HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE... Newman Center redesigned, Intercultural Center set to open in the fall
“Something Rotten” review, live audience permitted
Young talent leads UC women’s tennis to success
NEWS | PG. 5
FEATURES | PG. 9
SPORTS | PG. 12
The
TANGERINE
FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
NY residents 16 and older now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine, vaccines coming to campus
UCTANGERINE.COM
Update: Utica College to allow spectators
Photo Courtesy of Alexandria Leland Photo Courtesy of Alexandria Leland BAILEY HRYB MANAGING EDITOR Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York State residents aged 16 years and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, meaning that all members of the Utica College community are able to register for a vaccine appointment. New York is one of the leading states when it comes to vaccine rollout. According to the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, as of April 7, nearly 4.5 million residents had completed their vaccine series, with over six million residents receiving at least one vaccine dose. This is a major step for the U.S., as well as the Biden administration. President Joe Biden promised to Americans that all adults
would be eligible for the vaccine by May 1. With more and more vaccines being developed and distributed each day, the likeliness of all American adults being eligible by the beginning of next month looks pretty promising. “Honestly, I do believe that it is important for everyone to get vaccinated so we can get back to some sort of normalcy,” said Amber Jenkins, a senior studying business management. Jenkins, who is slated to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, stated that she was nervous about receiving the shot, however the safety of her grandparents and nephew is at the forefront of her mind and is her main driving force behind receiving the vaccine. There are three brands of
COVID-19 vaccine available at this time: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Pfizer and Moderna are given as a two-shot dosage, meaning that recipients of those brands will have to receive two separate doses two weeks apart. Johnson & Johnson, on the other hand, offers their vaccine as a single dose, which is an easier option for those who do not live near a vaccination site or struggle when it comes to leaving their home. It is important to note that if a recipient is over the age of 16 but under 18, they are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, as the other brands have not been tested amongst younger adults as of yet. UC is working on bringing the vaccine to campus to distribute amongst SEE VACCINE PG. 3
NICK MCADAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Empire 8 Conference, in a collaborative statement with New York State, announced that spectators will be allowed to attend collegiate sporting events under strict state guidelines starting on April 2. According to the social media post from the Empire 8, all participating institutions would be able to welcome spectators to the campus under regulations that fall under the respective institution’s discretion, based on regulations set forth by local and state officials. The athletic department has released a PDF file indicating Utica’s participation regarding spectators. For indoor sporting events, capacity will be limited to 65 attendees for only students; meaning that no parents or
guardians will be allowed in attendance. Outdoor events will be capped off at 200 attendees and, for these events, families will be allowed pending that they follow several COVID-19 protocols, including the health screening. “Upon arrival, all fans must also show their ID, get their temperature taken by a staff member, and fill out a health questionnaire/ contact tracing form” the memo read. “Fans must wear a face-covering throughout the duration of the game, except for breaks when eating and drinking. In addition, per New York State guidelines, only clear, see-through bags will be permitted to avoid additional contact via bag checks. Please do not attend an event if you are feeling unwell or have come in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.” SEE SPECTATORS PG. 11
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STAFF
FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
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 Photographer - Alexandria Leland Social Media Manager - Alyssa McKenna Cartoonist - Alyssa McKenna YouTube - Brooke Riscica Copy Editor - Gianna Cognetti Tangerine Clerk - Jama Joseph Advisor - Mary Christopher
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.
Submission Policy
Letters to the editor are welcomed from all members of the Utica College community. Letters must meet fair and accurate publishing standards and contain no libelous material. Anonymous letters to the editor will not be printed. All letters and editorials must meet the print deadline of 5 p.m. on Mondays. Please send all submissions to tangerine@utica.edu. Takeback requests are a form of censorship and therefore not accepted.
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The Tangerine accepts paid advertisements. Advertising copy is subject to the same professional publishing standards as content. The Tangerine reserves the right to reject advertising that does not meet the standards established, is libelous, is in poor taste or violates discrimination laws. Please direct all inquiries to tanger@utica.edu. The deadline for publication is 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. The opinions and columns expressed in The Tangerine are those of the individual writers and do not represent the views of The Tangerine or Utica College.
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NEWS
FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
VACCINE FROM PG. 1 students and staff. In emails sent out to all students, Vice President for Emergency Management Shad Crowe announced that UC would be teaming up with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), Mohawk Valley Health Systems (MVHS) and Walgreens to give the UC community a chance to become inoculated. “All UC students are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and there are several convenient opportunities to get your vaccine in the next few days,” said Crowe in an email sent out on April 6. “The Oneida County Health Department, in collaboration with UC and MVCC, is holding a COVID-19 Johnson & Johnson POD on Sunday, April 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at MVCC’s Jorgensen Center. In addition, walk-in appointments are available to UC students for the MVHS Pfizer COVID-19 POD, located immediately across the street at the Burrstone House.” For students who are not able to get to these locations or will not be available during the scheduled time slots, UC has announced that Walgreens will be
returning to campus to distribute Johnson & Johnson vaccines to eligible community members from noon to 5 p.m. on April 13 in the Strebel Student Center. UC previously teamed up with Walgreens last month to hold a Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinic for college staff and faculty members only. At this clinic, 240 people waited in line to receive their vaccine. “I was excited to receive my shot and was happy to have accessibility to the single dose vaccine, since it made it much easier for me to schedule,” said Brooke Green, one of the many recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the March clinic on campus. “I was not nervous for the shot, but more excited to be a part of the vaccination movement to hopefully return campus back to normalcy soon.” Recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine have reported mild side effects after receiving it. Experts claim that flulike symptoms, including headache, mild fever and drowsiness, are to be expected, as well as pain at the injection site. It has been reported that younger people tend to have stronger reactions to the vaccine, which included
more severe side effects that have the potential of hindering your daily tasks. In an interview with ABC news, Dr. Dean Blumberg, a specialist in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of California, claimed that younger people have more adverse reactions because they have a more sensitive immune system. “We think it’s because the younger people may have a more robust immune system, as well as a stronger immune response, that leads to more of the side effects but the immune system gets a bit revved up,” Dr. Blumberg said. “On average, younger people do have more side effects following immunization. They have more local side effects such as the pain and the swelling, the redness, as well fever, fatigue and headache.” Green, who is also a senior majoring in health studies, reported feeling down for the count after receiving her vaccine last month, citing adverse side effects that lasted for a couple of days. “I experienced multiple side effects from the onedose vaccine,” Green explained. “I had a resting heart rate of 120 bpm during the first 12 hours
UCTANGERINE.COM
after receiving the vaccine. I also had a 102 fever, weakness, dizziness and poor appetite. I felt better two days after receiving the vaccine, but I experienced almost every side effect listed in the pamphlet that was provided to us before receiving the vaccine.” Mackenzie Lowden, a senior studying communications and media studies, is one of many citizens who are hesitant to receive the vaccine. Lowden explained that her hesitation stemmed from witnessing her sister experience adverse reactions to her shot. “I’m not planning on receiving the vaccine,” Lowden said. “It makes me nervous because everything happened so quickly and I just feel like there isn’t enough research on it. My mom got both doses of Moderna and my sister just got Johnson & Johnson yesterday. My mom didn’t have too many side effects but she was just a little achy after her second dose. My sister, on the other hand, is really sick right now because of hers. I know a lot of people have been fine after getting the vaccine, but I’ve also heard a lot of horror stories from people who’ve gotten one too. I’m just very hesitant at the moment, but the more
people I know who get it, the more likely I am to get it myself.” With summer swiftly approaching, many people are itching to get back to normal life again, a life free from mask mandates, public-gathering restrictions and the fear of getting severely sick. Experts say that normalcy cannot return without herd immunity to the disease. According to the CDC, herd immunity is defined as a major portion of a population being immune to a certain strand of virus, either because of previous infection/exposure or receiving a vaccination. Since the goal is to decrease the number of infections, the CDC is advising that all eligible individuals get vaccinated sooner than later. The more people that get vaccinated, the sooner we can return to a form of normalcy again. “I would recommend any student to receive the vaccine when they are able to because it is the only way to help our campus return to normalcy, like having in-person events and more classes being held inperson,” Green said. “I can’t find any reason for a student not to get the vaccine if they plan on continuing their education.”
CAMPUS SAFETY BLOTTER Date of Incident
Time of Incident
Incident Description
Incident Location
4/1/2021
6:50 PM
Harassment
Strebel Student Center
4/1/2021
12:39 AM
Threatening Behavior
Tower Hall
4/1/2021
6:09 PM
Medical Assist
Clark Athletic Center
4/1/2021
5:44 PM
Medical Assist
Strebel Student Center
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NEWS
FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
UCTANGERINE.COM
National Anthem singer needed for commencement ceremonies
BAILEY HRYB MANAGING EDITOR
“It’s very simple, [students] just have to schedule time with myself and Fran Lucia from the Commencement Committee to sing the
UCTANGERINE.COM
Newman Center redesigned, Intercultural Center set to open in the fall
The Newman Center, currently known as the Intercultural Student Clubs and Organizations Center, will be opening to students in the fall. According to Matthew Carr, the vice president for college infrastructure and chief information officer, renovations started in early December of 2020, and the renovations are in the closing stages.
In the statement, one of the main points of discussion was the fact that the undergraduate ceremony would be broken up into multiple smaller ceremonies, consisting of roughly 75-100 attendees, to adhere to public gathering restrictions set in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Student Living and College Engagement (SLCE) office is looking for a graduating member of the student body to be recorded singing the National Anthem to be played at the multiple commencement ceremonies that are scheduled for this coming May. The student must fulfill the number of credits needed to graduate in order to be eligible to audition.
FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
HANNAH STEYN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Last month, Utica College President Laura Casamento released preliminary details for this year’s commencement ceremonies, which will be held partly in person compared to last year, where it was postponed and eventually canceled.
A staple of many graduation ceremonies across the country is the singing of the National Anthem. Utica College is looking for a musically talented graduating senior to fill this spot for this year’s various commencement ceremonies.
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NEWS
Photo Courtesy of Lindsay A. Mogle and the Observer-Dispatch National Anthem song as their audition song, and then the two of us choose a person,” said Assistant Director for Leadership Development Bethany VanBenschoten. “Auditions can be in person – we would find a safe six-foot space – or virtual.” VanBenschoten detailed that, while there is not a set deadline for students to audition by, her office is looking to fill the spot by mid-April, giving students a couple of more weeks to set up an audition time. “It is also likely that whoever is chosen will also be singing the UC Alma Mater song, but we will provide sheet music and videos of others singing it so they can practice correctly,” she continued. “The chosen singer does
not have to plan on being in person at commencement. Also, the one singer will be recorded and the video and sound will be shared at the other commencement ceremonies.”
“The chosen singer does not have to plan on being in person at commencement.” - VanBenschoten Assistant Director for Leadership Development The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected the way that the commencement ceremonies will be conducted this year, but that is not deterring students from auditioning. Having the choice to audition inperson or online has made it easier for students near and far to test out their singing voice.
“Well, what made me try out was that I grew up singing and I always enjoyed singing the National Anthem,” said Santhyyea Pich, a senior majoring in history. “I’ve sung in crowds before, but I never got a chance to sing for a graduating class and there should be a time for everything right? It would be amazing to be chosen to sing the National Anthem and I would be proud to sing for the school’s commencement – it would be like making history.” Pich, who has already completed her audition, was excited to even be able to audition and wishes the best of luck to others who are set to try out as well. “My advice for anyone who is ready to try out
would be don’t be nervous because everyone is pretty much rooting for you to do well,” Pich said. “The audience will be small and they have done it for many years. Remember your lines and just go for it. Sing your heart out is what they told me and that’s just what I did.” Interested students are asked to contact the SLCE office (slce@utica.edu) to set up an audition, which can be held either in-person or virtually. For more information regarding auditions, as well as lingering questions about the process, students are asked to contact Bethany VanBenschoten (bavanben@utica.edu), or Fran Lucia (flucia@utica. edu).
“The interior and exterior of the building should finish up sometime in the next three or four weeks,” Carr said. “But we are adding an outdoor patio with seating and a gas fireplace that had been weather dependent, so they haven’t started that piece of it yet. That will be done late in the spring or early in the summer and it’s planned that the building will be fully open and functional for students in the fall semester.” Carr said that it may be getting a donor-funded name, but at this point that has not been announced, and it is being referred to as the Intercultural Center. Dr. Anthony Baird, chief diversity officer for and vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, described the Intercultural Center as fluid. “The operation is very fluid,” he said. “It’s open, it’s flexible, it’s pliable. But essentially, The Intercultural Center will be a place where people with different heritage and cultures can come together to meet and engage,
Photo Courtesy of Hannah Steyn to exchange ideas and conversations.” Baird said the aim was for the campus to get to a place where more inclusive, more diverse and more equitable spaces are being intentionally developed for all of the citizens who abide within the campus community. The Womyn’s Resource Center, which is currently located in the basement of Hubbard is going to be relocated to the Intercultural Center. Otherwise, the center won’t really have any single, designated purposes. “The Womyn’s Resource Center is unfortunately not in a very prominent location,” Carr said. “This hopefully will increase the visibility of it to the student population and the campus community as a whole. The intent was to give them a much more functional and more visible space, so we’re hopefully accomplishing
that with the move.” Besides the Womyn’s Resource Center, the interior of the Intercultural Center will house a lounge, two multipurpose rooms and study rooms that somewhat mimic those in the library. “These spaces can be used for either small group meetings, or reserved for study space,” Carr said. “It’s a really flexible space for use by all students and organizations. We wanted to make sure that we didn’t really designate too many spaces and thus shut out other students.” One thing Baird aims to convey with the addition of the center is that inclusion and cultural competency doesn’t sit with one office, one person or one department. “I think it’s a concept to be conceived and owned by each and every single member of our community,” Baird said.
“My vision for the space is to have it as a place for intercultural activities and student engagement, as well as some organizational activities. Additionally, it’s a space where students can experience health and wellness, meditation, prayer, gatherings, meetings, conversations and relaxation.” Baird added that it could also be seen as a paraprofessional space for students to gather and coordinate projects and meetings in the study and workspaces. The Intercultural Center will be open 24 hours a day, and available to all students with ID access, year-round. “I hope students will appreciate the extra space,” Carr said. “I’ve certainly heard that there’s not enough meeting space for students on campus so this will hopefully help.” Carr also said the outdoor seating from the patio will
address students’ desire to have study spaces available outdoors as the weather improves. Senior Lindsey Rasmussen said that with Strebel Lounge now being used for COVID-19 pool testing, the additional space to hold events is an important addition to campus. “Also, as a member of Inter Greek Council, hopefully, this is a space we can use for our weekly meetings, rather than Boehlert,” Rasmussen said. Baird concluded, indicating that the success of the new center will depend on the students who use it. “I think it’s going to take the students and members of the community to give The Intercultural Center life,” Baird said. “But ultimately, it’s a centerpiece of the campus where cultural conversations can be had.”
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NEWS
FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
UCTANGERINE.COM
“Backstabbed!” - An interactive crime scene for criminal justice students
ISABELLA HUDZIAK SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTER Layered in black paper and bright yellow caution tape lies a mock crime scene in Room 209 of the Economic Justice and Criminal Studies Building. The scene was set up on March 29 by Dr. Shanna Van Slyke for her Criminal Justice Communications course, otherwise known as CRJ 222. “It’s Monday morning, and the morning janitor came across a dead body in a study room,” read the instructions for the assignment. “It will become your job to reconstruct the crime scene for the jury.” “Experiential or realitybased education provides opportunities for students to apply the concepts, terms, or protocols that they are learning in the classroom,” said Professor of PracticeCriminal Justice Robert Swenszkowski. “Some of these elements and skills include: distractions, situational awareness, stress inoculation, critical thinking, mental acuity, decision-making skills, and overall communication.” Due to COVID-19 precautions, the CRJ 222 course proceeded with a hybrid implementation. Half of the students attend in-person on Mondays while the remaining half switch places that following Wednesday. However, the use of an experiential crime scene project has been done before for Criminal Justice students.
specific photographs. Two class periods after the fact would see the crime scene dismantled in a way that the Crime Scene Reconstruction group needed to use the information to replace the items.
“In the fall 2020 semester, a smaller crime scene was set up for students in CRJ 222 in the upper mezzanine of our building to get the program’s experiential component up and running,” said Swenszkowski. “Due to COVID restraints, we were limited in the space we could use in the number of students that could observe the crime scene at one time.” Utilizing their textbooks and other pertinent information from the course, the two groups designated a leader; the Crime Scene Documentation subgroup and the Crime Scene Recreation subgroup. In order to reach maximum immersion, academic integrity was established beforehand: the two subgroups are not allowed to enter the crime scene while the other is in action. Another important piece to note is that students were not allowed to touch anything on the premise while documenting. “This investigation stage is critical in that it serves as a foundation for the preservation of evidence in documenting through video, photographic images, and composition the state of the crime scene when it was discovered,” said Van Slyke. “Detailed descriptions of the experiences are crucial as this information is forwarded to people such as prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and juries who need to comprehensively understand the crime scene’s condition without
Photo Courtesy of Gabriella Hudziak being present at the scene.” The
Crime
Scene
Documentation group crafted a written narrative, elaborate sketches and
According to the Utica College website, “Students enjoy a rich selection of internship opportunities as well as access to stateof-the-art forensic research technologies in the Economic Crime, Justice Studies, and Cybersecurity building on the UC campus.”
STUDENTS WANTED
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Local Diner Profile: Simple Shakes REBEKAH HEDEEN FEATURES EDITOR Down the street from Utica College sits a quaint shop that sells “simple shakes,” with an emphasis on the simplicity of its ingredients and health benefits. The business opened in September after several months of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Simple Shakes owner Jamie Licari said. “We offer healthy protein and meal replacement shakes,” Licari said. “Unlike other businesses similar to us, we don’t add any additional sugars or simple syrups. All of our shakes consist of fruits, oats, protein and your choice of 2% or almond milk.” Throughout the pandemic, many businesses have been deterred from opening but the wait seems to be worth it for Licari as he serves 50 customers on average a day. Licari said he hopes Simple Shakes will average nearly 100 customers a day by the time summer arrives.
To nominate your awesome professors for the prestigious Dr. Virgil Crisafulli Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is given each year to a tenured professor who exemplifies the highest traditions of teaching. Because teaching is our first priority at Utica College, this award has come to be recognized as the College’s finest tribute to a faculty member.
The human body produces amino acids, but others are consumed through the diet, which is called “essential amino acids, according to an article from Eat This, Not That by Kiersten Hickman.
You should have received an email this week with information about the Crisafulli Award, a list of eligible faculty members, and the nomination form. Nominations will only be accepted using a completed nomination form.
Protein powders are a great way in which to eat your daily intake of protein and amino acids. Additionally, the article urged readers to research the proteins they consume before doing so as some contain harmful substances from the production process.
The deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 23rd to the Office of Academic Affairs, 201 DePerno Hall. You may also email them to provost@utica.edu by the deadline.
FEATURES
Photo Courtesy of Alexandria Leland “We offer healthy protein and meal replacement shakes,” Licari said. “Unlike other businesses similar to us, we don’t add any additional sugars or simple syrups. All of our shakes consist of fruits, oats, protein and your choice of 2% or almond milk.” “The pandemic has had a big impact on us,” Licari said. “For starters, while we were unable to open early in the year we still had to pay rent and utilities while having no business. [The COVID-19 pandemic] has hurt us just like every other business.” “It’s perfect for somebody on the run, or someone looking for an after gym protein source,” Licari said. “Instead of grabbing a greasy breakfast sandwich
or a burger for lunch, this is a great way to start your day.”
“Instead of grabbing a greasy breakfast sandwich or a burger for lunch, this is a great way to start your day.” - Jamie Licari Owner Grab-and-go dinners among college students and young adults are becoming especially popular with the increase of a need to stay busy and to be productive. Simple Shakes offers a way for students to have both a quick, grab-and-go meal that is filling and relatively cost-efficient. “We would like the students to know we understand being a student financially could be very
difficult,” Licari said. “But that doesn’t mean you need to eat unhealthy because you can get a burger and fries for a few dollars. Our 16oz shake is $5.25 and we are always offering different deals to help out. So Instead of grabbing fried food because they are cheap, try one of our shakes.” And with rising costs of food outside of the college’s dining hall, Licari’s point can be critical to those looking for a cheap meal before heading to campus. “Ordinarily I would eat in my room but off-campus I would go to McDonald’s or Chipotle and it normally cost me about $10-$12,” said Mark Mason, a firstyear student. Simple Shakes offers a
solution for unhealthy eating that is more costeffective and time-efficient, ultimately helping students and busy individuals in the long run. “We started Simple Shakes because we both try to live a healthy lifestyle,” Licari said. “There are not many healthy options in this area for you to stop and get a product as we offer. Everything tends to be quick and unhealthy. We wanted to offer the community something they could fill up on and also feel good about.” Simple Shakes is located at 1720 Burrstone Road, New Hartford, NY 13413 and all information regarding their shakes and nutrition information can be found on their website.
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FEATURES
FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
UCTANGERINE.COM
Kappa Delta Phi NAS Hosts Mental Health Discussion
closer to me in turns of support and understanding of my issues and problems than any other person on or off-campus.” On-campus, students can turn to the Student Health Center where counseling services are available with licensed mental health professionals. Other self-care recommendations, that can be done on and off-campus, include maintaining positive relationships and taking care of your body. It is important during these times of social distancing or isolation to make sure that we are continuing to nurture relationships with friends and family. Part of keeping a healthy mind is also keeping a healthy body.
Photo Courtesy of inksdrop on Canva HOPE RUSSO ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR On March 31, the ETA pledge class of Kappa Delta Phi NAS hosted a virtual, philanthropic event centered around mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
such as anxiety, depression and increased stress, the stigma around these topics is decreasing. More college campuses and people, in general, are beginning to open up and bring awareness to the importance of conversations on mental health.
This event provided an opportunity for the sisters of KDP to plan and execute awareness on a topic that many are passionate about. The majority of the attendees were other sorority members showing support for their fellow pledges, which even included some alumni members.
According to an article released in January 2021 by ScienceNews, about 85 percent of college students have experienced moderate to severe levels of distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Women, in particular, make up one category of students who were reported to have the highest levels of distress.
While college students have long been prone to mental health struggles
Common feelings that students are grappling with due to the pandemic
are lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, procrastination and general anxiety. Victoria Brown, KDP affiliate and psychology major, is specifically passionate about this topic, along with her other two pledge sisters who are child life psychology majors who understand the detrimental effects mental health can have on an individual. “Especially in COVID times where mental health is at an all-time low, we thought it would be great to reiterate some self-care activities and resources that are offered both on and off-campus,” Brown said. “Keeping the mental health conversation going can only benefit both students and staff at UC.”
“Keeping the mental health conversation going can only benefit both students and staff at UC.” Victoria Brown Psychology Major Other Greek life organizations at UC, such as the Alpha Phi Delta fraternity, recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health. Aaron Barsham, APD member, stated that the fraternity helps its members in any way it can. “We’re so closely knit that one person’s problems become something everyone wants to help with and it’s hard to compare it to any other organization,” Barsham said. “Brothers of mine are
Try to choose healthier options in the dining hall or grocery store, get outside while the sun is out as often as you can and listen to your body when it tells you to take a break. As much as we love social media, this can be draining on our mental health. Try taking a social media break for a day and have a self-care day. Joining clubs, organizations or greek life can also be great opportunities for gaining support or maintaining relationships on campus. “Greek life is absolutely a safe space for someone to turn to if they are struggling,” Brown said. “The bonds you form are unmatched and are a great way to make friends. Sometimes all a person struggling needs is a friend.”
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FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
UCTANGERINE.COM
“Something Rotten” review, live audience permitted
REBEKAH HEDEEN FEATURES EDITOR AND ISABELLA HUDZIAK SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTER
The performance of “Something Rotten” relied heavily on character interactions. Despite social distancing and large masks, the chemistry between the romantic leads was believable and inviting. The audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy the performance, allowing the actors to find their place in the theater once again.
The pandemic has created many difficulties for theaters around the world by restricting inperson shows, ticket costs and rehearsal spaces. At Utica College, the theater department has made the most of every opportunity allowing its first inperson audience to view the musical, “Something Rotten.” “My favorite thing has been the cast’s grit and determination to get things done in a safe and efficient manner,” Musical Director Jason Francey commended the cast for their ability to compromise for a COVID-19 safe performance.
“My favorite thing has been the cast’s grit and determination to get things done in a safe and efficient manner,” Jason Francey Musical Director Among the challenges and stresses that live theatre naturally brings, the pandemic added a whole new layer that Francey, along with the entire theater department, had to work around. A recorded version of the technical rehearsal was the theater’s original and current plan, however, a small audience was permitted to view the live performance on April 1, 2 and 3. For junior Derek Corsner,
Photo Courtesy of Rebekah Hedeen who portrays Nostradamus, the best part of the show were the references. Several scenes involving the futureseeing Nostradamus took tunes, lines and motifs from famous musicals such as “Rent” and “Les Miserables.” “If you’re in the know and a musical fan, it will make the references so much funnier,” said Corsner. “It’s still funny without it, but the references make it better.” Both Francey and Cailee Blackington, a first-year playing Portia in the show, picked “We See The Light” as a favorite song. The song occurs during Act II of the musical and is headed by Blackington and Kyle Van Winkler as Portia, and Nigel Bottom respectively. For Francey, it was the 70s influence, message of acceptance and danceability that pushed the song to his favorite. Blackington echoed his opinion. “It’s such a bop,” Blackington said. “You can
dance to it. There’s also some foreshadowing of the character’s futures.” The lighting for the show, designed by Michael Diederich, was effective in setting the mood. Cool tones were used for emotionally charged scenes between romantic pairs while warmer lights contributed to dance numbers. Whenever the character Shakespeare was mentioned, strobe lights would accompany the chorus in a way that was engaging to the audience. There had to be liberties taken with costuming to accommodate COVID-19 precautions. Each character was given a clear rectangular mask that was brown on the bottom representing facial hair for male characters. For female characters, they wore masks with neutral tones. While this was necessary for safety, it caused uneven muffling of the actors. In addition, microphones were not used in this performance, and
projection volume differed for each character. One of the highlights of the show was the choreography directed by Sophia Hartnett. “Something Rotten” is filled with intricate dance numbers that require actors to be nimble on their feet. The ensemble flowed seamlessly together in dances that required tapdancing and uniformity. Throughout the many rehearsals leading up to the performance, there were days slotted entirely for dance rehearsal and it showed through in the final production. The set design for the performance was very minimal but effective. There were two moving pieces on either side of the stage to represent tavern and household scenes. During blackouts, the cast would help set the next scene up in a way that was obvious but overall helped the musical work without a traditional crew to move set pieces.
Throughout the musical, aside from many comedic references, the cast truly allowed their personalities to show through their characters. The photo above represents a musical number called “Omelette” where an actress is dressed up as an egg for an “eggcellent” depiction of the energy found within the show. Several cast members were required to adopt multiple roles during the performance. The costume changes were effective in distinguishing between the different roles, which included Jessilyn Perreira, a first-year student, acting as Peter Quince and the Grim Reaper. The transitions were seamless and bulked the amount of ensemble on stage for each scene. “Something Rotten” will air online between April 22 and 25. Tickets can be purchased from ShowTix4U. The price for General Admission is $25 for an individual ticket and $40 for household streaming. Make sure to tune in and support the Utica College Theater Department.
FEATURES
PAGE 10 FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
UCTANGERINE.COM
“We the People” club launching this semester ISABELLA HUDZIAK SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTER
SPORTS
PAGE 11 FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
UCTANGERINE.COM
Men’s hockey team falls to Elmira College in UCHC semi finals
A new club entitled “We the People” will start this semester. This club will invite students to learn about immigration laws and exclusion policies in the United States and how they can take this information into being informed citizens. The initial focus of the club will be on the 14th Amendment, addressing any issues a person might face if they were born in the United States or gained citizenship in the United States and how they have been treated as a point of controversy. This club, started by Kristy Liang from the Utica College Nursing Program in Florida to become a travel nurse, and Coordinator of Online Anatomy and Physiology Elizabeth Kurtz, will introduce students to the importance of immigration laws and the exclusionary acts still in place today. “I chose this topic because a lot of hate crimes have been happening,” Liang said. “There are anti-hate groups for Asian Americans and the Black Live Matters community. However, there isn’t a club that specifically combines all of us together. This club will bring optimism, enlightenment and encouragement to be proud of where we come from and who we are.” The COVID-19 pandemic has brought anti-Asian mentality to the forefront of society in a multitude
Photo Courtesy of Alexandria Leland of ways: the use of slurs, physical assaults and murder. More than 500 incidents of discrimination toward the Asian community have occurred since January 2021, according to NBC News. Liang referenced the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which lasted for 10 years, that a majority of people are unaware of. This act mandated that Chinese immigrants needed to gain governmental certification to immigrate, which created a loophole that refused most from entering the country. Those already in the country were severely limited and denied citizenship with the threat of deportation by courts. “I felt there needed to be justice for racism,” Liang said. “The route of all this racism is being taught by people who lack knowledge
of history on immigration laws. I feel the way things are going now, history is repeating itself.” Learning about immigration laws and exclusion policies expands understanding of the United States government in the wake of misinformation from the pandemic. The initial focus of the club will be the 14th Amendment and promoting a way to discuss governmental policies with peers. The club promotes acknowledgment of the core historical racism that pervades today and how to indoctrinate acceptance in your own life. “Our club will be involved in community events focusing on inclusion such as the Unity Walk,” said Kurtz, a Utica College alumni and faculty advisor for the new club. “We would like to hold information sessions about
current exclusion policies that should be more openly discussed. We would also like to hold fundraising events to involve active club members with the local communities and use those funds to finance club activities.”
The club will begin functioning once students have shown an interest in joining. The club needs a bulk of students to come from the UC campus since the President of the club is located at the Florida campus.
We the People will hold Zoom meetings, mass email groups and utilize social media outlets to spread love and knowledge. The name itself stands for a primary theme in the club: unity.
Interest can be shown by emailing Kurtz (ealopez@ utica.edu) or Liang (krliang@utica.edu). All students are encouraged to join and take the knowledge they gain to create an inclusive environment.
“We the people make up America, we the people learn from each other and we the people can make a difference in the world that has not been reached out to yet,” said Liang. “Students will gain a better understanding of reality and how we can fight together on immigration policies and hate crimes.”
“We hope that students will gain a sense of the current political environment from the club,” said Kurtz. “A place to feel comfortable talking about current policy changes without negativity towards opposing opinions.”
Photo from Matthew Breault, Assistant Sports Editor of The Tangerine (April 2, 2021). The Utica College Pioneers men’s hockey team takes the ice in a pre-game skate before the team’s game against the Elmira Soaring Eagles in the semi-finals of the 2021 UCHC Tournament. Utica lost the game by a score of 2-1 in three overtime periods, making it one of the longest games in NCAA Division III hockey history. The Pioneers lone goal came from Senior Brett Everson with a quick snapshot in the second period. Elmira’s Bailey Krawczyk scored the game-winning goal, bringing an end to the near four-hour contest between the two teams. SPECTATORS FROM PG. 1
Another email from the athletics department sent to the college community said Utica College will permit 400 fans to the men’s hockey UCHC semi-final on April 2. Tickets for the game will be $8 on a firstcome, first-serve basis. “All individuals entering the building must wear an acceptable face covering at all times; must show documentation of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test result from within the 72 hours of game time or a negative rapid antigen test result from within six hours of game time; and must adhere to all other health and safety guidelines,” according to the email.
The news comes shortly after Utica College’s first football game of the year against Alfred University. The team won by a score of 30-17 with nearly 50 spectators gathering on the lawn across from Charles A. Gaetano Stadium to watch the game. At this game, students such as Sophie Langdon indicated that spectators should be allowed at sporting events, pending that they follow COVID-19 protocol. A full week later, that wish came true. “Sports are big in a lot of people’s lives whether it be the players, coaches, family members or even fans,” Langdon said. “Having there be a final or first season for players is something special for them. I know a lot of people who
are already planning to go to sporting events this semester who are really excited. I also know players who are even more excited to get back to doing what they love in a more normal setting.” Others think the announcement only confirms the privilege given to athletics at Utica College. From the perspective of the theater department and Junior Hannah Destefano, the news is unfair and unjustified. The theater department recently put on a showing of “Something Rotten,” a performance in which actors had to wear full-face coverings; something a portion of athletes are not required to do. The showing was also sent out virtually, meaning that no in-person spectators were
allowed inside the theater. “I say we follow what the President said initially and we get through this semester unscathed,” Destefano said. “It’s particularly upsetting when I see pictures of basketball players playing the game without a mask when our performers have to wear layers of clothing plus a face-covering. I don’t know what I should expect though. Sports on a nationwide scale seems to get preferential treatment and that happens to be the case at the college.” Destefano extended further indicating that nobody from the theater department received a positive test this semester. On the other hand, the athletic department, primarily those from the women’s basketball team, was responsible
for the college’s sharp uptick in positive cases at the start of the semester. Despite this, there will be a total of 93 athletic events happening in April with 39 more events happening in May, pending respective team qualifications in Empire 8 tournaments and potential COVID-19 restrictions. The announcement comes almost a full calendar year after the outbreak of the virus in the United States. The last time the athletics department allowed spectators to an athletic event was before spring break of 2020, in which the college decided to cancel all sports for the remainder of the season and send all students to remote instruction.
SPORTS
PAGE 12 FRIDAY, APRIL 9 2021
UCTANGERINE.COM
Young talent leads UC women’s tennis to success MATTHEW BREAULT ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR The 2020-2021 Utica College Women’s Tennis team had its most successful season ever. After finishing the regular season 4-2, the Pioneers qualified for the Empire 8 Tournament for the first time since 2006. In the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament on March 30, the Pioneers defeated Hartwick College 8-1. This marks the first time in Utica College women’s tennis history when the team advanced to the semifinals of the E8 Tournament. Despite the team’s best efforts in the semifinals of the tournament on Thursday, April 1, the Pioneers were edged out by the No. 2 seed St. John Fisher Cardinals 5-4. The lack of experience on the Pioneers’ roster did not negatively impact the team. The team’s roster consists of four underclassmen, one junior, Haley Dekin who is playing in her first season, and one graduate student, Bianca Bockhaus. At the season’s end, the team’s best performers were freshmen Ellen Collie (80) and Ellen Lyga (7-1) and sophomore Morgan Willis (7-0). The Pioneers as a whole finished the season 5-3. In her first season with the Pioneers, Lyga has been quite successful. The local product from New Hartford and Notre Dame High School earned the Empire 8 Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week award on Monday, March 22. With
Photo Courtesy of Laurel Simer her many achievements in her freshman season, Lyga understands the added pressure she faces, but she doesn’t plan on backing down to that pressure anytime soon. “I do feel like my season added a little pressure on me,” Lyga said. “When I start a season off well, my goal is to continue to do well throughout the entire season. I’ve always dealt with pressure the same way, just hitting the shots I know I can hit well and blocking out all of the distractions once I am on the court.” Another young Pioneer who has been successful during her first collegiate tennis season also coincidentally shares a name with her teammate Lyga. Freshman Ellen Collie has also been making a name for herself for the Pioneers’ women’s tennis team. Collie, a native of Harbor Springs, Michigan who attended Harbor Springs High School, has also done her best to avoid
succumbing to the pressure she faces. “At the beginning of the season, I honestly didn’t feel much pressure,” Collie said. “As the season progressed, I started to get extremely nervous because I doubted my abilities. Once I started playing, I forgot how nervous I was and played my normal game.” Despite the loss to St. John Fisher, the young and talented tennis players are still holding their heads up high. After finishing the most successful season in the team’s history, it’s great for them to look back on a season that very well could have been canceled because of COVID-19. “My favorite part about the season was getting out there and competing,” Lyga said. “I’ve always been a competitor on the court, and between doubles and singles, I’ve had a lot of fun playing hard and having a successful season.”
When it comes to competing in doubles play, both of the Ellen’s on the Pioneers’ roster also happen to be doubles partners. The “Ellen2” duo finished the season 6-2 as doubles partners. Collie was another one of the Pioneers that enjoyed their rookie season. “My favorite part about the season was making new friends on both the women’s and men’s teams,” Collie said. “I’m also very proud to be a part of making history for this school and I hope it will inspire a few others to join the team because of it.” As the Pioneers’ historic season comes to an end, it is important to note that five out of the six members of the team will be returning for next season. Another member of the young team that is returning that wasn’t previously mentioned is Michela Marturano, who is a first-year player from Syracuse.
The Utica College women’s tennis team may have completed their most successful season on the court, but they also did something off the court that many teams couldn’t do. The women’s tennis team completed their season without one of its players testing positive or having to quarantine because of COVID-19. The players attribute this to the successful season. “The tennis team was very careful when it came to COVID-19 and we were very lucky to complete our season without any cases,” Collie said. “With a team of six players, having one person quarantine would automatically lose two points because of the lack of players we have since six players make up a full team. We were very fortunate to be able to play in all of our matches and not forfeit one game due to COVID.”