118 15 1774 https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/b74df6af1981457ea3e63202a16d4488.pdf bdbe1a2c18af6e05786d35c587b0ddbb PDF Text Text The Beacon - November 9, 2023 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 76, Issue 4 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Kristin Degnan-Boonin celebrates 40th anniversary By Cally Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff The Conservatory in the Dorothy Darte Center plays a pivotal role in student life and growth of talents. Kristin Degnan-Boonin, one of the founders of the Degnan Ballet Center and Wilkes’ dance program is celebrating 40 years since she and her late husband, Peter Degnan, founded the Degnan Ballet Center. Degnan-Boonin and her late husband founded the Degnan Ballet Center in 1983, but added their previously existing dance studio to campus later. The conservatory consists of the Degnan Ballet Center, Indian Classical Dance, instrumental and vocal music lessons. The conservatory originally focused on theater rather than dance until the Degnan Ballet Center was added by the couple. Throughout its 40 years, the Degnan Ballet Center has m oved around from five different locations. At its founding, the studio was located in the back of the third floor of theHotel Sterling (now torn down) in Wilkes-Barre. From there, the ballet center moved to other locations in Wilkes Barre, Kingston and Gender and Sexuality Alliance hosts Halloween party, page 5 finally the campus of Wilkes University. When Degnan-Boonin started teaching, she was still dancing professionally in Pittsburgh and working with Nicolas Petrov. Her late husband was still dancing professionally as well. The two had to commute from their jobs as dancers about five hours to their jobs as dance instructors. Degnan-Boonin described it as a “transition period” between being a dancer and a teacher. Many dancers end up pursuing careers in teaching dance to pass down their knowledge of training to future generations of dancers. Dance is passed down all the way from some of the most famous and influential dancers and choreographers from teacher to student by repeating the artistic cycle. In 1991, Degnan and Degnan-Boonin added dance to Wilkes University through the Encore summer intensive program. This was a program offering intensive classes in music, theater and dance to high school students. They taught this program from 1991 to 1998 while also teaching and running the Degnan Ballet Center. ...Anniversary, continued on page 9 Honors Program sets up donation drive to GKTWV, page 7 Photo Courtesy of Wilkes University Faculty and Staff Review: Westside Gunn’s newest album, page 18 “Five Nights at Freddy’s” unfairly criticized, page 16 �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Amanda Montgomery: Amanda.Montgomery1@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Nov. 1 weekly meeting By Zach Paraway Contributing Writer Student Government held another meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The remaining amount in the SG account is $9,345.84. The first order of business was a fund request from the Fly Fishing Club. The presentation was given by club president Jacob Smith. The Fly Fishing club is a conservation group that also teaches and takes students to fly fishing in local bodies of water. They came to request funds in order to purchase materials to do a fundraiser. They would like to do a clothing sale with shirts, hats, patches and more. The money made from this would go to club business such as fly fishing trips, upgrading some of the equipment and to send students to conferences. The total request was for $700. It was voted on this week and approved for the full amount. The second and final order of business was a club report by Sports Management Club. The presentation was given by president Christian Reino and vice president Nick Splain. Voting occurred for club and member of the month. Voted club of the month was the Speech and Debate Club. Member of the month went to Victoria Corbo, sophomore pharmacy major who serves as a class representative. SG's next meeting in Nov. 8 in the Miller Room. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming Compiled by Beacon News Staff Spring 2024 Commuter and Resident Student Parking Applications Commuter and resident parking permit applications are available now until Monday Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. The applications will not re-open again once they are closed. The link for parking applications: https://www.wilkes.edu/campus-life/ safety-security/parking/studentparking-permits.aspx. Any questions contact parking 570408-7275, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. HPSC Give Kids the World Fundraiser Join the Honors Program Student Committee in community service by donating children’s books and Halloween costumes to Give Kids the World, a nonprofit that helps make dreams come true for Make a Wish children with a critical illness. Monetary donations can also be made. Donations will be accepted in the honors office until the end of the semester. Any questions, email jennifer. mclaughlin1@wilkes.edu. Spring Break Trip to London and Paris The International Business trip is now open for registration. The trip leaves the Philadelphia Airport March 2, 2024 and returns March 9, 2024. The total estimated cost is $3,500, which includes airfare, hotel, breakfast and dinner expenses. Contact Dr. Matus at justin.matus@ wilkes.edu for more information. Diploma Order Form May 2024 Bachelor’s degree candidates, now is the time to complete your diploma order information and degree audit review for processing for May 2024 Commencement. Now is the time to complete your Diploma Order information and Degree Audit Review for processing for May 2024 Commencement. The deadline to submit your Diploma Order is Dec.18. Use this link to complete your Diploma Order information: https:// etcentral.wilkes.edu/#/form/4. Further Graduation information can be found here: https://www.wilkes.edu/ academics/registrar/graduation.aspx. Free Professional Portrait Sessions The Center for Career Development and Internships is holding professional portrait sessions for students on Nov. 7 and 9 during club hours. Spots are limited. The Colonel’s Clothing Closet also has professional wear that is free for all students. Link to register: https://forms.gle/ ZHx3rvsGEb2RCXUo8. Contact Lois Grimm at lois.grimm@ wilkes.edu or 570-408-4060 with any questions. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............4 Opinion..............6 Sports..................8 Upcoming Events: 2023 Fall Semester November 9 - Giveaway 16 - Fast Food Bingo 30 - Break-FEST December 7 - Bingo �������������������������������� ���������� ������ ����� ������������ ������ ��� �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 News 3 Gender and Sexuality Alliance hosts Halloween party By Emma Broda News Staff Writer Although Halloween for college students is not as filled with costumes and candy as Halloween for children, many students still find ways to be festive. The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Halloween Party was just one of the Halloween celebrations held recently on campus. The party had an array of snacks and a Halloween movie on for everyone to watch. Students wore costumes of their favorite characters, or Halloween figures for the club’s costume contest. Ozzie Priebe, a first year history, political science and sociology major, said he was dressed as Shinzo Abe, former Japanese prime minister, and that he was planning on “eating lots of candy” later that evening. Another student Alyssa Brown, a first year psychology major, shared that she was dressed as a wizard and that she would be “spending time with friends” to celebrate Halloween. One of Brown’s friends, Astrid Overby, a first year pharmacy major, shared that she would be watching horror movies, but also doing homework. Finally, the club’s vice president, Brian Guzman, a senior business major, said he planned to spend time with friends. His costime: Where’s Waldo. Other fun costumes included Aaron Haber, asophomore digital design and media art major, dressed as Denji from “Chainsaw Man”; Jackie St. Claire, a senior digital design and media art major, dressed as an archangel; Kaitlyn Schuyler, a sophomore psychology major, was dressed as a devil; Logan Dickson, sophomore environmental biology major, was Choso from “Jujutsu Kaisen”; and Liz Keller, a first year political science major, was Fiona from “Adventure Time.” From left to right: Mia Decker, junior history major secondary education major, and Kamea Paresa, sophomore math major. From left to right: Logan Dickson, sophomore environmental biology major, Aaron Haber, sophomore ddma major, Kaitlyn Schuyler, sophomore psychology major and Jackie St. Claire, senior digital design and media art major. From left to right: Alyssa Brown, first year psychology major and Abigail Malin, first year psychology major. Photos: The Beacon/Emma Broda �News The Beacon - November 9, 2023 What is... Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC) By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Wilkes University has more than 80 clubs to join, many of which celebrate the unique differences of the campus community members. They encourage participants to explore different cultures and identities. Of all the different groups on campus, only the Multicultural Student Coalition, or MSC, is solely dedicated to celebrating multiculturalism in all its forms. “We have such a unique experience at Wilkes that MSC gets the privilege of taking a deeper dive into when we learn and share all of our cultural, ethnic, and diverse backgrounds with one another," said Kathrine Ermeus, senior political science major, and president of MSC. "This is MSC. It’s not just what we do, but it’s who we are." Erica Acosta, the director of diversity initiatives and advisor for MSC further elaborated. “This club differs because it focuses on being the umbrella for multiculturalism," said Acosta. "This club highlights and educates the community on cultural awareness and promotes diversity inclusion." With so many clubs that focus on diversity on campus, there are aspects of MSC that make it stand out from others. “Having groups that focus on diversity here at Wilkes helps to educate the community on these topics," said Starr Sandt, vice president of MSC and junior psychology major. "While the education aspect is important, having these groups that focus on diversity allow the creation of an inclusive space where everyone can From left to right, Kathrine Ermeus, president, Abel Gonzalez, treasurer, Starr Sandt, vice president and Erica Acosta, adviser. feel like they have a home within Wilkes community." Sandt explained that she got involved with MSC because of Acosta. “I was speaking with her during my first year here at Wilkes and she told me about a club that she thought that I would enjoy being a part of, and that club happened to be MSC," said Sandt. "She later introduced me to our president Kathrine Ermeus and the rest was history." MSC hosts a variety of events, ranging from fun with pumpkin carvings, one world, and the annual talent show, to serious, with regular “real talks,” which gives students a safe space to come and talk honestly about different topics, from professional etiquette to celebrating Hispanic heritage. MSC plans to continue with its yearly tradition. 4 “We want to be more communicative with our General Board this year and really reach the masses as a club,” said Ermeus. “So if anyone is interested, don’t be shy, come say hi,” Sandt added. “We try to make diversity, equity, and inclusion less of a ‘scary’ topic to talk about and if there are any events that you want to see on campus, please let us know about them and we will make them happen to the best of our ability.” MSC meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the Savitz Lounge on the second floor of the SUB. To get involved with MSC, you can email msc@wilkes.edu or kathrine. ermeus@wilkes.edu. Keep up to date, on Instagram @wilkes_msc. Photos: The Beacon/Morgan Stiener Participants during the annual cookout event during Welcome Weekend this past August. �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 News 5 New photography exhibit open at Sordoni Art Gallery University Press Release Framing Moments: Photography from the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) opened at the Sordoni Art Gallery on Nov. 7. It runs through Feb. 4. Framing Moments offers a distinct and inclusive overview of photography in the United States and beyond. Curated by Deborah Willis, the exhibit features selected gems from the KIA’s significant photography holdings. Works range from the mid-nineteenth century to the present and reveal how photographers can uniquely preserve moments, people and places. Expressly interested in highlighting the time in which these photographs were made and collected, Willis imagines the stories and events that encouraged KIA curators to acquire these images over the past 60 years. The seminal exhibition includes nearly 100 photographs that juxtapose a diverse group of photographers who reveal everyday life across rural and urban communities, explore modern photographic aesthetics, document pivotal moments of social change and conflict, and present artists as both celebrities and ordinary people. In connection with the exhibition, the Sordoni Art Gallery will host an Art in Context lecture, Kalamazoo: a Place, a River and Home, at 5 p.m. on Nov. 9. The Art in Context lecture will be presented by Mary Whalen, photographer and teaching artist at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and the Education For the Arts program in the Kalamazoo Area Schools System. Whalen’s photographic work is a testament to her ongoing evolution as a visual artist. The journey continually incorporates and expounds upon exploring techniques, some of which harken back to the 1800’s and the creation of photography. Through time, these techniques have been paired with new ideas and creative concepts that have added immense depth to her body of work. Whalen will discuss this evolution and body of work, which serves as a personal history of an artist, educator and member of her community and brings viewers into that life and place. The lecture is free and open to the public with light refreshments to follow. The Sordoni Art Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; and is closed Mondays and university holidays For more information, visit wilkes. edu/sordoniartgallery. Menghini named president of state financial aid group University Press Release Jared Menghini, vice president of enrollment management at Wilkes University, will serve as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (PASFAA) for 2023-24. The PASFAA represents more than 300 educational institutions, lenders and other organizations involved with higher education in the state of Pennsylvania. The organization assists with professional development for its members and other constituents, advocates for access to post-secondary education and helps to educate the public on financial aid and funding opportunities. Menghini has more than 13 years of experience in higher education, with seven years devoted to financial aid. He joined Wilkes in 2021 as executive director of student financial services. Prior to Wilkes, Menghini served as the associate vice president of enrollment management and director of financial aid at King’s College. In his role as PASFAA president, Menghini will focus on the long-term health of the organization. He intends to build a five-year strategic plan, update the policy and procedures manual and make more connections with business partners. According to Menghini, his presidential position shows the value Wilkes places on leadership roles for its people. “It’s important to have administrators involved on the state level to advocate for financial aid for our students and their families,” he said. Jared Menghini �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Gina Harrison: Passan School of Nursing, faculty of practice By Zach Paraway Contributing Writer When talking about higher education, people most want to learn from those who take pride in what they teach. That is no truer than with Gina Harrison. Harrison is a faculty of practice for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program in the Passan School of Nursing. She works within the graduate program, helping those with completion of their master’s degree. Her name may sound familiar because she is a former adjunct faculty member at the university. “I think that working with graduate students is very interesting because everybody has a life that they have already established so they come with a lot of experience and knowledge that they can really add to the class and bring their own flavor to the course,” said doctoral degree Harrison. in nursing H e r p r a c t i c e , experience with looking to Wilkes comes be finished from growing at the end of up in the area the current of northeastern semester. Pe n ns y l v an i a . Not only She was born does Harrison in Plymouth teach and learn and moved at Wilkes, but around the area she also serves throughout her in practice life to places currently as a like HunLock psychiatricCreek and mental health S h i c k s h i n n y, Photo courtesy Professor Harrison c e r t i f i e d where she registered nurse currently lives. She completed her bachelor of practitioner at the State Correctional science degree at Penn State Scranton Institution at Dallas. “The job of working as a psychiatric in nursing. She then earned her master of science in nursing science at Wilkes professional in a correctional institution and is currently working toward her is very interesting.” said Harrison. “There is never really a dull moment and it is really needed too because a lot of people who are incarcerated require mental health treatment.” Harrison holds three major responsibilities in her professional life with holding jobs at Wilkes and in state corrections, while still working to complete her degree. “I like to fill my time,” said Harrison. “You have to be really dedicated and I think learning at Wilkes and Penn State and other local colleges has really prepared me to be diligent in studying to make sure that I can give back to the community. And to keep it growing and keep people in the area.” Harrison loves Wilkes from her time as a student here and hopes to show students the increased importance of mental health in the United States. Dr. Judy Williams: practicing nurse and educator By Amanda Montgomery News Editor Wilkes welcomes Dr. Judy Williams, a new addition to its faculty, as an assistant professor on the tenure track in the undergraduate nursing program. Originally from Greentown, Pennsylvania, Williams brings a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering students. Williams’ educational background began with an associate degree at Northampton Community College in 1976. She then pursued a bachelor of science in nursing at Kutztown University, followed by a master of science in health education from East Stroudsburg University. Continuing her academic pursuits, Williams earned a PhD from Marywood University, and a second masters degree in management from Grand Canyon University. Her decision to join Wilkes was rooted in the institution’s commitment to its vision and the profession, mission. a c t i v e l y “I’ve heard practicing today. a lot of “I still work in good things the emergency about Wilkes room at William University and M e m o r i a l about that they Hospital on a per are true to their diem basis and I vision and to do it because to their mission keep my skills up about actually as well as to still allowing the have be able to s t u d e nt s , do the practice,” empowering said Williams. the students “ T h e r e ’ s to actually something about become very bedside nursing Photo courtesy Dr. Williams that still is part productive individuals,” said Williams. of me.” Despite not having a specific plan, Williams’ favorite aspect of teaching Williams entered the medical field lies in the interactions with students. without a predefined path. Her journey “What I love most is the type of into nursing was a personal choice students that I have and the faculty made two years after high school, and that I’m with,” said Williams. she has since maintained a deep love for Looking ahead, her future plans 6 involve expanding into research and conducting studies, with a dream of writing a book. Currently, her research focuses on clinical instructors and the opportunities available to them. Williams’ proudest achievement is the long and challenging journey of obtaining her PhD. As for an interesting fact about herself, she humorously admits her openness, making it challenging to find something unknown about her. Outside of academia, she enjoys running, engaging in hobbies like stained glass and embracing outdoor activities like boat riding, kayaking and paddle boarding. In her time at Wilkes, Williams hopes to see her nursing students lead fulfilled professional lives. Williams offers advice to all students, not just those pursuing a degree in nursing. “Everybody needs to take ownership of their education and their learning,” said Williams. �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Morgan.Rich@wilkes.edu Honors Program sets up donation drive to GKTWV By Morgan Rich Editor-In-Chief Editor’s note: The author of this piece attended the first Give Kids the World Village trip in 2022. The Honors Program Student Committee (HPSC) is helping to make the Christmas holiday merry and bright by collecting costumes, books, and donations for Give Kids the World Village (GKTWV). GKTWV is a non-profit organization resort in Kissimmee, Florida, that provides critically ill children and their families with Make-A-Wish vacations that are free of cost. Around half of all the critically ill children that are eligable for Make-A-Wish choose to visit Central Florida and choose to visit its themeparks including Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and more. GKTWV was founded in 1986 by Henri Landwirth who survived concentration camps in Nazi Germany and then decided to study hotel management. In 1954, he opened a Holiday Inn in Orlando; however, he was inspired to crete GKTWV during the 1980s. “One of the main values of the honors program is service, and I feel this is one of the greatest examples we can do to promote this value,” said Nikki Polivka, P3 pharmacy major. “Supporting GKTWV is not only a wonderful experience for the kids, but for their families, as well. Volunteers contribute their time to GKTWV and make up a majority of the workers and fill around 1,800 shifts each week. According to GKTWV’s website, volunteers make up the heart and soul of the village. “Doing something as small as running a carnival ride can mean the world to a child and their family,” said Polivka. During the summers, the honors The students who were able to attend the very first GKTWV trip with the honors program. The students are, from first row, Emma Freels, senior middle level math education, Jennifer McLaughlin, the assistant director of the honors and scholars program. From second row, Samantha Uggla, alumni musical theater, Mel Fouts, alumni environmental engineering, Kaelin Hughes, senior history and political science and Morgan Rich, senior communication studies. program makes it a priority to run a service trip to GKTWV so the students can volunteer. This started during the summer of 2022, and has since been a tradition every summer. During these trips, students get the volunteer in a multitude of ways, including cleaning tables, serving ice cream, breakfast, and dinner, driving a cookie cart around the village, attending different parties such as a Halloween party, etc. “It’s important for honors students, who are learning to servie their communities as leaders, understand the importance of helping others,” said Jennifer McLaughlin, the assistant director of the honors and scholars program. “This is especially true of children and their families who need support as they deal with terminal diseases in their lives, and the repercussions such news can have on everyone in a family unit. We go there every year, so we just like to help out in any way we can. Both from Pennsylvania and down in Florida.” The trips have the students volunteering around eight hours a day in different locations around the village every day. These trips that the honors programs take are also classified by two “relaxation” days. On last year’s trip, the students traveled to Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios and Island’s of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort. “I knew it was going to be an emotional experience for me, but it meant I got to have a better understanding of the meaning of life,” said Emma Freels, senior middle level math education major, who went on the first trip to GKTWV in June of 2022 with the honors program. “That sounds crazy, but truthfully it gave me a new mindset of focusing on happiness and surrounding myself with people that support my goals. The families there understood that it wasn’t a normal vacation but they were all focusing on the positives.” It is a competitive process to be selected for these trips, considering many students want to participate. In order to be selected, students must put their names in a lottery, where they are then randomly selected. Only five to six students, and a student leader, along with McLaughlin participate in the trip to keep the group small and intimate. “The group I went with was also very supportive and I got to bond with everyone dna actually better understand parts about myself,” said Freels. “I hope thai was the first of many experiences for me because I got to learn a lot about myself and the world.” Costumes and books can be donated in the honors office in Start Learning Center (SLC) 261 and monetary donations can be given to McLaughlin directly or by heading to the GKTWV website. “It’s the happiest and saddest place on earth to me. It’s somber knowing why families are in the village, but everyone is just so positive and happy to be in the village that endless smiles occur, too. It’s the true meaning of serving with a smile.” Donations can be made until the end of the semester and for more information on the donation drive, email jennifer. mclaughlin1@wilkes.edu. �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Club of the Week: Wilkes UNICEF Club By Anthony Cazun Asst. Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor There are many clubs across Wilkes University campus that seek to accomplish relatively simple tasks to varying degrees. Activities of enjoyment and interest, these clubs are incredibly important to students and campus life in general. However there are some clubs that seek to create and advocate change on a grander scale than any one individual. Clubs such as The Wilkes UNICEF Club are an example of that idea. The Wilkes UNICEF Club is a chapter of UNICEF, or United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. The general purpose and goal of this club is to educate and inform students and staff about current events and crises across the globe. The club does this in various ways; however, the club’s primary methods are very clear. “Advocate: become an active citizen. Fundraise: raise money directly for UNICEF programs,” said Emma Guzdek, executive board member of UNICEF. “Educate: spread awareness about challenges childrens and families face around the world. Build a community: work with other clubs on campus and local organizations.” Events and fundraisers are a very common and integral part of UNICEF. They are incredibly active, holding a fundraiser nearly every month. “In September we held a Voter Registration Drive. Throughout October we did an online Trick-orTreat for UNICEF fundraiser, and we partnered with GSA in October at their Halloween Movie Night selling candy, drinks, and snacks for our Trick or Treat for UNICEF fundraiser,” said Guzdek. UNICEF is known for its collaborative nature, always seeking out new partnerships and ways to assist the most people in need. “UNICEF works with over 190 countries to help defend the rights of children and their families,” said Guzdek, “Our UNICEF fundraisers and UNICEF funds go directly to providing emergency food, healthcare and other necessities to children and their families.” The Wilkes UNICEF club members are incredibly passionate about their work. They are always around campus looking for more ways to help those less fortunate all around the world. Their diligent actions reflect their firm belief in a better future for all people. Morgan Rich, Editor-in-Chief: Somebody Else - The 1975 Amanda Montgomery, News Editor: Pink Rabbits - The National Emma Broda, News Staff Writer: “Understanding what is going on in the world around us is important to truly appreciating the rights and opportunities we have in the United States,” said Guzdek. “As well as providing support to those who do not have the same rights and opportunities that we do.” Ultimately, that is the goal of UNICEF. For more information about UNICEF and their mission, one can visit the organization’s website. For details about Wilkes’ very own UNICEF club, email emma.guzdek@wilkes. edu. Graphics/Lara Mullen Sydney Allabaugh, Opinion Editor: Cobra - Megan Thee Stallion “Freeze,” Opinion Staff Writer: Healthy Destruction - Sunlight Defect Adam Grundt, Sports Asst. Editor: Baller - NAV Fast As You Can - Fiona Apple Anthony Cazun, LA&E Asst. Editor: Sabotage - Beastie Boys Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Our very own Anthony Cazun has put together a Spotify playlist where you can scan it and listen to the Beacon’s staff weekly picks! Sam Mullen, Sports. Asst. Editor: Apocalypse - Cigarettes After Sex Lara Mullen, Designer: Start Choppin’ - Dinosaur Jr. Cally Williams, LA&E Staff Writer: space girl - Frances Forever Liz Cherinka, Social Media Manager: Dealer - Lana Del Ray �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 ...Anniversary, continued from Page 1 The Degnan Ballet Center was still on its own at the time, separate from the University. Twelve years later, the studio was finally added to Wilkes as part of the Conservatory. Degnan-Boonin felt like her and her late husband’s studio belonged there. “It is such a supporting and nurturing community,” said Degnan-Boonin. “As you begin something like this you can never fully realize the impact it had on your students and your own life.” Degnan-Boonin talked about how rewarding it was to see her students continue the ballet tradition. “You look back on this sea of generations.” Determining her favorite ballet memory was a challenge. She paused for Life, Arts & Entertainment some time before providing any answer. “It is so hard to pick just one,” DegnanBoonin stated, in thought. Degnan-Boonin ultimately said that one of her f a v o r i t e memories took place d u r i n g last year’s production of “The Nutcracker.” Her former students organized the annual holiday ballet in 2022, so Degnan-Boonin did not have to stage or teach anything. She recalled standing backstage and watching the “organized chaos” during the battle scene of “The Nutcracker.” Looking at all of the soldiers and the little mice, Degnan-Boonin thought about how the magic of the story and the artform continues on. She was worried how it would go on without her, but seeing others so passionate about dance filled her with gratitude k now ing that it could ~Degnan-Boonin continue on. “Seeing my students now after we started it and lived it, I have faith it will go on,” DegnanBoonin added. “I feel like the last man standing. I can see the tradition of what we started.” She also spoke of the impact and “As you begin something like this you can never fully realize the impact it had on your students and your own life.” 9 influence that the Degnan Ballet Center has had on current and former generations of students. She remarked that countless young professional dancers have emerged from the ballet studio. One of her former students is currently a director for a professional ballet company in Maryland. Another former student of hers works as the artistic director for a ballet company in New York. Her daughter also danced professionally. “Ballet training is a testament to success in other fields,” Degnan-Boonin added. She emphasized how ballet training builds discipline, confidence, time management skills and much more. Some students have gone to seek other careers outside of dance, but the skills that ballet requires helped them succeed in whatever field. �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment Number Sodoku ��������������������������������������� ���������� 4 Challenge your brain with some sudoku! 1 9 How to play: Fill in the missing number. Each row should have 6 different numbers, no repeats. Each column should have 6 different numbers, no repeats. Each 2x2 quadrant should have 6 numbers, no repeats. Answer Key: 2 7 5 9 3 6 5 9 4 1 5 2 3 3 9 8 9 2 1 7 8 7 5 1 9 3 1 2 2 6 Credit for these puzzles goes to: www.sodokutodo.com Compiled by Morgan Rich, Editor In Chief 4 2 8 5 4 8 7 �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 The loss of a “Friend”: Matthew Perry’s beloved legacy By Cassidy Brumagin Contributing Writer Actor Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on popular television show “Friends,” died in his Los Angeles home on Oct. 28. Published reports have stated Perry drowned. Respondents got to his home around 4 p.m. Saturday to find Perry dead in his hot tub. Perry, 54, has starred in dozens of television shows and movies throughout his lifetime. His most notable charater by far was the sarcastic Chandler Bing in “Friends,” which ran from 1994 to 2004, for a total of 10 seasons. This role resonates with the university’s students the most. Saturday night, murmurs of, “Chandler Bing died,” could be heard throughout the campus and at neighboring Halloween parties. For many students, Chandler Bing was a favorite character from a show that many relied on as a comfort show. “I see Chandler Bing as one of the most beloved sitcom characters of all time,” Jocelyn Cussatt, senior biology major, said. “I am genuinely devastated to hear about his passing. It will definitely be hard to rewatch any episodes for a while.” Cussatt has watched “Friends” since freshman year of high school and considers it one of her go-to shows. With Chandler Bing so close to her heart, she took the news of Perry’s death hard, taking to Instagram to share her devastation with her followers and fellow “Friends” fans. “Breaking my silence on the matter: I am the saddest ever,” Cussatt’s post read over a picture of a young Perry. In addition to his acting work, Perry actively struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout much of his life. Coming out on the other side of addiction, Perry prided himself on his ability to help other addicts get sober towards the end of his life. “I find it devastating because he was so young in the grand scheme of life,” Emilie Protsko, senior political science and criminology major, said. “I know he struggled for a long time with drugs, which is unfortunate with his career.” Protsko continued to share her thoughts on being open with struggles. “It’s a shame to see people-celebrities and characters- you admire going through a struggle, especially when they’re so open to let people know they’re not alone,” Protsko continued. “For him to pass so suddenly is very upsetting.” Perry opened up about his addiction in his memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing”. Perry recalled struggling with alcohol since his first drink at the age of 14 along with addiction to painkillers after being prescribed them for a jetski accident. Some fans were shocked to learn that Perry would even drink on the set of “Friends” throughout the show’s filming. Of all the many sitcoms students have reported watching throughout their lifetimes, the pattern seems to put “The Office” and “Friends” at the top of the list based on popularity. This comes as no surprise, seeing as “Friends” topped the Netflix charts when it was streaming on the service. Even students who were not familiar with the show themselves reported the palpable sense of dismay at the news. “When you watch someone enough, it almost feels like you’re friends in some way,” Sidney McNeil, senior pharmacy major said. “I wasn’t familiar with Matthew Perry, and I’ve never seen ‘Friends’, but the shock and sadness was unavoidable that night.” McNeil reported she was with friends who were fans of Perry and the show when she saw news of his death. “You could tell that someone special was gone, someone that made all of my friends laugh and smile,” McNeil continued. At this point in time, the exact cause of death is unknown. Initial reports found that there was no trace of drugs at the scene. Investigators are, however, still waiting on in-depth toxicology results. Reports state that it could take months to complete a full report. In the meantime, thousands of fans, family members, and friends have taken the time to share their grief at the loss of someone dear to them. “Friends” co-stars Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox and David Schwimmer released a statement to People magazine on Monday, Oct. 30. “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” the group stated. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.” Graphic by Morgan Rich ���The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Opinion Editorial Staff 2023-24 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Morgan Rich Social Media Manager - Liz Cherinka Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Amanda Montgomery Opinion - Sydney Allabaugh ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Designer - Lara Mullen Section Staff Writers News - Emma Broda LA&E - Cally Williams Opinion - “Freeze” Want to join The Beacon? Several positions are open! Contact : kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or morgan.rich@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 Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Morgan Rich at morgan.rich@ wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact opinion editor: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu. Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Mariah Carey defrosting overshadows career Inevitables. There are certain things in life that will occur no matter what, and we call these things inevitable. Few things are truly inevitable in life. We are also all very familiar with these things. Death and taxes are just examples of things we all as humans must go through without any exception, whether they are good or bad. Within the last 10 years, however, we can add one more thing to this exclusive list. That would be Mariah Carey “defrosting” every year come November. To explain before giving an opinion, Mariah Carey is one of the most successful pop stars from the 90s and 2000s, selling millions of records and having multiple records that have gone platinum. And out of those many songs she has made, only two have gone diamond. One is her 1995 song “Daydream,” which is a bop if you never heard it. And the other is the topic of today, her 1994 song, “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The song is played every year once the calendar turns from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. It is synonymous with the Christmas season as that shows in the charts, and the impact the song leaves. Every year since 2019, the song has reached number one on the Billboard charts for all music and it has led to a term for this. “Defrosting” is what it is called now, to tell about how Mariah Carey is unfrozen every year to have this song be played over and over again. It has gained a lot of traction over the last four years, with Carey not only topping the charts again despite not making a charting album since 2011, but also allowing her to also go on tour again. Her new tour will be the first since 2019 and has already sold well, with her adding three more shows to the now 16 show tour. The defrosting of Mariah Carey is real, and even she knows it, having created online videos the last two years for Nov. 1 to mark the return of her dominance. With all of this information, the question to be raised is is defrosting overrated? In short, yes. Now before throwing away the article and turning the page, just hold on. The song is amazing, fits the season well and is a culture marker for the holiday season. The reason to say yes is because of what this has done to Carey’s career. Carey’s first album came out in 1990 and last came out in 2018. That is almost 30 years of music that she has made, and also, it’s 30 years of music that performs very well. Excluding her last three albums, every single one of her 12 studio albums have gone platinum, including two diamond albums. She is one of just 22 artists to ever have two or more diamond albums, putting her with names such as Garth Brooks, Led Zeppelin and Michael Jackson. She has many songs off those albums that have charted even higher such as the aforementioned “Daydream,” “Someday,” “Touch My Body,” “Heartbreaker” and many, many more. And this is just her impact as a singer, not mentioning at all her ability as a producer and songwriter. She has also written hit songs for Faith Hill and Trey Lorenz, and she produces many of her own songs. The defrosting memes are funny and great for this time of year. It’s funny to laugh at how we go from spooky Halloween music and joy to just spamming Carey’s song over and over again. This song has brought Carey a lot of success, but the career that came along with it is arguably more prolific. Next time someone plays the hit, remember that Mariah Carey just makes bangers, period. 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: morgan.rich@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 - November 9, 2023 Opinion The Icebox: “The Legend of The Return of The Red Zelda Breath of the Wild” Raven: an original story By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Welcome to the Icebox! A friend of mine suggested that I should spice up my game spotlights with a unique title, so now you can learn to be cool. Today, the Icebox presents to you one of the most legendary video games of all time. “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is a masterpiece that will go down as one of the greatest experiences ever delivered to the gaming side of humanity. First of all, one should understand that there is no clear-cut way to describe “Breath of the Wild.” In fact, there is absolutely no review out there, whether it’s a video, book or an article like this one, that can do the game any bit of justice. That certainly doesn’t mean one can’t try, right? However, my focus will be on why you should play the game, given that you haven’t already. The most noticeable thing about “Breath of the Wild” is the unique artstyle. Even if one isn’t playing the game, they can certainly enjoy the jaw-dropping views that it offers. The game seems like an elaborate painting, with bright and vibrant tones and shadows that correspond to the various times of day and regions of the map. There are mountains, valleys, canyons, cliffs and natural beauties that have players mesmerized. To this day, people share beautiful screenshots and compliment the developers for the highlyartistic style of the game. The visuals in this game are one of the best ways to immerse yourself in this experience. Another aspect of “Breath of the Wild” that really places it on the top are the mechanics, of course. The mechanics include staminabased running, jumping and climbing, while also incorporating combat skills that are fairly easy to master compared to other titles such as “Dark Souls.” The enemies in the game have an hierarchy that determines their power, such as bokoblins, moblins, lizalfos and their color alterations that are based on their location on the map as well as the player’s progress through the game. The boss battles, mainly forms of Ganon, the force of darkness, each have their own unique mechanics as well. There is also the Sheikah slate which offers the main character, Link, unique abilities. Stasis allows a player to freeze an object, and sometimes an enemy, in time to build up damage and momentum. Cryonis is the ability to form up to three ice blocks at once on surfaces of water. Magnesis enables Link to lift objects made of metal. Remote bombs, which have an impulse-effect when detonated, come in the cubicle and spherical variety. There is also a camera rune that players can unlock later that allows Link to take pictures of wildlife, enemies and plants in order to register them in a personal compendium. That brings up the next point, which is that “Breath of the Wild” isn’t just about fighting enemies and destroying Ganon to free Hyrule. There are more than a handful of other things that are available for players of all types. Interested in clothing? Check out Link’s wardrobe and visit the dye shop. Are you a chef? Well, Link is even better at cooking up delicious meals and elixirs. The best part is that they enhance his abilities: stamina, strength, defense, resistance and more. Do you like scenery? The developers want you to appreciate it. Do you like wandering around? That’s why Korok seeds, treasures, shrines, temples, towers and all kinds of things are scattered across the map. Are you an animal lover? You can tame a horse, befriend dogs and even ride a bear! And if you are hungry, you can always cook those too. Perhaps you’re not so great at combat, like my older sister who absolutely loves this game despite being terrible at progressing the story. That is completely fine because it’s about how you enjoy the experience. “Breath of the Wild” offers plenty of side quests, some that involve searching for an item, some that require cooking a certain meal and some that help to hone in on your skills with a bow and arrow, sword, spear, claymore or even Link’s trusty paraglider. Even if a player doesn’t do anything in particular, they can still enjoy the adventure. Maybe they want to relieve their “collector’s anxiety,” a term coined by speedrunner PointCrow in regards to the item collection in any large-scale video game. By Leah Smith Contributing Writer PART 6 Rick sat in his seat, motionless. His hand shook slowly as the mystery caller laughed, indicating they were still on the other side. “You better move now, Mr. Greenblatt, or Cameron is dead,” the caller threatened. Rick pulled the car out of park and began to drive quickly back to his house. If the killer was speaking, Rick couldn’t hear them because the beating from his heart occupied his hearing. He was sweating profusely and felt the phone slide off of his hand and hit the floor of his seat. He looked down and almost hit the car in front of him at a traffic light. The driver honked at him and gave him an icy glare. When he finally made it home, Rick parked the car, grabbed his phone and ran up to the front door. He opened the door and screamed, “CAMERON!” There was no response and the house looked suspiciously untouched. Rick held the phone up to his ear and the killer laughed. “It’s so cute that you think I’m that predictable,” the killer teased. “Predictable enough to be using material from my show!” Rick shouted back. “Fair point, but I’m not that dumb. I’m going to send you something. Don’t bother sending this number to the police, either. They’ll never trace it,” the killer said. Rick’s phone vibrated against his cheek, and he pulled it away from his face. He tapped on the messages app to see the unidentified number of the killer. The killer sent him a link to a video. “Press that link,” the killer demanded. Rick did as he was told and pressed the link. The call ended. However, the link took him to a livestream from a strange website where a tall person in a black tophat and tuxedo stood. The person was also wearing a skeleton mask to not only keep themselves covered but to disguise themselves as one of the Red Raven’s arch rivals, Father Destiny. The room looked like a basement, but Rick couldn’t tell because of the dim lighting and barren scenery. The Father Destinyinspired killer stood in front of a chair where a man with his head down was tied up. 15 “I’m so happy that you’ve decided to join us, Mr. Greenblatt,” the killer said. “You forced me. I’m trying to protect Cameron, now where is he?” Rick demanded. “Don’t fret, Mr. Greenblatt. He’s safe here with me,” the killer said. They grabbed the man by his receding brown hair and lifted his bruised and bloodied head to the camera. Rick gasped seeing the condition the killer put Cameron in. His mouth was duct taped, his forehead was bruised and his torso was covered in cuts and blood. The killer held onto Cameron’s head tightly and displayed it like he was presenting a grand prize to a winner of a game show. “Why did you do this?” Rick asked in a tear-choked voice. “I’ve always been a big fan of yours, Mr. Greenblatt. I have just about all of the merchandise ever made that comes from ‘The Red Raven.’ It’s become a part of my personality, really. All of these other franchises and caped hero stories don’t do it like ‘The Red Raven’ did. There was always justice, always adventure, always some sort of mysterious intrigue that I can’t quite explain. God, it was just so perfect in every way,” the killer praised. Shortly, they added, “But, nobody seems to understand it. All they want these days are newer, flashier, edgier superhero stories, but that’s not what they should be about! Heroes are meant to be pure and seek out justice not these foul-mouthed action and sex-crazed beings! This generation is poisoning the purity of heroes, of storytelling! I can’t bear to see that! Not only that, but they have no idea who the Red Raven even is! Do you know how sad that is?!” Rick watched as the killer went on their rant, horrified by how passionate they were. Although, Rick believed they did have a few points. The killer readjusted themselves. “That’s why I’m here. I’m here to teach people about the Red Raven. I’m here to express what makes him so great and it’s so great to see you playing along, too.” “But I’m not–” Rick tried to speak. “But you are. You answered the call and this is going exactly like a conversation between Red Raven and Father Destiny. You understand me.” To be continued... �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Opinion 16 The “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie has been overly criticized By Sydney Allabaugh Opinion Editor Immediately following its release on Oct. 27, the long-awaited and highly anticipated “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie has been ripped apart by movie critics. These critics, however, are analyzing this movie through an incorrect lens and failing to appreciate the highlights of the movie or to assess it for what it was intended to be. On Rotten Tomatoes, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has scored a 30 percent amongst critics, with their consensus being that viewers who are not fans of the game will find this movie “muddled and decidedly unscary.” Other common critiques are that the story is not engaging and that the pacing issues make it boring. As someone who has never played “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and is only vaguely familiar with the franchise, I think this movie adaptation can be appreciated by all audiences and shouldn’t be evaluated as if it were just another horror movie. There are many aspects of the movie that are simply incredible, most notably the set and prop design. The attention to detail to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, an abandoned arcade from the 80s, is phenomenal. The old pinball machines, 80s style arcade furniture, dark and dingy hallways, outdated security room and, of course, the intricate animatronics created an eerie yet mesmerizing atmosphere. Impressively, all animatronics were genuinely brought to life with actual animatronic puppets, not CGI, which further added to viewer immersion. Although critics argue that the story is uninteresting and poorly paced, I found it to be the opposite. I found myself invested in characters like Mike, a man who attempts to find his missing little brother’s captor in his dreams, and Abby, his little sister who uses drawings to express her connection to the supernatural. It was interesting to see how the different characters connected and the plot unfolded. I did not find that the movie dragged. If anything, I felt as though I was left with unanswered questions about Abby’s connection to the animatronics and what happened to their aunt Jane, for example. A d m i t t e d l y, there were some tonal issues with the movie. Dialogue and emotional r e a c t i o n s sometimes felt like they came out of nowhere or were unfit for the situation. I also wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about the animatronics, wondering if I should fear them, feel sorry for them or find them funny. But for me, the highlights of the movie outweigh potential problems. I think critics feel otherwise because they are going about their criticism the wrong way, analyzing it as a stand-alone horror movie instead of a video game adaptation intended mostly—but not exclusively— for fans. To my understanding, the horror component of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” video game franchise relies on disturbing storylines, jump scares and a frightening, suspenseful atmosphere, all of which were implemented in the movie. Although some may fail to find this to be scary, I think this lighter lean into horror, leading to a PG-13 rating instead of R, was likely to include the diverse fanbase that spreads across many age demographics. And among these fans, most enjoyed the movie, with an 88 percent audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie may be appreciated most by fans, but the thought-provoking storyline, the elaborate sets and intricate characters are accessible to and can be enjoyed by general audiences. Do not let the critics deter you from seeing this movie. Graphic by Lara Mullen Campus Suggestions: you should be kind to others on campus By Samara Carey Contributing Writer Hello everyone! Welcome back to another installment of “Campus Suggestions!” Today, I will be talking about all of the hate that has been circulating on campus recently. I have seen this especially through the popular college app, YikYak, where people like to talk about campus happenings and also complain a lot. Some of the things that I have seen getting hated the most include: the Esports team, the freshmen and theater majors. Now, if you want my honest opinion, I do not believe that these things deserve to be hated on as much as they do. For starters, I have heard that Esports has been getting quite the beating recently, with people saying things like “it isn’t a real sport,” or “they don’t do anything.” I believe it is actually the opposite. I feel this way because the people on Esports have actually been killing it recently. To my knowledge, they have been winning their matches more often than people originally thought. Looking at their statistics, I have noticed that they are most successful when they are playing games like “Overwatch” and “Super Smash Bros.” While, admittedly, I do not know much about Esports and how winning and matches work, I can confidently say they have won more than some other sports teams (who will go unidentified). Therefore, we should be giving them more credit, especially because of the fact that they have won and have the opportunity to win more than some traditional sports teams. The second thing that I have noticed recently is that people have been absolutely ruthless to the first-year students. Now, maybe this is just the E-Mentor in me coming out (again), but I feel like they do not deserve half of the negativity that they have been receiving recently. In my experience with working with the freshmen, a lot of them are very kind and just nervous to be in a new place with new people. Also, to give them the benefit of the doubt, they were also experiencing COVID first hand, with it directly affecting them since their first-year of high school. Therefore, a lot of them may not be used to social cues that you would usually expect them to know. All of that being said, they are obviously going to be some not-so-good apples in the bunch, but we need to look at our freshmen in a better light. Lastly, one of the things that I see people bashing rather consistently are theater majors. I have noticed that people like to call them “annoying” or “taking the easy way out.” However, this is also not the case. If you ask me, those who have decided to take the theater route during their college career are extremely courageous and are following their dreams. Also, let’s get the elephant out of the room and say that they are also very talented. I have seen two separate musicals that the theater department has put on, and I was blown away by the talent and the production that came out of the shows. Those in the theater department, both cast and behind the scenes, put their heart and soul into what they do, and they should be given more credit. After all, you don’t see people bashing people who chose pharmacy or engineering as their majors, do you? Everyone is on their own path and we should treat everyone equally because we all want different things for ourselves. At the end of the day, we are never going to be able to stop the negativity across campus; we all do it. Honestly, I have had my fair share of hating around campus, but we must give credit where credit is due, and hopefully I changed your mind. �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Opinion 17 Modern children’s media and its effects can be concerning How will graphic content and influencers impact kids? By Shawn Carey Contributing Writer The media that we consume at a young age tends to really stick with us. We often feel a strong sense of nostalgia for old movies and shows. This happens for several reasons. Everything from having an appreciation for its message, enjoying the general aesthetic, liking the characters or even just associating it with a simpler time. This is something that affects our generation heavily. It’s not uncommon to see a person wearing something like a “SpongeBob” hoodie or seeing excitement over the announcement of a sequel show. I am extremely guilty of this as I still obsess over series I grew up with such as “The Legend of Zelda” and “Godzilla.” Those two franchises alone have had a huge impact on me and greatly influenced my current taste in media. The other day I was talking to one of my peers about how I attribute my love of writing to the many stories I experienced at a young age. Soon after that conversation I found myself thinking about something I hadn’t given much thought to before. How will what kids enjoy now shape their future? This isn’t really a question we can just answer. Every child is different and therefore enjoys different things. However, we can look at what is currently popular and make a sort of hypothesis. To get a proper idea of what kids enjoy today I asked my 9-year-old brother Nicky the following three questions: 1) “What do the kids in your class enjoy watching?” 2) “What toys do they like to play with?” 3) “What games do they like to play?” I received a variety of answers. Some I expected, but many of them came as a surprise. I also learned about a lot of series I wasn’t previously familiar with. I decided I would sit down and experience some of the latter myself. I would come to regret this. First off, let’s go over the obvious. Kids still enjoy superhero franchises, mainly “Marvel.” Not really a surprise considering the popularity of the “MCU.” However, the choices of heroes are very different. Heroes like the “X-men,” “Fantastic Four” and most cosmic level characters seem to be wildly unknown among current kids. They gravitate more towards heroes like “Iron-man,” “Hulk” and strangely enough “Daredevil.” What I find interesting about this is how “Spider-man” is treated. “Peter Parker,” the first and original spidey, seems to no longer be the most popular version of the character. That honor now goes to “Miles Morales,” which I think is great. Miles is such an interesting and fun character to watch/read. More importantly however, he’s an icon to so many young kids. Games like “Minecraft” and “Roblox” are also still enjoyed. More specifically “Roblox.” Kids spend hours every day playing the popular MMO, my brother included. While I was never into it, I understand the appeal. The app offers a seemingly endless amount of different games and activities for kids to enjoy. Additionally the game also contains a chat and friend system. I really don’t like this. I find it strange that a game with a mainly young player base has something like this in the first place. I’m sure we all know that the internet can be a dangerous place for kids and to be this is a disaster waiting to happen. Now, there is the option to turn all chatting off, which is something I have done on my brother’s account. However, I don’t believe that this is a widely known feature. The game’s description barely says anything about online interactions so it’s something most parents wouldn’t even know about. The ill-informed parent will be a constant theme throughout the rest of this paper. One of the conclusions I came to while researching this is that parents either need to do background checks on what their kids like or simply just talk to them more. This can best be seen with the next topic. Kids love anime, which isn’t really a surprise. There’s a lot to like about the media such as the huge battles, larger than life characters, epic transformations and grand adventures. Within the last few years, the medium has become extremely mainstream, so it makes perfect sense that kids have learned about it and become fans of a few shows. The shows in question, however, are certainly a choice. There is a child in Nicky’s second grade class who is a fan of “Chainsaw Man.” Now, let me continue by saying that I consider myself to be a huge fan of the show. But in my opinion, it’s absolutely not something a kid should be watching. For those unfamiliar with the series, “Chainsaw Man” is about a highschoolaged delinquent named Denji trying to live a normal life. To maintain his way of living he must turn into his alter ego, Chainsaw man and battle monsters known as devils. It’s a complex series with themes of body horror, dismemberment, sexual content, an extreme amount of blood, and much more. Seeing stuff like that at a young age can be extremely traumatic and I’m sure that if their parents knew that they were watching the show like that they would take it away from them. That is the thing however, parents don’t know. “Chainsaw man? That sounds like one of those superheroes you like!” The last few things I went over are enjoyed by a variety of different kids in his class. One thing they all share a love for is video sharing platforms, with Youtube, Twitch and Tiktok being the most popular. The old days of watching “Cartoon Network” and “Disney Channel” are over as it’s not about watching people live stream their day. People like Kai Cenat, Adin Ross and xQc are the Internet personalities kids are currently obsessing over. To get an idea of what they’re like, I went to Tiktok and watched a few dozen clips from their live streams. I sat down for two hours and watched these men say the most hateful and heinous things. Adin Ross is by far the worst of the three. His content is mainly just him making sexist, homophobic, racist and transphobic comments. Kai Cenat and xQc seem to be in the same ballpark as Adin but with slightly less of a focus on being a completely terrible person. They seem to care more about obnoxious flexing and constant shouting. They do tend to interact and collaborate with Adien on a somewhat frequent basis. There is still much more I would like to talk about, such as the reliance on shorter form content such as Youtube Shorts and their unexplainable love for horror video games. While those are certainly topics that could be discussed, I believe them to be less relevant in the grand scheme of things. I came to the conclusion that kids like the idea of feeling older than they actually are. They enjoy experiencing media that makes them feel like a teenager or young adult. The edgy jokes, blood and ability to talk to anyone is what they believe to be a part of that. I would like to believe that in the future they will look back and laugh at their behavior, but I don’t think that’s entirely true. There are countless videos of kids saying openly horrible things so casually. Even my brother isn’t safe as I had to correct him a few times. I don’t think all is lost however, seeing how kids look up to characters like Spiderman and even Tanjiro makes me feel good. I hope some of what those characters stand for rubs off on them and hopefully improve their outlook. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Opinion 18 Westside Gunn’s newest album falls flat and is decent at best An in-depth review of "And Then You Pray For Me" By Logan Colonna Contributing Writer “And Then You Pray For Me” is a direct sequel to Westside Gunn’s 2020 project, “Pray for Paris.” “Pray for Paris” is near and dear to my heart as it’s easily my favorite project from Westside. It’s also his first album in a year, which typically is normal for artists. For Westside, however, is a large gap in time considering he releases new music at least two times a year. After the introduction, “FLYGOD DiD,” the album kicks off with “Mamas PrimeTime.” This track was underwhelming from the beat to the artists’ performances. While none of the verses were bad, there wasn’t anything compelling about them. Westside rapped with his usual flow, but JID and Conway the Machine missed the mark in terms of their usual work. Because of this being the opener, I was expecting much more. The next track, “Kostas,” is even more unbearable as the beat just doesn’t match Westside Gunn at all. The features, Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher, do quite well here. The song just doesn’t seem to really care for the same kind of vibe that was given off from the prequel to this album. The project starts to increase in quality with “Suicide in Selfridges.” The instrumental was created by Conductor Williams, a long-time collaborator with Westside Gunn. I’m so glad he’s helping out with this record because the beats were getting boring and nothing like “Pray for Paris” tracks. DJ Drama helps out on the track by being Westside’s hype man. I truly love whenever he’s there just to shout stuff. It’s subtle but adds a lot when you realize. Gunn’s performance here is great as well, one of the best verses of the album so far. Possibly the best track on the album is “KITCHEN LIGHTS.” From the orchestral instrumental, to the amazing chorus sung by Stove God Cooks, to his and Westside G u n n ’ s fantastic verses. Everything about this track is perfect. My favorite part of the song is the outro, which is the isolated instrumental, letting the listener digest it for what it is. “DunnHill” showcases another dip in quality. The beat is recognizable as a Rick Ross one, as he’s on the track. However, it doesn’t fit Westside’s usual style or the rest of the album. When Rick Ross does eventually come over the beat, he’s painfully average. The chorus includes a guest appearance with Estee Nack whispering the lyrics and is barely audible, so it just seems like a bunch of mumble over the beat. What could have been one of the best on the album if executed correctly, turned out to be one of my least favorites. The next track, “JD Wrist” is my guilty pleasure song of the project. Objectively, I think this song is decent at best. I personally love this song, however. This track is a throwback to classic trap songs from the 2000s, even offering ad libs and such from DJ Trap-A-Holics, a staple in the early trap industry. My only dislike about this song is the runtime for it. It’s just over six minutes, which is way too long for a song like this. A personal favorite of mine is “LL BOOL GUNN.” A lot of critics dislike this song for being unrememberable and lazy to some. While I get their point of view, I cannot disagree more. The track is one of the shortest songs clocking in at roughly two minutes. The instrumental is great and I love Westside's approach to his performance, slowing things down a lot compared to the rest of the album. “Jalen Rose” offers one of the worst features on the album. Boldly James’s verse is the most boring verse I have ever heard from an artist. He keeps the same monotone voice throughout his whole performance. I'm almost certain he’s even rapping off-beat. The sound selection is painfully average as all it is is just a basic piano beat accompanied by snares here and there. Westside’s verse is decent but not something to brag about. Overall, this song is certainly a lowlight of the project. The album is saved yet again with “The Revenge of Flips Leg.” Conductor Williams is behind the production yet again, thankfully. I truly did wish that he was utilized more on this project as my main dislike against this album is the soundscape as a whole. Rome Streetz and Westside offer pretty good verses as well. Nothing really stands out about the track, but I’m glad it’s good at least. The title track and outro, “AND THEN YOU PRAY FOR ME,” is a decent ending to close out the album. My only complaint is that Westide Gunn isn’t even on his own song. The feature, KayCyy, is on the entire song. He does really well with his singing and rapping performances, it’s just odd, in my opinion, to not have yourself on your own last track. From the abysmal feature performances, the subpar sound selection and even the decent-at-best Westside Gunn verses, this album fell flat pretty early on for me. What upsets me even more is the speculation that this may be Westside Gunn’s last album as he decides if he whether or not he wants to retire. At the end of the day, this album is decent at best. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: Adam.grundt@wilkes.edu Wilkes championship hopeful as season begins The Wilkes Mens Ice Hockey team is set to kick off their season and are hopeful to contend for a championship. By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor Head coach Tyler Hynes is set to begin his fifth season at the helm of the program. He led the Colonels to a record of 13-10-3 last season, and a conference record of 11-7-2. “We had a really good September and October as a team,” Hynes said. “Getting to practice eight times in September was huge. We have a group that loves competing and getting on the ice so that was a lot of fun getting a head start this season.” Senior Jimmy O’Kane commends the effort the team has put in throughout preseason practices. “Preseason showed that we have potential to have an explosive offense and can beat teams with our speed,” O’Kane stated. “As a team we feel that if we have everyone’s legs going there is not a team we can’t beat.” Graduate student Billy Berry is certainly a player to watch this season. Berry tallied 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points last season in 26 games. As a silent leader of this year’s team, he understands the value of the preseason practices the team had. “The preseason practices were very valuable for this team,” Berry explained. “It is the first time since I’ve been here that we have been able to add eight more practices to our preseason with our coach. Our practices were filled with intensity, competitiveness, and purpose, which I know will carry onto the ice during the season. We have a group full of relentless competitors who want to get a little better every day, and those preseason practices made it possible to develop our habits as a team early and be prepared for the season. The Colonels season ended last year in the UCHC quarterfinals last year in a 4-1 loss against Manhattanville College. As the Colonels send a more mature team out onto the ice this season, expectations remain high within the squad for the upcoming season. “Our expectations for the season are high,” Berry continued. “We have a lot of returners this year who are hungry for more. Our season ended earlier than we wanted last year, so we know there is a lot more meat on the bone left for this group. It is our last year in the UCHC and we want to finish what we started before changing leagues.” Coach Hynes highlighted three specific players slated for breakout seasons this upcoming year. “Billy Berry, Joe Johnson, and Matt Carlson have been excellent and guys who just bring it every day in practice,” Coach Hynes explained when asked about players to watch this season. “Quiet leaders with loud actions. They aren’t the only guys who have been good, but they are setting a bar that makes all of our young men better every day.” The Colonels welcome Coach Phil Erickson to the staff this season. Erickson skated with the Colonels for five seasons from 2018-2023 as a forward, tallying 82 points in 117 games. “The biggest addition has been having Phil Erickson on our staff this season and it has paid immediate dividends for our young men,” Coach Hynes explained. “Phil has transitioned seamlessly from captain of our team last season to coach this season.” After the ending of last season, the Colonels reflected upon how they could build toward successes this season through the help of Coach Erickson. “I think the difference this year compared to last year is experience,” Berry said. “Last year our roster was loaded with freshmen and a younger squad who needed to understand what it is like to win college hockey games. This year we have a lot more experience and chemistry as a group. We also gained a new assistant coach, who previously was our captain, who continuously gives great perspective and insight. He works as a huge asset for us, someone who played Wilkes hockey for five great years.” The ending of last season raises expectations for the team within the locker room, and the team’s expectations for themselves couldn’t be higher. “I would say our expectations for this season is to win the conference and earn a bid to the national tournament,” O’Kane explained. “It is something that Wilkes has been close to achieving but has never done and we want to be the first to do it.” The Colonels ended their preseason in a game against SUNY Cortland, in which they lost 5-2. The Colonels’ goals were scored by Billy Berry and Matt Carlson. “We are fast and we want to play fast,” said Coach Hynes. “Playing fast is more than moving fast on the ice but I’m happy we have a group that is willing to make mistakes fast. That’s on our staff to reign them in a bit, but I’d much rather have a group as eager and excited to compete like we have right now. They want to be coached and we feel like we’ve gotten a little bit better every day.” The Colonels open up their conference season on Nov. 10 in a game against Manhattanville College. They return to their home rink at the Toyota SportsPlex on Nov. 18 against Utica University. For more information on the Colonels ice hockey team and all of the other Division III sports teams at Wilkes, please visit gowilkesu.com. �The Beacon - Nov. 9, 2023 Sports 20 Want The Beacon to highlight a team member or one of your athletes? Let us know about it! Email kalen.churcher@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 Sports 21 Wilkes dance team recognized as club sport By Samantha Mullen Sports Assistant Edior Editor's note: Due to factual errors in a previous version of this story, The Beacon has chosen to rerun a new version of the piece. Dance has been celebrated as an art form where individuals can express themselves, tell stories, and bring cultures to life. Continuing into this year, Wilkes University Athletics recognizes the dance team as a club sport with a roster on the athletics website. The team has become an integral part of the campus culture while performing at basketball games, some football games (new this year) and on-campus events, such as homecoming and dance marathon. The team also attends open houses, Accepted Colonel’s Day and different kick-offs to bring Wilkes spirit. The team also practices every Wednesday and Sunday for two hours. “I love being on the dance team at Wilkes as it gives me an opportunity to continue my dance career in college, even with a busy class schedule,” said Amelia Smicherko, junior biology major. Dance, as an art form, often struggles to be viewed as a sport, despite the immense athleticism and discipline required. The dancers at Wilkes University have shown they practice rigorously and perfect their routines, demonstrating that they are both dedicated and hardworking. Captain Amanda Merrick-Tompkins, senior early childhood education major, expressed that the dance team has allowed her to get closer to many people and highlighted how “it is always such a fun, stress-free and positive environment.” Merrick-Tompkins additionally stated how during practices the team can be “ahead of the game and can finish early, or other days [they] need to practice certain things more so [they] stay later.” The official recognition of the Dance Team as a club sport has brought numerous benefits to both the team and the university as a whole. “The benefits of the program being recognized as an official club sport is to get more recognition to officially spread the love and art of dance, especially as a performance team,” said sophomore biology major, BobbiRose Smith. Due to the fact that they are a club sport, funding comes from student government and as a club recognized by them, the team accepts everyone who tries out, regardless of experience. This adds opportunity to individuals who want to learn dance without taki ng a class and there is a 'practice' team in place for those who are unable to commit to the team for the full year, but can come when they are available to stretch, learn fun choreography and get together with the team. Despite the team having a great future ahead of them, they sadly still do not have a coach and do not have the same resources as official athletic teams. “I see a bright future for this team and with this continued trajectory for the team, I think it could go so much further,” said Purdy. “My goal for the team has always been to get a coach, for one reason to alleviate stress off of the captains to run the team as it can be daunting and time consuming but also to go to competitions (and be good enough to win!) Having a coach, I believe, would tremendously make a positive impact on the team.” The captains, which include junior English major Mya Corcoran, senior early childhood education major Amanda Merrick-Tompkins, senior psychology major Carolyn Purdy, and sophomore pre-pharmacy major Jennifer Zemetro, hold a lot of responsibility for helping the team throughout the year. Purdy expressed how she and the other captains “keep the team on track with new choreography, fundraising, uniforms, meetings, and events.” The recognition of the Wilkes Dance Team is not just a milestone for the team itself but a celebration of diversity within the athletic department. This achievement allows for the team to be highlighted on the Wilkes athletic page under the athletic department and includes a full current 2023-2024 team roster. “I, along with our advisor, Jeanne Rabel, got the ball rolling to be recognized on the Athletics website last year, I am so incredibly grateful to have it continued this year,” said Carolyn Purdy, senior psychology major and one of the captains of the team. “With this recognition, my hope is that the team can be considered more of a sport. With all the time and energy everyone puts into it along with the technique training we do, we deserve just as much attention as the other sports.” In the next coming years, hopefully, the Wilkes community will see the dance team continue to push boundaries within their routines. Adding more to their jazz and hiphop will bring attention to their hard work and dedication. Dance team members, fourth row from left, first-year biology, Emma Infante; first-year secondary education, Kelci Carle; first-year musical theater, Charley Cain; and senior communication studies, Morgan Rich. Third row:, senior digital design and media arts, Lauren Stokes,; junior biology, Amelia Smicherko, senior pharmacy; Arrington Wall, junior pharmacy; and Morgan Andretta. Second row: first-year digital design and media arts, Krystal Crespo Clark; sophomore biology, Bobbi-Rose Smith; first-year psychology, Kaley Calpin; first-year pre-pharmacy, Astrid Overby; First row: captain senior psychology, Carolyn Purdy; captain senior early childhood education, Amanda Merrick-Tompkins; captain sophomore pre-pharmacy, Jennifer Zemetro; and captain junior English, Mya Corcoran. Not pictured: first-year pre-pharmacy, Kendyl Keefer; first-year neuroscience, Kylie Kilvitis; and senior hospitality leadership, Maybis Remicio. When talking to junior pre-pharmacy major, Morgan Andretta, she expressed how being recognized at Wilkes has led the team to “make routines that are enjoyable for the audience.” Additionally, it helps not just herself but also her teammates to push themselves harder in practice. The team debuted their Pom routine for the first time two years ago and will be doing it once again this year. “Pom is a style of jazz that uses pompoms and uses similar tricks as cheerleading, but not the same technique,” said Purdy. Wilkes Dance Team will have their first halftime performance for basketball on November 9th for the men’s basketball team’s first game against Keystone College at 7 p.m. To keep up to date with the dance team, they post some of their performances on their Instagram @wilkesdanceteam, along with any fundraisers the team is doing. �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Jordan Ferry First Year, Women's Ice Hockey Forward The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Ferry lead the Colonels to a sweep to open their season against MCLA where she became the eighth player in Wilkes program history to record a two-goal game. Ferry also was 15 for 21 on faceoffs and totaled 19 shots on goal throughout the two games. Major: Mechanical Engineering Hometown: Bohemia, N.Y. If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? What had been your favorite Basketball sports memory from your time as a Colonel? What has been your favorite sports Playing in my first game. memory overall? Winning states last year with my club What is your favorite professional team. sports team (any sport)? New York Islanders. What is your favorite post-game meal? What is your favorite thing to do Chicken and rice. away from sports? Snowboard. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? What is your favorite part of being It's really exciting to be selected as Colonel of the Week, but it was an athlete at Wilkes? Having a built in family of teammates definitely a team effort and I couldn't and coaches who are all helping each have done it without my teammates and coaches. other accomplish their goals. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Miracle. The Beacon//Sam Mullen Editor’s note: Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor ts staff each week. At the end of the academic year, we w ill post a reader poll on Tw it ter @WilkesB eacon to crow n an “Athlete of the Year." �The Beacon November 9, 2023 Sports Athlete of the Week Mason McCoy First year, Swimming The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week In a tri-meet sweep against Marywood University and King’s College, McCoy won two individual races and was a member of the Wilkes 400 medley relay team that took first as well. In his first individual race, he was the first of four other swimmers in the 1,000 freestyle and won the 500 freestyle against two other swimmers. Major: Mechanical Engineering Hometown: Essington, Pa. High School: Interboro If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? What had been your favorite I would not want to play any other sports memory from your time as a sport than swimming, it is my favorite. Colonel? When I finished my first ever 1000 meter free swim and at the same time our team won against Marywood and What is your favorite post-game King’s College. meal? Chicken parmesan. What is your favorite thing to do How do you feel about being away from sports? Playing my guitar around my friends. selected as the Athlete of the Week? I feel very happy and honored to be selected for Athlete of the Week. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? I like the meal plan at Wilkes, I never go hungry when I’m here. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? The Tooth Fairy. The Beacon/Sam Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - November 9, 2023 24 REGISTER FOR WINTER SESSION! EARN CREDITS & CHILL WINTER SESSION: DEC. 26, 2023 TO JAN. 12, 2024 Take undergraduate courses at the reduced tuition rate of $530 per credit. REGISTER NOW! Visit the schedule and register at wilkes.edu/winter. Wilkes University is an equal opportunity institution. For information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit www.wilkes.edu/nondiscrimination. � 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. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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, 2023 November 9 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/af882f90267e905e4538658c3a3eb1c5.pdf ba19f7666ef4235a559e0d01a976b7ed PDF Text Text The Beacon - November 9, 2023 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 76, Issue 7 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Framing Moments exhibition spans decades By Cally Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Following the incredibly successful Rose O’Neill exhibition, the Sordoni Art Gallery returns with another exhibition. The Framing Moments exhibition aims to capture quick, singular moments in time and make them last a lifetime. The contents of the gallery originate from the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, a nonprofit museum and school residing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The gallery includes a wide array of pieces across decades of photography, utilizing various styles, methods and techniques to create the work displayed. Among the works of the gallery are some increasingly iconic pieces. A gelatin silver print of the iconic “Migrant Mother” image by Dorothea Lange takes a substantial place in the gallery’s new exhibition. One of the most iconic photographic works of the great depression era, the Migrant Mother photo perfectly encapsulates the dirt, grime and desperation during the economic crisis. Various photographic prints of famous artists and prominent historical figures also make their appearance at the gallery. Spotlight on Commuter Council, page 4 A print of the incredibly influential and respected funk and soul singer James Brown performing at the MidSouth Coliseum proudly resides on the wall, bursting with energy. The photo, taken by Ernest C. Withers, features Brown on his knees, singing passionately into his microphone as the band plays behind him. Another striking piece is a very large chromogenic print of a Cindy Sherman. As with all Cindy Sherman pieces, the work remains untitled. Sherman often refused to title her works, as she believed that her work should be admired, not restricted by any preconceived narrative or influence. An incredibly iconic image of Martin Luther King Jr. being arrested in Alabama sits powerfully on the walls of the exhibit. The photo, taken by Charles Moore, documents a critical moment within the civil rights movement. King was being arrested on a loitering charge, as there were several restrictions against boycotting at this time. These rules were heavily enforced against African-Americans seeking justice and equality. Moore would continue to be a prolific Civil Rights photographer. Casino Week sweeps through campus, page 7 1 Review: SCARING THE HOES, page 18 Basket raffle to aid Wilkes student battling cancer, page 19 �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Amanda Montgomery: Amanda.Montgomery1@wilkes.edu Carousel opens at the Darte Center From a press release Wilkes University Theatre will take audiences for a spin with a production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel at 8 p.m. on Nov. 16, 17 and 18, and 2 p.m. on Nov. 18 and 19, at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts. Carousel opened at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre in 1945, running for nearly 900 performances and launching a national tour. The musical was the subject of three Broadway revivals, most recently in 2018, and received the big screen treatment in 1956. Set on the coast of Maine in the late 1800s, Carousel focuses on the turbulent romance and troubled marriage of Billy Bigelow, a carnival barker, and Julie Jordan, a millworker. While the couple’s love takes center stage, the story also deals with the difficult issues of violence and retribution, before delivering a message of hope and redemption. Alison Morooney, serving as director Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff Spring 2024 Commuter and Resident Student Parking Applications Commuter and resident parking permit applications are available now until Monday Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. The applications will not re-open again once they are closed. The link for parking applications: https://www.wilkes.edu/campus-life/ safety-security/parking/studentparking-permits.aspx. Any questions contact parking 570408-7275, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. HPSC Give Kids the World Fundraiser Join the Honors Program Student Committee in community service by donating children’s books and Halloween costumes to Give Kids the World, a nonprofit that helps make dreams come true for Make a Wish children with a critical illness. Monetary donations can also be made. Donations will be accepted in the Honors office until the end of the semester. Any questions, email jennifer. mclaughlin1@wilkes.edu. Spring Break Trip to London and Paris The International Business trip is now open for registration. The trip leaves the Philadelphia Airport March 2, 2024 and returns March 9, 2024. The total estimated cost is $3,500, which includes airfare, hotel, breakfast and dinner expenses. Contact Dr. Matus at justin.matus@ wilkes.edu for more information. Diploma Order Form May 2024 Bachelor’s degree candidates, now is the time to complete your diploma order information and degree audit review for processing for May 2024 Commencement. Now is the time to complete your Diploma Order information and Degree and choreographer, addressed the darker elements of the show with her cast on the first day of rehearsal to make sure they were ready to dive into their roles. “Sometimes they have to play characters that are objectively harmful to others. It requires a lot of empathy and a clear understanding of what our production is trying to say,” says Morooney. “The challenge of Carousel is usually the content. With our students, the content is worthy work.” The production provides Wilkes students with an opportunity to hone the skills they need to perform in the Golden Age musical style. This experience with big, broad vocals and dance numbers typical of the era helps to make the cast members more competitive in the industry. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: 2023 Fall Semester November 16 - Fast Food Bingo 18 - Melt Yoga Session 21 - Red Cross Blood Drive 30 - Break-FEST December 1 - One World Celebration 7 - Bingo Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: Amanda.Montgomery1@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 News That's so Honors... the HPSC 2024 student elections By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Most student organizations will hold their executive board elections in the Spring, but not the Honors Program Student Committee, or HPSC. Because members serve one year terms, JanuaryDecember, elections will be taking place at the end of the month. Certain roles will not have elections, due to the nature of the program. For example, the presidential role has been awarded to Nick Devitis, a junior psychology major, who last served as vice president of HPSC. Other positions saw only one candidate in the race. For example, the vice president for the 2024 executive board is P1 pharmacy student Kayla Burleson, the director of social events is Katie Ritsick, a junior nursing major, and the treasurer will be Syndey Farmer, who is also a junior majoring in nursing. Several other roles will require an election, occurring at the end of November. Until then, students are able to campaign for their roles. One race is for the director of publicity, between sophomore biology major Zoe Morley, and first-year history major, Ozzie Priebe. Morley explained she wants the role, “because I deeply believe in the impact that the Honors Program can have and I am passionate about fostering a supportive, academic community.” Priebe, who has similar reasons for running, shared, “I want to get more involved with the Honors Program and utilize a skill set that I have that I don’t get to use often.” When it comes to campaigning, students are welcome to hang posters in Honors spaces, like the Honors Office, lounge, and Residence Hall, Waller Hall. Priebe has taken full advantage of this opportunity. “Michael Santini, Daniel Yap and I are all running together and we made similar looking posters.” Morley admitted she’d thought about campaigning. “I am still unsure if I will campaign or not.” Even if candidates choose not to campaign, voters still get the opportunity to get to know each candidate when they go to vote. When the voting form comes out at the end of the month, each student will have a small section dedicated to why Graphic: The Beacon/Amanda Montgomery Honors Program students should vote for them over their opponent. Although these two candidates are opposing each other and there is no way of telling who will win, they are both excited about the future of HPSC. Morley shared the reasons why she would love this role. “It gives me the unique opportunity to connect with every member of the Honors 3 Program.” Priebe said, “...no matter who wins, the Honors Program will continue to thrive and be the best that it can be.” Candidates are excited about the upcoming election, and you should be too. Honors students can vote for HPSC candidates in a special “Election Buzz”, coming at the end of November. The HPSC Executive Board Photo: The Beacon/Morgan Steiner �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 News What is... the Wilkes University Commuter Council By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer So far in this column, we’ve covered Mega Councils dedicated to programming for every student and diversity, but this week, we’re featuring a club that focuses on the students that go back home every night: Commuter Council. Caleb Gething, junior theater design and technology major and president of Commuter Council, or CC, explained that he got involved with the club very early in his Wilkes career. “I got started with the Commuter Council my freshman year during the commuter orientation session. I was drawn to this club because of the sense of community I felt just from sitting through the presentation.” Gething has become a part of this tradition, as he was one of the students giving that presentation to incoming first-years at new student orientation in July. “The Commuter Council, while small, tries to do a lot around campus. Having people interact with and come to commuter events can make it so we can plan much bigger and better events,” said Teara Deonarine, psychology major, and secretary of the Commuter Council. Deonarine shared that there are tons of fun events happening. “This fall semester has basically been a jumpstart with us doing more events and communicating with more people. We plan on doing more community service, and being more active on campus.” Despite all the new plans, Commuter Council hopes to continue some favorite events, like Gething’s favorite: the Annual CC BBQ “...not only for the food, but to see everyone come together.” Clubs that cater to a specific Wilkesneed, like the Commuter Council, are essential to the success of these students. “Clubs like the Commuter Council are important specifically because if there is a commuter issue, we can talk to Dean Gretchen about it and see what we can do to help commuters on campus feel more at home here,” said Deonarine. Gretchen Yeninas, Dean for Student Life, serves as the Adviser to the Commuter Council. The Commuter Council meets every other Thursday in the new Commuter Lounge, located in the basement of the Farley Library, right next to the Prayer Room. Gething shared, “...while the club was designed for commuter students, we are not exclusive to the commuter students. All are welcome.” To keep up with the Commuter Council, you can follow them on Instagram @wilkes_commuter. Photos Courtesy Teara Deonarine and Commuter Council The Commuter Council Executive Board at Club Day earlier this fall. The Commuter Council Bulletin Board, where students can add their own photos with their friends for the whole Lounge to enjoy. 4 Students play Mario Kart at CC’s Mario Kart Tournament earlier in the fall 2023 semester. �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 News It's On Us hosts first informational session at Wilkes By Emma Broda News Staff Writer On Nov. 8, the It's On Us club held an informational session to discuss plans, hear from students and get more people involved. It’s On Us is a national program created to spread awareness about sexual assault on college campuses. Over 200 college campuses in the United States have their own individual chapters working on events and student awareness to combat sexual assault. Wilkes had its own chapter prior to Covid,but it later dissolved. This year, students worked to reestablish it. The information session discussed events the club is looking to hold this year, intentions with the chapter and how they hope to get more students involved. Jaci Bickel, sophomore political science and criminology major, is the club’s president. She talked about how she got involved with the club. “Dr. Wilczak and I wanted to see the club start off again, and I felt really motivated to start it again since it relates to me personally, and I wanted to create something for students who also related to express their feelings in a healthy way.” Similarly, another founding member, Emily Roberts, junior criminology and sociology, shared how she got involved. “I heard about it originally last year through Dr. Wilczak…He said he wanted to start our chapter back up after it died down post Covid, and we had a meeting with Elizabeth Leo about our plans for it. Not much happened last year, but our amazing President Jaci, has some really big plans that I am so excited for.” Roberts also shared the plans they hoped to see in the future. “We hope to first and foremost have large turnouts so that we can educate as many people as possible. We are thinking about having events where survivors can use their trauma in a healthy way to help others who are struggling, as well as helping themselves.” Bickel mentioned she really wants to see a lot of student participation and that since so many students are able to relate to the issues being combated by the club, it's important that the club is kept alive. Bickel, Roberts and other members of the club are very excited to get things going again. “I'm just really excited to see what we can do. Our biggest goal is to make everyone who has a story to tell feel safe and secure to tell it. That way we can give everyone a voice who feels it has been taken away from them,” said Roberts. Jaci Bickel, sophomore poli sci and criminology major kicking off the It's On Us information session presentation. 5 From left to right: Emily Roberts, junior criminology and sociology major, Reagan Metz, junior criminology and sociology majors and Alyssa Denini, junior criminology and psychology major. Photos: The Beacon/Emma Broda Mikayla Faatz, junior criminology and sociology major welcoming students to the first It's On Us information session at Wilkes. �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Dr. Martha Agbeli joins Wilkes as an assistant professor By Amanda Montgomery News Editor Dr. Martha Agbeli joined Wilkes this fall as an assistant professor in the graduate nursing department. Agbeli is from Ghana, West Africa, and came to the United States when she was 17-years-old. Agbeli’s educational background is extensive, having started with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Rhode Island. She then went on to earn her master’s degree in psychiatric nursing from Drexel University and eventually obtained her doctorate in nursing. Her diverse educational journey reflects her commitment to continuous learning and professional development. “I’ve always been an adjunct faculty at Wilkes and I would always joke and say Wilkes is a cool place to work. I’ve really enjoyed the experience,” said Agbeli. Agbeli highlighted the positive experience she had working with students and praised the learning identifying it as management an area where s y s t e m , she wants to Brightspace. Her grow. Her transition to a enthusiasm for full-time position teaching and at Wilkes was nursing as a facilitated by passion, and recommendations her unique from upper blend of administrative personnel. nursing and Her entry into teaching fulfills the medical field a lifelong was inspired dream. by her family’s L o ok ing ahead, Agbeli strong medical envisions background, with herself heavily her mother and involved in older sister both Photo courtesy Dr. Agbeli scholarly work, being nurses. aiming for “It just made sense growing around nurses to go into publications. Her research focus lies in nursing and I’m very passionate about geriatric pscyhiatry, working towards improving the quality of life for the it,” said Agbeli. In her role at Wilkes, Agbeli hopes elderly population. “In the next five years I see myself as to delve deeper into scholarly work, 6 doing a lot of scholarship work being published and hopefully becoming an associate professor,” said Agbeli. Beyond her academic pursuits, Agbeli shared insights into her personal life. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking traditional meals and spending quality time with her husband and three children. Her favorite dish to make is jollof rice and chicken. Agbeli spoke about the impact she’s had on her students, and expressed pride in receiving messages from former students, thanking her for the positive influence she had on their educational journeys. In offering advice to students, Agbeli emphasized the importance of having a dream and working towards it with dedication. “Have a dream, go for it. Just set your heart on one thing that you love and just work, whether it’s a slow pace, fast pace, just so far as you achieve it, I think that’s the most important thing. Just hard work and dedication, you’ll get there.” Do you have a professor who has done something unique? Feature them in The Beacon! We are looking to spotlight the interesting and special things that Wilkes professors do in and out of the classroom. Email: Kalen.Churcher@wilkes.edu with your nominations. �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Editor-In-Chief: Morgan.Rich@wilkes.edu Casino Week sweeps its way through Wilkes campus By Cassidy Brumagin Contributing Writer Casino Week kicked off Nov. 6 with a scavenger hunt. The week began with Student Government hiding 52 playing cards throughout campus. Students who found a card were able to bring it to Thursday’s event to exchange for extra tickets for Casino Night and a Wilkesthemed deck of cards. In addition to the cards, students were also on the lookout for free giveaway stands on Tuesday. The giveaway consisted of three pop-up stands that were placed around campus for students to find at random. The stands were giving away free crewnecks, hoodies and T-shirts with the event’s logo on the back. Lucky students found the crewnecks in the pod, hoodies in Karambelas and T-shirts in the student center. Later in the week, students were invited to wear their Casino Week gear to the Thursday and Friday night events for free tickets for Casino Night at the end of the week. Student Government executive Marytere Quintana-Avila gave her input on what it is like to plan a campus-wide event like this. “It has been a lot of fun planning this,” said Quintana-Avila, junior political science major. “A lot of hands went into making this happen. We have something called the casino committee for this event bringing everyone’s ideas together.” Thursday night’s event hosted a magician in the JPAC. Student government provided light snacks including cheese and crackers and mocktails including Shirley Temples, “cuddles” on the beach, blue lagoons and bay breezes. Students were invited to visit the refreshment stand as they settled in waiting for the show to start. The event starred magician Denny Corby. Corby is from Scranton and graduated from Marywood. He has performed magic in various venues, even starring on an episode of television series “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.” “I am from the area, so it’s nice to be able to do a show so close to home,” said Corby. “Growing up here, everyone knows Wilkes. I’m very fortunate to be performing here for the second time. I’m here to make everyone smile and laugh.” Corby’s performances include magic, comedy and a whole lot of audience participation. Rather than simple volunteers, however, Corby selected his participants with randomized methods including throwing a paper ball around until it landed in the hands of the student who would join him for the trick. Corby claimed there is a method to the madness here, but the exact logic behind the participant selection remains a magician’s secret. The show began with a student brought up on stage to sign his name on a card. Corby then did the same, and both of them then folded their cards up and stuck them in their mouths. By the slight of hand, Corby then somehow switched the positions of the cards, revealing each man to have the other’s signed card in their mouth when they reopened it. Another student was even given the opportunity to participate in a trick which involved her picking an envelope with a chance of winning money. As Corby said, she was aiming to select the envelope with $20 in it amongst three envelopes. After some mind tricks, the girl selected an envelope and revealed a $20 bill as the crowd cheered. The catch, though, was that the other two envelopes actually were not empty but contained a $50 and $100 bill. Corby grinned, telling the girl she succeeded at her goal of selecting the $20 bill. Additional tricks involved balloon animals, rope and randomly selected numbers by the audience which magically added up to 11923. 11923 was the number Corby had written down before the start of the trick. At an even bigger surprise to the audience, 11923 was also the date, Nov. 9, 2023. A standout trick of the show involved a few participants from the audience who were given a book and told to select a word at random which Corby would then use psychological magic to try to guess. After a few successes, Corby shocked the audience when he had written down 129L10 as his guess for one girl’s word. The girl gave a bit of a giggle at his guess and revealed that her word was “finger”. Corby, however, then took out a dictionary, had an audience member turn to page 129, go to the left hand column (hence the L) and go to the tenth word down. It was “finger.” “The show was so fun,” said Eza Chaudhry, senior business administration of management major. “I loved the audience participation. I loved how it was mandatory, even when you did not want to do it at first,” Chaudhry continued with a grin. The week led up to Friday night’s The Beacon/Cassidy Brumagin Casino Night. The event included playto-win games, food and drinks, celebrity dealers and big prizes. Prizes for the event included an inflatable kayak, Playstation 5, 10-in-1 game table, electric scooter, bike, Xbox Series X, Legos, Air Pod Max, Montage Mountain ski set valued at $250, two Wilkes baskets and a Nintendo Switch. Students were encouraged to wear their Casino Week gear again for additional tickets to win a prize. The event wrapped up the week, giving students a chance to come together and try their luck at a variety of games for big prizes. �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Club of the Week: GeoExplorers Club By Anthony Cazun Asst. Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor Exploring is one of the most fun parts of the college experience. Exploring new eras, discovering new interests and learning all about new interests. The GeoExplorers Club promises all of those experiences and more, as they continue to be one of the most prolific and welcoming clubs across Wilkes university campus. The club deals much in the realm of geology. One of the club’s main goals is to spread and gain more interest surrounding geology and the fun that can come with it. While the club does have a slant toward geology, as the name suggests, it also deals much within the exploration of nature. This comes in the form of the club’s many trips and expeditions to various places including hiking trails, day trips to new locations and treks through nature and more. “We usually do a trip during spring break (and sometimes during fall break) for those who are interested.” said Gabriella Amaya, second year nursing student and member of The GeoExplorers Club. The club is also active and passionate about fundraising, thinking up new ways to pique people’s interest and get them involved. “During club meetings, we mainly plan fundraisers or trips that we can do throughout the year,” said Amaya. “For fundraising, we primarily do rock sales. “We like to sell a wide variety of rocks, crystals, fossils, etc. We also give people the chance to make their own bracelets.” The club is not narrow in its focus when it comes to welcoming those of all majors and walks of life, as anyone is open to join, it might even boost one’s appreciation and interest in geology. “People who join GeoExplorers can expect to have a good time with people who share similar interests with them, and might leave with a newfound appreciation for geology.” said Amaya, “...it allows people the chance to learn more about geology and it creates a space where everyone can feel welcome.” While the club is active, it is not incredibly demanding, making it so that any student can join regardless of workload and still enjoy the club to the fullest. Meetings are often held about twice per semester. Morgan Rich, Editor-in-Chief: Can’t Catch Me Now - Olivia Rodrigo Amanda Montgomery, News Editor: As for upcoming events, the GeoExplorers club is already planning for new trips and fundraisers to be held. “This spring, we’re planning for a trip out west so if anyone is interested, let us know!” said Amaya. The GeoExplorers Club has a unique blend of exploration, nature appreciation, fundraising, relationship building and a focus on geological academia that can not be found elsewhere. Put all together, this allows for a club that makes up all of the ideal aspects of what a club should be about. Sydney Allabaugh, Opinion Editor: Say It - Rihanna “Freeze,” Opinion Staff Writer: Shadow Warrior - Philipp Beesen Cedar - Gracie Abrams Adam Grundt, Sports Asst. Editor: Emma Broda, News Staff Writer: Smurk Carter - Lil Durk Runner - Alex G Sam Mullen, Sports. Asst. Editor: 20 Dollar Nose Bleed - Fall Out Boy Anthony Cazun, LA&E Asst. Editor: Graphics/Lara Mullen Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Our very own Anthony Cazun has put together a Spotify playlist where you can scan it and listen to the Beacon’s staff weekly picks! Crave - Paramore Cally Williams, LA&E Staff Writer: Money, Money, Money - ABBA Lara Mullen, Designer: Regret - New Order Liz Cherinka, Social Media Manager: Northern Attitude - Noah Kahan (with Hozier) �The Beacon – November 16, 2023 ...Framing Moments: Continued Life, Arts & Entertainment After pursuing all of the many and family. All her photos gave off an iconic pieces in the gallery, one may be aura of authenticity and sincerity. struck by a small black and white print While Whalen is more than capable of depicting a tree branch surrounded using digital forms of photography, she by a small body of water. This wet still prefers the methods of the past. plate print was elegantly taken in 2013 “I love the old stuff. It is hanging by Mary Whalen, an individual with on a little bit to the past, or looking at lots of prominence within the current something that is old and making a new exhibition. image of it through a new lens.” said “I love the way the trees bend and Whalen. extend outward. They have a lot of Whalen utilized photographic methods personality to them, they always have used in the 1800’s for many of her pieces. something to say.” said Mary Whalen. This process includes using sheets of Whalen is a resident of Kalamazoo, metal and various vapors in tandem with Michigan. She is also the chairperson light to create the visual images. of the Photography and Digital Media “This is the same process that civil program at the Kalamazoo Institute of war soldiers were photographed with. Arts, as well as an active teacher within Normally the portraits are very small. her field. Whalen is adept at all forms of Most of the photos of Abraham Lincoln image taking and processing. were done in the same process. If you The collaboration between Whalen shoot these in glass, then you have a and the Sordoni Art Gallery is the negative image, in which you can make a primary reason why the exhibition found print out of.” said Whalen. its way to Wilkes University. Whalen Whalen uses various analog techniques did not just gift the people of Wilkesto create many of her pieces. She even barre the illustrious gallery, but also an had a darkroom created in her home in art lecture about her own work and the various processes and experiences she has had throughout her decades as a photographer. “The Art in Context Lecture: Kalamazoo: a Place, a River and Home by Mary Whalen, Photographer and teaching artist at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and Education for the Arts” was held on Nov. 9. The event was open to the public and included various snacks and refreshments to enjoy outside of the gallery. During the lecture, Whalen walked the audience through her career, in turn, walking them through various stages in her life. Various vacations, outings, jobs, friends James Brown, photographed by Ernest C. Withers 9 The Beacon/Anthony Cazun order to continue her more hands on techniques. She combines her talents for analog and digital when creating cyanotype pieces. These pieces are taken on digital cameras and put into photoshop. While in photoshop the photographer will create a digital negative of the image, which will then be put onto film where it will be coated in various chemicals, exposed to sunlight and then washed in water. This process will create a beautiful, painting-like cyan print image. Whalen has many areas of expertise, along with her very patient and welcoming demeanor, she has had a very long and successful career. The Framing Moments exhibition will be available until Feb. 4, 2024. Martin Luther King Jr. arrest, photographed by Charlies Moore Mary Whalen at Wilkes Univeristy podium during art lecture �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 Alison Bechdel to open Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series From a press release The Wilkes University English Department will open the Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series with author Alison Bechdel at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13, in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts. Bechdel is the creator of “The Secret to Superhuman Strength, Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic and Dykes to Watch Out For. She has been the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Genius Grant. Fun Home, her first graphic novel, was named a 2006 Best Book of the Year by TIME and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. The Broadway musical adaption of Fun Home won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Wilkes University Theatre will bring Fun Home to the stage from Feb. 22 through25. The evening with Alison Bechdel will include a reading and book signing. The event is free and open to the public. Seats are expected to fill quickly and registration is strongly suggested. For more information on registration and additional guest artists for March and April, visit wilkes.edu/dickson. �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Want The Beacon to highlight your club or special event? Let us know about it! Email kalen.churcher@ wilkes.edu ���The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Opinion Editorial Staff 2023-24 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Morgan Rich Social Media Manager - Liz Cherinka Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Amanda Montgomery Opinion - Sydney Allabaugh ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Designer - Lara Mullen Section Staff Writers News - Emma Broda LA&E - Cally Williams Opinion - “Freeze” Want to join The Beacon? Several positions are open! Contact : kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or morgan.rich@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 Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Morgan Rich at morgan.rich@ wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact opinion editor: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu. Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Daylight savings time needs to be eliminated Twice a year, residents of nearly the entire nation and many parts of the globe all must endure the disorienting feeling that something is off. More specifically, the time is off. The clocks are wrong, the sun is in the wrong place at the wrong time, everyone’s routine is thrown through a loop and the general energy around everyone is just… off. This is because of the strange and morethan-not unnecessary daylight savings time tradition. March 12 began this year’s daylight savings time, where the sun rises later in the day, around 6:40-7 a.m., which allows for sunlight to remain for most of the day’s duration, with sundown often beginning around 5 p.m. The explanation for this is to allow for greater productivity during the day and save energy by utilizing more sunlight. It’s a noble reasoning, however, it has its issues. The human body needs sunlight for energy, to adjust one’s circadian rhythm. Many people must wake up before sunrise to get ready for work, school or any other responsibilities. Waking up in the darkness of night to start the day is incredibly exhausting and discouraging. This is the standard for much of the entire year. Many people have trouble falling asleep and waking up early during daylight savings time, especially during the first few weeks of the adjustment period. After all of that, one may expect that once standard time returns everything would be solved, however that is not exactly true either. Standard time presents its own myriad of issues. While sunrise is earlier in the morning, which coincides with the schedule of many, the downside resides at the other side of the day. Particularly, during sundown. During standard time, the sun will begin to set around 4:40-5 p.m. Meaning that perceptually, the day will end earlier than before. The limited amount of daylight during the evening makes people naturally tired earlier and discourages productivity during those hours. These hours are especially valuable, as it is when many return from the standard 9 to 5 work schedule. People also generally spend more money on electricity during standard time, as they will need to utilize more interior lighting due to the lack of sunlight during the evening. This leads to many wondering what the ideal solution is. Both have their pros and cons, and many feel that daylight savings time should be either applied all year around, or completely eliminated as a whole. The Senate recently approved a bill that would make daylight savings time permanent. However, members of the House of Representatives have yet to make their decision. This is not too uncommon, as the government has been trying to both solidify and abolish daylight savings time for decades, with there never being a concrete outcome. While there are pros and cons to both daylight savings time and standard time, the hard decision should be made to streamline the entire process and keep a permanent standard. While daylight savings is easier on the wallet, standard time is more catered to the body’s natural sleeping process, lessening health risks. There seems to be no end in sight to the annual daylight savings time routine, however, the entire concept of two different time sets during the year is in dire need of elimination or reevaluation. 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: morgan.rich@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 - November 16, 2023 Opinion The Icebox: “The Legend of The Return of The Red Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” Raven: an original story By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Welcome back to the Icebox, where you can learn to stay cool. Last week, I presented to you the treasure known as “Breath of the Wild.” One would think that no game could possibly surpass the nature of such a creation or, at the very least, exceed the expectations that fans had for a sequel. What if I told you that Nintendo managed to knock both of these goals out of the park? “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” is the long-anticipated sequel to “Breath of the Wild” that truly broke the barriers of gaming and outranked its predecessor. If you read the previous issue of the Beacon, you would know that “Breath of the Wild” contains numerous abilities that enhance one’s experience in combat and adventuring. “Tears of the Kingdom” takes these mechanics to a whole new level and practically reinvents the game. Link is now able to upgrade his weapons with unique attachments, such as making a bouncy hammer with a Hylian shroom, a long whip with Lizalfos tails and even attaching pieces of technology called “Zonai devices.” The building mechanics do not stop there. Link can grab hold of almost any object and build large contraptions, machines, vehicles, you name it. As if shield tricks and remote bombs weren’t already groundbreaking, Link can now build war machines and take on entire armies of enemies with the swipe of his hand. Unfortunately for players who fear combat, the enemies in “Tears of the Kingdom” have also been boosted. You will notice that bokoblins and moblins look meaner and scarier and that they are harder to defeat. The monsters have found more industrial ways to take control of Hyrule, building large fortresses with deadly traps. Their weapons are upgraded with abilities, and their body parts are key ingredients in making a weapon more powerful. There are a handful of new enemies, such as the Boss Bokoblin, the cave-dwelling Horriblins and the Frox in the depths. Of course, “Tears of the Kingdom” also has many changes to the map and the basic worldbuilding formula. This game still included the base area of Hyrule seen in the previous game, with changes caused by an event known as the Upheaval. The map now includes three levels: the sky islands, Hyrule and the depths. The sky islands are the tutorial grounds of the game and are more concentrated on the new lore. The mainland of Hyrule still contains a majority of the familiar places. There are wells and caves spread throughout the mainland where Link can find rare treasures. Finally, the depths are very dark and rely on the activation of light roots in order to combat the gloom, which is malicious terrain created by the main enemy Ganon. The depths have unique enemies, such as (spoiler alert) the Yiga clan! Remember when you pushed Master Kohga down that mysterious hole in the Gerudo Desert? Well, guess where he ended up... Finally, “Tears of the Kingdom” introduces a new plot that draws many players into the experience. After the fall of the Great Calamity in “Breath of the Wild,” Link and Zelda go to explore the ruined Hyrule Castle in an attempt to discover the source of Ganon’s power. The rest of the story is for you to find out when you play it. It would be a complete dishonor for me to reveal anything more and spoil the surprise. Mostly every player admits that “Tears of the Kingdom” has a better story than “Breath of the Wild” and that the former is basically the completed version of the latter. One final note is that “Tears of the Kingdom,” though cohesive with its previous game, is actually standalone in plot. This means that a player does not even need to play “Breath of the Wild” in order to enjoy “Tears of the Kingdom.” The developers designed the game to signal continuity, but also included some retconning so that new players can understand the game all the way through. Personally, I did not agree with this decision as a “Breath of the Wild” player. However, I soon came to terms when I realized that the developers had consideration for their fans and just wanted everyone to enjoy their new masterpiece. By Leah Smith Contributing Writer PART 7 “You understand me, Mr. Greenblatt. You agree with me that this bleak and cold world has tainted the world’s idea of what it means to be a hero. That’s why you played along so perfectly up to this point,” the mysterious caller elaborated. “We’re not alike whatsoever, if that’s what you’re implying. You’re a crazy fanatic, and I’m just trying to get my life back together,” Rick protested. “Sure, but we both know what will really bring yourself back up to your feet. We both know the solution you so desperately want. You want to wear the mask and cape again. You want that warm feeling of relevance again, you want it to tell you that you’re special,” the mystery caller theorized. Rick didn’t answer immediately. He only fidgeted his phone briefly before he came up with a remark that would ignore his very correct theory. “If you feel that the idea of superhero stories should be wholesome again then why kill? Why haven’t you made up your own story that takes it all back to the basics?” “I tried, but I was laughed at and shunned by everyone I know. More importantly, I do what I do now because I missed you, the world misses you,” the mystery caller said. Rick’s tone broke as he said, “The world doesn’t miss me.” “Oh, sure, they do! Why do you think they keep rebooting and remaking every franchise ever made?! They miss the things that shaped their whole childhood, their whole generation, they want that old feeling of justice and hope that you gave them!” the mystery caller explained. Suddenly, Cameron’s head began to slowly move as he tried to say something. His voice was muffled and his words were indecipherable from the duct tape in his mouth. Rick noticed and was about to call out to him until the killer noticed Cameron waking up. He whacked him in the face with a small wooden alphabet block with the letter “B” on it. Rick’s hands silenced the scream crawling out of his mouth, but he was still horrified by 15 not only seeing his husband being brutalized by a crazed murderer, but from the sight of the alphabet block being used as a weapon. Cameron’s head fell back on the chair that he was tied to as the killer adjusted the fancy black glove they were wearing. A small splash of blood spilled onto the knuckles of their glove. They brushed it off against their black coat and looked dead-on at the camera. “This is my only warning for you. Do not interfere with my work. What I am doing here is going to teach people a lesson, a very important one. The only time I’d ever want you involved is if you dress up as the Red Raven and take me to prison for what I’ve done. However, if you get involved in any other way or get your cop daughter involved in this, I will kill Cameron, Isabelle and everyone else you love. I’ve already made my way through most of the cast, so, I guess I’ve been doing a good job so far!” The mystery killer laughed at their dark joke then stated, “I’m being honest when I say that I’m a big fan of yours, Mr. Greenblatt. It would be a shame if I were to kill you, but I will do what it takes to get what I want.” Suddenly, the video ended, and Rick started to quickly type in 9-1-1 onto his phone but stopped midway when he remembered the mystery killer’s warning. If he were to get the police involved, they would kill everyone he loves and most likely him as well. He couldn’t bear to lose his loved ones, let alone being harmed. He started to make his way to the front door to start a search for Cameron, but heard a knock against the basement door. Rick ran to the basement door and opened it with such aggression, the handle nearly broke. Cameron was bleeding all over the steps and still had the duct tape in his mouth. Rick ripped the tape off of his mouth and hugged Cameron’s body. “Oh my God, Cameron,” he cried onto his shoulder. “R-Rick,” Cameron mumbled. He could barely talk from the blood pouring from his mouth. Rick carried his body to the couch and as he settled his body onto the cushions he realized something. The killer was inside of their home. To be continued... �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Opinion 16 The numerous problems with live service video games By Shawn Carey Contributing Writer Modern gaming is an interesting place to say the least. There’s constantly something changing. Whether that be trends, developers or release dates. Every once in a while, however, there’s an aspect of the industry that stays around for a while. Right now that aspect seems to regrettably be “live service” games. “Live service” games, also known as “games as a service,” are games that are forever evolving with new features and content. The concept of getting more content for your favorite game on a semiregular schedule sounds nice on paper. In reality however, they usually end up featuring problems such as broken launches, micro-transactions, limited content and half-finished updates. These are problems that the publishers are usually aware of and don’t care about. Ever since the concept of live service games first got popular in 2015, we have witnessed an increase in unbelievably mediocre titles. Devs have started to have a sort of “release now, fix later” approach to their work, especially involving multiplayer player games. Game companies used to have to make their launches count back in the day in order to turn a profit, but now thanks to the convenience of being able to patch a game post launch, these studios are now allowed to ship these buggy, unbalanced and downright unfinished products. All they have to do is promise the consumer that they will improve their game later now. Developers are no longer selling games, but a promise that it *might* be good at a later date. A lot of these games have a sort of “job-like” feel to them. Just like with a real job, there’s this over whelming feeling that you have to play it. You have to complete the battle pass, or you have to unlock this limited time item before it goes away forever. Just like with a job, you can’t play at your own pace because everything now has an expiration date. You can’t even take a break from playing due to the fear that other players will become better than you and make your experience worse. These games pretty much weaponize the idea of “fear of missing out.” If you’re playing and you see a player using a cool battle pass emote that you can’t get anymore, I’m sure you’ll feel a little bad that you missed out on such a cool cosmetic. This will inspire you to buy the newest battle pass and grind it to make sure that you don’t miss out again. Not even single player games are safe from the live service curse. Games l i k e “Cyberpunk 2077” and “Fallout 76” launched in unfinished states and didn’t become the games that the developers originally promised until years later. This goes back to the whole “release now, fix later” mindset. Some single player games even have “timesaver” micro-transactions that promote the player to actively not play the game. Instead of having to fight a challenging boss to unlock a rare item, you can just spend a few bucks and buy it. This has been a part of the last three “Assassin’s Creed” games and they find success from it each and every time, which leads into my last point. Companies aren’t entirely at blame. They can only get away with things that the consumers tolerate. In the gaming community, there’s a huge amount of people who defend the actions of these devs. No matter how poor a game is there will always be someone there to say “give it time it’ll get better” or “just ignore (insert flaw here).” Not every live service game is bad. “Fortnite” and “Final Fantasy XIV” were released as perfectly great games, only using the live service format to make themselves even better. The core of the matter is where do we draw the line in the sand? Adding new content to our favorite games is great but when does it become too much? I have always believed that a developer’s first goal should be to release a good game and everything after that should just be there to improve said game. However, as I mentioned before, this doesn’t seem to be the mindset most have. I do believe that gaming will get better as time goes on, but how long will it take? When will players finally say enough is enough? While I don’t have the answers to any of these questions, I do believe that it will eventually happen. Graphic by Lara Mullen Campus Suggestions: Why being a commuter isn’t so bad By Samara Carey Contributing Writer Hello everyone! Welcome back to “Campus Suggestions,” where I talk about my opinions about our campus and try to convince you to feel the same way that I do (or at least attempt to do so). In this article, I will be discussing the highs and lows of being a commuter on campus. Now, obviously everyone that is a commuter has their own opinions on this topic, but I’m here to say it’s not that bad. Before I begin, I know you’re asking why I am speaking out about this, and to that I say because I’m a commuter silly! I’ve been driving 15 minutes to and from campus every day for the last year and a half now, so I feel like I’m qualified enough to talk about this. For starters, let’s get the elephant out of the room here. We are saving a ton of money. Since we aren’t living directly on campus and need a meal plan for every meal, our tuition bill doesn’t make us wince every time it’s time for us to pay for each semester. Even though we don’t have dining or flex dollars, we do have the ability to have a commuter meal plan that we can use for meals for those long days on campus (which is pretty much everyday, to be honest). So it’s nice to have an option even if we can all mutually agree that the food is just OK. Speaking of food, we are able to eat meals at our own houses! I always hear people say that they “miss their moms cooking,” and that “all they want is a home cooked meal.” Well, guess what? My mom makes me that every night, since I see her everyday for dinner of course. In all seriousness though, it is nice to be able to eat my own food and have control over what I choose to eat each day. Another pro of mine that I want to talk about is more of a personal one. If you are like me, moving away to college was an incredibly hard thing to imagine, especially since I am so close with my family. When I was picking schools out to look at, I was terrified of moving away to colleges that were only 45 minutes away, let alone a few hours. Therefore, the fact that I am able to get my education, pursue amazing opportunities, love where I go and also only live 15 minutes away from campus is a huge blessing in my book. While I do acknowledge that there are some cons to being a commuter, it really isn’t that bad. If you want to know the worst part of being a commuter, it is the constant fear of missing out. That being said, I always feel like I am missing out on the “college experience,” since I am not rooming here at Wilkes. I will admit, I do not have this fear as bad as I’m sure many people do, due to the fact that I feel that I am very involved on campus. Also, I like to think that since I am here all the time and I practically live in my friends dorms, I am an honorary resident of University Towers the way it is. That being said, if it wasn’t for them, I think I would probably go crazy thinking about all the crazy stuff happening without me there. While there are other disadvantages about not being a commuter like not having anywhere to go in between classes, needing to wake up extra early in the morning to get ready and drive and having to deal with snow during the winter, it could be worse. At the end of the day, we get to have a different college experience, and if commuting works for you, that’s great. If you prefer to live on campus, that’s also great. If you are really feeling bold, why not do both? �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Opinion 17 Explaining the hate towards legacy characters in comics Why do some comic fans detest character changes? By Shawn Carey Contributing Writer Recently it seems like every piece of superhero media has been playing with the idea of “passing on the mantle.” The “Marvel Cinematic Universe” is a prime example of this. Within the last three years alone, we have seen the characters Sam Wilson, Shuri, Kate Bishop and Riri Williams toss aside their previous identities and pick up the roles of Captain America, Black Panther, Hawkeye and Iron Heart respectively. The previous four heroes I listed are what is known as “legacy characters.” The concept of “legacy characters” has existed in the realm of comics for quite some time. “The Phantom” is the earliest example of the character type, dating all the way back to the 1950s. It has always been a beloved part of the comic medium with a lot of fans liking legacy characters more than the original. With that being said, why does it seem like so many people have problems with the newer characters? Before we get into everything I just want to make a quick note. The comic community is split into many different parts and is incredibly diverse. There’s something for everyone. Whether that be in the books, movies, video games or animated series, it’s quite rare to find someone who doesn’t like anything superhero related. What I’m going to be discussing in this article applies to every aspect of comics, but I will have a focus on the books and films since that’s where the problem is most rampant. So, what problems do people tend to have with the new legacy characters? If you were to ask someone this question, they’ll probably give you one of the following answers. “They didn’t earn the title,” “the original was better,” and “it was an unnecessary change,” “just make new characters.” Personally, I don’t really tend to take any of these answers seriously. In fact, I believe that these are all used as cover for their true reasoning. Let’s quickly go over some of the problems with these answers. Starting with the idea that the character “didn’t earn the title.” I never understood what people meant with this. How does a person “earn” the title of a certain hero? There are a few heroes that this argument makes sense for, such as the Lantern Corps of DC Comics. To become a lantern you must embody a specific emotion, such a s ange r, f e a r, willpower, hope and love. There is a set way in becoming a lantern. However, what makes someone worthy of becoming a hero like Captain America? Most legacy heroes share the same powers as their predecessor, but apparently that’s not enough for some people. There’s “something else” that makes them worthy. What that “something” is tends to be a mystery. It doesn’t seem like they need the blessing of those who came before them, for example Barry Allen is widely accepted as The Flash even though he didn’t get permission from Jay Garrick to use the name. So what exactly is needed? Next is the most common answer “the original was better.” I don’t think I have to tell you guys the problem with this one. This is an extremely subjective answer. There isn’t really a way to judge the quality of a character. There isn’t a specific personality trait that instantly makes a character better. Let’s compare and contrast the first and second characters that took up the Ant-man persona. Hank Pym is a brilliant scientist who’s constantly trying to push mankind forward into a bright future. Meanwhile, Scott Lang is a witty ex-con who’s trying to do right by his daughter and make up for his past actions. While one character may seem more interesting than the other, that doesn’t make the other bad. “It was an unnecessary change” is an answer I have mixed opinions on. While I can see it as a valuable response, I can’t think of a story where this applies. Most writers build up to the change; it never j u s t happens. When a person says this I usually just blame it on them not keeping up with t h e universe. Jane Foster was the focus of much backlash in 2015 when Marvel made her the new Thor. Countless “fans” complained about the change and how it didn’t make sense for such a random character to become the new god of thunder. In reality, the event was being built up for about two years. I understand that not everyone has the time to keep up with multiple monthly series, and I do believe that there is a conversation to have about how that is harmful to the overall reader experience. However, these writers tend to know what they are doing, and I think a person has to actually experience the story before making comments about it. Lastly we have the infamous “just make new characters.” I purposely saved this one for last because it plays well into my main point. When a character shows up donning the uniform and power set of an old hero you tend to hear people complain about the publisher being out of ideas and pandering to a crowd. As much as I hate to admit it, the comic community is full of some truly awful people. There’s a select group of comic fans who seemingly hate change, especially when it comes to getting rid of straight white male protagonists. I’m sure you know the group of people I’m talking about. Whenever one of the big comic publishers makes a post online announcing that a new character will be taking the role of an old one, there’s a high chance that the comment section will be filled with people complaining about it. These complaints can vary depending on the gender, race and sexual orientation of the new character. However, in the end it mainly boils down to grown men crying about “wokeness” and “white erasure,” two things that don’t actually exist. Miles Morales sadly tends to be one of the characters these people love to talk about. Ever since he first debuted almost 10 years ago, he has been the subject of nonstop hate. As of recently, his haters have taken to saying the phrase “Peter Parker is Spider-man and Miles Morales is Miles Morales.” This is strange to me because no one really said anything when Ben Reilly took up the Spiderman mantle back in the 90s. In fact, they welcomed him with open arms. Ben Reilly is a white man by the way. I know I’m writing an article about them, but I truly believe that the worst thing you could do is show these people attention. They make up a small percentage of the community, and I promise you that real fans do not share the same opinion. If they truly understood the heroes they claim to love so much then they would know that reputation matters. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Opinion 18 JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown push the boundaries of music An in-depth review of "SCARING THE HOES" By Logan Colonna Contributing Writer JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown, two underground American hip-hop artists, teamed up for their highly-anticipated debut collaboration, "SCARING THE HOES." This album had fans on the edge of their seats as its release date came marching forward. In this record, listeners are in for an experience that pushes the boundaries of what's considered "normal" in hip-hop. JPEGMAFIA's distinctive production choices, characterized by their avantgarde nature and unapologetic intensity, are complemented by Danny Brown's unexpected vocal inflections and raunchy lyrical content matter. Together, they have crafted an album that goes beyond the mainstream, delivering an audacious sound. The two made sure to push the boundaries of the genre to ensure that it leaves a lasting impression. The album hits the ground running with “Lean Beef Patty.” The listener is immediately greeted with weird production choices as the instrumental comes from a hyper-speed version of a 2002 Diddy track, setting the tone for what’s to follow. On top of this, the thunderous bass and drum patterns accompany the rapping from JPEG and Danny greatly. As the two show off their chemistry, it's already obvious why so many fans are in love with this album. “Steppa Pig” starts with Danny as soon as the song begins. Per usual, he does great. However, JPEG easily steals the show here. For whatever reason, I love JPEG’s performance here, even over Danny’s, especially if you include his production skills being used here. Personally, this track is slightly forgetful, but everytime I come back to it, I’m reminded of its greatness. The title track, “SCARING THE HOES,” is a standout of the album. This is because of the immense use of brass instruments and the overly graininess of the soundscape. When both artists are rapping, you can hear the grain that was layered onto their voices. Danny has an excellent verse, while JPEG takes a step back and takes on the chorus, which is also great. My favorite track is undoubtedly “Garbage Pale Kids.” The sample used here is nothing less than weird, as it calls back to a Japanese ramen commercial from the mid-90s. The duo shines brightly here as it’s easily their best rap performance on this record. The rappers glide effortlessly on the quirky and catchy beat. JPEG’s unique production and Danny’s raw lyrical talent combine without fail. “Fentanyl Tester” is the fifth track on the album. The track samples a popular song from 2003, this being “Milkshake” by Kelis. The iconic line, “My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard,” is chopped up and used throughout the whole song. Apart from this sample, I absolutely love the way JPEG and Danny rap over the instrumental. The song ends with an outro of just the instrumental with “Milkshake” being chopped over and over again. The fan favorite is “Burfict!” As the song begins, the listener is greeted with a grand introduction as Roman Colosseum-like horns start to blast into their ears. As the song progresses, JPEG unfolds this fusion of hip-hop and orchestral production. While the rapping does take a back seat to the production, it still adds to the overall track. “Shut Yo B---h A-- Up/Muddy Waters” is divided into two different sections. The first being Danny’s portion, while the second is JPEG’s. I like JPEG’s a little bit more just because of the instrumental. While it’s pretty similar to the beat used before it, something about it just hits me right. Both artist performances here are pretty great overall as well. “Orange Juice Jones” is named after the R&B singer of the 1980s, Oran “Juice” Jones, and pays homage to his certain style. To capture his sound, the instrumental is sampled from Michael Jackson’s “Dear Michael.” Both artists tone down their vocals to match the track’s atmosphere, and they do it quite well. This exhibits their sheer amount of versatility as they easily rap over any obstacle thrown their way. The track, “Kingdom Hearts Key,” is a standout from the rest, yielding the only feature on this album, redveil. For those not aware of him, he created his breakout song “pg baby” in 2022, which was loved by the masses. The instrumental stands out as it uses sampled voices from an anime and offers intricate drum patterns. The track shifts into redveil’s verse as the instrumental tones down, offering a fresh breath of air for the listener. “God Loves You” instantly starts off with a gospel-like soundscape with a choir singing in the background. Danny’s whole verse contains constant references to the Bible, such as Noah’s Ark, Moses, the Twelve Disciples and Adam and Eve. All of the lyrics here are funny and witty. Nothing is added here content wise by JPEG, but I still enjoy his performance here quite a bit. Yet again, I love the overproduction as it ties the track all together. “Run The Jewels” is the shortest track on the record, clocking in at a minute and change. In comparison to the other songs on the album, the vocal inflections and overall production are somewhat calm. Think of it as a break from the album. While it’s not bad by any means, it is the worst on the album. Another personal favorite is “Jack Harlow Combo Meal,” which, despite its odd name, stands out as a unique track. This song features this elegant piano chord progression that’s constantly in the background, which makes this track stand out even among the other anomalies on the album. Throughout the song, both rappers maintain the theme of refusing to compromise their artistic integrity. They take shots at people in the music industry, American hip-hop artist Jack Harlow in particular for his endorsement with KFC in 2022. Yet another one of my favorite tracks is “HOE (Heaven on Earth).” The song takes obvious inspiration from gospel music as it incorporates certain elements from it, such as an organ and choir-like vocals into its instrumental. Toward the end of the track, the vocals take a backseat as they’re cut from the track while the instrumental shifts to a different approach. This allows listeners to appreciate the amazing production of this song and the album as a whole. The last track, “Where Ya Get Ya Coke From?” undoubtedly offers an interesting experience sonically with a booming instrumental per usual. However, the previous track would have acted as a much better send-off for the listener rather than this song, lowering my overall likeliness of the track. I deeply admire the approach this album has taken as it pushed the boundaries of hip-hop and music as a whole. Since the initial release of the album, fans have been treated to an EP titled “SCARING THE HOES: DLC PACK.” News has been released from JPEG and Danny that tells fans they’re working on another album. I’m eagerly looking forward to how they further push the boundaries of music. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 19 Sports Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: Adam.grundt@wilkes.edu Wilkes student & hockey fanatic fighting courageous battle By Adam Grundt and Sam Mullen Editor’s Note: Julia Mazur, a 20-year-old Wilkes University student, former staff writer for The Beacon, and member of the Communication Studies Department, is currently in the fight for her life against stage 4 cancer. In addition to writing stories for The Beacon, Mazur was active in several cocurriculars within the Communication Studies Department when healthy. We, at The Beacon, await her return to campus and are proud to not only call Julia a colleague, but, more importantly, a friend. Cancer. The dangerous disease, feared by individuals across America, hit close to home this year. On July 28, Wilkes University student and men’s ice hockey equipment manager, Julia Mazur, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma, infecting her lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and small parts of her bone joints. Mazur is 20 years old. But even during her battle with this disease, Mazur remains positive and stresses the importance of positivity during tough times. “Positivity has helped me a lot through everything,” Mazur said. “It is such a hard and painful thing to go through. My mother has been my rock in this and hasn’t left my side even while I have been hospitalized over a month. "One big thing I learned is how important positivity is in a bad situation. I also learned that you could have some bad moments but there is no reason to have a bad day. It is also important to live in the moment and appreciate every day and everything you have. "I often think about how I used to cry over the smallest things and I look back on it and realize that none of it was ever important.” During treatment, Mazur has been unable to attend physical classes and often has to join classes via Zoom. “Right now, I am unable to really do much schoolwork because of all the testing I’m having done and also spending the last month in the hospital,” Mazur explained. “Prior to that it was a huge struggle to get to be physically on campus to sit through a class so I had requested to Zoom into classes a lot. "All my professors have been so kind and willing to help and accommodate with anything I need.” The Wilkes men’s ice hockey team is pulling for Julia in her courageous battle with cancer. “We want our equipment manager Julia to know we are thinking about her and are behind her every step of the way,” men’s ice hockey head coach Tyler Hynes said. “She’s had our back and we have hers.” The Wilkes men’s ice hockey team is not the only group pulling for Mazur during this time. Mazur’s love for hockey extends outside of Wilkes University and to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. She attended the games and then got an opportunity to work there as a member of the ice crew. The Penguins even mapped out an internship for Mazur that allowed her to see how the AHL team was able to make everything work for their entire season at the Mohegan Sun Arena. This past Saturday, the Penguins had a Julia Mazur Penguin for a Day Benefit. Portions of the gold zone were donated to Mazur. There was a great turnout for the game as well as the game earlier in the day for D-League and Friends members. There were tons of people there to support Mazur and sport the purple “Cancer is Brutal” shirt. “Support has been overwhelming to say the least,” Mazur said, graciously. “People I haven’t talked to in forever have reached out asking if I need anything or even to donate a basket for the fundraiser we are having on Feb. 18.” A basket raffle event will be held in February, to help raise funds for Mazur during her battle. Tickets for this event will go on sale in January. More information about the event can be found on Mazur’s Instagram page, @ julia.mazur93. “People can donate a basket for the fundraiser we will be having in February of next year,” Mazur said. “The baskets can be dropped off at Tiny Trends in Luzerne or Lil’ Tikes Playschool in Scranton.” In addition, Mazur has also started a GoFundMe page to help limit the financial costs of treatment. The support, needless to say, has been overwhelming. Mazur has raised over $18,000 through this fundraiser. To donate to Mazur's GoFundMe, go to: https://www.gofundme. com/f/julia-diagnosedwith-stage-4-metastaticcancer. �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Sports 20 Wilkes women’s basketball season preview By Sam Mullen Contributing Writer This season, women’s basketball is looking to improve from last year, which was full of ups and downs. This is the first season the team, and players are eager to make the Wilkes name known. In addition, the team has a new head coach, Al Berger. Despite the major changes, team members have shown nothing but excitement. During the 2022-23 season, the team won eight games, including the game against cross-town rival King’s College, played on Wilkes’ home court. Another noteworthy game was against FDU-Florham. The women had 69 rebounds in that game, as well as 11 three-pointers. They beat FDU by more than 60 points, with a score of 84-20. “This season I’m looking forward to playing in a new conference that will challenge us as a team and continue to push us to the level we hope to achieve,” said Yamerilis Matos, a sophomore from Springfield Massachusetts. “Personally, I look forward to expanding my skill set as a point guard and adjusting to a faster style of play that will bring many scoring opportunities and success”. When asked if there was anybody in particular that she looked up to, Matos said fellow teammate Julia Marino. “The way she plays fascinates me. Her ability to create plays and facilitate the ball amazes me. I look up to her in the sense that I enjoy learning from her on the court. “She maintains aggressiveness while calm through tough times in the game and is very smart when it comes to making decisions.” Marino, from Washington Township, New Jersey, is ready for her senior season and excited for the team’s new coach.. “He has brought a fresh perspective and coaching view to our team,” she said. “His belief in the team’s capabilities is something I think all of Photo courtesy of Wilkes Athletics Wilkes women’s basketball secured their first season win against Marywood University with a score of 56-50. us really respond to. “Entering the Landmark Conference and having a new coach is definitely a lot of adjustment, but the team has been working hard day in and day out to make sure we’re fully prepared once conference play begins”. Marino, in her final year playing, reflected on her time at Wilkes. She said one of her favorite memoiies is when the team beat nationally-ranked Stevens her sophomore year. “It was a really exciting accomplishment for the program and our team,” she explained. “Additionally, I have so many memories that I’ve made with my teammates every year that I’m super thankful for.” Also returning this year is fifth-year student, Brenna Babcock of Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania. Babcock plays point guard. “I think throughout my years playing at Wilkes I have developed into a much more mature and well-rounded player. My teammates and coaches have helped me grow physically and mentally as a player to help our team succeed.” Taylor Simpson, a first-year from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, is one of two first-years playing. Coming into college is a big adjustment to anyone’s life, but Simpson has taken it in stride. “Whether it is on the court, in the weight room, or in the classroom, I prioritize my mental and physical health. In order to do my best as a college athlete, I have to make sure I stay on top of my physical health such as eating, sleeping, and having free time. “I work hard to stay on top of basketball and school, but I also make time to spend time with my friends and prioritize my own well-being.” Althouth it is Berger’s first season coaching, he has already sensed the commitment the team has to improving. “The team knows we have a tough schedule but we are excited for the challenge.” Before coming to Wilkes in May of 2023 he was the head coach of the Keystone Giants. “I have a very balanced group led by our four seniors,” Berger said. “I am excited for the return of the majority of our leading scorers from last year.” The Colonels had their first game on Nov. 10 against Marywood University. They were able to secure a 56-50 win with Marino securing the win two free-throws. . �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 Sports 21 Eagles sit 8-1 at halfway point of season By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor Last season, the Eagles came very close to the franchise’s second super bowl championship, where they were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in a 38-35 shootout. As the 2023 National Football Season reaches its halfway point, many students and NFL insiders believe that this could truly be the Eagles’ year. The Eagles are coming off a close victory against the Dallas Cowboys, a game in which they won 28-23 and improved their record to 8-1. Jalen Hurts passed for 207 yards, D’Andre Swift rushed for 43 yards, and A.J. Brown caught seven passes for 66 yards and a touchdown to lead the Eagles to their eighth victory of the season. To this point in the season, the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders (twice), Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and most recently, the Cowboys. Their only loss came at the hands of the New York Jets. Sophomore student Devin Markert believes that this is the Eagles best chance for a Super Bowl championship. “They have eight wins, they are solid on both sides of the ball, and I don’t think many teams in the league can beat the Birds at full strength.” The Eagles, with a record of 8-1, sit atop the league’s NFC East division. Wide receiver A.J. Brown has six touchdowns this season, and quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown for 15 touchdowns. Although he has thrown eight interceptions, Hurts has compiled a passer rating of 97.0 and thrown for over 2,000 yards at the halfway point of the season. “I think Haason Reddick has been the best player this season,” sophomore Danny Storm said. “He is the leader on defense, and has over seven sacks so far this season. He has been the most impactful player so far this season and sets the tone for the defense week in and week out.” Reddick leads a defensive core that also contains Reed Blankenship, Darius Slay, and Zach Cunnigham, three defensive players that currently hold Pro Bowl potential. Blankenship and Slay each have two interceptions on the year, and Cunningham has over 50 tackles at the halfway point of the year. If the Eagles want to find success for the remainder of the season, the defense must remain strong and the offense must produce at the rate they have produced so far this season. If quarterback Jalen Hurts wants to return to MVP contention, he must lead his team to another deep playoff run. The Eagles next five games will certainly be a test for the team. On Nov. 20, they play the Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) on Monday Night Football. Then, the team travels back to Philadelphia for two consecutive games against the Buffalo Bills (5-4) and San Francisco 49ers (5-3). The Eagles then go on the road to face off against the Dallas Cowboys (5-3) and Seattle Seahawks (5-3). The team then concludes their season with two games against the New York Giants (2-7) and one against the Arizona Cardinals (2-7) in the final three weeks of the season. Graphic/Morgan Rich The Beacon is looking for sports writers for the Spring 2024 semester If you are interested in sports writing, editing, photography or graphics contact Adam Grundt at adam.grundt@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Emma Burlew First Year, Women's Swimming The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Burlew won two individual races, the 50 freestyle and 500 freestyle, in a match against Goucher College. She recorded a time of 27.05 in the 50 freestyle, and a time of 5:54.93 in the 500 freestyle where she defeated two of Goucher College's swimmers. Major: Neuroscience Hometown: Effort, Pa. High School: Pleasant Valley What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? On Halloween, we split into two teams and made rafts out of cardboard and other things from the pool deck and raced. What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? Philadelphia Eagles What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Reading or going out with my friends. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? I get to represent Wilkes! I love being a Colonel and being able to swim for Wilkes is amazing. The Beacon//Ava Tureen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? She's the Man If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Perhaps water polo because I don't see myself outside of the pool. . What has been your favorite sports memory overall? On my club team, I was counting for someone swimming the mile during practice and I accidentally fell into the water. It was a very funny moment and I don't think I'll ever forget it. What is your favorite post-game meal? Chick-fil-a. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I am honestly very surprised I got picked athlete of the week. There are many great female athletes at Wilkes so I felt very grateful when I found out. I will continue to work hard at practice, during swim meets, and outside of the pool. �The Beacon November 16, 2023 Sports Athlete of the Week Jack Perna Junior, Men’s Ice Hockey Goalie The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Perna led the Colonels to two victories against No. 15 Albertus Magnus Colege on Friday and Saturday. He finished the two games with 71 saves, a goals-against-average of 1.00, and a .973 save percentage. Major: Mechanical Engineering Hometown: Sykesville, Md. What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? Winning the MAC championship my freshman year and playing in the UCHC championship game What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? New York Rangers What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Work out and hang out with my friends. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? I love how close knit our team is and the support we receive from other students and faculty. If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Baseball What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Winning states in my last year of youth hockey and getting to go to USA Hockey Nationals. What is your favorite post-game meal? Chipotle How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I feel honored to be chosen but would not be here without the guys in front of me. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Miracle The Beacon/Sam Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - November 16, 2023 24 REGISTER FOR WINTER SESSION! EARN CREDITS & CHILL WINTER SESSION: DEC. 26, 2023 TO JAN. 12, 2024 Take undergraduate courses at the reduced tuition rate of $530 per credit. REGISTER NOW! Visit the schedule and register at wilkes.edu/winter. Wilkes University is an equal opportunity institution. For information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit www.wilkes.edu/nondiscrimination. � 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. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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, 2023 November 16 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/7a72d93d14ee6246a39b6c804974d48b.pdf ad3c4c89a18602daa39a7c06657dab98 PDF Text Text The Beacon - January 31, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 76, Issue 9 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” It’s war in the battle of whose wings are best By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor With the spring 2024 semester in full swing, the Programming Board recently held one of its student-favorite weekly events. With mouths watering, the group presented Wing War to the campus community. Students of Wilkes University took part in the annual event that requires them to taste test various wings from various restaurants around the WilkesBarre area. The restaurants included North Slope, Frog Pond Club, Pizza Bella, Franklin’s, R Bar and Grill, Grotto’s Pizza, Whiskey Business, Tommy’s Pizza Corner, Januzzi’s and Anthracite Cafe. The event is especially helpful to new students, as it allows them to find out about local spots to eat, restaurants that may have been hidden gems. Opening up people new to the area to brand new culinary experiences that they may not have known about otherwise. “For wing wars there are two sides, the mild side and the specialty side,” said Maggie McHenry, digital design and media arts major and Programming Board member. “For each side, there’s a different toothpick color for each type of wing, and you use the corresponding toothpick color to pick one of those wings. After that, you rate which wing was your favorite depending on the toothpick color.” The participant then scanned a QR code that took them to a Google form. It is there that the participant voted for their favorite wings from one of the various restaurants. Fried and baked drums and flat wings covered in savory sauces filled several dozens of tables. For those not interested in meat, or who wanted to try something different, there were vegan options as well. Many participants leisurely enjoyed their wings and engaged in raffles that included gift cards, air fryers and more. However, there was a much more competitive and intense element to the event: The Hot Wing eating competition. Contest participants had to endure a gauntlet of spicy wings in various rounds. Each round increased the scoville count which increased the spiciness, ending with The Last Dab, a hot wing sauce with a scoville count of 2 1 6 Student finds ‘home’ and mentorship at Wilkes, page 3 7 8 7 9 3 9 8 Can you sodoku?, page 10 over 2.5 million. Throughout the competition, participants were eliminated one by one from the table. Despite the number of contestants, the final contestant, the winner of the wing wars hot wing gauntlet was Anthony Veach, who won various prizes including a cooler, three hot sauces and chips. “It took a lot of willpower, a lot of mental toughness,” Veach said. “I am just glad I came back on top.” Veach, a sophomore business major, chatted with a reporter in between large gulps of milk. Another contestant who nearly had the victory was Logan Seling, who was also given milk to help diminish the pain of the hot sauce. Is there a correct way to adapt a story?, page 17 Winter sports roundup, page 19 see wings, cont. on pg. 9 8 3 �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Amanda Montgomery: Amanda.Montgomery1@wilkes.edu Programming Board's spring semester schedule of events Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............4 Opinion............6 Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff HPSC Donut Sale The Honors Program Student Committee is selling donuts on Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday Feb. 8 in the SUB from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All donuts will be sold individually for $2 each. In addition, there will be supplies ready to create Valentine’s Day cards. All profit will directly support the Honors Program. Movie Channel: Pick the February Movies Use this link to vote on the February movies https://forms.gle/ iagYrzjEsJdtxZvL6. Free Rock Climbing in the MAC On Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., Wilkes Adventure Education (WAE) hosts free rock climbing in the MAC. There is no registration required, and anyone can participate. Become an e-Mentor The Office of Student Development is now accepting student e-Mentor applications for the Fall 2024 semester. A First Year Student e-Mentor is a fulltime, undergraduate student trained to provide support to 12-25 new students. e-Mentors are student leaders who have a variety of campus experiences. Fill out the application using this link: https://www.wilkes.edu/campuslife/student-development/leadershipopportunities/e-mentors/index.aspx. Contact Stacy Mullen at stacy. mullen@wilkes.edu or 570.408.4645 with any questions. Spring Intramural Sports Registration is now open for spring intramural sports. The season begins Feb. 19 and ends March 27. Sports offered are soccer (Mondays/ Thursdays), basketball (Tuesdays), dodgeball (Wednesdays) and volleyball (Wednesdays). Register yourself and your team on Sports................8 IMleagues.com before the start of the season. Any questions contact casey. carpenter@wilkes.edu. Transgender Day of Visibility Ball The Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) will be celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility in March with a ball. Voting for this year's theme is now open and can be found using this link: https:// forms.gle/vbdshUnESomuk5xb8. Patagonia Quarter Zips for Sale Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) is selling Wilkes Patagonia Quarter Zips. Sales will close on Feb. 14. Jackets will be available for pick up on campus at select dates/times. Use this link to purchase: wilkes.edu/ IPhOSweaters. Upcoming Events: 2024 Spring Semester February 1 - Puppies & Plushies 8 - Pickles-Barre 10 - King of Prussia Shopping Trip 15 - Music BINGO 22 - Family Feud 25 - Ice Skating at Revolution Ice 29 - Giveaway One March 14 - Adventure BINGO 17 - Orangetheory Fitness Class 21 - Laser Tag April 4 - Everything but the Kitchen Sink 7 - Bye Bye BINGO �������������������������������� ���������� ������ ����� ������������ ������ ��� �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 News Student finds 'home' and mentorship at Wilkes News@Wilkes From a news release Brahim Hamid Oudjana came to Wilkes from Oman intending to study for one semester and stayed a year. Now in his second year in the United States, he’s participating in the Disney College Program, which brings students to work at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He credits Wilkes with making it all happen. Oudjana, an international business and service management major at German University of Technology, came to Wilkes in fall 2022 as a senior on an exchange program. “I loved Wilkes and I extended my time there for spring 2023. And then I paid my own tuition for the summer,” he says. “This speaks to how attached I was to the University and the culture and community there.” Studying in the United States had always been a dream, Oudjana said, but the Omani government only awarded him scholarships to study in that country. Then he learned the German university he attended had a partnership with Wilkes. Oudjana says he found a family at Wilkes even before classes started. He was on campus just two days when Tom Hansen, another international student from the University of Birmingham, suggested he attend a Wilkes Adventure Education (WAE) event. WAE organizes outdoor activities such as hiking and camping and facilitates the climbing wall and ropes course in the McHale Athletic Center. Jill Price, WAE coordinator, asked the newly arrived Oudjana to help facilitate WAE Day, an event for new students. Since then, he has participated in WAE hiking and camping adventures at the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, New Mexico, Death Valley and eventually the famous Grand Canyon. “With WAE, it’s like I have a big family. And when I say family, I cannot stress that enough. It’s a big part of me,” Oudjana said. Price says that Oudjana – who is known as Ibra to his friends – brought special qualities to the group. “Ibra is very even keeled. He’s a very introspective guy,” Price said. “I was so glad to hike side by side with him on some of our trips and get to know him as a person…. He had an air of gratitude about him. He had humility and was connected to discovering his purpose. You just can’t beat it.” Oudjana also excelled academically at Wilkes. He noted faculty in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership went out of their way to help him to take the classes he needed by allowing him to do them as independent studies. These included classes like revenue management with Anu Ghai, assistant professor of accounting. He also completed a research project studying a heritage site that is part of Oman’s tourism industry. The project, done under the supervision of HyeRyeon Lee, associate professor of hospitality, 3 Brahim Hamid Oudjana earned him second-place honors in the Sidhu School’s annual research symposium. “His research idea and approach demonstrated a high level of innovation, which earned him second-place recognition,” Lee said. “He attempted to provide insightful solutions to complex issues in Oman’s tourism industry. While the current operational system cannot be fixed immediately, his research results offer valuable suggestions for long-term development. His outstanding research approach is particularly noteworthy considering he is an undergraduate student.” Oudjana credits Wilkes for helping him get into the prestigious Disney College Program. Carol Bosack Kosek, director of career services, told him about the opportunity. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have even heard of the program,” Oudjana said. Oudjana is working at one of the Disney resorts until February – a perfect opportunity for someone interested in the tourism industry – and hopes he will be able to continue for a second semester to work in marketing. He also wants to come back to Wilkes-Barre to see his Wilkes family. “I always thought if I came to the states, I would want to go to a big university … I’m really glad that I landed at Wilkes,” says Oudjana. “If I went to one of those schools, I don’t think I’d have the sense of community, the warmth of Wilkes.” �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 News 4 What is... Wilkes University's Student Government? By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Of all the student organizations on campus, none have as far a reach as Student Government, or SG. Because the organization doesn’t have a traditional “general board," most students do not know what exactly Student Government does. SG is responsible for major events on campus. Carter Henritzy, a senior psychology major and SG President, has a soft spot for "spring fling," an upcoming dance that is usually held at the Mary Stegmaier Mansion. “It’s a great chance to bring students together for a night of dancing, socializing, and great food,” said Henritzy. SG also hosts other events, including the upcoming Casino Night, Big Event and Block Party. Michael Santini, an undeclared first-year student and treasurer for the class of 2027, explained what block party might look like come spring. “Block Party is still very early in its planning stages, and I would hate to give too much away so early in the semester. That said, we have a ton planned, and the whole committee is excited about what's to come,” said Santini. One thing most students do not realize about SG is that every member serves on at least one committee that focuses on different projects -- both SG events and general campus projects. For example, the Capital Projects committee helped fund the renovations to the basement of the Farley Library. In addition to the Block Party committee, Santini is also on the food committee. “Although we primarily serve as an avenue of feedback for the food services, I can share something brand new this semester: the vending machine directly next to Which Wich on the first floor of the SUB, which offers a few additional food options,” said Santini. Though familiar now, the updated Student Union Building (SUB) lounge on the first floor is also a Student Government project. Student Government members at this year’s Winterfest. In addition to serving on committees, SG members sit in on weekly meetings. “An average meeting can vary depending on who we have coming into the meeting," said Henritzy. "Usually, we have one or two clubs that are asking for funds for their club and a couple of club reports a meeting." More than anything else, the passion its members have for the body speaks to the efficacy of SG. Students are not supposed to join an organization for the way it will look on their resume, but for the love of the group and for what they want to provide for the community. “I wish people knew that SG is more than just meeting in a room every Wednesday.," said Henritzy. "We are involved in many things on campus. All of our members contribute to every event we hold for the students. Each individual class does great things for their classes as well. SG is here to make student’s enjoy Wilkes to the fullest. We love to see all the students enjoying everything we hold for the students." It may be too late to join SG this year, but students can still get involved. Santini and Henritzy echoed the same sentiment: Student Government needs students' input. “SG thrives on engagement and feedback, and I encourage the student body to participate and voice their opinions as much as possible," said Santini. "You can do this by reaching out to your class representatives or making your voice heard at one of the open meetings we hold throughout the semester." Keep an eye out for the SG table at next year’s Club Day and in the meantime, students can follow them on Instagram @wilkessg to keep up with their events during the semester. Photos Courtesy SG Instagram �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 News 5 A love letter to the Wilkes University e-mentor program By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Everyone on campus knows someone who is or was involved in e-Mentoring. An e-Mentor reached out to you when you arrived on this campus, whether or not you responded to that email, joined the groupchat and engaged during orientation, Welcome Weekend and your first semester, was up to you. Regardless of whether or not you wanted or needed an e-Mentor, you can and should apply to be an e-Mentor. Here’s why. Stacy Mullen, Director of Student Development and e-Mentor boss explains the program best. “The program serves as a valuable resource for incoming students, pairing them with an upperclassman mentor who (most often) shares the same major," said Mullen. "The support and guidance provided by the e-Mentors begins during summer orientation and extends throughout the fall semester. The e-Mentor Program not only helps our incoming students establish their first friendships on campus but also offers a chance for the e-Mentors to share their knowledge of campus life, provide guidance and support and help others find their place here at Wilkes." But what do e-Mentors actually do? They attend a few training sessions, work Orientation and Welcome Weekend and engage with their mentees throughout their first semester at Wilkes. They do this in a variety of ways, including sending emails or texts to their mentee groups, inviting them to sporting and campus events and by working one of four e-Mentor supported events: Family Day, Hall Brawl, Registration Bingo or Bowling Night. Emma Freels, who has been a mentor for two years and most recently served as the Social Media Coordinator for the program, is proud to have engaged with her e-Mentor during her firstyear and applied after the program was recommended to her. “I really enjoyed attending the events that my e-Mentor, Kait Falco, held for us as well," said Freels. "I met one of my best friends by being part of that group, and after struggling a bit my first-year, I realized that I wanted to be able to give other students the same welcoming community that was there to support me." In addition to the traditional e-Mentor duties, Freels took on even more responsibility as the Social Media Coordinator. “I applied for this additional leadership position because I love designing and planning, and it allowed me to keep my role as an e-Mentor which was really important to me," said Freels. "I created and uploaded content for the organization's social media accounts and promoted events through flyers and posters." This is not the only coordinator position available. There is also the e-Mentor coordinator, who works directly with the mentors, creates the training sessions and keeps tabs on the e-Mentor’s work during the semester, and the orientation coordinator, who plans New Student Orientation and Welcome Weekend. This year, a new coordinator position is being introduced: the Civic Engagement coordinator. “As part of the revitalization of our Office of Civic Engagement, incoming students will have the opportunity to kick off their Wilkes experience with a day of service, a tradition that has been embraced by many classes in the past (pre-COVID)," said Mullen. "E-mentors will play a significant role in organizing and leading this day of service, and there are also discussions about incorporating service as a regular part of the programming throughout the fall semester." Mullen shared that she would have appreciated an experience like this during her undergraduate experience. “As a transfer student, my orientation experience wasn't very comprehensive, and I didn't have the privilege of being assigned a student mentor," said Mullen. "Reflecting on it now, I believe that a program like this would have made a huge difference in ensuring that I had the necessary tools and resources to navigate a new campus and my academics with support and confidence." But why should students apply to be an e-Mentor? The 2023 Mentor cohort at the Colonel Carnival, one of the hallmarks of Welcome Weekend. As valuable as it is for first-year and transfer students, mentors gain just as much and have even more fun. Mullen shared that, while witnessing first-year students grow is fulfilling, she also loves to see the mentors grow and step out of their comfort zone. “I really wish people knew just how fun the e-Mentor program is," said Freels. "Truly, it is such a welcoming group of people that no matter how different you might be you will always feel included. It's also a great way to get involved on campus. I can't express how much it makes my day when a mentee or mentor waves hello,” said Freels." Speaking not as the author of this article, but as the girl who entered college friendless, confused and overwhelmed, e-Mentoring has been crucial to the formation of who I am today. Though I did not utilize my e-Mentor, I knew I wanted to help students who needed the assistance. Students do not have to be the bubbly, outgoing person that may come to mind when they hear “orientation guide”. It is one thing to be a student and have an e-Mentor available to help, but it is entirely different to be a mentor. I have met and grown closer to so many wonderful people through this program. If students want to make new friends, use knowledge to help incoming students, get more involved or just have something to do over the summer, e-Mentoring is for them. Students can apply to be an e-Mentor on the Wilkes University website and navigating to the mentoring page. Students can also follow the e-Mentors on Instagram and TikTok, @ wilkesumentors. Love truly is the best word to describe how those involved feel about the program. Just ask your e-Mentor. Photo Courtesy Stacy Mullen �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Dr. Ashrafur Rahman joins Wilkes as assistant professor By Lexi McHugh Contributing Writer Dr. Ashrafur Rahman is an assistant professor for pharmaceutical sciences here at Wilkes University. Rahman is from Bangladesh. He completed his masters at North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. After graduation he moved to Japan where he completed his PSD of neuroscience. Shortly after he moved to Texas and completed his postdoctoral degree. Before working at Wilkes he worked in Bangladesh at a Renowned University as an assistant professor for four and a half years at the department of pharmaceutical sciences. “I have worked on various research projects such as memory dysfunction, mechanism of learning and memory, memory disorder, COVID-19 treatment, polycystic ovary syndrome and stereotaxic surgery,” said Raham. He loves to talk to his students and help them in any way he can. Raham said that Wilkes University provided him with a grant to build his new laboratory. “I chose Wilkes because of their high rate in faculty retention, its healthy work environment and the one on one engagement from professor to student,” said Raham. Raham says he always wanted to be in the pharmaceutical field and loves to fish. “What I love most about his job is the ability to be able to teach,”said Raham. He’s passionate about his students’ learning and he always likes to give them ideas that are helpful to them being a good researcher as well as their academic performance. Right now Raham is teaching anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, CNS and endocrine. His students are currently doing a poster presentation on microbiology. “It helps them improve their confidence and deliver to the scientific community,” said Raham. He does lab experiments with his students as well. Raham’s goals are to do more research that benefits people and helps mankind. 6 “I hope my research can help people get rid of a disease they have or bring them closer to it,” said Raham. His future plans consist of being the best possible teacher he can be. He never wanted to be a teacher or a researcher, but right now those two things are his main focus. His most enjoyable part so far here at Wilkes is last year when he published ten papers. He also mentions his research team who is doing excellent in research and writing scientific articles. He also enjoys the teaching aspect of it all. Rahams advice for all his students is to never give up: “If you miss your events today or anything today, you’ll miss it forever.” Dr. Kelly Sklanka returns to Wilkes as assistant professor By Amanda Montgomery News Editor Dr. Kelly Sklanka joined Wilkes last fall as assistant professor of pharmacy practice. She was an adjunct faculty member for the Nesbit School of Pharmacy before coming back to her alma mater. Sklanka is from Old Forge, Pa., and now lives in Wyoming, Pa. with her husband and 10-month-old daughter. She received her doctor of pharmacy degree from the Wilkes University and Nesbit School of Pharmacy in 2018. “The experience that I had as a student and the impact that the faculty had on me during my time at Wilkes was something that I really can’t even put into words. “It was just such a wonderful experience, and they really shaped me into the pharmacist and professional that I am today, so I wanted to be able to return the favor to current students and help shape them and guide them in their career,” said Sklanka. Sklanka explained that the healthcare system can be hard to navigate, especially with making appointments. “I saw a pharmacist as a provider who was so accessible and ready to unique because I have the opportunity help patients and answer questions to work with students both in the and make them feel comfortable, that classroom and then out in pharmacy was something that I wanted to do,” practice,” said Sklanka. said Sklanka. Her favorite part about teaching is While she getting to see never imagined her students her career would interact with lead her to patients, or teach pharmacy examining students, Sklanka their charts explained that and making she was fortunate connections enough to have to what they been that type have learned of healthcare in the provider for classroom. patients. “I was very D u r i n g accessible and her time helped make them at Wilkes, feel comfortable S k l a n k a in navigating the hopes to Photo courtesy Dr. Sklanka healthcare system, c r e a t e taking their medications and really relationships with her current taking control of their own health.” students through mentorship, just This semester, Sklanka is teaching in like she had with her past professors. a pharmacy care lab, where third year “I kind of hope that I can have pharmacy students learn motivational that same relationship with current interviewing. Additionally, Sklanka students that I serve as a mentor to is also teaching in the foundations them and help them decide what for pharmacy practice class. they want to do with their career “I think in pharmacy, it’s really and maybe shape the way that they practice and care for patients based on things that I’ve learned myself,“ said Sklanka. Sklanka participated in the New York City Marathon. This was also done as part of fundraising for Allied Services, which has a special place in her heart as her grandmother had gone to allied care after she had a stroke. “It kind of was some additional motivation that I needed to conquer the task of running a full marathon, but also was just really an important way to raise awareness for the wonderful things that allied services have done and kind of give back in that way,” said Sklanka. In the next few years, Sklanka is contemplating on pursuing an additional degree, including her masters in either health informatics or business administration. She also has a goal to become board certified in ambulatory care. Sklanka offers some advice to students, encouraging them to keep an open mind about the different courses they are taking, whether they are relevant to their major or not. �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Anthony.Cazun@wilkes.edu Art in Context film screening: A Choice of Weapons By Cally Williams Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer Art is often used to tell a story for those whose story is rarely told. Gordon Parks used his photography to elevate African American voices. Parks would refer to his camera as his “weapon of choice…I could have picked up a gun” said Parks, but instead he chose the camera and gave us some of the most famous and eye opening photography that exists. The concept of art as a weapon is interesting and Parks used his weapon well. The camera makes change and makes people change in ways that a gun or a knife cannot. The Sordoni Art Gallery’s current exhibit, Framing Moments: Photography from the Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts, actually has one of Parks’ pieces on display. The exhibit opened on Nov. 7 and will be up until Feb. 4. On Jan. 25, The Sordoni Art Gallery held a screening of “Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks.” The documentary follows Park’s life and career and his role as a trailblazer for African American artists. The screening took place in the Karambelas viewing room. About 20 people registered to see the film, filling up the entire space. Parks was an influential photographer, filmmaker, poet and composer. He is best known for his photography for Life magazine, specifically for his photographs of everyday American life. Parks was also the first African American man to write and direct a major Hollywood film. Dan Kimbrough came to the screening as a special guest. After the film, Kimbrough even led a discussion about Parks and his role as an African American artist. Kimbrough works as a DI practitioner and is the owner and founder of Park Multimedia. He is also a podcast host and a former filmmaker. Kimbrough spoke on the influence Parks had on African American artists now. “Without him we would not have what we took for granted,” Kimbrough said about Parks, referring to all of the black filmmakers, photographers and artists of today. “It was an attack on white cinema. He himself. Parks started his photography career in the 1940s His first job was for a department store in Minnesota. After that he set up a portrait studio in Chicago. He won a fellowship for his photography and started working for the government in 1942. The Beacon/Cally Williams started a movement with his one film,” said Kimbrough. Parks started the “Blaxploitation” genre of film with his movie 1971 “Shaft” and its sequels. Park’s movie, “The Learning Tree” was one of his biggest successes as a filmmaker. It is known as the first major Hollywood movie to be directed by an African American artist, that being Parks In 1942, Parks started working as a photographer for the the Farm Security Administration (FSA). While working there he met a woman named Ella Watson. He took a picture of her now known as “American Gothic” that is currently being displayed in the Sordoni Art Gallery. The photo features Watson, an African American working woman, standing in front of an American flag while holding a mop. The title, “American Gothic,” and pose reference the well known painting of the same name. The photograph sheds light on black working women, like Watson. “It says so much about America’s treatment of black women,” said Melissa Carestia, assistant director of the Sordoni Art Gallery. “They are the backbone of America,” she stated, “and are treated terribly.” Parks spent four months capturing photographs of Watson, her family and her everyday life. Another photo that Parks took while working with Watson shows her with her three grandchildren and her adopted daughter in her home. Parks formatted his subjects in a way that not just shows Watson’s home and life but shows four generations of this family. Watson holds her grandchildren while her adopted daughter is shown through the mirror of the vanity. Sitting on the vanity is a picture of Watson’s parents. Parks managed to capture four generations of one family in a single photograph. In 1948, Parks was hired by LIFE magazine. This made him the first black staff photographer for the magazine. He worked for LIFE from the late 1940s to the 1970s. Many of his photographs dealt with issues like race, social issues, and poverty. The pictures that he published in the magazine during his years there showed wide audiences aspects of society they do not often see or hear about, like the life of a young gang leader or a poor African American family. Parks’ contribution to photography and African American art brought to light what society takes for granted. His art gave voices to those who do not often get the chance to speak. His influence gave birth to new generations of black photographers and writers who are inspired by his work and what can be said in pictures, not words. �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Album of the Week: “Cross” - Justice By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor There are some albums that truly stand the test if time. Albums across all genres, whether it be rock, hiphop, electronic, country or any of the hundreds of sub genres those contain. Each genre has its own batch of classics. Dance and electronic music have many beloved records, but there are some that are considered pilllars of the genre, one of the most notable being “Cross” by the electronic french duo Justice. In 2003, Justice was formed by Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay. The two graphic designers, soon to be music producers met in Paris and first collaborated on a track for a college radio station remix contest. The rest is history. They were quickly signed by Ed Banger records and began working. After doing a handful of remixes for other artists such as Britney Spears, N.E.R.D. and even one of their largest influences, Daft Punk, they went to work on their own record, “Cross.” “Cross,” released in 2007, was described as an intensive process by the french duo. That sentiment can be heard in the tone and intensity throughout the album itself. “Cross” can be a dark and moody experience, with its abrasive tone and bass heavy distortion found on several tracks, including the opening track “Genesis.” The track begins with heavy brass instrumentation and timpani drums, creating a tone that evokes similarities to old monster flicks such as “Godzilla,” creating a feeling that something large is emerging on the horizon. This is right before a heavy crash of distorted bass slams onto the track, being shadowed by an extended elevating sound, making each thump hit harder. A perfect introduction to the duo. The song evolves into synths, vocal samples, pitch shifts, guitars and much more. These tools and tactics are found through much of “Cross” runtime. Justice used unique methods of audio capturing in order to gain the distinct sound found throughout much of “Cross.” One of them being layering various effects on top of a sample and then resampling it so it gains a type of crunchy fuzziness to it. Other tracks such as “Newjack,” “Phantom,” “Waters of Nazareth,” etc. all utilize this unique, harsh sound. However, Morgan Rich, Editor-in-Chief: Samara Carey, Asst. Opinion Editor Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac Any Day Now - Zac Brown Band Amanda Montgomery, News Editor: Neon Pill - Cage The Elephant Emma Broda, News Staff Writer: Swing - Earthgang Adam Grundt, Sports Asst. Editor: Anthony Cazun, LA&E Editor: Hours in Silence - Drake & 21 Savage Cally Williams, LA&E Staff Writer: Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Our very own Anthony Cazun has put together a Spotify playlist where you can scan it and listen to the Beacon’s staff weekly picks! “Freeze,” Opinion Staff Writer: Get Gone - Fiona Apple Generator - Justice Graphics/Lara Mullen that does not mean the album lacks a softer, more genuine side. Songs like “D.A.N.C.E.,” a tribute song to many of the great works by Michael Jackson, Valentine and One Minute To Midnight all sport softer edges. The album was a critical and commercial success, being nominated for dozens of awards and gaining top spots on many essential albums of the 2000’s lists. “Cross” would turn Justice into a household name within the electronic scene. It would go on to inspire many others similar artists such as Carpenter Brut, Skrillix, Le Castle Vania, etc. along with various other established acts that would dip their toes into Justice’s harsher, distorted sound. Sam Mullen, Sports. Asst. Editor: Falling Behind - Laufey Tummy Hurts - Reneé Rapp Brooke Lare, LA&E Staff Writer Lara Mullen, Designer: Pistachios - Brent Faiyaz Sydney Allabaugh, Opinion Editor: HISS - Megan Thee Stallion Pure Morning - Placebo Liz Cherinka, Social Media Manager: Paul Revere - Noah Kahan �The Beacon – January 31, 2024 wings, continued from pg. 1 “It was a fight until the very end. Those wings were something else but we persevered” the mechanical engineering major said. The wing wars event typically has a very positive reception, allowing students to either simply come by and enjoy some wings, or engage in an intense challenge to test conviction, strength and endurance. Life, Arts & Entertainment “I feel like what’s fun about these types of events is we get a good turn out,” said McHenry. “People love free stuff, and we are able to meet and experience new people. “It is also just fun to see how we are all the same in this one spot, we are all enjoying the same event. It is fun to see the reactions, it helps them forget about all the stress of classes.” The next Programming Board event will be Puppies and Plushies, held on Feb. 1. Photos/Anthony Cazun RIGHT: Participants at Wing Wars were able to taste a variety of wings from throughout the area. Toothpicks helps tasters know heat levels and flavors. BELOW: Students packed the Jean and Paul Adams Commons, located in the Student Center, to participate in the battle known as Wing Wars. Wing Wars is a highly-anticipated event put on by the university’s Programming Board. The event full of students who were eating wings at their tables, while figuring out the contestants for the hot wing contest. 9 �The Beacon - January 31, 2023 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment Number Sodoku ����������������������������������������������� Challenge your brain with some sudoku! How to play: Fill in the missing number. Each row should have 6 different numbers, no repeats. Each column should have 6 different numbers, no repeats. Each 2x2 quadrant should have 6 numbers, no repeats. 1 5 8 2 6 9 4 2 Answer Key: 1 3 2 6 7 6 1 8 4 5 1 7 9 6 4 9 3 8 6 3 2 Credit for these puzzles goes to: www.sodokutodo.com Compiled by Morgan Rich, Editor In Chief 1 8 3 8 3 7 4 6 �The Beacon – January 31, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 Academy Award nominees and drama during award season By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor As 2023 has come to a close, it is time to take a look back and rummage through all of the films peppered throughout the year and collectively give praise to them through mankind’s favorite method of appreciation, awards. Award season has begun and as usual, plenty of discussion and drama has ensued. Before all of the juicy details, it is important to remember what award season is about and appreciate all of the fine craftsmanship that artists have created throughout the year. The 96th annual Academy Awards, commonly referred to as The Oscars, is to be held on March 10. Weeks before the ceremony, is the unveiling of all of the Oscar nominations. Many of which are not surprising, some of which are and there are some decisions that have been controversial and have caused a stir in the film world. To no surprise, the film that is dominating the nominations is Christopher Nolan’s atomic box office hit “Oppenheimer.” Leading the charge with 13 nominations, Nolan’s film is gaining heavy favor from the academy. The success has given way for the film’s lead, Cillian Murphy, acquiring his first ever academy nomination, despite being a prestigious and seasoned actor. The film also allowed actor Robert Downey Jr., front runner for best supporting actor, to greater flex his more sophisticated acting muscles after dedicating over a decade to his more comedic role as Tony Stark in the Marvel universe. In second place comes is Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” with 11 nominations. The film stars Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, both of which are nominated for best lead actress and best supporting actor respectively. Despite releasing at the tail end of 2023, the film was recieved incredibly well by critics and audiences alike. The film with the third most amount of nominations is Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The film follows Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone as they are embroiled in a conflict involving indigenous people, their land and murders surrounding them. The film nominated for 10 academy awards, including best lead actress for Lily Gladstone, the first Native American woman to ever be given the nomination. In a surprising turn of events, DiCaprio was not nominated for lead actor, despite the films large amount of nominations. Some say its a mistake to not nominate DiCaprio, other’s say it is beneficial for the academy to leave more best leading actor spots for actors below A-list. Another film within the top five most academy award nominated films of 2023 is the biggest movie of the summer, “Barbie.” Coming in with eight nominations, Barbie may be the most curious case of all, as while the film has gained unprecedented success both commercially and critically, the academy did not deem the director herself, Greta Gerwig, as worthy of an academy award for best director. This is despite the film being nominated for best picture. Not only was Gerwig locked out of a nomination, but so was Margot Robbie, the actress of the titular Barbie herself. While both of these decisions certainly turned heads on their own, it was the decision to continue to nominate Ryan Gosling for best supporting actor for his role as Ken in the Barbie film. This sparked a bit of outrage from fans of the film, as one of the various themes of word “refreshing” as one of the main descriptors. The trajectory of moviegoing changed drastically in a postCOVID-19 world. The previous theater experience is almost in the past, as the option of streaming is very alluring. However, describing the film as refreshing when the storyline has been recycled countless times in Hollywood, is speaking directly to the emotion felt with the overall movie going experience, and the romantic comedy genre gave it that extra push of nostalgia. Something that is becoming increasingly prevalent. The movie, amongst critics, is a throwback to the romcoms that dominated the early 2000’s, which was the ultimate goal of the film. In the movie, Glen Powell’s character, Ben, listens to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield in times of added anxiety. The song was first released in the early 2000s, and it has hit the Top 20 for Official Charts on Jan. 18 due to the movie’s release. As people are gravitating towards the song in response to the popularity of the movie, the nostalgia reappears, the feel good and predictable time. With the heavy action and horror theme occurring in theaters, the change of pace allows for people to sit down and relax, instead of gripping at their popcorn. With “Unwritten” going back on the charts and the recent success of the “Mean Girls” reboot, it shows how mutually nostalgic the public is for the feel good era of the early 2000s. The romantic comedy genre has been at a standstill for years according to the boxoffice, but “Anyone But You” instills hope back into the genre. The trajectory of the movie using old- “Barbie” is society’s consistant tearing down of women in order to hold up men, something that many are accusing the academy of doing. Gosling released a statement on the matter. “There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie,” said Gosling. America Ferrara, who was nominated for best supporting actress for “Barbie” also gave a response. “Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it.” said Ferrara, “It feels disappointing to not see her on that list.” Other celebrities also weighed in on the matter, including Michelle Yeoh, who won best lead actress for her 2022 best picture film “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” The discussion was so widespread that even Hillary Clinton gave her thoughts. Despite the drama, it is important to celebrate those that create impactful pieces of art, regardless of award recognition. The Oscars air March 10. “Anything But You,” nostalgia and the state of romcoms By Brooke Lare Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer “Anyone But You” was released Dec. 22, 2023, and is still affecting the box office, social media spaces, the charts and even radio play. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell star in the corny enemies to lovers romcom that is unexpectedly leaving its mark. The film follows a duo that spend a night together, then thought they would never see each other again, until they coincidentally end up both being invited to the same wedding. The two pretend to be together to keep their families happy since everyone is aware of their mutual hatred. Following romantic comedy cliches, the two end up falling for one another. The storyline is as old as time, recycled plenty of times, but a simple Google search will fill your screen with the school movie tactics and the public responding so well to it, is leaving room for Hollywood to get a new perspective on what the public is really looking for. A shift in what general audiences desire after action blockbusters reigning supreme for over a decade. After social media dives on the hashtag and Google searches, what the public wants seems simple. Younger moviegoing audiences seem to want a time they were barely alive for, where everything felt good and predictable. Where they are no longer stressing hard over deadlines, dealing with coworkers and learning what it means to be independently responsible. One can fully expect more and more romantic comedies to pop up in theaters in the coming years. �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Opinion Editorial Staff 2023-24 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Morgan Rich Social Media Manager - Liz Cherinka Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Amanda Montgomery Opinion - Sydney Allabaugh ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Opinion: Samara Carey Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Designer - Lara Mullen Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Emma Broda LA&E - Cally Williams LA&E - Brooke Lare Opinion - “Freeze” Want to join The Beacon? Several positions are open! Contact : kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or morgan.rich@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 Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Morgan Rich at morgan.rich@wilkes. edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact opinion editor: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu. Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Snowy conditions call for school cancellations Sun, snow, ice, rain, sleet, earthquake, zombie apocalypse, Wilkes University will keep its doors open. To top it all off, students will have to fight off the zombies while slipping on the ice, without the courtesy of a condensed schedule. Dramatics aside, the first two weeks of the spring semester in good old northeastern Pennsylvania were filled with snow, ice and below-zero wind chills. With inclement weather on the rise, students were glued to their phones, anxiously awaiting some type of cancellation or delay. However, despite local school closures and warnings of the weather, Wilkes remained open. On the first day of classes, students were met with at least four inches of snow that they had to walk through. Students felt fortunate to receive a condensed schedule; however, as they got to campus, there were hardly any sidewalks shoveled and the parking lots were barely plowed. The weather, although inconvenient for students on campus, was a little more manageable than it was for commuter students. On the first day of classes, many commuter students were unable to come to class due to the terrible road conditions. Bad weather also attacked the campus that same Friday with another few inches of snow and slippery sidewalks. However, students were met with no condensed schedule, and, once again, the sidewalks were hardly shoveled and the parking lots were barely plowed. Students also reported there being little to no salt on the sidewalks. Luckily, the university stated that all classes after 1 p.m. would be canceled. Although this felt like good news, the issue was that this alert came to students at 12:45 p.m., which was far too close to 1 p.m. Many commuter students were already on campus when the alert was issued, and many faculty members who had afternoon classes were already on campus or on their way to campus to teach. According to the Department of Transportation, over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle accidents due to snowy, icy or slushy roads and pavements annually. Many students are concerned that without the proper action taken by the university in inclement weather, these statistics could someday include our students, faulty and staff. Some may say students on campus are overreacting; however, the argument among the students is that they would have no problem coming to class in inclement weather if they felt the campus was able to keep up with taking proper precautions. If people have to come to classes in inclement weather, parking lots should be properly plowed, salt should be continuously placed on the sidewalks and the sidewalks should be properly shoveled. This way, no students are injured on their way to class and feel safe. During the first two weeks of classes, the argument around campus was that students felt unsafe on campus during the inclement weather because the university seemed to not have take enough precautions to ensure their safety during this weather. Wilkes University, if there is inclement weather, please ensure that the students feel safe on campus and take the necessary precautions. If these precautions cannot happen, then please cancel class. The commuters need to be considered, especially since many commuters attend the university. It is always better to be safe than sorry, after all. 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: morgan.rich@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 - January 31, 2023 Opinion The Icebox: A review of The Return of The Red Insomniac’s “Spider-Man” Raven: an original story By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Welcome to the Icebox, where you can learn to stay cool, although I think you are probably doing just fine in this weather. As you try to warm back up for the spring semester, don’t forget to keep it cool once in a while with some video games. Over break, I did plenty of gaming on my new PC. Today, I want to talk about a game that I recently played for the first time, which is Insomniac’s “Spider-Man.” Amazing. Spectacular. Superior. Ultimate. You see what I did there? This experience lets you swing around as the one and only friendly neighborhood web-shooting vigilante: Spider-Man. The entire game revolves around the life of Peter Parker during a very difficult time of his life, where he has almost no room for Peter and spends most of his time behind the mask. This is reflective of the game in that you, the player, can’t seem to put the controller down. The mechanics of the game are very straightforward, yet there are so many combat options for every player. You can choose to stick with the basic combat skills, and it would be more than enough to get you through the majority of the missions. If you get bored of that, you can switch it around by practicing combos, which can take you into the air or keep you on the ground. Spider-Man can zip up his opponents with his webs, stick them to walls, hang them from the ceiling and even use them as objects to toss at other enemies. He can dodge attacks and perform special finishers, which charge based on how many hits have been landed in a fight. Although the enemies can be overwhelming at times, it is no problem for a well-prepared Spider-Man. Players have the option to equip three of several gadgets at a time, which greatly enhances fighting ability and always helps during critical moments. If you get bored of the old spidey look, you can select from several suit styles, some of which are references to other spiders. The neat part about these suits is that they each come with a special ability, but they are customizable so a player does not have to wear a certain suit in order to use the associated ability. The ability itself charges over time based on combat status, and it is both a great way to enter a fight and to end it quickly. My personal favorite ability is the Web Blossom, which is where Spidey leaps into the air, spins rapidly and releases large web shots that force enemies to be stuck to the wall or be incapacitated. This ability is unlocked early in the game and remains one of the best ways to quickly clean up a criminal mess. Aside from the innovative beat-em-up genre, this game includes side missions and a few minigames. Players can help NPC by taking photos of New York City landmarks, capturing pigeons or even trying to outsmart the Taskmaster through his tedious challenges, which help the player hone their swinging and combo skills. Some of the main missions even require that Peter be a sneaky spider to take out his enemies one at a time. Speaking of stealth missions, did you know you can play as Mary Jane in the game too? That’s right, she works for the Daily Bugle and will do anything she can to get some good coverage. Unfortunately, since this game takes place years after Peter leaves the Bugle, the infamous J. Jonah Jameson is retired, but you can still hear his thoughts on his latest podcast! Finally, the plot remains one of the most enjoyable parts of the game, which is impressive because Insomniac’s Spider even appears in a lot of Spider-Man power scaling discussions. I would not want to spoil too much, but let’s just say the opening act with Wilson Fisk is the least of Peter’s worries. From an early introduction of Miles Morales to a mythological plot twist, the story of this game keeps a player interested in the main story and wanting to come back for more. In fact, most players end up getting strongly attached to the characters, which have been given great depth. I am looking forward to playing the other installments of the Insomniac franchise, which would be the story of Miles and the latest sequel that features my favorite villain, Venom. If you haven’t already, put on the mask and swing into action! By Leah Smith Contributing Writer PART 8 The killer was inside the house. Rick placed his hands on Cameron’s bloody face and tried to comfort him. “Are you okay?” he asked, caressing Cameron’s cheeks. “N-no, I need h-help,” Cameron mumbled. “Of course, but first, I need to get that freak. They’re in the basement,” Rick stated. “Rick-” Cameron tried to shout but couldn’t from the blood choking his voice. Rick ran downstairs, grabbed an old fire poker from the bottom of the steps and readied himself for a confrontation. “I got you now, you psycho! Come out and face me!” he said with gritted teeth. Rick walked past the line of boxes on the wall. He regretted having so many at the moment since it blocked his vision on the next turn. He lowered himself at the end of the path of boxes and tried to peek at the next turn. From what he could see, the chair the killer had Cameron tied up in was still there. Cameron’s blood stained the floor in red slashes and drops. Rick assumed the killer was waiting for him to pounce and that they wouldn’t move until he moved. He thought about what weapon they would have on them. An alphabet block to continue the pattern of murders? A Colt .45 pistol like Father Destiny used on the show? Whatever it was, Rick didn’t have time to contemplate anymore. He leapt out of the path and stabbed the air with the fire poker. Rick blinked as he realized that he didn’t actually stab anyone. It was a familiar feeling but never felt quite like this. He scanned the area and carefully checked behind the final tower of boxes that were still lining the wall. The killer was nowhere to be found. A warm glow of light rubbed his neck, causing him to turn around and realize how the killer left. The window was wide open and greeted Rick to a feeling of disappointment and annoyance. Rick ran back up the stairs, dropped the fire poker by the basement door and returned to Cameron. He looked pale and his eyes were fighting to stay awake. “I got you, honey, we’re going to a hospital 15 right now,” Rick said. He carried Cameron all the way to his car and opened the back seat door for him. He made sure to comfortably lay him out on the seats and slammed the door. Rick opened the door to the driver’s seat and got the car moving. His knuckles burned red as his eyes kept playing hot potato with the road and Cameron’s body. The hospital wasn’t too far from where they lived. He was sure Cameron was going to make it. Nothing but white noise and the sound of his heartbeat was heard through Rick’s ears. He kept repeating to himself that Cameron would be okay and that he would make it before he would die. Sometimes, he would prevent himself from saying that word. Finally, his eyes caught the giant red cross that hung above the words “EMERGENCY” and merged to turn left where those words were located. He parked at the emergency parking lot, grabbed Cameron’s body and shoved the door open with his back. “Help! Someone help! My husband needs help!” Rick shouted. The people in the waiting room line gawked seeing Rick clinging onto Cameron’s blood-soaked body. A group of three doctors rushed in, grabbed a stretcher and ripped Cameron out of Rick’s arms. Rick tried to trail behind them, but one of the doctors instructed Rick to stay back and sit in the waiting area. Rick reluctantly listened and stood solemnly behind the emergency doors. “What have I done?” Rick asked himself. He slowly walked into the waiting area and took a seat. He examined the encrusted blood on his hands as tears began to race down his cheeks. He scratched at his hair anxiously and kept trying to relax. His teary eyes slowly began to clear up. Everyone in the waiting room was staring at him. He felt frightened by all of these eyes digging into him. It was as if they were all pointing at him, pointing at Cameron’s body and chanting, “It’s all your fault.” Rick left the room and walked into the bathroom. He locked the door and started to thoroughly wash his hands. He washed his face and looked at himself in the mirror to see a face he could no longer recognize as the man he wished he still was. To be continued... �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Opinion 16 Otto von Bismarck: the overlooked and forgotten statesman By Noah Garraoui Contributing Writer “The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood.” With this famous quote, we understand the policies and legacy that defined one of history’s chronically overlooked greats: the Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. Unlike the rest of history’s greats, Otto von Bismarck is seldom known or addressed. For a man so cunning and of high stature, it is almost tragic his overcoming of great odds is not recognized. Despite being the youngest in Europe, the nation Bismarck created arguably was and still is the most capable and powerful on the continent. Despite his monumental achievement, Bismarck remains overlooked. A brief history is necessary to understand the times Bismarck lived in. Bismarck was born into post-Napoleonic Europe that was still recovering from the recent wars and was locked in a delicate balance of power. For Bismarck to turn 39 small German states into a united empire without upsetting the other great powers would pose a significant challenge for the statesman. His ability to maneuver in this political theater would prove Bismarck’s mastery of realpolitik, a political philosophy of pragmatism. By way of careful diplomacy and decisive military campaigns, Bismarck successfully unified the German Empire, while at the same time, weakening its enemies without turning Europe against it. Bismarck’s Germany was a monumental achievement, considering what came before. The 39 states of Germany formed a loose confederation similar to the large but divided Holy Roman Empire. Compared to all the great empires surrounding Central Europe, these states were powerless and would have been forced to accept hegemony from the Austrian Empire. Likewise, without Bismarck reviving the authority of the Kaiser, Prussia would have likely fallen victim to the revolutions of 1848. Instead, guided by the doctrine of iron and blood, Prussia rose to match and surpass the increasingly backward states around it. It is essential also to consider that Bismarck did not wield war lightly or without extensive forethought. He would choose his targets carefully and with an extensive plan. Bismarck always had a plan. Each campaign he embarked on had a set goal, and Bismarck, unlike Napoleon Bonaparte, knew when to stop. On his first campaign against Denmark, he aligned Prussia with Austria and offered territory in exchange for military aid. The war was short, but it set Austria up as failing to uphold its end of the PrussianAustrian agreement, giving Bismarck a justification to go to war with them. With this campaign, Bismarck also unified North Germany and formed the North German Confederation, but there was no harsh peace imposed on Austria despite having lost pathetically. The Iron Chancellor knew Austria would be a valuable ally, but it would only set the other powers against Germany to impose strict terms. In his final significant campaign, France and Germany were poised to go to war, but neither wanted to be considered the aggressor. To force France into aggression, Bismarck commented on the succession of the Spanish crown in such a way that outraged the French but without explicitly saying anything. Inspired by nationalist zeal, the rest of the German states joined the North German Confederation, creating the German Empire. In a decisive campaign, the German Empire defeated the Second French Empire, cementing Germany as the new great power on the continent. As renowned as he was in the political theater, Bismarck made a concerted effort aimed at the well-being of the German people, creating the first welfare state. Besides the first social security system, he also introduced bills for insurance for the sick, elderly and victims of accidents. His peacetime influence would also permeate throughout Europe, maintaining the balance of power and perpetuating the second-longest European peace. There is a very evident reason that Bismarck has not been remembered in the same way as or as much as other significant figures from the modern history of the world. The Germany Bismarck created would, in the 20th century, twice attempt the conquest of Europe and the world. It is also doubtless that Bismarck was an authoritarian and militarist and suppressed opposition. Nevertheless, Bismarck’s realpolitik and strategic vision set the stage for modern European politics. Graphic by Lara Mullen more until I fell asleep. Now that school is in session, I find myself much more organized, and I am following a proper schedule. If I did not have this routine, keeping up with everything that I am involved in would be a struggle. Another positive of being back from a break that I think everyone can agree with is that we get to see our friends. While I am still fortunate to have hometown friends, you cannot deny that special bond that you have with your college friends. It is especially hard when your friends at school live in different counties, states or even countries. It is hard to see them over even if you wanted to and time allowed, which makes seeing them over the school year more special. Let us dive into the negatives, and believe me, there are several. The first one that comes to mind is the tragedy that is the weather. I like to make the joke that it is ironic that we are currently in the “spring” semester, despite us trudging through the depths of winter the last few weeks. As I am writing this, the snow around campus is currently melting, and the number of times I have almost slipped is two. This is not necessarily a negative for everyone, since the weather has been giving us compressed schedules, class cancellations and overall campus closures. But I cannot imagine people preferring the wintry weather over the nice summer weather that we so graciously endure during the fall semester and end of spring. Another negative about being back from a break that I personally hate more than anything is waking up early. For my last two semesters, I have unfortunately experienced the horrors of having an 8 a.m. class. While I do enjoy these classes, I would like them a lot more if they were later in the day. Especially since I need to wake up, get ready, drive to campus and then take the hike around Wilkes-Barre at the crack of dawn. It is not that I hate waking up early in the mornings, but I do think my quality of life would increase drastically if I were able to wake up at 9 a.m. at the earliest on weekdays. Lastly, one of the negatives that I think everyone can agree on is having to survive solely on campus food. Being home for break, we were spoiled with actual home cooked food to the point that we were sick of it. But now, we took our mothers’ homemade lasagnas for granted and are now stuck with burgers, sandwiches and chicken tenders every day. Oh, also, try not to forget about “Fish Friday” every week in the dining hall. You will not want to miss it! I will admit, it is nice being on campus every day again, since it truthfully keeps me sane, but there are small things around here that make me go insane. I am still trying to navigate my way through my classes this semester, but I believe I will make it through. Hopefully, you all are too. Campus Suggestions: pros and cons of being back from break By Samara Carey Asst.Opinion Editor “Welcome back Colonels!” is a phrase that I have heard one too many times recently. Obviously, there is a reason for it. The spring 2024 semester has begun, and break is officially over. While I like to think of myself as a person who likes school, I cannot think of a single soul who would be thrilled to start a new semester after a month-long break. However, I will admit that I would much rather be in school procrastinating on my assignments than lying in bed doing nothing over break. But of course, there are pros and cons to this. To start with the positives of being back on campus, I have once again found a routine that works for me. Over break, I practically went stir-crazy staying in my house all day. At home, my routine was as follows: wake up, lay in bed, go to work and lay in bed some �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Opinion 17 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Is there a correct way to adapt a story to a different medium? By Shawn Carey Contributing Writer If you’re a fan of a popular franchise I’m sure you are familiar with the idea of an adaptation. In case you aren’t, the Oxford dictionary definition of adaptation reads as follows, “The process of making a work of art upon the basis of elements provided by an earlier work in a different medium.” A good example would be the “Dune” and “Hunger Games” movies. Both franchises originally started out as book series that received theatrical adaptations years after their original release. While it’s most common to see a book get adapted into a film or television series, pretty much anything can be adapted into something else. A show can be turned into a game, a toy line can turn into a film series, and so on. When it comes to adapting a story there’s a lot of questions you have to ask yourself. There’s the obvious ones, like how to translate a specific element or finding the right actor for a character. However, after a while, you’ll find yourself running into much more pressing issues, one of them being, “what do I change?” Due to the nature of translating a story into a different media, it’s almost impossible to do an absolute perfect adaptation. There will likely be something you have to replace, move around or outright get rid of. As you can imagine, this can have a significant impact on the story and characters. While most adaptations try to be as faithful as possible to the original source material, every so often you run into one that tries to do something wildly different. This is most often seen in comic book related media, especially when it comes to Spider-Man. Oct. 20, 2023 marked the release of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” the newest entry in Spidey’s long running series of video games. I spent my winter break playing through the game’s story. As much as I enjoyed it, I was left feeling disappointed at how the game handled many of its main characters, leading me to write this article and ask the question, “Is there a correct way to adapt something?” Before we start I would like to drop a quick spoiler warning. I will be talking in great detail about the story, especially the third act. First I will be talking about the parts of the adaptation that I honestly consider bad. Unlike previous g a m e s , “Spider-Man 2” has dual protagonists, Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Both SpiderMen have their own supporting cast and list of villains, meaning this game has an awfully large amount of characters. When you’re writing a story with a large ensemble cast, there’s a pretty high chance that some characters will get more attention than others. However, one would think that wouldn’t apply to the leads. I believe the game could’ve handled the characters of Venom and Mary Jane Watson in a much better and more respectful way. I would like to praise the game before I speak negatively of it. Peter Parker was handled amazingly well, the game did a fantastic job showing off his personality and inner struggle. His undying love for MJ, the questioning of his morals and just everything about black suit was all great. He may not be a one-to-one replica of his comic counterpart, but the game was still able to keep his most important traits. Now, let’s talk about the character who is the complete opposite of Peter. Both in terms of character and writing, Venom. The i nte re s t i ng thing about V e n o m is that he cannot exist without being attached to another c h a r a c t e r. Venom by himself is a shapeless a l i e n symbiote that is incapable of speech, h owe ve r, once he finds himself a host to bond with he becomes an antihero with attitude. In most S p i d e y adaptations the symbiote bonds to disgrace journalist Eddie Brock. “SpiderMan 2,” however, decided to do something different with its version of the character. Instead of joining forces with Eddie, the symbiote is attached to Peter’s best friend Harry Osbone, which on paper, isn’t a change I hate. I will say, however, that I believe it was handled extremely poorly. Unlike Peter, Venom pretty much has nothing in common with his comic version outside of his name and design. He may look and sound like the character but I assure you, he is not. First of all, let’s talk about the relationship between Harry and the symbiote. The symbiote and the host tend to share the same goal, usually being to ruin Peter’s life. The game, however, goes for a different approach. Venom’s main goal is now to take over the planet, explaining the symbiote hive mind. This is extremely out of character. While Venom may be an alien, it isn’t a character trait that’s often mentioned. That’s because it isn’t really important. I always believed that the beauty of Venom comes from the idea that two separate entities can hate a single person so much that they literally come together for the sole purpose of making that person’s existence a living nightmare, an honestly pathetic reason to become a villain. Making him this big bad world destroyer takes away from that. Adding on to that last point, the symbiote and host don’t share the same hatred for Peter. As I mentioned before, Harry is Peter’s best friend. He doesn’t really agree with what the symbiote wants to do, making the entire relationship one sided. His name doesn’t even make sense within the context of the game. Eddie and the symbiote gave themselves the name Venom due to seeing themselves as the poison that inflected Peter’s life. However, the game just sort of gave him the name for no apparent reason. Yes, the player may know them as Venom, but the in game characters have no real reason to call them that, especially when you consider the fact that Harry’s main goal is to “heal the world.” Moving on from the main villain, let’s discuss the main love interest, Mary Jane Watson. Non comic readers tend to misinterpret MJ’s character. General audiences seem to believe that she is nothing more than a damsel in distress, someone that Peter has to constantly save. This couldn’t be more wrong. MJ has always very much been her own distinct character. In the comics she was see spider, cont. on pg. 24 Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Opinion 18 Mr. Rager’s return: A review of Kid Cudi’s album “INSANO” By Logan Colonna Contributing Writer Kid Cudi is back again with a new release titled “INSANO.” I cannot speak for all listeners and fans, but I for one was ecstatic to hear about this album. From the numerous singles that have been released, I knew I wanted more of what I heard. Before this, he last released a studio album all the way back in 2020, with “Man on the Moon III: The Chosen.” Soon after this, in 2022, he released a decent soundtrack to his Emmy-winning movie “Entergalactic,” which shares a name with the movie (I legit just watched it after I typed that sentence and it’s so great. I advise all to watch it). After numerous singles and leaks, the album was finally released on Jan. 12. Starting off, “OFTEN, I HAVE THESE DREAMZ,” begins with DJ Drama yelling into the microphone, acting as a hype man for Kid Cudi here and throughout the rest of the album to come. In the background, you can hear these enchanting voices making up the instrumental which Cudi starts to rap over after DJ Drama’s introduction. If you have ever listened to Kid Cudi before, you’d know he’s known for his melodic and entrancing hums and vocals. Here, however, he displays his rapping ability and absolutely sells it. As the next track “KEEP BOUNCIN’” plays, Cudi continues his rapping performance. As for the chorus, it’s not an extreme show of talent, but you can tell that Cudi is actually having fun with this project this time around. I personally like to see Cudi’s fun side because based on this alone, you can tell he isn’t struggling as much mentally compared to his previous work. We continue to see this playful nature throughout the whole record. “GET OFF ME” displays the first of many features. The feature here is none other than Travis Scott. I really enjoyed his performance here as it is much like how he was on his 2018 album, “ASTROWORLD,” which is a fan-favorite for all the right reasons. The last verse contains bars being traded back and forth between Cudi and Scott, allowing a dynamic duo to collide. I love when artists do this, most notably on “Bad Meets Evil” by Eminem and Royce Da 5’9”, “Welcome to the Midwest” by Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko and “Pete VS Andre” by Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine. “MOST AIN’T DENNIS” immediately sets itself apart from the rest of the tracks as it is a raging beat. This lets Cudi have the most fun he’s definitely had in a while. The whole song, especially the chorus, makes me hyped just off of the way Cudi presents himself alone. Apart from this, the track doesn’t bring much to the table. It is still a great addition nonetheless. Then we have “WOW” featuring A$AP Rocky. This is such a feel-good song and I love it. I wish this album as a whole was released in the summer because it would have been such a mood booster, especially during the hot months. I love everything about this track. From Cudi and Rocky enjoying themselves, to the catchy chorus. Rocky especially does a great job here and makes me want to drop his highly awaited album “DON’T BE DUMB,” even more now. “A TALE OF A KNIGHT” starts off by blasting the bass into the listener's ear. This track, like many others off of this project, is meant to just get you up and moving, and it does this perfectly. I love how Cudi switches his flow often, which sounds great over this instrumental as well. It really shows off his rapping capabilities. Next, we have “CUD LIFE.” Nothing is outstanding here, but I still like the way the song sounds. Still, the song has little to offer and is overall just average. I don’t know how to feel about the chorus as it’s just a little boring and lacks excitement when compared to the rest of the tracklist. Overall, this isn’t the worst this album has to offer, but it certainly is not the best. We have an amazing feature on the way with “TOO DAMN HIGH.” The feature in question is Lil Yachty. Lately, he’s been on a resurgence as he released an amazing comeback album with “Let’s Start Here” last year and has been on an insane feature run ever since. He even released incredible singles throughout the year as well. Yatchy’s vocals match with Cudi’s too well, which made me surprised as to why they haven’t had more songs with each other. Revisiting this track over and over again has me thinking that this is one of the best to come out of “INSANO.” “MR. COOLA” instantly puts me off because of the production. Throughout the whole song, the listener is forced to just endure piano chords that are similar to that of the “Halloween Theme,” and it’s just incredibly annoying. Besides this, I enjoyed Cudi’s rap performance. This just goes to show how much production matters for songs. Now while the next song, “FRESHIE,” might be biased towards me because I use it purely for “hype” purposes, I still love this track nonetheless. I say this because while the production is constantly booming in the listener’s ears, we have Cudi being harsher than usual and showing slight anger through his verses. Even his ad-libs here convey a sense of anger. That being said, I love listening to this song whenever in the gym just to get hyped for my next exercise. Even outside of the gym, I think this song has a lot to offer sonically. “TORTURED” is a slight return to form as we immediately hear Cudi’s hums that made him what he is. Overall, the song does keep the same sound as the rest of the album but incorporates similar styles to what he’s used to doing, like how the instrumental is floaty like the past but has powerful, newage 808s pumping through every second. Next, we have a feature from the late XXXTENTACION on “X & CUD.” This song, yet again, is a significant return to form. If you enjoy the old Kid Cudi, you are sure to love this song. I enjoy what both artists have to offer to this song, and I wish we could see more from these too, even if X has passed away. On “SEVEN,” we have yet another feature. This time it was from the rap legend, Lil Wayne. If you’ve read my previous review of his latest EP, “Tha Fix Before Tha VI” then you’d know that I’m truly a hater of his newer work. The same stays true here as he adds little to nothing to the track. He includes one verse that equates to 20 seconds of the two-minute-and-a-half track. Cudi, however, did pretty well. I honestly would prefer if he left the song as is with his verse and chorus. “RAGER BOYZ” showcases the masterful synergy between Cudi and Young Thug. They work perfectly together which makes the fact that they only have one other released song with each other. From an outside perspective, you’d think the two have been working together for their whole lives. Both performances verse-wise are some of the best on the album. As for the chorus, I’m honestly in love with it. This is easily at least within the best three songs on “INSANO.” After covering all of the highlights, lowlights and some in-betweens, I can say that I adore this album. From the exuberant production and vocals to the amazing features, apart from Lil Wayne, this album has just what I was looking for from Cudi. It’s even great to see him having fun after being in such despair during his whole career. While this album is mostly positive, the only thing that it can improve upon is being less bloated. The project is at 21 songs, which is just way too much for my liking. I’d personally keep all of the features, yes, even Lil Wayne, to keep variety. I would get rid of some average tracks like “CUD LIFE” and “MR. COOLA” to shorten the playtime. In a perfect world, this album would be best at 17-ish songs. This being said, I’m confidently giving this album an 8.5 on a 10-point scale. Graphic by Lara Mullen �Sports 19 Sports The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: Adam.grundt@wilkes.edu Winter sports: Where teams are at the start of 2024 Winter break seems far behind and spring semester is up and running. Wilkes athletics are eager for fans to catch up on the performances and exciting moments that unfolded on the winter sports scene. By Samantha Mullen Sports Assistant Editor From the ice rinks to the courts, Wilkes University athletes showcased their talent and determination in various winter sports competitions. To see how you can continue to support the teams, check out Wilkes Athletics. Men's Basketball Before ringing in the new year, the men’s basketball team traveled to Florida to face Centre College and Hamline University. The Colonels were able to come out with two wins, beating Centre College 56-53 and 81-76 against Hamline University. With the new year starting, the team started conference play. Being in a new conference can mean unknowns, but Coach Izzi Metz has “enjoyed playing new teams and seeing different gyms. It’s been a great challenge so far.” So far, the team is 7-4 in the conference, making them 14-4 overall. Metz has expressed his confidence in the team and is hopeful they'll make it into the playoffs. “We are hoping to earn a home game in the Landmark Conference playoffs,” said Metz. “We know we have a lot of work to do in order to accomplish that goal, but the guys are motivated.” This week, the Colonels will travel to the University of Scranton at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31. On Saturday, the team will play home against Susquehanna University at 2 p.m. Women's Basketball The women’s basketball team also started conference play over winter break. They were able to secure a 50- 48 win over Drew University and a 6660 win over Moravian University. The team is currently 3-8 in the conference, making them 7-11 overall. The season isn’t over yet, however, so there is still hope for a strong finish. Coach Al Berger feels confident that the players can finish out the rest of the season strong. The Colonels have two home games this week. On Jan. 31, they will play the University of Scranton at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the team will host Susquehanna University for their Ovarian C a n c e r Aw are n e s s game at 4 p.m. Women's Ice Hockey The women’s ice hockey team has been off to a strong start this year and that did not stop while most students were on a break. The Colonels started the new year with a tough double header loss to number 13, Nazareth University. They were able to get back into their groove with a 2-1 and 4-1 win over Chatham University. When the spring semester started, the Colonels were able to dominate over Stevenson University, securing a 4-1 win on Jan. 20 and a 6-1 win on Jan. 21. Many of the first years have been dominating their time. “They have definitely had an impact on the score sheet, but I am most proud of the growth I have seen in them as people," said Coach Dave LaBaff. "When you have 13 freshmen walk in the door there will inevitably be some 'freshman hiccups', but this group has grown tremendously since September and there is no doubt to me that our upperclassmen have been pivotal for the growth.” The team currently has a 8-6-1 record in the UCHC conference and an overall record of 10-6-1. T h i s upcoming week, the Colonels will face crosstown rival King’s College home at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 30. At 5 p.m. on Feb. 2, they will face Hilbert College. They'll meet again at 3:30 p.m. the following day when the team will honor the seniors for their Senior Night. Men's Ice Hockey The men’s ice hockey team is also off to a great start this season. They currently have a 1-3-0 record in the UCHC conference and an overall record of 13-6-0. The Colonels started the new year strong with a double win over Arcadia University. The first game was a 3-2 overtime win and the second was a strong 7-0 win. Coach Tyler Hynes feels good about the rest of the season starting. The Colonels will continue play this upcoming week with a double-header game against Nazareth University. The games will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3 and at 4 p.m. on Feb. 4. Wrestling The Wrestling team hosted the 90th Wilkes Open on Dec. 22. During the open, junior Christopher Nuss continued his undefeated season making him 8-0 and earning his second title of the year. Junior Caleb Burkhart earned second place honors at heavyweight. Burkhart was also recently ranked No. 12 in the latest NWCA Division III rankings. First year Lucas Miller earned his career tournament placement as a Colonel where he placed sixth at 184 pounds. The Colonels also participated in the Budd Whitehill Duals where they earned wins over York College of Pennsylvania and Oswego State. The team finished 13th overall in the tournament with wins from graduate student Jack Bauer, first- year Connor Kerwin, sophomore Jaryn Hartranft, Senior Trevor DuBoff, first year Melquan Warren, junior Cameron Butka, Nussand Burkhart. The Colonels went 3-0 at the 2024 John Reese Duals on Jan. 28, finishing off the day with a 34-16 victory over Oneonta. The Colonels will travel on Feb. 3 to Berea, Ohio for the John Summa Invitational. The John Summa Invitational is hosted by Baldwin Wallace University. Graphic/Morgan Rich �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Sports 20 Wilkes swimming sees major strides this season By Ava Tureen Staff Writer This swim season, the men’s and women’s team have had massive accomplishments. Every swimmer on the team has beat one of their own personal bests during competition, and team wins have grown. “This season is going very well, especially compared to last year,” said head coach Christopher Paynter. “Just looking at our record alon,e the men’s and women’s team have both improved incredibly. Last year the men were 2-11 to finish the season, and they are now 8-5 with one meet left to go.” Paynter touched upon the recent success of the women’s program in particular. “The women didn’t win a single meet last year and now stand at 5-8 on the year. A lot of that improvement is because of the student-athletes that we brought in for this season. They are an incredible group of kids who work hard everyday and are such a joy to be around and it shows in the results that they are getting. They definitely have a bright future ahead of them.” Coach Paynter said that a change in their training has led to an improved season. Recently, there has been more emphasis on racing. Athletes are swimming fast in practce two or three times per week and doing pacework throughout. In addition, swimmers also spend time in the weight room and doing resistance work. During the tri-meet against Juniata and Lycoming, the team’s lone senior, Stephen Verosko, won in the 400 IM and had a time of 4:52.71. During this meet first-year Owen Lewis won first in the 50 freestyle. “One really memorable moment that has stuck with me and tends to be a highlight of any swimmer’s experience on a competitive team is the winter training trips,” Verosko said. “Specifically for me, our 2023 training trip to Englewood Florida. It was our first since I came here in 2020 and it was such an enjoyable experience of hard training and fun moments with the small team we had at the time. “Being in Florida with your closest friends and fighting through tough practices is truly an unforgettable experience and I hope that Coach Paynter can deliver that for the team for many years into the future.” Verosko has had a solid swimming career through his time at Wilkes. He has worked to shave eight seconds off his 400 IM. “This year, Coach Paynter and I really wanted to hit on the aspects of intentional swimming in my races while also not trying to force too much. We tried to integrate a lot of technical changes with all four strokes while maintaining the strength and aerobic longevity needed for both the 200 and 400 IM. “We have really been focusing on those aspects from the beginning, starting the season off with a bang, and I think so far it has really paid off. We have made pretty big strides in not only the technical aspects but also race strategy that have contributed towards the time drops you mentioned.” Owen Lewis is a first-year athlete on the men’s swim team and has dropped times throughout the season. “Since swimming at Wilkes I have almost completely changed my technique making changes to my sprint freestyle by working with Coach Paynter on changing my catch and hand placement in the water. Additionally, I have made changes to my start and turns to be faster in those areas which has helped me drop time from the beginning of the season.” Currently Wilkes stands at 8-5 overall after the tri-meet. They compete against rival King’s College on February 3. With the important meet coming up, Coach Paynter has split practice into 3 groups: sprint, distance and IM (individual medley). Each of the groups does something different each day at practice. “(W)e are very specific with what we are training for in each practice session. So, if we are running a race pace session for that day our sprinters are focusing on those shorter events of the 50’s and 100’s where our distance group is focusing on the 500 and 1000. This emphasis on specificity and race training this year I believe is what has played a huge part in the team’s improvement. It also makes training a lot more enjoyable and if the athlete enjoys what they are doing they are usually going to put more effort into it and ultimately in the end swim faster.” Paynter believes that it’s old-fashioned to believe athletes have to train hard every single day. He views the team as a big family that does many activities together outside of swimming. He is ecstatic for the remainder of the season and to see what the team will achieve. Interested in covering sports? The Beacon is looking for sports writers, photographers and videographers. Email adam.grundt@wilkes.edu or kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 Sports 21 Super Bowl matchup set after exciting championship weekend By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor The AFC & NFC Championship games were played on Jan. 28, and they were certainly filled excitement and stardom. In the earliest of the two games, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens took on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Baltimore, Md. The Chiefs, a perennial Super Bowl contender appearing in their sixth consecutive AFC championship game, prevailed over the Ravens by a score of 17-10. Travis Kelce led the way for the Chiefs. With girlfriend and pop superstar Taylor Swift in attendance, Kelce caught 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Isiah Pacheco was responsible for the other Chiefs touchdown in the game, and he also ran for 68 yards on 24 carries. Patrick Mahomes did what he does best: he threw for 241 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. The Chiefs return to the Super Bowl this season following their victory in “the big game” last season over Philadelphia. The Ravens had a bit of a slower day on offense. Lamar Jackson threw for 272 yards and a touchdown. Jackson also threw one interception on the day and rushed for 54 yards. Zay Flowers, who injured his hand in frustration in the later portion of the game, tallied one touchdown on the day with 5 catches and 115 yards receiving. In the later game, the Detroit Lions took on the San Francisco 49ers. This season, Detroit won their division for the first time in 30 years, had not won a playoff game since 1991, and had never appeared in a Super Bowl in their franchise’s history. The game began with the Detroit Lions taking a commanding 24-7 lead going into halftime. But it was the 49ers who stormed back in the second half putting up an impressive 27 points to ultimately defeat the Lions, 34-31. The Lions spent most of their offensive day on the ground. As a team, the three main running backs tallied 182 yards on 29 carries. David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jameson Williams all got into the end zone during the game. Jameson Williams also caught a touchdown pass late in the game to make it a 3-point game. Christian McCaffrey had a sensational game for the 49ers. He ran for 90 yards on 20 carries and scored 2 touchdowns on the day. Brandon Aiyuk caught three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Deebo Samuel caught eight for 89 yards. Elijah Mitchell also found the endzone for the 49ers. Brock Purdy, who was picked with the final pick fo the 2022 NFL Draft, led his team back to the Super Bowl with 267 yards passing and a touchdown. In addition, he rushed for 51 yards. On Feb. 11, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVII held in Las Vegas. This game is a rematch of Super Bowl LIV which was played in 2020. The Chiefs came out victorious in that game, 3120. The game will be broadcast on CBS. Is your team in the Super Bowl? Do you consider yourself a Super Fan? If so, email sports editor Adam Grundt and let him know. You could be featured in an upcoming Beacon story! adam.grundt@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - January 30, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Haylee Bouchard First Year, Forward, Women's Ice Hockey The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Haylee Bouchard tallied 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in a pair of Colonels UCHC conference victories against Stevenson University. One of these goals Bouchard scored was a highlight reel backhand goal in Sunday's contest. Major: Business What sports movie is your goHometown: Sioux Lookout, to for movie night? Ontario, Canada "Greater" or "Remember the Titans" What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? If you did not play your current My favorite sports memory as sport, what sport would you a Colonel was when we swept have wanted to play? Lebanon Valley. It was a great moment for our returners, breaking their previous win record and being part of that was very moving. Gymnastics. Then I could finally touch my toes. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? What is your favorite My freshman year of high school professional sports team (any when we won against our rivals sport)? for the first time in years. The Montreal Canadians What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Work. I work at a hospital back home with the elderly and it is a blast. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? How helpful the school has been focusing on how the athletes are treated and how important the academics are. The Beacon//Ava Tureen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." crowd was going bananas. There were only 20 of them but they made it roar. What is your favorite postgame meal? Here, Chick-Fil-A. In Canada, it has to be Wendy's. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? Being selected as athlete of the week is pretty cool. It is definitely a shared mention as I couldn't have achieved these records without my linemates and overall team. �The Beacon January 30, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Lucas Mages Junior, Men’s Volleyball, Opposite The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Mages finished up a tri-meet against Bard and Mount Aloysius with some impressive statistics. He finished the tri-meet with 27 points, 21 kils, 4 digs, and 2 blocks over the two matches. Major: Mechanical Engineering Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y. High School: Iroquois Central If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Bowling What had been your favorite sports memory from your time What has been your favorite sports memory overall? as a Colonel? Our first conference win of the season last year against Widener University. Playing club volleyball against Klistan Lawrence on 352 Elite Volleyball at the Rochester Can-Am Boy’s National Qualifier What is your favorite professional sports team (any What is your favorite post-game meal? sport)? Buffalo Bills What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Sharing a pizza with my twin brother after an away tri-match. How do you feel about being Visit Cedar Point with my friends selected as the Athlete of the Week? and family What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? Creating lifelong friendships through a sport I love. What sports movie is your goto for movie night? I am honored to receive such a prestigous award. After countless hours of off-season preparation, I am grateful, blessed, and humbled to be recognized as the Male Athlete of the Week. The Sandlot The Beacon/Sam Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - January 31, 2024 24 spider, continued from pg. 17 Interested in joining The Beacon? Email morgan.rich@wilkes.edu or kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu introduced as a lively, energetic, fun and irresponsible party girl who ran away from her problems, someone who was the exact opposite of Peter. Later on she would learn the same lesson about responsibility that Peter did and leave her life of partying behind. She would go on and become a world famous model, actress and businesswoman. She would find success through her own skills and merits, learning to move on from her past struggles, keeping her carefree and extroverted nature. The game’s MJ is much different. She is a lot more like Peter in terms of personality. She seemingly has a lot more in common with her partner. Instead of being lighthearted and relaxed, she’s more awkward and worryful. Her career even changed. Instead of having any of the previous jobs I listed, she’s now a reporter, much in the same as Superman’s love interest Lois Lane, with the only difference being that she isn’t successful. With all of that being said, I have to say, I didn’t hate MJ’s character like I did with Venom. Sure, she has very little in common with her comic counterpart but overall she is still a fun character to see on screen. This raises the question, is heavily changing a character fine just as long as they’re still written well? I don’t have a simple answer to this. Yes, I would like the character to be similar to how they were originally portrayed. However, what if it clashes with the tone of the story? “SpiderMan 2” tells a pretty dramatic story, so I can see if the writers thought that it would be more fitting if MJ had a more serious personality. While I can sort of agree with this, why adapt Many Jane at all at that point? If they wanted Peter’s love interest to be more serious than why not adapt someone like Gwen Stacy, a character who is known for being angsty and broody? So, is there a correct way to adapt a story? Writing is extremely subjective, so there’s no such thing as right and wrong answers. Some people may desire a perfect recreation of the original story, while others may want to see something new. In my very personal opinion, I want to see a mix of the two. I want the characters to share traits with their original counterparts while offering something new. I want to experience a story that is familiar, yet new. What I’m saying may sound a little bit greedy, but I believe it’s the least the writers could do for the fans. � 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. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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, 2024 January 31 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/20eb31548b8e9a9da3bb06907667b837.pdf e3666ce457c4d83a55a0ea463c49d2c1 PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 7, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 76, Issue 9 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Puppies & Plushies event puts a pep in everyone’s step By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer The Programming Board opened up the month of February with a brand new event, one that included some friendly and furry little friends. The Programming Board hosted the Puppies and Plushies event on Thursday and it is one that warmed the hearts of dog lovers all around campus. Thursday’s event wasn’t just a regular event, it served as a community service event to help The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or SPCA. The SPCA helps find homes for once abused and abandoned animals. They also help educate about animal welfare. The SPCA brought over puppies and dogs that were available for adoption. The moment they had entered, the dogs were extremely excited to receive some love from all the students. “I’ve always wanted to do some- All Belgium Waffles introduces their new storefront, page 6 thing to help out with the SPCA,” said third year nursing major and secretary of programming Board, Lauren Beaver. “Madie came up with the idea with the plushies.” Students were also able to give back to the SPCA and they were able to donate things for dogs in need such as paper towels, gently used blankets and towels to be entered in a raffle. The SPCA were also accepting cash donations. A door prize raffle was also held. Prizes included an “Animal Crossing” themed monopoly game, an Owala water bottle, Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Camera, a beginners crocheting kit and a human sized dog bed. Students were able to pick out a plushie from an assortment of adorable different animals such as teddy bears, koalas, zebras and so much more. Then they were able to Puppies cont. page 10 Vision board event allows students to look froward, page 7 The Beacon/Natalia Williams Emma Raville hugging “Boy” at Puppies & Plushies. It’s time to stop hating on the 10-year-old girls at Sephora, page 16 Wrestling golden age, page 17 �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Amanda Montgomery: Amanda.Montgomery1@wilkes.edu Programming board spring schedule of events Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............6 Opinion............14 Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff Free Rock Climbing in the MAC On Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., WAE hosts free rock climbing in the MAC. There is no registration required, and anyone can participate. Become an e-Mentor The Office of Student Development is now accepting student e-Mentor applications for the Fall 2024 semester. A First Year Student e-Mentor is a fulltime, undergraduate student trained to provide support to 12-25 new students. e-Mentors are student leaders who have a variety of campus experiences. Fill out the application using this link: https://www.wilkes.edu/campuslife/student-development/leadershipopportunities/e-mentors/index.aspx. Contact Stacy Mullen at stacy. mullen@wilkes.edu or 570.408.4645 with any questions. Spring Intramural Sports Registration is now open for intramural sports this spring. The season begins Feb. 19 and ends March 27. Sports offered are soccer (Mondays/ Thursdays), basketball (Tuesdays), dodgeball (Wednesdays) and volleyball (Wednesdays). Register yourself and your team on IMleagues.com before the start of the season. Any questions contact casey. carpenter@wilkes.edu. Patagonia Quarter Zips for Sale Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) is selling Wilkes Patagonia Quarter Zips. Sales will close on Feb. 14. Jackets will be available for pick up on campus at select dates/times. Use this link to purchase: wilkes.edu/ IPhOSweaters. Sports................19 Alumni Scholarship Opportunity The Alumni Scholarship is awarded annually to a current Wilkes undergraduate student who has a parent or grandparent who graduated from Wilkes, has at least a 3.0 GPA and has a FAFSA on file for the 2024-2025 academic year. Deadline to apply is March 17, 2024. Use this link to apply: www.community. wilkes.edu/alumnischolarship. Contact alumni@wilkes.edu with any questions. Kappa Kappa Psi Talent Show Interest Form Wilke University’s music fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, would like to host a talent show this semester. Anyone is allowed to sign up. Fill out this form if you are interested: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1 FAIpQLSdnAmAtuUyJOxInXXPiLyK Y9pzb_uMCsOenMyDopx-6RT6lVQ/ viewform. Upcoming Events: 2024 Spring Semester February 8 - Pickles-Barre 10 - King of Prussia Shopping Trip 15 - Music BINGO 22 - Family Feud 25 - Ice Skating at Revolution Ice 29 - Giveaway One March 14 - Adventure BINGO 17 - Orangetheory Fitness Class 21 - Laser Tag April 4 - Everything but the Kitchen Sink 7 - Bye Bye BINGO �������������������������������� ���������� ������ ����� ������������ ������ ��� �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 News History in the making: First death penalty by nitrogen gas 3 A bold move or a controversial shift in capital punishment? By Amanda Montgomery News Editor In a historic turn of events, the United States witnessed its first death penalty execution using nitrogen gas, sparking a heated debate over the ethics and implications of this unconventional method. The execution, conducted in Alabama, marks a departure from traditional lethal injection practices, prompting questions about the future of capital punishment in the country. Alabama’s decision to execute Kenneth Smith, a 58-years-old, convicted murderer and hitman, using nitrogen gas comes from a nationwide struggle to secure the drugs needed for lethal injections. Dr. Kyle Kreider, political science professor and department chair, explained that the three-drug cocktail that would put people to death in a more “humane fashion” is not doing what we think it does, as there are no outward signs of pain. “Alabama said, 'you're going to deny us the three-drug cocktail, then we're going to use this nitrogen gas,'" said Kreider. "So that's how we're here today, it's because of the opponents of the death penalty kind of forcing the pharmaceutical companies not to sell it to the states for that purpose." The search for alternatives, prompted by difficulties in obtaining conventional lethal injection drugs, has led to the emergence of nitrogen gas as an execution method. To understand the gravity of this shift in capital punishment, Dr. Paul Riggs, dean of Arts and Sciences, provides a historical perspective. “Until the twentieth century, hanging was the most common method used to carry out the death penalty," said Riggs. "Concerns about its supposed painlessness led to a search for new methods, such as electrocution and the gas chamber." He also explained that lethal injection was developed in the late 1970s as an alternative to prior methods, and was first used in Texas in 1982. “In recent years, legal challenges to lethal injection have questioned its painlessness, and drug companies are now refusing to sell these drugs to states for this purpose," said Riggs. "This has led to proposals and plans, in those states that still have the death penalty, to use older methods (like electrocution or firing squad) or to develop new methods, such as this new asphyxiation by nitrogen gas process." There are also legal and ethical considerations that surround the use of nitrogen gas in executions. Dr. Andy Wilczak, a s s o c i a t e professor and associate dean of Arts and Sciences emphasizes this. “There's a majority of the states that don't have capital punishment anymore, or have placed an indefinite moratorium on it as they kind of explore it,” said Wilczak. In the discussion for the potential future of nitrogen gas execution, Dr. Kreider predicts that it will be used more often. “I think you might see a movement in this direction because it allows them to continue to execute those who have committed first-degree murder in a way that, at least to one group, is humane," said Kreider. Dr. Riggs notes that public sentiment is gradually turning away from capital punishment. "American public opinion has gradually turned away from capital punishment over the course of the 20th century and into the 21st, though not as decisively as in other western democracies," said new execution method. Riggs. “Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill As the debate rages on, with legal, that would allow execution by nitrogen ethical, and cultural considerations gas, a controversial practice critics call being discussed, the future of nitrogen untested and lacking in evidence that it's gas as an execution method remains more humane than lethal injection, after uncertain. The execution in Alabama Alabama became the first state to execute has not only ignited discussions on the someone with nitrogen gas,” said Mary constitutionality of this approach, but Kekatos, ABC News. also raised broader questions about the Alabama’s utilization of nitrogen role of capital punishment in a changing hypoxia as a form of execution prompted societal landscape. Ohio state representatives, Phil Plummer Kreider provides a and Brian Stewart, to propose legislation glimpse into the allowing executions via nitrogen gas. potential widespread "The legislation introduced by Rep. adoption of Plummer and I will authorize the state nitrogen gas of Ohio to utilize nitrogen hypoxia, in execution. addition to lethal injection, and directed "I think you [that] it shall be used in instances where might see a lethal injection is not an available means movement in of carrying out a capital sentence," said this direction Stewart during a press conference. because it While this execution is controversial allows them apart from the execution method, calls to continue to have emerged to spare Smith’s life based execute those who on the previous failed attempt to put him have committed to death. Bryan Stevensen, founder and first-degree murder, director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a but the jury has said it's non-profit opposed to excessive criminal worthy of the death penalty, and punishment that advocates on behalf of do it in a way that, at least to one group, death row inmates, emphasized the state’s is humane," said Kreider. lack of competence in the execution Wilczak adds a cautionary note, raising process. concerns about the lack of testing and "Since that time, we've been arguing transparency regarding the humanity of that the state doesn't have the competency nitrogen gas execution. to carry out these executions," said “The reports from the execution said Stevenson to CNN. "They switched the that he seemed like he held his breath for method, and now they're saying they as long as he could and then went into have the skill to carry out a method that's hypoxia," said Wilczak. "It does not seem untested and never been used before." like it was this peaceful, just drifting off Wilczak cautions everyone to be to sleep kind of thing." mindful of those on death row. Riggs explained that our Eighth “There are innocent people sitting on Amendment, aimed at humane death row who might be executed using punishment, is at the center of the this apparently very horrific method. And ongoing debate on whether the new what does that say about us that we are nitrogen gas method qualifies as 'cruel really just willing to go ahead with this and unusual.' without taking time to stop and consider ABC News published an article on the morality of what we're doing rather Jan. 30 that addresses Ohio’s new law than just focusing on the politics of this.” regarding nitrogen gas being used as a Graphic: The Beacon/Amanda Montgomery �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 News 4 What is... Wilkes University's Resident Hall Council? By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer This column has focused on mega councils dedicated to programming, cultural identities and commuter life. There is one last mega council, the Residence Hall Council, or RHC, that focuses on providing programming and events catered to residential students. RHC is the foil to the Commuter Council. Whereas one focuses on events and opportunities for commuters, the other provides unique opportunities for the students who call the residence halls “home”. Amy Hunter, the assistant director of residence life, serves as the advisor to RHC. She says that her favorite part of working with the club is learning the process. “Not only do I guide the RHC members in decision making, but they are also teaching me about different aspects of campus and Residence Life. They are a breath of fresh air when searching for new ideas and ways to build community in the halls,” said Hunter. Melissa Ooi, a sophomore biochemistry major, is Vice President of RHC. She first got involved because she heard it was beneficial for students interested in becoming RAs. “After learning more about what RHC does involving student and residence life, I thought I was more suited to helping RAs from behind the scenes instead of becoming one. This led me to join the executive board,” said Ooi. RHC hosts all kinds of events, from Pop Ups to Movie Nights. To begin the year, RHC hosted their annual Movie Night during Welcome Weekend. Students watched Monsters University in the JPAC and enjoyed snacks and free blankets, courtesy of RHC. Another campus favorite is Deck the Halls, a yearly doordecorating contest. Residents are welcome Waller Hall residents Luke Mauro (L) and Kensy Edmond (R.) celebrate the holiday season with a pop-up party sponsored by RHC. to decorate their doors in holiday garb for the chance to win a prize and be featured on the RHC Instagram. One of the most common RHC events is Pop Ups. Whether in the Residence Hall or in the SUB, RHC loves to surprise students with unique opportunities. In the fall of 2023, RHC celebrated chocolate milkshake day by giving away chocolate and vanilla milkshakes and reusable straws in the SUB. Since then, RHC has worked to get into the Residence Halls, hosting different, unique events for the different halls. Two distinct events include a pop up on the second floor of Evans Hall to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month in September and a Gingerbread House Making Pop Up in Waller Hall. Ooi said Pop Ups were her favorite events because, “...it’s always fun to randomly surprise the residents with food and a fun time.” Despite all the fun events hosted by RHC, students don’t know much about the club. Hunter said she wishes students knew all the support that RHC makes available for them. “RHC provides extra funding for our RAs to implement community programs within the residence halls. This allows all residents to partake in fun activities that are educational as well as recreational,” said Hunter. As for Ooi, she said she wishes students knew that General Board meetings were open to the general public. “They usually help the executive board come up with event ideas and help execute those plans,” said Ooi. To get involved with RHC, you can email rhc@wilkes.edu for more information or follow them on Instagram @wilkes_rhc. In the meantime, you can join RHC for a Superbowl Pregame Giveaway on February 8 and a Lunar New Year Celebration with the Office of Global Engagement on Feb. 12. First-year students enjoy RHC’s annual Movie Night during Welcome Weekend. Photos Courtesy RHC Instagram �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 News That's So Honors... it’s not too late to join the program By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Of all the opportunities for excellence Wilkes University provides, few are as comprehensive as the Honors Program, which provides students with not only challenging coursework, but a unique community within Wilkes University. Why should you apply for the Wilkes University Honors Program? Honors students are required to take 18 credits, or six classes, of Honors coursework. Often, these classes require students to complete an additional project, like a paper or review, or do something to benefit the entire class. For example, a past Honors section of WS-301, or the women and gender studies capstone required students to work on a project, either on or off campus, that advanced the cause of gender equality. Honors students are also invited to tons of special opportunities. These include special faculty lectures and access to other on-campus guests. For example, Honors students are typically invited to special discussions with the Max Rosenn lecturers who come to campus. Some Honors Program Student Committee (HPSC) events, like fundraisers, are open to the entire campus; however, others are reserved specifically for honors students. Some of these include special Registration Nights, Broadway trips, and parties for the beginning and end of the year. Honors students receive a $500 stipend to be used for educational needs, in addition to a $1,000 housing stipend for residential students. Honors Students can also apply for grant funding to put toward different projects, including academic conferences and study abroad trips. In addition to all these benefits, Honors students also register for classes first, even before seniors. Honors students will also receive a special notation on their transcript, recognition at graduation, additional academic advising, and access to Honors spaces, including the Honors Lounge and Office, both located on the second floor of Stark Learning Center. The Honors Program application is open to all Wilkes students who have at least a 3.5 GPA and at least six more semesters at Wilkes University. In addition to the application found online, students must write a leadership essay and share community service and extracurricular activities they participate in. Current first-year students can apply for the Honors Program through the Wilkes University website until April 15. You can also follow the Honors Program on Instagram @wilkeshonors. P1 Honors student, Ada Soriano, shares the opportunities she has utilized while on campus to a group of Barre Scholars. 5 TOP: P3 Pharmacy student, Matthew Schwartzstrauber graduated from the Honors Program in Spring 2023. He also won the Honors Program Academic Distinction Award. BOTTOM: During Summer 2023, a group of Honors students traveled to Scotland and Ireland to learn about the culture. Many of the students in attendance utilized grant funding for the opportunity. Photo Courtesy Honors Program Instagram �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 News 6 Two roomates, one vision All Belgium Waffles introduces new storefront By Brooke Lare Staff Writer It all started with a shared vision between two roommates at Wilkes University. The roommates teamed up to tackle a road of entrepreneurship. To one of the roommates, Billy Berry, a desk job is on the list of things-to-avoid. A life of the standard grind and a path of complete knowing is not what interests Berry. The student athlete graduated with his finance degree, and unlike most, he knows exactly what he plans to do with it. Waffles. Waffles. Waffles, and more waffles. Berry and his roommate, Toon De Schepper, started perfecting their waffle recipe and eventually opened up a food truck. The four wheeled truck brought so much success, they opened up another food truck, but this four wheeled truck is massive, which it must be, to appeal to the big city it’s homed: Chicago. John Barrett and Jimmy O’Kane, fellow student athletes of Wilkes University, saw this vision and backed De Schepper and Berry to the best of their abilities, utilizing their networks in Chicago to speed up the process for De Schepper and Berry. What's next? The next move was obvious to the business owners: a storefront. The waffles are cozy so it makes sense for the store to be nestled in the middle of Livingstone Lane, directly across from the movie theater on Northampton Street. The duo proves to be inspired, drawing All Belgium waffle topped with powdered sugar, strawberies and whipped cream made fresh and in front of customers. The thick batter is poured into the skillet and a thick fluffy waffle was taken out of the skillet and place in a box. in support from locals and King's College with open arms, encouraging them to join campus events frequently. The business owners were able to be on popular food delivery apps such as Doordash and UberEats, with no added delivery fees. With the success of their business, Berry, and alumni customers wish Wilkes would be as supportive as Kings College has been and the surrounding neighborhood, since Wilkes is a key part of their success story. Although the business owners feel the support could be better, they are proud of their Wilkes alumni status, considering De Schepper and Berry wouldn’t have met otherwise. Currently, De Schepper is back home in Belgium. When asked if that makes things harder, Berry, the optimist, says there’s not a problem at all. Although he misses his business partner, they are able to manage their business countries apart all the same. Ericka, Berry’s girlfriend, shows her loyal support, and adoration of their recipe. Berry likes his waffle topped with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and powdered sugar. His girlfriend prefers her waffle to be completely plain. “It’s just so good on its own,” she elaborates. Berry says she’s just a picky eater, but she reiterates how good it tastes on its own, how it is not an ordinary waffle. A plain waffle goes for $5 a piece, with their sweet toppings only $1 each. For Valentine’s Day, they have heart shaped waffles. Photos: The Beacon/Brooke Lare The new All Belgium storefront, located on Livingston Lane in Wilkes-Barre, offers the same waffles and toppings as their food trucks. Owners painted the outside to match the colors and style as the familiar food trucks which were seen all over campus. �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Anthony.Cazun@wilkes.edu Vision Board event allows students to look forward By Emma Broda Opinion Staff Writer Honors students started the month of February off by making vision boards to manifest their 2024 goals. The event was held by the Honors Program Student Committee (HPSC), who provided materials for students, as well as refreshments of tea and cookies. The beginning of the semester can be both exciting and sometimes overwhelming for students as they navigate through new classes, schedules and responsibilities. The vision board activity gave students an opportunity to spend time with their friends and relax while doing a fun and beneficial craft. A vision board is a collage of different pictures or words that represent dreams, affirmations and motivations that a person has for themself. Students cut out images and glued them to their board, used markers to write goals, and decorated with colorful patterned tape to create collages of their own goals and “visions.” Reagan Weldon Peri, sophomore geology major, said her board focused on the outdoors because, “I plan to spend a lot of time outdoors this year through field trips, research, and an internship I have with an environmental firm.” The outdoors as a motivator or “vision” was fairly popular with Kensy Edmond, a first year environmental engineering major. She added that her board focused on the outdoors as well as hydration and self care. There was also a range of other dreams and goals for the year. “My vision was a happy and fun 2024 full of traveling and spending time with friends,” said Zoë Morely, a sophomore biology major. Writing goals and keeping them in mind as the semester progresses is Star Sandt with her vision board. Students were able to choose different pictures for their vision boards. important so they can be motivating when things get too stressful or overwhelming. While this event allowed students to create beneficial motivators for the rest of the semester, it also provided a night of de-stressing and time with friends. Weldon Peri said she enjoyed getting to see other people from the honors program who she had not seen for awhile. Morley, one of the members of the Honors Program Student Committee said her favorite part of the night was watching participants pick out their photos and then create the personal boards. A vision board being assembled. The Beacon/Emma Broda �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Album of the Week: By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor “They told me that the classics never go out of style, but they do, they do. Somehow baby, I never thought that we’d do too.” These are the first words heard on the incredibly influential punk record that reshaped the perception of punk for an entire generation. An album that while adhering to traditional punk values, steered it out of the then sterile and diluted sounds and messaging that were plaguing the genre and the scene as a whole. During the 1990s, punk underwent a transformation that would shoot the genre into the mainstream charts. That transformation would come in the form of what is titled “Pop punk.” The Shape of Punk to Come - Refused Commercialized bands such as The Offspring, Green Day, blink-182, Jimmy Eat World, Sum 41, etc. have all utilized the punk sound and aesthetic for their music, but lacked most if not all of the central punk messaging and values. The hardcore scene, one similar to punk but with a more aggressive spin, suffered from the same issue. People wanted the energy, but were losing sight of the core. That is when Swedish punk and hardcore band Refused became disillusioned with the scenes as a whole. Front man Dennis Lyxzén was revolted with the rising conservatism within the scene, and instead believed in dismantling the establishment, tearing down capitalistic systems and forming revolution through music. That is when they began work on their now iconic record ‘The Shape of Punk to Come.” The record sought to reform the current landscape of punk and hardcore, with more hard hitting anti-establishment messaging, attention demanding riffs and percussion, non conventional punk instrumentation as well as fusing with other genres to create a more diverse sonic pallete. Jazz, techno, ambience and even folk were all inspirations for their record. Songs like “Liberation Frequency” repeatedly shout “We want the airwaves back,” as a way of vocalizing their discontent of the safe and unchallenging state of radio and punk at the time. “New Noise” may be the most popular and poignant song on the record. Beginning with the line “Can I scream?” as a way to voice frustration and Morgan Rich, Editor-in-Chief: Samara Carey, Asst.W Opinion Editor Karma - Taylor Swift I’m Not Pretty - Megan Moroney Amanda Montgomery, News Editor: “Freeze,” Opinion Staff Writer: Then Because She Goes - The 1975 BFG Division - Mick Gordon Emma Broda, News Staff Writer: Adam Grundt, Sports Asst. Editor: Ingydar - Adrienne Lenker Gasoline - The Weeknd Anthony Cazun, LA&E Editor: Linger - The Cranberries Cally Williams, LA&E Staff Writer: Clay Pigeons - Michael Cera Graphics/Lara Mullen Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Our very own Anthony Cazun has put together a Spotify playlist where you can scan it and listen to the Beacon’s staff weekly picks! reintroduce the concept of anger, not angst, into the scene. “How we can expect anyone to listen of we’re using the same old voice? We need new noise.” No lyric better encapsulates the core of the record. Before the record even released in 1998, the band would split due to growing tensions. The album would initally sell next to nothing, but in the following years would gain a growing fanbase through word of mouth. The once overlooked album would be cited as the inspiration of many of the largest bands of the coming decade. Bands such as Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine and Paramore, amongst many others. In 2015, Refused finally reunited. Brooke Lare, LA&E Staff Writer Turks & Caicos - Rod Wave Sam Mullen, Sports. Asst. Editor: Loose Control - Teddy Swims Lara Mullen, Designer: Homesick (with Sam Fender) - Noah Kahan, Sam Fender Sydney Allabaugh, Opinion Editor: Liz Cherinka, Social Media Manager: Pacer - Doechii Lavender Girl - Caamp �The Beacon – February 7, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment Buzz around the new cast of the Sweeney Todd Musical By Cally Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer Sweeney Todd is a hit Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim, and the announcement of a new cast for the Broadway production has theatregoers excited for what is next. The musical is based on the “Victorian Penny Dreadfuls,” a series of horror stories. The musical has been made into a movie by Tim Burton with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. The musical is available for licensing and has been performed all over, from schools to community theater to Broadway. It originated on Broadway in 1979 and the revival opened on March 26, 2023. The musical follows a barber named Sweeney Todd and his plan to get revenge on the Judge that tore his family apart after exiling him for a crime he did not commit. Sweeney Todd meets a baker, named Mrs. Lovett, and together they come up with a plan. He starts killing his customers using a shaving razor and gives the human meat to Lovett. Lovett bakes the bodies into her pies as her role in their sinister partnership. Sweeney meets a sailor named Anthony on their way back to London. Anthony falls in love with Johanna, a young woman locked up by Judge Turpin. Johanna turns out to be Sweeney’s long lost daughter. The story does not have the happiest of endings, but is fitting for such a grim and gruesome tale. The revival cast consisted of Josh Groban as the titular character, Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett, Jordan Fisher as Anthony, Maria Bilbao as Johanna and Gaten Materazzo as Tobias. Ashford and Groban gave their final performances on Jan 14. Materazzo left his role on Nov 5, 2023, and Fisher gave his final bow in June of 2023 Groban is a singer, songwriter and actor. He made his Broadway debut in 2016 when he played Pierre in “Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” Groban is most well known for his singing and made a very famous cover of “You Raise Me Up.” He won the “Billboard Music Award” in 2003 and has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Tony for his performance in Sweeney Todd as the titular character. Ashford originated the role of Margot in the musical adaptation of “Legally Blonde” on Broadway. She won the Tony Award for “Best Featured Actress” for her role of Essie in “You Can’t Take it With You.” She was also nominated for a Grammy for the cast recording of “Sweeney Todd.” With the departure of the original cast, this makes room for new actors to perform the classic horror musical. Broadwy’s sweetheart, Sutton Foster, will be taking over the role of Lovett on Feb. 9 alongside Aaron Tveit as Sweeney himself. Foster is known for her roles as Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and Fiona in the musical version of the movie “Shrek.” Tveit originated the role of Christian in the jukebox musical “Moulin Rouge” 11 and played Danny Zuko in FOX’s “Grease Live!” “Heartstopper” actor Joe Locke made his debut as Tobias Ragg on Jan. 31. Not only was it his first performance as Tobias but his first Broadway performance ever. Locke is most well known for his role as Charlie Spring in the Netflix adaptation of the graphic novel “Heartstopper.” Maria Bilbao will continue her role as Sweeney’s daughter, Johanna. Bilbao’s performance as Johanna marked her Broadway debut. Sweeney Todd made over $1 million in the box office for the 2023 revival. Groban and Ashford’s performances sold out, as fans of the musical were excited to see the stars’ performances. Sondheim’s genius is shown in his musicals like “Into the Woods” and “Company.” “Sweeney Todd” definitely lives up to the standards of Sondheim’s legacy. Possible artificial intelligence regulation on the horizon By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor In the modern era, society as a whole has to credit many of its conveniences to technology. From smartphones to smart fridges, this has continued to persist. This growing reliance has grown onto the most human thing of all, art itself. Artificial intelligence, or more specifically, A.I. art, has been a contentious topic for many years now. Some deem it as convenient and new way for the functionally unskilled to realize their thoughts, while many others deem it as unethical, believing it is not only taking the soul and talent out of art, but also steals art and styles from real artists in order to create artificial artwork. For many years that was the primary discussion revolving around A.I. artwork, however there is a more sinister, humiliating and possibly illegal issue with A.I. artwork that is making headlines, a discussion that may finally lead to A.I. art regulations. Within the last week, A.I. generated explicit imagery of Taylor Swift went viral on the Twitter, or X, platform. These images were met with millions of viewers across the platform, the most viral of which earned over 45 million views alone. The account that posted it would be met with immense criticism, leading to them privating their account. This lead to a larger discussion that had been bubbling for many years. The ethics and immorality of generating explicit imagery of nonconsenting people. Taylor Swift was noticely enraged by the images, leading to her team threatening to possibly take legal action against various A.I. image creation platforms. “These fake A.I. generated images are abusive, offensive, exploitative, and done without Taylor’s consent and/or knowledge.” said a source close to Swift. “Taylor’s circle of family and friends are furious, as are her fans obviously. They have the right to be, and every woman should be. The door needs to be shut on this. Legislation needs to be passed to prevent this and laws must be enacted.” This controversey was large enough to spark genuine conversation around legal regulation. Congress Rep. Joseph Morelle introduced a bill titled “Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act.” This would inhibit. The law titled “DEFIANCE” or “Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits” would allow victims of digital forgery to successfully sue those responsible. Hundreds of women, mostly but not limited to actresses and singers, have been affected by explicit digital forgery, ranging from images to videos. One of the most tragically affected has been 17 year old actress Xochitl Gomez. Most known for her role as America Chavez in the Marvel Universe, she has been victim of rampant digital forgery. Recently, she spoke out against it during an interview. “It made me weirded out and I didn’t like it and I wanted it taken down. That was my main thought process was, ‘Down. Take this down. Please,’” said Gomez, “In my mind, I knew that it wasn’t me, so it didn’t mess with me or anything like that. It was just something that felt really uncomfortable because I couldn’t take it down.” Gomez expressed discomfort with the A.I. generated videos, saying that her team had attempted to take them down various times to no effect, despite her being a minor. While the laws are currently undecided and nothing is set in stone, the morality of the technology, especially for creation of explicit imagery without consent, is not morally up for debate. Lawmakers have finally recognized this and steps are being taken to prevent digital forgery. �The Beacon – February 7, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 ...Puppies & Plushies cont’d from p. 1 let their creativity show by having fun decorating their plushies, and they were able to show some love and affection to the dogs. With the beginning of the new semester in full gear, this fun relaxing night worked a stress reliever for students with some exams coming up “This event is a big stress reliever because I have an exam coming up,” said Emma Raville, a first-year nursing major. For most students this event helped to fill the void of missing their pets back at home and to give them a sense of happiness while being away from their own pets. “I came to the event because I miss my pets at home and I really love dogs,” said Raville. Not only did students have a fun time decorating their plushies and creating new memories with their friends, they also supported an amazing organization and helped them so they can educate our community and help as many animals as possible. The programming board hosts events every Thursday for students. On Feb. 8, Pickles-Barre will be hosted followed by Music Bingo on Feb. 15. Izabel Lynn and Jenna Winkler pose with their plushies. Programming Board member Maggie McHenry is all smiles at the donation table. Programming Board members interacting with “Jade.” From left, Programming Board members Sadena Perez, Kylie Kilvitis and Owen Ward work the plushies table at the Puppies & Plushies event. �The Beacon – February 7, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment “Hockey is my middle name” 11 Student remembered by campus and area community Editors note: The Beacon would like to express it sincerest sympathy to Julia Mazur’s family. Julia’s mother visited Wilkes in December and shared a poem Julia had written after her diagnosis. That poem, and photos celebrating Julia’s life, can be found on pages 12 and 13 of this Beacon. By Adam Grundt Sports editor Wilkes University student and hockey fanatic, Julia Hockey Mazur, passed away on Nov. 18 after a strong-fought battle with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. Nearly three months after her death, her personality, spirit and drive are kept alive through the people -family, classmates, professors, athletes, business professionals, and just about anyone else -- she met. Mazur was a double-major student in marketing and sports management, while also pursuing a minor in communication studies. As a member of the Communication Studies Department and its co-curricular activities, Mazur was an active writer at The Beacon and worked as a sports reporter for the school’s television program, Wilkes Now. In addition to her contributions to these programs, Mazur was more than just a colleague, she was a friend to many and always had a smile on her face. She also had a hockey story to tell. Mazur didn’t just like hockey, she loved it. In fact, she legally made her middle name Hockey. The diagnosis On July 28, 2023, Mazur was diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma, which had already infected her lymph nodes, lungs, liver and parts of her bone joints. Support from not only the Wilkes community but from the entire hockey community in Northeastern Pennsylvania overwhelmed the 20-year- old student. “One big thing I learned is how important positivity is in a bad situation,” Mazur explained in an interview shortly after her diagnosis. “I also learned that you can always have some bad moments but there is no reason to have a bad day. I also learned how important it is to live in the moment and appreciate every day and everything that you have.” A love of hockey As someone who legally changed her middle name to “Hockey,” most of Mazur’s short life was centered around hockey and her favorite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. She was employed by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Pittsburgh American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for a several years. “I have never met someone who loves the sport of hockey more than Julia,” Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Vice President of Operations Brian Coe said. “She had a passion for the game that was unrivaled, and she loved being around the rink. Julia joined the Penguins as a member of our ice crew when she was still in her early teens, and she quickly took on a leadership role with the group. She was an important member of our behind-the-scenes staff, and we were looking forward to seeing her take on a larger role with the team’s front office staff this season.” Mazur was in the middle of a summer internship when she received her diagnosis. She continued to contribute to our creative department remotely, even while she was undergoing treatment and hospital stays. Mazur’s story gained national attention during the month of November, which is known in the hockey community as “Hockey Fights Cancer” month. The AHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins published a story about her battle with metastatic melanoma. The story was also picked up by the Pittsburgh Penguins and can be found online. Impact felt Mazur’s passing certainly has affected the Wilkes community. Mazur worked as team manager for the Wilkes men’s ice hockey team before her death. “Julia embodied everything our team is about: blue collar workers with white collar talent,” men’s ice hockey head coach Tyler Hynes said. “She was an ‘above and beyond-er’ who impacted our program not by how much she did, but by who she was. Julia was special to us and her spirit will live on forever here.” Mazur’s family and friends have since established the Julia Hockey Mazur Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has been started in Mazur’s honor. This nonprofit organanzation “pays it forward” around the community and continues to educate the public about living life, while supporting those with cancer. Currently, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are having a T-shirt fundraiser with their logo and the quote “My middle name is Hockey.” The shirt can be purchased at https://axelradshop. com/wbs_penguins/shop/ To learn more about the Julia Hockey Mazur Foundation, follow them on Facebook at “Julia Hockey Mazur Foundation”. �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Opinion Editorial Staff 2023-24 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Morgan Rich Social Media Manager - Liz Cherinka Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Amanda Montgomery Opinion - Sydney Allabaugh ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Opinion: Samara Carey Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Designer - Lara Mullen Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Emma Broda LA&E - Cally Williams LA&E - Brooke Lare Opinion - “Freeze” Want to join The Beacon? Several positions are open! Contact : kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or morgan.rich@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 Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Morgan Rich at morgan.rich@wilkes. edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact opinion editor: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu. Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. The “Barbie” Oscar snubs are painfully ironic On Jan. 23, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released their nominations for the 2024 Oscar awards, and people are angry, rightfully so. The blockbuster hit “Barbie” was nominated for eight categories including Best Picture as well as Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling for his role as Ken. However, who the Academy failed to recognize in their nomination list were the women who truly made this film possible: lead actress and executive producer Margot Robbie and the film’s director Greta Gerwig. In poor ironic fashion, the Academy nominated the leading man in the film about recognizing women and not even the star herself. The film would not have been nearly as emotionally or culturally impactful if it were not for Robbie’s fantastic performance as Barbie, but alas, Robbie is snubbed yet again. On behalf of Gerwig, this snub is not only shocking but downright unbelievable. Both critics and general audiences alike have praised the film for its directing. It’s not like the Academy doesn’t feel the same way given its Best Picture nomination, yet it’s still not nominated for directing? Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which was largely compared to “Barbie” due to the Barbenheimer memes of the past summer, also received a Best Picture nomination and a directing nomination which makes sense, right? But why does Greta Gerwig not receive one? The Academy has been notorious for being extremely tone deaf when it comes to choosing which film gets nominated for which category, but this time it just comes off as extremely distasteful. Gosling was even outraged by the Academy’s poor voting and addressed his disappointment in Time magazine in which he stated, “...There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.” Many other celebrities have spoken out against the Robbie/Gerwig snub including actress and singer, Bette Midler in which she tweeted, “This movie not only resonated deeply but also grossed a billion dollars. Yet, in a twist of irony, it was Ken who received the Oscar nomination. Everyone go rewatch ‘Barbie’ tonight.” The reason why we are all outraged by the Academy is because they are embodying exactly what the film is talking about, that men will always be acknowledged more than women despite working just as hard as them. Women are not recognized as women in our patriarchal world for their brilliance, and it is sad to see that the Academy not only proved the film’s thesis, but continue to carry on their tone deaf legacy of poor nomination selection. A silver lining to all of this is that America Ferrera was nominated for Best Supporting Actress which is great since she gave one of the best monologues in cinema history. However, it doesn’t change the fact that the world is one big “Mojo Dojo Casa House,” and we continue living in it. All we can hope is that the Academy finally learns to acknowledge the women that have reshaped cinema. Gerwig and Robbie are two of the many women taking cinema by storm, and it is sad to see that they continue to be put down by the patriarchal Academy. 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: morgan.rich@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 - February 7, 2024 The Icebox: An in-depth review of “Doom Eternal” By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer In a world where demons prevail and the spawn of hell has control of Earth, there is only one force that stands in the way of the alien race of Maykrs. This is the game where the demons may have caused endless suffering, but for them, the doom is eternal. Most video games involve defeating a dangerous threat and often being greatly outnumbered. This game follows such a theme with a twist, which is that you, the player, are the one to be feared. While others may run from demons, in this game they are the ones running from you! “Doom Eternal” is the latest installment of the Doom series, originally released in March 2020, right before the dreaded quarantine. This means that players, though locked at home, were able to traverse the apocalyptic planet Earth as the brave protagonist known as the Slayer or Doomguy. The Slayer is said to be so terrifying that people have attempted to animate an alien’s perspective of the game, and it was scarier than playing the game. The game, like its prequels, is an actionpacked first-person shooter where the protagonist is a brave marine-turned-space warrior who has only one mission: to stop the invasion on Earth and rid his home planet of the monsters for good. Why would a man risk his life to jump straight into hell and complete such a daunting, seemingly impossible task? Well, it’s because the aliens beheaded his pet rabbit, Daisy. The term “first-person shooter” might make someone think of “CSGO” or “Call of Duty.” One thing that you should make note of is that these games wouldn’t exist if it were not for the original “Doom” in 1993. The title of today is a large extension of the original game. The player has the option to switch between loadouts with the flick of the controls, ranging from big rifles, shotguns and explosives. There are unique attachments for each gun that give it a special ability. “Doom Eternal” takes the shoot-emup to the next level with abilities and charges that make you feel like a champion. One of the best things about the game is just how violent it gets. Players can train themselves to optimally punish the big, Opinion bad monsters with the unique defense mechanics. For example, the Arachnotron is a brain-like alien with two metal limbs. The Doomguy can take them down by ripping off one of the limbs and impaling the Arachnotron’s skull straight through the eyes. For some people, such an experience may not be so settling. For others, it’s the rush of adrenaline and the ability to feel unstoppable that makes it so amusing. To top it off, the Doomguy unlocks more weapons with each defeated boss, some of which are melee. You can start the game by literally punching your way through monsters, then acquiring a chainsaw which can be used to slice demons into shreds. The bigger the arsenal gets, the more creative a player can be. Finally, the best part of this hell-cleaning experience is the soundtrack. Without a good soundtrack, it’s hard to drive forth the idea that the player is the final boss themself. Thus, the talented composer Mick Gordon composed almost seven hours of heavy metal and rock music that perfectly captures the setting and theme of “Doom.” Legend has it that the real reason Earth is on fire is because Gordon lives there. Many fans agree that the unnamed protagonist must be Gordon himself. I would recommend watching his documentary regarding the research he put into his music. You may have heard of some of the most iconic songs from this game, such as “The Only Thing They Fear Is You” and “Rip and Tear”. There is even a theme, “Meathook,” that is for a weapon unlocked later in the game. If you check out the Beacon Bops for this issue, you will see my personal favorite. Unfortunately, Gordon was not treated well by Bethesda studios, the company that hosts the “Doom” franchise. In November 2022, he opened up about how the company executives did not pay him for his work and mandated an aggressive workload and deadline. Many fans were unsure how to feel about his statement until more truths came to light. Since then, there have not been any significant updates about this situation. Thus, a true “Doom” fan will say: “Justice for Mick Gordon, aka the Doom Slayer!” 15 The Return of The Red Raven: an original story By Leah Smith Contributing Writer PART 9 Rick sat down on the covered toilet seat after he finished cleaning Cameron’s blood off of him. His mind was leaping from one thought to another. A serial killer is on the loose. That same serial killer is going after cast members of an irrelevant superhero TV show. That same serial killer knows where he lives and tortured his husband. Now, all of those events lead up to him sitting in a hospital bathroom alone. Alone? The mere idea of being alone ached Rick. However, he knew deep down that he wasn’t alone. He picked up his phone and started to dial Isabelle’s phone number. Before he could finish dialing her, he had to calculate what he had to say to her. How much should he give away? What will happen if he gives her all of the details? He couldn’t stand thinking about all of the possibilities anymore and finished dialing her number. The dial tone buzzed for so long that he thought she wasn’t going to pick up. Soon, Isabelle picked up her phone. “Hello?” she asked into the phone. “Hey Izzy, it’s me. I know I’m the last person you want to hear from right now but this is serious,” Rick stated. “Fine, but it actually better be serious.” “Your dad is in the hospital,” Rick said. He felt sick hearing himself say those words out loud so easily. Isabelle stood silent for a moment. “I’ll be at the hospital ASAP. We’ll talk more when I get there,” she stated. Isabelle ended the call, leaving Rick alone yet again. He decided to leave the bathroom and walk out to the front of the emergency room entrance. He stared off into the distance and continued to think. He thought about what he would say to Isabelle, writing a mental script for himself. He thought about what to do about the serial killer and what they told him to do. Is the killer trustworthy? If he talks, is he next on the list? Will what happened to Cameron happen to Isabelle next? As Rick continued to think about every “what-if” scenario he could think of, Isabelle began to grab her things in her office at the police station and started to walk out. “What’s the matter, detective?” Mabel, the mousy forensics intern asked. “It’s a family emergency, Ms. Smalls. I have to go,” Isabelle answered sternly. “Well, I hope everything’s okay. I just wanted to let you know that I finished scanning the severed thumb prints for the Rossi family case for you,” Mabel added. “Thanks, just leave it on my desk.” Before Isabelle left the building, Mabel added one last comment. “Being the daughter of the Red Raven sure gives you a lot of privilege. She can just walk out all she wants.” Isabelle walked right back up to her and scowled. “What was that?” she demanded. “What?” Mabel blushed and kept her eyes away from her. “I don’t have any privilege being Rick Greenblatt’s daughter, okay? I had to work my ass off just as hard as you and everyone else in this precinct. Hell, I had to work even harder before I even dreamt about being an officer. You have no idea what kind of hell I had to endure being related to that man. He’s lucky I’m even seeing him right now,” Isabelle explained. Mabel shivered, “I-I’m sorry.” “You better be. Now, keep your damn mouth shut,” Isabelle warned. Finally, Isabelle was out of the building. She stormed across the building and into the parking lot. She opened the door of her black truck, sat herself up on the seat and slammed the door closed. She took a deep breath and relaxed. She looked up from the floor and soaked in the peace of the emerald trees, ocean sky and wispy clouds. Like her therapist instructed her to do, she kept acknowledging her surroundings to keep herself calm. Finally, when she took one last deep exhale, she started to take off. As soon as she parked her car at the emergency parking lot, she ran into the waiting room and saw Rick. “What happened?” Isabelle asked. Rick stated, “He was coming upstairs from the basement but he fell and started bleeding out a lot.” Isabelle lowered her brows, “Are you telling me the truth?” To be continued... �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Opinion 16 It’s time to stop hating on the 10-year-old girls at Sephora By Sydney Allabaugh Opinion Editor The tweens of America are now shopping at Sephora, and TikTokers are not happy about it. Across the platform, teenage and adult creators have been complaining that 10to 13-year-old girls have been infiltrating Sephora to test or buy expensive products intended for adults, such as Drunk Elephant retinols, and have been making a mess or damaging their skin in the process. Some are so resentful towards them that they mock them in reenactment skits, and others have even recorded young girls in Sephora without their permission to make fun of them online. Although I can understand being concerned about kids wrecking displays at Sephora or damaging their skin with these products, the amount of hatred and widespread anger towards the innocent ones who have simply purchased these products is quite ridiculous. It should not come as a surprise that tweens with unlimited access to the internet with dwindling spaces intended for their age demographic are interested in trends and consumer goods intended for teens or adults, especially when these products are constantly advertised online. Being a tween marks the transition out of childhood, and thus, it is the common experience to no longer want to be treated like a child. To be seen as cool and more mature, young people have always adopted trends from adults, especially from celebrities. When I was a tween, I remember wearing pink clip-in hair extensions because celebrities were dying streaks in their hair. In the 80s, tweens may have wanted to wear bows like Madonna. This is the same phenomenon occurring with tweens now, except now teen and adult influencers on social media are setting the trends via sponsored content. According to a survey conducted by Common Sense Media, tweens between the ages of eight and 12 are spending on average five and a half hours on screens each day for entertainment, and the number of tweens on social media is increasing. This exposure makes them more likely to view more social media ads, some being from beauty influencers who claim that Drunk Elephant products are essential for clear skin. This type of advertisement exposure among children is relatively new as traditional media platforms like television are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission to limit the number and types of ads that play during children’s media. Since social media is managed by private companies, much less is done to regulate advertising children view online, which can expose them to these ads intended for adults. This exposure could likely be decreased if parents played a more active role in monitoring their children’s internet usage. However, avoiding deceitful marketing tactics is difficult to do online when they are so omnipresent. Even on websites intended for this age demographic, pervasive ads are likely to remain, and regardless, positive online platforms intended exclusively for the modern tweens are scarce the way it is. Some may argue that children should not be exposed to social media—or even the internet—at all and should be interested in more age-appropriate stores and products, like how the tweens of 10 years ago still played with toys and shopped at Justice. First, toys and stores for the tween age demographic are few and far between these days. Second, what many fail to realize is that expectations for what it means to be a tween are changing rapidly due to these technological advancements. Using social media is becoming increasingly necessary to maintain a social life or to avoid social stigma among peers, even though it is not necessarily an always healthy or safe place for children. With spaces and platforms for tweens disappearing and social media becoming increasingly intertwined with youth culture, tweens are influenced to join teen and adult communities and participate in their trends to fit in, especially when peer pressure is combined with advertising. This can obviously be problematic and lead to situations like this one. Although it may be annoying when children take over adult spaces or bothersome that they can be harming their skin, it is difficult to not to victimize them when so much of modern youth culture is now influenced by social media, which is dominated by adult influencers trying to make a profit. Sure, you can say there are a few young girls who act disorderly in stores (the parents are to blame for this one), but most young Sephora customers simply want to fit in and be seen as cool for owning a new popular product, as tweens always have, in a time in which being in this age demographic presents new expectations and challenges. You can blame social media companies, influencers or parents, but stop being so harsh to the kids. Instead of mocking and bullying them, try being a positive influence and gently encourage safer choices and product selections, or better yet, just leave them alone. If you ask me, the app itself does have some good intentions behind it. For example, it gives students the ability to openly talk about their opinions and ask questions without feeling embarrassed. We as students are able to give our perspectives on important matters across campus without any worry of consequence. However, in my experience, this app does not have a good record of accomplishment regarding positive interactions with others. The toxicity of the app starts to become an issue when the users start to indirectly insult people in their posts. Since you are not able to directly name people or else the post gets taken down, the users of this app will give the people they are speaking about different personas. Without directly naming the different personas and nicknames of people, I am positive that you would be able to identify people on campus just by hearing the names that YikYak gives them. To see how people truly felt about this app, I decided to post on YikYak myself to see if other people felt the same way that I do. In my post, I asked users to upvote my post if they agreed that the app was negatively impacting this campus. To my surprise, almost 50 people upvoted the post, meaning that they felt the same way that I did. Additionally, I asked users to comment underneath the post to explain their reasoning for staying on the app, despite the toxic implications behind it. From there, many users went on to explain that they are still on the app due to fear that they will be talked about on there without being able to defend themselves. Some other anonymous users explained that they enjoy seeing the drama they see on the app each day. Whether they were being sarcastic or not, this was a common response to my initial question. Despite some people saying that they are only here for the drama or out of fear, some people said that they do genuinely enjoy the app and they are only on there to post their random or unnecessary thoughts. This app was never supposed to be like this. I do not think the original creators of this app decided to create this so that college students can purposely make fun of their classmates anonymously. Instead, it was created to form a sense of community for college students that are new to campus and learning the area around them. However, when the app is then handed over to multiple young adults, the original purpose goes out the window. I am not writing this article to try and change this app for the better, especially since I know that my opinion means nothing compared to the hundreds of people using the app. But I do want to make it known that this app can negatively impact people and their mental health. Whether these “jokes” are truthful or not, people can be cruel, and these statements can ruin their reputation or outlook on college as a whole. Campus Suggestions: the toxicity of YikYak across campus By Samara Carey Asst. Opinion Editor YikYak. An app that we all know and pretend to love. If you have been on this campus for longer than a day, chances are you have heard someone discuss this app at least once. If you have not, consider yourself lucky. For those of you unaware, YikYak is an app famously created exclusively for college students, and it gives them the chance to talk to their peers anonymously about anything. In recent weeks, YikYak has become an app where students go to discuss professors, make fun of the school’s Snapchat stories and gossip about the events happening on campus. If you were on the app recently, chances are you saw backlash regarding one of the bigger clubs on campus about one of the events they held. But that is not all, I have also seen a plethora of discussion posts regarding proper classroom etiquette and the food options on campus. �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Opinion 17 Professional wrestling is fake, but for a good reason By Shawn Carey Analyzing the drama and storytelling in WWE Contributing Writer The world of professional wrestling is a strange one. At first glance, it appears to just be grown men and women beating each other up, which is only somewhat true. However, in reality, it is so much more. Professional wrestling is a form of athletic theater, combining action with drama. Wrestlers, rings and announcers take the place of actors, stages and narrators. It may seem like wrestling is just all about the fights, however, in reality they’re just there to pave the way for the medium’s m o s t important aspect: the drama. Ever since the early days of the medium, the story has always been the most important aspect. Sure, the fights are cool and all but, it’s mainly used as a plot device, a means to an end. It’s not the main reason most fans watch it. Wrestling usually tells sort of mythological stories. These larger-than-life people are locked in never ending combat, trying their best to prove themselves as the best. With that being said, wrestling is fictional. Everything from the punches, the slams, kicks, throws and even the storylines. Meaning wrestlers are just glorified stuntmen. While this is often a point a lot of nonfans like to use to insult the sport, it is wrestling’s greatest tool. There are about a half-dozen major wrestling companies, so for the sake of the article I’ll only stick to talking about the most popular one, World Wrestling Entertainment or WWE. With that being said, keep in mind that what I go over in this article applies to all of them. Wrestling as we know it today started in the early 1950s. Controversial businessman Vince McMahon hosted the very first WWE (known as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation at the time) show on Jan. 7, 1953. It was here that we saw the first and most important story telling device in the medium: the championship belt. There are a number of championship belts in the industry, the Intercontinental, United States, Tag Team and Universal just to name a few. These belts are used almost as a status symbol among wrestlers. Being the holder of a belt is one of the highest honors a wrestler can earn, symbolizing excellence, achievement and prestige. They’re also one of the main causes of conflicts. Most storylines follow the endless battle to claim a specific belt. Most of the major conflicts we’ve seen within wrestling stems from the belts. In reality, they’re just these big and bucky straps of leather covered in fake gold. However, if you strip away your logical worldview you start to see them as something different. They’re these grand prizes, a wrestler’s means to an end, the only true way to stop fighting. A wrestler with a belt sits on top of the food chain, no longer having to fight their way upwards. It’s the only true way to prove oneself. One of the best examples of this can be found in a currently ongoing storyline, Roman Reigns and his Bloodline. Roman Reign was granted the WWE championship belt back on Aug. 30, 2020. This happened right after the wrestler returned from a year long battle with leukemia. After Roman claimed the belt, he made a promise to the entire WWE that we will do everything within his power to stay the champion. Roman started the Bloodline as a way to protect his title. The team is led by Roman Reigns and features his real-life cousins, Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. They group is managed by long time promoter Paul Heyman. Sami Zayn and Jimmy’s twin brother Jay Uso were also members at one point. The Bloodline was his way to make sure that he would keep the belt and stay the champion. The group would find ways to make sure Roman won all of his matches, whether legal or not. During big matches if it looked like Roman was in a rough spot and about to lose, the Bloodline would come bursting out onto the ring and save him. Thanks to them, Roman has been able to stay as the WWE champion for over 1200 days, the longest in the company’s history. Roman is now seen almost as a villain figure in the world of wrestling, doing what it takes to win. Speaking of villains (also known as heels), they also serve as pretty big parts of storylines. If there’s a hero, there must also be a villain, but how does one frame a real person as this big unstoppable thread? How do you get millions to hate you? It’s all about stage presence. The way you walk, your speech patterns, what you wear and even the moves you use, are all important. Let’s look at the most infamous villain in the business, the Undertaker. Everything about the Undertaker is meant to look as intense and threatening as possible. Before even stepping foot into the ring, you were able to tell what he was all about. He would enter wearing a big black leather trench coat and stetson hat, resembling the traditional appearance of his namesake. He would even sometimes carry a shovel with him. The Undertaker doesn’t become truly horrifying, however, until he is in the ring. He’s mostly known for his devastating submission Hells Gate and his horrifying Tombstone Piledriver. As amazing as those moves are, I think the most important part of the Undertaker character is the specific way he gets up. Most wrestlers do something similar to a kickup after being knocked on their back. The Undertaker however, does something much different. He hoists himself back up, almost as if he was a zombie being brought back to life. No matter what hit him, he would get back up. He was painted as this unstoppable force of nature and all-powerful force. I know that I used some really grand words in this article, words that honestly sound a bit silly considering the context. However, they are well deserved. Yes, wrestling may be fake, but there’s a good reason behind it. Wrestling is not about watching the peak of human strength battle each other, it’s about watching these individuals fight each other to prove a point. They fight to prove that they are the best. While the titles may not really mean anything, seeing the journey these people go through makes it all worth it. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Opinion 18 Suffering from success: 21 Savage's “american dream” review By Logan Colonna Opinion Staff Writer On Jan. 12, 21 Savage released his third studio album, “american dream.” Coming after his insanely successful collaboration album with Drake, “Her Loss,” 21 was attempting to ride off his mainstream success with this album. Less than a week prior to the album’s release, he announced that he’d be creating a movie, sharing the same name. Days after this, he revealed to the public that he’s releasing yet another project for fans to listen to. Starting off with the first song of the album, “all of me,” includes a greatsounding sample. The voice used from the sample is very soft and goes well with 21’s softish vocals on this track. 21’s performance wasn’t too exciting for me as he uses his signature flow and doesn’t deviate from it whatsoever. “Redrum” was immediately a fanfavorite following the record’s release. Yet again, I enjoy the sample being used and applaud 21’s use of these kinds of productions. You rarely hear this kind of soundscape from him, which makes it nice to hear something new from him. A common theme here is him using the same flow over and over again throughout the entire album nearly. It’s not bad by any means, but it allows for the album to get repetitive and boring vocal-wise very quickly. My personal favorite track is “n.h.i.e.” It features Doja Cat, which made many people write the song off. This upsets me because the song is actually so great sonically. Her performance is very chill and I’m here for it. It sets a certain tone that allows 21 to show his softer side. The instrumental is easily my favorite part of the song. I don’t know how to explain it but it just makes me want to hear it over and over again. “Sneaky” may be one of my least favorite 21 Savage songs in general. The instrumental is annoying as it’s just always in your ear just ringing over and over again. 21’s verse and chorus is laughably bad. He even makes it seem like he’s full of himself because of the constant “mhm” adlib, which is also blood-boiling. This track alone brings the album down so much. “Pop ur shit” is another favorite of mine because of the featured artist. The chorus, however, is a big mess. For the first half of it, it has 21 just repeating “pop your shit” eight times in a row followed by the worst “bar” I’ve heard in a while. “It smell like gas, I think somebody pooped.” WHAT? I don’t know why artists feel the need to clutter their songs up with lines like this. The feature, Young Thug, saves this song so much. I’m a little bit of a fan of his, so it’s nice seeing him not just being on this song, but pulling it out of the trenches with his clever vocal inflections. Besides the terrible chorus, this song is quite good. “Letter to my brudda” is also pretty great in its own right. The production is as excellent as ever and 21’s performance is even pretty good here. Sure, it’s still similar to his previous verses, but he sounds more alive than usual on this track. Even the subject matter is pretty great as he’s exploring things that he’s been forced to experience when living the “street life,” such as loyalty and betrayal. We even see him resenting his past ways and asking for his sins to be lifted off of him in the second verse. “Dangerous” offers a solid Lil Durk feature, which amazes me simply because it’s actually good. I’m known for hating Lil Durk so much, but I can say that he’s great here. Both artists are serious with their delivery which heightens the track. The instrumental is enjoyable, being crafted by legendary producer, Metro Boomin, most known for collaborating with the faces of trap music like 21 Savage and Future. This track gives me a “SAVAGE MODE II” feel which I loved entirely, front to back. Travis Scott brings on his “UTOPIA” vibes on “nee-nah.” In my humble opinion, I believe that he carries this song. Everything about his performance is amazing. Even the instrumental has a dystopian kind-of feel, matching the whole aesthetic of the era he’s currently in. 21’s verse isn’t bad, but it is severely overshadowed by Travis’s verses. Another track I cannot get behind is “see the real.” It’s just that nothing is really brought to the table. The instrumental is somewhat annoying. 21’s verses are lackluster, although I must applaud them for varying a bit flowwise. Overall, nothing really stands out here, and I wouldn’t mind if this track was scrapped completely and got something else put in place instead of it. Another favorite of mine is “prove it” with Summer Walker. I’ve been getting into Walker piece by piece, and I love nearly everything I've heard from her. Just like “n.h.i.e,” the beat is floaty and cheerful, but I feel as if it matches 21’s vocals more than the usual beats he chooses. Although Walker only contributes to the chorus and some background vocals, I deeply enjoy everything she brought to the table. “Should’ve wore a bonnet” is another great departure from 21’s usual sound. This time around, it’s a sort of an R&B track because of the feature included, Brent Faiyaz. Both artists are amazing here. I even think that this contains one of 21’s best verses on the album. The instrumental is also a favorite of mine because of the inclusion of both R&B and trap. Everything about this song is excellent. “Just like me” offers a whole new sound to the album. Since Burna Boy is on it, it takes on a reggae approach. I don’t like Burna Boy all that much, but I can stand his chorus. The track as a whole makes an attempt to “trap-ify” the reggae-inspired beat and does it quite well. With the mixture of the two, 21’s performance is made even better. “Red sky” is another fan-favorite with its cinematic feel. From the intro and chorus, from Tommy Newport and Mikky Ekko, to the grimmy-feeling production, this whole song seems like it was taken out of an action movie. I must applaud 21 for his verses. He’s leveled up his delivery a bit, and it made the song. One little thing I liked about this song was how whenever it would transition from a verse to a chorus, the instrumental would get a lot quieter, making it seem like time stopped just for the chorus to come in. The last track on this project is “dark days,” which showcases an R&B artist, Mariah the Scientist. The track as a whole is very chill as the instrumental is lowkey in terms of instrument usage. The production gives a chance to 21 and Mariah to speak what’s on their mind as 21’s and Mariah’s vocals match perfectly with the vibe of the track. Just like “letter to my brudda,” 21 uses this track to speak upon street life. To sum it up, 21 believed that the time he was in the streets was the darkest period in his life. Mariah doesn’t fail to add an emotional layer to the song with her amazing, wholehearted vocals. This is without a doubt, one of the most heartfelt outros I’ve heard in a long time. I’ll admit, getting over that hump of 21’s performances being repetitive was quite hard on my first few listens. However, when I tried to get past that, I loved this album. From the fantastic production to the unique features, everything here was great. Even if 21’s rapping wasn’t sticking out like a sore thumb, it still had a great basis. Even the runtime of the album was great, only having 14 songs, which is a perfect middle ground in my eyes. With all of this being taken into account, I’m giving this album a straight 8 on a 10-point scale. Graphic by Laura Viviana De Lora Leon �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: Adam.grundt@wilkes.edu NHL holds All-Star festivities in Toronto By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor The National Hockey League held its annual All-Star festivities at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Feb. 2 & 3, and a star-studded lineup participating. Each January, with the exception of years where the Winter Olympics are held, the world’s best hockey players that are part of NHL teams gather in a different location to showcase their skills. Held every season, the game and festivities mark the symbolic halfway point of the season. This season, it was held in Canada’s largest city: Toronto, Ontario. This was Toronto’s ninth time hosting the NHL’s all-star game. As one of the Original Six franchises, the city held the league’s first annual all-star game in 1947. This season, each team was captained by a player and a celebrity and players were drafted in a draft-style format that was popularly used from 2011-2015. Teams were picked by their captains in a draft-style manner. Captains for each team are New Jersey’s Jack Hughes, Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes and singer Michael Bublé, Colorado’s Nathan Mackinnon and pop star Tate McRae, Toronto’s Auston Matthews and pop superstar Justin Bieber, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and actor and comedian Will Arnett. The players shined in a skills competition held on Feb 2. The player with the most points throughout each of the events will take home $1 million. The challenges held included: the Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Stick Handling, One-timers, Passing Challenge, and Accuracy Shooting. The top eight point earners throughout that series of challenges will advance to the Honda one-onone challenge, where the player will select a goalie they want to take on in a breakaway. After that, the top six point earners will move on to the final event: the Pepsi obstacle course. The player with the most points throughout all eight of the events will be crowned the champion, and this season, the player who won the $1 million prize was Connor McDavid, who made every contest (but especially the fastest skater competition) look easy. In the National Hockey League, each team must send one all-star to the game by rule. The rest of the players are chosen by the fans through a fan voting system. The Vancouver Canucks lead the field with five all-stars: Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko. On Jan. 31, they completed a trade with Calgary in which they acquired another allstart in Elias Lindholm. The Toronto Maple Leafs have four all-stars: Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly. Edmonton’s notorious one-two punch, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will be taking the ice as members of the same team during allstar weekend, making them a favorite to win the tournament. The league leader in points in the NHL, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, will be on the Hughes/Bublé squad. Two players who were selected to the all-star game but are currently injured and will not participate are Chicago’s young star Connor Bedard, and Vegas’s Jack Eichel. Some other notable players participating in this year’s festivities include Colorado’s Cale Makar, Pittsburgh’s longtime captain Sidney Crosby, Boston’s David Pastrnak, and Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin. In addition, Winnipeg’s goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, Nashville’s Filip Forsberg, Arizona’s Clayton Keller, Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat, and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers will also be competing. In the past, the best players from each conference in the league would take each other on in a single, regular style game. However, recently, the league shifted to a different format. Team Matthews/Bieber came out on top in the tournament this season. Powered by two goals and an assist by the captain, Matthews, and a goal and an assist from three different players (DeBrincat, Barzal, and Keller), the squad was able to defeat Team McDavid by a score of 7-4. Each player from Team Matthews tallied a point in the final match. It is unknown where the NHL’s allstar game will be held next season. There are a few teams that have yet to host an all-star game, so it will be interesting to see where the league will travel to next season for its halfway point extravaganza. Sports wants to know about your all-star players. Do you have a player who is extraordinary on and off the field? Let us know! They may be featured in a future Beacon. Email adam.grundt@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Sports 20 Successful season of women’s basketball led by Matos By Ava Tureen Staff Writer The Women’s basketball team is showing some good scores with a 8-12 season under their belt. As the team is reaching the final chapter of the season, team members are confident in how they have been playing and how they will play for the rest of their season. Yamirelis Matos has stood out thus far. She has had an amazing season, and in games against Penn State Altoon and Goucher, she scored 21 points per game. Matos is one of the team’s four leading scorers, along with Erin Shober, Taylor Simpson, and Brenna Babcock. “Like most of the team, I put up extra shots on my off time as well as work on my ball handling,” said Matos. “However, going 100% in practice thus practicing in a gamelike manner is what sets me up for the success I have been having.” Matos will continue to work on her shots and ball handling throughout the rest of the season and her off time. She has 25 3-pointers throughout her entire season so far and 66 free throws made. “Staying consistent in games has been a pure result of the work put in practice everyday,” she continued. “My mindset stays the same every game, and that is playing to develop as a player and continue the same work ethic. As well as wanting to win as a team, when we work together the game comes easier to us and is so much more enjoyable.” In the game against Scranton on Jan. 31, Emma Stout, a junior, shot two 3-pointers. One of those 3-pointers was immediately after entering the game from the bench. She is definitely a player to watch in the upcoming season. Nadia Evanosky is a sophomore on the basketball team who is having a good comeback after facing an injury earlier in the season that kept her from playing seven games. “Over the course of those weeks I was unable to participate in practice and could do minimal physical activity,” Evanosky said. “However, upon getting cleared I rehabbed and worked out as much as possible to get myself back into the shape I was prior to the injury.” Now that she is back and rehabilitated she is proving to be an asset to this team’s success by scoring eight 3-pointers. This season alone Matos has scored 263 points. Brenna Babcock has 161 points and Erin Shober has put up 138 points that has all led to their teams eight victories. Erin Shober has 21 blocked shots so far this season, and has blocked six shots within the last four games. Taylor Simpson is also one of the lead scorers and has helped the team tremendously with 21 3-pointers this season. This is Taylor’s first season playing for the Colonels. Julia Marino has proven time and time again that she is a team player. She has the most assists on the team with 62 so far. Julia has also made 20 out of 33 free throws she has done throughout her season. Erin Shober has 21 blocked shots and Madison Robel has 66 blocked shots so far this season. Erin has blocked 6 shots within the last four games. Head coach Al Berger is proud of the team’s ability to bounce back and their resilience. “The Landmark Conference is a really tough league, and you have to be able to move forward from one game to the next, regardless of the result,” said Berger. “I think we’ve done a good job of that throughout the season.” Coach Berger and his team go into every game with the same mindset and philosophy. “We look at each game the same way,” Berger explained. “We prepare to win every game, and have an attitude that each game is a great opportunity to show people what we’re all about.” The women’s basketball team is currently ranked #8 in the Landmark Conference above Juniata and Goucher. Coach Al is excited for the future of Wilkes Women’s basketball, especially with the four outstanding commits in the class of 2024. The women’s team has five games left in their regular season and are excited for playoffs to roll around. Catch the women’s basketball team HOME at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 AWAY at Elizabethown at 4 p.m. on Feb. 10 �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 Sports 21 Spring means softball: A preview of this season By Lexi McHugh Staff Writer As the spring season approaches, the Wilkes softball team is gearing up for its 2024 season in a new conference. The team is prepared for any challenges it may face. In the previous season, the Wilkes softball team held a record of 18 wins and 18 losses. Head Coach Jacqueline Klahold is embarking on her impressive fifth season at Wilkes. Before taking over the softball program, she dedicated four years to the athletic department, serving as a staff assistant to the athletic director. In 2010, Klahold transitioned into coaching college softball, kickstarting a journey that would define her career. Over the course of nine years, Klahold built her coaching portfolio, furthering her skills and fostering a deep understanding of the game. In late 2019, when the opportunity to lead the Wilkes softball team presented itself, she eagerly applied for and accepted the position. The decision was not just a career move; it was a heartfelt commitment to a place that holds special significance for both Klahold and her family. It's worth noting that Klahold's connection to Wilkes runs deep, as her husband has been a part of the university for the past 21 years. Serving as the Fitness Center Coordinator and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. For Klahold, choosing to lead the softball program at Wilkes was more than a professional decision, it was a personal one. In reflecting on her journey and the Wilkes community, Klahold emphasizes the importance of family. She believes in instilling a sense of unity within her teams, fostering an environment where players support each other through the highs and lows of both athletics and life. "Wilkes is family to me, and that is what I have tried to incorporate into my teams, family,” said Klahold. “Be there for each other and support each other through good and bad.” Klahold explains what she believes makes Wilkes softball a strong team. "I think each coach, in their own right, has their own formula for what makes their team great,” explained Klahold. “For our team, it starts with our core values and our players. "Integrity, accountability, trust, respect, and commitment are our core values, defining our players as student- athletes in the classroom, on the field, in the community, and in the weight room.” She emphasizes that her athletes should be the best teammates they can be on and off the field. "We know our players are going to make mistakes in life, and our job as mentors is to help them learn from those mistakes and become stronger from their experiences," said Klahold. Wilkes softball has a lot in store for this upcoming season according to Klahold. "We have solid team goals of continuing to compete at a high level every game, and making it to the Landmark playoffs,” said Klahold. "There is a lot of parity in this conference from top to bottom, headed up by national powerhouse Moravian University. It’s a great challenge for us, but it is an opportunity that we are excited for." Junior student-athlete Evan Sherrick, who plays second base for the Wilkes softball team, is also eager for the season. "I’m looking forward to beginning our season by heading down to Myrtle Beach. It is always such a great team bonding experience that sets the tone for the rest of the season. These girls truly are my best friends, and I cannot wait to see what the season holds for us. Sherrick, reflecting on the challenges of the new conference, shared insights on the team's resilience during preseason. "Although this new conference is really going to test us, I believe my teammates and I are working extremely hard during preseason to be successful against the tough competition,” said Sherrick. “This season, we have a group that is different from each of my previous years here at Wilkes. "Everyone selflessly wants the best for one another, and we have an energy that I am so excited to be a part of.” The Wilkes Softball Team's schedule promises exciting matchups during their spring break at Myrtle Beach. On March 3, the team will face off against Norwich University, with subsequent games against Penn State Abington, Kenyon College, Bridgewater State University, Rosemont College, Lancaster Bible College, and Eastern Nazarene College. Upon their return, the team looks forward to their first home game on Friday, March 22, against Lancaster Bible College. The Beacon is looking for sports writers for the Spring 2024 semester If you are interested in sports writing, editing, photography or graphics contact Adam Grundt at adam.grundt@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Rissa Braseau First Year, Forward, Women's Ice Hockey The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Braseau recored her first two-goal career game in the nonconference game against Albertus Mangus College. The second goal Braseau scored was the game-winning goal. Major: Undecided Hometown: Timmins Ontario, Canada What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? Team building at hot yoga What has been your favorite sports memory overall? The amount of friendships domestically and internationally hockey has allowed me to create throughout my career. What is your favorite post-game meal? Cereal What is your favorite professional sports team (any How do you feel about being sport)? selected as the Athlete of the Providence Bruins (AHL) Week? What is your favorite thing to do I am honored because there are also so many other great and very away from sports? successful athletes on my time Jetski and other teams who could have What is your favorite part of been chosen being an athlete at Wilkes? The support for anything including academics and sports. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? "Grand Turismo" If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Flag fooball The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Asst. Sports Editor �The Beacon January 30, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Jaryn Hartranft Sophomore, Wrestling, 157 The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Hartranft had a perfect 4-0 week on the mat. He is ranked second in the Southeast Region at 157 pounds and was able to help Wilkes to a 40-8 senior night win over Scranton. Hartranft also went 3-0 at the John Reese Duals, picking up three more pins. Major: Undecided Hometown: Catasauqua, PA What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? My favorite memory as a colonel so far was he King’s match at the Martz Center my frist year here. The crowd was electric and the wrestling team really put on a show! What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Vision Quest If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Football since I played my whole life growing up until high school. Once I hot high school, I focused on wrestling. What is your favorite professional What has been your favorite sports team (any sport)? sports memory overall? Philadelphia Eagles!! Go Birds My senior year of high school when I hit 100 wins. It was surreal What is your favorite thing to do and a huge accomplishment that away from sports? I’ve always wanted since I was a My favorite thing to do away from little boy. wrestling is video games. It gets my mind off things and I really get What is your favorite post-game to just relax and enjoy what’s in meal? front of me. Definitely has to be come wings. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? My favorite part of being an athlete here at Wilkes is the friendships I have gained. I have met some of the coolest people here that will be my friends for along time. The Beacon/Sam Mullen How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I am honored to be athlete of the week for Wilkes. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and effort to accomplish this goal, but the end goal is to become a national qualifier at the least. Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - February 7, 2024 24 Interested in joining The Beacon? Email morgan.rich@wilkes.edu or 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. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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, 2024 February 7 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/50df3493d48145f3227be509f47e83ba.pdf 2f8921309c709e8b4c5e26106f11f7fd PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 14, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 76, Issue 12 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” RAs help residents better understand mental health By Lexi McHugh Contributing Writer In an event that combined mental health, compassion and community outreach, Resident Advisors (RAs) recently hosted a gathering for students at the Stark Learning Center. The evening not only delved into the crucial topic of mental health but also provided a place for students to engage in thoughtful activities, leaving a positive impact on both their wellbeing and the community. The main highlight of the event was a presentation on mental health, made and presented by the RAs to address various aspects of college students’ mental health. The presentation went over four specific sections regarding mental health including indicators of mental health issues, seeking assistance, prevention and self-care, and ways to support those around you. The goal was not only to raise awareness but also to enable students to recognize signs, seek help when needed and be able to surround themselves with a supportive environment. See health, pg. 3 Public Safety addresses recent Wilkes-Barre burglaries, page 3 Understranding mental health was topic of recent event held by resident assistants. Why we should care about Wilkes Adventure and support the BDS Education hosts rose course movement, page 16 fundraising event, page 7 The Beacon/Lexi McHugh Highlights from the “Big Game,” page 19 �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Amanda Montgomery: Amanda.Montgomery1@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Feb. 7 meeting By Zach Paraway Student Government had its second meeting for the semester Feb. 7. The first order of business was a fund request from Wilkes Athletics. Presented by Keith Kalhold, a strength and conditioning coach here. The request was Late Night Lift items such as shaker bottles and t-shirts for the event. LNL is an event held in late February, the date is still pending, where the athletics department opens the Martz weightroom to the Wilkes community after hours. The request was for $1900 and was approved for the full amount. The second order of business was a fund request from Wilkes Adventure Education from a spring break trip. WAE had many places for their proposed trip and are looking to take a west coast hiking tour for the trip. Considering all logistics, the request was for $3,600. This was week one of a two week request and will be voted on next week. The third order of business was a club report by the nursing student organization. They spoke at the conferences that they went to over the past year. The fourth order of business was a club report/update by the South Asian Cultural Association, formerly the Indian Cultural Association. The fifth order of business was a club report from the pre-pharmacy club. They spoke about their event called Kathy’s kids where they teach kids the importance of knowing what you eat and not mistaking drugs for candy. The sixth order of business was a club report from the ski and snowboarding Club. The seventh order of business was a fund request for spring fling, presented by executive member, Marytere QuinanaAvlia. The date for this year’s event is still being determined but is looking to be held in late March again in the Mary Stegmaier mansion. The budget is still under debate and will take more than the normal two weeks. The eighth order of business was a fund request for Big Event, presented by executive member, Nolee Ana Garbowski. Big Event is a large community service event for all clubs on campus held on April 27. The request was for t-shirts and other items for the event This was week one of two and will be voted on next week. SG will meet again on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff Spring Intramural Sports Registration is now open for intramural sports this spring. The season begins Feb. 19 and ends March 27. Sports offered are soccer, basketball, dodgeball and volleyball. Register yourself and your team on IMleagues.com before the start of the season. Any questions contact casey. carpenter@wilkes.edu. Alumni Scholarship Opportunity The Alumni Scholarship is awarded annually to a current Wilkes undergraduate student who has a parent or grandparent who graduated from Wilkes, has at least a 3.0 GPA and has a FAFSA on file for the 2024-2025 academic year. Deadline to apply is March 17, 2024. Use this link to apply: www.community. wilkes.edu/alumnischolarship. Contact alumni@wilkes.edu with any questions. Kappa Kappa Psi Talent Show Interest Form Wilkes University’s music fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, would like to host a talent show this semester. Anyone is allowed to sign up. Fill out this form if you are interested: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1 FAIpQLSdnAmAtuUyJOxInXXPiLyK Y9pzb_uMCsOenMyDopx-6RT6lVQ/ viewform. Lavender Graduation Ceremony This spring, GSA will be hosting a Lavender Graduation Ceremony for the LGBTQ+ members of the class of 2024 on May 3 at 3 p.m. Use this link to fill out the interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ e/1FAIpQLSccGu5bgXa1Ll-w7bju5jlEZ aezizB34svSyqPwqacpI2io3w/viewform. CCDI Resume Workshop The Center for Career Development and Internships is hosting a resume workshop on Feb. 29 in the JPAC Ballroom starting at 11:15 a.m. Students are encouraged to bring their laptops/tablets to create their own resumes during the presentation. Contact Jenna Weiss at jenna.weiss@ wilkes.edu with any questions. Register on Handshake with this link: https://wilkes.joinhandshake.com/edu/ events/1467525. HPSC Soda Tab Collection Join the Honors Program Student Committee for a soda tap drive. Donate your soda tabs in the marked boxes located on the first floor of the SUB, outside the Honors Office and in the lobby of the SIMMS Center. The donations will be taken to a recycling center in exchange for funds that Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: 2024 Spring Semester February 15 - Music BINGO 22 - Family Feud 25 - Ice Skating at Revolution Ice 29 - Giveaway One March 14 - Adventure BINGO 17 - Orangetheory Fitness Class 21 - Laser Tag April 4 - Everything but the Kitchen Sink 11 - Bye Bye BINGO Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: Amanda.Montgomery1@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 ...cont. from pg. 1 health The first part of the presentation talked about the indicators of mental health challenges. The common indicators presented in the slide were: feeling anxious, worried, depressed, guilty, worthless or unhappy, having emotional outbursts, sleeping problems, moderate weight/appetite changes, being more withdrawn than usual, neglecting responsibilities, strange or harmful thoughts and considering substance abuse. After the RAs talked about the indicators, they gave the students the appropriate resources to get help. There were three main 0ptions: go to in-person counseling, use the 24/7 hotline and to huntdown a green bandana. Shortly after discussing the crucial indicators to declining mental health, the RAs presented to students six self care methods they can go about. Doing a full skin care routine, reading your favorite book, watching a movie or tv show, spending time with friends, crafting and journaling. The last section of the slide may be the most important, “How do I help?” The RAs gave students two resources. Students can join NAMI on campus to educate themselves on more mental health and develop the skills to help others. Students can also join Green bandana to become an official student resource for others that need help with their mental health. The presentation ended with statistics of students who struggle with mental health, people between the ages of 18-24 who struggle with mental health, and the percentage of college students who meet the criteria for mental illness. RAs also asked students if they had any questions about the presentation. While the RAs were presenting their mental health slideshow, students worked on Valentine’s Day cards. Students left kind messages on their cards to the elders at the senior center who may be struggling with their mental health. 3 Public Safety addresses recent Wilkes-Barre burglaries extending toward campus By Amanda Montgomery News Editor In recent days, the city of WilkesBarre has experienced a surge in burglaries, with several businesses falling victim to theft. Among the affected businesses are two located in the vicinity of Wilkes University – Eden-a-Vegan Café and Asian Kitchen, both situated in the 100 block of South Main Street. While these incidents are under investigation by the Wilkes-Barre City Police, Wilkes University students and the broader community are urged to remain vigilant. “The best way to stay vigilant is to report anything that you may feel is uncomfortable, and always trust your instincts,” said Chief of Police Michael Krzywicki. “If you feel something is not right, you are usually correct and you should report it to the proper authorities. If you see any criminal activity, please call 911 immediately to report it as it is happening. Valuable time and resources may be lost if you wait to report this activity.” The Wilkes University Police Department (WUPD) is actively monitoring the situation, emphasizing that no university-owned properties have been involved in these incidents. “All decisions are handled on a caseby-case basis with the safety of our campus community in mind,” said Krzywicki. WUPD encourages anyone with information related to these crimes to contact the WIlkes-Barre City Police at 570-208-4200. In their email to students, WUPD reiterated safety precautions, including reporting suspicious persons or vehicles, being aware of surroundings when walking on campus and using the Wilkes Shield safety app to report incidents immediately. A rumor surfaced on the social media app, YikYik, about a person who was allegedly robbed in the MAC. “In reference to the MAC, I cannot Sunset on Wilkes’ campus. share any misconception or additional details about something that has not occurred, or has not been reported to our department,” said Krzywicki. “If there was a robbery in the MAC, we have an obligation by law to notify our campus community.” Local businesses affected by recent burglaries have shared their experiences on social media. “Today I woke up to devastating news,” said Boozy B’s, a local shop, via Facebook. “Early this morning around 3 a.m. someone broke into the shop. Completely shattered the glass on my front door with a brick and stole all the money from my register.” Another affected business, Eden-aVegan Café, expressed their frustration, also on Facebook. “A smashed front door and they got a few hundred bucks from the register,” said Eden. “When they are found, it surely will prove that it wasn’t worth it.” The impact on business is not just financial; it disrupts their operations and challenges their sense of security. Despite these setbacks, the affected businesses were determined to reopen promptly, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity. As the community rallies to support one another, both businesses and Wilkes University are taking steps to enhance security measures. Residents are encouraged to stay informed, report any suspicious activity and actively participate in community safety efforts. A recent update, from The Times Leader, reports that a 17-year-old boy is responsible for anumber of the downtown burglaries, according to Wilkes-Barre City Police. “We are working with WBPD by providing them with video footage we have relative to their investigation,” said Krzywicki. For more information on safety and security, students can refer to the Wilkes Univeristy Police Department’s annual security report at https:// www.wilkes.edu/campus-life/safetys e c ur it y/annu a l-s e c ur it y-and-f iresafety-report.aspx. Questions about this advisory can be directed to Chief of Police Michael Krzywicki at 570408-4952 or by email at michael. krzywicki@wilkes.edu. �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 News 4 What is... the Office of Residence Life at Wilkes University? By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Wilkes University is full of groups that share the same goal: support. The Office of Residence Life, affectionately dubbed “Res Life” by those working in it, provides comprehensive support for students living on campus. From sending out forms to apply for housing, reminder and safety emails and filling the halls with Resident Assistants (RAs), Res Life is here for the students who call this campus home. Residence Life is a blend of professional staff and undergraduate RAs. The director and assistant director of residence life work with students and staff to prepare the halls for move-in, deal with serious issues and send out the forms and information needed to apply (and reapply) for housing. Residence life is also staffed by two graduate assistants, learners in graduate programs who live in the halls with RAs and students as an extra layer of support. These individuals work directly with RAs to ensure they are performing their duties and serve as a bridge between residential students and the directors of residence life. Then, there are 34 resident assistants who live and work directly with the students of Wilkes University. First, to become an RA, applicants fill out an application and participate in individual interviews and a group processing day, which puts students in small groups and has them complete activities that allow current RAs and staff to see how applicants work in a team. “It can feel pretty stressful leading up to the different events, however, once you are in the moment the stress disappears,” said Starr Sandt, a sophomore RA serving University Towers, floors two and three. After the process is over, candidates are notified and assigned to their buildings. RAs are not necessarily placed in buildings because they want to be there, but because the professional staff believes your skill set is best suited to a specific building. Nolee Ana Grabowski, who is also a sophomore RA on the fifth floor of University Towers, said, “...if you get the position and aren't thrilled with your placement, keep in mind that your first year is all a learning experience. I was placed in Evans as my first year as an RA and I loved it. I created really great bonds with my residents and being an RA has really helped me grow in my leadership skills.” All of this occurs in the spring semester. Before the new year starts, in August, RAs report to campus for a few weeks of training to prepare for their new roles as resident assistants. RAs do so much in the residence halls, even if it goes unseen. Grabowski says that most of her responsibilities include hanging up posters, connecting with and checking in on residents, working to resolve issues, and serving on a residence life committee. There are four committees: New RA Selection, which focuses on the interview process to select new RAs; traditions, which focuses on hosting annual events, like the Waller haunted mansion or hall brawl; social media, which has students working to curate content for the residence life Instagram; and advisory board, which hears and resolves RA complaints and considers the changes suggested by the RAs. Another major aspect of the RA role is ensuring safety and enforcing the rules. Wilkes University is an open, urban campus and RAs must make sure the halls are safe and their residents are comfortable. If your RA seems very strict about propping open doors, there’s a good reason. Resolving roommate conflicts and ensuring safety in the halls aren’t all that RAs are responsible for. They must also host two community builder events and two educational events for their residents each semester. These can be done for an individual floor, building, area, or even campus wide. Last year, Grabowski hosted an event for her residents in Evans Hall. “It was a Valentine's Day event where I had written the names of every resident on the floor on the back of a heart and I gave my residents hearts with the other side of the hall's name on it and vice versa," said Grabowski. "I had my residents just write a sweet message on it and then flip it over and give it to the resident that they had. It was very sweet seeing the whole floor come together and at the end I handed out goodie bags to everyone who came." Events like these are examples of Community Builders: they focus on building a community, one way or another. Other examples of this include movie or game night, an interactive bulletin board or karaoke nights. One popular event is the highly-anticipated sex bingo. “The RAs hosted a sex bingo for students to come learn about safe sex and play bingo at the same time," said Sandt. "I loved seeing how engaged everyone was and overall it was such a fun time." Events like these are educational because they teach students something, even if it isn’t a “traditional” lesson. Educational events also include things like the recent cookies and cards, where RAs gave a mental health presentation, shared cookies and wrote Valentine’s Cards for a local nursing home, a tutorial on how to use the laundry machines or a kahoot about hall policies and the student handbook. Being an RA isn’t all about the work. There are plenty of fun things going on in residence life. Sandt shared that the professional staff, or pro staff and RHC have recently shown their appreciation with gifts, like blankets and winter coats. “Walking around with my Res Life jacket on rounds makes me feel "official" and puts a positive spin on certain job duties," said Sandt. "I am always excited when we receive something, even if it is as simple as a bag of candy from RHC, because it truly shows that we as RAs are valued." There are other, non-material benefits. “I have enjoyed getting to know my residents…I always have to smile when an old resident still feels comfortable talking to me about anything going on or even just saying hello when we are out and about,” said Sandt. Grabowski shared that her connections with the Pro Staff are one of the highlights of her Res Life experience. “It is very nice building close connections with a team of people that you will be working with very closely, they are all so helpful and are there to assist whenever you need it,” said Grabowski. The Office of residence life is located in the second floor of Max Roth, at 215 South Franklin Street, directly across from the Farley Library. To keep up with residence life, follow them on Instagram @wilkes_ reslife. Photo Courtesy Residence Life Instagram Evans second floor celebrates their victory in hall brawl back in October. �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 News 5 Programming Board welcomes all to Pickles-Barre By Emma Broda News Staff Writer On Feb. 8, Programming Board hosted Pickles-Barre in the MAC. The event had a wide variety of different pickles and pickleflavored foods. In addition to the many snacks to try, students also participated in a pickleball competition. Some of the pickles included bourbon maple pickles, dill pickles, sweet and sour pickles, bread and butter pickles and the TikTok famous chamoy pickle kit. While these were more classic flavors, the pickle flavored foods had a large assortment of flavors. These included pickle chips, pickle flavored popcorn, pickle dip, pickle pizza, pickle ranch dressing, pickle flavored wings, relish for hot dogs, fried pickles, a pineapple pickle drink and a pickle margarita mocktail. Both pickle lovers, and surprisingly a number of pickle haters who were willing to change their minds, gathered to try the treats, hang out with friends and try to win the pickleball tournament. Students shared both their favorite and least favorite snacks of the night. William Wolfgang, sophomore data science major, shared that his favorite of the spread were the bourbon maple pickles. Natalie Hernandez, senior accounting major, shared that she was a pickle lover, even saying that she “dips them in hummus,” and had been looking forward to the evening. Hernandez also shared that “The pickle wings were really good.” Eza Chaudhry, senior business management and marketing major, said that her favorites were “pickle chips, because they taste like pickles without being too much.” Chaudhry also shared that her least favorite was the pickle margherita. While pickles were the main star of the night, students also got to enjoy other foods like chicken tenders, onion rings and jalapeño poppers. After eating every variation of pickles and pickle flavored foods, students who never played pickleball before and regular players both got ready to play against each other in the pickleball competition. Wolfgang was excited to participate in the competition as he shared, “I’m so hyped to play pickleball after eating my pickles. I’ve never played before, but I play tennis so I’m looking forward to it.” Chaudhry also shared that she had never played before but was “so excited.” Whether students were self-proclaimed pickle lovers or pickle haters, everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the huge spread of pickles and pickle flavored foods, and had fun playing pickleball in a friendly competition. While “Pickles-Barre” is not nearly as famous as “Pickles-burgh”, it was still a night of love for pickles and fun. The TikTok famous chamoy pickle kit which contains one pickle, a fruit roll up, chamoy sauce and tajin powder. TOP: From left, Aster Rowland, junior criminology major; Savannah Evanski, senior theater major; Alyssa Brown, first year psychology major; Abigail Malin, first-year psychology major; and Ozzie Priebe, first-year, history and sociology major take a break from pickle-eating to pose for a picture at Pickels-Barre. BOTTOM: From left to right: Ellie Schreiner, junior early education major, and Alexis Reedy, junior nursing major, playing pickleball. Photos: The Beacon/Emma Broda �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 News 6 Lunar New Year celebration draws crowd By Brooke Lare Staff Writer Monday night, the Office of Global Engagement and Residence Hall Council had a Lunar New Year celebration to commemorate the beginning of Chinese New Year. With this event, more than three dozen students came in and out to eat, make arts and crafts, and play trivia games for a chance to be entered into a raffle for a gift card. Students were also treated to a variety of Chinese food options, including vegetable dumplings and lo mein, which proved to be quite popular. Abigail Malin, Alyssa Brown and Sam Dempsey, all first-year students majoring in psychology had different reasons for attending, but all seemed to have a good time Malin said she was interested in the food provided. However, she arrived too late and the food had already been eaten. Brown wanted to learn more about the celebration, as she didn’t know much beforehand, and Dempsey came at the prompting of her mom, who encouraged to be more involved on campus. The trivia was interactive as students went around to each table to scan QR codes, encouraging people to mingle with one another. As much as it was fun, it was just as informative. Aniah Austin, a firstyear student majoring in business, was impressed with the food provided. She sampled everything, and enjoyed it all. As different students piled in, they could all be seen making different crafts laughing and having a good time. The success of the event was evident in the positive energy circulating throughout the room and K-Pop music playing over the speaker. Crafts and trivia were popular at the Lunar New Year celebration. The Lunar New Year celebration proved to be a popular event for a number of students on campus. Photos: The Beacon/Brooke Lare Who doesn't love a fortune cookie? Here's hoping this person's fortune comes true. �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Anthony.Cazun@wilkes.edu Wilkes Adventure Education hosts ropes course fundraising event By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor On Feb. 11, WAE, or Wilkes Adventure Education, held a ropes course within the McHale Athletics Center here on campus. The event was comprised of various different ropes course obstacles that involved the attendee climbing, ducking and crawling in order to test the strength and resolve of the participant, all while having fun in a safe environment. The event had a small entrance fee in order to help fundraise a spring break trip to the Pacific Northwest. The money raised will help make it easier and more cost efficient for those within the WAE. “We are a rugged group that likes to find adventures that take students out of their comfort zone in a fun and safe atmosphere,” said Carolyn Purdy, senior psychology major and memeber of WAE. “We will be hiking, camping, rock climbing and whatever else we can get into in Washington, Oregon, and the tiniest part of California. This, along with other fundraisers, will help keep the cost low for students going on the trip.” According to Wilkes University’s website, WAE encourages students to step outside of their comfort zone and and participate in new experiences. Students in the club are trained to lead small (and big) groups on ropes courses and rock walls. The club also makes frequent day and weekend trips such as hikes, camping, and biking. The ropes course was set up inhouse by WAE members, staff and alumni, going to show that current and former members of WAE are incredibly passionate and knowledgable about ropes course obstacles and wall climbing. “It is important for students to have another outlet for fun on campus, especially here at Wilkes,” said senior history and political science major, A picture of the large rock climbing wall with various handholes. Visitor clumbing obstacle ladder. Kaelin Hughes. “WAE brings students outside of the “Wilkes block,” per se, and out into the surrounding area. It is a great way for students to explore and pursue their interests with the outdoors, building skills along the “wae” like backpacking and belaying for the rock wall and ropes courses.” Both purposes of the event were met, as the fundraiser was successful, drawing in people from within and outside of Wilkes Univeristy. As well as providing a fun and safe environment for attendees to enjoy. “We encourage everyone to take a step outside of their comfort zone and want to invite any and all adventurers, adrenaline junkies, climbers and nonclimbers, as well as people willing to try something new,” said Purdy. “We also have fun games going on a well, so you can give your arms a break or get moving in between taking cool pictures of your friends.” Keep a look out as WAE will also host a yoga night on Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Sophomore environmental engineering major Ben Campbell and sophomore chemistry major Simon Ferrell helped work the course for Photos: The Beacon/Anthony Cazun the fundraiser. �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Album of the Week: “In Rainbows” - Radiohead By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor There are no words to describe the level of stardom and adoration the English alternative “rock” band Radiohead receives. Pioneers in more than one genre, creating some of the most visceral sonic landscapes and emotionally touching lyricism within contemporary music. After the massive success of their divisive song “Creep” off of their debut record “Pablo Honey,” Radiohead did a hard right turn in their sound, as they are now well known for doing repeatedly. To the more emotionally complex record “The Bends,” then the sterile and unnerving “OK Computer,” an album many may deem the greatest of the genre, if not of all time, to the cold and unfeeling ambience and soundscapes on “Kid A,” Radiohead have reinvented what it means to be Radiohead countless times. Once the band released “Amnesiac” in 2001 and “Hail To The Theif ” in 2003, the band’s contractual obligations were up, and there was no concrete need to continue as Radiohead. The band could split off, never to see each other again. After the daunting creation of their last albums, that was a large possibility. However, two years later in 2005, Radiohead resumed their work, lovingly crafting “In Rainbows.” The album breathed new life into the band. While the previous records were still acclaimed, the creative exhaustion was felt. “In Rainbows” felt like the converging point of all their previous sonic experimentation, giving fans the most versatile and fleshed out Radiohead project to date. The “Kid A” influence on “15 Step” and “Videotape,” the rocking grooves and hard hitting edge of their early records found on “Bodysnatchers” and “Jigsaw Falling Into Place,” to the more melodic “OK Computer” esque instrumentation on “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi” and “Nude,” all of the songs felt like the culmination of years of perfecting their craft. New songs that while having familiarity, craft their own uniquely beautiful identities. There is a lingering feeling of warmth throughout many of the tracks, primarily due to Colin Greenwood’s warm bass tone throughout much of the album, most noticably on the track “Nude.” The arpeggios and complex string arrangements that are now a signature Morgan Rich, Editor-in-Chief: Samara Carey, Asst. Opinion Editor London Boy - Taylor Swift Heartbreak on the Map - Samara Carey Amanda Montgomery, News Editor: “Freeze,” Opinion Staff Writer: Salt In The Wound - boygenius Emma Broda, News Staff Writer: It’s Too Late - Carole King Brooke Lare, News Staff Writer Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Our very own Anthony Cazun has put together a Spotify playlist where you can scan it and listen to the Beacon’s staff weekly picks! Path - Altare Adam Grundt, Sports Asst. Editor: Linger - The Cranberries see the real - 21 Savage Sam Mullen, Sports. Asst. Editor: Anthony Cazun, LA&E Editor: Loose Control - Teddy Swims Suspension Without Suspense - No Doubt Graphics/Lara Mullen of Johnny Greenwood and Ed O’ Brian on tracks like “Weird Fishes,” The jazz-like quality of Phillip Selway’s drumming and of course the haunting and beautiful lyricism written by Thom York. Every member playing their role perfectly, creating a cohesive and cerebral experience. The album would release in 2007 on their website with nearly no buildup. The album was live, and the customer was given the option to pay any price they wanted, an unheard of practice at the time. The record would gain universal appraise from both critics and fans alike. What could have been the end of the band ended up being possibly their greatest achievement. Cally Williams, LA&E Staff Writer: Never Love an Anchor - The Crane Wives Lara Mullen, Designer: Possum Kingdom - Toadies Sydney Allabaugh, Opinion Editor: Liz Cherinka, Social Media Manager: 0% - $NOT, ZillaKami Cool About It - boygenius �The Beacon – February 14, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 HPSC holds a donut fundraiser sure to raise spirits By Cally Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer The cold winter weather often brings down everyone’s spirits. With the drab weather and lack of daylight, sometimes a little pop of color and a donut is all that is needed to brighten up someone’s day. The Honors Program Student Committee, also known as HPSC, held a fundraiser for their program by selling Valentine’s day donuts for $2 each and giving students a chance to make Valentine’s Day cards. Valentine’s Day acts as a nice pop of color and friendly warmth in the middle of winter. Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day’s actual date, but Wilkes University students are starting their festivities a little bit earlier. Several Valentine’s Day events have been happening all around campus from bouquet making to chocolate rose sales. The HPSC held their fundraiser on Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Building. Students from the HPSC set up a table with colorful paper and drawing supplies. The HPSC is made up of honors students who want to have a voice within the honors program. “It is a cute little fundraiser,” said Nick Devitis, junior psychology major and president of HPSC. Zoe Morley, sophomore biology major and HPSC director of publicity, also helped with the fundraiser. She enjoyed the Valentine’s Day event because of the colors. “I just like pink,” said Morley, “Everything is pink!” As Morley described, there was a lot of pink in the Henry Center. There was an assortment of Valentine’s themed donuts. From heart shaped to pink sprinkles to just glazed, the pink and red donuts helped share some Valentine’s Day love. Along with the donuts, students stopped by the stand to make cards for their friends and loved ones. The HPSC provided construction paper and markers for students to make their own Valentine’s cards. The cards came in shades of red, orange, green, yellow and more. “I think it was a great idea,” said senior musical theater major Olivia Scarborough. “It is nice that they offer that for people to make things for their loves ones or themselves. It is also a smart idea because who does not love a donut?” Valentine’s cards have been a tradition for a very long time. Whether it is the little store bought ones that kids give out to their classmates or a homemade card, valentines are a holiday staple. The tradition of giving out “valentines” comes from the legend of St. Valentine. The legend states that a man named Valentine was imprisoned and eventually executed. He fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and sent her letters from his cell before he died. While this is not the first instance of Valentine’s Day being celebrated, it is a well known legend that gave us the Valentine’s cards that we know now. As well as the story of St. Valentine, the modern holiday also may originate from a Pagan holiday called Lupercalia where men picked women’s names out of a jar for a date. “It is just something fun to do to get into the holiday,” said Devitis. “It was more about the cards than making money.” Photo Courtesty of the Wilkes Honors & Scholars Program’s Instagram From left, sophomore political science, international relations and history major, Morgan Steiner; sophomore nursing major, Sydney Farmer; and sophomore biology major, Zoe Morley, sell donuts in the SUB for HPSC. �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment Winter Word Search ��������������������������������� �������� Words to find! blizzard festive gloves hockey igloo mittens scarf sleet storm cocoa fireplace grey ice wind sknitwear penguin skating snow tea evergreen freezing hat icicle layers polar ski solstice Answer Key: Credit for these puzzles goes to: www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com Compiled by Morgan Rich, Editor In Chief 10 �The Beacon – February 14, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 Universal Music Group ends partnership with TikTok By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor The stranglehold that TikTok’s grip has on the music industry is no secret by any means. What used to be in the form of album sales is now within the hands of TikTok, the current arbiter of what goes platinum. Or at least, they were, as it seems that concept may be in the rearview mirror very soon. This is because the Universal Music Group, or UMG, has decided to end its partnership with the TikTok and pull all of their music from the application. UMG is one of if not the largest music companies in the entire world, holding ownership over many of the largest record labels in the industry. These include Abbey Road Studios, Capitol Records, Virgin Records, Def Jam Recordings, Island Records, Republic Records, EMI and many more. This domination of record labels means they own the rights to many of the largest artists of today, including Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, BTS, SZA, Billie Eilish, Adele, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, Elton John, Drake and many more. All of these artists being pulled from TikTok is undoubtebly an incoming disaster for the TikTok service, as they rely heavily on music for their user experience. “Music is at the heart of the TikTok experience,” said TikTok during their annual music report in 2021. UMG is largely responsible for that experience, thus UMG’s anger that TikTok is refusing to play nice. “I think it is frustrating for a lot of people who used that music as their audio on videos and for viewers that enjoyed those audios,” said senior middle level mathematics education major Emma Freels. “Since UMG is a lot of big artists, like Justin Bieber, UMG pulling their songs removes a lot of songs from videos on TikTok.” UMG stated in an open letter titled “AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ARTIST AND SONGWRITER COMMUNITY - WHY WE MUST CALL TIME OUT ON TIKTOK” that TikTok has been neglectful of their responsibilities as a platform primarily centered around music, as well as unwilling to budge on various key issues. “In our contract renewal discussions, we have been pressing them on three critical issues—appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users,” said UMG in their open letter. UMG goes on to state that TikTok is refusing to pay artists properly and is engaged in a strategy to bully record labels for less money than market value. “As much as I personally find it annoying to come across a lot of muted videos now, I understand that UMG did it for the reason of artists not getting the money they deserve for their music being used,” said junior biology major Amelia Smicherko. UMG also stated that TikTok has done nothing to quell the fear many artists have about A.I. voice and likeness replication. “We honor our responsibilities with the utmost seriousness. Intimidation and threats will never cause us to shirk those responsibilities,” were the closing words in UMG’s statement. TikTok then fired back in their own statement, accusing UMG of perpetuating a false narrative. “Despite Universal’s false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent,” said TikTok. Many speculate that the reason for TikTok attempting to pay much less than their contemporaries is because of their free promotion strategy, which has its pros and cons. “I think that this entire situation was a shock for everyone, especially for TikTok creators and fans,” said senior early childhood education major Amanda Merrick-Tompkins. “I know a lot of people feel silenced and disappointed after their favorite artists were removed from the platform. I am worried for the younger community that turns to TikTok to find a sense of comfort and entertainment, I think this is something that will negatively affect the community. “Myself, I am definitely upset knowing that I will not be hearing s o m e of my favorite artists on the app.” T i k To k t h e n accused U M G of being negligent toward their own artists, mirroring UMG’s claims against TikTok. “ T i k To k has been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher,” TikTok stated. “Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans..” There is no knowing if UMG and TikTok will reach a compromise, but at this moment, users will have to get more crafty and creative with their song choices. “If TikTok is such a wealthy company though, it really makes no sense to me why they could not just come up with a better agreement because I think having all this music on TikTok really benefits both sides,” said Smicherko. Graphic/Morgan Rich ���The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Opinion Editorial Staff 2023-24 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Morgan Rich Social Media Manager - Liz Cherinka Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Amanda Montgomery Opinion - Sydney Allabaugh ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Opinion: Samara Carey Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Designer - Lara Mullen Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Emma Broda LA&E - Cally Williams LA&E - Brooke Lare Opinion - “Freeze” Want to join The Beacon? Several positions are open! Contact : kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or morgan.rich@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 Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Morgan Rich at morgan.rich@wilkes. edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact opinion editor: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu. Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Award show results should hold less influence The 66th annual Grammy Awards was hosted on Sunday, Feb. 4. To no surprise, people had something to say about virtually every aspect. From iconic performances like Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs, to Miley Cyrus winning her first Grammy, the night was full of surprises. The host was comedian Trevor Noah, and based on the lack of any social media eruption, he did not say any outlandish jokes, which is good, considering the fact that the public still have not been able to get over the monstrosity that was the Golden Globes. Although little was said about Trevor Noah, people still had their complaints. Whether it was about Lana Del Rey not winning any of her nominations that night, or Taylor Swift winning far too much for the people’s liking, the audience is never going to be pleased when watching the night unfold live. That being said, society should stop treating award shows as gospel, and instead, we should make our own opinions on the nominees without being so impacted by the Academy’s decision. It is understandably discouraging to watch our favorite artist lose an award they were nominated for, but that does not mean that their work is bad. With that in mind, it is important to not outwardly hate on the people that do win these awards. There was an absurd amount of hate online regarding the winners at this year’s Grammys. One of the awards to point out specifically is the one that was granted for “Best New Artist.” Up and coming R&B artist, Victoria Monét, graciously won the award. After this was announced, the internet completely blew up in flames over it. This was completely unnecessary. We should not discredit the work she has done to get to this point in her career. It goes without saying that Taylor Swift also received a disproportionate amount of hate online, with many saying that other artists deserved to win more. Although it is understandable to feel this way, no one should be blaming or sending hate towards the artists. While this may seem obvious to most people, it is important to remember that for many artists, even being nominated was a struggle and an accomplishment. Chances are, if they received the nomination, their work is likely deserving of one. The original point still stands though, which is that we should not take these award shows so seriously. Yes, it is fun to tune into the show itself, watch the performances and judge the different outfits that you see on the red carpet, but, at the end of the day, these award shows are not always earnest or of the highest authority to assess music. Award shows are just different marketing strategies for the entertainment industry to cling onto to make money, attract viewership and create buzz. There are also countless controversies of Academies snubbing artists who are women or minorities, which was brought up at the Grammys in Jay-Z’s speech. Although being awarded a Grammy is an achievement, there are countless amazing artists who never received one. We should not allow award shows to influence our music opinions, and the results should not result in hate towards the artists. 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: morgan.rich@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 - February 14, 2024 Opinion The Icebox: A review of The Return of The Red mobile game “Marvel SNAP” Raven: an original story By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Do you remember in 2018 when our favorite superheroes all teamed up to fight the big bad Thanos? If so, then you probably also recall that he blew us all away with the snap of his fingers. Let’s be honest, things haven’t really been okay since that happened. The real world has experienced countless disasters. However, there are many good things that came of it. One of those things is a hit known as “Marvel SNAP”. “Marvel SNAP” is a basic turn-based card game that is available to play for free on mobile. Wait a minute! I know it doesn’t sound very exciting. However, this game is not like the rest, I promise. The game was inspired by the devastation that Thanos brought to the universe and officially released in 2022, so it is a relatively new game. First of all, this game is unique in its structure, and there are no other card games out there that would compare to the style of play. One game can last anywhere from thirty seconds to three minutes, but it never exceeds that! This means that you can crack out several victories in just the matter of ten minutes, depending on how good you are. The reason why matches are so short is because the developers wanted their target audience to be anyone who likes superheroes and villains. Moreover, they felt inspired to make a game that could be played while sitting on the toilet, as Ben Brode, cofounder of Second Dinner, said because he once broke his leg playing Hearthstone when the match lasted forty minutes while he sat on the toilet. The gameplay is just as simple as the match progression. Two players face off with decks of 12 cards in order to claim the best of three locations on the table. There are only six turns in the game, with the exception of a few cards that can add or remove one turn. The first location is revealed on the first turn, the second on the second turn and the final on the third turn. Each location has four spots for cards and its own ability, which could drastically change the game. Therefore, players must strategize from turns one to three in order to maximize their power output. Power is determined by the cards that are placed at each location. But wait, can’t players just build a deck with really high power and win every time? No, because there is also a cost system! Each turn players get increasing amounts of energy. On the first turn you get one energy, and then it increases by one each turn unless certain cards are played to change that. The energy is used to place cards that cost from zero to six energy. Generally, the higher the cost the more powerful or useful the card is. Most cards have one of two natures. “Ongoing” cards have an effect that lasts the whole game, while “On Reveal” cards have an effect that only happens once. A lot of decks combine these types of cards to result in the best synergy. The developers were sure to make some cards work very well with others on purpose to make it easier for players. For example, all of the Spider-Man-related cards have similar abilities that have to do with moving cards from one location to another. Personally, I enjoy the “Destroy” decks, which involve cards that destroy other cards to gain more power. Carnage gains two power for every card it destroys on reveal, and Venom gains the power of any card that it destroys. They both cost under three energy and work well with the king of symbiotes, Knull, whose power is equal to every card that was destroyed the whole game! “Marvel SNAP” has an excellent matchmaking system, and it is very easy to rank higher. If you start losing a match, you have the option to “Retreat” in order to lose less of your rank progress. Be a good sport and don’t close the app on your opponent! They will still win, but will have to wait through each turn anyway. The fact that such a wonderful game is free-to-play on mobile makes it even more spectacular. You can assemble the Avengers, or take the streets with the Midnight Suns. From Howard the Duck to Galactus the Devourer, “Marvel SNAP” takes all of your favorite heroes and villains and puts them on the table. Get ready to snap to dust! By Leah Smith Contributing Writer PART 10 Isabelle repeated, “Dad, are you telling me the truth?” Rick stared deeply into his daughter’s eyes. His face held no expression, and he didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t stand lying to her, but he’s done it before. He nodded, “Yeah, that’s what happened.” Isabelle exhaled and took a seat next to Rick. “Okay, I’ll stay here until the doctor comes back to make sure dad is okay,” Isabelle said. “That’s fine with me,” Rick mumbled. Rick leaned his head back, trying to calm his nerves. As he began to close his eyes, his phone lit up in his pocket and began to buzz. His whole body jolted as his fingers clumsily searched for his phone in his pocket. He looked at the caller name and saw that it was labeled as “UNKNOWN.” Panic electrified his body as he started to get out of his chair. “Where are you going?” Isabelle asked. “It’s an important call, nothing to worry about,” Rick stammered. He walked out of the waiting room and stepped into the same bathroom he was in before. He locked the door and quickly tapped the green call button. “Hello?” he asked reluctantly. “Mr. Greenblatt, it’s nice to hear your voice again,” the unknown killer said. “Oh god,” Rick said with choked tears. He slid down down the wall and hugged his legs. “You were really hoping it wasn’t me, weren’t you? I appreciate the fear, Mr. Greenblatt. It makes me feel like I’ve done a good job with what I’m doing. Unless, of course, you’re acting. Then again, you’re really selling it if you are,” the killer teased. “What do you want now?” Rick demanded. “I realize I have missed one cast member from the show. I’m ashamed of myself, really because I feel she should’ve been the first one I killed,” the killer replied. “Who?” “Oh, I think you would know her very well, Mr. Greenblatt. I remember seeing all of the tabloid magazines talking about your affair with this certain woman. She was only 15 your love interest throughout the show.” Rick froze, “...Vivian?” “That’s right, Mr. Greenblatt. Vivian Keller, the femme fatale Scarlet Redwood herself. She’s been doing quite well for herself after the Red Raven ended, y’know? I know you two haven’t talked in a while because well, you know. Anyway, I’m outside her door right now with a rope and I think it’s time I pay her a visit,” the killer explained. “Don’t you lay a finger on her, or I swear I will kill you myself,” Rick threatened. The killer gasped, “Mr. Greenblatt, that’s not in the script! You know that the Red Raven doesn’t kill people! Besides, you’re at the emergency wing at the memorial hospital sobbing onto your daughter’s arms. By the way, you didn’t tell her about me, did you?” “No. I lied to keep her safe,” Rick answered. “You tell yourself that a lot I bet. That’s good though, we can just keep all of this to ourselves.” “I’m not going to let you get away with this, whoever you are.” “Now that sounds like the old Red Raven I know and love! This is all a dream come true to me, you don’t even know. Now, I have to go if I’m going to make this perfect. I’ll keep in touch. Farewell, Red Raven.” The call ended and Rick ran out of the bathroom. He hurried back into the waiting room and grabbed onto Isabelle’s shoulders. “What is it?” Isabelle said, letting go of Rick’s grasp. “It- Dammit, I can’t say,” Rick shook his head. “What’s wrong, dad?” Isabelle asked again. Finally, Rick told the truth. “The killer, the one that killed Teddy Flowers, they called me. They held Cameron hostage and tortured him. I found Cameron downstairs in the basement and realized the killer was in the house. I tried to find them but they were gone, and I took Cameron to the hospital. Now, they called again and said that they were going to kill Vivian Keller. Izzy, I’m so sorry for keeping this from you.” Isabelle was speechless. “They told me if I told you then they would come after you and I di-” Isabelle cut off Rick and said, “I’ll find Vivian. We’ll talk later.” To be continued... �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Opinion 16 Why are Americans increasingly leaving religion behind? The importance of finding meaning as a nonreligious person By Sydney Allabaugh Opinion Editor “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States, yet for many Americans, the Christian God and religion are no longer at the forefront of their lives. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 29 percent of U.S. adults identify as religiously unaffiliated. As recent as 1990, this number was only at 5 percent, with 90 percent of U.S. adults identifying as Christian. This rise of unaffiliates shows no signs of stopping. The Pew Research Center predicts that around half the nation will be religiously unaffiliated by 2070 if trends continue. So, why is this? Half of those who left religion say they did so because they simply no longer believe. Common responses in Pew surveys cite rational thought, evolution and a lack of scientific evidence as contributing factors of their choice. Others, about 20 percent, left because they dislike organized religion, commonly citing corruption, contributions to social division, clergy sex abuse scandals and anti-LGBTQ+ teachings as their rationale. Regardless of reasoning, some see this trend as problematic. They argue a loss of religion will likely lead to an increase in depression as religion historically provided answers to life’s toughest questions, relieved anxiety and gave people purpose and meaning. Frankly, research supports this notion. Rachel Bonelli, Rachel Dew and other researchers reviewed hundreds of studies done on the correlation between religion and depression and published their comprehensive review in the National Library of Medicine. They concluded that 272 out of the 444 studies found less depression among those more religious, and in general, those with no affiliation experienced higher rates of depression than other groups. Why is this? According to this research summary, it is possible that organized religion helps people cope, offers a strong support system and provides meaning. Also, religious involvement has been associated with “greater altruism, gratefulness, forgiveness, marital satisfaction, less delinquency/crime, better school performance, less substance abuse and more disease prevention activities,” all of which foster fewer life stressors in the first place. Commonly, those who see this rise in unaffiliates as problematic use this research to argue why Americans need to go back to religion. However, when you consider the reasons why people left in the first place, it is easy to see how that isn’t a feasible solution. As previously stated, the primary reason why people leave religion is because they do not believe in God. This is not something that can be easily reconsidered, especially since there is not necessarily a way to prove a higher power exists. The secondary reason is because they dislike organized religion. Although there are ways in which the church can attempt to reestablish trustworthiness, there would likely need to be significant proof of integrity or reconstruction to allow for any reconsideration from unaffiliates, and some may still be simply uninterested in returning. Instead of ignoring the issues or fighting this trend and trying to force uninterested unaffiliates back into religion, it seems as though it would be more productive to accept and embrace it and determine how they can feel fulfilled and recover from depression without relying on religion. I, nor anyone else for that matter, has objective answers on how everyone can find meaning and fulfillment. Personally, I do not even believe an objective meaning or purpose of life exists. However, if we continue to stray from religion moving forward, I think we should be empowered to actively work towards finding that meaning for ourselves and act in ways that foster fulfillment and happiness. Although it can be scary to think about, I find a sense of purpose in the impermanence of things as it reminds me to suck the marrow out of life, to appreciate those around me, to accomplish, learn, share and experience all I can and to be grateful each day because I may not have the opportunity to tomorrow. I try to reflect this perspective in my actions, by spending time with and appreciating loved ones, taking opportunities given to me, emphasizing education, trying to be present and caring for myself to the best of my ability, all of which are behaviors that foster lower rates of depression in religious people according to the previously discussed NLM research. Obviously, my perspective is not the correct or only way to fulfilment. My point is solely that finding meaning without religion is possible, and it is something that should be actively sought after and worked towards to allow for fulfillment, happiness and direction in life, especially among those who no longer are guided by religion. The search does not have to be difficult. Soul-searching, talking with others and reading could act as a helpful guide. Purpose does not necessarily have to be profound. Potentially, education, activism, family or volunteering, for example, can be a source of happiness and fulfillment. Regardless of what it is, you should find your reason, but it does not have to be religion. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Opinion 17 Why we should care about and support the BDS movement By Shawn Carey Contributing Writer There isn’t an easy way to describe the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. I want to say that the last few months have been crazy, but that would be partly untrue. Yes, there has been a lot going on; however, the problems Palestinians have been facing aren’t exactly new. So much has been coming out about the tragedies that the people of Palestine have been facing. Every day countless articles are released discussing the atrocities that Israel commits. What makes this worse is that it seems like the majority of people believe that the conflict is a recent event. In reality, it started all the way back in 1948 when Israel declared its independence. As a country we have to ask ourselves a question: How are we, the United States, responding to this. America has an extremely long history of joining in other nations’ conflicts, especially if it’s for a cause we deem as just, acting almost as a global peacekeeper. The two most well-known examples of this would be when the U.S. entered the Vietnam and Korean War as an attempt to prevent the spread of communism. So how are we, one of seven global superpowers, responding to seeing Palestine getting repeatedly attacked? We joined the side of the people against them. The United States has decided to side with Israel and has been doing so for a long time. The earliest record of us having a positive relationship with Israel dates all the way back to the late 1940s when America became the first state country to recognize Israel as an independent state. In the modern age, we have been showering the country with financial, military and political support. According to researcher Sahar Okhovat, we have used our United Nations Security Council veto power a substantial 42 times between 1991 and 2011 against resolutions condemning Israel. It’s not just the government supporting Israel however, many popular American brands and actors have been very vocal about who they side with in the conflict. Many companies have made posts on their social media discussing the conflict. The posts all follow the same pattern. They open up by framing the people of Palestine as the enemy and close with them sending their thoughts and prays to Israel. In most cases, this is the most effort these brands put in. However, sometimes they go the extra mile. McDonald’s and Starbucks have made headlines for their support of Israel. The Hill journalist Miranda Nazzaro reported that McDonald’s has been providing Israeli soldiers with free meals. Meanwhile, Starbucks sued Workers United, the union organizing its workers, for a pro-Palestinian social media post, saying that it would damage the company’s reputation, according to Dee-Ann Durbin from AP. There are a few more major companies supporting or helping Israel, such as HP who’s helping run the biometric ID system that Israel uses to restrict Palestinian movement. However, the two I previously mentioned differ from others due to how the public reacted. For a few months now, McDonald’s and Starbucks have been the target of a mass boycott. Countless regular customers are now refusing to shop at the restaurant due to their direct or implied support for Israel. There have been countless boycotts throughout the years, with various degrees of success. In most cases, the boycott slowly fades away and people forget about it. This one is different however. The two mega corporations have seen a huge loss in their earnings. Beth Kowitt from Bloomberg reported that Starbucks lost about 9 percent of its market share, which translates to about $11 billion. We don’t have a concrete amount for McDonald’s yet; however, the CEO released a report on Monday saying the ongoing tensions in the Middle East are putting a dent in its business. Upon the news release, investors’ shares dropped by about 3.7 percent. With all that being said, what is the future of the boycott looking like? I usually try to avoid getting ahead of myself in these articles, however, this is an exception. We the people have successfully been able to scare these two large and powerful corporations. They now know that they’re not invincible and that their actions have consequences. I can see the boycott expanding out to other companies, affecting the likes of Burger King and Kraft, two other brands that have shown direct support for Israel. This can also show other companies that we are not willing to sit and watch them support the massacre of innocent people, making them think twice about if and how they want to support Israel. I truly believe that if we continue fighting back, we can make things a little easier for Palestine and its people. Don’t forget, free Palestine. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Opinion 18 This week's wrap on rap: A review of recent rap singles Lil Yachty, Kid Cudi, Don Toliver and more By Logan Colonna Opinion Staff Writer As February kicks off, we have multiple singles that have been released from bigger artists like Logic, Lil Yachty, Kid Cudi and more. Today, I’m going to go over the singles that I’ve listened to this week, good or bad. "Fear" - Logic The first single from this week that was on my radar was Logic’s “Fear.” I was excited for this single simply because it’s used as the lead single to Logic’s most anticipated album yet, “Ultra 85.” As we dive into the track, sonically we hear what we usually hear from him, but it sounds a lot more upbeat than usual. His performance here is great as there’s a lot of switches on his delivery and flow. My favorite part about the track is the cheerful keyboard chords along with other instruments being played. The production really brings this song altogether. Halfway in, the beat slows down and allows Logic to get a little melodic as we saw him do at the end of his last studio album, “College Park.” Here, we saw Logic wanting to branch out from rap, not wanting to be tied down artistically. This single is a continuation of this. We even hear Logic talking about not suppressing himself anymore and becoming the person he truly wants to by getting rid of his fears of judgment. I love both this single’s message and the overall sound of it. "A Cold Sunday" - Lil Yachty We also received a surprise drop from Lil Yachty. He released the rest of a snippet from his “Verses Im Proud of ” series from his TikTok. “A Cold Sunday” dives into his outlook on his success he’s had since his reinsurance from his album last year. He then ends the track stating that he’ll die for the respect of his music, pretty much signifying that he’s not going anywhere soon and is here to stay. The song is a short two-minutes, but showcases one of the best performances I’ve seen from him. From the amazing, catchy delivery that he adopts to the smooth, “oldie” instrumental that he raps over, everything from this song is certainly something to be proud of. "Black Ops" - Kid Cudi ft. Denzel Curry Kicking it off with Kid Cudi’s “ B l a c k Ops” is a video game s o u n d i n g instrumental. I don’t know how to explain it exactly apart from saying it’s a little “pixel-y.” Much of what is here is strongly related to his album he just released last month, “INSANO.” The track also showcases a feature from none other than Denzel Curry. I’ve been wanting to hear more from him ever since his near-perfect 2022 record, “Melt My Eyez See Your Future.” Denzel steers away from his usual, gritty sound and opts in for more of a lighter tone. While he is still rapping like he normally does, the flow and delivery we see on this track is really floaty and bubbly. While the track was really good, I just wish it was marketed well. Before the day of, I had no idea the song came out. Unrelated to the actual song, Kid Cudi teased a deluxe version of “INSANO,” which will be offering 18 new tracks, practically acting as a whole new album, so stay tuned for that within the year (hopefully). "Bandit" - Don Toliver Next, we have the highly anticipated track from Don Toliver, “Bandit.” The song samples Tame Impala’s “One More Hour” and builds itself around the track quite a lot. In fact, the entire instrumental is just one section from the song being chopped over and over again into itself. As fans heard this song previewed at multiple concerts f r o m London, Birmingham and more, they all loved it from that point. Sonically, the song has hardhitting 808s and showcases Don rapping like his life depended on it. He’s not entirely known for his rapping, compared to his R&B-inspired tracks, so it’s nice to see him polish it off once in a while. I do wish Don had more than just a single verse on this track, but I still enjoyed what I heard nonetheless. To begin, the production is really uninspiring as it’s the most boring trap beat I've heard in a long time. It’s just a piano along with 808s, and that's pretty much it. To add on, Both OT’s and Dababy’s verses are even more boring than the instrumental. OT has the better verse and vocals easily, but it doesn’t really match with the production. He was known for having a Western voice, while this song has the least Western-sounding beat. DaBaby comes in with the same flow he’s used from 2019. It’s really getting tiring to hear the same thing from him for the hundredth time in the row now. This song had a lot of potential with the collaboration between the two but missed the mark by a lot. Check out what's up on Wilkes' own WCLH Tuesdays 5 p.m. to midnight Hip Hop Coming soon... some changes to WCLH's programming "Point Em Out" - That Mexican OT & DaBaby Eight months after his breakout single debuted, “Johnny Dang,” That Mexican OT dropped a song with DaBaby titled, “Point Em Out.” I really wanted this song to be stellar, but it’s everything but that if I’m being transparent. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Sports 19 Sports Stars Shine At Super Bowl LVIII Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: Adam.grundt@wilkes.edu Chiefs dethrone the 49ers as Patrick Mahomes wins SuperBowl MVP for the third time. By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor Taylor Swift. Patrick Mahomes. Travis Kelce. Usher. As the stars were shining in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the “big game” to repeat as champions. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 25-22 victory over the 49ers behind 333 yards passing, two passing touchdowns, and 66 rushing yards. Mahomes was named the game’s most valuable player after his performance in the game. After a slow first half, Mahomes turned it up in the second half and put on a veteran-like performance to secure his status as the best quarterback in the National Football League. Mahomes fought off a slow start by connecting with Marquez ValdezScantling for a touchdown early in the third quarter. He only turned up to the intensity from there, as he led the Chiefs down the field in overtime to save their season. He connected with wide receiver Mecole Hardman for a game-winning touchdown that allowed the Chiefs to become Super Bowl champions. Travis Kelce was Mahomes’s favorite target of the night. He connected with Kelce for nine receptions and 93 receiving yards. Pop superstar Taylor Swift was in attendance after playing a sold-out show in Tokyo just a few days prior. The broadcast repeatedly showed Swift in her seat alongside other members of the music industry. Swift flew across the globe from Japan back to the States in order to be there to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. She was spotted sitting in a suite with Kelce’s mom, and brother Jason, and fellow star Ice Spice. Kelce embraced Swift following his third Super Bowl victory. Usher performed in this year’s halftime show, and his ability to perform was on display. Through dance moves and his outstanding voice, he performed hit songs such as “Yeah!”, “My Boo”, and “U Got It Bad”, and brought out fellow music legends Alicia Keys, Lil Jon and Ludacris. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy had a stellar outing in his first Super Bowl appearance. He threw for 255 yards passing and a touchdown, but that wasn’t enough to dethrone the Chiefs’ dynasty. 49ers kicker Jake Moody drained a 55yard field goal in the second quarter. At the time, it was the longest field goal in Super Bowl history. Shortly after, in the second half, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker broke Moody’s shortly-held record and hit a 57- yard field goal. By the end of the game, Butker finished with four field goals and Moody hit three. The 49ers were dealt with some injuries suffered by players throughout the game. Star linebacker Dre Greenlaw, tight end George Kittle, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel were all dealing with injuries that either caused them to play hurt or have to be removed from the game. Next year, Super Bowl LIX will be held on Feb 9. The game will be held at the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 Wilkes men’s lacrosse team ready for action By Ava Tureen Sports Writer As a new season approaches, the men’s lacrosse team is ready for action this spring. The team’s first game is Feb. 25 against Manhattanville College. It is the team’s first season in the Landmark conference. This is a more challenging conference than the MAC conference they were in before but they feel up to the competition. This season, the lacrosse team welcomes seven first-year athletes to the team. Owen Peters is one of those athletes, and is from Oreland PA. Peters also has family ties to Wilkes University; his mother played for the women’s field hockey team and because of that, he felt strongly about being an athlete at Wilkes as well. “What made me want to play Wilkes lacrosse had a lot to do with my mom and her legacy,” Peters said. “She is in the hall of fame for field hockey.” Last season the team won four games and lost 13. Colby Opromolla is a senior from Patterson, N.Y. Opromolla had a major impact on the four games the team did win. Last season he threw 61 shots and made 18 goals and 18 assists. Colby’s shot percentage has gone up over .100 from the 2022 season to the 2023 season. Michael Rauch is a sophomore on the team from Jackson N.J. Rauch plays as a defensive/ long stick midfielder for the team. Last season he picked up 48 ground balls and had 20 turnovers during his freshman season. Rauch loves playing lacrosse and values the relationships he’s made by being a part of the team. “Going into my 13th straight year of playing lacrosse I’m happy that I am still able to find people that are just as enthusiastic about a sport as me,” Rauch said. “These bonds extend both on and off the field, whether we are clashing heads on the field or making time to hang out while Sports studying for school or just to have fun.” Joey Marino is a senior from Swedesboro, N.J. He is the starting goalie for this season and was also for the 2023 season. During the 2023 season, Marino had 236 saves and played over 900 minutes. Last season, he also won Conference Player of the Week: MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Week. Joey hopes to beat save records this season. “This season my goals would be earning conference honors at the end of the season and breaking one of the program save records,” Marino said.. Marino is determined to have an all around better season and become a more cohesive team. “I hope to be more of a leader to help our defense be more efficient and also be more consistent in games,” he added. Dillion Kadis is a graduate student on the team from Mcsherrystown, PA. His position for the team was Attack. During his 2022 and 2023 season he was consistent, staying at 38 and 39 shots on goal in 2022 and 2023. He scored 13 goals last season and 10 assists. One of the four games the team won last season was against Manhattanville with a score of 11-9. The last game they played was against King’s College, where they defeated them 11-9. During the King’s game, they had 39 ground balls and had 26 turnovers. They hope to play another great game against King’s College this season. The team had a few game highs including the 46 turnovers against Neumann University. During their win against Rosemont they had a high of 15 points and 10 assists. They picked up 48 ground balls during their Utica game last season. They are training hard on and off the field hoping to have an efficient and consistent season. The Colonels open their home season at Schmidt Stadium against Utica on March 2. 20 �Sports The Beacon - February 14, 2024 21 A way-too-early MLB season prediction By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor As winter slowly turns to spring and players start reporting to spring training, the MLB season is right around the corner. Teams have spent a large sum of money on contracts in the offseason in order to better their chances at a World Series title. One team in particular seems to be the favorite to win the “Fall Classic” this season. After locking in two Japanese superstars, the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be the favorites to win the World Series during the preseason. Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers agreed to a contract that will pay him $700 million over the next 20 years in total. His contract is only for 10 years of playing time, and most of the money is deferred. He will be paid $68 million every July 1 from 2034-2043. In addition, the Dodgers also signed star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He is a three-time Eiji Sawamura award winner (the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, equivalent to the MLB’s Cy Young Award) and a three-time winner of the Pacific League’s MVP award. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him to a 12year contract worth $325 million in December. In addition to these groundbreaking contracts, a seismic trade was completed this offseason between the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees this offseason. Superstar outfielder Juan Soto will call Yankee Stadium home for the 2023 season. As one of the best outfielders in the game of baseball coming off an all-star caliber season with San Diego, Soto hit .275 with an on-base percentage of .412. He led the MLB in walks last season with 132, and hit 35 home runs and drove in 109 runs. The Atlanta Braves are another team set to compete in the 2024 season. Ronald Acuña Jr., one of if not the best outfielder in the game of baseball, is coming off a career season where he stole 73 bases. A player in the Major Leagues had not stolen more than 70 bases in a season since 2009. In 2023, he was the National League’s most valuable player. Playing alongside one of the best pitching staffs in Major League Baseball and fellow stars Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies, the Braves are certainly one of the league’s best teams and will certainly make noise this October. Throughout the offseason, teams and players have worked tirelessly to better themselves and their organizations. Some teams are in pursuit of chasing a World Series championship, while others are sitting back and going through a rebuilding phase. The Texas Rangers, who were crowned champions in 2023, are looking to beat the “championship hangover” and repeat as World Series champions in 2024. Many experts believe the Texas Rangers have what it takes to repeat as champions of the fall classic. Corey Seager, who was the most valuable player in the World Series last season, is poised to have a stellar season in 2024. A player who has had trouble staying healthy throughout the course of his career, will undoubtedly be one of the best shortstops and overall players in baseball if he is to remain off of the disabled list in 2025. The Baltimore Orioles had a breakout season in 2023, and have improved the area in which they struggled with during that season. Corbin Burnes, one of the best pitchers in baseball, was recently acquired by the Orioles in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. With Burnes on the mound and players like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson playing behind him, Baltimore will certainly be the team to beat in the American League East division. As always, there is a lot of speculation on who will win the World Series as pitchers and catchers begin to report to Spring Training. Major League Baseball has the longest season of all of the “Big 4” sports leagues, and often expectations change as the season progresses. Baseball will be a fascinating sport to watch during the days of this upcoming summer. The Beacon is looking for sports writers for the Spring 2024 semester. If you are interested in sports writing, editing, photography or graphics contact Adam Grundt at adam.grundt@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Jordan Ferry First Year, Center, Women's Ice Hockey The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Ferry earned a total of 5 points after facing cross-town rival King's College and Hilbert College. She had a total of 3 goals and 2 assists to help to Colonel's secure 3 wins. Major: Mechanical Engineering Hometown: Bohemia, NY What has been your favorite sports memory overall? What had been your favorite When my youth coach pulled our sports memory from your time goalie in overtime. We ended up winning and making it to states. as a Colonel? Clinching playoffs What is your favorite post-game What is your favorite meal? professional sports team (any Cheeseburger sport)? How do you feel about being New York Islanders selected as the Athlete of the What is your favorite thing to do Week? It's really exciting to be chosen as away from sports? athlete of the week, but our wins CrossFit What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? this week were a team effort and I couldn't have done itt without them. The culture that surrounds our athletic department, it's filled with love and support. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Mighty Ducks If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Basketball The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Asst. Sports Editor �The Beacon February 14, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Trent Fisher Senior, Men’s Basketball, Center The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Fisher hit a milestone of 1,000 career points and 100 blocks as a Colonel. He helped his team securing wins against the last three Landmark Conference game by averaging 17.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.5 assits, and shooting 71.4%. Major: Sports Management Hometown: Sellersville, PA What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Plauong for a 6A State Championship What had been your favorite my junior year of high school sports memory from your time as a Colonel? What is your favorite post-game Scoring 1,000 points for my career in meal? front of my family and friends. Chicken wings and fries What is your favorite professional How do you feel about being sports team (any sport)? selected as the Athlete of the My favorite team is the Philadelphia Week? 76ers. It’s a great honor and I appreciate being recognized for this What is your favorite thing to do opportunity. away from sports? Go golfing with my teammates and friends. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? Living and being with my teammates each and everyday. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Remember The Titans If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Golf or baseball The Beacon/Sam Mullen Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Assistant Sports Editor Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - February 14, 2024 24 Wilkes University Theatre presents Fun Home, the musical Feb. 22, 23, 24 @ 8 p.m. Feb. 24 & 25 @ 2 p.m. Purchase tickets at www.wilkes.edu/ theatre or at the box office starting an hour before performances. � 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. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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, 2024 February 14 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/f4ec945145aa804d887a70db03c05d97.pdf d4d7ee6334c80d2d38bdbd7b0556764c PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 21, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 76, Issue 13 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Fifth Annual Douglass Day Transcribe-a-Thon By Emma Broda News Staff Writer On Thursday Feb. 15, students and faculty participated in the Fifth Annual Douglass Day Transcribe-a-Thon. This event takes place yearly on the birthday of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, in order to celebrate his life and Black History Month. The goal of the event is also to aid in making historical documents more accessible by transcribing difficult to read handwritten documents. The event focuses specifically on documents from Frederick Douglass and his associates during the nineteenth century. Students and faculty went online to a collection of documents from the Library of Congress that needed to be transcribed and got to work. Transcribing the documents is not always an easy task for both beginners and experienced transcribers. Transcribe continued on p. 3 Aiden Hermon, first year pharmacy major, working to transcribe a document with Dr. Jonathan Kuiken. The Beacon/Emma Broda Wilkes AOTW GSA hosts “AntiValentine’s Day” event, page 6 The gift of giving at the annual Wilkes Giving Day event, page 7 Here are three reasons why cats make better pets than dogs, page 16 Wilkes Athletes of the Week, pages 22 & 23 �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Amanda Montgomery: Amanda.Montgomery1@wilkes.edu Programming board spring schedule of events Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff Alumni Scholarship Opportunity The Alumni Scholarship is awarded annually to a current Wilkes undergraduate student who has a parent or grandparent who graduated from Wilkes, has at least a 3.0 GPA and has a FAFSA on file for the 2024-2025 academic year. Deadline to apply is March 17. Use this link to apply: www.community. wilkes.edu/alumnischolarship. Contact alumni@wilkes.edu with any questions. Kappa Kappa Psi Talent Show Interest Form Wilke University’s music fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, would like to host a talent show this semester. Anyone is allowed to sign up. Fill out this form if you are interested: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1 FAIpQLSdnAmAtuUyJOxInXXPiLyK Y9pzb_uMCsOenMyDopx-6RT6lVQ/ viewform. Lavender Graduation Ceremony This spring, GSA will be hosting a Lavender Graduation Ceremony for the LGBTQ+ members of the class of 2024 on May 3 at 3 p.m. Use this link to fill out the interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ e/1FAIpQLSccGu5bgXa1Ll-w7bju5jlEZ aezizB34svSyqPwqacpI2io3w/viewform. CCDI Resume Workshop The Center for Career Development and Internships is hosting a resume workshop on Thursday, Feb. 29 in the JPAC Ballroom starting at 11:15 a.m. Students are encouraged to bring their laptops/tablets to create their own resumes during the presentation. Contact Jenna Weiss at jenna.weiss@ wilkes.edu with any questions. Register on Handshake with this link: https://wilkes.joinhandshake.com/edu/ events/1467525. HPSC Soda Tab Collection Join the Honors Program Student Committee for a soda tap drive. Donate your soda tabs in the marked boxes located on the first floor of the SUB, outside the Honors Office and in the lobby of the SIMMS Center. The donations will be taken to a recycling center in exchange for funds that will benefit the Ronald McDonald House. 2024 Outstanding Adult Learner Award The Office of Admissions is seeking nominations for the 2024 Outstanding Adult Learner Award. To be considered for the award, the adult learner must be 24 years or older, graduate with a bachelor’s degree in January, May or September 2024, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, have overcome obstacles and be an active member in the community. Sports................19 Upcoming Events: 2024 Spring Semester February 22 - Family Feud 25 - Ice Skating at Revolution Ice 29 - Giveaway One March 14 - Adventure BINGO 17 - Orangetheory Fitness Class 21 - Laser Tag April 4 - Everything but the Kitchen Sink 7 - Bye Bye BINGO �������������������������������� ���������� ������ ����� ������������ ������ ��� �3 The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Transcribe, continued from p. 1 Starr Sandt, junior psychology and sports management major, shared her experience with the event. “This is my second year, and it is definitely a challenge every year, but once you get the hang of it, it does get a bit easier,” said Sandt. “It is really interesting and I really enjoy doing it.” While Sandt had prior experience, other students shared that this was totally new and different for them. The documents included correspondences to and from Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, James G. Blaine and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Aiden Hermon, first year pharmacy major, shared that the difficulty was in the way documents were written. “I cannot read cursive very well, so it’s been a little difficult,” said Hermon. These documents highlight factors of abolition and offer insight into an important aspect of American history. Students and faculty’s work across the country aid in keeping this history alive through these important documents. Another student, Kamea Paresa, Members of the Wilkes University community came together to honor Douglass’ birthday and help make historic documents more accessible at the Fifth Annual Transcribe-a-thon. The event took place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first floor of the Farley Library. sophomore math major, said, “I have never transcribed before, and I came because I wanted to try something new.” “I’m reading a letter from Frederick Douglass’ wife, and she was saying that she’s not really in a letter writing mood, Mia Decker, junor history and secondary education major, transcribing. but wanted to write to her niece saying she hopes she stays in school,” said Paresa. Paresa mentioned that it is a rather difficult task, but that it is also a rewarding one. The documents can be found on the Library of Congress’s website under “Yours truly, Frederick Douglass.” Dr. Akira Shimizu reading a document during the Transcribe-a-Thon event. �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 News What is... the U.S. Fulbright Program at Wilkes University? By Morgan Steiner News Staff Writer Most on-campus organizations focus on advancing the undergraduate experience, but what about answering the question of “What Next?” While there are many options for students after they earn their bachelor's or PharmD, an amazing international opportunity can be found right here on campus. Wilkes University is a participant in the global program called Fulbright. The U.S. Fulbright Program is a crossgovernmental attempt to increase cultural competency and allow US students to travel to other countries and advance their own education, while working on meaningful projects in their host country. There are two types of awards open to recent and soon-to-be graduates. The first is as an English teaching assistant, or ETA. Those who are selected for this role move to their chosen country for a year and assist an English teacher in a classroom setting. These classrooms could vary from kindergarten all the way to universitylevel English classes. These types of awards allow students to travel, assist different global communities and practice classroom engagement and cultural competency. These types of awards are the most popular, with the most open spots. One example of this award would be the four available grants to work as an ETA in rural areas of Nepal. The second type of award is an open study/research award. These awards are more flexible, allowing students to work on their own original research project incountry or pursue a Masters degree at an international university. These awards are more competitive than the ETA process. For example, Taiwan has four open study/ research awards and an additional 28 awards in various degree programs at different national universities. On the other end of the spectrum, Denmark has ten open study/research awards with no specific specialty programs. How does Wilkes University prepare students for the Fulbright application? Wilkes has a Fulbright Advisor, Dr. Gina Morrison. Her role is to mentor students through the application process and ensure they understand what the entire process looks like. In addition, Wilkes University is currently offering a one credit class, GC-298: Writing for Fellowships, which focuses on guiding students through the process of writing a Fulbright Application. Beyond that, Fulbright typically has a table at events like Open Houses and Accepted 4 Colonel’s Day. Other than providing students with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study or work abroad, Fulbright has other benefits. These include: accident and sickness benefits, 12 months of non-competitive eligibility hiring status with the U.S. government, a stipend based on the host country’s cost of living and a lifelong Fulbright email address. Depending on the country or program, Fulbrighters can also receive transportation, research allowances, full or partial tuition and various enrichment activities. As of the publication of this article, Wilkes University has never had an undergraduate student successfully qualify for the Fulbright Program. You could be the first. For more information, contact gina.morrison@wilkes.edu or check out the US Fulbright Program website. Graphic: The Beacon/Amanda Montgomery �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 News 5 That's So Honors: Life in Waller, first-year housing By Morgan Steiner News Staff Writer One aspect of life in the Wilkes University Honors Program is the living situation itself. Residential students are required to spend their first year in Waller Hall, a mansion-style residence hall on West River Street. Though Honors students don’t get the typical “Evans Hall experience” that so many are familiar with, they get to experience a unique livinglearning experience. Waller Hall is divided into a “north” and “south” side, affectionately dubbed “guys side” and "girls side” by residents, both past and present. As a mansion, the building is unique, with winding corridors, chandeliers and yes, fireplaces in certain rooms. The building is full of character and ghosts. Residents, including former resident assistants (RAs), report hauntings and strange occurrences. Despite the supernatural (and a lack of air conditioning), students love their building. Ozzie Priebe, a first-year political science and history major, also shared the benefits of living in a building that isn’t as crowded as other first-year buildings. “I have the entire third floor of the north end to myself " said Priebe. "I have a bathroom that I don't have to share with other people as well. Honestly, I like my room more than the other freshman dorms. I've been to Roth and Evans, and those rooms are much smaller and there's way more people." For the RAs living in Waller, the experience is unique. Since 2021, the Waller RAs are honors students who spent their first year in either Waller or Doane Hall and have returned to fulfill a mentor role in the hall. One of the Waller RAs this year is Gabriel Sawarynski, a sophomore pharmacy major. “In my opinion, living at Waller as an RA is like living as a resident just with some extra perks," said Sawarynski. "Not only do I have a room to myself, but I also am the one who gets to create the fun activities we do at Waller. Being able to use my creativity, I can give my residents fun opportunities that I wish I had last year, and an overall great first-year experience." These activities and experiences include the regular hall meetings, educational and community events that occur in every hall on campus, but also some that are unique to Waller. One such event is the Waller Haunted House, sponsored by the traditions committee in residence life. “Waller Haunted House is a tradition held every year either close to or on Halloween," said Sawarynski. "It is a great opportunity for Waller residents and other RAs to get in on the fun and scare people walking through the decorated haunted mansion. It's a fun time and I had such a great time decorating the hall with my residents." The residential experience is just as special as in any other building. For many students, this is their first time truly living away from home. Sharing a room, bathrooms and kitchen with so many people is a different experience and presents a learning curve, even for those who come from large families. But, Waller residents create their own family with those who live just down the hall. The group is close knit, often enjoying dinner together or nights in, playing pool in the Northside lounge. Residents are also quick to praise their RAs, Gabe and Kaelin Hughes. Priebe shared that both RAs are “great” and always there to help with problems, big or small. “Gabe was a blessing on my life when I started a new medication and was having trouble obtaining and administering it (he is a certified pharmacy technician)” said Priebe. “Waller residents are either hanging out watching a movie, studying, or, most fun, singing when it's karaoke night," said Sawarynski. Priebe echoed the sentiment, sharing that when he returns from work, it is nearly impossible not to talk to other students studying in the lounges or hallways of Waller Hall. No one has a “perfect” experience dorming on campus, but life in Waller can seem idyllic. One of the foremost goals of a Residence Hall is to create a community that is welcoming of all students and helps those residents grow, both as people and academically. While other buildings on campus, particularly those reserved for first-year students, provide a safe, nurturing environment, few are able to foster as close knit a community as Waller Hall, though not to the detriment of residents or RAs. There is something special in the walls of Waller Hall, and it is not just the ghosts. From left to right it is: Liz Keller, Michael Santini, Julia Kapitula, Kensington Edmond, Analiese Monteiro and Luke Mauro Photo Courtesy Gabriel Sawrynski �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 News 6 GSA hosts educational “Anti-Valentine’s Day” event By Erin Kowalski Contributing Writer The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) recently held an Anti-Valentine’s Day event Thursday, Feb. 15. The afternoon was open to all WIlkes faculty, staff and students and was filled with a mixture of informational learning and crafting where informational videos were played that discussed aromantic and asexual orientations while students painted. Morgan Steiner, president of GSA and a junior majoring in political science, international relations and history, hosted the event to educate students and come together to have some fun after Valentine’s Day. “I like doing some of our events on a smaller scale, especially because the majority of our events are larger,” said Steiner. "This one is more intimate where we will learn more while having fun and enjoying some painting.” Ozzie Priebe, a freshman political science major, attended the event and shared that this was very important when it came to teaching those outside the community what the identities are. “I think it teaches people outside of the community what aromantics and other From front to back is Brian Guzman, Eza Chaudhry, Taylor Mattei and Ozzie Priebe. Students had the opportunity to work on fun crafts and activities while also being educated on aromantic and asexual orientations. There was a mixture of informational videos and informational crafting to reduce stigma and to better understand one another. identities are that way others can have a better understanding,” said Priebe. The informational videos shown were meant to inform those who did not already know what aromatic or asexual orientations were and how they can differ from others. Aromantic orientations feel little to no romantic affection and asexual orientations feel little or no sexual attraction. Dr. Helen Davis, English and women and gender studies professor and advisor for GSA, thought this was a great event to hold especially with it being the day after Valentine's Day. “The educational component to this event is so important because these identities are often not understood and by educating students about what they are, it will help us all to better understand," said Davis. "It is nice to be able to get together and do this event the day after." Davis mentioned that this holiday comes with a lot of pressure associated with it, especially to form romantic relationships, and it is important for students to understand and learn that there are different identities other than the traditional romantic ones. Photos: The Beacon/Erin Kowalski GSA hosted their "Anti-Valentine's Day" event in Breiseth 207 from 4 to 6 p.m. Pictured here is one of the educational videos played where students could learn more about aromantic and asexual orientations, and how they differ from traditional romantic identities. Also pictured is one of the crafts students could make during the presentation and event. �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: anthony.cazun@wilkes.edu The gift of giving at the annual Wilkes Giving Day event By Cally Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer For many years people have shown their love and appreciation for each other by giving gifts. From cave people giving their family members unusual rocks to the Statue of Liberty, gift giving has been a way to say you care without actually saying it. Giving Day at Wilkes reacently served as a way for the Wilkes Community to show its appreciation for the university. On Feb. 14, Colonel alumni, current students and community members shared the Valentine’s Day love through donations to the University. Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising event where people in the community can donate money to Wilkes. There are different areas to donate to. These areas include athletics, the college of arts and sciences, the college of business and engineering, the college of health and education, student success, student wellness and various scholarships. A total of 932 donors gave to Wilkes on Giving Day, going over the Giving Day goal of 850 donors. A total of $118,740 was raised from Giving Day. Of that, $40,416 was raised for athletics from 378 donors. Wilkes athletics raised the most money out of all of the areas of need. After athletics the Wilkes Fund raised the most money. In addition, 176 people donated to the Wilkes area of greatest need: the Wilkes Fund. The Wilkes Fund goes to the university’s essential needs, such as financial aid, supporting academics and student development and mentoring. $13,787 was raised for the Wilkes Fund on Giving Day within just 24 hours. Many people donated through the Giving Day website, but tables were also set up across campus. Brooke Coleman, junior business management and marketing major, and Brie Friedman, associate director of alumni relations, worked the Giving Table in the Henry Student Center. They provided students with information on how to donate, along with candy set out on the table. “It is our biggest philanthropic push,” said Friedman about Giving Day. “It is about the number of donors,” Friedman explained that even by donating a dollar students and alumni could make a huge impact. For example, if 850 people donated one dollar, that still counted toward the Giving Day goal. “I gave a dollar,” said first-year musical theater major, Charley Cain, while talking about her experience on Giving Day. First dog, Walter Cant, also made an appearance at Giving Day. Walter and Angela Cant were set up in the Simms Center for Giving Day. Shawn Evans from Simplest Expressions Photography set up a photo booth to shoot pictures of students and faculty with the presidential dog. As a favorite among students, Walter did his part in gaining donations. While Giving Day has ended, donations are still accepted and encouraged. The Wilkes Giving Day website is accepting donations for anyone interested. Along with helping to improve the University, Giving Day also brought some cheer on Valentine’s day with help from the Wilkes community and of course, Walter. Photos courtesy of Shawn Evans and The Beacon/Cally Williams Angela Cant, Walter and Greg Cant posing for a photo on Giving Day. Wilkes Giving Day stand overseen by Brooke Coleman and Brie Friedman. �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 W Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Album of the Week: RTJ4 - Run The Jewels By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor There are a few bands that may automatically come to mind when it comes to visceral, angry protest songs or records. Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy, Refused, N.W.A. or maybe even Metallica, but there is a more contemporary group that is destined to join the ranks, and that is Run The Jewels. Killer Mike and El-P make up the rap duo Run The Jewels, and although their first LP together was released in 2013, both are veterans of the rap scene. Killer Mike, or Michael Render comes from the Atlanta, Georgia southern hip-hop scene, releasing various highly acclaimed solo records, and also featuring on several tracks of the popular Atlanta rap duo Outkast. EL-P, or Jaime Meline is from the east coast hip-hop scene, more specifically Brooklyn, New York. EL-P has spent much of his career producing hip-hop beats for artists, including Aesop Rock, DJ Krush, Cage and himself among many others. EL-P and Killer Mike first came together through a mutual friend, that being the at the time vice president and creative director at Adult Swim on air. They collaborated on Killer Mike’s solo album “R.A.P. Music” which blossomed into a friendship that then became Run The Jewels. The duo have released four albums under the title Run The Jewels. Their albums have always had an edge, but nothing in their discography reaches the height of their fourth studio album, RTJ4. RTJ4 was released on June 3, 2020 Graphics/Lara Mullen Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Our very own Anthony Cazun has put together a Spotify playlist where you can scan it and listen to the Beacon’s staff weekly picks! amongst the immense civil unrest and reemergence of the Black Lives Matter movement within much of the world due to elections and the abuse of power by law enforcement. Run The Jewels released the album early for free on their website, as the record had much in common with the current unrest, so common that one would be understood for believing the album was written about it. The album lambasts corruption within politics, law enforcement and capitalism. Tracks such as “JU$T” contain lyrics like “Look at all these slave masters posing on your dollar” while calling out corrupt and hypocritical politicians. Songs such as “walking in the snow” speak of various power imbalances in America, and how it will continue to come for everybody. The album also has moments of personal sentimentality, much of the closing track “a few words for the firing squad (radiation)” is the duo letting out their final words as if they were being subjected to a firing squad. They reflect at their life, they speak of regrets, things they wish they could have changed, things they have endured as a result of corrupt establishments. It is a powerful ending to an incredibly potent record. Allowing these grander sentiments of antiestablishment to a small, personal scale that makes it connect deeply with the listener. RTJ4 would receive immense critical and commercial acclaim, releasing at possibly the most critical time. Morgan Rich, Editor-in-Chief: Sydney Allabaugh, Opinion Editor: Cherry - Lana Del Rey Dame Beso // Muévete - Kali Uchis Amanda Montgomery, News Editor: Samara Carey, Asst. Opinion Editor Missing Out - Maya Hawke Springsteen - Eric Church Emma Broda, News Staff Writer: “Freeze,” Opinion Staff Writer: Morning Comes - SASAMI Buckshot - UAV Anthony Cazun, LA&E Editor: Adam Grundt, Sports Asst. Editor: Getting Smaller - Nine Inch Nails Crash into Me - Dave Matthews Band Cally Williams, LA&E Staff Writer: Sam Mullen, Sports. Asst. Editor: My Love Mine All Mine - Mitski Carol - Forêt de Vin Natalia Williams, LA&E Staff Writer: Liz Cherinka, Social Media Manager: Dos Cuerpos Un Alma - Jessie & Joy Ripple - Grateful Dead �The Beacon – February 21, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Wilkes University Theatre presents Fun Home From a University press release Wilkes University Theatre will stage Fun Home, the Pulitzer-Prize nominated musical based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic novel of the same name, at 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, 23 and 24, and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 and 25, at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts. Based on Bechdel’s life, Fun Home moves between past and present to tell her queer coming-of-age story. The musical explores how Bechdel’s understanding of her identity connects to her volatile, intelligent and obsessive father, his death and the secrets he held. Director Alison Morooney explained that she finds Fun Home to be an especially important and timely musical to stage. “It is so vital to be telling queer stories especially right now while, in some parts of this country, novels that contain such narratives are being removed from our schools and libraries,” said Morooney. “In the medium of musical theatre, there are so few stories that focus on the queer female experience, so this story feels especially important to share as a way for the theatre arts to participate in the promotion of diverse representation in our stories.” The musical provides students with the opportunity to portray complex characters and challenges design students with the intricate technical demands of the show. In addition, the cast and crew will have the unique opportunity to meet Bechdel during her visit to campus. The cast will perform a scene from the show following the author’s public reading at 7 p.m. on Feb. 27, in the Darte Center. Bechdel will visit the English senior seminar course in Queer Theory and Literature and present a craft talk in the Sordoni Art Gallery. She will also have dinner with the cast and crew, as well as some faculty and students from English and theatre. The cast features Rachel Kern (Alison), Kasey Karoll (Medium Alison), Sarah Pugliese (Small Alison), Sarah Pugliese, a first-year student, plays Small Alison in the university’s production of Fun Home. Jack Flynn (Bruce), Jay’na Johnson (Helen), Maddie Meier (Joan), Jahel Duran-Diaz (Roy), Mary Jane Michaels (Christian) and Leo Seamans (John). In addition to Morooney as director, production staff includes Isabella Ruiz (stage manager), Cally Williams and Caleb Flannery (assistant stage managers), Joshua Harper (music director), Joel Graham (pit director), Lisa Liebetrau (costume designer), Lee Michaels (sound designer and technical director), Vandy Scoates (scenic, lighting and projection designer) and Caleb Gething (assistant scenic designer). Wilkes theatre students will serve as stage crew. “This was a bucket list musical for me so I am grateful every day we get to work on it,” said Morooney. “The students are highly passionate about this material, and it is so expertly written that we discover new complexities every rehearsal.” M o r o o n e y acknowledges that while Fun Home may be challenging, with content warnings for verbal abuse, suicide, adult language and sexual content, she believes that audience members will find a personal connection to the musical. “I think everyone will take away something a little different depending on where they are in life, whether that be a reminder to reach out to a distant loved one, to appreciate the quiet labor of a caretaker or to celebrate a discovery in your life,” says Morooney. “Personally, what this musical has to offer about self-healing and loving younger versions of yourself is what grips my heart.” Tickets are available online at wilkes.edu/theatre. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for students/ senior citizens and free with ID for Wilkes students, faculty and staff. The box office will open one hour before curtain for purchases in person. Questions? Call 570-408-4540. �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Opinion 10 Are you passionate about your beliefs? Do you have an interest in writing? Consider writing for The Beacon. We are always looking for individuals to share their opinions with us. Email kalen.churcher@ wilkes.edu for more info. �The Beacon – February 21, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 The oversaturation of the “Biopic” within the film industry By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer Over the past few years we have witnessed biopic films rising and have taken over the film industry. With movies like “Elvis” (2022), “Priscilla” (2023), “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018) and films that are soon to be released like “Back to Black” (2024), showing the life of music star Amy Winehouse and “One Love” (2024) which is spotlighting the life of music legend Bob Marley. According to Nashville Film Institute (NSI), Biopics generally focused on historical people such as Peter the Great, Joan of Arc, Napoleon Bonaparte and even Jesus of Nazareth, who were the first films ever made. Over time these films started covering more public figures. These types of films have seen to be taking over the box office and are well loved by audiences worldwide. But why are they starting to trend and what does this mean for the film industry? A biopic is a biographical motion picture. It is essentially a biography, but put in film format. These films are a portrayal of an individual’s life. Biopics put a spotlight on a public figure’s life, whether it is a legendary singer/ entertainer, political figure or a historical figure. They ultimately display what a person went through by showing the good and the bad, to gain the success that they had. They give us a glimpse of a persons life and show us things we didn’t know about them. Biopics often receive hit or miss reviews. For fans that know about the person they made a film about, they are more than often going to pick apart the movie. Whether it is the casting, the accuracy of the film or the overall performance of the actors and actresses. Others are often well made, receive good feedback and portray the life of a public figure accurately. Biopics have a pattern of making a lot of money. Films such as “Oppenhimer” (2023), which is about J. Robert Oppenhimer portrayed by Cillian Murphy, who is credited as the “Father of Atomic Bombs” and is known for his role in the Manhattan Project. The film soared in box offices across the country and went on to make $912 million, gaining the title of the highest grossing biopic of all time. With the continuous pattern of biopics doing well in the box office, film studios and filmmakers have noticed the trend and are starting to realize that these movies seem to be easy cash grabs. This surge of these movies, however, may not be a positive thing. Filmmakers and film studios are noticing that these movies are an easy way to get good money from the box office and good ratings, but many are noticing that all of the movies that are coming out seem to just be biopics. With the influx of these films it seems like it’s coming to a point where that’s all studios want to create and it is causing a lack of creativity in film. First-year nursing major Anthony Vissotski said, “I think they’re cool, I dont think they’re taking over because there’s still a bunch of movies coming out” he followed this up by saying, “It’s interesting to see a documentary on someone famous.” Gabrielle Morris, a first-year nursing Major also said, “I feel like there’s definitely been a surge in them. I don’t necessarily think its a bad thing. I like seeing how people adapt to different things.” They are noticing how easy it is to create and do well with audiences without having to develop or come up with original story lines. The surge of these films can start to cause little to no innovation in the film world. It can cause moviegoers to want more original and new movies with new and fresh storylines. All we are seeing these past couple of months are remakes, live action movies that were originally animated and sequels “I do think there has been an increase in sequels and live action movies,” said first-year middle-level education major, Erin Danko. These types of films also already come with an audience. For instance, the biopic “Michael” which portrays the life of Michael Jackson, which is to be released next year, already has Michael Jackson fans worldwide ready to flock to movie theaters to see the film. Biopics are simple to create since they are following a person’s life and already have a guideline on what to do. With all of these biopics coming out, it seems very repetitive. It raises questions about the future of the film industry and whether or not creative movies are dying down. Although they are educating audiences about public figures they might not know, movie lovers want to see more than just stories about famous people. Hopefully in the next coming years, we can start to see more original movies and a comeback of creativity in the film industry. It is important and detrimental for filmmakers to continue to push new innovative ideas in the film world and entertain movie lovers all over the world. Graphic by Anthony Cazun Blind date with a book event does not judge by its cover By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor For three consecutive days, Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honors society, hosted an event that sold books of various genres to students, but with an interesting twist: the cover was hidden. Instead of merely glancing at the cover, the books were wrapped in paper and labeled with the genre and tropes found within the pages. This encouraged attendees to pick up and read books they may have not read otherwise. The books themselves were picked out from the event coordinators and the English department’s own libraries. “Since we pulled from our own libraries, there were a lot of romance, fiction and fantasy classics,” said Olvia Wychock, fourth year English major and vice president of Wilkes’ chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. “Surprisingly, the genres that went the fastest were the young adult fiction/fantasy novels.” The fundraiser was to raise funds in order to build a little free library on campus near Kirby Hall, ideally by the end of the semester. Little Free Library is a non-profit organization that aims to provide communities with access to books through a public bookshelf. “We are both from the area and have seen little free libraries around town and wanted to provide that access to not only those we interact with at Wilkes, but also to those passing by or through campus,” said Kelci Smith, fourth year english major and president of Wilkes’ chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. The event was a massive success, and the organizers aim to return “The fundraiser was a great success,” said Wychock. “We sold out of books in less than an hour both days we were set up in the SUB, and sold around 80 books in total. Lots of people asked if we were doing the event again, so we are definitely looking into it.” ���The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Opinion Editorial Staff 2023-24 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Morgan Rich Social Media Manager - Liz Cherinka Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Amanda Montgomery Opinion - Sydney AllabaugWh ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Opinion: Samara Carey Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Designer - Lara Mullen Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Emma Broda LA&E - Cally Williams LA&E - Brooke Lare Opinion - “Freeze” Want to join The Beacon? Several positions are open! Contact: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or morgan.rich@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 Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Morgan Rich at morgan.rich@wilkes. edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact opinion editor: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu. Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Why it is important to respect quiet hours For students who live on campus, it is common knowledge that all resident halls have designated quiet hours. Quiet hours are in effect Sunday night through Thursday night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. As there are no classes the following day, quiet hours change on Friday and Saturday nights and become midnight to 10 a.m. to accommodate students’ social lives. Despite having these hours posted on multiple walls of each resident hall and the reminders resident assistants (RAs) give at each hall meeting, the allotted quiet hours are not followed. Quiet hours were created to support students’ education by allowing them time to relax, study and sleep peacefully. However, various disturbances occur frequently during quiet hours throughout the week, including but not limited to parties, random screaming, loud music, loud knocking on doors and floors and many other distracting noises that can interfere with academic life on campus. Although quiet hour obligations are posted in resident halls and declared by RAs, loud noises during these times continue with little to no consequences for students who are disrupting the peace. Throughout quiet hours, most importantly the quiet hours allotted during weekdays and nights before classes, students are subjected to joltingly random and chronically loud noises, voices and music. Two of the most significant freshman residence halls, Roth Hall and Evans Hall, experience these quiet hour disturbances most severely. The third-floor resident assistant at Roth Hall, Ashley O’Connor, gave her thoughts on quiet hours and how they are implemented as both a student and as a resident assistant. “As a student, I believe they can be regulated. I also believe people do not call the RA on call enough to report their problem,” said O’Connor. “As an RA, it is difficult to tell what noises are simply inconsiderate to rulebreaking. Overall, I just want people to be respectful to others,” O’Connor said. The RAs display strength in their best attempts to adhere residents to quiet hour rules in the resident hall or building they are responsible for, but the problem cannot be placed solely into their hands. Junior sociology major, Rebekah Livermore, lived in Evans Hall during her first year. She reflected on her experiences with quiet hour disturbances and rule enforcement. “Quiet hours can work to a certain extent, but it is hard to enforce a building with over 100 people to be quiet after 10 p.m.,” said Livermore. Quiet hours are an important time for students to relax, study and sleep peacefully. The disturbances in these hours can impede the academic success and emotional health of students living in resident halls. Sophomore marketing major and a resident of Evans Hall during the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters, Seth Williams, encountered disturbances during quiet hours during finals week. “It was tough,” said Williams. “I had so much work to do, and I understand that there’s nothing to do sometimes during finals week, but I wanted to work in my room some days and there was just so much noise during the day and the night that I couldn’t get as much done as I wanted to and couldn’t sleep without some music or yelling happening.” Although resident assistants are within the closest proximity to student behavior, they cannot be expected to consistently police every student in their hall. Instead, resident assistants should be given more support by their direct superiors and administration to help them succeed. 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: morgan.rich@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 - February 21, 2024 Opinion The Icebox: An in-depth The Return of The Red review of “Hollow Knight” Raven: an original story By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Many may be familiar with the “soulslike” genre of video games. This genre was dubbed after the infamous “Dark Souls” because a player’s repeated failure is highly expected. Soulslike games rely on making progress bit-by-bit and improving with each mistake and each death. If you ask me, the real reason it’s called soulslike is because the game eats away at your soul until there is nothing left. The good news: there is a game that gives you the opportunity to recover your soul after you lost it. That game is called “Hollow Knight,” one of the masterpieces of our era. “Hollow Knight” is a two-dimensional platform-adventure game where the protagonist is a mysterious creature who travels into the deep underground to fight monsters. The entire game takes place in a lost underground kingdom called Hallownest. As you make more progress, you unlock more of the map and discover more secrets. Most of the areas seem like they were once occupied by civilians but have been abandoned long ago. The caves and pathways are riddled with creatures, all of which have designs like that of insects and beetles. If that bothers you, don’t worry. The design in this game is hand-drawn and cartoonish, and some of the creatures are rather cute! Wait? Hand-drawn? That’s right. The game was created by indie developers who poured their heart–and soul–into the design. Each character, object, background and frame animation was done by hand in software like Photoshop. The voices for all of the creatures are done by the human voice, and the music was developed by Christopher Larkin, a talented composer who primarily works for indie animation. The atmosphere that the team created through “Hollow Knight” is truly wondrous. Not only did they nail the dark theme of a “hollow” world, but they managed to incorporate aspects of coziness and mystery. It is hard not to appreciate every second of the game. With the design alone, it’s easier to maintain your soul while playing the game. The reason I mentioned soulslike games is because “Hollow Knight” could count as part of the genre. Though it is not a three-dimensional open-world game, it practically fits every other criteria, which is that a player will die multiple times, learn from their mistakes and get to fight really cool bosses. The mechanics in “Hollow Knight” are very simple. The character has a sword which can be used to defeat enemies. The sword can strike in any direction, even while the knight is in midair. The basic enemies take about two or three hits before dying, while stronger enemies require a much greater amount of hits. Each enemy defeated drops some amount of currency, called Geo, that can be used to purchase some items. There are stamps and upgrades to the in-game map for navigation and charms that enhance or provide different abilities when equipped. The special thing about the knight is that he is mysterious and possesses a dark side. The knight only has a certain number of hits he can take before he dies himself. When this happens, he drops all of his Geo and his soul escapes his body. The player respawns at the last location where they rested and has the chance to recover their Geo by finding their wandering dark spirit and defeating it. If you fail to retrieve your darkness and die again on the way, you can say goodbye to the Geo and your spirit will relocate. This particular mechanic makes the game sound a bit difficult, right? Fortunately, there is another mechanic that is available for players. This is the ability to collect “soul” into a gauge that can be used to perform special attacks or to recover hearts. The soul comes from defeating enemies and its efficiency can be enhanced with charms. From my experience with the game, the hardest part is keeping track of where you should or shouldn’t be going. Players need to manually find parts of a map and the skill of navigation is necessary in order to succeed. On top of that, the boss fights can be really difficult and losing to them repeatedly, only to get teleported far away, can be frustrating. On the bright side, each of those deaths is a moment for learning. By Leah Smith Opinion Staff Writer PART 11 Isabelle called in for backup to find Vivian Keller before the mystery killer could. Officer Nathan found the location and pinned it to Isabelle’s phone through her messages. Isabelle drove furiously in her truck to Vivian’s location. Her knuckles were red and started to turn white on top of the steering wheel. She tried to focus on the rescue itself rather than her emotions because she was on her way to save the woman that helped ruin the relationship with her father. Years ago, before Isabelle joined the police force, she was returning home from her first year in training. She knocked on the door and it was Vivian who answered in nothing but a see-through blue nightgown. “I’m sorry, who are you?” Isabelle asked. “Oh, your father never told you about me?” Vivian replied. “I’m afraid not. Are you a friend of his?” “Well, that’s complicated.” Isabelle arched her eyebrow. “What does that mean?” Then, Rick approached the door. “Viv, who is it?” he asked drunkenly. Isabelle pushed Vivian to the side and confronted her father. She saw that he had baggy red eyes, disheveled hair and was wearing only boxer briefs and a tank top. “When were you going to tell me about this?” Isabelle demanded. “I was...well, I was going to tell you... sometime,” Rick mumbled. Isabelle frowned, “Seriously? You’re cheating on dad with some woman and you were just going to never speak about it?” “She’s not just some woman okay? Vivian Keller is a bombshell and she and I are really, really close,” Rick said. “I can’t believe you. Did you even have anything planned for me or was your late night ritual more important?” “Izzy, sweetie, don’t get mad at me, but I forgot you were even coming home.” Isabelle was speechless. Meanwhile, Vivian was walking back and forth in the bedroom, putting her clothes back on. “Rick, I’m leaving. Don’t call me back, I don’t want to do this anymore,” she 15 announced. Soon, she finished dressing herself and left Isabelle and Rick in a standoff. Isabelle fought back tears. “You forgot?” Rick raised his hands in surrender, “Look, I know that sounds bad. Now that you’re here though, we can go out for dinner and it’ll be my treat. If you really want to know about Vivian, I’ll tell you the whole thing-” Isabelle cut him off by running into the bedroom. She saw on the TV an episode of the Red Raven playing quietly and clothes sprawled out on the floor. She shook her head. “How it happened is that she called me to tell me that she wanted to see me again and she made the move on me, okay? I didn’t want to do it. She forced me into it. Then, I told her how much I loved her and how I felt about her when we filmed the show. I promise, Izzy, it’s nothing,” Rick tried to defend himself again. “Not only did you just contradict yourself but you betrayed my trust. It hurts, but I can forgive you for forgetting about me coming home, but I can’t forgive this. Not only did you hurt me, but you hurt dad.” Rick began reaching his arms out to her. “Izzy, please-” Isabelle interrupted, “Don’t you dare. If you’re not telling dad, then I’ll tell him.” “Izzy, he can’t know about this, nobody can. My reputation will be ruined! You know what the tabloids will say about this?!” “You care more about what the press will say about your affair than your own husband? Wake up, dad. You’re not the Red Raven anymore, you’re not the A-list actor you used to be anymore, you’re just Rick Greenblatt, an old, washed-up man who, apparently, wants to return to his youth so bad that he’ll ruin his marriage.” “That’s not fair,” Rick protested. “You want fair? Fine, you know what’s fair? Me leaving right now and telling dad about all of this because that’ll be fair for all of us,” Isabelle said. She began to storm out until Rick grabbed her arm. “Izzy, please, don’t be like this.” Isabelle nudged his hand off of her, “Dad, you’re hurting yourself by doing this and I want you to seek help, but I can’t be a part of this. Goodbye.” Then, she walked out. To be continued... �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Opinion 16 Here are three reasons why cats make better pets than dogs By Sydney Allabaugh Opinion Editor It’s a question that leads to heated debates, tears apart friendships and puzzles even the greatest thinkers: “Which are better pets, cats or dogs?” To me, the answer seems obvious. Cats are better, and it’s not even close. Here’s why. Cleanliness One reason why cats are better pets to have in the house is because they are cleaner. Dogs spend a lot of time outside and tend to bring the outside in. They track in mud after they roll around in it, get the floors and furniture wet after being out in the rain and may even bring in bugs after a hike. Owners must frequently clean up after them. Cats spend most or all their time indoors, meaning they are much less likely to become dirty. If they become dirty indoors, most cats consistently groom themselves, and they almost never stink like dogs do. Some may argue that cats still shed and have dirty litter boxes to clean. However, both issues can be resolved in all of about 10 minutes with a routine brushing and daily litter box scooping. Also, on top of the already existing issues, dogs shed too, potentially more than cats depending on the size and breed, and they have something to that of a litter box to clean too: the yard or the sidewalks when on a walk. Lower maintenance Adding onto the fact that dogs are to be frequently cleaned up after, dogs are higher maintenance in many other ways. They require a lot of attention and stimulation. They need to go on daily walks, must be let out of the house many times a day to go to the bathroom and almost always want to play or be pet, which makes it very difficult to leave them alone in the house for more than just a few hours at a time. Although some dog owners enjoy that dogs are more needy, it may take a physical or emotional toll on a dog if owners do not have free time or energy to fulfill all their dog’s needs all the time. Cats, on the other hand, can spend more time alone without it being detrimental to their well-being. They do not need to be let out every few hours as they have an indoor litter box, nor do they require daily walks. There are also many ways cats can be entertained and exercise by themselves. Sure, cats still need to be cared for, cleaned up after and played with daily, but cat owners have more flexibility when accomplishing these tasks and most routine tasks take little time or energy. Personality One of the most common criticisms of cats is that they are unfriendly or boring, but to me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Cats have a variety of different endearing quirks and personalities that make each one interesting, unique and charming. Cats can be just as friendly as dogs, but they just show it without all the barking, jumping and licking. Potentially, they may walk across your lap or rub against your legs as you walk by. Other cats may be more shy, mellow and sleepy, spending their time curled up in a box, or playful and rambunctious, commonly running around the house swatting at a toy or, more commonly, a random household object. Learning more about a cat’s personality is one of the best parts of owning one. Regardless of personality, most cats enjoy spending time with their owners just like dogs do; they just show it in different ways. They do not need us to survive yet still enjoy spending time with us, which makes the companionship between humans and cats even more genuine and meaningful. These are just a few of the likely endless reasons cats are superior. You know what they say, cats rule, dogs drool. Graphic by Laura De Lora Campus Suggestions: the avoidable craziness of a noon start By Samara Carey Asst. Opinion Editor As many of you know, we recently received quite a bit of snow for our area. When having snow in the forecast, those of us in school are usually hopeful for a snow day, or at least a compressed schedule. As we saw snowflakes falling from the sky and covering the roads, I am sure I wasn’t the only one hoping for the first full day campus cancellation of the semester. However, on Feb. 13, at 5:45 a.m, students received a message saying that we were starting classes at noon. This was obviously a shock, considering I do not know anybody on campus who has ever experienced a noon start to classes. Since it was a noon start, all of our morning classes were either canceled or put on a Zoom call. For the classes in the afternoon, many professors had the choice of keeping their classes going on as normal, having an online instruction day or being canceled completely. For myself, my afternoon class went on as normal, and I still had to drive to campus in the snowy weather. That leads to my main point, which is that commuters are typically the ones who have to suffer the most when it comes to campus closures or delays. Being a commuter myself, I have had my fair share of waking up early, getting ready for class, driving to campus and then getting an email or text message saying my class was canceled or delayed. Since about half of the students here at Wilkes are commuters, I still find it quite shocking on the university’s end that they don’t really seem to consider all of the issues, like the hazardous driving conditions and having to leave earlier to account for them. As for myself, I am grateful for not living that far away from campus, so driving on the roads is not bad for me. However, when we are considering the entire commuter population here on campus, there are so many other students here on campus that live further away than I do. I personally know some students on campus that commute to school every day and they live more than 45 minutes away from campus. So, when the school announces that they are still having class at a time like noon, it directly affects commuters and is risking their safety by having them drive on the roads, especially when they live farther away from campus. This then makes commuters at this school question if going to class is worth risking both their lives and cars in the snow. So, even if their class was not canceled originally, they are still missing a day of class since the school decided not to cancel in the first place. Students have discussed this matter multiple times, whether it was to the school, with our peers or just to ourselves, but it is no secret that this needs to change in order for the commuter population on this campus to feel like they are included in the campus community and that their safety is at top priority to the campus administrators. �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Opinion 17 Netflix live-action “Avatar” and change for the sake of change By Shawn Carey Contributing Writer The 2000s were truly a great time for television animation. Channels such as Disney, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon were constantly playing some amazing shows, especially when it came to action cartoons. “Danny Phantom,” “Ben 10,” “Samurai Jack” and “Jake Long: American Dragon” are just a handful of some of the great animated shows that were being released at the time. These shows were action-packed, heartfelt and plotdriven, a sharp change in direction from the comedies that were released the decade prior. To me “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has always been the standout cartoon of this era. The show followed 12-yearold Aang, the current Avatar and last survivor of the Air Nomad, and his friends as they strived to put an end to the Fire Nation’s Hundred Year War. During his journey, Aang must also master all four elements, water, earth, fire and air. While it was similar to other shows that were airing at the time, there was something special about it. The characters were complex, the world was rich in lore and it covered some pretty dark themes. The show was a massive hit among audiences of all ages. Viewers quickly fell in love with the unique setting and inspiring characters. Nickelodeon, the show’s network, took full advantage of its popularity. Several sequel comics, prequel novels, video games, guide books and other spin-offs would be released to capitalize on the show’s success. The most famous of these spin offs would be its sequel series “The Legend of Korra.” The network didn’t stop at just expanding the series canon material, they would go on and start to retell the story of the show in different media formats. This would lead to the most infamous piece of Avatar media, M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender.” The 2010 movie was critically panned by both fans and critics alike. The movie did so much wrong. It whitewashed the main cast, had awful acting, barely followed the plot of the show and had terrible use of CGI. As you can imagine, the movie was a failure and all plans to continue adapting the series into live action came to an end. That was the case at least. In 2018, Netflix would announce that a “reimagined” live-action TV series of Avatar would start production the following year. The series’ original creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were set to act as executive producers on the show. Fans felt some hope for a proper live action adaptation upon release of the news. Not only was it a television series, a m e d i u m that fits the original show much better, but they brought the original creators back to work on the show, something that the movie didn’t bother to do. The casting would be announced soon after the initial announcement. Once again, unlike the movie fans were pleased with the casting choice. The actors actually matched the appearance of their character. Dallas James Liu as Zuko and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai were by far the fan favorite castings. Things were looking good for the show. Mostly everyone was excited for it. It had a lot to live up to, and it actually looked like it was going to be able to be a worthy successor to the original cartoon. This didn’t last long. As development of the show continued, we would be faced with some truly upsetting news. First and foremost, DiMartino and Konietzko released a public statement in 2020 announcing that they would be leaving the show’s production. They stated in their announcement that it was over creative differences, stating “it ultimately wouldn’t be the show (they) set out to make.” While it did seem like all parties involved were still on good terms, fans didn’t take the news well. Many questions were asked, such as what were the creative differences? What was changed and why? We wouldn’t receive any answers to these questions until recently, a few weeks before the show’s premiere. The show’s creative team made a fair amount of changes to the source material, changes that honestly s e e m unnecessary. By far the biggest change can be found in Aang’s personality. In an IGN interview with showrunner Albert Kim, it was revealed that the Netflix team made the decision to make Aang’s narrative more straightforward than it was in the animated series. She stated “He’s kind of going from place to place looking for adventures, we wanted to make sure he had that drive from the start.” The solution they found was giving Aang a vision right from the beginning; they wanted to make the stakes very clear to him, so he would be imminently motivated to reach the Northern Water tribe. This was something he didn’t even think about doing until a few episodes into the original series. Doing this fundamentally changes Aang’s entire character arc. Aang is a 12-year-old boy who received the most important job in the world overnight. For a good portion of the first season he didn’t even want to be the Avatar. The only thing we wanted to do was to mess around and play with his new friends. Aang had to learn responsibility and what it truly meant to be the Avatar. He spent so much time running away from his responsibilities until he was left with no choice but to face them. Giving Aang a clear goal at the start of the season throws around an entire part of his character. There was a message about facing responsibility in the original show, a message that is no longer there. He wasn’t the only character that was changed. Main cast member Sokka also faced some pretty big changes as well. In the original cartoon Sokka was pretty sexist towards many of the women they came across in their travels. This was mainly in the context of him trying to make himself sound cooler than he actually was. The Netflix show is planning on removing that entire aspect of his personality entirely. This is something I would normally be OK with them doing. However, there was a point to him being that way in the first place. Sokka learns over the course of the show that women are just as capable as men and that he didn’t have to try to elevate himself higher to them. In fact, he starts to date a skilled martial artist named Suki, a character he acknowledges is a better fighter than him. While we don’t know the full extent of the changes the series has to offer yet, there’s word that Katara and Zuko also faced pretty big changes to their characters. These character traits may seem childish on paper, but they were there for a reason. They were used to elevate the story of these characters. When it comes to adapting an animated piece of media into live action, we are so often faced with showrunners missing the original point of the story. Netflix’s “Avatar” is shaping up to be another example of this. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Opinion 18 Reviewing "VULTURES 1" by Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign By Logan Colonna Opinion Staff Writer After countless delays, the first volume of Kanye West’s and Ty Dolla $ign’s collaboration album “VULTURES 1” has finally made it to streaming platforms and into listeners’ ears. The album is coming after Kanye released the abysmal “Donda” sequel named after the 2021 record. This album in particular was easily Kanye’s worst to come, so he certainly needed to up his game with “VULTURES 1.” Starting off this album not so strong is the performance of Kanye. Various times throughout the album, we see the “newer” Kanye shine dully and bring about subpar lyrics and odd bars. The most outrageous, but honestly really catchy, part of the album is Kanye’s verse on the fifth track, “BACK TO ME.” In means of sampling the 1999 comedy “Dogma,” Kanye falls short lyrically as he’s seen talking about how “beautiful big-titty, butt-naked women just don’t fall out the sky.” And yes, this goes on for a while throughout his verse. Seven times to be exact. Now while it is awful lyrically, it’s still somehow catchy to me. I truly don’t know how he does it. On the other end of the spectrum are his performances on songs like “BURN” and “CARNIVAL.” “BURN” brings back the old Kanye that everyone knows and loves, even sonically. In this song, we see Kanye touch on his divorce with his now exwife Kim Kardashian, mention his 2020 presidential run and take shots at designer brand, Balenciaga. Going onto “CARNIVAL,” we have Kanye talking about the whole industry as he’s name-dropping several celebrities, such as Bill Cosby, R. Kelly and Taylor Swift, within his verse. On top of this, we see him doubling down on him being a terrible person. This is easily the grittiest we’ve seen Kanye since this new era he’s in. Moving onto Ty Dolla $ign’s performance, I believe he did so much better than Kanye. A lot of people have the belief that Ty is playing second fiddle to Kanye here. However, when really looking at it, Ty easily has the better and more consistent performances throughout the tracklist. I personally view the album more as a Ty Dolla $ign album than a Kanye West album because of this. While he was used as a “chorus boy” for most of the tracks, the choruses were easily the best part of some of the songs, bringing everything together. If I was to say which tracks he excelled on, I’d be forced to list every one of the 16 on the album. With this being said, his absolute best performance is on “BEG FORGIVENESS” with Chris Brown. He delivers a tear-jerker of a verse on this track. Then we have the features of the album. The best feature for me is either Freddie Gibbs or Rich the Kid, as both bring their best performances in a while to each track they’re on. Freddie on “BACK TO ME” goes so well with the instrumental provided and goes above and beyond what Ty and especially Kanye bring to the table. As for Rich’s performance, he starts off “ C A R N I VA L” with nearly the best verse on the track. He shows so much emotion and hype through his runtime. Now to the bad. First up, we have Kanye’s daughter, North. She’s on “TALKING” and truly makes the song worse. Everytime I listen, I have to fight the urge to not skip her verse. It’s simply just very annoying. Production-wise, the album was phenomenal. Some great standouts were “CARNIVAL,” “BEG FORGIVENESS” and “DO IT.” “CARNIVAL” started off booming with chanting that could’ve been ripped out from the Super Bowl. On top of this, there’s an electrifying bass in the background also looming around. This sets the scene as the song is primarily there to hype the listener up. While nothing sticks out like a sore thumb, the song as a whole conveys such emotion from the instrumental alone. Next, we have “BEG FORGIVENESS.” To begin, we do have two halves of production. The first half of the song shows off 808s that seem like they’ve been taken from Kanye’s 2008 album, “808s & Heartbreak.” The song overall is very reminiscent of the album. Moving on to the true show-stopper, the second half of the track. There’s a dreadful voice saying “Beg forgiveness” being looped countless times as Ty and Chris Brown pour their souls out over it. As weird as it sounds, it’s one of the most powerful songs in terms of emotions being conveyed. Ending off this segment with “DO IT,” we have this weird Brazilian funk soundscape here, and I adore it so much. It’s so energetic that it makes me groove to the beat instantly. The instrumentals go so well with Ye, Ty and YG. Wrapping this up, nearly everything on “VULTURES 1” is amazing. The only apparent downsides of the record are some of Ye’s performances and a handful of features. I’m glad the runtime of the album (55 minutes) is much shorter than Donda’s (1 hour and 48 minutes), making the album much more cohesive and actually listenable. Overall, “VULTURES 1” is a solid 9 out of 10. Lastly, as a disclaimer, It’s important to separate the art from the artist. Kanye himself is a beyond-awful person, but most agree that his music is more than decent. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: Adam.grundt@wilkes.edu Women’s Lacrosse team ready for Landmark By Samatha Mullen Contributing writer The Women’s lacrosse team’s season is set to start on February 21st at Schmidt stadium. This is the team’s first season in the Landmark Conference and going into the conference they are ranked number 10. Coach Mccarver is ready to work hard and play hard this season. “Going into the Landmark conference ranked at number 10, we are pumped. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose. The team is fired up and ready to compete. This should be a good season and a good introduction to the conference.” The lacrosse team welcomes 4 freshmen this season. One of those freshmen is Halie Albright; she is from Taneytown, Maryland and plays midfield. Her position requires a lot of running and she works hard to stay in good shape during the off season. “I’ve always been a runner and it’s my favorite way to workout during the off-season. I also like biking because it’s a great way to stay in shape without putting as much strain on my legs.” Albright will be a force on the field this season. She feels confident going into her first season at Wilkes because of the team's chemistry. The team's chemistry helps them read each other on the field. Along with the freshmen, the team also welcome’s fifth year Ava Ward. She is from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and plays midfield. Before coming to Wilkes University she was a Division 1 athlete at Presbyterian College. During Ward’s last season at Presbyterian she scored seven times with an additional assist. She has already proved that she is going to be a major asset to the team. The team is very close fit and has a bond unlike any other. They feel very comfortable around each other and that shows even during their pre-game ritual. “Before every game the team gathers together to get pumped by blasting music and hyping everyone up. There is nothing that will boost your adrenaline.” stated junior Samantha Scott. Last season senior Breanne Fulling had 51 shots on goal which was the highest amount of any player on the team as well as 25 goals. She is a captain alongside senior Maleah Cobham, junior Samantha Scott and junior Alexis Guttilla. This is Samantha’s Scott's first season as a captain, She is a goalie from Binghamton, New York. Scott has a lot of goals this season and is hoping to bring the team together on and off the field. “I want to work on bringing the team together as a whole. My goal is to get the team focused on working together, on and off the field to succeed together. Most of all, I want to promote a team atmosphere where we can excel in our play and have fun playing the sport we all love.” A player to watch out for this season is senior defensive player Taylor Quackenbush. She has improved t r e m e n d o u s l y through her time at Wilkes. For instance, Quackenbush has noticed her “technique has improved in that I can read the ball and attackers a lot quicker. In addition, I think working with so many different teammates my ability to communicate on the field and make split game time decisions is a lot better.” Quakenbush thanks her teammates and coaches for her improvement throughout her past seasons. Overall last season the team scored 109 times and 268 ground balls. Last season their overall record was 3 wins and 14 loses. They are hoping to improve these scores this season starting Wednesday, February 21st at home against Kean University starting at 5 p.m. Photo by Samantha Mullen �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 Sports 20 Men’s basketball getting ready for postseason By Lexi McHugh Contributing Writer With the basketball season nearing a close, the Wilkes Colonels hold a record of 18 wins and 7 losses, including an 11-6 record against Landmark conference opposition. Their first match was on November 9th against Keystone College where they won with a score of 86-61. This early success has secured them a spot in the upcoming Landmark Conference tournament. The Colonels were on a five day winning streak in December, beating Lycoming College, Juniata College, Clarks Summit University, Centre College, and Hamline University all back to back. From there, they continued into conference play, where they faced other schools in the Landmark like Susquehanna University Photo by Steve Finkernagel and the University of Scranton. Head Coach Izzi Metz is on his tenth season coaching for Wilkes basketball, accumulating a 112-106 record over the past nine seasons. “Our preparation for this season started back in September with 6 a.m. conditioning workouts at Schmidt Stadium as well weight training with Coach Keith Klahold. We then started basketball workouts and practices in early October,” said Metz. So far, the team has had an amazing season with 18 wins, but with wins come losses. Junior business and sports management major Cayden Merrifield, who has accumulated 369 points this season, shares his team’s recovery from the few losses they had this season. “Next play, next game mentality. Be ready to come to practice the next day looking to improve and get better,” said Merrifield. After close losses, the team were able to bounce back and show that despite a loss, they wouldn’t let it affect their upcoming games. Metz believes that he coaches for a great team. “We have good veteran leadership with 5 seniors and a graduate student. We also have plenty of experience from previous seasons. Our players enjoy playing for each other that usually produces a positive result on the court,” said Metz. It’s not hard to tell that Wilkes basketball team appreciates their seniors and are very grateful for each of them. “The seniors do a great job every day setting a good example for us underclassmen. When we see the energy and hard work they bring everyday, it makes everyone else boost their intensity and match the energy they bring,” said Merrifield. Merrifield believes his team will be prepared for playoffs by following simple steps.” The biggest thing is coming to practice everyday ready to work and get not only yourself but your teammates better. Our coaches will get us prepared with their game plan, it’s up to us players to step up and compete at a high level,” said Merrifield. Wilkes basketball had their regular season finale game against Goucher on February 17th this game was also Wilkes senior night. The seniors on the Wilkes basketball team, dance, and cheer team were honored with gifts while surrounded by their friends and family. Wilkes lost this game with a final score of 55-76 while trailing close behind the first half. �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 21 Interested in writing for Sports? Email adam.grundt@wilkes. edu or kalen.churcher@ wilkes.edu Photographers and videographers are also encouraged to apply. �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Haylee Bouchard First Year, Forward, Women's Ice Hockey The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Bouchard totaled four points in the double-header weekend against Neumann University. She had two goals and two assists for the weekend. What sports movie is your go-to Major: Business Hometown: Sioux Lookout, for movie night? Miracle Ontario, Canada What had been your favorite sports memory from your time If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you as a Colonel? My favorite sports memory as have wanted to play? a Colonel was when we swept Lebanon Valley. It was a great moment for our returners, breaking their previous record and being a part of that was very moving. I would like to try tennis. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Getting into our 10th game win streak. What is your favorite professional sports team (any What is your favorite post-game sport)? meal? Montreal Canadians Definitely Chick-fil-A. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? I love playing games like Chess and Fortnite. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." Definitely being on the Wice team, we have such a strong atmosphere and couldn't ask for a better group. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? Being selected as athlete of the week is pretty cool. It is definitely a shared mention as I couldn't have achieved these records without my linemates and overall team. �The Beacon February 21, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Jackson Shafer Senior, Men’s Volleyball, Outside Hitter The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Shafer recorded 54 kills over four matches, taking over the program record for career kills. He recorded 63 points, 13 digs, 8 blocks, and 4 aces. In the tri-match against Widener University, Shafer tied his career high with 22 kills. Major: Financial Investments Hometown: Milford, PA If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you What had been your favorite have wanted to play? sports memory from your time Golf or football as a Colonel? Breaking the single season wins record last year and being on pace to What has been your favorite sports memory overall? do so again this year. Everytime I jump into Paul Binner after he does something What is your favorite crazy. professional sports team (any sport)? The Philadelphia 76ers. What is your favorite post-game meal? What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Applebees I enjoy reading, hanging out with How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the friends and going to the gym. Week? I feel thrilled to be chosen for this What is your favorite part of but this is more of a testament to how being an athlete at Wilkes? well the team has been performing The lifelone friendships and thus far this season. connections I have made along the way. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? The first Rocky movie The Beacon/Sam Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - February 21, 2024 24 Wilkes University Theatre presents Fun Home, the musical Feb. 22, 23, 24 @ 8 p.m. Feb. 24 & 25 @ 2 p.m. Purchase tickets at www.wilkes.edu/ theatre or at the box office starting an hour before performances. � 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. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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, 2024 February 21 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/107fad7ee722d53895faddf94cb95a4f.pdf df80369b0840161df5c19f580708cc54 PDF Text Text The Beacon - April 17, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 76, Issue 16 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Solar eclipse buzz on Wilkes University campus By Emma Broda News Staff Writer On April 8, people across the world and students and faculty on Wilkes’ campus were able to experience a solar eclipse. The eclipse passed through Mexico first before reaching the United States, beginning in Texas. The eclipse could be viewed at full totality in northern parts of states on the east coast, and many people traveled to these areas to see the eclipse fully. One Wilkes student, Orlando Carannante, a senior history major, and some of his friends traveled six hours to Buffalo to see the eclipse in full totality. The location they were viewing from was a popular location for many. “There were a lot of people. We were at an eclipse festival so there were food trucks and music and people sitting all around,” Carannante said. Carannante also shared that the experience was worth the drive and he would “do it again in a heartbeat.” “We had a pretty good view of the eclipse,” said Carannante. “It was a little cloudy but you could still see everything. The best part was when the eclipse hit totality it went from daytime to nighttime in a few seconds, all the street lights turned Wilkes University makes waves at Model United Nations, page 3 on it was really cool.” While the view from Wilkes-Barre was not directly within the path of totality like Buffalo was, students and faculty gathered on campus to catch a glimpse of the eclipse. The weather was cloudy; however, students were still able to see a partial view of the event and experience the sky darkening as the eclipse passed. Kamea Paresa, sophomore mathematics major, viewed the eclipse on campus. “While it was cloudy, we were able to see through some clear areas between the clouds,” said Paresa. “It felt rewarding to see when it cleared up a little, because I got to see this super cool event.” Paresa also shared other thoughts she had about the eclipse. “I think that in the future, it would be cool to travel to an area with full totality and share the experience with my loved ones.” Chris Kopiak, a sophomore mathematics major, also watched the eclipse from campus. Kopiak said, “it was so totally great” and agreed that he would also travel to see the eclipse full totality path in the future. Solar eclipse cont. page 4 Wilkes Theater Department presents “Puffs” April 18-22, page 8 The Beacon/Emma Broda Kamea Paresa, a sophomore mathematics major, uses her eclipse glasses to view the eclipse on the Fenner Quadrangle. Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter”: A track-by-track album review, page 18 Women’s LAX teams supports student who died in 2023, page 19 �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Amanda Montgomery: Amanda.Montgomery1@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: April 10 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei Contributing Writer Student Government held its tenth weekly meeting of the Spring 2024 semester on April 10. This week’s meeting addressed funding requests and club reports. SG has a current budget of $6,934. WEBS, We’re Empowered by Science, began the meeting’s agenda with their week one of two for their funding request. WEBS Club holds its annual Summer Science Camp for 7th-12th grade students. This summer, the camp will have students participate in STEM activities, such as addressing scientific questions and working with laboratory equipment, and the camp will now include boys in enrollment instead of only girls. The club is requesting $2,750 and will return next week for week two of two for their funding request. ASME returned this meeting for week two of two for their funding request. ASME is holding its 17th Annual Car Show with an anticipated 200 cars in attendance and current 26 registered cars. Last year, the club donated $1,915 of the car show’s profits to Ruth’s Place and will be donating 50% of this year’s proceeds to the STAAR Ovarian Cancer Foundation. The club requested $4,000 for a mobile dynamometer. SG voted to approve an allocation of $2,000. Lambda Kappa Sigma also returned this week for week two of two for their funding request. LKS is a professional pharmacy fraternity for women that strives to provide lifelong opportunities for women in pharmacy. LKS requested $3,111 to help fund a six-member trip to their 2024 conference. SG voted to approve an allocation of $1,200. Kappa Psi continued the meeting’s agenda with week two of two for their funding request. Kappa Psi is another professional pharmaceutical fraternity that is attending this year’s Northeast Province Conference and Grand Council Convention, two conventions that Kappa Psi has attended and been awarded by. Kappa Psi requested funding of $10,434. SG voted to approve an allocation of $1,200. Beginning the club report portion of the meeting, the Education Club presented its monthly meetings and activities, such as club day, bandana training and the Dot Musical. Additionally, the club demonstrated its community service in events such as the Wilkes Trunk or Treat and Block Party. SG voted to approve the club report. Friends of Panama continued the club report portion of the meeting. The club presented its cultural events, such as its Showcase of Panama event and Club Day participation. The club has been meeting biweekly, but, as the club members announced, it will discontinue its meetings and status because Wilkes has not welcomed any more Panamanians into the college. SG voted to approve the club report. GSA presented its club report next. GSA demonstrated participation in various events, such as the Women’s and Gender Studies Conference, Transgender Day of Visibility, and various other activities, such as Gays and Media Collaboration and Rainbow Bingo. GSA expressed its wish to create a safe space for all students and extended its invitation to all students and faculty. SG voted to approve the report. UNICEF was next to present its Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff Apply to the Honors Program Current first-year students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher are invited to apply to the Honors Program. Applications close April 15. Fill out the application using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F AIpQLSc83nxWLJuGQLrq40Aw1t8Z H9hWIUCz4KMO2q7KEAxjuVn5aA/ viewform. Contact jennifer.mclaughlin1@wilkes. edu with questions. Fall 2024 Parking Applications Resident and Commuter parking permit applications for the Fall 2024 semester are now open. The deadline for applications is Monday, July 1 at 5 p.m. Use this link to access the applications: https://www.wilkes.edu/campus-life/ safety-security/parking/studentparking-permits.aspx Contact parking at 570-408-7275 with questions. Fulbright U.S. Student Program The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is an international program that offers opportunities for students to create connections through academic and professional advancement. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State, and is only available to U.S. students. Campus deadline is September 1, 2024. Contact: gina.morrison@wilkes.edu with questions. CPR Training The Nursing Student Organization is interested in hosting a CPR-certification course on-campus. This will be available to all majors. Use this link to access the interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/ d/e/1FAIpQLScHMtR_5hzY3rvACF6_ yB0iTmYFRilxwxCNqAnHsl-ecrv_iA/ club report. The club presented its participation in limited activities, such as Barbie Night and their upcoming red sand project, as they require approval from its larger organization for any events. The club showed its fundraising through its Trick or Treat fundraiser. SG voted to approve the report. Wrapping up the club report portion of the meeting, the Cheerleading Club presented its club report. The club reported their meetings as being twice per week during Wilkes football and basketball seasons. The club also demonstrated its participation in fundraising and volunteering through its breast cancer awareness shirt sale, bake sale and suicide awareness walk. SG voted to approve the report. SG will meet again on April 17. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: April 20 - Downtown Establishment Tour 20 - Dylan Scott Concert 26 - GSA Drag Show Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: Amanda.Montgomery1@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 News 3 Wilkes University makes waves at Model United Nations By Morgan Steiner Staff Writer In the first week of April, students in Dr. Andy Miller’s PS-341: Model UN course traveled to New York City to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference. For one week, students participated in simulated UN sessions, writing resolutions and collaborating with students from other universities on draft resolutions. The real United Nations is made up of 193 Member States and two Observer States. All states have the power to speak, and negotiate, but only Member States may sponsor a resolution and vote on measures. The two Observer States are the Holy See and Palestine. States, be they observers or members, serve on various committees with the goal of creating and implementing global policy relevant to the topic of the committee. At Model UN, universities take up the mantle of a specific delegation, role-playing as the country and attempting to write resolutions that the real country would create. At the end of the week, resolutions are voted on and adopted by the entire body. Model UN is a Wilkes University tradition, and Wilkes is one of the universities that has been attending for the longest amount of time. “It’s a really good experience for students to learn the perspective of the country we are representing and the United Nations," Miller said. "It shows them how to negotiate and work with others, and they get to meet people from all over the world, since there are around 5,000 students, and half of them are from outside the U.S.” This year, Wilkes University represented the Holy See, better known as Vatican City. “I try to have a different experience for students every year and the Holy See is really unique," Miller explained. "It’s an Observer, but relatively powerful behind the scenes, so it gives students a different perspective”. Junior criminology and political science student Emma Stout explained that she took the class to fulfill a major requirement. As a student in the honors portion of the class, Stout served as head delegate, which granted her extra opportunities and work. “I had to pick up all our passes, make sure everyone was where they were supposed to be, and I took on a more observing role in order to learn from our other head delegate, Emma Guzdek,” said Stout. The week was full of “working sessions’”, where students would gather in their committees. After roll call, a “speaker’s list” was open, where students had the Back Left to Back Right: Christian Blomquist, Colin Post, Morgan Steiner, Connor Frey, Sean Renz, Damien Chmielewski, Julie Schwartz, Emma Stout and Eduardo Abrego Camano. Front Left to Front Right: Vassiliki Gkroutski, Dr. Andy Miller, Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia, Marytere Quintana-Avila and Emma Guzdek. opportunity to stand in front of the room and, as their country, explain their thoughts on the issue at hand and convince others to agree to their resolution. Marytere-Quintana Avila, a junior studying communication studies and political science, shared what the average “Working Session” looked like. “I was in the United Nations Environment Assembly, or UNEA. I worked on the implementation of the Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” said Avila. Following the speaker’s list, students were called to motion for one of a few options: expand or shorten the speaker’s time, vote on a resolution (which was saved for the final day), or, the most common option, begin an informal session. “Informal sessions were the times that we had to actually work on a resolution. We’d gather in groups and discuss what should be done, how it should be implemented, and actually write it out. Because we were the Holy See, we couldn’t sponsor certain papers, so a lot of my work was observing, sharing ideas, and ensuring the wellbeing of all people were considered and respected.” Each student took away something different from the Model UN experience. Stout said, “I loved the experience of being able to not only take part in this conference, but also see the city for a whole week.” Even faculty take something away. “Seeing students take what they learned, negotiate, and work with other delegations towards Model UN Resolutions is my favorite part," Miller said For many, the best part of the conference was the final day: a closing ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. “It was very inspirational, being able to sit in the seats where ambassadors from all over the world work on implementing legislation," said Quintana-Avila.. That, and being able to share that space with all the other students there.” Wilkes will not know which state they will be representing in Spring 2025. Miller explained that universities submit a “top ten” list in November, and hear back from the conference before the start of the new year. Stout said that, no matter what state Wilkes will be representing she will, “definitely be back.” Anyone interested in Model UN, should sign up for PS-341 in the Spring 2025 semester. Photos Courtesy of Dr. Andy Miller Back Left to Back Right: Connor Frey, Damien Chmielewski Emma Stout, Emma Guzdek, Colin Post and Christian Blomquist. Front Left to Front Right: Morgan Steiner, Sean Renz, Marytere Quintana-Avila, Eduardo Abrego Camano, Julie Schwartz and Vassiliki Gkroutsi. �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 News 4 Dr. LaFleur Small joins Wilkes as associate provost By Erin Kowalski Contributing Writer This semester, LaFleur F. Small Ph.D. joined Wilkes University as the new associate provost of academic and diversity affairs. Starting this position Feb. 19, Dr. Small has been busy meeting new members of the Wilkes faculty and staff as well as acclimating to the area. “There’s been a lot to do, but great work so far,” said Dr. Small. Dr. Small’s most recent position was vice provost of academic administration & faculty affairs and professor of public health at the University of Toledo. She also worked for 17 years before at Wright State University. The last 20 years have been spent in Ohio, and she has recently transitioned to the Northeast Pennsylvania area. “Wilkes exhibits a culture that focuses on academic and inclusive excellence which is very important in any sphere of higher education,” said Dr. Small. Dr. Small's new position is described as a bifurcated role in which the work that is being done in the Provost office involves academic policy, faculty, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters. This includes leadership of the Office of Institutional Research, Eugene S. Farley Library and Office of Diversity Initiatives. Dr. Small also represents the University as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation officer. She also works with two faculty committees to assist with functions throughout the institution: the Academic Standards Committee, which deals with student academic eligibility, and the Council on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity. Dr. Small is originally from the Caribbean. She and her family moved to the Bronx in New York City, and she is a first-generation college student who attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where she completed her Bachelors of Arts in sociology. Dr. Small then attended the University of Miami and completed both her Masters of Arts in sociology and her Ph.D. in medical sociology and epidemiology. Throughout Dr. Small’s years of experience in higher education, she has worked within many areas and experienced a lot. She offers some advice for current students. “Embrace your collegiate experience and the ability to be a part of the global community that Wilkes offers. Be open, communicate, learn and travel.” One fun fact about Dr. Small is that she loves live music and musicianship, specifically jazz, and her favorite musician is Garth Brooks. She also is a foodie who loves to try new cuisine and restaurants with her friends and family. “Going to plays and the theatre are also very important and enriching parts of my life,” said Dr. Small. Dr. Small mentions that she has an extensive bucket list of places that she would love to travel to. Places like Croatia, Vietnam, Slovenia, Ireland, South Africa and Portugal are all places she would love to check off of the list. Photo courtesy Dr. Small Since joining the Wilkes community, Dr. Small has many big plans for getting herself settled in. This includes finding a new home for her and her cat Lizzo, a new cat sitter and friend for Lizzo to spend time with and exploring all that this area has to offer. ...solar eclipse cont. from page 4 Other students chose to view the eclipse from a virtual live stream from an area within the totality path. One of these students was Emilie Protsko, a senior criminology and political science major, who watched the NASA live stream sent to students. “It was really cool to see, I enjoyed being able to see it, even though it wasn’t in person," said Protsko. "Especially since the weather was slightly cloudy on campus.” Live streams showed the eclipse from different cities that were in the totality path to allow viewers who may not be in an area with as clear of a view an opportunity to see the eclipse in real time. Protsko agreed with others who shared that they would like to travel to see a total eclipse in the future, “I’d like to see it in the future, I think it would be really interesting to see." Although students on campus were unable to see a total eclipse on campus, they were still able to experience this very cool and rare event. Many Wilkes students also took advantage of live streams and traveling to experience an even clearer view of this opportunity. Photo: The Beacon/Emma Broda Despite the cloudy sky, students were able to get a view of the eclipse on the Wilkes University campus. �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Wellness group plans events By Erin Kowalski News Staff Writer Wilkes Wellness Committee has partnered with employees to offer two activities for faculty, staff, and students throughout the month of March. Bridget Guinta, executive assistant in the President’s office, and Janet Cussatt, senior procurement specialist in the procurement office, will be leading the two wellness activities as a way of improving campus physical and mental well-being. These spring events are the perfect space for all members of the campus community to take a break from their busy schedules and enjoy some fresh air and physical activity. Guinta leads the dance and cardio sessions on Tuesdays at noon. These sessions will consist of cardio and stretching. No dance experience is required as the activity fits all skill levels and is open to everyone. The only requirements are athletic wear you can move around in and a positive attitude. “I started leading these events back in 2019 before COVID," said Guinta. "I offer my time because I’ve taught dance before and it gives me joy and is a nice opportunity to offer to campus." Cussatt leads the walking group on Thursdays at noon. These sessions consist of taking time to walk with the destination being entirely up to each individudals’ discretion. Weather permitting, the walks begin at the flagpoles in Fenner Quadrangle or can take place inside the McHale Athletic Center. “The committee is trying to put together some things to get the campus together and to stay healthy," said Cussatt. "Physical activity is important to me and we all try our best to get up and take a break by walking." It is important that everyones gives their body and mind a break here and there. As far as future events, there is the possibility for new activities to become offered as interest increases in specific areas. Mental and physical health go hand in hand so the addition of new activities will only benefit students further. News 5 �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 News 6 CCDI & Office of Academic Success host roundtable event By Erin Kowalski News Staff Writer The Wilkes Center of Career Development and Internships (CCDI) teamed up with the Office of Academic Success to host the “I Have No Clue” roundtable discussion in the Karambelas Media & Communication Center. This discussion was aimed for students who need help navigating their choice in major and career path. The discussion featured students and professionals sharing experiences, expertise and answering any questions. Samuel Kimmel, a sophomore psychology major, is one of the career peer ambassadors and ran the event as a part of his many responsibilities in the CCDI. An overview of his role is to give students direction when it comes to finding a major or career that fits them, preparing resumes for interviews, and who to communicate with on a professional level. “My goal in running this event was that I wanted to help just one person have more clarity and an understanding that there are sources here to help them,” said Kimmel. There was a mix of students who attended at different stages within their academic career and that mix allowed the conversation to be relatable to more than just one group. There were students who loved their major, those who were unsure if the major they are in is what they see themselves doing and also those who knew they were changing or had no clue. The discussion was meant for undeclared students and students who may be doubting whether they made the right choice in their major. There was talk about uncertainty of what to do with your major and finding them a starting point for the many careers they could pursue. Kierstin Miller, a senior marketing major, shared her journey through switching majors with the group. Her story showed that although her journey was not a straight path, she was able to get to a major that was right for her. “I came into Wilkes as a biology major with hopes of becoming a veterinarian," said Miller. "After my first semester, I realized that I not only wasn't excelling in my courses, but I didn't enjoy what I was learning. I went undeclared and decided to look at different majors. I finally landed on majoring in marketing during the spring semester of my sophomore year, and now I will be graduating this May." Jeanne Rabel, a senior advising coordinator in the office of academic success, attended the event to give professional advice and offer help to those students questioning their decisions. Rabel shared her hopes for what students take away from an event such as this one. “The event offered a chance for students to gain perspective on what it means to make a thorough, informed career decision, and they do not need to navigate the stress and enlightenment that comes with the process," said Rabel. "Not only should they trust the process and share their experiences, but they are not alone in feeling this way. There are many individuals on campus that may provide guidance and support." Toward the end of the discussion, conversation was had about the stigma surrounding being an undeclared student and how every major provides students with the transferable skills that future employers are looking for. The ending theme to wrap up discussion was that every career path may not be linear, but it can lead you down paths where you end up doing what you love. Graphic: The Beacon/Amanda Montgomery �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Anthony.Cazun@wilkes.edu Communication Studies student wins first place at ECA By Cally Williams Life, Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer On March 20, two Wilkes students attended the Eastern Communication Association 115th annual convention. Among these students included senior communication studies major Morgan Rich and senior communication studies major Jess Fellerman. The students were joined by communication studies professors Drs. Kalen Churcher and Mark Stine. The conference was held from March 20-24 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Every year, students submit papers and presentations to the ECA and those chosen are invited to the conference. Many students attend and some present their papers and posters to be judged for possible awards. This year’s theme for the conference was “Currents.” According to the conference website, currents, “represents our convention location on the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge while serving as a metaphor for how ideas are the currents that shape our discipline in this contemporary moment.” Morgan Rich, editor-in-chief of The Beacon, was chosen out of hundreds to present a poster and a panel at the convention. For the past two years, Rich was encouraged to attend by several professors. “I finally worked up the courage to submit a paper and a poster,” said Rich. “I felt extremely prepared and loved this experience. It was a wonderful testament to our professors at Wilkes.” She and 45 other students from across the country presented their posters and later attended a scholar’s dinner. Rich’s poster entitled “Taylor Swift and Her Use of Conceptual Metaphors to Emphasize American Ideals” won first place. “I was up against students from Northeastern, Boston and Harvard so winning was absolutely out of this world,” said Rich about her first place award. The day after Rich found out she won first place she got to present her paper as part of a panel. She presented her slideshow and answered questions from fellow communication scholars. Rich was thrilled with her first place winning and thanked her professors. “It was a huge showing of how amazing the communications professors at Wilkes are,” said Rich. Jess Fellerman attended the convention with Rich as not only a close friend for moral support, but a fellow communication studies scholar. “Engaging with peers provided an invaluable opportunity to expand my understanding of the multitude of topics within the communications field,” said Fellerman, explaining how much she enjoyed attending the conference. “The highlight was the Undergraduate Scholars Conference dinner, where randomized seating facilitated networking with esteemed professionals, allowing for insightful conversations and valuable advice,” said Fellerman. “Overall, the conference proved to be an exceptional platform for learning, networking, and broadening my appreciation for the expansive landscape of communication studies.” Overall, the ECA conference acted as an amazing opportunity for these students to meet like minded individuals as well as people in other communication studies fields. The convention will be held again next year from March 26-30 in Buffalo, New York. Morgan Rich posing with the poster that won first place at ECA. Photos Courtesy of Morgan Rich Jess Fellerman engaging with a communication studies scholar who was presenting her poster on “The Hunger Games.” �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Album of the Week: I Disagree - Poppy By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor There are many contributing factors that go into an artist’s sound. Their influences, state of mind or even the world around them. There are few artists that better encapsulate this phenomenon better than Poppy. An artist that is not a chameleon, but a butterfly in a continuous cycle of re-emerging from a new sonic cocoon. Moriah Rose Pereira began her career many years before she would embrace the “Poppy” persona. Writing songs, performing covers of various songs and having background appearances on TV shows. She would achieve her big break making strange and abstract YouTube videos under the “Poppy” name. She and her former creative partner would create these videos to create traction to her music career, effectively creating a multi-media brand that could veer into any direction they chose. From music, to videos, to comics, to fashion, to gaming and more, Poppy would have experimented with them all. She began with various subgenres within the pop music sphere. Her debut EP and album would both contain elements of electropop, dance-pop, bubblegum-pop etc. Despite the upbeat and cheery sound, the lyrics would often contain darker undertones, just like the unsettling videos she produced. This darkness would be elevated on subsequent EP’s and her next album “Am I A Girl?” which would end on a complete genre shift, beginning with heavy, chunky distorted guitar riffs. The song was Poppy’s first dip into metal music. The song would contrast between a melodic pop tune and then routinely dip back into the metal. This philosophy is seen all throughout Poppy’s next record, “I Disagree.” Her third LP would take this new sound to the next level. Incorporating her new metal stylings with pop flourishes. The opening track “Concrete” would perfectly exemplify this new dichotomy Poppy will indulge in within the album. The titular track would include nu-metal esque tones, while “BLOODMONEY” would be an industrial-metal barrage, almost sounding like a wave of glitchy technology washing over the listener. “Sit / Stay” will have a electro-metal techno drive, and Bite Your Teeth provides the most hard hitting metal punches of the entire record. The album is not without its slower, softer, more pop oriented tunes however. Songs like “Nothing I Need” and “Sick of the Sun” will take the listener through a silky smooth sonic experience, an intermission from the heart thumping riffs and percussion throughout much of the record. The album closes with “Don’t Go Outside,” a continuously elevating journey that has reprisal elements from the first two opening tracks. “I Disagree” would be a hit critically, landing Poppy the first ever female solo metal artist to be nominated at the Grammy’s, cementing her a comtemporary metal icon. Theater Department presents “Puffs” April 18 - 22 By Erin Kowalski News Staff Writer Wilkes Theatre will be presenting its next show, “Puffs,” written by Matt Cox. The script is a hilarious spoof of the seven Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. The play will not focus on the main character that we all know and love, however. Rather, it will give the perspective of three potential heroes and the “Puffs.” The House of Hufflepuff will finally get its moment in the spotlight. There will be five performances on “Puffs”; April 18, 19, and 20 starting at 8 p.m. and April 21 and 22 starting at 2 p.m. The show has a faster-paced storyline and will last about two hours. Admission ist $10 for students and seniors and $15 for adults and can be purchased online at www.wilkes.edu/ theatre or at the Box Office starting an hour before the show time. Anthony Kehls, a first-year communication studies major, will have his debut on opening night, as this is his first show at Wilkes. He will take on the role of Wayne and is looking forward to getting to be on stage with his friends, whom he has grown very close to throughout this experience. “Being able to do this show with such talented people only pushes me to do my best,” said Kehls. “Seeing the show come together has been such a fulfilling experience. Every actor is doing a fantastic job and it’s so nice seeing everyone do what they do best.” Kehls fills us in on one particular scene that is sure to entertain the audience. “One specific scene I’m excited to perform is definitely the battle scene,” said Kehls. “It’s pure chaos but it’s gorgeous.” Emily Repp, a senior nursing student, is very excited for this show, especially as a fellow Harry Potter series fan. She shares her thoughts as opening night approaches. “I’ve always been a huge fan of the series and am curious how the play will go from the perspective of the Hufflepuff house,” said Repp. This play is guaranteed to give you a good laugh and shed light on the eventful years at a Photo courtesy of Wilkes University Theater �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 News 9 Wilkes University's Green Bandana Project initative By Emma Broda News Staff Writer On April 3, the Green Bandana Project held its second training session of the semester to train more students on joining their “army of advocates” to spread awareness on mental health and provide resources. The Green Bandana Project is a suicide prevention program that was created to train university students to be someone that fellow students who may need mental health resources can approach. This program offers a safe solution for students who may be feeling suicidal or just in need of someone to talk to. Students who complete training receive a green bandana to attach to their backpacks as a means of signaling that they are a safe resource to approach. The project has successfully trained numerous students, and it is likely that there is not a place on campus where a green bandana is not visible. Students like Morgan Andretta, junior pharmacy major, and Megan Novak, junior environmental science major, have become a part of the Green Bandana Project. Novak shared that she “heard about the project through being an RA; we had training prior to the fall semester with Dr. Hastings and he informed us about the project,” while Andretta heard about the project through the Honors Program. Andretta had shared that she believes the project has had a very positive impact on campus, “It’s great walking around and knowing that there are people on campus who are willing to talk if you ever are struggling or need help.” Novak agreed saying, “I think seeing so many people having a green bandana has a positive impact. It shows how many people The educational pamphlet students carrying the Green Bandana on their backpack will hand out to students in need. It contains important information, such as locations, resources, and numbers to call for getting help. care about mental health and are willing to help others if the time ever arose. It’s amazing to see people come together in the Wilkes Community to help others in need.” Students who would like to get involved with the project should keep an eye out for training sessions in the Today at Wilkes emails. Andretta encourages students to get involved with the project, “It’s a very low maintenance program to get involved with. If you love being there for others and helping others, this program is for you.” Novak also recommends getting involved. “If you are interested in joining, reach out to Dr. Hastings. He is more than willing to assist you and get you the training. If someone reached out needing help, we would offer a listening ear and give them any appropriate resources that would be helpful for them. We carry around cards with resources for abuse, LGBTQ+ related hotlines, domestic violence, suicide and resources directly available on campus.” Suicide prevention and mental health awareness should be a crucial part of any university campus, and the Green Bandana Project emphasises this need. Students carry cards containing important resource information for students seeking help, and information for students who know someone needing help. The card provides information for Wilke’s Counseling Center and emergency hotlines for anyone who needs immediate help. If you or a friend need mental health resources or help, call 570-408-4100 for the Wilkes University Counseling Center, or for an emergency call the 24/7 Crisis Support Line at 570-408-CHAT. Morgan Andretta, junior pharmacy major, showing off her Green Bandana which is tied to the outside of her backpack where other students can see it. Photos: The Beacon/Emma Broda �The Beacon – April 17, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 University celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility By Cally Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer While Easter fell on March 31 this year, there was another important day that took place on this same date. Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is celebrated every year on March 31, honoring the transgender individuals who make up our lives and communities. This year marks 15 years of TDOV, only being founded as a national observance in 2009, while transgender people have existed for much, much longer. TDOV was founded on March 31, 2009 by Rachel Crandall-Crocker. Crandall-Crocker is a therapist in Michigan who specializes in helping transgender patients. She founded the organization “Transgender Michigian” and is known as a key figure in raising awareness for transgender issues and celebrating transgender identities. Before the TDOV was founded by Crandall-Crocker there was only Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day honored the deaths of transgender individuals that were murdered as acts of hate. While this day is important, there was no day celebrating and lifting up transgender people. She created TDOV to make a day for transgender individuals to be noticed for who they are. Wilkes University celebrated this special day by raising the trans flag on the greenway. The blue, white and pink colors soared through the air next to the other flags on campus to celebrate trans students and those in the surrounding communities. The ceremony was held on March 26, during club hours. Along with the flag raising ceremony, the GSA held a TDOV ball that evening in Kirby Hall. Wilkes’ Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) held the event and some members spoke at the ceremony. Moderator Helen Davis was in attendance along with many students in the GSA including speakers Jai Manning, Ozzie Priebe and Aster Rowland who together raised the transgender flag. “TDOV is especially important now because transgender people are facing a lot of public backlash. Last year, over 600 anti-trans bills were introduced in this country. 539 anti-trans bills have already been introduced this year,” said Davis. Aster Rowland, junior sociology major, was one of the speakers at the flag raising ceremony in the greenway. “We live in a time where politicians and lawmakers are trying to make it seem like we do not exist and make younger transgender kids scared to be proud of who they are,” said Rowland. “Wilkes is a great place to exist as a trans person.” Along with the flag raising, Wilkes has done numerous other things to make campus inclusive for transgender and LGBTQ+ students. Dr. Greg Cant. the university president, is also very vocal about his support for transgender individuals. “It helps trans people feel seen,” said first-year history and political science major, Ozzie Priebe, who is a member of the GSA who spoke during the flag raising ceremony. Morgan Steiner, GSA president and junior history, political science, international relations, and history major, also had a lot to say about TDOV. “It is a nice way to showcase transgender voices and spread some positivity in a world that can be so dark,” said Steiner. “It is nice to hear people my age talk about what they have ve gone through and how, like all three of our speakers expressed, life does get better “ Wilkes also has an extremely active GSA club that works hard to educate students and faculty on LGBTQ+ issues. Along with this, the GSA also holds many fun and engaging events for the Wilkes community and LGBTQ+ students on campus. The GSA hosts events such as the TDOV flag raising and a candlelight vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance. Wilkes also supports transgender students in several ways apart from the GSA. This includes gender neutral housing and gender neutral restrooms across campus. There is also the Safe Space program. Faculty who have completed Safe Space Training have rainbow stickers on their doors to show that they are safe to go to and are allies. All resident assistants have completed the safe space training as well. “TDOV is a day to recognize and celebrate our trans community member,” said Davis. “We want them to know that they are welcome and valued members of our Wilkes community.” TDOV helped uplift transgender voices on campus and throughout the community. Of course TDOV was met with some hate, but mostly love from allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community from Wilkes and the surrounding area. Steiner added, “People might get mad or become offended but we, the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, and especially the transgender community, do not ask for much. We ask for the same kindness and respect as any other individual.” �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Number Sodoku Easy Puzzle #1 ��������������������������������������� ���������� Challenge your brain with some sudoku! How to play: Fill in the missing number. Each row should have 6 different numbers, no repeats. Each column should have 6 different numbers, no repeats. Each 2x2 quadrant should have 6 numbers, no repeats. Answer Key: 5 1 6 8 7 6 2 9 1 3 8 8 2 3 6 8 3 4 4 1 7 6 5 7 8 3 4 7 3 8 4 6 2 9 4 5 5 3 2 1 7 Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. Credit for these puzzles goes to: 8 7 8 6 1 www.sodokutodo.com 5 Compiled by Morgan Rich, Editor In Chief Copyright © 2024 SudokuTodo | For personal or classroom use only. Play online or make your own free printable sudoku at SudokuTodo.com 3 1 9 2 6 6 3 2 8 4 7 8 3 6 5 4 8 4 3 7 6 4 8 3 7 1 5 4 9 2 7 1 2 3 5 �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Center 12 �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Center 13 �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Opinion Editorial Staff 2023-24 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Morgan Rich Social Media Manager - Liz Cherinka Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Amanda Montgomery Opinion - Sydney Allabaugh ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Opinion: Samara Carey Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Designer - Lara Mullen Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Emma Broda LA&E - Cally Williams LA&E - Brooke Lare Opinion - “Freeze” Want to join The Beacon? Several positions are open! Contact: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or morgan.rich@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 Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Morgan Rich at morgan.rich@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact opinion editor: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu. Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. The last month before finals is dreadful With both spring and holiday break being long gone, all many students can think about is the end of the semester drawing near. And with the end of the semester, comes finals week. Since we are now currently in the final weeks of the spring semester, it seems like everyone is out to get us, specifically our professors. With April being our last full month of school, it feels like students of all majors are overwhelmed with school work. When it comes to finishing up our homework, studying for our exams and trying to keep up with our overall personal lives, it is not a surprise that students are stressed. While yes, we did get two breaks, it seems like there was hardly a break at all. With professors assigning work and exams for the Monday we came back, a number of students were forced to work over their holiday and spring breaks. While it is normal to expect some sort of assignment over break, most students would definitely prefer the opportunity to relax and spend time with their friends and family during their actual allotted time off. While the over-break work is unfrotunate, it is better than piling all the work on the week after break ends. Nonetheless, most students can agree that the entire month of April seems like it is never going to end. With summer break being so close, students may feel unmotivated to do any school work. And when they decide to do school work, it is often at the very last minute. This seems to be extremely common with college students all around the world, since burn out tends to happen during this point of the semester for a lot of them. While it is easier said than done, students of all majors must try to make time for themselves, especially during finals season approaching. Since students are so focused on work - or focused on procrastinating - students may forget to take care of their basic human needs. This can range from forgetting to eat three meals a day, forgetting to text parents every night or just basic hygiene. But, it is easy to fall into the trap of non-stop studying, drinking energy drinks and quickly grabbing snacks to fuel yourself during all nighters. In order to assure that you get the best grades possible during finals week, we must try to get a good night’s sleep, eat properly and to take breaks when needed. Finals season is often described as “the last round in Mario Kart,” and that honestly seems like a truthful statement. From studying like there’s no tomorrow, typing as many pages as your hands will allow for essays, and memorizing terms on a Quizlet, it really is one of the most stressful times of the year. Despite all of this though, it really is worth it. Whether you are a senior or still have a few years left, you did it. You are one step closer to your degree and achieving the career you want to pursue. Hopefully one day, all of those sleepless nights will be a memory that we can all look back on and laugh at in the future. Until then, good luck and finish this semester strong. 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: morgan.rich@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 - April 17, 2024 Opinion The Return of The Red Raven: An original story 15 This edition of The Beacon features two installments of “The Return of the Red Raven”. Be sure to check out www.thewilkesbeacon.com for the final installment. By Leah Smith Contributing Writer PART 12 Isabelle rushed through traffic to get to Vivian Keller’s address. She ran two red lights and nearly hit a minivan, and she couldn’t tell if it was because she was seeing red from her past or due to the stressful urgency of the present. Regardless, she needed to get to her before the mysterious killer did. A few minutes later, Isabelle reached 136 Piper Boulevard and parked across from Vivian Keller’s home. She grabbed the pistol in her glove compartment as she slowly approached the door. She knocked three times. No response. She knocked once more. “Ms. Keller, this is the police. You are in immediate danger and need to come with me for safety. Please open the door, ma’am,” Isabelle instructed. Suddenly, the door opened with a creak. Isabelle steadied the pistol in her hands and aimed it right at the door. Officer Nathan jumped when he saw the gun pointed to his face. “Christ, Greenblatt! It’s just me!” Isabelle lowered her weapon. “Sorry, Caulfield. Is she in there?” Nathan’s eyes lowered to his feet as he struggled to find the words to tell her what happened. Isabelle instantly gathered what happened and sighed. “Where’s her body?” she asked. “In the bathroom. The killer hung her body on the curtain rod,” Nathan stated. An emotional storm surged through Isabelle and all she did was mumble the word, “Damn.” “Was she close to you?” Nathan asked. “It’s... complicated,” Isabelle replied. “I see, I remember seeing something about your dad and her a while ago and...” Isabelle gave him a cold glare, indicating for him to stop talking. “Yeah, sorry,” he mumbled. “It’s fine. I’ll call this in and I’ll have forensics on this immediately.” As Isabelle reached for the walkie in her pocket, Nathan grabbed her arm to stop her. Isabelle’s eyebrows arched. “What are you doing, Caulfield?” “Don’t call it in yet. I want to talk to you.” “About what?” “Your father, you, and this whole murder spree going on,” Nathan explained. “It’s none of your business. Besides, why do you want to know about all of this anyway?” “Just curious and because it just seems you’ve been too hard on your dad and yourself for what he’s put you through.” “If you had to endure the life I had around that man, especially involving the woman hanging in that bathroom then you would understand. Now, if you excuse me, I’m done talking and I need to see my father at the hospital.” Isabelle stormed off. Back at the hospital, Rick felt nothing but fear. Fear for his husband, fear for his daughter, fear for Vivian and fear for himself. He dreaded hearing his phone ring from an unknown number. It’s been hours and Cameron still hasn’t woken up. He kept blaming himself for everything that happened. He was sweating profusely and started running his thin hair with his fingers. The weight of this domino effect was crushing him and he couldn’t hold on anymore. How much more of this could he take? What more could this killer do to torture him to no end? Shortly, a doctor coming back from the emergency wing approached Rick. “Mr. Greenblatt, right?” the doctor asked. “Y-yes, that’s me,” Rick said. His heart started to sink, bracing for the news. “Your husband is in stable condition and is awake. He’s on a lot of antibiotics, so I’ll only allow short visiting hours for him to get used to their effects.” “I need to see him now,” Rick stated, standing straight up from his chair. “Fine, but be quick.” Rick quickly walked through the emergency wing to find Cameron’s room. He was in a white hospital gown and had two tubes sticking through him. “Cameron, you are awake, right?” “Barely, but yes,” he answered softly. Rick wanted to give him a hug but stepped back seeing the weak condition. “I need to tell you something, Rick.” “What is it?” “I saw the killer’s face.” To be continued... PART 13 “You saw what they looked like?!” Rick asked again. Cameron winced, startled by Rick’s sudden booming voice. “Yes, I did.” “Do they know that you saw them?” “No, I- I don’t think so,” Cameron replied. “What did they look like? Do we know them?” “I don’t think so. It was a young guy. Probably in his 20s or 30s. When he had me tied in that chair before he started his little call with you, he showed me his face on purpose,” Cameron explained. “Why would he do that?” “He said because he wants you to find him. He said he wanted the Red Raven himself to capture him.” “Of course,” Rick thought out loud. “Why’s that?” “Because that’s been his play this whole time. He wants the Red Raven to go after him for what he’s done not only to hurt those I love but to have me become the Red Raven in reality. He’s creating his own real life Red Raven fever dream,” Rick summarized. Cameron took in the information silently and changed the subject, “He said that he saw you in person not long ago, either.” “What?” “He said you saw him and that it was the most important day of his life. He saw you and said that if he could have, he would have told you everything but didn’t want to spoil his plans. What a sick puppy.” Rick fast traveled through his memories of the past couple days; he couldn’t point anyone out exactly who would feel like the type of person to go after him or let alone feel such an exciting feeling upon meeting him. Suddenly, like a train, the identity of the killer hit him. “Oh my God,” he mouthed. “You know who it is?” Cameron asked. “I need to go find Isabelle now.” Rick ran out of Cameron’s room to the emergency room parking lot. He had no idea where Officer Nathan would be, but he supposed the police station would be a good start. Then, his phone began to ring. Rick’s stomach sank to the floor, knowing exactly who it was. Despite his dread, he answered. “Hello, Mr. Greenblatt. You’ve cracked the code, haven’t you?” the killer teased. “You’re that Nathan kid from the police station. I should’ve known since the moment you left the evidence room. You didn’t leave because of my argument with my daughter, you left to cover your tracks,” Rick assessed. “Very good, Mr. Greenblatt. I guess old dogs can learn new tricks. But, I have just one last thing to tell you before I’m done calling you forever.” “Just tell me,” Rick said. “I have Isabelle at the old canning warehouse across Miller Avenue and 68th Street. She’s alive for now, and if you want to keep her alive, I need you to follow my instructions perfectly. I want you to come down here promptly at 8:43 p.m. with your Red Raven costume on, and I want you to take me down like all of the other dastardly villains from the show. I want to be known as the final adversary the Red Raven has ever taken down. Please, do this one request for me, and I will stop all that I am doing and serve my time in prison. If you do not do what I say then your daughter, your husband and you will all die. I would also say everyone you have ever loved but you don’t have anyone else who loved you,” the killer instructed. Rick replied, “Fine. I’ll do as you say.” “Very good, Mr. Greenblatt. Time for justice to be served yet again by the Red Raven,” Nathan ended the call. Rick turned his car around and took the route to his home. Once he entered his house, he noticed the silence. A silence he hasn’t known was there for many years. The roar of the crowd, the snaps from the paparazzi, the boiling of spaghetti noodles and the music from the television were all silenced. Rick walked into his closet and grabbed the infamous Red Raven costume. The red hat, coat, mask and gloves were all in pristine condition. They called out to him as he spread the attire out on his bed. “Was this right? Giving the killer what he wants?” He thought to himself. Then, he put the costume back in the closet and began waiting for the time. To be continued... �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Opinion 16 The Icebox: An in-depth review of video game “Valheim” By ”Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer “Minecraft” is a wonderful game. However, it simply doesn’t cut it sometimes when playing and seeking adventure. Sure, one could always mod the game to make it harder to seem different, but that takes a lot of experimentation. The truth is that the gameplay mechanics make the game uninteresting at times, and things such as biomes don’t necessarily have any rewarding aspects that make a player feel compelled to explore often. It would be better for a game to incorporate a type of built-in progression to guide a player and to give them incentive to explore, craft and expand their inventory. Better options for movement and combat certainly make the game more interesting. Such things are available in “Valheim.” “Valheim” is a survival and sandbox game that has a medieval, viking theme and includes aspects of Norse mythology. The basic story is that the allfather, Odin, created a separate tenth realm where the greatest warriors of Midgard would be revived and tested, which was done in an effort to increase his army in preparation for the rise of his enemies. This realm was known as Valheim. In the tutorial, the player receives guidance from a raven sent by Odin. The raven mentions that warriors who overcome challenges in Valheim and prove themselves can be taken to Valhalla. This can be done by exploring, crafting, harvesting and fighting. The exploration in Valheim is across several biomes, which are kind of unlocked in a linear fashion as players need to visit different areas for more advanced materials. The biomes include trees, rocks, fruit, and other perishable items important to the player’s health. Wood can initially be collected from branches on the ground and rocks can be picked up without needing a pickaxe. With proper collection of resources, players can invest in farming and fishing too. Players can craft benches to make tools, which can be upgraded and used to harvest wood and rock. The crafting system is simple as one does not need to memorize any recipes. Tools can easily be repaired without using many resources. This makes it easier to always have tools on hand and gives players a reason to keep track of their item durability. Crafting enables players to build houses, which are made up of pieces of floor, wall and roof that can be arranged in millions of ways to the user’s liking. To make building structures more realistic, certain pieces can only be placed on flat ground, a campfire is needed to consider a place “cozy” and a roof must be placed over workbenches and beds. “Valheim” progress is dependent on how often a player seeks adventure. For each action there are individual experience points. For example, the more a player jumps the better they get at the jumping skill. This level of progression encourages players to use all of their skills and constantly improve their player’s health and stamina. Speaking of, the food is needed for passive fulfillment of hunger rather than being exclusive to health. This feels more realistic and can be helpful in longer adventures. If a player picks up a berry while exploring, they can consume it or brew it into a potion to maximize effects of healing, strength and speed. Finally, the combat in “Valheim” is much more interesting. Players can wield weapons that deal three main types of damage: blunt, slashing and piercing.That means your character can use clubs, swords, spears, knives, axes and bows. The movement when a player is using a weapon changes so that dodging and counter-attacking is different depending on what you’re wielding. There are two main types of strikes, and there are options for quick evasion and blocking attacks. This combat system isn’t too advanced, but it certainly beats the bland style in “Minecraft.” The enemies in “Valheim” are much smarter and have various types of attack patterns. Sometimes they chase you alone, and sometimes they band together or carry powerful loot with them. There are boss fights that get progressively harder and exist across the different biomes. A player’s ultimate goal is to summon the bosses in order to prove their worth as a warrior. If you would like to face a good challenge and get a taste of new opportunities in a sandbox game, pick up this title and earn Valhalla. Listening between the lines: Review of AJR’s “The Maybe Man” By Stephen Youkoski Contributing Writer On Nov. 10, 2023, electropop band AJR released its fifth studio album titled “The Maybe Man.” It follows “OK Orchestra,” which was released on March 26, 2021, making it over three years since their last album. Now, I will be the first to admit that AJR and their style of music is not for everyone. The brothers use many odd instruments and sound effects that are a turnoff for many people. In order to truly experience the band, you must look past all of that for a moment. Instead, focus on how we can see what AJR are really about: the lyrics. The lyrics are what make their music so personal, and “The Maybe Man” may be the most personal so far. This is also their first album where the majority of songs have the explicit rating. Many of the songs in the album have that classic AJR feel, including “Maybe Man,” “Inertia,” “I Won’t” and the conclusion of the album “2085.” Many of the same loud beat drops, background acapella and funky sounding instruments are present. However, even with those sounds, the lyrics of these songs hold a much deeper meaning. In “Maybe Man,” who is a recurring character so to speak, struggles with who and what they are. “Wish I was a stone, so I couldn’t feel… I wish I had eyes in the back of my head, then I could see the places I’ve been.” After each wish, they then list why those things would be back. It shows a constant cycle of feeling inadequate and confused. The song concludes with a loud crash and the words “here I go again,” continuing the spiral. The next song, “Touchy Feely Fool,” explores a real life family scandal that the brothers went through. The song is about wishing you could stop caring about someone who wronged you. “Someday, won’t this be funny? Well, I want it funny now… I would give anything to not [care], but I do.” The song teaches us that we can be hurt and still love someone, that we can know someone is bad, but be unable to escape our feelings. And that’s okay. Later in the album comes “Inertia,” a song that much like “World’s Smallest Violin” from their previous album, became a hit on TikTok with a viral trend. As someone who listens to the radio a lot, it has certainly made its way on-air plenty as well. Inertia, in physics, is an object’s resistance to change while in motion. In other words, objects in motion tend to stay in motion. That definition is exactly how it feels to listen to this song. The background sound, with that classic AJR feel, does just enough to avoid being too much. It is a perfect complementary piece to the lyrics. The chorus of “Inertia” takes the definition of inertia and spins it to a human being. “I’m an object in motion, I’ve lost all emotion, my two legs are broken but look at me dance. An object in motion, don’t ask where I’m going ‘cause where I am going is right where I am.” We as humans are resistant to change. We fight and fight in order to grow, yet we still stick with familiarity and in turn, harm ourselves in the process. We stunt our growth and we stay stagnant. Moving on from relationships, from jobs, from school–anything can start to feel impossible. Yet, there’s still hope. In those same chorus lyrics that sound like we are stuck, they also show us that we can still dance through the pain. Ultimately, the album is a beautifully crafted journey through life. That’s not to say it’s perfect though. Songs like “Steve’s Going to London,” which is a song literally about nothing, drag the album down. Even “2085,” which has a beautiful conclusion, is unbelievably drawn out. It could be half the time and be just as good. With that, I leave you with this. Give it a shot. There is so much more for you to discover. The worst that can happen is you stay in motion. �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Opinion 17 Why you should give long-term media series a chance By Shawn Carey Contributing Writer Think if this has ever happened to you. You and someone else are talking about some form of media; for this example, let’s say a television show. The conversation eventually leads to you recommending your favorite show to them. You hype the show up and explain what makes it so great. It seems like they are completely on board, until you tell them that there are 16 seasons. They give you a shocked look and tell you that it’s too long. Okay, maybe that’s a bit oddly specific. However, I’m sure a somewhat similar event has happened to you. Whenever we look for a new show or movie to watch, we usually tend to avoid lengthy series. The same goes for most forms of media such as books, games and comics. We don’t even notice ourselves doing it most of the time; it’s just a subconscious reaction. There’s a number of reasons why we do this, such as time. No matter if it’s because of work or school, we often find ourselves pressed for time. Not everyone has the time to sit down and read a 1000page book or a 20-season show, which is perfectly understandable. Not everyone wants to use what little downtime they have on a seemingly never ending endeavor. Another reason is that we tend to have a completionist mindset. We want to watch something we can easily finish. We want to be able to get through something as quickly as possible, so we can move on to the next series. Once again, there isn’t really anything wrong with this. There’s so much great content out there, and no one wants to be hung up on a single series. There’s also a financial aspect to it. Let’s use “Dune” as an example. There are a total of 23 books in the series. While many of them are spinoffs, there are still six canon books in the main series. Unless you’re a super fan, I highly doubt that anyone wants to buy that many books just to get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of a franchise. Longer series are honestly a hassle to get through most of the time, and I don’t really blame anyone for avoiding them. However, if you’re willing to power through the length, you’ll experience some truly fantastic storytelling. In this article, I’ll be highlighting one series that’s known for its intense length and how it uses it to its advantage: “One Piece.” The story follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew the Straw Hats Pirates as they travel the “Grand Line” in search of the mythical treasure known as the “One Piece.” The series has been serialized “Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine” since July 1997, with its individual chapters compiled in 108 volumes as of April 2024. The series also has an anime adaptation which currently stands at 1100 episodes. Around 90 or so of those episodes are filler and can be skipped, however that still leaves you over a 1000 episodes worth of content. I grew up watching “One Piece,” so I never had to go through the challenge of binge watching it. However, my friends who have binged the series have told me all about how much of a struggle it was. I, for one, believe that the length does more to help the series than it does to harm it. The story of “One Piece” takes place over the course of many years. While the main story of “The Straw Hats” takes place over the span of just a couple of months, the series is full of flashbacks that take the viewers back to earlier times. This is done for the sake of world building. It’s through these flashbacks that we get to really learn the true story of “One Piece.” We get to see how the wicked actions of the “World Government” have affected the lives of many of the characters and how they’ve manipulated history to fit into their unjust narrative. The show also has a rather large and diverse cast. The “Grand Line” is full of people from vastly different backgrounds. Pirates, marines, fish men, warlords, giants and more occupy the seas. The series is able to give a decent amount of screen time to many of its important characters. It also provides ample time for those characters to develop. Let’s take a look at how the main character Monkey D. Luffy has changed since the start of the series. Luffy begins his journey to become “King of the Pirates” with absolutely nothing: no crew, no ship and no idea of even what to do. He knew that he wanted to be a pirate; however, he didn’t really know what being a pirate was all about. Luffy spends much of the series growing not only as a pirate but as a person. Over the course of his journey, he finds individuals to join his crew and help him achieve his dream, gaining not only a crew but also a family. He also earns quite a bit of fame. He starts out as a rookie with no experience and eventually becomes an “Emperors of the Sea,” a group of four pirates considered to be the most notorious and powerful captains in the world. As you can imagine, it took quite a while for Luffy to reach the level he’s currently at. The series’ long length is used to explore these fanatical concepts and complex developments in a smooth and natural way. If it wasn’t for the series length, many ideas would seem rushed and wouldn’t flow smoothly in the story. Even after saying all of that, I do still believe that the series could realistically be a tad bit shorter, mainly the anime adaptation. Many of “One Piece” story arcs are so long that they can practically be considered their own series. However, if you’re willing to go through with it, you’ll be greeted with a great series, and hopefully, it will inspire you to check out many other long series. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Opinion 18 Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter": A track-by-track album review By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer Beyoncé is back! Her new album “Cowboy Carter” released on March 29, and it definitely made an impression on Beyoncé fans and music lovers all around the world. This album follows as a second act from her other recent album “Renaissance.” For this record, Beyoncé stepped into the country genre but added her own twist to it. The record contains 27 tracks with features from mega stars like Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus and Post Malone. Personally, I was excited to hear something that Beyoncé hasn’t done before, so this album was one I was really excited for. Now let's take a deeper look at one of the highly anticipated albums of the year so far. AMERIICAN REQUIEM: 6/10 Album openers are the most important part of an album in my opinion. It sets the tone and theme on what you are about to listen to. This track already gave a vibe of country and R&B. It was a very soulful song and showcased her vocal abilities greatly. The production quality on this song was amazing, and it made me excited to see what the other songs had to offer. It's not a track I’d play on repeat, but it was a good album opener. BLACKBIIRD: 9/10 This track serves as sort of an interlude. It is a cover of The Beatles song “Blackbird,” and the track was a tribute to the Little Rock Nine. The transition from the opener to this one was very seamless and I am always a fan of smooth transitions in albums. It's not a long song but it gives you so much in just two minutes. This track features Tanner A d e l l , Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts. I really enjoyed the overall vibe of the track. It's slow and again showcases her vocals greatly. The added singers made harmonies sound beautiful, and it was something I appreciated. 16 CARRIAGES: 7/10 This song is one two singles off the album and one of my favorites. It's another song that gives a country/R&B sound, and by this track, I can start to tell how the rest of the album is going to sound. The production elements are once again amazing. The organ piano in the track adds such a soulful feel, and it adds so much to the song. PROTECTOR: 9/10 This song is a love song to her three children. It gives a message saying she will love and protect them from anything in this world no matter what. It's a bit more country than the past songs but again, she doesn't let go of her own style. I enjoy how relaxed this song is. For this one, there aren't that many instruments that can be heard, but similar to the other tracks, the overall production quality of the track is simply beautiful. TEXAS HOLD ‘EM: 8/10 “Texas Hold ‘Em” is another single off the album. This song was very popular on social media and it had a lot of mixed reviews. For me personally, I feel this one sounds more country than the previous songs but also does include those R&B and hip hop elements that the other tracks include. Overall, it's not a bad song, and it's very catchy. It is one that has to grow on me, but with time, I feel it will become one of my favorites. JOLENE: 9/10 I’m absolutely obsessed with the way Beyoncé did this. She turned a country classic into something modern that fits her style, and I love the way she did it. DAUGHTER: 10/10 Two words. In. Love. There is something about this song that I LOVE. The songwriting is amazing, and the overall vibe of the track is something that made me fall in love. I was shocked when she switched to Italian for a verse; she sounded so good. This song also shows off her vocals beautifully. The instruments in this song are gorgeous and it gives me classical music vibes, but it is still cohesive with the other tracks. SPAGHETTII: 9/10 This track is a complete 360 of what the previous track sounds like. This isn't a country track and it is more rap/hip-hop. I was scared that this track would mess up the cohesiveness of the album, but for some reason it just works and it still flows. Transitioning from “Daughter” to this was definitely a surprise but it just works. The production on this track is also just simply outstanding. It is one of the shorter tracks, but again, it gives you so much. JUST FOR FUN: 8/10 This song features Willie Nelson. It's a very chill and beautiful song. There isn't too much going on production wise, but it's still really good. My favorite part is the orchestra that peaks through in some points of the song. I feel it adds such a soft aspect to the music, and it sounds beautiful. Willie Jones adds something so special to this track and it is one of my favorites. II MOST WANTED: 9/10 I was the most excited about this song. Miley Cyrus is one of my favorite singers, so her being on a Beyoncé track made me very excited! It is definitely more of a country song, but they sound so beautiful together. Their voices blend together so well and they compliment each other. It was also nice hearing Miley on a country track again. The song definitely met my expectations and it's definitely in my top five for rankings. LEVII’S JEANS: 7/10 This song has a Post Malone feature. I was very curious when I first saw he was gonna be on the album, and I was interested in how they were gonna do it. This one surprised me. Beyoncé and Post Malone just work together so well. I like this song more than I thought I would. It is still the same country/R&B sound, but I also hear a few pop elements in there as well. FLAMENCO: 8/10 This song title got me very excited because I really like flamenco music so I was fully expecting a flamenco song, but she incorporated flamenco with country and it sounded beautiful. It is a bit on the shorter side but again gives us a lot in a short time. YA YA: 8/10 The transition from the interlude and to the song was so flawless. It's definitely a bit more hip-hop/R&B than a country track, but it does still have country elements. This song reminds me of songs you would hear at a southern church. Even though it is a bit of a different sound it, again, flows with the other tracks and is cohesive with the rest. DESERT EAGLE: 4/10 This song is only one minute and 12 seconds long so it's short and doesn't really give anything too special. Compared to the other shorter tracks, this one is a bit more bland with not too much going on. RIVERDANCE: 5/10 For this track, Beyoncé incorporated more of a dance beat with country, and I think she did really well. This has a different vibe than the previous ones but it flows well. This is one of the longer tracks but overall it's nothing too special for me personally. II HANDS II HEAVEN: 5/10 This one sounds like a continuation of “Riverdance.” It has the same beat and same feel but just two different songs. There are some differences sound wise but overall for me it's just a continuation of the last track. SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN’: 10/10 SO GOOD! It is another 360 from the rest of the tracks and it's such a good hype song. Although it is very different from the rest of the tracks, it somehow just fits for me personally. I really liked that song towards the end because it just leaves a good impression and it's such a good hype song. AMEN: 8/10 Just like the opening track, the ending is very important for me as well. It finishes off the album and is like closing a book. This track is like closing the album. It almost acts as a continuation of “American Requiem” but just as a closing. The end of this track smoothly transitions back to the first track, and I thought that was really neat. Overall I would give this album a solid 7/10. It's not my favorite Beyoncé album, but I thought it was good. This album had a lot of people wondering what Beyoncé would sound like in the country, but I thought she did it pretty well. She added her own twist to it and her own style and I really like that. The album has different sounds for some songs, but it wasn't incohesive and all over the place. I would recommend this album to everyone just so they can hear how versatile Beyoncé is. This album shows she can try any genre, and she will still keep her top spot in the music industry. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: Adam.grundt@wilkes.edu Wilkes LAX suffers tough loss in fundraiser game Team show support the Julia Hockey Mazur Foundation By Ava Tureen Sports Writer The women’s lacrosse team honored the Julia Hockey Mazur Foundation in a recent home game against Lycoming College. Julia Mazur was a junior at Wilkes who died from cancer late last year. She was a business major pursuing a minor in communication studies. “It was a very emotional game as we were playing for Julia Mazur,” said senior Maleah Cobham. “She was loved by many people here at Wilkes and was close with girls on the team." In the week prior to the game, the team solid T-shirts honoring Julia, with proceeds benefiting the foundation. "Even though we did not come out on top, it was one of our best games as a team.” Although the team put up a tough fight, they were unable to put up more points than Lycoming with a final score of 19-6. During the first period, Lycoming scored nine times. Firstyear student Brooklynn Donia was in goal for the first period. In the last minute of the first quarter Maleah Cobham scored Wilkes' first point. Cobham had five shots on goal during the first period. Morgan Hettesheimer had first possession of the ball during the game. Hettesheimer also had one shot on goal during the first period. There were three fouls on Wilkes during the last five minutes of the first period. Ava Ward had a turnover and drew control within the first five minutes of the game. In the second quarter junior and captain Samantha Scott went in goal. Anmarie Lebron opened the second quarter up with a ground ball and Ward with a shot on goal. Brooklyn Pedana had her 13th goal of the season and was assisted by Sam Mullen. After Pedana’s goal the score was 10-2. One minute later, Breanne Fulling received a green card and Wilkes had a failed clear attempt. Bianka Melendez and Keara Dugey both got fouls one after the other. Maleah Cobham and Ward both had shots on goal but they were saved by the Lycoming goalie Zoe Stauffer. Starting off the 3rd quarter on the right foot Hettesheimer had her 7th goal of the season. Her goal made the score 16-3. “The team kept positive attitudes and lifted each other up if we saw someone start to get down,” said Cobham. Ward then proceeded to gain control of the ball and had a shot on goal but hit the post. Mullen picked up a ground ball and had a shot on goal. Pedana also had a shot on goal. Within the last five minutes of the 3rd quarter Taylor Quackenbush picked up a ground ball and Emma Raville had a turnover. Raville then scored her econd goal of the season in the last 10 seconds of the quarter. Pedana started the final quarter off right by scoring her 14th goal of the season and Ward assisted. After the goal, Fullinwg gained control of the ball. Cobham then shot wide at the goal and Raville had a turnover. Cobham picked up a ground ball and had another shot on Lycoming’s goal. Lexie Nevel picked up a ground ball and Cobham and Ward both had shots on goal. Carly Yuhas picked up her first ground ball of the game and Emaily Jackson had a turnover. Pedana then scored her final goal of the game. Jackson received the final foul of the game within the last three minutes.. “I have never been on a team so close to one another and I would not change that for the world,” said Cobham. Wilkes continues their season at Bruggeworth Field on April 20 when they take on Elizabethtown College. For information on the foundation, go to: https:// ju li a ho cke y mazur found at ion.com/ �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Sports 20 WrestleMania 40: The “Avengers Endgame” of WWE By Leah Smith Contributing Writer On April 6 and 7, WWE held its 40th WrestleMania event. This year’s event became streaming service Peacock’s most streamed sporting event with 1.3 billion minutes watched. Starting with Night One of WrestleMania was the Women’s Champion Title match between Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch. The match opened with Motionless in White performing Ripley’s entrance song live. Ripley retained the title against Lynch. Next, was the six-pack ladder match for the Tag Team Championship. The two winning teams were Austin Theory and Grayson Waller and The Miz and R-Truth. Next, was Andrade and Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar. Rey and Andrade took the win in this match with the help of Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. The following match was between brothers Jey and Jimmy Uso. Jey Uso took the win against his brother. The penultimate match was for the Intercontinental Championship between Gunther and Sami Zayn. The match ended with Sami Zayn taking the title from Gunther in what was a miraculous win. The main event of that night was the tag team match with Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins vs. The Rock and Roman Reigns. The result of this match was vital because if Rhodes and Rollins won, there would be no interference allowed for the Rhodes vs. Reigns match the following day. However, if The Rock and Reigns won, it would be “Bloodline rules,” meaning that anything goes. The Rock and Reigns won this match. The first match on Sunday was for the Heavyweight Champion title between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. Rollins lost the title to McIntyre, but his celebration was cut short due to Damian Priest running in to cash in his Money in the Bank contract. He pinned McIntyre and took the title. The next match was a street fight between The Street Profits vs. The Final Testament. The match ended with The Street Profits taking the win. The following match was between LA Knight and AJ Styles, who have had an entertaining rivalry on Friday Night SmackDown. The match resulted with LA Knight taking the win. The following match was for the United States Championship title. Logan Paul had to face off against Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens and managed to retain the title. The penultimate match was for the second Women’s Championship title between Bayley and Iyo Sky. Bayley won the match against her former partner. Finally, the main event arrives with Cody Rhodes facing off against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed championship title. The match started off with no interference until Jimmy Uso attacked Rhodes. Shortly following that, Jey Uso ran out to help Rhodes and got Jimmy out of the way. Then, Solo Sikoa came out to help Reigns but was stopped by John Cena. To stop Cena, The Rock came out and performed a “rock bottom” on him. Then, The Shield entrance music started playing and Seth Rollins came out in his old Shield gear. He was taken out by Reigns with a chair, mirroring what Rollins did to him which broke apart the Shield faction. Then, for one last surprise, The Undertaker appeared behind The Rock and chokeslammed him. After all of that, Rhodes pinned Reigns and finally “finished the story” by winning the title against Reigns. Recapping a “Free Agency Eclipse” in the NFL By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor Free agency in the NFL is often a hectic time. Millions of dollars are given out in contracts, and players sign to teams that they will spend the majority of their careers with. Typically, only a few star players change teams every season. However, this year, the number of players moving to new teams was taken to a new level, which is about as rare as a solar eclipse. This season, some superstars moved to new teams. Even some departed old squads for their former team’s fiercest rivals, upsetting fans. Saquon Barkley was drafted by the New York Giants in 2018. However, after six disappointing seasons as one of the lone stars on the Giants’ roster, he has joined the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. Giants’ fans were shocked by this deal, as the Eagles are one of New York’s biggest division rivals. The Giants are looking to build off a disappointing past few seasons. After losing Barkley, the Giants don’t have much star power on their roster. However, the Eagles are just looking to compete after adding Barkley to a juggernaut team that already has the talent to win a Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, Barkley, and Devonta Smith are looking to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl Championship after coming so close in years prior. In addition, the Chicago Bears have made a few moves in free agency. They have most notably signed former Eagles running back, D’Andre Swift, former Eagles safety Kevin Byard, and former Los Angeles Charger and probowl wide receiver Keenan Allen. The Bears shipping off their old quarterback, Justin Fields, to the Pittsburgh Steelers signifies that they are putting these pieces in place with the intentions of taking Caleb Williams with the first pick in the NFL Draft in a few weeks. As a result of trading the number one pick for a package including Carolina’s number one pick in 2024 and DJ Moore, the Bears hold the power to draft a quarterback that could change the direction of their franchise. Most recently, the Buffalo Bills shockingly traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. After first year quarterback CJ Stroud solidified himself as the best quarterback in the 2023 draft class, the Texans have established a core around him with hopes to contend for a division championship. Diggs joins a wide receiver room that already includes Nico Collins and Tank Dell. With Stroud running the offense, this team has extreme potential to do some damage this upcoming season. A few moves containing former Philadelphia Eagles went under the radar. Carson Wentz inked a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs to be Patrick Mahomes’s backup for the upcoming season. Also, outside linebacker Haason Reddick was traded from Philadelphia to the New York Jets. A seismic loss for the Eagles, Reddick immediately steps in to make New York’s defense fearsome alongside cornerback Sauce Gardner, who is looking to build on a great 2023 campaign. The NFL offseason is always an exciting time. It is not often that moves of this caliber happen more than once in any given offseason. Typically, few star players switch uniforms but every so often, a free agency “eclipse” is to happen, and players switch teams. �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 Sports 21 Men’s LAX update: Time remains to improve record By Sam Mullen Contributing Writer The men’s lacrosse team is currently having a back and forth season with a current overall record of 4-8. They are 1-4 in the Landmark conference The team hosted Goucher College for Senior Day. The team celebrated the eight seniors: goalie Joseph Marino, midfielder Colby Opromolla, midfielder Austin Seames, defensive and long stick midfielder Tucker Parmer, face-off midfielder Blake Billingsly, defender Brendan Keegan, and long stick midfielder Matthew Warns. The game was back and forth the whole time but the Colonels ultimately lost the game 10-5. Junior attackman Anthony DelDuca opened up the scoring with a pass from fifth year attackmen Dillin Kadis. Matthew Warns followed up next with an assist from first year defenseman J’Vier Johnson. Warns broke the 2-2 tie at the beginning of the second quarter which was unassisted. First year Austin Sosnovik and senior Austin Seames were the last two Colonel’s to score with Sosnovik’s goal being assisted by junior defensemen Jackson Casper. Sosnovik is in his first year as a Colonel and has been having an incredible season. He currently has 15 goals, nine assists, and 11 ground balls to his name this year. Though the statistics may show that the transition from high school to college have been easy for Sosnovik, he still has experienced challenges. “One challenge I have faced as a freshman player was learning to play with the shot clock. In high school we didn’t play with a shot clock so I have had to learn to be aware of it and make decisions based on how much time is left on it.” With the season so close to the end, there have been some very memorable moments for all of the players and coaches. As no surprise, the game against the cross-town rival was one that came Photo by Steve Finkernagel Senior Tucker Parmer during a recent game. to all of their minds. The Colonels hosted King’s College back on March 20, where the game ended in a double overtime victory. “There are a couple of moments that really stand out for me from this season. The most notable one was beating King’s College in double overtime to end our out of commerce play,” stated captain Tim Harka, a sophomore attackmen when looking back at the game. The shift to the Landmark Conference has created adjustments for everyone. “I am very happy with our effort," Coach Curtis Jaques stated. "Everyday this group comes ready to work and get better at practice. Their time spent in the weight room and preparing their bodies for game days shows against some tough Landmark teams. "Our team plays tough, physical lacrosse for 60 minutes.” Jaques is in his ninth year as head coach for the men’s lacrosse team. He has expressed how the team members are at their peak performance levels and have adapted well with a new field and new conference. “This season we are a full field lacrosse team," he said. "Offense starts from our goalie outlets and we expect pole goals in transition. We have athletic defensemen and mids who can push full field lacrosse and it’s fun to watch. "We want to compete in every game and get better everyday. Stay focused on what we can control and train hard. We have specific game goals we want to achieve in every game. "We like ground balls, assisted goals, riding caused turnovers, and face off wins.” The Colonel’s only have a few more games remaining for the season. On April 17, they play home against the University of Scranton at 7 p.m. The team’s last two games are both away with athletes traveling to Elizabethtown College on April 20 at 1 p.m. Their final game will have them traveling to Maryland to face Catholic University of America on April 27 at 1 p.m. 7 p.m. April 17 Men's LAX Home against U. of Scranton �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Zoe Klein Senior, Women's Tennis The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Klein helped the Colonels defeat Juniata with winning the #3 singles match. She also won the #1 doubles match alongside Cassidy Greenman Major: Psychology Hometown: Southbury, CT have wanted to play? I used to do a lot of running and loved that and practicing for relay races. What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? What has been your favorite My favorite sports memory took sports memory overall? place all the way back during my freshman year, when the Women's tennis team beat Stevens to win the MAC conference. Although the whole process of getting recruited was exciting, nothing can beat my favorite sports memory from Freshman year. What is your favorite What is your favorite post-game professional sports team (any meal? sport)? My favorite post match meal is As a native of Connecticut, my favorite sports team is the Giants Panera Bread, especially the frontega chicken panini. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? My favorite thing to do apart from sports is cooking and baking. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? My favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes is the team. I have a great team that I can rely on to keep spirits high. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? A League of Their Own The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you It's an honor to have been selected for Athlete of the Week. There are so many amazing athletes and coaches at Wilkes, I hold this award in the highest regard. Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Asst. Sports Editor �The Beacon April 17, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Luke Spencer Junior, Men’s Baseball, Third Baseman The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Spencer went 8 for 13 against Juniata College with nine RBIs, four doubles, and two stolen bases. The first game, he went 2 for 5 with three RBIs, one double, and a stolen base. During the final game, Spencer put up another 3 for 4 with two more RBIs, another double, and a second stolen base. Major: Business Administration Hometown: Lehman, PA If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you What had been your favorite have wanted to play? sports memory from your time If I didn’t play baseball, I would have as a Colonel? wanted to play football. My favorite sports memory as a Colonel so far was our comeback win against SUNY Cobleskill, where What has been your favorite Devin Markert hit a walk off homer. sports memory overall? Favorite sports memory overall What is your favorite would be playing little league state professional sports team (any championship. We got to play the sport)? team that won the United States The Philadelphia Phillies. championship, which is a really cool and humbling experience. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? What is your favorite post-game Either hang out with friends or meal? working out Grilled burgers with mac n cheese What is your favorite part of How do you feel about being being an athlete at Wilkes? selected as the Athlete of the My favorite part about being an Week? athlete at Wilkes is the environment. There is an upbeat, happy mood everyday, so I am excited to get out there and compete day after day It’s an honor, I am blessed to be able to achieve Athlete of the Week and I can only hope for more positive things to come. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? The Bad News Bears The Beacon/Sam Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - April 17, 2024 SUMMER is a great time to lighten your course load for next year or catch up on missed classes. And with start dates in May, June or July, classes conveniently fit your summer plans. Sports THREE-WEEK PRESESSION May 20 to June 7 FULL SESSION May 20 to Aug. 16 FIRST SESSION June 10 to July 12 NINE-WEEK SESSION June 10 to Aug. 13 Make an appointment with your advisor and visit wilkes.edu/summer. SECOND SESSION July 15 to Aug. 16 Wilkes University is an equal opportunity institution. For information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit www.wilkes.edu/nondiscrimination. 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. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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, 2024 April 16 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 April 16 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/10b5326ea56805aa924ce999161e610c.pdf 1222cabe88deb1af3b63099633eabced PDF Text Text The Beacon - September 11, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 77, Issue 2 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Colonels reclaim Mayor’s Cup 43-28 against King’s College Wilkes University sophomore wide receiver Juju Fears soon scores a receiving touchdown as King’s College senior defensive back Amir Gibson trails behind him. Wilkes won the game, 43-28. Senior quarterback Xavier Powell was awarded the MVP plaque by President Greg Cant. See pages 12 and 13 for more photos. Photos by Sam Mullen and Zach Paraway Wilkes University Programming Board hosts field day event, page 3 Theatre Department announces season, page 7 Why you should play tabletop RPGs, page 17 Athletes of the Week, pages 22 and 23 �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Emma Broda: emma.broda@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Sept. 4 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei Contributing Writer Student government held its second weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester on September 4. The meeting started with a representative of the Wilkes University Chapter of College Democrats with their week one of two club recognition requests. The mission of this club is to advocate democratic values and promote students to become politically active leaders. The club also advocated for the Republican Club of Wilkes to be revived. The political club will return next week for their second presentation. Student government’s parliamentarian presented for the week two of two constitution changes. Updates to the constitution were revised. The changes decreased member requirements from participation with both 10 event hours and 10 office hours to a total of 10 hours participated through a combination of both. The election committee and food committee have been eliminated. R e qu i re m e nt s for new club recognition have also been revised. New clubs will now only need to present for two weeks in order to receive approval to be recognized as an official club. The number of signatures required to run for class representative, treasurer, vice president, and president have been lowered from 50 to 25 and 150 to 50, respectively. All constitution changes and updates were approved. Members of the homecoming coordinating team were the last to present at the meeting with their funding request. The presentation outlined the three days of events that will take place on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of homecoming weekend. On Thursday, a pep rally will be held on the greenway from 6 to 8 p.m. On Friday, two events will occur. The first is to decorate your own trucker hat from 5 until 7 p.m. The second is mini golf on the first floor of Stark Learning Center, set to start at 7:30 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. On Saturday, students can get merchandise that will be given out at the homecoming football game. The homecoming weekend coordinating team is requesting $9,500 for the 3 days of events. They will return next week for the next part of their presentation. The next meeting will take place on Sept. 11. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff RHC Milkshake Giveaway Residence Hall Council will hand out free milkshakes on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Greenway in honor of National Milkshake Day. Welcome the the Neighborhood Social The Office of Diversity Affairs will host a neighborhood social on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon in Max Roth Center 105. Students can stop by for light refreshments and a meet and greet with the office. Dave & Busters Student Development Trip Student Development will host an evening at Dave & Busters on Sunday, Sept. 14. Students can sign up at the information desk in the Henry Student center and will need to provide their Wilkes ID and $15 payment at time of sign up. Transportation via the Wilkes shuttle will be provided. The shuttle will leave campus at 4:30 p.m. and return at 8:30 p.m. There are limited spots available. Contact studentdev@wilkes.edu with any questions. Produce Pop-up The Office of Civic Engagement will have their first monthly produce pop-up on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SUB. Those who bring their own bags can skip the line. Kisses to Cancer 5K Wilkes University’s AFROTC Detachment 752 will host the third annual Kisses to Cancer 5K on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m in honor of U.S. Air Force Major Candice Adams Ismirle, a Wilkes University alumni who died in 2016 after a battle with triple-negative breast cancer. To register for the event, follow this link: https://secure.touchnet.com/ C21800_ustores/web/product_detail.js p?PRODUCTID=218&SINGLESTORE =true Upcoming Events: 2024 Fall Semester September 12 - Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? 13 - Student Government sign-ups 19 - Fiesta 26 - Programming Board giveaway October 3 - Blockbuster Bingo 10-14- Fall Recess 17 - Wilkestober Fest 24 - Sound Showdown 28-31 - Freak Week �������������������������������� ���������� ���������� ����������� ��� �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News 3 Wilkes University Programming Board hosts field day event By Emma Broda News Editor On Sept. 5, Wilkes’ Programming Board held Field Day as part of the second week of school activities. The event included classic field day games, food and prizes. Programming Board served “walking tacos” and Italian ice to students, who were able to sit and spend time with friends while they ate. Students got to choose whether their “walking tacos” were made in Doritos or Fritos chip bags, as well as what toppings they wanted. An interesting debate was stirred on which chip option was superior, with many votes towards Doritos. Emily Iannnucci-Furman, sophomore criminology and sociology major, shared her opinion on the debate. “Doritos one hundred percent, but it has to be the cheese ones,” she said. Many students shared that although they did not have a huge interest in participating in the games themselves, they still came to enjoy the food and watch others compete. Shauna Evancavich, sophomore early education major, and Iannnucci-Furman both said that they frequently attend Programming Board events as a way of spending time with their friends. They admitted they both came only for the food with no intent on playing games, but still seemed to be having a fun evening. Even thouigh they chose not to participate in the games,, many students still gathered on the Greenway to compete. Some games such as cornhole, frisbee and volleyball were played by students throughout the night without being a part of a competition for a prize. However, there were games played for those different prizes, many of which were classic field day games. These included tug-of-war, an egg race, water balloon toss, wheelbarrow race, potato sack race and musical chairs. Natalia Williams, sophomore double major in communication studies and Spanish, and Alyson Buchinski, sophomore education major, handed out walking tacos during the recent Field Day on campus. Food was a popular aspect of the Sept. 5 event. The prizes for the various events included a university branded sweatshirt, Owala water bottles, a cookware set, headphones and a spikeball set. Although many students were interested in winning the prizes, even those who did not win seemed to enjoy themselves. Camden Craig, freshman pharmacy major, participated in the potato sack race. The first-year student won the spike ball set as a result of his performance. “I wanted to do at least one event that I felt I was strong in,” Craig said. Craig added that no matter if he won or lost, he was “there for the fun.” Whether students came to the event to play games for fun, play to win or just to get food, the Field Day event gave everyone an opportunity to get together with friends and have fun. The next Programming Board event is the "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" event, which will include a trivia-based competiton between students. It will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12. Junior sociology major Sarah McAndrew was joined by Pierogi at the university's recent Field Day. Photos by Emma Broda Tug-of-war was one of the many field day games challenging students. Other activities included an egg race, water balloon toss, wheelbarrow race, potato sack race and musical chairs. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News That’s So Honors: Welcoming a New Graduate Assistant By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer This fall, the Honors Program welcomed a new Graduate Assistant (GA) and Honors Program alumnus: Lindsey Scorey!. Scorey graduated in 2023 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies. While she attended Wilkes University, Scorey embodied the idea of “That’s So Honors,” becoming heavily involved in both extracurricular and academic activities. She split her time between multiple cocurriculars in the Communication Studies Department. Scorey served as director and client manager for Zebra Communications, a podcast host, and social media manager for 90.7 WCLH. She also served as both a staff writer and assistant opinion editor for The Beacon. Outside of communication studies, Scorey worked as a Kirby Scholar, e-Mentor Orientation Coordinator, and interned with both the Office of Marketing Communications and Student Development. Scorey spent the last year working as a media consultant for the Times Leader Media Group before deciding to return to the university to pursue a master of Aarts and a master of fine arts in creative writing. In addition to her coursework, Scorey will serve as the graduate assistance for the Wilkes University Honors Program. A graqduate assistant position is a work-study opportunity made available to students enrolled in graduate programs. The type of work varies, depending on the office. For Scorey, much of this work involves facilitating the peer mentoring and small group programs and assisting with Honors Program events. “As a GA, I am really looking forward to being a part of any and all events and helping new students become acclimated to the program through it all,” Scorey said. “It has already been so great to see first year students being involved, so I think I Meet Lindsey Scorey, the GA for the Honors Program. Photos submitted by Lindsey Scorey will enjoy the events for myself, but also be living vicariously through seeing new students find their community here.” Despite the heavy workload between work and master’s programs, Scorey is excited to be working directly with the Honors Program Director and Assistant Director, Dr. Jonathan Kuiken and Professor Jen McLaughlin. “When I saw the Honors GA position was open for applicants, it was a nobrainer for me," Scorey said. Scorey, who hopes to work in academia, said the opportunity to work with extraordinary faculty and students was one of the highlights of this particular role. “What drew me to the Honors & Scholars Program GA role was the authenticity and student-centered aspect of it.” Scorey’s connections with her fellow students don’t end when she leaves the Honors Office for the classroom. “I began my MA/MFA program back in June and it has been better than I could ever imagine. 4 “I met my cohort back during June residency and by the end, we were all so emotional to leave each other,” she said. Scorey mentioned that her cohort is kind and talented, and that she is excited to be in a program surrounded by so many great people. In addition to her multiple responsibilities, Scorey has to balance her GA role, her job outside of Wilkes, and her daunting Master’s coursework, as she is enrolled in courses in both Poetry and Nonfiction, which requires not only a lot of writing, but a lot of reading. “...my favorite part is getting to read my fellow classmates' work and get their feedback on mine," she said. Scorey is looking forward to a year of education, fun, and new connections. Balancing two Master’s programs with a GA role and another job? That’s So Honors. To keep up with Lindsey and the rest of the Honors Program, follow @ wilkeshonors on Instagram. Scorey, who graduated in 2023, was an active member of both the Honors Program and campus community. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 New accounting practices for all clubs and organizations By Kayla Bicskei News Staff Writer Wilkes University clubs and organizations are now required to follow new accounting rules during the Fall 2024 semester. Clubs and organizations are no longer allowed to carry unlabeled funds from one fiscal year to another. Prior to the Fall 2024 semester, clubs and organizations were able to carry funds provided by Wilkes University, Student Government requests, and independent fundraising through multiple fiscal years to fund club and organization meetings, events, and trips. This change is due to previous accounting practices being labeled as irresponsible from the university. Money that clubs and organizations have received from Wilkes funds, Student Government requests, and independent fundraising will be diminished to $0 at the end of every fiscal year. According to the university, carrying money that does not have a labeled purpose from one fiscal year to the next is not an acceptable accounting practice. If clubs and organizations are saving money for an event, conference, or trip that is scheduled past the fiscal new year, they can label that money for that event, conference, or trip. This way, the clubs may keep any fundraised money from being taken away. The clubs and organizations can label this money on the fundraising application. When fundraised money is labeled, that News money can only be used for the event, conference, or trip it has been assigned to. The absence of funds in university organizations, such as the capital projects funds, might result in a relatively minor decrease in funding for some clubs and organizations. While surpluses do not roll over, the budget does not decrease for the next fiscal year. The Programming Board is one of the organizations experiencing a decrease in school funding. Programming Board Vice President and Wilkes University student, Logan Colonna, commented on the newly introduced accounting practices. “This could be a hard transition for some clubs and students, but I’m sure we can all band together as students and work through this hurdle,” said Colonna. “If we work together, then I’m sure everything will work out.” Club and organization money that is reset at the beginning of the fiscal year will be dissolved into Wilkes University. This money will be used for projects meant to improve student life outside of classrooms and academic buildings. Through this effort, students of all levels will be able to enjoy funded Wilkes University projects before they graduate. An example of a project this dissolved money will be funding are the new lights installed at Schmit Stadium. While it is cuurently unclear what the other projects may be, the university asssures that they will be beneficial to the student population. Professor Profile: Dr. Elyssa Gage 5 By Emma Broda News Editor This fall, Dr. Elyssa Gage joined the university as an assistant professor of history in the global cultures department. Gage was raised in Nice, France, where she first began studying humanities in high school. She moved to the United States to attend Pepperdine University in California where she graduated with a degree in international studies. She continued her education at the University of Florida where she received both her masters and doctorate in history. Gage previously taught at a university in Alabama, where her family lives. Gage shared that her interest in history became really clear from studying tensions in places such as North Korea and Pakistan. She found that looking at aspects of history she was more familiar with, like European colonialism, from a different perspective was very interesting. Gage herself is no stranger to world history, having spent time researching in multiple countries. These countries include France, the United States, Japan, South Korea and Italy. Her own research primarily focuses on French colonialism and empire, looking at its involvement in Africa and Asia. The new professor has been looking into territories that France is still present in the French Caribbean and how ideas of empire have changed. During this fall semester, Gage is teaching a course on the history of piracy. The Photo submitted by Elyssa Gage course looks at the role of pirates in global history, specifically with its association with the Caribbean. This includes studying the relationship between pirates in slavery, building empires and international law. She shared that piracy eventually was made illegal and empires created an “idea that if a country cannot prevent pirates from attacking traders, then they are a rogue nation” and that this is used as justification for colonization. Gage also talked about looking at the social dimension of piracy, that if piracy is made illegal and pirates are being attacked then why are people still becoming pirates? In the spring, Gage will be teaching a class on the African Diaspora. Interested in telling campus news and stories? Join The Beacon Email emma.broda@wilkes.edu or kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News Annual Club Day a successful event for all By Staff Reports With weather that wasn't too hot or too chilly, Club Day 2024 was a successful event that brought students, faculty, staff and administrators to the campus greenway. Students were able to enjoy free food, pick up "club swag" and explore the dozens of clubs and cocurriculars represented at the event. Even Walter, the first dog of Wilkes, made an appearance. 6 Club Day is an annual event on campus and is open to everyone, though it is often popular with first-year students looking to meet new people and get involved on campus. Though some clubs and activities focus around specific majors, many involve special interests and are open to anyone looking to start a new hobby or to keep up with an old one. Photos/Shannon Slominski Dozens of tables surround the greenway for Wilkes' 2024 fall Club Day. Sunny skies and not-too-hot temperatures provided a welcoming environment for hundreds of students. Photos/Shannon Slominski Gene McCormick, sophomore communication and media studies major, checks out the U.S. Air Force ROTC table at Club Day. Photos/Submitted photo Walter Cant, the first havapoo of Wilkes, enjoys some shade during the university's recent Club Day. Walter was a popular attraction at the event. Photos/Submitted photo A steady stream of students visit club and cocurricular tables circling the university greenway. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Editor-in-Chief Sydney Allabaugh at sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu University Theatre Department announces season By Cally Williams Special to The Beacon Tucked away on the corner of River Street sits the Dorothy Dickson Darte Centre for the Performing Arts. The centre houses convocation, your 8 a.m. yoga class and the university’s performing arts program, including dance, theatre, and music. This year, the theatre will put on four mainstage productions, including two straight plays and two musicals. Those include: “John Proctor is the Villain,” “And the World Goes Round,” “Between the Lines,” and “As You Like It.” “John Proctor is the Villain” takes place in Georgia in 2018, where a group of high school students are studying the “Crucible”. This play, by Kimberly Belflower, tackles subjects such as misogyny and sexual assault, while mentioning these topics in context of the Arthur Miller classic. “It tells a story that is so unfortunately realistic and shines a new light on a book that so many of us read at an age where we could be told what we were supposed to think about it,” said junior Madeline Meier. The production will be directed by Alison Morooney and intimacy and fight captained by Meier. Meier is a musical theatre major with a minor in sports psychology. “This show is the perfect mix of laughter and discomfort with a powerful message that the Wilkes community needs to hear,” Meier continued. She also will be playing Shelby Holcomb, an outspoken student who just recently came back to the school after leaving Isabella Ruiz will play Raelynn Nix, a cheerleader and aspiring goth who wants to break from what she’s used to while dealing with the return of her exbest friend, played by Meier, and turmoil within the school. “It is an important show,” Ruiz said. “It allows for conversations about healing, reconciliation and accountability.” Ruiz is a senior musical theater major and is very excited for this production. Those production runs from Oct. 3 through 6. **** John Kander and Fred Ebb are known throughout musical theatre history for their songwriting contributions. The duo is famous for musicals like “Chicago” and “Cabaret”. Their musical revue, “And the World Goes Round” includes songs from these hit shows, as well as many of their other works. “And the World Goes Round” features Jon Liebetrau as the director, Dr. Joshua Harper as the music director, and Lynn Esgro as the choreographer. Along with musical numbers, the show features exciting choreography. Bob Fosse is often associated with the Kander and Ebb style, as he choreographed and helped write several of their shows. Fosse was an influential choreographer and is well known for his distinct style of choreography, which will come through in several numbers. This revue runs from Nov. 14 through 17 at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Centre. **** Based on the book by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer, “Between the Lines” tells the story of high school junior and book worm, Delilah. Delilah falls in love with the main character of the book she’s reading and finds out that the characters in the book are alive and can talk to her. Delilah jumps between the fairytale world with her prince and the real world, where she struggles with bullies and family Graphic courtesy of Wilkes University Theatre troubles. Featuring a score by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson and book by Timothy Allen McDonald, “Between the Lines” is for everyone who ever wished they could leave their lives behind and jump into a book. The musical will be on the Darte stage from Feb. 20 through 23. **** The season ends with the Shakespearean comedy, “As You Like It.” This play tells of Rosalind and her cousin Celia as they run away to the woods as Rosalind is exiled by her uncle, the Duke. Rosalind dresses up like a man and comedy ensues as the cousins meet hilarious characters while they run through the woods, followed by Rosalind’s admirer, Orlando. “For this season, I am personally very excited to be directing two very fresh new shows, both of which were written by female identifying playwrights,” Morooney said. Morooney is currently in rehearsals for “John Proctor is the Villain” and will be directing the second musical of the year, “Between the Lines.” Each semester includes two very different shows. “John Proctor is the Villain” is a very new play while “And the World Goes Round” includes songs from Kander and Ebb that were written in 1965. “Between the Lines” was first performed in 2023 and “As You Like it” was written by Shakespeare in the 16th century. “There is always a place for the great classics of course,” Morooney said, “and I am glad we are covering both ends of that spectrum in one production season here at Wilkes.” �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Sydney Allabaugh: NISSAN ALTIMA - Doechii Stephen Youkoski: Sam Mullen: ROXANNE - Arizona Zervas Night Moves - Bob Seger Megan Davis: Adam Grundt: Quarterback - Wallows one of wun - Gunna Emma Broda: Leah Smith: Interstate - Big Thief Stitch - Wage War Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 �The Beacon – September 11, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 New app aims to increase engagement on campus By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer Forget when a particular event is being held? Looking for a way to publicize your next activity? Tired of using WIN numbers to collect an accurate picture of who attended a particular event? Good news Colonels. Communication and fostering student engagement on campus has just gotten easier this year. Clubs and organizations across campus have started to use an app that tracks what events students attend. Suitable, is an engagement app designed to help students publicize and be aware of events happening on campus. The app allows for a centralized spot for campus community members to see what’s happening and when. Clubs and organizations like Programming Board, Student Government and the Multicultural Student Coalition, are all utilizing the platform to track attendance and to inform the student body about events that are happening. For each event posted on Suitable, descriptions can also be included to provide additional information so users understand what the event is. According to Suitable’s website, the app utilizes the “20-60-20 Rule.” According to the rule, about 20 percent of students are engaged in campus activities. However, an equal amount are not very engaged at all, and the remaining 60 percent just need some additional encouragement. The app is designed particularly to help those students who need that extra help. Junior marketing major Jenny Nguyen enjoys the app because it is easier for clubs to handle administrative duties. “I think Suitable has been a big help in taking attendance because it makes things a lot easier for clubs and students,” Nguyen said. “All we have to do is scan a QR code and once you have the app set up you are good to go.” The app has also cut down the wait to enter events. Before Suitable, attendance was taken by taking students’ individual WIN numbers. Since the rollout of Suitable, students don’t have to worry about remembering their numbers. “I feel it was easier than the people going to everyone individually to take the WINs,” sophomore education major Shauna For those not wishing to use the app, a desktop verson of the student engagement app, Suiteable, is available. Evancavich. “It took less time.” To use Suitable, download it on your phone. Once you enter the app, you are prompted to enter your school email address. After, it will send you to sign in using the university portal. There, you can enter your username and password. Once finished you are ready to use the app. On the day of an event simply click on the QR code icon, and scan the QR code provided by whoever is taking attendance at that event. There is also a desktop version for folks looking to use something other than their cellphone. Overall, Suitable is proving to be an effective and efficient app for those around campus. It is helping students become more involved on campus and providing good information about events. At right: Students accessing the app will see a screen similar to the one pictured. After clicking on a event, they will see a screen with details of the specific event. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Seek-A Word Back to School Word Search ������������������������������������������� Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below. D Y D K E S R D U G L Q L O S O Y X B P J H K Z K W A C D R L O V V W Q A U D C E V S F K O F I K S F F P R C W E S Z P T R D S W G T S Answer Key: C O A T Y Y F E B M G O S V C S K L R I F I H S W K J S I J C U Z X O O K S V Z S N T O U O V K T U C A D K Q H T P U P C D K N E Y L W L O I B M O C K S H B G L E Z K A B M O G U O H N I M Y Z S T J H Y O O K H C O I G M Y M D S N O T O U L C L C U A D U O S L Y T U M C N T X B T E Z S G Z O W J M J U G G R P X O A S R C H C T D S W G T Word Bank Z 1. notebook 5. school 9. computer 2. study 6. pencil 10. desk 3. homework 7. professor 11. class 4. backpack 8. student 12. syllabus L S F P O U F W E K T R C S O S Credit for this puzzle goes to: Dictionary.com www.dictionary.com P P K S C V K J O Y F V R D U D Y M Y R E V L S Z T D K X E F Z C E Y L U P D U T K C D K U B D R L B O V O U K G L S V S Q L N T Z I T G M Y Y U D C O H N I O I K C J X E N T M C Y L U T O S X P R G G U J M M O G U J O V Z S A B Z M O C B O O K S M D S G L U W Q A H Y H K N E A P D K W A C N O T I E Q H T M G O S K O F S Z O O K C X J U F O I H B C S K I B W A O W L I S L Y H S Z J G W Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below. �Sr. Zane Grover waltzes in for long TD grab in win versus King’s Jr. Tallen Murray and So. Rob Barbarri combine for TD saving tackle during win versus King’s Sr. Donell Mackey-Woodson drops back into coverage during win versus King’s Jr. Tallen Murray lunges to make tackle during win versus King’s Jr. Josh Ermeus gets ready in pregme during win versus King’s Jr. Janas Sims takes reps in pre-game in win versus King’s Sr. Steele Hess and So. Mike Golay celebrate after a sack during win versus King’s �Sr. Donell Mackey-Woodson drops back on a 3rd and long during win versus King’s (From Left to Right) So. Luke Baker, Sr. Dame Grullon, Sr. Moe Guarino, and Jr. Anthony Messina in pass protection in win versus King’s So. Jackson Roberts gets ready in pregme during win versus King’s �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: leah.smith@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Managing Editor: Stephen Youkoski Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Emma Broda Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Leah Smith Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Laura De Lora Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - Shawn Carey Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Andrew Marshallsay Sports - Ava Tureen 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Clubs should keep their unspent funds The Student Government’s change in club funding is without a doubt a controversial decision. Absorbing unused funds to make changes for other parts of the university is something that will create a divide in opinion among students. Many students however, specifically those who are frequent club members, are outraged by this. Absorbing leftover funds from university clubs because clubs saving the leftover money can be considered “poor accounting practices” and using that money for other resources around the university that students may not use or need is a questionable decision, to say the least. Many clubs use that money to cover future events or to plan programming to benefit the wider campus community. Even though students have been told there is a possibility that money can still possibly be saved for a big future goal (like a major trip), what are the chances this is guaranteed? In addition, what about the funding for future events that clubs would like to initiate for the student community? Many clubs participate in many small events, whether it’s for fundraising or to benefit the Wilkes community. These include events like Trunk-or-Treat and cookouts. Events such as these can only happen with the money that clubs are able to save, which may require using funds saved from previous semesters. Without this financial security, events like this could dwindle as club officers choose to be even more selective about which events to support. Ultimately, this can cause more stress for club leaders who must choose whether to support more general events or to save their funds for more club member-specific activities. They may also try to make up for the loss of money by hosting even more fundraising events, which could saturate the student environment. Clubs should not have to be put under this scrutiny because they are told saving money from previous years is “poor accounting practice.” If anything, splurging and making sure the money is gone before it can be absorbed is a poor accounting practice. This can be a bad example for students trying to budget themselves, which is especially important in a college environment. Fundraising events are crucial when it comes to Wilkes clubs and will become even more vital due to this funding change. Clubs will have to put what money they have left, whether it’s from Student Government or even out of their own pocket to develop an event that could raise more money. This becomes a challenge to students outside of clubs because not only are clubs asking for more money, but students may try to budget both college funds and other personal dues. This could make club fundraisers more challenging. Even if a club fundraiser does well, clubs will have no choice but to spend all of the money raised because that money will not be secured in the following year. Each year, clubs will go back to square one. Overall, this recent decision to absorb unused club funds is a poor choice because it will not only teach students poor budgeting skills, which is ironic given the reason for this decision, but it will also add on to the stress that students are already feeling in college. Now they will have to be increasingly selective of what to spend their money on and when. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 - September 11, 2024 Opinion Analyzing toxic fandoms: The Icebox: An in-depth Are they inescapable? review of “Neon White” By Leah Smith Asst. Opinion Editor Fandoms are communities where fans across all forms of media can gather, whether in-person or online, to discuss, debate and celebrate the particular work of media that they enjoy. However, what has become present in modern fandom is toxicity, whether that toxicity is towardsanother fan, an upcoming project or a creator within that community. Toxic fandoms can be more than this; however, there’s toxic behavior from fans that can come out of love for a celebrity or project but gets lost in translation. The most common is the toxic behavior from fans that are negative, which mostly comes from criticism and a fan’s personal biases. One of the most popular examples of a toxic fandom is Star Wars. Star Wars fans are one of, if not the most, commonly known fanbase for their toxic fans and have even been dubbed by the internet as “The Fandom Menace.” The rise of this “Fandom Menace” wasn’t prevalent until Disney acquired Lucasfilm and Star Wars back in 2012. Fans had skeptic opinions about how the family-friendly company would handle the franchise, and those opinions were sought out in 2015 with the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Although loved by critics and general audiences, hardcore fans within the Star Wars fandom were unhappy with what Disney was doing with Star Wars, claiming that certain details weren’t accurate to previous Star Wars projects. They also argued that the female protagonist Rey was a “Mary Sue” or that having a female protagonist was a “woke” idea. Opinions like these become more loud and unavoidable as Disney continues pumping out more projects that make superfans more and more unhappy. Most recently, the Disney+ original “The Acolyte” was a victim to the Star Wars fandom even before the premiere. Many fans were once again throwing around the word “woke” due to the show starring a female black protagonist, and when the show finally did make its debut on the service, fans were “review-bombing” the show across all platforms and saying extreme things like the franchise is dead. These hyperbolic claims and personal biases that these particular fans throw out have gotten to the point where the stars of these projects themselves have gotten fed up with the unfair criticism. According to Variety, “The Acolyte” star, Amandla Stenberg spoke out on her Instagram story against the online “trolls” and said that she wasn’t surprised that they were receiving such harsh reactions and that she was experiencing “a rampage of hyperconservative bigotry and vitriol.” The other half of the toxic fandom is one previously mentioned where fans are toxic out of love for a project or a celebrity and end up becoming toxic due to uncomfortable behavior. This is a major case when this comes to the music scene. Fans of musical artists have been known for their toxic behavior, whether it comes from different people within the fandom, psychologically or a mixture of both. Recently, rising pop star Chappell Roan spoke out on Instagram about many fans who have made her uncomfortable.. She said that her fans have stalked her online or in-person, claimed that they knew certain things about her personal life and called her by her real name. Fans like these may not know that this type of behavior is toxic given how this type of superfan or “stan” behavior has become very popularized by social media. Women in the music industry, such as Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse, are the most targeted when it comes to this type of superfan behavior. Not every fan is like this of course, and most people who are a part of these fandoms and engage in these types of behaviors are a vocal minority. Will toxicity among fandoms ever end? The short answer is no, but what people in fandoms need to learn is that fandom at first is meant to be a community. There is a reason why people reach out to these communities, and it’s not because they want to bash each other and the projects they engage with. Fans reach out to these communities because they want to connect with others who love the same medium that they do. By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Over the summer, I decided to turn up the heat a little with the PC Game Pass. I was able to try quite a few titles, but the one that really caught my attention was a first-person, parkour-shooter game called “Neon White.” You play as a character called Neon White, an assassin from hell who was given a unique chance to redeem himself of his sins. Basically, the purgatory department in heaven told Neon White and the other assassins of hell that they may compete for a sacred object called the Mechanical Halo, which allows the user to reside in heaven. This is the only chance that the assassins have of escaping hell, and the competition lasts for seven days. Our protagonist, Neon White, realizes that some of the other assassins seem familiar and that he may have known them in a past life. While aiming to be the victor of this competition and claim the halo, he also wants to uncover the mysteries of heaven by connecting with these assassins and finding out their truths. This is a single-player experience in which a Neon White maneuvers through beautifully designed levels while shooting demons and reaching the goal as fast as possible. Imagine if you gave Mario a gun, first-person POV,and set him into a series of short levels–maybe not the best analogy but it’s true. You might think this sounds like Doom or Halo, but it is very different in structure. First of all, the “levels” are quite literally just small areas in empty space with a set number of obstacles, weapons and enemies. Each weapon appears in the form of a Soul Card, which can be picked up and has limited ammo. A player can have three of the same card and hold two different types of cards. With such equipment, Neon White can speed through a level and must defeat all of the demons before reaching the goal. It is normal for him to never take damage or run out of ammunition, and there are no cutscenes to interrupt the graceful experience. Another important function of the Soul Cards are their respective discard ability. Each gun has a special effect when you 15 discard it. For example, the pistol allows you to double-jump when discarded, the rifle lets you shoot an explosive and the shotgun lets you dash forward. A player must make optimal use of both the shooting mechanic and the discard mechanic for each Soul Card in order to complete a level. Some enemies drop a weapon when defeated, which often lets a player know how to further optimize their route in the level. There are also bonus levels which are unlocked by claiming hidden gifts in the main levels and delivering them to the other assassins. Neon White engages in a lot of dialogue with them, some of which is slightly romantic as well. The format of this portion of the game is kind of like a dating simulator. I always skip the dialogue so I have no idea what is actually going on between Neon White and the other assassins. All I know is that they respond to his gifts with challenge levels. Neon Yellow’s challenges disable discard abilities while Neon Red’s levels make excessive use of them. Then there is Neon Violet; her levels are just pure torture. The speedrun aspect of this game is very important. In fact, it is one of the primary objectives. A player can unlock medals: silver, gold and ace depending on how fast they completed the level. With more experience in a level, Neon White gains “insight,” which is literally when the game guides you to beat the level even faster. Of course, that still won’t be enough if you’re aiming for the best possible time. The developers kept in mind that speedrunners would test the limits of this game, and so they set even more difficult records and encouraged the speedrun community to beat them. This may sound discouraging, but playing the game even normally makes you feel like a professional. If you enjoy that blissful feeling, I would highly recommend trying this game out. At the very least, you can compete with your friends for better times. There is a builtin leaderboard for each level that displays global results and that of your friends on Xbox. Try to get your friends to play this game and see who comes out on top. You never know, maybe you should claim your seat in heaven before it’s too late. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion 16 Following the drama of collapsed historical empires By Noah Garraoui Contributing Writer …���� ���� ���� ��� �� ������� ����€�� ���������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ����� ������� ���� ������� ��������� ������ ���� ���� ����������������������������������������� �������� ��������� ��� ���� ������� ��� � �� �������� �������� ���� ���� ����� ��������� ���������� �� ������ � ��� ����� ��� �� ���������†��������� �������� ����������� �������� ������ ����� ������� �������� ��� �� ����� ��� ������ ��� ���� � ����� ���� ���� ���������� �������� ����� ����� ������� �������������� ���� �������� ��� ��� ������� ��� ��� ��������������������������������� ����� ��� �������������†������������ ��‚����� ����� �� ������� ���� ��� ����������� �������������������������� ������������� ��������������������������������������� ������ ���� ��� ������� ����� �������� ����������� ������ �� 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��������� ������ ��� ���� ���� ������� ������� ���� �������� ����������� ���� ���� ����� ������� ������ � � �� ���� �������� ����� ��� �������������������� ��������� ������ � ����� ��� ���� ��� �� ���������������������� ��������������� ��� ���������� ���� ��� ���� ��������� ���� � ������� ���� �������� ���� ��� ��������� ���� ��������� ��� �� ��������� ��������� ��������� ��������� ���� ������ � ��������������������������������� �� ������������������������ Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion 17 Why you should play tabletop role-playing games Dungeons and Dragons and beyond By Shawn Carey Opinion Staff Writer I’m sure that we have all at least heard of the game Dungeons and Dragons. Honestly at this point it’s pretty hard to miss. You may have learned about it from series such as “Stranger Things,” “Critical Role” and “Baldur’s Gate.” These are just some of the massive franchises that involve the popular roleplaying game (RPG). Each of the formerly mentioned series’ stories contain one of two things: characters playing D&D or characters existing in the world of D&D. Mentions of D20s and eldritch monsters fill the mouths of the protagonists, painting a very specific picture for the viewer. With that being said, what exactly do you think D&D is about? The first thing that comes to mind is probably an image of a bunch of nerds sitting around a table rolling dice and fighting monsters with their imagination, which is honestly pretty accurate. However, that is only half of the game. The second half of the game is almost never shown: the roleplaying aspect. When you play Dungeons and Dragons, you take on the role of a character of your own personal creation. You control every aspect of your character, everything from their name, race, class, weapons, spells, backstory and most importantly, their personality. When you play D&D, you don’t just play as a fantastical character, you become them. This isn’t exclusive to Dungeons and Dragons, however. Most tabletop RPGs have you become your characters. There are many different RPGs genres. The most popular tends to be fantasy, which includes games such as Pathfinder, Vampire: The Masquerade and Call Cthulhu. There also tends to be a decent amount of sci-fi games, like Starfinder, Cyberpunk Red and Traveler, just to name a few. There’s also the case of license RPGs. The Last Airbender, Transformers, Marvel, Power Rangers and Star Wars are just a handful of the franchises that have received tabletop games. Due to the sheer number of different games, settings and potentially characters, there is an infinite number of ways to play, which is why I believe that everyone should play tabletop RPGs. First off, let’s talk about the story. Imagine all of the works of fiction that you have enjoyed in your life. Think of the compelling narratives, lovable characters, passionate villains and hilarious moments in them. D&D is not just a game, but rather, it is a way to take these stories and allow you and your friends to become the main characters by roleplaying. One of the most defining features of D&D is that imagination is the limit. If there is ever something you have wanted to do, you can make it happen. Instead of just watching or reading a story, you get to be a part of it. There’s weight behind your actions. What you say, who you attack and how you handle certain situations all matter. You’re in direct control of the story; it’s a totally unique experience that you can’t really find anywhere else. While you may have control over what happens, it’s not total control. Every action is determined by rolling dice, most commonly the D20, or a 20sided dice. The dice have just as much influence over the story as the players do. You can’t just say that you want to throw a fireball at a goblin. You have to roll for it. High rolls are successful while low rolls are failures. The unpredictable nature of the dice builds tension and helps create stakes at the table. It can also lead to some truly epic moments like rolling a natural 20, also known as a critical success. Now, not every tabletop game uses the same dice system. However, they tend to all have something very similar, such as the Marvel RPG’s d616 system. Sometimes a campaign doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. For example, a poor dice roll can totally derail an encounter or even a whole game. When this happens, the players and Dungeon Master (DM) usually have to find a creative way to get the story back on track. Tabletop games are a fantastic creative outlet. I am a firm believer that everyone should do something at least a little bit creative. Having a good creative outlet can be beneficial to one’s mental wellbeing and help to allow one to express themselves. Between the character creation, the story possibilities and general aesthetic, tabletop games are filled to the brim with creative possibilities. The best part of all of this is that playing TTRPG is a group activity. You’re not creating this world of chaos all by yourself. There’s this sense of partnership that comes with every action. Everyone’s attached to their respective characters and wants the best for them. It’s also a judgment free zone. You are allowed to get as nerdy as you want to get. Your character can be whatever you want them to be. As much as I enjoy the hobby, I will say that from a distance, it seems pretty intimidating. New players tend to believe that they need a whole shopping list of items. Everything from rule books, miniatures, a battle map, character sheets, multiple sets of dice, a dice tower and a DM screen. Now, don’t get me wrong, all of that definitely helps. However, the reality of the situation is much simpler. All you need is some friends and an internet connection. You can find most of the material needed online. There are plenty of websites that offer countless free and easy to use resources. D&D Beyond, Owlbear Rodeo and Roll 20 are just some of the websites that can help you get started. With that being said, I do recommend at least buying a set of dice and at the very least a starter set. You can of course just use a virtual dice roller; however, to me rolling a physical dice feels much more satisfying. As you probably noticed, I really like tabletop gaming. It’s a fun game to play with friends, a great way to be creative and overall just a positive experience. If you ever want to escape the real world for a few hours, I highly recommend trying out at least one tabletop game. Plus you can finally understand what the kids from “Stranger Things” are talking about. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion 18 Destroy Lonely releases "LOVE LASTS FOREVER" By Logan Colonna A track-by-track album review Asst. Opinion Editor Atlanta rapper Destroy Lonely is back again with another project titled “LOVE LASTS FOREVER.” He has a lot to prove with this album, since he’s been attempting to recapture the success he saw with his 2022 project “NO STYLIST” ever since it debuted. While I am excited for this record, I personally am not expecting much after hearing recent singles and features. Starting off, we have the performance of Destroy Lonely, or Lone for short as I will refer to him for the rest of this review. Lone isn’t necessarily known for his great bouts of lyricism and flow across his whole catalog; he more so lets the production do the talking on most tracks typically. This is no different on this record. Even after listening to the album five times, each track vocally still blends together and I can’t tell a lot of them apart from each other when casually listening. This is a huge issue I see in music nowadays: when artists can’t figure out how to correctly differentiate each track in an album. It makes the listening experience seem like a drag because every song blends together. Especially on a 21-track album, you can see how this can be a huge deciding factor in if the record is good or not. While I do enjoy what Lone brings to each track with his vocals and such, it really does mesh together quickly. This is made even worse when you have artists from the same label that Lone is a part of, like Ken Carson and Homixide Gang, who do the exact same thing as him. At the end of the day, while Lone’s vocal style is appreciated at times, he needs to change up severely or he’ll cease to have a fanbase besides his super loyal listeners. With only two features on the album, coming from Lil Uzi Vert and Ken Carson, I wish there were more in all honesty. This comes from the fact that a lot of the tracks end up sounding the same. With more artists collaborating, the more different the album can actually be. With this being said, I value the two features we did get heavily. Uzi easily had the better of the two features here when performing on “LOVE HURTS.” With his verse, we got a more melodic side of Uzi, which really does help separate this track from the rest of the record. Now with Ken Carson, although he does sound extremely similar to Lone, his feature is still a nice addition to the tracklist. The track “THRILL” as a whole is one of my favorites off of the album as well, with Ken Carson helping that decision be made. After being pleased with these two features, I can safely say that they are easily the best part of the entire album. Next, the production. Just like Lone’s vocals, the production from track to track is quite similar as well. Each track opens up with the same kind of predictable beat that you’d see all over Youtube when searching “Destroy Lonely Type Beat.” It’s baffling to me to see each instrumental lack so much personality. On top of that, the production is somewhat sleepy throughout the album, leaving me to genuinely fall asleep on my first two listens of the project. I get if that is the point of your music, but as a trap artist, I highly doubt Lone wants this to happen to listeners when first playing his album. This being paired up with Lone’s vocals allows the album to take forever to finish from beginning to end, and it’s not a good ride. With this being said, I do have a few outliers of his usual approach to the instrumentation. These being “LOVE HURTS” and “THRILL.” Besides these two tracks, everything else is a bore to listen to. The production as a whole on this record is lackluster at best. With all of what was said prior, this album is not replayable whatsoever. Like I’ve said before, nearly every track ends up blending together with three or four exceptions. Between the bland sounding vocals from Lone, and uninspired-sounding instrumentals, if you hear one track, you’ve heard them all. With this record having an hour and four minute runtime, the soundscape gets boring very quickly. By my fourth listen of this album, I wanted to skip so many tracks just to get to the end. Overall, beyond listening a few times for this review, I do not see myself coming back to this album whatsoever, besides playing three tracks maximum. This album is not very good at all. Lone attempted to revitalize his career, since he disappointed heavily with his 2023 project, “If Looks Could Kill.” However, he just dug himself an even deeper hole with this record. To improve, Lone could at the very least reduce the amount of tracks on his albums. No one in this day in age wants to sit there for 21 tracks for any artist, especially if their performance isn’t even good. To add on, Lone needs to harshly change his style. While it does work to a degree, I am personally tired of his specific style, even more so with multiple artists adapting to this style now. After all is said and done, this album is a 2 out of 10 for me. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu Women's soccer preview Men's soccer preview By Ava Tureen Sports Staff Writer ���� �������� ������� ������� ������� �������� ��� �� �� � � � � ���� ���� �� ���������� ��������� ������������ �� ����� ��������������� �� ���� ������ ������������ ��� ������ � ���� ����� ���� � � ����  � �� ���� �� ��� � ����� ���  � ��� ���� �� ���� �  ����� �� �� � �� �������� ����������­ �€����������������������� �������������  ����������������� �� �������‚���� ����������������� ƒ„��� ��� � � ������� ���� ��� ����� � ������������������ ���‚� �� � � ���� ������ �� ���� �������…��������� ��� � � ��� ��€�� ����� ��� � ���� ��� � �����€������������ ������������� ���������������� ���†��  ������� �� � †­�� ����� ���� �������…��������� ��� ‚�� ���� ����� ������� ���� ���� � �� � � ���‚�� ���������������������������� ������ ­�� ������� ��� � � ‚������ ���� �� ���� ���� ���� � � ��������� �� � ���� ���� ��� ‚��������������������������‡ ˆ��������� 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Sports Editor As the 2024 field hockey season approaches, the Wilkes University Colonels are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and competitive year. With a mix of returning talent and promising newcomers, the team is focused on building on last season’s experiences to push further in the Landmark Conference. Coach Ashley Irwin is in her second season as the head coach of the field hockey team at Wilkes University. In her first season at Wilkes and the teams first season in the Landmark Conference, Irwin led the Colonels to a 4-5 conference record and a 9-9 overall record. Sophomore forward Morgan Hermanofski led the team in goals with eight for the year. Senior midfielder Olivia Gayoski followed shortly after with six goals. As a team, the Colonels averaged two goals a game, finishing with 36 total on the year. More than half of the goals for the year were assisted, totally 23 on the year. With six players from last year leaving, the 12 freshmen this year have some big shoes to fill. “The first-years have really worked hard during preseason and we are continuing to become closer on and off the field," said senior forward and captain, Bridget Rosenfeld. "We have not had a class this large in quite a while but I feel that they have integrated well into our team and we are so excited to see their impact on the field.” Senior captain Morgan Millard concurred. “This season we were able to bring in a decent amount of new players. It can be difficult to transition from high school to intercollegiate athletics, but lots of our new players have proven that they are willing to take on that challenge," Millard said. "They have contributed significantly to our team by bringing in new energy and a new style of play. I’m excited to see how they continue to adapt and grow into college players throughout the rest of the season," she added. The team already had their first home game on Aug. 31 against Oswego State. Senior midfielder Lexie Nevel put the Lady Colonels on the board first within the first minute and a half of the game. Nevel was able to get a goal off of a rebound from Rosenfeld’s shot. Hermanofski followed a few minutes later, gaining a two to zero lead. Right before halftime, senior midfielder Kellie Scott brought the Colonel’s to a two goal advantage after receiving a pass from senior forward Morgan Millard. Both first-year goaltenders Isabel Snyder and Olivia Wickel made a debut with Snyder having five saves and Wickel with one. After reflecting on the first game and win of the season, Rosenfeld said, “This season has started out great so far, we have great team chemistry even with a large first year class and it is showing on the field. The returners came back strong and we played like a true team last Saturday against Oswego.” Coach Irwin feels hopeful about the upcoming season. “The team looked great during preseason and stayed healthy, which was huge for us. Hosted our first Quad-Scrimmage with Division II school’s- Mercy and STAC, along with LVC joining us. Thought they had an awesome offensive debut at home with our season opener against Oswego. We want to play a fast offense with fresh legs (subs) often; we’re excited to see where it takes us,” she said. This past Wednesday, the Colonels traveled to William Paterson University where they sadly lost 3-2 after a double overtime. Rosenfeld got the Colonels on the board first after receiving a pass from first-year midfielder/forward Shaelyn Donnelly. She also got the second goal for the Colonels which was off of a penalty corner from Millard. In goal, Isabel Snyder started and finished the game, making a total of five saves. Olivia Wickel also made an appearance, making one save. Next week, the Colonels will travel to face cross-town rival King's College in a 9/11 Memorial game at 4 p.m. The new NFL season excites football fans everywhere By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor The crisp fall conditions mean one thing for sports fans: the return of football. The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are set to open up the 2024 NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 5. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes as well as tight end Travis Kelce are looking to bring Kansas City back to the Super Bowl once again, while Lamar Jackson and newly-signed running back Derrick Henry are looking to bring the Baltimore Ravens to the big game for the first time in over 10 years. Wide receiver Zay Flowers is looking to have a breakout year in 2024. While many question marks rise in the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiving room, Rashee Rice is also looking to do the same as Flowers and have a breakout season. This upcoming NFL season looks to be exciting with many team, players, and storylines all coming to a head. Elsewhere in the league, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Caleb Williams, is looking to bring the Chicago Bears back to a level of dominance that has not been seen since the team’s last Super Bowl victory in 1985. Williams, who has been drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes, is looking to be the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 in the history of the Bears’ franchise. Earlier this week, he was named the first rookie quarterback captain in the history of the franchise. Fans in Chicago are ecstatic for the success that can potentially come with drafting a prospect like Williams. The Bears are looking to make a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Closer to campus, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to make a statement in the NFC East division, a division that is seen as a toss-up to most experts. Two elite teams, the Eagles and the Cowboys, play in that division. The Eagles turned themselves into a juggernaut with the signing of Saquon Barkley, making them the favorite to win that division and make a deep run into the postseason. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, after appearing in the Super Bowl the season before. Wide receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith are looking to propel the Eagles back to the “big game” alongside Barkley and star quarterback Jalen Hurts Coming into the season, the Kansas City Chiefs are the favorites to win their third Super Bowl championship in a row. The team that fell to the Chiefs in last year’s game, the San Francisco 49ers, are a close second. Following them are the Ravens, Detroit Lions, and then the Eagles. All in all, the fall time means many different things: the return of football, pumpkin spice and the leaves changing colors. This is one of the best times of the calendar year to be a sports fan, and it will inevitably be an exciting season to watch from a fan’s perspective. Photo from Wikimedia Commons �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Kellie Scott Senior, Women's Field Hockey, Midfield The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Kellie Scott led the Colonels in total shots and shots on goal with three in the team's season-opening victory over Oswego State. Scott had one goal during the game. Major: Psychology and Communication Studies Hometown: Northport, ME If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Cross country - I just really love What had been your favorite to run. Fun fact: I ran 10 miles sports memory from your time this summer! Just for fun... and conditioning. as a Colonel? The field hockey's family tradition of embarrassing ourselves. We all go to tthe local Salvation Army and pick out outageous outfits for one another, followed by a delicious dinner. What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? Boston Bruins, the Eagles.... and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading team. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Sleep, run and eat yummy food. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? I think it's a toss up between making it to the playoffs last season and honestly preseason this year. Preseason was so much fun and seeing where this new generation of Wilkes hockey is going is so exciting to watch and be a part of. What is your favorite post-game meal? A FAT italian sandwich with mayo and spicy pepper relish or mushroom sacchetti from Delvinos in Maine. What is your favorite part of How do you feel about being being an athlete at Wilkes? The people. Wilkes athletes and selected as the Athlete of the coaches are gritty, hardworking and Week? push one another to be the best. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Creed or Miracle The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." It feels special, especially to represent my teammattes and coaches. Truly I am so excitted to see what this season brings and really push athletically towards our team goals. #DoHardWell Compiled by Samantha Mullen �The Beacon September 11, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week 23 Aidan Graff First-Year, Men’s Cross Country The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Aidan Graff finished 15th overall during the season opener at Misericordia University. In his first collegiae race, Graff finished with a time of 13:00. Major: Environmental Engineering Hometown: Scranton, Pa. What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? My favorite sports memory .as a Colonel is the friendships I made with my teammates before the season started What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? I don’t really have a favorite professional sports team. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Favorite thing to do away from sports is having fun with friends. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? My favorite part about being an athlete at Wilkes is being able to run at the collegiate level. If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? If I didn’t run cross country I would probably be playing soccer. I played it during my freshman and sophomore year of high school and throughout my childhood. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? My favorite sports memory is when I became the District 2 champion for the 3200m during my senior year of high school. What is your favorite post-game meal? My pre-meet meal is always pasta. I don’t really have a post-meet meal; it’s wherever the teams wants to stop. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I feel honored to be seleced as Athlete of the Week. I didn’t even know it existed. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? “Remember the Titans” Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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//Sam Mullen �24 The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Door’s open! ����������������������������������� ����� ����������� ���� ��� ��������� ��������������� ����������� ��������������� �������� ���� ��������� ������� ������������ Contact: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu 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, 2024 September 10 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 September 10 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/f5ce2796868836932428e92e231e2701.pdf 1222cabe88deb1af3b63099633eabced PDF Text Text The Beacon - September 11, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 77, Issue 2 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Colonels reclaim Mayor’s Cup 43-28 against King’s College Wilkes University sophomore wide receiver Juju Fears soon scores a receiving touchdown as King’s College senior defensive back Amir Gibson trails behind him. Wilkes won the game, 43-28. Senior quarterback Xavier Powell was awarded the MVP plaque by President Greg Cant. See pages 12 and 13 for more photos. Photos by Sam Mullen and Zach Paraway Wilkes University Programming Board hosts field day event, page 3 Theatre Department announces season, page 7 Why you should play tabletop RPGs, page 17 Athletes of the Week, pages 22 and 23 �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Emma Broda: emma.broda@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Sept. 4 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei Contributing Writer Student government held its second weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester on September 4. The meeting started with a representative of the Wilkes University Chapter of College Democrats with their week one of two club recognition requests. The mission of this club is to advocate democratic values and promote students to become politically active leaders. The club also advocated for the Republican Club of Wilkes to be revived. The political club will return next week for their second presentation. Student government’s parliamentarian presented for the week two of two constitution changes. Updates to the constitution were revised. The changes decreased member requirements from participation with both 10 event hours and 10 office hours to a total of 10 hours participated through a combination of both. The election committee and food committee have been eliminated. R e qu i re m e nt s for new club recognition have also been revised. New clubs will now only need to present for two weeks in order to receive approval to be recognized as an official club. The number of signatures required to run for class representative, treasurer, vice president, and president have been lowered from 50 to 25 and 150 to 50, respectively. All constitution changes and updates were approved. Members of the homecoming coordinating team were the last to present at the meeting with their funding request. The presentation outlined the three days of events that will take place on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of homecoming weekend. On Thursday, a pep rally will be held on the greenway from 6 to 8 p.m. On Friday, two events will occur. The first is to decorate your own trucker hat from 5 until 7 p.m. The second is mini golf on the first floor of Stark Learning Center, set to start at 7:30 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. On Saturday, students can get merchandise that will be given out at the homecoming football game. The homecoming weekend coordinating team is requesting $9,500 for the 3 days of events. They will return next week for the next part of their presentation. The next meeting will take place on Sept. 11. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff RHC Milkshake Giveaway Residence Hall Council will hand out free milkshakes on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Greenway in honor of National Milkshake Day. Welcome the the Neighborhood Social The Office of Diversity Affairs will host a neighborhood social on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon in Max Roth Center 105. Students can stop by for light refreshments and a meet and greet with the office. Dave & Busters Student Development Trip Student Development will host an evening at Dave & Busters on Sunday, Sept. 14. Students can sign up at the information desk in the Henry Student center and will need to provide their Wilkes ID and $15 payment at time of sign up. Transportation via the Wilkes shuttle will be provided. The shuttle will leave campus at 4:30 p.m. and return at 8:30 p.m. There are limited spots available. Contact studentdev@wilkes.edu with any questions. Produce Pop-up The Office of Civic Engagement will have their first monthly produce pop-up on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SUB. Those who bring their own bags can skip the line. Kisses to Cancer 5K Wilkes University’s AFROTC Detachment 752 will host the third annual Kisses to Cancer 5K on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m in honor of U.S. Air Force Major Candice Adams Ismirle, a Wilkes University alumni who died in 2016 after a battle with triple-negative breast cancer. To register for the event, follow this link: https://secure.touchnet.com/ C21800_ustores/web/product_detail.js p?PRODUCTID=218&SINGLESTORE =true Upcoming Events: 2024 Fall Semester September 12 - Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? 13 - Student Government sign-ups 19 - Fiesta 26 - Programming Board giveaway October 3 - Blockbuster Bingo 10-14- Fall Recess 17 - Wilkestober Fest 24 - Sound Showdown 28-31 - Freak Week �������������������������������� ���������� ���������� ����������� ��� �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News 3 Wilkes University Programming Board hosts field day event By Emma Broda News Editor On Sept. 5, Wilkes’ Programming Board held Field Day as part of the second week of school activities. The event included classic field day games, food and prizes. Programming Board served “walking tacos” and Italian ice to students, who were able to sit and spend time with friends while they ate. Students got to choose whether their “walking tacos” were made in Doritos or Fritos chip bags, as well as what toppings they wanted. An interesting debate was stirred on which chip option was superior, with many votes towards Doritos. Emily Iannnucci-Furman, sophomore criminology and sociology major, shared her opinion on the debate. “Doritos one hundred percent, but it has to be the cheese ones,” she said. Many students shared that although they did not have a huge interest in participating in the games themselves, they still came to enjoy the food and watch others compete. Shauna Evancavich, sophomore early education major, and Iannnucci-Furman both said that they frequently attend Programming Board events as a way of spending time with their friends. They admitted they both came only for the food with no intent on playing games, but still seemed to be having a fun evening. Even thouigh they chose not to participate in the games,, many students still gathered on the Greenway to compete. Some games such as cornhole, frisbee and volleyball were played by students throughout the night without being a part of a competition for a prize. However, there were games played for those different prizes, many of which were classic field day games. These included tug-of-war, an egg race, water balloon toss, wheelbarrow race, potato sack race and musical chairs. Natalia Williams, sophomore double major in communication studies and Spanish, and Alyson Buchinski, sophomore education major, handed out walking tacos during the recent Field Day on campus. Food was a popular aspect of the Sept. 5 event. The prizes for the various events included a university branded sweatshirt, Owala water bottles, a cookware set, headphones and a spikeball set. Although many students were interested in winning the prizes, even those who did not win seemed to enjoy themselves. Camden Craig, freshman pharmacy major, participated in the potato sack race. The first-year student won the spike ball set as a result of his performance. “I wanted to do at least one event that I felt I was strong in,” Craig said. Craig added that no matter if he won or lost, he was “there for the fun.” Whether students came to the event to play games for fun, play to win or just to get food, the Field Day event gave everyone an opportunity to get together with friends and have fun. The next Programming Board event is the "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" event, which will include a trivia-based competiton between students. It will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12. Junior sociology major Sarah McAndrew was joined by Pierogi at the university's recent Field Day. Photos by Emma Broda Tug-of-war was one of the many field day games challenging students. Other activities included an egg race, water balloon toss, wheelbarrow race, potato sack race and musical chairs. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News That’s So Honors: Welcoming a New Graduate Assistant By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer This fall, the Honors Program welcomed a new Graduate Assistant (GA) and Honors Program alumnus: Lindsey Scorey!. Scorey graduated in 2023 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies. While she attended Wilkes University, Scorey embodied the idea of “That’s So Honors,” becoming heavily involved in both extracurricular and academic activities. She split her time between multiple cocurriculars in the Communication Studies Department. Scorey served as director and client manager for Zebra Communications, a podcast host, and social media manager for 90.7 WCLH. She also served as both a staff writer and assistant opinion editor for The Beacon. Outside of communication studies, Scorey worked as a Kirby Scholar, e-Mentor Orientation Coordinator, and interned with both the Office of Marketing Communications and Student Development. Scorey spent the last year working as a media consultant for the Times Leader Media Group before deciding to return to the university to pursue a master of Aarts and a master of fine arts in creative writing. In addition to her coursework, Scorey will serve as the graduate assistance for the Wilkes University Honors Program. A graqduate assistant position is a work-study opportunity made available to students enrolled in graduate programs. The type of work varies, depending on the office. For Scorey, much of this work involves facilitating the peer mentoring and small group programs and assisting with Honors Program events. “As a GA, I am really looking forward to being a part of any and all events and helping new students become acclimated to the program through it all,” Scorey said. “It has already been so great to see first year students being involved, so I think I Meet Lindsey Scorey, the GA for the Honors Program. Photos submitted by Lindsey Scorey will enjoy the events for myself, but also be living vicariously through seeing new students find their community here.” Despite the heavy workload between work and master’s programs, Scorey is excited to be working directly with the Honors Program Director and Assistant Director, Dr. Jonathan Kuiken and Professor Jen McLaughlin. “When I saw the Honors GA position was open for applicants, it was a nobrainer for me," Scorey said. Scorey, who hopes to work in academia, said the opportunity to work with extraordinary faculty and students was one of the highlights of this particular role. “What drew me to the Honors & Scholars Program GA role was the authenticity and student-centered aspect of it.” Scorey’s connections with her fellow students don’t end when she leaves the Honors Office for the classroom. “I began my MA/MFA program back in June and it has been better than I could ever imagine. 4 “I met my cohort back during June residency and by the end, we were all so emotional to leave each other,” she said. Scorey mentioned that her cohort is kind and talented, and that she is excited to be in a program surrounded by so many great people. In addition to her multiple responsibilities, Scorey has to balance her GA role, her job outside of Wilkes, and her daunting Master’s coursework, as she is enrolled in courses in both Poetry and Nonfiction, which requires not only a lot of writing, but a lot of reading. “...my favorite part is getting to read my fellow classmates' work and get their feedback on mine," she said. Scorey is looking forward to a year of education, fun, and new connections. Balancing two Master’s programs with a GA role and another job? That’s So Honors. To keep up with Lindsey and the rest of the Honors Program, follow @ wilkeshonors on Instagram. Scorey, who graduated in 2023, was an active member of both the Honors Program and campus community. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 New accounting practices for all clubs and organizations By Kayla Bicskei News Staff Writer Wilkes University clubs and organizations are now required to follow new accounting rules during the Fall 2024 semester. Clubs and organizations are no longer allowed to carry unlabeled funds from one fiscal year to another. Prior to the Fall 2024 semester, clubs and organizations were able to carry funds provided by Wilkes University, Student Government requests, and independent fundraising through multiple fiscal years to fund club and organization meetings, events, and trips. This change is due to previous accounting practices being labeled as irresponsible from the university. Money that clubs and organizations have received from Wilkes funds, Student Government requests, and independent fundraising will be diminished to $0 at the end of every fiscal year. According to the university, carrying money that does not have a labeled purpose from one fiscal year to the next is not an acceptable accounting practice. If clubs and organizations are saving money for an event, conference, or trip that is scheduled past the fiscal new year, they can label that money for that event, conference, or trip. This way, the clubs may keep any fundraised money from being taken away. The clubs and organizations can label this money on the fundraising application. When fundraised money is labeled, that News money can only be used for the event, conference, or trip it has been assigned to. The absence of funds in university organizations, such as the capital projects funds, might result in a relatively minor decrease in funding for some clubs and organizations. While surpluses do not roll over, the budget does not decrease for the next fiscal year. The Programming Board is one of the organizations experiencing a decrease in school funding. Programming Board Vice President and Wilkes University student, Logan Colonna, commented on the newly introduced accounting practices. “This could be a hard transition for some clubs and students, but I’m sure we can all band together as students and work through this hurdle,” said Colonna. “If we work together, then I’m sure everything will work out.” Club and organization money that is reset at the beginning of the fiscal year will be dissolved into Wilkes University. This money will be used for projects meant to improve student life outside of classrooms and academic buildings. Through this effort, students of all levels will be able to enjoy funded Wilkes University projects before they graduate. An example of a project this dissolved money will be funding are the new lights installed at Schmit Stadium. While it is cuurently unclear what the other projects may be, the university asssures that they will be beneficial to the student population. Professor Profile: Dr. Elyssa Gage 5 By Emma Broda News Editor This fall, Dr. Elyssa Gage joined the university as an assistant professor of history in the global cultures department. Gage was raised in Nice, France, where she first began studying humanities in high school. She moved to the United States to attend Pepperdine University in California where she graduated with a degree in international studies. She continued her education at the University of Florida where she received both her masters and doctorate in history. Gage previously taught at a university in Alabama, where her family lives. Gage shared that her interest in history became really clear from studying tensions in places such as North Korea and Pakistan. She found that looking at aspects of history she was more familiar with, like European colonialism, from a different perspective was very interesting. Gage herself is no stranger to world history, having spent time researching in multiple countries. These countries include France, the United States, Japan, South Korea and Italy. Her own research primarily focuses on French colonialism and empire, looking at its involvement in Africa and Asia. The new professor has been looking into territories that France is still present in the French Caribbean and how ideas of empire have changed. During this fall semester, Gage is teaching a course on the history of piracy. The Photo submitted by Elyssa Gage course looks at the role of pirates in global history, specifically with its association with the Caribbean. This includes studying the relationship between pirates in slavery, building empires and international law. She shared that piracy eventually was made illegal and empires created an “idea that if a country cannot prevent pirates from attacking traders, then they are a rogue nation” and that this is used as justification for colonization. Gage also talked about looking at the social dimension of piracy, that if piracy is made illegal and pirates are being attacked then why are people still becoming pirates? In the spring, Gage will be teaching a class on the African Diaspora. Interested in telling campus news and stories? Join The Beacon Email emma.broda@wilkes.edu or kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 News Annual Club Day a successful event for all By Staff Reports With weather that wasn't too hot or too chilly, Club Day 2024 was a successful event that brought students, faculty, staff and administrators to the campus greenway. Students were able to enjoy free food, pick up "club swag" and explore the dozens of clubs and cocurriculars represented at the event. Even Walter, the first dog of Wilkes, made an appearance. 6 Club Day is an annual event on campus and is open to everyone, though it is often popular with first-year students looking to meet new people and get involved on campus. Though some clubs and activities focus around specific majors, many involve special interests and are open to anyone looking to start a new hobby or to keep up with an old one. Photos/Shannon Slominski Dozens of tables surround the greenway for Wilkes' 2024 fall Club Day. Sunny skies and not-too-hot temperatures provided a welcoming environment for hundreds of students. Photos/Shannon Slominski Gene McCormick, sophomore communication and media studies major, checks out the U.S. Air Force ROTC table at Club Day. Photos/Submitted photo Walter Cant, the first havapoo of Wilkes, enjoys some shade during the university's recent Club Day. Walter was a popular attraction at the event. Photos/Submitted photo A steady stream of students visit club and cocurricular tables circling the university greenway. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Editor-in-Chief Sydney Allabaugh at sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu University Theatre Department announces season By Cally Williams Special to The Beacon Tucked away on the corner of River Street sits the Dorothy Dickson Darte Centre for the Performing Arts. The centre houses convocation, your 8 a.m. yoga class and the university’s performing arts program, including dance, theatre, and music. This year, the theatre will put on four mainstage productions, including two straight plays and two musicals. Those include: “John Proctor is the Villain,” “And the World Goes Round,” “Between the Lines,” and “As You Like It.” “John Proctor is the Villain” takes place in Georgia in 2018, where a group of high school students are studying the “Crucible”. This play, by Kimberly Belflower, tackles subjects such as misogyny and sexual assault, while mentioning these topics in context of the Arthur Miller classic. “It tells a story that is so unfortunately realistic and shines a new light on a book that so many of us read at an age where we could be told what we were supposed to think about it,” said junior Madeline Meier. The production will be directed by Alison Morooney and intimacy and fight captained by Meier. Meier is a musical theatre major with a minor in sports psychology. “This show is the perfect mix of laughter and discomfort with a powerful message that the Wilkes community needs to hear,” Meier continued. She also will be playing Shelby Holcomb, an outspoken student who just recently came back to the school after leaving Isabella Ruiz will play Raelynn Nix, a cheerleader and aspiring goth who wants to break from what she’s used to while dealing with the return of her exbest friend, played by Meier, and turmoil within the school. “It is an important show,” Ruiz said. “It allows for conversations about healing, reconciliation and accountability.” Ruiz is a senior musical theater major and is very excited for this production. Those production runs from Oct. 3 through 6. **** John Kander and Fred Ebb are known throughout musical theatre history for their songwriting contributions. The duo is famous for musicals like “Chicago” and “Cabaret”. Their musical revue, “And the World Goes Round” includes songs from these hit shows, as well as many of their other works. “And the World Goes Round” features Jon Liebetrau as the director, Dr. Joshua Harper as the music director, and Lynn Esgro as the choreographer. Along with musical numbers, the show features exciting choreography. Bob Fosse is often associated with the Kander and Ebb style, as he choreographed and helped write several of their shows. Fosse was an influential choreographer and is well known for his distinct style of choreography, which will come through in several numbers. This revue runs from Nov. 14 through 17 at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Centre. **** Based on the book by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer, “Between the Lines” tells the story of high school junior and book worm, Delilah. Delilah falls in love with the main character of the book she’s reading and finds out that the characters in the book are alive and can talk to her. Delilah jumps between the fairytale world with her prince and the real world, where she struggles with bullies and family Graphic courtesy of Wilkes University Theatre troubles. Featuring a score by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson and book by Timothy Allen McDonald, “Between the Lines” is for everyone who ever wished they could leave their lives behind and jump into a book. The musical will be on the Darte stage from Feb. 20 through 23. **** The season ends with the Shakespearean comedy, “As You Like It.” This play tells of Rosalind and her cousin Celia as they run away to the woods as Rosalind is exiled by her uncle, the Duke. Rosalind dresses up like a man and comedy ensues as the cousins meet hilarious characters while they run through the woods, followed by Rosalind’s admirer, Orlando. “For this season, I am personally very excited to be directing two very fresh new shows, both of which were written by female identifying playwrights,” Morooney said. Morooney is currently in rehearsals for “John Proctor is the Villain” and will be directing the second musical of the year, “Between the Lines.” Each semester includes two very different shows. “John Proctor is the Villain” is a very new play while “And the World Goes Round” includes songs from Kander and Ebb that were written in 1965. “Between the Lines” was first performed in 2023 and “As You Like it” was written by Shakespeare in the 16th century. “There is always a place for the great classics of course,” Morooney said, “and I am glad we are covering both ends of that spectrum in one production season here at Wilkes.” �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Sydney Allabaugh: NISSAN ALTIMA - Doechii Stephen Youkoski: Sam Mullen: ROXANNE - Arizona Zervas Night Moves - Bob Seger Megan Davis: Adam Grundt: Quarterback - Wallows one of wun - Gunna Emma Broda: Leah Smith: Interstate - Big Thief Stitch - Wage War Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 �The Beacon – September 11, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 New app aims to increase engagement on campus By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer Forget when a particular event is being held? Looking for a way to publicize your next activity? Tired of using WIN numbers to collect an accurate picture of who attended a particular event? Good news Colonels. Communication and fostering student engagement on campus has just gotten easier this year. Clubs and organizations across campus have started to use an app that tracks what events students attend. Suitable, is an engagement app designed to help students publicize and be aware of events happening on campus. The app allows for a centralized spot for campus community members to see what’s happening and when. Clubs and organizations like Programming Board, Student Government and the Multicultural Student Coalition, are all utilizing the platform to track attendance and to inform the student body about events that are happening. For each event posted on Suitable, descriptions can also be included to provide additional information so users understand what the event is. According to Suitable’s website, the app utilizes the “20-60-20 Rule.” According to the rule, about 20 percent of students are engaged in campus activities. However, an equal amount are not very engaged at all, and the remaining 60 percent just need some additional encouragement. The app is designed particularly to help those students who need that extra help. Junior marketing major Jenny Nguyen enjoys the app because it is easier for clubs to handle administrative duties. “I think Suitable has been a big help in taking attendance because it makes things a lot easier for clubs and students,” Nguyen said. “All we have to do is scan a QR code and once you have the app set up you are good to go.” The app has also cut down the wait to enter events. Before Suitable, attendance was taken by taking students’ individual WIN numbers. Since the rollout of Suitable, students don’t have to worry about remembering their numbers. “I feel it was easier than the people going to everyone individually to take the WINs,” sophomore education major Shauna For those not wishing to use the app, a desktop verson of the student engagement app, Suiteable, is available. Evancavich. “It took less time.” To use Suitable, download it on your phone. Once you enter the app, you are prompted to enter your school email address. After, it will send you to sign in using the university portal. There, you can enter your username and password. Once finished you are ready to use the app. On the day of an event simply click on the QR code icon, and scan the QR code provided by whoever is taking attendance at that event. There is also a desktop version for folks looking to use something other than their cellphone. Overall, Suitable is proving to be an effective and efficient app for those around campus. It is helping students become more involved on campus and providing good information about events. At right: Students accessing the app will see a screen similar to the one pictured. After clicking on a event, they will see a screen with details of the specific event. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Seek-A Word Back to School Word Search ������������������������������������������� Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below. D Y D K E S R D U G L Q L O S O Y X B P J H K Z K W A C D R L O V V W Q A U D C E V S F K O F I K S F F P R C W E S Z P T R D S W G T S Answer Key: C O A T Y Y F E B M G O S V C S K L R I F I H S W K J S I J C U Z X O O K S V Z S N T O U O V K T U C A D K Q H T P U P C D K N E Y L W L O I B M O C K S H B G L E Z K A B M O G U O H N I M Y Z S T J H Y O O K H C O I G M Y M D S N O T O U L C L C U A D U O S L Y T U M C N T X B T E Z S G Z O W J M J U G G R P X O A S R C H C T D S W G T Word Bank Z 1. notebook 5. school 9. computer 2. study 6. pencil 10. desk 3. homework 7. professor 11. class 4. backpack 8. student 12. syllabus L S F P O U F W E K T R C S O S Credit for this puzzle goes to: Dictionary.com www.dictionary.com P P K S C V K J O Y F V R D U D Y M Y R E V L S Z T D K X E F Z C E Y L U P D U T K C D K U B D R L B O V O U K G L S V S Q L N T Z I T G M Y Y U D C O H N I O I K C J X E N T M C Y L U T O S X P R G G U J M M O G U J O V Z S A B Z M O C B O O K S M D S G L U W Q A H Y H K N E A P D K W A C N O T I E Q H T M G O S K O F S Z O O K C X J U F O I H B C S K I B W A O W L I S L Y H S Z J G W Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below. �Sr. Zane Grover waltzes in for long TD grab in win versus King’s Jr. Tallen Murray and So. Rob Barbarri combine for TD saving tackle during win versus King’s Sr. Donell Mackey-Woodson drops back into coverage during win versus King’s Jr. Tallen Murray lunges to make tackle during win versus King’s Jr. Josh Ermeus gets ready in pregme during win versus King’s Jr. Janas Sims takes reps in pre-game in win versus King’s Sr. Steele Hess and So. Mike Golay celebrate after a sack during win versus King’s �Sr. Donell Mackey-Woodson drops back on a 3rd and long during win versus King’s (From Left to Right) So. Luke Baker, Sr. Dame Grullon, Sr. Moe Guarino, and Jr. Anthony Messina in pass protection in win versus King’s So. Jackson Roberts gets ready in pregme during win versus King’s �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: leah.smith@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Managing Editor: Stephen Youkoski Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Emma Broda Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Leah Smith Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Laura De Lora Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - Shawn Carey Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Andrew Marshallsay Sports - Ava Tureen 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Clubs should keep their unspent funds The Student Government’s change in club funding is without a doubt a controversial decision. Absorbing unused funds to make changes for other parts of the university is something that will create a divide in opinion among students. Many students however, specifically those who are frequent club members, are outraged by this. Absorbing leftover funds from university clubs because clubs saving the leftover money can be considered “poor accounting practices” and using that money for other resources around the university that students may not use or need is a questionable decision, to say the least. Many clubs use that money to cover future events or to plan programming to benefit the wider campus community. Even though students have been told there is a possibility that money can still possibly be saved for a big future goal (like a major trip), what are the chances this is guaranteed? In addition, what about the funding for future events that clubs would like to initiate for the student community? Many clubs participate in many small events, whether it’s for fundraising or to benefit the Wilkes community. These include events like Trunk-or-Treat and cookouts. Events such as these can only happen with the money that clubs are able to save, which may require using funds saved from previous semesters. Without this financial security, events like this could dwindle as club officers choose to be even more selective about which events to support. Ultimately, this can cause more stress for club leaders who must choose whether to support more general events or to save their funds for more club member-specific activities. They may also try to make up for the loss of money by hosting even more fundraising events, which could saturate the student environment. Clubs should not have to be put under this scrutiny because they are told saving money from previous years is “poor accounting practice.” If anything, splurging and making sure the money is gone before it can be absorbed is a poor accounting practice. This can be a bad example for students trying to budget themselves, which is especially important in a college environment. Fundraising events are crucial when it comes to Wilkes clubs and will become even more vital due to this funding change. Clubs will have to put what money they have left, whether it’s from Student Government or even out of their own pocket to develop an event that could raise more money. This becomes a challenge to students outside of clubs because not only are clubs asking for more money, but students may try to budget both college funds and other personal dues. This could make club fundraisers more challenging. Even if a club fundraiser does well, clubs will have no choice but to spend all of the money raised because that money will not be secured in the following year. Each year, clubs will go back to square one. Overall, this recent decision to absorb unused club funds is a poor choice because it will not only teach students poor budgeting skills, which is ironic given the reason for this decision, but it will also add on to the stress that students are already feeling in college. Now they will have to be increasingly selective of what to spend their money on and when. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 - September 11, 2024 Opinion Analyzing toxic fandoms: The Icebox: An in-depth Are they inescapable? review of “Neon White” By Leah Smith Asst. Opinion Editor Fandoms are communities where fans across all forms of media can gather, whether in-person or online, to discuss, debate and celebrate the particular work of media that they enjoy. However, what has become present in modern fandom is toxicity, whether that toxicity is towardsanother fan, an upcoming project or a creator within that community. Toxic fandoms can be more than this; however, there’s toxic behavior from fans that can come out of love for a celebrity or project but gets lost in translation. The most common is the toxic behavior from fans that are negative, which mostly comes from criticism and a fan’s personal biases. One of the most popular examples of a toxic fandom is Star Wars. Star Wars fans are one of, if not the most, commonly known fanbase for their toxic fans and have even been dubbed by the internet as “The Fandom Menace.” The rise of this “Fandom Menace” wasn’t prevalent until Disney acquired Lucasfilm and Star Wars back in 2012. Fans had skeptic opinions about how the family-friendly company would handle the franchise, and those opinions were sought out in 2015 with the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Although loved by critics and general audiences, hardcore fans within the Star Wars fandom were unhappy with what Disney was doing with Star Wars, claiming that certain details weren’t accurate to previous Star Wars projects. They also argued that the female protagonist Rey was a “Mary Sue” or that having a female protagonist was a “woke” idea. Opinions like these become more loud and unavoidable as Disney continues pumping out more projects that make superfans more and more unhappy. Most recently, the Disney+ original “The Acolyte” was a victim to the Star Wars fandom even before the premiere. Many fans were once again throwing around the word “woke” due to the show starring a female black protagonist, and when the show finally did make its debut on the service, fans were “review-bombing” the show across all platforms and saying extreme things like the franchise is dead. These hyperbolic claims and personal biases that these particular fans throw out have gotten to the point where the stars of these projects themselves have gotten fed up with the unfair criticism. According to Variety, “The Acolyte” star, Amandla Stenberg spoke out on her Instagram story against the online “trolls” and said that she wasn’t surprised that they were receiving such harsh reactions and that she was experiencing “a rampage of hyperconservative bigotry and vitriol.” The other half of the toxic fandom is one previously mentioned where fans are toxic out of love for a project or a celebrity and end up becoming toxic due to uncomfortable behavior. This is a major case when this comes to the music scene. Fans of musical artists have been known for their toxic behavior, whether it comes from different people within the fandom, psychologically or a mixture of both. Recently, rising pop star Chappell Roan spoke out on Instagram about many fans who have made her uncomfortable.. She said that her fans have stalked her online or in-person, claimed that they knew certain things about her personal life and called her by her real name. Fans like these may not know that this type of behavior is toxic given how this type of superfan or “stan” behavior has become very popularized by social media. Women in the music industry, such as Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse, are the most targeted when it comes to this type of superfan behavior. Not every fan is like this of course, and most people who are a part of these fandoms and engage in these types of behaviors are a vocal minority. Will toxicity among fandoms ever end? The short answer is no, but what people in fandoms need to learn is that fandom at first is meant to be a community. There is a reason why people reach out to these communities, and it’s not because they want to bash each other and the projects they engage with. Fans reach out to these communities because they want to connect with others who love the same medium that they do. By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Over the summer, I decided to turn up the heat a little with the PC Game Pass. I was able to try quite a few titles, but the one that really caught my attention was a first-person, parkour-shooter game called “Neon White.” You play as a character called Neon White, an assassin from hell who was given a unique chance to redeem himself of his sins. Basically, the purgatory department in heaven told Neon White and the other assassins of hell that they may compete for a sacred object called the Mechanical Halo, which allows the user to reside in heaven. This is the only chance that the assassins have of escaping hell, and the competition lasts for seven days. Our protagonist, Neon White, realizes that some of the other assassins seem familiar and that he may have known them in a past life. While aiming to be the victor of this competition and claim the halo, he also wants to uncover the mysteries of heaven by connecting with these assassins and finding out their truths. This is a single-player experience in which a Neon White maneuvers through beautifully designed levels while shooting demons and reaching the goal as fast as possible. Imagine if you gave Mario a gun, first-person POV,and set him into a series of short levels–maybe not the best analogy but it’s true. You might think this sounds like Doom or Halo, but it is very different in structure. First of all, the “levels” are quite literally just small areas in empty space with a set number of obstacles, weapons and enemies. Each weapon appears in the form of a Soul Card, which can be picked up and has limited ammo. A player can have three of the same card and hold two different types of cards. With such equipment, Neon White can speed through a level and must defeat all of the demons before reaching the goal. It is normal for him to never take damage or run out of ammunition, and there are no cutscenes to interrupt the graceful experience. Another important function of the Soul Cards are their respective discard ability. Each gun has a special effect when you 15 discard it. For example, the pistol allows you to double-jump when discarded, the rifle lets you shoot an explosive and the shotgun lets you dash forward. A player must make optimal use of both the shooting mechanic and the discard mechanic for each Soul Card in order to complete a level. Some enemies drop a weapon when defeated, which often lets a player know how to further optimize their route in the level. There are also bonus levels which are unlocked by claiming hidden gifts in the main levels and delivering them to the other assassins. Neon White engages in a lot of dialogue with them, some of which is slightly romantic as well. The format of this portion of the game is kind of like a dating simulator. I always skip the dialogue so I have no idea what is actually going on between Neon White and the other assassins. All I know is that they respond to his gifts with challenge levels. Neon Yellow’s challenges disable discard abilities while Neon Red’s levels make excessive use of them. Then there is Neon Violet; her levels are just pure torture. The speedrun aspect of this game is very important. In fact, it is one of the primary objectives. A player can unlock medals: silver, gold and ace depending on how fast they completed the level. With more experience in a level, Neon White gains “insight,” which is literally when the game guides you to beat the level even faster. Of course, that still won’t be enough if you’re aiming for the best possible time. The developers kept in mind that speedrunners would test the limits of this game, and so they set even more difficult records and encouraged the speedrun community to beat them. This may sound discouraging, but playing the game even normally makes you feel like a professional. If you enjoy that blissful feeling, I would highly recommend trying this game out. At the very least, you can compete with your friends for better times. There is a builtin leaderboard for each level that displays global results and that of your friends on Xbox. Try to get your friends to play this game and see who comes out on top. You never know, maybe you should claim your seat in heaven before it’s too late. �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion 16 Following the drama of collapsed historical empires By Noah Garraoui Contributing Writer …���� ���� ���� ��� �� ������� ����€�� ���������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ����� ������� ���� ������� ��������� ������ ���� ���� ����������������������������������������� �������� ��������� ��� ���� ������� ��� � �� �������� �������� ���� ���� ����� ��������� ���������� �� ������ � ��� ����� ��� �� ���������†��������� �������� ����������� �������� ������ ����� ������� �������� ��� �� ����� ��� ������ ��� ���� � ����� ���� ���� ���������� �������� ����� ����� ������� �������������� ���� �������� ��� ��� ������� ��� ��� ��������������������������������� ����� ��� �������������†������������ ��‚����� ����� �� ������� ���� ��� ����������� �������������������������� ������������� ��������������������������������������� ������ ���� ��� ������� ����� �������� ����������� ������ �� 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��������� ������ ��� ���� ���� ������� ������� ���� �������� ����������� ���� ���� ����� ������� ������ � � �� ���� �������� ����� ��� �������������������� ��������� ������ � ����� ��� ���� ��� �� ���������������������� ��������������� ��� ���������� ���� ��� ���� ��������� ���� � ������� ���� �������� ���� ��� ��������� ���� ��������� ��� �� ��������� ��������� ��������� ��������� ���� ������ � ��������������������������������� �� ������������������������ Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion 17 Why you should play tabletop role-playing games Dungeons and Dragons and beyond By Shawn Carey Opinion Staff Writer I’m sure that we have all at least heard of the game Dungeons and Dragons. Honestly at this point it’s pretty hard to miss. You may have learned about it from series such as “Stranger Things,” “Critical Role” and “Baldur’s Gate.” These are just some of the massive franchises that involve the popular roleplaying game (RPG). Each of the formerly mentioned series’ stories contain one of two things: characters playing D&D or characters existing in the world of D&D. Mentions of D20s and eldritch monsters fill the mouths of the protagonists, painting a very specific picture for the viewer. With that being said, what exactly do you think D&D is about? The first thing that comes to mind is probably an image of a bunch of nerds sitting around a table rolling dice and fighting monsters with their imagination, which is honestly pretty accurate. However, that is only half of the game. The second half of the game is almost never shown: the roleplaying aspect. When you play Dungeons and Dragons, you take on the role of a character of your own personal creation. You control every aspect of your character, everything from their name, race, class, weapons, spells, backstory and most importantly, their personality. When you play D&D, you don’t just play as a fantastical character, you become them. This isn’t exclusive to Dungeons and Dragons, however. Most tabletop RPGs have you become your characters. There are many different RPGs genres. The most popular tends to be fantasy, which includes games such as Pathfinder, Vampire: The Masquerade and Call Cthulhu. There also tends to be a decent amount of sci-fi games, like Starfinder, Cyberpunk Red and Traveler, just to name a few. There’s also the case of license RPGs. The Last Airbender, Transformers, Marvel, Power Rangers and Star Wars are just a handful of the franchises that have received tabletop games. Due to the sheer number of different games, settings and potentially characters, there is an infinite number of ways to play, which is why I believe that everyone should play tabletop RPGs. First off, let’s talk about the story. Imagine all of the works of fiction that you have enjoyed in your life. Think of the compelling narratives, lovable characters, passionate villains and hilarious moments in them. D&D is not just a game, but rather, it is a way to take these stories and allow you and your friends to become the main characters by roleplaying. One of the most defining features of D&D is that imagination is the limit. If there is ever something you have wanted to do, you can make it happen. Instead of just watching or reading a story, you get to be a part of it. There’s weight behind your actions. What you say, who you attack and how you handle certain situations all matter. You’re in direct control of the story; it’s a totally unique experience that you can’t really find anywhere else. While you may have control over what happens, it’s not total control. Every action is determined by rolling dice, most commonly the D20, or a 20sided dice. The dice have just as much influence over the story as the players do. You can’t just say that you want to throw a fireball at a goblin. You have to roll for it. High rolls are successful while low rolls are failures. The unpredictable nature of the dice builds tension and helps create stakes at the table. It can also lead to some truly epic moments like rolling a natural 20, also known as a critical success. Now, not every tabletop game uses the same dice system. However, they tend to all have something very similar, such as the Marvel RPG’s d616 system. Sometimes a campaign doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. For example, a poor dice roll can totally derail an encounter or even a whole game. When this happens, the players and Dungeon Master (DM) usually have to find a creative way to get the story back on track. Tabletop games are a fantastic creative outlet. I am a firm believer that everyone should do something at least a little bit creative. Having a good creative outlet can be beneficial to one’s mental wellbeing and help to allow one to express themselves. Between the character creation, the story possibilities and general aesthetic, tabletop games are filled to the brim with creative possibilities. The best part of all of this is that playing TTRPG is a group activity. You’re not creating this world of chaos all by yourself. There’s this sense of partnership that comes with every action. Everyone’s attached to their respective characters and wants the best for them. It’s also a judgment free zone. You are allowed to get as nerdy as you want to get. Your character can be whatever you want them to be. As much as I enjoy the hobby, I will say that from a distance, it seems pretty intimidating. New players tend to believe that they need a whole shopping list of items. Everything from rule books, miniatures, a battle map, character sheets, multiple sets of dice, a dice tower and a DM screen. Now, don’t get me wrong, all of that definitely helps. However, the reality of the situation is much simpler. All you need is some friends and an internet connection. You can find most of the material needed online. There are plenty of websites that offer countless free and easy to use resources. D&D Beyond, Owlbear Rodeo and Roll 20 are just some of the websites that can help you get started. With that being said, I do recommend at least buying a set of dice and at the very least a starter set. You can of course just use a virtual dice roller; however, to me rolling a physical dice feels much more satisfying. As you probably noticed, I really like tabletop gaming. It’s a fun game to play with friends, a great way to be creative and overall just a positive experience. If you ever want to escape the real world for a few hours, I highly recommend trying out at least one tabletop game. Plus you can finally understand what the kids from “Stranger Things” are talking about. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Opinion 18 Destroy Lonely releases "LOVE LASTS FOREVER" By Logan Colonna A track-by-track album review Asst. Opinion Editor Atlanta rapper Destroy Lonely is back again with another project titled “LOVE LASTS FOREVER.” He has a lot to prove with this album, since he’s been attempting to recapture the success he saw with his 2022 project “NO STYLIST” ever since it debuted. While I am excited for this record, I personally am not expecting much after hearing recent singles and features. Starting off, we have the performance of Destroy Lonely, or Lone for short as I will refer to him for the rest of this review. Lone isn’t necessarily known for his great bouts of lyricism and flow across his whole catalog; he more so lets the production do the talking on most tracks typically. This is no different on this record. Even after listening to the album five times, each track vocally still blends together and I can’t tell a lot of them apart from each other when casually listening. This is a huge issue I see in music nowadays: when artists can’t figure out how to correctly differentiate each track in an album. It makes the listening experience seem like a drag because every song blends together. Especially on a 21-track album, you can see how this can be a huge deciding factor in if the record is good or not. While I do enjoy what Lone brings to each track with his vocals and such, it really does mesh together quickly. This is made even worse when you have artists from the same label that Lone is a part of, like Ken Carson and Homixide Gang, who do the exact same thing as him. At the end of the day, while Lone’s vocal style is appreciated at times, he needs to change up severely or he’ll cease to have a fanbase besides his super loyal listeners. With only two features on the album, coming from Lil Uzi Vert and Ken Carson, I wish there were more in all honesty. This comes from the fact that a lot of the tracks end up sounding the same. With more artists collaborating, the more different the album can actually be. With this being said, I value the two features we did get heavily. Uzi easily had the better of the two features here when performing on “LOVE HURTS.” With his verse, we got a more melodic side of Uzi, which really does help separate this track from the rest of the record. Now with Ken Carson, although he does sound extremely similar to Lone, his feature is still a nice addition to the tracklist. The track “THRILL” as a whole is one of my favorites off of the album as well, with Ken Carson helping that decision be made. After being pleased with these two features, I can safely say that they are easily the best part of the entire album. Next, the production. Just like Lone’s vocals, the production from track to track is quite similar as well. Each track opens up with the same kind of predictable beat that you’d see all over Youtube when searching “Destroy Lonely Type Beat.” It’s baffling to me to see each instrumental lack so much personality. On top of that, the production is somewhat sleepy throughout the album, leaving me to genuinely fall asleep on my first two listens of the project. I get if that is the point of your music, but as a trap artist, I highly doubt Lone wants this to happen to listeners when first playing his album. This being paired up with Lone’s vocals allows the album to take forever to finish from beginning to end, and it’s not a good ride. With this being said, I do have a few outliers of his usual approach to the instrumentation. These being “LOVE HURTS” and “THRILL.” Besides these two tracks, everything else is a bore to listen to. The production as a whole on this record is lackluster at best. With all of what was said prior, this album is not replayable whatsoever. Like I’ve said before, nearly every track ends up blending together with three or four exceptions. Between the bland sounding vocals from Lone, and uninspired-sounding instrumentals, if you hear one track, you’ve heard them all. With this record having an hour and four minute runtime, the soundscape gets boring very quickly. By my fourth listen of this album, I wanted to skip so many tracks just to get to the end. Overall, beyond listening a few times for this review, I do not see myself coming back to this album whatsoever, besides playing three tracks maximum. This album is not very good at all. Lone attempted to revitalize his career, since he disappointed heavily with his 2023 project, “If Looks Could Kill.” However, he just dug himself an even deeper hole with this record. To improve, Lone could at the very least reduce the amount of tracks on his albums. No one in this day in age wants to sit there for 21 tracks for any artist, especially if their performance isn’t even good. To add on, Lone needs to harshly change his style. While it does work to a degree, I am personally tired of his specific style, even more so with multiple artists adapting to this style now. After all is said and done, this album is a 2 out of 10 for me. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu Women's soccer preview Men's soccer preview By Ava Tureen Sports Staff Writer ���� �������� ������� ������� ������� �������� ��� �� �� � � � � ���� ���� �� ���������� ��������� ������������ �� ����� ��������������� �� ���� ������ ������������ ��� ������ � ���� ����� ���� � � ����  � �� ���� �� ��� � ����� ���  � ��� ���� �� ���� �  ����� �� �� � �� �������� ����������­ �€����������������������� �������������  ����������������� �� �������‚���� ����������������� ƒ„��� ��� � � ������� ���� ��� ����� � ������������������ ���‚� �� � � ���� ������ �� ���� �������…��������� ��� � � ��� ��€�� ����� ��� � ���� ��� � �����€������������ ������������� ���������������� ���†��  ������� �� � †­�� ����� ���� �������…��������� ��� ‚�� ���� ����� ������� ���� ���� � �� � � ���‚�� ���������������������������� ������ ­�� ������� ��� � � ‚������ ���� �� ���� ���� ���� � � ��������� �� � ���� ���� ��� ‚��������������������������‡ ˆ��������� 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Sports Editor As the 2024 field hockey season approaches, the Wilkes University Colonels are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and competitive year. With a mix of returning talent and promising newcomers, the team is focused on building on last season’s experiences to push further in the Landmark Conference. Coach Ashley Irwin is in her second season as the head coach of the field hockey team at Wilkes University. In her first season at Wilkes and the teams first season in the Landmark Conference, Irwin led the Colonels to a 4-5 conference record and a 9-9 overall record. Sophomore forward Morgan Hermanofski led the team in goals with eight for the year. Senior midfielder Olivia Gayoski followed shortly after with six goals. As a team, the Colonels averaged two goals a game, finishing with 36 total on the year. More than half of the goals for the year were assisted, totally 23 on the year. With six players from last year leaving, the 12 freshmen this year have some big shoes to fill. “The first-years have really worked hard during preseason and we are continuing to become closer on and off the field," said senior forward and captain, Bridget Rosenfeld. "We have not had a class this large in quite a while but I feel that they have integrated well into our team and we are so excited to see their impact on the field.” Senior captain Morgan Millard concurred. “This season we were able to bring in a decent amount of new players. It can be difficult to transition from high school to intercollegiate athletics, but lots of our new players have proven that they are willing to take on that challenge," Millard said. "They have contributed significantly to our team by bringing in new energy and a new style of play. I’m excited to see how they continue to adapt and grow into college players throughout the rest of the season," she added. The team already had their first home game on Aug. 31 against Oswego State. Senior midfielder Lexie Nevel put the Lady Colonels on the board first within the first minute and a half of the game. Nevel was able to get a goal off of a rebound from Rosenfeld’s shot. Hermanofski followed a few minutes later, gaining a two to zero lead. Right before halftime, senior midfielder Kellie Scott brought the Colonel’s to a two goal advantage after receiving a pass from senior forward Morgan Millard. Both first-year goaltenders Isabel Snyder and Olivia Wickel made a debut with Snyder having five saves and Wickel with one. After reflecting on the first game and win of the season, Rosenfeld said, “This season has started out great so far, we have great team chemistry even with a large first year class and it is showing on the field. The returners came back strong and we played like a true team last Saturday against Oswego.” Coach Irwin feels hopeful about the upcoming season. “The team looked great during preseason and stayed healthy, which was huge for us. Hosted our first Quad-Scrimmage with Division II school’s- Mercy and STAC, along with LVC joining us. Thought they had an awesome offensive debut at home with our season opener against Oswego. We want to play a fast offense with fresh legs (subs) often; we’re excited to see where it takes us,” she said. This past Wednesday, the Colonels traveled to William Paterson University where they sadly lost 3-2 after a double overtime. Rosenfeld got the Colonels on the board first after receiving a pass from first-year midfielder/forward Shaelyn Donnelly. She also got the second goal for the Colonels which was off of a penalty corner from Millard. In goal, Isabel Snyder started and finished the game, making a total of five saves. Olivia Wickel also made an appearance, making one save. Next week, the Colonels will travel to face cross-town rival King's College in a 9/11 Memorial game at 4 p.m. The new NFL season excites football fans everywhere By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor The crisp fall conditions mean one thing for sports fans: the return of football. The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are set to open up the 2024 NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 5. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes as well as tight end Travis Kelce are looking to bring Kansas City back to the Super Bowl once again, while Lamar Jackson and newly-signed running back Derrick Henry are looking to bring the Baltimore Ravens to the big game for the first time in over 10 years. Wide receiver Zay Flowers is looking to have a breakout year in 2024. While many question marks rise in the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiving room, Rashee Rice is also looking to do the same as Flowers and have a breakout season. This upcoming NFL season looks to be exciting with many team, players, and storylines all coming to a head. Elsewhere in the league, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Caleb Williams, is looking to bring the Chicago Bears back to a level of dominance that has not been seen since the team’s last Super Bowl victory in 1985. Williams, who has been drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes, is looking to be the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 in the history of the Bears’ franchise. Earlier this week, he was named the first rookie quarterback captain in the history of the franchise. Fans in Chicago are ecstatic for the success that can potentially come with drafting a prospect like Williams. The Bears are looking to make a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Closer to campus, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to make a statement in the NFC East division, a division that is seen as a toss-up to most experts. Two elite teams, the Eagles and the Cowboys, play in that division. The Eagles turned themselves into a juggernaut with the signing of Saquon Barkley, making them the favorite to win that division and make a deep run into the postseason. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, after appearing in the Super Bowl the season before. Wide receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith are looking to propel the Eagles back to the “big game” alongside Barkley and star quarterback Jalen Hurts Coming into the season, the Kansas City Chiefs are the favorites to win their third Super Bowl championship in a row. The team that fell to the Chiefs in last year’s game, the San Francisco 49ers, are a close second. Following them are the Ravens, Detroit Lions, and then the Eagles. All in all, the fall time means many different things: the return of football, pumpkin spice and the leaves changing colors. This is one of the best times of the calendar year to be a sports fan, and it will inevitably be an exciting season to watch from a fan’s perspective. Photo from Wikimedia Commons �The Beacon - September 11, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Kellie Scott Senior, Women's Field Hockey, Midfield The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Kellie Scott led the Colonels in total shots and shots on goal with three in the team's season-opening victory over Oswego State. Scott had one goal during the game. Major: Psychology and Communication Studies Hometown: Northport, ME If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Cross country - I just really love What had been your favorite to run. Fun fact: I ran 10 miles sports memory from your time this summer! Just for fun... and conditioning. as a Colonel? The field hockey's family tradition of embarrassing ourselves. We all go to tthe local Salvation Army and pick out outageous outfits for one another, followed by a delicious dinner. What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? Boston Bruins, the Eagles.... and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading team. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Sleep, run and eat yummy food. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? I think it's a toss up between making it to the playoffs last season and honestly preseason this year. Preseason was so much fun and seeing where this new generation of Wilkes hockey is going is so exciting to watch and be a part of. What is your favorite post-game meal? A FAT italian sandwich with mayo and spicy pepper relish or mushroom sacchetti from Delvinos in Maine. What is your favorite part of How do you feel about being being an athlete at Wilkes? The people. Wilkes athletes and selected as the Athlete of the coaches are gritty, hardworking and Week? push one another to be the best. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Creed or Miracle The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." It feels special, especially to represent my teammattes and coaches. Truly I am so excitted to see what this season brings and really push athletically towards our team goals. #DoHardWell Compiled by Samantha Mullen �The Beacon September 11, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week 23 Aidan Graff First-Year, Men’s Cross Country The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Aidan Graff finished 15th overall during the season opener at Misericordia University. In his first collegiae race, Graff finished with a time of 13:00. Major: Environmental Engineering Hometown: Scranton, Pa. What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? My favorite sports memory .as a Colonel is the friendships I made with my teammates before the season started What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? I don’t really have a favorite professional sports team. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Favorite thing to do away from sports is having fun with friends. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? My favorite part about being an athlete at Wilkes is being able to run at the collegiate level. If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? If I didn’t run cross country I would probably be playing soccer. I played it during my freshman and sophomore year of high school and throughout my childhood. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? My favorite sports memory is when I became the District 2 champion for the 3200m during my senior year of high school. What is your favorite post-game meal? My pre-meet meal is always pasta. I don’t really have a post-meet meal; it’s wherever the teams wants to stop. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I feel honored to be seleced as Athlete of the Week. I didn’t even know it existed. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? “Remember the Titans” Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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//Sam Mullen �24 The Beacon - September 11, 2024 Door’s open! ����������������������������������� ����� ����������� ���� ��� ��������� ��������������� ����������� ��������������� �������� ���� ��������� ������� ������������ Contact: sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu 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, 2024 September 18 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 September 18 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/fbf46f43eaae664d0f404ed26904fb78.pdf 5e738b643a63f9e554a7ba2252003360 PDF Text Text The Beacon - September 25, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 77, Issue 4 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” WUPB hosts fiesta event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month On Sept. 19, Programming Board hosted a fiesta on the greenway consiting of Hispanic food, drinks, dance, crafts and games to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. That’s So Honors: Student teaching in Cairo, Egypt, page 4 Student starts Buddhism club on campus, page 7 How DC is winning back fans and Marvel’s downfall, page 16 Photo by Emma Broda/News Editor ...More fiesta photos on p.12 Athletes of the Week, pages 22 and 23 �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Emma Broda: emma.broda@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Sept. 18 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei Contributing Writer Student Government convened for their fourth weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester on Sept. 18. This meeting addressed funding requests, club recognitions, a club report, and Homecoming Weekend team planning. The treasurer’s report showed a current budget of $51,781. SHPE began the meeting with their week two of two funding request. Within the past year, the club has organized professional development workshops, hosted two fundraisers, and was declared Club of the Month in October 2024. SHPE is requesting an allocation of $2,500 for the attendance of 13 students in the 2024 National SHPE Convention. The Student Government voted to approve a full allocation of $2,500. The Wilkes Health and Fitness Club was next to present their week one of two club recognition requests. To begin the presentation, the club explained the “freshman 15” and showed statistics. The WHFC representatives stated that they would help students by encouraging them to become physically active and improve their health. To achieve this goal, the club will have three branches addressing exercise, nutrition, and self-care that create a holistic solution for student health and fitness. WHFC will return at next week’s meeting. The Wilkes Crochet Club also presented for their week one of two club recognition requests. The mission of the club is to teach students how to crochet to relieve the burden of learning by themselves, give students who already crochet a place where they can talk about their projects and interests, and create a community of crochet lovers. The Wilkes Crochet Club will return next meeting. The club report recap was the last presentation of this week’s meeting. Wilkes clubs are no longer required to physically present their club report at meetings and their presentations will be reported by executive board members. The Equestrian Club’s report was the last to be presented at the meeting. To end the meeting, members separated into teams according to their class. Each team worked together to collectively plan the Fall 2024 Homecoming Weekend. The next meeting will take place on Sept. 25. Student Government editorial correction By Stephen Youkoski Managing Editor In Volume 77, Issue 2 of The Beacon, an editorial piece was written on the new club funding rules that were set in place for the 2024-2025 academic year. In the article, it is stated that the Wilkes University Student Government is the power that instated the rule, but this is incorrect. Student Government is in fact subject to this new change as well. The University Financial Aid Department is the body that initiated this new rule, NOT the Student Government. This information was deliberated to the larger student body at the Council of the Clubs on Sept. 9, which took place after all content was written and submitted for Volume 77, Issue 2 of the paper. The information on why it was instated, was correct. This information was also elaborated on and explained at the Council of the Clubs. Once again, it was a decision made by the university, not its students. We are committed to delivering correct and reliable information as students and as a newspaper. The staff of The Beacon would like to apologize to the Student Government and the rest of the student body for this glint in reporting. The Beacon strives to maintain accuracy and objectivity in its reporting. If you ever notice an error in an online or print article, you may reach out to one of the following sources: Kalen Chucher, faculty adviser; Sydney Allabaugh, editor in-chief; Stephen Youkoski, managing editor; or the editor of the section where the error occured. Once again, we apologize to the Student Government, the student body, and the community for this misunderstanding. For more information, you may visit the Student Government's response to this error on Page 15. You may also check out the Student Government on their Instagram page, @wilkessg, for any other information about campus activities or additional updates on this matter. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: 2024 Fall Semester September 25 - Produce Pop-Up 26 - Programming Board giveaway 28 - LVU Ultimate Frisbee Tournament Ongoing - Movie Ticket Sales October 3 - Blockbuster Bingo 10-14- Fall Recess 17 - Wilkestober Fest 22 - Honors Thrift Store 24 - Sound Showdown 28-31 - Freak Week �������������������������������� ���������� ���������� ����������� ��� �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 News 3 Wilkes University welcomes Japanese international students By Emma Broda News Editor This fall semester, Wilkes University welcomed a huge number of international students to campus, one of the university's largest groups yet. While a large contingency of students arrived from Nepal, a few came from other regions, including Japan. The students shared their experience on campus so far, as well as the major differences between studying in the United States versus Japan. Students Mao Takai, junior crosscultural studies major, and Towa Sasaki, sophomore applied physics major, both attend Kanagawa University in Yokohama. “I was born and raised in Niigata prefecture," Taikai said. "Niigata is a speciality of sushi and sashimi because it is by the sea. There is a lot of snow in winter, so many people visit from all over Japan.” Yokohama is well-known for many reasons, Sasakisaid. It is where Matthew Perry visited in Japan and where the American Naval Commander Matthew Perry signed a peace treaty with Japan in the 1850s. Sasaki also mentioned a particular area of Yokohama she recommends to anyone visiting. “Minato Mirai in Yokohama because the night view is really beautiful.” It is a difficult decision for many students in the United States to choose to move out of state, and for many it can also take some time to get adjusted to. The decision to come to a university in a different country can be even more difficult. “I considered going to a university in another country, and chose Wilkes University because I had wanted to study in the United States since I was a child,” Sasaki said. International students can join the University Preparatory Program to strengthen their English and to become well-adjusted to the American academic environment, which can be very different from the educational systems in other countries. Takai said the preparatory program was incredibly helpful to her. “it had my ideal program ... to improve my English skills and learn American culture and understand diversity for my dream.” Takai continued stating, “There is the Office of Diversity Initiative that values minority students and supports their education by promoting learning across social group boundaries.” The culture and university life in the United States is also incredibly different from Japan. One of the biggest differences is talking to strangers, Sasaki said. “In Japan, people don’t talk to someone in an elevator, and they don’t talk to someone sitting near you in a diner. I think it is a very nice culture." Takai said she noticed that there is a certain respect people have for the cultures and values of different students on campus. "There are few foreigners in Japan, so this environment is really stimulating for me and there are a lot of things that I learn from them,” Takai said. "Also, most of the food here is bigger and more voluminous than in Japan.” Takai and Sasaki do miss aspects of their Japanese life, including their family, friends, boyfriends and Japanese food. “I miss raw seafood," Takai said. "I love sushi and sashimi." Takai noted the lack of variety in sashimi in American supermarkets. Overall, howerver, both are excited to study and learn in the United States. "Professors provide many opportunities to students to give presentations and have discussions," Takai said. "It makes me have confidence and I can learn diverse ideas.” �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 News 4 That’s So Honors: Student teaching in Cairo, Egypt By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Daniel Yap, an Honors P1 Pharmacy student, spent his summer outside of the pharmacy, serving as a student teaching assistant for a high school biology class in Cairo, Egypt. Yap spent his summer in the classroom grading papers, teaching lessons and moderating discussions. For international students, high school looks different, and Yap’s teaching experience reflects that. In many other countries, the education system is modeled on the International Baccalaureate (IB), which encourages critical thinking over memorization. Though he worked a typical teacher’s schedule, Yap said he had plenty of time for fun and experiencing Egypt’s many historical sites, including the Egyptian Civilization Museum, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphynx and the Alabaster Mosque. Yap shared that he has a deep respect for the educational discipline. “I think that it is always valuable to have experience teaching as teaching is the highest form of understanding. If you’re able to explain a concept to someone at a high school level it shows that you were able to understand it to the fullest degree.” The cultural experience was also a crucial element of Yap’s internship. Yap previously traveled to Egypt, but he came to understand the country even more through this visit. “While I had been to Egypt before, interacting with high school kids was a great way to get to know Egyptian culture Daniel Yap spent the summer in Cairo, Egypt, as a teaching assistant. and the diverse experiences of the students I interacted with. This allowed me to see how those experiences influenced their learning styles and how they liked to study. “As the program was during weekdays, I had evenings and weekends to explore everything Italy had to offer,” he said. Yap, who himself attended an international school, explained that students will travel across countries for school, and it creates an opportunity for both conflict and greater understanding of new cultures. "I have found that American school systems often have kids who have difficulty dealing with people who are different from themselves while international systems have trained students from a young age to deal with people who are different and how to bridge those differences," Yap said. Other than recommending that students familiarize themselves with public transportation, Yap says his best piece of advice is to keep an open mind. “I think it is super important for students to be able to experience a wide range of cultures and that means experiencing things that you would not expect to be normal and other places." Yap believes that putting yourself outside of your comfort zone is an invaluable expereince, especially with another culture. Students, no matter what major, have plenty of opportunities to experience new disciplines, particularly through the field of teaching. To keep up with Daniel and the rest of the Honors Program, follow the Honors Instagram, @wilkeshonors. Photos submittted by Daniel Yap Yap visited numerous cultural sites during his stay in Cairo, Egypt. �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 News 5 Wilkes University changes online library database By Stephen Youkoski Managing Editor Wilkes University has recently undergone a change in the online library database system. This change brings a new host, different materials and a change to the website layout. The former online database the university used was Summon, an online paid research program with thousands of sources, both scholarly and non scholarly, for schools to use. The change was announced in April and the transition occurred over the summer. The new system is Find@Farley, which is named after the university library. It is run off of the FOLIO programming. FOLIO is used by other local universities such as the University of Scranton, but also by national sources, namely the Library of Congress. According to Brian Sacolic, the director of the university's Farley Library, the change is due to three main reasons. Sacolic stated that the new system “offers increased compatibility with our full-text sources.” In other words, sources the university owns through the host, EBSCO Discovery Service, should be more readily available. Furthermore, Sacolic said that the new system is better for the library staff, as Find@Farley will streamline a number of in-house processes and improve overall work efficiency. Finally, the switch away from Summon is a huge money saver for the university. “[Find@Farley] will save the university nearly $15K over time,” Sacolic said. With the announcement being so late in the year, many students were unaware of the change. Allison Lussi, a sophomore English major, has not had to use the new system yet, so she did not realize anything was different. “I have used Summon before… around three times a semester or so,” said Lussi. She will be using it soon with some upcoming papers in her classes. Lussi is unsure whether she will find the new system better or worse with the new interface. Students with questions about the new database or about the library in general should email ask.librarian@wilkes.edu, or visit wilkes.libguides.com for more information. The new tools and resources tab on Find@Farley. The new search interface and dashboard tab on Find@Farley Read The Beacon online at www.thewilkesbeacon.com �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 News 6 Honors students clean up Shawnee Cemetery in nearby Plymouth By Emma Broda News Editor Honors students who helped clean up the Shawnee Cemetery include, from left, Sarah Arshad, Salma Lampack-Heverly, John Devereux, Megan Novak, Megan Sandt, Colleeen Ryan, Elena Rivera, Joe Sokolowski, Luke Mauro, Erik Mauro, Ryan Collins, Chris Kopiak, Kamea Paresa and Nate Martes. Students raked away brush that had grown over graves. From left, Luke Mauro, Erik Mauro and Colleen Ryan, were just a few of the volunteers who helped clean the cemetery. The Mauros are pharmacy majors, while Ryan majors in history. Students raked leaves that had been covering much of the cemetery. Photos submitted by Megan Rozanski �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Student begins Buddhism club on campus Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Editor-in-Chief Sydney Allabaugh at sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu By Kailey Vogel Special to The Beacon Dixon Rexach Toro, a first-year philosophy major has started Wilkes University’s first Buddhism club. The United Society of Buddhism is an organization dedicated to providing its members with a new outlook on life by bringing consciousness to the forefront of one’s daily life. The club will accelerate the development of minds through religious practice, letting members reflect on personal aspects of life to achieve enrichment, happiness, and bliss. The Buddhism club intends to provide a safe space in which one can learn techniques to drive out negative thoughts such as stress and school work, in order to focus on the ideas of personal enlightenment. This club is open to any student or staff member on Wilkes University’s campus and is currently looking for new members. Rexach Toro is a transfer student from Pasaic County Community College and has been practicing Buddhism for six years at the Japanese Zen temple Eiryu-ji Zen Center in Wycoff, NJ. Dixon became part of a Sangha in May 2023 and has decided to share what he has learned with the students of Wilkes University with the formation of this club. Dixon explained that Buddhism has been helpful in placing ideas for oneself. He explained that Buddhism allows those practicing it to understand relationships between other people and everything in the world around them. “Questioning the world” and how it works will also be a main priority of Dixon’s Buddhist club. Members will be immersed in the religion and its practices in a From left, Dr. Mun Young Chung, assistant professor of communication and media studies; Trinity Veaudry; and Dixon Rexach Toro, club founder, pose for a photo during the recent Club Day at Wilkes. variety of ways, from breathwork and breathing techniques to asking those worldly questions. However, his main focus is “advocating the practice and channeling people’s curiosity.” “I wanted to create a safe space where people can come in, grow, and expand their capabilities as a whole,” he said. Members are not required to have previous experience with Buddhism and are encouraged to join and learn the practices that provide important skills for all aspects of life. Rexach Toro has many ideas for the near and distant future pertaining to the club and the education of its members. Some community service events in mind for the club include: seated and walking meditation events, Tai Chi and Qi gong events, book study, and “Dharma Talk” events. He also hopes to get in contact with guest speakers for presentations and conduct engaging Buddhist-related field trips. In fact, Dixon is determined to continue creating connections with other Buddhist temples around Wilkes-Barre and has officially partnered with the Flowing River Sagna, a supportive community that aids in the practice of Zen meditation and traditions of the Buddhist faith. The United Society of Buddhism Club is looking for new members. The group meets on Thursdays during club hours. For more information on the club, email �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Sam Mullen: Sydney Allabaugh: Ballet - The Garden Stephen Youkoski: English Love Affair 5 Seconds of Summer Emma Broda: Set the Stage - Lunar Vacation Bring Em Out - T.I. Adam Grundt: The Painter - Cody Johnson Leah Smith: True Friends - Bring Me The Horizon Zach Paraway: Lithonia - Childish Gambino Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �The Beacon – September 25, 2024 Career Carnival aims to help with jobs and internships By Natalia Willians Staff Writer The Wilkes Center for Career Development and Internships is hosting its first annual career carnival on Sept. 26. While enjoying some Dunkin coffee, walking tacos, and hot dogs, professionals at the the Career Carnival will offer information to help students prepare for internships, jobs and future career fairs. Students will be able to receive feedback and tips from recruiters from Enterprise, Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA, Reachum, PPL and Children’s Service Center. Attendees will also be able receive feedback on their resumes from real recruiters at the Resume Review Station. “Students should know that along with fun, there will be great opportunities as well,” said internship coordinator Jenna Weiss “There will be business recruiters on-site reviewing resumes and listening to elevator pitches, to give students feedback from the recruiter prospective.” She also recommends that students craft an elevator pitch, as well as bring along a resume. The event includes a bit of everything career- or internshiprelated. Not sure what to wear to an interview? Check out the “What Not to Wear” Colonels Clothing Closet Pop-Up. There, students will be able to find professional clothing for future career and internships fairs or interviews. According to Weiss, students should show up to the event as they are.“It’s a casual, fun event opposed to a Career Fair where they should dress professionally.” Other events include games and giveaways and handshake and hotdogs. At these events participants will be able to have a chance to win gift cards, enjoy fun games and grab a hot dog if the Handshake app is shown. “I’m genuinely excited to see everything come together,” Weiss said. “I look forward to students connecting fun with careers and internships, which can often feel intimidating.” Students are encouraged to stop by their table to see the employer list for some upcoming career fairs, learn more about the CCDI services, and additional information regarding Career Services and Internship Information. The Center for Career Development and Internships is a place available to help and guide students find their desired career paths by assisting in building resumes, internships, interviews and job searches. Through the center, students can discuss their options by meeting one on one with Career and Internship professionals. If interested, register on Handshake. Staff and Faculty wanting to take part are able to reach out to jenna.weiss@ wilkes.edu. Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 �The Beacon – September 25, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 Farmer’s Market brings fresh shopping for everyone, Thursdays on Public Square Photos by Shannon Slominski �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Word Search ������������������������������������������� Astrology Word Search Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below. O G V C L D Y E Y N Z W G U D P E A I N W O U C U Z S I C V D I R O C S L Answer Key: E Dictionary.com O U H E G B Z A R E Q V W Z W V I A J S Y G B U X J V A Z B A B X M Q I T O R B C P Y C Q T R R Z Z D E D L I S A M O X G U H A Y T A C Q G S U P X N Z G N B Y C I R D L Z U X T H A S T E R I J W I R K F T C V U S A C X Y P D O B D F X T O O S G H E M S E I R A T R Q L E U I I R A U Q A E A I N S M N I B O B Q I T G D G L B R A X Z F D O E I K W K R T Q Q Q A J S W Q N B 1. pisces 5. leo 9. cancer 2. aries 6. taurus 10. gemini 3. aquarius 7. virgo 11. sagittarius 4. scorpio 8. libra 12. capricorn Word Bank B J G X B A U E G A U H B O J B Z S C Y P C B Y E W V T S L C I V Q M X A W Z V O R A E R A P I Z A P S I L Z Z O G V X C C G Y C T H Q R Y Q M R E S O D A I R I U I D Q B R E I D J E T S L C S U V N A C G H T Z T A X F K N U V G U Z N W O U T X O X D Y O Q S L E X F B I A A R E E O S B G A S T I P E Q B R I N Z S L T W K X K I A E N R O G U I S Q J U O Z D H I U Z Q Q A Q R D M A B W I Y T D I R Y C G N O R N D W Q R A T B D M I E L W G U C F D Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below. Astrology Word Search Word Bank 1. pisces 5. leo 9. cancer 2. aries 6. taurus 10. gemini 3. aquarius 7. virgo 11. sagittarius 4. scorpio 8. libra 12. capricorn Dictionary.com �The Beacon- September 25 2024 12 �The Beacon- September 25, 2024 13 �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: leah.smith@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Managing Editor: Stephen Youkoski Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Emma Broda Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Leah Smith Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Laura De Lora Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - Shawn Carey Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Andrew Marshallsay Sports - Ava Tureen 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Texas Roadhouse is the best restaurant chain In a world where fast food restaurants and mainstream restaurants chains reign over our society and diets, one restaurant stands out when it comes to quality in dining experience and delectable taste: Texas Roadhouse. Ever since its inception in 1993, Texas Roadhouse has been aiming to satisfy customers through both their Southerninspired aesthetic and hearty meal choices that have kept customers coming back to this day. Texas Roadhouse sets itself apart from other major restaurants for msny reasons. First and foremost, its look. The exterior of the restaurant tells you everything you need to know about what aesthetic the restaurant is going for: American Southern. The interior is a packed yet cozy countryheavy mix-match. There is usually a small crane machine for children to play with while they wait to be seated, a glass case showing off the steaks the restaurant is offering for the night, and the walls that are covered with country music star memorabilia and art from Dolly Parton to Keith Urban. TVs are also scattered throughout the restaurant; if you and your friends want to catch a game while enjoying a delicious meal, Texas Roadhouse is just the place for that. One of the best parts about Texas Roadhouse and most definitely what Texas Roadhouse is known for are their dinner rolls. Texas Roadhouse dinner rolls are exquisite. What makes them so popular among the masses is that they come with cinnamon butter rather than typical butter normally offered at restaurants. The cinnamon butter rolls are many consumers’ favorite item at the restaurant because of its sweet taste and buttery-doughy texture that melts in your mouth the moment it hits your tongue. The restaurant’s novelty steaks are also fantastic because not only do they have a variety of cuts that customers can dig into but also the restaurant cooks them to absolute perfection. Also, the addition of mushrooms and gravy just adds even more flavor to the juicy and delectable steak. For those who aren’t steak lovers, their other menu items are just as delicious They offer burgers, ribs, pulled pork, chicken and fish. One of their best options is the smothered chicken which comes with sauteed mushrooms and onions, a choice of melted cheese or gravy and two sides. The sides are also nothing to sleep on either since they come in a variety of unique styles. Their green beans are different from how other restaurants serve them due to Texas Roadhouse’s country style; they serve their green beans with bacon as a nod to the country inspiration of their restaurant. Their desserts, though limited, are also sweet and tasty. The Granny’s Apple Classic is notably one of their most unique desserts with the slice of apple pie coming with vanilla ice cream and honey cinnamon applesauce. It’s a dessert that is not only tasty but perfectly fitting the country aesthetic. What also makes Texas Roadhouse so great are its employees. The employees are enthusiastic and get into the spirit of the restaurant’s Southern-friendly atmosphere. They always wear a smile and become very animated whenever it is someone’s birthday. Birthday celebrations at celebrations are known to be awkward, but Texas Roadhouse does it the best by not only having their own country birthday song but by accompanying that song by having the lucky birthday individual hop on a wooden horse with a cowboy hat. This could seem embarrassing to some, but they do give the patron the option whether or not they wish to hop on the horse. Though, the song and enthusiasm alone bring a lot of fun and excitement that turn heads all around the restaurant. Texas Roadhouse is a fun and enthusiastic restaurant to go to for any occasion that sets itself apart from other major restaurant chains by having great food, energetic staff, a cozy Country atmosphere and the best dinner rolls ever to keep customers coming back over and over to enjoy all of those qualities and more. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 - September 25, 2024 Opinion 15 The Icebox: The Wilkes Colonels’ Smashtastic entry By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Wilkes University Esports officially kicks off with their first matches of the season this week. The organization has grown so much since it was first introduced one year ago by the legendary Robert Eskra, assisted by coach Val. As of now, we have a team for five games: “Rocket League,” “Overwatch 2,” “League of Legends,” “Valorant” and my specialty “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” I think I speak for everyone in the Esports organization that we are very excited to start this season. Mostly every player is coming in hot with their practice and we are pumped up to defeat one college after the next in competition. Since I am a Smash player, I will give some insight on the competitive scene for collegiate, teambased Smash leagues. The format of our competition is a special mode called crew battle. Two teams of four players play against each other in a line-up format. Team A sends in Player 1 and Team B sends in Player 1 at the same time. The winner of the first match moves on to round two with the same amount of stocks that they finished the last match. Suppose Team B needs to send in a new player after their lead was eliminated. The entire Team B is allowed to strategize characters, players and stage bans as they send in Player 2. The first team to be completely eliminated loses the match. Since this is a competitive scene, it is traditional to play an entire set (best of three) against the opponent. There are a couple of additional rules to take note of, in case you would like to gather your friends and try this format for yourself. The same character cannot appear twice on a single team during the match. Once you have picked a character for the match, you must stick with that character until the next one. The stage-pick is done through a traditional banning system, which includes: Final Destination, Battlefield, Small Battlefield, Pokemon Stadium 2, Town and City, Smashville, Kalos and Hollow Bastion. Stage bans depend on the winner of a match, though a lot of players like to “gentleman into PS2.” The conference that Wilkes Esports is signed under is called the National Esports Collegiate Conference, or NECC. This organization spans the entire United States and includes hundreds of colleges and universities. The organizers of the conference have designated members for writing the rulebook for each of the games. These people are the ones who decide how competitions go and are constantly adjusting rules based on direct feedback from teams. It is thanks to such a considerable amount of effort that I, and lots of others like myself, am able to compete in my favorite video game while on campus. Some of those other people are my teammates whom I met through the program. They are worth cheering for. Last year, our star player was Mooch, aka Drew Fiedler. He mains Pac-Man, Pokemon Trainer and Kazuya, and was able to wipe out entire teams by himself. Unfortunately, he graduated, so we have some big shoes to fill. He can still be seen on stream attending local tournaments. Our current standing team includes Toggers (Robert Thomas), Cheese Toast (Logan Dickson) and myself, Master Freeze with the addition of a handful of substitute players who will soon make a name for themselves. Toggers mains Ness, but I promise it’s not what you think. While many Ness players spam “PK Fire” and make it hell for their opponent, Rob takes a new approach that makes the game practically unplayable if you don’t know the matchup. He makes great use of aerials, throws and just a sprinkle of special moves to absolutely dominate. Cheese Toast has experienced quite the improvement arc, originally maining Little Mac before switching to a more viable character: Samus. His movement as Samus combined with the stylish tossing of projectiles is very impressive. You should take a look at his controller, which we call the “cheese machine”. As for Master Freeze, I play Snake and Mr. Game & Watch. I will let you challenge me if you want to find out how I defeat my opponents. I am also working on improving my other favorites: Wario, Lucario and Villager. Surely, I will be unstoppable. Finally, I want to give a special thanks to our coach, Valentino Timonte, who dedicates so much time for the organization and has been the reason for so much improvement that we have all experienced as competitors. Letter to the Editor: A statement from Student Government By Michael Santini Student Government Treasurer Dear Editor, Thank you so much for the recent coverage on the changing club financial policy; the goal of our Council of the Clubs meeting was to give all students on campus the news and tools they need to succeed in the new environment. However, upon reading the opinion piece, I was disappointed to find a noteworthy perpetuation of misinformation that damages the image of the Student Government and our student body. In its simplest terms, the new university financial guidelines are not something that the Student Government, the executive treasurer, or any member of the student body has control over. This policy is based on direct instructions from our finance office, and we had hoped that our Council of the Clubs would reflect this by having representatives from the office present that section. Categorizing the policy as “Student Government’s change” places undue stress on our members and advisors as we attempt to address questions and misinterpretations such as this. Additionally, while the intricacies of why we made this change are still relatively unclear, the finance office has explained to me that the decision is necessary to align ourselves with general accounting standards, which, to my understanding, can not easily be refuted. Also, as a side note, the Student Government is not exempt from this policy, and in fact, it has absolved an entire fund that we reserve for campus improvements and capital projects. As the executive treasurer of Student Government, a student leader on campus, and a member of other clubs, I know that this subject affects many people on campus, as it has affected my job significantly and is near to my heart. I completely understand the author’s advocacy for our club accounts and their existing funds in light of the new financial guidelines. Your writer’s frustration and concern are similar to mine, and express what many students and advisors have approached me with as well. I want to assure you that SG is working to address these issues. Once again, thank you for your continued interest in our Student Government; we appreciate all feedback so that we can better serve the campus. The concerns over future funds are entirely justified, and as a member of the student body, I encourage club leaders and student organizations to continue voicing their concerns. Please contact me, the Executive Treasurer, at michael.santini@wilkes.edu if you have any questions regarding club funds in the future. Best, Michael Santini �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Opinion 16 How DC is winning back fans and Marvel’s downfall By Leah Smith Asst. 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���ˆ����� ����� � ����� � �� ���� ���� ����� ����� ������� � �� ��� ����� �������������������� …���� ���� � ������ ��� � �������� ���� …�������������€�‡����������� �—�„��� ����������������������� � �������� ���� …��������� ���� � �� � �� ��� ����‹�� ����€� ���� ����� ���� ���� � � ������‡������� ����€����€���������� ����� ����� ����� ������ ‡������ ��� €����€� ����������� �������������������������� Graphic by Maria Gonzalez �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Opinion 17 The culture of card collecting and its many problems How a simple hobby turned into a business By Shawn Carey Opinion Staff Writer It’s basic human nature to want to collect. Coins, stamps, dolls, bottle caps, magazines. If there’s multiple variations of the same object, there’s someone who collects it. I consider myself a pretty big collector. I love collecting physical media. Comics, books, video games, vinyls, figures, board games, the whole nine yards. I also collect trading cards, which is what I would say if I could actually buy them. Cards are probably the most common thing to collect, unsurprisingly. They’ve been around for forever, since 1868 to be exact. The earliest trading cards took the form of baseball cards, later evolving into tobacco cards. They were somewhat popular, nothing crazy really. These cards were by a variety of companies to promote their business, even if the product themselves had nothing to do with baseball. That would all change in the 80s when collectors started to realize that their collections could be worth something one day. Manufacturers started to increase their numbers due to everyone now buying multiple copies. It was also during the 80s that trading cards started to move further and further away from their sport origins. There were cards based on everything from movies to original concepts. The 90s brought even more change to the medium. This was mainly due to the introduction of trading card games, also known as TCGs. Cards in a TCG are specially designed sets of playing cards. Each card represents an element of the theme and rules of the game itself. Each card represents its respective game’s version of characters, locations, items, spells or events. “Magic: The Gathering” introduced all of this and more in 1993. As important and popular “Magic: The Gathering” is, it’s definitely not the first game you think of. No, that honor probably goes to “Pokemon.” “Pokemon” rules the 90s. The game, anime and toys were absolutely everywhere. As you probably guessed, the TCG was no exception. The very first set of cards were released in 1998 and even since, they have dominated the trading card space. “Pokemon” is often referred to as the franchise that made trading cards mainstream. This is something I see as a good and bad thing. I think it’s a cool thing that such a niche and nerdy hobby is so widespread. Collecting trading cards is an all ages activity; it can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone, especially TCG. You can either get the cards for the game or the artwork. As with most things, there are people who like to ruin a good thing. Remember when I said that collectors started to realize that their collection was going to be worth something one day. Well that day has arrived. The aftermarket for trading cards is absolutely insane. If done correctly, collectors can make massive profits off of cards. There are multiple websites built around aftermarket selling. Websites that not only list the value of every single card ever made, but also the projected value of every new release. It’s honestly pretty intimidating. I have never been a fan of selling my collectibles. I don’t know what it is, but something about it has always made me feel weird about t h e entire thing. As of today, I think I finally know what that something is. A lot of people only buy cards just to sell them again for an easy profit. These people are unaffectedly known as scalpers. There are many ways for scalpers to quickly build up a large inventory. The more technical ones have bots that automatically buy the maximum amount of allowed packs. Back in the day, i.e two years ago, scalpers used to wait outside for stores to open and buy every single pack possible. This has since changed. Stores like Walmart and Target picked up on this and now have a limit on how many cards a single customer can buy. About a year or so ago I went to Target with my friends with the intent of buying Disney’s new card game “Lorcana.” When we got to the store there was a long line of people waiting in the card aisle. A poor employee had to give packs out one at a time just to make sure everyone got one. This leads me to what inspired me to write this article in the first place. It’s no secret that I love “One Piece.” I adore every aspect of the series. About two years ago, they announced that the “One Piece” card would be getting an English release. I was beyond excited for this. Two years and two months later, I brought a starter deck and a few single packs. It is currently pretty much impossible to find “One Piece” cards in store. This is due to the rapid demand for them on the aftermarket. The “One Piece” card game is currently the second most popular TCG to resell. “Pokemon” is still the first. It’s getting to the point where you can’t even buy single packs online for their original price. Everything is marked up. This is a hugely disappointing situation. I’ve seen plenty of fans who want to get into the hobby but literally can’t. What makes this worse is that there isn’t really a way to fix this. We just have to wait for them to die down in popularity. The only other alternative I can think of is staying alert when new sets are coming out and buying them as soon as possible. Next month sees the release of the brand new “Ultraman” card game. I am excited to see how the game will be received in the coming months. Will it be another “One Piece?” Or will I actually be able to collect it? Graphic by Sydney Allabaugh �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Opinion 18 A review of Saba's sophomore album "CARE FOR ME" By Logan Colonna Asst. Opinion Editor Since no big albums were released this week, I thought it would be a perfect time to take a look at one of my favorite albums recently. This album is Saba’s “CARE FOR ME.” Released in 2018, this was Saba’s sophomore album. I personally found it back in 2022 and have loved it ever since. Without further ado, let’s get into the review. Before we talk about Saba’s performance, it’s important to get to know the background of the album. The project is dedicated to his late cousin, who was fatally stabbed in 2017. “CARE FOR ME” is an introspective piece that centers around how Saba was emotionally and mentally after his loss. With that being said, I admire Saba’s performance all across the album much, most importantly on tracks like “BUSY/ SIRENS” and “PROM/KING.” These two songs alone convey so much emotion that they nearly made me cry, especially “PROM/KING” as it tells the story that led to Saba’s cousin passing away. Building off of this, the content of each song ties greatly into the overall theme of Saba’s mental state at the time. We have songs like “BROKEN GIRLS” that tells the listener that he always looked into the wrong girls for the wrong reasons, adding to his mental torment, “SMILE,” which tells the listener that Saba wished for a life of peace ever since he was a child, and “PROM/KING,” which told the story of how Saba got closer with his cousin and how he was eventually taken away from Saba by the fatal stabbing. All of these tracks wonderfully tell the listener why Saba is how he is following his cousin’s passing. Saba’s vocals, lyricism, and flow throughout the entire album is superb. From front to back, his lyrics are never lacking. If you were to look up Genius’s annotations for the album, each song has quite a lot of lyrics annotated, showing that Saba crafted intricate lyrics that allow listeners to dive deep into each song’s true meaning. Without a great flow, I’d say that songs can be unlistenable. With that being said, Saba’s flow throughout each song is great, even offering multiple switches of his flow in order to keep listeners engaged and on their toes. It’s easy to say that Saba’s performance was a key factor to the success of this record. With only three features on the album, it’s important that each one is carefully implemented into the tracklist in order to not feel out of place and so they’re used to their greatest potential. First, we have theMIND on “BUSY/ SIRENS.” I’m personally not too crazy about his verse to close out the “BUSY” portion of the track, but it still does wrap up the half of the song nicely. It adds onto Saba’s softness throughout his two verses and the chorus and even gets listeners ready for the softer “SIRENS” part of the song. Next is KAINA’s feature off of “FIGHTER.” While her inclusion in the track is miniscule, it’s still a nice addition to the song. Her vocals are layered with Saba’s on the chorus and that’s it. I find it more odd that she received a mention on the track credits more than anything else. Lastly, we have the feature of “CARE FOR ME,” Saba’s cousin. At the end of “PROM/KING,” his cousin provides the listener with an outro. The alone fact that he’s on the album at all is heartbreaking and leaves listeners emotional. At the end of the outro, the line “I just hope I make it ‘til tomorrow–” is repeated numerous times. This severely adds to the emotions being created after knowing that he has passed since saying these lines. While each feature is small compared to the rest of the album, each and every one does provide a more than positive addition to the album. Next, we have the production that supports Saba on each track. I for one love each instrumental on each song. I apologize for heavily praising the same tracks again, but both portions of “BUSY/SIRENS” and “PROM/KING” offer wonderful beats that pair perfectly with the atmosphere of the album. As for “BUSY/SIRENS,” the first half opens up the album with a somber tone which pairs with Saba’s tone well. The second half slowly transitions from the first and offers an even slower, melancholic sound. I truly cannot put words to it, but the production on this song, the “SIRENS” portion more so, is beyond amazing. For “PROM/KING” the first half offers yet another sad tune to pair with the content matter of the track, being about Saba’s life before he started making music. As the song progresses into the “KING” half, the beat gets upbeat and allows Saba to be cheerful. This is his opportunity to celebrate his cousin’s life instead of being down all the time because of it. The outro track even follows suit after this shift and offers a more upbeat instrumental to yet again celebrate. With all of this being accounted for, I believe that the production on this album is great. Lastly, is the album worth revisiting even after various listens? I obviously say yes. Ever since 2022, this album has constantly found its way back into my listening rotation. This is for a good reason, too. Throughout the album, we find the theme of Saba finding ways to grow from his former self as he’s coping from his cousin’s death. This alone allows many listeners to be enticed to listen, and continue to listen over and over again, because so many people have had to deal with death. I personally have revisited this album quite a bit earlier this year when we had a death in the family, just as a way to cope. Besides this, each track contains lyrics that many will miss the point of on their first listen. This allows true music enjoyers to relisten to each song and really get the whole message. On top of this, while the entire album does offer a soft sound, each track does have its defining features, which lets the listener not get bored as they go through the tracklist. To back this up even more, the album only offers 10 tracks, totaling to 44 minutes. I believe that this is the perfect length for an album. Not too long in the grand scheme of things, especially in today’s world, and just the right amount of tracks so each listen doesn’t end with boredom. With this, the album is beyond replayable. Between Saba’s excellent performance, the fine-picked features, to the cloudy instrumentals and even the replayability of the album, it’s easy to give props to “CARE FOR ME.” Saba’s second studio album gets a 9 out of 10. �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu WVB: Battles but falls short, 3-2 against Albright College By Sam Mullen Sports Asst. Editor On Thursday night, the women’s volleyball team hosted Albright College. In the first set, the Colonels lost 25-17 but were able to find their footing in the second set where they won 25-23. The fight continued the rest of the night with the team winning the third set 25 to 21. By set four, the Colonel’s continued to push but fell 25-21. In the final set of the game, the team fought hard but lost 15 to 10 and lost the match 3-2. Senior Sierra Hines, junior Ally Sheridan, and senior Jenna Baron led Wilkes in points with each having 10 kills. Senior Alexa Cassel led in assists with 27 throughout the match. Sophomore Kendra Kalp had a total of 30 digs. They will host Neumann University on Wednesday September 25 at 7 p.m and travel to Penn State Altoona on Saturday September 28 at 1 p.m. Sr. Alexis Reedy spikes the ball over the net during the 3-2 contest against Albright College on Sept. 19. The team hulddes up after winning the second set in their 3-2 loss against Albright College on Sept. 19. Photos by Sam Mullen 2024-2025 National Hockey League (NHL) season preview By Ava Turren Sports Staff Writer This 2024-25 NHL season is right around the corner. After last season's insane ending between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, this upcoming season should have an interesting start. Many hockey fans believe that the Edmonton Oilers are going to win the Stanley Cup during the 2024-25 season since they came up short this past season in seven games. Conor McDavid, the captain of the Oilers, led his team to a near championship and many fans believe because of his records last season that they will do it again. Last season he scored 132 total points, with 64 goals and 89 assists. The Pittsburgh Penguins have made some moves this offseason. Earlier in the summer, they acquired Cody Glass from the Nashville Predators and a 2025 3rd round draft pick and a 2026 sixth round draft pick. They drafted Harrison Brunicke during the second round of the draft. Brunicke is an 18-year-old born in Johannesburg, South Africa and he will be the second player from there that will play in the NHL. The Calgary Flames have been trying to rebuild their team for a couple seasons now. During the off-season they traded a forward and a goalie for Dustin Wolf who will hopefully become the number one goalie in the NHL. This will be Wolf’s first season in the NHL but he has proven himself over and over again during his time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with a save percentage of .922. The Chicago Blackhawks are another team that have been trying to rebuild their team and Connor Bedard has helped them make massive strides. He now has one full NHL season under his belt and in his last season alone he had 22 goals and 39 assists. Unfortunately, this offseason, tragedy has struck the hockey community. Johnny Gaudreau was killed during a drunk driving accident and his team and all of the Columbus Blue Jackets fans are still grieving the loss of a beloved player. Without Gaudreau, who was the team's leading scorer last season, they are eager for the production from Adam Fantili who is going into his second season in the NHL. The Detroit Red Wings have had seven straight seasons without making it to the playoffs. This season if they don't make it to the playoffs for the eighth season in a row they might consider rebuilding the team. The Red Wings aren’t looking very promising. Alexander Ovechkin is very likely to break the all-time score record during this season. Overall, the Washington Capitals are going to go into this season with positives and negatives. Unfortunately for the Capitals, TJ Oshie suffered a long-term injury. However, the team received some new great players going into this upcoming season. The Capitals acquired Ilya Protas, the younger brother of another player on the team, and Aliaksei Protas who will be a player to watch. With their first round selection, the team picked Terik Parascak who was named to the 2024 CHL All Rookie Team. The Boston Bruins are hopeful for success this season. Last season a lot of the team's success was thanks to their goaltender pair; Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. This season they will no longer have Ulmark and the team is still working with Swayman on his contract which leaves this team with many unknowns. Going into the upcoming 2024-2025 season there are a lot of unknowns, however fans remain excited for what is to come. The NHL preseason started Sept. 21 and the season will begin on Oct. 4. �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Sports 20 Formula One World Championship Racing-Season Update By Andrew Marshallsay Sports Staff Writer With the end of the season in under two months, drivers and constructors in the Formula One World Championship are gearing up for the last stretch ahead. Leading the pack in the drivers championship is Max Verstappen. The current world champion, Verstappen is looking to win his fourth title in a row. If he wins, the Dutch driver will become the first driver since Sebastian Vettel to win four in a row. Vettel won consecutive titles in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. For Sergio Perez, it’s been quite the opposite in terms of results compared to his teammate. Perez has struggled for most of the season, and questions have risen about his ability. While he is signed with Red Bull until the conclusion of next season, the 34-year-old from Mexico may be in hot water come the end of the current season. In the constructors championship, McLaren have taken the lead over Red Bull. Powered by the duo of British driver Lando Norris and Australian Oscar Piastri. Norris and Piastri continue to perform well, with each having multiple race wins this year. Mercedes’ 2023 struggles continued into the early part of the 2024 season, with British duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell plagued early on with issues with their cars. However, Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari in 2025, has begun to find his pace and was able to capture a race win at Silverstone Raceway in the British Grand Prix. For Logan Sargeant, it has been a dreadful season. The United States born driver has been replaced by Williams. After multiple crashes in races, Sergeant was replaced by Argentinian rookie Franco Colapinto. Another surprise this season has been Valteri Bottas. The former Mercedes driver has amassed zero points this season for Kick Sauber. The Finnish driver’s contract ends at the conclusion of the season. While his contract expires at the end of the year, Bottas is likely to stay with his current team next season. For the grid next year, Hamilton’s move to be with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari means Russell will be with a new teammate. 18-yearold Kimi Antonelli will join M e r c e d e s beginning next season. Also, Leclerc’s current teammate, Carlos Sainz will be joining Williams as Alex Albon’s new teammate. Norris and Piastri will still be on the grid for McLaren in 2025, while Red Bull and Aston Martin keep their lineups for next year as well. Nico Hulkenberg will be with Kick Sauber next season, with the team set to change their name to Stake F1. Drivers such as Kevin Magnusson and Guanyu Zhou are without a team as of now. Furthermore, Ferrari and Haas reserve driver Oliver Bearman will join Haas on a permanent basis for next season. For fan favorite Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian driver is without a team for next year, as RB Honda are unlucky to keep him after this season. That means Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda is likely to have a new teammate in 2025. Lastly, Alpine will welcome current F2 driver Jack Doohan to the team next year, pairing him with one of the team’s current drivers, Frenchman Pierre Gasly. Two grands prix are coming up here at home. The United States Grand Prix from the Circuit of the Americas is on Oct. 20. Later on, the second annual Las Vegas Grand Prix kicks off a month later on Nov. 24. �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Sports 21 The Wilkes Berries ultimate frisbee team offers fun for all By Zachary Paraway Sports Editor Walking by the greenway any given night, one could be liable to see a frisbee fly toward them followed by an invitation to join in on the fun. This would be the Wilkes Berries, Wilkes University’s club ultimate frisbee team. The team has been slinging the disk since 2017 and the team has never been bigger. Ultimate frisbee is a non-contact sport that sees one throw a frisbee like a football down the field into endzones. However, the person with the disk in hand cannot advance, making teamwork and passing is of necessity. Junior Brennan Reiner serves as the captain of the team and it is his third year on the squad. Reiner details what makes the team fun and unique. “Ultimate frisbee creates a strong community that allows for you to learn skills like growth, teamwork, and adaptability. What keeps making me come back is the smile on the team's face when we score a point. Whether that point was quick and painless or long and trying. The effort and work people put The Wilkes Berries join to take a photo after a tournament outing in Spring 2024 in at practice changes how they play and makes them better players. I see a lot of growth in new and returning players and I love to see how they change their style and their approach to the game," Reiner said. "Overall, It's fun because of the people. Whether you are playing in practice against your teammates or playing at a school two hours away, you can always learn, grow, and find a smile on your face." The team has spent the start of this semester getting the returners familiar again with the game and getting a lot of newcomers up to speed with the rest of the team. After attending Club Day, they saw a big growth in the people coming to their practices and look to keep capitalizing off of that. “I would tell you to give it a try. Whether you like it or not it is something new and you can meet and make new friends. If you wanna play that's amazing, if you wanna watch, join us too, if you have the time maybe frisbee is for you. Also we have some pretty sick jerseys so sign up and earn it.” Newcomers are finding fun with the Berries. Jr. Logan Smith really has enjoyed his time so far. “This team is super fun. I’m still learning the game, but hanging out everyone makes it all go faster. They are super helpful in teaching and it's something I'm going to keep coming back to,” Smith said. The team practices every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in either the McHale Athletic Center or on the greenway. The team also competes in optional tournaments once players get familiar with the game. For more information or interested to join, email brennan.reiner@wilkes.edu. Photo courtesy of Brennan Reiner Wilkes prepares for the third annual Kisses to Cancer 5K By Lexi McHugh Sports Writer Sept. 28 is an important day for the Wilkes community. Wilkes University AFROTC detachment 752, which trains and prepares hundreds of young men and women for future careers as United States Air Force officers, is hosting Kisses to Cancer 5k. Wilkes-Barre has been hosting this event for three years now in honor of Major Candice Adams Ismirle, an alumnus of Wilkes University who died from triple negative breast cancer in 2016. Ismirle was an example of resilience and dedication. Born into a military family, she continued the tradition, excelling at Wilkes University as an ROTC cadet before her career as a public affairs officer in the Air Force. Her achievements included awardwinning communication work and leadership during challenging times. She went on to win the ALOM Company Grade Officer of the Year Award two years in a row. Ismirle also received the General Harry Dalton Award for public affairs communication excellence in 2007. Despite a battle with aggressive breast cancer, she remained strong, producing a documentar y to raise awareness a n d continuing her service. She and her husband Ryan welcomed twin boys in 2015 before she passed away in 2016. Her legacy of service, strength and love lives on through her family and the Kisses to Cancer 5K in her honor. T h e proceeds for this race will go to a few different organizations. The first organization is Relay for Life: The Fight Against Cancer, specifically the “PinkKisses fund” in Candice’s name. The second organization is The Valor Clinic, which supports homeless veterans in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The final proceeds will go to Wilkes University Gold Bar Club, where Candice started her military journey. Registration is now open for the race. The tickets will cost adults $35, seniors $30, students $25, active and veteran military $20, and children $20, while infants can participate for free. When registering, participants can select the category that fits them best while adding their option to their cart and checking out. This event is an opportunity for the community to come together, support a meaningful cause, and honor the memory of a remarkable individual. Whether you're running, walking or donating, every contribution helps make a difference. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week 22 Ava Bailor First-Year, Women's Cross Counrty The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Bailor finished in the top ten at the Couage Classic, crossing the line ninth with a time of 26:59.9. This is the second time she's finished as the teams runner-up. Bailor's efforts helped bring the Colonels to finish second as a team. Major: Pharmacy Hometown: Brogue, PA What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? Being a freshman, I haven't been here long, but my favorite memory so far is running in my first collegiate race at the Misericordia Invitational 4k. I have also enjoyed spending time with my teammates as they have been super welcoming and are all fun to be around! What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? I enjoy watching college basketball. My teams are Penn State and Michigan. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Away from sports, I enjoy spending time outdoors, going hiking and going camping. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? Being able to find a good academic and athletic balance The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? One of my favorite sports movies is "Dodgeball!" If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? If I didn't run cross counttry, I think swimming would be a fun sport. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? My favorite overall sports memory was medaling at counties my senior year and also running at the Paul Short Run Invitational at Lehigh University my senior year, as they were many collges racing at the invite and it was a really cool experience. What is your favorite post-game meal? Post-game meals always vary, but some of my favorite post-race snacks are pretzels and peanut butter and any kind of nut. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I feel honored being named Athlete of the Week, and am excited for the rest of the Wilkes cross country teams season! Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Asst. Sports Editor �The Beacon September 25, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Conor Frey Senior, 4th Singles, Men’s Tennis The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Frey was the King’s Invitational Champion at the number four singles slot, with a record of 6-2 and 7-6 win in his quarter final match. He earned his way to the final with a 6-2, 4-6, and 10-2. He won the title with a 2-6, 7-5, and 10-8 against FDU-Florham. Major: Political Science Hometown: Binghamton, NY What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? Beating FDU in the MAC SemiFinals my freshman year. What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? The Boston Bruins What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? I love to go to the gym and lift. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? The culture of the team, I love getting loud at matches and compeing at a high intensity If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Definitely hockey What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Team nighs and team dinners What is your favorite post-game meal? Yummy bowl How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I feel great, I’m honored! What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? “Miracle” Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Assistant Sports Editor Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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/Sam Mullen 23 �The Beacon - September 25, 2024 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, 2024 September 25 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 September 25 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/5ce1a3feba188380d11de4b3baad6e77.pdf 5c80543e6755d850c0ad113ec00cb690 PDF Text Text The Beacon - October 2, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 77, Issue 5 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Wilkes comes back in a classic on Homecoming Weekend By Sam Mullen Asst. Sports Editor It was a celebratory homecoming for the Wilkes Colonels after the football team faced off Saturday against St. John Fisher University and ended with a 28-21 win. It was a rough start for the Colonels, as they fell into a 21-0 hole going in at halftime. The team tried to establish the run game on offense, but created short breaks for the defense who saw the Cardinals gain yards, mostly through the air. The Cardinals started the second half where they left off, turning the Colonels over on downs and setting up in the red zone. The Cardinals missed the kick and the Colonels used this as their wake up call. On their second drive of the third quarter, senior running back Elijah Jules got Wilkes on the board with a 38-yard touchdown run. The fight continued with an interception from senior defensive linemen Steele Hess, who returned it 54 yards to set up Wilkes at the Cardinals 17 yard line. It led to senior wide receiver Zane Grover finding senior wide receiver Jimmy Johnson in the endzone on a trick pass. ...Homecoming cont. on p.19 Wilkes University welcomes Jacob Kelley, page 6 Senior quaterback Xavier Powell scrambles away from St. John Fisher defends as he grabs the win against the Cardinals 28-21 on Saturday. Photo by Sam Mullen Office of Diversity Initiatives hosts Night on the Town event, page 10 A review of Lil Tecca’s fourth studio album “PLAN A,” page 18 Athletes of the Week, pages 22 and 23 �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Emma Broda: emma.broda@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Sept. 25 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei News Staff Writer Student Government held its fifth weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester on Sept. 25. This meeting addressed club recognition requests, funding requests, club reports, and Student Government team event planning. The Student Government treasurer began the meeting with an updated budget report of $48,376. The Wilkes Health and Fitness Club returned for week two of two for its club recognition request. Club meetings for the Wilkes Health and Fitness Club will be held once a month. The Student Government voted to approve the club recognition request of the Wilkes Health and Fitness Club. The Crochet Club also returned for its week two of two club recognition request. Members voted to approve the club recognition request of the Crochet Club. T h e International S t u d e n t Ambassadors Club presented for their week one of two club recognition requests. The club displayed its mission to enhance the university experience for international students. The club currently has 70 members and has four upcoming events, including a Diwali event, Dia De Los Muertos event, Panamanian Culture Day and an International Education Week. The International Student Ambassadors Club will return next meeting for their week two of two club recognition request. The Wilkes Chapter of It’s On Us presented next with its week one of two fund requests. The chapter reported its mission to combat sexual assault. The chapter presented its plan for three weeks of safetythemed events and one month of events for Sexual Awareness Month. The chapter is requesting $750 to aid in funding their upcoming weeklong and month-long events, and two of their three upcoming conferences. The Wilkes Chapter of It’s On Us will return next meeting for their week two of two funding requests. To end the presentation section of the meeting, the Student Government Executive Council presented the club reports of the Hospitality Leadership Club, NAMI Club and Cheer Club. Student Government ended the fifth weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester with team planning for upcoming Student Government-hosted events. The next meeting will occur on Oct. 2. with the Children’s Service Center to provide Narcan Training on campus on November 15th, in the Savitz Lounge. This is free training, and you will be provided with your dose of nasal Naloxone. Complete the survey by Oct. 14 to register for the event https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIp QLSdMTYK1dzHJJts0jj0Qyz_1NvTDoBwsHxULIY-0janrMYlhQ/viewform?usp=sf_ link Scholarship opportunity for students of Polish descent Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff HPSC Clothing Swap: accepting donations Ready for a closet clean out? Donate your clothing in the Honors Office in Stark 259 prior to Oct. 22 or bring them to the Clothing Swap event Oct. 22! All monetary proceeds will be donated. For more information, visit https://docs. google.com/document/d/1LyicGaBfphJlg 6EzzqkPxBm0INEwigeAskDx9xyu71M/ edit?usp=sharing Bonner Leader's Program offers Narcan training The Bonner Leader’s Program is working HPSC Blaze Pizza fundraiser Support the Honors Program Student Committee (HPSC) by ordering Blaze Pizza from 5-8 p.m. on Oct. 18. Come hang out with friends and grab some yummy pizza. Show this flyer to ensure the Honors Program receives 20% of the proceeds. The Polish Room Committee Scholarship has opened applications. Applicants must write a brief essay based on the following: Choose a person of Polish descent from the list of Marie Curie, Frederic Chopin, Pope Saint John Paul II, and Andrzej Tadeusz Kosciuszko. Explain how this person deepened your appreciation of what it means to be Polish American, and what influence it has or will have on your life. Preference will be given to applicants demonstrating financial need. This letter must be submitted, along with the applicant’s name, WIN, and contact information to Allison Naumann, APKC. Applications can be emailed to allison. naumann@wilkes.edu with the subject line “Polish Heritage Scholarships.” Upcoming Events: 2024 Fall Semester September Ongoing - Movie Ticket Sales October 2 - Coffee Hour 3 - Blockbuster Bingo 10-14- Fall Recess 17 - Wilkestober Fest 22 - Honors Thrift Store 24 - Sound Showdown 28-31 - Freak Week �������������������������������� ���������� ���������� ����������� ��� �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 News 3 President Greg Cant's contract extended through 2029 By Andrew Marshallsay News Staff Writer Wilkes University has announced a contract extension for President Greg Cant. The extension places him at the helm of the university through 2029. Cant, a native of Australia, was named the seventh president of the university in December 2019. He began his tenure in May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Cant’s leadership, students and faculty were able to safely return to classes in the Fall 2020 semester. Since then, Cant’s leadership brought about a number of implementations to improve the university’s financial and enrollment strength, which included the restructuring of the multiple colleges on campus. Wilkes University board of trustees chair Bill Miller is looking forward to having Cant back. “Greg has proven to be an exemplary leader for Wilkes over the past four years,” Miller said. “We are looking forward to seeing his leadership of a new vision, mission and values for the University,” continued the chair of the board. For Cant, his time at Wilkes has also brought about the Innovate, Engage, Thrive plan. This plan includes goals such as advancing academic excellence and student success, promoting innovation and partnerships, strengthening financials, infrastructure and prioritizing community and service. Cant said that he is honored to stay at Wilkes. “I am deeply honored to continue serving as President of Wilkes University,” he said. “This institution holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited to build on our progress and lead Wilkes into its next chapter,” Cant concluded. For more information on the President’s extension, visit news.wilkes. edu and www.thewilkesbeacon.com. Photo courtesy of Greg Cant �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 News 4 That’s So Honors: A “sweet” internship with Hershey Hotel By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Internship experiences can have a major impact on your future. Some students leave their internship with job offers, while others leave knowing what kind of jobs they are not interested in. Brenda Arias, a senior majoring in hospitality leadership, had a one-ofa-kind internship experience at Hotel Hershey this past summer. The Hotel Hershey, a AAA Four Diamond resort and Forbes Rated property, is a five-star hotel next to Hershey Park, offering accommodations and special packages for guests visiting the park. Arias worked in several areas at her Hospitality Level 1 internship. “I was mainly responsible for following the daily operations of the front desk department, like carrying out the check-in and check-out procedures while maintaining the Forbes standard of the property," Arias said. She continued by saying that she "also acted as a coordinator for the Guest Relations Department, which mainly connected with the VIP guests that resided in the Villas, the sister property of the hotel." Arias found out about the opportunity for the internship through the university. “I actually got to speak to them directly and introduce myself at one of the career fairs I attended…a lot of previous hospitality students look to Hershey for internships, but mainly in the amusement park area, so I wanted something a little bit more concentrated on my major so I applied for the hotel position," Arias said. Though Arias had a tight schedule and many responsibilities, she still found time for fun, exploring Hershey and enjoying the amenities that Hershey employees have access to, like free admission to Hershey Park. Arias echoed the importance of internships, saying that her experience has helped her gain perspective. “It was very helpful seeing most of the concepts that I learned in my hospitality courses being actually used in the workplace. "The experience also gave me a better understanding of what I want my career to look like and what my next steps can be.” Now that she’s back on campus, Arias Brenda Arias, senior hospitality leadership major, spent the summer interning at the Hershey Hotel. said her best piece of advice is to put yourself out there. “Opportunities aren’t always handed to you in life so it’s important that you’re able to advocate for yourself and do what you need to do," said Arias. "I also think that getting out of your comfort zone is greatly important as it will make you learn things about yourself that you probably otherwise wouldn't have." Students seeking internships should attend one of the many Career Development Center’s events this semester, including upcoming career fairs. To learn more about the Honors Program, follow @wilkeshonros on Instagram. Photos submitted by Brenda Arias Arias and Kit Kat, one of Hershey's many mascots, pose for a quick pic. �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 News 5 Students develop skills at CCDI's first annual Career Carnival By Emma Broda News Editor On Sept. 26, the Center for Career Development and Internships (CCDI) hosted a Career Carnival. This event was one of the many events the CCDI has planned for this fall semester. The Career Carnival was a way to get students excited and prepared for the upcoming career fair, which will be taking place on campus next week. The carnival included different resources, such as the “Resume Review Station,” to get feedback on resumes; the “Elevator Pitch Station,” to work on fine tuning students’ pitches for interviews; and the “Colonel’s Clothing Closet PopUp,” which gave students an opportunity to put together professional outfits. The CCDI staff and guests were present to speak with students about interviews, internships and their careers. Business recruiters from Enterprise and Children’s Service Center were present to give advice and feedback to students before the career fair. One student working for the CCDI, Kahlasia Carter, a junior nursing major, shared some information about the CCDI and the upcoming fair. “The Career Carnival is here to promote the Career Fair, which is next Tuesday on October first,” said Carter. She continued by saying that the CCDI is “offering [an opportunity for] networking with employers and resume checking for students for the upcoming fair.” Carter also spoke more about what the CCDI offers on a regular basis. “We offer resume building, interview workshops, the Colonel’s Closet, career planning, and we host events so students can get acquainted in the field they want to work in,” she said. Molly Blaskiewicz, a senior marketing major, shared that the carnival was beneficial, even if you do not intend to go to the Career Fair. “There’s opportunities to learn how to build your resume and how to do an interview, which are all basic skills you should have no matter what you are doing,” she said. While the intent of the event was information and preparation, there was still plenty of fun at the carnival. The event hosted a Dunkin Donuts truck that handed out free samples of coffee. Blaskewicz said she tried the new drink. Dunkin Donuts introduced a new drink outside of the Career Carnival. “It was really good, it tasted like coffee ice cream.” In addition, there were lots of food options within the CCDI building including hot dogs, walking tacos and popcorn. As this event was a carnival, there were also plenty of games like cornhole and basketball. The CCDI also hosted gift card giveaways for students in attendance. “Every table you went to you got a ticket, and then you could enter it into a raffle for a Visa gift card,” Blaskiewicz said. Photos by Emma Broda Enterprise gave students on-site feedback on interview tips and resumes. Internship Coordinator Jenna Weiss shows off the Career Carnival sign. �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 News 6 Interim assistant director of diversity initiatives named Wilkes University welcomes Jacob Kelley By Zach Paraway Sports Editor Many people will talk about the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion and how important it is to instill them in life. It is not often, however, that someone comes to embody those ideals and not just take them to use for their lives but to help improve the lives of those around them. Jacob Kelley has dedicated most of their adult life to helping others and creating better lives for others around them. Kelley joins Wilkes University for this upcoming semester but is familiar with the area from their youth. “I accepted the position at Wilkes University because I grew up and have worked in the NEPA Luzerne County area," Kelley said. "I have collaborated with many entities associated with Wilkes, which has allowed me to invest more time in understanding the impact of DEI within university structure. I see Wilkes University as a place where individuals grow, learn and aspire to achieve more. "Being part of that journey for others is incredibly rewarding,." Their background before Wilkes is extensive and encompasses many DEI initiatives. After college, they worked as a medical HIV case manager with multiple nonprofit organizations. They then moved into administration as the role of workplace culture director for CAAP (Community Action Association of Pennsylvania), where they oversaw policy, procedures and initiatives related to DEI. During this time, they also founded Mx. Kelley Queer Education LLC, where they help to oversee DEI and LGBTQIA+ training, including Safe Zone training, DEI metrics, and strategic planning for clients. They completed a masters from Widener University in 2020 and are currently a doctoral candidate for Widener’s human sexuality program. Kelley joins Wilkes as the interim assistant director of diversity affairs. They have strong goals for the office, especially when it comes to working with and for students. “My goals in this role are to uplift and elevate the college experience by empowering students to take control of their lives and strive for success," said Kelley. "I also aim to assist Wilkes University in its efforts around DEI and strategic planning. I’m eager to connect with the students and be part of their journey as they navigate their futures." When they are not at Wilkes, Kelley remains active in the local community and has a variety of hobbies. “When I’m not working at Wilkes, running my business, or performing as my drag persona Trixy Valentine, I enjoy traveling. I love visiting different countries, catching up with friends, and ensuring I’m thriving by experiencing the world.” Kelley will oversee the Office of Diversity Affairs for the next couple months. This includes working with students and staff on programs to promote DEI across campus, such as with clubs like the Multicultural Student Coalition and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Jacob Kelley joins Wilkes as the interim assistant director of diversity initiatives. Kelley meets with Multicultural Student Coalition Public Relations Officer Joshua Ermeus. Photos by Zach Paraway �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Editor-in-Chief Sydney Allabaugh at sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu Bonner Leaders seek donations for Ruth’s Place By Kailey Vogel Special to The Beacon The Bonner Leaders Program is collecting donations for Ruth’s Plae, now through Nov. 25. “Ruth’s Place House of Hope is an emergency sheltering support group for women experiencing homelessness,” according to its website. The program was started in 2003 and provides women with shelter, food, personal hygiene products, and resources to get them back on their feet. These resources include job connections, social relationships, teachings of life skills, and other case management services. Brenda Arias is a senior hospitality leadership major with a minor in marketing. As a Bonner Leader, she has been involved with helping Ruth’s Place for the past four years. “I began volunteering with Ruth’s Place my first semester of my first-year at Wilkes; now I’m in my first semester of senior year. Since that point on, it’s been an established partnership that has grown over time.” she said. Her favorite part of helping aid Ruth’s Place and others in need is, “the fact that I get to learn a little more about the women at the shelter. “Working with people in need makes me more appreciative of the things that I have and it gives me more of an open mind on how I look at things. I also like the idea of using what I have to help support others. “I think one of the most important things to remember in life is that no matter how successful you become, you’re only as good as the people around you, so being able to use the resources that you have to uplift others is vital.” The Bonner Leader Program is a federal work-study program available at Wilkes that provides students with community service and volunteer opportunities around Wilkes-Barre. Established on campus in 2021, the program encourages students to give back to their communities and help those in need. In return, students are assisted financially and educationally, preparing them with leadership skills. Arias has been a member of the Bonner Leaders Program since her first semester. “Being a Bonner Leader means taking what you have to uplift others in any way you can. It’s more than service, even though it is a central part of it, but it goes beyond that. I think it’s about thinking innovatively and being able to be resourceful. “It’s learning how to work alongside others to foster growth that can make people better off. In short, it’s mainly about leaving every place you enter a little better off than it was before.” Arias suggested items that the program will be collecting, such as non-perishable food items (milk, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, butter, etc.), frozen foods, Tupperware containers, toilet paper, paper towels, N95s and other medical face coverings, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, bottled drinks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, conditioner, shampoo, new clothing (sleepwear, socks, and undergarments), Tylenol, Ibuprofen, disinfectants, and Clorox wipes, to name a few. The Bonner Leader Program is asking students and staff members to donate. Donation drop-offs can be found in the Colonel’s Cupboard, located behind the Henry Student Center, or in the Honors Office, located on the second floor of the Stark Learning Center. Collections will occur now, until Nov. 25. For more information, email Brenda Arias for the full donation list, or how to get involved. Let’s RUT H ’S P L A C E W O ME N ’ S S HE L T E R WHAT IS NEEDED: DEODORANT BODY WASH SHAMPOO CONDITIONER TOOTHPASTE SHAVING RAZORS TOWELS WASHCLOTHS DROP-OFF LOCATION: COLONEL’S CUPBOARD OR HONORS PORGRAM OFFICE COLLECTIONS WILL BEGING 9/12 AND END 11/25 FOR THE COMPLETE DONATION LIST CONTACT: BRENDA.ARIAS@WILKES.EDU �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment Sydney Allabaugh: 8 Sam Mullen: COLE PIMP - Denzel Curry, Ty Dolla $ign, Juicy J Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar Stephen Youkoski: The Weeknd - Play Carti Save Your Heart - Mayday Paradise Megan Davis: Disconnected - 5 Seconds of Summer Adam Grundt: Leah Smith: Lonely is the Muse - Halsey Zach Paraway: O-o-h Child - The Five Stairships Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �Life, Arts & Entertainment The Beacon – October 2, 2024 9 Banned books celebrated, added to campus Little Free Library By Natalia Willians Staff Writer On Sept. 23, The Wilkes University Alpha Gamma Alpha chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Society hosted a celebration for banned books. Attendees were offered cupcakes and celebrated banned books. In addition to this, several banned books were added to the Little Free Library, which is located outside of Kirby Hall. Anyone borrowing books from the Little Free Library is urged to return them to the library or share it with another student to ensure as many people as possible can read a banned book. Banned Books Week established in 1982, brings awareness to the surge of the number of books being challenged in bookstores, libraries, and schools. This year’s theme was “Freed Between the Lines” Book banning is a form of censorship, when government officials or organizations remove books from school reading lists, libraries, or bookstores due to themes, content, or ideas. According to the Free Speech Center of Middle Tennessee State University, books that are banned or censored contain themes or ideas such as graphic violence, lack literary merit, include offensive language, or express disrespect for parents and family. Banning and censoring books has surged in the past year. According to the American Library Association, in 2023 alone, there were 1,247 efforts to censor books and other resources in libraries, which is an 65% increase from the year before. “I am certainly opposed to banning books—beyond those that instruct on violence and means of violence, or have some significant national security threat,” said English professor Dr. Chad Stanley. “We thrive by considering other ideas and perspectives, whether historical or purely fictive and imaginative.” In total, 4,240 book titles were targeted and many of them were representing the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC experiences and voices. When looking at the top 10 most challenged books of 2023 provided by the ALA, more than half contain themes about race and LGBTQIA+. Books that have been banned in multiple states across the US include “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe; “The Hate U Give,” by Angie Thomas; and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Have you read a banned book lately? Indian,” by Sherman Alexie. Banning books with these themes makes it harder for students to access books that teach valuable lessons. “Sexuality and gender have always been key target areas/topics,” Stanley said. “This has persisted, but we are also very sadly now in an era in which there is newly active denial of the historical realities of racism and the past enslavement of human beings.” The Beacon is looking for writers and photographers interested in covering Life, Arts & Entertainment Interested? Email kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon – October 2, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 Office of Diversity Initiatives: Night on the town @ La Cantina Amigon As part of its efforts to provide learning experiences surrounding the history and customs of cultural groups, the Office of Diversity Initiatives recently took students to nearby La Cantina Amigon to enjoy a variety of foods. Above, from left, Najhae Johnson, Shanelly Hinds, and Joey Savorsky attended the Night on the Town event, sponsored by the Office of Diversity Initiatives. Below, from left, Shanelly Hinds, Joey Savorsky, David Hesiner and Starr Sandt enjoy dinner from La Cantina Amigon. At top right, Jacob Kelley, interim assistant director for the Office of Diversity Initiatves joins students for dinner at La Cantina Amigon. Photos by Zachary Paraway �Football Word Scramble alfolotb agmemrisc wnod nnoesocrvi axrte tpion reups wlbo istrf nwod seltac tlioaann pansiichhpom hlteme otondwcuh galf football scrimmage down conversion extra point super bowl first down cleats national championship helmet touchdown flag Answer Key: �������������������������������������������� ���� Word Scramble The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 �The Beacon- October 2, 2025 12 Slominski hed by Shannon p ra g to o h p ly m Mullen al Pep R tographed by Sa o h p y lt ya o R g Homecomin �The Beacon- October 2, 2025 13 HOMECOMING COURT �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: leah.smith@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Managing Editor: Stephen Youkoski Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Emma Broda Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Leah Smith Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Laura De Lora Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - Shawn Carey Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Andrew Marshallsay Sports - Ava Tureen 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Combining two major events was a poor choice September is always a busy month at Wilkes University. Students are just getting comfortable on campus, classes are still getting underway and the school had many events going on during this time. Two of these key events during this month are Family Day and Homecoming weekend. Family Day, which usually takes place the second or third Saturday of September, is a chance for students to have their families come see their day-to-day lives on campus. It’s great for first-year students who are still adjusting and could use the opportunity to see their families, and it works well for upperclassmen who, as the years go on, can now have more and more of their family come and see them. Then we have Homecoming weekend, the last weekend of September or the first in October. Everyone knows what Homecoming looks like, with all the events for alumni, students and staff all weekend. Whether that is the football game, any dinner or brunch or the dance, there are events for all. While they are both in the same month, they take place during different weekends to give space for not only students but for the campus as a whole. That was until this year with the combination of Family Day and Homecoming weekend into one this year, which led to a variety of issues. Many of the problems about the weekend revolved around the same thing, space. This campus is simply not big enough to support both parents and alumni properly. First and most obvious of all, parking. While no places on campus closed their parkings lots thankfully, they were all full due to the sheer amount of people. Not only was all the parking gone, but everywhere you turned, an event was going on. While this can be seen as fun and great for the campus as a whole, it comes off as disingenuous when on any other weekend on this campus, hardly anything happens. The campus shouldn’t necessarily feel responsible for putting on events every single weekend for the campus as a whole, but they should take more of a responsibility of making events for the students in the same breadth that they do for alumni. The student leaders and clubs should not be solely responsible for creating that; that idea has led to many of our student leaders feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. That responsibility has to fall more on the offices within this university. Another issue with the weekend was the complete lack of information given to the students. Many students had to find out everything about parents’ weekend from their parents. This included a change to now charging for events for the weekend. While it is understandable that there is a need to charge the parents for events being held by the school, students need to also understand this information. That becomes especially true when parents call their child asking why it is now $20 per person to preregister for the weekend. This is not even to mention the parking issues for the football game and not widely publicizing to the students about how to get parking. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 2, 2024 Opinion 15 The Icebox: Wilkes spirit through “Pokemon Go?” By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Do you remember back in 2016 when GameFreak shattered the capabilities of mobile gaming through their revolutionary title, “Pokémon Go?” You may have noticed how it became the talk of the town for adults and children alike. The truth is, the game is very much still alive to this day, even here on Wilkes campus. If you are not familiar with “Pokémon Go,” it is a mobile game in which players are tracked in real-time by GPS so their avatar in-game can travel among the world of the Pokémon. Every so often there are Pokémon that appear and can be caught with pokéballs. All is done through augmented reality, an advanced camera software that combines the digital world with real life. Places in real life play an important role in the game. Significant areas are labeled as Pokéstops, where players can harvest items like fruits, gifts and more catching equipment. Some places which are even more important are gyms. Here, players can station a chosen Pokémon to defend a gym claimed by their team. There are three teams: Instinct (Yellow), Valor (Red) and Mystic (Blue). If a gym is not claimed by your team, you have the option of running a 6-team against the Pokémon stationed at the gym in order to defeat and conquer it, reaping many gym-specific rewards and enabling your teammates around the area to help defend the newly claimed gym. Now, how exactly can one show Wilkes spirit through such a game? It’s quite simple, really. First of all, many students on campus are likely to checkin through “Pokémon Go” at least once per day. During this time, they are very likely to participate in gym battles. Normally, you can get a good idea of the dominating team per area by seeing the color of each gym in proximity. When I check the gyms that are on campus, they are never the same color. This means that there are plenty of competitors somewhere on campus who are always ready to play. It gets even more interesting than just competing over gym locations. Players who friend each other are able to trade gifts and send each other postcards of places they have visited through the game. A group of players can organize a physical meeting in which they are all able to trade and showcase their Pokémon. It would be very interesting to have people on campus be able to bond over this game by setting up meetings on campus. In a way, we can encourage everyone that likes to play the game to connect with one another and create a Wilkes-wide program, perhaps even setting up adventures together. It would even be beneficial in the healthy sense in that it provides means of getting fresh air, physical exercise and even relieving some stress. Finally, the biggest reason to connect with others in “Pokémon Go” is the Shadow Raids, courtesy of Team Rocket. The Shadow Raids are an attempt for Team Rocket to take over gyms by placement of eggs. These eggs have a timer to let players nearby know when the raid will begin. Basically, a gigantic, shadow and often mega-evolved Pokémon hatches from the egg and takes over the gym. The raid only lasts for a limited time, but it is important that a player participates. When the raid begins, players who wish to participate can queue into a team, each with their own six Pokémon. The raid boss is supposed to be extremely difficult, so it will take all of the players working together to defeat it. The more people in the raid, the easier it will be to defeat the boss, free the gym and reap the rewards. Once the boss is defeated, it shrinks back to normal size and players have the opportunity to catch it before it flees. The Pokémon will be in shadow form, meaning it needs to be purified before it can evolve or be powered up. The boss is usually a very powerful and rare Pokémon, so defeating them is quite rewarding. There you have it, plenty of reasons to connect with your friends through this wonderful game and to make new friends on campus. Perhaps you forgot about how amazing “Pokémon Go” is and now you will log back in after many a year. In any case, I think this is a great way to create some unity and competition among the Colonels. At the very least, we can do better than our rivals across the Square. Why 1990’s and 2000’s music is better than modern music By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer Ever since I was little, I’ve always remembered hearing my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles always say, “People don’t make music like they used to.” I never understood why they said that, until I was old enough to grasp music and understand it. As I got older, I started to realize what they were saying was true. I have been surrounded by music from the ‘90s and 2000s practically all my life. Listening to music from back then and comparing it to now, it’s completely different. I’ve always gravitated toward throwback music because of the nostalgic feeling, the messages the music gave and just the overall feeling I get when I hear my favorite throwback track. Listening to the music artists used to write back then, I feel there was more passion, emotion and deep feelings put into it. Artists cared about the quality of the production and the lyrics during this time period. Songs in that era quickly became iconic pieces of music that allowed their listeners to connect with them on a deeper level. We do have some artists who are excellent writers nowadays, but a lot of the songs that are mainstream almost sound the same production wise and tell the same story lyrically. During the ‘90s and 2000s, we saw a rise in new and diverse genres. There were artists of many different genres releasing different and unique things. During this day and age, I feel even though artists are in the same genre, their music still sounds the same. Let’s use the pop genre for an example. If I turn on a playlist with the newest pop hits, they are most likely gonna sound the same production wise or storyline. Granted, most 2000’s pop songs gave the same vibe, but each had a different quality that made them stand out and sound different. I feel there aren’t any artists today that are simply iconic musicians. In my opinion, I have yet to see an artist genuinely make a statement and contribution to the music industry like artists used to do. Yes, we have artists like Taylor Swift, but I don’t believe that she has made an impact on music like someone like Mariah Carey or Britney Spears. Finally, the feeling I get when listening to throwback music is something indescribable. I love turning on a song and instantly getting taken back to a moment I had in my childhood. Whether it’s a good or bad time, it’s always so comforting to reminisce and cherish different memories. Even though I love some of the music that is coming out recently, I will always stick to my ‘90s and 2000s to listen to on a daily basis due to the connections I have and can make with the tracks, the diversity of the songs and that feeling of traveling back in time whenever I hit play on my playlist. �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Opinion 16 “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” is wildly underrated Why “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” is the best Batman movie By Leah Smith Asst. 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� ��� ���� ���� �� ������ �� �������� Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Opinion 17 First-person vs third-person POV: Which is better? By Shawn Carey Opinion Staff Writer It’s pretty hard to describe the many important decisions an author must make when they start working on a new book, especially when it comes to fiction stories. Voice, themes, tone, genre and imagery are just a few of the literary devices an author must manage. Not all devices are of equal importance, however. I have always believed that one of the most important aspects of writing a fiction book is deciding what point of view it’s going to be told in. As I’m sure many know, in writing there are three points of view: first, second and third. For the sake of convenience, I’m not really going to talk about second person point of view. Second-person isn’t really used in fiction stories. Off the top of my head the only example that I can think of are those old choose your own adventure books. It has recently come to my attention that there is a bit of discord around what point of view a story uses, mainly among the “Booktok” crowd. I’ve seen countless videos of readers complaining about the use of third-person in books, with many of which outright saying that they refuse to read in books that are written in the POV. I was honestly a bit taken aback by this discoverly. I understand that everyone has their own preferences; I’m not faulting anyone for having an opinion. However, I do find it a bit strange that there’s such a vocal hatred for the POV. In this article, I want to find out if the hate is justified, or if everyone is just overreacting. I’m going to be comparing their strengths and weaknesses, what makes them unique and how they should be used. Before we officially get started, I want to say that I have experience writing in both POVs. Much of what I’m talking about will be based around personal works and what I’ve learned from them. First-person point of view is a way of telling a story from the perspective of a specific character. Pronouns such as “I,” “me,” “myself ” and “we” are the most commonly known ones. First-person is used quite often in our current literary environment. As of right now it’s most common to see it be used in romance and romance-adjacent stories. The “Twilight” series by Stephen Meyer is a pretty good example. There’s a lot of really interesting things an author can do with a first-person perspective. For instance, first person is often used to limit what the reader knows to only what the narrator knows. This leads me to my favorite reason for using first person: the characters. First person is able to make a story feel extremely intimate and conversational. The reader is directly involved in the characters’ thoughts; we get to know how they feel before anyone else. This includes things they don’t know. You can build tension much easier than you can in third person. Both the character and reader are kept in the dark. You’re going through the story together. As I mentioned before, romance is a great genre for first-person. However, I would make the argument that mystery may be an even better genre for the POV, mainly due to the limited POV the reader has, which in a way, turns them into amateur detectives. Moving on, next we have third-person point of view. Third person has it where the narrator is not part of the story and instead uses third-person pronouns, like “his” and “her,” to describe the characters’ actions. Third person is overall seen as a lot less personal than first person. However, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The POV gives us access to multiple characters’ perspectives, which helps the reader to feel more empathetic and attached to them. It’s also much easier to jump around to different scenes, helping build out the world around the characters. Speaking of world building, third person allows for more detailed scene description, making it the ideal POV for fantasy novels. You’re beyond a single character’s point of view; you can describe everything about a given location, even if they don’t know anything about it. There are actually multiple types of third-person points of view in writing: omniscient, limited, and objective. As the name suggests, omniscient has the narrator as this all-knowing being. They have the ability to share the thoughts and feelings of every single character, as well as their own opinions. Then there’s my personal favorite: limited. The narrator can only see what the protagonist experiences and thinks and perceives other characters through the protagonist’s eyes. If you think that this sounds a lot like first-person, you would be correct. It has all the important elements of first, just with different pronouns. Lastly, there’s objective. The narrator uses an observational tone and only describes what is seen and heard. The narrator doesn’t usually express or understand the characters’ thoughts or feelings. This one is probably my least favorite out of the three. I personally think that a story needs to be somewhat biased for the sake of it’s story. Third-person works really well with fantasy and sci-fi stories. The wider point of view allows for much more complex storytelling and world exploration, two things that are especially important in the previously mentioned genres. Third person is usually harder to write, especially with newer writers. You can very easily lose the plot, mainly by spending too much time describing a singular location. Now that we have everything out there, which one is better? I honestly don’t believe that one is better than the other. Yeah I know, that’s a bit of a cop out. After going through everything I must say, I honestly don’t think that I can say that I like one more. Sure, while I may prefer to write in third-person, I’m constantly using first-person techniques. I think that it depends mainly on the genre. Romance works really well with first-person so it makes sense why a romance-focused reader may like firstperson more. The same goes with thirdperson and fantasy. Even with that, there are genres that work well with both. Let’s look at horror. Two of the most popular horror novels are “The Shining” by Stephen King and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker. “The Shining” uses an omniscient thirdperson narrator for its story. Meanwhile, “Dracula” is told through old journal entries, making it first-person. The world of literature is an extremely complex place. I understand why a person would want to stick exclusively with one genre or POV. However, I believe that it would be beneficial for a person to read outside their comfort zone every once in a while. After all, you’ll never know what you might like. Perhaps you may even have a new favorite way of reading. Graphic by Maria Gonzalez �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Opinion 18 A review of Lil Tecca's fourth studio album "PLAN A" By Logan Colonna Asst. Opinion Editor If you’re like me and disapproved of Future’s most recent release “MIXTAPE PLUTO,” then you may have been steered into listening to a project that released the same night. For me, this was Lil Tecca’s fourth studio album, “PLAN A.” Coming off of his successful 2023 album, “TEC,” I expect Lil Tecca to deliver on this album as well. As always, we’ll dive into how Lil Tecca did on this project. Overall, I believe that he did pretty well. He does what he usually does on his tracks and simply raps over the instrumentals with ease. Each beat is made just for him so it’s hard for him to not sound good from track to track. Some standout songs are “TASTE” and “I CAN’T LET GO.” As for “TASTE,” I thoroughly enjoyed what Tecca did sonically. I loved his flow and vocals during the entire track. I thought it merged amazingly well with the production of the song. On “I CAN’T LET GO,” we see Tecca imitate the feature artist, Don Toliver, and I loved everything about his verses. I see myself liking quite a bit of Don Toliver songs, so this comes as no surprise to me. On top of this, Tecca continues to rap his heart out when stops copying Don, showing off how he grew his rapping capabilities. Side note, random lyric that I’m bringing up simply because I thought it was smart and clever. Off of “4U” we have this lyric, “Her and her friends come. She gettin’ way too physical, I’m callin’ AND1.” AND1 being a term used when a player is fouled for being too physical in basketball. I heard this lyric while listening to the album and gave out a chuckle when I first heard it. At the end of the day, Lil Tecca did great in my book. This next section is short this time around since there is only one feature on the album. That being Don Toliver off of “I CAN’T LET GO.” Don has been on one as of now, most recently releasing his fourth studio album, “HARDSTONE PSYCHO,” this album being my personal favorite. As for his feature, I love it. In all reality, this is more of Don Toliver’s song than it is Tecca’s. Tecca only has one verse while Don has three choruses and his own verse on the track. Per usual, he offers melodic raps for both his verse and chorus, those of which I enjoy. With nothing else to really say, I believe that the feature on the album was an outstanding addition to the record. Moving onto the production of the project. For the most part, “PLAN A” offers the typical trap beats you would encounter while listening to present-day trap music. With this being said, I do still have a few standout tracks that I believe are great sonically. This includes “TASTE,” “I CAN’T LET GO,” “TIME & A PLACE” AND “ALL THE TIME.” “TASTE” gives out a very smooth instrumental which matches Lil Tecca music style. “I CAN’T LET GO” offers a faster beat than usual to match Don Toliver’s rock approach to his music. This comes as no surprise since Don covers most of the runtime on the track. Next, “TIME & A PLACE” opens up with an ethereal instrumentation before the beat drops and goes into the main portion of the song. The usual trap production style is used here but some background sounds are used to make it just different enough. Lastly, “ALL THE TIME” yet again softens the beat and allows for Tecca to get slightly more melodic than usual. Just like “TIME & A PLACE,” this track isn’t all that different from the rest of the tracks, but does offer slightly different sounds that helps differentiate it from other tracks. With this, the production is good on the album. Next up, the replayability of the record. While the album isn’t too long, clocking in at 44 minutes, the album does start to become a drag near the last third of the runtime. Eighteen tracks is near the limit of what I’d like from an album, but these tracks apart from the few standouts I talked about all sound the same. This makes a few three-minute songs seem like one really big song, and it makes the album seem like it’ll never end. On the other hand, I did come back a few times to the album simply for the amazing transitions from track to track. I love transitions purely because most artists let the instrumental play from one to the next, leaving the production having a chance to shine. Although the transitions are great, it doesn’t outweigh the negative of the album having too many songs that sound alike. Because of this, the album’s replayability is mediocre at best. With all points being accounted for, I for one believe that this album was decent, despite my complaints. While there are multiple things holding this album back, there are various things such as Lil Tecca’s performances, Don Toliver’s inclusion and some of the production that all bring the album up. Because of this, Lil Tecca’s “PLAN A” gets a 6 out of 10 from me. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Sports ...Homecoming, cont. from page 1 The momentum continued into the fourth quarter as Hess forced yet another turnover for the Cardinals. Jules was able to get a three-yard touchdown, tying the game with only three minutes. Finally, with 56 seconds left on the clock, senior defensive back Donnell Mackey-Woodson intercepted a pass and ran 65 yards for a pick-six. After another hold by the defense, the comeback was secured with a 28-21 win for the Colonels. Senior quarterback Xavier Powell completed six passes with a total of 66 yards and 23 rushing yards. Junior kicker Nick Valpone was successful on all four attempts for field goals and earned 100 career points during the game. Along with the pick-six, Mackey-Woodson had two pass-breakups, tying him for the team high. The Colonels open up conference play next week where they will travel to Juniata College on Friday, Oct., 4th at 6 p.m. Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu Junior running back Ben Contella prepares to receive the ball. Junior kicker Nick Valpone succeeded on all four field goal attempts and earned 100 career points during the game. Photos by Sam Mullen Fall season check-in: Wilkes University golf team Andrew Marshallsay Sports Staff Writer With just a few weeks left in the first part of the season, both of Wilkes University’s golf teams are gearing up for the final stretch. The men’s team currently holds a record of 3-2-1, while the women’s team holds a current record of 2-2 on the season. Playing two parts of the season in the fall and spring semester, the entire season takes place over the span of the school year, For the men’s team it is their second in the Landmark Conference. Last season, the team finished with an overall record of 14-5, with an 8-1 record in the fall and a 6-4 record in the spring campaign. Last spring, the Colonels placed eighth overall in the Landmark Championships, above ninth place Susquehanna and 10th place Lycoming. Most recently, the men’s team defeated Misericordia 332-446 in a win at Huntsville Golf Club on Sept. 21. Senior Cole Jungwirth led all players earning a medal in the process while shooting 3 over par, with a score of 75. Matthew Carlson played his best round of the season, shooting a 79 on the day. Looking ahead to the rest of the season, the Colonels face off against the University of Scranton on Oct. 5, Penn State WilkesBarre on Oct. 6, and Misericordia on Oct. 12. After that, Oct. 26 and 27 will be the Landmark Conference Fall Preview which will end the fall campaign. In last fall’s preview, the Colonels finished ninth over the two day event, with Drew University taking the title. The women’s team is also competing in the Landmark for the second time this season. Last season, the team finished 7-7 overall, with a 2-4 record in the fall and a spring record of 5-3. In last spring’s championships, the Colonels placed fifth overall, above teams such as Susquehanna, Juniata and Elizabethtown. On Sept. 28, the team faced off against King’s and Marywood in a tri-match at home from the Wyoming Valley Country Club. On the day, the Colonels had a score of 275 on the card. For the Monarchs and Pacers, they shot 332 and 336 respectively. Kyleen McCance set a program record during the tri- match, shooting a career best of 72 on the scorecard. For the rest of the season, the Colonels are back in action on Oct. 6 against Misericordia and FDU-Florham in a home tri-match at the Wyoming Valley Country Club in Hanover Township, Pa. Later in the month, the colonels travel to Irem Country Club in Dallas, Pa. to take on Misericordia. Ending the season, similarly to the men’s team will be the Landmark Fall Preview. The Colonels did not participate in the event last fall, with Catholic University taking the title. For more information regarding the Wilkes University Golf Team, visit www. gowilkesu.com and stay tuned with The Beacon. �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Sports 20 Q&A with Wilkes University baseball coach Mike Guy Stephen Youkoski (Interview) Managing Editor Andrew Marshallsay (Transcription) Sports Staff Writer The Beacon’s Stephen Youkoski sat down with Wilkes Baseball Coach Mike Guy to discuss the upcoming season. Last year, the Colonels amassed a record of 22-16 with an 11-13 record in Landmark Conference play. Q (Youkoski): How long have you been at Wilkes? A (Coach Guy): I’ve been here going on my second season. Stephen Youkosi conducts interview with WIlkes Baseball Head Coach Mike Guy. Q: Where were you coaching prior to coming to the university? A: The last 11 years, I was at the University of Scranton coaching in the same conference, the Landmark Conference. the teams we might have played out of conference in years prior. Then coaching at Scranton, knowing those different programs in the Landmark Conference, it gave us a little bit of a headstart with getting involved in the Landmark. Q: Do you have any other experience aside than being a head coach? A: Associate head coach, assistant coach, played in college, coached a local travel team as well. Q: How important do you think it was going .500 for the younger guys on the team? A: I think it was really important. I think we were a really young team. We graduated five seniors on the team, but we have a majority of the guys coming back this year. We had, whether they were freshman, sophomores, or juniors, they played significant roles. With the incoming freshman class as well, we are used to the conference and set up. We know the different styles of play that each team has. Some teams are trying to out hit you, other teams are trying to outrun you. Some teams have power arms, some teams have a crafty righty or crafty lefty. Just being more familiar with the style of play of each of the Landmark Conference teams will definitely help us out this year. Q: Where did you play at in college? A: I played at Salem Community College in South Jersey, then I went to my four year college at University of Maryland - Eastern Shore down by Ocean City, Md. Q: Why did you decide to come and coach for Wilkes University? A: I really liked the majors that were offered here. I think Wilkes provides a number of interesting majors as well as the master's programs. Being local, from Scranton, I’ve always been familiar with wilkes and their sports programs. I thought this was a really great place to recruit student athletes with the variety of majors and the great facilities we have. Q: How did you feel about the first season in the landmark conference? A: First year, pretty good. Would’ve liked to win the championship, but overall we went over .500. We were very familiar with the landmark conference, as a lot of Q: How do you feel that past season had an influence on recruiting? A: I think that for three or four weeks we were in the top 25 in the country. Recognized by the NCAA so that certainly help with recruiting when we were doing really well in the beginning of the season. I think the freshman coming in, when they saw the facilities, they saw the majors, they met the players and coach staff, I think it was a really good recruiting year for our freshman class coming in; especially with the success we had in our first year Q: Do you expect to see those top 25 rankings again? If so, do you have a sense of how often we can be in that position? A: I hope every year. I hope we win the Landmark every year. Ultimate goal is to make a regional run, postseason run hopefully. Get to a world series and give ourselves a chance to compete for a national title. It comes with a lot of hard work and sacrifice, especially with being a division 3 athlete. There’s no money involved, no NIL deals involved. Were not really sponsored by anybody. Guys who come here are firstly students, secondly athletes. They have a true passion for the game and there’s no extrinsic rewards they’re receiving for playing the sport. It’s all intrinsic and a lot of self motivation Q: How do you think a local team like Misericordia going on such a run, how does it affect our guys? A: I think it really inspires them because they are 15 minutes down the road. If they can do it, why can’t we do it? I know a lot of our guys know the Misericordia guys as well, whether they played with them in high school or they played against them in college. Some of them play with some of the Misericordia players in collegiate leagues. Coach Egbert over there for Misericordia has done a phenomenal job the last 15 years, 20 years that he’s been there. We’re trying to do the same thing here at Wilkes. Hopefully we get a chance to take that title from Misericordia and bring it back to Wilkes Q: What is your favorite memory here at Wilkes? A: My favorite memory would be when we played Catholic. In the eighth inning, we were down by four runs, and we had an 11 run inning. So, Catholic was another top 25 team in the country, went to regionals. We came back and we won the game by six runs that day. It was the biggest inning we had, it was at home in front of our fans. It was against a conference opponent, which was one of the best innings I’ve seen coach collegially, against one of our in conference opponents. For more information regarding the upcoming baseball season and schedule, which will be released later this year, visit www.gowilkesu.com or the Landmark Conference at www.landmarkconference. org. See the full interview on the Wilkes Now YouTube page. Watch the full interview on YouTube: @wilkesnow7145 �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Sports 21 WNBA announces award winners for the 2024 season Wilson MVP, Clark Rookie of the Year Ava Tureen Sports Staff Writer The Women’s National Basketball Association recently announced numerous award winners now that the season has concluded. This year they gave 17 awards to players and coaches throughout the league. This year's season set records for the league being the most viewed season in the its history. On Sept. 22, the league named star forward for the Las Vegas Aces, A’ja Wilson, the Most Valuable Player in a unanimous vote, the second to do so as such. Wilson has been awarded MVP three times since 2020 and has set the single-season scoring record, averaging 26.9 points. After a storied college career, Caitlin Clark came into the league with all eyes on her. She proved to be worth the hype, winning Rookie of the Year in a unanimous vote. She set a plethora of records during her season, but the biggest achievement was her leading her team from the first overall pick to the playoffs, having a seven-win improvement for the Indiana Fever. Connecticut Sun forward DiJonai Carrington took home the Most Improved Player Award after an immense improvement in the fourth season of her career. Starting every game for the first time in her career, she saw a jump in her numbers across the board as she helped to guide her team to the second seed in the Western Conference. The Defensive Player of the Year award was won by Napheesa Collier, forward for the Minnesota Lynx. This is her first time with the award in her six-year career,. She won after averaging 1.91 steals and 1.41 blocks on the season. Wilson came in second for the award, flipping the results for the MVP award where Collier came in second to Wilson. Coach and Executive of the Year awards were won by Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx. Reeve adds these awards to her career as she now holds the most COY awards of any coach in WNBA history, this being her fourth. It is her second EOY award, making her only the second executive to win the award multiple times. Dan Padover is the other. This comes after leading the Lynx to a franchise best 30-10 record, the second best record of the league. The awards were announced over the past week by the WNBA before the start of their playoffs, which are currently underway as of writing this issue. Additional information on the Women’s National Basketball Ass o ciation and the awards, can be found on ESPN. Graphic by Sydney Allabaugh First four weeks of NFL season riddled with surprises Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor With the NFL season often comes many surprises. This season, there are plenty. Arguably, the biggest surprise of the season thus far is the Minnesota Vikings. Projected prior to the season to finish at the bottom of their division, they have won four straight games to start the 2024 campaign. Most recently, the team traveled to Green Bay and defeated the Packers 31-29. After firstround draft pick JJ McCarthy suffered a season ending injury in training camp, seasoned veteran Sam Darnold, with the help of star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, has led the Vikings to four straight wins. On the other side of this week’s game in Green Bay, the Packers are 2-2 to begin the 2024 season when most critics thought that this could be their year. Jordan Love missed weeks two and three with an injury and was captaining the offense when the team fell to Minnesota in week four as well as when they lost to Philadelphia in week one. Closer to campus, the Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a surprising loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week four. The Eagles are dealing with the “injury bug” in their receiver room, with their two best wide receivers in AJ Brown and Devonta Smith dealing with injuries. Elsewhere in Philadelphia’s division, the Washington Commanders are experiencing great production from their newest quarterback: Jayden Daniels. The rookie quarterback from LSU has been putting up outstanding numbers throughout the first four weeks of this new season. As it stands right now, he is the most likely contender to win the offensive rookie of the year award. Daniels’s Commanders (3-1) are atop the NFC North as it stands through four weeks, when many thought they would finish at the bottom. The Chicago Bears are experiencing a somewhat mixed start to the season. In week one, they defeated the Tennessee Titans, and then dropped two straight road games to the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. First-overall draft pick Caleb Williams set the Chicago Bears record for passing yards in a single game by a rookie in week three against Indianapolis. However, he threw for two interceptions in week two against Houston. With a not-so-trustful offensive line, strong defense, and promising quarterback, fans are dealing with different levels of production throughout the first four games. However, they are ecstatic for the potential that comes with a prospect like Williams. As of Monday morning, three undefeated teams remain heading into week five of the NFL season. The Minnesota Vikings (4-0), the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (4-0), and the Seattle Seahawks (3-0). It would have been four, however the Buffalo Bills took a big loss on Sunday night as the Ravens bounced back after an 0-2 start, winning 3510. Derrick Henry was the story of the game as rushed for 199 yards and scored two TDs in the win. On the contrary, there are two winless teams as it stands on Sunday night. The Tennessee Titans are 0-3, while the Jacksonville Jaguars stand at 0-4. The Jaguars come as somewhat of a surprise to be winless at this point in the season, but due to lackluster production from Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, the team remains at the bottom of the NFL through four weeks. As the season progresses, the playoff picture will begin to take shape and the leaves will begin to fall. Autumn will turn to winter, and the weeks will become more meaningful in the NFL. �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week 22 Teá Amerise Senior, 1st Singles & 1st Doubles, Women's Tennis The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Amerise led the tennis team to a 5-2 victory over Immaculata University with Julia Spaeth for a 8-3 No. 1 doubles victory. She won in singles match 6-0, 4-6, and 11-9 Major: Math; Minor: Statistics Hometown: Mountain Top, PA What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? My favorite memory was probably from my freshman year when we played Misericordia in the semifinals. It was a very exiting and competitive match, which we won, sending us to the finals against Stevens. The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? My favorite sports movies is "Space Jam." If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? I would probably play soccer What has been your favorite sports memory overall? My absolute favorite sports memory was from high schoool. What is your favorite professional My doubles partner and I won sports team (any sport)? our District Championship match I like all the Pennsylvania teams, and got to compete at the State particularly the Eagles and the Championships. Phillies. What is your favorite post-game What is your favorite thing to do meal? away from sports? I don't really have a favorite postAway from sports, I like spending game meal. I do, however, enjoy time taking care of and playing a sweet treat after a match like an with my 4 cats and my dog. I also Italian ice. enjoy giving tetnnis lessons and tutoring Calculus or Trigonometry How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? What is your favorite part of I am truly honored to be selected being an athlete at Wilkes? as the Athlete of the Week. I I like being part of the team and know all the athletes at Wilkes getting to meet people who are in work really hard, so I consider it different majors that I wouldn’t to be a privilege to be recognized. meet otherwise. Not many I am grateful to my coaches and students major in Math, so playing teammates because I know my a sport provides a way to meet a individual successes are a product more diverse group of people of working with and alongside them. �The Beacon October 2, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Cole Jungwirth Graduate Student, Men’s Golf The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Jungwirth led the golf team to victory over Misericordia University after shooting a round-low 75, earning medalist honors at Huntsville Golf Club. Major: Corporate Finance Hometown: Minneapolis, MN What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? MAC Conference hockey championship game my freshman year in Utica What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? Minnesota Wild What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Getting ice cream at Josie’s What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Minnesota high school hockey What is your favorite postgame meal? Gerry’s sweet sauce pie How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I’m very proiud of myself and the entire team’s season so far! What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? The campus support for all of our athletic teams What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? “Miracle” If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Baseball Compiled by Samantha Assistant Sports Editor Mullen, Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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/Sam Mullen 23 �The Beacon - October 2, 2024 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, 2024 October 2 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 October 2 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/82e0d43a038797d1614775156f232878.pdf d38c3ea377b26c7d1c68ca675dd89d83 PDF Text Text The Beacon - October 23, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 77, Issue 7 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” WUPB hosts “Wilkestoberfest,” a Wilkes twist on Oktoberfest Students, wearing accessories, pose in the photobooth. Photos by Shannon Slominski Hot Wings and Hot Seats with Wilkes College Democrats, page 3 Students on the Greenway eat sausage and pretzels with beer cheese, among other traditional Oktoberfest foods, with root beer floats in beer steins. ...Wilkestoberfest cont. on p.12 MSC hosts pumpkin carving on the greenway, page 10 “Terrifier”: The people’s new favorite killer clown franchise, page 16 Athletes of the Week, pages 22 and 23 �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Emma Broda: emma.broda@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Oct. 16 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei News Staff Writer After a two-week break during Fall recess, Student Government met for its seventh meeting of the Fall 2024 semester on Oct. 16. This meeting addressed Wilkes Dining Services events, constitution update reports, conference reports, the analysis of an internal survey, and committee work. The Student Government Treasurer began the meeting by reporting the updated Student Government budget of $35,526. The Wilkes University Dining Services General Manager, Pat McGoff, returned for another report on upcoming events hosted by the department and feedback requests. McGoff explained the two upcoming events that the department is hosting. On Oct. 29, students can participate in Pumpkin Decorating Night during the dinner hours of the Dining Hall. On Oct. 31, Dining Services will be hosting its first Dining Style dinner. During this dinner, a small group of students will be served a multiple-course meal cooked by an outsourced chef. An invitation will be sent to students for the event and the first to sign up will be picked. The amount of students picked for the event will increase after the first Dining Style Dinner event. McGoff is also asking for student feedback about on-campus dining through an Aramark survey. The survey is anonymous and accessible through posters in the Dining Hall. The Multicultural Student Coalition presented next for its week one of two reported updates to its constitution. The coalition presented changes to its logo, grammar modifications, and adapted requirements of each Executive Board position. Changes to the constitution also reflect their emphasis on career opportunities alongside academic success, the bi-weekly published coalition newspaper, and new General Board requirements. The Multicultural Student Coalition will return next week for its week two of two reporting of constitutional updates. Wilkes University’s A m e r i C o r p s representative, Rodney Gibson, introduced himself and his mission to Student Government. Gibson is a member of a three-year project on campus to help students feel comfortable ordering or picking up food from the Colonel Cupboard. If any student needs or wants help with getting food, hygienic supplies, or cleaning supplies from the Colonel Cupboard, then they can email Gibson on his Wilkes University email or visit him in his office across from the Colonel Cupboard pantry. The Student Government President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary presented their experience at the 2024 National Student Government Summit. The Executive Board members attended the four-day conference alongside the Student Government representatives of 40 other universities. During the first three days of the convention, they participated in lectures and groups. On the fourth day, the representatives explored the surrounding city. The Wilkes University Student Government representatives collectively attended over 20 lectures and groups. The events covered a wide variety of topics, including communicating responsibilities, self-care as student leaders, how to connect with the student body, and representation of all students. After reporting the knowledge they gained from the lectures and groups they attended, the Student Government representatives presented their key takeaways from the conference they hope to implement in Wilkes University’s Student Government. The new implementations include hosting a Student Government open house so all students can see what Student Government does, reaching out to all demographics of students to ask instead of assuming what they want, and engaging with campus leadership. After her conference presentation, the Student Government President remained at the front of the room to discuss the results of the internal Student Government General Board Survey. The anonymous survey asked General Board members for their feedback on the efficiency, likeability, and requirements of Student Government. The President worked through the feedback with Executive and General Board members so they could decide what to change and what to maintain. The official business of the seventh weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester concluded with committee work for the upcoming 2024 Fall Event and the 2025 Spring Casino Week. The Student Government Executive Board held its private weekly meeting before the General Board meeting. During this meeting, the club reports of the Veterans Council, Animal Welfare Club, Ultimate Frisbee Team, Psychology Club, Gold Bar Club, and Chemistry Club were voted to be approved. Student Government will meet again on Oct. 23. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: 2024 Fall Semester October 24 - Sound Showdown 28-31 - Freak Week 30 - Diwali Celebration Coffee Hour November 1 - Day of the Dead Celebration 2 - Diversity & Leadership Conference 7 - Lucas Zelnick Comedy Show �������������������������������� ���������� ���������� ����������� ��� �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 News 3 Hot Wings and Hot Seats with Wilkes College Democrats Eddie Day Pashinski, Megan Kocher, Fern Leard visit campus By Leah Smith Asst. Opinion Editor On Oct. 15, the Wilkes College Democrats hosted a Hot Wings and Hot Seats event, inspired by the popular internet show, “Hot Ones.” The event's namesake hosts celebrities, athletes, politicians and more. The host and the guest eat wings with an increasingly higher level of heat on the scoville unit. The Wilkes event began at 7:30 p.m., and attendees were welcome to pizza, wings and drinks as they gathered to watch three Democratic Pennsylvania House of Representatives candidates answer questions while trying their luck with spicy hot wings. Sophomore Jezelle Pagan and firstyear student Riley Ahart, were just two students who attended the event. “I wanted to come here tonight to learn more about the candidates," said Ahart. "We don’t really know much about the candidates outside of the Presidential runners, so I wanted to come here and learn more about their beliefs.” Democratic candidates Fern Leard, Eddie Day Pashinski and Megan Kocher took the table and answered questions given by both the audience and Wilkes Democrat Club VP, John Sudol. The candidates answered questions varying from politics to everyday hobbies. One of the major questions asked that night was how the candidates felt about young people not voting. Twenty-fiveyear-old candidate Megan Kocher said that she is worried about young people not voting and understands that there is a divide among Gen Z’s motivation to vote. She adds that she noticed this even more as she was graduating from college during the pandemic. Pashinski added onto her statement by saying, “You are the future… your power is your vote.” Both candidates are former Wilkes students. Questions also revolved around the youth vote and volunteering. Most candidates were asked how it was for them to knock on doors and take phone calls and while there were some comedic answers such as Leard’s encounter with a group of teenagers driving around town to meet her, the candidates as well as the event runners wanted the attendees to know how important it is to volunteer and to vote. Even the more leisurely questions were educational in finding out more about the candidates. When Sudol asked Leard what she would change about her college experience, she said that she could not afford to go to college. Pashinski answered by referring to his time as a music teacher. The candidates were also asked about their favorite hobbies and it was revealed that Kocher has three rescue dogs, Leard is a mother who fought to make a bill pertaining to her children with lymphedema, and Pashinski mentioned being a part of a band. The event runners and club members urge more people to volunteer and to go on their website to sign up for volunteer opportunities: https:// w w w. m o b i l i z e . u s / 2 0 2 4 p a v i c t o r y / event/726670/?followup_modal_ c onte x t = e m ai l _ p o s t _ s h i f t _ f utu re _ timeslots_other_events. Photo by Leah Smith College Democrats recently held a Hot Wings and Hot Seast event to help better educate students about voting and the candidates themselves. Political guests conquered the wings with ease and were able to answer all of the questions given to them without needing a carton of milk. �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 News 4 That’s So Honors: The importance of securing an internship By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer An internship experience is a very important opportunity for students. For some, it decides a future career. For others, it is a rejection of a path they thought they were interested in. Either way, most students will pursue an internship of some sort during their time at Wilkes. While your future job might not require you to regularly use calculus, statistics and probability, Jordan Chepalonis, a junior honors student majoring in mathematics, recently put all three of these disciplines to work at her summer internship. Chepalonis worked in the State Filings & Regulatory Compliance Department at GUARD. GUARD, or Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Company, is located on Public Square. Chepalonis discovered GUARD through one of the Career Development Center’s Career Fairs, which provide opportunities for students to engage with potential employers. Though she didn’t attend the Career Fair, Chepalonis says she researched the company on her own before applying but still utilized campus resources to prepare her application. “The Career Center advertised several internships that I considered before applying for mine. HPSC also hosted resumes and other workshops to help prepare for the application process.” HPSC, or the Honors Program Student Committee, regularly hosts academic events focused on helping students prepare for future classes, co-curricular opportunities and postgraduate life. Last semester, the HPSC hosted a Resume Building Workshop in conjunction with the Career Development Center, where students learned about resume formatting and heard tips about making themselves stand out at an interview. Though Chepalonis’ department may seem intimidating, she loved the work. Chepalonis was responsible for assisting with audits, attending inter-departmental meetings and creating algorithms. Because so much work is independent, she was able to work in a hybrid model, spending two days at home and three days in the office, something she said was much different than her friends’ internship experiences. Her job didn’t end when school began. “At the end of the summer, I was asked if I would like to continue working during the semester, so I am still with them for 10 hours a week.” Chepalonis shared that she enjoys the connections she’s made at GUARD and is hopeful that she will be offered a full-time position upon graduation. Chepalonis also shared that her internship opportunity was incredibly valuable, providing a real-world application to what she’s been learning for the past few years. “Opportunities like this are important because you get to learn what you are looking for in a job when you graduate,” she said. “You also get to experience what it is like to work in an office and see what others do on a day-to-day basis.” Using Wilkes University resources, Jordan Chepalonis was able to find an internship that was perfect for her. Her advice? “I would say don’t be afraid to apply for an internship and that it is okay to be nervous at first. One day everything will just click, and you will feel like you are in the right place.” Chepalonis, who continues to work for GUARD, feels that she is in the right place. The Career Development Center hosts events, including Career Fairs, several times a semester. Follow them on Instagram @wilkesccdi or head to the building behind the SUB to find out more. �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 News 5 The immigration issue: Do immigrants commit more crimes? This is how young Luzerne County voters feel By Sydney Allabaugh Editor-in-Chief Immigration has emerged as a key issue for voters in this election. In a 2024 Gallup poll, Americans were most likely to state immigration as the most important problem facing this country, even over the issues of inflation, poverty, racism, crime and healthcare, with many believing an influx of immigrants is a crisis in the United States. From 2000 to 2022, the lawful immigrant population in the U.S. has grown steadily from 24.1 million to 36.9 million, according to Pew Research Center. In addition to the 36.9 million lawful immigrants, it was estimated that there were about 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2022. Most of the nation’s immigrants have lived in four states: California, Texas, Florida and New York. In Luzerne County, there are about 33,768 foreign-born individuals, which equates to about 10 percent of the county’s population, according to 2024 U.S. Census data provided by Teri Ooms, president and CEO of the data analysis, research and consulting organization The Institute. With a relatively low foreign-born population locally, some young local citizens do not find immigration or border security to be key issues that impact their lives or their election decisions. “I think that gun violence, women’s rights to bodily autonomy and the huge gap between the rich and the poor are far more important issues than the amount of people who enter the country,” Wilkes University student Jason Oshman said. “The only time in my life I have had to think about immigration is when other people say it’s an issue.” Other young locals consider immigration, particularly unauthorized immigration, to be a problem due to the belief that it causes an increase in crime. King’s College alum Shaun Gurnari said that migrant crime is a problem that can be seen in the news every day and in constant clips on social media. “Most of the people causing the crime are not here legally,” he said. Wilkes University student Maddie Belk, however, does not believe there is a significant correlation between immigration and crime. “I feel like there are far more criminals born and raised in the United States than migrants coming into the country,” she said. “Most of the people trying to get into the country are just looking for better lives and not looking to cause crime.” Ooms confirmed that these cultures come here for a better life, primarily to escape violence and poverty in their countries. Although she did not have data to determine if a migrant influx leads to more crime locally, she said that local foreign-born communities live in high levels of poverty, which could correlate with increased crime rates. “More crime is the result of abject poverty regardless of a person’s race, ethnicity or citizenship,” Ooms said. “We do have abject poverty in over 20 percent of Luzerne County households.” National research on migrant crime is limited, though studies have shown immigrants generally do not commit crimes at higher rates than native-born Americans. Charis Kubrin, criminology professor at the University of California, Irvine, conducted a meta-analysis of more than 50 studies on the link between immigration and crime between 1994 and 2014 and found no significant relationship between the two. The Cato Institute think tank found in multiple studies between 2019 and 2021 that immigrants commit less crimes than native-born citizens. In 2024, they found that unauthorized immigrants have lower conviction and arrest rates for homicide, sex crimes, theft and other crimes. There seems to be a lack of evidence that immigrants commit more crimes and some evidence that they commit fewer crimes, yet the fear of immigrants, particularly unauthorized immigrants, remains prominent, which has contributed to both presidential candidates, especially Former President Donald Trump, deciding to take a more stringent stance on immigration and border security. “Certainly, when we all read the headlines about Venezuelan gangs such as Tren de Aragua, it's easy to feel uneasy and unprotected,” Wilkes University student John Sudol said. Sudol acknowledges that migrant crime is a problem, but he takes issue with fearmongering and misinformation. “However, these threats, now especially more than ever, feel watereddown when we look at the most recent racist right-wing migrant propaganda about Haitians in Ohio,” Sudol said. “After seeing how damaging such rhetoric caused, I truly believe everyone needs to take several steps back from the border discussion.” Although they are commonly seen as threatening, Ooms said that foreign-born populations are generally vulnerable. In Luzerne County, they struggle with poverty, language barriers and a lack of recognition for their credentials, among other issues. “The immigrant community appears to live in fear here and do not trust most organizations, people and institutions because of discriminatory experiences,” Ooms said. A perceived correlation between immigration and crime is just one of the reasons why immigration is considered to be a major problem this election. “I see reports of them stealing jobs and doing them for less while other citizens aren't able to get them,” Gurnari said. This is a common argument against immigration, according to the Cato Institute. Other common arguments are that immigrants will increase crowding and abuse the welfare state, though the Cato Institute argues that there is evidence that counters these claims. �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 News 6 Wilkes ranks among the top universities nationally By Emma Broda News Editor This month, various reports ranking top universities in the United States were released and once again included Wilkes among them. Rankings came from the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges, Washington Monthly magazine, the Princeton Review, Niche, and the 2024 CollegeNet Social Mobility Index. The U.S. News and World Report ranked Wilkes 288 out of the 436 national universities recognized in their report. Wilkes is also ranked at 181 among the 433 universities listed on the ranking for Top Performers on Social Mobility. This means that they are very successful in enrolling and graduating students given Pell Grants. Wilkes was recognized for its performance on social mobility by the CollegeNet 2024 Social Mobility Index as well. They are ranked 402 out of the 1,205 universities listed. Wilkes was ranked by the U.S. New and World Report among top universities for their undergraduate engineering program and nursing program. They are ranked 455 out of the 686 universities listed for their undergraduate nursing program. For engineering, Wilkes ranked 223 out of the 286 on the list. “I think the program is run very well by the professors," said Anthony Antonette, a senior electrical engineering major. “It’s nice to be recognized and it is really interesting to be recognized for this knowing our school is commonly known for its pharmacy program.” Washington Monthly magazine ranked Wilkes 275 out of the 438 included in their top national universities list. They also ranked Wilkes among their Best Bang for the Buck Colleges in the Northeast at 312 out of the 376 universities listed. The Princeton Review includes the university on their list of Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic region from their 2025 Best Colleges: Region by Region list. Niche ranks universities in many different categories, some of which include Most Diverse Colleges in America, Best Value Colleges in America, and Colleges with the Best Professors in America. Wilkes was ranked 749 out of 1,495 for most diverse, 799 out of 1,462 for best value, and 358 out of 1,503 for best professors. Niche also ranked Wilkes among universities in Pennsylvania for Colleges with Best Professors, Colleges with Best Academics, Most Diverse Colleges, and Best Value Colleges all in Pennsylvania. The university ranked 19 out of 103 for best professors, 36 out of 104 for best academics, and 41 out of 103 for most diverse, and 47 out of 103 for best value. William Wolfgang, junior data science major, talked about how he felt regarding Wilkes’ recent rankings. “...it is really awesome to be recognized because it's an opinion shared by a good number of people I know that it is a really nice local school. “I think that the opportunities here really can help you to reach for what you want to achieve and it is something that rankings don't often reflect.” Photos by Sydney Allabaugh �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Editor-in-Chief Sydney Allabaugh at sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu Retired Wilkes professor to hold book signing From a Wilkes University news release Thomas Baldino, retired professor of political science at Wilkes University, and co-author Paula Holoviak, professor of philosophy and government at Kutztown University, will hold a book signing and Q&A for their book, Pennsylvania Government and Politics, at 2 p.m. on Oct. 27, at the Barnes & Noble in the Arena Hub Plaza, WilkesB a r r e Township. The book, published by Penn S t a t e University Holoviak Press, covers a period of more than 300 years of political history in the Commonwealth. The book examines Pennsylvania’s culture and geography, interactions between office holders and the media, the creation and enforcement of laws and political upheaval resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. Readers can also find practical appendices and interviews with current and past office holders, bureaucrats, party leaders and political journalists. Pennsylvania Government and Politics serves as a helpful reference for high school and college students, professionals, journalists or anyone interested in learning about politics in the state. “We believed that a book like ours was needed not only to educate students but also the public,” Baldino said. The book also fills a publication Dr. Thomas Baldino, retired professor of political science, will host a book signing at 2 p.m. gap. When Baldino on Oct. 27, at the Barnes & Noble in the Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. and Holoviak a vital contributor to the U.S. economy Pennsylvania Government and Politics. started the project and the ongoing dialogue on the future They’ll also share their optimistic eight years ago, the last comprehensive of American politics.” view of state politics in the face of recent book written about Pennsylvania’s At the Barnes & Noble event, upheaval. government was published in 1933. Baldino and Holoviak will present “As one of America’s first colonies, “Pennsylvania has a long and storied insights gained during the research Pennsylvania has survived many history in the development of democracy and writing process, answer questions challenges and has always emerged in the United States,” said Holoviak. from the audience and sign copies of stronger. “The Commonwealth continues to be Have an event you’d like us to cover? Email kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment Sydney Allabaugh: A Struggle - The Garden Stephen Youkoski: Should’ve Said No - Taylor Swift Megan Davis: Night of Fireworks - Xdinary Heroes Emma Broda: All-Nighter - Bad Bad Hats 8 Sam Mullen: Sounds of Someday - Radio Company Adam Grundt: Love Somebody - Morgan Wallen Leah Smith: A Work of Art - Ice Nine Kills Zach Paraway: Moonlight on the River - Mac DeMarco Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �The Beacon – October 23, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment Interested in telling the stories of campus life? The Beacon’s Life, Arts and Entertainment section is looking for photographers and writers! Email kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu for more information. 9 �The Beacon – October 23, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 Multicultural Student Coalition hosts pumpkin carving on the greenway Photos by Shannon Slominski From left, Assetou Xango, graduate residence director, Residence Life; and students E. Alexis and Starr Sandt work on their pumpkin creations. Students gathered on the greenway to carve pumpkins and enjoy hot cocoa during MSC’s fall event. �a h r i 9 s i n d d t r u m l d e n t s 11 e r m s Crossword 11 n v d o ������������������������������������������������ m o c r a t i c a e p e 12 b a y n d c e n t s Across 10 t e r presidential m s 2. Democratic nominee 5. Republican presidential nominee i 6. Government by the people o 7. The current U.S. president is from the ____ Party. 11 n 9. There are two majorvpolitical parties, but most Americans are registered as ____. d o 10. Presidents can serve two four-year ____. 12 b a l 29l is the o last t day to request a mail-in 12. October ____. y e l l o t e U.S. Election Crossword Down 1. Democratic vice presidential nominee 3. An elephant is the symbol of the ____ Party. 4. Republican vice presidential nominee 2 8. November 5 4 11. When U.S. citizens turn 18, they can register to ____. 5 1 6 Down 1. Democratic vice presidential nominee 3. An elephant is the symbol of the ____ Party. 4. Republican vice presidential nominee 8. November 5 11. When U.S. citizens turn 18, they can register to ____. 7 3 8 9 10 Answer Key: a e l l o t o d v n 11 o i 11 t 10 e r m s c 9 i n d e p e n l e 6 d e m o c 7 d r a c 8 e o c y l b z a l v a 5 d 12 4 n j a m d t r u m a p e a l a h a r 3 r i i 1 e u l w 2 k r i n o d n t s a m t U.S. Election Crossword s t i c n d o i e n i l 8 e Life, c Arts & Entertainment t b d p 10 p u 7 e y arty. t 3 r e 2, 2024 The Beacon - October y i a b l l a 12 a l Across Down ���The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: leah.smith@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Managing Editor: Stephen Youkoski Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Emma Broda Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Leah Smith Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Laura De Lora Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - Shawn Carey Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Andrew Marshallsay Sports - Ava Tureen 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Metal is a highly overlooked music genre Metal. Heavy metal. Screamo. The genre comes in many forms and many names, but the bottom line is that the metal music genre as a whole is highly overlooked by the general public. The metal scene never really hit the stratosphere in terms of pop culture until around the 70s/80s with the popularization of what is now called “hair metal” or “glam metal,” featuring bands such as Twisted Sister and Motley Crue. Although they aren’t as heavy as the metal bands of today are, these bands shifted the music zeitgeist. Heavier bands existed during this time as well, becoming more prevalent in the late-80s and early-90s, such as Metallica and Slayer. Bands like these would be known as “thrash metal” or “speed metal” given by the band’s pace. One of the most popular sub-genres currently is metalcore, where bands blend other genres along with traditional metal sound. The genre is often compared to the 90s/early 2000s sub-genre “nu-metal,” which also gained much popularity due to blending hip-hop and metal elements. Metalcore gained its fame since it is an evolution of not only metal but also music as a whole. The blending of genres allows more creativity and avenues for bands to discover, since they don’t need to follow the traditional rules of “thrash metal” or “hair metal.” Social media, specifically TikTok, has been a leading force for the popularity of metalcore by advertising bands such as Sleep Token and Bad Omens. Hardcore metal fans and newcomers soon join on the bandwagon and start posting songs and segments featuring the bands. This starts to branch out onto the platform and put metalcore into the stratosphere. So if metalcore and metal as a whole is so popular among the social media realm, how come it is still underrated among the general public? Most people generalize metal music as just “screamo” music and therefore don’t really give metal music its fair share. This doesn’t come as a surprise since many people who have this opinion typically only listen to whatever is popular on the radio, or if they do listen to music with some heavy elements, it’s usually rock bands that are also radio-friendly like Green Day and Foo Fighters. Not to say that those bands are bad or that the people who denounce metal are bad, but it is simply unfair that people who criticize metal music and label it as “screamo” are devaluing the substance that metal has. Metal music has been the king of controversy in the music scene, with the “satanic panic” in the 80s. During the panic, parents protested against metal bands and artists, saying children who listened to metal music were turninginto devil worshippers. The forced censorship and general audience dislike of metal music only drives people to engage in the genre more and is why so many people gravitate towards it. Metal music features lyrics and sounds that feel entirely different from any other genre. Many songs feature lyrics describing issues of mental health or problems with the modern day. These songs are filled with strong emotions which is why many metal artists feature “gutturals” or screams as it’s become known as because those screams emphasize the emotions the band is describing. Even when a metal song isn’t talking about societal issues, the loud musical elements speak to the listener because it can be a reflection of how they’re feeling and be an escape from the scary reality they’re living in. That being said, it is understandable that not everyone enjoys it due to the sound and confusing amount of sub-genres, but that shouldn’t devalue the genre. Not everyone likes all genres of music but that doesn’t make any of them discredited because they are all influential in their own way. Metal music deserves to be looked at better by the world because it is a genre that’s been around for so long and a genre that has evolved into great heights and continues to shake the music scene with each new release. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 23, 2024 Opinion 15 Why Wilkes should look to add a Republican Club By Zach Paraway Sports Editor Election years tend to bring out both the best and worst in people. It is very common to see friends and especially family battle over the idea of what we should do as a nation. These fights are always billed as the “fight of our lives” or “the most important election,” and as someone who has been able to remember every election since 2012, the term gets overused. Despite my disdain for much of what politics is today, I do understand and recognize the importance within our American system. It is important that we use our right to not only vote, but to also express our opinions and beliefs in our country. This brings us to today and on our Wilkes campus where we see these ideas being practiced. New to our campus this year is the College Democrats Club, so far having events to watch political events, such as debates. Before we continue, I would like to congratulate the club and its members for coming together and not only hosting but educating others on information that they may or may not have known. This is what we as a student body should expect from our clubs, and we should be happy that this club is doing as such, regardless of political affiliation. Now, in saying that, the creation of this club does create a question and the potential for something else to be created as well. With the creation of the Democratic club, I ask that a Republican club should be created as well. Before I go on and explain, I should say that I am an independent and do not have any opinions or feelings against either political party. I have issues, likes and dislikes for both parties and I try not to get biased when looking at the two. A Republican club used to exist on this campus before, but the club was disbanded and future political clubs were not seen as something possible on this campus. The new democratic club here has shown what a political club can do here when the hope for the club is to inform and bring people together. It is obvious that not everyone on this campus is a Democrat, and there are many other political affiliations that people identify with. The creation of an alternative club for people of other political ideologies allows for secondary ideas on this campus and allows for the community as a whole to understand another perspective that we often, as young people, do not see. It is important to have that second perspective in order to understand where both sides come from. Go on social media for five seconds or just under any comment section. You will see what happens when the uninformed and the uneducated share their opinion, usually spreading hate off the back of their party. This is due to many factors, one being that the media today allows for one to only see what they want to see and not having to hear nor understand any other perspectives. If someone were to create a Republican club, it should be done and held respectfully. That is the backbone of this proposal that I am trying to portray as we do not want to have groups who hate each other because of who they are. As someone who is very burned out and tired by the election process, this is the one thing I want to see from this process, not caring much who gets elected. Regardless of your side of the political aisle, we can all agree that we want to gain understanding about others and to gain knowledge of our world. It’s a rude and cruel world out there, and the least we can do is make it so that we are all educated about what both sides mean and to be able to have a positive conversation. Mario Kart you are probably familiar with the idea that it “destroys relationships” as both are heavily focused on sabotaging your opponent. Items are the primary method of putting others down so that you can get ahead. For example, a switch item can be used to swap places with your opponent on the board, and a Chain Chomp Bell can be used to move the location of the current star. Even when playing minigames, a player can strategically sabotage their opponent so that they do worse. The results of the minigames are certainly important. A lot of players who are serious about winning will practice the minigames ahead of time so they know how to effectively beat their opponents. Some minigames require a free-for-all, others in teams of two or even a one-versus-three format. Certain minigames have a coin-collecting element to inflate the pockets of all players and raise the stakes even more. If you’re truly evil, you can sabotage your teammates if the risk of losing isn’t harmful. Typically, a star costs 20 coins and must be found on the board. The idea is to traverse the board and reach the star as fast as possible to obtain it. Once a star has been taken, a new one appears elsewhere on the map. Now the question is, are you partying right? While some people may enjoy this game for what it is, there will always be that one person who thinks in the fourthdimension and absolutely must obtain victory at all costs. The glory of strategizing a game like Mario Party is unique because part of the victory is entirely up to chance and the game decides to be unfair. Speaking of odds, they do not always have to be against you, the one who wants to win more than anything. For example, there is nothing stopping you from obtaining a custom dice block from the shop and then deliberately rolling next turn to a dueling space. Suddenly, you find yourself challenging another player. Possibly the one you fear is going to take your spot on the throne in a 1-on-1 where the stakes are your coin balances. You can certainly alter the results of the game with just one extra minigame round against a specific player. Another option is to not let anyone get stars and to do absolutely whatever it takes to play keep-away. This can be done by repeatedly using the Chain Chomp Whistle, purposefully triggering the board events or constantly teleporting random players. Although such techniques can bite you back, they are very useful once you’ve already obtained the lead. Take note of bonus stars at the end of a game. Players who use the most items, obtain the most coins and win the most minigames are all candidates for receiving bonus stars. That means performance and tactfulness really do matter more than just pure luck on the board. The bottom line is to really think about your approach to a new game against your friends by considering your current position in the rankings. A lot of players focus too much on “doing their own thing” when instead they can be focusing on sabotaging others to minimize effort into obtaining more stars. Generally, this principle works well in board games and card games alike. The efforts of oneself are not as fruitful as the efforts of destroying others. I would not recommend these tactics in real life situations, unless you plan to become a supervillain one day. The Icebox: Are you Mario Partying the correct way? By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer If you didn’t know, the latest installment of the Mario Party franchise has just been released. It’s called the “Jamboree,” reflective of its ambitious nature of including several dozen minigames and more playable characters than ever before. For decades, Mario Party has been considered one of the most played party games of all time. There seems to be a little bit of something for everyone and it was made for the family. As a new season of Mario Party adventuring begins, it is important that you don’t get left behind. If you’ve ever played any of the previous games, you probably know that the primary gamemode focuses on a board game with items and minigames. Minigames help players obtain coins in order to acquire stars, which are the win condition for the game. Depending on the board that you and your friends choose, there can be a lot of other factors that change the luck and progression of the overall game. If you’ve played Mario Party or even �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Opinion 16 “Terrifier”: The people’s new favorite killer clown franchise The success of the newest installment “Terrifier 3” By Leah Smith Asst. 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����������� ���� �������� � � �����‡���������� ������������������� ����������������� ������� ��������������� � � �� ������� �� ������� ������� �� ��� ��� ������ � � ���� ����� �� �����  ���� �� ����� � � ���� ���� � ���� �� �� ����� � ������� �� �� ������������������ ������� ��� � ���� �� ����� ������„������� ��������� œ������� ���� ����� ���� ������� ��� ��� �����†�� �������� ���������� ���������� � �������� ������������� ������� � ������ �������� ���������� ������������ ����†�� ��������������������� ������������������ ����� ������������ � �� ���� ������� ��� �� ���� � ��� ������� ��� ������ �� ����� � �������� � �� ��������� ������ ����� ����� ����� �� ������� ������ ����� ���� ����� �� ��� �� � �� ���� � � � � � � � ���� ���� ����� ���� ��������� ������ � �� �� ������ ����� ��� ��� ������� � �� � ���� ������� ��������������������� �� �������� ���� ������������ ������� ���� ���� ������ ��� �� �� ����� � � � ���� ��������� œ���� ���������� ”�� ���� ���� ��� �� � � ���� ��������� †������������� ��������� � �������������������†��������������� ���� ‚������������������ �������� Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Opinion 17 Are movies leaving theaters too soon after release? By Shawn Carey Opinion Staff Writer I love movies. Not just as an art form, but as an experience. I am, of course, referring to the act of going to the theater. Movie theaters offer something really special. A sense of grandeur. For approximately two hours, you, your friends and a handful of strangers get to live a different story and discover a different world. Theaters are a celebration of the arts and all the people who help create our favorite stories. With that being said, the future of movie theaters is looking somewhat bleak. Traditionally, the theatrical window for a new movie release has been several weeks to several months, usually 40 to 50 days. After a movie’s theatrical run, there’s usually a three or so month wait for its home release. If you are a regular theater goer, you’ve probably noticed that these time periods have changed. As of recently, the theatrical window for new releases have been shrinking. Let’s use “Transformers One” as an example. Paramount’s newest installment in the ever-so-popular series started its theatrical run in the United States on Sept 20. The film’s digital streaming release is planned for Oct. 19, not even a month after release. “Transformers One” isn’t the only movie this has happened to. “Late Night with the Devil,” “Longlegs,” “Joker 2” and “The Wild Robot” all received shortened theatrical runs. They also received digital releases immediately after, killing any chance they might have at major success. While I’ve only listed a few, this shortened run has affected almost every release in the last year. One of the worst parts about all this is that we don’t know why this is happening. Film studios are staying silent on the matter. I’ve taken it upon myself to look into this matter and see if I could pinpoint a specific reason behind the shortened release window. First thing first, let’s look at what films are following this trend, or rather, what films aren’t. “Deadpool and Wolverine,” “Inside Out 2” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” are seemingly the only movies that haven’t been affected by the shortened release schedule, staying in theaters for months. As you probably noticed, they all share something in common. They are all sequels. To be clear, they’re sequels to nostalgic movies. It seems like new and original movies get a shorter release window. Meanwhile, these large franchises get the traditional releases. These major studios are killing off new franchises before they even have the chance to start. They’re focusing more on already established series, series that they know will make them money. This is, in essence, anti-art. They’re focusing on the past while ignoring the future. What I think makes this even worse is that the new franchises are often dumped on streaming platforms immediately after their theatrical run. It’s one thing to release a movie on online store fronts, it’s a whole other thing to put it on streaming. Apple TV, Google Play and Amazon Prime require you to purchase the movie, as if it was a Blue-Ray. The movie is still making a profit, even after it’s removed from theaters. Meanwhile, a movie doesn’t really gain anything from being put on a streaming service. Sure, it’s getting more people to watch it. That, however, doesn’t net the filmmakers any revenue. This leads us to asking the question, why are studios doing this? We sadly don’t really have a solid answer, just speculation. The most popular belief is that the studios lack faith in their products. They believe that their new IPs aren’t going to make any profit, causing them to want to pull them from the theaters early. From a business perspective, I honestly can’t see why they would do this. Why spend millions of dollars on a movie just to give it a three-week run? Does the studio expect to make all of its money back in under a month? Unless you’re Marvel or Star Wars, you can’t really expect that level of success. There’s also the idea that it’s a scheme to drive people to the studio’s streaming service. General audiences are being given two choices. Drive up to the theater and pay for a ticket, or wait three weeks and watch it for *free.* You can probably assume which one is more popular. Now, what does this mean for theaters? The most obvious impact is loss in revenue, which can potentially cause some theaters to close down. There’s also the possibility that in the future more movies are going to receive a straight to streaming release, cutting theaters out of the equation entirely. The most likely scenario, however, is the idea that theaters are going to move away from movies and become a general entertainment center. This is something that we can already see taking shape. As of September, theater chains from across the nation have joined forces to invest over two billion dollars into becoming “multiplexes.” As a movie fan, it truly hurts to see the current state of things. I believe that every movie deserves a chance at making it big. Right now, theaters need our support more than ever. If there’s a movie that you’re even a slight bit interested in, please see it in theaters. Don’t let movie-going become a dying art. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Opinion 18 A review of Ye's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" An analysis of lyrics, performance, production, features By Logan Colonna Asst. Opinion Editor If you know of Ye, formally Kanye West, whatsoever, odds are you know about his 2009 record, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” The album follows Ye’s self-imposed exile as he headed to Hawaii to produce and record each song for the album. Before going into the review, I think it’s important to throw out that Ye needed the album to do well artistically in order for the media to not outcast him forever. With this, Ye grouped up only the best names in the music industry for this record. Right in the very beginning of the album on “Dark Fantasy,” we see Ye’s return to excellence with his witty lyrics like “How you say broke in Spanish? Me no hablo.” Truly no performance from Ye on the album is anything less than great. My personal favorite tracks are “Devil In A New Dress,” “POWER” and “Lost In The World.” All three tracks include some of Ye’s best as we get each verse from him. A s for “DIAND” the mood that is set from both Ye’s verse and the production literally made me cry while relistening to the track. “POWER” was Ye’s first time breaking his silence ever since his situation at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Many thought he would’ve apologized in some way, but he did the complete opposite and defended himself against his critics who tried to take him down. As an impressive stat on the record, Ye went on to say in an interview that “POWER” took up 5,000 man-hours to complete. This kind of dedication towards music is what I personally miss nowadays, even from Ye with his newest records with both Vultures 1 and 2. Lastly, on “Lost In The World,” we get a verse from Ye that actually began as a poem to his now ex-wife Kim Kardashian using the lines, “You’re my devil, you’re my angel. You’re my heaven, you’re my hell,” to weirdly rope her in. As the song progresses, we get a number of pre-choruses and choruses voiced by Ye that bring the track as well as the album altogether as he sets himself free from the sins of his past. Next up, we have the collaborating artists on the album. The feature list this time around is absolutely stacked with the likes of JAY-Z, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, Rick Ross and so many more. Some key standouts on this record are Rihanna’s chorus on “All Of The Lights,” literally everyone on “Monster,” which holds Nicki Minaj’s best verse to date, Rick Ross’s beautiful addition to “Devil In A New Dress,” and finally Pusha T on the legendary track, “Runaway.” Rihanna brings the entire song together and matches the grand production that is heard throughout the whole track on “All Of The Lights.” As for “Monster,” there is not a single stale moment in the seven-minute song. As stated before, Nicki raps like the rent is due and truly shows how she is a “monster” on the mic with her amazing flow and lyrics. Now for my favorite feature on the album, Rick Ross. After hearing the most ethereal verse from Ye, Rick Ross adds to it even more with his inclusion. In his verse, he boasts on how he has it all money-wise; however, he still finds himself lonely even if he is successful financially. His verse was so good that he even took it upon himself to release a music video for it. In all reality, I do think that the instrumental helps him a bit here, but the verse is still one of his best nonetheless. Lastly, we have Pusha T’s inclusion on “Runaway.” This is what Pusha had to say about the making of his verse for the track as per a Clipse consigliere, “But I wrote ‘Runaway’ four times—and what he does not know to this day is that I was going through a relationship scandal in my life." He said, "So this man is asking me to write a song about a relationship and to say that I’m the biggest douchebag ever. He’s telling me, ‘Yo, you need to be more douchebag. We need more douchebag!’ I didn’t want to say to him, ‘Dog, I don’t know if I even have douchebag in me right now.’ I’ve been jammed up, and it’s hard for me to even tap into that part, because I’m remorseful.” With this in mind, it makes Pusha’s verse that much more impactful. With both his and Ye’s verse, we get the two removing all of the glamor from things such as money, sex, drugs and more. With this, easily one of Ye’s most powerful tracks was created. As no surprise, the features as a whole are near-perfect to me. As for the production, I love each and every one of the tracks just for their production alone. Some of my favorites are “Devil In A New Dress,” “Runaway,” “Lost In The World” and “POWER.” As for “DIAND,” the track created the perfect sample from Smokey Robinson’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” The pitched-up vocals are looped throughout the track, creating a soft atmosphere for Ye and Rick Ross to rap over. “Runaway” gets its iconic loop of “look at ya’s” by being sampled by Rick James’s “Mary Jane” as well as its drum line from The Backyard Heavies and their 1971 track “Expo ‘83.” These samples paired up with a fantastic synth throughout the entire track makes the song great. Next, “Lost In the World” offers an incredible sample of Bon Iver’s “Woods,” which is simply the song but pitched up a couple times as well as being layered on itself. Yet again, creating an atmosphere worth listening to. On top of this, a booming drumline is added into the equation. Lastly, the most-streamed song on the album, “POWER.” The song offers an instrumental that's meant to be played in stadiums. From the heavy hitting drums, to the assortment of other instruments, the song just yells out “loud.” While these are just my favorite instrumentals, the entire tracklist holds songs that are worth listening to simply for their production. This makes the production on the album perfect. After all is said and done, I absolutely love this album. It was the first album from Ye I ever heard when I was first getting into the genre of hip hop. Out of all of Ye’s albums, this is my second favorite, with 2009’s “Graduation” coming out on top just barely. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” gets a 9.5 out of 10. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu Wilkes soccer weekly round-up: Oct. 16 and 19 By Andrew Mashallsay Sports/News Staff Writer ���������������������������������������� ������ � ����� ����� ��� ���� ������� ����� � ������ ��� ���� ������� ����� � ����� ���� �������������������������������������� � ��������� ������������ ����� ������������ �������������������� �� ���� ���������� �� ��� ��� ��� � �� � ����� ���� �������� ����� ��� ����� ��� �� ������� � ������ ���� �������� ��� �������� ���� ���� ������ ����� ��� ���� ����������������������������� ���������� ���� �  ����� � ��� ��������� ���� ��������� ����� � ���� ������ ­���� ��������� ���� � ������­��� ������������������������ ��� ������ ���� €€��� ������� ����� ��� ���� ������ � ���� ���� � ���� ������ �������� ���� ����� ���� ‚�������� ������ � ��� � ���� ƒ����� ������������������������������ ��� � ��� ��� ���� ����������� ��������� ������������������������������� � 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����‚���������������������������������� ��������������������‹�������� � ������ � ���� ‚�������� �������� Š���� ���� ������ ������ � ����� ���� ��� ����� ���� � ��� ��� �� � ��������� †������� …�„„���� ���� ���� ����� ����� ��� ��� � †���������� …������� ‚����� ������ ���� ������������������������� � ‰����� ���� ���� � ���� ‚��������� ������� ���������Œ‡�Œ‡� �������� ��������������� ���‹‡�‡‹ � ���� ‚�������� ���� ����� ��� ������� ��� �������� � ����� ����� ������ ����� ����� ���� � ������  ����� � ‚���� � � ���� ������������������������ ������������� ���������������������������� ����������� ����������������������������������� � š� Sophomore Matthew Conti takes the ball out of goal during a 1-0 loss to Elizabethtown Photo by Steve Finkernagel �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Sports 20 Wilkes University cross country season begins to wrap up Lexi McHugh Sports Writer The Wilkes University men's and women's cross country teams have been making impressive strides this season as they navigate through a series of competitive meets. Both teams have shown significant improvement, with athletes setting personal bests and securing strong finishes in recent races. The women's team had three meets this season, one of its most recent meets taking place at Lock Haven University on Sept. 28. First-year student Ava Bailor had a phenomenal run finishing 18th overall with a time of 25:12.1. First-year Mikayla Miller finished 72nd overall with a time of 27:15.9, right behind her was senior Regan Metz who placed 79th overall finishing at 27:41.5. Senior Courtney Negra placed 100th with a time of 28:41.2, junior Mara Adams placed 103rd with a time of 28:53.8, and sophomore Brooklyn Donia placed 126th with a time of 32:38.8. The Colonels ended up placing 12th out of 15th teams and finished the sixkilometer race with 279 points. The team's best finsh on the season as a whole came back during the Cougar Classic on Sept. 6. The team finshed second out of six teams for the event. The men's team also had three meets this season, with one of its most recent meets taking place at Lock Haven University on Sept. 28. First-year student Aiden Graff finished at the very top of the scoring sheet with a time of 26:48.9. Junior Caleb Edwards finished 20th with a time of 27:28.5 and first-year Jack Thompson was right behind him coming in 21st with a time of 27:29.2. Senior Connor Anascavage came in 114th with a time of 30:34.3. Junior Zachary Spurrier came in 117th place with a time of 30:42.9. Sophomore Justin Ashman placed 154th with a time of 32:44.2. The Colonels ended up placing seventh out of 18 teams and finished the eight kilometer race with 209 points and three runners inside the top 25. The teams best finsh on the season as a whole also came during the Cougar Classic on Sept. 6. The team also finshed second out of six teams for the event, matching the women. Both teams' most recent meet took place last Saturday at the Aubrey Shenk Invitational, hosted by Gettysburg College. The men did not score in the 8k race, but did have highlights to build on. Thompson ran a season-best 26:10.8, finishing in 16th place. Spurrier also had a personal best with a 29:20.5, while Graff had a 26:58.5. The women placed 19th in their event, coming with a score of 544. Bailor led the Colonels with a time of 24:59.5 for 86th place, followed by Miller with a time of 27:39.1. Negra, Metz, and Donia also ran, with times of 28:03.2, 28:19.3, and 31:58.4, respectively. Both teams now look forward to the Landmark Conference Championship race scheduled for Nov. 2 at 11 a.m., the event to be held at Elizabethtown College. �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Sports 21 Women’s ice hockey eager to get back on the ice By Adam Grunt Asst. Sports Editor The Wilkes women’s ice hockey team is eager to get back onto the ice after a successful 2023-24 season. Last season, the team finished 18-7-2 during the regular season, and concluded their season in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference Quarterfinals. The team joins the men’s in making the jump to the MAC after playing in the UCHC since the teams formation in 2018. The team joins the MAC after the school left the conference last year for all sports. The team went 11-1-1 against MAC teams last year. This year, the team, recently voted as the best team in the MAC according to the preseason rankings, is looking to continue the successes from last season by working hard in preseason practices. “So far practices have been great,” said junior defender Anneke Bouma. “The team has been bonding and there’s been great chemistry on the ice. As a junior, I’m so excited to see what this year’s team will accomplish. All the players have been doing great so far and all have individual valuable skills.” Head coach David LaBaff is entering his third season at the helm of the women’s ice hockey program in 2024-25, and is excited for what’s to come in the upcoming season. “Our practices have been sharp, fastpaced, and fiercely competitive,” LaBaff said. “It’s tough to single out individual standouts because the depth of talent across our lineup is exceptional. Every player, from the net out, has been pushing hard, and that collective effort is something we are eager to see translate into game situations.” That depth of talent is certainly going to be something to watch this season, as the team returns sophomore forward Haylee Bouchard, who tallied 37 points in 27 games with the Colonels last season. In addition, Bouma tallied the second most points among those on the Colonels’ defense last season with 10. “I think our team will push each other to play the best we can and work harder and smarter than our opponents,” said Bouma. “We have our goals set for winning and toning our plays and skills. There will be ups and downs but the team will rise to the challenge.” All in all, the Colonels are preparing for a better result to their season, and hopefully one that ends in a championship. The team fell to Nazareth University in the UCHC semifinals last season, and looks to return to the playoffs this season and capture a championship. The team, which is always diverse, welcomes first-year players from several different nations this season, including China, Canada and Slovakia, as well as a graduate student who hails from Finland. The chemistry being built within the team certainly exceeds the language barrier, as the team has one thing in mind: a championship. “Our expectation every day is to show up with a relentless compete level, unwavering attention to detail, and a commitment to building elite habits both on and off the ice,” said Coach LaBaff. “We set the bar high for ourselves, but our focus is internal – on our team’s growth, execution, and unity – rather than getting caught up in outside noise or distractions.” The Colonels will kick off their season at the Utica University Kickoff Tournament in Utica, N.Y. on Nov. 1 when they take on Elmira College. For more information on the women’s ice hockey team as well as the rest of the athletic teams at Wilkes, please visit gowilkesu.com. Women's volleyball continues season competition By Ava Tureen Sports Writer The Women’s Volleyball team has been in season since Aug. 30, and it has faced a variety of challenges. The team is currently 4-14 overall, but the season isn't over yet. On Oct. 18, the team faced Lycoming College and lost 3-0. While Lycoming won all three sets, it wasn’t an easy victory. Sierra Hines, a middle hitter in her final season, recorded three kills, two aces and two blocks during the match. Jenna Baron, another middle hitter and a junior, contributed five kills and two aces. A kill is defined as successfully hitting the ball over the net and onto the opposing team's floor, while an ace is a serve that lands on the opponent's floor without being touched. The team’s latest win was a clean sweep against Marywood University. Wilkes competes in the Landmark Conference, while Marywood is in the Atlantic East. Alex Cassel, the team captain and a senior setter from Mount Joy, Pa., was instrumental in the victory against Marywood, posting 22 assists, three blocks, and two aces Rachel Anderson, a sophomore setter from Canmore, Canada, also played a key role with four assists and two aces. Kendra Kalp, a sophomore outside hitter from Somerset, Pa., had seven kills and 11 digs during the Marywood match. Digs occur when a defensive player gets low to the ground to prevent the ball from touching the floor. Effective digging is essential for a successful defense. This season, the team welcomed assistant coach Aly Yordy, a former player who returned to help the team improve. This is Yordy’s first year coaching, and she describes the transition as challenging yet positive. “It was really difficult at first not being able to play with all my old teammates, but it has gotten easier as the season has progressed,” Yordy said. “This 2024 season has been challenging in the Landmark Conference, and I can see how I can help from the sidelines more than I did while playing the past couple of years.” While it’s common for players to transition into coaching, the process can be complex. For Yordy, balancing the roles of friend and coach has been particularly challenging. “There is a different level of respect between a teammate and a coach, and I have had to build that new bond with my former teammates. It's hard to give constructive criticism to the upperclassmen, but with the first-years, I feel more comfortable helping them openly.” Despite the challenges, the team remains optimistic as it moves forward in the season, focusing on building strong relationships. After Yordy’s first year coaching, she looks forward to helping future classes succeed. The Colonels will look to continue to fight in their last couple games. Their next match is on Oct. 25, the women’s volleyball team will compete against the University of Scranton at 7 p.m. in Scranton. Their next home match is against Goucher College on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. YOU CAN FIND MORE SPORTS STORIES ONLINE www.thewilkesbeacon.com �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week 22 Sarah Eliff Senior, Forward, Women's Soccer The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Eliff helped the Colonels to a massive win over Juniata College with one goal and one assist. She scored the tying goal from a penalty shot. One minute later, Eliff served a corner to Madison Sttraub for the game-winning goal. Major: Mechanical Engineering Hometown: Owings, MD What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? My favorite memory I think is ringing the bell after every home game win. It's always a fun moment to come together as a team What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? The US Women's national soccer team The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." for movie night? My go-to sports movie is The Replacements If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? I would want to play lacrosse or possible basketball. I played when I was younger. Lacrosse is a sport I always wanted to try but never did besides just playing around for fun with a friend who did What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Playing over in Bermuda for a tournament and beating their U18 nattional team when I was in What is your favorite thing to middle school. We played "We Are do away from sports? the Champions" on the bus ride Hanging out with my friends and home and has so much fun. trying new places together. We end up taking trips to Pour more What is your favorite post-game often than not for a much needed meal? Chai or coffee. Chicken Parmesan sub. Any Italian food really is just a go-to What is your favorite part of mean post game being an athlete at Wilkes? The balance of school and sport. How do you feel about being The professors and coaches are selected as the Athlete of the always supportive. They will work Week? with me so that I can get the most I'm honoured to be recongnized. out of both sides because there's It's walsys nice to be recognized an understanding that both my individually but I feel it is a great education and sport are most reflection of this team since I important to me couldn't have done it alone without all of their hard work, dedication What sports movie is your go-to and support �The Beacon October 23, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Donell MacKey-Woodson Senior, CornorBack, Football The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week MacKey-Woodson secureda hat-trick of interceptions against Lycoming College. With two of those being returned for touchdowns. He totaled 145 yards on his three picks, one of which was a 98-yard trip to the endzone. Major: History; Minor: Sports Management Hometown: Hartford, CT What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? Game-winning pick six against St. John Fisher and celebrating it with my teammates and the Wilkes community If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Basketball What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Having three interceptions versus Lycoming College and returning for two touchdowns! What is your favorite postWhat is your favorite professional game meal? sports team (any sport)? New China Chinese Food Pittsburgh Steelers How do you feel about being What is your favorite thing to do selected as the Athlete of the away from sports? Week? Watching Animal Planet and Nat It’s a great feeling to be selected Geo Wild and an amazing accomplishment to have. The preparation the team What is your favorite part of goes through every week resulted being an athlete at Wilkes? in my performance this past Building a brotherhood with my weekend. Our Scout Team puts teams and coaches. Having an on an amaz amazing support system from my ing performance week in and teachers, administators and the week out. Without them, my Wilkes community. It is a great performance would not be the feeling same! What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Coach Carter The Beacon/Sam Mullen Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Assistant Sports Editor Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - October 23, 2024 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, 2024 October 23 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 October 23 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/4e2557900a725598537c4b8a1b895eba.pdf 4e92053325a77fe946efaae2c1d8fa89 PDF Text Text The Beacon - October 30, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 77, Issue 8 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” WUPB kicks off Freak Week with Halloween-themed bingo On Oct. 28, the Programming Board kicked off Freak Week with Halloween-themed bingo. The prizes ranged from tickets to House of Horrors to espresso machines and blankets. Many attendees also received a free Freak Week shirt upon entry. Photo by Leah Smith HPSC hosts second annual thrift store clothing drive, page 3 The women of the Memories and Inspiration exhibition, page 7 Why “Friday the 13th” is the best of the big slasher three, page 16 FB: Wilkes drops big matchup against ranked Susquehanna, page 19 �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Emma Broda: emma.broda@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Oct. 23 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei News Staff Writer Student Government reconvened on Oct. 23 for the eighth meeting of the Fall 2024 semester. This meeting addressed the Student Government Treasury report, constitution updates, club recognitions, funding requests, the Student Government Fall Event report and committee work. The Student Government Treasurer was invited to begin the meeting with the Student Government Treasury report. The Student Government budget was updated and is currently reported to be $30,561. The Multicultural Student Coalition returned for its week two of two constitution update presentation. The constitution update consisted of corrections of grammatical errors, changes of hosted activities and events to reflect their campus involvement and added details of the coalition’s biweekly newsletter. Along with updates on the coalition’s on-campus actions, the updated constitution details the qualifications for its general board membership, executive board membership, and probation requirements. The Student Government voted to approve the constitution updates of the Multicultural Student Coalition. The History Club was the next presentation on the agenda, and it was their week one of two club recognition requests. The History Club works to provide students with an outlet to express, share and form ideas based on personal interests. The club also wants to increase historical involvement for its members and the campus community. The club does not currently have a pre-set schedule, but they hold their meetings based on member availability. The History Club’s fundraisers and community service projects will include gravestone cleaning, a historical bake sale, and designing history department apparel. In the future, the club will be holding a historical movie night, trivia night and peer review sessions for the history research methods course. The History Club will return next week for its week two of two club recognition request. During their private meeting, the Student Government Executive Board analyzed over six club reports this week, including the Psychology Club and the Ultimate Frisbee Club. The Student Government President reported that they were not able to review the Wilkes University Choral Club presentation at the executive board Meeting like other club reports, so she presented the club’s report at the general board meeting. The presentation stated that the Wilkes University Choral Club has upcoming community service projects of singing at Winterfest and performing at the Spring 2025 Commencement. The club will also be hosting fundraisers and activities, such as a Halloween costume contest, a karaoke night and their Spring 2025 singing valentine fundraiser. Student Government voted to approve all club reports evaluated at Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 the executive board meeting and the general board meeting. Next on the meeting agenda was the week one of two Spring 2025 Casino Night Event funding request. The Casino Night planning representative reported that the theme has been decided and will become public closer to the event date. Along with the theme, the giveaway items and prizes that will be distributed at the event have also been chosen. The event will include various types of food, soda and mocktails for attending students. The planning representative reported a total funding request of $21,500 to fund the food, drinks, decorations, giveaway items and prizes of the event. The Spring 2025 Casino Night event planning representative will return next week for its week two of two funding request. The official business of the eighth weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester concluded with committee work for the Spring 2025 Casino Night event. Student Government will meet again on Oct. 30. Sports................19 Upcoming Events: 2024 Fall Semester October 30 - Eye Spy event 31 - Summoning Spirits event November 1 - Day of the Day celebration 1 - Spanish Club Panera fundraiser 6 - SHPE volleyball tournament 7 - Lucas Zelnick comedy show 14 - Chillax bingo �������������������������������� ���������� ���������� ����������� ��� �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 News HSPC hosts second annual Passan School of Nursing thrift store clothing drive high pass rate on NCLEX By Leah Smith Asst. Opinion Editor ���� ������� �������� ���������� ����� ���� �� ���� ������� ������� ������ ����������� � ������ ������������ ����� � � ������������������������������������ ��������������������������� ��� �������������������� �������� �������������� ������������������������� ������������� ��� ��� ��­€�‚� �������� ��� �� ��� ����� ������ ������� ����� � �����ƒ��� �„������� ��� ��…��� ���������� � � †��� �������� ������ ����� ����� ��� �������������������‡��������…������ � Left to right: Megan Rozanski, junior, event runner and head of the HSPC committee, Daniel Yap junior, Lindsey Scorey masters student By Emma Broda News Editor ����� ����� ������ ˆ�� �������� ������� � ����� ��� �������� � ��� ��� �� ‰Š ‹�Œ� ����� ����� ��� ���� � ��������� Ž� �������„��������������‘���������� ������ ���� ����� ��� ����� � � �� ���� ��������� � ������ ‰’ ’Œ � ���� �„��� ��� �� ��������� ����� ����� ���� ���� �� ������� ��� ����������������������ˆ������������� �����������†�������� ����� �������� �� ������ ���� ����� ���� ������� � ����� ��� �������� ����� ��� �„ ��������� “� � ��� ���������� ��������������� ��� ����� ���� ��Ž”� ��������� ������� ���� �������� ����� ���������������������������������� �‡�����‘���� �������������������“��� ��������•�����������������������“���  ���� ������� ���� ���������� ����� ����� ����� ���� ���� ����� ���������� ��� ����� ��� ��������������������������� –����� ���� �������� ��� ����� ���� �����������������������—������•����� � ���� ���������  �� ������� ����� –���� ��� ����� ��� �� ������ “� � ���������� ��� ���� ���� ���� ��� ���� �� ��� �������� ��� ����������������������������������� ����� ��������������������Ž” — ˜�� ��������� ��� ���� ����� ����� ��� ���� ����������� ��� ���� ������� � ����� •������ ���� ‘���� �� ������� ����� ���� ����� �� ���� ������� ����� ��� ����  �� ������� ������� ����� ����� ��� ���� �� �������������������������������� ����� �������  ������ ����� ���� ����� ����������� ���� �������� ����� ������  �� ����� ���� ��™������ ��������� ��� ��������� ��� � ������ ��� ������� ‹‰� ��� ���� ��� ������ ��� ��� ����� ������� ���� ������� � •������ ������� ����� –��������� ����� ��� ��  ��� ������������ ���� ���������� ��� ������˜���������������������� ��������������� �������������� — ‘���� ������������������ ��������������� ����������������–˜������� ��� ��������� ����� ���� ������ ��� ���� �������� ����  �� ������� ����� ���� ��Ž”� ��� �� ��� ���� ������������������� — –�������������������“� �������������� �����„������� ��������������������Ž”� �� ������� ������ ������ ����� ��„�ƒ �����������������™��������—��������� €���� ��������� ���� �������� ����� ����� ���������������������� ���������������� ��Ž”� ������� �� � ����� �� ��  ���� ��������������������������������������� ���� ���� �„��� � ��� ������� �� ���� ����� ��Ž”������ ��������������������������� ����������������������� ���������� ������������������������ ���� ���  � ������� ���� �������� ��������� ���� �������� ��� �� ���� �����  ���� ��������� ��������� ����  ���� ����� �„��� ���� ������ ������� �������������������������� ‘���� �� ���� •������ ������� ����� ����� ����� �„�������� ��������� ���� ���� �„��� ���� ���� � ��� �„ ����� ��� ��� ��� ������� ��� ���� ����� ����� ��� ������ ����������� ���� ������������ ��������������� VISIT OUR WEBSITE NEXT WEEK FOR LIVE ELECTION UPDATES Event volunteers left to right: Liz Keller, sophomore and Andrea Buenano, freshman 3 www.thewilkesbeacon.com �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 News 4 That’s So Honors: HSPC elects a new president Zoe Morely will take over as HSPC president in the spring By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Although most clubs won’t elect their officers until the spring semester, the Honors Program Student Committee, or HPSC, election is in full swing. Students are competing for eight roles on the executive board that plans social, educational and community service events for students in the Honors Program. However, one role has already been filled by junior biology major, Zoe Morley: president. Morley explained that she originally chose to run for an HPSC position to have a greater impact on the honors Community and give back to the crogram. “Being in the Honors Program has given me a place to make friends and participate in events that I never thought I would be able to do,” she said. She added that being in the Honors Program has also allowed her to participate in community service projects, letting her connect with the larger Wilkes-Barre community. She ran for her current position, director of publicity, at this time last year. In her current role, Morley is responsible for creating posters for HPSC events and publishing everything on the Honors Program Instagram page. “I loved serving as the director of publicity as it gave me an outlet to be artistic and interact with the Honors Program as a whole.” For every other role on the HPSC, students submit an application and have the opportunity to campaign for a few weeks before elections run in the Honors Program’s weekly newsletter, the Buzz. Once the winners are notified, they sit in on one of the final HPSC meetings with the outgoing board so they have the opportunity to learn. Morley’s position, however, is a little different. For example, Morley wasn’t elected by students in the Honors Program. “The election process started in late September when me and the other person who ran for HPSC President submitted our applications,” she said. “We then both had the opportunity to read a speech for the HPAC (Honors Program Advisory Council) and they had the opportunity to ask each of us specific questions about our leadership styles and what we would like to see happen with the HPSC under our leadership.” The HPSC hosts a wide variety of ends. The director of social events plans fun events for students, most recently, a Harry Potter movie and crafts night in the JPAC. The director of educational events, hosts events meant to educate students on different topics, like the Gen Z & Social Media Marketing the HPSC hosted a few weeks ago, with help from the Wilkes University marketing department. Since adding a community service requirement for future cohorts, as well as the class of 2027 and 2028, the director of community service, who always planned opportunities, has been working overtime to make sure that there are plenty of events for honors students to serve their community. Morley, who regularly attends HPSC’s events, said her favorite was a social event last spring: a trip to the Purrfect Mugs Cat Cafe in Plains Township. Next year’s board will look different, but the fun and educational events aren't going anywhere. Although she doesn’t have any specific plans, Morley says her first goal as president of the HPSC is to familiarize the new board members with procedures and help prepare them for the year ahead. Her advice to those seeking a role on an executive board: “I would suggest talking to people who have previously or currently serve on executive boards of different clubs to get a bigger picture of what will be expected of you in those roles. If you are interested, definitely try to get involved in e-boards as they are a great way to develop leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.” Zoe Morley will take over as the HPSC president in the spring, but in the meantime, she’ll keep creating content on the @wilkeshonors Instagram page. Photo courtesy of Zoe Morely Zoe Morely, Honor Student Program Committee's newly-elected president �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 News 5 Haunted houses provide spooky options: If you dare By Leah Smith Opinion Assistant Editor Halloween is right around the corner which means that it’s time for costume shopping and pumpkin carving for people who celebrate the spooky fun holiday. This also means it’s time to break out the chills and thrills of the classic Halloween attraction: haunted houses. Pennsylvania is known for its multitude of haunted attractions all across the state such as Lancaster’s Field of Screams and Nanticoke's Horror Hall. At Wilkes University, many students have had their fair share of going to a haunted house and have expressed their opinions on how they feel about the scary yet exciting attractions. Anthony Elms, a junior history major, expressed his love for haunted houses and said that Horror Hall is his favorite. “Getting scared is my favorite part. Also getting that adrenaline rush with your friends feels like a bonding experience in some ways.” However, not everyone enjoys going to a haunted house due to the many jump scares and terrifying scenery. Flora Tsang said she has no interest in going to a haunted house due to the scenery and situations the houses put their guests through. She claims that they are too realistic to handle. Other students have expressed their love for haunted houses and their desire to go to them more often but cannot due to the prices for admission that have been rising in recent years. Sophomore student Aubrey Hart addressed this issue by saying that she adored going to Reaper’s Revenge last year and wanted to go again this year but decided against it due to its $69 price for admission. One of Pennsylvania’s most infamous haunted attractions is the Pennhurst Asylum located in Spring City. This location is not only iconic for its mental asylum setting and ghost hunting tours, but because of its tragic history. Before Pennhurst became the attraction it is now, it was an actual mental institution who took in patients with both mental illness and physical disabilities. Students gave their opinions on this controversial decision to monetize the asylum in such a way after learning its history. Eric Walsh, a senior, stated that the decision to turn the asylum into a haunted attraction feels morally wrong. “I appreciate the authenticity of the setting and how the actors may look, but it just rubs me the wrong way,” he explained. However, others don’t see this change of the asylum to be a negative. If anything they see it as a way to honor its legacy to show the public the horrors that the patients went through. Senior student Jackie Costello loves the idea, even calling it, “badass.” Pennhurst Asylum understands that the nighttime paranormal tours do not honor the hospital's historic patients. They have created daytime tours at the museum that give visitors an opportunity to learn the history of Pennhurst Asylum without the frights. According to the official Pennhurst Asylum website, they state that they have become advocates for the disability rights movement and warned guests about the upsetting history they will share throughout the tour. Courtesy of Lancaster's Field of Screams �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 News Peace. Inclusion. Equity. 6 Student Diversity and Equity Conference to be held Saturday By Kailey Vogel Special to the Beacon Wilkes students can look forward to the 7th Annual Student Diversity and Leadership Conference: Peace, Inclusion, Equity. The ecvent will be held on Nov. 2 and is hosted by The Office of Diversity Initiatives and Civic Engagement. The Office of Diversity Initiatives (ODI) is a student service located at the Max Roth Center of Wilkes’ campus. This service “assists students with personal, academic and career concerns that impact their academic success.” ODI is known for hosting many programming events for students that help build their awareness and leadership skills when it comes to diversity and inclusion. The upcoming conference should do just that. "I enjoy seeing what students get out of each conference and watching them have like a lightning bulb moment when they either grasp a new concept or have an idea about using what they've learned in their own lives," said Catie Becker, executive director of civic engagement at the university. The conference will take place in the Henry Student Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Students will be offered to partake in workshops centered around the theme of diversity and inclusion. "We will have workshops that discuss a variety of topics that discuss everything from macgroagressions and media consumption to staying relevant and inclusive as a leader," Becker said. "There will be a few familiar faces throughout our workshop sessions but we're excited to welcome some new speakers as well." A coffee hour will be provided to all attendees. Students will be able to drink coffee from Wilkes-Barre’s POUR Coffee House and partake in a resume workshop as well. Students are expected to dress in business attire as it is a formal conference event. They should also be advised to bring a pencil, pen, or other writing materials with them to jot down notes and participate in workshops that require writing. Beckers reminds students that the Colonels Closet is open to anyone who may need appropriate attire. A certificate of completion will be given at the end of the conference indicating attendees' participation. Becker said the event is a collaborative effort between the two campus offices. "Showing (students) what exists outside of their own worlds and how they can support people in different ways is something I've always wanted to do so I'm grateful for the opportunity. "Working with the Office of Diversity Initiatives has been great to show students the power of collaboration and what we can accomplish together." The workshop is free for Wilkes Students should register prior to the event. Those who are interested in attending can sign up by filling out the Google form found on Today at Wilkes or by scanning the QR code located on numerous posters hung around campus. Spots are limited. Contact Erica Acosta (erica. acosta@wilkes.edu) or Catie Becker (catherine.becker@wilkes.edu) for more information. �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment assistant editor: anthony.cazun@wilkes.edu The women of the Memories and Inspiration exhibition By Leah Smith Asst. Opnion Editor The Sordoni Art Gallery hosted its director’s tour spotlighting the women artists of their Memories and Inspirations exhibition. The event was free to attend and took place at 5 p.m. on Oct. 23. It was led by the art gallery’s director, Heather Sincavage. The event flier on Today at Wilkes promised to highlight what was called, “the women trailblazers in the Memories & Inspiration exhibition… discover their lasting legacy through this intimate discussion amongst the art.” The evening’s exhibition delivered on the key information of not only the art these women have made but the artist’s history and how their history as well as other major historical events motivated these women. Sincavage led the attendees through a historically enriching and powerful gallery experience highlighting African American women throughout history who have contributed meaningful works, making a name for themselves in art history. One of the artists observed at the gallery was Lois Mailou Jones whose watercolor painting was and is currently Heather Sincavage stands beside Stefanie Jackson’s Hurricane Katrina inspired piece. being shown at the Sordoni Art Gallery. The painting was done by Jones at her time in France during what is known as the expatriates movement in which many African American artists and creators moved to France and Europe due to racial and social tensions in the United States. Jones’ work is a reflection of the beauty of France with all of its various colors and shapes. Sincavage discusses Jones’s history and quotes one of Jones’s statements at her time of being an art professor. “Visibility is important,” said Jones. This sentence made by Jones was to not only motivate her students but for young marginalized artists who wanted to express themselves. Another artist that was observed was Stefanie Jackson who is a more contemporary artist, but still as impactful as Jones. Her work highlights political and social issues and in this specific image, black struggle. The painting done by Jackson was made after and inspired by the damage done by Hurricane Katrina. The various facial expressions and colors elevating those expressions are meant to reflect the pain and damage done to African Americans during and after the time of Katrina. As the event came to an end, Sincavage summarized the importance of these pieces and women’s role in art and history. She was dedicated to the lecture and said, “These are women that kind of had the odds stacked against them, that’s why I wanted to take the time and celebrate them and their work.” The Sordoni Art Gallery is holding more events throughout the fall season and hopes to bring more educational and creatively striking moments for students and local attendees alike. Lois Mailou Jones’s watercolor painting. Photos by Leah Smith �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment Sydney Allabaugh: 8 Sam Mullen: Bigger In Texas - Megan Thee Stallion Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac Stephen Youkoski: Stop & Stare - Treaty Oak Revival Six Years Wiser - Harrison Boe Adam Grundt: Leah Smith: Megan Davis: APT. - ROSÉ, Bruno Mars Reincarnate - Motionless in White Anthony Cazun: Zach Paraway: crystalized - Poppy Rah Tah Tah - Tyler, The Creator Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �The Beacon – October 30, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Sordoni Sessions: The art gallery is for everyone By Anthony Cazun Life, Arts and Entertainment Editor Art is often considered the beating heart of life, and campus is no exception. Residing within the Karambelas Media and Communication Center, the Sordoni Art Gallery is home to all kinds of artistic experiences. Sordoni Sessions is a series of events that aims to bring out the creativity within students, all while enjoying food, company and the presence of art. The first of many Sordoni Sessions was held recently, to the satisfaction of many. The event held various activities for students to sink their creative teeth into. Tote bags were a big draw, allowing students to draw and sketch all over blank tote bags that could be used in day to day activities, adding a personal touch to on the go storage. Mascots, video game and TV characters, fall themed pumpkins, The Starry Night etc, all kinds of art from all kinds of people spilling out onto the tote bag canvas. “My friends told me about it and I heard it was a tote bag event,” said Basma Al-Salem, political science and international relations junior. “I got excited because I love tote bags. I drew this cute cat with a strawberry on top of its head. “I like how [Sordoni Art Gallery] allows activities that require drawing or art, which makes me more compelled to enter the art gallery. You can do anything, it makes it feel like anyone can do anything. Allows you to ask, what is art in reality?” Along with the totes, there was also a button maker that could be used to create pins out of any image desired. Whether it be original drawings, custom printed images or pieces from the gallery, any pin could be created to customize and style accordingly. Along with all the creative activities, a diverse array of foods was also a hit at the event. Baked macaroni and cheese, chicken, fried cauliflower, nachos and desserts like ice cream with various arrays of toppings were all available at the event. “Some of the best mac and cheese I have ever had,” said Amber Cazun, junior psychology major. “I appreciated that there were vegetarian options. It was a great night with great food.” The event had a substantial turn out, instilling extra confidence in the gallery to host more events such as this on a regular basis. “The main goal of our Sordoni Session events is to engage our student population here at Wilkes University,” said Melissa Carestia, assistant director of the Sordoni Art Gallery. “I love social events like these because they help lower the perceived barrier of the arts. Showing people that an art gallery can be fun and casual, it takes away the scariness. It is a community space for everyone.” The barrier of entry is incredibly low, as to be eligible for event participation all one must do is sign their name at the door for a free student membership to the Sordoni Art Gallery. This allows for the event to be as inclusive as possible, creating a comfortable and appealing space for everyone is a priority of the gallery. “I will 100% come to the next event.” said Al-Salem. “You can bring a friend and do things at your own pace. Everyone is very friendly too. It’s a very safe space I feel. You can even come by yourself and enjoy decorating. No matter what, you can have fun by yourself or start a conversation with somebody. It is perfect, everyone is included. Please come to future Sordoni events! It is wonderful.” The upcoming Sordoni Session event will have a focus on building LEGOs, encouraging participants to build with their own directions, expressing their creativity. The Memories and Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art exhibition can be visited within the Sordoni Art Gallery through Jan. 6, 2025. Photos by Anthony Cazun Attendees and members of the Sordoni Student Membership gather for the Sordoni Session. Strawberry cat tote painted by Basma Al-Salem at the event. �The Beacon – October 30, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 SWE, SHPE, CCDI host LinkedIn workshop for students Students receive tips on how to use the platform By Natalia Williams Life Arts and Entertainment Writer The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Center for Career Development and Internships hosted a Linkedin workshop for students to improve their LinkedIn skills. Jenna Weiss from the CCDI began the event by giving a brief introduction to LinkedIn and what it has to offer for students for their professional careers. “LinkedIn can play a crucial role for college students,” said Weiss. “It provides numerous access to job and internship postings, along with the ability to connect with professionals and recruiters from various industries.” They gave an informative presentation about the importance of LinkedIn, how students can make their profiles look professional and how students can gain meaningful connections through the platform. Students who attended learned valuable tips on how to build their profile by explaining elements like adding a good headliner, adding an about me that is almost like an elevator pitch, and the importance of including all of your skills and past jobs. Not only did they give tips on how to build a professional platform, they also gave helpful information on how to manage and use the platform as well. They explained when it’s important to make a post, what they can post about, and how to use the messaging system. It gave students an insight to see how LinkedIn can really help and benefit them. Students were able to learn about who to follow as well. They showed examples of different groups from Wilkes such as an alumni group and an engineering group. They explained Gabrielle Vogel, Kensington Edmond and Deanna Stolpe helped organize the workshop. that these groups are helpful for job searches since some recruiters or alumni may be looking for employees or interns and often post them in the groups. President of the society of women engineers Kensington Edmond is one of the students who organized the workshop. “In the past SWE club always had LinkedIn night and we wanted to continue.” said Kensington. The Secretary of SWE Gabrielle Vogel also weighed in. “LinkedIn helps students connect to professional opportunities and helps establish a professional background” said Vogel. This workshop was very helpful for students who had questions about the platform and how to really make the most of it. They gained helpful tips on how to really elevate their experience on the platform and how they are able to help grow professionally. Photos courtesy of Jenny Nguyen Students in attendance received tips on how to build a professional platform and gain meaningful connections. �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment Crossword Halloween Word Search HALLOWEEN EDITION Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below. Word Bank P 1. Cobweb 2. Vampire 3. Witch 4. Ghost 5. Halloween 6. Ghoul 7. Haunt 8. Coffin 9. Skeleton 10. Pumpkin 11. Zombie 12. Candy 13. Cemetery 14. Monster 15. Bat 16. Costume T F Y C A O S E C U Q P C I P O M P U C B C A S N E M E L J H T E R Y L M T D H S Q Q X L H V E G A B I H O M B W A F A O L T K U K Z M P T U E T M P N R Answer Key: X Z U Q I N R V K I M E Q D A V E X C P D J A W V Q W R F Q B O B S W W E D F I E E H O Y H R U B Q N M I I G N E W A H G O A N Z W C Y F S B N K L E K X A B W E T O L F E E F N T O J W N G F S W S N R M Z O D T E H Y H G Z L J B R V E B A Q Q M Z U U R C U H H O E P I C S L K E Q Q X M T N E T W A L S E F T Y C T A X A O S M P O F T A N E E N U A H X C F W R F O M B I R Z L F I C I U M E U M P C W G Y D G U F S N T O J B W E K E X W A Z K T L S Q B D J N M I N R E T A G Z G J E Z N Y D Z B N K I A O B K A Y Q D A V K I H A S H B H W W E G W C P V O L O O D L O H G E D E Q P W S H N Y T W N G F O M P M E R N C T A B L P Word Bank G L M V K A D U C P D C Y B J K I E N Y A G G Z J Z H B H V A O L W G Z E T Y H S F C W V M V E V K P I S J Q B Y D ���The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: leah.smith@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Managing Editor: Stephen Youkoski Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Emma Broda Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS LA&E - Anthony Cazun Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Leah Smith Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Laura De Lora Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - Shawn Carey Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Andrew Marshallsay Sports - Ava Tureen 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Constant election notifications are a nuisance With the presidential election drawing closer and the stakes being at an alltime high, email and text notifications are also becoming more prevalent from both sides. Lately, emails have been piling up, and it’s not because of any updates on campus or hopes of classes being canceled, but because Kamala Harris’s campaign team is pleading for a $5 donation to ensure victory at the White House in November. The number of emails and text messages have gotten to the point of frustration where muting and blocking numbers have become a necessity. Not only are they a distraction, but most of the time, they come with either pressuring or strange messages asking for a donation. Every morning there are six new emails from both the Harris and Trump campaign asking for donations with follow-up messages explaining why they’re in such desperate need for my money. Most of the time, it’s because they want to ensure victory in November and show off their voters’s loyalty to their campaign. Isn’t our vote enough? These emails and text messages make it seem like we have to do more in order to support whatever candidate we align ourselves with but with the constant barrage of pleading and call to action, it makes it more confusing and annoying for voters receiving these messages. The subject titles of the emails don’t help much because they are either vague or meant to attack the emotions given the dire topics that are being combated in the polls. Seeing these emails will make anyone feel guilty for not donating which is exactly what they want. However, the guilt turns into frustration because of the amount of times they send out emails and texts with the same title and emotional appeal. There’s also times when a candidate’s celebrity endorsement will be the topic of the email which makes the email look like a scam. Also, this places the idea that the receiver will be foolish enough to believe that someone like Taylor Swift is actually messaging them and not somebody from Harris’s campaign team. What comes to mind when receiving these messages is that many young voters and college students can’t afford to chip in to this campaign. Also, as mentioned earlier, the vote should be what ensures the campaign’s victory, not the donation. All that the donation does is to give the campaign more money for advertising and events for the campaign to hold around the country. This election is important and there is a lot at stake; however, that doesn’t mean the campaign team can bombard and remind us constantly about the importance of the election. We understand that donating and volunteering are important, but most of us don’t have the time to commit to supporting these campaigns at the polls, and these emails shouldn’t guilt trip us into thinking that our vote isn’t enough. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 30, 2024 Opinion 15 The Icebox: Celebrating Venom, the Lethal Protector By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Eyes. Lungs. Pancreas. So many snacks, so little time. It all started with the onset of strange symptoms for news reporter Eddie Brock. He needed to consume living flesh to keep himself in control, and yet, he wasn’t even aware of what was really happening. Soon enough, he made a new best friend. The coolest, most badass friend anyone could ask for. This week, the finale of the legendary “Venom” trilogy was released and I did not think twice about dropping everything I was doing to go and see it at the earliest possible time. As a matter of fact, I celebrated my own “Venom” day with Venom-themed clothing, food, cologne, candy, popcorn, you name it. If there was one fictional character that I could say for sure is my absolute favorite, I would say Venom. Venom is an alien symbiote from the planet Klyntar who landed on Earth and requires a living thing to host in order to survive. Unfortunately, not all humans are compatible with symbiotes. Each alien from Klyntar must find its perfect host. Somehow, Venom came upon his perfect host, Eddie Brock. The two initially coexisted in a parasitic relationship but managed to bond on a physical and emotional level, resulting in the strongest combination of human and symbiote. For the Marvel fans, Venom is commonly considered a villain and destroyer of Spider-Man. Peter Parker has also hosted the Venom symbiote, resulting in an aggressive, sometimes evil version of the web-slinging superhero. However, his bond is never as strong as Venom and Eddie. As for Venom fans, we know that it is actually more of an anti-hero. Certain versions of Venom are focused on invading and conquering planets, while other versions let Eddie take the wheel. Either way, Venom fans love the symbiote unconditionally. I can’t say the same about Eddie, because sometimes he is really cool and other times he is really petty. There is no denying that he will always be the best host for Venom though. Another interesting fact about Venom is that it functions by a hive-mind. This means that all pieces of Venom throughout the universe are connected in memory and cognitive ability. Furthermore, Venom can even connect to other pieces throughout the multiverse, meaning that it can exist literally anywhere it wishes. That also means Venom can be anyone it wishes. In the comics, it has bonded with dozens of superheroes, villains and even civilians. In the movie trilogy, Venom and Eddie betray their former boss and stop them from invading the planet and destroying everything, eat their own son to stop him from becoming the strongest symbiote on the planet and finally save the entire multiverse from complete destruction. All of that sounds ridiculous, especially the last one, but it only proves that Venom and Eddie are a very important character in the grand scheme of things. Eddie Brock has been very likable in the trilogy, all thanks to Tom Hardy’s performance. He not only acts like an unstable character, but he voices the symbiote too. The energy between the symbiote and Eddie is entirely decided by Hardy as he also had a hand in writing and directing the films. Basically, the trilogy has been accredited as Tom Hardy’s project for Sony. It is quite sad that Tom Hardy’s run with Venom has finally come to an end after six years. Perhaps the idea of Venom isn’t for you. There are not many people that enjoy creepy, slimy aliens with booming voices and a knack for eating humans alive. Although the Venom movies don’t go overboard with it, I can certainly understand that someone may feel discouraged to see them. To such people, I say that the Venom trilogy is ultimately a romance. That’s right, the ultimate friendship between Venom and Eddie which is heartwarming. The way that both of them interact with each other and collectively decide to be the “Lethal Protector” of all innocent beings, alien or not. There are dozens of reasons to enjoy the movies, including the score and soundtrack which were produced by esteemed artists like Eminem and Ludwig Göransson. Since the movie just released, it’s difficult to discuss anything without spoilers. For the fans who are reading this, just know that the story is not over for Venom. There are still things meant to go down in future projects. I can certainly understand that the concept of Venom is an acquired taste. The neat part is that all fans love him unconditionally. After all... we are Venom. Concert review: Justin Timberlake’s “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour” By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer On Oct.11, Justin Timberlake came to Philadelphia for “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour,” and I was lucky enough to experience the magic. I had pretty high expectations for this show going into it. I was seeing videos all over social media, and I was pretty excited to see it in person. I also looked at the setlist before my show so I was able to get prepared and see what’s going to come song wise. When going to a concert, I like to look at all aspects like ticket pricing, stage set up, set list and overall enjoyment. First let’s talk about ticket pricing. Justin Timberlake is a pretty popular artist, so I was genuinely surprised by the pricing. Granted, I did get these tickets as a birthday gift, but I looked to see how much the tickets were in my section. Since he is a bigger artist I was expecting tickets to be very expensive, but after looking at the other seats in my section, I was surprised my lower bowl tickets were not more than $200. I was pretty close to the main stage and very close to the B stage. I would 100% say that it was worth what my parents paid for those seats. Looking at the stage set up on videos I was so excited to see it in person. I loved how he had two stages so people in all areas of the arena could view him clearly no matter where they sat. The B stage in particular was my favorite since he was really close. It was the most intimate and slow part of the show and I was glad that I had a good view. Another aspect that I did enjoy was the “flying” stage when he sang “Mirrors.” Timberlake stood on this large block that was elevated in the air. It was an opportunity for people who were in the higher sections to see him closely, and I thought that was very neat. I would definitely give the stage set up a 10/10. If I were to go again, I think I’d choose the seats that I had at the first go around. When it comes to concerts, a good setlist is crucial for me. From experience, if an artist’s setlist isn’t up to par then I won’t have a good time. Luckily, JT’s setlist was perfect. He performed all of his hits and material from his new album. I can tell he knew his audience and what people would want to hear on this tour. Hearing his throwback songs live brought so much nostalgia and joy, and I genuinely think his setlist was amazing. When I saw the setlist for the first time and saw he was performing “Can’t Stop The Feeling” from the Trolls soundtrack I was kind of worried about the vibe not being right for it, but it was so much fun and I’m glad he added it on there. I genuinely enjoyed the concert so much. He is such an amazing performer, and it is definitely a top 10 show for me. The vibe and people in my section was a little boring, but nonetheless, I had such a great time. It was amazing to be able to experience the show with my sister because we have both loved Justin for a very long time. If you have the opportunity to catch him on this tour or another if he tours again, I 100% recommend that you do. It is a guarantee you’ll have the best night. �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Opinion 16 Why “Friday the 13th” is the best of the slasher big three How Jason Voorhees stands out from other horror villains By Leah Smith Asst. 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����� ����� �������������������������� �����  ����� ���� ����� ������������ ��� �� �������� ���� �� � ���Ž���� ������� ��� “˜� ������� �Š������� ‹�ƒ�� � ���� ��� ���� ����� ����� ��� � ����� �� ������������ ��������� ���� ��� ������������ ������ �� ����������������ƒ������������� –������� ���� ��� ������ ������� ���� �� ������� ������ ���������� ��� ���� ���� ����������� �������� ���� �� � ����� ����� ������ ���� ��� ���� ����� ��� ���� �������� ������� �� � ������ �������� ��� ���� ����� ����� ������� ���� ����� ����� ��� ��ƒ�� ���� �������� „����� …�������� ��� ��� ���������� � ���� ����� �������� �������� ����� ��� ����� ��� ������ ����� �� ���Ž��� ���������� ��� ���� ���ƒ�� ����� ����������� ���� ��������� ������ƒ�� � ������� …�������� ��� ����� ��� �������������������������������������� Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Opinion Are leaks harmful to the entertainment industry? 17 Analyzing the recent Insomniac and Game Freak leaks By Shawn Carey Opinion Staff Writer The Digital Age, also known as the Information Age, is often characterized by the free and quick transfer of information. The age of magazines and libraries are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Now, if you want to know something all you have to do is turn on your phone and open Google. We are carrying all of the world’s history in your pocket. With that being said, we often learn of value information before its intended reveal, especially in the entertainment industry. Within the last few years, leakers have become a major part of the film and gaming landscape. At this point it feels like we can’t go a single week without a major leak. How truly impactful are leaks? Are they really changing the industry? Let’s first discuss the two types of leaks. First, we have minor leaks. As you probably assume, these leaks reveal a very minor amount of information, such as characters and new in-game features. Second, we have the bigger leaks, also known as “giga-leaks.” These leaks show off top secret information, like concept art, early builds of games and private business information. Minor leaks tend to be more common, happening whenever a new game, show or movie is close to being released. For example, Marvel’s new show “Agatha All Along” has been the subject of several leaks. Important plots, characters and visuals were posted online before their intended reveal. Now, it sucks that the show was spoiled; however, compared to other leaks, it isn’t really that big of a deal. No one likes getting spoiled but it happens. Let’s look at a much bigger Marvel leak: the “Spider-Man 2” leak, also known as the “Insomniac Giga-leak.” The massive leak reveals all of the games the studios had in development all the way through to 2032, including “Wolverine,” a “Venom” spinoff game and a “X-Men” game. It all started when Insomniac was threatened by a ransomware group. The group told the studio that they were going to leak confidential files to the public if they didn’t receive $2 billion worth of bitcoin in a week. At first, everyone thought that it was a bluff, even the higher ups at Insomniac. However, as time went on, it was revealed that it was no empty threat. Countless files were leaked containing early gameplay builds, story details, concept art, important documents, the company’s release roadmap and much more. One of the details included in the leak was the mention of “SpiderMan 2” receiving story downloadable content (DLC) in the future. Now, let’s fast forward to last week. Insomniac announced the PC port of the game, alongside the news that there wouldn’t be any further update. Now, we don’t know if the DLC was canceled because of the leak or if something else happened behind the scenes. However, we have seen other projects get canceled due to leaks. The Insomniac leak happened just this year and it became known as one of the biggest leaks in gaming history. That was until a month ago. Game Freak, the developer of “Pokemon” games, suffered from a huge data leak, among the trove of data were unused stories, worldbuilding, beta designs, game development tools, earlier builds of games and much more. The leaks dated back to the development of the third generation of games, all the way to the sixth. That’s 10 years of development. Ten years of history. A lot of important behind the scenes documentation got released, documents that are important for preserving the series development history. Preservation of video game history is often overlooked. Every once in a while we get art books and develop vlogs from the big publishers; however, a lot of the time we don’t get that peak behind the curtain. The leak also exposed the personal information of over 2,600 Game Freak employees, including their names and email addresses. This puts the employees at risk. The Game Freak leak allowed gaming historians to catalog development history that was previously unknown, as well putting employees at risk. So, which leak was worse? I know it may be a bit silly to compare leaks. However, they were both of similar sizes. They both also changed the standard of leaking. Unlike the Insomniac leak, it seems like Game Freak is planning on canceling any of their upcoming projects. In fact, it doesn’t seem like the information that was released is going to hurt the studio in any major way. Game Freak employees’ private information getting leaked, on the other hand, is a massive deal. We also learned which part of the game each developer worked on specifically, which could cause problems depending if they had an NDA. The Insomniac leak included very important business documents, everything from financial details, studio contracts, budget details and casting information. Both leaks provide the public with valuable industry information, as well as private details that should’ve never been disclosed. I am of the personal opinion that leaks cause more harm than good. Yes, it’s cool seeing the behind the scenes stuff. However, leaks always reveal something that they shouldn’t. Leaks hurt the careers of those infected by them. Imagine spending years of your life on something with the intent to surprise others, only for it to be shown off early and unfinished. The next time you’re looking at a leak, keep in mind who it’s affecting. �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Opinion 18 A review of Tyler, The Creator's second studio album "Wolf " An analysis of delivery, production, features, replayability By Logan Colonna Asst. Opinion Editor In preparation for Tyler, The Creator’s new album “CHROMAKOPIA,” I’ve started listening to all of Tyler’s past work. My favorite of these past albums is his 2013 record, “Wolf.” I first listened to it a few years ago, and I’ve had it in and out of my rotation ever since then. Not to spoil too much of how I think of it, but it is within my top three of Tyler's projects. First as always, I think Tyler absolutely delivered on nearly every song. There are, of course, a couple songs every here and there that don’t necessarily resonate with me, like “Pigs” or “Treehome95.” Regardless, I’d say that every other track is a hit. My favorite songs off of “Wolf ” are “Jamba,” “48” and “Lone.” As for “Jamba,” I love Tyler’s flow during each of his verses. He makes sure to match well with the feature, Hodgy, too. “48” offers a more melodic side to Tyler with him singing the chorus. Following this, Tyler goes right back to his classic rapping. When it comes to “Lone,” I adore the somber tone that Tyler attaches to his voice. It really does make it seem that he’s over everything that he’s been through. If you enjoy Tyler’s typical flow and overall sound, you’re sure to like his performance here. We’ll cover this more in the section of the album’s replayability, but the way that Tyler can tell the story at hand all throughout the album, all while sounding cohesive, also speaks as to how great he is as an artist. Next up, we have the features of the album. There are quite a lot here, but a few excellent collaborators are as follows. On “Jamba,” we have Hodgy. He absolutely glides on the instrumental during his verse, honestly rivaling Tyler’s verse. The two’s verses both intertwine with each other perfectly, making his feature all the more better. On “Slater,” we get a melodic interlude from Frank Ocean. His voice is layered with Tyler’s and offers a wonderful listening experience as he To round off the track, we get Earl on the third verse of the song. While I do believe that it’s the worst verse of the song, the verse is still really good. This just speaks volumes about how good the entire album is. vocalizes near the end of the track. Lastly, we get Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt on “Rusty.” Domo begins on the track with his excellent verse. This verse is one of my favorites off of the entire tracklist. After Domo’s verse, we get a hook that is nothing short of addicting. The way that he addresses each bar makes it so pleasing to listen to. While these are the most notable features that can be found on the record, every single feature has something that makes them appealing. Most important to me is the production. Without a good production, it’s doubtful for me to enjoy an album. Thankfully, every instrumental off of “Wolf ” is beyond great. From the raunchy sound from “Jamba,” to the drab soundscape of “Lone” as Tyler speaks about how he’s regretting the fame he’s received as well as speaking on his grandmother passing away. No matter what track you pick out from the bunch, it will be very difficult to compare it to another track. The fact that Tyler can pick out instrumentals that sound so different from each other, but still be slightly similar in order to put them all together is crazy to me. Some of my favorite pieces on the record are “Answer,” “IFHY,” “Rusty,” and even the exuberant “Tamale” with the beat being legit all over the place. Whether you want a more serious tone or a playful song, you get both out of the tracklist here. When it comes to replayability, this album knocks it out of the park. As the album progresses, we hear about characters such as Wolf, the protagonist, Sam, the antagonist, and Salem, Sam’s girlfriend, and all of their time at the local summer camp, Camp Flog Gnaw. Without spoiling anything, all I can say is that I do often see myself revisiting the album as a whole just to hear the story be told again and again. I know that I usually preach that I only like shorter albums. However, although this album is 70 minutes, the way the album progresses it does not feel this long whatsoever. I do not know how, but this album feels like it’s 50 minutes at most even after relistening to it all these years. With this, it’s easy to see that the album’s replayability is apparent. When keeping everything in mind, I truly do love everything this album has to offer. From Tyler’s great performances on each track to the iconic story between Wolf and Sam, it’s no surprise that this album is among one of Tyler’s greatest albums to this day. I give “Wolf ” a 9 out of 10. Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu FB: Wilkes drops big matchup against ranked Susquehanna —����������†����‡�������������������� �€� ��� �������� ����� �‘�� �� ˜™� ���� ���� � � †“�€����‡�������� ����Ž���������������������������ˆ‰�Š� ‚������ ���� ������ ��� �˜� ����� �� ˜�� ������� ��� ������������ ���� ������� ����� ������ ����� ��� ���� ����������� ������� ��„������� ���� ƒ�������� ‚������ ����� ���� ���� �� � �� ����� ���� ����� ������� ��� �������•���š������������������������������ …������� �� —��������������������������������������� ����� ���� ���� ‚������ ������� ������ ����� �������������� ��������������������������������������� ������ ������������������������������ �������� ���������� ������ ����������� ����� ������������������ ������������� ������� �������������������������������� ������� ����� �������� ����� ��������� ������� �������������������������� �����­������ €�������� �� ���� ����� ����� ������ ���� ��� ����� ����� ������ ��������� ��������� €�������� ­�� ���� ��� ���� ‚����� ����� ��������€������ƒ���� �‚��������������� ������ ���� ������� ������ ����� �������� ��������� ����������������������������� ����� ����� ������ � �������� ���� ������� ����� ����� ��� ���� ������ �� ��„�������� …������� � ���� ��������� ����� ��� ���� †���� ‡������ �������� ��� ������ ˆ‰�Š�� ���� †���� ‡����� ����� ���� ����� ���� �� ������ �� ‹�Œ� ����� ������ �������� ��� ���� Ž����� �‘�� �� ������ �� ����’“������������������������������� †“�†����������ƒ����� “������������������������������������� „����������������†����‡��������������� „����� �€�� �‘�� �� �€� ���� ����� ��� ƒ����� ����� �� ­������ ”•�� ����� ������� �� ‹Š� �€� ����������–���� ���������������������� ���� ����� ��� ‚†� � ��� ‡������ ���� †���� ‡����� ������ ������ ������ ��� ���� ������ ��������������������������„��������‘����� ��� ‰Š� ���� ���� ������� �€� � � ��� ƒ����� ��������������������Š‰�Œ�� ������������������������„����� ������� � ����������������������‘���������������� ­������ ��� ���������� ‚†� ������ ����� �����������������������Š‰�‹� ���� ������ „������� ���� ���� ���� ��� ��� ������������������������������������†���� ‡����������������€�������������������� ���������������������“�����������‡����� ��������� ������������������ˆ�‹�� �����������„��������������������������� ����������������� ��€���������������‘���� ���� ��������� ��������‚�������������������� ����������������������� ����������� � †��� “�������� ����� ������� ����� �� ˆ� ���� �€��‘��������� �­���������������‚†����� Junior Nick Volpone lines up for a kick. (Left to Right) Sophomore Mike Golay, Sr. Angel Ramos, and Sr. Chris Rodriguez getting set before the play during the Colonles loss to Susquhanna on Saturday, Oct. 25. Photos by Zach Paraway and Sam Mullen By Zach Paraway Sports Editor Senior Xavier Powell takes aim to pass in Saturday's game against Susque- �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Sports 20 WBB: Colonels are ready to leave it all on the court By Adam Grunt Asst. Sports Editor As the Wilkes University women’s basketball team returns to the court this fall and winter, the Colonels are looking to build on last season’s successes and make a deep playoff run. Head coach Al Berger is entering his second season at the helm and aims to instill a competitive spirit in his team. “I expect a competitive season from our group,” Berger said. “We have a lot of growing to do as individuals and as a program, and a challenging schedule ahead, but I’m confident that the hard work we put in on a daily basis will translate to success on the court.” The team returns two starters this season: Yami Matos and Nadia Evanosky. With many new faces, including five first years and three transfers, the Colonels are looking to compete in the Landmark Conference. Last season, the team finished with an overall record of 9-16, including a 5-13 mark against conference opponents. Junior Madison Robel is particularly excited about this season’s squad. “I’m thrilled to play with this team,” Robel said. “We already have great chemistry and spark. Even though we’re a new team, with a second-year head coach and a new assistant coach, our focus is clear. We’re competing in a tough conference, but I know every player will make an impact, whether through physical or vocal support. From freshmen to seniors, we push each other past our limits and have each other’s backs, no matter the outcome. I expect big things from this team in my junior year.” Robel noted that, despite being young, the team is bonding well during practices. “Preseason practices have been fastpaced, intense, and vital for preparing us for our first scrimmage and game,” she said. “With half of the team made up of newcomers, we’ve had to adjust to new roles, positioning, and learning each other’s play styles. Our team culture emphasizes energy, effort, and enthusiasm. So far, we’ve lived up to that standard. We’ve grown since day one and continue to improve with every minute in the gym and weight room. Coach Berger and Coach Perez design practices to challenge us every day, always pushing us to be better.” Last season, Matos earned AllLandmark second team honors, averaging 13 points and grabbing 133 rebounds. She aims to maintain that level of production as a returning starter. The Colonels kick off their season on Nov. 9 against Albright College at the Marts Center. Landmark Conference play begins on Nov. 20 when the team travels to face the University of Scranton. For more information on the team and all of Wilkes’ athletic teams, visit gowilkesu.com. overall record and qualified for nationals as a junior. Cameron Butka, a senior from Scranton, Pennsylvania, is the program's first All-American since 2015. He earned the title during the 2023-24 season by placing fourth in the NCAA Championship. Butka has also been named “Male Athlete of the Year” for the past two seasons. Junior Sam Kimmel, from Drexel Hill, Pa., posted a 6-15 overall record last season. He believes that his experience over the past two seasons has enhanced his role as a teammate. "Now we are leading by example and showing the younger classmen the ropes and what it is like to wrestle at the college level," Kimmel said. Kimmel improved his record from his freshman to sophomore year by three wins and feels more confident heading into this season. "My skill set has improved drastically by focusing on my strengths and sharpening the areas where I needed work," he said. The season opener against rival King's College will take place on Nov. 2 at 9 a.m Wilkes University wrestling 2024-2025 season preview By Ava Tureen Sports Staff Writer The Wilkes University wrestling team is set to begin its 76th season on Nov. 2 against King's College. Last year, the team enjoyed a successful season, finishing with only a couple of losses. This season, the team welcomes 18 new freshmen, the largest freshman class in over five years. Freshmen make up over 40 percent of the roster, with only 24 returning wrestlers. Coach Jon Laudenslager is entering his 22nd season at Wilkes. He was promoted to director of wrestling in the summer of 2024, following the announcement of the addition of a women’s wrestling team for the 2025-26 season. He remains the head coach and has achieved 17 winning seasons, consistently reaching milestones. Senior Caleb Burkhart is a competitor to watch this season. Hailing from Hughesville, Pa., Burkhart is in his third season with the team. In previous years, he earned the title of MAC Wrestler of the Week and won the Ned McGinley Invitational. Last season, he recorded a 32-11 �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 Sports 21 Wilkes men’s ice hockey 2024-25 season preview Andrew Marshallsay Sports Staff Writer With the temperatures falling and fall sports nearing an end, the winter season is almost here. A sport that seems to define winter at its core is ice hockey. In just a few days, the Wilkes men’s hockey team will take the ice, this year in a new conference with some familiar foes. The Colonels were part of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) and the MAC from the 2018-19 season to the 2022-23 season. In 2023, they joined the Landmark Conference, which does not sponsor ice hockey. The team only played in UCHC games in the 2023-24 season. Winning MAC titles in 2020 and 2022, the Colonels hope to continue their success in the conference, with time and more on the line. The conference now has its automatic playoff qualification, meaning the team will no longer play in the UCHC. Last season, the Colonels made it to the UCHC playoffs after amassing a regular season record of 18-9-0, with a 15-50 record in conference play. The team made it to the UCHC semifinals, losing an overtime thriller against nationally ranked Stevenson University, 3-4. Entering his sixth season at the helm, Head Coach Tyler Hynes says the team has had an excellent preseason. “Our team has had an outstanding fall in the classroom, weight room, and in the community," Hynes said. "Now that we are practicing every day, it’s been encouraging to see the shape our returners are in. and how quickly our newcomers are adjusting to college hockey." Entering their first year of collegiate hockey with the Colonels include defenseman Tyler Boudreau, as well as forwards Jake Kloss, Nick Del Gaizo and Easton Stafford. “We hope a number of players can build on the success they had last season, and so far in practice they seem poised to do just that, Hines continued.” Last year, the Colonels had success with their offensive play, outscoring opponents 100-64 across the span of the 2023-24 season. Goaltending was another strong suit for Wilkes, as they had a team average of .924 save percentage and 2.36 goals allowed average. The Wilkes power play was also effective, with a success rate of about 31 percent. On the other hand, the Colonels’ penalty kill was also effective, with opponents scoring about 15.5 percent of the time. Senior goaltender Anthony Del Tufo said that expectations are high. “We expect to work from the first puck drop to the last, making our presence known in each arena we play in," he said. "We expect to not only be a contender but play deep into the season and for a championship. This team has had success against MAC opponents before so we expect to continue that." Familiar opponents that the Colonels will face this year include King’s College, Lebanon Valley College and Stevenson. A new team enters the mix as well for Wilkes. They’ll face off against Misericordia three times this season, as the Cougars begin their inaugural season. Both Del Tufo and Hynes agree that there are some standout players to look for this season. They say to look out for forwards Nick Swain and Cam Lowe, as well as defensemen Cole Jungwirth, Joe Johnson, Luke Dobles and Judson McGrath. Swain was second on the team last season in points, scoring 20 goals. Johnson and Jungwirth were first and second on the team in assists. For Lowe, he was the team’s fourth-highest point scorer with 26. Returning senior goaltender Jack Perna took over the duties from Michael Patterson-Jones last season and did it spectacularly. Perna played in 17 contests overall, amassing a record of 11-5 with one shutout, a .919 save percentage, and a GAA of 2.42 The Colonels begin the regular season on Nov. 1, with an away contest at seventhranked SUNY Geneseo. Face off is slated for 7 p.m. After that, the Colonels begin their MAC campaign against King’s on Nov. 8. Face off against the Monarchs is slated also for 7 p.m. at the Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston, Pa. �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 22 Sports Athlete of the Week Jess Shea Sophomore, Midfield, Women's Soccer The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Shea scored the lone goal in the Colonels loss to Elizabethtown College. If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have What had been your favorite wanted to play? sports memory from your time I would want to play softball. I feel as a Colonel? like if I stuck with it from when I My favorite memory as a Colonel was little, I would've been good. was last season when we played King's College. I scored my first What has been your favorite college goal in that game and the sports memory overall? environment was incredible tto be When my club team won a in. game to make it to the National Championship series in Orlando, What is your favorite professional Flordia sports team (any sport)? Buffalo Bills What is your favorite post-game meal? What is your favorite thing to do My favorite post-game meal is away from sports? Chinese food. Spend as much time with my friends and family. I love being How do you feel about being around them and any opportunity selected as the Athlete of the I get to see them I take it. Week? I feel honored to be selected as What is your favorite part of Athlete of the week. I put a lot of being an athlete at Wilkes? work and energy into soccer and The balance between school and I love it so much, so anytome I soccer. I also love my teammates receive an award like this I am and the team environment here. extremely grateful Major: Political Science Hometown: Franklin, NJ What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? My go-to sports movie is The Blind Side. I absolutely love that movie. The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Asst. Sports Editor �The Beacon October 30, 2024 Sports Athlete of the Week Xavier Powell Senior, Quarterback, Football The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Powell led the Colonels offense with four total touchdowns in the 69-24 win over Keystone College. He went 19 for 22 with 330 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Powell also added 35 rushing yards and another touchdown with his legs. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? My favorite sports memory What had been your favorite overall is winning the Mayor’s sports memory from your time as Cup in 2022 and 2024 a Colonel? Winning the Mayor’s Cup and What is your favorite postMVP two times game meal? Texas Roadhouse What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? How do you feel about being New York Knicks selected as the Athlete of the Week? What is your favorite thing to do So thankful to be selected as away from sports? Athlete of the Week. All Glory to Spend time with family and friends God Major: Sports Management Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? The brothers I met along the way What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? Evolution of the Black Quarterback If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Basketball The Beacon/Sam Mullen Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Assistant Sports Editor Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �The Beacon - October 30, 2024 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, 2024 October 30 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 October 30 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/cbaa861fd54dc772ff9d9b985e928fc4.pdf 82e912ad9b32a0fcf9c6df175e202f25 PDF Text Text The Beacon - December 4, 2024 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 77, Issue 11 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Are snow days a thing of the past? Students chime in. By Adam Grundt Asst. Sports Editor Ah, snow days. What used to be the highlight of our days in grade school, now receives mixed reviews from some students. As the years go by, folks seem to outgrow the snow day. Me? I don’t think I could ever. To me, there’s nothing like opening the curtain, seeing a foot of snow and laying around all day watching my favorite comfort show or playing video games. Now, after high school and the pandemic, there really is no such thing as a “snow day.” Since COVID-19 and the pandemic seemingly shifted everything virtual, online instruction has become more prevalent. Although it could be a safer option in the event of a snow day, some professors will often shift their instruction from in person to virtual, and teach the class over Zoom. Long story short, some instructors still give students the day off due to weather, others just shift the way they instruct. On Nov. 22, Wilkes University saw its first snowfall of the season, which led to a virtual closure. Photo by Sydney Allabaugh President Cant announces 2024 holiday card contest winner, page 5 The Sordoni Art Galley hosts “Bark at the Gallery,” page 10 A review of newly released “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” page 16 ...SNOW DAYS cont. on p.12 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins interns reflect on experiences, page 20 �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Emma Broda: emma.broda@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Nov. 20 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei News Staff Writer Student Government held its tenth weekly meeting of the Fall 2024 semester on Nov. 20. This meeting addressed funding requests, club reports, Club of the Month voting and the Casino Night event analysis. The Student Government treasurer began the meeting with an updated Student Government budget report of $8,200. The Multicultural Student Coalition followed the treasury report with their week two of two funding requests. The Multicultural Student Coalition works to bring together all students and provide education as well as experience with different cultures. The coalition is bringing five of its executive board members and 16 students to a 76ers basketball game. The coalition is currently working with a representative of the 76ers team to secure a total of 21 tickets to the game. The student trip will take place on Jan. 24 during the Spring 2025 semester and they will travel to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. For students who are interested in attending the trip, the Multicultural Student Coalition will be hosting a two-day scavenger hunt around campus. If a student finds a scavenger hunt item, they will be given the opportunity to attend the 76ers game. At the game, students will be given a glimpse into sports management careers as well as speaking with others at the game about diversity statistics and how to improve them. The Coalition is requesting a total of $1,080 to help fund the 21 tickets to the basketball game along with transportation costs. The Student Government voted to allocate the full $1,080 to the Multicultural Student Coalition for the trip. The next presentation was held by the Student Government president. She showed potential updates of Ross Hall for her week one of two funding requests. Ross Hall is currently under renovation to become a new building for clubs around campus to hold their supplies or host their meetings. Currently, the walls of the building are a bare white color, but the Student Government is working to cover the walls with Wilkes University themed murals and large stickers. The Student Government president is requesting a total of $1,200 for the updates to the walls of Ross Hall. She will return next week for her week two of two funding requests. The following item on the agenda was the nomination and voting for Club of the Month for November. Four clubs were nominated by Student Government General Board members. After the voting was completed, the Pre-Professional Health Society was declared as Club of the Month for November. The Casino Night event analysis was presented by a Student Government executive board member. The representative reported that all 200 hoodies were given away during the Tuesday pop-up giveaway and all 150 beanies were given away between the Ross Hall soft opening event and the Casino Night event. The representative along with the rest of Student Government discussed the Casino Night event and decided that there could have been some small improvements to the event but it was an overall success. The Student Government Executive Board reported that they reviewed and approved the club reports of the Chess Club, Space and Astronomy Club and Geo Explorers Club. Student Government did not meet for committee work this week and adjourned the meeting after their presentation of club reports. Student Government will meet for their last meeting of the Fall 2024 semester on Dec. 4. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Beacon News Staff Peppermint Milkshake Giveaway Student Government’s Class of 2026 will give out free milkshakes on Dec. 5 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the SUB. White Elephant Bingo Programming Board will host a white elephant bingo on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in the JPAC. Attendees who come dressed in their best winter pajamas will receive an extra bingo board. Movie/Game Night The first-year class will host a movie and game night on Dec. 6 from 6 to 9 pm. In the JPAC. Attendees can bring blankets, sip on hot chocolate, eat popcorn and relax before finals week. All attendees will also automatically be entered to win a door prize. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Fall 2024/Spring 2025 December 5 - Peppermint Milkshake Giveaway 5 - White Elephant Bingo 6 - Movie/Game Night 9 - Parking Application Deadline 20 - Diploma Order Deadline January 14 - Welcome Back Giveaway 17 - MSC’s One World 23 - Council of the Clubs 28 - Club Day 2.0 Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: emma.broda@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 News 3 Post-election, what is next for the United States? 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������ ���� ����� ���� �� �� ������������� ������ �� ���� ����� FOR MORE ELECTION COVERAGE, VISIT: WWW.THEWILKESBEACON.COM �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 News 4 Wilkes University GSA holds fundraiser at Barnes & Noble By Leah Smith Asst. Opinion Editor The Wilkes Gender and Sexuality Alliance recently held a fundraiser at the Wilkes-Barre Barnes and Noble located at Arena Plaza. Upon entering the building, GSA president Morgan Steiner handed out slips of paper that would honor the fundraiser after making a purchase from either the bookstore or Starbucks cafe. A portion of the proceeds would go to GSA after any purchase was made.  Steiner was excited to hold this fundraiser and was inspired by the club’s faculty adviser, Helen Davis, who previously held a Barnes and Noble fundraiser for her child’s school.  “We’re holding this fundraiser because we want to be able to do more things as a club," Steiner said. "We want to come up with more events." She added that she hoped people would want to read more after attending the event. With the paranoia of what the future holds for LGBTQ+ individuals, she hopes that many people can find something fun or something they would enjoy with potentially trying times ahead. Photos by Leah Smith GSA President Morgan Steiner holding up GSA fundraiser paper slips. My purchases to advocate for the GSA: the Fall 2024 edition of Fangoria magazine and the compact comic edition of "Harley Quinn & the Gotham City Sirens" by Paul Dini. �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 News 5 President Cant announces 2024 holiday card contest winner Maria Gonzalez reveals the inpiration for her winning design By Andrew Marshallsay News/Sports Staff Writer It may be hard to believe, but the fall semester is nearing its conclusion, meaning the holiday season is here. The start of the holiday season means it is time for a Wilkes University tradition: the holiday card contest. Last month, President Greg Cant announced that the fifth annual Wilkes holiday card contest would be held. The deadline to enter a submission was Nov. 18. Voting for the winning design was held until Nov. 20. When the contest began, it was announced that the winner would receive a gift pack that included gift cards for Amazon, Target and Starbucks, as well as some Wilkes swag. Cant announced the winner on his Instagram page on Nov. 25. The winner for the contest this year was Maria Gonzalez, a senior biochemistry student and international student from Panama. Gonzalez’ design featured a group of people around a campfire, including the statue of John Wilkes. The design is also accompanied by snow and a snowman. “With my little design, I wanted to illustrate how Wilkes, represented by the iconic John Wilkes statue, has played a special role in not only my life, but also in the lives of so many students,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez cited her Wilkes community as inspiration for the contest winning design. “The faculty and staff, like the statue itself, have been an important part helping to brighten our days and guide us through our academic process,” she said. “I tried my best to create a design that reflected that support we receive and the sense of community that at least I have felt at Wilkes.” At right: Maria Gonzalez and Dr. Cant with the winning card design. Photo courtesy of Dr. Cant Coming up in 2025, Club Day 2.0 returns to campus By Brady Melovitz Layout Designer Club Day is an event where all clubs on campus gather in one place to recruit new members. However, what makes Club Day 2.0 in the spring different from its counterpart in the fall? The Student Government Executive President Nolee Ana Grabowski believes there really is only one key difference between both Club Days aside from where they are held. “The purpose of Club Day 2.0 is to allow any transfer students, students who just want to get involved or students who missed the opportunity to attend in the fall one more chance to see what our university has to offer with clubs,” Grabowski said. The Student Government Vice President Marytere Quintana-Avila believes that Club Day is also important just for the clubs to show off what they have to offer. “Club Day is the biggest opportunity where student leaders have the chance to showcase what their club is all about and highlight their passion and commitment and commitment to their organizations,” Quintana-Avila said. Nolee Ana said the event this year will be the first time where they will have pizza as the primary food option. While they didn’t say exactly where it's from, Quintana-Avila did provide a hint as to where; they will reveal that information when it becomes available. “No spoilers because you’ll have to wait and see what we have to offer on our @wilkessg instagram account, but what I will say is this year we are promoting two local small businesses from the Wyoming Valley Area,” she said. Unlike Club Day in the fall, Club Day 2.0 will not be held on the Greenway but instead will be held in the McHale Athletic Center. Last semester Club Day was host to over 40 different clubs on Campus. For those who are on the fence about Club Day 2.0, Quintana-Avila had advice for them to consider. “Definitely come out and check out what Club day 2.0 has to offer,” Quintana-Avila said. “It's an incredible way for students to learn about all the different ways they can participate in student life and grow as student leaders. We have lots of different organizations and if they don’t see a club that they want to join they can be inspired to start their own. "Club Day 2.0 is the perfect first step in getting involved on campus, and if all else fails it’s a great way to engwwwage with the campus community and meet some new people while eating free food!” For more information regarding this upcoming event, be on the lookout for posters around campus that will reveal more information about the event such as the date and time of Club Day 2.0. Also be sure to check out the Student Government Instagram at @wilkessg as more information will be made available on their social media in the upcoming weeks. �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 News 6 Merriment comes to doors throughout campus Students deck the halls, or at least their doors, and spread some holiday spirit Photos by Shannon Slominski Special to the Beacon �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment assistant editor: anthony.cazun@wilkes.edu Wilkes theatre productions bring variety to the spring By Kailey Vogel Contributing Writer This spring semester, the Wilkes University Theatre Department will be putting on productions of the musical “Between the Lines,” by Timothy Allen McDonald, and the Shakespearean play, “As You Like It.” To start the semester off, the department will work on “Between the Lines,” a musical adaptation of the novel by the same name. The musical was written by Timothy Allen McDonald with the score and lyrics composed and written by Kate Anderson and Elyssa Samsel. This book was originally written by Jodi Picoult and covers a teenage girl, Delilah, who escapes her harsh reality at school through the comfort of literature, only to find that her favorite fairy tales are coming to life. Cally Williams, sophomore musical theatre major, expressed their enthusiasm for “Between The Lines.” “I’m excited that we’re featuring more shows by female playwrights,” Williams said. “There is also LGBTQ representation in the musical which I think is awesome and super important. In general though, it’s a super fun show. I like to describe it as ‘fairytales meet “Mean Girls.”’” As someone very interested in costuming, Williams said that they’re “excited to see how these shows are going to be costumed, especially with the fairytale and fantasy aspect of ‘Between the Lines.’” This musical will take place in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts from Feb. 20 through Feb. 23. Williams also shared their thoughts on the upcoming production of “As You Like It.” “It is of course an older show, written by William Shakespeare,” Williams said. “I’m also excited to do a Shakespeare show and work on it in an academic setting where I can explore the text and historical background,” they said. “As You Like It” will undergo its rehearsal process shortly after the closing of “Between The Lines.” This play subverts the traditional rules of romance. Gender roles, nature and politics are confused in a play that reflects on how confusing yet enjoyable life can be. Taking place in the late 16th century, the play follows the exile of Duke Senior into the Forest of Arden. His daughter, Rosalind is banished by Duke Fredrick not long after, causing her to leave with his daughter Celia. The cousins switch genders, disguising themselves as men, to go venture into the forest in search of Rosalind’s father. As more characters find themselves in the forest, Shakespeare utilizes all his elements of Romantic Comedy to deliver love, lessons and many laughs. This play will take place in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts from April 10 through April 13. Williams said they were, “excited to do two shows that are so drastically different.” All theater productions are free for Wilkes University students. If you are interested in auditioning for either show, auditions for “As You Like It” are being held on Dec. 4 and “Between the Lines” auditions are on Dec. 5. “Theatre also gives us a chance to share stories that aren’t often told,” Williams said. “Theatre can help us express important thoughts and topics to audiences.” For more information on how to get involved, contact Dr. Jon Liebetrau. �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment Sydney Allabaugh: 8 Sam Mullen: Thought I Was Dead Tyler, the Creator, ScHoolboy Q, Santigold Sounds of Someday - Radio Company Stephen Youkoski: Babydoll - Dominic Fike Waterloo - ABBA Megan Davis: Juna - Clairo Adam Grundt: Leah Smith: This Fire - Killswitch Engage Emma Broda Roman Holiday - Fontaines D.C. Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �The Beacon – December 4, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 The Wilkes University Counseling Center is located on the second floor of Passan Hall at 267 South Franklin Street across from the Arnaud C. Marts Sports and Conference Center. Students can schedule an appointment Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by contacting office assistant Laura Cease: 570-408-4100 laura.cease@wilkes.edu The Wilkes University Support Line 570-408CHAT (2428) is available 24/7 for any student crisis. In the event of an emergency, please contact Wilkes University Police Department at 570-408-4999 or 911. Graphic by Natalia Williams �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 The Sordoni Art Gallery hosts "Bark at the Gallery" SPCA of Luzerne County brings adoptable dogs By Kailey Vogel Contributing Writer On Nov. 21, students came to the Sordoni Art Gallery to pet adoptable dogs provided by SPCA of Luzerne County. Pictured: Ralph soaking up all the attention from students. Student Meghan Sandt, first-year Neuroscience major, falls in love with dog at Sordoni’s Bark at the Gallery event. One dog, Bronson, enjoying his time at the Sordoni Art Gallery. Junior English major Sydney Ahrberg and 5-year-old puppy, Ralph, enjoying all the love from students during club hours. �I I E C H R I S TMA S T Y K J F4, 2024 E Z Z S A U R S Y The Beacon - Decemmber QU I D S L E I GH T AM S C X C L L Q G C ZWN I Word Search H A N U K K A H S O I T S COO K I E S Q E QN A T BWB R O V F H F M T C L I S T M A S TGNROL Z F D R E I D E L E Z S A U R S YI OE RO V L S Y I T N R A T E I G H T A MF EA NS T O C K I N G S U O Q G C Z W N IT LT AK H W L A Z Q O N S E A H S O I T SS CHMH R E I N D E E R X Y S Q E Q N A TT AX EW R J E L F H F F M I F H F M T C LBNE NL L S K W A N Z A A F R E I D E L EJ DU TX M K S N O W F L A K Y I T N R A T L C K I NG S UO E T snowflake A Z QSanta O NClaus S E I A Christmas reindeer N D Estockings E R X Y F T Hanukkah L F HKwanzaa F F M I V R dreidel mistletoe W A Ncandle Z A A F C E cookies sleigh N OW F L A K E E NO OLife, R Arts & Entertainment E N L A CM A E N N D T L C E T I A F T V R C E E E 11 Word Search Holiday Word Search HOLIDAY EDITION ornament winter snowflake bells reindeer elf mistletoe gifts sleigh noel wreath ® tree I I E C H R I S TMA S T Y K J F bells E Z Z S A U R S Y elf Q U I D giftsS L E I G H T A M S C X C noelL L Q G C Z W N I wreath tree H A N U K K A H S O I T S COO K I E S Q E QN A T BWB R O V F H F M T C L G R L Z F D R E I D E L E I E O V L S Y I T N R A T F A S T O C K I NG S UO T T K HW L A Z Q O N S E S HH R E I ND E E R X Y T XWR J E L F H F F M I B E L L S KWA N Z A A F J U X M K S N OW F L A K Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator © 2007 - 2024 Education.com Answer Key: I I E C H R I S TMA S T Y K J F E Z Z S A U R S Y QU I D S L E I GH T AM S C X C L L Q G C ZWN I H A N U K K A H S O I T S COO K I E S Q E QN A T BWB R O V F H F M T C L G R L Z F D R E I D E L E I E O V L S Y I T N R A T F A S T O C K I NG S UO T T K HW L A Z Q O N S E S HH R E I ND E E R X Y T XWR J E L F H F F M I B E L L S KWA N Z A A F J U X M K S N OW F L A K N O E L C A N D L E I F V C E O R N A M E N T C T A T R E E Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator © 2007 - 2024 Education.com N O E L C A N D L E I F V C E O R N A M E N T C T A T R E E ���The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: leah.smith@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Managing Editor: Stephen Youkoski Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Emma Broda Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Leah Smith Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Laura De Lora Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - Shawn Carey Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Andrew Marshallsay Sports - Ava Tureen 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Did college students forget how to read? It is more than likely that in recent years you may have noticed that your peers, or even yourself, are reading significantly less. Perhaps assigned readings seem like a daunting task in your busy life, or you have gotten used to relying on online resources to summarize things for you. Or maybe you just find yourself reading for pleasure far less than you did as a kid. What’s the big deal? The big deal is that this change in reading is an issue in and of itself, but it raises questions as to why this is happening. Luckily, to students feeling guilty about reading less, the blame is not all on you. One of the most obvious reasons for this change is the way technology has been introduced and encouraged in the lives of students. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, has done a substantial amount of research on the topic of technology being introduced at a young age. He argues that because technology and the internet is being presented to children younger and younger, it is becoming a more addictive form of entertainment. We have become far more reliant on quick entertainment through short-form content because of things like TikTok, Instagram reels or YouTube shorts. And books do not provide that. Even books intended for recreational reading and entertainment require more commitment and attention than many are willing to give up. Technology has also made it easier for students to be able to “read” for classes without ever actually using their brain. It is becoming increasingly easier to ask AI or websites like SparkNotes to critically think about a reading for you. This makes it even more difficult to convince students to read because they are no longer learning how to think about what they are reading. Critical thinking and reading comprehension is a skill that you have to develop. Ideally, this is achieved throughout your education, so by the time you reach higher education. However, professors are finding that their students are coming to college having not learned how to read effectively in high school. Less schools are requiring students to read longer texts. Not only that, but students are struggling to find the important information in texts no matter the length. Efficient reading in college does not always mean reading each and every word of a text. In fact, it is a skill to know what the most important parts of a text are in order to understand its argument and relevance to a broader conversation. This does not always require reading an entire book, chapter or article. Historian Karin Wulf emphasizes this and has her own method she provides to students to read efficiently. Why all of this matters comes down to another broader debate happening, what is college for? The world around us operates in a way that emphasizes productivity with little attention being paid to education. Now it is almost expected from students in higher education that their only goal would be to walk out with a degree. If college is about earning a degree to get into a certain field and nothing else, why would students waste their time actually absorbing information and skills not deemed “marketable?” Too many students are seeing reading comprehension and critical thinking as a waste of time because of this. If technology can (usually incorrectly) pick out information from a text, they do not see a need to do it themselves. We cannot be entirely sure what the impact of this will be, but it is clear that students reading less is weakening skills and creating even more of a reliance on technology. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 - December 4, 2024 Opinion 15 The Icebox: Reviewing mobile game “Pokémon TCG Pocket” By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer It has been a while since the last Icebox review, but not long enough to have missed the release of a new mobile game which I believe deserves all of your attention. It is free to play, easy to learn and already very well-known at a global level. The game was released a day before Halloween and is called “Pokémon TCG Pocket.” If you aren’t familiar with Pokémon TCG, it’s one of the leading reasons for the popularity of Pokémon. “TCG” stands for “trading card game” and like its name involves trading, collecting and battling Pokémon cards. It is one of the best ways to get into deck building games and learning how to synergize cards effectively. A lot of players collect and trade to build the best deck, while some only do the collecting because there is joy in that as well. The Pokémon card market is actually impressive. However, the basic idea of TCG is to take something as popular as Pokémon and put it into a format that is more physical and interactive. One can play against people through the platform called “Pokémon TCG Online.” “Pokémon TCG Pocket” is essentially a simplified version of “Pokémon TCG Online,” where turns are faster and mechanics are at a more basic level. The game begins with a helpful tutorial for collecting and battling. The interface is fairly simple and shares a resemblance to “Pokémon Go.” There are already numerous mobile titles created by GameFreak for Pokémon which all share the same thematic interface and have options to link apps to each other. The first thing to notice about “Pocket” is that collecting cards is very easy and generous. Players can open two booster packs, each containing five cards, every twelve hours that they log in. There are also booster packs associated with completing missions and participating in limited events. A lot of the events even hand out free cards specific to the theme. There are also items which allow you to skip the twelve-hour waiting period in an instant, and said items are easy to obtain in large amounts. I have yet to discover the use of microtransactions in this app, or if they increase after the game picks up more players. As of now, it is significantly more generous than games such as Marvel SNAP, which uses money for collection, and Clash Royale, which uses money for winning. Deck building in this game is quite simple. First, choose which energy will generate during a match for your deck. The energy should ideally match the required energy types of your cards. For example, a deck focused around evolving Squirtle would need a lot of water type energy. You can, however, choose multiple types of energy to generate, which appear in random order. After deciding which energy to use, the next step would be to build a deck that is mostly the same type. At least four or five basic cards would be needed, and some of those should be able to evolve. Basic cards are the lowest level Pokémon cards, which must be played first in order for higher level cards to be put into play. I would not be able to play Wartortle unless I had first played Squirtle. This is due to the fact that Wartortle is level one while Squirtle is basic. Additionally, Squirtle needs to evolve into Wartortle for it to be played. Evolution can only occur at least one turn after a card’s initial reveal. During gameplay, a player can have up to seven cards in their hand at once. Each turn they draw or discard a card from their hand. There can only be one attacker in play at a time, called the Active Pokémon. There are also three Benched Pokémon, who are interchangeable with the Active Pokémon each turn for a small cost of energy. One last thing to note about attacking is that Pokémon types have weaknesses and resistances to other types. This could be a reason for a game to turn out very differently than planned. As players take turns attacking, they may also have to flip a coin to determine how much damage, if at all, an attack will do. Pocket was designed to be simple and inviting. Playing it feels rewarding in a unique way. Eventually, I will have a deck that focuses on the likes of Greninja and Lucario, who are my favorite Pokémon. When that happens, I may bring “Pocket” back into the Icebox. spice worm, half-man Emperor Leto II ascends. In the early parts of the series, there is a rich, juicy parallel between the historical rise of Islam and the events of “Dune: Part II”—and maybe also in the books; I wouldn’t know, I did not read them. In brief, the first Islamic Caliphate, the Rashiduns, was created after the passing of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. His closest companions conferred in council to elect the first Caliph, organize the army and complete the unification of the Arabian tribes under the caliphate. As an interesting anecdote, the Prophet sent several letters across the known world—to Rome, Iran, Abyssinia, and across Arabia—proclaiming his message and offering them the chance to join the faith, receiving mixed reactions. After Arabia was unified, and with negotiations rejected by both the Romans and the Iranians, the army of the caliphate, under the legendary general Khalid ibn al-Walid, began a twofront campaign against these ancient powers. Long story short, Rome lost all of North Africa and the Middle East, and the Iranian Empire was destroyed. Whoopsie! If you are familiar with “Dune,” the parallels should already be evident. I won’t draw comparisons between specific individuals, as that is largely inapplicable, but I will focus on the broader historical beats. Foremost is the unification of desert tribes under a single political entity: as it was in the 600s with the Arabian tribes, so too in “Dune” with the Fremen of Arrakis. As it turns out, living in an environment that can kill you fosters a stalwart warrior culture. In the movie “Dune,” Paul leads the Fremen in a guerilla war against the forces of Baron Harkonnen before initiating an open confrontation upon the Emperor’s arrival. Parallel to this, the Rashidun army used their desert expertise to great effect, especially against the Sassanids. While the Sassanid cavalry was largely restricted to roads due to their heavy armor, the Caliphate’s forces used light, highly maneuverable cavalry to strike at points along the road networks. What convinces me that these similarities between history and fiction are intentional is the modeling of the Empire in “Dune” on Sassanid Iran. The Emperor in “Dune” is Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. If nothing else, the word “Padishah” itself sounds like a derivative of “Shah” or “Shahanshah,” which was the official title of the Sassanid Emperor. Additionally, the Landsraad—the assembly of noble families in the Empire—strikes a strong resemblance to the seven great houses of Iran in the Sassanid court. In both cases, the power of the crown had to be balanced and sometimes came into conflict with the nobility. Ultimately, both of these stories conclude with great power originating from unexpected places. In “Dune,” the surprise attack by Paul and the tenacious fighting of his army unseat the Emperor. An apocalyptic campaign follows, where billions die, dozens of worlds are sterilized and religions are wiped away as Muad’Dib’s Jihad spreads from planet to planet, creating a new order. In a very different vein, in real life, the Caliphate launched its own Jihad, simultaneously challenging both superpowers of the ancient world and rising to prominence after centuries of relative silence. Exploring the parallels between “Dune” and the rise of Islam By Noah Garraoui Contributing Writer “Dune” is a movie where things happen. For a Western audience generally unfamiliar with the culture of the Near East—from Libya to Afghanistan, and from Turkey to Yemen—the world of “Dune” feels extremely unfamiliar. In mainstream media, we typically only receive caricatures or misunderstandings of the culture, philosophy, and history of this region. Meanwhile, “Dune,” with its extensive use of elements from Islamic, Arab and Iranian cultures, captures a perspective on how the complexities and harshness of life in an arid environment can shape culture and, ultimately, history. With that perspective, I think most people could reevaluate their preconceived notions of broader Islamic civilization and come to understand why it is the way it is. For the most part, I’m only considering the events of the early “Dune” books, as they take a sharp turn away from historical parallels later on, especially after the half- �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Opinion 16 A review of newly-released “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” Was the “Glicked” trend worth it? By Leah Smith Asst. 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��­��� ���� �� ���� � ­��Š�� ��­ ������ � ��� ������� ������­����� ������ � �������������������������­���  ������� � �� ���� � � ���� � ��� ����������� �� ����­���� �� ���� ��� � � ���� ������������������������ ������ ���������� ��������� ������ ������ ������� ������­������ ������������������ ��­��  ���� ���� ����� ���­�� � ��� �����  ���������������������� �������� �� Graphic by Lara Mullen �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Opinion 17 Why “Arcane” is the golden standard for adult animation By Shawn Carey Opinion Staff Writer The phrase “best show on TV” gets tossed around a lot. Every month or so a new television show that gets granted this title. In most cases, it’s usually some crime or historical drama. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s nice to see some variety. “Arcane” is the current hottest show on the market, a Netflix series based on the video game “League of Legends.” What makes it different from its competitors is that it’s fully animated. The show is animated by French studio “Fortiche Production.” The series tells the story of two sisters, Vi and Jinx, and their involvement in a war between the utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed underbelly of Zaun. The show has been receiving countless praise due to its maturity and complexity. A trait that’s hard to come by in adult animation. The past few years have seen a large increase in the number of adult animated series. Just this year alone, we saw the release of “Hazbin Hotel,” “Twilight of the Gods,” and “Kite Man: Hell Yeah!” With that being said, most of these shows don’t really feel that “adult.” Now, I know that’s a bit of a loaded statement but let me explain. Most adult animated shows tend to have their own idea of what they consider “adult.” Ideas that honestly, seem pretty childish. Let’s take the previously mentioned “Hazbin Hotel” as an example. That show’s idea of maturity is cursing. If you know me, then you know that I have no problem with cursing. I have quite the sailor’s mouth to be completely honest. However, I am a real person, not a character in a TV show. Dialogue is extremely important in animation. It helps us understand a character’s personality, what makes them unique. For example, having a character who regularly curses could indicate quite a few things about themselves. Perhaps they’re the rough and tumble type, or maybe they’re just straight up rude. The problem with “Hazbin Hotel” is that every single character is cursing constantly. Every sentence features a curse, even during key and emotional moments. It destroys all the tension. This isn’t exclusive to “Hazbin,” most adult animated shows rely on extravagant cursing. Comedies are a prime example of this. Instead of having real and solid jokes, every punchline is a curse. Speaking of jokes, there’s a lot involving bodily fluids. As the name implies, gross-out humor is focused around the idea of shocking viewers and disguising wider audiences. Again, to each their own. I don’t mind it and I understand why it exists. However, it doesn’t really make for good television. Sure a quick low-brow joke is fine every once in a while, but having it be the only type of joke in a show is a major problem. Once again, it doesn’t really feel mature. Pretty much every new FOX series is a prime example of this. So what do I believe makes a show “adult?” What makes “Arcane” different from all the other shows? Aimed at adults does not just mean more sex and violence, it should also mean more complex plots and deeper characters. The show should discuss topics that relate to issues that children can’t really understand. Let’s take a look at one of the most famous pieces of adult animation: “The Simpsons.” One of the reasons why “ The Simpsons” got so popular was due to it being a family sitcom. The early seasons have a strong emphasis on middle class issues, family drama and even mental health. The show honestly didn’t even have to be animated, it could’ve been live action. With that being said, it uses its animation to help further its story. “Arcane” deals with love, death, class conflict, mental illness and substance abuse. Issues that children can’t fully comprehend. Once again, you can make the argument that the show didn’t have to be animated, it could’ve been a traditional TV drama. However, just like the “Spider-verse” movies, it uses its animation to help elevate its story. So why don’t more studios try to create series and movies like “Arcane?” It takes effort. Now, I am aware how passive aggressive that sounds but let me explain. Animation tends to be less expensive, especially if the animation is bad. TV dramas also tend to be difficult to create. It takes a large group of talented writers to create a truly compelling story. As you’ve probably guessed, the safest type of show to write is by far comedies, especially a crude adult oriented one. The studios are faced with a dilemma. Spend years making a risky show which may or may not be a hit. Or, create four cheaply produced shows a year, with the chance of one of them being a hit. “Arcane” as a show is honestly one in a million. The studio took a chance and were greatly rewarded. It’s still too early to say but I hope that we can see a new trend; perhaps we’ll see studios actually taking a chance on adult animated dramas. Graphic by Laura De Lora �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Opinion 18 A review of detahjae's newest album "Lone, Borealis" An analysis of stand-out tracks, production, replayability By Logan Colonna Asst. Opinion Editor A few weeks ago, I was simply scrolling through TikTok when I found a snippet of a song, “Abyss.” I immediately was able to pull parallels to the likes of Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt with both the video itself and especially the soundscape of the track. I first thought that the song sounded a lot like something off of Tyler’s album, “Wolf.” With this, I fell in love with the snippet, eagerly waiting for the full track, as well as the album, to drop. Days later, I was once again scrolling through Tiktok. I found yet another snippet from detahjae’s upcoming album. This snippet was titled “Janice.” Yet again, I was able to relate it to Tyler, The Creator and his grammy-winning album, “IGOR.” With all of these comparisons being made, I was more than excited to hear what the entire album had to bring to the table. Finally, weeks after hearing the initial snippet, the album, “Lone, Borealis,” was released. As expected, I found myself enjoying the full tracks that the snippets hailed from. These tracks being both “Abyss” and “Janice,” which were both mentioned before. To add on, I thoroughly enjoyed “Equinox, á le train” as well as “GirlFriend.” As for “Abyss” it included a synth-filled instrumental along with detahjae filling his bars with witty lyrics and unlimited references. Seriously. If you were to look on Genuis’s annotations of the track, practically every line is highlighted. “Janice” is your typical love song. I adore the production as well as the vocals from detahjae and MARKTWOO throughout the track. I enjoy the loveydovey nature of the second verse, which contains detahjae saying that he wishes to hold hands and take silly pictures with Janice. “Equinox, á le train” is very similar to Tyler, The Creator’s “Jamba” off of “Wolf.” This comes from both the production and even detahjae’s flow. It’s just different enough to become its own track and be memorable despite being similar to other tracks. Lastly, “Girl-Friend” shows off “Wolf,” then a lot of that applies to the production seen here. My favorite instrumentals are from “Thought That We Were Just Friends,” “Equinox, á le train,” and “Beans.” “Thought That We Were Just Friends” detahjae dealing with his feelings in regards to his friend, who isn’t Janice *gasp*, and how he wants to pursue a romantic relationship with them. Yet again, there’s not a huge reason as to why, but I enjoy detahjae’s performance quite a bit on this track. While these are stand-outs for me, the entire track list is nothing short of great. As I partially said before, I genuinely enjoyed the production heard throughout the album. If you’ve read my review on Tyler, The Creator’s sticks out to me because the track itself is very fun sonically. As detahjae finishes each of his verses, the instrumental cuts out and a drum sequence starts playing, which for whatever reason, I adore. I often enjoy whenever artists stop talking and let the instrumental do the talking as detahjae does here. As I said prior, “Equinox, á le train,” has similarities to “Jamba” off of Wolf. This is because of the raunchy instrumental that is quickly made known to the listener. Yet again, if you’ve read my “Wolf ” review, you’d know that I love “Jamba.” With that being said, it’s no surprise that I enjoy this track as well. Finally, we have “Beans.” This track cranks up the “raunchiness” tenfold. With the “out-there” synths, the track can honestly be annoying to some listeners, but I love annoying. The track does opt in for a piano in some areas to calm down the overall tone of the track. It’s a nice counterpoint to the usual sound of the song. Overall, the production here, while it does lack originality, is great anyways. In the first weekend of “Lone, Borealis” being released, I’ve already listened to the album at least ten times, if not more. With that being said, the album is infinitely replayable. When thinking why this is, I blame the story that we see throughout the record. This story is detahjae’s journey to Lone, Borealis, the happiest place on Earth…which isn’t even on Earth. It’s on one of Saturn’s moons, Titan. Anyways, throughout this journey, we have dialogue between detahjae and Sal, detahjae’s robotic companion. This just helps the world-building of the album as well as giving the album as a whole some characteristics beyond the actual music. Between the short tracklist, which is only 15 tracks, the story, and the overall sound, I found myself coming back to the record a lot. With everything being said, I think this album is great. The big thing that is holding the record back is the fact that it’s similar to Tyler, The Creator and a few of his songs. While this isn’t a bad thing in this case, the songs that were entirely original were amazing, proving that detahjae can stay in his own lane and still succeed. In his next album, whenever it comes out, I’d like to see more original tracks from him just to see what he can truly do on his own. Despite my complaint, this album is still an 8 out of 10. Graphic by Carol Stratford �Sports 19 Sports The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu Winter athletes describe what winter breaks means for them By Zach Paraway Sports Editor For students, the time between sessions during last December and early January are a chance to refresh after a long semester. It's a chance to relax before coming back to do it all over again in January. For some however, it is not a complete relaxation for them. For all the students that leave Wilkes to go back to their homes far and wide, the winter athletes will stay and compete for the Colonels in various sports. The basketball teams, ice hockey teams, swimming teams and the wrestling team will all compete over the break between classes. As well, the men's volleyball team will begin their season before classes start in early January. For those winter athletes their experience is much different than that of a regular student. Both basketball teams will play multiple games over the break, Wrestling will have their annual Wilkes Open on Dec. 20. Both ice hockey team will play multiple games, including a Winter Classic in Pittsburgh. For more information on all winter sports, visit gowilkesu.com Gr. Joey Zovorsky: Basketball Jr. Trevor Gitski: Wrestling So. Madison Oguin: Basketball "Everyone is usually super excited for winter break and so are athletes but athletes that are in season during the break have a much shorter break. Being one of these athletes usually I would get almost a month long break but instead get two weeks and have to come back early. This is why athletes in season cherish this time they get. It can be a lot harder for these athletes because they don’t get as much time away from school. While this can be difficult, it also allows time to bond with your team and become closer them while being the only ones on campus along with the other athletes that also have to come back early as well." "So for my winter breaks obviously it’s tough knowing that the break is a lot shorter due to playing a winter sport but some things that I do over the winter break outside of the usual practice/competition time would beonestly just kinda spending more time with my friends on the team where a few of us will hang out together in one room, or since the cafeteria isn’t open all athletes we usually have a little bit of money that we get from the school in order to get food from different restaurants off campus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I know for some athletes during winter break may have a winter course, and since there’s a lot more free time outside of there scheduled practices, they spend some of their free time doing work for those courses as well" Jr. Yami Matos: Basketball "Winter break is one of my favorite parts of the basketball season. It’s a unique time when we can fully focus on the game and strengthen our bond as teammates without the added stress of schoolwork. As someone who values family, I think it’s important to come together as a team during this period, supporting each other while most of campus is quiet. It’s a special opportunity to celebrate the holidays, put in extra work to improve our skills, and enjoy some downtime together." "In my experience, this period has been a very formative time as a member of an athletic team. In a sense, it is an organic way to foster team bonding as everyone is so bored with no class that you are forced to hang out and get to know your teammates better. Oftentimes I've found myself getting meals with teammates, playing video games together, watching movies, and generally just hanging out, unknowingly making some of the most nostalgic memories. Also, as a member of the men's basketball team, we were afforded the privilege to take a trip down to Florida to play in a shootout in Daytona Beach. So while there are some negatives of not getting to spend as much time with family or take a break from everything, we conversely have the opportunity to boost team camaraderie in an informal setting, hone in on practice with only basketball on our minds, and, in special cases, travel with the team to face unfamiliar competition and discover new places. " �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 News 20 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins interns reflect on experiences Adam Grundt Sam Mullen �������� ���� �� �������� ��� �� ���� �� ��������� � ������� ���� ���� �������� ��� �� �������� �� �� �� ���� ��������� ��� ������ �� ������� ������� ���� ���� � ��������������� ��������� ����  ­€� �‚ �� ����� ��� ���� ����ƒ����� ���������  ������������������������������������� � � ���� ����� �������� ���� ����� ��� ������� � ��������� ������� „������������������������…�‚ �������†� ������� ��� ���� ������ƒ������ ��������� �� ��� ����������� � ��� �� ������� ���������� ���� ������ ‡� ����� ����� ������� ��� ����� �� ��� ����� ������� ���� ��������������� �������� ������������������������������������ ���� ˆ���� ����‰�� ����� ������ �������Š�� ���� ‹� ����� ��������� ������ � �� �ƒ� ��� ���� ��������������ƒ���� ��� ������������ ������� ��� ����� Œ������ �‚ ����� ������ �� ����� � ��������� ������������������‰��ƒ������������Ž�� �­����� Œ������������������‘������� �������������� ���� ������ ��� ��������� ��� �� ����� ������ ��������ƒ� ������� �� ������� ���� ����� ������ ����� ���� ������ƒ����� ��� ���� �� ��� ������ ������������������������������������������ � �������ƒ����������������������� ��������� ������������� ��������� ����������������� ��� �� ���� ��� ƒ����� ��� ���������� ����� ���� ƒ���� �� ������ � �’���������� �� ��� �������� ������������ ���� �� ���� �������� ������� ���� ����� ����� �� ������ �� � �� ���� ��� �� ��������������������� ����������������� � ��� �������� ����� �ƒ �� ��� ������ �� � �� ���� ��� �� ����� ����������� � � ����� ���� ���� ������� �� ����� ���� ���� ��� ����� ���� ���������� ����������������������� � � ���� ������� ������� � “��������������������������������� ��� �� �� �� ƒ���� ������� ��� ����� ������ ������� ������������� �������������� ������ ����� � ����������‰����� � � ����� ��”����������� ��� ������������������������������������ ����������������������•���������� ���� ������������� ��������������� � �������������� ��� �������� ������������ ���� ���� �� �� �� �� ��� ��� ��� �‰�� ��•����� �� ����� ����� ���� ��������� �� � ����������������– …�������� ���������������������������� ����� �‰��ƒ��������� �‹������������† �‰ �� ���� ���� ���������� ������ ��� ƒ����� �ƒ �� ��� �� �� ��� ��� ����������� ����� ���� � ������������������������ ���� �� ����������� �� ��� � ����� ������ ��� �� ������������ ������ ����� ��� ����� ��� �� ��� Ž— �� “��� ���� �� ������‹��� ������˜���������������������������������‰ �� ������������ ���������� ������������������� ���� �������������������������� ����� ���� �� ‹����� ��������� �� �� ���� ����� ����������������� �������������� ���������� ���� ��� ™� ������� €���� ��� �� �� ���� �ƒ �� ��� ����� ����� ����� �����  ��� ™���� �����  ���� � ”������ ����� ����� ƒ����� ������������������������������� �������� ��� �ƒ���������������������������� ������ ����� ����� ����� ������� ��� ���� ���� ����� ���������� „� ��� � ����� � �� �� �� ��� �� �������� ���� ��� �� ���� � ������� ƒ��� �� ��� ����� ������ �‚ ����� ������� ���� ��� ������ ������ �� ��� �� ���������� ��� ��� ��� �� �� �� ������ �� � ��� ��� ��������� ������������������������� �������� ����� ���� ��� ���������� ��� ����� �� ����� ������  ������ ™������� ���� ��� Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor ���������� ������������������ �������ƒ������ �������������������� ����������“������� ���� � ƒ������������ ���������������������������� ����ƒ������������������������ƒ ������������� ƒ�š������������� ������� ›�� ����� ����� ���� ������ ��� � �������� �‰�� �ƒ �� ��� � �� �� �� �� �� ��� ��������� � ������������������� œ���������������� ���������� � ���� ������ ���� ���� �������������� ��������‹������� ���� ��������������•����� ��ž ���� ��� ��� ���� ƒ������ ���� ������� ��� �������������� ���������� ������������ �� Œ������ ������������‚ ���������� ��� �� � ��� ��Ÿ������� ���������� ��� ����� ��� ���� �������������“���� ���������������������� ���� ��� ƒ������ ����� ����� �‰�� �� ����� ���� �������� ���� ���� ����� ���� ��’�� ���� ���� ���� �� ��� �� ƒ�� �������� ��� �� ��� � ��������� ¡�����������������™���� �������������������� ����������������������������������� ������ ������������� ��� ���ƒ���������������������� ��� � � ����������������� ����������������� ������˜��������������ƒ��������������ƒ����� �� ��  ������������������������� ������������� ���� �Ÿ������ �� � ��ƒ �� �������������� ��� �� � ��� �� ����� ������ ��� ����������� � � � ��� “���� ������������ ���ƒ ����� ���� ���� �� ����� ���� ���� ������� � ��� �� •��� �� ������� Sam Mullen sells Jersey Raffle tickets behind Penguins Goals Foundation table. ��������ƒ� �������™������������������������ ������������� �������� �‰�� ���‘����� ¡����� ��� �������� � ������ ��������� ������ ��� �� ����� ����� ��� ������������ ����� ����� ���� ��������� �‰ �� � ��� ������� �’������� ��� ���� ƒ������ ����������� ����������� ��� �� ����������� � ������� ������˜������� ����� �������� �ƒ���� ������������� ���� ������������� ��� �������������� ���� ��������� ��� � ���� � �������� ���� ����������� ���� �¢������� ��� ����� ��� ����� ���� �’��������� ����� ���� ��� ���ƒ ������� ���������������������� ��������������������� ������������������ ���� � ��������������� �������� ���� ƒ���� �� ���¢��� �’��������� ����� ƒ ����� ���� �’��������� ��� ����������� � ������� ����� ���� �� ‹� �������������������� �������‰������ �� ������������ ����������������������������� ����� ��������� �’��������� ���� ��������� ��� ������� ��ƒ���������������� ��������������� ������������� �‰�� �������� ���� ��� ��� ����������� �ƒ���� �������� ��������� ��������� ���� ������� � �� � �������� ��� ����� ����������� ����ƒ�������������������������ƒ������œ ��‰�������������������ƒ�������������������� ��� ������� � Photos by Sam Mullen “Happy Holidays” graphic is displayed on the jumbotron at the Mohegan Sun �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Sports 21 WBB drops tight one against rival King’s at home By Zach Paraway Sports Editor The Wilkes women’s basketball team dropped another game this season, this one against cross town rival King’s College at home. Wilkes came into the game at 0-6, still searching for their first win on the season. The team had come off playing two national ranked Landmark conference opponents in #3 University of Scranton and #16 Catholic University. King’s walked into the game at 2-3 with wins against Penn State Schuylkill and Lycoming. The game was a slow start for the Colonels, ending the first quarter down 17-10. The story could be told in the shooting percentages from the 1st period as King’s came out shooting over 50 percent while Wilkes was down at 17. The second period was a much improved defensive showing for Wilkes, holding King’s to shooting 27 percent in the quarter. Wilkes did not fare much better however, only adding 8 to King’s 13, resulting in the halftime score reading 30-18 in favor of King’s. Wilkes came out the halftime in lockdown mode, holding King’s to a measly five points in the third quarter, while adding 11 of their own. Jr. Nadia Evanosky nailed both her final free throws of the period, giving her six points in the third alone, leading both teams. Both teams walked into the fourth with the lead only reading a six-point lead for King’s. Unfortunately for our Colonels, this would hold true DEC. 4TH 7PM @ LYCOMING College / LANDMARK DEC. 7TH 2PM @ JUNIATA COLLEGE / LANDMARK HOME / DEC. 14TH 3PM V. KEYSTONE COLLEGE JAN. 4TH 1PM @ ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY HOME / JAN. 8TH 5PM V. GOUCHER COLLEGE / LANDMARK JAN. 12TH 12PM VS. ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE @THE PALESTRA/ LANDMARK HOME/ JAN. 15TH 7PM V. DREW UNIVERSITY / LANDMARK HOME / JAN. 18TH 2PM SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY / LANDMARK JAN. 23RD 7PM V. MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY / LANDMARK as King’s would end up winning the game with the final score reading 5444. The 4th was the highest scoring for both teams, seeing King’s score 19 and Wilkes score 15. Standout Performances include Evanosky scoring 16 points with eight boards and five steals, Jr. Madison Robel with eight points and 10 boards, and Sr. Julianna Askins provided seven points and four boards off the bench. The team will play again on Dec. 4 against Lycoming College on the road in the Colonels. For more information on the women’s basketball team along with all Wilkes athletics, please visit gowilkesu.com. JAN. 25TH 1PM @ CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA / LANDMARK HOME / JAN. 29 7PM V. LYCOMING COLLEGE / LANDMARK HOME / FEB. 1ST 2PM V. JUNIATA COLLEGE / LANDMARK HOME / FEB. 5TH 6PM V. UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON / LANDMARK FEB. 8TH 2PM @ SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY / LANDMARK FEB. 12TH 7PM @ DREW UNIVERSITY / LANDMARK HOME / FEB. 15TH 2PM V. ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE / LANDMARK HOME / FEB. 19TH 7PM V. MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY/ LANDMARK FEB. 22ND 2PM @ GOUCHER COLLEGE/ LANDMARK Have a specific sporting event you want covered? email sports editor Zach Paraway zacharyparaway@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Sports 22 Q&A with Wilkes men's lacrosse head coach Curtis Jaques at practice right now, but yeah I’m very excited for the season coming up. Stephen Youkoski (Interview) Managing Editor Andrew Marshallsay (Transcription) Sports Staff Writer Q: How many freshmen do we have on the team this year? A: We have nine. Entering a decade as head of the men’s lacrosse team, Curtis Jaques sat down with WilkesNow and The Beacon’s Stephen Youkoski. The team amassed a record of 4-12, with a record of 1-8 in Landmark Conference play. Q (Youkoski): How long have you been at Wilkes, and where were you coaching prior to your tenure here at the university? A (Coach Jaques): I moved my family up here in 2014, so I've been here for 10 years. We moved up here from my alma mater when I was coaching at the Virginia Military Institute. I was there for five years prior to taking on and starting the program here 10 years ago. Q: What was the jump like from that institute to this one? A: Going from division one to division three–there's obviously changes with that. I think the biggest change is geographic location. You can draw a three and a half hour radius around us and you get the best lacrosse around the world all around us. Our recruiting is just closer to home, there’s a big difference. Q: What made you move your family and decide to come to Wilkes? A: Definitely wanted to start my own program, definitely wanted to put my own stamp and we still have the same mission that we had from the first year I started the program. A lot of the cultural things have carried through year to year. Every year has been different here, there's certain standards that come with me being here for 10 years. I like those traditions and that culture carries over. Q: Could you talk a little about that culture and those traditions? A: It’s a growth mindset, we definitely want to look at our stats and gett better every year. Whether it's GPA or faceoff Stephen Youkoski conducts interview with head coach Curtis Jaques. wins, whether it’s weight on the squat rack, we want to see growth. Q: How has recruiting been this past offseason? A: Definitely much more competitive in the Landmark. Going after much smarter individuals, I think that it’s brought us a bit more south. We’re competing a bit more in Virginia and Maryland just based on the proximity of our opponents. So that’s good, but at the end of the day, we have engineering and business, those two things take up a bulk of our roster academically. We’re pretty strong in those departments. Q: How do you think last season, our debut season in the Landmark went for the team? A: We’re learning how to compete. Back to year one when I started the program, we had to learn how to compete. Before you can expect to compete or learn to win or expect to win, we’re on that next stage where we need to expect to compete. That means that it’s two or three goal games and swing, it could go either way. We have to learn how to get into those situations right now. In order to come out on top and learn to win, we have to expect to compete right now, so that’s where we’re at. Q: When you take a look at the roster, are there any impact players you think can help the team get into that mindset and help the team compete? A: Big Tim Hartka, six foot five, 260 pound attackman. He’s a bit of a train to stop offensively, so I think he’s a nice addition. He’s done a great job for us, he’s a junior now, a captain. Tim’s down a great job for us. Down low, Michael Rauch is just a wrecking ball of a defenseman. I think Caleb Miller did a great job toward the end of the year last year stepping in in goal, and I think he’s going to do a great job this year as well. Very excited about our freshmen that are coming in and making some waves Q: What is your favorite memory here at Wilkes University? A: I enjoy the little things, Stephen. I think spring break is some of the best memorie, some are just making breakfast in March with the boys. I think the best memories are shared I think at every alumni game, at every homecoming every fall. It’s something as a coach you really look forward to. And me being 10 years in, seeing my alum getting married or having families, bringing new faces to the alumni games, so that’s a really cool thing for me–sharing those memories at our alumni games. So, I’ll just say it, alumni games are my favorite place for memories I think. Q: Do you have one specific game that really brings home things for you? A: I think most recently I think we took King’s to an OT win last season, that was fun. For more information regarding Wilkes men's lacrosse, visit www.gowilkesu. com or the Landmark Conference at www.landmarkconference.org. See the full interview on the Wilkes Now YouTube page. Watch the full interview on YouTube: @wilkesnow7145 �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 Sports 23 Q&A with Wilkes women's lacrosse head coach Maegan Laymon Q: What are your expectations for the team this upcoming season? A: To compete. We are going to compete this year, it should be an exciting year for us. Our goal is to just to do better than the previous years, and we're just looking to build on everything that was already here. So we just want to be able to compete. Stephen Youkoski (Interview) Managing Editor Andrew Marshallsay (Transcription) Sports Staff Writer For the spring 2025 season, Wilkes’ women’s lacrosse team will have a new head coach. Maegan Laymon was named the new head coach of the program after the 2024 season. Last season the Colonels amassed a record of 2-15, with a Landmark Conference record of 0-9. WilkesNow! and The Beacon’s Stephen Youkoski sat down with the team’s new coach to discuss the upcoming spring season, as well as to see how things are going so far. Q (Youkoski): Where were you coaching prior to the summer when you were hired as the coach at Wilkes University? A (Coach Laymon): I was volunteering with a club in California. Prior to California, I was coaching at the varsity level at an independent school in Memphis, Tennessee. Q: With that transition from an independent club and as well as the varsity level in high school, why did you decide to come to Wilkes? A: Wilkes was a unique opportunity for me. It’s very close to where I grew up, so I am close to my family, but this is also a program that can be very successful and can compete in the new conference that they are in. It was really something I wanted to be a part of with building it and putting everything together in order for them to be able to compete. Q: Are you familiar at all with the previous conference and this new conference? A: I’m not very familiar, but I do know that was another one. Again, you could be very successful here, we just need to be able to put everything together and really build it. Q: Do you feel that your experience as a former player impacts your coaching style? Stephen Youkoski conducts interview with head coach Maegan Laymon. A: 100 percent. As a player, I just wanted to learn; I wanted to get better, and I did a lot of work outside of just practice and games. As a coach, I’m constantly learning–I want to know more. The game has advanced so much from when I played in college that it’s really exciting to be able to open up youtube and use the different resources, Twitter and Instagram and just see what other coaches are doing and what they’re doing with their programs; how they’re running their offense, how they’re running their defense You’re constantly learning new things to incorporate into your program. Q: Is it ever difficult to separate your player experience with your coaching experience? A: I wouldn’t say difficult, I think that it was just very different from when I played, which seems like forever ago, but it wasn’t. I do take a lot of what I do coaching from my college coaches that I had. I don’t think it’s more having to separate that experience, but being able to look at it and reflect and be like as a player, “what did I do, how did I respond to this?” It’s really just being able to take it from a player perspective and put it into a coaching, taking it from coaching and putting it into a player perspective. Q: As a younger coach, do you think that it has any effect on your relationship with the team? A: I don’t think so. I think relationship building is a skill, so I think I’m able to build relationships with my team. Individually, as a group, as a team, and just work and build with them. I think a lot of my experience with working at the high school I was at, I also taught in the middle school, where you’re constantly building relationships with kids and their families, and that’s essentially what you’re doing here. That’s how you become successful; you get to know your kids, you get to know how to speak to them, ways they understand things, their strengths and weaknesses and you use that and you build with it. I think that it’s just a skill you have to have in coaching. Q: Do you have any specific impact seniors you think are going to play a big role this season? A: 100 percent. All of your seniors are going to make an impact this year. They're going to be utilized in different ways that they might not be used to, but it's just a different opportunity for everybody. We brought in a lot of freshmen, I believe that we have seven. Again, impact players–everybody’s going to make an impact this year. Q: In your short time here, what’s your favorite memory of being at Wilkes? A: I don’t know if I can pick just one. Right now, if I had to pick a favorite memory for the semester it’d probably be every day at fall ball or in the weight room. We did get some of our girls barking at practice last night on defense, so that might be a core memory right now. For more information regarding Wilkes women's lacrosse, visit www.gowilkesu. com or the Landmark Conference at www.landmarkconference.org. See the full interview on the Wilkes Now YouTube page. Watch the full interview on YouTube: @wilkesnow7145 �The Beacon - December 4, 2024 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, 2024 December 4 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 December 4 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/958d0809d9d1c98133e0009283c46a05.pdf ff48947fbc13a463a456a5afa217c7cc PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 5, 2025 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 77, Issue 13 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Programming Board hosts annual Wing Wars event Justin Wawrzynek and Brayton Kominsky compete in the hot wing eating competition at Wing Wars on campus. Both competitors persevered all 10 rounds. Attendees ranked mild and specialty wings from various local resturants. Pizza Bella won in both categories. ...WING WARS cont. on p.12 Photos by Shannon Slominski That’s So Honors: Honors abroad trip to London, page 4 Lunar New Year celebrated, page 7 The importance of art during these next four years, page 17 Wilkes University winter sports catch up and recap, page 19 �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student Government notes: Jan. 29 weekly meeting By Kayla Bicskei News Staff Writer Student Government convened for its third weekly meeting of the Spring 2025 semester on Jan. 29. The meeting was held by the Student Government vice president in lieu of the president’s absence. This meeting addressed funding requests from student clubs, organization chapters and internal Student Government sponsored events. The treasurer’s report showed a current Student Government budget of $82,452. The meeting began with an informal introduction of a new staff member from the Wilkes Marketing Department. Karianne Geist graduated from Wilkes University in 2000 and is currently working in Weckesser Hall. She has worked with social media specialists to market Wilkes University on social media and television commercials. Geist met with Student Government to introduce herself and offer her support. In response, the Student Government general board members each introduced themself and their position. The Education Club began the address of formal external business with their week two of two funding request. The club requested funds for the upcoming Pennsylvania Department of Education Conference at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa. The conference will begin on Feb. 5 and end on Feb. 7. Students attending the conference will be given networking opportunities and insight from a variety of speakers. The Education Club requested a total of $1,300 for 11 undergraduate students to attend. The club has fundraised for their attendance at the conference with a bake sale, an apparel sale and other fundraising events. Student Government voted to allocate the full amount of $1,300. The senior nursing class was next to present their week two of two funding request for their yearly Nursing Ball. To plan and fund the event, two nursing clubs are working together alongside their funding request from Student Government. The event has been historically held at the Mary Stegmaier Mansion, but the mansion is under new management and the ticket prices have increased. The senior nursing class is requesting a total of $2,000 to lower the price of attendance of the event so all Nursing students will be financially able to participate. Student Government voted to allocate the full amount of $2,000. The Wilkes chapter of Nu Chi, Kappa Kappa Psi, presented their week one of two funding request for their Northeast District Convention. Kappa Kappa Psi shared its mission of being a diverse fraternity that creates a fellowship of brotherhood through music. The chapter has a five-hour community service requirement for all members, participates in club day, and plans to become more active during campus events. The chapter currently has 14 active members that held three fundraisers during the Fall 2024 semester. The chapter included that it is not a Student Government recognized club because it is a part of a larger organization. Kappa Kappa Psi is requesting a total of $1,300 for its attendance at the Northeast District Convention. Students in attendance will be able to meet other chapters during the three-day convention in Harrisburg, Pa. At the last convention, Kappa Kappa Psi won six achievements and awards. Kappa Kappa Psi will return to the next Student Government meeting to present their week two of two funding request. The last official business presentation was the Spring Fling planning committee’s week one of two funding request. Spring Fling is an event similar to an informal prom during the spring season. The event will be held at the Mary Stegmaier Mansion, and it will include food, drinks and themed decorations. The semi-formal event will have a hired DJ and semi-formal attire. The Spring Fling planning committee is requesting a total of $12,500 to fund the venue, food, drinks, decorations and DJ. The committee will return to the next Student Government meeting for their week two of two funding request. To conclude the meeting, the Student Government general board separated into their assigned committees to collectively plan upcoming Student Government-sponsored events. be found at www.community.wilkes.edu/ alumnischolarship the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester. For more information contact Stacy Mullen, at stacy.mullen@wilkes.edu Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Compiled by Andrew Marshallsay Wilkes Alumni Scholarship Applications are now open for the 2025 Wilkes University Alumni Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a current Wilkes undergraduate student who has a parent or grandparent that graduated from Wilkes. The deadline to apply for the award is March 17, 2025. More information can E-Mentor Applications The Office of Student Development is now accepting applications for e-Mentors for the summer orientation and the Fall 2025 semester. An e-Mentor is a full-time student at Wilkes that supports new students starting during summer orientation and ends after Spring Intramural Sports Spring Intramural sports will begin in early March. Registration is now open for basketball, flag football, indoor soccer and volleyball. The deadline to register is March 5. Games will begin shortly after spring break. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Fall 2024/Spring 2025 February 6 - Scavenger Hunt 6 - First Farewell 7 - Commuter Council Karaoke 13 - Cupid's Carnival 19 - FAFSA Virtual Completion Workshop Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 News 3 All the executive orders President Trump has signed so far By Shawn Carey Asst. 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��������������� ��ˆ���������� ��������� ������˜��ˆ���������€� ’� ���������— ��������˜ ������������������������� ���‚���€� ������������������ˆ ������� ������������������� ��������� ����������€� ���� ���������������������� ������� ����������������� �������­��������� ���������������� � ˆ�������� ��������� �’������­��������� ������������������������� Š��� ��™������������� � ������ ���� ����Š��� �Ž������������������ ��������������������������ˆ��� �������� ����� ��������������������€�Ž���€‚�� ����‚�� ���� ������ ������� �� ��������Š��ˆ�����������€�����  � �����’� ������� ���������� ��� ����€� ˆ������� � �� ���� � ��������������ˆ ����������������������� �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 News 4 That's So Honors: Honors abroad trip to London By Morgan Steiner Contributing Writer Over winter break, the Wilkes University Honors program took a weeklong trip to London. Professor Jen McLaughlin, assistant director of the Honors & Scholars Program, has previously led honors students on both domestic and international trips. She and Dr. Jonathan Kuiken, program director, chose this location very purposefully. “We wanted to make a trip where we were really immersed in one location, and absorbed as much culture as possible,” McLaughlin said. “It was a nice change of pace from our other trips we have taken, which pop around a bit more.” Though honors students spent each night in London, they ventured outside the city during the trip as well, exploring both Bath and Oxford. Gabbie Moore, a senior political science major, said that she had always wanted to go to London. “It has been a huge dream of mine and it was something I never thought I would be able to do,” Moore said. In the first week of the year, honors students packed their bags and took to the skies for a trip essential to character development, cultural awareness and community building. Other than the cultural and educational value, the honors trips provide an opportunity for honors students to bond, both across their cohorts and with the directors, starting before the trip even begins. Before a major honors abroad trip, Honors students and advisers in the U.K. students and chaperones meet several times throughout the semester, ensuring students are knowledgeable about geography, history and culture before they embark. Moore, who has previously taken service trips with the Bonner Leaders, said that the meetings helped them feel less awkward about traveling together. “By the time a trip abroad is over, all of the students and Dr. Kuiken and myself are all very close, and it is a special type of bonding that occurs,” McLaughlin said. Sydney Farmer, a senior nursing major, has previously gone on service trips with the Honors Program. “I just enjoyed being able to make memories with fellow honors students alongside Dr. K and Jen,” Farmer said. “Everyone on the London trip were different majors and cohorts, so it was nice to engage with like-minded individuals. "I would say we all got close, which was awesome to build more friendships.” The Honors program went to so many cultural attractions that it was difficult to pick a favorite. Some favorites included the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Oxford and Bath. Farmer, in particular, enjoyed Oxford, as well as the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and gain more cultural awareness. Moore added that another unique experience was seeing the locations where some iconic films and TV are shot, like Harry Potter, Wonka and Bridgerton. McLaughlin said she loved watching her students experience the world. “When they get excited and their eyes light up, that is really the world to me,” McLaughlin said. “I will never tire of the look on their faces when they see a new country or try a new food. "I love seeing them get outside of the known and enter the unknown.” Students bonded with each other and their professors, illuminating the community feel that is so prevalent within the Honors program. This was a great experience for students to bond outside of their cohorts. Because the spots for the trip are chosen by random lottery, students don’t usually know everyone before they go on the trip, but they certainly do afterwards. Cross-cultural exchange is essential in a globalized world. Even on campus, students are engaging in a cultural exchange, with students from different states and countries. Experiencing this for yourself can be an amazing exercise in challenging yourself, while enjoying the culture of a different place and people. “The world and all its cultures and countries help shape people into well-rounded leaders,” McLaughlin said. “If one never sees other countries or goes somewhere where they barely speak the language, you're missing out on learning from people who think differently than you.” Moore, shared a similar sentiment, saying, “It is one thing to learn about different cultures and places in a classroom, but it is a whole other, incredibly beautiful, and curiosity-provoking experience traveling to the place you are learning about and seeing it with your own eyes.” Farmer shared a different perspective, echoing the importance of travel in a STEMbased major. “As nurses, we care for patients holistically, meaning, the inclusion of religion, culture, and beliefs,” Farmer said. “We believe that it is important to take everything into consideration to personalize care and ultimately create the best plan of care for the patient. With that being said, being able to experience another culture allows for cultural awareness to occur.” Jumping across the pond can be like jumping into another world, but students feel more well-rounded after taking the trip. The trip, chaperoned by Dr. Kuiken and Professor McLaughlin, is one of a series of Honors-led trips taking students to places with educational or cultural value. The next Honors Abroad trip will take students to Italy in Summer 2025. To keep up, or see footage from the London trip, go to @wilkeshonors on Instagram. Photos courtesy of Gabbie Moore and Sydney Farmer Honors students, Brynn Marlow and Sydney Farmer, in front of the London Eye. �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 News 5 Democrats club and Honors students volunteer at Ruth's Place Leah Smith News Editor On Feb. 1, members of the Wilkes University College Democrats and Honors students volunteered to cook and serve breakfast at Ruth’s Place shelter for women. The members and students gathered ingredients and prepared breakfast around 9:30 a.m. and provided residents with pancakes, eggs and bacon. This volunteering opportunity allowed students to hone their cooking and kitchen etiquette skills, as well as have a chance to interact with residents who appreciated seeing Wilkes students at the shelter providing for them. Ariaya Brown, an environmental science major and member of the College Democrats, said that she was more than happy to help with the morning’s preparations. “It’s always good to help people out and it makes me feel good to help others,” Brown said. “People really need that nowadays.” The shelter is provided by the Pennsylvania branch of Volunteers of America and opened its doors in 2003. Ruth’s Place is a 24/7 shelter for homeless women that provides not only a place to sleep but also to shape opportunities and life skills. The residents of Ruth’s Place have access to the Internet, laundry and other amenities to aid them in their journey of finding jobs and a home for themselves. Dawn is a resident who stayed at Ruth’s Place during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that the shelter helps her with everything she needs. “I’m having a very good experience and appreciate all of the help from today,” Dawn said. She added that from living in the shelter, she has had success in landing a job interview at Burlington Coat Factory. After they made breakfast, the students helped wash dishes and clean up the kitchen area. It was a pleasant experience Democrats club treasurer Jason Oshman holding a plate of pancakes. Wilkes University College Democrats and Honors students volunteer at Ruth's Place shelter for women. for everyone involved, and the residents of Ruth’s Place stated their hopes for Wilkes students or any more volunteers to come in the future. For more information about Ruth’s Place, look into their website on the www. voapa.org/ruths-place/. Photos courtesy of Jace Hynick �The Beacon - Feburary 5, 2025 News 6 Student Government hosts Club Day 2.0 in the MAC By Shannon Slominski Photographer Brennan Reiner talks to a student about the Wilkes Berries, the Wilkes ultimate frisbee team. Megan Novak, Haley Zapolski and Jacob O'Boyle display butterflies, books and a poster at the Ecology Club table. Yeremin Castillo Santana informs attendees about the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL). Cheerleaders Maddie Yohey, Katie Yohey, Shauna Evancavich, and Kailee Mitchell perform a cheer stunt at Club Day 2.0. Esports Manager Robert Eskra, joined by Esports team members, explains Wilkes' Esports opportunities. �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact editor-in-chief Sydney Allabaugh at sydney.allabaugh@wilkes.edu Lunar New Year celebrated with food and crafts By Natalia Williams Staff Writer On Jan. 29, the International Student Ambassadors, Multicultural Student Coalition and the Office of Student Engagement hosted a Lunar New Year celebration. Lunar New Year celebrates the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar and the arrival of spring. It is an important holiday in China, but it is also celebrated in Vietnam, South Korea, and other countries with a large Chinese population. Each year there is a new animal that represents the new year. Every 12 years the animals repeat in a cycle. The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac calendar include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. 2025 is the year of the snake, which represents transformation and new beginnings. Hosting events like these is important for the Wilkes community to get exposed to other cultures. Samantha Gonzalez was one of the Lunar New Year Celebration participants to make a lantern during the event. “It is important to spread and represent different cultures across campus so students feel like they are heard. It’s also good because it helps our campus become more diverse and more inclusive,” said Shanelly Hinds, and MSC member. Hosted in the JPAC students that attended the event were offered food like lo mein, sweet and sour chicken and spring rolls. There were also a variety of Asian snacks available. In addition to the snacks and food, students were able to enjoy a variety of hot tea. On the final day of Lunar New Year, lantern festivals are a tradition. To honor this, attendees were given the opportunity to create their own lanterns. With easy instructions, they were able to make colorful lanterns and could decorate them however they wanted. A lot of research went into this event to make sure the tradition is represented correctly. “We did a lot of research and the international students helped a lot.” Shanelly said. Photos by Natalia Williams At top, attendees line up to taste foods and make crafts in honor of Lunar New Year. Bottom, paper lanterns could be made in a variety of colors. �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment Sydney Allabaugh: 8 Sam Mullen: EoO - Bad Bunny DENIAL IS A RIVER - Doechii Leah Smith: Adam Grundt: Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle) - Limp Bizkit I’m The Problem - Morgan Wallen Andrew Marshallsay: Zach Paraway: Sailing - Christopher Cross Shawn Carey: Scram! - Jeff Rosenstock It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over Lenny Kravitz Brady Melovitz: Hysteria - Def Leppard Each week, the Wilkes Beacon staff picks their favorite song of the week. Check out this week’s bops! �The Beacon – February 5, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Black History Month begins with Pan African flag raising, events to be held throughout month Have an event you want covered? Let The Beacon know WHEN and WHERE and we’ll do our best to be there! Email sydney.allabaugh@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon – February 5, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 11 Life, Arts & Entertainment E B G R G C B B B O P R R L D D J I G K E J I X L S H P F D J O F O V X U E T I W O J S K R A P A S O R N J M I E E B N F A F W Y Y P H Q G E H I S T O R Y L S 1. freedom 2. equality 8. dream 9. empower R V X I S T W X H G R I F R W O N S C P Bla Black ack History Mo Month onth E E D O M Z A D R E B U X R X P K I C I M U E H K B M P Z C P B X I G E A Q D I A H A R E C R Y R V Q I Y E O I T E Y I O Z X W M T I J H L X L A O E S N A K R M V I P R U L C X I D R A M Z J U K W G C F Z E R P T I V H O W R W J S H E K T M Z P H M R E R K S M L E A D E R O R G U W A W K O K B X V N N L K J P I I N M I N S I N Y N N H P T D J Q O Y G S W I Y N M H J N J O J P I R E S W Q R N M K 3. justice 4. civil rights 10. rosa parks A J F F A C T I V I S T P A D Y K P H X 5. activist 11. jackie robinson 14. martin luther king jr community 15. co ommunity M J K E G A R U O C S J A T K Y B Q Y O T E Q J F E Q U A L I T Y R E V U G Z I U V F N Q N R K D Q Y T B B S K P N I S B S Q M E G P Z R X W X O P C O E W E J 6. leader 7. courage 12. history 13. inspire �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 PROGRAMMING BOARD’S Photos by: Shannon Slominski �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Opinion Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu or logan.colonna@wilkes.edu. Editorial Staff 2024-25 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Sydney Allabaugh Social Media Manager - Megan Davis Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News - Leah Smith Sports - Zach Paraway ASSISTANT EDITORS News - Andrew Marshallsay Opinion - Logan Colonna Opinion - Shawn Carey Sports - Adam Grundt Sports - Sam Mullen DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Carol Stratford Layout Designer - Brady Melovitz Photographer - Shannon Slominski SECTION STAFF WRITERS News - Kayla Bicskei LA&E - Natalia Williams Opinion - “Freeze” Sports - Ava Tureen Sports - Lexi McHugh 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Sydney Allabaugh at sydney. allabaugh@wilkes.edu. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. The Oscars finally recognizes horror films For the past few years, it seemed that the Oscars overlooked movies in the horror genre. It has been an occurrence that many horror fans have noticed and have argued about for a while. It has been argued that perhaps the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences do not take the horror genre seriously nor do they deem the genre worthy enough for an award. Films such as “Hereditary,” “Nope” and “Pearl” are huge fan-favorite horror films that fans hope would receive at least one Oscar nomination. The last time a horror movie was nominated for any Oscar award was in 2017 when Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, “Get Out” was nominated for best original screenplay, directing and best actor. The film won best original screenplay, making it Peele’s first Oscar win. After years of waiting, the horror community’s wish came true at last when this year’s Oscar nominations list came out on Jan. 23. The deliciously dark reimagining of “Nosferatu” by Robert Eggers received four nominations, and the body horror masterpiece “The Substance” by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat received five nominations, including best director and best picture. This is a massive win for the horror genre because not only are two heavy hitters of that genre receiving their well-deserved accolades, but this also means that the Academy is finally giving its kudos to the modern-day horror genre. The Oscars have given horror its due diligence before, such as with the aforementioned, “Get Out” as well as “The Exorcist,” which was nominated for ten Oscars. “Jaws,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Silence of the Lambs” also won best picture in their respective years. So, it is not like the Academy does not like horror movies as a genre. It just seems that the Academy may not enjoy what these modern horror films have to offer in terms of its content or that they are not what the typical Academy member is looking for in a film. Despite this, it is a pleasant surprise to see that both “Nosferatu” and “The Substance” have been nominated in their respective categories. “Nosferatu” is nominated for cinematography, production design, makeup and hairstyling and costume design. All of these are highly deserved since Eggers’ take on the classic vampiric tale tackles its dark romantic themes in such an ethereal and dream-like way. The gothic European setting is breathtaking and the costumes look like they are straight out from the time period. Of course, Bill Skarsgard’s design as Count Orlok is outstanding. He is both creepy and unrecognizable. “The Substance” has been nominated for best picture, best director, best actress, original screenplay and makeup and hairstyling. This film being nominated means so much because not only is it from an independent studio, but the movie’s themes and content are executed effortlessly. Demi Moore receiving her first Oscar nomination after working decades as an actress is wonderful to see and extremely deserved for her role as Elisabeth in this movie. The film is directed in a way that expresses through so much emotion and many angles how one views and defines what is beautiful and what is hideous, which amplifies the movie’s story about aging and societal beauty standards. These two films being nominated is a big win for horror and is a hopeful sign that there will be more horror movie nominations in the future. 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: sydney.allabaugh@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 - February 5, 2025 Opinion 15 The Icebox: A review of the hero-shooter game “Marvel Rivals” By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Skip the questions because you absolutely need to play this game. I was blown away the first time I played “Marvel Rivals,” and since then, I have been enjoying it almost every single day. Unlike other games of its category, it’s actually super fun. As some of you may know, I am not a fan of online-pvp-shooters. However, “Marvel Rivals” takes only the good parts of the genre and smashes them together with their own unique style. If you are familiar with Marvel-based video games, you will notice a common theme with the soundtrack, user interface, art styles and gameplay mechanics. “Marvel Rivals” pretty much incorporates the Marvel theme while including even more unique elements to separate it from the rest of Marvel media. This includes the art style and appearance of all the heroes in the game and some of their identities. Now to explain what “Marvel Rivals” actually is... have you ever played “Overwatch?” If you’ve heard of it then you might know that many people think negatively of such a game, as it is full of toxic players and microtransactions. However, “Marvel Rivals” became the sanctuary for “Overwatch” refugees to escape and enjoy their life as gamers once again. In this 6-vs6 hero shooter, you can leap into battle as various Marvel heroes and villains to complete a given objective. In a team of six, each player has an important role to play. There are three categories to choose from: Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist. The Vanguard is essentially a tank. If you play a tank character, your job is to cover the front lines and block as much incoming damage as possible. You are also responsible for holding objectives, pressuring healers and creating diversions. The tank rarely is the star of the show, and yet a team cannot win without them. The next category is the Duelist, also known as the “damage per second” characters. These players are meant to get as many kills as possible by repeatedly damaging opponents and picking them off one by one. A lot of their abilities are aggressive or movementbased. People have mixed feelings about the Duelist category. Some players are selfish and only lock in as Duelists while avoiding teamwork and ignoring the balance of power in a team. Others are not skilled enough at Duelist but refuse to try more heroes and end up throwing the game. Many Duelist players, including the skilled ones, are arrogant and uncooperative. The unspoken rule is that you should assume that everyone wants to play Duelist by default. Finally, the Strategist category includes all of the healers. Their job is to stay in the back and heal their teammates and give them boosts in attack power, speed, health or general movement. Healers are extremely important to a team and can often double as Duelists in a match. Any match that is won is because the healer was there, backing up the rest of the force. There are a few game modes available, some of which are season-based. The quick match and ranked matches include capturing objectives, moving a payload or defending a site where a payload is being held. Players can also queue into matches against AI as a way of practicing and completing quests. Quests can be completed for rewards that go toward sprays, emotes, skins and avatar decorations. The season pass only costs $5 and does not expire if you pay a little extra for the premium season pass. This means even after the season is over, you can claim the rewards, as long as you purchased the premium pass. You may be wondering what characters you should try out when you first launch the game. The one thing I can tell you is that at this moment people can use the phrase “when everyone is overpowered, no one is.” Pretty much every hero has something really good about them and it’s only a matter of learning what that tool is. If you couldn’t guess, I am a Venom main. I also play both Peni Parker and Luna Snow as secondaries. I have yet to decide upon a Duelist main. I encourage you to find yourself a main in each category as well. You will have more fun by switching it up and adapting to your team, trust me. Before his solo career, he started in the boyband Take That. After his time in Take That, he soared to the top of the pop music genre in Europe and tons of other places around the world as well, but he never reached that level of fame here in the United States. Over winter break I was able to see the film, and to say I was shocked would be an understatement. In my personal rankings of all of the biopics I’ve seen so far, this one has definitely earned a spot in my top five. From the CGI monkey, to the way they told his story, I’ve never seen a film or biopic done like this before. Starting from the beginning, it started with your typical biopic flow. The film, of course, started when he was a little boy. We got a glimpse of his relationship with his father when he was a child, which throughout the film shows he is the inspiration for him wanting to become an entertainer. Then we get into his teenage years. We are shown the auditioning process for Take That and his ultimate rise to fame. In this part of the film, it highlights the start of his downfall with drugs and alcohol, which progressively got worse as he got older. For example, there is a scene where he is on tour with Take That and he is clearly high on drugs and doesn’t do well in the show. After being kicked out of Take That, he is now on his own and starts his journey to become a solo artist, which is the main chunk of the film. There is a lot that goes on in this era that I can talk on and on about, but here are some of the highlights. We are shown his first real relationship with Nicole Appleton, which was extremely rocky due to Williams’ addiction. We see him complete his dream of performing at Knebworth, recovering from his addiction, and finally making amends with dad for being absent and performing with him. The way they told some of the stories was very different from what I’ve seen. For example, throughout the film, he is shown struggling with himself internally, like his inner demons. There are parts in the film where he is performing, and he is looking out at the crowd and seeing versions of himself taunting him. I thought this was really cool because it showed viewers what was really going on in his head. Another example of this is in the scene of him performing at Knebworth. Toward the end there is a battle scene between himself that shows a ton of CGI monkeys from different points of his career that he ultimately fights off. I haven’t seen storytelling in the biopics I’ve seen, so I thought that was very neat and interesting to see. Another thing I thought was interesting was that they only covered his life from childhood to about the early 2000s. The ending scene is him performing at the Royal Albert Hall and that was in 2001. It would’ve been really cool to see how his life is now. Since the movie only covered up to 2001-ish, it didn’t show anything about his family now. He explained in his Netflix docuseries that his wife changed his life for the better, so I am shocked she didn’t make an appearance. Overall, I 10/10 recommend this film. The storytelling and the uniqueness of the film is something I believe is 100 percent worth your time and attention. “Better Man” review: The Robbie Williams biopic is worthwhile By Natalia Williams Life, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer On Jan. 17, the biopic “Better Man” about British pop star Robbie Williams was released, and in my opinion, the film was shockingly amazing. The film follows the life of Williams from when he was a kid to about the middle of his career. The biopic was done very differently, however. Williams is played as a CGI monkey. At first I was very confused as to why he was being portrayed as a monkey, but after researching and watching multiple interviews, both Williams and the director, Michael Gracey, explained it was to engage the audience in a more unique way, which I think worked really well. I personally knew who Williams was due to my extensive knowledge of boy bands and pop stars from the U.K., but for those who aren’t sure who he is, Williams is ultimately one of the biggest artists the U.K. has seen. He holds multiple records and sold millions of albums. �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Opinion 16 The underqualified Trump admin and the meritocracy myth It’s time to stop baselessly demonizing DEI initiatives By Sydney Allabaugh Editor-in-Chief When Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, he was the only president in recent history who had no political or military experience before entering the White House. Now, during his second term, he has already enacted executive orders ditching Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in favor of a “meritocracy,” while simultaneously appointing some of the most underqualified Cabinet members in recent history. During his first day in office, Trump implemented an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Program and Preferencing,” which intends to terminate all federal DEI, DEIA and “environmental justice” offices and positions. In another executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” the White House condemned the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for inspiring decades of “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’.” The order argues that DEI policies “undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system.” Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed Trump-appointed Pete Hegseth, a National Guard veteran and Fox News host, as defense secretary in an unusual 51-50 vote. Hegseth, who, according to his confirmation hearings, faces allegations of sexual misconduct and intoxication in the workplace, has no senior military, national security, or government experience and has the least overall military experience of any defense secretary in recent history. He replaces retired four-star General Lloyd Austin, the first Black Secretary of Defense, who served in the military for 41 years and is the recipient of a Silver Star. Other Cabinet picks include antivaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has spread unscientific health misinformation, to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Trump-ally Kristi Noem, who has little national security experience, to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Various national security officials and political analysts argue Trump’s picks were selected based on friendship and loyalty rather than qualifications or merit. This can arguably be considered an example of a true “identity-based spoils system,” not a merit system. Despite Trump’s claims that regulatory hiring initiatives, like DEI programs, prevent a meritocracy, his administration, at best, demonstrates that a meritocracy cannot exist without regulation, and at worst, reveals that efforts to prioritize merit were a disingenuous ploy to allow and encourage intentional widespread discrimination. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a “meritocracy” is a system in which those moved into positions of success, power and influence based on demonstrated abilities. Despite contradictory claims, meritocracy and DEI programs are not in opposition. DEI programs intend to ensure fair treatment during the hiring and promotion process and that qualified members of certain identities are not discounted based on identity. These programs also provide additional support for marginalized groups, like flexible schedules for parents or accommodations for people with disabilities. Some DEI initiatives are somewhat flawed in the execution as some programs fail to adequately address implicit bias, whether that be due to employers’ or employees’ unwillingness to challenge their beliefs or an insufficient budget that prevents the creation of meaningful change. However, the Trump administration and its supporters do not commonly cite these flaws when condemning DEI programs. Instead, among these groups, the term “DEI” has almost become code for “undeserving minority,” even when a candidate is qualified, and the values of diversity, equity and inclusion have become entirely demonized. For example, former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee in the 2024 election, was called a “DEI candidate” by some Republicans because she was a Black woman, despite Harris having decades of political experience in all three branches of government. As previously noted, Trump had no political experience when he was first elected. On the Shawn Ryan Show podcast, Hegseth also disregarded merit when he claimed that he will fire top generals solely based on involvement in any “DEI-woke s---.” DEI was to blame, once again, for the California wildfires and the recent D.C. plane crash, somehow. When Trump was asked why he concluded diversity contributed to the crash, he said, “Because I have common sense.” With an underqualified presidential administration that spews baseless anti-diversity rhetoric, it becomes obvious that anti-DEI initiatives are not intended to restore “values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement” but to create a culture in which identity-based discrimination is the norm and power is only given to those who oblige. �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Opinion 17 The importance of art during these next four years By Shawn Carey Asst. Opinion Editor As an aspiring author, I often find myself attending writing-related events, whether that be workshops, classes, discussions, etc. Over winter break I attended one of Barnes & Noble “Midday Mystery Events,” a series of discussions featuring popular horror and mystery authors. The particular discussion I attended was focused around Clay McLeod Chapman’s newest novel “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes,” featuring the author himself. Much like Chapman’s other works, “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” is fairly political. One of the core themes of the book is the dangers of radicalization and the helplessness so many of us feel as our elders slip down dangerous fascism-lace rabbit holes. Ones that we cannot pull them out of. A Q&A was held during the latter half of the discussion, and unsurprisingly, the questions asked were fairly political. Most of the questions were pretty straightforward. “What events inspired you?” “Thoughts on the election?” “How much of the story was based on personal experiences?” Out of all of the questions asked, there was only really one that really stood out to me. “How will the next four years affect the publishing industry?” Clay told the audience member that he believes that we’ll see many new writers in the coming years. Writers influenced by our current political environment. While I agree with him, I believe that there’s more to it. This goes far beyond just publishing. How will art as a whole be affected? Now, I know, that’s a big question. I’m not a psychic. I can’t see the future. I don’t know for sure how things will change. I do, however, have some opinions on the subject. Before I begin, I want to get something out of the way. All art is political. Every art project holds some political concern to a degree. To be an artist means to transfer everything that you are into your work. Even if you consider of political cartoons, punk bands came out of retirement to do songs, TV shows were parodying him. Honestly, he was a bit of a punching bag. yourself to be unpolitical, this in of itself is still a political statement. The simple action of educating yourself is political. Something doesn’t have to be overly political to be political. I’ll return to this point later. I believe that we’ll be seeing more of what we consider traditional political angst. Street art, punk music, modernist writing, all that good stuff. I don’t think this comes as a big surprise. We saw an increase in political art just a few short years ago during Donald Trump’s first term. There were hundreds I believe that Trump will once again be the main topic of protest. However, I believe that the manner is going to be taken more seriously. Less jokes about his tanned skin and tiny hands, and a greater focus on his followers and ideals. With that being said, I do still believe that Trump is going to be the butt of many jokes. He has always been an extremely unserious person. He’s not exactly a beacon of hope. I also believe that we’ll see an increase in creative works from marginalized groups. People of color, women, LGBTQ+, low-income individuals, those with disabilities, and so on. Many of the orders Trump has signed during his short time in office have proved to be harmful to said groups. For example, he recently signed a bill limiting access to gender-affirming care for transgender individuals less than 19 years old. Where there is oppression, there’s a story. Art is based on pain. I could see creatives wanting to share their personal feelings and experiences with a wide audience, a vast majority of which are most likely going through the same issues. America has a long history of “dark ages.” Most of which were created by the elite. The Gilded Era, The Great Depression, The Civil War, and so on. I would hate to sow fear but I see us entering another one of these dark ages soon. With that being said, there is a light. Every dark age is followed by an explosion of art. The Modernist Movement, The Harlem Renaissance, Regionalism. There’s alway a light at the end of a dark tunnel. Which goes back to what I said earlier. All art is political. No matter how hopeless things appear to be, there will always be people creating. The people in power want to be as obedient as possible, listening to everything they have to say. When we create art we create our own voices. No matter how insignificant it seems. The next four years are going to be difficult. There’s no way around it. However, it’s something that we can get through. Art inspires us. It makes us think, which is what they’re afraid of the most. As long as there’s people creating, there’s still hope for the future. Graphic by Carol Stratford �The Beacon - Feburary 5, 2025 Opinion 18 A review of Mac Miller's posthumous album "Balloonerism" An analysis of performance, features, production, replayability By Logan Colonna Asst. Opinion Editor Coming five long years after his first posthumous album, Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism” is finally here. As some background knowledge on this project: Mac worked on it in 2014, but it was ultimately shelved for other releases. While he never released it on his own accord, the album was near and dear to his heart. Eleven years following the making of the album, we, as listeners, finally have it on streaming services. If you’re new to my reviews, I dive into certain areas of projects, like the artist’s performance, the features of the album, the overall production and the replayability of the album, in order to give the album an accurate score. Lastly, this is all my opinion. I may like or dislike the album more than you do, and that’s okay. I’m starting this off with Mac’s performance throughout the record. First, I’d like to point out a few of my favorite songs and showcase them all. First, “5 Dollar Pony Rides.” This track was the lead single for the project, and people were somewhat divided on it. Some loved it while others weren’t crazy about it. The main cause of this divide is the outro of the song. In the outro, Mac just kind of rambles, but I like it because of the way it sounds. He makes stupid things like that sound good for whatever reason. Besides that, the vibe he brings to the track overall is also a nice addition. For any of these tracks, the rapping isn’t out of the ordinary, but it’s simple, which is much needed from time to time especially in the present. Next, my favorite track, “Funny Papers.” All throughout the track, Mac layers his vocals on top of each other, and I am quite the fan of it. It makes the track sound hallucinating, which is quite a “Mac Miller” thing to do. His vocals are also so calming, which yet again is a thing I welcome into my life after listening to hard rap my whole life. Finally, we have a guilty pleasure of mine. When it comes to rap nowadays, I love anything that’s slightly experimental. With that being said, we get Mac’s alter-ego, Delusional Thomas, on the track. Essentially, he’s the voice inside of Mac’s head. With that, we get high-pitched vocals throughout the entire song. Something about it Mac. “DJ’s Chord Organ” is much less of a SZA feature and more of her song, but her inclusion on it is beautiful. Per usual, SZA delivers with her vocals when going through her verse. The track as a whole is a nice song to get the listener prepped for what they’re about to hear for the rest of the project. scratches my brain the right way. I say this song is a guilty pleasure of mine because the content matter isn’t the greatest. Just about every single line has something obscene about it. Just from these few tracks, it’s apparent that Mac showcased some of his better work here, as I liked just about everything that showed up in the project. Next, we have a much shorter section as we talk about the features. The only features on the album are SZA and Dylan Reynolds (I’m not including Delusional Thomas here because it’s literally just Dylan Reynolds doesn’t offer all too much for his feature. He does the chorus on “Manakins,” but it is somewhat hard to pick out since Mac layers his vocals on top of it as well. Regardless, it’s a nice inclusion to the track. The chorus definitely brings it all together. Both features bring positive notes to the album and are great additions in my opinion. I'll admit, there is not all that much to say regarding the production of the project. There are a few standout tracks per usual but nothing that is extraordinary. For starters, I love the instrumental from “Transformations.” It’s very sinister in nature, and I can tell the exact vibe that Mac was trying to attain with it. Instrument-wise, only a piano is played. The keys are played in a descending order to create a villainous vibe. Next, we have “Manakins.” Throughout the whole track, there is a harp constantly being strum to create quite the instrumental for the track. Besides that, you have the usual upbeat sounding production that Mac used in this era. Lastly, I really enjoyed the instrumental from “Funny Papers.” Yet again, a piano alongside other instruments are used here to create a chill beat that nearly puts a tear in my eye. Overall, while it’s not the greatest thing known to man, I still greatly appreciate the production we received on the album. Since the project as a whole is slightly experimental, in regards to present day rap, I see the album as a whole to be very replayable. Even after a few listens of the album, I’m still finding new things to rave over in each track. The track list is not bloated whatsoever as well. Clocking in at just under an hour with 14 tracks is not long in this day and age. With that, I find it no problem to revisit the album and still be encapsulated during the entire run time. Because of that, I find the project’s replayability to be great. My only complaint is that the run time can be slightly shorter, but it’s not a pain to get through anyways. Overall, this album is one of the better Mac Miller projects. Through the short but great list of features, to the simple vocals that Mac lays on each track, I adore this album from front to back. There are a few things here and there that bring the record down, but besides that, the album is great. With that, I give Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism” an 8 out of 10. Graphic by Carol Stratford �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: zachary.paraway@wilkes.edu Wilkes University winter sports catch up and recap By Zachary Paraway Sports Editor ���������������������������������������� �������������������������������� ����������� ��� �������� ������� ������ �������������� ����������� ����� ���� �� ����� ������������ ����������� �������� ����� ��������� �� �������������������� ����� �������������� �� ������ ��� �� ��������� ������� �� ������ ��������������� � ��� ��������� ��� ����������� ���� ��� � ���� ������ ������������������������������������ � �����������  ����� ���� ������� ����� �� ������ ��� ���� ��� ��� ������� ���� ���� ����  ��� ���������� � ����� ��� ���� ���� ���� ��� ������� ���������� ���� �� �� ���� ������  ���������������­� ����� ��������€����� ����­����� ����������‚ƒ„���������������� ������ ������������� ������������­��������  ������ ‚�…� ����� ��������� � ��� ­�������� ����†�������‡�� ��������ˆ��������������� ��� ��������������������� ���� ��������������� 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Elizebethtown. �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Sports 20 �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Sports 21 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: Mid-season recap By Andrew Marshallsay News Asst. Editor With the 2024-25 AHL season past its midway point, the standings are ever changing, and newcomers are making a name for themselves. Here at home, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are making this season one to remember. The boys in Black and Gold are looking to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season, which would be their first back-toback playoff appearance since 2018. Led by a new head coach in Kirk MacDonald, the team is looking to make it to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season and the first time since 2018. MacDonald took over head coaching duties after the Penguins decided against resigning former head coach J.D. Forrest. Led by a group of newcomers, the offensive side of the game has been highly successful. Boasting one of the youngest forward cores in the American Hockey League, the Penguins have seen high-flying efforts from Emil Bemstrom, Vasily Ponomarev, Boris Katchuk, as well as rookies Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen. All five players mentioned have registered hat tricks and multiple multi-point games this season. In total, the Penguins have scored seven hat tricks, marking a new franchise record for most in a season. During the Jan. 29 win against the Hershey Bears, the Baby Pens also recorded two hat tricks in the same game for the first time in team history. Bemstrom leads the Penguins in points, as well as boasting the second best scoring totals in the league. Katchuk, who has emerged as one of the Penguins’ most important leaders at just 27 years old, is third on the team in scoring. Koivunen is second on the team in points, and leads all AHL rookies in scoring. Ponomarev is fourth on the team in scoring, while McGroarty is tied for fifth in team scoring. On the defensive side of the game, which has been a historically strong position for the team, the Penguins have another group of newcomers in Mac Hollowell, Filip Kral and Dan Renouf. Hollowell currently leads Penguins defensemen in points and games played, while Kral and Renouf are second and third in scoring among defensemen, respectively The Penguins’ goaltender room has seemed like a revolving door at times, but through it all, consistency has been the name of the game. Before being called back up to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Joel Blomqvist (64-2) boasted a 2.93 GAA and SV% of .912 before his second call up of the season. In his second stint of the season with WBS, Tristan Jarry (5-3-0) sits with a SV% of .913 and a GAA of 2.37. Rookie netminder Sergei Murashov is making a name for himself this season as well. After being called up to the AHL from the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, Murashov has won every game in his young AHL career thus far. In five games, he has a perfect 5-0-0 record with a GAA of 1.60, a SV% of 0.947 and a shutout. He recorded his first career shutout in the 9-0 win over Hershey on Jan. 29. Filip Larsson (7-4-1) has been solid as well, but currently is on the injury report after being forced to exit the final game of the Penguins’ recent Canadian road trip. Larsson had a SV% of 0.929 and a 2.37 GAA before his injury. With the All Star Classic this year, the Penguins are represented by Bemstrom and defenseman Owen Pickering. Pickering has spent the most time in Pittsburgh this season, and is currently in his second stint with WBS this season. The Penguins return to play on Feb. 7 when they host the Bridgeport Islanders. Currently sitting in fourth place in the Atlantic Division, the Penguins currently sit with 52 points and nine points behind first-place Hershey. However, the Penguins have played the least amount of games in their division, giving them six games in hand over the Bears. �The Beacon - February 5, 2025 Sports Athlete of the Week 22 Nina Hudakova Freshman, Forward, Women's Ice Hockey The Beacon: Female Athlete of the Week Hudakova netted three goals on 10 shots in the weekend sweep of Alvernia. She opened her account on Friday, scoring the winning goal that sealed a 2-1 victory. In the 5-1 win on Saturday, Hudakova added two more on six shots. Major: Sports Management Hometown: Kosice, Slovakia What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? Beating our biggest rival in the conference Arcadia twice in a row. What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? Washington Capitals What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? Spending time with my family, friends and reading books. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? Being part of the team which is full of my best friends. If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? Tennis What has been your favorite sports memory overall? Winning bronze medal at Youth Olympic Games with my National team in 2020 What is your favorite post-game meal? Caesar Salad How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? It's a huge honor and I'm really grateful for that, but it definitely wouldn't be possible without amazing support from my teammates and coaches. What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? "Miracle" Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Asst. Sports Editor The Beacon//Samantha Mullen Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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 February 5, 2025 Sports Athlete of the Week Cameron Butka Senior, Men’s Wrestling The Beacon: Male Athlete of the Week Butka broke the Wilkes Wrestling record for career wins at the John Reese Duals, extending his win total to 123 with two wins and a forfeit victory against Scranton earlier in the week. Major: Bio-Chemistry Hometown: Scranton, Pa What had been your favorite sports memory from your time as a Colonel? My favorite wrestling memory was placing fourth at nationals last year. What is your favorite professional sports team (any sport)? To be honest, I don’t really have a favorite sports team. If I had to choose, it would have to be the Wilkes University Colonels Wrestling Team. What is your favorite thing to do away from sports? My favorite things to do away from sports are to go to the gym and play video games. What is your favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes? My favorite part of being an athlete at Wilkes is being around my teammates, who are basically my second family. The Beacon/Sam Mullen What sports movie is your go-to for movie night? My favorite sports movie is “Happy Gilmore.” If you did not play your current sport, what sport would you have wanted to play? If I wasn’t wrestling, I’d most likely be playing baseball. I have actually been a baseball player longer than I have been a wrestler. What has been your favorite sports memory overall? My favorite sports memory of all time was winning my quarter finals match at nationals last year to become an All-American. What is your favorite post-game meal? My favorite post match meal is penne vodka with chicken. How do you feel about being selected as the Athlete of the Week? I am extremely grateful to be selected as the Beacon’s Athlete of the Week, and I take pride in representing the Wilkes University Wrestling Team. Compiled by Samantha Mullen, Assistant Sports Editor Editor’s note : Athlete of the Week s elec tions are deter mined by the spor t s staff 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." 23 �24 The Beacon - Feburary 5, 2025 HOME // FEB. 5TH 8 PM VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON / LANDMARK FEB. 8TH 4 PM @ SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERISTY / LANDMARK HOME // FEB. 12TH 7 PM VS DREW UNIVERSITY HOME // FEB. 15TH 4 PM VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE (SENIOR DAY) FEB. 19TH 7 PM @ MORAVIAN UNIVERISTY / LANDMARK FEB. 22ND 4 PM @ GOUCHER COLLEGE / LANDMARK HOME // FEB. 8TH 3:30 PM VS ARCADIA UNIVERISTY (DIFD MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS GAME) / MAC HOME // FEB. 9TH 3:30 PM VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE / MAC FEB. 14TH 7 PM @ KING’S COLLEGE (PA) / MAC FEB. 15TH 6 PM @ ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY / MAC FEB. 21ST 3:15 PM @ HOOD COLLEGE / MAC WILKES WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY � 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, 2025 February 5 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communications Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2025 February 5 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper