Nov. 4, 2020
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Volume CI
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Est. 1929
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www.sjuhawknews.com
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The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University
Solidarity and protest Protesters gather in Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia for a demonstration and march against police violence and the killing of Walter Wallace Jr. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK TAYLER WASHINGTON ’22 Hawk Staff KAYLAH HERNANDEZ ’23 Special to The Hawk CARA SMITH ’21 Copy Chief
Two days after the Oct. 26 killing of Walter Wallace Jr. by Philadelphia police while Wallace was experiencing a mental health crisis, a group of St. Joe’s students and faculty organized a gathering on Villiger Lawn to speak out against racial injustice. The group advertised the event on various St. Joe’s-affiliated social media accounts, including #BeCivil SJU, SJU Greek Life and Campus Ministry. According to the posts, following the campus gathering on Oct. 31, community members were invited to attend a protest in West Philadelphia, organized by Until Freedom, a social justice organization, and Black Philly Radical Collective, a group composed of different Philadelphia organizations. Caren Teague ’23 said students were under the impression that the initial event would be similar to a student-led protest over the summer in response to the killing of George Floyd. “I expected it to be outdoors, maybe also because I participated in the one that we did for George Floyd,” Teague said. “I expected it to be somewhat similar to that.” On Oct. 29, one day after the event was announced, the #BeCivil campaign shared in an Instagram story that transportation in university vehicles would no longer be provided to the Until Freedom protest. Students were also advised to “attend at your own risk” and to direct “all questions to university administrators.” The university announced a revised event, led by faculty and administrators, titled “SJU Response to Justice for WalFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
@SJUHAWKNEWS
ter Wallace Jr.” The event was also moved indoors, to the university Chapel, where, because of COVID-19 restrictions, only 30 participants were allowed to register for in-person attendance. Others were invited to participate over Zoom. Nicole Stokes, Ph.D., associate provost and director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said “all constituents involved” tried to make the event similar to the walk of solidarity over the summer but were limited by “variables outside of the university’s control.” “The city implementing the curfew in the middle of the week, and [there were] also some concerns around security and COVID-19 cases,” Nicole Stokes said. “The decision was made for us to scale it down a bit and to have faculty and staff support.” About 19 people attended the Chapel event in person, in addition to six speakers. In order to participate, students were required to have their speeches read by faculty before the event, according to Teague, the only student who spoke at the event. “Students weren’t able to speak out uncensored,” Teague said in an interview with The Hawk. “I had to send in a copy of whatever I was reading. As a Black person on this campus, it can get really hard to breathe. I don’t know how else to describe [it]. You got to feel like you have to code switch and be this other person.” In Teague’s remarks, she spoke about the lingering effects of Wallace’s killing on the Black community. “At the end of the night, we know our problems, and our color, but I have to sleep in this skin,” Teague said during the event. “I can’t just put down my identity.” Shortly after the original event was first announced on social media, some parents in the Facebook group “SJU Parent to Parent Connection” began criticizing what
they saw as the university’s endorsement of the event on campus as well as the off-campus protest that was to follow. “They can’t go to parties, or have people in their dorm rooms without the threat of being kicked off campus...how is attending a rally with 1000’s [sic] of people okay?” one parent commented, alongside a screenshot of the flyer from the #BeCivil Instagram account. “Is everyone who attends the rally going to be required to quarantine for 14 days afterward?” Cheryl McConnell, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said in her remarks at the Oct. 31 event that while she understood why some people wanted to protest, students planning to attend the march in West Philadelphia should be mindful of their safety. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, which published a working paper in late August based on analysis of data from various public health agencies, there is “no evidence that urban protests reignited COVID-19 case or death growth after more than five weeks following the onset of protests.” At least two dozen St. Joe’s students and faculty attended the protest in West Philadelphia, near 61st and Locust Street where Wallace was killed. According to WHYY, Philadelphia’s public radio station, over 1,000 people marched through the streets as part of the protest, ending at Malcolm X Park where organizers gave speeches. Taylor Stokes ’22, secretary of inclusion equity of the University Student Senate, who is from West Philadelphia, participated in the march in her home neighborhood, wrote in a text message to The Hawk that she decided to focus her energy on the Until Freedom protest after the change in plans for the St. Joe’s event.
“All we want is a space where faculty and students can mourn and speak out about their feelings,” Taylor Stokes wrote. “I really wanted an opportunity for the entire university to gather in the community we occupy, in the community we claim so heavily, yet when our community is hurt, we do things in our own bubble.” Stephanie Zellner ’22, co-president of SJUPride, who also attended the protest in West Philadelphia, said it is important for other white students at St. Joe’s like her to support the Black community. “At the end of the day, the [LGBTQIA+ community] wouldn’t have rights if it wasn’t for a trans Black woman like Marsha P. Johnson,” Zellner said. “I am willing to stand in solidarity with any community that’s hurting.” Johnson was a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising, a key moment in the LGBT movement during the 1960s. Teague also encouraged students to engage in more conversation about white privilege on and off of St. Joe’s campus. “I would want [students] to find that middle ground where we can all agree that we’re humans and we deserve human dignity and respect,” Teague said. Taylor Stokes said the false narrative of violent protests for racial justice in Philadelphia could be changed if more students interacted with the surrounding community. “I wish that more people from SJU came and were able to see the false narrative they may have about West Philadelphia in how strong of a community we are,” Taylor Stokes said. “We stand with each other, we cry with each other, we uplift each other, and we march with one another and that’s the West Philadelphia I know and love.”
SEE INSIDE FOR ELECTION ISSUE
2
Nov. 4, 2020
Opinions
The Hawk Newspaper
From the editors: about this issue
Editor in Chief
Jackie Collins ’21 Managing Editor Ryan Mulligan ’21 Copy Chief Cara Smith ’21 Faculty Adviser Shenid Bhayroo Contributing Adviser Jenny Spinner
Copy Editor Celia Hegarty ’21 Copy Editor Carly Calhoun ’21 Multimedia Editor Nick Karpinski ’21 News Editor Devin Yingling ’22
To our readers: Election Day is over. When we went to press, the results of the presidential election were still unknown. Votes are still being counted. From where we write now, the future is uncertain. From where you read now, it may, or may not, be more clear. In the days leading up to the election, businesses were boarded up around the city and the country, and poll workers and election officials were preparing for in-person voting. The country was told to brace for an unknown aftermath in the days and weeks after Nov. 3. We believe there are two things that are still relevant on this Wednesday morning after election night: the democratic right to exercise our right to vote, and that Black lives matter. On Oct. 26, just 15 minutes from St. Joe’s campus, Philadelphia police officers shot and killed Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old Black man, while he was experiencing a mental health crisis. Wallace is the 897th Black American killed by police in 2020, according to the Mapping Police Violence Project. The list keeps on growing. It has been an unprecedented year, with many unknowns. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. But we are simultaneously reckoning with confronting the pandemic of systemic racism. This year will undoubtedly be
looked upon as one of the most turbulent in U.S. history. Our institutions of democracy have endured serious challenges these last few years, with a rise in political partisanship and divisive politics. A study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly two-thirds of registered voters say they feel fearful about the state of the nation. Yet, a day before this Election Day, at least 97 million Americans voted early or by mail, according to the U.S. Elections Project. As student journalists, our responsibility is to reflect the viewpoints and concerns of our community. To this end, The Hawk staff had socially distant, open discussions with students, faculty and staff about their concerns for the future of our country. The people who spoke to us expressed common concerns about a divided country, systemic racism, women’s health care rights, the impact of the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the impending global environmental catastrophe. We have been told that this presidential election is the most important election of our lifetime, maybe even in our nation’s recent history. We agree. The stakes are high— the pandemic and issues of racial inequality are on the ballot, and so is the future of our health care system, our economy, climate change and gender equality.
Our right to vote is one of the many tools that we use to improve and enhance our democracy. It is important to recognize racial and economic inequality. The voices in this issue are somber, yet hopeful about positive change. Voting is the one way we can make this change happen. Protests are equally important for change, as our history has shown. It is important to acknowledge white privilege and the power that it has to allow us to change our world for the better, for all of us. Part of The Hawk’s mission is to be a platform to elevate diverse voices. Please continue to share your experiences and thoughts with us during this election year. You can DM us on Twitter or Instagram (@sjuhawknews). If you prefer email, write us a letter at hawk.editorial@gmail. com. -Jackie Collins ’21, Editor in Chief & Ryan Mulligan ’21, Managing Editor
Assistant News Editor Eddie Daou ’22 Assistant News Editor Christine DiSanti ’21 News Reporter Tayler Washington ’22 Assistant Opinions Editor Sehar Macan-Markar ’22 Assistant Opinions Editor Maggie Brennen ’22 Features Editor Giana Longo ’22 Assistant Features Editor Nenagh Sheehan ’21 Assistant Features Editor Elaina Wall ’21 Sports Editor Riley Frain ’21 Assistant Sports Editor Tyler Nice ’23 Graphics/Illustrations Editor Casey Wood ’23 Photo Editor Mitchell Shields ’22 Social Media Manager Sam Jenkins ’21 Business Manager Angela DiMarco ’22 Assistant Business Manager Colin Messenger ’22 Assistant Business Manager Danny Remishevsky ’23 Distribution Manager Alec Mettin ’24 Distribution Manager Deborah Duong ’24
Letter to the editor In solidarity: Intellectual Saidiya Hartman suggests that American ideology fashions Black people as objects. As such, Hartman argues that Black people garner empathy only in death. Many will dismiss such an idea out of hand. We ask you to consider the renewed season of death we are living in; the differences between what is happening now and in the Red Summer of 1919, are few. While many Black people are not surprised broad daylight did not dissuade police officers from committing a public execution, for much of majority culture, George Floyd’s death served as an awakening. We are left to reckon with the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. as his mother begged for his life and the bare injustice of Breonna Taylor’s grand jury outcome. It is with the spectre of national Black death on our minds, that we turn to similar threats on St. Joe’s campus. In September and October of this year, a number of women, many of them BIPOC, were harassed and threatened with physical and sexual violence. When they sought protection and justice, the University questioned their credibility, doing too little to investigate and protect them. It failed to demonstrate the cura personalis it demands of us all. This is unacceptable and
we, the Faculty Senate, unanimously submitted a resolution seeking change. It reads: Whereas, recent, verified reports of harassment directed at students threaten both them and the core social and philosophical beliefs of our University; Whereas, as a Catholic, Jesuit University, the faculty of Saint Joseph’s values its commitments to social justice; Whereas, cura personalis, care of the whole person, defines our work with students; Whereas, systemic racism throughout the United States of America routinely marginalizes Black, Indigenous, and people of color; Whereas, we as a faculty believe women, and that harassment and any threats of violence must be taken with the utmost seriousness; Whereas, threats to the physical safety and lives of our students obstruct their right to educational opportunity; Whereas, the faculty of Saint Joseph’s University seek to end systemic racism and violence against women through our teaching, scholarship, service, and advising; Whereas, equity and institutional integrity are cornerstones of Jesuit education; Be it resolved that the faculty of Saint Joseph’s University stand with and
fervently support those students who have suffered such harassment; Be it further resolved that the Faculty Senate of Saint Joseph’s University demands close and productive coordination among (1) the Title IX Coordinator, (2) the Vice Provost of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, (3) the Office of Public Safety, and (4) the Provost’s Office in investigating and resolving all cases of racial and sexual harassment and threats of violence; as Chief Academic Officer, the Provost should expeditiously issue to the Saint Joseph’s community a comprehensive report regarding such investigations, detailing findings, consequences and recommendations, as well as reaffirming our fundamental institutional values. - Aisha Damali Lockridge, Ph.D, associate professor of English and Ann Green, Ph.D, professor of English, on behalf of Faculty Senate
The Hawk welcomes Letters to the Editor, typically no more than 300 words. They can be emailed to hawk.editorial@gmail.com.
Nov. 4, 2020
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Volume CI
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Est. 1929
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www.sjuhawknews.com
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The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University
4 The Hawk Newspaper Nov. 4, 2020
What was your voting experience like? LINA
ZZA AN A
MEG
Assistant Director of Student Leadership & Activities
GE
OR L. GE L Y R CHE Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Chair of Special Education Department
A JENN ’22 LEY QUIG
“I think just being able to vote early makes it a little easier, and the drop-off process was really simple and way faster than I ever thought it was. And I think with COVID[-19] too, I knew I wanted to get my vote in and make sure that it was counted and there [weren’t] any problems with it. It was definitely nice, not having to wait in line with a lot of other people on Election Day.” “I’ve always voted, since I was 18, by going to the polls. It was actually a good experience dropping it off in the city, because I saw so many other people doing this too. I took my mom with me and we both dropped off our ballots and then we went out to lunch so we made it a celebration.” “I went with my mom because she’s never voted before. So we went together and then dropped our ballot in the box and got our sticker and left. It was a really good experience because I got to share the experience of being a first time voter with her.”
“[I] voted early at Overbrook Elementary [School], about five minutes from west campus. The atmosphere was very upbeat and positive. There was a DJ and volunteers making sure that we were all registered and gave us applications for the mail-in ballots which we would be completing in person in the polling place. World Central Kitchen donated hot meals for those waiting in line and they also gave out water and soda. The volunteers brought chairs for the elderly and those who needed it.”
“I generally found it pretty easy. I was able to request my absentee ballot online. I was worried that it took three weeks for me to get my ballot, but thankfully I got it with enough time for it to be mailed back.”
“Very different. I think we even took a different approach for Aramark services as well, making sure that we provide time for our staff to have the opportunity to vote.”
ZOË
WEL
JOVA LORE NY DO ’2 2
DEM ET HECK RIUS STAL L
Food Service Director for Aramark
“It’s very different. Like four years ago, we were feeling free to do it. Now we’re feeling a little forced. We have to do it.” Desk Attendant in Sourin Hall
SH ’2
LESL Y FLO RES
2
5 The Hawk Newspaper Nov. 4, 2020
How does your 2020 presidential election voting experience compare to your previous presidential voting experiences? GEL EISLO W C ERI . Ph.D
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy
“The situation in this country has not been this volatile since the 1960s. The overall mood of this country is characterized by anxiety and fear. My parents, who grew up during World War II, tell me they have never been more concerned about our nation’s future than they are now. I think I would say that the experience of voting this time was one of profound seriousness. Never have I felt a stronger sense of the duty we each have to do our part to care for this country and for all of us who make our lives here. Voting is an important, [although not the only], way to fulfill that duty.”
OLL
ARR C A N
GE
Cashier at Campion Student Center’s P. O.D. Market
h.D FOX P Y C NAN
Associate Professor of Economics
“I don’t know what it’s going to be like, you know. I’ve just found out where I have to vote. I didn’t know where we voted in our neighborhood because they kept moving it, but I must say most of my neighbors already mailed in. A lot of people did mail [in] and absentee.”
“[It’s] so much more stressful. Normally, I walk or drive to the school half a mile away. I don’t think I’ve ever waited in line for any election for more than five or 10 minutes. I go in there, I see people I know standing outside, I sometimes see friends and neighbors. I sign my name, I go into the [booth], I look and I push my buttons and look again to make sure I do it right, I push the ‘vote’ thing, I walk out, I feel wonderful. This year, [I’m] like, ‘How should I do it? Did I get it, are they going to get it? What’s next week going to be like?’ I never worried what the day after the election was going to be like. Never. This is the United States.”
“I’ve never experienced anything close to this. This is, from my perspective, flat out bonkers. My first presidential vote was in 1988. I actually voted for George Herbert Walker Bush over Michael Dukakis, and just the whole specter of fear. The whole specter of chaos. The idea of voter intimidation. The whole fear that votes may not be counted. And the whole specter that perhaps there will be difficulty in convincing the loser of the election to vacate the offices, is completely incomprehensible. It’s like a visit to another planet. A visit to another country. The whole specter of all the things I said is brand spanking new and kind of terrible. Terrifying.”
“Because of the pandemic and they don’t want the big crowds and everything many people have already voted. That is definitely something different for me, but I wanted to go in person. I wanted to do it the way I’ve always done it before.”
VINC
ENT
LONG
Adjunct Ptofessor of Economics
KIA M
ACK
Aramark Employee
DAN
MCD E Ed.D VITT .
“In my time, it’s never been like this. All eyes are on our country and how this goes [Nov. 3] and the coming days and weeks. It’s a historic moment and it’s something none of us will ever forget.”
Director of Student Success
6
Why is it important to exercise your democratic right to vote?
The Hawk Newspaper Nov. 4, 2020
NICHOLAS HUGHES ’22 “You should vote if you’re a citizen of this country because you need to have a voice in government. That’s the motto of the government. It is a government for the people, by the people. That’s the motto I live by when I vote.”
JUSTIN SCOTT, ASSISTANT MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH “I think it’s important because I’m a Black individual and a lot of people fought for Blacks to have the right to vote. I just think it’s important to honor the people that came before us that risked their lives and fought hard to make this possible for us. And it’s everybody’s country, so I think it’s important. Although some people may think one vote doesn’t matter, they all add up. That’s why I think it’s important to exercise my right to vote, given the people that came before me and given the freedom of choice that I have.”
ASIA WHITTENBERGER ’22 “So many people in American history have fought for voting rights, such as John Lewis. He was literally thrown in jail just for wanting voting rights and fighting for what he believed in. And, voter suppression aside, it’s an easy way to have a political voice in this nation.”
CARY ANDERSON, Ed.D., ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT LIFE “I feel very fortunate to live in a country where I have the right and responsibility to vote. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.”
VALENCIA MERCADANTE ’23 “I just feel like it’s important because every vote counts.”
GRACE REED ’23
“Using your voice is a privilege and one that can be taken for granted. Exercising my right to vote is an important part of being an active citizen.”
7 The Hawk Newspaper Nov. 4, 2020
MADELINE BIERFASS ’23 “You live in a country that was founded by the people, for the people. If you don’t vote, the government is not by the people. I think as an American, you need to exercise your right to vote so that you have a say in what goes what policies are enforced, when policies are created to try and improve the lives of yourself and those around you. Exercising your right to vote is the most pertinent way to do so.”
KATELYN SWARTZENTRUBER ’20 “Younger generations have that sense of ‘You’re not important and you can’t make a difference.’ And it’s really not true because there’s a lot of us and we have a lot of strong opinions that we need to share. So it’s important that we do that, most importantly by voting on election day.”
BRIAN YATES, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY
“Democracy in a lot of ways is a speech, you’re telling the government who you want.”
KENDALL LIGHTNER ’24 “I feel like it’s important to exercise your right to vote to see representation that can benefit not only me as a person, but [also] the communities. And it benefits the masses of people to make sure that we have proper representation in office.”
MACKENZIE BELL ’22 “I voted because I know there’s a lot of people that can’t, and that it’s a privilege to vote.”
MARTY FARRELL, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT “I think it’s important as parents to set a good example for our children as well. I really do think we’re blessed to live in a place where we have the opportunity to weigh in on who our leaders are, and that we have choices.”
8 The Hawk Newspaper Nov. 4, 2020
What concerns you about the future of our country?
ABBY 22 ER ’ VARK
IE SOPH ’22 LDS SHIE
RA MAY ’23 ANA SANT
“I’m extremely worried about the state of our nation and the lack of change being implemented to address these violations of human rights. LGBTQ youth are on the streets. BIPOC are being shot in the streets. Families are being separated. Women are being abused. The Earth is screaming and crying from fires and trash and pollution. The world needs change. I’m kept up at night by our government’s inability to progress out of fear of change. Change that we desperately need right now.”
“I think a lot concerns me about our country. Like climate change and access to health care, but I think right now the most prevalent is racial inequality and the systematic racism that exists in our country. I acknowledge that I’m privileged in the sense that I hear or read the news regarding the numerous killings of Black people in this country instead of experiencing it first hand. It’s still so heartbreaking and that’s definitely something that keeps me up at night.”
“I think it’s so divided right now. And you can have a difference of opinions and we’ve always, as a country, had different opinions, but the world is polarized right now. One person that’s on one side of the spectrum can’t hear what’s on the other side of the spectrum. I just think that’s worrying because if that doesn’t get resolved, then no matter who wins the election, there’s just going to be chaos after it.”
Conr Clare y-Mu rray, Ph.D .
“One issue that concerns me is respect for voting rights. I am concerned that we are moving away from democracy. For example, gerrymandering has gotten worse. There have been attempts to intimidate voters, and to make it harder to vote, especially in communities of color. I also strongly believe that we need a national popular vote. A concern with the popular vote is that majorities can ignore legiti- Associate Professor of Psychology mate concerns of minority groups, but small states are not one of the minority groups I am concerned about in the U.S.”
K BROW EITH N, Ph
“I am incredibly anxious about rising economic inequality and the increasingly overt racism in this country. I have woken up numerous times during the last two months worried about these issues in our country. You can see the effects of economic inequality and the racial disparities in the mortality rates during this pandemic. If this is not going to galvanize real change, then I’m afraid nothing will.”
.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
“What keeps me up at night would be the aftermath of the election. Living in Philadelphia, it worries me that our safety will be in jeopardy regardless of the outcome.”
“Just thinking about [my daughter] and just her being able to make her own health care decisions, having any reproductive rights at all in the next 20 years because it’s really not looking good.”
DEA STRU NNA SS ’2 3
RA SULL CHAEL IVAN , Ph. D.
Assistant Professor of Communications
9 The Hawk Newspaper Nov. 4, 2020
What is the most important issue in your vote for president? HEATHER HENNES, Ph.D.
“The state of our democracy. I really truly feel like I never in my life thought I would be concerned about the stability of our democracy, I can’t believe I’m even thinking about it. And yet, it really has me anxious. And that to me seems unbelievable.”
MIKE STONE ’21
“There’s a lot of toxicity right now in the country because there’s such a great divide. I felt that [voting] was my way of contributing. I’m not very active on social media politically, so I felt like my vote is the way that I could choose to express my opinion.”
SEBASTIAN EATON ’21
“I was really looking at somebody who had cared for all people and looked at all the social climate and looked at everything that’s happening, looked at the protests and seeing solidarity with people fighting against racism. Also, having a president that stands up against racism, and these discriminations and environmentalism.”
Associate Professor of Spanish
ZOE HOAG ’23
“COVID[-19] is a really big part. And after how things have gone the past couple months with leadership, race movements like Black Lives Matter and even just the more recent Supreme Court [decisions], I feel like these are all pretty big issues that factored in my vote and a lot of other people’s.”
DERON ALBRIGHT, M.F.A. “I think the single most important thing is recognizing the value of truth, recognizing the value of fact.”
Associate Professor of Music, Theatre and Film
PAUL AMMONS ’20
“I will look at a president who would benefit my community within the LGBTQ community, but also the Latinx community, and by proxy, their connection to immigration, and how they would create pathways for people to justly enter this country. I also want the president who understands the root of suffering. At the end of the day, I care about education, I care about immigration and I care about tax reform.”
10 The Hawk Newspaper Nov. 4, 2020
A conversation with St. Joe’s women in politics DEVIN YINGLING ’22 News Editor Women make up 24% of the 116th Congress; the most diverse Congress since the first woman elected to Congress in 1917. Although women are historically underrepresented in the political sphere, they still continue to make gains in American politics, whether that be through formal representative systems in political institutions or participating in grassroots organizing and the formation of interest groups. The Hawk spoke to St. Joe’s alumnae who are involved in politics during this year’s presidential election:
Carolina González Pérez ’20 Carolina González Pérez graduated from St. Joe’s with a degree in international relations. González Pérez began working as a communications intern for the Biden campaign after graduating, and is now working as a full time National Communications Assistant for the campaign. González Pérez is editing and managing official campaign statements and remarks, as well as managing the campaign’s message to media outlets. Why is it important to vote in this election? I didn’t vote back in 2016 because I thought my vote didn’t matter. Then Hillary [Clinton] lost Pennsylvania. What if I had gone out and voted? Every day, it just weighs on me. If I had voted against [Trump], I would have been able to say ‘That’s not my president, I didn’t vote for him.’ But since I didn’t vote, I had no say. If you want a say in how this country evolves, and if you have hope that things will turn out better, you have to go out and vote. Because you can’t say ‘I want a better country’ if you don’t go out and go and actually do something. What do you think is important for the St. Joe’s and Philadelphia community to know about the upcoming election? On the topic of Walter Wallace Jr., I spent most of my morning reading about it because I had to prepare a brief of what was going on for Joe [Biden]. Philadelphia is in shambles right now. It’s all because of the hate that is perpetrated by Donald Trump every time he steps up to a podium and opens his mouth. He creates so much division and chaos within America and amongst all of us. So, instead of fighting each other, the best we can do is band together.
Scarlett McCahill ’06 Scarlett McCahill graduated from St. Joe’s with majors in political science and philosophy, and a minor in faith justice studies. McCahill has since held various roles in the Philadelphia education system, and has worked with ProjectHOME, a nonprofit that provides services to people experiencing homelessness. McCahill currently works full time as the director of human resources at the Barnes Foundation. During this election cycle, she is working as a late-help volunteer with the Pennsylvania Democratic Coordinated Campaign to get out the vote in North Philadelphia. What do you hope to see for the city of Philadelphia in this election? We are such a place that shows the impact and the reality of exponentially increasing wealth inequality where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. That is very clear just walking down the street in Center City. That bifurcation is one that is a threat to our civic fabric, and it’s one that we have an opportunity to interrupt by replacing the reckless deregulation and slashing of social safety net programs like [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] food stamps and federal block grant funding for anti-poverty measures that we really rely on here in Philadelphia. Philadelphians, writ large, would really benefit to see our day to day health, safety and prosperity improve by electing progressive, inclusive and compassionate leaders at the local, state and national level.
Katie McGinty ’85 Katie McGinty graduated from St. Joe’s with a degree in chemistry. McGinty has since worked in both Pennsylvania state and federal politics. McGinty served as the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality under former U.S. President Bill Clinton, as the Secretary of the PA Department of Environmental Protection, as Chief of Staff to PA Governor Tom Wolf and ran for the United States Senate in 2016. McGinty now works as the VP & Chief Sustainability, Government and Regulatory Affairs Officer at Johnson Controls. What do you hope your work accomplishes during this election? I hope that people will be inspired in the experience that we all have had over the most recent years; to know that if you take the system of government that we have been blessed with for granted, it just may well be taken away. Freedom isn’t free; you’ve got to work for it. You have to understand and care when the integrity of our system and the integrity of the key institutions of self government [are] dragged down and not respected. What would you like to emphasize to our community of voters at St. Joe’s and in Philadelphia? I want St. Joe’s students to be the ones that prove everybody wrong. Everybody believes that students talk a lot about the issues, and then they don’t show up at the polls. I would like to see hawks and lady hawks out there proving the skeptics wrong and voting in historic numbers. The voice of young people today is more important than it’s ever been.
Sara Kelly ’19 Sara Kelly graduated from St. Joe’s with a degree in international relations and history. Kelly began working as the finance director for the Amanda Cappelletti (PA-D) campaign in the 17th district of Pennsylvania, and now works as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Cappelletti. Kelly works primarily on fundraising for the campaign, and on public relations and media. What inspired you to want to get into campaign work? I actually figured it out during my internship [with Rittenhouse Political Partners]. I knew it’s something I really liked and that I was interested in being involved in American politics at this time. I don’t know if it’s something that I want to do forever, but I knew that this was a moment when I needed to be active and that this was the way I wanted to do it; by supporting female candidates up and down the ballot. Why is it important to vote in this election? If you’re paying attention at all, you know that things now are undoubtedly different than how they were before the 2016 election. It was a turning point. By being active and being involved, we take some accountability onto ourselves. We need to be active in our democracy. It’s not something that we can take for granted. It’s not something that will always be there if we don’t protect it.
News
The Hawk Newspaper
Nov. 4, 2020
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Resources to support the fight for racial justice in Philly DEVIN YINGLING ’22 News Editor In the aftermath of the recent killing of Walter Wallace Jr. by the Philadelphia police department and subsequent protests, The Hawk compiled a list of donation-based resources in Philadelphia, and education-based resources to utilize in the fight for racial justice. These resources provide opportunities for active support for The Movement For Black Lives and the Black community in Philadelphia. The Hawk stands in solidarity with the Black community during this time and encourages the St. Joe’s community to do the same. Where to donate “People’s Emergency Center” – This organization is based in West Philadelphia, and aims to uplift and drive change for children and families in the area, particularly those experiencing homelessness. “Philadelphia Community Bail Fund” – This organization accepts donations in order to post bail for Philadelphia community members who are unable to pay their own. “Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity”(PLSE) – PLSE helps those who have faced social injustice in the criminal justice system, offering free representation and legal advice. “Black Lives Matter Philadelphia Chapter” – Black Lives Matter (BLM) Philly is the local branch of BLM, and fights for self determination and liberation of Black communities in the area. “Philadelphia Black Giving Circle” – This organization contributes monetary resources to various nonprofits and projects that
support the Black community in Philadelphia. Who to contact *Call, email or reach out via Twitter to these representatives and demand change to the criminal justice and policing systems in Philadelphia: Philadelphia Mayor, Jim Kenney (215) 686-2181 @PhillyMayor Police Commissioner, Danielle Outlaw (215) 686-3280 @PhiladelphiaGov U.S. Congressman Dwight Evans 3rd district Representative District office: (215) 276-0340 @RepDwightEvans U.S. Congressman Brendan Boyle 2nd district Representative District office: (215) 744-7901 @RepBrendanBoyle Where to learn “The African American Policy Forum (AAPF)” – The AAPF is a think tank aiming to dismantle structural racism and inequality in the U.S., with a specific campaign addressing intersectionality, #SayHerName. We recommend donating to the AAPF, reading their publications, keeping up to date with their blog and following AAPF activists on social media. A few AAPF leaders to follow on Twitter: Kimberlé Crenshaw: @sandylocks Shermena M. Nelson: @MenasWorld
Kevin Minofu: @SKevinM What to read Educators from Harvard University shared some of the most influential books they have read about “systemic racism, white privilege and the long legacies of slavery and white supremacy in American history.” Read the full list from Harvard educators in “A reading list on issues of race.” If you would like to purchase any of these books, or other literature The Hawk compiled to help you be actively anti-racist, scan the QR code and get your literature from Black-owned bookstores in the Philadelphia area. What to watch Documentaries, films and shows about racism in the U.S. are easily accessible tools to expand your knowledge of systemic injustices. Scan the QR code to see a list of recommended shows, documentaries and movies to watch. If you have a subscription to Netflix, the streaming platform has created a category dedicated to Black Lives Matter as well. Where to shop Racism and systemic injustice are present in all areas of life, and racial economic inequality contributes to growing disparities between communities in Philadelphia. Scan the QR code to find Black owned shops and boutiques in the city to shop at. Visit our website for more resources and direct links to sources.
More anti-racism literature and film resources from The Hawk:
Black-owned bookstores in Philadelphia:
Black-owned businesses in Philadelphia:
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The Hawk Newspaper
Nov. 4, 2020
Solidarity and protest PHOTOS: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
Protesters march down Spruce Street towards Malcolm X Park on Oct. 31 to highlight the police killings of Black Americans.
A woman holds a sign remembering Walter Wallace Jr.
Police at the 18th District police station barricade the street to prevent protesters from entering the space.
Taylor Stokes ’22 (left) and Zoë Welsh ’22 (right) march with protesters through West Philadelphia.
From left to right: Alli Chamberlain ’21, Danielle DeStasio ’21 and Maddelyn Guerke ’21 create protest signs on Villiger Lawn.