Volume 135 No. 21

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

April 15, 2021

Volume 135 No. 21

scstudentmedia.com // @TheSpfldStudent

Winners/Finalist for five Society of Professional Journalist (SPJ) awards in 2021

The show goes on The presence of COVID-19 didn’t stop the Vagina Monologues from going on in a new setting this year. Check out some of the best photos from the performance.

See page 6 Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Marketing & Comm.

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

CampusNews

On the Inside

“The Pain and Power of the N-Word” event teaches powerful and important lessons to the campus community.

-- Page 3 --

CampusNews

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. Read about how this came to be and ways to show support.

-- Page 5 --

April 15, 2021

COVID-19

PAGE 2

Testing remains top priority in final weeks of the semester

A

s this semester continues to fly by, the campus must stay strong in these final four weeks that the students and faculty spend on Alden street.

To keep the number of cases and close contacts low, Christine Johnston, Assistant Director of Alcohol and Other Drug Education and Health Promotion says that the campus needs to continue to follow all COVID guidelines.

“These last few weeks, everyone is getting tired of following the rules and

By Brady Cote @brady.cote that is what is really challenging, so we just need everyone to keep it up. It’s long, these last few weeks, and we know everyone’s tired of wearing the masks and distancing, but we just need to keep going.”

With some student-athletes finally being able to compete in their respective sports, it is of high importance that they show up for testing twice a week for their scheduled appointments.

“It’s what they need if they want to compete, that is the agreement that we made with the other schools that we’re playing

against. If they are coming in for their tests, then we appreciate that.”

Johnston applauds the Springfield College community for staying strong throughout the semester by following the COVID guidelines thus far.

“So many of our students are doing the right thing, they’re doing their distancing, wearing their masks, making sure to come to get tested at their scheduled times, and we appreciate it because that’s all we can do.”

This semester was taken with a better approach and the campus has been

better prepared after getting an idea of how things would be for housing students during this pandemic.

Thankfully, Springfield College was able to clear the Lakeside dormitory and use it strictly for housing close contacts, as well as those who tested positive for the virus.

“The ability to house everyone who needs housing is something that we have done well this semester. That was one of the things that was a limiting factor in the Fall.”

Within the past week, there has been a total of 19 positive cases, reflecting

a positivity rate of 0.75 percent.

“We’re managing it, and I believe that we’re doing better than the general community because our positivity rate is much lower, but we can always drop that even further.”

Only four weeks away from the end of the semester, Springfield has the goal of lowering the cases week-by-week. Although it may seem like a difficult task, it can be done when the whole Springfield College community works together to help curb the spread of the virus.

Pain and Power of the N-Word

April 15, 2021

PAGE 3

Multicultural Affairs event shares important knowledge Elizabeth Pryor leads informative “The Pain and The Power of The N-word” panel.

By Collin Atwood @collinatwood17

T

he N-word is heard or seen almost every day by people.

It’s heard in songs, movies, written in books and plays and in some occasions used between friends. The word was originally used as a derogatory and hateful term in slavery. How it became a word that is used so loosely is a mystery.

On April 8, 2021 The Office of Multicultural Affairs at Springfield College presented “The Pain and The Power of The N-word.” The event consisted of panelists who touched on their personal experiences with the word and how they feel when they hear it.

The main panelist was Elizabeth Pryor, Associate Professor of History at Smith College. The rest of the panel was made

up of four Springfield College students who are all very involved in social justice and diversity groups on campus.

Pryor’s research focuses on the study of the N-word and African American activism in the 19th century. She is popularly known for her TED Talk titled “Why it’s so hard to talk about the N-word” which was released in December of 2019 and now has over two million views on YouTube.

She also has a book called Colored Travelers: Mobility and the Fight for Citizenship before the Civil War which touches on the history of Black activists.

Her studies of the N-word began about 10 years ago when a student in her class used the word to reference the lecture

Elizabeth Pryor. (Photo Courtesy of OAH Distinguished Lecturer Profile)

that Pryor was giving.

“When they said the word, it was a giant moment of reckoning for me,” Pryor said.

Prior to this incident, she made a promise to herself that she would never use the N-word again so that students in her class wouldn’t think it was appropriate for them to do so.

After realizing that she didn’t really know what the word meant

or why it was being commonly used in casual conversation she decided it was time to educate herself more on the N-word.

“I wanted to get to the root of that history,” Pryor said.

She touches on the fact that the N-word wasn’t always a slur and how it became one. Pryor notes how the notion that all Black people are automatically considered

the N-word is false. “It becomes a slur, however, as Black people become free and the word latches on to them like a shackle,” Pryor said.

Later on in the event, the panel was presented with questions from the moderator, Adaeze Alaeze-Dinma, who is See Pain and Power on Page 8

April 15, 2021

Humanics in Action Club

Promoting the Humanics mission The Humanics in Action club has rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years and does some of the most important work at the college in regards to Humanics and living the mission of leadership and service to others.

A photo from one of the Humanics in Action club events. (Photo Courtesy of Margaux Atkins)

PAGE 4

By Cait Kemp @caitlinkemp09

Springfield College’s Humanics philosophy is something that everybody on campus is familiar with. It is in the mission statement of the college, and is represented with the image of the triangle - the balance of spirit, mind and body in service to others.

The Humanics philosophy, as stated on the Springfield College website, comes from the ancient Greek ideals that a person’s emotional, intellectual and physical lives are connected, hence the focus on the balance of the individual.

Through this philosophy, Springfield has aimed to have multifaceted students that understand the importance of being kind and compassionate while helping others.

The philosophy seems to be a lot of talk, but SC students prove these morals through their everyday actions in the classroom, during athletics and simply around campus. A major impact of the Humanics philosophy can be seen through the Humanics In Action club, which takes the ideals directly into the community.

Current president, senior Margaux Atkins, and VP and President elect sophomore, Lily Foster, embody this mission and lead the club and student body by creating opportunities for service on campus, even in the time of a pandemic.

“The Humanics in Action club has a mission of creating service opportunities on campus, connecting Springfield College students with the Springfield community,” said Atkins.

Their innovative way to continue service during COVID-19 was to host “Sip n’ Serve” nights that allow students to come and participate in making different care packages that would benefit children, shelter and other charitable organizations. During the events, they can try a fun drink like root beer floats or punch.

“We’ve done everything from creating attendance incentive kits to making sun catchers to go to a nursing home, as well as fire safety kits that went to an elementary school,” said See Humanics in Action on Page 7

April 15, 2021

Sexual Assault Awareness

PAGE 5

Supporting survivors

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and it is equally important to learn the history behind the month and show support to those affected.

By Nora Fitzgerald nfitzgerald2@springfield.edu

D

uring the month of April, it is important to recognize the incredible work that lead to its declaration as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in 2009. Sexual assault is something that may not happen to everyone, but everyone can learn how to better support those affected by sexual violence.

The push for sexual assault awareness and gender-based violence was championed by women in the early 1900s, although much of this work can be attributed to women of color. Women of color, including Ida B. Wells and Rosa Parks, dedicated their adult lives to combatting both race-based and gender-based discrimination.

Open discussion about sexual violence was not common during this time, but activists began to challenge the norm in order to raise more awareness to this issue.

In most recent years, support for the movement has grown following national headlines like the #MeToo movement, the Brock Turner investigation and the Larry Nassar investigation.

According to RAINN

Graphic courtesy of AFGE.org (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network), an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds. Despite being such a frequent crime, only 5 out of every 1,000 perpetrators of sexual assault will be convicted.

Although activists and organizations have made significant progress in drawing attention to this issue, there is still a lot of work to be done. Sexual assault awareness month reminds us that each survivor’s story is different and not all victims are the same.

When they hear “sexual assault,” most people picture a male offender and a female victim. While that describes many situations,

it is important to recognize that anyone can be affected by sexual violence. People with disabilities, men, the elderly and gender non-conforming individuals are just some examples of groups who experience unique struggles coping with their trauma.

Unfortunately, many of these survivors do not receive the support they need following an assault.

Many people from marginalized groups or individuals who may not appear to be a “typical victim” face judgement, aren’t taken seriously or are blamed for their situation.

The Office of Non-Discrimination Initiatives at Springfield College is

hosting several events during the month of April to bring awareness to sexual violence. There is an informational display and book collection in the Learning Commons that will be up until the end of the month with resources and a calendar of campus events.

This Wednesday, April 14, there will be a remote viewing of the film Athlete A hosted by ONDI and the Student Athlete Leadership Team. Athlete A tells the story of investigative reporters and brave gymnasts who exposed the decades long abuse that existed in USA Gymnastics.

There will be a follow-up discussion that

prompts participants to consider how supportive environments can be created for survivors of sexual assault within athletics.

This discussion will be on April 18, via zoom.

Denim Day is an international day of awareness for sexual assault that is taking place on April 28.

This day gets its name from a court case in Italy which resulted in outrage all over the world. The Court ruled that since the victim’s jeans were so tight, the victim must have helped the perpetrator take them off, implying consent.

Since 1999, Denim Day has been a way to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. This year for Denim Day, the Office of Non-Discrimination Initiatives is hosting a resource fair in collaboration with different student groups on campus. This will be taking place on the Admin. Green beginning at 11:30 a.m.

This month, you are encouraged to take part in supporting survivors of sexual violence either on campus or off in any way that you can. If you are interested in any of the events sponsored by the Office of Non-Discrimination Initiatives this month, check out the office Instagram @sctitleix for more information.

April 15, 2021

Vagina Monologues

PAGE 6

Vagina Monologues 2021

NOTE: Due to the Coronavirus, this year’s Vagina Monologues were held outdoors to accomodate social distancing and health and safety protocols. All photos from the event are courtesy of Springfield College Marketing & Communications

April 15, 2021

Humanics in Action Club

PAGE 7

Humanics in Action continued from Page 4

Atkins. “We’ve collaborated with other clubs as well, we’ve collaborated to make self-care kits for the women at the YMCA with the Y-club, and this past Friday we worked with CAB and created calm-down kits for an elementary school.”

Both Atkins and Foster have had a love for service to others throughout their life and joined the Humanics in Action club early in their experiences at Springfield College.

They were both introduced to the club by peers on campus and were able to jump into the club very quickly and soon became members of the E-board.

“It’s been amazing because, like when I started, the club was pretty much three people, and now we have a good member base, we have more applications for our E-board than we could even take, so it was pretty incredible to see the growth.” said Atkins.

Although created to coincide with COVID regulations, the Sip n’ Serve program has proved to be very successful and they plan to keep it in place even when restrictions are lifted. However, they are looking forward to having the opportunity to do more within the community, a beloved aspect of the club pre-pandemic.

A few more Humanics in Action club event photos from this past semester. (Photos Courtesy of Margaux Atkins)

“Hopefully with COVID restrictions lifting we can do more with that, allow more people to come and actually go into the community,” said Foster. “Something that we used to do before is go to homeless shelters and serve lunches or dinners, or something like that, but we weren’t able to do that so we’re hoping to get back into that.”

Atkins and Foster not only provide service events for students, but cherish the opportunity that they get themselves being a part of the club and planning the programs for causes they

see fit. It has allowed them to share something they are passionate for, which has given them a place to grow and flourish on campus.

“To me, I think the club really has helped me create a community on campus and it has helped me feel a part of Springfield College, and living the Humanics philosophy - that’s the club,” said Atkins.

She emphasizes the impact that the club has with the morals that Springfield is all about, as it gives students an obtainable opportunity to help people in need.

“For me, it kind of

aligns with my major and what I want to do… this club has really shown me how you can work with a community and figure out the needs of the community and then go from there, and how you can put someone’s particular interests into motion,” said Foster.

As a recreation management major, Foster has had the chance to organize these community outreach programs and take into account activities that the campus is interested in participating in to then benefit the community.

Atkins, a therapeutic recreation major, also

has involved herself in the opportunities through the Humanics In Action club to further her knowledge in creating unique experiences for a given community.

Humanics is a huge part of Springfield College, and this club gives the direct opportunity to demonstrate that.

Whether you join the club to become involved with the planning and organizing of the events, or just want to participate in some programs when you can, the Humanics In Action club is the perfect way to be a part of the Pride.

April 15, 2021

Pain and Power of the N-Word

PAGE 8

Pain and Power continued from Page 3

the Springfield College’s Coordinator of Student-Athlete Leadership Development and Sports Communications Assistant.

The first question asked by Alaeze-Dinma was, “When thinking about the pain and power of words and the complicated history of U.S. racism and unpacking the word, acknowledging this idea, do you think this will lead to change and equality in social justice movements?”

Pryor believes that talking about the word does help the fight for social justice, along with other panelists.

She also talks with one of the panelists about the impact that current and past artists and musicians have had on the N-word.

“I think if more artists and rappers don’t use it, then it’ll be a better starting point,” said Brianna D’Haiti, a junior at Springfield College majoring in criminal justice and computer sciences. She is also a leader in the Cultural Connection Leadership program.

The panelists then discussed who should be using the N-word and when it should be used, if ever. “I think

Dereck Webb (left) and Colby Wilson (right) were among the students who spoke as part of the event. (Photos Courtesy of Jack Margaros and Joe Arruda)

the other reason the N-word has stayed in power is because there is constant debate about who should use it,” said Sabrina Williams, Springfield College Student Trustee-Elect and President of the Women of Power club.

Pryor brings up a great point about how a person wouldn’t call their parents by their name because that’s not the relationship with those particular people. They would be called mom and dad.

She relates this to the N-word by saying that you shouldn’t use the

word if you don’t have the appropriate relationship to it and its history.

Dereck Webb, a senior at Springfield College and Vice president of the Men of Excellence club, follows that up by talking about the environment in which the word is used.

“Once the word is used from a person who is not in that community or is used with other members that are not involved in that community, I think that’s when the issue of it shouldn’t be said comes up,” Webb

said.

Before you decide to use the N-word or if you ever do, make sure the person who you are talking to accepts it because not everyone is as comfortable with it as you might be.

“It’s not only understanding who you’re talking to, but understanding the backstory behind the word,” said Colby Wilson, a sophomore at Springfield College and Vice President-Elect for Men of Excellence.

If a person finds them self in a scenario where they are not

sure if they should use the N-word, then that means they probably shouldn’t use it at all.

Always know who one is talking to and how they feel about the word before speaking. In the end, it might just be better to not use it at all.

It is important for everyone to be educated on the topic, so no one is confused about the history of the N-word and why people find it offensive.

There is always more to learn.

“I’m still learning.

I’m always learning,” Pryor said.

April 15, 2021

Sports

PAGE 9

A fair shot?

Sports editor, Joe Arruda, talks about the Springfield College Men’s Volleyball team not receiving a tournament bid after their six-game regular season.

(Photo Courtesy of Joe Arruda/The Student) __ By Joe Arruda __ @joearruda9

I sat in my room, after being contact-traced and isolated, as the Springfield men’s volleyball team competed in its final two matches of the year.

I plugged into the live stream on my computer as the team warmed up, just a five-minute walk down Alden Street in Blake Arena.

In six straight sets, the team swept Lasell twice, improving its record to 5-1 in what was a laststitch push for the NCAA Tournament.

However, when the team gathered the next day to watch the selection show, it came up just short.

It took a perfect storm to keep Springfield out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the sport’s inception by the NCAA in 2012.

On paper, sure, maybe they didn’t play as many games as the other teams.

Yes, they did take a tough loss to Wentworth that granted the Leopards an at-large bid into the bracket.

Was Springfield given a fair shot by the selection committee? Not in my opinion.

Lancaster Bible, another school that earned an atlarge bid and a bye in the tournament, was supposed to come to Blake Arena on Saturday, April 10, two days before the bracket was announced. Instead, the Chargers had complications with the Coronavirus and were not able to make the trip.

I’m not guaranteeing the Pride would have won those games, but when this team plays at its

potential, they can beat anyone.

When those games were cancelled just two days before they were scheduled to happen, a fill-in game where the Pride would travel to Wentworth was penciled in. No preparation coupled with a few players unable to be with the team caused the Pride to lose its only game of the year.

Still, it wasn’t like they’d been blown out – they lost 3-1 and scored 24, 24 and 22 in each of the sets they lost.

As some of the team gathered to watch the selection show on Monday morning, April 12, there was a question of what the committee would weigh most heavily.

Would it be that Springfield was ranked No. 1

in the country for the entirety of the season before that last-minute loss at Wentworth? Or would it be the sole fact that they have a “1” in the loss column?

Also, Springfield dominated Endicott twice in a doubleheader to open the season, the Gulls went on to win the NECC, earning an automatic bid.

It’s easy to look back on how abruptly the season ended, but it’s important to be grateful that it wasn’t as abrupt as the year before. The amount of work that went into making a season possible, to give the team a shot at having a season when many other teams missed out, was tremendous, at the very least.

Navigating the waters of being independent from a

conference when the rest of the teams in the area were competing in a conference-only schedule was difficult. Thankfully, the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) was willing to let Springfield in for the regular season.

Ensuring a safe-to-play environment during the pandemic that has killed over a half million people was incredibly difficult.

While the pandemic has begun to get under control, the result of Springfield’s men’s volleyball season was completely out of their hands.

It’s tough to see an end to any season, but this one hits particularly hard. The team had their chances stripped by the virus last year, and it was stolen once again.

April 15, 2021

Sports

PAGE 10

A photo from the Fill the Bus event. (Photo Courtesy of Carley Crain/The Student)

SALT Hosts Successful Fill the Bus Drive The Student-Athlete Leadership Team successfully provided for those in need in the Springfield community, despite COVID restrictions. ___ By Carley Crain ___ @carley_crain12

Every year the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) hosts their Fill the Bus Drive in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement, which helps provide food to those in need from the Springfield community. This year was no different as they surpassed their goal of collecting over fifty boxes and filling every single seat on the bus, complying with COVID-19 protocols and social distancing guidelines.

SALT is made up of

different Springfield athletes from every NCAA varsity sports team who all come together to help improve campus life and the overall community.

Their annual Fill the Bus drive is mainly run by their Humanics In Action subcommittee, but all other committees did their part in spreading awareness and making sure every box was filled.

“This was a really successful year even with COVID. We made it work and hit over fifty boxes which is a really good number.

It was past our goal.

Every team did their part and some. We were not concerned but we wondered how it would go with COVID,” Billy Welsby, Team Impact executive board member, explained.

Each team on campus is provided a box that they are encouraged to fill with monetary donations or bags of food.

SALT representatives from every team are responsible to encourage their teammates, coaches and other members from campus to donate to help assist food insecurity in the city of Springfield. This year SALT decided to do-

nate all the food to the Springfield College food pantry, to help students in need during these challenging pandemic times.

This past Thursday from 9-12 p.m., student athletes helped gather all the boxes from around campus to fill the bus using an assembly line style, which was COVID safe. SALT was able to fill all the seats in the bus and even had to utilize the isles to make sure all the donations would fit. The donations were then delivered shortly after to the Springfield College food pantry.

“We still got to talk to everyone and there was really good energy and vibes,” said Welsby. “It was almost the same as every other year we just had to be a little more cautious about how many people we had helping and the space between one another as we were filling the bus.”

The Fill the Bus drive will help many students in need on the Springfield College campus.

To keep updated on SALT’s activities and events for the rest of the school year, follow them on Instagram, @ springfieldsalt.

April 15, 2021

Sports

Shutting it Down The Springfield College softball team has gotten out to a 4-2 record, largely due to the strength of their pitching.

Gillian Kane has risen to a leadership role for the Springfield softball team, despite just playing one season. (Photo Courtesy of Jack Margaros/The Student)

PAGE 11

___ By Tyler Browne ___ @t_browne1124

The key to any softball team’s success is a strong pitching staff, and the Springfield College softball team certainly has one.

Through their first six games, the Pride’s pitching staff has been superb, giving up just 26 runs and 12 walks while striking out 35 batters.

With the season looking a bit different due to the global pandemic, the pitchers are gaining more rest than they would typically get during the year. Rather than playing nearly 40 games, the Pride are scheduled to only play 12 this season, all of which are on Saturday afternoons.

The Pride’s pitching staff is highlighted by junior Gillian Kane. In Kane’s freshman season, she was 9-5 in 17 starts, logging 85.1 innings pitched with a 4.18 ERA. In 2020, Kane started what ended up being the Pride’s only game. In a victory against Amherst, Kane gave up seven hits and two runs while striking out two.

When the onset of the pandemic forced all sports to shut down, Kane returned home to New Canaan, CT, where she spent much of the spring practicing her form.

“I did a lot of YouTube workouts, things that I could do at home. That

was pretty much the only thing that I was doing over quarantine,” said Kane.

Along with working with a pitching coach over the summer, Kane also found a way to practice pitching at home.

“When the facility wasn’t open, I would throw to a net in my backyard. I just tried to stay active and get some sort of exercise,” said Kane.

Although this is Kane’s third year at Springfield, the cancellation of her sophomore season means that she has become a team leader after only one season. Going into 2021, Kane was chosen as a team captain, serving alongside Hannah Salvetti and Natalie Stoner.

“If you think about it, Gill only really had her freshman season. Now she’s an upperclassman and leader,” said head coach Kate Bowen.

In three starts so far, Kane is 2-1. She’s logged 10 strikeouts and has an ERA of 3.82 All of the extra time off between games has been beneficial to the pitchers, although their coaches have made sure that they are still active in between outings.

“We throw live to the team at least once a week, See Softball continued on Page 15

April 15, 2021

Sports

PAGE 12

Keeping the legacy alive At the sixth annual Sports and Social Justice symposium, Jessica Waddell-Lewinstein Kopp, daughter of Springfield College alum, former Olympian and social justice advocate Tom Waddell, spoke about her memories with her father, the Gay Games and his legacy. __ By Garrett Cote__ @garrett_cote

Dr. Tom Waddell was the epitome of the college experience. He was a sublimely bright-minded man who partook in three sports during his time at Springfield College, fought tirelessly in several difficult topics of social justice and simply vouched to make his community a better place in any circumstance.

The sixth annual Springfield College Sports and Social Justice Symposium was held on Friday in the all too familiar Zoom land, and was dedicated to Dr. Waddell who passed away in July of 1987. The keynote speaker and highlight of the event was Jessica Waddell-Lewinstein Kopp, daughter of Tom, who spoke about her father’s legacy and articulated several touching stories to the audience.

After a brief introduction of the event by the Vice President of Inclusion and Community Engagement at Springfield College, Calvin Hill, Martin Dobrow took over

Tom Waddell founded the “Gay Games” in 1982. (Photo Courtesy of gaygames.org)

and introduced Waddell.

Waddell was an unbelievable talent in each of the three sports he

played - football, gymnastics, and track and field.

Additionally, the 1959 Alden Street graduate

contributed to molding the Springfield College community into a more sheltered and welcoming

community to each and every person who stepped foot on campus. Dobrow, author, journalist and professor of Communications and Sports Journalism at Springfield, spoke on the countless amount of courageous actions that Waddell took part in throughout his life.

“Tom was possibly the greatest athlete at Springfield College,” Dobrow offered. “He’s most known athletically for participating in the 1968 Olympics in the decathlon, where he took sixth in the world.

But the sports story is just a tiny piece of the Tom Waddell puzzle. He was a U.S. Army paratrooper, a doctor specializing in infectious diseases, and he was an absolute lion for social justice.”

And what a lion he was.

Waddell never shied away from making the right decision, no matter how many social norms he had to break during his time.

“He went down to Selma in 1965 with Dr. King, he was an outspoken supporter in 1968 for his teammates John Carlos and Tommy Smith, and in 1976 shocked his class-

April 15, 2021 mates by coming out as gay in the pages of a national magazine. In 1982, he started something that was first called the Gay Olympics, a festival of sports and the arts open to all, now known as the Gay Games,” continued Dobrow.

Following the Tom Waddell introduction, a brief video documenting the story of him and his intense battle with AIDS was then presented.

Dr. Waddell seemed to be a sort of video game hero, as Dobrow would add on. This title fits him, appropriately so, considering Jessica has worked in the communications and video game industry for 15 years. She now works for a company where she oversees advertising, public relations, licensing, marketing, social community and creative content.

A 30-minute conversation between her and Dobrow took place succeeding the video, with topics ranging from her childhood memories to past stories about her father that were all extremely compelling.

Dobrow dug into the 1968 Olympics story a bit more, asking Jessica how it made her feel looking back at such a brave act of unity in a time where unity was far from being accomplished.

“It’s an early example of how much he believed in people as people, and that everybody deserves the same amount of rights and respect,” she said of her father.

“He wanted to see people achieve that and he supported the people fighting for it. He had very polarizing views from people across the nation on what they supported and what they didn’t. That moment in the Olympics in 1968 when he supported those two sprinters in holding up their hands with black gloves, and showing their solidarity and showing that they were fighting against racism in the world, was such a big moment.”

Sports do so much for the world, and this instance proves just that.

“Athletes and sports can help overcome prejudices, and if not, can evoke change and at least inspire people to change. That was a huge moment not only for him and those athletes, but the world as a whole. The government had done more injustices and disservices to them than they could have ever done to the government,” Waddell declared.

The action that Waddell took part in that day in 1968 was one of the many valiant and fearless acts that defined who he was.

Another monumental moment that fits the description of acts that defined who he was happened in 1976, when Waddell came out as gay.

By no means is the journey of coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community easy - as there are still issues and risks prominent today in many parts of the world - let alone doing it during a

Sports

time where homosexuality was classified as a psychiatric illness, as Waddell did.

“It had to be scary, intimidating, and I’m sure he questioned it a lot,” started Waddell of her dad’s decision to go public with his sexuality. “He was only the second athlete at the time to publicly come out as gay, and his main thing was that he wanted to show that there are a lot of stereotypes about what homosexuals look like, how they [act, talk, and dress]. He wanted to show that there is more to it, there is more to their community than what people had associated with that group, and that they are just people.”

With all odds against him, with his back against the wall, Waddell stayed true to himself, true to who he was as a human being, and made decisions that were best for him, not what complied with social norms. He took this opportunity to educate and inspire others, letting them know that they are not alone, and they will always be accepted by the LGBTQ+ family.

As Dobrow mentioned in the introduction, Waddell went on to found the Gay Olympics in 1982, which have now been renamed the Gay Games, and still go on to this day.

Although Jessica Waddell only spent three short years with her father before his passing in 1987, he left several pieces of his life behind for Jessica to cherish for the rest of

PAGE 13

Jessica Waddell-Lewinstein Kopp speaking at the Sports and Social Justice Symposium Recap.

her time, as well as generations of family to come.

Whether it be threeyear-old Jessica insisting that Tom buy a pink car, reading the book that was published in 1996 about Tom’s life, or the cassette tapes that consisted of Tom speaking directly to Jessica, there are plenty of memories for Jessica to reflect upon.

In closing, Assistant Athletic Director at Springfield College, Michelle Lee Scecina, awarded both the 2020 and 2021 winners of the Tom Waddell Leveling the Playing Field Award.

Both winners were deeply involved in many contributions to the Springfield College community, with each of them being a staple, exactly like Dr. Waddell, in what the true

college experience looks like. The 2020 award winner was Christopher Tringali, and taking home this year’s award is Kris Rhim.

It is because of people like Dr. Tom Waddell who paved the way and allowed for generations upon generations to partake in the difficult, burdensome, yet much needed work of fighting for social justice.

He was a gifted raw athlete, a man with a beautiful soul, but more importantly an incredible social justice activist who will forever be remembered at Springfield College.

He truly embodied the Springfield College mission of educating himself as a whole in spirit, mind, and body through leadership in service to others.

April 15, 2021

Sports

One of the greats

PAGE 14

Springfield alumni are raising funds for the Bugbee Family Pavilion at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field in honor of the families’ commitment to the College and its philosophies. field College in 2008 and was a member of the women’s lacrosse and Not many coaches can women’s soccer team. say they have coached one There is nothing more team for over 35 years. important than family That sort of longevity after losing a loved one. can only be the result Luckily for Bugbee, he of tremendous success. didn’t just have his family While Keith Bugbee is no at home, but he was also stranger to winning, the able to lean on his family connections he has made on Alden street. Family along the way are just as is a huge part of Bugimportant, if not more. bee’s life which is why the As a result of Bugbee’s choice was made to inleadership, dedication, and clude “family” in the name family-oriented mindset, of his pavilion.

Springfield College alumni “I think he’s deeply are raising funds to build appreciative of the fact the Bugbee Family Pavilthat the word ‘family’ is on ion at Amos Alonzo Stagg there because that’s how Field. he’s lived,” Poisson said.

Bugbee has been the head Bugbee has been able to coach of the men’s lamake connections with crosse team at Springfield many people at Springfield College since 1984. Over College over the years. As that time he has made an a coach and a professor at impact on the college and the College, there aren’t the student-athletes that too many people who have have come his way. not crossed paths with “Coach has always said him. Bugbee also met peoI have two families, my ple through the camp he family at my home and ran at the College called the Springfield College Peak Lacrosse Camps. lacrosse family,” said Craig There, he was a mentor to Poisson, Executive Direc- young lacrosse players and tor of Athletics at Spring- coaches. field College.

Donations will mostly On July 4, 2018 Bugbee’s consist of past lacrosse oldest daughter, Lindsay players who were impactCrosby Bugbee, tragicaled by Bugbee, but he has ly passed away. Lindsay reached many people off graduated from Springthe field as well. __ By Collin Awtood __ @collinatwood17

In the 38 seasons that Bugbee has been a coach at Springfield College, he has won 12 straight conference championships in the past 13 seasons and won the NCAA Div. II National Championship in 1994.

He has also earned a spot in the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2002, and was named the No. 3 Greatest Coach in New England collegiate lacrosse history in the New England Lacrosse Journal’s “New England’s Greatest Coaches” series.

Between his success on the field and his role in the lives of others, there is no doubt that Bugbee is more than deserving of this honor.

The Bugbee Family Pavilion will hold multi-

ple purposes that relate to coaching, teaching and other activities. “It’s going to have the ability to be adaptable for different uses,” Poisson said.

The pavilion will be available during games at Stagg Field for friends and family to spectate as well as a spot for people to tailgate after a game. It can also be used for team meetings and film sessions with its up-to-date technology.

Outside of athletics, the building will also be used as a classroom. “The fact that this structure is going to be a classroom ties so nicely into the teacher-coach motto that we have here,” Poisson said.

Donors who donate at least $2,500, which can be paid over two years, will

land a spot on the Leadership Wall that will be in the pavilion.

If Keith Bugbee has ever positively impacted you, or you just want to show your gratitude for the hard work he has done in building the lacrosse program to what it is today then you should consider donating.

The goal is to reach $1,500,000, and once that goal is achieved, the construction will begin.

“When the funds come in from the donors is when the shovel will go in the ground,” Poisson said.

Contact Jim Bates in the Office of Development at jbates5@springfield.edu or 413-748-3176 to make your donation.

The initial concept for the Bugbee Family Pavillion. (Photo Courtesy of @SpfldCollege on Twitter)

April 15, 2021

Sports

PAGE 15

Softball continued from Page 11

maybe twice, so we are getting those batters.

We’re still throwing, we just aren’t seeing batters from other schools,” said Kane. “We definitely throw live and keep our skills sharp during the week,” Kane is also thankful that the extra time allows her to focus on her overall health.

“I personally have had a history of injuries in my leg so for me it’s nice to get the long break in between games so I know I’m healthy before we start.”

As her role grows, her appreciation for the coaching staff and how they manage has also risen.

“One thing that I love about our coaching staff is that it’s not just one coach for one thing. It’s not like we have one outfield coach, one infield coach. All of our coaches are on the same page with every single position and every group of people that they have. I have all three coaches talking to me. They’re all super involved. They give great feedback, and then we also have great sports psychologists. I’ve been working with Coach (Adam) Feit to work on the mental side of the game.”

Another pitcher who has stood out so far this season is Emily Gell. A first-year student from Trumbull, CT, Gell’s first collegiate appearance

Emily Gell has been strong in her first collegiate season, playing a major role in Springfield’s sweep of WPI. (Photo Courtesy of Jack Margaros/The Student)

came in the first half of the Pride’s season opening doubleheader, when she relieved Kane in the fourth inning.

After finishing the first game, Gell pitched the entirety of the second game, giving up just one run en route to a 4-1 victory over WPI. “She was doing a great job and we just let her keep throwing. She was doing great. It was an exciting day for her,” said Bowen.

Gell has started three games so far, in addition to the one relief appearance,and she is 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA. In her second

start, against Wheaton, she went five innings and struck out four batters, getting her second win.

Her most recent start, against Babson, saw the Pride fall by a score of 2-0, but Gell was dominant throughout most of her appearance.

One of the biggest impacts of the shortened season is the small number of pitchers being used.

In the 2019 season, the Pride used five pitchers, two of whom (Kane and then-senior Shelby Allen) were used as starters, while the other three appeared in relief.

In 2021, the Pride has

used just three pitchers through twelve games.

Kane has exclusively started, Gell has started thrice and come on in relief once, and first-year Ashley Pugliese has been used only in relief.

Last Saturday, Pugliese was brought into the game in a high-pressure situation and got out of it relatively unscathed.

In the top of the fourth inning, Pugliese relieved Gell with runners on second and third and nobody out. While one of those runners scored on a sacrifice fly, Pugliese didn’t give up any hits in the inning and got three

consecutive batters out.

“She did a great job coming on in relief. She did a great job moving the ball, and she got ahead of the batters,” said Bowen.

Pugliese credited the defense for helping her get out of the tough fourth inning, especially shortstop Dana Serricchio.

“I think that our shorstop, Dana, is very supportive of me and she knows me very well. If I get down on myself, she knows how to pick me up.

And she’s a great player.”

The Pride’s pitching staff will aim to get wins four and five of the season on Saturday, when they

SPORTS The Springfield Student

VOL. 135 NO. 21 (Photo Courtesy of Jack Margaros)

APRIL 15, 2021

Strong pitching has the softball team off to a quality start in the abbreviated 2021 season See page 11