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Black Heritage Month at Utica College
Residential life: Campus life during a pandemic
Everything happening in the NFL over break
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College community mourns the losses of Norberto Rosado and Raymond Rivera
Former Defenseman Fritz signs with ECHL outfit
Photos: Matthew Carr. Edited with Canva NICK MCADAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Utica College lost two of its own; Norberto “Norm” Rosado, a member of facilities management at the college for 16 years, died due to COVID-19 complications on Dec. 31, 2020, at age 68, and Raymond Rivera, also a member of facilities management and the overnight custodian at DePerno Hall, who also died to COVID-19 complications on Jan. 2 at age 64. “While the COVID-19 cases were not linked, the passing of two valued members of the UC family is a jarring and heartbreaking loss for our community,” Vice President for Advancement George Nehme said in an email to the college community. “As Pioneers, we are called to come together
and show our support.” Rosado was born in Salinas, Puerto Rico on Oct. 9, 1952. His family moved to the United States while he was still an infant. Years later, Rosado married his wife at the age of 23, with who he shared 45 years. Rosado was described as a family man; one who put a tremendous amount of time, effort and care into those he loved. He enjoyed making others laugh and found a passion for athletics. He loved taking others out fishing. Those around him recall him running everywhere he needed to go and according to loved ones, he never drove. Richard Kennedy, a member of facilities management, recalled memories of the two joking around during the shift. According to
Kennedy, Rosado helped brighten the moods of those around him. “It’s cruel in some sense, but we used to love scaring him,” Kennedy said. “I remember when he’d clean the library. He’d go in between each bookshelf and vacuum. We always used to stick our hands in between the books and he’d always let out this scream. He’d spend a few hours trying to find who did it, but by then he’d forget and we’d scare him again.” Rivera was born a few years after Rosado on Aug. 30, 1956, in Boston. He earned his associate’s degree from Burlington College and spent 20 years working at St. Elizabeth Medical Center before his time with the college. Rivera was also known SEE MOURN PG. 3
Photo: ucpioneers.com ABIN BORIS SPORTS EDITOR Former Utica College defenseman Daniel Fritz recently signed with the South Carolina Stingrays of the East Coast Hockey League to continue playing professional hockey. He is coming off a brief stint in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Pensacola Ice Flyers, where he contributed two assists in eight games. Fritz, who accumulated 82 points (20 goals, 62 assists) over his 84 game span with the Pioneers left the program tied with former Utica defensemen Dalton Carter for most points all-time for a Utica defenseman. In his last season as a
Pioneer, Fritz put up 39 points as a defenseman. His total was 16 more points than the next defenseman Justin Allen who produced 23 points that season. Fritz’s skill was on display night in and night out during his tenure with Utica and with the upcoming season right around the corner, teammates like Justin Allen know how much he will be missed in the lineup heading into this upcoming season. “The biggest thing the team will miss is Daniel’s blue line presence,” he said. “He has an incredible shot from the point and opposing teams have a hard time stopping him from executing.” SEE FRTIZ PG. 11
STAFF PAGE 2
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SPRING 2021 STAFF
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Editor-In-Chief - Nick McAdam Layout Editor - Stephen Clark Managing Editor - Bailey Hryb Assistant News Editor - Hannah Steyn Features Editor - Rebekah Hedeen Assistant Features Editor - Hope Russo Sports Editor - Abin Boris Assistant Sports Editor - Matt Breault Special Assignments Reporter - Isabella Hudziak General Assignments Reporter - Robert Stevens Social Media Manager - Alyssa McKenna Cartoonist - Alyssa McKenna YouTube - Brooke Riscica Copy Editor - Gianna Cognetti Tangerine Clerk - Jama Joseph Advisor - Mary Christopher
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UCTANGERINE.COM help with extra work,” DuRoss said. The college and the local community came together for the families of Rivera and Rosado. A Give Campus fund started on Jan. 15 and raised more than $14,000 from 190 donors. “On behalf of the Rivera and Rosado families, and the entire Utica College community, thank you so much,” Vice President of Infrastructure Matthew Carr said in a video attached to the Give Campus fund.
Photo: Patricia Melise MOURN FROM PG. 1
About The Tangerine is published weekly during the academic year by and for Utica College students. To reach a member of the staff, email tangerine@utica.edu or call 315-792-3065. All material printed in The Tangerine is copyrighted. The Tangerine was first published as the Utica College News on Nov. 6, 1946.
for his love for his children and grandchildren. He was a sports enthusiast and an avid coin collector who enjoyed the local food scene; often eating and trying new things. “I always remember him taking care of his wife who is currently in a battle with cancer,” Kennedy said. “He used to drive back and forth from work to home to check in on her and bring her to appointments. He always worked these crazy hours just to provide for his family. He loved them all very much.” Rivera’s niece, Trisha Melise, echoed these qualities of him including selflessness and care. “My uncle was always there for his family,” she said. “When I was a teenager I stayed with them for a while and he always made me feel like I was at home. He was always welcoming. Watching the type of relationship he and my aunt had made me hope
that one day I can find someone as selfless and as caring.”
We were married for 35 years and now he’s gone. It’s devastating.”
Melise also spoke of Rivera’s relationship with his wife. These moments, according to her, symbolize the love he left behind.
In the workplace, both Rivera and Rosado were known to bring their personalities from home. Co-workers such as Vice President for Infrastructure Matthew
“Not long before his passing, I remember him telling me that he wouldn’t know what he would do if he lost my aunt and that he would do anything for her,” she said. “At that time it made me smile because I thought it was the sweetest thing.”
Carr and Site Supervisor at Atalian Global Services Jim DuRoss both noted Rivera and Rosado of their dependability. “We could always count on them to put in the additional effort when required if we were shorthanded or just needed
Rivera’s wife, Nora Rizzo, remembered him waking up at 3 a.m. to work until noon in order to take her to chemotherapy appointments. Rizzo noted that she was spoiled with Rivera, as she also spoke on his acceptance and care during their 35 years of marriage. “When we met, he had two children and I had two children,” she said. “He just accepted my children like they were his own. He was accepting and loving.
Photo: Sam Cosamano
The outreach and support from the community also pleased Kennedy, who was thankful to see such support given to the families in such a short amount of time. “Both of them were such caring people,” he said. “They made such an impact on the college community and to see the community itself reciprocate that love back to them is such a joy to see. I’m glad to be a part of this community.”
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Third wave of stimulus checks, Utica College reacts
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Black Heritage Month at Utica College ISABELLA HUDZIAK SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTER
Photo: Change BAILEY HRYB MANAGING EDITOR
buckled to the test of the pandemic.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought an influx of tragedies and challenges to our society. As the U.S. approaches the one-year mark since the first positive case was discovered in the country, the nation now is entering a mad dash to slow the spread of the virus and vaccinate as many people as possible.
As unemployment rates soared, the U.S. government decided that citizens needed financial relief in order to manage the pandemic. Last April, former President Donald Trump signed off on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in an effort to provide Americans with monetary assistance.
Not only has COVID-19 damaged people’s health, but it has also threatened to ravage our economy. Unemployment rates last year reached a skyscraping 14.8 percent in April of 2020 - higher than it was during the 2008 recession. Businesses closed their doors and people were either forced to work in the safety of their own homes or file for unemployment if their place of employment
In December, after increased demand from citizens, Trump signed off on the second wave of stimulus checks, this time at a lower dollar point. “The first stimulus check provided $1,200 per adult and $500 per child for families with under $150,000 in adjusted gross income,” said Rick Fenner, professor of economics. “The stimulus amount was reduced for people that earned more
than that. The second round provided $600 per adult and $600 per child. The primary justification for the checks was for the government to compensate people for lost income due to the pandemic.” While stimulus checks have helped thousands of people negatively affected by the pandemic, they seemed to have missed a very large demographic that arguably could have used them the most. College students were seemingly left out of the mix, as stimulus funds were not provided to dependents over the age of 17. With a majority of college-aged people being claimed by their parents as dependents during tax season, families with children aged over 17 did not receive funds from the government. “I think it was unfair,” said Katie Delgado, a junior
studying therapeutic recreation. “I didn’t receive any of the two stimulus checks. We pay so much to attend college and we spend so much money trying to develop a life of our own yet we weren’t even considered to receive money like everyone else. It’s like we didn’t exist to the government.”
as a dependent on their taxes,” said Leah Scalise, a senior studying business management. “I was very upset that I didn’t receive the check because I did temporarily lose my job to the pandemic and I do pay all my bills myself. I didn’t find it very fair the way the government chose who was eligible and who wasn’t.”
According to Forbes, there are very few loopholes that college students can wiggle through in order to receive a stimulus check. Only if a college student is under the age of 17 – less than 0.1 percent of undergraduate students are under the age of 17 – can their parents, not the student, receive a check on their behalf.
It is arguable that the first two stimulus checks were somewhat flawed. Some people did not receive them right away, while others received them who maybe should not have.
“Unfortunately under my circumstances, I did not receive any of the first two stimulus checks due to my parents claiming me
“In my opinion, the problem with the stimulus checks is that they weren’t targeted to individuals or families that were hurt by the pandemic,” Fenner said. “Many people that received them still had their jobs and hadn’t suffered any economic loss. While it is quicker SEE STIMULUS PG. 6
February is known for many things, but one of the culturally significant events is the celebration of Black History Month. According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, this month was chosen by Carter G. Woodson to celebrate Negro History Week initially because it contained the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. After the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum in the mid1960s, the week expanded into a full month under President Gerald R. Ford a decade later and has been recognized regularly since. Black History Month, known by other names such as the AfricanAmerican History Month and Black Heritage Month, celebrates the accomplishments of Black individuals and their importance in history. Several countries celebrate Black Heritage Month through readings, lectures, films, music and more. The ASALH identified this year’s theme as The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity. “Although the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, an organization founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, created a theme for 2021 not everyone aligns their efforts or programming around that one theme,” said Mark Kovacs, the executive director for
Photo: Mark Kovacs diversity, equity and inclusion. “For us, the programming and/or activities were generated based on the input from faculty, staff, students and alumni and what they thought was relevant for our community.” Utica College has taken the goals of Black Heritage Month in stride and aligned them with the ideas of the local community. These values are reflected in the events set during February and beyond, which are intended to be inclusive and educational. “One doesn’t need to consider oneself to be part of the Black, AfricanAmerican, Afro-Ancestry, etc. culture to celebrate Black History Month or Black Heritage month,” Kovacs said. “One simply
needs to participate to better understand the culture, the history, and the issues. Perhaps someday we won’t have (what seems like only) a month for Black history or for Women’s history but year-round we will teach the complete factual American history which includes all contributions of all our rich culturally diverse members.” 2020 was a year of political and social turmoil, which reflected racial injustices that continue to persist. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery were only a few of the lives taken by racism. Several peaceful protests occurred and continue to this day. “The unresolved issues of slavery and
reconstruction are with us to this very day,” Dr. Clemmie Harris said. “If, in fact, the month is about understanding the importance of history and based off of this notion that history is critical for us to govern ourselves within a democracy, then that presupposes that a month, despite all of the focus, all of the pomp and circumstances associated with it, cannot nearly be enough to deal with the ongoing issues that we are dealing with today.” After having Barack Obama as the first Black President of the United States, the 2020 Election placed Kamala Harris, a woman of color, in the position of Vice President. To some, this was an achievement for racial equality, but to others, it was only a small step
forward. “It is wonderful that Vice President Harris exists,” he said. “It is fantastic for all the reasons that everyone has said, right? And it is certainly very probable that beyond the symbolism, which has its place in our society for all of the reasons that everyone has said, that there will be some substance. Look what had to happen in order for it to get to that point.” Utica College kicked the Black Heritage Month celebration into gear during January with the Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Contest and the first four Zoom This Is Not Who We Are, Or Is It?: Democracy, Insurrection, and the Myth of American Exceptionalism talks. SEE HERITAGE PG. 6
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HERITAGE FROM PG. 5 These talks, coined by the Utica College Center for Historical Research along with the history and political science departments, cover topics pertaining to racial justice and what has influenced our current political climate. Major
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campus bulletin boards have been decorated with multi-colored fabrics paying homage to Kente cloth, which symbolizes solidarity, Black sovereignty and pride for African Heritage during commencement.
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On ground enrollment significantly lower than last spring
This month, Utica College will show the
Photo: Mark Kovacs
“students and faculty are invited to read Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum” Photo: Mark Kovacs
STIMULUS FROM PG. 4 and easier to send out checks to everyone, we could have provided more money to those people that truly needed it, if we had developed better criteria for receiving the checks.” When newly-elected President Joe Biden first took office, he vowed to release a third wave of stimulus checks, this time aimed at higher funds reaching more people. The Biden administration plan would cost roughly $1.9 trillion while Republicans have countered this action with a package
worth $618 billion. According to The Wall Street Journal, both citizens and dependents, including those of collegeage, would receive checks in both the Democratic and Republican plans. The difference dividing the two is that dependents would be eligible for $1,400 under the Democratic plan and only $500 under the Republican plan. While the idea of ‘free money’ sounds enticing, as the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Americans should prepare for higher taxes down the line to
films Between the World and Me and America Street on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11, respectively. On Wednesday, Feb. 17, Dr. Nche Zama will present Racism and Discrimintation in the Healthcare Industry, a Zoom discussion about the challenges faced by BIPOC within healthcare professions. Following this Zoom Q&A, members of the College Black Alumni Association will co-host a conversation with the Divine Nine historically Black Greek Sororities and Fraternities that will occur on Feb. 19 via Facebook Live.
To round out February, students and faculty are invited to read Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum and discuss the first chapter on Feb. 25. The discussion will include why the book was chosen and what can be learned from the beginning. In the span of a month, readers are encouraged to finish and digest the book before joining a final discussion on March 25.
compensate for the billions of dollars that were handed out.
addition to the expanded unemployment benefits and other government programs aimed at stabilizing the economy, can end up costing us less than if the economy continued to decline and more businesses were forced to close, thereby creating even more unemployment.”
“These checks - and the rest of the stimulus package - will require either higher taxes in the future or a reduction in other spending, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a good idea,” Fenner said. “Most economists believe that the government has a role to play in the economy when businesses and individuals are not able or willing to spend enough and that is exactly what has happened during the pandemic. The stimulus checks, in
As of Spring 2021, Utica College offers an Africana Studies minor taught by Dr. Harris.
The possibility of a third stimulus check has yet to be confirmed, as it is still being debated by our government. The likelihood of the Democratic plan being passed is high, considering that the Democrats control the
“Africana studies is a program that comes to UC for the first time in its near 75 year history,” he explained. “It is a program that was first called for by student and faculty members in 1969.” The college is also in the process of creating scholarships that promote diversity. These scholarships, which include The Dean Alane Varga Black Lives Matter Social Justice Scholarship, will help support students that demonstrate leadership and a commitment to community.
Senate, as well as the presidency. “I think the third wave of stimulus checks will really help the American people during the pandemic because everyone is in very different scenarios, whether they are personally affected or not,” Scalise said. “Bottom line is that every single American is affected by this virus, and I think even though I did not receive the first two checks, they really helped all American families during such a chaotic time.”
Photo: Hannah Steyn HANNAH STEYN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR This semester has thus far been noticeably quieter than previous ones. While this is to be expected in the first week, as all classes have been held online, but even so, residence halls are emptier than they have been in recent semesters. According to President Laura Casamento’s spring welcome communications earlier this month, Utica College has 136 fewer students registered for on-ground classes this semester than it did last spring. Students have recognized the decrease in population, too. Junior Jessica Spence has noticed a dramatic change in the number of students living in her residence hall. “I live in Tower Hall, and
it’s definitely been much quieter,” she said. “There are under 40 students living here right now. My floor is almost empty, and I have a suite completely to myself.” Senior Bobby Washington is one of the many students who elected to transition completely online this semester. He credited the lack of student life and the heightened restrictions, along with the high price of campus living, for his decision. Spence said she thinks part of the reason students aren’t returning to campus is the fear of COVID-19. “I also think that with classes being online, it makes more financial sense for students to stay home,” Spence said. “People also maybe move off campus because there are a lot of restrictions, and they’re looking for a
bit more freedom.” Marissa Finch, interim director of student living, said that there are a variety of reasons that student numbers have dropped. “Every spring we see a small shift in numbers due to students graduating in December, going away on an internship in the spring or choosing not to return to the college,” Finch said. “This semester, there have also been some students who have decided to take their classes remotely from home. Everyone is impacted by COVID-19, and for some students, they have chosen that their safest way through the pandemic is to be at home.” Finch said that the UC community misses having the distance students on campus, but understands that every student and every individual needs to weigh their options and
determine what is best for them. Washington said he wouldn’t be surprised if the college is experiencing some current financial difficulties and might in upcoming semesters as a result of the lower enrollment and students becoming distance students, or commuters. “If you look at past semesters, there have been almost as many students living on campus as are commuting,” he said. “Now, with the pandemic, a lot more students have moved off-campus. I doubt there’s much way the college could persuade a student to move back on campus once they’ve moved off, especially when you consider how much student housing is available in Utica.” Washington plans to come back next semester, but would rather live off-
campus moving forward. Washington predicts that this loss of income could result in some financial stress for Utica College, a sentiment that was echoed in Casamento’s statement, which said that the drop in enrollment will cause a decrease in revenue. Spence is unsure of what next semester may bring, saying that she thinks it is largely dependent on both how this semester goes, and how widespread the vaccine is, as once the majority of people have been vaccinated, Utica College students can return to campus confidently knowing that they will be able to have a “normal” college experience. “With the pandemic affecting people differently I do expect students will come back once the pandemic subsides or is eliminated,” Finch said.
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FEATURES PAGE 9 FRIDAY, FEB. 12 2021
GIANNA COGNETTI COPY EDITOR
REBEKAH HEDEEN FEATURES EDITOR
The spring semester is back in full swing with this week kicking off the start of in-person classes at Utica College. Students and staff have seen some changes made this semester, and look forward to where they believe the rest of the semester is headed.
Utica College announced that two “break days” are going to be implemented into the Spring 2021 semester as an alternative to a spring break. These days will take place on March 4 and April 2, according to an email sent out by Utica College President Laura Casamento. The break days were implemented to give students a chance to rest or catch up on schoolwork and in turn, avoid burnout.
“So far it has been going very well,” he said. “I believe that everyone has a seat when they come in for a meal.” With some restrictions being lifted as time goes on, Boehlert hopes to bring back the usual china plates as opposed to the disposable plastic and paper plates and increase offerings over the next month.
Photo: Gianna Cognetti served in the dining hall. “The majority of my meals have sandwiches every day, or chicken and rice,” he said. “As students, we can come to expect the same rotation of food throughout the weeks we are here.” Boehlert advised anyone who is struggling with restrictions or offerings to speak with him at any time. He is open to new ideas and answering any questions or concerns. “We are far ahead of other institutions when it comes to dining,” he said.
In some ways, students and staff have been flexible with adapting to the many changes made on campus in order to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.
Residing on campus is typically a normal and fun experience for students. However, as the weather grows colder and the pandemic guidelines become stricter, some students have trouble enjoying the campus lifestyle.
From a student perspective, freshman Jonathan Simmons understands the regulations needed in order to ensure UC stays partially open. Yet, he said students need more of a voice in what is being
“When it was warm, we could sit outside and do things socially distanced,” Freshman Daijon Richards said. “I hope that some restrictions lift as it gets a little warmer out towards the end of the semester.”
Simmons added that some of the rules are difficult to follow. Residing in North Hall, he said the study room is closed and all residents in that hall must find their own study space. Meanwhile, they are also unable to meet with other students to work on class assignments or hang out. “The toll it takes on our social life and academic life is massive,” he said. “The bottom line is the COVID-19 rules are making learning, socializing and living a lot harder than it needs to be.” Simmons suggested opening up campus a bit more in hopes it will reduce the number of people leaving campus to go to the malls or casinos, reducing positive cases and ensuring students have a positive college experience. “Everyone is going to go off campus to find things to do,” he said. Simmons and Richards are both athletes on the men’s track and field team.
Simmons said athletes are tested three times a week for COVID-19. They are also watched “prudently” for a mistake that can cost them to either be kicked off their sports team or even kicked off-campus. Richards suggests that athletes should be able to rapid test before their practice time in order to practice without masks. According to both, masks can become unsanitary quickly and make it difficult to breathe. Enforcing policy can be a daunting task, at least from the perspective of resident assistants, including Jayme Connolly. However, she said the college is doing a great job with the way it is handling the pandemic. “We have proper rules in place, our faculty has numerous meetings weekly to talk about the updates from New York State and we are adjusting day by day,” she said. Since last semester, there have been some changes regarding how RAs should handle COVID protocols and a
new section dedicated just to COVID was added in the student handbook. Connolly, like other students, wants to enjoy campus to its fullest. She said in order to do that everyone must continue to follow the rules and social distance. “It has surely been hard for students on campus to socialize with others in other buildings and especially now since the weather does not permit outside activities,” she said. “One place students have really relied on to see each other is the cafeteria, thankfully this is a place where you can see others at a safe distance.”
Utica College is not the only school in the area to partake in the addition of two break days. Syracuse University also incorporated break days into their curriculum, specifically stating that no classes will be held nor any assignments due something UC left up to the professors. “SU will not hold classes, require classwork to be due, or administer exams on March 23 and April 21, Interim Provost John Liu said in a campuswide email Wednesday,” Michael Sessa, news editor at The Daily Orange said. “Extracurricular activities can still take place on these days.”
One thing Connolly would love to see change is the usage of the common areas. She feels as though with the right regulations and cleaning that it can be a great way for students to see one another. “I think the restrictions are something we can all work with,” Richards said. “The best thing we can do is continue to COVID test. We have way better rates than other local colleges.”
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Mental Health Days: Friend or foe?
Residential life: Campus life during a pandemic
General Manager of the UC dining services Damian Boehlert is in charge of ensuring students and staff have a safe place to dine. The introduction of “Grab n’ Go meals,” which are meals already preprepared and packaged for take out, are still available this semester. As well as following the New York State guidelines of 50 percent occupancy when dining indoors.
Photo BMC
Opinions of break days varied among the Utica College population last semester. This semester, it seemed a unanimous decision amongst members of the administration; an idea that professors such as Wilfredo Alvarez appreciate. “I like the idea of incorporating break days into the COVID-19 modified semester,” he said. “After a decade of teaching college, I’ve noticed some patterns when it comes to the semester’s rhythm, and one of the main patterns I’ve noticed is that people’s energy levels fluctuate throughout the semester.” The fluctuation of energy levels that Alvarez speaks of is timed well with the late start of the spring semester and the scheduled break days that the college has implemented. “For example, I noticed a slump towards the end of the first quarter (around week four or five), and then another one half-way through the semester; in addition to the fatigue we all feel toward the end of the semester,”
Photo: Canva Alvarez continued. “I think given the demands of the traditional college semester, it is important to incorporate break days throughout to ensure that people are able to move through the semester efficiently.” Image from Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis Students such as Junior Brooke Green agree, noting that the break days give students something to look forward to during a stressful time. “I believe these break days are an essential part of the semester since
I see them as a light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “It’s taxing on our mental health to be grinding away at school work for months on end, so incorporating just two days into the semester that I can anticipate as a break from my hard work is rewarding.” While break days are expected to be helpful on a number of levels, some students agree that having the time tacked onto the weekend versus in the middle of the week may be more rewarding, though they do understand why the administration would plan dates as specifically as they have. “A break day on a Friday or Monday would surely be better for planning trips,” Junior Robert Scocca said. “Though I suppose because of COVID, onground students like myself shouldn’t be taking weekend trips off campus anyways.” While some students may not feel a direct correlation to break days and mental health, others do and see it as an improvement from the cancelation of the break day last semester.
“I think the school was unprofessional with the situation last semester since instead of having one day of classes off, I ended up having almost three days off based on when professors decided to give us a break,” Green said. Professionals within the mental health field, such as Globalization and Health, highlight the importance of the preservation of mental health for students, especially during the pandemic. “COVID-19 not only causes physical health concerns but also results in a number of psychological disorders,” an article from Nader Salari and Amin Hosseinian-Far among others said. “The spread of the new coronavirus can impact the mental health of people in different communities. Thus, it is essential to preserve the mental health of individuals and to develop psychological interventions that can improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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Super Bowl: Buccaneers rout Chiefs 31-9 in Tampa MATT BREAULT ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Super Bowl LV will go down in history as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers soundly defeated the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs 31-9. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL played a complete season that ended with the Buccaneers becoming the first team in NFL history to play in and win the Super Bowl in their home stadium. The Buccaneers, led by former New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady, continued their red-hot stretch during the Super Bowl to upset Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Since the team’s Week 12 loss to the Chiefs, the Buccaneers have won 8 straight in route to Tom Brady’s seventh Super Bowl and fifth Super Bowl MVP. Not only did Brady win 4 straight playoff games as the lower seed, but he also defeated three top quarterbacks including Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Mahomes. Utica College Junior and New York Jets fan Ian Hoyt said although he dislikes Brady for multiple reasons, he has to give credit where it’s due. “As much as we Jets fans hate him, he is a great quarterback and always has been,” Hoyt said. “After this playoff run and Super Bowl performance, he will definitely be labeled as the greatest of all time.” The number of Super Bowls Brady has won now accounts for more than any NFL franchise in
history. Brady completed 21 of 29 throws for 201 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdown passes all went to former teammates who played with him during his long tenure with the New England Patriots. Tight End Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement at the start of the 2020-2021 NFL season to reunite with Brady, while Wide Receiver Antonio Brown was signed in late October by the Bucs. Brady connected with Gronk six times for 67 yards and two touchdowns while breaking the NFL playoff record for most passing touchdowns by a quarterback-pass catcher tandem, previously held by San Francisco 49ers greats Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. Brady also found Brown five times for 22 yards and one touchdown. Utica College Sophomore and Houston Texans super fan Abe Mendez said he enjoyed watching Tom Brady find Brown and Gronkowski in the end zone, even though Brady is not his personal favorite. “I was rooting for Brady the whole time even though I still hate him, but I’ve finally accepted that he’s the greatest and he’s proven it once again,” Mendez said. “The two touchdowns between Brady and Gronk got me hyped up. Seeing Brown get a touchdown also was amazing.” Mendez also added that he enjoyed the personal altercations taking place throughout the entirety of the game.
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PAGE 11 FRIDAY, FEB. 12 2021 FRITZ FROM PG. 1 Players such as Allen intend to support Fritz in his future endeavors with professional hockey. His signing has also given individuals on the current Pioneers roster motivation to play at peak ability in order to move forward with their hockey careers as well. “I am really happy and excited for him of course,” Defenseman Cameron Bartkowski said. “But at the same time, it is encouraging for the rest of us because we see the possibility to continue our careers after college at a higher level.”
Photo: USA Today “The best part of the entire game was when Antoine Winfield Jr. mocked Tyreek Hill and threw up a peace sign at him,” Mendez said. Mahomes, who won Super Bowl MVP last season, only completed 26 out of his 49 passes for 270 yards and two interceptions. Tight End Travis Kelce had 10 receptions for 133 yards, while Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill had seven receptions for 77 yards. This loss is Mahomes’ first time ever losing an NFL game by more than one possession. The last time Mahomes lost a game by more than one possession came in 2016 vs. Iowa St., in which Mahomes and the Texas Tech Red Raiders lost to the Cyclones 66-10. Super Bowl LV was also the first time in Mahomes’ career when his offense didn’t score a touchdown and failed to score double-digit points. Utica College Junior Craig Gazzilli said that fans shouldn’t blame Mahomes for the poor
performance, but they should blame Kansas City’s offensive line and their entire defense. “Mahomes definitely missed not having his two starting tackles and that’s why he was running from pressure all night with his turf toe injury that was obviously discomforting to him,” Gazilli said. “The Bucs defensive line only sent four guys on almost every single play and still consistently got pressure on Mahomes, that was just insane.” Despite the Buccaneers only blitzing five times throughout the entirety of the game, Mahomes was pressured on 29 out of 59 dropbacks, a Super Bowl record, while running for a total of 497 yards before his passes and sacks during this game. Those 497 yards are the most pre-throw and pre-sack yards run by any quarterback in any game during the season, according to NFL’s NextGenStats. After the game, Mahomes told reporters in a postgame press conference
that the Buccaneers “played a heck of a game defensively and offensively to beat us.’’ Mahomes also added, according to ESPN, “We can’t let this define us. We have to continue to get better going into next year and prepare ourselves to hopefully be in this game again. We knew it wasn’t always going to be successful and we weren’t going to be able to win 1,000 championships in a row. We knew we were going to go through times like this and adversity.” Meanwhile, on the championship podium, Brady was asked if there was more to come, in hopes of finding out if Brady was returning for his 22nd NFL season. “We’re coming back,” Brady replied. “You already know that.” With Brady returning to the Buccaneers to defend their first championship since 2002, Mahomes and the Chiefs will start the season with high hopes of returning to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season.
In previous conversations Head Coach Gary Heenan, he has stated how it is a great recruiting tool for the team and of course for the player, he is now in a professional hockey league. The team, according to Heenan and Forward John Moncovich, takes pride in sending players to professional teams. “Not a lot of Division 3 schools can say they have done what we have in that regard,” he said As Fritz continues his journey within the professional hockey world, the team and the coaches in Utica will continue to root him on from afar.
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Everything happening in the NFL over break MATT BREAULT ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR When the pandemic started roughly one month after Super Bowl LIV, many were uncertain about how professional sports would continue, especially football. More than 10 months later, the NFL season is about to end as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Sunday, Feb. 7. The 2020-2021 NFL playoffs have been historic in multiple ways. For the season, the NFL expanded its playoff system from a 12-team to a 14-team tournament while adding a third wild card for each conference for the first time in 20 years. In addition to the expansion of the playoff, each NFL playoff game had limited to no fans in attendance, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of the usual firstround byes for the top two seeds in each conference, only the team with the best record for each
“Any time we send a guy to the pros it is a good look for the program and it is proof that our hard work pays off,” Bartkowski said. “It is exciting to see how far your teammates can go, we are always rooting for each other.”
Photo: AP News
Photo:Getty Images conference was granted a bye in the first week of the playoffs. While the other 12 teams played during the Wild Card round, the NFC’s number one seeded Green Bay Packers and the AFC’s top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs got an extra week off to prepare for their playoff runs. Super Wild Card Weekend: Jan. 9 - Jan. 10 Instead of watching the usual two wild card games per day, NFL fans
were treated to three playoff football games during this two-day span. Saturday, Jan. 9 • (7) Indianapolis Colts at (2) Buffalo Bills • Final Score: Bills 27, Colts 24 • Summary: Bills win their first playoff game in 25 years after narrowly defeating the Colts. • (6) Los Angeles Rams at (3) Seattle
Seahawks • Final Score: Rams 30, Seahawks 20 • Summary: Despite a broken thumb on his throwing hand, Jared Goff led the Rams to an upset win in Seattle. • (5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (4) Washington Football Team • Final Score: Buccaneers 31, Washington 23 • Summary: Despite an unprecedented performance from Washington Quarterback Taylor Heinicke, Tom Brady and the Bucs held off the NFC East Champions at FedEx Field. Sunday, Jan. 10 • (5) Baltimore Ravens at (4) Tennessee Titans • Final Score: Ravens 20, Titans 13 • Summary: 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson earned his first career postseason victory as the Ravens SEE NFL PG. 12
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Photo:Getty Images NFL FROM PG. 11 held off the Titans on the road. • (7) Chicago Bears at (2) New Orleans Saints • Final Score: Saints 21, Bears 9 • Summary: Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky wins NVP — Nickelodeon’s Valuable Player despite the loss in the first-ever NFL game broadcasted by Nickelodeon. • (6) Cleveland Browns at (3) Pittsburgh Steelers • Final Score: Browns 48, Steelers 37 • Summary: Browns upset division rival to earn the franchise’s first postseason victory in more than a quarter-century. Divisional Round Weekend: Jan. 16 - Jan. 17
• For the Divisional Round Weekend, the lowest remaining seeds in the playoffs were matched up with the highest remaining seeds. Saturday, Jan. 16 • (6) Los Angeles Rams at (1) Green Bay Packers • Final Score: Packers 32, Rams 18 • Summary: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers continued his MVP caliber season as Green Bay held off LA at Lambeau. • (5) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills • Final Score: Bills 17, Ravens 3 • Josh Allen and the Bills soundly defeated Baltimore. Buffalo went to the AFC Championship for the first time since 1993. Sunday, Jan. 17 • (6) Cleveland
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Browns at (1) Kansas City Chiefs Final Score: Chiefs 22, Browns 17 Recap: Despite losing Mahomes in the fourth quarter, Chad Henne and the Chiefs held off Cleveland to make their third straight AFC Championship game. (5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (2) New Orleans Saints Final Score: Buccaneers 30, Saints 20 Recap: Brady and the red-hot Bucs eliminate Saints QB Drew Brees in what was likely to be his final NFL game.
Championship Round Sunday: Jan. 24 Championship Round Sunday held two historic matchups in both the AFC and NFC. On the NFC side, Rodgers’ (37) and Brady’s (43) combined age, 80 years and 227 days, was
the oldest by starting QBs ever in a conference championship game. On the AFC side, it was quite the opposite as Allen (24) took on Mahomes (25) in a battle of the young gunslingers. Sunday, Jan. 24 NFC Championship Game: • (5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (1) Green Bay Packers • Final Score: Buccaneers 31, Packers 26 • Summary: Brady’s Buccaneers advance to their first Super Bowl since 2003. AFC Championship Game: • (2) Buffalo Bills at (1) Kansas City Chiefs • Final Score: Chiefs 38, Bills 24 • Summary: Mahomes and the Chiefs head back to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year.
Super Bowl LV: Feb. 7, 2021 • (1) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers On Sunday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. ET, Mahomes and the Chiefs will take on Brady and the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Not only does this matchup mark the first time in NFL history where a team (Tampa) will play the Super Bowl at their home stadium, it also marks the first time in Super Bowl history where the two QBs are former MVPs, Super Bowl MVPs and both have won the previous two Super Bowls. Brady looks to win his NFL-record seventh Super Bowl in 10 appearances, as Mahomes looks to win his second in a row in only his third year as a starting quarterback in the NFL.