May 2020

REPORTER MAY 2020 // REPORTER.RIT.EDU

IN THESE TIMES, LET US CONTINUE TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AND BE KIND. MEANWHILE, WE’LL HELP YOU STAY INFORMED. JOUNRNALISM DOES NOT REST. WITH LOVE, THE REPORTER FAMILY

EDITOR IN CHIEF Kasey Mathews PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Tyler English ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Victoria Sebastian COPY EDITOR Mimi Lee NEWS EDITOR Jessica Sides TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Leland Goodrich LEISURE EDITOR Karina Le FEATURES EDITOR Morgan LaMere WELLNESS EDITOR Brooke Wolfenbarger VIEWS EDITOR Marilyn Wolbert WRITERS Victoria Sebastian, Tommy Delp, Catherine Rafferty, Anika Talia Griffiths, Kasey Mathews, Jessica Sides, Ali Johnston, Brooke Wolfenbarger

ART ART DIRECTOR Lily Garnaat ONLINE ART MANAGER Sara Calhoun SENIOR DESIGNER Pallavi Singh DESIGNERS Cristian Maynez, Cassy Smithies, Adrianna Petrus, Jiayi Zheng, Rachel Tiano, Deztiny Di Meo ILLUSTRATORS Sara Calhoun, Neil Williamson, Corey Hemingway, Monica Nguyen-Vo, Elizabeth Dettmann, Juho Choi, Michael Smith, Michael Smith

EDITOR’S NOTE

REPORTER

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OVID-19 has practically shut down our lives. We can’t go to classes, we can’t get haircuts, we can’t go to the gym. We can barely go to the grocery store. Some people are harshly affected while others remain relatively unscathed. Jobs have been lost; the economy isn’t doing well.

These are unprecedented times that no one really knows how to handle.

I would love to write this note about something far removed from the virus. We could all use a breath of fresh air in this suffocating 24/7 news cycle and conversation starter. Yet, in times like these, words often fail.

Words used to comfort one person might seem insensitive to another. It feels impossible to write something that can offer people relief or help everyone, as we are all impacted differently.

How am I supposed to articulate something that brings a sense of normalcy when everything else in our life is not?

I guess I’ll give it a shot.

In these trying times, we can choose to respond in one of two ways.

We can respond with pessimism and negativity. We can choose to let everything dreadful consume us. We can give up all hope that life will someday return to normal.

Or, we can choose to let ourselves feel our emotions, but not let them consume us. It might take some time, but we can choose to find a reason to smile during the most difficult days. Our future mindsets and situations will be a result of the attitudes we have during these hardships.

If you’re struggling with how to take care of yourself while at home all the time, try implementing one new self-care habit. Try spending five minutes meditating, 30 minutes working out or an hour cooking a healthy meal.

While you may not be in charge of whether or not you can leave your house, you are in charge of how you take care of yourself while you’re home.

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR Catherine Rafferty PHOTOGRAPHERS Rachel Kogut, Diana Spencer, Tess Roberts, Catherine Rafferty

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May 3

IN T HI S I S S UE

NEWS 6

THE CHAINS OF TRAFFICKING Human trafficking is a growing issue in Rochester, and one that has gone largely unnoticed

T E C H 8

SILICON VALLEY AND THE DATA EMPIRE Big data collects every piece of information you provide, but to what end?

L E I S U R E 10

12

14

@REPORTERMAG 4 May

ART WORLD ELITISM IN THE CONTEMPORARY AGE Once a luxury for the super rich, the enjoyment of fine art has evolved with time

MALLS: A RETAIL FOSSIL With the mall industry on a downward spiral, mall owners must innovate or close up shop

AYL: AT YOUR LEISURE A funky little maze for a blast from the past

cover and TOC illustration by Juho Choi

F E A T U R E S 16

BEHIND THE SCENES OF RIT’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE RIT provides safety and direction during the COVID-19 pandemic

20

22

ONLINE VERSUS FACE-TO-FACE COURSES What are the advantages and draw backs of online and face-toface courses?

BEES? WASPS? POLLINATORS. Let’s talk about bees and wasps, and how they’re not as different as we think

*This editorial contains language that may be triggering for those closely associated with eating disorders or body dysmorphia.

W E L L N E S S 24

THE ABUSE OF AN EATING DISORDER* Eating disorders are about more than just weight loss

V I E W S 26

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REALITY TELEVISION SUCKS “The Bachelor” can be so toxic to watch, but people love it

WOTS: WHAT IS LOVE? What defines your college experience?

RINGS RIT’s digital confessional Text or call (585) 672–4840

R E P O R T E R.R IT.EDU May 5

by Victoria Sebastian | illustration by Sara Calhoun | design by Cristian Maynez

The Chains of Trafficking 6 News

W

henever the word ‘slavery’ is mentioned, your mind likely goes to the Civil War. However, slavery is not just a part of America’s past; it’s an ongoing issue that has many different forms. One of those forms is human trafficking and it can happen to anyone, even in Rochester.

Dr. Celia McIntosh works to help eliminate this slavery in our community as the president of the Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

“One person is trafficked every 30 seconds,” she stated.

McIntosh explained that the trafficking industry is booming largely because people are not reporting incidents.

“Human trafficking would not be able to thrive if there wasn’t such a high demand for it. It is a $150 billion industry,” McIntosh said.

According to McIntosh, cases go unreported mainly because the public is not educated on the topic. With a low risk of being reported and a high reward through profits, human trafficking is growing. So, what is human trafficking? What should we be looking out for?

Sex & Labor Trafficking

There are two forms of human trafficking: sex and labor.

Sex trafficking is the recruiting, harboring, transporting or obtaining of a person for the purpose of commercial sex acts. These acts are induced though force, fraud or coercion.

Labor trafficking follows the same process but for the purpose of labor or services.

The two can also coincide, as McIntosh explained. If someone is being trafficked for sex, they can also be trafficked for labor. And although both are present forms of slavery, sex trafficking is more commonly experienced.

“Sex trafficking accounts for 73 percent of human trafficking,” stated McIntosh.

Human trafficking is also a very relationship-based process — it is not always an abduction situation. Perpetrators will form relationships with their victims so that they can exploit their vulnerabilities.

“One person is trafficked every 30 seconds.”

“Oftentimes victims do not know they are victims.”

Am I Vulnerable?

Anyone can be targeted, regardless of your gender, race, sexual orientation or ethnicity.

However, some are at a higher risk.

“Things like sexism, racism, classism — they are all foundational to human trafficking,” McIntosh stated.

Those in poverty, runaways, the homeless, individuals with mental illnesses, substance abuse issues or a history with child abuse are all at a higher risk.

Perpetrators make promises to these individuals claiming to have a place to stay or a stable job for them, but quickly flip the switch and exploit their trust.

McIntosh explained, “Some of the traffickers that have been arrested and prosecuted in Rochester ... were targeting places where people that are vulnerable go for help.”

Where Can I Be Targeted?

Just as anyone can be targeted, traffickers can also target people anywhere. McIntosh has heard stories of people being targeted in malls, at the bus stop or even at Walmart. They also can venture to places that provide social services and recovery services for drug users to prey on the vulnerable.

However, with a society more reliant on technology, there is one danger area that stands out among the rest.

“Social media is a big way that traffickers can get access to victims” McIntosh stated.

She shared the story of a girl who met a man over Facebook and ended up sending him nude photos. In the very next conversation, the man began to threaten to post her pictures unless she went to a specific site and did what other men asked her to.

“She was actually being trafficked in her bedroom, on her computer,” McIntosh explained.

The fact that anyone can truly be a target at any place means safety and precaution is essential.

McIntosh reiterated, “Educate yourself on the risk factors and just understand what human trafficking is.”

Luckily, there are other safety precautions you can take as well.

“We didn’t find any credible evidence that that was happening,” stated Lieutenant Thomas Shaw.

Shaw is the chief of staff at the Rochester Police Department, and although these claims turned out to be false, he was glad people stayed cautious.

You should also report something that doesn’t seem right. But, as McIntosh stated, there is a certain way to handle trafficking situations.

“Some people say, ‘how do we rescue these people?’ And the reality of it is that oftentimes that is not the language you use ... oftentimes victims do not know they are victims,” she said.

If you notice any signs that someone may be the victim of trafficking, talk to them. The police are also a reliable resource.

Shaw explained, “We [the police] are the first line of contact and we move them [victims] to a shelter or some other third party for help.”

However, Shaw also mentioned that victims are not always willing to open up to a random police officer. In this case, providing the individual with the human trafficking hotline is the best option.

When it comes to feeling unsafe yourself, Shaw recommended that individuals go out in groups, walk around in familiar places and let trusted people know where you are and where you are going. You can also carry a weapon such as pepper spray as an extra safety precaution, but make sure you know how properly use what you wield.

Shaw mentioned, “Anything you have on you can be used against you too.”

There are also laws set in place to protect you, even online.

“If someone is posting photos of you without your permission, they can be charged for doing so,” stated Shaw.

If you stay educated about trafficking, notice red flags and take safety precautions when you feel unsafe, you have a secure shield protecting you. However, other people’s shields may not be as strong, so it is important to share the information you know.

As McIntosh stated, “It takes a village to address issues like human trafficking.”

If you fear someone you know is a victim, look out for a few signs: Are they constantly texting someone?

Are they with someone who talks over them or for them?

Do they have their nails or hair done — something they couldn’t afford in the past?

Do they seem fearful or anxious?

Do they show signs of physical abuse?

If these signs apply, talk with the individual and provide them with resources.

Contacting the police is always a good step.

NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE 1 (888) 373–7888 TEXT “HELP” OR “INFO” TO 233733

Keeping Yourself & Others Safe

Many students may be familiar with stories that surfaced a year ago regarding traffickers approaching people while claiming to be part of a bible study.

News 7

SILICON VALLEY SILICON VALLEY AND THE DATA DATA EMPIRE EMPIRE

by Tommy Delp | illustration by Neil Williamson | design by Cassy Smithies

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ata privacy. Many call for it, but no one truly has it. Whether it be Facebook, Google or another one of the Silicon Valley behemoths, the amount of data collection going on in today’s modern connected world is immense.

For the individuals who truly want to protect their online privacy, it’s an uphill battle.

The non-material idea of data makes for some rather messy legalities.

“The idea of data is legally constructed, and it varies by place. There’s not one definition,” said Kaitlin Stack Whitney, assistant professor in the Science, Technology, and Society department of the College of Liberal Arts.

Society may be moving further into the future every day. Due to a lack of understanding and conformity though, our laws are rarely as forward-thinking — especially when it comes to technology.

What’s being done with consumer data though, and how truly invasive is its collection?

More importantly, is there anything we can do as individuals to stop it from happening?

HOW BIG CAN DATA GET? Companies want consumer data for a clear reason. Everyone’s data, including your own, has economic value.

Consumers often don’t take into account that it costs companies money to run services such as Facebook and Google. Your data is often the price you pay to access these ‘free’ services.

Ben Woelk, program manager at RIT’s Information Security Office, stated, “Essentially, there’s a cost for everything. And for us to be able to use these products, there is a cost in terms of the data we’re willing to share.”

This isn’t to say that everyone could simultaneously stop giving their data away and start cashing it in for big paydays.

““THERE THERE IS IS AA DATA DATA WE’RE WE’RE 8 Technology

Stack Whitney clarified, stating, “Companies aren’t interested in amassing data one person at a time. The value is in the aggregate.”

What do they do with this vast amount of data though?

Not at all surprising, they use it to make more money. They do so mostly through targeted advertising.

Tech companies sell personal information, whether it be age, race, hobbies or gender, to marketing companies who use it to build buyer profiles.

“A lot of marketing is built around personas.

How do I market products toward someone?

What are their interests?” Woelk explained.

Using consumer data, marketing companies are able to decide what kind of product certain groups may have an interest in. Whether kids, tweens or college students, a company can directly target their products and services toward specific audiences.

SIGNING IT ALL AWAY Most of us have experienced opening a new app or social networking service and being greeted by a long scroll of text. Likewise, most of us have likely skipped over said text and clicked okay. That’s a dangerous move, as there’s much more to that agreement than one would imagine.

By consenting to it, consumers allow whatever company to scoop up their data and do with it as they please. Companies may even say they ‘own’ it; though, the idea of data ownership is up for debate in many scholarly circles.

Consumers may be the ones creating the data, but since companies are the ones putting in the effort to collect and analyze it, they often believe they have more of a right to it. That’s where the signed licensing agreement comes into play.

COST COST IN IN WILLING WILLING

“In our minds, of course we own our data. If we’ve signed the licensing agreement saying that we’re going to provide it though, we may have given up our rights to it,” Woelk stated.

What can consumers do to stop such an invasion of their privacy? Well, for one, they could try to read the agreement.

It’s usually long and complex though, setting them up for failure. Consequently, if a consumer cannot be fully informed on their actions, are they truly able to consent to such a contract? That’s one of Stack Whitney’s problems with the current system.

“It’s not as simple as just giving people information,” she said. “We need to ask what information is being given and if people understand it.”

A FIGHT ON ALL FRONTS There is no perfect solution to the data privacy dilemma. While consumers definitely need to make themselves more informed, it’s hard to believe the fault lies wholly on them.

Tech companies often work together to create standards and regulations. They could use these skills to create a more universal and easily understood agreement framework. The government, if necessary, could also step in. Yet, they are rarely forthcoming with their own use of consumer data.

A government intervention could come in various degrees, ranging from requiring tech companies to simplify their agreements to stopping the more thorough types of collection in the first place.

“When it comes to setting up protection,

TERMS TERMS OF OF THE THE TO TO SHARE.” SHARE.”

“WE “WE NEED NEED TO TO ASK ASK WHAT WHAT INFORMATION INFORMATION IS IS BEING BEING GIVEN GIVEN AND AND IF IF PEOPLE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND UNDERSTAND IT.” IT.”

there are reasons to believe that mandates, at some scale, would be the only way to make companies disclose information. They may not comply otherwise,” Stack Whitney pointed out.

Some states are starting to enact more strict data privacy laws. Often though, through loopholes in the legislation, companies are finding ways to sidestep these new regulations.

Maybe there’s a more holistic solution to increasing data privacy — one that requires some work from all parties involved. Woelk believes in a solution along these lines.

“Explaining things is on the company, enforcing things is on the government, and it’s on the consumer to be knowledgeable about what they’re sharing,” he said.

Simply put, based on the current laws in place, the best solution may be to just be proactive in your data sharing.

Read the licensing agreement even though it’s long and wordy, and think about where you’re sharing your information. Not every website needs to know your hometown and birthday.

Then again, we’re living in an online society.

It’s most likely too late to change what are now social norms.

As with most legal squabbles, one group — whether it be the companies or the individuals — will have to succumb. Some worry, though, that it’s Silicon Valley’s game to lose and the people’s burden to bear.

Technology 9

ART WORLD ELITISM CONTEMPORARY AGE in the

by Catherine Rafferty | photos compiled by Rachel Kogut | design by Adrianna Petrus

T

he fine art world can be perceived by many as an intimidating sphere of high culture that everyday people are apprehensive to approach. Art in the formal, institutionalized sense can seem both financially and intellectually inaccessible. However, the fine art world is arguably more accessible than it has ever been due to the advent of photography, the internet and modern-day social movements.

What is “fine art” and who gets to decide? How is the contemporary art world reconciling with its classist past?

ums up until the 1960s was mainly produced for the upper class.

“There’s no need for art. One can survive — it would be painful for many of us — but one can survive without art,” said Amy. “So, it [buying art] is something that is reserved for that part of the society that has means that go beyond survival.”

ed to operate in the same leagues as luxury brands. In her 2014 book, “Big Bucks: The Explosion of the Art Market in the Twenty-First Century,” art market reporter Georgina Adam described how this change translated to the business side of things. The core of the art auction businesses shifted away from Old Masters and Impressionists throughout the 20th century. Major auction houses, like Sotheby’s and Christie’s, recognized that auctioning contemporary art could open up a whole new audience of buyers.

ILLUSION OF INACCESSIBILITY

COMMODIFICATION OF ART

Now, art is more accessiToday, art auctions and fairs ble than ever; but that doesn’t are selling works globally at rechange the fact that people in markably high prices. Christie’s, the lower class often feel exa major art auction house in New cluded from the conversation York City, just last year sold a 1986 around high art. The modern sculpture by Jeff Koons for $91.1 and contemporary art movemillion. This set a new record for ments are highly conceptual the most expensive work sold by forms of art that the public find a living artist. Christie’s is also difficult to consume and underresponsible for the sale of the stand without a knowledge base most expensive work ever sold to fully appreciate it. And underat auction — “Salvator Mundi,” standing of this art seems depena recently rediscovered painting dent upon formal art education,

by Jeff Koons attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, such as a BFA or MFA university Balloon Dog (Yellow) [1994-2000], high chromium stainless steel with translucent color fetching around $450 million. program, where you have the coating, Source/Author: Flickr, TheGirlsNY The art market’s connection to opportunity to learn about the However, in the 1960s, the art world saw the financial elite is not new. Art and wealth history behind the art we see now and be ina shift in what was considered art and who have been in close association since antiquity. troduced to the people who will get your own could produce it through the modernist moveMichael Amy, professor of Art History at RIT, work out into the world. ment. Around this time, the art market startexplained that the art that filled public museA 2014 study by the artists collective BFA

“ 10 Leisure

[Buying art] is something that is reserved for that part of the society that has means that go beyond survival.

”

MFAPhD found that 77.6 percent of artists who manage to make a living by selling their work are white, as are 80 percent of all art school graduates. Despite this, there are individuals making gains at a local level who strive for more inclusive art practices.

Who determines what art is and what is considered to be high-value art is all dependent upon the people in power. Art historians’ conventional hierarchy of high art and low art

“

We still have this idea of the ‘right’ people and in front of the right collector and the right gallery owner.

by Jean-Michel Basquiat Charles the First [1982], Acrylic and crayon on canvas, Source/Author: Flickr, y.caradec

was primarily based upon Western ideologies that excluded many traditional forms of artistic expression.

Folk art, which can be defined as a traditional expression of culture through an object or a performance, is not usually considered when planning shows in standard museums and galleries. Ed Millar, curator of folk art at Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University, is breaking this mold.

“Within the mainstream art world … they would call folk art basically this ‘naïve art,’” explained Millar. Folk artists are considered “untrained artists that kind of fall outside of major movements like pointillism or whatever.”

For many of the folk artists on display, it’s not important to them that they be validated in the eyes of the fine art world. But it is important to recognize that this type of art is just as legitimate as any other form, and it creates an inclusive environment for discussion around community.

“Oftentimes with a lot of the folk artists that we work with, they don’t even necessarily see

by Andy Warhol 32 Campbell’s Soup Cans [1962], Acrylic with metallic enamel paint on canvas, 32 panels, Source/Author: Creative Commons, andywarhol1962

”

their work as art that would be within the context of the museum,” Millar explained. “We’re looking more at art that’s rooted in community and talks about community.”

CHANGING TECHNOLOGY The ways in which artists find professional success are changing alongside technology, as well. Shane Durgee, gallery coordinator for the Bevier Gallery at RIT holds an MFA in studio art from RIT. He has observed his colleagues take a more “hybrid” approach to forming their creative careers, combining income streams from multiple artistic disciplines as well as teaching. Durgee also emphasized that social media is helping lesser-known artists get noticed.

“I think the internet is the big equalizer now, and things like Instagram and social media [make] the world so much smaller. That makes it so much easier to put your work in front of eyes that normally wouldn’t see it,” he said.

There are still roadblocks to gaining access to the art world. Durgee explained it needs to be an effort on the part of gallery coordinators, the artists, the public as well as the powers that

by Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe [1967] Screenprint on paper, Source/ Author: Flickr, oddsock

be in order for art to become more accessible.

“We still have this idea of the ‘right’ people and in front of the right collector and the right gallery owner. And I feel like that’s what we are fighting, is the whole idea of that there’s only one direction for your art to go,” Durgee said.

“There needs to be other end goals and other ways to be successful and happy as an artist.

And I think that comes back to discovering hybrid practices, thinking of combining ideas that haven’t been combined previously.”

photo provided by Ed Millar The Introduction to Folk Arts permanent exhibition opened in July 2019 in Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

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12 Leisure

PHOTO FROM UNSPLASH.COM

MALLS: A Retail Fossil

by Anika Talia Griffiths | photoillustration by Cristian Maynez | design by Cristian Maynez

T

hose ‘90s teen flicks just wouldn’t be the same without them. How else would a guy get a chance to flirt with his crush if not across a checkout counter in the food court? Where else would a girl fight over a high-fashion jacket with her sworn nemesis?

Malls were the major stages where everyday scenes were set.

Today, they no longer are; at least, not offscreen. A drastic decline in foot traffic at malls has led to department stores closing down across the U.S. RIT students don’t have to look far for evidence of this — Marketplace Mall, only a few blocks away from our Henrietta campus, has seen several of its stores close down. The once-booming mall industry is now nearing its curtain call.

"This means fewer customers for the smaller in-between businesses, like nail salons or that nice man who sells bedazzled phone cases."

The End of An Era

More than just a collection of stores and restaurants, malls were once a community center. Of course, everyone was shopping, but they were also meeting with friends and neighbors to catch up. “[During the 1980s], shopping malls had become the meeting place for America’s youth, as teens of every different stripe milled about

the food courts, smoked cigarettes, and went from chain store to chain store in search of temporary employment,” according to Business Insider.

Along with the chatting friend groups and job-seeking teens, there were throngs of people visiting department stores that we rarely hear about or see open today.

As malls received fewer and fewer visits, many stores were left little choice — either declare bankruptcy or close several stores nationwide to help stay afloat. Stores forced to make such decisions include Payless ShoeSource, Sears, Kmart and Macy’s. When major mall anchors like Sears and Macy’s disappear, even fewer shoppers go to the malls. This means fewer customers for the smaller in-between businesses, like nail salons or that nice man who sells bedazzled phone cases.

Fierce Competition

Malls mostly have the internet to blame.

Credit Suisse, a reputable Swiss wealth management company, notes that store closings have accelerated and estimates that online sales will make up 40 percent of all soft goods by 2030. The inverse relationship between mall failures and online store success stories isn’t coincidental.

“I think certainly the competition with what online shopping is able to provide puts a lot of pressure on brick and mortar establishments and maybe especially malls,” said Jeffrey Wagner, an Economics professor at RIT. “So, I think the value of people’s time has changed ... Then also people seem to enjoy fixing things and figuring out [products] for themselves. And then the big online stores are able to do such volume that really reduces the cost.”

So, the convenience of online shopping has attracted American consumers. This isn’t surprising. Our fast-paced lives seem to demand the 24/7 store hours that malls don’t have.

Shopping malls also don’t offer a handy search bar with filters for clothing type, color and price ranges.

In the end, people are going to prefer buying discounted products from the comfort of their couch. That almost always beats a trip to the store where you have to search through racks of clothing only to pay the high retail price.

Shopping at a mall has become inefficient and going there to hang out with friends is no longer the trend. This could mean the death of the mall industry. But it doesn’t have to be.

The Bounce Back?

Mall owners are still fighting to keep their business alive. Some have adjusted to become more of a destination than a shopping center.

That is, they’ve brought in entertaining businesses like Dave and Buster’s, movie theaters, small theme parks or even high-end restaurants. Wagner believes that this shift in the mall industry is necessary for it to continue.

“They’ve got to be part of a theme park, or it’s got to become a destination. Just coming to buy goods and services is not gonna make it,” he said.

It seems that mall owners are starting to recognize this new issue. According to Business Insider, some malls have introduced medical centers, gyms, car dealerships, art galleries or even libraries among their regular retail stores. This helps to increase foot traffic again which means that stores can confidently continue paying their leases. Wagner agrees with these kinds of additions.

“Add some rides there for kids, add an educational component and then you have these government services right there so when people need to get their license plates renewed, it’s at the mall,” said Wagner. “I think it would do some good for society to pull people back into these common areas again.”

As shopping centers transform to meet the changing needs of American consumers, maybe they’ll return to their golden years when they were important community spaces. Then the isolating effects of the internet might be combated by the sense of togetherness that the malls will create. We can only imagine how the industry will look in the next decade, or if it will even still exist. For now, we can still enjoy a quiet walk through the stores still open at our local mall.

"Just coming to buy goods and services is not gonna make it."

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Don't stop believing that

you’ll make it through this maze...

time after time...

by Karina Le | illustration by Corey Hemingway | design by Jiayi Zheng

14 Leisure

We Have Issues, Day & Night

News Leisure Features Wellness Views Tech Op-Ed Podcast Videos Catch us at: reporter.rit.edu

BEHIND THE SCENES

OF RIT’S CORONAVIRUS

by Kasey Mathews photography by Diana Spencer design by Rachel Tiano

RESPONSE

Residence coordinator Bree-Ana Dukes uses disinfectant to clean carts used to carry mail on March 17, 2020.

T

he novel coronavirus pandemic has had a noted impact on many. Across the world, public areas shut down, with the future uncertain. It’s been said that these are unprecedented times; but despite the uncertainty, RIT has been constantly adapting to protect their community.

“The number one thing we’re concerned about is the health and the safety of our community and of the world at large, and so a lot of our decisions are based on that,” said RIT President David Munson.

Munson and others have been constantly working throughout this crisis to determine solutions and stopgaps that prevent the endangerment of those on and around campus, as well as their family members.

16 Features

THE START OF THE VIRUS The virus was first reported in Wuhan, China, and was linked to a local seafood market.

While some criticize these findings, and argue the virus may have originated elsewhere, it is clear that the virus first spread widely within Wuhan and, later, greater China.

RIT operates a campus in Weihai, China — 650 miles from Wuhan. Therefore, the university was one of the first in America to begin seriously monitoring the virus, out of sheer necessity.

As the virus spread throughout China, RIT worked with Chinese officials in early January 2020 to transition to online course instruction, according to Sandra Johnson, senior vice president of Student Affairs.

EARLY WARNINGS Email communications were sent throughout the early Spring semester, and greatly increased in frequency by March.

On January 24, 2020, the Student Health Center sent an email regarding an “influen-

za-like” illness. No one, however, expected a pandemic to follow.

Additional statements were released on January 29 and February 28.

Munson released a statement on March 5 urging caution while traveling during spring break — his first major communication of the crisis. The following day, Provost Ellen Granberg sent an email to faculty advising they prepare an alternative method of instruction for their courses.

“If a significant disruption occurs, it may come with little notice. For this reason, we are starting immediately to ensure resources will be in place if they are needed,” the statement read.

Five days later, on March 11, Munson officially announced the transition to alternative course delivery.

DIFFICULT DECISIONS Along the way, many decisions were made to protect students both on and off campus.

“As it became more apparent that this was a worldwide issue … we pulled our students

“If a significant disruption occurs, it may come with

little notice.”

from our study abroad program in Italy [and other locations],” explained Johnson.

She continued by saying, “The first operational change — the decision to move to alternative methods of course administration — was made in early March. And that required the extension of the spring break period in order to prepare for that.”

These decisions were not made lightly, and Munson expressed his understanding of the hardships that would befall students and faculty alike with this change. “In the early days of the situation, we were hoping … that

Left: RIT Dining employees guard the entrance to the Corner Store in Nathaniel Rochester Hall on March 17, 2020. Due to governmental restrictions on gatherings, the store implemented a temporary rule that no more than 15 customers be inside at one time.

A student on their way to the Corner Store looks over the growing pile of boxes forming outside of the campus post office. The turnover of product at the Corner Store is so high that, to save time, employees wait to deconstruct boxes until the traffic dies down or someone becomes available.

Features 17

A student and his mother shop for groceries at the RIT Corner Store on March 17, 2020. Students are using the remainder of the money on their meal plans to stock up on food or purchase food to donate.

we could still have students on campus who were heavily engaged in the studio arts, students who were working on project teams [and] students who have very heavy laboratory schedules as part of their curriculum,” he said.

“We know all of that hands-on project kind of work is harder — and in some cases even impossible — online; and so we were hoping to maintain some of that kind of activity,” Munson explained further.

Students have expressed frustration with the lack of access to equipment, software, tools and even ongoing experiments left on campus. Administrators seem to fully understand and share in this frustration. They too, wish for students to be able to access everything they need on campus.

“In the current situation that’s just not possible,” Munson continued. “And we all get it, and we all understand. [But] it’s just not really safe to have people in close proximity to one another right now.”

Munson and Johnson were not alone in making these tough decisions. RIT has long had a team in place to deal with potential crises. The Critical Incident Management Team, as it is called, is headed by John Zink, the associate vice president of Global Risk Management. The team is further comprised of other key figures.

“There are representatives from across the university — Academic Affairs, Facilities, Student Affairs, Dining, Marketing and Communications — pretty much all of the divisions that have significant roles in operating the university,” Johnson said.

This team undergoes regular training to deal with any crisis that may arise. RIT largely owes credit to this team for the quick response of the university, and they in turn

18 Features

have their training and precedents to thank.

Bob Finnerty, associate vice president of University Communications and the Chief Communications Officer for RIT, is a member of that team. He cited RIT’s responses to previous outbreaks, including the 2009 outbreak of swine flu (or H1N1) as well as the Avian Flu. Additionally, he recounted a coincidental training session held over the summer.

“Last summer I recall being at a training session down in Public Safety and we must’ve had 50 people from across the university,” he said.

“The issue was a pandemic occurrence.”

Plans were in place for a situation such as this and, coupled with a heavy amount of resources available to RIT and other universities, the path forward wasn’t as hazy as one might expect.

“You can’t plan for everything — and certainly this one has taken a lot of twists — but it’s amazing that in the United States there is a playbook [and] everyone from RIT to Henrietta Ambulance to Monroe County Health Department all the way up to the [national government] has the same playbook,” Finnerty said.

THE RESOURCES USED The “playbook” Finnerty referenced is a program hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The FEMA program, Emergency Planning for Higher Education Training, ensures that university leaders receive training and certifications dedicated to the protection of a university and its inhabitants during an emergency, such as a natural disaster or terrorism incident.

Through this program, universities such as RIT have access to the same information that medical personnel have at all levels of government, from federal to local. That includes medical briefings, organizational charts, flow-

charts and preferred vocabulary to ensure everyone is communicating in the same manner.

During a crisis situation, having a common basis for all parties across the nation to work from is immensely valuable. It ensures everyone is getting consistent updates and that no state, community or university is left behind in the sharing of information.

Guidance was also taken from governmental officials. The decision to close campus, for example, was based upon recommendations

by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. He enacted provisions limiting the number of people permitted to gather in one place, as well as specific restrictions related to college campuses.

Following this, it became clear that continuing normal campus operations was impossible.

Further, RIT has its own internal expertise it was able to leverage. Dr. Wendy Gelbard, associate vice president for Student Wellness, contributed to the discussion around pandemic response. She, among others, provided valuable insight to other administrators on potential risk factors surrounding their decision making.

THE IMPACT As the pandemic escalates, the response has left a clear effect on the students, faculty and staff of the university.

While most students returned home, some had complications. RIT accommodated these individuals in various ways.

For those who simply could not afford to go home, as transportation costs impeded such unexpected travel, RIT turned to the TigersCare Emergency Fund.

The Emergency Fund was started by an RIT trustee a few years ago, according to Johnson, and has been used in cases in which a student has experienced a one-time unexpected expense that they did not have the financial stability to handle. Examples include relocation after a house fire, copay for a prescription and fixing a pair of glasses. The fund is not used to cover recurring or long-term costs such as tuition.

In this case, the Emergency Fund covered the cost of many students’ plane tickets to return home.

Anthony Hernandez, an employee for the NRH campus post office, has experienced several changes to his job as a result of new RIT policies, such as students swiping their own IDs and having to forward more packages. “I think the school is handling [the COVID-19 response] pretty well. It’s kinda hard because it’s like you find out more as you go.” he said.

Others, however, had no home to return to.

This could be either the absence of a safe place to go, higher risk of infection upon return, an unwillingness to endanger immunocompromised family members or other extenuating circumstances. In these cases, students have been able to remain in their university housing, with the stipulation that they should be prepared to move to an alternate location on campus in the case of potential directives they may receive.

Still more students were placed in self-quarantine. These students, a mixture of quarantine volunteers and those returning from travel through potentially hazardous areas, are remaining in their assigned housing locations, unless it is necessary to move for reasons such as a more private bathroom.

Quarantined students have not been tested for the virus — an important distinction. Rather, those in self-quarantine are either at higher risk of infection or otherwise have self-identified. Many are study abroad students recalled from their travels early. While some returned home, those who returned to campus were often placed into a self-quarantine to ensure they were infection free.

While under self-quarantine, students refrain from contact with others. They are to remain in their rooms and monitor their health over a 14-day period. Their temperature is taken twice per day and any fever is reported to the Student Health Center.

Those students in quarantine are offered a menu of items the night before, and provided their requests. The food is prepared and delivered to their door. Additionally, as Johnson noted, many students order food delivery from off campus.

Yet, Johnson reported that students are still contacting the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement to find ways to give back to the RIT community despite the pandemic, or to otherwise find ways to give back to their local communities. Throughout this crisis, the Tiger spirit is strong and uncompromising.

Overall, the coronavirus pandemic has left many in a place of uncertainty. Throughout this

“It’s just not really safe

to have people in

close proximity to one another right now.” crisis, RIT has been working around the clock and continues to provide direction, discretion and safety to its student body, employees and community.

“This is a generationally defining moment,” Johnson said. “This is something that we’ll talk about for the rest of our lives.”

While COVID-19 has cast a shadow of fear across the world, RIT, joined by other global institutions, remains steadfast in the common fight against an uncommon virus.

Rachel Manhardt, a resident assistant in Peterson Hall, explained how she is assisting with the exodus of students leaving the dorms for their homes or alternate locations. “[A resident] didn’t have family to help him move out. So, I was just like ‘You know what, I’m your family bud! I’m gonna help you!’” she said.

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ONLINE Versus FACE-TO-FACE Courses O

nline courses are becoming increasingly mainstream in universities around the world. With advantages and drawbacks to both online and face-to-face courses, which scenarios would be most beneficial for each?

THE PROS AND CONS There are quite a few advantages to taking online courses. Julie Johannes, associate chair and principal lecturer of the English department, laid out a few of these.

“Taking online classes frees up so much time for sports or extracurriculars,” she said. “It’s also good for non-traditional students with child care or parents to care for.”

Online courses are particularly good to take in the summer if you need the credit hours.

You can take the classes from anywhere in the world, and you don’t need to pay room and board to RIT. Johannes also mentioned that online classes are good for more restrictive majors, and can help to mitigate challenges with registration.

Charles Barber, fifth year Software Engineering major, suggested another advantage.

“You get to choose what to work on and when to work on it,” he said.

In contrast, face-to-face courses don’t have this luxury. Johannes mentioned that you have less “wiggle room” in your schedule with faceto-face courses. Barber agreed by mentioning how missing classes can affect your grades, and can be harder to make up.

Face-to-face courses do have their merits, though. You have regular accountability in those

courses.

Barber agreed with this, stating, “You have an established meeting time. It’s more rigid and you’re more engaged with faculty.”

On the other hand, the main drawback for online courses, as Johannes explained, is that there are “a lot of pathways to failure.” You don’t have the accountability that you get in face-to-face courses; there aren’t faculty constantly reminding you about what’s due.

“It sounds silly,” Johannes said, “but it’s very easy to forget you have [the class] ... when you don’t log into myCourses every day and stay on top of things.”

Johannes also mentioned another advantage for face-to-face courses: there is less “lagtime.” If you ask the professor a question in class, more times than not you get an immediate answer. With online courses, you’re often waiting for a professor to email you back with an answer.

Johannes’s last advantage for face-to-face courses lies in relationships with faculty. If you want a letter of recommendation or a job reference, it’s better to build a relationship with the faculty member in person.

PERSONALITY INFLUENCE There are certain habits that often make online or face-to-face courses difficult for students. If you have poor time management skills, for example, it will be very difficult for you to take an online class.

“You have to be very responsible with your work; you need to set your own schedule,” explained Johannes. “ ... If you have trouble keeping to a particular schedule, you will have

by Jessica Sides illustration by Elizabeth Dettmann design by Deztiny Di Meo

issues.”

If you’re in this position, you can treat the class as if it were face-to-face. Schedule in time to work on the class each day.

On the other hand, social anxiety can make face-to-face classes a huge stressor.

“If you struggle with social anxiety and groups of people, then online classes might be a good option,” explained Johannes. “ ... I don’t want people to be penalized for their anxiety.”

Many professors will randomly call on students to provide answers if participation is low.

This can be anxiety-inducing, and many sit in fear of being called on. However, online classes can be difficult if you’re the type of person who is intimidated by faculty office hours. If you don’t understand the material, you need to see the professor!

BEST AND WORST CASE SCENARIO There are certain scenarios where you would definitely want to take either online or face-to-face courses. You may want to take online courses if you anticipate “significant disruption” to your ability to attend classes, according to Johannes. This includes anticipation of surgery recovery time, transportation or mobility challenges, health-related challenges or regular travel.

“If for some reason you couldn’t be here physically, you would want to take an online course,” Barber said.

He provided the example of co-ops and internships. If you want to take classes while

“If you struggle with social anxiety and groups of people, then online classes might be a good option.”

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“Taking online classes frees up so much time for sports or extracurriculars.”

you’re away, online courses can be good for this. This also allows students from outside of the country to take online courses.

According to Johannes, it’s smart to take face-to-face classes when they are in your major due to the faculty. If you know you need to build relationships with faculty for letters of recommendation or research opportunities, it’s best to get to know those professors personally. You’ll also get to know peers in your major and year; this is good for potential study groups and networking.

Johannes explained that if you are a new college student, it is not a good idea to take online courses. College can take some getting used to. After your first year, you likely have enough of a handle on college life to be able to tackle something new like an online class.

CLASS TYPES There are some types of courses that may prove to be difficult to take online.

For starters, Johannes mentioned that computationally based courses can be incredibly challenging. The professor may post their notes online for you to follow step by step, but how can you know how the professor got from point A to point B without them explaining it in a live format?

“It’s difficult to resolve misunderstanding in content. It’s more difficult to figure out what you don’t know if you have to have those delays in communication,” Johannes explained.

Barber also had some thoughts regarding this.

“Classes involving critiquing would benefit from face-to-face classes — College of Art and Design classes in particular,” he said.

Classes that involve giving feedback on portfolios or artistic work would struggle to transition online. It’s difficult to provide feedback to someone who isn’t right in front of you. Words often get lost in translation and tone is frequently skewed when online. On the other hand, Johannes explained how discussion-based courses work well online.

There are many pros and cons to both online and face-to-face courses. In the end, you need to judge which learning environment is best for you.

Features 21

BEES? WASPS? POLLINATORS.

by Karina Le | illustration by Monica Nguyen-Vo | design by Jiayi Zheng

I

nsects aren’t strangers to the human population. We see them and interact with them in our everyday lives, even if it isn’t directly.

Sometimes, even, we may find these tiny creatures nuisances. Say you’re eating somewhere at RIT, like our open dining spaces at Global Village. Even with the various traps around the area — laced with sugars and water to catch their attention — you can always find a small, flying friend trying to get a bite of your lunch. You may think it’s just a bee, or even a wasp. However, there’s much more to it than just random insects trying to harass you.

Bees, more specifically honey bees, are the little insect pals we think of that allow important food groups, like fruits and vegetables, to thrive. However, honey bees aren’t the only insects that help pollinate. In fact, bees themselves are not the only important pollinators. There’s a variety of insects that have the ability to pollinate, such as some wasps, and they should get some credit as well for the good they do, even if they look a little scarier.

What It Means To Be A Pollinater Even when we use terms such as “bees” or “wasps,” those are very general terms. Both of

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these species have subcategories that differentiate them from the majority.

When we think of bees, for example, people generally think of honey bees. However, honey bees are not necessarily the standard bee and differ from others such as bumblebees. A significant distinction, other than anatomy, is that honey bees are domesticated, while bumblebees are considered “wild bees.”

“Honey bees are domesticated, while bumblebees are considered ‘wild bees.’”

Kaitlin Stack Whitney, an assistant professor in the Science, Technology and Society department, provided an explanation to these categories.

“So there are two kinds of bees, broadly speaking,” said Stack Whitney. “One [is] honey bees which are domesticated but were originally from another region ... now, most other bees fall in the category of ‘wild bees’ or ‘native bees.’”

However, one of the main similarities between these two groups is their status as pollinators.

Pollinators are essential to our everyday lives. Their job entails moving pollen from flower to flower, thus fertilizing them. Insects aren’t the only pollinators — some species of animals, such as bats, can also help pollinate.

However, we know bees specifically as a pollinator due to how efficient and consistent they are in pollinating plants.

“Bees make excellent pollinators because most of their life is spent collecting pollen, a source of protein that they feed to their developing offspring,” wrote Michigan State University in their piece on the insects. “When a bee lands on a flower, the hairs all over the bees’ body attract pollen grains through electrostatic forces.”

In a similar way, some breeds of wasps also pollinate plants. However, they’re seen as more terrifying as their sole source of protein isn’t in pollen, but in sugar, which is also found in our food.

Wasps Just Want Sugar

Wasps, though scarier with their stingers, aren’t as fearsome as most of us believe — so long as we aren’t allergic to them. Even though some wasps cannot pollinate, such as the yellow jacket breed, they still serve a purpose within their ecosystem.

bumblebee ild

Wild Ch

Tight Circ le of Friends

“Put simply: without wasps, we would be overrun with insect pests,” wrote Debbie Hadley of ThoughtCo. in an article examining the benefits of wasps. “[Yellow jackets] mostly scavenge dead insects to feed their offspring, meaning they prevent the bodies from piling up — like a cleaning service.”

However, one of the main concerns people have about wasps is how meddlesome they can be when we wish to eat outside. But the major misconception for most people is that they’re out to fight you for your food, which is not the case.

“Things like yellow jackets are just attracted to sugary foods ... They actually don’t want to bother you, they just want your food,” explained Stack Whitney.

However, sometimes insects — especially wasps — really bring the fear out of people.

Melissa Breyer of Treehugger explained one of the possible ways to peacefully interact with the insects.

“If you remain calm when a bee or wasp lands on your skin to inspect a smell or to get water if you are sweating heavily, the insect eventually will leave of its own accord. If you

hONEY bee Social Butt

erfly

House Trained

don’t want to wait for it to leave, gently and slowly brush it away with a piece of paper,” wrote Breyer.

If all else fails, sometimes we have to be the bigger person and calmly walk away.

“Yellow jackets … don’t want to bother you, they just want your food.”

Yellow Jacket Pointy Butt

Sugar

t Addic

tal plants in your garden,” wrote Jeff Schalau of Backyard Gardener.

Wasps, and many insects, establish this circle of life within their environments. Although they do not directly affect us humans, they still have their own role to play during their lifespans, whether it’s to eat or be eaten.

Even with their little stingers, wasps don’t typically sting people unless provoked. They do not mean any harm, intentional or not.

“Other insects like ticks can transmit disease, but yellow jackets aren’t like that,” Stack Whitney said. “It would be bad to be stung, but the majority of people will not be bothered by them. You just gotta be cautious.”

Insects Are Friends Even without the pollinator being a perk to their existence, insects and many other animals offer utility in their local ecosystems and food hierarchy. There are types of wasps that cannot pollinate, such as yellow jackets; however, they still serve a purpose in the ecosystem.

“They feed their young on insects that would otherwise damage crops and ornamen-

Features 23

This editorial contains language that may be triggering for those closely associated with eating disorders or body dysmorphia.

The Abuse of an Eating Disorder I

used to cross my fingers before bed and pray my illness would get worse. Afterward, I would stick my fingers down my throat and get rid of the 600 calories I’d consumed that day. It isn’t until now that I realize how much I’ve lost to my eating disorder.

After talking to specialists in the field, I started to understand eating disorders are similar to having an abusive partner. Mary Tantillo, director of the Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders, explained how much an eating disorder can disrupt a life.

“The main goal of an eating disorder is to maintain its relationship with the patient

24 Wellness

above all else. It will create as many disconnections as possible to ensure that [isolation] continues to occur,” Tantillo said. “This illness wears you down.”

Isolation Tantillo refers to eating disorders as “diseases of disconnection.” It begins by causing disconnections inside someone, and proceeds to disconnect that person from everything around them.

An eating disorder makes you hate yourself.

Every day that I struggled with this, it became harder to convince myself that I deserved to

editorial by Ali Johnston photography by Tess Roberts design by Deztiny Di Meo

eat. Soon, I began avoiding situations where I knew there would be food. Unfortunately, this also meant isolating myself from my friends.

At the beginning, it was easy. I told myself that as soon as I hit my goal weight I could start socializing again. I thought that I could maintain my relationships as I suffered in silence.

Ali Wilcosz, clinical director at The Healing Connection, shared with me how unlikely it is to maintain appearances.

“When you’re younger, you think you can have a life and an eating disorder. You can’t, but it’s hard to see that at 13, 14, 15 — even 25.

It’s really hard to imagine until it starts taking everything away from you,” Wilcosz said.

Even after I saw my relationships begin to suffer, it was too hard to stop.

Cycling

“This illness wears

It’s easy to say that people with eating disorders should just eat, but it’s not that simple.

“The media puts out the image that everyone Having this kind of illness is not a choice; and has to look and be a certain way,” Wilcosz said. the longer it continues, the more difficult it “‘Dropping pounds began as a way to be beautibecomes to break the cycle. Hunger feels like ful; now it’s just to be okay.” success and everything snowballs from there Eating disorders often begin as a way to look — until feeling full is the most terrifying thing more attractive, as a means of weight loss, but in the world. they quickly develop into a cycle of self-hatred. I “When you starve yourself, your stomach wanted to lose five pounds to look good for myshrinks. The more weight you lose, the more self and for other people. After losing 35 pounds, quickly you get full. The more quickly you get I realized it became a way to love myself. full, the more you get scared. The more you get scared, the less you eat. It goes on and on,” Tantillo said.

This cycle feels almost unbreakable. On top It takes a long time to understand what this of my fear of fullness was a bigger fear — gaindisorder does to a person. It’s not easy to admit ing weight. Every time I felt like eating more to yourself that you are struggling, let alone to than 600 calories, I would remind myself what seek help for it. I was losing weight, so why it would be like to step on the scale the next would I choose recovery? Because I was tired. morning and see a higher number.

“You want your life back. You’ll do whatever Sooner or later, everything felt like a numit takes because you’ve suffered so much. You bers game. I loved watching my weight delook back at your life and you realize ... this crease and knowing that I needed even less thing has taken everything away from you: food to fill me. Food stopped being about enyour physical health, your mental health, the ergy, and instead I had to decide if food was worth the calories. More often than not, I would have a diet soda instead.

I knew this wasn’t healthy, but I couldn’t stop. An eating disorder ends in one of two ways: recovery or death. Somehow, this wasn’t enough to scare me. At this point in my life, I would’ve done anything to be thinner.

Recovery

you down.”

people you love. You feel like you’ve wasted your life,” Tantillo said.

Thirty-five pounds ago, I was much more confident than I am today. Recovery is not a quick process. There have been slip-ups in the past and I’m sure there will be more. I regret everything about this disorder.

I know I am far from alone in this. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, please seek help. You can reach the National Eating Disorder Association help line at (800) 931-–2237 for support, treatment options or anything else you might need. If you would prefer to meet with someone in person, reach out to the Healing Connection at (585) 641–0281 to ask about therapy options.

Recovery is not a quick process, and sometimes it feels a lot like failure — it’s not. This is the first step in taking your life back.

Comparison My disorder began as a desire to lose five pounds. I thought that if I could do that, I would be comfortable in my own skin, even though I was already a healthy weight.

I lost five pounds quickly, but nothing about my mental state changed. I continued to remind myself that I could be thinner. I turned to Tumblr and searched “Thinspiration” and obsessed over images of people who were underweight but made it look beautiful.

Soon after, I threw the idea of being healthy out the window and began to romanticize being underweight. I wasn’t happy with my appearance at the beginning; and by comparing myself to others, this cycle continued.

“You look back at your life and you realize ... this thing has taken everything away from you.”

Wellness 25

Reality Television Sucks

by Brooke Wolfenbarger | photograghy by Catherine Rafferty | design by Cassy Smithies

A

fter a long day, people have their ways of destressing. For some, this might be watching reality television filled with drama and emotion. Shows like “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor in Paradise” keep people on edge and excited when they watch.

However, not enough people take the time to think about how toxic these shows can be. By watching shows like this, we encourage their toxic nature whether it is real or fake, and it can give the average viewer a lot of misconceptions on how dating really works.

Contestant vs. Contestant

One man jumping between thirty women, all in one house together, all trying to fall in love. Just thinking about that makes me cringe.

In the end he only marries one contestant, so why does this make sense? And these women aren’t just trying to fight for the love of the man — they’re also fighting each other. This is where it gets really toxic.

When we watch these girls fight week after week it can be exhausting, but people like it for the entertainment value. This franchise is known for its self-created drama and the audience chooses sides throughout the season on who they think is the best. Creating toxic environments is unhealthy for these woman. We should be doing the opposite.

It’s important to encourage women to be independent and confident, and to promote female empowerment. Women should be role models for other girls and be able to have high self-esteem. “The Bachelor” supports gross and toxic behavior such as objectification between women. This is not role model material for girls, young or old.

All we ever see of these women is what the show wants us to see; rarely do we see any of their individual personalities. It’s all partying and drama created so they can ‘fall in love’ in

the end. The cast is chosen for dramatic potential. Jacob Brogan, Maura Judkis and Emily Yahr dove deep into production manipulation for The Washington Post.

“When the producers throw in so much chaos purely for their (okay, and our) amusement, it cheapens the drama,” they said.

At the end of the day, only one girl ends up with the man and the rest of them go home.

They move on with their lives, as they should — there is more to life than having a man. Their worth is not based upon having a man, and the contestants look back and realize all this fighting was for nothing.

Shared Blame

Men are also to blame for the toxicity, especially when it comes to “The Bachelorette.” Katherine Singh in Flare had a lot to say about season fifteen of “The Bachelorette.”

Singh stated, “Luke P.’s language just reinforces the idea that Hannah [Brown] is an object that can be won.”

In one of Luke P.’s final moments on his season he said, “To finding your forever and having the time of our lives while on the hunt.” He directly calls his time on the show a hunt, objectifying Hannah.

In Hannah Brown’s season, there was also a lot of competition between the guys. Nobody bats an eye, because it’s entertainment and that’s the problem. The women just go

“A woman’s disinterest or confusion is simply part of the ‘chase.’”

26 Views

“Contestants are left to fixate over the Bachelor, talk about the Bachelor and dissect the Bachelor’s every move.” along and encourage the toxic masculinity because Hannah would say throughout the show that she wanted a man that was physically strong.

Competitive group dates are pretty frequent in the franchise and this can pit contestants against each other.

Men are capable of more than just looking good and they are not out there chasing women down left and right. These shows are playing right into gender stereotypes and as a society we need to work away from these.

In Season 23 of “The Bachelor,” we saw toxic behavior from the leading man when he went after a contestant who already rejected him. Li Zhou writes about this moment perfectly in Vox. “ ... A woman’s disinterest or confusion is simply part of the ‘chase,’ and ... with enough persistence, she can ultimately be won over with sufficient affection and romance,” stated Zhou.

In the end, the toxicity that comes from reality television just makes the men look desperate.

It’s All Fake

“The Bachelor” and reality television in general is fake. We are watching cut-up scenes that create drama and make the show seem interesting. When it comes to real relationships, “The Bachelor” is far from this.

“Contestants are left to fixate over the Bachelor, talk about the Bachelor and dissect the Bachelor’s every move,” Claire Hubert said in her article in the Daily Bruin.

The sole purpose is to fall in love with one of the contestants, which is already unrealistic and rarely lasts. These people are cut off from

the rest of the world and all they can do in that big house is talk about the Bachelor and cause a lot of drama.

They go on crazy dates that are financially unrealistic to average people. These women go through an emotional toll, because they have to watch this one guy try to find a connection with 29 other girls at the same time. No wonder all these girls fight.

Not to mention most of the guys are unrealistic, too. As Singh described these men, they’re “aggressive, muscly, conventionally attractive, rugged, manly-men.” They’re hyper-masculine and competitive.

Destructive For The Audience

As an audience member why should we care?

Isn’t this just pure entertainment? We all know that it’s fake, right? Shows like this can be very destructive for audience members as well.

While we all might understand that “The Bachelor” is fake, it can still give people unrealistic expectations when it comes to love.

Despite only seeing an hour of their lives at a time, we think that we know these people, which leads to audience members picking sides. They villainize some of these women, when you only see what the show wants you to see. It allows audience members to go on social media to drag these women and add to the toxicity.

Reality TV can be fun to watch, but are these the types of examples we want to be setting?

Is this how we want to treat people? There is an overall larger issue that people need to think about when watching shows like “The Bachelor,” and really, people should just stop watching.

Opinions expressed are solely of the students and do not reflect the views of REPORTER.

Views 27

WOTS WORD ON THE STREET

“

compiled by Diana Spencer illustration by Juho Choi design by Adrianna Petrus

“ What defines your RIT experience?

“The feeling of having a family. I work at the library and everyone here is so nice and supportive... I feel like everyone is accepted here, it’s like a full community ... you don’t get that very much at other colleges.”

Vania Haynes, third year Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience major

“What’s defined my time at RIT so far has been the people here. Because they’re crazy, and I love them.”

Patrick Ribas, second year Computer Science major

“All the clubs and activities I’ve been involved in, and the families I’ve made away from home.”

Samuel Jurcic, third year Management Information Systems major 28 Views

“What defined my college experience was leaving school and coming back. I learned a lot from my time off and I’m doing more in college now that I’m back.”

Carol Vo, fourth year Applied Modern Language and Culture major

Opinions expressed are solely of the students and do not reflect the views of REPORTER.

“Learning from your mistakes and not being afraid of making any.”

Marco Gichero, second year Electrical Engineering major Views 29

RINGS MAY 2020

compiled by Tyler English | illustration by Michael Smith | design by Rachel Tiano

Now I wonder that when us Class of 2020 seniors die, we would be the ghosts that hang out in the halls of RIT, because we have unfinished business which is having a proper graduation.

Thursday, March 19, 6:10 a.m.

Don’t play hard to get, be impossible to get.

Thursday, Feb. 27, 12:45 p.m.

How do you accidentally reinvent child labor.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 8:15 p.m.

Imagine if a snapping turtle was just a turtle that did jazz.

Friday, Feb. 28, 1:50 p.m.

Da fuk is week 8, send help. I need something stronger than the coronavirus to get me through this semester.

Thursday, March 5, 5:51 p.m.

The last thing you want in a pandemic is to run out of money.

Thursday, March 12, 10:06 a.m.

Check on your local extroverts.

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