The Equinox 3/12/20

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THE EQUINOX The student voice of Keene State College

Vol. 73, Issue #21

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Consulting firm coming to campus

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KSC plans for coronavirus

RACHEL VITELLO

News editor

RACHEL VITELLO

News editor

» SEE HURON, A3

China and Italy this past month both declared that they are in level 3 alerts for the Coronavirus, meaning that people are encouraged to avoid all nonessential travel as well as to avoid contact with any sick people at all costs in addition to being encouraged to wash their hands with strong alcohol based soap.

GRIFFIN ELL / ART DIRECTOR

As more cases of the virus are confirmed, the college prepares to keep campus healthy RACHEL VITELLO

News editor The 2019 novel coronavirus, known officially as COVID-19, was first identified in Wuhan, China in early January. As of today, there are more than 113,000 cases of the disease worldwide.

Italy, South Korea, China, Iran and Venezuela are all on alert Level 3 by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), meaning that it is highly recommended that everyone avoids nonessential travel to these countries. KSC has put together a Pandemic Response Team, which is made up of multiple key people representing a variety of areas across campus. Executive Director of the Wellness Center Brian Quigley is the commander of the team.

In response to the epidemic, Keene State College also made the decision to bring all four students currently studying abroad in Italy back to the U.S. KSC President Melinda Treadwell said this was a precautionary measure to ensure the students would be able to get home safely.

“By the time [Italy] went to a Level 3, I wanted to make sure that we got [the students] out of there so there was no chance the country would have no travel and they would be trapped there for some time. We expect the virus to extend,” Treadwell said.

Treadwell said that similar measures could be enacted for KSC students studying abroad in other countries if those countries get to a Level 3.

However, the college is also taking into account the risk of travelling itself.

“We’re looking at our overseas students and looking very carefully at what those levels are. If it’s at Level 2 and looks like it will go to Level 3, we’ll be bringing students home,” Treadwell said. “My first and foremost priority is our students. Putting them on a plane and a bus creates its own risk. If they’re safe in an area and the contagion around them seems under control, limited in scale or not immediate, then it’s better to let them stay.”

As for how those students’ studies will be impacted by their study abroad being cut short, Director of Strategic Communications and Community Relations Kelly Ricaurte said their credits should not be affected.

“There’s an agreement with the institution in Italy where they were located to complete their credits and classes remotely so that they can

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finish their studies from home and they’ll receive full credit. The expenses of their early return were also covered by Keene State,” Ricaurte said.

“They’ve been asked to remain off campus for 14 days because that is the amount of time it takes for symptoms to occur. They can come to campus after that if they want to, but their studies don’t require them to be on campus.”

Also in response to the outbreak, an email was sent out to all KSC students on Tuesday, March 3, asking any students, faculty or staff planning on travelling over the course of spring break to fill out a form with their travel information. The form asked for the dates of travel, any locations being travelled to and the date the individual will return to campus. In addition to this, any official group college trips planned to locations that have a travel health notice of Level 3 or 4 from either the CDC or the U.S. Department of State will be canceled until the disease is no longer a threat.

“We anticipate, given the rapidness of things, that if there were another region identified with a travel alert, we would want to make sure that we were [well-planned] in being able to identify who individuals may be and making sure we’re thoughtful about their return to the states and also to campus,” Quigley said. “The registration form [is] our mechanism to be able to do that. If four people within our community go to Greece, for example (which we hope they do at the current time because there hasn’t been a travel alert), but in the next 48 hours we find out information from the CDC that the country has now elevated to a Level 3, we at least now can make some arrangements about how we respond and support those four people in the campus community.”

As for the possibility of the college being closed, Quigley said there is no way to predict the possibility of that. However, the Pandemic Response Team has a number of plans in place for any possibility.

“There’s a multitude of contingency plans that are in place and the role of the Pandemic Response Team is to stay ahead of those possibilities and have solutions or responses available as the situation changes,” Quigley said. “We are constantly monitoring by the minute changes to the circumstances. If there’s a domestic region that has some kind of travel alert issued, we would send that notification and the college’s response to that out immediately. The likelihood that something’s going to change, no one can say.

A4: Doing what must be done A8: Getta Loada Frog and Toad B1: Assistant professor brings peace B8: Sun sets, bats down

The likelihood of us responding to that change quickly, though, is 100 percent.”

The college is also being proactive right now to have quarantine plans in place and to keep campus healthy.

“In addition to the monitoring we’re doing, residential life is preparing for a scenario, if the virus was to make it to campus, to have an area where students could be quarantined and how to support those students in terms of meals and academic support,” Ricaurte said. “Our cleaning services across campus and in all of our buildings are focusing on using a disinfectant solution, which is a change from what they usually use. We’re focusing on areas where there’s a lot of high contact, like door handles and where a lot of people congregate.”

More information on COVID-19 and updates on how KSC is responding to it can be found on the college’s website at: www.keene.edu/office/ wellnesscenter/info-on-coronavirus/.

The four students who returned from Italy did not respond to request for comment.

Rachel Vitello can be contacted at rvitello@kscequinox.com

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If it's at Level 2 and looks like it will go to Level 3, we'll be bringing students home. My first and foremost priority is our students.

-Melinda Treadwell

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The three goals of Keene State College’s Sustainability and Vitality Plan are to improve recruitment, retention, and achievement of students, faculty, and staff, improve fiscal planning and stewardship and to rethink the college’s work as a student-centered organization. To help the college achieve these goals, KSC is partnering with Huron Consulting Group.

According to their website, Huron is “a global consultancy that collaborates with clients to drive strategic growth, ignite innovation and navigate constant change… [and] help[s] clients accelerate operational, digital and cultural transformation, enabling the change they need to own their future.” Huron has already worked with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) during the fall semester to help save costs, improve operations and to provide student experience recommendations. Plymouth State University will also be working with Huron this semester.

Chancellor for the University System of New Hampshire Todd Leach said that the hope for this partnership is to improve the student experience.

“What I can tell you is that it is very important to both President Treadwell and myself that we remain focused on supporting the best student experience we can,” Leach said. “The goal of the engagement is not to simply find efficiencies, but find opportunities to better align resources with those strategic investments that have the greatest potential to positively impact the student experience.”

What Huron will be doing on campus specifically is identifying areas where KSC could make improvements, give those suggestions and then leaders at KSC will decide which recommendations to move forward with.

KSC Chief Enrollment Manager MB Lufkin will be working as the liaison between the Strategic Advisory Team and the Cabinet.

The Strategic Advisory Team is going to help the Cabinet prioritize the recommendations from Huron.

“I’m also managing all of the data gathering from Huron,” Lufkin said. “I’ve been working with all the departments to identify and collect all the data Huron has requested. They’re going to be looking at any number of files, including how we use our facilities, how we schedule our classes, how we’re staffed, how we’re organized. They’re looking at information on admissions, on how we’re distributing our financial aid; all areas across the college.”

Cohen Center hires new director

The Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College will be welcoming a new endowed director, effective July 1 of this year. Dr. Peter McBride will be joining the Cohen Center as the new director this summer and will be bringing new goals and ideas for the center with him.

According to Dean of Mason Library Celia Rabinowitz, McBride’s background should serve him well in his role with the Cohen Center.

“He has spent most of his time in the last 15 years or so working with an organization in Ireland that provides mental health services, particularly for people in what we describe as a post-conflict society,” Rabinowitz said.

“All of Ireland was pretty traumatized, particularly Northern Ireland, so a lot of his academic background was in training about what are post-conflict society mental health issues. He’s provided the same kinds of services in Rwanda and South Sudan.”

Currently, McBride chairs two government committees: one on openness and candor in the health service and the other on historical clerical abuse. He also works directly with a number of senior executives and organizations providing coaching and mentoring.

“My own specialism is in postconflict mental health, and I have worked my whole career helping communities understand the impact trauma has on how they construct a view of reality and how that changes the way they see the ‘ other.’ I hope this additional expertise will add something to the work of the HGS department,” McBride said.

According to KSC President Melinda Treadwell, a major goal for the future of the Cohen Center is to be more recognizable at a number of levels.

“We set a very ambitious vision for becoming an international leader in the study of genocide prevention and really becoming a global presence with regard to our undergraduate and hopefully graduate program offerings,” Treadwell said.

McBride is already looking to this vision when it comes to his plans for the center.

“At a local level, the building itself will be busy, buzzing with a whole variety of different activities, where students and staff experience it as a helpful resource, helping them navigate some of the difficult challenges we face as a society,” McBride said. “At a national level, the Cohen Center will be visible, alongside other organizations, challenging the development of destructive and harmful policies and advocating for a humane reconciling future.

At an international level, the Cohen Center will be involved in

» SEE COHEN CENTER, A2

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News / A2

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Outstanding Women of New Hampshire honored

SAM REINKE / EQUINOX STAFF

From left to right, KSC President Melinda Treadwell holds honoree Liz Tentarelli’s award, while Keene City Clerk Patty Little, KSC student Victoria Bergstrom and KSC professor Judy Reed all hold their awards.

Women receive awards on anniversary of women’s right to vote TEDDY TAUSCHER

Equinox Staff On Thursday, March 5, on the anniversary of the women’s right to vote, the President’s Outstanding Women of New Hampshire award ceremony was held. The awards were given to four women in New Hampshire who have dedicated their time to voting rights and increasing voting turnout.

Keene State senior Victoria Bergstrom was the student recipient of the award for her work helping to increase voter turnout across the state and even across the globe. “Even though this year is an election year, there is one important thing to remember: we all have the ability to vote, but not everyone around the world has the ability to vote. Trying to fight for that will definitely be a fight. Even here in the United States, not everyone can vote,” Bergstrom said.

Keene State Professor Emeritus Dr. Judy Reed was the KSC faculty and staff awardee for her work on Project Home and others like it which help asylum seekers find a home in Keene.

“It’s taken the better part of my life time to fully realize that social change does not originate from a single great individual, whether male or female, or even a small group. Social change builds up from a foundation of a large number of ordinary people organizing together to struggle for change,” Reed said.

Patty Little was honored as the Monadnock Region awardee for 40

years of work as the Keene City Clerk and Chief Elections Officer. Program Manager for Academic Affairs at Keene State College Kim Schmidl-Gagne introduced Little.

“An entire career devoted to ensuring free and fair elections open to all,” said Schmidl-Gagne.

Little’s work includes organizing registration drives at nursing homes and educational institutions like Keene State College. “Even with all the challenges that come along with elections, they are really an important responsibility of the government, one that can directly change the lives of our citizens in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t matter much who you vote for, but rather the fact that you voted,” Little said.

Liz Tentarelli was given the State of New Hampshire award for her role as the president of the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire. Tentarelli was unable to come to the event, but had a video message for the crowd.

“Our members help new voters navigate the voter registration process.

We moderate candidate forums so that voters can meet and hear candidates in person. We study the issues that matter so that we can advocate in the legislature and inform the public,” Tentarelli said.

The event was introduced by associate Vice President for Diversity and Education Dottie Morris. Morris won the award in 2008.

“Here at Keene State College, we come together every year to honor our strong dedicated women at the college, regional and state levels. These women are working hard, right here in our communities and their lives are

COHEN CENTER

excited for the transition and to see new opportunities for the center moving forward. McBride is also looking forward to furthering the vision for the center.

“While I have lots of ideas and plans myself, the power of the Cohen Center will be its ability to draw together and convene groups of people who are passionate about challenging division, stigma, hatred, anti-Semitism and who want to work together to create mechanisms to promote peace and reconciliation,” McBride said. “I think of

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Teddy Tauscher can be contacted at ttauscher@kscequinox.com

Inspiring Conversations in Education conference

cont. from A1

those areas of the world where genocide is happening, or is likely to happen, working to ensure that victims and survivors get the best support that is possible, and working to prevent further atrocities.”

Specifically, McBride’s position will entail multiple responsibilities pertaining back to this goal.

“Some of the position is setting up the programming, the lectures that happen every year and some of the other activities that go on and thinking about some new ways we can do those activities,” Rabinowitz said. “He’ll be working with our advisory council, which is made up of faculty, staff, students and community members as people who help us connect out into the community, as well as with students in the HGS program and just with campus in general and fundraising on behalf of the center to expand the work the center’s doing.”

McBride is planning on letting the needs of the college, the center and the community inform decisions concerning the center.

“I am really excited about taking on this role and my plans start with a period of listening and learning about the needs and ambitions of the local community, the college faculty and students,” McBride said. “The Cohen Center is so perfectly placed right at the heart of the college, and I want to explore with everyone who is connected and interested how we might develop the role of the center over the coming months and years.”

Rabinowitz said that she is

making our world a better place for all of us,” Morris said.

Keene State President Melinda Treadwell also spoke at the event. “Their lives demonstrate for us the power of voice, of taking action and believing that meaningful and lasting change is possible in our democratic society,” Treadwell said.

Chair of the English Department at Keene State College Brinda Charry is on the committee that chooses who receives the award. “We look for people in the community who work toward the theme and this year was Women of the Vote. We looked for people who are really doing sustained work and providing leadership,” said Charry.

The award ceremony also included a musical performance by two current Keene State College students.

The ceremony marked the 30th anniversary of the award.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM PETER MCBRIDE

the Cohen Center as a haven where anyone can explore for themselves different and challenging ways of thinking and being.”

Rachel Vitello can be contacted at rvitello@kscequinox.com SAM REINKE / EQUINOX STAFF

On Saturday, March 7, the 8th annual Inspiring Conversations in Education (ICE) conference was held in Rhodes Hall. This full-day conference offered a variety of workshops for both current educators and education students at KSC. KSC alumni were also in attendance to exemplify how a KSC education can serve you in everyday life.

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

MoCo Arts makes the switch to solar power KELLY REGAN

Equinox Staff MoCo Arts opened the doors to its new building on Roxbury St. in August 2018. Before this move, MoCo Arts was located in what was once a machine shop on Railroad St. MoCo Arts is a nonprofit arts education organization located in downtown Keene run by Executive Director and Artistic Director of Dance Reagan Messer.

“MoCo’s mission of ‘transforming lives through movement and creative expression’ is achieved through the educational process. We welcome all students, wherever they are in their creative arts journey,” Messer said.

The new building features several sustainable building designs, including solar panels that cover the building’s roof. The building project was funded by a grant by a donor-advised fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Funding for MoCo is provided by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and other charitable organizations.

“The biggest thing that we have done is get a lot of our power through solar panels that we have installed on our roof,” Messer said. “We are seeing a tremendous saving in our energy use.”

The new building was designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly by KCS Architects.

KCS Architects is located in Keene and was founded in 2014 by Katie Sutherland.

“We always try to do as much as we can sustainably with these buildings to lower our carbon footprint for the longevity of all of our lives and for the longevity of the building,” Sutherland said.

KCS Architects tries to create long-lasting buildings by building sustainable, durable buildings that will offer flexibility as an organization changes over time.

“It’s important to do sustainable work; it’s for all of us and the health of our environment and planet,” Sutherland said.

“We worked very closely with KCS Architects when she designed this building,” Messer said. “Her company really did make a point of being energy efficient.”

The building location was chosen for maximum

solar gain, passive heating and daylight. KCS Architects focused on a plumbing design that uses lowflow, water-conservation type plumbing. The building is designed to have a high thermal resistance, which lowers the amount of work required from the building’s heating and cooling system.

“Probably the biggest thing we did with MoCo was create a really good building envelope. We put a lot of insulation on the building’s roof and walls. There was no place for colder weather to conduct inside,” Sutherland said. “That was one of the most effective things we did and that will probably lower their cost the most.”

“Not only are we producing a lot of our power by the solar panels, but the building itself is very efficient,” Messer said.

MoCo has been operating in the Keene area since 1991 and offers classes to a variety of different age groups. The organization offers dance and theater classes as well as camp sessions.

“We work hard to maintain a culture of inclusivity, acceptance and encouragement. All are welcome here and, through our tuition assistance program, many families who otherwise couldn’t afford the tuition are able to participate and experience the many benefits of high-quality arts education,” Messer said.

“This is part of our effort to build a sustainable studio, largely due to the cost saving and keeping in mind our part to reduce our carbon footprint,” Messer said.

Kelly Regan can be contacted at kregan@kscequinox.com

HENRY HOBSON / EQUINOX STAFF

STUDENT ASSEMBLY

HURON cont. from A1

KSC Director of Strategic Project Management Michelle Wood will be working to ensure that any Huron recommendations are aligned with Keene State’s strategic plan. Huron will also be engaging with those on campus to help inform their recommendations.

“They’re going to do some interviews with faculty, staff and students, just to understand and gain some insight from those who are here at the institution in terms of where there might be some opportunity for improvement to better serve the students and to also help us identify some places for cost savings,” Wood said.

Other than these interviews, there should not be any interruption or changes to everyday campus life. Two or three Huron representatives will be on campus for about two weeks, one of those weeks being spring break.

“I think it’s important that people know this is tied to our strategic planning process, it’s not separate from it,” Lufkin said. “The three major goals Melinda [Treadwell] outlined when she arrived are still the three goals. What we’re looking to do is get information that will help us advance those faster and get us to a place where we’re student focused.”

KSC President Melinda Treadwell said it will be helpful to gain an outside perspective on the college’s operations.

“It’s important to have help from a firm that works with a lot of colleges to help us compare how we work with other institutions in the country so that we can become more effective, more successful, but not lose who we are,” Treadwell said. “Sometimes you get into your work or your flow and it’s very hard to rethink doing something. It’s helpful to have someone else look at it and say, ‘Why do you do it that way?’ and then help us find ways to be increasingly focused on our students, not on a process that isn’t helpful.”

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A new organization’s Constitution was voted into place at the Student Assembly on Tuesday, March 10.

Sophomores Cierra Tabard and Julia Messenger presented a Constitution for Bricowlage which was derived from a previous club at Keene State, the Scriptor.

Taber, who is the acting vice president said she got the name from the word Bricolage; a construction or creation from a diverse range of available things, and added the letter “w” to make the word “owl” so it was unique to Keene State.

The club will operate as an online creative arts journal. Students will have the opportunity to submit drawings, poetry, songs, sto-

ries and more to be published.

“We want to show them you can do this,” said Messenger, who is currently the acting president of the organization.

She and Taber both said they hope for a paper journal being published in the future.

Director of Strategic Project Management Michelle Wood presented a review of student success software applications regarding education and retention planning.

Wood said she plans to create a map of all the software services available to faculty and students to navigate and explain their purposes and uses. They plan on releasing surveys for faculty and students in early April to gather observational and statistical data.

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OPINIONS

Opinions / A4 Thursday, March 12, 2020

EDITORIAL

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Doing what must be done !"#

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The impact of the coronavirus on Keene State College The coronavirus epidemic has, without a doubt, caused controversy around the world. The virus is very contagious, leading some countries elevated to the Level 3 status such as Italy to go on strict lockdown.

Because of this, many colleges have decided to completely shut down their campuses for a few weeks in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Here at Keene State, the college has decided to bring back its few students in Italy and not allow them to come on campus for 14 days. After these 14 days are up, they still cannot come back onto campus to take classes, and can only come in to visit friends.

The college covered the cost of transportation, and will do the same for any student

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that is in a Level 2 country such as Japan, where one student is currently studying.

While The Equinox agrees that it’s unfortunate that the students had to return, we feel this is the best way the college could have handled the situation. There was no way of knowing that something like coronavirus would happen and affect this semester for the students abroad.

Unfortunately, these things do happen and if somebody had gotten infected many people would come for the school asking, “Why didn’t you bring these students back?”

We also must remember that this may not be a huge risk for students, but many professors with weaker immune systems could be affected by this.

To contact the Equinox, e-mail pthapha@kscequinox.com or emcnemar@kscequinox.com

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are being offered by the schools in Italy.

We believe these students should also be offered some kind of compensation from the schools abroad, if possible.

While we understand that essentially the whole country had to be shut down, we think the students should receive some kind of refund of housing payments if they paid to live there for the whole semester upfront.

Although it must have been difficult for these students to have to cut their study abroad time short, in times of crisis we should not be taking risks. They can go back to Italy in a few years, but life is more important than experience, especially when they wouldn’t be able to do much in Italy right now anyway.

Despite this, it should definitely be noted that coronavirus is not a death sentence and has a very small mortality rate. Although you should definitely be cautious, you shouldn’t let this fear overwhelm you, due to the countless doctors working very hard to make a disease that is already not necessarily deadly, even less threatening.

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Another aspect of this situation not being talked about is the effect on students that may live in far away places. In the situation of students potentially having to stay home for extra time after spring break, they may have to alter flights that have been booked long in advance as well as possibly have to bring all their things home on very short notice. If this scenario were to come true, then we hope Keene State does all they can to ease this process for these students.

We thought it was great that Keene State coveraged the travel costs of these students returning, but we also feel that it doesn’t go far enough. Students will be taking online classes at home to fulfill their requirements for the rest of the semester. These classes

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Opinions / A5

Thursday, March 12, 2020

STAFF COMMENTARY

STAFF COMMENTARY

Dropping out of the presidential race

Reflecting on the spring semester CRISTIAN VALENTIN

OpiniOns EditOr

KIRSTEN SOMERO/ EQUINOX STAFF

Keene student reacts to candidates ending presidential campaigns LYDIA MARDIN

EquinOx staff If you are a regular reader of my pieces, you will remember that right around the time of the Iowa Caucus I had predicted that Pete Buttigieg would win the democratic nomination for the presidency; but alas, I was wrong.

Everyone except for Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard have officially dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination, which, if you ask me, seems a bit sketchy. I just feel that it is a little odd for just about everyone in the race to drop out at pretty much the exact same time. For a few, just a little bit before Super Tuesday, and for others, just afterward. While we have witnessed myself being wrong in the past, I would not be surprised if something was

happening behind the scenes that the public does not see.

Whatever the reasoning behind it, I think it is really interesting to see that Gabbard has not dropped out yet. Given her really low performances in just about every state, she carries two delegates coming out of Super Tuesday and, to be quite honest, I do not understand why she is doing so poorly.

She is a female veteran, American-Samoan, Hindi and also only 38 years old. I feel with these characteristics alone she would be a really interesting candidate. I mean, she did sue Hillary Clinton and, last I checked, no one really liked Hillary Clinton anymore. If you sue Hillary Clinton, you immediately earn my respect.

I could also see how this would make her a little less favorable with older crowds, but

I just feel like she would be really popular with millennials and Generation Z due to this fact, in addition to the previously mentioned characteristics. But, given the low voter turnout rates in her favor, she remains in the race, which is honestly kind of neat and inspiring.

She only carries two delegates right now compared to Biden’s 664 and Sander’s 573, therefore I do not think she will make it to the end of primaries.

On the contrary, I am really surprised that it took Elizabeth Warren, Mike Bloomberg, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Styer this long to drop out. Most of the people I have talked with about these candidates agree they are pretty unlikeable, whether it is an annoying campaign team or just undesirable policies.

They all put quite a lot of money into it, especially Bloomberg, who happened to

win American Samoa on Tuesday night. Also, running for president is a lot of work. I feel like if I were to run at any point, I would have recognized that I was doing bad and just dropped out earlier, but obviously I am not them and, in the grand scheme of things, I know very little about running for president.

However, to all those who are disappointed that you cannot vote for women for the presidency, be prepared for Nikki Haley in 2024.

DISCLAIMER: This article is the sole opinion of Lydia Mardin Lydia Mardin can be contacted at Lydia.

Mardin@ksc.keene.edu

STAFF COMMENTARY

A distraction known as procrastination

KSC sophomore offers advice on handling stress during midterms CRISTIAN VALENTIN

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With it being the middle of March, and April quickly approaching, many people are beginning to have to deal with midterms and are starting to think about what stress finals may hold for them. In times like these, it is very important to have different outlets to put your stress into so that you are not overwhelmed.

Probably my biggest outlet when I’m stressed out is going to the gym. I usually go with a friend or two and this gives me time to not only talk about the stresses in my life, but also to put my stress into something productive.

Using the gym in this way has made it become one of my favorite things because when I’m doing a stressful assignment or in a class I’m not the most interested in, I have going to the gym to look forward to.

Another big outlet that I have is writing my opinion pieces.

Writing these pieces creates a very special environment for me where I can just talk about many of the things going on in my life while also being able to work on my section.

It also gives me a forum to talk about myself as opposed to writing for other sections where I’m telling somebody else’s story. The thing I like the most is that I typically write in a journal when I’m overwhelmed but now I can put it into a place where others can relate and hopefully feel uplifted.

Music also helps me a lot when I feel stressed. This is because music covers all moods in a very quick amount of time. Instead of me having to read a long book for hours on end or watching a movie and waiting an hour or two to truly get the message, music usually gets this message across within two to five minutes.

Whether I’m happy about getting through a tough assignment, worrying about getting a test back or working through a million things at once, music captures how I’m feeling. In my opinion, music is also one of the easiest outlets to get into.

Outlets are huge for maintaining stress levels, but there are also steps that you can take to make sure those stress levels aren’t so high. One way is instead of putting off assignments and studying until the night before, you can slowly work towards getting them done day by day.

Recently, I had a big test coming up and while I normally just study the night before, I decided to make around five to ten terms in a quizlet every night until two days before the test. Then once I was done making the quizlet, I just went over that for the remaining two days and I ended up receiving an A on the test. This is all to say that proper time management is key to making sure you aren’t overwhelmed by school.

In the end, no matter what field of endeavor you are in you will get some stress no matter what. Instead of letting

KIRSTEN SOMERO/ EQUINOX STAFF

As spring break approaches, a semester that has felt much different than the past three seems to already be half over.

Unlike last semester, where I feel like I underwent a lot of change and added many things onto my plate, this semester has been more about me getting comfortable with the schedule I set myself up with back in August.

The biggest and most obvious change has been in my class schedule.

Last semester, many of my classes were very easy and more about filling requirements, with the real difficult things coming from the activities and organizations I’m involved with on campus. This semester, on the other hand, has had me pushing my journalistic skills in different ways than I have before.

While I think I’ve made some good work in the past year and a half of my college career, I haven’t had the chance to make something that I’m truly proud of.

I used to think that I was being too hard on myself, but this semester has had me doing work that is typically out of my comfort zone and I feel like I’m doing very well with it. This is because I’m typically more of a writer, but my classes this semester have had me exploring more of the ethical sides of journalism as well as doing more work with technology.

This semester I’ve also felt a lot more confident in many different ways. I’ve felt a lot more confident in my work this semester as well as my ability to handle adversity when it comes my way. This is due to my job over break requiring a lot of composure and having the ability to deal with people.

My confidence has also grown as I’ve gotten a better handle on my role at The Equinox and made the decision to not overload myself, if I can. I feel this way because when you put too much on your plate, you make a lot of mediocre work as opposed to some great work.

Another thing that I’ve enjoyed more about this semester is I’ve been able to meet many of my friends’ best friends from their hometowns.

This has been exciting because it’s given me the opportunity to see the people who shaped those closest in my life.

It’s also allowed me to realize that I can truly make an impression on people in a very short amount of time, which has improved my confidence as well.

Despite all of this, I’ve had one thought creeping in the back of my mind. This thought is college really almost being halfway over and me soon having to go into the real world.

I used to be really scared, but I can tell that as I continue to go further in my college career, I will only continue to have faith in myself along with the work that I do. This semester is overall showing me that change can be scary, but if you’re self-assured then it’s just the beginning of another chapter in your life.

Going forward I am also excited for next semester for many reasons.

One reason is because I will be living with six of my closest friends and will get a real sense of independence by living away from home for the summer and school year.

Another reason is I will (hopefully) get the chance to take a step into the professional world with internships. Overall, this semester has shown me that there is a lot to look forward to as I continue to progress in school.

DISCLAIMER: This article is the sole opinion of Cristian Valentin Cristian Valentin can be contacted at cvalentin@kscequinox.com

this stress consume you, you can take power over it and deal with it in positive, healthy ways. This will not only help you maintain your grades but it will also allow you to maintain your mental health.

DISCLAIMER: This article is the sole opinion of Cristian Valentin Cristian Valentin can be contacted at cvalentin@kscequinox.com

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

Empowerment, expression and celebration KIANA JOLER

Equinox Staff Faculty and students alike expressed beauty and empowerment of women through dance at a Celebration of Women’s History Month.

“Women are so beautiful, inside and out. Being able to see where we were and where we are and our journey, it’s beautiful,” said firstyear Slesha Tuladhar, an Equinox staff member who performed at the event.

About 40 students, faculty members and community members gathered on March 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to celebrate women activists both in the past and in the present.

According to Patricia Pedroza Gonzalez, a professor for women's and gender studies and American studies, this is the third year the event has been organized. It was first put on in 2018 by Ashley Betancourt. Betancourt graduated in 2019 from Keene State with a degree in women’s and gender studies as well as criminal justice. Gonzalez said Bentancourt wanted to provide a time for women involved in or interested in women’s and genders studies to sit down together and honor each other.

Betancourt approached Pedroza Gonzalez to organize the event this year. Pedroza Gonzalez said she reflects the same views of the National Women’s Studies Association, which was established in 1977 and promotes women’s studies in education, according to the National Women’s Studies Association website.

Pedroza Gonzalez opened the program by saying the evening would serve as a time to reflect, but to also remember that progress still needs to be made.

“There is still so much work to do and celebrating is a reminder that we have to keep going,” said Pedroza Gonzalez.

As the evening continued, Pedroza Gonzalez took the stage to perform a dance to the song “Malamente” by Rosalia. The song repeats “malamente,” which Pedroza Gonzalez translated to mean “this is bad,” referring to the physical and sexual violence against women.

“My dance was my symbolic way to say, ‘no more,’” said Pedroza Gonzalez.

She also played a video of a protest where women sang and danced, singing that “the oppressive state is the rapist.” Pedroza Gonzalez said that the protest’s message was that the authorities were not doing enough to protect women.

Bailey Saddlemire, a sopho-

PAIGE KARAVAS / EQUINOX STAFF

Benajil Rai, the Multimedia Director for the Equinox, and Slesha Tuladhar, Equinox staff, performing a traditional Nepali dance for the Women's History Month celebration put on by the women's and gender studies department in the Mabel Brown Room in the Student Center.

more in attendance, said that the video and the dance were her favorite moments of the night. “It was super cool to watch that video of the protest and then have Patricia [Pedroza Gonzalez] dance right after it,” said Saddlemire.

Pedroza Gonzalez also invited

Tuladhar and Benajil Rai to perform a Napali dance. The three have performed together at multicultural international festivals held in Keene.

Tuladhar said that she represented a girl from the Himalayas and used dance to express emotion and culture.

“Dance can be an expression of said “women empowerment can said Pedroza Gonzalez. anything. When you are sad, you be promoted at all times of the dance. When you are so happy, you year.” Pedroza Gonzalez agreed and Kiana Joler can be reached at dance. When you have an exam expressed her excitement about the kjoler@kscequinox.com tomorrow and you don't know what turnout for this year’s event. to do, you dance,” said Tuladhar.

“I’m happy that so many stuMarch serves as Women’s dents came, and there will absoHisatory Month, but Saddlemire lutely be another one next year,”

Professor Lynn Richardson gives lecture about art TOM BENOIT

artS and EntErtainmEnt Editor As part of the Lunch with the Arts lecture series, the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery hosted faculty artist Lynn Richardson to speak about her art in the past and her pieces currently showing in the Faculty Artists Gallery in the Thorne.

Richardson grew up in Winnipeg, Canada and received her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Manitoba. She then went on to earn her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Texas.

“It was nuts—when I first moved to Austin, they had an ice storm and I remember thinking, ‘What are you all complaining about? Just get in your car and just drive.’ I thought that using kitty litter instead of sanding trucks was just ridiculous,” Richardson said.

“I actually had no money, so I took a four-year long gap between my undergraduate and graduate studies just to build up a huge portfolio. I worked at the University of Manitoba as the sculpture studio technician, so I could go to the University of Texas with a full ride, and UT was awesome, mostly because they had a ton of money,” said Richardson about her time in Austin.

Richardson’s lecture was a part of the Outstanding Women’s Faculty lecture series put on by the art and design departments and was also a part of the Outstanding Women’s Awards.

Richardson said, “[The lecture is] part of a new series put on by the Thorne Gallery called Lunch with the Arts, which is for full-time art and design faculty to be lecturing to the students about their artwork so more students can know what we’re doing.”

“My artwork is about exploring the North, and I grew up in such a polar region so our whole life revolves around negative 50-degree weather so my work stems from Canadian politics and looking at social systems. I use the environment as a way to talk about issues with politics; but also, I find that for me to travel extensively so that I can step back and look back toward Canada, I can make my own interpretation or statement to say what’s going on in my home country,” Richardson said.

Richardson added, “You just need some distance ad some perspective, so that’s why I tend to travel. Also,

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PUJA THAPA / ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Associate Professor of Art Lynn Richardson giving a lecture about her work as part of the Lunch with the Arts lecture series. The lecture was held in the Thorne-Sagendorph Gallery.

the nice thing about it is to just see different things.

Everything's the same here [in Keene]. Square buildings, square windows. Nothing really changes; maybe if you go to New York City you see some interesting architecture. It helps me to get out of this same environment.”

Richardson said about her piece “Inter-Glacial Free Trade Agency,” “When I was going to UT, we grew up learning about NAFTA [the North American Fair Trade Agreement], and it just seemed like it was the back pages of the New York Times and there were a lot of negatives that came out of NAFTA for Canadians, which was with this whole lumber problems and two

money systems that didn’t work out very well. I decided I would start the Inter-Glacial Free Trade Agency and would corner the market when the next Ice Age comes and sell to people in the future, including South America. It was a line of survival gear and it was also mocking the change in the landscape which would change our clothing we would wear and the makeup we put on and even the food that we eat. It was like a trade show.”

First-year Natalie Wood said, “It was really insightful. I liked how she tied in her view on climate and bringing Canada into her art. I really liked it because she did talk about the climate and I, personally, want

to help fix the climate. It was cool that she made something beautiful that other people might see as scary.”

Emma Johansen, a senior who attended the lecture, said, “It’s interesting because I’ve never really seen her work before. It’s really nice to understand her background and what she’s done and how it’s influenced what she teaches.”

Tom Benoit can be reached at tbenoit@kscequinox.com

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

Three-minute fiction slam

Gettysburg College Choir comes to Keene ALEX DUBE

Equinox stAff

HENRY HOBSON / EQUINOX STAFF

Faculty member Dr. Margaret Walsh reads her story at the Three-Minute Fiction Slam hosted by the New Hampshire Writer's Project on March 4 at the Mason Library.

Faculty and staff compete with their stories TOM BENOIT

Arts And EntErtAinmEnt Editor On Wednesday, March 4, the Mason Libraryhosted The New Hampshire Writers’ Project Three-Minute Fiction Slam semifinals, sponsored by the library and the Keene State Department of English.

The contestants were asked to prepare original short stories that had to be under a three-minute time limit. Contestants ranged from Keene State students to faculty members, who read their short stories in front of three judges. The contestants’ pieces were also very diverse in their range.

Irene McGarrity, an associate professor at Keene State, said during the event, “We’ve been doing the fiction slam for three years now and this year has the most impressive collective group of stories so far.”

Leah Carlson, a first-year student who read her piece,“Rules for Life,” said, “[The

contest] really helped me realize all the different types of writing skills [students at Keene State] have and what different types of writing skills are taught here.”

Carlson said of her piece, “The piece I did, despite what the judges said, was based off of real events. It was an imitation piece I did for my creative writing class and gave enough of a story without being overwhelming.”

Although the event was sponsored by the English department, the attendees were not all English students. Senior Lauren Koldras said, “[The fiction slam] was pretty cool and I always try to come. I came for my friend Lexi. I’m a psychology major and I feel very compelled to come to these events to hear things like this because it’s not my strong suit, because I can’t do what Lexi does.”

The winner of the event, Ashley Rollend, said of her piece “Canaries in the Yellow Room,” “I wrote this piece for the slam

Interested in writing?

Arts and Entertainment Editor Tom Benoit (361) 571-1989 KSCEQUINOX.COM

because I usually write prose and not fiction.

This piece was kind of a thriller piece and I never write thriller pieces. I saw it as a break from the norm.”

Rollend was recently named Outstanding Graduating Senior in Writing by the Keene State College Department of English and received the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Grant, a grant which supports a 10-week research opportunity on their campus or around the country.

“The SURF grant is given to three students every summer. I’m from the honors program and received the honors program grant. I received the grant twice; one was from a published poetry book I wrote and the second was for a children’s book,” said Rollend.

Julia Messinger, who competed in the fiction slam, said, “I honestly did this last minute. It was nerve-wracking and I honestly just liked hearing what I did here and who

I saw perform. I know Ashley and Lexi and it’s nice to know that they won. I knew they were going to place.”

Senior Lexi Palmer [an Equinox staff member] placed third place in the fiction slam with her piece “Living Conditions.” Dr. Margaret Walsh, a professor of sociology, anthropology, and criminal justice, placed second and Ashley Rollend placed first with her piece. Rollend is eligible to compete in the New Hampshire Writers’ Project ThreeMinute Fiction Slam final in Manchester, New Hampshire on Thursday, March 12.

Tom Benoit can be reached at tbenoit@kscequinox.com

Equinox Music Choices

Margaritaville - Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet

Music is a universal language of storytelling, emoting and sharing thoughts and ideas so it only makes sense that the larger the group, the stronger the message. This past Monday, March 9, The Keene State College Concert Choirs were joined by the Gettysburg College Choir for a joint spring performance.

The Gettysburg College Choir, hailing from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, have been known for their frequent travels and performances around the United States in places like New York City and Boston, Massachusetts, to places in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Canada, all under the instruction of Dr. Robert Natter.

Keene State College’s Concert Choir conductor Dr. Matthew Leese explained that the collaboration between the two groups is unusual, seeing as collegiate music groups usually only do combined performances as a means of recruitment. For this performance, however, Leese explained that is not the case, and expressed his great excitement to make music with such a renowned collegiate group.

“Their director, Robert Natter, contacted our concert band director, John Hart, who is actually an alum of Gettysburg. Then we figured out that I have a personal contact in the choir too. When Sandra Howard and I talked about engaging all three of the Keene State choirs in their visit, it seemed like a perfect fit,” said Leese.

Preparing for concert events like these can be daunting, explained Topher Clark, a music education major with voice as their primary instrument. They also said that no matter how daunting it may seem at first, it is always worth the work to share such strong emotions with others through the music.

“Collaborating with other college choirs is such a great experience because not only are you bringing together communities that would almost never come together in the first place but as a musician you also get to learn a lot, and working with a new choir or conductor can teach you a lot and give you some lifelong lessons and experiences to walk away with,” said Clark.

Liz Anderson, a Swanzey resident and an attendee of the Keene State and Gettysburg College choral concert, said she always enjoys seeing the Keene State Choir perform and is familiar with the music department and its faculty as well.

“I thought it was wonderful.

It was such an emotional performance too because they have such wonderful voices and both groups blend together so well. It's just so nice to be able to host other colleges as well,” said Anderson.

For updates on events like these, visit www.keene.edu/arts/redfern for event dates, times and schedules, or visit the Redfern box office for brochures with event details.

Alex Dube can be reached at adube@kscqeuinox.com

Fun Fact!

Gettysburg College and Keene State College are 425 miles apart.

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Getta Loada Frog and Toad

SOREN FRANTZ / PHOTO EDITOR

Senior Laura Valastro and first-year Erika Walker as Frog and Toad, the two leads of the production of 'A Year with Frog and Toad' put on by the Keene State theatre department in the Wright Theater at the Redfern Arts Center.

Students bring children's theater to Keene ALEX DUBE

Equinox Staff Frog and Toad are recognized world-wide as some of the closest friends in any children’s literature, and the two have spent many years together and in the hearts of people young and old. Last week, the theatre and dance program put on “A Year With Frog and Toad,” a musical collection of the short stories written by Arnold Lobel that have warmed hearts since the 1970s, at the Redfern Arts Center.

The show started off with the classic tale of the two neighbors in the forest, coming out of hibernation to spend another year together. The musical numbers brought a new element to the stories that someone familiar with the books may be surprised by.

Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance and director of “A Year With Frog and Toad” Kirstin Riegler said

they wanted to put on a smaller musical, specifically one that is classified as “TYA,” which stands for theatre for young audiences.

“I actually performed [“A Year With Frog and Toad”] as an actor about nine years ago in [Washington] D.C., and they always loved the show so much. We wanted to do a smaller musical with a smaller cast size and, in the five years that I have been here, there hasn’t been a show that’s been geared toward all audiences,” said Riegler.

The process of having any show come together can be stressful, but it always seems to be worth it. Riegler explained the rehearsal process for the show was intensive with such a short time, starting at the beginning of the spring 2020 semester. Both five and six-hour rehearsals were needed to learn the songs and dances the show contained.

The set design for the show was very concise, but folded out to reveal more to the set than met the eye.

Lights, theatrical fog and live musical accompaniment made the show feel as if one were watching the storybooks play out before their eyes.

Keene State junior and theatre and dance major Anna Fialho said that after she saw they were holding auditions and after watching videos of other productions of the musical, she needed to see what Keene State’s adaptation would bring to the stage.

“I think it was really good… I think this one is very unique for it to be done in the [black] box setting that the Wright Theatre is, but it is very niche and very intimate between the cast and the audience,” said Fialho.

First-year at Keene State Erika Walker, who played the role of Toad, said that with Riegler at the helm of the production, putting every aspect of the show together was nothing short of a pleasure.

“I think the one thing that will always stick with me is probably, honestly, playing with the cookies for

the song ‘Cookies.’ I don’t know why that number sticks with me, but so does the opening, especially the feeling of the light hitting my house and the patterns around the set,” said Walker.

For updates on the showtimes and scheduling of plays at the Redfern Arts Center, visit www.keene.edu/ arts/redfern or visit the Redfern main lobby for printed schedules.

Alex Dube can be reached at adube@kscequinox.com

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STUDENT LIFE

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Student Life, B1 Thursday, March 12, 2020

Assistant professor brings peace

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BRIEF

Class of 2022 raises over 100 dollars

CONNOR CRAWFORD

Student Life editor Tattoos are popular among college students and the Class of 2022 took advantage of this by holding a raffle last week for a $100 gift card to Art for Life Tattoos, a tattoo shop in downtown Keene.

The fundraiser started on Monday, March 2, and lasted until Friday, March 6, at 6 p.m.

“All of the money raised will go to the Class of 2022 to help pay for future events such as Red and White Night and a senior class trip,” said current President of the Class of 2022 Caitlin McCracken.

While most of the ideas for the Class of 2022 fundraisers are generated at their weekly meetings, McCracken is hopeful that the class as a whole can come together.

“We hope to have more of our class become more involved and comfortable with their e-board,” McCracken explained, “so that they feel their voice is heard and they are represented.”

Planning is essential to any fundraiser and McCracken thought that planning a fundraiser targeted toward college students would help the class raise more money.

“We figured students are more apt to spend money on things they enjoy or want, and many college students are tattoo crazed, like myself,” Howard explained.

“Luckily, Art for Life loved the idea and worked with us to start this raffle.”

As of Friday, the Class of 2022 raised over $100 dollars from the fundraiser.

Connor Crawford can be contacted at CCrawford@kscequinox.com

BRIEF

International travel must be reported to school amid fears of COVID-19 CONNOR CRAWFORD

Student Life editor

COURTESY OF PROFESSOR ASHLEY GREENE

Dr. Greene works with governments across the globe to provide training and education KIANA WRIGHT

SociaL Media director Ashley Greene is an assistant professor in Keene State’s Holocaust and genocide department who has been teaching here since fall of 2016. She teaches three classes each semester, is on the Honors Council and is part of the Global Education Office Council. But that’s only the beginning of her work; as Greene says, she is always writing papers, attending meetings overseas and taking part in numerous organizations.

Greene did her doctoral work at Notre Dame in Indiana, where she completed a hybrid program, joint Ph.D. in peace studies and history. “I went into the program knowing that I wanted to work on genocide studies. Because I had taken a class in college, actually [an] introduction to Holocaust and genocide studies, and that was it for me... it changed the career path of my life,” Greene said.

Her professors not only changed her career choice but

her thought process. Greene said one thing her professors left her with was how to form her own opinions. “They wanted to teach me how to think, not what to think,” she said.

She took what she knew, and had to do something with it. “I couldn’t believe that I had never knew that 800,000 to a million people in Rwanda had been slaughtered in 100 days, and my life didn’t change one bit. I just went on living my life as if it never happened, I never knew about it. And so that lack of awareness became, for me, what I felt my purpose could be,” Greene said.

Greene said that she wanted to be at a place where she could share what has happened and what still is.

Her main area of focus is mainly 20th century East Africa and the Great Lakes Region. When she started her Ph.D. program, which was concentrating on Uganda, Greene was learning specifically how they dealt with the violence occurring and how to teach the past to younger

generations. Then, after college, she lived and taught English in Tanzania for a while.

She said it was such a great coincidence that when she was done with her studies KSC had an opening in a position she only dreamt of achieving.

Ashley Dahl, a senior majoring in Holocaust and genocide studies and criminal justice and minoring in dance, has been in Greene’s classes and is currently student teaching for her. “Dr. Greene as a teacher is very dedicated and passionate, and I think this translates to her students. She is very supportive of her students and wants them to succeed,” Dahl said.

Adjunct Professor Leo Sandy, who is currently teaching at Plymouth State University for the semester, said, “Ashley is a compassionate person who is very attentive to her students. She knows her material exceedingly well and she is passionate about peace and social justice. This passion is carried

into the classroom.”

Greene really tries to connect with her students, learning their names and who they are as individual people.

“In Holocaust and genocide studies we know that when someone becomes less than an individual to you that’s when we see great violence,” Greene said.

Dahl also said that Greenemakes that effort to be inclusive of all students. “Her connection with students is very open and willing to help.

Whenever you have a question she is right there answering it. Even in big classes, she circles around the classroom, checking in with everyone,” said Dahl.

Sandy has worked very closely with Greene over the past years. Along with teaching her class while she was on maternity leave last fall with her 15-month-old son Henry, they continue to have a scholarly relationship. “I have been a guest speaker in Ashley’s classes. She and I are also on the board of directors at RISE, a new organization that promotes peace and social justice

education in K-12 schools.”

Sandy said they also are co-authoring a book called “PeaceTalk” with a retired professor from Plymouth State. Just like this, Greene does many actions outside of the classroom to bring her lessons she teaches to the real world.

“Ashley walks the talk,” said Sandy. “Ashley travels around the world working with others to deal with the prevention of war and post-war healing… She helps advance global awareness about KSC and the specific mission of the Cohen Center,” he explained.

“What I find inspiring about her is that she continues the work in her field outside of Keene, working with other countries and organizations. It just shows how devoted she is to her work,” said Dahl.

Greene said that she mostly travels when working with AIPG (The Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities). She is the academic programs officer for Africa and

transitional justice, where she works with governments all over the world to provide education, training and legal assistance on atrocity prevention. “So what I do is develop the training curriculum for this program that we run in the Great Lakes Region in Africa,” Green said.

While students are away for spring break, Greene and Dr. Jim Waller, professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at KSC, will be in Poland for their annual Auschitz meeting called the Global Lemkin Seminar, named after Raphael Lemkin who coined the word genocide. “Government officials from all over the world will come to that seminar. We’re not working with a specific state because it’s truly a global set of participants,” said Greene.

Greene said that the language barrier is something that makes her work a little harder. With traveling as part of her job, she is constantly going to countries where English is not always

» SEE PEACE B2

Traveling internationally in the near future or for spring break?

Make sure that you report it to the college.

Due to a recent COVID-19 case at River Valley Community College, the college is taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the virus to the college community.

An email from the president of Keene State College to students explained, “Due to emerging circumstances regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), all Keene State College sponsored travel, both internationally and within the United States to areas determined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and/or U.S. State Department to be a Travel Warning Level 3 or above is prohibited.”

Because of this statement, a new travel registration requirement is being initiated.

“At this time, Keene State requires all faculty, staff, and students to register any planned personal and College travel to any international countries or regions, regardless of any official travel warnings,” the email continued.

Registering travel is important to the College so that the institution knows where the community has been to help prevent the spread of the virus.

If you are planning on traveling, please register your travels here. https://personnelfile.wufoo.com/ forms/xsfnv9n0gvqp41/ All travel information shared

» SEE INTERNATIONAL B3

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STUDENT LIFE / B2

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Advocating for the environment

SAM REINKE / EQUINOX STAFF

Students at the Campus Ecology weekly meeting. Meetings take place every Wednesday at 7 p.m. to discuss various topics and events such as the upcoming Solar Fest.

Campus ecology raises awareness about environmental issues ERIN MCNEMAR

Managing ExEcutivE Editor There is nothing better than the feeling of community; finding a group of people that share a common love for ideas, people, etc. For the Keene State College club Campus Ecology, members share a love for the environment.

Campus Ecology is an on-campus organization that focuses on environmental advocacy and teaches students about the environment. “Our goals include educating people about the current state of the environment while doing fun activities,” said junior and Vice President Elizabeth Abrevaya.

Abreveya got involved with Campus Ecology her first year, similarly to president of the club and senior Marissa Milley. “A good friend of mine brought me to a meeting because she knew I was passionate about the environment and thought the club would be a great fit for me. I’ve been involved ever since,” Milley said.

At meetings, students engage in bond-

ing activities while they work on planning upcoming events. “We try to keep meetings fun through asking ‘Questions of the Night’ to give our members a chance to get to know each other better. We just chill for half an hour each week while we plan events,” Milley said.

One of the big events Campus Ecology takes on each year is the planning and organization of Solar Fest. Solar Fest is an annual solar-powered music festival that takes place each April on Oya Hill. “We host the event to promote solar energy and sustainability, but also to rock out and enjoy some great music before the semester ends,” Milley said.

This year, Campus Ecology is teaming up with the campus radio station WKNH to collaborate on the event. WKNH was able to connect Campus Ecology with several bands that have committed to playing at the festival this year. “In addition to the bands that play, we also have various campus groups and outside vendors come and table. In the past, we’ve had clubs give out ice cream, people volunteer to do henna, make bird feeders out of recycled

products and even sell plants and artworks.

Overall, we try to make Solar Fest an event where people go to chill out and relax before finals come around that also promotes our club’s goals and values,” Milley said.

Last year, the organization received a donation of three solar panels from ReVision Energy. This donation was part of Campus Ecology’s Solar Panel Project, a project the group had been working on for a few years.

“Our end goal is to have a solar panel trailer that will be able to power events on campus such as Solar Fest, Rocktoberfest and commencement using the sun,” Campus Ecology treasurer and junior Kelsi Lord explained.

The solar panels will be used for the first time at Solar Fest on Saturday, April 25. In addition to Solar Fest, the club also organizes clothing swaps to “show how easy it can be to reuse and recycle things, even clothing,” according to Milley.

Overall, Campus Ecology wants to engage and encourage students to live a more sustainable lifestyle. “Campus Ecology’s main goal

is to promote sustainability and educate students and the community about what we can do to help save our environment.

Another goal of ours is to put on a rocking Solar Fest every spring to spread the word about alternative energy and to spread good energy,” Lord said.

Campus Ecology meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Fish Bowl Room in the Student Center. “We’re always looking for new members, so feel free to check us out,” Milley said.

Erin McNemar can be contacted at emcnemar@kscequinox.com

PEACE Cont. from B1

and may not be spoken there at all.

“I think if I could go back in time very early on, and do anything, I would try to pick up more languages,” she said. Greene does know some Swahili, but there can be multiple versions of dialects that make communication challenging. But Greene still gets her points across and she is willing to put in the extra work.

“To sit in a room with policy makers, state officials, government officials, with ministers, teachers from the country, civil society lawyers… that has been the opportunity I never expected to have… it’s been the most challenging, but the most rewarding,” said Greene.

Greene is using her education to spread awareness to students, faculty and other countries, and Sandy believes its part of a long process to a better world. “Ashley [Greene] brings a new discipline to KSC, peace and social justice studies, which perfectly complements Holocaust and genocide studies.

The latter teaches us what should never happen again, and the former teaches us what we need to do to help prevent mass killing based on prejudice as well as the propaganda and indoctrination that fuel the distortion of human perception that can lead them to heinous acts. Thus, Ashley’s teaching and scholarship are vital to the eventual abolition of war and social injustice,” Sandy said.

Kiana Wright can be contacted at KWright@kscequinox.com

INTERNATIONAL Cont. from B1

with the institution will remain confidential and is only used to “provide more specific health-related information to travelers as updates are obtained,” according to the email.

Connor Crawford can be contacted at CCrawford@kscequinox.com

COLUMN

Can you guess what this is?

Lifehacking the Dining Commons

How to get the most out of the DC with hacks ABIGAIL LASHWAY

Equinox Staff Dining hall life hacks are something every Keene state student should never live without. The dining hall has about eight different stations to find delicious food. However, what about the days when you don’t feel like any of the food in the dining hall?

What if you just want a burger when they are serving chicken sandwiches, or maybe you want a quesadilla or even a soda float? All of these things are obtainable. The dining hall is not only going to help cater to your needs but they make sure that their students know they have options.

If you want a burger or an Impossible Burger from the vegan section, just ask politely. Marketing Manager Caitlin Howel said that if you really wanted a burger the staff would be willing to make it for you, but it would take a few minutes, especially if it’s during a busy dinner rush. You can even ask for it ahead of time. If you are going to come to eat dinner at 6 p.m. and don’t want to wait, give them a

SAM REINKE / EQUINOX STAFF

This is something found around campus.

If you have a guess, DM The Equinox Instagram @KSCequinox Look for the answer in next weeks paper!

Last week’s answer: Chairs in the NOC! We had no guesses this week, but check back next week!

SAM REINKE / EQUINOX STAFF

heads up. I recommend an hour and when you come in they will make sure your food is all set and ready for you.

The next hack on our list is ice cream and soda floats. The most common and well-known float is the rootbeer float, but don’t be afraid to mix it up. The next soda float I would recommend is the orange soda float: take a dining hall cup, fill it up with ice cream from the soft serve machine and then top it off with orange soda. I recommend an even ratio for more enjoyment. Next, grab a spoon and enjoy after a really long day with some fries for some of the best comfort foods the dining hall has to offer.

Quesadillas are another common favorite. It’s delicious and a quick meal if you are on the run. Also, you can design it however you want: grab a tortilla from the sandwich bar and some cheese. If there isn’t any cheese, there are usually other fun ingredients in the salad bar such as chicken, olives, peppers and an abundance of things.

A great combination to try is cheddar cheese, black olives, and chicken. After you have the ingredients, head over to

the panini press. Put your food on the wax paper, making sure the paper is folded with your food and that your food isn’t exposed. You want the paper to protect your food from burning.

Then press down and wait. You want it to melt the cheese and toast the inside.

Finally, when it’s cooked to your liking you can take it out, put it on your plate, maybe add a side and chow down on your delicious quesadilla.

The dining hall is a treasure trove of unique foods and ways to make sure you are never disinterested in what you get to eat. If there are any other dining hall life hacks you would like to share, contact ALashway@kscequinox.com.

Abigail Lashway can be contacted at ALashway@kscequinox.com

Active Minds brings awareness to eating disorders LONNIE HILTZ

Equinox Staff Active Minds’ series of discussions on mental health continued with a seminar on eating disorders at the KSC Student Center’s Madison Street Lounge.

Active Minds, a nonprofit organization focused on improving awareness and education in mental health across the country, has established a presence on many college campuses, including Keene State. On Thursday, March 5, KSC’s student-run Active Minds chapter held a seminar on

eating disorders at the Lloyd P. Young Student Center, one of the first in a series of events and discussions about mental health set to occur on KSC’s campus.

The previous seminar discussed mood-related and emotional disorders.

The group scheduled the event for this date to coincide with the recent National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which GRIFFIN ELL / ART DIRECTOR ended on March 1.

In the days leading up to the seminar, Active Minds around 7:45 p.m., and the posted notes around the talk began at 8 p.m. campus on the subject.

Veronica “Vi” Paris, The doors opened the student president of

KSC’s Active Minds, led the discussion, starting by highlighting the different categories of eating disor-

» SEE EATING DISORDERS B3

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STUDENT LIFE / B3

Thursday, March 12, 2020

STAFF COMMENTARY

Snacking with SAC

Weighing in on COVID-19 Student discusses the recent coronavirus scare ABIGAIL LASHWAY

Equinox Staff After recent events in America, cases of the COVID-19 virus, also known as the 2019 novel coronavirus, have popped up all over New England and the West Coast. After Rhode Island reported a few cases everyone seemed to hold their breath when it made national news. Once it was reported that the COVID19 virus had spread to New Hampshire, things got a little rough around the edges.

Sophomore class Vice President Theo Avent stated that his main goal is to stay as clean as possible through this whole ordeal.

“I’m kind of a germaphobe, so I’m constantly washing my hands and covering my mouth when I cough,” Avent said.

However, Avent stated that we need to remain calm and rational, as well as put trust in the college and its announcements.

“I believe the college is doing the best they can with the information they have been given. The college’s number one priority is to keep us safe and they are doing just that. They are thinking of the students and the overall health of the students, faculty, and staff here at KSC,” said Avent.

However, he is still afraid that people aren’t taking this epidemic seriously enough. “Everyone should be taking precautions to keep themselves healthy and if they feel like they are getting sick they should

notify the school and head to their local doctor to find out if it is something that needs to be addressed immediately or not,” said Avent.

Keene State College has sent out an action plan in the event of an outbreak of the coronavirus on campus.

On March 4, the college sent out an email on the action plan for Keene

“I think the coronavirus is primarily just one of those stories we get as a result of having our media dictated by private interests,” Coolbeth said. He continued to talk about how he believes that the coronavirus is just a new disease for people to capitalize on. However, he also stated that it could also be a serious epidemic.

Either way, he thinks that the college isn’t approaching this appropriately.

“What I think is inappropriate, however, are the constant emails about the virus. Making plans in the background is great, and they should be available to the public upon request, but the college is doing nothing but fuel panic by showering us with statements, such as Residential Life is identifying locations that can be used for quarantine for residential students,” Coolbeth said. Coolbeth also said he believes it’s irresponsible for the college to release -KSC factbook statements without thinking of the mass panic it State College. Keene is putting in damage control measures and find- may cause.

For information on how to take ing guaranteed places on campus in event of an outbreak to place extra precautionary measures, the students. The Zorn Dining Com- CDC (Center for Disease Control) mons is disinfecting and making released information on how to sure that it’s as sanitary as possible take care of yourself and prevenand asking students to wash their tion measures. w w w . c d c . g o v / hands and use hand sanitizer by the cashiers’ checkouts. The goal is coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/preto make sure the college is healthy vention-treatment.html and safe.

Abigail Lashway can be contacted Chris Coolbeth stated that he at alashway@kscequinox.com wasn't worried at all.

SAC

FUN FACT

In 2019, there were 3,340 fulltime undergraduate students enrolled at Keene State College!

GRIFFIN ELL / ART DIRECTOR

Giving students a chance to win $100 while enjoying some food DENISE RONAN

Equinox Staff Keene State College’s Social Activities Council has given students opportunities to get out of the dorm and get social on campus with Snack Night.

Snack Night was held in the MableBrown Room on Tuesday, March 3, kicking off at 8 p.m.

When entering the room, each student received a punch card that turned into a raffle ticket after having visited each food table. From strawberry banana smoothies to wings and pasta, the event had many students excited, especially for the chance to win a $100 gift card to Walmart.

Junior Gianna Massa attended the event. Massa “heard free food and Walmart,” so she decided to stop by with her friend after her work shift. She not only enjoyed the macaroni but also commented that “it just smelled so good walking in.”

Some students hear about these events through friends while others find out from social media, like senior Anna DePasquale. DePasquale saw a flyer on Facebook and then sent it to her friend. DePasquale stated that she “live[s] off-campus and didn’t really want to cook dinner.”

Most students probably know the struggle of feeling stuck with their

Courageously Conversing

homework. DePasquale decided to take a break from writing a paper to get some free dinner and to participate in the raffle.

“The wings were good and it was a nice change from what I would get from the DC,” DePasquale said.

While DePasquale had her dinner, first-year Dominic Lynch had a great time at the event.

He heard about the event from his friend on SAC, so he and his table all came over together as a group after having dinner. “I loved the fruit; I am a sucker for fruit,” explained Lynch.

Also at the event was the appearance of SAC’s famous “spin to win” game, along with snacks.

First-year Matt White said that he came for the free food and “won a free wallet too.”

With full tables and an overall sound of joy (and smell of food) in the air, SAC events like these are fun things to experience on campus. Although they ran out of food earlier than expected, Snack Night was a great, latenight break for Keene State students.

You heard it here first: KSC students love events with free food, or maybe that’s just everyone.

Denise Ronan can be contacted at dronan@kscequinox.com

T h i s

W e e k CONNOR CRAWFORD / STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

On Tuesday, March 3, Keene State College faculty, students and KSC President Melinda Treadwell gathered at the Courageous Conversations event in the Cohen Center. The event focused on answering various questions such as “What does patriotism mean to you?” and “What does voting mean to you?” Other topics introduced at the event included dissent and allegiance. According to the Facebook event for the event, “The purpose of the Courageous Conversations series is to foster skill among the KSC community in having civil discussions around difficult topics.”

a t

EATING DISORDERS Cont. from B2

ders and describing their physical and emotional symptoms.

This included bulimia, anorexia, and binge-eating, and the less wellknown rumination, avoidant intake, night-eating, and pica, as well as how these disorders can interact and overlap.

Paris described their own experiences struggling with binge-eating and how it has affected them during their time living on campus. They went on to give multiple examples of social media and pop culture portraying eating disorders and weight issues in unhelpful, inaccurate, and harmful ways, such as the #ProAna

and #ProMia campaigns online discouraging people with anorexia and bulimia from getting help, casting the unhealthy disorders in a positive light because they cause people to lose weight. Paris cited the documentary film “Killing Us Softly,” which tackled how advertising media portrays women and the impact it has on real women’s selfimage. They highlighted the fact the documentary has been remade or re-released at least three times since its original debut.

The seminar included a video of celebrity actress and singer Demi Lovato’s recent appearance on “The

KSCEQUINOX.COM

Ellen Degeneres Show,” discussing how Lovato’s former management team heavily controlled her eating habits and denied her any amount of sugar, hampering her struggle to recover from an eating disorder and overdose.

Paris wrapped up their presentation around 8:30 p.m. and began taking questions and comments from the audience. Topics brought up and discussed included recent plans to update the definitions of certain eating disorders, how various disorders affect weight losses and gains, the societal perception and attitude of any weight loss

being healthy and an improvement, and the difficulty of addressing and recovering from eating disorders when one lacks a positive and supportive relationship with their family.

At the end of the discussion, Paris announced that the next seminar hosted by Active Minds will take place after KSC students return from spring break. This event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Madison Street Lounge once again and will cover psychological phobias.

K S C

Lonnie Hiltz can be contacted at lhiltz@kscequinox.com

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STUDENT LIFE / B4

Thursday, March 12, 2020

SPECIALTY DESSERT NIGHTS - WEDS:

MAR. 9 PREMIUM DINNER ZORN NORTH

MAR. 3 - 11 CHEF BRACKET BATTLE

MAR. 24 TEACHING KITCHEN

Like to write?

Interested in life on campus?

Contact Connor Crawford Student Life Editor ccrawford@kscequinox.com (603)-554-2781 KSCEQUINOX.COM

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World News/ B5 Thursday, March 12, 2020

WORLD NEWS

Fighting for healthcare

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Lawmaker fights gun ban at NH House KATHY MCCORMACK

associateD Press

New Hampshire gov joins legal fight to keep 'Obamacare' ASSOCIATED PRESS

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said New Hampshire will join 17 other states in defending the Affordable Care Act as a case that is aimed at repealing the law goes before the U.S. Supreme Court.

While he does not believe the law known as "Obamacare" has cut health care costs, Sununu told WMUR-TV that repealing the law without an "adequate replacement" would be harmful to New Hampshire residents.

"The state has no choice but to join the bipartisan effort to defend the program," Sununu said Wednesday.

He added, "To just pull it away and repeal it without a replacement, it would be devastating to New Hampshire."

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to rule on a lawsuit that threatens the health care law. The court said it would hear an appeal by mainly Democratic states of a lower-court ruling that declared part of the statute unconstitutional. A decision won't come until after the 2020 election.

The Supreme Court has shifted to the right since President Donald Trump appointed two justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Chief Justice John Roberts is considered a swing vote in this case and another before the nation's highest court on a Louisiana abortion law.

Sununu's running for a third term. His decision puts him in opposition to a group of Republican-led states and the Trump administration, which is pushing to overturn the law.

"Every state is very different," Sununu said. "The ACA doesn't impact other states like it impacts New Hampshire.

It's hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of citizens. To just throw their health care system away on a moment's notice, we have to fight for what works."

Sununu said he hopes Congress passes a replacement program while the case is pending.

"We'd love to see a system that brings costs down and a system that actually achieves the goal of more choice in health care," he said.

Last year, Sununu signed a bill authored by Democrats aimed at protecting people with pre-existing conditions if the Affordable Care Act is dismantled. At the time, he said "completely dismantling the ACA would have a pretty shocking effect on our system."

Positivity project changing stereotypes at middle school KYLE STUCKER

Foster's Daily Democrat While the rest of their classmates enjoyed time off and trips, nine Rochester Middle School students spent part of the February vacation in their school, spreading kindness through the halls.

The sixth- and eighth-grade students posted two different supportive messages on all 900 RMS lockers as part of an ongoing "positivity project" aimed at increasing student empathy and reducing common middle school problems.

"It changes the stereotype," said eighthgrader Emily Buinicky, 14. "(It allows students) to see, 'Wow, they're really there for me, I have a place here and I'm OK.'" The project was spearheaded by Buinicky, fellow eighth-graders Hannah Dorfman, Emily Finnegan and Hannah Vaughan, and sixth-graders Caiden Brand, Hannah Cope, Sydney Daly, Ava Gannon and Olivia Ostness.

The idea, outlined in instructions the group taped to the lockers, was for students

to keep one of the quotes in a visible place for themselves.

The other quote was meant for the student to give away to anyone â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in or outside of school â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they believed would benefit from receiving it.

The quotes included colorful images and messages like "You only live once but if you do it right once is enough," "Be the reason someone smiles today," "Don't let the things you want make you forget the things you have" and "Broken crayons still color."

Vaughan said her favorite is one that tells a story about a person throwing a single starfish back in the ocean. The person is asked why they'd take the time to throw one starfish when there are others who need similar assistance.

"It just reminds me how one person can spread kindness," said Vaughan, 14. "Even though you can't touch everyone, you can help one person."

Assistant Principal Kristen White said she particularly likes the crayon message because many people are quick to throw away people

they perceive to be broken or inadequate.

"We're all broken," said White. "There's nobody who's perfect. Everyone's good a something. That's what makes us all awesome."

Walking the halls Tuesday morning, the second day back from vacation, many lockers still bared at least one message. Some displayed several messages, while others were either nearly or completely covered.

The best part so far has been seeing everyone's reaction and "joy," said Ostness, 12.

"I didn't know (they were going to do this)," said sixth-grader Destiny Rouleau, 12, as she accessed her locker Tuesday. "It helped me feel great and have positivity."

The project is one of several empowering efforts the group has undertaken this year.

Before school started, six of the students also painted supportive messages and inclusive images inside RMS' most-used bathrooms.

The group spearheads RMS' annual welcome back event in which other students, staff and Rochester School Board members line the entrance and high-five and greet sixth-grad-

ers as they enter for their first day of school.

They've also wheeled snack carts around the school to deliver goodies to teachers and advocated for their fellow students to teachers and administrators.

"It started small and it's grown," said White.

"They're not out there as a way to say, 'Look what I'm doing,' but 'How can I make my school better?' The eighth-graders have taken the sixth-graders under their wing. It's been great."

White said she hopes the locker quotes and other positivity projects continue to grow and inspire other efforts in the school and community.

"If there's another big thing from this, I hope it tells students, 'If you have an idea, go to someone about it,'" said White. "It's gotten bigger and better than all of us probably would've imagined."

Online: https://bit.ly/2VWKaef ___

A Republican lawmaker took his fight against a rule banning firearms inside New Hampshire's 400-member House of Representatives to the state supreme court on Tuesday, asking it to weigh in on the issue.

For the last decade, rules on allowing guns in Representatives Hall, including the anteroom and public gallery overlooking it, have flipped back and forth, depending on which party held the majority.

After four years in the minority, Democrats regained control of the House in 2018, and one of their first actions was to restore the rule that Republicans had thrown out in 2015.

Republican Rep. John Burt, of Goffstown, said the ban was as absurd as banning women or minorities from the House. He sued the speaker of the House of Representatives, but a judge decided to dismiss the complaint, saying that the Legislature had the authority to make its own rules.

"We pass laws that upset half the people in this state. I've been a state representative for five years; I've had five death threats. I take it very serious that we need the right to protect ourselves," Burt said outside the courthouse.

He added, "I'm hoping that the Supreme Court does get involved and say, 'OK, yes, the House can make their own rules, but we have to look at constitutionality.

I have a constitutional right to carry a gun, and the House has taken it away for political reasons."

In court, Burt's lawyer, Dan Hynes, said if the court doesn't have the authority to decide whether anything done by the Legislature is unconstitutional, "there's no remedy for people." He asked the justices to send the case back to the judge to apply the right standard of whether the rule violates the state constitution.

James Cianci, House legal counsel, said the judge recognized the constitutional authority of each co-equal branch of government to establish its own internal rules. While he said the court is the final arbiter of the constitution, he argued that it is unnecessary for it to enter into a constitutional inquiry of the gun rule.

Associate Justice Gary Hicks noted the House has rules on decorum, speech and other aspects of behavior. He said if the court interferes on the gun issue, it could be "opening the floodgates" to interfering, based upon 1st Amendment concerns, with those rules. Cianci agreed.

The first ban on weapons in the House was enacted in 1971.

Supporters of the ban last year called it common sense, given that children frequently visit the Statehouse. They noted that in 2017, a House lawmaker dropped a loaded revolver onto the floor as she arrived late to a committee hearing. Another lawmaker dropped his handgun at a hearing in 2012. Neither weapon discharged.

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Sports / B6

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Editor’s

CÉDRIC cont. from B5

McLaughlin missed having Bongo in her class this semester and described Bongo as a quiet force. “He has a very magnetic personality [that] draws people to him,” McLaughlin said Associate Dean of School for Arts, Education and Humanities Tanya Sturtz has similar thoughts about Bongo. She shared an experience with him on a service trip in his freshman year where he was placed in Keene Day Care. According to Sturtz, “The students just flocked to him and wanted

to play with him, read with him and engage.” Stuartz added, “He is somebody that anywhere he walks into, he just brightens up the room.”

According to Sturtz, he is an inspiration. “You never know what life will bring you. Instead of letting it be a barrier, he embraced it from the start,” she said.

Mungeta’s close friend and KSC sophomore Glaudi Bangasimbo said, “I would have freaked out, but he was calm about it.” Banagasimbo also said, “He just took it like, ‘Okay,

it’s another challenge...’ He knew from the amount of support he had from all of us that it wasn’t gonna be that hard.”

Mungeta and Houle are aware of the support they are getting. Houle said, “When we were making the decision, we [had] an army that [stood] behind us, and they are still standing behind us, and we are pretty lucky for that.”

Scott said, “The guys on the team all hang out over there a lot, and they help him with the baby. It’s not him and Jess at the apartment; the guys are over there, his friends are standing by his side, his friends are supporting him, his friends are there for him.”

According to Bangasimbo, “At the end of the day, it’s not just their baby. We have to help them whenever they need us to help them.” He added, “We are also held in a higher responsibility because when he is gonna get older, he’s gonna live with us. We have to be that example for him, we can’t be doing stuff that we shouldn’t be doing.”

Sturtz shares the same opinion with Bangasimbo. “I hope that people on campus not only get excited to see baby Cédric but also think about... as college students, how can we think about the decisions we make, the language we use, the things that we do, knowing that there are always little ears on this campus that are learning from us,” Sturtz said.

Bangasimbo said that Cédric is not like any other baby.

He added, “That baby is a snitch, he likes to snitch a lot too.”

He shared that he now knows more than just changing diapers. “I am learning about formula and all this stuff; how to make his food, how to burp him, noise control, how to put him to sleep, if he cries what he means…”

Scott said, “The change will be more profound as he gets older. He can interact with the team a little bit, when he’s one year old…. I think you’ll see more interaction, which is only natural, but it’s definitely brought the team closer.”

Despite a big change in his life, Mungeta is determined to finish his education.

Scott wants to see Mungeta graduate. “It’s not a hope, it’s going to happen that he graduates. He has to graduate, that’s the priority, he knows that too. He’s very well aware that he knows when he graduates, he’s going to be able to take care of Cédric,” Scott said.

With a newborn child, classes, homework and soccer, Mungeta has a lot on his plate. “I don’t want to use Cédric as my excuse,” Mungeta said. Whenever Cédric is sleeping, Mungeta tries to do as much as he can before he wakes up. “I try to get on top of everything,” he said.

Mungeta has been bringing Cédric to campus whenever he is free and it is sunny outside. They are also seen in different events like basketball games. Mungeta recently did a dance performance with Cédric in an event. He said, “I’m not ashamed of having him so I show him to the whole campus.”

Puja Thapa can be contacted at pthapa@kscequinox.com

“

“That baby is a snitch, he likes to snitch a lot too.”

“

- Glaudi Bangasimbo BENAJIL RAI / MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Clinton “Bongo” Mungeta dancing with his 3-month-old son at the Young, Black and Gifted celebration.

Writing from across the pond HAILEY BEAUPRE

SenIor deFenSe FIeld Hockey My name is Hailey Beaupre and I am a senior history major at Keene State.

After finishing up my senior season on the field hockey team as well as some major courses this past fall, I am now spending my final semester studying abroad in Scotland in order to pursue my passion of Scottish history and tourism with the hope of even continuing on to a postgraduate program.

I have officially been in Scotland studying history at the University of Dundee for two months now. While it has certainly had its challenges, I have already had the time of my life. I have traveled and seen locations I have only dreamed about and have loved every second of it. From castles that are so beautiful it is hard to believe they’re even real, to locations I have studied for years, immersing myself in the reallife history, or the general beauty that Scotland’s landscapes and architecture have to offer on a daily basis. I have met and gained friends from all over the world who I get to share this experience with. The people here are just so kind and always

willing to provide assistance and give advice. On all accounts, I find that I love the city of Dundee more and more every day.

It is such a tight-knit, welcoming and convenient city.

I never thought that I would ever be able to do anything like living in a different country by myself, but here I am.

I promise it is much easier than most people would think.

Being on your own gives you an entirely different perspective on yourself and traveling. You really come to realize how resourceful you actually are, and how willing you become to branch out to try new things. Whether it’s flying alone for the first time across the ocean, taking a train by yourself across the country, walking miles and miles through the back farmland, trying haggis, or hiking up a mountain to reach the top of a castle, it is always worth it. I have built up the mentality to try and see if I can do something new almost every day, when it’s possible. I just want to make the absolute most of my time here.

I would say the biggest cultural difference I have experienced so far is definitely a lot of the terminology within our way about English versus theirs. My friends and I always tend to have a good time learning new ways to say certain things!

The dialect can be challenging from time to time depending

SOREN FRANTZ / PHOTO EDITOR

on where we are in the county, but the longer you’re here, the easier it gets. It certainly does not take long for people to realize where I come from, on the other hand. Given the current state of the political world, both in the U.S. as well as what the U.K. is going through, it does get brought up a lot in social and public places. However, I find that it is incredibly easy to have a civil and intellectual conversation with locals despite the controversial topics that may be brought up. It has been relatively easy gaining comfort within living in a different culture, though! It was quite natural to pick up on how you should act, what you should and shouldn’t say, and genuinely just become a part of the city and campus life. Just like Keene, the resources that the University of Dundee provides really helps the international students adjust to this new way of life.

For me, leaving the comfort that I had at Keene among my studies and field hockey was the worst part. Even though this was the opportunity of a lifetime, I still feel a sense of guilt about leaving. I willingly gave up spending my last semester in Keene alongside my friends and teammates in order to go off on my own to try and make something of myself in a different country. If it weren’t for the people and experiences that I had at Keene State, I most definitely would not be on the journey that I am today. Without my professors, my advisor, my coaches, my teammates and friends, Scotland wouldn’t have been a possibility. They all played a crucial role. I received so much love and support from those on campus that it led me to believe in myself and my journey both in and out of the classroom, and on and off the field. They helped me to realize that it was more than okay to pursue this journey, despite how impossible and heartbreaking I made it seem. I am eternally grateful for getting to learn at such a fantastic and loving school and community, to be a part of such an incredible athletic program and to have been on the greatest team. Keene State College changed my life. It gave me a family and memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Even all the way across the pond, I am always sure to keep those back home up to date on my experience. There are days when all I want is to just have them here with me so I can share all of this beauty with them, but pictures, videos and FaceTime certainly help fill the void. I will love Keene forever, and I do really miss it, but my future is here in Scotland. It brings me comfort knowing that I am still receiving such a strong level of support back home; I carry it with me every day here. #UpHockey forever.

P I C K(s)

COURTESY OF BRANDON CASTOR

SKYLER GAUTHIER BRANDON CASTOR

Indoor Track & FIeld This past weekend Keene State juniors Skyler Gauthier and Brandon Castor took to New York City to compete in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC).

Gauthier competed in the pentathlon, an event that consists of competing in the 800-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles, long jump, high jump, and shot put. Not only did she finish the day with a season best score of 3,200 points but she also finished top-three in all five of the events.

Gauthier took home the win in the 800-meter with a time of 2:27.22 and placed second in long jump with a jump of 5.24-meters and second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.36 seconds. Gauthier also placed in third in the high jump with a jump of 1.40-meters and third in shot put with a throw of 9.52-meters. Gauthier also received All-ECAC honors.

Castor competed in the 400meter dash in New York City as well, placing third with a time of 50.33 seconds. Castor had been running lifetime best after lifetime best at the tail end of the season and this run was no different. Castor edged out his previous lifetime best of 51.03 seconds which was run at the NCAA DIII New England Championship the week prior.

The third place finish also landed Castor an All-ECAC honor.

While the ECACs marked the end of indoor competition for Gauthier and Castor, neither are taking breaks in their training as the outdoor season is now fast approaching.

Skyler Gauthier and Brandon Castor are this week’s Editor’s Picks because of their performance at a high level and ability to always show up and put in the work.

Editor’s Pick is the sole opinion of the Sports Editor.

Claire Boughton can be contacted at cboughton@kscequinox.com

Outdoor Track & Field Schedule 4/4: Fitchburg Invite 4/11: Spring Fling Invite 4/18: Penmen Relays 4/25: LEC Championships 5/1 - 5/2: DIII New England Championships 5/8 - 5/9: NEICAAA NE Champshionships 5/14: Last Chance Qualifier

5/21 - 5/23:

NCAA DIII Championships

Senior defense Hailey Beaupre (#31) leading the charge to celebrate Keene State’s Little East Conference semi-final win against Western Connecticut State University.

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Sports / B7

Thursday, March 12, 2020

GRIFFIN ELL / ART DIRECTOR

What is ‘The Creator’s Game’?

A look at the deep roots and rich history of the game lacrosse CLAIRE BOUGHTON

SportS Editor Lacrosse.

Some people think of a complex game.

Some people think of that sport they tried once in high school.

Some people think of Paul Rabil or Rob Pannell.

Some people think of lettuce.

But what many may not think of is The Creator’s Game.

The sport of lacrosse, originally called ‘stickball’, was first played by Native Americans before European colonizers came to what is now the United States.

According to an article by Zeresh Haman titled “The Creator’s Game: Native American Culture and Lacrosse,” at the time of stickball first being played it had very different regulations depending on the region in the United States that it was being played in. The game rules, number of players and even the size of the playing field often varied among tribes. The game also had varying names. One of the more common names was “The Creator’s Game.”

The name came from the idea that stickball was gifted to the people by the Creator, the entity that, in Native American culture, was responsible for creating everything on Earth.

Stickball was played on large fields that could stretch anywhere from 500-yards to two-miles in length.

The number of players would also vary between 100 and 2,000. Tribes would play from sunup to sundown, sometimes over the span of several days. This was due to there being no regulation time for stickball. The two teams, whether it be different tribes or members of the same tribe, would agree on a certain number of goals and the game would be played until the number was reached. There were only two rules players needed to

abide by: there was no touching the ball with hands and there were no boundaries. The game would begin when the ball was thrown up into the air and the first player would scramble to catch it.

Although this may sound like an extreme sport to some, for Native Americans, stickball was very rarely used for recreation. Rather, it played a substantial part of their culture and at some times it was viewed as a religious ceremony.

U.S. Lacrosse produced a short video titled “Spirit of the Stick,” which was part of a video series that took a deeper look at the roots of the ceremonious game which is now played at all levels across the continent.

“It’s really not a sport. The competition is fierce and so forth, but you couldn’t call it a sport. It’s much more than that,” said National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Oren Lyons, who was interviewed in the video.

One of the things stickball was used for in the Native American culture was to toughen up young boys and turn them into warriors.

Haman explained that the roughness of the game often led to people getting injured when they played.

It also wasn’t uncommon for participants to die when playing the game. Because of the physicality of stickball, it would also be used to settle arguments that would normally lead to war among Native American tribes.

The playing sticks used in stickball also held a religious value for Native Americans.

“You gotta play with a wooden stick. No tupperware. There’s nothing spiritual about plastic,” laughed Lyons during his video interview.

Lyons continued to explain what the true meaning behind the wooden sticks are. The wood, which is normally hickory, represents all the trees while the netting that is made from dried out hide represents all the animals.

“You make that stick from nature,” said legendary

lacrosse stick maker Alf Jacques, who was also interviewed in the video. “That’s a living piece of wood that you make that out of. The energy of that living tree then transfers to the player.”

Haman said that the lacrosse sticks were held with such a value and importance that in some tribes when a man passed away he would be buried with his lacrosse stick. It was believed that when he woke up in the afterlife the first thing he would do would be take his stick and begin playing The Creator’s Game.

According to an article by Jane Claydon titled “Lacrosse Origin and History,” stickball was not witnessed by any Europeans until around the 1630s.

Haman explained that the actual name “lacrosse” did not exist until 1636, when a French missionary named Jean de Brebeuf “compared the shape of the sticks used by players of the game to a bishop’s crozier, which is ‘crosse’ in French.”

It was not until 1834 that lacrosse would pick up popularity as a sport, however.

Claydon explained that in 1834 a group of Caughnawaga Native Americans traveled to Montreal, Canada, to demonstrate the game.

In 1856, a Canadian dentist named Dr. William George Beers founded the Montreal Lacrosse Club and only a decade later, he came up with an adjusted set of rules for the game. Beers also introduced the rubber ball and a newly designed lacrosse stick.

In an article by Thomas Vennum Jr. on uslacrosse. org titled “The History of Lacrosse,” Vennum explains that once the sport was popularized in Canada other countries began to follow suit.

“Once the game quickly grew in popularity in Canada, it began to be exported throughout the Commonwealth, as non-Native teams traveled to Europe for exhibition matches against Iroquois players. Ironically, because Indians had to charge money in order to

travel, they were excluded as ‘professionals’ from international competition for more than a century,” stated Vennum in his article.

In 1890, women began to participate in lacrosse as well.

According to Claydon, the first game of women’s lacrosse ever played happened on March 27 and was at an all girls school in Scotland called St. Leonards School. The headmistress Miss Lumsden had watched a game be played in Canada and when she returned to Scotland decided that it was a “beautiful and graceful” sport that she wanted to introduce to the school.

In 1905 the first women’s lacrosse club, the Southern Ladies’ Club, was founded in England.

Slowly, more and more countries introduced women’s lacrosse and in 1931 the United States founded a women’s lacrosse association as well.

While lacrosse now has changed greatly from the historical game that was first played by the Native Americans, it is still important to not forget about the deep roots the sport has. What is now competition was once ceremony’ however, lacrosse, or stickball, is and will forever be The Creator’s Game at its historical core.

Claire Boughton can be contacted at cboughton@kscequinox.com

Spr i ng Edi Br tio eak n!

This Week for the Owls Thursday 3/12

Friday 3/13

Saturday 3/14

Indoor Track & Field: NCAA DIII Nationals in Winston Salem, N.C.

No Contests

Baseball Doubleheader VS. Baseball VS. Juniata @ 9:30 AM Penn State-Fayette @ 11:30 AM & 2:30 PM Softball Doubleheader VS. Crown @ 9:00 AM & Oneonta @ 11:00 AM

Sunday 3/15 Baseball VS. Fredonia @ 3:00 PM Softball Doubleheader VS. Allegheny @ 9:00 AM & Wisconsin-Superior @ 11:00 AM Men’s Lacrosse VS. New Paltz @ 2:30 PM Women’s Lacrosse VS. Geneseo @ 4:30 PM

Monday 3/16 Baseball VS. Wisconsin-Stevens Point @ 1:30 PM

** - Home Contest

Wednesday 3/18

Tuesday 3/17 Baseball Doubleheader VS. Utica @ 9:45 AM & 12:30 PM

Softball Doubleheader VS. Crown @ 9:00 AM & Wisconsin-Superior @ 11:00 AM

Softball Doubleheader VS. Brockport @ 9:00 AM & Allegheny @ 1:00 PM Men’s Lacrosse VS. Franklin & Marshall @ 3:00 PM Women’s Lacrosse VS. Mount St. Vincent @ 11:30 AM

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SPORTS

Sports / B8

Thursday, March 12, 2020

WHAT IS ‘THE CREATOR’S GAME’?

SEE B7

KSCEQUINOX.COM

Sun sets, bats down

Third annual KSC Giving Challenge No lights on the softball and baseball fields prevents night games wraps up JEREMY LANDERS

KIRSTEN SOMERO / EQUINOX STAFF

Equinox Staff Keene State College is home to many sports teams, all of which require a certain terrain, climate and athlete. Some sports teams like soccer and field hockey have the necessary environment to allow for a better and more flexible playing and viewing experience. However, other fields like baseball and softball lack in some areas, specifically in lighting.

Keene State softball head Coach Carrah Fisk Hennessey does not believe the lack of lighting negatively influences her team, but it would be a nice addition.

“I don’t believe it negatively impacts the team, but it would certainly be a boost,” said Fisk. “We are not able to host evening games, cannot rent our facility to tournaments or leagues (e.g. NHIAA championships), would not be able to host NCAA tournaments without lights... Our own KSC practice and game schedule is dictated not only by the weather and field conditions but also by the sun. The outdoor fields beyond the turf and soccer stadium need considerable improvement to stay competitive in the college market. We appreciate all that our grounds department and softball teams and coaches have done to maintain the spaces we have.”

Fisk claimed that the lighting for other teams is due to the season.

“Other teams have the opportunity to play night games in the warmer part of the year,” said Fisk. “April is generally colder and our sport needs temperate conditions in order to be played. Lights would definitely help with regularly scheduled doubleheaders that could be halted and would need to be finished on another date or time due to lack of light. The rental potential would be improved with lighting, as would the opportunity to highlight our facilities throughout our region. Right now, however, we are unable to do either.”

Fisk believes funding would be the best option for getting lights.

“More funding is the easy answer,” said Fisk. “It’s an involved process including site prep, wiring and environmental planning for post digging, etc. We do not have a sport-specific booster club, nor do we have a departmental booster club. All fundraising endeavors we plan, run and participate in at the current time help us afford our tournament trip to Florida over the college’s spring break, where we play

HUNTER OBERST

10 games that count toward our regularseason record.”

The Keene State baseball team’s head coach Ken Howe agrees with Fisk that the lighting situation does not have a negative impact on his team’s performance.

“Most of our season is played in the spring,” said Howe. “We play at 3:30 in the afternoon and we’re happy if it is 45 degrees, nevermind when the sun is down, which would be much colder. Lights would help for summertime use, rentals and fall baseball, but I think it would be more beneficial to have a turf field. A turf field would give us the ability to play and practice like a lot of the other New England schools, we could be outside today rather than hitting BP [batting practice] in the gym.”

Like Fisk, Howe believes the weather is a major proponent in getting lights.

“You have to remember they play in better weather,” said Howe. “It is much nicer in September and early October to play at night when it is still 60 to 70 degrees.

So I think that is the biggest reason, just the time of the year [we] play at.”

According to Howe, funding is also an issue when it comes to lighting.

“Like everybody else, funding is a major issue,” said Howe. “Trying to get things done that you need to get done is a challenge. Our grounds crew does a great job with what they have, but it is just a matter of funds to update and redo facilities.”

Senior baseball player Ryan Linehan is just focused on playing baseball.

“I think right now we are just worried about the fact of getting games played,” said Linehan. “It is more about our field being wet and covered in the snow rather than the lighting. We play in so many cold weather games during the day, so it wouldn’t really make sense to play at night when it is colder.”

Linehan doesn’t see a point in getting lights, since they play doubleheaders.

“I think soccer and field hockey play in the fall and you have better weather,” said Linehan. “Plus, a lot of our games are doubleheaders so you can’t really start them at 7 p.m. like you could with a soccer game because they’d last all night.”

Equinox Staff

Jeremy Landers can be contacted at jlanders@kscequinox.com

CLAIRE BOUGHTON / SPORTS EDITOR

Cédric’s first year as an Owl PUJA THAPA

adminiStrativE ExEcutivE Editor “Let’s keep the baby and I’ll be here through anything; through thick and thin. I know we’re gonna struggle, but [I know] that’s part of growing up.”

This is what Keene State College junior Clinton Mungeta said to his girlfriend Jessica Houle when they found out she was pregnant with Cédric. Mungeta and Houle are full-time students at KSC. Houle is majoring in elementary education and holocaust and genocide studies. Mungeta is majoring in elementary education and French. Mungeta is also on the KSC soccer team, competes in track and field and is involved with the KSC dance program. Mungeta said he is blessed to have his baby Cédric in his life. Cédric came into their lives on December 15, 2019.

Mungeta goes by the name “Bongo.” According to him, he got the name from his friends because he comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2012, when he came to the United States, he knew no English. It was frustrating for

Mungeta for the first few years. Mungeta said, “Every time anyone tried to talk to me, I wouldn’t know what they were saying. I was just nodding my head so I was like, ‘What’s the point of me being here if I’m never gonna understand the language?’”

Mungeta calls his mom his number one supporter and the best source of motivation for him. According to Mungeta, when he lost hope and felt like he didn’t fit in at the school, his mom motivated him by saying, “‘You’re so young, things will come easier than you expect, so stick to your plan.’” Mungeta then joined the soccer club in high school.

This helped him improve his English by communicating with the coach and his team members as well as exposing himself to the American culture. Mungeta spoke French and Swahili back in Congo.

“Bongo is a very unique athlete, unique person. He’s a class act, top shelf on the field, off the field; he’s just a good person,” said head men’s soccer Coach Rick Scott. Scott also added that Cédric is a beautiful, little baby boy. “I love looking at him and holding him,” Scott said. He also said that

Mungeta is “leading by example” and added, “...this is quite a change in his life and he’s not shirking any responsibilities.

His first responsibility is to his family right now and that’s where his priority is and that’s where it should be. His school is second and soccer is third and he’s doing a nice job.” Scott thinks Mungeta is a tremendous father already.

Houle thinks of Mungeta as an amazing person. “Since the day we found out, he was completely focused on Cédric and that was his only mindset,” Houle said. She further added, “Over the summer, he worked like crazy and he’d get up at 5 in the morning, and he worked until 7:30 at night; that was his main goal, to make Cédric’s life a lot easier than what he had when he was growing up and that’s still his main focus.”

Out of many people who admire Bongo, assistant professor and coordinator of the dance program Cynthia McLaughlin is one of them.

The race to raise funds for Keene State College’s athletic teams finished on March 1, with a total of $48,661 raised, which shattered the original goal of $20,000 by 243 percent.

Keene State’s 2020 Athletics Giving Challenge was held during the month of February and was a campaign in which KSC partnered with Fenton Family Dealerships to encourage students, staff, alumni and families alike to donate funds to their favorite teams.

The interim manager of Annual Giving, Patrick Shaughnessy, said 2020 was his third year participating in the challenge, but this year was the most “hands-on” of them all. Shaughnessy said there were 457 unique donors who raised a total of $48,661.

“It’s the second [highest number of] donors the challenge has ever had, but it’s the most dollars we’ve ever generated for the challenge. I was super excited watching it the whole time; it has been a blast,” Shaughnessy said.

The athletic department’s marketing and promotions coordinator, Dr. Ron Butcher, said the purpose of the fundraiser was to challenge coaches and teams to raise as much money for their teams as possible.

“It’s fundraisers like these that make the difference between teams taking a van or a bus to an away game or whether or not they get new uniforms,” said Butcher.

“With state budgets lacking in New Hampshire, it’s imperative that the athletic department has fundraisers.”

Out of all the teams that participated, the men’s soccer program generated the most money, earning $13,276 out of the $1,000 set for the team, according to head coach of men’s soccer Rick Scott.

Scott said he was very proud of the men’s soccer alumni and friends of the program who donated funds to the challenge, adding that they responded very well.

“It’s awesome. Everyone worked hard to achieve the goal and we did it in 11 days,” Scott said.

Scott added that to aid their campaign, the men’s soccer team, with the help of Keene State’s journalism, multimedia and public relations Department Chair Chad Nye, put together a 45-second video informing friends and family to donate.

Scott said that the men’s soccer program owed a great deal of their success to Shaughnessy, who was there for them every step of the way. “He was amazing and he was always available to call. He was very accomodating and supportive and we would not have had success without him,” Scott said.

Shaughnessy said he was proud of men’s soccer for “busting their tails,” but he also enjoyed working with all of the coaches.

“It was lots of fun. I hope it’s a bridge for future challenges like this. It was a true team effort,” Shaughnessy said.

In second place for the challenge was men’s lacrosse, followed by women’s field hockey, earning $7,645 and $5,677 respectively, according to Shaughnessy.

Scott said that with the funds earned by the soccer program during the Giving Challenge, they hope to purchase a new scoreboard at the Dr. Ron Butcher Field.

Hunter Oberst can be contacted at hoberst@kscequinox.com

SEE CÉDRIC B6

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