May 5, 2021
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Volume CII
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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
e w w o H d
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GRAPHIC: CASEY WOOD ’23 AND AUDREY BROWN ’21
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
@SJUHAWKNEWS
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What is your last normal memory from before the pandemic?
What would you tell your March 2020 self?
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When did you realize the pandemic was about to change life as you knew it? In 10 years, what will you tell people about what it was like to be at St. Joe’s during the pandemic?
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What was your biggest challenge during the pandemic year?
What are you most looking forward to in “normal times”?
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May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
Letter From the Editor:
Editor in Chief
Ryan Mulligan ’21 Managing Editor Nick Karpinski ’21 Copy Chief Cara Smith ’21 Faculty Adviser Shenid Bhayroo Contributing Adviser Jenny Spinner
Copy Editor Celia Hegarty ’21 Copy Editor Carly Calhoun ’21 News Editor Devin Yingling ’22 Assistant News Editor Eddie Daou ’22 Assistant News Editor Christine DiSanti ’21
For the first time in what seems a lifetime, but is just over a year, we can see a glimmer of hope for better times ahead, even as we watch other countries experience the dire conditions we went through just a few months ago. The pandemic changed everything. It changed the way we attended class, the way we socialized and the way The Hawk staff reported stories. In this, our final issue for spring 2021, The Hawk is giving a voice to members of the St. Joe’s community, so that we can collectively reflect on the challenges, the memories and the hardships that we lived through during the pandemic. We asked students, faculty, staff and administrators six questions: 1.) What is your last normal memory from before the pandemic? (pgs. 4 & 5) 2.) When did you realize the pandemic was about to change life as you knew it? (pgs. 8 & 9) 3.) What was your biggest challenge during the pandemic year? (pgs. 10 & 11) 4.) Given what you know now, what would tell your March 2020 self? (pgs. 14 &15) 5.) In 10 years, what will you tell people about what it was like to be a student professor, staff or administrator, during the pandemic? (18 & 19) 6.) What do you most look forward to in “normal times”? (22 & 23)
We wanted to capture the loneliness from the days of stay-at-home orders and the fear that suddenly came with buying groceries and going to stores, especially in the early days. We wanted to hear about the anxiety that came from friends shuffling in and out of quarantine spaces and the worry of ending up in the same situation. We wanted to acknowledge the immense impact of COVID-19 and institutional racism on the members of our Black, Indigenous and people of color communites. We wanted to know what it felt like to walk around a mostly barren campus this past year all the while hoping that one of the four people we passed on the way to class was someone we know well enough to say “hi.” Even then, was it really them behind the mask? Life as we knew it was pushed behind masks, behind computer screens, behind the walls of our rooms. As people were forced to seclude in their own worlds, the importance of reliable, accessible, fact-based journalism became all the more necessary. Informing the St. Joe’s community has always been at the core of The Hawk’s mission, but when the health and safety of the people at St. Joe’s is at stake, our obligation to accuracy and facts were all the more important. Our over 200 stories on the coronavirus pandemic and systemic racism between Jan. 28, 2020 and April 27, 2021 have been reflective of the highs and lows of a past year
that was unlike any other. As cases spiked, we told stories about what life was like in quarantine and isolation as well as about the ethics of mitigation strategies like entry testing or vaccine distribution. We also wrote affirmative stories that came from this pandemic-marred year: students creating their own businesses, clubs persisting through restrictions to continue their work, Hawk sports teams resuming the games they loved. At the core of our reporting over the past year has been our desire to address the toll that the compounding pandemics of coronavirus and racism have had on our students, faculty and staff of color, as well as on members of our neighboring West Philadelphia community. The Hawk has covered extensively the additional burdens that marginalized communities have carried in the past year, whether that be through lacking accessibility to testing and vaccines, or through racially motivated hate and oppression. This year will undoubtedly be remembered just as members of the community told us they would remember it in 10 years: “tiring,” “mentally draining,” “challenging,” “anxious,” “lonely.” But we also will remember it as one in which we persevered. And that glimmer of hope, it’s growing. Sincerely, Ryan Mulligan ’21 Editor in Chief
Opinions Editor 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 Layout Editor Audrey Brown ’21 Graphics/Illustrations Sadie Henzes ’24 Senior Editor Jackie Collins ’21 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 Assistant Business Manager Jillian Bodemer ’23 Distribution Manager Alec Mettin ’24
COVID-19 DICTIONARY CONTACT TRACING - Contact tracing is a very important part of mitigating the spread of the coronavirus, but we can’t lie, it’s a little scary. One of the most stressful things as a college student is when you get a text notification thinking it’s one of your friends, but really it’s a contact tracer saying they need to call you. IN-PERSON - This pandemic has really made us realize how much we took in-person interactions for granted in the past. After a year full of virtual events, it’s always exciting to see the words “in-person.” Hopefully we’ll be having a lot more in-person activities soon. MASKNE - Although masks are an essential part in stopping the spread of the COVID-19, acne from your mask really puts a damper on things. It’s bad enough that we had to completely alter our lives as we knew them without adding a new cause of acne to the mix. POD - When the pandemic made us feel isolated or lonely, our pods were there to help us get through the day. It’s always good to have a circle of trusted friends and family to remind us that things will get better.
UNPRECEDENTED - This word really took over the world this past year. We had no idea that we were living in “precedented” times before, but we would like to go back there and we’ll never take them for granted again. SOCIAL DISTANCING - Having to constantly think about how close we are to other people has really changed our outlook on the past. The fact that we used to go to packed concerts and parties seems unfathomable now. QUARANTINE - Before the pandemic began, the word quarantine was something we only ever heard in dystopian movies and books. Now, it’s a part of our everyday vocabulary. And if you’ve experienced it, you know it is not a good time. ZOOM - Whether we like it or not, Zoom has become a staple of the pandemic. It’s crazy to think that a little over a year ago, the majority of us had probably never even heard of Zoom, and now hardly a day goes by without a Zoom class, meeting or virtual get together. Zoom really was the winner of the pandemic.
May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
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COVID-19 by the numbers COVID-19: by the Numbers
2020-2021 School Year 1,034 cumulative cases
Fall 2020: Cumulative: 480 Residential Students: 269 Nonresidential Students: 195 Total students: 464 Employees/Affiliates: 16
Winter Break 2020: Cumulative: 17 Employees: 12 Residential Students: 3 Nonresidential Students: 2
Spring 2021: Cumulative: 474 Residential Students: 255 Nonresidential Students: 190 Employees/Affiliates: 29
1,161,184 confirmed cases in PA 26,327 confirmed deaths in PA 147,846 total positive cases in Philadelphia 15,969 total hospitalizations in Philadelphia
3,321,260 confirmed cases Africa
9,188,751 confirmed cases Eastern Med.
3,1
,5
98
23,060,767 confirmed cases Southeast Asia
Global
th s
62,463,885 confirmed cases The Americas
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SOURCES: Hawk Hill Ahead, World Health Organization, Philadelphia Department of Public Health and The New York Times Information as of May 3 GRAPHIC: SAM JENKINS ’21/THE HAWK REPORTING: CHRISTINE DISANTI ’21 & EDDIE DAOU ’22
ea
2,489,293 confirmed cases Western Pacific
confirm 2 5 ed 4,4 ses ca
52,009,750 confirmed cases Europe
32,448,723 confirmed cases 576,638 confirmed deaths
152 ,53
3,498 deaths in Philadelphia 1,671 cumulative cases in Philadelphia prisons
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4 May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
What is your last from before the
Christine Nasife ’22 (Moorestown, NJ)
Going to dinner for my birthday, which was in January of 2020. We had gone to a restaurant in Chinatown and then my boyfriend and I got ice cream after. No masks. No one was worried about that stuff.
Heavenly Perez ’24 (Brooklyn, NY)
Rehearsals for the show that I was doing in high school. I was working on The Drowsy Chaperone. I was ensemble.
Nemo Philipp ’24 (Hamburg, Germany)
The last practice I had with my soccer team back in Germany, the last week when we queued up and could be outside and play soccer together. It was very rough. We were in season. And it came out of nowhere that we had to cancel all sports.
Renee Dobson, M.F.A. associate professor of music, theatre, and film and artistic director of Bluett Theatre
My family took a trip to Florida, to Disney World, in January before we knew everything was going to shut down. My daughter [Audra Lutz ’21] is graduating this year. The idea was to have a last big family trip before she graduated. It was a really wonderful bonding time. We had no idea things were going to totally shut down.
Interviews by: Jenna Quigley ’22, Drew Chilson ’22, Catie Moffett ’22, Kevin Gill ’22, Gabriella Guzzardo ’23, Nick Klingman ’22, Matt Popeck ’22, Marisa Hembling ’23, Tyler Nice ‘23
The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
normal memory pandemic?
Paras Bhagat, M.B.A. associate director of business affairs
Tom Picard graduate student
My mom had passed away right before corona started. I was very close with my mom, and she’s always in my memories. She was in my memories at that time and she’s still in the memory.
I was on APEX actually right before COVID started, so we got sent home early from West Virginia, assuming it was two weeks to flatten the curve, and then never went back.
Jack Jumper
director of athletics communications
When I was with the men’s [basketball] team in Brooklyn for the A-10 Championship. The first turning point was that everywhere we were going, we started seeing hand sanitizers all over the place. But I remember walking in Brooklyn, getting a slice of pizza, and it was like a normal day.
Gabriela Garcia Kranz ’23 Going to a party. The thing is that when COVID started hitting in the U.S., it had not started hitting in Puerto Rico, at least until June. So we were home, not under lockdown or anything.
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May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
A snapshot of life
CARLY CALHOUN ’21 Copy Editor
LESLIE QUAN ’22 Columnist
NENAGH SHEEHAN ’21 Assistant Features Editor
The trek across campus has always been my favorite part of the day, seeing people during free period walking with their friends or eating lunch in DB. I always kept my eyes peeled for anyone I knew because that’s what makes St. Joe’s feel like home. I could always count on the Barbelin bell tower to loudly chime three minutes before the hour. One day last year at the beginning of May, I took a walk around campus. It looked as if nothing had changed—the bronze hawk still stood tall in front of Sweeney Field welcoming me back to campus. But I had never seen St. Joe’s look so lonely. The bell tower still chimed three minutes before the hour, the sound echoing out across an empty campus. The only one listening was me.
When restaurants first closed because of the pandemic, my mom and I decided to get creative at home and set up a dining area on our back porch. We strung up lights, cut some flowers for a vase and played restaurant music while we ate. Every day after dinner, we would go for a walk around the neighborhood. The best part of our walks was definitely when we got to see our favorite neighborhood dogs—Nooka and Quincy. Being present and living in the moment, whether that be eating pineapple fried rice with my mom or petting a dog, has made me realize that the most beautiful and precious things in my life are the little things that happen every day.
My senior year ripped away from me by a force nobody saw coming. Usually a control freak, but this time, I had to let fate run its course. Zoom after Zoom feeling drained, burnt out, and depressed; I ask myself when will this be over? Seeing my friends and family on a tiny dark screen leaves me lonely, with a pit in my stomach. Computer head, tired eyes and dark circles, all from long nights staring endlessly at a screen. The pandemic caused all this; I noticed my smile beginning to fade, and my motivation diminish. Yet still, through all of this, I am grateful for not only my health but the health of my loved ones. And I know through strength and hope from the people around me, everything will be okay...eventually.
RUBY DILLARD ’24 Special to The Hawk
FATMATA SAKHO ’21 Special to The Hawk
FAITH COWELL ’22 Columnist
The first time I saw the St. Joe’s campus was in 2018 when I was a junior in high school touring colleges. I remember the lively atmosphere, smiling faces and what felt like a never-ending list of opportunities. Once the coronavirus pandemic isolated the U.S. population in quarantine, I lost much of my excitement to enter college. Many people in my life told me to lower my expectations, but when I arrived at St. Joe’s in August the campus was still alive. I was immediately immersed in the culture during freshman orientation. During the first week on campus I was grateful to see that the exciting environment, positive attitudes and inviting activities that made me commit to St. Joe’s were still prevailing on Hawk Hill.
“You have time,” my mother said as she cracked three eggs onto a sizzling hot pan. “If you can’t do it today, you’ll always have tomorrow.” Time would always be there, I believed. People would always be here. I have time. Then weeks turned to months. No one was allowed to leave. People changed as much as seasons. People died as much as dreams. I realized that time was not an infinite loop, but a borrowed jewel, too precious to be left unattended, for it can be stolen, no warning.
I wasn’t supposed to be here this year. Italy awaited me for the spring semester, months studying in Florence, weekends spent roaming Tuscany in flowing dresses and espadrilles. I’d been waiting to explore Venice since I was 10 years old, watching my brother play a video game set there. I was going to learn about food and wine, finally achieve fluency in the language I’d been studying since I was 14. Warm sunshine on Cinque Terre. Easter with my family in Positano. Connecting with distant relatives in San Fele. Now I’ve shifted my traveling desires to the States, feeling rejected and disappointed, grieving for my dream.
The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
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in the coronavirus pandemic
WILLIAM NGUYEN ’24 Special to The Hawk
OLIVIA GIANNETTA ’22 Special to The Hawk
CAROLINE HAMILTON ’21 Special to The Hawk
My father died suddenly in an accident a month before the lockdown. I’d been depressed, traumatized, feeling grief and guilt, but able to find relief from all of this when I was going to high school and surrounded by friends. The pandemic stopped all of that. At night, trying to sleep, I was forced to face all the emotions I had built up. Going to class by Zoom became a fight. Staying in the same environment only served to spoil my mood. I was overcome with longing for what was now gone.
Our games were civilized at first. I’d watch the sun fall through the cellar windows while my brother Nick tried to teach me how to do a spin serve. But as the lockdown went on, the games got more bizarre, like determining how many shots it’d take to knock down a plastic Santa Claus from the top stair with a Nerf gun, or who’d be the first to step on something sharp in the dark. One night, I found Nick on his hands and knees, looking for a pingpong ball that had rolled away into a maze of boxes. It must have been our last ball because Nick was cursing like I’d never see him before, and then in his anger, he stubbed his toe on a Christmas tree stand. We were kids again, raging down there in our minor inconveniences, being reckless for fun, and neither of us knew what day it was. Death was right outside those cellar walls, waiting up the rickety stairs, while we spent our days scrounging among two decades’ worth of our childhood as a way to get out of ourselves.
None of us expected her death to look like this: Aunt Flo, lingering in between varying degrees of lucidity; the rest of us, hiding sad smiles and muffling goodbyes behind masks and an imaginary six-foot bubble. Aunt Flo’s dragged-out death comes amid millions of other deaths in this new normal, binding our brains and hearts. Numbed by morphine and negative-pressure machines, we can only watch what is in front of us. All the while, I find myself forgetting to calculate the distortion that follows collective trauma. My first thought isn’t concern over her transition to nonexistence, but the task of finding a black dress and arranging socially-distanced seating. This, while Aunt Flo pumps out her last breaths.
SEHAR MACAN MARKAR ’22 Assistant Opinions Editor
ELAINA WALL ’21 Assistant Features Editor
LENORA THOMAS ’23 Columnist
My last normal memory before school shut down for COVID-19 seems like a lifetime ago. I remember being upset because me and my best friend had opposing spring breaks and we wouldn’t see each other. Due to the school being closed for the next week, I was so excited that we could hang out. It’s so strange that at the time so many other people, including myself, were not expecting anything more than an extra week of spring break. Looking at the positives, despite the numerous difficulties, I did get some extra time to spend with my family and self-reflect.
April 2020: 10 a.m.: the first alarm goes off. Snooze. 10:09 a.m.: the second alarm goes off. I roll over in bed, pick my laptop off of the ground and log in to my 10:10 a.m. Zoom class while rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I sit and listen to my professor and classmates without saying a word. As he dismisses us, I unmute myself to say “thank you” and then I close my laptop to go back to sleep. This routine happens three times per week until the semester ends. It’s the only sense of an academic “schedule” that I know now.
This past year has definitely been a doozy. It caused me to truly value the things I often take for granted and to cherish the present moment rather than looking to the future with trepidation. I neglected the freedom I had to wander campus and visit friends. I learned to sit in my backyard and listen to the sounds of nature to ground myself. This past year has made me more introspective and taught me to calm my mind because we were all forced into a standstill. That standstill opened my eyes to the present world and I am oddly grateful for it.
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The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
St. Joe’s contacted us, saying the pandemic’s getting out of hand. And then we all went virtual. -Walt Bryz-Gornia ’21
When I was stuck in my house and my mom was actually a nurse at a hospital. When she would come home from work, she would have to take a shower and we couldn’t hug her, well we chose not to hug her just because she was around patients with COVID. -Cassie Hahn ’21
When
did you r e pandem alize the ic was about to cha nge life as you knew i t?
I stopped working for maybe two weeks and then when I came back everyone was fully masked. -Frankie Antonucci ’24 When I came home, my dad’s immunocompromised, so my parents were stocked up with masks, canned foods and different things during that spring break, and I was like, “Oh, this is serious.” -Kella Pacifico ’21 My mom ended up getting COVID from one of her co-workers, actually the first week or so that quarantine started. Her business partner went to a dinner party in New York, right before the country shut down. Her, and I think 23 other people at the party got it and then she brought it back to my mom’s salon that she co-owns with this business partner. Her and a couple other employees got it. Having someone that had COVID close to the beginning of all this was definitely very scary, and definitely put COVID into a different perspective. It was a real thing at that point that it was actually in my house. -Nicole Butch ’21
My birthday was in April, so it was almost a month after. That was the first time I saw all my friends. They all did a drive-by for my birthday, and I haven’t seen that many people, literally, since I was on campus, and I couldn’t hug anyone. -Ali Chapman ’22
I’m moving stuff out of my office and just one moment after the next thinking “This is changing my life.” There was a period in the spring when a lot of us in higher ed were commiserating and saying, “Are we still going to have jobs in the fall? This is scary. This is scary.” -John DiCarlo, adjunct professor of English
I remember my wife saying we should really go to the food store and stock up on food. It was amazing to see the line of people stocking up on supplies and I thought, “wow, this is this real.” -Tom Fithian, director of major gifts
Interviews by: Ethan Grif f ith ’21, Jaylen Dotson ’21, Kenzie Allen ’23, Gabriella Guzzardo ’23, Eddie Daou ’22, Adam Fine ’23, Lauren Lodge ’22, Devon Fitzpatrick ’22
The Hawk Newspaper
While I was studying abroad and I heard that APEX got canceled and people were being sent home and I knew of so many other students abroad who were being sent home. By that point it hadn’t hit Australia yet, so we didn’t really think that we might have to go home. And then our program was canceled and I was flying through many different airports trying to get home. -Lexi Mignogna ’21
The night all the sports leagues shut down, it all happened once one night. -Walter Cronin ’21
When we went into lockdown, my dad actually got COVID and got really sick early on, and that right there hit hard and I realized that this was gonna change my life. -Patrick Bronander ’24
Watching those news reports, particularly in New York, where people were taking cell phone video out of their windows and there were just constant ambulance sirens, that was very memorable and disturbing. We didn’t hear as much of that where we live, but seeing it in New York and then hearing these stories of overcrowded emergency rooms and so forth. That was when I think I knew it wasn’t going to be a sudden improvement. -Richard Haslam, Ph.D., associate professor of English
I had been following the pandemic through the news after it first hit in China. The online New York Times showed paramedics wearing hazmat suits taking the sick to the hospital. I would give my classes a daily update on what was happening in China because wearing hazmat suits is not needed for just the flu. -Patricia Bobo, M.S., visiting assistant professor of mathematics
As classes started online, I realized I wasn’t liking it as much as I liked in-person classes. I really thought it was going to be over in two or three months, but here we are one year after. -Sammy Ramos ’22
When I was watching the news. It was in Italy and trucks were just rolling out dead bodies, no coffins or anything, and I realized that life was never gonna be the same. We were all gonna have to take precautions and take it more seriously. -Donald Sullivan ’23
May 5, 2021
Probably when I had to move out of my house because my dad is a doctor so he didn’t want us to be around him, just in case, because he was working with COVID patients. -Julia Tristine ’24
When everything started to shut down and we were on lockdown. I had never experienced anything like that in my entire life, especially school. When we were in school and Zoom became a worldwide known thing, that was definitely when I was like “Wow, something is going on.” -Simone DePiano ’24
At first, we started with 15 days to slow the spread. Fifteen days had passed and then a month had passed by the end of April, things were only getting worse and that’s when I realized this would only get worse before it gets better. -Jackson Crutchfield ’24
Interviews by: Lily McStravick ’23, Matt Miller ’21, Natalie Nevins ’24, Tom Fisher ’21, Marisa Hembling ’23, Mary Comerford ’22, Jaylen Dotson ’21, Dan Ciocca ’21
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10 May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
What was your biggest challenge during the pandemic year? I come from a low income family, so that has always been an issue, not having a lot of money, but then COVID took that to another level. That was really, really hard. Thankfully, my parents weren't laid off, but it was very hard to see them go out there and risk their health for us and my siblings and try to get the resources that we needed, paying over-priced toilet paper and stuff.
When you’re a working parent, worklife balance is always precarious and difficult, but parenting school-aged kids took it to the next level. I was essentially homeschooling three children who didn’t have aftercare anymore and didn’t have babysitters anymore.
-Lesley Reyes ’22
-Kristen Grimes, Ph.D., associate professor of Italian and modern classical languages
The biggest challenge I would say [of] the pandemic year has been managing more people working and learning all from the same house in a house that has basically four rooms in it.
Trying to stay alive. Once the pandemic really got started, a lot of paranoia and fear kicks in with everybody. So everybody’s afraid. -Maurice Davis, food service worker in Campion Dining Hall
Staying in touch with people that I wasn’t already very close with, people either we’re friends with or just people I want to get to know better, but anyone outside my direct close circle, I’d say keeping them in my life is very challenging. -Mike Szewczak ’21
-Christopher Close, Ph.D., associate professor of history
My biggest challenge of the pandemic was trying to survive with my mental health. The classes were very difficult because I was not ready for the online switch. -David Cook ’22
Really focus on yourself. I feel like it was very hard on me, I fell into a little bit of a depression, but you have to do things that you love: work out, go for a walk, listen to music, find a hobby. -Emily Bendock ’21
I feel like my biggest challenge is being able to trust people, like knowing [if] they’ve been around someone who’s exposed. Have they been cautious? -Abigail Staiger ’21
The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
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Certainly a sense of discomfort and disconnect from other people, that’s been challenging. A sense of isolation, that’s been challenging. And a recognition that my ability to even speak to you in this way about the direct effects of this global pandemic on my life. -Richard Warren, Ph.D., professor of history COVID hit around March, and since then I haven’t been home. Normally I go home once or twice a year, in the summer and in the winter, so I couldn’t go home in the summer, and then I couldn’t go home for Christmas. My brother and his wife had their first baby in October, so that’s been hard. I’m the only one that hasn’t met the baby. -Rebecca Lane ’19, student assistant coach of women’s lacrosse
One hundred percent online school. I am very tedious when it comes to my grades, school was a big part of who I am, and I’m not very accustomed to the technology, Zoom and learning virtually.
We didn’t have a playbook for how to deal with COVID. We had emergency plans and, actually, a pandemic plan, but not with isolation and quarantine. The challenge was just trying to anticipate the unknown and then being able to react to what we didn’t know. -Cary Anderson, Ed.D., associate provost and vice president of Student Life
-Samantha Kovacs ’23
I think the biggest challenge would have to be parenting. It was very different with my son being virtual when at home and me teaching virtually and not having a clear distinction between work and home. -Morgan Bryant Reeder, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing
I had a hard time meeting people. I’ve had a hard time connecting with jobs, connecting with classes and finding time that feels somewhat normal. -Casey Clemetsen ’21
There are definitely days where I didn’t talk to anyone and it was just me sitting alone and I still had to work through stuff, but I couldn’t just tap someone on the shoulder. -Priest Cross ’21
Definitely not getting the chance to be able to see some of my friends, or even my family, before I moved 11 hours away for college. -Emily Siler ’24
Being as flexible as I could with students in trying to meet their needs and also to be attentive to what their needs were, whether financial or mental health. -Susan Clampet-Lundquist, Ph.D., professor of sociology
Not really being able to do much in college and not really getting to meet that many people. -Luke Vacha ’24
Biggest challenge was my sanity. Not even joking, it was just the stress levels and my mental health is my biggest priority. My biggest challenge is getting my mental health in order. -Zavon Sample ’21
Going to college during the pandemic as a freshman. I had a lot of expectations coming in because I have two older sisters so I wanted to know what to expect but everything changed. I had to learn everything on my own about college in this. -Lily Santi ’24
Finding motivation to get up even though I knew I wasn’t going to leave the house that day. -Isabella Africa ’22
Interviews by: Mary Comerford ’22, Jenna Quigley ’22, Gabby Bekoka ’23, Matt Charleston ’22, Nick Klingman ’22, Dan Ciocca ’21, Devon Fitzpatrick ’22, Jaylen Dotson ’21, Matt Popeck ’22, Natalie Nevins ’24, Madison Fife ’23, Ethan Griffith ’21, Nolan Hartwell ’21, Marisa Hembling ’23, Tom Fisher ’21, Lauren Lodge ’22, Kevin Gill ’22,
12 May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
A TIMELINE OF A YEAR IN THE First case of COVID-19 is identified in Wuhan, China
Jan. 21 First case of COVID-19 in U.S. is identified in Washington state Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially names COVID-19
JANUARY 2020
DECEMBER 2019
FEBRUARY 2020
Jan. 23 Wuhan lockdown begins
Nov. 7 The Associated Press calls Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next president and vice president
Nov. 30 Classes resume virtually for the remainder of the fall 2020 semester
A man wears protective gloves on a flight to Orlando, FL on March 11, 2020.
Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Break begins and many students leave campus for the year
NOVEMBER 2020
Sept. 22 The U.S. surpasses 200,000 deaths due to COVID-19
Oct. 26 Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court
OCTOBER 2020
SEPTEMBER 2020
Oct. 26 Two Philadelphia Sept. 22 The university police officers fatally begins mandatory sur- Sept. 18 Supreme Court Justice Ruth shoot Walter Wallace Jr., a veillance testing Bader Ginsburg dies 27-year-old Black man of complications with metastatic Oct. 26 Philadelphia expancreatic cancer periences a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases throughout October, one month after the city hit its lowest rate of new cases A woman holds a Kamala Harris sign among Biden supporters at 12th and Arch St. during a celebration of her and Joe Biden’s win of the presidency on Nov. 7, 2020.
DECEMBER 2020 Dec. 12 The fall 2020 semester comes to a close marking the first full semester of mixed-modality classes
Jan. 6 Supporters of Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a violent attempt to stop proceedings certifying Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election; five people died
PHOTOS: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
Jan. 25 The first day of classes of the spring 2021 semester take place
JANUARY 2021
Jan. 13 The university announces that entry testing for the spring semester will be required for all undergraduate students and highly recommended for other community members
Feb. 22-28 Philadelphia surpasses 100,000 people fully vaccinated
FEBRUARY 2021
Jan. 19 Philadelphia adds Phase 1b groups as eligible for vaccination Jan. 21 Pennsylvania surpasses 20,000 deaths
Feb. 5 Campus dining options open with limited capacity Feb. 10 St. Joe’s announces it has signed a letter of intent to merge with the University of the Sciences
The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC March 12 St. Joe’s transfers to fully virtual learning until at least April 9; A-10 Conference cancels all spring sports
April 1 Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, implements statewide stay-at-home order; university announces “a few” probable cases of COVID-19 on campus
March 18 University announces the rest of the semester will continue fully virtual
March 1 St. Joe’s students studying abroad advised to return to the U.S.
May 26 George Floyd is killed launching a wave of protests throughout the U.S.
APRIL 2020
MARCH 2020
March 11 World Health Organization (WHO) declares COVID-19 a pandemic
May 28 U.S. COVID-19 deaths hit 100,000
Compiled by: Ryan Mulligan ’21 Nick Karpinski ’21 Devin Yingling ’22 Mitchell Shields ’22
MAY 2020
March 31 Class of March 13 Then U.S. 2020 commencement President Donald Trump is canceled declares COVID-19 a national emergency
Aug. 17 COVID-19 becomes the third highAug.11 U.S. makes est cause of death a deal with Moderna among Americans in for 100 million doses 2020, with 170,317 July 6 Donald Trump Americans dying from revokes U.S. WHO of its COVID-19 membership COVID-19 vaccine
Demonstrators protest the death of George Floyd in Vineland, NJ on June 3, 2020.
JULY 2020
AUGUST 2019
July 22 The U.S. strikes a deal with Pfizer and BioNTech for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine
JUNE 2020 June 15 Food and Drug Administration revokes the emergency authorization to use hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients, citing there are no benefits to its use
April 16 All adults in Philadelphia are eligible to be vaccinated A Regal Cinema location closed shortly after COVID-19 restrictions went into effect in March 2020 in Millville, NJ.
MARCH 2021
March 12 The university announces that it will hold an in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021 on May 22
March 25 Pennsylvania surpasses one million COVID-19 cases
APRIL 2021
June 8 National Bureau of Economic Research declares that the U.S. economy is in a recession
April 26 to May 2 500,000 Philadelphians are vaccinated
MAY 2021
March 31 St. Joe’s announces that it anticipates it will be able “to significantly expand upon our onground courses and operations for the fall of 2021”
A woman receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on the opening day of the city’s sixth vaccination site at Edward O’Malley Athletic Association in South Philadelphia on March 22.
14 May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
What would you tell
March 2020 SUNDAY
1 Study abroad students sent home.
8 Stay positive, nothing is permanent, just keep working hard and know that things are going to go back to normal. - Kyle Stine ’23
15 A college life is much different than an adult life, so make the most of it. - Dan Murray, graduate student
22 Philadelphia officials announce a stay-athome order, banning all public gatherings.
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Your plans are going to be different, but what you do is actually probably what you were supposed to be doing anyway. Just take every challenge as it comes and know that the outcome is going to be great. - Emily Lent, graduate student
MONDAY
2 Live in the moment. Things aren’t promised to anyone, enjoy every second that you have. - Khalil Thames ’21
9 Pursue the things that bring you joy, bring you peace and bring you happiness in that day because you don’t know what’s around the corner. - Rachael Carpus, PLS student
16
St. Joe’s announces that it will continue virtual teaching and learning for the remainder of spring 2020 semester.
23 It’s all going to get better. This isn’t the end of the world, just keep a level head. Keep close with those around you and check up on one another. - Matt Armitage ’24
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TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
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Look at the bright side of this, really keep your mind open to some of the positive things that are happening as a result of this. - Alex Hood ’23
Don’t take for granted the time that you have. - Alex Kramer ’22
17 Don’t say no to any opportunity, even if it’s as little as getting ice cream with your friends. - Evan Campbell ’21
24 If I was to go back to March of 2020 I would probably tell myself that you should not take anything for granted. - Ryan Wilkens, graduate student
31 It’s gonna last longer than you think. - Stephen O’Malley ’22
I would warn myself and say that it’s going to be worse than what we all think it is. If I could time travel and just tell everyone, that would be great. - Alexandra Kissinger, campus recreation specialist
Be patient and do whatever you can. Just know that things are going to change and just hang in there. - Christine Nasife ’22
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It’s not going to be done in a couple of weeks. That definitely will change your mindset on how you perceive simple things in life that you will not be able to get anymore. - Marharyta Feshchanka ’22
25 Cherish the moments of that time and don’t take it for granted. - Caitlin Bradley ’24
The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
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your March 2020 self?
March 2020 THURSDAY
5
FRIDAY
6 You are going to be a radically different person a year from now. Every area of your life will shift in ways you never thought possible. - Imani Briscoe, program specialist for Inclusion and Diversity Experiential Programming
12 St. Joe’s shifts classes online.
19 I will tell her to be patient, to concentrate on herself and just take this time to reflect and find other interests, and do other stuff that you wouldn’t have done if you didn’t have the time. - Dani Lugo ’22
26 I should have taken advantage of the time more. I know a lot of people getting super into fitness or things that they didn’t have time to do before. I wish I did that. - Katherine Lalos ’22
SATURDAY
7 It’s gonna be a very long year, you’re going to be stuck inside for a very long time but you’re going to learn and you’re going to grow. - Julianna Lectora Vazquez ’23
13 Take nature walks. I’m from West
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Philly and in urban communities there’s not many places where you can engage with nature. I was blessed to have this huge park down the street. It’s Cobbs Creek Parkway. Being able to do nature walks and stuff, that saved me from being in the house with stress all the time. - Caren Teague ’23
Take each day, take a breath and do the best you can, but be kind to yourself. Don’t take the weight of the world on your shoulders, just be kind and give yourself grace. - Shoshanna Edwards-Alexander, Ed.D., adjunct professor of sociology and education
27 Be aware of what’s going, but also, it’s okay to step back and say “I need to just do my own thing now, take care of myself and not be 100% present in all the really dark spaces.” - Lillie Bennett ’23
This is gonna be a year plus that we’re gonna have to do this. It would definitely prepare me more and get me ready for the year that I would incur because it was definitely difficult. - PJ O’Hara ’24
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Develop a routine to give yourself that sense of normalcy because I would say probably in the first couple of weeks I was a little aimless working from home. - Timothy Higgins, director of the Leahy Advising Center Haub School of Business
Interviews by: Jenna Quigley ’22, Henry Berg ’21, Adam Fine ’23, Gabby Bekoka ’23, Kenzie Allen ’23, Nick Klingman ’22, Devon Fitzpatrick ’22, Dan Ciocca ’21, Matt Popeck ’22, Nick DeTulleo ’23, Lily McStravick ’23, Madison Fife ’23, Ethan Griffith ’21, Nolan Hartwell ’21, Gabriella Guzzardo ’23, Catie Moffett ’22, Lauren Lodge ’22
16 May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
Reporting during a
pandemic From left to right: Opinions Editor Tayler Washington ’22, Staff Writer Kaylah Hernandez ’23 and Copy Chief Cara Smith ’21 report at a protest at Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia.
Nick Karpinski ’21 Managing Editor COVID-19 is obviously at the center of everyone’s lives. It’s also at the center of the reporting process. I won’t soon forget holding a six-foot, socially-distant boom pole in one hand and a notebook in the other trying to record video all while staring at a camera through my all too commonly fogged glasses. I’ve come to the conclusion that every mask will fog my glasses, which is of course a fair trade-off.
Jackie Collins ’21 Senior Editor When I used to conduct in-person interviews, I would draw inspiration for my story through my observations of the space I entered into or even through the body language of the source I spoke to. Those little things would help my story come to life. Zoom interviews and phone interviews during the pandemic did not afford me the same experience in the reporting process.
Cara Smith ’21 Copy Chief After being on The Hawk for a year and a half prior to the coronavirus pandemic, adjusting our production schedule to abide by COVID-19 protocols was initially heartbreaking. The newsroom served as my “place” on campus and it was difficult to adjust my reporting and publishing practices while maintaining my excitement for my senior year. However, throughout this year, The Hawk not only gave me the skills I need to succeed in the start of my professional journalism career, but also gave me comfort throughout a tumultuous time. I am continuously inspired by the dedication of my colleagues over the past two semesters despite facing seemingly insurmountable challenges every week. The Hawk (Newspaper) Will Never Die!
Nenagh Sheehan ’21 Assistant Features Editor I started working for The Hawk in my News Reporting class during my junior year before the pandemic. I would mostly interview students, faculty and staff in person to voice record them and take notes. After my News Reporting class, I began working as the assistant features editor when the pandemic started to get bad and reporting drastically changed. Due to social distancing, I had to start reporting and interviewing people over Zoom and over the phone, which became exhausting because of Zoom burnout. The majority of my classes are online, so I spend most of my time sitting on Zoom all day staring at a computer screen. I also enjoy connecting face to face with people on campus, so when reporting became remote I felt like I lost that sense of personal connection.
May 5, 2021 17
The Hawk Newspaper
Ryan Mulligan ’21 Editor in Chief The pandemic made me completely rethink how I reported. My favorite part of the reporting I have done has been going into new spaces, gaining new experiences and writing about the people I meet along the way. During the pandemic, those experiences have been limited, and when they do arise, it’s difficult to fully concentrate on doing your best work with the constant worry of getting COVID-19 in the back of your mind.
Mitchell Shields ’22 Photo Editor While writing can be done at home, and interviews can be done over the phone, photography does not have that luxury. The pandemic took a hit on what I could do as a photographer in order to get meaningful photos. Photos tell people’s stories and you have to meet people to get them, which is hard in a pandemic. I regularly had to think of new and creative ways so my staff and I could tell stories safely. While the pandemic has been a hurdle, it has allowed us to capture how a society reacts to an event that affects everyone. It is quite remarkable how a microscopic virus can make a visual effect on the macroscopic world.
Giana Longo ’22 Features Editor One of the things that I love about journalism is that as a reporter you get to meet so many interesting people. Interviews shed light on not only information in stories but also details about a person and their life. I think that it is one of the things that was initially “lost” when the pandemic first hit, especially in features. It becomes really hard to profile someone well or to do a story justice when you can only interact with someone via Zoom or emails. Sitting in a room with someone allows you to see body language, tone of voice and environmental engagement. You do not get the same energy talking to someone over the phone as you do in real life. Adjusting to this has been a challenge, but over time I think we all learned that even over the phone, you can still have a great interview with someone.
Devin Yingling ’22 News Editor It’s strange to think that I came to love this work because of the connections I made with people while reporting, and now the connection that seems to matter the most is that of my computer to the internet if Zoom is the interviewees preferred platform. However, I certainly don’t love this work any less—in fact I think I love it more. In a time when we are all supposed to be apart, I’m lucky to work in an environment where staying apart simply isn’t an option. While I’ve had to get more creative in my methods for getting to know people and finding stories to tell, that only shows just how valuable journalism during a pandemic really is, no matter how small the paper.
Tyler Nice ’23 Assistant Sports Editor Reporting during COVID-19 is all that I’ve known. I started writing for The Hawk last February, right before the pandemic. The first two stories I wrote were the only two in which I’ve done in-person interviews. While I do think that doing interviews virtually or over the phone gives greater flexibility in scheduling the interviews, I am ecstatic to interview my sources in person when the time comes. I feel like it will capture the essence of people I report on a lot more.
18 May 5, 2021
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ou y l l i w t a h w , s r a In 10 ye t i t a h w t u o b a e tell peopl e’s o J . t S t a e b o t e was lik ? c i m e d n a p e h t during
I would say people were anxious, people weren’t generous like they used to be. So hostile, not patient with other people. Manners went out the window and people were scared to help one another. -Tanya Heard desk attendant in Post Learning Commons The first day I Zoomed with my students from my living room, I literally started to cry because I didn’t realize how emotional it was going to be to see their faces over Zoom. I was so relieved to see that everybody was safe and everybody was healthy. In 10 years from now, I will look back on this and go, “It was a chance for me to really be a teacher.” -Theresa Crossan, M.A. adjunct professor of chemistry I will tell them how tiring, mentally draining, and difficult it was to sit in online classes every day. -Connor Reagan ’22 This is 10 times worse than actual school. The only good thing that came out of it was being able to roll out of bed in your pajamas and go to class. -Elizabeth Donnelly ’24 I am so proud of my St. Joe’s students who rose to the challenge and came to classes virtually even with masks on because they couldn’t even be somewhere where they were alone. -Gabrielle Miller adjunct professor of film I admire students, in particular, St. Joe’s students, who have been able to do these hybrid forms and be back on campus and really adapt in the way that St. Joe’s is adapting. -Richard Gioioso, Ph.D. professor of political science It was something that probably no one ever is going to experience. Then the people that were in it knew that it was really crazy. It ruined a lot of the year but it was something that we all had to work through and adjust to. -Micaela Salerno ’21 Interviews by: Kenzie Allen ’23, Mary Comerford ’22, Henry Berg ’21, Jenna Quigley ’22, Matt Charleston ’22, Gabby Bekoka ’23, Dan Ciocca ’21, Matt Miller ’21, Matt Popeck ’22, Nick Detulleo ’23 GRAPHICS: TOM SWEENEY ’22
Some good things that came out of it was a sense of shared purpose and shared community like we are all in this together and we were all supporting each other and being kind to each other. -Martha Easton, Ph.D. assistant professor of art history
I have learned as a teacher, over the last five years especially, to recognize that my students are more than that. During the pandemic, that knowledge, that understanding has been so crucially important because it helped me to know when I needed to step in, when I needed to check in. -Amber Abbas, Ph.D. associate professor of history
We learned to make the best possible decisions with the information we had and to be comfortable with cognitive dissonance, uncertainty and contradiction, which are among the critical thinking skills that a foundation in liberal education provides for our students. -Shaily Menon, Ph.D. dean of College of Arts and Sciences
This honestly shows you the real world because all the stuff that happened during this pandemic, so many events leading up to it and so many events that happened during it, honestly changed and shaped our world. It made me realize what our world is and I guess it just really opened up my eyes to different things in different perspectives. -Amanda Boehme ’24 It was hard. It’s hard not being able to be in class because in-person classes are way easier. You get to learn much more. Having classes online, you don’t get the exact same focus you had interacting with the professor. -Oscar Colon ’23
The Hawk Newspaper
It wasn’t too hard, just because of being online, but I feel like I’ll say that I missed out on the college experience, especially as freshmen because we were only there for a half a year. And I’ll probably talk about the fact that I feel like there’s so many people that I didn’t meet, but I probably would have had we not had a whole pandemic that sent everyone home. -Mallory Grossman ’23 I would say that online teaching is both more possible and more difficult than any of us thought. I had to learn to adapt but I’m so excited to be in the same room as you all again. -Steven Hammer, Ph.D. associate professor of communication and media studies
I think one of the main things I noticed was the students’ mental health. I have students in my classes or my colleagues’ students whose mental health was taking a real beating. -Jason Mezey, Ph.D. professor of English
The college experience changed. I think a lot of it, pre-pandemic, was about social interactions, which is significantly more limited now. Our understanding of college has become a more academic focus, which for some people isn’t what they wanted. -Luis Nunez ’21 Being a high school student in the very beginning of the pandemic was definitely the greatest experience of my life because I went from having to go to school to literally playing video games with my friends all day. -Carter Karpinski ’24
Before the pandemic happened, if we were to be offered online school we all probably would have been for it because of how easy it was. But when we got into it, we noticed how hard it was to have motivation. -Jordan Freeland ’21
May 5, 2021
It’s very easy to get distracted when you’re online. When I’m going on these Zoom calls and have my phone on ,my iPod on, my computer, and I just start browsing, because I think I can multitask, but you’re just not getting that same amount—you’re not absorbing the same amount of information. -Alfredo Mauri, Ph.D. professor of management
Even though it was frustrating, it was sort of beneficial in a way that it helped us learn our strengths or weaknesses especially doing stuff online. I would say it was a time where we discovered ourselves, especially being home being confined to our environment. -Heavenly Perez ’24
It was very, very challenging. School is very hard right now, focusing is hard. It feels overwhelming because we’re sitting at a desk all day long. -Erin Hicks ’21 I would say that it made me realize that the little moments that didn’t really seem that impactful before really mean a lot more to me now. -Raymond Zuhowski ’21
It was probably the most difficult period in modern American history to be a student because of the sudden change from being used to the traditional classroom style of learning to go fully online and try to adapt to Zoom. Trying all that was definitely hard. -Pat Taddei ’22
The pandemic created a sense of fear, aggression. It took the humaneness out of people and I think it really hurt people’s personal relationship with a friend, as well as strangers. People are afraid to socialize. -Vincent Lynch ’22 We’re always gonna have that sense of 'Alright, anything can change in an instant,’ and I feel like we never really had experienced that before so now that’ll always stick with us. We’ll be able to walk out of this being more appreciative even about the simplest things. -Maggie Hallinan ’22
Interviews by: Nick Detulleo ’23, Natalie Nevins ’24, Madison Fife ’23, Nick Filardo ’21, Ethan Griffith ’21, Lauren Lodge ’22, Catie Moffett ’22 and Dan Ciocca ’21.
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May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
SJU ATHLETICS TIMELINE OF March 12: SJU Athletics announces the cancellation of all spring sports.
APRIL 2020
MAY 2020
MARCH 2020
APRIL 2021 April 5: Men’s rowing takes on the United States Naval Academy in Maryland.
MARCH 2021 March 1: St. Joe’s announces they will allow spectators to attend athletics events under certain restrictions. March 5: Softball picks up an 8-4 win over Towson University to open their season. March 10: Baseball kicks off their restart with with a 12-3 victory at Towson University. March 13: Women’s rowing has their Schuylkill River homecoming in a matchup with the University of Delaware. March 27: Men’s and women’s track opens at the Penn Challenge where Zach Michon brakes the St. Joe’s 5000m record and the women secure four top five finishes. March 29: Golf returns to action at the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate.
The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
21
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC June 26: SJU Athletics releases their fall 2020 COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan, allowing student athletes to begin workouts in a phased reopening.
JUNE 2020
JULY 2020
July 17: A-10 postpones all fall sports until spring 2021. July 31: St. Joe’s cancels all club sports activity for the foreseeable future.
AUGUST 2019 SEPTEMBER 2020
Oct. 14: NCAA grants extra year of eligibility to all winter sport student athletes.
OCTOBER 2020
NOVEMBER 2020 Nov. 21: Women’s basketball pauses all team activity due to a positive COVID-19 test among Tier 1 personnel. Nov. 26: Men’s basketball opens their season at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-off. Nov. 29: Men’s basketball pauses all team activity due to a positive COVID-19 test among Tier 1 personnel.
DECEMBER 2020 Dec. 13: Women’s basketball returns to the court with a win over Lincoln University.
JANUARY 2021 FEBRUARY 2021 Feb. 9: Field Hockey selected as a 2021 A-10 preseason favorite as they start their season. Feb. 13: Men’s lacrosse takes Towson University to overtime in a hard fought 7-8 loss. Feb. 13: Men’s and women’s tennis take down Coppin State University each winning 6-1 on singles matchups. Feb. 14: Women’s soccer hosts Delaware State University in a 4-1 win. Feb. 17: Women’s lacrosse takes the field for the first time in 11 months to take on Hofstra University. Feb. 20: Men’s and women’s cross country combines for a total 511 points at the Spider/Patriot Classic. (All first games back for each team)
Jan. 22: SJU Athletics unveils their updated COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan for spring 2021. Jan. 31: Men’s soccer opens with a preseason matchup against Big 5 rival Temple University.
Dec. 16: Women’s basketball pauses all team activity due to COVID-19 protocols involving an opponent.
22 May 5, 2021
The Hawk Newspaper
I miss seeing people’s full faces and seeing them smile. You can see in their eyes, but it’s different to see their whole face light up. That’s one of the things I really look forward to.
What I look most forward to in all times is not having to second guess ourselves. We’re constantly thinking, “is this okay to do?” -Emma Murphy ’21
-Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D. Director of Student Leadership & Activities
Seeing people’s faces. There are some people I work with who I’ve never actually seen their faces because I’ve only ever seen them with a mask on. -Olivia Clark ’22
Being able to go out to eat in restaurants, even the movies with full capacity. -Kyle Stivala ’23 Being able to see my family without having to take a negative test. -Christian Delorenzo ’23
g n i k o o l t s o m u What are yo forward to in ? ” s e m i t l a m “nor
Being able to reconnect with people that I was forcibly separated with during the pandemic is going to be a great opportunity. That’s something that I’ve been hoping for, for quite a while now. -David Dessberg ’22
I miss running into people, sitting down, really having a conversation. Just little things like the library, and really getting to know people. It’s hard to make new friends now. I have my old friends, so it’s great, but it’s hard to keep meeting people and that was always my favorite part of college. -Tara Lanehart ’22
Not having conversations about the pandemic or masks or vaccines. I’ll be glad when we get to a point where we don’t talk about it anymore. I’m sick of talking about it. -Donald Townsend visiting professor of marketing
All I wanted to do was hug my grandparents, and fortunately I got that over Easter. -CJ Donofry ’22
I still have a whole year left at St. Joe’s, and I’d love to see the campus just get back to what it used to be. It’s sort of depressing walking around campus nowadays, compared to what it was like our freshman, sophomore years. -Ryan Novak ’22
Interviews by: Catie Moffett ’22, Nenagh Sheehan ’21, Matt Charleston ’22, Devon Fitzpatrick ’22, Lily McStravick ’23, Nick Filardo ’21, Liam Fallows ’21, Jaylen Dotson ’21
The Hawk Newspaper
May 5, 2021
I’ll be glad to have the students back here. In some ways we get more work done because you’re not constantly getting interrupted, but I think we miss having the students here.
Just the physical presence of students. I love when students come and meet with us in person. I truly miss that. I need that 3D as opposed to just looking at people on screen.
-Thomas Brennan, S.J., chair of the English Department
-Christine Mecke, Ed.D. director of student disability services
Wearing your mask or being behind a Zoom screen is really isolating, so being able to communicate with people normally and see their facial expressions, that’s a big part of talking in general, and we haven’t been able to have that in a while.
I’m just looking forward to not having so much anxiety about talking to people and hanging out with people and going to concerts. I’m so excited. I miss concerts so much. -Julia Stokes ’23 To be able to experience college normally without any restrictions against the students.
-Nicole Benson ’24
-Dalton Walsh ’24
I just want to hug my kids. I just want to hug. I’m looking forward to kids screaming “Principal Douglas” and running up to me and being able to hug me without any elbow punches. Running up and seeing their smiles because their masks hide their smiles. I’ll just like being able to do whatever I want. Going out with friends, sitting all together, not having to have two different tables, not wearing a mask every second I go somewhere, being able to see people’s faces. -Dean Genakos ’22
-Tisha Douglas, M.Ed. adjunct professor of undergraduate teacher education
Getting to know the students personally and being able to have spontaneous interactions without worrying about all of the other possible ramifications of saying “hi” to someone, or shaking hands or hanging out with students in the hallway between classes. -Catherine Hughes, Ph.D. visiting assistant professor of music, theatre and film
I’m a huge face-to-face person. I’ve always been that way. What I look forward to the most is being able to be somewhere and not have to worry. Be at a concert, be at a family party, be able to have dinner and not have to worry about that.
Being with a group of people and not wondering if my actions in a group gathering are going to affect me negatively in a week or two.
-Matt Lydon ’21
-Nicholl Fenton ’21
Natalie Nevins ’24, Matt Popeck ’22, Gabriella Guzzardo ’23, Nolan Hartwell ’22, Matt Miller ’21, Henry Berg ’21
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Thank you, Essential Workers.
We see you. A successful school year would not be possible without the work from our facilities staff, cleaners, food service workers, public safety officers and desk attendants.
We appreciate all that you do for this campus and are immensely grateful for the work that you do.
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