Volume 135 No. 6

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

October 8, 2020

Volume 135 No. 6

scstudentmedia.com // @TheSpfldStudent

A look inside Isolation Nation One student’s first-hand account of Covid isolation housing.

Page 4 Residing in isolation housing is a comfortable experience, but it can also be daunting and quite lonely, as one might expect. (Photo Courtesy of Robert Dickey)

On the Inside The President’s Leadership team meets with the past in an attempt to learn for the future.

Examining the Electoral College: What is it and why is it so important to the election?

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October 8, 2020

COVID

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October 8, 2020

BLM

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Lessons from the past The President’s Leadership team met with the Legacy Alumni of Color organization to talk about ways to end racism on campus.

By Irene Rotondo @irenerrotondo

O

n Sunday, Oct. 4, committee members of the Legacy Alumni of Color organization met with Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, along with the President’s Leadership Team and Trustees, over Zoom to discuss their past experiences as Springfield College students.

For the first hour of the meeting, eleven Springfield College alumni of color recounted memories of racism they experienced decades ago while attending school there. The recall of such memories was to demonstrate to President Cooper how the issues the alumni faced as students long ago are similar, if not the same, as the issues that still affect the lives of her Black and brown students today.

During the second hour, those present at the Zoom meeting were then given the floor to ask the eleven alumni questions about their experiences or make comments. Some alumni concurred with one another, agreeing upon certain members of the community they recalled to be hateful towards the Black and brown community.

Others asked the present Springfield College administration members about the systemic racism Springfield College has supported within itself since the alumni were students themselves.

The conclusion of the meeting, however, did not signal the conclusion of the Legacy Alumni of Color’s work. Following the meeting, Legacy Alumni of Color sent “A Blueprint for Change” to President Cooper and her team.

This Blueprint is a cohesive plan to ensure the comfort of Black and brown students at Springfield College for the present and the future. The subcommittee, entitled “Legacy Alumni of Color: A Blueprint for Change” created an entire plan for the academic, athletic, mental well-being, and social success of Black and brown Springfield College students. A print copy was given to President Cooper as well.

As stated in the introduction of the Blueprint, the alumni comprising the committee have been fighting racial injustice “collectively and individually” for over 50 years. In addition to President Cooper’s own plan, entitled “Embracing the Promise of Tomorrow, 2017-2022: The Inclu-

sion Strategic Plan for Springfield College,” the Legacy Alumni of Color are looking to help Springfield College in its fight for racial justice by ending “manifestations of prejudice” and “consequences of racism” through their “Blueprint for Change.”

Following the Blueprint’s introduction is a list of Recommendations from the Legacy Alumni of Color. These recommendations are key points of

change the Legacy feels is important for Springfield College to consider, such as hiring POC in the Counseling Center and Office of Spiritual Life. The Legacy knows how important it is to have strong ties in a college community, not just between students and faculty, and recommended the College hosts activities and events for the off-campus Springfield city community to take part in. Along with nine other vital points, the

Legacy also stated that the PLT must increase its “ethnic diversity” in order to “set an example for the college.”

After the list of Recommendations, the Blueprint then delves into five different recommendations made by the Legacy with Committee Reports on exactly what the issue is with student statements to See Alumni of color on Page 10

In 1969, a group of Black students demanded action to end the prejudice against the Black community at the school. Their initial demands were denied and takeovers of the administration building ensued. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections)

October 8, 2020

Covid-19

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Dickey: I never felt completely alone Robert Dickey shares his experience with Covid-19 and spending time in isolation housing.

Robert Dickey. (Photo Courtesy of Robert Dickey)

By Robert Dickey @Robert_Dickey11

Y

ou never expect to get a call after you get tested for Covid-19, especially when you wake up feeling perfectly fine on the day of your test.

You expect to get a nice email confirming what you think you already know: that you are negative for the most terrifying disease on the planet right now.

I guess things don’t always go as planned.

Getting the call saying that I had tested positive for Covid-19 was one of the more surprising things I have ever experienced. As a classic over thinker, my mind instantly went into a whirlwind, but I didn’t have much time to think about what was next before the action started.

My phone started blowing up, with random numbers calling me every minute. I was quickly transferred out of my room and into the graduate annex housing, where I would spend the rest of my quarantine.

It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Total solidarity. I was used to being quarantined, as I hadn’t left my house from March to May earlier this year, but at least I had family around. Now I was just alone, with everything swirling around me.

Yet this experience wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

For starters, I remained primarily asymptomatic from the day that I began quarantine to the day I ended it.

The housing was fantastic, a multi-story apartment style area that I was able to make my own. Cheney delivered food for the day every morning, and I was never hungry. I was occupied by schoolwork and watching the office for the eighth time. It honestly wasn’t a horrible experience.

The worst part was the mental toll that it took on me. Feeling voiceless while the noise on campus got louder and louder. My door was closed all week, but my name kept coming into my living room through others’ mouths. It was not fun to say the least.

As the week went on, I started to settle in.

I got in a nice rhythm every day. Wake up, get my classes over with, do

my homework, watch some Netflix and then finish my day watching whatever the best sporting event was at night.

Not too different from the life I lived between March and May. What made it even easier was the amazing support that I got from the entirety of the Springfield College community. The nurses and workers that checked in on me every day always had the best for me in mind, and for that I can’t thank them enough.

My friends were there for me for whatever I needed, whether it was just being there to support me or bringing food to my front door that I could not get myself.

Throughout the entirety of my stay in

quarantine, I never felt completely alone, despite how physically isolated from society I was.

For anyone else that may one day enter quarantine due to contracting Covid-19, I can only offer you encouragement.

It is scary at first, but it gets better as the days go by. Springfield will support you throughout the entire process and provide you and the rest of the community with the safest possible protocols that will make life as stress free for everyone as possible.

Most importantly though, make sure your Netflix subscription is ready to go, you’ll need it.

October 8, 2020

Puerto Rico

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The history of Puerto Rico Jorell Melendéz-Badillo provides a virtual lecture to the Springfield College community on all things Puerto Rico.

By Cait Kemp @caitlinkemp09

O

n Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., students, staff, faculty and Springfield Col-

lege community members were welcomed via Zoom for a speaker presentation

by Jorell Melendéz-Badillo, an Assistant Professor of History at Dartmouth College.

His presentation was titled “Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans, and Puerto Ricanness: Historical Roots and Today’s Challenges.”

Melendéz-Badillo brought audience members through the history of Puerto Rico and discussed the different transitions it made from becoming a U.S. territory, to its political strife and recent protests.

He began by distinguishing the differing histories that Puerto Rico has, from the perspective of both the indigenous people and the conquistadors when they took over.

“The history of Puerto Rico is a history of 500 centuries of colonialism, however it is also a history of 500 centuries of resistance to colonialism. I hope that tonight I can offer a brief introduction to that history,” Melendéz-Badillo said.

The early days of Puerto Rico consisted of conquest and rebellion, and

by the 19th century was a slave colony. “El Grito de Lares,” was an uprising of the people of Lares in 1868.

“This was part of an underground movement that had at least 20 secret cells throughout the island,” Melendéz-Badillo said. “The revolution lasted no more than 48 hours… however the Lares revolution was a huge symbolic victory that is still celebrated in Puerto Rico today.”

The United States waged war against Spain, and as a result Cuba and Puerto Rico both became territories of the U.S., and after two years they passed the Foraker Act to create a democratic government within Puerto Rico.

With the new U.S. occupation in Puerto Rico, there were many new laws, taxes, and other regulations being put on the territory. However, people in Puerto Rico worked to have protection in their jobs to ensure their rights on the island.

“The state created new social and legal structures to control the island’s populous...Now the U.S. occupation provided a legal structure for the creation of labor unions,” Melendéz-Badillo said.

The federal labor unions also led to the creation of the socialist party.

“The party became a force to be reckoned with during the 1920s, hun-

kering electoral success in 1932 and 1936 after forming a political alliance with the republican party,” Melendéz-Badillo said.

“The socialist party’s radicalism has been overlooked by historians because its leadership supported the annexation of Puerto Rico to the United States.”

Now with the modern day Puerto Rico, there continues to be a rebellious generation of civilians.

May Day, “a traditional workers’ holiday that commemorates the life of martyrs and is used to protest capitalist exploitation,” had a monumental impact in 2017, when the protests turned violent and clashed against the police force.

“The historical moment in which these events took place are important to contextualize the collective rage that materialized on that day,” Melendéz-Badillo said. Following these events in September were the close call of Hurricane Irma, and the ambush of Hurricane Maria.

“The country went dark for months, it was one of the biggest catastrophes in the history of Puerto Rico… [it] triggered a structural and systemic catastrophe that left more than 4,645 people dead,” Melendéz-Badillo said.

Continuing into recent years, there were more

massive protests in the summer of 2019 due to a conversation between the president and his inner circle being leaked.

“The leaked document had more than 900 pages and served as a lens to understand the ways Puerto Rico was being governed through colonialism, coloniality, and the politics,” said Melendéz-Badillo.

“The former governor and his close group of friends and colleagues made fun of Maria’s dead, making homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, racist and classist comments and showcased the high level of corruption that took place under his administration.”

The news of this infuriated people and is what sparked the outbreak of protests last year. Social media played a huge role

in connecting people from across the globe to speak and act out for these topics, and even a hashtag regarding the protests trended globally.

Puerto Rico and its history is rich, engaging, and something many are not taught thoroughly in school. Jorell Melendéz-Badillo’s introduction of this history provided students with the basic knowledge of Puerto Rico, but also a deeper understanding of the changing political climate, similar to what’s been occurring in the U.S. this past summer.

It allows individuals to understand the ideas of revolting and protesting and that it is an ongoing process to be able to grow as a community.

Jorell Melendéz-Badillo is an Assistant Professor of History at Dartmouth College. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

October 8, 2020

By Jack Margaros @JackMargaros

S

The Electoral College

The Electoral College matters

urprisingly enough, the popular vote elects essentially every high ranking politician in the United States, except the most important.

The President.

The Commander-In-Chief is ultimately elected through the Electoral College.

This highly complex and confusing system will elect either Joe Biden or Donald Trump in less than a month to lead the country for the next four years.

It’s been the preferred election style since it was created at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, and the result doesn’t always reflect the candidate that receives the most votes.

In 2016, Donald Trump technically won the election because he garnered more electoral votes. But Hilary Clinton received over three million more votes in the popular vote. This wasn’t the first instance, either.

The Electoral College is all about the race to 270. (Photo Courtesy of CNN) In the 2000 election, Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush earned Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received an equal number of electoral votes. more electoral votes. John Currently, there are a total of 538 electoral votes unevenly spread out across 50 Quincy Adams, Rutherford states and the District of Columbia. Some states hold as little as three electoral votes B. Hayes and Benjamin (Delaware) and some as many as 55 (California). The amount of electoral votes each Harrison are more examstate receives is based on population. The number of electoral votes needed to clinch the ples of previously elected election is 270. presidents in the same In order to determine which candidate receives a particular state’s electoral votes, situation. there are a slate of electors appointed by their state’s political parties. As Americans The Electoral College cast their ballots, they are in turn voting for those electors to pledge their support to a was created to promote party’s candidate. Theoretically, the electors promise to pick the party their state votes parity -- hinder the formafor, but they don’t always do so -- or at least hold the power to vote the opposite way if tion of powerful groups they desire.

-- and the nation’s founders In 2016, a record amount of electors (7) broke their promises to vote for their did not want to rely on pledged nominee, causing fierce debates over whether electors should have the power to popular majorities. Since its change their position. Thirty-three states have laws in place that require electors to vote inception, there have been for the pledged candidate. Some states replace electors if they change their position. a fair share of questionable There are states who historically lean Republican or Democrat regardless of who moments, including the that party’s candidate is. Texas has voted Republican in the past four elections, and are election of 1800 where likely to continue that trend in 2020. Same with Massachusetts, which has voted Demo-

When voting in the upcoming election, it’s important to understand the purpose the Electoral College serves.

PAGE 6 crat in the past four elections. States like these that are all but set in their decisions don’t garner as much attention on the campaign trail from either candidate, because they already know where those electoral votes are headed.

Battleground, or swing states, are immensely important in an election, and more often than not determine the results.

These are states that could legitimately lean either way, and it takes convincing from both parties to pick up their votes and get closer to the magic number of 270. Ohio, for example, is a swing state this year.

They hold 18 electoral votes. Virginia, which holds 13 votes, is a battleground state as well.

Thirty-one votes is a massive shift in momentum, so both candidates fight hard on their campaign trail for the swing state votes.

Due to an even number of electoral votes, a tie is a very possible situation in this year’s election. In that case, the House of Representatives control the vote, with each state voting as a unit. Twenty-six votes in the clinching number is this scenario, and if there’s a tie within the state’s delegation, that state’s vote is null.

No system is perfect, and that’s especially the case with the Electoral College. It is quite puzzling that it is exclusively used to elect the most important position in the United States, but there’s no sign of it changing any time soon.

Nevertheless, the path to 270 is never easy.

October 8, 2020

Arruda: Make Americans Proud Again Joe Arruda argues that it’s time to elect a real leader back into the White House.

Joe Arruda. (Photo Courtesy of Jack Margaros/The Student)

By Joe Arruda @joearruda9

W

e keep hearing to “vote like our futures

depend on it,” and this is definitely true, but why?

What is different about this year’s election?

Truthfully, almost

everything is different with this election compared to elections past. First, the incumbent President Trump has recently been diagnosed with Covid-19 along with several of his top aides and campaign managers.

Vote

After spending the last eight or so months denying the severity of the virus, even after over 200,000 Americans have died, the President has now had to deal with the pandemic first-hand.

But will defeating the virus make him look stronger?

Will he use all of this “new information” that he said he has learned in one of his videos from Walter Reed Military Hospital to actually (finally) do something?

Trump told Bob Woodward in February that the virus was “even more deadly than your strenuous flus,” but wanted to prevent panic among the American people, so he withheld the information.

The lies, the false narrative that has been directed towards the American people for the last four years are why we need to vote. The narcissistic, egotistical, clown – as Joe Biden referred to him during the first debate – must be replaced with someone who has the knowledge to care.

The President of the United States has more resources than anyone to educate themselves on issues plaguing our country, but the initial awareness of an issue takes a small bit of selflessness – which Trump has proven not to have.

He wouldn’t condemn white supremacy, but instead relayed a message as if he were telling domestic terrorists to just hold on a minute. When Trump said, “Proud boys, stand back and stand by,” I don’t believe he knew how dangerous that was.

The integrity of our country is at stake here. The White House has been home to the world’s most popular reality TV show rather than simply housing the most powerful leader of the free world.

Pride is on the ballot. Will we continue to be embarrassed whenever our “leaders” speak on national television?

Our country is more divided than anyone in our generation can remember, and this presidential ballot directly reflects that. Donald Trump and Joe Biden couldn’t be any more different (other than the fact that they’re both old white men), and their plans reflect that.

One candidate believes that access to affordable health care is important, the other wants to replace the current plan with one that doesn’t exist, and hasn’t been presented after four years already in office.

One candidate believes we should be making an effort to protect our environment and to rejoin the Paris Agreement when scientists have declared global

PAGE 7 warming to be as true as gravity, and the other refuses to believe that humans are affecting the environment and wants to loosen restrictions meant for environmental protection.

One candidate thinks women should have the right to their own body, and the other wants to appoint Supreme Court justices to overturn Roe v. Wade.

This is only the beginning.

The difference now is that one candidate at least tries to seem as though he cares about people other than himself, and the other could not even refer to the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis as a “good man” because he did not come to his inaugural address.

Remember when Trump ordered a group of peaceful protesters to be shot with rubber bullets and tear gas so that he could cross the street for a photo op?

What about how he denounced the idea of White Privilege as “racist ideology”?

Does the majority of American remember what a leader is?

A leader unifies rather than divides.

A leader puts the needs of the majority above the needs of the wealthy one percent. A leader contributes to the success of our nation rather than simply flaunting his personal wealth.

Instead of bragging about how they took advantage of a flawed tax break system, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone who would try to reform that.

When I was younger and allowed to dismiss politics because I simply didn’t care and thought it was boring, I always assumed that the president was a leader for the entire country regardless of who they ran with.

Now that I am less ignorant, I have realized that with the level of division in our current two-party system, the winner of the election is the leader of only his own team. Trump has spent the past four years leading the division.

Less than half of the population (according to the popular vote in the 2016 election) have blindly followed his lead like a cult and we are seeing the results on the news every night. Whether it be a peaceful protest, a riot, or a group of people upset that they have to wear a mask, this is Trump’s America.

Use your vote to restore integrity, selflessness and pride back into the White House.

We need a leader again.

October 8, 2020

BLM

PAGE 8

Actions speak louder than words Demands from campus diversity groups are being recognized, as plans for action get put into place.

By Jacque St. Jean @jacsaintj

O

n Wednesday, Sept. 24, President MaryBeth Cooper reached out to members of the Springfield College community regarding some demands brought to attention by the leadership of four diversity groups: Men of Excellence (MOE), Women of Power (WOP), Student Society for Bridging Diversity (SSBD), and the Black Student Union (BSU).

Some of the demands listed were to create a required, one-credit Anti-Black Racism course, develop an explicit no tolerance policy around hate speech, and hire a Black counselor in the counseling center.

The student manual currently does not contain a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech, making this demand extremely inclusive as it can cover all of the bases in regard to all groups.

“I appreciate the conversations with student leaders who have advocated for immediate and demonstrable actions. Our conversations will continue and we remain committed to action,” Cooper noted in her email to the campus community regarding demands for change.

One student leading the forefront of these actions is senior Tyson Jones, double majoring in sociology and psychology, and the treasurer for the recently created BSU. The mission statement of this group is “to advance Black culture around and on the Springfield College campus… to increase Black involvement on campus, to create [a] tradition of events and set of precedence for Black students, and influence the enrollment and retention of Black students by enhancing their social experience.”

This isn’t something that every student considers. Students may be aware everyone comes from different backgrounds and upbringings, but there is a need to recognize that everyone’s current experiences and situations are different.

“Painting a rock, [hanging] a flag, that’s all cool, but that doesn’t help me at the townhouses when people say the n-word, or being profiled by public safety, or being the only Black person in the class and not having a Black professor,” Jones said.

A week before the six demands were made public, President Cooper met with Jones and the rest of the board for brunch, assuring them that their voices were heard and they were on their side.

After returning to their respective diversity groups and sharing what they were told at the meeting, the BSU believed that they were being given a false sense of security. On Monday, Sept. 21, the executive board of the BSU met once again with President Cooper and Dr. Calvin Hill, the VP for Inclusion and Community Engagement, and “pushed the conversation” more than they ever had, expressed how they truly felt about the college, and demanded to see tangible change on the campus.

“This was the first time we came with real, hard, tangible goals and we weren’t going to take no [for an answer],” Jones said. “What the school tries to do is they’ll give you every reason why not something can work instead of a yes or no answer.

“Don’t act like you’re about the cause when you’re not about the cause,” Jones claimed. A few days later, President Cooper sent out that email to the community, and plans for each demand were laid to go into effect as soon as possible.

Alongside Jones, senior Jasmine Hastings sat in at both of these meetings. Hastings is the secretary of both the BSU and SSBD. “BSU is like the umbrella group for the other diversity groups we have on campus,” Hastings

elaborated. “I’m able to take what I know from my club and contribute it to the BSU, so we all come together collectively to come up with these demands that we wanted to present to MBC,” she said.

The demands presented were not hostile, but rather direct. The BSU, representing the Black students at Springfield, told President Cooper what they wanted to see, not just what they had seen, in order to create real change on campus.

While the conversations on race over the summer helped other students and faculty understand what was going on, many students believed that no concrete change was coming of that. “We thought we had gotten stuff accomplished by having brunch with [MBC] and we found out that we didn’t really have anything accom-

plished,” Hastings pointed out.

Since last week, all six of the demands have been put in motion one way or another, and there is definitely more in store in the future. BSU and the other diversity groups on campus are planning to host a march on Oct. 15 to create an impact and some community activism at Springfield College.

While it will be limited to 50 people due to COVID regulations, the BSU and other groups will continue to push forward, as they have already made some massive waves through the institution.

This story and the demands made by the diversity groups are an ongoing situation. As more details become available and actions are taken, the latest developments will be covered on scstudentmedia. com

Fight Cancer

October 8, 2020

PAGE 9

Dancing in support Springfield College to host firstever Dance Marathon to raise money for the B+ foundation.

(Photo Courtesy of Julia McGourty)

By Hannah Barnes Contributor

W

ith the first month of the school year in the books, students are dancing their way through the semester. But, it’s not time to put the dancing shoes away quite yet.

This spring, Springfield College plans to host its first-ever Dance Marathon, raising money and awareness for the B+ Foundation.

The B+ Foundation honors the life of Andrew McDonough. Andrew lost his battle with Leukemia, septic shock, and childhood cancer complications at fourteen. After his passing, his community members started a foundation in his honor, calling it the “Be Positive Foundation” or the “B+ Foundation” after not only Andrews’s blood type, but his motto throughout his fight.

The B+ Foundation provides financial and emotional assistance to families of children with cancer throughout the nation.

Springfield College

community members revolve around the humanics philosophy, emphasizing leadership and service to others.

This organization raises money through Dance Marathons, t-shirt drives, and other charitable events.

The University of Delaware, University of Alabama, New York University, and other schools across the nation also participate in the B+ Foundation Dance Marathon annually to raise money and awareness.

The newly founded Springfield Dance Marathon fundraising and awareness team is a student-run organization headed by HSOT student Julia McGourty.

“I wanted to create this event for different parts of our community to come together and live our humanics philosophy in support of a cause bigger than ourselves,” McGourty shared.

After further discussing the B+ Foundation with McGourty and why Springfield choose to

represent this organization, McGourty shared that after researching multiple foundations, Andrews’ story and the B+ foundation stood out the most.

“Andrews be positive motto was impactful, I felt like I knew Andrew even though I have never met him,” said McGourty. “It seems like he would have embodied the Springfield College humanics philosophy, and if he came here, he would have fit in so well.”

This organization has been seen outside of the union blasting music, raising awareness for the foundation, and informing students about upcoming events and ways to become involved.

Over the last week, the club has been able to raise 500 dollars in one afternoon with the “Dollar Day Fundraiser,” where students were asked to donate any dollar amount they could.

Last weekend, the organization put together events that revolved around “What is Your Why?” This event included a “WHY”

on Admin Green asking students, faculty, and staff to write down why it is important to do this fundraising?

Why is it important to support this foundation and spread the “be positive” message? So far, the Springfield College Dance Marathon has raised 3,000 dollars and supported three families, but is hoping to raise more throughout the semester.

The Dance Marathon was initially planned for November or December.

Still, due to COVID, the organization is continually raising money through virtual events and social distance on-campus events with the hope to have a final celebration in the Spring of 2021.

A mini-celebration will be taking place in early December to announce how much money the dance marathon teams have raised so far and the plans for the spring semester.

Despite the uncertainty on campus currently, Mary-Beth Cooper is still prepared to put on her

dancing shoes. “I can’t think of a better opportunity for us to come together in spirit, mind and body and dance to raise funds to help others,” she says in a promotional video posted in early July.

Be on the lookout for more fundraising opportunities coming up in mid-October, including a Corhole Tournament, A-Team vs. Team fundraising showdown, and the apparel sale launching October 18, 100 percent of proceeds from the events will be donated to the foundation.

In the meantime, McGourty asks for athletic teams, clubs, organizations, friend groups to sign up and continue to raise money any way they can for the B+ Foundation.

To get involved with this opportunity, visit the link to sign up --- https:// www.beposfdn.org/ bpos_index.aspx?eventtag=Springfield2020 and follow @scdancemarathon on IG to follow along.

October 8, 2020

BLM

PAGE 10

Alumni of color continued from Page 3 support, the steps of action needed to be taken ranging from Immediate, Near Term, and Long Term, the cost of what it will take to make the recommendation happen, and information on resources for referral. Each of the five recommendations was also assigned a Committee Chair leader and includes a list of members, ranging from Legacy Alumni of Color to current students, who are committed to making the change desired.

The first recommendation, “Mentoring Students of Color,” speaks on the issue of Springfield College’s lack of mentors of color for students navigating “their social life, academic demands and career choices.” Black and brown students at Springfield College are unable to learn from people who look like them and share their lived experiences.

In Immediate, Near Term, and Long Term actions, the Legacy is looking to “establish relationships and partner with the staff of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Career Center, the Alumni Relations Office, and the Institutional Advancement Office” so the committee can gain support for their initiatives. The recruitment and training of alumni of color and current Springfield College upperclassmen of color will follow, and locations and backgrounds will be established of the alumni of color to ensure undergraduate students are recipients of “positive… meetings and experiences.”

The second recommendation contains the issue of “Recruiting and Retaining Faculty and Coaches of Color.” Black and brown student athletes and non-student-athletes alike have voiced their concerns of not having anyone to relate to, on and off the field. The Legacy acknowledged that since 1961, “Springfield College has increased the current number of full-time faculty of color to four.” Dr. Calvin Hill clarified during the meeting that there are actually six faculty of color on the main campus between full-time and adjunct professors. Currently, the only Springfield College coach of color is the head coach of the golf team.

Steps of action include identification of alumni with coaching experience and their help in recruiting “ potential head coaches, coaching staff and faculty.” The Legacy then goes on to list an assortment of different recruiting methods the College can employ, including target advertising, developing relationships with “Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as Hispanic and Tribal institutions”, outreach towards various communities of color, and more. In the long term, the Legacy would like to “‘Grow our own’” and help talented Black and brown student athletes to become coaches for undergrad students.

Thirdly, the Legacy Alumni of Color recommended “Dialogue Between Public Safety Staff and Students of Color.”

As part of the administration building takeovers, students slept on the floor outside of the office of President Wilbur E. Locklin. (Photo Courtesy of Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections)

Students of color have expressed multiple times over the discomfort and mistreatment they face at the hands of Public Safety Staff. The Legacy wants to “establish a greater level of trust” between students and Public Safety Officers.

In immediate action, the

first and foremost is the requirement of all Public Safety Staff to be issued identification badges, and their photo identification is to be displayed on the uniform.

Near Term actions include the introduction of Public Safety Staff at

Freshman Orientation to students and parents and the creation of a workshop “for Public Safety Staff and students of color to meet face-to-face to talk, listen and plan.” The recommendation goes on to explain exactly what will take place during said workshop, and

BLM

October 8, 2020 an evaluation sheet filled out by participants should be completed at the end of the workshop. For Long Term, the Legacy plans to keep “the dialogue between Public Safety Staff and students of color” as an annual event.

The fourth recommendation made by the Legacy is “A Day to Confront Racism, Power, Privilege, and Prejudice.” The alums acknowledged that systematic racism pervades every single institution in the United States of America, and the Black and brown students of Springfield College suffer through it every day. One step the Legacy feels necessary is making March 25 a daylong event of confronting “racism, power, privilege and prejudice” in part of remembrance of the day being International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery & Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The Legacy stated classes should not be held that day, and a variety of workshops including a film viewing, white supremacy discussion, addressing racism on the Springfield College campus, and many more. An evaluation on attitudes toward race, completed electronically by all participants, will be given at the beginning and end of the workshops. In long term, the Legacy wishes to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre May 31 through June 1, 2021, and combine the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery & Transatlantic Slave Trade with the annual Arts and Humanities speaker, lest it become its own remembered event by the College.

The final recommendation in the Blueprint is the “Recognition of Distinguished Alumni, Faculty and Community Partners.” The Legacy feels that many alumni, faculty, and community members who “contributed significantly to the Springfield College community and greater society” have not been properly recognized by the College. They then put forth their own list of alumni and community

members they feel have still not been recognized for their “outstanding achievements”.

Following a description of each alumni and community member and their achievements within the Springfield community, the Legacy also recommended what honors each person should receive. These honors, ranging from plaques and building namesakes to invitations to other communities to join ours and

development of current outside relationships, will serve to show the love and respect Springfield College has for each individual.

“Legacy Alumni of Color: A Blueprint for Change” will be an essential component in Springfield College’s fight for racial justice on campus.

The change will not happen overnight, nor will it happen in a week, a month, or even a year. However, the plans outlined in the

PAGE 11 Blueprint will withstand the test of time, allowing Springfield College Black and brown students to come out stronger than before on the other side.

The Legacy Alumni of Color group will meet with the President’s Leadership Team in the upcoming weeks to hear their response.

Some different images from the student protests for Black rights that happened in 1969. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections)

October 8, 2020

the Table SEAT at

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Organized by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Collaborative Council with support from Spiritual Life and the Center for Service and Leadership

Social justice Equity Accountability Transformation

Sunday 10/25

"Checking Your Blindspots" Diversity Fair with Paris Lizana and the Student Government Association, 4:00pm - 7:00pm Conference Kick-Off with Heshima Moja 7:30pm

Participants who attend 3 or more sessions will be awarded certificates for educational achievement

Monday 10/26

Exploring Racial Trauma & Black Mental Health Panel Discussion with Dr. Angie Cartwright, Dr. Dominique Hammonds, Dr. Loni Crumb and Dr. Janee Avent Harris 12:30pm - 2:00pm Language Judgments as (Micro)aggressions with Ja'Naya Ashley, Angelica Core, George Kelley, and Rebecca Lartigue 1:30pm - 2:20pm Jazz Fusion Dance Class & Discussion with Brittany Monachio and Sarah Zehnder 1:35pm-2:35pm Expanding Our Thinking About White Racism with Michael D'Andrea 3:00pm - 4:00pm Colorism in Popular Media with Ja'Naya Ashley and Sabrina Williams 4:00pm - 5:00pm Meditation and Hip-Hop: Contemplating Consciousness with Nadia Salett and Jonathon Perlow 5:30pm-6:30pm

Tuesday 10/27

Native Americans: Stereotypes, Discrimination, and Struggles in U.S. Society with Laurel DavisDelano 12:00pm - 1:30pm Racial Microaggressions in Higher Education Classrooms with Stephanie Logan 1:30pm - 3:00pm Jazz Fusion Dance Class with Brittany Monachino and Sarah Zehnder 2:45pm - 4:00pm Having Initiative is Not Enough: Perspectives from Business, Entrepreneurship, and Government with Xavier Washington 3:30pm - 4:30pm Muscular Christianity and Indigeneity with Adam Jacobs 4:30pm -5:30 pm Intersections of Race and Policing: Past and Present with Marcelino Diaz, Tyson Jones, Roberto Gallardo, and Dr. John Gibbons 5:00pm - 6:30pm "Shut up and Dribble" Social Justice, Politics, and Sport: Tools for Preventing the Dehumanization of Athletes with Natalie LĂŠger, Danielle Clough 6:30pm - 7:30pm Poetry & Fiction Readings with DeMisty Bellinger presented by the William Simpson Fine Art Series 7:30pm - 8:30pm

the Table SEAT at

PAGE 13 Graphic Courtesy of SEAT at the Table

October 8, 2020

October 8, 2020

Sports

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Humanics embodied Through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the baseball team, being an RA, alternative Spring Break trips and community service at home, Max Pape is living the mission of service to others.

______

By Collin Atwood ______ @collinatwood17

The mission at Springfield College is unique.

It is very popular on campus and there are reminders of it everywhere one goes. That mission is to follow the Humanics philosophy.

The Humanics philosophy is about educating everyone on the spirit, mind and body for leadership in service to others. Springfield College has shown its commitment to this philosophy with the Humanics in Action club, alternative spring break program and much more.

Not only is it the mission, but it is also a way of life. Many people live by it and just about everyone is committed to it.

Max Pape is one of those people that is truly committed.

Pape is a junior at Springfield College who is majoring in Psychology and is very active in the campus community.

He is a member of the baseball team, the Hu-

manics in Action Club, the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club (FCA) and has also gone on alternative spring break trips and has helped out with the process of the trips he can not go on.

The club that Pape is most active with is FCA. Pape joined FCA when he was a freshman and has been with them ever since.

“I joined the club as soon as I got on campus because I was really interested in exploring my faith,” Pape said.

He never thought about being the president of the club until the former president came to him and suggested it. Pape and everyone else in the club thought it was a great idea.

“The main goal of FCA is just to grow closer in our relationship with God, with Jesus Christ and to imitate his examples in everyday life (...) We’re

(Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

constantly trying to grow spiritually and let our actions reflect our faith in that,” he said.

With a full E-Board staff and 15 consistent members, FCA wonn club of the year at Springfield College last year.

Not only does Pape practice the Humanics philosophy at Spring-

field College, but he also does a large amount of work in his hometown.

In Waterbury, Conn.

Pape is the Vice President of the Step By Step Foundation. Step

By Step is a non-profit organization that collects bottles and cans and exchanges them for money. They use that money to purchase

items such as clothes and food that they donate to people in need.

It all started when Executive Vice President and co-founder, Matthew Keating made a donation to a food shelter in Waterbury. Matthew’s older brother, Michael, had just come back from an internship in Florida

October 8, 2020 and was inspired by his brother and wanted to help out as well.

In June 2019, the two brothers officially started the Step By Step Foundation. It would be too difficult for two students to pay for all of the items they would need so they came up with the idea of collecting and accepting donations of cans and bottles. Locals supported with no hesitation and Step By Step was on its way.

Pape and Keating played on the same baseball team when they were younger, but were

never that close. Their friendship grew after each of them had their own experiences that led to similar ideas.

“He went through this Disney program at his university and that was when he really grew in his faith and it was at the same time that I got plugged in with FCA and I was really growing in my faith,” Pape said.

After their experiences, Pape reached out to Keating and was interested in his foundation.

Step By Step was in the early stages of its creation and Pape wanted

Sports

to know how he could help. As time went by, the two became great friends and Pape also became Vice President The members of Step

By Step range from 15 to 21 years old; the college and highschool students that keep this organization going all share one common goal.

“We’re just trying to live out our faith and give back and use the gifts and the blessings that we’ve been given and try to be a blessing to other people,” Pape said.

Step By Step has donated to a slew of

Left: Michael Keating, founder of Step By Step. Right: Max Pape. (Photo Courtesy of Max Pape)

PAGE 15

(Photo Courtesy of Max Pape)

different places and organizations in the past including: Friends of the Homeless in Springfield, Mass., Rock of Ages Christian Church Food Bank in Waterbury, Conn. and a family in Gambia, West Africa.

The newest plan for the organization is to partner with DCF and donate to foster families in the area.

“After Thanksgiving we’re all going to get together as a board team and go Black Friday shopping to get some Christmas gifts for those kids who typically aren’t able to get the Christmas that an everyday kid with certain privileges is able to have,” Pape said.

Step By Step has seen massive growth since they were founded in 2019. They also got some exposure from the Channel 3 Eyewitness News Facebook page when a picture of the team standing in front

of a huge pile of bottles and cans was posted.

The comment on the post was: “How about some likes for this awesome group! These high school and college students collect bottles every week to help the less fortunate in the community. Last week alone they collected over 7,000 bottles!”

The organization is now up to 102,704 bottles and cans donated.

Much like the Humanics philosophy at Springfield College, the meaning behind the name Step By Step isn’t just a motto for the business, but it is the motto for people’s lives.

“It’s kind of our whole philosophy that we live by. Not only in our business, but just our everyday life,” Pape said.

Pape continues to live with that Humanics mindset by making a difference in his community at home and on Alden Street.

SPORTS The Springfield Student

VOL. 135 NO. 6

One step at a time

Junior Max Pape lives the Springfield College mission on and away from campus.

[See inside]

(Photo Courtesy of Max Pape)

OCTOBER 8, 2020