April 2021

April 2021 • Volume 15, Issue 6

The 1851 Chronicle

KAIT BEDELL

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COVID-19 vaccine mandated for fall 2021

news editor

The COVID-19 vacconsequences of contracting cine will be required for COVID-19 or not being able all students attending in to live life normally. the fall of 2021. The news “You have to think was announced in an email about the flip side,” Arnold from President Michael Alsaid. “If we don’t achieve exander on April 14. herd immunity, we’re lookThe decision comes ing at a continuation of how following a separate anwe’re living now.” nouncement made via President Alexander email by President Alexansaid that Lasell has had low der that the university is aninfection rates and that the ticipating operating as noruniversity will rely on the mal in the next semester. students and faculty to con“Our common goal tinue to cooperate. is to try to return to pre“Lasell turned out to COVID campus culture as be one of the safest places to much as possible,” Health be so we want to continue Services Director Richard that,” Alexander said. “We’re Arnold said. “As we added determined to continue that vaccines to this picture, we and the way to do it is to get realized that frankly, that’s nearly everybody on campus gonna be the only path that vaccinated.” we see currently to achieve Alexander and Arnold a relatively pre-COVID atboth said the Lasell commumosphere.” nity has done a good job of According to Arnold, following the COVID-19 regthe university’s hope is to ulations implemented; and reach a high enough herd that the staff and student PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARUK immunity to be able to albody’s continued efforts will Keyes Drug, located at 2090 Commonwealth Avenue in Auburndale, is a local supplier of COVID-19 vaccines. It is currently accepting low students to socialize appointments which can be scheduled through its website. help to return to normal. without masks and social “The students, em“I think the mandate is the safest and smart- is confident that the vaccine is safe and Lasell would ployees and everybody on campus did a great job distancing at full capacity again.

“So far everything we know at this point is: in est thing to do,” Bird said. “We’re all looking to get not make this decision if it was not. of following the protocols and making sure other “There are increasing numbers of indi- people followed protocols,” Alexander said. “That the case that we reach herd immunity through the back to some kind of normalcy and I think this is viduals that have been infected that are having really worked and it needs to continue to work.” vaccine or cases of infection, we have a chance of re- our best shot at getting that soon.”

While herd immunity is a priority, Alexander’s long-term health problems related to being turning to a relatively normal lifestyle on campus,” Students and staff looking to sign up for a Arnold said. “That could change but I hope that it April 14 emails states the university is offering med- infected,” Arnold said. “My rationale is that I’d vaccine appointment can register for one through ical and religious exemptions. much rather be vaccinated knowing what we Keyes Drug which is located at 2090 Commondoesn’t—I really do.”

Although some students have expressed to Arknow than contract COVID.” Freshman Riley Bird said she is relieved that wealth Ave or through the state of Massachusetts Arnold said the risks of complications after re- directly. the vaccine will be mandated in the fall and that she nold they are concerned about the unknown longterm effects that the vaccine could have, he said he ceiving the vaccine are significantly smaller than the thinks it will be good for the community.

Empty Bowls holds auction benefiting Center Street Food Pantry REBECCA OSOWSKI

1851 staff

The Empty Bowls club held a live event via Zoom to auction off handmade bowls to raise money for the Center Street Food Pantry in Newton on April 15.

While usually an in-person dinner, the Empty Bowls club had to adapt their event due to COVID-19 guidelines. Co-President, senior Madison Griffin said it was important to find a way to hold the event this year as “even more people are facing food insecurity, so there’s more of a reason now than ever to hold an event like this.”

While guests of the event had the ability to bid on handmade bowls, they were also able to make a $25 donation directly to the Center Street Food Pantry which will provide a bag of groceries to a family in need.

As the live auction continued for most of the event, the 93 attendees saw an inside look at the weekly meetings of the Empty Bowls club. Club member first-year Arianah Rivera and senior performer Robby Rowe serenaded the audience with two songs each while Lasell Village residents Ruth Silin and Margery Silver read their own original poems, titled “Empty Bowls” and “It’s Not the End.” Rivera was grateful to share her talents in support of such a great cause. “I’ve had family personally affected by food insecurity, so it meant so PHOTO BY REBECCA OSOWSKI much to me that there was a club on campus dedicated to bringing light to such an A set of bowls auctioned off at the event made by a community member and glazed by a former student. important issue,” she said.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Commencement to honor seniors and alumni Page 2

The closing of Becker College

First-year Ally Kirck dominating the diamond

Page 4

Page 7

Professor and Empty Bowls advisor Deborah Baldizar praised the club members who planned the entire event, “the evening went smoothly and I hope people felt really connected,” Baldizar said.

Baldizar was also proud of her students for keeping the chat active and was excited the audience was intrigued with the online auction, as attendees were outbidding themselves to guarantee they won a bowl.

Professor Stephanie Athey was a very active bidder throughout the night as she was hoping to secure a bowl for both her niece and nephew. Griffin was tasked with going through the bids and announcing a few winners at the end of the event. She made sure to announce Athey as a winner, “I really wanted to make sure I said her nephew got the bowl he wanted, so that was a favorite part of mine,” she said.

As COVID-19 continues to impact our community, Baldizar continues to be moved by the impact art can have on us and our community. “We’re in this together and we’re individual artists but we’re stronger and we can grow even more if we lean on each other,” Baldizar said.

The club raised $2,300 the day of the event, but later earned more money from bowls sold in other ways throughout the rest of the semester. In total, Griffin said Empty Bowls raised over $2,500.

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April 2021

EDITOR’S CORNER

Pride & Predjudice

PHOTO COURTESY OF BAILEY KLINGAMAN

BAILEY KLINGAMAN digital editor

I used to be ashamed of my Korean middle name, Meejin. In middle and high school, I would ask for my middle name not to be announced at award ceremonies and graduations.

Throughout my life, I have promised myself that one day I would officially change my middle name. I’m happy to break that promise today.

Unlike most of my friends’ parents, my mother never used our shared middle name.

The only times I had ever heard it spoken was from “the Korean Family,” a family who hosted my grandparents when they were in South Korea for the Peace Corps. Many members of the family speak English and have visited the United States, but they insist on referring to my mother as “Meejin,” her Korean name.

This bothered me growing up because it seemed like a mask: Meejin was a Korean-American woman, but I didn’t want to see my mother like that. I didn’t want to see myself like that either, as different than my friends and classmates. I hated hearing anything about Korea, talking about my ethnicity, and being identified as different. So for years, I hid behind my caucasian genes.

But movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate (StopAAPIHate) helped me to realize that hiding wasn’t a solution. As I hear about Asian-Americans being attacked in the streets, I do not want to hide. I want to be proud of my heritage. So I will not be changing my middle name, but I will keep it proudly.

No matter your race, culture or skin color, be proud of where you come from. Be proud of where you are. Be proud of where you will go.

Because I know from now on, I will be.

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The 1851 Chronicle

Opinion & Editorial

Commencement will honor seniors and alumni KATIE PETERS

co-editor-in-chief

Commencement can be an important milestone for many people. The decision to hold in-person Commencement ceremonies this May, rather than virtual ceremonies, for the classes of 2020 and 2021 gives seniors and alumni the chance to be celebrated and recognized for their hard work by the whole community of Lasell.

The decision was made as a result of a survey sent out to the classes of 2020 and 2021 Undergraduate and Graduate students. Out of the 561 people surveyed, 77.5 percent of students said walking across the stage was one of the most important elements of commencement.

I can still remember the buzz of energy on Taylor Field the morning of May 11, 2019 during the class of 2019’s Undergraduate Commencement ceremony. Watching graduates that I had looked up to for a year wait in excitement to receive their degrees was heart-warming and motivating. Providing that same opportunity to celebrate for the classes of 2020 and 2021 is a way of recognizing the dedication and sacrifice many students gave to graduate during unprecedented times.

When the class of 2020 decided they did not want a virtual Commencement ceremony, the University was quick to change plans. Despite the uncertainty over the past year, these

alumni have waited to celebrate this milestone together with their Lasell community. Holding the two undergraduate ceremonies on the same day provides a chance for alumni to reconnect with more of the community.

With COVID-19 precautions in place, such as physical distancing and limited crowds, the University hopes to keep the risk

Campus is not handicap accessable ALEXANDRA WHITE

1851 staff

Last year on campus I was walking to my class at the Science and Technology building when I saw a handicapped student being helped down the stairs to the building by other students. While this was a very heartwarming moment, I couldn’t help but wonder why there were very few pathways for disabled students to get to their classes. Since then, I have seen this several times on campus. Students who are physically handicapped struggle to travel around campus just to get to their classes or even the dining hall.

In a community that strives to be inclusive, it seems like that hasn’t been extended to handicapped students. According to Lasell’s website, out of the 50 buildings we have on campus, nearly 40 percent of the buildings can’t be accessed by a wheelchair at any level. There need to be more handicapped walkways and dorms that can be used for all students. In many of the older dorms on campus such as the houses, McCelland and Vanwinkle there are no elevators which does not allow each floor to be handicap accessible. For many students, the college experience means living in the dorms. For handicapped students, that may not be an option.

Students in wheelchairs do have some

routes that they can take to get to classes at buildings like the Science and Technology Center. Lasell’s website says that the option would be to go down Woodland Road and Grove Street, get to the intersection, and then turn into the parking lot. This doesn’t seem like a safe option for handicapped students at all. During the winter, those roads are very icy, and turning into the parking lot at the intersection is dangerous no matter what time of year it is.

I understand why handicapped walkways would be difficult to get at Lasell. The campus has large hills, and it would cost a lot of money for the school to invest in these types of walkways for students. However, having a campus that’s easily accessible for handicapped students might make those students want to choose Lasell over a different university.

Inclusivity is important everywhere, and students shouldn’t have to face issues like accessibility when they are trying to get an education.

Not having options for students in wheelchairs, could make future handicapped students think that our campus isn’t welcoming for them.

Lasell can’t say that we are a diverse campus when 40 percent of the campus is not accessible to physically handicapped students.

Residential parking needs to be re-worked KAIE QUIGLEY features editor

The parking office offered temporary parking permits to all resident students for the spring semester in an effort to exhibit leniency amidst the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, this system has created more stress than it has relieved over the last few months.

The office also removed all eligibility requirements, meaning first-years could now park on campus and take spots from students who have more credits, have paid more dollars in tuition, and have off-campus responsibilities.

According to the registrar’s office, there are 266 resident parking spaces on campus.

Pre-pandemic, the school housed around 1,200 students. This semester, there are 714.

The number of students has gone down, but the number of parking spaces hasn’t. There are still more students than spots, so why open parking up even more?

The university does have available options in which students can control where they park. Traditional parking registration is seniority based, and students can hand pick their lot based on availability. So, if students want to choose which lot they park in, that system can be

used. However, if the office was trying to adhere to the needs of resident students, they should have kept parking registration open so students could pick the lot that worked best for them.

Instead, they had residents gamble hundreds of dollars on a pass that in my case, was for a lot a half-mile away from my housing.

On top of this, students receive tickets and fines for parking in open spaces closer to where they live. Not only does the office charge 275 dollars per pass, they charge 50 dollars per ticket. Personally, this leaves me with an embarrassingly tough decision some days— do I want to walk this half-mile back to my room at 10 p.m. or should I try my luck in a closer lot and hope it doesn’t cost me 50 bucks? In most cases I end up crossing my fingers, much like I did in the first place.

Long story short, this is an unfair position to put residential students in. Employees that get paid by the university often get to park in close proximity to the place they teach and work.

Therefore, a student that pays tuition should be able to park close to where they sleep at night.

ILLUSTRATION BY ROBBY ROWE

of transmission low. However, attendees are not required to provide a negative COVID-19 test for this event. Guests are asked to monitor their symptoms, watch for exposure and are not required to self-isolate before attending.

By holding these ceremonies in person, these seniors and alumni will hopefully be recognized for their tenacity over the past year.

The

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News Briefs Spring registration completed Beginning on Wednesday, April 7, Self Service opened Summer and Fall 2021 registration for returning students who were authorized by their advisor. This was available to students who had paid the appropriate Enrollment Deposit by Friday, April 2. The schedule for registration began with current Seniors: Wednesday, April 7 at 7 a.m.; current Juniors: Wednesday, April 7 at 12 p.m.; current Sophomores: Thursday, April 8 at 7 a.m.; all Class Levels except for Freshman: Friday, April 9 through Monday, April 12; current Freshmen: Tuesday, April 13 at 7 a.m. Registration closed on Tuesday, April 13. Students who had yet to register after registration closed were charged a late fee.

Runway 2021 takes to the screen On May 7 and 8, the underclass and senior fashion shows will take the virtual stage. Both shows will start at 7 p.m. To register for these online events, RSVP through the link in @lasellrunway2021’s Instagram account. Counting down to this annual showcase, this account has started a Design Spotlight series, highlighting production students and their work.

Room Draw process to begin It’s that time of year again! After a fourday delay, Room Draw materials were sent out to students via email on 4/20. The schedule is as follows: Thursday, April 29 is Specialty Night (Quiet Study, Wellness, Gender Neutral, Equity), Monday, May 3 is rising senior night, Tuesday, May 4 is mustfill night, and Wednesday, May 5 is general night.

CLAIRE CRITTENDON & BAILEY KLINGAMAN

News TAYLOR VILES sports editor

In late March, a proposal presented by the Resident Assistants (RAs) was all but agreed upon to allow resident students to visit each other in on-campus housing. Following a perfectly timed COVID-19 outbreak on campus at the end of March into the beginning of April, the decision was then tabled.

According to Associate Vice President & Dean of Student Affairs David Hennessey, “it just didn’t seem like a good time to increase the exposure,” he said. “We hit some of our biggest on-campus numbers, and the on-campus transmission was taking off at about the time that we were hoping to implement what the RAs had come to.”

The proposal would have been to allow each student to pick two friends to have in their room and they would act as a pod of three. This would make for easier contact tracing incase one did test positive. The assumption was the students would already be in close contact with these friends regularly.

The proposal took close to two months to perfect since the idea began in January.

Eventually, the RAs received tacit approval from the task force. Unfortunately, when it went for final approval by the Senior Management Team, the positive cases began to rise.

“Being secluded to your room obviously isn’t fun, and everyone wants to be social,” said sophomore RA Spencer Fulone, one of the minds behind the proposal. “We definitely just wanted to take students’ mental health into consideration when proposing this just to make it easier on everyone and relieve some stress.”

Until this possibility, the only way students had been able to congregate as friends was outside and in common areas such as

PHOTO BY TAYLOR VILES

Students enjoy a recent screening of “Hairspray” in the Arnow quad with their friends. This outdoor activity is one of many from the semester that allows students to socialize outside of residence halls.

the Arnow Campus Center and the Science and Technology Center. This is because every positive student COVID-19 transmission recorded at Lasell has taken place between roommates, said Hennessey. “There have been none in class and none out in the street,” he said. “[It’s in rooms] where people are unmasked.”

Now, with the end of the semester closing in, tabling the proposal until the fall has become the sensical move. Hennessey explained the current goal has shifted to hosting successful Commencement ceremonies, of which there are three this May. “Those are our priorities now, to make sure that these classes get that,” he said. “We think that any sort of campus outbreak might endanger that. With a few weeks to go, and the ability of people to socialize a little bit more outside,

we think this is the safest course to go in.”

Looking ahead to the fall, President Alexander’s recent email to the Lasell community detailed the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students. Herd immunity will likely be reached and relaxing the on-campus restrictions will be possible including being able to return to each other’s rooms, said Hennessey. He said the number the university is looking for is 99.5 percent of the student body to be vaccinated.

Fulone acknowledges how hard this year must have been especially for firstyears. “This hasn’t enabled them to have the freshman year that I’m sure they wanted,” he said. “Hopefully in the fall, though, they’ll be able to get the opportunities that they missed out on this year.”

Culinary throwdown event in Valentine KAIT BEDELL & RUTH KEHINDE

KARISSA GAUGHAN

As of Wednesday, April 27 the main Emergency Blue Light call box next to Carpenter House remains unfunctional. Many students on campus notice the big blue poles while walking around, and also notice that a piece of paper, once labeling it “Out of Order,’’ seems to have gone missing from the side at one point. It’s meant to instill a sense of safety in the campus community, but the campus Blue Light call boxes have a history of not working.

Lieutenant Steven Bradley of Lasell Campus Police says he has been responsible for the management of the Emergency Blue Light system for a little over three years. “I oversee as far as making sure that the officers go and test them. We test every other week to make sure that they are all operational,” Bradley says. As the Blue Light coordinator and liaison, he works directly with their contractor, Securidime, as well as Lasell IT when officers find issues.

Most of the call boxes when used will directly connect to campus dispatch, but only when they are operational. Senior Isabelle Snow recalls her first night walking across campus as a Sophomore transferring in from Mount Ida in August of 2018.

“I was walking and there was this creepy guy kinda over there… I cut through the pathway towards Winslow, the Library, behind [Carpenter House]... I walked by the call box and noticed that none of the lights were on… there was a sign on it that said out of order,” said Snow. “So I called my boyfriend and I was on the phone with him, he kept telling me to walk by the call boxes just in case because he wasn’t near me... each call box I passed had a little note that said out of order and I was like that’s weird, that’s a really weird experience.”

Since her experience in 2018, the outof-order notices she describes on the sides of the call boxes have since disappeared.

With a long history of the call boxes having operational issues, most on campus seem to now be fully operational; all except for the main Blue Light call box Snow described in her story.

Wiktor Jozwik, head of the informa-

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Residents almost allowed to visit each other

Emergency campus Blue Lights are going blackout 1851 staff

April 2021

news editor

tion technology department (IT), says generally they are not in charge of the Emergency Blue Light system on campus.

Jonathan Gorham, the CIO who oversees IT, also mentioned it falls under the purview of campus police. “Campus police do their checks… Where IT gets involved is just the connectivity. So if the signal to the call boxes is broken down, malfunctioning, IT would get involved on the infrastructure side of that.” Jozwik said.

Jozwik says that campus police reaches out on a regular basis about the Blue Lights not working to get them fixed.

The last test they conducted was April 15th. According to Bradley, the call box mentioned in Snow’s story last worked “Maybe about six weeks ago, give or take.” Admittedly, he says problems have shown up with this particular call box in the past, but estimates it will be repaired again in a month.

Campus Police is looking into other options that are more reliable, accessible and safer for students to use on campus.

“We are working with Securidime and they have one that they’ve been researching and brought to our attention [is an app] called Livesafe,” Bradley says. “The biggest factor is gonna be its functionality to what we do here on campus, as well as its compatibility with working with our IT department.”

Some features of the app include directly calling campus dispatch, a GPS function, and creating a small circle of friends where if users feel uncomfortable in a situation, they can automatically notify said friends of their current location.

Though our on-campus security system has not been up to par, Bradley acknowledges, “as with anything it’s an older system and not only do you have to look at reliability but also if it’s an emergency situation, we want students to get out of it and get away.” Looking into the future, he agrees students will feel much safer with an updated campus security system.

& digital editor

On April 15, Chartwells hosted a Culinary Throwdown that featured four teams that served various foods for Lasers to choose to eat from and vote on. Festive decorations greeted those entering the dining hall as staff members dressed the part by wearing costumes representative to their teams.

This event was organized by Director of Dining Services Mike Quackenbush. Each station made their own team names and discussed what they wanted on their stations’ menu. With putting together this event, some orders were made three weeks in advance for preparation depending on what was on the stations’ menu. On the day of the event, all four stations surprised each other to show what their idea was.

The four teams in the throwdown were The Hot Iron Buccaneers, led by Certified Executive Chef (CEC) Keith Halliday; The Romans, led by Sous Chef Luis Faria; Team Dominican Republic, lead by team member Fabio Gonzalez; and Good Vibes, lead by Mike Quackenbush. Each team presented a differentiation in food concepts. Chartwells had to order many outfits and decorations. This event required a lot of food which had staff stay extra hours to cook.

First-year and student-worker Franklin Torres said he enjoyed the event despite all the work that went into it.

“I wish I had gotten to walk around [to] talk to my fellow students more but I still had a lot of fun and so did the rest of the staff,” Torres said.

Chartwells endeavored to make this event as enjoyable as possible for the students as well as themselves. Food included fruit kabobs, rice with beans, mashed plantains, fried salami, cheese, avocados, spaghetti, smoothies, fries and chips with various toppings to choose from, chicken waffles, Italian food, and much more.

With arranging his station, Sous Chef Luis Faria explained it to be “ stressful but for me it was a fun stress … because … if you love what you do, [it] doesn’t matter how much stress you have, you’re gonna have a ball.”

Not only was food provided, but Chartwells created a selfie booth for Lasers to take

pictures at with their friends. Picture props were included with the use of hand sanitizer by students before and after touching the props.

With all the tasty foods served, The Hot Iron Buccaneers Team and Team Romans were the only stations without any leftovers.

“It was a really nice surprise to go to dinner and see such a fun atmosphere,” sophomore Sanuj Arora said. “I didn’t expect to see the dining hall so decked out and it really made my night.”

Arora said his favorite part of the event was how involved it made all of the students.

Throughout the pandemic, Valentine Dining Hall has adjusted their seating to accommodate for social distancing. The regulations put in place have protected the Lasell community, but Arora said the normal dining hall atmosphere has been drastically different.

“It gave me a glimpse of what the dining hall used to look like during nonCOVID times,” Arora said. “Everything has been kind of weird this year, but this event brought dinner to life.”

While COVID-19 regulations were still being practiced during the event, Arora said there were more people at dinner than normal and that everybody was engaged in the activities.

Similar to Arora, first-year Julie Auld said she was glad to see the dining hall filled with so many people. “There were more people than usual, and people were safely interacting. It gave me a sense of normalcy on campus which was really cool,” Auld said.

She said the experience was different and something that the university should do again in the future. “I think Lasell should definitely do this more often,” Auld said. “Everyone I know around campus really enjoyed it and it was an exciting change compared to how the dining hall usually is.”

The happiness of students has been Faria’s goal since working at Lasell in 2019.

Students had the choice to choose the team they liked the best. Yet despite all four stations’ extended efforts, Team Good Vibes won.

Chartwells plans to have another Culinary Throw Down in the fall semester.

4

April 2021

Features

The 1851 Chronicle

Diversity, equity and inclusion examined on campus

KATIE PETERS, CLAIRE CRITTENDON & KAIE QUIGLEY editors-in-chief

& features editor

“It’s really critical that this work isn’t treated as if it’s just an add on,” says Chief Diversity Officer Jesse Tauriac. The work in question is diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Lasell.

One office dedicated to DEI accountability is The Donahue Institute, which has hosted many events regarding DEI this semester. Tauriac has continued community-wide Real Talk on Race discussions. During the month of February, the Donahue Institute hosted multiple educational and discussion-based events. Dr. Grace Kim was invited in early April to present on Anti-Asian racism. These discussions and presentations aim to educate the community on different perspectives, but the office has a limited staff which means limited capabilities.

“I recognize that resources are tight, and that we are doing everything that we can to make sure that we spend responsibly for the sake of the university and for the sake of our students,” said Tauriac. “Along with that, I do think more resources need to be allocated towards this work.”

Discrepancies between staff and faculty self-evaluation forms, course evaluation forms lacking a place for DEI-related feedback, and having an overworked, understaffed, underfunded office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion have become recurring obstacles for the university, according to Tauriac.

With recent reports of racially-motivated harassment being dealt with in an unsatisfactory manner according to Tauriac and an affected student, questions from the community are once again being raised.

These concerns include the university’s attention and proactivity when it comes to issues relating to race.

A sophomore, who wished to remain unnamed for privacy reasons, who began this year as a Resident Assistant (RA) in Woodland Hall was the victim of multiple racial bias incidents. In December, during finals week, this RA was walking down the sidewalk outside of Woodland Hall when they heard a student yell a racial slur out of the window.

When the incident was brought to Campus Police, it was suggested that the student(s) may have been singing along to a song and that nothing could be done. This was not the first, and would not be the last, incident this student would go through.

In early March, while this RA was on duty, they noticed a fire extinguisher and a pile of traffic cones at the end of one of the hallways outside of their room. This was reported to their Area Coordinator and they were told someone else would take care of it.

Before the end of the night, they noticed the fire extinguisher cabinet next to their room was open. The student, with the other RA on duty, took a photo of this as well, reported it,

and closed the cabinet. Shortly after, a Campus Police officer arrived at Woodland Hall.

When the officer examined the cabinet, he found a five-inch razor blade next to the fire extinguisher. The RA whose room was next to the blade said that they felt threatened. The officer checked all other extinguisher cabinets, noting theirs was the only one with a blade present, took their statement, and left.

“It would have been different if nothing had happened to me in the past but it’s kind of clear, at least in my head, that there could have been some underlying message,” they said.

Later that night, former Lasell student Jalen Privott took the student to Campus Police to make a statement about the incident.

Even after both statements indicated that the student felt unsafe, no action was taken. “I feel like race definitely played a part in it,” they said. They mentioned how as an RA, they’ve seen situations where white students feel threatened and it is handled differently.

“The police officer left me alone in my room and he made me feel like I was crazy for saying I felt threatened.”

That night, Privott created a petition with the goal of raising awareness of incidents like this on campus.

Currently, this petition has 626 signatures. A portion of the petition reads, “at the end of the day, they come back to her with the same message: ‘you need to do more and educate more people on racial issues, etc. and there isn’t anything we can do.’”

When asked about this, President Michael Alexander said, “I’m not sure that’s what it really said. But let’s say it did say that.

The answer is I would disagree with that.”

He continued to say, “it is true that we don’t do enough. But I don’t know anybody in the country who’s doing enough.” Alexander said he spent many hours attempting to resolve issues, and did resolve some.

While the President and other university officials may have deemed this situation as solved, the affected parties felt otherwise.

“Lasell preaches so much diversity and [has] racial workshops and whatever, nothing is being done when it’s time for those measures to come into play,” said Privott. “They completely missed every shot.”

The affected student feels the same.

“I’ve had to drop out of classes, change advisors, move from my residence, and I was expected to advocate for myself as the victim,” they said.

Tauriac weighed in, saying, “In terms of [the student’s] situation, people did not respond in the way that they have been trained to respond … I think there are multiple offices where there were members or employees from multiple offices that did not

respond to that situation the way that they have been trained to do so.”

According to Tauriac, the university has updated protocol to streamline follow up communication between Campus Police, Student Affairs, The Donahue Institute, and other offices after reports of bias have been made. “We don’t ever want a student to be uninformed about the response the University has taken or left feeling that the University has not done anything in response to their reports,” said Tauriac.

On March 23, 12 days after the incident in Woodland Hall, President Alexander released a video titled “A Message from the President.” This three minute video was a statement detailing the current state of racism on campus. On the same day, a transcript of the video was posted to the Instagram page @lasell_u, stating the video was linked in the account’s bio. As of April 24, the video is no longer in @lasell_u’s LinkTree.

This video, filmed by hand without a stabilizer, felt insufficient, according to senior Ariana Perez De Alderete.

Perez De Alderete said, “I think that you shouldn’t have to be part of a club to be talking about race, we should be talking about constantly. I also think that Michael Alexander is very clearly uncomfortable talking about race.”

In the fall, Perez De Alderete put up a multitude of stickers all over campus in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. As a result, she was placed on community probation for vandalism. “I wasn’t being sneaky about it. I [put them up] in broad daylight,” said Perez De Alderete. “I realized I spent four years at a school that doesn’t protest for what’s right.”

Perez De Alderete’s concerns are seemingly not unique.

“Look, as an institution, we talk a lot about DEI. We need to follow up on that with the amount of resources we invest in that area, whether that’s staffing, whether that’s funding for professional development, whether that is time that is specifically allotted to doing that work, it’s critical,” said Tauriac. “There needs to be a shift in policies and practices to ensure that moving forward, that no longer happens.”

One group working to shift these policies is The Student Government Association (SGA). It is currently advocating for a DEI section to be added to course evaluations.

They have hosted a meeting on the topic, and currently have a student officer sitting on the course evaluations committee.

At the end of each academic year, staff and faculty are required to fill out self-evaluation forms. Anyone in a staff or faculty supervisor position must also fill out an evaluation of the person/people they supervise.

While the staff evaluation form does include a DEI section, the same cannot be said for the faculty form.

The Donahue Institute has attempted to increase DEI accountability for employees through advocating for changes in these evaluation forms.

“I think that there are some employees who are asked about that in greater detail.

And right now, our administration is looking at ensuring that there is consistency in this across all employee groups,” said Tauriac.

Students and faculty alike are quite familiar with end-of-semester course evaluations forms. Typically sent out two weeks prior to the commencement of a semester, these forms include questions about professors’ teaching style, preparedness, etc. What these forms don’t include is a section for DEI-centric feedback.

President Alexander blames this on a “long-standing oversight” and says it cannot be changed until the Faculty Handbook is updated, which, according to the President, “is not so easy to amend.” President Alexander did not comment on how long this change would take, but said that “faculty and the deans of the schools are working on it. So it will happen. It’s just a laborious process.”

SGA President senior Olivia Tata said, “I really hope that this or just course evaluations in general are taken a bit more seriously.” She continued to say, “being a senior, I’ve definitely [written] my fair share of course evaluations and had to write about personal situations that I’ve had with the professors and being told by professors sometimes that they don’t really care, they don’t really read them.”

Tata’s main objective for the proposed revisions is accountability.

While students currently have the option to write anything in the blank space provided at the end of the form, this can easily sacrifice a students’ anonymity and set them up for possible backlash in the future.

With faculty self and supervisory forms, and course evaluations forms for faculty all currently lacking a DEI section, accountability is harder to achieve.

Speaking on what he would like to see going forward, Tauriac said, “I think that we would really benefit from more staffing.

I think that we would benefit from more investment in professional development. I think that there are a lot of people who are working incredibly hard, and are stretched incredibly thin.” He continued, “I wish that there was more time built into their schedule so that they could devote energy and time to really grow and learn.”

Becker College closes all its doors after 237 years

HOLLY FEOLA & RAYANA PETRONE opinion editor

& 1851 staff

situation,’’ said Becker College President Nancy P. Crimmin in a March 29 press release.

The college will be assisting its students and faculty with transitional services throughout the summer in hopes of getting them enrolled, or employed in various other institutions.

“Our commitment going forward is to do everything we can to ensure our students finish this year strongly positioned to continue their PHOTO BY RAYANA PETRONE Becker College to close its doors after 2020-2021 academic year. education, and that they and all our faculty and staff get access to the Becker College, with locations in best education and employment opportuWorcester and Leicester, has announced nities available,” said Christine L. Cassidy, it will be closing its doors at the end of Chair of Becker’s Board of Trustees on the this academic year due to ongoing finanBecker College website. cial struggles. “Ultimately, the impacts of Lasell has partnered with Becker COVID-19 turned what was a very chalthrough a memorandum of understandlenging situation into an unsustainable ing (MOU), which is an agreement made

between two groups for common goals.

As part of the MOU, Lasell has decided to match scholarships and grants once promised to Becker students.

Lasell has agreed to become an academic pathway “for students to continue their education with minimal disruptions,” according to Becker’s Academic Pathways site. A variety of Associate degree programs will be able to continue on at Lasell such as business, early childhood education and criminal justice.

Lasell will also be a potential destination for Bachelor degree programs in biology, business, criminal justice, esports management, exercise science -health and fitness, forensic science, graphic design, health science, legal studies, psychology, and sports management.

As of April 21, Lasell received 36 applications from Becker students with the most common major being forensic science, according to Director of Admissions Yavuz Kiremit. Out of the 36 applications, only two studnets have put down a deposit at Lasell so far.

Over the past few years, Lasell has become experienced with accepting transfer

students from other recently closed institutions such as Newbury and Mount Ida. “Since we’ve already done this twice, we’ve gotten good at this. We were able to quickly adapt and put together the Becker microsite where we had all the information there, and the application,” said Kiremit. The microsite mentioned is in reference to the Becker tab on Lasell’s website.

Becker College informed their students of the closure in the middle of the spring semester and has been constantly assisting students and faculty with future education decisions. “I think the students probably would have appreciated if [news of closure] was a little bit earlier in the year, but … look at what they put together. It is pretty impressive that they actually broke it down by majors, [depending on your] major, these are schools that have programs for you,” said Kiremit.

As part of the MOU, students from Becker have until September 2022 to apply to Lasell. If they haven’t completed their applications by the outlined date they will not have the same consideration as those who applied by the specified deadline.

The 1851 Chronicle

5

April 2021

Features

Charlotte Winslow: Lasell’s liveliest Villager

RAYANA PETRONE & ALEXANDRA WHITE

1851 staff

Lasell Village, the living and learning community here on campus for those over the age of 65, is home to an average of 225 residents. Of those residents, one who stands out is Charlotte Lindgren Winslow.

An Ipswich native, Charlotte Winslow has had a long-term connection to the Lasell community. Her late husband, Donald Winslow was born in Karandon House and raised on the Lasell campus as he was the son of the former president, Guy M. Winslow.

When asked about Charlotte, President Alexander expressed gratitude for her, “... as a neighbor, former English professor, a supporter of the archives, historian to Lasell, and now as a Lasell Village resident, she has made invaluable contri-

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLOTTE WINSLOW

Charlotte enjoying a treat at a reception for artists at Lasell Village.

butions to the university,” said Alexander.

Charlotte has always had a passion for education, growing up she dreamed of being a teacher. “I was planning on going to teaching school, I always wanted to be a teacher. My high school teachers were wonderful, they recommended I go to university and helped me get scholarships for my first year,” she said.

Charlotte attended Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree, and a Master’s degree before becoming an English teacher at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH. After teaching for a year, Charlotte came back to Boston University where she worked as a teaching assistant while getting her Doctorate. While working at Boston University, she became good friends with the English professor she had during her freshman year, Donald Winslow.

After working at Boston University on and off while earning her degrees, she taught at Emerson College, where she developed their study abroad program.“It started very small, just two professors and I took kids to Europe for six weeks,” she said.

“Each year was different, we went to a lot of different places. We went to Sicily one year, England, and even Egypt.”

Throughout her successful career, Charlotte remained friends with her previous co-worker, Donald Winslow. After years of friendship, Don and Charlotte’s relationship developed into more.

Once Don retired, the two were married in Oxford, England, as it was a special vacation spot for them. “We got married... in one of the university

college’s chapels… I had a good friend at Emerson who was from Oxford… he had the connection there and he married us, ” said Charlotte.

When Charlotte married Don, she also married into the Lasell community. With her love of English and History, it was only natural that the two settled into a home on Maple Street, less than a mile from Lasell’s campus. With their strong ties to Lasell, Don was a member of the Board of Trustees of which Charlotte oversees to this day. “[Charlotte] knew a lot about Lasell, and being married to Mr. Winslow… makes her connection to the archives natural. Charlotte and Donald gave money to develop the archives at Lasell, they gave money to get things organized, to have an archivist to set things up,” said President Alexander. “They have greatly supported the institutional history, and the archives together.”

When Don passed at the age of 99 in July of 2010, Charlotte continued her role overseeing the board, and resided in their home on Maple Street until she broke her shoulder. It was at this time she moved to Lasell Village. Friends at the Village describe Charlotte as being young and cheerful. “Charlotte has discovered the fountain of youth, and that is why she is so young at heart,” said villager Jean Stringham.

Charlotte was originally opposed to the idea of living in the Village. “I did not like the idea of having to take courses. I thought I was too old,” said Charlotte.

However, since living at the Village, Charlotte has told Village Program Director, Carla

Pepka that “... she’s become more alive since she’s lived here, she feels stronger since she’s been here...”, says Pepka.

Charlotte now believes Lasell Village has been a fulfilling experience. “I’ve changed my mind and I think it’s a wonderful thing. Instead of playing bingo, we’re taking on new careers,” says Charlotte.

Charlotte lights up when discussing the art classes she takes at Lasell Village, the passion is evident in her eyes. Her natural talent in the arts was supported by one of her art teachers, Margo Lemieux who said, “Truthfully, her work is more sophisticated than Grandma Moses, she was already an artist before she came to my class. Her art is wonderful.”

Besides attending art classes, Charlotte enjoys spending time at the gym where she meets with a trainer three days a week. “Charlotte is religious about going to the gym for fitness classes… I always tease her and say, ‘you are the bestdressed person to go to fitness,’” said Pepka.

As someone with a lifelong passion for education, Lasell Village is the perfect home for Charlotte to continue her education. Charlotte has enjoyed watching recent developments of Lasell’s campus and is excited to see what the future holds at the university. She says, “Lasell kids are, I think, exceptional. They were helpful in my art class when I broke my ankle. I’m very impressed with Lasell students,” she said. It is safe to say that Lasell would not be what it is today without the wonderful work and contributions of Charlotte Winslow.

Dry pantry launches for the community at Klingbeil House

KAIT BEDELL news editor

Professor and Director of Center for Community-Based Learning Nickki Dawes, with the help of student volunteers, has partnered with the Newton Food Pantry to open the Lasell Dry Pantry on campus for students.

The pantry is located in the back entrance of Klingbeil House where all students are welcome and grab food.

After spending almost two years at Lasell University, Professor and Director of Center for Community-Based Learning Nickki Dawes felt that the school could benefit from a pantry on campus. Dawes had been spending time volunteering at Newton Food Pantry and decided to talk to them about helping to start Lasell’s pantry.

“I have a couple of main roles I play at the university,” Dawes said. “I think I see this as part of my role or responsibility, I don’t see it as a sort of extra.”

While Dawes enjoys her time helping others through the two pantry’s she plays major roles in, she also said it helps her to network for Lasell as well.

“I view this work as essentially leveraging

TAYLOR VILES

my space as a sort of a community-engaged practitioner-scholar to help to make this happen,” Dawes said. “I’m optimistic that as well as providing a resource for students who might find this useful, maybe we can develop curricular connections too.”

In addition to all Dawes does for the pantry, she said she relies heavily on the student workers who volunteer their time to help keep it running. One prominent student worker Dawes said is “fantastic” and a “key partner” in running the pantry is Junior Simone Landry.

Landry is the “captain” of the food pantry on campus and oversees the food that is coming and going while making sure everything is running smoothly.

“It’s fun to do something engaging and hands-on again,” Landry said. “Being in the building again is good because I’ve been working remotely so it’s good to get out there and do something productive for the Lasell community.”

Landry has spent a lot of time communicating with Dawes and figuring out ways to improve the new pantry while spreading the

word about its opening.

Dawes’s connections to the Newton Food Pantry have helped the two brainstorm new ways to expand the dry pantry on campus. The town’s pantry has also helped to supply the food needed to start up Lasell’s pantry.

“We’ve been chatting with the people from the food pantry to see what else we can get and what they find successful for them in their work just to really get the word out,” Landry said.

Although Landry said the pantry has had a slow start due to the lack of students on campus this semester, she hopes more people will utilize the resource as it continues to grow.

“I’m glad that students are using it for people that need a gap filler,” Landry said. “I really hope that more people start going to it and that it grows into a bigger project.”

The goal of the pantry is to provide mutual aid in order to create an atmosphere centered around enhancing the community.

Those who wish to donate food items to the pantry are encouraged to reach out to Dawes via email.

PHOTO BY KAIT BEDELL

Lasell Unviersity launched an on campus dry pantry on March 29. Community members can visit the pantry at Klingbeil House.

Madison Griffin: motivated by passion

sports editor

There are multiple ways to complete the college experience. Senior Fashion Media and Marketing major Madison Griffin chose to dive into the Lasell community by participating in extracurriculars and becoming an on-campus leader, giving her a feeling of accomplishment for when she graduates in a couple of weeks.

All Griffin knew when she came to Lasell was she wanted to do “something with fashion,” she said. “I knew that I was getting a full, well-rounded education with professors who cared about me.”

One of those professors is Assistant Professor of Art and Graphic Design Deborah Baldizar, who Griffin dubs, “[her] favorite woman to ever exist.” The two met in Griffin’s first-year seminar class, “The Spark of Creativity.” She is also the faculty advisor for “Empty Bowls,” a club aiming to raise money and awareness for the hungry by making ceramic bowls. Griffin joined the club as a first-year because she “wanted to do something with people who actually cared so selflessly about an important mission.”

Through her passion for Empty Bowls, Griffin became the leader she never knew she could be. As a sophomore, she was given an e-board position and began taking on more responsibility. “She is the epitome of prepared, organized, and professional,” Baldizar said of Griffin, who has since become Empty Bowls’ Co-President. “I feel like she has this wisdom

beyond her years.”

By the end of her sophomore year, Griffin realized something that was making her on-campus lifestyle uncomfortable. She felt she wasn’t making friends who supported her, and the situations she was experiencing with them led to further discomfort. Griffin says overcoming this was difficult, but she was given the perfect “out” by traveling abroad to Florence, Italy at the beginning of her junior year.

“Studying abroad is one of the main reasons that I went to college in the first place,” she said. Griffin’s experience allowed her to let go of the treacherous routine back at Lasell and focus on herself. She was able to travel to 10 countries before returning home.

She began commuting during the spring 2020 semester but soon moved fully online as the whole university did in March. Griffin has been online this school year. “I have been able to feel more involved in my own element than I was at school,” she said.

Making those tough decisions is something her advisor, School of Fashion Dean Kathleen Potter, says is one of Griffin’s strongest attributes. “[She always] carves the best path forward for herself,” said Potter.

Associate Professor of Journalism Marie Franklin has also observed how Griffin sets herself apart. Franklin has taught the senior in two classes and says she shows leadership and ma-

turity even behind the computer screen. “I’ve been very impressed with her ability to take constructive feedback positively, and...improve her work as a result of it,” said Franklin. “Madison wants things to be as good as they can be.”

From home, Griffin has been able to colead the recent Empty Bowls event as well as the upcoming all-virtual fashion shows taking place May 7 and 8.

She says her achievement during the Empty Bowls event is one of the most impressive things she’s ever done. The virtual event included a live auction Griffin was in charge of. “Throughout the event, anytime someone bid on a bowl, I had to update the website continuously which was super stressful. But somehow I did it.”

On May 15, Griffin will graduate with her Bachelor’s degree but won’t be attending commencement in person. Instead, she is moving to North Carolina for the summer where she will intern for a summer camp as a media specialist. “I don’t know where life is going to take me after that,” she said. Griffin has become skilled at social media and hopes to, someday, make a livable wage working from her phone.

Reflecting back, Griffin is satisfied with her personal growth and is grateful Lasell allowed her conditions to thrive. “I feel like I’ve just changed so much,” she said. “I’ve really become someone who I like to be and I’m proud to be.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON GRIFFIN

Madison Griffin touring the streets of Florence, Italy during her semester abroad in 2019.

6

April 2021

KAIE QUIGLEY

The 1851 Chronicle

Sports

Lasers earn athletic honors in April

features editor

Throughout the past month, eight student-athletes have been recognized by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) for outstanding performances in their respective sports. Members of the baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse teams were given the conference honors.

One of these athletes, graduate student Jordan McComb, was selected as the women’s lacrosse “Player of the Week” all four weeks of April for her performances against conference opponents. McComb put up six goals and three assists against Johnson & Wales University ( JWU), nine goals and two assists versus Anna Maria College, and had ten goals and ten assists in two games against Dean College as part of her dominant month.

Another women’s lacrosse player, graduate student Morgan Choquet, earned honors alongside her teammate. She was named “Goalie of the Week” after tallying 11 saves in the team’s 16-13 win versus JWU. Lacrosse players on the men’s side were also highlighted by the GNAC this month. Senior attackman Andrew Fidalgo and junior Bash Cunningham were each named “Player of the Week,” and junior goalie Alex Beauchemin was named “Goalie of the Week,” twice in the month.

Fidalgo had two goals, including a last-minute go-ahead score in the team’s 12-11 win against Norwich University en route to earning his honors, while Cunningham scored a career-high five goals in a 19-8 rout of Rivier University to help the Lasers clinch the regular season GNAC title.

Beauchemin was recognized twice, as he had 59

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARUK

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARUK

Alex Beauchemin defends the net from an attacker in a matchup against Dean College.

Jordan McComb carries the ball upfield for the Lasers in the team’s second game versus Dean College.

saves, and boasted a save percentage of over 60 percent in his two honorary weeks combined.

In the team’s game against Rivier, Beauchemin also broke the school wins record. His now 24 victories put him past Laser Hall of Fame member Mark DeMieri (‘08).

The awards in April don’t stop there for the Lasers, as three members of the baseball team and one member of the softball team were recognized by the GNAC. Junior first baseman/pitcher Matt Motyka was named “Player of the Week” after going 6-14 at the plate over a four-game week. Motyka was 3-4 with a double, and two runs batted in the team’s loss to Trinity College.

Two first-years, Darek Lallo and CJ Mills, were each named “Pitcher of the Week” during the month. Lallo pitched five scoreless innings and struck out five batters in a 5-1 win versus Norwich.

Mills pitched nine innings throughout two games for the Lasers, striking out nine batters. He struck out five batters in a win versus Albertus Magnus College and only gave up one earned run.

Another first-year shined this month as softball’s Katie Hopkins was named “Co-Player of the Week” and “Co-Rookie of the Week” after putting on a hitting clinic over a four-game stretch. In a doubleheader against Fisher College, Hopkins recorded a double and five runs batted in. In the team’s next set of back-to-back games versus Johnson & Wales, she recorded three runs batted and had two solo home runs in the second game alone.

As playoffs have now begun, these players look to lead their respective teams to a GNAC championship.

Softball with best start in program history

KAIE QUIGLEY & JOSH WOLMER features editor

& 1851 staff

After a long wait, the softball team didn’t waste time recording the best start in program history, with eight wins to begin the season before falling to Johnson & Wales University (JWU) in a set of doubleheaders. Since then, their overall record has returned to an average of 8-10, but the team matched their win total from their last full season played. Second-year head coach Sarah Woodside said she has seen the team improve in both attitude and skill since she stepped into her role with the program in 2020.

“I attribute that to players losing an entire season and having a desire to perform well on the field, which is something they were unable to do last year,” said Woodside. “Our players have been working hard in season and independently, even through last spring and summer in the height of the pandemic. That hard work is showing itself on the field and as a coach, it makes me proud to know that this game means as much to them as it does to me.”

Senior Co-Captain Bethany Hector agreed with her coach’s statement. “Going into the season we all really wanted to give it our all. After losing our season last year because of COVID-19, we all wanted to prove ourselves to the GNAC and Lasell,” Hector said.

“The upperclassmen are setting the bar in terms of building a cohesive team, hard work and

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARUK

Infielders high-five each other as the team heads into the top of an inning versus Johnson & Wales. L to R: Angelena Piers, Alexis Truesdale, Eryn Sheeley, Brianna Gendreau, Katie Hopkins.

dedication which has a trickle effect on the underclassmen,” said Woodside. Four captains have helped lead the Lasers through the year. Seniors Nicolette Genkos, Alexis Truesdale, Hector, and junior Brianna Gendreau, have all been impressive so

far, setting examples for younger players. Gendreau is batting close to .400 and leading the offensive charge alongside some hard-hitting first-years.

First-years Ally Kirck and Katie Hopkins are two of the 11 underclassmen suiting up for

their first season. Both are batting in the high .300s for the season and were recognized by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in the month of April. Kirk and Hopkins were each named “Rookie of the Week,” and Hopkins was named a “Co-Player of the Week’’ after hitting two solo home runs in a game versus JWU. “Seeing the underclassmen grow has been great, but at this point, it’s more of an expectation. Everyone, including the underclassmen, have to give their all on the field, no matter what,” Hector said.

Hector says the team has adopted certain mottos to help motivate and focus the team on their goals ahead. “Our time” and “all in” are two of these mottos. “We want to show everyone that it is our time to take the GNAC by storm and the only way to do that is if we’re all in, all the time,” she said.

The team also takes the mentality of “everybody eats” which, according to Hector, creates an understanding that the team comes before the individual. “[For example] that gap shot to left-center wasn’t just for you and your batting average, it’s what leads the whole team to win the game,” she said.

Hector said while the pandemic has hindered the team’s ability to bond off the field as they have in years prior, they still come together as a unit come game time. “Once we step out onto the field, we’re no longer individuals - we’re family,” she said.

Baseball team to graduate 17 players

TAYLOR VILES & KARISSA GAUGHAN

sports editor

& 1851 staff

Building a collegiate team while keeping conference championship hopes in mind is hard in a normal year. With the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19, head coaches were required to plan with unpredictability all but guaranteed.

Coming into the 2021 baseball season, Manager Bill Uberti was already anticipating a larger-than-normal senior class. Twelve student-athletes are set to graduate with their Bachelor’s in mid-May, but five more are also on the roster pursuing their Graduate degree.

This means on top of successfully coordinating a near-impossible schedule for this spring, Uberti has been responsible for filling the 17 roster spots available next season.

Director of Athletics Kristy Walter has been with Lasell since 1992 and is the only individual in program history to hold that position. When asked if she had ever seen a team lose so many players in an offseason, she said, “not to my knowledge, no. Not 17.”

Although the number of players leaving is large, the high caliber of play those ath-

letes possess has helped the underclassmen grow on the team. “We do have a big freshman class here, looking up to them,” said the second-year manager. “[The group of seniors and grad students] are the heart and soul of this program right now.” This should translate into the current first-year students doing the same for the incoming class.

Uberti says the term “rebuilding” isn’t one he’d use looking to next season. “We are going to be young,” he admitted. As of now, the team will only roster two seniors and soon the number of younger players will overshadow the upperclassmen. “Right now we have 11 pitchers committed [with more to come]. We pretty much have every single position covered with guys coming in that we’re excited about. We think they can make an impact right away and hit the ground running as freshmen,” Uberti said.

According to junior first baseman/pitcher Matt Motyka, the same is true about this season’s first-year class. “The freshmen have already started stepping up,” he said. First-year students

Darek Lallo and CJ Mills were honored in backto-back weeks as the “Pitchers of the Week” for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), recently. “To see them dominant right now as freshman, I can’t wait to see what they do with the offseason training,” said Motyka.

Current players have begun to have conversations with the coaching staff on executing their extra year of eligibility for next season, but with the number of students joining the team in the fall, this may not be possible for everyone.

“Looking at our roster, we have to make sure we have room for them,” said Uberti. “Even if they did want to come back, some of them, just to be perfectly honest with you, are not going to be invited back. [They’re] great kids and obviously big-time contributors to the program, but it is what it is. With our situation, we want to have a younger team.”

Aside from the few who could return for their graduate season, this group of 17 sits only a few games away from their final one as Lasers.

It’s a group that has mostly been together for four or five seasons, respectively. “We’ve got to

the point where it’s like we love each other so much as a group,” said senior Co-Captain Harrison Silva. He also said this is part of the team’s downfall. Because of the strong love, the team sometimes forgets to compete at the level they need to be at. “Right now, I just feel like we’re applauding and trying to root for each other rather than compete against each other.” This mentality would challenge every player on the team to compete harder and it would result in better play, according to Silva.

Graduate student and Co-Captain Joe Sullivan acknowledged how in recent history, come playoff time, the team’s overall play hasn’t been impressive. With the 17 about to graduate, the motivation to win is apparent.

“It’s a much stronger group goal,” he said. “We have been here for five years now and we always lose in the conference semifinals. So we’re all hungry for sure.”

The team currently sits fifth in the GNAC with a 7-5 record. The GNAC tournament begins on May 4.

The 1851 Chronicle

April 2021

Sports

Coaches corner: Ben Feintuck

What’s it like to play with masks?

TAYLOR VILES

sports editor

PAT CARBONE

1851 staff

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARUK

Ben Feintuck smiles for the camera before the men’s lacrosse team’s final game of the regular season.

Hailing from Framingham, Ben Feintuck has quickly impacted the men’s lacrosse team as their new assistant coach. Graduating from the University of New England (UNE) in 2020 with a degree in athletic training, Feintuck proved himself to be a hardworking student-athlete and now plans to do the same as a coach here at Lasell.

He began playing lacrosse in the 3rd grade. Shortly after, he would drop the sport to pursue other athletic interests before rediscovering his love for the sports during his sophomore year at Framingham High School. His hard work and determination would eventually have him recruited

by UNE. Playing long-stick midfield for the Nor’Easters, Feintuck made the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Academic All-Conference Team.

Like many other college students, Feintuck’s senior year at UNE was cut short due to COVID-19. After graduation, he struggled to find job opportunities at first, so he decided to email the Lasell men’s lacrosse head coach Bill Mason about a volunteer coaching position. After negotiations, Feintuck would be hired as the new defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the team.

When asked about Feintuck, Coach Mason stated, “Ben has been the best addition I’ve had in my six years here as a head coach.

From day one, he just wanted as much as possible from every aspect, from recruiting to the coaching side of it,” he said. “He’s been such a great inject of life to our program.”

Feintuck stands out because of his work ethic and dedication to his new team. “I’d wake up at 8 a.m., recruit the entire morning, probably a little too hard,” he said about the off-season. “Then once our season came, I was basically itching, trying to get back on the field with the guys,” said Fentuick.

He’s constantly working hard and always wants to “leave it all on the field,” he said.

“You do it to the highest extent, not only for yourself but for your team and for the legacy of the team,” said Feintuck. A lesson he hopes to pass down to the players on the team is to play as he did: with no regrets.

Losing the end of his college lacrosse career was very difficult for Feintuck. However, that loss has brought him a new beginning.

In his first season with the Lasell team, he has brought value and youth. He has proven to his players and fellow coaches that he is an incredibly hard worker. His experience in the game, his work ethic, and the lessons he has learned throughout his career have gotten him where he is today.

Feintuck wants to win and knows what it takes. With the Laser’s with an undefeated record in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference this season, he is prepared to help them take home a championship trophy by mid-May.

7

PHOTO BY TAYLOR VILES

A men’s lacrosse helmet sits on Grellier Field displaying the inserted mask that all players are required to wear.

Creating a safe atmosphere for sports to return to play this spring was arduous. Regulations had to be agreed upon by all competing Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) schools and multiple sacrifices were endured.

One of the non-negotiables set forth by the GNAC was to require student-athletes to wear masks before, during and after a competition. The 1851 Chronicle spoke with many Lasers about the effects playing with a mask has had on them this spring.

“Obviously breathing is a really big thing, especially when you’re running,” said junior women’s lacrosse player Sophia Gadsden. “I

had never played 100 percent with a mask on until...we started to play in the fall, so it was definitely an adjustment.”

First-year softball player Ally Kirck agreed with Gadsden. “You have to control your breathing a lot more because of the blockage.”

As time has gone on, adjusting to the breathing and pacing themselves has become easier. “It takes like a good week to really control your breathing,” said Gadsden.

In a recent match against Rivier University, Gadsden wasn’t prepared for when it began to rain. The precipitation practically turned her mask into a self-destructing weapon. “It felt

like I was getting waterboarded,” she said. She now carries multiple masks to a game in case she needs to change into a new one during a timeout in play.

Junior Matt Motyka has experienced both positives and negatives while competing with a mask on the baseball field. “I like it the best when I pitch,” said Motyka. “[The mask] kind of keeps me within myself. That’s really all I have on the mound.” The junior explained how he can have a conversation with himself on the diamond with no one else knowing, positively affecting his gameplay. Conversely, “when I’m hitting it affects me the most because...it can ride up,” he said. “Sometimes it gets into my eye.”

Junior men’s lacrosse goalie Alex Beauchemin has also dealt with vision issues due to the mask. “You can’t really look down like you could before,” he said. “Ground balls, or in my case low shots, are hard to see.” Even with these challenges, Beauchemin finished the regular season second in the GNAC in goals-against average (8.81), save percentage (60.3) and saves (126).

The men’s lacrosse team has a different situation than any other spring team because of their helmets. The athletic center purchased special masks to insert right into the facemasks. These masks are also thick explained Beauchemin, making the breathing adjustment much harder.

Contrary to the goalie’s current complaints, his head coach says that his team has never made an excuse when it comes to practice and gameplay. “I never hear, ‘this is affecting me,’ which I think is really cool and a testament to our team,” said Bill Mason. “But from a standpoint of our stamina and the way we fatigue in a game this year versus years prior with no mask, I don’t think I notice a difference at all.”

Whatever shortcomings exist of wearing a mask, most athletes can agree on one thing: “If this is the only way we can play, then I’m perfectly fine with it,” said Gadsden.

First-year Ally Kirck dominating the diamond JOSH WOLMER & ZACH KRAFT

1851 staff

First-year athletes are an asset that can make or break a collegiate athletic team’s chances of winning. They are not only being groomed for the future of the university’s athletic program but potentially a professional career for themselves.

Ally Kirck, an outfielder/ infielder for the Lasers, feels like there’s no better place to be for her than at Lasell.

“Around sophomore or junior year [of high school], I found Lasell and instantly fell in love,” said Kirck.

She began playing the sport at seven years old and the game became her passion when she was in middle school. Once she entered high school she began to thrive on the diamond.

Despite losing her senior year at Sacred Heart Academy, she worked to stay game-ready.

“I tried staying in shape and I would do stuff in my yard to keep my arm loose. I would go PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARUK to cages and field fly balls, whatever I could do,” Kirck said.

Ally Kirck at the plate in the first inning during a recent game against Fisher College.

When a player loses their When asked about how she feels regard- and instead has exceeded expectations. After senior year, it may be hard to find a favorite moment amidst the chaos, but Kirck remem- ing being a part of the Lasers’ softball team 17 games, Kick is batting .375, third-best on the bers a special one from the team’s senior night that won their first eight games of the season, team for players who have appeared in as many during her first season in high school. “When Kirck said, “Knowing that I’m a part of that is games. She has also been moved from the botwe were playing Amity during senior night, we very special to me and the history of the team. tom of the batting order to the top. The job of fought back as a team after an early deficit to I want to keep getting better and have our team the leadoff hitter is to get on base to start the game for your team. Kirck has an on-base perwin,” she said. “I always think back to that and and myself do the best we can.”

During week two of the season, Kirck was centage of .500, the highest on the team. remember if we could come back then, we can connecting with seemingly every pitch. She The softball team, led by their leadoff hitter come back in any game.”

A couple of years later, Kirck made her went 8-13, good for a .615 batting average, Kirck, will continue striving to remain on top of decision to go to Lasell. “I just knew that this scored five runs, and drove in three as well their games. They will now look to make a good school would be the best for me academic-wise leading the Lasers to two doubleheader sweeps run in the GNAC playoffs. and athletics-wise. While being here, we’ve had over Wentworth and Lasell’s GNAC rival, the team Zooms all of the time, and having lost a Amcats of Anna Maria.

Kirk has not taken her role for granted season brought us all together closer,” she said.

8

April 2021

The 1851 Chronicle

Arts & Entertainment

From experimentation to a self-made business The Beautiful Stuff Project

RUTH KEHINDE

digital editor

From Windham, N.H. a first-year majoring in Fashion Merchandising and Management and minoring in Entrepreneurship, Sydney Pesaturo started sewing her first pieces when she was just 8 years old.

Once interested in photography and interior design, Pesaturo’s diversion to fashion blossomed from her creativity. With the help of her sewing machine, her self-owned business “By Sydpes” was born in March 2020.

Working mostly with denim, Pesaturo develops and pieces together designs to upcycle thrifted clothing into wearable garments and accessories. Her inspirations evolved from other designers and trends seen on social media.

Pesaturo always lets her personality dress her. “It’s the experimenting that allows you to see what types of trends and statement pieces are possible,” she says.

She chose merchandising as her major due to her occupation in retail and the yearning to learn more about the marketing side of the fashion industry. In the journey of starting her own business at 18 years old, the fashion industry’s competitive nature motivates Pestaturo to want to work harder everyday.

Chosen for the first student-spotlight last semester in Studio 1851, Pesaturo was able to put her clothes in-store and online for purchase. Pesaturo additionally works with POLISHED Magazine as one of the stylists.

She finds support in her fashion professors’ advice and the words of encouragement

PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY PESATURO

Sydney Pesaturo poses with self-made denim jeans.

that Lasers have given her.

Raised on thrift shopping at Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Savers, Pesaturo became more conscious of clothing pollution that came from fast fashion. By Sydpes helps save many pieces of clothing from causing further landfill and water contamination. By Sydpes’ mission is to provide consumers with upcycled and sustainable clothing.

Her drive to become her own boss and

grow her brand comes easy for her, as Pesaturo views fashion as an artform. While witnessing the constant improvement in herself, “keeping a positive mindset and not getting discouraged easily ... makes you stronger mentally,” she says.

“Syd is one of the most hard working and driven people I know. I really admire her and how she never fails to be herself. She is bettering the world with her sustainable designs,” close friend, senior Emma Ingenohl said.

Preferring to work solo, Pesaturo finds her strengths in communication, customer service, leadership, efficiency and creativity.

She believes the defining factor of being a successful fashion designer is knowing how to work under pressure.

Besides working on the upbringing of her brand, Pesaturo is a student library worker. Although Brennan Library experienced changes in overall library services due to COVID-19, “Sydney has been such a great addition to our team this year … she’s always eager to take on an extra task or learn something new. She has such a confident [and] relaxed attitude while doing it,” said Library Director Anna Sarneso.

After graduation, Pesaturo hopes to travel the world to assist in cleaning up the earth and spreading awareness on other sustainable and affordable brands for consumers to shop from. “This passion of mine will bring me happiness for the rest of my life. I love that I have the ability to make my own clothes and wear them.”

Emma’s Style Corner: Menswear edition

EMMA INGENOHL

1851 staff

This menswear feature is long overdue. It is important to me that this style corner caters to all genders and fashions. So for anyone who dresses in menswear- this one’s for you.

Menswear has been evolving more and more over the years to expand beyond previous limits. Though not everyone is ready to go full Young Thug, Kurt Cobain, or Harry Styles and wear a dress, experimental styles are being embraced by many. Recent spring 2021 menswear runways such as Prada, Craig Green, and Gucci showcased stunning collections that were both reminiscent of the past, and totally new. This spring/summer season has and will continue to see great menswear street styles, and there are a few leading trends worth noting.

One of the more recent controversial topics in menswear is short length. For the past few decades, long shorts have been widely accepted by men and others wearing menswear. Recently however, the length of shorts has begun to shrink more, and some people are on board, while others are not.

Above-the-knee shorts and swim trunks are becoming the preferred length of shorts in menswear, many featuring fun prints and colors.

Prints and colors are a recurring trend in

RACHEL SHEPARD

looking for a high fashion style this summer, utility is definitely something you should try. Vest with pockets can be easily paired with a white t-shirt, some khaki or jean shorts, and Birkenstocks to create an effortless, yet put together outfit that you can wear many different ways.

Matching sets have been popular for the past year or so, and menswear is no exception to this trend. A shortsleeve button down and matching shorts is a go to look for menswear this summer. A few of these sets in your closet will help to create a diverse and interesting palette for your summer wardrobe. Mix and match GRAPHIC BY EMMA INGENOHL colors and prints, pair with some sunmenswear this spring and summer. Whethglasses and chains, and head down to er it’s a striped button-down or bucket hat, the beach. Wear the button-down open with there are many ways to play around with a t-shirt or a tank top underneath. Do not patterns and colors. Graphic tees also are underestimate the power of a matching set! a staple piece being reinforced this spring If you’re looking for some inspiration for and summer that can add some color and a some of these styles, @drumaq, @wisdm, print to your look. Paired with canvas shorts and @loveleo on instagram are all major facor jeans and sneakers, graphic tees are quick es in menswear fashion at the moment. and easy ways to elevate any outfit while With fashion and style ever-changing making it casual and interesting. and evolving, there are so many ways for Utility style clothing is especially prom- people to express themselves. Menswear will inent in menswear for this spring/summer continue to push boundaries and we can 2021 season. Cargo shorts or pants, trench- hope to someday see the line between menses, and pocketed shirts are of the many wear and women’s fashion fade until there is items that are being paired together to cre- no more distinction between the two. ate factory worker-esque outfits. If you are

What’s streaming this spring?

copy editor

Streaming services have begun their spring cleaning and we now have access to new content.

The only problem with all these new options is where to start. Here’s a guide for what to watch depending on what you’re interested in.

“Moonrise Kingdom,” Amazon Prime Video - whimsical and light-hearted Available since April 1 on Prime Video, is a Wes Anderson film about two 12 year olds who fall in love and run away together. Their island community searches for them while a storm is brewing offshore and headed towards them. Full of bright colors, beautiful cinematography and wacky adults, this movie will make you nostalgic for your childhood.

“The Nanny,” HBO Max - campy and nostalgic Also available April 1, is all six seasons of the 1993 sitcom “The Nanny.” The show follows Fran, who has been recently dumped and fired by her ex-boyfriend. While trying to make ends meet, she accidentally gets hired as the nanny of a famous

broadway producer. Chaos ensues.

“The Way of the Househusband,” Netflix comedic and feel good As of April 8, the first season of Netflix’s adaptation of the manga “The Way of the Househusband” is available. Five episodes depict Tatsu, a former yakuza boss, who is now a stay-at-home husband. He learns how to take care of the house while

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL SHEPARD

his wife focuses on her career. The episodes are fast and quick-witted. You won’t even realize you’ve finished the entire season in one day.

“Sasquatch,” Hulu - true crime and mysterious In honor of the cult classic holiday April 20, Hulu is releasing “Sasquatch.” The series follows David Holthouse, a journalist who investigates a triple homicide on a cannabis farm in 1993. The main suspect, Sasquatch. Was it really him? Or was it because of the victims’ ties to cannabis? Holthouse plans to find out.

“Mortal Kombat,” HBO Max - action and violence On April 23, fans of this video game series will be able to stream the new movie adaptation and see it in theaters. Characters from the video game will appear as champions, those who have a dragon mark on their skin. Champions are invited to compete in Mortal Kombat to the death in order to rule the Earthrealm. Viewers should be aware this film shows an excess of graphic violence, and should be avoided if you have a weak stomach.

REBECCA OSOWSKI

1851 staff

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARINA SEEVAK

The Beautiful Stuff Project’s storefront located at 511 Medford St. in Somerville.

The Beautiful Stuff Project is a mission to “inspire creativity and increase access to play and the arts through reuse,’’ an idea that runs true through their unique treasure box curriculum.

But what actually is the Beautiful Stuff Project? Well, about 35 years ago, The Beautiful Stuff Project Founder and Educational Program Director Marina Seevak started her first job at the Boston Children’s Museum. The museum had a recycle center where museum goers could create art projects with recycled materials. The idea stuck with Seevak as she continued her career as a public-school teacher where she had a junk center where her students could play and create projects. As Seevak moved through careers, her passion for creative reuse followed her, until she started her own nonprofit and created The Beautiful Stuff Project.

The treasure box curriculum was created to use recycled materials to recognize and support children’s natural play inclinations, and inspire careful exploration of provided treasure. The students use their senses to discover new materials and how to play and experiment with them. Seevak first tested her curriculum with an old friend’s kindergarten class. While the teacher was hesitant, she let Seevak into her classroom and the children fell in love.

“We grew because of the community, because teachers wanted us,” said Seevak. Despite working pro bono, teachers from all over Somerville Public Schools were requesting Seevak and her curriculum and she taught in some classrooms.

Now, Seevak has a contract with Somerville Public Schools and has recently taught in Cambridge Public Schools as well. She also received the Cummings Foundation Grant, which is given to local nonprofit organizations working to better the community and the lives of its members through education, healthcare, human services and social justice.

On top of the treasure box curriculum, The Beautiful Stuff Project has a storefront that allows visitors to purchase materials and open studios four days a week, allowing members of the community of all ages to embrace their creative side through art with reused materials.

Due to COVID-19, Seevak had to adapt both her curriculum and her storefront but continues to help the community in immense ways. As her treasure box curriculum has now transferred to Zoom, her storefront has become a diaper donation center. Quickly after the pandemic began, Seevak partnered with the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative as “there were many families that were very impacted by the devastating loss of jobs,” and she wanted to provide basic needs for these families. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Seevak and the Beautiful Stuff Project have distributed over 260,000 diapers to the Somerville community at free meal sites every Wednesday.

As Seevak continues to give back to her community in more ways than one, she is calling on those who can, to help those in need. “If everyone who can, could, things could be a lot better.” If you’re at Lasell University looking to learn more and get involved, or even just donate, you can go to their website. Donation drop-off hours are from Monday- Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Seevak and her students working on their treasure boxes via Zoom.