Volume 94 Issue 1

Volume 93/Issue XV

THE

October 5th, 2020

ANCHOR

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928

Legislators call for the reversal of RIC and CCRI layoffs Alexis Raposa

Asst. News Editor

35 Council 94 union members, who were largely departmental secretaries, to be reversed.

The letter states, “We write in opposition to the decision to permanently lay off 35

AFSCME Council 94 workers at Rhode Island College. These workers are people and they have families to feed. To make layoffs during a time of

listing cuts to “work share, hiring freezes, staff reductions, a delay of contractually bargained cost of living adjustments, a plan to close the Henry Barnard School, and brutal cuts to adjunct faculty,” as just a few of the attempts RIC has made to address the project $10.4 million budget deficit for FY2021.

Additionally, the legislators claimed that the budget cuts for FY2021 and projects cuts for FY2022 , have been made in anticipation of funding cuts that have not yet happened.

The General Assembly is not set to finalize decisions in regards to state appropriations for RIC or CCRI until November.

economic insecurity creates real pain for the workers.”

The group of Rhode Island legislators asserted that the layoffs follow a pattern of ‘severe cutbacks,”

A group of Rhode Island state legislators are calling for the reversal of mass layoffs at Rhode Island College and The Community College of Rhode Island due to budget shortcomings.

State Senators Samuel Bell and Frank Ciccone, Representatives Raymond Hull and Marcia Ranglin-Vassell and Representative-Elect for District 7 which includes Mount Pleasant, David Morales, penned a letter to RIC President Frank Sanchez. The letter calls for the “unfair layoffs” of

continued on page 3 Graphic courtesy of : abc6.com

RI school reopenings spark controversy Mia Raspanti

Asst. News Editor The 2020-2021 school year is definitely going to be one for the books.

COVID-19 has forced not only Americans, but people all over the world to acclimate to new ways of life. The world has changed in ways that nobody could have ever even imagined a year ago. Masks are the new norm, and social distanc-

Inside this week:

ing has become everybody’s new best friend.

The infiltration of these protective practices in our daily lives is important to prevent the risk of infection, but when it comes to education, is this a risk we should even be willing to take?

Schools should be a main area of concern during this time.

Having large numbers of children and adults in closed quarters for eight hours a day can result in rapid spread of COVID-19, as recently seen in the spike

in cases following the reopening of Georgia’s schools. However, this did not stop the majority of Rhode Island Schools from opening for this coming school year.

In response to state guidelines and concern from faculty and students, many schools have had to change their scheduling practices, in addition to how many students are allowed in the building at a time. Students must wear masks at all times and must distance themselves from other

students and staff members throughout the day.

Rhode Island Governor, Gina Raimondo, has supplied all schools with temperature taking equipment, cleaning equipment, and the responsibility to enforce students and staff to constantly wear masks.

Additionally, school districts like Providence and Central Falls which have already been significantly affected by the coronavirus, have decided to partially reopen. In Providence, pre-school-

ers, kindergarteners and first graders as well as a small group of sixth and ninth grade students have all returned to school starting Sept. 14.

On Sept. 9, parents from 11 Providence public schools as well as Providence Teachers Union members protested the reopening claiming that this is a new level of responsibility for nearly everyone.

In response to criticism from the general public, Providence Superintendent Harrison Peters asserted that no

student would be given “a COVID pass” in life and that all students need to be educated whether that be virtually or online. He stated, “Everyone is going to have to give more.

We’ve got to meet in the middle and we’ve got to work together and we need to be able to risk it all to make sure children have a chance”.

News

Opinions

Arts & Entertainment

Sports

Protests erupt in Providence pg. 3

The legacy of the notorious RBG pg. 7

The Legend of Lovers’ Leap pg. 12

Trophy case: The return of sports after 9/11 pg. 16

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News legislators call for reversal of ric and CCRI layoffs

Opinions

A&E

Sports

how can RIC regain trust?

strange days: The Legend of Lovers’ Leap

Trophy Case: the return of sports after 9/11

are republicans hyphenry Barnard Parocrites or merely ents confront RIC playing the political president at post-secgame? ondary council meeting skip class or starve protests erupt in Providence following kenlegacy of the tucky Grand Jury’s denotorius rbg cision not to charge officers

everyday day should be record store day who are you?

lakers take the lead

so far so good: the nfl’s return plan

RI school reopenings

Editorial Board EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alison Macbeth | editorinchief@anchorweb.org

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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.

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Legalities:

Protests erupt in Providence following Kentucky grand jury’s decision not to charge officers Alexis Raposa

NJ, NJ, and CT put RI on travel advisory list

Alison Darmetko Jake DeBlois Kennedy Ryan Kyra Garabedian Sh-ron Almeida Tayler Green David Blais Jenfrin Rodriguez

News

News Editor

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, protesters took to the streets in Providence, blocking the on-ramp near the Providence Place Mall and marching through downtown Providence. The protesters were marching to show their opposition to a Kentucky grand jury’s decision not to charge the three officers involved with the botched raid that resulted in the death of 26-year-old emergency room technician, Breonna Taylor.

In a livestream posted by UpriseRI, protesters can be seen chanting Taylor’s name and chanting “Black Lives Matter” as they march through the streets, at some points partially blocking traffic. In the days following the Wednesday decision protests have continued to take place in Providence and throughout the state.

In contrast, other protests taking place in other parts of the country in which demonstrators and police have clashed resulting in mass arrests and curfew enforcements, the Providence protests were primar-

Call for Reversal, contined from page 1 In a statement released on his Facebook, Senator Same Bell, who represents the 5th district in Providence, demanded that the layoffs be reversed. Sen. Bell argued, “Our state college staff are so important, and to lay them off in the middle of a jobs crisis is cruel. To do so because of budgetary decisions the General Assembly hasn’t even made yet is so aggressive.”

Further, Rep.-Elect David Morales wrote on Twitter in response to the layoffs, “It is important our State Government recognize the value that RIC has on our communities and that is

ily peaceful. However, on Wednesday police were seen spraying protesters with what appeared to be pepper spray, when they attempted to block after warnings from the police to stay out of the highway.

Providence Police were heard telling demonstrators, “You can protest, but you can’t protest out here.

Protest in the city. You protest out here you got a bigger problem. You’ll get hit by a car and killed.”

According to UpriseRI, the protesters were then ordered to climb over a chain-link fence onto Hayes Street near the Providence Place Mall. Despite this clash between protesters and law enforcement, Providence police say no arrests were made

In response to the lack of charges being brought upon the officers responsible for Taylor’s death, Black Lives Matter Rhode Island’s senior director told NBC 10 News, “Justice doesn’t look like what we saw today. That doesn’t look like justice and that is where you see the fire coming from. It’s time, it’s time.

We can’t act like it’s not time.”

Bernice Morris, who is also with Black Lives Matter Rhode Island stated, “It’s despicable what they reported today in terms of the indictment, just disputable that they can shoot a woman, a Black woman, just in her bed, in her own home and no one is held responsible.”

Breonna Taylor, who has been at the center of Black Lives Matter demonstrations across Rhode Island, was killed by police officers shortly after midnight on Mar. 13 in Louisville, Kentucky. The police believed that two men, including an ex-boyfriend of Taylor’s, were involved with selling drugs and the police believed they could be using Taylor’s home as a drop-off point.

Controversy has stemmed from the resulting raid, due to conflicting stories from police, neighbors and Taylor’s current boyfriend Kenneth Walker in regards to whether the police announced themselves before barreling down

the apartment door. However, following the shooting it was revealed that police had been granted a “no-knock warrant” which allows police to enter a home without warning.

Walker stated that he believed someone was breaking into the apartment because he did not hear the police announce themselves and fired his gun striking Sergeant Mattingly in the thigh. The police fired more than 25 rounds, five of which struck Taylor and ultimately killed her. No drugs were found on the property as a result of the raid.

Three officers were involved with the shooting yet only one officer was charged, although the charges were not in regards to Taylor’s death. Lou-

why I will continue to demand RIC receive the funding they deserve.” Rep.Elect Morales asserted, “In the meantime, we need RIC to urgently reverse their layoffs of 35 AFSCME Council 94 Workers!”

Addressing the Board of Education on Tuesday, September 22nd, President Sanchez claimed that the current academic year “will be among the most challenging years, financially, for the college,” referring to decline in enrollment, increase in state mitigation costs and a continuous decline in state appropriations as the cause of the college’s deficit. President Sanchez said, “ even

though the college has taken a number of very difficult steps to address these issues, there’s still quite a bit of uncertainty.”

Press Secretary for Governor Gina Raimondo, Audrey Lucas responded to the cuts at RIC and CCRI stating, “Every organization and institution right now is facing a difficult budget reality, and higher education is no exception. Unfortunately both RIC and CCRI have seen a decline in enrollment this fall, and they are forced to make tough decisions to balance their budget.

It is our hope that as our economy recovers from COVID-19 and enrollment improves at both RIC and CCRI, these schools will be able to bring back many of these positions.”

Rhode Island will be free from the fear that the reproductive health care they need today will be illegal tomorrow. We owe this certainty to every Rhode Island woman - and the bill before me today provides exactly that.”

Both this new legislation and RPA met strong opposition from both Republicans and some Democrats across the state including Democratic Majority Leader Micheal Caffrey and Majority Whip MaryEllen Goodwin.

Despite the opposition, RPA was passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly with a 21-17 vote in the Senate and a 45-29 vote in the House of Representatives.

In contrast, Rep. Cassar

isville detective, Brett Hankison was indicted on Wednesday on charges of wanton endangerment for firing 10 shots blindly into the windows of neighboring apartments.

Morris stated that Black Lives Matter Rhode Island would continue to organize until systematic change was made. She stated, “We get to raise our voice, we get to make noise and we’re going to get to do that until there are changes made. The criminal system is completely racist, they proved that today.”

Graphic courtesy: WPRI

called the passing of RPA a “great success” and said that the Equity in Abortion Coverage Act is the next step in overturning unconstitutional laws enacted in RI in order to restrict choice and is a step towards restoring women’s reproductive rights. She further went on to state that all Rhode Islanders deserve the right to bodily autonomy including state employees and low-income people.

It would seem that abortion in America continues to remain a divisive matter within the nation, and one that RI has taken a firm stance on.

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

3

News

NY, NJ, and CT put RI on Travel Advisory List Alexis Raposa

News Editor

Graphic courtesy of : postcardgems

In a statement released on his Facebook, Senator Same Bell, who represents the 5th district in Providence, demanded that the layoffs be reversed. Sen. Bell argued, “Our state college staff are so important, and to

lay them off in the middle of a jobs crisis is cruel. To do so because of budgetary decisions the General Assembly hasn’t even made yet is so aggressive.”

Further, Rep.-Elect David Morales wrote on

Twitter in response to the layoffs, “It is important our State Government recognize the value that RIC has on our communities and that is why I will continue to demand RIC receive the funding they deserve.”

Rep.-Elect Morales asserted, “In the meantime, we need RIC to urgently reverse their layoffs of 35 AFSCME Council 94 Workers!”

Addressing the Board of Education on Tuesday, September 22nd, President Sanchez claimed that the current academic year “will be among the most challenging years, financially, for the college,” referring to decline in enrollment, increase in state mitigation costs and a continuous decline in state appropriations as the cause of the college’s

deficit. President Sanchez said, “ even though the college has taken a number of very difficult steps to address these issues, there’s still quite a bit of uncertainty.”

Press Secretary for Governor Gina Raimondo, Audrey Lucas responded to the cuts at RIC and CCRI stating, “Every organization and institution right now is facing a difficult budget reality, and higher education is no exception. Unfortunately both RIC and CCRI have seen a decline in enrollment this fall, and they are forced to make tough decisions to balance their budget. It is our hope that as our economy recovers from COVID-19 and enrollment improves at both RIC and CCRI, these schools will be able to bring back many of these positions.”

Three additional RIC students test positive for COVID-19 Alexis Raposa

News Editor

Three additional students have tested positive for the Coronavirus at Rhode Island College within the last two weeks.

On September 24, one on-campus student tested positive and five students are in mandatory quarantine.

Additionally, on September 26, two more students tested positive for the coronavirus, one on-campus student and one off-campus student. Due to contact tracing conducted

by RIC, two students are in

isolation on-campus, nine other students are in quarantine on-campus and one is in quarantine off-campus.

RIC administration claims that at least one student reached a positive test result as a result of ‘low-threshold symptomatic testing’.

Since the beginning of the school year, five Rhode Island College students have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, eight off-campus students tested positive prior to the

August start of the school year.

Colleges and universities throughout the United States have been experiencing a significant increase in coronavirus cases since the beginning of September. According to the New York Times, over 130,000 cases can be directly attributed to spread amongst students and faculty on campus. At Providence College 221 students and three faculty members

tested positive. The University of Rhode Island has had nearly 150 positive coronavirus cases and Brown University has had 22 cases since the beginning of the year.

In response to nearly three dozen positive cases at Johnson and Wales in less than a week Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Wednesday that she would be convening a taskforce targeting outbreaks on college campuses. Gov.

Raimondo stated that she believes that the state government needs to approach reaching college students differently. More information on the task force is said to be coming this week.

Graphic Courtesy of: Spectrum News

Henry Barnard parents confront RIC president at postsecondary council meeting Alexis Raposa

News Editor

The fight to keep the Henry Barnard Elementary School continued on Wednesday, September 16th, at the monthly meeting of Rhode Island’s PostSecondary Council. The meeting, which took place in a hybrid format, was the first meeting since March in which members of the council met in person, members of the public were able to watch via Zoom.

The meeting began with an open forum in which members of the public were invited to speak. Seven speakers registered for the meeting, however four speakers yielded their time to President of the Henry Barnard Parents’ Association, Scott Bromberg, allowing him 15 minutes to speak. Bromberg is a parent of two students who attend Henry Barnard, one in the second grade and one in the fourth grade.

While addressing the Post Secondary Council Brom-

4

berg claimed that before the announcement of the closing of the Henry Barnard School, the Parents Association had previously reached out for an update on the status of the school but, “neither the administration or representatives from the state would provide information.”

Bromberg also referred to an article from July in which parents from the Elementary School expressed concerns for the future of the school. He stated that the parents had to utilize a media story in order to obtain information from the Rhode Island College administration.

Erik Christiansen, who is a History professor at Rhode Island College and serves as the President of the RIC Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers also spoke at the open forum. Christiansen asserted that he did not believe that President Frank Sanchez had the right to abolish existing institutions.

A council member later assured the general public and his peers on the council that a July 2014 decision allowed a college president to consolidate departments, courses of

study and divisions. Because the President acts as the CEO of an institution, the council member argued that President Sanchez was within his rights to abolish the elementary school.

Following the open forum, President Sanchez presented a powerpoint in which he documented each attempt his administration has made to save the Henry Barnard School. He cited the hiring RIatof a Director of Institutional Advancement in an attempt to drive endowment and enrollment in 2017 as well as an attempt to seek public funding in 2019, both of which were unsuccessful.

President Sanchez also cited two instances in which members of his administration met with both Faculty and Staff of the Henry Barnard School to develop a plan to pursue charter options

earlier this year.

In his presentation President Sanchez claimed that the school “requires a significant subsidy to maintain operations,” which would have to be covered by the college. According to President Sanchez, from FY2015 to FY2020 Rhode Island College has provided HBS with nearly $9.8 million in subsidies to maintain operations. The closure of HBS would result in approximately $1.6 million in yearly savings for the college.

Addressing the future of the Henry Barnard School,

Scott Bromberg assured the council that the Parent’s Association would continue to fight. He stated, “After being left rowing toward a waterfall the administration could see, but would not share with us, the families decided to get together and attempt to save this school. We are taking steps as we speak to reinvent Henry Barnard and keep it operating for children in RI for the next 120 years.”

Photo: Vanessa Cohelo

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News

RIC Alumni Association host homecoming onthe-go in 2020 Kaicie Boeglin

Opinions Editor PROVIDENCE, R.I., — The beloved traditions typically hosted every year will still go on, but with the twist of being on the go. Rhode Island College is hosting a series of events this October labeled as RIC Fest 2020.

These events will include virtual and drive-through activities in order to connect the school community as a whole. All the happenings this season are brought together by the RIC Alumni Association, and are hosted to promote a sense of normalcy.

The full list of events and times can be found on the institution’s website under the RIC Fest tab. Registrations will be through Eventbrite. This fall the Alumni Association will be hosting drive-in movies, a bingo session, meet-the-authors conferences, drivethrough trick-or-treating and a Golden Anniversary

6

for the class of 1970. There will also be virtual activities held all month long; including things such as a virtual marketplace, virtual auction, author showcase, artisan showcase, academic informational sessions, virtual and 3-D tours and much more.

The homecoming events will commence on October 4 at 6 p.m. with the virtual ceremony honoring the class of 1970. Although this event is virtual, all events require tickets this homecoming season.

The drive-in movies are each Saturday within the month of October and take place in parking lot A. The tickets for the movies are $5 and include a boxed snack.

Registration links can be found on the school website.

Tickets will sell out fast due to limited space. The movies being shown this homecoming season are Grease, The Goonies, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Space Jam and Remember the Titans.

Halloween falls on the last Saturday of the month. Instead of hosting another movie, the college has a trick-or-treat family event.

Students are encouraged to dress up and bring the youth of their families through the campus for some candy and fun.

Each car is free to pass through the campus as the event is free, however, tickets are still required.

One of the ticket options in the registration process is a RIC spirit package. An individual who buys this package receives free admission to a movie of their choice, a RIC logoed face mask, a RIC pennant and a $5 Lasalle Bakery gift card. These packages cost $10 and

are an attempt to connect the students as a community.

You can stay up to date with these events through #RICFEST2020.

Students also have the opportunity to win prizes by utilizing this hashtag across

Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Save the dates from Oct. 3 to Oct. 31, because RIC’s homecoming officially goes live all month long.

Graphic courtesy of : ric.edu

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 legacy of the notorious RBG Alexis Rapoza Opinions Editor They say you’ll always remember where you were when you find out one of your heroes died and I definitely think that is true. On September 18th, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in her Washington, DC home surrounded by her family. She was 87 years old.

Just the headline from NPR announcing her passing was enough to send me into tears and for some that might seem like a bit of an overreaction. However, for me and millions of others, Justice Ginsburg, or more lovingly known as RBG, was more than the sassy, queen of dissent. At just 5’1, RBG was a giant. She fought tirelessly both during and before her time in the Supreme Court for gender equality and never let herself be defined by the opinions of others. This is the legacy of the Notorious RBG. In 1956, Justice Ginsburg was one of only nine women out of over 500 men enrolled at Harvard Law School. It’s hard to imagine a time when higher education was split so largely by gender but for women in the 1950s aspiring to be a lawyer was not a normal thing. Justice Ginsburg often recalled a dinner in which the Dean of the Harvard Law School invited all nine female students to his residence and asked them what exactly they were doing taking a spot from a man. She also recalls a time in which she was shunned from an on-campus library due the fact that she was a woman.

It was at Harvard where she learned how to multitask.

Her husband and biggest supporter, Marty Ginsburg, was diagnosed with testicular cancer while they were both attending the Law School.

Justice Ginsburg attended

both her classes and her husband’s in order to make sure they both succeeded.

Due to her husband’s job relocation, Justice Ginsburg transferred would not receive a degree from Harvard, despite being the first female to make the Harvard Law Review. Instead she transferred to Columbia University where she ultimately graduated first in her class in 1959.

Despite her academic accomplishments and glowing endorsements from her male peers, RBG struggled to get even a clerkship. In 1963 she turned to higher education,

obtaining a professorship at Rutgers University.

In 1972 Justice Ginsburg co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American civil Liberties Union where she eventually became general counsel. It was there that she began to focus exclusively on women’s rights, participating in nearly 300 gender discrimination cases by 1974. During her time at the ACLU, Justice Ginsburg argued six cases in front of the Supreme Court, winning five of them.

While her work with the ACLU is significant because

of the outcomes it is also significant because of the strategies she used when arguing her cases. The genius behind Justice Ginsburg’s work was her ability to target specific statutes that had already been decided by the courts. She would use each victory to strategically dismantle oppressive laws and institutions in the United States. Justice Ginsburg also often chose cases with male plaintiffs finding that the all male Supreme Court would be more sympathetic to someone they can relate to.

In spite of all her success arguing in front of the Supreme Court she would not be appointed to a Federal Court until Jimmy Carter’s attempt to diversify the justice system in 1980. She would serve in the United States Court of Appeals until her appointment to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

At the time of her appointment Justice Ginsburg was not the most liberal justice on the court. She often found herself more on the moderate side of the spectrum and even formed a deep friendship with Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. But as the United States executive branch of government slid more to the right she found herself becoming more left leaning and ultimately became the voice of dissent on the court.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent over two decades on the Supreme Court and countless more in courtrooms across the country fighting for a better America for all of us.

She is an example of what true democracy looks like, always fighting for those who needed someone. Whether it be gender equality, voting rights or the fight for LGBTQ+ marriage rights the Notorious RBG was always there.

Although she will no longer take her place on the Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will always have her place in the history of the United States. She will be remembered as a champion and we must honor her legacy.

Like RBG always said: “Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

Graphic courtesy of: Los Angeles Magazine

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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Opinions

Letter From the Editor

Skip class or starve Kyra Garabedin Graphics Editor

Whether you are on campus taking in person classes, completely online, or somewhere in between, there is a strong chance your situation is far from ideal. There are most definitely pros and cons of each mode of learning, and multiple ideas went into making learning the best it can be this semester during such uncertain times. However, as a student taking three out of seven courses in person, I have quickly learned of flaws in the system impacting my ability to learn that have yet to be worked out.

There is no doubt we all need to eat throughout the day. Our bodies simply need energy to get through the day in order to perform and feel our best. We all tend to fall into an eating routine that fits our schedules after the first few weeks of settling into the new semester. With all the added protocols and new norms, many of my fellow peers taking in person classes with me are struggling to find time to refuel.

At Rhode Island College, there is always a ten minute minimum break between every class on campus to allow students passing time, as well as a few minutes to eat. Having nine hours of back to back classes with only ten minutes in between isn’t easy for anyone, but at least we have those

10 minutes to have a snack.

Right?

In the ten minutes between classes you could walk through any building and see students gathered in the lounge areas, chatting and having a quick snack break to help refresh before starting their next class. When I enter Alex and Ani Hall this semester, the lounges are empty rooms with nothing but windows.

The college has removed tables and chairs to eliminate gatherings of students in accordance with state guidelines, but where can we eat throughout the day now?

The answer I have been given so far this semester is to step outside for a few minutes, make sure no one is within six feet of me and have a quick snack. Sure, a few extra steps to exit the building isn’t much of a burden, but what happens when it’s below freezing outside, or raining?

It might look good on paper to simply force the small number of students who are attending classes on campus to eat their snacks outside. However, I have learned quickly that it is far from ideal and surely won’t last much longer as the weather gets colder. Some students are comfortable with sneaking their lunches while they are in classrooms, but is that really what stu-

dents should be doing? Especially considering all of the safety measures currently in promotion during the pandemic.

I have spent two days a week, for the past three weeks, functioning off a few handfuls of Goldfish and a sip or two of water in between my classes. I do this as I simply don’t have time to exit the building and get to my next class promptly. RIC has installed a new instant coffee vending machine and a new snack machine in the middle of the empty Alex and Ani lounge. I am all for filling the empty space and giving students access to food and beverages. Although, where are we supposed to

enjoy them at this time? We can’t simply grab a cup of coffee and a granola bar from the machines and sit down in the lounge. Instead we must walk outside to avoid taking our masks off inside the building. As busy college students, there is a very slim chance we will have time for that. Instead students will be encouraged to remove their masks indoors and consume food and beverages, which then defeats the purpose of the safety protocols in place.

Surely there are many important issues that need to be resolved on campus this semester, and giving students a place to eat or more time to do so is among the less urgent situations. But, there

is no reason students should have to either skip class to fuel their bodies, or unsafely remove their masks in the building just to have a bite to eat. Maybe we need more time to take a break, or maybe we just need a designated area where it is acceptable to remove masks and refuel.

As students working hard to succeed in a pandemic, our brains and bodies deserve proper treatment.

Graphic courtesy of:webstockreview.net Dear friends, Who knew. I will spare you the cliche ponderings of how much we humans have experienced since the glass ball slid down a poll in Times Square marking 2020.

For all of us, it has been a year of incredible change and continues to be so.

Distance learning has brought additional challenges to the college community.

Students, staff and faculty are questioning the administration’s decision. Times feel desperate. Many campus members are still protesting as the Black Lives Matter movement continues forward. Meanwhile, we count down the days to November 3 when we will cast our ballots.

More than ever, RIC students need each other and need to share their voice. I am honored to be part of that through The Anchor this academic year. Despite the hurdles we are facing as we pivot to a primarily digital publication, I am reminded of the resilience, determination and courage of RIC students as they cover news on campus or share their thoughts on sports, current events or pop culture.

When I started off as a staff writer for the opinions column, I could have never imagined that I would end up the Editor in Chief during this unique and pivotal time. My favorite moments at RIC have been in the stanky office pleasantly procrastinating with other Anchor writers. In my junior year as I flew thousands of miles away to live in Costa Rica for a semester, I missed that dank office and the mix-matched group of people that congregated there.

Now, I still miss that office, but I have found a digital dust that sticks between zoom calls and google docs. The heart of the Anchor continues to beat in every passionate student who diligently edits or who takes a risk writing their first article.

The Anchor Newspaper will carry on its 92 year old tradition of being the voice of Rhode Island College in this new era. We will do it in new ways, but we will carry on. As the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg asserted, “Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” I am grateful to be fighting and I hope you will join me.

Visit anchorweb.org to sign up for our weekly e-publication and to read our latest articles. Follow us on social media! Be on the lookout for our monthly print publication for the college community on campus.

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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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Opinions

Are republicans hypocrites, or merely playing the political game?

Daniel Costa Asst. Opinions Editor On September 18th, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of pancreatic cancer. Almost immediately, the cogs of politics were in motion as Republicans went on the offensive while the Democrats attempt to hold the line until presidential results roll in.

The Republicans may have a majority in the Senate and the Presidency, but the Democrats have an ace up their sleeve that they have been especially eager to employ: the knowledge that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnel employed the same tactics Democrats are employing now, and successfully.

In 2016, Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnel denied former President Obama a Supreme Court nominee upon the death of Justice Scalia. McConnel relied on the upcoming elections to stall and grind out Obama’s actions, a plan that ultimately paid off with the election of President Trump.

Now, the ghost of McCon-

nel’s actions come back to haunt him as Democrats have one word for the current situation. As McConnel rushes to replace the late Ginsburg: hypocrite is the word that comes to mind. However, is this indeed a case of hypocrisy on the part of McConnel and his Senate Republicans, or is this just politicians playing the political game?

Before we answer that question, let us refresh ourselves on the recent history of the Democratic Party’s sainthood when it comes to the process of appointing judges in general. In 2002, Democrats, then the minority party in the Senate, successfully filibustered former President Bush’s nominee, Miguel Estrada, for the Court of Appeals in D.C.. Their reasoning? The Columbia and Harvard graduate lacked “experience”, although he served as an assistant to multiple crucial offices in the Federal government.

Harriet Miers was practically bullied out of applying to the Supreme Court. While the absolutely shameful tactics used by

Democrats in the appointment processes of Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas, demonstrate their willingness to resort to extreme tactics just to fulfill their political agenda. If Democrats can play political cards such as filibustering and bringing in dubious sources to discredit the reputation of Supreme Court nominees, why shouldn’t Republicans be able to refuse Obama’s nominee on the grounds that they simply disagreed with the nominee’s vision of the law? That is, after all, the exact reason why Democrats fought so bitterly to oppose the appointment of Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Harriet Miers.

H y p o t h e t i c a l l y, if the roles were reversed with the Senate being majority-blue in 2016, and the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh instead being in the Democrats’ favor, I can say with certainty that Senate Democrats and Chuck Schumer would have undertaken the exact same measures and efforts to stall. They would have then appointed their own nominee in the same order Senate Republicans and President Trump did, and are trying to do once again.

So, to answer the question of Republican hypocrisy, no, McConnel and

professors. There has been less class disruption. Carrying on to a students favorite benefit: the creation of one’s own work environment. A student can truly get in the zone if their work space is a place that promotes intellect and the want to learn. This could mean at a desk in the corner of the house, or in bed with a breakfast tray table and the kids.

Several students have expressed interest in the Zoom interaction tools.

These tools allow for students to have more profitability with their learning. Tools such as the raise hand, pause, speed up, and slow down tool prompt students to be less intimidated with speaking out in class discussions. As everyone begins to learn these technological skills, more opportunities and chances will arise for individuals who master the craft. This leaves

the last two benefits of 24/7 access to material, and visible due dates through Blackboard. Benefit or curse, these last two make for no excuses when it comes to assignments and homework being done on time.

With all this good does come a little bad.

Some classes are forced to be silent with their cameras off because the system will lag on the professor’s end. This combined with the students that do not have the greatest wifi, makes learning certain subjects quite hard. Weak or unstable internet connection hasn’t been the only distraction for these online courses.

Due to the convenient flexibility many classes have seen

their peers’ children or pets, sometimes learning more about them than the class topic.

the Republican Senate are not being hypocrites. They are politicians using the power the electorate delegated them to see their vision through, and they are taking advantage of a situation that greatly favors them. In other words, they are astute politicians taking advantage of a massive political opportunity. While it is regrettable that this “political opportunity” is in fact a reference to the death of Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg, it’s simply the reality of the matter.

Graohic courtesy of: Arizona Capital Times

Opinions

How can RIC regain the trust of their students?

Daniel Costa Asst. Opinions Editor

impacted RIC students directly as classes have been cancelled as a result of aus If you are a Rhode Is- terity measures. land College student reading this, you most likely at some Students are right to point in your RIC career have fear this budget pitfall. Onfelt that the college has of- line classes in and of itself fered a mediocre education are already an inferior service and college experience. For compared to the on-campus some it is to be expected, be- experience, as well as intercause after all, tuition is quite acting with professors and generous compared to what peers in person. What are other universities in the area we to expect with pay cuts have to offer. Now, imag- to faculty wages and resourcine what that decent to good es? The fact of the matter is, enough education would with a wage cut comes a delook like with $10.4 million cline in performance. This is less. According to the Rhode a very slippery slope for an Island College website, there already shaky reputation that is a projected $10.4 million RIC administrators and staff deficit for the 2021 fiscal have among the students and year. If you thought grilled community.

Furthermore, cheese price gouging was with online classes comes a bad, imagine what crafty decrease in student morale, schemes the administration which is followed by a highhas in store for us this year! er dropout rate, which leads to even less money for the

RIC staff will be en- college. This may look like a during the brunt of this finan- very bleak picture, but there cial disaster. Not only has the are two things the college Henry-Barnard elementary can do to secure the trust of school closed; adjunct fac- the student body. Take this ulty members are taking a chance to listen to a student. fifty percent cut to the funds allocated to them. This has The first is to

GUARANTEE in person classes for students in the spring semester. Half-measures and loose implications will not encourage students in the current semester to continue their studies and see them through the current semester.

It is important to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Second, stick to the policy of not increasing student tuition that has been implemented ever since the corona crisis started. In these troubling times many students have had to pick up extra hours or even become full timers to make ends meet in their financial lives.

Locking tuition is a good way to let students calculate living expenses for the next semester and thus, enable them to feel more confident going into their education.

sense measures to many, but it is important that it is said, nevertheless. College administration must know that the student body is keeping a sharp eye on them. The stu-

Graphic courtesy of: ric.edu

These may seem like common

The ups and downs of online learning

Kaicie Boeglin Opinions Editor

Remember when there was a choice between online classes and physical courses? Better yet, how about the choice between an actual campus or an all online presence. 2020 has forced every student to be behind a laptop, desktop, phone screen, or tablet thus connecting us all via bandwidth. There are both pros and cons to this form of learning, but which one outweighs the other?

The benefits of online learning with Rhode Island College are all things that can be easily identified.

The first exceptional exploitation is the convenient flexibility. Online classes allow students to access their courses on the go from work or at home. Next, many students have noted that it has been easier to focus on their

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the Microsoft Corporation’s study on the human attention span showed it to only last eight seconds. Therefore, attempting to stare at a screen for hours on end to days on end can become agonizing. This also adds to the intense nature of zero kinesthetic learning. The lack of a classroom and lab setting can throw off hands-on and visual learners.

Zero kinesthetic learning makes demonstrations and lectures seem different now; however, is this the new normal? The only thing to keep in mind is that degree, There are also because all in all that’s the classes that have little to ecstasy to this agony. no peer interaction. In this technological age it is hard Graphic courtesy of: FlatIto pay attention. As of 2015, con

| Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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Arts & Entertainment

Strange Days: The Legend of Lovers’ Leap Gregory Williams A&E Assistant

Was this year’s summer not the summer of strangeness? It will be near impossible to top. Thankfully there is nothing particularly strange about Lovers’ Leap.

Do not confuse the legend with the expression ‘a leap of faith,’ which is the acceptance or trust in something based solely on one’s faith.

The exact origin remains unclear; however the 19th century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard is credited with the idea, albeit in the context of one’s belief in God. Lovers’ Leap is similar to modern day suicide sites (think big city bridges or Japan’s Aokigahara forest), but collectively this brand of folktale is tragically romantic and guised as a cautionary tale for meddling parents.

There is very little information to be found on the subject, but there is a reference in Mark Twain’s 1883 memoir “Life on the Mississippi.” The passage reads: “there are fifty Lover’s Leaps along the Mississippi from whose summit disappointed Indian girls have jumped.” I

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managed to track down three such tales and all involve doomed star-crossed-lovers.

The first legend - taking place in Chattanooga, Georgia speaks of a Cherokee maiden named Nacoochee, who fell in love with a man named Sautee, a Chickasaw warrior.

The two tribes were feuding at the time and during a battle Satuee was captured and thrown to his death off Lookout Mountain. When Nachooche heard the fate of her lover, she was so heartbroken that she flung herself off the same promontory.

The second story is set in 18th Connecticut and concerns Princess Lillinonah, the beautiful daughter of Chief Waramaug of the Weantinock tribe. Lillinonah happened upon a white man lost in a nearby wood and brought him back to her village. She cared for and protected him and eventually they fell madly in love with one another. Once winter had passed Sautee left the village, promising to return one day for her. Lillinonah continued to wait, season after season, but he never returned for her. Lillnonah’s father saw how upset she was and so he married her to a man

named Eagle Feather. Before her wedding, she took a boat out to what is now the Housatonic River and rowed it downstream to her death.

Just as she was approaching the falls, the man whom she loved returned and saw her. Watching her plummet to her death, he threw himself into the water and over the falls to die alongside her.

The last tale, recorded in a now obscure 1912 book called “The Legend of Lovers’ Leap” by West Decca Lamar, speaks of a Waco Indian maiden named WahWah-Tee secretly marrying an Apache brave. There was great animus between the two tribes at the time and so the two planned on eloping. Wah-Wah-Tee’s father and brothers disapproved of their union and cornered the Apache brave and Wah-Wah-Tee at the edge of a cliff above the Bosque River. Not wanting to live apart, the two clung to one another and jumped off the cliff. Their bodies were later allegedly discovered in the same spot that they had first met, still embracing.

There is little historical basis for any of the aforementioned tales, and since

the majority of existing tales were passed down through oral tradition and rarely recorded, there is no way of knowing how much truth lies within them. However, what remains indisputable is the appeal these locations seem to have on the inconsolable the souls who intend to take their own lives whether in the name of love or out of over-

whelming pain. Our landscapes are always changing via the workings of time and human behavior.

Fortunately, many of these promontories can still easily be found and now serve as travel attractions. Just be sure to watch your step.

Read more on our website, anchorweb.org

| Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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Arts & Entertainment

Lakers take a “commanding” 3-1 lead

Everyday should be record store day Sophia Gurrier A&E Editor For serious music lovers around the world, vinyl records remain the superior format for listening to cherished bands and artists. Anyone who disagrees is either too young to understand or has not been enlightened yet by the high fidelity of a Crosley record player. It can be hard for us music nerds to accept the lack of song credits and creative packaging the streaming age has offered us in exchange for mobility and convenience. Not to mention, it is becoming increasingly harder to buy classic 12 inch and 7 inch vinyl because local record shops are closing every time we blink our eyes. But every year Record Store Day reminds us that all hope for music authenticity is not lost. This year we get to rejoice three times.

Since 2008, Record Store Day has proclaimed itself as an unofficial holiday

falling typically in April. The gathering of independent record store owners, employees and music junkies gave birth to the day that dedicates its existence to preserving the unique culture record stores have always upheld. On this special day, record companies and artists alike recognize the power of their fans and distribute exclusive, limited-edition vinyl to participating independent record shops.

Every year except for this one, fans would line up down the block in hopes of purchasing their favorite artists’ once-in-a-lifetime records. Covid-19 disrupted the Record Store Day experience, but only mildly. As a result of the pandemic, Record Store Day organizers decided to change the protocol from having the event only be one day and instead made it into three. The decision was made to discourage crowds at record shops, which tend to be small in

space, and promote safe social distancing practices.

Although safety was the organizers’ main motivation, three dates of exclusive record drops has surprisingly created a smarter ordinance that should be formally established for the future. Shorter lines will benefit customers, employees and owners not only in pandemic time but also hereafter because of the smaller wait time and decreased chaos within the store. Not having one large drop of over 100 titles in one day will also lessen the stress for small record shops when it comes to receiving and setting up the records. Since all the titles released on each date are available online, it is a more flexible schedule for a fan to have the ability to obtain their record if they are not able to on one day.

I had the privilege of participating in Record Store Day this year in August, where I waited patiently outside of Newbury Comics six

Sports

feet apart from my fellow music lover. I am now the proud owner of Pink Floyd’s debut single “Arnold Layne” 7-inch vinyl, making me one out of 7,500 proud owners.

If you love collecting vinyl and you love mu-

sic, check out Record Store Day’s official website to read the list of upcoming drops and a participating store near you. This Saturday will be the next date and Oct. 24 is the final day Graphic google.com:

Jenfrin Rodriguez Sports Editor

While the Los Angeles Lakers managed to come away with a 114-108 win against the Denver Nuggets to take 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals, the job is not finished. Despite needing only one more win, the Nuggets have been in this situation before. Both the quarter-final opponent being the Utah Jazz and the semi-final opponent the Los Angeles Clippers found themselves up 3-1 needing one more win to advance.

Elimination games have been the kind of pressure Denver has needed to play at the level they have been led by their two stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The sheer fact of not having high expectations and being the underdogs in every series they played has

made them that much more formidable. Jamal Murray has been the answer so far this postseason where he has amassed over 40 points multiple times when needed most. However, none of that is to take away from Nikola who himself has been just as good for the team.

With all that being said, The Los Angeles Lakers are not those teams. The other teams did not have Lebron James and Anthony Davis.

The Lakers were the favorite to win the championship since they made the blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis on Jun. 15, 2019. Lebron is still the king and it would be unwise to bet against him with how he turns his game up come postseason.

The Nuggets are going to have to play more like how they were in the rounds prior if they want to have a chance. Positive takeaways

the Nuggets can say is how at times they managed to dominate the boards, and have the Lakers go as much as nine-minute stretches without being able to score.

However, Denver has had droughts where they are prone to turning the ball over.

That is simply not going

So far so good: the NFL’s return plan

Who are you?

Michaela Dillon Anchor Contributor It had started off as any other Friday. Colin Mulligan had slammed off his alarm clock, gotten dressed for work, and kissed his wife Joni goodbye on his way out the door early that morning. He had left his shift early to pick up his young son Duncan from his after-school soccer practice, chatted with him about his day at school, and enjoyed a relaxing drive home. However, as he pulled into his garage, he noticed a green station wagon parked in place of Joni’s blue sedan; the first strange deviation from his normal routine.

“Who’s that, Dad?” asked Duncan, as he slammed the car doors behind him, his soccer ball tucked under one arm and his backpack slung over the other.

“I’m…. not sure,” his father replied, trying to remember if they were expecting

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any company that day. No one came to mind. Hell, he didn’t even know anyone who drove a station wagon.

Still, he took his son by the hand and led him into the house, scanning the different rooms for a glimpse of the strange visitor until he stumbled upon an unfamiliar woman with feathered brown hair sitting at the kitchen table, sipping tea and flipping through the newspaper. At the sound of his footsteps, she glanced up from her paper, revealing her face to him for the first time and smiling. “Hi, honey!” she greeted. “How was your day?”

“What are you doing in my house?” asked Colin. “Did my wife invite you here?”

Although the woman’s features seemed vaguely familiar, he couldn’t place her as one of his wife’s friends.

The woman laughed. “I am your wife,” she replied.

Noticing Duncan, she inquired, “Who’s this? Is he

the neighbor’s son? I know you’ve been carpooling with the kids’ friends recently.” She smiled down at him. “Hello, sweetheart.

Would you like a snack?” “…D-Dad?” Duncan fearfully backed up towards his father, who protectively wrapped his arms around him. Colin harshened up.

“Look here,” he demanded. “I don’t know who you are, what you want, or how you got in. But you need to leave. Now.” The woman cocked her head and gave a quizzical expression. “Why are you acting like this?” she asked.

“It’s me, Macy. We’ve been married for eleven years.

We have three children together. See?” She withdrew her cell phone from her purse and started scrolling through pictures. “Here’s Daisy, she’s the oldest.

She’s nine. And then there’s Walden, he’s six, and Trevor makes three. He’s been napping upstairs for quite

to bode well against a team that likes to run in transition. comeback in what has truly

The next game bebeen a story out of a book. tween both teams is Saturday at 9 p.m eastern on TNT network. The Lakers look to stop any momen- Graphic: Actionnetwork. tum before it gets out of com hand, while the Nuggets are looking to begin yet another

some time now, I’d better go check on him—” She rose from the table and was headed towards the staircase when Colin blocked her. “Let me see those photos again,” he ordered.

Macy handed him her phone, and he scrolled through her expansive collection of photos of three completely unrecognizable children—stirring a pot of chocolate cake batter and licking their fingertips, blowing out birthday candles, riding bicycles. Just those same three children, over and over again. Where did she get all these pictures? Did she take them from the internet? The last few shots he scrolled through appeared to be from a professional newborn photo shoot, presumably of the youngest one, Trevor—nestled in a decorative wicker basket full of pillows cuddled up with a teddy bear, sound asleep on a luxurious, fluffy

periwinkle carpet, a sepia shot of him swaddled up and cradled in his mother’s arms, her face off camera.

“We got that shoot done just a few months ago, right after he was born,” Macy explained. “We couldn’t decide on a theme, remember?

I wanted dinosaurs, you wanted baseball…” Her voice trailed off when she noticed Colin’s expression.

“You have no idea who I’m talking about, do you?”

“No, I don’t,” Colin snapped. “And if you don’t leave right now, I’m calling the police.”

To be continued …

Read part 2 on our website, anchorweb.org

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928

Graphic Courtesy of: operations.nfl.com Ray Olivier Anchor Staff

At the conclusion of tonight’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens the NFL will have completed three weeks of their seventeen-week schedule. Considering, at the height of the pandemic, the season was in question to even begin with, it is remarkable that the NFL has not only completed three weeks’ worth of games, but

have only had one positive test out of the 2,641 players and 5,708 others who have been tested since the season began; A. J. Terrell of the Atlanta Falcons being that player. The cornerback for Atlanta had to miss the game his team played against the Chicago Bears on Sunday as a result. Aside from the one positive test among many taken, the NFL’s plan to keep players and personnel safe is working and any doubt there may have been

about the season being finished, is being silenced.

Fortunately for football fans the NFL has been taking this process seriously and have taken into consideration the severity of any missteps and how one loose cog in the engine could slow down the hi-speed train that is the National Football League. Their process of continuously testing members of each organization and isolating anyone who may be at risk or infected has kept

play on the field and given Americans a reliable distraction. With an unprecedented winter looming, the prospect of watching football each week gives fans a chance to escape from this frightening reality and be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Although we are in the first few weeks of the season it is promising that the League will get through the entire schedule and the playoffs unscathed. The next step would be for fans to be able to attend games. Some stadiums, like Arrowhead and TIAA Bank Field, are already allowing fans, but teams like the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots would please their fans if they were allowed to have some sort of capacity in their stadiums. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has been hesitant to allow public gatherings of more than 25 people which makes the possibility of fans being allowed into Gillette unlikely. But if Governor Baker were to adjust his stance then maybe he would allow fans to enjoy the entertainment that is the New England Pa-

triots. Of course fan attendance is not a priority for the League right now, but to have the merchandise and gate proceeds coming in for these organizations would benefit each state’s economy because money coming into the stadium means more money going to the state’s tax revenue stream.

The NFL reigns supreme when it comes to entertainment in this Country.

Evidence being that for the week of Sept. 14 the NFL had four of the top ten television programs, according to the Nielsen rating. The Sunday Night Football program came in with a 10.0 rating and 17,689 viewers, which was number one. 6,183 more viewers than the next program, which was also a part of the NFL package. Whether fans are in the stadiums or not, the television ratings have not been affected much.

Yes, some people have stopped watching due to their discomfort with the social justice stance the League has taken, but overall the NFL has been able to own a day of the week just as they have for the past 40 years.

Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928 |

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Sports The Trophy Case: The Return of Sports after 9/11 David Blais Asst. Sports Editor It is a day we shall never forget. The day the world stopped turning. Where were you when it happened? How did you find out? These are all phrases and questions that are brought upon every year when discussing 9/11. The September 11th 2001 attacks on the world trade center, the pentagon, and a plane heading toward the White House that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania would turn out to be the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history. The attack claimed 2,977 innocent lives in total. Americans were shocked, scared, and filled with grief. A gloomy cloud was casted over America making it hard for people to smile and be happy. As a result of the attacks, large gatherings were put on hold including sporting events.

It is September 17th, 2001.

The first major sporting event is about to take place since September 10th. It is a MLB season game between the Milwaukee Brewers and

Arizona Cardinals. It is a beautiful clear night at Busch Stadium in St, Louis, Missouri making it the perfect environment for what is about to occur: one of the most hauntingly beautiful 9/11 tributes. Before the game, long-time Cardinals announcer Jack Buck read an original poem he wrote for that night titled “For America.” The poem contained lyrics about patriotism and the response of Americans towards terrorism. The fans in the stadium began to roar once the poem had concluded giving America a sense of hope and pride. Buck at the time was 77 and in poor health. Less than a year later, he would pass away from a combination of various illnesses making it even more chilling when watching.

The first major sporting event to occur in New York following the attacks was a baseball game between rivals Atlanta Braves and New York Mets on September 21st, 2001. Before the game, tributes took place and both teams lined up on the field

for the national anthem. They proceeded to shake hands and hug each other showing support and love. Once the game began, it was back to business. It’s the bottom of the eight inning and the Mets are down 2-1. Stepping up to the plate was Mets catcher Mike Piazza.When he was stepping up to the plate, he recalled in a later interview “...I wanted to cry, but I needed to remind myself we need to go out there and do our jobs.” Piazza hit a tworun home run which sent the emotional New York crowd in a frenzy. The crowd had a reason to cheer again making the events that occurred 10 days earlier non-existent.

The two-run home run would end up sealing a 3-2 victory over the Braves creating one of the most emotional and iconic sports moments ever.

In 2001, the Yankees ended up making it to the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The World Series was postponed due to the attacks to October 27th, 2001. The first two games had taken place in Arizona,

with them taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the series against the Yankees. Game 3, taking place at Yankee Stadium in New York, the Yankees needed to win at home.

Then President George W. Bush wanted to throw out the first pitch for this game to show support and to give New York more hope. His advisors and other personnel were telling him it was too much of a safety risk and to not do it. President Bush ignored these threats and took a chance for the city of New York. He later stated in an interview “I don’t think you can lead a nation if you are worried about your own safety. I don’t know that you can send a signal to people, let’s get on with our lives if the president is concerned about his own life.” While wearing a New York Fire Department jacket, he was greeted with a thunderous applause. He then approached the mound and went to go throw the pitch. He ended up throwing a strike right down the middle. That singular pitch is regarded by many as a sym-

bol of hope, normalcy, and what they needed to see to know everything was going to be alright. In other terms, it was the turning point for America post 9/11 to return to life back as normal.

Sports is one of the few things in life that can truly unite people and bring them together. It is community and pride that are the very foundation of any sport. People need to work as a team in order to be successful. Post 9/11, Americans showed support to one another and were there. The city of New York was greeted and celebrated by every single sports team in the country, including our very own Boston Red Sox. Without one another, the world as a whole would not be able to succeed. That is why sports were needed post 9/11 to show support, love, patriotism, and admiration to our country and that things will be ok. We shall never forget that day and all who were lost, but we also shall never forget how America came together as one in support of each other.

Graphic courtesy of: ESPN

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