Volume 92/Issue 18
THE
April 15th, 2019
ANCHOR
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
RIC welcomes Eric Rivera, newly appointed Interim Vice President for Student Success Samantha Scetta Editor-in-Chief
There have been many questions and rumours regarding the resignation of Dr. Jason Meriwether on April 3, as little information has been given from Rhode Island College regarding his absence. However, it was announced on Saturday morning in an email to the college that the search for someone to fill the role of Vice President for Student Success has culminated to the hiring of Eric Rivera as interim. Rivera, originally from the Bronx, New York, has held a number of administrative roles in higher education at San Diego State University (SDSU) for more than 22 years. He retired from SDSU in Dec. 2018, and will begin his position as In-
terim (VPSS) at RIC on Monday, April 15. In addition to serving SDSU, Rivers has also held positions at California State University, Los Angeles, the State University of New York-Oswego, and Monroe College in Bronx, New York.
SDSU now ranks first place nationally in graduation rate and performance according to U.S. News and World Report, measured by “comparing a university’s actual sixyear graduation rate to the rate its analysts would expect, given each universi-
ty’s unique combination of financial resources, admissions data, the proportion of economically disadvantaged students and STEM orientation.” During Rivera’s time at SDSU the graduation rate for STEM and transfer students rose impressively. Rivera also expanded several resources available to SDSU students, including the establishment of the Commuter Resource Center, the Pride Center, the Women’s Resource Center, the Black Resource Center and the Undocumented Resource Area. He also launched an Economic Crisis Response Team to address food, housing and economic insecurities among students. In an interview with SDSU’s publication The Daily Aztec, Rivera stated that he was moving back
to the East Coast to focus on his family. According to the article written in Sept. 2018, Rivera stated, “I will miss collaborating with our students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni on a daily basis. However, as our parents are getting older, I am at a time when my time and energy need to be focused on family. While I am an Aztec for Life, I am moving back to the East Coast to be with them.” In the email sent to the college on Friday morning announcing the decision to hire a new interim VPSS, President Frank Sanchez states, “He will begin work at Rhode Island College on April 15 and I believe he will quickly become a valuable member of our leadership team. Please join me in welcoming him to our campus community.”
Laverne Cox: “Ain’t I A Woman: My Journey to Womanhood” Abigail Nilsson Staff Writer
In celebration of Pride Month, Laverne Cox, a well-known transgender actress from “Orange is the New Black” and LGBTQ+ activist, visited Rhode Island College on Thursday night to discuss her journey as a transgender woman of African-American heritage. Cox claims her place in society as an artist, actress, sister, and daughter, “I am not just one thing,
and neither are you.” Nicki Joseph, a 16-yearold student from Connecticut one month into her gender transition stated, “Laverne is opening my mind to the endless possibilities of life. Seeing someone from her generation going through transition is powerful to me. At a young age and being raised creatively, I don’t like everything set in stone.” Cox set the tone of her lecture to focus on
The Anchor Newspaper
a strong sense of self and mental well-being. Born to a single mother who valued education, Cox believes that she is where she is today because of her education. As a child, she was bullied for her gender expression. “Everyone was telling me I was a boy, but I knew in my heart and my soul I was a girl.” She was taught early on to suppress her natural instinct of feminism by her teachers and family. This caused Cox to feel deep shame in her early ado-
@TheAnchorRIC
Photo Courtesy of Thomas Crudale
lescence where she soon discovered her only safe place was in her imagination, more specifically when she was dancing. Cox stated “when you
@RICTheAnchor
are truly passionate about something, that something can be lifesaving.” She started seeing a See ‘Ain’t I a woman’, continued page 3
www.TheAnchor.news
Organizational Information Editorial Board EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Samantha Scetta | editorinchief@anchorweb.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Jessica Gauthier | managing@anchorweb.org
BUSINESS MANAGER
Lucille DiNaro | business@anchorweb.org
ART DIRECTOR
Samantha Malley | artdirector@anchorweb.org
NEWS EDITOR
Tim Caplan | news@anchorweb.org
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Erica Clark | asst_news@anchorweb.org
A&L EDITOR
Alec Ematrudo | lifestyles@anchorweb.org
ASST. A&L EDITOR
Jonathan Weaver | asst_lifestyles@anchorweb.org
OPINIONS EDITOR
Catherine Enos | opinions@anchorweb.org
ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR
Alison Macbeth| asst_opinions@anchorweb.org
SPORTS EDITOR
Jake Elmslie | sports@anchorweb.org
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Joseph A. Griswold | asst_sports@anchorweb.org
PHOTO EDITOR
Britt Donahue | photo@anchorweb.org
ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
Thomas Crudale | asst_photo@anchorweb.org
GRAPHICS EDITOR
Wiley Sadowski | graphics@anchorweb.org
ASST. GRAPHICS EDITOR
NOW HIRING | asst_graphics@anchorweb.org
SENIOR COPY EDITOR
Charlotte Abotsi | senior_copy@anchorweb.org
ASST. COPY EDITOR
Angela DaSilva | copy@anchorweb.org
SENIOR LAYOUT EDITOR
Enrique Castaneda-Pineda | layout@anchorweb.org
ASST. LAYOUT EDITOR
Ralston Najarro | asst_layout@anchorweb.org
ADS MANAGER
Lily Gallo | ads@anchorweb.org
TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR
Victor Martelle | technology@anchorweb.org
Anchor Staff Aaron Isaac Derek Sharlock Thomas Yakey Jr. Alison Darmetko Jake Deblois Sophia Guerrier Kaitlin Dobson Sean Richer Kennedy Ryan Alexis Rapoza Abigail Nilsson Sh-Ron Almeida
Contact Us: Editor-in-Chief Samantha Scetta
(401) 456-8790 editorinchief@anchorweb.org
Advertising Lily Gallo
(401)456-8544 ads@anchorweb.org
ONLINE MEDIA MANAGER Marisa Lenardson | web@anchorweb.org CIRCULATION MANAGER
Janelle Gomez | circulation@anchorweb.org
Professional Advisor Jim Hummel The Hummel Report
Faculty Advisor Michael Michaud mmichaud@ric.edu
The Anchor is student-run and published weekly during the academic year. Editorial decisions for The Anchor are made by a majority vote of its student editorial board. No form of censorship will be imposed by the college. Any material found to be unsuitable or unacceptable in the board’s opinion will not be published. The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body. The Anchor is not funded by and is independent from Rhode Island College. The first copy is free. Each additional copy is $2.25. Newspaper racks on the Rhode Island College campus are the property of The Anchor Newspaper. Only The Anchor Newspaper publication will be permitted on these racks. Any other publication or advertisement that is placed on the racks will be given one (1) warning for violating this policy. After two (2) violations, the business/publication will be billed at the rate of a full page advertisement. Copyright © 2016 The Anchor. All rights reserved.
Legalities:
News
Behind the curtain: a look at Rhode Island College's foundation Aaron Isaac Anchor Staff If you have ever applied for a scholarship, you may wonder where it comes from. The money comes from charities, grants and individual donors who give to the school. Last year, Lin-Manuel Miranda started a scholarship at Rhode Island College for first generation, under-represented juniors and seniors majoring in music, theater or dance. So far this year, $512,024 worth of scholarships have been awarded to
367 students. The people who manage the funds behind the scholarships are in the RIC Foundation. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization, meaning it is a non profit meant to raise funds for the college. To do this, the Foundation reinvests some of the money it receives into the market to retain or increase the purchasing power of the money it receives over time. They work with Fidelity and JP Morgan to manage the investments. Last year was a turbulent year for investment. Executive Director Edwin R.
Pacheco commented that “the market just didn’t perform well for anybody,” contributing a lot of the problem to the tariff battles between the U.S. and China in 2018. He also mentioned concerns about the European market with Brexit and the announcement of a recession in Italy earlier this year. The board is concerned enough that they are checking in with their investment managers “almost daily,” Pacheco said to the Foundation. There was some cause for optimism as Pacheco expects to end the fiscal year in the posi-
tive despite earlier losses. How else does the Foundation relate to students? Besides the scholarships, they direct funds towards research, capital improvements and academic programming for the college. Pacheco says that the Foundation has distributed $2,145,592 back to the college. An example he cites is the renovations, worth $455,550, to the instrument room and lab space in Clarke Science. The Foundation manages to do this, and its reinvesting, due to philanthropic gifts. As of March 28, the
Foundation received $1,904,578 in donations. Pacheco also mentioned an internship opportunity at the Foundation for students in accounting, business, finance or related majors. Those who are accepted will receive a $500 scholarship and will participate in the Foundation’s activities. Interns will help analyze the Foundation’s investment portfolio as well as assist in communications to the Foundation members.
‘Ain’t I a woman”, Continued from cover
Photo Courtesy of Britt Donahue
therapist when she was in third grade after a church trip to Six Flags where she purchased a peacock fan that she used to fan herself like Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind,” which raised concern among her teachers and mother. She began to internalize her pain. She almost succeeded in taking her life by swallowing a whole bottle of pills. Following this attempt on her life, she channeled her energy into her success.
When she initially arrived in New York City in 1993 for college, she started doing her own thing and became one of the “club kids.” The grit and glamour of club life was the first time she felt her gender expression was valued, understood, and appreciated. She was able to get to know people as people and began to internalize that trans is beautiful. It wasn’t until 2012 when her acting career became her ticket to fame.
She believed that being successful would solve her problems, but she says she was really internalizing racist ideas and her feelings of being less than. Eventually, her childhood trauma came back to haunt her. Cox stated, “nothing externally will heal me, I need to heal from the inside out.” She is still healing from the trauma by using somatic therapy where she visualizes her negative energy and pushes it out through
different areas of her body. “I am beautifully and divinely made,” she tells herself. Nate Banx, a student at RIC stated, “Laverne Cox’s presence here is unbelievable and fans the flame of students.” “This is more than I was expecting. It was awesome to hear about her hopes for society,” stated Ashley Blake, a junior at RIC. Another junior, Zachary Smith, stated, “She is really great and how she wants
to spread her message down to the soul is great.” Shame is a deep rooted emotion that Laverne Cox was reluctant to talk about. “Surrender, let the universe do what it is going to do…what is supposed to happen will come to us… we have to be of service…never attack but be lovingly critical” are life lessons that Cox learned throughout her journey. In her closing Cox said, “I love you and lets find a way to walk through this together.”
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |
3
News
This article is from the March 1982 issue of The Anchor. Catherine Enos Opinions editor Students of today have more in common with the past than they probably think. Last Wednesday, students from RIC gave testimony at the State House in support of the RI Promise Scholarship. This wasn’t the first time RIC students have used their voice to fight for what they believed in. Back in 1982, two students took a trip that was a little bit farther away than the state capital. Along with more than 1,000 other students, Ray D’Antuono and Joe Casale lobbied Congress. And, again, students were asking the legislature to support students. Upon further examination of the situation in 1982, it seems as if the situation didn’t end totally in students’ favor. A New York Times article published later that year claimed that the federal management of post-secondary education got “worse and worse.” Maybe today’s situation will end more favorably, though. Legislators expressed hesitation at the idea of expansion of the RI Promise, but some have praised the success of the program. Perhaps the legislature is looking for more long-term results and constituent support. In the end, only time will tell.
4|
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
News
Brown University professor discusses the history of Black Feminism
Sean Richer Anchor Staff
Slavery left an uncovered scar on the United States, and the people who largely felt the full brunt of this injustice were black women. Dr. Emily Owens, an assistant professor at Brown University, gave a lecture about this history of suffering in Gaige Hall last week.. Dr. Owens is also a mem-
ber of Sista Fire, a black feminist advocacy group based in Rhode Island. In this lecture, Dr. Owens presented the “Culture and climate of terror” black women endured in 19th century, antebellum South. Dr. Owens claims this culture eventually grew into a systematic means of oppression, particularly through rape. “The language of of rape was a political tool in the
institution of slavery.” Dr. Owens exclaimed. She then shared the story of Harriet Jacobs, a slave and later abolitionist who chronicled her time in bondage. In her memoirs she stated how the threat of rape and violence became a “structured aspect of her life.” Dr. Owens ended this lecture by bringing to light the after effects that can still be observed today, particularly the impact of
toxic stress on regards to the legacy of racism. Just in January a pregnant African American woman died at Women and Infants’ hospital here in Providence, Rhode Island after not receiving help from the staff. This is a reflection of a troubling trend in this country. Infant mortality among African American babies are over twice as likely compared to
white babies according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. She believes there is a crisis women of color face daily that continues to persist, and Dr. Owens explained, “We cannot expect to move forward without first looking back to see what happened in the first place.”
Student charged with domestic assault in incident at Penfield Hall
Tim Caplan News Editor Last Friday, Providence Police arrested Rhode Island College student Alana Waters, 18, of East Providence and charged her with domestic simple assault/battery at 6:30 p.m. after an incident between her and another girl in Penfield Hall. The Anchor’s Assistant
News Editor Erica Clark was on the scene in Penfield before police arrived and heard “blood-curdling screams” and “loud banging on the walls” shortly before Waters was carried out in cuffs by Officers Camardo, Liu, Sepe, and Castagliuolo of the Providence Police Department. In Rhode Island and the rest of the U.S., all suspects charged with
crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A 2013 study by The University of New Hampshire’s Psychology Department Professors Katie Edwards and Kateryna Sylaska found that among their sample of 6,030 college students, a 30.3 percent of students in sexual-minority reported domestic violence victimization,
with 18.5% reported in heterosexual students. RIC offers sexual misconduct, relationship and interpersonal violence victim’s resources and support through three different avenues. Confidential on-campus reporting of an incident can be pursued through the Counseling Center, Health Services, or the Interfaith Services
center below Donovan Dining Center. Non-confidential reporting can go through the Title IX Coordinator Margaret Lynch-Gadelta. Students who have experienced partner related violence can also call The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence through their 24/7 hotline at 1-800-494-8100.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |
5
Arts&Entertainment
Avengers: Endgame, the culmination of years of work Enrique Castaneda-Pineda Senior Layout Editor Since the inception of “Iron Man” over ten years ago, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has slowly grown to showcase over 21 films, with numbers 22 and 23 coming out later this year. As “Avengers: Infinity War” showcased Thanos in all his might, everyone has their theories about how the film will end. The question of whether or not someone’s favorite character will come back has gone through every Marvel fan. The franchise has grown into a powerhouse of cinema, something that seemingly may never happen again. The only other film franchises that could come close is “Star Wars” with all of its movies connected in its universe. The MCU has structured itself in a way that allows itself to have movies that are not as good, as the main focus sometimes is more about the characters growth and less about the action. A film that portrays this very
well is “Doctor Strange,” a film that is not necessarily much different from “Iron Man” or “Captain America” in terms of origin stories, but values visuals more with the incredibly detailed CGI fractals. As “Captain Marvel” introduces the final piece of the puzzle to potentially defeat Thanos, which is Captain Marvel herself, the build-up for this fight is unlike any other. When it comes to predictions, it does not matter what I say because it feels as though there will not be a clear idea of the end until the film comes out. I believe that with most Marvel and superhero films, the end is always happy. I believe the Avengers will come out as winners, but every person that died in “Avengers: Infinity War” will stay dead. Make sure to catch the film, and the end of an era, on April 26.
Thomas Yakey Jr Anchor Staff
people come together to perform music from an earlier time, the Baroque Era. (For those non-music majors reading this, the Baroque Era in music spans the early-17th century to the mid-18th century). Whether you are a musician or not, I am sure you have heard of J.S. Bach and his compositions including the Toccata in D Minor (if you don’t believe me look it up, its ‘typical’ Halloween music). For this specific concert, the group planned on
Music from an earlier time
On Saturday April 6, the Rhode Island College Early Music Ensemble performed their semester concert. Despite its name, this group is comprised of musicians of various majors ranging from nursing to music, as well as various instruments from voice to recorder. The musicians perform in small groups such as duets, trios, quartets, and even groups of 10 as opposed to being one major ensemble. These
6
focusing on the music of Venice, Italy, as the concert was titled “La Serenissima: The Golden Age of Music in Venice.” It featured works by some of the most famous baroque composers including Antonio Vivaldi, Barbara Strozzi, and Claudio Monteverdi. This concert really tests the musicality of performers as the baroque style is some of the hardest yet most rewarding musical styles to master. Despite the era of music, many emotions were portrayed in the
songs that are themes in our music today including love, beauty, and passion. Professor Jacob Stott, one of the faculty members that worked with the group said, “It is excellent to see college students not only interested in Early Music Repertoire, but also singing and playing it with accurate stylistic interpretation and sensitivity. It is an absolute joy to work with them and watch them grow as musicians especially exploring repertoire which is not always mainstream. The concert was
brilliant, and I look forward to future concerts!” To only add to the sound and beauty of the concert, it was performed at The Church of the Redeemer in Providence. The acoustics were stunning, and only added to the profoundness of the performance. This is a concert you will not want to miss next semester! If you want to know more about this ensemble, it is under the direction of Dr. Breene as well as Dr. Borgerding and Prof. Stott.
| Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Arts&Entertainment Jessica Gauthier Managing Editor
Thursday Apr. 18
Friday Apr. 19
Saturday Apr. 20
Sunday Apr. 21
Habitat for Humanity Day
Wild Edible Botanicals Reception
WaterFire Art & Craft Festival
Game Of Thrones Viewing Party
Artist Jimmy Fike exhibits his photographs of edible flora from over 15 states.
Local art, live music, and food.
Watch Game of Thrones in surround sound with some drinks and free popcorn.
Grab a meal and 10% of your check will go to Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit that builds affordable housing. The Hot Club FREE // 12 p.m.-1 a.m.
Granoff Center for the Creative Arts FREE // 5-8:30 p.m.
Zoocation Week
Providence Emo Night: So Long & Goodnight
Experience animal encounters and the new Faces of the Rainforest exhibit. Roger Williams Zoo $18 // 10-5 p.m.
Like No Udder Meets Fully Rooted
WaterFire Arts Center FREE // 12-6 p.m.
Spring Thaw Powwow
The Hot Club FREE // 9-12 a.m.
Sunday Italian Brunch
The Native American Make the most of your Easter Heritage Series brings you wit classic Italian dishes and Sing along to your favorite their annual Spring Powwow $5 mimosas and bloody emo classics and play some with Indigenous dance, marys. arcade games. music, food and artists. Massimo Fete Music Hall Pizzitola Sports Center FREE // 10:30-1:30 p.m. $7 // 9-2 a.m. FREE // 12-6 p.m. Dollar Oyster Night
Celebrate Like No Udder's 6th birthday with a kombucha and vegan ice cream float.
Enjoy some fresh oysters from Massachusetts and Rhode Island for only $1 each.
Fully Rooted FREE // 12-2 p.m.
Parkside Rotisserie and Bar FREE // 5-10 p.m.
Beginner Woodworking Get to know your way around hand tools, power tools, and woodworking safety. AS220 $100 // 10-1 p.m.
SURGE Sundays: Bunny Bash! Rooftop's LGBTQ+ monthly Tea Dance with an adult easter egg hunt and drag show. Rooftop at the Providence G FREE // 4-9 p.m.
Easter Egg Hunt Sex Toy Bingo
Wine Tasting
Set the mood with Feminists Sip on some "fun and United for their 8th annual unusual" wines from France Sex Toy bingo. and Spain. Donovan Dining Center FREE // 8-10 p.m.
Eno Fine Wines FREE // 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Providence Police department's annual egg hunt, raffles, and a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. Fargnoli Park FREE // 10-11 a.m.
Family Fun Craft Day Take home your own DIY projects for the entire family. Roger Williams Park Botanical Center $5 // 11:30-1 p.m.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |
7
Arts&Entertainment
Open Books-Open Minds presents 8th annual student conference on “Exit West”
Round table discussion with students and student presenters
Samantha Scetta Editor-in-Chief For the past eight years, Open Books-Open (OBOM) minds has been a way for students, faculty, and administration to connect with one another over a book of the year voted upon by students and faculty. This year’s book was Mohsin Hamid’s “Exit West”, a story written about two refugees in an unnamed country in the midst of war. The two refugees, Nadia and Saeed, as well as other people from around the world, migrate to other countries through the means of magical doors. Last Friday at the annual conference titled “Borders and Portals” students had the opportunity to showcase their papers and posters to a larger audience than just their English classes. Some of the presentations included a roundtable discussion, creative and critical approaches to “Exit West”, and a keynote address from photographer Thierry Cohen whose photographs are mentioned by the main characters in “Exit West”. The winner of the book of the year for the 2019-2020 academic year was just announced to be “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren. Pick up your copy today and get a head start on reading before the fall semester begins. Follow @obomric on Twitter to stay updated!
Students Amanda Neri & Sarh Hackworth accept awards for the OBOM paper writing contest.
8 |
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Arts&Entertainment Joker: a tragedy
Alec Ematrudo A&E Editor Admittedly, when there were rumors of another DC movie coming out centering around the Joker, I was very skeptical. DC movies, with the exception of a couple gems like Wonder Woman and Aquaman, have largely been hit and misses. None of them have really succeeded in winning the hearts of most of their audiences like Marvel movies have. That being said, the rumors circulating this particular DC film were too intriguing to ignore. What started as a Martin Scorsese film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which by all accounts probably would have been awesome, turned into an entirely different beast. Picking up the reigns in an interesting move was “Hangover” trilogy director; Todd Phillips. Philips is a good director and knows how to do comedy really well. However,
The Joker isn’t a character that’s closely associated with being funny, despite his name. The other interesting factor here is that this joker origin movie is not going to be in any way connected to the existing DC Cinematic Universe. Jared Leto is allegedly still playing the Joker in that particular continuity of films. This new Joker
will kick off a secondary branch of DC movies going by “DC Dark.” Three time Oscar-nominee, Joaquin Phoenix, has stepped into the big shoes left behind by Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson. Not so much by Jared Leto, but that’s a story for another day. As always, there was a lot of skepticism about
this new Joker film but when the first teaser trailer dropped last week, all my fears disappeared. It may still be too early to tell but if the trailer is any indication of what’s to come, I’m here for it. Joaquin seems to have nailed the Clown Prince’s classic persona and Todd Philips seems to have brought an incredible amount of de-
Graphic Courtesy of Pop Sugar
tail, realism and downright sadness to the character. While this origin story will be a departure from comic lore, it does appear to be very respectful of the comics. I am incredibly excited for this film and I hope it’s an indicator of good things to come for Batman and all of DC.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
|
9
Arts&Entertainment The Outer Worlds and the epic problem Enrique Castaneda-Pineda
Senior Layout Editor
“The Outer Worlds” is a game that is currently in development by Obsidian Entertainment, most well-known for games in the “Fallout” franchise. This upcoming game had a lot of hype around it, because for the first time the company is making something that is similar to the “Fallout” franchise, but developing a new Intellectual Property (IP) for themselves. However, unbeknownst to the developers of the game themselves, they are locked in a deal with Epic Games and are being forced to sell the game on the PC market exclusively to Epic Games. Epic Games is known for Fortnite, the colossal battle royale that took over the scene late 2017. The big problem with the idea of having exclusive company selling games is that there will be
Graphic courtesy of Enrique Castaneda-Pineda
competition with the current leader in PC gaming, Steam by Valve. However, with this the problem arises of companies selling games on their own sites, having to download and maintain several different programs and software on their PC just to play a
game. For example, there are games on Steam not available anywhere else, like games by EA, games by Blizzard Activision and of course, Epic Games. The more games that are spread across different programs, the more companies can decide to
force their own platforms on people in an attempt to grow their own programs when people just want to play a game. The same is currently happening with streaming services, as Marvel/Disney are starting to pull their films and TV to put on their own
streaming service. It is easy to see as so many shows are on either Hulu, HBO, Netflix, VRV, etc. Hopefully, it will take a while for this to eventually catch, but unfortunately it seems like that is the direction that the industry is going.
The Cantina: A tease of the power of the darkside Jonathan Weaver Asst. A&E Editor Star Wars Celebration 2019 took place this past weekend. Alongside countless panels and exciting announcements this year, including the reveal trailer of a new game titled “Jedi: Fallen Order” starring “Shameless”’ Cameron Monaghan, we got our first glimpse at the next and final installment in the Skywalker Trilogy. Over the course of the trailer, we can notice a few interesting details. Firstly, the entire trailer
10 |
is narrated by Luke himself, which could hint at a few things based on events from “The Last Jedi.” We also see Rey display a major increase in force ability throughout, which is explained through an interview with actress, Daisy Ridley, who confirms there has been a time jump from the end of “The Last Jedi” to the new installment. In a clip that follows, we can see hands (presumably those of General Leia) holding a medallion. Now, this medallion may not ring any bells to some, but others may recognize it as one of the medallions presented by rebel leadership at the end of “A New Hope”
to Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker. We also see a return of Kylo Ren’s signature helmet as it is being repaired after its destruction. The mask isn’t the most exciting returning face, however. Following an over the shoulder shot of Chewbacca and another character piloting the Millenium Falcon, it is revealed Billy Dee Williams will be reprising his role as Lando Calrissian; the charismatic, con-artist that originally owned the Falcon before Han and Chewy won it from him in a game. Following various vistas and action shots featuring new and excit-
ing locals and the trailer comes to a close, we get a final reveal. The main characters stand on a ridge looking into the distance at the collosal wreckage of one of the Death Stars from the original trilogy. As the husk of the once terrifying superweapon looms over the viewer, the screen fades to black. This ominous dark is pierced by a familiar and evil cackle of a character thought most definitely to have been long dead: Emperor Palpatine. This twist at the end is made all the more exciting due to a spoken line by Skywalker, “No one is ever really gone.” What could this mean
for characters such as Palpatine or Luke? A driving force in the prequel trilogy was Anakin Skywalker’s desire to save those he loved from death, a power of the dark side mentioned to him by none other than Darth Sidious, the man who would soon become the Emperor. While we can only speculate what role these characters we thought gone could play, it does add an additional layer of intrigue on the title of the new film. Episode IX will be titled “Rise of Skywalker” and is slated to release Dec. 20, 2019.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Arts&Entertainment
RIC’s theatre department performs their spring debut, The Rocky Horror Show
Graphic Courtesy of Andphilosophy.com
Erica Clark Asst. News Editor Rhode Island College’s main-stage Theatre department premiered their spring musical on Thursday night, “The Rocky Horror Show.” Originally created by British artist Richard O’Brien in 1973, the show was brought to life by RIC theatre students with a touch of sexually driven humor, and a lot of fishnets. Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, played by Douglas Morgan and Brooklyn Toli, are a newly engaged
couple that find themselves lost in the woods on a rainy night attempting to visit an old professor, Dr. Everett V. Scott, played by Johnathan Klos. Left with the decision to visit the mansion they passed in search of a telephone, they end up experiencing a turn of events. Toli described the transformation of playing a character that begins as the well-behaved girl. “It was a super rollercoaster of emotions,” said Toli. “I started off very naive, but by the end, I was insane. It really challenged me to
go from naive Janet to the end, which was crazy.” Along the way, Toli’s character meets Riff-Raff, played by Kyle Eldridge who introduces them to the mastermind of the mansion, Dr. Frank N. Furter, a Transylvanian played by Taylor Santoro. Santoro portrays a wild scientist set on making the ideal creation for his sexual satisfaction. Throughout the film, Dr. Furter is challenged by the consequences of solely being driven by sexual pleasure and self-giving amusement by enter-
taining Brad, Janet, and groupies in the mansion. Santoro commented, “Playing Dr. Frank N. Furter, I learned I need to respect myself for who I am, and I need to love myself for who I am. There are people who go up on a stage to do drag every day, and some places risk their lives because the homophobia is so real. I need to cherish myself.” Samantha King, who performed the part of Columbia, was a previous lover of Dr. Furter until he replaced her for the delivery boy Eddie. After, Columbia finds out Dr. Furter chopped up the remains of Eddie in a bloody bag, which prompts Columbia to confront Frank for using people for his sexual convenience. “This musical is very relatable for our age group. This musical appeals to our generation, and our parent’s generation,” King stated. Dr. Frank N. Furter’s built boy-toy creation, Rocky Horror, who is played by Ricky Pannone, brings the central theme of temptation and lust to many of the characters
lives as Janet’s loyalty to Brad is tested, and Rocky questions his own temptations towards Dr. Furter when he meets Janet. Elijah Swain, who was part of the Phantom chorus, described the enthusiasm he had to be in such an interactive musical. “My favorite part was messing around with the audience. We had a lot of opportunities to play with them, them play with us, and it was all in good spirit.” Alyssa Maitoza, who was also part of the Phantom Chorus, described “Rocky Horror” as “the most fun show she has ever been a part of” due to the collaborative process. “We just had a party up there. It was different singing all rock songs in a Broadway musical, but I just love the dancing,” Maitoza commented. The show that was originally geared towards misfits, has become a rock ‘n’ roll jamboree of sexual awakening, pelvic thrusts and a gateway in musical theatre to the LGBTQ culture.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |
11
Opinions
The elephant on campus Alison Macbeth Asst. Opinions Editor If you pulled over on the side of the road to read the email from President Sanchez excited to finally be told why Dr. Meriwether left - you are not alone. You were probably disappointed to receive a lengthy letter listing all the things the administration loves about RIC and oh yes, your tuition is being increased yet again. It’s like President Sanchez forgot about the elephant in the room and on campus. Two weeks ago the campus community received two emails from the President’s office. The first email sent on Wednes-
day included a brief memorandum that relayed Meriwether’s immediate resignation and the designation of responsibilities. Thursday swirled in rumors. When the President sent another email on Friday we all thought that we would finally get some answers. Instead we got a 5.5 percent tuition increase. It has been over a week and rumors continue to scamper around campus yet the administration has been silent. As a public institution funded through Rhode Islander’s tax dollars, hearing crickets from the administration is hardly assuring. Likewise, students are paying 5.5 percent more in their tuition for seemingly shady
resignations and no explanations. Students have heard the administration call for open dialogue, but when a big question like this looms over the campus we get a four-sentenced memorandum. “Momentum is building at Rhode Island Col-
Graphic courtesy of Wiley Sadowski
lege,” the letter from President Sanchez begins. Well, maybe it is. However, a cycle of administrators coming and going may not be the kind of momentum RIC needs. No, but seriously, I think there are a lot of great things happening at RIC and I
believe in this institution. However, if we want a thriving institution we must have an administration that truly participates in two-way communication and is transparent with the campus community. Let’s address the elephant on campus.
The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body.
12 |
Opinions
RIC increasing tuition – again Victor Martelle Technology Director Rhode Island College plans to once again head directly for your wallet and take out an extra $325 per semester. This ever-increasing tuition shows a lack of consideration for its majority working-class student body. In fact, I believe it’s an outright punch to the face of students as RIC continues to expand its high six-figure salary paid administration while recently pushing back when faculty demanded fair wages. According to the RIC Fact Book, as of the 2018/2019 semester, 90 percent of full-time
freshmen had some reliance on financial aid. With RIC’s tuition lower than most other colleges nearby, the college has become known as a working-class school. Perhaps with tuition increases, it will instead be known only for the more well-off. So then worrisome students, what should we do? It looks to be not much. We’re sent an email from RIC’s president stating that tuition will increase. There is no indication of student and community input. The email is also short, vague and misleading at best when looking at its justification for the increase. At the very least, let’s dissect these justifications.
The first sentence states “….it is necessary in order to expand academic advising, upgrade classroom technology, and implement high-impact practices and experiential learning opportunities.” Classroom tech may need an upgrade, but everything else listed - I don’t know what any of that means. And as for students who are going to be forced to pay hundreds more, we ought to be given more specific information instead of this vague hogwash. The next sentence says that this tuition percent increase is less than last time. Great, they’re only taking a few months of food money away instead of a year’s worth. They then
state that the impact will be less for students who receive aid. How? Students who receive aid not only have to take out more loans, but they also more quickly reach their financial aid cap. Not to mention those without financial aid are being hit hard. Lastly, they claim RIC is still the most affordable in the southern New England area. This is akin to saying the most affordable car around is $50,000. It feels like this is meant to mislead from the real issue – yes, it’s the most affordable around, but it isn’t affordable by any means. Students are now going to pay more than $10,000 for two semesters, and assuming most students
are making roughly minimum wage, this is the opposite of affordable. There are two other concerns that tuition increases bring up. According to the Fact Book, freshmen enrollment is down by 35.8 percent since 2009/2010 and undergraduate enrollment is down 15.2 percent. With the increasing cost of tuition, does administration expect enrollment to increase? And what of the RIC Promise Program (last two years of RIC paid for by government)? Should students not in the program expect more tuition hikes in order to support the deficit?
Big tech and social media platforms deserve the trust bust treatment Daniel Costa Anchor contributor They control your social networks, home heating, grocery shopping and monitor your search habits. This is not the work of the Feds or the Russian government. The corporations attempting to control every facet of your life belong to big tech—Amazon, Facebook and Google. These companies exert a massive amount of influence on our daily lives whether we recognize it or not. As a result, they have gotten away with a lot of tomfoolery including (but not limited to) censorship, monopolism and much more. Social media plays a major part in our lives and in society. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram
and YouTube provide a space for the individual to express their views on society and current events. However, often this relatively new and unique voice is snuffed out under the pretext of “following community guidelines” and “obscene language.” Why should our free speech be challenged by corporations? YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are all notorious for cracking down on conservative figures and banning their online profiles for little reason, if any reason at all. You may argue that these are private companies, but these same corporations are the ones taking in hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies from the Federal Government. Facebook has received hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies. Why should
Graphic courtesy of Quertime.com
the taxpayer give their hard-earned paychecks to big business only for them to be punished for using their services? Not only are big technology corporations cracking down on freedom of speech, but the tech oligarchs are simply becoming too big. In 2017 alone, Amazon acquired Whole Foods, while
Google formed a startup around the idea of providing home heating and cooling. Next up, we’ll have Google Spy which can monitor you and your family 24/7 for the cheap price of your privacy (unfortunately, Google has been spying on you already. Notice how the ads on Google are so relevant to your interests?)
The Federal Government cannot allow these private firms to slowly creep into our daily lives more and more until they become the parasites that the monopolies of the late 19th century became. If We the People allow the Big Tech hydra to grow at this rate, soon We the People will reap the “rewards” of monopolized hegemons.
The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The
Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body.
| 13
Sports
“The Diamond” wins gold: Poirier, Adesanya earn interim titles in Atlanta
Tim Caplan News Editor If you were there at UFC 178 when Dustin Poirier walked back from the Octagon after being knocked out by Conor McGregor, you would have said you were watching a broken man. You might have wondered if Poirier could ever lace up the gloves again. The war of words was intense and you could tell Poirier wanted more than anything to shut up the brash talking Irishman early, but after being clipped behind the ear by a strong left hand, Poirier found himself Cryptically, the next day Poirier tweeted “Live by the sword, die by the sword, I am heartbroken”. “The Diamond” never quit though, after bumping up ten pounds he found himself finishing
14
|
the who’s who at lightweight (155 lbs.), including former world champions Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, and Justin Gaethje. After amassing a 9-1-1 record at lightweight, Poirer was offered the title shot against UFC Featherweight(145 lbs.) Champion Max “Blessed” Holloway, who was moving up to the weight for the first time, in hopes of winning the interim title moving on to face undisputed champion Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov. This fight was a rematch of Holloway’s first UFC fight in 2012, in which Poirier won by triangle choke armbar in the first round. Holloway picked up the pieces, however and had won 13 fights in a row heading into the night, defeating some of the greatest UFC fighters on his way
including Jose Aldo, Anthony Pettis, and Brian Ortega. UFC 236 took place in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena on Saturday, April 14. The main card began with a rematch between light heavyweights Nikita Rylov and Ovince St Preux. Krylov avenged his 2014 loss and won by rear-naked choke at 2:31 of the second round. After a pair of decision victories by Dwight Grant and Khalil Roundtree Jr, it was time for the co-main event, an interim Middleweight(185 lbs.) title fight between New Zealand’s Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya and Yuma, Arizona native Kelvin Gastellum. Gastellum came out looking strong, connecting with hooks in the pocket against Adesanya and giving him his toughest test to date so far in his short 14-month
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
stint in the UFC. Adesanya came out hesitant in the first few rounds and the usually flashy fighter found himself in a firefight that he was unused to. He eventually found his rhythm, though and busted up Gastellum on the feet, scoring two knockdowns in the fifth and final round to secure a victory for only the second African born fighter in UFC history to win a world title. Poirier went into the main event as a +175 underdog, but as soon as the bell rung, one could easily see the power difference in striking. While “Blessed” landed strikes in volume, the pop of Poirier’s jab and signature left straight left damage on the face of Max throughout the
first two rounds. Holloway found his groove in the third and as he always does, turned up the gas on his opponent as the fight wore on, but Poirer found his second wind, and after landing a hard knee that split Max’s face open, all three judges scored the fight 49-46 to award Poirier the interim title. After more than a decade in the sport, some of the most prolific knockout wins, and some of the most heartbreaking losses, Poirier described the night as the “opportunity to make life fair.” The next UFC event will take place in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and will feature a heavyweight matchup in the main event between veteran Alistar Overeem and Alexy Oleinik on April 20.
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Sports
Rain or shine scores will climb Jake Elmslie Sports Editor On a day where the weather went from one extreme to another, Rhode Island College Baseball faced a similar situation on the field in an inter conference double header against the Plymouth State University Panthers. In the first game, a 14-5 blowout on the scoresheet remained tied at 5-5 deep into the sixth inning before RIC took advantage of a pair of sacrifice flies in order to give themselves a two run lead. From here, the Anchormen never gave up their hold on the lead piling on their final seven runs in the game’s final two innings in order to secure the lead. Mike Webb was able to secure his fourth win of the season in the contest, allowing five runs off of four hits while striking out 11 batters in total. Jake Rockefeller meanwhile became the first Anchorman this season to record multiple saves, earning his second of the year after pitching the final three innings. After the first few innings of the second game, it appeared that things were heading towards a similar result to game two. The Anchormen were able to get 8-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth innings and seemed poised to sweep the day. However, the game soon evolved into a spectacle where a mere four run lead was nothing to feel confident about. The Anchormen opened the sixth inning with Julio Brens on the mound and although the junior’s great velocity drew audible reactions from the crowd, he was plagued by a lack of control. After surren-
Above: #19 Nick Feola, Photos by Britt Donahue
dering walks to three of the four batters he faced, and a ground rule double to the other, he was pulled with the bases loaded, and the RIC lead cut down to three. From here, the Anchormen deferred to Sam Alkins who was unable to salvage the zero outs on the board and was pulled after giving up a single RBI, and hitting a batter with the bases loaded on subsequent at bats, still zero outs bases loaded. Coach Holbrook next opted to put Tyler Calabro on the round, who after giving up a two run double, was able to get the Anchormen out of the inning down 9-8. The Anchormen did not take long to respond and put up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, two of which came off of a triple courtesy of third baseman Nick Feola. RIC was able to leave the sixth inning leading 12-9. The Panthers refused to
allow a lead to carry on more than half an inning, however, and proceeded to bombard RIC to the tune of a seven run seventh inning exiting the frame up 16-12. While it seemed possible that an instant classic was in the works at Pontarelli Field after three straight innings of high octane scoring, the RIC bats cooled off in the bottom of the seventh inning. From here the Anchormen only scored one more run across the game’s final three innings to go against six from the Panthers and RIC was downed 22-13. With the split, RIC now owns a 19-8 record to go alongside a 5-3 mark inside the Little East. The next home match up for the team will come Saturday afternoon in another inter conference double header, this time against the Keene State Owls. Pitching, #10 Cameron Harris
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
|
15
Sports
Gough’s no-hitter punctuates Anchorwomen’s sweep over Worcester State Joseph A. Griswold Assistant Sports Editor
One word can sum up the Anchorwomen’s performance against the Worcester State Lancers on Thursday night: Dominance. In game one, the Anchorwomen shut out Worcester State 6-0, but the real story came from RIC’s ace in the circle. From the first pitch thrown by senior pitcher Briana Gough it was evident that she was in a zone. Gough was masterful setting down 19 straight batters before a walk in the last inning spoiled her chance at a perfect game. Despite losing the perfect game, Gough kept her composure and quickly set down the final three batters to complete her first no-hitter at home. After the game Gough was elated, but rather than focus on herself, she chose to credit her catcher and teammates. Gough emphasized the chemistry
between her and senior catcher Emma Simmons, “It’s like she can read my mind, whatever pitch I want or am thinking she is already calling.” Catcher Emma Simmons also added that, “It’s awesome to see all her [Gough] hard work paying off.” Despite throwing a no-hitter, the Anchorwomen initially struggled for runs and the score was 1-0 headed to the fourth inning. However, Gough once again answered the call providing some of her own run support with a two-run homerun. RBI’s by Marissa Cushman and Cristin Chiaverini expanded the lead to 5-0 and with Gough dealing, the game was never in doubt. Another RBI added by Amber Wainwright in the sixth would bring the lead to 6-0 where the game would finish. After the no-hitter celebrations ended, senior pitcher Erica Fleming
On the left, #1 Marissa Cushman
entered the circle looking to continue the masterful pitching for the Anchorwomen. Fleming looked sharp through the first three innings making quick work of the Worcester State lineup. Solo home runs by Marissa Cushman and Emma Simmons gave the Anchorwomen a 2-0 lead going into the fourth inning. In the fourth, the Lancer’s bats
finally woke up and got to Fleming for four runs. However, the lead was short lived as the Anchorwomen scored one in the fourth followed by seven in the fifth and one more in the sixth ending the game 12-4. Simmons and Cushman led the way with a combined 8 RBI while Wainwright added two RBI’s and Shaelyn DaSilveira and Kelsey Bur-
gess added an RBI each. Before the start of the season, head coach Brian Claypool made one point unmistakably clear: the Anchorwomen’s success depends largely on senior pitchers Briana Gough and Erica Fleming. If Thursday is any indication, the Anchorwomen have the look of a team that can make some noise come playoff time.
From left to right, #6 Emma Simmons, #9 Briana Gough From left to right, Head Coach Brian Claypool, #9 Briana Gough, Photos by Thomas Crudale
16
|
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928