The Anchor - November 19 2018

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Volume 92/Issue 10

THE

November 19th, 2018

ANCHOR

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928

Solar power vs. fossil fuels. Who will reign victorious?

California set ablaze

Victoria Stromberg Anchor Contributor

Graphic by Wiley Sadowski

Sean Richer Anchor Staff

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Solar panel farm replaces Smithfield Road Landfill in North Providence See the full story on Page 8

he candle has literally been burning at both ends of California, as two devastating wildfires burn through the state. So far, they have claimed the lives of 66 people and have burned a total 240,362 acres of land. These fires could not have come at worse time, since the people of California are still reel-

ing from the Borderline Bar shooting, which happened just a week prior. The Camp fire, which has been affecting northern California has been particularly devastating. So far, the Camp fire has been responsible for 63 of the 66 deaths statewide, and has destroyed the homes of many hundreds more. One of the most affected communities is Paradise, Cal-

ifornia. The town of 26,000 has been entirely burned to the ground with only a few abandoned buildings left standing. More bodies are expected to be found. Purple Air, an air quality watchdog organization has ranked the air quality in northern California as the worst in the world, surpassing Continued on page 5

Rhode Islanders now have 24 hour triage for mental health services Erica Clark Assistant News Editor

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hode Island’s first Behavioral Health Link Triage and Call Center is now open 24 hours a day for people struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders. BH Link opened their center and hotline this past Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7 a.m. Located at 975 Waterman Ave in East Providence, this is not a hospital or a rehabilitation center, but rather a center with small individual rooms with recliners. It’s designed for patients to stay there no longer than 23 hours.

BH will employ an estimated 50 people, including certified counselors, registered nurses, psychiatrists, peer specialists and phone screeners. This triage is designed so those dealing with mental health issues don’t have to wait hours in an emergency room. This will provide immediate attention to behavioral healthcare in a community based setting, 24/7.

The stated purpose of BH Link is to ensure stability, provide to individuals who need ongoing care and to reduce the use of hospital-based services. Jim Ryczek, who is the CEO of Horizon Healthcare Partners stated, “Most people will be stabilized and then moved on either to a higher level of care in hospitals or the adult-acute stabilization units or sent home if they’re stabilized or into the commu-

nity for referrals.” This gives first responders the capability to have their patients assessed immediately. Ryczek said, “First responders will seek out people either through calls with the 911 system, or encounter them on the streets in Providence or anywhere else, assess what’s going on and call us and say, ‘Can we bring them in for assessment and treatment?’” BH Link will be offering

appointments and drop-ins for immediate attention. The license provider, Community Care Alliance, accepts all insurance providers, and those without insurance will not be charged for services.

If you are or someone you know requires mental health services, please call the BH Link Hotline: 401-414-LINK (5465)


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

Lauren Enos| asst_opinions@anchorweb.org

SPORTS EDITOR

Jake Elmslie | sports@anchorweb.org

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

NOW HIRING | 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

Enrique Castaneda-Pineda | asst_graphics@anchorweb.org

SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Charlotte Abotsi | senior_copy@anchorweb.org

ASST. COPY EDITOR

Ariella Jeter | copy@anchorweb.org

Anchor Staff Aaron Isaac Mike Dwyer Derek Sharlock Alison Macbeth Joshua Magnone Thomas Yakey Jr. Alison Darmetko Jake Deblois Sophia Guerrier Kaitlin Dobson Sean Richer Joshua Percy Joseph A. Griswold

Contact Us: Advertising Lily Gallo

(401)456-8544 ads@anchorweb.org

Editor-in-Chief Samantha Scetta

(401)456-8790 editorinchief@anchorweb.org

Angela DaSilva | copy@anchorweb.org SENIOR LAYOUT EDITOR

Jessamy LeBeau | layout@anchorweb.org

ASST. LAYOUT EDITOR

NOW HIRING | layout@anchorweb.org

ADS MANAGER

Lily Gallo | ads@anchorweb.org

TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Victor Martelle | technology@anchorweb.org ASST. TECH DIRECTOR

NOW HIRING | asst_tech@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.

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News Amazon, destination New York and Virginia Aaron Isaac Staff Writer The frenzied bidding war for Amazon’s favor is over. After 14 months of searching, Amazon announced its new headquarters will be in Long Island, New York and Arlington, Virginia. Many states and cities were left disappointed by the decision. Amazon, valued at nearly one trillion dollars, reported receiving 238 proposals from cities and regions across the United States. Amazon originally promised 50,000 jobs wherever they choose for their new headquarters. When it decided to build two headquarters it also split its promise in half, only promising 25,000 jobs in each state. Amazon asked for, and was offered, lavish incentives. Pennsylvania offered $4.6 billion of taxpayer funded incentives over 25 years. Newark, N.J.’s proposal offered numerous gifts including tax exemptions and tax credits by the city and the state totalling $7 billion. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was so determined to get Amazon to move to New

Current Amazon headquarters in Seattle, Washington; Photo courtesy of The Seattle Times York he said he would change his name to “Amazon Cuomo if that’s what it takes.” Though it likely had no effect on Amazon’s decision, mere hours after his statement, Amazon announced their move to New York. Governor Cuomo is enthusiastic about Amazon’s promise of “$2.5 billion in Amazon investment” and “25,000 full-time high-paying jobs” according to Amazon’s

website. New York’s bid for Amazon amounted to $1.525 billion, mostly made up of tax credits and up to $1.7 billion if Amazon creates 40,000 jobs. Though New York did not present the most lucrative incentives, they could boast a capable labor force and proximity to out-of-state universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The tax incentives drew a wave of criticism for being

Proposed headquarters in New York; Photo courtesy of Jax Daily Record

too large and being poorly used. Incoming New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Amazon should not be getting taxpayer money “at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need [more] investment, not less”. The New York Times Editorial Board called the Amazon deal a “Bad Bargain.” They pointed out that Amazon will bring higher property values as well. They suggested that if

property values rise too high, residents may be priced out of their neighborhoods. They preferred Amazon to invest in New York’s infrastructure directly and to provide jobs to lower income residents “not just flimsy promises of job training.” In response to the move, politicians, union members and community members staged a protest in Long Island Park. The gentrification issue was front and center for many of the protestors. City Council member Jimmy Van Bramer said to Vox that it was unacceptable for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to get “a helipad so he doesn’t have to take the damn 7 train.” This is actually true, as a part of the New York deal, the headquarters will put in a helipad specifically for Bezos to fly to the building. Amazon is hardly the only company to take advantage of incentives. Wisconsin offered Foxconn three billion dollars last year for fewer and less well paying jobs. Dubbed “HQ2” these new headquarters for Amazon will most likely begin construction in early 2019.

Rep. Ocasio-Crotez; Photo courtsy of The Cut

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News Rhode Islanders vote “Yes” on Question 2 Tim Caplan News Editor

During the 2018 midterm elections Rhode Islanders had the opportunity to vote on the “Higher Education Facilities Bond Measure”, also known as Question 2. Rhode Island College (RIC) faculty and staff have been seen throughout the months of October and November lobbying on campus encouraging voters to select “Yes” on ballot referendum question 2, which would provide $70 million in taxpayer money to be allocated between The University of Rhode Island (URI) and RIC. $45 million would go to URI to upgrade “Education and research needs for the marine disciplines”, and $25 million would go to RIC to revitalize and upgrade Horace Mann Hall. Rhode Island voters approved of the ballot referendum by a margin of more than 60,000 votes with a final count of 59% to 40%. President Sanchez appeared on WPRI 12’s “Newsmakers” program on October 5th to discuss Question 2. He went on with president of URI Dr. David Dooley and they discussed Question 2, student

President Sanchez, Photo courtesy of WPRI debt in Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Promise program. Sanchez said the ballot referendum will help RIC “completely modernize Horace Mann which houses our education department” Sanchez continued “if you think about it Horace Mann was built nearly 50 years ago and there has not been any major renovation since. As a lot of folks know, training and preparation of teachers has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. What (Question 2) would do for us

is allow us to build a facility and simulations as two modAs the ballot referendum to complement an entirely re- ern tactics to help teachers passed on November 6th, imagined curriculum in our of the future. renovations are set to begin school of education.” in 2019. President Sanchez went on to talk about the fact that RIC has engaged with thought leaders across the country on developing modern techniques associated with teacher training. RIC consulted with universities like Arizona State and Baylor to try to discover all of the different new strategies of teaching students. Sanchez mentioned video coaching technology

Israeli government, Hamas reach ceasefire after series of deadly clashes Tim Caplan News Editor

Israeli and Gazan government officials reached an agreement to cease fire on Tuesday, Nov. 13 after two days of the deadliest conflict between the two entities since the war of 2014. The conflict began on Sunday, Nov. 11 after a botched intelligence reconnaissance mission by members of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). IDF soldiers entered Gaza on Sunday and were stopped by a Hamas official, which then resulted in a fire fight that left six Hamas militants and one IDF soldier dead. Hamas is the democratical-

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ly elected government of Gaza. Hamas and the West Bank Palestinian government are unaffiliated. Hamas is a radical Islamist organization that has been designated a terrorist group by countries all over the world including The U.S, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Sunday ended with Hamas firing 17 rockets into the civilian communities of southern Israel according to the Jerusalem Post. The next day, Hamas sent over 300 projectile missiles over the border at Israel. Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense sys-

tem intercepted at least 60 of those rockets according to the “Times of Israel” These rockets hit the community of Ashkelon as well as other towns surrounding the Gaza border. These rockets wounded nine people and killed one Palestinian man living in Israel. According to the New York Times, Israel then responded by deploying the air force to hit about 70 different targets in Gaza including the Hamas broadcast TV station, Al-Aqsa. Three Palestinian residents were killed by tank fire and nine were wounded according to the BBC.

A seven hour meeting commenced with the Israeli security cabinet on Tuesday after statements of willingness for a cease fire came from the political leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh. The mediators of the negotiations were the U.N, Egypt, Switzerland and Norway. Several high ranking government officials strongly opposed the cease fire, claiming that a cease fire would be appeasement to terrorists. The defense, education, environmental protection and justice ministers all condemned the negotiations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held strong in his conviction, however, and agreed to the cease fire. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman resigned the next day, stating that Israel was “Surrendering to terror.” This is the second violent clash between Gazans and the IDF this year, the first in May during the celebration of 70 years of Israeli independence. The situation is volatile, but for now an agreement for temporary peace has been reached.

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News California set ablaze Continued from cover page both India and China. This is due to the massive plumes of smoke and debris that the fire has left in its wake. The smoke has become so dense that flights to and from San Francisco have been canceled and many transportation services have shut down in order to encourage people to stay indoors. Both the San Francisco Bay region and Sacramento have exceeded 300 points on the air quality index and have been labeled as, “hazardous”. The larger swathes of land surrounding these two points have been deemed very unhealthy. Another point of concern is the amount of people who are still missing. Over 630 individuals have yet to be found as friends and relatives have not been able to communicate with them. Many of the people who have been displaced by the flames have been staying in tent cities, one of which resided in a Walmart parking lot in the town of Chico. The people there have since been asked to leave, and many do not know where they

will go next. Chicoan Luigi Balsamo, a resource coordinator for the camp, issued a statement saying that the Red Cross ordered it be shut down and went on to say, “I don’t think anyone wants to take responsibility for it… we can’t keep sustaining this thing.” The Red Cross has denied that they ever issued

According to Cal Fire, The Woolsey Fire burning in Southern California has destroyed 836 structures in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Mansion ablaze in Malibu, California; Photo courtesy of The Wrap such an order, since that area anyone leave the property.” does not fall under its jurisPresident Trump has not diction. The City Manager been shy about sharing why of Chico, Mark Orme, has he thinks these fires have expressed his concern as to grown so devastating. He why the camp has closed, has repeatedly threatened to since the local government withdraw federal payments did not give this order either. to the state if the situation Walmart has also issued a is not remedied in a timely statement saying, “We have manner. While on his trip to not asked or demanded that France he tweeted, “There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor... Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”. Governor Jerry Brown wrote off the President’s comments as, “Inane and uninformed.” The President has since changed his tune, commemorating the firefighters currently battling the flames tweeting, “God Bless them all.” President Trump is scheduled to visit California over the weekend.

Both the San Francisco Bay region and Sacramento have exceeded 300 points on the air quality index and have been labeled as, “hazardous”.

Fast-Spreading Hill and Woolsey Fires Force Evacuations In California’s Ventura County; Photo courtesy of Country Living Magazine

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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News Rhode Island College awards Antoinette Gomes with Presidential Medal Charlotte Abotsi Senior Copy Editor

This is a reprint of last week’s article after a misprinting of the original article due to design oversight.

Often enough, a college is tasked with the duty of saying thank you and farewell to a retiring member of its community. On Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, Rhode Island College (RIC) did just that, expressing gratitude and goodbyes to a longtime member of the RIC community, The Unity Center director, Antoinette Gomes. Gomes was given the high honor of being a recipient of the Presidential Medal, given by RIC’s own President Frank Sanchez. The event was held in the Amica Lounge at Alex and Ani Hall, and it was full of people celebrating Gomes’ service and dedication to RIC. Antoinette Gomes announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of Spring semester this year. Gomes has been a presence in the RIC community over the span of 30 years. Her resume boasts many positions in Student Life. Gomes began her career at RIC serving as an Upward Bound program counselor in 1987. She was also the Student Support Services Counselor for the Preparatory Enrollment Program. Later, she was the Interim Director of Student Life, which culminated in her appointment as the Unity Center Director in 2010. She has worn many hats here at RIC, and she takes pride in it. “I am most proud of the support that I have offered to some of the most vulnerable students in higher education. They are often the first in their families to attend college; they often have meager financial resources; some have been in state custody in some way or another; some are genderqueer. They are black and brown and white. They are a bunch of other stuff, like determined, sensitive, deserving, intelligent, awake, aware, valuable,” she said. During her time at RIC, she

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“I didn’t really choose this work; this work chose me. I think part of that is just circumstantial. I’m born a woman in America, I am born a black woman in America and born into a family who valued education. It became clear to me really early in my life, that some folks had advantages and privileges that gave them a leg up in life, that other folks didn’t and I was one of those other folks. I feel passionate about equity.” ~Antoinette Gomes

has cultivated conversations on diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. When asked of what fuels her to do this work she says “I didn’t really choose this work; this work chose me. I think part of that is just circumstantial. I’m born a woman in America, I am born a black woman in America and born into a family who valued education. It became clear to me really early in my life, that some folks had advantages and privileges that gave them a leg up in life, that other folks didn’t and I was one of those other folks. I feel passionate about equity.” At the start of the ceremony, Anna Cano Morales, the Associate Vice President Community Equity and Diversity at RIC welcomed attendees. Chris Susi, RIC’s LGBTQIA Office Coordinator was a student on the search committee for Gomes’ position 10 years ago. Susi addressed the crowd, saying, “In her decades on this campus… her characteristics have driven her work to make RIC and the world a better place every day.” After Susi’s speech came a student staff testimonial from an eloquently weepy Emelia Orellana, ’20, who started off her speech with “if I start crying, I truly apologize.” She cried. Then the entire room joined her in tears as she recounted “When I first walked

into The Unity Center…I had no idea that I had walked into the office of a woman that was going to change my life… There are so many hearts that have been touched in the same way, and a lot of these hearts are in this room today.” Indeed, there were. Past Unity Center alums and current students filled the room and kept it lively cheering and snapping their fingers whenever someone said something in praise of Gomes. Orellana then introduced a tribute video in which students, past and present, recorded emotional messages of gratitude to the honoree of the evening. President Sanchez took to the podium to award Gomes the Presidential Medal. Sanchez “I can’t think of a more deserving recipient to honor with the Presidential Medal.” Sanchez reminded the audience, “Over the last couple of years, we have selectively given out the Presidential Medal for a very specific purpose. It’s to recognize and acknowledge excellence through impact. What Antoinette has done, has allowed us to build the foundation for these critical conversations about community, about people coming together, in a time I think is more important than ever.” Antoinette Gomes is only the third person to receive

Photo courtesy of Thomas Crudale the Presidential Medal under President Sanchez. Former RIC Vice President of Academic Affairs Ron Pitt, who was in attendance, and Jane Williams, the former Dean of the School of Nursing are the two other recipients of the medal. Antoinette Gomes’ accolades expand on the aforementioned milestones. President Sanchez made sure the audience was aware that her service to RIC was undeniable. The plaque that cemented her medal listed every accomplishment Gomes achieved at RIC. Sanchez recognized her long service as standing chair of the Dialogue and Diversity Committee from 2010-2017, and how she founded The Unity Center Foundation, a fund to help students in need. Every finite success Gomes conquered was listed, and the crowd cheered for each one. With the Presidential Medal still fresh on her neck, Gomes remarked “I really can’t tell you how good it feels for the recognition of how important

and valuable this work is here on our campus…I’m not really a person who needs public display to validate my passion and effort on behalf of equity, inclusion in higher education.” Gomes shared her vision for The Unity Center and RIC, “Our commitment is to promote a campus climate that is supportive, and welcoming, and safe for everybody. And by ‘our’ commitment, I mean all of us…Everybody is accountable for the custody of this campus.” Gomes assured the audience that the new Unity Center director is not just filling her shoes. “The point is not to have somebody that can fill my shoes, my shoes are worn and we need a new pair. We need a new pair that will take this leadership on a new pathway.”

| Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928


News

These archived articles and illustrations were found in the Spring 1972 issues of The Anchor. Catherine Enos Opinions editor

In many ways, 1972 was an interesting year. Watergate happened, the Dallas Cowboys won their first Super Bowl, Atari released “Pong” and bell bottoms were in style. The Anchor, however, hit a minor slump during this year. The issues tended to be shorter (the average page count seemed to be 8-10 pages) and the highlight of the year (to use the term loosely) was a recurring section written by a doctor in a grotesquely anatomical Q&A column. However, there’s always a few interesting tidbits in The Anchors of the past. Hidden in the 1972 issues of The Anchor are a few gems: a musical bunny confirming an urban legend, a discussion regarding an impending visit of well-known occultists (horror fans may recognize the Warrens from “The Conjuring”), an announcement regarding the ability to consume alcohol at campus functions, and a rather dramatic editorial cartoon reacting to the state of the nation. Though The Anchor perhaps didn’t have its best year, it certainly provided some memorable things to look back on.

Catherine Enos has been the opinions editor for The Anchor Newspaper since fall 2017, and has been reporting on The Anchor Archives since then. She is a senior in college, majoring in both political science and psychology. Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 | 7


Health & Science The keto craze Kaila Acheson Anchor Contributor In this day and age influenced heavily by modern science, diets are increasing in number but yet it is still difficult to tell if they would actually be beneficial to your health. A recent fad has been the Ketogenic diet because it is fairly easy to follow and many people have seen success. The question is, what does the Keto diet do to your body? The Keto diet was discovered by Dr. Russell Wilder in 1923 while working at the Mayo Clinic, attempting to find a treatment for epilepsy. Keto mainly focuses on low carbs, moderate protein and high fat.

Supposedly, it can both help someone lose weight and improve their overall health. Studies have shown that Keto does not only help you lose weight, but can also help with chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. Keto works by eliminating carbs from your diet and primarily consuming natural fats. By doing this, the body burns more fat for energy, feeding the brain energy. This puts the body in a state called ketosis. According to U.S. News, the Keto diet does not rank high in effectiveness in comparison to other diets. Keto is effective in the realm of weight loss, yet is ranked low in effectiveness on overall

health. Being in a constant state of ketosis can become harmful because without the consumption of carbs, the body only burns fat. Fat is necessary on the body and carbs are an essential part of your diet. With the absence of carbs, dehydration and a chemical imbalance in blood flow, become a dangerous possibility. Although there is evidence of Keto being bad for your health, if it is not followed to the extreme it can have its benefits. A woman reported to Business Insider the effects of the diet on her after one month and she claimed that it “vastly improved her life,” but she did admit to cheating and consumed some carbs every week.

Graphic courtesy of Tasteaholic After exploring both sides of the story, it is difficult to tell whether the Keto diet is a good option for someone trying to make a lifestyle change.

Overall, research seems to have shown that if the Keto diet is followed in moderation and some carbs are consumed, then it would not be harmful to your health.

Solar power vs. fossil fuels. Who will reign victorious? Victoria Stromberg Anchor Contributor Solar power, what is it? Well, solar power is actually radiant energy that is being emitted by the sun and converted into electricity. Solar power can be compared to fossil fuels, where we get most of our oil from. Today, the world gets most of its power from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and most well-known, oil. It is also not a secret that a major contributing factor to climate change and environmental downfall are fossil

fuels mixed with greenhouse gas emissions (trapping heat in the atmosphere). In fact, according to the EPA in 2012, the greenhouse gas emissions totalled a whopping 6,526 million metric tons. That is 82% of all human caused greenhouse gases. However, these nonrenewable energy sources are slowly coming to an end in terms of supply, and the need for other energy-obtaining resources are vital. This is where solar power comes into play. Solar power is a more efficient way of harnessing energy and converting it into electricity. This is because it

Photos courtesy of Victoria Stromberg

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is a renewable energy source that will never deplete, rather than fossil fuels, which take years to form. Not to mention, solar power is a cleaner way of getting our energy. The use of clean in this context means non-polluting, and not emitting greenhouse gases into the air, which is a plus because it will not contribute to global warming such as fossil fuels already have. Solar panels are the way we are getting our energy from the sun. In Rhode Island, there are multiple solar farms either already built, or being proposed as per Governor Gina Raimondo's executive order to generate 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020. This factor will be of great help to the environment in terms of eliminating already-existing pollution, and the way energy is obtained from here on out. A brand-new Solar Farm has just finished construction at a capped landfill in North Providence a few months ago.

“This to me, was a no-brainer,” said Mayor Lombardi on his decision to propose a solar farm in this area. “I know it’s the right thing to do.” Solar energy is an up-rising practice that is expected to bring down human greenhouse gas emissions into the air quite considerably, seeing as Solar panels release little to no emissions at all. It is important to take solar power, and the damage of fossil fuels seriously for the years ahead. According to the UN Climate Change Report, we have 12 years to “take action” before the rise in temperature will make it quite difficult to reverse. In their words, the

level of global warming between 2030 and 2052 will cause extreme weather, including the sea level to rise causing severe flooding. All in all, the need to eliminate the use of oil, coal, and natural gas is vital to the earth as of right now. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have determined that carbon dioxide emissions need to hit zero by the year 2075. This is where everyone worldwide needs to make an effort. If possible, get solar panels, reduce the use of oil in homes and lessen the contribution to the pollution of this beautiful planet. It is possible, but there is a lot of hard work ahead.

| Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928


Health & Science

Nowadays, facts come at you fast. News cycles and timelines are on overdrive. Fake news is common place. Clusterfackt is an ongoing series that asks readers to question everything. Think of it as an exercise in critical thinking. Each week readers will be given a giant clusterfackt of scientific findings meant to replicate the dizzying news loops that dominate our lives. However, there’s a catch. One statement within the clusterfackt is entirely false. Identify the falsehood and win a prize by emailing editorinchief@anchorweb.org and don’t repeat anything you read here without doing your research!

Mike Dwyer Anchor Staff It’s our penultimate edition of Clusterfackt and as things wind down for these last two issues I want to focus on the question I raised last week: why is it that humans engage in fantasy and what purpose does it serve? I would like to additionally ask, how has the preeminent medium of our era- the Internet- met and exploited our need for make believe and can anything be done to right our thinking? These questions are vital to the future state of our nation and rest at the intersection of science, ethics and public policy- human constructions that are only as good as the people who build them. Easy and unscrupulous access to technology has allowed Americans, if they so choose, to immerse themselves in a near continuous dream state of false news and questionable science. Once again, it is important to note that this state of affairs is by no means exclusively American. However, the model did arise from the American tech industry, where it still persists and transmogrifies daily, allowing a small group of individuals to affect the behavior of more than a billion people worldwide. This past week the New York Times released a damning indictment detailing the public relations campaigns adopted by Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg in the wake

of the 2016 presidential election and how the pair managed to control the public discourse to downplay the company’s involvement in the spread of fake news and hate speech online using unsavory political rhetoric and tactics. In one instance the company conducted focus groups, with both liberals and conservatives, to test approaches to the controversy before bringing their message to lawmakers, including whether or not to bring other social media platforms into the fray by accusing them of similar wrongdoings. YouTube and Twitter are likewise awash with bots, bad-actors and malarkey. Google has engaged in similar data-sharing deals and about a year ago quietly dropped their slogan “Don’t Be Evil” from their employee code of conduct. Just over a decade ago these platforms promised to bring people together and provide them access to real-time information, yet it seems they have done just the opposite, saturating humanity with nonsense while alienating us from each other and from ourselves. How did this happen? For starters, the business model is designed to reward such behavior. Since social media comapnies generate revenue based on how much time users engage with the platform they have no incentive to tame our darker impulses that keep us tuned in. Furthermore, policing fake news and hate

speech is a politically sensitive issue that could cause backlash. Zuckerberg managed to parry difficult questions during his congressional testimony but the coaching and rhetorical preparation he underwent beforehand made him come off as mechanical which, ironically, led to fake news stories that Zuckerberg is in fact a robot. On the other hand, is it wise for congressional leaders to delegate the task of policing language to the tech giants? Fake news is not some bug in the system- it is a product of human agency and can’t be changed with a quick system update. A recent study by MIT into the differential diffusion of all the verified true and false news stories on Twitter from 2006 to 2017 found that “falsehood diffused significantly farther, faster, deeper and more broadly than the truth in all categories” and that “contrary to conventional wisdom, robots accelerated the spread of true and false news at the same rate, implying that humans, not robots,

Graphic courtesy of Bausmedia are more likely responsible for the dramatic spread of fake news.” Our constitution is simply not prepared to handle this situation and any amendment to free speech is meant to be the responsibility of elected lawmakers. Should the social media agents choose to weigh in on free speech they risk alienating wide swaths of their consumer base, which is why executives are so reluctant to tackle the issue or even acknowledge that the problem exists in the first place. Essentially, Face-

book and others have tried to establish themselves as the providers of an open platform that is not subject to the more stringent obligations of a publisher. In next week’s final issue we will continue to ask why it is that we engage in fantasy and what purpose it serves by analyzing the specific ways that Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube and others have hijacked the human brain and compromised our free will.

Mike Dwyer is a 2013 graduate of CCRI’s school of nursing and has since worked as a registered nurse in and around his hometown of Newport, Rhode Island. Writing has been a life-long passion (Re: obsession) and in 2016 Mike enrolled at RIC to pursue a BA in English literature. He is a senior planning to graduate next Spring, after which he will stay local, stay weird, and pursue a graduate degree.

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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Brand New Lofts in North Providence

Say Hello to Lofts at Lyman Mill

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| Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928


Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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Arts&Entertainment

Superhero Central

the first avenger, a marvel of our time

Jonathan Weaver Assistant A&E Editor The world lost one of its creative greats this past week. Stan Lee, the creator and mind behind many timeless and beloved properties in comics and pop culture at large, has left us. At 95 years of age, Lee spent the better part of a century sculpting the landscape of pop culture into what we know and love today. This man’s continuous contributions and presence within the comic community cannot be overstated. From every Marvel movie cameo to every con appearance, Stan Lee was a man who loved what he did and did it for people he loved in turn.

Lee spent his life cultivating the culture he loves, with his initial creation of “The Fantastic Four” in the 1950’s, to massive properties like “Spiderman” or “The X-Men.” Lee has built a fervent following of adoring fans who saw him as a god among comic-nerds, going so far as to apply his own comic lore to his own role in the stories: Lee became the “Watcher” of humanity, a god-like being who chronicles the lives and trials of heroes for others. Not every aspect of a hero’s story is positive, however. In April of this year it became public knowledge that Lee was a victim of elder abuse at the hands of a couple of his “caretakers” including his business manager at the

Graphic courtesy of GurkiratSingh1

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time. From marketing his time, and cutting his interaction with the masses and friends, this abuse reached a stranglehold after the death of Stan’s beloved wife, Joan, in July of 2017. While, his business manager was issued a restraining order before his death, it should be noted the effect this had not only on public opportunities for Mr. Lee, but also for his health in general. Stan Lee gave many beautiful things to this world, he changed the lives of countless people who felt like outcasts in their own shoes, and he forever altered the world of pop culture both within comics and far beyond. He was also a human, who was doing what he loved. He was a man who lost his love and underwent some awful abuse at the hands of those who did not deserve his acquaintance. He persevered and nevertheless was there for his audience, and for that there is nothing we can say that will express our eternal love and gratitude beyond the simple term: excelsior.

Graphics courtesy of Tumblr.com

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928


Arts&Entertainment Open Books Open Minds presents: “Human Flow”

Britt Donahue Photo Editor

“I want the right of life, of the leopard at the spring, of the seed splitting open -I want the right of the first man.” These words, by Turkish poet, Nâzım Hikmet open Ai Weiwei’s 2017 documentary about human migration, “Human Flow.” The documentary was shown on campus last week as part of the 2018-2019 Open Books Open Minds program. This year’s book selection is “Exit West,” by Mohsin Hamid, a story that follows two young people fleeing war in their home country. While “Exit West” is fictional, there are currently more than 65 million refugees worldwide, fleeing conditions like those encountered by the book’s main characters.

“Human Flow” takes the viewer through more than 20 countries to demonstrate the extent of the global refugee crisis, and brings humanity and dignity back to the millions of people who have been forced out of their homes for reasons beyond their control. Weiwei speaks with migrants, dignitaries, and human rights workers to stress the extent of this crisis, and show the damage being done to people under the guise of security. “Human Flow” is available to stream on Amazon Prime. For more information on the Open Books Open Minds program, contact Drs. Duneer, Hawk, or Jalalzai in the English department, or email OBOM@ric.edu.

Alex Teare

Samantha Malley Art Director By double majoring in art history and ceramics while working towards her Bachelors in Fine Arts (BFA), Alex Teare has a lot on her plate. It all started back in highschool for Alex, where she found her love for art by being able to explore different mediums. She originally came to Rhode Island College four years ago to pursue a career in teaching art. As time went on, her passion eventually shifted over to ceramics. “I found ceramics something I just couldn’t leave” admits Alex. Immersing herself in the art world, she found Art History not only as an interesting topic in her field of study, but something that would

Alex Teare, Photo courtesy of Samantha Malley help her improve upon her writing skills as well. This semester, in Ceramics Four, Alex is working on a project which consists of stacking up a thousand cups. By stacking the cups in a pyramid manner, she brings up the debate of craft versus fine art. “This is a giant pyramid you have to look up to and then realize it’s only made out of cups and it really starts the discussion of ceramics not being valued as fine art” states Alex. She reflects upon her place in the fine art world by asking questions such as ‘How many cups will it take for it to be fine art?’ and ‘How many cups will it take for me to be good enough?’ She

believes as a student in the art world, the topic of craft versus fine art can be brought up in any medium and is relatable to many. In the future, Alex envisions herself stepping away from the fine art world and hopes to open a local store. Calling herself ‘The Clay Baker,’ Alex started her own business about two years ago. She hopes to own a space that would work as both a studio and a shop. The shop would allow her to sell her everyday objects such as mugs, bowls, plates and so on, as well as eventually teach classes and open her studio space to other artists.

Interested in seeing more of Alex’s work? Follow her pottery business on Instagram and Facebook @TheClayBaker

Graphic courtesy of Participant Media

If you are a student who is part of the Art Department at Rhode Island College and would like to be featured in The Anchor Newspaper, email Samantha at ArtDirector@anchorweb.org to schedule an interview!

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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Arts&Entertainment

Marisa Lenardson Online Media Manager

Thursday Nov. 22

Friday Nov. 23

Orphan Thanksgiving

Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange

Too far from home to enjoy the holiday? The Scurvy Dog Stop by the State House this wants to take you in! Come Black Friday to donate your for a delicious, home-cooked gently-used winter gear, or meal or just some drinks. receive a coat for free. The Scurvy Dog $7 // 8 p.m.

Harvest Market Give your visiting family a taste of Providence with local food and makers at the weekly Harvest Market. Providence Place FREE // 9-6 p.m.

Rhode Island State House FREE // 8:30-1 p.m.

Fundraising Fridays at Craftland Every Friday evening this holiday season, Craftland will donate a portion of all sales to local youth organziations: Youth Pride, Inc. and Girls Rock! RI. Craftland FREE // 5-8 p.m.

Saturday Nov. 24 12th Annual Short Short Story Film Festival Live-action and animated films from across the globe, all of which tell a story in under six minutes. AS220 $10 // 2:30-11:30 p.m.

Sunday Nov. 25 Kim Trusty's Birthday Bash Kim Trusty and guest guitarist, Rory Malloy will be perform a mix of original songs and music of featured artists including Etta James, Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin. Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House $20 // 4-6 p.m.

Ian Fitzgerald & Something Brown Men's Basketball vs. Else Bryant University With special guests Rachel Sumner and The Wolff Sisters.

Catch the Brown University Men's Basketball team take on Bryant University.

Columbus Theater $10 // 7 p.m.

Pizzitola Sports Center $7-10 // 6 p.m.

State Property Now or Never Tour

Tits and Giggles Comedy Show A comedy show with local comedians, all to support breast cancer awareness. Alchemy $10 // 8-10 p.m.

Small Business Saturday State Property is a rap group from led by rapper Beanie Sigel with Philly Shop locally made curiosities, rappers Freeway, Peedi greeting cards, and more. Peedi, Oschino, and Omillio Sparks, and the Young Gunz. Split Apart Secondhand FREE // 11-5 p.m. The Srand Ballroom & Theatre $25 // 9-2 a.m.

TGIT

Walk Your Turkey Off With A Guided Hike

Thank God it's Thursday. $5 drinks, givaways, and pool, the perfect way to end your Thanksgiving.

Guided hike to "Walk off your Turkey Dinner" at Neutaconkanut Hill.

Providence G Pub FREE // 10-12 a.m.

Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy $5 // 10-12:30 p.m.

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A Christmas Carol

Willy Mason Featuring Lonesome Leash and FINE. Columbus Theater $10 // 8-11 p.m.

Arcade Farmers & Artisans Market

See Charles Dicken's Shop local and support small Christmas classic brought to businesses, artisans, and life! Your past, present, and farmers. There will be art, future self will be thankful you local food, vintage, and went. apothecary goods. Trinity Repertory Company $25 to $69 // 12-2 p.m.

The Arcade FREE // 11-3 p.m.

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928


Arts&Entertainment

Detective Pika-Pool rises Enrique Castaneda-Pineda Assistant Graphics Editor Pikachu is one of the most adorable, well-known characters in entertainment. Now, combine that with the vulgar, hilarious enigma that is Ryan Reynolds to create the most anticipated film of 2019. “Detective Pikachu” will star Ryan Reynolds as the dangerously cute Pikachu, alongside Justice Smith who most recently was in “Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom.” Despite hesitation from many regarding the casting choice, I do not think there could be anyone better to play Pikachu, especially with Reynolds coming off the extreme success of both “Deadpool” films. As the film’s first trailer progresses, there are more and more shots of hyper-realistic CGI Pokemon, including Mr. Mime, Jigglypuff and a pack of Bulbasaurs. Given these shots, it seems the film will be leaning more towards

Graphic courtesy of Indiewire the original 151 Pokemon from 1998. Though the characters feel different because of their new looks, their realistic designs work because they are better assimilated to the real world this way. From what the trailer has given us, the story for the film

follows Justice Smith as Tim Goodman, a young adult that has given up on his dreams to become a Pokemon trainer. This new take on the franchise feels like it will be a breath of fresh air, following a character that has already failed, rather than following

a character that wants to/will eventually reach their goal. Disregarding the fears of fans that this will hurt the franchise, the film will definitely find that spark that caused “Pokemon Go” to spread like wildfire in 2016. The film’s ability to go in

directions that divert from its original works will help bring a new narrative to the series that will lure audiences new and old to the franchise.

Oversaturation is not the answer Sophia Guerrier Anchor Staff There is too much music being released in rap this year. This may seem like a crazy statement considering every fan wants to hear new sounds from their favorite artist, but sometimes we all need a break. It cannot be ignored that this year in particular, there have been an overwhelming amount of new album or mixtape releases from artists. The year is not even over, and the rap genre has given us over one hundred mixtapes and albums, ranging from new to old school artists for listeners to consume and “enjoy.” It is not a coincidence that all rappers are deciding to drop their albums in the same year, but it is definitely a sense of urgency and competitiveness to stay relevant in this fast paced era of music. The biggest problem is oversaturation, which is not

the answer. Chief Keef and NBA YoungBoy are the two major culprits of this issue where both artists dropped more than three projects this year alone. How much more different are the sounds and content being presented by them in each of these projects? None. Listeners are getting the same product but with different packaging which devalues the excitement and expectation for their releases in the future. The same effect is happening to groups as well. Migos is a group in which its three members essentially offer the same thing as far as sound goes. They already released “Culture 2” containing 24 songs, and Quavo has recently released a nineteen track album while Takeoff came out with an album right after him as well (literally two weeks apart).

There is no time for their fans to truly digest their music especially when their releases are high in number and they are coming out in short periods of time. Too much music eventually leads to loss of creativity and repetitiveness, which we see with Quavo’s album and even with Rae Sremmurd’s triple album release. What makes this year even more inflated is that some artists claim to still not be done. Drake announced that he has another album following “Scorpion” to come in the near future. Kanye, Lil Baby & Gunna, Meek Mill, and more have pending projects for this year, all of whom have already released albums. Fans only have two ears, and artists are starting to forget this with their quantity over quality approach instead of the other way around.

This method can surely be to blame for the many subpar, easily forgotten projects that have come out this year -“Lil Boat 2,” “Beast Mode 2” and “WRLD on Drugs,” just to name a few. Releasing a large amount of music is not accomplishing fan satisfaction but instead contributing to the exhausting amount of unoriginal music filling the air. Release days are being overloaded with five or six new projects at a time which has to be unprecedented. Rap needs to go back to the slow release approach

where artists drop an album every one to two years with a mixtape in between. This gives fans time to actually miss the artist’s music and appreciate their music more when it is given to them. It will also allow artists to take their time creating great music and potentially outdoing themselves since there is an emphasis on progressing their craft. Only then will we see more meaningful and well put together projects instead of the arguably seven or eight that are currently out.

Listeners are getting the same product but with different packaging which devalues the excitement and expectation for their releases in the future.

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928

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Opinions Video games are losing their artistry Derek Sherlock Anchor Staff In my honest opinion, I feel that video games are becoming a dying art. I grew up in the era when videogames changed from being 2D (often side scrolling platformers) to the extremely blocky 3D masterpieces. I witnessed games go from the Sega Genesis/Super Nintendo era of games to the Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64, as well as the often-forgotten Sega Saturn/Dreamcast. While the graphics are getting better and better as the years go on, they have become a shell of what they were when I was a child. I remember when games didn’t rely on flashy graphics but instead put a lot of emphasis into the story. A few such games are: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil one to three, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, or Star Fox 64. They gave gamers a story that either toyed with their emotions or caused them to marvel at the virtual world

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in the game. The creators made these worlds for us to live in for a certain amount of time each day to escape our own physical lives. Today’s games, while they can give us an escape, are not based on any story. They’re usually online multiplayer and there is such an emphasis on the graphics and game play that the sense of escapism. As someone who grew up in an uncaring environment, I would escape into video games. I would pretend that I was running for my life in a zombie-infested midwestern town or pretend I was swimming in sub-zero Alaskan waters on my way to take down a group of terrorists who took over a nuclear disposal facility. Some days I was even a hot ace pilot in space defending the galaxy from a scientist who was bent on destroying planets. I got sucked into these stories. When my house became too much for my young mind,

Photo courtesy of The Motley Fool I would escape into these games and find comfort in them. It is safe to say that without video games I don’t know if I would truly be here right now. They really helped me through some dark points in my life. With the games today, I don’t get that same

sense of comfort or escape. In games like Fortnite, Black Ops Four and Fallout 76, there is no overarching story to escape to, time and time again. I am able to play with other players and do a bit of player versus player, but

without any story I can’t get lost in a fantasy world that is often caring and comforting. Getting lost in a story is what makes video games an art form and these stories are dying, taking video games along with it.

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.


Opinions

The importance of independent study and experiential learning Catherine Enos Opinions Editor

As a senior in college, the prospect of having a career or going to graduate school (or any other post-undergraduate program) in the near future can be intimidating. How do I know what I’m going to do in the future? Where do I want to start a career? The action I took to achieve these answers was to conduct an independent study in one of my majors. In the fall of 2016, I switched one major from biology to political science. Academically, this was the best decision I ever made. There’s never a boring day in political science. Since then, however, I’ve been struggling with deciding what I

want to do after college. I knew that I didn’t go into this major wanting to be a politician, nor was I interested in working in an administrative position. For me, it’s always been between law school or graduate school. I’ve gone to school tours, read books and copious amounts of student accounts on “what law school is like” or “what graduate school is like,” but these are all subjective. So I decided to work on an independent study. I’m only a semester into the project (about halfway through), but I’m glad that I made this decision. Although an independent study is probably not very similar to graduate-level studies and won’t show me the exact ex-

perience of graduate school, it’s helped me take a closer look at the areas I find interesting. The experience has also shown me that I really enjoy learning. When you’re doing an honors project, you have an advisor who guides your work but, ultimately, a student has to have enough interest and self-discipline to go forward with the project and get things done. It’s a different experience from a typical lecture. It’s also an experience that reflects well on the student conducting the project, the department the project comes from, and the college as a whole. Rhode Island College has this great (albeit inescapable) reputation as a college

for educators, but has been trying to expand its image as a university for decades. These type of experiential learning projects, such as independent studies and internships, create graduates that go onto careers in which they may be leaders in their fields.

How great would it be if RIC was known as both a great teaching school and a great research school? Perhaps the answer to “rebranding” RIC is in encouraging students to participate in experiential learning.

“Although an independent study is probably not very similar to graduate-level studies and won’t show me the exact experience of graduate school, it’s helped me take a closer look at the areas I find interesting. The experience has also shown me that I really enjoy learning”

Kick plastic water bottles to the curb (just kidding, please recycle them)

Lauren Enos Assistant Opinions Editor

Everyone knows how easy and convenient plastic water bottles are. You’re in line after shopping for an hour and there’s a cooler full of icecold, refreshing bottled beverages right there for you. You’re in the dining hall and know that a water bottle would be so much more convenient than an open cup. You’re on your way out the door and the pack of water bottles is on your way out. It’s so easy to just grab plastic bottles in these situations. You drink them, toss them, and don’t think about the consequences. We all know that when you’re done with that plastic bottle, you’re most likely putting it in the next trash receptacle you see, recycling or not. There are some people that will hold onto it until they can recycle it, which is great. But that’s not the majority of people, myself in-

Photo courtesy of Greener State cluded. Yes, sadly, I’m guilty of this heinous crime. But there’s a solution! If you know that you’re not going to hold onto your plastic bottles until you can recycle them, then don’t buy them! Reusable water bottles are a lifesaver for the planet and your wallet. They come in every color, size, shape, and

material you could ever want. There are even thermal ones that will keep your drink hot or cold for hours. Pro tip: use a Yeti to sneak ice cream into a movie theater or class, I’m not judging. The point is, it requires almost no extra effort to utilize a reusable bottle to bring drinks with you wherever

you go. If you know that you like to have soda after you go shopping, then bring some in a reusable bottle. Take two extra seconds to fill a reusable bottle instead of grabbing a plastic one from the case at the front door or the dining hall. Plus, drinks in plastic bottles are too expensive - both for you and the planet.

I get it though, sometimes it just happens. You didn’t prepare, you’re in a bind, or that Dr. Pepper just looks too good to refuse at that moment. For the times when it does, just make sure to recycle!

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.

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Sports Is Tuukka time over? Joseph Griswold Anchor Staff One of the most polarizing figures in all of Boston sports is Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask. Throughout his career, Rask has shown periods of absolute dominance and complete disarray. The start to this season has been no different, as the Bruins net-minder has limped through the first month of the National Hockey League season with a 4-4 record and a dismal .901 save percentage. Rask; however, has never had a true challenger behind him on the bench, until this year. This offseason, the Bruins went out and acquired veteran goaltender Jaroslav Halak. The former New York Islander ranks in the top 10 among active goaltenders in goals-against-average and shutouts. This season, Halak has gotten off to a sweltering start and has led the Bruins to a 5-1-2 record in his eight decisions boasting a .941 save percentage and two shutouts. It is

Photo courtesy of ESPN evident that Halak has been, by far, the superior goalie. This is not the first time that the Bruins have faced a goalie controversy, it was just last year where young goaltender Anton Khudobin, lead the Bruins on a winning streak and prompted talks of a goalie controversy. However, Khudobin is not a definitive number one goal-

tender and Rask soon rounded back into form. However, after losing in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning and a lackluster start, Rask seems to be on thin ice. The only difference this year is the support of competition from Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy, who time and time again last year dismissed

any talks of a goalie controversy. This year Cassidy said, “If one separates himself from the other like every other position here then we’ll allow that to evolve.” Thus far, Halak has shown the ability to facilitate competition. Whether or not Halak will be able to continue to play at a high enough level to displace

Rask remains to be seen. What is certain is that the Bruins believe that they are a championship caliber team and will do whatever is necessary to compete including bringing the end of Tuukka time in Boston.

The payment to college athletes Joshua Percy Anchor Staff Colleges across the country house some of the premier sporting talent around the world, however none of them receive payment for playing. The conversation on whether or not they deserve to be paid has been constant for the last two decades. While top college athletes receive scholarships from colleges to come play for their school, however those who don't really don't receive any type of payment for playing.

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The argument is that these college athletes put their careers on the line by playing in college, due to the fact that a career-ending injury could happen at any time. With that type of risk, should these athletes get paid from the start of their careers in college, or is scholarships and full rides through college enough to compensate these athletes? Injuries are always a risk no matter what you do, however, if you are a top 10 ranked athlete maybe you deserve more than just a scholarship, or maybe you should not have to go to college. The possibility of high school seniors going

straight to the NBA and skipping college could solve the problem of college athletes wanting to get paid, it gives them the ability to choose if they want to go to college or go to get paid. Other sports faces challenges in solving the issue in the payment of college students, however, this type of conversation will always be a topic until some type of a solution is given in all sports, not just the NBA. College football players should have similar a option to skip college and go straight to the NFL or possibly get bigger scholarships then they originally got. For baseball

Graphic courtesy of NCAA players, if they are drafted they should get some type of while in college, and they opt payment or salary on top of to stay in college but are con- scholarships. nected to a major league team,

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928


Sports Jimmy Butler and the NBA’s boldening Eastern Conference Jake Elmslie Sports Editor

There have been two adages going around in NBA circles for the better part of the last half decade. First that toppling the Golden State Warriors as champions is going to be nigh impossible until ether their current core breaks up or one of their key players sustains a significant injury. Secondly that the eastern conference pales in comparison to the west. Since the offseason two moves in particular have reflected a shift in mindset among certain teams in how they have chosen to deal with the mountain of Golden State and the futility of the eastern conference, a conference many were handing to the Boston Celtics following the exodus of Lebron James to Los Angeles. The first of these was the trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors took a large risk trading for the disgruntled former finals MVP. Toronto had won 48 plus games each of the last five seasons with their Kyle Lowry-Demar DeRozan core. However the

organization recognized that they were most likely never going to have a chance at a championship with this iteration of the team and thusly they risked alienating fans by trading DeRozan, a homegrown four time all star, for Leonard, a player they could not guarantee would even suit up for the Raptors. Early returns on this gamble have been excellent, the Raptors currently hold an eastern conference best 12-4 record and look to be contenders in the conference down the stretch. Secondly and far more recently was the November 12th trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers sent the Timberwolves two starters in Dario Saric and Robert Covington as well as a regular rotational piece in Jerryd Bayless in exchange for Butler. While none of the players Philadelphia traded would be considered building blocks they have also taken a sizable risk, gutting their rotation in exchange for an all star caliber player. These moves both involve

Photo courtesy of NBA.com teams being unwilling to accept the status quo and their standings in the leagues hierarchy. Both represent risks, the trading of valuable assets in exchange for a single season of a talented player. However within the current landscape of the NBA these sorts of risks are necessary and the teams willing to take them are possibly deserving of praise. It is easy for a franchise to accept being a perennial playoff team, never quite good enough to truly contend for a championship but good enough to always be in the mix once playoffs roll around. For many organizations, especially those in small markets

this is a profitable position to be in, a solid team will draw sizable crowds and playoff games bring in significant extra revenue. The Raptors could of easily rested on their status as such as team but instead they opted to swing for the fences and bring in Leonard. Similarly the 76ers could have chosen to wait for their young stars to develop but instead opted to bring in Butler to enhance their team now. They recognized bringing in a player of Butler’s stature is multiple times harder than replacing a few above average starters or rotational pieces. For teams hoping to contend with Gold-

en State and it’s assortment of all stars and MVP caliber players engaging in a talent arms race is necessary to have a chance at success. These teams taking a more aggressive approach to team building has radically improved the quality of competition in the eastern conference. Now while it still does not look like there is a team ready to challenge Golden State set to emerge from the east it is hard to deny that bolder NBA personal departments help to improve the quality of the product for all basketball fans.

Women’s swimming continues to tread water Jake Elmslie Sports Editor Rhode Island College Women’s Swimming sustained their 3rd team loss of the season Friday night in a 130-61 defeat at the hands of the 2-2 Western New England University Golden Bears. The loss did not come without bright spots however, with Athena Sampalis continuing her strong freshmen season. The Toll Gate product earned individual victories in

both the 100-yard individual medley and 50-yard freestyle with times of 1:17.2 and 28.87 respectively. She also took second in the 50 yard backstroke with a time of 35.69 and swam the final leg of RIC’s first place 200yard freestyle relay team. The Anchorwomen also got a strong performance from Senior Madison Lane who recorded second place finishes in both the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles with

respective times of 2:34.75 and 6:55.04. The RIC swim team will fall to 0-3 on the season as a result of this loss. The team will take a brief reprieve for the thanksgiving holiday before looking to rebound Saturday, December 1st when they will take to the road to face off against the 1-1 Plymouth State University Panthers. Women’s swim team; Photo courtesy of goanchormen.com

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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SERVED FRESH WEEKLY

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DIVERSE & FREERANGE CONTENT ORGANIC STUDENT RUN PROGRAMMING

ON NEWSSTANDS AROUND CAMPUS EVERY TUESDAY

EXCELLENT MOUTHFEEL

MEETINGS EVERY WEDNESDAY 12 P.M. DUCEY MEDIA CENTER

happening Catch up on your studies, Women’s Basketball game @ 5:30 PM The Anchor meeting! 12:00 PM on campus Finals begin December 12! Men’s Basketball game @ 7:30 PM 7:45 AM - 10:00 PM The Murray Center Ducey Media Center this week : Adam’s Library

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Thanksgiving break begins CAMPUS CLOSED

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928


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