Sept. 23, 2020

Sept. 23, 2020

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Are you experiencing COVID-19 symptoms?

Have you received a positive COVID-19 test result or believe you have been exposed to COVID-19?

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www.sjuhawknews.com

A St. Joe’s contact tracer will contact you and determine any close contacts.

The contact tracer will ask you to complete an information form.

After completing the form, your professors will be notified that you will attend classes virtually.

You will indicate if you are going to quarantine or isolate in a university space or in an offcampus location.

Fill out the university’s self-disclosure form.

| The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University

Quarantine is when you may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Isolation is when you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms and awaiting test results.

If you are quarantining or isolating in a university space, a member of the Office of Residence Life will contact you and facilitate your move to either Sourin Hall, Moore Hall or the Homewood Suites on City Avenue.

Moore Hall is used for isolation.

The Homewood Suites and Sourin Hall are used for for quarantine.

If you are able to safely quarantine at an off-campus location, you will coordinate the move with members of that residence.

SOURCE: HAWK HILL READY

ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’23/THE HAWK

University prioritizes privacy in COVID-19 cluster communication DEVIN YINGLING ’22 News Editor The cumulative total of positive COVID-19 cases on campus reached 109 as of Sept. 21, as COVID-19 clusters appeared around campus, most notably within firstyear on campus housing, among athletic teams and within Greek life groups.

Gail Benner, director of public relations and media, wrote in an email to The Hawk on behalf of Jessica Moran-Buckridge, Ed.D., director of the Office of Residence Life, and Cheryl McConnell, Ed.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, that the university does not disclose information regarding clusters.

“I am not aware of a widely accepted number that defines a cluster,” Benner wrote. “Public health officials’ definition of a cluster can vary and can be as few as two people. So, it would not be practical or particularly useful for us to disclose each time.”

Clusters of cases are a number of COVID-19-positive individuals aggregated over time, geographic location and/ or by common exposures. Identifying a cluster and pursuing “exhaustive contact tracing is essential for rapidly suppressing transmission,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

As these clusters appeared on campus, the university tried to balance conveying information to the St. Joe’s community while maintaining the personal privacy of FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

@SJUHAWKNEWS

Quarantine lasts for a period of at least 14 days after possible exposure.

Isolation lasts for 10 days after the onset of symptoms and once you have gone 24 hours without a fever (without the use of fever reducing medication).

infected individuals.

Within Greek life, all 115 members of the Alpha Phi sorority were mandated by the university to get tested for COVID-19 and either quarantine or isolate until their results became available. But according to a member of the sorority who asked not to be identified by name, members were given no background about the situation.

“There were so many holes that we were trying to fill in for ourselves because [details] weren’t provided to us, so we all kind of went into this frenzy,” she said.

Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D., director of Student Leadership & Activities, was not involved in the decision making process to determine the mandatory testing and quarantine protocols for Alpha Phi, but communicated the mandate, which was ultimately decided by Cary Anderson, Ed.D., associate provost and vice president of Student Life, along with other administrators.

“To the best of my knowledge, [testing was mandated] because there was a pattern that had started to form,” Hagovksy said. “And when the dots were connected, that they were all members of Alpha Phi, it made the most sense to have the sorority all get tested and quarantine until they got the results.”

Hagovsky said she does not know how many members of the sorority initially tested positive.

If you are isolating or quarantining on campus, you will receive a daily meal pack with three meals. You can either use one swipe per meal with a meal plan, or pay $30 per day for three meals. The meals come from a Good Uncle, food delivery service.

An Aramark dining liaison will contact you in order for you to place your meal orders.

Contact tracers will check in periodically throughout quarantine or isolation, and a COVID-19 Care Navigator will check in periodically to see how you are doing.

A representative from the university will contact you to help you make the return to campus once your quarantine or isolation period is completed. This person will help you transition back to campus.

CONTINUED ON PG. 2 FEATURES

OPINIONS

06

A tribute to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

08

Author Bridget Quinn shares suffragists’ artwork and stories

SPORTS

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Athletics announces new diversity, equity and inclusion action plan

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News

The Hawk Newspaper

Sept. 23, 2020

University prioritizes privacy in COVID-19 cluster communication FROM PG. 1 “My understanding was that it was a significant enough number that it caused concern, and so we needed to act on it,” Hagovksy said.

Benner wrote that the university is being cautious about disclosing too much information or notifying too many people within the campus community when a group of COVID-19-positive individuals is identified.

“If we do not make notifications, we have chosen to err on the side of the individual’s privacy,” Benner wrote. “If we feel that the information could have a public health benefit, we will make those disclosures.”

Regarding on-campus housing, Benner wrote that COVID-19 cases “have been identified in all residence halls.”

“Residence Life is in regular communication with RAs regarding their health, safety and wellbeing,” Benner wrote. “Please remember that not everyone who isolates receives a positive test result.”

An RA, whose name is omitted to protect their employment status, said they learned two RAs tested positive for COVID-19 through a group message with other RAs. This information was confirmed three days

later when it was announced in a staff meeting for RAs. “I don’t really think it has been well communicated to us,” the RA said, noting that RAs weren’t notified about positive cases from their Residential Area Managers (RAMs).

The RA said residents on a floor are not notified if a floormate tests positive, nor is the RA notified if one of their residents tests positive. RAs are expected to be six feet away from their residents at all times and are therefore not considered close contacts. Only identified close contacts who live on the floor are notified by a contact tracer.

“I feel like there is a privacy element of not letting everyone know unless they have to know,” the RA said.

The member of Alpha Phi said she also understands concerns about individual privacy, but the lack of communication allows for groups of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to be stigmatized.

“I feel like then there’s this negative stigma like ‘oh [the sorority] is not taking it seriously’ and then we have to justify ourselves,” she said. “But, I feel if there was better information and communication with the school, there wouldn’t be as much hostility towards certain groups.”

Shuttles transport students to designated quarantine spaces. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

A number of student-athletes have also either quarantined or self-isolated. The Hawk was not able to confirm that any full teams were quarantined, and reached out to the athletics department for comment. Benner responded to The Hawk’s questions with the following statement.

“Contact tracing, quarantine and isolation processes are the same for student-ath-

letes as the rest of the student population, including associated disclosures,” Benner said.

“We need to balance individuals’ privacy with the public health benefit of disclosure.

If we believe there is a public health benefit to disclosing any cases within athletics, we will do so. But otherwise, we will protect the privacy of student-athletes.”

What happens to a vacant seat on the Supreme Court?

DEVIN YINGLING ’22 News Editor Why is there a vacancy on the Supreme Court?

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of complications with metastatic pancreas cancer on Sept. 18. Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) by former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1993, serving as the second woman justice on the bench following her colleague, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Ginsburg was most well known for her dissenting court opinions she issued on the bench, and she consistently used her tenure to advocate for gender parity. Ginsburg was a major leader and public figure for American women’s rights, and she used her place in the law to strategically deconstruct discrimination on the basis of sex. In a public statement, Chief Justice John Roberts said Ginsurg will be remembered as “a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

How is the seat filled?

Ginsburg’s vacant seat on the court is now being contested within the federal government Under Article III of the Constitution of the United States of America, the sitting president has the capacity to nominate

a new justice.

Under Article III, there is no limit for how many justices sit on the Supreme Court bench. Prior to Justice Ginsburg’s passing, there were nine justices—one chief justice and eight associate justices—on the bench.

Nine sitting justices are the standard since former U.S. President Ulyssess S. Grant’s administration in 1869.

Under Article III, the typical process for appointing a supreme court justice is as follows: 1. The sitting president nominates their choice for a justice.

2. The nominated justice goes through confirmation hearings within the U.S. Senate.

3. Once they are confirmed by the Senate, the justice holds their seat in the court for life.

When will the seat get filled?

When Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died on Feb. 23, 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spent a year blockading former U.S. President Barack Obama’s justice nomination, claiming, “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.” Now, with only 41 days left until the 2020 presidential election, McConnell drastically

shifted his rhetoric.

“President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate,” McConnell said after Ginsburg’s death was made public.

Prior to her death, Ginsburg told her granddaughter, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Opposing politicians to McConnell are reiterating this sentiment and are pushing to delay the appointment of a new justice until after the election.

“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president,” Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, said in a tweet on Sept. 18, reiterating McConnell’s 2016 statement ver-

batim to send a message of opposition to filling Ginsburg’s seat prior to the 2020 presidential election.

Who is going to fill the seat?

U.S. President Donald Trump released his potential supreme court justices on Sept. 9, listing 20 names of those he may seek to nominate for Ginsburg’s seat. President Trump listed Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arizona and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri as potential nominees. However, according to the New York Times, Amy Coney Barrett, Amul Thapar, Raymond Kethledge, James C. Ho, Thomas M. Hardiman and William H. Pryor Jr. are among the top six potential candidates up for the nomination.

Department of Public Safety reports (Sept. 11-Sept. 17) Sept. 12

Public Safety was notified by Residence Life of a student gathering in Villiger Hall. Public Safety Officers and Residence Life responded and spoke with the students. No further issues to report.

Community Standards notified.

Public Safety was notified by Residence Life in regards to a person unknown drawing sexually explicit graffiti on the door of a student’s room located in the LaFarge Hall.

Title IX Coordinator notified. Community Standards notified. Incident under investigation.

Sept. 13

Public Safety was notified by Residence Life of a student gathering in the LaFarge

Hall. Public Safety Officers and Residence Life responded and spoke with the students. No further issues to report. Community Standards notified.

Public Safety was notified of a fire alarm inside the Merion Gardens Apartments. Public Safety Officers responded.

Preliminary investigation did not identify cause. Alarm was reset.

Public Safety was notified by an area resident of a noise complaint in the 5200 block of Rexford Road. Public Safety Officers and Philadelphia Police were notified, responded into the area and spoke with the students. Community Standards notified.

Sept. 15

Public Safety was notified of a fire alarm at Villiger Hall. Public Safety Offi-

cer responded. Preliminary investigation revealed the alarm was activated by a student cooking. Alarm was reset.

Public Safety was notified by several St. Joe’s students regarding threats posted on their Instagram accounts by an unidentified person. Philadelphia Police were notified. Title IX Coordinator notified.

Incident under investigation.

Sept. 16

Public Safety was notified by a St. Joe’s Facilities Management employee in regards to a person unknown removing a weed trimmer from a St. Joe’s Facilities vehicle which was parked in the rear of 215 City Ave. Incident under investigation.

ALCOHOL RELATED INCIDENTS

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On campus

Off campus

Call Public Safety:

610-660-1111

News

The Hawk Newspaper

Sept. 23, 2020

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St. Joe’s plans for 2021 spring semester EDDIE DAOU ’22 Assistant News Editor St. Joe’s is in the process of planning course scheduling and class formats for the spring 2021 semester.

Cheryl McConnell, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, and Cary Anderson, Ed.D., associate provost and vice president of Student Life, unveiled tentative plans in a University Student Senate (USS) meeting on Sept. 14. The spring semester would start a week late, right after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and would go straight through, with no spring break.

“Spring break is not going to happen,” McConnell said in the meeting. “You saw the spike in cases after Labor Day here.

That’s what happens when we have long weekends. We’re going to honor Good Friday and Easter because we’re a Catholic institution, but that’s why reading days are in the middle of the week.”

The current plan will have the spring semester run from Jan. 19-May 1, with finals week running from May 3-8. Two reading days are tentatively scheduled for Feb. 16 and Mar. 24, with no classes on Good Friday, April 2, as well.

While the exact date was not specified, course registration for the spring semester is going to be pushed back a week to ensure there are no last-minute course modality changes, according to McConnell.

For the undergraduate students who requested a fully online schedule for the fall 2020 semester, McConnell said a request form will be sent out “in a week or

so” for students to indicate whether they plan to return to campus in the spring or continue with a fully online schedule.

“We’ll allow [students] to register a little bit early in those online courses, that way we can judge how many online sections we need,” McConnell said. “It will look a little bit different in that there will

is committed to making the decision by Oct. 16.

“If we had to make the decision today, the answer would be we could not do that.

But we’ll see if things change. It’s about a month from now and we’ll see,” Anderson said. “We’re hoping we’re not giving people false hope.”

The university plans to resume class partially on campus in January. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

be a lot more certainty for spring registration than there was before.”

A decision has not been made to cancel study abroad programs for the spring semester, according to Anderson. Anderson said in the meeting that the university

Anderson said the Center for International Programs at St. Joe’s is consulting students and working with partners on mitigation strategies. Anderson said they will continue to update their list of available programs and make the final decision

in the coming weeks.

Salvatore De Rienzo ’22, USS secretary of Academic Affairs, said he hopes for flexibility in the spring schedule, citing concerns about midweek reading days.

“I really think that it’s going to be important for us to push the issues and say, ‘Okay, here’s what worked. Here’s what didn’t work,’” De Rienzo said. “I think that our experience from this semester could really be valuable for input into plans for next semester.”

De Rienzo said that although a third reading day is being discussed, students will still be working straight through two semesters in a row, without any long breaks during the semester, and celebrating Easter will be a challenge with the condensed schedule.

“Especially as a Jesuit school, Easter is a big holiday, and even if we don’t have Easter Monday off, people are still going to go home to be with their families,” De Rienzo said. “It’s just going to make more difficulties in returning to campus, and I'm sure that we would see a very low attendance rate on that Monday afterward.”

As for the rest of the fall semester, McConnell said the university doesn’t plan on going online anytime soon.

“We’re planning on staying on ground for the entire [fall] semester, unless the Philadelphia Department of Health believes that we have an outbreak that we really need to make a pause,” McConnell said. “Even if we do need to make a pause, it will be a short pause, and then we’ll try to go back on the ground.”

Faculty find new ways to create a classroom community CHRISTINE DISANTI ’21 Assistant News Editor As students move in and out of quarantine and isolation, faculty members are finding new ways to adjust their curriculum and connect with their students.

With a month of classes underway, St. Joe’s faculty members continue to respond to changes on campus and in their own classrooms. Across different modalities and programs, professors are attempting to create a sense of community while juggling logistical considerations.

“Preparing for [the semester] is not the same as working through it and delivering what students need from their instructors,” Richard Warren, Ph.D., professor of history, said.

Warren teaches hyflex classes, where he simultaneously instructs students in person and over Zoom. This semester challenged Warren to find new ways of interacting with his students while managing students transitioning in and out of quarantine.

“The thing that I’m trying to do, and all one can do, is try to make sure that regardless of where our students are, whether on campus or off campus, in quarantine or learning remotely, that they still feel connected to the learning experience and the broader community of learners at SJU,” Warren said.

Helping students feel connected includes emailing and scheduling one-on-one talks with those who are currently learning remotely, Warren said. “[Learning remotely] can feel isolat-

ing, literally, especially if you’re in an online learning environment when you expect to be on campus,” Warren said. “But to just sit down and write a couple dozen emails saying ‘Hey I’ve been thinking about you, do you have any questions? Anything I can help you with?’ provides students the opportunity to tie a thread to a broader community.”

C. Ken Weidner II, Ph.D., assistant professor of management, said he prioritiz-

cumstances that you might not have been if you only saw them in your classroom.”

For Weidner’s online first-year seminar, he assigned students a one minute video, where they were prompted to “geek out” about something they were passionate about. The aim of this assignment was to have students get to know their classmates without the typical icebreaker. It was also a way to build relationships

Faculty members teach in socially distant classrooms with limited interaction. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

es building connections in the classroom, particularly among first-year students.

“I’ve been very aware of my students’ circumstances because you’re looking at their dorm room or living room [on Zoom],” Weidner said. “So you’re very aware of cir-

among first-year students, who struggle to connect with their classmates online, Weidner said. “[My students] talked about that as a big barrier otherwise,” Weidner said.

“Students don’t get to know other students

outside of class and they’re yearning for that, so this video assignment helped create that.”

Because he mostly teaches graduate students online, Weidner said that his transition to fully online instruction was not as difficult as it was for other faculty members. “[Teaching online] is like being on a radio station and you’re not sure if anyone is listening,” Weidner said. “I’ve figured out how to change that radio station so it’s a lot more interactive.”

Aimee LaPointe Terosky, Ed.D., associate professor of educational leadership, said her biggest challenge is accommodating the stress her doctoral students are facing.

“Our students are adult learners and they’re all leaders in the community,” Terosky said. “Our students are K-12 principals, school superintendents, university leaders and they have kids at home. It’s the most challenging time of their professional lives, while trying to assist their children at home, and at the same time, they’re engaging in a doctoral program.”

To best accommodate doctoral students, the educational leadership program switched to fully online instruction at the beginning of the summer. Terosky said she is more lenient with assignments and reaches out to her students, especially as K-12 schools are reopening.

“We’re just trying to be very empathetic with students,” Terosky said. “The whole concept of cura personalis, you’re seeing this in practice and in action right now.”

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Sept. 23, 2020

Opinions

The Hawk Newspaper

The time is now Following through on our Jesuit values 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 Copy Editor Olivia Giannetta ’22 Multimedia Editor Nick Karpinski ’21 News Editor Devin Yingling ’22 Assistant News Editor Eddie Daou ’22 Assistant News Editor Christine DiSanti ’21 Opinions Editor Tayler Washington ’22

Beginning with the protests after George Floyd’s killing by police, we watched members of the St. Joe’s community fill social media with support for The Movement For Black Lives. We saw many performative statements, black squares on Instagram feeds and reposts of celebrities’ “words of encouragement.”

Here we are, five weeks into the semester, and the attention on advocating for Black and brown lives has already waned.

Police continue to kill Black Americans. At least 59 Black people were killed between May 26 and Aug. 31, according to CBS News. The Mapping Police Violence project said Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people.

The Louisville police officers who murdered Breonna Taylor have still not been charged. The Kentucky attorney general has yet to announce if his office will ever press charges against the police officers.

At a Jesuit university rooted in Ignatian values, we learn to focus on not just the whole person, but the whole society. Every St. Joe’s student is required to take Faith, Justice, and the Catholic Religion-Theology 154. In this course, we are given a guideline to understand equality through Catholic social teachings and the importance of universal human rights.

As members of a predominantly white institution, based in a primarily Black and brown community, we must continue to advocate for change in an actionable and visible manner. It’s time to deliver on the promises we made through our Instagram posts and retweets.

Institutional racism is alive and thriving here at St. Joe’s as well. We must continue to challenge injustice on campus. After we have

recognized our privilege, we can join one of the many clubs that give us the opportunity to learn about and actively challenge injustice in all of its forms. Some of these organizations include Women’s Leadership Initiative, SJUPride, Hawks for Just Employment, Black Student Union and University Student Senate. There are many more organizations that aspiring social justice activists can join in our community. Find them. Be a part of them.

We also must participate in the democratic process. A lot is at stake this November: women’s reproductive and health care rights, voting rights, the right of Black and brown people not to be killed by police.

“As members of a predominantly white institution, based in a primarily Black and brown community, we must continue to advocate for change in an actionable and visible manner.”

We watched as political leaders continue to encourage violence against marginalized groups such as immigrants, refugees, Black and brown people, journalists, people with disabilities and women.

The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg reminds us how precarious our human rights are. Ginsburg was an advocate for anti-gender discrimination

and human rights. Her notorious opinion-“I dissent”-paved the way for fundamental rights for marginalized groups, specifically women and the LGBTQIA+ community. The torch has now been passed to us. We must uphold her legacy and vote for political leaders that reflect our social justice values.

As members of a Jesuit university, we must challenge institutional racism and oppression wherever we see it. We should not be bystanders, or worse, performative activists.

Black lives still matter, LGBTQIA+ lives still matter, transgender lives still matter, human rights still matter, women still deserve reproductive and health rights. It is our job to educate and hold each other accountable in this fight. As the late U.S. Representative John Lewis reminded us, we should “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

It’s time to get off social media and make “good trouble.”

—The Editorial Board

The Hawk welcomes Letters to the Editor, typically no more than 300 words. They can be emailed to hawk.editorial@gmail.com.

Assistant Opinions Editor Sehar Macan-Markar ’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 Assistant Business Manager Jillian Bodemer ’23

Letter to the Editor Much of The Hawk’s recent coverage highlighted the fact that life on campus is not exactly like it used to be. That’s so true – for all of us who live, work and learn on Hawk Hill. We’ve all had to adjust, work harder to do things that used to be so simple and we’ve had to create experiences that are completely new and unfamiliar. And frankly, some of them, like testing, physical distancing, wearing a mask all the time, quarantine and isolation, aren’t much fun. But the protocols we’ve developed (and are continuing to improve, through some bumps and missteps) are absolutely essential to keeping us on ground. And that’s what you told us you wanted. Eighty five percent of our undergraduate students opted for some form of in-person experience.

Nothing about this situation lends itself to perfection, ease, convenience or normalcy. We fully acknowledge some shortcomings in our quarantine/isolation process,

and for that I apologize. As this situation continues to change-daily and sometimes hourly-we should all expect more glitches.

Even so, you can trust that everyone charged with student health and safety is working with your best interests in mind.

As we continue to work through this together, there are a few things that we ask of you: Be patient. As mentioned above, things that used to be simple are now extremely complex. No two circumstances for isolation or quarantine are alike.

If something goes wrong, or you notice something that could be improved, provide feedback and concrete, creative suggestions for improvement.

We ask that you carefully follow the quarantine and isolation instructions and contact information we proactively provide, answer your phone and, if it’s an important, time-sensitive need, contact Pub-

lic Safety at 610-660-1111.

Most important, if you are symptomatic, let us know immediately. Fill out a self-disclosure form, and make an appointment with the Student Health Center. Don’t wait until you feel better or get a test result on your own without letting us know. Don’t wait because you don’t want to go to isolation. Just don’t wait. That way, we can begin contact tracing and testing, and potentially avoid putting more people in harm’s way.

This is happening too often. Working together to manage the virus is the only way we will be successful.

When we say we are in this together, we mean it. Every day, through every new development, around the clock.

-Cary Anderson, Ed.D., provost and vice president of Student Life

Opinions

The Hawk Newspaper

Sept. 23, 2020

5

COVID-19 vaccine and polarization How the vaccine symbolizes a greater issue in the U.S. MAX GIULIANA ’24 Special to The Hawk September marks seven months since the coronavirus pandemic turned the world on its head. In that time, there were over 30 million coronavirus cases reported worldwide and almost one million people died, according to MarketWatch. Over 6.5 million of those cases came from the U.S., along with almost 200,000 deaths.

Despite what has felt like an eternity, returning back to “normal” does not appear to be on the horizon. Our greatest hope comes from the development of a vaccine.

The U.S. alone pumped over $10 billion into eight COVID-19 vaccines in developmental stages, in what they call “Operation Warp Speed,” according to Science Magazine.

However, the development of a vaccine is a contested issue.

Many Americans are understandably skeptical about getting the first vaccine or treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already used two emergency use authorizations (EUAs) on plasma and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients, despite shaky evidence of their effectiveness.

AstraZeneca, one of the companies currently developing a vaccine, had one of their patients hospitalized with an inflamed spinal cord as a side effect of their vaccine. This halted the development of a vaccine and raised the eyebrows of many. Occurrences like this are an alarm to myself and many Americans

that we may be trying to rush our way to a vaccine. Although the FDA insists that they won’t “cut any corners” while creating a vaccine, I have my reservations.

I believe that right now, there are far too many political pressures surrounding a COVID-19 vaccine for the medical commu-

nity to do their jobs properly. Many U.S. citizens are seemingly “over” the pandemic and are looking for any possible solution to return to normal life.

U.S. President Donald Trump wants a vaccine before the election to mark it down as one of his achievements. A vaccine would open the economy, which President Trump hopes to use as one of his main reelection points.

On the other hand, we have congressional Democrats spreading more skepticism about the production of a vaccine in hopes that former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wins the election and the vaccine is produced under his watch. These surrounding political pressures are putting

ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’23/THE HAWK

an undue burden on companies producing this vaccine.

The development of a COVID-19 vaccine is symbolic of a bigger problem in American society and politics. The problem is the two-party system. The mere fact that the production of a potentially life-saving and world-changing vaccine is a political issue is indicative of the lowly state of politics

in this country.

We have Republicans on one side pushing for the vaccine to be released so that they can do a victory lap before the election and rally their base, and Democrats urging citizens to be wary of the vaccine so that President Trump’s America can remain in its current state. Actions from both parties are quite abhorrent.

If we had more than two major political parties, we wouldn’t have this metaphorical tug of war between parties over every issue. Maybe, instead of taking sides on issues for partisan reasons, we should weigh all the options on important issues and realize that the truth almost always lies somewhere in the middle.

The two-party system is also largely responsible for the polarization in this country.

We can have healthy disagreements within this country. The late U.S. Sen. John McCain described former U.S. President Barack Obama as a “decent family man, citizen, that I happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.” This type of rhetoric is what is needed in this country; not the hateful, spiteful and inflammatory commentary that incites hatred for the other side.

I believe we can get past this as a country.

I believe that there will be a day in my lifetime where the radical partisanship, symbolized by the situation surrounding a COVID-19 vaccine, will be gone.

Views on mail-in voting and campaign trail briefing MAGGIE BRENNEN ’22 Columnist After an already captivating presidential race since early 2019, it is strange to think Americans are less than 50 days away from electing their president for the next four years. Americans are not only anxious to see who the country elects, they are also anxious to see how they will vote.

Mail-in voting on such a wide scale is unprecedented. Along with the unknown of whether every mail-in ballot will be carried under the U.S. Postal Service’s current funding, many Americans are struggling to navigate their way through their state’s mail-in voting laws.

For example, one Texas county is being blocked by the Texas Supreme Court from sending mail-in voting applications to all of its registered voters. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Indiana and South Carolina all require special circumstances beyond the fear of contracting COVID-19 to request a mail-in ballot. Voters in these states must choose: “Do I risk my health by going to a crowded polling place? Or do I stay home and not have my voice heard?”

The two nominees for president have completely opposing views on mail-in voting. U.S. President Donald Trump made claims about the potential of mail-in voting “rigging” the election, but experts say these claims are baseless. There are no records of serious election manipulation through

mail-in voting, according to Mara Suttmann-Lee, assistant professor of American politics at Connecticut College.

Still, these claims are at the forefront of President Trump’s recent rallies, as he encouraged North Carolinians to vote twice in order to “test” the state’s voting system.

In an interview with WECT News in Wilm-

ington, North Carolina, President Trump said, “You send [mail-in ballots] in, but you go to vote. And if they haven’t counted it, you can vote.” All states have procedures in place to make sure a voter cannot cast both an absentee and in-person vote.

With President Trump making eccentric comments like this, and refusing to say if he will accept the election results

if he loses, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his team are preparing for a legal battle with the president, which Biden’s campaign is calling “the largest election protection program in presidential campaign history.” There is no doubt that the democratic value of free and fair elections is at stake this year.

ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’23/THE HAWK

Along with the unique situation of mailin voting, there is still a sense of normalcy in the presidential race with both candidates traveling the country to campaign.

President Trump was in California on Sept. 16 to discuss the ongoing wildfires on the West Coast. In his speech, he challenged the science behind climate change, which is being blamed for the

fires. Instead, he blamed Californians for not raking leaves and maintaining other forest management.

Then President Trump also visited the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for a town hall forum with ABC news. At the forum, President Trump addressed comments he made to journalist Bob Woodward about intentionally downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, and The Atlantic’s report claiming he made disparaging comments about veterans. He also refused to disclose whether he believes there is systemic racism in policing or not.

Meanwhile, outside the forum, protesters marched through the streets of Philadelphia defying President Trump, specifically his racist views and policies. Pennsylvania is a swing state and swung in favor of President Trump in 2016, so this was an important visit for undecided voters.

Biden also visited a swing state, Florida, which was his first trip there as the Democratic nominee. He spoke at a veteran’s event, discussing general issues like health care, COVID-19 and the environment, as well as issues facing veterans and their families, like mental health.

Polls are showing a close race, with Biden polling at 51% and President Trump at 43%. Every comment and trip the nominees make will make a difference.

6

Sept. 23, 2020

TAYLER WASHINGTON ’22 Opinions Editor Countless Redbubble stickers featuring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s quotes about women deserving a place in politics line women’s laptops across the country, an indication of the countless barriers Ginsburg broke throughout her career. She was the second woman to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court and served for 27 years, until the day of her passing on Sept. 28.

In a merely political sense, Ginsburg was known for her dissenting opinion, or disagreement with the majority. But as a person, she went beyond the breadth of her political identity. Her career was dedicated to fighting against gender discrimination, which can be seen in her most well-known opinion in United States v. Virginia in 1996, where the Virginia Military Institute was ordered to accept women into their program.

Ginsburg spent a lifetime defying gender expectations, by graduating at the top of her undergraduate class at Cornell University and being one of nine women at Harvard Law School in a class of over 500 men. Her dedication and perseverance clearly showed in an era when women were expected to prioritize their home life, which she also accomplished as a mother, while fulfilling an unprecedented career in law and upholding justice. The life she led paved the way for women to break the glass ceiling of gender norms.

She was an inspiration for many with her outspoken, yet thoughtful, nature. She advocated for women everywhere to have “a seat at the table.” In Ginsburg’s case, male co-workers tried to exclude her from the world of politics because of her gender.

This continues today, for women everywhere, and is especially difficult for those of us who want to enter the male-dominated world of government and law.

Ginsburg showed us that it’s possible to challenge these “norms.”

Despite the fear of who will physically fill her seat in the coming months, Ginsburg left the seat open to women across the country. While it may not be in the Supreme Court, we as women have the opportunity to have a seat at a table full of men, a seat that Ginsburg worked tirelessly to secure.

She showed us how to dissent in the courtroom and in life. Ginsburg proved that women do not have to follow along

RUTH BADER

GINSBURG 1933-2020

A Seat at the Table: An Ode to the Notorious R.B.G.

blindly with the majority, or with men. We are entitled to our opinions and choices, and no one is allowed to take that right away from us.

While the future of our democracy should not rest in the hands of one person, Ginsburg seemed like our last standing member of the Supreme Court who actively fought against gender discrimination. In a case from July 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that employers can refuse to provide birth control coverage for employees on the basis of religious or moral objections.

The vote was 7-2, with Ginsburg in the minority opinion. Losing an advocate for women’s rights like Ginsburg is detrimental to the U.S. Upon learning of Ginsburg’s passing, women across the nation mourned her death and are fearful they may lose their rights. Ginsburg passed the torch to us. It is our job to continue to defend not only our rights as women, but social justice as a whole in the U.S. I am thankful to bear witness to such a powerhouse of a woman serve as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Ginsburg not only taught us what it means to be a feminist, but inspired me and many other women pursuing a legal career to uphold the pillars of our democracy that are constantly threatened.

Community reactions to Ginsburg’s death “She was a champion of the law. I really looked up to her. She was one of the reasons I am pursuing politics and law. I am afraid of what the future could look like for body autonomy if the Supreme Court is all conservative judges. I guess time will tell.”

- Megan Piasecki ’22, pre-law student “My life, as well as the lives of so many Americans, is so much better because of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She had a vision of a society in which equality and fairness existed, and through her legal advocacy, brilliant strategizing, and judicial rulings, R.B.G. helped to make the U.S. a more perfect union.

I hope we realize that with her passing under the current circumstances, this legacy, this ‘normal,’ is under threat.

Women and men alike need to recognize just what R.B.G. helped accomplish and what is at stake today. She’d be the first to say that we still have more work to do to reach equality for all, particularly because gender intersects with race, class, sexuality and other identity markers. Thank you, R.B.G. I am so grateful to you and very saddened by your death.”

- Lisa Baglione, Ph.D., political science professor

Opinions

The Hawk Newspaper

“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg proved to the world that women can do it all. The U.S. cannot be a democracy if one leader’s death can change our country’s course.

Tomorrow and everyday, I will wake up and only attempt to do an ounce of what Ruth Bader Ginsburg did for the world.

Thank you, Justice Ginsburg. I am forever indebted to you.”

- Maddie Demarco ’22, political science student, Women’s Leadership Initiative co-president “Justice Ginsburg affected my life, teaching and scholarship. She was an eloquent advocate for reproductive rights based on equality, not privacy. Her defense of voting rights for Black Americans - the dissent in Shelby v. Holder - is, for me, the best of what the U.S. has to offer: well-evidenced claims based on history presented in clear, unwavering prose. She was one of the most intelligent, well-prepared, and incisive justices in U.S. Supreme Court history.”

- Susan Liebell, Ph.D., associate professor of political science and pre-law advisor

ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’23/THE HAWK

Life of R.B.G. 1933

Born in Brooklyn, New York.

1954

Graduated from Cornell University.

1959 Research associate and associate director of Project of International Procedure at Columbia Law School.

Professor at Rutgers University School of Law.

Appointed Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Ginsburg famously dissented from the Supreme Court’s decision, which ended up making it more difficult for workers to sue their employers over allegations of wage discrimination.

1961

Sources: CNN and Fortune

Law clerk to a judge in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

1963

1972

(’72-’80) Professor at Columbia Law School. First woman to be hired with tenure at Columbia Law School. (’73-’80) Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences in Stanford, California.

1980

(’77-’78) General counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.

1993

Sworn in as U.S. Supreme Court justice, filling the seat formerly held by Justice Byron White.

1996

2002 2007 2010 2015

Ginsburg is selected as this year’s recipient of the National Constitution Center’s Liberty Medal “for her efforts to advance liberty and equality for all.”

Graduated from Columbia Law School.

2016

2020

In United States v. Virginia, Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion of VMI’s male-only admissions policy being unconstitutional. This would serve as a milestone for women’s rights.

Received the American Bar Association medal, the highest honor given by the association.

In Obergefell v. Hodges, Ginsburg’s vote helped overturn the marriage bans and legalize same-sex marriage in every U.S. state.

In Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, Ginsburg argued that “it is beyond rational belief that H.B.2 could genuinely protect the health of women, and certain that the law would simply make it more difficult for them to obtain abortions.”

Died from complications of pancreatic cancer in her home in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18 at age 87.

Features

The Hawk Newspaper

Sept. 23, 2020

7

Matriarch of Bill’s Market to move from 63rd St. RYAN MULLIGAN ’21 Managing Editor At Bill’s Market on 63rd St., after you squeeze through the door under the unassuming green and yellow sign, you’re sure to be met with the aroma of freshly made sandwiches and hear your name announced by Kimey Moon, the matriarch of Bill’s Market, before you’re even inside.

After 16 years of filling students’ stomachs, Kimey Moon decided to pursue her dream of owning a restaurant.

Although she’s known around Hawk Hill for her overstuffed sandwiches, Kimey Moon’s new restaurant KORI, located in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, features Korean-American barbecue food, a cuisine she has a background in and a passion for. KORI opened the third week of July, but Kimey Moon did not leave her post behind the Bill’s Market counter until last week.

As excited as Kimey Moon, affectionately known as ‘Miss Kimey’ among St. Joe’s students, is for her new opportunity, leaving a community she was so deeply involved in will not be easy.

“No matter where you go, you have to make friends,” Kimey Moon said. “It doesn’t matter how much experience you have, you have to make a friend. So, I’ve been here 16 years, I made a lot of friends and that makes me feel so special. They graduate, get married and come back to see me.”

Kimey Moon saw her market as a way to help people and support the community.

She said if a group of kids came in and one didn’t buy anything because they didn’t have money, she’d say “Don’t worry, pay me later when you make money.”

Bill’s Market was known for its affordability, something Kimey Moon did because she knows the struggles of making ends meet as a college student. She said helping people was always her priority.

“Sometimes for people [it’s] too much [about] business and making money,” Kimey Moon said. “But, I don’t feel that way.

I try to keep [the prices] the lowest I can.

I don’t want to be [about] me all the time.

Money’s not everything. I wish I could help them more, but sometimes I can’t.”

For Stephen O’Malley ’22, a regular at Bill’s Market, he wanted to help her by giving her business because he saw how hard she worked to help others. This was indicative of how so many St. Joe’s students saw their relationship with ‘Miss Kimey.’ O’Malley said Kimey Moon was not just a welcoming face behind his favorite food, but also a friend and a light in the often stressful lives of college students.

“If I knew at some point in my day I was heading over to Kimey’s, I knew that’d be the highlight,” O’Malley said. “It went beyond food, it was more about helping out a genuine and nice local business woman.”

O’Malley, whose go-to order was a cheesesteak and fries, said Kimey Moon would hear his voice on the phone and already know what she was about to put on the grill. But it was actually walking into Bill’s Market that made it special.

“Just hearing the words ‘Mr. Steve’ when I walked through the door was the coolest thing ever,” O’Malley said.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Kimey Moon is on a first name basis with most Hawks, both current and former.

That was her trademark. Whether you were in Bill’s Market every day or had just followed friends there once, she’d ask for your name and, without fail, would remember it. Kimey Moon said that for most college kids, it’s their first time being away from

Long-time owner of Bill’s Market, Kimey Moon, left her post last week. PHOTOS: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

home, and she needed to give them a sense of comfort.

“I feel like they trust me and I trust them,” Kimey Moon said. “I like to make them [feel at] home. I try to make it comfortable for them.”

Michelle Raccuglia ’04, who went to Bill’s Market at least once a week while at St. Joe’s, said Kimey Moon “treated all the college students like her own children.”

“To me, because I know everybody individually, you get to know them like they’re my son and daughter,” Kimey Moon said.

Kimey Moon’s daughter, Michelle Moon, was happy to consider everyone who frequented Bill’s Market her siblings and said it is difficult leaving the community behind.

“It’s like moving away from family,” Michelle Moon said. “St. Joe’s and the community of West Philly has been our family for so many years and we are so grateful we were able to be given the opportunity to be a part of it throughout the years.”

Bill’s Market will continue to stay open and feed the needs of college students as well as the Overbrook community under new ownership. However, without Kimey’s iconic face behind the counter, a void will be left in the community.

“She will be missed from that neighborhood, and honestly, I’m sad for the St. Joe’s kids living on 63rd without her,” said Kate Jennings ’11, who visited Bill’s Market a few times a week as a college student. “We would have starved without Kimey.”

Kimey Moon’s impact extended beyond St. Joe’s. Michaela Lofton, who graduated from Drexel University, said she met Kimey Moon through her boyfriend, Markell Lodge ’19, who frequented Bill’s Market.

“She was the sweetest and most reliable person ever,” Lofton said. “She always made me laugh and always had my order ready, making going to class and work so much easier. We will be visiting her restaurant.”

KORI displays keepsakes from Kimey Moon’s time at St. Joe’s, with a wall in the front lobby dedicated to photos of St. Joe’s and newspaper clippings, a way Michelle Moon said, “to create a space sharing memories of our roots.”

The wall is representative of the bittersweet transition. Kimey Moon already misses the camaraderie she built with so many people in the St. Joe’s community and had a message for St. Joe’s students.

“I’m wishing them lots of luck and to be safe,” Kimey Moon said. “I’m going to miss all of them. Hopefully they come to KORI and stop by once in a while, but I’m going to miss them.”

For so many St. Joe’s students, as well as for the Moons, Bill’s Market was more than a sandwich shop and convenience store.

Kimey Moon was more than just the person behind the delicious food.

“I love you guys,” Kimey Moon said. “I love this place.”

KORI is located at 709 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, Pennsylvania and is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Bill’s Market will continue to stay open under new ownership.

Kimey Moon opened a new Korean-American barbeque restauarant, KORI, in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

8 Sept. 23, 2020

The Hawk Newspaper

Features

CineHawk Review: “The Devil All the Time” JAYLEN DOTSON ’ 21 Columnist “The Devil All the Time,” adapted from the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock, is a violent, unflinching character study of the bizarre and compelling inhabitants of a small town in the Midwest.

Written and directed by Antonio Campos, the film features an ensemble cast including Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke and Sebastian Stan.

Set primarily in Knockemstiff, Ohio, the first part of the film takes a cue from the stylings of Christopher Nolan, unfolding its nonlinear narrative in various points between 1945-1957. It is here the film begins its exploration of one of its primary themes: religious fanaticism.

Portrayed by Skarsgård, World War II Marine Willard Russell returns from the war hoping to build a normal life away from the horrors of his past. He settles down with a waitress from Meade, Ohio named Charlotte Russell, played by Haley Bennett, and

has a child named Arvin, played by Tom Holland. Skarsgård’s performance brings a slow-burning intensity, matching the suspenseful tone of the film and making Skarsgård compelling to watch.

However, Willard’s wartime experience left indelible scars on his psyche, stemming from an incident when his platoon came across a crucified and scalped sergeant on the Solomon Islands, which forced Willard to mercifully, and violently, end the sergeant’s suffering. This leads to the film’s most enduring image: a makeshift cross in the woods where Willard takes his young son to pray.

At the same time, Knockemstiff is visited by a pair of traveling preachers: the eccentric, animated Roy Laferty, played by Harry Melling, and his wheelchair-bound cousin Theodore. In contrast to Skarsgård’s quiet rage, Melling makes the most out of every moment of screentime, embodying the “ranting zealot” with reckless abandon.

Laferty’s faith is as absolute as Willard’s, and he also finds himself married with a young child named Lenora.

While they are quite different men, the film deftly weaves together Willard’s and Laferty’s narratives through their fanatic

ILLUSTRATION: CASEY WOOD ’ 23/THE HAWK

devotion to their faith. When Willard’s wife Charlotte is diagnosed with incurable cancer, he and his son pray desperately for God to cure her, even going as far as to “sacrifice” the family dog. However, this act does nothing to prevent the inevitable, and Charlotte soon passes away.

After an injury results in him staying in a closet for two weeks, Laferty’s obsessive faith metastasizes into full-blown delusion, which leads to horrifying consequences for his young family. No matter how much devotion and commitment both of these men put into their faith, their ultimate rewards are tragic, violent ends.

This section also introduces us to the traveling, seemingly mild-mannered couple of Carl and Sandy Henderson, played

by Clarke and Keough. The duo’s natural affability easily earns the trust of the hitchhikers they pick up, and masks their true homicidal tendencies. Like Willard and Laferty, Carl longs to feel God in his life, a desire that, as with the former two, is satisfied through violence.

For the rest of the film, Campos returns the story to a more linear progression, with the now teenage Arvin struggling to live a normal life with his grandparents and adopted sister Lenora, played by Eliza Scanlen, while coming to terms with the lingering trauma of his childhood.

Holland and Scanlen bring their characters, as well as their rapport, to life through their shared childhood tragedies, making the audience invested in their survival, even as the film’s bleak, almost nihilistic tone all but ensures that it is impossible.

Of course, even in a supportive role, Robert Pattinson completely steals the show as the manipulative Reverend Preston Teagardin, with an utterly surreal screen presence that almost renders all of the surrounding set and characters invisible whenever he speaks.

Campos’ direction creates a near constant sense of hopelessness and paranoia.

He gives Knockemstiff a very distinctive identity. An old, run-down set design and the obscenity laden dialogue of the residents create the sense of a fallen, corrupt little town. The violence that is depicted in the film is not overly stylized. Rather than prolonged sequences of gore and screaming, the violence is instead disturbing and realistic, often occurring when the audience is least expecting it.

The film’s score, composed by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, delicately weaves calm and chaos.

Finally, the film pulls off a rare feat and makes great use of narration. While some segments of the film could benefit from some ambiguity and permission to speak for themselves, the classic Western voiceover, provided by the novel's original author, Pollock himself, adds depth and authenticity to many of the scenes that leaves a far more enduring impact on the viewer.

“The Devil All the Time” presents a suspenseful, provocative, character-driven cautionary tale about the obsession of finding or assigning meaning in a random, chaotic world. The tragedies that this obsession can motivate is brought to life by the powerhouse performances of its ensemble cast.

Rating: 9/10 Hawks

Bridget Quinn discusses her book about women suffragist artists NENAGH SHEEHAN ’21 Assistant Features Editor Bridget Quinn, author of “She Votes: How U.S. Women Won Suffrage and What Happened Next,” held a virtual discussion open to St. Joe’s students, faculty, and staff on Sept. 17 about the women’s suffrage movement.

Quinn displayed suffragists’ art over Zoom. Quinn said art is an ideal way to understand every major social, biographical, political and economic event of a generation. She includes pieces of art throughout her book.

Quinn’s book features 100 women artists throughout history that were part of the women’s suffrage movement. Examples ranged from Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Audre Lorde, and from the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation to the first woman to wear pants on the Senate floor.

The book is also a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

“Art itself is the best way to summarize that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ idea,” Quinn said.

Kim Allen-Stuck, Ph.D., assistant vice president of Student Success & Educational Support, said because Quinn’s book came out in August 2020 and coincides with the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the U.S., it was the perfect time to invite her to St. Joe’s.

“I thought the images helped tell the

Bridget Quinn discusses Ida B. Wells over Zoom.

story about progression in the women’s suffrage movement,” Allen-Stuck said. “I left feeling, as a woman, how important it is to vote because of all the women who fought so hard to get me the right to vote.”

Camille Valmonte-Zapata ’23 said the event showed her the important role art played in the history of feminism and women’s suffrage.

“I learned about more than just the ‘standard’ women’s suffrage leaders like Elizabeth Cady Stanton,” Valmonte-Zapata said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM ALLEN-STUCK

“Bridget Quinn shines an intersectional light on the feminist movement, emphasizing leaders of minority backgrounds that are less discussed.”

In the Zoom session, Quinn explained how white suffragists ignored the needs of Black suffragists.

“I think this is an important story in the unfolding of suffrage and white feminism because it shows what would become a recurring problem in the suffrage movement,” Quinn said.“That is, those white suffragists

treating Black suffragists with little regard, and certainly not as equals. History proves this again and again.”

Sophia Albano ’21, said she gained a deeper understanding of the experiences of suffragists.

“The conversation that resonated with me was about The Suffragist Statue,” Albano said. “This is a statue that portrays Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott, who were suffragists in the 1800s.

This beautiful portrait monument was hidden in a basement for 75 years until 1997, not too long ago.”

Quinn said she hopes attendees walk away understanding the importance of voting. Women must make their voices heard.

“Right now, in the current system we have, voting is how we make our voices heard in every level of society, from your town and state to the entire country,” Quinn said. “Young people are especially unlikely to vote, and that’s a crime because the planet needs the energy and vision of youth.”

Features

The Hawk Newspaper

Sept. 23, 2020

9

Student organizations adjust to virtual and socially distant events ELAINA WALL ’21 Assistant Features Editor St. Joe’s health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 altered how student clubs and organizations are holding meetings and events this semester.

Organizations were asked to meet virtually for at least the fall 2020 semester, according to Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D., director of Student Leadership & Activities.

Jessica Atoo ’21, president of Bridging the Gap (BTG), an organization that aims to celebrate diversity on campus and create a more accepting environment, said the club is holding executive board and general member meetings online, but it’s difficult to engage with members through the computer.

“It’s challenging to connect with everyone because there’s only so much you can do on Zoom,” Atoo said. “We played Kahoot in one of our last meetings and have been more active on social media to try to connect with everyone, but it’s still hard.”

Stella González ’21, president of the Latino Student Association (LSA), said she felt unprepared to handle the new protocols for clubs.

“I think for everyone it is just something really new and everyone has to adapt really quickly,” González said. “For me, planning events is pretty difficult, and now I have to keep guidelines in mind, it’s making it a bit harder.”

González said one benefit of meeting virtually is that more students, on and off campus, are able to attend meetings regularly.

“It’s definitely more accessible for stu-

Irish Dance Club’s past performance in The Perch. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

dents, especially if you forget, or might have found out last minute, because you can just log into the Zoom [call] and join,” González said.

Organizations are also encouraged to plan outdoor meetings and events, as long as they follow COVID-19 guidelines, which are based on guidelines set by the Philadelphia Department of Health. However, there is no expectation to have a large gathering of people anywhere on campus, according to Hagovsky.

“Outdoor events must require masks, follow the guidelines for limits of how many people can be at events and be socially distant,” Hagovsky said. “We want there to be no contact or as little contact as possible.”

Maggie Rose Flynn ’22, president of the Irish Dance Club, said the club held practic-

es outside while social distancing and wearing masks.

“We weren’t sure if we would be able to practice outside, so it was a challenge to come up with ways that we can make Irish Dance Club work over Zoom or online,” Flynn said. “Being able to have practices outside with masks on and social distancing has been the best.”

Other organizations are also taking advantage of outdoor spaces. BTG and LSA are collaborating to host an outdoor movie showing of “Instructions Not Included” on Sept. 30 on Villiger Lawn.

Atoo said collaborating with other organizations allows BTG to “connect with more people on campus” while the new guidelines are in place.

Despite outdoor practices working well

so far, Flynn said she is nervous that the rest of the semester will be moved online, which would keep the Irish Dance Club from being able to practice in person.

“We’re definitely taking it week by week, keeping up with the [protocols] and trying to keep everybody healthy,” Flynn said.

Atoo said she would be disappointed if BTG’s events couldn’t be held in person at some point, but she is not worried about the potential transition.

“We’ll just reassess and move our events online if that happens,” Atoo said. “At the end of the day health and safety for everyone is way more important than any event.”

Olivia Robinson ’22 contributed to this story.

Waste trends on campus increase due to COVID-19 protocols GIANA LONGO ’22 Features Editor Health and safety protocols regarding food packing and sanitation implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are creating increased waste on campus.

“The nature of our safety measures, grab-and-go dining, wipes, disposable masks, paper towels, etc., have strained the container capacity,” Ken Ogawa, executive director of the Office of Facilities Management, wrote in an email to The Hawk.

The grab-and-go disposable dining containers contribute to the increased waste on campus. All meals are now pre-portioned into recyclable or biodegradable containers, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to Kevin Bargeron, marketing manager of Aramark at St. Joe’s. All utensils are also recyclable.

However, the containers are often not broken down before disposal, contributing to the noncompressible waste problem, Ogawa wrote.

“In addition to placing material in the correct container, we really need the community to ensure cardboard boxes are broken down before being placed in a recycling container to save space,” Ogawa said.

In addition to disposable dining containers, sanitizing wipes are also contributing to the increased waste on campus, Ogawa said. According to the Hawk Hill Ready Plan, each classroom on campus is stocked with at least one reusable tub of 180 cleaning wipes, which students and faculty are asked

Recyclable grab-and-go containers in trash can on campus. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

to use upon entering a classroom. Ogawa said over the past two weeks there were, on average, 20-25 tub exchanges per day, five days per week, which significantly affects waste volume.

“It is more of a volume issue than an amount or weight issue,” Ogawa said. “We are generating a lot of light, bulky trash like paper towels.”

Bargeron said he acknowledged the increased amount of waste from COVID-19 protocols.

“We are keenly aware of the amount of disposable item waste we are generating and how to balance that with improving our carbon footprint,” Bargeron said.

Meg Kloss ’19, a former University Student Senate member, is a strong supporter of reducing personal impact on waste production. She said she supports the protocols the university is following to keep everyone safe, but she thinks students can do a lot to help the impact.

“You have to care, and you have to have a basic understanding of the effects of waste, because if you don’t see the effects then you're not going to be motivated to change your habits that contribute to it,” Kloss said.

Reducing one’s personal waste looks different for everyone, and Kloss said it is a journey for each individual. Nevertheless, the outcome of bettering the community is the same.

“One person really does make a difference if everyone chooses one area of waste to focus on,” Kloss said.

10

Sept. 23, 2020

The Hawk Newspaper

Sports

Men’s and women’s basketball teams learn start date for season TYLER NICE ’23 Assistant Sports Editor On Sept. 16, the NCAA Division I Council announced the first contest date for the 2020-21 college basketball season as Nov. 25, which is 15 days after the original start date of Nov. 10.

According to NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt, the NCAA decided to push the date back in the best interest of the health and safety of student-athletes. However, practices can begin as early as Oct. 14.

Senior Captain Mary Sheehan said she is ecstatic to represent St. Joe’s for another season.

“I’m just super excited to have the opportunity to be around my teammates, my coaches and be on that court with ‘St. Joe’s’ across my chest,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan said she could recall the moment when she found out about the NCAA’s decision and the joy that accompanied it.

“Everyone in our team group chat was super pumped,” Sheehan said.

The dates of the first contests for the St. Joe’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are still unknown at this time of this print. Sheehan said that the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore already pulled out of their scheduled games against the women’s team, as the Ivy League and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conferences postponed all sports until 2021.

Brendan Straughn, assistant coach for the

men’s basketball team, said the players, who form a uniquely blended roster of veterans, transfers and first-years, will get a chance to connect when team practices commence and off-the-court social time increases.

“Chemistry is enhanced with practice and everyday life,” Straughn said. “The complications of COVID-19 have limited the interactions our players have had off the court from last year to this year. But, they’re a great group of young men and they look forward to competing together this season.”

Josh Verlin, owner and editor of the Philadelphia basketball blog City of Basketball Love, said that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the college basketball season could change.

“Obviously, at any point, anything is subject to change based on things happening,” Verlin said. “That’s the nature of the pandemic we’re in, it’s a constantly changing situation, and nobody has all of the answers, including the NCAA.” Verlin said he believes that as the NCAA sees other sports returning to action somewhat successfully, it will face pressure to return to action from colleges and universities that want to earn money, as well as student-athletes that want to play.

However, as this pressure mounts, more and more protocols will have to be adapted to ensure the safety of the players and prevent outbreaks. According to Bleacher Report, the three active Power Five football leagues—the

ACC, Big 12, and SEC—are currently conducting three tests a week: two antigen tests and one PCR test. As of now, Straughn said that testing procedures have not been implemented for the St. Joe’s basketball teams.

Despite many unknown variables, Sheehan said she trusts herself, her teammates and the slow progression towards normal practices mandated by the Atlantic 10 and NCAA to make sure the season is safe.

“We started out by ourselves at a basket,

without a coach, then we were able to have a coach with us rebounding, and then playing one-on-one,” Sheehan said. “It’s been going well, so I can see the different phases working.”

As far as how the schedule will look, Straughn said St. Joe’s will play some semblance of nonconference contests in November and December.

“It won’t be as many games as years past,” Straughn said. “We still have some hurdles in the road, but we do have dates.”

Senior Mary Sheehan lines up to shoot a three-pointer. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

Sports

The Hawk Newspaper

Sept. 23, 2020

11

NFL should not allow spectators at games this fall MATT MIKESIC ’21 Columnist

Foggie previously played for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and served as the director of women’s basketball operations. PHOTO: LESLIE QUAN ’23/THE HAWK

Athletics department announces new diversity, equity and inclusion plan RILEY FRAIN ’21 Sports Editor SJU Athletics announced a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan on Sept. 14 to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the department.

The four-part plan includes an SJU Athletics voting campaign for the 2020 election, an athletics leadership academy, a diversity and inclusion curriculum and the addition of a diversity, equity and inclusion section on sjuhawks.com. It will serve as a complement to the university’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Overview, which was issued in July and August 2020. This serves as “a road map for all constituents on how SJU Athletics will foster a diverse and inclusive environment,” according to the action plan.

Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner, J.D., said this new plan, “is among the most important initiatives of my relatively brief tenure at St. Joe’s.”

“A part that I’m really excited about is to get to know each other better,” Bodensteiner said. “During these dialogues some LGBTQ members on our staff have said ‘How much better could I make a student-athlete’s life if they knew my LGBTQ story?’”

Bodensteiner said she is grateful for the hard work that Christina Foggie, director of special projects, did to spearhead the new initiative for the athletics department. “[Foggie] brought it all together,” Bodensteiner said. “Sometimes you can feel like there’s a million things on a white board and someone’s got to pull it together into a plan. That’s really [Foggie].”

Foggie said this action plan is not just key for the athletic department, but should also impact everyone at St. Joe’s. “[This action plan] is extremely important for anyone who is going to be a part of St. Joe’s athletics,” Foggie said. “But we wanted a plan that was for anyone who is considered a ‘Hawk,’ and to be a ‘Hawk’ is anyone that’s a student-athlete, faculty, staff, fan and alumni.”

Another member of the action plan’s working group is John Hampton, assistant head coach of the St. Joe’s women’s basketball team. Hampton said a lot of student-athletes helped to formulate this plan.

“You have to love these young people,” Hampton said. “They’re brave, they’re courageous, and they have a lot of confidence.

The biggest thing that stood out to me was their fearlessness to speak up, being very

passionate about creating change in their own programs and wanting to learn more.”

But for Hampton, and many other coaches, faculty and student-athletes on the working group, to be a part of these conversations and see the changes in culture is incredible to see.

“It has been great to be a part of those conversations,” Hampton said. “The one thing that has been underestimated is [the athletics department’s] ability to communicate these sensitive and emotional topics.

And bringing that back to their teams so they can ultimately grow and learn how to work together during these tough times.”

While the action plan is vital to set guidelines for inclusion and diversity throughout the athletics department, Bodensteiner said it comes down to the hard work that everyone must do to implement these best practices.

“No plan is going to create a welcoming environment [for all student-athletes] unless the people do the work,” Bodensteiner said. “It starts with educating one another and being willing to have open and difficult conversations.”

Leading up to the start of the 2020 NFL season, each team came up with their own plan for spectators in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

While the majority of teams are not allowing fans to attend games for at least the first two or three home games, the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars allowed fans to attend games at limited capacity from week one.

Despite upholding limited capacity and strict safety protocols, it is still too dangerous to allow fans to attend games.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus can easily spread in large crowds. Currently, some organizations like the Indianapolis Colts are only allowing 2,500 spectators at home games, which is a very small number compared to the Chiefs and Jaguars who are allowing approximately 16,000 spectators.

The more fans teams allow in a stadium, the higher the chance that the virus will spread, no matter the size of the stadium. Regardless of how many spectators each team decides to let into the stadium, no one should be allowed in because the threat of spreading the virus is too great.

Unfortunately, a fan who attended the Chiefs’ home opener tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after being at the game.

However, only 10 fans were told to quarantine after the game.

While only having one reported case out of almost 16,000 fans in attendance is impressive, what happened in Kansas City during week one can easily happen in every crowded stadium on a much greater scale.

Of course, more teams are going to start allowing fans to attend games after seeing the Chiefs’ and Jaguars’ successes.

The Chiefs’ and Jaguars’ home openers proved that teams are capable of hosting fans safely and without any major incidents occurring.

Despite the lack of major outbreaks so far, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a possibility for one to occur. All it takes is one significant outbreak to spread the virus in a city across the country. While it is possible to have spectators at NFL games in limited quantities this season, the NFL should follow the example of the majority of its franchises and not allow spectators to attend games.

12

Sports

The Hawk Newspaper

Sept. 23, 2020

Training in the age of COVID-19: men’s soccer CHRISTOPHER KLINE ’23 Hawk Staff When the coronavirus pandemic led to the cancelation of spring sports in March, the St. Joe’s men’s soccer team didn’t expect it would impact their fall 2020 season.

But after the Atlantic 10 (A-10) voted to postpone fall sports to spring 2021, the team returned to practice to prepare for an unexpected spring season.

Under the university’s COVID-19 Athletics Health and Safety Plan, soccer is listed as a “High Risk” contact sport, which emphasizes the importance of following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines, according to senior midfielder and captain Aidan Watkins.

“It’s strictly enforced,” Watkins said.

“Even after sprinting for a straight hour, if we try and touch our masks [to take them off] the coaches and trainers reiterate to keep the masks on. They’ve been doing a great job.”

From a coaching perspective, the team is taking the guidelines seriously. Head Coach Don D’Ambra said the team has a zero tolerance policy for violating CDC guidelines.

“We’re being pretty stern,” D’Ambra said. “The kids know how serious this situation is. If they don’t want to follow it, they don’t have to be a part of the program.”

D’Ambra said the St. Joe’s men’s soccer team is monitoring other universities’ guidelines and constantly updating their own guidelines to ensure the safety of their athletes.

“I like the protocol the school set in place,” D’Ambra said. “It’s very conservative, which makes the kids feel safer. You just have to look at how other schools handled it, we’re doing it differently and it’s working well. These kids understand the situation they’re in, they see what’s happening to other schools and they want to play.”

Sanitation and cleaning protocols are a crucial part of St. Joe’s plan to keep athletes safe. Every training and practice area inside and outside of the Michael J. Hagan Arena ’85 are cleaned regularly, according to junior goalie Kyle Allan.

“Even in the weight room, everything is

St. Joe’s men’s soccer is required to follow new training protocols. PHOTOS: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK

wiped down and sanitized in between uses,” Allan said. “They’re looking out for us and it’s super safe.”

The team is divided into “pods,” where they practice with a small group of student-athletes to limit potential exposure to COVID-19. They’re scheduled at different times of the day for different stations, including weight training and field training, according to Watkins.

“Right now we’re broken into a few pods based on where we live.” Watkins said.

“I practice with mostly seniors, the juniors practice with each other and the freshmen and sophomores work with each other. Our pods stay six feet apart, but right now, we’re able to practice with some contact.”

The team is restricted to just these pods,

Teams train in “pods” in order to limit potental exposure to COVID-19.

meaning they cannot practice or play a full game. Many of the upperclassmen have yet to meet their newest teammates.

“It’s a little limiting,” Allan said. “We can’t incorporate everything that we wanted to, especially with not being able to practice or work with the freshmen.”

Although the team has very limited contact outside of their pods, Watkins said they communicate through group chats and social media.

“Surprisingly we’re communicating even more than we thought,” Watkins said.

As of Sept. 16, the NCAA and A-10 approved a spring 2021 season for a few fall sports that were postponed, including men’s soccer. The season will start in early February and finish in late April, with a tourna-

ment and championship stretching into May. “We’re taking this one step at a time,” D’Ambra said. “A spring season is very good for us. We just have to take this one step at a time.”

Watkins said the news of a spring season excited student-athletes, who were uncertain if they would be able to play at all this year.

“We’re very hopeful,” Watkins said. “I don’t think me or anyone else on the team would have thought we’d be where we are now.

We’re excited to play and compete again.”

Student-athletes are required to wear masks during practices.