Avion Issue 3 Fall 2020

the avion

embry-riddle aeronautical university • daytona beach, florida • september 23, 2020

REMEMBERING

A REVOLUTIONARY PAGE 2

issue 3 • volume 154

IN MEMORIAM Executive Board

Editor-in-Chief Victoria Jordan

editor@theavion.com

Managing Editor Vipul Telang

managing@theavion.com

News Editor Oliver Du Bois

news@theavion.com

Photo Editor Alani Seaman

photo@theavion.com

Business Manager Samantha Stirmel business@theavion.com

Staff Advisor Ronnie Mack

Assistant Director of Orientation & Communications

Contact Information (386) 226-6049 theavion.com 1 Aerospace Blvd, SU 219 Daytona Beach, FL 32114 @theavionnewspaper u/theavionnewspaper @The_Avion @TheAvion

Interested in writing, graphic design, or photography? Come to SU 210 at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays to meet the staff and learn about The Avion.

To receive text reminders about meetings and other information, text @theavion to 81010

Losing a Legend

Honoring Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Oliver Du Bois News Editor On Sept. 18, the world seemed to come to a pause as millions around the globe read the headline, “Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies at 87.” For a moment, everything felt surreal, while many took in the loss of the trailblazer and feminist icon’s light dimming from this world. Social media apps such as Twitter and Instagram were filled with tributes to the woman, with people across the United States sharing their stories and voicing praise for the fallen Justice. Those on opposing political spectrums came in solidarity for the woman, acknowledging what she meant to women and men alike.

Hundreds flocked to the Supreme Court steps as word of Ginsburg’s death spread, all to pay tribute to her incredible soul.

First and foremost, Ginsburg was a fighter. Since the 1970s, she fought for women’s rights and frequently challenged the status quo of institutionalized gender norms.

She showed women all around the globe that they could enter a male-dominated space and succeed. She paved the way for wom-

en interested in law, no matter their political beliefs. Her work for women’s rights and equality was unparalleled and unapologetic.

She spent her lifetime passionately working to amplify women’s voices when it could not be heard, stating, “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.”

After 13 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals from 1980-1993, and more than 27 years working as a Supreme Court Associate Justice from 1993 onwards, no one can deny Ginsburg’s impact in life and death.

While she was a force to be reckoned with in life, one who brought morality to courtrooms and justice to minority groups, she is still a powerful force in death. Her loss spurred donations totaling over $30 million to ActBlue, an online donation service utilized to fund Democratic campaigns, in just 24 hours. While she may be gone from this physical world, her memory lives on. In the words of many who share the same sentiment, may her memory be a revolution. That is truly the best way to honor Ginsburg’s legacy; by taking her loss not as a barrier to encouraging the world’s betterment,

but as a spark to light the flame of change.

Ginsberg was of the Jewish faith and passed away on the Shabbat of Rosh Hashanah, a High Holy Day marking the gateway to a new year. In Jewish tradition, those who pass on Rosh Hashanah are called Tzadiks and believed to have human frailties with superhuman abilities to create a better world for all.

The timing of her departure allows all of us to remember and honor her as we move into this new year, and the timing’s significance is certainly not lost on those who share her faith.

Despite what political stance you hold, despite if you see Ruth Bader Ginsberg as a hero or not, there is no denying that she made an impact. She paved the way for so many women and brought peace and justice with a benevolent hand.

Her loss brings pain to the hearts of thousands across the globe. While we mourn for her and her loved ones, we must find peace knowing that with her loss comes the inspiration to incite change, the motivation to lead revolutions, and speak for what we believe is right. May her memory be a blessing.

“ I would like to be

remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.

“

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Photo Courtesy/Scott Mahasky

Photo Courtesy/Pablo Monsivais

CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS

Your Vote Counts!

Christie Miller Asst. Director for Career Readiness College students may be wondering if they should even bother to vote. The answer is yes, definitely! First of all, it is your right, and you have the duty to exercise that right. What’s more, when you vote, you honor the sacrifices of military members who have fought for this country. You also honor civil rights leaders and suffrage activists who worked hard to provide this right to vote for those who did not always have it. It is your right and responsibility to vote!

You are also a part of a significant voting bloc. As Millennials, you have strong political power.

In the past, sadly, college students have voted in smaller numbers than older citizens. By not voting, you are giving up your influence.

Let’s be realistic. Politicians won’t address student needs without student votes. Don’t give up your power. Vote!

Your vote matters. Over the years, the elections have been very close, and some decided by just a few votes. Make sure your voice is heard. You have the ability to influence social, economic, environmental, and foreign policy by casting a vote for the candidate that shares your views on these issues. If you have topics you care about, be sure to stand up for them. Vote!

Here’s what you need to know about voter registration: • Students with a FL driver’s license will be able to complete the entire voter registration process online. There will be a QR code that can be

scanned on personal devices for a no-touch way to register online.

• Students without a FL driver’s license will need to do the paper registration form. There will be paper forms at the table.

We will mail the registration forms to the Division of Elections before Oct. 5 (the last day to register).

• Students registered in their home states have two options.

One option is to request an absentee ballot and mail it back before Election Day. The other option is to change their registration to Florida in order to vote here. This process can be done on the paper registration form. Remember, you cannot be registered in both locations.

It is essential to be registered to vote by the deadline to exercise your right, show your power, and make your voice heard in the November elections. Register now!

Vote in November!

Are You Registered To Vote?

If not, don’t worry. You have the opportunity to register on campus!

When: Sept. 21 to Oct. 2 What time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday Where: Student Union near the food court

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Page Editors Cover Photo Alani Seaman Campus Editors Oliver Du Bois Romeia Al-Hajeri Hunter Lyons Joshua Rosado Victoria Jordan Industry Editors Rajan Khanna Korbin Martin Alani Seaman Entertainment Editors Connor Adair Samir Khairi Janielyse Cardona Gianna Castano Samantha Stirmel Sports Editors Vipul Telang Alani Seaman Comics Editor Samantha Stirmel Copy Editors Marlena Purcell Kevin Gellin Abigail Laveroni

Contributors Reporters Photographers

Vipul Telang Alani Seaman Victoria Jordan Vipul Telang Rajan Khanna Korbin Martin Samantha Stirmel Oliver Du Bois Gianna Castano Alani Seaman Korbin Martin Romeia Al-Hajeri

Correspondents

Christie Miller, Samir Khairi, Jessyca Derby, Emily Rickel, William Shelstan, Jordan Thomas, Zachary Fedewa

The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff.

Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 1200 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association.

The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by both the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person.

Additional copies are $0.69. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion.

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CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS

Embry-Riddle Army ROTC Conducts Leadership Lab Korbin Martin Staff Photographer On Sept. 19 Eagle Battalion Army ROTC conducted a leadership lab at Camp Tiger Bay in order to prepare lower level ROTC cadets for advanced camp and senior cadets for the United States Army. Lower level cadets were familiarized with ruck marches, basic army tactics, drill and ceremony, written land navigation, and practical land navigation.

Senior cadets planned and executed the mission to further their development towards becoming future second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

The training started at 0600 when cadets formed up before stepping off on a four mile ruck march.

The ruck march lasted roughly an hour and twenty minutes with Al-

A MSIV cadet shows cadets how to breakdown a dummy M4 rifle.

Cadets conduct “knockout” at the Drill and Ceremony station to see which cadet performs the best.

pha Company leading the way followed by Bravo and Charlie companies. Upon completion of the ruck march MREs were issued to cadets before cadets headed to different stations to conduct socially distanced learning while wearing masks.

At the Drill and Ceremony station MSIV (4th year) cadets taught MSI and MSII cadets basic facing movements in accordance with Army Training Circular 3-21.5. MSI and MSII cadets were also taught marching movements while in squad sized formations. After the training was complete, cadets competed in company-wide competitions.

At the Basic Rifle Marksmanship station, MSI and MSII cadets received instruction on the fundamentals of marksmanship. Cadets were taught how to zero a rifle, what the zeroing targets will look like, and how to adjust the sights on their rifle. Once this was com-

plete, cadets received practical skills training with BB guns before rotating to the other part of the Basic Rifle Marksmanship station to familiarize themselves with breaking down a rifle and putting it back together. Despite the heat this training was conducted with masks on and with six to ten feet of social distancing in place in accordance with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University policy.

At the Land Navigation stations MSI and MSII cadets were familiarized with the basics of land navigation. Training was started with cadets being taught how to do land navigation on paper. Cadets were taught how to plot points, measure distance, recognize terrain features, calculate a back azimuth, and how to orient themselves from known points. Once the training was completed cadets were quizzed on knowledge before moving to the practical land navigation station where ca-

dets were given points to find at Camp Tiger Bay. Cadets were given grid coordinates and tasked with finding and identifying the points at the given grid coordinates and bringing those answers back to the tactical operations center.

At the Tactics stations MSI and MSII cadets practiced Battle Drill 1A (Squad Attack) while being taught by MSIV cadets. Cadets then conducted rehearsals for the duration of the lane. Once the stations were completed Eagle BN conducted a competition amongst Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie companies, which was won by Charlie company.

Training was completed at 1800 hours. This month’s leadership lab went incredibly well, and every cadet learned a lot from it.

A MSI Cadet stands at the position of attention during “knockout”.

All photos by Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper

CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS

Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper

MSI Cadets are taught written land navigation by an MSIV cadet. Cadets are introduced to the map for Camp Tiger Bay near the starting point for practical land navigation.

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Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper

An MSI Cadet prepares to conduct practical land navigation.

Coping with COVID-19 as an International Student & Some Tips Samir Khairi Correspondent The year 2020 has been full of surprises for all of us. The pandemic acted like the cherry on top for a rough year. Having to deal with all these issues has been difficult for most people, whether it was a lack of emotional support, loss of social life, or the need for regular living.

As an international student, I have to deal with all of these day-today problems. Nevertheless, these problems have doubled since I am in a completely different time zone, country, and continent.

We did not have the option to

return home because most countries have closed their borders and would not allow anyone from the United States. Being all by yourself and not knowing what will happen to you is scary and worrying. My main concern was where I would go in case things got worse; moreover, when would I be able to return if the United States also decided to close its borders.

In my opinion, one of the worst feelings to experience is homesickness. Missing home and your family is more prominent when you do not have any surrounding you. I have not seen my parents in over 10 months; however, I do see them vir-

tually. I believe that you should always surround yourself with friends and people you love, but seeing family and being at your own home has a different feeling. Homesickness has affected my social life because I do not want to get out of the room and hang out with friends; it creates a sense of loneliness and laziness. Adding on to that, the conversion of some classes to online has not helped either because it just made it harder to commit.

Creating a solution to all these problems I and many others had was the hardest part. It is challenging, mostly when hanging out with friends and groups, which is not an

option due to social distancing rules and regulations. The most important tip I would give is to always stay in touch with your family. Talking to my family regularly was helpful and calming; and, it helped me know that I was not alone. Another useful tip is not to create a daily routine, but instead try new things; even things you do not think you will like or ever try. One last tip would be to always fill your mind with positive thoughts and always find the silver lining in any circumstance or condition. Finally, do not forget to make the right decisions and not harm yourself or others.

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CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS

Coping with Victoria Jordan Editor-in-Chief Chaos: an environment of disorder where all events are random, impulsive, and unpredictable. Now that we know what chaos is, how do we cope with it? Should we suppress all our feelings? Should we run away from our problems? Should we just say ‘it is what it is’? The answer is no.

On Sept. 14, the Wellness Center presented a live workshop by psychotherapist Mark Spivey entitled “Coping with Chaos: Tips for adapting to unexpected change in culture of controversy.” Spivey provided tips on coping with the psychodynamics of living and working in the "The COVID Cloud.”

I found this webinar to be quite intriguing and beneficial for those experiencing environments of complete chaos, and by the end of it, I had already written three pages of notes. My goal is to share with you tips for coping with chaos during the pandemic and pose follow-up questions for discussion.

Lost In The Chaos Feeling lost can be a common experience, and when COVID-19 became a global pandemic, everyone was lost.

We lost our sense of normalcy. We lost knowing a reliable source of income. We lost the ability to follow our daily routines. Most of all, we lost our personal freedoms. Along with the

sense of loss comes the emotional rollercoaster of anger, denial, fear, anxiety, and sadness.

The question then becomes: will we remain lost forever?

Let us compare being lost to being a needle in the haystack or the straw that broke the camel’s back. The minuscule needle and straw, in theory, should not cause harm, but once you are the person picking through the hay and is jabbed by the needle or the camel carrying the load, what was only a minuscule object became an enormous obstacle. We thought we knew everything until we discover the needle and felt the straw on our back.

Missing The Old Life That You Hated All too often, we talk about how much we miss how things were before and question when things will return to normal. What contradicts these statements is that most of us did not enjoy the life we lived before the pandemic. Even if people are being overworked on their jobs, struggling with their classes, or hiding their sexuality from their family, being unemployed and in a state of constant anxiety was never glamourous.

Unfortunately, things will never entirely be the same again.

What we can do now is appreciate the opportunity to slow down. We take that moment to breathe and to grieve. Grieve what was lost, such as parties with friends, eating a meal in-

side a restaurant, going to the movie theater, and even shaking hands with someone. Hesitating on whether or not you should interact with someone has become the new normal.

Finding Distractions The average human being does not know how to be alone.

We only find distractions for ourselves until an opportunity to be social arises. Is being distracted a bad thing? Not necessarily, it depends on how we are distracting ourselves. Do the distractions involve participating in positive self-care activities such as exercise or meditation? Is the media a good distraction?

You have to decide for yourself what you consider the right type of distraction. A word of advice, if this distraction is a positive opportunity for you to have "me time," when the rest of your day is catering to others, take advantage of the distraction so that you can cultivate a lifestyle that makes you happy.

Spivey’s Tips For Coping With Chaos • Be Attitude - Attitude is one of fear or faith; the choice is yours.

• Be unplugged – Filter credible coverage and ignore sensationalism.

• Be optimistic – It is your responsibility to be in charge of your mood and behavior.

Therefore, avoid catastrophic thinking because peace of

mind is developed and not discovered.

• Be proactive – Avoid procrastination, as things do not go away.

• Be mindful – Express your thought and feelings as a cathartic release. When you need to talk, make sure it is with someone you trust.

• Be present – It is easy to ruin your right now when you keep living in the past (what use to be) or looking to the future (what could happen).

• Be responsible – Focus on what you can control, take responsibility for yourself, and stay well through sleep, exercise, nutrition, hygiene, and mindfulness.

• Be practical – Practice gratitude and common sense.

We clutter ourselves with stuff because we are trying to distract ourselves, take a less is more approach.

• Be human – Be kind, patient, and funny. Prepare and not panic, embrace and let go, be alert but not anxious, be open to “simply what is.”

fdd

Counseling Center: 386-286-6035

Photo Courtesy/Agustin Anaya

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INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY

Canvas: a Student’s Best Friend or Worst Enemy?

Jessyca Derby Emily Rickel William Shelstad

Graduate Researchers Jessyca, Emily, and William are students in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world.

This is a regular column that explores different technologies typically used by Embry-Riddle students.

Canvas has become more of a necessity this semester as classes have transitioned to part-time online learning. As we are relying on Canvas more and more, the question remains: is it usable, or is it just a pain?

Student researchers in the RUX Lab conducted focus groups with undergraduate and graduate students to understand what aspects of Canvas contribute to our user experience, for better or for worse.

How has Canvas Usage Changed?

Students reported aspects of Canvas that are more critical than ever: Announcements, Discussion Boards, Inbox, and Zoom. Announcements that used to be broadcast in the classroom are now hidden in emails, and Discussion Boards have replaced inclass discussions. Office hours involve sitting in a Zoom waiting room, and the Inbox is used to communicate with classmates that we may never see.

Joys of Canvas

As students have adapted to online learning, they have noticed some useful aspects of Canvas.

When asked about their favorite features of Canvas, almost all students mentioned items related to grades and To-Do lists. Grades are easy to find, and students liked the ability to compare their performance to classmates’ using boxplots. Students can also figure out how well they need to do on an assignment (or whether they can skip an assignment because of a busy week) using “what-if scenarios” to test different grades. In addition, the To-Do lists that show all upcoming assignments are helpful to view both within and across classes.

are many from several different classes.

Another common frustration among students is being required to participate in Discussion Boards.

While Discussion Boards have the potential to facilitate connections between students, one student felt that posting on a Discussion Board, “feels like a fake, forced interaction.” This negative perception often grows when students must post something for a grade. For example, some professors require students to post a comment and reply to a certain number of other students to receive a participation grade. As

• Assignments and their due dates would be clearly displayed on each course home page.

• Announcements would be easier to review all on one screen rather than opening each to a new page, and Email notifications for announcements would be immediate and “on” by default.

• All instructors would include due dates on their Canvas assignments so students can view all upcoming assignments for all their classes in one place: The calendar to-do view.

• Students would have access to any previous course material for

Frustrations of Canvas Frustrations with Canvas seem to center around the organization of material (or lack thereof). Not all instructors put class resources in the same place. Some instructors choose to put everything under "Files", others add to “Pages,” and others provide separate "Modules" for each week.

One student is frustrated because it takes so much time to figure out, stating, "I feel like I have to relearn Canvas every semester!"

Instructors also communicate with students differently in each course, with some relying on email, Inbox, or Announcements. However, instructors may not realize that students may not get a notification that there was an announcement. Additionally, students may not be aware that they can change their notification preferences. Not to mention that the notification email students get is often easy to overlook, especially if there

Image Courtesy/Jessyca Derby

Example of a Canvas Module for a User Experience course.

a result of this requirement, one student observed that “people write responses to check a box and get their grade, not to actually have a discussion.”

How can Canvas be better for students?

Students said that in an ideal world: • All instructors would use the Canvas components similarly, utilizing Modules for each week that contain everything students need: Assignments, Lectures, Supplementary documents and/or videos.

the duration of their career at ERAU. Students want to be able to go back and view material from introductory courses to review material that is utilized in later courses.

Overall, Canvas has its strengths and weaknesses. With Canvas becoming more of a necessity for students, it's important that their experience with it is as user friendly as possible. A few changes can make a world of a difference, making students’ online learning experience more enjoyable.

INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY

Battling the Blaze

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An Interview with RK Smithley

Rajan Khanna & Vipul Telang Former Editor-in-Chiefs RK Smithley is a captain for 10 Tanker who currently flies the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 as an aerial firefighter. Smithley graduated Embry-Riddle in 1983 with a BS in Aeronautical Science as well as an AS in Aviation Management. He was also News Editor for the Avion Newspaper for two years during his time at Embry-Riddle.

The Avion Newspaper: How did you become interested in aviation?

RK Smithley: That’s an interesting story. I had no one else in my family that was interested in aviation until myself.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I got out of high school. Originally, I wanted to become a truck driver. I actually drove a tractor trailer with a guy in Pennsylvania, which is where I’m from. My parents got me to go to Wilma Boyd Career School, which is a trade school in Pittsburgh specializing in aviation ground areas such as gate agents and customer service. I became a customer service agent for one of the Allegheny commuter [airlines] about 35 miles from where I lived. I interacted with a lot of pilots because my base hosted a lot of pilots. Back then, we operated the Beech 99, DeHavilland Twin Otter, and other planes that would be considered antiques today. We did everything but fly the airplane! We loaded baggage, wrote tickets, marshalled the airplanes in, and other tasks. I decided I wanted to fly the airplane instead. A few guys in my crash pad gave me some local flight lessons, and it turned out that one of them had actually gone to Embry-Riddle

and recommended that I attended.

I talked to my parents and long story short, that’s how I got into aviation!

AN: What’s the most dangerous flight you’ve been on so far?

RS: You know, people always comment about how dangerous our flying appears to be, but I tell them that it’s only as dangerous as you make it. We don’t make it dangerous. We have three pairs of eyes in the cockpit and we have our own safety mechanisms.

If any of the three of us don’t like what we see, we can call for a go-around immediately. We can debrief the goaround after we’re at a safe height and discuss it then. Although we’re flying at 170 miles per hour at only 250 feet above the ground, we still make sure that safety is the main priority especially given that there’ve been a number of aviation-related fatalities.

We use the same numbers that airliners use, such as 1.3Vso (1.3 times the stall speed in landing configuration) to ensure that we don’t accidentally stall that low to the ground. For example, our drop speed for the fire retardant with full fuel is 150 knots, but our stick shaker speed with the parameters is 117 knots. We allow that large margin of room between our drop speed and stick shaker for safety.

The DC-10 is capable of flying at stick shaker speed, and we do practice that in the simulators, but that’s only in the simulators.

is right. We’ve always had a lead aircraft, which is generally a King Air 200, and they lead us to where we should drop. Some lighter aircraft such as the BA-146 or even the MD-87 from Erickson [Aero Tankers] are initial attack qualified. Those aircraft can go do suppression runs on their own without needing a lead aircraft. We can’t do that because we’re so big. One bonus of the lead plane is that they can show us where the best place to drop is based on the terrain and wind as well as let us know how much to drop.

the night, but we can’t do that. If the smoke sits over the fire, we can’t do anything to help. One of our tankers is in Medford, Oregon and they haven’t been able to fly for nearly three days as a result of low visibility.

The whole state is covered in smoke, so we’ve had to shoot the ILS [Instrument Landing System] coming back into San Bernardino.

AN: You’ve been fighting the west coast fires right now. How would you compare those fires to what you’ve seen before?

RS: (Laughs) I would love to do that, and we have flown airshows before.

The trouble is that it has to be convenient for us. During the US fire season, which is typically April to November, we need the airplane. It would have to be during the offseason, but in the offseason we’re either in Australia or South America! I don’t realistically see the opportunity, but I would love to bring a DC-10 to Embry-Riddle in the future!

RS: The trouble this year is that it seems that there are fires everywhere. A lot of the fires right now seem to be human-caused. Recently there’s been no wind, so visibility is poor because the wind isn’t lifting or moving the particles in the air. We can’t fight the fires in IFR [Instrument Flight Rules] — we have to be able to see outside at all times. The helicopter pilots can use night vision goggles and fly during

AN: One last question. Do you ever plan on bringing the DC-10 to Daytona?

Read the full interview on theavion.com

AN: How do you plan your drops?

RS: We aren’t initial attack qualified.

We can’t take the aircraft out to a fire and talk to an aerial supervisor above us and just drop when we feel

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper

RK Smithley (second from left) poses with his family during a visit to the Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach campus in Spring 2019. When he’s not fighting fires, he’s watching his son Garrett Smithley race full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

10 SPECIAL FEATURE The Everglades National Park Alani Seaman Photo Editor For many of the Unites States’ beloved national parks, the most significant feature is the landscape’s sheer beauty. For the Everglades, it is the wildlife, night sky, and Florida-style environment. Walking through the Everglades is a fully immersive experience, complete with the classic humidity and mosquitoes. Just a short drive from Miami, the Everglades leaves behind all traces of the cityscape.

Instead, visitors can enjoy acres of undisturbed wildlife. The Everglades spans 1,542,546 acres, or 2,410 square miles, which is

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larger than the entire state of Delaware. Beyond visitation, the park supports research and educational efforts.

Have you ever held an alligator? The Everglades has quite a few locales that allow visitors to hold young alligators. When visiting the park and the surrounding areas, the Everglades has endless opportunities to try new things. One of the most popular activities is the airboat rides.

Tourists can zoom along on top of the water and get up close and personal with birds, snakes, and alligators in their natural habitat. For those more comfortable with the landscape, there are quite a few hiking trails or canals for kayaking or canoeing. At night, many people gather to look up into a clear sky, made possible by the lack of light pollution. Throughout the summer months, the Milky Way is visible to the unaided eye.

The Everglades is popular for the thousands of animal species, including various mammals, reptiles, and birds. The park is well known for its birdwatching groups who aim to spot the 360 different bird

io C na or l ne Pa r r

Alani Seaman/The Avion Newspaper

The waterfront at sunset creates beautiful, picturesque views. Additionally, the breeze floats in from the ocean, giving a nice reprieve from the humidity.

species identified by the National Park Service. The service also offers a checklist to visitors to denote each kind of bird throughout their trip. Some of the most common birds seen throughout the park are the wading birds.

There are 16 species of wading birds that meander through the skies and waterways. One of the most common birds is the white ibis, popularized by the University of Miami as their mascot. Additionally, birdwatchers can find great blue herons, which are unrivaled in their majesty and

grace. Beyond birds, it is nearly impossible to visit the Everglades without spotting an alligator. In the park’s drive-through trails, there are typically alligators around every turn. They can be spotted all year round along the sides of roads, in special sanctuaries, or deeper in the marsh.

Mammals of the Everglades include bobcats, manatees, foxes, deer, and more. While most areas are filled with water, there are plenty of tree-filled forests to support the animals who prefer a more solid footing.

k Alani Seaman/The Avion Newspaper

In nearby sanctuaries, visitors can get up close and personal with the wildlife, including full-grown alligators.

Photo Courtesy/Disney

12 ENTERTAINMENT Opinion: I’ll Make a Sucker Out of You Be Prepared for Another Disney Crash Grab Alani Seaman Photo Editor As the new live-action Mulan is released to Disney+, so is the next level of Disney’s control over the streaming platforms. Mulan can now be streamed on Disney+ by purchasing the “Premier Access” feature, available to existing Disney+ subscribers. Exclusive access begins on Sept. 4, 2020, and purchasers can stream as often as they like until Nov. 2, 2020. After that, no one will have access to the film until Dec. 4, 2020, when the movie will be available to all Disney+ members. The premier access runs at a hefty $34.99, on top of the subscriber’s Disney+ subscription. They seem to be advertising the premier access as a fantastic advantage, compared to the normal viewing process in theaters, which typically ranges from $5-$15. While users can watch it as many times as they would like for two months, is it worth the money? That remains to be seen, as consumers will pass their judgment on this new policy. For some larger families stuck at home, the $35 could be an easy way to entertain the kids with something new and exciting. These families could very easily spend $35 to see the movie in theaters one time. It may seem outrageous for some, but the opportunity cost may prove just right for others.

This development may set a dangerous precedent of Disney charging hefty fees to their subscribers who will gain access to the movie early. Disney has announced quite a few new Marvel shows and films that will only be available on

Disney+. Will there be premier access fees for these shows as well?

Meanwhile, Disney+ continues to add new shows and movies that do not require premier access. A Disney+ original, Secret Society of Second-Born Royals, will be available for streaming starting on Sept.

25, 2020. While not conclusive, it appears that this trend will only spread through big-ticket movies and shows.

Disney's expansive streaming empire may cause issues for Netflix, Hulu, and many other services.

The original streaming giant, Netflix, has its own problems as price increases have driven away subscribers. Comparatively, Disney+

has reported strong growth since its launch. Their third quarter and nine months fiscal report, released on Aug. 4, 2020, lists 57.5 million Disney+ subscribers. As consumers are berated with advertisements for various services, they must pick and choose which companies are worth their time and money. This selection may prove disastrous for the other services. PwC, an accounting consultant practice, analyzed consumer intelligence and opinions as the streaming wars heat up: “64% of respondents who intend on subscribing to new a new video entrant say they would downgrade or terminate one of their current video services to do so.” With Disney+ be-

ing one of the newest faces, many people may leave their current services to join.

While Mulan is a beloved family film that many of us grew up on, its use as a premier access film may have a more concerning motive.

Disney+ can now charge excessive amounts of money, on top of subscription costs, to milk money from impatient consumers. Additionally, revealing new movies, shows, and consumer options for purchase keeps the service fresh in the public’s mind. This may prove detrimental to their competition's success, who do not have the resources to expand the way Disney does.

Photo Courtesy/Disney

ENTERTAINMENT

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Mulan: A Movie That Did Not Bring Honor to Us All Romeia Al-Hajeri Senior Reporter If you’re a Disney fan, chances are that you love Disney’s classic animated films. However, when it comes to live-action remakes, one can get a little skeptical of whether it will live up to the high expectation of the original.

The live-action Mulan captures the plot of the 1998 animated film while expanding on and embracing Mulan’s journey as a woman in a predominantly male setting rather than focusing on the story that encompasses her time in the Chinese army. Throughout the film, Mulan realizes that rather than succumbing to the sexist notion that women cannot achieve the same level of honor and respect as men, all she needs to do is stay “loyal, brave, and true.”

The casting for this live-action film was very well done, as Liu Yifei, who

“

Mulan realizes that rather than succumbing to the sexist notion that women cannot achieve the same level of honor and respect as men, all she needs to do is stay “loyal, brave, and true.”

plays Mulan, brings the same punch, attitude, and sense of dignity embodied by Ming-Na Wen in the original film. The three stooges of this story – Yao, Ling, and Chien Po – were also well cast as they fit the bubbly, supportive role while still maintaining the sense of humor from the animated version. However, if you’re looking for the same line-up of characters from the original film, you won’t find it in the live-action remake. This film introduces a few new faces while others were cut or repurposed to better fit the live-action aspect. This aspect is definitely a con as some of the original characters from the animated film added a lot of bulk to Mulan’s storyline. Without them, the plot of the live-action version can get a little too simple and dry.

The live-action film did a surprisingly good job curating the storyline to account for the changes in character selection and manipulation. As I mentioned earlier, the plot focuses on empowering women and Mulan’s character development as an individual rather than the duo of humor and action that encompasses Mulan’s journey in becoming a soldier in the Chinese army. There is also less of a focus on the classic B story from the animated film: Mulan and Shang’s romantic relationship. Shang’s character is now embodied in a soldier who goes by a different name and is not a commanding officer like Shang was in the original. Subtle changes like these make it a little challenging to get into the new storyline. On a different note, the action scenes are much more engaging cinematographically as they are filmed from many different angles and allow characters to defy gravity.

Photo Courtesy/Disney

As for other aspects of the film, such as the movie’s soundtrack, the new movie does not live up to the same standards as the original, as songs have been cut or converted to an instrumental version rather than having the cast perform them. As for the cost to watch the film, you will need to be prepared to spend more than you would if watching in the theater.

To access the movie, first you’ll need access to a Disney+ subscription. The streaming platform alone costs $6.99 per month. To watch the film now, there is an additional charge of $29.99; however, this charge allows you to stream the movie as many times as you want, which is definitely an upside.

If you don’t want to shell out 30 bucks for an at-home movie premier, you can wait until Dec. 4 when the movie releases to all Disney+ subscribers at no additional cost.

One might go into watching the live-action remake of Mulan with low expectations. Still, despite all the

changes, I think viewers will come out of the experience with a higher satisfaction level than expected. While the remake is not quite like the original animated film that we all know and love for its humor, action, and universal themes, the 2020 film will not disappoint. It brings many new aspects to the table that the original could not.

The acting is very well executed, and the storyline adheres to the main ideas presented in the original film. Although the cost to watch the film is on the pricier side, especially for college students, and the soundtrack is limited to more instrumental music rather than songs, Disney’s 2020 remake of Mulan touches on an important message that is becoming more and more prominent in today’s society. It embodies a sense of togetherness and belonging that is more important now than ever. I highly recommend watching Mulan, especially to those who are looking and willing to try something different.

“

14 ENTERTAINMENT Take a Seat at the Chef’s Table Samantha Stirmel Business Manager Chef’s Table is not a recent addition to the Netflix streaming platform. Among many spin-offs, there is a new offshoot that focuses entirely on barbecue: The staple food of the South, a labor of love, and a symbol of community. In true Chef’s Table fashion, a chef is featured each episode that has dedicated their life to their craft. The episode chronicles everything they have gone through to get to the point they are at now. The show covers both Michelin Star chefs and even just insanely popular locales guaranteed to make your mouth water.

This show focuses on the culture behind the food and what was able

to bring it all together. It dives deep into the history of each chef featured, including where they found their passion for cooking, what they’ve learned from restaurants they’ve worked in, and valuable mentors who have helped them gain the knowledge they have today. The show concentrates on what makes good food by taking a deeper look into the cultural influences and the chefs themselves.

Specifically focusing on barbecue led one of these episodes to be about Lennox Hastie, who stumbled across his inspiration by playing with fire. Hastie experiments with fire on every food you could possibly think of. He wanted to learn how it influenced the flavors and how it completely shifted their flavor profiles to

become something new and undone in the cooking world.

Focusing more on classic barbeque is a southern staple which is still dishing out plates on the weekends: Snow’s in Lexington Texas.

Tootsie Tomanetz is a fierce woman who grew up in Lexington, and she is as intertwined with its history as a person can be. Tootsie’s strong will and love for cooking translates into some of the best barbecue in the United States.

The chefs on this show aren’t competing to be named the best, but their love for experimenting and knowing their craft better than anyone else leads to people finding them. The series’ concentration on the people behind the smoke and embers is a tribute to one of

the American South’s most famous dishes. Barbecue is more than just a couple of rubbed steaks sitting in the pit all day long, and Chef’s Table takes you on a journey like no other to see that. I invite you to have a seat at Chef’s Table; I know you will love it.

Photo Courtesy/Eater.com

Delicacies and dedication: the documentary features talented chefs working towards their culinary goals.

No Straight Roads: A Musical Revolution Salim Roig Staff Reporter It is often said that music is one of the few things that cultures across the world share. In an attempt to show this, the Malaysian-based studio Metronomik created a game called No Straight Roads (NSR). The action game holds the concept that everything in the world, from the enemies to the players, move in rhythm to the game’s soundtrack.

Does this concept create a beautiful, playable symphony, or is it a failure worse than an untuned instrument?

The Story In the colorful, goofy world of Vinyl City exists a company called NSR that can convert music into electrical power. The power is used

to create a dictatorship within Vinyl City where only EDM music is permitted, and only a select few have unlimited electricity. The two heroes of this story are Mayday and Zuke, members of an indie-rock band duo, who have decided to stop at nothing to defeat the NSR. Although the story of NSR has a simple ‘defeat the evil corporation’ plot common in other games, every character in the game is an overthe-top parody of musical culture.

For example, the boy-band 1010 is based off the K-pop music genre.

The game puts a satirical twist on the criticisms the K-pop genre receives since artists within the genre are seen as clones of each other.

Each band member is a robot that exists only to play music in a highly synchronized fashion similar to that of a military unit. Thanks to humorous

characters like 1010, the game feels less like an epic journey and more like a collection of scenes where the heroes encounter one wacky character after another. Each character helps teach the two heroes about different music philosophies to help the heroes, and by extension, informs the player of why different genres of music are popular.

Overall, the story is entertaining and guarantees laughter.

The Gameplay NSR consists of a classic ‘beat ‘em up’ action game style with one major alteration. Every action in the game, from the enemies and bosses to the playable characters, is in sync with the music playing in the background. This concept is designed to create a fun gameplay style where

you are not only trying to dodge every single attack, but you also have to listen to the music playing to know whether to be offensive or defensive. During boss battles, every move of a boss is in rhythm to its respective song, making it feel as if you are in a high-octane music video that you get to dictate where it leads. While the gameplay may be simple, its use of rhythm-based attacks will help keep players on their toes as they are navigating through the game.

Final Thoughts NSR is an interactive game that offers the chance to listen to music that you would not typically listen to, while providing a peculair adventure to embark on. NSR is for anyone who enjoys music, adventure, action, and amusement!

ENTERTAINMENT

Jordan Thomas Correspondent

Opinion: Sipping That Sweet Celebri-TEA

Well folks, the news has finally hit that Belcalis Almanzar has filed for divorce from Kiari Cephus. In layman’s terms, Cardi B has made the life-changing decision to leave her husband of approximately three years, Offset. Honestly, who was surprised when this news broke? From the start, it was always thought to be a joint attempt at fame in an effort to further both of their careers. To begin with, the timeline of their relationship was questionable.

The rumors of the two rappers dating started in early 2017, and by October of the same year, Offset was on one knee proposing in the middle of Cardi B’s performance for the Power 99 Powerhouse concert. This event would seem all well and normal until you realize that the two supposedly tied the knot in

Sept. 2017, according to court documents that were leaked in June 2018. This evidence adds to the narrative that their entire relationship was a publicity stunt to advance their careers.

This divorce news comes riding hot on the coattails of Cardi B’s number one trending song, “WAP,” with fellow female rapper, Megan Thee Stallion. In the song, Cardi B recites the lyrics, “I don’t cook. I don’t clean, but let me tell you how I got this ring,” and has quickly become the punchline of some merciless internet trolls. While some people enjoyed a good laugh at the news, others sympathized with the broken family, and there were still others, like me, who yelled a collective, “It’s about time!” Offset cheating on Cardi B is as common as the ice cream machine at McDonald’s not working. In fact, Cardi B actually had a court case in which she

Photo Courtesy/2019 WireImage

was indicted on 14 charges, including two counts of felony assault with intent to cause serious physical injury. The case stemmed from the reports that Cardi B paid for two female bartenders to be brutally beaten because they have also enjoyed Offset’s company. It does not come as much surprise that the rumored reason behind the divorce is that Offset has gotten another woman pregnant.

The one person within this conflict who is getting the raw end of the deal is Kulture, Cardi B and Offset’s daughter. According to U.S. divorce statistics, approximately 50% of chil-

15

dren will experience their parents’ divorce in their lifetime. While Cardi B and Offset will continue to be overused setups and punchlines for Twitter trolls, Kulture should be left out of it as she is an innocent bystander in all of this. But imagine being Kulture and growing up to hear all the stories about your parents’ failed relationship. My main question would be, “Why didn’t you leave him before receiving two felony charges?” I do not know what the future holds for the rappers, but I hope this debacle ends without their child being dragged into a war of bitter parents.

Want to get this close to the action?

Zachary Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper

Photo Courtesy/MSA-ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES

18 FORMULA ONE Opinion: Is Formula 1 Really #EndingRacism?

FIA Scrutinized Lewis Hamilton’s Clothing Choice After Tuscan Grand Prix

Vipul Telang Managing Editor Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driver Lewis Hamilton stood on the top step after winning the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix on Sept. 13 wearing a simple black shirt reading, “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.” This move raised an inquiry

by the FIA, the governing body for Formula 1.

Hamilton’s shirt potentially violated Article 1, Section 1.1 of the FIA statutes, which state that, “The FIA shall refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin color, (...) philosophical or political opinion (...) in the course of its activities and from taking any action

Photo Courtesy/Getty Images

Hamilton kneels on the grid for a photo with other drivers prior to the Tuscan Grand Prix. The back of the shirt featured a picture of Breonna Taylor with the phrase, “Say Her Name.” The rest of the grid elected to wear plain black shirts with “End Racism” on the front.

in this respect.” The FIA is also part of the Olympic Charter, and states in Chapter 5, Section III Subsection 50 that they “prohibits any kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda.” Although Hamilton’s shirt, which called out the police brutality against Breonna Taylor, was deemed not to have violated any FIA guidelines, discussions still sparked as to whether or not politics are welcome in Formula 1.

The start of the 2020 Formula 1 season was delayed until mid-May due to COVID-19 and the season-opening race at Spielberg, Austria took place on July 5. During the offseason, Hamilton was very outspoken about the Black Lives Matter movement and attended a protest in London. He also pushed F1 to speak out against racism, to which they responded with the #WeRaceAsOne initiative to fight against inequality prior to the start of the 2020 season. Nineteen of the twenty drivers wore “End Racism” t-shirts while Hamilton elected to wear a “Black Lives Matter” shirt for the Austrian Grand Prix pre-race photo. Fourteen of the drivers also took a knee alongside Hamilton.

The cars also featured a rainbow, which was the logo chosen as it is an international symbol of bringing communities together.

Although this campaign is definitely a step in the right direction for the sport as a whole, it seems that part of the gesture is mainly for publicity. Before the Formula 1 Aramco Magyar Nagydíj 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix in July, several drivers were late to the protest, which had to be cut short when the Hungarian national anthem began to play.

After winning the race, Hamilton called out both the FIA as well as

the Grand Prix Driver’s Association (GPDA) for trying to rush the protest.

Hamilton, who has endured racism throughout his racing career, said that the fight against racism “is not a new battle for [him].” The thirty-five-year-old driver from Stevenage is the only Black driver on the current grid, and has recently begun using his platform to raise awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement. “It took me a long time to get that shirt and I’ve wanted to wear it and bring awareness to the fact that there are people who have been killed on the street and there’s someone who got killed in her own house,” he said. After the race, he posted on his Instagram story, saying he “wants everyone to know that [he] won’t stop, won’t let up, won’t give up on using this platform to shed light on what [he believes] is right.”

Mercedes-AMG Petronas backed Hamilton’s decision to wear the shirt, saying that he was not bringing politics into F1. “These are human rights issues that we are trying to highlight and raise awareness of,” the team posted on Twitter as a reply to a disgruntled fan.

If Hamilton is banned from wearing shirts such as the one he wore on the Mugello podium, both Formula 1 and the FIA are telling the sport’s only Black driver that he cannot choose his own way to support the fight against racism and inequality.

This brings into question the sincerity of the recent push against racism by the Formula 1 marketing team.

I can only hope that the FIA will allow Hamilton to continue to be outspoken and raise awareness about these pressing issues. Regardless if you love him or loathe him, he is raising awareness for the right things in our world.

19 COVID vs. the NFL: Who Will Win? NFL COVERAGE

Gianna Castano Distribution Manager COVID-19 has consumed the world in its seemingly incessant wrath and has had a profound effect on personal morale, motivation, and hope. We lost normalcy in many aspects of our lives and the fall football season was not spared from COVID-19’s influence. There was a lot of speculation and worry about whether the NFL and college football seasons should and would be canceled for the first time in history. Fortunately, only the NFL preseason was canceled and the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs went head-to-head to open up the regular season this month.

Even though we’re back to experiencing insane interceptions, aggressive tackles, and impressive touchdowns, everything is still not exactly normal. What precautions are NFL and collegiate teams taking to keep the season alive? The NFL has taken after other national teams by creating a hefty 71-page long health and safety protocol handbook. The handbook states that all players are required to be tested every day, except on game days, and that fines will be incurred upon the players if they do not adhere to the rules. In domed stadiums, the balance of the HVAC system must be analyzed. The tradi-

tional pre-game coin-toss has been scrapped; instead of a few players from each team exchanging fist bumps, only one representative with a face mask is allowed to participate. Although allowing football to continue through the pandemic may seem controversial, the implications of traveling, constant contact, collision, and training are all being taken into account to minimize risk.

In addition, billions of dollars are at stake for broadcasting partners.

The most dependent on the NFL is Fox, paying more than $1.5 billion each year for Sunday afternoon and Thursday night football packages. ESPN spends a similar $2 billion for Monday night football, considering they bring enormous advertising revenue for the NFL games.

As with the NFL, player safety on college football teams is of paramount importance. College football has been proactive in their prevention tactics, creating a protective “bubble” around all players and team staff by implementing strict rules and increased COVID-19 screenings. In an effort to influence the continuation of the college football season, some popular players turned to social media as a vessel to send the message. For example, Justin Fields, Ohio State quarterback, tweeted, “There’s been too much work put in!! #We-

Image Courtesy/SEC

WantToPlay.” In contrast, others, such as Virginia Tech cornerback Adam Schefter, have opted out of playing for the season.

On the bright side, Big Ten is back! Don’t worry, your favorite players may be allowed to return to the season as long as they have not declared that they are working towards the 2021 NFL draft. The league’s presidents and chancellors made the decision based on comfortability with new testing capabilities and an increased confidence in the latest medical information. So, be sure to tune in on the weekend of Oct. 24 for some quality action.

The coronavirus may have taken both leagues on a little detour, but their tenacity shows their love of the game. Check out the game schedules for Week four of NFL and college football below.

Photo Courtesy/Sarah Stier via Getty Images

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson sits on JuJu Smith-Schuster’s shoulders.

Image Courtesy/NFL

COMICS & GAMES CLUES DOWN

1. Not us 2. Helper 3. Bleat 4. Type of chair 5. Jr.’s father 6. Necessary for certain beverages 7. Hillside 8. Dutch painter Gerrit __ 9. Gave a new look 10. Ancient Greek City 11. Confidence trick 12. Type of fund 14. From an Asian island 17. Malay boat 20. Western Australia indigenous people 21. Cluster on underside of fern frond 23. You need it to get somewhere 25. The woman 26. It may be green 27. Makes less severe 29. One from Beantown 30. Cavalry sword 32. Metric linear unit 34. Hawaiian dish 35. Yokel 37. Dissuade 40. Mutual savings bank 42. __ Caesar, comedian 43. Primordial matters 41. Vital to existence 19. It can strike the ground CLUES ACROSS 21. Drenches 44. Aristocratic young women 47. We all have it 1. Emaciation 49. Hermann __, author of ‘Siddhartha’ 45. Erik __, composer 22. Some are cole 6. Million barrels per day 50. Historic MA coastal city 46. Not young 23. __ Squad (abbr.)

52. Shady garden alcove 24. Expresses emotion 48. Jewish term for ‘Sir’ 9. Light dry-gap bridge 53. Small amount 25. One point east of due south 49. Secondary school system (abbr.)

28. Satisfaction 51. __ student: learns to heal 55. Horse-drawn cart 13. Anatomical term 56. Nocturnal rodent 52. Regarding 14. Tropical starchy tuber- 29. Holds nothing back 57. Spiritual leader 54. Highly excited 31. Top of the body ous root 58. Air mattress 56. Mainly 15. Jewish calendar month 33. Not well-liked 60. Thin, narrow piece of wood 59. Speaks incessantly 36. Did slowly 16. Round Dutch cheese 61. Auction term 17. Western Pacific republic 38. Greek goddess of the dawn 61. Cakes 65. Atomic #62 39. Gland secretion 62. Biomedical nonprofit 18. List of foods

Recipe of the Week Creamy Rice With Roasted Shrimp and Tomatoes Serves 4

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 cup Arborio rice 1 cup dry white wine Kosher salt and black pepper 1 lb peeled and deveined medium shrimp 2 pints grape tomatoes 8 sprigs fresh thyme 2 cloves garlic

Heat oven to 400 F. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the rice and wine and cook, stirring, until the wine is absorbed, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the saucepan. Simmer, covered, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, on a rimmed baking sheet, toss the shrimp, tomatoes, thyme, and garlic with the remaining tablespoon of oil and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Roast until the shrimp are opaque throughout, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve over the rice.

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SUDOKU

63. Dried-up 64. One who is symbolic of something 65. Body part 66. Muslim ruler 67. Women from Mayflower 68. Notes