230 15 4134 https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/27bd86462ede8091d23df561eefcc2ea.pdf f792a856fa4f177698fe3a3493c0fef6 PDF Text Text w T ~ ~IHIIE ~ B5IEACC(O)N HE B EACON The Beacon - February 18, 2020 1 Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 15 Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Alice Sola Kim kicks off Spring Writers Series in Kirby Hall The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer Science fiction author Alice Sola Kim kicked off the Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series as the first author to visit campus. Dr. Mischelle Anthony, associate professor and chair of the English department, oversaw contact and reservations with students for the events throughout the day. “I was happy to have Alice Kim visit our department as a person of color writing speculative fiction, a genre so many of our English majors and creative writing minors are interested in trying out. With our more diverse student population, Alice’s position as an award-winning short fiction writer, as someone young in her career and working on her first novel, as someone who did not go ‘straight through school’ or did not ‘always want to be a writer,’ are important pieces of her identity for our students to witness,” Anthony said. Kim has a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in sciences and technology, and she produced content writing for a chatbot with a start-up in San Francisco before studying at the M.F.A program at Washington University in St. Louis. Kim also taught a class in the M.F.A program at Columbia University earlier this year. Kim is known for her short stories and has been in publications such as The Cut, Tin House, McSweeney’s, Lightspeed, and The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017. She has also received grants and fellowships from the Elizabeth George Foundation, the MacDowell Colony, and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She was also the winner of a 2016 Whiting Award, which is given annually to 10 emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama. The first event students were able to attend was an afternoon workshop in which Kim expressed that she was interested in “the surprise in writing,” and worked with students on writing against cliches in The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer prose. Alice Sola Kim spoke about her experience as a science Daniel Stish, a first-year English fiction author writing short stories. major, was one the audience’s expectations through the use of the students in of descriptive language that keeps the reader attendance during the workshop. “I think my favorite part was being able surprised and engaged. “Ms. Kim is a wonderfully talented writer,” to see how different people responded to the same questions. It was neat seeing the said Stish. “As someone new to being an different directions everyone was able to take English major, it is great that I have someone their pieces, and the creative processes at I can look at and say, ‘I’d love to be able to write like she does.” play,” said Stish. Stish felt that the major skill he took away from the workshop was how to challenge KIM, page 4 SHINE hosts resource night for local families, page 3 Creative Colonel Gracie Franko, page 11 By Taylor Dillon Staff Writer Valentine’s Day just passed, and as some of us are eating our left over candy and watching the flowers die, others are happy the holiday is finally over. It is the holiday that is advertised on every store window, is seen on all television screens and plastered on thousands of store shelves across the nation. Valentine’s Day is the day where we take loved ones out for a day of romance displayed through gifts and greetings. But what about the people who are not in a relationship or do not have someone to call a loved one? This day can make singles feel unappreciated or like there is something wrong with them. This, however, is not the case. As old as it is and as corny as it sounds, you cannot truly love another until you learn to love yourself. You can start by practicing self-care and understand that love is not something to fear, but something that drives your actions and is permeated into every action. LOVE, page 7 The Beacon/Madi Hummer Asst. News Editor Submitted by Gracie Franko By Sean Schmoyer Opinion: Be your own valentine, every day of the year Largest first-year class in NHL20 Review, page 15 history, page 5 Colonels Largest set first-year recordsclass at MAC in Championship, history, page page 5 20 �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor: Parker.Dorsey@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Feb. 12 weekly meeting By Sara Ross Staff Writer On Feb. 12, Student Government went over first and second-week presentations along with a club report from BACCHUS. To start, Adventures in Sciences came in for a fund request. Adventures in Science is a campus-wide event that is meant to encourage high school students to get interested in learning about science. This year the theme is “Blasting Off Into Space.” They are expecting over 250 students from local high schools, such as in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre, to attend. To fund their event, they are looking for $2,730 to cover the costs of T-shirts, drawstring bags and safety glasses. Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) made an appearance as well because they would like to go to the 2020 State Leadership Conference in Harrisburg on Feb. 21. PBL is a business-oriented branch of a nationwide professional organization that participates in annual events. At the conference, students will be able to engage in open general sessions, award ceremonies, business workshops and networking opportunities. They will need $1,500 for hotel and registration fees. BACCHUS presented their club report at the meeting. They went over the activities they had during the fall, including the Alcohol Awareness Walk, Talk on Vaping and Sexual Jeopardy. In the spring, they plan on volunteering and participating at the Big Event, the Random Acts of Kindness Week and the Sex Trafficking Awareness event. The Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) gave a second presentation for a fund request to attend the SNPhA Regions I and II Conference. This organization’s mission is to allow students to plan, organize, coordinate and execute programs geared toward the improvement for the health, educational and social environment of the community. They required a total of $404.26, which they received in a passing motion. Wilkes Adventure Education (WAE) was looking for a fund request to go on its 2020 WAE Spring Break trip. Students will get to go hiking and meet a Wilkes alumna who works as a park ranger at the Grand Canyon. To go on their trip, they needed $3,000 to cover expenses for car rentals, hotel rooms, a National Park pass and Grand Canyon permits. They were allocated this amount. The Wilkes University Theatre Department is planning to attend the Southeastern Theatre Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. It will provide actors, teachers, directors and designers to participate in the art of theatre workshops, interviews for jobs, auditions and performance festivals. There will even be specialized classes that aren’t available in a regular college curriculum. The theatre department is asking for $200 for their trip, and they received the total amount. questions or require information. information. Wilkes to Host It’s On Us Training Tour On Feb. 24, the Spring 2020 National Training Tour is taking place. This is the first time Wilkes University will be a part of the event. It’s for It’s On Us, which is a non-profit that combats sexual assaults on college campuses around the country. It will feature workshops on bystander intervention, consent, survivor support and more. Registration for the event will be free, and there will be refreshments. @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Beacon Briefs: Upcoming happenings on campus Compiled by Sara Ross Casino Week Events for Casino Week are starting with Tie Dye Day on Feb. 17. Students can bring in shirts to dye. On Feb. 18, there will be Texas Hold’em, and on Wednesday, there will be bingo in the Henry Student Center’s lounge. Finally, on Feb. 21, Casino Night will be held in the ballroom. The theme will be glow-in-the-dark, and there will be many prizes available for students to win. Students will receive extra tickets at the entrance if they bring in donations for LEAP or the alternative spring break on campus. PharmD/MBA Dual Degree Program At Wilkes, they are now offering a PharmD and MBA Dual Degree Program. If you are a pharmacy student and would like to learn more about it, there will be an information session on Feb. 25 at UCOM in room 231 at 11 a.m. The PharmD/MBA program will help students to save time and money by allowing them to complete both programs in a total of six years. During this session, students will be able to learn more about the program, scheduling, admissions requirements and application process. Contact Kristin Donati if you have any Summer Orientation Coordinator Team The Office of Student Development is now hiring students for Wilkes’ First Year Summer Orientation. Candidates that are selected will be responsible for assisting in the planning and coordination of orientation. They will work directly with Student Affairs Staff to execute all aspects of the event. The position will be providing support in theme development, student leader training and event scheduling. If you are interested, contact Melissa Howells or visit the university’s website for further @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Upcoming Events: 2020 Spring Semester Table of Contents April 4 - Phillies Game (SD) 7 - Free Rita’s Giveaway (CC) 9 - Laser Tag Tournament (PB) 9 - Holiday Recess begins 13 - Classes resume 16 - Birthday Bonanza (PB) 18 - The Big Event (SG) 21 - Commuter Council Cookout (CC) 23 - Rainbow Bingo (PB) 25 - Block Party (SG) 29 - Multicultural Awards Celebration (ODI) 29 - Final day of classes 30 - Snack Attack (PB) 30 - Final exams begin News..................2 February 20 - International Bingo (PB) 18-21 - Casino Week (SG) 21 - Turning 15 On the Road to Freedom (ODI) 27 - Giveaway (PB) 28 - Axe Throwing (CC) 29 - Spring Recess begins March 9 - Classes resume 12 - Magicaroni n’ Cheese (PB) 14 - Axe Throwing (SD) 19 - Techno Bingo (PB) 24 - Paint n’ Sip (CC) 27 - Spring Fling (SG) 28 - Defy Jump (SD) May 7-9 - Final exams end/make-up days 16 - Spring Commencement CC denotes Commuter Council MSC denotes Multicultural Student Coalition ODI denotes Office of Diversity Initiatives PB denotes Programming Board SG denotes Student Government SD denotes Student Development Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 News 3 College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences discuss new possible minors By Parker Dorsey News Editor With the recent adoption of the global cultures minor, the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences has been discussing several other possibilities for possible minors to be adopted into the university curriculum. These programs are Africana studies, film studies and emergent & game technology. All new academic programs must be first approved by the Academic Program Committee and then by a vote of the full faculty. This process usually takes a few months or more. It is important to note that all three ideas are in their very early stages; emergent & game technology is the only one that has paperwork almost ready for submission. Africana studies and film studies are both in an early enough stage where there is no formally written proposal as of yet. In order to have a minor, a faculty group needs to take into account numerous factors before they can draft a proposal. First, the university needs to understand what resources are needed to deliver the program effectively. Of those resources, they must then determine how many of them are already available and identify how many are needed. Then, they would need to determine what the student demand is in order to make sure that demand is met. Finally, a proposal would be drafted based on that information. “We are continually looking for new programs that we think will serve students well in their intellectual growth, in their job prospects, and that will help to attract and retain them at Wilkes. [Each of ] these new programs have potential for that,” said Dr. Paul Riggs, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Africana Studies is an umbrella term for programs in higher education that study Africa, the African-American experience and other African diasporic communities around the world. It is important to note that if Wilkes is able to develop and offer a new minor in Africana Studies, then it would be the only college or university in Northeastern Pennsylvania with that option. “Our hope for Africana Studies is that students will have the opportunity to fully engage with this discipline. This includes learning and understanding key bodies of knowledge in the field, applying that knowledge to problems in the discipline and ultimately conducting original research to investigate new questions. We already do this in lots of courses, but the idea is to move to the next level and make it more systematic and robust,” said Riggs. E r i c a Acosta, associate director for diversity initiatives, said she thinks it is important for students to have the opportunity to look at the “other side” of history. “We have a Westernized approach to history. I would like it to be allinclusive. For example, the narrative of the Africans and the Blacks that currently live here and how did that come about. Often times we are not showcasing their experience in our history or literature. In doing that it is a more narrow focus, and having that minor will allow students of all ethnic backgrounds to learn a little bit more about the history within that community,” she said. “It can also help us try to have better conversations with people of color. Just to understand them and have more dialogue. If we understand their story, their history and their narrative, we can, in a beautiful world, get along better,” she continued. Whereas global cultures focuses on understanding multiple different cultures on a global scale, Africana studies would focus on the experience of Africans exclusively. While there are already several specialized topics courses related to Africana studies, there is a consensus that there would need to be a full-time faculty member where this is their area of focus. “We might decide we would need a specialized faculty position or two that we don’t currently have. These kinds of things take time to do well. As excited as we are to have the possibility of the program we want to make sure we’re delivering it effectively and that we’re doing a good job of it,” said Dr. Helen Davis, associate professor of English. Film studies would look at the various ways of exploring the narrative, artistic, cultural, economic and political implications of cinema. While there is a focus on gaining proficiency in videography or cinematography, a primary concern would be analyzing film in detail and why certain techniques were used instead of others. “In the case of Film Studies, we hope to encourage students to think about film as an important art form that deserves serious inquiry. We also know that the ability to create film and video is a marketable job skill these days when so much marketing is being done on social media. Employers are looking for recent graduates who are creative and who have hands-on experience with film and video production. We hope that a Film Studies minor will help our graduates compete for these jobs more effectively,” said Riggs. Students should expect to look at the modes of film studies, close analysis of film, methods of film production and the history of film and media. There would also be analysis of movies with an emphasis on period pieces, regional creation, genre and creators. “Film is a reflection of our society,” said Eric Ruggiero, associate professor and Digital Design & Media Arts (DDMA) chair, “There is an impact of pop culture on history.” He said that the minor was currently in the “gelatinous stage,” and that several faculty are pooling ideas together. He said the minor would be a blend of hands-on work as well as film theory, and that students should expect to analyze film in detail. “Ultimately, it becomes another opportunity for students to explore something they’re interested in,” said Ruggiero. The final minor in the works is emergent & game technology minor, which would be available as a DDMA cognate minor in addition to being an interdisciplinary minor. A cognate minor is a required minor that applies to the DDMA curriculum, and every DDMA major needs to select at least one cognate minor. Currently, DDMA students can choose from a selection of art, business administration, computer science, English, entrepreneurship, marketing and theater arts. Ruggiero and Dr. Andy Ren, associate professor of DDMA, worked over the summer to develop a plan for the minor. Ren was hired this past fall and had currently been teaching several emergent & game technology courses as topics courses in order to get a feel for how they would be received by students. “Part of my proposal was talking to our admissions folks and our marketing folks. I wanted to make sure that admissions would get feedback from potential students to see what their interests looked like and they were very positive in their interactions. They said they had students interested in this,” said Ruggiero. Emergent & game technology is not limited to video games. It encompasses a wide variety of 2D and 3D interactive media. Ruggiero said one example of this could include a virtual reality tour of a building. Students who take the minor will be exposed to programming, game design, production, animation and storytelling. “Students can gain a lot of next-gen skillsets. Being able to take the core of what they learn in DDMA and augment it with this new technology. That’s why it’s called emergent. It’s new, it’s evolving technology,” said Ruggiero. Much like Africana studies, the adoption of emergent & game technology would position Wilkes as the only school in Northeastern Pennsylvania with such a program. All three minors likely won’t be adopted into the Wilkes curriculum for several years. Each minor will be interdisciplinary and available to all students. One positive is that it seems like there is a framework available for each minor; they are not starting from scratch. Several global cultures courses could be cross-listed with Africana studies. The communication studies department offers two courses in broadcast production and an art of film class, all three of which could be included as possible courses for the film studies minor. DDMA has already been offering emergent & game technology classes as topics courses, which according to Ruggiero have been received well by students so far. In the past two years, Wilkes added a theatre design and technology major, a sport psychology minor, a sustainability management minor, a minor in actuarial sciences, a five-year B.A./M.B.A. industrial-organizational psychology major and a global cultures minor. Several of these programs, such as the sport psychology minor, are the first of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Graphic by Madi Hummer @wilkesbeacon Parker.Dorsey@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 News New conditions to the student domestic travel policy By Sara Ross Staff Writer The Office of Risk and Compliance Management has updated the conditions to the student domestic travel policy to ensure safer travel and provide guidance for planning off-campus trips and excursions. The policy includes undergraduate students traveling to events and activities that are beyond 50 miles of Wilkes University’s campus or require staying overnight. It covers any student who belongs to one of the school’s clubs, organizations, academic programs or departments. Also, it allows staff and faculty members to attend as well. Further, the new stipulations that were added to the policy include a consent form and a travel waiver. They both need to be completed along with other documents at least one week before departure. The consent document needs to be signed, as it confirms if those attending are in agreement with their rooming and lodging accommodations. Then, the travel waiver contains content regarding the student’s trip and what regulations they need to follow while away. According to Michaela Free, senior Student Government member and Class Representative, the policy states that KIM, from front Another aspect of writing Kim focused on was the necessity of a playful nature. Anthony recounted this part of the activity in her introduction to Kim later in the night. “You need to have a playful nature to be imaginative in your craft of writing. Taking yourself too seriously and your writing too seriously can limit what you can produce,” Anthony said. Stish was also in attendance for the second event of the night, a dinner that allowed students and faculty to sit down with Kim. “The dinner was very pleasant. It’s really great how close the relationship between English students and staff appears to be. I was able to connect with other students and the faculty present, along with Ms. Kim herself,” said Stish. The final event of the evening was a reading from Kim to the general public in the Kirby Salon. The excerpt Kim read was from a novel she is working on, which she has yet to publish anywhere. Known for her short stories, the new novel marks a change in format for Kim’s writing. Despite that, the excerpt she used showcased many of the 4 the university does not encourage or condone students from sharing a bed. However, spouses, partners and friends may be excluded from the policy if they so choose. She explained that it will benefit students by reducing the number of hotel rooms being purchased for the trip and clear up any confusion. “Before, we were constantly running into the question, ‘Should we allow the male and female students to share a hotel room?’ Now, the waiver must be submitted by each student, ensuring they are comfortable with the arrangement,” she said. Another addition is that a Wilkes University staff or faculty member must accompany and chaperone the student group. They are required to hold a pretrip meeting with participants to discuss the itinerary, transportation details, budget and behavioral expectations. Cell phone numbers and emergency contact information will be exchanged for all participants. Although, if they don’t require an advisor, an exception can be made as long as it is approved by the appropriate administration, such as the Director of Student Development or the Provost. Alanah Guerrero, student body president, gave a presentation on the changes during the Jan. 15 Student Government meeting. She described the benefits the new policy would provide to students. “It will provide students with comfort and peace of mind knowing that they are protected under this policy. It takes into consideration students’ comfort levels on lodging with students of the same gender, opposite gender or non-binary students,” she said. Guerrero addressed as well how the policy will affect clubs, departments or any domestic student travelers on campus. She explains if it is not completed within the allotted timeline described in the domestic travel policy they can lose the ability to travel off-campus under Wilkes University. At Student Government meetings, Kevin Long, executive board treasurer, continued how it will impact the proceedings, especially when clubs present fund requests to attend events, such as conferences and conventions for overnight stays. He said that presenters will be reminded to complete the necessary paperwork, and if questions or issues arise, they will be sorted out. Otherwise, the amended policy won’t change the process of how Student Government conducts business at their meetings. Still, their organization does operate under university policies, which is why Student Government members encourage clubs to utilize the travel policy. Many clubs and organizations that have presented at Student Government meetings have had to plan their trips around the new guidelines of the policy. At the previous meeting on Feb. 12, some of the clubs and organizations that gave fund requests were Wilkes Adventure Education (WAE), the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and the Wilkes University Theatre Department. With these improvements, it appears that the updated conditions will help to alleviate previous problems caused by the former policy. Wilkes students will now have more of a choice regarding their rooming situations. They will also be further informed on details regarding their trips with increased advisor involvement. For additional information regarding the policy, visit the university website at wilkes.edu. @wilkesbeacon skills she spoke about during the writing workshop earlier that day. The excerpt focused on a frat party from the point of view of a girl named Bora. Kim uses Bora’s point of view to describe other characters and produce the atmosphere of the setting and story. “Although if there was a head bird it was Veronica. She was the easiest to track through the crowd both for her height and the slithering net of gazes she trolled in her wake. And who knew, maybe the back of her head was somehow beautiful too since he was so beautiful that she had reached this infinite vanishing point of hotness in where her hotness got fractal…,” Kim read. As the story continued, Kim tells Bora’s story through the character’s judgment and interactions with others at the party. After reading the excerpt Kim took questions from the audience. She first spoke about her time writing science fiction. “I started by being a science fiction fan. I went to conventions and I started publishing in science fiction magazines and publications. It was nice because it felt like a more smaller contained accessible world than just all of literary fiction. It was a nice way to start and it is a community I still feel a part of,” Kim said. “The way I see science fiction, I agree with the writer William Gibson. Where for him, science fiction is not important as a form of future forecasting so much as it is like a heightened exaggerated strangely and magic way of looking at the present,” Kim continued as she spoke on how to write science fiction in today’s world as technology continues to advance, “I think there are writers who see it as looking into the future and imagining that, but it is not the lens I view it through even if I enjoy that kind of fiction.” Kim then spoke about her current novel and the process of writing it and what convinced her to make the switch from the short story to the novel. “I had just written short fiction before and the thing about my writing process is that it is very ‘bingey’, which works much better for works of a contained shorter work. I found that I had to make ‘bingeyness’ work for me, and one of the issues I had to deal with was keeping the project in my head and alive to me over a long span of time. I do not think everyone has to write every day if they want to write, but with a novel, if you are not writing every day you have to have it present somewhere,” said Kim. “This is basically the first novel I am writing. I love novels, and just as a challenge, they are much longer and more deliberately built and structured. I always wrote way too long of short stories, and there are times where it feels like you are not a real person if you haven’t written a novel,” Kim said. Finally, Kim spoke on the diversity of the genre of science fiction and how it has grown to include more writers and characters of colors. “The simple answer is it is the best and I love it. It just speaks to how hungry you can be for something that you do not care if no one reflects you almost. You just want it and you do this big imaginative act of imagining yourself into it or forgetting yourself, which is a very difficult thing that happens when literature and media do not reflect you. But, I think it is also wonderful that it does not need to happen anymore,” Kim said. The next event in the series will take place on March 18 and will feature Poupeh Missaghi, Iran Editor-at-Large for Asymptome Journal. @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 News SHINE program hosts resource night for local families By Sean Schmoyer Asst. News Editor Last Tuesday, Luzerne County SHINE (Schools and Homes in Education) hosted a resource night for families and members of the community. The event featured representatives from a dozen social service agencies including: The Domestic Violence Service Center, Catholic Social Services, Volunteers in Medicine, Victims Resource Center, Children’s Service Center, CEO, Fortis, Advantage, Pennsylvania CareerLink, Luzerne County Community College, and Maternal and Family Health Services. The agencies provided information to families in a variety of ways. The Victims Resource Center provided an information table ran by one of their prevention education specialists who talked with families and provided handouts. These handouts listed all of the areas covered by the center and reminded families that the services at the center are confidential. CEO, the Commission on Economic Opportunity, provided a kid’s activity, a diabetes prevention program and screening for prediabetes for adults. The family resource night also offered families a chance to learn about services such as WIC, safety, dental and counseling services. It also offered information on obtaining a GED, financial literacy, health and nutrition, technical schools and self-sufficiency. The event was managed by Erin Maloney, SHINE’s family resource coordinator. “I help parents get connected to local resources around the community. I felt that by bringing all of these resources it would be easier to get families connected,” Maloney continued. “Usually, I send home papers to them but I felt face-to-face contact would be beneficial. Sometimes it is hard for families to figure out how to get started, this is a way to help them by saying ‘here is Fortis’ and how to get in contact with them.” Maloney also helps in the centers SHINE provides through social-emotional learning, which she helps oversee. “I really enjoy helping people. I went to school for rehabilitation human services, so I knew I wanted to work in a field where I could help people become successful in whatever they want to do,” Maloney said. Luzerne County SHINE at Wilkes University provides students from first to fourth grade with after-school services. The 5 The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer Stephan Moore, Jennifer Haasz and 5-year old Josiah Haasz speak with Eryka Vargas, prevention education specialist at the Victims Resource Center about the confidential nature of the VRC and the services available to families. centers operate four days a week and the program focuses on a project-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum. “SHINE is important because it gives kids the opportunity to learn outside of school as well. They go to school all day and then when they go home they may not have anything academic to do. But if they go to SHINE they can have STEM-based activities, they get a hot meal and 25 minutes of homework help as well,” said Maloney. Professor joins editorial board of international journal By Genny Frederick Staff Writer Zbigniew J. Witczak, Ph.D. of Wilkes University’s Nesbitt School of Pharmacy has been selected to join the editorial board of the international journal Antibiotics based in Basel, Switzerland. The open-access, peerreviewed journal publishes papers monthly through MDPI. These papers focus on new discoveries in antibiotic research. Witczak will be serving as a guest editor for the upcoming special issue of Antibiotics in which he will be requesting contributions from other well-known scientists. He explains his position, “My responsibility will be reviewing the specific type of paper. And validating the paper. You have to selectively try to decide ‘oh this is true and this is not true’.” This will not be his first position as editor. Witczak serves on the editorial boards of other scientific journals including Current Organic Synthesis, Mini Reviews in Organic Synthesis, Current Medicinal Chemistry and the Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry. Although he has many positions as an editor, Witczak has also written nearly 100 papers and published six books. Witczak is currently working on a review paper for the upcoming special issue of Antibiotics. The working title of his paper is “The functional modification of streptamine unit to combat aminoglycoside different fields. For many people to understand antibiotics resistance.” As a carbohydrate the issues of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic chemist, one of the wastes, people need to oldest classes of have access to more antibiotics, antibiotic information. resistance and its MDPI’s mission subfields are of is to foster open particular interest to scientific exchange Witczak. in all forms, across “How to combat all disciplines, which resistance is a very, is a mission Witczak very important issue is fully behind. Plus, not only to pharmacy the online publishing students but also of Antibiotics allows the doctors who are the public to find the dealing with patients information they need who have bacterial on their own time. infections. There is “The journal is a growing problem online, so if the Submitted by Wilkes Marketing of resistance because patients or doctors or we cannot simply treat a bacterial infection pharmacists want to find out something they through normal antibiotic therapy. The can search online and bingo, you will have antibiotics will not be effective.” some kind of response. So, they will learn,” said While his focus is in pharmacy, Witczak Witczak. also understands that resistance to antibiotics He believes that the public should be able to and the use of antibiotics is not only related to access this information so they can learn more pharmacy. about the antibiotics they are using and the Antibiotics that are expelled into the research within the field or else they will stay environment pose a large problem according to on the “dark side” of knowledge. Witczak. The neutralization of these chemicals While many daunting questions loom over is complex and requires the collaboration of the field of antibiotic research, Witczak says “there’s still hope.” He says, “It is fascinating because we don’t know so many things. There are plenty of dark sides of this, and one day when someone solves this problem it will be very, very beneficial.” In recent years, Witczak has been acknowledged at Wilkes University. In the fall of 2018, he was recognized with the Wilkes University President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship. In May of 2018, he was selected by students as Teacher of the Year in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. He also received the 2018 University Teacher Recognition and Effectiveness Committee Award for Scholarship. Witczak has had a distinguished career outside of Wilkes, serving as both a U.S. representative and president of the International Carbohydrate Organization from 2016 to 2018. He also served as chair of the selection committee for the National American Chemical Society’s Earnest Guenther Award in Chemistry of Natural products in 2019. From 2005 to 2018 he served on the National Science Foundation’s Chemistry Panel Review and in 2015 the Kosciuszko Foundation recognized him as a distinguished fellow of its Collegium of Eminent Scientists. @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 News Student leaders and tutors provide tips at Study Better have people around when you do practice problems, go over notes or are just talking about the material, because it can help you Six P1 pharmacy students presented a solidify your understanding of it while group presentation on strategies to improve helping others. I also ask the professor learning and studying to all interested what the material is heavily based on, what students on Tuesday night. Amanda problems from class would be good to review Albright, Timothy Hendershot, Auri and I make note cards,” said Bowman. Glucksnis, Morgan Casciole, Dani Francisko “Getting together with friends to break and Jeffrey Eager-Heffner presented together down any practice problems or concepts we for their Foundations of Pharmacy course. have to study for the final is definitely my The presentation focused on how students preferred method. Other than that it is just could use the VARK system of learning to individual rehearsal on my part; reading over study more effectively. notes and practice problems,” said Siggins. Dr. Kimberly Ference, associate professor To be able to use tutoring to its full of pharmacy, alongside Dr. Judith Delika, potential students need to be open to the chairperson of the department of pharmacy idea of tutoring, seek out help and know how practice, both played a role in overseeing the to come into contact with a tutor. class and presentation of the P1 students. “I definitely overhear a lot of students “Students often comment about the struggling with their classes but I do not difficulty of transitioning from high school see enough of those people in tutoring to college as it relates to productive study sessions and the writing center. Perhaps habits. During the VARK presentation, they just prefer friend study groups. I feel the student pharmacists did a great job like the whole system for tutoring and other highlighting the importance of effective aid offered by the university should be studying strategies, including better advertised. Even when knowing personal learning I wanted to get some tutoring preferences and how to adapt to in previous semesters, I never different learning environments,” really knew where or when the Ference said. tutoring sessions took place,” “VARK is a learning approach said Siggins. that helps students customize how “For most students on they want to learn. It is an acronym campus, they feel as though that stands for visual, learning asking a professor or a TA a through looking, auditory learning question makes them weak or through hearing, learning through feel dumb. I have seen many reading and kinesthetics, which is students that are struggling not learning through doing things and come to tutoring because they touching,” Albright said. Submitted by Dr. Kimberly Ference feel like they have to do it on Students in attendance could From left to right, P1 pharmacy students Timothy Hendershot, their own or don’t want to be take a questionnaire before the seen at tutoring. Yet some of presentation to wchich categories Amanda Albright, Morgan Casciole, Jeffrey Eager-Heffner, Auri the most successful students apply to them. Presenters then Glucksni and Dani Francisko after giving their presentation on I know use every resource broke down study tactics for each learning styles. they can to stay on top of the style of learning, as well as general material,” said Bowman. study tips that could benefit different mainly as a position to give students a source Students interested in peer tutoring should to help learn the material that will follow learning styles contact Dr. Alberto Prado, the academic “The first one is self-examination, it is them through their career. I try to talk with support coordinator, or visit the university’s pretty much just making a pre-test and see them frequently about their studying habits website and schedule a tutoring session what you are lacking in. Once you take it because it is a core part of passing a class. online. The campus offers peer tutoring, and check your results, see what you are still Everyone has their own way of studying small group tutoring, academic counseling lacking on. Then, information generation; and it’s part of my job to help them,” said and coaching. what this means is instead of immediately Bowman In addition, students can seek help with Despite their difference in whether Googling the word, try to use context clues to their writing through the writing center figure out the meaning. Finally, we have after tutoring is a form of studying, both Siggins located on the bottom floor of the Farley and Bowman expressed that tutoring is a class reflection. Fifteen to 20 minutes after Library in the Alden Learning Commons. class, review your notes every day. What this useful tool for students in general. Students can visit the writing center’s page Outside of their tutoring, Siggins and will do is let you go to your professor as soon on the university website to submit papers to Bowman are still students who have had to as you have a question instead of everyone be looked over, learn foundations of writing swarming the professor the day before the develop their own study methods. they may need a refresher on, or simply learn “Some of the best ways I study for exam,” Albright said. more information about the writing center After looking at the results of the VARK midterms and finals are in a group that as a whole. is taking the course. For me, it works to system’s questionnaire, students can figure By Sean Schmoyer Asst. News Editor out the ways they best learn and use the study methods the P1 pharmacy students presented to better prepare. Outside of the VARK system, students can study through the writing center or student tutors like Cordell Siggins. Siggins, a sophomore physics and math major who tutors for general physics 1 and 2. “To me, studying is rehearsal and practice of concepts and problems, which is exactly what tutoring does. Unfortunately, not a lot of time goes towards talking about study habits unless they do not understand the concept. Then we discuss different strategies to rehearse information in order for them to grasp the topics they do not understand,” said Siggins. Hunter Bowman, junior electrical engineering and physics major, tutors classes including general physics 1 and 2, engineering physics 1 and 2, modern physics, electrical circuits and devices, digital devices and electrical measurements lab. “I do not view tutoring as studying. If anything I see it as a review, but I see it VARK Study Tips: Visual: -Graph information -color and highlights notes and concepts -Underline parts of notes Auditory/Aural: -Explain concepts to aloud to other -Record lectures to be able to play them back Read/Write: -Recreate class notes -Create study guides -Summarize paragraphs as you read them -Write captions and descriptions for tables and charts Kinesthetic: -Use your senses and body to study -Role play test study, use old exams to test yourself or recreate the testing environment Scheduling Tutoring Sessions: -Log in to tutortrac using your MyWilkes Username & Password -In the top left, click on “Search Availability” and choose Peer Tutoring in Center Dropdown followed by class in the Section Dropdown -Choose Peer Tutoring in Reason Dropdown then click “SEARCH” – available time slots appear -Click on your preferred time; to schedule an appointment during that time, click “SAVE” 6 �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment LOVE, from frontcover Learning to appreciate yourself makes you appreciate gestures of love on a daily basis, not just on one random day of the year. Simply put, you can be your very own valentine. Relaying on someone else to fulfill your expectations of love or to make you happy is no longer an option. Your Feb. 14, and all 364 other days of the year, can be just as special through these 14 tips to be your own valentine. Try a simple meditation each morning, anywhere from five to 20 minutes. Meditation can sometimes feel awkward at first, and sometimes our minds wander off, not really getting the full effect of what meditation can do for us. It just takes time and patience with yourself. Taking a walk allows for a much-needed dose of fresh air, which does wonders for our heart and mind. Going for a walk is a nice little reminder to ourselves that we are apart of something, our community. Naps are very important on the self-care list. Taking a nap is the perfect way to treat our bodies with love and care because they need rest sometimes. The full eight hours of sleep is not always feasible. Do not be afraid to let your bright light shine through! You are awesome and you do not need to hide your amazing qualities anymore. Do not allow yourself to dim that light because the world should see just how bright you are. Make sure you are eating right. Take the extra time to prepare a meal that is healthy and filled with nutrients because your body is well-deserving of it. Get a Reiki treatment. Reiki is all about loving energy that helps to heal our emotional and spiritual bodies. Most of us do not get this needed hands-on self-care. So, take this time to show yourself that love. Allow yourself to cut loose and have some fun once and a while. There is no reason to be so serious all the time. Get uncomfortable because it is vital to our growth and development. Yeah, taking the easy road gives us a sense of security but you become stuck in a pattern of unfulfillment. Remember that bright light? Well this stops your full potential from shining through the way it is fully intended to. Try going to bed early once and a while. Disconnect from the world by turning off all screens and lights. Rub some lavender oil on your temples and sink into your bed fully relaxed and prepared to have the sweetest of dreams. One of the most powerful practices a person can do is forgive. Practicing forgiveness can open up a path to heal and allow ourselves to see where we have been unkind. This gives us a chance to live in the moment rather than the past. No more holding grudges! Keeping a clean home represents a sense of being grounded in our lives. A messy room usually correlates to a messy life. If you try keeping a clean space that will open up a door to success in our lives because we feel more put together. Give yourself a night to kick back and relax. Do something that gives you complete Zen. Whether that may be a nice hot bubble bath or snuggling up to a good book. Give yourself that you time. No more procrastination. We all put things off for fear of failure, but this can cause unnecessary anxiety. Do what need to be done so you can avoid that unwanted stress. Let go of the past. If there is something or someone in your life that doe not add to your peace of mind or does not lift you up in anyway. Cut it or them out of your life. This can be so liberating and allows you to stay connected to yourself. After following these helpful tips, you are once step closer to self-love. And remember, you CAN be your own valentine. @wilkesbeacon Taylor.Dillon@wilkes.edu Programming board celebration on Valentine’s Day Eve Gathered around Valentine’s day decorated tables, students were enjoying snacks and chatting with one another. Umou Jalloh and Kabita Kandel holding their newly made candy hearts. Programming board offered a build your own pillow station. Photos courtesy of Dr. Mia Briceno �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment Cabrini Rudnicki, Editor-in-Chief: Awake - Tkay Maidza Maddie Davis, Managing Editor: What’s Up? - 4 Non Blondes Parker Dorsey, News Editor: Cattle Decapitation Bring Back The Plague Sean Schmoyer, Asst. News Editor: Bang! - AJR Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 02 By Your Name Here Staff Writer This could be you! THE BEACON Kylie Dillon, LA&E Editor: My Main - Mila J & Ty Dolla $ign Kirsten Peters, Co- Sports Editor: Jersey on The Wall - Tenille Townes Kevin Singhel, Asst. Sports Editor: Sweet - BROCKHAMPTON Madison Hummer, Design Editor: My Boy _ Billie Eilish Ben Mandell, Co- Sports Editor: BLOW - Ed Sheeran IHIIE B 8IEA (C(Q)N T. ._ _ _. HE EACON Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania B 8 The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. assion p a e v a h u o y If n or g i s e d , g n i t i r for w oin us! j , y h p a r g o t o ph THE BEACON HIRES: WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, EDITORS Contact: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Freshmen and all majors welcome! B THE BEACON �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 WHAT'S THE DISH? - - RESTAURANT REVIEW - - ***** ***** * * * * * Dish of the Week: Arena Bar & Grill DISTANCE PRICE OVERALL EXPERIENCE The Arena Bar & Grill offers weekly specials, as well as special dinner events, This week, “What’s the Dish?”, travels such as their most recent Valentines Beer to the Arena Bar & Grill, an eatery that Dinner, which was held on Feb. 9. The has been serving American cuisine in the restaurant also offers the space to be rented Wyoming Valley since 2002. Roughly a for special events and parties. While Arena Bar & Grill is not a five minute drive from Wilkes University restaurant I personally frequent often, campus via Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, the many Wyoming Valley locals have great Arena Bar & Grill is located at 380 Coal St. things to say about the eatery. in Wilkes Barre. “I like going to Arena in the summer for The eatery describes itself on social sure,” said Dyann Daylida, of Glen Lyon. media as a “upbeat spot, with dozens of “Th ey have good specials, and it’s close beers on tap,” as well as serving “a selection to where I work. Th eir outdoor seating is of bar food staples, plus pizza and pasta.” really nice too. ” They also offer desserts, as well as a wide Others however, feel that the array of beverages, both alcoholic and environment and food at Arena Bar & non-alcoholic. Grill could use some work. “They’ve been open for quite a while,” said Sarah Spess of Kingston. “When they first opened, it was packed. I liked going there for a quick bite to eat or drinks with friends or family. It’s just not the same now, there’s less people. It’s just kind of a weird atmosphere now.” While at the Arena Bar & Grill, I had the chicken caesar wrap, as well as pretzels with beer cheese dip, one of their specials for the week. I also sampled a Moscow Mule, a drink from their large selection of alcoholic beverages. The beer cheese pretzel dip appetizer at the Arena Bar Although the food looked extremely appealing, the & Grill. By Maria DiBuo Staff Writer actual taste did not meet the same standard. The chicken ceasar wrap, one of my favorite dishes at any restaurant, was good, but not outstanding. The wrap was priced at $10.00, which I feel is expensive for any wrap, but especially for one that was not out of the ordinary. For an appetizer, I sampled the beer cheese pretzel dip, advertised as one of the Arena Bar & Grill’s specials for the week. The appetizer was priced at $8.99, and like the chicken caesar wrap, it left a lot to be desired. While the pretzels were The Beacon/Maria DiBuo served almost cold, the dip was scalding hot. Ordinarly, The caesar wrap from Arena Bar & Grill. I could forgive this; however large dining area, as well as a complete bar, in this instance, it seemed almost evident it was shocking to see the eatery appearing the appetizer was pre-made and then so lackluster. reheated. When dining in the Wyoming Valley, I My favorite part of the meal was the cannot say I necessarily recommend the Moscow Mule, along with the side of french Arena Bar & Grill, at least not during the fries my wrap came with. In my opinion, winter months, which seems to be their regarding the cuisine at Arena Bar & Grill, slow season. Personally, I will give the better food can be made at home at almost, restaurant another shot in the summer if not less, than the same cost. months, when I can take advantage of their To my surprise, the environment at the outdoor patio. Arena Bar & Grill echoed the sentiments As always, remember to be safe and use of Spess, rather than those of Daylida’s caution when commuting to and from experience. When I went to the restaurant campus, and remember to eat local. around 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night, there were little to no patrons there. It seemed that what was once a bustling @wilkesbeacon restaurant in the Wyoming Valley had been Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu forgotten about by customers. With quite a �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment Be a little kinder, celebrate Random Acts of Kindness week Jordan Daniel Staff Writer Student Development and Campus Interfaith are sponsoring ‘Random Acts of Kindness Week’ throughout campus from Feb. 17 to 21. Some clubs and departments are already participating while others are welcomed and encouraged to join this fiveday initiative to “brighten someone’s day by doing something kind,” as stated on Student Development’s poster . “The goal of Random Acts of Kindness Week is simple - to remind everyone that they are capable of doing something impactful even if the action seems small,” said Interfaith Coordinator Kristin Osipower, via email. “Kindness doesn’t require a lot of money or planning and everyone is capable of doing something thoughtful. Sometimes we need to be reminded that our words and actions do matter. We are taking the opportunity to highlight how positive and thoughtful actions can make Wilkes a better place to learn, work and grow.” The clubs that have planned ideas already for their random acts of kindness are: Programming Board, Colonel’s Closet, Bacchus, SOL, PPA, Unicef Club and Neuroscience Club. They cannot wait for the students to see the treats, positive messages, giveaways and other surprises they have arranged. “If people want to know about the random acts that will be happening I would reach out to student development or check Wilkes social media accounts,” said president of Programming Board, DeAndre DePass, via email. “Anyone can participate in this event.” Students got involved with this event for many different reasons. Some feel very passionately about spreading kindness, hoping their kind actions will create a chain reaction so more people will be kind to those in their lives and the people they do not know too well. “I’m involved in this event with my entire club,” DePass said. “However, I am constantly giving to others. Unfortunately, I don’t really make it known because I do it out of the kindness of my heart. For example, not too many people really know this but every Monday and Tuesday I drive over to Kingston and take out an elderly couple’s trash for them. I’ve been doing this since the start of my junior year. I am currently looking for someone to help me when I’m not here in the summer. It’s rare to find someone who would take time out of their day to do something without compensation.” RANDOM r,~ ACTS OF - ~ KINDNESS Classes and other clubs have made similar efforts in the past but this is the first time Student Development is making it campuswide as well as a week-long event. All of the clubs have high expectation for this event and they hope to obtain as many participants as possible, doing whatever they can to make someone’s day a little better, “I hope that students enjoy themselves this week and that it inspires them to be kind to others not only this week but every week to come,” said First Year Student Coordinator, Alana Guerrero, via email. If you want to participate in ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ it does not take much to add a little happiness to someone’s day. Start by smiling and saying “hi” to those you encounter while walking to your class, make a new friend and maybe even give someone a compliment to make them feel good about themselves. “I would love to see this effort lift the spirits of people but it is only going to be successful if people participate,” said Osipower, via email. “You don’t have to be part of a big effort from a club or department; make an effort to hold the door, help someone who is loaded down, put money in a tip jar...do something wonderful because someone may imitate you.” @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu Next to Movies 14 • For Delivery- Call 825-5166 • Wilkes-Barre. l(jngston. Plains. Plymouth. Nanticoke. $13.9S +TAX $7 .9S +TAX large 16" l -topping pizza & 2-liter soda each for 5 or more large plain pies $17.95 +TAX $20.9S +TAX $17.95 +TAX $20.9S +TAX 3 hot or cold subs mix &match large 16"' pizza & 12 cut tray Siclian pizza 2 large plain pizzas toppings extra 24- cut Sicilian pizza $17.9S +TAX $12.95 +TAX $23.95 +TAX $12.95 +TAX $19.95 +TAX $28.95 +TAX 12- cut Sicilian pizza & 1 order of wings 12- cut Sicilian pizza 2 tickets to Movies 14, small ·12" 1-topping 1 med- 1 topping pizza &choice of any sub pizza &2 drinks large ·16" pizza, 1 sub, &an appetizer 3 large 1-topping pizzas �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Creative Colonel of the Week: Gracie Franko By Kylie Dillon Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor We all know the popular app, TikTok, and we all secretly hope to make a video that goes viral. This week’s creative colonel, Gracie Franko, blew up on the beloved app with a funny and quirky video made from a Snapchat memory. Gracie Franko is a senior communication studies major and minors in political science and international studies. “I thought it was a younger person app, but I was curious so I downloaded it and GracieGirl Mediocre content at its finest // 22 Scan TikCode to follow me TikTok Franko’s TikTok user name and profile photo. I really lked it,” said Franko. “I also had vine so I figured it was similar so why not give it a chance.” Franko started her TikTok journey souly as a viewer, “for funsies”, as she put it. After spending some time watching, she got invested, and began making her own content. The TikToks were never really serious, but mainly Franko seeing what trend she could put her own creative twist on, or simply making silly videos with her friends. It wasn’t just her and her friends who liked the content, because shortly after making a few one of them went viral. “The TikTok that went viral was actually a Snapchat memory from a year ago. So I just exported it into tik tok,” added Franko. “I put a couple effects on it, picked a song that went with the video, and it blew up. I wasnt really expecting it.” In just about a week the video had over 400,000 views, about 43,000 likes, and around 41 comments. The video was of two friends sitting at desks. One had a water bottle, and the other took it away. So, in retaliation, and for the joke, they immediately took another water bottle out of their backpack. The TikToks are just a hobby Franko enjoys, but she also likes being in front of the camera in other ways. Franko is a part of Wilkes Now! as a permanant news anchor. Originally, she liked being behind the scenes more, but as her confidence grew, so did her willingness to try new things. She delivers the news, along with her co-host on a weekly basis. “it has been a wonderful experience, I have always wanted to give being on Photos submitted by: Gracie Franko Pictured above is Franko. She loves TikTok, and is thrilled her video became a viral one. camera a try and so far I really enjoyed it,” said Franko. “When it comes to preference I could really see myself in front or behind the camera now, really wherever I’m needed.” As her graduation date rapidly approaches, Franko has been making major decisions about her potential career options. Her love for media has only grown stronger since joining the Wilkes family four years ago. Ultimately, her end goal would be to stay in the media broadcast field. “I would love to be in the news room definitely. I’m not exactly sure doing what just yet,” added Franko. “But I have kind of always pictured myself there being involved somehow.” Whether it’s TikTok, or news, Franko sure knows how to deliver on content. Her charismatic personality mixed with her passion and involvment for all things media, comedy, and even broadcast makes her the perfect fit for the creative colonel. @wilkesbeacon Kylie.Dillon@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 News 12 MONOLOGUES The Vagina Monologues is performed annually at Wilkes University. This year, the event partnered with the Sordoni Art Gallery's Year of the Vote series to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment. By Parker Dorsey News Editor The award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues” was presented in the Henry Student Center Ballroom and involved at least 18 Wilkes University students, faculty and staff in the production. “The Vagina Monologues” was the latest event in the Sordoni Art Gallery’s “Year of the Vote” series, a year-long event celebrating and recognizing the 100-year anniversary of women receiving the right to vote. “The Vagina Monologues” were compiled by playwright Eve Ensler in 1996. They are a series of interviews from over 200 women and each monologue deals with some aspect of the feminine experience. Some of the topics discussed in the monologues include consensual and non-consensual sexual experiences, body image, genital mutilation, reproduction, vaginal care, menstruation, sex work and several other topics. All are told through Kylie Dillon, Jessica Morandi and Jay Guziewicz introduced the event shortly after 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, the first day of the two-day event. the eyes of women from various ages, races, sexualities and other differences. The play strives to promote awareness of any type of gender-based violence against women. The monologues aim to raise awareness of issues that are happening and are performed from a woman’s point of view. They strive to allow the performers to spotlight the ending of various social issues such as harassment, rape, battery, incest, genital mutilation and sex slavery. “I think it went really amazing this year. We had performers from all walks Alyssa Schuler delivered the first piece of the event, “Hair.” This discusses how a woman got cheated on because she refused to shave her pubic hair. of campus life: undergrad students, grad students, faculty and staff,” said Olivia Caraballo, senior mid-level education major and event co-director. “We also partnered with different campus organizations who did presentations outside and inside the event which made it even more special. There was just so much collaboration this year.” Admission was free for Wilkes University students (with ID), $5 for nonWilkes students (with ID) and $10 for general admission. Co-directors Jesssica Morandi and Olivia Caraballo closed the event. They were responsible for organizing much of this year’s event. �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 News 13 Samantha Trobe delivering her piece, “The Flood.” This monologue was based on a conversation with a 72-year-old woman discussing her humorous erotic dreams. Debbie Schiebler was given the Vagina Warrior Award, which is awarded to a member of Wilkes who is a “steadfast proponent of women’s empowerment.” There were also baked goods sold at the show in an effort to raise money for various local charities in their work at preventing violence against women and children. All proceeds will be given to beneficiaries, including the Domestic Violence Resource Center, the Victims Resource Center and Planned Parenthood Keystone. These beneficiaries support the goal of the “Vagina Monologues” event by increasing awareness of sexual assault as well as providing services to help victims and their family members. “I thought it was an excellent event and am glad to have finally attended. I feel there is a lot to take from the different Brianna Schunk delivered multiple pieces, but her two solo acts were “Six Year Old Girl” and “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy.” stories presented. Some are obviously humorous and others hit on key issues that need more recognition,” said Timothy Brown, senior psychology major. The production will return to campus next year. If students have any questions or are interested in getting involved, please contact faculty advisor Dr. Mia Briceño at mia.briceno@wilkes.edu. Editor’s note: Kylie Dillon is the Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor for The Beacon. @wilkesbeacon Parker.Dorsey@wilkes.edu Page Design: The Beacon / Madi Hummer Photos: The Beacon / Parker Dorsey Jeanne Rabel, Brianna Schunk, Dillon, Schuler and Mmachi Dimoriaku deliver the piece “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy... or so They Tried.” �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the managing editor Maddie Davis at Madelynn.Davis@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2019-20 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Cabrini Rudnicki Managing Editor - Maddie Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Parker Dorsey LA&E - Kylie Dillon Opinion - Open Position Sports - Ben Mandell Kirsten Peters ASSISTANT EDITORS News - Sean Schmoyer LA&E - Zarqua Ansari Opinion - Open Position Sports - Kevin Singhel DESIGN EDITOR Madison Hummer Interested in joining The Beacon? To learn more about what you can do, contact: Cabrini.Rudnicki@wilkes.edu or Madelynn.Davis@wilkes.edu 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-2962 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Facebook: @WilkesBeacon Twitter: @WilkesBeacon Instagram: @WilkesBeacon The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice - -c---========-~Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Americans need to give foreign media a chance This year’s Oscar sweep of the Korean film Parasite has led many Americans to look at media in a language other than English for the first time. For as multicultural and diverse as we are, America is behind the trend. The world outside of Englishspeaking media is exciting, different, and at times, absolutely brilliant. Around the world, people ingest American film and music as if it were its own culture. Hollywood is a driving force of culture, and the Americanization of the world due in part to blockbuster hits is undeniable. Many Hollywood movies, such as World of Warcraft (2016), earn more internationally rather than domestically. That does not mean, however, that everyone around the world consuming this media speaks English. The individuals watching these movies are watching them with subtitles. People afraid of subtitles should, to be frank, get over it. There are amazing movies from around the world, in all genres. Palme D’Or, the major prize at the Cannes Film festival, is a great place to start looking for new movies. 2018’s winner, Shoplifters, a Japanese film, tells the story of a poor family who gets by through shoplifting. The 2013 winner, Blue is the Warmest Color, tells a French love story featuring LGBT characters in a way that only the French can. The newest winner of the award was a dark comedy thriller Parasite, which also went on to win Best Picture at last week’s Oscars. There is even a world of anime tv-series with deep plots, and thoughtful dialogue, such as “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” that America is missing out on simply because of a subtitle. So much so, that often these anime series are translated and English dialogue is overlayed. This takes away from the meaning and emotion in the original actor’s tones, which can be heard even if the language isn’t understood. This feeling can be found in other ways, like in music. Music, in particular, has a way of transcending someone regardless of if they recognize the language. Grammy-award winner Spain-native Rosalia has been releasing flamencoinspired smash hits in Spanish. Our personal favorite is her newest single, “Juro Que,” which speaks of having a loved one in prison, a situation that could be present in all cultures. Mega Korean girl group Loona reached #1 on the iTunes chart in 54 countries with their newest hip-hop/ pop hybrid single “So What.” What if you don’t like pop? No worries, there are plenty of rock-based music in other languages from Avantasia (German) to One Ok Rock (Japan). Even country music has a place outside of the United States with the Iranian group Dream Rovers. Although subtitles are not an option for this medium, translated lyrics are always available online. People should open their eyes to the emotionality available from around the world, as well as the easy access into the everyday lives of different cultures. Sure it’s through an often romanticized and/or fictional lens, but oftentimes this glimpse is all we can get short of physically visiting the culture itself. Even better, the cultures are presented via someone actually from the culture, rather than through an Americanized lens. Hollywood movies on other cultures, such as Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) or Slumdog Millionaire (2008), are directed by American people with an outsider’s lens, often leading to a sense of detachment, or worse, cultural inaccuracies. America’s attempt at telling the stories of other culture’s experiences falls quite short. A film with the intent to be inclusive does not automatically make it inclusive. Simply put, these films are often whitewashed anyway and take away from the importance of those stories for other countries and cultures. It is hard to learn anything about other cultures when you don’t take the time to listen to them. America is not the only country in the world worth knowing about, and it definitely is not the only country in the world with its own film and music industry. Getting out of your comfort zone is definitely difficult, but you would be surprised just how much you’re missing out on just because of a little language barrier. You might learn a thing or two from music, film, and anything in between in a language that isn’t your own. @wilkesbeacon TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-2962 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Opinion Video game review: did EA Sports actually improve NHL 20 By Maddie Davis Managing Editor NHL 20 dropped at the beginning of the 2020 NHL season and I, like many other fans, was excited to test it out. Compared to last year’s game, NHL 20 looks and feels much cleaner across the board, but the game still lacks notable changes on some of the iconic game modes. I’m going to break down some of my favorite changes and offer some improvements to the updates. Sports video games tend to have the problem of looking not only glitchy with basic in-game mechanics, but they also tend to make handling the puck look unrealistic by helping the user adjust their player to the play no matter their position on the ice. However, in NHL 20, developers smoothed over the mechanics making the user’s movements look smooth and realistic on all sides of the puck. Some of this improvement comes from the Real Player Motion technology the developers added in NHL 19, but its evident smaller tweaks have been made to make hitting, changing of possession, passing and shooting more realistic. In this year’s version of the game, the gameplay mimics the physics of real-life hockey. Many of the presentation aspects of the game have also improved including a change to the broadcasting, the in-game scoreboard and the graphics used. To start, the broadcasting played during gameplay is electric. This year brought a new team to the booth including James Cybulski and Ray Ferraro, and although fans have complained about the change from NBC’s Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, the two bring high-energy playby-play calling to the player’s television. The scoreboard seems like a minor change, but it is immediately noticeable to players. Developers lowered the scoreboard drawing the eye the entire game with varied statistics unveiled during downtime in the game. A new graphics package has also been released giving goal scoring more energy by showing the players headshot and those who assisted. Although players could go without the minor improvements and would rather the effort be attributed to further improving gameplay, I think it’s a fun addition and makes the look of the game fresher. Moving onto the actual game modes, I usually gravitate more towards the Be A Pro mode, but this year’s game showed no real improvements or changes because everything is the same. Although EA Sports could have done much more by improving the ways to develop your players, they have neglected to make any meaningful changes. “My P l ay e r” in NBA 2K, have storylines that bring your character to life, but NHL falls flat of 2K leaving the player to play the same exact game with an updated roster. The minor options to make your player stand out consist of unnoticeable changes and are an overall disappointment. Although the game has greatly improved its gameplay mechanics, it is still lacking in its uniqueness each year I think the game would benefit from mimicking its competitors to draw players in and causing them to want more year after year. For one, I think, as I mentioned, the game should copy the “MyPlayer” feel by allowing the player to walk their pro around an online town with the option to play in pickup games in open-faced rinks to increase their attributes in a setting other than an actual game. Along these same lines, I think the game would also benefit from having a practice mode where players play skill-challenges to further improve their pros for the season. Despite changes that help smooth the gameplay mechanics, there are some major points EA can improve on for NHL 21. @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Davis@wilkes.edu Why Drake is the one of the greatest artist of our generation By Dylan Mehl Staff Writer Aubrey Graham, better known as Drake, has been creating music that has been forcefully played over streaming services, radio stations, and game and movie soundtracks since 2009. From his time as Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation to his rather successful music career, Drake has made himself into one of the biggest celebrities in the world and the artist of our generation. For the people in our generation (what I define as people born between 1995 and 2002, roughly 17-25 years old.), Drake has been making music from either the time he started to listen to music or his teenage years to now. I think this is perhaps the most impactful time an artist can make music for a listener. If you don’t believe it, think about the artists the older generations still listen to. The answer is the same people they listened to in high school because those artists shaped their taste in music and have a heavy impact on their memories from growing up. Drake has constantly been at the top of all artists for our generation since about 2011 when his album “Take Care” vaulted him onto the main stage. Before his album, hits like “Best I Ever Had” and “Find Your Love” got people talking about Drake and his music. After “Take Care,” Drake became a household name across younger listeners. “Take Care” was on many people’s album of the decade lists, including the Billboard’s top 200 albums of the decades where it placed 45, but Drake did not stop there. Drake dropped “Nothing Was the Same” in 2013 and “If You’re Reading This It’s’ Too Late” in 2015, all of which also placed on Billboard’s top 200 albums at 72 and 70. Drake’s greatest three albums, including unforgettable tracks like “Started From The Bottom” (which was named the second-best song of 2013 by Complex) and “Legend” (which had a peak position of 52 on the Billboard’s chart in 2015) had possibly the best run in the history of music. These songs among others cemented him as the top artist in the industry in early 2015. Drake then continued to push the envelope, entering uncharted pop-rap territory in 2016 with his hit single “One Dance” (which lasted 36 weeks on the Billboard’s hot 100 charts reaching the peak position of 1). His 2016 “Views” album as a whole is the most-streamed album of all time on Spotify with 2.6 Billion total streams while the single “One Dance” had over a billion streams by itself. Following “Views” was Drake’s 2017 mixtape “More Life” which, while in my opinion was his worst overall album, provided many good and catchy songs for his fans and hip-hop enthusiasts. He again put up massive streaming numbers including being streamed 89.9 million times in the mixtapes first 24 hours on Apple Music, according to Apple. This broke the single-day album streaming record for every music streaming service. Drake’s 2018 studio album “Scorpion” is his most recent track to date and is best known for its hit song “God’s Plan.” The song has over a billion streams on Spotify and 1.1 billion views on YouTube. On this album Drake also showed a new side of himself, revealing that he is now a father of a secret baby. When it comes to the numbers, Drake is clearly the artist of our generation and the past decade. He was Spotify’s most- 15 streamed artist with over 28 billion total streams. Drake even beat out popular pop artists like Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande who have dominated the charts respectively for the past decade as well. Aside from being such a big influence thorughout the music industry, Drake has also made a huge impact outside of the music industry. He has taken his platform and made himself an icon all over popular culture including being declared a partial owner of his childhood favorite NBA team, the Toronto Raptors, who recently won the NBA championship. He has his own brand in October’s Very Own a.k.a. OVO, a Toronto-based record label established by Drake, Oliver El-Khatib and Noah Shebib. All of the extracurricular hobbies and passions that Drake is apart of in pop culture adds to him being the greatest artist of our generation because of his heavy influence. Drake is certainly one of if not the biggest artist of our generation. Usually, the biggest does not always mean the best, but in this case, it does. @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Opinion 16 Bre’s Beats: 10 of the best new singles of February By Breanna Ebisch Staff Writer February has been filled with countless new music releases from undiscovered and well-known artists across all genres. The songs have already begun to climb the charts, impress the fans and send ripples across the industry. This week in Bre’s Beats, we’re breaking down the best new singles of the month. 1.) No Shame- 5 Seconds of Summer The Australian band released their third single along with the announcement of their new album, “CALM,” which is being released in late March. Completely different than both “Easier” and “Teeth,” “No Shame” is unique in many ways. Frontman Luke Hemmings’s vocals along with the upbeat melody provided by every member of the band makes the song undeniably catchy and bound to get stuck in your head. Right from the start, you’re pulled in with the deep intro before Hemmings opens with the memorable lyrics that vary over a wide vocal range. The single is another testament that the band is able to create music in any genre while still keeping a sound that’s specifically theirs. Whether you’re looking to have a dance party or something new to listen to, “No Shame” is the song for you. 2.) No Judgement- Niall Horan The former One Direction member also released his third single and the announcement of his sophomore album this month. “No Judgement” takes on a more simple but pop feel, which varies from the last two singles that have already been released. The lyrics are all about having no judgment between two people in a relationship and just being yourself. With a catchy melody that carries through the entire song and Horan’s easily recognizable voice, it’s incredibly hard not to fall in love with this record. Contrast to most of the Top 40 music on the radio today, “No Judgement” showcases the element of the acoustic guitar and a strong vocal presence that fits perfectly with the well-written lyrics; all while becoming a fan favorite. 3.) Good In Goodbye- Madison Beer Madison Beer delivers your not-sousual breakup song with this pure pop single. Several elements were used to enhance the song, like spelling out certain words such as “putting the ex in next” or “there’s no I in trouble, just the u since we met” and sassy lyrics that pair nicely with the catchy beat. Just over two minutes long, Beer is able to pack an extensive amount of creativity into that short time. She proves she’s an artist that is ready to make her mark in the i n d u s t r y. Along with the release of this single, the singer also revealed her debut album. If you’re looking for an energetic song that takes a different approach to a typical breakup, “Good In Goodbye” is one of the great singles released in February. 4.) Down For You- Cosmo’s Midnight feat. Ruel The Australian electronic duo teamed up with the young singer also from Australia, to create an irresistible pop hit that’s hard to miss. “Down For You” is an upbeat single that is sure to become an instant favorite of yours. Ruel has an unmistakable voice that captures a unique essence of buoyancy through the lyrics and easily danceable electronic, but not overwhelming, beat of the chorus. The song will immediately pull you in from the beginning and keep your attention with the energetic beat and memorizable lyrics over its entire duration. Ruel’s voice is the best fit for Cosmo’s Midnight music, making “Down For You” a single you’ll want to listen to on repeat for a few days straight. 5.) Shoulder To Cry On- Ryland James “Shoulder To Cry On” was an unreleased addition to the Ontario native’s setlist when he was opening for Alessia Cara on tour last year. Now, it’s out for all the world to enjoy and it’s certainly stunning. James has a strong influence from jazz and pop which is clear in his own music. Featuring his powerful voice with lyrics that tell the story of being a person someone comes to when there’s trouble in a relationship, it’s hard not to love the single. The song starts off slow, but immediately catches your attention with a major build-up to the chorus and keeps the energy through the three and half minute duration. Although he’s still mostly unknown by the general public, Ryland James is up, and coming and definitely p r o v i n g himself as an incredible artist in the industry. 6.) Only The Young- Taylor Swift The global pop singer released a new documentary on Netflix titled “Miss Americana” and with it, came a new song featured in the film. “Only The Young” is a powerful statement from Swift that captures her usual pop sound while also delivering lyrics with more strength and meaning than ever before. Dreamy vocals paired with the sweet melody makes this song truly unique. While addressing the political issues of today and how the younger generations are the only ones who can better the world, Swift makes an argument that has never been touched on in music before. Stepping back from the energy that was woven through almost all of her latest album, “Lover,” this single is uplifting yet grounding and is sure to become a favorite. 7.) Intentions- Justin Bieber feat. Quavo After the unsuccessful comeback song, “Yummy,” Bieber released another single which is actually worthy of your streams and attention. “Intentions” uses pop and R&B elements that the singer has incorporated in his music before, to make a catchy single that is hard not to like. Although lyrically, there isn’t much substance, the beat gives the song an upbeat feel that would fit right in with the music playing on Top 40 Radio today. Quavo adds another element of R&B to the single with his part in the song’s bridge. As one of the biggest names in the industry, it’s no surprise that Bieber is still finding success even years after the release of his album. 8.) No Time To Die - Billie Eilish After cleaning house at the 2020 Grammy’s winning five awards, fans were not sure what to expect next from Eilish after the huge success of her first studio album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go.” Despite potentially feeling pressured to keep up with her praise, Eilish released “No Time To Die,” which will serve as the theme song to the newest James Bond film. The song begins very slow-placed and has a strong dramatic feel. With strong keyboard work by her partner/ brother, paired with her deep and slow tone, this song is a perfect listen on a gloomy day. 9.) To Die For - Sam Smith Smith has once again appealed to the broken-hearted with his new single they released this past Friday on Valentine’s Day. “To Die For” is another slow ballad from Smith that showcases their incredible voice and vocal range while appealing to the masses on a day mourned by many. This song comes after the announcement of their third studio album set to release in May. 10.) Oh My God - Alec Benjamin Benjamin has released yet another catchy song that is sure to get stuck in listener’s heads until the release of his debut album “These Two Windows” in April. The song follows Benjamin conflicting with who he is as a person through a beautifully put-together and heartfelt song. February has delivered some amazing music so far and the month is far from over. Many artists didn’t just release new singles but also announced upcoming albums exciting fans of all genres. Give these songs a listen and see if you think they’re some of the best from this month. Graphic by Madi Hummer @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Opinion 17 What are the highlights of the past 50 years of metal music? By Parker Dorsey News Editor Fifty years ago on Feb. 13, 1970, heavy metal band Black Sabbath released its selftitled debut, spawning a music genre that has been both adored and reviled by music listeners worldwide. Seen as a sort of rebellious step-child, metal used to (and for the most part still is) be ridiculed and looked down upon in disgust. Many listeners are stereotyped as being angry, confrontational, Satanist, antisocial -- you name it. Today, it has grown into one of the loudest and most iconic genres of music on the planet, with a rich array of subgenres that offers a little something for anyone to enjoy. While Black Sabbath’s debut 50 years ago is seen as the “beginning” of heavy metal, it would be remiss to not mention the music that gave it its influence. Metal received its primary roots from blues and psychedelic rock, with 1960s bands like Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer and Steppenwolf providing the sonic influence for metal’s trademark overdriven distortion sound. Arthur Brown also deserves mention here, with his facepaint and macabre performances providing the inspiration for acts like Alice Cooper and King Diamond, which in turn developed into the corpsepaint and Satanic imagery extensively used by black metal bands in the 1990s. After Black Sabbath’s release, fellow British band Judas Priest dropped their debut “Rocka Rolla” in 1974. This album strayed away from Sabbath’s primarily blues-driven sound by combining a twinguitar attack with cleaner guitar distortion. Another British band, Motörhead, took this sound and combined it with the speed of punk, creating a voracious and energetic sound lead by the furious bass attack of Lemmy Kilmister. These bands were the head of what was considered the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). Iron Maiden was another early NWOBHM metal band that began as a speedy punk rock/metal hybrid, before eventually settling into a style that prioritized grandiose song structures and guitar leads. Venom, the most underground of the British group, didn’t form until the end of the NWOBHM. However, they were extraordinarily influential in its influence in extreme metal. Their second album, “Black Metal,” lent its name to an entire subgenre. Cronos’ coarse vocals, Satanic imagery and abrasive, lo-fi production made Venom by far the most inaccessible of the NWOBHM bands. Many of these bands were responsible for a sound that influenced a specific subgenre. Bands such as Pentagram, Trouble, Saint Vitus and Candlemass took the traditional Sabbath sound of a thick guitar tone, slow riffs and wailing vocals to form doom metal in the early 1980s. Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were responsible for traditional heavy metal (such as Tank or Accept) and power metal, with bands such as Helloween, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray and Stratovarius trailblazing the way in the .., mid-1980s. These brought ese bands bands lightning-fast guitars, ;uitars, epic epic musical arrangements ;ements and and wide vocal ranges nges to to give give power metal its its distinctive distinctive sound. Motörhead and punk and punk provided a notable uence table infl influence for thrash metal,I, which which formed formed in part as a response isponse to to the the conservatism of,f the the Ronald Ronald Reagan era. Bands Bands such such as Metallica, Megadeth, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax thrax were were considered the “big "big four, four;'” of thrash, with1 aa sound sound that consisted of of rough rough vocals, shredding !ding guitars and tight ght song structures. V e n o m ’ ss influence to :o black metal al (and other forms of extreme metal) was palpable. The first wave of black metal in the 1980s had numerous b a n d s emulating Ve n om’s blueprint, with Bathory, Celtic Frost and Mayhem playing gritty, lo-fi and entirely inaccessible style of metal that was widely popular in underground circles. S l a y e r des er ves special mention during this time. Their Satanic imagery and extraordinary speed pushed the limit of thrash metal. Fellow San Francisco Bay metal band, Possessed, connected the dots between thrash and death metal with their 1985 debut “Seven Churches.” This raw sound was later expanded upon by Florida band Death by adding growled vocals and eventually blast beats. Bands in the late 1980s like Morbid Angel, Deicide and Cannibal Corpse refined this sound into traditional death metal. The 1990s were an interesting period in heavy metal, with several genres of metal being ned, blended being refi refined, blended and ind expanded. expanded. Melodic Melodic death death metal metal developed developed in in Sweden, Sweden, with with At At the the Gates, Gates, Dark Dark Tranquility Tranquility and and In In Flames Flames combining combining the the growls growls of of death death metal metal with with the the grandiose grandiose riff riffss of of Iron Iron Maiden. Maiden. Black Black metal metal settled settled in in Norway, Norway, with with bands bands such such as as Gorgoroth, Gorgoroth, Emperor, Emperor, Darkthrone Darkthrone and and Immortal perfecting Immortal perfecting the the groundwork groundwork set set by by Venom Venom and and Bathory: Bathory: lo-fi recordings, lo-fi recordings, ccorpsepaint, orpsepaint, shrieked vocals, shrieked vocals, extreme extreme Satanic Satanic imagery imagery and and blast blast beats. beats. B lack Black m e t a l is also notorious for its many controversies in the public sphere. In the 1990s, several bands were associated with church burnings and murders. A particularly grisly example was Burzum frontman Varg Vikernes murdering Mayhem guitarist Euronymous in 1993, where he was given a maximum prison sentence of 21 years. The 1990s also featured a deconstruction of sorts of heavy metal. Groove metal developed from Louisiana band Pantera as a slower form of thrash metal with down-tuned guitars. Many of these bands, particularly Machine Head, Lamb of God and Chimaira formed the New Wave of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM), which reached its height in the late 1990s. Also during this time was the development of nü metal, a wildly popular form of metal that drew influences from hip-hop, EDM and industrial music. While some bands like Slipknot and Korn are still popular today, much of the genre phased out by the mid-2000s. The mid-2000s saw the rise of metalcore, with groove metal fusing with hardcore punk. Metalcore is noted for a combination of melodic death metal riffs, a combination of screams and clean vocals, and breakdowns. Bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, Killswitch Engage and Trivium are among the most popular metalcore bands today. Metalcore also combined with death metal to create deathcore, gaining popularity in the mid-2000s. Suicide Silence, Job for a Cowboy and Whitechapel are among the most popular bands of this style. Arguably the newest metal genre is djent. While it was first developed by Swedish band Meshuggah in the late 1990s, it didn’t catch a head until the early 2010s. Its distinctive sound consists of incredibly high-gain and down-tuned 7 or 8 stringed guitars with virtuoso solos. Bands like Periphery, Born of Osiris and After the Burial are considered the standard bearers today. Heavy metal has come a long way in 50 years. Each of these genres has a specific sound and mood associated with them, and there are many more notable bands and genre combinations not covered in this article. I’m excited to see where heavy metal goes in the next 50 years. Graphic by Madi Hummer @wilkesbeacon Parker.Dorsey@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Opinion 18 How being both Muslim, Indian presents its difficulties By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor I am Muslim, and I am Indian. These two things are separate facts about me. However, they are the most conflicting parts of my life. According to NationMaster, America is three times the size of India, but the population of India is nearly one billion people higher than that of America. This larger population size means the diversity, cultures, languages, dialects and religions in India are even more complex than in America. For the most part, India is good at letting people do their own thing. For a nation with its population density, India is remarkably tame. However, Indian hubris leads to two major conflicts: Pakistan and Muslims. India was under British rule until the end of the second World War, a mere 75 years ago. Pakistan used to be a part of India. India was primarily run by Hindus and Muslims, although these two religions do not get along. As a monotheistic religion, entertaining the thought of multiple gods is unheard of. As a polytheistic religion, the need to defend against one of the three strongest monotheistic religions is unparalleled. Combined, the tensions between the two religions were high. My grandfather informed me that the major conflict between the Hindus and the Muslims was over as a religious government, neither party wanted the other party's religion to be prioritized and neither was willing to give up religious involvement in their government. As a result, many Muslims banded together and left the nation, heading northward. This became known as Pakistan. Pakistan’s independence day is quite literally a day before India’s. Mahatma Gandhi has strongly advised against the segregation of Muslims and Hindus, sensing it would cause long-lasting tensions, much the same way George Washington had advised America against splitting into political parties. And he was right. The tensions between Pakistan and India are still some of the most intense displays of hubris and racism. In fact, the ingrained hatred is so strong, I experience microaggressions from the Pakistanis in the Muslim community here. According to the ICC, of the five most viewed cricket matches, three of them were between India and Pakistan, proving how tense the relationship is between the two countries. Pakistan and India have been fighting over land for ages. For one, because they both want to stake claim to Kashmir. The people of Kashmir want to be left alone, but due to the stronger power dynamic of India and Pakistan, they are unable to assert their voices. As a result, India and Pakistan went to war in 2019. The aggression doesn’t just stop there. Hindu Indians hold grudges against Muslim Indians for not having left the country with the rest of the current day Pakistanis 75 years ago. The prime misnomer of India, Narendra Modi, was a Hindu third-party candidate. He won because the Muslim candidates didn’t drop out, causing the vote to split. With a majority of the government run by Hindus, the Muslims were immediately put under attack. According to IndiaToday, Prime Minister Modi is passing the National Register of Citizens law. This law requires all Indians to submit proof of familial citizenship prior to 1971. Those who are unable to provide the proper paperwork will be taken to a detaining center, their property will be reclaimed by the government and they will be deported. However, since the government is run by Hindus, any Hindus who are unable to provide the paperwork are simply made citizens. As a Muslim, I am not accepted by Indians. As an Indian, I am not accepted by Pakistanis. I am alone in this futile war over a seemingly endless superiority complex. Gemini (May 21 - June 20) You are known for being the twins of the zodiac, but make sure that you are not being two faced this week. You have been overstepping many boundaries and not following the social codes you have set to prevent this. If you are not careful, this shifty behavior will catch up to you. It is important to please yourself too, Leo. that people may not take well to this new clingy you. The mood should pass in the next three weeks as Venus makes its exit. @wilkesbeacon Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Wednesday brings in first official day of Pisces season By Sammi Verespy Staff Writer This Wednesday is going to be the first official day of Pisces season. It is time to get in touch with what you are truly feeling and what hides below the surface. Now is not a time to shy away from what you are facing. Take all challenges head on. Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) You have been hiding from many of your financial burdens. It is time to take your head out of the ground yourself and face this surmounting deal. Once you move past this, you will truly be able to take a real sigh of relief. Aries (March 21- April 20) You are going to be incredibly easy to provoke this week. Take caution and make sure that you are not lashing out at the wrong people. Make sure all of your decisions are made with logic rather than emotion. Taurus (April 21 – May 20) You are usually very cautious and thoughtful. This week you are going to get extra bursts of energy and spontaneity. Take this opportunity full force, let yourself be free and enjoy this next week. Cancer (June 21 - July 21) You have been feeling blah recently in the career sector. Take some time and let your creative side shine. This will help boost your ego and your position. Plus it may help provide some new career opportunities for the future. Leo (July 22 - Aug. 22) You have been in the habit of people pleasing and stroking other’s egos lately. All of this will make you feel more and more down. Virgo (Aug. 23 - September 21) You are taking a front row seat in the drama of those around you. Make sure to stay a spectator as getting involved will not turn out well. The most you can do right now is provide some valuable advice to those who need it. Libra (Sept. 22 Oct. 21) There is a damaged relationship surrounding you right now. The stars do not often point you to reconsider your choices, Libra. However, this time, you really should take the time and fix the decisions that you had previously set in stone. Scorpio (Oct. 22 - Nov. 21) You have Venus moving into your sixth house this week, so you are going to be a code red clinger. It is important to keep in mind Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Award season is over, Sag, there is no reason to continue to be dramatic. If this streak of performances continues, you are going to effectively push everyone away. Keep in mind, the world does not revolve around you. Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) The move of Chiron and Venus is going to affect you very deeply this week, Cap. You are going to be very testy and feel like every sentence is a personal attack or someone prodding at you. Make sure to remember that you are not the center of peoples focus. Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) Aquarius, with the recent passage out of the sun, you are going to feel uninspired. With Valentines day just passed, you may think that now is the time for new romances. Sadly, it is not the right time for you. Focus your energy on yourself and growing your empire. Graphics by Madi Hummer @wilkesbeacon Samantha.Verespy@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Benjamin.Mandell@wilkes.edu or Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu Rival basketball teams unite for local Play4Kay fundraiser By Ariel Reed Staff Writer With a playoff spot on the line, and the chance to become the reigning team in Wilkes-Barre, the Colonels and crosstown rival Monarchs were able to set aside the rivalry and team up for a cause that is greater than themselves, and the game of basketball. On Friday, the women’s basketball teams of Wilkes and King's teamed up and hosted a free clinic for the children of both campus communities before Satuday's game between the two schools. During the clinic, Monarchs and Colonels walked the kids who participated through several drill stations and some light hearted contests. At the stations, the players taught the kids various fundamental skills such as layups, defensive shuffling, passing, how to close out on a shooter, ball handling and spot shooting. “I think it is really great for the community to come together for such a great cause,” Wilkes junior Maddie Kelley. “This was a free clinic and it was done all for the kids. We accepted donations for the Kay Yow Foundation. Overall, I think it is awesome for the two Wilkes-Barre campuses to team up for such a great cause.” It is a great way to bring the Colonel and Monarch communities together to contribute to a cause that is bigger than basketball. Two rival teams joining forces helps get more of the Wilkes-Barre area involved and has a bigger impact on the teams involved. “I think it means a lot to get both campus communities together for the same cause,” King's coach Caitlin Hadzimichalis said. “I think using your community and our community to kind of join forces is a big deal.” The event is very exciting for both teams and their programs. “I think it is great for both programs and schools to show that it is more than just a sport," Wilkes coach Tara Macciocco said. "It shows that we can work outside of that playing arena.” This is the second year that both schools are participating in the event. Last year, the colleges were able to generate upward of $1,000. “I think it is a great way to bring the teams together in a different environment. We are competitors, but we are able to join in a fight against breast cancer,” Macciocco said. “I think the last two years we have done a good job getting the community involved and hopefully they come to the game tomorrow.” Even though the Colonels and the The Beacon/Ariel Reed Players from Wilkes and King's come together to give back to kids in the local community with basketball instruction. Monarchs will face each other on the court, both the players and coaches set aside their rivalries to contribute to a cause that is bigger than themselves. “It is such a nice event because we get to have two college teams come together and just really do something good for this community and the (Kay Yow) foundation,” King’s senior Mackenzie Yori said. “It is a bigger picture in life and I really appreciate participating in it.” All the proceeds the teams receive go to the Kay Yow Foundation. This foundation is a way to unite players, coaches, fans, and officials to do something for the betterment of others. Play4Kay is a nationwide fundraiser specifically for basketball players to get involved in and contribute to the fight against breast cancer. All levels of basketball teams can participate in this fundraiser and the Colonels and Monarch sold “Play4Kay” shirts that were worn by the fans in attendance at the game. The Beacon/Ariel Reed King's players, from left to right Emily Kriston, Kristen Coleman, Kayla Dillinger, Mackenzie Yori, Rebecca Prociak, Emily Morano, Samantha Rajza, Zoe Stein and Sarah Keiskell-Mann. @wilkesbeacon Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Sports 20 WBB: Late run isn’t enough for the Colonels MIH: Perfect weekend has Wilkes in first By Ben Mandell Co-Sports Editor WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- The Colonels came into rivalry week looking to pull off upsets against two of the top three teams in the MAC Freedom, Misericordia and King’s. Rebecca Prociak and Mackenzie Yori had big games for King’s as they took another step towards securing a spot in the playoffs by downing Wilkes, 95-78. “We were making shots, and even though we went through that dry spell, the fact that we came in with all that emotion of senior day and the crowd it carried us through,” King’s coach Caitlin Hadzimichalis said. “We are starting to get back to what works and building momentum.” The Monarchs had lost four straight games before picking up back-to-back wins against Delaware Valley and Wilkes. King’s built a comfortable 28-point lead with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Wilkes came back with an answer though. After trailing by double-digits most of the game, the Colonels used a 17-0 run to get back into the game. “I’m so proud of our kids because we fight until the final buzzer,” Wilkes head coach Tara Macciocco said. “They play as hard as they can, and they did a great job getting back into the game.” After their lead was cut to 11 points, the Monarchs settled down and kept the lead over 10 for the remainder of the game. Prociak continued her dominant campaign with a double-double. She led the team with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. She also had five blocks, seven assists and two steals. Men’s Basketball 11/8 vs. PSU-Scranton, W 122-69 11/12 vs. PSU-Hazleton, W 96-58 11/16 @ Marymont, W 73-65 11/20 vs. U. of Scranton, L 91-62 11/23 vs. Clarks Summit, W 105-63 12/4 @ Marywood, W 89-76 12/7 vs. Messiah, L 80-68 12/15 @ Drew, L 76-65 1/2 @ College of New Jersey, L 95-69 1/4 vs. Susquehanna, W 86-84 *1/8 @ Misericordia, L 68-60 *1/11 vs. Stevens, W 58-55 *1/15 vs. Desales, L 79-74 *1/17 @ Eastern, L 67-62 *1/22 vs. King’s, L 75-72 *1/25 @ FDU-Florham, L 77-70 *1/29 @ Delaware Valley, W 76-65 *2/1 vs. Eastern, L 73-70 (OT) *2/5 @ Stevens, L 82-72 *2/8 @ Desales, L 81-72 *2/12 vs. Misericordia, W 79-63 *2/15 @ King’s, L 73-71 *2/18 vs Delaware Valley, 6 p.m. x*2/22 vs FDU-Florham, 3 p.m. By Beacon Sports The Beacon/Kirsten Peters The Colonels tasted a comeback with a 17-0 scoring run in the second half that cut Wilkes’ deficit to 11 before King’s reawakened their offense. “We just try to play together,” Prociak said. “We need to start doing that again. Like when they double me, I try to kick the ball out.” Yori also scored 20 points and Samantha Rajza had 17. King’s grabbed sole possession of the third MAC Freedom playoff spot after Eastern lost to Stevens. “We need to clean up the defense and do what we do best,” said Hadzimichalis. “These last few games have given us confidence and we are getting back to doing what works.” King’s will have a critical game against Misericordia on Tuesday as the Monarchs will continue to push for the second seed in the MAC Freedom. Wilkes was led by Brenna Babcock, who Women’s Basketball 11/8 vs. PSU-Scranton, W 72-28 11/12 @ Centenary, W 46-35 11/16 @ Franklin & Marshall, W 53-50 11/17 @ William Smith, L 59-39 11/23 vs. Marywood, L 65-58 11/24 vs. U. of Scranton, L 78-42 12/4 vs. Gwynedd Mercy, W 73-71 12/7 vs. Pratt Institute, W 65-49 12/17 vs. Lycoming, L 78-57 12/19 vs. Neumann, W 54-40 1/4 vs Stockton, L 59-49 *1/8 @ Misericordia, L 74-41 *1/11 vs. Stevens, L 85-54 *1/15 vs. Desales, L 70-55 *1/17 @ Eastern, L 65-48 *1/22 vs. King’s, L 75-53 *1/25 @ FDU-Florham, W 66-65 *1/29 @ Delaware Valley, W 66-57 *2/1 vs. Eastern, L 63-59 *2/5 @ Stevens, L 72-42 *2/8 @ Desales, L 90-34 *2/12 vs. Misericordia, L 66-58 *2/15 @ King’s, L 95-78 *2/18 vs Delaware Valley, 8 p.m. x*2/22 vs FDU-Florham, 1 p.m. finished with 17 points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists. “I just really have a drive to win and I know we didn’t get that tonight,” Babcock said. “I feel like effort is a big part of that, and when one person gives 100 percent it goes on to the rest of the team.” Babcock helped spark the Colonels in the second half and fueled their 17-0 run that got them back into the game. “She’s fearless. She is competitive and goes out there no matter what,” Macciocco said. Wilkes has two home games left on Tuesday and Saturday to close out its season. @wilkesbeacon Benjamin.Mandell@wilkes.edu Men’s Ice Hockey 11/1 vs. SUNY Canton, L 5-3 *11/8 vs. Lebanon Valley, W 4-3 11/9 vs. Elmira, W 5-3 *11/15 @ Stevenson, W 3-2 11/16 @ Chatham, W 6-4 *11/22 @ King’s, W 5-2 11/23 vs. Albertus Magnus, W 6-1 11/30 vs. Suffolk, W 9-0 12/1 Steve Hoar Tournament, L 4-1 12/6 vs. Manhattanville, W 7-5 12/7 @ Neumann, W 2-1 12/17 vs. Bryn Athyn, W 5-3 1/7 @ Bryn Athyn, W 5-1 1/14 @ SUNY Cortland, L 6-5 1/17 vs. Utica, L 8-3 1/18 vs. Nazareth, W 4-3 *1/24 @ Lebanon Valley, W 5-1 1/25 @ Elmira, L 3-2 1/31 vs. Chatham, W 5-2 *2/1 vs. #14 Stevenson, W 6-0 *2/6 vs. King’s, W 9-3 2/14 vs Neumann, W 6-2 2/15 @ Manhattanville, W 6-5 2/21 @ Nazareth, 7 p.m. 2/22 @ Utica, 7 p.m. Another weekend with two wins has the Colonels knocking on the door for a firstround bye and a home playoff series. The Colonels took care of Neumann on Friday, winning 6-2. Donald Flynn added to his nation-leading goal total with a pair of goals and Tyson Araujo had a monster night with five points, three goals and two assists. Nick Fea continued to make plays, racking up four assists. Wilkes had to sweat out Saturday’s contest with Manhattanville. They needed overtime to decide the game. Danny Reidel played the role of hero, scoring three goals including the gamewinner. Araujo stayed hot as well, netting two more goals and Flynn had a goal and an assist. The power play continued to be a driving force for the Colonels, with three of their six goals coming with the man advantage. Wilkes still sits alone on top of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC). Utica and Stevenson battled Saturday night for the second-place spot and Utica prevailed. So The Colonels have a five point lead on the Mustangs and a two-point lead on Utica with two games left to play. Women’s Ice Hockey 11/9 @ #3 Elmira, L 12-0 11/10 @ William Smith, L 4-1 11/15 vs. Nazareth, L 7-0 11/16 vs. Utica, L 2-1 11/23 vs. Post, L 3-0 11/24 vs. Post, L 3-0 12/7 vs. Anna Maria, W 5-4 12/8 vs. Anna Maria, L 1-0 *1/5 vs. Alvernia, L 4-1 *1/10 @ Lebanon Valley, L 4-2 *1/11 vs. King’s, W 3-2 1/17 @ Manhattanville, L 4-0 1/18 @ Neumann, L 4-0 *1/24 @ Stevenson, L 3-1 *1/25 @ Alvernia, W 3-0 2/1 vs. Chatham, T 1-1 (OT) *2/2 vs. Lebanon Valley, W 4-2 2/8 vs. William Smith, L 9-2 2/14 @ Nazareth, L 4-1 2/15 @ Utica, L 2-0 2/17 vs. Elmira, 1 p.m. *2/21 @ King’s, 3:30 p.m. *2/22 @ Stevenson, 3:30 p.m. �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Sports 21 SWIM: Multiple Colonels set records at MAC Championship By Kevin Singhel Asst. Sports Editor YORK, Pa. -- This past weekend both the men’s and women’s swimming teams traveled to York to compete in this year’s MAC Championship meet. The meet is a four-day event where the Colonels competed against all of the other teams in the conference in an invitational style meet. Due to the large number of teams and competitors, results from invitationals can be vastly different than dual-meet results since they are scored differently. Both sides of Colonel swimmers were hoping to build off already successful seasons and hoped that this scoring format led to even more success. The men’s team got off to a great start on the first day as sophomore Shane Miller and freshman Liam White both set personal bests in the 500 freestyle, coming in 5:11 and 5:34 respectively. Sophomore Trey Harloff kept the ball rolling in the next event, setting a new school record in the 200 IM. Harloff ’s time of 2:00 was good for ninth place, netting the team 20 points. Freshman Keith Nissen and junior Cameron Aspey finished the event in 18th and 20th, earning the Colonels seven points and five points respectively. Sophomore Joey Antolick had a strong showing in the 50 freestyle, coming in 10th with a time of 22.12. Antolick’s efforts earned the team 17 points. Junior Nick Martino also earned seven points for Wilkes, coming in 18th with a time of 22.72. Men’s S w i mmi ng 10/19 @ Arcadia, L 180-81 10/19 vs. Immaculata, W 173-53 11/2 @ Dickinson, L 114-74 11/2 vs. Lebanon Valley, W 137-52 11/9 @ Marywood, W 147-41 11/16 vs Mount Saint Mary, W 119-73 11/24 @ Diamond Invitational (King’s), 4th of 11 teams *12/7 @ Lycoming, W 124-71 *1/25 vs. FDU-Florham, W 159-82 x*2/1 vs. King’s, L 114-88 2/13-16 @ MAC Championships (York), TBD 2/28-3/1 @ ECAC Championships (Naval Academy), TBD *Denotes MAC Freedom/UCHC x-Denotes Senior Day The day was capped off with a seventhplace 200 medley relay finish from Antolick, Harloff, Martino, and junior Justin Burda. The foursome set a new school record with a time of 1:38, earning the Colonels 46 points. The Colonel’s “B” relay consisting of Miller, Nissen, junior Jacob Wessner, and Timothy Sechler-Stone swam the event in 1:32, good enough for fourth among the “B” relays and earning 20 points. On the women’s side, sophomore Alexa Crossgrove started the day with a podium finish, placing seventh in the 500 freestyle. Crossgrove impressed with a time of 5:22, earning the team 23 points. “I think she could swim anything and score in the top 8,” Wilkes coach Thomas Limouze said of Crossgrove. “She has a huge range of events which is extremely helpful for both individual events and relays” In the next women’s event, junior Abby Keating placed 10th overall in the 200 IM with a time of 2:16. Keating’s efforts earned the team 17 valuable points. Women’s S w i mmi ng 10/19 @ Arcadia, L 176-80 10/19 vs. Immaculata, W 162-44 11/2 @ Dickinson, L 112-79 11/2 vs. Lebanon Valley, L 113-81 11/9 @ Marywood, L 103-91 11/16 vs Mount Saint Mary, W 118-80 11/24 @ Diamond Invitational (King’s), 5th of 11 teams *12/7 @ Lycoming, W 96-89 *1/12 vs. Misericordia, L 149-50 *1/25 vs. FDU-Florham, L 139-112 x*2/1 vs. King’s, L 134-60 2/13-16 @ MAC Championships (York), TBD 2/28-3/1 @ ECAC Championships (Naval Academy), TBD To cap the first day off on the women’s side, Crossgrove and Keating teamed up with senior Kyleigh Smeltzer and freshman Maddy Kinard to break the school record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:56. The new school record was enough to earn the foursome a podium finish, as the relay came in 8th and earned 44 points. After the first day, there were plenty of other highlights for both Colonel squads. On the men’s side, Harloff, Antolick, Martino, and Nissen placed fourth in the 200 freestyle relay, earning 52 points. The fourthplace finish is the highest relay finish since Wilkes’ swimming program was restarted. The foursome of Sechler-Stone, Harloff, Antolick, and Burda also finished 8th in the 400 medley relay, setting a new school record and earning 44 points. One of the more interesting parts of the day was when senior Tyler Weatherby tied for the last spot in the 100 Butterfly final, forcing a “swim-off ” which he eventually won. Harloff and Burda had extremely Men’s V olleyball 1/21 @ Neumann, 3-0 1/23 @ Elizabethtown, L 3-0 1/25 vs. Purchase, W 3-0 1/25 vs. City College of NY, L 3-1 1/31 @ Immaculata, W 3-0 2/2 vs. Bard, W 3-0 2/2 vs. Keuka, L 3-0 2/7 vs. SUNY Potsdam, W 3-0 2/8 vs. Sage, L 3-1 2/8 vs. Mount St. Vincent, W 3-0 2/11 @ PSU Altoona, L 3-0 2/15 vs. Brooklyn, W 3-0 2/15 @ NJ City, L 3-1 2/18 @ St. Joseph’s, 7 p.m. *2/20 vs. Misericordia, 4 p.m. *2/20 vs. Widener, 8 p.m. 2/25 @ Bard, 6 p.m. *2/27 vs. Eastern , 7 p.m. *3/11 @ King’s, 7 p.m. strong showings in the event, placing 8th and 9th respectively. The depth and versatility of the entire squad helped the men’s team score many points in a variety of different areas, including the relays. “Our depth has been a strong point this meet,” Limouze said. “Having a handful of swimmers that have been able to grab points for us put us in a great position to succeed as a team.” Highlights on the women’s side included Crossgrove finishing in 6th place in the 200 freestyle with a personal best of 1:57. Crossgrove later teamed up with Keating, Kinard, and freshman Tricia Bartosh to place seventh in the 200 freestyle relay with a school-record time of 1:42. Throughout the MAC Championships, both squads put up some amazing performances and shattered both personal and school records. “MAC’s has been an extra long slog, but the swimmers have done a great job at keeping spirits high,” Limouze said. “I told them that if you want to have a great swim then it’s going to hurt, and they’ve done a great job of pushing through the pain.” Under Limouze, both the men’s and women’s teams have seen major improvements. Both programs are trending up in the right direction and will look to keep moving forward. @wilkesbeacon Kevin.Singhel@wilkes.edu Wr estli ng 11/23 vs. KSU-Tuscarawas, W 54-6 11/23 vs. Central, L 32-12 11/23 vs. Muhlenberg, L 42-9 11/23 vs. Gettysburg, L 25-22 12/7 @ Messiah Petrofes Invitational, 9th place 12/22 @ Wilkes Open, 17th place 1/8 vs. Hunter College, W 47-6 1/10 vs. #25 Washington & Lee, L 44-3 1/10 vs. #23 Castleton, L 38-3 1/10 vs. Ohio Nothren, L 24-14 1/10 vs. Wesleyan, W 35-15 1/10 vs. Williams, L 29-17 1/18 @ MAC Championships, 5th Place 1/26 vs. R IT, L 47-0 1/26 vs. PSU Behrend, W 51-6 1/26 vs. Oneonta, W 24-19 1/31 @ Penn, W 30-11 2/9 @ Scranton, W 22-14 2/14 vs. #16 Ithaca, L 41-6 x*2/21 vs. King’s, 7 p.m. �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Sports 22 Getting to know... Robert Pecorelli Senior Basketball Player The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Feb. 2 to Feb. 9 Why Robert Pecorelli was selected: With contests against Stevenson and DeSales, Pecorelli led the week. In his performance against Stevenson, Pecorelli reached 30 points for the third time this season. Against DeSales, Pecorelli notched 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds to be an offensive force for the Colonels. Name: Robert Pecorelli Year: Senior Major: Marketing & Management Hometown: Huntington, N.Y. High School: Harborfields HS Position: Guard Driving force for your decision to come to Wilkes? I decided to come to Wilkes because of the great atmosphere to further my athletic and academic careers. The university provided great opportunities that others schools didn’t. Post-graduation plans in terms of a career? I have a job lined up in New York City at an expert networking firm. Favorite building on campus? UCOM because of Starbucks. What came first? The chicken or the egg? The egg -- no doubt. Hopes for this season as a Colonel? My hope for this season is to have a great last year enjoying every moment with my teammates. When/Why did you first begin playing? I began playing in first grade because my brother played, and I wanted to, too. Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staf f each week. At the e nd of the acade mic year, we w ill post a reader poll on Tw itte r @ Wilkes B eacon to c row n an “Athlete of the Year." The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Favorite thing to do during practice? Offensive-mageddon. If you had to choose one thing about your program that you could improve, what would it be? Nothing. Other interests or hobbies off of the court? Outside of basketball, I’m interested in Star Wars, podcasts, reading and just enjoying my free time. Most influential person in your life? My father. If you could have dinner with a famous person from the past, who would it be? Kobe Bryant. Favorite professor? Dr. Kaster. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi. Favorite meal to eat on campus? An omelet from Sue. A quote you live your life by? “Life is short, smile while you still have teeth.” What does “Be Colonel” mean to you? To me, “Be Colonel” means being apart of a university that takes pride in everything it does, while also being the best you possibly can be. Anyone to give a shout-out to? I’d like to give a shout-out to SAD6 minus Allie P. and my mom. -Compiled by Kirsten Peters, CoSports Editor �23 Sports The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Getting to know... Gianna Roberts Senior Basketball Player The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Feb. 2 to Feb. 9 Why Gianna Roberts was selected: Despite a loss on the road against Stevens, Roberts was the bright spot for the Colonels with 16 points and seven rebounds in one of her final contests as a women's basketball player. Name: Gianna Roberts Year: Senior Major: Management Minor: Sports Management Hometown: Nanticoke, Pa. High School: Nanticoke Area HS Position: Forward Driving force for your decision to come to Wilkes? I chose Wilkes because of its business school, being able to commute and the opportunity to continue my basketball career. Post graduation plans in terms of a career? I’m currently in the process of applying for jobs as senior year is coming to an end. I’m hoping to land a job in the sports industry with the Penguins. Favorite building on campus? Marts Center. what would it be? I don’t see anything to improve because the relationships that I have built over the past few years with the team is what I value the most. The ability to share so much time with these girls has been an overall great experience. I look forward to lasting relationships with my teammates long after college days are over. Other interests or hobbies off of the court? I love volunteering at Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge and going camping with my family and friends. Most influential person(s) in your life? My parents. Favorite professor? Dr. Schmidt. Favorite meal to eat on campus? A grilled cheese with curly fries at Grille Works. What came first? The chicken or the egg? The egg. A quote you live your life by? “Never let yesterday use up too much of today.” - Will Rogers Hopes for this season as a Colonel? With a few games left, my hopes are to finish strong as a team and to grab a few more wins to finish out my career. What does “Be Colonel” mean to you? It means taking pride in being a student of Wilkes University. It means working hard and taking advantage of the education both on and off the court that has been provided to me for the past four years. It means going out into the world with lots of confidence because of the guidance I have received. When/Why did you first begin playing? I started playing as soon as I could pick up a basketball. My older brother was playing, and I liked to follow in his footsteps. Favorite thing to do during practice? Five-spot shooting. If you had to choose one thing about your program that you could improve, Anyone to give a shout-out to? Always the DAWGS. -Compiled by Kirsten Peters, Co-Sports Editor Editor’s elec tions are mined by ts Editor's note: note: Athlete Athlete of of the the Week Week sselections are deter determined by the the spor sports staff year, we ill post post aa reader poll taff each each week. week. At At the the end end of of the the academic academic year, we w will reader poll on it ter @WilkesB eacon to n an on Tw Twitter @WilkesBeacon to crow crown an “Athlete "Athlete of o the the Year." Year." ..,..,,.,-,--------,, The Beacon/Kirsten Peters �The Beacon - February 18, 2020 Sports 24 WREST: Medrow, Almkey win decisions in loss to No. 16 Ithaca By Kirsten Peters Co-Sports Editor WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- In facing a ranked opponent, only two Wilkes upperclassmen were able to pull off victories in Friday’s 41-6 loss against Ithaca College. “They’ve got a lot of experience,” shared head coach Jon Laudenslager of Wilkes’ opponent. “They have six guys who have been to the National Tournament. They have a lot of juniors and seniors in their lineup, and we have mostly freshmen and sophomores.” Senior Kyle Medrow put Wilkes on the board with a 2-0 decision over Tito Colom at 141. “The team really helps me stay motivated while I’m out on the mat. Hearing them cheer for me keeps me going,” said Medrow. Medrow and Colom went scoreless through two periods before Medrow chose top and rode Colom out of the final period. Following Medrow, the Colonels had to wait until the 197 lb. weight class for their second victory of the night. Junior Moustafa Almeky put three more points on the board for Wilkes, earning a 6-2 decision win over Dymir Davis-Carruth. “I knew that these guys (Ithaca) train well, and that we train well,” said Almeky. “These are guys that are always going to stay in good position. We had to stay in good position with them, beat them to our shots and get them tired. I think that’s something that both Kyle and I, and a lot of the guys who also lost their matches, did out on the mat. We can’t be too ashamed of how we did tonight.” Laudenslager attributed the two victories to Medrow and Almeky wrestling smart matches. “They wrestled really good on top,” said Laudenslager. “At the end of the day, if you can ride legs and keep a guy down -- just when you’re on top -- it limits any points they can score.” Before regionals are officially on the horizon, the Colonels have to face crosstownrival King’s College on Friday, Feb. 21 during Senior Night. “We’ll get their best,” said Laudenslager of King’s. “They’re a natural rival. They’ve got some guys coming back, so they’re going to have a full lineup now. I think it’s going to be a good week of practice, and we’ll learn from this match against Ithaca. We’ve gotten better all year long as a young team.” @wilkesbeacon Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Senior Kyle Medrow attempted to work a power-half against Tito Colom in the 141 lb. weight class, pulling out the 2-0 decision. MBB: Wilkes eliminated from playoffs after 73-71 loss to King’s By Ben Mandell Co-Sports Editor The Beacon/Kirsten Peters King’s Andrew Hudak embraced teammate Patrick Galvin (21) after Galvin makes the go-ahead foul-line jumper with 3.4 seconds remaining in the contest. WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Patrick Galvin’s tiebreaking foul-line jumper with 3.4 seconds remaining kept King’s playoff hopes alive, and it ended those of the Monarchs’ two local rivals. Galvin’s jumper kept the Monarchs in a tie for the final playoff spot in the MAC Freedom Conference and also knocked both Wilkes and Misericordia out of contention when the Cougars lost to DeSales. “The last week and a half, every game has been a playoff game,” King’s coach J.P. Andrejko said. “We put Wilkes three games behind us with two games to play. We did what we had to do.” The Monarchs 73-71 win over the Colonels was nothing short of dramatic, as Wilkes tied the game up with under 30 seconds left. The Monarchs held the ball until there were 10 seconds left on the clock. They put the play in motion and Galvin took his shot from the free-throw line. “We ran that play against them at the end of the first half at their place earlier in the year,” Galvin said. “Coach said we were doing it again and he trusted me with the ball in my hands to make a play.” The drama was still far from over though. After a timeout, the Colonels sent the ball down the court towards Jake Robel. He tried a pass out to Donovan Breeding for the potential game-winning three-pointer. His shot went up and into the basket, but the officials blew the play dead, saying that Galvin fouled Robel on the inbound pass, meaning Breeding’s shot wouldn’t count and Robel needed to make two free throws to tie the game. “We were just trying to get the ball inside and get a good look at the hoop,” Rob Pecorelli said. “It was a good play that we designed and a good play to get an open look. They called the foul, and that’s how it worked out.” Coming to the line, Robel was 2-5 from the stripe on the day and he missed his first of the two shots. He intentionally missed the second so his team could try for a rebound, but King’s Pat Mitchell swallowed it up and called game. Wilkes shot 41 percent from the field but just 17 percent from the three-point line. Pecorelli led the team with 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Mark Mullins added 17 points and seven rebounds and Drake Marshall had 12 points, five steals and seven rebounds. @wilkesbeacon Benjamin.Mandell@wilkes.edu � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 February 18th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 February 18 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/4c1307e8d84b954f14f0ff036c848329.pdf 49fdac6351a3147b50d7e4c3d3ba3de9 PDF Text Text THE BEACON The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Paul Adams reflects on his interim presidency News Editor Courtesy of Knot Just Any Day The Beacon/Steffen Horwath In spring 2019, then Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Paul S. Adams was appointed to the position of interim president at Wilkes University. A year later, Adams led Wilkes through the appearance of the coronavirus pandemic in March of the 2020 school year. In May, Dr. Greg Cant officially took his role as president of the University, and Adams returned to his position as vice president of student affairs. With Cant stepping into his presidential role sooner than expected, there was little time to reflect on Adams’ time as the interim president. Dan Cardell ‘79, a member of the Wilkes Board of Trustees, praised Adams in a May 24 leadership update. “I want to take this opportunity to thank Paul for his incredible service to Wilkes over the past year,” shared Cardell. “I have known Paul since we were undergraduate students at Wilkes, and more than 40 years later, I had the great honor of participating in Paul’s installation as interim president. In my remarks, I expressed that Paul was the best person to lead Wilkes during this period of transition. He has certainly delivered.” Adams started his career at Wilkes roughly 40 years ago as the director of residence life. He went on to hold positions as the associate dean of student affairs, dean of academic support services, dean of university college, dean of student affairs and university college, vice president of student affairs and finally interim hopefully absorb a lot over the years and president. “It was a whole range of emotions,” said understand it in the context of Wilkes.” Although Adams Adams. “You think, learned from his am I up for it, and can predecessors, one I serve the university challenge he could not the way it needs prepare for was a global to be served? You pandemic. think, this place is so Adams revealed that important to me, and the pandemic changed I would never want by the hour, and that to do anything that he now realizes many would bring it any of the goals set changed harm. That was part rapidly and required of the conversation quick adaptation to in my head, but guidelines from health people were very experts in the nation. kind and expressed “Throughout a lot of confidence in everything, we had a me. number of goals that we “You know that set – first and foremost there are so many was to keep everyone unanticipated things safe,” said Adams. that come when you “These were the things are president, and Courtesy of Wilkes Marketing that I think guided all they run through of our decision making: your mind. Those Dr. Paul S. Adams how do we keep people were all the things that kind of went through my head – there are safe, how do we respond to the urgent needs of a million thoughts that go through your head.” the people on campus and what could we do Since he was 24 years old, Adams has to ameliorate their situation? Third, how do we worked at Wilkes University, allowing him the create the best product that we could deliver to opportunity to work with six out of the seven our students, and how do we assure the future viability of the university?” campus presidents. Adams described the decision-making “I have had the blessing of great relationships with all of them. You learn from each one of process as incremental, moving from the plan them – you watch where they were successful and where they were challenged, and you ADAMS, page 3 Get to know Wilkes’ seventh president, pages 6 & 7 Outdoor gems to visit in the valley, pages 4 & 10 The Beacon/Zarqua Ansari By Sean Schmoyer FREE Take one White silence equals racial violence, pages 8 & 9 Wilkes Athletics uprooted with MAC’s suspension of fall sports, delay of winter sports until 2021 By Kirsten Peters Editor-in-Chief Suspended. That’s the word that uprooted the fall season for Wilkes Athletics and postponed any potential competitive play until January 2021. “We still have a lot of goals in front of us,” said Jonathan Drach, Wilkes’ head football coach. “It may not be a MAC championship in 2020, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a MAC championship in 2021. That doesn’t mean we can’t start working for it – if you stay ready, you never have to get ready.” On the morning of July 24, the Middle Atlantic Conference, which governs 18 institutions and 7,000 athletes, announced the decision to suspend competitive play. The decision came only two weeks after the MAC approved a conference-only plan, in which universities in the MAC Commonwealth and the MAC Freedom would be able to compete against each other beginning on Sept. 18. With unwavering concerns regarding COVID-19’s impact during the fall, the MAC revised its initial plan and is considering a reconfigured fall season in the spring. “The MAC worked nonstop this summer to come up with the safest and healthiest way ATHLETICS, page 12 The Beacon/Ariel Reed Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 1 1 Professional athletes show support for BLM, page 11 �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact news editors: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu or Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu. Welcome from Wilkes’ seventh president, Dr. Greg Cant By Dr. Greg Cant University President Members of the Wilkes community – greetings! My name is Dr. Greg Cant and I am very proud to be the seventh president of Wilkes University. I hope that this message finds you safe and healthy wherever you are spending your summer. I am grateful to The Beacon for this opportunity to share my best wishes and outlook for the upcoming academic year with you, especially since the pandemic has made it difficult for me to meet you in person. Despite the short time we have been on campus, my wife, our daughter, our son and I already feel as though we are members of the Wilkes family of Colonels. When we experienced campus for the first time late last year, we were immediately impressed by Wilkes’ close-knit community, excellent academic opportunities and vibrant student life. Leading up to our relocation to WilkesBarre, I visited campus numerous times and had the pleasure of meeting motivated students, passionate faculty and dedicated staff members. Even during the mandatory separation caused by the pandemic, the strong connections that exist between Wilkes students, faculty and staff are evident. Since becoming president, technology has afforded me the opportunity to get to know more members of the campus, interact with community and business leaders, meet alumni and participate in campus meetings and events. I have especially appreciated the chance to listen to the thoughts of our students during a town hall hosted by MSC last month and speak with prospective students during virtual open houses. In the coming weeks, I look forward to virtually meeting the Panamanian students who are learning English at Wilkes as a part of the IFARHU program, welcoming our newest cohort of EdD students to campus and, ultimately, assisting with move-in day and welcome weekend activities. During the semester, you can expect me to be a frequent presence at campus gatherings, performances and athletic contests. I have already become a “regular” at the YMCA and spend much of my time on the weekends exploring campus and the region that my family and I now call home. Our world faces great challenges right now, and an unpredictability that few of us have experienced before. All of us at Wilkes admire your adaptability, perseverance and optimism and pledge to you an unwavering commitment to your success. We are so eager to welcome you back to campus later this summer. I can’t wait to meet you in person and share with you my enthusiasm for Wilkes. Until then, follow me on Instagram @drgregcant to see how I’m getting to know the people, places and stories of Wilkes. Sincerely, Greg Cant @WilkesU Greg.Cant@wilkes.edu Wilkes recognized for distance learning efforts By Genny Frederick Staff Writer Educate to Career, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students make informed decisions about their education and careers, has named Wilkes University a tier one institution for distance learning efforts amid COVID-19. Tier one institutions rank the highest of four tiers, with the capability of providing classes either in-person or online, with at least three years of online experience. According to Educate to Career’s website, this ranking recognizes Wilkes as an institution that “has the systems required to deliver a full curriculum online and in-classroom.” According to University president Dr. Greg Cant, “When Wilkes made the necessary decision to transition to remote learning in March 2020, our faculty and staff responded in a collaborative way that allowed us to continue to deliver on our educational promise to students as seamlessly as possible.” This seamless transition was not possible without a significant amount of effort from students, faculty, staff and campus offices, especially the Office of Technology for Teaching and Learning (OTTL). Dr. Megan Youmans, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, expressed her appreciation for OTTL. “As we all got to know last semester, the OTTL staff is amazing. I was familiar with Bongo virtual classroom because OTTL had demonstrated it for me a few hours earlier. I was able to share my knowledge with colleagues, who, in turn, explained how question pools work for quizzes.” OTTL’s first hurdle, however, was the faculty’s ability to move online. “That was my initial concern, ‘Do we have the capacity to help everybody?’” said Kristine Pruett, director of OTTL. “I think once we started talking about it, we started realizing that a lot of people aren’t going to need handholding. They’re going to figure it out if we put the resources out there. “We have a lot of self-starters in terms of our faculty. They come to us when they need it, but they don’t need us to show them every single thing.” The faculty’s motivation to try new methods of teaching was evident during the spring semester. Dr. Mischelle Anthony praised the faculty in the English department, as well as OTTL on the remote transition during the spring. “Here in the English Department, every single faculty member – full-time, parttime and emeritus – transitioned to remote instruction with a class-specific synchronous and asynchronous mix,” said Anthony. “A handful of us sought help from the Office of Technology for Teaching and Learning’s inperson trainings or online modules. The vast majority of our English faculty, though, were self-taught in their innovations to course delivery. “I was humbled and honored as a department chair to see our English faculty work harder than ever to deliver a rigorous, engaged curriculum.” Similar to the English Department, the School of Business and Leadership also continued discussions about new methods of RECOGNIZED, page 3 The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Dr. Greg Cant prepares to welcome the Wilkes community back to campus in his mask. Table of Contents News.................2 Life, A&E............4 Spread (News)..6 Opinion..............8 Sports..............10 Editor’s Note: All information was factual and current as of Friday, July 24 when The Beacon was sent in for publication. Students, faculty and staff should abide by any updates regarding fall semester plans in their Wilkes University email. Current information can be found at www.wilkes.edu/ fall2020. �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 ADAMS, from front to have students return to campus in April to keeping students home. Commencement had to be cancelled due to the virus, forcing Adams and his staff to adapt constantly – something he says has not changed. “Paul led the University during one of the most challenging years we have experienced in our history. And, he did so with honesty, compassion and with a commitment to students that has defined his career,” shared Cardell in his leadership update. “The first things for the year were to keep the trains running and make sure the university functioned as effectively as it could. The second was to complete the strategic plan because this was its last year. The third was to get us through the middle states selfstudy, which we seemed to have done pretty successfully, and the fourth thing was to get the campus ready to select and welcome a new president, which I think we have managed to do pretty darn well, too.” Adams is going to continue his work on campus as the vice president of student affairs, which means he will work alongside newlyappointed Cant. “I have been blessed by an incredible team,” said Cant. “Paul Adams is a good example. Paul has just a modest experience with Wilkes – I think it is maybe 40 years. If Paul doesn’t know you, you are probably not here. It is a part of his immense sort of mental library he has.” Despite having to face the pandemic and budgetary problems, Adams still looks back fondly on the past year. “In terms of wonderful moments for me, nothing will surpass the two commencements that I got presided over and to be able to present a diploma on behalf of all my colleagues to a graduating student. That is the pinnacle of my career to be able to do that,” shared Adams. “I tease about this, but I will take credit as being president and being undefeated in the Mayor’s Cup with King’s.” Bridget Giunta, executive assistant/ director for the president’s office; Dr. Donald Mencer, the head of the faculty affairs council; Jeanne Rabel, the chair of the university staff advisory board; and Cardell were among those Adams wished to acknowledge for all of their hard work during his time as interim president, as well as all of his other colleagues. “I would be so remiss to not give all the credit I need to give to my wife Jean, who bore the brunt of this more than anybody,” said Adams. “She was the one, who when I came home at night feeling challenged, she was the one who had to live with those emotions and challenges throughout the year. I couldn’t have done it without her. She is my partner, and she is my rock.” @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu 3 News BLM, diversity emphasized at town hall event By Genny Frederick New Staff Writer The Office of Diversity Initiatives and the Multicultural Student Association worked together to hold a town hall meeting to share students’ stories of racial inequality in light of the national Black Lives Matter Movement. “The motivation or goal of having the town hall meeting was to spread awareness and to get the ball rolling on the conversations about diversity and Black Lives Matter, so that our campus understands and students feel safe,” said Brianna Rowland, the president of the MSC and a senior musical theatre major. The meeting gave students a chance to share their narratives with other students, as well as faculty and administration – a goal Georgia Costalas, the executive director of diversity affairs, highlighted. “We wanted to get as many people as possible participating and talking about their experiences – their narratives – so that campus administration and others on campus could hear the narratives and better understand the students’ experience,” said Costalas. “The students presented everything in such an authentic, low-key, this is my life way. I think that was very impactful because they were just talking like, ‘This is what I live – this is what I go through every day on campus.’” While the meeting opened listeners’ eyes to the everyday experiences of Black students and students of color, it was simply the start of many more conversations. “MSC took an active leadership role, and they have a couple things in the pipeline,” said Erica Acosta, the associate director of diversity affairs. “One is to engage more with the deans and the faculty members – to talk about their experience and what they go through. The second one is having a sit down with our campus police.” Rowland explained some of her early plans RECOGNIZED, from page 2 course delivery well after the spring semester’s conclusion. “We knew that at some point, we need to pay extra attention to the online teaching model and discussed that faculty should learn more about how to maintain a high-quality online course in the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business & Leadership,” said Lee. Lee has worked to make a new plan to structure his courses for the fall. “In fall 2020, I have decided to adopt a HyFlex teaching model in my classes. This teaching model allows students to choose to attend face-to-face, synchronous class sessions or complete learning activities fully online without attending class,” explained Lee. for connecting with faculty and staff in the fall. “We’re looking into setting up a presentation or some sort of activity in order to make sure that faculty and staff are on the same page as us and make sure that they aren’t subjecting students of color to micro or macro aggressions,” shared Rowland. “We want to focus on educating everyone and making sure that communication is open.” The MSC and ODI have also connected with Christopher Jagoe, the chief of campus police, so that a relationship is formed before students are back on campus in the fall. “The Wilkes-Barre Police reached out to further conversation and to make sure that all the African-American students and students of color feel safe on campus,” said Rowland. “Chief Jagoe spoke about meeting with the executive board of the MSC first, and then opening it up to a bigger scale.” While both the MSC and ODI have a number of plans and have been working with administration, Rowland expressed her concern that the conversations may slow down. “I don’t want this to be one of those things that gets really hyped up for a bit and then starts to slowly die down,” said Rowland. “I want it to be a topic of conversation 24/7. I know it’s heavy stuff, and sometimes you need the mental health break, but in order to keep pushing, this has to be the conversation 24/7.” When students come back to school in the fall and want to contribute to the Black Lives Matter Movement on campus, Rowland encourages their support. “When our sister clubs or other cultural clubs have events, then show your support. Join the Multicultural Student Coalition, do the major things to show you’re there with us and that you’re listening, rather than giving a quick look.” Acosta echoed this message: “You don’t have to be in the front lines saying something, but While OTTL had concerns about faculty during their transition, the students ranked as their primary concern. According to Pruett, “As an institution of higher learning, we all value the student experience on campus. We don’t want to see that go away. We wanted to change the culture. We wanted to give students options for completing assignments, so it’s not always on paper. Let them create videos and do more creative activities. “Balancing the incorporation of technology and the convenience that it offers students who have to work and have other responsibilities to deal with – that’s a very real thing for a lot of our students.” Lt. Col. Mark Kaster expressed his appreciation for the students throughout this transition. The Director of Veterans Affairs also serves as a teacher in the environmental I Courtesy of Brianna Rowland MSC president Brianna Rowland helped to enact change on campus in regards to diversity initiatives and student safety. show your support, and be there in solidarity. That means a lot because then we know who our allies are.” Conversations about race can be challenging, but Acosta emphasized the importance of kindness. “I might not agree with you, but I’m still going to be next to you. I am going to be kind to you because at the end of the day, we cry the same – we share pain the same. If we focus on those fundamentals, we can still be with one another,” explained Acosta. Students can watch for events in the fall with the MSC, such as a possible movie night or ice cream social. @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu engineering and earth sciences department. “I’m very proud of the way our students adjusted to this difficult challenge,” said Kaster. “I saw my students adapt every day to do what was needed, to complete their assignments, write papers, deliver briefings and take exams. To work hard for their education. To complete their mission. Working together professionally: students, faculty and staff, the Wilkes team delivered under extreme conditions.” The OTTL is planning on distributing a student survey, which will allow students to share their experience with online learning during the spring semester and what they would like to see in the future. @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 4 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu. To mask or not to mask: Why we should wear a mask By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer Following the announcement that Wilkes will be holding in-person classes this upcoming fall semester, many changes in protocol have been announced. The university is considering practicing various ways to curb the spread of COVID-19, with the most controversial being mask-wearing. The topic of wearing a face mask or not has become a heated issue in the United States, especially regarding its effectiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintain its usefulness, explaining “face mask coverings may slow the spread of the virus, and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.” The CDC also has explained the disease can “spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.” Wilkes University biology professor Debra Chapman has encouraged the use of masks. “Think about it, if everyone wears masks, it would make sense that the risk of infection by COVID-19 is decreased,” Chapman said. “The mask is certainly better than nothing.” The sudden requirement of wearing masks has led to strong opposition, citing claims of ineffectiveness and causes of harm to the wearer. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been debunking these popular myths and rumors regarding the possible cons of mask-wearing. A debated rumor is that the wearer can suffer from CO2 intoxication (the gas we exhale) or oxygen deficiency (the gas we breathe in). Additionally, other claims have risen regarding those with breathing problems being exempt from mask-wearing in buildings. The WHO has refuted these, stating that masks should be tight and snug around the face, but loose enough to be able to breathe properly. “The prolonged use of medical masks can be uncomfortable,” the WHO said. “However, it does not lead to CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency.” If one is in need of a mask, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has offered directions on how to make a homemade fabric mask, and can be found at health.pa.gov. The materials needed are fabric (preferably 100 percent cotton), elastic or fabric ties, scissors and a sewing machine or needle and thread. Chapman also recommends a few tricks to ensure a proper face mask, including “using material such as that used for flannel pajamas or 600-count pillowcases.” Coffee filters worn within bandanas or scarves are not as effective as cloth masks in capturing and blocking air particles, according to Chapman. “To determine if the cloth mask may be effective, hold the mask up to a light,” Chapman said. “If you can see through the mask, it probably won’t work that well in filtering out microscopic particles.” However, if one is unable to make his or her own mask, reusable cloth masks are available to purchase online from sellers on websites such as Etsy or Amazon. For anyone wary or hesitant on wearing a mask, the DOH wishes to reassure the public by saying: “My mask protects you, my mask protects me.” Although face masks are effective against the virus, other simple measures can be taken for extra precaution. When it is possible, social distancing between others at a distance of at least six feet, or two arms’ length apart, can prevent infected droplets from reaching others. These practices apply to anyone who is sick, even if they are in your home. Social distancing while outside is especially important, as some infected people may not show symptoms. Another factor in staying healthy includes maintaining healthy levels of stress in order to boost the immune system. Although this may be difficult in the upcoming compressed semester, students should make sure to follow a balanced schedule of finishing homework and getting enough sleep every night. These practices, especially mask-wearing, are important due to the lack of a vaccine for COVID-19. The public itself is responsible for preventing the spread of the contagious virus. As a result, we must work together and cooperate with each other to prevent this illness from harming each other. As the CDC states, “the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.” flooding during periods of high-water in the Susquehanna River. The trail stretches through the communities of Wilkes-Barre, Hanover Township, Plymouth, Edwardsville, Kingston, Wyoming and Forty Fort. It is frequented by joggers, walkers and bikers. A portion of the trail lines the river, and provides relaxing scenery for any workout. There are also numerous access points for the trail, such as Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. These access points also provide parking at no fee. For information on the Levee Trail, including access points, visit www. susquehannagreenway.org. @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu BMT, Ricketts Glen among spots to stay active outdoors By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor Among activities COVID-19 has limited, exercise is no stranger. Due to the spread of the virus, some gyms have closed their doors and reduced exercise options for many. While some facilities are beginning the process of re-opening, some patrons feel the risk of contracting the virus is still too high to hit the weights once again. Whatever the reason, the trend in exercising outdoors has increased as of late. There are many spots in the Wilkes-Barre area for outdoor exercise, including parks, communityfunded trails and recreation areas. Luzerne County Levee Trail The Luzerne County Levee Trail, affectionately known as “the dike” to many Wyoming Valley locals, is a paved 12-mile path that spans throughout Luzerne County and protects neighboring communities from - I" ~0 ALCOhCI.IC 8E\''ll/,GES PLEl'.SE RESPcCIT/£ ,%HT PETS IIUST I\" Cfi ~ LEASH , ''£.:W; ST" >,(!\ ,~0 ~\OiORIZD ','EHIC!f 5'f•L ~ l)f40Qr,11tr!S ARE AfFCflOED pq I\IE'LL .\S AN't .:1NDAI.L OrHElt .J,.~DSO' T'HfLJMXl T.>- ij, Md o:r.; ~rs.dnP P,r~ii:h!Mtud1~:~·c •flliS The Beacon/Maria DiBuo The Back Mountain Trail, located at 97 Parry St., spans from Luzerne to Dallas, Pa. Back Mountain Trail System The Back Mountain Trail System spans from Luzerne to Lower Demunds Road in Dallas, Pa. The location affords hikers, joggers and bikers with a location to safely see some of the scenic views in the Wyoming Valley. The trail system was originally a train-route for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and was restored by the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association in 1996. In 2009, two more miles were added onto the trail, making the system a hometown favorite for many locals. In Luzerne, the Back Mountain Trail OUTDOORS, page 10 �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 5 Life, Arts & Entertainment Local businesses slowly reopen in Downtown Wilkes-Barre By Sara Ross & Emily Cherkauskas Asst. News Editor, LA&E Staff Writer With Luzerne County having transitioned into the green phase, more businesses in Wilkes-Barre are beginning to reopen. In Downtown Wilkes-Barre, the Public Square near Wilkes University is a popular spot for residents and students in the community. Being closed for months has impacted businesses that were not essential during the early stages of the pandemic, leading to financial losses. The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce is assisting local businesses’ reopening efforts through their three-step online initiative, Luzerne County Ready. They can view all federal, state and local guidelines and take the pledge to become a “Luzerne County Ready Business.” Through this designation, they are required to follow proper social distancing, sanitation and cleaning protocols. Taking this pledge also enables small businesses that sell personal protective equipment (PPE) to become designated PPE providers. Vice president Lindsay Griffin of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber explained that it is beneficial for these community businesses to take the pledge, as it encourages people to shop local and frequent these smaller establishments for supplies. “We also wanted a place for all local businesses to easily find government, CDC and OSHA guidelines, and we have outlined measures for each type of industry,” said Griffin. This includes restaurants, an industry that has been hard-hit. At the beginning of the state shut-down, restaurants in our area temporarily ended dine-in services and only offered takeout and delivery. Restaurants can now seat customers inside, with tables spaced at least six feet apart. All customers are also required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Other establishments are taking advantage of the summer weather by using their outdoor seating. Restaurants such as Rodano’s and Franklin’s have been providing this option for customers. Junior sociology student Justin Glidden is one of the many people eager to return to normal life. “Now that businesses are open again, I’m hoping to eat out at my favorite restaurants,” said Glidden. Another aspect of the Wilkes-Barre community came back on July 25 as well. Mayor George Brown led the reopening of the Public Square’s Farmers Market, The Beacon/Sara Ross Instanbul Grill, among other locations, has reopened and is offering outdoor seating. enabling local farmers to sell their fruits and vegetables every Thursday. The City of Wilkes-Barre elaborated further on the market’s reopening in a press release, stating, “As the market is outdoors, masks are recommended, but if social distancing is not possible, a mask is required.” The Osterhout Free Library has also joined the number of businesses reopening in Wilkes-Barre. The library is offering a convenient way of no-contact pickup. Anyone looking to pick up books can call the library between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday. The Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA has now reopened to members and will operate at 50 percent capacity with limited hours. The facility has reopened its childcare programs, pool, summer day camp and outdoor group exercises. Although businesses have reopened to the public, the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is still lingering. Glidden feels it is important to remember the virus is still a present concern. “This doesn’t mean we get to go back to our full normal selves,” he said. “We must continue to practice social distancing and frequent hand washing to keep the spread of the virus contained.” As the green phase continues, more businesses are reopening in Wilkes-Barre, but with added health/safety measures in place. Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Students have mixed emotions about fall calendar update By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor The Wilkes fall academic calendar has been restructured in response to COVID-19, creating mixed emotions for both students and staff. The fall semester, originally set to begin Aug. 31, will now begin Aug. 24. Residential students will move back to campus in a “staggered fashion” during the week of Aug. 17, according to information at wilkes.edu/ fall2020. Classes will also be conducted on Labor Day, Sept. 7, and during days in October traditionally reserved for fall break to allow for the semester to be completed in a “slightly condensed time frame,” according to administration. Overall, class days for the semester will be reduced by four with the adjustments. Incoming transfer student Lauren Gardner is excited for the return of face-to-face instruction, especially as a new student at the university. “Even without breaks, I’m happy that some of my first classes at Wilkes will be in-person, rather than in a remote setting,” said Gardner. “I’m looking forward to getting involved at Wilkes, and that’s much easier in-person.” While many students are eager to resume face-to-face instruction on campus, nursing student Josh Hospodar is dissatisfied with the change, even if it means a return to campus. “I’m not a fan,” said Hospodar. “Especially, since I’ll be losing Fridays off in the accelerated nursing program.” According to Wilkes administration, this decision to adapt the fall semester schedule was made based on several factors, including the prediction of a second wave of COVID-19 in the late fall or early winter months. The university also hopes to limit the spread of the virus beyond Wilkes’ campus by eliminating breaks where many students travel home. Face-to-face instruction, as well as final exams for the fall semester, will conclude Nov. 25. The week following the Thanksgiving holiday will be reserved for the completion of any additional virtual assignments, according to administration. While the fall semester is only a few short weeks away, it is important to note that plans remain tentative and are still in progress, pending the health of the community, as well as the nation. Wilkes is also exploring options for those students who may be in isolation, or have health challenges that require avoiding crowds. “The university has established screening and testing protocols for students who exhibit symptoms of the virus,” explained Dr. Mark Allen, who is leading the COVID-19 task force at Wilkes, along with student Justin Kraynack. “Arrangements have also been made with food service and academic affairs for those who have to continue coursework remotely.” In addition, new health and safety standards, as well as the implementation of social distancing and face masks, will be seen on campus during the fall semester. High-traffic areas, such as entrances, exits and stairwells will be monitored and flow in a singledirection. Information on Wilkes’ plan for the fall semester was last updated on July 22. For updates regarding the new fall schedule or the pandemic, visit www.wilkes.edu/fall2020. @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu �Welcome, Dr. Greg Cant The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 News 6 Getting to know Wilkes seventh president and his family By Sean Schmoyer News Editor Thirty years of experience in education paired with a passport that has seen over 30 countries, Dr. Greg Cant assumed the role of Wilkes University’s seventh president on May 26. Cant moved to campus with his wife Angela and their two youngest children Eliza and Jackson. Cant’s more than 30 years in education consists of academic and administrative experience in the United States and abroad, ranging from being the dean of the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University, to a professor in Guangdong, China and working in education at the United Kingdom and in his home of Australia. “I’m excited for the experience and knowledge that Dr. Cant is bringing to Wilkes. With his extensive travel and international experience, it gives me hope and excitement for the future of Wilkes,” said Abby Love, director of international admissions. “We have an opportunity with Dr. Cant’s leadership to really internationalize the campus and give Wilkes students an opportunity to not only experience the world but bring the world to the doorstep of Wilkes. Learning and teaching across the globe Three decades ago, Cant began his journey through higher education as a junior faculty member. After being a student in Canada and Australia, the Australia-native went back to his homeland to begin his first academic position. Cant identified that in higher education there exists a core relationship between a professor and his students, in which a learning environment is created to challenge the students. “One of the great blessings of being a faculty member is your job is to explore, learn, challenge your own ideas, develop research that pushes the boundary of ideas and then engage students,” said Cant. “I was fortunate from the outset to work with both undergraduate and graduate students, and that core relationship was still the same.” From a boy down under to the top Just before the age of 17, Cant’s parents allowed him to travel to Southeast Asia. While there, he celebrated his birthday and discovered his desire to keep traveling. “When you get the bug of what that meant, I grew up in a very safe and secure and happy environment, and the world is an amazing place. So, part of it was the genuine thrill of exploration. I am not the jump off a mountain kind of dangerous guy, but the idea of learning about people and places, I just love and I learned that early. Part of what drove me from then on was the exploration, the learning, something new and being somewhere different,” said Cant. The Cants have also traveled to Jamaica and parts of Asia and Europe. “Everywhere I have been, there are typically remarkable people, and their lives in some ways mirror mine, but in other ways are profoundly different. What I most enjoy, in a sense, is to try and understand their environment and their culture,” shared Cant. “You can learn something interesting wherever you go, and I haven’t really got a pecking order of experience – they have all just been incredible.” Having grown up in Australia, Cant explained some similarities between his homeland and the U.S., as well as some challenges he endured when adjusting to a different country. “All of us grow up in families that are different from each other, and Australia has some things that make Americans feel very comfortable,” said Cant. Language, various cultural norms, food and climate were among the similarities. Certain television shows transcended geographical boundaries as well, as Cant grew up watching Britain, U.S. and Australia-created shows. Despite not knowing popular TV personalities like Mr. Rogers, Sesame Street was wellknown while Cant grew up in Australia. “Often the cultural differences are subtle, but will hit you every so often,” explained Cant. “When we first moved to the U.S., people couldn’t understand what we were saying. Apparently, the accents would be so difficult that I would have to pronounce my name over and over again.” As for interests of the Cants, they spend a lot of time outside. Being outdoors and playing sports have always been a part of Cant’s life, whether it’s hiking, kayaking, visiting national parks or playing basketball. With his dad being a “basketballer,” Cant began playing at the age of 14. “I always loved basketball and played season after season until I got into administration,” said Cant. “We would always find a way to be in nature. When I was younger, we would camp. I had a lot of family holidays going tenting in parts of Australia, so I’ve done that with my kids.” Traveling hasn’t stopped while Cant has raised his own family. All four of his children became world travelers shortly after they were born. For instance, the president’s son was less than six months old when they moved to Scotland, and his daughter was flown from one side of the world to the other at three weeks old. Settling in The Cants have begun to adjust to their new life in Wilkes-Barre. As for the nature-loving bunch, the local hiking trails have been a refreshing fan favorite. “While the pandemic has certainly made this an unusual time to be joining a new community, we are excited to be making our home in Wilkes-Barre,” said Angela Cant. “We are loving the proximity to nature and Dr. Greg Cant posed with his family after being announced as Wilkes’ seventh president. From left to right: Cant’s son Jackson, his wife Angela, himself and his daughter Eliza. �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 News 7 Cant delivered a speech and sat next to interim president Dr. Paul S. Adams (forefront) at the presidential announcement in May. The Beacon/Kirsten Peters On a barren campus earlier this summer, Cant was able to remove his mask for a quick photo. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the mask a part of Cant’s regular wardrobe. great hiking and have been working our way through the take out menus at local restaurants to find a favorite. We are looking forward to better days ahead when we can welcome students, faculty, staff and community members to the president’s house.” During his travels, the president hasn’t neglected to explore the university he will be governing. The older mansions weathered with character and the gateway that connects multiple facets of campus are two of the features that stand out to the Australiannative and make Wilkes’ campus appealing to the eye. “We have a gorgeous campus,” shared Cant. “It is still urban, but it also has this beautiful walk-ability. You can walk down the streets here and think, ‘This is actually a gorgeous spot.’ There are folk who have fireplaces in their offices. I joke now that unless an office has a chandelier and a fireplace, it is not really a good office.” A global mind put to work Being a well-rounded traveler, Cant is likely to use his background to adjust to Wilkes University, despite the additional challenges a pandemic may impose. “Whenever you come into an organization, essentially everyone knows each other and you are the new guy, even without the pandemic,” said Cant. “On the upside, people were really excited to have us join, which is tremendous.” Senior leaders on campus have helped Cant tackle issues related to COVID-19 with remote cabinet meetings. Important decisions have been made in regards to how and when campus will reopen, as well as addressing difficult financial concerns and employment. “What I have been blessed by is an incredible team,” said Cant. “In some ways, people expect a president to come in and drive a decision or be the final arbiter of something, but essentially these are collective decisions based on their experience. In every case, it has been the wisdom of the group that has allowed us to move forward.” In May, non-reappointment letters were mailed to faculty members – an example of one of the tough financial decisions. Although Cant did not choose those affected by the letters, he has monitored its development. “Because of those financial challenges, a hand was forced, and we did give notice to a number – not a substantial number – but a number of tenure track faculty. We are in the process now where those individuals are able to appeal that decision, and they appeal it to me. I will finalize whether there may be an opportunity to reverse that, but it would happen on a modest scale. There isn’t a chance to reverse them all,” explained Cant. The main question to be taken into consideration is how essential each faculty member is in the area s/he works in. Nonreappointed faculty have been given a substantial amount of time to find other places of employment, and any faculty given those notices are able to continue to work through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. “It really is a matter that our finances need to be in better shape, but there were literally tears shed by those involved in that decisionmaking, and our hearts go out to those impacted by it,” said Cant. Wilkes’ future in a changed landscape The University plans continue to address financial concerns, as well as respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to those important topics, Cant is looking toward the future. Despite the fact that graduate programs do not get as much attention, Cant shared that more students are continuing to look into graduate programs. This offers a great potential in the university’s graduate program, both nationally and internationally. Second, Cant emphasized the residential undergraduate experience. “What else can we do? What we can do is continue to evolve what we do in preparing young people for a changed world. If there is a reasonable critique of higher-ed for all of us, it is that we are pretty slow at changing. If you think about disciplines, we are stuck in some pretty old-fashioned ways to understand disciplines,” said Cant. “I think we are going to have fun reimaging what the curriculum looks like and tie ourselves into new realities.” Despite this experience being “shaken-up” for students, Wilkes intends to offer the richest experience possible. Cant cites digital realities, or the increased speed of digital impact, as being a positive of the pandemic. “More people living and working online are doing new things,” said Cant. “How we buy things and how we interact with each has a digital focus. What are those jobs of the future, what does digital media look like, what do future companies and entrepreneurs look like? We need to keep evolving to get students to prepare for a future that has always been fast moving. What we are doing about preparing you for how to thrive in that environment, and that will include everything from the programs we teach to the ways we connect with people.” According to Love, one thing is for certain: Cant will make his mark at Wilkes University on an international level. “I think having the background that Dr. Cant does will really inspire action and bring newfound energy to our staff, students and faculty,” said Love. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with international students and partners around the world and represent Wilkes. With the support of Dr. Cant, I know we will be able to make Wilkes prominent on an international level.” @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Page Design: The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Photos: Courtesy of Knot Just Any Day �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 Opinion Opinion 8 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the opinion editors: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu or Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2020-21 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief – Kirsten Peters Adviser – Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News – Sean Schmoyer LA&E – Maria DiBuo Opinion – Breanna Ebisch Sports – Dylan Mehl Ariel Reed ASSISTANT EDITORS News – Sara Ross Opinion – Zarqua Ansari SECTION STAFF WRITERS News – Genny Frederick LA&E – Emily Cherkauskas Opinion – Jordan Daniel Sports – Christopher Gowarty STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Steffen Horwath OPEN POSITIONS Managing Editor, Asst. LA&E Editor, Asst. Sports Editor, Design Editor, Photographers Interested in joining or advertising in The Beacon? To learn more, contact: Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu or Kalen.Churcher@wilkes.edu 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone – (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member White silence equals racial violence, it isn’t O.K. By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor In the weeks following the death of George Floyd, protests for the Black Lives Matter Movement have taken over the world. In New Zealand, for example, leaders have shifted away from arming police officers in an effort to show their solidarity with the BLM Movement. Protests took place in cities including Berlin, London, Seoul, Karachi, Tel Aviv and even Tunisia. From famous celebrities to common folk, people are enraged at the lack of change in the systemic oppression of black people, especially under the hands of police officers. Some argue that police officers should be educated, require a bachelor’s degree in some social science and tested for potential prejudices before being given their position of power. Others say police should be trained longer. The example being passed around is cosmetologists, who are required to complete 1,250 hours of training, whereas police officers are only required to complete 850 hours. According to the State and Local Law Enforcement Training Academies, of the 850 hours of training, 110 are used for firearm training and only eight are used for conflict management. Many people are urging others to speak up, use their voices and use their privilege to make a change. “Silence is violence” is a common rallying cry amongst the peaceful protesters. It’s important for people to speak up about the issue. Typically, when a person doesn’t talk about something, it’s because they don’t know about it. With how prevalent the protests are on social media and the news, it’s obvious that people know about the movement and the protests. The matter becomes that people are informed, and yet they still haven’t said anything, done anything or made an effort to help. This behavior exhibits disinterest. Even if it isn’t your intention, the implication is heavy. From the perspective of a non-black person of color, here is why silence is perceived as violence. When I was a kid, I was bullied. Every time I took a complaint to the teachers, they’d tell me not to react, to stay silent and to avoid the kids harassing me. They told me if I didn’t react, the kids picking on me would get bored and move on. Of course, none of that advice helped because I continued to get heckled. I had a number of characteristics that would have been susceptible to being bullied: I had a speech impediment growing up, I didn’t speak proper English and I was very underweight. Instead, I was picked on for being a different race. As a child, I didn’t realize that I looked different from other kids. I assumed there was something inherently wrong with me. The only thing that stuck with me was that I was getting bullied and being told to be quiet about it. It got to the extent that I was being physically abused. I told teachers yet again to put a stop to it, and still nothing was done. I once tattled on a POC (person of color) kid, and he got suspended for a week. That struck me as weird. I had taken complaints to teachers about various students multiple times for hitting me, but I had only complained about the POC kid once for using a slur. It wasn’t until years later that I realized white privilege was acting in place for the other students. The point of the story is not to garner pity, but to put things into perspective. Being told to be silent, while I was hurt emotionally and physically, messed with my self esteem. No one seemed to hear when I spoke up about my problems, making me believe it was my fault or that I was overreacting. I was repeatedly attacked in the same, unfair manner, and nothing was being done to change it. It was frustrating and manifested as self doubt, rage and aggression. When white peers don’t speak out for a black person’s rights, it feels like being told to be quiet and complacent in your own oppression. It feels like your problems aren’t significant enough to even mention. White people have this secret super power in their whiteness that protects them from facing injustices as harshly as black people do. When they don’t use their voices, it frustrates black people that the potential is wasted. It’s like saving the perfect bite of your sandwich and finding your dog snatched it off your plate while you answered the door. Many people prefer to remain neutral, citing that there are valid points on both sides of the argument. The problem with this mentality is that no compromise or change is happening. Instead of picking a left or a right turn on a road that doesn’t go straight, the person choosing to be neutral is driving their trolley into the wall ahead. Picking a side doesn’t mean you can’t support points the other side is making, nor does it mean you support every point the side you picked has made. For example, I don’t agree that abolishing the police would be the right move. The police, if trained properly, are a useful tool for maintaining crime in a society. However, I agree that the police are over funded. Education, housing, public health and youth services would benefit greatly by providing marginalized communities (often over-policed) with necessities. This would, in turn, reduce crime. SILENCE, page 9 �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 Opinion First year: expectations versus reality By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer After graduating high school and deciding to continue my education at Wilkes University, many people asked how I expected my first year of college to go. My typical answer was that I expected to learn a lot from my professors’ lectures, make new friends, receive a decent GPA and enjoy my time on campus. Yet, it never crossed my mind to add completing my first year of college during a global pandemic to my list of expectations. Although the end of my first year was different than how I imagined it to be, and at times stressful due to COVID-19, my first semester did not stray too far from my original expectations. Regarding my fall semester classes, I took a lot of general education courses outside of my major of communication studies, which were required for me to take. I did not have an interest in taking most of those required courses, but at the end of the semester, I realized I learned a lot from all my professors. Even though I learned a lot from those classes in my first semester, I decided when scheduling for spring semester came around, I would take some more courses related to my major. I even took a new course, Global Cultures: Issues & Perspectives, that was being offered for the first time by professor Dr. Gina Morrsion, whose FYF: Going Global class interested me during my first semester. I enjoyed both of her classes so much that I decided to add global cultures as a minor, which I did not expect to do in my first year at Wilkes. I am also thankful for the new, exciting friendships I’ve made while attending Wilkes. I was hoping to meet new people and was fortunate enough to be able to do that as a result of the many different opportunities provided by the school. I made some friends at orientation and in classes my first semester, and I got to know others by joining clubs like UNICEF and the school’s newspaper. The first thing I noticed when I came to the university was that almost all the upperclassmen students were welcoming and friendly, which surprised me because I thought most of them would be closed-off due to their studies and work. Nevertheless, the upperclassmen I encountered always offered a helping hand if needed and made sure I was comfortable adjusting to the college lifestyle. Just when I thought I was getting used to attending classes and balancing studying with having a social life, my time on campus was cut short in the spring semester because of COVID-19. This was quite disappointing because, after experiencing my first semester of college, I was excited for what my spring semester would hold. I wanted to try doing work outside on the greenway or walking around town with my friends while we enjoyed the beautiful weather and flowers in bloom, but in reality, I was meeting my professors and classmates online from inside my bedroom back home, as we all tried to get through this new, yet chaotic moment in our lives. The end of my first year at college was completely unexpected and a struggle to switch from face-to-face instruction to online instruction. But, I did not let this obstacle deter me from finishing off the year how I envisioned. Fortunately, my hard work paid off in the end, and I received a 4.0 GPA for my spring semester, allowing me to check my last expectation for my first year of college off my list. keep their communities safe, but it might not be enough. Although face masks/coverings must be worn at all times on campus/within buildings and social distancing rules will be followed, several aspects of college life that flourished in pre-COVID times are going to make the transition difficult and potentially unsafe. Unless drastic measures are taken to alter certain parts of the university’s living standards, how can anyone be sure it’s safe to return to campus? Roommates living in dorms together automatically break the social distancing rules, and public areas/group settings that are always open to students such as the library, dining hall and study spaces would make it difficult for safety precautions to remain in place. Large events planned by the Programming Board, Student Government, Student Development or other organizations known for hosting beloved events on campus will have to adapt to the new “normal” in order to continue with these happenings for students. Although it will be very important to follow the rules in order to keep everyone on campus protected, there is always the possibility of students choosing not to wear a mask or not adhere to the campus or state guidelines. Unfortunately, due to the uncertain and unnerving times of the world, it’s easy to feel skeptical about returning to the life that was considered “normal” a few short months ago. Resuming face-to-face classes for the fall semester is a step forward in recovering from the way COVID-19 has directly impacted our daily lives. The decision was well thoughtout by the university and allows students to return under new circumstances to protect themselves and others from the virus. However, without thorough and much needed changes to the typical way of life that many Wilkes students are accustomed to, the lingering danger of COVID-19 may be closer than expected. Having everyone’s health at risk leaves the question of whether it is truly safe for Wilkes to continue forward with their plans for the upcoming semester. The Wilkes community is awaiting further information about the future of their education due to the pandemic, but it’s most important that everyone stays safe and healthy while on campus in the fall. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu COVID-19 poses danger for campus return By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor The threat of COVID-19 is still very much alive and well in the United States. As cases rise across the country due to states being reopened and with safety precautions slowly being lifted, many are skeptical of returning to normal life. Wilkes University, in hopes of having students return for the fall semester with new regulations and changes in place, is expecting to conduct classes on campus while taking precautionary measures to ensure members of the community remain safe. But questions still remain: Is the university making the right decision, and is it entirely safe to resume face-to-face classes in the fall? With the removal Labor Day and midOctober breaks, as well as ending the semester before Thanksgiving and starting classes a week early, students will be at the university from mid-August to the end of November. Limiting travel for both students and faculty is an effort to try to keep the virus from spreading to campus. Almost all other higher education institutions across the country are making similar decisions to help SILENCE, from page 8 9 Picking a side shows that you stand in solidarity with humanity. The Black Lives Matter Movement isn’t about marking black lives as more important, but rather highlighting that black lives are in danger in an unfair systemic clash that needs resolving. By saying Black Lives Matter, you are saying that everyone should have equal rights and be treated with the same level of respect. Some people fear speaking out about their opinions because of potential consequences. For example, many people work for corporations that have asked their employees to remove any mention of their employment at the establishment to remain politically neutral. (For a business that is trying to make money, this seems like the right tactic. They want everyone’s money, not just the side they might be affiliated with because of their employees). In this case, I believe it’s possible not to speak about the issue, but to compensate with your actions. Going to a protest, donating money and spreading awareness are important parts of any movement; you don’t have to publicize your efforts, but you should be making efforts, especially if it’s a cause that you believe in. There is no point in believing in a movement if you don’t do anything to help. After all, doing nothing to help is what the people who don’t believe in the cause are doing. Lastly, everyone wants to make a change in the world. When a movement of such historical magnitude is taking place, the opportunity to be involved is once in a lifetime. With much time to self reflect this summer while in quarantine or while social distancing, I want you to think for yourself. How can you use your voice, your privilege or your status to help a cause that simply asks for a second chance to breathe? Graphics by Zarqua Ansari Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 Sports 10 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be an Athlete of the Week? Contact co-sports editors: Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu or Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu College recruiting takes a hit during global pandemic Recruitment plays a major role not only in each athlete’s decision on where to continue his/her academic and athletic career, but it also impacts every university’s athletic department. Coaches, in particular, have had to readjust their recruiting processes as a result of COVID-19. In this sense, Wilkes University is no different and has found itself having to make many changes. Several athletic programs were affected as soon as the pandemic hit. Spring seasons had just begun and recruitment was reaching its peak when COVID-19 halted all things sports-related. Much of the recruitment process was slowed down, or even came to a stand-still, as the whole world went into frenzy. In April, assistant men’s basketball coach Scott Robinson explained one of the major points of concern. “Families don’t want to make a commitment to a school right now until they see how all of this shakes out with the economy, since college is a huge investment,” said Robinson on April 21. Since that day, conditions in Pennsylvania have begun to improve, and the economyhas begun to reopen. Both of these positives have made coaches, players and fans more optimistic and given families peace of mind when it comes to athletics in the near future. Yet, many sporting events for the summer were either postponed or cancelled, which caused recruitment over the summer to also change. “COVID has eliminated all summer showcases and qualifying tournaments that I annually attend,” said Joseph Czopek, men’s and women’s volleyball head coach. “Efforts will shift to more localized single day events or high school matches.” Wilkes’ head football coach Jonathan Drach listed many ways recruitment has taken place, including virtual tours or phone calls with high school coaches and players. Drach did highlight that the “face-to-face evaluation” is missed in this scenario. Relationships between prospective players and coaches have become more important than ever, as this connection is one of the few things both parties have to go off of. According to Robinson, “All we can do now is just continue to build a strong relationship with potential recruits and their families, and hope that soon, they will be able to make a visit.” With the 2020-2021 sports seasons being affected by COVID-19, the recruitment process for the 2021 season will also take a huge hit. If there are high school sports seasons, there will certainly be several restrictions made to the amount of people who can attend, along with many other safety rules. There is a world, however, where high school sports are cancelled for the upcoming season. A scenario like this alters the recruitment process going forward at Wilkes. If high school sports do not happen OUTDOORS, from page 4 Valley. For more information on the Francis E. Walter, visit www.recreation.gov. any area in the Wyoming Valley, especially in these “new-normal” times. Face masks, as well as social-distancing, are required for many recreation locations in the area, especially those that are state-funded. Familiarizing yourself with trails and packing essentials, as well as telling a friend where you are going, are also important tips suggested on many recreation-area websites. For Erin Tollinger, an earth and environmental science major at Wilkes, these tips ring true. “I would definitely say to be familiar with where you’re hiking,” explained Tollinger. “The trails in NEPA have a bunch of different paths you can go down, so it’s easy to get lost. I would definitely bring sunscreen and bug spray, too — those are two of the biggest things that bother me while hiking.” Keeping them in mind can make all the difference while you are sweating off the stress this semester. By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor System can be accessed at 97 Parry Street. More information on the Back Mountain Trail System can be found on the Back Mountain Trail’s Facebook page, or discovernepa.com. Francis E. Walter Dam A short 20-minute-drive from campus, the Francis E. Walter Dam is located just outside of Bear Creek, and provides the space for boating, picnicking, running and jogging. “One of my favorite places for outdoor recreation has always been the Francis E. Walter,” said Jake Peters, a 25-year-resident of the Wilkes-Barre area. The Lehigh River, which feeds the Francis E. Walter, is also another popular location for boating and fishing; however, it is a further distance from campus. Swimming is not permitted at Francis E. Walter Dam, and can be extremely dangerous. WRemember to use caution when visiting any area in the Wyoming Ricketts Glen State Park Ricketts Glen State Park is described as “one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A 35-minute-drive from campus, Ricketts Glen offers the perfect location for hiking, swimming, camping, boating and fishing. While much of the park was closed temporarily due to the pandemic, as of June 26, all areas are open, including the beach on Lake Jean. “Ricketts Glen has always been my favorite spot back home,” said Ky Rice, a Wyoming Valley native who recently moved away from the area. If you are eager to visit the park, driving directions, as well as maps of the area, are available at dncr.pa.gov/StateParks/ FindAPark/RickettsGlennStatePark. Visiting Procedures Remember to use caution when visiting @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu this year, Drach claimed he would base his recruiting off of junior film, as well as conversations with coaches, players and teachers. He cites that this is “the fair way to do it.” Czopek had a similar perspective, claiming, “All evaluations have been based on highlight videos, coach recommendations and gut-feeling based on my experience.” While it may be the only safe option, cancelling the 2020-2021 high school season may come at the expense of players, coaches and college athletic programs for years to come. There is no telling what kind of jump players can make from their junior to senior years, and this scenario could cost them the chance to continue playing the sport they love at the collegiate level, while universities could simultaneously lose out on athletes destined to alter their programs’ success. @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Steffen Horwath Ricketts Glen State Park is home to 21 waterfalls, one of which is pictured above, along the Falls Trail. �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 Sports BLM Movement gains strength among professional athletes By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor The Black Lives Matter Movement has been growing throughout the world in recent months, and the sports industry is no stranger to the movement’s impact. With athletes across the globe participating in a variety of protests, supporting the cause and speaking out on social media, the assumption is that this behavior will continue on their respective fields of play. As European football resumed play before other sports, many look to them as a model of how the movement can be transitioned into the sports world. The players have been seen wearing Black Lives Matter clothing items and kneeling at the start of games to demonstrate their support. The first league to demonstrate its support for the movement was the German soccer league, Bundesliga. According to Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, or the governing body of the world’s football, “For the avoidance of doubt in a FIFA competition, the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve an applause and not a punishment.” With American sports making a return since the COVID-19 pandemic, many have been left wondering how American athletes will show their support for the BLM Movement. Several athletes immediately took to social media when the movement gained steam, including LeBron James and Serena Williams who confronted the situation head on. Many athletes also took part in Blackout Tuesday on June 2, in which social media and other business operations were put on pause to shed light on the racial injustices around t h e world by sharing a black p h o t o on one’s timeline. Athletes did not shy away from taking the lead in protests as well, as former NBA player Stephen Jackson took on a leadership role. Jackson even referred to the late George Floyd as his twin in a display of strength and unity. The NBA has become player-led league over the last decade, with players freely and openly speaking out on social issues. Under the commission of Adam Silver, this behavior has not only been tolerated but encouraged of the players. “I think we have had a rule on our books that goes back to the early 80s, that precedes even David Stern’s tenure as commissioner, that calls for players to stand in a line and attention during the national anthem. I also understand the role of protest, and I think that we’ll deal with that situation when it presents itself,” said Silver at a June 30 press conference when asked about players kneeling during the national anthem. The NBA will be painting “Black Lives Matter” on all courts used in the restart of the league to demonstrate their support through action. 11 In addition to the NBA, the NFL has been a major subject of conversation when it comes to kneeling during the national anthem. The NFL can attribute this conversation to quarterback Colin Kapernick’s decision to kneel during the anthem as a way to bring awareness to police brutality and the oppression of people of color. Several players have expressed their intent to kneel during the anthem, including Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Alivn Kamara. “I have the utmost respect for our military, cops and people that serve OUR country,” shared Mayfield, the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, in a social media post. “It’s about equality and everybody being treated the same because we are all human. It’s been ignored for too long, and that is my fault as well for not becoming more educated and staying silent. If I lose fans, that’s O.K. I’ve always spoken my mind. And that’s from the heart.” The MLB has also shown their commitment to the movement by donating over $1 million dollars to different organizations that support the BLM Movement. Like the NBA and NFL, MLB teams and players have also shown their support through various social media posts. Graphic by Ariel Reed Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Coronavirus takes its toll on all levels of collegiate football By Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor With cancelling March Madness, postponing spring sports seasons, delaying the NBA post-season and delaying the start of the WNBA, COVID-19 has taken its toll on the sports world. This begs the question: Will the sports world ever be the same? Discussions about the safety of studentathletes during this global pandemic have been the top priority on the minds of NCAA members. With the start of fall sports right around the corner and preseason training having started as early as June 15, major universities are doing whatever they can to try and get their athletes on campus to start preseason training. “Our first priority is to keep our players safe and healthy,” said Jonathan Drach, Wilkes’ head football coach. “I do believe that we can play football and do this at the same time. Our administration, athletic department and campus community have been working hard to set protocols for the return of our student body. These steps will enable us, as well as the entire MAC, to move forward with fall sports.” Most Division I universities are hosting optional workouts on campus for their athletes, while also adhering closely to the policies put in place. Some of these policies include regular temperature checks and testing, wearing facemasks wherever possible, constant sanitizing of equipment, quarantining out of practice hours and social distancing. In the Centre Daily, Penn State sophomore cornerback Keaton Ellis asserted, “Everything is not going to be normal when you go back. I understand that and the team understands that, and we’re ready as players to make some sacrifices because that’s what it’s going to take to move forward. “They (the Penn State Athletic Department) have a good plan put in place, and I believe we can get through this successfully.” Another one of the precautions that may happen to NCAA football is reduced stadium capacity. This means that PSU’s Beaver Stadium or Wilkes’ Schmidt Stadium, alongside all of the other stadiums in the NCAA, will be reduced to approximately half capacity. This reduction in fans will affect ticket sale prices, but it may not affect the atmosphere of the game. “I do not think that reduced stadium capacity will affect our overall atmosphere,” said Drach. “At the Division III level, it is not about the size of the crowd. It is more about the spirit of competition and the love of the game.” Talk of reducing the amount or completely cutting out non-conference games has been a hot topic in the NCAA. The discussion of cutting non-conference games has been fueled by the increasing amount of positive COVID-19 tests at the Division I football level. “Non-conference is beneficial to see how we stack up against other teams in different conferences,” said Billy Doron, a sophomore linebacker for Wilkes. “However, trying to contain our team to a certain region because of coronavirus and removing non-conference games from our schedule seems like a logical sacrifice we need to make.” Without these sacrifices, Wilkes may end up cancelling their season like Bowdoin College in Maine and the University of Massachusetts, who were two of the first Division III schools to cancel their fall sports seasons. The removal of non-conference games could negatively impact football, but as Doron said, sacrifices like this may need to be made to ensure the safety of the players. @wilkesbeacon Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu �The Beacon – Summer Issue 2020 Welcome letter from Student Body President Kevin Long By Kevin Long Student Body President Hello Colonels, My name is Kevin Long, and I will have the honor of being your student body president for the 2020-2021 academic year. I’d like to tell you all a little about myself, so you can get to know me a bit better, as I hope to get to know each of you better this fall. To begin, I am an upcoming senior biology major with a minor in sports psychology. In addition, I have the privilege of being a student-athlete on campus as a member of the cross country team. Lastly, for those of you who reside on campus, you may have seen me around our beautiful residence halls. This is because I have the honor of serving as an RA on campus, as well. In Student Government, I have served in multiple positions over the past three years. I began as a class representative and rose to a class treasurer position. As a junior, I earned the executive treasurer position, where I spent last year as the chief financial officer and planned events such as Casino Night, which we all look forward to every year. Finally, this past spring semester, you all elected me to the honor of student body president. I cannot thank you – the student body – enough for entrusting me with this honor. You have my word that I will do all I can to serve you and be the voice of the student body until the last day of my presidency. As you all know, the past several months have not been in any way comparable to normalcy. The future also looks to be unprecedented, as we progress through the current COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that all Colonels are anticipated to return to campus in the fall, and we will be together ATHLETICS, from front for our student-athletes to compete,” said John McNichol, women’s soccer head coach. “I am optimistic about the spring, as that is a few months away.” A women’s soccer season in the spring would afford senior athletes the opportunity to play one last time and finish their careers – a sentiment that rang true among all fall athletic teams. “Having my final year of competitive soccer filled with uncertainty and questions is a bit scary,” shared Niamh Harkins, a senior defender. “Of course, I would love nothing more than to have some type of final season in the spring, but knowing there’s still a chance even that won’t happen makes it hard to stay positive.” NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #355 WILKES-BARRE, PA again as a student body. Things will likely be different in regards to gatherings and events, but the Executive Board and I are committed to being innovative and creative in our planning. We intend to keep you informed during these hard times we all are going through. I know many of you have questions or concerns about a variety of topics regarding the university and how things will be. I ask that no matter how small or how big your questions are, you send them to the Student Government email (studentgovernment@ wilkes.edu) or our social media (@wilkessg). We will address them all or provide you with the source to get your answers. Similarly, if you have ideas, concerns or things you’d like to see for the upcoming semester, we are here to be your voice. From the day I started in Student Government, I have always lived by its motto: “For the students, by the students.” I intend to hold that motto close throughout the year. My goal in this coming year is to bring Student Government back to the students by advocating as the voice for the student body. However, I cannot do this alone and am asking the student body to collaborate with Student Government. Together, we can make a difference on our campus and pave the way for future generations. I cannot wait for the fall to welcome everyone back to Wilkes! See you all soon, Kevin Long @WilkesSG Kevin.Long@wilkes.edu Harkins isn’t alone, as fellow senior Lauren Baldwin, a member of Wilkes’ field hockey team, expressed her concerns. “In one word, it’s stressful,” said Baldwin. “Not knowing whether I should mentally prepare to red shirt, play a fifth year and pursue a master’s degree or to play an unconventional spring season is difficult. You truly take for granted when you’re told to ‘play like it’s your last’ – you never really take that seriously until it actually is.” For men’s and women’s volleyball and cross country coaches Joe Czopek and Nicholas Wadas, the opportunity to play in the spring is motivation enough to begin preparation plans. “I am hopeful that volleyball will be able to play in the spring, and even a shortened season is better than none,” shared Czopek. Following NCAA guidelines, Division III Courtesy of Louie Greco Kevin Long, Wilkes’ 2020-2021 student body president, prepares to take office and mold innovative events for a unique fall semester. The senior urges students to reach out to Student Government with ideas and concerns to allow representatives to be the voice of the collective student body. athletic teams are able to define the playing season by a certain number of days instead of consecutive weeks. With 114 days allocated for impacted teams, athletes will still have the opportunity to practice and weight train. “I sent a message to the team that said, ‘I’m bummed out. I love coaching you guys, but let’s make this work and make this the best experience possible,’” explained Wadas. In addition, Wadas noted that some athletes are optimistic about what advantages this extra time can have for making improvements. Despite this elongated time frame being advantageous for some, it creates a host of problems for dual-sport athletes. Maddie Kelley, a senior field hockey and women’s basketball player, has concerns about the quality of her final seasons. “Thinking about having two sports potentially start in January of the spring semester is definitely one of the first things that crossed my mind once I heard the news,” said Kelley. “I would never want to pick one sport over the other, and I hope I don’t have to.” One thing is certain for Wilkes Athletics, and that is these decisions are a work in progress. “I think it’s important to be as transparent as we possibly can be. We don’t know what the spring is going to look like, just like we don’t know what the fall is going to look like,” said Drach. “We need to be very cognizant and data-driven when we’re making decisions, and I think we need more time and data to make those decisions on what the fall and the spring are going to look like.” @wilkesbeacon Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 summer edition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 summer edition Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/4a41c2b05cc7677a212e25627f69b486.pdf 2c11b270a6561968b44208cf28cb0483 PDF Text Text 1 The Beacon - September 8, 2020 w HEBEACON Est.1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 2 Wilkes Universi - Wilkes-Barre, Penns lvania Two weeks down: University COVID-19 update By Sean Schmoyer News Editor • Positi\ Cas s by Day The week of Aug. 31 began with Wilkes University having confirmed four students to be positive for COVID-19 and 18 students in quarantine. By the middle of the week, President Greg Cant had emailed the University community informing them that the number of students who had tested positive was seven. As of Sept. 5, the number of positive cases is eight, and the number of students 2 in quarantine is approximately 90. While the number has increased, the university sent out an additional email with important (J _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _,......._ _~ - - -- -- - - - - - - -- - - - -- -- - - - - - - t,.1•0 11~, • 2 .,3 4114 ani, e,-14 &·H' Nit 1,1,, t"'20 .,n 11,22 vn taA tr..::, &.-'21 Bl21 &121 IIZ9: e-ao eta~ 111 i-"'2 -64 'il'!l information regarding the designation of students who are quarantined versus those who are in isolation. Graphic from https://www.wilkes.edu/coviddashboard "Quarantine keeps someone who was The first positive COVID-19 case appeared on Aug. 12. Until Aug. 28, no day saw exposed to COVID-19 away from those who more than one positive case reported. Three positive cases were reported on have not been exposed. ·Quarantine lasts for 14 days from the time of last exposure," Aug. 28. Since then, two more positive cas·es have been reported, one on Aug. explained Diane O'Brien, director of health 29 and one on Aug. 31. To date, one student case has been confirmed. and wellness services at Wilkes, in the campus-wide email. quarantine numbers was that two pharmacy places, but the dashboard relies heavily on "Isolation separates those infected with labs were possibly exposed to a student who the Health and Wellness office. Members of the Wilkes COVID Daily and testing positive for COVID-19 from tested positive for COVID-19. According to people without COVID-19, even in their . Provost Terese Wignot, those labs and the Response Team meet to discuss the own home. Isolation separates people for pharmacy department have moved online information known to students on a daily the duration of infectiousness, which is for thetime being. basis. Every day, the university keeps students Justin Kraynack, assistant -vice president two days before onset and at least 10 days after onset;' said O'Brien. "Isolation can end up to date with what is going on through the of operations and compliance and member when symptoms are improving and after COVID-19 dashboard (https://www.wilkes. of the Daily Response Team, explained the the absence of a fever for at least 24 hours edu/coviddashboard), which is updated in process of how students are tested. without the use of fever-reducing medicine:' the morning at 10 and in the evening at 6. The information comes from various COVID-19, page 4 i1e reason for the large increase in ~ Sordoni Art Gallery reopened with "Drawn to Abstraction" exhibit; ready for socially distanced visitors By Maria DiBuo Life. Arts & Entertainment Editor The Sordoni Art Gallery has reopened on campus, providing students with ~n escape from classes and everyday stressors. "Drawn to Abstraction;' the featured exhibition, showcases prints from the 1960s and 70s, capturing the vibrancy of emerging abstract movements of the time period. Works displayed in the "Drawn to Abstraction" exhibition originate from a time of boundary testing and social critique in America. In response, artists from the time period challenged accepted techniques and subject matter, in addition tQ examining the role of art in society. Abstract expressionism, minimalism and op and pop art can be found amongst the works in the Sordoni Gallery, including widely recognized artists of the twentieth century, such as Josef Albers, Helen Frankenthaler and Claes Oldenburg. "The exhibit was supposed to open this past spring, so it's been self-quarantining as well;' said Karley Stasko, outreach coordinator for the Sordoni. SORDONI, page 10 iii i .OS:. ~ "' ~ §· E .c tJ Cl) tJ "' Cl) CD Cl) .c I- Strategie~ for increa~ing diYersity promoted during FBA ,\·ebinar, page -; Chal-hdck Bo,eman: Honoring hi~ legao· be:·ond ·'Black Panther-" page 15 r �.J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 2 News News Have a breaking story or a J>ress release to send? Contact the news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Sept. 2 weekly meeting notes By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor Student Government conducted its first virtual meeting of the semester this past week, and it began with Student Body President Kevin Long introducing the university's President Greg Cant and Vice President Paul Adams. Cant and Adams welcomed back Student Government members and discussed the preparations made for students' return to campus. When making these decisions, they wanted to ensure students could maintain as much of a normal college experience as possible, even during a global pandemic. However, they also require everyone to follow the rules implemented by the university, which will keep students safe but engaged in a way that keeps the school open and retains opportunities for the·students. Adams further stated how they appreciated the continuity that Student Government provided when students were sent home last semester, especially through their activities and social media presence. "Student Government is the center of the Wilkes community," Cant explained. "Your voice is critical to our ongoing success, as your ideas help to shape the future of the university." Next, the Wilkes COVID-19 Taskforce provided updates concerning the cases on campus. Dean Mark Allen and Justin Kraynack, assistant vice president of operations and compliance, led this discussion and described how they are consistently refreshing a dashboard located on the university's website. They informed members that they will be having a meeting with the Wilkes Department of Health and may be making adjustments to COVID procedures if cases do escalate on campus. Transitioning into internal Student Government business, there was a presentation by Executive Board Vice President Brooke Mazzotta about the Club Hub, an area on campus located on the first floor of the Henry Student Center. There, clubs can use the crafts available to create posters and other promotional materials, and students can even obtain work-study positions. Mazzotta was requesting a total of $6,000 from Capital Projects, which would cover purchasing Club Hub craft supplies and provide the funds for the work-study positions. At the next Student Government meeting, it will be decided whether or not this amount will be allocated. The sophomore, junior and senior classes have all begun planning for their fundraisers and socials as well. Each of them are looking to have virtual events and are trying to modify activities that would typically be held throughout the year. Some of these events include the Downtown Establishment Tour, Homecoming and Casino Week. Some final notes include"d Virtual Club Day coming up on Sept. 11, and the Programming Board hosting a contest for students to show off their masks on social media. Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Graphic by Madison Hummer Beacon Briefs: Upcoming Events Compiled by Sean Schmoyer How to Make Reservations at the Fitness Center and Recreational Time For those interested in using the Fitness Center, they should use the Calendly link to reserve an hour time slot in the fitness center. 1.) Log on to www.gowilkesu.com. 2.) Click the Fitness Center link at the top of the page. 3.) Click the link to the desired date. 4.) Choose a one-hour workout time. • 5.) Make sure to be on time for your workout, which will be limited to an hour. For those interested in using the McHale Athletic Center and Henry Gymnasium, the Calendly link will be used to reserve an hour time slot in the MAC or Henry gym. 1.) Log on to www.gowilkesu.com. 2.) Click Athletic Department. 3.) Click Open Rec. 4.) Choose a one-hour time slot. 5.) Make sure to be on time for your workout, which will be limited to an hour per day. Council of the Clubs lb.is Week The virtual Council of the Clubs will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. Student Development will send a Zoom link closer to the meeting date. Before Council of the Clubs, make sure to update your club contact information using the links provided in Wilkes Today's email updates. For any questions, contact Megan Pitts at megan. pitts@wilkes.edu. American Red Cross Blood Drive The American Red Cross will be hosting a blood drive through its American Red Cross Bloodmobile, a bus that will be parked in the parking lot behind the Henry Student Center on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. The Red Cross encourages students to schedule appointments ahead of time to help maintain social distancing. To schedule an appointment, students should call 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767}, or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: WILKESU. Stress Management Art Therapy Club Looking For Members The Stress Management Art Therapy club is looking for members to join, those who are interested in learning ~ ress relief techniques by doing arts and crafts should contact courtney.dolan@wilkes.edu. Other activities include stress management through coloring, painting, crafting and more. Parking Ticket Appeals Parking Services will be working remotely this fall semester, as such all Wilkes University parking citation appeals will be conducted via email. Appeals should be directed to parking@wilkes.edu. When making an appeal, be sure to include: your name, WIN, the number on your parking citation (located at the top right of the citation), your Wilkes parking permit number (if applicable) and the reason for your appeal. @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Upcoming Events: 2020 Fall Semester September · 11 - Virtual Club Day (SG) 11 - Council of the Clubs (SG) 12 - A Picnic Along the River 15 - American Reef Cross Blood Drive 18 - SBDC Lecture 19 - Virtual Open House . 27 - Lambda Kappa Sigma Virtual SK 28 - Dr. Schicatano Zoom Lecture October 27 - Dr. Toll Zoom Lecture 31 - Halloween November 7 - Virtual Open House 11 - Veterans Day . 25 - Holiday Recess begins 26 - Thanksgiving Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: TheW~Beacon@wilkes.edu �r I <.:.:. The Beacon - September 8, 2020 3 News Dr. Kuiken named interim director of Honors Program fun stuff like Netflix watch and that helps when parties and online trivia to you have · a whole get a chance to come together class of people who Dr. Jonathan Kuiken has stepped into really want to be and have some fun and blow a new role on campus as the Interim there and are really off some steam. I think we all need a little bit of that too;' said Director of the Honors Program. Kuiken doing the readings is an associate professor of history in the and stuff like that. It's Kuiken. Global Cultures Department and was just fun;' said Kuiken. In addition to a change in previously on the Honors Advisory Board. how events will be held, the "I feel like when The Honors Program at Wilkes you have people who .Honors Program also saw a gives "self-directed, self-motivated, are motivated and change in location. intellectually curious students" the chance want to be there and The new offices for the to "join others with shared interests and want to participate, Honors Program and the new aspirations in a collaborative learning it really elevates the lounge for student use are community:' whole class." · located on the second floor of This type of program is som~thing the Stark Learning Center. It is not just Kuiken has considered important, even Honors The offices are located in Program before his time at Wilkes. SLC 262, and the lounge is in students that bring "When I was an undergrad, I excitement to classes. SLC 258. participated in a version of an honors Rose Dietrich, a While ·Kuiken is excited Photos: The Beacon/ Sean Schmoyer program, which was very focused on member about his positi(?n, he noted of the Dr. Jonathan Kuiken in the new offices on the second floor of Stark community and leadership. It's actually Honors . Program that Jennifer McLaughlin, the . where I met my wife. So, it was a pretty and also a student Learning Center, room 262. administrative assistant, has meaningful experience for me," stated in one of Kuiken's Along with every other organization on been a huge help. Kuiken. classes, noted how his excitement to teach campus, the Honors Program has to make "She is the real heart and soul of the The experience of the "Honors makes a class so much better. some changes regarding events for the Honors Program, and honestly, she's Program is, as he says, "not just about, "Despite it being a 9 a.m. class, a time year, while continuing to emphasize the the brains of the operation," explained academically-gifted people . coming in that some people aren't quite awake yet, ideals of the program and help students. Kuiken. ''I'm not exaggerating when I say and taking classes. The idea behirid the pe was able to bring energy into the Kuiken plans to have speakers that I could not do this job without her." Honors Program is really to emphasize classroom. The energy he brought was from within .and outside the campus While Kuiken is taking over at a time leadership and emphasize service to the often in the form of passion. Personally, community speak over Zoom about a that will require some adjustments and campus community and the broader for me, it makes the class experience so variety of topics, such as health during new solutions, he explains, "I have a year, community." much differe~t when the professor is the se~ester, the upcoming election and so I'm going to make the most of it:' These traits of community, leadership visibly passionate about the class," said leading through crisis. Conversely, he also plans to have some and service extend outside of the Dietrich. The President of the Honors Program more laid-back meetings. .a' @wilkesbeacon classroom and are what attracted him to Student Committee, Olivia Raymond, "We're thinking about doing some JJI' Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu the Honors Program in the first place. "The attitude .,,,,,,.,,,,..,,.,,,,,,.,,,_,.,._,__..,,,.-.,,..,,..---, has not had in some Kuiken in schools' honors class but programs is is already to set these aware of the students up as enthusiasm • not just normal he brings students to the they're honor program. students - and "I have I really want never had :Closed to avoid that;' a class with ugh Friday: described Dr. Kuiken, :o Kuiken. but I had "We want the chance · . to 5 p.m. to be elite to meet him without being The new honors lounge has socially-distanced through elitist. Being furniture for students, as well as a white board for attending the faculty a member of students to share messages. the Honors Honors Program is much more about service to meetings due to my position as president other people than it is about glory to you:' of the HPSC;' said Raymond. "He was Teaching honors courses has brought always an active participant and leader at Kuiken many fun class experiences as these meetings, so I am confident in his well. abilities to be a leader and look forward to "Honors students are very motivated, seeing what he will do with the program:' By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer s p.m. r �.J The Beacon . . :. September 8, 2020 4 News CDVID-19, from frontcover available in residence halls for student quarantine. Shiowitz, Sterling, Ross and "Generally, students are going to our a small number of apartments on campus health and wellness services and they are are all being used for quarantine. being evaluated there, and the tests are Vice President Paul Adams addressed being taken at that point and monitored that the increase in cases . within the by Health and Wellness services;' said ,· pharmacy department highlights how the Kraynack. . campus is going to·approach COVID-19 - Kraynack also explained that students for the remainder of the semester. tested elsewhere have ,their information "We have come to the conclusion that passed on from the Wilkes-Barre Health.. our approach is going to be phased," Department to the campus. The Wilkes- said . Adains. "I think you wouldn't Barre Health Department also handles find a ·situation where we would move contract tracing, which starts with a directly from being face-to-face · to positive case. sending everyone home. We would Once a student has been identified operate in a much more phased way and through contract tracing, Student.Affairs concentrate our attention where the issue will reach out to them. is concentrated." "We give students an idea of a length Adams continued, "I think as we did of quarantine and answer any questions," with the situation with the pharmacy explained Mark Allen, dean of student school, you can see where we acted in affairs. "We then also assist if they are one place where there was a concentrated residential students in respect to meals issue. We would continue to do that, and other needs. whether it is in a residence hall, a class, a "Out of the office of student affairs, we lab, a team or whatever the situation was:' systematically contact all of the faculty As the pharmacy department was of the affected students and indicate, but moved online, Wignot expressed that not being very specific, that the student faculty have prepared for situations like will be out for a period of time. We direct this one. the students to work with the faculty "Our faculty did prepare all summer and engage with them so that there is long for the eventuality for both short no miscommunication in terms of the term, and we hope not, but longer term assignments that are necessary to keep remote instruction. For the places we up with their work:' can, faculty are ready to transition to a Whether students return home or remote environment for a week, a month stay in halls on campus is on a case-to- or longer." case basis. Students who quarantine are As students become more aware of allowed to stay on campus when they have the number of students in quarantine, their own bathroom or those they share a occurrences such as fire alarms can cause living space with are also in quarantine. slight fear and panic. Currently, there are 48 of the 50 beds · The Daily Response Team stressed that CourtE;SY of the COVID-19 Daily Response Team "I think we would be remiss to leave this conversation without expressing our appreciation to our colleagues, and the students, faculty and staff for how patient they have been:' said Paul Adams during a Zoom call with members of the COVID-19 Daily Response Team. From left to right, top row: Justin Kraynack; Gabrielle D'Amico, executive director of communications and graduate marketing, and Mark Allen; bottom row: Paul Adams, Terese Wignot and Sean Schmoyer. --·--- --• - Graphic from https://www.wilkes.edu/covid9ashboard As of Saturday at 6 p.m., eight students tests have been positive, 11 are awaiting results and 25 are negative. The week of Aug. 24 remains the week with the most positive cases at four. Only two of the 50 beds set aside for quarantine have been occupied. Four hundred ninety-seven courses are being conducted face-to-face, 179 are being conducted as hybrid courses, 128 as synchronous online courses, 120 as asynchronous online courses and 24 hybrid-flexible (HyFlex) courses. the safety of students in events like fire alarms and other potential hazards take priority over COVID-19, in that, students who are quarantined will be evacuated like any other for their own safety. This is possible because not only are environments like stairwells and hallways low risk compared to long face to-face interactions, but also because, as Kraynack explained, ·the .virus can be asymptomatic most of the time. "This disease can be asymptomatic most of the time, so even the individuals that we have who are testing positive, which is a really low number right now, many of them aren't ill at all, and maybe won't have any symptoms at all. "It is important to keep those who have tested positive and those who came in contact with them for a prolonged period of time away from other students;' said Kraynack. Kraynack also explained that there are no students in campus apartments or halls who are in isolation, and there never would be. "It is important to remember that because you are quarantined, you are not sick, and you do not have COVID -19. The idea is to separate from individuals in case you become symptomatic:' Overall, the best thing students who are nervous can do is . follow regular protocols like wearing masks and social distancing, especially during fire alarms. Adams, as well as the rest of the Daily Response Team, expressed how grateful they are ·that students are cooperating with quarantine processes and working to keep each other safe. He also commended students, faculty and staff for following social distancing and mask wearing policies across campus. Cant closed his email to the campus regarding the virus with important reminders of health and safety procedures. "We know this is concerning news;' said Cant. · "Please understand that we have prepared for this very scenario and all the appropriate steps are underway. We continue to assess the situation in consultation with Wilkes-Barre Health Department. "For everyone's safety, we remind all members of our campus community to continue to wear your face covering at all times, wash or sanitize your hands frequently, maintain social distance from others and monitor your health and seek medical advice when needed. The health and safety of the campus community is our top priority:' Any questions or concerns, should be expressed by emailing covidupdate@ wilkes.edu. . @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu �r The Beacon - September 8, 2020 News 5 " Socially-distanced spaces allocated for commuter students . . . _.r-~- By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer 10 minutes between classes to find a quiet enough place to sit down and log in to Zoom:' Some of the rooms set aside include Breiseth Room 105 and collaboration rooms in both Stark Learning Center and the basement of Farley Library. It is important to note that the collaboration rooms in the library must be reserved, and only two people are allowed in the collaboration rooms in Stark at a time. While these spaces are important, commuter students require more than just a place to take classes. The Wilkes Commuter Council has tried to intercept the needs of students and help to organize places to stay on campus between classes. The pandemic has brought about a change in the everyday experience of going to school. For commuter students, these changes can be especially daunting and confusing. Matt Costello, . a junior electrical engineering major, remarked on how strange this school year feels. "I see some of.my classmates when I come to campus for labs, but that's only a few hours a week. Once those few hours are up, I don't see anyone for a whole other week; said Costello. "It's a surreal feeling because I feel like I'm not in school, but I still have tons of work to do:' To prevent · the spread of COVID-19, specific spaces on campus have been designated to allow commuter students to attend online classes on days in which they also have in-person classes. This has been a significant problem for commuter students. Junior earth and environmental science major Erika Wintersteen has faced this problem already. "One ofthe biggest challenges going into the first week was where I was going to be able to take my online classes, since I can't exactly go back to a dorm room and take it;' explained Wintersteen. Photos: The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer "One of my online classes on Monday and Wednesday is Nick Alfano and Lindsay Becker study in the right in between two in-person commuter lounge on the second floor of the SUB, classes, so I struggled in the at one of the four tables set up for social distancing. ---"4""-4=-i Bree Polascik, the president of Commuter Council and a P2 pharmacy student, reminded commuters of places on campus that they are safe to hang out in. "The commuter lounge on the second floor of the SUB is a great place to study or relax between classes; however, with the COVID regulations, there is a maximum capacity of eight students allowed in the room at a time, so please keep this in mind when you are entering the room. Check on how Breiseth Room 105 is a full, socially-distanced many people are in the room, wear classroom available for commuters to use to a mask and follow social distancing study. guidelines; stated Polascik. Wintersteen has some of her own everyone's different schedules:' favorite places to hang out on campus, such as, Polascik and the rest of Commuter Council "the lounges in Cohen, especially the fourth- want everyone to feel comfortable on campus floor lounge overlooking the river, and the and encourage involvement even though that collab rooms in Stark." may be more challenging this semester. Many commuters are used to spending most ''.Although this semester is . extremely of their days in different spots around campus, different from anything we've experienced, so the change requires some adjustment. my advice to the first-year students remains For students who are nervous about the same: Get Involved! Sometimes, it can be handling in-person classes, Polascik reminds challenging for commuters to feel like they are everyone to wear a mask, keep hand sanitizer a part of the campus community, especially nearby, wash your hands and "if you're now. So, keep an eye out for Virtual Club uncomfortable attending class, be honest with Week, and sign-up for some clubs. There is your professors, and they will work with you:' sure to be something here a:t Wilkes that you'd Costello noted teachers' understanding as love;' said Polascik. well. She advised that upperclassmen should go "Teachers have been a little more by the same advice, "Stay involved on campus, understanding with attendance this semester; and enjoy your time here because it will go . · said Costello. "Some teachers made certain quick!" online meetings optional, since we may have @wilkesbeacon other obligations at that time and other classes '!Jiff Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu offer multiple meeting times to accommodate ..a Wilkes, LCCC announce enhanced dual admission agreement By The Beacon News Staff •• This past Tuesday, President Greg Cant and Luzerne County Community College President 'Thomas P. Leary signed-off on an expansion to the pre-existing dual admission agreement between the two schools. Under the agreement, LCCC students who transfer to Wilkes will receive more benefits through various scholarships. Students will be able to qualify for merit scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $18,000 annually. LCCC . Presidential Scholars who have earned their associate degree with a minimum 3.5 grade-point average or -higher will receive Wilkes' Presidential Scholarship, one of the highest merit scholarships available to Wilkes students. It is currently valued at a minimum of$21,000 per academic year. Community college students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society have additional scholarship awards available in the form of $2,000. In addition, LCCC students who are receiving the Francis S. & Mary Gill Carrozza, R.N. Health Sciences Endowed Scholarship may be eligible for a Leaders in Science Scholarship of up to $1,000 upon admission to the university. A 3.0 gradepoint average and entrance into a science program is required. The Leaders in Science scholarship cannot be combined with other add-on or bonus scholarships. "Wilkes University is pleased ·to expand our dual admissions agree/Jlent with Luzerne County Community College by providing scholarships that will encourage the most talented students to continue their education at Wilkes;' said Cant. "The agreement allows Wilkes to build on its historic mission of providing access to a four-year degree to all those who show pron).ise." Alongside the scholarships, the universities have also signed new program articulations, which will create seamless transfer pathways for community college students entering programs in the Sidhu School of Business. Accounting, corporate finance, financial investments, management and marketing, sports management, as well as the accelerated bachelor of business administration program (ABBA), are included in the transfer pathway. For LCCC students to participate in the dual admission program, they must sign a dual admission intent form at the LCCC admissions office by their third semester at the community college. A new change is that students enrolled in the Dual Admission Program used to only be eligible to register free-of-charge for a maximum of nine credit hours in courses offered by Wilkes University. Now, students can take up t~ 12 credits at Wilkes free-ofcharge, while still enrolled in LCCC. "Improving the transfer process between educational institutions is vital, and these comprehensive agreements allow our institutions to work ·collaboratively to help students build their futures and change their lives; said Leary. "The significant opportunities for scholarships will greatly benefit our graduates and help alleviate their student debt." Students interested iri learning more about the dual admission agreement and any new changes should contact the Luzerne County Community College Admissions Office at 570-740-0342 or the Wilkes University Admissions Office at 570-408-4400. ~ !JIIJf @wilkesbeacon · TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 News 6 ·How COVID-19 guidelines have changed campus dining By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor masks as a part of their daily uniform, have their temperatures checked and answer health scre.ening questions before the Wilkes University's dining areas have beginning of their shift. not been left untouched by COVID-19, as For first-year students, adjusting to the students and dining hall staff are responsible changes made to the cafeteria has been for adhering to both federal and state challenging, as they are still trying to learn guidelines as instructed by the Center for their way around campus. Dustin Edsall, an Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and electrical engineering major, has o~ly made the Pennsylvania Department of Health. visits to the SUB so far to get his meals. At General Manager James Watldnson first, he found the layout of the cafeteria has been a member of the Wilkes Dining confusing but was able to adapt to the setup. Staff since this past May and has played a "Once you get into things, it becomes so crucial role in ensuring that the university's much easier:' Edsall stated. "You just have dining locations are following the necessary to make sure you stay within the markers procedures. · that begin at the entrance of the cafeteria When getting ready for students' return and continue throughout the different meal to campus, all dining areas had to make stations." adjustments. The Henry Student Center's Students are directed by the decals and cafeteria, also known as the "SUB," had tape located on the floor. There are bubbles to make changes to seating layout, meal that students can stand on, which enforce preparation, food delivery, cleaning social distancing and ensure they stay at procedures and sanitation. least 6 feet apart. "We have even taken steps further by "The only area that may cause some utilizing Nano Strips, a self-sanitizing confusion is when the line reaches Nosh adhesive guard, on high touchpoints in Deli station:' said Watkinson. "We have all our locations, so students have another instituted a separate line for the students to safeguard against COVID-19," said use to bypass that area, if they do not want Watkinson. to get food from the deli." Signs are posted throughout the SUB, and The food stations available to students other high-traffic student areas on campus, are mostly serving the same types of items to enforce the wearing of face coverings as they have in previous years. The SUB and maintaining proper social distancing. still offers burgers, fries, pizza, pasta, · sandwiches and salads, along with other alternating meal options. Adjustments have even been made to Grille . Works' and Which Wich's menus in the Rifkin Cafe. They have been resized and focus only on student favorites, which helps to streamline the ordering process. According to Watkinson, this Photos: The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer is one of the best The Rifkin Cate's.socially-distant lines, pathways and seating ways for them mimic that of the third floor's cafeteria. Students Nick Surgent, · :e accom~~~: Gabe Crowley and Christina Mahama are pictured at dinner. community, and in time, they will Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are eventually be returning other food items to provided, as well. There are even limitations the menus. to the number of students who can be in the Meal preparations have not changed, as cafeteria, which has been capped at 137. they produce fresh food daily. Although, Watkinson stated that before the start of handling has been modified to reduce the the semester, employees received additional risk of possible virus transmission, which training. They are now required to wear has caused the cafeteria to no longer provide buffet-style "' meals. With their new grab-and-go policy, the cafeteria has now substituted plates for styrofoam containers. Another first-year, Ray Anderson, a pharmacy student, discussed how he enjoys placing his food in the takeout containers, as it has made it convenient for him to carry it back to his dorm. If he does not finish his meal, he can heat it up later in the night. However, he Outside seating behind the Henry Student Center is also likes being able to centered around the campus gateway and runs along the sit down to eat in the grass toward Fortinsky Hall. SUB. At the start of the semester, Wilkes' ".All of the seating available inside the cafeteria is either for one or two people dining introduced mobile ordering and and no more," explained Anderson. "The is partnered with an application called cafeteria provides an escape from all the "Dining Sidekick." This has made ordering work of college because whenever I go food at other locations, such as Grille Works, Which Wich and Greens to Go, there, I find time to relax." ·' While the weather is nice, students have much simpler. For further updates about dining policies, also been taking advantage of outdoor seating to eat their meals. There are tables information is located on the university's set up around the back of . the Heriry dining services website, www.wilkes. Student Center if students want to enjoy campusdish.com. their breakfast, lunch or dinner outside. Starbucks has been offering this option as @wilkesbeacon well, as students can sit down to drink their Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu coffee. The gaming lounge across from the elevator in the Henry Student Center has had the pool tables turned into seating. Other tables have been socially distanced to provide more room for students to eat downsr.iirs, as well. �r The Beacon - September 8, 2020 . . Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 ·Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu. Family Business Alliance hosted diversity initiative webinar Local "leii'ilers discussed various strategies for increasing diversity in college and the workplace By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer -• The Family Business Alliance held a diversity initiatives webinar on Sept. 3 to discuss how Wilkes University,. Penn State Scranton and other business leaders in the area are tackling discrimination and inequality in the workplace and on college campuses. The webinar was conducted by Sue Reilly, executive director of the Family Business Alliance. A panel discussion featured Erica Acosta, associate director of diversity affairs at Wilkes University; Dharti Ray, coordinator of diversity, student services and engagement at Penn State Scranton; and Kim Wylam, president of Baker Tilly Vantagen. The objectives of the webinar included how millennials and Generation Z are changing their social perspectives of workplaces and employers, as well. as reviewing initiatives that colleges and universities are forming and undertaking toward diversity and inclusion. . The panel also discussed what businesses can do to show solidarity with minority groups. "It's time we talk about systemic racism and social justice," A~osta said. Acosta discussed the efforts Wilkes University has taken to advocate for equality. She explained that the university received a grant to the Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC), a mega council at Wilkes that aims to celebrate cultural diversity. Acosta also recalled the moment Wilkes · President Greg Cant sent a newsletter to the campus in May, speaking out regarding the death of George Floyd and the rising tension, racial violence and injustice in America. According to Acosta, "We knew where the whole university stood" on the matter. Wilkes University also plans to hold more forums so students and faculty can hear stories from various speakers on their own personal experiences. The plans include holding virtual meetings, which can aid the · university's efforts to raise awareness and increase listeners for its cause. Due to costly expenses that allow speakers to visit the campus, Wilkes has developed a racial justice scholarship, allowing student~ • to form their own social justice initiatives. "We want to engage in the conversation of diversity and what we can do with it;' Acosta said. Acosta hopes to spearhead a c;onver.sation with students and faculty where people speak out about how they feel regarding. societal issues. Ray explained Penn State Scranton's efforts to include a more diverse environment on their _ campus. The university also spoke out about injustice for equality, with President Eric Barron setting up a town hall to plan a diversity action said. "It's not offensive to have these plan for their campus. Penn State Scranton open conversations about how we want was able to create various subcommittees to do better and have more minorities in across all Penn State locations that focused the workplace, regardless of race, age or on allowing students to speak out about gender." how they felt about various issues. Wylam discussed how important it is Penn State Scranton also held a for businesses to have diversity initiatives, Juneteenth event over the summer to noting that she never walked into a commemorate the ending of slavery in the company without a ·policy. She expressed United States, studying the significan<-:e of that if a place of employment does not that day and how important · have any diversity initiative in a company, it is to the black they are not diverse. Wylam also expressed the difficulties for people to support a company if that same business does not represent them. "Businesses are serving a client;' said Wylam. "If I .am buying your product, and don't see myself represented in any of your products and advertising, then you're not attractive to me." Wylam also explained a silv~r lining of fhe worldly changes of the COVID-19 outbreak. Prior to the stayat-home order, the labor market was tight. However, now that many employees are working from home, businesses are able to hire out of their smali areas, allowing for a more diverse field of employees from different backgrounds. "When you are invoking that diversity, it's not just creating a diversity of color;' Wylam said. "It's a diversity of thought. It community. Ray noted that the also allows people to reinvent themselves university's student council focused on the a lot easier:' diversity of students and faculty, educating Wilkes University and Penn State them on why it is important to be mindful Scranton both noted that the younger of others' lives. generation of graduates are more socially "There is basically no tolerance for racist and economically aware of issues and wish activity or discrimination on campus;' Ray to be represented, and hope to collaborate said. in future discussions. Wylam felt the need for change and "Diversity is one thing - inclusiveness acceptance in American society. She is something else;' Wylman said. "Are believes that silence can be considered businesses walking the talk?" offensive for needed conversation. Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu "There needs to be more conversation about diversity and inclusion;' Wylam Graphic by Mia Walker r �The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Coping with the stress of COVID-19 during the fall 2020 s~mester By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Wrter The lingering threat of COVID-19 has left the world in chaos, with Wilkes University students feeling rising tension and stress from the virus. Although students and faculty . have been taking extra precautions in preventing illness, a factor that many are not sure how to treat is the stress and anxiety that comes along with an overwhelming semester. Cassidy Taylor, a junior in communication studies and psychology, expressed her confusion and fears pertaining to the peculiar semester. "It's just been so weird," said Taylor. "My friends and I have been trying to wait it out. I'm trying to figure this out as best as I can:' Maddy Kinard, a sophomore in communication studies and English, cited how she initially expressed fears when returning to campus. . "For me, personally, I was primarily the most stressed coming into the semester because there was so much uncertainty;' Kinard said, recalling her worries over the new rules and regulations around campus. Although students are separated from one another, these negative feelings of fear can be felt by anyone. Melissa Gaudio, a campus counselor of Health and Wellness Services, acknowledges that this is a difficult time in everyone's lives right now. "The way of life to which we have grown accustomed to has become majorly upended and that produces a wide array of thoughts and feelings," Gaudio said. Many students have been suffering from isolation and loneliness due to avoiding others. Gaudio believes, however, that people are still able to socialize properly by wearing -masks, social distancing and frequently washing their hands. She also notes that "reaching out through social networks and virtual connection with peers, friends and family" can help reduce those feelings of stress and loneliness. Kinard also felt that proper socializing helped her stress levels decrease. She noted that watching movies or going out to eat with roommates or friends is calming. "I feel like coming back to school and seeing professors and friends have led me to better manage that stress because you're with people who are going through the same exact thing, as opposed to being at home," Kinard said. "Dealing with that sort of stress by hanging out with friends in a socially-distanced environment helps a lot." Gaudio encourages students to work Kirsten Peters, Editor-in-chief: Acquainted - The \Neeknd Sean Set.mayer, News Editor. Hey wait - Mid-Day Moon 6-a Ross, Asst. News Editor. SUPERBLOOM - MisterWIVes Genny Frederick, News Staff Writer: Hello Hello Hello - Berni Wolf Maria DiBuo, L.A&E Editor: Voulez-Yous - Abba Emily Cherkauskas; L.A&E Staff Writer. LEMONS (Demo) - Brye Breanna_Ebisch. Opinion Editor: Lost In The WIid - WALK THE MOON wisely and creatively by forming healthy routines, listing a variety of activities any student can engage in. She recommends walking or biking, yoga and meditation, casual exercise, arts and crafts, watching lighthearted shows or programs, listening to music or podcasts, photography, playfng an instrument and engaging in old or new hobbies. Now that students are cooped up in their dorms and homes, it can be noted that even a simple self-care routine can help boost spirits in oneself. Eating healthy, sleeping well and taking note of emotions is a great way to keep one's body and mind in check as the semester goes on. "Connect with nature by observing the sensory experiences and noticing what is happening around you," Gaudio said. "Take good care of yourself by eating three meals per day and getting seven to nine hours of recuperative sleep. Keep a gratitude journal to - recognize the uplifting rays of life in your life, within the storm." Additionally, it is important to avoid drugs, alcohol and other harmful substances as a way to cope with stress. According to Gaudio, those are dangerous ways to handle stress, and "will only create more problems:' Instead of exposing oneself to negative news stories, Gaudio believes students should focus their Internet use on positive outlets. She cites helpful relaxation apps, including Headspace, Moodpath, PTSD Coach, Relax Melodies or Calm. If you ! are suffering from any overwhelming negative feelings, including stress, anxiety and depression, you are encouraged to contact various resources, including counseling services at Health and Wellness Services, Campus Interfaith, the Learning Support Center, Student Activities and Career Services. Due to the current environment, it is important to stay involved with developments at Wilkes University. Today@Wilkes sends out daily emails to students, highlighting various events, socially distanced or virtual, that are happening around campus. "It is time to shift the paradigm from solely a 'me' focus to a 'we' emphasis;' Gaudio said. "Consider how you can help contribute to the greater, collective good and the healing of our society in all forms. It starts with an open mind, consideration and ultimately a mutual respect and sense of personal responsibility for one another's safety and well-being:' @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Zaqua Ansari, Asst Opinion Editor: The Other Side of Paradise - Glass Animals . Jonlan Daniel, Opinion Staff Writer. Lights Up - Harry Styles Dylan Mehl, Co-Sports Editor. Back2Barre - TeyGnec Ariel Reed, Co-Sports Editor: Titanic - Juice WRLD Chris Gowarty, Sports Staff Writer: Novacane - Frank Ocean Steffen HOIWalll, Staff Photographer: Post Humorous - Qys Qam>erton . �The Beacon !..... September 8, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 New learning environments cause uncertainty among students Students have mixed emotions about combination offace-to-face and on line classes By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor With in-person classes in the midst of their third week, many Wilkes University students are pleased to resume face-toface and hybrid approaches to learning, even with new precau!ions put in place, while some feel the return to campus holds a great deal of uncertainty, especially in coming weeks. With 495 courses being offered in a faceto-face fashion, in addition to 176 hybrid courses, the university has implemented safety procedures to ensure the well-being of students who have returned to campus this fall, including one-way stairwells, sanitizing stations and online ordering for dining halls. While some students feel the new protocol can feel a bit excessive, they are happy the university is allowing the return of students to campus, rather ,than cancelling in-person classes entirely, seen at many larger institutions. "I like in-person more than online, but the new rules are kind of annoying," said Matt Matrisciano, a student attending faceto-face classes, despite unknown factors associated with returning to campus during this semester. Tm really just glad we're back in classrooms:' •• In addition, students have recognized the efforts of faculty and staff in ensuring coursework and classes will still continue, despite the challenges associated with the virus. "It's new," said Genesis Belliaid, a student taking in-person, as well as hybrid classes this semester. "While I only have one faceto-face class, it's really interesting to see the new ways they've been holding classes." courses entirely online, as well as 24 listed as HyFlex. While the administration at Wilkes has been quick to adapt from businessas-usual, there are students who feel an entirely-online approach to the fall semester would have been better suited with so much left unknown and conditions rapidly changing at universities such as Temple and Penn State. "In-person classes this sem·ester seem to be going alright - it's just a little stressful looking at all the colleges near us going back online. In the end, I would prefer us to be online instead of having a mix offace-to-face, online and hybrid classes." - Arieli Brabant Despite precautions, a handful of positive coronavirus cases have been seen on ca1,11pus, in addition to several in quarantine. For students who feel the risk of attending classes in-person is too great, the university is also offering over 200 "In-person classes this semester seem to be going alright - it's just a little stressful looking at all the colleges near us going back online," said Arieli Brabant, another student attending face-to-face classes this semester. "In the end, I would prefer us to _____, be online instead of having a mix of faceto-face, online and hybrid classes:' With just under three months left in the fall semester, guidance on the pandemic will adapt as necessary. In an email to students, Gabrielle D'Amico, executive director of communications and graduate marketing, reminded _individuals of the changing conditions and guidance from health officials, adding that students should stay current with university communications and be compliant with changing directives, in addition to exercising patience "as we get through this challenging time:' Questions regarding policies related to the pandemic or COVID-19 .on campus should be directed to Wilkes' COVID-19 response team, ~hich includes Dr. Mark Allen, dean of students, Justin Kraynack, assistant vice president and chief of operations, or Dr. Paul Adams, vice president of student affairs. Additional information can also be found on the FAQ page of Wilkes' fall 2020 website. Quoting a message from university president Dr. Greg Cant, "We can do this. Together." @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Want to join the conversation? ~ a Ute. amood entmalnment writer. Ft-osltffl:&fl rn:t~lht"Ul}ot$W&lt:onlef -■■■If ■■■■■ - -- -■■■ -■L-- r �.J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment Abstract Interact is a replicated print, providing students with the opportunity to take selfies and photos with the artwork. SORDONI, from frontcover Pieces from "Drawn to Abstraction" traveled from the Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts, located in Kalamazoo, Mich. In addition, local artists and businesses have donated their work to be displayed in the gallery. "We were able to get art from local donors - we have pieces donated by local artists. Axelrad also makes a ton of our shirts, so we thought it would be cool to feature them, so they actually donated one of their silk screens;' said Stasko. While the gallery is now open to students and the public, some things have changed since being open on campus this past spring. In addition to masks and social distancing, the interactivity of the gallery is something that has been modified in recent months due to the ___ ~ ' ,o,,. Mff"i...Ml'f Visitors are invited to place themselves within the four walls of the frame, take a photo and share their #SAGselfie on social media. pandemic. "Normally, we would have things people could touch and move, but since we want to stay _away from that, we've had to adapt a bit;' Stasko explained. Creatively, the Sordoni Art Gallery has adapted one of the prints from the "Drawn to Abstraction" exhibition, by turning Fenice, by Piero Dorazio, an Italian artist, into an interactive piece using light, where guests are able to take pictures and selfies. In addition to the re-opening of the gallery, an online event via Zoom celebrating display of the exhibition will be held at 6 p.m., Sept. 10, featuring a lecture by Rehema Barber, chief curator at Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts. Barber will discuss the exhibition, as well as other works in Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts' collection. Additionally, Barber will take audience questions and feedback. Local talent will be showcased, putting a twist on the event and making it more than the traditional lecture. Registration is required by Sept. 7 for the event. Those interested.in attending can email Karley Stasko, karley.stasko@ wilkes.edu, to secure their place, as well as join an email list for other online events through the exhibition, such as as a 60s and 70s themed mask-making event that will be held via Zoom in the coming days. The Sordoni Art Gallery is housed in the Karambelas Media and Communication Center, and is open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Unlike previous semesters, the gallery is now closed on Sunday.s for cleaning Shadows are created by this interactive piece. due to the coronavirus pandemic. Masks and social distancing are required for all visitors. "The space really lends itself to social distancing;' said Stasko, when speaking of the safety protocols put in place now that the gallery has re-opened. "You'd really have to try (in order) to not be socially distant:' • "Drawn to Abstraction" will be displayed until Nov. 1. Admission is free for both students and the public, promoting the gallery's mission of encouraging an appreciation of the arts and an understanding of its role in society through direct engagement. @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu ,,., _,,_ ,.,.,,.,__,.,,,..,,. ""'~,..:,·{h~;AM~ ·· =~";,~~; 'tf~llr~~~~~/f,'M41',;<;r. rllllly-,,.+ fo•,-~~-.~•~ ~.,,.tt!J~tli,._~~ :A-~f>~- {~.,t ,.;,,t.tj,1-. ~ fll/$~ f-lfti~;,,~.-,-~M,illf- . -l"l't#J/,f"'-'I .......... W'-1' ~~~~'1"~~ t , , . ~ l / , , # ~ ~ ¥ ...11' »IJY .w:,.,. #f. fMI, fpl/F,f ,r-.,:~ ~-Vtfl~~r,--.,r..~W.? --"'!"1,.._ Minimalism is one of the many types of artwork featured in the "Drawn to Abstraction" exhibition. Photos: The Beacon/Steffen Horwath The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday at various times. �The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 - Dining on campus goes mobile through the Dining Sidekick app Ordering from your campus favorites with increased safety and ease This year, Wilkes joined the online dining sphere, allowing students the option of reducing contact with others Wilkes University Dining has brought · while dining on campus. its services into the age of technology, During regular hours of operation, adding a new app for mobile ordering. students can order from Grille Works, The app, Dining Sidekick, allows Which Wich, and Greens to Go from students to order meals from the comfort virtually· anywhere at any time. The of their dorm room. meals are prepared and ready when Mobile ordering has existed for years one arrives. This makes eating much and has been ·utilized by many places, more convenient, as students don't have including restaur1mts, grocery stores to wait in lines, which at times, can be and coffee shops. Some of these options very long and hard to properly social include Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, distance. which are favorites for many students. Mobile ordering is convenient during ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > - , the COVID-19 pandemic, as it limits the amount of people WILKf S UNIY~l!$1TY in the Rifkin Cafe or the P.O.D. at one time, as well as one's personal contact with others. In addition, the mobile ordering system increases the safety of Wilkes' food service staff by lessening the amount of individuals they come in contact with daily. Good Morning, Colonel! Food orders get packaged to go, so individuals can simply Rat~Order walk up to the counter, pick up their meal and head home, or wherever they desire to eat, WILKES DINI NG as long as they're in a place where it is acceptable not to . - Grille Works l2mi11 wear a mask for the period of QfJllfl IJ!Jlil 8'00 PM time it takes to eat the meal. Many students have already Which·Wich IZmin started to use the new Dining C'f)tltl ilOili 800 PM Sidekick app. Freshman Ashley Gangaware said her _ . Grille Works Combos 12nnn favorite thing about the app O}'JllO untli 8:00 PM is "how easy it is to use." Senior David Miller . Wh ich Wich Combo. f2m,o explained that he has not yet Op1;11 001il 8:00 PM used the app, but he intends to. He believes, however, the Greens To Go l'.2 min app is less convenient than Op,;11 ooLf 4:30 f'M ordering in-person. "Despite the added safety Greens To Go Combos 12 ,nm effects created through Of)m unt,t 4:.JO PM using the mobile app versus in-person, I feel that the implementation · of the H<iro§ app has been difficult, By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer * a. • mi ti with many students not knowing the it gets cold. Make sure to turn on process of where to wait, how to know notifications to be notified of when your when their food is ready - despite the food is ready. Feel free to eat where you complications, it is a reduced menu feel comfortable on campus, as long as anyway;' said Mill~r. it is a safe space where you can socially Contrary to Miller's belief, Gangaware distance while masks are removed. considers the app to be more c.o nvenient The whole process of ordering than waiting in-person. She would takes about two minutes for a decisive choose to use the app over ordering in - individual and about 10 minutes for person. She ordered her food, which was a picky one. Overall, Dining Sidekick ready within minutes of her arriving. speeds up the process of . ordering, She then was able to eat while she got waiting in line and dining on campus. much needed studying done. ~ @wilkesbeacon Freshman Cayla Stiles also thinks the • Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu app is more convenient than ordering in-person. "It is really easy to use;' said Stiles. "You can click on anything you want, add anything to your order and pay on the app. It tells you all the dining options and how Q. long the wait is for each. The notifications when your food GREENS TO GO COMBOS is ready is also really nice." The first step to making your dining· more efficient Salad or Wrap Combo is to download the Dining Sidekick app from the App Store on iPhones or Google Play on Androids. Then, select CREATE YOUR OWN Wilkes University and log in using your Wilkes email. Romaine The app will display the many dining optfons offered on campus. Students can click Kale Spring Mix on their choice, and the app will display the full menu. Students can customize $5.29 burgers, create their · own Wrap salad and make a sandwich, all at the touch of a button while using the app. Add your Soup item(s) to your order and checkout. Students can pay using R 9-. dining dollars or another form of payment. Be sure to click check-in, so the staff can start preparing the order. SPECIALTY SALADS AND WRAPS Preparing one's meal will CHECKOUT only take about · 15 minutes, so be ready to get it before < J r �J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Sports By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor Intramural sports will be back at Wilkes University for the Fall 2020 semester; however, they :will not .be exactly what students are used to. Due to COVID-19, intramural sports will be slightly different than normal. Six new sports will be offered, including three esport games and three in-person games. Madden, NBA 2K and Fifa comprise the esport options, while a Colonel decathlon, a three-point contest and cornhole make up the in-person options. The health of students is of concern, which is why several measures are in place to ensure the safety of participants. With esports comprising half of the offered intramural sports, as well as one-athlete games like the decathlon and three-point contest, the safety of participants has been of primary importance. Additionally, all equipment will be sanitized after use. "I think that intramurals, although it will be different from years past, is still a great opportunity for students to get involved and to help enhance their college experience," said Scott Robinson, director of intramural sports and assistant men's basketball coach. All esports games will be played from student dorms and not at an in-person location. The players matched-up for the week will be able to select a time that works for both of them to play, and then report the results. Gatherings at a 12 central location will not be permitted, as to better social distance and work around individual schedules. Each game will come with settings that the games must be played on, as well as additional rules and what to do if there is an online disconnect. All three esport games will be available for Playstation and Xbox users. Madden 20 and Madden 21 will both be acceptable options, due to how recently the newest Madden game came out. For all in-person intramurals, the following safety rules must be followed or a student cannot compete. The rules include: having one's Wilkes ID/ swipe card on-hand, having the Wilkes Shield app and showing a current green badge, passing the temperatu·re check upon arrival, maintaining a proper social distance and wearing masks at all times. Masks must be worn, even while competing. If one chooses not to follow these rules, the student will be asked to leave. Running the ID cards and keeping track of who was in the gym is critical at this point in time. If someone does contract the virus, it will be much easier to find out who came into contact with this individual and could be at risk. As for the decathlon, this in-person sport is likely to be a two-week event that will begin at the start of the intramural season. Robinson explained that a variety of events are being incorporated into the · mix for the decathlon. "It goes from all different kinds of •• . TheB, skill to ki< and i a tar, and track Ea, be 0 1 scon The , woul one , at a outsi n set u poin versi �12 The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Sports 13 ,., permitted, and work th settings .yed on, as 'hat to do if ; will be Kbox users. vill both be )W recently ne out. 11urals, the )e followed 1pete. The Wilkes ID/ the Wilkes .rrent green 1ture check a proper masks at all even while ot to follow be asked to nd keeping n is critical neone does much easier :ontact with at risk. s in-person :k event that ! intramural a variety of ted into the rit kinds of skill stuff - from shooting free throws, There will be six balls in each.rack - five to kicking soccer balls in between cones regular and one moneyball worth two and into a goal, to throwing a football at points. a target, to throwing frisbees at targets There will also be a cornhole league, and some indoor running around a which will be played in teams of two and track," said Robinson. follow official cornhole rules with the Each event in the decathlon will winning team being the first to score be out of ten points, leading to a total exactly 21 points. Cancellation of points score out of 100 for each competitor. will be in effect, and if a team goes over a The estimated time for one person's run score of 21, they drop down to 15 points. would be about 20 minutes, with only "We are fortunate that we are able to one competitor being on the gym floor still hold intramurals in some capacity, at a time while other competitors wait and I hope that students take advantage outside. of this opportunity and make the most The three-point competition will be · of it," said Robinson. set up with five racks around the threeIntramural sports will likely be held point arc, similar to that of the NBA's on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday version of the three-point contest. evenings. Sports will not be held on a specific night, as events will be based on popularity and how many sign-ups are received. Referees are also gaining new ., responsibility this year, as they· I , : •• will be asked to take temperatures, . -- . · monitor mask-wearing, ensure· . --f-1·• social distancing and, as usual, keep stats and make sure game rules are followed. "I think the fact we're still having intramural sports is actually great," said Laura Booths, one of this year's referees. "We're· ~n _·campus anyways, so might as well get what we're paying for." ·, Booths further explained how she believes intramurals being closed to only Wilkes studerl.ts is a major factor as to why they were · able to continue this semester, as this poses less of a risk than traveling athletics. To sign-up for intramural sports, visit imleagues.com to register for one or more of the leagues offered during the fall semester. The deadline for sign-upsis Sept. 1 L Anyone with questions should email scott.robinson l@wilkes.edu for more information. @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker Mia.Walker@wilkes.edu - �The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Opinion 14 Opinion Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the opinion editor: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu The dangerous choice of single use plastics at dining locations Among the countless changes COVID-19 has implemented in our daily lives since the start of the pandemic in mid-March, a small but harmful change has been put in place at Henry's Food Court on Wilkes University's campus. The elimination of reusable utensils, dining ware and self-serve options due to measures taken to further prevent the spread of the virus has led to single use items being used at all dining locations. The change to styrofoam or plastic items is severely dangerous for the environment, and now hundreds of Wilkes studen_ts are unknowingly contributing to harming the Earth during each meal. Although the safety of all students, faculty and staff at the university is now the highest priority with the return to campus during the pandemic, it is extremely hard to ignore the negative impact this decision has on our planet, which is already experiencing the dangerous effects of climate change. At all dining locations on campus, including Starbucks, Henry's Food Court and the P.O.D., reusable or personal items are no longer permitted, which promotes and reinforces the use of single use items. With the heightened use of plastic, styrofoam and other harmful products, the Wilkes community is now a large culprit in contributing to the already devastating climate crisis happening across the globe. According to the Marine Pollution Bulletin, nearly all of the plastic that ends up in the ocean comes from single use plastics like the ones used in the dining hall. Twenty-one percent of the plastic in the ocean comes from plastic bags, drinking straws and bottles. We all know that plastic doesn't degrade in nature the same way organic compounds like banana peels and apple cores do. The degradation of plastics is a process that takes thousands of years. Additionally, as plastics degrade, they become microplastics, or tiny plastic beads that attract other pollutants and coalesce into toxic chemicals. These are absorbed by plants and consumed by animals either directly or through the consumption of the plants. Eventually, those same plastics end up on our dinner plates. According to GreenAmerica, COVID-19 has caused a 35 percent increase in residential waste due to suspensions of curbside recycling in efforts to quell the spread of the disease. Annually, 300 million tons of plastic waste are produced, with almost 80 percent of that plastic ending up in landfills. GreenAmerica also states that nearly 90 percent of all pollution in the ocean comes from just ten rivers. These rivers run through large cities and dump their polluted water into the surrounding earth. Plants and animals alike use this toxic water, further spreading the toxicity. Plastic companies capitalized on the fact that plastic is considered the safer alternative than reusable products in the pandemic ridden world. However, it still remains to be proven that plastic products are actually safer. The studies cited by many of the companies advocating for single use plastics are not focused ·on the survivability of COVID-19 on plastic, but rather other contaminants such as E. coli. Not to mention the university's budget needs to consistently account for plastic or other single use products throughout the semester. By eliminating the use of the traditional dining ware and washing them after each use like the cafeteria has done in previous years, it becomes necessary to think about purchasing the correct amount of containers, utensil sets and other items necessary for single use eating and take out options. Presently, .it is unclear how COVID-19 affects the consumption of single use plastic products and the disposal processes associated, but it has become increasingly evident that mindful consumers are a major factor in the solution to the problem, which includes the Wilkes community. Be mindful of the items you use everyday and how you are contributing to a major, global crisis. t,,Jff@wilkesbeacon • TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu �L 0 The Beacon - September 8~ 2020 15 Opinion Chadl\j.ck Boseman: Honorlng his legacy beyond "Black Panther" colonization, but rather is a product of the people themselves. By keeping the African accents in the movie, Boseman The revelation of Chadwick Boseman's was able to change the entirety of its tone, death on Aug. 28 shook the world. The showcasing the power of Wakanda as actor and director, only 43 years old, self-made rather than a power acquired passed away after a secret four-year battle · as the nation was conquered. In a way, with colon cancer. Wakanda stands as a testimony to what The late actor's work left a lasting African nations could have achieved if _ impression., in the minds and hearts of they hadn't been colonized and enslaved. countless fans and shone a light on Black Normally in American film, minorities culture and history. In addition, his 12- are used as help or comedic relief sidekicks year span of work overcame many long- that don't get a dynamic character arc. held stereotypes and paved the way for This phenomenon is so prevalent it has a better and brighter future for Black been dubbed the "Magical Negro:' Americans. According to TvTropes. American media loves to reassure us com this term was that America is white. In fact, the Oscars popularized by film and Grammys have overlooked works director Spike Lee in by Black artists for decades, effectively 2001. The Magical maintaining representation as a steady Negro is simply a stock source of controversy. Since the media character who comes is a reflection of the· American image, to the aid of white without representation, we fall subject to protagonists in a film, a monotonous and inaccurate image of often possessing some our nation. kind of magical powers By overlooking representation in the or sagely advice, but has media, we effectively erase the . ability · almost no role outside of to learn about other cultures and fail their portrayal as an aid to see other perspectives. This leads to · to the white protagonist. a deficit in knowledge, which creates This character fear. Humanization of underrepresented groups becomes increasingly difficult, further perpetuating this fear. Boseman's work overcomes these barriers, making him an incredibly important asset to the Black community. He was an embodiment of the qualities that Black Americans strive for. His roles showed respect, courage and ditermination. His characters are creative and humorous without sacrificing the truthful and often difficult-to-swallow reality. Boseman worked to display insight into the struggles of being a black person jn today's society. For example, the "Black Panther?> star fQught for the African accent for his most famous role as King T'Challa, ruler .of the fictional nation of Wakanda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to The Washington Post, Marvel originally thought African accents for the entire movie would be "too much;' but Boseman fought for the accents to be included in the movie. He stated that 1,3ritish accents were not seen as an obstacle, and therefore African accents should not be either. He wanted the movie to show that Black excellence does not occur from European By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor ,ks all :ial ing IOW >U'd be be l is ,lie, of the e in given no development, background or interesting characteristics. Lee used the word "negro" as it is often considered offensive and underlines the stereotypes of the "noble savage" seen previously in American film . The late actor's roles stay away from this harmful stereotype. In fact, Lee's own 2020 film "Da 5 Bloods" featured Boseman's · talents. The movie focuses on the story of four Black veterans. The story does not focus on the journey of a white protagonist that needs help from a Black person, but rather focuses on the rich Black history that brings these characters to life. Boseman saw the importance of paying it forward. Having played iconic roles such as Jackie Robinson and James Brown, the importance of these excellent Black men was not lost on him. Denzel Washington famously paid for Chadwick Boseman's tuition, and Boseman thanked Washington it publicly at the 47th Lifetime • , ' ; ' · · Achievement Awards last year. Boseman went on to visit children in hospitals, as they finally saw a hero that looked like themselves on the screen. He was reportedly changed by the experience of visiting those terminally ill children and wanted to do more for ther,n, according to "Black Panther" executive producer Nate Moore. In light of recent events surrounding the Black Lives Matter protests, the Black community felt especially pained. The political climate this year is unstable, and the apples may fall on either side of the metaphorical fence. As a symbol for Black empowerment, Bo~man's name alone was enough to inspire Black people into positive fueled action. The actor exuded peace; in fact, according to Bio Reports, while studying for his role in "Black Panther;' a Cape Town native gave him the nickname Mxolisi, meaning "Peacemaker." Bosemari faced challenges directly related to the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement. Born in South Carolina in 1977, the area he lived in had only been recently des,egregated, according to Bio Reports, leading him _to live much of his early years under strict regulation and rules to prevent attacks from the Klan. According to TheaterMania, as a junior in college, one of Boseman's classmates was shot and killed, inspiring him to write a screenplay title "Crossroads:' Both of these life-changing events exemplify the very reality Black Americans face in their day-to-day lives - a reality the actor worked hard to bring to light. Anderson, S.C., Boseman's hometown, saw the importance of representation and empowerment in his movies. They paid him a tribute by airing "Black Panther" at the city Amphitheater on Sept. 3. All this goes to say that representation in the media means that America can self reflect on its :multicultural and multiracial richness. Representation in the media means that America sees more to minorities than stereotypes. Representation makes disadvantaged groups become real people and allows them the opportunity to improve their situations. As for Boseman, his legacy will live on (Wakanda) forever. Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �_J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Opinion 16 Breaking the unnecessary stigma around therapy in 2020 Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor How many times have you heard someone say, "I go to therapy;' or a similar variation of that statement aloud? You can probably count on a single hand the answer to that question. Even in 2020, a year where mental health is at the forefront of many conversations, the likelihood of hearing anyone openly admit they regularly go to therapy is a rarity. The associated stigma that comes with getting professional help relating to any aspect of mental health needs to end. Millions of American struggle with depression, anxiety ·and other mental illnesses that affect their daily lives, but they find it difficult talking about those experiences or seeking out professional help, such as therapy. Our society has given mental health a negative connotation, and even though it's a rising issue especially in young people, many don't regard it on the same level as physical health, which is not only damaging but incorrect. Despite the deeply embedded stigma, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to therapy or seeking out help. In fact, it's encouraged to find a mental health professional and start on the journey full of support, resources and coping mechanisms in order to combat the harmful effects of various mental illnesses. In a constantly changing world where · we are all taking on new experiences that have never happened before, like a global pandemic, taking care of ourselves is crucial. The spike in numbers for young adults who struggle with depression and/ or anxiety is worrying and continues to grow to each year. Not allowing individuals who are fighting daily battles within themselves to feel safe in society . Have an opinion? Become·cn opinion writer. Freshmen orn.i· all majors wefcome. Co n.tui1t; Bt~(u, nu, (bi $¢h@)w I° lk&$,((tdU to openly talk about their emotions is an issue. They should not sense disapproval or feel that it is not "O.K:' to get the support and help they need, as this is dangerous in more ways than one. Many who go to ·therapy on a regular basis or are considering that option are looked at in a poor light because they are considered "weak;' "can't handle their problems by themselves" and "have no reason to need help." These are only a few of the speculations that have created the harmful stigma around therapy. Breaking this societal mindset and stigma is not going to be easy, but the work has already begun. Over the last several years, mental health has become the focus of many discussions, gained many advocates from celebrities to ordinary people and has found a new place of acceptance on social media. For the first time ever, conversations are happening about therapy or other coping mechanisms, different experiences with mental illnesses and how effective getting help is. Young people are not scared to share what they are going through and what has personally helped. them. These individuals are the · main reason this stigma is slowly being torn apart piece by piece. By finding a ·c ommunity of people on the Internet who relate to each other and are willing to be open about "taboo" topics, such as mental illnesses or going to therapy, it's one step closer to achieving the main goal of bringing that mentality to society. The most important thing to remember is that going to therapy is a completely normal and acceptable path of action to help cope with mental illness no matter what society might try to convince us. Let's break the stigma. . . . @wilkesbeacon · ~ Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu �8 ter udents ositive 1 apps, PTSD any elings, !ssion, arious :rvices 1mpus :enter, :es. ment, with ersity. tils to vents, t are from tasis;' 1 help good >rms. ation and · one The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Opinion 17 The.backlash of social activism on and off the court By Liam Flynn Staff Writer On Aug. 26, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback: Colin Kaepemick: refused to stand for the national anthem before his preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color;' he said after the game. "To me this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.' In the days, weeks, months and years after Kaepemick: first explained why he was protesting, trenches were occupied. Some understood and applauded Kaepemick:'s efforts. Others failed to separate the cause of the protests from the method of protest and repeatedly chastised the quarterback. A year after Kaepemick's first protest, hundreds of his supporters staged a rally outside the NFI.s headquarters in New York. "We believe that the NFL has been complicit in the ostracization of Colin Kaepernick:, "And today, it is time for the NFL to take a stand; said Democratic strategist and CNN political analyst Symone Sanders. Kaepernick:, now a 32-year-old free agent quarterback: has not played in the NFL since the last week of the 2016 season. He still remains a polarizing Civil Rights activist to this day even though he is no longer granted the)Jlatform ofNFL quarterback. In late 2017, President Donald Trump praised an NFL ban on players kneeling during the national anthem, questioning whether such protesters should stay in the United States. · "You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there, maybe you shouldn't be in the country, he said. In September of that same year, at an Alabama rally, Trump told a group of supporters that players who protest during the national anthem should be fired. Unfortunately, it is pretty evident that social justice has never been something that our commander in chief prioritizes. People fail to realize that professional athletes ·protesting for a cause is not a new practice. Just look at basketball legend Bill Russell, and the other black members of the Boston Celtics, boycotting a game during the 1961-62 NBA season after they were refused service at a restaurant. Or when Major League Baseball all-star Curt Flood filed an antitrust suit against MLB, saying that being owned by a baseball team was akin to "being a slave 100 years ago" after the St. Louis Cardinals traded Fl09d to the Philadelphia Phillies. He took the case all the way to the Supreme Court in 1972, sacrificing the last years of his career, and though he lost the case, he helped gain economic freedom for the next generation of players. After the NBA resumed it& season in Orlando, Fla. this July, the Colin-Kaepemickoriginated practice of teams lining up - and kneeling during the national anthem to protest systemic racism and police brutality became a standard feature for every game played. The protests followed the deaths of innocent African Americans by law enforcement this year, including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and unfortunately many more. Trump commented soon after, _saying that the protests presented by the players in the league are "disgraceful" and vowed to stop watching games. Lebron James, a familiar face when it comes to activism in professional sports, said that the basketball community was not "sad about losing his viewership:" to create change for the African American On Aug. 26, in the wake of the police community that has been immensely targeted shooting against Jacob Blake, the Milwaukee against. Bucks decided not to take the court for their The league and players union released playoff game against the Orlando Magic, a joint statement that Friday announcing ultimately deciding to boycott the scheduled resumption of the games, and said that the matchup. The rest of the NBA followed suit league and its players would work together on and it set off a chain reaction unlike anything several initiatives to promote voting access, ever seen in American sports. Within hours, combat social injustice and racial inequality, several MLB and MLS teams, led by their and advocate for police reform. In every NBA players, decided to pause the night's contests. · city where the league's franchise.,wns and The boycotting stretched into a second day as controls its arena property, team owners will more MLB teams postponed games. work with local officials to turn those arenas The WNBA, always at the forefront of into _voting locations for the 2020 general sports activism, halted its season. election. A meeting was held between NBA players Trump was once again not supportive of the in the Orlando bubble that Wednesday night. protests exhibited by the professional athletes. It was reported that LeBron James walked out The president warned the NFL not to become of the meeting with the rest of his Los Angeles a political organization like the NBA and Lakers team following him. They were proceeded to attack the NBA's poor ratings. soon followed by the Los Angeles Clippers, Trump tweeted, "People are tired of making it clear that James had no intention watching the highly political @NBA... of resuming the unorthodox season if teams Basketball ratings are WAY down, and they and ownership did not do what they could won't be coming back. I hope football and baseball are watching and learning because the same thing will be happening to them. Stand tall for our Country and our Flag!!!" Trump has time and time again voiced his disapproval of people speaking out against the social injustice that is undisputedly displayed in the United States on a daily basis. In a country that is currently extremely polarized by political preference and stances on race issues. Donald J. Trump is not the commander in chief we need. Rather than reach a compromise that is beneficial to all citizens and work towards ending the social injustices prominent in our nation, filled with diversity, he chooses to ignore the problems altogether. It is highly concerning to know that instead of wanting unity between citizens, Trump would rather turn a blind-eye to the tragedies that strike on a daily basis and verbally attack anyone who simply calls for change that benefits their own well being. In a nation that preaches liberty and justice for all, the United States has lately displayed the opposite of that. We are as divided as we have ever been (excluding the Civil War), and we need a leader who wants to unite our people. It is right to applaud these professional athletes for taking matters into their own hands, which gives comfort to many who watch our lazy commander in chief sit back and ridicule people. @wilkesbeacon Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu r �..J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Opinion 18 MTV's 2020 Video Music Awards: Lady Gaga wins big By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer On Aug. 30, MTV hosted their 37th Annual Video Music Awards via cable and livestream. The award show \\'.:as presented live in New York City and was hosted by Keke Palmer, who did her best to keep the same energy that the VMA's has produced in past award shows amid the new normal that is expected for entertainment events. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was no in-person ceremony, However, some artisfs and presenters were still in attendance. The Weeknd opened the show fantastically on top of the Hudson Yards Edge building with a performance of his hit song "Blinding Lights;' which ended in a display of riverside fireworks. The artist also took home a moon person for two categories: Video of the Year and Best R&B. In both of his speeches, he chose to use his voice to declare justice for Jacob Blake and Breonna Taylor. Not only were there appropriate infiltrations of pro-BLM sentiments, but pro-masking attitudes were present too. The biggest advocate of the mask movement was Lady Gaga, who made sure to accompany every single one of her brilliant outfit changes with an equally amazing and well-designed face mask, so people would get the message they need to mask up. Gaga even went as far as to wear a mask during her whole performance medley of songs off her new album "Chromatica;' including "911," "Rain on Me" ft. Ariana Grande, and "Stupid Love:' The Mother Monster herself strutted her way, mask and all, to accept the five moon persons she won that night for Song of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Cinematography, which was shared with Grande for their collaborative track. The superstar's other two trophies were for Artist of the Year and the Tricon Award,· which honors a highly accomplished artist across three disciplines, highlighting their impact on music video culture. Gage was the first-ever recipient. Since the pandemic forced the VMAs to alter the usual operations of the show, performers had to try different tactics to enhance their performances in order to hold up to the expectation of an artist's "iconic" VMAs performance. Some artists, including DaBaby and BTS, pre-recorded their performances and chose to add visual effects. Others, like Maluma and Latin American boy group CNCO, performed at the Skyline Drive-in NYC, which allowed them to have a few audience members watch the performance live from their cars. These strategies - proved to make the performances fun and dynamic, although the environment is completely different from the live version of performances viewers are used to. The night also made history with BTS' debut MTV performance of their new all-English hit-single, "Dynamite:' The K-Pop band's performance was prerecorded, and spectacularly shot back in South Korea. The performance feature the group dancing in front of a green screen of the Brooklyn Bridge. 'the band won all four awards they were nominated for that night: Best Pop, Best K-Pop, Best Group and Best Choreography. It was nice to see the global representation of artists in the music industry. Aside from BTS representing South Korea, K-Pop group Blackpink also won the category for Song of the Summer with their catchy single "How You Like That;' which was the first time ever a girl group from South Korea won a moon person, and the first time in three years since a girl group won an award at the VMAs. Plus, the night continued to include global artists with performances from Latin artists Maluma and CNCO. Both won their first-ever moon persons Maluma for Best Latin and CNCO for Best Quarantine Performance. Overall, the year's VMAs were entirely new and could potentially be something to get used to for future award shows. @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu Bre's Beats: TikTok, Taylor Swift and tremendous hits By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor It was a summer to remember in the music industry. From surprise album releases and unbelievable record breaking, the warmest months of the year provided some of the best new music of 2020. Despite the cancellations or postponements of several major tours, reimagmmg annual award shows and figuring out the new "normal" of releasing music during a pandemic, countless artists left a remarkable impact on the industry this summer. For the last several months, one look at the Top 40 charts will tell you one thing - the "TikTok songs;' or songs better known for their use and discovery on the highly popular social media app, were racking in the streams and ruled the highest spots for a majority of the summer. Doja Cat's instant hit "Say So" and Megan Thee Stallion's catchy "Savage" - were the first singles to . gain attention in early May on TikTok. After making the transition over from the app, both remained in the top 10 for several weeks. "Roses" by SAINt JHN, "Rockstar" by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ri.cch and "Savage Love (Lazed-Siren Beat)" by Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo also made notable appearances on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart. TikTok gave each of these songs the platform to gain a fanbase before making the jump to radio play. It's almost a guarantee that if you listen to any Top 40 station or Today's Hjts playlist, at least one, if not all of these singles, will be played. Using irresistibly upbeat melodies, easy-to-remember lyrics and the quick access to be shared among millions, it's no surprise that these songs found the success they did. Beyond the collection of music that landed on the charts from TikTok, there were monumental additions made by many well known artists. Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga released the power anthem "Rain On Me" as a leading single off Gaga's latest album "Chromatica," landing them both with the most nominations and wins at the 2020 VMA's. Harry Styles released the highly loved and perfect summer tune, "Watermelon Sugar" from his 2019 album, "Fine Line;' as a single with an accompanying music video. The song immediately broke out onto the charts and earned the singer his very first Number One song of his solo career. But the biggest surprise of the summer in the music industry was from none other than Taylor Swift. In late July, the singer/songwriter posted about releasing her eighth album as a shock to fans across the globe. "Folklore" was recorded, produced and put together entirely during quarantine, but that fact only made the studio album even more stunning. Swift left behind every sound and label she's ever fit into since she started making music and released an album full of heartbreaking, yet lovable songs that were all created within her imagination in isolation. The album itself broke several records for Swift. Besides becoming her seventh Number One record, it also holds the title of best selling album of 2020 so far, and made Swift the only artist to ever have an album debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart and a single debut in the first spot on the Hot 100 chart simultaneously. From exciting new songs rising up the charts to monumental releases, nothing stopped artists from doing what they love and giving fans the gift of music during this past summer. "' Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu Graphic by Madison Hummer �Sports The Beacon - September 8, 2020 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be a Senior Spotlight? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu. The Preview: East and West A breakdown of the NBA E~t and West semifinal matchups, what each team needs to do to win By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor The NBA postseason is in full swing and the Eastern Conference is down to its final four teams, all battling for a spot in the NBA Finals for a chance to call themselves champions. As of the writing of this article the five seed Miami Heat currently led the one seed Milwaukee Bucks two games to none in their east semi-finals matchup. The three seed Boston Celtics are also up on the two seed Toronto Raptors, two games to zero, putting both lower seeds at the advantage going into their games three's. Miami has looked very impressive in its first two games picking up an 11-point win in game one of the series behind Jimmy Butler's 40-point performance. Then in a close game two, the Heat once again secured the win on walk off free throws from Butler. As they_were all season, the Heat has looked like a deep team, full of guys that can step up. Goran Dragic has had a big first two games, averaging 25 points and 4.5 assists. Depth has been a huge reason for the Heat's success all season behind unexpected contributions from the likes of Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn, while they have also had veteran presence from Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder. The Heat is looking to make its first conference finals appearance since 2014 when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were all on the team. The Bucks down early in the series have to be wondering when their MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to step up, as his 23.5 point per game average through the first two games certainly won't be enough. These are awful numbers compared to the first round against the Magic where he averaged over 30 points per game. Antetokounmpo's lack of offensive presence on the court has drastically affected the level of play that Milwaukee By Ariel Reed game seven that came down right to the is use to doing. wire. • Co-Sports Editor Milwaukee has a huge concern being James Harden, usually a name one down to a Miami team that seems to The road to the Western Conference would hear on the offensive end of have had its number since the regular Finals has been an interesting journey to things, ended up with the defensive play season. However, concerns for them watch unfold. With two buzzer beaters of the game: blocking the game winning don't stop there as if they lose this and some rivalry games, the semifinal shot from the hands of Lu Dort. series, Anetokounmpo is a free agent games · are going to be an interesting Dort had a phenomenal shooting this offseason and could be on the move. · series. night, making 50 percent of his 3-point Rumors suggest that Miami and Toronto The Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz w~s attempts on the evening. If he had not would be at the top of the list of teams a thriller throughout the entire seven had his shot blocked, Oklahoma would he's interested in. game stretch. ,., be competing against the Los Angeles Boston currently finds itself in a Game 7 between these two foes Lakers instead of Houston. favorable position up on the defending showed that both teams hungered for the The Los Angeles Lakers and the champion Raptors behind their three opportunity to advance and face the Los Houston Rockets competed in their man tandem of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Angeles Clippers. However, fate rolled in first battle of the series on Sept. 4. The Brown and Kemba Walker. Tatum has favor of the Nuggets Rockets ended up making a fourth averaged 27.5 points per . game so far ' Coming off of a physical seven game quarter run and upsetting the number while Walker is averaging seven assists. series, the Nuggets looked tired and one seeded Lakers. Marcus Smart and Robert Willaims sluggish in comparison to the well rested Despite being undersized in the have both proven to be spark plugs for Clippers. matchup, the Rockets ended up making the Celtics off the bench as ·well, like Kawhi Leonard was firing on all the small ball game work for them. Miami Boston is a team that runs deep. cylinders for the Clippers scoring 29 Houston used their small size to their The Celtics have been able to find points with 31 minutes of play. Leonard's advantage by out running and hustling success despite loss of starter and great counterpart, Paul George, also had a the enormous sized Laker lineup. scorer Gordon Hayward. Hayward is strong offensive night scoring 19 points. Harden put up a stellar offensive likely out for the rest of the playoffs and For the Clippers to continue the scoring night with 36 points. His could come back to hurt the Celtics, even momentum of their success, this duo sidekick, Russell Westbrook, chipped in if they do make it past this point. needs to put up consistent double digit 24 points. For the Raptors, this series is showing figures. Eric Gordon also contributed to the that they miss superstar Kawhi Leonard, The core part of the Clippers defense success of the team with a 23 point game, who left this past offseason, as they don't rests on the shoulders of George and In order for the Rockets to have a have someone to take over in fourth Leonard. Without them, this team would chance against the Lakers, they need to quarters. Guards Kyle Lowry and Fred Van not be as great as they are today. · continue to push the pace of the game Vleet, who usually play the role of fourth Denver was looking good early on in and play "Grinnell" style. quarter scorers, have had some serious · its contest; however, the second quarter This style of play is where you try to shooting woes early on in th~s series. . was where a lack of rest showed, and the shoot as many shots possible and push Pascal Siakim, who wa·s believed to Clippers started to break away. the tempo of the game. be the next Raptors star, is averaging It was prevalent in the second half of Grinnell style is not ideal for most just · 15.5 points per game this series, the contest that the Nuggets were starting professional teams due to both teams a number he will need to increase if to feel the (atigue of playing essentially having the shooting ability to still Toronto has any hope of staying in this back to back games. compete with each other, but Houston is one. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were able to out shoot the Lakers from behind T(?ronto's depth is what it may have to both off their game, only scoring 15 and the arc. rely on with struggling shooting early on 12 points respectively. For Denver to The road to the Western Conference in this series. Guys like OG Anunoby, have any chance of winning, this power finals will be an interesting one with four Norman Powell and Marc Gasol will have couple needs to put up a better offensiye of the best teams in the league battling to show up on both ends of the court. effort: it out for the chance to add another On the other side of the bracket, the , championship. Houston Rockets faced off against the @wilkesbeacon Oklahoma Thunder in what was another - . . - @wilkesbeacon Dyfan.Mehf@wilkes.edu ~ Arief.Reed@wifkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Sports 20 Athletes continue training efforts despite suspended seasons By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer Despite the suspension of all athletic competition within the Middle Atlantic · Conference (MAC) due to COVID-19, student-athletes at Wilkes University have training and conditioning alternatives in place to remain prepared. The announcement was made on July 24 to suspend intercollegiate competitions through the fall semester. Despite this decision, Wilkes athletes aren't letting up and are putting in work at the Marts Fitness Center. "It's awesome being here - finally having weights and all this stuff to use. I love it," said freshman Jackson Shafer, a dual-sport athlete on the men's basketball and men's volleyball teams. During the beginning of the pandemic, athletes were forced to take on new forms of training. In most cases, this resulted in using whatever equipment they had onhand and doing any exercises they could while at home. "I had to adjust to using whatever I had at my house;' said Shafer. "From playing basketball in my driveway and using the weights I have in my basement, that transition was kind of tough. I couldn't do it with anybody, so it was all self- motivated, and some days were harder than others:' Unlike Shafer, junior softball player Rhia Aurand made the switch midseason from training with her team to workingout at home, as her sophomore year got cut short when students were sent home in the middle of March earlier this year. "We had the idea that we were coming back in a few weeks, and we just lost it all;' explained Aurand. "It was devastating because we prepared so much, and we only got two games in for our season. It just got taken away from us:' Similar to other athletes at Wilkes, Aurand learned to train at home before finally being able to work with her teammates at the Marts Fitness Center. "I did a bunch of cardio on my own, watched work-out videos on YouTube and used the dumbbells I had. I did the best I could do with what I had at home;' said Aurand. "It's nice to come back, get .some really good workouts in and to get to know my team as best as I can with the circumstances:' Training at home proved easier for some athletes, as women's lacrosse members Sophia Gavigan and Laurel Hopfer credited the Teambuildr app with easing their transition from face-to-face training to remote conditioning. "We'd have our lifts on the app, as well sentiments, noting that they are as workouts;' said Gavigan. optimistic about the prospect of playing The app allowed coaches to assign with their teammates. "We just like to stay positive and hope workouts or lifts to their teams from the that potentially we get to have a season;' safety of their homes. "We would also have alternatives said Hopfer. posted on the app, so we wouldn't need to According to Gavigan, staying go to a gym since they were all closed at connected is a key component of staying the time;' said Hopfer. upbeat and looking ahead. "We all have each other's numbers, so Head football coach Jonathan Drach explained that his roster hadn't been · we're able to keep each other positive," overly affected by the pandemic. said Gavigan. "It's been pretty easy for us with With a potential spring season to Teambuildr - making sure our guys prepare for, Drach stated that his team are staying on track with what they is remaining busy and will begin the,ir need to be doing," said Drach. "I don't training two weeks into the semester. "We're doing our study halls and think there have been many gaps in our training. Accessibility to equipment was starting to do our team building the biggest hurdle, but everybody was activities;' said Drach. "We're getting into continuing their work the entire time:' the social initiatives that we talked about Even though there won't . be any over the summ_ertime. It's nice to have competition for the fall semester, Wilkes these two weeks where it's a little slower athletes are remaining hopeful for the with the workouts so we can build right spring and are lifting each other up into it:' through these trying times. The MAC plans to shift fall sport "It's nice being back with the team competition to the spring season, if because itfeels like we're back to normal possible, and to start winter competition somewhat;' said Aurand. "We're getting in January 2021. together, preparing for the season and making sure everyone knows about ~ @wilkesbeacon nutrition and getting our workouts in:' Hopfer and Gavigan shared similar !I/If Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu •• - Allie Murie, sophomore women's basketball player, completed a set of JG lateral lunges to conclude her workout for the day. Photos: The Beacon/Ariel Reed Trent Fisher, freshman men's basketball player, did a set of dumbell chest presses. �The Beacon - Sep$ember 8; 2020 Sports 21 A day in the life of a Wilkes head coa~h: Jonathan Drach By Baylee Guedes & Ariel Reed Sports Staff Writer, Co-Sports Editor Jonathan Drach, a third year coach, held high expectations for the upcoming season. The Colonels are improving upon a hot record of 8-3 and a Mayor's Cup championship. The postponement of the upcoming season to spring 2021, definitely put a· delay on the process of rebuilding the football program. However, even in the extended off season, Drach finds ways to keep himself occupied with football. This year is unlike any other due to the limitations ofCOVID-19. Under Drach's leadership, the coaching staff and players are executing an audible off of the field. "We _are doing a ton of recruiting;' said Drach. "We have been offering some roster spots and doing things like that for recruiting. We ai:e really focusing on the class of 2021. We have a plan to implement athletic activities as we move forward." In addition to Drach's recruitment plan, he has implemented a five stage plan focusing on ac;ademics, safety and getting back to the field. This plan consists of first an academic stage, ~here players focus solely on improving their GPA. This is done primarily through mandatory study halls with the coaches. "When I got here the cumulative Gl;'A was around a 2.38, and now we are at a 2.98," said Drach. "I think that is really a reflection of how we have had success on the football field, too. We have been paying attention to all details, not just football." The second stage builds upon the first stage by incorporating small group lifting into their study halls. From there, the team will phase into small pod practice, then half team practice and finally full · team practice. "As we get into the next three weeks, we will begin small pod training," said Drach. "Once we cl~ar that three-week barrier we would add small pod practices. After that, we will have half team practices, and then potentially full team practices:' The close-knit aspect of a team is still being implemented from a socially distanced standpoint. The team is working hard off of the field as they prepare for what is hopefully to come in the spring. Most people know Drach solely from a Wilkes football aspect; however, his love and passion for football stems deep from his childhood. "My dad was a high school coach for almost 40 years," said Drach. "I grew up around football. I remember when I was super little riding the bus with my dad and being around the team; it was always Courtesy of Wilkes Football lnstagram Drach studied his opponent's formation in order to decide on the best method of attack. . The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Currently, head coach Jonathan Drach's day is filled with recruiting calls and scheduling academic support for his players. something that I loved:' I saw when I took that opportunity;' Drach was a multi-sport athlete in said Drach. "I think we have been able high school-- participating in football, to do that over the past three years. We basketball, baseball and track. He have been able to change some of the went to college at Western Michigan trajectories of where the program was: where he had the chance to continue his by paying attention to details and finding football career, while double majoring in some blue-collar kids who really want to economics and finance. work hard academi~ally and athletically:' After graduation, Drach continued his Drach has been able to elevate the level passion for football by driving back to of play that the athletes play at alongside his hometown every day and helping his getting players to subscribe to that father coach high school football. winning mentality. "I was a double major in economics "Players have been buying into every bit and finance, and I was trading equity of that improvement culture throughout futures in Chicago. for about two years," the course of our time here," s~id Drach. said Drach. "After I graduated, I would "We are definitely more process-focused drive to the suburbs in the afternoon to than we are results-focused. We are kind coach high school football with my dad:' of just focusing on the process now which From there, Drach continued his in this time period is more applicable to pursuit of his dream job: coaching being successful." football. Drach made his debut at Western Drach's decision to join the Colonels River High School. Soon after, he jumped was not only a coaching move, but a to the collegiate spectrum of the game. family move. Before making his coaching debut as "I think that it has been a joy to be here the Wilkes University head coach, Drach with my young family and everything had previous coaching experience . at that they do. I have a.3- and a 5-year-old;' Hobart College. said Dr~ch. "It has been a great fit for me Drach's decision to leave Hobart and my entire family. This was not only College after 11 seasons was a difficult about the opportunity for me, but for the one, but the potential that Wilkes' rest of my family as well. My wife is the program held brought him to the area. director of the YMCA at Pittston. I look "I think the area itself, and ·the ability forward to seeing things grow together:' to lead a program that · had all the Bay/ee.Guedes@wilkes.edu resources to be successful was something Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu i �_J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 it'i their the wodd, ~ofmusk. • ' lwrollle memoqllta Co1onrelt ,., Senunas.. • AcploCeyonhyourliteby! Hopl!stbr11ais_,.uaCalonel? I hope to Jl(lt tear my ACL this year and want to bring Wilkes a M A O ~ . Jhav!two: l)"Mh!orsetbackforarnajor qimehadt'" and 2) "Tomonow hopes we teamed something from yesterday.' WhenlWliydidyonfirstbeginplaymgf Wbafdoet~;tU1Dtoyon? )Vhen I was little, the only things to do in my neighborhood were play sports ()J: get in ~ My mom didn't like Jne ge,tting in ~ so I chosett>joia the,motheD team formytown.andlfelUnlove1DstaJltly. Just be ·'a good persqn and treat others B ~---•~tQf thewayyou want to be treated. Bil ~ "to my wnily and the HONCHOS.%Go li$ten .to Du.whop. Fat Favorite . . . . . ~ .~ ,-:tice! ~ Glo, Stretch because it's the calm bea5re the bot storm. M-. And last. AklU!S'J"fflE OFFia;RS WHO KILLED BREONNA TAYLOR. �2 The Beacon - September 8, 2020 Sports 23 k.es.edu es •lies and ,rk-study ·ernment :r or not ,r classes 1draisers : looking rying to ybeheld :e events :nt Tour, 1al Club and the ntest for m social mmer ts .2 .7 L4 ter :ndar? lu r �..J The Beacon - September 8, 2020 ' ... • 24 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 September 8th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 September 8 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/0ebe4f992d559116ffd1d4da6cbdfe3e.pdf 86fe37f0d7a57008fb03360166ac6b9b PDF Text Text The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 3 1 HEBEACON - Wilkes Universit - Wilkes-Barre Penns lvania Shielding campus from false tracking rumors Head coach John By Sean Schmoyer we'd like to see increased as COVID ~ Wilkes numbers have risen since the start ~- Uniwrsiry of the semester. Plea~ consider Recently, rumors regarding the Wilkes · downloading and using this free app as . . Emergency Shield app have been circling campus, a daily reminder to assess your health detailing that the app is tracking students' before coming to campus:' locations. The rumor is urging students to Wilkes University Police Department @ View Badge My Locations leave their phones behind, which presents Chief Christopher Jagoe explained the more than one dangerous concern. only case when a student's location The app contains the COVID-19 self- would be tracked. assessment, alongside many other beneficial "To be clear, the app does not track features, and the university has been pushing users unless they have activated the use of the app. In the Colonels Combat emergency button to summon first COVID guide book, the university identifies responders via the 911 center;' said COi/iD the Wilkes Shield app as a free public safety Jagoe. "In such a case, the app uses iRepott app, which will have users carry out a short GPS coordinates to provide the general questionnaire to help monitor their health location of the user to assist in the response (particularly · if the person and potential exposure to the virus. An important note in the Colonels Combat cannot speak) . and can show the COVID guide is that the Wilkes Shield app movement of the user. "Once the event has ended, the call does not collect personal data: "Personal information is not captured or recorded by . for service is closed out, and the app the University and results remain private:' no longer tracks the person's position. Statements like these are important because We do not (and could not) require the Fr•endWatch they address potential concerns before they campus community to download or may arise, including the tracking rumor. use the app. This is simply a free service Students should know the app is not provided by the campus:' tracking their location. Students also can let their friends On Sept. 8, the Wilkes University Police track their locations using the app's Department released a statement to the FriendWatch feature. FriendWatch sw dent body by email, in which students were allows a user to designate a friend encouraged to download the Wilkes Shield from their contacts to give access to friend that they do not feel safe, and if they app. their current location until the user feels safe. were to stop moving for an extended period "We are happy to report that over 600 This is meant for a student who has to walk of time, their designated contact would know community members utilize the Wilkes somewhere late at night or maybe has gone for something is wrong. Shidd public safety app each day to assess a walk and doesn't feel safe. their wellness - a solid number, but one that With FriendWatch, users can inform a RUMORS, 4 News Editor •~---ll!"ll..•~----11111111 t? lnI 0 page McNichol's past, present and future with Wilkes women's soccer By Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor Women's soccer head coach John McNichol may be one of the newer faces on the coaching staff at Wilkes; however, he has been involved and intertwined with the Wilkes-Barre area for a long time. McNichol grew up in the Philadelphia area and is a graduate of the Colonels' cross-town rival, King's College. He happened to meet his wife while in college, and stayed in the WilkesBarre area due to her familial ties and career opportunities. These elements resulted in McNichol's desire not to leave the area. "I grew up in the Philadelphia area in West Chester, and went to King's;' said McNichol. "That's where I met my wife. Her family was up here, and she got a job teaching chemistry at Meyer's High School right out of college. She had a really good job, and I knew this area would be home for me:' In his senior year at King's, he was asked · to be one of the coaches for a summer soccer MCNICHOL, page 24 r �_J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 2 News News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Sept. 9 weekly meeting notes By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor On Sept. 9, Student Government held its second virtual meeting, and it featured two club proposals and discussions on how each of the classes will proceed with their fundraisip.g and socials this semester. First on the agenda was a presentation from Courtney Dolan, president of the Stress Management Through Art Therapy Club. She is seeking to receive recognition of the club on campus. The club's mission is to establish a safe place for those with any form of artistic ability and provide them with a creative outlet to help alleviate stress. It will teach about the advantages of art and how it can have a positive impact. If approved, some events the club plans to host include paint, craft and pottery nights. They have taken precautions to ensure that their activities follow COVID-19 guidelines, as they will pre-package and sanitize crafting and art tools, as well as space all participants 6 feet apart. For community service, they will create and donate masks to whoever may need them and do crafts at the YMCA. The Friends of Panama Club is looking to gain club recognition as well. President Jesus Rios Serrano explained how they want to share Panama's culture by engaging with the campus and local community, as it will allow people from different b;tckgrounds to communicate and get to know each other. Some of their · plans for the fall semester are to host a Spanish Conversational Partnership, a trivia day and a bingo night. Most likely, each event will be held virtually. Further, Serrano wants to focus on finding volunteering opportunities. In spring 2021, they would like to sing karaoke, coordinate soccer and volleyball games and host Trenzas Day, which would provide students with the opportunity to get braids done by Panamanian hands. Next week, Student Government will vote to approve both the Stress Management Through Art Therapy Club and the Friends of Panama Club. Moving forward, Vice President Brooke Mazzotta requested $6,000 for the Club Hub to cover the costs of ordering crafting supplies and providing funding for its work-study positions. She was allocated this amount in a motion of 81 percent in favor and 19 percent Beacon Briefs: lJpti>mi»g campus evenJ~,'. ;j Compiled by Sean Schmoyer Pennsylvania Student Voting Summit The virtual Pennsylvania Student Voting . Summit will take place from 1. to 4 p.m. via Zoom on Sept. 16. There is no cost to attend, and the summit will be recorded and made available for viewing after the event. The summit will feature a presentation from the Pennsylvania Department of State on college student voting and election updates; a voter engagement strategy session led by the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition; breakout sessions for networking and learning (with focus areas on community colleges; Pennsylvania State System ofHigher Education institutio~, student poll worker recruitment, a deeper dive into voter engagement strategies and the newly created state Student V9ting Coalition). The Taste of Wtlkes 2020 Home Edition The Taste of Wilkes Committee has moved to a new virtual format, which will include a cookbook of recipes, a physical book and a PDF version as well as a virtual gift basket auction. Members are calling for the members of the campus community to submit their favorite recipes to be included in the cookbook. The committee is also looking for virtual chefs who Parking Ticket Appeals will: submit their favorite recipe for inclusion Parking Services will be working remotely this fall semester, as such all Wilkes University parking citation appeals will be conducted via email. Appeals should be directed to parking@ wilkes.edu. When mak,ing an. appeal, make · sure~ to include: your name, WIN, the number on your parking citation (located at the top right of the citation), your Wilkes parking permit number (if applicable) and the reason for your appeal; in the cookbook, create a .unique name for their dish and provide a short story about why the dish is special to them. Year of the Vote Constitution Day Events Constitution Day events will take place all day on Sept. 17. It wil;l start with the Constitution Day public reading at 11 a.m. of the Frederick Douglass speech, "Declaration of Sentiments:' the Sojourner Truth speech, "Ain't I a Woman'' and the Maya Angelou poem, "To Form A More Perfect Union" on WCLH. Amy Sopcak-Joseph, assistant professor of history, .will discuss the historic events that led to the passage of the 19th Amendment. Andreea Maierean, assistant professor of political science, will compare women's suffrage movements around the world and will conclude with a discussion on activism and voting rights in today's world via Zoom at 6p.m. Students can check out the interactive fashion installation all day ~ the Karambelas Media and Communication Center outside the Sordoni Art Gallery to see waves of feminism fashion, learn about the waves of feminism and how they strategized to create change for women. abstaining. Other business included the class reports. The sophomore class would like to sell lanyards and are brainstorming social ideas to host through Zoom. The juniors are planning to distribute mask extenders to students, while the seniors will be opening a virtual store. The Commuter Council, Programming Board and RHC are finalizing plans for giveaways. TheMulticulturalStudentCoalition has two events coming up in September: The Welcome to Our Neighborhood Social and the Latin Cafe. The first event was planned for Sept. 15 but has been postponed. The Latin Cafe will be hosted on Sept. 23. · Finally, within the next few weeks, Student Government will be conducting elections for the first-year class: Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Graphic by Madison Hummer Table of Contents r, ,.. , "' News .................. 2 Life, A&E ............ 7 Opinion............ 14 Sports ................ 19 Upcoming Events: 2020 Fall Semester September 15 - American Red Cross Blood Drive 16 - Pennsylvania Student Voting Summit 17 - Constitution Day 18 - Intramurals Sign-ups End 18 - SBDC Lecture 18 - Virtual Club Day (SG) 19 - Virtual Open House 21-25 - RHC Giveaway 23 - Latin Cafe 23 - Dr. Cant Honors Lecture 27 - Lambda Kappa Sigma Virtual SK 28 - Dr. Schicatano Zoom Lecture October 7 - Major General Roberson Honors Lecture 15 - Virtual Career Fair 27 - Dr. Toll Zoom Lecture 31 - Halloween November 7 - Virtual Open House 11 - Veterans Day 25 - Holiday Recess begins 26 - Thanksgiving Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: The WilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu l 1 �The Beacon - September 16, 2020 3 News A new face ushers in a new era of writing: Dr. David Hicks named director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program By Anna Culver Staff Writer:_ efficiently. Dr. Hicks founded and ran a similar program at his previous institution, so he is in a great position to meet all these goals:' Hicks explained that he and his wife were looking to move back to the east coast to be closer to their families, with his wife originally from the Kingston · area. Her available, I couldn't believe my luck;' said Hicks. When it comes to being a professional writer, Hicks has the skills to advise students in navigating the challenges they are going to face. ''I've successfully navigated the very difficulties . that they're worried about;' Among the new faculty added to Wilkes University at the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester was Dr. David Hicks. With teaching experience at Regis University and Marywood University, in addition to being an accomplished fiction writer, Hicks was named the new director of the Maslow Family Graduate Progam in Creative Writing. Hicks was the co-founder and co-director of an MFA in Creative Writing program in Denver, Colo. Originally from the Bronx area of New York, where he earned his Ph.D. in American Literature at New York University, Hicks taught literature for many years before applying to Wilkes University. "In my forties, after I had some stories published, I changed my career focus from a literature professor who occasionally wrote fiction to a fiction writer who occasionally taught literature;' said Hic~s. "Eventually, that led to starting up a successful MFA program there, every aspect of which I thoroughly enjoyed." At Wilkes, the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing is a nationally , recognized low-residency graduate program. The graduate program offers · three-semester and five-s,emester MFA programs. Hicks explained that "low-residency" means that our students are working adults who come to campus for week-long residencies, one in January and one in June, to enjoy workshops, craft lessons, literary readings, genre instruction, guest speakers, •iness-of-writing panels, internship preparations and the great pleasure of being surrounded by other writers. Then, everyone goes home and studies one-on-one (via email, phone, zoom or LIVE) with an accomplished author, such as a member of Wilkes' faculty, who gives them feedback on their book critiques and writing projects. · Paul Riggs, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, said, "We Courtesy of David Hicks are very fortunate to have hired Dr. Hicks into this role. He has the perfect blend of Dr. David Hicks skills and experiences to take over. The program has a national reputation, but mother worked at Wilkes·University, which said Hicks. "I don't have much natural many other colleges and universities have introduced him to the campus. talent, and I didn't have any connections created similar programs since Wilkes "When my wife and I decided to move in the publishing world, but I worked hard, pioneered the low residency model. from Colorado back east to be closer to our persisted and learned a lot from a variety of "In addition to producing great families, I looked in this area for my 'dream authors and teachers:' writers with publishable new works of job: I had co-founded and co-directed Hicks continued, "Finally, I acquired literary art, our challenge is to maintain an MFA in Creative Writing program in an agent and had my work published our reputational position, while at the Denver, so when I saw that the creative relatively late in life. And it's not just me same time delivering the program more writing director's position at Wilkes was - every faculty mentor in our prngram, no matter how successful - remembers what it was like to want to be a writer, to want to write a book and have it published. The result is that we all treat our students with compassion and empathy, never condescension:' Previous Director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program Dr. Bonnie Culver said, "Wilkes did a national search, and Dr. Hicks was one of the finalists that was brought to campus for an in-person interview in January. Since he has started with the program, I have gotten to know him as an advisor, teacher, writer and friend. I look forward to seeing what he does in the future:' · Hicks elaborated on his plan:, for the future of the program, stating, "For starters, we're going to become more inclusive and representative. To that end, our recruitment, our hiring and our curriculum practices are currently being reviewed and revised. Were also going to expand our reach beyond our MA and MFA program. The program plans to do so by offering master classes to writers all over the country, targeting those who are interested in finishing book projects under the guidance of top-notch authors and instructors. Another way is by offering an introductory graduate class in creative writing for college seniors, which would then allow these students the ability to apply for the program at Wilkes with a onesemester transfer credit. Finally, the program plans to offer free writing workshops in the community, especially to the members who would not ordinarily get the chance to tell their own stories. Outside of work, Hicks likes to go hiking in the woods. He said he has plans to be hitting the Appalachian Trail as soon as possible. He also was part of a cover band in Denver. He plays the saxophone in his band, "The Plagiarists." Hicks notes that he is looking to start another band while at Wilkes. Hicks is proud to lead the program, and Wilkes University is excited to welcome Hicks into the Colonel family and see all that he can accomplish in the position. @wilkesbeacon Anna.Cu/ver@wilkes.edu . Editor's Note: The writer Anna Culver and · source Bonnie Culver are related; however, Bonnie Culver was used as an expert · · source for the article. r �. ...I The Beacon - September 16, 2020 News 4 Tl Eden, a Vegan Cafe continues to adjust to COVID-19 guidelines the outside help. Treats, a bakery in Bethlehem, every to the cafe. Students, including junior, "Mayor Brown was very generous to Tuesday, but they had to halt these orders Sydney Rochette, often come to Eden and restaurants. He provided us with the temporarily. like being able to take their food outside. Almost every morning, Christian · opportunity to apply for no interest, "While it's warm, it's nice to have the Additionally, Eden is open at 25 Pilosi, owner and head chef of Eden, no payment loans, and Eden re~eived a percent indoor capacity, though as of option. I feel more comfortable eating a Vegan Cafe, prepares to open to $7,500 loan;' said _Pilosi. Sept. 21, they will be able to be at . 50 outdoors;' said Rochette. "Hopefully, customers around 11 :30 a.m. He takes they will continue to have this seating care of cleaning the kitchen, and Carlie into the fall:' Co_olbaugh, his counterperson, washes Eden even got creative with their menu down tables, counters, door handles and and expanded with a few new items. The other surfaces. "Summer Picnic Plate" and the "Phriends On any usual day, all these cleaning from Mars Burger" are now part of their procedures are part of the daily routine specials. at Eden, but with COVID-19, they have Other adjustments include spacing become more frequent to ensure the out their tables and adding a plexiglass safety of their customers. cover in front of the cash register to The pandemic has impacted many of further ensure both their employees' and the aspects of running a restaurant, and customers' safety. Coolbaugh appreciates acc14Jding to Pilosi, he has been fortunate this addition because she spends the that both his locations in Scranton and majority of her day behind the counter. Wilkes-Barre are still running smoothly. There is a small note to remind customers At their Wilkes-Barre cafe, however, they to wear a mask when approaching the have only been open since October 2019, register as well. and adjusting to COVID-19's regulations With customers, Pilosi claims he has on the restaurant industry has not come " not had too much trouble with getting without its challenges. them to follow COVID-19 guidelines, "At the beginning, it was very different but he has found some walking in and slow;' explained Coolbaugh. "We without masks. To encourage customers didn't know what to anticipate just to abide by COVID-19 guidelines, they because we are so new:' have placed masks for sale at the front Back in March 2020, the pandemic counter. made it difficult for many businesses to After a long day, around 6 p.m., E.den keep their doors open, and Eden was closes with the same routine. Coolbaugh no exception. They had to rely on using and Pilosi wipe down the restaurant, delivery and pick-up services for takeout, The Beacon/Sara Ross and turn the open sign to closed. As as they were not offering indoor dining. each day passes, it h"as become easier to Eden had to start utilizing Grubhub, Eden, a Vegan Cafe has extended its seating outdoors due to COVID-19's overcome the challenges COVID-19 has a mobile food ordering and delivery regulations on the restaurant industry. thrown their way. More than anything, platform, during quarantine to boost the situation has taught them how to be revenue. Even with this assistance, Eden was still percent. Until then, they have been resilient and stay positive even through In May, restaurants in the area were facing obstacles. With their distributors, attracting more customers by providing the most unpredictable of times. also provided with the chance to apply Pilosi and Coolbaugh had to shift gears, the option of outdoor seating. for an emergency loan courtesy of as at the beginning of the virus, it was Now, since school is back in session, George Brown, the mayor of Wilkes- hard to acquire shipments of product. their most popular customers, Wilkes ~ @wilkesbeacon Barre. Eden, especially, was g~ateful for They usually receive desserts from Vegan University students, have been returning ~ Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor RUMORS, from front Again, this feature does not give any notice to the University Police Department, nor does it save any information about the user's location. After the user designates they are safe, the app stops sending information about their location. There are two dangers to rumors about an app like this.- The first is paired_with the rumor reporting that underclassmen were being told to leave their phones behind when going out. Lindsay Becker, president of It's On Us and senior criminology major who uses the Wilkes Shield app in case of an emergency or in case she sees a violation, expressed concerns with students going out without their- phones, especially to events like parties. "It's extremely irresponsible, apart from the fact that they are endangering others by possibly spreading a deadly disease, but it is dangerous for themselves as well. What happens when a freshman gets separated from friends and lost? There are a million and one things that can happen. People don't think bad things will happen to them, but it happens;' said Becker. Becker also identified that the app allows for easy reporting. Through the iReport feature, students can report not just incidents like abuse, assault and other crimes, but they are also able to report power outages, maintenance issues and violations of the COVID-19 policies. For students who are still worried about bringing their phone places with an app like the Wilkes Shield app, Jagoe emphasized that there was nothing to worry about. · "The decision to have a phone in your possession at all times is purely a personal one. Having their phone allows them to make calls if they need assistance or receive emergency texts if there is an imminent threat to the campus, such as a crime of violence;' said Jagoe. ''As discussed, the Wilkes Shield app does not track the location of its users in the same manner some phones do for COVID exposure:• The idea Jagoe is referring to is that other apps, like party apps, already track locations by enabling their users to ·receive alerts that people are in their area. In addition, Google and Apple do similar things with their COVID-19 tracking apps that let those with the virus notify others around them that they have it. The Wilkes Shield app does not track users' locations; instead, it does give them a variety of tools to stay safe, whether that be from crime, hazards or COVID-19. ~ JII' @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu re th p( te ti m N fc tt p ei ti ti s s, } b s c �The Beacon - September 16, 2020 News 5 Career Fair goes virtual: Handshake app becomes imperative By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer The Career Fair is a staple of Wilkes University's fall semester, but this year, students will talk to employers from the comfort of their own homes. On Oct. 15, students will be able to attend the Career Fair on Handshake, the virtual recruiting platform all students have access to. ·Handshake should not be new to students, as the Center for Career Development and Internships has been encouraging students to use the app. This year especially, the virtual aspect of the platform has proven to be helpful. If students plan to go to the Career Fair, the first thing they must do is create a profile. "Students have to fill out as much as possible in their profile on Handshake because that's what will spark that employer's interest in the student;' explained Monica Morrison, a career peer ambassador in the Center for Career Development and Internships. The Director of Internships and Parent Programs Sharon Castano, as well as intern Ashlee Przywara, provided direct instructions on what to do after creating a profile on Handshake. According to the two of them, students need to register for the 2020 Fall Internship and Career Fair by logging into Handshake, clicking on "events;' then clicking "fair search;' and finally, clicking "Wilkes University Fall 2020 Internship and Career Fair:' Students will be able to browse the list of employers in attendance for the Career Fair and can request to meet with companies they are interested in. From there, students can meet employers in an online setting, either as a one-on-one session or a group session. This change can seem confusing, but there are benefits to a virtual fair. Carol Bosack Kosek, the director of Wilkes Career Services, explained the bonuses that can come from the online version of the Career Fair. "The nice thing is you can have your resume out, and you can have little notes about the organization," said Bosack Kosek. However, Castano also noted manners students must remember for Zoom etiquette. "You still want to think of this event like an in-person fair and dress and speak to impress," said Castano. "Watch virtual mock interviews · to prepare, and refer to your interviewer as Mr., Ms. or Mrs., unless otherwise stated. Be aware of your virtual background, stay present, take notes, ask relevant questions if prompted during the interview, and finally, mute your microphone in group meetings if you are not the one speaking:' Morrison has her own advice for the Career Fair. "Just be open and vocaj to them because the employers want you to come up and talk to them. They're just as eager to fin<! good students as you are to find an internship:' Many students do not have experience with Zoom interviews, but the Center for Career Development and Internships will help with everything students may need for the Career Fair from interview practice, reviewing resumes or assessing career goals. If a student is looking for a little extra advice or preparation before 1he Career Fair, they must download Handshake and schedule a meeting through the platform. Students should take advantage of the Center for Career Development and Internships, as Morrison explained how useful the center has been for her. "It's just such a good resource we have on campus, and it's right behind the sub;' said Morrison. "Knowing that that's right there, and that I can ask any questions about my resume for grad school or my personal statement, I just feel so comfortable that I can ask right away:' As much as the students appreciate the help, the members of the Center for Career pevelopment and Internships enjoy helping as well. "My favorite part of my jop is watching students I work with succeed, and that doesn't always, mean earn a high salary, sometimes it means students find a job that they love because of an internship opportunity we found. It helped to clarify their career goal;' Castal}o said. Students should also visit the center's website for additional tips on all aspects of career development, interviews and internships. . . . . @wilkesbeacon Y, · Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu ~ I] Jobs ➔ Employers ➔ Flnc. 1 ·ti, rnst ,ps D and ful' t1n-,e 1obs corr pany !or you \.-V-t,..-1' 1:;... II I,. C Lt a., . Bated on Job Roles You're tnterested Jn \ V- Social MNl1 lntern1hlp • Spring or fkfMMr 2021 E:l '. ~~'( Dtgttal Marketing Account Man.; 0,. J08S r �_J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 News 6 Building today's -Wilkes Adventure Education with Jill Price By Sean Schmoyer News Editor Hil<ing up the steepest of hills, making your way across a ropes course and traveling to and exploring the Grand Canyon all are possible activities no matter how used to the outdoors someone is. That is one of the driving ideas behind Wilkes Adventure Education, better known as WAE. Those who work and participate with WAE know that another driving force behind the program is the coordinator Jill Price. "Jill is sensational;' said Rachelle Papacena, a P2 pharmacy student and WAE facilitator. "She makes you feel like you are part of something really awesome and is great at creating a team that feels like a family. She has enhanced my college experience inside and outside of WAE, and I can't imagine Wilkes without her. I've learned so many great lessons from Mama Bear:' Price graduated with a degree in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania but had no idea what she was going to do. "When I graduated, I got an offer to go work at a Boy Scout camp, and I blew them off once before. I was supposed to go visit them and interview for the job, and I got scared because what most people don't know about me is I'm a really big chicken at heart; Price explained. . Afterward, Price sent an email to the person in charge and faced the truth that she had let them down, a moment that has stuck with her, and by luck, the position was still open when she graduated, and she got the job. "I learned on some level of humility to take responsibility, and I got to understand how my actions affect others. Then, from a team- Alongside Anthony Fanucci '18, who was then a first-year student at Wilkes, Price brainstormed ideas, and the acronym of WAE was born. Price identified that it was the students who worked with her that helped to make WAE what it is today. Price had to rely on student facilitators to help teach other students how to go outside and be responsible adventurers while preserving that close and tight-knit bond that has always been essential to WAE. Edison Fowler, senior mechanical engineer and WAE facilitator, explained how WAE has helped him grow over the years. "WAE has given me opportunities that I would have never had access to, like going on a week-long trip to Ireland for spring break;' said Fowler. "Working through WAE, and with Jill, has also given me the chance to continue to push my comfort zone and try new things. I've always been really introverted, but taking leadership roles like facilitating has caused me to gain a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities as a leader." Those who have met Price would know that she is often a force of positive energy who helps teach the students of WAE the ways of the outdoors so that they can do the same. That cooperation between students and Price became a core part of WAE, as the program grew in size and became the organization students know today. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, those who are interested in joining WAE should reach out to Price (Jill. Price@wilkes.edu) or any student facilitator for WAE, as they are continuing to host events like yoga and plan other activities. Courtesy of Jill Price Wilkes Adventure Education Coordinator Jill Price is joined by three generations of WAE members at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. building component,. I got to play tag. As a kid, I loved recess, and even as a young adult, I loved playing. So, through play, I got to learn a ton about myself and a ton about leadership and action:' From there, Price's career path and lifestyle changed She found herself working at a different campus and going down a career path that focused on outdoor education. Then, eight years ago, the position of coordinator of Wilkes Adventure Education had opened up, and she got the job. In time, Price started to plant the seeds of other ideas like glamping, bil<ing and eventually activities and programs like WAE Day. @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu JOIN THE BEACON . • w .1h ' Uc& b 001\.C(ifli . �J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu. The moody foodie's peanut blltter yogurt bowl combo By Anna Culver Staff Writer This is a super simple breakfast that does not take more than five minutes to make, and all on your own. It also can function as an afternoon snack with apple slices. Ingredients (measurements vary with portion size): 1) Yogurt - I love Chobani Greek Vanilla Yogurt, in case you didn't know. 2) Peanut Butter To make this, just mix together the peanut butter and yogurt to get to the consistency that you want. The consistency should be light and fluffy and does not stick to the roof of your mouth. You can stick to this basic peanut butter and yogurt mixture, which is amazing. But some additional goodies can be added for a more filling and well-rounded meal. Toppings: . Bananas, strawberries, apples, granola, honey and chocolate chips are all options. To make the photo: Mix together the peanut butter and yogurt to your liking. Next, cut up a banana and lay that on top. You can then add as much or as a little granola as you want. I use is the Honey Almond Granola from Good & Gather Organic. You can drizzle some honey over the top to give it a little extra sweetness. Calorie Disclaimer: Depending on what you are using for this recipe, your calories are going to change because of different products, different amounts and personal _ preference. Food Allergy Warning: Nuts and dairy The Beacon/Anna Culver Anna.Culver@wilkes."edu Graphics by Anna Culver Th is prot ein-packed snack is great for any t ime of the day. It can be customized with personalized toppings for a nourishing meal. ' . Internships give a glance into possible career "chOices By Judah Lyles Staff Writer • Some college students worry about their future, and with the decreasing generational job placement rate, these worries may be wellfounded. However, this line of worrying is the last thing students need on their plates with the stress of homework, exams, performances, clubs and other activities. Through Wilkes, there are multiple resources and opportunities to help students take a hold of their future and shape it themselves. The Center for Career Development and Internships is a resource located behind the Henry Student Center on campus. The office is filled with people eager to help individuals discover the benefits of internships - one of whom is Sharon Castano, the director of internships and parent programs. One of the biggest benefits of internships is being able to "be sure that the work you will be doing in your career will be something that you will enjoy,' she said. If you have trouble sitting still for long periods of time, the Center for Career Development and Internships can help you figure out what internships are best for you. • There are several unique companies that offer internships to Wilkes students, one of which is extremely familiar to the Wilkes community. For those who have done yoga with some furry friends on campus, an internship with Buttinhead Farms might be the perfect future match. Buttinhead Farms is dedicated to giving customers an - "unfor-goat-able" experience, and owner Ashley Raspen could use the help of someone who is social media-savvy. COVID-19 has helped her to learn and adapt to the times, as well as noting the importance of social media and virtual business pushes. She runs the business primarily on social media and is too busy keeping up with "all 750 of her personalities:' Raspen is excited to learn from this intern and "teach young people the ability to grow a business from virtually nothing:' The position is currently filled, but future openings are possible. · An internship opportunity that is available is with Kaki Intimates, an intimate, bridal, baby and loungewear company dedicated to ethically creating their products. With COVID-19 in mind, the business has moved fully online with no in-person events. With a social media intern, owner and founder Amber Watts would love to "be able to grow the company more with sales and indirectly grow jobs for local workers and make a real difference in what fashion can be today.' Internships are a fulfilling opportunity to shape one's future. Inquiries about unfilled internships can be sent to Castano (Sharon. Castano@wilkes.edu). @wilkesbeacon Judah.Lyles@wilkes.edu . r �.J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 8 Life, Arts & Entertainment Degree conferral held; first doctoral degrees in nursing awarded By Sean Schmoyer News Editor On Sept. 12, .President Greg Cant and Interim Provost Terese M. Wignot carried out the first online degree conferral ceremony from inside the lobby of Weckesser Hall. The ceremony was streamed live at 1 p.m., and a recording is available for viewing on the Wilkes University website. The original plan was to have the ceremony in the McHale Athletic Center, but the conferral was held virtually instead due to the restrictions placed on the campus from COVID-19. Cant stressed that the ceremony should not lose any grandeur because of these changes. "The fact that we are not able to celebrate on campus does not reduce the significance of the day or diminish what it is that you have accomplished;' Cant said. In addition to the online conferral, Wilkes will host the 74th Annual Spring Commencement honoring the graduates from January 2021 and May 2021. On that day, the commencement march will be carried out from the Marts Center to UCOM and will be accompanied by a bagpipe and drum band. On May 23, the University will celebrate the graduates from May 2020 and September 2020. On each day, the graduate student ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. and the bachelor's degree ceremony at 3 p.m. Cant spoke directly to the graduates, "Of all the classes that have graduated from Wilkes, you, along with the class of 2020 that graduated in May, will be remembered for the experience you had unlike any other in the history of Wilkes. You adapted, preserved, accepted loss, continued to achieve, found new ways to connect with one another and came to understand more than any other class all the significant parts of our campus life that we should never take for granted. "If there was ever a generation to adapt to these circumstances, it's you. Who better than you to understand how to connect to each other in this digital world that we have come to depend on over the last past six months?" This ceremony also marked a first, with four graduates earning a Ph.D. in nursing. Cant also recognized the graduates and alumni who chose to pursue health care careers. "We celebrate your dedication and compassion, your commitment to the well being of others and to keep us healthy and safe;' said Cant. The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer President Greg Cant honored degree recipients virtually on Sept. 12. Kirsten Peters, Editor-In-Chief: S ~ t Be~gne • BIika. Shelton Sean Schmoyer, News Editor: P ~ ~ n Sara Roa,, Asst. News Editor: Own It - Balley Bryan Genny Frederick, News Staff Writer: Qocoon,::..MllJsx-"hl,oge Marla DIBuo, LA&E Editor: Zalo.ta,,:Jht.f.ugen Emily CherkauMa•. LA&E Staff Writer: Stranded • Bed Vox Breanna Eblech, Opinion Editor: 11 IQng as YoU.mlCI.· Ruel Wignot carried out the conferral of degrees and addressed the graduates. "None of us anticipated that we would continue to experience the global pandemic. The fact that all of you adjusted and continued to preserve for some of you in a completely new learning environment, and for all of you in the environment of the global pandemic. I know this means we have taught you well and we are proud of you. You probably won't remember the words that Dr. Cant or I say today, but you will remember that you were a very special part of the history of Wilkes University:' Cant closed the ceremony with congratulations to the graduates and acknowledgment that the graduates are now members of Wilkes' alumni. "Graduates, you give us good reason to believe that all of our futures will Be brighter and made better because of you;' said Cant in his closing remarks. "May you find great pleasure in all your endeavors and enjoy the satisfaction of working for the greater good that will come from it. We always hope your travels will lead you back to Wilkes. You have earned our congratulations and very best wishes, may you carry with you all the blessings of our 88 year history. You are now and forever a part of Wilkes, and Wilkes forever is a part of you:' @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Zarqua Anearl, Asst. Opinion Editor: ButterlHes - Samu Jordan Daniel, Opinion Staff Writer: TA!Ji.T.Qo_Mugh~_QQIM Dylan Mehl, Co-Sports Editor: Guwd~ourHeart - WQ Sean AIW"-t,.CO-Sports Editor: MRl'l~ Wl'\l"l'IMl'\lA/" • Wlftlfr • Chris Gowan,, Sports Staff Writer: Cardigan - Don TollY.er Steffen Horwath, Staff Photographer: B ~ t l_:-:_Tli_fi_ AYao.oht.l. �L The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Colonel's Closet re-opened Monday-Friday for the fall semester Kristin Osipower encourages students in need to visit in-person or order online university. Throughout the years, it has grown, with more students stopping in each year. Throughout the COVID-19 . Nestled inside the Interfaith Office on pandemic, the p~ntry provided for the second floor of the Henry Student both students and staff who stayed Center lies Coionel's Closet, a food near campus, as well as those who were pantry available to students, staff or commuter students, already residing in faculty members who may be in need of the Wyoming VaUey area. extra assistance obtaining essential items. In addition, supplemental funding Colonel's Closet offers a variety of received from the university, as well as goods, from non-perishable to fresh the CARES Act received by the university, to to foods, as well as personal and household were used to purchase gift cards for care items. According to the College students who were in need or foodand University Food Bank Alliance, insecure. Those at Colonel's Closet also 30 percent of college students are food directed students toward other resources insecure, increasing the importance of in the community. Colonel's Closet on campus. "Statistics pointed in the direction that "If we can help them take care of the we would see an increase in need because already been 10 in-person orders, as well essentials and alleviate some of the of COVID, but can I say definitively that as 15 online orders - a large increase in burden so they can focus more on their the increase is because of COVID? I can't online ordering from the previous school studies _ or other necessities, that's a say that," explained Osipower. "We have year, where the online system was utilized win-win for the university," said Kristin seen more students using it this year, but by only three students. Osipower, who oversees the Colonel's it could be because it's becoming more "We're pushing that a little more this Closet, when speaking of the purpose of apart of the university fabric and people year with COVID too, and it's working the pantry. know that we're here." out really, really well," said Osipower. Colonel's Closet began in 2016, According to Osipower, throughout the Students interested in frequenting when Osipower took on the role at the first two weeks of the semester, there have Colonel's Closet are encouraged to make appointments with Osipower and schedule a time to come into the pantry. From there, individuals can come in and choose the products they need. Changing from last year, items are limited to two of a kind, due to the increase in usage seen this semester. Products in the Colonel's Closet are sourced through the pantry's fund, as well as through the CEO Foodbank located in Pittston, which supplies fresh produce to Colonel's Closet, helping to keep the fridge fully stocked. Additionally, many items in the pantry are obtained through donations from students, faculty and staff. "I have some tips for making responsible donations;' said Osipower. "Donating is not a time to clean out the pantry, or if you are, which we all need to do sometimes, please check the expiration dates beforehand." For individuals interested in donating to the pantry, Osipower recommends checking in with Colonel's Closet before donating, as the need for certain items in the pantry varies from week to week, in The Beacon/Steffen Horwath addition to the fact that the pantry staff attempts to stock items that are palatable Kristin Osipower, campus interfaith coordinator, pictured in front of the Colonel's for college students. Closet food pantry. By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor tlaywhen theyU be on tNe ether ofthings. The best way repay me is pay it forward, just helping out 11h they go in life." - Kristin Osipower "And then it's little things, like not every student comes to college with a can opener. They don't think about that;' explained Osipower. "So if you can make the choice where there's a pop top lid, it's so much easier for college students, especially those that live in residence halls." For Osipower, her main concern is ensuring those in need, especially students, feel comfortable coming to Colonel's Closet if they are in need, as occasionally, there is a stigma associated with frequenting food pantries, according to moveforhunger.org. For this reason, Colonel's Closet maintains confidentiality among its visitors. "There are some students who come, and there's a hesitation for a variety of reasons," explained Osipower. "I just like to remind students that there will come a day when they'll be on the other side of . things. The best way to repay me is to pay it forward, just helping out efforts like this, wherever they go in life." Appointments for Colonel's Closet are available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays this semester, and can be made by emailing kristin.osipower@ · wilkes.edu. Additionally, online order forms · can be found at wilkes.edu/ studentpantry. "They're here for a reason, and my reason is simply to help them;' said Osipower. . @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu r �_J The Beacon - September 15, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment Liz's Craft Corner: Preventing nightmares with a dreamcatcher the opportunity to cover it. Next, take any color twine; brown is typical but any color will do. I am using Dreamcatchers ate very popular for brown for this tutorial. Colors can add their aesthetic qualities and their real more fun , butJit is ultimately up to you. purpose - preventing nightmares. Cut a lot of twine because you will use According to legomenon.com, a lot. If you run, you can tie more on, dreamcatchers are associated with though. Native Americans, but can be traced Then, tie a knot using the twine onto back to the Ojibwa Chippewa tribe in the bottom where you hot glued the particular. ends. Wrap the twine around the ring, The Ojibwe word for dreamcatcher and pull it through under itself to form asabikeshiinh means "spider," which a loop. refers to the web inside the hoop. A Continue this around the whole ring "spider woman" was said to watch over and space the loops out because the the tribe but as the tribe grew, the webbing gets smaller as you move into spider woman found it hard to watch the center. Now that you're at the first over everyone. That is where the first twine curve, wrap the twine around dreamcatcher came from. that the same way you did for the ring The dreamcatcher attracts all and continue this until you reach the dreams. Good dreams are allowed to middle. Make sure to pull it tight so it pass through, down the feathers to the looks like a spider web. sleeper, and bad ones get caught in the When you get to the center, you can web, eventually being destroyed by the either tie a knot and leave a hole in the light of the morning. , center or you can put a bead. In order to The materials you wili need are one add a bead, string the twine through the metal ring, suede trim, one paint brush, bead, wrap it around the twine above it hot glue and a hot glue gun, twine, beads and tie a knot. and feather. Any of these materials At this stage you have freedom to do can be purchased at craft stores, such as you choose. Typically, feathers are as Joann Fabrics or Michaels, or even added onto the bottom but you can add Amazon. The materials ar~ fairly yarn or fabric. Also, you can add details affordable. · around the perimeter. Grab your metal ring of any size. Feel free to use colored twin-e with Then, grab suede trim of any color of coordinating colored beads and flowers , your preference. This tutorial will be or add yarn of various colors with using red. flowers around the perimeter. Take your Mod Podge and a painting In order to add feathers , cut three brush - a sponge brush is easier to use. pieces of the suede trim to your desired Put the Mod Podge using the brush on length. Cow hitch knot the three pieces the metal ring in small sections and onto the bottom: two on either side of carefully wrap the suede trim around the knot and one on top of the knot to the metal ring, meeting the two sides cover it. together and leaving no gaps. Hot glue a bead onto each one of the Continue this until you wrap the suede "strings". Then, hot glue a feather whole ring with the suede trim. Make into every bead. To finish, you're going sure ¥> work quickly so the Mod Podge to add a loop to hang it. Grab suede doesn't dry before the suede sticks to trim, loop to your desired size, and hot it. Also, make sure you hold each suede glue the ends together to make a circle. section you wrap until it dries so it Cow hitch knot the loop on the top. doesn't unravel. That fi nishes the dreamcatcher. No The very beginning probably won't you can hang it above your bed so you stick with just Mod Podge, so you will have no more bad dreams. hot glue it. Once you finish wrappip.g the whole metal ring, hot glue both ends together and to the ring, being careful @wilkesbeacon not to burn yourself (I did during this) . Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu It's OK if it is a bit messy, you will have By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer C Step 1: Gather your materials Step 3: Cut away any loose fabric s I a F ii I- I 0 n f Step 2: Wrap the fabric around the ring u ir 0 Step 4: Knot the tw,ine around the ring and add a bead at the center p d th nc th bf di di A1 pe Step 2 completed di l m, Step 5: Tie additional fabric pieces at · the bottom . vi: th l �The Beacon - September 16, 2020 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Student Government announces Virtual Club Day for Sept. 18 How the changes informat will allow for flexibility in club advertising Lindsey Scorey, communication studies sophomore and e-mentor, positively detailed the change in events, believing that it is a suitable replacement given the current circumstances. She also believes that the virtual format will grant more freedom to clubs in how they operate. "I would think that each club should have its own method based on club members' needs," she said. "Clubs should adapt to what each member wants:' As an e-mentor, Scorey still has hope that the changes will be beneficial for first-year students. "I think it's smart to do virtual clubs;' Scorey said. 'Tm not sure if it will give the full experience for them, and I'm not sure if it will be a full replacement . of Club Day, but the changes are still good nonetheless:' In replacement of the McHale Athletic Center being filled with tables, the Henry Student Center will be decorated by Student Government in preparation for Sept. 18. "We realize that this may not be the most ideal or traditional set-up for the event;' Long said. "But, in the time of crisis, this is the best way to advertise our clubs." By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer With over 100 clubs and .organizations on campus, Club Day is an important staple of the beginning of the school year for Wilkes, allowing students to socialize and meet with clubs that match their interests. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many events all over the country to be cancelled, leaving the plan for Club Day hanging in the air. After careful consideration and planning, Student Government has decided that the best option for students and clubs to get the best experience would be to hold a Virtual Club Day event on Sept. 18. Student Body President Kevin Long explained the board's decision to make the event virtual this year. "Due to the pandemic, it would put students in harm's way to hold a large event, as we ·usually do;' said Long. "So, over the past few weeks, the Student Government Executive board has rolled out many different ideas in order to still advertise our wonderful clubs on campus." Student Government is planning to set up posters with QR codes and links around ·campus that students can scan with their phones. The link will then lead student~ to a website that will have every club listed. Because of the virtual design and format, Long noted that clubs are now able to advertise for the full school year, instead of just one day, allowing for flexibility. . t "When a student clicks on the individual club link, it will take them to a page that the club itself will customize with information, pictures, videos, etc.;' Long said. Megan Pitts, activities coordinator for student development, also acknowledged the advantages and benefits of a virtual Club Day. She explained that clubs can hold live Zoom sessions throughout the afternoon for any students who are interested in Wilkes' clubs and organizations. These live sessions will be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend. "If a student can't attend sessions, they can still access all of the great information;' Pitts said. ____, Want to join the conversation? Become a life, arts and entertainment writer. Freshmen and all majors welcome! , IB ■■lf !■■■■ I■■■ Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker Contact: Maria.DiBuo@wllkes.edu ' "~ · The , ~ ·aeab6n._·~ ~ -~r}~~ ~ ...,_:-~7,-.~-- -- < • ' • • - - C - .. ~-"'- • - "'-""' -..-~"¥..-c~"' ,r~,"- • • ;..:, www.thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon/Steffen Horwath The barren McHale Athletic Center where Club Day would have been in-person. r �J The Beacon - September 15, 2020 Opinion 12 1 By Breanna Ebisch, Judah Lyles Opinion Editor, Staff Writer difference, but the you119 people of America have· only ~r·knoWn this reality. fol' a r t generattonthatdldnotwltne$5 t these events In real . time, retelllngs ' a.net documentaries are the only way that we can tonnect or understand the magnitude of the horrific acts that occurred. · The E variations are staggering, but still painful. Assistant professor of history, Or. Amy SopcakJoseph teaches within the. Global Cultures Division and mainly focuses on nlneteenth-century US history. She is · one of millions of Americans that can remember exa~ how her day went on September violence ·anct terror that has ruled the nation since tb4! devastating events that unfolded In New York, PennsYlvania and Washington ~-C alm~two decades i190 September H, 2oot ' w~s a day that-thoµgh blue skied and s~- •wlll haunt ... millions of ,Americans for ' tf.W! ·.· · rest of their Jives., . The devastating tosses of ' thousands of hmQcent ~ ,s unp~ted · and · 't he f: . ~ ·~. peo~ · of America .· - ·~ ·tobun:fenthewelght more ·t&an 11th, 2001. ~•this·• ~ •.· - · contvtues . .to;, sha~ t h e ~ nineteen~ later. ·· · . , . Everyth,. ~ ~ 1 I s ~ by 'ont questron: . . . were you when the first ' plane struck?, For·~ Americans, the answer t o ~ question. Is ontt thly Will never .forget. I· was sitting In my cubicle. I was eating breakfast. I was.on my way to work. They. can remember every mlniscule detail of that tragic day In our nation's history. For Gen Z, the answer is not so simple. Our generation, better known as "Gen is the first generation to grow up in a post9/11 era. Anyone older than us knew life before September 11th and felt the immediate z: :"On 9/11, I WU a at . Dickinson Co@ege In Carlisle, PA. . I wenttQ:a 9-.30 am~ and tfie~tnenttbriedthit stMtjust--onthe news~ a plane. hid crashed Into . the ~ : Ttade Center. ~.. we dldft't really. think soetiomore tht ,wodd . nus, we . of 9J)Y{h up:tn.'. , biggest difference· ~ . <ien Z and prior generations. For most ~ . 9/11 was the first and tragedy that ~ ' .llave experienced while for Gen Z, every day seemingly brings .~ a new tragedy. Whereas for many Americans, September . 11th was a turning point into a new, violent culture, for Gen Z, this is all that we know. We interviewed members . of the Wilkes community to demonstrate the generational differences between viewpoints on 9/11 and the ·b .i a·o e s t of,Jt - ' we Nd ~ ;•went to the . .afterdauand ithe,e\Wlwatchlno the rM!\W Oftthe TVs -than when 1 really saw what ~ My.friends and I were ~ to the TV for the nm of the ~ Sopcak- =:that~~ almost two decades ago. Although she was a young adult still figuring · out life at the time, Sopcak- ' - Joseph does remember the slgnfficant shifts that became apparent after 9/11. The most obvious one being the extra measures of security against terrorist attacks that became evident not only In airports, but in all aspects of daily life. Dr. Jonathan Kuiken, a r ~ ~ t another assistant professor in the 'history department in Wilkes, was also a young college . student m nm:ron at the time 911 ed and can exact details And like many dtib:ns, .~1'i '' frightenl~ t s E ( c t r ( 0 ~ t o. the :events. •~of the people in my~admy town'.~ 111 New Yott. In factr tnJ best friend's «- was Jllira • seconddadame)worfced: Jahe,. at the WorfctTnite Center andtbellevethatHsoftke: was ~abow#le 180th floor. When J saw the news coverc1ge of the T ~ 1 WM :convinced that he had been kfflec:t ,. called his house over and over, but the lines were all busy. Anally ooe of the office assistants at my school told me that she would keep calling for me because I was in a panic. When she got through, she found out that my friend's father had actually cancelled his morning meetings that day to get caught up on some work at home. That decision saved his life because-he was the only person from his office ~ t t c ( t t ( J r t .1 �The Beacon - September 15, 2020 to survive. I spent that evening sitting on a beach north of Boston because it was the first time in my life that I had ever seen a sky with no airplanes in it." Kuiken recalls his haunting memories connected to September 11th. "While I was sitting there with my girlfriend (who is now my wife) . two F-15 fighters flew over the beach and nearly blew out our eardrums. They were patrolling around Boston and were a visual reminder that nothing was ever going to be the same again." In the classroom, both professors are used to teach ing subjects that their students weren't alive to experience and this is certainly no exception as college students today either have no recollection of September 11th or weren't born yet. "As a history professor, I'm used to teaching events that happened before my students were born. I stress the idea that 'everything has a history; from the way we currently communicate and use technology, to the partisan political environment, to the current economic situation. 9/11 is one important event that contributes to American culture today, but it's part of a more complicated history of the turn of the 21st century." says Sopcak-Joseph. Unlike all of Gen Z, Sopcak-Joseph and Kuiken have a clear memory about both 9/11 itself and the terrifying and uncertain time that followed after the attacks happened in several places in the Eastern United States. This feeling and period of time is what stays with Sopcak-Joseph even nineteen years later. Similar to the anxiety that many students today carry with them everyday when attending school in fear of a mass shooting occurring, the American population experienced a fear like no other in the months and years following 9/11. "The period of uncertainty and unease, even straight-up fear, in the weeks afterwards has stuck with me. After September 11 , Americans didn't 13 Opinion know whether another attack would happen or if it might take another form. This fear contributed to a very specific incident at my college. After 9/11, there was a lesser-remembered scare related to anthrax - someone mailed letters containing the substance, which is poisonous, to some Congressmen. This only contributed to Americans' everyday anxiety - it wasn't clear where the anthrax letters came from or what the motive was," She explains and continues to recall a story of how that anxiety fostered at her own college when a student decided to send his friend a letter full of powder, which was crushed-up candies, but resulted in closure of the school for an investigation. This anxiety is remembered by everyone who witnessed September 11th. Kuiken also looks back at the fear that quickly became deeply embedded in American society following the attacks and became the new normal which is still prominent today. "After 9/11 a deep sense of anxiety began to permeate our society and · our politics. People wanted to be assured that they would be kept safe and that led to some poor decision-making by leaders:' As people who experienced first hand the tragic twenty-four hours that changed our nation and world in the matter of minutes along with claiming tt:)ousands of lives, both ,Sopack-Joseph and Kuiken see 9/11 in a different light than the Gen Z does. Senior psychology major Julie Chropowicki and sophomore DDMA major Danielle Morris both belong to Gen Zand were too young to remember the tragic events of 9/11 themselves. All the knowledge and everything they know of that day has come from secondary sources such as their family or time spent learning the subject in school. "In school, we mostly learned about the event itself and the facts of what happened. From others, I learned more of how they found out, if they saw it, and their accounts of what happened throughout their day. It was more subjective when learning through people while in school they tried to keep it mostly objective;' Chropwicki explains when reflecting on the education she has received on 9/11 over the years. This is the only reality Gen Z has known. Having grown up in a violent and different world than previous generations, 9/11 changed everything, but to the most affected group, the day is only a memory from others. However, the young people of America have still felt the pain left behind from September 11th in their own ways. "I probably had a better understanding of the events when I reached middle school; that's when I think I truly began to understand the magnitude of what happened. With that said, even t this day I still cannot fully wrap my head around what unfolded. Every year it hits me in a new way. On the anniversary, I always think about those affectedon that day, and what must've been going through everyone's mind;' iays Morrison. "The most shocking thing to me was hearing the voicemails of the passengers on the hijacked planes. I can't imagine what they must have felt in that moment, knowing that they couldn't get the chance to hug their loved ones again:' She continues, feeling the gravity of the emotions that are associated with those heartbreaking messages. Chropwicki pinpointed the sadness of this detail about September 11th as well. Both Wilkes students recognized that growing up in a post-9/11 world never felt different to them because this is all they have ever known. But understanding what occurred on September 11, 2001 helped them grasp why certain precautions are in place such as airport security and recognizing their reality is much different from older generations. This year, on the nineteenth anniversary of 9/11 , the members of Gen Z and the countless Americans who lived through that day will be mourning all the innocent lives and will never forget the tragic events that changed the world. 0 @wilkesbeacon . . . . Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu • Judah.Lyles@wilkes.edu Page Design: The Beacon/Mia Walker Mia.Wa/ker@wilkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Opinion 14 Opinion Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the opinion editor: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu: Register, vote like your futu~e depends on it •• It is 2020, and one of the biggest, let alone important, presidential elections is taking place. Many young people will be of voting age and will be able to use their voice in an election that will certainly make history. It is crucial for everyone, especially young voters, to hit the polls or send in an absentee ballot this November. The future of our nation, lives and freedom is at stake, which is why it is crucial to use our constitutional right on Election Day. Generation Z is the latest group to attain the ability to vote after reaching the necessary and required age. Yet, many are not aware of the importance resting on their shoulders in terms of the 2020 election. The millions of people who belong to Gen Z have experienced an unprecedented landscape unlike any other generation. From the constant devastation occurring everyday, whether it be in the form of another mass shooting, drastic damages due to climate change, terrorist attacks, a struggling economy, countless videos of police violence, fighting for basic human rights or even a global pandemic, the young people of this country have carried the burden of arguably one of the hardest times in America's history. Because of _these experiences, the need for Gen Z individuals to use their voice for -change is critical in order to alter who holds the highest seat in our government. . According to the Pew Research Center, Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X outvoted the older generations in the 2018 midterm elections. Baby boomers and older generations have been known to be the prominent demographic in elections, which usually_keeps the same politicians in office. Although the change lias been slow and younger people have been showing up at the polls in the last two elections more than before, their presence has ever been so necessary. Now is the time for Gen Z to finally show how much their opinions matter. By voting, they will help fix the issues that their generation has had to endure for almost two decades. According to NPR, there will be about 24 million Gen Z-ers eligible to vote in November. They .are all born after 1996 and are the most diverse and digitallybound generation in the history of the United States. Therefore, they have various issues they would like to fight for and will not hesitate to make the difference in our nation. Most likely, a top issue of concern consists of whether or not the president that will be in office for the next four years will be an activist and contribute to helping fix our broken and divided country. Other issues that Gen Z-ers are potentially reflecting upon prior to casting their votes include basic human rights for all people, no matter their race, gender or sexual orientation. There are several other issues at play that voters will be deciding upon. Some include funding to save the environment, continued pandemic response, potential healthcare reform, gun control laws, police reform and immigration policies. These hot-button issues only encompass a fraction of deciding factors for where to place one's vote. There are many other topics Gen Z individuals are primarily concerned with before making their final decision on who to vote for in the 2020 election; however, no matter their choice, it is imperative that the millions of young people show up at the polls, and vote like their future depends on it. ~ . @wilkesbeacon -, TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu ,. �. The Beacon - September 16, 2020 L 15 Opinion President Trump's privileged disrespect for the militaryBy Liam Flynn Staff Writer On July 18, 2015, at the family leadership summit in Ames, Iowa, President Donald Trump recalled long-time Arizona senator and former U.S. Navy soldier John McCain saying something that Trump considered to be an insult to him and his supporters. "I said, 'Somebody should run against McCain; who has been, in my opinion, not so hot;' said Trump. "And I supported him for president! I raised a million dollars for him. That's a lot of money! I supported him. He lost. He let us down; But he lost. So I never liked him much after that, because I don't like losers:' Amid audience laughter, the moderator, Republican pollster Frank Luntz, interjected, "But he's a war hero!" Trump responded, "He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured:' Trump even resisted lowering the flag over the White House wheri McCain died. Trump's understanding of heroism has not evolved since he became president. He seems to genuinely not understand why Americans treat former prisoners of war with·respect. The president certainly does not understand why pilots who are shot down in combat are honored by the military. On at least two occasions since becoming president, according to three sources with direct knowledge of his views, Trump referred to former President George H. W. Bush as a "loser" for being shot down by the Japanese as a Navy pilot in World War II. When the president canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision, saying that "the helicopter couldn't fly" and that the Secret Service wouldn't drive him there. Neither claim was true. Trump rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers:' In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as "suckers" for getting killed. Trump is a person born of privilege who views people not as individuals, but as pawns. This transactional worldview explains the fact that he simply cannot fathom why anyone would volunteer to serve. It is incomprehensible to him. In Trump's mind, nothing is ~orth doing without the possibility of a significant monetary reward or boost in status. performative patriotism. was moving." He's had a lifelong love affair with Trump invited him to his Mar-a-Lago military pageantry. Despite being a resort for a personal meeting, which Vietnam war draft-dodger, Trump said Gallagher has used as a springboard for he felt as if he truly was in the military TV appearances and apparel sales. because he attended an upstate New York Against the objections of top Pentagon military prep school. But then, Trump ' officials, Trump issued full pardons to ran for president, and his view of the two Army officers convicted of murier. institution changed, especially when it After the killing of Qasen Soleimani clashed with his conservatism. last month and Iran's retaliatory strike As commander-in-chief, Trump sent as ! on an Iraqi base housing U.S. military many as 6,000 troops to the U.S. - Mexico personnel, Trump said there were no U.S. border, where he hoped he could· use the casualties. Two \\:eeks later, the Defense military to detain illegal immigration. Department said 34 troops had been diagnosed with concussions or brain trauma. Trump, normally one to luxuriate • in the gory details of battle, downplayed their symptoms as "headaches" and "not very serious:' Democratic National Committee senior spokesperson and adviser Lily Adams recently said, "Trump doesn't know what it _means to sacrifice for our country, and he clearly has no respect for the brave men and women who have. Veterans and fallen soldiers should be venerated, not insulted and mocked by anyone, ½ especially the commander in chief:' : This all ties into what I have noticed : since Trump ran for president - he is a poser. Think of your loved ones and relatives in the military that are overseas risking their lives. Think of the veterans who are . fortunately here to tell their stories. You would probably be enraged if someo1'e : came up to you and called someone you know who was killed in action a "loser:' Why does our president get a pass? You would think he would get slandered . by every decent American citizen, but somehow he still has a huge following · that continually makes excuses for him. He can not tweet his way out of this one. Trump does not respect the military. ~ IU.S.ARMVI f Do you have opinions? As Goldberg noted, after then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford had delivered a White House briefing, Trump asked aides, "That guy is smart. Why did he join the military?" Trump loves to pose in the reflected glory of veterans, but his tone changes as soon as military personnel don't agree with his own narrative. Throughout his decades in public life, Trump has exemplified the _idea of hollow, The Posse C9mitatus Act of 1878 states that can not happen. Some of the troops who were deployed domestically were ordered to serve their country by painting portions of Trump's border wall. More recently, he restored the rank of Eddie Gallagher, a convicted war criminal whose fellow Navy SEALs described as "freaking evil;' "toxic" and "perfectly O.K: with killing anybody that We're looklngforopposing viewpoinlstorep,esentboth sid4°"1f!!!I.~ wilk&etlutoexp,m yourstance. Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by ZarquaAruari r �.J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Opinion 16 Bre's Beats: A variety of songs you need on you_r playlist . By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor Over the last few months, plenty of new music has been released and loved by fans across the globe. If you are looking for something new or are tired of listening to the same songs on repeat, then look no further. as long as you care - Ruel The young Australian singer released his first single in almost a year, and it's astounding. Using his signature sound of pop and soul that relies heavily on instrumental, and his unmistakable but unique voice, "as Jong as you care" is a song you cannot miss out on. The catchy lyrics and upbeat melody make it impossible not to instantly put the track on repeat and sing along. The single is the beginning of a new era for Ruel, as an accompanying EP is set to release titled, "Bright Lights and Red Eyes:' which is hinted at multiple times throughout the chorus. "as long as you care" needs a place on your playlist, especially if you are looking for something brand new and different Magnolia (Alone) - August Kamp Although this song is off an album released in 2019 entitled "19: The Musical:' the fresh indie-pop sounds of up-and-coming artist August Kamp needs to be added to your playlist. "Magnolia (Alone)" immediately pulls you in from the beginning and uses rare techniques to keep listeners wanting more. Every lyric is incredibly honest, and while the whole song tells a meaningful story, it will immediately become a new favorite the moment you hear it. Between combination high energy beats and slow but sultry vocals from Kamp, this song is sure to become one you can't get enough 0£ KillMyTime - 5 Seconds of Summer The wellknown and loved Australian band surprised fans by unexpectedly dropping an extended version of their latest album "CALM:' which was released in March and featured an unreleased song. "Kill My · Time" is an instant hit and showcases not only the band's musicianship, but frontman Luke Hemmings' incredible vocals. The pop rock sound that SSOS has claimed over the last few years is evident throughout this song, which only enhances the appeal of the new track. Longtime fans of the group will not only enjoy the newest taste of their music, but will fall in love with this single. If you are looking for something new with memorable lyrics and a melody that will lift your mood, "Kill My Time" is the song for you. Backyard Boy-Claire Rosinkranz If you have been on TikTok at all in the last few months, you may have heard this song a couple hundred times. Everything about "Backyard Boy" is easily lovable, from the indie feel to the lyrics one cannot help but sing along to. The song got its start on the popular social media app, but deserves to be heard by everyone. It's an instant mood-lifter and sure to make individuals smile - let alone become a fan-favorite rather quickly. The lighthearted lyrics and melody are aspects that are missing in a lot of musk today, but Rosinkranz, a relatively unknown artist, captures both aspects perfectly. Cardigan - Taylor Swift "Cardigan;' the leading single from her record-breaking album, "folklore:' is not only a work of songwriting and musical genius, but is a one-of-a-kind song. Part of the intricate storytelling that Swift used throughout the album, this song captures heartbreak and love in stunning lyrics, while displaying _the change in Swift's latest pop sound. Taking on the alternative and indie tone of music, "Cardigan" is definitely a song that should be on one's playlist, if only to experience the honest and true emotions that are openly portrayed and only add to how incredible the single is overall. Make sure to add these songs, and you will potentially discover your next favorite. You won't regret it. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu What is cancel culture, its ineffectiveness in our society By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer • ., I While some are worried about contracting COVID-19, celebrities, corporations and fandoms have many other concerns on their minds. That concern is "cancel culture:' the new way to shame others on social media platforms and damage reputations. Cancel culture first came to be around 2017 when people started "canceling" celebrities, brands and organizations online after their problematic actions and statements would surface on the Internet Although many social media users participate in this act, others do not understand its popularity and the potentially drastic effects. "I think that cancel culture is not as effective as it appears to be because instead of encouraging the misdoer to do better and own up to their wrongs, it just pretends as if they do not exist;' said Lindsey Scorey, sophomore communication studies major and women's and gender studies minor. "This just allows us to pretend they are no longer causing an issue if we don't pay attention:' Most students on campus find cancel culture ineffective. They believe there are better ways to hold a person's or group's poor behaviors and statements accounlable, but at certain points cancel culture might be the only option for a person to understand the wrongs · they need to fix. "Everyone should answer to their actions:' said Donald Ballou, junior communication studies major. "However, people should not pay for deeds done five years ago of which they have grown considerably from. If the person hasn't shown growth, maturity or amended their offenses, then cancel culture could be justifiable:' Over the past couple of months, many celebrities have been getting canceled on Twitter. Also, many of these celebrities have a lot of young fans who are always shocked to see them being dragged online. · "It doesn't feel good to see you make mistakes and burned for it;' said Haley Katona. "However, the real truth is that celebritie§ a n d important public figures are human beings just as we all are. We all make mistakes, but we aren't reprimanded and banned for life. Accountability is integral, but growth is more important:' Some well known celebrities that have been canceled on Twitter recently are Ellen DeGeneres, Shane Dawson, Doja Cat and Sebastian Stan. Even brands like Ben & Jerry Ice Cream and companies like Walmart have also been in the spotlight of cancel culture. It is easy to see when a famous person or group is being canceled on Twitter. Usually they are trending on the social media app with the hashtag preceding their name and the words "is over party.' Cancel culture is not as effective as it should be when helping celebrities and organizations learn from their mistakes. Some think there are some instances where canceling people has to happen in order for them to realize their wrong doings. _ "People should get canceled for committing rape or sexual assault and anything that pertains to denying certain human beings their rights;' said Katona. Also, Scorey stated, "If there was any good reason 'for canceling someone, it would be for extreme slander or injustice in some variation:' Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari �.... The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Opinion 17 -- --- D r �.J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Opinion 18 Acknowledging the blatant racism in medical education By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor Gatekeeping in the medical community is a mistake. The same argument that's used by pro-life folks can be applied to racism in medicine: What if that student you denied education could have cured cancer? Last week, I attended an online panel with three doctors and a medical school student to discuss the disparities in education they faced as people of color. As a black woman, Dr. Rosalind GregoryBass said her experiences working in Wisconsin and Atlanta were greatly divided. Both places had a lot of healthcare facilities that she could work at, but a general sense of mistrust was evident in the southern city. It is unfair that a person who did the same amount of work and has the same credentials as a white doctor would be treated differently simply because of their race. Gregory-Bass also talked about her struggle to support her family while she was in medical school. Resources directed at medical students with children failed her because they didn't account for the race disparity. She was able to find a solution when she sought out resources targeted for black people, showcasing the importance of acknowledging race and issues that prevail as a result. Resources, like the one Gregory-Bass mentioned, should be made available around the nation to ensure equal opportunity or success for all people. Dr. Gary Butts talked about the progress toward equality we have made in the medical community, but daims that we are still far from reaching true equality. He expressed his relief at people recognizing problems and wanting to help. A key step to moving in the right direction is to call out racism for what it is. Racism is prevalent in more clever ways now. There may not be signs that say, "Whites Only;' but blatant racism is a cause for struggle for black students regardless. The point of the panel wasn't to highlight unfair treatment of just Black folks. A graduating class in any field should be reflective of the diversity of the country the class is in. It would be just as bad to have an 80 percent black class as it is to have an 80 percent white class. The defining features for medical school should not be the diversity, but rather the skill. While on the.topic of the BLM Movement and the potential for constructive change in the politically tumultuous environment, Butts also discussed the importance of extending the movement towards Native Americans. Indigenous folks are often left out of discussion. Butts wanted to clarify that BLM is a catalyst for change for all marginalized groups, not just Black people. In a society where zipcode determines life expectancy, a common social determinant of health explored by Dr. Gary Bloch, it is increasingly important to understand that students of all backgrounds should be accepted into healthcare. A Stanford study found that minority patients 6enefit from having minority doctors. The differences are greatest for Black Americans. According to PubMed. gov, when compared to white patients, they are two-to-three times as likely to die of preventable heart disease and stroke. Brianna Spell, a medical student, explained some interesting statistics. Growing up, males are encouraged to pursue jobs in the STEM field. However, as they get older, women take on STEM education. As a Black person and as a woman, Spell highlighted the lack of support for her study in the STEM field by academic advisors. She cited a common incident experienced by Black students across the nation: 'Maybe this isn't for you:-You should try something else. Do you have someone in medicine already? Otherwise this might not be for you: Spell disputes these questions and concerns. "IfI have the grades, why do you dissuade me from it?" asked Spell. Other people don't face challenges like these. Diversity offices were a large factor in Spell's search for schools. She encourages people to speak up when they face racism in class in order to point out how normalized it has become and how unflinchingly people take prejudiced remarks. Diversity offices offer many opportunities for marginalized groups. When minorities are starting off in a deficit in society, it is important to give them the extra support they need to level the playing field. The medical field, and other fields, need to acknowledge preju<lices and make a move towards reaching equality for people of all backgrounds. All professions could benefit from diverse representatives, and everyone would learn from ~ach other in the resulting inclusive environment. ~ -, @wilkesbeacon Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Going beyond the Instagram story social activism rave By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor •• Activism and social movements have found a new home in the ever-changing digital age. While protests, campaigns and word-of-mouth are still valid and commonly used methods of working to create change in the world, social media has added a new dimension in allowing people to contribute to movements and show their support for things they believe in. In May, when the Black Lives Matter Movement was once again brought to the forefront of America's attention after the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, social media found a new purpose. Feeds and timelines on popular platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, were flooded with posts being shared or reposted in support of the movement. Ranging from posts containing the facts about the recent events to sharing the horrific - videos of the retaliation from the police during peaceful protests across the country, BLM received support and attention from millions of people, not only in America but across the globe. Gone were the typical spring break pictures, selfies and reminiscing on past trips. Social media was turned into a weapon of change. But what does sharing a post to your Instagram story really do? On #BlackOutTuesday, a day organized by the music industry to protest racism and police brutality, millions of people posted a simple black square in solidarity with the movement. From celebrities to ordinary people, Instagram was flooded with spreading awareness. However, after this, arguably a day many participated in for "clout;' or to show support but not do anything beyond this one post, a large amount of the population simply stopped caring about being part of the activism working against racism in our country. There is no denying that sharing posts on one's Instagram story or actively tweeting about a social issue does bring attention to the movement and shows one's support, but that is only the first, minor step in truly working sign and share with friends, and many of these towards making a difference. petitions are responsible for change on many Holding conversations with friends and issues. family about topics or issues going on the Social media does play a crucial role in world helps educate others about one's beliefs social movements and change. Spreading and opens up new perspectives that others awareness through one's online presence is a may have not seen before. · incredible idea that came to be in only the last · Safely participating in local protests or few years. fundraisers related to the particular social That simple post might plant the thought in issues one cares about is another large step someone's mind who had never thought of an that can get individuals actively involved with issue before or will start a conversation with fighting for change. Donating to national or one of their friends. local organizations, and sharing what one There are several benefits to using the wide has done, is another way to actively play a expanse of social media and the Internet in role in taking action for an issue one may feel terms of showing support for a cause. strongly about. Next time, one absentmindedly posts There is no amount of participation too something to their story or newsfeed on social small. media, they may be prompted to think about Signing petitions became a widely popular the meaning behind their actions and going course of action to show support when beyond a single post toward creating tangible social justice began the unintentional online change. campaign for BLM. Since then, petitions through the Internet have become available .. Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu for everything from abolishing ICE or saving @wilkesbeacon Planned Parenthood. It only takes seconds to �. The Beacon - September 16, 2020 19 Sports Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu 2020-2021 NFL Predictions: Beacon sports staff edition · Beacon Sports Staff With an abundance of offseason moves, there are plenty of questions going into the 2020-2021 NFL season. Tom Brady to Tampa Bay was the talk of the NFL offseason, as the 20-year veteran enters his 21st season with a new team for the first time in his career. He joins a Tampa offense with plenty of weapons, including Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and returning Rob Gronkowski. Last year's most valuable player Lamar Jackson will look to bounce back from an early playoff elimination to the Tennessee Titans, meanwhile Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes looks to add another Lombardi trophy to his mantel, after signing a $500 million contract this offseason. With a spectator-less and uncertain season on the horizon, our sports staff made several predictions as to what this season will entail. Sleeper Team Dylan Mehl: "My sleeper team for the upcoming NFL season is everyone's hype team from last year, the Cleveland Browns. I see the Browns h~ving a bounce-back season, following a disappointing 6·-10 record last year. I smell a playoff berth in this team's future with another year for Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield to develop a connection, an improved defense and a new coaching situation." Ariel Reed: "I am taking the Colts as my sleeper team behind the new veteran quarterback Philip Rivers. This is the best offensive line Rivers has had, and giving someone with his IQ that amount of time with the Colts' weapons, has to equal success:' Chris Gowarty: "The Pittsburgh Steelers are my sleeper team for the 20202021 season. The Steelers are finally back to full health on the offensive end, and with a top tier defense to back them up, there are big things in this team's future :' Baylee Guedes: "Pittsburgh is my sleeper team; a healthy Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster back together will create an offensive connection that was missing from last year's team. The other offensive weapons in James Conner, Diontae Johnson and James Washington will help to create an elite offense thil> season:' Bust Team Dylan Mehl: "Tlie Dallas Cowboys are my bust team this season for many reasons. There is so much hype around this team that they can't possibly live up to expectations; however, I will double down on this and project them to miss the playoffs this _ season with a tough schedule, new coaching staff and over-hyped defense holding them back." Ariel Reed: "The Tom Brady-less Patriots are my bust team for several reasons. They lack offensive weapons and have multiple · players sitting out on the defensive end due to COVID-19." Chris Gowarty: ' "I do not believe in the Patriots offense this year under Cam Newton and do not see them succeeding. I don't trust Newton in the Foxborough weather conditions, especially with an offense lacking weapons." Baylee Guedes: "The Packers and Aaron Rodgers fall off this season, and we see a huge decline in Rodgers' play. While some of this is due to Davante Adams being Rodgers' only receiving option, I do think this is the beginning of the end for Rodgers:' Bold Predictions Dylan Mehl: "The Houston Texans will become the sixth team in NFL history to have three wide receivers over 1,000 yards receiving." Ariel Reed: "Tua Tagovailoa will be the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback by week three:' Chris Gowarty: "Tom Brady will have over 5,000 passing yards and 35 passing touchdowns." Baylee Guedes: "T.J. Watt will break the singlerseason sack record." MVP Dylan Mehl: "Yes, it is the chalk pick, but I am going with Mahomes. He and the Chiefs have the best offense in· the NFL with weapons like Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins. Mahomes' stats are sure to impress. The team will be winning games, aqd there is no voter fatigue as Jackson won the award last year:' Ariel Reed: "Back-to-back MVPs are incoming for Jackson. I predict he will lead his team to a 15-1 record this season, locking up the one seed in the AFC. The dual-threat quarterback's stats are going to be out-of-this-world again." Chris Gowarty: "Mahomes is my MVP for the upcoming season, and he really is the easy pick. The quarterback of the number one offense in the league is going to prove why he got paid this offseason." . Baylee Guetes: "My MVP this season is Russell Wilson. With an improved defense behind him, I think Seattle's team is good enough to carry an MVP player in voters' eyes. With how talented Wilson is, he is my choice:' Super Bowl Dylan Mehl: "I am taking the Baltimore Ravens to win Super Bowl LV over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Ravens have the most complete roster in · the league, and after an embarrassing playoff exit last year, this team behind Jackson and • John Harbaugh will be on a mission. As ·for Tampa Bay, I believe Brady proves he still has it with a team full of weapons but will come up short." Ariel Reed: "The MVP Jackson will also win his first Super Bowl this year, as the Ravens defeat the 49ers in the big game. Jackson will lead an explosive offense to a narrow win over San Francisco." Chris Gowarty: "My Super Bowl prediction is that the Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Pittsburgh capturing yet another Lombardi trophy. This team is my sleeper team (or a reason, and I see them going all the way behind a healthy offense and a top-three defense in football:' Baylee Guedes: "I am taking Brady to win his seventh Super Bowl, as I have Tampa Bay winning over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brady has too many weapons this year to not succeed, and he will prove his doubters wrong yet again:' Beacon Picks F O O T 8 A L L Rookie of the Year Dylan Mehl: Henry Ruggs III Ariel Reed: Tua Tagovailoa Chris Gowarty: Joe Burrow Baylee Guedes: Joe Burrow Defensive Player of the Year Dylan Mehl: Nick Bosa Ariel Reed: J.J. Watt Chris Gowarty: Khalil Mack Baylee Guedes: T.J. Watt @wilkesbeacon Graphic by Mia Walker r �_J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Sports 20 A day in the life of a Wilkes football player: Ryan Martel By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor Getting up for an 8 a.m. is no easy task for some students. But for Ryan Martel, a second-year football player, the routine starts at the early hour of 5:15 a.m. Team lifts are from 6 to 8 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday under the current schedule, but players must get there 15 minutes early, due to new safety precautions for COVID-19. "It's weird, especially since I'm from Connecticut where we have some restrictions, but I am used to working out in my own gym;' said Martel. Players on the team are now required to work out in specific sections of the gym, wear masks at all times, limit their workouts to 50 minutes and disinfect all equipment after use. During the morning lift, Martel works out with an assigned group of two or three people to minimize the amount of contact with other players, thus reducing the spread of germs. Smaller pods are able to keep teams together as a unit. The people in his group are the only ones allowed to come into contact with the weights on their rack until they're disinfected for the next group. With many restrictions in place, players currently only get 50 minutes of workout time and 10 minutes of post-workout sanitation. After morning lift, much of the team gets breakfast to re-energize. An omelet and some potatoes is how Martel prefers to refuel. Protein shakes are also a big part of Martel and his roommates' daily routine, as they look to build muscle mass. This semester, a relatively normal school day starts after breakfast. Martel finds himself going to class like anyone else. As an athlete, he has study hall every day to ensure that he remains academically eligible for his potential season. Looking forward, Martel and the other football players would like to get back to on-the-field workouts and practices as soon as possible. This could be coming in a few weeks; however, just because athletes may be back on the field does not mean everything will be back to normal. The on-field workouts will again be limited to certain groups at that time, yet they will certainly be bigger than the small groups for lift. The main goal of this work is to be able to integrate safe competition in the spring of 2021. "This decision was very difficult, as we know how deep the love of the game is for our student-athletes and that intercollegiate events are an important part of campus life for our entire community," said Dr. Andrea E. Chapdelaine, chair - Injured Martel caught a hillside field goal attempt while video-taping the football game. Photos courtesy of Ryan Martel Ryan Martel (center) got into position to snap the ball to his quarterback. of MAC President's Council and Hood College president per gomacsports.com, when originally postponing fall 2020 athletic competition in July. The MAC conference, like many others, is trying to get their student-athletes back to competing but not risking their safety in doing so, "I just can't wait to get back on the field and work on our craft until we are able to play other schools," said Mike Goralski, sophomore tight end. "Whether that be in the spring or next fall, I'm just excited to play football:' For Martel, getting back on the field is a mission that goes deeper than some other players, as his last season was derailed due to injury in September. He fractured his left ankle during the team's bye week. "I basically haven't played football in two years, and that's a long time for me," said Martel. "I have been craving football for the longest time and can't wait to just get back out there and start playing again:' This mindset is what motivates Martel throughout the day. He knows he needs to eat right and keep his body in the best possible shape for when his chance to hit the field comes again. · After a day of school work and working out, Martel must once again have a protein-filled dinner to remain in football shape. Football, however, is not the only extra curricular for Martel, as his everyday schedule includes rol; s in both Student Government and WCLH radio. Being a class representative conies with several responsibilities. His duties include attending weekly meetings, discussing ideas for on campus events and ultimately voting on what happens around campus for Wilkes students. "It allows me to meet more people and get more connections to further develop relationships with people here at Wilkes;' said Martel. Martel then spends many of his evenings inside the WCLH studio as a radio personality on "The Huddle," a sports show. He is on this show every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, where he hosts his own segment, "The Penalty Box," on the Tuesday editions of the show. "I love doing radio," said Martel. "I like talking my mind about sports with someone who is as passionate about sports as I am. To be able to go on-air live with two co-hosts and talk about what I love, I just feel as if I am in my element:' Martel usually ends his nights relaxing with his roommates, watching a game or playing some Wii sports before heading to bed around 11 p.m. to get a good night's rest for the next day ahead. @wilkesbeacon Dylan. Mehl@wilkes.edu . �. 4 The Beacon - September 16, 2020 Sports 21 MLB: Playoff positions, new format and monthly awards r, :l e By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer With three weeks left in the 2020 MLB regular season, many teams are making their final push to earn a spot in the postseason. In the shortened 60-game season, 16 teams will be in the playoffs for the first time in MLB history. With six more teams making a run for the World Series title, MLB will implement a new postseason format, which includes more games than the usual 10-team setup. There will be four rounds in the 2020 postseason, no different than the previous eight MLB seasons. Instead of the postseason opening with the usual one-and-done wildcard game, there will be a new best-of-three Wild Card Series with all games hosted at the higher seed's home ballpark. The opponent seeding for both the American League and National League will be as follows: Wild Card Series (Best of Three): No. 1 seed vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5. Division Series (Best of Five): No. 1-8 winner vs. No. 4-5 winner and No. 2-7 winner vs. No. 3-6 winner. Championship Series (Best of Seven): with the best record in MLB, 32-12. A No. 1-4-5-8 winner vs. No. 2-3-6-7 winner. large pof!ion of their success is due to their World Series (Best of Seven): American newly acquired superstar Mookie Betts and League Champion vs. National League a healthy Clayton Kershaw. , The next three seeds (No. 4-6) will go to Champion. The top three seeds (No. 1-3) go to the the second-place finisher of each division in division winners of each league. In the AL, - order of record. In the AL, the second-place the Tampa Bay Rays hold the top spot in teams are the Toronto Blue Jays, Indians the East, as 'well as the best record in the and the Astros. In the NL, the second-place AL (28-15). It is backed by their strong teams are the Philadelphia Phillies, St. performances against the New York Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres. Yankees this season, with an 8-2 record The final two seeds (No. 7-8) go to the against the Bronx Bombers. teams with the next best record, regardless In the AL -Central, the young Chicago of their division and place. These teams will be listed as the "Wild White Sox are leading the charge by a slim margin. The Cleveland Indians and the Card teams," as the first and second place Minnesota Twins are behind by only one teams have an automatic bid into the game, as of Sept. 9. playoffs. In the Western division, the Oakland In the AL, they are the Twins and the Athletics lead the Houston Astros by 4.5 Yankees. games. In the NL, they are two surprise teams in In the NL, the Atlanta Braves lead the the San Francisco Giants and the Miami NL East with the help of their Cy Young Marlins. Award candidate Max Fried and free-agent If there is a tie for the champion of the acquisition Marcell Ozuna. division or any other postseason spot, there The Chicago Cubs lead the NL Central, will not be a tiebreaker game, unlike what thanks to a strong campaign by Yu Darvish, would usually happen in a regular season. who is second in the NL in ERA behind The first tiebreaker will be decided on the team's head-to-head record, second will Cincinnati Red Trevor Bauer. In the West, the Los Angeles Dodgers are be decided on their intra-division record steam-rolling their way to the postseason and the third will be decided on the record of their final 20 division games (plus one more until the tie is broken). The first full month of the MLB season saw many players showcase their best abilities in the field. On Sept. 2, the organization handed out the monthly awards to those that stood out during the month of August: Inl'the AL, the White Sox saw two of their own sluggers take home hardware, as outfielder Luis Robert won AL Rookie of the Month and first baseman Jose Abreu won AL Player of the Month. Indian Shane Bieber, won AL Pitcher of the Month. Athletics closing pitcher Liam Hendriks won the AL Reliever of the Month award, the second of his career (July. 2019). In the NL, the Padres had two recipients for monthly awards, _as utility infielder Jake Cronenworth won NL Rookie of the Month, and shortstop Fernando Tatis won NL Player of the Month. Darvish had an impressive August for the Cubs, taking home the NL Pitcher of the Month award. Cosing pitcher Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers won the NL Reliever of the Month (June 2017). ..a- @wilkesbeacon ~ Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu NBA: Playoff update, how each team currently matches up By Baylee Guedes Staff Writer The NBA playoff run has been thrilling for fans to watch. Currently, there have been several game sevens, buzzer beaters, upsets and overtime periods. The Bubble, located in Orlando, Fla., has provided an inconceivable atmosphere. In the East, the Celtics defeated the Raptors in their series, 4-3. Boston punched their ticket to the conference finals by pushing tempo and keeping their intensity level up for the entirety of the game. Throughout the playoffs, the Celtics have jumped out to early leads. To maintain their level of success against Miami, they will need to carry that first- half tenacity into the second half. Raptors, the reigning champions, felt the loss of finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in the home stretch of the series. Their lack of a true superstar and closer has proved difficult for them to win in dose-scoring contests. The Miami Heat upset the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in a quick five-game series. The Heat may have taken the series 4-1 over Milwaukee, but the Bucks did not make it easy. Each game was close in score, and game four went into O.T. with the Bucks coming out on top. A major part of the Bucks' lone win can be attributed to small forward Khris Middleton's performance, which was just shy of a triple-double with 36 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was assumed to carry this team through the series, was slowed down by an injured ankle. Shooting guard Jimmy Butler has been a vital leader for the Heat, as his maturity sets the pace for their offense. In the West, the Nuggets squared up against the Clippers. The Clippers lead the series 3-2, and they started off the series with a huge blowout. Leonard and Paul George have been playing a major role in the Clippers'.success, as they were among the high-scorers in the wins. In most recent games, the Clippers have found themselves having to scrap and fight back against their foes. In a press release by NBA.com, Leonard said, "We've got a lot of work to do still. We're still fighting:' The Clippers are hungry for a win, and their style of play reflects that. If the Clippers clinch the series, it will be the franchise's first time making it into the Western Conference finals in team history. The series between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers was assumed to be close, with both teams bolstering strong rosters; however, the Lakers dominated the series 4-1. The small-ball Rockets and the stacked line-up of the Lakers added a competitive aspect to the series. James Harden and Russell Westbrook challenged the Lakers' defense with their finesse, but the Rockets lagged behind, as they lack the depth that the Lakers have. Los Angeles has LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma as reliable performers. Recently, Rajon Rondo has been found in his "playoff" form, which has added versatility to the Lakers' style of play. COVID-19 has taken away a key element of the playoffs - the fans. It has not only made it hard for fans to cheer on their teams, but it is also hard on the players. The season started with fans in the bleachers and now ends with virtual fans. A major part of the game is the hype of the crowd. The players have had to find a way to keep the game going while there are no spectators to cheer them on. Leaders like James, Butler_and Harden have kept their teammates going. The spectator-less playoff series has not seemed to affect the level of play and tenacity that the players have demonstrated on the court. If anything, the NBA Bubble has seemed to increase the intensity of the games which makes any basketball fan happy. NBA Conference finals are anticipated to start on Sept. 15. The Celtics will meet the Heat, as they did in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Out West, the Lakers · are still awaiting the winner of the series between the Nuggets and the Clippers. . . . . @wilkesbeacon ~ Baylee.Guedes@wilkes.edu i �'l The Beacon- September 16, 2020 • .. I . ,. . - .J Sports · �2 'er@wilkes.edu totes he class reports. tld like to sell ng social ideas to iors are planning :o students, while virtual store. , Programming lizing plans for ,tudentCoalition September: The 100d Social and was planned for oned. The Latin 3. ' weeks, Student ing elections for s.edu ;on Hummer ~tents Nanle: Kacee Diehl . 7 Yeat: Senior , . . · . Majon:Accoontirig&~ Hometown: Drums, Pa. .HigbSchooJ: Hazleton he& HS Position: Defender ~ did you sportt , decide to start your Jo COVID-19, ~ many ~ -.as you ~ •~~.!e~.,/o .a , db a lot of things. Ose this time to , grow and 1igme out what you want from there. ', ,., ,· Post~t+m? At~-· ~lormeand,my -deciflon'Of'l!l}'workloouion. • P' the ~ " ' ' p)ace~ ........ 7 ... the 1....a:... • ~ -m .. laiow.if that is my favorite: there. J;t,,.. ~ at P'¥i. ~ ~······2 , Mybestfriend and I (kdded to p]ayfitld , Imoie'diately • gtadua.tion. I plan to hoclcey in fopijh grade. Now, she plays for ~' start ~ 'for the CPA exam. ~ , Scranton, ~ -we have a>~ed against by that time..) have ~ a ~ in • eaclu~tber1everyyearsofar, which is ~y. either ~ -Ot tax at a publk aCCOlplting , ' .: . · " _. . 't + tum. I have:no idea where I want to woik; so WJiy:did ~~tf>playyour111J011? omortunity is going to be a major role in the cannotliw· . : ~ in your life ..... 14 ..... 19 1ester Honors the calendar? ilkes.edu mmylifeism how she keeps h is always reading e _gossword p everyday, and ho She Js . doessom �_J The Beacon - September 16, 2020 MCNICHOL, from front • Sports 24 heart, he knew he would eventually end up at Wilkes University. · camp at Bucknell University. From there, "When I got my first full-time head McNichol realized that his true calling was coaching job, it was at Penn College, and I to be a coach, despite his previous career was driving an hour and a half one way to interests. get there because I knew I wanted to be back "I was always around coaching. That week in this area;' said McNichol. "I always had long camp at Bucknell made me think, 'Hey, my eye on Wilkes. I felt that every couple this is something I could do long term,"' said of months, there was something new that McNichol. "That's when I got the offer to Wilkes was doing. On top of the great majors be a grad assistant, as long as I kept up my we had here, it was always something I kept academic work. I absolutely fell in love with my eye on, and fortunately when the job if' opened up, I was able to get if' McNichol always had the notion that he Despite the postponement of the Fall 2020 would end up in a coaching position, he just season due to COVID-19, McNichol has did not realize that he would end up at the enjoyed the extended . "time off,' as he has · collegiate level. · been able to spend some well-needed quality Even through his · early schooling days, time with ~is 3-year-old son. McNichol always debated whether or not he When McNichol's son was first born, he would want to go into teaching or business. was still coaching at Penn College. He spent He seemed to find out that coaching is a mix three hours a day com.muting to work. He of both. felt this put an emotional toll on him from "Growing up, I was always torn between missing out on some key moments of his business and teaching, and to be honest, son's early days: coaching is a blend of both;' said McNichol. "We have a son who just turned 3 last "I was a marketing major. I think with week, so he has taken up a lot of time;' said Photos: The Beacon/Kirsten Peters marketing, it associates with the recruiting McNichol. "It has been really nice these last side of things. Coaching is teaching. This is couple of months, as rough as it has been Head coach John McNichol questioned a call made during Wilkes' Sept. 7, 2019 my career, and I could not think of a better being home, it was really nice to see him contest against RIT. job for me. I absolutely love if' everyday and make up for that time we lost. McNichol started his coaching career at It's really hard when you are in season - it's a occupied with soccer. The team has recently past:' Pennsylvania Tech College in Williamsport, lot of late nights and long weekends. I know been cleared to begin preseason training The benefits ~f additional training time Pa. When he got this opportunity, he did not when he was first born, I was driving three outdoors while wearing masks, ensuring should present themselves in the upcoming relocate his family closer to where he worked hours a day to get to-and-from work:' social distancing and in small group pods. season, as the Colonels are looking to avenge because he knew that he wanted to stay "This past week, we were able to begin their semifinals loss from last season. Even with the delayed start of the season, local to the Wilkes-Barre community. In his McNichol still finds ways to keep himself training as a team. We are starting to take McNichol started his career at Wilkes three things week by week and seeing how things · years ago, but his impact and coaching style are going;' said McNichol. "We have been has proven to touch his players. social distancing with masks on, but it has "I've loved playing for Coach McNichol been great to be getting together - getting these last three years;' said Harkins. "He outside in small groups in different areas of came into the program and really helped me the field. Some people are seeing each other improve my soccer game, confidence and more than others, but we are very fortunate leadership skills. He not only is a great coach to have that:' but a great person who supports us and is Pod and masked formatted practices have there for us in every way possible:' their frustrations, but the safety of the players McNichol has found himself excited to has been the sole intention. come into work throughout the entirety of "Practicing within our pods and with his coaching career due to the amount of masks on has had its difficulties, only because inspiration he gets from his players . we of course all miss being able to practice all "We have a great group that works really together, but overall everyone is super happy hard and well together. They make my job to even be on the field playing soccer in small very easy - I love coming to work with them groups;' said senior defender Niarnh Harkins. everyday;' said McNichol. "I can't think of a The delayed start to the season has not better place to be in my life right now. I hope only allowed the players time to physically to continue this for the rest of my professional prepare for the upcoming season, but it has career:' also allowed them to train in ways they have As the weeks go by and there are less not previously experienced. COVID-19 cases among athletes, the sports "The delayed season has allowed me and teams are gaining more normalcy in respect the team to get extra training in, lifts in and to the busy lifestyle they are accustomed to. film sessions that normally we would never McNichol and his roster are no different, as have gotten the chance to do;' said Harkins. they will continue to adjust and prepare for "Overall, we have been given the opportunity the possible soccer season in the spring. to get better and further our skills, speed and @wilkesbeacon - McNic~ol instructed forward Jessica Egan, one of last year's captains, during their strength so that we will be more prepared for the spring then we could've ever been in the .. Arie/.Reed@wilkes.edu Sept. 21, 2019 contest against No. 19 Arcardia. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 September 16th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 September 16 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/ac87c00cbd313c4d62aca22fb3d0bb92.pdf 46740476b6f183855dcbf3b76b4b13ff PDF Text Text The Beacon - September 23, 2020 Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 4 1 HEBEACON Wilkes Universit - Wilkes-Barre, Penns lvania A life of justice: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an esteemed Supreme Court justice, died in her Washington home on Sept. 18. Ginsburg was the second female justice appointed to the Supreme Court. She died at the age of 87 from complications related to metastatic pancreatic cancer, as reported by the Supreme Court. Ginsburg served in the Supreme Court since her appointment by then-president Bill Clinton in 1993. She has become an icon for women's rights and has provided judgment in important cases, including Bush v. Gore in 2000 and Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. In recent years, she became a cultural icon with television shows, movies and books celebrating her and her life, including the receival of the affectionate nickname, "The Notorious R.B.G.;' which was coined by authors Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik. Ginsburg has been a trailblazer since before her time in the Supreme Court. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., her parents taught her to value education and independence. "My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your the 500-person class. She became the first own person - be independent;' explained female member of the Harvard Law Review. Later, she transferred to Columbia Ginsburg on the advice given to her as a girl, as stated in a 2018 interview with NPR's University and joined that school's Law Nina Totenberg. Review as well. Ginsburg's emphasis on education and While on the Supreme Court, she independence drew her to attend Cornell became known for her dissents, even University, where she graduated first in having a specific 'dissent collar' worn for her class. Afterward, the occasions where she departed from the . she attended Harvard general opinion of the court. . University Law "My dissenting opinions, like my briefs, School, being one of are intended to persuade. And sometimes the women · one must be forceful about saying how into wrong the Court's decision is;' said Ginsburg in a 2014 interview with The New Republic's Jeffrey Rosen. Ginsburg's successes did not come without hard times in tow. Since 1999, she fought through numerous cancer diagnoses and lost both her mother and husband to the disease as well. While Americans across the country pay tribute to Ginsburg, Washington is buzzing with discussions of when a new justice will be appointed, and who that justice will be. As of Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that he is considering a female Supreme Court Justice to fill the ninth seat, and by next week, he will have a decision. Since this is an election year and there are less than 50 days until the November election, Trump's ability _to appoint a new justice is being questioned by Republicans and Democrats alike. RBG,page3 Wilkes celebrates Constitution Day with "Year of the Vote" and Feminist Alliance festivities By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer Wilkes University recently celebrated the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. Events were held throughout the day to commemorate the historic anniversary. According to "Year of the Vote;' "Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the U.S Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens:' Delegates of the Constitutional Convention gathered together on Sept. 17, 1787, to sign the document in Philadelphia. "Year of the Vote" is an interdisciplinary group of colleagues from around campus. Heather Sincavage, director of the Sordoni Art Gallery, is responsible for the creation of the "Year of the Vote:' She called upon a wide array of colleagues across Wilkes to collaborate on the project. "We all have different experiences and perspectives - that was important for us to CONSTITUTION, page 9 r �_J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 2 News News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Sept. 17 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer Student Government had its fourth online meeting of the semester, where members discussed two motions to recognize clubs and upcoming events. First, the Friends of Panama club shared a video interview of some students across campus, demonstrating that only a small number of people know about Panamanian culture. The goal of their club is to raise awareness and educate people about their culture, as well as the importance of having their culture represented on campus. There was a motion to approve the club, and it passed with everyone in favor. Second, the Stress Management Through Art Therapy group shared more information about the proposed club. Its purpose is to give students a safe place to share their art or use their art as a therapy tool. The club is open to with facemasks, tea and possibly yoga. The all students, regardless of their artistic abilities. event would be hosted by Wilkes Adventure They are looking to hold events, such as a Education Coordinator Jill Price. They are pottery night, which will be planning to sell pop-socket limited to the members of wallets. the club, and then, a mixed Seniors are holding media night that will be fundraisers for blankets (one for $20 or two for open to the whole school. In a passing motion, Stress $30) and speakers ($15). Within the coming weeks, Management Through Art Therapy was recognized as they may have a sticker sale. a club on campus. They are also looking to Student Government then host a Zoom trivia or bingo NOTES had a breakdown of class night, providing chances for reports. students to win giveaway The sophomore class is prizes. looking to have a possible Commuter Council is Halloween costume contest, in which a winner planning virtual giveaways with hoodies, would receive a gift card. They are also selling wallets and more over social media. The blue and yellow bracelets from last year. Multicultural Student Coalition submitted an Juniors may hold a virtual self-care social event for a Black Lives Matter silent protest I Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Sean Schmoyer Racial Justice VIgil Wilkes Football is planning to host a racial justice vigil on Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ralston Athletic Complex and Schmidt Stadium. Students are encouraged to drive or meet at Evans Hall at 7 p.m. to walk over to the event. The vigil serves as a peaceful statement of unity against racial and social injustice inequalities for victims of police brutality. For more information or questions, contact Erica Acosta, the associate director of diversity, at erica.acosta@wilkes.edu or Jonathan Drach, the Coj>nels' head coach, at jonathan.drach@ wilkes.edu. . Taste of Wilkes 2020: Home Edition The Taste of Wilkes Committee has moved to a new virtual format, which will include a cookbook of recipes, a physical book and a PDF version, as well as a virtual gift basket auction. Members are calling for the campus community to submit their favorite recipes to be included in the cookbook. The committee is also looking for virtual chefs who will: submit their favorite recipe for inclusion in the cookbook, create a unique name for their dish and provide a short story about why the dish is special to them. Find Volunteer Opportunities Through the Civic Engagement Office The Civic Engagement Office has been working on curating service opportunities and has an ongoing list. Students are encouraged to check back often. The opportunities are available on a Google Sheet with three tabs to help identify the type of service students may be looking for, including virtual events that are a mix oflocal and national community partners, face-toface and group opportunities that work with local non-profits and a Colonel's Share tab that lists organizations that could benefit from student donations of both money and goods. If interested, students should let the office know they plan to participate, as well as complete a reflection of the experience. To gain access to the Google Sheet, students can check Wilkes Today or contact Megan Boone at megan.boone@wilkes.edu. Students are also encouraged to reach out if they have ideas about service events in the area. Support the Honors Program at Chipotle on Sept. 30 The Honors Program Student Committee (HPSC) is hosting a fundraiser at Chipotle from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 30. Thirty-three percent of proceeds will be donated to HPSC. During that time frame, students can stop by Chipotle and either mention the program or present the flyer to the cashier before checking out. Chipotle will also offer online ordering. If students order online, they should enter the code "J9WH9C9" at the checkout screen. @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu that is going to be held on Sept. 25. On Sept. 17, Programming Board its first movie night of the semester on the greenway, where the first 60 to arrive received a free blanket. RHC is looking to utilize the movie channel more and is planning a possible giveaway of reusable tote bags to alleviate fumbling in the dining hall. Finally, the Executive Board discussed freshman class elections, which will be coming out next week. Face-to-face classes should have ballots printed out as well. There will also be a distribution of face masks, which will be put in every resident's mailbox, and the Commuter Council will give theirs out to commuters. As a result, all undergraduate students will have at le_ast one mask from Wilkes University. Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu Graphic by Madison Hummer Table of Contents · News .................. 2 Life, A&E ............ 7 Opinion ............ 14 Sports................ 19 Upcoming Events: 2020 Fall Semester September 21-25- RHC Giveaway 23 - Latin Cafe 23- Dr. Cant's Honors Lecture 25 - BLM Silent Protest 27 - Lambda Kappa Sigma Vrrtual SK 28 - Dr. Schicatano Zoom Lecture 30 - Honors Program at Chipotle October 1 - Racial Justice Vigil 7 - Major General Roberson's Honors Lecture 15 - Virtual Career Fair 27 - Dr. Toll Zoom Lecture 31 - Halloween November 7 - Virtual Open House 11 - Veterans Day 25 - Holiday Recess begins 26 - Thanksgiving Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: 1heWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - September 23, 2020 3 L News Office of Interfaith supports students beyond their religion By Sean Schmoyer News Editor The university website page for the Office of Interfaith describes itself as "a place where students, faculty and staff of all religious traditions can come together in order to share their religious experiences and what it means to be a person of faith on a college campus in today's world. Campus Interfaith is here to be an extension of your faith tradition while you are here at Wilkes. We are here to help, support and explore with you new ideas, living experiences, choices and horizons. We are here to help you live up to your full potential:' Kristin Osipower, the coordinator for Campus Interfaith, oversees the office. As social distancing policies went in place across the community, Osipower began to host watch parties on campus. "This idea was actually born out of necessity more than anything because a lot of our local churches, they, at least temporarily had suspended services:' said Osipower. "We still want to encourage our students to practice their faith if they want to. We wanted to make it as accessible as possible if they couldn't necessarily get into the actyal churches. So, every weekend in the Miller Room, we host two services, one is a catholic mass from St. Nicks, and the other is Parker Hill, which is RBG,from frontcover In 2016, Justice Antonin Scalia died in February, opening up a Supreme Court seat. When President Barack Obama moved to appoint a new justice, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell demanded that any appointment be declared null and void, as a new president was to be elected later that year. McConnell believed the new president should be the one to appoint the new justice; however, he is not holding the same opinion now, with less than two months until Election ~ay. On Sept. 18, he released a statement on Twitter that concluded, "President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate:' Along with McConnell, South Carolina's Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is also going back on the statement he made in 2016, in which he opposed the appointment of a Supreme Court justice during an election year. As five of the judges currently serving on the court lean toward conservative views, the opening of the seat held by Ginsburg, a liberalleaning justice, can create a large imbalance of more of an evangelical christian service. The reason why we chose those is because when students come to me looking for churches, they most often ask about catholic masses or a general christian service:' As local churches and other places of worship begin to reopen, students can rely on the other services the office provides. A lot of work Osipower does with students is one-on-one, and many ofthe events planned for the future were already set to be online. As such, the COVID-19 social distancing does not impact the office as much. What it has done is encouraged the office to branch out for more visibility. This is the first year the Interfaith office has had an Instagram. An event that is being moved online is the Houses of Worship tour; something which students have been able to experience over the years. Osipower said, "We went to a different church every week. It was a great way to expose students to the faith, but also to get them acclimated to the Wilke-Barre area and to enjoy and appreciate some of the beautiful art and architecture that can be found in our churches:' The event will now be a virtual scavenger hunt, allowing students to locate, explore and enjoy them on their own. The next event being offered is a Busy Person's - Retreat, which takes the retreat experience, but applies it on an individual timeline. Students can listen to speakers, connect with others and fill out reflections. The material will be emailed out, and students will be encouraged to do activities on their own at whatever time. Service opportunities are a key area that requires university approval. The Giving Tree efforts that occur around the holidays, in which members of the community purchase brand new pajamas for children, is an example. The whole even, and others like it, will have to be thought-out due to social distancing policies and the accelerated schedule. Hallie Fromm, a P2 pharmacy student in the PharmD/MBA dual degree program, has participated in the House of Worship tour, the Giving Tree effort at Christmas time and volunteered at a Toby Mac concert, all of which were planned by the Office of Interfaith. Fromm explained, "Kristin (Osipower) is always willing to chat and/or listen and works with an open-door policy. If she is in the office, you are welcome to stop by. It is helpful, as you can just stop in, you do not need to make an appointment. The Office of Interfaith is what made Wilkes a strong option in the college search for me. I had reached out and received a quick reply with the interfaith opportunities on campus an~ clubs:' Osipower discussed how the office goes beyond just religion. "I think people think that is the only reason they need to come to me because they have questions specifically related to faith or spirituality, or a specific religion. Even though I genuinely enjoy those conversations, it is not just about that. It is about giving students another outlet for authentic connection. Sometimes you just have questions, big questions, or you just need somebody to listen to and have a hear-to-heart. You are looking at things and beginning to think differently on a more mature and deeper level, and I am another outlet here on campus for those conversations:' Osipower identifies that being someone who lives a good life is enhanced by religion but is not solely tied to religion. "We want to go out and do good and be good and learn about how to positively impact other people. That is what the Interfaith Office is about. It is about bringing people together and sharing and having a positive impact;' said Osipower. "It is a wonderful thing that Wilkes provides for, given that_it is a nonreligious institution, but they have taken the time to make sure that this particular need for the students is taken care of for the students:' party votes in the Supreme Court. While the potential appointment of another conservative Supreme Court justice has some Americans concerned, many members on both sides of the Senate are opposed to electing a new justice this close to the election. Republican Senators Susan M. Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska both opposed the appointment of a new justice prior to the election, due to the time frame. "I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia;' said Murkowski, as reported on Sunday by the Anchorage Daily News. "We are now even closer to the 2020 election - less than two months out - and I believe the same standards must apply:' While discussions carry on about the next Supreme Court justice, Americans, as well as people around the world, are sharing their tributes to RBG on social media, oftentimes using her words. In 2015, Ginsburg shared with MSNBC's Carmon that she would like to be remembered as, "Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability, and to help repair tears in her society to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has:' How glad she would be to know that this is how so many people have remembered her. The Beacon/Liz Cherinka Supporters ofJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg listen to her speak during a 2019 book event. @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �.J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 News 4 Musical theatre has record-breaking number of freshmen By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor This fall, the Wilkes Musical Theatre Department had the arrival of 16 first-year students, making the group the largest class to enter the program. Many of the students have had a love for theatre since they were young, joining productions both in elementary school and in their home communities. They grew up watching classic movies, including "Grease" and "The Sound of Music," further inspiring their passions for singing and performing. Jay'na Johnson, a first-year musical theatre student, described how fortunate she has been to come in with a group of students who have similar goals and interests. Before starting school, the musical theatre students were already acquainted, as they found each other on social media and established connections. · "We are like a large family, and everyone gets along really well. In the freshman class, we always go to lunch together and hang out in between classes. It's great to have a nice support system, as it has made adjusting to college much easier;' explained Johnson. One of the reasons Johnson decided to come to Wilkes is because she felt she would be able to build better relationships with her professors and peers because of the smaller class sizes. She wanted to pursue a major in musical theatre because it focuses on the three major skills needed to become a performer - singing, dancing and acting. Jon Liebetrau, director of theatre and associate professor, has taught at Wilkes students, hoping that they will decide to for six years and has been a professional become a future Wilkes student. actor and director for 35 years. He has "Prospective musical theatre students been overjoyed are required watching to audition by the theatre presenting two contrasting program WILKES continually monologues, U "' '\' E R li 11 )' grow. two contrasting "I have songs and classes with a dance audition;' said the first-year students, and Liebetrau. although it's Another first-year only been a few musical weeks of class theatre major, sessions, I feel like I've gotten Jack Flynn, expressed to know them very well," said that seeing Liebetrau. "I the musical "Spitfire am already Grill" this impressed BFA MUSICAL THEATRE with their past February his enthusiasm for, Courtesy of Wilkes University Theatre's Facebook sparked knowledge of Pictured are some of the Class of 2024, this year's interest in wanting to and dedication first-year musical theatre students. to the attend the profession of theatre:' university. "It was one of the best productions I have Liebetrau touched upon how this growth demonstrates the hard work the department seen in my life, and it made me want to be a has put into building a pre-professional part of shows like that and also the musical theater-training program, as well as how theatre program;' said Flynn. recruiting students nationally has been Flynn is looking forward to developing successful. The theatre faculty attends his talents as a performer, as he is currently theatre conferences around the country to taking the program's entry-level acting start building relations with high school courses, which break down different styles w CLASS OF 2024 of acting students do not get to learn when they are in high school. He and Johnson have Liebetrau as a professor for these classes, and Liebetrau has been teaching them what they should be aware of when acting in scenes. Each of these students has dreams to receive roles not only in Wilkes productions but also on Broadway once they graduate. To Johnson, the most important thing is to be able to do what she loves no matter where her career lands her. Liebetrau's advice for aspiring theatre artists is to be adaptable, creative and patient. In the theatre world, these traits allow artists to realize the significance of joining and adjusting to a new environment because no production or show is ever the same. Auditions have already been held for the first two shows of ' the year. Those shows are the musical production, "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater!" and a non-musical production called "Good People," Spring 2021 show auditions will be held sometime in November. Liebetrau revealed the biggest struggle this year is producing theater during a pandemic. It can be difficult performing as an actor or a singer when required to wear a mask. However, Liebetrau explained; "We are up for the challenge. As the old saying goes, 'The show must go on!"' @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Photos courtesy of Jon Liebetrau Senior musical theatre students Alexander Booth and Katelyn Sincavage on stage at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center rehearsed two scenes for the upcoming Fall 2020 musical, "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater!" "' �The Beacon - September 23, 2020 News 5 Dr. Winkler compiles research on Vitamin K in Tanzania By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer Dr. Linda Winkler, a professor of anthropology in Wilkes' Global Cultures Department, is engaged in a research project studying the use of Vitamin K to reduce rates of infant mortality in Tanzania. "When I initially researched whether or not we could do the project, somebody said, 'Everybody knows Vitamin K works: And yes, in the U.S. and Europe, there are examples that Vitamin K works, but then when I went and looked at the research data, there's very little good research data outside of industrial countries;' explained Winkler. In the U.S., Vitamin K is recommended to be administered at birth. This has been a regular practice in hospitals since the 1960s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The lack of research on Vitamin K outside of the U.S. prevents it from being regularly administered at birth. Vitamin K is used in the body for blood clotting, but babies do not have an adequate amount stored when they are first born. Severe Vitamin K deficiency can cause a lack of blood clotting, bleeding, osteoporosis and hemorrhaging, as listed by the Harvard School of Public Health. As a result, infants may develop Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), as well as neonatal hemorrhaging. VKDB and neonatal hemorrhaging are symptoms Winkler and others within the research project focused on, as they can of Vitamin K for newborns, and this research can span much further than the lead to brain damage or death. Winkler's reseach experiement is Nyakahanga Designated Council Hospital. Winkler described the potential for atypical, as everyone is offered the benefits of the treatment. In the Nyakahanga this project. "The district doctors in this area, as well as the Designated much larger regional Council doctors and also the Hospital, every political leaders, are pregnant mother really excited about was explained this project because the benefits of the implications are Vitamin K, and that if they could then offered show that Vitamin Vitamin K for K works in this her newborn environment, then it child. Of the can be used to reduce 351 newborns infant mortality:' involved in In Tanzania, the the research, infant mortality only 70 did not rate as identified by receive Vitamin the United Nations K treatment Childrens Fund because of (UNICEF) is 50.3 parental refusal. deaths per every Of the babies 1,000 live births. who did not For comparison, receive Vitamin the CDC cites K, four returned Pennsylvania's infant to seek treatment Pictured is a mother and her baby in death mortality as a result of Tanzania. Mothers are eager for Vitamin rate at 6.1 deaths hemorrhaging. per every 1,000 live Only one child K for their newborns to enhance their was not able chance of survival. births. Reduction of infant to survive the hemorrhaging after being administered mortality is an issue important not only in the Vitamin K treatment. All 281 other Tanzania but also on a global scale, as it is one of the United Nations' sustainable newborns remained healthy. These results point to the usefulness development goals. A movie filmed in Kiswahili, Tanzania was produced by Dr. Linda Winkler, Chief Engineer Dan Mattern and students Maddie Plumhoff and Madison Hummer'20. Winkler continued, "We have all these vaccination programs for polio, diphtheria and tetanus, and they're very important, but it might be that Vitamin K may be just as important in reducing mortality rates. Our hope is that they'll do this study, and that they'll be able then to use it to promote something. It will save the lives of babies in the communities:' This project is as much about giving back as it is about publishing new research. "There's something quite magical about seeing a baby be born;' said Winkler. "You understand why mother's love their babies so much. You see babies die shortly after birth. You see mothers just frantic because their babies are sick. There's just so many of these kinds of experiences, and so it shapes your desire to do this kind of research because, of course, you want to give other people the same opportunities that we have here:' Winkler plans to publish the research findings in African science health journals, as most are free, allowing the information from the project to reach a wider audience. After 18 years of research within the communities in Tanzania, Winkler points to the community as the motivating factor for research. "Projects like this one that I'm doing now, people want to do it, because it benefits the community, and so research projects that benefit the community and not just yourself are extremely valuable." @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu Photos courtesy of Linda Winkler The Nyakahaga Designated Council Hospital in Tanzania, where mothers were expl ained the benefits of Vitamin K for their newborn chi ldren. r �.J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 News 6 Jay S. Sidhu got down-to-business in welcome webinar By Genny Fred erick Staff Writer On Sept. 14, over a hundred students and faculty of the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership were treated to a welcome into the new semester by the namesake of their program, Jay S. Sidhu, in which he discussed leadership, inequality and students' future success. Along with the talk from Sidhu, the new professional development web series was announced for this fall. ljidget Turel, the director of professional development and external engagement in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, began the workshop with pleasantries and the introduction of Dr. Abel Adekola and Sidhu, who were the key speakers of the day. Adekola, the dean of the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, opened his talk by confronting the school year in the face of the pandemic. "I wholeheartedly welcome all of you to the fall academic gathering of 2020, a fall gathering like no other in the history of Wilkes University:' Adekola went on to point out that resiliency and positivity were crucial to outlasting COVID-19. "Tough times don't last but tough people do;' a sentiment that resonated throughout the rest of the meeting. He then introduced Sidhu, who is currently chair and CEO of Customers Bancorp, Customers Bank and BankMobile, which is a division of Customers Bank and BankMobile Technologies. Sidhu began with a memory of the first time he came to Wilkes-Barre. "It was the Friday before Labor Day weekend, and I ended up in Wilkes-Barre on a Martz bus from New York City, and everything was closed. I had about $10 in my pocket, and the first day I spent was at a homeless shelter:' This story echoed the sentiment Adekola made - tough people will last despite the tough times they face; however, it is not just 'toughness' that brings people success. Sidhu discussed the three skill sets for leadership and success: an IQ skill set, an emotional intelligence skill set and the ability to take advantage of opportunities. He described the IQ skills set as, "Everything you've developed in high school, in college and in the Sidhu School of Business. Everything is preparing you to "You are not a brick structure. You know in the past they used to say, 'Let's not change. Let's not rock the boat.' Well, right now, if you won't rock the boat, you're going to be thrown out of the boat. It's that sort of a thing. So, if the b.oat is rocking, you better start rocking with it." - Jay S. Sidhu use your intelligence - to be a productive member of the workforce:' However, intelligence can only go so far. Sidhu discussed emotional intelligence, as an important characteristic ofleadership. Sidhu noted that at Wilkes, and even Princeton and Yale, classes about happiness are the most popular. "The classes talk about emotional maturity, and it talks about emotional balance in a rapidly changing environment. "The happiest people I know are always evaluating and improving themselves, and unhappy people are usually evaluating and judging other people:' Sidhu believes that students are perfectly set-up to achieve what he believes is the third quality of a leader - the ability to take advantage of opportunities. He believes that education; healthcare and leisure are all at the cusp of being revolutionized with growing technology, and if students look for these opportunities, they can succeed. In addition to leadership and successes, Sidhu also discussed Gen-Zand millennials as the largest generation with the power to change the problems in America and the world. "Diversity is becoming a strength for America, but we have discrimination. Because you are the future leaders, you've got to demand equal rights for everybody and equal opportunity for all, especially women. There is a need for America to flourish, and you have that opportunity:' Sidhu concluded with, "The future is here for you to grab. Our challenges in our country are up to you to cure. And like the Photo courtesy of the Sidhu School of Business Over a hundred students and faculty were in attendance at the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership's welcome Zoom session. Students and faculty joined in for the "Sidhu School Wave" before signing off. dean said, 'Tough times don't last but tough people do: Good luck to you, and be healthy, be safe and, most importantly, be happy:' After Sidhu's presentation, students were invited to ask questions. One of Sidhu's responses highlighted the adaptability students must have as they enter . postgraduate life. "You are not a brick structure. You know in the past, they used to say, 'Let's not change. Let's not rock the boat: Well, right now, if you won't rock the boat, you're going to be thrown out of the boat. It's that sort of a thing. So, if the boat is rocking, you better · start rocking with if' The last part of the workshop included the announcement of a series of workshops to be offered this fall as an alternative to the Sidhu School of Businesses' usual plans. In past years, students would visit businesses and industries as a way to increase student engagement, student professional development and employer exposure, but new plans had to be drawn this year. Turel explained, "Professional development has really developed a way to continue to engage our students and support all of you during this time with developmental opportunities, small panels of industry professi~nals and leaders to help advance you and to help give opportunities and training in specific areas:' Ten of these online workshops will be offered to students of the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership throughout the fall semester. More than 50 percent of the participants in the workshop were seniors, and according to the poll distributed at the end of the workshop, most of the students found the workshop to be beneficial to their personal and professional development, as it exposed them to new ideas and opportunities. Participants agreed it was a good resource that they would recommend to others. Megan Magoon, a senior marketing major said, "I think it was a great opportunity to hear insight from Mr. Sidhu on overcoming adversity in times like this with COVID-19. It was said, 'Tough times don't last but tough people do; and I felt that was something that resonated with all of us as we continue to adapt to the uncertainty in our world and the future upon graduation:' @wi/kesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu T J �.J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Multicultural Student Coaliton set to hold silent protest Calling attention to the BLM Movement beyond a hashtag on Sept. 25 By Judah Lyles Staff Writer In light of the current political and social climate, Wilkes University's Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC) wants to give each and every member of the Wilkes community an opportunity to use their voice. On Sept. 25, the MSC will host a silent Black Lives Matter protest in order to give everyone an opportunity to show their support and learn more about the struggles of the Black community. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the MSC had to get creative by giving the community ways to get involved. A few ways to do so are by wearing all black to show support of the Black Lives Matter Movement, making signs and standing in designated protest spots around campus. Organizers of the silent protest, Morgan Burton and Brianna Rowland, were motivated by the hope of bringing change and awareness to the Wilkes-Barre community, as well as to campus. "I want people who are interested to know that this is important - it isn't just a trend or the next trending hashtag on "Although Wilkes is a predominately white institution, I believe hosting events like this remind everyone that diversity is a pillar of our university. Colonels need to support our Black community now more than ever, as we are under attack." - Morgan Burton Twitter;' said Rowland, MSC president. "This affects real human beings, real people, with real families and lives. Take this seriously. Just because you aren't personally affected by it does not mean you should pretend it isn't happening:' Organizers urge participants to fully coop erate with guidelines put in place. In addition, a spreadsheet has been created for those interested in participating to sign up for different time slots. This way, only two to three people will be in one area at a time, which will reduce crowding. Masks will also be enforced during the protest. The MSC is also offering art supplies for those wishing to make signs for the protest. Students in need of art supplies should send a request to msc.wilkes. edu, where they will then receive a confirmation email that will allow them to use the items from the Club Hub. In addition, students can also submit poster designs to be printed, which will then be placed around campus. In order to do so, students should submit designs by Sept. 23 at noon. · · Katie Ermeus, a freshman at Wilkes, echoed the sentiments of organizers Burton and Rowland, and stressed the importance of unifying as a community on campus to stand behind Black voices. "I will be actively participating in the silent protest on Sept. 25;' said Ermeus. ''Any chance I get to take a positive stand in our community against the terrors that we face in the Black community and beyond is something that I try my best to be a part of:' For both organizers and_ Eremus, community is a central theme of the silent protest. "I think this event shows the university's stance on the Black Lives Matter Movement and support for our Black community on campus;' explained Burton. ''Although Wilkes is a predominantly white institution, I believe hosting events like this remind everyone that diversity is a pillar of our university. Colonels need to support our Black community now more than ever, as we are constantly under attack:' For more information, please contact Rowland at brianna.rowland@wilkes.edu or msc@wilkes.edu. ~ -,, @wilkesbeacon Judah.Lyles@wilkes.edu Ready to see your name in the byline? The Life, Arts and Entertainment section is looking for writers. Freshmen and all majors welcome! Not a writer? Photographers and graphic designers are welcome, tool .., . r �_J " The Beacon - September 23, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 The moody foodie's Ritz cracker crusted chicken breast strips By Anna Culver the strips are covered completely with cracker pieces. Staff Writer Heat some vegetable oil in a frying pan, and A cheap and easy meal that can be paired place the chicken strips into the pan. Fry the chicken strips until the with spaghetti: Ritz Cracker Chicken. The cracker-crust is golden brown on average cost is about $15. both sides, or until the chicken is no Ingredients: longer pink inside. 1) One Chicken Breast (Boneless & Skinless) Then, place these pieces on a plate 2) Two Eggs with a paper towel to gather the 3) One sleeve of Ritz leftover oil, and they are ready Crackers - - - - - - - - - - to be eaten. Enjoy! 4) Vegetable Oil Variations: Instructions: Take Ritz crackers and put them in a Ziplock plastic freezer bag. Then, crush the Ritz crackers. This is a lot easier with a rolling pin, if you have one. Once they are finely crushed, place them into a bowl. Crack two eggs into another bowl and scramble them. Cut the chicken into small strips, and place each strip first into the eggs first, and then into the crackers. Make sure This recipe can be altered to make Chicken Parmesan bites as well. For that, you are going to need tomato sauce and your choice of cheese. Warning Allergy: Eggs Food The Beacon/Anna Culver Anna.Cu/ver@wilkes.edu Graphics by Anna Culver Take a sleeve of Ritz crackers and create a flavorful crusted chicken. Add pasta and sauce on the side to complete the meal. Kirsten Peters, Editor-in-Chief: Sweet Sereodipity - Lee beWyze Sean Schmoyer, News Editor: Fake Fine - RobQrt Grace Sara Ross, Asst. News Editor: Almost Maybes - Jordan Davis Genny Frederick, News Staff Writer: Not to Self - J. Cole Maria DiBuo, LA&E Editor: Lazy Aiyer Dead - Grateful Dead Emily Cherkauskas, LA&E Staff Writer: Bad Romance - Zarqua Ansari, Asst. Opinion Editor: Haunt Me - Samsa Jordan Daniel, Opinion Staff Writer: After Hours - The Weeknd Dylan Mehl, Co-Sports Editor: Sling - DaBaby Ariel Reed, Co-Sports Editor: Someone to You Bamws Chris Qowarty, Sports Staff Writer: Gorgeous - Kanye West Steffen Horwath, Staff Photographer: R!ffll Peach : Henry Halestorm . Jamison Breanna Ebisch. Opinion Editor: Falling For You - The 1975 �The Beacon - ·September 23, 2020 CONSTITUTION, from front pull in together for the 'Year of the Vote;' said Sincavage, recalling the creation of the project. The first event of the day featured a reading of various speeches on 90. 7 WCLH at 11 a.m. For Sincavage, "It was a moving hour:' Dr. Mia Briceno, associate professor of communication studies, and Kristen Rock, WCLH's station manager, organized the reading. They, along with Feminist Allinance membersAshlynn Allison, a junior mechanical engineering major; Kayla Eller, a senior biology and environmental science major; and Trey Giles, a sophomore psychology and premed student, participated in the readings. The group read Frederick Douglass's speech, "Declaration of Sentiments; Sojourner Truth's speech, "Ain't I a Woman'' and Maya Angelou's poem, "To Form a More Perfect Union:' Giles, who is the vice president of the Feminist Alliance, read "Declaration of Sentiments:' For him, contributing to the reading was a valuable experience. "This is important especially now, before the election, to acknowledge Constitution Day,' Giles said. "There is so much turmoil everywhere in the world right now. It is important for people to step up for themselves:' For the second aspect of the event, an interactive exhibit was placed in the lobby of the Sordoni Art Gallery, titled "This is what a feminist look( ed) like:' The exhibit featured four different mannequins dressed up in historic and modern outfits to represent the current fashion styles during the four different waves of feminism that have occurred around the world since the 19th century. Feminist Alliance and "Year of the Vote" members discovered a correlation in between different fashion styles that were in 9 Life, Arts & Entertain ment sync with women's rights movements. Additionally, students and faculty were encouraged to write a message or response on a note and pin it to one of the mannequins. "Year of the Vote" featured many messages on social media. The first mannequin, donned in a conservative and traditional outfit, represented the first wave of feminism and the first steps taken for gender equality. In this era, during the 19th century, women fought for suffrage and legal issues, which secured their right to vote. The second wave of feminism is represented bya more casual and practical outfit to represent the stereotypical housewife. Beginning in the 20th century, specifically the 1960s, women were fighting to end discrimination based on gender. A historic protest took place as the 1975 Women's Day March; some victories during the era include The Equal Pay Act of 1963. The third mannequin featured a more revealing and punk-style outfit to mark the third wave of feminism, including a graphic shirt that says in all capital letters, ''.Ask me about my radical feminist agenda:' According to "Year of the Vote;' the third wave of feminism focused on "bodily autonomy while broadening their goals towards sexpositivity, abolishing gender-role stereotypes and expanding feminism to diverse racial and cultural indentities:' The fourth wave of feminism is represented by a pantsuit-clad mannequin. Fourth wave feminism, which our era is currently going through, focuses on "fighting for everyone through intersectionality'' and unifying all women while eliminating gender stereotypes. The fourth mannequin also had a message from an anonymous contributor on its lapel: This is wh~t a • Four different mannequins were placed in the Sordoni Art Gallery to represent the four waves of feminism that have taken place since the 19th century. L Photos: The Beacon/Emily Cherkauskas Trey Giles, vice president of the Feminist Alliance, read Frederick Douglass' "Declaration of Sentiments" over 90.7 WCLH. "Let us all find the very best in all of us, as we each have something unique and powerful to offer:' Later in the day, "Year of the Vote" held a Zoom webinar lecture that featured Sincavage; Dr. Amy Sopcak-Joseph, assistant professor of history; and Dr. Andreea Maierean, assistant professor of political science. At 6 p.m., the panelists discussed the efforts of women's fight for equal rights on an international scale. Sopcak-Joseph, who studies how media shapes gender, lectured on American women's fight for their rights. According to Sopcak-Joseph, the fight had started soon after the Constitution was ratified. Since the document was vague about who could vote and own property, states were left to make their own decisions in their individual constitutions. Starting in the 19th century, the debate surrounding women was, according to Sopcak-Joseph, "Could women be political? Should women be political?" As the era went on, Americans, including women, were raised to be active in current events. Because of this, women found the drive to have direct action in politics and the workplace. Women soon volunteered to assist in charities, working with the poor, supporting the abolition of slavery and speaking out in the public. Along with contributing to public charity, women also protested at the White House, went through hunger strikes and were jailed After garnering enough support, the 19th Amendment was passed, giving women the right to vote. After Sopcak-Joseph concluded her lecture, Maierean proceeded to lecture on the women's suffrage movement on a global scale. Maierean included the movements that took place in various continents - countries included Canada, Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland, India, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Australia and New Zealand All countries encouraged the idea of equal rights. She also noted the fact that while some countries fought based on their own ideas, many were inspired by others to create a movement. She recalled that, despite these movements happening generally around the same time, women fought in various manners. While some countries like the United States fought and protested forcefully and unwaveringly, other nations like Canada, Brazil and France progressed gradually through peaceful protests and small victories. In her conclusion, Maierean also acknowledged how important it is to register to vote in today's society - 100 years after women achieved the right to vote. With the conclusion of Constitution Day, "Year of the Vote" is planning more events throughout the semester. Members will hold a Zoom roundtable discussion on Oct. 5, with the subject being "Gender, Politics, & Power Since the 19th Amendment:' The project hopes to encourage the public to become more involved with voting for equal rights. @wil~sbeacon Emily.Cheykauskas@wilkes.edu r �!J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 10 TheB Liz's Craft Comer: Friends-themed roommate Bibnoji decor Pt By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer Dorm room decor is essential for making a small room feel like home, especially since more time is spent in a dorm room nowadays in order to go maskless. For those with a roommate, or even a few roommates, this DIY decoration can spice up the space and make it uniquely designed and personal. This DIY decoration is a Bitmoji roomies sign, bringing in some fun elements of a Bitmoji, and also the title font of the sitcom Friends - because a roommate is likely a very close friend, and now technically, part of the family unit. The decoration can make a perfect door hanger, wall sign or a decorative piece on a dresser. It takes about 15 minutes to create and is affordable. The supplies needed are one canvas of any size, although it does not have to be large (the one in the picture is 8-by-6 inches), printed pictures of the Bitmojis of the roommates, Mod Podge, one medium sized or foam paint brush, one small tip paint brush and black, red, yellow and blue acrylic paint. A n y of these materials can be purchased at any craft store, including Joann Fabrics, Michaels, Amazon or even the Dollar Tree. The pictures can be printed for a few cents at any store that prints photos, such as CVS, Walgreens or Walmart. First, gather the Bitmo}is for the decoration. The simplest way to do this is to go o~ napchat. Click on the name to send a photo to the roommate, take a black picture and find the Bitmoji you would like to use. This is the creative part, as the Bitmoji can be posed, smiling or have an object in its hand. Once the Bitmoji is chosen, zoom in until it takes up about the whole screen without being cut off. Sizing is completely up to preference. The picture will be printed as a 4-by-6, so if the Bitmoji is going to take up the whole canvas, make it large on the screen. If it is only taking up a portion, or there are multiple Bitmojis on a small canvas, then make them smaller on the screen. For an Life, Arts & Entertainment example, refer to the sizing difference in both of the examples. Now, it is time to print the photos. When they are sent to print, there might be an error saying "low resolution," but this is just because the Bitmoji is zoomed. This will not be noticeable for the decoration. To start making the DIY, cut the printed Bitmoji photos out around the edge. Place them on the canvas to get an estimate for size, and trim them to fit. Depending on the canvas size, leave about an inch and a half to two inches Qf space on top for the "roomies" logo. Then, put Mod Podge all over the back of the photo using the medium sized paint brush or the foam paint brush, and place it carefully on the canvas. Do this for every photo in whichever position you ch oos e , and make sure to be creative with this part. In the example, the photos are placed in both corners of the canvas and are against the edges. Allow time to dry, and then it is time to do the "hard" part. Write "ROOMIES" on the top of the canvas using pencil. The goal is to write this in the Friends title font. This can be found in a simple internet search and it will be pretty easy to distinguish once the dots are drawn anyway. After "roomies" is written, it is time to paint over the pencil. Trace over the pencil with black paint using the small tip paint brush. Then, add a small dot of paint in between each letter using the same brush. The sequence of colors is red, yellow, blue, red, yellow, blue. This is where the Friends logo becomes apparent. Allow some time for the paint to dry, and then it is done. Put it anywhere to show off your cute Bitmojis and DIY skills. ~ Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu - , Graphic by Anna Culver ByZa Asst. I Step 1: Adjust Bitmojis to the cahvas before applying. Step 2: Attach Bitmojis to the canvas with Mod Podge. I'm less. I I was are c natio1 racial Air grogf to Ar in a J in th pollu seem I patti mon watc age, don It's I corn hair Ir the IDOJ Mu: Civ raci gov bro bei F SOI dis anc Step 3: Trace "ROOMIES" with a pencil above the Bitmoj is. Then, paint over the word, and place colored dots in between the letters. sar rec1 ID{ an co ea st1 in bt a, sl \\ ti p Step 4: Let dry. Once completed, show off to friends! Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka t �The Beacon - September 23, 2020 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Axelrad excited for future plans after campaign ends How the printing business in Wilkes-Barre has adjusted to COVID-19 By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor Drumroll...8,555 shirts sold, over $80,000 raised and 285 businesses participating - that's just some of what Axelrad Screen Printing's "Shirt Off Our Backs" movement has accomplished in the span of two months. The premise of the movement was simple - Axelrad designers worked with businesses to create unique shirt designs fo r their establishment. Some featured store mascots, like sharks sporting a mask, while others opted to keep shirts simple, featuring a standard logo. Shirts were then put into an online store where individuals could purchase one for $15, with $10 from every shirt going to the local business displayed on the tee. While the campaign concluded on June 6, business for the company has been steady, with plans of expanding in the near future. "Our industry has never been steady, where you even just feel the same week by week. Ever since COVID, it's kind of just been a steady level of hectic," said Tyler Rice, a graphic designer at Axelrad. "It's definitely different for us." While the summer is typically a busy and fast-paced time for Axelrad employees, the need for merchandise for fall sports and concert tours has decreased. Despite this, Axelrad has seen an influx in sales of masks and restaurant apparel. According to Rice, there's also a good chance of the company relocating from its North Pennsylvania Avenue location in Wilkes-Barre in early 2021. "We purchased a building a couple miles down the road from where we're currently at, so we'll be expanding to a larger facility, which we're obviously very excited about," explained Rice. In addition, Rice spoke of taking on more employees to help with the growing business - an optimistic sign for those in the Wyoming Valley affected by the growing unemployment rate in Pennsylvania, which is currently over 13 percent, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from June of this year. As for employees at Axelrad, things couldn't be better. In fact, many employees at Axelrad enjoy their jobs, taking pride in their work and stating the close bond between those employed by the company makes working there that much better. "I actually really like it. I actually want to wake up in the morning and go to work," said JT Pavidus, a screen printer at the business. "It's a super tight-knit community, and I'm glad to be a part ofit." Those in the local community are also fond of the business, ranking Axelrad at five stars on its Google rating, praising the screen printing company for its friendly atmosphere and hard-working team members. As a whole, Axelrad is extremely grateful for those in the Wyoming Valley, especially individuals who supported the "Shirt Off Our Backs" movement. For Rice, reaching the goal of the campaign was something those at the business will forever be proud of, and doing so would not have been possible without the support of the community. Looking toward the future, the company hopes for a return from the new-normal seen in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in the coming year, as their business continues to grow. They also look forward to the continued support of those in the area and beyond. "We' re just hoping that 2021 brings back some form of normalcy, and we're just getting ready for that possible influx," said Rice. "I think that once the world goes back to normal, everyone's going to be pretty excited, and they're going to need some shirts." @wilkesbeacon Maria.OiBuo@wilkes.edu Lambda Kappa Sigma Alpha Phi to host virtual SK event By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer The Wilkes University chapter of Lambda Kappa Sigma, Alpha Phi, will hos a virtual SK run/walk from Sept. 20 to Sept. 27. Lambda Kappa Sigma is a professional pharmacy fraternity which provides "lifelong opportunities for women in pharmacy school through professional excellence and personal growth;' according to Michelle Gronski, 4f,rofessional chair of Alpha Phi and Project Hope chair. "The Alpha Phi chapter donates a lot to local community charities by volunteering or donating money;' said Gronski. "The Alpha Phi chapter also provides its members with lots of opportunities to professionally grow as a pharmacist:' Proceeds of the virtual SK run/walk will benefit Project Hope, a global health and humanitarian relief organization. "Since this SK run/walk is virtual, we have the opportunity to raise a lot of money that we can donate to the national LKS philanthropy, Project Hope;' said Deanna Fox, president of Alpha Phi. Project Hope provides health care and training for health care workers in situations like disaster, infectious diseases and maternal and neonatal health. It also works to "empower health care workers:' as stated by projecthope.org. The organization recognizes the need for a growing number of healthcare workers, so they are working to increase those numbers. "This organization means a lot to our chapter, so we wanted to give back to them in some way, especially because they are helping so many health care workers during this tough time;' said Gronski. Alpha Phi has been planning a SK event since last year, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, their run/walk could not be in-person. As a result, they opted for a virtual version. Despite the transition from face-toface, Fox noted, "We are very excited about this virtual event because it is a safe and healthy way for us to raise money for our philanthropy without having to be in- person together." Alpha Phi is still happy to be able to be able to have an event, even if it does have to be virtual. "We thought hosting a virtual SK would involve the community and people from all over to keep active during this time when so many people are sedentary;' said Gronski. Anyone across the country is welcome to participate, and Alpha Phi hopes that people in the Wilkes University community and outside do participate to help raise money for Project Hope. "My expectations for this event are to get as many LKS members and non -LKS members as possible across the country to participate in the SK run/walk;' said Fox. "We have advertised for this event to all of the LKS chapters in the country. A lot of these chapters have also advertised our run/walk on their social media accounts. We are hoping for a great turn out, as we have gotten a lot of attention from our social media posts:' Anyone is welcome to register, with tickets costing $10 each. Participants are asked to submit their times for a prize, with first place winning a $100 gift card and second place winning a $75 gift card. The other prize is a "spirit prize;' and the award is a $50 gift card. The SK has a tie-dye theme, meaning one should dress up in their best tie dye outfit. The spirit prize winner will be chosen raffle-style. "Our tie-dye theme was inspired by a recruitment event that we were planning on having. We unfortunately had to cancel this event, but we figured that we could use this idea to theme our run/walk and still allow people to have the opportunity to tie dye a shirt on their own:' said Fox. Those who wish to participate can send run times and pictures to lks. alphaphi@gmail.com, as well as post their tie dye outfit and tag @lks_alphaphi on Instagram. The Wilkes University community, as well as any friends or family, are welcomed to register. @wilkesbeacon Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu . r �_J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 News 12 V~lilrUAll. Cll.UrB [I) _ Xr7 0 i~[p>l~S~[N]'fr~[N]G 1rH~ fNJ~W ArNJ[) OlD ClUlSS 0~ W~lK~$ UlNJ~V~~~~yy Cl) 0 By Sean Schmoyer News Editor • in the community. President Brianna Rowland, a musical theatre major with a minor in Sept. 18 marked Wilkes University's first hospitality, described what MSC is and how it virtual dub day. Students were able to access engages students and the community. numerous Zoom calls that were held in "The Multicultural Student Coalition is 30-minute increments from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. a group of students dedicated to spreading Presence served as a center hub for students diversity here on campus and in the Wilkesto access the links, as well as to learn more Barre community;' said Rowland. "We look about the dubs that caught their attention. to educate students on diversity, social and Club Day saw over 40 dubs and student institutionalized injustice. Ultimately, we organizations attend and present to want everyone to feel at home and safe on interested students. The dubs were split into Wilkes University's campus, no matter where eight sections: Mega Councils, Engineering they are from:' and Science, Business and Pharmacy, Rowland also expressed why MSC is Communications, Social Services and needed on campus, "Our club is important Campus Resources, Club Sports and Campus because there are many students from many Resources, Faith and Diversity and, lastly, different backgrounds that come to our Special Interests. campus. We want them to be able to have a Four of the 40 dubs are highlighted below. space where people can relate to them, and The selection process took into account if where students can educate each other about dubs were new or how active their presence cultural differences. We are all about sharing is on campus. our knowledge and educating our peers:' MSC will be hosting a Black Lives Matter Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC) Silent Protest on Sept. 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 Returning students may already be aware p.m. of the Multicultural Student Coalition. "This event is to educate our community Despite social distancing policies, MSC has and our peers about cultural awareness and been able to remain active across campus and social justice-related conversations;' said Rowland. "We would like to use this time to make an impact. The impact we can make not only on campus but in our Wilkes-Barre community can help move the conversation forward about systematic racism and racial injustice:' Other events are being planned slowly and on a one-at-a-time basis in case students are sent home this semester due to COVID-19. The dub is hoping to host a trivia night during the semester, whether it be held virtually or in-person. Currently, MSC has 78 members, though they admit not all members are active. The hope is that all members will attend the silent protest. When it comes to their events, Rowland has goals The Multicultural Student Coalition's goal is to spread she's striving to accomplish. diversity and cultural awareness. MSC will be hosting a "We hope to engage BLM Silent Protest on Sept. 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. everyone on campus;' said Rowland. "This dub isn't exclusive to people of color - this is a dub where people can share their culture without any judgement. We welcome any and everyone from all walks oflife:' Club Day was a success for the established dub. MSC focused on a presentation with pictures of their events. Their E-board shared social media accounts, such as their Instagram @wilkes_ msc. "I am most excited about meeting the new first-year students;' said Rowland. "I've met a few so far, and Recently, Friends of Panama, a club created by they are all willing to get sophomore Jesus Rios, earned Student Government involved. I am also excited recognition. The club focuses on representing to brainstorm and find Panama's culture, language, food and dancing. creative ways to get our campus involved while keeping COVID-19 precautions in mind. I our goals is that people can learn much more am also excited, but a little sad, to find the next about our culture as we learn more about E-board that will be taking our positions:' theirs and all this while enjoying different Students interested in joining MSC should activities together:' reach out to Rowland by email at brianna. The dub has already planned events for rowland@wilkes.edu or through the club's both the current semester and the spring email at msc@wilkes.edu. Students can also semester with the hopes that social distancing contact the club th,rough their social media policies ease up and allow for larger face-toaccounts. face events. This semester, Friends of Panama plans Friends of Panama to start their Spanish Conversation Partner In attendance for the virtual dub day was project. The project will consist of a 30-minute one of the newest clubs on campus, Friends conversation between a Panamanian tutor of Panama. The dub recently gained Student who is a native Spanish speaker and the Government (SG) recognition on Sept. 15. students who are looking to learn or improve Friends of Panama seeks to share Panama's their skills in the language. culture by engaging with the campus and Another event the dub looks to host is local community. The hope is to allow people Mask Painting Day. from different backgrounds to communicate "We are also working on a Mask Painting and get to know each other through their Day, where following safety and protection measures, we can meet in a recreational events. Jesus Rios, the club's president and a activity and paint our masks with different sophomore management major, highlighted designs;' said Rios. the club's goals. Finally, the dub is looking to host an event "Friends of Panama, is a new family where students will have the opportunity to on campus;' said Rios. "We would like to explore and taste the food of different groups, show people our culture, our food and our though due to the social distancing policies, traditions, like dancing, singing and more. the dub may look to host such an event in the .. We would like to start some projects like spring. Rios' inspiration for the dub dates back to Spanish Conversation Partner to help people who want to learn or improve the language Spring 2020, where a conversation between with a native speaker as a mentor. One of friends served as the catalyst for making the �The Beacon - September 23, 2020 idea a reality. .. "On one occasion when I was talking with two of my friends, Ruben and Gabriel, I told them what was the latest news at that time. It was about a new group of Panamanian students who had just arrived at Wilkes (IFARHU 4), and what this represented. We became the largest international student population in the university, with over 80 students;' said Rios. "That made me think and ask myself: How could the community know more of us, how could they know who we are and where we come from or about our culture? This is where it all began:' After consulting individuals across campus and preparing a presentation for SG, the club received approval three days before Club Day. As of the evening after Club Day, more than 30 people had signed up for the club. Rios expects that number to almost triple in the coming days after sending out 90 invitations for others to join. When it comes to Club Day as an event, Rios said, "It was a good opportunity to introduce the club, although we hope to continue promoting the club with everyone we can. Everyone is totally welcome:• Rios is most excited about the opportunity to promote Panamanian culture. "Sharing about culture is sharing about who we are and what we represent, and it is an excellent way to foster diversity, respect and interaction among all as a great family that we all are here at Wilkes University;' said Rios. Overall, the club hopes to share as much as possible, not just about Panamanian culture but about the culture of all students who join News the club. Rios expressed that he wants the club to create spaces where everyone from all over the world, of any belief, culture or religion can develop and broaden their knowledge of each other. Friends of Panama was included in the Faith and Diversity category for clubs during Club Day. A recording has been made available of the Zoom session for students to watch their presentation. Students looking to join can contact Rios at jesus.riosserrano@ wilkes.edu. Stress Management Through Art Therapy In addition to Friends of Panama, the Stress Management Through Art Therapy Club is another new club on campus that received SG recognition at the Sept. 15 meeting. The club presented for Club Day under the Special Interests category. "Our mission is to give students an outlet to relieve stress in a healthy way;' said Courtney Dolan, the club's president and a junior nursing major. "We want to be a safe place for any student, no matter what their artistic ability. We would rather focus on the fun and stress-relieving abilities of the art, rather than the quality of it. I think right now, life in general is very stressful for everyone, especially college students, so I thought it would be a great idea to have this club open for all of our students. For years, Dolan has been using arts and crafts to relieve stress. She thought it would be beneficial to share the idea with other students and help them by providing a creative outlet. Dolan and the other members of the club are not letting COVID-19 and the social distancing policies stop them from hosting events. "We already have two events planned, one for just members and one for everyone;' said Dolan. "We don't have any dates planned since we are awaiting approval, but one is a pottery night for just the club members, and the other is a mixed media night that we are hoping to have for the whole school. The mixed media night is one that we will have all types of things for people to do, such as magazines to cut pictures out of or paint or markers .. . I think it would be a really fun night for everyone to get together:• Once campus returns to Stress ManagementThrough ArtTherapy is another normal, the club hopes to new club on campus. Its purpose is to allow students do paint or craft nights for to create art as a form of stress relief in a safe larger groups of students. environment. To date, the club has 'j 13 a total of 23 . members and expects to hear from interested students who reach out after Club Day. Dolan's plans are to see more students join and continue the club for years. She also wants to have events for the school that will not only allow students to come and relieve their stress but to also allow them to hangout and have a good night. "We are hoping that everyone on campus will get some use out of our dub/events. Maybe in the future we can team up with another club to create bigger and better events that a larger population can join in on;' said Dolan. Students interested in JOimng the Stress Management Through Art Therapy Club can contact Dolan at courtney.dolan@ wilkes.edu. Under the Engineering and Science category, the Society of Student Nurses presented for Club Day. The club aims to give back to the community, offer beneficial student experiences, partake in community service, be a voice on various health-related topics Society of Student Nurses and represent the Passan School of Nursing. (SSN) Recently recognized as an SG-approved club, the Society of Student Nurses took advantage of Club Day. SSN presented under the category of Engineering and Science. "The Society of Student Nurses is a nursing society that strives to give back to the community, explore special interests in nursing and represent the Passan School of Nursing;' said President Alanah Guerrero, a senior nursing major. "The Society plays an important role here on campus for both the nursing students, as well as the campus community as a whole. We value the student experience, so we are always looking for students to lead community service opportunities, host fun interactive events or spearhead a fundraiser. We are a sounding board for studentf to come together and share their unique experiences in nursing school with one another:' SSN plans to use their platform as health educators to advocate on various healthrelated topics, such as suicide awareness, substance use disorders, breast cancer awareness and so on. Guerrero also expressed her excitement for SSN's mentor/mentee matches and stated that the society has more planned, but that she wanted to keep the best ideas a surprise for the time being. Currently, SSN contains a variety of students from first-years to accelerated students. There are around 60 members in total, who participate whenever they can in events and service opportunities. According to Guerrero, Club Day was great, and it generated more interest for the society, even after they hosted their interest meeting two weeks ago. "Every member who joins is always exciting for us;• said Guerrero. "We are most excited to be able to come together as a club as a whole this semester. Unfortunately last semester, the day we were recognized as a Student Government Club was the day we were sent home. Being sent home did not stop us from meeting, voting or even hosting virtual events:' The society hopes to engage various campus members with their events. By working with Civic Engagement, the School of Pharmacy and Stuqent Development, they want to engage with not only nursing students, but with other students as well. "I would like to thank my Executive Board ofJasleen Kaur, Faatima Loughney, Mackenzie Koharski, Emilee Barnhardt, Diana Johnson and our advisor, Mrs. Jodi Olenginski;' said Guerrero. "Their unwavering support is really what brought this club to life. Thank you to all of our members for wanting to make a change on campus and in the lives of many:• @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker Mia.Wa/ker@wilkes.edu r �J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 14 Opinion Opinion Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the opinion editor: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu Editorial Staff 2020-21 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Kirsten Peters Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Sean Schmoyer LA&E - Maria Di8uo Opinion - B.-.nna Ebisch Sports - Dylan Mehl Ariel Reed ASSISTANT EDITORS News - Sara Ross Opinion - Zarqua Ansari SECTION STAFF WRITERS News· Genevieve Frederick LA&e - Emily Cherbuskas Opinion - Jordan Daniel Sports. Christopher Gowarty DESIGNERS Lead Designer - Mia Walker Photographer - Steffen Horwath • Interested In joining The Beacon? To learn more about what you can do, contact: Klrsten.Peten@wllkes.edu or Kalen.Churcher@wilkea.edu 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center WIikes University WIikes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewllkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kirsten Peters at Kirsten.Peters@wllkes.edu w. 1belelcon Bit. 1936 Pa.N~ Allodatlaa - - - -~ ur Voi~ ---- I Each week, The Beacon's editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. I Moscow Mitch up to the same old same old again On Sept. 18, the Supreme Court announced that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died "due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer:' Ginsburg's death represents the end of an era for the Supreme Court, and her passing threatens to irrevocably politicize the highest court in the land, despite her "most fervent wish to not be replaced until a new president is installed:' We here at The Beacon, like many other Americans, mourn her passing. But before her body was even cold, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement about Ginsburg's life and her now-vacant seat, ultimately concluding that "President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate:' And like many other Americans, we are outraged at not just the blatant political hypocrisy in the majority leader's decision, but also at the lack of deference for Ginsburg's final wish and the Supreme Court's existence as an inherently nonpolitical institution. On March 16, 2016, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalia's unexpected passing. However, instead of going through the formal process as it would for a Supreme Court nominee, the republican-controlled Senate, as led by McConnell, abdicated its responsibilities to the American people by refusing to hold a vote. The rationale? "The American people should have a say in the court's direction:' As we know from the results of the 2016 election, this insane dereliction of duty to the American people paid off for those senate republicans the following year, when Neil Gorsuch was nominated and confirmed. But that nomination did not come without a cost - the tumultuous nomination process required the 'nuclear option' to be invoked, permanently changing the number of votes needed to confirm a Supreme Court nomination from a three-fifths vote to a majority vote. But McConnell did not just refuse to play by the rules in 2016, he also made them up in a last-ditch political hail mary for voters that year. Now with the passing of Ginsburg less than two months away from the election, the majority leader has had a sudden change of heart. Suddenly, the precedent he created in the name of the American people back in 2016 does not appear to have any relevance whatsoever. In fact, according to the majority leader, the situation is not at all the same. Of course, nobody is truly shocked that the majority leader would renege on his newly-established precedent. But if you were, then perhaps you have not been paying attention to anything that the current administration has been doing over the last four years. Because after all, what use are abstract concepts like morals or values? You can't use those to "stick it to the libs:' But what you can use is a golden opportunity to appoint a third conservative justice to the Supreme Court to do just that. And at the end of the day, we here at The Beacon know that it is an incredible long· shot for senate democrats to successfully block the confirmation of a new justice. And even if they do block this confirmation, there is nothing stopping senate republicans from simply trying again after election day, when vulnerable (or defeated) senators can simply switch their vote. With these grim facts in mind, we here at The Beacon would like to end with a simple request: Remember. Remember this moment when you go to vote this November. Don't forget about it next year either, or at the midterms. Remember how your republican senators vote in the coming weeks, and if they vote to confirm any justice in an election year despite the precedent they set- vote them out. Their time is up. @wilkesbeacon TheWi/kesBeacon@wilkes.edu Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters niust contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon . �L The Beacon - September 23, 2020 Opinion 15 President Trump threatens diverse Gen-Z with TikTok ban· In a nation where brown folks have been openly surveilled since 9/11, it is laughable for the president to take action against a global tech company he simply I'm a Muslim girl. An immigrant, no believes to be collecting data. This matter also doesn't take the whole less. I wear a hijab, and I have been since I was 12. The connotations of this action Facebook scandal from 2014 into account, are considered quite sinister by most where there was evidence of 87 million nations. As a result, I am used to being users being affected, according to The New York Times. The reason Facebook is racially profiled. Airports are a nightmare. I'm tired and still around and TikTok is getting banned groggy after a 17-hour flight from India is simply due to the primary users of to America. I miss sleeping on a mattress social media. Facebook is full of older in a permanent bed, the non-squat toilets people, but TikTok is full of young adults. in the bathroom, and the lack of noise Following the threat of banning TikTok, pollution. Instead, TSA has a "random" a company spokesperson said, "TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds security check in place for me. I complain the whole time they are of employees arid key leaders across patting me down. This only makes them safety, security, product and public policy more suspicious, but I can't help it. I here in the U.S. We have never provided watch countless lines of other people my user data to the Chinese government nor age, even at 12, walk on by. All of them would we do so if asked." don the same expression - wary caution. Trump's initial move utilizes the It's remarkable that as a child, I was International Emergency Economic considered a threat because I cover my Powers Act which, according to the New York Times, in past administrations has hair. In 2014, The Intercept wrote about been used to punish foreign governments, the NSA and FBI. There was a covert not to ban an app designated for young monitoring of the emails of prominent adults. Trump has publicly blamed Muslim-Americans. The American China for COVID-19, and banning Civil Liberties Union even says that TikTok can be seen as an extension of his racial profiling of Muslims has become "punishment" of China. government policy. Almost all of the The move is a laughable testimony brown artists in America have discussed to the Trump administration's lack of being profil1;_d in their music. problem prioritization. In a time where For example, Abhi the Nomad has a the world is under a global pandemic, song entitled, "TSA X NSA;' where he America is on the brink of a race war and discusses the ignorance of people. Samsa the west coast is aflame, the least of the and Thiago's song, "Burfi;' discusses the government's concerns should be what a same unfortunate message. The harsh bunch of kids are doing on their phones. reality of America is that being flavored TikTok has been banned in India means you're being watched. already, setting a precedent for other All this goes to say that brown folks countries to follow suit. However, the are aware they are being watched. We cited reason for banning the app, "Stealing complain about it in the media and with and surreptitiously transmitting users' each other, but nothing happens past a data in an unauthorised manner;' may not strongly worded article that disappears be the actual reason. The move to ban the into the plethora of Kardashian lip and app followed escalating tensions along the disputed border between the two nations, butt fillers. President Donald Trump threatened according to BBC. to ban TikTok on account of it being People took to Twitter to express their owned by the Chinese Internet company annoyance at Trump's decision to ban ByteDance. He seems to think that the the app. Some users call Trump a "sore app poses a national security threat loser" for getting upset that the app was because of its Chinese ties. This baseless . able to coordinate an event that sabotaged claim underlines Trump's and his Trump's rally in Tulsa, Okla., earlier this administration's belief that Americans year. shouldn't download the app if they don't TikTok offers people, mostly those want their private information to fall "in aged 16 to 24, a platform on which the hands of the Chinese Communist they can express themselves freely. A lot of information is being exchanged PartY:' Cue the collective laughter from the on political issues, sparking younger brown folks. generations to become more involved. By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor Among the political advocacy, footage of the BLM Movement made rounds on the app. TikTok is a safe space community that raises awareness about many issues. Personally, my own "For You Page" has been sprinkled with knowledge I never thought I would get my hands on, much less in as personal a way as TikTok allows me to have. TikTok tailors itself to blind people, deaf people, selective mute people, PTSD victims, rape and sexual assault victims, the kink community, Muslims, LGBTQA + folks, immigrants and anyone in between. An app that displays so much diversity and gives people the opportunity to be heard should be encouraged in a nation dubbed "the melting pot:' I hope for Trump's own sake that he and the Trump administration can lower their egos to a ipanageable level before they fall into the pit of angry teens that managed to bully him into a bunker. Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �_J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 Opinion 16 It's time to stop being afraid of the F-word and its meaning By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor One hundred years ago, a woman could not vote in any political election, attend college to earn a higher education, choose a career of her interest, speak up against sexual harassment in the workplace or in her personal life, have access to contraceptives and much more. Women in the United States have gained a substantial amount of their basic human rights due to the power for feminism and the women's movement, but the fight is far from over. In 2020 alone, American women have been pushing for equality more than ever before. Despite the advances women have made over the past century, many people are hesitant to credit feminism for those achievements. The scary F-word is still seen as negative and something that we don't need in the 21st century. · But with females still demanding the same rights as their male counterparts, including equal pay, reproductive rights and being able to receive the same basic respect as men in our society, it's clear that feminism is necessary. Stop being afraid of feminism. Say the word out loud. Erase all negative connotations and misconceptions from your thoughts, and realize how the world needs the work of feminists. The beliefs that the movement carry are crucial to not only create the appropriate level playing field that should exist for both men and women, but to give everyone the same rights, which shouldn't be a debate in the first place. It's becoming harder to overlook the stark disadvantages women must push through on a daily basis. According to American Progress, "Women have outnumbered men on college campuses since 1988. They have earned at least onethird oflaw degrees since 1980 and accounted for one-third of medical school students by 1990. Yet, they have not moved up to positions of prominence and power in America at anywhere near the rate that should have followed. In a broad range of fields, their presence in top leadership positions as equity law partners, medical school deans and corporate executive officers - remains stuck at five percent to 20 percent:' T h e numbers a r e staggering and can be surprising when looking at the representation of women with careers across the board. The gender wage gap and difficulty to advance to higher positions in any job is only one of the problems that plague women constantly. From sustaining the ability to get a safe, legal abortion to being able to speak up against sexuaVdomestic violence, there are countless issues that are being addressed and backed by feminism, which are all important. According to Politico, "The biggest challenge facing women in the United States today is patriarchy. This is especially evident in the realm ofpolitics. Regardless of a woman's experience, education or abilities, the patriarchal nature of U.S. society fosters the perception that women are less qualified and less competent than men. What patriarchy has done is convince people that a strong and intelligent woman represents a problem; a disruption to . the social order rather than an integral part ofit:' Almost every system in place within our society and government is ruled by the patriarchy, and this drastically affects women and their everyday lives. The Equal Rights Amendment has yet to be signed into law because of this, and the basis of the amendment is simply to provide legal equality of the sexes and to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. Something this simple cannot become a reality because a strong portion of the American population believes that women don't deserve the same rights as men. Many also refer to feminism as a movement that aims to put women at a greater advantage or above men, so the real "fear" that comes with feminism, or meeting someone who is a feminist, is simply men being scared that they will lose their privilege. The fact that women's rights to equality rely on this silly proposition is simply ridiculous. Although advancements have been made over centuries of hard work and fighting, there are miles to go in terms of women truly being equal to their male counterparts in every way and also being acknowledged as human beings. Women's rights are human rights, and we need feminism to change the world in order to create the future that is necessary for women not only in the United States but around the world. Breanna.Ebsich@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari Black transgender mistreatment is overlooked but startling By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer • In light of the recent protests against racial injustice and Pride Month that occurred over the summer, there has been a shocking amount of black transgender women murdered between the months of June and July. Unfortunately, not many people are aware of the violence against transgender individuals, as it is a taboo topic in our society. According to them.us, an LGBTQ+ online community platform, a few days before Pride Month came to an end, six black transgender women were found dead in a brutal nineday stretch. The victims were Brayla Stone, Merci Mack, Shakiie Peters, Draya McCarty, Tatiana Hall and Bree Black. These victims, plus the other transgender women that have been murdered this year, record a total of 22 meaningless, violent deaths. "If this rapid pace continues through the year, 2020 will set a record for violence against the transgender community;' said Devin Norelle in a July 14 article on them.us. Last year, there were 27 transgender and gender-nonconforming people who were reportedly killed for simply being who they are. "l know that black transgender people in the LGBTQ+ community are discriminated against from several directions, as they deal with racist and homophobic views from other individuals and our society;' said Jennifer Boch, a junior history and international relations major. "Transgender individuals are often the 'easiest' targets for such attacks because of how scrutinized physical appearance, especially gender appearance, is in our society. Every individual in the LGBTQ+ community is unique, so I do not want to generalize, but for some individuals, it is easier to 'fly under the radar:" Some are knowledgeable about the discrimination and violence toward the Black members of the LGBTQ+ community. This is due to the fact that when these recent deaths occurred many influencers, who are either part of the community or allies, tweeted about the murders or shared posts on their Instagram stories to get the message out. However, this issue has not been of interest in the traditional news media. "The media does not cover the topic enough;' said Kaz Charles, a first-year theatre major. "They avoid it because it is taboo. Because of racism, the media barely covers black stories unless they are tragedies or causing uproar. The fear that is still connected to trans individuals makes the media fear losing ratings. Overall, the media is a business, and unless they think they will get a ton of views, they won't put out the story." The news media is not doing a good enough job on covering such an important issue; however, many social media users are using their platforms to get the message out there. After viewing influencers' posts, general Twitter users used hashtags with the six victims' names, as well as the hashtags #StopKillingTransWomen and #BlackTransLivesMatter. Meanwhile, general Instagram users shared posts from other influencers and LGBTQ+ related accounts, which were originally getting the message out about the terrible and saddening news. "I don't think anyone is doing enough to stop the mistreatment of black transgender people; said Lizzy Antes, a sophomore nursing major. "I think this is largely due to our own president, Donald Trump, fueling transphobic and racist beliefs. It causes people to not speak out as much about black trans lives because they don't want to get in arguments with Trump about supporting family and friends in the community:' Although there are some trying to gain the world's attention on this matter, others feel like their efforts are not enough and that more needs to be done by everyone. More people need to speak up about this issue and voice their opinions, so our society can stop targeting and hating those who just want to be accepted as themselves. Because, frankly, being yourself is not a reason for someone to be murdered. @wi/kesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu �8 ps The Beacon- September 23, 2020 Lone Star State juggles donkeys, elephants prior to election By Liam Flynn Staff Writer ulver ta 17 Opinion The Republican presidential candidate has claimed victory in the state of Texas in every general election since 1980, starting with Ronald Reagan. Analysts suggest that the rebirth of the Republican Party in Texas among white conservatives can be traced to 1952, when Democratic Governor Allan Shivers clashed with the Truman administration over the federal claim on the Tidelands. Shivers worked to help General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Texas native, to carry the state. Generally, Eisenhower was highly respected due to his role as Commander of the Allies in World War II, and he was popular nationally, winning the election. Beginning in the late 1960s, Republican strength increased in Texas, particularly among residents of the expanding "country club suburbs" around Dallas and Houston. To Congress, the election of Republicans such as John Tower and George H. W. Bush in 1961 and 1966, respectively, reflected this trend. Nationally, outside of the South, Democrats supported the Civil Rights Movement and achieved important passage of federal legislation in the inid-1960s. In the South, however, Democratic leaders had opposed changes to ~ring about black voting or desegregated schools and public facilities, and in many places, exercised resistance. Following passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, white southern voters began to align with the Republican Party. A movement accelerated after the next year, when Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, providing for federal enforcement of minorities' constitutional right to vote. Voter registration and turnout increased among Blacks and Latinos in Texas and other states. ·Tower's 1961 election to the U.S. Senate made him the first statewide GOP officeholder since Reconstruction and the disenfranchisement of Black Republicans. Republican Governor Bill Clements and Senator Phil Gramm were elected after him. Republicans became increasingly dominant in national elections in white-majority Texas. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win the state was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Previously, a Democrat had to win Texas in order to win the White House, but in the 1992 election, Bill Clinton won the Oval Office while losing Texas electoral votes. This result significantly reduced the power of Texas Democrats at the national level, as party leaders believed the state had become unwinnable. Because of this, the GOP has always considered this state as a guarantee to secure those 38 electoral votes, which is the secondhighest state total behind California, which has 55. With that being said, Donald Trump, current president, won Texas by less than nine percent of the vote in 2016. While this number seems like a comfortable enough margin to have confidence in this November's election, it is the lowest margin of victory by a Republican in Texas since 2000. It is concerning for the GOP that it only won this "gimmie" state by nine percent in a race that seemed largely lopsided in the nationwide delegate count. The margin of victory is certainly going downward from the 23 percent Republican lead that Republican George W. Bush had over Democrat Al Gore in 2004. In 2018, Ted Cruz, the incumbent Republican senator from the Lone Star State, defeated Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic challenger by only a 2.6 percent margin. The maverick campaign, with O'Rourke's tour of all 254 Texas counties and $70 million in campaign contributions, received enormous national attention as a political underdog story. O'Rourke exposed a blue spine in Texas politics . that could remake the state's congressional delegation and affect Trump's re-election prospects in 2020. By making a commendable showing in the 21 counties along the Interstate 35 corridor from Laredo to the Oklahoma border, the U.S. Senate candidate from El Paso defied 30 years of political history in the Lone Star State. O'Rourke didn't just become the first Democratic Senate candidate in Texas to win the majority of votes along the corridor since the 1980s, instead h e pounded Cruz along the route, flipping counties that had not voted for a Democrat for statewide office since Ann Richards first ran for governor in 1990. Even in the counties O'Rourke lost, his defeats were often much narrower than those of past Democratic candidates. For a state that the GOP only won in the 2016 general election 2016 by nine percent; this looks very good for the Democratic Party. Trump's net approval rating (approval minus disapproval) among registered voters has been slightly negative in Texas throughout his presidency. The latest Quinnipiac University poll put his rating at -1. All other elected Texas Republican officials had at least a +8 net approval rating. This poll comes on top of the 2018 exit poll that gave Trump a + 1 net approval rating, and the midterm electorate rn Texas is likely more Republican leaning than a 2020 presidential electorate will be. Trump won the state by nine in 2016. _ If the 2020 election were held today, and it were solely a referendum on Tr~p, Texas would be a toss-up. Traditionally, Texas has been more Republican than the nation as a whole. In 2014, for example, Democratic President Barack Obama's net approval rating was 18 points worse in Texas than his national rating. In 2018, Trump, a Republican, was just 10 points higher in Texas. In other words, there was an 8-point shift toward the Democrats, on this measure, compared to the nation as a whole in just four years. This followed the 2016 presidential race being the closest in the state since the 1990s. Trump's unusually low approval rating in 2018 created the environment in which Cruz won re-election by less than three points. It was the worst Republican performance in a Senate race in the state since 1988. In 2012, Cruz won his first term by 16 points. This 13-point pro-Democratic shift occurred even though Cruz was an incumbent and the national environment shifted by less than five points toward the Democrats. The latest polling for the 2020 general election suggests the race for the presidency in the state of Texas is a dead heat between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. The polling from New CBS News/YouGov have Trump at 46 percent to Biden's 45 percent, a result well within any margin of error. The fact that the polling is close in Texas should be a four-alarm fire for Team Trump. The electoral map makes it plain as day: If they've got even a hint of trouble in Texas, then they've got way bigger problems in a lot of other states that are even more telling as presidential bellwethers. If Trump loses Texas and its seismic 38 electoral votes - a state he won by a hefty nine points in 2016 - then, it's all over. The blue wave is coming. Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �.J The Beacon - September 23, 2020 Opinion 18 Open colleges and COVID-19: "It's just good business" By William Billingsley Staff Writer • On Sept. 17 at 6 p.m., Wilkes University announced through its COVID-19 Dashboard that the university had 29 cumulative cases of COVID-19. I thought that was a rather peculiar statistic - only 29 cases of the worldwide pandemic that has so fundamentally shifted our everyday lives here on campus? Now, if we were to compare our own statistics with that of other universities, we would probably look pretty good, all things considered. In fact, there was an article on Sept. 1 in The Citizens' Voice that played up the "success" of both Wilkes and King's in having a lower number of cases compared to other universities across the country. So then, my first question is: Can 29 student cases really be considered a success? I don't think so. Truth be told, I am something of an optimistic realist when it comes to how I view the world. But few things are quite as surreal as holding the view that the ideal number of COVID-19 cases on campus is actually zero, instead of whatever arbitrary number Wilkes has decided will be their breaking point (and when they send everyone home again). But let's take a closer look at these numbers. As with all statistics, the famous adage of 'lies, damned lies and statistics' is, of course, relevant here. A common response to seeing our 29 cumulative cases, 17 of which were active at the time of writing, might be some groundbreaking conclusion about how having some cases is simply an inevitability of coming back to Wilkes in the middle of a pandemic, but it is exactly this thought process that I want to examine. To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed almost 200,000 Americans. For comparison's sake, Wilkes-Barre has an estimated population of 40,000. This pandemic has, and will continue to, ravage Americans across the country until appropriate measures are finally taken. Until then, the scores of halfmeasures and lax enforcement are not doing anybody any favors. And to be fair, COVID-19's mortality rates do disproportionately affect older people. As a result, some decision-makers have erroneously concluded that it is only the older members of society at risk; however, I think an excerpt from John Donne's poem, "For Whom the Bell Tolls;' is a rather fitting response: "Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee:' The premise that I am getting at is rather straightforward: No age group is immune to COVID-19. The mortality rates for young adults are low, but a low mortality rate is not the same thing as a mortality rate of zero. As almost 200,000 Americans have already experienced, the (COVID-19) bell can toll for all ofus. That is the crux of this dystopian their health matter? But, of course, I ask these questions rhetorically because the university has come to an uncomfortably familiar conclusion - that our lives are worth that roll of the dice. With the university already in dire financial straits, Wilkes simply could not survive another semester without students paying room and board. But if you roll a hundred-sided die enough times, you eventually roll a one. "The information available before the beginning of the fall semester indicated that COVID-19 was still spreading, that tests were behind, vaccine distribution was nowhere close to being ready and that college campuses represented the · ideal "The information available before the beginning of the fall semester indicated that COVID-19 was still spreading, that tests were behind, vaccine distribution was nowhere close to being ready and that college campuses represented the ideal grounds for virus transmission ... Wilkes took a major risk in opening up for classes this fa ll." - Joshua Bradley problem. Evidently, many schools across the country are of the opinion that a low mortality rate is an acceptable degree of risk for reopening this semester. While some criticism has been directed at these universities for charging full tuition despite many going to various levels of online instruction, that has generally been the extent of criticism. It would seem, then, that we attend a university that considers our low mortality rates to be an acceptable risk in the pursuit for profit - how reassuring. Students are not the only people at risk. What about the faculty and staff? What about the families of all involved? Does grounds for virus transmission ... Wilkes took a major risk in opening up for classes this fall, and I'm not sure that it paid off," said Joshua Bradley '20, a recent graduate who majored in political science and international studies and is pursuing a master's degree at Georgetown University. My pointed mention of Wilkes is not to say that we are the only institution doing face-to-face learning in these trying times, as we are far from it. Furthermore, Wilkes has been rather up-front about how many courses have been modified to include some form of online instruction to help further reduce transmission rates. At first blush, this might appear to be a great decision on the university's part. After all, it shows that the university is looking out for its students, right? But to what extent is that true? There are still face-to-face classes, and as I established earlier, the university has opted to openly gamble with the lives of its students, faculty and staff in the pursuit of revenue. Megan Kocher, a senior political science and history student, said, "The university is not only risking the lives of students and faculty, but the families of all of us who have to go home each day after school ... I wonder how many cases will warrant closing, or will we wait for someone to die first?" According to the Dashboard, there are almost 900 courses, with 448 of them being face-to-face classes. On a first glance at a misleading pie chart, this looks great. While the other half are some arcane combination of varying course modalities, this begs the . question: Why aren't all of our classes online? "I wanted to come back and try to have as close to a normal senior year as possible;' said Cooper Chaffee, a senior secondary education and history major. "I wanted to be able to play basketball and do classes in-person:' However, he also added that he was "skeptical that we could keep the cases low;' and that classes should be moved online if cases continue to rise. In the end though, I do understand why the university is one among hundreds of others to reopen for the semester as if nothing had happened. Pandemics tend to be rather difficult events to budget for, and the show must go on for the budget's sake. But at every stage of the university's planning process for this semester, I am left wondering: Where did they draw the line? The university is making an extraordinary gamble - that none of their students, faculty and staff (and all of their families) will ultimately succumb to COVID-19. And if that bell should come to toll for a member of the Wilkes community, what will the university say then? @wilkesbeacon William.Billingsley@wilkes.edu . �. The Bea.c on - September 23, 2020 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu NBA Finals Analysis: The journey to a championship By Dylan Mehl back years. The Celtics beat the Heat in two of the three games played in the regular season, An NBA season that has been filled per ESPN. However, as of the writing of with many twists and turns is down to this article, the Heat have secured a 1-0 its final four teams. The Celtics, Heat, lead in this series, beating the Celtics Lakers and Nuggets are all battling it out in overtime by a score of 117-114. For to crown a champion. Miami, Goran Dragic led the way for the In the Eastern Conference, it is down team with 29 points. If game one was any indication of how to No. 3 Boston Celtics against No. 5 Miami Heat. the rest of this series is going to unfold, This is an especially unlikely matchup, then the series is going to be competitive. "It's going to be a gritty match up . .. If as it is the first time in NBA history that a one or two seed is not in the Eastern I had to put it in layman's terms, this is Conference Finals since 1969, as per going to be a bar fight;' said Paul Pierce, NBA.com. former NBA player and current ESPN The underdog team of the Miami Heat NBA analyst. Some keys for victory, for both teams, find themselves back in the conference finals for the first time since the departure starts with three-point shooting. Both of LeBron James. Behind the leadership teams have been great three-point of Jimmy Butler, the deep Miami roster shooting teams this postseason. Duncan is a mere four games away from an NBA Robinson, Tyler Herro, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart and Brown have been Finals app~arance. Butler joined The Heat this offseason shooting exceptionally well. The Heat after leaving the 76ers, and he's proven to will certainly have to rely on their be the veteran leader the team needs. bruiser-mentality behind Butler, whereas In the first round, Miami made easy Boston will be relying on their emerging work of the Indiana Pacers, sweeping stars, Tatum and Brown, in tandem with them in four games to make it to the veteran Kemba Walker. In the West, No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers second round. Up next for the Heat was the team with the best record in the are facing No. 3 Denver Nuggets. league, and the one-seed in the east, the This match up was unlikely, as it seemed Milwaukee Bucks. Surprisingly, the Heat the Clippers and Lakers were set to meet upset the Bucks in an easy five game in the Western Conference finals. "I'm shocked," said Chris Broussard, series. "We're waiting to see who we get out of Fox Sports NBA analyst. "Honestly, Toronto and Boston ... It's 0-0 now, we got I'm shocked. Obviously, I thought the eight more (wins) to get;' said Butler after Clippers were the best team in the league:' For Denver, this win is instrumental, Miami's game five closeout win. The Miami Heat's opponent ended as they advance to the conference finals up being the Boston Celtics. In Boston's to take on the Lakers. Denver has come first-round matchup, they quickly took back from being down 3-1 in back-tocare of business versus the 76ers in just back series and has proven themselves. In the crucial game seven versus the four games. Boston, like Miami, is a deep team, as Clippers, guard Jamal Murray had 40 they have four players in their current points for Denver while center Nikola lineup averaging over 10 points per game, Jokic had a triple-double with 16 points, and two of them, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen 22 rebounds and 13 assists to propel Brown, are averaging over 20. As young the Nuggets to victory. Jokic, Denver's players, 22 and 23-years-old respectively, all-NBA star, and Murray, their young Tatum and Brown have earned their phenom, have fueled Denver's playoff recognition as Boston's rising stars after push. "They gotta worry about us too;' said being first-round draft picks in back-toCo-Sports Editor Murray after the Nuggets' game seven win, alluding to the fact many will already have them counted out versus the Lakers. The Lakers find themselves well rested after dispatching the Houston Rockets in a five-game series. For Los Angeles, this is their first time in the conference finals since 2010, when the late Kobe Bryant was the leader of the team. James now finds himself eight wins away from his fourth NBA championship. This opportunity is a major factor in why Anthony Davis fought to team up with ·James, knowing the two would be competing for rings. While it is not the Clippers, the Lakers will have to take Denver seriously, as the Nuggets have proven multiple times this postseason that if you give them a chance, they will take it and run with it. Both teams will certainly be looking to slow down the other team's high-powered offensive stars. In the regular season, the Lakers took this matchup, winning three of the four games over Denver. James and Davis both averaged over 28 points in this matchup for the Lakers. While the Nuggets' Murray led the team in scoring against the Lakers this season with only 18.5 points per game. Keys for a Nugget victory would certainly be to make players on the Lakers, other than James and Davis, beat them, as Los Angeles is not regarded as a deep team. Denver will also need consistent scoring from Murray and Jokic. In addition a third option, such as Michael Porter Jr., would be needed. Los Angeles will look to ride on the back of James and Davis, but they will need consistent production and shooting from the team's role players: Rajon Rondo, Kyle Kuzma and Danny Green. Defensively, the Lakers will be looking to stop the offensive show of Murray, and possibly implement the trap scheme that they ran on James Harden and Damian Lillard in the two previous series. @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Beacon Picks 8 A S K E T B A l • L Who will make it to the NBA Finals? Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor Lakers v. Heat Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor Nuggets v. Heat Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer Lakers v. Heat Baylee Guedes Staff Writer Nuggets v. Celtics Kirsten Peters Editor-in-Chief Lakers v. Heat Join the conversation on Twitter @ WilkesBeacon. r �.J The Beacon- September 23, 2020 20 Sports Should Wilkes join the MAC esports league bandwagon? By Chris Gowatry ., • Sports Staff Writer With its popularity increasing dramatically over the last few years, esports is finding its way to college campuses across the country. Esports, which stands for electronic sports, is competitive gaming in an organized format, such as tournaments or leagues, where individual members or teams compete for a specific goal such as a championship title or a money prize. Organized competitions in gaming have been around for a long time, but were mostly amateur until the late 2000s. Esports became an important factor of the video game industry in the mid2010s, with tournaments and leagues sprouting across the globe. In 2014, Robert Morris University of Illinois became the first of over 130 colleges to have an esports program, being included in the National Association of Collegiate Esports. With eight other Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) schools offering esports, those being Misericordia, Albright, DeSales, Hood, Lebanon Valley, Stevenson, Widener and Arcadia (with a soon-to-be ninth in King's, who was scheduled to begin a program in Fall 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns), a question arises: Should Wilkes adopt an esports program? Dr. Samuel Schmidt, former professor in Wilkes' Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, as well former coach of Misericordia's esports team, believes that a team could bring many opportunities to Wilkes' campus. "It could bring a different kind of recruiting for students;' said Schmidt. "Student-athletes who compete in esports are different from your traditional sport student-athletes. They are looking for opportunities to participate at a highlevel because there are such few options right now. You could scout a student- athlete in Wisconsin, talk about your esport program in Wilkes- Barre and give them an opportunity that they wouldn't have in Wisconsin. All of a sudden, that's a student who never would have thought of Wilkes University who's now coming to Wilkes:' Schmidt also believes that the program could allow Wilkes to keep up with colleges within the area. "Misericordia started their program in 2019, King's was going to start theirs in Fall 2020 and Lebanon Valley College has one of the best esports programs in the country;' said Schmidt. "A team at Wilkes could give them a chance to play catchup. As of right now, these schools have admissions from students they wouldn't normally get due to esports." Schmidt gave his insight on what is needed to develop and run an esports program, from having support from the athletic department to having the right equipment and coaches. "First and foremost, you need buy-in from leadership;' said Schmidt. "When I was coaching at Misericordia, the athletic director was all-in on esports. He took it seriously and wanted it to be successful. Secondly, it's important to have good computers, chairs and rooms for studentathletes to call their own. Finally, having coaches and a good coordinator is pretty important, too:' Some students at Wilkes understand the following that has become of the esports community and would like to see the university to introduce its own program. "Esports is a really interesting and growing activity;' said sophomore Keith Nissen. "It's beneficial for colleges to have more programs, so you can attract more people with wider interests:' Not only would an esports team draw in additional students, but it would also attract a following from students interested in playing video games professionally. "I personally like esports because I feel as if it takes a great deal of practice and skill to be a professional at a video game;' said junior Mason Thrush. "I think it would be sick if Wilkes had their own organization with different games - it would be a cool way for students to compete that are into gaming:' Other students do not know too much about esports and the competition it brings, but they are not opposed to having a new program for students to enjoy and compete in. "I don't know much, but I would love the opportunity to learn more;' said junior Emilie Detweiler. "I feel as if it's a good platform for many young adults to work on as teams or individuals:' Others believe it's a useful way for students to connect with each other and to show the talents that they possess. Unlike traditional sports, not everyone is successful on a court or field, and this would be a platform for students to showcase their other talents. Traditional student-athletes are in favor of the esport addition, as well. "Esports is a good way to keep students connected who are not comfortable going out and playing contact sports, especially with the circumstances given in the world today," said • junior Alexa Crossgrove, a member of the Wilkes women's tennis team. "It's also another way for students to be known for what they are good at:' Schmidt considers there to be many aspects that make esports extraordinary to its competitors and fans but highlights the importance of its place online, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. "When COVID hit, lots of sports shut down - esports in general did not;' said Schmidt. "It continued to go as normal. ESPN was even streaming esports just to have some form of sports going on. You can recruit people easily and schedule scrimmages and matches easily because it is all online. There's a lot of unique things about esports, and I think more people should check it out:' ~ • . Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �L The Beacon - September 23, 2020 Sports 21 Getting to know Michael Piranian, men's soccer head coach By Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor Michael Piranian, head coach of the Wilkes' men's soccer team, had traveled vast and far, but his passion for soccer landed him in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Prior to Wilkes, Piranian got his start as an assistant coach at Washington and Lee University working alongside his father. He served at this position for four years before he made the journey to Pittsburgh to accept an assistant coaching position at Carnegie Mellon University. His coaching trek continued, as he switched from western Pennsylvania to eastern Pennsylvania by accepting a position at the University of Pennsylvania {UPenn). "My dad was the head coach at Washington and Lee University, and I was his assistant for four years; said Piranian. "I then went out to Pittsburgh, where I was an assistant again for six years. Then, an assistant at Penn for .two years. Finally, I landed here:' Piranian decided to stay in the area because of the hometown feeling. "There's similarities to this area that I can · draw to my hometown, Lexington, Va.;' said Piranian. "A lot of schools and universities in the area and students are the dominant source of population, like my hometown. It's a little bit bigger of a city for me, but this area is more diverse in a socioeconomic sense. For me, the biggest draw is the mountains in the area. It allows me to pursue my second passion: Outdoors:' Before his coaching debut at Washington and Lee, Piranian went to Virginia Tech, where he played soccer and majored in consumer studies. Piranian dabbled in different sports throughout high school, but with his father's influence, he became increasingly passionate about soccer. Despite his career choice, when Piranian was younger, he did not want to follow in the footsteps of his father and be a soccer coach. "My dad's been a college coach since I was born. I grew up in a team environment, playing soccer and watching soccer," said Piranian. "That's the reason why soccer ·has been so important to me. If I am being completely honest, when I was in school, I didn't want to be like my dad. I wanted to explore other avenues and see what the world was like with other jobs. I had an opportunity to be an assistant coach as my first job, and there were a lot of reasons to do it. He was a coach, and initially, I thought I wouldn't want that lifestyle, but then I realized that I was being a little naive and The Beacon/Kirsten Peters On Oct. 5, 2019, Piranian's then-sophomore midfielder Gabriel Nieves scored in the 21st minute of play against FDU-Florham, recording the first goal in history on Bruggeworth Field. · • The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Head coach Michael Piranian pictured in front of Bruggeworth Field prior to one of his player sessions, the new format approved under COVID-19 regulations. stubborn." Before Piranian began coaching, he spent his time pursuing what he loves - traveling and exploring the outdoors. After graduation., he jumped into his vehicle and drove to California to work for a travel agency. He was able to venture throughout all of North America with this job. "Little known fact, I was a tour guide;' said Piranian. "I love to travel, so I got into my truck and drove to California. I worked for a company that was based there, but I drove all around the U.S. and Canada, and took them to a bunch of national parks." As a travel-lover, the COVID-19 pandemic altered Piranian's lifestyle, particularly in how he kept busy during the extended offseason. He was able to spend a substantial amount of time focusing on recruiting players. However, there are a lot of elements that he needs to communicate with his potential incoming players, including the possibility of his senior athletes staying for a fifth year. "Right now, we have sessions. I get to plan those;' said Piranian. "It's more trying to think about recruiting. We have some seniors that are not sure what their next step is - some may be getting their MBA or (staying for) pharmacy or nursing. That plays into the decision of how many people we need to recruit. For me, that means a lot of communication with high school kids and trying to plan out scheduling when I will go out to see them:' Practices have been an adjustment for most players, as the new limitations on time and what the players are allowed to do has made it difficult. The athletes have taken on these challenges head-on and are now easily able to get through a practice. "It was rough at first, but once we got the hang of it, it seems normal now and helps develop more of the technique side of the game;' said R.J. Rauh, junior goalkeeper. The major thing that Piranian wants to promote amongst his team is unity. Through his years of coaching, he has realized that this is the main component that holds his team together. "Most prominently, it's trying to get the team together," said Piranian. "It feels like an impossible thing under these conditions:• Despite the impossible feeling, the players have been able to find safe ways to get together on the field. "It has given us more time to work together and get a better understanding of how we will connect on the field;' said Rauh. The hope is that Piranian and the men's soccer team will get to see the field this year with a comp~titive season in the spring. @wilkesbeacon Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu r �...J 'I_he Beacon - September 23, 2020 • Sports 22 �L r The Beacon - September 23, 2020 :y Sports 23 ' Colonels' roster fur the past selections makes her Name: Niamh Hatkins ' ··1 ~~ • Year: Senior Major: Marketing and ¥anagemerit Hometown: Pennington, N.J. High Sdtool: Hopewell ValleyCentralHS Position: Center back pi, > be a ,, . . itwould kthe team! Other i ;offof.the Driving forcetoryoitt' deiclsioiito come ' toWUkesf • Wbe.n • . ~ 1 teally The team chemistry that I got •.to ~ ~ t i m e with my~ experience during my overnight visit drew DsteoiqgtQtruemmepodcasts. ½ me to Wilkes. I also bad the opportunity to be a part of the Honors program and copie ~~tqeat0oi:caq,ust _ in as an undeclared major. Grill Worts' chicken clleesesteakwitb rmch '>;, Q. .ihot-,noonions. P o s t ~ pJm,, ta terms of a careed My plans after ~ front Wilkes are to·pursue my master's degree and then apply for jobs in the healthcare industry. JFavoritep.n>feuo.d Pr, Justin Matus. &m>riteinemoryasa Colonelf My favorite memory• as a Colonel is getting a bid into the NCAA tournament ,when I was a freshman and beating Conn \ College in one of the craziest games I've ever played in. If you could baff dinner with a famolU penonfrom the past. who would it be? MacMiller. '!t Hopes for this season as a Colonel? Most influential penon in your lifer My first and biggest hope is to get My dad. chance to play a hybrid version of a season in the spring, and then after that. make.itthe "' Aguote you live your life by? best and most memorable~~ ~ times d o n ' t ~ ~.,%f1- • the "T,5! When/W1tydkl youmstbeginp)ayingt I startedplaying soccer when l was about five or so because.it was the only sport ()ffi;reda,t : q \ ~ +ut,m,· sister and I could do together. Wliltdoes"BeColonermeantoyouf To me. "Be CoJoner means to try yow: hardest and give your best in ~ rou : Pffl>dtedJingtododmiagpndlce? My favorite thing to do during practice is mushing driDs. even though! never actually •~ shoot the b a l l ~ . . k16 a1[ ' •• · M'f9De1w>pea.,..._to? Mymomi,esandPhilofcow:se. -OJmpiled by Aritl Reed. Co-SportsBditor r �_J The Beacon - September: 23, 2020 24 Sports MBB: Adjusting to the dynamic without Pecorelli, Mullins By Saylee Guedes .. ( ,, •• Staff Writer Preparation for the upcoming men's basketball season is underway, as head coach Izzi Metz takes on the conditions of COVID-19 with caution. "Right now, our guys are in the weight room lifting four days a week. Starting Oct. 1, we can get on the court in small groups, pods and do some skill development," said Metz. "Then, we're hoping to progress into phase two, starting Oct. 15, which would be more like traditional team practices:' Metz, the coaching staff and the team are following all of the COVID-19 guidelines that have been set in place by Wilkes' administration while still being able to participate. While the season has been delayed, preparations have not been ceased. "We are trying to get our guys as prepared as possible before they go home for Thanksgiving;' said Metz. "We anticipate a January start for the season:' · Like most athletic teams, men's basketball is not only preparing for the upcoming season physically but also mentally. "We've kind of just carried on from what we were doing in the spring and summer from a team standpoint, which is making sure that our players are focusing on their academics;' said Metz. "Then, from a team dynamic standpoint, we are preparing our strategies from an offensive and defensive standpoint:' Under the leadership of the coaching staff and the upperclassmen, the team's first-year The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Izzi Metz, head men's basketball coach, pictured in front of the Marts Gymnasium during a pod practice session. players are ready to take the court. "I think every year when we recruit, we're looking for guys that value our culture within our program and some of the core values of what we're about;' said Metz. "When we recruited the guys that we recruited, they embodied that:' Metz based his recruiting decisions off of not skill alone but character as well. "They're selfless, high-character people. They're obviously skilled basketball players, and they're good athletes;' said Metz. "We feel like from a personality standpoint that they fit really well into our locker room with our returning players:' The team that Metz is building for this season has started to get in sync. ''I've noticed that in just a few weeks that we've been back on campus, that our returning guys rave about them in terms of the kind of people they are': said Metz. ''.And I feel like our freshman class can certainly help us, if not instantly on the court, I think throughout their careers, they will all definitely be valued contributors:' These freshmen have big shoes to fill, as the team lost some recognizable names on the court: Rob Pecorelli and Mark Mullins. "We lost two good seniors in Rob Pecorelli and Mark Mullins;' said Metz. "We're going to miss those guys for what they did on and-off of the court. Yet, we have Landon Henry, Cooper Chaffee, Jack Bova, Derek Heiserman and Trystan Griffith who all contributed on-and-off of the court over their time here at Wilkes:' Metz believes that this is the time for these upperclassmen to step up as leaders and take control on the court. "I am hoping that those guys can really teach the younger players what it takes;' said Metz. "In our junior class, we have four guys that have played a lot of basketball now and got a lot of experience last year. We feel like they are ready to continue to and elevate their game from a scoring standpoint:' Entering his seventh season, Metz is looking forward to leading his team to another successful season, despite the loss of two of the team's leading players. @wilkesbeacon Bay/ee.Guedes@wilkes.edu ARE YOU READY TO LAUNCH YOUR STUDENT EXPERIENCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL? JOIN THE BEACON. Contact: Kirst n Peters at l<irsten.Peters@wilkes.edu Kalen Churcher at Kalen.Churcher@wilkes.edu � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 September 23rd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 September 23 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/1b070ed49ef4e44a2743f51dcb091232.pdf f554fc0c82971860d7089ca25732ca93 PDF Text Text ., The Beacon - September 30, 2020 1 w EACON Eat 1936 Pa. Ntwapaper AIIOdatton Member Volume 731 luue 5 Wilkes Universit - WIikes-Barre Penns Ivan/a Leadership through·crisis series: A presidential lens By Sean Schmoyer News Editor The Honors Program kicked off its "Leadership through Crisis" speaker series with its first speaker President Greg Cant on Sept. 23. The lecture was held online via Zoom, and it was only available to students in the Honors Program and those who registered beforehand. Interim Honors Director Dr. Jonathan Kuiken introduced Cant and the lecture series as a whole. "It is our pleasure to welcome Dr. Cant as the first of two speakers in our speaking series this semester called 'Leadership through Crisis: Leadership is a major focus of the Honors Program:' The current pandemic, Kuiken argues, makes this the perfect time for students to learn about how to lead through challenging times. Michael Nowak, a first-year electrical engineering major, finds the lecture series to be beneficial given the current climate we are living in. "This lecture series is an excellent idea;' said Nowak. "There has not been a global pandemic or event like this recently, and not many people know what to do. It is nice to see what our leaders thought of and others' leadership, and to also see what they tried to do to lead us through the pandemic:' Cant explained that he wanted to talk about leading in a crisis by first expressing what are important challenges ofleadership The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer President Greg Cant spoke to students and facu lty as t he first speaker in the Honors Program's "Leadership throug h Cri sis" speaker series held over Zoom. in general and then looking at how a crisis like the pandemic takes those challenges and exaggerates them. "Let me address one first issue: As your new president, on a somewhat routine basis, someone will say to me, something like, 'Oh, we are so sorry that you started in this tough time: What I say to them in every circumstance is that this is by far the greatest honor in my life to lead Wilkes. Please never feel sorry for someone who is in a leadership role in a tough circumstance. It is tough for all us;' explained Cant. Cant went on to discuss what he thought were the important things to know about leadership. First, he identified what qualities he believes are important for leadership. The ability to help give people a common purpose or clear vision was listed as Cant's first quality. "When we find something that is reliable, it affirms what our purpose is, and a key part of what leaders do is reinforce what that purpose, help re-imagine it and give a sense of direction;' said Cant. The next quality is the ability to ensure those you work with act courageously. Cant said that it is easy to be overcome by doubts, and compared organizations and businesses need to be courageous to that of a student's journey to get to college. Cant explained, "As a young person growing up, it is one of the things that defines us. How courageous are we, how hard was it to come away to college. Most of you had to make some big journeys:' Collaboration was another area Cant identified as being crucial. He identified that higher education is predominantly driven by collaboration, and in order to build a business or organization that sustains itself into the future, collaboration has to be fostered. "The next thing that is really important for leaders is continuous communication. When someone asks me what I do for a living, and if I had to say the one thing I do, I would say I am a storyteller. As a leader, you are helping reinforce and understand the narrative that holds us together;' said Cant. LEADERSHIP, page 3 . r �.J The Beacon - September 30, 2020 News 2 News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Sept. 23 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer Student Government had its fifth online meeting of the semester, in which members discussed the re-recognition of a club and the planning of more ways to bring the campus together safely. To start, Wilkes University College Republicans shared a presentation on their club and why it should be re-recognized. This club is looking to educate others on current politics and Republican policies and to cultivate an environment where students feel comfortable engaging in political discussions. The club would like to bring in local political leaders to educate students on their responsibilities and roles, as well. Their mission is to encourage students of all political parties, not just Republicans. The response across Student Government was positive, agreeing it would be a good addition to the campus, and it would lend itself to spark a greater collaboration between other political societies. · Wilkes University College Republicans will be back next week for a final decision. Next, the floor was opened for discussion on ways to improve advertising for the upcoming first-year class elections. The members are focusing on establishing a line of communication with FYF professors, so that they can talk to their first year students about getting involved, a pamphlet about Student Government and what they stand for with a free mask, or even a board somewhere in the Henry Student Center that would advertise positions and eventually show who was elected. It was also suggested that the organization work with communication co-curriculars like the WCLH radio station or The Beacon newspaper to establish another form of advertisement that would reach all of campus. Student Government is working on increasing conversation within the council outside of its weekly meetings. A poll was distributed on what form of social media should be used for communication, and with over half the votes, GroupMe, a mobile group messaging application, won. The seniors have started posting introductions of each of their class board members, which can be viewed on the r;--=~".':""'~---::r--......,, Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Sean Schmoyer Racial Justice Vigil Wilkes Football is planning to host a racial justice vigil on Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ralston Athletic Complex and Schmidt Stadium. Students are encouraged to drive or meet at Evans Hall at 7 p.m. to walk over to the event. The vigil serves as a peaceful statement of unity against racial and social injustice inequalities for victims of police brutality. For more information or questions, co~act Erica Acosta, the associate director of diversity, at erica.acosta@wilkes.edu or Jonathan Drach, the Colonels' head coach, at jonathan.drach@wilkes.edu. Get Your $3 Movie Tickets at the Henry Student Center Info Desk Movie tickets, which cost $3, for Movies 14 are available at the information desk in the SUB at select times: Mondays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Taste of Wtlkes 2020: Home Edition The Taste of Wilkes Committee has moved to a virtual format, which will include a cookbook (physical and a PDF version) as well as a virtual gift basket auction. The committee is calling for the members of the campus community to submit their favorite recipes to be included in the cookbook. The committee is also looking for virtual chefs who will: submit their favorite recipe for inclusion in the cookbook, create a unique name for their dish and provide a short story about why the dish is special to them. Find Volunteer Opportunities Through the Civic Engagement Office The Civic Engagement Office has been working on curating service opportunities and has an ongoing list. Students are encouraged to check back often. The opportunities are available on a Google Sheet with three tabs to help identify the type of service students may be looking for, including virtual events that are a mix of local and national community partners, face- to-face and group opportunities that work with local non-profits and a Colonel's Share tab that lists organizations that could benefit from student donations of both money and goods. lf interested, students should let the office know they plan to participate, as well as complete a reflection of the experience. To gain access to the Google Sheet, students can check Wilkes Today or contact Megan Boone at megan.boone@wilkes.edu. Students are also encouraged to reach out if they have ideas about service events in the area. @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Instagram account, @wilkesseniors2 l. They are also working on developing their virtual store, which will feature 2021 and 2023 class branded stickers, blankets and speakers. Commuter Council will be distributing masks for commuters and off-campus students during the week of Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. The council will also be holding its first meeting of the semester that same Friday. They are hoping to have a couple of contests, such as one for the highest car mileage, which students can follow on their Instagram page, @wilkes_commuter. In closing, freshmen polls went out on Sept. 22, and they will be out until Sept. 28. Announcements will be made Sept. 29, and positions will be instituted the following day on Sept. 30. ~ 3' @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu Table of Contents News .................. 2 Life, A&E ............ 7 Opinion ............ 14 Sports ................ 19 Upcoming Events: 2020 Fall Semester September 30 - Honors Program at Chipotle 30 - Civic Engagement and Diversity Affairs Watch Party October 1- Racial Justice Vigil 5 - Wilkes women's lacrosse team's candle sale ends 6 - Online weekly Buddhist sitting meditation 7 - Major General Roberson Honors Lecture 15 - Virtual Career Fair 27 - Dr. Toll Zoom Lecture 31 - Halloween November 7 - Virtual Open House 11 - Veterans Day 25 - Holiday Recess begins 26 - Thanksgiving Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: The WilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu . �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 News 3 Civic engagement re-introduces Into the Streets initiative By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor Wilkes University's Civic Engagement Office is hosting Into the Streets on Oct. 24. This volunteering event is meant to help local elderly residents clean up the outside of their homes and prepare for the winter season. This event is not new to the Wilkes community. Originally, it was called Into the Streets Week, and then, it went to Make a Difference Day, where the university partnered with a national program through USA Weekend magazine. Civic Engagement Coordinator Megan Boone has held her position for 13 years and is excited to have this volunteering opportunity return to campus, as it offers all Wilkes students a chance to give back to those who are in need. "Students can sign up through the Today at Wilkes email to register, and we will keep sending these reminders to ensure we can receive as much participation as possible;' said Boone. Makayla Guzzo, the civic engagement's student-led coordinator, is assisting Boone with the preparations for Into the Streets. This is her first semester at the university and in the civic engagement office. However, LEADERSHIP,from front Cant explained that his job is to tell the story of Wilkes, one that he identifies as constantly evolving and always ongoing. He stated it is vital to work with those who have helped to make that story what it is and who will help to make it what it will be. • According to Cant, an example of the continuous story he is helping to tell, involves the new painting of Wilkes' first president, Eugene Farley, that is hanging in his office. "What I love about that painting is that it is of a young man. It is a very casual look. · All the other photos of Farley are suits and formal oil paintings, but this is optimism. There is a hopeful young man in that photo." Cant went on to explain that the photo was painted during World War II, a time of crisis, but it shows a story of a university president that brought a sense of optimism and hope. Cant then moved on to the current crisis of the pandemic and how leadership has changed to adapt to it. Uncertainty plays a major role in crises, Cant explained. For universities like this is not her first time helping out with some find it challenging to stay on top of this type of program. She was involved in their home upkeep because of disabilities. a similar project at Elizabethtown College. Guzzo touched upon the significance of Some of Guzzo's responsibilities include this civic engagement program and why all reaching out to local churches and should get involved. "It is an opportunity to allow students, organizations who may know of individuals in Wilkes-Barre and other surrounding faculty, staff and alumni to engage in a areas that would benefit from this type collective day of service. This studentof assistance. She learns what tasks the led initiative will result in the completion residents need help with and determines of dozens of service projects benefiting if students would need any additional the local community;' said Guzzo. "The supplies for them. She also gathers interest more students who get involved, the more from Wilkes students who would like to community residents we can help:' participate in Into the Streets. Once the To ensure participation from students, event gets closer, she will pair student the event is being encouraged by all Wilkes groups to community residents. athletic programs. Philip Wingert, the Volunteers will be placed in teams of associate director of athletics, wants coaches three to five students. They will be sent to to spread the news of the program to their one of the homes and be given tasks. These athletes. "Students feel a sense of fulfillment when include raking leaves, weeding, debris pickup, moving outdoor summer furniture projects are completed and feel good helping into storage, changing smoke detector others. The residents are appreciative of batteries and washing or removing screens · everyone's efforts, maintain a sense of pride from low-level windows. for their property and value the association Boone revealed that not all the homes of with Wilkes," explained Wingert. "It's a the residents belong to the elderly, as there win-win situation for the university and are those within the Wilkes-Barre area who community. Athletics values being a part of are struggling to sustain the appearance of that continued relationship." their properties and are nearing eviction Michael Piranian, Wilkes men's soccer notices. Others are military veterans, while head coach, is a supporter of these types of events and often has his players get involved in civic engagement activities. He finds they help his team come closer together. "It's time that they spend together, whether it's their teammates or classmates, that allows them to bond. It also helps them to realize that there is something bigger than themselves. It makes them find a purpose;' . said Piranian. Nicholas Wadas, head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams, elaborated further on this point. He said that since his runners are often out and about throughout the community, it makes them appreciate giving back and taking part in the beautification process. Many throughout Wilkes are looking forward to continuing this initiative, and Guzzo highlighted why volunteering in projects like Into the St-reets is so meaningful. "Volunteering is something that stays with you, as you know you have made a positive impact in someone else's day;' said Guzzo. "Whether it be a new skill or awareness to the community, there is always something to learn when giving back." Wilkes that plan many events along with As the lecture came to a close, Cant took every detail about when classes are held questions from honors students, addressing and when the semester ends, uncertainty concerns about how to create a positive throws planning and engaging out the window atmosphere on and leaders have to campus when adapt. students are Communication burned out, how to is also a key factor overcome failure in leadership, and and the importance Cant stressed that of role models. in times of crisis, One of the communication most significant has to be constant, . things Cant clear and adapt stressed was being as situations •a compassionate develop. One way leader, especially Cant has helped when it comes to to do that during helping students the pandemic is avoid burnout the COVID-19 and stay engaged. Response Team, He identified that individuals have to who update COVID-19 make the most of it the themselves, as the dashboard twice a goal day to keep that Courtesy of the President's Office university's is to make sure comm uni cation Framed photo of Wilkes University's first dear and that everyone can President and founder Eugene S. Farley. updated. go home safely around Thanksgiving. In the same way, the university has strived to reduce the price of housing and meal plans to assist and aid students even at a loss of money for the university. Cant identified this as a part of compassionate leadership, since it is pivotal to make sacrifices as a business and as a leader to relieve the struggles of those you are leading. Cant spoke about how mistakes build better leaders, and the best leaders will learn and grow from their mistakes. He also mentioned that if aspiring leaders can find a mentor or role model to guide them, then they will be better prepared to tackle challenges. The next lecture in the "Leadership through Crisis" speaker series is on Oct. 7 and will feature Major Gen.Patrick B. Roberson, the commander and commandant of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C. Honors students can register fQr the event through the Honors Buzz newsletter. @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu r �J The Beacon - September 30, 2020 News 4 New clock has students counting on climate change solution By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer On Sept. 19, a new and foreboding art installation was unveiled in New York City. The Climate Clock, which counts down the years, days, hours, minutes and seconds until the damage of climate change is irreversible, was installed on Union Square. It currently displays a little over seven years. Kayla Acker-Carter, a senior environmental engineering major, explained her first reaction to seeing the clock, "I knew we were running out of time before reaching the 'point of no return; but I was shocked at how little time we have. Seven years. I thought we had more time:' The scientists who determined the time used the carbon clock created by the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, which uses the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming. The IPCC report states that global climate temperatures should not rise 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures. Students across campus had different responses to how they believed the installation of the clock would cause people to change. Michael Renard, a senior middle-level education major, was hopeful of the outcome. "I do think that it will have a great impact on the way the world views climate change. It will make the everyday person aware of the problem and help in gaining the support of fhe world to fight for change in corporate policy and government to aid in reversing the human footprint on our planet:' Erin Tollinger, senior earth and environmental science major, was critical of how the clock would work. "I think this climate clock can go multiple ways. Some people will walk past it and ignore it, some will take it seriously and want to make a change, some will say to themselves, 'Ifl only have seven years left, why should I even try?"' Students had mixed reactions on how the clock would affect people, but many believed bigger players need to get involved in the fight. Acker-Carter said, "The more people talk, the more it will pressure the people in power and the corporations responsible for a large amount of carbon emissions to take responsibility and create more regulations to greatly reduce the emissions. My biggest worry, however, is that greed runs deep, and we may already be too late:' Tollinger called out big corporations and people in power as well. "We must hold large corporations, politicians and higher-ups accountable. Corporations that make . millions of dollars claim to be sustainable but won't cut back their emissions or donate money to the climate crisis. We need reform. Very few politicians in office right now are taking active steps towards combating global climate change:' Justin Burda, a senior electrical and mechanical engineering major, also pointed to large companies. ''.An option is to lobby corporations to change the way they operate in order to achieve net-zero emissions. Some companies have already done this; however, it is opposing interest for some companies to do so. Take the oil industry for example. It would be impossible for oil companies to exist if they themselves and their clients were to go netzero emissions:' While students supported change and reform at the higher levels, Dr. Marleen Troy, chair of the environmental engineering and earth sciences department, said people can create small changes in their everyday lives. "You don't have to go nuts overnight, but little things add up. If you have to go out and use your car, try to combine as many trips as possible. If you're able to, get a more energy efficient car, carpool when you can, take public transportation when it's feasible, ride a bike when you can. A lot of little things can add up to make a difference. Companies are driven by what their customers want. When they see their customers being interested, they're going to do what is important to their customers:' Troy also addressed other problems of getting people to make changes in their lives. "It has kind of like political connotations. People don't think it's real, but if you pick up any of the news stories any day, I think were definitely seeing all the consequences of what the scientists predicted, so I don't see how you can ignore it. And one of the things that's interesting is the suggestions are really not that bad. They make sense. Why wouldn't we be more energy efficient? Why wouldn't we look at better forms of transportation? So it is just when you get the preconceived notions that theres a political connection; ! think that's the big challenge:' While opinions differ on how to handle the climate crisis, the clock is a constant reminder of climate change. "I feel as ifl have an assignment due that the professor will not accept late;' said T.Q. Smith, a senior computer science and computational math major. "I am going to get started as soon as I can. We all have a great debt to pay to Earth. The climate clock symbolizes·the debt that the world shar~s:' Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker Wilkes ranked 217th among top n~tional universities By The Beacon News Staff Forty-five percent of students in this year's In the 2019-20 academic year, Wilkes far exceeded the requirement by awarding 147 first-year class will be the first in their families News@Wilkes reported that in the 2021 doctoral degrees in doctor of pharmacy, to pursue a bachelor's degree, and 40 percent edition of U.S. News and World Report's Best nursing practice and education programs. are eligible for PELL grants. i olleges ranking of American colleges and In September 2020, Wilkes was awarded the News@Wilkes states, "Twenty-two percent universities, Wilkes was ranked 217 out of 400 university's first doctor of philosophy degrees. of the students in the incoming class are national universities. Wilkes also made the U.S. News and World expecting a family contribution of zero dollars. The category of national university requires • Report's list of "A+ Schools for B Students:' · In turn, Wilkes also boasts a 96 percent job a school to offer a full range of bachelor's, which looks at schools in the top three-fourths placement rate:' master's and doctoral programs. This is of their ranking category and their average This marks the third time in recent months Wilkes' second year as a national university, first-year student retention rate. that Wilkes has been recognized for academic and its seventeenth consecutive year being U.S. News & World Report considers excellence, social mobility and returning ranked. several factors in its ranking calculations, value. Wilkes was originally considered a regional including academic profile, retention and Brookings Institution recognized Wilkes university but jumped to the category of graduation rates, financial resources and peer for helping students improve their economic national university after being named a perception. standing and income after graduation in doctoral university in the revised 2018 U.S. News and World Report also ranked May. Wilkes was ranked fourteenth overall Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Wilkes as a top performer for social mobility. among all colleges and universities and sixth Higher Education. This doctoral/professional The social mobility list was introduced last among selective .four-year private colleges category includes institutions that award at year and measures how well schools educate and universities of its size for helping students least 20 research doctoral degrees or 3.0 or and graduate students who receive PELL from middle-class families raise their income more professional-practice doctoral degrees. grants. level over previous generations. In addition, Washington Monthly ranked Wilkes 156 among national universities based on what they are doing for the country. Wilkes was also included in Washington Monthly's best bang for the buck ranking, which recognizes schools that help students pursue a marketable degree at an affordable price. Wilkes ranked 228 of 397 northeast institutions. Finally, Wilkes was one of 224 colleges named "Best in the Northeast" by Princeton Review. "Collectively, these rankings reflect our commitment to access and to making a Wilkes education as affordable as possible, while highlighting our ongoing return on investment for graduates and their families;' said President Cant in a press release. "To be recognized during such a challenging time speaks to the dedication of our faculty and staff and the ambition and drive of the students who we serve:' �The Beacon - September 3,P, 2020 News 5 Getting crafty: Mask making with the Sordoni Art Gallery The Sordoni Art Gallery's Karley Stasko held a virtual sewing circle on Sept. 26 where students who signed up were able to pick up a sewing kit prior to the Zoom sesison to make a two-layered, reusable cloth mask. • Photos: The Beacon/Sean Schmoyer and courtesy of Karley Stasko Clockwise: A. Stasko trimmed her fabric to ensure it was the appropriate size. B. Stasko displayed different techniques available for students to use as she connected the elastic to the fabric of the mask. C. Stasko demonstrated two different stitching techniques, the whip stitch and the running stitch. D. Setting two smaller pieces down as an example, Stasko explained that the good sides of the fabrics should face each other, so it can be turned inside out when sewn. E. The mask is flipped inside out to face designs the proper way. Karley Stasko wearing her completed handsewn mask . • Dasha Yakhnis and Dagney Markle hold up their completed masks in the ~ordoni Art Gallery. r �J The Beacon - September 30, 2020 News 6 Profile of a professor: Dr. Richard Muszynski III By Anna Culver Staff Writer Dr. Richard Muszynski III is one of the many new staff members joining the university this year. Muszynski is a · new assistant professor of quantitative management in the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership. , Muszynski has taught numerous business courses, including business analytics, business statistics, operations management and introductory mathematics and statistics courses. Currently, he is teaching business statistic courses to both graduate and undergraduate level students at Wilkes. Dr. Abel Adekola, the dean of the Sudhi School of Business, commended Muszynski for his work to-date. "So far, Dr. Richard Muszynski III has been a wonderful addition to our Sidhu team. With his positive outlook and academic background in quantitative management, we are super excited and glad to have him as our colleague." Muszynski received his doctorate from Washington State University in business administration with an emphasis in operations and management science, and he has earned two master of science degrees in mathematics and statistics. Some of his research interests include portfolio analysis, data envelopment analysis, copula analysis and financial applications. Muszynski said, "When I first arrived here on the campus of Wilkes University, I met with the department chair as well as several other professors, and I just really liked the vibe here. I like how it is a smaller campus in general, so classes are smaller. I feel that I connect better with students. I came from a big school at Washington State University, so we had about 20 to 30 thousand students enrolled. I really liked how I would be able to better connect with the students." Muszynski's classes specifically focus on different techniques of statistics and financial applications, while learning about data mining techniques important for business analytics. "We analyze a lot of data, we measure the center values, how spread out the data is and we extend that further to estimate what we call those parameters, which are the measures of center or how spread out the data may be," explained Muszynski. So far, Muszynski has not seen much change on campus due to COVID-19 and still wants to make sure that his classes stay in-person for as long as possible. "I really want to make sure that any class that was assigned to in-person is still in-person, especially for the students. I've allowed students that are enrolled inperson to go online and actually access some lecture videos that I have posted in case they don't feel comfortable. So, my undergraduate courses are in-person. But, my other courses are graduate-level courses that are online:' Zachery Banasze, a fifth-year financial investment major, has had Muszynski for classes. "Despite the circumstances, I believe that he is handling the COVID-19 restrictions very well. I have Dr. Muszynski for my only in-person class of the semester, and we are continuing to operate u_n der that format. Despite not simultaneously zooming his lecture, Dr. Muszynski has provided access to prerecorded lectures of him teaching the course last year at a different university;' said Banasze. Banasze continued, "Any students in the class have access to these lectures and would still be able to learn the material even if they are unable to attend the class. Dr. Muszynski also has a very lenient late homework policy and should allow any student who misses an assignment to make it up and still receive credit. For his first semester at Wilkes, I am satisfied with the way Dr. Muszynski is handling my class:' Though COVID-19 has changed much of our campus atmosphere, Muszynski shared that he feels welcomed as a new addition to the Colonel family. He elaborated that COVID-19 has not affected him as much as he originally thought because he has always had to be adaptive to new situations, especially when it comes to the university shifting to and from in-person to online classes. "I actually do not notice much of a difference," said Muszynski. "I am pretty sure compared to other professors it would be vastly different because they had to adjust their courses and so forth. I think what happened with me, in particular, is because I've adjusted so much over the years in creating videos to post online and other things, it really has not been much of a change. "I have taught online courses, and I have taught in-person classes before. So, the transition between online and remote really was not much of a big deal, even though we really haven't transitioned. I've Courtesy of Dr. Richard Muszynski Ill Dr. Richard Muszynski Ill just given students access to that option:' Outside· of classes, Muszynski is excited -to hopefully be getting back to playing tennis after having not been able to due to COVID-19. Muszynski is also interested in recreational biking and chess outside of his classroom. He is excited to continue teaching in the coming months, while getting back to his other passions outside of the classroom. @wilkesbeacon Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu -----------------------, JOIN THE BEACON • •• www.thewUkesbeacon.com . �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Abide Coffeehouse: Taking COVID-19 changes in stride Adapting the morning cup of coffee to the new normal By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor The soft melodies of a coffee shop playlist float through the air as the warm midmorning sunshine filters through the large windows facing one of Wilkes-Barre's West Market Street. Only one high top table is occupied inside, a man enjoying his fresh cup of coffee and doing some work on his laptop. A steady stream of customers, ranging from college students to local residents, flow through, excited to get their usual morning coffee. This is the new normal for the cozy and welcoming coffeehouse nestled right on the corner of Market Street and North Franklin that has become a favorite for locals and college students alike. Similar to many other small businesses across the country, Abide Coffeehouse experienced drastic changes starting in March due to COVID-19 and affecting the way business functions on a daily basis. After completely shutting down for 10 weeks in the early stages of the pandemic, Abide opened again during the warm summer months ready to serve customers while adapting to the ever changing rules and regulations put in place by the Pennsylvania state government. Lafe Isaacson, the owner of Abide Coffeehouse, has worked to keep his business running even if some days look slightly different now than usual. "We basically cut our hours in half and then we increased them about an hour and 15 minutes and now we're .waiting for things to normalize a little bit more to go back to normal;' Isaacson said about how Abide has adapted to COVID-19. "We also stopped carrying food to be precautious, and then due to the extra restrictions on food handling, it was a lot more difficult to have pastries and donuts. "Safety wise, we're doing everything the CDC and the state has asked us to do. If you come indoors and can't socially distance, you have to wear a mask and we're sanitizing everything daily:' Even though students have returned to local colleges like King's, Wilkes and Luzerne County Community College, and they are bringing sales back, Abide has gotten involved with new ways of generating business during this unprecedented time. "We've been trying to be more involved with the colleges, but then we've also gotten into wholesale;' Isaacson explained. "So we provide coffee for four of the best restaurants in the area: The Powerhouse, The Canning House, The Ovalon and Bank+ Vine. In regard to marketing and getting more people in the door, we've been having more social media promotions and giveaways:' In an effort to increase sales and gain more of a presence with less regular foot traffic along with losing the population of workers at downtown locations due to the virus, Abide Coffeehouse has found success in its newest outreach for incoming revenue. Isaacson stresses how the business strives to bring the big city coffee culture to Wilkes-Barre and through its various strategies. And even during the uncertainty of this year, Abide is succeeding. Jordyn Nast, a barista at Abide, has also seen the impact of the pandemic on the business, and she can pinpoint the positives of the situation. "It's been really cool seeing our regulars supporting us no matter what, so I would say the largest effect comes from the local businessmen and women who have not been in this area. That's who I haven't seen coming in, but we have a great regular base that comes in no matter what;' Naste recalls with a smile. In the future, both Isaacson and Naste are looking forward to having customers back in the store for coffee and events. The atmosphere of the homey and welcoming coffeehouse isn't the same without the loyal and new customers spending time socializing over coffee or enjoying every aspect Abide has to offer. For now, customers are encouraged to stop in to order a cup of coffee and spread the word, whether that's through social media or word of mouth. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu • r �.J The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 The moody foodie's twist on a strawberry prosciutto salad By Anna Culver Staff Writer finds an easy balance in its varieties of flavors. This sweet and salty strawberry prosciutto salad makes for a perfect midday meal that not only satisfies that salty craving, but also the sweet tooth with a healthy option. This is a perfect recipe that allows for multiple variations, so have fun with it. Variations: If you are looking for more of a full meal, I would recommend pairing this salad with a quinoa base or possibly some chicken patties. There are great chicken patty options available at stores like Aldi's and Target. Ingredients: 1) Strawberries 2) Prosciutto, a type of dry-cured ham that is finely sliced. It is often served uncooked, though there are recipes that involve cooked prosciutto. 3) Spinach & arugula 4) Green peppers 5) Sweet peppers 6) Feta cheese 7) Salad dressing of your choice Cheese: If you don't want to use feta cheese, I would recommend looking into a mozzarella cheese or even a cheddar, depending on your preference. Dressing: I used a Greek Vinaigrette dressing, which has a tangy garlic flavor, but any basic balsamic vinaigrette would pair well with this type of salad. Cost to make: About $10 Food Allergies: Dairy The strawberries, combined with the salty taste of the prosciutto, make a flavorful combination to create a filling salad. This salad's sweet and salty taste Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver The Beacon/Annc:i Culver This salad is easily customizable to one's own preferences and allows for a diverse set of flavors. L 4 \I 1 p a1 fi1 lei sa' re1 SUJ Ki ten Peters, EditoHn-Chlef: V.iru:lnit.::. .8Jl!Y,. .J.~l Sean Schmoyer, News Editor: Y.9.!J..•Am . .MY...~.tn®.Jrn;L:...Th¢...f.Q~. ar1d The . Hounq Sara Ross, Asst News Editor: Y.9V0..9~L::.R~J.~1 Genny Frederick, News Staff Writer: L.~<!..e.tQUh~l~r.Hi~ll.df. .:_ The l.,.urnln~f!rS Maria OiBuo. LA&E Editor: b,~a~ - Ffljid ,Pink Emily Cherkauskas, LA&£ Staff Writer: 6.lQQQy.J·!,•1.~tY...:J•.~d~--G~sa Breanna Ebisoh,. Opinion Editor: !.D...mY. hi~O . .:. . ArlArn~. .G.r:~n.@ Zarqua Ansari, Asst Opinion Editor: B..!.U:fi...: ...S.im~. .ft,. Jh.l.~gQ Jordan Daniel, Oplnion Staff Writer: S?.-w.. Y◊.v..J.n..A..Qr.~~JY.L.:.Jbi, JapaneseHouse Dylan Mehl. Co~Sports Ednor: H9lY..:.J.u~t.In. e..i.~.~L~..C.~1~H£E/l.Jh~t RMP~r. Ariel Reed, C<.)-Sports Editor: NQ\;\?_-::-.01t\lILQ:Bci~?!1 Chris Gowarty, Sports Staff Writer: D§SQ.~@J,'JQ_:_ M'iiQ._Mill~ Mia Walk.er. Lead DE?,.slgner: ~U:novgb.JaJ,,j,do ftr THEY Steffen Horwath, Sta.ft Photogr-a;)her: f:tJ!Y9~dL8.~9.l~:5. ..Q11..::. 8Jtt Momney ne1 roe dis, I stn dis< unc heai S1 asp< exp< thou subs stres hard to re getti.I �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Wilkes club updates: Communication Studies Department Compiled by Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor CLUB: Wilkes Speech and Debate EXECUTIVE: Christopher Smith MEETINGS: Virtual Meetings are on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. Speech practices are scheduled individually. Debate Practices will begin on Oct. 6. HOW TO JOIN: Send an email to christine.mellon@wilkes.edu. DESCRIPTION: Speech and Debate competes at tournaments each semester. We present pieces that are interpretative and dramatic, impromptu, and public addresses. We also compete in parliamentary debate. Our first speech and debate tournament will be virtual and it is scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17. CLUB: Wilkes Now! EXECUTIVES: Director: Kirsten Peters Producer: Ian Bayley Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mark Stine MEETINGS: Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 12: 15 p.m. in the TV Studio in the Karambelas Media and Communication Center. HOW TO JOIN: Contact ian.bayley@ wilkes.edu, kirsten.peters@wilkes.edu or • Nm mark.stine@wilkes.edu, or simply show up! DESCRIPTION: At Wilkes Now!, we strive to produce an excellent news-magazine broadcast and give our members hands-on experience with equipment in a television studio. It is especially beneficial to learning teamwork skills, scriptwriting, on-air interviewing, equipment operations and camera use. CLUB: 90.7 WCLH - Wilkes University Radio EXECUTIVES: Production Director: Haedyn Hale Metal Director: Tom Gallo Alternative Director: Steffen Horwath Asst. Alternative Director: Breanna Ebisch Marketing Director: Nick Alfano Hip Hop Director: Teylor Gordy Sports Director: Ariel Reed Asst. Sports Director: Dylan Mehl Social Media Director: Lindsay Becker MEETINGS: We meet monthly in KARAM Room 135. HOW TO JOIN: There's no limit on our numbers. Students can· join by contacting the Station Manager Kristen Rock at kristen. rock@wilkes.edu. DESCRIPTION: 90.7 WCLH is a studentrun, non-commercial radio station with a wide variety of programming (metal, alternative, hip hop, sports and everything in between). We offer full broadcast training, so all majors and grade levels are welcome! We're located inside the Karambelas Media and Communication Center (Room 115 B). CLUB: Zebra Communications - Public Relations Agency EXECUTIVES: Firm Director: Angelina Davis Assistant Director: Anna Culver Medium Editor: Sara Ross DESCRIPTION: At Zebra, we work with client-partners, including not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, small businesses, campus initiatives and regional grant-funded projects. Having real clients means Zebra students gain valuable handson experience beyond the classroom. We accept clients on an application basis for PR campaigns of up to a three-month duration as well as smaller projects. This year, we plan to focus more on helping our clients grow through projects students can focus their skills on, such as graphics, logos, marketing plans, press releases and more. HOW TO JOIN: For more information or to attend our biweekly meetings, contact Angelina Davis at angelina.davis@wilkes.edu. CLUB: The Beacon EXECUTIVES: Editor-in-Chief: Kirsten Peters Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kalen Churcher MEETINGS: We meet every Tuesday at 12:15 a.m. in KARAM 135. A Zoom link is made available for those who cannot attend in-person. DESCRIPTION: The Beacon is Wilkes' student-run newspaper. Weekly, students create a 24-page edition that circulates around campus and local Wilkes-Barre businesses. The paper is comprised of four sections - News; Life, Arts & Entertainment; Opinion; and Sports. Section editors, assistant editors, design editors, staff writers and photographers comprise The Beacon's staff. HOW TO JOIN: All majors and grade levels are welcome. Those interested in joining the newspaper do not need to be writers! Photographers and graphic designers, as well as positions for an advertising manager, a distribution manager and a social media manager are always available. For more information, contact Kirsten Peters at kirsten.peters@wilkes.edu. @wilkesbeacon Maria. DiBuo@wilkes.edu I ~ Kingston, PWn& Plymouth, NM F �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment 1 Liz's Craft Corner: How to spice up dorm ·rooms with porn-porns By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer Every dorm room can use a pop of color and fun. What else can bring more fun to a space than porn-porns? This DIY porn-porn garland decoration brings the fun and funky aspects of pompoms into a garland that can be strung over a TV, on the wall above a bed, on a door or wherever it may fit. Porn-porns are decorative balls of fibrous material and can refer to the ones cheerleaders use or small balls used on clothing. The ones for this DIY are yarn. The fun part about this DIY garland is that it is completely customizable. The colors of the porn-porns and the length of the garland are totally unique, and it adds character to a space. It can be made blue to match the bedspread, made pink to match the rug, made green because it happens to be your favorite color or just made every color of the rainbow. The materials required for this DIY porn-porn garland are (at least) one ball of medium sized yarn, a fork and scissors. You can use as many balls of yarn as you choose, with as many different colors as you choose. This is very affordable, and there is a high chance that you already have over half of the materials. The yarn can be bought at any craft store, such as Joann Fabrics or Mi41iaels, Amazon.com or even the Dollar Tree. To start, grab the ball of yarn of any color. Wrap it around the fork over and over again to make a large spool, leaving some· space on top and on bottom of the fork. Once the spool is as large as preferred (the bigger the spool, the harder it will be to cut out the bigger porn-porn), cut the yarn. Then, run a string of yarn through the middle prong of the fork on bottom of the spool and then around the middle prong on top until the ends meet and tie them as tight as humanly possible, leaving some excess yarn on the ends because it will be needed later. Next, carefully slide the yarn spool off of the fork. If the tie is too loose and about to slide off, make sure to re-tie it tighter. The porn-porn will fall apart once it is cut if this is not tight enough. It can be almost guaranteed that one of the porn-porns will end up falling apart, but do not get discouraged. Now, cut every loop of yarn on both ends. This can be difficult depending on how much yarn you have, but it does not need to be perfectly or evenly cut. Once all the loops are cut, rearrange the yarn pieces to resemble a ball. This can be done by rearranging the yarn or rolling the ball in between your hands. You can choose to cut the pieces of yarn to be even all around or to leave some long and some short. Repeat these steps for as many porn-porns as you want in as many colors as you want. Keep in mind, the more porn-porns made, the longer and fuller the garland can be. Once the porn-porns are made, grab a strand of yarn as long as you would like the garland to be. Then tie every pompom onto it using the excess yarn saved from earlier. Spacing can be totally unique, since there is no guideline for this. Cut off the extra yarn used to tie the porn-porns on, and adjust them to your preference on the garland, and the pompom garland is all done. Now, it can be hung anywhere you would like. Or, you can make it more decorative by clipping pictures on or adding string lights. E r, 11 ii r ii i Step 1: To begin, wrap the yarn (color and brand of your choice) around a fork, multiple times. Remember to focus yarn in the middle of the fork. Step 2: Once your spool is to the desired size, cut through the yarn. Then, run a string of yarn tightly through the middle prong of the fork. Step 3: Carefully slide the spool of yarn off of the fork. Remember, the pompom will fall apart if your yarn is not tied tightly enough. Step 4: Grab a long strand of yarn and tie each pop-porn to the string, leaving space between each pompom. Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphics by Anna Culver Step 5: Once completed, hang anywhere on your wall and accessorize with pictures and lights to add pizzazz to your dorm room . . Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 One-act plays ''Chainz'' and ''Broken'' held via Zoom Calling attention to racial injustice and gun violence By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor A Zoom production of two one-act plays was held over the weekend through the Center for Global Education and Diversity. "Chainz" and "Broken;' two pieces performed by the Act 1, DeSales University's performing arts company, illustrated racial injustices seen in society presently, while also emphasizing the role of gun violence. In response to the pandemic, Act 1 is featuring their 2020-2021 season virtually, employing social distancing, while still offering quality artistic productions, according to information from DeSales University. The troupe has been in existence for more than 50 years and has been critically acclaimed numerous times. The first one-act play, "Chainz," centers around a young teen who has been "gunned down and his killer set free;' according to information submitted to Today at Wilkes. The killing then leads to a series of protests across the country, with one escalating. Four black men from different walks of life are then found in a holding cell with one another and learn about themselves, as well as "what it is to be an endangered species in America:' "Broken" revolves around the stories of five women who have lost a child due to gun violence, with stories imagined by the playwright, however inspired by real events. For Georgia Costalas, executive director for the Center for Global Education and Diversity, the screening of Act l 's "Chainz" and "Broken" were chosen in response to the current social climate, as well as the troupe's involvement in current events. "The theatre troupe is Act 1 of DeSales University, and those are the plays they are opening with;' explained Costalas. "Erica (Acosta) and I have been working on topics, like racial injustice issues, so the productions were chosen specifically for that reason. We want students to feel affirmed or develop that competency." "Chainz" and "Broken;' written by Paris Crayton III and directed by Kalif Troy, primarily feature men and women of color, whose struggles - physical, societal, political or emotional - have been relevant for more than 400 years, according to information from DeSales University. Further, gun violence is a theme throughout both the one-act plays. As the material in the __ Zoom Production could be considered triggering, resources, such as counseling services on campus, were available to students. In addition, both Costalas and Acosta, who is the associate director of Diversity Affairs on campus, welcome students in need of additional resources to contact them directly. "I hope for students to gain a better understanding of what life is like for a person of color in the U.S. - the struggle they face everyday. Most students come from the majority;' said Costalas. "We also want students of color to know that we're here for them . We want the best for Wilkes Un,iversity _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Playbi 11 -~------• Courtesy of DeSales University "Chainz" and "Broken;'the two one-act plays featured via Zoom, detail issues of racism and gun violence in the United States. you, and you are welcome:' Sign-up for the event was free, presenting a high-quality production, which would typically be quite pricey according to Costalas, in an affordable fashion . While other events of this nature are not yet planned for the future, Costalas hopes to call attention to other movements for social equity on campus, such as the recent silent Black Lives Matter protest held on Sept. 25 by the Multicultural Student Coalition and the upcoming Racial Justice Vigil on Oct. 1. The Racial Justice Vigil, held by the Wilkes Football Team, will include a walk beginning at 7 p.m. that starts at Evans Hall and concludes at Ralston Athletic Complex and Schmidt Stadium. Students are encouraged to drive, in addition to walking. The event, described as a peaceful statement of unity, will then start at 7:30 p.m. More information on the production, as well as the Act_1 theatre troupe, can be found on desales.edu. Additionally, those seeking more information on the Racial Justice Vigil can contact Acosta at erica. acosta@wilkes.edu, or football coach Jonathan Drach at jonathan.drach@ wilkes.edu. Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver "I hope for students to gain a better understanding of what life is like for a person of color in the U.S. - the struggle they face everyday. Most students come from the majority. We also want students of color to know that we're here for them. We want the best for you, and you are welcome:' - Georgia Costalas . Ii �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 12 MULTICULTURAL STUDENT COALITION BLACK LIVES MATTER SILENT PROTEST By Judah Lyles & Kirsten Peters Staff Writer & Editor-in-Chief On Sept. 25, students and faculty at Wilkes University marked the first Black Lives Matter protest on campus. Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC) President Brianna Rowland and Vice President Morgan Burton took on the responsibility of organizing and coordinating the protest. By ensuring that the word got out · to students and staff alike, posters and handouts were present around campus. For MSC, it was not an event to miss. "It meant a lot to stand with my friends and peers to help silently get across the message that, at the end of the day, we just want the black community to finally be treated fairly,' said Aidan Sinisgalli, a senior marketing student. "We know that this was only a baby step in a good direction, but by doing nothing that means nothing is going to change'.' With COVID-19 restrictions in place, the usual image of a protest was not possible, but with the support of President Greg Cant, the MSC was able to host the protest. By sending o~ a spreadsheet to all interested students, the MSC was able to keep control over numbers and ensured social distancing protocols were followed. Masks were required and customized BLM masks were handed out at check-in. The MSC was also able to accommodate students who had not signed up beforehand by taking their name and handing them a mask. Members of the Wilkes community were able to support the protest - even if they couldn't participate - by aiding to stand in solidarity with protesters. Members were encouraged to, and did, send in designs for posters, as well as wore black around campus. By doing this, students and staff were able to identify with each other to feel a sense of unity on campus, even if they were not able to attend the actual protest. "Even though our country feels divided, the silent protest on campus was a great act of solidarity amongst the Wilkes community,' said Xavier Abdella, senior marketing student. With masks on faces and posters in hand, each group of students took their shifts protesting. With signs designed by students, provided by the MSC, all participants had to do was show up and stand for their cause. Protests took place in the Fenner Quad, Henry Student Center and Stark Learning Center, though the Stark protests moved to join the protest in Fenner Quad. There, students and staff were lined up along the main pathway that cuts through the middle of campus, holding signs and standing silent. Then, the signs did the talking. With signs like "No Justice, No Peace'' and "This Is A Movement, Not A Moment:' protesters make th eir message clear. Students and staff stood side-byside and supported one another with few words but rather with actions. Organizers Rowland and Burton were more than willing to divulge upon what the protest meant to them. "We think this event shows the University's stance on the BLM movement and support for our Black community on campus:' said Rowland and Burton, offering a joint statement. F o r them , t h i s protest was all about community and the strength of it when they all stand together. The turnout at the protest more than proved their point to be one that held true in the Wilkes community, as almost 200 members of the Wilkes community were in attendance. Caitlin Klinger, a senior in sports management and attendee of the BLM protest, holds the same belief. "I came to the protest because I stand for equality for all. It's not every day that you find something so powerful on such a small campus, and being a part of that was incredible. It was a great experience:• said Klinger. "The energy there was so powerful, and I loved seeing the amount of different students, faculty and staff that came to stand together'.' Klinger was also an advocate about the safe practices and followed protocols at the protests. "Wilkes does a great job monitoring COVID-19 protocols, and I feel very safe. Everybody wore a mask, hand sanitizer was provided and social/physical distancing was observed very well; Klinger explained. Klinger's account was one of many positive affirmations received about the protest and its success. Wilkes Athletics was also in attendance, as members of various sports teams protested as Black athletes themselves or alongside their Black teammates. "It brings me great joy and honor to say that I attend Wilkes University. The sense of community and inclusion here is amazing. Hosting the silent protest shows how Wilkes supports their students and ensures that we all feel welcomed;' said Richard Ermeus, senior marketing student and wide receiver for Wilkes football. "From this point on, we must move forward. We can't just protest, we must make progress. Standing up for one another and encouraging equal opportunity. Together. Make the world a better place starting here at Wilkes'.' The protest was an historic milestone for the Wilkes community and will forever mark the moment that Wilkes made its first stand for Black lives. The MSC intends to send out T-shirts to all participants from the protest in thanks for the support that was demonstrated The MSC hopes for continued support and the organizers were grateful for the stand that Wilkes University took with them and wanted to offer a special thanks to Dr. Cant. "It means a lot to me to feel the support from my teammates, fellow students, as well as faculty and staff,' said Abdella, who is a member of the men's ice hockey team. "Sometimes change seems a long ways away, but the protest was a great reminder that change is happening right now'.' Judah.Lyles@wilkes.edu Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu Photos: The Beacon I Emily Cherkauskas & Kirsten Peters Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Logan Biechy, Cindy Peralta and Alena Lateef represented the Wilkes community with BLM signs and masks. Life, Arts & Entertainment 13 Students signed up the day-of and received pre-made signs. Five musical theatre students congregate on the Fenner• Quad in support of the silent protest. Morgan Burton, vice president of MSC, wore one of Members and coaches of multiple Wilkes Athletics tea!T)s the masks being distributed at the protest. joined the protest on Fenner Quad. Vice President Paul S. Adams stood in solidarity with students and faculty. Brianna Rowland, president of MSC, was interviewed by Graduate Sarah Lalla and three members of Wilkes Anmarie Lebron and Leroy Thomas held signs in the WBRE Eyewitness News. men's ice hockey partook in the silent protest. Henry Student Center. r �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the opinion editor: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu -·-·--·~ ~ Editorial,Staff ,2020-21' Our Voice Ea~h week, The Beacon's editorial board . will take a stance on a current issue. Editor-in-Chief- KifSten P«ers Adviser - Dr. Katen Chu~ ·SECTION EDITORS News - Sean S6hmoyer tA&E - Maria OiBuo Opinion - Breanna Ebis'ch Sports - Dylan Mehl ArielReed ASSISTAHT eorroR& New$ - Sara Ross Qp1nlon - ~ u a ~ - SE •• 141~Mall\--- ·-•··> Clap)n and TlllllNa~ Medfa&Communtcatleiic.ntlft' Wllkas Unlversfty , WilkN-Bamt, PA 18768 Phone • (510) 408-$903 www.~.com .... ..w. . •.._ . Validating so~ial activism on and off the field Social justice activism and sports have been connected since before mainstream coverage of the sporting world. This is why the actions taking place with the Black Lives Matter Movement and professional sports leagues should come as no surprise to sports fans. From the likes of Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson to current day activists such as Colin Kaepernick and LeBron James, stars of professional sports leagues have always expressed their opinions publicly. The only difference between now and then is the public backing from the leagues that these players are a part of. · The NBA has made it a point to show support for the BLM Movement and let players express their own causes on their jerseys. Since Adam Silver took over as commissioner for the NBA, the league has become forward-thinking and very much a player-first association. "My job is to protect NBA players' free speech," said Silver, per CNN. The NBA has shown time and time again that it is not afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to social injustices. From the "I Can't Breathe" shirts in honor ofEric Garner, to players wearing their hoodies up in honor ofTrayvon Martin, all the way to now where we see "Black Lives Matter" painted on every court, the NBA has been a stout example Contact Kirsten Peters at l&IM __ ._., their opinions. While nobody can control how they use their off-court platforms, such as their social media accounts, their in-sport platforms should not be limited either. If individuals want to be fans of an athlete like Odell Beckham Jr., they should not only appreciate his athletic abilities, but they should respect the human being he is off the field. Silencing these players is not and should not be considered an option. There is a difference between asking someone to be professional versus asking them to not be themselves. Professional athletes are human, just like everyone else. If they see acts of injustice, they should be able to speak up against them without worry oflosing their fanbases. There are issues currently happening that are bigger than sports. With the large platform these athletes are afforded, it's easy to send their messages to millions of people. This reason alone is exactly why they should not be silenced, so that athletes can reach those who watch them. They have their own opinions and beliefs, and if they want to stand up for what they believe is right, they should be allowed to do so, even when they are on the field. @wilkesbeacon TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu L I 1 ' want to advertise 1n The Beacon? Kirstan.Pete~lkes.edu of how to use athletic platforms for social activism. As Silver said, · players in the NBA are entitled to claim their First Amendment rights, but this should extend to other leagues such as the NFL, MLB and more. Some fans of sports believe the athletes should not demonstrate their political views during their respected sporting events and instead should leave sports and politics to be separate. When the players on the Texans and Chiefs locked arms before their game on NFTh opening night, they were greeted with a series of boos from the crowd. Over the course of two days in late August, 20 MLB teams refrained from playing their scheduled games to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. Not shortly after, fans rushed to social media voicing their displeasure that they were not going to be able to watch their favorite baseball team play, with statements such as "Stick to sports," "Keep politics out of this" or "These games are my escape from reality:' Players are not going to let the fact that their protests are met with hate slow them down.·For the NFL, players continue to lock arms at midfield at the beginning of games and have the names of victims of police brutality on the back of their helmets. Athletes have celebrity status in today's world, giving them a huge platform to express 1; Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes let,ters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city,'state and phone number. Phone number~ will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor mustbe sent using one of the followiµg methods: Email: TheWilkesijeacon@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail;.~ W:estSouth Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon .. �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 15 Opinion Voting.:by-mail: Studies deem the process to be efficient By Liam Flynn Staff Writer Postal voting in the United States, also referred to as mail-in voting or vote-bymail, is a form of absentee ballot in the U.S. in which a ballot is mailed to the home of a registered voter who fills it out and returns it by postal mail or drops it off in-person into a secure dropbox or at a voting center. Postal voting reduces staff requirements at polling centers during an election. Allmail elections can save money, while a mix of voting options can cost more. In some states, ballots may be sent by the postal service without prepayment of postage. Vote by mail is available in both Democratic and Republican states. Voting by mail began in the U.S. during the Civil War. It has been increasingly utilized in recent elections. A surge in mailin ballots is expected this November, as Americans avoid polling places for fear of contracting COVID-19. President Donald Trump will be seeking a second term in November. Trump is using his executive powers to sabotage the vote-by-mail system. Other leaders of the Republican Party are doing what they can to support getting rid of it. Trump has suggested delaying the election until the pandemic eases. He has started to sabotage the efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service. The fight is playing out in state capitals and courtrooms across the country, as states have authority to carry out elections. Conservative groups are taking action to limit mail-in voting. Some federal judges seem reluctant to defend voters' rights, even if it means intervening in state-level decisions. The president's re-election campaign is suing to block mail-in voting, at the same time it pushes his backers to be ready to vote-by-mail. However, fraud is rarely found when citizens vote by mail. It does not give an advantage to one political party over another. It can, in fact, inspire public confidence in the voting process. As far back as 2001, Oregon's vote-by-mail system has not disproportionately mobilized or discouraged voting by Democrats or Republicans. A recent survey conducted by the political science department of Oklahoma State University found that people of all political stripes who are concerned about the coronavirus pandemic support letting everyone vote by mail. A database of election fraud reports from the conservative Heritage Foundation website reports approximately 1,200 allegations of voter fraud since 2000, of which 1,100 were criminal convictions for voter fraud. Of those, only 204 allegations, and 143 convictions, involved mail-in correcting election returns and prosecuting those responsible. That's what happened in North Carolina in 2018, when a Republican political activist paid others to collect incomplete absentee ballots so they could be filled out to vote for the Republican candidate. The activist was arrested, charged ballots. That is a tiny fraction of the roughly 250 million mail-in ballots cast over those two decades. In addition, problems are extremely rare in states that rely primarily on vote-bymail. Of course, any voting system must be protected against fraud - something that election officials are already doing, including prosecuting fraud attempts. When fraud does occur, election administrators identify it and take action, and convicted - and the entire election was invalidated and run again. But, overall, election fraud is rare. There is one issue with mail-in voting, but it's a concern about voting overall. A 2019 Gallup poll found that 59 percent of Americans lack confidence in the honesty of elections for a range of reasons, including concerns about interference from foreign powers or domestic political elites, security worries and general frustration. Recent studies have shown that people are concerned that their vote will not be counted, as compared to voting in person. One 2008 MIT study found that white voters were less confident their vote would be counted if they voted by absentee ballot rather than in-person. Research from 2015 mostly confirmed those findings, revealing that people in states with more absentee voting tend to believe that various types of voter fraud are more common. That same study also found that absentee voters are less confident thfir vote will count than people who voted inperson either before Election Day or on the day itself. Some concerns about mail-in ballots not being counted may be legitimate: A 2018 study in Florida found that mail-in ballots from younger voters and voters who needed assistance marking their ballots were rejected more often than others. This indicates that standards for rejecting mailin ballots may not be uniform, or that some voters' signatures change over time in ways election officials may not expect or accept. All this evidence leads to some clear , conclusions. Voting-by-mail is just as honest ~as in-person voting. By training election officials and using common . standards, absentee ballots are an effective option. Officials can ensure public confidence by being transparent and communicating their plans and preparations. People are more interested in voting-bymail in 2020 than ever before. November's election will likely involve far more mail-in voting because of the pandemic. To retain voters' confidence in its integrity, local election offices and the U.S. Postal Service will need to make substantial additional preparations to provide mail-in ballots and to handle the increased volume of mail. The public needs to understand that the resuhs of the vote may not be available on t the day of the election. It takes longer for · election workers to open, verify signatures, and count mail ballots than it does to run voting machines, and some states do not permit mail ballots to be opened until Election Day. When the tallies are announced, even if large numbers of Americans have voted by mail, the public can feel confident that the process was fair, and the results are accurate. Do not let Trump scare you. Feel free to vote by mail this November. Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari �.J The Beacon - September 30, 2020 16 Opinion Voting-by-mail: Inefficient for having your voice heard By Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor Fear is the driving force behind the concept that one will contract a virus with a 97.2 percent survival rate while attempting to participate in one's legal duty as an American to vote. This fear of contracting COVID-19 is what surged the amount of mail-in voting options, which frankly opens up the door for potential voter fraud. This election has created a vast amount of problems, since the people of the country are looking for ways to vote out President Donald Trump, even though the numbers show that he has revamped and boosted our economy and made it more efficient. Mail-in voting is not the move to get behind when it comes to this election. Sure, you can hide in fear over a virus - that you are not likely to contract - by voting through mail, but does this mean your vote will actually count? According to The Hill, there were a handful of ballots cast by . members of the military for Trump that were found discarded in Pennsylvania. This was announced by the Justice Department on Sept. 17. Guess where these ballots were from? State College? Erie? Bedford? Nope. They were found in Luzerne County. The county in which Wilkes University and a lot of its students reside in. District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis asked the DOJ and FBI to open an investigation into the discarded ballots on Monday, following reports of "potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections:' "I don't think it's a good idea:' said Haley Greshko, a sophomore political science major. "I think it highly increases the chance of ballots getting stolen or forged. There's tons of research behind it supporting this. We don't all trust the postal service either; it is run by the government. I personally don't trust my government. I don't think it is a good idea at all:' Echoing Greshko, where is the safety in that? How do you know your voice will actually be heard if you vote through mail? The only way to ensure that your voice will be heard is by voting in-person. The recent movements of all major athletic teams to push people to vote has been ridiculous. If a person really cared fraud when ballot gets mailed to multiple about doing their civic duty, they would get addresses. Over the summer, my strength and off their couch and go vote. Mail-in voting is not a guaranteed method of having one's conditioning coach told me that he received voice be heard because of the current cases four vote-by-mail ballots. He and his wife of missing ballots. are the only eligible voters in his household. "The simple thing to do to be an active He received two extra ballots because the citizen is voting. Doing mail-in voting state had counted the previous owners of makes it harder to know your voice is heard;' the house to still be living there. said Dr. Benjamin Toll, assistant professor . "They only go through registrations for political science. "That is what concerns every so often, so there are tons of errors:' me. We know over the last few weeks, the said Greshko. "People who have moved and postal service has had trouble getting things don't reside in their former house: ballots delivered on time. It is a concern I have:' will be sent to them. In the 2016 election, In addition to the missing ballots found there were a ton of cases where people in Luzerne County, according to Fox News, were listed as voting in their previous state the U.S. Postal Service has launched another and their current one. I am ashamed that investigation looking into how three trays som~thing like that cah happen:' of mail, including absentee ballots, ended Voter fraud can happen in any form of up in a ditch line in Wisconsin - which, election, but the outdated information used needless to say, is a crucial swing state in the by the polling places is an easy way for the battle for the electoral college votes. election to get slighted in one direction. The repeated cases of missing votes prove If you want to feel that your voice is truly that this system is not entirely effective for heard, and you want to feel that you have someone to feel completely ensured that done your civic duty by voting, then you will vote in-person on Election Day. they did their civic duty with voting. In addition to the ability for ballots to ~ @wilkesbeacon be lost, there is also a chance of voting JI' Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu What are the best movies to watch to get into the fall spirit? By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer • ,. Fall 2020 is among us, and what better way to get into the fall spirit during the middle of a global pandemic than staying inside, getting cozy under warm blankets, eating some tasty snacks and watching movies with your friends? If you are having trouble deciding what to watch, here are some of the best movies to put you in the fall mood. "Dead Poets Society" is at the top of the list. This movie dates back to 1989 and stars Robin Wiliams. It is a classic American teen drama film about a controversial, yet encouraging, English teacher and his students. The back-to-school setting of the movie will definitely make you feel nostalgic about the fall. You can stream this movie on services such as Amazon Prime, iTunes Store, YouTube, Vudu or Google Play. "Remember the Titans" is next on the list. Although many of us are unable to attend football games due to COVID-19, we can reminisce on the times when we were able to by watching this American biographical sports film from 2000. This movie is based on the true story of African-American coach Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington, and the integration of the T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, Va., in 1971. Streaming for this movie is available on Disney+, Amazon Prime, iTunes Store, YouTube, Vudu, Google Play and more. "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'' is third on the list. Watching this 1966 American prime time animated television special will certainly transport you back to your childhood. The Peanuts and friends will help get you excited about fall festivities like pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, seeing the leaves change color and several other autumn activities. This cartoon is perfect to watch with friends or family on iTunes Store, Vudu or FandangoNOW, and it can most likely be found on a VHS tape somewhere at home. If you are in need of some fall romance, then check out "When Harry Met SallY:' This 1989 American romantic comedy begins with the two characters meeting in Chi<;:ago before they share a cross-country drive and follows them through 12 years of chance encounters in New York City. The beautiful autumn scenery in the background of the movie will have you planning a trip to the iconic city. This rom-com that raises the question of if a man and a woman can just be "friends" is available to stream on CBS All Access, Amazon Prime, iTunes Store, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play and other services. The final movie is "Sleepy Hollow:• Although it is a little early in the season to start watching horror movies, "Sleepy Hollow" also offers beautiful scenes of the New England foliage. It is a popular 1999 American gothic supernatural horror film, directed by Tim Burton, and is loosely based on Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci as lead characters. Watch this movie on a chilly autumn night on Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes Store, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play and other streaming channels. Watching these movies will make you appreciat~ the fall time and feel nostalgic about your past falls spent with friends and family. Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari �8 d The Beacon - September 30, 2020 17 Raising awareness about suicide, how to be a helping hand By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor ,er Opinion Throughout the year, different months get the honor of being dedicated to particular movements, causes and issues, whether they be health-related or focused on bringing awareness to certain times in history. American Heart Month, Women's History Month, National Breast Cancer Month and National Bullying Prevention Month are only a few examples. During those 30 or so days, various kinds of events occur in support of these numerous causes in order to help fight against or for the issue. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the month dedicates time to an issue that affects millions of Americans on a daily basis in different ways. Suicide Prevention Month focuses on uniting mental health advocates, organizations, survivors, community members and more to promote suicide prevention awareness. Countless resources, social media posts and campaigns are shared over the first fall month's 30 days, which bring more attention to the efforts than usual. According to The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, "Suicide is the 10th. leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2018, 48,344 Americans died of suicide, and there were an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts. The age-adjusted suicide rate in 2018 was 14.2 per 100,000 individuals, and on average, there are 13-2 suicides per day.' Yet despite the staggering numbers, the fight to prevent suicide is one that is seen as less important due to the topic remaining "taboo' to the general public. Lives could be saved if the stigma around mental health was removed, and that needs to be the main goal. Almost all topics and conversations surrounding mental health have been neglected for years and have left little to no room for these uncomfortable, but necessary, discussions to take place. In a world where many people are struggling with some sort of mental illness or disorder, it is instrumental to help create an understanding and bring awareness to mental health issues in today's society. Suicide is included and connected to many aspects relating to mental health. Anyone experiencing the common signs of suicidal thoughts, such as various kinds of depression, substance abuse or an excessive amount of stress, may find admitting to needing help is harder than it sounds. However, it is important to remember that you are never alone and getting help is only one step away. By bringing awareness to suicide prevention, our society cannot only end the stigma around all mental health, but save thousands of lives by offering the support needed for people struggling with suicidal thoughts. Building a community of members who have either personally struggled with suicide, know someone who attempted or died of suicide and allies who are ready to fight for the people who need it most in regards to mental health and suicide is one of the most influential ways we as ·a society cannot only raise awareness but be there for those who are struggling. According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, "Every year, thousands of individuals· die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy ofloss. In many cases, friends and families affected by a suicide loss (often called 'suicide loss survivors') are left in the dark. Too often the feelings of shame and stigma prevent them from talking openly:' Besides the victims of suicide, there are many others who are directly affected by the deaths. Bringing the awareness of prevention to the forefront, not only during September but during the entire year, will also benefit the thousands of people who don't feel welcome to open up about what they are going through. Losing someone to suicide is never something anyone should have to go through alone, but society has created a space where those emotions and experiences are not welcomed. Despite the inaccurate and harmful connotations that have become closely related to suicide and mental health in general, the support and importance of these issues is more glaring than ever before. By not providing open outlets of help, guidance or proper medical assistance when needed, the ones struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental illnesses are unable to find the resources to recover and feel suicide is their only option. According to the Centre for Suicide Prevention, "The taint of the stigma associated with suicide is no simple metaphor for those who are stigmatized. Many victims suffer from very real psychological scars inflicted by the hurt and shame of attempting suicide or knowing someone who has died by suicide. Misunderstanding, ignorance and fear are at the root of stigmatization, and these factors have inflicted immense suffering on those who are in any way perceived as 'not normal:" Young people are arguably the most affected group in regards to mental health and illnesses, as they are coming to age and together, we could potentially reduce the high growing up in a world where they have to numbers of suicides that occur every year manage their social life, social media, peer within the United States. pressure, constant changes and live up to Setting aside 30 days out of an entire year countless expectations all while experiencing to raise awareness, donations and host events the violence and ever changing aspects to our does not seem unrealistic when it comes to complicated society. Everyday can seem like the lives being saved with these efforts. a battle, and it isn't easy to combat the dark Suicide prevention needs to be prioritized thoughts that are likely to develop through much more than it currently is, along with· those times. other aspects of mental health that our society According to The World Health more or less pushes to the side. Organization, "Globally, depression is the During Suicide Prevention Monlf and fourth leading cause of illness and disability beyond, there are an immensurable amount among adolescents aged 15-19 years and of ways everyone can contribute and support fifteenth for those aged 10-14 years. Anxiety suicide prevention. Like many other social is the ninth leading cause for adolescents aged movements and specific times to spread 15-19 years and sixth for those aged 10-14 awareness, social media continues to play a years. Emotional disorders can profoundly large role in how millions get their information affect areas like school work and school and that still applies to this particular issue. attendance. Social withdrawal can exacerbate From simply sharing a post on social media isolation and loneliness. At its worst, about the resources available (including depression can lead to suicide:' the National Suicide Prevention Hotline), This alone explains why Suicide Prevention getting involved with events, donating to Month is necessary and increasingly local and national organizations or simply important. having conversations that promote suicide How can we as a society, as human beings, prevention, every effort counts. willingly sit back and watch others take . Organizations such as the U.S. Substance their own lives because of an age-old stigma Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), American that should not continue to exist in the 21st Administration century? How many "unfortunate" or "too Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), soon'' deaths will it take to wake us up in order Suicide Awareness Voices of Education to recognize a problem that affects millions of (SAVE) and many more are always accepting people in various ways on a daily basis? donations, encourage promotions of their It is a shame that something relatively services and are always working to educate preventable can be changed if the negative the general public about ways to help when it stigma around mental health in general was comes to suicide prevention. broken. Thousands of lives are claimed each Suicide Prevention Month is more year, leaving even more in the dark to struggle important than ever before with a large with the heartbreaking decision, because our portion of the population struggling with society feels we cannot help those in danger some aspect of mental health. Taking a stand due to twisted ideas that are being torn down is not something to be ashamed of; instead, it should be seen as an act of courage for bit by bit everyday. Although that might only be the first step someone in need. We cannot afford to lose in creating a more welcoming world that is anymore lives due to being scared of a hurtful able to address issues such as suicide without stigma. being fearful, raising awareness and working Take this time to reach out to your friends, toward that future are all acts we need to be family and even your classmates or coworkers. We never know what another person participating in now. Any loss of life is devastating, but the ,As going through or if they're struggling with lasting impact of suicide is a pain like no other the events unfolding in their life. Offering that and one we can help prevent. Thousands of line of support can be life-saving to someone amazing souls leave us too soon because they and that simple moment of checking in with feel as if there is no other solution to how someone can make the world of difference. they are constantly feeling or what they're Breaking that stigma and offering help to those who need it most is crucial. It is struggling with. The question remains: Why is the idea something we can all do year round, and not of educating others on how to help break just during the month of September. the stigma and generate support for suicide @wilkesbeacon prevention so difficult? This is an issue that, if we all banded Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu r �' .J The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Opinion 18 Full STEAM ahead: The unknown value of art in science By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor We have all been in an art class at one point or another where the art teacher seems to balk at the possibility of someone picking a career in a science or math field. A lot of people say, 'Tm not a math person:' Conversely, any non-art teacher we have had, when drawing a diagram, exclaims, 'Tm no artist, so bear with me:' I have always liked science and art and did not understand why there was a divide. For example, Leonardo da Vmci, known for painting the Mona Lisa, was also a large contributor to science. According to James S. Ackerman, an author for the Daedalus journal, "Leonardo conceived ideas vastly ahead of his own time, conceptually inventing the parachute, the helicopter, an armored fighting vehicle, the use of concentrated solar power, a calculator, a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics and the double hull:' He utilized the scientific method in all aspects of life, including music and art. The reason the Mona Lisa is considered so groundbreaking is because it utilizes linear perspective, acute understanding of human anatomy and depth perception to create shadows and highlights, claims Ackerman. By using science, da Vinci was able to put his work above others. It does not stop there. According to the University of St. Andrews, lots of Greek architecture has been credited for using the Golden Ratio to be aesthetically pleasing. The pillars are built to taper towardsthe bottom to give the illusion of a uniform column. The use of rivets allows the eye to see various shades and depth in the uniformly colored stone. During the Renaissance, plants, animals, human anatomy and stars were sketched with incredible skill. The lack of cameras made these sketches the only form of visual aid to •convey the observations to viewers. According to Lian Zhu, around the start of the 19th century, with the coining of the term "scientist;' the two fields began to split. There has been a recent movement to bring art back into the STEM field. "There has been a widely held view that an education grounded in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) leads to professional and personal success; however, the added emphasis of the study of arts to that equation is gaining momentum - stretching the acronym to STEAM;' as according to the School of Education. I have always been interested in art. When I found out that Wilkes had a studio art minor, I was elated. I use art as a coping mechanism. It helps me focus negative energy into positive energy. I plan on using art as one of the mechanisms to prevent medical school burnout, a dreaded phenomenon I have heard medical school students talk about. Art allows one to express creativity and originality, which are important aspects oflife. The STEM to STEAM approach that I took in college sparks insight and creativity. Being trained in art, a fresh set of eyes enable one to find unique solutions. Skills acquired increase perception. Art is detail-oriented, which enables one to notice things others overlook. Since art projects rarely go how the artist plans, art enables one to adapt to new situations. I have had many projects turn into something entirely different than what I started with. The spontaneity of art reflects quick thinking and adaptable nature. Art gives people flexibility without sacrificing results, which means goals are met, even if initial plans do not work. Some forms of art are irreversible, and this trains one to be careful to avoid making mistakes and to own up to it when something goes wrong. As an artist, I have learned to incorporate mistakes into my work, as well as improve upon situations that might seem hopeless to others. Art has taught me a great deal of patience and perseverance, qualities that people look for in STEM students. All in all, art has many transferable skills that are valued in the STEM field. Jump on board the STEM to STEAM approach. Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari Unjust decision in Taylor's case leaves doubts on U.S. justice By William Billi ngsley Staff Writer •• On Sept. 23, a Kentucky grand jury finally reached their long-awaited conclusion. As many have no doubt heard by now, the grand jury's only charges for the officers in the death of Breonna Taylor were . . . three charges of "wanton endangerment" for Officer Brett Hankison. That was it. According to the Associated Press, the maximum sentence for each charge is five years. And whew, where do I even begin? Over the last six months or so, I've kept a close eye on what kind of events were transpiring in the aftermath of Taylor's killing. Sadly, this was not the only high-profile case of police negligence and brutality in 2020. However, time and time again, I am left bewildered at how these officers arrived at their lethal conclusions. Whether it was to press a knee to George Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes and killing him or shooting Jacob Blake in the back seven times and paralyzing him from the waist down, it is simply indisputable that when it comes to dealing with Black people, the police are, apparently, utterly incompetent. 'But they're only human, they can't possibly be expected to be perfect all the time: Wrong. I can expect perfection when your job involves matters of life or death. It's one thing to be human when someone's life isn't on the line, and a very different matter entirely when your actions determine who lives and who dies. And as we've seen repeatedly, police across the country have shown that they don't especially care much for the lives of Black people. 'But surely the actions of a few bad cops aren't representative of all cops, right?' Once more: Wrong. As a 2018 study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) concluded on the rate of fatal police shootings across 17 different states from 2009 to 2012: "Victims were majority white (52 percent), but disproportionately black (32 percent) with a fatality rate 2.8 times higher among blacks than whites:' Given the high-profile cases in 2020 alone, I do not think the information that this study presented back in 2018 was terribly shocking about just how often black people are killed by the police. Here is a further statistic from their study: "Most victims were reported to be armed (83 percent); however, black victims were more likely to be unarmed ( 14.8 percent) than whites (9.4 percent):' Not only is the fatality rate for Black people almost three times higher, they are also more likely to be unarmed. Is that not strange? "The circumstances were fundamentally against their favor: What were they expecting from a "possible drug dealer" if they were to ram into their apartment in the middle of the night? What would any officer expect if they forced their entry into any home in the middle of the night? That the people, drug dealers or not, are not armed?" said Freddy Del Rosario, Wilkes '20. Del Rosario is absolutely right. For far too long, the police have acted with broad impunity thanks to their qualified immunity protections. But what strikes me as absolutely ridiculous is how police flagrantly target people of color in almost every aspect of our judicial system. Whether it is gunning them down at higher rates or sentencing them for disproportionately longer sentences than their white counterparts, the system has long been stacked against minorities. Shortly following the grand jury's decision, enlightened intellectual and Kentucky's Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that "criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief.' I think what he meant to say was that "criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief for crimes committed by the state:' @wilkesbeacon William.Billings/ey@wilkes.edu �s 19 Sports The Beacon - September 30, 2020 orts Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Men's basketball freshmen are eager to start their first season By Baylee Guedes Staff Writer Starting a new chapter in the journey of life is a challenging experience for any person, while adjusting to the new circumstances in the college athlete scope is arguably even more difficult. The freshmen on men's basketball team are confident coming into the potential upcoming season. The leadership found in seniors Derek Heiserman and Landon Henry has guided the freshmen to an easy start on their season. "Derek has kind of adopted me since we got here;' said freshman Jackson Shafer. "He's definitely been a person that I can go to for help with basketball, school, or anything." Heiserman and Henry both serve as excellent role models in the weight room, gym and classroom, which motivates the freshmen and the rest of their teammates to strive to be in the best shape both physically and mentally. "They really push us;' said freshman Joseph Zvorsk. "They're good examples for us to follow:' Heiserman and Henry have made the freshmen feel at home and welcomed into the Wilkes University community. "We hit it off ever since day one that I met him (Henry) here the first time I visited;' said freshman Trent Fisher. "Landon is a good guy." With the upperclassmen paving the way for the freshman, head coach Izzi Metz and assistant coach Scott Robinson brought in the ·best of the best when it came to their recruiting class. They are invested in their recruits, not only as players, but as the young men that they are becoming. The players are yearning to play a game under Metz's instruction. "Coach Metz has a great basketball mind, and he knows what he's talking about;' said freshman Jason Eberhart. "I wanted to be with that for four years:' The dedication and time that the coaches put into their players is a reflection of what. Wilkes basketball represents. In preparation for this upcoming season, the men's team is putting in all of the necessary work, not only on the From left to right: Freshmen Shafer, Trent Fisher, and Jason Zvorsk shot from various spots on the floor to practice their offensive skills. I • Photos: The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Freshman Jackson Shafer lifted weights during one of his 7 a.m. lift sessions with his team. court, but in the weight room and the classroom. "Knowing that the season now starts later, we have more time to prepare;' said Fisher. "Getting in the weight room four times a week, eating right, making sure I'm getting my sleep and getting shots up as much as I can are some of the steps I am taking:' The freshmen are taking on this new challenge of being collegiate studentathletes head-on, as they are excjted to get onto the court and play games. 'Tm excited to just finally compete again because it's been so long;' said Shafer. "Being able to play with new people, it's fun and exciting:' The team is starting to gel together, with high hopes to dominate the competition. The team is confident in their skills and believe that they have a chance to make it far this season. "I know that we're going to have a very good team;' said Fisher. "Just knowing what we can do, it's going to be fun to just watch everyone pay:' Eberhart reflected on the maturity of college basketball as well, as they have been learning to adapt to their new environment. "Everyone wants to be here;' said Eberhart. "That's why they're playing in college, so everyone is going to be ready to compete." The jump from high school to college athletics is not easy. The game becomes faster, more intense and competitive. Collegiate basketball is not easy. The freshmen will be exposed to new opponents who have already had experience under their belts. "Knowing that you could be playing against guys that are four or five years older than you, how much stronger they can be and how much more developed they are than anyone else;' said Fisher. "In high school, you're playing against kids that are a year or two older, so you just have to be ready for more:' The freshmen bring a lot of versatility to the court for Metz. They are eager to step into their new roles on the team. "I am taller, so I can play like a guard, which gives us an advantage to spread the floor with more and more scoring opportunities if we can run;' said Shafer. The men's team will be beginning practices on Oct.1. @wilkesbeacon Bay/ee.Guedes@wilkes.edu r �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Sports 20 MLB: What are the rankings with playoffs on the horizon? Dodgers hold best record in the NL, and Rays hold best record in the AL By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer • As the 2020 MLB season comes to an end, teams are making their final push to earn their position in the postseason. With 16 teams participating in the playoffs for the first time in MLB history, there will be some clubs competing for the Commissioner's Trophy that haven't seen playoff baseball in years. As of Sept. 24, 10 teams have clinched a playoff berth, with four of them being in the National League (NL) and six of them being in the American League (AL). Of the 10 teams, four of them have clinched their division, with two in the NL and two in the AL. The NL East saw the Atlanta Braves win the division for their third straight year, which is the 15th in franchise history. Although the Braves lost some of their best starting pitchers, as Mike Soroka and Cole Hamels both went down with injuries, a few of their young arms stepped up for the team. Left-hander Max Fried is a Cy Young award candidate, and rookies Kyle Wright and Ian Anderson are showing they have what it takes to pitch at the big level. Atlanta's offense is having yet another strong season, even though Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies have missed ~ome playing time. Offseason free agent acquisition Marcell Ozuna is leading the NL in home runs, and Freddie Freeman is one of the leading NL MVP candidates. The NL Central currently has no division champion, but the Chicago Cubs have clinched a berth for the fifth time in six years. Yu Darvish is throwing well this season and is in the Cy Young race. Even though star hitters Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are underperforming, role players like Jason Kipnis, Ian Happ and Jason Heyward are helping carry the offense. Chicago hopes to win one more title with its core players, as Rizzo, Bryant, Baez, Jon Lester and Kyle Schwarber will all be free agents by 2021. For the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the division for the eighth year in a row. Despite 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger having a down year, the Dodgers were the first team to clinch a playoff berth in 2020. Rookie Dustin May and veteran Clayton Kershaw have pitched solid seasons, while Mookie Betts has hit his way into the NL MVP discussions, all leading to the Dodgers' 19th division title. The team currently has the best record in the NL at 39-17 and hopes to finish the season with the top spot to earn homefield advantage for the first round of the playoffs. The Dodgers aren't the only team in the NL West to have made it into the playoffs, as the San Diego Padres have clinched for the first time in 16 years. Despite finishing last in the division in three out of the last four seasons before 2020, the Padres have found themselves to be a new ball club in this unpredictable year. "I have them right with the Dodgers;' said hall of fame pitcher Pedro Martinez, per MLB Network. "With the way they're playing, the energy they have, and the swagger they have everywhere they go, they can pick it. Don't get surprised if they get close to the Dodgers. Veterans Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer are putting together solid campaigns, and emerging super star Fernando Tatis Jr. is proving that the sophomore slump does not exist in his world. Cy Young candidate Dinelson Lamet and ttade acquisitions Zach Davies and Mike Clevinger are all pitching well for the team. In the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays won their first division title in eight years, with their last being in 2010. At 37-20, the Rays have the top record in the AL and intend to keep that pace to earn the number one seed for the first round in the postseason. Brandon Lowe, who finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting last season, has been a consistent hitter for the team. Relief pitchers Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo have been highlights in what is considered to be the best bullpen in baseball. The New York Yankees accompany the Rays as one of the two teams in the AL East who have made the postseason. Despite many of their stars missing some time due to injuries (Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres) and some even being out for the rest of the season (James Paxton and Luis Severino), the Yankees are competing in October for the fourth consecutive year. Luke Voit, who is leading all of baseball in home runs (21), and DJ Lemaiheu, who is leading all of baseball in batting average (.360} , have helped lead their team to the playoffs. In the AL Central, three teams have clinched a berth despite not one of them being the division champion. The Minnesota Twins currently have the top spot in the division, thanks to an MVP-caliber season from veteran Nelson Cruz and Cy Young award candidate Kenta Maeda. The Chicago White Sox aren't too far behind the Twins, as they only trail by a half game in the central division standings. With their postseason clinch this season, the White Sox have snapped a 12-year playoff drought. Jose Abreu is putting together one of the best seasons of his career ·since his 2014 Rookie of the Year campaign, while rookie Luis Robert is becoming one of the many young superstars in the game. "The scary part for everybody else in baseball is that this (White Sox) core is locked up for almost half a decade," said Jeff Passan, per ESPN. "Tim Anderson has a long-term contract, Yoan Moncada has a long-term contract, Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez are signed for eight years, the list goes on and on. 'Oh my goodness' - that's what everybody says when they look at the White Sox lineup this year with the damage that they've been doing:' The Cleveland Indians are the third AL Central team to have a spot in the playoffs. AL Cy Young candidate Shane Bieber and slugger Jose Ramirez (whose walkoff home run over the White Sox clinched Cleveland's spot) led the Indians to their fourth playoff berth since 2016. In the AL West, the Oakland Athletics have won the division . The Athletics are going to play in October for the third consecutive season, but this is their first division title since 2013. Matt Olson and Matt Chapman continue to bring their stellar defense to the field, and closing pitcher Liam Hendrik remains to be an important piece to ·an impressive bullpen. According to ESP N's David Schoen field, "It will be an MLB postseason like we've never seen before: 16 teams, no fans, played in neutral-site ballparks after the first round of the- MLB playoffs with a Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 Sports 21 Joseph Czopek reflects on his career, upcoming seasons By Ariel Reed "' Co-Sports Editor Men's and women's head volleyball coach Joe Czopek has found his niche in his hometown of "The Valley;' pursuing his passion for coaching volleyball. Besides being born in New Jersey, Czopek has spent all his life in WilkesBarre. He got his start in coaching while he was still a student at King's College. Next, he spent seven years coaching at Nanticoke Area High School. From there, he found himself making the jump to Wyoming Valley West High School for 20 years, and then finally ending up at Wilkes University after a high school referee with connections to Wilkes recommended him to the position. "I coached high school volleyball throughout my collegiate career;' said Czopek. "I have coached for 27 years at high schools. I started at Nanticoke Area for seven years, and then I went to Wyoming Valley West for 20. When I was in business, I was an outside sales ·rep which allowed me to continue my coaching career. I was recommended to this position by one of the high school referees who had connections with the administration here." Czopek dabbled in multiple coaching positions before falling in love with volleyball. He was initially a swimmer and diver in high school and only played volleyball recreationally. Before making the dive into the volleyball coaching sphere, he coached swimmers. "I used to coach swimming and diving because I was a diver when I was in high school;' said Czopek. "I played volleyball recreationally until I went to college. I fell in love with the sport. I was then given the opportunity to coach a high school team:' With the delayed season start due to COVID-19, Czopek will now have two seasons that run concurrently. Normally, he wouid find himself coaching women's volleyball in the fall and men's volleyball in the spring. The delayed seasons have resulted in Czopek b.eing shorthanded, since he only has one assistant coach. Despite not having a graduate assistant, Czopek is handling the management of two seasons fairly well. "Without the hiring of a graduate assistant coach, I am not sure what exactly will happen;' said Czopek. "I guess this will be learned later on once we get the schedules. I do know, though, that I will be extremely busy:' The delayed women's season has made things difficult for Czopek, but that has not paused their practice schedules. · Sophomore setter Zach Shay and his teammates celebrate after a crucial hit from sophomore outside hitter Zach Evans. Photos: The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Head coach Joseph Czopek got ready to take a recruit on a tour of campus in hopes of inspiring them to join his team. He believes that this additional time to prepare will allow them to build a stronger team. "Since the semester started, we do participate in our nontraditional seasons;' said Czopek. "We have been practicing four nights a week between both programs. The nice thing about the season being pushed back is I have a longer time to evaluate the freshmen and create a line-up:' The additional time will allow for players to develop a better team chemistry and understanding of how each person plays. "I think it was nice because last year when I came in as a freshman, we started off with captain's open gyms and lifting;' said sophomore setter Casey Shipman. "This year, that transition was slower, and I feel like it helped the freshmen out a little bit. Slowly getting back into things is a better way to start off the semester instead of getting thrown right into the fire:' Although Czopek's schedule will become hectic, the additional time that is able to be devoted to the teams will pay off when their regular seasons start. "I think Coach is very underappreciated, in the fact that not only is he coaching a successful guys program, but he is also coaching a successful girls program;' said Shipman. "He is constantly working, constantly trying to make each program better, and I feel that people don't recognize that. That's one thing I really admire about him. His drive, love for the game and knowledge are something I want to have. You can tell he loves what he is doing - he's not in it for the paycheck:' Czopek's passion for volleyball pours out of his soul. His words, knowledge and leadership makes a lasting impression on his players, and it is often cited as the driving force behind their reasons for committing to Wilkes. "After my interview, my dad and I talked about how he was a good person and you weren't just getting a coach, you were getting a mentor;' said sophomore setter Zach Shay. "He played a big role in my commitment here. He's definitely taught me a lot. When it is time to work, he does get on us, and he holds us to a high standard:' The men's and women's volleyball teams are looking forward to their successful seasons starting in the spring semester under Czopek's leadership. @wilkesbeacon Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu �.J ~ ~ = September 30, 2020 • '/ Sports · ' 22 �- Sports 2 ,s 1g _ : _l pre Beacon: Female Senior Spotlisl,t Why Kt.iatifNajdek:was selected: Najdek has been a solid player 1n the volleyball lineup. Her vtai leadership on and off the'cow:t combined with hCf drive to sw;ceed ·. · IS bas earned her this recognition. ,, h 1g F1rmrlte thing to do during practkef My favorite thing to do at practice would 1e le lf ir Minor: Reading andCtll'fflticate n t d y Education Hometown: Bethpage, N.~ High SchooJ: Island 'frees High School Position: Defensive Spedal,jst Off of the the beach and spending time with · family. Fa\iorite building OD campus! Driving fun:e fi>ryourdedsion to come toW"dka! I decided to come to Wdkes because of the small classes siz.es and the welcoming campus. As soon as a stepped foot on the campus, I knew it as the perfect fit for me, and the ability to continue my volleyball was just a plus. career Post-graduation. plans in terms of a career! UCOM because of Starbucks. Favorite meal to eat on campus! A grilled cheese from Grille Works. What color/flavor of Gatorade is your favorite! Light Blue/Glacier Freeze is myii.vo.rite. If your life was a l1lOdlt; want to p)ayyou and whyt * I hope to find a job back home as a first or • Jennifer Aniston because I fed second.grade tqdier. ~ a¢ energetic iactress ' mewelL ' Ffflldllr......,.uaColonel? My favorite memory is from sophomore yearplayingatRutgers-Qunden.oneofour rivals that~ pJay every yi=ar. The 8Q10UDt of e,iergy and positi;vitf on the court was the . . we~ha4• ourwin. MostinfluentWpenoain your life! Myparents. Whatdoea"BeColoael" meanto,oa? To me, "Be Colond'" means to be a leader HopestorlWswuaColomlt With the ~ going on, jutt a and lepRSem Wiflct, with. nothbag but f0\11' chance to p1ajJ at least one game bi the best. spring and ta, l>e able wear our brand unifomn is wliJtfm hope(ul for. A-,.elopealhout-oattof My\'Olleyball girls and my family. -CompiWE,yArlelRllrd. Co-Spo,tsBdlt«- r �The Beacon - September 30, 2020 24 Sports Week two of NFL season witnessed multiple injuries, surprises By Dylan Mehl .._ Co-Sports Editor Two weeks into the NFL season, and there has already been a plethora of injuries, surprises and plenty of combinations to look forward to. While it is great to have football back, this risk of the faces of the league getting inj_ured increases without a normal offseason. A prime example of this was week two, when star running back for the New York Giants Saquon Barkley tore his ACL and is officially done for the season. Additiona1 players who are out for the rest of the season include 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Malik Hooker. The San Francisco 49ers may have been bitten by the injury bug more than anyone else in week two, as they lost several starters. Bosa is gone for the year along with defensive tackle Solomon Thomas. Many offensive players were injured as well, including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman and the already injured tight end •• r. George Kittle. Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. even took to Twitter saying, "My prayers are up for all of my brothers that went down today. May God place his healing hand of grace upon y'all! Hate to see it!" For Beckham Jr., his Browns team may have gotten back on track for Thursday night football, as they picked up the win · against division rival Cincinnati. The Browns had high expectations going into the season. They seemed to have figured out a ground and pound offensive strategy with the running back duo Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who totaled 210 rushing yards together, per ESPN. Philadelphia is off to a disappointing 0-2 start to the season after losses to both the Washington Football Team and the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterback Carson Wentz is not looking like the MVP version of himself from 201 as the offense continues to struggle. For the Rams, they are looking like the team that made the Super Bowl just two years ago. They have been controlling the tempo on the ground and allowing quarterback Jared Goff to make plays when needed . The NFC West may be the best division in football with the Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals all at 2-0 and San Francisco at 1-1 . Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been on fire this season. Through two weeks, he is at 910 passing yards with nine touchdowns and only one interception. Wilson has been impressive that now, according to DraftKings, he has the best odds to win the MVP. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up a 2621 victory over the Denver Broncos. The story of this season for the Steelers is their defense. They arguably have the best in the league, with a front seven slowing down the opposing team's run game. Baltimore's offense and defense continue to look impressive, as they picked up the win against the Houston Texans in easy fashion. For the Chiefs, their win did not come easy against the Chargers; however, both teams head into their anticipated week three matchup undefeated, which could be the best Monday night football game of the season. Tom Brady earned his first victory with the Bucs against the Carolina Panthers. Brady did not look exceptional throwing two interceptions; however, starting slow is nothing new for Brady. The Panthers suffered a noticeable loss in Christian McCaffrey, as the star running back suffered a high ankle sprain that could see him out for four to six weeks, according to The Charlotte Observer. Brady's old team, the Patriots, are off to a 1-1 start to the season behind quarterback Cam Newton, who already has four rushing touchdowns and has the Patriots looking like a potential playoff team. To conclude the week, The Las Vegas Raiders picked up an upset win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in the first game at their new stadium. The Raiders relied heavily on tight end Darren Waller. Waller had a stat line pf 12 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. New Orleans appears to be missing receiver Michael Thomas, and quarterback Drew Brees looks like he may be regressing, as he is refusing to throw the ball deep. Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 September 30th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 September 30 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/c6da9768c290c4bfe118ecef165f1e2b.pdf 60257935e32472500ed269008bb89d7e PDF Text Text The Beacon - October 14, 2020 Est.1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 6 1 HEBEACON Wilkes Universit - Wilkes-Barre, Penns lvania Mixed reactions arise to condensed semesters Family Day 2020 By Kirsten Peters hosted virtually by Student Development· Editor-in-Chief When considering education at college campuses, students, faculty and · staff are tired of the implications on the educational experience due to COVID-19. "I believe the compacted schedule has put extra strain and stress on both students and faculty, said Dr. Scott Bolesta, associate professor and professor of practice in the pharmacy department. "I know that for the courses I normally teach in the fall, everything is happening at such a rapid pace that it is a challenge to keep up:' Bolesta is referring to Wilkes' Fall 2020 semester, which is operating under a condensed schedule where classes began a week early on Aug. 24 and will commence face-to-face instruction and examinations by Nov. 25. The semester is devoid of its usual fall break and will allow for the completion of any virtual assignments or online final examinations to conclude by Dec. 4. With the fall semester underway, President Greg Cant recently announced the revised calendar for the Spring 2021 semester, outlining the Jan. 25 start date, removal of •spring break and the conclusion of face-toface instruction and final exams by May 15. In the Sept. 28 announcement, Cant said, "Our planning continues, but we wanted to share this new information with you as soon ~ possible. Monitor your inbox and our website for details in the weeks to come:' Monitoring is exactly what students, faculty and staff will be doing. By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer are making it work, so I think this is a sign of success:' Adapting has been a key theme this semester for students and faculty alike. For Dr. Marleen Troy, Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences department chair as well as professor of environmental engineering, adaptation for her courses has been limited. "My teaching experience has been going well this Fall 2020 semester;' said Troy. "I was fortunate because I have been teaching several completely online courses for several years now and am familiar with the Learning Management System - LIVE/D2L ... So far, this semester is all OK:' Student Development hosted a series of virtual meetings on Oct. 8 to celebrate Family Day 2020. According to Student Development, family day is an annual fall tradition held on the Wilkes campus, providing an opportunity for families to reconnect with their Wilkes student while getting a first hand look into a day-in-the-life at Wilkes. Family Day is among one of the many Wilkes traditions originally held in-person that was moved to a virtual format. The sessions were free for families and students, who received links to Zoom sessions after signing up to register for any sessions they were interested in. "Even though we are restricted with COVID policies in place to keep campus safe, we felt it was very important to reconnect families and students halfway through the semester;' said Melissa Howells, director of Student Development. Despite the virtual meetings and sessions, MIXED REACTIONS, page 4 FAMILY, page 11 --- I With the fall semester in its eighth week, most professors have administered midterms and have reached the half-way point in their courses, allowing for assessments to be made in regard to the successfulness of the Fall 2020 semester. "My attitude is: We are in an extremely unusual situation, but higher education is important so we are going to keep going as safely as we can," said Dr. Chris Zarpentine, Global Cultures department chair and associate professor of philosophy. "Luckily, we can adapt higher education to the situation. It may not be ideal, but there's no such thing as a 'perfect' semester anyway. So, I think all of us (both faculty and students) are doing the best we can. And, from what I've seen, we ~ :i u "'CC ~ C 0 V :ii al QJ f= l Ionors Progr.un Student Committt.'t.' ho:-t:- pumpkin(,lning conte~L page 11 r �_J News The Beacon - October 14, 2020 2 News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Oct. 7 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer Student Government held its sixth online meeting of the semester, in which Vice President Paul Adams made a guest appearance and more planning was discussed for Fall Event and Homecoming. First, Adams opened up the floor for discussion on student culture and how it has been impacted by COVID-19. There was an overall consensus that it has been challenging to manage online classes. It has also been difficult to get direct feedback on assignments. As far as social life and involvement on campus go, students agreed that there has been a lower level of engagement with clubs since they have not been as active as previous semesters. Second, Student Government discussed Fall Event. Fall Event will run a week-long options are still in the works: a free from Oct. 19 to Oct. 23, that way they can month subscription to a music streaming get more people involved. Oct. 19 will be service, a virtual dance party or a silent a pumpkin giveaway on the Greenway disco on the Greenway, which would from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 20 will be be accompanied by party favors. These a best costume contest favors may include either via Instagram; Oct. 21 glow in the dark glasses, will be a fall Kahoot at thermoses or both. 8 p.m., in which the top For dinner, the council three winners will receive is looking at renting a prize; Oct. 22 will be tents to set up on the a paint and sip at 7 p.m., Greenway and catering which will be held in two food from Aramark or locations, twenty-five to giving out $25 gift cards a room, to ensure safety; to local restaurants. Oct. 23 will be a movie Finally, for Homecoming night. elections, the ceremony Third, a more solidified '--= .....:...............----~.......,;;._-.....:..-' will be broadcasted over overview of Homecoming was presented. Instagram live and will occur between The event is looking to be on Oct. 17. meals on the Greenway. In the_way of. dancing, a couple of There will also be a prince and princess, in which students can elect underclassmen by write-ins. After a round-table discussion, Student Government took a poll on what options for dinner, dance and party favors were the best. A regular dance on the Greenway won, along with two catered dinners running at the same time and both glasses and thermoses in the way of favors. In conclusion, the council voted on a member of the month, as well as a club of the month. With the nomination of Liam Flynn, Elena Patestos and Anna Culver, Elena Patestos won member of the month. College Democrats won the club ·of the month with no opposition. @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Sean Schmoyer Colonel's Closet Changes Hours The Colonel's Closet is now open for walk-in visits on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments will continue to be accepted Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Only one student at a time may be admitted. All students are encouraged to 1tse the online ordering system. Orders will be filled within 48 hours and available for pick up at the Info Desk in the Henry Student Center. Plea~e contact Kristin Osipower at kristin.osipower@wilkes.edu or ext. 5904 with any questions. Barnes & Noble Hosts an Egg Hunt Wilkes students can stop by the bookstore downtown on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a chance to find some eggs and bring them to the prize table to win prizes. On Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wilkes and King's students can both attend again. Prizes include restaurant gift certificates and Wilkes swag. Masks must be worn at all times, and social distancing should be followed. Cheer Team to Hold Tryouts Wilkes Cheer Team tryouts will be hosted on Oct. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the MAC. Tryouts will be held individually with designated time slots to promote social distancing. Tryout material .will be provided by email to all students who sign up. Sign-ups can be found at: https:// www. wilke s. ed u/ campus -1 ife/ clubs-organizations/ cheerleading/ cheerleading-tryout-form.aspx. Blood Drive Rescheduled BloodMobile is currently broken, and due to this technical difficulty, the blood drive will be rescheduled for Nov. 2. Students' blood and donation efforts were and still are extremely valuable to those in need of blood products. For students who were scheduled to donate but could not due to the technical difficulty, a Red Cross team member · should be in contact with them to reschedule their appointment for Nov. 2. Students with any questions or who would like to sign up for the November drive, please contact Jacqueline.Dercole@ redcross.org. @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Upcoming Events: 2020 Fall Semester October 13 - League of Women Voters Political Forum 15 - Virtual Career Fair 16 - Barnes & Noble Egg Hunt 16 - Virtual Professional & Graduate Fair 17 - Homecoming 19 - Pumpkin Giveaway 20 - Costume Contest 21 - Vutual Fall Kahoot 22 - Paint N' Sip 25 - Class Registration for Winter Courses 27 - Dr. Toll Zoom Lecture 29 - Cheer Team Tryouts 31 - Halloween November 2 - Blood Drive 7 - Vutual Open House 11 - Veterans Day 23 - Movie Night 25 - Holiday Recess begins 26 - Thanksgiving Want your event featured in the calendar? 11 �The Beacon - October 14, 2020 L News 3 leadership -Through Crisis: A military perspective By Sean Schmoyer News Editor On Oct. 7, the Honors Program hosted its second lecture in the "Leadership Through Crisis" series. The zoom call centered around Maj. Gen. Patrick B. Roberson, who is the commander and commandant of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C. Roberson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry in 1990 from Minnesota State University at Mankato. The lecture was open for attendance by all honors students, veterans and members of ROTC. Roberson spoke to those in attendance about leadership in the military during a pandemic, and what it means to be a leader in times of crisis. The lecture did face technical challenges, as a couple of participants had connection problems with Zoom, causing some of Roberson's talk to b.e inaudible. The Honors Department fixed this issue by restarting the Zoom call, which Roberson worked with them to do. After the restart, the lecture faced no other problems. Interim Director of the Honors Program Dr. Jonathan Kuiken opened tbe lecture by introducing Roberson. . "I have a short introduction to give, and I have to say I had to shorten it because Gen. Roberson's list of accomplishments would probably take up the entire time if I had to read all of them. He has served with distinction in many places around the world, including the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria:' Roberson's experience serving across • the world allowed him to address questions later from Kuiken about how to lead and work across cultures with diverse groups. "I think that first of all, we as Americans make the mistake of thinking that all people think like us," said Roberson. "I think they are like us, but in some significant ways, they are different and they might have different ways of thinking about things and we have to respect that. I think if you are going to meet someone from a different culture, you need to be empathetic enough to try to understand how that person sees the world. You also have to be curious enough about that person to want to learn about them. You have to be big enough in your own mind to realize that people do not always think about things in the same way we do:' Roberson also discussed leadership as a military leader and leadership through times of crisis in general. "I have had a lot of great opportunities in my career to lead different institutions. I have gotten to be deployed in combat and peacetime all over the Middle East and Europe;' said Roberson. "In general, from the time I was a very young man, the army is very big about leading and being a leader. You are always taught to seek and accept responsibility. That puts a different light on you as a leader because you are always thinking about 'I am in charge, I am responsible, what am I going to do?' that is kind of a surge, you are having a crisis management and breakdown how surge in your leadership ability. It usually individuals do in those times of crisis. requires you to step every part of your They can see how they do under pressure game a little bit. It is the same part of your and identify individuals' strengths and leadership game that you use in a steady- weaknesses. Roberson recalled a time state, whether it is leading by example, when he worked with others who had being a planner, a visionary, being a guy not done practice drills for dealing with that communicates all those things would hurricanes. He was able to work with that be the same but in a crisis, you have to group and see who needed to improve when preparing for a future crisis. really step it up:' Additonally, Roberson highlighted He also identified that as a military officer he is ahyays thinking about what positioning oneself as a leader and how he would do during a crisis. Even the knowing that your presence carries youngest officers, he says, have to be ~weight and that by just being somewhere ready and practice for a crisis to occur, as a leader you can be a sign of relief and strength to those working with and under even if it is unlikely to happen. you. A final point Roberson made was that, during a crisis, a good leader needs to be transparent and not forget to share information with others. He stated that decisions have to be made quickly and that the only way to do that is through clear transferring of information between all parties. Lt. Col. Sarah Hedrick of AFROTC Detachment 752 was in attendance and asked Roberson as a leader what books he has been reading. Roberson ran through his list of books. "The one that I just read was 'Thinking in Bets' by Annie Duke. That was a very good book about decision making. Over the summer, we read 'Unbroken; which is a very good biography. The last part dealt with a man recovering and going through PTSD, and I think that is a very important subject. We are also going through 'World Order' by Henry Kissinger:' Hedrick's goal with attending the lecture was not just to learn from Roberson but to take that information and apply it to the cadets she oversees. Hedrick said, "It is always a great Roberson said, "I am always thinking privilege to learn about leadership about what are the contingencies that directly from senior military leaders. It might happen here. What are the things helps to refocus our perspectives on how that I don't expect to happen but might we lead in our own spheres. I particularly happen? Then, if I have that knowledge benefited from Maj. Gen. Roberson's and understand it, I can rehearse that and encouragement to be self-aware and to make sure that I have thought about it understand how our actions, inactions or and prepared for it. It is the same thing in reactions as leaders can impact the morale a sports team. You are always practicing and motivation of those we lead. We can for certain things, like a kick-off. You , agonize over making the right tactical do not do that very often, but you have decision in a crisis, but equally important to practice. You have to practice fumble are the intangible ways we influence those recovery. You have to practice things that around us to succeed:' you do not expect to happen:• The major general also stated that a good @wilkesbeacon leader never lets a crisis go to waste. He recommended that a leader can practice Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu "I think that first of all we as Americans make the mistake of thinking that all people think like us ... I think ifyou are going to meet someonefrom a different culture, you need to be empathetic -enough to try to understand how that person_sees the world. You also have to be curious enough about that person to want to learn about them. You have to be big enough in your own mind to realize that people do not always think about things in the same way we do." . - Maj. Gen. Patrick B. Roberson It changes your whole perspective on life:• Roberson identified that when leading in a crisis or in a steady situation, there are aspects that are the same, such as needing character, integrity and virtue. He described what a crisis is and how it changes how one leads. "When you are in a crisis, you are more fo cused;' said Roberson. "I think a crisis can be something that happens in a split second that you were not expecting. A crisis could last an hour . . . There is an immediate point to that crisis where you have to respond, and then there is a day's long kind of piece, where you have to lead through whatever happened. "Those kind of events, I would say . r �.J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 News MIXED EMOTIONs;fromfront· -constantly due, and I don't have time to just ' Unlike Troy, Dr. Marie Roke Thomas, associate professor and chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences department, and her colleagues had to transition pharmacy courses online after the onset of the semester. A few positive COVID-19 cases forced pharmacy professors and students to readjust from their anticipated face-to-face semester to online. Despite the rapid transition online and the condensed semester, Roke Thomas explained, "I do not believe we have skipped a beat in delivering the entire curriculum regardless of the length of the semester. Students and faculty are working harder to maintain the rigorous schedule. In this rigorous program, students often feel burnout prior to the end of midterms. I believe our students are working really hard to sustain the time commitment needed to complete the semester on time and are making every effort to ensure this is a successful semester:' Although the high quality of students' work, the completion of assignments by their deadlines and the lack of complaints may suggest students are complacent with this semester, the announcement of the plans for Spring 2021 has caused some students to express underlying concerns. In fact, the lack of a fall recess or the inclusion of assignments on the weekends has students feeling as though they are unable to take a break. "I feel so overwhelmed with everything;' said Kayla Acker-Carter, senior environmentil engineering student "I always have something breathe. We have to turn stuff in on time, but professors aren't giving stuff back in the time frame we're held to. I wish professors would give us a little break to get our heads back in the game to finish the semester strong:' Acker-Carter is not alone, as seniors Emily Cholin and Rose Dietrich expressed similar sentiments. "I feel as though this semester is worse than others," said Cholin, a senior hospitality leadership student "It's a constant stream of assignments for every class, and it's burning students out much quicker than normal. Homework/quizzes should also not be due during the weekends - students have zero days of the week to relax." I Dietrich, a double major in psychology and neuroscience, is familiar with a heavy course load, yet she is struggling with a lighter semester. "Despite only taking 12 credits this semester (an upper level biology course, my senior project, a psychology class and choir), compared to my usual 17-18 credits, I feel very overwhelmed," said Dietrich. "I was hoping to feel less frazzled due to less work. Simply put, I don't" Students Haedyn Hale, communication studies major and sports psychology minor; Savannah House, a nursing student; and Autumn Pedron, a middle level math and science education major emphasized similar concerns: Only learning material for an exam, )>eing focused on hitting due dates and missing b ut on catching up on work during breaks. ; These stressors are not lost on professors, as they have faced new teaching challenges and succumbed to the non-stop 'climate of the semester as well. "I find that it takes me at least twice as much time to prepare content for asynchronous online delivery compared to in-person delivery because I'm recording content and then going back to insert quizzes and video clips to engage students in their learning," said Dr. Judith DeLuca, chair and professor of practice in the Pharmacy Department. "The condensed semester means that we all have to keep a fast pace even on the weekends:' The announcement of the Spring 2021 calendar has prompted discussion and a reevaluation of this semester's advantages and disadvantages. Dr. Don Mencer, chair of the faculty affairs council, said he was "pleased" with the spring calendar details thus far, explaining that it "makes sense" for members of the campus community to stay on site instead of traveling during what would have been spring break. Dr. Barbara Bracken, mathematics and computer science chair, also agrees and asserts that it could reduce the impact of the flu and COVID-19 on campus. Although this may be beneficial from a health stand-point, students' well-being can be impacted by the condensed semester. With this semester's challenges in mind, Dr. Kenneth Klemow and Dr. Ruth Hughes offered advice for students. According to Klemow, "Do your best to remain engaged in all your courses. Contribute to discussions. Complete assignments on time. Study hard for exams. · Get tutoring help if necessary. Realize that your professors are by- 4 and-large working hard to give you an excellent educational experience." Dr. Ruth Hughes, associate professor of business law and chair of the Finance, Accounting and Management Department, also explained, "I think through all of this, you guys have gone through a very unique experience that will shape you, and personally, I think it has shaped you to be much more attractive in the workplace. Keep track of examples, 'In Dr. Hughes' class, I had to all of the sudden be doing these essay exams online:" However, their advice does not take away from the current emotions of students, as House noted, "The burnout is horrible right now. I feel like we aren't learning:' Dr. Karim Medico Letwinsky's, a chair and associate professor in the Education Department offered a piece of advice. "I believe now more than ever students need to be mindful of their well-being from a holistic perspective," said Medico Letwinsky. "Stay focused on what really matters and give proper time to only that which will help them continue to achieve their academic goals and also maintain their personal/emotional/physical health. In times of such flux and uncertainty, simple is best" With additional annount:ements for Spring 2021 on the horizon, the question remains: What is the best means of conducting the Spring 2021 semester for maximum success for the students, faculty and staff? ~ ~ @wilkesbeacon Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu Understanding and overcoming stress with Dr. Schicatano By ~ara ~o~~ _ .,.,.. __ .. . Asst. News Editor Stress is a feeling that all college students, including those at Wtlkes University, are familiar with. In an Honors Program Zoom lecture, Dr. Edward Schicatano, head of the neuroscience department, shed light on the subject, which allowed students who attended to reflect on how stress has impacted them this semester. • Schiactano's presentation, "Understanding and Overcoming Stress," touched upon four components, including what stress is, its causes, how it affects the body and the strategies to overcome stress. · According to Associate Professor and Interim Honors Director Jonathan Kuiken, this topic of discussion could not have been more timely, as this fall has not been a typical semester for Wilkes students. Whether they are concerned about their latest exam or are having personal challenges, students have had to not only overcome the usual struggles, but they have had to transition to online courses as well. Many have a mix of hybrid classes, meaning that they work online and in-person for a single course, while others 7 have had to shift to being completely online. Senior pharmacy student Mia Barbieri, has been managing all of her classes online and has found it difficult to engage with her courses asynchronously. "Finding time to watch online lectures in between live Zoom classes, club meetings and working is definitely tougher compared to inperson classes. It's also harder to not see fellow classmates and friends as much, which was a great stress reliever for me," said Barbieri. Rhia Aurand, a junior elementary education and honors student, is taking 18 credits this semester and has to fit in 20 hours of studentteaching observation a week. She is currently taking three classes that are some of the most difficult courses for her major, but they have been put online. Aurand claims that while they still have been hard, they are easier than they would have been face-to-face. "Some of my professors have accommodated the insane amounts of stress by extending due dates and even removing assignments altogether. However, others have not," claimed Aurand For first-year students, in particular, they had to learn their way around the university while simultaneously adjusting to a college workload A few have had to overcome obstacles in their personal lives. as well. John Toussaint, a first-year and a secondary education and biology major, reveals that he broke his foot almost a month ago, which has prevented him from pla}'ll?-g tennis. "I am a member of the men's tennis team and breaking my foot means that I am out for eight weeks. This hasn't been easy, . as I practiced every day throughout quarantine;' discussed Toussaint "When that was taken away from me, I became stressed because everything I worked for was in vain:' During his lecture, Schicatano described the negative effects stress can have on the body, as overwhelming amounts can make one more susceptible to not only injury but can weaken one's immune system. People often feel stress in different locations throughout their bodies, as it can range from their head, neck, shoulders and lower back. "I believe that stress is based on our perceptions. It's a decision we make, and the phrase I tell my students is that 'Stress i~ in the eye of the beholder: as it is up to you to determine whether or not an event is stressful," explained Schicatano. Toussaint attended Schicatano's discussion and has taken the professor's advice about how stress depends on how you perceive a situation. Recently, he was elected to Student Government as the first-year class president Aurand found that Schicatano's strategies have been resourceful and have assisted her in finding ways to better manage her stress. She plans to get ahead of her schoolwork, spend time with her friends and teammates on the softball team, nourish her body with the right foods and get plenty of sleep. Schicatano left students with one final thought on how they should move forward when interpreting a possibly stressful situation. "It is important to give yourself space between you and your thinking. When your thinking gets out-of-hand, it's easy to associate things with bad meanings, especially when you are stressed" discussed Schicatano. "Take time to slow down, pause and process your thoughts and emotions. You will find yourself feeling less overwhelmed, and this is a skill that you can carry throughout the rest of your Ufe~' @wilkesbeacon Sara.RQss@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 14, 2020 News 5 University mid-semester COVID-19 update By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer As of Oct 9, Wilkes University has two active cases of COVID-19 and has cleared 34 cases since the beginning of the semester. Compared to mid-September, when the active case count was 22, the university has lowered its case count considerably, due to the work of the Wilkes University Task Force, recovery teams and the cooperation from the Wilkes community. "There are so many moving pieces; said Mark Allen, dean of student affairs and member of the COVID-19 Task Force. "When we first started to experience positive cases, there was a learning curve for us. Now that we have experienced it several times, it's become a bit more systematic. " Justin Kraynack, assistant vice president of operations and compliance and member of the Wilkes Daily Response Team, said that when managing new cases, "The health and well-being of the student is first and foremost, and then we start looking at things like contact tracing and what kind of potential for additional exposure is there with that individual:' At the beginning of the semester, a lack of available testing and the lag time between testing and getting results limited the success of the COVID-19 Task Force. Kraynack explained changes in testing since the beginning of the semester. "We were fortunate enough to be able to secure an adequate supply of rapid testing kits so that we are now getting instant feedback or near-instant feedback, and that's helped us tremendously, said Kraynack. These new rapid tests add to the success the university has been experiencing in avoiding new cases. This success comes as a surprise to some students. Reynaldo Perez, a senior business administration major, said, "The COVID-19 situation has differed a lot from what I expected it to be. I saw that Bloomsburg had a massive spike in cases not too long after reopening, and I was expecting the same to happen at Wilkes." For comparison, there have been 360 COVID-19 cases at Bloomsburg University, as opposed to the 36 cases Wilkes has experienced to-date in the semester. Wilkes' low number of cases has allowed students to enjoy aspects of campus life they were concerned about missing. Jessica Zajac, a junior earth and environmental science major, said, "Being a resident on campus, I am grateful students are still allowed on campus and are able to study in common study areas such as the library, the collaboration rooms in Stark Learning Center and the lounges in Cohen Science Center. Personally, it is very hard for me to concentrate in my dorm when I am studying or even in class online, so being able to get out of my dorm and go to those study areas is important tome:' While students are still enjoying parts of campus life, the shortened semester does come with additional pressure. "I think it's good that we are in school now so we can avoid the second wave of the virus, but the semester feels rushed; said Erin Tollinger, a senior earth and environmental science major. "Since were working without fall break or even long weekends, the academics can be overwhelming, especially as we get to the all happen." @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu StudentQuarontin.P.s, 1sofo hJJrni Positive. Student T~1: RPSults 2 34 21 224 ACTl\'E <'.l.EAlttD ACTl\'l: Cll:ARUI l'ositive Student Cas,,s by Day .. midterm of the semester and homework, tests and assignments start to pile up:' The semester's early end ensures that students stay home during the holidays and do not travel back-and-forth between their homes and campus. The university has also released plans for the spring semester. "When starting a little bit later in the spring, our hope is that theres going to be some significant changes that start to allow us, the country and the world to start changing some of those protocols and improve vaccines and different testing; Kraynack said Allen added, "We don't know what the future holds. We have to be prepared to be agile and patient:' Both the campus community and the world are looking forward to new treatments and developments, but the tried and true method of wearing a mask and social distancing are what has kept so many students safe this semester. "I was expecting to see a lot of people not respecting the safety guidelines as far as COVID-19 goes, but I've seen nothing but the opposite - everyone takes safety very seriously at Wilkes; said Perez, who initially doubted the safety on campus. This commitment to safety has not gone unnoticed by the COVID-19 task force members. Kraynack said, "Were so pleased with how things have gone in the fall semester and just so proud of everybody in the community. Everyone has really stepped up and made this @ ShowAU Sic<:~A.llf'Ult ~020 0 ~ w US1 Tlartt Wedo Lnt Upd>...i: SaOllrd•y, Oclow JO, 2020 · 6:00,... Positi\'e Cases by Weel,; (Starting Mondays) Studeot Tests -H ~ - Ptli!il't - Aw-.w:igFie!i.its HousL~g (Quarantine/Isolation) l;odergraduate Course Modality - Fac.to-fieft - H;'trld - Svr,eor.t'lt' - - AJ)'"OC.QIIWN - " " '" " - --- " " . __ - H,P.r.o: Graphics from https://www.wilkes.edu/coviddashboard As of Oct. 10, Wilkes has two active cases and 34 cleared cases. Twenty-one students are in active quarantine/isolation. The graph indicates a lack of case spikes in recent weeks, with the last major spike between Sept. 13 and Sept. 18. As of Oct. 10, there are two students awaiting test results, only one new positive case during the week of Oct. 5, seven of the 50 beds in use for quarantining students and 457 courses still being conducted face-to-face. r �News ihe Beacon - October 14, 2020 6 The Beaco1 Wilkes hon·ors 12 faculty, staff members at TREC Awards ~The Beacon News Staff Wilkes News announced that the university :cognized 12 different faculty and staff 1embers at the 2020 Teacher Recognition d Effectiveness Committee (TREC) wards Ceremony. Dr. Jennifer Thomas, associate professor f psychology, received the Carpenter Award r Teaching. The award is considered Wilkes' ighest honor for teaching and recognizes an tstanding member of the faculty. It includes a $1,000 award and a framed •rtificate. The awardee is nominated by his r her full-time colleagues and must have een a full-time employee for at least three ars. Thomas was recognized for her classroom truction, her commitment to ongoing earch and mentorship to students through e process by three colleagues in nomination tters. Ellen Newell, associate professor of , chology and research collaborator, wrote, .. every bit of Dr. Thomas's research program gnificantly involves undergraduates. Dr. omas runs her laboratory much like graduate lab - students participate in ofessional, publishable research projects. ey do not merely collect data, but rather Jennifer Thomas they contribute to studies from conception all the way through dissemination of the research in professional contexts." Thomas is the coordinator for the psychology department and directs the women's and gender studies minor. She also coordinates the women's and gender studies conference in partnership with King's College, which gives students the opportunity to present their capstone projects, which investigate a range of relevant topics. Dr. Carole Baddour, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received the Innovative and Non-Traditional Teaching Award. This award is nominated by students and recognizes a teacher who successfully incorporates innovative or nontraditional strategies into at least one class. Teaching innovation includes effective small group or collaborative methods; advanced use of technology in the classroom; consistent student-centered, interactive classroom experience; engagement in outside-the-classroom learning experiences that enrich student mastery of concepts and theories; and engaging students in joint faculty-student research projects. Dr. Sean Kelly, associate professor of English, received the Scholarship Award, Carole Baddour Andrew Miller Jeffrey Stratford which is awarded to a faculty member who demonstrates commendable success in the area of research and scholarly activity that influences Wilkes University and its students. Dr. Troy Lynn Lewis, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, received the Outstanding New Faculty Award. The award recognizes one full-time, non-visiting faculty member in his or her second or third year of fulltime teaching at Wilkes University who demonstrates excellence in teaching, advising and service. The awardee is nominated by the department chair. The Alumni Mentoring Award, which is nominated by alumni to recognize a teacher who continues to mentor students post-graduation, was presented to Dr. Ahas Sabouni, associate professor of electrical engineering. Genevieve Singer, a chemistry office assistant, received the Academic Support Award, which is given to a member of the Wilkes University staff who facilitates classroom or experiential initiatives and learning among students. Dr. Dina Udomsak, a part-time faculty member in First Year Foundations, was awarded the Adjunct Faculty Award. The award goes to an adjunct faculty instructor who demonstrates excellence in teaching Sean Kelly Troy Lynn Lewis Linda Gut ierrez through innovative practices and forming relationships with students. Dr. Andrew Miller, assistant professor of political science, and Dr. Jeffrey Stratford, associate professor of biology, both received the Interdisciplinary Award. The award recognizes one crossdisciplinary team of teachers that demonstrates outstanding initiatives in the classroom to further the ideals of interdisciplinary learning. Miller also received the Outstanding Advisor Award for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Linda Gutierrez, assistant professor of biology, received the Outstanding Advisor Award for the College of Science and Engineering. Dr. Steven Kheloussi, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, received the Outstanding Advisor Award for the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. Finally, Dr. Ken Wang, associate professor of finance, received the Outstanding Advisor Award for the Sidhu School of Business. The Outstanding Advisor Award recognizes academic advisors from individual schools and colleges who are nominated by students for demonstrating excellence in academic advising based on load, advising philosophy and testimony by advisees. Intli By Dylan M Co-Sports £( Eight week and intramu campus with ; are · currentl looking to ga semester -- h "The semt as games goi Robinson, l just finished (we delayed participants). if there are, 5 well, they let : and we adjust "Everyone think everyor for some tyi participate in, Thus far, originally offe due to partic esports. Desp has found su been played. "Participati downcompar because there so everythini said Robinsor participation 1 18 teams (36 than I expectt 1 Abas Sabouni St even Kheloussi Ken Wa ng . Breeding's cc score of the 1 �The Beacon - October 14, 2020 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have !DY restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Student Development hosts goat yoga for those on campus By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor A goat yoga event was held on campus Oct. 6. The event was coordinated by Student Development, with the help of with Buttinwood Farms, who supplied the animals. The event had two time slots, so students could participate in the event. Social distancing was maintained, bringing cheer to students during this different fall semester. ~ • @wilkesbeacon Maria.OiBuo@wilkes.edu Photos: The Beacon/Sara Ross Pictured (from left to right): First-year pharmacy students Maura Oiley, Nikki Polivka, Sara Stone and Lauren Wagner, and Hera Mukhtar, first-year biochemistry major, took a break from yoga to pose with their new furry friends. Emilee Barnhardt (front), a junior nursing student and Justin Lenig (behind), a junior electrical engineering major, practiced their poses. Alanah Guerrero, senior nursing major, held a pose with a goat. The yoga goats were bundled up in sweaters for the chilly fall weather. Pictured are just two of the many goats that made it to campus on Tuesday. Melony Mitchell, a first-year biology student, stayed zen with the help of goats. Logan Biechy, a senior in criminology and p~ychology,-c:uddled up with a goat. r �.J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 8 Life, Arts & Entertainment Tuna noodle pasta: Moody foodie's take on classic casserole By Anna Culver Staff Writer Think tuna noodle casserole, but without the casserole dish. This simple and easy dinner is hearty and filling, especially for those cold days. I find it as a perfect comfort food that I can make just enough for myself or for a group of friends or to just have leftovers, if you do not have friends. Ingredients: 1) Choice of Pasta - The Moody Foodie's pick is egg noodles 2) Peas 3) Tuna 4) Mayonnaise How to make it: Cook your choice of pasta. I prefer using egg noodles, as they seem to soak up the flavor of the dish. Start the peas while you are making the pasta. You are probably going to be using frozen peas, which is fine, but if you have access to fresh peas, fry them up with a little bit of olive oil and garlic to give this dish a little something extra. Drain off the pasta and peas. Set these aside while you drain off the tuna. For the amount of tuna, I only use a can when I am just making it for myself and save any leftovers for lunch the day after. Mix together your tuna with however much mayonnaise you desire to make the tuna. Then, get a bowl to mix together all three components. Portion out however much of each you want, as you will more than likely have leftovers of something. If you want to add some crunch to make it more casserole like, breadcrumbs can be added to this dish to give it a crunchy texture. Cost to make: Less than $10 Food Allergy: Tuna, egg The Beacon/Anna Culver Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver rsten Peters, Editor-in-Chief: Clutch - Col3trane ft. Kiana Lede Sean Schmoyer, News Editor: Broken Arrows - Avicii Sara Ross, Asst. News Editor: Best Days - Lissie Geony Frederick. News Staff Writer: Heart of Glass - MilE!Y Cyrus Maria DiBuo, LA&E Editor: Ask - The Smiths Emily Cherkauskas, LA&E Staff Writer: Goodbye To a World -:_ Porter Robinson Breanna Eblsch, Opinion Editor: Golden - Harry Styles This pasta is a simple and tasty way to have a filling and delicious meal on a budget. Zarqua Ansari, Asst. Opinion Editor: Shoop - Salt-N-Pepa Jordan Daniel, Opinion Staff Writer: 911 - Lady Gaga Dylan Mehl, Co-Sports Editor: Mr. Right Now - 21 Savage ft. ~ Ariel Reed, Co-Sports Editor: Forever - FLETCHER Chris Gowarty, Sports Staff Writer: Beminder - Ib§..W~knd Mia Walker, Lead Designer: Hit This Hard - Post Malone Steffen Horwath, Staff Photographer: Sedona - Houndmouth l ti jl A U, tb ol pt m . �The Beacon - October 14, 2020 9 Life, Arts & Entertainment L Club updates: Student Government and Commuter Council Compiled by Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer CLUB: Student Government EXECUTIVES: Student Body President: Kevin Long Executive Vice President: Brooke Mazzotta Corresponding Secretary: Nataliya Scarantino Recording Secretary: Lauren Harner Executive Treasurer: Ben Wojciechowski Parliamentarian: Bobby Wagner Sergeant at Arms: Nathan Pitcher MEETINGS: Every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Usually in the Miller room, but currently on Zoom. DESCRIPTION: Student Government is the pulse of our campus and the top place for all student concerns. We also work to invest in campus and improve campus life as a whole. Under us we have I 00+ clubs that we help with funding. Outside of our clubs, we also fund student conferences and many events across campus. However, our main goal is to hear and act on student concerns and ideas to make our campus cl$ well as an organization. Our motto is: "By the Students, For the Students:' HOW TO JOIN: Every spring, we hold elections for upperclass students who are seeking a position for the following year. We hold elections early in the fall for first-year students. Additionally, if there are any open spots in the upperclassmen classes, we will hold elections to fill them in the fall as well. CLUB: Commuter Council EXECUTIVES: President: Bree Polascik Vice President: Danielle Walsh Treasurer: Nick Alfano Secretary: Jessica Scheninger Public Relations Officer: Emily Turek Parliamentarian: Brooke Mazzotta MEETINGS: Due to COVID-19, we are meeting at times that work best for the executive board members. DESCRIPTION: Commuter Council is a great way to meet new people. We discuss topics that include parking for all the students on campus, socials, fundraising events and community service opportunities. Everyone here is a commuter, whether traveling from a nearby off-campus apartment or miles away. 1his is also a great opportunity to find people who may live fairly close to you, whom you may have not known. As a member of Commuter Council, you have an opportunity to be a leader. Many of our socials and events are headed by committees, which gives everyone a voice in the project. Although Commuter Council is fun, we also help the community, which is a very important part of the Wilkes experience. HOW TO JOIN: Email the Commuter Council at commuter@wilkes.edu. Do you have any important updates or new information on dubs and co-curriculars in your department that you would like students to know of? Are you a new dub and wanting to reach out to students? Contact: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Ariana. Como@wilkes.edu @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Getting your groove back and adapting to mid-semester stress Lindsey Scorey Staff Writer • As the university reaches the midterm mark of the semester, students and professors are fighting stress and fatigue during what would have been fall break. This shift in campus culture has required new techniques and ways of handling stress and burnout. "I feel that having limited social activities has impacted me most since being back on campus; said Nikki Polivka, sophomore pharmacy student. "There is still a lot going on around campus, and I am impressed, but I miss when there were more social contact events:' According to Polivka, socializing with friends and spending time decompressing from schoolwork is how she copes with stress. Along with the social aspect, certain study areas have been compromised this semester. "Many of the areas that I would normally go to for studying have been closed off, which has ironically led me to having to study at areas that typically have more students;' said Chris Smith, senior history and international relations major. While many are still enjoying face-to-face instruction and socialization, some students are adjusting to hybrid or online needs. Pharmacy student Nick Superko delved into the effects of the switch to online for Pl students. "Seeing friends and classmates on a laptop screen is not the same as interacting with them in person, going out for dinner, or h_aving them over for a study session. I am hoping, just as many others, that as the year progresses, we can begin to get back to the way things were," Superko said, in relation to adapting to the new campus culture. Asfall break approaches, the stress surrounding class work and exams has seemed to increase. "Personally, I think that the new adapted semester raised my stress more than it has ever been before; said Kelly Tyler, junior nursing student, in relation to motivation on a new schedule. "Usually, I am able to take a few days to myself during fall break or Labor Day - it's hard to get (everything) all done while also trying to care for myself. However, I am excited to get out before Thanksgiving and have an extended winter break." However, this new time frame and style has allowed students to find new ways of coping with stress and taking time for themselves. Stress-relievers can include going for walks, creating artwork, watching your favorite TV show or movie, hanging out with your roommates, meditation, yoga or doing whatever it is that you enjoy. Dr. Robert Bohlander, professor of psychology, emphasized social connections, offering some opportunities on campus for The Beacon/Emily Cherkauskas Bresieth 214, located in the Neurotraining and Research Center, is open to any student wishing to learn about and practice stress reduction. stress-relief resources. "For big issues, see campus counseling, who can assist or refer to other resources for help. For smaller issues, talk to friends or trusted faculty or staff. Don't forget the NeuroTraining and Research Center in Breiseth 214. There are resources there to help with stress reduction. Also, Dr. (Linda) Paul's virtual meditation sessions are a great resource for the campus community:' Senior elementary and childhood education major Alexandra Rivera also offered a simple - but important - reminder. "My best advice would be to not lose sight of the end-game;' said Rivera. "Stay focused, push through it and it will be done before we know it. You can do if' @wilkesbeacon Lind~ey.Scorey@wilkes.edu r �J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment Liz's Craft Column: Spookify your mini pumpkins By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer $15 to $20. Almost everyone knows how to carve, or has carved, a pumpkin before - it is a spooky season classic. Sometimes it can be disgusting with all the slime, and it can get boring if one has no knife skills. These mm1 decorated pumpkins are a fun craft for the spooky season. Halloween is just around the corner, so it is good to be prepared. For the decorated pumpkins, the materials are mini pumpkins, Halloweenthemed ribbon, small fake flowers in fall colors, like oranges and reds, a hot glue gun, scissors and a knife. The pumpkins can be purchased at places with a produce section, such as Target or any grocery store, as well as from local vendors selling goodies for the fall season. The rest of the materials can be purchased at any craft store, such as Joann Fabrics or Michaels. This craft is affordable, costing about The first step is making the bows for the top of the pumpkin. This can be done simply by cutting a piece of ribbon and tying it like shoelaces, or bunny ear style. That is the easiest way to make them, but there is a nicer and prettier way to do it. The fancier, more crafty way, to make the bow would be to cut a piece of ribbon, make the bunny ears as if tying a shoelace and cross the two ends of the loops over one another to make an "X" in the center. This should resemble a ribbon with a circle on top and two long pieces. Now, hot glue the back of the X to the inside middle of the circle that is now made. You may also have to hot glue the top layer of the X on, but sometimes the hot glue sticks to both layers. The ribbon should now resemble a bow. To cover the hot glue spot in the middle, take a smaller piece of ribbon and wrap it around, hot gluing both ends of the small piece in the back and cutting 1) The first step to this craft is cutting and tying the holiday-themed ribbon. 2) Now it is time to glue! Turn the bow over and apply to the back: off the excess so that it forms a loop around the middle. Repeat these steps until about one to two bows are made per pumpkin. The number of bows added are up to preference of how much is wanted on top. Be creative with what ribbon is used or the sizes of the bows. As a hint: The spookier, the better. Now it is time to decorate the pumpkins. First, cut off the stem, being careful to not cut into the pumpkin, or it will rot very quickly. If the stem is short enough, it is not necessary to cut it off because it can be easily covered with decorations. Then, remove the small fake flowers from their stem. The convenient thing about fake flowers is that they are easily removed right off of the plastic stem and are able to be put on. Arrange the flowers and bows on top of each pumpkin. Feel free to put as many or as little flowers or bows on the pumpkin. Then, hot glue each individual element as desired. After that, the mm1 decorated pumpkins are finished. These add a fun, cute and spooky element to a desk or dresser and bring the spirit of the holiday alive. Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka 3) Whatever method one chooses, the bow should look something like this. 4) Once making bows is completed, you are ready to decorate. 5) Once one has decorated to their liking, the spooky mini pumpkins are ready to be displayed, whether on a desk or dresser. These pumpkins are also great festive gifts for loved ones. To give an idea of what the finished pumpkins could look like, here are a few examples. Happy fall! ,. �The Beacon - October 14, 2020 FAMILY, from front Student Development tried to make the experience relative to the same that students and families would expect to engage with inperson. "We have so much opportunity to host activities virtually, so we chose to schedule some events that we would normally host in-person," said Howells. "Yoga, educational sessions, family escape rooms, a photo challenge and of course, bingo." The day started with a virtual yoga class at 10 a.m., which lasted for one hour. "Mellow Flow Yoga" was hosted by the staff of Balance Yoga and Wellness, who taught attendees asana, which is the physical practice of holding various yoga poses. Techniques were beginner-friendly and non-strenuous in order to accommodate anyone who was new' to yoga. The session provided a relaxing way to start the day, helping students and family members wake up and stretch their bodies. Dr. Georgia Costalas, executive director of the Center for Global Education and Diversity, hosted the "Love Languages" session, held at 11 a.m. Costalas presented a lecture that focused on the importance of bonding and appreciating others through the various ways Life, Arts & Entertainment in which we express affection. She covered the five different types of love languages: Words of affirmation, spending quality time with others, offering and receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch and affection. "I mentioned that I have seen an interest in the topic of the love languages among our student workers and in the media, so I thought it might be a good topic for the parents," said Costalas, when she explained her reasoning behind holding the lecture. "I have previously given workshops on the 'Languages of Appreciation for the Workplace' and the love languages, so I volunteered." Costalas reiterated the importance of how people express themselves in their relationships, the types of which can range from familial, parental, coworker, friend and many others, that can range from the different developmental ages, from child, adolescent to adult. Students and families worked together to "escape" a digital escape room, which lasted from 1 to 4 p.m. According to Student Development, participants had to get back to present-day in the Totally Tubular 80s party-themed escape room. Attendees worked with each other to piece together hints and puzzles in order to solve and escape the room, the theme of which was set in 1988. 11 The Beacon/Emily Cherkauskas Dr. Georgia Costalas presented the five different love languages to families via Zoom. The final session, which occurred later in the day's events at 7 p.m., featured a game of bingo. Students and families were able to join in on Zoom and had a digital bingo card, where the hosts would pick and call numbers over the conference call. Bingo winners received their own Wilkes-branded merchandise and swag from the Wilkes University Official Bookstore at Barnes and Noble. Now that virtual family day has concluded, Student Development is broadening its events for students and adapting as necessary to the current status of the pandemic. "Should this virtual format be needed again, we will expand offerings and communicate more broadly with families;' said Howells. • @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Honors Program Student Committee hosts pumpkin contest By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer • The Honors Program Student Committee is hosting a pumpkin carving and decorating contest until the end of October. Pictures of decorated pumpkins can be sent to @ wilkeshonors on Instagram for a chance to win a prize. The HPSC will vote, and the top three pumpkins will receive a prize. All submissions must be in by Oct. 31, and all Wilkes students are welcome and encouraged to participate. The pumpkins can be carved,. painted, decorated or designed in any way. "The HPSC wanted to have a fun contest open to everyone to embody the spirit of the holiday," said Jen McLaughlin, honors program office assistant when speaking of the program's inspiration for the pumpkin contest. The committee worked hard to plan an event that was fun for students and also fit the holiday and fall season, as chillier weather approaches. "We were trying to find a fall-inspired activity that brings out students' creativity in the spirit of the holidays while also keeping everyone safe, which is why everyone has the opportunity to decorate pumpkins at home but are able to send in pictures on social media:" said Oliva Raymond, HPSC president. The HPSC has high hopes for this event and wants it to be fun for all Wilkes students. "We hope we get a lot of entries, and we want to have a lot of pumpkins to choose from," said McLaughlin. Raymond believes in the spirit of the holiday, even during the pandemic, as she hopes that students can get into the Halloween spirit, even though it is not celebrated traditionally. Honors students are already planning their pumpkin designs and getting excited for the contest. First-year honors program member Kaelin Hughes said she is excited for the contest and to see the winning submissions. A lot of thought goes into planning a pumpkin design, and it is good to start planning in advance in order to potentially "None of our events are permitted to take place in person," McLaughlin said. "We win a prize. Hughes plans on decorating a Wilkes- have been trying to be creative in planning themed pumpkin for the contest. ideas that don't endanger anybody:' "Since I am a freshman and new to Raymond agrees, as planning events everything, every time I have a question during COVID-19 has definitely been I usually go to Professor McLaughlin challenging but has also forced the program or Dr. Kuiken, so I'd like to paint to think outside the box. cartoon-like versions "Virtual events are great because they · of them:" said keep everyone safe yet engaged in the Hughes. "They Wilkes community," said Raymond. technically are Although the events cannot be in-person, the faces of · the Honors Program and HPSC have been the Honors able to have more events than usual. This Program." gives honors students the opportunity to A l earn more participation points per semester Honors and for other Wilkes students to have fun. Program "The whole point of the Honors Program events is to reach out to everybody on campus;' have had to said McLaughlin. be moved The Honors Program and HPSC have online due planned events this semester already, such to COVID-19 as the NEDA walk, virtual bingo and a guidelines, Chipotle fundraiser. Planning many online so the Honors events for students will continue into next Program has semester. To learn more about future events, been planning many check Wilkes Today as well as the Honors events that require no Program Instagram. contact with others. McLaughlin shared that planning events @wilJ<esbeacon during the pandemic has been hard. Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 LA&E 12 The SORDON I A RT GAL LERY C ELEB RATE S THREE YEARS IN THE KARAMBELAS MEDIA 8c COMMUNICATION CENTER whell\, the f<'..lMUM.bel&ls Ctll\,teY ope~d tts dooYS thYee t,eAYS Ago, tt 1M.Anrud the begtll\,M~ of A ~w ehitpteY ti/\, the SoYdoM Art ~AlleYt, legAet, . Toe SoYdoM ~AlleYt, hAs bull\, A -fi.;ctw.Ye 011\, the wtl~ IAJM.VeYSttt, CAIM.'J)IA.S stll\,Ce :l3_r3. Its ori.gtll\,Al loeAtl-011\, WAS 011\, 501,(,th Rt.Vey StYeet 011\, the fi.YSt ftooY of the StAm LtAYM~ C,tll\,teY. Toe VeYt, fi.YSt exhtbtti.oll\, ti/\, the SoYdoM ~AlleYt, wAs wtl~-'g.AYYe boYII\, ~eoyge C&ltltll\,, who wAs woYld Yell\,OWII\, foy hts pAtll\,tt~s of NAttve AIM.t~All\,S ti/\, the old west. DVeY the t,eAYS, tll\,teYest ti/\, the gAlleYt, WA)(ed A~ WA~d. (II\, :2.015, l>Y. p~~R. 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In 201 lcon" i galler: - HeAtvieY stll\,CAVAge - Compiled by Maria DiBuo, Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor . @wilkE Maria . �LA&E The Beacon - October 14, 2020 . ll I ,. . ~ ~.t·" ·1... '. a '~ ' In 2018, the Sordoni Art Gallery presented the "Loud Silence: Expressions of Activism" exhibit. In 2017, the Sordoni Art Gallery featured the "15 Minutes: From Image to Icon" exhibit by Andy Warhol, which is the most-visited exhibition in the gallery's 47-year history. @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes. edu 13 Pictured is the entire Sordoni Art Gallery staff at the third anniversary celebration for being located at the Karambelas Media & Communication Center. Photos courtesy of Heather Sincavage In 2019, the "Simply Picasso" exhibit was featured,. highlighting the father of modern art. The Sordoni Art Gallery hosted a lecture series for the event. Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker Mia.Walker@wilkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 Opinion 14 Opinion Have an opinion or want to write a guest coiumn? Contact the opinion editor: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu - - - -~ ur Voi~ ---- Each week, The Beacon's editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Third party votes are as good as no votes at all • Over the last few months, we've all seen the occasional "Vote JoJo 2020" and other people advocating for third party candidates for the 2020 election. And at a glance, their reasoning can be rather sound: Both parties are equally terrible and get nothing done, so voting third party would help to upend the system. To this, we at the Beacon would like to issue a mighty laugh of derision. When was the last time a third party candidate won a presidential election? Unsurprisingly, the ~nswer is never. Despite this, third parties still hang around on the fringes of every presidential election, amassing insignificant amounts of the vote, from one to three percent. Even back in 2016, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party received an incredible 3.28 percent of the vote, with almost 4.5 million votes, according to the Federal Elections Commission. Many of their supporters repeated the familiar adage of wanting to break the system by running as a third party. But time and time again, all these campaigns ultimately do is nothing but hemorrhage votes from the two main parties in an election - and that is the problem. You see, most of the country exists in a two-party political system. Was this what the Founders intended? Of course not, but the time and place for reforming our two-party system is not during an election year, as these third parties would have you believe. Let's look at the example of Pennsylvania in the 2016 election, a state that President Donald Trump carried by 0. 72 percent, or 44,292 votes. In this election, there were 231,066 combined votes for irrelevant third parties, out of a total of 6,165,478 votes, according to the Federal Election Commission. While these votes would not have neatly fit in with one party or another, the fact remains that third party voters consistently overlook one crucial concept: Who is the lesser of two evils in an election dominated by two candidates? Many people have valid reasons for disliking Trump or Joe Biden. Both candidates have sexual assault allegations, both have made racist remarks and both have been inconsistent in the comments they have made throughout their public careers. But deciding to vote third party is, almost exclusively, throwing away one's vote. For most of our lives, we have heard about only two parties as they scream at us and at each other through advertisements and news headlines. Once in a while, we hear about the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and even the Rent Is Too Damn High.Party. Maybe the government really isn't doing enough for the environment, but do you think the party that struggles to clear even one million votes is going to ever be as influential as either of the two main parties and their over 60 million votes? A vote for third party seems to be a great alternative, but here's the deal: It's utterly pointless. Jo Jorgenson isn't going to make it to the White House, and neither is Howie Hawkins. If you were a diehard supporter for Bernie Sanders and recoil at the thought of a Biden presidency, ask yourself this: Would you rather a Biden presidency or a Trump presidency? But by voting for a third party, you are forfeiting your vote in determining the outcome. Because let's be realistic here, it's either Biden or Trump - not Jo. @wilkesbeacon TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - October 14, 2020 L Opinion 15 First pr.esidential debate: Useless insults and absurd debacle By Liam Flynn Staff Writer The first presidential debate was held on Sept. 29 from 9 to 10:30 p.m. EST at the Samson Pavilion of the Health Education Campus, which is shared by Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. Chris Wallace of Fox News moderated the debate. The debate was divided into six segments: President Donald Trump's and joe Biden's records, the Supreme Court, the Coronavirus pandemic, race and violence in cities, election integrity, and the economy. Each segment was approximately 15 minutes in length. Wallace introduced each topic and gave each candidate two minutes to speak, followed by facilitated discussion between them. The allotted time was generally not upheld. Trump repeatedly interrupted and criticized Biden during Biden's answers to the initial questions as well as during the facilitated discussions, and he was chastised by Wallace several times for doing so. On several occasions, Wallace pleaded with Trump to respect the rules and norms of the debate. At one point, Biden said to Trump, "Will you shut up, man?" During the discussion about healthcare plans, Biden called Trump a "clown." When Biden and Wallace pressed Trump "to condemn white supremacy groups, Trump asked, "Give me a name ...," to which Biden responded, "The Proud Boys." Trump then said, "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by, but I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the Left because this is not a right-wing problem, this is a left-wing problem." This remark was interpreted by some members of that far-right group, as well as others, as a call to arms, while some claimed the statement was merely a wrong choice of words by the president. When asked about his position on police reform, Biden called for an increase in police funding. He explained such funds would be used to hire psychologists or psychiatrists who would accompany police officers during 911 calls in order to defuse situations and reduce the use of force. Fact checkers challenged many of Trump's statements. Trump falsely said that he "brought back (college) football:' He had commented on his wish for the conferences to play, but took no official action. Trump also repeated the claim that he "got back" Seattle and Minneapolis from left-wing protesters, and continued to repeat conspiracy theories about voter fraud. He said, without evidence, that drug prices will fall "80 or 90 percent," and exaggerated that he is making insulin at prices "so cheap, it's like water" when actually insulin prices remain at about $300 per vial. the 2009 swine flu pandemic, which had an estimated death toll of about 12,000. When Biden mentioned that Trump should get "a lot smarter," Trump said, "Don't ever use the word smart with me, don't ever use that word. There's nothing smart about you, Joe." The president then incorrectly claimed that Biden forgot where he went to college, referring to a video where Biden talks about announcing his first Senate campaign on the campus of Delaware State University. Trump spent the vast majority of his time on the debate stage Tuesday night interrupting former the vice president Trump falsely said that the economy before the pandemic was "the greatest economy in the history of our country." GDP growth was higher under Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson and Bill Clinton, and the unemployment rate was lower under Eisenhower. When Biden referred to Trump's remarks in March 2020 about injecting disinfectant to treat the COVID-19 virus, Trump said it was made sarcastically. Trump falsely said that he brought back 700,000 manufacturing jobs. The overall number of manufacturing jobs was 487,000, prior to COVID-19. Biden falsely stated that the trade deficit with China is higher and that violent crime is up (only the national murder rate has increased since Trump took office). Trump criticized Biden's handling of and lobbying personal attacks. Trump spent far more time throughout the debate attacking Biden than addressing the issues. Biden sought to offer substantive answers, but it was often difficult to hear him over Trump's efforts to derail him. Coming into the debate, Trump and his allies repeatedly painted Biden as senile and not up to the task of running the country. Trump went as far to suggest that Biden was taking performanceenhancing substances. Let me just say that this debate was the worst debate in the history of presidential debating, and I'm including primary debates. Nothing else comes close. CNN's Jake Tapper perfectly exclaimed what all Americans were feeling shortly after the conclusion of the debate. Some of his remarks included: "That was a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck," "He was his own tweets come to life" and "We'll talk about who won the debate, who lost the debate . . . One ·thing for sure, the American people lost." After much of the resistance to take action to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, ironically, Trump was hospitalized with COVID-19 on Oct. 2, and treated with the unapproved experimental antibody drug regeneron, the antiviral drug remdesevir and the steroid dexamethasone. He As discharged and returned to the white ho:Use on Oct. 5. Trump's campaign manager issued a new statement on Oct. 8 announcing they agree to a suggestion by Biden's campaign , to<ielay the second debate by a week, so it ca~ be held in person. Trump said that he will not participate in( the second presidential debate wi~h Biden after the commission on presidential debates said the event will be; held virtually in the wake of the president's positive COVID-19 diagnosis. ; I am not going to do a virtual debate," saio Trump on Fox Business. J am not • g ng to waste my time on a virtual d ate." · ;, rump campaign manager Bill Stepien ; said they would be willing to push the Oct. lS'debate back a week and then move the th~rd debate to Oct. 29, just days before the November 3 election. ~ut Biden's campaign rejected their proposal. Trump doesn't make the debate schedule - the debate commission does. Trump's erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar, and pick new dates of his choosing. I personally would not consider the prime time event on Sept. 29 a debate. IH had to pick a winner, I believe Biden would take the victory. The debate did not go in the favor of, our current commander in chief, as many moderates viewed him as a bully as he refrained from answering any questions about future policies and kept · at\empting to verbally attack the former vice president. Many voters are turning away from, as Biden said in the debate, "The worst president America has ever had." Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �_J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 16 Opinion Bre's Beats: Mendes brings fans to a world of "Wonder" By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor There is no greater surprise than the announcement of new music, and especially during today's climate where COVID-19 has imposed numerous obstacles on the music industry. This has not stopped monumental releases, such as a heartfelt storytelling album from Taylor Swift to a groundbreaking single from one of the world's biggest bands BTS. Early this month, Canadian singersongwriter Shawn Mendes joined the ranks by both teasing and releasing the leading single of his highly anticipated album due in December. After months of speculation and rumors, dedicated fans along with the general public were given a glimpse into Mendes' new era after a few cryptic tweets arrived with an artistically pleasing video doubling as the long awaited announcement. "Wonder," the title of the singer's upcoming fourth album and latest single, reveals a side of Mendes that has never been seen before. Honest and authentic, the leading single touches on toxic masculinity, being open and vulnerable and addresses the topic of feeling every emotion as it comes. Following the release of his third No. 1 album "Shawn Mendes" in May of 2018, two spontaneous singles dropping in 2019. Coming off a highly successful world tour that spanned over almost the entirety of last year, the wait for new music from the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter is over. His presence on social media has been relatively silent over the last ten months, which has fed into the excitement around the idea of brand new music being on the way. The teaser video featuring "Intro", another song off the album, was littered with hidden clues, including honest lyrics, unknown scenes of the music video at the time displayed in painting a setlist with song titles and themes of the era. The creativity of the video was beyond stunning and eye-catching, let alone the beauty of the shorter song. With a slow build, featuring a repetitive melody of soothing piano notes giving way to the shocking instrumental while showcasing Mendes' unique vocals, "Intro" is only a taste of the incredible musicianship he is widely known for. "Wonder;' the power ballad lead single, was released only two days after the initial announcement. Overall, the song is a major step away from the sound that Mendes has claimed since the beginning of his career and is remarkable in terms of both lyrics and musical elements. Opening with a beautiful choral overtone, the song immediately pulls you in. With nothing short of a momentous feel, the lyrics are kind, vulnerable and reflective on deep emotions that are hard to capture genuinely. Music can be magical and bring happiness like no other, and truly, "Wonder" is the perfect example of exactly that. Between the heartfelt and attentiongrabbing instrumental towards the end the subtle crescendos throughout the entirety of the single and recognizable beat paired with the touching lyrics, the record is nothing short of incredible. The contrast and display of Mendes' vocal ability to belt but also touch on soft notes that capture both the beauty and warmth of the music is a unique feature of the song that stands out on the charts, which are flooded with countless remixes and hip hop artists. Mendes himself described the song as "reflection, hope, freedom" and revealed that he's never been more proud of a song or album before. Although the singer has always been more soulful than other mainstream Top 40 artists, this new single emphasizes that skill even more. With fans more excited than ever after the single and its accompanying music video, there is much anticipation and wonder for Mendes' fourth album set to be released on Dec.4. If this new taste of music is any indicator what the rest of the record will sound like, then everyone is in for a great tracklist full of stunning songs. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu Say "Boo" to your new favorite spooky season movies By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer Halloween is just around the corner, and many of us will not be able to participate in the traditional holiday festivities like trick-or-treating or attending a costume party this year due to COVID-19. However, watching these classic Halloween movies can help you still feel excited about the holiday. The first movie on the must-watch list of ~lassie Halloween films is "Hocus Pocus." This is one of my all time favorites, and it depicts a curious teenage boy who moves with his family to Salem, but he struggles to fit _in at his new school. Along the way, he awakens a trio of witches that were executed from the 17th century. Kenny Ortega is the director of this film, which stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy and Omri Katz. If the history of the Salem witches and · magic spells are your thing, then you need to watch this film on Disney+, Amazon Prime or in select nearby theaters. "Casper" is the next movie on the list. This 1995 American fantasy comedy-drama was directed by Brad Silberling, and it stars Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle and Malachi Pearson. The movie follows Casper, voiced by Pearson, who is a kind ghost that haunts a mansion in Maine until a specialist arrives with his daughter Kat, who becomes Casper's complicated love interest. If you have a soft spot for ghosts and romance, you can stream this movie on Freeform, Amazon Prime, iTunes Store, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play and many others. The third movie to watch during Halloween is Tim Burton's 1993 film "The Nightmare Before Christmas." This film displays the adventures of the pumpkin king Jack Skellington, who is bored of the routine of scaring people in the "real world" until he discovers Christmastown and he finds a new lease on life. The entire film is fun for the whole family to watch and is available to stream on Disney+, Amazon Prime, iTunes Store, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play and can also be viewed in select nearby theaters. If you are feeling \ldventurous this Halloween season, I recommend a highly rated Korean horror film, "Train to Busan." Sangho Yeon directed this film, and it has received many awards, such as the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film, Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Film Director, Blue Dragon Film Award Technical Award and Blue Dragon Film Award Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Film. The movie is about a zombie virus breakout in South Korea, while passengers on a train to Busan struggle to survive against the undead. If the ever so popular zombie film genre is of interest to you, check out this movie on Amazon Prime, Shudder, Tubi, iTunes Store, Vudu, YouTube and other streaming platforms. The last movie on my list is, of course, "Halloween." This is an American horror franchise that began in 1978 and consists of 11 films, all of which fall in the must-watch category. The focus of this movie is on serial killer Michael Myers, who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his sister, but 15 years later, he escapes and kills people in the fictional town ofHaddonfiled, Ill. These suspenseful films will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, and you can watch the first "Halloween" on AMC, Shudder, Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play and others. Although this Halloween will feel different from past years, you can still make it fun by watching all the movies on this list with your closest friends and family members while you all chow down on your favorite Halloween candy. @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu . �17 Opinion The Beacon - October 14, 2020 American Sign Language: Not all words need to be spoken By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor Be careful of what you call a disability. For example, if one day you woke up and everyone had super-speed except for you, you would not have a disability. The need for cars would disappear for everyone except for you. However, you could still drive to work as normal, and you would still be a functioning member of society. Sure, it would be inconvenient that you couldn't super speed everywhere, but you still wouldn't have a disability. However, if one day you started to drive to work and found that the roads were obstructed with construction for people's houses, you wouldn't be able to get to your destination on time. The roads weren't needed by everyone else, but you still needed them. It would be unfair for other people to neglect your needs simply because they were no longer necessary for them. In this case, you might have a disability, not because there is something inherently wrong with you, but because the system failed to accommodate for your needs. It is not fair that your problems are overlooked_by society when solutions to these problems would require very little effort to resolve, i.e. leaving the roads clear for your travel. In the same way, deafness is not a disability. Just because someone has a different life experience than you does not mean that you are better off than them. Privilege merely exists as a consequence of failed accommodations for a minority group. For example, white privilege is an advantage that white people have over black people because the system is stacked against black people. On the same token, ableism arises from the inability to accommodate for people with disabilities. According to Gallaudet Research Institute, American Sign Language is the third most learned language in America, just behind Spanish and French. Approximately 250,000 to 500,000 people use ASL. PubMed reports that fewer than one in 20 people are deaf or hard of hearing, with an estimated 10 million people who are hard of hearing and one million people who are functionally deaf. With numbers this high, it is obvious that ASL is a valuable tool. However, the usefulness of ASL doesn't stop there. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one in three Americans between the ages of65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those over 75 have difficulty hearing. Science has not found a way to prevent people from aging, so the reality is that most of us will end up losing our hearing as we get older. What better way to prepare than to learn ASL now while our ~orking memory is still strong? ASL has practical uses as well. For example, deep sea divers use hand signals and underwater writing slates to communicate. Knowing ASL would make deep sea diving communication incredibly advanced. Instead of a few designated hand signals, ASL would allow for full conversations underwater. It would be much easier than having to bring a special slate to write underwater, especially in an emergency situation. SWIM 5AFE r ': ,. ~~ However, most people are not deep sea divers. ASL would come in handy in an emergency situation. In a circumstance where you need to be quiet, such as an intruder in your house, using sign language would allow you to communicate with others without making a sound. The silent communication is much more thorough than some hand motions you hope the other person can understand. because they have to look to be able to communicate. Some people are mute by choice. Although they might not use their voice to speak, ASL might offer them an alternative for speech. This would help ease the hearts of their loved ones. Selective mutism is often the result of anxiety in social situations. By using sign language, the anxiety of communication is alleviated, allowing for less stressful interactions. ff1'ND tWE ~ Children can pick up ASL just as quickly as verbal speech. Babies can pick up ASL as early as eight months old. Alongside their first stumbled words, infants can fully communicate using signs. ASL is easy to learn and helps cognitive development earlier on in life. In fact, according to Education Playcare, research shows that ASL speeds up speech development and reduces stress for infants who have not yet learned to speak. They are able to communicate and this fosters a stronger parent-child bond from an earlier age. Infants with the ability to communicate at a younger age would enable less fussy children and a lot less tears. When I went to Knoebels as a kid, there was a deaf man collecting tickets for the Twister roller coaster. He had a sign saying, "I'm deaf, but I can help you." I felt so bad that everyone walked by him without saying thank you simply because he couldn't hear. I made my dad Google how to say thank you in sign languag• so I could thank the man. The smile that lit up his face was enough to fuel me for years down the line. Hearing is a sense most people take for granted. Failing to put closed captions on videos and movies puts a significant portion of people at a loss of enjoyment. Social media like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have videos with no options for captions. The little extra effort it takes to add captions is inconsequential to media giant~ and displays compassion. With so many benefits, ASL should be implemented into the American education system and become a household staple for the future. Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Graphics by Zarqua Ansari 1HIEF ASL opens an opportunity to communicate with a group of people who have a completely different perspective than you. Deaf people have more spatial awareness than hearing people r �I The Beacon - October 14, 2020 18 Opinion ''Zoom fatigue'' causes dire consequences for students By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor Gone are the days of sitting in the classroom for lengthy periods of time, working in groups to complete assignments and seeing colleagues, fellow students and professors in-person everyday. The normalcy of gaining an education has dramatically changed due to COVID-19, and the adaptation to the new safety precautions that seem to impact every aspect oflife continue to alter even the most basic parts of what daily life used to look like. Now, instead of the typical school day, students nationwide are spending hours in front of their computer screens to sit in on countless Zoom classes and meetings, along with submitting assignments through various online tools. The adjustments to education in order for students to continue learning without being put at a direct risk of contracting the virus have been substantial, and although the digital classroom has proven to be relatively effective, there are inevitable downfalls. Losing the aspect of meeting with a class in-person, engaging in educational discussions and having the opportunity to build relationships with other classmates has taken away the most important aspects of the typical school experience. After becoming acclimated to the expected days of switching between various subjects for designated amounts of time, the abrupt change to an entirely online school day still remains a challenge, including the unavoidable tiredness of doing everything digitally. "Zoom fatigue," as the phenomenon has been coined, includes easily getting distracted, losing focus and becoming restless and exhausted. These are all common symptoms that millions are now experiencing on a daily basis. Interacting on a digital platform such as Zoom makes it difficult to connect with people because of the missing nonverbal cues, and it feels more restricting since the learning space is now only available on a computer screen. According to the Harvard Business Review, "On a video call, the only way to show we're paying attention is to look at the camera. But, in real life, how often do you stand within three feet of a colleague and stare at their face? Probably never. This is because having to engage in a "constant gaze" makes us uncomfortable - and tired. In person, we are able to use our peripheral vision to glance out the window or look at others in the room. On a video call, because we are all sitting in different homes, if we turn to look out the window, we worry it might seem like we're not paying attention." Before the pandemic, our lives remained in the comfortable normal we had always known. The only form of video calling would be occasional FaceTime calls with friends or family members. But now, when we rely heavily on the digital platform to learn, complete work and connect with others, making the video call seem more like a chore. Not taking into consideration the variations between real life occurrences and how to act on camera can make long days on Zoom attending class feel tedious and tiring. On top of the stress and anxiety COVID-19 has already placed on young people, "Zoom fatigue" adds another level of pressure. As if the coursework and overall workload of being a college student wasn't enough, adding a completely online component means making those tasks even more difficult. Hannah Simerson, a junior double major in education and communication studies, has felt the effects of the change to remote learning while taking on the task of continuing to earn her education in a nontraditional setting. "I just said to my family recently how I feel like I haven't learned a single thing so far this semester, and it's a shame because I'm in almost all of my core classes for my major;' Simerson said. "I'm not sure if it's due to Zoom, but I just can't seem to retain any information from my class meetings. I thought virtual learning would be best for me, but I feel that I kind of got jipped out of my education this semester." Students across the country are feeling similar to Simerson. Many feel as if they aren't learning as much as they would if they were in the classroom and all the negatives that come with conducting class almost entirely online. While many may argue that "Zoom fatigue" is not real, and in turn not affecting the millions of people who.are staying home from school and work due COVID-19, the effects are hard to overlook. It's clear the digital transition is more harmful than beneficial in more ways than one, and a change back to normalcy needs to happen soon. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu COVID- I 9 denial results in Trump's ironic diagnosis By Wi lliam Billingsley Staff Writer • By now, you've no doubt heard the news about how President Donald Trump contracted COVID-19, a deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of over 210,000 Americans. If you've been paying attention at all to Trump's remarks on COVID-19, you also know that he has been particularly consistent in down-playing the severity of the virus and being especially creative with his readings of the statistics, which makes the fact that Trump contracted COVID-19 one of the most fittingly ironic things that I, and many others, have ever seen. Understandably, this irony was not lost on millions of other Americans, and social media was especially aflame with people from both parties rushing to lambast the other. "Trump's response to his own COVID-19 diagnosis only provides another example of how selfish and egotistical he is;' said Jennifer Boch, a junior international relations and history double major. "The man has no shame. It is not surprising that he contracted it, and unfortunately, he is using it as a political tool." Just a few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the university's decision to reopen in-person learning despite the inherent risks of doing so. In that piece, I mentioned that we were approaching almost 200,000 dead Americans. And in just a few short weeks, we have now exceeded 213,000 deaths with no end in sight. So, you might be inclined to think that a president who was so consistent in downplaying COVID-19 and touted all sorts of absurd nonsense would learn the error of his ways once he actually contracted COVID-19. But you have to remember, this is 2020. You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you? According to Trump, reality can be whatever he wants it to be. In this case, his recovery only furthers his long-held belief that COVID-19 is either a Chinese bioweapon, a plot by the Deep State or ultimately not that big of a deal. Of course, all of these are utterly ridiculous, but because he walked away from COVID-19 more or less unharmed, this only further supports his patently false claims about the virus. Never mind his obnoxious supporters who were already nigh-impossible to convince on wearing a mask or following other basic safety guidelines. You know, basic human empathy, which leads me to my next point of contention with COVID-19 - the ease of transmission and its highly variable lethality. According to the COVID-19 tracker by Johns Hopkins University, there are over 36 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with over a million dead. Although the pandemic moniker might carry a certain connotation of this widespread deadly pathogen rivaling the Black Death, the fact is that obviously, it is nowhere as deadly. For reference, the Black Death was estimated to have killed anywhere from a third to two-thirds the population of Europe, an estimate that does not account for the scores of others killed in Asia. But it is precisely because COVID-19 is not as earth-shatteringly deadly as the Black Death or other noted pandemics that we as a country find ourselves in this baffling predicament. Because apparently COVID-19 is not deadly enough to convince people to follow the simplest of instructions like wear your mask, wash your hands, and stay the hell away from me." Now of course, it is obviously a good thing that this pandemic is not as deadly as some of history's nastier diseases, because obviously many more of us would be dead, and the rest would be unable to pretend the pandemic didn't exist. I won't pretend to know what arbitrary lethality bar a pandemic has to cross before a society begins to take it seriously, but I suppose we'll find out once people stop dying from it. @wilkesbeacon William.Billingsley@wilkes.edu �Sports The Beacon - October 14, 2020 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Intramurals aim for participation in cornhole, esports By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor Eight weeks into the Fall 2020 semester, and intramural sports are underway on campus with a twist. While Wilkes Athletics are currently delayed, intramurals are looking to gain participants for the spring semester -- hopefully over winter break. "The semester has been great as far as games going on smoothly:' said Scott Robinson, head of intramurals. "We just finished our second week of games (we delayed the start to try to get more participants). There have been no issues, and if there are, such as somebody not feeling well, they let me know via email right away and we adjust the schedule accordingly. "Everyone is being very respectful, and I think everyone is enjoying the opportunity for some type of activity that they can participate in:' Thus far, only two of the four sports originally offered as intramurals are running due to participation issues: cornhole and esports. Despite the change, the university has found success in the games that have been played. "Participation for intramurals has been down compared to pasr years. Part of that is because there are not really any team sports, so everything is more individual-based:' said Robinson. "I am very pleased with the participation in cornhole. We have a total of 18 teams (36 participants), which is more than I expected:' Cornhole takes place on campus every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to roughly 8:30 p.m. in the McHale Athletic Center. The protocol for this is similar to many other on campus activities: requiring a temperature check of students at the door and a green badge on the Wilkes SHIELD app. It appears Wilkes students have taken to the addition of cornhole to intramural sports and are in favor of its return. "I think that cornhole d!!finitely got a great reaction," said Michael Gurska, an intramurals intern. Donovan Breeding, a cornhole participant, added, "Everybody knows it. It's a fun game to play, and hopefully in the future, it is definitely added." While cornhole has taken off with Wilkes students, the other three sports - esports, a three-point contest and a decathlon - did not have the same reception. Esports is functioning with two competitors. These two individuals are currently acting as the "guinea pigs" in a trial run of the league. The trial run is an attempt to figure out the best way to make the sport bigger on campus. Both the three-point contest and the decathlon had to be canceled due to the lack of participants. Esports gaining popularity is a priority for intramural sports, as they are looking to make it a staple of the program. "I currently have two interns working for me right now, and one of their main objectives is raising interest . on the topic Breeding's cornhole part ner Laura Boot hs t ossed a bag in attempt to t ie the score of the match. Photos: The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Donovan Breeding carefully aimed his corn hole bag for the board to secure the win in Wednesday night's contest. of esports," Robinson said. "The hope is that we can gain enough participation interest that we could potentially hold an esports league over winter break for Wilkes students, so they can stay connected via intramural esports:' Schools across the nation, including some close to Wilkes, have generated interest in esports. Certain schools have generated enough interest in this event that they created an official esports team. These teams take on other schools, the same as any other MAC sports team would. "Esports could really take off;' said Charles Giacometti, an intramurals intern. "There's a lot of schools now, bigger schools than Wilkes, doing esports competitively, so intramurals could be a little jump-start if we see something going:' The two interns, Gurska and Giacometti, have created social media pages for intramural sports, on both Instagram and Twitter: @Wilkes_recsport. "It's really taken off, and we've been able to put stuff up there including a lot of different videos of people playing cornhole to try and integrate some more publicity for everything," Gurska said. The future of intramurals, like many other campus activities, is not set in stone. COVID-19 has presented Wilkes and other universities with many challenges when it comes to planning ahead, and intramurals are taking it semester-by-semester. "I do not know what the plan for next semester will be because I do not know what the exact situation will become:' said Robinson. "We are trying to do everything right to get to the end of this semester, and then we will tackle next semester when it comes:' While there is no definitive plan for next semester, intramurals and Robinson are open to taking suggestions from Wilkes students. At the end of the day, intramurals are run for the students. While it may not be what everyone is used to, students can participate and make it the best it can be. Questions, concerns or ideas can be sent to Robinson at scott.robinsonl@wilkes.edu. @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu r �I .J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 Sports 20 MLB: A review of what occurred in the Wild Card matchups By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer In the debut of MLB's brand new Wild Card Series, eight of the 16 teams have won their matchups and are moving on to divisional rounds. Due to the postponement of the 2020 season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the MLB shortened its usual 162-game season to 60 games. To compensate for the small number of games played across the league, six additional teams were able to qualify for the postseason and have their shot at hoisting the World Series trophy. A new introductory series came along with the additional six teams playing in the postseason. Instead of the suddendeath Wild Card game, the 2020 MLB playoffs began with the Wild Card Series. The Wild Card Series was a best-of-three series in which the seeding was decided by each team's place in the division and their overall record. In the American League, the No. I seed Tampa Bay Rays faced off against the No.8 seed Toronto Blue Jays. The young core of the Blue Jays, who were unexpected to earn a spot in the postseason, were swept in two games by the Rays. With strong pitching performances from Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay was able to sweep its first playoff series in franchise history. The No. 4 seed Cleveland Indians faced the No. 5 seed New York Yankees. In game one of the series, Shane Bieber, who earned the AL pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins, earned run average and strikeouts, struggled against New York's offense. He gave up seven runs in four and twothirds innings. Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole shut down the Cleveland opposition throwing seven tworun innings while striking out 13. The Yankees went on to win the second game and knock the Indians out. The No. 6 seed Houston Astros swept the No. 3 seed Minnesota Twins in two games, extending the Twins' postseason losing streak to 18 straight games. Minnesota's hitters had trouble scoring in the series, as they only scored one run each game. The Astros, who were the only team in the majors to earn a playoff spot with a winning percentage below .500, hope to win their ,-,... ••~·,.,,·"" upcoming Division Series to compete in what would be their fourth straight American League Championship Series. The only AL Wild Card Series that did not result in a sweep was when the No. Z seed Qakland Athletics defeated the No. 7 seed Chicago White Sox. The /\s and White Sox's series went three games. White Sox Lucas Giolito pitched six innings without allowing a base runner in game one. Although his no-hitter was broken op the following inning, Giolito and the White Sox would go on to win 4-1. The Athletics went on to win game two backed by seven onerun innings by pitcher Chris Bassitt. Game three was won behind Chad Pinder's two-run single in the fifth inning. In the National League, the No. I seed Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the Division Series after sweeping the No. 8 seed Milwaukee Brewers. In two, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw tied his own postseason record with eight innings pitched and set a new personal playoff best with 13 strikeouts. . The No. 5 seed St. Louis Cardinals were defeated by the No. 4 seed San Diego Padres. The Padres won their first postseason series since 1998, with the help of a strong offensive performance from Fernando Tatis Jr., who went 5-for-11 in the series with five runs scored and five runs batted in. In game three of the series, San Diego used nine pitchers, setting the record for most pitchers used in a shutout in major league history. The No. 6 seed Miami Marlins upset the No. 3 seed Chicago Cubs in a sweep. In their first playoff appearance since 2003, the Marlins shut down the Cubs offense by only allowing one run in the two games played. With their series win against Chicago, Miami remained unbeaten in a postseason series, winning their seventh straight series. The No. 2 seed Atlanta Braves swept the No. 7 seed Cincinnati Braves. This game set history, as it was the first time that a postseason game went scoreless into the 13th inning. The scoreless tie was finally broken up by a walk-off, one-run single by Braves NL MVP candidate Freddie Freeman. The Braves went on to win the second game, ending their 19-year drought without a postseason series win. ~ ~ Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver NFL: The first cases of COVID-19, how they impacted league play By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor • For the first time, the NFL had its regular season schedule impacted by positive COVID-19 test results. The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers matchup has been delayed to week seven due to the multitude of positive tests in the Titans' organization. Tennessee had their first positive results on Sept. 29, with multiple players on the team and staff testing positive the Tuesday after their week two matchup with Minnesota. The Vikings, however, did not have any positive cases. Pittsburgh and Tennessee were scheduled to have a week three matchup. As more positive cases continued to pop-up for the Titans, the NFL made the decision to delay the game until a later date. "The decision to postpone the game was made to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel. The Titans' facility will remain closed, and the team will continue to have no in-person activities until further notice," as per the NFI.:s official Twitter announcement. The postponement has caused the Steelers versus Ravens game to be delayed until week eight. This resulted in Pittsburgh and Tennessee having their bye weeks in week four, and Baltimore's being moved to week seven. The situation in Tennessee may not be getting better anytime soon. Their case numbers are continuing to climb, reaching a total of 19 cases, as per the team report. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the NFL has begun an investigation of the Titans. The rumor is that Titans players held a private practice together while they were supposed to be in quarantine. If this is found to be true, Tennessee risks major repercussions from the league for not following the COVID-19 protocols. The small outbreak of cases in Tennessee has led to multiple other teams in the league also revealing positive COVID-19 tests. Cam Newton, starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, was one of several players to test positive this past week. · Heading into week four, Newton had led the Patriots to a 2-1 record and posted four rushing touchdowns for his team. The Patriots, led by Newton, were set to take on the defending Super Bowl champions of the Kansas City Chiefs in week four. After testing positive, Newton went to Twitter to say, "WEAR YOUR MASK; KEEP YOUR DISTANCE," accompanied by an image of Newton in a mask. The game between the Patriots and the Chiefs was postponed until Oct. 5 after Newton and backup quarterback for Kansas City Jordan Ta'amu both tested positive. The Chiefs earned a 26-10 victory over New England. The Chiefs moved to a perfect record of 4-0 after this win. Cornerback A.J. Terrell of the Atlanta Falcons and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst of the Las Vegas Raiders are other players who also tested positive for COVID-19. The NFL has been standing firm in enforcing the rules for COVID-19 precautions. Before the season started, several rules were put in place: the staff on the sidelines having to wear masks, players having to wear masks when going out, and not allowing post-game jersey swaps. The league is strict with their agenda throughout the season, and several teams, players and coaches have been heavily fined for not following the rules. Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks; Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the 49ers; Vic Fangio, head coach of the Denver Broncos; and Jon Gruden, head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders have all already been fined this season for not wearing masks on the sideline. These fines by the NFL have been up to $100,000 for the coaches and an additional $250,000 that the organization has to pay. @Wilkes beacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu �. The Beacon - October 14, 2020 L Sports 21 Student-athletes in practice-mode despite delayed seasons Top: Sophomore defender Maura Hensel stops first-year Anmarie Lebron from scoring a goal at their pod practice. Bottom: First-year Tess Edwards looks for a pass from sophomore Katelyn Kinczel. Top: Sophomore middle hitter Allie Murie kills the ball during a hitting drill in practice. Bottom: Sophomore Liam White perfects his butterfly stroke. Photos: The Beacon/ Ariel Reed r �.J -· The Beacon - October 14, 2020 ieve the program is directjon wider oor new , and I c;umntly wouldn't . g. ...,.togi,easllout-outtot Shoo.toot to the V PACK. -Compiled By Arlil Reed. Co Sports Editor . ,' �. 2 lr@wilkes.edu tes mderclassmen ssion, Student what options y favors were the Greenway ered dinners d both glasses 'favors. ii voted on a II as a club of ttion of Liam \.nna Culver, >f the month. ' club of the ,vi/kes.edu ~nts f, .... 2 .... 7 .. 14 .19 lter radar? �_J The Beacon - October 14, 2020 Sports 24 A lifelong pursuit of field hockey landed Bowie at Wilkes By Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor • Following in her mother's footsteps, Katherine Bowie fell in love with the sport of field hockey from a young age. Bowie started to play field hockey in second .grade and advanced to the Division I level when she attended Siena College in Albany, N.Y. Bowie's mother was also a collegiate field hockey player at a Division I school. "I've been playing longer than most young women in this country, and just the whole idea around field hockey made me love it," said Bowie. "Even though I did play other sports, the family and camaraderie among young women, especially having it be a female sport in this country, was really important and just kind of drew me in. "All my favorite coaches, mentors and friends are from hockey when I was in elementary school all the way through college:' Bowie did not originally intend to be a coach. In college, she majored in religious studies and minored in education, Latin and biology. She initially wanted to be a teacher. In her first job, she ended up coaching three sports. From there, she found her true calling: Coaching. "I really wanted to get into teaching at some point. My first job out of college was teaching at a boarding school and coaching three sports," said Bowie. "That's where I really realized that I wanted to be a college coach because I just couldn't get enough of field hockey and coaching in general." Similar to the other Wilkes coaches, Bowie is not a local to Wilkes-Barre. Instead, she began her coaching career in Maine. "I was an assistant field hockey coach for about four years at multiple institutions," Bowie said. "I had been in Maine for the last three years, but I really wanted to get to Pennsylvania, which is kind of this country's field hockey hub, especially in this area. It's very big, so I was really excited about that. And on top of that, we have a very talented group of girls in a super fun conference." The emphasis on being a student first and then an athlete second appealed to Bowie when deciding to coach at the Division III level. "I really love Division III, even though I played Division I," said Bowie. "I like Photos: The Beacon/Ariel Reed Head coach Katherine Bowie prepared for an evening pod practice. Bowie showed her athletes what she wanted them to do in a passing drill. the Division III philosophy - how it really makes well-rounded student-athletes. You can possibly play two sports and get involved in multiple things. I was looking for that." Wilkes University's location sealed the deal for Bowie, as she loves being outdoors and being in the "hub" for field hockey. She feels that her job is not fully a job since she is allowed to focus on the sport she loves the most. "I love being outdoors, which is another plus to the area. We're right by the mountains. We are pretty close to a bunch of great hiking trails;' Bowie said. "I really love helping young people and mentoring young people. To have a job like this, where you don't need to sit in an office, you get to interact with multiple women and other coaches is super fun and less of a job to me." This is Bowie's second year at Wilkes. She joined the Colonels on Feb. 17 and led the team to its most successful season since 2016 in her head coaching debut. The ·delayed start to the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a lot of what the teams could do; however, Bowie and her team are still making the most out of the extenuating circumstances. "Although this season might have not been what we all expected, so far everything has been going very well under the circumstances:' said sophomore forward Morghan Murphy. "The beginning of this season was rather difficult since a lot of us were not able to connect in person to get to know all the new incoming individuals better, but with the use of zoom calls and a team Snapchat group chat, we slowly were able to make it work." Field hockey is still in their pod practice phase, but · they have been allowed to start doing contact. Masks are still a requirement for practice despite being outdoors. "The pod practices with masks have been very different, but we are able to overcome these difficulties;' said sophomore defender Maura Hensel. "Due to our team's diligent efforts to follow the protocols laid out for us, we have just entered phase two, and hopefully we will all be able to practice together as a team soon." Despite the adjustments with modified practices, Bowie has begun to equip the players as best as possible for their potential spring season. "The delay in our season has helped us tune-in more on our basic skills to rebuild a strong foundation," said Murphy. "Coach Bowie, I believe, has incorporated many exercises both on and off the field to really unite our team. Coach Bowie has brought a very positive and enthusiastic attitude to the table, as she supports the team both in the classroom and on the field." As Hensel mentioned, this team has yet to fully interact with each other due to the restrictions that the school has placed due to COVID-19. However, the field hockey team is beyond ready to take the field and improve upon their impressive performance last season. @wilkesbeacon A(iel.Reed@wilkes.edu � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 October 14th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 October 14 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/4558921c8127ca19faffbbbf0647b77b.pdf d4cd30f08c3cb938b9e4724a561352b0 PDF Text Text I The Beacon - October 21, 2020 w Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 72, Issue 7 1 HEBEACON Wilkes Universit - Wilkes-Barre Penns lvania 120th State House hosted virtual forum Be the Match By Maddy Kinard encourages students to become donors Staff Writer The 120th State House District candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters' occurred via Zoom on Oct. 13. This event featured current Pennsylvania State Representative Aaron Kaufer, republican, and running State Representative Joanna Bryn Smith, democrat. Dr. Mischelle Anthony, vice president of the League of Women Voters, gave a brief introductory statement, in which she thanked the candidates and attendees and hoped listeners would take away valuable information to aid them in their electoral decisions on Nov. 3. "Thank you to both candidates for agreeing to meet with us tonight to share their thoughts and positions on a variety of issues that face the 120 House District; said Anthony. "Most importantly, thank you for being here. You are the reason we're doing this forum. We are hoping that the information you glean from tonight's event will assist you in making informed voting decisions on election day or on your mailin ballot." Attorney and League member Maureen Collins was the moderator and quickly went over the format of the meeting. It was made clear that the meeting was not meant to be argumentative or result in a debate. "This is a forum, and not a debate, ~signed so that you can learn more about the candidate's positions that are important to their constituents," said Collins. By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor Kauffer opened the forum with his opening statement, thanking everyone who made the forum possible and those who have sponsored and supported him while touching on his ability to be bipartisan. "I pride myself in Harrisburg and throughout our community by being a bipartisan leader," said Kauffer. "A lot of people say it, but very few act upon it. In my time in Harrisburg, I have really established myself as that type of leader. I've turned my One in 430 donors is a match to an individual needing a blood stem cell or bone marrow donation - and that one individual may be a Wilkes student, according to information from Be the Match, a global organization dedicated to finding matches for those in need of life-saving transplants, as well as furthering research surrounding them. On campus this past week, a Be the Match event was held virtually in hopes of finding a match for those who are critically in need of a donor, in addition to adding to the registry of eligible donors across the world. The event was held through the Office of Civic Engagement and Nursing Student Organization on campus and organized by Megan Boone Valkenberg, Civic Engagement coordinator and Jess Turnitza, a junior nursing student. For Turnitza, her motivation to bring the event to campus VOTERS' FORUM, page 3 MATCH, page 11 VOTE Candidates were allowed two minutes to introduce themselves and make an opening statement. Following opening statements, both candidates were prompted with questions, alternating who answered first and would be given two minutes to respond to each question. The questions, which were not shared with the candidates prior to the forum, were a compilation of those designed by board members of the league, along with submissions by audience members when they registered for the event. ~ "S u "'CC ~ C 8 "' Q) cc Q) ~ ] ~ "' ~ --... C 0 u "' cc Q) Q) ~ Paint N' Sip had discussion on language and culture, page 9 r �.J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Oct. 14 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer Student Government held its seventh virtual meeting on Oct. 14, in which all topics were internal and focused on budget requests for the main two upcoming events: Homecoming and the Fall Event. To start, there was a final restating of the overview for Homecoming, along with how much everything would cost. On Oct. 17, a catered dinner was served and a court ceremony followed Dancing continued unti.Mbfter the ceremony ended. The event was capped at 100 people. For dancing, they booked a DJ who offered a $1,000 discount. In total, the event cost $13,000. A V(?ting phase commenced and the budget request passed with 97 percent in favor and three percent abstained from voting. · Next, the Fall Event's price breakdown was discussed. The event, running from Oct. 19 to Oct. 23, came to a total of $8,500. This increased a little from the last break down with the addition of new and more expensive prizes. Student Government voted on the budget request, and it passed with 88 percent in favor and 12 percent abstaining. Committee reports followed. The budget committee met on Oct. 14, where they held introductions for the 2020 committee and made plans for future meetings. The academic planning committee met and discussed two proposals on Oct. 9. They discussed bringing a bachelor and master of arts degrees in history to Wilkes, as well as a certificate in the geographic information systems. The committee supported these new degree programs in history, but they · agreed it still needs some backup work and would be a great addition to campus. As far as the certificate, no school within a 50mile radius offers one, so it would make the Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Sara Ross Taste of Wilkes 2020: Home Edition The Taste of Wtlkes Home Edition is a virtual fundraising event taking place from Nov. 2 to 6. This event allows members of the campus community to submit their favorite recipes to be included in a cookbook. It will come in a physical book and a PDF version. There will also be a virtual gift basket auction. Chefs are allowed to participate virtually. They can submit their favorite recipe for inclusion in the cookbook, create a unique name for their dish and provide a short story about why the dish is special to them. All proceeds from the event will go toward the Wilkes United Way campaign. Register for Wmter Intersession Classes Students can earn credits over winter break by scheduling online courses. This is helpful for those who want to catch up on missed classes, get ahead in their studies or lighten their course load for the spring. They are held in three- to five-week sessions that start Dec. 7, and tuition is $530 per credit. If interested in signing up for an online class, make an appointment with your advisor, and visit www.wilkes.edu/winter to view the course schedule. Registration opens at 10 p.m. on Oct. 25. Writing Center Consultations Students who are looking to improve their writing or need assistance with an upcoming paper or essay can seek guidance from the Writing Center, which is located on the bottom floor of the Farley Library. However, with the transition online, the center is now hosting virtual drop-in hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any member of the Wilkes community can schedule an appointment if they require writing help. Appointments will be held over Zoom, and to access the Zoom links for the meetings, students can find all available options under the "Student Services" tab in the Wilkes Portal. Rescheduled Screening of "13th" by Ava DuVemay The screening of the "13th; a documentary by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, was originally scheduled for Oct. 15 but has been postponed until Oct. 28. This film explores the history of racial inequality among African Americans in the United States by focusing on the nation's prisons. After the film, there will be a panel discussion hosted by Dr. Helen Davis who is part of the Wilkes English Department on campus. To register for the screening, contact Civic Engagement Coordinator Megan Boone at megan.boone@wilkes.edu. @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu university more marketable to students. Commuter Council will be holding a best car costume contest over Instagram on Oct. 26. The winner will receive an automatic car starter, and second and third will receive gas gift cards. Moreover, the Multicultural Student Coalition is holding several upcoming events. On Nov. 6, they will host a trivia night and on Nov. 16, they are hosting a paint and sip. Paintings will be of prominent black figures. In closing, Student Government will meet again next week to discuss more upcoming events and the bringing of a bookstore back to campus. @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu ·'Mile~~ News..................2 Life, A&E~ ........... 7 Opinion............ 14 Sports................ 19 Upcoming Events: 2020 Fall Semester October 21 - Virtual Fall Kahoot 22 - Paint N' Sip 23 - Lambda Kappa Sigma Fun Pasta Fundraiser 25 - Class Registration for Winter Courses 25 - Mall Shopping Shuttle 27 - Dr. Toll Zoom Lecture 28 - Screening of"13th" by Ava DuVernay 29 - Cheer Team Tryouts 31 - Halloween N011ember 2 - Blood Drive 2 - Taste of Wilkes Home Edition Begins 6 - Taste of Wilkes Home Edition Ends 7 - Virtual Open House 8 - Mall Shopping Shuttle 11 - Veterans Day 23 - Movie Night 25 - Holiday Recess begins 26 - Thanksgiving December 7- Winter Intersession Classes Begin Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: The WilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 21, 2020 News 3 Internship and Career Fair held virtually for first time By Sara Ross to local companies to participate in the event, such as Benco Dental and LSEO. "Because of the fair, I came across The Center for Career Development internship opportunities at Benco Dental and Internships hosted its first virtual and LSEO;' said Przywara. "They were both Internship and Career Fair on Oct. 15, great experi~nces that allowed me to grow which allowed Wilkes students to find · professionally, which made me glad that internship opportunities and connect with we were still able to host it. This way, other potential employers through the Handshake students could find internships that best application. suited them:' Starting in Fall 2006, the Internship and Career Development Coordinator Lisa Career Fair has been an important event Mulvey worked with Castano as well to prepare on campus. During its first year, around students for the fair by looking over their 50 companies attended along with only resumes and sharpening their interviewing 120 students, and it was held in the Henry skills. On top of those responsibilities, Mulvey Student Center ballroom. In 2016, it moved spent most of her time doing all the technical to University Center on Main, where it has work behind setting up the fair, so it would be continued to be held during the fall and ready to go virtual. spring semesters. According to Castano, students participated This year, however, due to COVID-19 in the fair by registering through Handshake, guidelines, it shifted gears and went completely an application that connects students on online. Director of the Internships and Parent Programs Sharon Castano has been involved with the event from its beginning and is one 6f its lead planners. She revealed more about the transition to a virtual fair and how they marketed the event to students. "We tried to do more with online marketing, including promoting it on our lnstagram page @wilkesuinterns," said Castano. "I also introduced it to the students in my personal . professional development .classes and put it-! out on the Wilkes Today emails." ! Career and Development Intern Ashlee · Przywara, a junior and marketing major at Wilkes and a past participant in the internship and career fair, worked alongside Castano to help promote the fair. Przywara was responsible for creating posts on social media. She even assisted with reaching out college campuses with open internships or entry-level job positions. Through Handshake, those participating could sign-up for multiple sessions - single and group - by utilizing the app's own video conferencing capabilities. The individual sessions lasted about 10 minutes and were more like interviews, while the groups were around 30, and they gave students information about the opportunities available at their company. While less than previous years, 55 companies were in attendance. The companies and organizations at the fair provided students with chances to locate positions across a broad range of disciplines and studies. A few of them included Geisinger, Pennsylvania State Police, UGI Utilities, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Enterprise Holdings and Proctor and Gamble. In addition, Castano provided ideas for how VOTERS' FORUM,from front regarding her position on a severance tax on natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania. "We absolutely need a severance tax," said Smith. "We are the only natural gas state that does not have a severance tax and, in fact, the severance tax woul<;l be a huge part of a new funding for education and of helping us with property taxes:' Kauffer followed, stating that he supported donating 50 million in PPE to first responders in March and received money for hazard pay for front-line responders. He also stated that he has long supported an extraction tax on natural gas and has voted for it while serving on the finance committee. The third question was asked to Kauffer, which considered what Pennsylvania should do to support the hardest-hit industries by Asst. News Editor • expertise and seniority into results, getting major pieces of legislation accomplished and being able to work with both sides to do that;' said Kauffer. S1'iith said her opening statement, touching on how her connection to the community will make her a good representative of the 120th State House District. "I apt running to be your next state representative because I was born here, I was raised here and I continue to live here;' said Smith. "I've been involved in this community for my entire life, and I love it. My parents were both union members that instilled in me the values of hard work and honesty, the values of this community. I am qualified to represent this community because I've been where you are. I am where you are:' Once opening statements were over, Collins prompted Kauffer with the first question. Collins asked, "Besides COVID-19, what do you consider the district's greatest challenge, and what do you plan to do to overcome this challenge?" In Kauffer's response, he stated that coming out of COVID-19, the biggest issue is going to be the return economically and the job impact that will occur in the area. He went on to touch on how he's led on the topic of property tax reform, putting forward legislation about manufacturing and using our natural resources to develop goodpaying jobs in Luzerne County. Smith responded with how Pennsylvania once was a model of how to slow the spread of COVID-19 but has become stuck in a cycle of start and stop, upon disregarding regulations, that has ultimately negatively impacted small businesses. She believes that the quicker the state is able to get a handle on the pandemic at hand, the less it will lose. The second question began with Smith students could adjust to the virtual format and insisted that it was a great oppoffi!I1ity for them to get creative. "With this fair's setting, it was OK to have your resume out in front of you to glance at, especially if you needed reminders about talking points. You could have even placed sticky notes right on your computer screen to remind yourself to smile or to sit up straight;' explained Castano. One of the students who attended the fair was junior accounting and corporate finance major Jessica Smith. She got involved with the event because it was a requirement for her personal and professional development course. Regardless, she found it to be quite resourceful and enjoyed interacting through the virtual sessions. "I met with Kearney & Company, a CPA firm that provides financial services exclusively to the Federal Government, through one of their group sessions, and I had such a positive meeting," said Smith. Smith discussed that she got much out of the fair and thinks the event went as smoothly as it could under the circumstances, even though it was not face-to-face. She leaves one final thought about fair and claims how vital it is to network and explore new opportunities, especially now during COVID-19 and how it has impacted the job market. "I think it is so important to attend the career fair, even if it is virtual, because it shows employers your ability to adapt in a changing recruitment atmosphere and that you are driven despite the many challenges our world currently presents;' revealed Smith. Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Graphic by Sara Ross ·covrn-19. "One of the hardest-hit sectors has been our restaurant and bar industry, and I'm proud to have sponsored a bill, where we still have a billion dollars left...that needs to be allocated by the end of the year...that would provide for a $25,000 grant to each and every small mom and pop bar all across the commonwealth," said Kauffer. Smith agreed how difficult it is for the restaurant industry because she, too, used to work in one. She stated that the important thing to do is to advocate for federal government funds and state funds to help small businesses. The forum continued with eight more questions regarding the well being of the district, and each stated they would do their best or have been doing their best to ensure the b~st life possible for their residents. To find and locate more information before the upcoming election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 120, go to https:/ /ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania_ House_of_Representatives_District_l20. ~ @wilkesbeacon · ~ Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu · r -----~---------~--------~~--------------------------------------- �_J The Beacon - October 21 , 2020 News 4 An overview: Biden's versus President Trump's policies By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer Through debates and ads, the citizens of the United States have heard plenty about Joe Biden's policies, but a thorough understanding of his policies is necessary for an educated vote on Nov. 4. In regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden plans to "ensure all Americans have access to regular, reliable, and free testing" and also plans to provide personal proteotive equipment to citizens by producing- these items in the country. Looking forward to treatments and vaccines, he is creating a plan to distribute these resources equitably. He also will encourage governors and mayors to implement mask mandates and social distancing measures, as supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In an article published by the CDC at the beginning of October, it was found that "mitigation measures mandated through public policy can effectively increase social distancing and wearing masks has prevented transmission of SARS-CoV-2." Health care for all, "regardless of gender, race, income, sexual orientation zip code" is the basis ofBiden's healthcare plan. He plans to achieve this by protecting the Affordable Care Act and building upon it "by giving Americans more choice, reducing healthcare costs and making our health care system less complex to navigate:' Biden has three different policies addressing the environment. They involve the development of sustainable infrastructure, a clean energy future and plans focusing on clfnate change and environmental justife. "I think it is extremely important belause our infrastructure currently isn't built up to withstand climate change, and we're facing millipns, potentially billions, of dollars in damages to our infrastructure;' Colin Ahrensfield, a senior double major in earth and environmental science and geology. Colonel Mark Kaster, a professor in the EES department, said, ''I've read the counterpoint that going a 'green way' is too costly. The problem is, if we don't take actions today that consider the impacts on our environment, the costs will become even greater to mitigate and repair the impacts:' Along with climate change plans, tax plans between the two candidates are quite different. The basis of Biden's plan includes raising the corporate tax, requiring a minimum tax on all foreign earnings, imposing a tax penalty on corporations that ship jobs overseas, implementing a 15 percent minimum tax on book income, raising individual income and asking those who make more than $1 million to pay the same rate on investments as they do on their wages, as well as providing tax relief for working families. In short, Biden plans to tax corporations and the wealthy and provide tax relief for working families. An independent study done by AEI, the American Enterprise Institute, found that Biden's plan "would raise federal revenue by $2.8 trillion over the next decade." Dr. Robert Seeley, a professor of economics at Wilkes, had a different perspective. "The Biden tax plan is likely to slow the growth in the productivity of American labor, slowing our economic growth and the improvement in our national standard of living; explained Seeley. "It might well be necessary to raise taxes, but raising marginal tax rates on individuals and businesses represents the wrong approach." On a more global scale, Biden states his commitment "to a fair and humane immigration system" while also "modernizing America's immigration system." Biden aims to revoke the current administration's barriers to seeking asylum as well as to provide a clear path toward citizenship, reverse the policy of separating families at the borders and move humanitarian organizations to the border to assist immigrants. Additionally, he plans to build partnerships with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to address the "underlying violence, instability, and lack of opportunity" which draws asylum seekers to U.S. borders. Biden left his town hall meeting on .Oct. 15 with one final impression: 'Tm running as a proud Democrat, but if I get elected I'm going to be an American president:' ~ ~ @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu By Anna Culver Staff Writer President Donald Trump is running for reelection this November. He has detailed his plans for the upcoming election and revealed what steps he already has taken as president with several different areas of policy. According to a Reuters article, Trump has not proposed a comprehensive plan to deliver a "better, less-costly healthcare system." The Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, has after many failed attempts by Republicans to repeal executive orders, and court rulings have undermined it. "Trump has been convinced by the rightwing of the party that if they can somehow undo Obamacare, they can sweep in with more market-based reforms, while still protecting pre-existing conditions;' said Kim Monk, an analyst and manager at Capital Alpha Partners. When it comes to lowering the cost of drugs, Trump has "proposed basing the price of some Medicare drugs on the cost in foreign countries, where medicines tend to be cheaper." He does not support the expansion of Medicaid and has called for imposing work requirements and limitations on eligibility for Medicaid. Concerning nationwide mask mandates to fight the pandemic, Trump _ opposes mask-wearing and has left it to state or local governments' discretion. Though he does support fasttracking the development of a vaccine, health experts have said that Trump's proposed timeline is highly unlikely. From the Department of Health and Human Services, the White House pledged by January 202 1 to create 300 million doses of a vaccine in an aptly named initiative, "Operation Warp Speed:' Trump's push to crack down on illegal immigration has remained at the forefront of his agenda. Recently, he "dramatically curtailed immigration and travel into the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, arguing the steps were needed for health reasons and to protect jobs for U.S. workers;' claimed another Reuters piece. During Trump's 2016 campaign, he advocated for a border wall between Mexico and the United States. His administration has completed 265 miles of the wall, intending to achieve 450 miles by the end of 2020. According to a White House piece outlining his executive orders, Trump supports the continuation of a travel ban after signing an executive order in 2017 that banned travel from seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. In 2017, Trump signed a significant overhaul of the United States tax code. He does not support increasing the corporate tax rate or capital gains taxes. Americans who were on unemployment due to COVID-19 were receiving a benefits package of $600 per week as a federal unemployment insurance supplement. Trump has come out in support of not extending the. $600-permonth federal unemployment. He advocated for more spending on infrastructure, like building roads, bridges and airports, but has not supported many environmental policies. "Our carbon, our atmosphere, our - the level of environmental cleanliness is at its all-time best right now;' stated Trump. Trump removed the United States from the Paris Climate agreement after calling it too costly. Dr. Andrew Miller, an associate professor of political science at Wilkes, emphasized why it is important for all to get involved in this year's election. "More than ever, people need to have their voices heard. Young people, in particular, need to be heard by politicians. Voting is how you do that:' said Miller. Trump's policies on healthcare, COVID-19, immigration, taxes and the environment only get into a small portion of his policies. For more information about what each presidential candidate's policies are, check out Allside's section on Trump versus Biden: https:/ /www.allsides.com/tags/trump-vbiden? search =trump%20v%20 biden # gsc. tab=0&gsc.q=trump%20v%20biden&gsc. page=l. . Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphics by Anna Culver �The Beacon - October 21, 2020 5 News Homelessness, a woman's perspective from Ruth's Place By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor Ruth's Place, an emergency homeless shelter for women, was established in 2003 as a volunteer project. At that time, groups of women would sleep on the steps of the United Methodist Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The church allowed them to stay in its basement during the winter months. When the church closed, the women needed somewhere else to turn. In 2009, Ruth's Place moved to its current location at 425 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Today, Ruth's Place is dedicated to helping women like Kim Horton, age 52, get back on their feet. The resident has found refuge at the shelter after being evicted from her home. She takes pride in how she has overcome her struggles since arriving there. Her story reveals the challenges of homelessness, but it also offers women like her the hope that they, too, can rise above regardless of situation or background. "I have lived in Wilkes- Barre my whole life, and never thought I would be forced to leave my home, but I had a toxic family situation," said Horton, as she began revealing how she found her way to Ruth's Place. According to Horton, she has suffered abuse ever since she was a child. With little resources, Horton was forced to leave her home and all of her belongings behind. When she first came to Ruth's Place, Horton had little money, as she had lost everything due to her divorce. She had trouble controlling her spending habits. As part of her divor_ce, Horton said she signed over part of the 40 I K to her ex-husband to pay back what she had spent. "What I didn't know until I signed the final papers was that I would not get any alimony payments. I went from having $100 to $400 a week to no money at all. That is how I got here," stated Horton. Before finding her way to Ruth's Place, Horton had been at other domestic violence shelters in Wilkes-Barre. Rainy Boyle, a Ruth's Place case manager, has been with Horton and described the situation of women who have trouble getting into shelters. According to Boyle, they do not always have the resources to locate a shelter, and they bounce around from house to house . "Women can be couch surfing from location to location, sharing beds with others and may even go so far as to trade sex for a place to stay;' explained Boyle. Ruth's Place Co-Coordinator Crystal Kotlowski developed a close relationship with Horton and has been with the program for eight years·. She has seen women with all different cases and discussed that homeless women are often the most vulnerable. Kotlowski mentioned they sustain higher rates of violence and experience more significant trauma prior to losing housing. "Women can be homeless for the same reasons any man could be and even more so. It is a problem that is constantly evolving, as any cause for homelessness could come from anywhere," stated Kotlowski. In a 2018 report from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, domestic violence was the leading cause of homelessness among women. Horton has been at Ruth's Place since this past August and has befriended many of the other women at the shelter. She has learned their stories and bonded with them. They can often be found walking all together outside the complex. The women of Ruth's Place are of various ages, and some have struggled with mental health issues, alcoholism and drug addiction, while others have suffered from domestic violence like Horton. Other than the sense of community that Ruth's Place provides, Horton has made much progress because of the opportunities the shelter offers for their residents. They have helped her to build a resume, locate a job and find permanent housing. Horton has already interviewed for a position and found a possible apartment that will be ready for her once she leaves Ruth's Place. Horton is thankful for the second chance she has been given, and once settled, she will reestablish her life. Her story highlights that homelessness is a comple:is: issue with many interconnected causes. However, shelters like Ruth's Place continue to make a difference by giving residents the support they need and the tools to succeed. @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu • Photos courtesy of Crystal Kotlowski Ruth's Place, an emergency homeless shelter for women, is located at a brick building on 425 N. Pennsylvania Ave in Wilkes-Barre. Ruth's Place is made up of only one floor. All residents have their own bed and living space, where they can keep all their personal belongings. r �.J The Beacon - October 21; 2020 News 6 Movement to online testing raises student privacy concerns By Hunter Fulmer Staff Writer Amid the coronavirus, multiple students find concern and trouble with their privacy when it comes to taking online exams. COVID-19 has made the task of education a very challenging one. With many colleges shut down and students having to work from both home and on campus, the importance of moving some classes to an online format has become important due to the pandemic. The movement to using · electronic methods has been done to conduct classes, which includes taking quizzes and exams online with a computer. To help prevent cheating in online exams, multiple companies offer colleges and students with software to prevent cheating. Software such as Respondus' "Lockdown Browser" use different kinds of technology to help prevent cheating. This includes disabling background programs, printing, accessing websites and screen capture on a computer. They can also use a student's microphone and webcam for extra monitoring, using an extension called "Respondus Monitor." The use of the webcam and microphone extensions in some exams have made students question how their personal lives are being revealed. Caleb Hudson, a . sophomore and corporate finance major, discussed his concern with the use of a webcam. "The camera that watches us ... that's the only thing that's kind of odd," said Hudson. He then went on to say, "It's weird. I don't like people watching me like that. If they're going to watch me, it's better off in-person." Respondus stated in a video on its website that students may be asked by their professors to show their identification to the webcam. A professor may also ask their student to take a video of their location and surroundings, including their desk space. While the student takes the exam, they will be recorded until it is submitted. The footage is then saved and can be reviewed by the professor any time after the student has finished. Anthony Gorey, a sophomore management major, said he has used Lockdown Browser for three of his classes. While he did not mind using the browser, he did find the camera aspect odd. He described some of the materials he was asked to display for the webcam. "The thing that was bizarre was that if you use scratch paper, you got to show the camera the paper before you use it and after you use it to show you're not cheating. You got to have a picture of yourself, your school ID and another form of ID." Several opinion-based posts on the internet have also shown concern about how Lockdown Browser is both spyware and malware. The posts say that the program makes changes and disables other processes in a computer, calling it malware and saying the software is designed poorly and creates function. That being said, it is important to understand what those terms truly mean. Dr. Anthony Kapolka, a computer science professor at Wilkes University, said that spyware and malware carry the implication that the program is doing something without the user knowing or giving consent to the software. "If you take malware to be 'software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage or gain unauthorized access to a computer system; as Oxford defines it, then a program that causes problems because it is poorly written, but is not intentionally malicious, would not be considered malware." More information on "Lockdown Browser" and "Respondus Monitor" can be found on the Respondus website. The Beacon/Sara Ross Junior biology major Priscilla Thomas sat down to launch Lockdown Broswer before taking her exam on the first floor of the Farley Library. @wilkesbeacon Hunter.Fulmer@wilkes.edu Gheaway i4 . �7 Life, Arts & Entertainment The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria. DiBuo@wilkes.edu Reinvented Hom~coming dance celebrated outside By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer Student Government hosted its annual homecoming dance, which was held on campus on Oct. 17. The dance was noticeably different this year, with adjustments made to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Only 100 students were able to register to attend for free. The dance was held in the center quadrangle _on the campus greenway inside tents. Tables and chairs were spaced apart, with up to four students being allowed at each table. Later in the night, the homecoming king and queen were crowned. DeAndre Depass, a senior in management, was voted homecoming king, and Mia Barbieri, a pharmacy student, was voted homecoming queen. Photos: The Beacon/Emily Cherkauskas In addition to the king and queen, this year also, marked the crowning of In replacement of the a large convention hal~ two Jarge,tents were placed on a homecoming prince and princess, the Fenner Quad in the center of.campus, one fE?r dining and an empty one for titles of which were respectively given dancing. Pictured is the dining area for students, where only four seats were to undergraduate students Donald available at each table. Balluo, a junior in communication studies, and Ariel Reed, a sophomore in communication studies. ~ Y The change in scenery did not keep students from striking fun poses in their masks for photographs. @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu DJ A'Cube blasted his playlist of hot songs to keep the night full of energy for partygoers. Although members of the Homecoming Court were there to indulge in the festivities and celebrate their nominations, they also helped to direct students to their designated dining tables. The smaller event size allowed students to enjoy a close-knit and more personalized environment. Students were also able to enjoy snacks at their tables as they waited for the night to begin. Every dance attendee was thought of in this minor decoration. A path of stars led students directly to the tents. For every student attending, a star was drawn with their name below it. . r �.J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 French Onion Soup: Moody foodie's take in the crockpot By Anna Culver Staff Writer If you have access to a crockpot, this soup is perfect to have cooking all day and be ready just in time for when you get home. Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter 2 large yellow onions 1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar 1 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup cooking sherry - If this is hard to find, good alternatives are red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. ,1/2 teaspoon sea salt or to taste 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme 1 bay leaf Choice of bread Choice of cheese Instructions: Slice the onions into rings and separate them. Heat the butter in a large pan over mediumhigh heat. Add the onions to the pan and cook until translucent. Sprinkle the onions with sugar and reduce the heat to medium. Stir them constantly until onions are soft and browned, which will take about 30 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant. Stir in the sherry to dissolve the small bits that browned on the bottom of the pot. I used an apple cider vinegar to make this and liked it better than with the cooking sherry. Transfer the onions into the slow cooker, and add in the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for four to six hours, or set on low and cook for eight to 10 hours. Once completed, toast the bread. I recommend getting a thick French or Italian bread for this. Pour the soup into a bowl, and place the toasted bread on top. Sprinkle your cl_ioice. of cheese on top. I recommend using a bag of shredded cheese with mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and more. Enjoy! Food Allergy: Dairy, gluten and wheat Original recipe adapted from Allrecipes. Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver The Beacon/Anna Culver This French onion soup can be left aside all day while it cooks, and it can be ready for you the moment you get home after a long day. •• Kirsten Peters, Editor-in-Chief: Run - George Strait Sean Schmoyer, News Editor: Remind You - Andy Grammer Sara Ross, Asst. News Editor: Dear No One - Tori Kelty Maria DiBuo, LA&E Editor: Gates - The Meziogers Emily Cherkauskas, LA&E Staff Writer: midnight love - girl in red Breanna Eblsch, Opinion Editor: Wonder - Shawn Mendes Zarqua Ansari, Asst. Opinion Editor: Black Milk - Massive Attack Jordan Daniel, Opinion Staff Writer: bad idea - Ariana Grande Dylan Mehl, Co-Sports Editor: Every Season - Roddy Riech Ariel Reid, Co-Sports Editor: Sanguine Pamdise - Lil Ozi Vert Chris Gowarty, Sports Staff Writer: Borderfme - Tame Impala Mia Walker, Lead Designer: GREECE - DJ Khaled ft. Drake Steffen Horwath, Staff Photographer: Stunnin' - Curtis Waters • �The Beacon - October 21, 2020 9 Life, Arts & Entertainment Paint N' Sip prompts discussion on language, culture By Judah Lyles Staff Writer This week's Global Coffee Hour came with a special twist for students. Global Coffee Hour . is , an event sponsored by the Center · for Global Education and Diversity and was organized by Cindy Peralta-Nin. Every Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Savitz Lounge, students and staff can gather and have an open discussion about anything on their mind. Moderated by Peralta-Nin, the Global Coffee Hour is meant not only to facilitate conversation amongst likeminded individuals, but to affirm an understanding of conflict~~g opinions of all those in attendance. While Coffee Hour is a rather serious event, it is supplemented by snacks, drinks and open doors. This week, however, was a Paint N' Sip meant to give students "some time to relax and focus on something outside of class and COVID;' according to PeraltaNin. Keeping with pandemic precautions, there were a limited number of people allowed to be in the room, and masks were required. For each person, coffee and snacks were provided, as well as an easel and paint materials. For some students, the event was a welcome reprieve from what can be considered an overwhelming period in the semester. "It was very stress relieving and good to have in between midterms and finals," said senior Logan Biechy. Inspiration materials were provided, such as paintings along the walls of the lounge and a vase that had been decorated prior to the event. Tyler Mendo~ another Wilkes student in attendance, ~ commends the Global Coffee Hour to either studerits due to the unique nature of the event. "It's a fun and great way to meet people on campus," said Mendoza. While the discussion centered around light topics, once the event started to progress, a conversation arose about culture and the differing feelings between those in the room about learning about other cultures. Many students in the discussion had seen and met some kind student participants and talked about their admiration for their closeness and interest in their culture. Those in the room began to discuss how people of color generally feel the need to educate themselves about other cultures because they know what it's like to feel like an alien when they enter a room. If it's a matter of making one person feel more welcome when they enter a space, all were generally prepared to jump through those hoops. The discussion then moved on to the topic of the importance of learning other languages and becoming educated about and accepting the habits of other cultures. American Sign Language, Urdu and Spanish were discussed. Spanish dialects were especially important in the During the Paint N' Sip event, students were able to paint many different forms of art, including the decorated vase seen here. Photos: The Beacon/Judah Lyles Tyler Mendoza displayed the artwork he created during last week's Paint_N' Sip event. discussion, as students expressed a desire to reach out to the students participating in Wilkes' Panamanian partnership and make them feel comfortable and more welcome around campus. Students shared hardships and funny stories or talked about family. Many decided that the Coffee Hour was something that they would like to return to and tell others about. Biechy, like others, would recommend this event to members of the Wilkes community. "It's a very welcoming group, and there's always fun and important discussions happening," said Biechy. Most students found out about the event via word-of-mouth or the Wilkes Today email, so keep an eye out for the next event. No promises, but there might just be some pumpkin painting involved. ~ • @wilkesbeacon Judah.Lyles@wilkes.edu Although students were spaced out as per social distancing guidelines, they were still able to chat with one another. r �_J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 Liz's Craft Column: Pinterest-worthy jack-o' -lanterns By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer Plain trick-or-treat baskets are getting boring and are, frankly, out of style. It is time to spice up those jack-o' lantern baskets and make them into fun , modern°chic fall decor, perfect for any dorm room. This DIY can be done "full scale" and used beside a mantle or by a front door, but to make it more conducive for a dorm room or apartment, it will be presented on a mini-scale in this DIY. This fun and chic fall decoration is a stacked jack-o' -lantern planter. The materials needed are mini trickor-treat buckets shaped like jack-o' lanterns (or large ones if making it full scale), white and metallic gold acrylic paint (or white spray paint if doing full scale), one large paint brush, two small ~nt brushes, twine (or nautical rope for the full scale), rocks or dirt and fake flowers/Halloween floral additions. This DIY is affordable, costing about $10. The mini trick-or-treat buckets can be purchased at Amazon, and the other materials can be purchased at any craft store, such as Joann Fabrics or Michaels, and also on Amazon. To star!, obtain the mini jack-o' -lantern buckets, and rip the handles out of them. Now, paint the inside of the pumpkin white with the large paint brush, and wait for it to dry. The inside does not have to be perfect, but it makes the bucket less transparent. Next, paint the whole outside with the large paint brush, including the black parts that are the eyes, nose and mouth. Those parts do not have to be perfect because they will be painted over with the gold paint. It just helps to have the black covered for a lighter surface to paint the gold on. Once the paint on them is fully dry, paint a second layer. Painting on plastic is hard, so transitioning to the small brush may be beneficial in order to not rip the first layer of paint off. Then, paint a third layer if needed to cover any missed spots. Once the pumpkins are fully dry, it is time to move onto the eyes, nose and mouth. These will all be painted with the metallic gold paint. Carefully paint the insides of each indentation for the eyes, nose and mouth with the other small paint brush, leaving the teeth of the jack of lantern white. Wait for these all to dry, and then paint a second layer if needed. When they are dry, do any touch ups ~ ith the white paint to make the edges even. . Now, it is time to stack them. Add dirt or some rocks into the bottom jack-o' lantern bucket, so it does not topple over. Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka 3) After you finish decorating, your jack-o'-lantern baskets should look something like this. You will be well on your way to a Pinterest-worthy space! 1) After your pumpkins have been painted, you can begin stacking. Remember to add material to the bottom for stability. 2) Once the pumpkins are stacked, it is time to decorate. Use your desired accessories, such as rope to cover glue spots or errors. Then, stack them by hot gluing around the ring of the opening of the bottom bucket and placing the next bucket on top. Continue this for all the buckets chosen to do. The example uses three, but more or less can be added as preferred. To cover the hot glue line, wrap the twine around the middle of both jack-o' lanterns, and hot glue in the back. Do not add twine onto the very bottom or very top. Allow this to dry, and then the flowers and other decorations can be added. Grab the fake flowers and any Halloween planter addition, such as the bat pick used in the example, and arrange those as preferred into the top bucket. Doing the mini scale will require small flowers and a few number of them, but the full scale allows the bouquet to be larger. Once the flowers are arranged in the top bucket as preferred, the decoration is finished. You now have a spiced up fall decor perfect for any dorm room. ~ !Ill' Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver �The Beacon - October 21, 2020 MATCH, from front was inspired by her personal ties to those in the community experiencing terminal illness, as well as her desire to get involved in the community at Wilkes. "Recently, a college student from my hometown was diagnosed with leukemia. He was a star swimmer in high school, where I had the opportunity to encounter firsthand his dilJgence and grit," said Turnitza, who is also the student coordinator for Red Cross on campus. ''After some brainstorming, it got me thinking - though I cannot singlehandedly cure leukemia or lymphoma, or abolish the cancer once and for all, I can do my best.to support those like this fine young gentleman and to aid in the fight of his story and for the stories we don't hear." To get involved in the Be the Match Event on campus, students were encouraged to register through the Wilkes extension of the Be the Match website or by texting WilkesSaves to 61474. From there, students were prompted to input information on the site regarding personal, as well as health-related items. If the steps were completed properly, students were guided to a screen that thanked them for potentially saving a life. Additionally, a confirmation code for testing materials to be mailed to their homes would have been received. Once 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment the testing kit was obtained by students, a simple cheek-swab could be performed and their kit could be mailed back to one of Be the Match's many locations. While in-person events were limited this semester due to COVID-19 precautions, which restricted community service opportunities, Boone and Turnitza agreed that a creative approach to event planning was necessary for the current semester. 1 "After doing some digging and collaborating with Megan Boone, we came up with the idea of doing a virtual event;' said Turnitza. "Just because inperson events are limited, it doesn't mean we should put a halt on helping others." The Ida da Silva Foundation, the placing organization working with Wilkes for the Be the Match event, also held a short webinar hosted by Lauren Hero on Oct. 15 to provide students with more information on the testing process, as well as offer community service hours to students. "I know there's a lot of fear around donating, but it's not as scary as you might think," said Hero, a senior community engagement representative for the Ida da Silva Foundation. "Only about 30 percent of patients find a match in the family, so about 70 percent of our patients are relying on a ·stranger to register, to be tested and then say 'yes' when they get that call to be a match." Throughout the webinar, Hero Lauren Hero Senior Commurn y Engagement Specialist The le a da Silva Four dation Largest Recruitment Center for BTM Be the Match held a short webinar through the Ida Da Silva Foundation, opening a discussion surrounding fears and misconceptions about donating for students. Photos: The Beacon/Maria DiBuo Throughout the webinar, host Lauren Hero explained the lack of diversity on Be the Match's donor registry. Depicted are various ethnic groups, along with their chances of finding a match through the current registry. · illustrated the stories of many awaiting the life-saving donation, including that of Aliani, a 4-year-old currently hospitalized while battling an aggressive form of leukemia. For Alian.i, finding a match for a transplant has been extremely difficult due to the lack of diversity within the Be the Match registry. "There are 22 million donors on the registry currently, not one is a match for Aliani: Roughly 70 percent of the reg_istry is caucasin," explained Hero. "You are more likely to match someone with a similar racial or ethnic background as yourself, since we are matching tissue, not a blood type." Throughout the webinar, Hero explained that while the Ida da Silva Foundation has a wide array of donors, the best ages to donate are between 18 and 44, increasing the importance of students on campus registering to donate. Additionally, Hero stressed the importance of staying committed throughout the process, as one's desire to donate directly affects the life of another individual. For Turnitza, the call for registering to be a match comes with a feeling of making a lasting impact on the community. "I believe students should get involved with organizations such as this because we all know someone undergoing a vicious, violent-sort of disease - even if it's possibly ourselves," said Turnitza. "Whether it's cancer, mental illness, a blood disorder - anything - the feeling of making an impact and being the match is one of no comparison. Events such as this are easy to engage in, but the impact is one of depth and lasting effect." Students who were not able to attend the webinar can still register to be the match for those in need of a donor by visiting join.bethematch.org. The process will still be the same; however, the code will not be through Wilkes and community service hours will not be allotted. Looking toward the future, Turnitza explained that there will be more events of this nature on campus in the coming weeks, specifically the Nov. 2 blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross, which will be held in the Henry Student Center parking lot. Students will be able to sign up for a time virtually to schedule an appointment. The Civic Engagement Office is currently taking suggestions for events from students and faculty, as well as encouraging students to get involved in the organizing. To find out more, contact Turnitza at jessica. turnitza@wilkes.edu. @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 12 Sports WHO IS THE NBA'S LE. By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor The Los Angeles Lakers are officially the 2019-2020 NBA champions. They defeated the Miami Heat in six games to capture the franchise's 17th title. LeBron James of the Lakers was awarded Finals MVP in the team's win, averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists. •• For James, this was his fourth career championship and fourth Finals MVP in his 17-year-long career. Across the country and at Wilkes University, this Lakers win has once again sparked the debate of who is the greatest basketball player of all time, or "The GOAT;' as affectionately referred to by abbreviation. The question comes down to: LeBron James or Mich a e 1 Jordan? "Hands down, I would go with MJ;' said Tara Macciocco, Wilkes women's basketball head coach. "MJ played in a tougher era. He saw way more double and triple teams and took a beating nightin and night-out. He is someone LeBron tries to emulate, and that in itself makes him the NJ he takes inspiration from, telling NBA analyst Chris Broussard, "I watchmoreJordanthananybody, for sure;' in a 2013 interview for ESPN's The Magazine. James has even admitted to choosing the number 23 on his jersey to honor Jordan. "If it were game seven of the NBA Finals, with five seconds left and a tie game, the player I want to have the ball in his hands more than anybody else is Michael Jordan;' said Scott Robinson, Wilkes men's basketball assistant coach. "LeBron is right there, but I'm going Jordan 10 times out of 10." In postseason basketball, both players have shown they have the clutch gene. In the last five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in his playoff career, James has made four buzzer-beaters and is shooting 6-13 on those shots, having a 46 percent field goal percentage. Whereas, in that same time frame, Jordan has three buzzer-beaters, shooting GOAT:' 5-11 for a field goal percentage of James has never 45 percent. shied away from Woojun Lee, sports the fact that management professor and Jordan is someone department chair in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, said, "I think LeBron now. He has won four titles with three different teams and is currently 35 dominating the league:' Lee also went on to add that the competition James faces today is greater than that Jordan was up against. James became the first player to win three Finals MVI?s with three different teams. With his most recent Finals MVP award, James also became the second oldest player to ever win the award, only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "Jordan gets a lot of credit for what he has done, but LeBron is just built better as a player;' said Matt Adler, a Wilkes student. James stands at 6-foot-9, weighs 250 pounds and has often been referred to as a freight train driving to the rim. Anthony Martoccio added "LeBron can really do it all. For me, that's where he gets the edge over Jordan. Mike was a great scorer, but LeBron does everything. LeBron's current path, barring any setbacks, could see him with the most points all time and top five in assists:' Currently, James has 34,241 . �The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Sports 13 REATEST OF LL TIME? MICHAEL JORDAN career points to Jordan's 32,292. James also has 9,346 total career assists, which has him 8th alltime, as per ESPN. While Wilkes' student body mostly grew up watching James play, the debate is still noticeably divided across campus. For student Hoyt Stiely, the answer to the question is simple. "Jordan easy;' said Stiely. "If everyone says (Tom) Brady is the GOAT because of his Super Bowls, it should apply to basketball too:' Fellow Wilkes student Shawn Austin agreed. "I gotta go with Michael Jordan, first and foremost;' said Austin. "No matter which way you put it, he is undefeated in the Finals at 6-0:' The saying "6-for-6" is synonymous with Jordan, as it acknowledges his six trips to the NBA Finals without suffering a loss. Jordan also accomplished the rare feat in sports of a threepeat - not once, but twice - in his career with the Chicago Bulls. However, some aren't convinced that this is enough to make Jordan theGOAT.. According to Teylor Gordy, "LeBron is the GOAT, and my reasoning is Jordan had everything LeBron didn't. Jordan had the besf front office, the best defensive team, (Scottie) Pippen as one of the best two-way players of all time and a loaded roster that included (Dennis) Rodman and (Steve) Kerr, all in their primes:' The 90s Bulls are arguably one of the greatest teams to ever play the game of basketball, and they were able to keep a winning unit for much of the decade, even when Jordan retired for the first time to play baseball. While many thought the Bulls would struggle without Jordan, the first year he was gone, the team won only two less games in the regular season and were one win away from making the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year. JeanneRabel, Wilkes undeclared advisor, took a different approach to determining her GOAT. "I honestly think it's LeBron, mainly because he utilizes his . whole platform as a basketball player for so much more than Michael Jordan. His staying power is going to last longer not only because of his physical ability, but also just the things he's been dedicated to over the course of the past year:' James has made an impact on society off the court with his fight for social justice, giving back to communities in need and opening of the I Promise School back in 2018. The school was aimed to create a better learning environment for kids who may not receive the best opportunity, due to the community they live in. This debate has left Wilkes men s basketball h e a d coach Izzi Metz stumped. "I cannot definitively say who is better right now because LeBron is still playing;' said Metz. "He may win another two to three championships. I will say when LeBron retires, he will have better statistics and more records than MJ. LeBron's overall body of work will be more impressive because he will have played 20 years in the NBA. MJ played 15 years. But let's just enjoy LeBron while he's still playing because we are witnessing an all-time great player:' ltinllf 19' @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker Mia.Walker@wilkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Opinion 14 Opinion Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the opinion editor: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu - - --------1Q ur Voiv>- -- - - 'Each week, The Beacon's editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. The great panacea of the 2020 quarantine •• 1411. Clayton.., TllaieN Kaiautbolu Media & Con1111nl1 1t1on Center Fellow readers, we hope that you are all doing well amid the pandemonium that is 2020. With all that has happened over these last ten months, we understand that you may be feeling lost or despondent at the state of the world. And while things could certainly be worse (and given 2020 so far, probably will be), we at The Beacon thought that we ought to take some time this week to talk about something that is truly dear to our hearts and our shining light in the chaos: Banana bread. To be mo~e specific, banana rread is simply the ultimate baked good( This is obviously an indisputable fact. If, 1 t'or some strange reason, banana bread does not come to the forefront of your mind when you think about your favorite foods, we strongly encourage you to meditate further on why that is not so. Of course, if you've never had the pleasure of partaking in the joy that is banana bread, we strongly recommend you go find the nearest loaf after reading this. Or, if you've an insatiable desire for banana bread already, we strongly recommend finding the nearest loaf before reading further. Either way, don't forget the butter. Now naturally, some people's first reaction might be to brazenly claim that other baked goods are able to challenge banana bread's preeminence as the ultimate baked good. Those people are wrong. Let's look at the humble cookie, for example. At its core, cookies are flexible enough to be made in a variety of ways, with a variety of ingredients. Now, in any other comparison of baked goods, this would be a mighty advantage for the cookie. But not banana bread. You see, banana bread has no need to be overly diverse and relentlessly experimented with by amateur bakers in the same way that cookies are. Banana bread always has been, and,alwayswill be, banana' bread. Although the recipe is almost a century old, banana bread continues to represent the pinnacle of baked goods. All of its components are perfectly balanced, as all things should be. And when you make a loaf (or ideally, loaves) of banana bread, you're not just making some fancy fruit-based bread. No, if executed correctly with a proper recipe, you're making ambrosia - the food of the gods. You see, one of banana bread's defining traits (which is often taken for granted) is its durability. When you bake a meager batch of a dozen or so cookies, these cookies rarely survive past a few days. And if you're not living alone, those cookies will not see the dawn. But should you choose to bake a loaf or two of banana bread, you will quickly notice that an entire loaf of banana bread is not so easily devoured by someone's passing hunger. Or three. Nay! The loaf endures. Through some light meal planning, an entire loaf of banana bread can sustain a third of a humans meals for the week. And though a similar amount of effort is made in baking cookies from scratch, can any of us truly say the same about the lifespan of a batch of cookies? Truly, out of all the baked goods, banana bread has no rival. No equal. Banana bread stands so far above the rest on a plateau that other baked goods can only dream to be as universally beloved and supreme as banana bread. And as we enter these final dogged months of 2020, our recommendation for dealing with the troubles of the past, present and future is to enjoy a slice of banana bread. Because for those of us at The Beacon, the buck stops at banana bread - the superior baked good. @wilkesbeacon TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu WllkesUtllnNlty PA18786 Phone· (570} 40M983 www.thewilkesbeacoli.com Want to advertise In The Beacon? Contact Kirsten Peters at Klrsten.Peters@wilkea.edu w~ Letter to the editor policy: 'Ihe Beacon welcomes letters to the.editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon • �!. The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Opinion "' 15 2020 Vice Presidential Debate: Who won? What happened? By Liam Flynn Staff Writer The vice presidential debate of the 2020 election between Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence was held on Oct. 7 at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Susan Page of USA Today moderated the debate. The debate was to be divided into nine IO-minute segments, although the moderator was only able to ask candidates , about eight topics in total. The candidates were seated 12 feet and 3 inches apart. During the debate, Pence echoed many of President Donald Trump's false or misleading claims, including on topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, health care and universal mail-in voting. Pence inaccurately said that the administration had "always" been truthful about the pandemic, claiming that he and Trump had a plan to "improve health care and to protect pre-existing conditions for every American;' when no such plan has been put forth by the administration. He also inaccurately claimed that the system of mail-in voting would "create a massive opportunity for voter fraud," a claim contrary to numerous studies. Pence misrepresented the findings of the Mueller investigation, as well as Joe .Biden's position on fracking and the Green New Deal. To a lesser degree, Harris also made statements that were · misleading or lacked context, mostly relating to the U.S. economy. During the debate, Page asked both vice presidential candidates whether they had discussed or reached an agreement with their running mates "about safeguards or procedures when it comes to presidential disability:' The issue had come to prominence due to the age of the two 2020 presidential candidates both currently being in their 70s and Trump's hospitalization with COVID-19 earlier that same month. Both Pence and Harris dodged the question and instead pivoted to other topics. There were several other notable moments from the debate. Pence refused to commit to accepting the results of the election and ensuring a peaceful transition of power if Trump and Pence were to lose. Pence's response echoed Trump's own repeated statements, refusing to commit to honoring the results if they lose. When Harris was asked if she would support an expansion of the number of justices on the Supreme Court if the Senate confirmed Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Court, she did not answer the question. Instead, she mentioned how President Abraham on her answers or take away from her time. She retorted, "Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking. I'm speaking;' making it clear she wasn't going to let a male opponent get away with any intimidation tactics. It goes without question to state that Harris easily won the debate, as Pence showed an unexpectedly rude side of his personality. Pence came across as Trump- topic, answer questions directly, follow the rules and avoid ad hominem. Pence does, and instead chose to disrespect the - two women- on thar ·stage.~ Harris WQ.n t because she had so much mqre material to work with. All she had to do was cite tl!e i facts about the Trump administration's l catastrophic handling of the-coronavirus. · Incidentally, the failures were evident in Pence's very presence at the debate • when he should have been in quarantine, . according to the U.S. Centers for Disease ' Control and Prevention's guidelines.• Harris pointed to Trump's failures in . paying his taxes, his efforts to get rid of ObamaCare in the midst of a pandemic, : the dismal state of the economy, Trump's ~ reluctance to clearly condemn white supremacists and on and on. Pence responded with the familiar lies ; and evasions we have been hearing from Trump for months, including a few new doozies. It was hard to ·contain a laugh · when he stated that Trump has been very good on the environment and is listening 1to the scientists, when he said Trum:p ' has always told the truth _a nd when he repea!e-~Jy _1!_1:is: ~Presen~ d Yiden's foreign policy i:eco,rp. ~,-- ,, 1 , With 'trump behind iri most polls, this i was Pence's last real chance to change '. the trajectory of the race, but he was npt • up for the job and looked miserable for ; nearly the entire debate. Several times, he brought the focus back to the coronavirus, i a topic he would have been wise to avoid as much as possible. His vague answers ! ~ on climate change and raci~l justice made · him seem out of step with the national mood. The debate didn't generate much . news or many knockout lines, so when ~ a fly landed and remained on the vice : president's head for over two minutes, people were transfixed. Many took to social media, unable to resist weighing in with jokes. Enormous attention was given to health precautions, ventilation systems and testing of attendees at the debate site, but the appearance of one insect was a scenario no one prepared fo r, and it was hard to ignore. As entertaining as the fly was, Harris won this round. I Lincoln did not nominate a successor for Justice Roger B. Taney, as he had died 27 days before the 1864 presidential election. A fly landed on Pence's head during the debate and Pence's left eye appeared bloodshot, attracting commentary by millions on social media and beyond. For 2020 standards, the debate was normal. There was far less interrupting, angry cross-talk and fewer personal attacks than in the presidential debate. Page, called for a "respectful exchange;' and regularly reminded the candidates that answers should be "uninterrupted:' Pence and Harris didn't always follow the formatting. Harris pushed back, calling out Pence when he started to step light, telling falsehoods, interrupting others and ignoring the rules, almost as much as the boss he praised with his usual unctuousness. Because he can put together complete sentences, Pence was able to pack in more whoppers per second than Trump did in last week's deranged presidential debate. Pence spoke over the two women in front of him, condescendingly ignoring moderator Page's repeated entreaties to stop talking when his time was up, and frequently interrupting his rival, who tried to keep her cool, as women often feel they must, saying ''I'd like equal time:' Trump doesn't have the dexterity, discipline or knowledge base to stay on Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �.J The Beacon - October 21 , 2020 16 Opinion Bre's Beats: BBMA's awkward but successful night of music By Breanna Ebisch r Opinion Editor Similar to many other well-known award shows that are h9sted every year aci:o$S various industries, the Billboard Music Awards underwent some changes di'ie to the COVID-19 pandemic but still went flawlessly. After being postponed from its original date back in April, the show continued on in the best way possible and did not disappoint. Hosted by Kelly Clarkson for the second consecutive year, the event took place live from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on Oct. 14 and was broadcasted exclusively on NBC. Although there was no live audience in attendance, the award show attempted to capture its usual normalcy and excitement even under such odd circumstances. With a lengthy list ofwell known performers, including BTS, Kane Brown and Doja Cat, the stage was lit up with a mix of stunning and mediocre performances throughout the night. Several unique collaborations took place between artists topping the charts today and ones from decades ago while also featuring surprises to make the night of music even more monumental. Post Malone, the R&B rap artist who rose to fame in 2017 with the hit single "Rockstar; was nominated for a whopping 16 awards in 15 different categories and ended up winning nine, including Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist and Top Streaming Songs Artist. Billie Eilish, the young female artist breaking boundaries and records with her 4'Utstanding music, also took home several awards, including Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Female Artist and Top New Artist, despite being up against other big names. For the fan-voted awards, some predictable and surprising wins were announced. This year, Billboard took to TikTok to encourage fans to vote for their favorite artists nominated in the three different categories, along with the usual form of voting through their website. Top Social Artist went to BTS for the fourth year in a row, Harry Styles won the Billboard Chart Achievement Award and Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabellds 2019 hit "Senorita" won Best Collaboration. For the first time, the BBMAs presented the Change Maker Award, which is given to an artist or group that speaks truth to power through their art, celebrity and community. Killer Mike, who belongs to the duo Run The Jewels, received the honor for his continuous work in relation to social justice issues that are prominent today. One of country music's biggest artists, Garth Brooks, received the Icon Award for the achievements made during his l three-decade-long career. Even though the thousands of people who would usually be attending the show were not present, the . winners, presenters and performers were all able to be there in-person for their contribution to, the big night. Social distancing {ules were f~llowed throughout the entire event. Some stars, such as Eilish, chose to go one step further and wear a mask when accepting awards, serving as subtle reminders of how different this show was from past ones. In terms of performances, the BBMAs Angeles for the performance of their single "Dynamite; and instead were in their home country of South Korea. Not only visually pleasing but packed with impressive vocals from the band, it is safe to say that BTS was another favorite of the night. Alicia Keys took the stage as well and wowed anyone watching with her voice, instrumental skills (including her iconic and usual sit down at a grand piano) and strong stage presence. Like always, Keys was a breath of fresh air in terms of the difference between her and some of the other performers. offered a wide range in who took the stage. From Latin to pop to country, many artists brought the power of music to the stage. Clarkson opened the show with a simple, yet stunning performance of Whitney Houston's "Higher Love;' alongside acapella group Pentatonix and percussionist Sheila E. John Legend dedicated his emotional performance of"Never Break; a new song off his latest album, to his wife who recently went through a devastating pregnancy loss. The heartfelt ballad on the piano was easily one of the best moments of the show and brought everyone watching close to tears. Global sensation BTS was not in Los Post Malone received a lot of attention for his performance from a top secret location in L.A., and Brooks brought a medley of his biggest hits to the stage after receiving the Icon Award. Like any other high profile award show, the BBMAs came with more than a few political or social justice takes through acceptance speeches, fashion and statements. Because the event took place only a few weeks prior to the 2020 election, many artists spoke on the importance of voting and citizens using their voice for the future. Lizzo wore a stunning VOTE dress, and when accepting her award for Top Song Sales Artists, she quickly thanked Billboard and her fans before diving into topics relevant to issues surfacing today, such as suppression and encouraging others to vote. Her speech immediately became one of the biggest highlights of the night. Each time Eilish was on stage to claim her wins, she also used the microphone to talk about the need for everyone to vote. For someone who just recently turned 18, her words were the most shocking. From one young person to millions of others, the artist made sure the audience knew how drastic this simple action was, and using her time on stage to do that was monumental. Unfortunately, not all of the bold stances were received positively. Demi Lovato was slated to perform her new song "Commander in Chief,' which is a powerful ballad she sang beautifully. Aimed as a direct hit full of criticism to the president, the strong meaning was dear and reportedly censored by NBC for what many speculate to be that exact reason. Considering the president was scheduled to be on the national channel the next day for a town hall in place of the missed presidential debate, this does not seem unlikely. Overall, the 2020 Billboard Music Awards were successful and were a nice touch of some sense of normalcy in a year where everything has been flipped upside down. The exciting performances, award recipients and special moments definitely made the night worthwhile in so many ways and gave music fans across the country something to enjoy during such weird times. The only aspect of the show that seemed to ruin the well created buzzing atmosphere would be the lack of a live audience, which, of course, is widely expected today. However, after the host or presenters were finished speaking and performances came to an end, where the artist usually says, 'Thank you: to the crowd, they were all met with awkward silence. Without the applause or cheers to fill the empty space, that was all there was. Clarkson handled the quiet moments fairly well, but for a handful of the presenters, those long few seconds felt like an eternity and made the show feel awkward for viewers at home as well. Since the no in-person attendance is part of the new "normal-!' those little bits of time will inevitably come with that initial cringe until we get used to it. Despite the circumstances and countless changes to make the night full of music happen, this year's BBMAs were certainly one for the books. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 21, 2020 17 Opinion COVID-:19 causes stress: A tension to detail in young people By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor COVID-19 has presented a whole new set of challenges and introduced an overwhelming amount of stress for everyone through many aspects of life. From the drastic changes in schooling, workplaces, social life, traveling and many more, the pandemic has affected the life we previously had known as the norm. And while the world's population is adjusting in their own ways, some better than others, young people are at the center of a whole other crisis that COVID-19 has started. Since the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March, young adults have been victims to some of the worst mental health issues in decades due to the ever-growing stress the virus is responsible for. However, as millions of people continue to struggle with the new way of life while juggling all the expectations of being a functioning adult still trying to find their place in the world, many belonging to the older generations downplay the impact of the stress young people are forced to burden. According to Hartford HealthCare, "A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of more than 5,400 American young adults age 18 and older revealed more than 60 percent reported feeling this way. The results - three times as high as the same time in 2019 - also include a reported increase in suicidal thoughts and substance use. The researchers suggest the fear of illness and the radical changes made to their lives with remote learning and social isolation orders in place are the cause." The numbers are staggering, showing a shocking increase from · the past year, and the numbers should be concerning. Having to deal with the stress of school, working jobs, looking for jobs, supporting oneself, spendil)g time with friends and so much more already makes the lives of young adults a continuous struggl~. Now, add in the changes of quarantine, losing the ability to see their friends and family in-person, missing major events and having to take on the massive changes made to their lives. The stress is undeniable. · Ma~ you• people are concerned about'.t}ieir futijre more than ever before, as COVID-19 continues to impact employment, the economy and ways of living. With everyday being just as uncertain as the last, young adults are struggling to stay on top of everything while still trying to succeed. Despite the obvious amounts of stress and pressure this particular demographic is under, the older generations don't seem to take the harsh effects seriously. Not only are the older adults not experiencing the same mental health issues that stem from COVID-19, but they seem to belittle the feelings of young people because what they are going through doesn't feel like a real problem compared to theirs. Sure, the challenges of being a young adult are difficult, more so now, but that does not mean the stress this virus has presented doesn't affect them in a way that clearly even studies are showing is drastic. Everyone's experiences with this new "normal" are going to vary, but when a very large group of people all fall into the same category of a major decline in their mental health and experience an unprecedented amount of stress and anxiety, something is wrong.,, "' According to the CDq".-"Coro~ virus ,~ ¼A disease (COVID-19) can affect young adults directly and indirectly. Beyond getting sick, many young adults' social, emotional and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental stage may have longterm consequences across their lifespan." Older generations could offer their support and help in order to pull through this unprecedented time. The CDC recommends being able to recognize and address fear, help young adults take care of themselves, stay healthy and remain socially connected. Breaking the thought process th .. many older adults believe about the stress young people have experienced is crucial, especially including the new challenges COVID-19 has resulted in. The stress and anxiety that young adults are feeling because of this pandemic is one hundred percent real, and they will only get worse without the proper support and changes from others. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu ..:: J www.thewllkesbeacon.com The Opinion section is looking for writers. Freshmen and all majors welcome! Photographers and graphic designers are welcome, too! / Breanna.Ebish@wilkes.edu Kirsten.Peters@Wllkes.edu r �.J 18 OpiQion The Beacon,.-;; Octob.e r 21, 2020 Do we ever make the right choices? Of course we do, or maybe not By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor American culture focuses on autonomy and freedom as critical to mental health. These are considered to be natural rights that people expect to have. Being able to do what we want and explore variety in our options are considered healthy attitudes. Grocery stores are filled with a diverse selection of options for that very reason. For example, deciding to eat breakfast means you have to pick what kind of food you want: eggs, pancakes, cereal etc. Once you've made that decision, those categories can be broken down into specifics. Do you want Frosted Flakes, Lucky Charms or Cheerios? These choices, although innocent, build arbitrary stress to the already occupied human mind. I asked my dad to buy me orange juice. He came back with ·three different brands because he wanted to see if there was even a fundamental difference in them. In reality, he was struggling to make a decision. Having many options is considered to be a good thing. In a country where individuality is a prime focus, the abundance of choices allow that individuality to be expressed with ease. By introducing variety to this level, people are able to keep their lives interesting. However, too many choices have been increasingly viewed as a bad thing. • Coined by Alvin Toffler in his 1970 book "Future Shock:' the term "overchoice" refers to the cognitive impairment associated with making a decision when too many options are available. This phenomenon results in many negative side effects, like blaming oneself when something goes wrong because the person believes they made a wrong choice. A simple decision to get ice cream causes so much unnecessary stress that people often resort to picking the same flavor (Why is it a twist with sprinkles?). An ice cream shop in my hometown added new flavors, but these flavors were not popular and were discontinued soon after. The new flavors weren't bad. It was simply because the flavor options were so overwhelming in number that people didn't even try the new flavors to see if they liked them. They just got their twist with sprinkles to avoid making a choice. According to Laws of UX, British and " American psychologists William Hick and Ray Hyman described a mathematical relationship between the number of choices and decision time. The HickHyman law states that as choices increase, the time to arrive at a decision increases logarithmically. This means that as options increase, our dee· :on .w:ne, ., :. s towards infinity. ·-:;.:< · ., . As a result, the cereal aisieis a ni mare. If you know you want cereal, i>ut .don} know which kind, it is easy~ pe lost in.the .., ·• .... ;: . have to pick 25 schools that I want to go to and th~t I have a chance of actually getting in. The entire process is very time consuming and mentally taxing. Some schools have a lot more information on their websites than other~. The lack of knowledge of these places and the inability to acquire accurate and up-to-date information leads to confusion among the options. I spent a month trying - ·. .,. ' - •.. - ·..,·.... '-. ~~ maze of grains (pun intended). My mother sent me to the store to purchase marinara sauce, and the sheer number of brands and prices all promising a homemade taste overwhelmed me so much I ended up spending ten minutes squatting in front of the shelves. I was feeling quite lost in the sauce. Decision time is not the only thing affected by haying t9r many choic~s. Since I am applying to flledical school .I have had to sort through 154 MD programs. My search was narrowed by some factors, such as proximity to home and GPA, but 154 options is a lot of options nonetheless. I didn't want to spend more than $2,000 on applications, so I knew I could only apply to 25. In order to get in some place, I ~ to decipher which schools were worth my time, only to find contradictory information about the schools later. The anxiety and stress caused by the variety in choices is contradictory to what variety is supposed to bring. I often found myself wondering if I picked the wrong 25 schools and wouldn't get into any of them. Harvard professor George Miller cites the perfect ~umber of choices as seven plus or m~us two opti1;mS: This means 154 MD programs is 22 times the number of choices that the human brain can comprehend. The ice cream place had 7 times the options to make a decision, and the cereal aisle is still a nightmare. Having many choices and little information provided made decision making tougher. Many people ask me where I want to go to school. I never have an answer. At this point, I will go to the school that takes me. I often wonder if my decision to come to Wilkes was the best option for me, not because I dislike it here, but because I don't know what could have happened elsewhere. My dilemma highlights the importance of choices. Having information about your options influences your decision making for the better and for worse. On one hand, it is good to know vital information that could help you narrow your search. On the other hand, all of the schools I apply to have the same mission statements, tuitions and acceptance rates, which doesn't help narrow the search. Whether my dad had purchased Tropicana or Simply Orange didn't matter at the end of the day, but the decision still stumped him. A lot of life is spent wondering about decisions we feel that we have made incorrectly. Dwelling on what-ifs prevents people from embracing the present life they are leading. Much like the orange juice, your decisions don't really matter. Choices give us the illusion of individuality perpetuated by American culture. The reality is, the little control we have is illusory. It is important for us to feel accomplished, so we respectfully skirt the topic. Once you wrap your head around the world of decision making, overchoice seems ridiculous. We are conditioned to think there is a right answer to everything. This often prevents us from actually making decisions that we want to make. At some point, the decisions you make aren't yours, but the ones you feel you should be making. Variety is offered to us to help us feel more individual. However, the variety just stumps us. We feel like there is a right answer, so we try to pick that one. We are worried about what other people will think about our preferences and want to fit in, thus defeating the purpose of variability. If companies make less variety, people might feel more comfortable. However, limiting choices infringes on the American ideal of individuality. The drive to be mm-e unique would result in the production of more options. We will be right where we started. The problem is circular, like arrows pointing at one another, none leading anywhere different than each other. It's all orange juice under the bridge. Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari �6 1e td g. lf le llt re le re ly :o :r y, 1e lt ;e ,r a it y d [l [l Sports The Beacon - October 21, 2020 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Opportunities open to students interested in sports broadcasting By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer Sports management and communication studies students who are focusing on sports, could partake in the opportunities Wilkes has to hone one's craft. Students majoring in sports management plan to be able to manage teams, players and facilities while dealing with marketing and advertising of sports and products related to sports in their careers. "From the sports management department, there are numerous ways a student can pursue their careers," said Woojun Lee, director of the sports management program. "Many of our students want to work in sports organizations, such as professional or minor league teams. Marketing, ticketing sales, social media management or becoming an athletic director are the many forms of a career that sports management can provide." The program was crafted with all of these opportunities in mind. "Wilkes has almost everything - our curriculum is very strong," said Lee. "When I first developed the curriculum for this at Wilkes, I benchmarked the greatest sports management programs all over the world, including the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Temple, Texas A&M and UCONN, which are all well-established sports management programs. These programs have a different variety of course, and I wanted to deliver the same amount of courses here at Wilkes University." Not only does Wilkes offer state of the art sports management major, but the location of the university is close to two minor league teams that can allow students to gain professional level experience. "We have two minor league teams close to us; said Lee. "We have a great relationship with the Penguins (hockey) as well as the RailRiders (baseball). We also have a sports management club, which will usually schedule tours with different facilities. Even though there are some great programs around us, I think that we have the strongest sport management program." To go alongside with the sports management program, Wilkes also has different ways that students could get involved so they could gain experience in Photos: The Beacon/Ariel Reed Top: Students can host sports broadcasts on 90.7 WCLH radio. Bottom: Sports anchors can host segments on Wilkes Now! the sports departments. One of the ways is through Wilkes Now!, the university's student-run news-magazine television broadcast. "(Wilkes Now) is a great show to be a part of when learning about broadcast and reporting," said Ian Bayley, the show's producer. "Any student could participate in this, but they must have a will to learn new skills. They can get involved with anchoring, reporting, camera and control room equipment operation, as well as various leadership and teamwork skills." The work that goes into the sports segment of the TV program gives students the opportunity to work with state-of-theart equipment and build their skills for the real world. "Sports is undoubtedly one of the most involved segments, including capturing video of practices, games (when they resume), coach and player interviews, as well as standings; said Bayley. "Sports management and communication studies majors alike who are interested in focusing their career in sports have a lot to do with this show. Some key skills involve interviewing, time management, networking (with coaches and players), as well as timeliness with the athletic season." Interested students can attend weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in the TV Studio located in the Karambelas Media and Communication Center. Another way that students can get involved is through the university's radio station. The radio broadcasts off of 90.7 WCLH Wilkes-Barre/Hazelton/Scranton. Ryan Martel, a sophomore marketing and hospitality major, talked about his experience with the radio station. "I have been doing the radio show since last year," said Martel "We really got it going this year with a brand-new name; which is 'The Huddle: We're able to revamp the program. Last year, we had one show a week, and now we do three." Being apart of departments like ~ can allow students to find their niche and pursue their true passions. "I would like to do something sportsrelated for whatever I do, whether it's with a professional sports team or doing a talk show about sports; said Martel "The radio show has definitely helped me with my major because it's gotten me places I couldn't imagine being in, like calling the football team's bowl game last November or calling both the men's and women's basketball games last winter. I've also learned how to run the table for the radio show, which teaches skills for people who are interested .in going into the broadcasting field." Co-hosting a show allows for diversity among the topics discussed, allows for people to develop skills that will help them in their professional careers and aids learning in how to work well with a team. "We mostly talk about basketball and football with some baseball segments in there," said Martel "We have weekly segments by all three of us, including 'Women in Sports Wednesdays' with Ariel (Reed), 'Fantasy Thursdays' with Dylan (Mehl), and my own 'Martel's Football Power Rankings' on Tuesdays. Our chemistry on the show is unmatched. With the analytical way we all approach sports and Dylan's emotional based picks, it's like were a young Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe with Ariel serving as the mediator. We also have heated debates over NBA teams, as we all support different teams:' Getting involved with WCLH is as easy as contacting an E-Staff member. "If any students are interested in the radio, you can find us three on campus throughout the week, or you can come to the building for our show times, which are 9 to 11 p.m. on Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays; said Martel. "You could talk to us about potentially starting your own show or joining us for a day." . . . @wilkesbeacon Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu JII' r �.J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Sports 20 NFL: A week five recap; four teams remain undefeated By Dylan Mehl and Saylee Guedes Co-Sports Editor, Staff Writer Heading into week six of the NFL season, four teams stand with perfect records: the Steelers, Seahawks, Packers and Titans. In week five, the battle for Pennsylvania dominance was underway as the Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Philadelphia Eagles. Pittsburgh picked up the win by a score of 38-29 behind rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool's four-touchdown performance. "When {Diontae) went down I knew I had to step up for the time being, and luckily I was able to do that;' said Claypool after the week four wiri, per Pro Football Talk. The Eagles now move to a record of 1-3-1, which currently holds the number two seed in the NFC East. "We got to keep working. We got to keep fighting;' said Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, after the loss against the Steelers. The Dallas Cowboys picked up a 37-34 win over division rival New York Giants, which bumped them into first place in the NFC East. However, Dallas suffered a huge loss, as starting quarterback Dak Prescott will sit out for the rest of the season due to a compound fracture and dislocation in his right ankle. The Seahawks kept their record perfect after a close win on Sunday night football over the Minnesota Vikings by a score of27-26. Russell Wilson totaled three touchdown passes against the Vikings, bringing his season total to an NFLleading 19. DK Metcalf has been a huge part of the offense to start the season, with 496 receiving yards through the first five weeks of the season. According to Wilson, "DK Metcalf is the best in the world at what he does." In a game that was in doubt for much of the week due to COVID-19 concerns, the Tennessee Titans defeated the Buffalo Bills 42-16 to move to 4-0 on the year. Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry combined for six total touchdowns in the win. On Thursday Night Football, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears, 20-19. Foles led the Bears on a late-game drive, which led kicker Cairo Santos to hit the gamewinning 38-yard field goal with one minute and eight seconds left in the game. In week six, the Bucs will be looking to bounce back on Sunday, as they take on the 4-0 Green Bay Packers in a quarterback battle between Brady and Aaron Rodgers. The Atlanta Falcons suffered their fifth loss in a row to start the season, as the Carolina Panthers defeated them 23-16 behind quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's 313 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. After suffering yet another loss, the Falcons decided to cut ties with head coach -Dan Quinn, ending the coach's six-year tenure with the team The firing of Quinn has left NFL fans wondering if the Falcons will enter rebuilding mode and begin to trade away star players, such as Julio Jones. In a high scoring game, the Las Vegas Raiders earned a 40-32 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. This marked the f i r s t time the Raiders have beaten the Chiefs in Kansas City since 2012. In the win, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr racked up 347 passing yards along with three passing touchdowns. "(Jon) Gruden's said Hoyt Wilkes "They played a solid game and took advantage of the Chiefs' mistakes. They did what they're good at and kept going with it." An overtime thriller on Monday night led to a New Orleans Saints 30- · Los Angeles Chargers. For New Orleans, receiver Emmanuel Sanders had 12 catches for 122 yards in the absence of the league's leader in receptions last year, Michael Thomas. Thomas was benched by the Saints for the duration of the game due to fighting at practice during the week. The Cleveland Browns continued their victorious ways against the Indianapolis Colts, winning 32-23. Cleveland has the league's leading rushing game this season and added another 124 yards to that total. Baltimore moved to 4-1 on the season, as they dominated the Bengals in a 27-3 victory where the defense excelled. In addition to not allowing a single touchdown on the day, Baltimore's defense forced three turnovers and got them a touchdown. Rookie linebacker Patrick Queen earned himself AFC defensive player of the week with nine tackles, a sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown. Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals beat the New York Jets, 30-10, after jumping out to a 17-3 lead at halftime. Murray's 411 total yards and two total touchdowns, with one through the air and another rushing on the day, earned him the NFC offensive player of the week. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Washington Football Team, 30-10, in a game that saw Aaron Donald get four sacks. For Washington, quarterback Alex Smith took his first NFL snap since his devastating leg injury back in 2018. The Miami Dolphins' offense exploded for 43 points in San Francisco against the 49ers, as Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick totaled 350 passing yards and three touchdown passes. San Francisco struggled early in the game, going to backup quarterback C.J. Beathard in the second half in an attempt to spark the offense. In their first game since firing former head coach and acting general manager Bill O'Brien, the Houston Texans picked up their first win of the season beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 30-14. Brandin Cooks had eight receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown in the win. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt took to Twitter after the win to celebrate, tweeting, "FUN! Finally!!" The New England Patriots versus the Denver Broncos game scheduled for week five was pushed back until week six due to COVID-19 concerns after several Patriots players have tested positive in recent weeks. The Patriots remain in second place behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East in the first sea5'ln since Brady's departure. Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �4 The Beacon- October 21, 2020 Sports 21 Slippery Rock alumni team up as Wilkes strength coaches·0 n I, d e ' By Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor .. Wilkes athletes have been able to improve themselves not only in the classroom or in their sport, but also in the weight room with state of the art equipment and two strength coaches. Keith Klahod and Zack LeDuc are the head and assistant strength coaches, respectively. Both Klahold and LeDuc attended the same university, Slippery Rock, to obtain their degrees; however, they differ in the approaches they took. LeDuc knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career in athletics because he loved the atmosphere. "I love the high intense environment from football, even when I was a GA. I worked at the high school that I went to," said LeDuc. "It was kind of cool to see what athletics were like from the other side. I definitely thought, 'This is the environment I want to be working in. I like working with kids, and I like working with exercise:" LeDuc initially had intentions of being a physical therapist. "I knew I wanted to do something in the exercise field, and my first thought was physical therapy, so that's where I went;' LeDuc said. "I did my undergrad at Slippery Rock in exercise science with the idea of later going into physical therapy school, but then I actually got physical therapy. I thought, 'You know, this isn't really what I want to do'. On my way home for Christmas Break, I realized I love exercise, I love weight training and I love sports - let's put them together. I switched to strength and conditioning, and from there went and started doing observations." Before coming to Wilkes, LeDuc ventured in all directions, gaining experience and knowledge with various athletic departments. "I did a bunch of internships. My senior year, I did one at Pittsburgh;' .said LeDuc. "I went to grad school at PSU and did my GA at East Stroudsburg .South High School. From there, I did an internship at Iowa State University in their football department. That summer, I applied to Wilkes and ended up working here." Klahold brought LeDuc on staff in 2017. Klahold started with Wilkes in 2003, the same year the school added a weight training center. Similar to LeDuc, Klahold also started his career initially not wanting to pursue strength training. "I decided I wanted to go to college for athletic training my sophomore year when my brother opened up a gym back home and hired me to run it for him;' said Klahold. "That year, I started working with some of the kids at the local high school and found that I enjoyed working with them and helping them improve their performance more than just taping ankles and taking care of injuries. I found that Ia rather prevent injuries before they happen, then work with them afterwards. I finished in athletic training and then went after GA positions in strength and conditioning when I graduated." Klahold has been surrounded by weight training his entire life. From an early age, Klahold was found in a weight room and even dabbled in competitive lifting. He started weight training when he was in ninth grade. His school did not have a middle school, meaning in ninth grade, athletes Keith Klahold, head strength and conditioning coach, set up the Earthquake bar for one of his athletes to train with. Photos: The Beacon/Ariel Reed Zack LeDuc, assistant strength and conditioning coach, worked with a softball player on the proper form to complete a bench press on the floor. either played varsity or "Pop Warner." His decision to play up a level was heavily influenced by his brother, who is 11 years older than him, and his parents. Finding his niche in a weight room, Klahold made the jump to competitive powerlifting his sophomore year. "I got into powerlifting my sophomore year in high school. The gym that I trained in was about a half hour from home. My brother and the gym owner kept telling me that I should give it a shot and check powerlifting out," Klahold said. "I went to a local competition my freshman year and watched it. I thought, 'Yeah, I can do that: Then my sophomore year, I entered my first competition and ended up winning, beating a senior from a big high school. From there, I just stayed with it. My last year competing was 2003, the year I got hired here:' In addition to his powerlifting ventures, Klahold also pursued different avenues in far away states before winding up a little closer to his hometown. "When I graduated at Slippery Rock, I had the choice of either going to East Tennessee State and being a graduate assistant athletic trainer there or going to Florida Atlantic University and being a graduate assistant athletic trainer there. They were putting in a brand new weight room, adding football and looking to add a full-time head strength and conditioning coach;' said Klahold. "I chose to take the chance and go to Florida Atlantic. "I spent a year as a graduate assistant athletic trainer, and . then worked with baseball and softball there as their strength coach. I got there in Fall of '97, and Spring '98 they hired me as their first-ever head strength and conditioning coach. It was quite different being 23 ~d being a head strength coach in a Division I school. "My wife, our head softball coach, decided that we wanted to move back closer to home and family. We came back to Pennsylvania to live with my parents. I worked at Weiser High School as their strength coach for a year and at a local gym downtown as a personal trainer. Wilkes decided to put in our fitness center here and hire a strength coach, so I applied and have been here ever since." The strength coaches at Wilkes care for their students not only athletically, but also in regards to their personal lives and future aspirations. "The big thing we focus on down here is really helping our athletes succeed not only on the field, court or ice, but also in the classroom and in life;' LeDuc said. "We want to instill positive habits moving forward, even after college. We want to instill habits that you'll take with you for the rest of your life. We're not just here for four years, we're here to make you better - to make your life moving forward more successful. That's really the big thing that we strive to achieve not only having you for these four years but helping you throughout the rest of your life:' ~ ~ @wilkesbeacon Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu i �_J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Spoi;ts �2 The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Sports 23 ~ kes.edu !nts. 1g a best on Oct. 11atic car :eive gas Student ,coming a trivia )Sting a >minent rill meet ,c oming ,re back ?s.edu 7 4 9 er s r �_J The Beacon - October 21, 2020 Sports 24 MLB: Division series recap, staff World Series predictions By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer Eight teams entered the Division Series, and four of them are moving onto the semifinal round of MLB's 2020 playoffs, the League Championship Series. In the National League, both teams who are moving onto the NLCS swept their opponents in their respective best-of-five Division Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres to move onto their fourth NLCS within the last five seasons. The Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins to participate in their first NLCS since 2001. In the Braves-Marlins matchup, Atlanta's starting pitching shut down the Miami offense to lead the Braves to the NLCS. Before this series, the Braves had lost their last eight Division Series, including the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In the first game, Atlanta relied more on their offense to earn the victory, outscoring the Marlins 9-5. Ronald Acuna Jr., the very first batter of Game One, made MLB history by becoming the youngest player ever to hit a leadoffhome run in the postseason. In the next two games, Braves' rookie starting pitchers Ian Anderson and Kyle Wright both threw scoreless outings and combined for 11.2 innings, striking out 15 Marlin batters. The Braves remain undefeated in the 2020 postseason, with a 5-0 record while posting a 0.92 earned run average as a pitching staff (five runs allowed in 49 innings). The Los Angeles Dodgers beat their NL West division rival San Diego Padres in the NLDS, outscoring them 23-9 in the series. In Game Two, 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger helped the Dodgers with both his bat and his glove to earn the 6-5 win. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Bellinger took a first-pitch changeup 433 feet to center field to put LA up; 4-1. In the top of the seventh with two outs, Bellinger robbed a two-run home run from Padres shortstop Fernando -Tatis Jr. - which would have put San Diego in the lead. The Dodgers would go on to win Game Three to move into their 14th NLCS appearance. In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees in five games to move onto their first American League Championship Series since 2008. The Houston Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics in four games to play in their fourth consecutive ALCS. The Astros-Athletics ALDS was a recordbreaking series, as both teams combined for a whopping 24 home runs (12 each), the most hit ever in a Division Series matchup. Houston's offensive outburst came as a surprise, as the Astros' hitters combined for a .240 batting average as a team, which ranked 20th in the majors this season. In the ALDS, the team hit .322, with Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker all batting over .400. The Athletics' bullpen, often praised as one of the best in the league, struggled against the Astros, posting a 6.27 earned run average in the four games played. With this series win, the Astros became the third team in AL history since 1969 to participate in four-straight League Championship Series. The New York Yankees fell to the Tampa Bay Rays in five games in their Division Series. Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was hot in the first three games of the series, hitting one home run in each game. In the deciding Game Five of the series, Tampa Bay's Mike Brosseau broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, taking a 100-mph fastball from Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman over the wall in left field to lead the Rays to a 2-1 victory. eacon icks_ 8 A S E B A L l Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer Houston Astros v. L.A. Dodgers Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor Houston Astros v. Atlanta Braves Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor Tampa Bay Rays v. L.A. Dodgers Baylee Guedes Staff Writer Tampa Bay Rays v. L.A. bodgers Kirsten Peters Editor-in-Chief Tampa Bay Rays v. L.A. Dodgers @wilkesbeacon Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu Next to Movies 14 • For Delivery - Call 825-5166 • Wilkes-Barre. Kingston. Plains. Plymouth. Nanticoke . .,.- � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 October 21st Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 October 21 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/dbe6e6a20b38b486568e5f32dc966b5f.pdf 3ed42c25332bb93375055aba28e5d465 PDF Text Text The Beacon - October 28, 2020 w HEBEACON Est.1936 Pa. Newspaper AaociationMember Volume 73, Iuue 8 Wilkes Universi 1 - Wilkes-Barre, Penns lvania the ·ournalists of tomorrow. Worries grow over stability of LGBTQ rights By Sean Schmoyer News Editor The LGBTQ community has been fighting for equal rights since the early 1900s through organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union. The path to equal rights has been a back-and-forth fight. The fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ community continues as concern rises over President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, who would fill the seat left empty after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September. The Human Rights Campaign, which is the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States, officially opposed Barrett's appointment. Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, stated in a press release, "While people are suffering across the country, instead of offering aid, Trump and (FILL) McConnell are rushing through a Supreme Court justice - a justice who could deal a fatal blow to people maintaining their basic health care in the middle of a pandemic. The president has dramatically altered the judiciary to try to dismantle hard-fought rights and progress secured over decades LGBTQ rights, voting rights, reproductive rights and more:' The concern for LGBTQ+ rights comes from two major places, Barrett's words ~d rulings as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals and recent statements from Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. Winning is in her DNA: Macciocco makes her mark on Wilkes By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor At the Hesburgh Lecture in 2016 at Jacksonville University, Barrett commented on the 2015 landmark case, Obergefell v. Hodges, in which a 5-4 decision for Obergefell stated that the Fourteenth Amendment requires both marriage licensing and recognition for same-sex couples. Barrett said of Obergefell v. Hodges, "(ChiefJustice Roberts, in his dissent,) said, those who want same-sex marriage, you have every right to lobby in state legislatures to make that happen, but the dissent's view was that it wasn't for the court to decide ... So I think Obergefell, and what were talking about for the future of the court, it's really a who decides question:' The concern in these statements is whether Barrett personally agrees with same-sex marriage or not, and that she supports the dissenting opinion back in the 2015 case that it is the states place to decide whether samesex marriage should be legal. This means a rollback of Obergefell v. Hodges could result in states deciding to strip away the right to same-sex marriage. Shawnessey Koebel, chemistry major and vice president of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance said, "I am very worried because of where many of the people in government stand on LGBTQ+ rights, and how many of them don't believe we actually deserve or Two seasons ago, Wilkes Athletics decided to bring in a new head coach for women's basketball: Tara Macciocco. This change sparked immediate results, as the team doubled its total wins from four in the previous season to eight. While Macciocco began her head coaching stint at Wilkes two years ago, this is not her first time being a head coach or being exposed to this level of basketball either. Macciocco grew up in Dunmore, Pa., right outside of Scranton. Her father was a high school basketball coach for the local school for 35 years and her grandfather was the sports writer for The Scranton TimesTribune for 30 years. "I grew up in a basketball family; said Macciocco. "Athletics was always a big part of who we were:' She first learned the game of basketball at the age of four when she would routinely go to her father's basketball practices. · "I remember going up and down the floor, trying to dribble the ball and his players LGBTQ, page 3 MACCIOCCO, page 21 ~ "S un, C: C: ~ C: 0 u n, (II cc (II ~ L-:-arn to rd,n: \,·ith Buddhi,t meditation cL: ''.'-<..'~, 11~1gc: :- r �_J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 News 2 News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Oct. 21 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer Student Government held its eighth virtual meeting on Oct. 21, touching on what Student Government is, what they do, as well as bringing a bookstore back to campus. In honor of having a full board, Student Government started with a brief orientation of everything new members needed to know about the council. This included introducing members of the Executive Board and explaining their positions. It also covered office hours, committee reports and other aspects of being in Student Government that new inductees should be aware 0£ Next, three guests, Dean of Student of Affairs Mark Allen, Director of Business Operations Alicia Bond and Assistant Vice President of Operations and Compliance Justin Kraynack, opened up a discussion about the current plan to bring a bookstore back to campus. Currently, the bookstore is looking to be located in the SUB concourse lounge to the right of Rifkin Cafe. The contract at the current location of Barnes and Noble expires in August 2021. The new bookstore will be a hybrid model, meaning that students will go to a kiosk and a worker would help order textbooks. They want to keep books out of the store, so that way, they can save as much space as possible for the lounge. Student Government led into a discussion, commenting on the possible disadvantages of not having any books on campus, and the possibility of keeping some hard copies for students who need them. After the guests had left, the council voted on how many hours members must complete within 2020. The hours include helping out with events, as well as holding office hours, taking into consideration COVID-19 restrictions and the limited amount of events being held With the majority of the votes, five hours won. Classes then broke out into IO-minute sessions to discuss class socials and fundraisers. The seniors, having already hit the mark of socials and fundraisers, did not discuss any new ideas but promoted their stickers, which can be purchased through their Instagram account, @wilkesseniors21. They are hoping for the chance to be able to do a bar crawl next semester. Juniors are looking toward phone accessories. Sophomores have an online magnet fundraiser that is up and running on their lnstagram, @wilkessg23. First-years are looking toward water bottles and a Netflix watch party for a social. In closing, Commuter Council started its car costume contest on Oct. 26. The Programming Board is offering movie tickets, and for every ticket a student buys, they are entered into a raffle for an iPad. Residence Hall Council will be holding a social media contest running Oct. 26 through Oct. 30, in which anyone who follows them during that time will be entered to win a couple of large prizes. They will also hold a big event unveiling on Nov. 1. @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Sara Ross Taste of Wtlkes 2020: Home Edition The Taste of Wilkes Home Edition is a virtual fundraising event taking place from Nov. 2 to 6. This event allows members of the campus community to submit their favorite recipes to be included in a cookbook. It will come in a physical book and a PDF version. There will be a virtual gift basket auction. Chefs are also allowed to participate virtually. They can submit their favorite recipe *or inclusion in the cookbook, create a unique name for their dish and provide a short story about why the dish is special to them. All proceeds from the event will go toward the Wilkes United Way campaign. Take Classes During Wmter Intersession Students can earn credits over winter break by scheduling online courses. This is helpful for those who want to catch up on missed classes, get ahead in their studies or lighten their course load for the spring. They are held in three- to five-week sessions that start on Dec. 7, and tuition is $530 per credit. If interested in signing up for an online class, make an appointment with your advisor and visit www.wilkes.edu/winter to view the course schedule. Registration opens at 10 p.m. on Oct. 25. Writing Center Consultations to Host Vn1ual Students who are looking to improve their writing or need assistance with an upcoming paper or essay can seek out guidance from the Writing Center, which is located on the bottom floor of the Farley Library. However, with the transition to online, the center is now hosting virtual drop-in hours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Any member of the Wilkes community can schedule an appointment if they require writing help. Appointments will be held over Zoom, and to access the Zoom links for the meetings, students can find all available options under the "Student Services" tab in the Wilkes Portal. Special Veterans Day Video This year, Wilkes University's Veterans Day ceremony will be pre-recorded, and a special video will be shared on the Wilkes social media channels on Nov. 11. The Veterans Council invited all members of the Wilkes community to share photos of veterans they would like to honor so they could be included in the video. Though the date for photo submissions has passed, join the campus in honoring veterans comeNov. 11. 4 l9 @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Upcoming Events: 2020 Fall Semester October 29 - Cheer Team Tryouts 31 - Halloween 25 - Holiday Recess begins 26 - Thanksgiving December November 2 - Blood Drive 2 - Taste of Wilkes Home Edition Begins 6 - Taste of Wilkes Home Edition Ends 7 - Vrrtual Open House 8 - Mall Shopping Shuttle 11 - Veterans Day 23 - Movie Night 7- Beginning of Winter Intersession Classes Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: The WilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu • �The Beacon - October 28, 2020 News 3 i LKS intertwines students and professionals like pasta By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer Wilkes' Alpha Phi Chapter of Lambda Kappa Sigma Pharmacy Fraternity hosted a fun pasta fundraiser to benefit the chapter from Oct. 10 to Oct. 23. A wide range of pasta noodles was available for purchase, including Republican and Democrat Party inspired pasta, reindeer noodle pasta and even some collegiate pasta noodles. This pasta fundraiser is not an annual fundraising event for the club but was brought about by this semester's need for COVID-19 precautions. Hannah Fritz, the chapter's fundraising chair and second-year pharmacy student with a concentration in public health, explained the reasoning for choosing this fundraising. "The idea came from researching zero contact fundraisers that we thought would be interesting and engage our community;' said Fritz. "The fundraising will support LKS as a club. For example, it will help to cover the costs of supplies we use or save up for future conventions. Additionally, LKS supports Project Hope, an organization that provides life-saving supplies, equipment and volunteers to worldwide natural disasters and heal~ crises: LGBTQ, from frontcover need any of them. We are all human, and we all should have the same equal rights, no one deserves less than anyone else. We all have the same rights as each other:' This concern is backed further by Thomas and Alito's statements earlier in October, in which the New York Times and NPR reported that Thomas and Alito both viewed Obergefell v. Hodges as a case that, "will continue to have ruinous consequences for • religious liberty." They also stated that the case has "allowed those with sincerely held religious beliefs concerning marriage will find it increasingly difficult to participate in society." · Obergefell v. Hodges is not the only major Supreme Court ruling to address LGBTQ rights. In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that a then Texas statute making it a crime for two persons of the same sex to engage in certain intimate sexual conduct violated the Due Process Clause. The case Lawrence v. Texas holds some similarities between Obergefell v. Hodges, as well as a recent case titled Altitude Express v. Zarda. The similarities between the cases are LKS is an international pharmacy University alumni and other practicing fraternity, and according to the fraternity's pharmacists that I would have never met mission statement, it "provides lifelong without this organization:' said Morgan opportunities for women in pharmacy Burgess, a P2 pharmacy student. "Because through professional excellence and personal of LKS, I have been able to go to these growth:' professionals for guidance and to learn more It is the nation's oldest women-centered about the different areas of pharmacy that pharmacy fraternity with 31 active collegiate could be available to me upon graduation:' chapters and 16 active - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . Laura Kline, a P2 alumni chapters. pharmacy student, Deanna Fox, described what president of Wilkes' made her join the Alpha Phi chapter, community. described the role "I wanted to join of LKS on campus an organization in and throughout the pharmacy school nation. that would help me "We are a smaller connect with other club on our campus, students like myself. but we are large Lambda Kappa nationally and provide Sigma's dedication to many opportunities its members and the for involvement community drew me within our chapter but in right away. After also on the national one conversation with level; said Fox. some of the sweetest At Wilkes, the Alpha Phi chapter assists people I have ever met, I knew this was an members in malting connections with other organization that would allow me to grow students, alumni and pharmacists in the personally and professionally, even after field. graduation," said Kline. "Lambda Kappa Sigma has provided Kline continued, "My favorite part of the me with connections to so many Wilkes club is the connections I've made. I never thought I would meet some of my best friends here, and now, I talk to my big Lexie Panek almost every day:' Fox described why she was motivated to take on a higher role in the club. "I was motivated to take on the role of the Alpha Phi president because LKS is very special to me, and I wanted to help lead other pharmacy students to see all the opportunities our fraternity has to offer. My experience in LKS has been nothing but amazing. LKS has helped me step out of my comfort wne, allowing me to grow personally and professionally as a student pharmacist;' said Fox. While fundraising has changed a bit this year, the fraternity still has plenty of fun ideas. Soon, the group will be holding a fundraiser with The Dip Lady, located in Dallas, Pa. and with The Bearded Ladies and Co. located in Kingston, Pa., in November. "We make it a point to support local small businesses when we fundraise· to continue to help our community as best we can;' Fritz explained. If interested in LKS activities, check out the @WilkesToday email to support their other events throughout the rest of the semester. some of the justices and their rulings. In Lawrence v. Texas, Thomas and former Justice Antonin Scalia both sided on the dissenting opinion. They would again be on the dissenting opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, joined by Alito and Justice John Roberts Jr. On the majority decision side for Lawrence v. Texas, there was Justice Stephen Breyer and Ginsburg. They were joined in Obergefell v. Hodges by Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. The newest case, Altitude Express v. Zarda, which was ruled in June in a 6-3 decision, ruled that Title VII prohibits an employer from discriminating against an individual based on sexual orientation. Justices Alito, Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh gave dissenting opinions while Kagan, Sotomayor, Breyer and Ginsburg again sided in favor of LGBTQ rights. They were joined by Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch as well. The way justices rule may set precedent for how they will in the future. It is important to acknowledge that a dissenting opinion does mean that those justices stand against LGBTQ rights. In Altitude Express v. Zarda, Alito and Obergefell v. Hodges have reason to worry about Roberts, as he was not a member of the majority in that ruling. Another unknown is Gorsuch, a justice appointed by Trump. Despite voting with the majority in Altitude Express v. Zarda and writing the majority opinion, he may be a wild card in future decisions. "I'm not sure what actions should be taken," said Holly Jones, Wilkes' president of GSA. "Whatever measures are taken should be peaceful, such as petitions or socially distanced rallies. These are scary times. Please remember to reach out to those around you and that the GSA is a safe space for anyone regardless of sexual orientation." The Supreme Court's position on LGBTQ rights will be tested on Nov. 4 when the court will hear the case Fulton v. the City of Philadelphia, which the ACLU states "could allow private agencies that receive taxpayerfup ding to provide government services such as foster care providers, food banks, homeless shelters and more - to deny services to people who are LGBTQ, Jewish, Muslim or Mormon:' LAMBDA KAPPA SIGMA Thomas' dissenting opinion was critical of the majority for attempting to "pass off its decision as the inevitable product of the textualist school of statutory interpretation," but in their eyes revising Title VII to "better reflect the current values of society:' Kavanaugh gave a separate dissenting opinion, in which he acknowledged the efforts of members of the LGBTQ community. "Millions of gay and lesbian Americans have worked hard for many decades to achieve equal treatment in fact and law ... They have advanced powerful policy arguments and can take pride in today's result. Under the Constitution's separation of powers, however, I believe that it was Congress's role, not this Court's, to amend Title VII." Neither dissenting opinion implies the justices believe the LGBTQ community does not deserve equal rights. This has not eased the worry. If Barrett is appointed, her previous actions and words side with Alito, Thomas and Kavanaugh. Roberts has been on both sides of a major LGBTQ rights ruling. LGBTQ community members and allies with worries about the recent talk of Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu Graphic by Sara Ross Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver r �_j The Beacon - October 28, 2020 News 4 VP Mike Pence's policies compared to Preside~t Tru~p's By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer Mike Pence is the current vice president and 2020 Republican VP nominee for the election next week Since his time as governor of Indiana, he has faced criticism for his policies impacting the LGBTQ+ community. At the time of his inauguration in 2016, these policies were of major concern and a source of criticism. As governor, Pence signed into law Indiana Senate Bill 101, also known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Criticism came from the suspicion that the bill was written in a way that allowed for the discrimination ofLGBTQ+ individuals. Pence responded to this accusation in a 2015 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. "As governor of Indiana, if I were presented a bill that legalized discrimination against any person or group, I would veto it." Pence said During Pence's vice presidency, the ban on transgender military personnel went into effect. On Apr. 4, 2019, the Directivetype Memorandum-19-004 was signed and was recently replaced by the Department of Defense Instruction 1300.28 on Sept. 4. 1his instruction prevented the service of anyone with "a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria, cross-sex hormone therapy or sex reassignment or genital reconstruction:' These conditions stand unless the applicant demonstrates "36 consecutive months of stability in their biological sex; "have not transitioned to their preferred gender and a licensed medical provider has determined that gender transition is not medically necessary to protect the health of the individual" and "is willing and able to adhere to all applicable standards, including the standards associated with the applicant's biological sex." Pence has been a supporter of President Donald Trump's foreign policies but has also been an independent contributor to foreign policies in the U.S. The Council on Foreign Relations, a nonprofit think tank analyzing foreign policy issues, noted Pence "has often played an essential role in reassuring U.S. allies that have been shaken by some of the president's sharp critiques, visiting Asia, Europe and Latin America to buoy relations with important U.S. partners." In the vice presidential debate on Oct. 7, Pence discussed what had been done in the past four years, noting the movement of the American embassy to Jerusalem, the increase in contributions from NATO and a stronger alliance between the U.S. and Asian Pacific nations. Pence also had a hand in the foreign policy with Venezuela. He was the one to set up a meeting between Trump and Lilian Tintori, the wife of Venezuelan political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez. 1his meeting was suspected to re-center U.S. concern for Venezuela, eventually leading to more direct policies to help Venezuela. These foreign policies were celebrated for their concern about human rights. Chris Smith, a senior political science and history major, discussed the differences between Pence's foreign policy views and Trump's. "In foreign policy, Pence and Trump are very different." said Smith. "Pence is in favor of free trade, whereas Trump has publicly been against it. Particularly, he supported NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, both of which Trump campaigned against in 2016:' Pence spoke out on the third night of the Republican National Convention in response to the marches over the summer. "President Trump and I will always support the right of Americans to peaceful protest. but rioting and looting is not peaceful protest. Tearing down statues is not free speech; said Pence. Many are now calling for the defunding or abolishing of police departments, along with the reallocation of these funds to other social programs to reduce the need for police. Pence voiced his opposition to this idea at many different events across the country, including a Back the Blue event in Philadelphia. With Nov. 3 right around the comer, an understanding of each candidate's policies is vital to an educated vote. • Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Potential first female VP: A look at Kamala Harris' policies By Anna Culver Staff Writer Joe Biden's choice for vice president, Kamala Harris, is the only black woman in the United States Senate. Representing the Democratic Party from California, she is the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father and is the former district attorney for San Francisco from 2004 to 2010. According to the State of California's Department of Justice, Harris is the first woman district attorney in San Francisco's •history and the first African American · woman and South Asian American woman in California to hold the office. One of the main criticisms from progressives has been that Harris is a former prosecutor and district attorney. Harris has previously described herself as a "progressive prosecutor" and "top cop" in her roles in California. She has also been criticized for her lack of prosecuting cases involving police killings. Another criticism of Harris' is the fact that she could be the first-ever vice president who is a woman. Many Republican news sources i have attacked her identity as a black woman or by saying she is too radical. However, many individuals have come out in support of Harris as a good running mate for Biden. "I strongly agreed with Harris on her gun control policies. She believes in strict gun control and regulations, as well as her beliefs and policies on women's rights; said Hope Williams, president of Wilkes University's College Democrats. "Both are vital policies. I feel that Biden's pick for the next vice president of the United States was an amazing choice. Harris is the first woman of color to be on a major presidential ticket. She has and will continue to be a role model for young women in this country and worldwide." Harris promoted most of Biden's approaches to foreign policy during the recent vice-presidential debate. She attacked President Donald Trump's current foreign policy, including • his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Harris said the U.S. president trusts Putin more than his own FBI director. She defended the Iran nuclear deal, which her presidential running mate has endorsed as the primary point in his foreign policy. On the other hand, Trump rejected the deal, and H a r r i s believes America is "less safe ... because of Donald Trump's unilateral approach to foreign·policy:' Harris expressed that the current trade war Trump has waged against China has only resulted in a "loss of American lives, American jobs and America's standing." She accused the Trump administration of wastefully dropping all coordination efforts with Beijing on monitoring pandemics. According to a BBC article, Harris is broadly aligned with the rest of her party in supporting law enforcement reforms. Harris has been vocal in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Earlier this summer, after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Harris told The New York Times that "it is status-quo thinking to believe that putting more police on the streets creates more safety. That's wrong. It's just wrong." Harris has expressed support for reforming the police system and setting a high standard for racial justice. Finally, Harris has a long history of supporting pro-LGBTQ+ rights policies. In 2004, Harris established a hate crimes unit specifically to investigate and prosecute antiLGBTQ+ violence. Harris has organized a conference in California that brought together over 100 officials from across the U.S. to discuss strategies to end the use of the so-called gay and transgender panic defense. California became the first state to ban the practice in law in 2014. Along with other senators in 2018, Harris introduced a bill to prohibit the practice nationally. Harris has remained a massive supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. She has frequently co-sponsored pro-equality legislation and speaking out against the violence faced by transgender women. ~ Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu ~ Graphic by Anna Culver . �L The Beacon - October 28, 2020 5 News Alumni help guide students at social sciences career panel By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor On Oct 19, the Office for Career Development and Internships hosted the social sciences graduate school and career panel via Zoom. It introduced four alumni guests to offer insights on their careers. Director of Career Services Carol Bosack led the panel discussion. "Thank you all for your time. I know our students all very much appreciate hearing about your careers and getting guidance and insights to see what they can do with their degrees; said Bosack. "This is a mix of psychqlogy, sociology, criminology, political science and international studies students:' Before starting, Bosack encouraged students to tum on their cameras to make the panel feel more personable, interactive and almost as if they were face-to-face. She then began providing questions for each of the panelists to answer. Her first question asked how each went about applying to graduate school and their experiences once they got there. First on the panel was Dr. Megan Cannon, a sport-performance psychologist Currently, Cannon works with teams and athletes at various )evels within their careers across the country through her consulting agency based in Allentown, Pa. She has even appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter multiple times. When applying for graduate school, Cannon compared the application process to a marathon. She found it helpful to visit career services on Wtlkes' campus, as many of those within that department had experiences in the social sciences. In the field of psychology, students are required to take the Graduate Record Examinations, or GREs, which are tests designed to measure candidates' qualifications in the admissions process for graduate-level psychology degrees. "Something I found super helpful~ taking the subject-specific GREs; revealed Cannon. "This is because no matter what realm you are looking to go into, this provides you with another level of information that prepares you for the exam:' Corey Hauser, a third-year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law, followed Cannon. A 2018 Wilkes graduate, Hauser went straight through to law school. Today, he is the editor-in-chief of the Washington and Lee Law Review in Lexington, Va. He touched upon the process of taking the Law School Admission Test, a standardized test meant for prospective law school candidates. "As for getting in, law school is pretty much your LSAT and your grade point average, said Hauser. "Although, you do want to have really good letters of recommendation and strong personal statements, especially if you are one of those fringe applicants, where you can go either way in whether or not you get accepted." As law schools strictly look at the raw data, Hauser discussed that anyone applying should research teams will then be the ones to decide put their best efforts into studying for the LSAT whether or not you get into the program:' and receiving good scores. He advocated for The final panelist was alumna Katharine taking review courses and the LSAT more than Marianacci, who currently works in counseling once. Law schools have gone toward taking the psychology at Lehigh University. She is at top scores rather than averages. their Center for Career and Professional Another panel guest was 1998 graduate Dr. Development as their associate director and Michael Kaschak. A professor of cognitive engineering career coach. To Lehigh students, psychology, Kaschak runs a lab at Florida Marianacci provides one-on-one job coaching State University, where his main specialty is in and programming to help them choose a career path when they graduate college. studying psycholinguistics. Marianacci completed her program while Kaschak emphasized the significance of students starting early and exploring the having an internship with the Lehigh Career different areas of psychology. There are Center Office, which offered her the positions several disciplines, including cognitive, she has today, and she succeeded obtaining a developmental, clinical, counseling and family master's degree in counseling. studies. According to Kaschak, students She explained when it comes to graduate should begin looking at the types of graduate school that students have to weigh what schools they would like to apply to during the .options work well for them. "I think it is crucial to consider the best spring semester of their junior year. Even more so, he stressed that they should model for you. There is no right or wrong way match themselves to specific graduate to get your graduate degree. It all depends programs they are interested in. It can help on what your goals are," said Marianacci. "It's them to be more successful, especially since good to self-reflect and consider all the options there are differences between applying to that are available and talk to other people that can help and guide you. " undergraduate and graduate schools. "Matching is really important because it The panel wrapped up with final questions makes the decisions of whether you get in or from students to the panelists. For more not Regardless of your GRE or GPA, your information regarding how to prepare for and first step is to get yourself oriented to where apply to graduate school, contact Bosack or you want to go," discussed Kaschak. "With visit https://wilkes.edu/ccdi graduate school, you are going to have to specify which research teams you would like to ~ @wilkesbeacon join. The faculty members in charge of those ~ Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Joe Biden rallies support close to his hometown in Dallas, Pa. By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer Joe Biden made an appearance for a rally in Dallas, Pa. on Saturday. The rally was held in the Dallas High School parkj.ng lot with a stage for speakers and all attendees in their vel,ljcles. 9rbefuture of Pennsylvania and the future of the United States of America are on the ballot;' said representative Gerald Mullary. Sen. Bob Casey introduced Jon Bon Jovi, who was a main draw to the event, besides the presidential candidate. The crowd cheered as Bon Jovi performed a three-song set, including "Livin' on a Prayer:' During his performance, he mentioned the importance of voting and the importance of simply wearing a mask He also performed a song for this event called, "Do As You Can:' In this song, he talked about the importance of doing what people can until the pandemic ends, potentially with a vaccine. The Beacon/Liz Cherinka Joe Biden made an appearance at the Dallas High School rally on Saturday. After Bon Jovi, it was time for the main event. Dr. Jill Biden introduced her husband, saying, "Joe has faced unimaginable tragedies, but his purpose has always driven him forward:' Bill Kane, president of the Cre~twood Teacher's Association, formally introduced the presidential candidate. He spoke on the importance of voting for Biden from the perspective of an educator. As he detailed his policies and goals for office, Biden engaged the large crowd. He spoke on issues such as healthcare, the economy, racism, poverty, the cost of college, union workers, the COVID-19 pandemic and many other large issues on the ballot this election. Healthcare, sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a highly debated issue. Biden said, "Donald Trump thinks healthcare is a privilege. I think it's a right:' Biden also talked about how he grew up in the area of northeastern Pennsylvania, specifically in Scranton. He said he will be the first president in modern history to have not attended an Ivy League school, as he attended the University of Delaware. "It's about time a state school guy gets to go to the Oval office;' said Biden. ._a @wilkesbeacon ~ Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu r �_J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 6 News Wilkes athletics participated in the Into the Streets event By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor Wilkes University's Civic Engagement Office hosted Into the Streets on Oct. 24. The day is a volunteering event meant to help Wilkes residents around the community by cleaning up well-known public areas and the outside of homes to prepare for the winter season. Volunteers worked from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., and they were placed in teams of five students or more. Many of those involved were from a variety of athletic teams, including Wilkes men's ice hockey and men's and women's cross country. The students were sent to homes throughout the community and given assignments. These included raking leaves, weeding, debris pickup, moving outdoor summer furniture into storage, changing smoke detector batteries and washing or removing screens from low-level windows. Civic Engagement Coordinator Megan Boone was in charge of the event, along with Makayla Guzzo, the civic engagement's student-lead wordinator, who assisted Boone with the preparations for Into the Streets. ~ @wilkesbeacon ~ Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Charles Street Park, located at 26 Irving Place, pictured at the beginning ofcleanup. Top Three Photos: The Beacon/Sara Ross iK>phomore Mia Hensil and junior Sydney Rochette, members of the women's cross country team, picked up plastic and wrappers at Charles Street Park. Kevin Long, senior member of the men's cross country team, placed leaves and debris into his trash bag before moving along to other areas of the park. Bottom Two Photos: Courtesy of Scott Mueller The men's ice hockey team participated in the community service event by raking leaves into piles around Public Square in Downtown Wilkes-Barre. Hockey players Angelo Marquart, Jay Gallagher, Chris Dalfarra, Xavier Abdella, Michael Paterson-Jones, Scott Mueller and Donald Flynn at the end of the event. �The Beacon - October 28, 2020 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or any artists to be featured? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Maria. DiBuo@wilkes.edu Learn to relax with Dr. Linda Paul's Buddhist meditation classes By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer Buddhist Meditation is held on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. by Associate Professor Linda Paul, offering students a sense of calm in this different and ever-changing semester. The sessions are open to all Wilkes students and run online for approximately 45 minutes. Paul has been hosting meditation sessions for 20 years, after taking a four-month-long sabbatical to practice meditation in a Buddhist monastery. She described her time with the zen master a life changing experience. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul's sessions had to transition online. "I hadn't thought about it (continuing them online) until May;' said Paul. Paul attended a meditation session online herselfand was inspired to bring the sessions to Wilkes when she realized it was not all that bad Although she prefers the in-person sessions, the online ones work for the time being. "Remarkably, this 2,000-year-old practice adapts quite nicely to remote video sessions during these pandemic times: said Joseph Naldone, a senior instructional designer. "I was partly curious to see if the experience would change significantly- it didn't;' Naldone as explained "Everything that Dr. Paul brings to regular sessions, she is able to bring to virtual sessions. The support for my commitment to meditating regularly feels like it hasn't changed, which is an ideal result I'm not surprised, though. I think we are all quite adaptable:' An advantage of the online meditation is that there are minimal disruptions. If a student needs to arrive late or leave early, it will not cause any disruptions for the other participants. The meditation sessions have multiple purposes that vary for each student. Paul told the story of a young man who attended nearly every session from his first to senior year to help with his anxiety. Paul explained that the sessions helped this student become less anxious; however, it is a slow change. Further, she explained that the benefits of meditation "come in a gradual way,' comparing it to becoming physically fit. Naldone has been practicing meditation with Paul for about six years. "Meditation practice has many benefits. In my experience, it's been a positive way to reflect on my 'internal world: so to speak," said Naldone. "For a brief time, all I pay attention to is my internal experience. Of course, it's not that simple to pay attention to anything for very long, so we practice:' Other Wtlkes students have also started to take advantage of the meditation sessions recently. "I only started the virtual meditation sessions this week, but I took Dr. Paul's Buddhist thought class a few years ago, which included an activity where we practiced different types of meditations all day;' said pharmacy student Hayley Murray. "I have meditated on my own prior to Dr. Paul's class and these virtual sessions, so I enjoy it. It is very calming for me, and I find it even more relaxing in a group setting." Other participants agree that group meditation can be easier than meditating alone. "It's a challenge to turn the practice into a habit and keep the habit alive;' said Naldone. "Having a group meditation session makes it easier to motivate myself to participate:' Additionally, Paul uses her knowledge of Buddhism to shed some light on the purpose of meditation. "The basic idea from a Buddhist perspective is that we all suffer more than we need to; said Paul. "Our suffering arises because we don't see things clearly. Meditation helps us see things how they are:' Looking toward the future, Paul would encourage students to attend the sessions. "I think it is interesting to try out different things;' she said. If any students are interested in Buddhism specifically, Paul teaches PHL 244: Buddhist Thought in the spring semester. Students are welcome to sign up. If anyone is interested in participating in the Buddhist meditation sessions, email linda.paul@wilkes.edu for the link. This link works every week, so students can participate when they are able. Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Club Update: Manuscript Society in Wilkes' English department By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor NAME OF CLUB: Manuscript Society EXECUTIVES: Executive Editor: Sarah Weynand • Assistant Editor: Rashonda Montgomery Art/Layout/Copy Editor: Haley Katona Social Media/Photo Editor: Emily Cherkauskas Assistant: Olivia Lombardi Editors at Large: Jordyn Williams and Ashley Wallace Faculty Advisors: Dr. Chad Stanley and Dr. Mischelle Anthony MEETINGS: Every other Tuesday (via Zoom) at 11 a.m. HOW TO JOIN: Email magazine@ wilkes.edu or DM on Twitter: @ WilkesMag or Instagram: @wilkes_ manuscript. DESCRIPTION: The Manuscript Society is Wilkes' on -campus literature and art magazine, fully run by students. We accept fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, short essays, photography, drawing, painting, digital art and music compositions. Our submissions opened Sept. 13 and run through April 2. For our Black History Month issue, we will hold submissions open until Feb. 4. If you are interested, please submit your work to our email, magazine@wilkes.edu, with your Wilkes email and specifications for which issue, if not both, you want to be a part of. Our submissions go through a blind submission process, meaning no one in the room will know it is your work, unless it is accepted and published with your permission. We do not accept anonymous submissions. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: - Five pages of double-spaced text, five poems, or five images per submitter. - Include the title of each piece clearly at the top of the page or as the filename. - Submit files as .doc or .docx format, or .jpeg or .png for images and graphics. - Do not include your name or any identifying information within the document. ~ , @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Do you have any important updates or new information on clubs and co-curriculars in your department that you would like students to know of? Are you a new club and wanting to reach out to students? Contact: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu . r �The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Apple Mash: Moody foodie's take on a traditional autumn dessert By Anna Culver Staff Writer Think of a giant apple sugar cookie. This recipe is easier than your traditional ·apple crisp recipe - it is a yummy warm treat paired with a bowl of vanilla ice cream. It is perfect for a cold fall day or just as an excuse to go to an apple orchard. Supplies needed: - 8x8 pan - Bowl - Cutting board - Knife - Spoon or mixer •• Ingredients: - Five apples - One cup of flour - One cup of sugar - One stick of butter Spread the apple slices out in the 8x8 pan. Melt the butter, and measure out the flour and sugar. Mix together the flour and sugar. Add in the butter slowly until it becomes a crumble. Set aside the butter that is not mixed in. Spread out the crumble over the top of the apples. Take the rest of the butter and pour it over the rest of the crumble. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Enjoy! I recommend making a large bowl of ice cream and putting a warm serving of the apple mash on top . Cost to make: Less than $10 Food Allergy: Diary How to: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease the pan with butter. Peel the apples, and slice them thinly. s.A' ~ The Beacon/Anna Culver Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver ■ Kirsten Peters, Editc>r-in-Chief: Hard to Stay Mad At - Tim McGraw Sean Schmoyer, News Editor: Bloom - pabin Sara Rosa, Asst. News Editor: I'll Be - Edwin McCain Genny Fnaderick, News Staff Writer: Witness - Mt. Joy Marta DIBuo, LA&E Editor: Excitable Boy - Warren Zevoo Emily Cherkauskaa, Asst. LA&E Editor: rue - girt In red Breanna Eblsch, Opinion Editor: Runway Man - Olivia Whillhite Zarqua Ansari, Asst. Opinion Editor: Vacationer Paradise Waiting - This yummy apple dessert is not only satisfying for a cold autumn day, but it is also easy and affordable to make. Jordan Daniel, Opinion Staff Writer: Guys - The 1975 Dylan Mehl, Co-Sports Editor: You're Mines Still - Young Bleu ft. Drake Ariel Reed, Co-Spor$Edik>f. i Should Haye f<issad You - One Direction Chris Gowarty, Sports Staff Writer: Just What I Am - Kid Cudi Mia Walker, Lead Designer: Marooned - Pink Floyd King's Dead - Jay Rock. Kendrick Lamar. Future and James Blake Steffen Horwath, Staff Photographer: �I. The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Enjoying the fall foliage, scenic views of NEPA and beyond By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor As November nears and begins to prepare us all for the winter months and the uneasy feeling they may add due to finals and the semester wrapping up, the fall foliage in the area is a sight for sore eyes. For locals, the fall season is a favorite. With mountain ridges lined with reds, oranges and yellows, the true beauty of the NEPA area has been on full display in recent weeks, giving the summer season one last nod before snow begins to fall. Enjoy the views while they last, as in a few weeks, they will be gone until next year. ... • @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Photo: The Beacon/Maria DiBuo Pictured are the fall leaves in Forkson, a 45-minute-drive from campus. The mountain ridge shown is the same one that can be seen in the Dallas area. Photo: The Beacon/Maria DiBuo The reds, oranges and yellows of the leaves are a sight to see ~uring fall. Photo: The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Students can take in the fall skyline from University Towers. The multi-colored leaves on the trees complement this beautiful view of Wilkes-Barre. Recreational trails in Bear Creek are an excellent place to get outdoors and take advantage of the fall views in the area. Photo: The Beacon/Steffen Horwath Photo: The Beacon/ Emily Cherkauskas Sunsets in t he fall also contribute to the beauty of this season. Shown is a view of the Susquehanna River in the Pittston area, complete with t he setting sun. Even on foggy mornings, the beauty of the fall foliage in the NEPA area is undeniable, covering the horizon in warm autumn tdhes. • Photo: The Beacon/ Emily Cherkauskas r �_J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment Liz's CraftColumn: Halloween-themed ghost garland By Liz Cherinka Staff Writer With Halloween approaching quickly, the time for spooky decorations is almost over. These ghosts are a perfect lastminute DIY that is sure to spice up your space. This ghost garland is simple, easy to make and looks so cute to coordinate with dorm room or apartment decor. To make the ghost garland, obtain Big Twist Yarn in natural blend (80 percent acrylic and 20 percent wool), or any fuzzy yarn that twists, a 2 mm thick black foam sheet, fall colored ribbon, table tennis balls, scissors and a hot-glue gun. The quantity of the yarn depends on the number of colors preferred for the ghosts. Each individual ghost is one color, but every ghost can be a different color from the others. Only one ball is needed for each color. The color of the yarn can be spooky colors, fall colors, or any color that is preferred or that matches the color scheme of your space. These spooky ghosts are totally unique, so feel free to be as creative or traditional as you would like. The number and color of the ribbons are also dependent on preference. The example uses a different color for each 1) Wrap the yarn vertically to make the head. After making the ghost's head and body, tie the ribbon around to create a bow tie for your ghost. When selecting ribbon for this craft, one can use the same color for all ghosts or choose to vary between each color. different color ghost, but it is truly up to the DIY-er. All of these materials can be purchased at a craft store, such as Joann Fabrics or Michaels, in addition to Amazon or Walmart for table tennis balls. They are all affordable, costing about $20 in total. To start, make the "head" of the ghost. Wrap the first color yarn around a table tennis ball. This step is the hardest and may take a couple tries to get the hang of. Wrap the yarn around mostly vertically, twisting it horizontally or diagonally a few times to hold the yarn in place and to cover the sides. Ultimately, it' takes practice and trying not to get discouraged if it does not always work. Once the whole ball is wrapped, knot the yarn around one of the bottom loops and cut it, leaving some excess just in case it unknots. Then, cut long pieces of the same color yarn. These will be the "body" of the ghost. Cut the pieces double the length of what the body will be. Gather all the pieces and slide them through the bottom loop that the knot is around. Be careful during this step, and try to minimize the movement of the bottom loop so the head does not become unwrapped. Adjust the long pieces to preference and cut any longer ones. They can be uneven or equal in length, whatever is preferred. Uneven strands were selected for the craft shown, adding a cottage-core feel to the finished product. Now, grab the ribbon. This will be making a bow tie around the ghost's neck and separating the body from the ghost's head. Determine which side of the ghost's head will be its face. Wrap the ribbon around the middle of the ball and the long pieces, and tie a simple bow. Adjust the bow to be even on both sides, and cut the excess ribbon. The ghost of course needs a face, so grab the foam sheet. Cut two small ovals out of it, and these will be the eyes. Make them proportional to the size of the head. Once the two eyes are made, put hot glue onto the back of the foam pieces and glue them onto the head. Repeat all these steps for each ghost. The number of ghosts is up to preference, but the more there are, the longer the garland can be. Make any final adjustments, and the ghosts are done. The last step is to make them into a garland, so it can be strung to show the spirit of the season. Slide whichever color yarn chosen for the string of the garland through a loop on top of the ghost's head. Be careful again to not unravel the ribbon holding the ghost together. Do this for each ghost until they are all on the string and spaced to one's preference. Cut the garland to the preferred length, and the craft is complete. Now, you can hang your ghost garland anywhere, including around your dorm or work area, to add some spookiness and fun to your space. Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Liz's Craft Rating: Three out of five yar~S'."WhJle this craft requires a minimal level of skill, acquiring the correct suppli~s can pose a bit of a challenge. Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka 2) Once the bow tie is added to the ghost, it is time to add eyes. One can be as creative as they would like for this step. For this craft, plain black eyes were selected; however, to put your own spin on the craft, try google eyes! 3) When your ghost garland is finished, it should look something like this. While the Halloween season is almost over, this last-minute craft can add spooky-ness to any space. The materials used for this craft are Big Twist Yarn in natural blend, or any fuzzy yarn that twists, as well as a 2 mm black foam sheet, fall colored ribbon, table tennis balls, scissors and a hot-glue gun. . �L The Beacon - October 28, 2020 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Screening of "Knock Down the House" discussed women in politics By Emily Cherkauskas Asst. Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor Editor's Note: Contains potentially offensive language. Dr. Andreea Maierean, assistant professor of political science, hosted a screening of the film "Knock Down the House" on Oct. 21. The screening was hosted by Maierean; Megan Boone Valkenburg, civic engagement coordinator; Helen Davis, associate professor of English; and Heather Sincavage, director of the Sordoni Art Gallery and assistant professor of integrative media art and design. The screening was co-sponsored by the Office for Civic Engagement, the Center for Global Education and Diversity and Year of the Vote. · The event was held over the social media app Discord, with a link to the server being sent out to those who registered. Maierean streamed the film from her end for the rest of the server to see, and members were able to chat live to each other while the movie played. The film, which was directed by Rachel Lears, offered live documentary footage and profiles of four newbie grassroot candidates in the 2018 primary election. The candidates were Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a bartender running for election in New York's fourteenth congressional district against incumbent Joe Crowley; Paula Jean Swearengin, who lived in the coal-mining region in West Virginia, running against incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin for the Senate; Cori Bush, a registered nurse from St. Louis, Miss., running against incumbent Lacy Clay in Missouri's first congressional district; and Amy Vilela, an executive running against inc~bent Steven Horsford in Nevada's fourth congressional district. Although the four candidates were all running as Democrats, the film, instead of focusing on political alignment, documented the grassroots campaigns of each candidate and women's empowerment. Each of the four candidates ran against a longtime "career politician; someone who had been in office for many years, who was typically funded by large companies and super PACs - political action committees that are created to raise funding for certain candidates. Aside from the film featuring the struggles the candidates faced on the campaign trail, each woman also had to deal with their own personal problems that gave them a sense of resilience and strength, from giving up their day jobs to run in their campaigns and facing the threat of angry residents and dangerous companies. '~ young bartender in the Bronx, a coal miner's daughter in West Virginia, a grieving mother in Nevada, and a registered nurse in Missouri build a movement of insurgent candidates to challenge powerful incumbents in Congress. One of their races will become the most shocking political upsets in recent American history:' - "Knock Down the House" "We need to have the courage to stand up for the working people and stand up against corporate interests;' said Ocasio-Cortez in the film. In the end, Ocasio-Cortez was the sole victor in the 2018 primary of the group of four women. She expressed her bittersweet emotions following her election victory. When she visited the U.S. Capitol Building with her partner, just five days after her victory, OcasioCortez spoke of her late father, repeating the words her father once told her. Ocasio-Cortez, as a young child, and her father visited the Capitol during a trip. Her father pointed to various locations, including the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool. He told Ocasio-Cortez, "This all belongs tous." "The last thing my dad ever told me to do was to make him proud," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And I finally think I did." Later in the night, a discussion was hosted by Maierean. Screening attendees were able to offer their thoughts on the film and compare it to how politics is now today, just two years after the film's documentary release, four years after the 2016 election and just days away from the 2020 election. Viewers noted how, after the 2016 election, they and many others, seemed to become more involved with politics by becoming more aware of political candidates, following current events and registering to vote. "I found that the trend has started again since the historic election;' Maierean said. "The 2018 midterms marked the turning point, with an increase of female veterans. At least four were successful:' For more specific statistics: A total of 163 veterans have won the primary in the House, with 18 more in the Senate, making a total of 181 veterans in Congress. Of the 127 women in Congress, 48 of them were women of color in 2020. According to Davis, the exact numbers were 22 black women, 13 Latina women, eight Asian American/Pacific Islander women, two Native American women, two Middle Eastern/North African women and one multiracial woman. Another talking point of the discussion was that various candidates deal with offensive languages and stereotypes, all of which resonated with attendees in the group discussion. The group recalled the moment in the film when Vilela repeated some various insults thrown at her. ''I've been told I am a commie, a socialist piece of sh-t," Vilela said "I've been told I look Russian, and that I should go back to my country in Mexico. You know what? Bring it on." Other various moments that attendees recalled included examples of when Senator" Ted Yoho from Florida directly called OcasioCortez "a f-cking b-tch; and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi being referred to as a "bitch" or being called "crazy:' Additionally, the 2020 election saw the resurgence of two of the candidates: Bush, who defeated Clay in 2020; and Swearengin, who is running against Senator Shelley Moore Capito for the 2020 general election. The screening of "Knock Down the House" was the first of a trio of events scheduled by the three groups. On Oct. 28 at 7 p.m., a screening of the film "13th" will be hosted by Davis. According to the joint group announcement, the movie is about filmmaker Ava DuVernay documenting her discoveries and exploration of "the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation's prisons are disproportionately filled with African Americans." On Nov. 11 at 6 p.m., Dr. Mia Briceno, associate professor in the communication studies department, will host a talkback on the subject of "The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson:' If anyone is interested in attending the film screenings and discussion panels, they are to register with Megan Boone Valkenburg at megan.booth@wilkes.edu. . Emily. Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �.J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Opinion 12 Why It ls·Important to Vote: By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor • When I was 4 years old, I decided I wanted to be president. As a result, I grew up as an opinionated child. I found a great interest in politics. I was even able to recite the presidents' names in order from George Washington to (at the time) George W. Bush. A mere three years later, when Barack Obama was running for office, someone broke it to me that I could not be president. I had heard this argument before: "You are a girl. Girls can not be leaders." I inhaled a deep breath to hand this child his misogyny back in the form of a well crafted and source-cited argument. Before I could speak, he told me it was not because I was a girl, but because I was not a natural born citizen of the U.S. Naturally, I did not believe him. I promptly asked my teacher if this was true, and much to my horrific dismay, it was. I was devastated. There are few words to describe the mental anguish and agony that went through my mind at the ripe age of seven upon being informed that the one thing I wanted to do was not plausible for me. I blamed my parents for not moving to the country a mere six months earlier. I shook my inconsolable fists at the Constitution for scribbling in that tiny requirement. I languished at myself for not knowing this fact already. I wanted to be president because I wanted to make positive change in the world. It was not until years later that I realized the opportunity to make change is still available to me, even if I can never be president. I never lost my interest in politics. It did not matter to me who was running, but rather what they had to offer. One fifth grade morning, I had the stark realization that my parents could not vote. I pushed for them to become American citizens, and they did in 2011 . Their first time voting had me teeming with excitement. All this goes to say is that I am very passionate about the right to vote. As an American citizen, it is my civic duty to vote. Elections have consequences, whether those are positive or negative depends on whose policies get the votes. Many people only turn up at the polls during a presidential election. However, healthcare, social security, education, your job, general safety and even the roads you drive on are affected by your vote. In terms of direct effect, local elections for mayor, governor, Senator and congressperson have the largest impact. This means that all elections, not just the presidential ones, are important. Politics affect you whether or not you want them to. Take, for example, birth control and menstrual products. These are things women need, and yet the government is able to control. Voting allows you to influence the direction politics take. By voting, you are both informing yourself about current events and issues and opening yourself to more ideas and perspectives. Elections are a time of change, compromise, compassion and learning. To give up on such an opportunity is to stunt your own knowledge. It was recently brought to my attention that a friend of mine is not going to vote in this election. I jokingly asked if she was registered to vote, fully expecting her to say, 'Yes: She shocked me by saying that she was not going to vote. This came as a surprise because for people born in 2000, this is the first time they get �. The Beacon - October 28, 2020 13 Opinion Every Election Matters to vote in a presidential election. I was ecstatic driving to drop off my ballot, and I am shocked to find so many people are not giving the election a second thought. Voting now establishes the habit and passion for voting later. My eighth grade civics teacher told us about how she would take her kids to the voting polls every election and let them click on the bubbles, establishing the importance of voting from a young age. As soon as they could vote, they were rushing to the polls to get their votes in. We have all noticed that the government is controlled by older generations. This is not because there are more older people than younger ones, but rather because more older individuals turn up to vote than younger individuals do. Accor.ding to census.gov, "In 2016, this was once again the case, as citizens 65 years and older reported higher turnout (70.9 percent) than 45- to 64-year-olds (66.6 percent), 30- to 44-year-olds (58.7 percent) and 18- to 29-year-olds (46.1 percent):' The reality is that us younger generations are not doing our part. Being a passive member in your own society shows that because your rights are not violated, you chose to make no action to improve the situations of those whose rights are being violated. Take, for example, . the Black Lives Matter Movement. The act of silence is violence. Using your voice and power to improve our society is your fundamental right and civic duty. My friend said that she is not voting because she does not like either of the candidates. Given the tragic formation of the two party system in America, our options to vote are limited. She is aware that voting· for a third party candidate or a write-in is as good as throwing away your vote. For this reason, she has come to the conclusion that she will not vote at all. I disagree with this sentiment. Even though neither candidate seems like the right choice, one candidate's values will be closer in value to your own. A line with a slope of point one does not move very fast, but choosing not to move at all will not get you to a greater value. Not voting is equivalent to giving up your voice. Votes implement a chance for positive change. Other people are voting, and the numbers add up. My eleventh grade English teacher told us his wife did not vote in the 2016 election because she was confident in the results going her way. Sure, one vote probably would not have won Hillary Clinton the state, but just how many people thought the same thing and did not take the time to vote? There is an old fable my mother told me about a king that had an enormous pit dug out in his palace. He asked each of his subjects to poiJ' a glass of milk into the pit by the next morning. Milk was expensive and people thought, "Who is going to notice one glass of water in .a pit full of milk?" The next morning, the king found he had a swimming pool because all of the townspeople had thought similarly. The moral of this story is that your voice matters. No matter how inconsequential you think your vote is, it carries weight. No vote is inconsequential, and no election is too small. Although it is too late to register to vote in PA for this election, I hope I have inspired you to use your voice in the future. We can only make the world a better place if we put forth the effort. ~ • •• •• • •• • 0 0 0 0 0 ~ 0 • • 0 0 0 0 0 0 • • • •• 0 Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker Mia.Walker@wilkes.edu 0 0 0 • • •• • 0 0 0 @wilkesbeacon Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON 0 0 r �.J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Opinion 14 Opinion Halloween's cultural appropriation dilemma • Holidays are an important and welcome refresher, particularly in light of all of the major events that occurred in 2020. For college students, Halloween is generally a time that they can forget about schoolwork for a bit and be someone else, even if only just for a night. However, in the wake of all the crucial events and changes that took place in 2020, it is now more necessary than ever to be socially aware when choosing a persona for that special day. Costumes can be fun - bats, witches, vampires and ghosts all contribute to the spooky vibes of the season. Costumes become harmful, however, when they become culturally insensitive and make a mockery of the culture they have been adopted from. With the past year's political and social climate in mind, many minority groups have begun to take an even stronger stand on the topic of cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation. Halloween is a time of year where many boundaries are crossed in terms of this topic, as a minority group's struggles and historical marginalization can be insensitively minimized to a costume. Afros, Native American headdresses, Bindis and other accessories and characteristics that are crucial to many cultures often fall victim to this unwarranted adoption. According to Dictionary.com, cultural . ,,. .. ' appropriation is "the adoption or coopting, usually without acknowledgment, of cultural identity markers associated with or originating in minority communities by people or communities with a relatively privileged status." Cultural appropriation is especially prominent during Halloween, as the stark difference in privilege between marginalized and non-marginalized groups creates a lack of empathy for the struggles that the marginalized group has been through. The problem with this is that the lives that are already being belittled are being reduced to a costume that one can put on and take off at will. "The fine line between cultural appropriation and appreciation is celebrating and honoring different cultures' holidays and enjoying a culture's dishes and adopting other cultures' traditions and customs for 'fun' or for personal entertainment," said Nylah McDougald, a Wilkes first-year student. To battle cultural appropriation, not only during Halloween, but on a daily basis, the suggested remedy is education and empathy. While it is virtually impossible to just create empathy where there is none, sympathy can be created by viewing the struggles that each marginalized group deals with due to the things that are reduced to nothing more than costumes to don and remove at will. Certain things are a simple matter of research but others are sacred to a culture. When these things are simply taken with no regard for the culture they came from, the importance of them can be diminished and therefore destroy the culture itself. There are steps that can be taken on a college campus to reduce cultural appropriation. Ohio University launched a poster campaign in 2011 called 'We're a Culture, Not a Costume: Other schools have since opted in, including the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Oregon and the University of Denver, which expanded the posters into a training program through its housing and residential education department:' according to the Washington Post. These posters are placed throughout the campuses of these schools, and while the poster campaign alone cannot combat cultural appropriation, making people aware of the problem is only half the battle. Creating a desire for research and education about other cultures within a generation is crucial to the betterment and growth of the general public to have a rounder worldview. When choosing a costume this Halloween, make sure to do research on the origin and importance of the outfit you are contemplating, as some mistakes are simple to avoid by using a Google search. @wi/kesbeacon TheWi/kesBeacon@wilkes.edu . l' 'e~tjr pori~~ !!,;/Beaton w~lcomes 1;~~ts to the editor from diffe~g viewpoints. Letters · ;pt~Qt~fo!mation, ~cludin~ nam;';; , , state and phone number. Phone numbers will not .ut~ay oe used for verification pu " the editor must be sentusing one of:the'follo~ing methods: Emaili'i::Pie . ilkesBeacon@~es.edu P~on~;;{S?0),;408-5903 (Voiqeniail: 30 secords ode~s, J?lease.) M~,!1: ,84 }1/e,~t Sguth Street,,Wilk~s-Barre, Pa. l,i7~fAttn: The,Beacon �The Beacon - October 28, 2020 15 Opinion This town_(hall) is not big enQu_gh for th_e both of us By Liam Flynn Staff Writer Joe Biden, Democratic presidential candidate and former vice president, held a nationally-televised town hall on Oct. 15 following the cancellation of the second presidential debate. Unlike the drive-in format of his last town hall on CNN on Sept. 17, Biden was closer to the crowd of 60 audience members, who were still socially distanced in the outdoor setting. The format worked in an energized Biden's favor, as he took questions from the selected voters, all of whom wore masks. Topics included the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, racial justice and police reform, as was expected. Included was a question about the first presidential debate and whether Biden stooped to the badgering president's level by calling him a "clown:' In a post-debate interview, Biden did not back down from his name calling, telling one reporter that he had no regrets "because everything I said was true:' But faced by a similar question from one of the "average" Americans gathered at this town hall, Biden said, "I should have said it was a clownish undertaking, rather than calling him a clown:' Additionally, as Biden got in most of his personal and professional talking points, the 77-year-old politician mocked the "tough guy" approach to the coronavirus. It came just hours before President Donald Trump left Walter Reed Military Medical Center, flew to the South Lawn of the White House and then staged a photo op on the balcony, appearing out of breath at one point. Biden sought to frame voters' choice around a new shorthand: his hometown of Scranton, representing wage-earning, bluecollar Americans and Park Avenue, home of a wealthy few who profit from the work of others. "I view this campaign as a campaign between ScranJon and Park Avenue;' Biden said. "All Trump can see from Park Avenue is Wall Street. All he thinks about is the stock market:' It was an attack aimed at Trump's handling of the economy - one area on which polls have shown the president outperforming his overall numbers. Biden characterized Trump's economic record as one that has benefited the wealthy but ignored the working class. "In my neighborhood in Scranton, not a lot of people (owned stock). We have to make sure that healthcare workers are paid, and paid a decent wage. At $15 an hour? It's not enough for a health care worker," Biden said. Biden fended off more progressive rivals in the Democratic primary, and showed that he is resisting being pressured into embracing some of the Left's priorities that could damage him politically. He insisted he would not end fracking for natural gas, a major industry in the swing states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. And when a questioner who had voted for Trump in 2016 said Biden had embraced the Green New Deal as part· of his climate change platform, the former vice president said she was wrong. "I've got my own deal;' he told CNN moderator Anderson Cooper in response to a question about the Green New Deal, pointing to a climate agenda his campaign negotiated with allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The Democratic National Committee later adopted it as its platform. Biden continued to cast doubt on Trump's claims that a coronavirus vaccine will be ready - or close to it - in time for the Nov. 3 general election. But, he said, he would believe timelines and steps detailed by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "I don't trust the president on vaccines. I trust Dr. Fauci," Biden said. "If Fauci says a vaccine is safe, I would take the vaccine. We should listen to the scientists, not the president:' His comment comes as Trump's campaign and allies have alleged that, by casting doubt on the president's vaccine claims, Biden is undermining trust in a potential vaccine.... Biden, .meanwhile, say~_Trump .is . trying to claim a panacea is just around the corner, in order to blunt the political fallout o{his handling of the virus - en9ugh to win a ~econd term. · _Biden's town hall displayed all the c~aracteristics a president . should have: A strong vision for the country's future, an ability to put their own times • in' the perspective of history, effective communication skills, the courage to make · uQpopular decisions, crisis management skills, character and integrity. ABC's 90-minute town hall with B~en drew 14.1 million viewers, while presidential opponent Trump's hour-long town hall on NBC, its sister cable channels MSNBC and CNBC and a digital platform o( Spanish-language network Telemundo, ' a".eraged 13.5 million viewers. ;'The decision of NBC News to air a town h~ll with Trump opposite A,BC's with Bfden _was questioned by media analysts, vfwers on social media and even within sQme parts of the network. nfe network wits criticizea for providing Truinp airtime after he refused to participate in a debate ~th Biden that was originally scheduled for Thursday. The Biden event actually stretched for two hours, including posttqWn hall cover~ge, while the Trump event was one hour long. ABC said the event was tqe network's "most-watched primetime telecast" since the Oscars back in February. ;The Biden town hall was also scheduled first - on the same day that Trump backed oµt of a scheduled presidential debate. Trump objected to the "virtual" format that ~ imposed by the debate commission as a tonsequence of his coronavirus infection. So Biden's campaign agreed to a town hall in Philadelphia on ABC instead, following in the footsteps of Trump, who was on ABC on Sept. 15. This tactic by Trump aimed to be a power move to boost his campaign nµmbers, as he has no problem gaining media attention. · Biden beat Trump at what he always brags about having: "The best ratings:' This round goes to Biden. Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �.J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Opinion 16 SCOTUS nomination Barrett solidifies a terrifying future By Judah Lyles Staff Writer The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a loss felt by the entire country. Born Joan Ruth Bader and known affectionately as "The Notorious RBG," Ginsburg worked as a super power and advocate for women's rights and other progressive movements. She served as a Supreme Court Justice from 1993 until her death in September, vehemently detesting the idea of retiring before an administration that she saw fit moved into office. Ginsburg came from humble beginnings. She was born into a working class family and was heavily influenced by her mother's work ethic and insistence upon the importance of independence and a good education, as per Biography.com. She took her mother's word to heart and excelled in high school, despite her mother's death the day before her graduation. Ginsburg went on to graduate at the top of her class from Cornell University and Columbia Law School. She faced gender discrimination throughout her law school experience, which sparked her desire to fight for gender equality. Serving as the director of the Women's Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union in the 1970s, Ginsburg argued six _major gender equality cases. By winning five out of six cases, Ginsburg made quite the name for herself. She was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, serving there until President Bill Clinton appointed her to the United States Supreme Court in 1993. According to George Washington University Professor of Law Johnathan Turley, "Ginsburg maintained one of the most consistent liberal voting records in the history of the court:' Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, is said to have the exact opposite. Barrett, recently -referred to as ACB, has maintained a consistently conservative voting record and is seen as the "ultimate 'deliverable' for conservative votes;' according to Turley. Following RBG's death, Trump took just over a week to nominate Barrett, long-time Appeals Court Judge, to take Ginsburg's seat. Barrett now faces a four-day confirmation hearing, having been advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Barrett, the oldest of seven children, was raised in a devout Catholic household in New Orleans, La. Maintaining leadership positions within the schools she attended throughout her academic career, Barrett graduated top of her class from University of Notre Dame's Law School. Following her graduation, Barrett clerked for Judge Laurence Silberan and Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. Barrett then returned to her alma mater as an associate professor in 2002, eventually becoming a full-tenured member of staff. In 2012, according to BBC, Barrett began to receive national attention for her openly staunch and firm Catholic beliefs when she signed off on a critical statement against then-president Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act's requirement that contraceptives be covered under health insurance plans for being a "grave violation of religious freedom:' Historically, Barrett has openly professed her religion and stated it as a reason that she disagrees with certain governmental actions. In 2015, Barrett signed a letter to Catholic Bishops commending "the value of human life from conception to natural death" and "family _founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman:' According to Dr. Kyle Krieder, a Wilkes University political science professor, this endorsement can prove to be problematic in terms of the separation of church and state. "This is one area of Constitutional law that I thought Justice Ginsburg got right and didn't get enough credit for;' said Krieder. "While the framers had differing opinions on this, I think most framers believed that there should be a high and impregnable wall between church and state. Once the state starts to get involved in endorsing religion over non-religion, problems begin:' The loss of Ginsburg alone is going to shift the political climate within the United States - potentially, for a whole generation, especially when comparing Ginsburg's historically liberal policies to Barrett's conservative. "The law will definitely change;' said Kreider. "People cite. abortion and gay marriage as two possible changes, but there are many areas of the law. Presidential power, Congress's power to pass legislation under the Commerce Clause, voting rights, etc. will all be affected:' There are many changes coming within the next month, and Barret's confirmation is one that may determine the future of this generation. @wilkesbeacon Judah.Ly/es@wilkes.edu Homecoming deemed successful in ''almost normal'' event By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer This year, campus has felt strange and different due to the odd circumstances imposed by COVID-19, but thankfully there have been opportunities for students to feel a sense of normalcy. After countless events and activities that are usually held on campus being canceled or postponed, students had the opportunity to attend homecoming, a tradition that was originally not going to happen this year but prevailed through the work of Student Government. Although homecomings of the past were times spent eating, dancing and being close with friends and significant others, Student Government was able to salvage those familiar memories by hosting an "almost normal" homecoming, allowing students to create those life-long memories. "I was worried about it not being as much 'fon as it was other years;' said Hannah Vitale, junior pharmacy major. "When I think of homecoming, I picture groups of people on the dance floor, which could not be possible this year. The dinner was really good, and it was nice to have a socially distant event to go to and get out of my apartment and see some of the other students, which is something I miss from having all of my classes virtually." In a world where virtual events have become the new normal, being able to attend an event in any way is a treat, and many students felt that way about this year's in-person homecoming. Changes to the event included the dance being completely free, the event being held outside on the Greenway, a 100-guest limit, mandatory wearing of masks and no more than four people at a dinner table. "Well, it definitely felt differ~nt this year because it was quite chilly and I don't think many people actually stayed to dance, but it was fun to dress up and feel normal for a night;' said Jennifer Boch, junior history and international relations major. It was something for students to get used to in the beginning, but the adaptations for the dance did not stop students from enjoying their night and having fun with their friends. Fortunately, Student Government managed to bring some elements of the old normal homecomings to the new one, such as the homecoming court, dinner and dancing. "The dance felt strange, but I was not disappointed;' said Vitale. "I had a good time, even being distant from other people. It seemed everyone had their masks on, and it was fun overall." Homecoming is an event that many students look forward to and was originally not going to happen this year; however, Student Government found a way to make it happen under the strict COVID-19 regulations, and many students were relieved by this. "I would have been disappointed if we had to settle for a virtual event of some sort to celebrate homecoming;' said Danielle Morris, sophomore digital design and media art major and class representative. "Even though those are fun, it was refreshing to have a reason to get dressed up and socialize in a safe manner." For some, this is the first time they would have been attending a Wilkes homecoming dance, and what a dance they will remember. This event allowed students to take a break from the stress of their lives and reconnect with their friends, all while staying socially distant and safe. "I have actually not been to a Wilkes homecoming yet because I transferred to Wilkes this past spring;' said Morris. "However, I am familiar with how they functioned, and I knew it would not be exactly the same:' Even under the event's extreme circumstances, homecoming was a success once again this year, and many students are now looking forward to Spring Fling next semester. "' @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu �L The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Opinion 17 Bre's Beats: The best and spookiest Halloween songs By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor The Halloween season is officially upon us; and this time of year brings the excitement of trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, picking out the perfect costume and decorating in extravagant ways. Yet, one of the most important and fun aspects of the spooky holiday is the iconic music. Many tend to overlook the amazing tunes that are dedicated specifically for Halloween, which is why this week in Bre's Beats, we are breaking down the best songs for the holiday. "Thriller" - Michael Jackson Arguably the most historic and iconic song in terms of Halloween music, "Thriller" not only became an immediate hit, but it remains a favorite for the holiday. Initially released in 1984, the song has withstood the test of time while continuing to be one of the staples in not only the music industry but also in terms of music for Halloween. Being the seventh top 10 single from the singer's album, everything about this scary yet undeniably catchy tune is perfect for the last day of October. The Halloween anthem has a lasting impact on pop culture due in part to its stunning and one-of-a-kind music video, but there-are many things to love about this almost six-minute song. The use of an eerie melody mixed with creepy, memorable lyrics that are easy to sing as well as its well-known dance makes this single timeless and easy-to-love for the spooky season. Throughout Jackson's entire career, he broke many records, and "Thriller" was no exception, as it became one of his most successful singles. It is impossible not to put this song on repeat leading up to and on the holiday to get in the spirit. "Monster Mash" - Bobby "Boris" Pickett Halloween is not complete without this classic. "Monster Mash" is another song that remains a holiday favorite, even decades after its initial release in 1962. Also encapsulating the Halloween feel and using typical pop elements, the song has remained one of the oldest and most popular tunes for celebrating the fall holiday. Due to its timely release right before Halloween, the song stayed on the Billboard charts for some time and became an annual favorite in no time. The lyrics focus on a mad scientist who creates a monster that wakes up one night and starts to perform a new dance along with other well-known Halloween monsters, such as Dracula and the Wolfman. Between the catchy beat and perfectly themed lyrics, it is no surprise that "Monster Mash" has become one of the most easily recognizable Halloween songs. Similar to many other holiday songs, this single has seen many re-releases and covers by a variety of artists over the years, which allows younger audiences to discover the genius work of the music. "Ghostbusters" - Ray Parker Jr. "Who you gonna call?" has become such a popular phrase not just around the time of Halloween but in general pop culture. "Ghostbusters;' the theme song from the iconic and well loved movie, is another remarkable example of music surrounding the spooky holiday. Released in the same year as Jackson's "Thriller," Ray Parker Jr:s "Ghostbusters" became one of the most popular songs for Halloween and continues to bring smiles to everyone's faces when the familiar opening notes begin to play. The song incorporates many Halloween elements while also keeping the usual 80s sound that many loved at the time and still do. With spooky lyrics about why the Ghostbusters would be called and an undeniably upbeat melody, millions of people are quick to immediately play this tune for the holiday. Although many artists have done their own renditions of the classic song, including for the remake of the movie in 2016, the original song continues to be the most popular and loved for any and all Halloween festivities. "The Time Warp" - "Rocky Horror Picture Show" Cast "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is one of the most unique and beloved films that gets rewatched during the Halloween season. The musical comedy horror film has become known for a wide variety of aspects, but "The Time Warp," the exciting song that is also a dance routine, is arguably the most well-known song from the movie. E v e n though "Rocky Horror" was released in 1975, "The Time Warp" has remained a favorite Halloween tune to this day. Stretching over generations, it is impossible for anyone to pass up the opportunity to follow the simple dance moves that the lyrics entail while singing along. While there are no direct Halloween references or elements like the other songs on this list, its appearance in what many consider to be a Halloween film has given "The Time Warp" a place to be enjoyed on the holiday for many years. No matter one's age, this song will remain a timeless classic for a long time, and the spooky night can't end without one round of this iconic dance. "Somebody's Watching Me" - Rockwell This song features some of the creepiest lyrics about something many can relate to - the feeling of someone watching you. Rockwell's hit "Somebody's Watching Me" was released in 1984 as a lead single of his debut album of the same name, and while the song found massive success, it quickly became associated with Halloween for a good reason. Throughout the music, a paranoid theme can be felt and is expressed through both the lyrics and melody. Besides the spooky music, the accompanying music video is another reason the song became a holiday favorite. Directed to unfold similar to a horror movie, the video instantly found popularity, which helped the single find an audience for Halloween. "Somebody's Watching Me" is a typical pop hit that uses a variety of elements to make it memorable and well liked in terms of music perfect for the celebratiow, surrounding Halloween. After finding success upon its release and remaining a staple for October's holiday music, this is a song that needs to be played in order to bring on the spirit. "This Is Halloween" - Cast of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" From Tim Burton's well-known Disney film "The Nightmare Before Christmas;' "This Is Halloween" is a clear choice out of all the Halloween songs that exist for all festivities. The film was released in 1993, making this song the most recent on our list, and has become a favorite of millions for the holiday. With the purpose of introducing a fictional Halloween Town, which is the movie's main setting, and showing viewers the Halloween-themed lifestyle, "This -Is Halloween" is a chilling and eerie piece of music that truly captures the spirit of the holiday. The lyrics paint haunting images of horrors that could scare anyone, no matter their age. The melody is crafted just right in order to be as creepy as possible. There couldn't be a single song more fitting for Halloween. "This Is Halloween" was actually created for the holiday, which means, since it is still played to this day, that the ultimate goal was reached. This Halloween, no matter the type of celebration, these songs are a must for the holiday playlist. From unforgettable hits to spooky melodies, it would be hard to feel the true energy of Halloween without this amazing music. ~ Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver r �.J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 18 Opinion Netflix poorly chooses diversity does not make the cut By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor It is no surprise that streaming platforms have become more and more popular due to the ever-changing digital advancements and demand to enjoy forms of entertainment in the comfort of our own homes. And while there are countless options today, Netflix continues to be one of the biggest services available for watching a huge collection of television shows, movies and original content. Thanks to its consistent canceling of shows that feature large amounts of diversity representation, Netflix has unfortunately earned itself quite a bad reputation. In total, the streaming service has canceled close to 50 series, most often after just one or two seasons. Starting as early as 2016, Netflix has not had any remorse when it comes to canceling any of its original content, and has done so more in the last two years than ever before. But many have found issu~s with the decisions when several shows with notable representation from diverse groups, such as LGBTQ+, women,and other minorities, have been put on the chopping block. Some of the most recent cancellations that have sparked the anger of consumers include the re-imaged version of"One Day At A Time," "G.L.O.W.," "Spinning Out;' and "I Am Not Okay With This," according to Insider. Each of these series either had a female lead, LGBTQ+ characters or representation for ethnicity groups that usually don't get screen time, some even having all three. Even though these are only a few examples of the shows Netflix has canceled in 2020 alone, the streaming service is doing more damage than anything when making the decision to stop producing original content that shouldn't even be in question. After the news of each cancelation, fans and general viewers have taken to social media to express their rage about the company's decisions. Although media have slowly become more inclusive over the last decade or so, it is more important than ever to have shows focusing on many minority groups who need representation on the screen. It is no secret that Netflix constantly cuts series after only a couple of short seasons, and the question many always ask remains: Why cancel some of the best shows available? Instead, the popular streaming service renews shows that do not have diverse casts in any way or makes sequels to poorly done rom-coms, which don't need to happen. So when the shows that get canceled feature female or LGBTQ+ leads, tell the story of an oppressed group or are important in terms of timely topics, it is only natural that Netflix receives a large amount of backlash. However, this does not stop the company from continuing the pattern. According to Wired, "Shows can have a dedicated fan base, like 'Altered Carbon' and 'The OA; but they might not have been successful enough to have amassed a Netflix-wide viewership. Tom Harrington, an analyst at Enders Analysis, explains that the ideal show for Netflix is one where the large majority of people who subscribe to Netflix will watch it, and not just one dedicated fan base. Something like 'Stranger Things' can bring in new audiences, and maintain current ones, which is why it keeps getting renewed:' This, in turn, demonstrates that Netflix is more ·willing to pour its millions of dollars into budgets for series that will be more widely accepted by the general public than to use their platform for diversity representation in television and movies. The criticism continues to pour in with every poorly made decision about yet another show, but unlike other streaming services, Netflix seemingly does not care. Not only is the choice to cancel such important and necessary shows alarming due to the content they cover, but the streaming service has been putting itself in a bad light as well. In 2020, the company has blamed many cancellations, including "G.L.O.W.;' on COVID-19 and the abrupt inability to continue filming with the restrictions the virus has put in place. Although this could be a valid excuse for pushing the release of a new season, it should not be the reason that entire series are brought to an end. While the world experiences massive changes in terms of bringing the voices of minority groups to the forefront, Netflix chooses to do the exact opposite. It is only a matter of time until the unnecessary decisions about cutting shows catch up to the streaming service's business. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu Slight improvements made in final presidential debate By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer •• President Donald Trump and former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden faced off for the final presidential debate of the 2020 presidential campaign at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 22. This time around, mies were muted after the first question was asked by moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News, which kept the debaters more restrained than the first debate, but this does not mean there were no moments of interruptions from both Trump and Biden. The muted mies were not the only new addition of the final debate between the two candidates. Although some of the topics that were meant to be debated were repeats from the first debate, there were also a couple new topics brought up. The topics from the first presidential debate consisted of Trump and Biden's records, the Supreme Court, COVID-19, the economy, race and violence in America and the election. The final debate's topics focused on COVID-19, American families, race in America, climate change, national security and leadership. The topics of COVID-19 and race in America were both repetitive topics from the first debate a few weeks ago. Both debates opened about each candidate's plan to combat COVID-19. Trump stated his incessant guarantee of their being a vaccine ready "in weeks:' Biden counterattacked Trump's statement by telling the audience that he has been continuing to promise the virus will disappear on its own. Biden has been very vocal about everyone wearing face masks or coverings when in public, as he wore his own when walking into both debates. He understands there needs to be more funding for schools and businesses to operate under the extreme pressures the pandemic has brought to everyone's life and will try to get the money for such institutions. Race in America was discussed again during .the final debate. In the first debate, Trump received a lot of backlash for dancing around the subject on whether or not to condemn white supremacist groups, but he claimed that he has done more for African -Americans than any other president, except Abraham Lincoln. Also, when Biden began to talk about his plans for reform, Trump questioned why Biden did not do more about the criminal injustice in our nation when he served with former President Barack Obama. However, this did not deter Biden from letting the audience know about his plan to address economic racial disparities by increasing access to capital for minority-owned businesses. Plus, he wants to see changes in policing, including a ban on chokeholds. A continuous topic that was not on the agenda for the both debates was Biden's family, especially his son, Hunter. Trump brought him up during the first debate and once again mentioned him in the final debate to show how democratic nominee Biden personally profited from his son's business dealings in Ukraine and China. After denying this accusation, Biden changed the subject to Trump's taxes and business relationship with China, which forced Trump to explain how he "pre-paid" millions of dollars in taxes. This left many American voters very confused. The final debate may have moved a little more efficiently in comparison to the first; however, it is hard to say whether the American people received any new information or the answers they wanted to hear from b._oth candidates in order to vote in the upcoming election. @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu �6 nt Sports The Beacon - October 28, 2020 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Meh1@wilkes.edu Week six NFL recap examines Eagles, Giants and Steelers By Ariel ~eed Co-Sports Editor - - - - - - 1nup. loss 1d ler Through \\ et k fiv, of the NFL there had be"!n multiple 1,::-,. 1ps causi'lg teams to adapt to the changing circum~tances. WP,;,k six resumed normalc) and shook up the league wit~ some surp1 ising victori es. In the battle of two AFC North tt>ams, tht· Pittsburgh Steelers annihilatecl the Cleveland Browns wi,h a final score of 38 -7. lhis gaml' was anticipated to be competitive, and even prev.iew a potential playoff performance. Instead, the Browns chokir.g in this gamt' was a lo v poin t. "The iu 1iTJ, : thrOL;): . >ut (our) buildin;: ati er th ,1' loss 4 -2 has never fe1 , ,o mu<;l iike 0 -6 before," said Baker Mavi eld, sta.:-ti::ig quarterback ,-or the llrowns, per ESPN. "But that s beca,1se we have very high expe.;tations 1or ourselves:' Echoing in the thoughts of M.·.yfidd, Bnm ns wide receiver Odt:11 Beckham Jr. ~laborated on his trustration, somt: of which was visibli- d1:ring the game. 'Tm pissed:' sa1J Beckham, per ESPN. ''.And at this point, I don't really care to keep trying to make myself look like a good guy to the world and all that sh--.... Tired of losing. Tired of losing to good teams:' The Browns have not had a winning record since 2014. Despite the blowout losses to AFC North rivals (Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers), the Browns are still a playoff contender. ESPN's Football Power Index gives this team a 56.6 percent chance to snap the NFL's longest playoff dro11ght or' 18 years. The win over t 11e Browns is huge for the Steelers. This is the second time in franchise history that they have had a 5-0 start. The last time this happened, Pittsburgh went to the Super Bowl. In the game against the Browns, Devin Bush, a linebacker for Pittsburgh, tore his ACL. The loss of Bush, defensively, will make things tougher, but this is a team capable of winning in a variety of ways. Headinf; into week seven, Pittsburgh is &tarting to get into the tougher part of their schedule, starting this week against the undefeakd Tennessee Titans. This contest may be one of the biggest tests the Steelers have this season to determine whether will l-e Super Bowl contenders. All their oth er remaining 0pponents have not cracked above the 15th spot iD the NFL's power rankings. Prior to this week, the Steelers had fo ur home games and faced the "easier" part of their schedule. Their opponents ha,:e been the Nev: York Giants (1-6), Deny:::r Broncos (2-3), Houston Texans (1-5) , Philadelphia Eagles (1-4-1) and Cleveland Browns (4-2). Switching to the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are not off to a g0od start, as their record is 1-4-1 after barely falling to the Baltimore Rave~s 30-28. Both of these teams needed a win to keep pace with the rest of their diYision . Despite the 24-6 lead that the Ravens had early, the Eagles were able to come back and make the contest close. The Eagles rallied to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Ravens number one ranked defense, according to The Athletic's Sheil Kapadia's defensive rankings. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles are one or two playmakers away from being a team that could shake up the NFL. In recent drafts, the Eagles could have snagged one of these big playmakers with the early- Pmnd draft picks, rather than drafting players like Nelson Agholor, Sidney Jcmes, Rasul Douglas, JJ ArcegaWhiteside, Marcus Smith and Eric Rowe over the past seven seasons. With better drafting, the Eagles could be a team that is considered more currently competitive in the NFL. The New York Giants, like the Eagles, are also off to a rough start with their record standing at 1-5 as of week six. . The Giants recorded their first win of the season by barely overpowering the Washington Football Team, 20-19. This improved their record te 1-5. Similar to the Eagles, the Giant-.eason is off to a rough start. Their star running back Saquon Barkley suffered an ACL tear in · ..... . week two against the Chicago Bears. ·Barkley's injury is a blow for New York, which has turned to a combination of Dion Lewis, Wayne Gallman and Devonta Freeman at running back. The addition of former . Falcons running back • Freeman has provided a boost to an offense that desperately needs it. With the loss of Barkley, New York's offense has been struggling to get going against their opponents. The Giants are young. Daniel Jones is only in his second season. The team has a lot of room for growth, and in five years, they may be a powerhouse team. On Thursday, the Giants faced the Eagles, where they fell 22-21. In this contest, the Giants were up by 11, but the inexperience of New York was what mostly allowed Philadelphia to grab the win. Sterling Shepard was the leading receiver for the Giants with six catches for 59 yards. Jones' final stat line was 20-for30 with 187 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, along with 92 rushing yards. Gallman finished the night with 10 carries for 34 yards with a touchdown, as well as five catches for 20 yards. Blake Martinez had nine total tackles and one pass deflection. For the Eagles, Carson Wentz finished 25for-43 for 359 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while rushing for 14 yards and adding another score on the ground. Boston Scott carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards. Tight end Richard Rodgers had six catches for 85 yards and Travis Fulgham had five catches for 73 yards. Nathan Gerry recorded his first sack on the season and had eight total tackles. Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker F �_J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Sports 20 MLB: How teams made it to the World Series, staff predictions By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer With the conclusion of the 2020 Championship Series, the field is set for MLB's 116th World Series. For the first time in the sport's history, the World Series is being played on neutral ground, meaning that neither team will play games at its usual home stadium. The best-of-seven series will be played at Globe Life Piela, th~. Texas Rangers' brand new stadium. ..; In this World Series, the . top seed from both the America11'· Leagutf and the National League have moved on 'to the final round of the MLB playoffs. · It is the fourth time since 1995 that the best record from · each league will play against one another for the Commissioner's Trophy. As of writing, the World Series is currently tied at one game a piece. In the American League Championship Series, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Houston Astros in seven games to advance to their second World Series in franchise history. The ALCS started off hot for the Rays, as they jumped out to a quick 3-0 series lead. In the first inning of the first game of the series, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve jumped on a fastball from Rays ace Blake Snell for a home run to start the scoring. Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena would later tie the game in the fourth with his own home run, which was followed by an RBI-single from Rays catcher Mike Zunino. This would be all the offense Tampa Bay would need in that game, as they went on to win, 2-1. In game two, the Rays jumped out to an early lead with a three-run home run off the bat of outfielder Manuel Margot. They • added to their lead with a solo shot from Zunino in the seventh and would go on to win the game 4-2. In game three, Altuve started the scoring again with another first-inning home run, but his team would yet again fail to score more than two runs. Tampa Bay had a solid sixth inning, putting up five runs, which would be all they would score in the 5-2 victory. Despite facing elimination and a 0-3 deficit in the series, Houston won the fourth game, backed by a solid performance from veteran pitcher Zack Greinke. Greinke shut down the Tampa opposition, throwing six innings, giving "" up just two run and striking out seven batters. I Game five saw a dramatic victory, as Astros shortstop Carlos Correa crushed a walk-off home run to win the game 4-3. In game six, the Astros offense showed no remorse, scoring seven runs in a three-inning span. Despite a twohomer game from Margot, the Rays would lose 7-4. With Houston's game six victory, they were making a bid to become t h e second team e v e r in MLB history to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series, the first being the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Despite the valiant attempt, Houston failed to win the series as they lost game seven. The Rays took the lead in the first inning from a two-run homer from Arozarena, which was a lead they would not give up. Arozarena won the ALCS MVP honors , sp o rting a .321 b a tting ave rage with four homers in the seven games. In the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves to participate in their third World Series in the last four seasons. In game one of the series, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman started the scoring with a solo home run off of Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler in the first. In the fifth inning, L.A:s second baseman Kike Hernandez would tie the game with his own solo home run, which would be the only runs scored up until the ninth inning. Atlanta scored four in the top of the final frame, giving the Braves a 5-1 lead that they WO u 1 d n o t relinquish. In game two, the Br a v e s prevailed with the victory, but it did not come easy. Atlanta had a 7-0 lead going into · the bottom of the seventh until L.A. , scored t •h r e e , rr{ a king it a four- . run game. Braves second baseman 0 zz i e Alb i e s hit a solo shot to make it 8-3, which proved to be the difference. The Dodgers scored four more in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short by one, losing 8-7. In game three, the Dodgers scored eleven runs in the first inning, giving them all the offense they would need, winning the game 15-3. In game 4, Braves rookie pitcher Bryse Wilson stepped up to help Atlanta secure a 3-1 series lead, throwing six one-hit innings while striking out five. In game five, the Dodgers were down 2-1 in the sixth inning and facing twelve more outs until elimination. Catcher Will Smith blasted a three-run homer to give L.A. the lead in that frame, which was followed by three more runs in the following inning. This offensive surge allowed the Dodgers to win 7-3. Game six was all Los Angeles, as Buehler threw six solid innings and was backed by strong offensive performances from third baseman Justin Turner and shortstop Corey Seager, allowing the Dodgers to force the elusive game seven. In game seven, the game was tied 3-3 until the seventh inning when Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger hit a solo home run, giving L.A. a 4-3 lead. Pitcher Julio Urias dominated the Braves lineup, retiring all nine batters he faced in the final three innings, giving Los Angeles the NLCS victory. Seager won NLCS MVP honors, batting .310 with five home runs. Beacon Picks 8 A S E 8 A l l Who will win the World Series? Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer ' L.A. Dodgers . -- Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor ·Tampa Bay Rays Dylan Mehl - Co-Sports Editor L.A. Dodgers Baylee Guedes Staff Writer Tampa Bay Rays Kirsten Peters Editor-in-Chief Tampa Bay Rays . Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �Sports The Beacon - October 28, 2020 MACCIOCCO,from frontcover trying to help me; Macciocco said Macciocco's success on the court started during her playing career in high school and continued at the collegiate level. She played for Dunmore High School, scoring 2,211 points through her high school career. The Dunmore Lady Bucks made it to the 1994 State Class AA title game behind Macciocco. A Division I scholarship led Macciocco to Penn State University, where she was a part of a Big Ten Championship team and one that made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. During her time at Penn State, Macciocco earned a bachelor's degree in sport and recreational management. Macciocco played her final season at Lock Haven, and during the 1998-1999 season, she was named to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference all-conference team. During her short stint there, she broke several of their 3-point shooting records. In 2004, she was inducted to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and was ranked in The Scranton Times-Tribune's top 100 athletes of the area. After college, she found herself in a town right outside of Boston, Mass., working for the company Teamworks, where she did corporate team building through ropes courses. However, the cost of living became too high for Macciocco's liking. After returning home, Macciocco ended up at Arrowhead Lake in the Poconos as the recreation director. She compared her job to that of Patrick Swayze's character Johnny Castle in the film "Dirty Dancing." While working_at_Arrowhead,_Maccioe_co~ started her first coaching job as an assistant coach at Wilkes. Macciocco was the assistant for three years while also working as an admissions counselor. These two jobs were Macciocco's first glimpse of Wilkes' culture. "With basketball being in my blood, I think being a coach was also always there and what I always dreamed of doing," Macciocco said "I love the game, love teaching the game, and it was something I always wanted to do." However, Macciocco ended up accepting a head coaching job at Marywood University. "When the job opened at Marywood, (I knew) at that time, I was ready to be a fulltime head coach; said Macciocco. She found success at Marywood with 10 seasons of 13_or more wins, including eight seasons in that stretch with more than 16 wins. During that time, she won a total of 206 games, with 141 of those wins coming in the MAC Freedom. Macciocco then decided to return to Wilkes University, but this time as the head coach of the women's basketball team. "I was ready for a new challenge. When I stepped on campus for the interview, I knew that this was the place I wanted to be," said Macciocco. "The support for athletics, the conference, the academics and everything about the university was always close to my heart:' School spirit is something Macciocco does not lack, as she is a huge fan of the campus. l ) e s r a if [l it d 1t e .e .e y 1e The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Macciocco kneeled down to instruct her players from the sidelines in Wilkes' final contest of the 2019-2020 season on Feb. 22 against FDU-Florham. 21 The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Head coach Tara Macciocco is excited to start full team practices. "This, to me, is like a smaller version of Penn State, and the feel you get on campus is like a Penn State," said Macciocco. Winning is a priority for Macciocco, as she looks to bring the women's basketball program to a winning season for the first time in over 12 seasons. "I'm so competitive that you want to go out and win every game, but you have to know that you have to learn from the losses; said Macciocco. "Coach Mac's hard working and competitive mentality influences us to be the best versions of ourselves, on and off the court; said sophomore forward Katie J9hns. "Everyday at practice, she stresses focus, communication and diligence:' Coaching a competitive, hard-working attitude into her players is a big deal for Macciocco. One of her many philosophies is to play a fiercely competitive game every time on the court and for players to give it their all. "I've been working with her for nine seasons - six years at Marywood, and this will be our third at Wilkes; said Lindsay Howard, assistant women's basketball coach. "I teach a coaching class and always use her as an example of how a coach sticks to her philosophies. She always holds true to who she is and what kind of coach she is - super competitive and high energy." Success for both the team and her players sparks joy in Macciocco. Seeing this success provides ·motivation for her to do her job to the best of her ability. "I love the game, and I love teaching the game; said Macciocco. "Watching the players go out and execute something that you've been working on and teaching them and then seeing them be successful is really rewarding." . According to junior guard Kendra Smith, "She coaches with so much passion for the game, and seeing the energy and emotion she brings empowers us as players to compete, with that same approach. She empowers each of us as individuals to become the best version of ourselves on and off the court." While on-the-court success of her players is great, it is their off-the-court successes that drives Macciocco. "The best part of it is when you get through those four years and you get to go to graduation and watch those players from the time they were juniors and seniors in high school until they graduate from college, and you see their growth not only as a basketball player but as an individual; said Macciocco. Macciocco is looking forward to the upcoming season and is doing all she can to prepare her team, despite the COVID-19 restrictions. "It's definitely different. We are fortunate here that we're given the opportunity to actually do something," said Macciocco. "I think the players are really embracing that. They're doing a great job of staying safe and keeping their masks on." With the new season scheduled to start in January 2021, Macciocco looks to continue her success as head coach and to continue to improve the Colonels' success as Wilkes looks to get its first double-digit win season since the 2014-2015 season. @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu r �J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 22 r • kbioC' Favorite thing tq do d ~ pi:actice? run with theteam: Go out on a If you had to choose one thing about your program that you could improve, what would it be? 7 Anyuae to give a 'Shout-out to? The whole cross-country team. I don't know where I'd be without you guys. - Compiled By Ariel Reed. Co-Sports Editor �2 noyer@wilkes.edu 1otes 1ance to be able to do r. Juniors are looking :s. Sophomores have aiser that is up and gram, @wilkessg23. oward water bottles ·for a social. :er Council started t on Oct. 26. The ffering movie tickets, 11dent buys, they are an iPad. Residence lding a social media 6 through Oct. 30, ollows them during l to win a couple of lso hold a big event on '1ard@wilkes.edu emester s ntersession l in the calendar? @wilkes.edu �.J The Beacon - October 28, 2020 Sports 24 WREST: Experienced roster utilizes extra preparatiol) time By Baylee Guedes r - ._. • Staff Writer Wrestling practices are underway, as the coaching staff and athletes are hopeful for the a season to begin in the spring semester, in accordance with COVID-19 precautions. Head coach Jon Laudenslager is confident in the team that he has trained, and he is ready to take on the potential season. "We have a pretty experienced group coming back:' said Laudenslager. "Most weights have a guy that had some varsity time. We have some good returning guys, and then we have some young guys. I just really like this group of twelve guys." Laudenslager's athletes have been adapting to Wilkes wrestling's tradition of buying into the winning mentality. "They are very committed, and they have really bought into everything that we are doing and the team's mission:' said Laudenslager. Preparation for the potential season has been underway since Oct. 1. The returners and the newcomers are preparing now more than ever, as they are able to spend more time together before their season due to it being pushed back by COVID-19 protocols. The team has been focusing on skill work and' technique, which will contribute to individual and team success. "We're kind of preparing like we normally would:' said Laudenslager. "We've got to get in shape, get our weight down, and were probably spending more time on technique right now because we have an extra month and a half to really get in good shape." The coaches and athletes want to improve their team, as each individual brings something different to the mat. They want to work as hard as they can individually, so that they can contribute to having a winning season for their seniors . "Moustafa Almeky (197 lbs.) and Dylan O'Connor (141 lbs.) are two seniors that I think have a good shot of being in the National Tournament:' said Laudenslager. "I am excited for them, and I would be very disappointed for them if we didn't have a season:' Almeky pushes not only himself, but his teammates, as this is his final year to make a run for the NCAA National Tournament. Qualifying is an individual and overall team goal. "My goal is to place top eight, achieving an All-American status;' said Almeky. - ··"I have come close in the past two years, and I have one more shot. I'm not letting The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Dylan O'Connor prepared to attack from the stand-up position in his match against a competitor from No. 16 Ithaca College on Feb. 14. The Beacon/Ariel Reed Head coach Jon Laudenslager posed during an October practice. anything stand between me and my goal:' While the team is focusing on fundamentals and getting better every day, Almeky is ready to compete with his teammates on the mat. "As a team, we are lifting, conditioning and now wrestling regularly in order to optimize our strength and hit the ground running right out of the gate;' said Almeky. "The team is looking very strong, and everyone's work ethic and drive has been as high as we could hope for in such unprecedented circumstances." The team has been focused on improving their techniques, and the results are already beginning to show. Sophomore John Devito is confident that he and his teammates will have a successful year. "The team is looking great so far;' said Devito. "We have a lot of wrestlers that know the standards of our team and what it means to be a wrestler at Wilkes. This helps set high expectations and helps guide our freshmen." The addition of new recruits has been successful, according to Almeky, as he can already feel the team meshing together as one: Practices have been productive in each weight class and each grade level. The entire team has come together as one, pushing each other to be the best they can be. "This is definitely one of the most motivated groups of freshmen I've seen in my years here," said Almeky. "A lot of young guys last year really had a great year of growth, so I'm excited to see them come back this year and build on what they accomplished last year:' A promising future is showing itself for the wrestling program. The athletes are happy to be on campus and working hard in the weight room and on the mats. "We're just trying to get better, and we're grateful that we can even be in here right now," said Laudenslager. "You can't see them smiling (because of the masks), but I know they like being in there right now:• Laudenslager is going into his eighteenth season as head coach at Wilkes University. He is a proud alumnus of '99, as he earned four varsity letters and holds many other honors while wrestling at the Division I level. "I was on Coach John Reese's last team. He was here for 42 years;' said Laudenslager. "I didn't really think about coaching until maybe even my senior year. 'Oh, I think I want to coach; and then I stuck around for my fifth year, took two classes, volunteered, came back the year after that as a grad assistant coach, and now this is 18 years:' Laudenslager has a love for this school and its wrestling program as it is, traditionally, one of the best programs in the country. He is proud to be a Colonel and continues to show his passion through coaching. "It is good to be at the helm of something like this;' said Laudenslager. "This is an established program that has a lot of good things going on for us:' The goal for this program and many others is to push each other to get to the National Tournament, but in Laudenslager's eyes, it is also about collectively getting better. "Whether with competition or not, we want to get better. We want to get stronger;• said Laudenslager. "That's the goal:' . @wilkesbeacon Baylee.Guedes@wilkes.edu � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 October 28th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 October 28 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/8ab91c29681c002415c58515584b83eb.pdf 388399049a1fb3b467304b047cdc7e0b PDF Text Text ..J 1 The Beacon - November 5, 2020 HEBEACON Est.1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 9 Wilkes Universi - Wilkes-Barre, Penns lvania No winner yet: Presidential race remains in air By Sean Schmoyer News Editor At 7 p.m. on Election Day, the first polls closed, but no states were clearly in favor of either candidate. As the night went on, the election started to become more of a coin-toss. A little after midnight, Joe Biden made a statement to his supporters and campaign that he believed they were on track to win. President Donald Trump then tweeted that Biden was going to steal the election. At 2:20 a.m., Trump spoke to the nation. "This is a fraud on the American public;' he said. "This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election. So our goal now is to ensure the integrity for the good of this nation ... So we will be going to the U.S. Supreme Court. We want all voting to stop:' At the time of The Beacon's printing on Wednesday, the presidential race had still not been officially called. Trump's claims of victory go against the Associated Press' guidelines for how they decide the race. The AP expressed that they will only call the race when fully confident. "Only when AP is fully confident, a race has been won - defined most simply as the moment a trailing candidate no ~nger has a path to victory - will we rr,,-,-,,--,,-,__------------,---------------...--------.~-------£_-;,,._....!..;-~-;;--,_--i -; 2020 Election: Student reactiOns demonstrate opinions By William Billingsley Staff Writer Editor's Note: Students were asked to share their thoughts before any polls closed or races were called. Voters utilized the Marts Center, located on Wilkes University's campus, to cast votes on Tuesday. Some brought children along for the experience. make a call ... Should a candidate declare victory - or offer a concession - before AP calls a race, we will cover newsworthy developments in our reporting:' Dr. Kyle Kreider, professor of political science and the chair of the division of behavioral and social sciences at Wilkes, expressed that Trump's statement is a cause for concern in terms of what he is proposing. "Let's be very clear what he is actually saying;' said Kreider. "What he is arguing is that we should not count votes in three states that have already been cast. On the flip side of that same coin, he is arguing that in Nevada and Arizona vote counting needs to continue, so it is a very inconsistent argument:' ELECTION, page 3 At long last, the day that Americans all across the country have been waiting fo r arrived this past Tuesday: Election Day. For some, it was a chance to oust current President Donald Trump and put an end to the dreaded Trump experiment once and for all. For others, it was a chance to see four more years of their beloved populist continue to 'own the libs: But for all Americans, with over 100 million votes cast before Election Day, the 2020 Election will no doubt be one to remember. Given the historic nature of this election, Wilkes students had thoughts to share on the election, and what a Biden or Trump victory would mean for them and the rest of the nation. REACTIONS,page 18 2020 LimL·ri(k l ,llh': .-\r'o1..-,1h p:--.' bin~l) frn· th~: --tr,rnge:-t, e,lr .:Yer, p.isc l 6 r �_J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 News 2 News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Student Government: Oct. 28 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer Student Government held its ninth virtual meeting on Oct. 28, where they discussed two budget requests, which will be voted on in the next meeting. To start the night, Vice President Brooke Mazzotta presented a Capital Projects request to purchase an outdoor inflatable movie screen. The screen would be stored in the Club Hub closet and could be signed out whenever a club wished to use it. So far, each time the movie screen has been rented, the clubs have spent over $2,000. Purchasing the movie screen would be especially beneficial for smaller clubs that are not able to spend that much money. In total, the cost would be $7,000. Classes then broke out into five-minute discussions and came back reporting that it would be an efficient investment, as it would pay for itself after three movies, which has already been done this semester alone. The only potential aspect to take into consideration is needing to buy new speakers, as the ones that Student Government has currently are old. Next, the council discussed the outcome of the Fall Event. As far back as the records allow, Fall Event 2020 had the best outcome the Student Government has ever seen. Overall, across all the events, 650 students participated, and there was also great collaboration amongst . the Mega Council. For the next budget request, Student Government President Kevin Long presented the possibilities for another Kahoot trivia. The Fall Kahoot held on Oct. 21 was successful, but a lot of students were not able to participate, as the Zoom only held a capacity for 100 people. For this trivia, the theme and exact date are still to be determined, but the budget proposal came to $300. This way, the top three winners would receive a prize worth $100. Classes broke out into fiveminute discussions again and came back with a couple of critiques. All around, members liked the idea but thought there should be rules in place to keep winners from the last trivia winning big prizes again. Their other ideas included utilizing a Zoom call with an increased capacity, spending more money on larger prizes and waiting to host th~ trivia until finals are over or when students return in the spring. Student Government also voted on the member of the month as well as a club of the month for October. With no opposition, senior class member Mia Barbieri won member of the month, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers won club of the month. In closing, Commuter Council decided to announce the winners of the car decorating contest on their Instagram @Wilkes_ commuter on Oct. 30. The Programming Board is still hosting their iPad giveaway that students are automatically entered into when they purchase movie tickets. RHC will also be holding a virtual unveiling of their study break supplement coming out on Nov. 1 on their Instagram @Wilkes_RHC. ~ • @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu , Beacon Briefs: _U pcoming campus events Table of Contents classes, get ahead in their studies or lighten their course load for the spring. They are held in three- to five-week sessions that start Dec. 7, and tuition is $530 per credit. If interested in signing up, make an appointment with your advisor and visit www. wilkes.edu/winter to view the course schedule. Registration began at 10 p.m. on Oct. 25. News .................. 2 Compiled by Sean Schmoyer WIikes Holiday Card Design Contest President Greg Cant and his wife Angela are starting a new tradition by showcasing student artwork on the university's annual holiday greeting card. All Wilkes students are invited to submit original creations in a design contest. The design will be printed on the front of hundreds of cards that will be shared with members of the extended Wilkes family. .4Ibe winning artist will receive: Artwork printed on the front of the official university holiday greeting card, a framed version of the card and a prize pack of gift cards, including a $100 Amazon gift card, a $25 Starbucks gift card; a $25 Target gift card, Wilkes swag and bragging rights. Submissions are due Nov. 25. The winning design will be announced the week of Dec. 7. More details can be found at www.wilkes.edu/ holidaycard20. Take Classes During Wmter Intersession Students can earn credits over winter break by scheduling online courses. This is helpful for those who want to catch up on missed ·writing Center to Host Vrrtual Consultations Students who are looking to improve their writing or need assistance with an upcoming paper or essay can seek out guidance from the Writing Center, which is located on the bottom floor of the Farley Library. However, with the transition online, the center is now hosting virtual drop-in hours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Any member of the Wilkes community can schedule an appointment if they require writing help. They will be held over Zoom, and to access the Zoom links for the meetings, students can find all available options under the "Student Services" tab in the Wilkes Portal. Shop at the Honors Program Store The Honors Program has opened the first- ever Honors Program store, which features a variety of options. Be sure to shop before the store closes on Nov. 10. Students who want their items for the holidays should choose the option to have them shipped to their home address. If students select pickup, they will have to wait until the spring semester to pick up their order on campus or make arrangements to meet Jennifer.McLaughlinl@wilkes.edu on campus during the last week of November, after in-person finals. Donate to the Honors School Supply Drive The Honors Program is running a school supplies drive for the Catholic Youth Center. All donations are welcome, and students can drop off items in Stark Leaming Center Room 262 until Nov. 24. For every item donated, students will be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Honors students will receive a participation point for donating. Life, A&E ............. 7 Opinion ............ 14 Sports ................ 19 Upcoming Events November 7 - Virtual Open House 8 - Mall Shopping Shuttle 10 - Honors Program Store Closes 11 - Veterans Day 23 - Movie Night 25 - Holiday Recess Begins 26 - Thanksgiving December 7- Winter Intersession Classes Begin @wilkesbeacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Want your event feat'ttred in the calendar? Email: The WilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - November 5, 2020 ELECTION, from front Kreider also stated that he believes Trump is attempting to stop votes in counties where there are a much higher percentage of African American votes to disenfranchise those voters who he believes would go to Biden. In addition, the 2000 election Supreme Court decision is a completely different situation in Kreider's eyes than what Trump is attempting to do. In 2016, the legitimacy of the votes in questions were revotes, while this year, Trump is attempting to question the legitimacy of votes that have not been counted yet. What brought about the president's statements were numerous events that occurred over the course of election night. Expectations: Dr. Benjamin Toll spoke of three major outcomes that seemed likely - Biden wins with a majority, Trump loses by a slim margin or Trump wins by a slim margin. Toll predicted the scenario with the most controversy to be Biden winning by a slim margin, as it could result in Trump questioning the integrity of the election. Florida, Arizona, Minnesota and Wisconsin: Biden was projected to win many states going into election night. The first major change was seen in Florida fairly early in the night, as Trump began to take a lead over Biden. The major county pointed out in election coverage was Miami-Dade. Miami-Dade was a spot in 2016 where Hillary Clinton had an advantage over Trump, as such it was an important county to watch if Bi den had any hopes of flipping the state to blue. The problem was soon identified by polling analysts. Trump had better numbers with the Latino, particularly the Cuban population of voters in Florida. Reports and analysts began to talk about whether Biden would have any further issues with that voting demographic, as it became plausible that was a major reason for losing Florida. Warnings slowly worked their way into the coverage that the Latino demographic could not be simplified so easily for •olling numbers. "There is a story here that the mainstream media does not really pick up - that is that in Miami-Dade county with predominantly Hispanic radio with target ads in Spanish that talk about Joe Biden as a socialist, a lot of that flies under the radar;' said Krieder. It was speculated that Biden lost ground with voters who moved to the U.S. from Cuba due to some immigrants having left communist or socialist leaders. As the night continued, many states were projected the way analysts predicted with very few results coming in for battleground states. One early call was 3 News Fox News, who projected Biden to win Arizona fairly early in the night. Others soon followed, including the AP a few hours later. The state carries 11 electoral votes, making it a fairly important state for Biden as it will allow for more options when it comes to combinations of states for him to reach that magical 270 electoral votes. As things started to look up for Biden, Minnesota and Wisconsin, two states predicted to likely go to Biden, started to see an increase in the number of ballots cast for Trump. At first, the numbers could be dismissed as a red mirage, especially with Minnesota, which has a fair amount of mail-in ballots that were expected to cause a blue wave. As the night went on, it became more and more questionable about which candidate would take the two states. By the early hours of the morning, Wisconsin became a center talking point, and by Wednesday afternoon, media outlets reported Wisconsin had turned blue. Minnesota was in a similar position; however, no decision could be made as of Wednesday afternoon. What We Know Now: The major states to watch for are the ones the AP still does not have projected winners for. While Pennsylvania has the largest amount of electoral votes of the remaining states, all could potentially impact the election. Pennsylvania is dependent on its over 1 million ballots that Gov. Tom Wolf said still had to be counted. North Carolina and Georgia were too close to call, with differing opinions surrounding them. For Toll, Georgia and North Carolina seem to be confident results for Trump. Krieder, on the other hand, thinks that the counties where the ballots still need to be counted in Georgia are all large urban areas which could favor Biden and swing the state. Alaska and Maine still had results coming in, though it is expected that Alaska will go to Trump. Maine's last congressional district seems to also be too close to call, as of Wednesday morning. Notable Takeaways: One stance that seems to be certain is that the number of voters nationwide increased, while Toll had high expectations that were not quite reached. "The most positive thing to look at is that most estimates are expecting a 65 percent turnout, which may sound low, and it is low compared to the rest of the world, but it would be the highest presidential election turnout since 1908;' said Toll. Toll believes that the turnout was not as high as expected looking back the day after and that it may hurt Biden's campaign. Notable firsts from the 2020 election are Delaware Senator Sarah McBride, who L , .''@lrdlces&litmtTwffferPoll B.mllt$ Beacon followm were asleep: Who do 1ou think ,viU w#a the ~ t i a l election1----.__. ,.. ___ __ 18% 80% Jorgenson / Cohen 1% Other 1% 641 votes • Final results Editor's Note: 1he poll was retweeted by accounts not affiliated with Wilkes University as well as potential political accounts. is the first transgender state senator, and Raugh was not the only nursing major Ritchie Torres from New York who will be whose biggest issue for the election was the first Afro-Latino gay member of the COVID-19. U.S. Congress. "I think they should focus on getting The increase in LGBTQ representation COVID under control. This country in the government may decrease the cannot take another year of shutdowns;' worries some feel about a potential second said Emilee Barnhardt, junior nursing term for Trump. major. Hera Mukhtar, sophomore bio-chem The most important takeaway is that, as major, said, "I know racism, sexism and of Wednesday morning, the election is not homophobia are going to become more called yet - and that there is a chance that prevalent if Trump wins a second term. it will not be till the end of the week and I can't imagine the psychological impacts maybe even later if legal battles emerge. this has on the younger generations:' Just as the AP and other news sites If Trump were to win the presidency have urged, the nation requires patience again by the electoral college but lose for the ballots to come in and be counted the popular vote, he would be the only properly. president to have done so twice out of the five other presidents who have won by the electoral college and not led in the popular vote. Kreider identified that Biden was expected to perform better across the nation with older voters above 50 and white suburban women who hold strong views on the COVID-19 pandemic. These votes were important Kreider said in making up for votes Trump gained from the Hispanic and Latino communities in certain places like Florida. Students across campus had a strong focus on wanting a president who will handle COVID-19. RJ Raugh, junior nursing major, said, "I don't think either of them are amazing. I do hope that Biden wins, but whoever wins, I hope there are not going to be unnecessary riots that set the nation back. @wilkesbeacon I think the focus should be on COVID-19 and getting it under control:' Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Goto thewillcesbeacon.cotn to check..our Twitter poll results and read a student's perspective on 'farticipating in his first election. . r �_J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 News 4 Possibility: Bookstore being brought back to campus? By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer Come August 2021, Wilkes University's current bookstore contract will come to an end. This puts the university in a unique position, in which a bookstore can be brought back to campus, as it once was in 2007. . Through much consideration, which is still ongoing as no official decisions have been made, a vendor will be selected by the request .through proposal process. A committee, which includes both students and faculty, will make this selection. Once that has been done, negotiations and final design plans will begin. . As of now, Wilkes will be moving to a hybrid model that will allow students to utilize a kiosk for ordering textbooks while also providing in-person assistance through the ordering process. A full range of options is anticipated for purchasing books (new, used, rented or electronic). "One of the things we wanted to.look for is making the bookstore a more dynamic and a more forward-thinking place," said Assistant Vice President of Operations and Compliance Justin Kraynak. "By that, what I mean is a hybrid version of a bookstore .. .what we're looking at is being able to reduce (warehouse) space and make it a more attractive space - make it usable for other things - like spirit kind of items, graduation regalia, things for clubs and things for alumni when they're on campus:' This proves challenging for some students. "I'm a bit skeptical. as to how efficient it would be, considering shipping, even when it is quick, takes time and also costs money," said Emilie Detweiller, junior Pl pharmacy major. "This may be a good option for some students, but I feel as if many will be indifferent to it. I like the bookstore as it is right now at Barnes and Noble." However, the idea of bringing the bookstore back on university grounds seemed to be the most liked across campus. "Two years ago, the university did an overall assessment of the bookstore needs, where we talked to students, faculty and staff. We did a lot of surveying back then , to find out what kind of facilities we had. I think, overwhelmingly, everyone that they talked to said it would be handy if it was right on campus;' said Kraynack. The hybrid bookstore is looking to be placed on the first floor of the SUB in the lounge. This would mean that in addition to the lounge space, the store would need to utilize other spaces in that area, including the Student Government office space. The committee is working with student leadership to potentially develop a new long-term area that would serve all their needs. "It is extremely important that everyone sees the changes as a value to the student experience, and modifications to the building will keep student needs at the forefront of the change;' said Dean of Student of Affairs Mark Allen. Those involved in the planning value the need for student space and have specifically asked for the creativity of the vendors in providing enough space for the bookstore, while still maintaining external lounge space for the students. In the way of the absence of hardcopy books, it is too early now to discern whether some textbooks will be kept on hand. "The student experience is of utmost concern;' said Director of Business Operations Alicia Bond. "It is still early in the process, and we have shared the feedback ~e have received with each vendor. Once the vendor is selected, we will have a greater opportunity to dig deeper into the business model and options to determine the best fit for Wilkes:' Despite the uncertainties that remain, there is an excitement for the bookstore to return to campus and a positive feeling that it will add to the university as a whole. "I think the addition will be good for those who don't particularly want to make the trip to the square, and as a whole, it could be a new on-campus spot for students to meet up. It will be a luxury to have these resources at our disposal;' said Danielle Morris, a sophomore digital design and media art major. Renovations and demolition are looking to begin sometime around the end of graduation following the spring semester. Members of the bookstore committee are hopeful that the new bookstore will be up and running by the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Even if the store is not completely built by then, online accommodations will be available for all students to purchase their textbooks. @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu Wildfires colltinue to rage on and ravage the western U.S. By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer The wildfires in the western United States dominated major news headlines earlier this year. People were forced to evacuate their homes and ecosystems were destroyed, ~ile viral videos and images of the damage spread across the internet. While the headlines have died down, the threat wildfires pose to those living in the western United States have not. According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are 27 large wildfires across the country. None of which are contained. In the map, updated daily by the Forest Service, the largest fires are in Colorado and California, but other states such as Washington, Oregon, Idaho 7 and Arizona are facing large-scale fires as well. In Colorado, specifically, four large fires have shut down highways, state and national parks and have prompted officials to call for both mandatory and voluntary evacuations of certain counties. Meghan Englehart, a junior earth and environmental science major, visited the western U.S., including Colorado, earlier this year and described seeing the fires. "Gigantic. That's the best way I can explain it," said Englehart. "I saw the glow of fires in a ravine, and it was such a humbling thing to see because it was so sad." Wildfires are a natural and necessary part of the life cycle of some ecosystems. Some species of trees require the heat of the fire to release spores. soils increase in fertility as nutrients are more readily absorbed into the soil from burned material. While wildfires are sometimes necessary, the extended duration of the fire season that has become common in the past few years has acute impacts on western forests. The over-charring of forests leaves land barren and makes it more difficult for plants to grow back. Englehart shared how people perceive the duration of wildfires. "To be honest with you, it makes me sad to think that some people think they'll last for two days and be done;' revealed Englehart. "It's such a shame that they're happening to the degree that they are. Colorado needs a break!" This extended duration and increased severity of forest fires have been attributed to the increasing impacts of climate change. An increase in precipitation and temperature can cause an increase in lightning strikes, which can easily spark a fire in dry forests. In other regions, worsening drought conditions will lead to a higher risk of wildfires. The warming global temperatures as a result of fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions also contribute to the increased chance of forest fires. Paired with the risk of climate change, anthropogenic actions have been cited as the start of many large scale forest fires in the west. In 2019, the National Interagency Fire Center attributed 87 percent of fires to have been started by humans. Cigarette butts and campfires are common wildfire starters and are often the result of human carelessness. Earlier this year, a gender reveal party was the cause of a large fire near Los Angeles, Ca. There are methods to reduce the occurrence of wildfires. The Forest Se07ice, which has been handling wildfires -on national land for over 100 years, "works closely with other federal, tribal, state and local partners" to reduce the risk of wildfires. The increased danger of forest fires will not go away until a change is made. Fires will continue to get worse and cause more damage, and the season will continue to lengthen, as seen in numerous scientific studies from researchers across the country. Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �The Beacon - November 5, 2020 News 5 EES and engineering majors present senior projects By Sara Ross Asst. News Editor Every year, earth and environmental science and engineering majors are responsible for gathering research for their senior projects. On Oct. 27 and 28, these students went through their presentations, which covered all different aspects of the environment. Senior biology and environmental science major Kayla Eller focused on diminishing mammal populations in Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. According to Eller, there has been a drop in the number of chipmunks, which is most likely correlated with the decrease in acorns from oak trees, one of their main food sources. In her study, the chipmunks or other small mammals are the predators, and the acorns are the prey. Up until 201 O, there was a cyclical pattern of the predator and prey populations, meaning that they were rising and falling from one year to the next. However, after 2011, this changed. There was a sharp decline in small mammal populations, which has not since recovered. "The data suggests that it is most likely linked with the acorns, and there has been a steep drop in masting, which is the number of acorns that are produced every year;' said Eller. The main objective of her research is to observe and determine the factors involved in these decreases of populations by using the topography to understand the role that the environment plays in small mammals' lives. The methods Eller has been utilizing include collecting elevation data through drones. She has conducted data organization of the mammals by sifting through catchers and labeling the site and locations they were caught at, as well. Two other projects were with Dr. Matthew Finkenbinder, assistant professor of geology. His first focused on reconstructing long-term climate conditions in the Great Lakes region using geochemical analysis of lake sediments. Then, his second project analyzed the chemical composition of rainfall in northeast Pennsylvania to better understand how the source of precipitation changes over time. Colin Ahrensfield, an earth and environmental science and geology major, and Ryan Wysocki, a geology major, were both involved in Finkenbinder's first project in researching two lakes in southern Ontario called Gilles and Crawford. "The whole idea behind our research is that there was evidence found of climate change in the southern Ontario region around 5,500 years ago," said Ahrensfield. They believed that evidence of lower lake levels and a change in the oxygen isotope composition of the lake sediments suggested a shift to arid conditions in the area." Even with these conclusions, there was no explanation for why and when these changes occurred. Building off past research, Ahrensfiled and Wysocki are looking to add radiometric dates by taking sediments of cores from the two lakes through a couple of geochemistry methods. With Finkenbinder's second project, it will lay the foundation to understand and Photos courtesy of Matthew Finkenbinder Dan Baratta (left), a 2018 Wilkes graduate in earth and environmental science, and Dr. Matthew Finkenbinder (right) collected sediment cores in northern Montana from Rock Lake for a climate reconstruction project during a past senior project. Both photos depict their research. interpret event-based precipitation oxygen isotope measurements. They will utilize them as a tracer for shifts in atmospheric circulation and moisture source changes in northeast Pennsylvania. Students will analyze weather and precipitation data, collect isotopic values and create back trajectories to become aware of which air masses are coming into NEPA throughout the year. They will access the composition to determine daily and seasonal moisture sources. Environmental engineering majors Kayla Acker-Carter, Nour Alfailakawi and Abdullah Hussain along with Dr. Holly Frederick, associate professor of environmental engineering, have been involved in the design of a Minnesota filter to treat phosphorus in stormwater runoff into North Lake. North Lake is located in Sweet Valley, Pa. Hussain explained that the presence of phosphorus has led to an intrease of algae, and as a result, this decreased the proportion of dissolved oxygen in the water. Further, high levels of phosphorus lead to a proliferation of algae that can produce algal toxins, which are harmful to animals and humans. By designing the Minnesota filter, it will control normal levels of phosphorus in the lake, which is usually around 0.01 to 0.03 milligrams per liter. This also means that it contains low amounts of nutrients. When the phosphorus is above these levels, it is considered eutrophic due to the excess of nutrients in the water, which generate algae. Based on an iron-enhanced sand filter model, it will remove nutrients, metals and color. Color refers to turbidity and solids. The filter works by iron converting to a high surface area, an iron oxide mineral, which can remove large portions of phosphorus through an absorption process. So far, Frederick is pleased not only with just her groups for research but with all students, as seeing their presentations provided insight on how they have been progressing with their projects. "I would like to commend everybody who is apart of the process. These projects are about taking something from the beginning to the very end;' revealed Frederick. "They prepare students for their futures and are a nice piece for them to carry into an interview. You want it to be something you are proud of, and no matter where our students find themselves, they can refer to this time during their academic careers:' @willtesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu r �.. _J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 News 6 COVID-19 cases ·escalate in Pa. as winter approaches spike of five cases on Oct. 24. president of operations and compliance One of the factors that can contribute and primary risk manager of the Wilkes to low numbers of cases on campus is the Daily Response Team, discussed plans for As winter approaches, the concerns movement of classes into online, hybrid the spring semester. health officials had about spikes in and hyflex settings. "There have not been many significant During the fall semester, 50.6 percent developments that would have us COVID-19 cases are coming to fruition. Across the country, cases continue to of classes were offered in-person. Many making big changes to the protocols rise, and as of Oct. 29, the United States of these in-person classes were labs, in the spring," said Kraynack. "For the surpassed 9 million cases and over where social distancing, mask-wearing most part, it will be very similar to this and reduced class size were in effect. 228,000 deaths. semester. One change we are making The fall semester also was compressed, regarding scheduling is reintroducing At the beginning of the pandemic, Pennsylvania had low counts compared with the removal of fall break and the the club hours on Tuesday and Thursday. to the rest of the country, but the state conclusion of classes arriving before This will help the clubs remain active and is now seeing a spike in cases. The daily . Thanksgiving. The spring semester is will help faculty with office hours." amount of cases surpasses the daily anticipated to run similarly with minor During the spring semester, many amount of cases there were in April, adjustments. classes will still be online, but 56 percent Justin Kraynack, assistant vice will be in-person. according to Pennsylvania's Department of Health. At the beginning of April, cases in Pennsylvania rose just above the 2,000 mark then dropped by August to less than 1,000 cases each day. The number of cases in the state is now exceeding previous records, and as of Oct. 26, Pennsylvania has around 2,200 cases per day. The total case count, including confirmed and possible case counts, is 205,517 as of Oct. 30. While the case count goes up throughout the state, Wilkes University has remained steady with less than 10 active cases on campus per day since Sept. 24. . As of Oct. 29, there were a total of 42 COVID-19 cases at Wilkes throughout The Beacon/Genny Frederick the entire semester. After one large spike in September with 22 cases, the active In addition to wearing masks, students are separated by plastic shields as an case count has decreased, with one minor added safety precaution in some Cohen Science Center labs. By Genny Frederick News Staff Writer The lack of in-person classes was a concern for many students throughout this semester. Matt Costello, a junior double major in mechanical and electrical engineering, expressed concern for labs. "The fall semester was set up to keep the numbers down, which I think it accomplished;' Costello said. "I do worry that continuing to operate mostly online will diminish our learning experience, especially when it comes to labs." While an increase in in-person classes and the reinstallation of club hours suggests a move towards a more prepandemic semester, the removal of spring break and other long weekend holidays reinforces the reality of the pandemic. Vanessa Musto, a senior management major, has deemed the fall semester a success. "I think that the fall semester was successful at the school because teachers were so understanding of students being cautious if they were getting tested and couldn't come to class or if they had to miss class because they were infected with the virus; Musto said. "This is not an easy time for either professors or students, and I think that the university as a whole did a really good job of trying to boost morale in any way that it could:' Classes for the spring semester are scheduled to start on Jan. 25, and the last final exam make-up day will be May 15. @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu "F C 0 h h. St L it a : ch l Ch stn aga om eigl T fiftl outf Tl ' swi11 with Betti woul them In secor a 3-1 to giv Tht in the the ba In ti anothi run st. give tl MLB r, �The Beacon - November 5, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any restaurants that should be reviewed or artists to be featured? Contact life, arts and entertainment editor: Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Manuscript Society virtually held annual Halloween event The virtual reading and screening adapted to the current semester By Judah Lyles Staff Writer Manuscript Society, the written and visual art magazine on campus, is available as a class and meets during club hours. The club also has monthly poetry readings on campus. With the current pandemic in mind, many of their activities have been virtualized. One of their favorite traditions is their Halloween Reading and Screening, where the club usually would come together in-person and share laughs and spooky stories before watching a movie together. This year's screening took place via Zoom. This change, however, was nothing but a small bump in the road for the club. "Honestly, I feel just as sparkly as ever;' said Sarah Weynand, the Manuscript Society's executive editor and a senior in musical theater and English literature. The reading began with Dr. Thomas Hamill's daughter helping him to read a short, spooky story to all those in attendance. To aid in creating the spooky mood, Weynand began to read two-sentence horror stories, which have been growing in popularity throughout the past year. Essentially, two-sentence horror stories are meant to set up a story and take it in a completely opposite direction then what the reader had expected. The firs t horror story Weynand shared was: "After my wife died, I couldn't even • look at another woman for 10 years. But after I got out of prison, it was worth it:' The second was: "I couldn't sleep due to the loud snoring. It was coming from under my bed:' After reading these stories, Weynand let the spooky mood hang in the air before opening the floor to others to read/tell a spooky story, or any other story or poem of their liking. After a few moments, she also asked if anyone had any spooky book recommendations. Hamill's daughter, who was dressed as Merida from "Brave;' shared instead that the "Goosebumps" books were not her favorite because they never ended well for the characters. This started a discussion between Hamill and Weynand on whether or not the "Goosebumps" TV series did well with the adaptation from page to screen. Once this discussion died down a bit, Weynand again opened the floor to any spooky stories, beginning by sharing one of her own. ''A little bit after my grandpa passed, I noticed that my dog, Lady, did not want to leave from in front of his room. When he was alive, Grandpa would bark back at Lady. The crazy thing is, she would bark at the door and then pause as if she got a response" After sharing her story and showing off her cat, Weynand shared a poem of hers titled, "Sunflower Thickets:' The group then moved onto discussing all of their favorite scary movies. "My favorite movie is 'It Follows;" said Hannah Bolacker, a junior. "It represents STis, but it was really interesting because the writer of the movie had dreams that they would follow him:' Olivia Lombardi also shared, "I watched 'Jeepers Creepers' with my dad and thought it was pretty rad:' Finally, Weynand shared that her favorite movie was "Scream;' and expressing how essential it was to horror movie culture, including its sequels. "I loved all of them;' said Weynand. "They each represent a part of the cinematic process. The second one is about how horror sequels work, the third one is about trilogies and the fourth 'Scream' was a total reboot - it took the original horror movies and applied them to modern times. I believe that it set the stage for modern horror movies:' Dr. Mischelle Anthony, associate professor and chair of the English department as well as Manuscript Society faculty advisor, shared her feelings on the horror movie genre. "I absolutely loved 'Get Out;" said Anthony. "It took all the best parts of horror and made them modern:' The gathering ended with a horror movie screening, and the group simply enjoyed each other's company, regardless of the barrier of screens between them. Manuscript Society is currently taking submissions from Wilkes University students, faculty, staff and alumni. Submissions may include creative fiction, creative nonfiction/short personal essays, poetry, photography, drawings, paintings, digital art and music compositions. Each individual can submit up to five different pieces, with a limit of five pages on written submissions. Submissions will be accepted up until April 2, 2021. Email magazine@wilkes. edu with any questions or submissions. Judah.Ly/es@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari .....,.a..,, 1•1••· ··-----------------------' r �.J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 8 Life, Arts & Entertainment Berry oatmeal bowl: Moody foodie's final exam prep meal By An na Culver Staff Writer A healthy breakfast f or the beginning offi nals. Take the time to treat yourself with a easy but delicious meal before the next few weeks get crazy. This is one simple breakfast that can be made in many different ways, so feel free to get creative when choosing ingredients. Ingredients: - Steel cut oatmeal - Milk - Butter - Brown sugar - Strawberries* - Blueberries* - Raspberries* - Honey - Cinnamon Instructions: Make as large of a serving of oatmeal as one desires. I prefer to make my oatmeal with some milk, as it comes out a little th icker than with water; however, if you prefer an oatmeal with a more-runny consistency, water can be substituted. Mix in some butter and brown sugar to add a little sweetness to the oats. The amount of butter and sugar is dependent upon the preference of the chef. Cut the fruits . For this dish, I used strawberries and then placed them on top of the oatmeal. Place the remaining fruit, in this case, blueberries and raspberries, on top of your oatmeal. Add some honey, and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Enjoy! Good everyone! luck with exams, Food Allergies: Dairy and honey * Any type of fruit can be used for this breakfast, so chose those you would like to incorporate into the dish. The Beacon/Anna Culver Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Kirsten Peters, Editor-in-Chief; Don't Ev,c ltt It End - NickdJack Sean Schmc)yer, News Editor: AQhilles QomeDowo - Gang of Yoyths Sara Ross, Asst. News EdJtor. f:q and the flood.- Yal)ce JQx Genny Frederick, News Staff Writer. Daricing in ttil OM Springsteen Maria DiBuo, LA&E Editor: Once In a Lifetime - The Talking Heads Emily Cherkauskas, Asst l.A&E Editor. say anything - girt in red Breama Ebisch, Opinion Editor: Marigolds - E@rly Eyes Th is very berry breakfa st meal is a refreshing and nourishing way to treat yourself before t he upcoming stress of final exams. Zatqt.18 Ansari, Asst. Opinion Editor: You'm Welcome - Dwayne Jqhnson Jordan Daniel. Opinion Staff Writer: 34+35 - Ariana Grande DJlail Mehl, ~ Editor: Lemonade - Internet Money. Don -lruce Toltvertitd RoddY Rich Ariel Reed. Co-Sports Editor: Forever After AH - Luke Combs Chris Gowarty, Sports Staff Writer: Soto - Future • Mia Walker, Lead Designer: Pretty Gir1 - Clairo Steffen Horwath, Staff ·Photographer. Hotel Qalifomia - Eagles �L The Beacon - November 5, 2020 9 Life, Arts & Entertainment Wilkes in 2020 Project commemorates legacy of the year By Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor While looking past the year 2020 can seem like a daunting task currently, students in "Introduction to Public History" are taking on the challenge by collecting memories of students' experiences throughout the year for the Wilkes in 2020 Project. Through collecting the personal experiences of those in the Wilkes community, those participating in the project hope to create an archive of individual and shared experiences at the university throughout the current year, with an emphasis on students' perception of 2020, according to information from Today at Wilkes. For Dr. Amy Sopcak-Joseph, assistant professor of history and instructor of "Introduction to Public History;' the choice to incorporate preserving the current year at Wilkes was a simple decision. "It seemed to be a really obvious project because throughout the class, we're talking about preserving history, collecting history and places where the public interact with history;' said Sopcak-Joseph. "This year, in particular, seemed like a really great time to collect and preserve what is going on in the student community:' Due to the lack of primarily studentfocused archives in the Farley Library, the Wilkes in 2020 Project will focus on the experience of those attending the university, while also incorporating the perspectives of faculty and staff. Students, both returning and first-year, can participate in the Wilkes in 2020 Project by taking a survey via a Google Form, which allows them to describe their feelings toward the changes occurring during previous and current semesters. While questions mainly pertain to the general atmosphere of campus during the current year, there are also questions that delve into maintaining friendships and easing stress. Students can also submit photos via a Google Form link. For Matt Ryan, a history major and member of the class of 2021 , participating in the Wilkes in 2020 Project has been a memorable part of his time in "Introduction to Public History;' as well as his time at Wilkes. "When I decided to take the course this past summer, I did not actually know that this would be the major project for the course," explained Ryan. "Once I found out, I absolutely fell in love with it. This year has been very different and will be looked at by future generations for many years to come, so I knew I wanted to be a part in preserving a little piece of it:' Through his work on the project, Ryan has collected data concerning commuter and residential students, including emails from the past year concerning COVID-19 and parking and library room rentals for online classes, as well as through asking close friends to submit information. As a class, "Introduction to Public History" has also sent surveys to all students and faculty to record responses. Brianna Repetz, another student in Sopcak-Joseph's class, has also played a role in the Wilkes in 2020 Project by collecting information from first-year and transfer students. For Repetz, giving those in future generations a grasp of what it was like to be a part of Wilkes in 2020 is what makes being a part of the project so special. "The great part about being an archivist is that you just do not know how it will be used in the future;' said Sopcak-Joseph, when speaking of her hopes for the archive once completed. According to Sopcak-Joseph, items from the Wilkes in 2020 Project will be displayed in the Farley Library come the spring semester and, in addition, be kept within the library for reference purposes for future students and historians. For Ryan, making a lasting impact on future generations' perception of the current year is something he hopes to accomplish through his involvement in the project. "I hope that future generations of students will be able to look at this project and truly learn to live in the moment and not take things for granted, because at any moment, the whole world can come to a halt;' explained Ryan. "I also hope that if there is a similar pandemic, they'll see the importance of following guidelines:' Further, Sopcak-Joseph expressed her hopes for the Wilkes in 2020 Project to inform those in future generations on the unusual nature of the year, as well as to facilitate the class in trying out something new. "It's been an eye-opening experience;' said Sopcak-Joseph. "I hope this has a broader appeal in terms of encouraging students to think about what it means to leave something for students to think about later on:' Sopcak-Joseph hopes to teach "Introduction to Public History" in future semesters, where students will contribute to archives of future years at the university. Surveys for the Wilkes in 2020 Project can be found on Today at Wilkes emails, in addition to emailing Sopcak-Joseph at amy.sopcakjoseph@wilkes.edu. ~ • @wilkesbeacon Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Club Updates: College Democrats and College Republicans · Compiled by Maria DiBuo Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor NAME OF CLUB: Wilkes College Democrats EXECUTIVES: President: Hope Williams Vice President: Matthew Franchetti Treasurer: Lindsey Scorey ~cretary: Liam Flynn Recruiting Director: Cora Shine MEETINGS: Tuesdays at 5 p.m. via Zoom HOW TO JOIN: Email wilkesudems@ wilkes.edu or DM on our social media, @wilkesudems. DESCRIPTION: "Be the change you want to see:' - Wilkes College Democrats are determined to create change and implement a healthy political climate on and around our campus. NAME OF CLUB: Wilkes College Republicans HOW TO JOIN: Email liam.flaherty@wilkes. edu. EXECUTIVES: President: Liam Flaherty Vice-President: Brock Horton DESCRIPTION: "To make known and promote the principles of the Republican Party among students attending Wilkes University." - Some of the events the Wilkes College Republicans have organized MEETINGS: Mondays at 8:30 p.m. in SLC 101 so far are watch-parties for presidential debates, meeting Jim Bognet, a district eight Republican candidate, as well as community service. Maria.DiBuo@wilkes.edu Graphics by Anna Culver Do you have any important updates or new information on clubs and co-curriculars in your department that you would like students to know of? Are you a new club and wanting to reach out to students? Contact: Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu ,. r �.J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment Liz's Craft Colutnn: Burlap-covered toilet paper putnpkins By Liz Cheri nka Staff Writer As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching so is winter break - two beautiful months where students get to sit at home with family and friends and finally have a break from this long fall semester. This craft is perfect for winter break. It makes a great Thanksgiving dinner party favor, just in case there is a national toilet paper shortage again. Th is simple DIY is a burlap wrapped toilet paper pumpkin. It may sound odd, but it is sure to look very cute and festive once it is finished. The materials needed are burlap, a toilet paper roll, a brown foam sheet, a green foam sheet, scissors and hot glue. These materials can all be purchased at a craft store, such as JoAnn Fabrics or Michaels, or a Dollar Tree for the toilet paper. The materials are affordable, costing about $10. The first step is to make the toilet paper roll appear to be shaped more like a pumpkin. As you have probably seen, pumpkins are not cylindrical. They appear to be round, while flatte n ed on the top and bottom slightly. To make this craft appear pumpkinshaped, unwrap about a half of the roll, trying carefully not to rip any of it. Then, re-wrap the roll, but make it messier. Scrunch the toilet paper so that it widens the roll as you re-roll it. It should now look more compressed, as if you had flattened it down from the top. Now it is time to grab the burlap. Place the toilet paper roll onto the burlap and cut a large square from it, enough so that every corner can be put into the top hole of the toilet paper roll. Grab each corner and scrunch it up so that it forms pleats. Then, put that corner of scrunched up fabric inside the roll. Repeat this step for each corner, pushing the fabric into the roll using the scissors so that each corner will fully go inside. Adjust any of the pleats so that they. appear to have the outside look of a pumpkin . This process may take a few tries of rescrunching and putting the fabric into the hole again to get it to appear how it should, but once you get the hang of it, it is smooth sailing. On the plus side, it is only four corners, so it is simple to do and re-do if needed. Now, it is time to transform this craft from a heap of burlap and toilet paper into a pumpkin . To make the stem of the pumpkin, cut a piece of the brown foam wide enough to fold around to make a cylinder with and long enough to go inside of the toilet paper roll with extra exposed above for the stem. Hot glue the two ends in the back so that it becomes a cylinder, and hot glue the bottom of it inside of the toilet paper hole. Now, to make a leaf, cut an oval or leaf sh ape to the preferred size out of the green foam, and hot glue that into the hole as well. Once that is fi nished, the toilet paper roll has been transformed into a pumpkin. Display this craft anywhere to add a festive or comedic touch inside a bathroom. Liz.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver ( a l r s V p tl le A A . ·. ~ Liz's Craft Rati ng: One out of five yarn-balls: A,l~hpu_g~_~J?iiy.fake a few ~~ll\11~ ."'to get the hang of, this simple and amusing _cra~ is_ej'Sy tq·follow. The ~~~Is_~ ~ are readily available for purchase as well (that is, if we do not have another · national toilet paper shortage). pi tl a ill fo in Rt ex th be th, be fe< ele 18 wil Kt1 1) First, grab a spare roll of cheap toilet paper. In order to make the roll of toilet paper more wide and not cylindrical, unroll the toilet paper a few times, making sure to not rip it. Then, take a piece of burlap fabric, cutting it into a square shape. Grab the corners of the fabric and stuff each corner inside the roll. , 2) Once the burlap fabric is stuffed securely within the roll, it is time to add foam decorations. Cut out a piece of brown foam that is long to roll into a cylinder and is able to fit into the toilet paper roll. Make sure to hot glue the bottom so it stays in the hole. Next, cut a leaf-shape out of green foam, hot-gluing that as well. Th pn of l Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka I 3) This is what the final result should look like. The simple appearance allows t he pumpkins to be placed in any part of the house, adding a simple spice to any room's atmosphere during the autumn months and with Thanksgiving around t he corner. The materials used are a roll of toilet paper, burlap fa'bric and green and brown foam. stil 1 the pro �L The Beacon - November 5, 2020 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 "13th" screening discussed racial mass incarceration By Emily Cherkauskas Asst. Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor In the second collaborative project between "Year of the Vote;' the Center for Global Education and Diversity· and the Office for Civic Engagement, a screening of the documentary "13th'' was held last week, featuring a panel discussion that was hosted by Dr. Helen Davis, associate professor of English. The Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution states that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime ... shall exist within the United States:' The phrase "except as punishment for crime" has created a loophole within the government, with private corporations being formed to profit off imprisonment - leading to a trend of mass incarceration, which has been emboldened in the prison system and featured in the 2016 documentary. Davis streamed the documentary via screen -sharing, allowing for the attendees to watch the film together. Throughout the screening, viewers talked in the chatroom and were able to make notes on certain moments and topics that the film covered. The film and attendees' discussions covered a wide array of issues, the first topic being the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment itself. After slavery was abolished, the southern states were left in economic disarray as they depended on slavery for labor. Thus, the Civil War commenced, with the northern states winning the war. Once the slaves were freed, the previously mentioned loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment was immediately exploited. They were criminalized and arrested for minor crimes, such as loitering and vagrancy. Here, they were forced to provide labor to the state while imprisoned. ~such, Black individuals were given the stereotype of being a threat to violence and to women. The first film in the United States, "Birth of a Nation," played along with these stereotypes, which, in the words of the documentary, "confirmed the story that many whites wanted to tell about the Civil War and its aftermath:' Another point of discussion included the controversy of mass incarceration and the financial benefits and incentives behind it. In the United States, at the time of filming the documentary, the prison population was 2.5 million - the highest rate of incarceration in the world. With this number, the United States is, according to the documentary, home to five percent of the world population, but 25 percent of the world's prisoners. "If there is a financial incentive to detain people and for-profit businesses are involved, there is a financial motivation to imprison more people;' Davis said during the screening. "This is exactly what happened in the 'Kids for Cash' scandal, via bribing judges to get kids sentenced to juvenile detention in private facilities:' The "Kids for Cash" scandal occurred from 2003 to 2008 and centered on judicial kickbacks to two judges at the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in WilkesBarre, Pa. passing of the "three-strikes" law, it became more difficult to distinguish non-violent felons from violent criminals. Regardless of the severity of their crimes, they all received the same punishment - life in prison. Judges were not able to deliberate on punishments, as they were legally required to send them away to prison. Because of the Crime Bill, there was a massive expansion of the prison system, allowing for larger incentives for law enforcement. Because of the mass influx of these "three-strikes" prisoners entering prisons, other prisoners had to be released into the public to make room. The mass amount of prisoners within these privately-owned prisons led to The documentary also revealed how, despite President Bill Clinton being the most liberal of his conservative predecessors, he was also the most strict when it came to punishing criminal offenders. Before the election, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was abducted and killed by an individual already convicted of a felony in California. This highly-publicized case, along with others, led to Clinton signing the 1994 Crime Bill. The bill signed into law the "three-strike" rule, wherein, if a felon was convicted a total of three times, they would receive a sentencing oflife in prison. Despite the good intentions behind the legislation and anticipation of lower crime rates, it turned out to be a convenient exploitation of the prison system. After the them collaborating with companies and corporations, leaving prisoners vulnerable to exploitation. Some of these companies include Walmart, AT&T, Verizon, Koch industries, the tobacco industry and many others. Another corporation included Aramark, the same food service company that supplies food to Wilkes University, which was accused of serving food with maggots in it to prisoners. Discussion also included the various young Black men who had been killed by police in the past years, including the death ofTrayvon Martin, who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman. In . 2012, the 17-year-old Martin was followed by Zimmerman, who deemed Martin to be acting suspiciously. Zimmerman called 9-1-1, in which the operator told him to keep his distance. Zimmerman did not abide by the advice of the operator, and approached Martin, where they began to fight, and ending with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin. According to Davis, the late Martin himself was put on trial instead of Zimmerman. "The defense that Zimmerman was afraid because Martin was a black man - worked;' said Davis. "Parts of the defense included having people in the neighborhood on the stand talking about having their homes robbed by a black man. Not Travyon Martin, just a young Black man. It shows how pervasive that framing is within our judicial system." Because of the racist undertones that exist within the ideology and process of mass incarceration, a notable statistic h_as been documented. According to the documentary, the lifetime likelihood of - imprisonment for white men is one in 17, while the likelihood for Black men is one in three. Despite the efforts of protestors who attempt to change the system, according to Davis, they are still faced with those same · racist views from opposing sides. "The peaceful Black Lives Matter Movement being portrayed as criminals, thugs, vandals and etcetera was intentional and has been quite effective in giving people an excuse to not support BLM," said Davis. Megan Boone Valkenburg, Civic Engagement coordinator, showed her support to end the racial prejudice that has led to mass incarceration. "We have to rehumanize and find our empathy for people, not just animals," Boone Valkenburg said. "Puppies in cages incites rage. Black men and Hispanic children in cages? Well, they are 'obviously criminals:" One last panel discussion remains in the schedule of the three events hosted by "Year of the Vote;' the Center for Global Education and Diversity and the Office for Civic Engagement. On Nov. 11, Dr. Mia Briceno, associate professor of communication studies, will be hosting a screening of the documentary, ''The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson;' which will include a talkback discussion. If anyone is interested in attending, they should email Boone Valkenburg at megan. boone@wilkes.edu. Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu ' Graphic by Anna Culver r �_J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 12 Final Edits: Q1: When and why did. you join '!'he 8eacoD.? ljoinecl T h e ~ Jastsemester~and I did a food colwnn.: tjo.fnfd becouse J needed a practicum credit, but more so because Kylie (Dillon) was the editor of the section, and she needed somebody to write for her, so I dld it. been doing it since. rve Q2: What wu yout f'uorite article t.bat you wrote while on ataff and 'Why? I know it sounds kind of weird. but I think it was p~bably the first food column tbat :f_jR on Sabatini's. I never did ~ journalism, and it was r to see my name in print. I r ed it, and I got a lot of ~ I l l it, so it was a good experience: fihmk that was probal,Jy my favorite onebe&tuse it got me intotbe paper. q,:-. Naae: Maria DiBuo Position: LA&E Editor .Major: Communication Studies; Concentrations in Media Production & Strategic Communication I woa14tlaeybe? Funny, kind and chill (I try to keep mellow vibes around me.) Q6: 1fheD you are nn worki»g tor \he LA&! NC'li,lqn, dat can you be toun4 4oiDgf ftat are aome ot your tavortte bobbs./ ac~ I collect vinyl records. My favorite musician 'is the Grateful Dead. I go up to my boyfriend's cabin and cottage a lot, and we do hiking, fishing and~ like that. I also love a goodJust,J1~ng out With my friends session cui4~ing out with my dog. w,il~-was ~ _.you tac or ~ ~ l guess, too. r totdy Qf&ttlmtifl what I was in f and'it tlldN u p ~ a really great ~ but l was just totally sh that all-thlswork oes into it. I feel Ii people happy, fun time and it' "ke that. I think those t e what make the experi ile. your college experience? I started school in Florida, and it just wasn't what I expected it to be, so I came back. I think I've grown a lot since I just started school in general. I used to not care about class. I wouldn't go. Now, I'm here doing all of this extra stuff. I'm on top of my game, I feel, so I feel like I've gotten much stronger as a student and as a person. I've developed a good work ethic. Q9: What eil.Otiou are you · teeJing u you wr gnduation? fm definitelJ exciled but Cl little sod because rm going r:0 mtss this time that was a huge part of my life for so long - school and being at Wilkes in general - and now it's over, but as sad as It is, it's kind of super exciting because I can spread my wings and tty and kind of find what's right for me out there. rm definitely happy but sad, and a little bit scared because of student loans. Q10: If there WU Dy acl'riee you cou14 give to fellow 1filkea n.uclent.a. a.at would it. be? I would say to get Involved in things. When I first came here, I was like, ,.m working. I don't have the time for stuff." But if you want to do something, you1l make the time for it. Getting involved is great because you make friends, you learn stuff beyond what you learn in the classroom, and it's good to take advantage of what you're paying for. Q11: .._. are yov tat.we plans .,_.~ I don't about on ~ ~ - Q4: Row lllwe .you grown during - Compiled questions and photos by Kirsten Peters, Editor-in-Chief Q~ If you ha4 t.o chooN three wo.i'da t.o dNcribe younelt. what tT: What 1a your jlaingto do? fa.,...,_ place/ Myfavorite thing to do in~Barre is get lunch at Circles in Pu~ Square. I love their sandwiches. Q8: What. are yougoillg to miss t.he most. about your time at Wilkes after you graduat.e? I think I'm just going to miss all the friendships that I've made. Not that you don't keep in touch with your friends, but seeing everybody everyday or just being arounq people that are of the same mindset as you is definitely something that I'm going to miss. Plus, once you get a real job, you're surrounded by middle-aged people all the time. I like that we all know what's up. know that yet. Obviously, rm going to try to find a job in the communications field. I'm going to try to keep my job that I have now in the newsroom at the Times Leader, and maybe get some more hours there for the time being. Ideally, rd like to move out of the valley for a little while, since I have lived here for 22 years at this point, so I think it would be cool to explore and broaden my horizons somewhere new. Q12: Anyt.hillg el.88 you would like to share or have people know about you? N/A. ••• ••• • �The Beacon - November 5, 2020 13 Seniors Printing '!'heir Futures Qi: When and why.clicl you join The Beacon? I've always liked writing. I know that we do graphics, and I like gmphics- rm into art. The opinion section called to me because rm an opinionated person. I've always had thoughts about things, and I wanted to share those opinions an{i maybe get people thinking about things that they didn't think about.before. Jt's also one of the many things rm affiliated with on campus. I picked this up the first week. As soon as I found out there was a newspaper, I was like, 1 wont in on that,' so I came, and f sow what it was like. r liked it, and I stuck with it. Q2: What. wu your favorite art.icle that you wrote while OD staff and why? My favorite is the one I wrote about the New Zealand shooting. It's a very personal topic to me, obviously. The mosque that the attack happened at was coiled Masjid Al-Noor, which is the same mosque that I go to here. It really hit home. On Fridays, I usually go to the mosque for prayer time. My classes would end, and I would just park up there. I would just be on my phone, and then I saw, "Pray for New Zealand," and I immeaiately started writing my article because I had such a flood of emotions, so that was my favorite article because it was very emotionally-charged. It kind of allowed me to express how it is to be a Muslim in today's society, especially in a post-9/11 world. Q5: What wu the biggest surprise/challenge you faced during your t.ime OD staffl Being assigned topics was a challenge that I faced when I initially joined the paper. When I was given the freedom to write myself, it was nice. Q4: How have you grown during your college experience? I've become more intuitive to other perspectives. That's a very big thing. I've always been open to listening to other perspectives, but often times, people don't speak their minds because they're afraid of someone disagreeing with them. So, writing in the opinion section allowed me to hear other perspectives because that's the whole point of opinion. I got, 'Oh, I didn't even consider that' It kind of opened my eyes to looking for other perspectives. It you hacl to cbooae three woria to dellcribe younelf.. what. woulcl t..hey' be? Creative, open-minded and compassionate. "6: 1lbeA you are .....t ,. .. _ · for the cOptnioD., MOtioD.. WM caa JOU 'be fcnm . cl cloiad What are .oae of. your fa'IOl"l.te hoblda/actirifrie8? I react write and draw. I crochet rm a very arts dnd crofts. hands-on type of person. I make beanies for people. I don't make them pay for it. My only requirement is that you buy me the yarn, and I get to keep the extra. So, it's about $5 a beanie, and there's usually enough leftover that I can make myself one that matches. I bake, too. I can cook, but I like baking better. ~ Q5: _=:f Q?: What. ta your favorite pu,.ce/ thing to clo? College sort of took out my hobbles, but I do like to watch Netftix. I recently rewatched. "Avatar: Q8: What are you aomg to aiaa the aost about \1.ae at Wllkea after you graduate? Probably. The Beacon. It was a routine thing l al~s did - once a week, every week. It was something that kept me on track. It was also an outlet creatively, and it was a stress reliever. The Beacon's stress doesn't feel like stress, it's just work. I will definitely miss !'fhe Beacon. I was thinking about it, and out of all the clubs or things that we do, The Beacon was the thing that I do the most in. You make friends with all the people on staff. There's not a single person where rm like, 'Ooo.' That happens in other clubs. With The Beacon, we're oil focused on one common goal, and it's satisfying to see it come up. your Q9: What emotions are you feeling as you near graduation? I was thinking about how this week I'm writing my last article, and I'm feeling a lot of nervous anticipation about graduating, but I'm also terrified because medical school is next. A mixture of the two (nervous and terrified), but I'm also proud. I really did accomplish a lot. I often throw that stuff under the rug, but you've got to brag sometimes. ~ ....,. "" Q10: If .......... ...,;:al'fioe you could give to fellow Wilkea stwlenta_ oat woulcl tt be? Your first year here will be hord. rt's not going to go how you t hink it Will. but you stick to it. be diligent, and once you get the hang of things, everything will be uphill from there. Q11: Vhat are your future plana after gracluat.icm? Medical school - wherever I get in. My dream school is Tulane. but if I don't get in, I won't be mad. I understand. That'll be my next four years, then residency, get a job and work as a doctor. Do what I've wanted to do my whole life. I want to do oncology. I lost my best friend to cancer on her 14th birthday, and her twin brother is my best friend. and I helped him through that cancer's tragic, and it's disappointing, but if I can help even ease the pain, that would be enough for me. -·~ .. . . . . . • .' /~ · A .:· ~ Kame: Zorqua Ansari PoetUoa: Asst. Opinion Editor Major: Biology (Pre-Med) .Minor: Studio Art Q12: Anything elN F>U would like t.o share or have people know about you? No pne~ ever seen my natural eye color or my hair. I joke that I've never had a bad hair day. I actually often pull pranks on people.-I'm a prankster. I was so bad that I would pull pranks on my professors. One thought I hod a British accent because I spoke with one the entire semester. @wilkesbeacon Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker Mia.Walker@wilkes.edu r �.J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 Opinion 14 Opinion Safi - - - -ce:J!ur VoicDi- - - - - 2020-21 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact the opinion editor: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu Editorial MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Kirsten Peters Adviaer - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Stan Schmoyer LA&E- Mn Di8uo Opinion - Breanna Eblsch Sports- Dylan Maht Ariel Reed • ~ 1418.MlllnSIIMt Clayton and Thelwa Karmnb1181 Media & Communication c.nw WIikes Unlveralty WIikes PA 18716 aane. Phone-(570)408-5983 www.th8VJ111cesbeacon.com .... want to advertlM In The a11con? Contact: KlnlfH Peters at KlrstH.P.......,....edu Blt.1911 I Each week, The Beacon's editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. I A nationwide mask mandate is necessary ASAP Reports are in, and COVID-19 is up. The World Health Organization stated in a media briefing on Oct. 26 that the previous week "saw the highest number ofCOVID-19 cases reported so far. Many countries in the northern hemisphere are seeing a concerning rise in cases and hospitalizations:' The-United States is no exception. With a rise in cases and hospitalizations, it is time to ask what we are doing wrong, and the answer may be simple: We may not be taking this pandemic seriously enough. The best way to take the pandemic seriously is, of course, to take every precaution. Following the saying, "It's better to be safe than sorry, a way to be safer is to implement a nationwide mask mandate for the winter. In a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early October, which looked at the effects of mitigation measures in Arizona in handling COVID-19, the CDC stated, "The number of COVID-19 cases stabilized and began to decrease approximately two weeks after local officials began mandating mask wearing (throughout several counties and cities) and enhanced sanitation practices:' In the same report, the CDC did acknowledge that the data only demonstrates correlation, not causation, meaning that the mitigation measures are not certainly the reason cases stabilized. Despite this, their report still ends, "Mitigation measures, including mask mandates, that are implemented and enforced statewide appear to have been effective in decreasing the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona." It makes sense to avoid wide-sweeping statements about masks being the reason .for the stabilization of cases back in late July and early August. To say masks alone are enough to drop the case count would be dangerous, and as such, the U.S. needs to do more than just wear masks, such as continuing to implement other mitigation techniques like social distancing and limiting the capacity of restaurants and other business establishments. Pennsylvania is one of 33 states to already have a statewide mask mandate, but if cases are on the rise, then we need more than state mandates. A formal declaration of a national mandate by the president is more effective than a state's decision. It is important to remember that COVID-19 is an issue that should not be politicized, as being safe from the virus and taking it seriously should not be consi~ered a liberal or conservative stance. If you are an individual with medical conditions, recognize that a mask mandate will accommodate you. While probably a little less comfortable, face shields have been recognized as an alternative to masks during "high temperatures and humidity" that "create unsafe conditions;' as well as for those with health risks, according to the policies set in place in Pennsylvania There are probably a number of questions that individuals may have about a nationwide mask mandate, including: When is it necessary to wear a mask, why should a mask be worn and does a child need to wear a mask? When asking questions, it is important to recognize which questions come from concerns over health and safety and which come from annoyance or not wanting to be inconvenienced. Legitimate concerns deservf answers, and a great way to understand what a mask mandate would mean is to look at how states handled their own. Of course, we would need one clear set of rules nationwide, which is why it is so important to act on a nationwide mask mandate now. There is no longer a question about the danger of the virus. It is not a hoax, and it is not something we can afford to play with. The U.S. was so focused on getting back to normal that we rushed precautions and safety procedures with the expectation that the virus would go away or a solution would be found The virus has not gone away, and we need to not treat health protocols and safety procedures as anything but health protocols and safety procedures. Wearing a mask is a safety procedure. Often, we violate safety procedures because they are an inconvenience or bothersome, but doing so results in deaths and prolongs the safety of those affected In this case, those affected includes everyone, and the longer we wait for a mask mandate, the more people who die. ~ -, @wilkesbeacon TheWi/kesBeacon@wilkes.edu Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon . �L 15 Opinion to The Beacon - November 5, 2020 s The unexpected switch of U.S. political parties' beliefs·- ~h th .et or Staff Writer so le er or 1e 1e et a to a 3 By Liam Flynn Throughout political discussions across our country, one that seems to come up frequently is whether or not our political parties changed their beliefs over our short history. I always argue that yes, they certainly did. I would always make ilie simple point iliat today's Donald Trump-led Republican Party would be unrecognizable to Abraham Lincoln's Republican Party. During the 1860s, Republicans, who dominated northern states, orchestrated an ambitious expansion of federal power, helping to fund ilie transcontinental railroad, ilie state university system and the settlement of the West by homesteaders, as well as instating a national currency and protective tariff. Democrats, who dominated ilie South, opposed these measures. After the Civil War, Republicans passed laws iliat granted protections for African Americans and advanced social justice. Again, Democrats largely opposed these expansions of power. Fast forward to 1936. Democratic president Franklin Roosevelt won reelection that year on the strength of the New Deal, a set of Depression-remedying reforms including regulation offinancial institutions, founding of welfare and pension programs, infrastructure development and more. Roosevelt won in a landslide against Republican Alf Landon, who opposed these exercises of federal power. So,sometime between ilie 1860sand 1936, ilie Democratic Party of small government became the party of big government, and ilie Republican Party of big government became rhetorically committed to curbing federal power. How did this switch happen? We will start wiili ilie 1860 presidential election. After the Whigs collapsed after 1852, party alignments were in turmoil, wiili several third parties, such as ilie Know Noiliings and ilie Opposition Party. The system stabilized in 1858, and the presidential election marked ilie ascendance of the Republican Party. Lincoln beat out iliree oilier contenders - but even if they had somehow united, he still had the majority of the electoral vote. The Republican Party was pledged to the long-term ending of slavery, which was proximate cause of secession. Republicans rallied around nationalism in 1861 and fought the American Civil War to end secession. During the war, the Republicans, under Lincoln's leadership, switched to a goal of short-term ending of slavery. By 1864, ilie Republicans had a coalition built around followers of ilie "free labor" ideology, as well as soldiers and veterans of ilie Union Army. Since ilien, ilie military establishment has favored ilie Republicans. The Republican Party went from 18.3 percent of ilie House in 1854, to 38 percent in 1856, 48.7 percent in 1858 and 59 perfect in 1860 for a total gain of 40.7 percent in four elections. Moving · onto the 1896 presidential election, the status of iliis election is very disputed, as some political scientists do not interests, outspending Bryan by 10 to 1. Bryan, meanwhile, invented the modern technique of campaigning heavily in closely contested states, being ilie first candidate to do so. Bryan's message of populism and class conflict marked a new direction for the Democrats. McKinley's victory in 1896 and repeat in 1900 was a triumph for pluralism, as all sectors and groups shared in the new prosperity brought about by his policy of rapid industrial growili. While Republicans lost House seats in 1896, iliis followed a massive two-election gain - from 25.9 percent in 1890 to 34.8 percent in 1892 and 71.1 percent in 1894 for a total 45.2 percent gain. Republicans lost 13.4 percent in 1896, but still held 57.7 percent of House seats. consider it a realigning election. Oilier political scientists and historians consider this ilie ultimate realignment and emphasize iliat ilie rules of ilie game had changed, ilie leaders were new, voting alignments had changed and a whole new set of issues came to dominance as ilie old Civil War-era issues faded away. Funding from office holders was replaced by outside fundraising from business in 1896 - a major shift in political history. Furthermore, William McKinley's tactics in beating William Jennings Bryan marked a sea of change in ilie evolution of ilie modern campaign. McKinley raised a huge amount of money from business In terms of correlations among counties, ilie election of 1896 is a realignment flop, but this is only a problem if realignment is considered to occur in single elections. Railier, if realignment is iliought of as a generational or long-term political movement, ilien change will occur over several elections, even ifthere is one "critical" election defining ilie new alignment. So, as pointed out above, ilie 1896 realignment actually began around 1892, and the 130 seat Grand Old Party gain in 1894 meant there were almost no seats left to pick up in 1896. However, ilie presidential election in 1896 is usually considered the start of ilie new alignment, since the national election allowed the nation to make a more conscious decision about the future of industrial policy by selecting McKinley over Bryan, making this ilie defining election in the realignment. ; The election of 1876 passed the numbers test much better compared to 1896 alone. It is argued iliat it resulted in far more drastic changes in United States politics. Reconstruction came to a suddei.halt, African-Americans in ilie Souili would soon be completely disenfranchised, and politicians began to focus on new issues such as tariffs and civil service reform. The 1932 presidential 'contest between incumbent Republican President Herbert Hoover and Democrat Roosevelt was someiliing of a turning point. , During his first term, Hoover had tried to ingratiate himself wiili southern segregationists, and his administration had failed to implement economic policies tQ help African-Americans laid low by ilie Great Depression. f Still, Hoover received between two-thirds ~d iliree-quarters of ilie Black vote in Iipriliern urban wards. ~ Most Black voters sided with Republicans less out .. of loyalty than because iliey were loaili to support a candidate whose . Democratic Party had zealously suppressed their political rights in ilie Souili. : African-Americans distrusted FDR b;ecause of his party affiliation, his , evasiveness about race in the campaign and ~is choice of a running mate, iliat being »ouse Speaker John Nance Garner of Texas. · ~ Roosevelt formed a coalition iliat would tjiostly last until 1964, called ilie "New Deal . Coalition." · ; During iliis period, ilie parties switched. , The Republicans went from being ilie more liberal party to being conservative, and · tpe Democrats switched from being more conservative to being more liberal. ~ I point to iliis presidency by Roosevelt as the founding of the modern day Democratic Party, as it established recognizable liberal values. With all of that being said, it would be foolish to deny any idea that our political parties have switched over ilie short history of this nation. · Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari r �_J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 16 Opinion Bre's Beats: A must-listen week of amazing new releases By Breanna Ebisch Opinion Editor As the last few months of 2020 quickly approach, several artists have brought new releases at a time when almost everyone can use a sense of happiness. Despite the crazy circumstances that COVID-19 has imposed on the industry, including the cancellations and postponements oflive shows, there has not been a lack of new music. From full studio albums to singles, artists have been giving fans many songs to love as the year comes to a close. Ruel, the young Australian singer/ songwriter, released his newest EP titled "Bright Lights, Red Eyes" on Oct. 23, and it is nothing short of incredible. With a total of five songs, the EP carries a somewhat different sound , in comparison to most of Ruel's previous music and will be a guaranteed favorite for anyone who listens. The project has also been paired with the unique visual aspect of RuelVision television network, which is a set of videos that Ruel himself stars in. Using typical pop elements as well as some R&B and soul music aspects, each song is unique in its own way. Following the release of the singles "as long as you care'' and "say it over:' which featured Cautious Clay, the tracklist is well rounded with both upbeat and ballad-like songs that are impossible not to love for a variety of reasons. Similar to many other artists trying to make up for the lack of live music happening now, the singer is also hosting a livestream concert for fans across the world to experience the EP in the most normal way possible. One thing is for sure, with unforgettable lyrics, beautiful melodies and the use of Ruel's easily recognizable vocals, "Bright Lights, Red Eyes" is one of the best releases in 2020. After months including seve_ral teases, hints and rumors from fans, Ariana Grande announced her new single "positions" would be released on Oct. 23, followed by her upcoming sixth studio album of the same name a week later. Almost two years since "thank u, next" hit the charts and became one of her most popular albums, this taste of new music was met with lots of enthusiasm. "positions" carried both the pop and R&B sound through the melody, but unlike most of Grande's recent releases, the song has a much more mellow sound. The use of Grande's iconic vocals, trap beats and notes of guitar makes the new single one to remember because it stands out in comparison to the rest of her discography and is sure to be a hit on Top 40 radio as well. T h e accompanying music video for the single features Grande as president while sporting some classic 1960's looks. Undoubtedly a stance portrayed through the aesthetically pleasing video especially due to the artist's contribution to encouraging fans to vote on social media, many loved the message tied in with the catchy lyrics of the song. Not only is "positions" one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, but fans are sure to love the new music from the pop singer. While both Ruel and Grande released brand new music, Harry Styles released "Golden:' one of the beloved songs of his 2019 album "Fine Line:' as his next single with a stunning music video. The opening track to the album has been a favorite for Styles' fans since the release of his sophomore album and now is about to be climbing the Billboard charts. Including the upbeat pop sounds, undeniably lovable melody and lyrics that are sure to be memorized after just a few listens of the song, "Golden'' is like nothing else. With a dreamy, rom-com vibe, Styles truly brought the happiness eviqent in the song to life with the music video. Featuring Styles' impeccable style that he's become known for and using beautiful landscapes as the background for the entire three minutes and thirty seconds, the video truly captures the singer's personality as well as the emotions the lyrics hold. Although many have already loved "Golden'' for awhile now, the single is sure to become another hit on the charts for Styles. Overall, it has been a week packed with music releases that are already being loved by fans. ~ @wi/kesbeacon • Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu Thanksgiving will surely look a little different this year By Jordan Daniel Opinion Staff Writer •• During the Thanksgiving holiday, there are many common activities that individuals participate in, like volunteering at a soup kitchen, going to a Thanksgiving parade, catching up with old friends, taking advantage of the Black Friday deals and, most importantly, spending quality time with loved ones. However, this year, these activities will look a little different. Since we are still currently living life in . the middle of a pandemic, a lot of what we are used to doing on Thanksgiving will have their limitations and some new rules to follow. A big ·adjustment some might have to deal with is quarantining for two weeks before returning home to meet their family and friends. Some of us might not be able to make it to the big family dinner because we do not want to put ourselves or others at risk. Therefore, we need to find alternatives, like having a virtual dinner with friends and family members that we cannot see in person or just having a small dinner with the people in our households. Also, if you usually volunteer at soup kitchens during the holidays, then you are used to helping those in need by serving or cooking them food. This year, though, many locations might be operating differently, so you might have to do some research to see which organizations are running normally and which are running differently due to the restrictions ofCOVID-19. There are other ways you can give back to your community without having to come in such close contact with people. You can make a monetary donation, donate food to soup kitchens and food banks or volunteer to do grocery shopping for others, but do make sure you follow the COVID-19 precautions by keeping your distance and wearing a mask when you drop off the groceries. Attending a Thanksgiving parade is another event some of us might take part in during the holiday season. Most of the parades have been cancelled,and the biggest parade of all, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is following COVID-19 restrictions, so it will be mostly virtual and available for those at home to watch on television or online. Lastly, the most significant activity that many Americans partake in around Thanksgiving - Black Friday - will probably be the biggest adjustment we have to get used to under the COVID-19 restrictions. Many retailers have found ways to reinvent Black Friday for this year by expanding the length of time to cash in on online doorbuster deals and offering curbside pickup and delivery. It is very important that people keep their distance and be cautious about contracting and spreading the virus this Thanksgiving, especially since there have been spikes in cases as the weather gets colder. Therefore, you can try out other activities this year that will keep you and others safe, like staying indoors and watching holiday movies with your family members, getting cozy and reading a good book or beginning to decorate for Christmas. Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zarqua Ansari �The Beacon - November 5, 2020 Opinion 17 2020 Limerick Lane: Apocalypse bingo for the strangest year ever ~-By Zarqua Ansari Asst. Opinion Editor a This year was supposed to be great Weekend holidays on perfect dates. But Australia aflame, "World War III" inflames and Sussex's shun royalty hate. • See, being black isn't a matter of choice. Why would someone choose to have no voice? If they're really "thugs;' J Trump was being quite brash, Kobe and the helicopter crash. Impeachment and trial, wasn't worthwhile, but at least we got Byleth for Smash. f '( !\ ;j/ •}l er There's some things that don't need to be said. They're things we all know in our heads . Glass can shatter. Black lives matter. So just how many more need to be dead? \jJ "''JI iOr UK left the union with Brexit. Antarctica's weather wrecks it. Parasite won an Oscar. Weinstein got the locker, and the US economy tanks it. Trolls World Tour made a big change. In India, the monkeys rampaged. COVID nineteen and quarantine, complete with toilet paper shortchange. A tiger in zoo got COVID too. I wish this year had been forewarned. ~,I --· ----· 11·:". -··· _-";I!:=.. ,•·-·-,.. •. for dependents would have ·b een nice. Wearing a mask isn't hard. The death toll had people jarred. Forget about fashion. With care and compassion, this virus could simply be barred. In America, negative prices for oil were followed by much turmoil. Black Lives Matter caused quite the chatter about blood spilt on American soil. It fills me with quite a lot of rage to flip through history page after page. On a glorified tower with treacherous power, maybe cops should be paid minimum wage? ,,,,,/ / Samples of COVID were stolen. c -~ Beirut suffered massive explosion. • West coast was on fire. Hajj still transpired. A Putin-critic was given some poison. ♦ ,,' 130 Fahrenheit in Death Valley. Biden and Harris rally. Wakanda forever. Hard to be clever when smoke fills the skies in Cali. As long as we promise to stick to distances plus side of six, we'll keep it at bay and still have to pay • tuition of cash-crafted bricks. Ruth Bader Ginsburg passes away. Muslim Holocaust grows by day. Instead of solutions, Trump disillusions that TikTok has no place to stay. cJ- Travis Scott Burger with Ronald, a clown, like Biden called Donald. It's getting clear, 2020's unreal, and my emotions are increasingly bottled. ACB was given the job a fact that did make me sob. She's.one of the Gorgon. They found a new organ in the throat that's shaped like a blob. Kylie's not a billionaire. Kanye is running for chair. Naya Rivera dies, Olympics wave goodbye This year just doesn't seem fair. 0 -~1 What the heck? A stimulus check out selling drugs, your kids are the ones buying them, eh Joyce? As if things were not that bad, nature thought it would be rad to make murder hornets. I hear sad cornets narrate our grief - we're mad. Africa and Asia were swarmed with locusts, the news had informed. Unemployment hit a landslide. Kim Jong Un had possibly died. , ca New challenges we must overcome. Technology and accompanying humdrum. Zoom university, quite the adversity, when you unmute in a mid-song hum. AOC played Among Us online, to increase the voters in line. On election day, we all have a say. Just go out and vote - it's fine. This year, it's important to vote to make changes about things like, I q u o t e , ~ "If she wasn't my daughter, I would have sought her." Man, that's not a thing you should gloat. ,.,. VOTE All the things that have gone wrong could fill up a historical song. It was always burning, since the world's been turning. 2020's just been so long. I apologize for bumming you out. This year makes me want to shout. My faith in humanity has kept up my sanity. We'll get through this; I've got no doubt. Zarqua.Ansari@wilkes.edu Graphics by Zarqua Ansari r �.J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 REACTIONS, from front to anyone making over $400,000 as well. Taxing the wealthy isn't the answer to a better economy. Those are the people who create jobs, and paying more taxes doesn't create more jobs. Also, I believe that Biden is a threat to the oil and natural gas industry. This industry is a large part of Pennsylvania, and a Biden administration puts thousands of those jobs in jeopardy. All in all, a Biden victory will hurt the middle class and will kill Amecica's progress as we recover from the economic effects from the coronavirus." Name: Erin Tollinger Graduation Year: 2021 Major: Environmental Science Party: Democrat Name: Brock Horton Graduation Year: 2021 Majors: History and Political Science Party: Republican "I think that this is a very interesting election. I believe that Pennsylvania is a key state for either candidate to win the election. The winner of the Pennsylvania will most likely win the election. I think this election shows how untrustworthy the polls were coming into the election. Trump is outperforming the polls, which were mostly all in favor of Joe Biden. One great result of this election is voter turnout. Voter turnout has skyrocketed, and this is a great reminder of how lucky we are to live in a democratic republic. This election will probably take a few days to finalize the results, so all we can do is wait. I pray for the safety and well being of every American as we fight this virus and wait on the results of the election. I think that a Donald Trump victory would be a win for America. Trump has kept many of the promises he made in 2016. He has kept us out of wars and has .• brought tdroops home frhom o1verseda: The Trump a ministration as a so e1eated ISIS and sign treaties to bring peace to the middle east. Trump's America first policy has brought back many manufacturing jobs ·back to the U.S., and a large part of that was a result ofleaving NAFTA. His tax cuts have also saved the middle class thousands of dollars of taxes and has helped corporations create millions of new jobs and lower unemployment to new records for many demographics. Four more years of Trump will keep America moving in the right direction, and will help more Americans prosper. I believe that a Biden victory will be a threat to many American liberties. Biden . wants to ban assault weapons and limit our gun rights. Biden plans on raising taxes 18 Opinion Name: Christopher Smith Graduation Year: 2021 Majors: History and Political Science Party: Democrat "Overall, I think the populism that helped Trump win the 2016 election has largely disappeared. Back then, he was against Hillary Clinton, who was seen by many as the epitome of American corruption. Now, he's been president for a very unproductive administration, and his team is still trying to run on that populism. They should have played defensively and told us how Trump plans to build upon his first-term successes. I believe if Biden wins the presidency, there will be some conflict with Trump for a few days over the election results. I don't think he will be a particularly liberal president, but I think he will be willing to work with Bernie Sanders and AOC. I think the Republican Party will end up at its throats between the pro-Trump and antiTrump factions and how the party should move on. If Trump wins reelection, he'll do a victory lap for a couple of days and gloat how nobody the Democrats nominate can beat him. He will likely continue what he did in his first term - nominate more conservative justices to the courts, continue work on the wall, more vociferously attack coronavirus protections and probably start a war with Iran or Venezuela:' "I honestly am anxious about the upcoming election, as I think that no matter which way the results go, there will be civil unrest that could potentially harm people, especially marginalized groups of people. I don't believe that there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Biden wins, and I don't believe that things will instantly change if Trump loses. I feel this because we are voting into a system that was created on the oppression of POC, Black people, Native Americans and more groups. It's important to vote, and I did so myself, but we need to educate ourselves further; fight for a better future for our families, friends and strangers; donate money to organizations/communities/bail funds; vote in local ~lections; and have tough conversations. If Biden were to win the presidency, I would be very content. But it's not an endall, and his election is not going to bring immediate change. If he wins, I'm scared of what the far-right groups will do in retaliation. I think Biden is a much better option than Trump, but in the end, a politician is a politician. And while there are some better than others, we need promises made and kept that there will be positive and inclusive change in this country. We need reform, but I don't know how possible that is with the current government system. If Trump were to win re-election, I would be really devastated and hurt for the millions of people that'll be directly impacted by his presidency once again. I'm a white woman that has privilege, especially the privilege to vote .. . I don't get discriminated against because of my skin tone or background, I don't face environmental injustice, and I don't face half the things that many people I know struggle with, such as police brutality, racism, immigration issues, genocide, etcetera. I'm of course concerned about my own (and others') reproductive rights and healthcare costs if he becomes re-elected. As a member of the LGBTQA community, with many friends that identify themselves as members as well, I'm scared we'll be collectively discriminated against one day in the future if he gets another four years in office. I prepare myself for the worst so I'm not let down, therefore I'm expecting Trump to be re-elected, but I'm really hoping people push through and vote him out of office, even though him leaving will not automatically fix all of the systemic flaws:' Name: Jennifer Boch Graduation Year: 2022 Majors: History and International Relations Party: Democrat "Neither of them will be winning tonight (Nov. 3) because the ballots will not all be in. And if either of them tries to declare victory (unless it's somehow a clear landslide), that'd just undermine the election and our democracy. I am scared of how the country will react no matter what," said Boch. "It's very disheartening to see our democracy crumble, yet some people still refuse to acknowledge the damage Trump has done. He has undermined and made a joke of our political institutions, blurred our ability to gain accurate information and has showed us time after time he only cares about himself' IJ !The . . eacon@ s.edu ~ @wilkesbeacon William.Billingsley@wilkes.edu �19 Sports The Beacon - November 5, 2020 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editors: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu or Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Thirty-two year drought over: L.A. Dodgers are champions again By Chris Gowarty Sports Staff Writer With their 3-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays on the evening of Oct. 27, the Los Angeles Dodgers were crowned MLB's 2020 World Series champions. It is their seventh championship in franchise history and their first in 32 years, with their last being in 1988. Before the series, both teams had pressure on them to win the title. The Dodgers' American League opponent, the Tampa Bay Rays, had only participated in one World Series: 2008, where they were defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies in five games. Winning the 2020 championship would have taken the Rays off a list of six MLB teams who do not have a World Series win. The L.A. Dodgers, the NL opponent, had played in three of the last four World Series while not winning any of them. If L.A. would have lost this championship, it would have added on another year to a 32-year streak without a World Series championship. In game one of the World Series, Clayton Kershaw, who is known for his struggles in the postseason, dazzled against. Tampa Bay's lineup, only allowing one run in six innings while striking out eight. The only run given up came in the fifth inning via a solo home run by Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. The Dodgers' offense came out sw'inging, scoring eight runs in the game with home runs from outfielders Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers would go on to win the game 8-3, giving them a 1-0 series lead. In game two, the Rays struck first, as second baseman Brandon Lowe crushed a 3-1 fastball from Dodger Tony Gonsolin to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first. The Rays would add onto their 1-0 lead in the fourth with a two-run double off the bat of third baseman Joey Wendle. In the following inning, Lowe would hit another home run in the form of a tworun shot, which at that moment would give the Rays a 5-0 lead and set a new MLB record for most home runs hit by a team in a single postseason with 28. The Dodgers would only put up four runs the whole game, which canie from a tworun home run by utility infielder Chris Taylor and solo homers from catcher Will Smith and shortstop Corey Seager. Tampa !lay would go on to win the game, 6-4. In game three, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner got the scoring started with a solo home run off of Ray Charlie Morton in the first inning. L.A. would continue to score off Morton, putting up five runs within four innings. Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler dominated Tampa Bay's offense , allowing one run in six innings with 10 strikeouts. In the ninth inning with L.A. up 6-1, Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena took Dodger closer Kenley Jansen deep for his eighth home run of the 2020 postseason, tying the MLB record. L.A. would win the game 6-2 and lead the series 2-1. Game four started off with another firstinning home run from Turner, giving him 12 postseason home runs as a Dodger, which would be a new franchise record. - In the top of the third, Seager would hit his second homer of the World Series and his eighth of the postseason, tying his opponent Arozarena. Seager would not share that record for long, however, as Arozarena would hit his ninth home run in the fourth inning, setting a new record for most home runs hit in a single postseason. The game showed backand-forth scoring all game, but the key moment came in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and second, a two-strike count and two outs, Rays outfielder Brett Phillips delivered a single through a shifted infield. A few misplays from Taylor and Smith would allow the winning run to score, giving Tampa Bay a 7 -6 victory and a tied-up series at 2-2. In game five, the Dodgers would jump on Rays starter Tyler Glasnow for three runs within the firs t two innings, one of which included a solo home run from outfielder Joe Pederson. Kershaw had two shutout innings until the third, as an RBI-triple from first baseman Yandy Diaz and an RBI-single from Arozarena made it a 3-2 ball game. With the run-scoring single from Arozarena, he became the front-runner for most hits in a single postseason with 27. Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy would add onto L.A:s lead with a solo home run, making it 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Kershaw would strike out Kiermaier to give him five in the ballgame, as well as the alltime record for most career postseason strikeouts with 206. No more runs were scored and the Dodgers would win game five, putting them one win away from a World Si'ies championship. In game six, Arozarena would add yet another home run to his total, giving him 10 in this postseason as well as a 1-0 Tampa Bay lead in the first. Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell was cruising through L.A:s lineup in the first five innings, allowing no runs. In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Snell allowed Smith to get on via a single. With a pitch counf at 73 and a stat line of five and a third innings, two hits allowed and nine strikeouts, Snell was pulled from the game. Relief pitcher Nick Anderson would come in for Snell and immediately give up a double to Betts, putting two runners at second and third base. A wild pitch from Anderson would allow Smith to tie the game, which was followed by a fielder's choice from Seager that brought Betts home, giving L.A. a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the eighth, Betts would add an insurance run with a solo home run, giving L.A. the final 3- 1 lead. Julio Urias closed out the last frame of the ninth to allow the Dodgers to end their championship -less drought of 32 years. The 2020 World Series championship gave Los Angeles seven total for their franchise, putting them sixth all-time among all 30 MLB ball clubs for most championship titles. Seager was named the World Series MVP, batting .400 with two home runs in the six games played. Through earning the 2020 World Series MVP, Seager was added to a list of eight players in MLB history to be named the MVP of both the League Championship Series and the World Series. Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker r �.J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 20 Sports NFL Recap: Business is ''boomin'' in Tampa Bay with the Bucs By Dylan Mehl Co-Sports Editor Antonio Brown, former Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots wide receiver, has found a new home on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers alongside former teammate, quarterback Tom Brady. Brown signed a one-year deal with the team, making just above the league m1mmum $1.05 million, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Brown is looking to make an impact for Tampa Bay, as the last time he played a full season, he had 104 receptions for 1297 yards and 15 touchdowns. "I think AB adds an extra ego to a team with a lot of ego already:' said Wilkes student Brent Artley. Off the field issues led to Brown's long-lasting search for an NFL team. Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said, "(Brown) looked fantastic," in his first practice with Buccaneers. Tampa Bay adding yet another weapon to the offense could prove to be big for the team as they make a push for the playoffs in the second half of the season. The team was first in the division heading into Monday night's matchup versus the New York Giants. Monday night, the Buccaneers would improve to 6-2 after winning 25-23 against the Giants. Tom Brady led the game in passing with 279 yards to go along with his two touchdown passes. The Giants now fall to 1-7 on the season and could be on the path to yet another top pick in the NFL draft. • The Steelers moved to 7-0 after a 2824 victory over AFC North division rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Pittsburgh got off to an early lead with an interception returned for a touchdown by Robert Spillane. Baltimore would answer, going up 17-7 at halftime. Pittsburgh then responded with 21 second half points, including the game-winning touchdown by rookie Chase Claypool with 7:29 left in the game. · "I think today's game was a battle of perseverance. It was a great game to watch and really showed the rivalry between the teams:' said Wilkes student Kaylee Hornberger. In the Sunday night game, the Philadelphia Eagles got the win over the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 23-9. Philadelphia won the game in the second half, beating Dallas 16-0 in the final two quarters after trailing at halftime. The Eagles will be going into their bye week following the week eight victory. Head coach Doug Pederson said, "I think this is a good time for all of us:' when asked if the bye week would be good for quarterback record of2-5, after suffering a 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. In a grind it out game, Bills running back Zack Moss ran for 81 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots could be on their way to their first losing season since the year 2000. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the New York Jets 35- Carson Wentz, during a post game interview. An actionpacked week of NFL football kicked off with Thursday N i g h t Football, as the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Carolina Panthers 25-17. In the win, Falcons running back Todd Gurley scored his eighth touchdown of the season. Rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins got his first career start against the Los Angeles Rams and picked up his first career win. The Dolphins won 28-17, scoring 21 of their points in the second quarter. Tagovailoa totaled 93 passing yards and a touchdown for the game. The New England Patriots fell to a to on the year behind Mahomes f i V e touchdown day. After yet another loss, the Jets fell to a league worst 0-8 the "Based on their remaining schedule, I don't think they (The Jets) will get a win the rest of the season:' said Wilkes student Hoyt Stiely. The Indianapolis Colts put up a seasonhigh 41 points in Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions. , Colts quarterback Philip - Rivers had three passing touchdowns and 262 passing yards in the teams win. The Lions scored 21 points in the game and were limited to just 29 rushing yards. The Las Vegas Raiders won 16-6 over the Cleveland Browns in a game that saw only one touchdown scored. The lone touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter, as Derek Carr connected with Hunter Renfrow for the four-yard score for the Raiders. Las Vegas moves to 4-3 on the season and the Browns move to 5-3. Joe Burrow led the Cincinnati Bengals to their second win of the season, over the five win Tennessee Titans. Burrow, the number one overall pick, threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns in the win Tennessee would go on to trade for the Chargers cornerback Desmond King after their game. King will look to add to the Titans defensive unit, as the Titans look to return back to postseason football this year. The Minnesota Vikings picked up their second win of the season over their NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers. Dalvin Cook led the way for the Vikings with four total touchdowns and 226 all-purpose yards. The Packers will be looking to bounce back on Thursday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers suffered their fourth loss on the season to the Seattle Seahawks falling to 4-4. The team's fourth loss is more than they had all of last year's regular season, which ended with them as the number one seed in the NFC. Seattle now moves to 6-1 behind Russell Wilson's four passing touchdowns, two of which were hauled in by D.K. Metcalf. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Chicago Bears 26-23 in an overtime victory on a 35-yard field goal from kicker Wil Lutz. The Saints now move to 5-2 on the season, while the Bears fall to 5-3. New Orleans traded for 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander following their game on Sunday. Alexander has 22 solo tackles, an interception and a forced fumble so far on the season and looks to add to the Saints defense. The Denver Broncos secured the win over AFC _west division rival Los Angeles Chargers on a game-winning touchdown catch from receiver K.J. Hamler as time expired. Denver quarterback Drew Lock had three touchdowns and 248 yards whereas Justin Herbert of the Chargers also put up three touchdowns on 278 yards. Dylan.lv1ehl@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �L 21 Sports The Beacon - November 5, 2020 A passion for basketball fueled Metz's flight from coast to coast~-~ By Ariel Reed Co-Sports Editor Head coach Izzi Metz's deep-rooted passion for the game of basketball allowed the Colonels to develop into the powerhouse they are today. Metz joined the Wilkes community seven seasons ago and has snagged 87 wins. Notably, he led his team to backto-back MAC Freedom championship games (17-18, 18-19). Coaching basketball was always a career that Metz wanted to pursue, but he initially played it safe by pursuing a career in economics. "I attended Hobart College, which is located in Geneva, N.Y.," said Metz. "Hobart is a small liberal arts college of about 2,000 studepts. I majored in economics." Economics was an interest of Metz's, but his heart belonged to basketball. His passion for the sport made him want to coach. "I decided to pursue coaching because basketball is my passion on a lot of fronts;' Metz said. "I love the sport itself. I love the relationships I made through the game. I love to teach the game and help players improve. And I would like to think I am a pretty competitive person who likes the challenge of preparing a team to go compete 25 times a year." Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Metz made his coaching debut in 1999 as a high school coach in Los Angeles, Calif. close to his hometown. After several successful seasons, he easily made the transition to the collegiate level. "I started coaching high school basketball first, back in 1999. I was at Bishop Montgomery HS in Torrance, Calif. as an assistant coach;' Metz said. "I was able to learn from one of the best coaches in California. From there, I transitioned to the college level at my alma mater, Hobart College. I have also had stops at Cornell University and Boston College." Metz coached at the Division I level at both Boston College and Cornell. At Boston College, Metz started as the Director of Basketball Operations in 2011 before moving to an assistant coach role. While at Boston College, Metz worked alongside head coach Steve Donahue in all aspects of the program. At Cornell, Metz was an assistant coach for Donahue from 2001 -2006. He was one of he crucial members of the team, allowing Cornell to earn winning records in back-to-back seasons. · Living in some of the greatest cities, Metz liked the family atmosphere associated with Wilkes- Barre, Pa. "I was somewhat familiar with the Nort~east Pa. area from my time coaching 34 The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Metz instructed his team during a timeout in their final game of the 2019-2020 season against FDU-Florham on Feb. 22 in the Marts Center. The Beacon/Ariel Reed Head coach Izzi Metz demonstrated his excitement to have another day of basketball practice with a smile from ear-to-ear. at a few colleges in Upstate N.Y. I would occasionally come down to NEPA to watch a high school recruit," said Metz. "After doing my research about the area, I felt this was a great area to raise kids and work." Echoing the family feeling that coincides with the Wilkes-Barre area, Metz feels as if Wilkes University reinforces the principles of the community, which was one of the main factors that drew him into the northeastern state. "From a professional standpoint, Wilkes has afforded me the opportunity to be a part of a welcoming and caring university community that is unique from the other schools I have worked at," Metz said. "I feel people are connected here and genuinely care about one another. This has been even more evident during this challenging time with the COVID-19 pandemic. The care that our university leadership has put into making our students and student-athletes feel safe, while also giving everyone as normal a college experience as possible, has been really remarkable. It is very gratifying to come to work every day and represent the Colonels." Family and community relationships are important principles that Metz has instilled not only into his players but also into his coaching principles. "Coach Metz has built a great team throughout the years, with not just great players but great people," said junior forward Jake Robel. "He has great principles, such as school coming first and basketball a very close second. He's also always preaching about how the team is basically our second family and should always look out for each other. He has a great coaching style where he takes his time to make sure everyone is on the same page." The men's basketball team is currently preparing for their season that is anticipated to start after Jan. 1. Under strict pandemic regulations from the NCAA, the team is not allowed to doAll the activities they normally would do. "Right now, we are practicing three times a week, mainly focusing on skill development," Metz said. "We are adhering to the protocols, making sure that we temperature check before entry into the gym, as well as using masks." Despite the regulations, Metz's vast knowledge of basketball will allow the Colonels to roll their success of previous seasons into this one. "I really didn't play much my freshman year because of my knee injury, but from what I observed from practice, he pushes us to be successful because he knows what we are capable of doing," said sophomore guard Bradley Anacreon. Metz and the men's basketball team are anxious to return to the court and make another run at a MAC Freedom Championship. @wilkesbeacon Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu r �_J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 C • • 22 �2 Sports The Beacon - November 5, 2020 oyer@wilkes.edu notes !n students return in also voted on the well as a club of the 10 opposition, senior )ieri won member unerican Society of n club of the month. Council decided to f the car decorating ,tagram @Wilkes_ The Programming r iPad giveaway that ~ entered into when !ts. RHC will also be ~ of their study break on Nov. 1 on their m wrd@wifkes.edu pntents ,. ......... 2 ........... 7 ........ 14 ......... 19 ~ Events le ore Closes µis 1"e Beacon:'"Feniale ScblttSpotlight Carolee Pierce was wJectea: Pierce's leaderslpp, both vi~ and physically, are sea>nd-to-none... 'Her passio·· n fo··r•. basket all that pours out of her ~and her willinSI1essto help her teammates earned her this accolade. Name: Carolee Pierce Year: Senk>r Major: Sports Management; Driving force for your decision to come to Wilkat I wanted . to continue learning from Coach ,Macciocco and Coach Lindsay, so I made the jump and came to Wilbs after visiting the campus and loving the overall feel of the university and its community. d in the calendar? J@wilkes.edu memoirs and ,poem,)• .t also haw a special loveb' all things music. ,er::J•illlllll!i!l Favorite baBding on campua? The Marts Center. What color/fhwor of Gatora4e is your, favorite? ' lam a,hig fin of red Gatorade. Post-graduation plans in terms of a If your life WU a ID.9Vie, who ...W," career! I am currently applying to graduate schools, so hopefully I am get accepted to a Sport Management/Athletic Administration program and secure a graduate assistantship as a womC:Jl's basketball coach to jump-start my coaching career that way. Favorite memory as a Colonelt My favorite memory is beating l(ing's my sophomore year. 11,opes for this season as a Colonel? I wantto be able to sbowthe other teams what we are trqly made of Qui- program deserves respect, and I am hoping wt will get the chance'"to ~~~ When/Why did you first .begin playing? Itis in my blood. My dad is a coach, so I grew up around the game. As soon as I could hold a ball and walk, I was dribblirlg awJ~iQ,& .. :lasses Begin .............. Hometown: Sidnf;y, N.Y. High School: Sidney HS Position: Center * PavoritetJaingto., during~ Probably, post/guard spliL want to play you ancl wbyt Maybe Melissa McCarthy ~ • funny. If you could have dinner witll a .p enoabom the past. who wouW ltbet Kobe Bryant Moet in8.uentia1 penoa in your Mydad. . A quote you live life hf!" There are two ~ and from Pat Summit: "'It is ~ .}\'hat you.make of it" foot, breathe, ,. your - Tome, °Be best eft'ort in is on the floor or ".\,_.,,._._._..,_._~ 'IhankJQU:for makintfme wJlo I '~ " by Ariel Reed, Go-Spcn;uBd#or �_J The Beacon - November 5, 2020 24 Sports Sophomore athletes reflect on COVID-19's impact on practices I Emily Lass, Women's Volleyball '23 Bradley Anacreon, Men's Basketball '23 Casey Shipman, Men's Volleyball '23 "We started off just having ten girls on each side of the court with the curtain separating us. It was a really rough start because we could not really interact with each other. We have been slowly progressing to full team practices. We now can do full six-on-six, which challenges us to be better," said Lass. · "With everything going on, we haven't been fully able to play indoor basketball. We started off in pods of six or seven. You could tell we all wanted to play together while in pods. Two weeks ago, we were allowed to start full team and begin playing real basketball;' said Anacreon. "The incorporation of the whole team has been nice. Practice has been more intense. All the guys are getting involved, and we are all improving our skills. I am excited for the actual season to start and get back to competing with my teammates;' said Shipman. Edwin Soto, Football '23 Maura Hensel, Field Hockey '23 Ryan Martel, Football '23 ''At first it was difficult to adjust to the new regulations, but I believe this will make us stronger as a team. We have adapted really well to the regulations and protocols. I am excited to get on the field with my girls again;' said Hensel. "Practices have been going really well. We started off first with lifting. We then transitioned into bigger pods, then half team, and now we are about to enter into full team practices;' said Martel. • f • "During practice, we wear masks iri addition to the clear face-guards in our helmets to help further prevent the potential spread of corona. If we are doing independent - skill work, we do not have to wear them, which is really nice;' said Soto. - Compiled by Ariel Reed, Co-Sports Editor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2020 November 5th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 November 5 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/a3fafc842735aa52fa324c38de643acb.pdf 1b6b3556ad7943700b3ba1e164154056 PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 17, 2021 1 EACON Bat, 1936 Pa. New1p1per Al1oci1tion Member Volume 73, Iu ue l O Wilkes Unlversit - Wilkes-Barre Penns Ivan/a APKCFEE provides services to local businesses By Sara Ross Co-News Editor Starting this spring, the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship has established an initiative with Diamond City Partnership to provide two Wilkes-Barre businesses, Abide Coffeehouse and restaurant Bank+ Vine, with its services and expertise. Since 1993, the APKCFEE has been part of the Wilkes University community, providing hands-on learning opportunities to its scholars and interns with both external and internal clients. Charles Pierce has been the interim director of the Kirby Scholar Program since 2015 and shared how the communication for this project began with the DCP's Executive Director Larry Newman. "Late last fall, Larry approached Mike Wood, special assistant to Wilkes University's president, about how to get students from Wilkes to work on a special project to market the downtown to college students;' said Pierce. Wood referred Newman to Evan Stolicker, the center's graduate assistant. He quickly began working with Medina Saeed, the DCP's marketing intern, to form a student advisory board to make the idea a reality. Newman highlighted that one of the DCP's goals is to position Downtown Wilkes-Barre as the region's college neighborhood. MBB: Colonels fall in -back-to-back contests against DeSales By Ariel Reed S orts Editor Since its early stages, Stolicker has taken the reins of the project by collaborating with Saeed. He elaborates on the program and how it will be beneficial throughout WILKES-BARRE -- The Colonels kicked off their season with back-to-back losses, 99-55 and 77-43, on Thursday and Friday against MAC Freedom foe, DeSales. Unlike past seasons, this abbreviated 2021 season gave players less time to prepare in training camp as well as a start that was delayed around three months. "We had limited preparation coming in the first two games. I feel like it was good to get on the court and kind of feel it out;' Wilkes guard Sean Coller said. "But now that we have tlie first two games under our belt, we just need to play more physically, work the ball a little more, trust each other more and just keep grinding the process:• On top of entering the season with less time to prepare, Wilkes is without its top two scorers from last season, Rob Pecorelli and Mark Mullins. The two Wilkes standouts graduated last year, putting a big hit on the Colonel offense. Both Pecorelli and Mullins have left big shoes to fill for the remaining Colonels and the first-year players. APKCFEE, page 3 MBB,page21 The Beacon/Sara Ross The Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship is located on Wilkes University's campus at 65 W. South St. in Wilkes-Barre. "Wilkes University and King's College are among our downtown's most important anchors," said Newman. "They bookend either side of Public Square and bring almost 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students to downtown each semester:• ~ "S • (.) (0 C: C: < .....__ C: •• 0 0 (0 Q) ID Q) .c I- Partisanship tmngt<, as focal point in second impcad1mcnt, page ,1 r �_J News The Beacon - February 17, 2021 2 News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editors: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu and Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Student Government: Feb. 10 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard News Staff Writer On Feb. 10, Student Government held its second virtual meeting. The council voted on three budget requests: Casino Night, Random Acts of Kindness Week and the Leadership Speaker Series event with Baratunde Thurston. First, Student Government Executive Treasurer Ben Wojciechowski re-presented the Casino Night budget request with a few updates. To allow for more time to prepare for the event and to advertise more to students, Casino Night will now run from Feb. 22 to 26. The total budget request remains anywhere from $14,200 to $22,000, depending upon the size package the committee goes with. Wojciechowski opened the floor for from $1,000 to $3,000, Student Government discussed handing out encouragement goody send out a poll to see how many students bags, hanging up sticky notes with words of will potentially attend the virtual ,,.,....,...,,,,,,......,..,,,..,..,., encouragement or choosing to do a prepaid P.O.D. Market event. That way, it allows the gift. Through the prepaid P.O.D. committee to see what size Market, students who purchased packages they need to buy from anything would be covered with the online entertainment service, the allocated money until it ran instead of estimating student out. participation based on past years. The council engaged in A motion was approved for the full budget of $20,000, and the discussion, primarily trying to vote passed with all in favor. find a plan that could include the Next, Student Government students who are doing classes President Kevin Long gave a short remotely. In a final agreement, a motion presentation on Random Acts of Kindness was passed to allocate the full amount but to Week with all the compiled ideas from the split it so that 75 percent of the money Went previous meeting. With a budget range to students who were on campus (by giving discussions and a suggestion to save money was brought up that it may be beneficial to money to the P.O.D., gift bags, etc.) and 25 percent went to online students (by potentially sending something through email). In the Fall 2020 semester, Student Government voted on bringing Thurston to campus as a speaker. This week, the council voted again to allocate $3,250 to go toward the total $15,000 it costs to bring Thurston to campus. The total was broken up between Student Development, Student Government, Programming Board and the other mega councils, based on how much money each council was allocated A motion was made to allocate the full amount, and the vote passed with all in favor. ~ , @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu Beacon Briefs: Upcoming happenings on campus Compiled by Sara Ross • Review Writers Workshop and the Sewanee Writers' Conference. In Tallahassee, Fla., they serves as editor-in-chief of the Southeast Review. English Department Welcomes Zach Linge The Wilkes University English Department opens the Allan Hamilton Dickson Fund Women's and Gender Studies Conference Spring Writers Series with poet Zach Linge. Seeks Proposals Linge will appear via Zoom at 7 p.m. on Proposals are now being accepted for the Feb. 17 to read from his work and discuss the 2021 Wilkes University and King's College creative process. The reading is free and open ,, Women's and Gender Studies Conference. to the public. This year's theme is "Women in the Public Linge's poems have appeared in AGNI, Best Sphere: Stepping Forward" Proposals are due New Poets 2020, New England Review and · by March 5 and may be submitted online. Poetry. They even had an article published in Students, faculty, staff and community an edition of African American Review. Linge members are invited to participate. is the recipient of scholarships to the Kenyon Session types include research presentations, Upcoming Events: Spring 2021 Semester February 17 - Writers Series: Poet Zach Linge 17 - Virtual Concert Series with Young M.A. 15-19 - Random Acts of Kindness Week 18 - Forum on Race and the Curriculum 19 - Submissions for Manuscript Black Lives Matter Issue Due 22 - Hollis Dissertation Defense 23-24 - MLK Day Celebration 24 - Virtual Concert Series with SNL Comedian 25 - Baratunde Thurston Lecture March 3 - Virtual Concert Series with Country Music Duo 5 - Proposals due for Women's & Gender Studies Conference 4-6 - IMPACT Conference 10 - Heather Sincavage Lecture 24 - Martha Posner and Amy Arbus Lecture April 6 - Karley Stasko's Create Your Own Macrame Plant Holder Event May 15-22 - Final Exam Period Want your event featured in the calentUJr? Email: The WilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu panel discussions ·and performance art. For more information or questions about the conference, contact Dr. Jennifer Thomas, director of women's and gender studies, at jennifer.thomas@wilkes.edu. Colonel's Closet Spring Semester Hours Starting out the spring semester, the Colonel's Closet has been stocked and available for any student, staff or faculty member who may need some assistance with fulfilling basic needs. There. are a number of food, personal hygiene and household items that can be taken free of charge. Anyone is welcome to walk-in from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Building Hours Administrative Buildings Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mast Academic and Auxiliary Buildings Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p;m. Saturday-Sunday: 12 to 5 p.m. . Marts Center However, people are also able to submit orders online, which are filled within at least 48 hours and can be picked up at the Information Desk in the Henry Student Center. Students can contact kristin.osipower@ wilkes.edu with any questions. Students are Invited to the IMPACT Conference Join the Wilkes team of Civic Engagement and LEAP-Alternative Break students at the virtual IMPACT conference from March 4 to 6. Message megan.boone@wilkes.edu for registration information. @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Table of Contents News..................2 Life,•A&E.......•....7 Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farley Library Monday-Thursday: 7:45 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday: 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sports................ 19 �·- I The Beacon - February 17, 2021 APKCFEE, from front both the campus and the community. "The Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Assistance Program was created to help bridge the gap between Wilkes students and local businesses;' said Stolicker. "Through this initiative, we have been able to create experiential learning opportunities for our scholars and drive student involvement and interest downtown:' The DCP plays a vital role in the area as well. Newman and Saeed describe the nonprofit organization as the "caretakers of the community's vision for Downtown WilkesBarre:' "The whole purpose of the organization is to help water the flowers of the community;' said Saeed. "We want to. be there as a resource for the businesses and the people to ensure that they thrive:' DCP seeks to boost the area's economy through supporting local businesses. That mission is fulfilled through an array of services, including cleaning and beautification, marketing and promotion as well as business recruitment and planning. DCP promotes the city's parks, educational institutions, arts and culture, recreational opportunities, small businesses and historic sites. The APKCFEE's Executive Director Gerald Ephault, along with Pierce, claim that small News business can be attributed the designation of "backbone of the economy. "In this area, Wilkes-Barre is definitely a great place for -small businesses;' said Pierce. "It has been for many years. Wilkes-Barre is centrally located between the larger cities of Scranton and Hazleton, and all have exceptional small businesses of all types:' Saeed and Stolicker created the initial contact list for business owners to apply for this initiative. Businesses listed areas they needed to improve and were chosen by the through an application process. When Abide and Bank+Vine were selected, Ephault began drawing up engagement letters and confidentiality agreements with Stolicker. Ephault detailed the services the scholars and interns can provide. "Every member of the team will draw on their academic training as well as the extent of professional experience in their subject domain, including logo design, SEO, financial analysis, communications and promotional marketing materials. The scholars and interns determine what tasks to accomplish within a three-month timeline. These details are then documented; explained Ephault. Lafe Isaacson, the owner of Abide Coffeehouse, is looking forward to this opportunity to work with the scholars at the center and to progress his business: Abide has had its location in Wilkes-Barre for two years, and it prides itself in producing modern, high~end coffee in Luzerne County at a reasonable price. Isaacson was encouraged by the DCP to sign-up for the program. During the final weeks of January, Stolicker contacted Isaacson to learn more about what types of assistance he was searching for with Abide. ''.As a company, I would like to improve our customer reach to get to know more locals and serve them;' said Isaacson. "My main goal is to gain traction on our newly renovated website, such as with SEO. I would also like to improve on business administration and effective workflow:' Bringing city vibes to a casual fine dining setting, Bank+Vine has been open since August 2020. Bank+Vine's General Manager Erin Crofchick touched on her vision plan, as well, and is hoping to learn tips to gain further visibility to students through social media. "I had a wonderful first meeting (with the center), as they took the time to learn about our restaurant and what was important for us to gain from this experience; Crofchick said. The team is passionate and eager to partner together to build downtown businesses, and we are so lucky to have the opportunity to be part of this:' Both of these businesses have offers for college students and encourage them to stop by. Bank+Vine is currently offering a 10 percent discount to Wilkes students and to 3 those who have been serving in the medical field in the pandemic. Abide often posts giveaways on their social media accounts, as well. The APKCFEE believes this program will be a starting point for future collaboration with local Wilkes-Barre businesses, as it will foster positive relations with the community. The goal is to make those businesses more resilient in the long run while attuning them to the college market. According to Ephault, reward comes in the knowledge that the center has provided aid to furthering the competitive position of a business, sustaining employment to community members, creating wealth, generating economic benefit to the larger community and knowing that the Kirby scholars and interns have had an opportunity to master their skills. "It has been rewarding to see such a great response to the first rendition of this program;' said Stolicker, who echoed Ephault's sentiments. "We hope to work with new businesses each semester and do our part in giving back to the community. We will be continuing to collaborate with the DCP and their efforts in growing the interest for students to choose to shop and buy locally right here in Downtown Wilkes-Barre:' @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Photos: The Beacon/Sara Ross Open since 2019 at 23 W. Market St., Abide Coffeehouse produces modern, high-end coffee at a reasonable price. Bank+Vine, located on 268 S. Main St., is known for , its casual fine dining experience and opened during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020. Both businesses are a walkable distance for Wilkes students. r �J The Beacon - February 17, 2021 News 4 Trump Acquitted: Partisanship focal point in impeachment By Sean Schmoyer Co-News Editor This past week, the Senate held its impeachment trial in an attempt to convict former President Donald Trump for inciting the Capitol riots on Jan. 6. The end goal of the House Managers, who led the prosecution team, was a vote to prevent Trump from running for office again. The vote to convict Trump resulted in an acquittal, 57 to 43, failing to reach a twothirds majority vote. On Feb. 9, the Senate first voted on whether the trial itself was constitutional, one of the main arguments of Trump's defense team. The vote required a simple majority of 51 votes, with the Senate being composed of 48 Democrats, two Independents and 50 Republicans. News outlets, such as NPR and the Associated Press, quickly framed the trial as a partisan one. "I think if anything, the broad takeaway from what the outcome will be is the strength of partisanship in today's environment, where it is virtually impossible for the founder's desire of separation of powers to exist;' explained Dr. Benjamin Toll, professor of political science. The vote that the trial was constitutional went through 56 to 44, but to convict Trump, the Senate needed a two-thirds majority vote, requiring at least 17 Republican Senators to vote with the full count of Democrats and Independents. Feb. 10 and 11 saw the House Managers, composed entirely of Democrats, make their case that Trump was the sole cause for the Capitol riots. ''.After hearing the results of the acquittal, I was disheartened and upset that justice hasn't been served; said Priscilla Thomas, junior biology major. "We have seen time and time again that people who have worked for Trump have been put in harm's way, specifically the Capitol Hill riots:' The vote to stop Trump from running again in future elections no longer became a possibility on the afternoon of Feb. 13. "With the trial over with yet another acquittal, the consequences of making politics a spectator sport have never been clearer. The actual question of legality has been so completely lost in rhetoric and anger that any kind of middle ground seems far off and nearly impossible;' said junior Dean Bowen. ''As a student of political science, watching the trial tied to this event has been exhausting. There is a unique stress associated with watching your field become a battleground. However, despite this, I have hope. With proper work, this situation too can be amended, and a future can be forged It comes down to finding a commonality beyond rhetoric, and a place of agreement that doesn't rely on arbitrary boundaries:' A large focus of the trial was Trump's wording in his speech the day of the riots, including, "We fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore; Trump said. The defense for the president spent its time on Feb. 12 attempting to draw attention to Democrats who have used the word 'fight' in similar ways, a strategy known as whataboutism. Trump attorney Michael van der Veen told the Senate, "The inflammatory language from both sides of the aisle has been alarming, frankly, but this political discourse must be considered as part of these proceedings to contextualize Mr. Trump's words:' Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and one of the House Managers argued that the context such rhetoric is used in matters. "When people are armed, and they're saying they're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore (that produces) an incredibly combustible situation;' Castro said. The defense also continued to focus on protection by the first amendment. "The argument is that President Trump should not face criminal liability for Jan. 6;' said Toll. "That would be a good argument to make if the Department of Justice were to try to trial him for this behavior, but impeachment is not a criminal case and this trial is not a criminal case, so the protection of free speech is not there for this case:' The other argument the defense team made was that the indictment itself was unconstitutional, an issue that was resolved on the first day by the simple majority vote. With much of the defense team's arguments being resolved or lacking ground in an impeachment trial, the main focus of the trial settled on partisanship and whataboutism. The bigger picture is that this trial can serve as a reflection of the United States' current political system and as an important event in history that may shape young minds. "It is going to be interesting for the cohort of people who are coming of age right now. This era will remind them in a lot ways like 9/11 reminds someone like me ... This will be a formative experience for most of those people who are in college right now. It will be something you think of as being an important piece of who you are and your political identity,' said Toll. ~ ~ Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Student Development's leadership conference moves online By Anna Culver Staff Writer On Feb. 13, Student Development hosted a virtual leadership conference, attended by Wilkes students and students from local high schools and colleges. "We hosted the first leadership conference two years ago, and we decided that it did not necessarily need to be an annual conference;' said Melissa Howells, the director of student development. "That being said, I decided to move forward with it because of the convenient virtual world that we are living in now - that we can host something, and keep some things somewhat normal:' This year's keynote speaker was Wilkes alumna Dr. Katie P. Desiderio. Desiderio earned her bachelor's of business administration and her master's of business administration degrees from Wilkes University. Desiderio presented her topic, "Jenga: To the Moon;' where she discussed the importance of continuing to build not only on your leadership skills but on communication with your teams. She focused on finding one's passions and what fuels one to avoid burnout. Students had the opportunity to ask questions about her leadership style and continue learning more about their leadership style. "I attended the conference to expand on my leadership skills and gain beneficial experiences that I can take with me into any situation;' said Logan Biechy, a senior psychology major. "From attending the conference, I gained a new understanding of the diverse relationships in the workforce. Not everyone communicates or perceives things in the same way, and there were plenty of discussions on how to work with everyone around you to create a better environment:' Students had the chance to participate in breakout sessions on leadership topics like emotional intelligence, professional etiquette, language in a workplace environment, leading through crisis, how to 'flop' and much more. "There are countless ideas and lessons lack of conferencing around the world right I learned from today's conference," said now;' explained Howells. "Normally, you Jason DeBoard, a biology and neuroscience guys would be able to go out to national major. "What I found most applicable conferences across the country within to me moving forward was Dr. Georgia your field or whatever topic you decided Costalas' presentation about appreciation in to choose. Because there are not as many leadership and in life. I always understood options, I thought why not bring in an that I didn't appreciate things like most opportunity to Wilkes:' people at:ound me, but Dr. Costalas Unfortunately, registration this year was really put it into tangible concepts on the down as many students are suffering from different styles that each person may have Zoom fatigue, but if students are interested in receiving and giving appreciation for in listening to the sessions, they will be any act. With Dr. Costalas' wisdom, I could available. Student Development members now begin to understand the way to show recorded each session and are planning to my appreciation more accurately and more archive them so students can access them meaningfully in my everyday relationships:' later in the semester. Each breakout session was about an hour "I recognize th~importance of in-person long. Students had the chance to talk with interaction;' said Howells. "So, even if we professionals and peers about leadership do a hybrid model, I feel like Zoom is not experiences. really going to go away once we are back to "I thought in order to provide some sort normal, but I think if we have students that of experience, let's do this because we can · can be in the classroom even interacting turn it virtual and still keep the content with a live Zoom session:' and the quality we normally would in- ~ @wi/kesbeacon person as well - that and there is such a . . . Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 17, 2021 News 5 Casino week preview: Safety prioritized over budget By Maddy Kinard News Staff Writer ' ' ' From Feb. 22 to 26, Wilkes will hold its first completely virtual Casino Night made up of online events that will be similar to how it has run in past years with some minor differences. Most of the events, with possible exclusions of trivia and bingo to run through Student Government, will be held through a third party vendor, Record-A-Hit Entertainment, which offers virtual alternatives for Casino Night games. To start out the week, Monday is looking to be a trivia night, but plans are still yet to be solidified Tuesday will be a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament at 6 p.m. through the third-party vendor. The event will run for two hours, and prizes will include gift cards from $15 to $150. For a two-hour virtual poker tournament, it will cost $1,700 for 36 players, $2,100 for 50 players and $3,200 for 100 players. Wednesday will be a Bingo Night at 8 p.m. and will run for an hour. Prizes include 12 $25 gift cards. If held through Record-A-Hit tickets is a possibility, which would then be Entertainment, it would cost $550 for 300 entered to win prizes. players and $750 for 500 players. However, "We, unfortunately, are not saving any it has been discussed that the event could be money with the event being held through a held through a Wilkes University Zoom to vendor instead of student/faculty volunteers; save money. however, this was the only way that I could Thursday will be left open to accommodate find to hold the event that would be safe Programming Board for students and faculty, said Student Finally, Friday will be Casino Night starting Government Executive Treasurer Ben at 6 p.m. and again, held through Record-A- Wojciechowski. "We are working on ways to Hit Entertainment Available games/tables cut the cost of the event, but I believe that this include Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and a extra cost was necessary to protect the campus Money Wheel. community.' The webpage will cost $1,400, and playing In a cost breakdown, prizes are projected to positions would cost $1,800 for 50 to 125 cost around $8,500. There is an incidental cost players and $3,500 for 126 to 200 of $250, and the compiled events players. Prizes will be similar to are looking to cost anywhere past years and handed out at the from $5,450 to $11,250. In total, end of the event due to how early Casino Week may cost $14,200 the event is beginning. at a minimum or $20,000 at a It is still unknown how the maximum. raffle system will work, but Compared to past years, this is converting the chips a jump in price. Fall Casino Week students win from of2019 was around $10,857.10. games into raffle ~---..,....""""_., Prioritizing campus safety means iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil making accommodations for campus events, but it also raises the question of how many students will attend now that it is virtual. "My one concern would be that due to the amount of online coursework and format many classes are in, we will see a slight decrease in attendance due to 'Zoom fatigue: said Student Government President Kevin Long. "However, I believe this impact will be small, and the turnout will be great" Junior nursing major Alexa Crossgrove agrees that student turnout will still be high as in past years. "With Casino Night being virtual this year, my roommates and I are still planning to participate; said Crossgrove. "We are going to decorate our room and have a bunch of snacks and music while participating in the events. It's a bummer that with COVID restrictions we won't be able to have people over, but I am sure others will do their own Casino Night and try to make the best ofif' ~ ~ Madelynn.Kinard@Wilkes.edu Graphic by Judah Lyles Martha Posner talks beauty and brutality in her work By Sean Schmoyer Co-News Editor The newest exhibit in the Sordoni Art Gallery, "Brutal Beauty: The Transformation of Women through Mythology," is composed entirely of the work of Martha Posner. Posner is a sculptor and mixed media artist who lives on a farm in Martins Creek, Pa. She takes inspiration from the 250 acres of surrounding forest, fairy tales and mythology and her many barnyard creatures. In the first of two lectures planned with Posner, the SAG hosted a Zoom call that allowed campus and community members to attend, ask questions and give comments in relation to Posner and her work. • As a notice, Posner's work does focus on themes of abuse and violence against women and children, and imagery in her work does contain nudity. Her work was inspired from and to provide perspective to those unable to speak on their own, such as her work during the #MeToo Movement. "You'll see that there are lots of things with wings and fairy tales and mythology - I am very interested in the stories;' said Posner. "Women and girls are treated poorly in these stories because their fathers want them to do something they are incapable of, or they don't listen to their fathers. My 'The Miller's Daughter' talks about the concept of female beauty.' "Memory of Flight;' is featured in the gallery alongside a photo of Posner's "The Miller's Daughter; which was inspired by the tale of a hear yours, which truly made the curatorial father who boasts to a king that his daughter process somewhat invigorating. When can turn straw into gold; however, this only you work on a curatorial project, it is not causes conflict for the daughter. The photo was unheard of to speak to the artist on a daily taken by her husband Larry Fink. basis for months on end That was true with "Mercy" is another Martha, which made my collection in Posner's work. job in interpreting her work "There are four figures," exciting and invigorating:' said Posner of the series. Cienna Tohme, a senior "They are all young girls who graphic design student, and are maturing a little bit early. Zoey Rosensweet, a junior They are starting to bleed, digital design and media and all of these pieces are art major, both had visited turning into something else. the gallery and attended (One of these) is a girl who is Posner's lecture. turning into a deer. The idea "When I visited the of turning into something or gallery, her work made me an in-between place of being feel as if I were in the most human or part of nature, or artistic horror film, and I human and part beast are mean that as a compliment; things very consistent in my said Tohme. "I initially got work:' this feeling of eeriness. After In addition to the lecture, Courtesy of Larry Fink listen_ing to_ Posner talk, I Director of the SAG and feel like I VIewed her work curatoroftheexhibitHeather "Beast Coat" features Posner in more of a meaningful Sincavage announced that in her sculpted outfit. way, considering a lot of herself, Posner and SAG her pieces have a certain Outreach Coordinator Karley Stasko had purpose/theme, which were all truly beautiful produced a podcast or 'artcast' together titled, expressions'.' "Gallery Guide;' which is available on Spotify, Rosensweet said, "When I first saw the Acast, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. exhibit, I was both amazed and overwhelmed. "This has been a project I've been working The topics that Martha confronted through on for about a year and a half,' said Sincavage. her artwork (and during the lecture) are heavy, "Martha is a very involved and collaborative but she was able to bring them to the forefront artist. She has strong ideas but also wants to of discussion in an appropriate way. ''.After listening to Martha talk about her piece 'Mercy, I was able to make a better connection between the innocence of these beast-like child figures and their fertility and growth. The explanation of her work didn't particularly change the way I viewed it, but it helped me understand how these topics can be portrayed through any medium:' Posner is set to return on March 24 when she joins photographer Amy Arbus to discuss their cooperation during the #MeToo Movement. Arbus used her expertise in photography to produce photos of women wearing Posner's handwritten garments, which.can be seen in the gallery. "I think Martha's work has many entry points," said Sincavage. "The first you experience it in real life, one definitely has an almost guttural reaction. It's unsettling. But as you look over the imagery, one can relate their experiences to clothing, to folklore, to material and it establishes a deeper appreciation for her work. It is both a very personal narrative and universal to those who have experienced trauma." Sincavage will also be presenting a lecture on March 10,. titled, "From Silence to a Scream; in which she will focus on the visual representation of women's trauma. For information about the SAG's hours and an overview of the gallery itself, students can checkout page nine. @Wilke.beacon Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu r �j The Beacon- February 17, 2021 News 6 Wilkes-Barre cannot run on Dunkin' Donuts anymore By Genny Frederick Asst. News Editor The Dunkin' Donuts on WilkesBarre's Public Square, a popular stop for employees working in downtown offices as well as students from Wilkes University and King's College, has closed temporarily. Signs on the door, discovered in December, apologized for the closure, citing "current economic conditions" as the reason for the now temporary closure. There has been no additional comment on when or if the establishment will be reopened. The closure of this Dunkin' location, although upsetting, is understandable, as many of Dunkin's primary customers were employees who worked in the office buildings downtown. Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development at Wilkes University, noted how this closure is just the beginning of changes in the downtown landscape. "The city of Wilkes-Barre had the fifthlargest downtown working population in the state. Coupled with the students, there was a very robust group of customers;' Ooms explained. "We know that most businesses are working from home or on staggered schedules, and most students have returned. So there are people in the downtown, but the businesses are still seeing revenue losses." While this closure may be a disappointing change for those who are still working downtown, many students on campus are also disappointed in the temporary closure. For some students, like Erin Schaepe, a senior secondary education and English major, the closure stirs up melancholy feelings and happy memories. "I think it's sad they're closing," Schaepe said. "I have a lot of memories from freshman year of walking to the Square with friends to get a coffee when we would feel stressed over exams or homework and needed a break." Even though there is a Starbucks on campus, many students preferred to get their daily dose of caffeine at Dunkin', and these students frequented the coffee shop regularly. Third-year earth and environmental science major Meghan Englehart walked to Dunkin' as part of her routine, which is now altered because of the closure. "I used to walk to that Dunkin' every morning after 8 a.m. physics, and it was the highlight of my morning every time," Englehart said. "I also feel like a lot of people prefer Dunkin' over Starbucks." If Englehart's claim that students prefer Dunkin' to Starbucks is true, there are still other Dunkin' locations nearby in WilkesBarre Township or Kingston that can be visited, but the proximity and ease of access with the Dunkin' on Public Square are what drove so many students to stop in. Nicole Lissie, a third-year biology major, expressed her disappointment in the closure, as well as her concern for other students. "I definitely miss it," Lissie said. "I like the location because it's so close to campus that I can walk to it, especially if I'm already out in the Square doing other things. The next closest one isn't within walking distance, so I can imagine for those who don't have a car it's even more disappointing and inconvenient." Ooms discussed what may have caused this Dunkin' to sink into the red while other businesses on the square were able to stay afloat. Many businesses have innovated with online sales, takeout and delivery while looking for new markets to serve," she explained. "Those that have been able to reinvent themselves are likely those that will remain. What is important to remember is that our post-pandemic world is still likely to be different from our pre-pandemic world, and many jobs will remain remote or hybrid, so innovation is the key to longterm success." Some students, such as fourth -year earth and environmental science major Erin Tollinger, did not care too much about this location closing but were more concerned for employees of the Dunkin' branch. "I only went there once or twice, so I am not very upset with the closure, but it is sad to think that everyone at that location may have lost their jobs," Tollinger said. "I think it's sad that we're a year into the pandemic, and we keep seeing job loss and closure everywhere:' Students' frustration about the closure may not last forever, but it seems as though it will last until downtown goes back to its normal activity, whenever that may be. · @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu • 11 t fHI itutr• Ii •••• unnrUintr ••Int Int• lhfa HlftHiitr, .Afhti' tildi'lt OliUH ht Uut fall thiit w•H ift •p•rHli, iyridhi'OftOua aftd fully onHno; i , •• , iridrtt f(Uftfo,, ..... •nHi'INt thl• •·ffl••••t, th• thahdated r•l&Uri tHtlftt aiH ollmlnatei iom• uilcfllrtah,ir, H ■ tiiftl with no lfHliht• H••· shoiolld k••- thing• gOlftt iriote sft'lecJUUy, " �The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact life, arts & entertainment editor: Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Wilkes students and faculty celebrate Black History Month Various events take place on campus to honor Black voices By Judah Nicole Lyles Staff Writer Black History Month is not always celebrated and honored within the school curriculum and on college campuses something that Wilkes is attempting to change. Brianna Rowland, senior musical theatre major and Multicultural Student Union president, had some ideas as to why Black History Month is so essential for students and faculty. While the knowledge of the importance of the month is there, the purpose of the month is to uplift black voices, and it may seem difficult to do so when no one is listening. "I think that it's essential to have events for Black History Month because Black history is American history;' Rowland of Black History Month events at Wilkes. "For much of this nation's history, the said. "And Americans understand the importance of setting aside time to voices and experiences of Black Americans honor our history - that's why we have a have often been ignored," Zarpentine number of federal holidays, for example. ·said. "One of the most important things As an institution of higher education in about Black History Month, for me, is that 2021, I think it's imperative that we offer it represents a recognition of this fact and our students and community programs a commitment to recover the stories and to expand their engagement with Black the perspectives of Black Americans in history - and I'm happy that we're doing our historical narratives." Zarpentine continued, "Universities that in a variety of ways." • Black History Month at Wilkes is taking like Wilkes are involved in the production of these historical narratives and are a virtual turn this year. After the events of last year, the responsible for sharing them - with our education and unity that Black History students and with society more generally. Month aims to create and enforce is And this makes it really important for sorely needed. The Multicultural Student us to host Black History Month events, Union, in conjunction with Dr. Amy but also to make sure that we continue Sopcak-Joseph, assistant professor of to fulfill our duty to our students and to history, and Dr. Christopher Zarpentine, society in everything we do, and not just associate professor of philosophy, made in February." This month includes a total of five MSCsure that events were planned and ready to be executed for this month. Along with sponsored Black History Events. On Feb. 3, there was a Zoom lecture by MSC, Sopcak-Joseph and Zarpentine made it their mission this year to not Dr. Aston Gonzalez, associate professor of allow the importance of Black History history at Salisbury University. On Feb. 12, the Transcribe-a-Thon Month to fall to the wayside in the era of occurred, an event in which students COVID-19. Zarpentine weighed in on the necessity could join a Zoom call and transcribe have felt that there is something of a disconnect between race and the Wilkes curriculum, or there is a critique of suggestions that they might want to give to the school, the open forum is the place to be. One of the biggest focal points of the meeting will be discussing the potential for an Africana Studies minor or major. Zarpentine has been in talks with his colleagues for quite some time on how to better incorporate diversity into the curriculum. "There's increasing awareness, I think, about race in educational opportunity, in police violence and the criminal justice system and in health care disparities;' Zarpentine said. "There's been greater attention to the role of large institutions in our society, like various levels of government as well as private entities like the writings of various prominent black banks, in promoting or perpetuating racist historical figures. This year, students policies. I think the massive nationwide transcribed the writing of Ms. Mary protests throughout the summer have Church Terrell, who helped to found raised this awareness to new levels. For both the National Association of Colored me, it's given conversations about how to Women and the NAACP. Terrell was also continue working on our curriculum with friends with Frederick Douglass, another a new sense of urgency." The final event of the month will be the prominent figure in Black History. Rowland and Sopcak-Joseph were Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on especially looking forward to Transcribe- Feb. 23, where students and faculty will take the time together to reflect on the life a-Thon. "My personal favorite event this month of the civil rights activist. is the Transcribe-a-Thon because we are . However, Black History does not - and saving and preserving important parts of should not - end with Black History Month. Black History," Rowland said. "I would like to see these initiatives Sopcak-Joseph was also eager for the event, stating, "2021 is the second year to educate students and staff on Black that Wilkes is hosting a Transcribe-a- History, culture and communities Thon for Douglass Day;' said Sopcak- indefinitely;' Rowland said. "I've been Joseph. "I'm excited about Transcribe-a- learning about white history my entire Thon because it's a chance to actually do life, and there is more to the world. There history - not just read about it or listen are more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) here who have had a about it." On Feb. 16, MSC held a Black History major impact on American history. This Month Trivia Night via Zoom, with prizes summer's events should not have had to ready and available for the night's winner. occur for people to start realizing that Arguably, the most potentially impactful Black History is fmportant." event of this month is the open forum on Judah.Ly/es@wilkes.edu Race and the Curriculum. If any students Graphic by Anna Culver r �.J Life, Arts & Entertainment The Beacon - February 17, 2021 8 Sweet and healthy: Moody Foodie's rolled PB protein ball·s By Anna Culver Staff Writer fridge for about 30 minutes, or until it is cold enough to be solid and moldable. An easy and customizable snack that is sweet and addicting, yet packed with protein and other nutrients. Rolling the mix: Take the mixture out of the fridge and roll out the dough into about tablespoonsized balls. Line up the peanut butter balls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and put them back in the fridge to chill for another 30 minutes. This extra chilling· time will prevent the peanut butter balls from losing their shape. These super easy, no-bake protein balls are a great mid-day slump snack. This recipe is worth the time commitment around Zoom classes, as they are delicious little treats. Ingredients: 1) 2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats 2) 1 cup creamy peanut butter 3) ½ cup honey 4) 1 tsp. vanilla extract 5) Pinch of salt 6) ½ cup mini chocolate chips 7) ½ cup shredded coconut (which can be substituted with mini M&M candies or any other favorite snack) Mixing the ingredients: Mix together all your ingredients in a large bowl. Next, put the mixture in the Proper preservation: Once they are done being chilled, place your proteinballs in an airtight container in the fridge so they are properly preserved. These cookies can last for up to two weeks, but good luck with stopping yourself from snacking to make them last that long. Allergies: Oats, peanut butter, honey and dairy ._, Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver • The Beacon/Anna Culver These healthy peanut butter protein balls are so delicious and addicting to the point where you will not be able to put them down . • Sean Scinno,w, 0o-tMls f,ra Sara Ross, ~News EditQr: ...,fz--~~~.,. G@nny FNdarlck, Asst News Ed ....,....... · - ......................-.~ Maddy Kinard, News Staff Writer: PA NidJJI- .,..IUlln l!mlllllllalatl, . OIOfl itor: HomeDepot Ariel Reed, Sports Editor. One More - Maude Latour arty, Asst Sports Editor: Hear .. Childish G@rnbi ....aea,-., Sports Staff Writer: What's Po.m>iD - Jack li&flow Weeknd Liz Cherinka, Social Media Manager. What They'll Say About Us ft t Emily Cheltmuskas, LA&E Editor. GUddfedotQ- II orc1an Daniel, Asst. LA&E Editor. PNd to Me Breanna Eblsch, Co-Opinioll Editor. Saye VQUC Ttars - Iba an Mehl, Co-Opinion Edttor: Got It On Me - P Smo Mia Welker, lead Designer: Hit Different - SZA 8letlen Horwath, Staff Photographer. EndlesrMountains - Daniel John -FINNEAS �f. The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Sordoni Art Gallery features Martha Posner's "Brutal Beauty" By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor Editor's Note: This page contains graphic and potentially triggering themes and content. The Sordoni Art Gallery has opened its doors to feature the works of Martha Posner with her series "Brutal Beauty: The Transformation of Women in Mythology." The exhibition also features a collaboration between Posner and fellow artist Amy Arbus in their #MeToo project. "Brutal Beauty" aims to spark discussion of sexual abuse as well as women and children's trauma, bringing effort to give voices to victims who otherwise were not able to have one. After opening on Feb. 9, the Sordoni Art Gallery will continue to host Posner and Arbus' work until April 11. The gallery, located on 141 S. Main St., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information on Posner and her artist lecture on Feb. 10 with student reactions and a list of future events hosted by the gallery, turn to page five. ~ , Photos: The Beacon/Emily Cherkauskas Martha Posner's diverse exhibition can be described as a "mid-career retrospective of works that investigates the transformation of women and wellknown fairytales and folklore narratives," according to the Sordoni Art Gallery. Posner's works explain the artistic connection of human and mythical beasts, where one attempts to overcome the other. @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Right: Posner's sculptures, mostly made out of beeswax and donned with hair, symbolize the trauma of young and innocent children, as they enter puberty and adolescence. Below: Portraits of women line the walls of the #Me Too collaboration space. Each dress that they are • wearing includes the phrase "#MeToo," bringing empowerment to them. Above and below left: Posner and Arbus' "MeToo" collaboration space. Undergarments with "MeToo" on them hang in the middle of the room. Below right: A booklet where guests are allowed to anonymously write their own traumatic experiences and stories, bringing voices together. r �.J The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Life, Arts & Entertainment Liz's Craft Column: Hand-twined crescent moon dreamcatcher By Liz Cherinka Social Media Manager •• Dreamcatchers are a great touch to any space for their aesthetic and for their actual purpose: preventing nightmares. The concept behind a dreamcatcher is that goo_d dreams are allowed to pass through the web, while bad dreams get caught. This crescent moon dreamcatcher is a cute way to prevent nightmares. In order to make the crescent moon dreamcatcher, the materials needed include two embroidery hoops of different sizes, twine, a bead and scissors. Any of these materials can be purchased at craft stores, such as Joann Fabrics, Michaels, Amazon or a dollar store. There are not many required materials and making this DIY an affordable craft. To start, grab the smallest embroidery hoop and remove the smaller hoop without the metal size adjuster. This will be the hoop that becomes the dreamcatcher. Cut a decent amount of twine because it is difficult if the twine runs out in the middle of making the loops. If that were to happen, just tie a knot and continue. To begin the dreamcatcher, tie a knot using the twine onto the hoop in any area. Wrap the twine around the ring, and pull it around under itself to form a loop. Continue this around the whole ring, spacing out each loop because the webbing gets smaller as it continues to the center. Now that loops have been made around the hoop, the "foundation" is completed. At the first existing "curve," wrap the twine up, around and through it in the same way as before, and continue this over-and-over until reaching the middle. Pull the twine tight when making the loops to ensure that it looks like a spider web. When the loops finally reach the center, the bead can be added. In order to add the bead, string the excess twine through the bead, wrap it around the twine loop above it and tie a knot. This should secure the bead in place, but feel free to add an extra knot if needed. Now the dreamcatcher hoop is completed. It is time to move on to what makes this a crescent moon dreamcatcher. The idea behind the crescent moon comes from the second, larger hoop. If placed in the proper spot with one area of each hoop touching, a crescent shape can be seen between the two hoops. This space will be filled in with twine. To preface, this takes a while and is tedious. The result is worth it though, so stick around. Grab the larger hoop and keep the smaller one without the metal size adjuster, as done before. Cut a piece of twine. Of course, cutting a large piece so larger chunks can be done at once will be easier, but running out of twine is an easy problem to solve. If you run out of twine while wrapping, tie a knot from the end of the existing piece to the next piece and tuck the knot away in the back of the dreamcatcher. Start wrapping the twine around both hoops, and continue either clockwise or counterclockwise around the hoop. Eventually, the hoops will no longer touch each other and larger loops of twine will be made . . Try to avoid creating large gaps between the twine loops on the larger hoop but, based on the fundamental geometry of a circle, there will start to be gaps as you progress around the hoop. Keep wrapping the twine around both hoops until you arrive at the place where the original twine loop is. Tie a knot and that completes the crescent. To hang, create a circle with twine by tying two ends together. Pull the circle through the top of the drearncatcher and bring the one end through the other, creating a loop. Fix any gaps around the large hoop, and feel free to display anywhere. ~ ~ 1) Grab your smaller embroidery hoop out of the two and remove the metal size adjuster from it. Cut a decent amount of twine, and begin making the dreamcatcher. Loop the twine around the hoop and then under itself in order to form a loop. 2) Be sure to pull the loops into tight knots as you make the inner web. When the loops reach the center, the bead can be placed. Add the bead by stringing the excess twine through the bead. Wrap it around the twine loop above it and tie a knot to secure it. Liz.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka Liz's Craft Rating: Three out of five yarn balls. Materials are easy to gather. This craft is not too time consuming, but the process can be a bit tedious until one gets the hang of it. 3) In order to make the crescent moon shape, grab the larger hoop and keep the smaller one without the size adjuster. Cut a large piece of twine. Start wrapping the twine around both hoops, either clockwise or counterclockwise. 4) Keep wrapping the twine around both hoops until you reach the end. Tie a kn~t to complete the crescent. To hang, create a circle with twine by tying two ends together and pull the circle through the top of the dreamcatcher and bring one end through the other, creating a loop. �The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 Grab your popcorn: Upcoming movies and TV shows of 2021 __.,.._ With the new year comes many new series, seasons and sequels Although going out to the movie theater may not currently be as typical as before COVID-19 hit, that is not stopping movie and television producers from releasing new films and television series for people to get excited for. Avid fans of Marvel Studios' movies are going to want to watch their upcoming film "Black Widow;' starring Scarlett • Johansson. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is set to release on May 7. "We don't quite know what the story surrounding the character will be, but we do know that she'll be joined by David Harbour, Rachel Weisz and rising star Florence Pugh, among others," according to Rotten Tomatoes. ''And who knows? Maybe Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye will make an appearance." A large franchise in the movie industry, "Fast & Furious," is also coming out with a new movie on May 28. This is in the ninth movie in the series. "The new entry will bring the family back together to face off against a new villain played by John Cena ... who happens to be Dom Toretto's brother," Rotten Tomatoes reported. "Also, Han is back? What? The film was originally slated to open in May of 2020, but was pushed back almost a year to occupy the slot that had originally been reserved for 'Fast & Furious 10:" "The Purge" is a~other movie franchise that has garnered many fans and this year. They are releasing a new movie titled, "The Forever Purge." Rotten Tomatoes claims this movie will follow a Mexican couple who become stranded on a ranch and surrounded by strangers who miss the old days of lawless anarchy. It will be released on July 9. "I am interested in watching this movie;' said Haley Katona, sophomore political science and English double major. "I like 'The Purge' movies because I think they have a cool concept. It is hard to keep a series going without it getting boring and repetitive, but I felt like each 'Purge' movie had something different. I think it is the composition of the details that adds to it being a pretty good set of movies." As for a family friendly movie perfect for people of all ages to watch, "The Boss Baby: Family Business" will be released on Sept. 17. ' According to Rotten Tomatoes, "'The Boss Baby' might be rotten, but its monster box office take shows the audience is hungry for more. Fans of Alec Baldwin's fast talking baby in business will be pleased to know he'll be back to reprise his role in 2021. Tom McGrath will return to direct." This next movie is a sequel to a pretty popular film from the '90s starring basketball legend Michael Jordan. Director Malcolm D. Lee's "Space Jam 2" is set to release on July 16, and this time will feature Courtesy of Showtimes "The Forever Purge" is set to release on July 9. Courtesy of Movielnsider "The Boss Baby: Family Business" will be released on Sept. 17 later this By Jordan Daniel Asst. Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor • basketball star Lebron James. "I'm excited to see how Lebron and the Looney Squad come together in a new movie," said Quincy Banks, sophomore digital design and media art major. "I think they picked the right person because Lebron is the greatest player of our generation. I feel like the movie is going to be good:' The aforementioned movies were a little taste of some of the most anticipated movies coming in 2021. However, if one happens to be more of a television series binge watcher, then get prepared for all new shows coming later this year. A show that has been on air and loved by many for quite some time, "The Walking Dead," is- releasing a new episode for their extended tenth season of the show. According to Rotten Tomatoes, this episode will now air on Feb. 21 on AMC+, and subsequent episodes will debut early on the streaming bundle before they air on AMC on Sundays. Another important date to look out for is March 21 because that is when the new installment of National Geographic's "Genius" miniseries, "Genius: Aretha," will premiere. This is the third chapter in the franchise and with Tony, Emmy and Grammy award winning Cynthia Enrivo as Aretha Franklin. Rotten Tomatoes claims this television anthology series will premiere in the United States on National Geographic with double-stacked episodes across four consecutive nights starting on March 21. Also, all eight episodes will be available to stream on Hulu by March 25 to culminate the celebration of Franklin's birthday. A whole new series is coming to streaming platform HBO Max on March 18. That new series is Zack Snyder's "Justice League:' "Following Superman's (Henry Cavill) death, Batman (Ben Affleck) allies with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to recruit a team of "metahumans" - including Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and the Flash (Ezra Miller) - to save the world from an invading army;' as per Rotten Tomatoes. Lastly, another popular television series, "The Handmaid's Tale;' will be beginning their fifth season on March 21. If one has not begun this series, streaming previous seasons can be done on Hulu where their new season will stream next month as well. Courtesy of IMDb The fifth season of "The Handmaid's Tale" is set to premiere on March 21. "I really enjoyed the first couple seasons of'The Handmaid's Tale;" said Lizzy Antes, sophomore nursing major. 'Tm extremely excited for season five because there's a lot of questions from the previous season that still need to be answered. Even though it's scary to think about, I enjoy how realistic it seems. I think there are a lot of similarities to what is happening in our world now, and it's good to watch to understand the extremity of certain problems happening in the world." Since it is hard for people to go out in public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not many people are currently going to be attending a movie theatre showing. However, this list is meant to help movie watchers look forward to the release dates of the most anticipated films of the year, and hopefully it will make them be patient enough to wait to watch these movies from the safety of their own homes once they are available to buy, download or stream. Plus, in the meantime, one can begin or rewatch the television shows listed here, too. @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu . r �_J The By Kirsten Peters Editor-In-Chief •• 12 Sports The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Road to Wtlkes will go into this season without a key piece from its first two seasons, as Tyson Araujo, one of the team's captains, will not be Almost a full 365 days has passed since the returning. Colonels lost to Utica College in the United "Not having (Araujo) is a huge loss for us Collegiate Hockey Conference Championshi:p"~_both on and off the ice, and I don't think any on March 7. On Feb. 19 and 20, Wtlkes will be one guy on our team can _d o :wl}at he did .for opening their abbreviated 2021 season ~th us from a leadership standpoinr said Gurska, none other than their UCHC rival - Utica who had been co-captains with_Araujo for two "I think drawing _o n the experiences that years. "What's great about our team is that we weve has the past two years when you lose to are full of guys who always do the right thing a team six times, I think every time you take a and step up when the team needs it most. This little something from those games, and it adds is a situation where well not only rely on our a little more kindling to the fire:' said Wtlkes captains, but our extended leadership group head coach Tyler Hynes. "I think what we and each member of our team, to step up and learned last year, making it as far as we did, was play a role as well:' how hard it is to make it that far and how many The Colonels have not publicly announced things need to go right." who, if anyone, will get to wear Araujo's "C" For the Colonels, this two-game series from last season, but Hynes has hinted that a against Utica is more than just the start of the season. Instead, Wilkes will be attempting to win the program's first game against the Pioneers, the only conference team Wtlkes has yet to beat in its first two years of existence. "They've had our number, but weve added a couple big pieces and got some guys back who were injured, so weve added to our depth;' said junior forward Donald Flynn, 2020 Sid Watson player of the year nominee. "I think the biggest thing is our experience. The fire has been burning for almost a year now, so it's time to take care of some unfinished business:' Despite the tough end, the 2019-20 season was a stepping stone for the relatively young program to receive national attention, where Wtlkes made its way' into the USCHO.com Top 15 rankings, climbing as high as No. 12. Michael Gurska and Nick Fea also joined Flynn in receiving national attention. Notably, Wtlkes boasted one of the most talented rosters in the UCHC and the country last year, and fortunately they return a majority · of the team as well as some new additions who can make an immediate impact, including Tyler Dill who transferred in from Utica. "Each one of them brings something different, and I think that when you have a team that has stayed fairly similar now for new captain may be seen on opening night. going on three years, it's important to have "It's a huge void to fill; said Hynes on the those guys come in who can compete right loss of Araujo. "What he does on the ice is away and aren't going to be intimated; said certainly impactful - hes one of our best Hynes of his newcomers. "I don't know who's players, but what he does off the going to surprise us as far as making an impact ice is even more - I think that's going to be the exciting part, impactful, and and they've got 10 games to do it" that's been lltica something that leaders on our team were defenseman with Gurska's return. Gurska was ready for. I've been so proud and happy with named an ACHA second team All-American. how they've responded and how everyone has Gurska's ability to play at both ends of the ice, quarterbacking the top power play unit and picked up a little bit of that slack:' Araujo's leadership is not the only showing that he is one of the most reliable component that the Colonels are losing, as he defensemen in the conference on the back end, was second on the team in goals scored and is what makes him standout athlete. "He gets a lot of credit and attention, and hes was a key piece on one of the best power plays in the country last season. On the bright side, deserving of all of it," said Hynes. "(Gurska's) Wtlkes has an army of talented players who unbelievable ... leadership is not a license to do will be used to fill the void left by Araujo on less, it's a responsibility to do more, and I think hes the definition of someone who lives his life the offensive end · As such, Wtlkes brings bade "Flynn for according to that" his· junior season, and after a, ·sophomore . Additionally, the Colonels have a former campaign' that had him recognized with All-USCHO.com rookie of-the year on the some of the most talked about names at this roster in Tyler Barrow, who scored the gamelevel. Flynn led the nation in goals scored last winning overtime goal in the tiebreaker game season with 27 and is one of just two players in against Stevenson that sent Wilkes to the UCHC history to eclipse the SO-point mark in UCHC Championship against Utica "It was definitely one of the biggest goals I have scored, but that doesn't change how the team played that game;' said Barrow. "Moving forward into this shortened, 10-game schedule, we feel more confident and ready to compete for a UCHC Championship'.' With the season beginning this week, Wilkes' attention shifts to the heavyweight of the UCHC - Utica. Wilkes has lost the first six games of the program's history against Utica, with the closest one coming in the first meeting between these two teams, a 2-1 final; however, Utica has lost notable players on their roster, such as defenseman Daniel Fritz, goaltender Gianlucca Baggetta and captain forward Jarrod Fitzpatrick. Now, the Pioneers will rely on a different wave of talent, including last year's rookie of the year Brandon Osmundson, UCHC co-player of the year Connor Landrigan and other younger players to take on a new role. "I think that maturity and experience are really going to be valuable now in not being the wide-eyed young team trying to shock the world; said Hynes. "We know that we belong there, we feel that we cannot only hang but punch back, and I guess well see on Feb. 19:' With a IO-game season, the weight of each contest is magnified IfWtlkes can hand Utica a single-season. Wilkes also brings back Fea, one or two losses to start the season, UCHC a junior who was named to the standings could be noticeably different. All-USCHO.com third team, after Klrsten.Peters@wllkes.edu an impressive sophomore season. Fea Photos: Kirsten Peters produced a team-high 35 assists, a mark Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker that also led the UCHC. Along with Fea, Wilkes has a stalwart Mia.Walker@wllkes.edu . �. .. The Beacon - February 17, 2021 . 13 Sports ROUND THREE - - The Colonels, including junior forward Nick Fea (front), have been preparing at 6 a.m. practices this semester. Forward Donald Flynn led the nation with 27 goals and received multiple accolades as a sophomore last season. On Feb. 19 and 20, Wilkes will face reigning UCHC champion, Utica, in the opening weekend of their 10-garne season. ' ' Captain defenseman Michael Gurska is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to avenge Wilkes' losses to Utica. ' ) i �.J The Beacon - February 17, 2021 14 Opinion Opinion Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact co-opinion editors: Breanna.Ebisch@wilbs.edu and Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu - - - -<Ci}ur Voic~ - - -- I Each week, The Beacon's editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Are dating apps harmful to relationships? In a world plagued by hundreds of dating apps, one can ask the question: What are the impacts of dating apps on our generation's ability to form romantic relationships? In a Pew Research article from Feb. 6, 2020, "10 facts about Americans and online dating," Emily A. Vogels cites that 30 million Americans were using some form of dating service in 2019, whether that be in a website format or through an app. Of those 30 million users, only 12 percent of U.S. adults report having been in a committed relationship with or married to someone they met through a dating app or website. So, what are the other 88 percent doing then? The other 88 percent may be searching for a relationship through their work, friends, bars, etc.. However, the "loveless" and "non-committal" nature of dating apps may be difficult for people who truly want to find love. Dating websites and apps tend to create an environment for "flings" and reinforce the idea of "hookup culture," rather than create a space to cultivate long, sustainable relationships. Despite the flings that can prosper from these apps, this begs the question of whether or not dating services work in the long term. Hook-up culture directly harms not only relationships, but it harms the mental health of those who use these apps. •• WllhHmt, ••aa Phone - (ffl) • www.thewllkesbeacOr..com Socials:@wllkesbeacon ,An a \!A!f AlloclltlonMtmbtf M..a .. There are people on dating apps with legitimate hopes of securing some form of a lifelong partner. The sickening nature of only wanting someone to help you "get off" harms the way people view love and relationships. In 2019, Vogels found that 45 percent of Americans who had used dating apps or websites reported feeling more frustrated than hopeful - does this then make them less likely to want to continue the relationship search? The c9nstant rejection of finding some form of actual love creates this feeling of worthlessness and encourages both men and women to be overly sexualized and no longer look for a lifelong relationship. The saddening feeling a person gets when the only time they receive a text from someone they hope for a relationship with is at 2 a.m. and it simply states, "You up?," can break a person and harms their conscience. They are left with this feeling of being good enough to have sex with, but not being pretty, valuable or worthy enough to have a public relationship with. Not only do users feel frustrated, but there is ·also an emotional toll when things go awry between users. Fifty-seven percent of young female users state that another user, at some point in their usage, has sent them explicit images or messages they did not ask for. However, statistics also show that of the 30 million American users in 2019, the LGBTQ+ community was the most prominent on the dating app scene, as they are able to enter into a safe space for dating. LGBTQ+ community members find success in dating apps because of the difficulties that they can face in finding partners in the public eye. In a Statista article from Oct. 26, 2020, "Online dating in the United States Statistics & Facts; J. Clement explained that the most popular online dating app in 2019 by usage sessions per month was Grindr, a dating app for individuals who do not identify as heterosexual. With the existence of countless dating apps for very specific groups of people, it is easy to fall prey to the curiosity of wanting to try to find a partner in a more untraditional way. Yet, the potential consequences that are paired with joining these communities can be more devastating than anything. While there are both numerous positives and negatives to the constant use of dating apps that play a large role in modern day society, the harmful aspects of this particular type of dating has changed what it means to find love in the 21st century and has recreated the expectations for a healthy, prosperous relationship. ~ ~ @wilkesbeacon TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-2962 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon • �The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Opinion 15 The first weeks of the Biden presidency: A good start? ·By Liam Flynn Staff Writer After being sworn into office on Jan. 20, President Joe Biden has been hard at work wiping the slate clean froth a disastrous past four years. Settling into the presidency, Biden has begun working on the general promise of his campaign: Building a new America. Other than redesigning the Oval Office, accompanying his impeccably well-dressed First Lady and demanding a respectful workplace of his staff, Biden has spent a lot of time both undoing former president Donald Trump's motions and beginning to remedy what some deem our nation's most pressing issues. Biden implemented a federal mask mandate, requiring the use of masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors. Biden also signed an executive order that stopped the United States' withdrawal from the WHO, making Dr. Anthony Fauci the head of the delegation to the WHO. On Jan. 21, the administration released a 200-page document titled, "National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness:' On his second day in office, Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to speed up the vaccination process and ensure the availability of glass vials, syringes and other vaccine supplies at the federal level. In justifying his use of the act, Biden said, "And when I say wartime, people kind of look at me like 'wartime?' Well, as I said last night, 400,000 Americans have died. That's more than have died in all of World War II 400,000. This is a wartime undertai9ng:' Furthermore, Biden established the White House COVlD-19 Response Team, a White House Office dedicated to coordinating a unified federal government response. On Jan. 21, Biden signed 10 executive orders pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to meet his vaccination goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office, Biden signed an executive order increasing needed supplies. On Jan. 20, Biden signed an executive order rejoining the United States to the Paris Agreement. With the U.S. rejoining the agreement, countries responsible for twothirds of the global greenhouse gas emission will make pledges ofbecoming carbon neutral, whereas without the U.S. it was only hal£ That same day, Biden also canceled the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, an extension of the Keystone Pipeline, by signing an executive order. During his early days in office, Biden focused on "advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity; according to The New York Times. Biden's early actions in office focused on racial equity more than any president since Lyndon B. Johnson, who passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Biden administration is seeking to put Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill. This decision comes after Steven Mnuchin blocked the Obama administration's decision to put Tubman on the bill. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that it was important that United States money and notes reflect the "history and diversity" of the U.S., and putting Tubman on the twentydollar bill would reflect that. Biden signed an executive order on Jan. 25 that lifted the ban on transgender military service members. This reversed a memorandum imposed by Trump. On Jan. 26, Biden directed the Department of Justice to reduce their usage of private prisons and ordered the attorney general to not renew contracts with private prisons, transfer civil servants and career scientists and citing the need to "reduce profit-based replace them with employees friendly to the incentives" for the incarceration of racial Trump administration. On Jan. 20, Biden halted the construction minorities. GEO Group considered the policy "a , of the United- States-Mexico barrier and solution in search of a problem:' David Fathi, • ended the National Emergency Concerning the director of the National Prison Project of the Southern Border of the United States, the American Civil Liberties Union, stated · declared in February 2018. Biden issued a that the executive order did not fully end proclamation that enµed the Trump travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries in America's usage of private prisons. January 2017. Biden also reaffirmed protections to .. DACA recipients. The same day, Biden sent a memorandum to the Department of State reinstating Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians. On Jan. 20, the Biden administration issued a moratorium on deportations from the Department of Homeland Security for the first 100 days of his presidency. On Jan. 21, Biden proposed a bill that, if passed, would replace the word "alien" wit1' "noncitizen" in U.S. immigration law. The following day, Biden had a call with Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. On the call, Biden and Lopez Obrador discussed immigration, where Biden spoke of reducing immigration from Mexico . to the United States by targeting what Biden . deemed as root causes. According to an Associated Press report, : Lopez Obrador noted that Biden pledged $4 . billion to "help development in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, nations whose · hardships have spawned tides of migration through Mexico toward the United States." On Jan. 23, Biden proposed an immigration , bill. As proposed, the bill would give a path to citizenship to 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. without permanent legal status. , The bill would also make it easier for certain , foreign workers to stay in the U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin called the bill "aspirational:' The bill is widely Biden signed an executive order that expected not to pass in both houses of removed schedule F on Jan. 22, overturning Congress without significant revision. Throughout the infancy of his new a number of Trump's policies that limited the collective bargaining power of federal unions. presidency, No. 46 is off to an amazing start. Biden's executive order also promotes a $15 Although much has been done in just a few minimum wage for federal workers and repeals short weeks, we still do have a very long way three executive orders signed by Trump that to go to restore the country to a place where made the employee discipline process stricter citizens can feel representative of hope, and restricted union representatives' access to freedom and equality. Gallup already has Joe Biden with 57 percent office space. approval, while Trump was at 45 percent, As well as promoting a $15 minimum wage, Biden's executive order increases the amount near where he would remain throughout his of money going to the families of children presidency. It is safe to say we have a much who are missing meals because of school more qualified leader steeri~g our ship. closures due to the pandemic by 15 percent. Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu The repealing of Trump's three executive Graphic by Mia Walker orders comes as the orders were used to r- �_J The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Opinion 16 Should the NBA have an All-Star Weekend this year? Some say... By Dylan Mehl Co-Opinion Editor As we progress through the NBA season that many of us were unsure would even happen, we come upon a time that many NBA fans look forward to: All-Star Weekend. This weekend would, under normal circumstances, mean three-point shootouts, dunk contests and, of course, the All-Star game, but that all went into question in our current COVID-19 world. The original plan from the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver was to withhold from All-Star festivities this season, but as we near that day, the chances continue to grow that we will see All-Star weekend in some form. There are a variety of reasons for why the NBA would love to get some form of AllStar Weekend back, and leading the way is profit, presumably. This weekend is a huge draw for fans and has been for years, as it is a tradition that is looked forward to like a holiday in the NBA. Historically, this weekend takes place on three separate nights. It typically starts on a Friday night with rookie showcases, then progresses to Saturday night with a variety of skills contests like the three-point and dunk contests and concludes on Sunday night in an All-Star Game that sees 24 of the NB& top players square off. However, like many other events, All-Star Weekend would have to look much different this year. The current proposed plan . from the NBA to the National Basketball Players Association sees an All-Star Game and a variety of competitions all taking place on March 7. Before said events, players would have to enter a quarantine bubble in Atlanta from March 6 to 7 and leave right after the game; this bubble would obviously be done for health and safety protocols. The NBA would then look to resume its regular season on March 11. On paper, this appears to be a solid plan put together from the NBA; however, there are a variety of points to be made against holding an All-Star weekend. The first simply being the risk versus reward in terms of health for players, coaches and staff. In a game that has no stakes on the line aside from pride of players and coaches, there is not much to gain from subjecting oneself to playing with inditj.duals from around the country. Although they will be tested before the game, we know there is still a risk involved. Secondly, the players in the league do not seem to be behind having the All-Star festivities in any form. "I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game this year," said LeBron James during a video conference. "I don't even understand why were having an All-Star Game:• Sacramento Kings guard De'.Aaron Fox felt similarly to James, stating, "If I'm gonna be brutally honest, I think it's stupid:" If James, the league's top star, does not want to have an All-Star Game and many other players around the league agree, what is the point? To answer that question with a sentiment from earlier - profit. Although many players are not excited about the idea of having an All-Star Game, it is fair that the NBA would push for this to happen, as over the last year they have lost much of their revenue due to COVID-19. If the NBA can hold an All-Star Game, how should they do it? The best course of action is to hold the event in the smallest time frame possible, as to avoid both a long bubble stay for those involved and to lower the chance of the virus spreading. The NBA is ahead on this idea, as they are looking to hold all of the events in one day. Next, mmumzmg the amount of participants and people at the event also means limiting the number of events held. The NBA should focus solely on their three major events: The three-point contest, the dunk contest and the All-Star Game itself. This would not only be beneficial for the health and safety of players, but it would also assist in television scheduling, as the NBA would be cramming a weekend's worth of events into one day. The league can even go a step further by selecting participants for the dunk contest and three-point shootout from the 24-player All-Star pool for the AllStar Game. Offering incentives to players for participating in this event would be a struggle for the NBA, as they cannot afford to throw money at them; however, the players should be willing to make the sacrifice in playing this game for the league they love so much. These players are already risking their health by playing regular season games, meaning one extra game is not much different. This one night would be huge for the league, while it would simply just be an inconvenience for the players. That appears to be a pill they will have to swallow not only for the league but for the fans as well. ~ • @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Bre's Beats: The Weeknd's "blinding'' halftime show performance By Breanna Eblsch Co-Opinion Editor It is no surprise that the Super Bowl is the most watched television event in America, and although millions tune in to watch the two best teams in the NFL play a riveting game to win the championship, many are much more interested in the iconic halftime .• show that features one of music's biggest names. This year, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced-off in the highly anticipated matchup, The Weeknd had the honor of performing during halftime and completely blew away the audience like no other performer has before. After his record-breaking album, "After Hours;' was snubbed of all nominations by the Recording Academy for the 2021 Grammys, the expectations were high for The Weeknd's performance. The catchy pop melodies and unique R&B aspects of his music made the dreary parts of the pandemic a little brighter. When the announcement came that the singer would be playing the biggest ·· • performance of the year, excitement quickly took over along with countless speculations. And one thing's for sure, The Weeknd did not disappoint. With numerous COVID-19 protocols in place, a limited number of people in the audience and an eager nation to amaze, The Weeknd's Super Bowl halftime show is arguably one of the best in the games history. Immediately, the cinematic and artistic elements of the performance were dear, as they have been throughout the entire "After Hours" era, and the medley of his chart topping singles opened with "StarboY:' A dramatic stage complete with a full choir and set pieces to reflect various aspects of each song was not placed in the middle of the football field like usual, but remained equally as impressive. Throughout the entire 14-minute performance, various elements and aspects further enhanced the visual side of the show. While singing the 2015 hit, "Can't Feel My Face," The Weeknd entered a Hollywoodstyle, lit-mirrored hallway behind the stage, which was also filled with a group oflook- alike dancers in style and accordance to the character created for the album. Fireworks from multiple places around the stadium lit up the sky during big moments, and the singer used all possible camera angles and available levels of the stage. But, the most incredible surprise of the night was the insanely smooth transition from "House of Balloons" to the widely popular hit "Blinding Lights," where The Weeknd took the performance onto the field with the hundreds of dancers who had appeared at various points of the show. The crowd in attendance went wild, and tens of thousands of people watching from the comfort of their homes looked on in either amazement or bewilderment. Although the show was very visually pleasing and outstanding in terms of production, the vocal performance was just as remarkable. Unlike many other previous halftime performers who have openly admitted to lip-syncing parts or entire songs, The Weeknd is one of the few to do the whole set live. This, of course, impacted some moments that could have been seen throughout the broadcast due to the fact that the sound mixing also had to be done live. But knowing this fact, makes everything the well-known singer brought to the stage even more extraordinary. From start to finish, it is safe to say that this year's Super Bowl halftime show was like no other in many ways. The Weeknd brought his very best, which can easily be seen as one of the best performances not only of the year, but in Super Bowl history. Even without all the flashy aspects that are usually involved in the halftime performance, such as the large stage in the middle of the field, an unexpected appearance from another artist or a full crowd either in the stands or by the performer, it is hard to deny that the show was amazing under the circumstances and overall. There is no doubt that The Weeknd's set will be one of t!ie greatest for a long time to come and remembered by the millions who watched Super Bowl LV. ~ • @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Opinion 17 What makes Tom Brady the Greatest Athlete of All Time?·By Dylan Mehl Co-Opinion Editor In Super Bowl LV, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ,to a 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in just his first season with the team. This puts Brady at seven Super Bowl victories, and perhaps cements him as the greatest athlete of all time. There are several reasons why Brady is now clearly the greatest athlete to ever play a sport, starting with longevity. Throughout his 21 NFL seasons, Brady has been at the top of the mountain since he won his first Super Bowl in 2002 until now. Most Hall of Fame NFL players are lucky to have a career longer than 15 seasons, but Brady is going into his 20th year of domination in a 21 year long career. Brady has dominated the sport for so long that his career can actually be broken up into thirds and three separate Hall of Fame careers. Starting with his first third from 2000 to 2006, Brady won three Super Bowls, was the Super Bowl MVP for two of them and was the best clutch player in the NFL during that time period. Over the next seven seasons from 2007 to 2013, Brady was a stat machine. He led the league in passing touchdowns twice, won two regular season MVPs and led the Patriots to an undefeated 2007 season, despite a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. Then, looking at the most recent seven seasons from 2014 to 2021, Brady won four Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVPs and one more regular sea!lon MVP. At 43-years-old, Brady became the oldest player to ever win a Super Bowl MVP after defeating the Chiefs this season and passing a record previously held by Brady himself when he won it back in 2017 at 39. His excellence statistically and his ability to keep winning championship after championship is unheard of not just in the NFL but in all of sports. While Brady's longevity is unmatched, he has the perfect success story in sports as well. Brady was drafted in the sixth round as the 199th overall pick in the NFL draft by the New England Patriots. The likes of Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Jerry Rice and many other NFL greats were selected in the first round, but not Brady. Brady's draft report was highlighted with negative comments on the quarterback, from "poor build," "lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush;' "lacks a really strong arm" and so on, leading to the chip on Brady's shoulder. Brady then did not see the field as a starting quarterback until his second NFL season, and this was only due to an injury to Patriots' starter Drew Bledsoe. Brady immediately succeeded and seized the starting job, never to look back. That chip on Brady's shoulder has clearly never left and has fueled how far he has come. While all sports fans love a good game and to watch good talent, everyone also loves a good story, and Brady emphasizes the classic underdog story that is so popular. This is especially true of American culture, where someone who was not supposed to be at the top ends up being the standard that others are compared to. Statistically speaking, there is not even a conversation to be had regarding if Brady is the greatest of all time. Brady's stats are head-and-shoulders above the rest. From an individual perspective, Brady currently leads the NFL in all-time passing touchdowns with 581, is second in all-time yards with 79,204 and is in the top 10 in pass completiol). percentage - while not even cracking the top 30 in interceptions thrown, with only 191. While the numbers clearly speak for themselves, one can also compare Brady to one of the all-time greats, Brett Favre. Favre is fourth in all-time passing touchdowns with 508, but he is also first in all-time interceptions with 336 - a clear distinction. While Brady's individual numbers show that he is obviously great, it is his consistent winning that puts him a tier above the rest. Right off the bat, he has seven Super Bowl titles in 10 appearances to his name, which is more than any other NFL franchise in history. The idea that Brady, a player who has played for 21 NFL seasons, has more championships than any franchise in the 55-year history of the Super Bowl, is an astonishing accomplishment. Brady also has the highest career winning percentage, as he has won 76.9 percent of his games, whereas P. Manning is in second place with 70.9 percent. Brady also has played in 14 conference championships, including eight consecutive championships from 2011 to 2018. Furthermore, Brady has won 17 division titles throughout his career. Notably, there are many crazy stats to take into consideration when evaluating how great Brady truly is. Some really outlandish ones include the fact that Brady is more likely to make a Super Bowl appearance with a 47.6 percent chance than Stephen Curry (one of the greatest shooters in NBA history) is to make a three-point shot on any given day, as Curry has a 43 percent three-point career field goal percentage. Brady is also more likely to win a game (76.9 percent chance) than NBA superstar LeBron James is to make a free throw (74.4 percent chance). While all of these stats can demonstrate that Brady is the "GOAT" of football, what sets him apart from Michael Jordan, who has been widely recognized greatest athlete of all time? Jordan obviously had a dominating NBA career, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, leading the league in scoring multiple times and simply having the swagger of being the best. There are many similarities between both Jordan and Brady, but of course, the first word that comes to mind when thinking of either is "winning." Brady has his record seven Super Bowls, and Jordan went six-for-six in the NBA finals, while never actually seeing a game seven. Further, we can say that killer instinct is something that neither man lacks, a~ both men display this instinct when tlie brightest lights are on the biggest stages. When asked on "Undisputed" who was more clutch between Jordan and Brady, sports analyst Skip Bayless went with Brady. His reasoning was Brady's longevity and consistency of these clutch performances. This answer from Bayless is very telling as to what separates Brady as the greatest athlete of all time, as Brady's greatness over this incredible stretch of time is unprecedented. Brady also has the edge on Jordan in that he has won with multiple teams. Jordan won six titles with the Bulls, alongside Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson, but Brady has now shown everyone that he is the system. Many questioned if it was Brady or head coach Bill Belichick that led to the Patriots' success. And after this season, Brady is looking like the better choice. Going to Tampa Bay and leading the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl has truly set Brady above all other athletes. Only the NBA'.s James has been able to consistently win no matter where he is, but James simply lacks the stats to be in the same conversation as Brady - for now. However, Brady's going to Tampa Bay and leading the Buccaneers, a team that before this season had the worst winning percentage of any team in the four major sports to their first ever home Super Bowl (and a ring) in a one-season turnaround is unfathomable. The only explanation for this instant success is that they have the greatest of all time in Brady. Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker r �.J The Beacon - February 17, 2021 Opinion 18 This just hi: tOV1D_-f9~appai-entl}' nOt aMiracle, still here By Wllllam Bllllngsley Asst. Opinion Editor •• Incredibly, it . appears that some students still do not know how to wear •masks properly (hint: they go over the nose), nor are other students evidently able to read simple signage designating what is an up or down stairwell. I can only hope that the relevant campus authorities are carrying out some semblance of enforcement because, as we all know, the harsh reality is this: The pandemic is (still) not over. As we have seen out in society, people are still refusing to wear masks outright, and many more will ultimately die before this pandemic will be over, and that is assuming that this pandemic will have a discernible end. If society is utterly unable to reduce COVID-19 down to minute levels Well, if you are reading this, it would appear that you, like the rest of the campus community, more or less survived the last semester relatively intact - congratulations. But not all students were quite so fortunate. Indeed, there were 104 positive student cases of COVID-19, and a total of 469 student quarantines. As you know, none of us were sent home in the end (unless you tested positive, then you might have been). And all it cost was the compression or outright removal of all breaks during the semester. Oh, and 104 student cases. I suppose now would be a bad time to mention that we actually do not know what the full long-term effects of COVID-19 are or how long they persist for, but they certainly exist, as has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC's website, some of these lovely symptoms include, but are not limited to, "fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, joint pain, · chest pain, difficulty with thinking and concentration (brain fog) and heart palpitations." Good stuff. But the concerning part is the fact that these are only some of the known longterm symptoms. While the CDC's website has others, there may still be more sinister symptoms in the long run. As such, it appears that those 104 through vaccinations and other measures, students might have incurred an extra cost then COVID-19 may become endemic of obtaining their education, depending "regularly found." The last thing anyone on if they were fortunate enough to avoid wants is another recurring virus to worry any long-term health issues from their about on an annual basis. COVID-19 cases. Last September, I first wrote about I suppose that, in the university's eyes, how the university was gambling with that it is just the cost of doing good the lives of its students, employees and business. all of our families by having an in-person But regardless of any potential lingering semester with the worldwide pandemic health problems for those 104, here we that is COVID-19 still in full swing. are on campus once again. It has been, as many predicted, a Now, given what you and I have seen grim winter for the United States. But over these last six months at home and evidently, it was not so grim for Wilkes on campus with regard to COVID-19 University. precautions, do you suppose that people Regardless, it would seem that our are becoming more complacent? COVID-19 Task Force here on campus It certainly seems that way. decided to approach this semester more Even after a whole semester of cautiously, by mandating a negative mask-wearing, distancing and more, it . COVID-19 test before allowing students - --almost seems like people are taking this to move-in or resume classes. Given that pandemic less seriously. this testing caught 26 positive student cases, this caution was well-placed. This raises an important question: Where was this pre-testing last semester? At any rate, it also appears that the university will be testing 20 percent of the student body on a weekly basis. Although this too could be criticized for not being implemented sooner, it is at least a commendable effort to reduce transmission rates. Indeed, Laura Bayzick, a junior criminology major with minors in sociology and women's and gender studies, was more optimistic about this semester. "I do believe that Wilkes is doing better handling the situation we are currently in;' said Bayzick. "We are now eligible to get tested at random through the school. Although the safety guidelines on campus haven't really changed, I believe the guidelines, for how small our campus is, worked pretty well. I am so happy to have the ability to be on campus despite everything because I learn so much better in a school setting rather than sitting in my bedroom." Back when I first wrote my article in September, just under 200,000 Americans had been killed by the pandemic. At the time that this article was written, the bell was tolled for 475,000 Americans. Unfortunately, by the time you read this, even this statistic will be woefully outdated, as almost 4,000 Americans continue to perish on a daily basis. To put our overall number of deaths into perspective, we are talking about a third of Philadelphia's population of 1.6 million people. And if these numbers were more evenly distributed across the world, I doubt I would be writing such an article. Instead, I regret to inform you that COVID-19 has claimed over 2,360,000 lives around the world (at the time this article was written). And despite the fact that the U.S. only makes up 4.25 percent of the world's total population, we lead the world in COVID-19 deaths with 20 percent, to be precise. We are doing a rather stellar job of this, I must admit. But despite our nationwide numbers, the university has evidently been fortunate enough to avoid any COVID-19 deaths directly related to its reopening last semester. However, if the wqrst were to pass for one of our positive cases, do you suppose that the university would announce that? I certainly hope so. After all, our COVID-19 dashboard readily lists our positive cases, those in quarantine, vaccinations, tests and the breakdown of in-person/virtual courses. At a passing glance, this seems like a thorough breakdown of the numbers. But what about deaths? There appears to be no accounting for deaths. Which, one would think, should be an easy 'O'. Right? When I last wrote about COVID-19 and the university reopening last semester, I said that I was an optimistic realist. So while I would like to believe that I still am, and I certainly hope that no one associated with the campus has died as a result of the university's reopening last semester, even I think that this -expectation is an unrealistic assumption that borders on delusion. . Because as the familiar adage goes, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Overall, it is spectacularly surreal to see this kind of capitalistic consensus present at the university (and more generally in society) - that the 104 student cases of COVID-19 (never mind this semester's cases), the possible long-term health ramifications and the possibility of death, however remote or high, is okay, as long as it means we can continue trying to go back to the way things were. I think Lord Maximus Farquaad said it best back in 2001: "Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make:' @wilkesbeacon William.Bilfingsley@wilkes.edu �'i 19 Sports The Beacon - February 17, 2021 ' Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact sports editor: Ariel.Reedrn.edu SWIM: Wilkes teants adjust to virtual competition for season By Saylee Guedes Sports Staff Writer Swimming in the Middle Atlantic Conference is officially making a return for the 2021 season, but it is with an extra twist - each meet will be held virtually, and Wilkes is diving headfirst into their firstever virtual season. The season is set to begin in March and will have specific guidelines they need to follow due to the ongoing pandemic. Per the COVID-19 guidelines, the season will be condensed and will be held through a virtual scoring system. Through this system, teams will be sending scores and times to each other throughout the privately held swim meets to limit exposure to the virus. "It's changed so much and swimming is not immune to these changes," Wilkes men's and women's coach Thomas Limouze said. "Wilkes can race at the CYC, and then we can compare times with a team that races at their own pool:' These new mandates also require smaller practice sizes, which has led to more oneon-one time with Limouze, who is preparing his athletes for an unusual season. "Smaller practice sizes mean a better chance to connect with swimmers oneon -one," Limouze said. "That's one of the reasons why I'm coaching, to begin with. Everyone is at their own starting point right now, and the extra space means I can meet them there." The one-on-one practices have. allowed athletes to focus on their craft and perfect their strokes. Wilkes' swimmers are excited to finally get back into the water after waiting for season restrictions to be lifted. They are grateful for the opportunity that Wilkes is giving to its athletes, as other schools and teams are unable to compete. "This season is looking to be a bit challenging because of COVID, and it's going to be super· rushed," senior Justin Burda said. "Given the circumstances, I've chosen not to rely on times as goals this year, but rather push for more qualitative tangibles and get back to mindfulness in the pool." Limouze is taking advantage of this unique opportunity and is getting to prepare each athlete for what lies ahead. The competition dynamic may have changed, but the opportunity to get in the water keeps the team going. "We have more practice options ~o decrease headcount in the pool, and that means we have the ability to individualize a little bit more," Limouze said. "It's not the same as racing (other teams) in person, but it's still a chance to race." During these small-group and one-on- Coach Thomas Limouze instructed sophomore Liam White during practice on how to improve his form to achieve a faster time. Photos: The Beacon/Ariel Reed Junior Trey Harloff powered through the last 25 meters of his 200 IM repeats during practice. one practices, Limouze has gotten to see the drive that swimmers have to get back into the pool. "The swimmers are excited to get back at it," Limouze said. "To me, they're looking pretty good." All athletes on campus, including swimmers, are yearning to get back into the competition season as the anticipation has been building. With the meets being virtually assessed, Wilkes' swim teams are surely encapsulating the term "team," as each individual is pushing each other to be better in and out of the water. The goal of this season is to build as individuals, which leads to building as a team. This season, the athletes are going to have to be there for each other during meets, as no fans will be in attendance. Swimmers, and student-athletes alike, who tested positive for COVID-19 in the fall have to go through a "return-to-play" protocol established by our athletic trainers to ensure that they will be healthy and safe when they return to their sport. "The team is in an interesting position, just like many other teams this year," Burda said. "Several of our swimmers are out until they can get EKG testing done and get cleared to swim." Due to the various regulations surrounding playing a sport during a pandemic, the NCAA has allowed athletes to declare an extra year of eligibility. Along with the condensed season, there is also a number of athletes who are unable to participate due to COVID-19 restrictions. "Because we won't be losing a year of eligibility and I will be having a fifth year, I have been lifting quite a bit to keep mass on," Burda said. ''I've also spent a lot of time coordinating with my coach to make sure I can make it to as many practices as possible." More swimmers than Burda have been taking advantage of the opportunity to compete, like senior Abby Keating. "I am going to be swimming next year as well," Keating said. "My goal for this season is to make the most of the virtual season and to make sure the seniors that are graduating have the best season ever." In terms of talent, Wilkes' swim· teams are looking toward a rewarding season. The upperclassmen are confident in their new teammates. "We have an awesome women's freshman team that will allow us to keep the same numbers from last semester," Keating said. "In terms of the men's newcomers, we only have three, but they will bring a lot to the team in terms of talent." The structure of this season may be different, but the drive that these athletes have remains the same. @wilkesbeacon Baylee.Guedes@wilkes.edu F �...I The Beacon-February 17, 2021 . 20 Sports WBB: DeSales bested Colonels in back-to-back contests By Beacon Sports Staff Another positive for the Colonels was the debut of first-year point guard Julia Marino, who played over 20 minutes in her first collegiate game. Game two was more of the same, except DeSales used its home court to jump out to a large lead in the first half. Kelley shined with 17 points, despite the Colonels' struggles as a whole on the offensive end. The Colonels returned to the court on Thursday and Friday last week when they opened the season with a home-andhome series with DeSales. Wilkes came up short in both games, losing 79-55 and 68-44. . Despite the rough start to the season, the Colonels are seizing the opportunity to play basketball safely under the current COVID-19 environment. "Take advantage of every opportunity you get because it could be taken away at any point," head coach Tara Macciocco said. "I hope that is the mentality we have moving forward. This is a very unique situation:' Wilkes kept things close in the first half of game one with a solid performance on defense, but ultimately shots started falling for the Bulldogs. "I can't control if the ball goes in the basket," Smicherko said. "The one thing I can control is how I play defense, the rebounds I get and helping out my teammates." Smicherko had a balanced game for Wilkes, totaling six points, two rebounds and three assists in the opener. Even though they lost, the Colonels saw positives to take away from the game. "I love when I have four other girls with The Beacon/Kirsten Peters the same amount of energy that I have, as . well as all the energy that comes from the Senior forward Gabby Smicherko scanned the court for an open teammate in bench;' said Kelley. Wilkes' season opener against DeSales on Feb. 11 . • The Colonels will have a bye-week on the week of Feb. 15 before having another two-game series with FDU-Florham starting on Feb. 25. Wilkes will be home on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. A live stream for the game can be found at gowilkesu.com. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL De Sales 68, Wilkes 44 (Game 1) DESALES (68) -- Amelia Saunders 6 5-7 17, Averi Jordan 5 2-4 12, Lindsey Welsh 4 0-0 9, Rylie Rittenhouse 2 2-4 7, Mikaela Reese 2 3-4 7, Isabel Caruso 3 0-0 7, Grace Kelleher 2 0-0 4, Maria Newsome 1 0-0 3, Leah Hodick 1 0-0 2, Olivia Scotti O 0-0 0, Kate Early O 0-0 0. Totals 26 12-19 ·68 .• WILKES (44) -- Maddie Kelley 6 2-3 17, Gabby Smicherko 2 3-4 7, Katelyn Kinczel 2 0-0 6, Julia Marino 1 2-2 5, Brenna Babcock 2 0-0 4, Ariel Reed 1 0-0 2, Baylee Guedes 1 0-0 2, Kendra Smith 0 1-2 1, Brianna Horton O 0-0 O, Erin Shober O 0-0 O, Juliann Duignam O 0-0 0, Tess Edwards O 0-0 0, Katie Johns O 0-0 0. Totals 15 8-11 44. DeSales'l7'18 '20'13 -- 68 Wilkes' 10'7' 10' 17 -- 44 Threeapoint goals -- DS 4 (Welsh, Rittenhouse, Caruso, Newsome); WIL 6 (Kelley 3, Kinczel 2, Marino). ~ . @wilkesbeacon , TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu �The Beacon-February 17, 2021 21 Sports wanted, and we kind of let them. That'll ~ be a key for us this week coming into the game." The Colonels return to the court on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Arcadia. . No fans are allowed in attendance; however, a live stream of the game will be broadcasted on gowilkesu.com. MBB, from frontcover The first-year students, like Jason Eberhart, Trent Fisher and Jackson Shafer, have shown some flashes throughout the opening games. Despite Eberhart being the only first-year in t,!ie starting lineup, both Shafer and Fisher are contributing ·significant minutes to the team from the bench. "I mean everyone tells you the higher level of play, the faster the game gets and everyone is much stronger," Fisher said. "I feel like I've transitioned pretty well after playing. "You need to have that mindset to get better every time, and there's no time to slack off. Every time they come down the court, you need to be ready for anything." In game number one, it was first-year guard Zachary Gula who made a notable impact by leading Wilkes on the offensive end with 15 points. Unfortunately for Gula and the Colonels, he did not have the same production in the second game against the Bulldogs. After dropping the first game, Wilkes had a sluggish start in game number two, trailing 11-1 in the opening minutes of the game. The Colonels struggled in the paint as well, getting outscored 32-8 in game two. "As a team, we got some pretty good stops. (In game one) we got stomped on, and we wanted to respond and be a little more physical and that was really a point of emphasis," Coller said. ''.As a returning player, I try to lead by example, play a little more physical and get my hand on MEN'S BASKETBALL DeSales 77, Wilkes 43 (Game 2) DESALES (77) -- Timmy Edwards 8 4-8 20, Elijah Eberly 3 0-0 11, Jordan Holmqvist 3 2-2 11, Darnell Vaughan Jr. 3 0-0 7, Aidan Ellwood 2 0-2 6, Mason Barnes 2 0-0 5, Christian Guldin 2 0-0 5, Keba Mitchell I 2-2 4, Ryan Boylan 1 0-0 3, Dat Lambert 1 0-0 3, Will Pollick 0'2-2 2. Totals 26 15-21 77. WILKES (43) -- Drake Marshall 5 0-3 12, Trent Fisher 2 5-5 9, Donovan Breeding 3 1-2 8, Sean Coller 2 1-2 Jackson Shafer 1 0-0 3, Jason Eberhart 0 2-2 2, Zachary Gula O 2-4 2, Landon Henry O 0-0 0, Cooper Chaffee O 0-0 0, Matthew Davidheiser O 0-0 0, Jack Bova 0 0-0 0, Nickerson DeMelfi O 0-0 0, Bradley Anacreon O 0-0 0, Trystan Griffith O 0-0 0. Totals 13 11 -18 43. DeSales' 35 ' 42 -- 77 Wilkes'22'21 -- 43 Three-point goals -- DS 10 (Holmqvist 3, Ellwood 2, Boylan, Vaughan, Guldin, Barnes, Lambert); WIL 6 (Marshall 2, Coller 2, Breeding, Shafer). ti The Beacon/Kirsten Peters Wilkes head coach Izzi Metz talked to starting guard Sean Coller in the middle of Wilkes'home opener against DeSales on Feb. 12. some basketballs." continues to need improvement Coller led the Colonels with three . offensively and defensively. I think our steals in an attempt to keep the Colonel shotmaking will continue to improve as offense alive. our conditioning improves as well:' Timmy Edwards dominated both Despite the back-to-back losses to open games for DeSales, leading his team with the season, Metz and the Colonels are an average of 25.5 points across both moving forward to their next opponent. "I think we need to be a really big games. "We want to improve in all facets of the presence next week and impose our will game before we take on Arcadia;' Wilkes on them," Shafer said. ''.Against DeSales, coach Izzi Metz said. "Our rebounding they were able to have whatever they ...... @wilkesbeacon ~ Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu r �_J • �2 I.Ikes.edu tes ;c.) and 25 potentially ; Student hurston to he council go toward : Thurston 1p between ivernment, ther mega oney each as made to ote passed '<es.edu us 1 mitorders ,t48hours ltionDesk >sipower@ IMPACT 1gagement ~nts at the March 4 es.edu for .. 2 ... 7 .14 .19 �-- - - - - - - - ---- -------- - --- .J I I 24 The Beacon - February 17, 2021 THEBEACO L " � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2021 February 17th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 February 17 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/4745d71cfe5af192bbcdd26131f44727.pdf 1fda7ea64b6944929c45289852960938 PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 24, 2021 w Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 73, Issue 11 1 HEBEACON Wilkes Universit - Wilkes-Barre, Penns lvania Students speak freely in open forunt on race By Sean Schmoyer Co-News Editor •• A virtual open forum on race and the curriculum was held to gauge student interest in potential new academic offerings relating to diversity and inclusion. It also gave students the chance to express to fac ulty and administration how the current curriculum addresses and teaches issues of race and diversity. Associate Professor Dr. Mia Briceno; Chair of Global Cultures, Dr. Chris Zarpentine; and recent graduate Morgan Burton '20 hosted and acted as moderators for the forum. "My hope for the forum was for students to attend, and I would have liked to see a few more students there;' Zarpentine said. Zarpentine also expressed that in the future, faculty along with Burton hope to incorporate small group activities and sessions to continue the discussion that started at the forum. Katie Ermeus, first-year political science maj or, asked faculty members and fellow students how they would approach situations where tension between students over issues of race reached levels of aggressive arguments. _ Dr. Jonathan Kuiken, associate professor of history, responded. "That is a question that professors try to grapple with and need to grapple with;' said Kuiken. "How do we find that balance in our classrooms between having an Becoming a pandemic statistic: A firsthand COVID-19 story By Breanna Eblsch Co-Opinion Editor open and frank discussion without closing down opinions and conversation, and how to realize when we reach that borderline of it turning from a conversation into a confrontation:' Kuiken continued that he often tries to de-escalate situations and that he makes an attempt to have students talk after class about issues that others may disagree with or that may upset others. He identified that professors need students to help keep conversations moving in positive directions and point out if a situation has gone too far. After, Dr. Helen Davis addressed that the general education board at Wilkes has plans to try to improve on general education courses by adjusting the curriculum to include more lessons on diversity, race and culture. A possible solution proposed during the forum was to have courses include classifications in similar ways as the women's and gender studies minor. Also mentioned during the forum was whether the nursing and pharmacy programs at Wilkes had any courses that focus on racial bias, and if not, if that would be implemented into those fields of study. "It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch:' The meaning of this timeless saying has never been clearer than what we are currently experiencing with the battle against COVID-19. After a year and hundreds of thousands of tragic deaths later, the raging and deadly virus has affected millions of people around the world, but also on an especially drastic level in the United States. While many are continuing to take the necessary precautions to stay safe, there are others who blatantly disregard the recommendations, either for the beliefs in their "personal freedoms" or a simply not caring about anyone but themselves. Due to the failure of other people to follow the necessary precautions and regulations, I unfortunately returned home for a much needed and longer than usual winter break between semesters, only to become one of more than 27 million people who have contracted COVID-19 in the U.S. RACE,page4 COVID FIRSTHAND, page 15 E 8 Iii :i C Gl C, 0 f :II 0 CJ Cooking up some Lasagna Lme \\ith Second Lad\· fettcrman, page -; r �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 2 News News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editors: Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu and Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Student Government: Feb. 17 weekly meeting notes By Maddy Kinard Staff Writer On Feb. 17, Student Government held its third virtual meeting. An external request from the Wilkes University Theatre Department was presented, along with a discussion about upcoming class fundraisers/socials and overviews from committee representatives. To start, the Theatre Department presented a fund request for three speakers, two subwoofers and five cables. In total, the cost comes to $10,000, covering incidentals. The speakers that the department has now are quite old, and because of COVID-19, there are no live shows, so they can not charge admission or make money to put towards this purchase. Classes broke out into breakout rooms breakout rooms to discuss upcoming and came back mostly agreeing that this fundraisers and class socials for the semester. purchase would benefit many people. SG has The senior class is planning two online events: an abundance of funds due to the a campus-wide Trivia Night ~ - - - - - - - ~ on March 8 and a Bingo Night lack of costly events being held, and members believed that this specifically for senior students. would be a great way to support /~ Instagram spotlights will also be the arts. continuing this semester. Next week, the Theatre The junior class has plans for Department will come back for a social as well. For fundraising, their request to be voted on. they will be selling phone wallets. Then, members voted on Sophomores are planning an whether or not majors should be online family feud for a social added to graduation diplomas, . and will restart magnet sales next which will then be taken back to the education week. First-years have yet to pick a fundraiser committee for discussion. It was agreed that and are looking to plan an Easter Egg Hunt majors on diplomas are preferred throughout campus sometime in April as a Classes again broke out into IO-minute social. s ,. , 0 Closing comments included a SLAM representative sharing how if a student would need to leave the state, they would need to provide a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before returning or receive a test from Passan Hall and quarantine until the results came back. The pandemic has also affected this summer's first-year student orientation. It will be held as six one-day sessions to limit personto-person contact. Finally, the library committee representative explained how all databases are still up and running; however, interlibrary loans are not functioning and will continue that way for the foreseeable future. ~ , @wilkesbeacon Madelynn.Kinard@wilkes.edu Beacon Briefs: Upcoming happenings on campus Complied by Sara Ross Focus on Yourself and Improve Your Wellness A group of pharmacy students from the Foundations Pl class created, "How to Focus on Yourself to Improve Your Wellness:' This website educates college students on implementing wellness strategies into their lifestyles to avoid burnout. Some of these tips include maintaining a sleep schedule, exercising frequently, eating healthy, planning outtne's day and limiting technology usage. For a variety ofhealthytips, visit https:/ / sites. google.com/wilkes.edu/team3 b2020-2021 / home. An Evening with Baratunde Thurston The Office of Student Development and Mega-Councils will host ''.An Evening with Baratunde Thurston; a Leadership Speaker Series event, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25. Thurston is a writer, activist, comedian and Emmy-nominated host. He has worked for "The Onion; produced for "The Daily Show,' advised the Obama White House and written The New York Times best-seller "How to Be Black." In 2019, he delivered the Ted Talk, "How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline ata Time:' This event is virtual with a 30-minute presentation, which will be followed by a question and answer session. To sign-up and Upcoming Events: Spring 2021 Semester receive the Zoom link, visit https://forms.gle/ NklfPTW7jFSpncsN9. Support the Ultimate Frisbee Club The Ultimate Frisbee Club is selling custom discs for $15 on their online store to help fund jerseys for their club. All orders will be distributed via the oncampus mail room. Purchased discs will be delivered to the student's mailbox in the mail room once discs are available. If students who made a purchase do not have a mailbox on campus, the Ultimate Frisbee Club will reach out to deliver students' orders. Send any questions about the fundraiser to Adrian Malave at adrian.malave@wilkes.edu. Building Hours Administrative Buildings February 24 - MLK Day Celebration 24 - Virtual Concert Series with SNL Comedian 24 - NEPA Survey Due 25 - Baratunde Thurston Lecture 26 - Scales Dissertation Defense 10 - Heather Sincavage Lecture 11 - Nominations for Outstanding Adult Learner Award Due 18 - Virtual Career Fair 24 - Martha Posner and Amy Arbus Lecture Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday: noon to 5 p.m. April Marts Center March 6 - Karley Stasko's Create Your Own Macrame Plant Holder Event 1 - "End Hunger in 30 Days" Challenge 3 - Virtual Concert Series with Country Music Duo 4-6 - IMPACT Conference 5 - Proposals due for Women's & Gender Studies Conference 5 - Society of Student Nurses Fundraiser with Online Store Closes May Safe Hours at the Sordoni Art Gallery While seeing the new exhibit at the Sordoni Art Gallery, the gallery wants to ensure the safety of all its visitors. If interested in seeing "Brutal Beauty: The Transformation of Women in Mythology,' reserve time during their "Safe Hours:' This is a time that will allow visitors to have the whole gallery to themselves. Safe Hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact Karley Stasko at karley.stasko@ wilkes.edu to reserve a slot. @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Table of Contents Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Most Academic and Auxiliary Buildings Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m..to 3 p.m. 15-22 - Final Exam Period Farley Library Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: The WilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu . Monday-Thursday: 7:45 a.m. to midnight Friday: 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to midnight News .................. 2 Life, A&E ............ 7 • · Opinion............ 14 Sports.... ~ .. ;........ 19 �L The Beacon - February 24, 2021 News 3 UCOM: A vaccination center for community members By Genny Frederick Asst. News Editor While positive cases of COVID-19 are still high throughout the country, a more positive statistic continues to rise at Wilkes University. COVID-19 vaccination numbers have continued to escalate since the first vaccine was administered in December 2020, and now, the CDC reports that more than 57 million total doses have been provided. While healthcare workers across the country continue to distribute vaccines, the Wilkes community is also doing its part to provide vaccinations in a variety of ways. The university worked with the City of Wilkes-Barre's health department to hold vaccination clinics in the University Center on Main at Wilkes' campus. "When vaccinations started to become available in our area, the Department of Health reached out to us to see if we could help with a suitable location;' said Justin Kraynack, assistant vice president of operations and compliance. Henry Radulski, director of the WilkesBarre City Health Department explained why UCOM was used as a distribution center. "To facilitate the dispensing of the vaccine in a mass immunization setting during a pandemic, it requires several components to be successful;' said Radulski. · "Finding a location that is centrally located and is spacious enough to provide social distancing while providing vaccines at a rate of up to 100 people per hour is essential:' With the Wilkes-Barre Department of Health is receiving 2,000 doses of vaccinations per week, UCOM is an appropriate size to accommodate the traffic of those receiving the vaccine. Kraynack expanded on why Wilkes was so willing to offer their facilities to the vaccination effort. "Above all, it is vitally important that we at Wilkes University are good neighbors and community members;' said Kraynack. "It is vitally important that we support our Department of Health, healthcare professionals, science and medical experts and all those working on the front lines to combat this pandemic:' While Wilkes is ready to support those on the front lines of the pandemic, many members of the Wilkes community are also on the front lines themselves. Students in the Passan School of Nursing have been administering the vaccine to members of the Wilkes-Barre community, as well as to members of their communities at home. Jess Turnitza, a student in the Passan School of Nursing's Class of 2022, was able to administer the vaccine and felt personal connections with those she was vaccinating. "On some days, we would administer to over 250 community members;' Turnitza said. "It's definitely a great feeling to help out. Everyone had a story with COVID-19 and how it had impacted their lives. I'll never forget a patient who sat in my chair who had tears forming in her eyes saying, 'Thank you; as several of her family members died from COVID. She was grateful to do her part and get hers:' Not only did Turnitza give the vaccine, but she also received the vaccine. She is one of the 132 members of the Wilkes community who are now vaccinated. Nursing students were not the only ones who have been receiving and administering vaccines. Members of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy have also been diligently working within their pharmacies and internships to administer the vaccine. Dr. Nicole Pezzino, director of community outreach and innovation as well as assistant professor of pharmacy practice in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, discussed some of this work. "If you know me, I am a very proud pharmacist, but having these opportunities to help immunize our community has been some of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences of my career," Pezzino said. "We are helping our community access these vaccines to help our vulnerable populations and healthcare workers. Our state recently had a waiver in place that allowed students to immunize, and it is absolutely incredible to me to see what we can do as pharmacists and future Photos courtesy of Dr. Nicole Pezzino Jocilyn Steigerwalt, second-year pharmacy prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. student, pharmacists when we are empowered:' Pezzino also shared that to-date, over 6,100 vaccines have been administered by students in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. While the rising vaccination numbers do not ensure a swift end to the pandemic, these slowly growing numbers contil)ue to be a beacon of hope for a post-pandemic future. , Radulski reflected on the help Wilkes University has offered to the community. "The City of Wilkes-Barre is extre~ly grateful for our relationship with Wilkes University, and we look forward to working together on future endeavors, as we both are in pursuit of a healthier community;' Radulski said. ''.Although we still have a pandemic hill to climb, however, thanks to Wilkes-University, the hill is not as steep, and it will help us reach the top sooner than we hoped:' ~ @wilkesbeacon Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu 3f' Catherine Tuman, a student In the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, administers a COVID-19 vaccine through her work with Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. r �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 News 4 First visiting poet Zach Linge delivers reading for students By Genny Frederick Asst. News Editor On Feb. 17, the English Department held the first lecture of the Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series and welcomed Zach Linge to campus. Linge is a doctorate student of poetry at Florida State University and is also the editor-in-chief of the Southeast Review, the national literary magazine run by graduate students of Florida State University. Linge's poems appear in AGNI, Best New Poets 2020, New England Review, Poetry and more. Linge's visit to campus consisted of three different sessions, in which they interacted with students as a companion in the study of poetry, a teacher in the art of poetry and a poet to admire. The first session of Linge's visit was in a senior-level Modern American poetry class, where the works of Paul Lawrence Dunbar and Alexander Posey were discussed. Darren Martinez, a senior English major, enjoyed the session and Linge's insights. "It's always an interesting change of pace when you get someone with a different view of poetry to lead your class;' Martinez said. "Zach had a great sense of inclusiveness, asking. questions about the local fare to get a sense of our community. They were intent on listening to what we said about the works we covered, as their interpretations of the poem's emotional resonance and rhyme scheme coincided with a lot of what we appreciated about the content." Later in the afternoon, Linge led a poetry workshop, in which they worked one-on- RACE, from front •• Dr. Jonathan Ference, associate provost and graduate of the Wilkes pharmacy program, responded that there are not currently any specific programs or standalone cours~s that address those issues, but that there should be. Ermeus responded, "When it comes to the courses, I feel like there is a lot of 'we should' but not a lot of 'we will:" Dr. Linda Gutierrez, associate professor in biology, expressed that it is important to educate faculty, and she believes there is a problem that runs deep within the coalition of science and engineering. "We do not realize that we need to take everything into account because we are human beings, and we have biases;' said Gutierrez. "Even when we are talking about science, we have biases;' she said. "I believe that we have to be pushed by the administration to have some mechanism to make our faculty Dr. Mlschelle Anthony and Zach Llnge during the evening poetry reading on Zoom. The Beacon/Genny Frederick one with students on poems that they had submitted earlier this year. That evening, Dr. Mischelle Anthony, chair of the English Department, introduced and welcomed Linge, while commenting on the success of the sessions earlier in the day. "Over Zoom, during this pandemic, those sessions have had their own stunning logic of delight;' said Anthony. Linge read from their manuscript entitled, "His Visible Bones:' The manuscript is laid out with three sections, each with 15 poems, plus an additional poem to close the work. They read five poems from each section, detailing the trek the speaker moves through, from uncertainty in the world, to a newly sober world view and to the mortifying sensation of having feelings for someone else. Both the reading and the manuscript conclude with a poem titled, "Rhema:• Linge explained the larger meaning behind the title of this poem. "In some apostolic traditions, it's tied to a spirit's ability to move a person;' Linge said. "I am intrigued by the idea of listening and being quiet enough to hear something larger than oneself speak. This is the poem where I finish the book, and I listen to what it tells me:' The structure of this reading was particularly moving to Dr. Thomas Hamill, associate professor of English. "The poems were richly varied and complex, and I found the progression through the poems and through the speaker's negotiations of different phases of identity, self-awareness and self-reflection to be compelling - and often arresting;' Hamill said. "I also really appreciated how Linge framed and contextualized these dynamic transitions throughout their reading and performance of the pieces:' After the reading, Linge answered questions from the audience and discussed the current state of poetry. "There are so many different things happening in this field _right now - so many fantastic, amazing, surprising ways that people write. It constantly challenges me, constantly makes me reconsider my assumptions about poetics;' Linge responded. "I feel challenged and grateful to be writing when I am:' Linge's works can be found on their website zachlinge.com or poetryfoundation. org, and a recording of the reading can be found on the WilkesUVideo YouTube channel. The English department will hold two more writers as part of the Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series. If interested in attending, watch for WilkesToday emails. wake up and realize how important these things are:' . Students also raised concerns that with all the events going on in the world, everyone gets exhausted, burned out and may often find it hard to concentrate or function in a classroom. It was pointed out that with many recent events, it is harder for black students in particular, and that the campus lacks a clear space or way for students to address those issues and feelings. Instead, they are often left . to struggle privately while trying to maintain an expected level of work. Erica Acosta, associate director of diversity initiatives, was one of many faculty and administration members in attendance at the forum. "I think the forum went well, and I think we need to hear from students and faculty about race in the curriculum;' said Acosta. "The more we educate ourselves on such topics is the only way to create lasting and impactful change in our communities. The only way we can break down the unknown is by unpacking and seeing what it looks like for everyone:' Additionally, the forum highlighted the ongoing discussion in the Global Cultures Department to work on incorporating a new minor, and eventually maybe a major in Africana Studies on campus. Dean Paul Riggs of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences discussed the major hurdles of implementing new programs. "The main challenge at the moment is providing enough courses to populate a new program;' said Riggs. "The faculty have been working on that, but it seems clear to me that new faculty will be needed at some point. The other challenge is estimating the demand for the program and whether it will be successful. We hope so, but it is hard to be sure:' Zarpentine added that there is an immense importance for students to realize that courses about diversity and culture impact everyone and need to be taught to every student, regardless of their major or planned career. "It is very easy to feel like racial discrimination is something that happens to someone else, and if you are white, that is generally true;' said Zarpentine. "I think it is easy to lose track of the fact that discrimination against people of color whether you are participating in it or not, whether you approve of it or not, whether you are even aware of it or not - is a reality that benefits you if you are not the victim. So, whether you think it is your business or not, it is your business:' The Beacon's center spread focuses on student reactions to the possibility of an Africana Studies major or minor. Check out pages 12 artd 13 for more information. . . . . @wilkesbeacon ~ Genevieve.Frederick@wilkes.edu Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �The Beacon - February 24, 2021 News 5 Wilkes University prepares for second annual Giving Day By Sara Ross Co-News Editor A day filled with giving back to the Wilkes community, the second annual Giving Day, 24-hour fundraising event, is scheduled for March 11 and will be adjusting to a more virtual format. This year, Chief Development Officer Margaret Steele is responsible for the planning and shares that the event will be functioning through social media with students. and staff posting images throughout the day. Steele provides insight on the purpose of Giving Day. "Giving Day's main focus is to encourage giving to the area people in Wilkes love most, whether that be a certain school, department or athletic team," said Steele. Further, to ensure that the university's Giving Day stands out, it falls on its own day in March . .Across the nation, Giving Day celebrations are typically held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. However, as Steele explains, this will allow Wilkes to host its own event "without all the noise." Donations can be provided to the following departments and schools on campus: Athletics; School of Education; College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Science and Engineering; Farley Library; Nesbitt School of Pharmacy; Passan School of Nursing; Sidhu School of Business and Leadership; Student Life and Student Scholarships. In addition, donors can contribute gifts in honor of someone, such as past or current faculty members. Throughout Giving Day, Steele enjoys watching the donations roll in live and adds them onto their leaderboard to keep track of how much each progr;un has received. Mary Simmons, associate director of alumni .relations, emphasizes that while donations are wonderful to receive, she does not want this to discourage anyone from participating, especially when it comes to snapping photos for social media. Simmons has been in charge of covering Giving Day's social platforms. "My main responsibility is to develop the main communications schedule to promote Giving Day to alumni, as well as to ensure that the website is updated and functional;' said Simmons. Students are encouraged to submit photos with the hashtags #Give2Wilkes, #OneDay and #One Wilkes via Instagram and Twitter for Giving Day's photo challenge. Ten students' images will then be announced as winners of the challenge on March 12 and may even receive a gift. Giving Day's schedule will kick off at 8 a.m. and continue until midnight on March 11. Most of the activities held will be captured through social media, including a live message from Wilkes University's President, Dr. Greg Cant. "There will be fewer large groups of people gathering around campus, and we will be doing smaller social media cameos that are live on Giving Day;' said Steele. Due to a virtual format, Giving Day will lose having student-athletes raising money on the second floor of the Henry Student Center, which was Simmons' favorite aspect. Regardless, Associate Director of Athletics Philip Wingert is still looking forward to Giving Day and how it promotes positive connections with previous generations of Wilkes students. "Wilkes enjoys a rich tradition with a large, dedicated alumni following who enjoy hearing what's happening in their areas of interest and learning what's new at Wilkes," said Wingert. "It's an opportunity · for younger coaches to introduce themselves and start establishing relationships. For others, it's a chance to reconnect with familiar alumni from years past." According to Wingert, the university continues to receive donations of all sizes, from a few dollars to millions of dollars. Associate Dean of Student Development Philip Ruthkosky adds to this statement by claiming that this is an experience that can make a difference in the lives of all students. "It affords us the opportunity to share stories about our students and celebrate their amazing accomplishments and perseverance, both inside and outside of the classroom," said Ruthkosky. Steele and Simmons reflect these sentiments as well and are counting down the minutes waiting for Giving Day to arrive. For more information, students should visit wilkes.edu/givingday to learn additional information about the day's activities and how to get involved. Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Graphic by Zoey Rosensweet • r �..J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 News 6 Wilkes ROTC training program adjusts to COVID-19 By Sara Ross Co-News Editor Even during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Wilkes University and King's College Army ROTC have been keeping up with their training at Kirby Park. A major aspect of ROTC is conducting physical training, which is held three to five days a week. Due to COVID-19 regulations, the army cadets are trying to keep their training outside as much as possible. At Kirby Park, ROTC utilizes the track and fields to work on training for the Army Combat Fitness Test events. They also use the levee for running and ruck marches. When there is inclement weather, the cadets will go indoors at the King's College gym for training. Whether inside or outside, all members are required to wear masks and practice social distancing during formations. Throughout their training, Army ROTC cadets prep for missions and how to execute successful operations in the classroom. This is taught during leadership labs through Army 8 Troop Leadership Procedures or TLPs. Then, many of these missions are practiced out-in-the-field at Kirby Park, which provides them with practical, hands-on experience to help them develop as future Army officers. @wilkesbeacon Sara.Ross@wilkes.edu Cadet Battalion commander Megan Magoon leads formation and salutes WIikes University professor of mllltary science, Lieutenant Colonel WIiiiam G. White. Photos from left to right: On the left, Cadet John Pezzolantl leads the Charger Company along with Cadets Gideon Barrer and Ryan McCombs at closlng formation during the fall field training exercise, which Is a mix of both WIikes and King's ROTC members. Then, on the right, cadets from WIikes prepare for their mission . • Cadet Pezzolantl, along with Cadet Seth Hanchett, prepare and organize their battle positions for night time defensive operations during their Army ROTC training. Photos courtesy of Megan Magoon and John Pezzolanti Cadet Matthew Rojas, a future active duty Infantry officer, Instructs underclassmen cadets on the Importance of weapon safety In the field. �Life, Arts & Entertainment The Beacon - February 24, 2021 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact life, arts & entertainment editor: Emi!f.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Farley Library celebrates Black writers with a digital c.atalog By Emily Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor Black History Month has been especially important for students and faculty ¢.is year, as the words of historic Black speakers and writers has resonated among the population. The Farley Library is also celebrating Black History Month by creating an entire collection of books by Black authors. The collection, titled "Black Excellence;' seeks to educate and raise awareness of the Black community. Its description states, "This month and every month we celebrate the history, experiences and contributions of Black Americans:' "Black Excellence" was digitally organized by Heather Bowman, electronic resources librarian, and Erica Acosta, associate director of diversity initiatives, for the Center for Global Education and Diversity. "Weve tried to highlight a range of Black voices;' Bowman said. "There are books by Black men and women, historical and contemporary figures, nonfiction writers and novelists and poets:' Acosta was inspired to create the collection back in October 2020 after observing Lehigh University's library. They celebrated every heritage month through their own library's resources. "I thought it was a pretty cool idea to do the same;' Acosta said. "That was when I reached out to (Bowman) to see if we were able to do something like that:' Luckily for Acosta, the library was able to organize the diverse collection of books and do so with ease. Black Excellence: Suggested Reading HtJW'toSttartA~ Sd~WWo(}dUJd ~rr.m,x.,(ffilf o Mo t>y -..'6-,.C<:a:a {) ca1t1-1ur-:tJt1. E lB4A1 C31llwrt1t.1" E.Jto61.S ~2019 C6Y.l ISB'I 970061299?.5'7 15&-4 t:t,7!,SO!,Ztl,:3 .,,.._"'°""" lhw,_<NJmCrow::man ,,,..,.,_"'""'•"' e:olom!i:1'0Nt~ Qt' 1$,'.J')t- • N,taic,,, O c.tli'i:ffl'_..,lill'%50 A4'J72(>10 l<R!>· C,O<Jpic""'Y<II -.grr.n..•: fl\'l,at,:;;w-, 0 camu,,u~ f1te& ·- IS!!H !'1781~5'all037 w..t~ ;(16(1671;4,U3:l'J ..... _,,,...,.,,,, ..... --..... ....,, 0nllwO!llOr-d . _ by !leP...y ,,.,_, 0 C•O l.l"'C.., E185~t5 Yo~:!01~ ISSN Vl8Ci~5500J'~ The Beacon/Emily Cherkauskas The "Black Excellence" collectlon, which can be accessed through the Farley Library's homepage, holds a wide range of books by Black authors As the co-chair of the Council ,on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, Acosta already had a list of books organized. CODIE had created ·the resource tool kit over the summer in order to support Black Lives Matter, allowing for further education on those who were .interested. "This tool kit is for those of us that want to expand our knowledge and awareness about topics related to racial, diversity, equity and social justice;' Acosta said. "There are books, articles, podcasts and YouTube videos to assist us in this learning process:' Out of that tool kit, Acosta shared the list of books with Bowman, who made the collection display, making sure to add a variety of genres and topics for the collection's inclusion. Some examples from the collection ofbooks include historical staples, such as "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X'' by Malcom X and "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community" by Martin Luther King, Jr. The collection guide also contains some more modem titles, such as "White Fragility" by Robin Diangelo and "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi. Another unique example from the collection is "The Brief History of Seven l\i]lings" by Marlon James '06, who is a graduate of Wilkes' graduate in creative writing program. As a digitized guide, the "Black Excellence' collection is fully available online. ~For · those interested in checking out the collection, it can be found through the Farley Library's homepage at www.wilkes.edu/ acadernics/library/index.aspx and by clicking on the "Research Guides" link under the "Resources" section. "Black Excellence' can be found within the wide range of guides offered by the library, wherein if it is clicked, it will offer the collection. All books are available for check-out from the library for anyone who is interested in reading from the collection. Call numbers and ISBNs are listed along with the books, allowing for easy referrals to the books. By having the "Black Excellence' guide now permanently sitting with the 104 other unique research guides curated by the library, Bowman and Acosta see strong benefits for students and faculty engaging with the guide. "Reading about others' lived experiences is a good way to expand our knowledge, understanding and empathy,' Bowman said. According to Suzanna Calev, archivist and public services librarian, the university has had a long history of engaging with the Black community. "Wilkes had a relationship _with Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, in Vrrginia in the 1930s and '40s where students from their institute could come to Wilkes and take classes here;' Calev said. Although not much history has been discovered and organized into · an official collection, Farley Library's faculty, student workers and interns are continuing to go . through inventories of oral history interviews and currently unprocessed collections. With this work, the library hopes to bring more historical diverse figures to the welldeserved spotlight. @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Cooking up some Lasagna Love with Secon.d Lady Fetterman By Judah Nlcole Lyles Staff Writer This semester, what we need, more than anything, is a little love - and Lasagna Love is the best way to get (and give) it. Lasagna Love is an organization that was founded upon the notion ofbringing love back into the world. Founded by Rhiannon Menn, mother and founder of Good to Mama, a selfcare blog for mothers like herself, the Lasagna Love organization gives everyday people the opportunity to look out for others. ''.Around April, I started feeling just super helpless;' Menn told Sheinelle Jones on TODAY. "There were so many moms that I knew who had lost childcare, who had lost jobs. They were just feeling stressed out. And so literally one day, I was just like, 'I'm gonna make extra meals:'' In May 2020, Lasagna Love was a small initiative for Menn to help out in her San Diego community. It quickly grew into a booming organization that delivers over 4,000 meals a week to food insecure families. Lasagna Love giving all people access to nutritious, healthy is now active in all SO states and has recently food. Based out of Philadelphia, they work . nationally to make these resources more extended its reach into Puerto Rico. In today's society, empathy is something available for the average person. Their mission that is greatly needed. With the COVID-19 is motivated by the staggering amount of food pandemic causing unemployment rates to ~ecurity in America. ''Accordirig to the United States Department skyrocket, many do not realize that this is only one of the many pandemics plaguing of Agriculfure, 29.7 million Americans live the world, and food insecurity is one of them. in communities where a healthy diet is out of The Food Trust is an organization dedicated reach;' the Food Trust states on its website. to addressing food insecurity and food·deserts in the United States and is dedicated to LASAGNA, page 11 r �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Spicy and savory: Moody Foodie's unique chickpea taco bowl By Anna Culver Staff Writer A hot and savory dish that offers a variety of spicy tastes with a set of diverse add-ins to your liking. Ingredients: 1) 1 tablespoon olive oil 2) 15 ounces chickpeas (1 can, drained and rinsed) 3) 2 tablespoons soy sauce 4) 1 teaspoon chili powder . 5) 1 teaspoon garlic powder 6) 1 teaspoon cumin . 7) Rice (Note: Rice doubles in size once fully cooked) Customizable add-ins: 1) Bell peppers 2) Cucumber 3) Lime juice, for taste 4) A scoop of sour cream Cooking the hot ingredients: Start cooking your rice, and keep an eye on it as you start working on your chickpeas. Heat up olive oil in a medium pan. Wait for the oil to start simmering and add in your chickpeas. Stir occasionally until cooked slightly golden brown. Adding the rest of your ingredients: Add in your soy sauce, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin. Then, cook the combined ingredients for about three to four minutes, or until golden brown. Take your rice and add your chickpeas. Customizations: Add-ins are customizable. I added bell peppers and cucumber with lime juice and sour cream for taste. Feel free to adjust the add-ins based on your tolerance of spicy ingredients. Depending on your additional ingredients, your dish will make the perfect aestheticallypleasing meal. Allergies: Diary, soy, grain and gluten The Beacon/Anna Culver Anna.Culver@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver This dellclous dish Is bound to awaken anyone's taste buds with .fts variety of flavors, especially with each lndlvldual's unique customizations. E.ach weak, the Wilkes Beacon staff adds a song to their 2020-2021 Beacon Bumps playlist under Chris Gowartys account on Spotify. Look below for this weeks list of songs. Kirsten Peters, Editor-in-Chief: A ~..Yml:...l.ft§~ Sean Schmoyer, Co--News Editor: WfAY Leu Sad .. AJA Sara Ross, Co-News Editor: Solo - Sama Genny Frederick, Asst. News Editor: G.l.o.ria..:..~n Maddy Kinard, News Staff Writer: ~Qt Allowed - TV.....GlrJ Emily Cherkauskas, LA&E Editor: Ibat Ea~ - YELLOW DAYS Jordan Daniel, Asst. LA&E Editor: Qj~..:...Q.IJ.rii Bt2wn. YQYO.Q Ib_yg Breanna Eblsch, Co-Opinion Editor: Iu.uday5 - Jake.ScQtt Dylan Mehl, Co-Opinion Editor: .e.a.d..I.blog}L:.M.ac..bine.Jiun.. Ke.!IY. . William Billingsley, Asst. Opinion Editor: E~hion Z.q,:nbiQ§ • The. Aguabm Ariel Reec:t. Sports Editor: QrazislC~.:..Qh.el.$.!Ul.C.Yiler Chris Gowarty, Asst. Sports Editor: Q9.~$.r::£ri.d.Q~.G1b.Q~ Saylee Guedes, Sports Staff Writer: QQQQ - 2!4.k,GQldn ft. ~ Mia Walker. Lead Designer: .ete.a.6.e....Me...::-._C..ardL8..1m.dJ2r.Y.nQ...Ms!ti.. Steffen Horwathi Staff Photographer: fil~ - iv~_n Liz Cherlnka, Social Media Manager: 1...9.'ie..S.tQ.ry_(®'.IQLsJLernJQ.Ol. :..TID!!mJ.lw!ft �The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Colonel's Closet giving out food and_supplies to anyone in need By Emlly Cherkauskas Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor The winter is a rough time of the year, as some people struggle to stay warm or have difficulty finding meals. The Colonel's Closet has sought to help those in need by routinely offering out its essential products for anyone who is seeking assistance. Located on the second floor of the Henry Student Center in the Campus Interfaith office, Colonel's Closet is a stocked storage for food, personal care items and cleaning products. The Colonel's Closet is operated by Kristin Osipower, who is also the campus' interfaith coordinator. She took on the position as Colonel's Closet coordinator back in 2016 when she became the interfaith coordinator. Osipower iterates that the issue of food insecurity is a dire situation among the demographic of college students - a highlyresearched fact. According to the National Institute of Health, food insecurity on college campuses is a serious issue in the United States. If a student is facing food insecurity, they suffer from "poorer health and have higher rates of depression, lower grades and more academic challenges than their counterparts" who have better accessibility in retaining a fully-fledged diet. Despite the wide issue of food insecurity and its negative effects, Osipower openly noted that there is a strong stigma surrounding the idea of seeking food from generous donors, which she finds unfortunate, as it has shown to prevent students from getting desperate assistance. Nevertheless, with her job as the Colonel's Closet coordinator, Osipower and the rest of the staff at campus interfaith hope to change that perspective. "Some of it stems from the language and images that have been historically used: Osipower said. "We are becoming _more conscientious as a society that language is impactful." The growth in Colonel's Closet is a striking change from how it first appeared to Osipower when she first arrived at Wilkes around five years ago. It was originally just a small shelf in her closet. Osipower was driven to build up the Colonel's Ooset into something greater that a wide range of students can use. She sought out donations, including a refrigerator from Al Beech Food Pantry in Kingston. The process of ordering from the Colonel's Ooset is rather easy. Anyone interested in ordering from the pantry can visit www. wilkes.edu/studentpantry, where they will be automatically directed to the online form. Wilkes Student Body President Kevin Long urges anyone in need to submit a form online for supplies, reminding us that no student will ever go hungry at Wilkes. "The Colonel's Closet truly is a special program that shows the commitment to taking care of our Colonel Family here on campus and making sure one another is always in good health," Long said. First, the person ordering from Colonel's Closet is required to agree to the terms regarding the order times and pick-up deadlines. Then, that person is required to offer the last four digits of their WIN number, which will be used as the order number and their name, which will be kept confidential. Once those sections are filled in, the person ordering can select from a list of various items that they need. The pantry contains the staples, including canned vegetables and fruit, soups and stews, rice, instant potatoes, pasta and cereal. A refrigerator also holds perishable products, such as dairy, juice and produce. Colonel's Ooset also offers laundry detergent, soap, shampoo and toothpaste for anyone needing cleaning supplies and hygienic products. After placing an order, Osipower will send a confirmation email once the order is filled. Any orders placed between Monday through Thursday are estimated to be filled within 48 hours. If an order is placed between Friday through Saturday, the order will be filled on the following Monday. Once an order is filled, it must be picked up within two business days. If the order is not picked up from the Colonel's Closet, then the items within that order will be returned to the shelves of the pantry. The Colonel's Closet is open froin 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. When coming to pick up an order, wearing a mask and engaging in social distancing is required. If one is considering ordering supplies, it is important to note that the office is a safe, no-judgement area on campus. As in the words of Campus Interfaith's message: "We are here to help, support and explore with you new ideas, living experiences, choices and horizons. We are here to help you live up to your full potential." @wilkesbeacon Emily.Cherkauskas@wilkes.edu Women's and Gender Studies Conference seeking proposals. By Liz Cherlnka Social Media Manager Wilkes University and King's College Women's and Gender Studies Conference is now accepting proposals for this year's • event. Proposals are due on March 5 through a form submitted online. This form can be accessed through the Wilkes Today email announcements. · · Students, professors, faculty, staff and community members are able to participate. Presentations can come in a range of formats, such as panel discussions, videos, performances and presentations about other service opportunities. People who have worked on any projects, poems or short stories that showcase a hardship faced or about any identity that can be marginalized are encouraged to submit their work this year. Dr. Jennifer Thomas, director of women's and gender studies at Wilkes, urges individuals to participate "if you want an audience who is going to be kind and encouraging:' The theme for this year's conference is "Women in the Public Sphere: Stepping Forward;' which encourages participants to look into women going beyond their typical roles in many areas of society, such as leadership in business and government. According to Valerie Kepner, director of women's studies at King's, "The main inspiration for this year's theme is the topic of Dr. Gwendoline Alphonso's featured lecture on March 30 and also the election of the first female vice president." Kepner explained the theme was suggested by two of her colleagues, and she "ran with it:' Thomas agreed that the conference's theme of "Women in the Public Sphere" has "something to do with the fact that we have a woman vice president and a woman of color;' which is a stride in the rights for women and holding prominent roles. Another figure of inspiration was Stacey Abrams, a woman who encouraged many people to vote in Georgia. Her actions helped tie the themes from last year and this year into one, demonstrating that women are changing the narrative. Last year's theme was focused around the anniversary of the women's right to vote and encouraging people ·to vote. Although the event was unable to happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the keynote speaker will remain the same with Alphonso, who is an associate professor in the department of politics at Fairfield University. Alphonso's lecture is titled, "Making the Impossible, Possible? - Gender, Family, Race and The Promise of Democratic Inclusion in 21st Century American Politics:' She will be discussing the importance of voting for women, as well as many women who have run for political office and their combined impact on the 2020 election. This year's conference, with the exception of the Keynote Address that will be on March 30, will be held on April 8 and 9. Due to COVID- 19, the conference will take place virtually via Zoom. Thomas is optimistic that more individuals will be able to attend due to the conference's virtual format. Sometimes family and friends of students cannot attend because they live too far away, but now that the event is virtual, it makes attendance more accessible. Kepner also expects more participation in the conference due to the virtual format. "Students will be able to log in from their dorm rooms or homes without having to go out and brave weather conditions to present and/or support their peers who are presenting;' said Kepner. According to Thomas, the conference has been going on for at least 15 years, and Wilkes joined forces with King's in 201 2. The inspiration for the conference was rooted in the need for a capstone project as a women's and gender studies minor, which makes this minor unique, according to Thomas, as most minors do not require a capstone. While the students do not need to present their capstone at the conference anymore, they are still welcome to, and they are also welcome to present other projects. The confere~ce encourages anyone interested in presenting to submit their proposals this year via the online form. @wilkesbeacon Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu r �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Life, Arts & Entertainment Liz's Craft Column: Do-it-yourself plant-free potted paper cactus By Liz Cherlnka Social Media Manager This potted paper plant DIY is perfect for those who want to have plants but seem to kill every single one they own. The aesthetic qualities of cacti are great, but the actual task of keeping them alive is the hard part. This craft saves the trouble of taking care of a living thing and makes it into an easy DIY. This craft is perfect for dorms that may not have any large windows or space that allows for plants, and it only requires a few materials. The supplies are at least two sheets of light green cardstock paper, at least one sheet of pink cardstock paper, scissors, hot glue and a small terra cotta pot. These materials can be purchased at any craft store, such as Joann Fabrics or Michaels, as well as Amazon or Walmart. To start, grab the terra cotta pot. Trace a circle using the top of the pot onto the green paper. Then, trim this circle to fit nicely into the pot but not too snug that it cannot be removed. Fold the circle in half, trying not to sharply crease the edge, and make a cut in the center about as long as one half of the small rectangle on the bottom of the cactus pieces. When the circle is unfolded, the slit will be the length of the whole, unfolded rectangle's width. Repeat this by folding the circle the other way. This will create an "X" in the middle of the circle. Now, to make the form of the cactus, grab the green paper and fold it in half vertically, or "hot dog" style. On the creased edge, draw half an oval with a dip • the top and a little rectangle on the bottom. The rectangle will hold the paper in place in the circle, and the dip on top will resemble the typical concave in the top of an actual cactus. This technique of drawing half the image on one side is something used in elementary school but is actually beneficial when both sides need to be identical. The shape drawn for the cactus is free to be as tall or as short as preferred - it just depends on whether the cactus will be a tall and thin one or a short and stumpy one. Make sure that when unfolded, it will not be much larger than the circumference of the pot. Before cutting the half oval out, add the spikes. Draw little triangles or two triangles that connect on one end, almost like a square th\lt dips in, on the edge of the oval. Now, cut the half oval and spikes out of the paper. Once it is all cut, erase any pencil marks and unfold it. You will need two of these, so grab another piece of green paper, fold it in half vertically and trace the cut out section of the other paper onto the crease side of the other one, like a stencil. Cut out the second one, erase the pencil marks and then unfold it. For the final steps, it is time to create the actual cactus. Slightly bend the cactus pieces so that the rectangle on the bottom slides into half of the "X" on the circle. Repeat this for the other cactus piece. The cactus shape should become clear after this step, and it should be secured in by the slits in the circle. The top of the cactus may be separated a bit because they are not held together as well. To fix that, a flower will be added on top similar to the flowers on a cactus. Cut a small flower of any shape out of the pink paper, making it large enough to cover the four corners of the green paper on the top. Slightly bend the edges of the flower in order to give it a "blooming" look. Put hot glue onto the bottom of the flower and place it on top of the cactus, using the glue on it to also attach the edges of each cactus piece together. After placing all pieces into the terra cotta pot, you should now have a paper cactus. 1) Using your terra cotta pot, trace a clrcle on a green piece of paper. Make sure the clrcle fits the pot nlcely. Cut It out, then fold It In half both ways, cutting small slits In the mlddle of the folds to create an "X." 2) In order to draw the cactus, fold a green piece of paper and draw the shape of your preferred. cactus. Make sure to add the spikes of the cactus, which should be wide enough for you to cut out. 3) Once you are finished drawing your cactus, cut It out. Repeat steps two and three, which wlll leave you with two pieces of the cactus shape: 4) After cutting out your three shapes, place the clrcle In the terra cotta pot. Bend the cactus pieces, and sllde them Into the "X" of the Elizabeth.Cherinka@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver Photos: The Beacon/Liz Cherinka Liz's Craft Rating: One out of five yarn balls. Although the craft Is affordable and does not require a lot of materials, there are many steps to follow, which may be a bit challenging for beginning crafters and requires 5) To better seal the top, draw a small flower shape on a piece of pink paper and cut It out. Hot glue the flower to the top of the cactus. 6) After attaching all pieces, you now have a paper potted plant. Place your new "plant" decoration wherever you desire, as It does not �The Beacon - February 24, 2021 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Congressional Hunger Center hosts "End Hunger in 30 Days" Uniting against hunger strife by raising awareness By Jordan Danlel Asst. Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor The Congressional Hunger Center is conducting an "End Hunger in 30 Days" challenge beginning on March 1. This challenge involves a 30-day course regarding the issue of hunger in the United States. According to the Congressional Hunger Center's website, they are "a global non-profit organization dedicated to the principle that access to nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food is a basic human right." The challenge consists of participants rece1vmg daily email prompts and 30-minute miniature lessons that touch upon the basics, drivers of hunger, antihunger policy and effective advocacy. "The challenge is meant to educate participants about the scope of food insecurity in the U.S., including the roots of food insecurity, current programs that address the issue and how t.o become involved in food insecurity advocacy," said Kristin Osipower, Wilkes' interfaith coordinator. "The 'challenge' is meant to be personal." There will be various videos, readings and action items for participants to take part in. Everything can be done at the participant's convenience. The "End Hunger in 30 Days" challenge is a great opportunity for those to teach themselves about hunger-related topics in the U.S. The more people who inform themselves on this issue will hopefully push them toward finding a solution. "I hope that this is an engaging :and manageable mode of education for our community to learn about food insecurity," said Osipower. "Given the breadth of topics that will be included, some of this content may translate well as an accompaniment for academic coursework. I also hope it inspires some people to become more involved with the issue, either on campus or in the local community." There are already quite a few students who would like to participate in this challenge. Many believe it is a great learning experience and wish to share the information with others so they can join in. "I have never heard of a challenge like this before, but I think it is a great opportunity and idea," said Tori Duffy, a sophomore pharmacy major. "Hunger is a big issue not only in the United States but in a lot of other countries in the world. I would learn a lot by participating in the end hunger challenge, and after educating myself on some of the topics, I could share what I have learned with others to get a conversation going and maybe help find ways to stop world hunger." Although some might not be familiar with "End Hunger in 30 Days," Osipower believes this challenge was conducted in the past and received good reviews from participants. Therefore, another challenge was introduced for this year. "Since it is a challenge for a good cause and the registration is free, of course I will sign up for it," said Duffy. "I am really LASAGNA, from page 7 • The website further details, "Lowerincome communities have fewer grocery stores and other healthy food retail outlets that provide a wide selection of affordable, nutritious foods. This problem impacts residents in both urban and rural areas especially those living in communities of color." With these staggering statistics referring to Americans' food insecurity prior to the pandemic, it is easy to see how food insecurity has quickly come to the forefront of issues in today's society. Menn's initiative is one of many attempts to bring fresh food to communities in need. The Food Trust brought attention to the value of bringing healthier food into lower income communities and leveling the playing field by launching their 2004 Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative. "The FFFI proved that, with public sector incentives, grocers and other healthy food retailers could overcome the higher costs associated with locating and operating in underserved areas and open profitable stores;' according to the Food Trust. "The success of this model in Pennsylvania has influenced the design and the creation of similar programs in other states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio and New York." Financing and support for healthy food programs and initiatives in lower income areas are steadily growing as time progresses, but in the meantime, if people can help their neighbors out, why not take the opportunity to? This is where Lasagna Love becomes an option. Lasagna Love is made up of over 18,000 volunteers, or Lasagna "Mamas" and "Papas;' and the organization is consistently growing and looking for new recruits. If the initiative itself is not enough motivation for you, take the word of the Second Lady of Pennsylvania. Second Lady Gisele Barreto Fetterman, founder of the non-profit For Good PGH, which advocates for diversity and inclusion, and co-founder of 412 Food Rescue. 412 Food Rescue redistributed over 2.5 million pounds of food in its first two years of operation. Fetterman was introduced to the Lasagna Love organization through a Pittsburgh Lasagna Mama and has been advocating for the organization ever since. This organization is after her own heart, as it focuses on providing food and resources interested in learning more about what it is I can do to help prevent or stop hunger that is occurring across the globe. Hopefully, more people would want to do the same." The more people become aware of world hunger, the more ways solutions will be found to solve the matter. The Congressional Hunger Center has high hopes that many will join their challenge. Their website states, "If we truly want to end hunger in the U.S., it will take all of us, from all sectors and all walks of life, joining together to make hunger a political priority. We invite you to take the End Hunger in 30 Challenge and see how you fit into the movement to end hunger." Anyone interested in the challenge can register for free by visiting www. endhungerin30.org. Anyene is welcome to register, such as faculty, staff and students. More information can be fou nd about the challenge at www.hungercenter.org. @wilkesbeacon Jordan.Daniel@wilkes.edu for food insecure areas, as 412 Food Rescue does. Fetterman also has a soft spot for communities of color, as she is a BrazilianAmerican activist who stands avidly against discrimination. Fetterman is in strong support for the Lasagna Love organization. "I love efforts that help make this world feel just a little bit smaller and that brings people together. Food is love! What better way to show someone love than by making . something delicious for them?" said Fetterman. "I hope it long outlives this pandemic. So many families feel alone and scared during this time and to be cared for by a stranger (who maybe becomes a friend) is a gift to both the recipient and the donor." For those who may not be the most skilled in the kitchen, have no fear - the second lady is right there with you. On the topic of if she had a go-to lasagna recipe, Fetterman answered honestly, "I don't, as someone who is tragic in a kitchen, I googled, 'easiest lasagna recipe: I've since developed a little confidence and skill around my lasagna art:' Go to the Lasagna Love website and sign up to be a Lasagna Mama or Papa now. Spread a little love while you have the chance. .. Judah.Lyles@wilkes.edu Graphic by Anna Culver r �.J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 12 News AFRICA IDENTITY DIASPORA ETHNICITY ABOLITIONIST SOCIALIZATION CULTURE DISCRIMINATION SLAVES Compiled by Sean Schmoyer Co-News Editor At the recent forum on race and the curriculum, a major discussion point was implementing more courses about race, diversity, inclusion _a nd culture. The Department of Global Cultures is considering adding an Africana Studies program, which would likely start as a minor to gauge student body interest. "Back in the fall of 2019~ ~ bunch of faculty in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences were talking infoipially ~bout ideas of doing a better job about diversity in our curriculum:' said Dr. Chris Zarpentine, chair of the Department of Global Cultures. "There had been a couple of suggestions - an African American minor was suggested, and African Studies includes the broader African diaspora. Other programs we talked about were race and ethnicity studies programs:' Two objectives are ensuring the material covers topics of interest for students as well as benefits their studies and livelihood. Students can give feedback to the department through the Google Form available on Wilkes Today titled, "Share Your Thoughts in Our Survey on Race and the Curriculum:' ''Africana Studies flexibly covers all aspects of Africa and the African diaspora:' said Dean Paul Riggs of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. "The study of the African American experience is always • at tje center of Africana Studies, but the more broader category makes it easier to include courses on Africa or on diasporic communities outside the United States:' The Beacon spoke to students about their thoughts pertaining to an Africana Studies course; how and ~hy it could be beneficial if one should be implemented; and 'if they would be interested in taking such courses. ~ Sean.Schmoyer@wilkes.edu ~ Photos: Breanna Ebisch & Sara Ross Page Design/Layout: Mia Walker Mia.Walker@wilkes.edu Kira Davis First-Year Biology Major "I think that is great for diversity awareness and is great to give students who come from those backgrounds more recognition and give them representation in the school. I would definitely take it as an elective because it plays into my major and would help me understand both the biological aspects and their healing remedies and could help students in the medical field as well:' Rich~rd Enneus Senior Marketing Major "I think people should be interested because African American people have contributed a lot to this country, and the fact that it is not taught or remembered or honored as it should be, as other subjects have been, is almost like a slap in the face that diminishes the value of what African Americans have brought to this country. I think it is an easy fix, I do not think it would take long. I think it should have been done a long time ago, and with it being Black History Month the issue has risen to the surface, but it should have been dealt with a long time ,, ago. "It is interesting. We are in a period Maria Rodriguez Sophomore Electrical Engineering Major Nathan Pitcher Junior Political Science Major where the lives of black people are in danger. Here in the United States, there was the Black Lives Matter last year. I think it is good to include things like that in a class to get people conscious of what is happening in the world. I would take it because I love those topics:' "Personally, I think it would be a really beneficial opportunity, especially for someone like myself who is interested in learning about other cultures. The best way to learn is to be exposed to that kind of material, especially in a safe environment. I think having the opportunity to talk with professors or other classmates who have backgrounds, culturally, where you can show that you do want to know about them would be a eye-opening experience for students:' �The Beacon - February 24, 2021 13 News MINORITIES NATIONALISM RACE CLASSES POLITICS CUSTOMSAFROCENTRISM JUSTICE HISTORYMUSIC Dwight Mitchell Junior English Major "I think it is necessary because there .are a lot of people on campus who do not know what they are saying, how the y are saying and how that affects people, but I do not want to force people into it. I feel it is necessary, but I do not think it should be mandatory." "I think Wilkes should consult the right people before creating a curriculum, so as not to spread any misinformation and make sure that the content covers what is most important. I think Africana Studies is common across higher education because of its importance and application to today. With so much discrimination evident in the Kara Beerley United States today, Africana Studies may First-Year give insight on how to make our systems Psychology Major better and to understand and appreciate other cultures:' "I probably wouldn't (take the course) ... after this year, we can't pick electives or anything like that. If I was able to pick more open and broader electives, I probably still wouldn't take it. It is just not my thing. I would definitely recommend it to others if they were interested in it:' said Middleton. "I think that if we were allowed to take Nicole Middleton more electives, there are a bunch of other (left) & Grace things I would rather take ... I could see how O'Toole (right) Sophomore Pre- others would want to take it if they were Pharmacy Majors focusing on doing pharmacy in different cultures or different areas:' said O'Toole. Joyce Mwangi First-Year Environmental Engineering Major "I think it is really interesting because I am here from Kenya, and people do not know about Kenya. I was talking to someone, and they thought Africa was one . country. Africa is huge, and people think it is a country. People don't know so much about Africa, so if the campus brings such courses, it will be really nice because in Africa we have different cultures and people don't understand them or learn them, so it is nice because people will be able to interact and learn more about these cultures ... People want to learn more about other cultures. From what I have had, American is more of an individualistic culture, and it is trying to move to a more connectivist type of culture. So maybe by incorporating this, they will be able to achieve this:' Uriah Hyatte Sophomore Nursing Major "One hundred percent. I would love to figure out more about myself and where I came from. If that meant me taking a class in African American study, I would. I would encourage my friends to take the courses. If I could educate my friends to learn more about who I am and where I came from, they would know more about me and understand me a little bit better and where I come from ... As you go up the ladder in higher education, you see all types of race, all types of color. If you can understand who you are sitting next to in class, it will be easier to sit next to that person without having those predetermined thoughts that you've gained growing up or at home. If you can learn about them, who they are or where they came from, I feel like it will be easier to learn next to them. And when it comes to peer review and things like that, you'll see them more as an equal:' r �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Opinion 14 Opinion Have an o_P,inion or want to write a guest column? Contact co-opinion editors: Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu and Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu It's all about the delivery with organ donation • You are driving home one night. All is well, and nothing seems amiss. But without warning and all of a sudden, you lose consciousness at the wheel and crash into a building. Fortunately, this building is actually the local hospital, and nobody was injured (except for yourself). Unfortunately, things do not look so good for you. Your body doesn't seem as if it was seriously injured in the crash besides some cuts and scrapes, but you still have yet to regain consciousness from your sudden collapse. It does not look good for you, and hours go by. As it turns out, you are already dead. Thus, it is with grim determination that the doctors and other medical professionals have to move quickly, because the clock is ticking. Not for you (anymore), but rather, for your organs. First, the doctors have to get in contact with your next of kin. Not just to notify them of your untimely passing, but to also obtain legal authorization for the donation of your organs. Although great haste must be made in the organ donation process when it involves the deceased (you), these doctors and other professionals are not careless oafs - they will verify that you are dead. Multiple times. And many years before your untimely - .- - .-. death, you were asked if you wanted to become an organ donor when you first got your license - something you declined back then and never gave another thought. This brings us to the hours following your passing, in which the decision now falls to your next of kin, who may or may not be in a stable emotional state to make such a major, time-sensitive decision on behalf of someone that just a few hours ago was alive and well. Because as it turns out, much like a will, the decision to be an organ donor or not is best done well in advance of your actual demise. However, the key distinction between a will and the decision to donate your organs is the simple fact that the decision to donate your organs must be decisively made before it is too late. And without a preemptive (and legally binding) authorization from yourself or that next of kin's positive authorization, your organs are doomed to ultimately follow you into the grave, utterly useless, which brings us to the crux of the issue: our opt-in organ donor system. This system is rather self-explanatory, you must deliberately opt-in if you wish to be considered for organ donation. Although the notion of organ donation is consistently viewed favorably by over 90 percent of Americans, only 50 percent are . - - -· ,· -. . .- ,l · Mail: 84 WestSduth Street, Wilkes-Barre; Pa~18766 Attn: The Beacon actually signed up as organ donors. Alas, it is not as simple as checking a box, forgetting about it and dying. No, you also have to die in the correct manner. That is, dying in such a way that actually allows for your organs to be donated, rather than being found in a cabin in the middle of the woods days after the fact. To be more specific, only three in 1,000 donors actually manage to die in such a way to allow for organ donation in the first place, according to organdonor.gov. Thus, not every donor will be able to donate. Still, we believe that it is far better to have the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others after we have passed on from this mortal coil. Because after all, if our hearts should be given a chance to beat again for another, our lungs a chance to breathe for someone else and our corneas able to restore the gift of sight to those who have lost it, who are we to refuse? "Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?" - Gimli, son of Gloin To sign up, visit organdonor.gov. @wilkesbeacon TheWilkesBeacon@wilkes.edu �. The Beacon - February 24, 2021 COVID FIRSTHAND,from front Since last March, when the pandemic first started, my family and I have been doing nothing but following all of the protocols to keep ourselves and others safe. In my home state of New Jersey, we were on full lockdown for almost three whole months and lost many of the ordinary privileges of daily life that still have yet to be fully restored. Properly wearing masks in public, adhering to state and local mandates, becoming good friends with disinfectants and staying home became normal parts of our new routine. Many of the trips and big events I was looking forward to got postponed and life completely changed in the most unexpected way. So, in all honesty, I never expected to get COVID-19. Of course, like everyone else, I was fearful of the possibility, however remote. And being a completely healthy 20-yearold, I was much more worried about carrying the virus and spreading it to others who are considered high risk, my parents included. Although I knew my chances of survival were higher than other age groups, and I would (probably) be O.K. in the long run, there was never a time where I blatantly put myself in a situation that would increase my chances of contracting the virus. But as the saying goes, it only takes one bad apple. After the carelessness of one person exposed my younger brother, suddenly COVID-19 was within the walls of our home instead of being a headline on the news, and it almost seemed to be inevitable that the rest of us would start showing symptoms. And not even a day after my brother's positivetest result came back, I woke up the next morning with several symptoms just as my parents did as well. And that was only the beginning. The next two and a half weeks would look different for all of us in terms of battling the virus, but one thing was certain, it was miserable in every sense of the word. Compared to my family members, my case was by far the mildest and was much different than I had expected based on the information being shared throughout the pandemic. Besides having a low-grade fever for about a week, the symptoms I experienced showed themselves in various ways during the time I was sick. I lost all sense of taste and smell early on, was constantly tired even after a good 15 Opinion Photo courtesy of Breanna Eblsch night's sleep or even doing the simplest task. Walking the dogs aroul)d the block would leave me desperately trying to catch my breath like never before. That wasn't all, as I also had a raging headache that never went away along with constant body aches even if I wasn't doing anything. And the easily identifiable runny nose and sore throat also added to the now daily struggle ofliving with COVID-19. The symptoms were all the ones countless medical experts had pointed out from the beginning. Despite the fact that everyone experiences them differently, seeing everyone in my immediate family have to fight through the virus only brought on more pain, anxiety and worries than anything I have ever gone through in arguably my whole life. This virus is something that no one deserves to go through. And while a concerning amount of the American public have either continued on with life as normal or have decided to ignore the safety precautions during a worldwide pandemic, COVID-19 is very much still rampant in this country and just as dangerous as it was upon its arrival early last year. In many cases, it seems as if people believe the current situation will just dissolve on its own, but we see on a daily basis that this is not the case. The continued ignorance and utter disregard for human lives over the last year by far too many people are the reasons we are still experiencing the effects of this virus more than any other country in the world. As someone who followed all the rules, did everything correctly and has a good moral compass, I still ended up contracting the virus and lived through the agony it presents. No one is immune to this pandemic, and unfortunately, there are still individuals out there who simply do not care, which only continues to endanger more people than necessary. Now, just a little over two months since my positive test and initially recovering from COVID-19, I am experiencing a whole new set of obstacles that are paired with the virus. Because there is still very little known about the virus as a whole, the long-term effects are ev; n more of a mystery and differ from person to person. Like the varying degrees of the symptoms we all experienced while sick, the healing process was not the same for myself or my family members. Medical experts have found milder cases of COVID-19 to result in more prolonged long-term symptoms. Everyone else in my family has more or less returned to normal, with maybe one minor symptom that has stuck around after the infection of the virus. I, on the other hand, have seemed to collect a wide variety of long-term symptoms, and the list keeps growing almost daily. My sense of taste and smell still has not returned, and may not for up until a year. Even walking across campus has begun to leave me out of breath - something that never occurred before. Brain fog (which includes difficulty concentrating or thinking) plagues me everyday throughout classes or assignments and seemingly random bursts of a rapidly beating heart are only a few of the effects I continue to experience even now. Not to mention, the psychological issues of having COVID-19, such as anxiety and depression, which are also wrapped up into . the long-term effects of the virus. So, a new title I have obtaine~rough · this all is becoming a "COVID-19 Long · Hauler." · Essentially, there is a very good chance these particular aspects of my body will never return to normal and remain in this new altered state for the rest of my life. As ifhaving COVID-19 was not terrifying enough, the long-term effects are a whole other concern to take into consideration. ' And although this may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, it only amplifies ~ how serious this virus is in more ways than we know. For as young as I am, one of my many worries should not be health concerns linked to a virus that I did everything in my power to avoid getting. _ My story is only one of more than i 27 million in America, let alone the unbelievable amount worldwide - all unique in their own ways. And while there are many who cannot recount their experience with COVID-19 because they tragically lost their lives, it is more important than ever to recognize how serious this virus continues to be even a year later. · We cannot afford to let up on our effor~s, especially now that multiple vaccines are available and things seem to be slowly improving with a new president in office. An end is near, but this cannot become ' a reality without the cooperation and determination of the public. The only thing I can recommend to everyone after going through tliis experience is to please follow the mandates in regards to safety, show compassion for others and do your part to protect yourself and everyone else. It may not seem hard to some, but this is why our country is still stuck in the worst of this pandemic. Everyone's lives are, and always will be, more important than a trip, crowded event or risky situation in terms of this virus. I am now a statistic in the most recent pandemic in history - don't let yourself become one as well. @wilkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu r �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Opinion 16 Who should be NBA MVP? LeBron James or Joel Embiid By Dylan Mehl Co-Opinion Editor As we head toward the midway point of the NBA season, it is only fair to start to speculate over who will win the league's most valuable player award. Like most years, it is a two to three man race, depending how you look at it; however, two candidates do stand out - LeBron James and Joel Embiid. In his 18th year, James is no stranger to the MVP conversation, as he already has four awards to his name. For Embiid, on the other hand, this is the strongest case he has had thus far in his career. Both men are undoubtedly the leaders of their respective team and off to great starts. So how does one pick a winner? There are a couple of things it is safe to say that the NBA's MVP voters take into consideration when picking a winner - stats, team success, season moments and story. Starting with James, he is yet again averaging 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, which seems to be a regular occurrence for him at this point. James has the Lakers, at the time of writing, at a 22-7 record, which is pretty good for second-best in the league, only trailing the Utah Jazz. As for Embiid, he is currently averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds and three assists per game at the center position, while leading his team to a 19-10 record, good enough for first in the Eastern conference and the fourth-best in the league. This is just about as even as it can be when factoring in the two categories. While James' team has a slightly better record, Embiid's stats are narrowly better than James'. Embiid has the edge in stats, despite only averaging three assists because he is a center playing with Ben Simmons, one of the best passers in the league, and is convincingly beating James in points and rebounds. When examining in-season moments as we come up on the All-Star break, it is again too close to call. James has certainly had some impressive moments hitting deep threes, bringing back the sky hook and having monster d ~ in his 18th season. However, to Embiid's favor, when the two teams matched up, it was the 76ers taking a narrow 107-106 victory over the Lakers. In that matchup, both players shined with James having 34 points to Embiid's 28. When the second stage of the NBA schedule is released, it is certainly a matchup to look out for. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is the story behind the candidates. It has become obvious over the more recent MVP awards that the NBA award voters strongly factor in the candidates' season-long story. Examples of this can be seen with Russell Westbrook's triple-double MVP season, and if we are being honest, if the NBA MVP award was truly given to the best player in the league, James would have about 14 awards by now. Looking at James' path to the MVP, after Anthony Davis' injury, the path may have been cleared for James. Last season, James was in the conversation, but many argued that he could not win the award due to having such a great teammate. But with Davis sidelined for the foreseeable future, the door is wide open for James to carry the Lakers. If James can lead his team to further victories, it will be hard to argue against him. To reiterate, James is in year 18. Simply winning the MVP this late in an NBA career is unheard of. The story honestly writes itself: James carrying the Los Angeles Lakers, a big market team to a one or two seed in year 18. However, Embiid's story is not too shabby either. Embiid is a foreign-born player, and the league has been pushing world diversity over the last few seasons. This has especially been the case with their traditional USA vs. the World game at Allstar Weekend, with Luka Doncic winning rookie of the year and Giannis Antetokounmpo winning back-to-back MVPs. Embiid also has the uniqueness of being a dominant center in a shooter's league. The center position has not won an MVP award in a long time, as the last center to do so was Shaquille O'Neal back in 2000. Embiid also has the marketability of playing for a big market team in Philadelphia. Taking everything into consideration, betting odds currently have the right guy favored in James for this season's MVP. The narrative that sets James over the top is the fact that this season he would be Batman without his Robin, for a good majority. While Embiid's playing is great, he does have Simmons alongside of him, whereas James is putting up similar numbers, winning at a high rate, in his 18th year and generally carrying the Lakers without Davis. James' case is too much to deny, without even mentioning how this brings James one step closer to Michael Jordan, which is a story the NBA is dying to tell. ~ • @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu The countless environmental dangers of fast fashion By Breanna Eblsch Co-Opinion Editor • From the moment a new trend hits the runways during one of the prestigious fashion weeks held around the world, millions of pieces of identical clothing make their appearance in · huge retail stores. Although the style may only be "in" for a short period of time, people are sure to buy the pieces that will make them fit-in with the rest of society. But at what cost? Fast fashion is an ever-growing problem that is harming the environment in detrimental ways that many consumers are not even aware of. Thrift shopping has become popular once again in a push to encourage people to purchase secondhand clothing, which helps eliminate some of the problems that fast fashion presents. By giving perfectly good clothing another home, instead of buying entirely new garments or tossing them, the environmental impact is somewhat lessened. But what exactly is fast fashion? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of fast fashion is "an approach to the design, creation and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers:' While clothes are quickly produced to be available as soon as a new trend arises, and in turn made much more affordable for consumers to purchase, the long-term effects of producing these garments are a major contributor to climate change. Sadly, not many are aware of this fact. Business Insider reported, "On average, people bought 60 percent more garments in 2014 than they did in 2000. Fashion production makes up 10 percent of humanity's carbon emissions, dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams:' When people think of climate change or environmental issues, the idea that purchasing certain clothing items may be contributing to the problem is almost never a thought. However, it is more clear than ever before that the fashion industry is a large factor of several environmental issues, and the problem only continues to grow. In a world where there are countless harmful practices that are directly linked to damaging the Earth's environment, fast fashion is one of the most dangerous, but it can be easily solved or avoided Choosing to not buy clothes off the rack at big retail stores is already a good step forward and is one way to actually help the planet. Thrifting and secondhand shopping has found a new place in society and also helps reduce the damaging effects that fast fashion produces. Countless brick and mortar thrift stores exist across the country, from well-known chains such as Goodwill and Salvation Army. Locally-owned businesses are also appearing in communities just as often in an effort to combat the fashion industry's harmful contributions to the environment. With the help of technological advancements and the Internet, several apps such as Depop, Poshmark and ThredUp make it easy to thrift and save the planet from the comfort of your home. So instead of purchasing clothes from stores that actively participate in fast fashion to provide customers with cheaper prices and quickly-made garments that are responsible for harming the environment in multiple ways, consider buying secondhand clothes in any way you can. Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries notes that the five most important benefits of thrifting are "reducing waste, curating a one-of-akind wardrobe, scoring high-quality clothes at low prices, finding a new DIY project and supporting your community:' Thrifting or shopping secondhand is not only helping the planet, but it also has several other impacts that are better in the long run. The complete stoppage of fast fashion is neither going to happen overnight nor easily. But with the continuous efforts of conscious, environmentally-aware shopping done by billions worldwide, the damage that has been done could be reversed over time. On an individual level, your contribution to the dangers of fast fashion are more important than you believe. By being more aware of the effects your actions have on the environment with each purchase you make, you too can make a difference. ~ -, @~lkesbeacon Breanna.Ebisch@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Opinion 17 Where does the GOP go after second impeachment trial?··By Liam Flynn Staff Writer Former Republican President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial ended with his acquittal by senators acting as jurors in the proceeding. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting to convict Trump, but support from 67 senators, or two-thirds of the chamber, would have been required for a conviction. The Republicans in favor of conviction were: Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Trump faced a single impeachment charge - incitement of an insurrection - for his role in urging a mob to attack the Capitol complex on Jan. 6. The trial concluded in just five days, with both sides choosing not to use the full time allowed by the agreed upon trial rules. The trial briefly appeared to be headed toward introducing witnesses before an agreement between the defense and House managers avoided dragging out the process. Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last month, a week after the insurrection, and just days before he left the White House. He is the first president in U.S. history to be impeached by the House twice and the first to be tried for impeachment after leaving office. In a narrowly-divided Senate, the outcome of the trial, which lasted a little less than a week, was largely expected, although it nearly was extended potentially by weeks. Impeachment managers began Saturday with a surprtse, saying they had decided to call a witness, Washington Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler. After the defense rested, Herrera Beutler issued a statement that detailed how thenpresident Trump had gotten into a shouting match with Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy during the riot, telling him, "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are." The heart of the argument that Trump's defense team had put forth was that the Senate did not have jurisdiction to take up the trial of a former federal official. That was certainly part of it, which was a message that resonated with the overwhelming majority of GOP senators. In a vote on the first day of the trial, for example, 44 Republicans voted to say it was unconstitutional for the Senate to try a president after he left office. 0...0 That was despite a 145-year-old precedent in which the Senate voted that it was constitutional to hold a trial for an impeached and former Cabinet official in today's day in age. The constitutionality argument allowed many Republican senators to sidestep the merits of the case against Trump. That was despite the fact that the lead impeachment manager, Representative Jamie Raskin, closed his side's arguments by imploring senators that the constitutionality of the trial had been resolved by the earlier vote. Trump's lawyers, however, did not stick to a narrow constitutional argument. Instead, they accused Democrats of using the impeachment process for partisan gain and of trying to disenfranchise the people who voted for Trump's reelection. The defense declined to provide evidence of what the president knew about the violence, when he knew it and what he did about it. The Democratic House impeachment managers argued that the former president, who addressed a rally outside the White House ahead of the insurrection, was "singularly responsible" for the violence on Jan. 6. They relied, in large measure, on video to prove their case, including never-beforeseen Capitol security footage. The videos shown on the Senate floor during what was, at times, an emotional trial, brought back the vivid images of the Capitol violence to the very place it happened. The video demonstrated how close rioters came to then-Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress. The impeachment managers also argued that the video showed clearly that the mob of pro-Trump supporters were ultimately there for the president, of which many believed they were there at the president's behest. The impeachment managers, however, made a broader case than Trump's Jan. 6 comments would otherwise imply. They argued that Trump laid the groundwork for false grievances for his supporters before, during and after the election, culminating in the Jan. 6 riot. The impeachment managers also emphasized Trump's long history of repeatedly condoning, tolerating and encouraging violence throughout his time in office. Trump's legal team argued that his Jan. 6 rally speech was protected by the First Amendment, a contention that impeachment managers labeled ludicrous. This, after all, was an impeachment trial, not a criminal proceeding. An impeachment trial is a political process intended to judge whether an official was upholding their oath of office and a standard of conduct. With his second acquittal, Trump now plots his next steps in political and public life. Yet, he is also contending with potential legal trouble stemming from a New York grand jury investigation and a newlyannounced criminal probe in Georgia, that' is in addition to Trump's mounting debt and devalued assets. The former president's net worth also dropped $1 billion in early 2020, according to Forbes. • Trump has been able to spin difficulties in his business and personal life before the country waits to see if he has a next, and perhaps final, act. This verdict closes the book on the Trump presidency, although the Senate, by not convicting and barring him from holding public office in the future, left open the possibility that Trump, a 74-year-old Republican, could run again for president. Change is especially hard for conservatives, but change is also essential, especially when things are not going well. After losing the White House, both houses of Congress and watching the president attempt to incite an insurrection, it is fair to say things are not going too well for the Republican Party. While Republicans have made notable gains with rural voters, broader political demographic changes will soon make it mathematically difficult for Republicans to again be a national majority governing party, absent a willingness to embrace change. Party leaders and activists will now, predictably, debate whether an improved version of Trump populism, some updated version of Reagan conservatism, better outreach or more celebrity candidates is the way forward. Those options might rearrange the political furniture, but they do not represent real change. Republicans should remain committed to conservatism and populism, but we now also need to also embrace modernism. Liam.Flynn@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Opinion 18 Drake album revf ew ·series: "Thank Me Later" 7. 7/ 10 By Dylan Mehl Co-Opinion Editor Introduction Drake has become one of rap music's most well-known names, elevating the genre into mainstream culture with his combination of rap, pop and R&B music. Over his illustrious career, he has put out five studio albums, and in 2021, he plans to release number six: "Certified Lover Boy:' Many changes have occurred in Drake's personal life, professional career and music style in the decade that has passed since his first album. He has gone from a 23-year-old artist fresh off of "Degrassi" to a 34-year-old man with a son. With Drake now regarded as one of the best artists in the world and certainly one of the most popular based on streaming numbers, and with a new album on the way, I think that this is the perfect time to take a look back at the making of the superstar known as Drake. • "Thank Me Later" - 7.7 out of 10 Drake's first ever studio album, "Thank Me Later;' dropped on June 14, 2010 and debuted number one on the Billboard music charts, selling 447,000 copies in its first week. This was certainly the start that the artist was hoping for, as there was no better spot to start at. The reason behind the instant success of the album can perhaps be attributed to his most recent mixtape, "So Far Gone:' The mixtape was released the year prior, featuring hits like "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful:' However, the question remains: Did the album debut at number one because of the hype around Drake's mixtape? Or the actual quality of the project? In short, the answer is a little bit of both. While this album features some of Drake's most recognizable tracks in "Find Your Love" and "Over," it is clear that this is Drake's first studio album. His rapping is not yet quite as polished, and he bounces around several themes both musically and lyrically, rather than keeping a consistent transition of ideas. Drake begins the album with the introduction track "Fireworks;' which features excellent vocais from singer Alicia Keys. In this track, Drake details his sudden burst into fame and everything that comes along with it, using fireworks as a metaphor for the speed of his success. The next two tracks, "Karaoke" and "The Resistance;' feature Drake discussing the issues with becoming famous, and the changes •· - they caused in his life. He experienced the loss of relationships and the realization that a change was occurring in him as a person. While the storytelling in these two songs is exceptional, the rapping is at times stagnant. "Over" is one ofDrake's better tracks on this project, as his rapping is much more polished, along with providing some killer metaphors. We see a much more confident Drake in this song, as the fame has certainly gotten to his head. With lines like, "I did it overnight, it couldn't happen anyquicker" and "It wouldn't compare two different women. In the former, he discusses the fancier women he now deals with in his new lifestyle and how high-maintenance they can be. Despite this, through a catchy melody and a chorus that will be stuck in your head all day, Drake tells us he is still infatuated with these women. In "Shut It Down~ Drake's whole world comes to a halt as he meets the perfect girl. This · l, however, is not like the others. He be the first time throwing hundreds when I should be throwing hundreds, bitch I run it; we can clearly see a shift in his perspective. "Show Me a Good Time;' "Up All Night" and "Fancy" are all jumbled together, in that they describe the central idea of Drake now fully being immersed in the celebrity lifestyle. A Kanye West-produced track in "Show Me a Good Time'' has West's fingerprints all over the sound, previewing what we would later hear in West's own album "808s & Heartbreak:' Nicki Minaj comes in on "Up All Night" to provide some excellent rapping that greatly improves the quality of the song, as Drake details the luxury lifestyle of rap group Young Money. "Fancy" and "Shut It Down" feature as a bridge for the album, as we see Drake is not infatuated with her because she fits the fancy mold he is used to, but in fact the opposite. In this sad story as told by Drake, this woman ends up turning down Drake because of the lifestyle he is now part of. In the track "Unforgettable; Drake shows off his versatility as an artist with a great R&B record, featuring Young Jeezy. The woman from the previous song brings Drake to a realization, that being he may have to become more grounded in his current lifestyle and revert away from getting caught up in fame. "Light Up'' is the next song on the album and one of the better tracks this project has to offer. In the song, Jay-Z provides a great feature in which he "godfathers" Drake and teaches him various lessons about the rap game, including what it can do to you if you are not careful. The track is methodical and features some of the best rapping on the whole album from Jay. The duo of Drake and Lil Wayne produces another great record on this album in "Miss Me," which features a somewhat confusing message. Despite the realizations Drake had in his last two songs, it seems as if his mentality has not changed, as he is back to bragging about his success and saying that he hopes those he left behind will miss him. While it is neither a good or bad mentality for Drake to have, it presents a confusing message to his audience, including those last two tracks if nothing was going to change. Wayne provides a strong feature here, as these two elevate each other in this song. "Cece's Interlude'' serves its purpose as the mood is shifted, and Drake jumps back into his struggles with Women as yet another woman turns him down due to the lifestyle he is living. Certified platinum three times and produced by Kanye West, "Find Your Love;' is easily the most recognizable song on this album - and for good reason. The sound is unique, the singing from Drake is some of his best and the lyrics are highly relatable as Drake details the struggle of feeling like he is always picking the wrong women. While in terms of the album, you can argue that this is a toxic mentality from Drake, as he is refusing to accept the fact that many women see a flaw in his lifestyle. As a standalone record, "Find Your Love'' is a great song and my favorite off of the album. To close out the album, Drake provides us with a record in "Thank Me Now" that is the perfect closing track. Detailing where he is at in life, seemingly coming to terms with the fact he is not currently ready for love, Drake instead looks ahead at his potential future success. The artist predicts his future superstardom and leaves his fans waiting for more as we see a glimpse of how good of a rapper he will become in this song. "Thank Me Later" is not a project to blow one away by any means, but it does provide great insight for how Drake's career started. It is clear that this is Drake's first album with the inconsistencies in mood, rapping and flow, but the potential for a megastar is written all over the project, especially in the songs "Over; "Thank Me Now" and "Find Your Love:' While this album does earn an average score of a 7.1 out of 10, it is a beautiful precursor for an album that is looked at as Drake's classic in "Take Care:' @wilkesbeacon Dylan.Mehl@wilkes.edu �6 The Beacon - February 24, 2021 19 Sports Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact sports editor: Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu Star-studded offseason moves shake up MLB power dynamics By Chris Gowarty Asst. Sports Editor (88 ,. l>n ,lanti ,men On Feb. 17, pitchers and catchers of all 30 MLB teams reported to their spring training facilities, officially marking the end of the 2020-21 offseason. Through trades and free-agent signings, teams have made their improvements in order to compete for the long 162 game season. In the National League West, the San Diego Padres made many moves in hopes of giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a run for their money at the division title, which the Dodgers have now won eight years in a row. On the same day in December, the Padres made two separate trades to bring in 2018 AL Cy Young award winner Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays and 2020 runnerup for the NL Cy Young Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs. As if a starting rotation with Snell, Darvish, Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet was not enough, San Diego also acquired Joe Musgrove from the Pittsburgh Pirates for more depth. As for their bullpen, they signed relievers Mark Melancon and Keone Kela to one-year deals. For the offense, the Padres signed utility infielder Jurickson Profar and Korean superstar Ha-Seong Kim. They have also extended their superstar shortstop Fernando Tatits Jr. to a 14-year, $340 million contract, the third largest in the sport. To counter all the moves the Padres made, the Dodgers added bullpen help through a trade for Corey Knebel and signing Tommy Kahnle and Blake Treinen. Los Angeles also added arguably the biggest free agent of the entire offseason, as they signed 2020 NL Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer to a record-breaking three-year deal worth $102 million. Through the contract, Bauer is slated to earn $40 million in 2021, which would give him the highest single-year salary that a baseball player has ever received. He could break the record again in the second year of his deal with $45 million, ifhe does not optout of the contract. Los Angeles also brought back Justin Turner, their starting third baseman, on a two-year, $34 million contract. In the National League .Central, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired one of the top third basemen in all of baseball, Nolan Arenado, from the Colorado Rockies in the biggest blockbuster trade of the offseason. The move was notab~e for St. Louis, as they struggled on offense the past few seasons. They also brought back their franchise battery pack Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright. Both players will be returning to the Cardinals Molina for his 18th year and Wainwright for his 16th season. In the National League East, the New York Mets, backed by new majority owner Steve Cohen and President of Baseball Operations Sandy Alderson, completed many trades and free-agent signings in hopes of making the ~ playoffs for the first time since 2016. They began their offseason by signing relief pitcher Trevor May, a solid addition for an underachieving bullpen that has had problems since the Mets went to the World Series in 2015. They also added a new backstop in James McCann by signing him to a fouryear, $40.6 million contract; however, arguably the biggest move the Mets made this offseason was acquiring shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians. The superstar switch-hitter Lindor not only adds a large power presence to a lineup that is already strong, but he also gives them a serious upgrade on defense, which has been another area of weakness for multiple years. The addition of Carrasco, and other pitchers such as Taijuan Walker, Jordan Yamamoto and Joey Lucchesi, solidifies a rotation that already contains Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, David Peterson and Noah Syndergaard, who is expected to return midseason from Tommy John surgery. In response, other NL East teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves made their own moves to show that the division will be competitive. To fix their bullpen woes, the Phillies added Jose Alvarado, Archie Bradley, and Tony Watson. On the offensive side, they brought back their star catcher J.T. Realmuto with a five-year, $115.5 million contract , which makes him the highest p a i d catcher ever in the sport; based on total and annual value. The Braves brought back 2020's NL home and RBI Ozuna with a four-year deal worth $64 million. They also signed veteran starting pitcher Charlie Morton, a sturdy piece to an already solid rotation. In the American League West, the Los Angeles Angels added a new shortstop to the squad by acquiring Jose Iglesias from the Baltimore Orioles. They improved their bullpen, which had an MLB-worst 14 blown saves in 2020, by adding relievers Raisel Iglesias and Alex Claudio. The Angels also added starting pitching depth through signing Jose Quintana and trading for Alex Cobb. They solidified their outfield by trading for Dexter Fowler from the Cardinals, as well as earning a new catcher by signing Kurt Suzuki. In the American League Central, the Chicago White Sox added two new arms to their club, as they traded for starter Lance Lynn from the Texas Rangers and signed Liam Hendriks in free agency. They signed Hendriks to a four-r,ear, $54 million contract, the fifth largest e~ given to a relief pitcher. They also brought back outfielder Adam Eaton on a two-year deal, who was originally on the White Sox from 2014-16. In the American League East, the Toronto Blue Jays made many moves, proving that they are now in win-mode for the 2021 season. They re-signed starting pitcher Robbie Ray to a one-year deal and traded for Steven Matz to improve their rotation. They also added Kirby Yates to their bullpen, who fought injuries through 2020 but was dominant in 2019, as he posted a 1.19 ERA in 60.2 innings. To bring depth to their infield, they signed Marcus Semein, who finished third in the AL MVP voting in 2019. The Blue Jays also signed this offseason's biggest offensive free agent George Springer to a six-year, $150 million contract, the largest contract in franchise history. Also in the AL East, the New York Yankees brought back their star second baseman D.J. Lemahieu, who was the 2020 AL batting champion (.364 average) and third place finisher for AL MVP. He comes back to the Bronx on a six-year contract worth $90 million. To fill the void left by starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who is going back to play in Japan, the Yankees acquired Jameson Taillon from the Pirates and signed twotime AL Cy Young award winner (2014, 2016) Corey Kluber to a one 0 year contract. As spring training finally arrives, these players will be tested in their new or returned positions as MLB comes back to a full-length season. ~ ~ Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu Graphic by Mia Walker r �.J The Beacon-February 24, 2021 Sports 20 MVB: Confidence in underclassmen leaves Czopek optimistic By Chris Gowarty Asst. Sports Editor It has been nearly a year since the men's volleyball team last played a competitive regular season game, with their last match in March of 2020 against King's. Before last year's season came to an abrupt end, Wilkes held a respectable 10-9 record, but they had struggled in the early competition of its Middle Atlantic Conference portion of the schedule, going 1-3. Despite the circumstances from the COVID -19 pandemic, the Colonels have been preparing for the new changes brought upon the MAC. "We've practiced all fall and again this spring wearing masks to prepare, knowing we might be playing masked," said head coach Joseph Czopek. "And yes, all teams must be masked." The transition for the players was challenging at the beginning, but they have now gotten used to the new piece of equipment that all MAC volleyball players are required to wear - masks. "It was difficult at first due to the breathing restriction, but we persevered through the uncomfortableness to have it normal now," said Czopek. "We take _many water and air breaks as we ramp up our playing." Despite the inconvenience, wearing a mask is worth it, as long as they get to go out and play. • ►►►►►► \''h•n 's Basketball 02/11 1d} DeSales. L 99-55 02/12 vs. DeSales, L 77-43 02/18 vs. Arcadia, L 86-79 02/19 (<j! Arcadia, W 97-93 02/25 (iv FDU-Florham, 7 p.m. 02/26 VS. FDU-Florham, 7 p.m. 03/04 vs. Delaware Valley, 7 p.m. 03/05 c@ Delaware Valley, 7 p.m. "Adjusting to it has honestly been very easy," said sophomore setter Zach Shay. "As a team, we are just doing whatever we can to follow Wilkes' rules so that we can have a season:• Entering this season, the Colonels are without of one of their former leaders, in Cole Hefner, who graduated from Wilkes . last school year. "He constantly gave 100 percent at practices and matches to try and elevate our team to where it needed to be," said senior defensive specialist Joey Gayton. "Off the court, he always wanted to make us stronger, either in volleyball or in our academics. Myself and the other senior, Andrew Potter, need to pick up where he left off and become the leaders that inspire the next generation of Wilkes volleyball players." Despite the team being mostly firstyear players, there is confidence that the Colonels will perform well this upcoming season. Expectations are high for the older players to help the first-years adjust to the new setting of volleyball at the collegiate level. "Being a fairly young team, I'm looking for my upperclassmen to teach the freshmen our team culture," said Czopek. "As a growing program, a few of the freshmen will be seeing starting roles. The mixing of seasoned players with rookies will be a key to our success." The team is trying to stay positive, even with the uncertainty that the global pandemic could bring. "With the season the way that it is, we are keeping each other motivated by playing like it could be the last day because any day could be the end," Gayton said. "We want to be able to look back and say we did the best we could and gave it our all so that we could be proud of the season we did have." The Colonels begin their season on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., as they take on Alvernia University at home at the Marts Center. A live stream of the game can be found at gowilkesu.com. The Beacon/Ariel Reed The men's volleyball team wlll begin their season this evening against Alvernla with multlple first-year athletes on the court. ~ , @wilkesbeacon Christopher.Gowarty@wilkes.edu WlftTER SPORTS SCHEDULES ◄ ◄ ◄ ◄ ◄ ◄ \\/omen's Baskethall i\'lcn's Ice Hockey 02/11 vs. DeSales, L 79·55 02/19 vs. Utica, W 3-2 02/12 ro., DeSales, L 68-44 02/25 vs. FDU-Florham, 7 p.m. 02/26 1~) FDU-Florham, 7 p.m. 03/04 Cw Delaware Valley, 7 p.m. 03/05 vs. Delaware Valley, 7 p.m. 03/11 14> MisNicordia, 7 p.m. 03/12 vs. Misericordia, 7 p.m. 02/20 ,q, Utica, L 11 -5 02/26 1v Stevenson. 7 p.m. 03/05 C<!' Nazareth, 5 p.m. 03/06 vs. Nazareth, 5 p.rn. 03/14 @ Manhattanville, 5 p.m. 03/19 vs. Elmira, S p.m 03/20@ Elmira, 7 p.m. 03/26 vs. Neumann, 5 p.m. 03/27 vs. Chatham, 7 p.m. \Vomcn 's Ice Hockey 02/19 rii; Alvernia, POSTPONED 02/20 vs. Alvernia, POSTPONED 02/26 @ Chatham, 3 p.m. 02/28 vs. Chatham. 3:30 p.m. 03/05 vs. Manhattanville, 5 p.m. 03/06 (ijl Manhattanville, TBA 03/12 vs. Utica, 5 p.m. 03/13 @ Utica, 2 p.m. 03/19 Cci> Elmira, 6 p.m, 03/20 vs. Elmira, 3:30 p,m. 03/26@ Nazareth, 5 p.m. Nazareth, 3:30 p.m. · 03/28 vs. �The Beacon-February .., 24, 2021 21 Sports MBB: Marshall's hot hand propels Wilkes over Arcadia in 0. T. By Arlel Reed Sports Editor WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Wilkes picked up its first win of the season over Arcadia on Saturday, 97-93, in a thrilling Middle Atlantic Conference game that needed more than 40 minutes to determine a winner. Junior guard Drake Marsh~ll exploded offensively for the Colonels, carrying the offense during a career night. He scored 35 points, 23 of which came after the first half. "(Marshall), as a freshman, was mentored by some really good seniors, so he saw what that looked like on a good team. Last year, he emerged as our third perimeter scorer;' head coach Izzi Metz said. "We knew coming into this year what he was capable of." In the first half of the contest, the scoring went back-and-forth between The Beacon/ Ariel Reed Wilkes and Arcadia. The Colonels headed ~o their bench at the end of the first half, Junior guard Drake Marshall sunk i1 foul llne Jump shot over an Arcadia trailing by a score of 41-35. defender In WIikes' 97-93 victory at home on Saturday night. After falling in a close battle to the up into a big role," Breeding said. "I am Knights the night before, Wilkes needed with the intent to get a bucket:' Almost all of Marshall's second half and an undersized big, so I had to read what a big second half to pick up its first win _ overtime points•were in the .paint, _ w_here was given and figure out a way to make of the season. The game's intensitJ picked up in the he finishedy•through sever.al Arcadia it work."~· -· · The back-and-forth battle of jump shots second half, with both sides answering defenders. When Marshall could not get to the brought both teams to life, and Marshall's the other. "You have"to know that when you go up, rim, junior guard Donovan Breeding confidence grew a·s he stepped up into you are either going to get fouled or get a stepped up and wreaked havoc down low. every shot. "I have been working aU season to step "I felt the rhythm, and coach trusted me bucket;' Marshall said. "I go up every time to make shots;' said Marshall. "I knew I had to hit them." Fueled by Marshall's impressive shooting, the Colonels were able to tie the score up with 7.4 seconds left in the game. Arcadia's Da'Kquan Davis had the ability to end the game with a jumper at the buzzer, but senior forward Derek Heiserman and senior guard Landon Henry had other plans, as they slowed Davis' attack and sent the game to overtime. • For the first four minutes of overtime, the teams were locked in, keeping the game close or tied. A pair of free throws from Henry gave Wilkes the final push to secure the four-point win for the Colonels. "Our guys have been working hard, and we have been force-feeding and teaching a lot of information in the few weeks we have been on campus," said Metz. "When you win a game like we did tonight . in overtime, it's more special because the guys can see that their hard work has been paying off' The Colonels return to the court on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. for another home-and-home series - this time against FDU-Florham. Wilkes will play at home in the Marts Center on Friday night. A live stream of the game can be found at gowilkesu.com. @wilkesbeacon Ariel.Reed@wilkes.edu i �_J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Sports ; 22 �- 2 The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Sports 23 .AM 'Ould !d to lOUfS lSSan :rune this twill rsonlative , and ~ not ,rthe .S y rdoni ·e the eeing n of uring t will :ry to m. to isko@ Posta,earee • I hav pqsi,tion Geising Favori ¥Y . WO FD r �- ------------ .J The Beacon - February 24, 2021 Sports 24 MIH: Wilkes avenges championship loss in opener against Utica By Kirsten Peters Editor-in-Chief ( l The 2021 season had an historic opening for Wilkes, as the Colonels defeated reigning United Collegiate Hockey Conference champions, Utica. After two years plagued with rivalry against the Pioneers, Wilkes earned a 3-2 victory before falling in the second game to split the home-and-home series. Wilkes has now defeated every team in the UCHC at least once after their opening night triumph at the Toyota SportsPlex over Utica, the only team which Wilkes had not beaten heading into their third season. The Colonels win also snapped a 20-game winning streak for Utica. However, Wilkes' struggles on the road carried over from last season, as the two teams went back at it just one day later, with Utica running the score up late in the third period to win, 11-5. "It was definitely a bittersweet weekend:' said Donald Flynn, newly appointed Wilkes captain. "We've been chasing them for a while now, but there is a reason they're viewed as one of the top teams in the country. That's where we believe we can be, and we've proven that we can play with them, but now it's time to be consistent. We're definitely looking forward to seeing them again soon:' For the first game, Flynn's sweater donned the "C" after the team's players and coaches had selected him as a captain. "It's just a huge honor:' said Flynn. "Anytime your teammates view you like that, it's a special thing. I'm extremely grateful for their trust, and I'm going to continue to give them everything I've got and make them proud:' Flynn and his line, which was comprised of Nick Fea and Angelo Marquart, had a solid weekend. The three combined for six points - a goal and two assists for Flynn, a goal and an assist for Fea and a goal for Marquart. "I was proud of the way (Flynn) handled himself and kept his cool," said head coach Tyler Hynes. "Other teams highlight his line, and that's one of the keys to stopping us is you have to stop them:' In the first game, Wilkes had a message to send to Utica with their physical play. Phil Erickson scored the first goal for Wilkes, but Utica had an answer in the second period to tie the contest, setting up a dramatic third period performance. Tyler Dill, a transfer from Utica, broke the ice in the final frame with a hard wrist shot that found the back of the net. Tyler Barrow followed Dill with an insurance goal, which later proved to be the game-winner after Utica made it a one-goal game in the third period. 'Tm doing whatever it takes for the team to be successful:' said Barrow. "Every time I step on the ice, I'm trying to create plays and play to the best of my ability:' Additionally, Michael Paterson-Jones was stellar in goal for Wilkes, turning aside 26 of the 28 shots he faced. Despite the historic 3-2 victory on Friday •• All-American Junior forward Donald Flynn was recently named a captain alongside Michael Gurska prior to Friday's contest against Utica. Photos: The Beacon/ Kirsten Peters lyler Barrow (left) and Tyler DIii (right) celebrate DIii's third period goal In WIikes' win. think with them, when they aren't right, the night, Utica flipped-the-script in game two puck isn't moving enough, but when they with a sizable win on home ice over the are right, the puck is moving, their feet are Colonels. Even though the final score was moving and it's a lot of fun to watch:' lopsided, 11-5, the contest was closer than Utica found a way to turn the tide of the the score indicates. game after that, storming back with four Wilkes struck first with another goal from goals in the period and putting the Colonels Barrow, this time in the first period. Unlike down 6-3 as they went into the third period. Friday night, Utica found a way to score two "One thing that happened as I think back goals before the period ended. to all of their goals was we just lost battles The Colonels had an answer to Utica's two right around our net - either they led directly goals with two goals .of their own. Marquart to the goal or helped them keep possession buried the first on a delayed penalty call. and score:' said Hynes. "I saw (Flynn) was carrying the puck up, Wilkes scored early in the third period, and I had a little bit of space to skate· into on thanks to a goal from Devon Schell, but the the left side:' said Marquart, reflecting on the Pioneers were unfazed and continued to pile goal. "He made a great pass off the wall, and I on goal after goal, as they scored five more was able to catch it with some speed and just times in the period. get a shot off' Wilkes scored once more when Fea took the goal for Marquart was significant advantage of an untimely change for Utica. for him on an individual level and for the Near the halfway point in the third period, team, as he missed most oflast season due to Hynes opted to take Paterson-Jones out of multiple injuries, including a torn tricep that the net and put in first-year Luc Fox. required surgery. "I wanted to see how (Fox) reacted and "It's been a long road to get to this point, how he would do in that environment:' said but I'm really just grateful to be in this Hynes. "I think it was a good point to give position and playing with this group of guys (Fox) some experience, and we did that. For again:' said Marquart. "I have a really great (Paterson-Jones), I think it was time to reset support system between my family, friends and start thinking about this week of practice and coaches, and they all kept me going and and the future." on the right path:' The future for Wilkes entails a road Wilkes' biggest threat, Flynn, scored on game againa UCHC and Middle Atlantic the ensuing and well-executed_power play to Conference rival Stevenson in a rematch of help the Colonels retake the lead. last season's semifinal. "I thought (the power play) <lid a good job @wilkesbeacon moving the puck around:' said Hynes. "That Kirsten.Peters@wilkes.edu unit has been together for a while now, and I � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2021 February 24th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 February 24 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/519632d664be31b8b7aef537845348ce.pdf 2f2743b16f7afc6d09870f342446f6e0 PDF Text Text Search... About Wilkes Home n Graduate Academics Academics n Graduate Admission & Aid Graduate Programs n Graduate Life Master's Degree Programs About Our Students n n The Arts Creative Writing MA/MFA Revise This! n Archives n 2010 Revise This - April 2010 Revise This! Revise This! Archives REVISE THIS ARCHIVES Contents: Colum McCann Wins National Book Award | Marlon James Named Finalist for National Book Critics Circle Award Cecilia Galante Joins Creative Writing Faculty | Page To Stage Faculty Notes | Student Notes  Colum McCann Wins National Book Award Colum McCann, winner National Book Award Colum McCann, a member of the advisory board for the Wilkes University Graduate Creative Writing Program, has won the National Book Award for his novel Let the Great World Spin. The award was presented on Nov. 18 in New York City. The award – considered one of 2017 2018 Revise This! November 2019 g n n �literature’s most prestigious – is presented in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people’s literature. As a member of the Wilkes creative writing program’s advisory board, McCann has provided input on course content and curriculum, performed readings from his work at its residencies, and been a thesis reader for degree candidates in the program. Let The Great World Spin takes place in August 1974, when a mysterious tightrope walker is running, dancing, leaping between the Twin Towers, a quarter mile above the ground. It chronicles the lives of a group of New Yorkers, weaving their separate stories against the backdrop of the tightrope walker’s feat. Some of McCann’s other novels include Zoli, Dancer, and This Side of Brightness. His fiction has been published in 30 languages and has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, GQ, Paris Review, Bomb and other places. He has written for numerous publications including The Irish Times, Die Zeit, La Republicca, Paris Match, The New York Times, the Guardian and the Independent. In 2003 he was named Esquire magazine's "Writer of the Year." Other awards and honors include a Pushcart Prize, the Rooney Prize, the Hennessy Award for Irish Literature, the Irish Independent Hughes and Hughes/Sunday Independent Novel of the Year 2003, and the 2002 Ireland Fund of Monaco Princess Grace Memorial Literary Award. His short film, “Everything in this Country Must,” directed by Gary McKendry, was nominated for a 2005 Academy Award. McCann lives in New York City, where he teaches creative writing at Hunter College. The mission of the National Book Foundation and the National Book Awards is to celebrate the best of American literature, expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of good writing in America. Marlon James Named Finalist for National Book Critics Circle Award Marlon James, Finalist for National Book Critics Circle Award in fiction Marlon James’ novel The Book of Night Women was a finalist for a �National Book Critics Circle Award in fiction by the National Book Critics Circle. The finalists were announced in January, and the winners were announced on March 11.  Other finalists included memoir writer Mary Karr, former U.S. poet laureate Louise Glück, and former National Book Award winner William T. Vollmann. The other fiction nominees included Hilary Mantel, Jayne Anne Phillips, and Michelle Huneven. Mantel won the fiction category for her novel Wolf Hall. The National Book Critics Circle, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit organization with around 600 members, "book reviewers who are interested in honoring quality writing and communicating with one another about common concerns." James worked on The Book of Night Women while he was enrolled in the creative writing program. He also teaches at Macalester College in Minnesota. Cecilia Galante Joins Creative Writing Faculty Cecilia Galante, newest member of Creative Writing Faculty Young adult novelist Cecilia Galante has joined the faculty of the Graduate Creative Writing Program. She is the author of five young adult novels. Her first, The Patron Saint of Butterflies, was selected as a Young Adult Book of the Year by the Northeast Independent Booksellers Association, a Top Ten Pick for 2008 by Amazon, and a Recommended Read for Teens on Oprah's website. Another one of her books, Hershey Herself, will be translated into Polish in 2010. Her other novels include Willowood, and The Sweetness of Salt, which will be published in 2011. She has BA from King’s College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Her first interactions with the faculty and students came in January when she attended the residency. “It was thrilling. I had no idea that I was going to be among such a crowd of intellectuals and have peers that are so successful,” she said. �Galante is no stranger to teaching. She spent years teaching high school English in the Wilkes-Barre area, though she is currently on sabbatical. But when it comes to teaching in the Graduate Creative Writing Program, she plans to use what she learned as a graduate student at Goddard. “I’m trying to borrow more from my experience as a student. My teachers at Goddard were incredibly supportive and astute,” she said.  “I’ve been able to draw from that experience and insert criticism in a way that doesn’t kill the spirit.” Besides teaching, Galante is also hard at work on her first adult novel, and the process has not always been easy. “It’s been incredibly daunting. For young adult, you’re allowed to write more simply and straightforward,” she said. “So, I was getting caught up in sounding like an adult and  sounding smart enough.” Galante added that the process has been easier lately, and she’s confident the book will stand on its own. She has to submit a manuscript by the end of April. Though this will be Galante’s first adult novel, she admitted that she was not initially attracted to the young adult genre. “I wasn’t even familiar there was a YA genre when I wrote my first book, The Patron Saint of Butterflies. My agent said we were going to market it as young adult, and I was devastated. I didn’t think it was young adult,” she said. “I sat back and waited, and she was right. It became a successful young adult book and a crossover book. It appeals to adults and young adults at the same time.” Bonnie Culver Helps Area High School Students Take Writen Work from "Page to Stage" Bonnie Culver Students in four northeast Pennsylvania school districts have a chance to �become playwrights in a special program being piloted by Bonnie Culver, director of the Graduate Creative Writing Program. Culver worked with two graduate students, Sarah Pugh and Cory Brin, on a master of fine arts project developing a pilot program, “Page to Stage.” Culver is working as guest artist in four high schools – Hanover Area, Hazleton, Tunkhannock and Wyoming Valley West  – to teach basic elements of playwriting to students. Culver was in the schools Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Feb. 2 to March 25. Each student presented a 10-minute play. One or two plays from each school will be chosen to be presented at the Fine Arts Fiesta in May. Wilkes University’s long-term goal is to replicate this with fiction, poetry, film, and nonfiction with creative writing students and faculty serving as guest artists in area schools with a final arts festival on campus. Faculty/Staff Notes Christine Gelineau’s essay “Cops” was published in the winter issue of The Florida Review as a runner up in their Editors’ Award in Nonfiction. Rashidah Ismaili Abu-Bakr’s poetry was published in Bending the Bow, a collection of love poems from Africa, published by Southern Illinois Press. Sara Pritchard's story "Sip the Wine" was published in Vol. 76, No. 1 of New Letters (Dec. 2009). Her story "Two Studies in Entropy" won a Pushcart Prize and is included in the 2010 PUSHCART PRIZE XXXIV BEST OF THE SMALL PRESSES anthology, and her story "Help Wanted: Female" is forthcoming in Vol. 6 (2010) of The Tusculum Review. Sara will be reading at the River Festival of Books in Huntington, West Virginia, on Friday, April 16, 2010. Student/Alumni Notes M.A. student Amy Archer had part of her memoir entitled “Bad Connection” published in the December issue of the Journal of Truth and Consequences. M.A. student Cindy Dlugolecki’s play, “Violet Oakley Unveiled,” was showcased at Villanova University on Thursday, March 18. The onewoman show helped celebrate Women’s History Month. Violet Oakley was the first woman in art history to paint murals in a public building, and her home and studio were only a few miles from Villanova’s campus, according to Dlugolecki. Dlugolecki, the actress, director, and tech team were also the guest of five different departments at Villanova, including �Women and Gender Studies, History, and Art. M.F.A. student Brian Fanelli’s poem “Freshman Year” was published in the February issue of My Favorite Bullet. http://www.interiornoisepress.com/0010_FANELLI_FreshmanYear.html, and his poems “In a Club’s Cracked Mirror” and “Why I Said No” were published in the March issue of Word Riot http://www.wordriot.org/archives/976. Alum Pete Kaszyk’s short story, “You’re Not My Father,” was accepted for publication by Kerlak Publishing for inclusion in its WTF Anthologies edition. Publication date is pending. M.A. student Kimberly Loomis-Bennet’s poem, “It Is Sweet and Decorous To Be Poor in One’s Country,” was published in the Winter 2010 issue of The November 3rd Club. http://www.november3rdclub.com/2010/02-2010/poetry/loomisbennett.html   Quick Links Career Development Campus Safety and Internships Centers & Institutes Online Programs Programs E.S. Farley Library Human Resources Jobs at Wilkes Online Nursing Offices & Administration Accessibility Statement Financial Aid Adobe Acrobat® Reader Registrar's Office Finance Office Investor Relations Student Work Study Jobs Veterans Services Make A Gift �Visit Quick Links Schedule a Visit Parking Information Virtual Tour Campus Map 84 West South Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 1-800-WILKES-U Contact Us Wilkes University © e d c f � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Revise This - April 2010 - Wilkes University.pdf https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/06a1b6bba52db301d70a15b9f44e8902.pdf 96104d487db80b0f59a1ffcd8655da85 PDF Text Text About Wilkes Home n Graduate Academics Academics n Graduate Admission & Aid Graduate Programs n Graduate Life Master's Degree Programs About Our Students n n The Arts Creative Writing MA/MFA Revise This! n Archives Revise This! November 2019 Revise This! The Norman Mailer Society Conference, 2019 A Diferent Norman BY JASON MILLER  In The Spooky Art, his treatise on writing, Norman Mailer identifies 2017 2018 himself as a writer who changes his persona with every book he writes. Revise This! - As academics who study his work and as writers ourselves, it can be November 2019 difficult to find a means to access a man whose personality, and work, seem to be in constant flux. This year’s Norman Mailer Society Conference, which took place from Thursday, October 10 to Saturday, October 12 at Wilkes University, provided a multifaceted portrait of the artist, and the man, and allowed participants some access into his world. Over the three-day period, Mailer scholars from across the country, along with four of his children, facilitated or participated in panels exploring Mailer’s fondness for the theater, his little known (or widely forgotten) essay on graffiti, “The Faith of Graffiti,” his political aspirations, his attitudes on violence and war, as well as a discussion on how to promote academic study of Mailer’s work in classrooms, both now, and into the Revise This! Archives n 2018 n n �future. The first evening of the conference was capped with a tour of the newly christened Norman Mailer Room in the Wilkes University E. S. Farley Library, which features a recreation of Mailer’s studio in Provincetown, MA, where he completed his last work, The Castle in the Forest, a novel focusing on Hitler’s childhood. The Mailer collection also includes dozens of hand-written manuscripts presenting a unique view into how he worked, his reference library, as well as his own personal reading material. The room, and the conference itself, serve as a reminder that Mailer was more than just his public persona, more than just a novelist. Mailer was also an essayist; a journalist and co-founder of The Village Voice; a biographer; a playwright; a filmmaker and actor; an activist and politician. He was also a husband, married six times, and father to nine children. He was awarded two Pulitzer prizes and a National Book Award. He wrote about war, peace, violence, madness, forgiveness, and, apparently, graffiti. Mailer’s youngest daughter, the painter and sculptor Maggie Mailer, gave Saturday’s keynote speech. Ms. Mailer spoke about what she viewed as “the different Normans,” those experienced by her and her siblings, as well as his differing and ever-changing writing voice and public persona.  As I listened to a daughter speak about her father, I heard one artist speaking about another, and I came to the realization that Norman Mailer, proper, is a man for all seasons because he is a man of all seasons; a man whose legacy, and body of work, offers something for everyone because he was, at one time or another, a bit of everything. �The Norman Mailer Room The Pulitzer Prizewinning author, Norman Mailer, now has a permanent home at Wilkes University. The E.S. Farley library showcased a collection of Norman Mailer's works, a portrait-donated by his daughter Danielle, and his original writing desk. The room came into public view on October 10 to kick-off the Norman Mailer Society Conference, hosted by the Wilkes University Maslow Family Creative Writing Graduate Program. The room on the second floor of the Farley Library includes Mailer's desk from Provincetown, MA. In addition to his personal effects, the recreated studio holds Mailer’s research materials, drafts, notes, and other personal items. J. Michael Lennon, emeritus professor, and program co-founder, along with his wife Donna Lennon, have donated other personal items and Mailer's manuscripts. The room also contains the citations for Mailer's Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award.  Please check out of this replica of literary history the next time you are on campus.  Maslow Family Creative Writing Collection Members of the Maslow Family Creative Writing Program community strive not only for individual success but also to be a part of a broader writing community. We are pleased to announce that all published works are now accessible through the E.S. Farley Library. Designated by the gold medallion, a search under "libguides" will provide �you with the entire catalog of published works including, 150 novels, poetry collections, or memoirs. Through this collection, alumni, faculty, and current students can now access the published works of the writers in their writing community.  Enjoy your reading! Call for submissions: The Maslow Family Creative Writing Collection includes all work received through April, 2017. If you are a member of our writing community and have had novel, poetry collection or memoir published, or play produced or screenplay developed, we welcome you to submit this work to the collection. Please send two copies (one can be autographed) to the following technical services librarian: Eddie Clem, Technical Services Librarian  E. S. Farley Library | Wilkes University 84 West South Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18777 Creative Writing Community Workshops at Wilkes University – Winter 2020   Playwriting: Playwriting 101  This six-week workshop will introduce students with the tools to write a short one-act (10 page) play, and further develop their playwriting skills. The first two classes will focus on writing prompts, exercises, and learning the basics of playwriting. The last four classes will give participants the opportunity to workshop their play-in-progress at a table �reading, with all participants providing feedback.  Meetings: Wednesdays 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4 and 11 Cost: $65.00 for the entire series Instructor: Crista Gaskill Writing Relatable YA Books: The Essential Elements of Storytelling  During this six-week workshop for adults of all ages, participants will focus on the different aspects of craft that will help create reliable and realistic characters young booklovers want to read. The focus of this workshop is to shape image, voice, character, setting and story in young adult books that are representative of the target audience. Workshop participants will study the works of successful young adult authors and engage in writing activities that start the scene. Workshopping each element will take place weekly with peers and the instructor. Meetings: Mondays 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. January 27, February 3, 10, 24, March 2 and 9 (no meeting on February 17) Cost: $65.00 for the entire series Instructor: Jennifer McLaughlin Screenwriting Master Class  In this six-week non-credit course, adults of all ages will be introduced to a new way of imagination and creativity, an entry into an alternative reality: media. This master class will provide participants with an overview of how to write for the screen. Any size screen. Through the use of narrative film and television as a model, participants will discover that learning to write requires learning to read. Participants will learn how to closely read what's on screen, how it got there and why. They will also read screenplays. The master class will be delivered organically, not in the traditional delivery of a series of formulas.  The master class outcome will be a three to four-page sequence of scenes that would act as the opening of either a feature length film or the pilot episode of a TV series. Participants will also craft a page or two on what the rest of the story would hold for the audience. At the conclusion of the master course, participants will have acquired or sharpened their ability to imagine and create in images, be skilled in how �stories are constructed and be able to put a story on the page, for the camera. Online Master. Class Six-week online master class begins February 3 and ends March 13 Cost: $125.00 for the entire series Instructor: Ross Klavan REQUIREMENTS FOR ONLINE MASTER CLASS Students must have a sincere interest in media, film and television and have a serious interest in knowing this world as a writer. Students must bring to the course an open, adult mindset and willingness to view screen narrative in its widest form: films viewed in class may include violence, sexual situations, strong language or be shot in black-and-white. Anyone offended by any of these factors should not take the course. You will be provided with the necessary handouts and scripts (as digital documents). You will have to provide on your own the following films: the pilot episode the TV series Mad Men, and the films The Birdcage, The Stepfather (original version), The Sweet Smell of Success, and Unforgiven.  These films are easily available on DVD, on Netflix or on Amazon Prime. They are inexpensive to rent.  Winter 2020 Workshops Announcements Faculty Jean Klein’s Generous Rivals, a full-length play in which Hester Thrale, Samuel Johnson, and James Boswell go head to head in a literary and romantic rivalry for Johnson's attention and for immortality received two productions. Produced by Zeider's American Dream Theater in June of 2019 (the first act) and October 2019 (the Festival version) for the Proteus Festival in Virginia Beach. Inside and Out, a short play about a mother and her autistic son, will be produced at a director's workshop at the University of North Carolina in December of 2019.  J. Michael Lennon shared an article from Deadline Hollywood about Norman Mailer: A Double Life, which is under consideration for a film or TV Series.  �PHOTO CREDIT: KATHY WILLENS/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK   Nancy McKinley is thrilled to announce the publication of St. Christopher on Pluto, a novelin-stories, West Virginia University Press, 2020. There will be a reading and launch during the Wilkes January 2020 Residency (on Thursday, January 9) with a signing of books hot-from-the-press.        David Poyer - In September, Galaktika magazine, from Budapest, published the novella-length version of Stepfather Bank translated into Hungarian, plus another of David Poyer's short stories, “The Unforgiving Minute,” plus a biographical article – in an official "D.C. Poyer" issue.   Alumni Molly Barari (MFA '17) was selected to present a memoir writing workshop at the 2019 South Dakota Festival of Books. The workshop-sponsored by the South Dakota Humanities Council--took place in October in Deadwood, SD. Maxwell Bauman (M.F.A.'15) has a literary magazine Door Is A Jar, that came out with its 12th issue early in October 2019. Additionally, CLASHBooks just published his new horror novella, The Mummy of Canaan.    �      Craig Czury (M.F.A.'18) received the Alexander the Great Gold Medal for Letters and Arts from UNESCO in Salamina, Greece in October. He was awarded Honorary Membership of P.E.N. Albania in June for his promotion of the Albanian language, literature, and culture in the world through his lectures, readings, workshops, and translations throughout Albania and the Albanian diaspora. His New & Selected Poems is forthcoming from NYQ Books. Wendy Decker (M.A. '16) has been hired as an Adjunct Professor at Middlesex County College and Ocean County College in New Jersey.   Patricia Florio (M.F.A. '11) and Donna Ferarra (M.F.A.'12) are reading contest submissions for their 2020 edition of American Writers Review from the founders of San Fedele Press. Both Florio and Ferarra had readings at Wilkes on June 14, 2019, as well as in August in Neptune, NJ, and in September in Los Angeles, CA. Another event is scheduled in December at the Jersey Shore Art Center in the 3rd-floor coffee bar on 66 South Main Street, Ocean Grove, NJ 07566.  Refreshments will be served, and books are available for purchase with a complimentary gift wrap.  Krista Harner's (M.F.A. '08) personal essay, "Square Peg, Round Hole," has been selected to appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Forgiveness Fix, which went on sale on November 5, 2019. Kristin Ivey (M.A.'18) recently had three poems published. “A Midsummers Cavatina” and “Let Me, Bee” were published in August 2019 through the Poetry in Transit contest, sponsored by Kings College. These poems will be displayed on the LANTA buses for the next year in the Scranton area. “Writing, in Parts of Speech,” was published in Spark: A Creative Anthology, Volume IX, published September 19, 2019. This poem was first penned during CW-501R during her first week at Wilkes in 2016. Ivey is currently serving as The Write Life editor. �Marlon James (M.A.'06) was a finalist for the 2019 annual National Book Awards for his fantasy novel, Marlon James' fantasy novel Black Leopard, Red Wolf.         Maura Maros's (M.F.A.'18) poem, “A Mother's Guide to Getting By,” was published in the American Writers Review 2019 in May of 2019. Her short story, “Calling Mum...The home” was published in October 2019 on Mum Life Stories.  Leah Vernon (M.F.A. ’15) is currently on tour with her new book Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim, which is included in Michelle Obama’s “Twenty-One Books to Read After Becoming” (The Atlantic, November 13, 2019).           Current Students Jason Miller has accepted a position as a freelance reviewer with ForeWord Reviews. Quick Links Career Development Campus Safety and Internships Make A Gift �Centers & Institutes Online Programs Programs E.S. Farley Library Human Resources Jobs at Wilkes Online Nursing Offices & Administration Accessibility Statement Financial Aid Adobe Acrobat® Reader Registrar's Office Finance Office Investor Relations Student Work Study Jobs Veterans Services Visit Quick Links Schedule a Visit Parking Information Virtual Tour Campus Map 84 West South Street �Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 1-800-WILKES-U Contact Us Wilkes University © e © d c f � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Revise This! Winter 2019 - Wilkes University.pdf https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/6990449db469cad602eabbfa7b880df6.pdf ef17c3c40d827569331742274bec4548 PDF Text Text About Wilkes Home n Graduate Academics Academics n Graduate Admission & Aid Graduate Programs n Graduate Life Master's Degree Programs About Our Students n n The Arts Creative Writing MA/MFA Revise This! n Archives Winter 2018 - Revise This! November 2018 Check in: M.F.A. Internships Across the Board By Danie Watson Revise This! 2017 2018 Revise This! November 2019 Revise This! Archives (Left to right: Jeremiah Blue, Camika Spencer, Karley Stasko, Janine Dubik, Danie Watson) During each Residency the 616 students introduce themselves to the best practices in both publishing and education in the hopes that they will find a perfect internship by the end of the week. Internships in education can include adjuncting a class, holding a workshop, or assessing current classroom procedures. Publishing internships can include working with n 2018 n n �any of our program partners including: Akashic Books, At the Inkwell, Etruscan Press, HaveScripts (formerly Blue Moon Plays), Hippocampus Magazine and Books, Kaylie Jones Books, Michael Mailer Films, Northampton House Press or SenArt Films on a number of projects. This semester, M.F.A. candidates Jeremiah Blue, Janine Dubik, Camika Spencer, Karley Stasko and Danie Watson are all working in what they hope to be their future careers. Jeremiah Blue is currently working with Donna Talarico (M.F.A. '10) at Hippocampus Magazine and Books. Jeremiah has been working on book launch support and research for Dig: A Personal Prehistoric Journey by Sam Chiarelli (M.F.A. '16) and another upcoming release for the press. Jeremiah has also been working with faculty member Phil Brady at Etruscan Press doing grant research and a review for Etruscan's outreach program. Of his experiences, Jeremiah says, "It's been a revealing, challenging, and inspirational process to assist in the final moments before a book makes its official debut to the public—in other words, being published. Especially so for a book, though in my literary genre of specialty, considerably different from my own work in topic and theme." Janine Dubik is currently working with Phil Brady at Etruscan Press. Both Janine and Karley Stasko were copyeditors of Sixteen by Auguste Corteau, a January 2019 forthcoming title from Etruscan. Together, both Janine and Karley are now proofreading the final proof of the title. Janine said she is "amazed and proud of what our editing team has accomplished." Janine also read Phil Brady's upcoming book Phantom Signs and has created study guides for the books she read to be used for outreach and in the classroom with Etruscan books. Of her experience, Janine says, "My MFA publishing internship with Etruscan Press has given me an inside look at what happens to a writer's words on their way to becoming a book. A team of Etruscan editors and three interns helped revise a manuscript that is now quick-paced, touching, funny, and historical simultaneously. The Etruscan editors, Karley, and I are going through a final proof, and I am incredibly amazed by and proud of the shape of Sixteen, compared to that ARC in June. I plan to use my experience with Sixteen in my own writing." Camika Spencer is creating a curriculum for a Reader's Theatre class at her school because they do not currently have an auditorium. Of her experience, Camika says, "It's refreshing, timely, and it's bringing me a great deal of joy to be the creator, author and implementer." Karley Stasko has been working at Etruscan Press alongside Janine Dubik. As previously mentioned, Karley and Janine were part of the editing team for Sixteen by Auguste Corteau, which is a forthcoming �January 2019 Etruscan title. Karley is on her third round of edits for this title. When she wasn't serving as a copywriter, Karley prepared for a conference seminar on "Revising Like a Publisher" for the Kings College Creative Writing Alumni Conference in October. Of her experiences, Karley says, "Etruscan has opened my eyes to at least a dozen new ways of reading and analyzing a work. From the proofreader's careful eye to the academic's cross-curricular perspective, I won't be able to read the same way again." Danie Watson has been working at Lackawanna College as an adjunct professor under Department Chair Brian Fanelli (M.F.A. '10). Danie is teaching a section of Introduction to Literature, two sections of Effective Speaking and one section of College Writing, which serves as her internship. Of her experience, Danie says, "It's certainly been a challenge to move from student to professor, but I try to think of it as 'how would I best learn this lesson?' and adapt that to my student's needs. I'm having a blast. I learn just as much from my students as they learn from me and I couldn't be happier with my internship, which I hope will one day turn into my career." While the internship duties and tasks change each semester along with the students, there's no doubt that each student leaves with valuable experience and excellent feedback. Danie Watson (Goetz) is an adjunct professor at Lackawanna College, where she teaches writing, literature and communications classes. Danie also serves as the Marketing Coordinator for Oddities by Kaylie Jones Books and a graduate assistant for the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Her book review "Unmasking the Hermit" was published in Tailor Made Magazine. Danie lives in Scranton, PA with her husband Daniel. HippoCamp 2018: More of an Honor than an Obligation By Caitlin Downs �(Caitlin Downs (M.A. student) (left) pictured with HippoCamp Director Donna Talarico (M.F.A.’10). My role at Hippocamp 2018 was to act as an emcee in one of the conference rooms at the large and somewhat labyrinthine Lancaster Convention Center that houses the annual weekend-long event series. It was more of an honor than an obligation to assist Donna Talarico in the massive undertaking that is the system of operations at a creative nonfiction conference that draws hundreds of attendees. My role was pretty small and straightforward, but both Donna and her trusted partner, Kevin Beerman, graciously made sure to extend access to the conference to me in exchange for my assistance. I missed the 2017 conference because of a conflict but I attended this year to report on the keynote speaker, the titan of the creative non-fiction field who is Tobias Wolff. More impressive than the headliner was the community of writers in attendance, many of whom didn't recognize me from any previous events and welcomed me anyway. People in the line for book signing were so socially engaging, asking me if and what I write, talking about influential authors and events that they attended over the weekend that inspired them. It struck me that Hippocamp has a very different vibe than what I was used to from past readings and engagements. There, people became really invested in one another's stories. My first �Hippocampus 2018 experience began once I had the pleasure of introducing my friend and fellow writer Tyler Barton to a room full of enthusiastic writers and professionals. Tyler is one half of the literary organization Fear No Lit, and he presented on organizational strategies that can help bring members of the writing community together. He outlined his team's methods for coming up with unusual fundraisers or exhibits. He and partner Erin Dorney have organized many exciting events I have attended in and around Lancaster, such as an Adult Spelling Bee, or a Page Match that offers a Mexican wrestling style take on a slam. Athena Dixon was the next breakout session speaker I witnessed. Her presentation spoke to the unaddressed benefits of "navel gazing" and reframed it as a worthy pursuit for writers. Athena engaged her audience with personalized bingo sheets that helped attendees acknowledge the key components of their identities. She also wove a beautiful web of anecdotes and examples to help her audience rethink their roles as writers and how their stories serve the wider community. (Photo by Caitlin Downs)  Donna is able to pull together a lineup of presenters that offers something for �everyone. Over thirtyfive events and a multitude of speakers address issues of craft as well as entertain with stories told either from the stage or in the more competitive slam format. This year the keynote speaker, Abigail Thomas, spoke of a lifetime of accomplished writing, living up to the description of being an inspirational and wisdom-filled memoirist. My favorite line from Thomas's talk on crafting memoir is "if you start where you think you're going to start and end up where you plan to end up, you're doing something wrong." Similarly, if you think you know where a conference is going to start and what you're going to learn then you probably haven't been going to the right kind of conference, because Hippocamp changes every year. The community, and new speakers bring new issues to the floor that may very well change the way attendees write in multiple ways. Caitlin Downs teaches creative writing, literature, and communications at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in Lancaster, PA. She holds a Master's in English from Arcadia University and is currently pursuing an MA/MFA in Creative Writing at Wilkes University. Her poetry has appeared in such places as Cease, Cows, The University of Edinburgh Journal, and The Fiction Pool.  “Navel Gazing and Other Worthwhile Pursuits” at HippoCamp18 Photo by Caitlin Downs    Taylor M. Polites Recognized by Rhode Island Council for the Humanities �Faculty member Taylor M. Polites was awarded the Public Humanities Scholar Award by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities in 2018. From their website, "The Scholar Award recognizes outstanding public humanities work in teaching and scholarship that advances the civic and cultural life of Rhode Island. This year, the Award honors Taylor Polites for his historical fiction writing, research, teaching, and creative interpretations of Rhode Island history for public audiences. Polites expertly bridges history, art, and literature working with artists, activists, archivists, and scholars with boundless interdisciplinary imagination and energy. He partners with Ann Hood and Hester Kaplan in Goat Hill, a collaboration dedicated to bringing writers and writing professionals to Southern New England, and works with local organizations to cultivate storytelling and community. He teaches in the Newport MFA program at Salve Regina University, in the Maslow Family Creative Writing MFA program at Wilkes University, at the Rhode Island School of Design, and at Roger Williams University. Polites exemplifies an inclusive approach to scholarship and public engagement in the humanities and is a bridge through his efforts to value individual voices." Congratulations Taylor! Wilkes at AWP 2019: Schedule of Events The 2019 AWP Conference & Bookfair will be held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon from March 27 – 30, 2018. In Portland, swing by these sessions and support the Wilkes CW family, including program partners Akashic Books and Etruscan Press: Etruscan Press Authors: Kazim Ali (The Disappearance of Seth) Reinventing the Wheel: The Tradition of Innovation in Poetry Friday, March 29, 2019 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Portland Ballroom 256 �Oregon Convention Center Level 2 Sidney famously writes, "And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way" ("Astrophel and Stella"). However, one would only need to read Homer, Virgil, and Dante, the letters between Wordsworth and Coleridge or Moore and Bishop, to recognize the long tradition of poets mentoring and inspiring other poets. The poets will challenge the notion that tradition and innovation are at odds by revealing how specific poems influenced them and led them to better understand different poetic elements. Fifty Years of FIELD: Contemporary Poetry and Poetics Saturday, March 30, 2019 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. B115 Oregon Convention Center Level 1 Since 1969, FIELD Magazine has been known as one of the country's leading journals of contemporary poetry and poetics. In 2019, FIELD will publish its 100th and final issue. This panel, featuring two founding editors and three later additions, will discuss the magazine's history and values, including its annual symposium of essays on the work of a major poet, its commitment to translation, and its openness to a wide variety of voices, both established and emerging. Laurie Jean Cannady(Crave: Sojourn of a Hungry Soul) #MeToo, Girlhood: Writing and Subverting Childhood Sexual Violence Narratives Thursday, March 28, 2019 3:00 a.m. to 4:15 a.m. E145 Oregon Convention Center Level 1 Writers discuss creating narratives of girlhood sexual trauma, share influences and craft advice, and offer strategies for overcoming the challenges of writing these stories. The writers on this panel create works that subvert common victim narratives—via humor, style, non-linearity, narrator agency, lack of disclosure, and more—as well as examine the intersections of gender, race, class, inherited trauma, and sexual identity on narratives of sexual violence. Patti Horvath (All the Diference) Rewriting History: Why It's Not Okay to Fictionalize Our Memories Friday, March 29, 2019 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. B114 �Oregon Convention Center Level 1 Every so often, literary scandals seem to surface, particularly when it comes to memoirs. Is there an unspoken code of ethics that exists for memoirists and essayists? Or is it something deeper, something psychological that gives birth to the betrayal we feel upon discovering that a nonfiction writer has invented a character, setting, or memory? In this panel, nonfiction writers discuss the difficulty in cultivating memories while managing this genre's ethical demands and expectations. David Lazar (Who's Afraid of Helen of Troy: An Essay on Love) Que savent-ils?: What Classic Essays Can Teach Contemporary Essayists Thursday, March 28, 2019 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. B114 Oregon Convention Center Level 1 When's the last time you sat down with an essay by Lamb? Or cracked open The Rambler? Maybe not recently enough. With so many exciting new modes of the essay being written today, it can be easy to forget those of the past, but writers like Montaigne, Rousseau, Hazlitt, and Woolf have more bearing on contemporary essayists than you might think. This diverse panel of essayists writing in a variety of sub-genres shows how the "classics" inspire them—as perhaps they will inspire you, too. Paul Lisicky (The Burning House) Endings for the End Times? Thursday, March 28, 2019 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Portland Ballroom 255 Oregon Convention Center Level 2 As we reach the concluding lines of our own works, current ailments in the body politic may bend us toward chaos and despair. At the same time, ever-present narrative and commercial pressures may drive us toward neatly resolved, even uplifting, endings. How do we craft final notes that imply light and dark, open and closed, emotional and intellectual complexity? We discuss struggles and strategies for endings that feel satisfying for readers, and yet true to the work, the moment, and ourselves. Am I Really Going to Do This Until I Die? Friday, March 29, 2019 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. �Portland Ballroom 256 Oregon Convention Center Level 2 The longer a person teaches workshop, the more prone he or she is to burn out; after all, instructors tend to use the same format semester after semester, and students tend to need the same advice. How can instructors keep workshops feeling relevant and energized? Are there new models that might reinvigorate our students and ourselves? This panel, featuring undergraduate and graduate writing instructors, will address strategies to keep everyone engaged, down to the most exhausted teacher. Diane Raptosh (AmericanAmnesiac and Human Directional) Reading: Unmasked: Women Write about Sex and Intimacy after 50 Thursday, March 28, 2019 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nuture Realty, 1100 SE Division St., #120, Portland, OR 97202 J. D. Schrafenberger (Saint Joe's Passion) Impact and Empathy: Service-Learning and Creative Writing Friday, March 29, 2019 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. D139-140 Oregon Convention Center Level 1 Service-learning and community engagement not only provide student writers with real-world experiences, applied skills, and opportunities for personal growth, but their empathy and perspectives are expanded in ways that transform the creative process. Teachers from various backgrounds and institutions discuss the practical challenges and unique benefits of service-learning in the creative writing classroom, including work with veterans, oceanographers, food co-ops, and refugee organizations. Changing of the Guard: Editors on Inclusion and Diversity in Literary Journals Saturday, March 30, 2019 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Portland Ballroom 255 Oregon Convention Center Level 2 The VIDA Count is an indispensable measure of gender diversity in literary journal publications. While the numbers layout disparities within this community, the question remains: how can we increase contributor and staff diversity in areas such as race, sexual identity/orientation, and �disability? Where is the line between diversity and tokenism? This panel of literary journal editors will share their strides, missteps, and questions on inclusive staff and contributor practices. Tim Seibles (Fast Animal and One Turn Around the Sun) Ghost Fishing: An Eco-Justice Poetry Anthology Reading Thursday, March 28, 2019 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Portland Ballroom 256 Oregon Convention Center Level 2 Eco-justice poetry embodies justice, culture, and the environment. It is poetry born of ecological and social crisis, poetry that holds memory, fed by a wealth of cultural traditions, urgent in our time. Come listen to contributing poets read from and discuss the ground-breaking Ghost Fishing: An Eco-Justice Poetry Anthology, as each discusses their approach to writing in these troubled times and the traditions that feed their work. How we need another soul to cling to: Writing Love Poems in Difficult Times Saturday, March 30, 2019 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. D139-140 Oregon Convention Center Level 1 When the news feels like a daily onslaught, it's hard to believe writing a poem can matter—let alone a love poem. Here, five poets will share their own love poems and discuss how writing about love also allows them to explore everything from racism to climate change to queerness to personal grief, then offer strategies of how others might do the same. For how better to know why resistance is worth it? In this panel, we'll discuss not just what we're fighting against but what we're fighting for. Shara McCallum (Poems and Their Making) Boulevard 35th Anniversary & 100 Issues Reading Saturday, March 30, 2019 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. B116 Oregon Convention Center Level 1 Founded in 1984, Boulevard magazine celebrates 100 issues and thirtyfive years of continuously publishing the finest in contemporary voices in fiction, poetry, and definitive essays on the arts and culture. Featuring writers from across our thirty-five years, this reading reflects Boulevard's mission to present a variegated yet coherent ensemble of creative and �critical writing by both emerging and established writers. Wilkes University Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing: Stanton Hancock (M.F.A. Alum) AWP Open Mic and Old School Slam Thursday, March 28, 2019 and Friday, March 29, 2018 B113 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 Midnight Oregon Convention Center Level 1 AWP welcomes students to return to the roots of Slam! Open mic special guests and then undergraduate and graduate students partake in a hardcore-break-your-heart-strut-out-the-good-stuff slam competition. Students are welcome to sign up to participate on Friday, March 29, 2019 and Thursday, March 28, 2019 at the Wilkes University/Etruscan Press booth and read original pieces (three minutes or less with no props) at the Slam later that night. Sponsors: Wilkes University and Etruscan Press. Program Partners: Ibrahim Ahmad (Akashic Books) Can I Pick Your Brain? The Fine Line Between Giving Back and Getting Paid Friday, March 29, 2018 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. B117-119 Oregon Convention Center Level 1 The right connections in publishing can jumpstart your career and make the journey more enjoyable. But there is a fine line when asking for a favor (or a freebie) and networking. This panel looks at how emerging writers can gracefully navigate the art of "the ask" and how established authors can balance their time and effort and meaningful connections. Five publishing insiders share secrets of effective networking without looking self-interested—and when to say no without looking unsupportive. Ronnie K. Stephens (Kaylie Jones Books) Author Signing--The Kaleidoscope Sisters Thursday, March 28, 2018 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Bookfair Booth 3031 (Wilkes University/Etruscan Press) Oregon Convention Center �Level 1 For the full AWP19 schedule, visit the AWP Conference Schedule. Faculty News: Bonnie Culver, program director, will have her play Auto-Mated performed as part of a 10-minute play festival at Caroll College in Helena, Montana. David Poyer's Hatteras Blue audiobook debuted in October by Northampton House Press. This is their first audiobook. Marketed under NHP's Polyhymnia Books imprint, Dave Poyer's Hatteras Blue is an exciting underwater adventure narrated by Edison McDaniels (available on Audible, iTunes, and other online sellers). Other Polyhymnia audiobooks are in production, narrated by McDaniels and by Julie Yelen (M.A. '18), a program alum. J. Michael Lennon, along with his wife Donna Pedro, published the revised, enlarged version of Norman Mailer: Works and Days on November 1. He is also doing a reading alongside authors John Winters and Barbara Burkhardt at a biographers' night on November 14th, 7-9 pm at the WORD Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY. It's in the Greenpoint neighborhood. Alumni and Student News: Amye Archer (M.F.A. '11) will have her book If I Don't Make It, I Love You: Survivors in the Aftermath of School Shootings released in Spring 2019 by Skyhorse Publishing. For this book, Amye and co-editor Loren Kleinman worked with over 90 survivors of school shootings and helped them to write their stories. Amye presented at PCTELA in Harrisburg on October 18th with Wilkes M.F.A. alums Dawn Zera (M.F.A. '13) and Ginny Grove (M.F.A. '12). The three presented a panel titled "I, Too, Am a Writer," which explored ways in which teachers can bring their own writing experience into the classroom. Patrick Charsky (M.F.A. '17) finalized an agreement with The Bundy Museum to do a film series on screenwriting where most of the films are based on the M.F.A. guide from Wilkes called "The Screenwriting Biz." The dates are November 13, December 11, 2018, January 8, February 12, March 12 and April 9, 2019 at The Bundy Museum in Binghamton, NY. Charsky will curate and present a series of films and lead discussions after every screening. Iris Ouellette (M.A. '17) is an adjunct professor at Lackawanna College teaching Introduction to Literature and Effective Speaking. Her nonfiction piece "Finding �Oscar Wilde" was published in July's issue of Parhelion Literary Magazine. Josh Penzone's (M.A. '13) short story "A Return" appeared in the December issue of Blue Lake Review. Ronnie K. Stephens (M.F.A. '18) recently published book reviews in Lambda Literary Review andThe Los Angeles Review. His debut novel, The Kaleidoscope Sisters, has received glowing reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and School Library Journal. Donna Talarico (M.F.A. '10) presented for the eighth consecutive year at the annual Higher Education Web Professionals conference in Sacramento, CA. She hosted a lightning round talk called "All Work and No Play? Nonsense! — How Creativity, Curiosity, Surprise and Play Help Us Work" and a three-hour post-conference workshop called "Copy That! Creating Ad Copy Headlines and Other Content that 'Clicks' with Your Audience." Donna also was interviewed for the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) podcast; the episode aired to its members in mid-October and a recording will be made public later this fall. Quick Links Career Development Campus Safety and Internships Centers & Institutes Online Programs Programs E.S. Farley Library Human Resources Jobs at Wilkes Online Nursing Offices & Administration Accessibility Statement Financial Aid Adobe Acrobat® Reader Registrar's Office Finance Office Investor Relations Student Work Study Jobs Veterans Services Make A Gift �Visit Quick Links Schedule a Visit Parking Information Virtual Tour Campus Map 84 West South Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 1-800-WILKES-U Contact Us Wilkes University © e © d c f � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Revise This! Winter 2018 - Wilkes University.pdf