at shopping second-hand as one process where all the stores are the same, college students can, instead, do their research and investigate the many different second-hand stores near campus.

Sometimes, it may actually help you to put on someone else’s shoes and walk around in them for a while.

Anna Luchetti is a fourth-year Media & Culture major with a minor in Music. AL908154@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Op-Ed

Page 21

Nothing Being Done: The Chancellor and Free Public Higher Education

By Nick Marcil Special to The Quad

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n March 3, Chancellor Greenstein of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) came to West Chester University. He appeared before a small crowd in Sykes Theater for an open forum where he talked for 10–15 minutes or so before a Q&A portion — really, a question and avoiding portion. According to the UMASS Amherst Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) report, the chancellor calculated about 1,500 jobs to be cut. During this session, however, the chancellor said the number would be far lower than that and that there was a lot of misinformation released over the summer.

He stated, “we started [this fiscal year] at 110 faculty positions to be eliminated.” Of course, he didn’t say we must demand more state funding, or to avoid cutting jobs and services. Rather, I’d say the misinformation is on his end, as the 1500 or so jobs outlined in the PERI report dealt with not just this fiscal year but from 2019 employment numbers projected up to the year 2023.

I then asked the chancellor about the lack of funding for the state system being a cause for the debts many students have. 75% of the WCU 2020 graduating class left with student debt and had an average student loan debt of over $37K according to ticas.org. In my question, I noted, “we could have free public higher education, but [you are not fighting] for a fully funded state system of free public higher education.” Myself and several others held up signs with their student loan debt to showcase what the underfunding of PASSHE leads to: DEBT! I am around $17,000 in debt. Another student had almost $50,000 on their sign. This is thanks to the chancellor and others for not fighting for PASSHE. I asked, “What are you doing to make sure PASSHE can become free and actually get a

fully funded state system to fix these equity gaps? [From about 1983-2008,] the state system never had appropriations below $625 million adjusted for today’s inflation, but you are only asking for $550 million.” The question was given some applause. After I finished speaking, the chancellor said, “I’ll take the gentleman behind you.” No acknowledgement of my question, he just moved on. Imagine being in class and after asking a question to your professor they don’t address it?

I’m extremely frustrated that the chancellor skipped over my question, so I spoke up again, asking if he was going to answer my question. Someone up front asked as well. In defense, he said, “I was expecting to collect questions, and I expected to get a bunch. I mean, I’m okay for you to run the meeting, but I think I’ll prefer to do that.” Odd, because he addressed the first question posed to him. In response, I asked him if he is trying to serve students. Clearly not if he isn’t willing to even pay lip service to a question. Then he said, “I am doing nothing to advocate for free college.”

This chancellor doesn’t want to eliminate student tuition & student fees.

The chancellor wants to uphold a system where students who don’t have the money to get a college degree must jump through hoops for aid, scholarships and awards and work multiple jobs, withmany still ending up in student debt.

Later, WCU graduate student Darryl Thomas asked “so many of us have to take out student loans and take out so much […] What are you planning to do to confront that?” The chancellor replied, “[My role] is to identify for the general assembly, the owners of the state system, what their policy choices are… that’s what I do.” I see this as the chancellor not working for students, rather

working for the owners, aka legislators.

Yet, the “owners” foot about 25% of the PASSHE budget with student tuition, fees, etc. funding the other 75%.

The final question asked by a faculty member at WCU was, “to follow up on the question on free public higher education, and I do appreciate your honest response, I believe the response was that you do not support free public higher education. I believe it was the direct response.” The chancellor responded, saying, “I was asked what I was doing about it and said nothing.” The faculty member responded, “You said nothing — you are doing nothing about it.”

The faculty member continued, “[The Chancellor believes] higher education is not an entitlement … that is part of the problem: K-12 is an entitlement. In New Mexico, community college is an entitlement … there’s a trend — even in Biden’s Build Back Better proposal he included higher education, community college, as an entitlement. There is a clear trend [of] thinking of extending it to higher education. We know that the funding is there … What we would like you to do is break from politics as usual,and we want you to call on the probable hundreds of thousands of people who support action to a day of action … use your position and platform. People’s lives [especially those directly impacted by consolidation and layoffs] are literally on the line.” The chancellor smirked and drank a sip of water. As the faculty member finished, the chancellor seemed to start to wrap up without really addressing the question or concerns from the faculty member.

Instead, President Fiorentino said a quote from former U.S. Senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts.” But the fact is the funding is there

and we need to demand it! Additionally, President Fiorentino mentioned how the faculty member was being “idealistic.” But being idealistic is what creates real meaningful change. This change towards treating higher education as an entitlement can be difficult, but nothing good ever comes easy. Let’s continue to make sure public higher education is treated as a public good! Fight on for a fully funded state system of free public higher education and the abolition of debt!

And lastly, let’s say that it seems the Chancellor doesn’t want his lackluster appearance to be public, as the video (which was originally unlisted on the West Chester University YouTube channel) was live streamed. It is now accessible from a link on the West Chester University website. But the video was made private about 15 minutes or so after the event concluded. I personally saw some of the videos as soon as I got back to my class, but it seems like public higher education and public forums both aren’t entitled to the public.

Nick Marcil is a student pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education Policy & Student Affairs. NM871511@wcupa.edu

Audience members ask questions.

Photo credits: Rob Cuthill

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Op-Ed

March 7, 2022

Stop Tipping. Workers Deserve Better

By Kayla Shaw Special to The Quad

I

hate tipping, but I do it anyway. Tipping is antiquated and should be abolished because restaurant workers deserve a fair wage.

The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is still $7.25 and has not changed since 2009. All the states around us have higher minimum wages. Waiters and waitresses make even less than $7.25.

They start at around $2 an hour and have the rest of their pay made up in tips. If they don’t make enough tips to make minimum wage, they are paid the difference. Unlike retail workers and others in the service industry, their salary depends on factors outside of their control such as customer generosity and the popularity of the establishment. “I think servers should just get a fair wage instead… I’d rather make a steady wage than hope to make enough each shift,” says Zack Cannon, a junior at WCU. Servers deal with the public, and sometimes these customers are at their worst. Simply forgetting a plate of fries can cost them a decent tip. If a server is having a bad night and they don’t seem like their best self, a customer can see it as a sign of disrespect and not tip them at all. Servers are required to go above and beyond all the time to make ends meet.

Delivery drivers face the same dilemma. By the time you order something for delivery, the costs of all the extra fees and tips are almost the same price as your food. It makes it not worth getting delivery. Restaurants and delivery services must be responsible for their workers’ mode of transportation. Gas and maintenance add up quickly, and tips and other fees cannot cover it.

Some fast-food and fast-casual restaurants ask for a tip after you order.

If you do give a tip, that goes to every worker in the restaurant, so your designated server only gets a few cents out of

it. The order is received, the food is made and it’s handed to the customer. The service is negligible, and so are the tips.

Tips should not be expected just because someone cooks the food.

The United States is one of a few countries that expect a 15–20% tip at restaurants. It’s a societal issue that is just now being addressed with the Great Resignation. Low-wage service workers are looking for better paying jobs in less harsh conditions. If tipping and wages were equivalent to the labor given, more people would stay in service jobs.

People worry about a rise in food prices if servers are paid a fair wage. If the national minimum wage is increased to $15, food will only cost a few cents more.

Additionally, taxes are taken out of tips since it’s considered taxable income.

Tips that are $20 and under don’t have to be reported to the IRS. A server could make just enough tips to break even for the month and still must pay taxes on it. If someone’s base pay is under or at minimum wage, they should pay very few taxes.

We are college students and most of us are on a fixed income. We budget our money so we can afford little things that come up during the semester. Serving is one job college students occupy the most. The tips are most appreciated by them, and customs dictate the ritual. However, most students would agree that a steady paycheck is better for saving and spending. An unsteady paycheck can make it harder to pay for cars, food or even tuition.

Tipping should only be reserved for a job well done, and it shouldn’t make up the bulk of anyone’s paycheck.

Kayla Shaw is a second-year Media & Culture major with a minor in Digital Marketing. KS965889@wcupa.edu

Photo credits: @journeysia via Unsplash

The Quad

Arts & Entertainment

Page 23

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT quadentertainment@wcupa.edu

Non-Fiction Reads for the Activist

By Ali Kochik Managing Editor

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any people rely on the art of reading to provide them with some sort of escape from the burning world we are currently living in. When all is dark and grey outside in real life, tucking yourself in with a story that is miles away from reality can feel wonderful.

For fiction junkies like myself, it can be difficult to remember that sometimes it is a good idea to come back to Earth for a little while and invest your time in a work of nonfiction. That way, you can grow and learn about the life we live in a completely realistic way.

For those who are also interested in activism and social justice, there is no shortage of books on the market that allow for greater understanding of communities, different walks of life and the history that the educational system so often hides from us.

When selecting one of these books, particularly if you are someone who does not typically read nonfiction, it can be important to know that the book you are reading is not only important, but will captivate you in the same way a work of fiction might. Each one of the books listed below has the amazing qualities of being both educational and fascinating, making them must-reads for anyone interested in activism.

“Legendary Children: The First Decade of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Last Century of Queer Life” by Lorenzo Marquez and Tom Fitzgerald Described by Kate Wudel of the Los Angeles Times as “unusually ambitious” and “ an obsessively detailed portrait of modern LGBTQ life and how it came to

be,” “Legendary Children” is a piece of literature that truly paints a timeline for readers of how deviating from heteronormativity has looked throughout queer history.

By largely unpacking the history of drag, Marquez and Fitzgerald have created a time capsule of information

looks the way it currently does.

“Hood Feminism: Notes From The Women That a Movement Forgot” by Mikki Kendall Following her debut graphic novel, “Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists,” Mikki Kendall took to essay writing in order to compose her critically ac-

“Legendary Children” cover. Photo credits: Penguin Random House

regarding the way queens, and other members of the LGBTQ+ community, have fought for and created queer life as we know it today.

Using “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as a marker for what drag looks like today, the authors worked to show and explain the historical context of drag, from the Snatch Game to lip syncing, in order to allow readers to better understand the span of drag as an art. They also explain how we have so many queer-identified people to thank for the way queer life

claimed nonfiction book, “Hood Feminism,” in early 2020.

Since the time of its publication, the book has been praised for its prose, in addition to the perspective it adds to the feminist movement. By sharing her own experience, and the experiences of other Black women and girls, Kendall sheds light on the intersectional lense that is necessary for feminism to be effective for all communities.

By debunking and disputing the mentality of mainstream — white feminism

— Kendall creates an indisputable case for the changes that need to be made systemically, as well as within feminism. The book captures the essence of what it means to be at the intersection of race and gender in America, and prompts readers to adjust their methods of activism in order to affect change in a way that is actually helpful.

“All About Love: New Visions” by bell hooks Written by one of the world’s favorite Black feminists, bell hooks, “All About Love” breaks down the gendered constructs of romantic love. Throughout the book, hooks explains the ways in which people who identify as men have been taught to ignore love and the power that it holds, while people who identify as women have been taught to approach various situations with love, regardless of how they are treated in return.

With each individual chapter breaking down a different aspect of romantic love, hooks uses her knowledge and research to explain to readers how one might go about reversing the instincts that our culture has instilled within each of us when it comes to love. From commitment to trust, respect to affection, hooks highlights the ways in which we have been taught a love that is generated by stereotypes, ego and gender, as opposed to an equal and powerful love.

Ali Kochik is a fourth-year English major with minors in Journalism and Women’s & Gender Studies. AK908461@wcupa.edu

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Arts & Entertainment

March 7, 2022

PA AG Joins in Bipartisan TikTok Probe Could Work

By Henry Campbell Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

A

“TikTok” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Solen Feyissa

ttorney General (AG) Josh Shapiro announced Thursday, Mar. 3 that Pennsylvania will join multiple other states’ ongoing probe into the social media app TikTok, and the effects on the both physical and mental health of the app’s younger users.

TikTok has been taking over the internet and growing steadily, with recent reports showing over one billion downloads, as well as 130 million active users in the U.S. as of Mar. 1, 2022 per Wallaroo Media. With a seemingly endless stream of content, along with arguably one of the most precise and unique algorithms in social media right now, TikTok is loved by many who use it, with the average user spending 52 minutes on the app per day. What is being discussed now however, is the potential negative health effects of the app, especially when it comes to children and young adults on the app.

“My job is to protect all Pennsylvanians, especially children, from online threats,” said AG Shapiro via a recent press release. “Parents and children deserve to know the risks associated with these platforms. And if TikTok is found to have prioritized business growth over the physical and emotional well being of Pennsylvania’s children, they will be held responsible for that.”

Although TikTok is still relatively new in regards to its level of popularity, the issue of large media companies taking advantage of young users is not anything new at all. Google, and more specifically its subsidiary YouTube, was ordered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to pay 170 million in damages in 2019, after the corporation illegally collected data on its younger users without consent. The data, known commonly as cookies, was collected without the consent of the parents in direct violation of the Children’s Online Priva-

cy Protection Act (COPPA). “YouTube touted its popularity with children to prospective corporate clients, yet when it came to complying with COPPA, the company refused to acknowledge that portions of its platform were clearly directed to kids. There’s no excuse for YouTube’s violations of the law,” said Joe Simons, former FTC Chairman.

With TikTok now under the microscope of a bipartisan multi-state AG investigation, more attention than ever is being drawn to the possible purposeful manipulation of young users. The leading committee is commanded by the AGs from California, New Jersey, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Tennessee and Vermont. This group is specifically looking into what specific harm TikTok causes for younger users, and how much TikTok is aware of said harm. The harm is believed to be mainly centered around TikTok’s methods of user engagement and how those methods shift when users are of a younger age.

Looking at past incidents such as with Youtube, it’s not very hard to recognize similarities between the platforms, especially with both being video-centered and both having a large youth audience.

Tiktok has also been criticized in the past for not being transparent on user data collection, which, since they are based in China through parent company Bytedance, they operate outside of U.S. law and therefore do not have to comply with U.S. law. The company was quoted from a statement to NBC News saying, “We care deeply about building an experience that helps to protect and support the well-being of our community, and appreciate that the state attorney general is focusing on the safety of younger users.”

Henry Campbell is a third-year English major. HC933776@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Arts & Entertainment

Page 25

The Princess of Pop Punk is Back with New Album “Luv Sux”

By Alexis Barrick Special to The Quad

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op-punk icon Avril Lavigne is back to making headlines with her new music and boyfriend, MODSUN. Her official return to the music industry was marked when she was featured in “Flames,” a song off of MODSUN’s most recent album, “Internet Killed the Rockstar.” Technically, Lavigne’s return to the music industry happened in 2019 with the release of her album “Head Above Water,” but the album didn’t get a lot of attention compared to her earlier works.

In 2022, Lavigne released the singles “Love It When You Hate Me” (featuring blackbear) and “Bite Me” as promo after signing with Travis Barker’s record label DTA Records, creating an epic pop-punk mashup. On Feb. 25, she officially released her seventh studio album, “Love Sux,” and it’s everything you would expect from an Avril Lavigne album and more.

“Cannonball” Right off the bat, Lavigne comes heavy with a hardcore punk song with loud, fast-paced drums and electric guitar. The song is a burst of energy serving as a reminder that the Princess of Pop-Punk is officially back. I wouldn’t want to be in the mosh pit when this song’s playing. Actually, I would, but I’d definitely end up getting elbowed in the head.

“Bois Lie” Is it really a pop-punk album in 2022 if Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) isn’t featured on it? Their two voices blend together beautifully, mostly because MGK’s voice serves as an amplifier for Lavigne’s iconic sound. I also can’t go without mentioning the “Sk8er Boi” ode in the title with the classic “boi” spelling. Lavigne has said multiple times in interviews that “Sk8er Boi” is one of her favorite songs because it’s one of the biggest markers of her career.

“Bite Me”

“Bite Me” was the first single released off of the album, and it set the tone for what to expect when listening to the entirety of the album. The theme of love’s trials and tribulations oozes through the lyrics in “Luv Sux.” Love’s hard, but it had to be something great in order for it to end up hurting as badly as it seemed to have. I mean, you must be pretty pissed if you’re going to go to

and accompanied those really awkward brace-faced first kisses. I don’t think that Lavigne was necessarily trying to go for an awkward first kiss vibe with a song titled “Kiss Me Like the World Is Ending,” but it was middle school, so you get what you get.

“Avalanche” If “Let Go” and “Head Above Water” had a baby, it would be this song.

your ex-boyfriend’s house to destroy his things and throw all his clothes into the yard with the sprinklers on.

“Love it When You Hate Me” This song comes back a bit to Lavigne’s switch from punk in her album “Let Go” to the bubblegum pop we heard in her “Best Damn Thing” pink-haired phase. Just like those two albums, and basically every other song she’s ever released, there’s an underlying emo tone to the song regardless of the genre the sound reflects. Featuring artist blackbear, who is no stranger to singing songs about failed love with popular songs like “Do Re Mi” and “Hot Girl Bummer,” it makes sense that this is one of the most played songs off of the album.

“Love Sux” The title track came to deliver. The song does the album justice with its mix of pop-punk drums and bubblegum pop sound in Avril Lavigne’s voice. The song perfectly combines all of the sounds and emotions that the album “Luv Sux” conveys. “Love Sux” is the type of song you jump around to while getting ready before a night out. A radiation of good vibes and ecstatic, hot-girl energy can only lead to a great night.

“Kiss Me Like the World Is Ending” This song makes me feel like I’m sitting in the back of my dad’s car on my way to an American Youth Soccer Organization soccer game, which is an absolutely amazing feeling. This song definitely would have been on my hot pink MP3 player. With the truth or dare and spin the bottle references, this song definitely would have made it onto a middle school party mix CD

It brings the emo energy of 17-yearold Avril Lavigne with the more matured side of her music. The honesty in this song and metaphors brought in to express the suffocating feeling of post-heartbreak emotions creates the type of song you need to put on repeat when it’s finally time to cry and release.

“Déjà vu” Almost everyone has had the experience of being with a person who insists they’re going to change and then without missing a beat continues to do the exact same things. If you haven’t experienced this, good for you, because just like it says in the lyrics, this type of toxic repetition will have you constantly questioning whether you’re insane.

Relatable songs always have to be appreciated — especially when they sound as good as this one does.

“F.U.” At this point in listening to the album, I just want to know who hurt Avril Lavigne this badly. These songs were all written when she wasn’t signed to a label and didn’t have a manager, so any inspiration that went towards writing this album had to be pure emotion.

Those emotions are cohesively flowing through the album from the “Déjà vu” to “F.U.” transition. The songs go from hurtful toxic repetition to calling it quits after being hurt for the last time.

This is the song you should listen to after you finish crying to “Avalanche.”

“All I Wanted” It’s about time one of the musicians that Travis Barker works with featured Mark Hoppus, lead vocalist for Blink-182, on one of their songs. These two iconic

voices combined bring together the 90’s punk rockers with those of the 2000’s.

If anyone doesn’t like this song, I don’t know what to say except you’re simply wrong.

“Dare to Love Me” This song has permanently made its way onto my shower playlist.

Scream-singing this heartfelt song about someone daring to love you, but only saying those terrifying three words if it’s the truth, all while the shower water drips down your face like you’re in the rain, is the only acceptable way to fully appreciate the sound and emotions of this song. I know I’m not the only one who does that, so skip the cool act and just do it.

“Break of a Heartache” If this song reminds you of other punk-pop artists like Machine Gun Kelly, YUNGBLUD or some of the better Olivia Rodrigo songs, I wouldn’t be surprised. Lavigne set the tone for new pop-punk artists, so I don’t want to hear the drums in this song sound a lot like “Title Track” from “Tickets to My Downfall.” This song is all Avril Lavigne and it is the best, explosive ending I could have asked for.

No matter what you’re hoping for from “Luv Sux,” you will not be disappointed. There’s something for everyone on the album regardless of your favorite pop-punk era or Avril Lavigne album.

People seem to be agreeing with me seeing as it peaked at number one on iTunes album sales chart. Don’t worry about another hiatus coming from the singer, because she already has more projects in the works. She’s currently working on a 20th anniversary “Sk8er Boi” movie that she’ll be helping to write and produce. She has also hinted that there will be a lot of cameos from her fellow musicians.

Alexis Barrick is a fourth-year English major with a minor in Journalism.

AB910606@wcupa.edu

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Arts & Entertainment

March 7, 2022

“The Batman” Review: “Intense, Shockingly Eerie and Absolutely Beautiful”

By Julian Frick Special to The Quad

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adies and Gentlemen, I never thought this day would come: “The Batman” is finally here. The anticipation that I had for this movie was like

Batman” is intense, shockingly eerie and absolutely beautiful all at the same time. The movie, which is similar in style to “Se7en” and “The Joker,” could be

cording to Matt Reeves, and you can see how. There is just so much emotion hidden behind his eyes, like with the late singer of Nirvana. This Batman has un-

“Nobody actually asked you anything,” they responded. After some tears and pats on the shoulder, they consoled me by agreeing with what I said. And saying

nothing I had ever experienced before.

And if you love everything Batman, like me, a million questions are likely going through your head right now. The first and most obvious question you are probably dying to know is, “Does the Batsuit have nipples again?” Here I am to be the bearer of bad news, because the Batsuit does not have nipples this time around.

I know, I know, I’m not too happy about it either, but that does not make this a bad Batman movie by any standard. In fact, I know what everyone is most likely wondering. Every time a new Batman movie comes out, one question pops into our brains. “Is it as good as ‘The Dark Knight?’” Ladies and Gentlemen, after seeing “The Batman” for the first time this past Tuesday night, I can honestly say, yes, I think so.

classified as a psychological thriller in some respects due to the sheer intensity and gravity of many situations.

resolved pain and we see it in more ways than one.

“The Batman” was better than Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” is very high praise, since the latter often frequents top 10 movie lists. We superhero nerds don’t take kindly to new superhero movies. We often compare the past to the new, oftentimes with the new representations of our heroes falling short.

The director of “The Batman,” Matt Reeves, has truly made the most Batman-like Batman movie to date.

Does that make sense? It probably doesn’t right now, but once you finally see the movie for yourself, you will understand what I may be failing to articulate. From the surprisingly authentic feel of Gotham to the suspenseful score, it feels like the Batman movie we’ve always wanted. In this nearly threehour rendition of the new caped-crusader movie, Reeves delivers perhaps the most realistic and engaging Batman film to date. And at no point during the three hours was I bored; in fact, quite the contrary. I truly would’ve been okay if this movie was four hours long. “The

There were moments to make you cry, moments to make you cheer and moments to make you go, “HOLY ****!”

Matt Reeves’s unique interpretation of “The Batman” is like none of its past predecessors. There is no time wasted on building the origin story of Batman.

We’ve been down that road before.

This is Batman’s second year being the “hero” of Gotham and people still aren’t too sure if they can trust him. He has somewhat of a notorious reputation being a brooding (very brooding) vigilante in the shadows; however, he forms a rapport with Lieutenant Gordon when it comes to solving The Riddler’s puzzling crimes. Batman finally embodies the world-class detective status that matches his more typical representation in the comics, not that of the previous movies. The whole time Batman is trying to save Gotham from this deranged riddle-driven serial killer, but he is also trying to figure out why The Riddler is writing to him at each crime.

It’s clear that Batman feels responsible for Gotham’s crimes and it weighs harshly on his already-heavy shoulders. Throughout the movie, you can tell Batman/Bruce Wayne is still very affected from what happened in the past. He fights with aggression and he’s an enigma in every interaction he has.

Brooding, to say the least. This Batman was inspired a bit after Kurt Cobain ac-

So, the movie itself is good, but what about the portrayal of The Bat? Of course, everyone has their doubts when a pretty boy turns into a serious actor, especially when it comes to the Batman franchise in the past, like with Heath Ledger. And to repeat history, I can truthfully say that the pretty boy more than delivered. After watching this movie only one time, I can confidently say that Robert Pattinson is the best Batman we’ve ever had. Everything from the tone of his voice to the way that he walks and the way that he talks: it’s all Batman. Pattinson’s acting has been highly acclaimed as of late, and in this film, he is at his peak. He will have you nearly in tears then make you feel chills within a few moments. Robert Pattinson is on board for two more movies, and I cannot be more ecstatic.

So, was “The Batman” better than “The Dark Knight?” If we are talking purely about a Batman movie, hell yes it is! “Blasphemous,” you may say, perhaps scandalous — too bad, because it’s the truth! “The Dark Knight” was more of the Joker’s movie in many ways, but this time, “The Batman” is exactly what its title promises.

The very second “The Batman” ended I turned to my friends and said, “I think that was better than the Dark Knight.”

Despite my initial reaction, I will have to watch “The Batman” at least one more time to call it the better movie altogether.

We’ve all seen “The Dark Knight” what, 100 times?

Let “The Dark Knight” have one more week at the top, just for old time’s sake.

Julian Frick is a fourth year communications major. JF918832@wcupa.edu

“Robert Pattinson” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by Budiey

The Quad

Arts & Entertainment

Page 27

Winter’s Tale Interview

By Hally Everett Special to The Quad

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ast week I went to see “Winter’s Tale,” a performance in conjunction between University Theater and the Department of Theater and Dance. After the show, I interviewed some of the cast members to learn about their take on the show. Check it out!

According to the WCU Theater and Dance website, the synopsis of the play is: “King Leontes tears his family apart with his jealousy, but grief unlocks his heart. Will the King find the child he abandoned before it is too late? Will the bear catch [its] prey? Will statues come to life? Come see [“The Winter’s Tale,”] in one of Philadelphia[’s] premiere director[’s] contemporary retelling of [one of] Shakespeare’s classics.”

I asked Logan Santana, Noah Glose and Kat Duncan a few questions about the play. Here are their answers:

What character do you play?

Santana: ​​I play Perdita and Mariner. I truly love how different they are.

Glose: I play King Leontes of Sicilia.

Duncan: I play the Clown, who is the son of the Shepherd. I also play the Geoler (jailer).

bunch of noises in my first monologue when Clown is first introduced! “How the sea flap-dragoned it!”

What is your favorite line to deliver?

Santana: The Mariner makes me feel very high energy and kinda silly. I have a true sense of calm when I’m playing him. When I play Perdita, I find it very nerve-wracking because she is feeling so many emotions. She is in love, and she has a lot of pressure on her shoulders with the shearing festival.

Glose: Leontes goes through a wave of emotions throughout the play, and you really feel sorry for him in the end. He was never a bad person, only had a bad day.

Duncan: Mostly I just felt the energy in the room. The excitement of the crowd, the intensity of the scene. The pure joy of just performing.

Santana: My favorite line is the end of the Mariner’s monologue — “Besides this place is famous for the creature of prey that keep upon’t” — because he has an interesting sound and is nervous to be in Bohemia.

Glose: Some of my favorite lines come right from the beginning of the play as you see Leontes’ jealousy begin to take over him and his thoughts. My favorite monologue is in there, and it is always a treat to deliver it alongside my castmate, Dyl, who plays Camillo.

Duncan: My favorite line to deliver is actually part of my monologue. I make a

Winter’s Tale performance Photo credits: Hally Everett

What emotions did you feel as you played your character?

Anything else you’d like to add?

Santana: I learned a lot about myself with becoming Perdita, and I’m glad to be able to be a part of this process.

Glose: This show takes you through an emotional rollercoaster of love, loss, regret and laughter.

Duncan: Come see “Winter’s Tale!”

Special thank you to the cast who let me interview them, and congratulations on a wonderful show! The theater department has two upcoming shows. The “Student-Written One Acts” are happening April 1–3, and “Into the Woods” is happening Apr. 20-24. You won’t want to miss them!

Hally Everett is a fifth-year Media & Culture major with minors in Health Sciences and Entrepreneurship. HE885418@wcupa.edu

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Arts & Entertainment

March 7, 2022

Spotlight of the Week: Ye “Donda 2”

By Isaiah Ireland Special to The Quad

I

n the past month, Ye has been one of the most talked about people in the world for more than just his music.

But we’re here to talk about his new album, “Donda 2,” which he teased to have dropped on Feb. 22, 2022.

Only a few songs were available at the time, and only on his stem player. The stem player costs $200 before shipping and handling: on it, you can manipulate a song of your choice to just isolate the drums, vocals, bass or music. There are a lot of tutorials and demonstrations using the device online if you would like to know more information on it.

At the Feb. 22 “Donda 2” event hosted

by Ye, he played a lot of songs off of the album and from his past album, “Donda.” The public had access to the event through a live stream of his stem player

website. During the event, a lot of artists were revealed to be featured on the album including Jack Harlow, Migos, Travis Scott, Soulja Boy, Baby Keem and Don Toliver, and more.

There were mixed reviews of the album after the event , with some fans upset that the full album wasn’t available to them on the 22 and other fans upset that he didn’t want to put it on digital streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify. Ye took to Instagram to talk about his decision, saying, “Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own. Go to stemplayer.com now to

Photo credits: “Kanye West performing at the Samsung Gal” (CC BY 2.0) by kennyysun

order.”

It was also announced that Ye was offered $100 million in a deal with Apple Music over his new album.

But since his choice to offer the album through his services, that deal fell through. No word yet if he’ll ever put this one or future albums on streaming services. As part of the release of his new album, Ye and Netflix debuted a documentary about the superstar. The title of the doc is “jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.” Netflix’s description of it is: “The lives of an emerging superstar and a filmmaker intertwine in this intense, intimate docuseries charting Ye’s career, filmed over two decades.” There are

two episodes available now if you want to check it out.

“Donda 2,” which is named after his mother, will be marked as his 12th studio album. His last album, “Donda,” hit number one on billboard 200 and sold 327k units in the first week. As fans of music and of Ye, we hope through controversy he brings a complete and beautiful album for his fans and listeners as he has been doing for years before. As of Feb. 24, the full album is available on his stem player. Once we get our hands on the album, be sure to check out The Quad because we will be here to give you the full breakdown and review of the album.

Isaiah Ireland is a second-year Media & Culture major. II978280@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Arts & Entertainment

Through the Eyes of a Man: “Euphoria”

By Kaitlyn Chronowski Special to The Quad

I

f you have been even remotely active on social media within the past few weeks, chances are you’ve seen the buzz surrounding season two of HBO’s hit show “Euphoria.” The show has captivated viewers by showcasing troubled high-schoolers wearing flashy outfits

a main character) is babysitting, spoke about a scene that was written to be more risque than what made it to TV. Kelly says that, in the original scene where her character asks Maddy to unzip her dress, Levinson originally wanted her to fully undress.

and bright makeup, dealing with controversial issues such as sex, violence and drug use.

And with the season finale that aired last Sunday, Feb. 27, more people are talking about “Euphoria” than ever before.

Like any other form of media that covers these topics, the chaotic and sexual content of the show has generated discourse over whether it could potentially be harmful to the viewers tuning in every week, specifically to younger audiences.

Though all of the actors playing these teens are of age, certain characters are depicted to be as young as 15-years-old.

This can be disturbing to think about considering that the creator of this show, Sam Levinson, is a 37-year-old man, and a decent portion of the content in “Euphoria” is inherently sexual.

Levinson, who is the sole writer of the show, has reportedly experienced issues working with actresses on the set of “Euphoria,” some of whom claim there were creative differences pertaining to the direction Levinson was taking the show.

Sydney Sweeney, who plays one of the main characters, Cassie, has recently spoken out about having to ask Levinson to remove topless scenes that she thought were unnecessary. This is surprising when you see how many sex scenes involving Sweeney’s character make the final cut (hint: it’s a lot).

Sweeney isn’t the only actress on the show to speak out about the excessive nudity. Actress Minka Kelly, who played the mother of a child that Maddy (also

The over-sexualization of women is certainly not uncommon in Hollywood.

However, the graphic scenes depicting underage women are especially frequent in this show, which many say is the sole reason as to why it gained traction so quickly.

Because of young audiences watching shows like “Euphoria,” girls are being thrown into a society where toxic masculinity is normalized and their bodies are seen as only there to fulfill the desires of men. Most of the time, we mindlessly consume media without thinking of the effects it may have on us and, more specifically, the way we think.

The objectification of women in media is oftentimes disguised as “empowerment,” yet almost always still play into male sexual desires, which leaves viewers with unrealistic standards for how women should act.

The reality is, sex sells. And when you take into account the young audience that this series appeals to, it leads to young women believing that they must objectify themselves if they want to garner attention from men.

While shows like “Euphoria” may be entertaining, directors like Levinson have a massive influence on a very impressionable audience. When playing into the objectification of women in a show with millions of weekly viewers, the impact is significant.

By supporting female artists, directors and content creators, we have the ability to change the way society views women.

Kaitlyn Chronowski is a fourth-year Media & Culture major. KC905079@wcupa.edu

Photo credits: “Minka Kelly” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity Photographer

Page 29

Page 30

Arts & Entertainment

March 7, 2022

“Children of Morta” Review

By Edward Park Entertainment Editor

“

Children of Morta” is a rogue-like dungeon crawler that has a heavy emphasis on progression, combat and family.

Developed by the low profile Dead Mage studio, “Children of Morta” is a top-down rogue-like hack-and-slash game that has really gripped me for a couple of days. I decided that, since I beat the base game, I should give it a review.

For both its story and gameplay mechanics, “Children of Morta” has a strong emphasis on its characters, i.e. the Bergson family. Each family member has a unique set of skills and abilities that play into the others’ characters. The resources of the game, stamina, health and ability are all used by the family in different ways. There is a monk who uses their agility to, instead of dodging, attack, emphasizing an incredibly aggressive style of play. The stamina meter is used for how long a person can use a shield, a mana pool or as another health bar.

The more interesting aspect is the usage of each character’s traits. Each character has a set of traits that are unlocked by progressing through their own ability trees. Each one of the traits is carried through to every family member. If you get a trait that increases your damage, then all of the other characters in the game get that damage bonus.

It’s a very interesting system that strongly encourages a player to try out and play through the other characters in the game. Some traits even involve bringing in that particular character into the run for a second to do something really quick. Either way, that doesn’t mean that all of these kinds of mechanics are welcome.

When I said that the game “encourages” you to play every character, I of course mean play them all or be shot at dawn. Another mechanic is corruption.

If you have been using a single character for “too long,” that character will then begin to grow weaker to the point where

they are unplayable for a considerable period of time. Mechanically, it lowers the character’s maximum health which will recover once you begin to use other characters. It often can take a while for the corruption to dissipate.

However, all of that said, the story of “Children of Morta” is good... up to a point. The family does feel authentic with there being a lot of turmoil in the relationship between the members and the discovery of a grave secret that is very much related to the burden of family. That said, it’s all told through a single narrator, which can feel rather distant in comparison to the very personal story.

It does a lot of telling instead of showing, probably because the narration of the game is so fundamental to the experience that it would be difficult to remove it. I would have much preferred that each family member talked and the narrator was used more sparingly, maybe only for smaller moments. As it stands, it feels intrusive and inorganic.

Regardless, I did finish the game. Oddly enough, all the different mechanics and family members were enough to really spice up the combat to the point that I consider it worth your time playing. I do like the smaller mechanical finesse that you can do. There is a way to, if you want to be really optimal, attack twice as fast than you normally can. Small things like that, plus the interesting story are really what kept me coming back to this game. However, once that was all over, I reflected on all the things I didn’t quite enjoy as much and viewed this game as I could have. It was a pleasant experience that, unfortunately through certain chokeholds and creative decisions (the pixel art is great but the narrator is used a tad too much for my liking), is not my favorite game.

Edward Park is a fourth-year Secondary Education (English) major. EP909756@wcupa.edu

Photo of Person Typing on Computer Keyboard. Photo credits: Soumil Kumar via pexels

The Quad

Arts & Entertainment

Page 31

Quad Picks Your Picks Your weekly source of new music, movies, and media recommended by The Quad staff!

“FOLKLORE” BY TAYLOR SWIFT

Your weekly source of new music, movies, and media recommended by readers like you!

“MALCOM AND MARIE” BY SAM LEVINSON “The idea of having a partner who you love dearly and never fight or argue about anything... Well, for this couple it’s the complete opposite. Netflix’s ‘Malcolm and Marie’ starring Zendaya and John

“‘Folklore’ by Taylor Swift is nearly two years old, and it still holds up as one of the most iconic, romantic

David Washington is about a couple who literally argues the whole movie about a range of topics and are so toxic to each other. Netflix describes the movie as ‘A filmmaker on the brink of Hollywood glory

albums I’ve ever experienced.”

and his girlfriend, whose story made his career, find themselves

- Kristine Kearns, Op-Ed Editor

pushed towards a reckoning as a single tumultuous night decides the fate of their relationship.’ This is one of my favorite movies of all time and worth the watch. It’s not too long and not too short, perfect to wine down on a school night. We all think being in love is beautiful, and this couple proves it not always is. “

“CHEEKS” BY ONLY FIRE AND CHASE ICON

- Isaiah Ireland

“The collaboration that ‘Beg For You’ should have been. This song activates something deep within my brain.

You either get it or you don’t.”

- Anthony Eckbert, Online Editor

“THE GLOW, PT. 2” BY PHIL EVERUM “Raw, unprocessed emation is the one contiguous aspect of Phil Everum’s masterwork, ‘The Glow Pt. 2.’ A mix of quieter acoustic numbers blended with abrasive distorted instruments, often changing multiple times within a single track, perfectly encapsulated the introspective yet violent self-analysis of Everum. If you’re

“DARK RIVER” ALBUM

BY LYDIA LUCE “It’s very cinematic with the powerful string instruments in most songs.

There’s an overall sort of dreamy quality to the album, and some

looking for a good album to be with you on those gray days that seem to be oh-so-common as winter thaws into spring, ‘The Glow’ is a perfect choice for anyone, from someone who’s experienced in lo-fi indie to someone just looking for a good album.”

- Henry Campbell

songs even sound country-inspired, so there’s something for everyone on this album. I’ve personally been listening to ‘Occasionally’ and ‘Leave Me Empty’ the most, but all

Do you have music, movie, video game, or other

the songs are great — no skips!”

media recommendations? Submit them to

- Tesia Wieprecht, Copy Editor

quadentertainment@wcupa.edu for a chance to be featured!

Page 32

Sports

SPORTS quadsports@wcupa.edu

Your Guide to The NFL Draft (With Eagles Colored Glasses)

By Joseph Gill Sports Editor

W

ith the Superbowl abruptly ending the NFL season, football fans, like myself, have been left starving for some NFL action. It is a plague that haunts us every year, having to deal with life after football. One drink that has been useful in quenching our thirst is both the buildup to and the night of the NFL Draft. Eagles fans have a bit more of a franchise-altering stake in this year’s draft than they have in recent years (arguably since 2016’s second overall pick, which netted Carson Wentz). Last season, Roseman was on his A-game in the first round, drafting Devonta Smith by jumping the receiver-needy Giants in a trade with the Cowboys after he had traded with the Dolphins to acquire their 2022 first round pick. Whew! When the dust settled, the Eagles virtually traded Jaylen Waddle for Devonta Smith and the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft. It was masterful maneuvering by the oft-criticized GM of the birds. Now, his criticism is, without a doubt, warranted given his majority of draft picks being a shaky bunch. Heck, even his prized franchise quarterback is now in Indianapolis after falling off a cliff in 2020. Speaking of Wentz, the birds acquired that 16th overall pick by trading him to the Colts, who now (get this) want to get rid of him after only one year! If this ends up being the case, then Roseman can put another team under the “fleeced” belt.

Armed with these two acquired picks, along with their own 19th selection, the

Eagles should consider these players in the first round to address the needs of the roster both now and in the future.

Kayvon Thibodeaux Ok, hear me out. Yes, this one is not a likely option given that he has been heralded as the top prospect in a deep pass rushing draft class, but let me have my fun. If the Eagles really like what they see in the Oregon alum, they certainly have the ammo to trade up without even giving up another first-round pick. Don’t forget, the Eagles have an odd advantage of two starting caliber left tackles, which just so happens to be a hot commodity in the league. Andre Dillard could be just the trade bait needed to pair with a third-round pick or less to move up in the draft and take the powerful edge rusher. Thibodeaux is a monster who would instantly pair up famously with Graham and Josh Sweat.

He is one of two on this list that I would classify as a lock for being a franchise cornerstone type of player. The second is…

Derek Stingley Jr. Again, this is an option that will very likely be a top 10 draft pick, but if the Eagles can get him, they could be getting the best cornerback we have seen in the draft in years. Stingley has incredible ball skills and looks more like a receiver when he goes out wide to cover.

His height and weight are both ideal for the position and he is a strong tackler.

He would instantly take away a number

one receiver and could very well be a shutdown cornerback the likes of which this city has never seen donning midnight green. It would likely take a trade to get him, but again, if possible, make it happen Howie.

Devin Lloyd Lloyd is a more attainable option for the Eagles to target with one of them as a strong linebacker who has a knack for turnovers as well. The Utah alum would instantly upgrade a shaky unit that is arguably the weakest part of the Eagles’ defense. If Lloyd is able to be drafted (and the above two aren’t there) he would be the dream fit to give this defense a strong identity.

Tyler Linderbaum The one of only two offensive players I’m putting on this list (a testament as to how badly the Eagles need to overhaul their defensive side of the ball), Linderbaum is a powerful and athletic option to fill the massive shoes left behind when Jason Kelce inevitably retires. Now, we’d love to have Kelce forever, but it’s either this or next year that number 62 will finally hang the cleats, and we need to be ready to have an heir to the throne. Whether or not he sits behind Kelce for a year, Linderbaum will fit very nicely into an up-and-coming young core of offensive linemen on the Eagles which will likely see at least four to six years of Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson. Fit Linderbaum in to fill Kelce’s place and the “changing of the guard” will be a smooth

March 7, 2022

transition.

Andrew Booth Jr. Another strong option at cornerback for the Eagles, Booth would be more of a Cornerback 2 for the birds whereas Stingley would be the eventual heir to Darius Slay’s top roster spot. Booth is a physical player who hits hard and plays zone (which happens to be DC Gannon’s favorite scheme) very well. If Steven Nelson is not returning and the birds can’t get Stingley, Booth is a very intriguing option.

Treylon Burks The other offensive option I was referring to of course goes to wide receiver because this team just can never quite be done upgrading the position (probably because they can almost never get it right). Burks is an above-the-rim type player who would compliment Devonta Smith magnificently and likely draw attention away from the second-year rising star. A receiving corps of Smith Burks and Quez Watkins would be lethal.

Throw in Dallas Goedert, and all of the sudden Jalen Hurts is the signal caller for a very dynamic offense.

A lot of these options hinge on what the Eagles do in the free agency market and trade block where they have many options available. For example, we wouldn’t need Devin Lloyd if we sign Hasaan Reddick, or what if Howie is somehow able to pry DK Metcalf away from the Seahawks?! No Burks needed here! What if Roseman throws all the picks away for Rusell Wilson? He better not! But you never know, and that is the biggest advantage Roseman brings to this team; the unpredictability. Every other team has no idea what the madman in Philly will do, what rabbit he will pull from his hat come April. He’s got all the leverage he needs. All we bleeding green fans can do is watch and hope he doesn’t try to outsmart himself.

Joseph Gill is a third-year English major with a minor in Journalism. JG923276@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Sports

Page 33

New Look For NFL Broadcasting?

By Isaiah Ireland Special to The Quad

W

e all hear the news in the football world that players and coaches will be making departures and finding homes in other teams, or the NFL making new rule changes because of the previous season — but not so much in the broadcast booths that call the games.

Of course, we have the big-time players retiring every season and starting their analyst career in the NFL media too.

In some unexpected news, it was first reported by Andrew Marchand of the New York Post that “Hall of Famer Troy Aikman is expected to leave Fox Sports to become the main analyst for ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football’ [...] Aikman’s ESPN deal will be for five years, according to sources, and his yearly salary is expected to approach or exceed the neighborhood of Tony Romo’s $17.5 million per year contract with CBS. The deal is not yet signed, but it is near completion.’’

Now if you don’t know about Troy Aikman, he’s the lead NFL analyst at Fox along with his counterpart, Joe Buck, who calls the World Series for Fox as well. The duo does most if not all of Fox’s prime-time football games, for example, America’s Game of the Week, or when Fox hosts the super bowl broadcasting rights that year.

Troy is also a hall of fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and played 12 seasons with the team and played for UCLA in college. This new speculated deal is said to be the first of many to come in the broadcasting field. A colleague of Aikman and Buck at Fox, sideline reporter Erin Andrews, in an interview with The Spun said about the reports that, “I mean, no, I don’t want those guys to leave me, are you kidding?

This has been the best career move I’ve ever made in my life and those guys are like my brothers or my best friends. I tell them everything and we have the

Troy Aikman. Photo credits: Arnie Papp via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.

best time — I mean I think, apparently I’m the only one that thinks that way because they’re leaving me. I don’t know, I’ll call you when their contracts are signed.”

The New York Post also reports that, “Already this offseason, the contract of Al Michaels, arguably the greatest NFL play-by-player of all time, ran out with NBC. Michaels, 77, has been on the one-yard line in his negotiations to be the lead play-by-play voice when Amazon Prime Video begins its exclusive coverage of ‘Thursday Night Football.’

Michaels had hoped Aikman would join him on Thursday nights.’’

Since the reports of Aikman going to ESPN instead of Amazon, who knows if Michaels will decide to stay with NBC or continue talks with Amazon. After winning the Super Bowl this year, there was speculation that Sean McVay, coach of the Los Angeles Rams, might contemplate retirement and head to the broadcasting booth, but he has since stated that he will be sticking with the Rams on the sidelines for next season.

However, who knows if he will change

his mind once irresistible offers get his attention over the coming weeks. Also, newly-retired Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints is a candidate for a broadcasting job as well, and we don’t know what Drew Brees will do either. There’s a lot more NFL off-season to go, so we will soon know if all these speculations and reports will become reality.

Isaiah Ireland is a second-year Media & Culture major. II978280@wcupa.edu

Page 34

Sports

March 7, 2022

Gymnastics PINK Meet

By Kristina Rodriguez Special to The Quad

O

n Friday, Feb. 18, the West Chester gymnastics team traveled to the Philadelphia Convention Center and competed at the “Unite for Her Pink Invitational” gymnastics meet hosted by the club gym, AJS Pancott. Although the Golden Rams competed against the Southern Connecticut State University Owls, the two teams united under a greater cause: breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

This meet will forever have a special place in the team’s heart since the founder and CEO of “Unite for Her,” Sue Weldon, is one of their own — a WCU Gymnastics alum. Both teams wore pink leotards in support of breast cancer and kept the memory of loved ones that have fought these battles in mind as they were competing. As the home team, the Golden Rams had the advan-

tage of rotating in Olympic order: first vault, then bars, beam and finally floor.

The vault lineup started the meet off strong scoring a big 48.075 with key performances from super senior Jessica Meakim scoring a 9.7 and freshman Kristina Rodriguez scoring a 9.65. Senior Mckenna Kissinger always puts up a big score, 9.6 this week, with her super unique vault. After vault, West Chester moved to bars where they swung big.

The bars squad scored a big 48.15.

After a little bit of lineup switching and getting used to the equipment, the Rams were ready to soar on bars. Sophomore Hyla Betts and fifth-year Meakim earned a solid pair of 9.65’s to add to the team score. Only .025 tenths behind them, sophomore Lauren Wicker and freshman Jordan Coleman scored 9.625s.

Gymnastics meet at PINK Invitational. Photo credits: wcupagoldenrams.com

The Golden Rams headed to the beam where they looked confident and earned a team score of 48.025. Sophomore beam star Lily McFarland competed with a nearly flawless routine, scoring a huge 9.825. Her fellow sophomores, Caroline Cascadden and Hyla Betts, looked super solid and scored 9.725 and 9.675 respectively. The Rams were in a good place heading into their final event and one of their bests.

West Chester ended super strong on floor scoring a 48.7 and securing the win for the Golden Rams. This would not be possible without the amazing Meakim, Kissinger and Cascadden performing flawless routines that undoubtedly entertained the audience. Meakim won floor with a 9.875, and Kissinger and Cascadden were close behind with 9.8s.

The floor squad never fails to put on a

show and draw you in.

The Rams had an outstanding meet and took victory from the Southern Connecticut Owls, beating them 192.95– 191.7. Jessica Meakim took first place in the All-Around, earning a 38.45. The West Chester Gymnastics team had a great meet but supported an even greater cause. This is one of their favorite meets to compete at each year because of the positive environment and feeling of competing for something bigger than themselves. Next week, they will have a double-meet weekend, traveling to William and Mary on Feb. 25, taking on the Tribe, and Ursinus on Feb. 27, taking on the Bears.

Kristina Rodriguez is a first-year Biology major. KR970636@wcupa.edu

The Quad

Sports

Page 35

West Chester Baseball Impresses with Hot Start

By Erick Klambara Asst. Sports Editor

W

ith spring fast approaching, baseball season is finally back. While the MLB continues to be on hiatus due to an owner-imposed lockout, college baseball is in full swing and West Chester University’s baseball team has gotten off to a fast start in the 2022 campaign.

As of March 3, the team has a 6–0 record and has outscored opponents by a wide margin of 66 runs.

The Golden Rams season kicked off on Feb. 19 with a weekend-long tournament in Dinwiddie, Virginia. Led by graduate left-handed pitcher Braeden Fausnaught, who delivered five scoreless innings, West Chester handled The College of St. Rose in the season opener with a decisive 8–0 victory.

They followed this up in the second game of the doubleheader against St. Rose with an 18–4 thrashing in which the offense exploded for 19 total hits, including 3 home runs combined from Zack Wright, John DeMucci and Sean Szestowicki.

The third and final game of the tournament took place the following day on Feb. 20 against Saint Anselm College.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when West Chester’s offense erupted for 12 runs, including back-toback home runs by Keith Flaherty and Corey Stouffer. The Golden Rams later added three runs in the eighth inning, and one more in the ninth to make it a 160–0 game. Starting pitcher Joe Sperone was untouchable in his outing, allowing no hits and striking out six in four innings of work. The bullpen unit, consisting of R.J. Kuruts, Colin Kennedy and Andrew Cantwell, posted six more strikeouts and allowed only two hits in the shutout effort.

The Golden Rams continued their hot start with a three-game sweep in a tournament at Father Judge High School, which took place the weekend

Joe Sperone pitching. Photo credits: wcupagoldenrams.com

of Feb. 26. In the opening game against Pace University, the offensive explosion continued with Cantwell and Flaherty leading the charge with a combined six hits and nine runs batted in, en route to a 15–3 statement victory. The following day, West Chester took on University of the Sciences in a doubleheader. The offense combined for 22 runs in both games, and the pitching continued to impress, allowing a total of three runs and leaving hitters fooled time and time again.

This past weekend, West Chester was in Cary, North Carolina for one more

tournament before league play begins.

However, it is worth noting that play did not start as of the time of this writing so the Golden Rams current record is scheduled to change by publication date.

Through six games, the Golden Rams have produced a total of 76 runs, including 14 home runs, and a remarkable .387 batting average.

This impressive start has not gone unnoticed around the league and has propelled West Chester to number 22 in the Division II national poll and number two in the Atlantic Region.

League play will start for the

Golden Rams on Friday, March 11 with a weekend series against Lock Haven University. This season’s schedule includes 40 total games, and the regular season is scheduled to commence on May 6. For more information on West Chester’s baseball team and for ticket information, please visit the West Chester University athletics website.

Erick Klambara is a third-year Media & Culture major with a minor in Journalism. EK924666@wcupa.edu

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 Men’s Swimming & Diving vs NCAA Division II Championships 10 a.m / 6 p.m.

Greensboro, NC Women’s Swimming & Diving vs NCAA Division II Championships 10 a.m / 6 p.m.

Greensboro, NC

U p c o m i n g

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

Women’s Swimming & Diving vs NCAA Division II Championships 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Greensboro, NC Men’s Swimming & Diving vs NCAA Division II Championships 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Greensboro, NC

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 Men’s Golf at Brown Golf Spring Invitational Foxfire Village, NC Women’s Golf at Brown Golf Spring Invitational Whispering Pines, NC Women’s Track & Field vs NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Pittsburgh, KS Men’s Swimming & Diving vs NCAA Division II Championships 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Greensboro, NC Women’s Swimming & Diving vs NCAA Division II Championships 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Greensboro, NC Softball vs Southern New Hampshire University 1:30 p.m.

Winter Haven, FL Baseball at Lock Haven University 2:00 p.m.

Lock Haven, PA Softball vs Southern New Hampshire University 3:45 p.m.

Winter Haven, FL Women’s Gymnastics vs Cornell University 7:00 p.m.

West Chester, PA

S p o r t s E v e n t s