4.8.20

NEWS | PAGE 3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020

CULTURE | PAGE 14

VOL. 112 NO. 16

24.

PAGE

The Penn

WINTER ATHLETES REFLECT ON ABRUPT END TO SEASON

SPORTS | PAGE 24

WWW.THEPENN.ORG

The Penn // INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Cover Photo By Matt Durisco/IUP Athletics

News

SPORTS

Culture

The Penn S P R I N G

2 0 2 0

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Katie Mest Managing Editors Steven Langdon Jr. Jessica Truby News Editor Jake Slebodnick

04.

ART FACULTY LAUNCH ‘QUARANTINE BUDDY’ PROJECT FOR STUDENTS TO EASE ANXIETY

14.

STATIC CANCELS FACE-TO-FACE, ADDS VIRTUAL EVENTS

W E AT H E R W E N E S DAY

65 HI |47 LO

28.

Culture Editor Heather Bair MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS TAKING A HIT

Copy Editor Marty Weaver

FORECAST

T H U R S DAY

Graphic Designer Teddy Jeannette

F R I DAY

S AT U R DAY

41 HI |30 LO

52 HI |31 LO

Sports Editor Elliot Hicks

50 HI |36 LO

Digital Media Editor Valerie Kerrigan Photo Editor Autumn Dorsey Video Editor Sean Seaman

TWITTER.COM/THEPENNIUP

This issue is brought to you by:

The Penn’s SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

The Penn

CHECK OUT ONLINE FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

P

THEPENN.ORG

FACEBOOK.COM/THEPENNIUP

Audio Editor Kyle Scott

BUSINESS STAFF

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HERE WITH ME Marshmello (feat. CHVRCHES ABOUT LOVE Marina

Secretaries Tessa Matulis Audrey Cameron Advertisement Designers Nala Johnson Na’eem Allen-Stills

BEST DAY EVER Mac Miller I LOVE ME Demi Lovato FOREVER Justin Bieber (feat. Post Malone & Clever) IF WE NEVER MET John K (feat. Kelsea Ballerini) LET’S FALL IN LOVE FOR THE NIGHT FINNEAS THE BONES Maren Morris & Hozier THIS IS US Jimmie Allen & Noah Cyrus DON’T STOP THE MUSIC Rihanna

FOLLOW THEPENNIUP ON SPOTIFY FOR ACCESS TO THIS PLAYLIST

BROUGHT TO YOU BY KATIE MEST

CONTACT US the-penn@iup.edu penn-ads@iup.edu PHONE: 724.357.1306 FAX: 724.357.0127 #IUPSTUDENTVOICE

NEWS

News Editor: Jake Slebodnick – J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu Lead News Writer: Anna Mechling – A.Mechling@iup.edu

(Facebook) The Career and Professional Development Center aims to help students pursue their career goals any way they can.

CPDC continues assisting students through online resources ANNA MECHLING Lead News Writer A.Mechling@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Like most other colleges and universities, IUP has gone to online or virtual classes, meaning most students and staff are working remotely from home. The Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) recognizes this shift means there’s less opportunity to be involved with regular school activities, programs and services offered.

That’s why the CPDC launched virtual career events and will continue to provide career planning needs and services.

“We knew there was a need to continue our programs despite not being on campus,” said Tammy Manko, CPDC director.

“Although we’ve already had to cancel some in-person events until the fall, we still want to provide students with good content and services.”

On Wednesday, the CPDC uploaded its first pre-recorded program via Zoom.

The topic was “Navigating Etiquette Like a Pro: Manners Matter,” and the presentation provided information on basic dining etiquette skills that were broken into six topics: your napkin,

News

(The Penn Archives) While Pratt Hall is normally where students can find assistance with their career paths, the CPDC will hold online sessions through Zoom.

understanding the place setting, dining and eating tips, general advice, table behavior and being a good guest or host.

Manko hosted the presentation and did a voice over while presenting PowerPoint slides.

On Thursday, Kelsey Thompson, CPDC associate director, hosted a live Zoom session with a company representative from Enterprise Holdings, Inc. During the virtual information system program, Jill Thomas, a talent acquisition manager at Enterprise, provided

career advice and was able to answer questions students had.

The CPDC will upload pre-recorded videos on various topics every Wednesday. On Thursdays, they will have an “Ask an Employer” live Zoom session with some future topics that include how to use LinkedIn, job sessions and programming.

“Ask an Employer” live Zoom sessions will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes, and students can stay as long as they want and can ask the employers professional

April 8, 2020

questions or concerns. The CPDC is also offering virtual career coaching during which students can reserve a Zoom meeting time with a CPDC faculty member and talk to them for however long they need to discuss career-related topics.

“We will continue providing a mix of pre-recorded and live sessions weekly with a variety of options like resume building, networking and interviewing,” Thompson said. “We felt like it is important to provide students these various online sessions since we had to cancel most of the in-person events.

“We are still offering resume review help. Students can send documents to resume-review@iup.edu and receive detailed feedback electronically, or we can talk during a live session via Zoom.”

The CPDC is part of a collaborative effort with other Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) career centers to do live Zoom sessions on topics like networking and recruitment for internships and jobs.

“We hope students will take advantage of these opportunities,” Manko said. “We are also recording all live Zoom sessions so students have the pre-recorded and the live recorded sessions

since some students may be busier than others.”

The CPDC will be adding more to the PASSHE-West virtual recruitment month, which is an opportunity for students and alumni to take advantage of talking to employers and asking questions.

The CPDC will use the upcoming time in the summer to plan and put together online programs.

“Now that we aren’t doing in-person programming and doing online offering, we feel like we are really going to capitalize and optimize and become a lot better so we can do a lot better,” Manko said.

The CPDC posts a lot of career and professional preparation, skills and tips on their various social media platforms.

- Twitter and Instagram: @IUP_CPDC - Facebook: IUP Career and Professional Development Center - LinkedIn: IUP Career Development and Networking and IUP Alumni For more information about setting up a CPDC Zoom appointment, getting resume help or any other professional development-related questions or concerns, visit www.iup.edu/ career, email career-development@iup.edu or call 724-357-2235.

3

4

April 8, 2020

News

International Office addresses issues with online transition ANNA MECHLING Lead News Writer A.Mechling@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The IUP Office of International Education (OIE) has to follow strict U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security regulations to ensure that their international students are adhering to those regulations during a global pandemic.

International students must be studying at IUP as a full-time student, have appropriate work permission and liaise with other offices at IUP or the community to ensure they have the resources they need.

“We have been working closely with the students, the government and our university exchange partners to notify them of IUP’s changes to online classes,” said Michele Petrucci, OIE and global engagement’s associate vice president.

Some of OIE’s international students have gone back to their home countries, and a few are living in the dorms on campus.

“Of our 45 non-degree exchange students, nine remain in on-campus housing, and the

(Facebook) The Office of International Education faces several challenges during this time and recognizes the needs of students are prioritized over everything.

rest have returned to their home countries to finish classes,” Petrucci said. “We have a group of Fulbright DAI scholars here, and all but eight have returned to their home countries. Some students are throughout the U.S. on internships and are working remotely from home. Most degree-seeking and ESL (english as a second language) students have remained here in Indiana to complete courses online.”

Most international students live off campus and have families in Indiana or in the U.S., but for those who don’t, they are still continuing to with their studies and trying to

stay healthy and cope with these major changes occurring as best as they can without their families close.

“Other challenges for students would include not having family support nearby, financial challenges and not being able to return home,” said Jessica Dories, international student and scholar services director. “International students are limited to working on-campus, unless they have additional work permission. So, not being able to work through the summer will be challenging for many of them.

“Also, due to limited flights, many students cannot travel or plan to travel home in the near future. We have directed students to community resources that are available to them, and we will continue to help them in any way we can.”

The OIE knows international students are trying to continue their studies and stay healthy and safe during this pandemic, but it is continuing to provide supportive services, communicate with them and make certain accommodations throughout the remainder of the semester.

“Our biggest role with classes lectures,” Biao Liu (junior, finance) going online is to be knowledgesaid. “But then I felt it was not so able about immigration changes bad doing online courses, and it and communicate with students became more convenient. Online and university partners abroad courses didn’t affect my major too about accommodations due to much compared to other majors COVID-19,” said Candi Deblay, that have labs.” international student and scholar’s Many students, especially those assistant director. “International who are Asian, know that there is students and scholars typically are a lot of added racism and stereonot permitted to enroll in all online typing surfacing due to the virus’ programs from within the U.S. outbreak originating in China.

– but temporary allowances are “A major concern is possibeing made during this time. We ble racism to Asians due to the also have to make sure students COVID-19,” Liu said. “There have who want to return to been a lot of hate their home countries crimes going viral, and now have appropriI hope that people ate documentation won’t stereotype or information about Asians.” how to obtain tranThe OIE assists scripts and diplomas more than 500 stuwhile abroad.” dents and scholars Many internafrom 50 countries and tional students were helps more than 250 worried about doing students find educapoorly with coursetion abroad opporStudents can use the Snapchat work going online. code for quick access to the office’s tunities each year.

For one, online They work with many website. classes worked out groups of students in their favor. like ESL, non-degree exchange “At first, I felt upset and was students, undergraduate and worried about switching to online graduate students and several classes since I’m so used to regular Fulbright Scholars students.

Art faculty launch ‘Quarantine Buddy’ project for students to ease anxiety EMILY LOOSE

Staff Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf has issued a stay at home order on Pennsylvania citizens due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Having to stay-at-home can cause a lot of stress and loneliness for students, and IUP professors want to give them all a reason to enjoy this time.

Faculty in the art department are especially trying to combat student struggles.

Sharon Massey is a professor who works with jewelry and metal. Along with professor Sean Derry, the two worked together to create the “Quarantine Companion Project.”

The project consists of participants taking items from around their home to create a “friend.”

This could be any type of material. Some participants have used rags, grocery bags and old clothing.

“We created kits with a needle, thread and googly eyes

(Sculpture Support System Instagram) Students can put their skills to work while at home by creating a “Quarantine Buddy.” The idea was created by Sharon Massey and Sean Derry who wanted to give students a way to alleviate anxiety during the extended stay at home.

that can be mailed upon request to help facilitate making the companions,” Massey said. “But, really, anyone with a needle, thread and a little creativity can make a pal.”

Massey said the idea came during a Zoom call between faculty and students from the Sculpture Support System, a

group who help create more professional experiences for students that involve the Indiana community.

After face-to-face classes were canceled, they wanted to help ease student anxiety in some way. They knew that students would be struggling with the sudden change, especially

when it meant being away from friends.

“After a lengthy discussion, we agreed that helping people make a ‘companion’ and providing a platform for sharing them would be a worthwhile project.”

The art department had other previous projects planned for the year, but needed to cancel them due to the outbreak.

For a while, kits were available in spots near campus, such as Robertshaw. Wanting to take more safety precautions, kits are now only available by mail.

Interest in the project has already been high with more than 40 kits shipped out across the United States.

“Most requests come from Indiana or Pittsburgh, but we have also gotten requests from Texas, Oklahoma and Alaska.”

Some participants have already uploaded photos of their pals onto Instagram using the hashtag #TheQuarantineCompanion.

Massey said that art and projects such as The Quarantine Companion are especially im-

portant during these hard times, as it can be therapeutic.

“Art makes us think critically, creates a commentary for contemporary events, provides cultural stimulation and reminds us that we are part of a larger society,” she said.

In a news release, she said, “the act of gathering materials from your home and hand-stitching an object with personal significance reaffirms the value of art in our lives.”

The project is open to anyone who is interested. For those who would like a kit, they can fill out a form at sculpturesupportsystem.org.

After creating the pal, participants are asked to upload a photo online using the hashtag #TheQuarantineCompanion, along with their pal’s name.

Photos will be featured on the website’s gallery.

To learn more about the project, The Sculpture Support System can be reached at sculpturehotline@gmail.com and also on Instagram @sculpturesupportsystem.

April 8, 2020

News

(Facebook) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Army will suspend sending new recruits to basic training to protect their health and safety.

Army suspends sending recruits to basic training TARA COPP

McClatchy Washington Bureau TNS

The Army will temporarily hold off on sending new recruits to basic training in order to strengthen protective measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on those bases, the head of Army Training and Doctrine Command said Monday.

The pause will be in effect for at least two weeks and affects new recruits who would be going to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., and Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla.

"This COVID-19 virus is a new condition in our training environment," Gen. Paul Funk III, Commanding General of Army Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters at the Pentagon.

The pause will allow the Army to refine how it accepts and transports recruits during the pandemic, Funk said.

The command had initially put in place policies where recruits would be screened outside the gate with a questionnaire and temperature check before they entered the base. In recent weeks the command has added requirements to contact each recruit multiple times in the days before they ship to ensure they are feeling well and that they have been isolating and social

distancing.

"Those who are currently in BCT and Advanced Individual Training will continue training under the screening and monitoring guidelines established last month and will proceed to their next assignments upon graduation," the Army said in a statement.

"This tactical pause will allow (bases) to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place and are operating effectively at training installations," the Army said.

Funk would not specify how many coronavirus cases there were among recruits at each base, but said the numbers were low, and that across the roughly 100,000 personnel in his command, including recruits, trainers and support, there were 102 current cases.

Recruits already going through basic training will continue and be kept on base, he said.

Funk said the decision was based on lessons learned from Army commanders at bases in South Korea and Italy, where, despite an outbreak in communities in those countries, strict lockdown measures have helped keep the numbers of infections low among service members based there.

"We've taken their lessons learned from establishing a bubble around their forces, and adjusted them to our particular circumstances," Funk said.

5

6

April 8, 2020

News

April 8, 2020

News

7

Belsterling utilizes Facebook streaming to give a place of worship JAKE SLEBODNICK

News Editor J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu @Jake_WIUP

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring daily routines to a halt, one Grove City College student strives to bring people closer to find the positive in this dark period.

Josh Belsterling, a senior from Ebensburg and a member of McLean Bible Church’s young adult ministry, utilizes the online social medium Facebook to offer a place of worship. He provides live streams to those who cannot leave their homes and those whose churches are closed.

“I view worshipping together online as a stop-gap measure during a time where meeting in person is not possible,” Belsterling said. “As Christians, we are called to gather together physically in part because corporate worship is not just about worshipping God, but also about encouraging one another.”

“I did the first session as a pilot stream, and I figured I would decide on continuing them depend-

(Facebook) Josh Belsterling is bringing people together through Facebook worship services every Thursday from 9-10 p.m.

ing on how it went. I was overwhelmed by the response and was encouraged by others saying they have been encouraged in their faith.”

He got his start with live-streaming after the decision for students to be sent home at the advent of the outbreak. He realized that while people cannot be in the same room to worship, they can still come together.

“The same day I ultimately

started live-streaming, I had planned to visit my alma mater, where they have a time of worship in the chapel called “Warriors for Christ” that I was really excited for. When [Grove City] decided to send students home, I got to thinking ‘If I can’t go to Warriors, why not continue worship even though we’re apart?’ And just like that, the idea came to me.”

Belsterling commented on how a certain Bible verse influenced

him to encourage others through worship.

“As I was thinking about this, my mind immediately went to Hebrews 10:24-25, where it says ‘Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near’ (NLT).”

During times when many think that all hope is lost, others turn their attention to faith and pray to see the metaphoric light at the end of the tunnel.

Belsterling is one who embodies that statement and even says that it is one of the reasons for a continued positive outlook.

“I think [faith] is essential every day, whether those days are good or bad,” he said. “God always has a plan, even if I don’t see it or understand it. I really think the only reason I can keep a positive outlook through this time is because of my faith in Christ.”

He also emphased that these live streams are not built to

replace Sunday service, but to give those a place to worship with those who share similar beliefs.

He mentioned that messages that live streams are built around are based on recent sermons he’s heard and different scripture he’s read.

“It’s a blend,” he said. “Sometimes the theme I use is adapted from a message I’ve heard recently, and sometimes it comes from a direction I feel I’m being led to in scripture.”

While different messages are conveyed each week, the overall message Belsterling wants to share is that there is hope down the line.

“As a Christian, I believe this pandemic is not a surprise to God and that he works all things for the good of those who love Him, even during times of great despair and trouble.”

Currently Belsterling’s live streams average 200 to 400 viewers every week, and viewers can tune in every Thursday night from 9 to 10 p.m., the original time for Warriors of Christ’s worship, at facebook.com/JoshBbMusic.

Professors comment on adjusting to online classes during pandemic KATIE MEST

Editor-In-Chief K.A.Mest@iup.edu @katiemest

In less than a week, professors had to transform their in-person classes to online. Even still, some of their biggest challenges so far are just making sure their students are all right.

Online classes aren’t easy.

Some students are now back at homes that may not have internet or cell phone service. Others may have the access but are struggling to focus on schoolwork while they deal with the stressors of living through a global pandemic. And some classes were hard enough in person before switching to less one-on-one learning.

Many professors are understanding of their students’ situations and are doing their best to accommodate. And when they reach out, they want to know you’re OK. History department assistant chair Dr. Christine Baker is trying not to hold synchronous meetings and said there’s a debate among professors of how much they feel they should require from students due to those who may not have the access to the internet, and due to unprecedented circumstances, she said she does not require synchronous meeting

(IUP Journalism and Public Relations Facebook) IUP faculty members are taking classes one step at a time during this transition online.

times for her classes.

“I’m trying to give lots of options,” Baker said. “But at the same time, everything is really overwhelming. I mean, I feel overwhelmed.”

Especially with her 100-level course, she said it’s hard to keep everyone on track with the class.

Students may not be as interested in a course that they’re only taking to meet a liberal studies requirement than they would be about a higher-level class focusing in the field they’re hoping to enter.

Dr. Michele Papakie, chair of the journalism and public relations department, likes holding Zoom meetings with her classes to keep a “dose of normalcy.”

These classes are held at the same time they would normally be held in person at IUP. “Many students have told me they don’t enjoy online courses because of the lack of interaction and the ease of which they may procrastinate,” she said in a Sunday email. “Videoconferencing mitigates those obstacles. We have also set up closed Facebook Groups on which we can interact, and we set up chat rooms in the GroupMe app to stay connected anytime when we have something fun or interesting to share.

I have more contact now with my students than I had when we were at IUP.” Baker holds weekly Zoom class

sessions and records it for those who are not able to tune in.

“It seems to me that a lot of students are looking for some structure,” Baker said. “Having that is a good opportunity to build some structure into your week.”

Professors are trying anything and everything to keep their students engaged and get them access to necessary course material.

Some professors say the biggest concern that they have is that they still haven’t even heard from some students.

“University wide, it’s frustrating and disappointing that we sit worrying about students who were actually given two weeks –

spring break and the week after – to get in touch with us, so we could address concerns and work together to plan the rest of the semester,” said Papakie. “We emailed, called, posted on D2L, we tried everything to reach them, and when we can’t, we worry. We don’t get angry; we worry about them.”

Many professors sent emails of support to their students to open the lines of communication and address any hurdles that would get in the way of classes. If you are a student and haven’t yet, reach out to your professors.

Both Baker’s and Papakie’s classes now naturally became places where students can talk through their fears and worries about classes or the effects the coronavirus has had on their lives.

“There are students who already struggle with anxiety or maybe have no experience struggling with anxiety,” Baker said.

“I’ve been hearing from students that will say like, ‘My internet’s fine. I have plenty of time to get whatever assignment done. I just can’t find the motivation.’ Or, ‘I’m struggling with my schedule.’

Because suddenly, everything is up in the air.”

Professors and students alike are taking their new challenges one step at a time.

8

April 8, 2020

News

April 8, 2020

News

9

(IUP Website) Since students are unable to attend class in person, faculty members in the science department are taking labs online.

Creativity, reconstruction highlight means of change for science faculty ANNA MECHLING Lead News Writer A.Mechling@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

As online classes finished their second week, students are getting used to using online platforms like Desire2Learn (D2L), Moodle, Zoom and email to do their work and keep in touch with professors.

Students had a few weeks to prepare before they had to dive into online platforms, but professors had less time to come up with a changed syllabus and figure out how to structure their classes.

For science professors, especially those who teach both lectures and labs, it took a little creativity and thought to restructure their courses.

“It’s still the beginning, and we are still getting used to the transition and its functionality,” said Dr. Eric Morschhauser, human anatomy assistant professor.

“I structured my courses so that nothing was tied to a set schedule because everyone has their own set schedule with various home life situations occurring, and I wanted to build that into my classes so my students weren’t tied to certain times of the day for most things like exams or assignments.

“Labs are structured the same way, meaning students are continuing to review weekly material.

My human anatomy labs are a little bit different than some of the other science labs because we don’t have a particular procedure for anything, and it’s a lot of memorization.”

Some of the lab work is transitioning OK to online work, but not surprisingly, most isn’t.

“The hard part of the human anatomy labs is that it’s cut into half anatomical models and half cadavers,” Morschhauser said.

“I’ve uploaded labeled 2-D pictures so students can work on the lab books with it and go through the lab exercises. The only change is that cadavers can’t transition to online work due to privacy and HIPPA regulations.

“I had nothing to develop with and ended up developing it completely from scratch in the course of seven days. That’s why I think it’s the first run until classes are over. I’m still building things, but I’m trying to be as flexible with students’ schedules, too.”

Other professors continue to keep a schedule and meet during their normal class hours via Zoom.

“It was important to me that I maintain my goals and learning objectives for my students, and one of my priorities was to establish organization to try to limit confusion but to build in a level of flexibility so that my students felt more comfortable with the

transition to online classes,” said Dr. Robert Major, developmental biology associate professor. “I have been using a combination of Zoom lectures for my cell biology and human genetics courses.

“I have also been using Camtasia-based video recordings on my pre-lab lectures for my genetics and cell biology labs and D2L and email to distribute files, grades and to communicate with my students. I hold my Zoom lectures during normal scheduled class times that allows for a more dynamic experience where students can ask and answer questions, and I’ve received excellent feedback from this.”

Many professors are using multiple online platforms to communicate with their students like putting up videos and using other things like Kahoot and Top Hat. Major has even incorporated some student suggestions into his teaching.

“No online exercise will ever fill in the need for hands on laboratory learning, but in lieu of the situation, I have used a combination of videos, recorded pre-lab lectures and assignments to be completed and submitted by my students,” Major said. “I continue to learn from my students and have incorporated new online ways of reviewing material like interactive learning tools.

“I look forward to finding new and creative ways of engaging my students. I feel that instruc-

tors are forced to learn new online approaches and technologies, and we will begin to see more new course proposals that are geared toward online learning. I have tried to see this stressful time in a positive way, and I’m happy to be learning new tools and using new approaches. I’m excited to see where my teaching takes me next. I have enjoyed the process of learning new forms of teaching, and I enjoy exercising new aspects of my creativity that I do not use often.”

Most professors agree that students are missing out on valuable hands-on learning experience and skill development with courses being online.

“My focus is ecology and environmental science, so teaching field research skills is a central goal in my courses,” said Dr. David Janetski. “Shifting courses online means that students miss out on valuable hands-on experiences and skill development.

This is simply unavoidable. There are certain experiences that cannot be replicated in an online format.

“My goal in transitioning courses online was to fulfill as many of the course outcomes as possible without holding outdoor labs. I wanted students to get what they are paying for: a deeper understanding of ecological science, training in data analysis and interpretation and

the ability to solve environmental problems.”

But many professors are surprised at how well their students are transitioning and coping with online courses.

“So far, the online teaching experience has been smoother than I anticipated,” Janetski said.

“Answering student questions as they analyze data is challenging but doable. I decided to continue to meet with my class live during normally scheduled lecture times using Zoom, and it has been surprisingly straightforward.

“I'm also happy that attendance and participation have been comparable to face-to-face meetings. For labs, I provide students with problem sets that they work through while I answer questions from individual students.”

Janetski said his students have made their own discussion groups to collaborate and work through problems together.

“Teaching ecology classes online isn't ideal, but we're making it work, and the process has been smoother than I anticipated. Students are participating at a high level and showing signs of adapting to maintain social connections important to learning,” he said. “We miss outdoor experiences greatly, but holding live lectures continues to provide meaningful teaching and discussion opportunities.”

10

April 8, 2020

News

News

April 8, 2020

11

(Pixabay) Chicks are becoming more common to give as ideal Easter gifts.

Writer shares why animals are not the ‘perfect’ Easter gift RACHEL FOOR

Staff Writer R.G.Foor@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

(Flickr) Along with chicks, ducklings and rabbits are also becoming favored Easter gift ideas. When purchasing an animal is impractical to others, some dress their current pet for photos.

Easter is right around the corner, and even though we are all essentially under house arrest, that won’t stop anyone from celebrating.

Easter also coincides with when many animals are having babies.

Chicks and ducklings hatch; rabbits are born. They are small, adorable, are easy to come by and children love them. However, once the holiday is over and these animals grow up, their owners realize they have bitten off more than they can chew.

As with any living being, chicks, ducklings and rabbits require a certain level of care that many are unprepared or unable to give.

Therefore, people need to do a decent amount of research before purchasing live animals If you are still tempted to buy one, Timber Creek Farm (https:// timbercreekfarmer.com/live-animals-for-easter/) suggests asking yourself these questions first: 1. Do you live where you can keep the animal?

2. Did you plan on raising animals in your backyard?

3. Are your children responsible? Are they old enough to take on the care of a pet and the care involved?

4. Have you considered the entire life span of the chick, duckling or bunny?

5. Where will the animal be housed? Is this realistic?

6. Can you afford the food, care and housing requirements for the animal?

If you answer “no” to any of

these questions, you need to seriously reconsider if buying this animal is in your, and the animal’s, best interest.

Rabbits require as much care and commitment as a dog. If they are not kept in the house, which is recommended, then they need a cage at least five times their size to move around in.

Their digestive system is sensitive, meaning they can’t eat a myriad of foods many people think would be appropriate. These include iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, beans, peas, potatoes, beets, onions, seeds and grains, according to PetFinder.

If not mentally and physically stimulated, rabbits can become destructive to their environment by chewing furniture, carpet and other belongings. They also have fragile bones, so if they are not handled properly, their spines can easily break. This makes them a less than ideal pet for small children.

The reality is that domestic rabbits can live for 10-12 years on average, something that many people don’t take into consideration when purchasing them as gifts.

Almost 80 percent of bunnies that are up for adoption at shelters were once purchased as Easter gifts, according to the Huffington Post.

Those unlucky enough to not be dropped at shelters are either euthanized or die after being released into the wild by their owner.

It also needs to be understood that domestic rabbits are not the same as wild rabbits. The domesticated rabbits that are purchased as pets are a separate species from the wild cottontail hare many in rural America are accustomed

to seeing.

Today’s domesticated rabbits are the product of years of selective breeding, similar to how humans made dogs out of wolves.

Therefore, turning a domesticated rabbit loose into the wilderness is akin to leaving your pug or chihuahua in a box on the side of the road. They are not equipped with the skills necessary to fend for themselves in the wild and they will die.

As for chicks and ducklings, they are considered livestock and require an owner that is experienced in keeping livestock. Once they are grown, they need both an indoor area to roost and an outdoor area for exercise.

Ducklings have the added need of a water source for swimming.

Not all veterinarians are equipped to care for farm birds, so finding an agricultural veterinarian is another must. The feces of these birds can also pose a risk to human health, as they can carry salmonella.

Like domestic rabbits, ducks and chickens can live for years. If they are surrendered to shelters once their cuteness wears off, it will be very difficult for them to be rehomed. The vast majority of them will be euthanized. If released into the wild, these animals will have no instinct to forage for food or evade predators. The inevitable end for them will be death.

There are many alternative options to buying a live animal as an Easter present. These include stuffed animals, duck bath toys, chocolate eggs or a trip to a local petting zoo or farm. These alternatives ensure that no animals are neglected or harmed while giving your children a memorable holiday.

12

April 8, 2020

News

Opinion (Wikicommons) COVID-19 has infected almost 350,000 people in the U.S.

Worst is still to come if Americans continue to disobey COVID-19 has swept across the country leaving every stone unturned. No matter who you are, no matter what you may be, it is a problem.

Throughout the last several weeks we have found out how bad Americans are at making decisions. It starts at the top and goes down to the common people. It truly shows how naive some people are in the country.

First thing is that we saw what was happening in other countries, mainly China. We knew how bad it was when everything shut down. China is a country that rarely shuts down for anything.

We did not act upon that in any way. We did not prepare for this to attack the country in any way. The first mistake and the reason America was doomed from the beginning was bringing people back from China. The U.S. essentially invited the virus into the country.

That leads us to the second problem, why did the U.S. take-in so the cruise ships that had people infected with little to no plan?

Again, the country invited the virus.

They should have done a better job of containing the virus and separating it from healthy people.

The next couple weeks led us

Opinion

to where we are now. This goes to show how incompetent President Trump has been during his term.

The president is supposed to represent what this country is about. Our president decided to call it a hoax just a month ago.

He also did not want to call it COVID-19 or the coronavirus but rather the China virus.

The saddest part about it was that people decided to think it was a hoax and call it the China virus as well. It makes me sick as an American citizen to hear this kind of stuff. This situation has opened some eyes as to how poorly some of the country has been run.

I do not care if you are a Democrat, Republican or even want an alien to run the country. This kind of performance by a president is unacceptable. It is terrible

to see people such as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo take more initiative than people in Washington.

This is not just the president’s fault either. The people that get paid from our own tax dollars are sitting on their hands just hoping that it goes away by some magical fairy.

My solution to fixing the economy and giving money to those without a job is simple.

We take the money that the politicians in Washington D.C. are expected to earn and use their money to help the country. They obviously do not need the money to support their families as much as those without a job.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) expects the cases to peak this week.

Newsflash.

They are sadly mistaken. This

April 8, 2020

is going to continue and get worse until at least the end of April.

The main reason I believe this is because Americans think they are the strongest people in the world. It is ingrained in our heads from a young age that we are the best country in the world. I could count on one hand the amount my teachers said we were any number besides No. 1. My answer is zero.

I will be the first to admit that I was one of the people that did not worry about this from the beginning, but I also wanted action to be taken to prevent it. We were doomed as soon as the stuff listed above became apparent.

As soon as the virus started spreading to each state, mainly Washington to California and so on, travel should have been stopped. It could not have come at a worse time as well.

It got worse right as college students were going on spring break. They had their plans made, and we all know how most college kids think. Some will stop at nothing to have fun.

Spring break is one of the main reasons if not the reason Philadelphia has more than 1,000 cases. It stemmed from a stu-

dent going overseas to Italy then getting infected and spreading it when she came back.

Florida has the highest attraction during spring break, and what did they do? They left the beaches open for everyone to come. A reason to show how naive Americans could be in such decision making.

Thank goodness we have leaders such as Governor Cuomo that have taken control of the situation the best we could. It is people like his that are doing the best they could with the resources they have been given that are helping our cause.

The cure to the virus may not be a drug at this point, but good decision making. Do not put yourself in a situation that could put you at risk. Do not listen to the fake information out on the internet.

It’s either this is the beginning or this is the end of the virus.

Only Americans could decide if we want to make good decisions or fall victim to COVID-19 for the rest of the year.

Brought to you

By Steven Langdon Jr

13

Culture

Culture Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Haley Brown– ydmx@iup.edu

(Facebook) Josh Peck (left) and Polo G (right) were two acts on STATIC’s lineup for spring events, since canceled due to coronavirus.

STATIC cancels face-to-face, adds virtual events JESS TRUBY

Managing Editor J.L.Truby@iup.edu @jesstruby

If you’ve attended an entertainment event on campus, it was most likely hosted by STATIC (Student Activity Committee).

After IUP announced it was suspending face-to-face classes for the remainder of the semester, STATIC announced it was canceling the rest of its events for the spring starting with Live at IUP: Polo G all the way through its Finals Study Break.

“These decisions weren’t easy for STATIC,” said Zach Clark, STATIC’s adviser and Student CoOp’s director of student activities and assessment for the Student Co-Op Association. “We poured a ton of time, energy, passion, and money into our spring calendar in order to make it amazing for our IUP campus community. But, we had to put the health, well-being

14

and safety of that community first, and we had to remain responsive to directives coming from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, from the federal government, especially the guidelines regarding large-scale events and programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and from our own IUP administration, including President Driscoll and Vice President of Student Affairs Segar.”

STATIC had planned for 12 events this semester, and of those, 10 were canceled. Only two were paid events, the Spring Break Bus return and the Polo G concert. All refunds are being managed by the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) Box Office, which administers STATIC’s ticket sales. If an individual purchased tickets with a credit card, they will receive a refund in 10-15 business days. If an individual purchased with Crimson Cash or cash, they

must contact the KCAC Box Office directly to make arrangements to receive their refund via PayPal, since the KCAC Box Office was forced to close daily, in-person operations. Please contact Andrew Thompson, general manager of the KCAC, at 724-357-5222 or tathomps@iup.edu to arrange for your refund or to ask any questions.

A difficulty STATIC faced was the ever-changing regulations, and the need for quick decisions to navigate through the new situation.

“What complicated things on STATIC’s end was how quickly guidelines, recommendations, and directives were changing, so that by the time we figured out one path forward, designed a comprehensive and appropriate response, and published it to the IUP community, things changed,” said Clark.

STATIC members are working

April 8, 2020

through the response of the IUP community and the artists who were supposed to perform. While most are understanding of the situation, there is still much anger and disappointment of the canceled events.

“Nobody could’ve predicted even at the end of February how overwhelming this situation would become,” Clark said. “The anger and mistrust directed at STATIC is an unfortunate side effect of COVID-19, for sure. Additionally, nobody (across the event management and promotions industry) is quite sure how artists and agencies will react to the unprecedented number of contract cancellations or postponements this situation has caused.

“Will artists demand paymentin-full to fulfill contract obligations? Will agencies initiate legal proceedings against programming boards who canceled contracts?

No one really knows.”

Through all of the setbacks, STATIC is still working to connect with students and bring them entertainment.

“A silver lining is that STATIC is still trying to connect with students virtually for the remaining weeks of the semester,” Clark said. “We’re hoping to launch a handful of virtual events, like movie nights, Tik Tok challenges, trivia nights, etc., just to help IUP students destress and forget about the craziness in the world even for an hour or so.”

A full list of events can be found on STATIC’s social media pages. STATIC has also started planning for the fall semester and students can expect to see concerts, comedians, speakers, movies, trips and more. If you have an interest in bringing your favorite acts to IUP, STATIC is looking for general and executive board members.

Culture

April 8, 2020

Culture

15

(Facebook) “I’ll Meet You There” (left) and “Red Heaven (right), are two films that were set to premiere at the SXSW film festival, since moved to Amazon Prime where you can still catch the movies

Film festival moves to Amazon Prime for free LEVI DONALDSON

Staff Writer L.Donaldson@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

South By Southwest (SXSW) will continue its premiere online, specifically through Amazon.

SXSW is a film, music and overall art festival.

“SXSW Festivals offer a unique opportunity to explore the worlds of film, music and comedy with parties, awards, screenings and showcases,” according to its website.

These large events draw hundreds of thousands of people and creates a large cultural and diverse splash. Due to COVID-19, however, the physical festival had to be canceled for health concerns.

For 10 days, the new films that would have premiered at SXSW

will screen for free on Amazon.

Viewers will need to create a free Amazon account but will not need a Prime subscription to view the movies being screened.

While filmmakers will still have to accept these updated conditions, they will be financially compensated and receive the exposure that festivals like this offer.

This serves as a second chance for SXSW and helps promote Amazon as well.

It can also been seen as a sign of goodwill toward people stuck at home with not much to do.

There are no set dates yet, but it is likely that it will be toward the end of April.

Some of the films that will debut through SXSW have been posted with descriptions.

The film “I’ll Meet You There” is about “[a] Muslim policeman

[going] undercover at his estranged father’s mosque while his daughter hides her passion for a forbidden dance, uncovering a shocking family secret,” according to the SXSW website.

Another film, “Violet,” also has an intriguing premise. The SXSW website says that it features “[a] film development executive realizes that ‘guiding voice’ inside her head has been lying to her about everything.”

Another entry is “Red Heaven,” a documentary about “six people [who] live for a year on ‘Mars’ in a NASA experiment studying what happens to humans when they are isolated from Earth.”

There will be a lot of other options and films to check out during this exposition.

“I think expo events have been on the decline as a whole, so this

was likely to happen sooner or later,” Stephen Plowcha (sophomore, safety science) said. “If the stream is really free, the audience this year will be their biggest ever. I would never travel to Texas for... well, anything. But if I don't completely forget about SXSW then I'll definitely be watching.

“From the filmmaker's perspective, I think it'll be a mixed bag. I can't imagine the euphoria of watching the audience applaud a screening of your own film, but I know what it's like to be praised in an internet comment section: mildly refreshing, I guess. It depends on the weight of their egos. Filmmakers who aren't motivated purely by praise might prefer this format, since these types of films normally reach only a tiny audience.

Putting everything on the inter-

net for free is like a democratic revolution for people who like to watch movies but don't have any money, like me.”

“I think entertainment industries are taking some of the hardest hits with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dylan Latore (sophomore, communications media) said. “Unfortunately, large gatherings and festivals like these can only do whatever they can to continue. For SXSW, this means online viewings for the films.

“Honestly, this only means more exposure for those who were able to showcase their work in this year's festival. The free showings on Amazon will mean more viewers than the attendees who purchased tickets. All we can do is continue to adapt and overcome in these unpredictable times.”

16

April 8, 2020

Culture

(Facebook) Jeff Mauro “The Sandwich King” has begun a new ‘quarantine-edition” of Food Network’s “The Kitchen” from his Chicago home.

(Facebook) “Westworld” is currently on season three, with new episodes airing every Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO.

April showers bring new shows to streaming services KATE POMPA

Staff Writer K.G.Pompa2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

No plans this April? Running out of things to keep busy? Well, it seems like that’s on everyone’s agenda during this pandemic.

With nothing but time on our hands, check out these shows to keep you busy and inspired.

“Westworld” is streaming on HBO and has everything your futuristic western heart desires.

This show has aired since 2016 and is currently on season three. It airs Sundays at 9 p.m.

This show takes place in a fictional western amusement park with robotic people identified as hosts to fulfill guests’ fantasies. The guests are able to do whatever they want with their humanoid counterparts as they are programmed to never harm the humans.

As most robotic shows go, over time some robots gain sentience.

There’s more to the storyline as guests and hosts travel through the park question life’s greatest mysteries such as consciousness

and reality, but that’s up to you to watch.

Next on the list of shows to stream this April is “Tiger King” available on Netflix.

Do you like tigers, rednecks, polygamy, drug abuse, missing persons case and a murder-for-hire plot out of this world? Well buckle up and get ready to ride the wave of Joe Exotic.

This show has twists and turns that will leave you with more questions than answers in the good way.

Without giving too much away, this show is about the struggle between two people -- Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin -- about the ownership of exotic animals with show stopping drama within the episodes. It’s a great way to get 45 minutes of great entertainment.

The next show to binge is “Ozark” on Netflix. This series is an American crime show about an average guy who has found himself in a sticky situation.

In result of getting into a bad situation he decides to move himself and his family to the Lake of the Ozarks to help launder money

for a Mexican drug cartel. To save his life, he offers that he can launder $500 million in five years. To find out his he can accomplish this goal, check out the series page on Netflix.

“You” available on Netflix gives you the insight of what goes on in the mind of a stalker.

There are two available seasons, and each season will take you on an adrenaline-fueled ride from the first episode to the last.

This series follows Joe Goldberg and his tantalizing tale of the women who consumes his life. This show definitely breaks the fourth wall when you follow him throughout the season with each episode gaining more intensity.

The final show on the list is the “Mandalorian,” which is available on Disney+. Follow the story line of “Baby Yoda” and the Mandalorian guardian who saves him from a failed mission.

This will take you on a futuristic adventure into the Star Wars universe as Baby Yoda and Mando escape the bounty hunters and the Empire.

Jeff Mauro co-hosting 'The Kitchen' from Chicago home TRACY SWARTZ TNS Chicago Tribune Saturday's episode of "The Kitchen" will look different - and not just because co-host Jeff Mauro said he filmed the episode while sporting "quite a gross mustache."

The Food Network show's first "quarantine edition" will feature the five co-hosts cooking separately at their respective homes, instead of together at a New Jersey studio, because of coronavirus.

Mauro makes crispy skin salmon Provencal with charred red cabbage salad in his suburban Chicago kitchen. The dish sounds fancy, but Mauro said it was made with items pulled from his pantry.

"Luckily we had enough salmon frozen that we could do this recipe," Mauro told the Tribune. "We do not have the resources that we normally do for 'The Kitchen.' We have the same stuff that everybody else has. It made it that much more special."

Mauro said there are usually between 70 and 80 crew members on set to film "The Kitchen." His wife, Sarah, and their 11-year-old son, Lorenzo, helped him for the at-

home episode. Turning his kitchen into a TV studio was "exhausting" and involved multiple iPhones, an iPad, a laptop and other technology, he said. He and his co-hosts - Sunny Anderson, Alex Guarnaschelli, Katie Lee and Geoffrey Zakarian -- communicated via the Zoom video conferencing service.

"I've always had respect for crew, any crew on a television set, but this gives you a whole new appreciation," Mauro said. The hour-long special is scheduled to air at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Mauro, who won Season 7 of "Food Network Star" in 2011, said he recently turned in the manuscript for his first cookbook, which is due out next spring. He said he has other television projects in the works, but he isn't looking to get back in the restaurant business right now.

Mauro was the face of Pork & Mindy's, a Chicago barbecue chain that closed shop last year.

"It's not the time to even try to venture to get into that business.

I had a good run, and then we'll see. I have so many ideas that I can't wait to launch. We'll just wait until the world calms down a little bit and gets itself healthy," Mauro said.

Culture

April 8, 2020

17

OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT AND DELIVERY VIA DOORDASH ONLY!

18 April 8, 2020

Culture

Culture

April 8, 2020

19

(Facebook) Anthony Fantano (left) and Jacksfilms (right) are two YouTubers still new to the YouTube world and offer entertainment for many.

YouTubers to become familiar with while stuck at home LEVI DONALDSON

Staff Writer L.Donaldson@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

In a time when famous television personalities and newscasters are making their broadcasts from home, we have more time to catch up on our favorite YouTubers who have been living and making it big online and breaking into mainstream media.

It’s easy to run out of people to watch, though, so here are some suggestions from myself and other IUP students.

A channel that's really easy to get into and enjoy is Jacksfilms. He has a very real interaction with his audience, and the humor is constant and ridiculous while staying lighthearted. He has a real camera presence and uses video editing and communication with his viewers to lead a lot of the jokes. The channel feels genuine while still having a polished and well-crafted way of making videos. If you’re looking to laugh, check him out.

One of the most varied and entertaining YouTube channels is Polygon. It is centered on vid-

(Facebook) Dodie Clark, another YouTuber, does song covers.

eo games, but you don’t need to be well-versed to appreciate the sense of humor and well put together videos.

"I don't even like video games, and I've been watching a lot of Polygon videos lately,” Maren Krizner (sophomore, psychology) said. “They just got some funny little guys on there. I don't always know what they're talking about, but it's entertaining.”

Krizner said that this channel and the different series it does has made her really interested in playing a lot of the games shown.

“I especially like ‘Monster Factory’ and the ‘Unraveled’ series,” Krizner said. “In ‘Monster Factory,’ Griffin and Justin McElroy go into video games with character cre-

ators and make the most horrific abominations possible. It's a great dose of low-stakes humor in these trying times.

“All in all, the channel offers lots of good fun for everyone, from the most skilled gamers to the know-nothings.”

For fans of music and analysis, Anthony Fantano is one of the best and most impactful content creators online. His reviews on theneedledrop channel are well worded and have become infamous. He’s very well informed and not afraid to share his opinions no matter how against the grain or surprising. He also does secondary content on his fantano channel in which he continues a number of series.

My favorite of these series is “Let’s Argue” in which he takes hot takes from online and discusses them in an entertaining and informative way. I’ve discovered a lot of the musicians I love through fantano’s work.

Another interesting musical channel is NineSecondSongs. He covers a song but changes the genre and artist he’s impersonating every nine seconds.

“I know NineSecondSongs is a good choice for music,” Sam Cunningham (sophomore, English) said. “He adapts styles to songs and can reach, like, 20 styles in one video.”

“One of my favorite YouTubers is Dodie Clark,” Violet Hayes (sophomore, speech pathology) said. “She has her main channel dodleodle and her vlog channel vloggleodle.

“On her main channel, she primarily makes videos of her finalized music pieces. I like her videos because she’s very honest about different things that she has experienced throughout her life, and you can tell that she’s genuinely a good person. She is also the kind of person that can make anyone smile and feel understood

because she does that with a lot of her music.”

During this time, it can be a really good thing to work on hobbies and improve yourself in what you’re interested in. If anyone even has a passing interest in photography, there is no better place to start than Mango Street. They are a husband and wife photographer team that has beautiful videos, a smart sense of comedy and really helpful and interesting ideas and lessons.

For insightful commentary on films that are both knowledgeable and hysterical, I would recommend the channels ralphthemoviemaker and YourMovieSucksDOTorg. They both helped me get into cinema while staying very entertaining and lighthearted. Members of both of these channels are on a podcast called “Sardonicast” with another YouTuber.

There are two IUP students with YouTube channels that you may want to check out. EJ Fabiszewski does musical covers as well as concert footage from around Indiana and original songs. Maren Krizner also has a number of her original songs uploaded for listening pleasure.

20

April 8, 2020

Culture

Fans have to wait a little longer to see new favorites HALEY BROWN

Lead Culture Writer H.Brown@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

We are all likely frustrated by the countless closures due to COVID-19. These have extended to movie theaters. Many movie companies have also been forced to move release dates for their movies.

Although theatres are not considered a life-sustaining business, it is so important to keep up the morale of the people when everyone is experiencing a stressful time. Being cooped up at home without any warning and without any time to plan for creative or emotional outlets beforehand can seriously affect a person’s mental health.

Without a way to escape from the pressures that the sudden onset of staggering lifestyle changes puts on people, countless people are bound to suffer from anxiety and depression without the chance of utilizing many healthy coping mechanisms, such as distraction, or being able to rely on fun outlets like a movie theatre trip or spa day for that much-needed relief.

(Facebook) “Black Widow” was one of the new Marvel movies to premiere in 2020, however with the coronavirus, the release date has been set to 2021.

“I think that the closures are a good thing so that people stay in their homes,” said Sam Antal (junior, sociology). “Since the closings happened, the risk of transmitting the virus in that big of a setting would be greatly reduced.

“I don’t think the movie theatre closures will affect me very much, as I only went every now and then before the COVID-19 crisis began, though I was definitely looking forward to going to see ‘A Quiet

Place Part II,’” Antal said.

While most citizens understand that the closing of the movie theatres and other areas where the virus would spread easily and rapidly is a necessary evil, many still yearn for the release from reality that a movie is known to provide. Being able to sink into a well cushioned theatre seat in the dark and forget your stresses by entering into another world is one of the best ways to

enjoy oneself and let-off some steam.

The movie theatre is an oasis from real life that is the go-to stress relieving activity of so many when one’s reality becomes difficult to deal with, or to even fathom. During hard times a person needs certain escapes when it all starts to feel like too much. With the closing of these movie theatres comes another thing that people are cut off from during these diffi-

cult and frightening times.

“It doesn’t really affect me, but I did really want to go see the Black Widow movie and Mulan and also the second ‘A Quiet Place,’ so I am sad and disappointed,” said Isabelle Jabour (sophomore, political science).

“I know they’re doing it for a reason because if a lot of people were to go, everyone sits in the same seats and employees touch the popcorn and the people touch your tickets and obviously it makes sense and will definitely help slow the spread. But also, it kind of sucks because it’s just another thing that you can’t do.

Everyone is sitting in their houses bored, and it’s just another something that we don’t have a chance to do anymore along with almost everything else that people used to do to go out and have some fun.”

Without the movie theatres and other sources of stress relief and entertainment, people are relying heavily on online media and streaming services to glean entertainment and distraction from the growing crisis.

Disney+ to bring old favorites back to life HALEY BROWN

Lead Culture Writer H.Brown@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

Disney+ has a lot of lost income to make up for since many of its predicted blockbusters had to be pushed back due to the coronavirus crisis, so it is stepping up and reviving a handful of old shows for Disney+ members to enjoy time and time again.

Among the reboots are show such as “Lizzie McGuire” and “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.”

Disney + is bringing back ‘The Proud Family’ which premiered more than 18 years ago. On Feb. 27 Disney announced the return of the much-loved show, and the animated show’s revival has not had a release date attached to it but is rumored to be released soon.

The show’s original producers Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar mentioned how blessed they were to have the opportunity to continue sharing the storylines they had initially wanted to share

(Facebook) “The Proud Family,” which ran from 2000-2003, has been revivied by Disney+.

during the show’s first run but just didn’t have the time for.

They expressed how glad they were that they will finally have the chance to take fans back into the family’s crazy lives. They also shared their excitement about gaining new fans and reminding the old fans of the original series of how easy it is to fall in love with the relatable family.

The new show will be centered around the same main characters and follow the life of Penny Proud and her family including her two parents, twin siblings, and grandmother. Many of the characters

will also be voiced by the original voice actors, including Kyla Pratt as the voice of Penny, Tommy Davidson as Oscar and Jo Marie Payton as the grandmother, Suga Mama, which is a rare and special treat to old fans of the original series.

Though Disney reported the reboot of another Disney fan-favorite show “Lizzie McGuire,” it was recently canceled by Disney and the showrunner was fired because the reboot was considered to be too mature for the younger Disney audiences. In January of 2020, the showrunner Terry Minsky

was let go.

Allegedly, after the filming of two episodes was completed, it was determined that a different direction was necessary creatively speaking and Disney began the search for a new showrunner.

Rumors have been circulating, driven by a post on Hillary Duff’s Instagram about another show rejected by the Disney+ platform, that Lizzie McGuire reboot might be transferred to Hulu.

In her post, Hillary Duff pointed out the rejected show called “Love, Victor” which supposedly also featured some themes that were deemed too adult and made some fans believe that the same direction would be taken with the Lizzie McGuire reboot and it would end up on the Hulu platform.

Duff later made a statement that was much less mysterious and included an explanation about why the reboot was so important to her, as well as to fans of the original show. She mentioned the responsibility she felt to honor her fans perceptions of the Lizzie character and said that, although

this perspective is vital to keep viewers connected to the Lizzie they know and love, that following a 30-year-old’s journey while being stifled by a PG rating would be very difficult for any actress and certainly for any producer involved in the show.

The authenticity of the character remains as the top priority, and although as a teenager a PG rating was doable, having an authentic show based on an adult woman who is far past her teen years, stronger, more adult themes are necessary to continue the evolution of Lizzie as an authentic character.

Though there is still no officially announced release date of the show, Duff said she is hopeful for the future of the show and believes that Lizzie deserves the storyline of a 30-year-old instead of a child. She wants viewers to see Lizzie’s growth and recognize that adult life isn’t made of Disney-movie fairy tales, but that there will always be reasons to keep smiling and persevering despite challenges and hardships that come our way.

Culture

April 8, 2020

21

22

April 8, 2020

Culture

(Facebook) Timbaland (left) and Swizz Beats (right) are two rappers who starred on the Instagram Live battle.

On Instagram Live, hip-hop/R&B hitmakers wage good-natured battle AUGUST BROWN TNS Los Angeles As the world implodes from coronavirus and no one's left the house in a month, music fans in staggering numbers have found comfort by tuning in to Instagram Live and watching Gen X hip-hop/ R&B producers playing their hits from their laptops and ragging on each other in the comments section.

After DJ D-Nice's Club Quarantine livestream became the lockdown's must-have digital ticket (even for Oprah Winfrey and Joe Biden), a digital DJ battle from dad-aged producers Timbaland and Swizz Beats became the talk of our shelter-in-place towns.

That battle was a rematch, of sorts, from a 2018 Summer Jam performance outside New York.

But afterward, at the producers' behest, peers like The-Dream, Ne-Yo and Mannie Fresh soon propped up cameras in their living rooms. On successive nights billed like boxing title fights, they livestreamed their DJ battles against pals Sean Garrett, Johnta Austin and Scott Storch on their Instagram accounts. Some faceoffs

showcased a couple of decades' worth of smashes from successful but under-heralded songwriters; The-Dream's ended with him knocking golf balls into his pool.

"I think it's a cool stroll down memory lane. It's showing a new generation where a lot of what we're doing now came from," said the singer and songwriter Ne-Yo from Atlanta, a few days after his battle with acclaimed R&B songwriter Austin (they fought to a draw, but Austin was probably the biggest beneficiary, Ne-Yo agreed).

"Right now the thing in hip-hop is to sample songs from the '90s, so let me introduce you to Johnta, who was writing them," he said.

"I don't even know if we kept score, but we had 83,000 people in there. It turned into a moment for everyone to appreciate good music, to shine a light where it was deserved."

The music industry was one of the first to be devastated by the spread of COVID-19. Major festivals like South by Southwest and Coachella were postponed or canceled; Live Nation and AEG put every one of its tours on ice (though some staging firms made the most of it by shifting to build

hospitals). No one knows when or if artists will return to the road, or how many livelihoods have been forever damaged. Already, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of beloved artists like Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis Jr. In all of this, these R&B and classic rap DJ battles have become a desperately craved bright spot. And perhaps it's no surprise that, in a time of both existential crisis and unceasing boredom, we turned to the cool uncles responsible for the hits from our youth as we gaze out our windows and long for the club.

The rules for these battles are flexible, as The-Dream and Garrett's perhaps not-entirely-sober pileup of a set proved. Younger acts can get in too: A producer battle between Hit-Boy and Boi1da was an early sensation in the trench war for IG Live supremacy.

But more or less, it's evolved into this: Each artist goes back and forth playing 20 or so songs he or she had a hand in making, no more than 90 seconds per track. Let the fans fight it out in the livestream to decide who won.

The comments sections can be as entertaining as what's happen-

ing on screen. "It's a sad day, all around the world. Today I gotta go pick out a casket for my homeboy, Scott Storch," Mannie Fresh said before their battle (and it was widely agreed that he did, indeed, murder his pal Storch). "Sometimes people do stupid things, you know, and you gotta pay for it ... But damn, Scott, why? Why would you do it? We gon' miss you, bro ... He just made that one fatal accident ... He went against Mannie Fresh."

Austin and Ne-Yo's battle was a wildly entertaining lesson in recent R&B history, showing off the contours of their catalogs and reminders of songs that Gen Z fans might only have recognized from samples. Over a couple of hours, Austin brought hits he'd written and/or produced by Ginuwine, Bryson Tiller, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige and Aaliyah, and ended with Mariah Carey's undisputed 2004 hit "We Belong Together."

Ne-Yo uncorked Rihanna, Jeezy, Keri Hilson and Jamie Foxx, and capped it with Beyonce's 2006 smash "Irreplaceable."

"Songwriters for a long time were the guy behind the guy; you knew the songs, but that's where it stopped unless you read the cred-

its," Ne-Yo said. "A lot of the time, writers didn't get the appreciation that they deserved."

After a few months of these quarantine faceoffs, that might well change forever for a whole new generation: Up next are crunk and pop-R&B titans Lil Jon and T-Pain, followed by New Jack Swing leviathans Babyface and record executive L.A. Reid versus songwriter Teddy Riley. All could spin their records for days on end without dipping out of the charts.

But more than anything, these sets are reminders that artists and their families are trapped at home, scared and confused and bored same as everyone. Ne-Yo has a new album planned for later this year, but he admits he can't get anything done right now either.

No one knows when this will be over, and everyone misses friends and livelihoods.

"With this, you've got artists you grew up listening to, and you get to see them in their living room with slippers on playing their biggest hits," Ne-Yo said. "Everybody's realizing that we're all the same. If the world is sick, we're all sick, and we've got to heal."

Culture

April 8, 2020

23

Sports

Sports Editor: Elliot Hicks – E.Hicks@iup.edu Lead Sports Writer: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu

In their own words: “I WAS

Paige Mikesell entered the NCAA Championships in March seeded second in the 200 butterfly but never got the chance to compete in the event.

(Olivia Accardi/IUP Sports Information)

‘Complete Shock’

Winter athletes reflect on abrupt end to season JEFF HART

Lead Sports Writer J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

We are in an unprecedented time amidst the pandemic that has affected billions. Many people have never experienced something that has shaken the world the way that COVID-19 has.

It has halted our daily way of living. Businesses are closing, schools are being shut down, and sports are being postponed or canceled. For many, this news came with little to no warning.

For many collegiate athletes, their seasons were either in full-swing or about to start up.

With the fast spread of the COVID-19 virus, the NCAA was prompted to react quickly in order to help protect athletes around the country.

For winter sports like swimming, track and field and basketball, they were in the middle of their postseason competitions. A whole season’s worth of work coming to a climactic conclusion, all cut short by an unseen force.

IUP sophomore sprinter Dre Carr was about

24

to compete in the Division II Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. After flying all the way to Alabama on March 11, Carr got the bad news the following day.

“I had a lot of mixed emotions when it first happened because I was ready with my preparation throughout the week before I even flew to Alabama,” Carr said last week. “Once I got there, as soon as I laid eyes on the facility, I fell in love with it. It was just the most beautiful track facility I’ve ever seen, the Birmingham Sports Complex.”

As one would expect, this news was incredibly difficult to hear for athletes like Carr who have devoted an entire season for the opportunity to prove themselves on a national stage.

“I was just hurt because I was so ready,” he said. “I was looking forward to competing and finishing top in the nation. I wanted to show the world my talents, and I was looking to be an All-American sprinter and have that plaque, and it was all taken away from you in the snap of a finger.”

Similarly, swimmers Rachel Johnson (sophomore, hospitality management) and Paige Mikesell (sophomore, health and physical education) were in the midst of competing in their second straight NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships appearance when the news was delivered.

Less than two weeks earlier, Mikesell won three individual titles – the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 individual medley – at the PSAC Championships, held from Feb. 19 to 22. She broke two meet records, as well as an eight-year old school record in the 100 butterfly, and was named the meet’s most outstanding swimmer.

She qualified for the NCAA Championships in four individual events, and entering the NCAA meet, she was seeded second in the 200 butterfly, fifth in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 butterfly.

Her chances of becoming a multiple All-American were good to say the least. Heck, maybe even a national champion Continued on Page 25

April 8, 2020

DRE CARR

hurt because ... it was all taken away from you in the snap of a finger.”

“IT WAS kind of like disbelief, but at the same time, deep down I knew it was so true.”

rachel johnson “I didn’t

PAIGE MIKESELL

believe it at first. ...

I did not feel any emotions, it all just felt like a dream.”

Sports

Sports

April 8, 2020

25

Winter athletes reflect on abrupt end to seasons, hopes

“MY INITIAL reaction was that I was in disbelief and didn’t really know what to say or do other than cry.

You work all season for this and then it was all of a sudden taken away. ... There are some athletes that trained all year for their spring sports and were never able to take the field.”

Natalie Myers, senior, women’s basketball

Continued from Page 24 “When they canceled the meet, it was hard for me to know that I never got the chance to swim the 200 fly, my best event, and the event that I was seeded second in the nation in,” Mikesell reflected. “I was very excited for that event, and that was all taken away from me. I still think about it every day, wondering what I could have accomplished in that event.”

Rachel Johnson finished second in the 100 breast and third in the 200 breast at the PSAC Championships and was excited to compete and bring a climactic end to her season.

She recalled the events leading to the announcement of the cancellation.

“All week we had been hearing about meets getting canceled,” Mikesell said, “but we never thought that they would cancel ours since we had already started and been around everyone. I didn’t believe it at first. When we finally got to the pool to know for sure, I was in complete shock.”

It was a hard pill for Johnson to swallow.

“You swim 15 meets … so those four days you can drop time,” Johnson said. “So yeah, I got to swim my whole season, but the whole purpose of my season was that meet and you see your results at that meet.

It’s hard because I got to swim my whole season, but I didn’t get to see the end result that you wanted to see.

“I don’t know how else to describe it other than heartbreaking just because I didn’t get to like fulfill my goal of the whole season.”

For athletes like Carr, Mikesell and Johnson, this is nothing short of an incredible moment in their collegiate careers. Nothing is guaranteed in life, and no one knows what’s going to happen next year.

IUP swimming coach Chris Villa weighed in on his athlete’s impossible situation.

“Both of them, Rachel and Paige, their best events were the next day, Friday,” Villa said. “I was back at home Friday or Saturday, and I would just say to Jenn, my wife, it’s just so crazy. It’s unbelievable. Surreal is a great way to describe it.

“I feel bad for our girls, they missed out, but hopefully they’ll come back better and hungry and ready to go. It was sad. It was hard and it was sad, and the girls handled it well, but it’s an unbelievable situation to deal with for a 19-, 20-year-old right now.”

For all these athletes this has been an abrupt end to their season, and an even more abrupt end to the collegiate careers for the seniors.

Seniors like forward Natalie Myers (senior, education), of the women’s basketball team, will not be able to have closure to their final season as a Crimson Hawk. The

women’s basketball team was set to host the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament for the first time since 2008.

Myers and her squad were in the middle of a historic season and were unable to finish their work on the court.

The Crimson Hawks, who went 28-3 on the season, were eyeing a third straight trip to the Elite Eight.

Like their counterparts, the IUP men’s basketball team was also set to host the NCAA Atlantic Regional after winning the PSAC title and posting a 28-2 record. But the Crimson Hawks never got that chance.

“My initial reaction was that I was in disbelief and didn’t really know what to say or do other than cry,” Myers said.

“You work all season for this, and then it was all of a sudden taken away. ... There are some athletes that trained all year for their spring sports and were never able to take the field.”

“It was disbelief,” women’s basketball coach Tom McConnell said. “We were all there about an hour before team dinner when we found out it [the tournament] would be canceled.”

Many Crimson Hawk athletes were affected by this impossible situation and were struck with a litany of emotions and reactions. But in true IUP fashion, these athletes are handling the situation as best as they can with class.

“Looking back at the season, it brings a smile to my face” said Myers “We did a great job this season. We overcame adversity and played IUP basketball the way it should be played.”

“I was immediately hurt, but then I talked to my mom about it and she kind of cheered me up,” Carr said. “Once I figured I’ve just got to look forward to the days ahead and my bright future, that kind of cheered me up.”

It took her a few days to see the bigger picture, but Johnson has come to terms with the cancellation.

“Now that I see all the more devastating things going in the world, you understand why that happened,” she said. “All these people losing their jobs and people are dying. I can see the bigger picture.”

Even though all of these students were in different places and competing in different sports, they were all presented the same difficult circumstances, and all did their best to adapt and cope with their situation.

With the virus reaching record-breaking death tolls in the United States, it is marquee that we all stay together during this pandemic. Like these athletes, we need to remain strong and make the best of this situation.

We will adapt. We will overcome.

(Matt Durisko/Submitted Photo) Sophomore sprinter Dre Carr entered the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama -- scheduled for March 13-14 -- seeded fifth in the 60-meter dash and with a realistic shot at earning All-American status. But the meet was canceled the day before it was scheduled to begin. Carr set the school record in the same event on Jan. 25 with a time of 6.71 seconds, and he won his first PSAC title on March 1.

26

April 8, 2020

Sports

Contact Us: (724) 349-0462 philadelphiasquare.com

Sports

April 8, 2020

27

April 8, 2020

28

Sports

Boom or Bust?

Ranking the best, worst moves of NFL free agency JEFF HART Lead Sports Writer J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Amidst the current pandemic that has affected billions, many sports fanatics have been going stir crazy due to the lack of sports action. With all professional sports postponed, fans and experts have been dissecting and analyzing everything they can get their hands on.

The NFL’s 2020 free agency period proved to be the action and drama that fans everywhere were craving. Free agency was filled with a variety of stunners and head scratchers. Whether or not your team was a player in this year’s free agency period, it did not disappoint to bring action and excitement to football fans everywhere.

With tons of blockbuster moves and signings, I’ll rank the top “booms” and “busts” of free agency so far.

Although there have been a litany of big moves during the free-agency period – like the trades of Stefon Diggs and Deandre Hopkins – I am only focusing on the major signings of free agency without trades.

BOOMS

QB Tom Brady to Tampa Bay Months before the start of free agency there were already rumors circulating that six-time champion was going to test free agency.

After leading an inferior Patriots offense with little to no weapons to a 12-4 record last year along with his accomplished resume, Brady was an attractive target for teams that were a quarterback away from greatness. While many teams like the Raiders and the Chargers showed early interest, the likely options seemed to be the Tennessee Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When the Titans re-signed Ryan Tannehill to a long-term extension, Tampa Bay became the next best option.

In my opinion, this move is the best move of the free agency period for a multitude of reasons. Last year Tampa was 7-9 under the stewardship of Bruce Arians who has a reputation for being a

quarterback whisperer for many great signal-callers like Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

The Buccaneers had a solid defense that was put on the field way too much due to the record-setting 30 interceptions thrown by now former quarterback Jameis Winston.

Brady will have plenty of threats on the offensive side with two top-tier wideouts in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, each of whom put up more than 1,100 yards last season. With Brady not having thrown more than 14 interceptions in a season in more than a decade, he will be a perfect fit for the Bucs.

WR Robby Anderson to Carolina The Carolina Panthers are in full overhaul right now.

After new GM David Tepper took charge of the franchise, the Panthers were quick to fire head coach Ron Rivera and part ways with former NFL MVP Cam Newton. Tepper was quick to sign Baylor head coach Matt Rhule to an expensive seven-year, $62-million contract to take the helm of this team.

Rhule, like many new NFL head coaches, brought in a quarterback that he handpicked in Teddy Bridgewater.

While Bridgewater may not be the transcendent talent that Newton could be, he can approximate Newton’s production and will be able to stay on the field.

The Panthers offense had a quarterback, an MVP candidate running back in Christian McCaffrey, and a solid 1,000yard receiver in D.J. Moore. It looked like they only needed one more piece on offense to put it all together, and that’s exactly what they did by bringing in wideout Robby Anderson.

For the past two years, Anderson has been the primary receiving option on a struggling Jets team and has had little to no help. After putting up almost 800 yards last season, Anderson looks like the quintessential match to be the Panthers’ No. 2 wideout.

Look for this offense to take a big step up next year, assuming there will be an NFL season in 2020.

(TNS)

Wide receiver Robby Anderson signed an offseason deal with Carolina, reuniting the Temple product with his former college coach and first-year Panthers coach Matt Rhule.

BUSTS

RB Todd Gurley to Atlanta After their famed Super Bowl collapse to the Patriots three years ago, the Atlanta Falcons have looked to be a shell of themselves, having missed the playoffs every season since then.

The Falcons decided to part ways with former Pro Bowl back Devonta Freeman due to his lack of production and lack of availability on the field. This move made a lot of sense to get rid of Freeman’s cap space due to his lackluster performance on the field.

However, their replacement for Freeman is leaving many scratching their heads. They followed up this move by signing former Rams running back Todd Gurley.

While Gurley may have been an allworld talent in college and put up big numbers in his first few NFL seasons, he has not been able to re-capture his elite ability on the field.

Gurley suffered a nasty ACL tear in 2014 and has constantly dealt with injuries over the duration of his career. Last season Gurley missed a few games because of arthritis in his left knee and had limited carries.

This offseason it was discovered that Gurley has a degenerative knee in combination with his arthritis, meaning his best years may be behind him.

This move by the Falcons seems odd to many because they replaced an injury-prone running back with another injury-prone back.

RB Melvin Gordon to Denver The Denver Broncos have been in perpetual purgatory since the Peyton Manning years.

General manager John Elway has not been able to quite figure out the recipe for success for his team over the past few years. Denver has not been in the playoffs since 2015 and has been a bottom-feeder squad.

They have struggled finding a competent quarterback since Manning’s retirement. Last season it was split between veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and rookie Drew Locke. Neither one really shone through as a solution for the foreseeable future.

Along with their quarterback woes, the Broncos are practically devoid of talent at the wideout position after trading Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. It seemed logical that Denver would look to those areas of need in order to help its offense.

Rather than doing so, they signed former Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon to a one-year deal. This is a poor move by the Broncos because they are addressing an area that is not in dire need.

They already have a former pro-bowl running back in Phillip Lindsay who had a 1,000-yard season last year. Rather than pursuing a wideout like Anderson or a quarterback like Brady or Philip Rivers, they chose to allocate their resources to a position that’s not necessarily at the top of their list of needs.

TOM BRADY

MELVIN GORDON

TODD GURLEY

Sports

April 8, 2020

29

Don't Stress!

Let us prepare your taxes.

15% OFF!

New Customers or Referral!

30

April 8, 2020

Sports

MLB weighing its options

Minor league clubhouses throughout the country sit empty, leaving the already underpaid players struggling to make ends meet.

Playing all games in central location being considered CHUCK SCHILKEN Los Angeles Times TNS

(TNS)

Minor league players taking a hit STEVEN LANGDON JR. Managing Editor S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Sports have been taken for granted the last several decades. Everyone, including myself, has said things along the lines of “sports will always be around no matter what.” I have been sadly mistaken.

While we tend to talk mostly about the major sports leagues, they are not the ones that could be affected the most. The minor leagues of baseball were already going to drastically change after this year, but have hit a crisis.

Major League Baseball released a statement telling players they would receive $400 per week through May 31 or until the season starts. That amount does not help some players in the slightest and would be a grand total of $3,200 before taxes.

This pandemic is opening the eyes of some people to how minor league players are mistreated. Ten dollars an hour is the amount some students make working part-time jobs. How are they expected to help their families?

Players have resorted to living in hotel rooms for a number of years

for a variety of reasons. The main reason being that some do not have the money to rent out a house by themselves. The second being they never know when they might be released or traded.

A comparison between Triple-A baseball, the highest level of minor league baseball, and the MLB average salary is actually sickening.

The average Triple-A player earns $15,000 according to PennLive.com, while the average salary for MLB players hovers around $4 million according to numbers provided by MLB Players Association.

Furthermore, minor league players get paid only during the season.

The longest season is about five months, while the shortest is about three months.

The salaries are going up as well in 2021, but not by much. At the Triple-A level, players’ weekly average will increase from $502 to $700. The players’ annual salaries will increase by about $4,000 to $5,000.

In my opinion, minor league players should earn at least $50,000 per year. I have been attending and watching minor league baseball since I was less than a year old. If the players were not doing something they loved, they would have quit a

long time ago. It is that major league dream that keeps them there.

The players aren’t the only ones affected, but the fans as well. This was already sure to be an interesting year as the minor league system was going to change in a big way.

There would no longer be as many steps to becoming a big leaguer as many markets were being scrapped. Rookie and short season are being eliminated as well as teams up to the Double-A level. On the list were relatively local teams such as the Erie SeaWolves and the State College Spikes.

If and when baseball starts again, the fans and teams will not have the final season they wanted. It is a sad thing to think about for many baseball fans in these markets.

The whole baseball community is affected more so than just about any sport. The other big leagues such as the NBA and NHL got to see most of the regular season. Major League Soccer (MLS) even got to see some soccer before the hiatus.

For fans of the minor leagues, they got to see nothing. They got zero competitive games. The worst part is that the players now have to suffer even moreso than when they were taking the field.

Major League Baseball stated Tuesday that holding games in one central area is one of several ideas discussed regarding how and when it becomes safe to start the season.

But, the league added, that option has not been settled on and has not been submitted for approval from government and health officials or the Major League Baseball Players Association.

The statement came a day after ESPN reported that a plan to start the season as early as May with all games taking place in the Phoenix area with no spectators present has been embraced by the league and the players’ union with support from “high-ranking federal public health officials.” The Associated Press reported that such a plan was discussed Monday during a phone call between the MLB and the MLBPA. “MLB has been actively considering numerous contingency plans that would allow play to commence once the public health situation has improved to the point that it is safe to do so,” the league said in its statement. “While we have discussed the idea of staging

games at one location as one potential option, we have not settled on that option or developed a detailed plan. While we continue to interact regularly with governmental and public health officials, we have not sought or received approval of any plan from federal, state and local officials, or the Players Association.”

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the remainder of spring training was canceled March 12 and opening day was pushed back from March 26 until mid-May at the earliest.

The Arizona plan would involve the sequestering of players, coaching staffs and other essential personnel at local hotels, with only travel to and from stadiums allowed. There are 11 ballparks, including the Diamondbacks’ home, Chase Field, within 50 miles of each other in the Phoenix area. Most are spring training facilities.

The plan is purely speculative at this point, MLB stressed in its statement.

“The health and safety of our employees, players, fans and the public at large are paramount, and we are not ready at this time to endorse any particular format for staging games in light of the rapidly changing public health situation caused by the coronavirus,” the league stated.