Volume 135 No. 15 - Spring Sports are back

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

March 4, 2021

Volume 135 No. 15

scstudentmedia.com // @TheSpfldStudent

Back in action Following an announcement from the NEWMAC, spring sports are on at Springfield College. Games will mark the first in-person athletic competition since March of 2020.

-- See Page 13 -(Photo Courtesy of Jack Margaros/The Student)

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

On the Inside

CampusNews

Inside Springfield College’s hidden connection with the Peace Corps.

Kick off Women’s History month by learning about Title IX.

-- Page 3 --

-- Page 5 --

March 4, 2021

COVID-19

PAGE 2

The latest updates on COVID-19

By Amanda Hitchcock @amandassnapshots

I

t’s nearly been a full year of the COVID-19 pandemic and Springfield College is ready to face all the challenges that will continue to arise. By having every student tested weekly, the school is aiming to remain on top of cases and keep things in control.

Christine Johnston, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation, Alcohol & Other Drug

Education and Health Promotion at Springfield, talked about Springfield’s growth as a community through this time.

“It’s two totally different worlds, we didn’t even know what we were dealing with last spring, we have improvements in technology, we are offering classes fully remote. I think we are even better prepared than last fall,” she said.

With spring sports

resuming shortly, Springfield is ready as ever to deal with outbreaks and roll out extra testing. Johnston talked about how all athletes will differ when it comes to COVID testing.

“We have requested that all our athletes select their testing dates for Wednesday so that [for] weekend competitions, they have to be tested within 72 hours of the competition.”

The current low

rate of positive tests are leaving staff and students with high hopes of finishing the school year.

“We are prepared to handle many cases with [the] new procedures. We know that other institutions have seen drastic numbers of cases and we are not out of the woods yet, but our numbers for the last couple of weeks are very promising,” Johnston said.

For any further

questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 policies and procedures visit Springfield College’s official website, www.springfield.edu, and click on the green banner at the top of the homepage. Housed there is COVID-19 information that is updated regularly, along with a cumulative dashboard and many more resources.

Peace Corps

March 4, 2021

PAGE 3

A long history

Few people know, but Springfield College and the Peace Corps have been linked to one another for many years.

By Irene Rotondo @irenerrotondo

S

pringfield College most famously stands for

its core values of the Humanics Philosophy– the education of the whole person, including spirit, mind and body, for leadership in service to others.

It only fits that the College could work in tandem with another organization that holds a similar philosophy: the Peace Corps.

Established in March of 1961, the Peace Corps has a history of working together with Springfield College. In 1963, the College began a partnership with the Peace Corps to enroll individuals in a 10-weeklong summer program, training them for work in South American countries such as Venezuela and Ecuador.

Participants had to complete their on-campus studies in physical education, sports and community recreation before they embarked on their service trip. They

Peace Corps volunteers in action. (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Bishop)

also endured intensive language training on the native language of the country they were to serve; most of the time, they learned Spanish.

The men and women were well-versed by the end of their training in world affairs, including the relationships the United States had with other countries.

The most essential part of their relationship

was Sargent Shriver.

Shriver, the brother-inlaw of President John F. Kennedy, founded the Peace Corps and served as the first director of their mission.

Shriver oversaw the training happening at Springfield, and was so pleased with how the school had operated that after becoming director for the Office of Economic Opportunity (an

organization responsible for administering the majority of the War on Poverty programs during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s tenure), he connected with the College to create and conduct the first Job Corps program.

The Job Corps, an organization still active today, offers free educational and vocational training to men and

women aged 16-to-24.

Not only did some of the first Peace Corps training programs take place at Springfield College, but the school has continued its relationship with the organization over the years.

In the fall of 2015, Springfield announced its partnership in their School of Social Work with the Peace Corps to bring the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program to the school.

The Coverdell Fellows Program was created in 1985 at Columbia University and has since partnered with over 90 different universities and colleges. The mission of the program is to provide graduate school scholarships to returned Peace Corps volunteers.

The program fellows are to work as interns in local, underserved communities, while they complete their academic studies, and receive a stipend along with their tuition credits being waived each year.

Those who graduate from the Coverdell See Peace Corps on Page 12

March 4, 2021

Zeus: A furry friend

Zeus the cat is an emotional support animal for Springfield College sophomore Olivia Tocchio.

Tocchio with Zeus. (Photo Courtesy of Liv Tocchio)

Zeus the Cat

PAGE 4

By Cait Kemp @caitlinkemp09

It is no secret that Springfield College is home to furry friends.

There is the Jack, President Cooper’s chocolate lab, and Nugget, the emotional support dog who was formally introduced via The Student on Feb. 10.

This week, meet Zeus, another emotional support animal here on campus.

Zeus is sophomore Olivia Tocchio’s cat that lives with her in Alumni Hall. She got Zeus over the summer after searching for a kitten to adopt throughout the quarantine last spring.

Last year, Tocchio considered the idea of bringing her previous cat to school with her as an emotional support animal, but ultimately decided against it due to his age and condition.

“I had a cat growing up….and he passed away when I was at precamp last year,” Tocchio said. “I always said that I wanted to bring him [to school] but he got super sick and I couldn’t.”

Tocchio said she talked with her mom about getting an emotional support animal and decided to go through the process to figure out what she would need to do in order to have a cat with her on campus.

“I have super bad anxiety so… it got worse when COVID hit and everything like that and I kind of was like, I’m super lonely, and I’m kind of freaking out.”

She then began to seek out adoption agencies and applied to get a kitten after being sent home from school in March. It took some time to find a cat, but she knew that it would happen when the timing was right.

“My mom kept saying ‘the right cat will come when you’re ready and when it’s there for you,’ so I just kept waiting and applying to adoption agencies,” Tocchio said.

Finally, the time was right and Tocchio found Zeus.

“After I saw the picture of him, I knew he was the right cat,” Tocchio said. “But it was reassured when they handed him to me and he just melted into my arms and started purring.”

Tocchio adopted Zeus when he was only six-weeks old from a friend of her mom’s that found a litter of kittens in their barn. They drove out to see the kittens and brought Zeus home the same day.

“It definitely changed everything. Like even now, it is the most wonderful thing to have a cat on campus,” she said.

Zeus is a unique cat: he loves to play and interact with people who stop by the room. He often is said to be a favorite cat by many, even those who claim they aren’t “cat people.”

“Everyone on my floor knows Zeus, everyone loves him,” said Tocchio. “He seriously brings smiles to everyone’s faces, he’s the friendliest cat I’ve ever met.”

Another emotional support animal, and another positive impact on campus. Animals offer a sense of comfort and love people can’t get anywhere else.

To keep up with Zeus and his activities here at Springfield College, be sure to follow his Instagram, @lilzeusbigworld. As the username suggests, Zeus is a small cat that is making a big difference for not only Tocchio, but the campus community too.

March 4, 2021

Women’s History Month

PAGE 5

Kicking off women’s history month The history of Title IX and how March became a celebration of women.

By Nora Fitzgerlad nfitzgerald2@springfield.edu

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. A§ 1681 ET. SEQ. Title IX, along with other major women’s rights victories that have happened in March, has led to March being nationally recognized as Women’s History Month.

During the month of March, it is important to recognize the vital contributions made to the women’s rights movement over the years. The culmination of these contributions is what allows women today to continue breaking glass ceilings.

Title IX is a very recent field considering that institutions of high-

er education have existed since the 17th century.

Although, women were not permitted to attend colleges and universities until the late 1800s.

For over a hundred years, higher education institutions had no federally mandated approach to dealing with gender based misconduct. It was not until 1972, following the Civil Rights Act, that the federal government implemented a national standard for sex discrimination within the scope of college campuses known as Title IX. One of the ways we can see Title IX work in action is through sport.

Thanks to Title IX, participation in female collegiate sports has grown exponentially.

Prior to this legislation, women’s athletic teams were underfunded, ill-equipped and not taken nearly as seriously as male sports teams.

Female athletes now have a legal right to fair scheduling, appropriate medical care and suffi-

(Graphic Courtesy of Entergy Newsroom)

cient funding.

The pressure and criticism that female athletes face is part of why this law is so important.

There is still so much work to do to empower female athletes to keep up with their sport.

According to Time Magazine, young girls are twice as likely to quit their sport by age 14 compared to their male counterparts. However, with Title IX in effect, there is growing support to protect and uplift

women in sport.

The Obama administration’s Dear Colleague Letter of 2011 brought more clarity and direction to a college or university’s approach to resolving gender based misconduct outlined in the original Title IX document.

Another important body of legislation is the Clery Act, and more specifically, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) amendments issued in 2014. VAWA

expanded some of the judicial processes that relate to interpersonal or dating violence and increased visibility of domestic violence issues.

The most recent adjustments to the federal Title IX rules came from Betsy DeVos, former president Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education. These changes were miniscule in writing, but made the process of investigation See Women’s History on Page 11

March 4, 2021

Stocks

Making sense of the stock market

PAGE 6

Stocks are a hot point of conversation these days and can be beneficial for college students.

By Jacque St. Jean @jacsaintj

G

arnering a lot of attention in recent weeks, the stock market has been an interesting and hot topic amongst many young people across the country.

While there is a lot of risk involved in putting money into something, similar to heading over to the MGM Casino in Springfield, the stock market is a place where calculated risks are made, and furthermore, people can put their money directly into businesses and companies they like or want to invest in, even if they may not have direct access to it.

Despite the risk, students on campus have been investing their money and trying to see how far they can go with what they have.

Business Management major Jacob Harry has been investing his money for about a year or so, and with some help from his father and friends, he has seen his funds grow.

Harry started like many investing in penny stocks, but didn’t find a lot of success with it.

“I stopped [investing] for a while because I was just losing all of my money,” Harry explains. However, during the pandemic, he invested in a couple airline and cruise companies, and “made a good amount of money off of those.”

Harry has gained a beneficial amount of knowledge from his classes and studies, even if it’s unintentional.

“I don’t think [professors] really want to be giving out investment advice to

students… I think they definitely make it a point that it’s a very important thing, and they definitely do a good job of showing us how it works and showing how it’s important,” Harry said.

“It just shows that you can have a ton of experience or no experience and still have some success.”

Harry witnessed the explosion of the GameStop stock a month ago, and is

concerned about how free the market really is. Robinhood, the app that he and many other young people use to buy and sell stock, prohibited its users from investing in GameStop after a reddit community on r/WallStreetBets devised a plan to invest in the near-bankrupt video game company.

“When GameStop and everything started popping off like crazy, a lot of big investment

firms were losing a lot of money, so Robinhood made it so you couldn’t even buy GameStop [stock] any more, which was crazy.”

The investing app received a ton of flack for prohibiting buying stocks in multiple companies such as GameStop, AMC and Nokia. A lawsuit was filed against RobinSee Stock Market on Page 10

The movement of the Game Stop stock organized by a Reddit group garnered national news attention. (Photo Courtesy of Forbes)

Health and Fitness

March 4, 2021

PAGE 7

Luke Whitehouse Fitness Luke Whitehouse has taken passion for exercise and turned it into a fitness-themed Instagram page to help inspire others.

By Brady Cote @brady.cote

I

n today’s day and age, most college students would agree that social media is a large part of their lives. It serves a purpose on multiple levels and can be used for advertisement, socialization or as a way to stay informed.

It is easy to see that the list goes on and on, however, a specific portion of social media that some may overlook is the influential aspect. Social media is an inclusive platform, meaning that anyone has the power to be inspirational.

Luke Whitehouse, a first-year student on campus, took the initiative to create his own fitness account on Instagram. Whitehouse stated that he is no stranger to working out and staying fit, as he has been lifting

Whitehouse’s Instagram account handle is @lukesworkouts_

since high school.

“I’ve done all sorts of fitness, “ said Whitehouse. “I started working out freshman year to get better at football and then tran-

sitioned into learning about different types of fitness such as bodybuilding, strength training and Crossfit.”

Whitehouse credits the success in his jour-

ney to all that Crossfit has taught him, for it has been a pivotal part of his involvement in fitness.

“Crossfit is the combination of all sorts

of training, including gymnastics, strength training, Olympic lifting, cardio, swimming and biking,” said Whitehouse. “It’s just a competitive atmosphere that I really fell in love with.”

With all of the workout videos showing gradual progress of his training, Whitehouse created his fitness page on Instagram under @ lukesworkouts_.

Instagram became a place where Whitehouse was able to share his progress and become a resource for others that workout, or inspire those who are new to fitness.

“I figured I would create a page where I can answer certain questions or throw 4-6 week programs out that I tried or will be trying,” Whitehouse stated. “I want to influence people I See Fitness on Page 11

March 4, 2021

Op-Ed

PAGE 8

Priest: Mask up and stay safe Co-Editor-in-Chief Danny Priest shares his experience with COVID-19 and spending time in Springfield College isolation housing.

By Danny Priest @dpriest3

T

wo weeks ago, I became one of some 28 million Americans who have contracted the Coronavirus.

Two of my roommates tested positive and two days later, I followed suit. Somehow, our fourth roommate remained negative the whole time.

I’ll start by saying this was a reminder that COVID is incredibly unpredictable.

We all wore masks, washed our hands and we didn’t come into close contact with any confirmed positive

COVID cases.

On top of that, we hadn’t really been anywhere since coming back to school. Our trips off campus were to the grocery store.

No bars, no dinners in a restaurant, no going home, but we still came down with it.

It’s weird, but I would use that as a reminder to just continue taking as many precautions as you can. We’re never truly going to be “safe” from COVID at this point.

I wanted to write this piece now to give some insight into the COVID process at

Springfield College and talk a bit about how it functioned.

First and foremost, neither myself or my roommates got very sick and for that I am grateful. The best way I can describe COVID is that it felt like having a cold.

I had a cough, I had congestion and I felt fatigued for a few days.

I also lost my sense of taste and smell and let me tell you, that is not pleasant. As I write this, it is day number eight without those senses and I miss them dearly.

Eating is super

weird. I know that there is something in my mouth, but there is absolutely no way I can identify what it is unless I saw it before I ate it.

I’ve found that eating foods where I already know the flavor helps a bit because I can imagine the sensation of the taste.

I am definitely hoping that those come back soon and if you’re reading this, appreciate those senses right now because you don’t want to lose them.

Aside from that, I haven’t noticed much

else. My wind and breathing are definitely not at the level they were pre-COVID as I noticed in my first trip back to the gym, but that too I am hoping returns with time.

Overall, I was certainly lucky. Now, for a bit about the actual process of COVID at school. The experience as a whole was positive and I think Springfield College did a nice job of handling the quarantine situation.

I’ll get my one and only gripe out of the way first here. I think the speed at which the College moves con-

COVID-19

March 4, 2021 firmed positive cases out of their dorm is a bit slow.

For both myself and my roommate, it was roughly 4-hours between the time we knew we were positive and the time we actually moved out of the dorm and into an isolation space.

I think speeding that up is important.

It’s especially nerve wracking to have a sick person linger in the room for that long if another roommate is still negative.

Aside from that, everything else ran smooth. I was set up in a house over on Middlesex St. and it was quite comfortable.

My meals got dropped off everyday from the people over at Cheney, who I would like to express my gratitude towards.

I couldn’t taste the food, but there is plenty to eat for a 24-hour span until your next food box gets dropped off.

Classes were about the same for me, and professors are accommodating knowing that you are in isolation, which is always nice.

I also had a few people from the school call or text me everyday to check in and make sure I was doing OK. That is a small

PAGE 9

“

While I would Never Want to experience this again, I appreciate the efforts of everyone to help make those 10days go by as fast as possible. Mask up and stay safe.

Danny Priest

The daily meal box from Cheney included three meals, snacks and drinks to get students through the 24-hours until the next day. (Photo Courtesy of Danny Priest)

thing, but it makes a difference and I think it is nice that the school does that for those of us who have to isolate.

Other than that, it’s a lot of time to kill on your own.

I FaceTimed with family, watched the Celtics struggle to a 2-4 record during my

quarantine period and played a lot of video games with friends.

The school also provides you with coloring books as a form of entertainment for your stay.

While I found this a bit gimmicky at first, it turned into an intense coloring competition with my roommate

that provided us some great entertainment.

Also, if you’re curious, I won the series and he will be doing a punishment, not me.

All things considered, I think the way Springfield College handles isolation and COVID is solid. The process is smart, practical and there are mi-

nor changes I can see that would improve it.

While I would never want to experience this again, I appreciate the efforts of everyone to help make those 10days go by as fast as possible. Mask up and stay safe.

March 4, 2021

Stocks

PAGE 10

Stock Market continued from Page 6

more and seeing what he can do with the money he’s already earned. Some students, hood back in January, however, have also and the backlash even taken their own percaused New York sonal adventure into representative Alexthe stock market, and andria Ocasio-Cortez without having some and Texas Senator basic knowledge like Ted Cruz to agree on Harry. the matter that RobRising senior and inhood’s decision was EMS major Alec Falunjust. coner has made quite Despite the recent a profit off of stocks, commotion and the and has high hopes overall risk, Harry that he will make believes that the stock more. Falconer, like market is a great place Harry, was encouraged to make some quick by his family to invest. money.

“My family kind of “It’s definitely not started pushing me so black and white towards it just as anas far as resources other way of income,” go, you kind of just Falconer admits. “That find your information way, instead of having wherever you can get money you just sit on it, and it’s up to you to it actually has a chance find a reliable source,” to grow.”

Harry said. He also Falconer also uses credits his father for the Robinhood app, encouraging him to in- and after about a year vest while he’s young. he has roughly earned “My dad told me $2,000 from investing. since I don’t have “I probably started much to lose right now with putting in $2,000 then things should be into stock… I think a little more risky…

I’ve probably pulled one of the things that out about $1,000, but I I do is I always try to still have $3,000 in.” agree ethically to what Falconer looks to the company is doing. keep building his monObviously what I buy ey in stocks and then isn’t going to make a eventually, “if hardhuge difference, but I er times come” will feel like morally I’m pull it out. After the obligated to make sure GameStop incident, they’re not doing any- Falconer gained a betthing shady.” ter sense of the stock Harry is looking market as a whole. forward to investing “I don’t approve

Robinhood (top) and Acorn (bottom) are two investing apps that are ideal for college-aged students just getting involved with the stock market.

of what Robinhood did for that, but I have somewhat of an understanding for it… a lot of people would actually end up losing a ton of money.” Falconer also explained that the GameStop stock was heavily inflated from the actions of r/WallStreetBets.

“It’s only temporary, because it doesn’t necessarily mean the

business is doing well, it’s just that people are putting money into the stock and seeing it sky-rocket.”

Through his experience, Falconer believes that through an app like Robinhood, young people can make a decent amount of money.

He stresses to pay close attention to the companies you have your money in if you

choose to invest, and keep up-to-date on the climate and direction of the companies.

While college students may not be the wealthiest group of people, they are the future, and they can use the resources at their disposal to ensure that their future, and quite possibly their children’s future, is financially stable.

March 4, 2021 Fitness continued from Page 7

know and people in my community that I do not directly know and put knowledge out showing my progress, as well as open up for critique from those watching my videos.”

Although Crossfit played a major role in Whitehouse’s involvement in fitness, his father Mike Whitehouse continues to be a daily motivator. Mike has been helping him stay focused and on track, as he too works out daily.

“My dad is really important to what I do because he inspires me to exercise, try new things, and get into Crossfit,” said Whitehouse. “Among other things, he helped me use social media to my advantage and make a page, but also look at other people and Women’s History continued from Page 5

a bit more complicated.

DeVos implemented these changes in an effort to ensure due process, both for the accused and the accuser. Title IX officials are anticipating more changes coming from the Biden administration.

President Biden has not specifically outlined a plan for these chang-

Health and Fitness

PAGE 11

learn things from their fitness pages.”

Although Whitehouse is new to posting workout videos and fitness content on his page, his goal is to be a role model for those who are new to fitness or for those who simply seek motivation to keep going.

Being a person that is open to communication was something he did not want to lose sight of.

“My intentions are to inspire the next generation of athletes where I’m from to workout and exercise and also show that they have someone to reach out to if they have any questions,’’ said Whitehouse. “I want to inspire my community and get more people to exercise.”

With social media being so large and impactful to people,

it allows those who create content be able to have a place they can share their personal goals, achievements and progress in fitness. Any person has the opportunity to inspire others, it is all about taking the initiative to do so.

es, however things may start to unfold from the Department of Education as Miguel Cardona was just confirmed as Secretary of Education.

Springfield College’s perspective on student misconduct is that it is an educational process that requires prevention and appropriate discipline. The Office of Non-Discrimination Initiatives is constantly exploring alternative

solutions to sexual misconduct that will allow students to grow, thrive and succeed during their time at Springfield.

When it comes to sensitive situations such as sexual assault or dating violence, the college ensures that student safety comes first and works as a neutral body to find an appropriate solution to the matter at hand.

The Title IX process

(Photo Courtesy of Luke Whitehouse)

can be a difficult one to navigate, and students may be intimidated by the complexities of this work. On our campus, the Office of Non-Discrimination Initiatives (aka the Title IX office) can be found on the main level of the Campus Union, Office 228.

Students are always welcome to come pick up any resources or ask questions to understand

more about what ONDI can do for them.

The Office will be promoting upcoming programs and events during the month of March in the Campus Union, so stay tuned for more from their office.

Erin Leeper, Director of Non-Discrimination Initiatives, can be reached by email at eleeper@ springfieldcollege.edu or titleix@springfieldcollege.edu.

Peace Corps

March 4, 2021

PAGE 12

Peace Corps continued from Page 3

Fellowship receive their Masters in Social Work from Springfield College.

By the time they have completed the program, they will have amassed 1,050 hours of service that have furthered the mission of the Peace Corps and Springfield College.

Dr. Karen Clark-Hoey, Professor of Social Work at Springfield College, was the individual who initially brought the Coverdell Fellowship to Springfield. After beginning the initiative in the fall of 2014, with multiple attempts to bring the program to the College and advocating for its benefit, Clark-Hoey finally saw the program approved by the Peace Corps in the spring of 2015.

Clark-Hoey then began her case of obtaining an MOU, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Peace Corps and Springfield College. Though a time-consuming process, the MOU was finalized in June of 2015.

Clark-Hoey was ecstatic that all of her hard work had paid off.

“We were really happy, but we were also really eager to offer the fellowship to an incoming student,” said Clark-Hoey.

“Unfortunately, having passed the point of our admissions cycle for the fall of 2015, we felt we needed to wait

until the next recruitment cycle. On a whim, I thought, ‘Well, wouldn’t it be great if we’ve already accepted someone into the program, who did serve in the Peace Corps, and who met the eligibility criteria for the Coverdell Fellowship Program?’

“So I went and I looked, and very fortuitly, we had accepted someone, and she was Lauren Bishop, and she served in Peace Corps in Bulgaria, which was also very fortuitous because I had served in the neighboring country to Bulgaria, Romania.

And our service was about 15 years apart, but still very very similar, because of just how slow change has been in those countries in the years following 50 years of communism.”

Clark-Hoey feels that Bishop’s candidacy for the program was simply “meant to be.”

It was completely up to fate that someone who had served in the Peace Corps actually applied to the Fellowship, and Clark-Hoey acted as Bishop’s advisor in the program. Clark-Hoey personally called Bishop that summer and told her the program had been approved, and that Bishop was the one Peace Corps applicant.

During her time in Bulgaria, Bishop primarily worked with social workers and a psychologist in a small orphanage with Roma, a minority ethnicity in Bulgaria.

After her service, Bishop took some time to decide what career she wanted to pursue and what she was really

passionate about. During her search for potential graduate schools, Bishop stumbled upon Springfield College and the Coverdell Fellows.

“I had applied to Springfield on a whim, because investing in community is really important to me, and they were one of the only programs that had a satellite campus in Worcester,” said Bishop.

“I had known about the Coverdell, and looked into the program a little bit, and looked into different schools that had the partnership… there wasn’t anything else local that had social work, and it was just by chance that it worked out well,” added Bishop.

Bishop graduated from the Coverdell Fellows in 2018, but

still remembers her time with both Coverdell and the Peace Corps fondly.

“It’s a really incredible program…. This incredible network of people that have the same values, and I think it’s a really beautiful thing that it’s lasted that long,” said Bishop.

“It’s really a value-based organization that I think has a lot of integrity.”

Bishop now employs all of the skills she learned throughout her affiliation with the Peace Corps to continue her social work as a substance abuse therapist, working with patients in acute mental health crises. The life skills Bishop attained cannot be put into words, but they helped shape her into the gratuitous social worker she is today.

March 4, 2021

Sports

PAGE 13

The return of sports 354 days since the NEWMAC conference cancelled the 2020 spring sports season as a result of the pandemic, the President’s Council approved them for 2021.

_______ By Joe Arruda _______ @joearruda9

After almost a year without intercollegiate sports competition on the Springfield College campus due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, games will be returning for the spring season.

The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) President’s Council voted to approve the spring sports season on Monday morning, March 1.

Each school participating in the conference will have the right to choose whether they have a season or not for the following sports: baseball, softball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, track and field and tennis.

Men’s volleyball, which is not affiliated with a conference, has been exploring competition opportunities but has not yet confirmed any matches.

The NEWMAC statement read: “The NEWMAC Presidents Council has outlined a path forward for Spring Sports. The Presidents continue to hold the safety and well-being of student-athletes and surrounding communities as its primary focus when making decisions around the impact of COVID-19 and the resumption of intercollegiate athletic competition. As part of

this decision, the conference will require ongoing testing, universal masking and other modifications to game management standards as part of its health and safety protocols for student-athletes, coaches, officials and game personnel at institutions choosing to participate this spring.

These additional precautions exceed the current NCAA guidance for spring sports.”

The President’s Council also voted in favor of competing in a conference-only schedule among its members who are willing and able to compete in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus.

Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper expressed her continued focus on the ongoing pandemic in an email to the student body shortly after the NEWMAC announced its decision.

She said, “This announcement is a step toward resuming a more familiar environment, however, we do so cautiously and ever mindful of the need for continued vigilance in managing the pandemic. The safety of our campus community remains our top priority and I am confident in the plan approved by

Spring sports teams have been practicing in anticipation of the NEWMAC approval of a season thoughout the past several weeks. (Photos Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

the NEWMAC Board of Directors to begin competition within specific guidelines.”

“I look forward to seeing our student-athletes and coaches compete in the sports they love, representing Springfield College so well,” she added.

Sports were suspended on Alden Street just weeks after spring competition commenced last year. Teams, like baseball

and softball who did not record a loss in 2020, were off to a hot start and jolted by the notice that their season would be stopped in its tracks.

Student-athletes have been practicing in pods for the last several weeks in anticipation of this announcement from the Conference. Now, with a sense of hope for the return to “normal,” teams are invigorated and excit-

ed to compete.

On Saturday, March 20, the softball team will compete in a double header at home against WPI on its brand new, state-of-the-art turf field, and the women’s lacrosse team will play on Stagg Field while the baseball team competes in its double header on the road at WPI.

March 4, 2021

Sports

Forging his own path

PAGE 14

Gus Saint-Fort, a junior in the sports management program, has been involved with internships and opportunities with USA Football, NBA Future Sales Stars and Fenway Sports Management.

___ By Chris Gionta ___ @Chris_Gionta

Experience is an immeasurable value to a student looking to advance in their intended career.

Sports management major and Springfield College junior, Gus Saint-Fort, knows that very well. He has already been involved with Fenway Sports Management and the NBA Future Sales Stars, and he is currently doing an internship with USA Football.

However, this was not always the plan for him.

Of course, everyone has their dreams and aspirations early on. Saint-Fort grew up in Hyde Park – a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. He played football throughout high school and had a dream of going pro in the sport.

“When I was in high school, I think I thought I was going to be a professional football player,” said Saint-Fort, smiling.

“So I guess that was my aspiration for sport, But I never really knew I wanted to work in sports until I got to Springfield College.”

He came into Springfield College undeclared as a first-year student. Despite not knowing the exact direction he was going in, Saint-Fort made sure to make a good impression

(Photo Courtesy of Gus Saint-Fort)

for himself.

“Gus is someone who leaves an imprint everywhere he goes,” said Heather Gilmour, a professor in the sports management program.

“He always came to class early. Every single class he showed up early. He sat right in front, he would take notes, he was actively

engaged, he was always laughing and smiling, and he introduced himself to me on the very first day of class with a handshake.”

When Saint-Fort finally declared for a sports management major, he had goals in mind to ensure his direction.

“I kind of thought that I

wanted to end up working with the football team, maybe in operations or sales, and I kind of still have those interests,” said Saint-Fort. “Those kinds of industries; operations and sales were the two that I kind of wanted to end up in.”

And so he got to work, and he has been able to

land many opportunities because of his work within the program. In terms of sales, he was outstanding enough to be involved with the NBA Future Sales Stars.

After finding the program simply by scrolling through LinkedIn and being able to join, SaintFort has now developed connections within the industry and learned valuable skills.

“We all come together usually on Thursdays,” said Saint-Fort. “It’s a big call where we’re learning about partnership, sponsorship and ticket sales from sales professionals within the NBA.” What Saint-Fort has especially appreciated in his time at NBA Future Sales Stars is delving into areas he has yet to explore in-depth.

“It’s been really cool just learning about sponsorship and partnership. It was something that I wasn’t really too knowledgeable about before starting that program, but through that program, I’ve been able to network with a lot of professionals within the NBA, and also network with my peers - seniors and people that have already graduated college that are still young and hungry, and going into entry-level positions in their careers.”

March 4, 2021

Sports

PAGE 15

Saint-Fort has been engaged with Springfield College athletics in several roles, one being as a PA announcer. (Photo Courtesy of Gus Saint-Fort)

Of course, Saint-Fort has a lot to be thankful for as well, and he knows that whole-heartedly.

“I think just all the professors at Springfield College, especially Dr. Gilmour (have been particularly helpful). She was the first professor I ever had in sports management. So when I was coming in as a freshman, she was always talking to me after class. And that’s why she’s my advisor, because when I was declaring my major, she was already with me and we were already having these conversations.”

Gilmour is not the only influential professor in the sports management program. Each of them are focused on providing their students with the best possible opportunity for advancement in the field. “[Dr. Borland] was very influential as well. I had him last year for a couple of classes and we had a

lot of conversations about the future, and him challenging me as a student is something that I’m really grateful for as well.

It kind of made a better student and a person as a whole,” Saint-Fort said.

“Professor Accorsi as well, I feel like everyone says this, but he really is someone I’m grateful for. All he’s done for me and all he’s done for the different students within the major is just something really powerful.”

Saint-Fort would not be able to advance this quickly in the industry without his determination and skill-set, of course.

But, the Springfield College sports management program made sure to put him in a great position to succeed. Heather Gilmour talked about what the sports management program does to ensure that people like Saint-Fort are able to succeed.

“Students in sports

management are really introduced to the program early on with experiential components,” said Gilmour.

She talked about how first-year students take an event management course in their first semester, and contribute to Hoophall, which is an event that is normally hosted annually

by Springfield College that brings some of the best high school basketball teams to Alden Street.

“First-year students in the program are really introduced to a high level of professionalism pretty early on,” said Gilmour.

“And they get to see what some of their colleagues have started doing within the program in that very first semester.”

Hoophall is often the launching pad for students in the sports management program as it leads to more experiential opportunities.

“We talk through the ad-

vising model here within the program about how the students need to really start to get involved, volunteer, and get as much experience as they can to build their resumes,” said Gilmour. “So that by the time they apply for an actual 12-credit internship, they have some relevant skills and job experience to help them get that internship that they want.”

Saint-Fort clearly followed this model and went beyond it. His ability to work in the program has landed him some great opportunities.

Additionally, the attitude of getting involved and volunteering spoken about in the advising model translated into SaintFort’s efforts. Just by him scrolling through LinkedIn, he found a way to network with professionals within the NBA. Through these experiences, he has been able to learn a lot. Not only

has he learned about the business, but also how to conduct himself within the industry.

“I think the biggest takeaway - and I kind of heard this from every internship that I’ve done - is just be yourself and be natural,” said SaintFort. “Especially with sales, I feel like when I was first thinking about sales, I thought you had to turn on a sales voice or something like that, and try to be someone you’re not. But, what I’ve learned especially from the NBA Future Sales Stars, is that it’s better to be authentic, and being authentic will lead to authentic sales.

Already taking the lead in managing his own future, Saint-Fort looks forward to how he will be able to translate all he has learned through experience and in the classroom into the world of sports.

SPORTS The Springfield Student

MARCH 4, 2021

VOL. 135 NO. 15

Learning from the pros Sports Management student Gus Saint-Fort has earned several internships and learning opportunities to help advance him in his field.

[Page 14]

(Photo courtesy of Gus Saint-Fort)

Sports are back at Springfield College!