Shield Magazine | Volume 21 | Issue 2 | SPRING 2021

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VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2021

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY

THE OTHER SIDE AFTER A YEAR OF CHANGE

This issue’s cover photo was taken and edited by Ciarra Ratliff featuring RU student Paige Steele.

letter from the editor I think we can all agree that times are changing. In one year we have lived through the largest pandemic in over 100 years, the biggest social justice movement since the 1960s, and one of the most controversial and politically divided elections in a long time.

I am a firm believer in the fact that change is not only an inevitable truth of society, but an essential part of life. Though change may be frightening because we might feel unprepared and have anxieties about the unknown, change can be exactly what is needed for improvement and personal growth.

The different ways we all have changed in the past year alone and the changes that have been implemented at Rochester University have shown that the ability to improve is always present. There is always room for growth and that cannot be achieved through doing the same things we have always done. Whether you change your style, your usual daily routine, or your perspective based on someone else’s experience, we all change in one way or another.

We hope you’ll read through this issue to see how our world is changing and how we are changing with it. Despite the anxieties change can bring, we hope you’ll use these times for reflection and improvement!

our mission Shield Media is the independent student media of Rochester University. As such, we are committed to engaging in thoughtful dialogue over issues that are relevant to our culture. Shield Media relates to our audience by providing them with bold stories that are intended to entertain, inform and stimulate.

Shield Media participates in Rochester University’s faithbased mission and believes that, as ethically minded journalists, we have a responsiblity to engage each story with openmindedness, compassion and nuance.

Along with Rochester University’s Department of Mass Communication, Shield Media helps prepare young professionals for work in media-related fields by teaching and honing their skills in writing, reporting, graphic design, videography and photography.

Shield Media is a student and not a college publication.

Views expressed are diverse, and do not correspond to all views of RU’s board, faculty, staff, students or other constituency.

GA B BY E U B A NKS

MAGAZINE EDITOR

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in this issue

04

RU THROUGH THE YEARS

05

NAMMT + ICYMI

06

A DIFFERENT AMERICA

08

THE FEED

09

CONSPIRACIES OF 2020

10

STOP THE STIGMA

12

MERGE

14

THE OTHER SIDE

18

REMEMBERING BERT BRYAN

19

2020 TUNNEL + DORM RECIPE

20

WARRIOR WIRE

22

Q&A with CARA HARM

23

SURVEY

24

GENDER BIAS IN SPORTS

26

LETTER TO FRESHMAN ME

27

‘ROUND THE CORNER

28

THE 34 YEAR PLAN

30

MORSELS

31

INSPO

contributors MAGAZINE EDITOR Gabby Eubanks CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ciarra Ratliff DIGITAL EDITOR Chloe Bachman NEWS & OPINIONS EDITOR Jake Feldman

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

SPORTS EDITOR Christian Frazier

Damon Alexander, Olivia Pannecouk, Tamera Robinson, Matt Moreton, Johnny Lykins

FEATURES EDITOR Brad Miller SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Cate Bennett

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

MULTIMEDIA ASSISTANT Stephen Figueroa

RU Marketing & Communications, Adobe Stock, Unsplash

FOUNDER, PUBLISHER & ONLINE ADVISER Lora Hutson

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

PRINT & MULTI-MEDIA ADVISER Kayce McClure

Hayley McQuade

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

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RU Christian Frazier

THROUGH THE YEARS

Sports Editor

W

ith several name changes, thousands of different students walking through the doors, and a myriad of other physical and institutional changes, Rochester University truly has transformed throughout the years. Here’s a highlight of some of those changes from 2000-2020.

RAC Construction

Celebration

2003 The Richardson Academic Center was constructed during the 2003-04 school year. The RAC hosts several classrooms, science labs and the student center.

2008 Students dance in Celebration, a former annual variety show presented by students. The show started in 1977 and continued until 2019.

Hockey on Lake Norcentra

2010 Coach Garth Pleasant and his son, Klint, pose for a photo commemorating Garth’s 700th victory as a basketball head coach. Garth’s teams went on to earn 720 wins and four national championships during his career.

The Barn

2010 Students play pond hockey on Lake Norcentra to de-stress from studying during finals’ week.

2020 RU’s historic barn and silo date back to the early 1900s. The barn was restored in 2020 and is now home to the maintenance department.

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P A G E D E S I G N // C I A R R A R A T L I F F P H O T O S // R U M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N

The Pleasants

nothing annoys me more than

THE OLD WARRIOR CENTER

P H O T O S // C I A R R A R A T L I F F

Olivia Pannecouk

Vermont Town Elects Dog as Mayor A 3-year-old dog named Murfee was elected as the mayor of Fair Haven, Vermont, after defeating Lincoln the Goat by 25 votes. The election cost $5 to enter a pet and funds collected went to improving the town.

Staff Writer

Imagine hiking down to the bottom of the campus, where all you see are a couple of random old buildings and plenty of trees. You look around and see one main building, so you assume it is where you must go. You walk into a room that can barely fit your team, and on top of that, a permanent smell permeates your senses and infects the whole facility. But hey, you are not upset because you are shocked your team even got a reservation.

This experience is what many Rochester University athletes face every day when trying to use the Warrior Center, which includes a weight room and access to the old gym. All of this shows that we need change. This year we have added many new athletes for every sport and even JV teams for some sports.

With the limited amount of space, team members either have to go at separate times or workout on the outside. When really cold winter days hit, the athletes even lost the option of going outside.

We, as athletes, lose precious practice time due to gym availability. With a bigger facility, we wouldn’t have to worry about that and every team would get the chance to either be in the gym or the weight room. That way, no matter what, the team would be working out together and getting better together.

A larger facility gives our athletes more time to work out as a team and makes them play better together. I play on the women’s volleyball team, and if you look at the teams that have beaten us and compare their weight facilities to ours, vast differences exist. For example, the Lawrence Tech facility has treadmills, ellipticals, two racquetball/wallyball courts, three volleyball courts, two full-court basketball areas, a cardio room, a free-weight room and a multipurpose weight room. That could be us, yet we are stuck with a facility that does not fit our needs, let alone exceed them.

We need something different. This facility may have worked in the past, but things are changing and we need to change with it. Adding a new weight room won’t only solve one problem, but it will solve many issues and our teams will be evidence of that. Now, what are you going to do about it?

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Boy Swallows 54 Magnets in an Attempt to Become Magnetic Rhiley Morrison, 12, swallowed 54 magnets between Jan. 1-4. The result sent Morrison to the emergency room and required a six-hour procedure to save his life. Morrison said, “I tried to stick magnets to me; I wanted to see if this copper would stick to my belly while the magnets were in.”

Koala Causes Freeway Pileup A wild koala caused a five-car pileup in southern Australia after getting behind the wheel. Luckily, no one was injured during the marsupials Tuesday commute to work.

91-year-old Man Given Back His Lost Wallet Former navy meteorologist Paul Grisham, 91, was reunited with a wallet he lost during a 13-month stay in Antarctica. Grisham said, “I was blown away.” The wallet contained no money as there wasn’t a need for any.

Pigeon from Oregon travels 8,000 miles to Die in Australia Joe the Pigeon, named after President Joe Biden, created a kerfuffle when he supposedly survived an 8,000 mile trip on a cargo ship from Oregon to Australia. The Australian agricultural department was worried about the diseases Joe could be transporting from the United States, and said Joe would be killed. “It poses a direct biosecurity risk to Australian bird life and our poultry industry,” the department spokesperson said. However, the American Racing Pigeon Unit discovered that the pigeon's leg band was fake. Thus, the pigeon did not pose a risk and will live out its life and be renamed “Aussie Joe.”

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A DIFFERENT

AMERICA THE DOWNFALL OF 2020 AND HOW WE CAN REBUILD Jake Feldman

News & Opinions Editor

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P A G E D E S I G N // C I A R R A R A T L I F F P H O T O // U N S P L A S H

T

he world was brought to a dramatic halt on March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global health pandemic.

As the week continued, life as we knew it began to shut down. On March 13, former President Donald Trump issued a national emergency effective immediately for the United States of America. This dramatic shutdown was a major world event, and at that time almost no one was aware that this day would be the humble beginning to one of the most trying, damaging and difficult years in the recorded history of America. From March onward, each new day brought headlines containing death tolls, cries for help, and a grim future as COVID-19 spread across the United States.

People held onto the hope that summer weather would bring relief in the midst of the pandemic.

Rather than relief, the summer brought one of the largest periods of civil unrest since the 1960s.

The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many more set the stage for a summer that would include protests, riots, police brutality and disagreement. We saw firsthand that much work needs to be done in the arena of racial reconciliation.

One of the few positives from summer 2020 was the return of professional sports. The baseball season opened on July 23, 2020, and carried the United States into fall. As the fall season came about, we saw America take a step in the right direction. Many stay-at-home orders were lifted, restaurants reopened, and more sports began to reconvene. Schools also resumed with either inperson or hybrid models. Though the country looked different, we were moving toward what many called "a new normal.”

On Sept. 5, 2020, the NFL kicked off the football season, the only sport to have its season play on schedule during the pandemic. Even though it seemed as though things had improved, late October and November saw an extreme jump

in active COVID-19 cases, and with winter and the holiday season approaching, many felt a deep cause for concern.

At this time, the U.S. presidential election season kicked into high gear. Joseph R. Biden, former vice president of the U.S. and Democratic candidate, took on incumbent Donald Trump, the 45th president. On Aug. 11, 2020, Biden had selected U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris to be his running mate. This selection was historic as she would be the first female and first person of color to serve as vice president of the United States.

Americans voted early, by mail and on Election Day—Nov. 3, 2020. Biden and Harris saw an early deficit in the election as Trump and Mike Pence won key states, such as Ohio, Florida and Texas.

Biden held onto leads in New York and the West Coast. As the days continued, the election was too close to call. Voter turnout was the highest recorded in U.S. history, and on Nov. 7, 2020, the election results were called with Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris winning.

For the first time, a woman of color would enter the White House as vice president. This is a first, and should do much for the racial reconciliation efforts that the United States is still striving toward.

However, this amazing feat of history did not keep the pandemic from spreading, and cities like San Francisco and Chicago once again closed their cities. Michigan ordered a statewide safety order to close restaurants, schools and sports in midNovember, which remained in effect until Feb. 1, 2021. On Dec. 12, 2020, Michigan and the U.S. received an early Christmas present with federal approval of a COVID vaccine, which would bring hope to many.

As the new year began, people were thankful that the nightmarish year of 2020 was done with; however, further drama ensued.

Trump refused to concede and he incited a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in Washington D.C. Rioters breached the Senate

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floor and cast an eternal shadow on American politics, challenging the sacred peaceful transfer of power that our free democracy hangs its hat on.

After defending the Capitol riots, Trump's second impeachment would be announced exactly one week later.

On Jan. 20, Biden and Harris were sworn into their new roles, and the inauguration proceeded peacefully and patriotically, as Biden addressed the important freedoms that will be fought for in America. It appeared as though a new and more prosperous season was coming forth. There was a light of hope at the end of a long and dark tunnel.

Though 2020 brought immense challenges socially, financially, racially, academically, and so much more, the American spirit is founded in growing together as a nation united. Even though it may not be there yet, America will continue to learn together and be resilient against any challenge it might face.

That is not defined simply by a flag, but by the people that make America—you and me. Hope will arise and help will come, but one thing is certain: 2020 will forever be known as a year that changed America. We have all faced trials and tribulations, and each of us has been affected. We will be stronger and better for it, and it is not the adversity that defines us, but the way we rebuild.

To the front line workers, thank you for exemplifying the strength, courage and toughness that kept us going in 2020. To the people of ministry and service, thank you for the acts of kindness that allowed us to keep our sanity in this season. To everyone reading this article, this is a tribute to us, an ode to all that we have been through together.

This is for you, the people who have kept the world going no matter what challenges stand in the way. Despite every negative historic headline we saw, may the lasting impact reveal the beauty and greatness of us. May our efforts to be better never cease and our compassion continue to strengthen as we rebuild America together.

The Feed

Warrior Edition Congratulations to RU’s track and field team on a record breaking season.

They set nine school records.

Meriah Smith long jump Paul Nedeau javelin Cate Bennett javelin Natalie Kutzli discus Lilly Livsey hammer throw & shot put

Pode does it!!!! He breaks the RU points record and has made RU history!!!!!

When your team is looking this sharp, you just know good things are on the way. #isitindooryet #ruwarriortrackandfield #ruwarriorcrosscountry #thebestisyettocome

Andrew Shankster discus, hammer throw & shot put

CONGRATULATIONS DELANY BOLLES WINS WHAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK!!

TO THE MEN & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS

Both the RU men and women’s basketball teams claimed the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season championship. Klint Pleasant, men’s head basketball coach, and Brent Wichtner, women’s head basketball coach, were named coach of the year by the WHAC. Congratulations on a successful season!

WHAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK, DANIEL MONEAR!!

PLEASE NOTE: COMPILED BY THE SHIELD STAFF. SHIELD PRINTS POSTS AS THEY APPEAR WHEN POSTED.

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TOP 4 CONSPIRACIES OF 2020 DEBUNKED Gabby Eubanks

Magazine Editor

F

rom controversial politics to full pandemic panic, many conspiracy theories were circling throughout the past year, ranging from mildly reasonable to as far fetched as you can get. The truth can be hard to find in times where so much information is out there and nothing is for certain. Here is a list of the top four conspiracy theories that were disproven over the past year.

QAnon War Against “Deep State” Politics

The QAnon conspiracy is the belief that a group of political leaders or other people in positions of social power, worked and conspired against former President Donald Trump. The theory is that they are pedophiles in a child sex trafficking ring, including more left-leaning political leaders such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The theory progressed so far from its origin in 2017 that U.S. Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was removed from her committee appointments for making statements about the validity of QAnon. This theory has also been disproven by multiple fact checking websites including Reuters.com, which wrote “There is no evidence to support these claims stemming from the QAnon conspiracy theory.”

Lizard People Rule the World

Though an older theory, this conspiracy gained new publicity in 2020.

Public Policy Polling created a poll in 2013 showing that around 12 million people in the world believe that alien lizard people live among us and control our governments. They are disguised as political leaders and celebrities, including Justin Beiber and even the queen of England. Some of the main identifying factors of lizard people, according to Alienhub.com, are “Predominance of green or hazel eyes that change color like a chameleon, but also blue eyes, true red or reddish hair, a low pulse rate and low blood pressure, an extra rib or vertebrae.” Though technically this theory is not disprovable, no viable proof exists that the accusations are true.

P A G E D E S I G N // C I A R R A R A T L I F F P H O T O // A D O B E S T O C K

The World’s End Dec 21, 2020

Theories about the end of the world have existed for centuries, referencing mainly the different examples or descriptions of different ancient texts describing the end times, such as the biblical book of Revelation or the end of the Mayan calendar. Thus, who can be surprised that given the tough year 2020 was, many people believed that the world was in fact ending. One main contributor to this theory was a famous conspiracy believer Paul Begley, who said the theory was based upon the winter solstice on Dec. 21 and because the planets Jupiter and Saturn would be aligned, which was a sign of the end.

Obviously, this theory has once again been proven untrue. NASA made the comment that this was simply a continuation of the 2012 apocalypse theory and because the world didn’t end, “You've probably already figured that out for yourself,” NASA said.

5G Causing COVID-19

One of the main conspiracies was a theory that new 5G towers built in Wuhan, China, were actually the origin of COVID-19. People who believed this correlation to be true set many 5G towers on fire across Europe because they thought the towers were radioactive and caused illnesses due to radiation exposure. This was disproved by multiple fact checkers including Reuters.com, which wrote, “COVID-19 is not spread by radiation but by a virus that is passed via droplets from person to person.” So oddly enough, viral infections are not caused by radiation.

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IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD...

AGAIN?

IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENT-ATHLETES Chloe Bachman

F

rom games to practices to conditioning, being a student-athlete is a full-time job. Tough schedules can lead to athletes struggling mentally, and many times, coaches aren’t even aware of the problem.

The shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have affected millions of people, and the resulting isolation has hurt people’s mental health. People are becoming more aware of the importance of mental health and how to help those who may be struggling.

This issue has also affected the Rochester University community, becoming a more discussed topic.

Sean Foulkes, head coach for RU track and field, said, “The greatest thing with mental health is that while some people may still not feel so comfortable with speaking on the topic, society as a whole has recognized its importance and has helped bring it to the forefront of conversations.”

Yet, a stigma still exists in the student-athlete community. Many athletes feel like seeking help is looked at as being weak. Athletes like the feeling of being physically strong and when they are challenged mentally they do not know where to look for help.

Dr. Jessica Matyas, associate professor and chair of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, said, “Student-athletes may be reluctant to ask for help, believing that as an adult and a team member, they should be able to handle it on their own, even when they don't have to.”

Digital Editor

In sports, coaches constantly remind their players that they are only as strong as the team’s weakest link. No one on a sports team wants to be seen as the weakest link, because it may make athletes feel as if they are holding the team back from its potential. Because of this, some athletes may not feel comfortable admitting to a coach that they are struggling mentally.

Mental health can be a hard thing to discuss with someone if they do not understand what it is like. Viola Warden, a junior education and learning disabilities major and RU cheerleader, said, it is important to normalize mental health and to acknowledge what the athlete is trying to say whether it be an injury or a mental struggle, but the important thing is to truly listen.”

Many athletes struggle with the fact that their feelings may be dismissed if they are ever exposed, and they won’t be seen as capable of competing if they admit to struggling.

Foulkes said he engages his athletes by having what they call “Real Talk” sessions, which allows the team members to speak freely on what stressors they may be having on whatever topic they feel they need to talk about.

Garrett Goulding, a freshman sports management major and member of RU’s cross country team, said he thinks having access to a sports psychologist would really help RU athletes. “I would like to see RU have professionals available for athletes to go and see and talk to whenever they feel the need,” he said. He thinks having someone who understands what it is like to be an

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Dr. Gordon McKinnon and offers no-fee short-term visits or low-fees for long-term patients. Everything is confidential. To schedule an appointment, contact McKinnon at gmackinnon@rochesteru.edu.

Resources are also available through Warmline, offered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Warmline connects individuals with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower callers. Warmline is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1-888-733-7753.

The National Suicide Prevention hotline is open 24-hours, seven days a week at 1-800-273-8255. The organization also has counselors available through an online chat, which can be found at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

P A G E D E S I G N & P H O T O S // C I A R R A R A T L I F F

athlete and someone who is an unbiased third party would be beneficial.

On the other hand, some college athletes use their sport as an outlet, a way to escape from their daily lives, and as a way to manage their emotions.

Tessa Gage, a junior sports management major and RU softball player, said, “For me sports have always been a type of relief in the sense that when I am practicing or playing or coaching, I am completely enveloped in the game so it really tends to serve as a break for me from most anxiety or mental health struggles.”

College athletics can be a double-edged sword. Some athletes know if they were to quit because of their mental health, they would also miss their sport and competing.

Rochester University encourages all its students to seek help for any mental health struggles. An on-campus psychology clinic is coordinated by

-Viola Warden

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M ERG E C U LT U R E M E E T S C H R I S T I A N I T Y

YOUR POLITICAL DUTY AS A CHRISTIAN

WHAT REMAINING SILENT WILL DO TO AMERICA’S FUTURE Cate Bennett

Social Media Manager

Let's Take a Look at History...

Okay, But Slavery Ended...?

During the mid-1800s, Christianity pumped through the veins of America. The country founded under God thrived off a system centered around slavery. Yet, even after truths were told of the suffering those enslaved endured, the Christian church remained silent and opposed to the anti-slavery cause.

Historian Manisha Sinha believes that due to these two group’s miscommunication and lack of effort to understand one another, similar movements for social justice will continue to hit America in generational waves. Even though slavery has been abolished, America is now facing a third wave.

Why Did the Church Remain Quiet?

The Christian church consisted of wealthy, white plantation owners. Their power and privilege opened a door of misinterpretation, where scripture was used out of context to defend the inhumanities of slavery. They simply felt God was calling them to have slaves.

To them, the movement’s motive wasn’t actually about equality, but about transforming America into an anti-capitalist country. Southern churches believed that the abolitionist movement was a propaganda disguise that the North was using to gain economic control.

Wave 1 The Transatlantic Slave Trade

Wave 2 The Abolition Movement

From the Eyes of Abolitionists Many abolitionists believed that traditional churches were corrupt and that the only way to be cleansed was to leave and start a new community built on abolitionist beliefs.

As an attempt to persuade Christians to join the movement, abolitionists tried using scripture to support their cause. However, they often misinterpreted the context of the verses, which reinforced their inability to connect with the church.

Abolitionists couldn’t understand how people who worship a loving God could justify such evil actions. Christians were seen as hypocrites, who decided they could pick which commandments they would follow or ignore.

Wave 3 The Black Lives Matter Movement

“Well What Am I Supposed To Do About It?”

As Christians, God calls us to do good, seek justice and correct oppression. He also encourages us to open our hearts to our neighbors and carry each other’s burdens with love.

Listen

Learn

Vote

History keeps repeating itself partly because we choose bitterness and stubbornness over a healthy form of communication. Listen to your neighbor. Try to understand where their hearts are. Empathize with them.

Knowledge is a gift from God. Do your own research, ask questions, diversify your wisdom of your country and stay educated.

There are some bad fruits in office, and the only way to get rid of them, is to vote them out.

You have this incredible right to be heard, you practice discernment, so use your vote to do some good.

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THE OTHER SIDE: Gabby Eubanks

Magazine Editor

NAVIGATING THE WORLD AFTER A

YEAR OF CHANGE 14

SPRING 2021

situation is the understanding that though the human race is segmented and diverse, we are all experiencing the same thing. In the past year, the whole world shut down and changed from how we always knew it to be. Though each nation came to its own decisions on how to handle the pandemic, collectively we are all going through the same times, the same difficulty, the same stress and processing that on an international scale.

The former Secretary General of the U.N, Ban Ki-Moon, said, “I also urge global leaders, led by the U.N., to consider how to develop a global governance system that can cope more effectively with any pandemics that may occur in the future in order to unify the world to protect against globalized issues that affect us all.”

A

P A G E D E S I G N S & P H O T O // C I A R R A R A T L I F F

uthor Deepak Chopra wrote that “All great changes are preceded by chaos.”

Now that we are on the other side of the year 2020, one of the most chaotic years in history, we should be moved by change.

In 2020, we saw life upended by the Coronavirus pandemic, streets across America pounded by millions seeking equity and justice for all, and polling places visited and ballots filled out in one of the most divisive presidential elections in America’s history.

No one could have prepared us for what happened then and where we are now, but the chaos seems to be ebbing. Now that we are on the other side, what changes might we see in 2021?

GLOBAL International travel will remain forever changed by both the impact of COVID-19, but also the political changes that have occurred affecting the immigration laws in many countries. With the current travel bans on Americans to most WWW.SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

countries, many people have felt the loss of summer vacations abroad or understand that spring break wasn’t as exotic as they had hoped.

The last time international travel from the U.S was this restricted was in September 2001.

Foreignpolicy.com says, “Within days of 9/11— the last great inflection point for aviation—flying resumed securely. But two decades later, we are still ironing out some of the inconsistencies and inefficiencies of security procedures.” The travel ban has been in place to prevent Americans from entering many countries, such as Canada, Australia, Italy and even the Bahamas. Normally the situation is quite the opposite, so the knowledge that it is now Americans that are being prohibited from entering other countries is an international game-changer.

Another huge loss that has resulted from the lack of international travel is the decline of the tourism industry. Many countries, such as Greece, thrive off of tourism because they lack many other assets to contribute to their economy. With the travel restrictions, they are taking large hits.

Vacation destinations have lost great amounts of revenue because no one was able to visit. No spring break, no summer vacation. One of the places with the highest percentile of revenue lost was the group of islands called the Maldives, which lost 6.9% of its annual revenue due to the loss of tourism.

The main change in light of the current global

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U.S. As an epicenter of immigration, the United States is an ever diversifying country with an increasing number of cultures and subcultures forming in different areas of America. Whether you like it or not, America will soon be made up of more minorities than majorities.

The Pew Research Center said, “More than 6-in-10 Americans (64%) say the fact that the U.S. population is made up of people of many different races and ethnicities has a positive impact on the country’s culture.”

The social justice movement that occurred over the summer of 2020 is a continuation of similar events in 2016 and even further back to the 1960s. It seems that now the overall awareness of racial equality, or rather inequality, is ever growing in American culture. “It makes me feel like no matter how hard I work to be viewed as more than a statistic, that’s all. I’ll ever be viewed as,” said Jadera Purdue, senior theater major. “Racial inequality will never truly be fixed until nonpeople of color recognize their major role in it.”

The Pew Research Center study also found that 29% of Americans said they would be bothered by hearing someone speak in a language other than English. This is an issue for the large immigrant population in America, as the National Library of Medicine says 56% of this population cannot speak English.

Another growth of diversity has been the rise of women in the workforce. At one point in time, there were more CEOs named “John” than there were female CEOs, but that time is coming to an end. According to Market Watch, the number of female CEOs has risen by 10% in the last 10 years alone. Though breaking the glass ceiling can be difficult, more and more women are achieving it every year.

Still there is a long way to go. “It’s been fairly difficult because a lot of people tell me I need to focus on other things in life and people don’t believe that I can balance family life with work life,” said Interdisciplinary Studies sophomore Paige Steele. “It just feels like people don’t believe in me because of my gender.”

However slow, there have been steps in the right direction. According to MacKinsey and Company, women in senior positions increased from 23% to 28% in the beginning of 2020 and shows signs to improve, even though the progress has been slow.

qualify for Michigan Reconnect.” To qualify, students must be at least 25 years old without any college education. They must have been Michigan residents for at least one year and can only attend the community college of the county that they live in. Some backlash has arisen to this proposal since some of Michigan’s population does not live in counties home to a community college.

According to Michigan Bridge, “Most of the counties not getting the full benefit of Michigan Reconnect are in rural northern Michigan, and many of them are low-income.” Though the plan will be helpful for more low income counties such as Genesee and Wayne, counties with even lower rates of higher education are not given the same opportunity. Michigan Bridge also says that Oceana County has rates of less than 18% of adults having bachelor degrees or higher and 40% of the children live in poverty.

While the plan might not be perfect, it does provide opportunities for people to receive higher education for free. Though it does not cover books or transportation or reach everyone in the state, Michigan Reconnect is a great step forward for providing opportunity for those less fortunate in Michigan, which could help decrease unemployment.

Plans are also in effect to revamp the abandoned Michigan Central Station into a 30-acre campus

for businesses and for a mobility platform for Ford to showcase new technologies. The station will also provide recreational services such as bike lanes and paths for walking the historic architecture of the station. “Few works of architecture better embody the past, present and future of Detroit like Michigan Central Station,” said Vishaan Chakrabarti, founder and creative director of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism.

This innovation from Ford can be seen as an attempt to move forward and better Detroit while also preserving the history of it as well. Ford plans on building recreational outdoor seating with free wifi as well as several other services to go along with the mobility platform. The train station itself was built in 1918, but it has been abandoned since 1988. Construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2021 and is projected to be finished by 2022.

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SPRING 2021

The world we live in is definitely different than it was 5 years ago, 1 year ago, or even 6 months ago.

We’ve lived through a year of chaos and now we are on the other side and can look to the future.

The best we can do is to accept that change is an inevitable part of life and to try to use change and make the world, our nation and our state better places. Let’s continue to pursue the changes that we as a society need.

MICHIGAN Michigan has been in a state of quite public transition for some time now. From the time of the 2014 Flint water crisis to the transition from Gov. Rick Snyder to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019 to the influential part the state played in the 2020 election, Michigan has been through much change and this doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon.

One of Whitmer’s latest ventures is the “Michigan Reconnect” plan to provide older students with funding for college, and she said “4.1 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents

“It just feels like people don’t believe in me because of my gender.”

-Paige Steele WWW.SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

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BERT BRYAN a great friend and mentor who made an impact on all

lbert “Bert” Henry Bryan III, a former Rochester University employee and long-time supporter of the institution, died on Jan. 2 from COVID-19 complications. Bert is survived by his wife, Ann, who taught in RU’s School of Education until her retirement; by two sons and two granddaughters; and by countless colleagues and friends. Here, Jake Feldman, Shield Media news and opinions editor, shares his reflection about Bert.

Bert was the kind of person who left an impact on every person he interacted with. He was a great friend and mentor to so many here at Rochester. He was an amazing man and an inspiration to me. I can speak for many in saying that I considered Bert a close friend and looked forward to sharing a conversation with him every time our paths crossed.

I will deeply miss his kindness, friendliness, and loving presence on campus and at church. Burt sat by me during church when I was new there and didn’t know many people.

He asked me how my parents were doing and how life was treating me. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to get to know Burt and I am proud to call him a close friend.

His presence in my life and the lives of so many others was immeasurably good to me and I will miss him dearly.

His loss will be noticed around our community as well.

Bert was there for everyone. He treated every student, staff member, professor and worker like family. He always had a smile on his face, ready to shake your hand and ask you about life.

So many at Rochester have been impacted by the life and presence of Bert Bryan. It is impossible to write in a short article what his presence meant to me, and I’m sure that I am not alone. Everyone who crossed paths with Bert had the pleasure of sharing a laugh and a smile, and a peaceful chat about life. We all have a Bert story we could share, that is what made Bert such a blessing.

A memorial service will be held in Bert’s honor at Rochester University on June 10 at 2 p.m. It will be a time to hear more stories and pay respects to such a wonderful member of the community. Rest easy, Bert. We can’t wait to see you again!

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SPRING 2021

LIGHT ATOF THETHE END 2020 TUNNEL Stephen Figueroa

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P A G E D E S I G N // C I A R R A R A T L I F F

wish that we could come to a happy medium here. Truly as of March 2020, our lives have been turned around. I have never seen anything like what we are experiencing.

COVID-19 has turned us topsy-turvy with so much suffering, conflict, anxiety and turmoil.

Most of us, even me, have experienced moments of depression wondering when will this all end. I’ve seen the sad faces and the grieving hearts. It’s hard enough grieving for loved ones that die. This virus has stolen not only our time but our loved ones, neither of which we can get back. Our lives have been disrupted like never before.

The hospitals are full to capacity and many have to turn people away with paramedics waiting in the parking lot with patients in the ambulance until an opening arises. People are in pain like I've never seen before. Loved ones have to stay in the hospital alone without their family because they are not allowing visitors or extra people to be in the hospital because of COVID-19. What a lonesome time of devastation.

Doctors and nurses are overworked and highly exposed to catching the virus themselves. Some reports have come in stating that COVID-19 patients were left in their room(s) unattended for too long and passed away. Everywhere you turn, there are tears, sadness, despair and feelings of helplessness — a horrible place and state of mind to be in. Sometimes I wonder, is there any hope?

Our scientists have worked on vaccinations to help curb and dissipate this virus. I have high hopes for that too. Some people are leery of getting the vaccine, while others drive miles and stand in lines

Multimedia Assistant

for long hours to get the vaccination. I believe it’s OK to feel the way that you are feeling right now, because we are still trying to figure it out. I am grateful for the strides and progress we’ve made thus far.

As more people get vaccinated and the spread decreases, activities like outdoor dining and movie theaters are beginning to open back up. I hope this is the start of a new sense of hope in the year 2021.

Another major societal issue in 2020 is the deaths caused by police brutality. After video and reports about the deaths of African Americans have circulated, millions of people around the U.S. protested and spoke up for equality.

Professional sports and large corporations are also supporting an end to systematic injustice and racial discimination. And many of them are also putting millions of dollars to these efforts.

Hopefully this will rebuild the trust that we are to have in the protection of the police force, and in the fairness of American society and institutions.

We all have been affected by the year 2020 but hopefully things will start to get better. I wished I could wave a magic wand and all the things in 2020 be gone. But that is only make-believe and we can’t afford to live in a fantasy world.

Change isn’t always easy, but if we’re willing to try, I think we can make it in this world. I pray that we all continue to do our part in order to stay safe and contribute to a better life. We can come together for the better of mankind and be a good neighbor to each other. I have hope and look forward to a better tomorrow, a better future.

Change isn’t always easy, but if we’re willing to try, I think we can make it in this world.

WWW.SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

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DORM ROOM RECIPE Damon Alexander

Staff Writer

Sometimes you just don’t want fast food or to eat in the cafeteria and you just need to cook for yourself. If you live on campus, cooking in the dorms can be a problem, but here’s a tasty recipe that can be made easily in your dorm room. This will get you through those early semester mornings!

FRENCH TOAST IN A CUP INGREDIENTS 1 or 2 slices of bread, cubed (just fill your cup to overflowing a bit) 1 tablespoon butter 1 egg 3 tablespoons milk Dash of cinnamon Drop of vanilla extract (optional) INSTRUCTIONS Cube bread.

Melt butter in a cup for a few seconds in your microwave. Swoosh it around the cup.

Add bread to the cup.

In a separate cup, combine the egg, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir.

Pour the liquid over the bread. Smoosh it a little and allow the liquid to soak into the bread.

Microwave. Start with 1 minute, then add 10 seconds at a time until it’s cooked to your liking (no runny eggs). In my microwave, that’s 1 minute, 20 seconds.

Add syrup if desired. Eat!

Warrior Wire is a segment in Shield Magazine that works as an outlet for Rochester University athletes to voice their life experiences, opinions and thoughts in their own words.

WARRIOR WIRE HEALTH CHALLENGES END PLAYING TIME BUT NOT INSPIRATIONAL SPIRIT Matt Moreton

Guest Writer

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ix pounds six ounces of fight and determination. That is what I was born with.

Those first days were extremely tough on my family. Born premature, I entered the world in a fight for my life. My lungs had not fully developed and I was placed on life support.

My parents were told that my survival was a miracle, and I was released weeks ahead of what was thought to be a lengthy hospital stay.

I then thrived as an infant and toddler. I was quite active but needed treatments for asthma.

As I became more involved in sports, hockey and baseball, I would learn that my asthma was interfering with my ability to perform to my best ability. I was frustrated to hear my mother wanting me to “Take it easy out there,” not understanding how important sports were for me.

I was 4 years old when I started taking skating lessons and playing ball. I had this rage inside when I would have to leave the ice or field to use my inhaler. I just ran as fast as I could to get back in the game.

My dad is a Type 1 diabetic and for whatever reason, one day he decided he would check my sugar level. That day changed my life. I was rushed to Children’s Hospital in Detroit where I learned I too had Type 1 diabetes. I was only 8 years old and didn’t understand why everyone around me was so upset.

I remember the nurses teaching my parents and sister how to give me shots, test my blood, and how we had to write down everything I ate.

It was a lot of worry and work for my family, but I still got to play ball and do pretty much everything as I did before. My family took care of making sure we had all of the necessary tools in tow, should anything go wrong.

A year or so later, the diabetes became a little easier to manage. I was able to be put on an insulin pump. I went from having four to five shots of

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SPRING 2021

P A G E D E S I G N S // C I A R R A R A T L I F F P H O T O S // R U M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N

insulin a day to one poke every three days. I still had to do finger pokes four to five times a day to test my blood, but no big deal!

Fast forward to high school, I made the hockey team! I had the best of friends on the team. My sister graduated from college and lived in France.

Life was great, until it wasn’t.

I had this tiny bump on my scalp. I only noticed it because my hockey helmet rubbed it. We were told it was nothing to worry about, a fatty lesion or something. Due to my diabetes, the doctor would need to remove it in the hospital. Weeks later, the pathology report would reveal that I had cancer.

A whirlwind of tests and doctor appointments followed. I had just turned 17, and my mom managed my care. The kind of cancer I had was so rare that I was only the fourth case of it at Mott’s Children Hospital at the University of Michigan. It was summer and I wanted to get all of this behind me. I had hockey practice starting up and I didn’t want to miss any of it.

My mom drove me to U of M every day for radiation treatment for three weeks in row. I remember waiting in this little room for my turn.

The room was often filled with little kids around 3- to 4-years-old. I would sit on the floor and play with them, just thinking maybe they would be a bit less scared. When it was my turn, I’d get up and say, “see you tomorrow.”

The treatment itself only lasted a few minutes.

I would sleep all the way home and then at night, I would join my buddies on the ice. Looking back, I’m not sure where I found the strength, I am just grateful that I did. Hockey was my escape. When I got on the ice, I was just another hockey player, not the guy with cancer.

After high school, I started attending Macomb Community College. I hadn’t played hockey in over a year when I reached out to Scott Cagnet about playing for Rochester University. He invited me to come out to some of the skates to

see if I would be a good fit for the team. I ended up joining the team and took on the role of a locker room guy. My first season I won the Most Improved Player award, and I was excited to enter the second season.

Little did the team know that I would once again be battling cancer. During the summer, I started experiencing extreme swelling all throughout my body. After a trip to the ER, I was diagnosed with a kidney disease called membranous nephropathy.

I was put on a very strict diet. I wasn’t allowed to have sodium and had to limit my protein and fluid intake.

This didn’t stop me though. I went into the next season determined to make an impact— not necessarily through my talents on the ice, but through my perseverance and leadership. I never let anything hold me back. At the end of my second season, I received the WHAC Champions of Character Award.

Training hard for the next season, I started experiencing shortness of breath and my right leg had swelled up to triple the size of my left leg. I

WWW.SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

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No matter how difficult life can be, God has a plan. It’s not about the cards you are dealt. It’s about how you play the hand

went to the ER at U of M and found out that I had a major blood clot in my leg. I underwent a 4-anda-half-hour surgery to remove the blood clot, but the damage had already been done. Pieces of the blood clot had traveled to my lung. Doctors told me that I would not be able to participate in any physical activity for the rest of my life. I was heartbroken by this news.

Hockey has always been my release. It is the only time where I felt normal. The boys didn’t look at me as someone who was different. They looked at me as one of them. Although I was discouraged, I didn’t lose hope. I am lucky enough to still be a part of the team as an assistant coach.

When people ask me how I manage to stay so positive and strong through all of these hardships, my answer is this: “No matter how difficult life can be, God has a plan. It’s not about the cards you are dealt. It’s about how you play the hand.”

My goal in life is to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest potential. When you’re ready to give up and quit, think about how far you’ve come.

Live to inspire.

WITH CARA HARM

RU’S HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER Brad Miller

Features Editor

What do you like and find difficult about your job?

“What I like about my job is being able to see an injury from the day it occurs until fully healed.

I get to see athletes go through their entire healing process. This is very rewarding to see as an athletic trainer. What I find difficult is seeing athletes struggling with their injuries mentally and physically. Every injury is different and every athlete handles an injury differently.”

What are some COVID changes you've had to deal with?

“Some COVID changes I have had to deal with are developing protocols, added cleaning and sanitation, screening athletes daily, testing athletes on campus, etc.”

What is your greatest accomplishment?

“One of my greatest accomplishments is my education. I am very proud of my master’s degree and worked very hard to get it.” head athletic trainer at Rochester University, Cara Harm deals with injury prevention, rehabilitation, therapeutic intervention and so much more. Harm is passionate about sports and played ice hockey and soccer when in college. Her biggest passion, though, is helping others.

How would you describe yourself?

“I would describe myself as a kind person who is eager to learn and grow. I would also say that I am energetic and ambitious.”

What is your official job on campus, and what does it entail?

“I am the head athletic trainer at Rochester University. My job entails injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion, emergent care, examination, and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation or injuries and medical conditions.”

What are you passionate about?

“For as long as I can remember, I have always loved sports. I played many sports growing up and was able to play two sports at the collegiate level.

I am passionate about exercise and fitness. I am passionate about healthcare and medicine. I am passionate about helping others.”

What is your education, how'd you get to your position?

“I went to Adrian College for my education.

I received a bachelor’s degree in science in preathletic training in 2015. I then received my master’s degree in science/athletic training in 2016. I started working at Rochester College in October 2016 full time as the head athletic trainer. This was my first real job in my profession out of college. Before Rochester, I was doing some adjunct work as an athletic trainer covering many different sporting events.”

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What are your goals for the future?

“I plan never to stop growing and learning in my career. My goals are to continue to advance in my career, travel more and start a family.”

Who are your heroes?

“My parents, grandparents and sisters are my heroes.”

What is your favorite movie of all time and why? “ ‘The Lion King’ was always my all-time favorite movie growing up. I still love Disney movies to this day. Some classic movies that I like are ‘Titanic,’ ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption.’ ”

SPRING 2021

WHAT DO YOU PREFER? all have experienced many new and innovative ways to do things this past year because of the impact of the pandemic. Now that we are over a year in, it can be difficult to fully remember how it was before. Though we all miss how life used to be, some people prefer the different ways that we do things currently.

Comparing the past to the present, some may find that they have different preferences than they would have thought, or that they miss activities they never thought they would.

Certain people actually prefer virtual learning and the convenience that it provides, while others struggle a great deal without the classroom setting. Many people also prefer their new lives working from home and don’t miss their daily commutes to work. We surveyed students about their own preferences and saw that though most students miss the way things were, some do prefer the benefits of how we currently function.

CHURCH LIVESTREAM OR IN-PERSON?

ORDERING GROCERIES ONLINE OR GOING INSIDE?

19%

24% 81%

76%

IN-PERSON ONLINE

GYM AT HOME

CARRY-OUT OR DINE-IN?

ONLINE CLASSES OR IN-PERSON CLASSES?

16% P A G E D E S I G N S & P H O T O // C I A R R A R A T L I F F

AT HOME WORKOUTS OR GYM WORKOUTS?

25% 84%

IN-PERSON ONLINE WWW.SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

75%

37% 63%

DINE-IN CARRY-OUT 23

IN-PERSON VIRTUAL

GENDER BIAS IN THE SPORTS WORLD

NEEDS TO END Brad Miller

Features Editor

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hroughout history, gender bias has occurred not only in sports but in everyday life. Before Title IX, a federal civil rights law passed in 1972, women couldn’t compete in sports on an equal playing field with men. However, with each passing day, more boundaries are being pushed aside—from Sarah Fuller being the first woman to kick in a Power 5 conference college football game to two female referees officiating in the same NBA game.

It’s nice to see progress has been made with equality in sports, but honestly, it’s sad to see that even in 2021 women aren’t seen in the same light as men in the sports world—from equal pay to continuing disrespect. It can be disheartening.

The only reason women have come this far with this struggle is because of other women who have paved the way.

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SPRING 2021

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN

In 1973, Billie Jean King, a top-rated women’s tennis player, faced off against Bobby Riggs, a former No. 1 ranked men’s player, in a highly publicized event viewed by millions around the world.

King was an incredible tennis star who founded the Women’s Tennis Association and was undoubtedly one of the most significant athletes of the 20th century. She was heading a movement that pushed for female tennis players to earn equal payouts in tournaments in which both men and women were competing. Riggs was a well-known sexist whose thoughts on women were shared by many men at the time.

King defeated Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes and later was rewarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. For her service in protecting the rights of women and gay people. King said, “Everyone thinks women should be thrilled when we get crumbs… I want women to have the cake, the icing and the cherry on top, too.”

Several female athletes say they are encouraged by the unity shown between female athletes and the power of their community.

Dani Hopkins, a Cornerstone University women’s basketball player who has often competed against RU, said, “The support system among female athletes is inspiring… we support each other because not everyone else will.

The community is amazing and is something I wouldn’t change for the world.”

Tessa Gage, a junior sports management major and RU softball player, said, “I have been welcomed so kindly by many females in sports who I have reached out to, had Zoom meetings with and gotten to know.”

Hopkins said being a woman in sports can be a “crazy journey,” but she agrees with Gage about the bond female athletes share. “I think my favorite thing about being a female athlete is being in an amazing community. We don’t always have the packed out gyms and wild student sections, but the girls always show up for the girls,” Hopkins said.

As much as they try, men might never truly understand about women’s struggles in sports, let alone life. But men should work to hear their perspectives about what they experience.

“There are definitely men out there that don’t think you belong in the field,” Gage said. “Oftentimes, you may be the only female within a department or a meeting room. But, there are more supportive men within the industry than are talked about.”

While the status quo is shifting in regard to women’s success in the sports world, work still needs to be done. Gage encourages women within the industry to help one another. “We need to cheer each other on to continue to break glass ceilings and to support the promotion of one woman because it is a promotion for all women,” she said. “While it is human to be disappointed or upset about not getting a job or opportunity you wanted, congratulate another woman who does get the position! Compete when appropriate and always root for each other!”

Gender bias is still present in today’s society, but that doesn’t mean that giant leaps for the better haven’t happened. So many women have fought for their rights, so that in the future, life could be better for those who came after them. All the boundaries that have been broken in recent history have proven that everyone can create change and that one day, people will be proud to live in a world that we as a society have created.

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WOMEN ON THE COURT Early this year, women officials made news on the basketball court. The NBA scheduled two female officials to referee the Charlotte Hornets versus Orlando Magic game on Jan. 25, which was the first time in NBA history that two women were assigned to work a regular-season contest together.

Referees Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder made up two-thirds of the crew assigned to the game.

Shaye Kaiser, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major and Rochester University women’s basketball player, said, “I thought this was something cool, but I also feel like it kinda sucks that this is such a big deal because it’s the first time. There’s close to no respect for women in sports, but it’s also cool to see it changing! I’m sure some people weren’t happy about it.”

House of Highlights, a sports media brand, posted clips about the accomplishment, and while a fair share of positive comments were made, negative ones accompanied them as well, such as “We do not care;” “They’re gonna call a foul for something that happened last season;” and “For the first time in NBA history, both teams lose.”

It’s disheartening to see this negativity. Female athletes say that when a sports post is about women, they don’t even want to read the comments because so many rude comments are posted.

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LETTER TO FRESHMAN ME Johnny Lykins

Guest Writer

Dear Freshman Johnny, Bruh. I will start by saying that you are doing fine. Everything you are doing is normal.

Everything you are going through is normal. That being said, let me try to give you a heads up on some things you learn in the future that would have been nice to learn sooner.

When you are around other people (in the classroom or at a cafeteria table), act like you are the least intelligent person there. It will help bring you down a little! Ask questions with the intent to learn and actually listen to people. Do this, rather than just waiting for them to finish talking. Then, you can answer with what you’ve been wanting to say ever since you stopped talking and they started. One of the best things you can do for other people is to actually listen to them when they choose to have the courage to speak to you.

Opening yourself up is tough, but be yourself 100% of the time, or at least try to be. No one is always going to be themselves all the time. We all wear a mask during some periods of our lives,

and I think that is normal. That is also a pun in the future that you will not appreciate. Anyway, STRIVE to be yourself all the time. There is only going to be one “you” in the history of ever, so stop trying to be other people. There are already too many of them.

Some people are not going to like you — no matter how you act, what you like/dislike, what you look like, what your interests are, etc. So why not just be yourself? Then, you can be liked and disliked for being THAT, rather than being liked or disliked for being someone else entirely? Being unashamedly yourself to the fullest extent is the strongest action you can do.

Next, do not rush to the next thing so quickly.

Stop and appreciate where you currently are in life. It will help you acknowledge your accomplishments, even the small ones like just getting out of bed that day. Sometimes that was a big accomplishment to be honest, and guess what, that is OK! If you rush to the next thing in life too quickly, you will not feel very accomplished or successful

and that can lead to a poor mental state. One thought that has helped me out of some bad spots is this: Take a couple steps back, so that you can move forward for longer. When you continually move forward, you may get successful and accomplish much, but you run a great risk of taking more than just a couple steps back this way. You will do more harm than good. At the end of every day, the goal is to be able to smile at yourself in the mirror and to go to bed at night with no regrets. This is the most difficult thing to achieve.

Lastly, I wish I would have learned to go to class every once in a while. I am all for not missing out on any experience ever, but dude, you literally missed your first college class on the very first day of freshman year. Big yikes broski!

Simply put, my advice to you is this: Life is just not as serious as people want to make it out to be.

Chill bruh. Have fun. Appreciate the journey. You got this.

Sincerely, Another Adult Trying To Figure It Out

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‘ROUND THE CORNER RESTAURANTS NEAR CAMPUS Tamera Robinson

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YOU ARE

HERE

Staff Writer

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anging from tasty made-from-scratch foods to delicious sweets to foreign cuisines, here are five restaurants near RU’s campus for take-out, curbside, or dine-in to enjoy whether you’re safely dining-in or comfortably taking out.

1. Downtown Cafe

Downtown Cafe is a snuggly brunch restaurant that specializes in a “made from scratch” eatery with a lively atmosphere. The daily specials include delicious meals such as almond-crusted French toast made with Texas toast, topped with fruit compote and whipped cream with bacon and potatoes. In need of some vitamin C? Try the freshly-squeezed orange juice for a great start to your morning. While it is now open for safe dine-in services, the cafe is still offering curbside pickup and carryout. Open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 606 N Main St. in downtown Rochester.

P A G E D E S I G N S & P H O T O // C I A R R A R A T L I F F

2. Sumo Sushi and Seafood

This minimalist Japanese eatery with dark-wood tables also features Korean dishes, gluten-free fare, and from only the finest of importers. Its specialty rolls, cooked or raw, include raw Sumo House sushi roll, California roll topped with spicy tuna and masago. The cooked Karate made with tempura salmon and avocado roll is also a favorite and is topped with baked Izumi-dai, balsamic sauce, spicy mayo, and a Kani crab garnish. Sumo has excellent food presentation, flavor and quick service that you have to check out. Sumo Sushi is open on Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sumo offers dine-in and curbside pickup at 418 N Main St. in downtown Rochester.

3. Blossom Cafe and Bakery

Blossom is a modern, fusion-style cafe serving coffee, espresso, bubble tea, French macarons and other sweets. It is a local, family-owned business that strives to serve aesthetic, affordable and delicious items. I’ve always been WWW.SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

interested in macarons and when I found this cafe, I had to order and try it out. The macarons are small but are full of delicious fillings. The cafe offers a wide variety of flavors; however, the treats often sell out. Blossom Cafe also has delicious, chewy mochi ice cream in so many flavors. I definitely will be returning for more of the tasty desserts. White chocolate cinnamon latte and Mandalorian macarons, just like baby Yoda, are being offered for a limited time only. The cafe is open Sunday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with curbside pickup. It is located at 248 E. Auburn Road in Rochester Hills.

4. 2941 Street Food

Named for the latitude and longitude of the Fertile Crescent in the Mediterranean and Middle East, 2941 Street Food is a casual counterservice restaurant featuring customizable Mediterranean grub, including rice bowls and sandwiches. A recommended menu option is the chef’s special Za’taar Steak. It’s made with yellow street rice starch, garlic and chili tahini sauce, mushrooms & peppers torshi, nomad and feta salad, and hummus and chana chor. Open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m, the restaurant is now offering dine-in with curbside pickup, take-out and delivery still available. It is located at 87 W Auburn Road in Rochester Hills.

5. Bean and Leaf Cafe

Drinks from Bean and Leaf Cafe are made from the highest quality ingredients and with beans freshly roasted in the store. Along with a large assortment of teas and house-baked goods, the cafe also has a staff that is friendly and ready to serve. Kaydee Cooper, a junior accounting major, recommends trying the delicious vegan-baked cupcakes. For a filling breakfast, try the breakfast sandwiches with a choice of a bagel or croissant made with egg, bacon or sausage and cheese. Currently dine-in seating or take-out are not offered, but curbside pickup is available. Bean and Leaf is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located on 439 S Main St. in downtown Rochester.

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UNCONVENTIONAL LEARNING

“THE 34 YEAR PLAN” Jake Feldman

typical image of a traditional college student is someone in their early 20s, fresh out of high school, learning and waiting to jump start their lives. They might be ambitious and wide eyed to learn.

But the college experience is becoming more and more accessible to students of all ages and interests. Older students are redefining the term “student.” The term to best describe this trend is “adult learner,” someone who is either pursuing a degree or finishing one on an untraditional timeline.

According to the Education Writers Association, adult learners are the largest growing trend in higher education as of 2019 and this trend is expected to continue as many countries adapt to the changes of lost jobs, virtual school and careers, and more time in the day. The Coronavirus pandemic increased this trend in 2020 as millions found themselves unemployed for months on end.

H E R E I S W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G : The pandemic has forced almost every industry to adapt. Remote work has become a norm, and Zoom, Google Meet and other delivery options have boomed. This made online work and school much more achievable. The real world has shifted onto a computer screen or phone screen.

Daily commutes are becoming rare and not just because of the pandemic.

Workplaces are striving to be more efficient and productive as the world changes, so offices are no longer just in big cities, but major companies are located in almost every municipality. Instead of having to work in downtown Detroit, offices are now located in suburbs and smaller cities such as Bloomfield Hills and Troy. This decreases drive and commute times for many, freeing up hours in the day.

Many companies have set up incentives for a college education, which opens up many doors for students who may not have previously had the opportunity in their career field to seek higher education.

The world is shifting online, giving people more time, resources, and opportunities to make the possibility of a higher education a reality in any type of work or trade.

Since 2019, adult learners have risen to 29% of all undergraduate students and their numbers are climbing every year, while undergrad students between 18-25 years old are expected to remain static, according to Jon Marcus in the Hechinger Report.

News & Opinions Editor

So let’s go back to the stereotypes: every college student is not a young kid living in a dorm room and going to the basketball game on Saturday.

College students are more diverse than ever before.

W H O A R E A D U LT L E A R N E R S ?

In America, 6.6 million adult learners are seeking associate, bachelor, master and doctorate degrees, which is 39% of all students. More than half of these students are parents. Two-thirds of them are seeking a higher income, and 57 percent of them are enrolled in college while working 20-hours-plus each week, according to the Hechinger Report. These adult learners are determined, tough and hungry to learn.

College is a stressful and challenging time, and getting a college education in a formerly unconventional manner can enhance that challenge even further.

Today’s college students are smart, resilient, and have a high bandwidth for school, work, family, a social life, and much more. College students are evolving with the world and revitalizing the future as the world changes.

Even Rochester University has a good number of adult learners. One example is Kevin O’Sullivan, a 52-year-old Christian Ministry major. Kevin is on the “34-year plan” as he calls it, in pursuit of his degree while working full time. The executive director at Michigan Christian Youth Camp, Sullivan said his degree will give him the ability to better minister to young people, but mainly the staff and families within the MCYC community.

“I was familiar with RU due to church connections and work,” Sullivan said.

“I have many friends and acquaintances that work and serve at RU, which is both a blessing and at times, a little weird.”

Adult learner students have much to offer in the classroom, and also have an amazing advantage of having abundant real-life experience to correlate with classroom material. They also can revitalize the learning environment.

“I love the perspective of the classmates,” Sullivan said. “To hear from people of all ages is very important and also helpful in my walk with Christ— especially the young adults that participate in my classes. Many times you just gain a new perspective when you hear theirs.”

Adult learners create a better classroom for all students, and everyone has the opportunity to learn from each other. Grace Brackney, a junior interdisciplinary studies major and a classmate of Kevin’s, said: “Since he has already experienced so much much in life, Kevin brings an entirely different

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“I love the

perspective of the classmates.

To hear from people of all ages is very important and also helpful in my walk with Christ.

Kevin O’Sullivan

worldview to class than most college students.”

Whether you are an 18-year-old freshman or a 52-year-old junior, everyone has the ability to learn from each other. College students depend on each other as the world changes around them, and having an older student who has been out in the real world can be a great resource for younger students.

Dr. Naomi Walters, associate professor of ministry, said, “I really enjoy mixed-age classrooms; the different ages and life experiences create a great opportunity to model the kind that will be present in any workplace (or, in the case of ministry majors, congregation), and it provides a unique experience for students to learn from each other as well as from the instructor. Each age group has strengths they bring to the classroom community, and we’re all better off for it.”

Sullivan’s top advice for classmates is: “Roll with the punches. Life is way too short to get caught up in the little stuff. That took me about 48 or 50 years to realize!”

Keep a lookout for adult learners around campus. Their numbers are growing and their value increasing. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Everyone has something to learn in the midst of this ever changing world.

WWW.SHIELDMEDIA.ORG

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little nuggets of entertainment goodness

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

We are the change that we seek.”

Barack Obama

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THE EVENTS W E ’ L L RE ME MBE R T HE PEOPLE W E ’ L L NE VE R F O RGE T T HE STORIE S W E ’ L L RE TE L L

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