Detention center in Berks County has released migrant families, page 3
My experience working for the Philadelphia Eagles, page 9
Men’s lacrosse putting in the work, page 10
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CABRINI UNIVERSITY THELOQUITUR.COM
VOL. LXII, ISSUE 5
THURSDAY, MARCH, 25 2021
Cabrini makes cuts to staff and programs to prevent a higher deficit BY GABBY CELLUCCI, MEGAN FEE, MARIA LATTANZE AND FAITH PITSIKOULIS NEWS EDITOR, WRITING MANAGING EDITOR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND MEDIA MANAGING EDITOR
Cabrini University has recently announced a new strategic plan to prevent any further accumulation of debt. This plan includes restructuring different courses, majors and minors the university offers. According to IRS Form 990 filed by the university with the government, Cabrini University has had a budget deficit since 2013 that has been increasing. However, Chief Financial Officer Eric Olson references the disclosed debt found in the balance sheets, which does not pertain to the operations of the university. This debt comes from the facility construction Cabrini has made over the years as “long-term arrangements.” “All the debt found in the balance sheets are associated with facilities that have been constructed over the years,” Olson said. “The latest issue we did in 2017 was what financed the new residence halls, the parking structure and the nursing facilities that now exist in the first floor of Iadarola.” Such constructions received funding, or long term bond deals, in order to continue the construction. Cru5h, now known as The Grill, was constructed due to the long outstanding contract the university holds with Sodexo. Sodexo was behind the remodeling, along with the name change. Olson explained how a lot of buildings and programs that Cabrini has been spending money on are from bonds, which run for 30 years. President Donald Taylor explained that the majority of funding for the nursing program came from external sources such as the renovations in Iadarola for the new nursing program. For example, the hospital beds for the nursing program were donated by Bryn Mawr Hospital. As for the parking garage and South Residence Hall, Taylor said that they were necessary additions for the university’s campus. Taylor explained that the campus had run out of housing to provide for students, so they needed to build South Residence Hall in order to have more housing available on-campus. He also said that the university needed to invest in the parking garage, because students voiced that there was very little parking on campus. See Cabrini Cuts, Page 3
Celebrating Women’s History Month BY RYAN CODKIND STAFF WRITER
March is known as Women’s History Month, which seeks to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions of women throughout the ages. The origins of Women’s History Month dates back to 1978 when the school district of Sonoma, California, decided to hold a weeklong celebration recognizing the different ways that women have made a significant impact on all aspects of society. During this week, several schools organized presentations and wrote essays about notable women that have made important contributions over time. From that time on, many schools found out about this women’s celebration and decided to bring it to their communities. In just a few short years, this week-long celebration could be seen across the country. The desire to celebrate women during this period in March led to Congress passing Pub. L. 97-28, which declared that the week of March 7, 1982 would be known as “Women’s History Week.” For the next several years, Congress continued to support this initiative and formally set aside a week in March to commemorate women’s history. In 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned as a way to convince Congress to pass a resolution that would designate the entire month of March as “Women’s History Month.” This motion, along with several others issued by the president, passed and officially recognized March as Women’s History Month. Since then, March has continued to be an important time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women over time. Women’s History Month has remained an integral part of remembering those women who have contributed greatly to our society. Each year, The National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme for Women’s History Month. For 2021, the theme is entitled “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.” This theme is intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. During this time, the National Women’s History Alliance is showcasing the different contributions to this movement. See Women’s History Month, Page 7
EDITORIAL
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WE ARE THE
LOQUITUR 2020-2021 Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARIA LATTANZE WRITING MANAGING EDITOR MEGAN FEE MEDIA MANAGING EDITOR FAITH PITSIKOULIS NEWS EDITORS GABBY CELLUCCI AMERICA LOPEZ-SANTIAGO SPORTS EDITORS TY DAUBERT KEVIN MCLAUGHLIN
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
Women continue tradition of female leadership at Cabrini LAYAL SROUR AND AMERICA LOPEZ-SANTIAGO LIFESTYLES EDITOR AND NEWS EDITOR
Throughout history, women have struggled with equality. That’s why we have history months to celebrate individual groups. Cabrini University was started by two empowered women, Mother Cabrini and Mother Ursula. Their legacy is followed by other influential women who have come to ‘educate the hearts’ of their students, as St. Frances Cabrini urged. These professors are dedicated to teaching their students leadership development, academic excellence and a commitment to social justice.
rejected her petition, only to back track after she gained approval from other colleges within the area. In 1957, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus secured a charter for Cabrini College, and Mother Ursula became Cabrini College’s first president. “She was a very compassionate and strong person,” Dr. Beverly Bryde, founding dean of the School of Education, said. “You know, for a female leader, that combination was something that I admired and aspired to be like. To have that strength and grace in leading and making sure that you hold people accountable to what needs to get done.”
LIFESTYLES EDITORS LAYAL SROUR PERSPECTIVES EDITOR LAUREN KELLEY SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER FAITH PITSIKOULIS LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR MIRANDA SMITH ADVISER JEROME ZUREK
MISSION The Loquitur student newspaper and website are integral parts of the educational mission of the Cabrini communication department, namely, to educate students to take their places in the public media. Loquitur Media provides a forum of free expression. All members of the university community may submit work to the editors for possible inclusion. Publication is based on the editorial decision of the editors.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.
profkaren on Flickr.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Born on July 15, 1850 and the youngest of 13 children, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, also known as Mother Cabrini, was born in a small village in Italy. Due to her health, she was unable to join the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts, which was her dream. Cabrini and seven other sisters founded “the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Although they planned to be missionaries in China, they were told “not to the East, but to the West,” where they went to New York for their missionary work to help with Italian immigrants in the United States. With all the poverty going on in New York around 1889, Cabrini and the sisters established schools and orphanages for the Italian immigrants in need. As of today, “the Missionary Sisters can be found on six continents and 17 countries throughout the world; wherever there is a need. She made 24 trans-Atlantic crossings and established 67 institutions: schools, hospitals and orphanages.” Cabrini passed away on December 22, 1917 and was declared a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1946 for her service to the people.
Dr. Dawn Francis
Cabrini University.
Dr. Dawn Francis Dr. Dawn Francis is the chair of the communication department and associate professor. Francis graduated as a student from Cabrini’s communication department in 1993, then returned as a full-time faculty member in 2002 in that same department. She earned a master’s in journalism at Ohio University, and a doctorate of education in higher education-academic leadership at Widener University. “I am inspired by the university’s mission of social justice. I wanted to teach students how they can live the mission in their life and their profession,” Francis said. “Mother Cabrini was an educator, and Mother Ursula Infante, our university’s foundress, was also an educator. These two women religious exemplars were also strong leaders who set goals, marshalled resources, and achieved success for the good of others.” Francis has more than 13 years of corporate professional experience in “product marketing, project management, performance consulting and leadership coaching for Fortune 500 clients across the globe.” Since 2010, she has been maintaining her own coaching, training and performance consulting practice called Shift Mindsets. In 1976, Francis was awarded the Foundation Faculty Fellowship grant to study leadership and communication.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
“The research was focused on leading social change through social media, a pilot for which they rolled out to SEPCHE student leaders in fall 2014.”
The Loquitur accepts letters to the editors. The letters should be less than 500 words, usually in response to a current issue on Cabrini University’s campus or community area and are printed as space permits. Name, phone number and address should be included with submissions for verification purposes. All letters to the editors must be sent via email to loquitur@cabrini.edu
In many of her classes, she requires students to become communicators of social change, a topic that she has great interest in. They are passionate about social justice issues and create websites focused on raising awareness and educating audiences about those issues.
Mother Ursula Infante, pictured here in a 1984 Loquitur photo.
Loquitur.
Mother Ursula Infante Born Anna Lawrence on Feb. 18, 1897, Mother Infante was adopted into a family in New York. She entered the convent at the age of 18 and was accepted into the order by Mother Cabrini. Mother Infante was one of the earliest women to graduate from Fordham University, with degrees in education and pharmacy. She then earned her masters in education from Columbia University. Mother Infante was a woman determined to share the love of Jesus, when the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus sent her to start a college. John O’Hara, archbishop of Philadelphia, initially
Aside from Cabrini, Francis has been working and managing the marketing communications and outreach for the Upper Merion Farmers Market in King of Prussia. “Having a month to focus on women and their essential roles in society helps us to not only celebrate their successes, but spotlight the injustices they suffer that are in need of repair,” Francis said. “Our power is infinite if we can help one another.” LAYALSROUR00@GMAIL.COM AMERICALOPEZ1156@GMAIL.COM
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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
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Cabrini Cuts By using bonds on these buildings and programs, the university is able to spend money on long-term investments despite the deficit. According to Taylor, the long-term bond deals have actually helped the university save money.
He explained that there are approximately 29 voluntary separations, approximately 12 involuntary separations and seven people that are retiring, or in positions that are not filled due to a hiring freeze.
“I do need to make clear,” Olson said. “The debt that we incur is not connected to deficits related to tuition and operating expenses. The revenue we collect for tuition and the expenses you pay for salaries and electricity, none of that is in our debt and it never has been.”
As for the students, some may have concerns about Cabrini demoting Spanish and Black studies to just minors. However, many leaders have made it clear that Cabrini is more committed to social justice now than it ever has been.
Olson continued to explain how the university has a deficit each year, but the university is not incurring debt from each deficit. The university works to manage the deficit and the reserves which is part of the initiative. “Obviously, we have to be proactive and not get to a point where we utilize all of our current reserves and then we will be incurring debt,” Olson said. “That would not be a healthy place for the university.” Olson explained that the steps that Cabrini has taken so far play a big role in not incurring deficit spending every year, and there will be continuing efforts as the university moves into the strategic planning part of this innovation work. “So just like you would if you got a mortgage to buy a house and you finance that offer, it’s the same as our debt,” Olson said.
“We are elevating social justice at Cabrini,” Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said. “If you look at the announcement that came out, what we’re trying to do is make sure that every student at Cabrini is exposed to diversity, equity and inclusion, so this is why we are shifting these majors into the core. Then, in addition, we are also going to have a cultural studies major that will have concentrations in Spanish, Black studies and all these other programs that are related to diversity, equity and inclusion.” Ugochukwu feels these changes will better incorporate social justice into Cabrini’s curriculum. “Now every student on campus will have to take courses related to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
“Of course we want to get out of debt but that’s all scheduled,” Olson added. As for the personnel aspect of this, Cabrini had a voluntary separation program, which has been where the majority of personnel changes occurred, according to Taylor.
MLATTANZE1199@GMAIL.COM MEGANFEE17@GMAIL.COM FAITHPITS@GMAIL.COM GCELLUCCI14@GMAIL.COM
Detention center in Berks County has released migrant families CHRIS SCHALLER ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey has announced that the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement had released all of the migrant families at the Berks County Residential Center. Around the country, there are detention centers that hold migrants captive for coming into the country illegally, or overstaying a VISA. Specifically, the Berks County Residential Center will be highlighted as the migrant families have been released. At its highest peak, the detention center held over 40 migrant families. There were a plethora of human rights violations. There was a lot of backlash and protests sparked across the Delaware Valley, calling for the shutdown of the facility. “I don’t think it’s ethical for Berks County to hold migrants captive while they are waiting for their court date,” Dr. Melissa Gonzalez-Contreras, Spanish professor and member of the Cabrini University Center on Immigration, said. The end goal is for the Berks County Residential center to be closed. That sentiment has been shared by Senator Casey. The way that the families were kept in the detention center was inhumane and squalid. Children in the center have suffered from shingles, COVID-19 cases have been reported and there
A protest against I.C.E detention centers in Philadelphia back in 2019.
have also been allegations of sexual assault. These are some of the many reasons why the center should be shut down. The Biden administration reportedly wants to change the detention centers to reception centers, ultimately clearing the status of holding migrants captive at these places. This would ultimately move migrants to residential housing instead of in a prisonlike environment. The ultimate goal in the case of undocumented immigrants is for them to be able to seek asylum in the United States, which would make them refugees under the legal status. Many have brought up the fact that ICE should be disbanded and shut down. “Immigration offenses are civil offenses and you do not need a police-type agency to enforce immigration laws,” Dr. Gonzalez-Contreras said. ICE has been described as an “American Gestapo,” raiding homes and abducting migrants and putting them in detention centers. Alternatives to a detention center could be house arrest, assigned court dates or could sponsor families until a decision about their status is made.
A group of people started the Shut Down Berks Coalition. The week of March 1 through March 5, they held a schedule to call the political offices of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Sen. Bob Casey and President Joe Biden. The coalition is demanding that the detention center should be shut down and for ICE. officials to be held accountable for the human rights abuses that these migrants have faced. “Nobody should be put into a cage, there’s no reason why families should be separated and that in itself is a violation of human rights,” Julia Smith, senior criminology and sociology major, said. The goal is to end family-wide detention across the state of Pennsylvania and eventually nationwide. There has been no word yet on whether or not the detention center will remain a facility that detains migrants. With the public reaction to the detention center being negative, and with there being calls from state politicians for them to be shut down, there is no knowing to what the future holds for the Berks County Residential Center in Leesport, Pennsylvania. SCHALLERC23@GMAIL.COM
Rachel Warriner
NEWS
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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
What students need to know about how to apply for housing GABRIELLE CELLUCCI NEWS EDITOR
It is that time of year again when students need to prepare to apply for residential housing for the next school year. Applying for housing can seem stressful, especially for freshmen and other first-year students. Here is what students need to know when they apply for housing. Applying for Housing 1.) Students should log into their Cabrini Portal account 2.) They need to click on the MyHousing tab in order to fill out the housing application for next year. 3.) After clicking on the MyHousing tab, click the “Applications” tab and scroll down to the tab that reads “Returning Student Application (Fall 2021).” 4.) Fill out the application to have housing for next year.
Important Dates The housing application for returning students was made available Tuesday, March 2 and will no longer be available as of Thursday, March 25 at 11:59 p.m. After completing the housing application, students will be able to view their lottery numbers for room selection on Monday, March 29 on their MyHousing account. Room selection will occur on Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8. Residence Life will be hosting live information sessions for students to ask questions concerning housing and room selection for next year on Thursday, March 25 at 10 a.m., Monday, April 5 at 4 p.m. and Tuesday, April 6 at 11:30 a.m. All information sessions will be virtual and hosted through Blackboard Collaborate. Roommates “Rising sophomore students need to complete the housing application as soon as possible, so they can start to form their roommate groups,” Meghan Junor, the assistant director of Residence Life, said. “They cannot form their roommate groups until they complete the housing application.” Students should know who they plan to room with for next year prior to the day of room selections. Students can log into their MyHousing account in order to search, select, send and accept roommate requests from other students who are also looking for roommates for the next school year.
which is Wednesday, April 7, is for students selecting single rooms in East Residence Hall, groups of four selecting rooms in West Residence Hall or South Residence Hall, groups of six selecting in West Residence Hall or Cabrini Apartments. Students should be aware that the Cabrini Apartments are only for seniors. Students in groups of two or groups of three are able to select rooms in Dixon House. On the second day of room selection, which is Thursday, April 8, students in groups of two can select rooms in either Dixon House, South Residence Hall or West Residence Hall between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Between 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the second day of room selection, individual students who do not have a roommate are able to select from any remaining rooms. “Students do not have to be registered for classes for fall ‘21 in order to participate in room selection, but they need to be registered by Saturday, May 1 in order to keep their housing,” Junor said. GCELLUCCI14@GMAIL.COM
Room Selection 1.) Students should log into their MyHousing account. 2.) Students should then click the “Room Selection” tab. 3.) Under the “Room Selection” tab, there are two tabs that students can select: “Select Roommates” or “Select a Room/Suite.” 4.) The “Select Roommates” tab helps students to select their roommates for next year. 5.) The “Select a Room/Suite” tab is for students to select their room with their roommates for next year. Gabrielle Cellucci
Important dates for students to know about the room selection process.
Students should know that the first day of room selection,
Asian hate crimes are on the rise LAYAL SROUR & FAITH PITSIKOULIS LIFESTYLES EDITOR & MEDIA MANAGING EDITOR
For the past few months, there has been an alarming increase in Asian hate crimes, mostly seniors. The question is why.? An analysis done by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism showed, “that while such crimes in 2020 decreased overall by seven percent, those targeting Asian people rose by nearly 150 percent.” Since the start of the pandemic, and with former President Donald Trump labeling it the “Chinese virus,” Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate, a center previously launched in response to anti-Asian racism. It received over 2,800 first-hand reports of attacks and abuse against Asian-Americans in 47 states and the District of Columbia during the 2020 pandemic.” Here are a few grueling incidents that have been reported as hate crimes against Asians: 1. On Wednesday, March 17, a white man went on a killing spree in Atlanta, Georgia. He walked into three different spas in the area, killing eight people, six of which were Asian women. 21-yearold Robert Aaron Long claimed his actions were not racially-motivated and had to do with his sex addiction, and these locations were areas of temptation. In an article by AP News, state Rep. Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House and a frequent advocate for women and communities of color, said these shootings seem to be the “intersection of genderbased violence, misogyny and xenophobia.” Long has been arrested and more information will be coming on his sentencing.
2. Owner of Mama Venezia’s Pizzeria, Ying Ngov was a victim of a brutal attack outside her store on Feb. 19 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Four men entered her store to buy beer, but left without paying, so she chased after them on their way out. On her way to confront the men, she grabbed a shovel as a weapon of defense. One of the men “pushed her to the ground, but she got right back up. Another one of the men punched her in the face and she dropped to the ground. The suspects continued to beat on her while she was down. Ngov said she blacked out.” The 19-year-old suspects were arrested on accounts of assault and robbery. Ngov, 56, said, “Don’t do bad like that because people work hard every day,” in a message to the suspects. 3. In San Francisco, California, two Asian victims were attacked by 32-year-old Jorge Devis-Milton on Monday. Danny Yu Chang, 59, was walking back to work from his lunch break when he was attacked, getting hit in the head multiple times and falling unconscious on the floor. Yu Chang, in an interview with KPIX 5 reporter Betty Yu, said, “I cannot see on my left eye, it’s still so bad I cannot see anything. On my right, it’s okay. I hope I don’t lose my vision here.” Yu Chang and his wife are looking to move out of the Bay Area and into a safer neighborhood. The other victim, whose name was not given, was a 64-year-old man who was stabbed in the face by the same suspect and was taken to the hospital. Devis Milton is facing charges of “assault, aggregated mayhem and battery.” FAITHPITS@GMAIL.COM LAYALSROUR00@GMAIL.COM
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Cabrini is collaborating with North Philadelphia school to enhance college dreams PRYCE JAMISON ASSISTANT LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Cabrini has engaged in a partnership with the North Philadelphia middle school, St. James School, that will make college more accessible for kids in the area. The Episcopal school has a graduate support program that is dedicated to expanding in order to make college more of a reality for students in these low-income neighborhoods. The approach they’re taking sets up these middle schoolers for success and provides them the necessary tools to flourish in their high school careers. Working with these middle schoolers can change many of their young perspectives to get them thinking about the importance of education in years to come. It will also help them get in the best high schools in the region and ensuring them a college experience. Harcum College and Holy Family University have also begun to work with St. James during these efforts to give students more of an opportunity. Back in Oct. of 2020, the President’s Office received a call from David Kasievich, the Head of School at St. James. “Mr. Kasievish reached out to Cabrini because they were familiar with our mission, vision and the dedication that we have to serving students, regardless of their financial background, to ensure that they are personally and professionally successful,” the VP of enrollment management at Cabrini, George J. Walter, said.“Like Cabrini, St. James believes in the benefit of maintaining relationships with students to provide them with a connection and a place to go if they have any questions. St. James has a Graduate Support Team that stays connected to their alums through high school, college and beyond.”
Not only are Cabrini and other colleges trying to prepare these kids for academic success, but they’re also in this post-secondary partnership. Their core values align that makes for a similar vision all across the board. The St. James School is a faith-based private school with nearly 90 students, therefore reaching a small school like this is the start these colleges were looking for in terms of having a presence in the North Philadelphia community. Changing the statistics on graduating and college completion is essential, with how many of these students in these low-income neighborhoods don’t always have the motivation to seek college, especially as a firstgeneration college attendee. “Approximately 40 percent of our students are Pell grant eligible and approximately 30 percent are first generation,” Walter said. “Through partnerships like this, we are able to connect with students who may not otherwise think that a Cabrini education is possible and attempt to provide them with the financial support that they need.” St. James students and families will be connected to Cabrini in numerous ways when the partnership is fully underway. This includes having the Admission and Financial Aid staff visit the school, as well as having scheduled trips to campus for these middle school students.This allows the students to get a glimpse of a college environment up close and personal at a young age. Having a liaison from the Admissions Office help work the St. James Graduate Support Team and establish a process through which the Center for Student Success
at Cabrini will collaborate with the Graduate Support Team at St. James, are goals the partnership intends to commit to. “It means a lot to me that Cabrini wants to make a difference in the area I’m from to help kids better their situations,” sophomore and North Philadelphia native Naiser Warren-Robinson, said. “Educated views on college and knowing it’s a reality that’s more attainable than they think is limited around there. It’s essential that as we are getting these students prepared to attend these universities, we are also setting them up with a game plan to actually be successful in college.” Not only will Cabrini include affordable financial aid packages to these family’s contributions that will limit the loan damage at graduation, but St. James School students who attend Cabrini University will work with a designated university team member for regular check-ins. The team member could be an academic adviser or even a campus minister, while the St. James School graduate support staff will have a hand in the process as well. Accessibility to get to these schools can have its obstacles for students, both from a mental and financial standpoint. When the possibility is instilled in students at a young age, it shows these families how much these colleges care about lending a helping hand. PRYCEJAMISON3@GMAIL.COM
COVID causes teachers to learn virtual education overnight SOPHIA GERNER ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
While working during her teen years with a child who has a disability, Maria Maiorano discovered her passion for special education. From that moment forward, she knew this was a cause worth fighting for, and it is what she wanted to do in life. Maiorano has been teaching for 23 years. During those years, she was a general educator in multiple grade levels. She is currently a special education teacher and part of a Preschool Intervention and Referral Team as a positive behavioral support specialist. Maiorano currently teaches at Cold Springs School in Gloucester City, New Jersey. With virtual classes quickly coming up on a year now, Maiorano said, “Since we shut down March of 2019, the challenges have been endless to say the least.” The coronavirus pandemic has taken 1.2 billion children out of their classrooms globally, leaving teachers to learn never before seen style of learning basically over night. How has this atmosphere affected our teachers? Maiorano said that once the challenges regarding technology issues and getting each student a laptop were established, weekly meetings occurred to “tackle the many more challenges that came up minute to minute.” Mairoano said the staff had to figure out what remote learning would look like, how to keep student engagement
through this process, how to individualize instruction with children with special needs and what a safe return of students would look like; to state a few. Maiorano said that along with all of the challenges that come with being a teacher, most of the staff are parents themselves and figuring out how to balance a family, career and now teach their own children was “quite a challenge.” Cold Springs School started the beginning of this school year switching between in-person and online learning, until January where they now work on an early dismissal hybrid model schedule unless requested to remain online. Theresa Ridgway, a sixth grade reading and social studies teacher at Joseph Greenberg School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been teaching for 36 years. With schools beginning to start some or most in-person classes, Ridgway has been teaching solely online since March 13, 2020. Ridgway said that her biggest challenge is the “inability to supervise what the children are doing while you are teaching.” She explained how some students are watching videos while others are playing games and there is no way to truly know what is on their screens. Ridgway said cheating is a “major obstacle.” In a classroom, the teacher can tell who is looking at their lap during a test, but while online they can not see if the student’s cell phone is out. She said
this makes it “impossible to be sure that you are getting a valid evaluation (of the students).” Ridgway said planning virtual lesson plans is much harder, but the “instruction (of the lesson) isn’t, it is just different.” After spending almost a year in this pandemic, teachers have come across almost every way their virtual class can hit rock bottom. Maiorano said that it is definitely harder to teach during a pandemic because it is the first time schools had to “rethink education and the way we deliver our instruction overnight.” Teachers had to start from scratch with no time to plan ahead. On top of the other struggles, Maiorano and her school were also figuring out how to supply meals and support their families through a screen, how to support the rising mental health challenges that comes with facing COVID-19 and how much screen time is “developmentally appropriate” for children in an early childhood setting.
Louise Fourney, vice principal of Wildwood Catholic Academy in North Wildwood, New Jersey, explained the frustrations teachers come to the administration with due to online classes. Fourney said the teachers are facing challenges with students not logging onto their classes, not showing their faces and not completing their work. She said, on the administration side of things, “We are working overtime with the health department.” Her challenges include keeping up with close contact students and positive and negative COVID-19 testing records. Wildwood Catholic Academy was fully online when COVID-19 first hit in March 2020, and became full time in-person, unless online instruction was requested otherwise, since September 2020. SOPHIAGERNER06@GMAIL.COM
The most common virtual challenges teachers had been encountering are technology problems, engagement from all students and “unexpected” interruptions. They’ve seen frozen screens, student’s constantly unmuting and interrupting class, other students going MIA and unannounced interruptions of family members and pets. But with problems can come only so many solutions.
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DIVERSIONS
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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
Soduku Mania Easy
3 1 4 6
8 4 7 2 8 5 1 8 6 2 4 7 7 9
Medium
5
1 6
4 1 9 7 6 7 6 8 3 2 1 8
4
8 5
6
1 4
1 9 2 5 9 6 4 2
Puzzle by websudoku.com
7 6
8 9 1
9 2 5 3
1 5
7 3
1
Puzzle by websudoku.com
Evil
5 3 9 6
9 5 3 4
7 3
Hard
1
2
5 8
7 3
5
1 9 4 2 8
8 2 7
9 5
4
3
1
1
4
4
1
2 6 3 9
1 5 3 2 8 6 1 7 3 6
8 7
5 6
Puzzle by websudoku.com
9 6
4
Puzzle by websudoku.com
Answers to Last Issue’s Puzzles
Easy
9 2 8 7 4 3 6 5 1
3 4 7 1 5 6 9 2 8
5 6 1 2 8 9 7 3 4
8 3 9 6 1 7 5 4 2
1 5 2 9 3 4 8 7 6
Medium
6 7 4 8 2 5 1 9 3
7 1 5 4 6 2 3 8 9
4 8 3 5 9 1 2 6 7
2 9 6 3 7 8 4 1 5
Puzzle by websudoku.com
3 5 4 7 1 8 9 6 2
6 1 9 4 2 3 8 5 7
2 7 8 6 5 9 1 4 3
8 2 3 5 7 4 6 1 9
5 9 1 3 6 2 4 7 8
7 4 6 8 9 1 3 2 5
1 6 2 9 3 7 5 8 4
9 8 7 1 4 5 2 3 6
4 3 5 2 8 6 7 9 1
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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
LIFESTYLES
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Women’s History Month Colleges and universities around the country are recognizing this month in a variety of ways. At Cabrini, there are a number of presentations and celebrations, such as the Women’s History Month Common Hour that sought to raise awareness and celebrate the great women who were essential to the early days of Cabrini. When asked about the importance of recognizing Women’s History Month, Dr. Nancy Watterson, professor of american studies in the department of history and political science at Cabrini, shared her thoughts.
‘e-framing,’ each of us can help to improve conditions now, and in the future, by revealing ‘hidden transcripts’ and creating a different discourse,” Watterson said. Those leading the Women’s History Month celebrations and programs continue to introduce new topics that highlight different women throughout history in all aspects of society. The new theme each year provides a unique way of looking at the accomplishments of women and the impact on modern society.
“Anyone concerned about equity and inclusion would see the value in these monthlong celebrations meant to spotlight contributions about populations too-often overlooked in ‘public narratives,’ to cite renowned activist Marshall Ganz’s use of the concept,” Watterson said.
“Cultural history is dynamic and ever-changing, not some fixed or static entity, and global in scope, so it is imperative we educate ourselves about challenges and opportunities people face worldwide, including gender inequities of diverse types and in diverse settings. “An equal world is an enabled world,” as the idea is put so aptly by the International Women’s Day (IWD) movement #EachforEqual,” Watterson said.
These celebrations seek to highlight women throughout history whose impact may not be fully understood by those living today. By acknowledging the work done by these women and the progress that has been made over time, it helps to raise awareness of their contributions.
Women’s History Month continues to play an important role in highlighting the contributions of women through history, so that people can learn from past accomplishments and utilize this information to continue to make progress on important issues in the future.
“We bring to the fore the incredible contributions women have made–and continue to make–in so many and diverse contexts. Through these acts of ‘naming’ and
RNC1214@GMAIL.COM
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“FWPAC Women’s History Month Luncheon”
How to stay safe as a woman LAUREN KELLEY PERSPECTIVES EDITOR
Women have to do a lot more than men to stay safe on a daily basis. Do men walk through dark parking lots vigilantly with their keys poking out of their knuckles for selfdefense? Probably not. But, this is sadly something that many young girls are taught when they start driving. There is an undeniable stereotype across the world that girls are weak and boys are strong. While it is important to teach young girls that this is not true, it is also important to teach them how to protect themselves when they are found in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. #1 Always be aware of your surroundings Don’t get caught off guard. If you are fidgeting with your purse or digging for your car keys, this can make you appear unaware of what is going on around you. The same goes for being preoccupied with your phone. You are more likely to be targeted as a victim if you are caught off guard. When you get into a routine of doing things like this, you leave yourself vulnerable to attack or harassment. If you can, try to use the buddy system- always have someone with you, especially at night. #2 Carry self-defense tools There are countless tools on the market for self-defense and protection. Pepper spray is the most common for women. Knives and alarms are a good option, too. In fact, many companies and small businesses market these tools as “self-defense kits,” where you can get everything you need to feel safe on one key ring. Even if you don’t feel comfortable using weapons, such as a knife or pepper spray, the personal alarm is a great option because it is extremely loud. All you have to do is pull a little trigger and the alarm will produce a deafening sound. This can deter your attacker. Additionally, and even more importantly, it can draw attention to you. In a potentially dangerous situation, it is always good to draw attention to yourself so others are able to help you. #3 Car safety Do not jump in your car without checking the backseat. For some reason, as a woman, that seems to be second nature. As is locking your doors as soon as you get inside
of your car. In fact, some key fobs have settings that allow you to only unlock your driver’s side door when you press your unlock button. This is a great feature because it doesn’t unlock your entire car and leave you vulnerable. Carrying your keys pointing out of your knuckles is another good way to stay safe and protected. Model Mugging Self Defense, a well-known training and informational resource, offers an entire section that includes tips on how to most effectively defend yourself using this key protection method. There are certain ways to hold your keys to maximize self-defense. #4 Educate yourself and trust your gut Understanding potential risks are an important part of guaranteeing your own safety. You do not need to feel scared 24/7 to feel safe. However, if something feels wrong, trust your gut. If you get a bad feeling about being somewhere, or you feel like someone is following you, always make sure to stay vigilant. Trying to be around other people in a well-lit area is another great way to stay safean attacker is not likely to make a move if there are witnesses around! If someone is making cat-call advances, which is something nearly all women experience throughout their lifetimes, do not feel obligated to respond. Your safety should be your first priorityalways. #5 Now, it’s the boys turn to be educated Educating girls on how to stay safe is something that should be taken very seriously. Unfortunately, muggings, kidnappings and assaults have become a daily, global occurrence. In fact, 78 percent of victims who are abducted globally are women and girls. Even though that is a terrifying rate, girls should not have to be afraid of boys. Instead, society should instill in boys the proper way to respect girls, and show them what is acceptable and what is not from a young age. “Boys will be boys” is no longer an excuse to terrorize and harass women. LAURKELL1121@GMAIL.COM
8 | THELOQUITUR.COM
LIFESTYLES
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
Eating disorders: not a choice or a lifestyle ANNA SCHMADER ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Sam Mottolo, a freshman environmental science major at Saint Joseph’s University, is in recovery from her eating disorder. Her relationship with food has been an issue that has come in waves since she was 10-11 years old. She had a lot going on which felt out of control, and food was something she could control. “Bringing myself to get help was not easy,” Mottolo said. “It took courage because I just felt embarrassed at first, but I very quickly learned that there was nothing to be embarrassed about.” Mottolo realized something was off when she was missing out on hanging with friends. It got to a point of feeling mentally and physically drained. The most distinct memory of knowing she needed help was when she did not have the energy to simply walk around with friends without feeling like she was going to pass out. When an eating disorder affects your quality of life, that was when it’s time to seek help. She knew the number on the scale was affecting her, but didn’t project anything else being impacted. “I grew afraid I wouldn’t look the way society wanted and my control issue with food quickly became an obsession,” Mottolo said. Eating disorders are not a choice nor a lifestyle. Telling someone that this illness is a choice is a misinterpretation of the subject. Eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness among adolescent females. When Mottolo hit high school, specifically in her junior year, she hit the tipping point. She was constantly analyzing herself in the mirror, on a scale or simply thinking of the next meal in unhealthy ways. Today, she doesn’t go near a scale anymore, she doesn’t look in the mirror too long. Mottolo wants anyone who is struggling with an eating disorder to understand they are not alone. She wants everyone to understand that eating disorders are more common than you would think and there are so many people who empathize, who can be a support system.
body physically active, opting for healthier foods and taking care of your body, it can produce a more positive approach. In the email interview, she provided helpful resources from the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has contributed to the book “Intuitive Eating, A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach,” by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. “Small steps are much better than stringent dieting,” Sarcona said. “I wish for all adolescents to feel more comfortable in their own body and to have a good relationship with food that means enjoying a variety of foods!” A clinical psychologist is another person someone with an eating disorder could reach out to for help. Brian Peightal, a licensed clinical psychologist, said, “I try to advocate by providing workshops on-campus, nurturing a safe place to explore body image and remaining up to date on current literature and resources,” Peightal said. “To be the best referral source I can is the most impactful role I can play for an individual.” Peightal has always been a good listener and helper when it comes to his personal life. Over time, eating disorders have affected him in both his personal and professional life, forming a sensitivity to the environment around him. “As a professional, it challenges me to be the best source of support I can be for someone struggling with these disorders,” Peightal said. From his perspective, he knows the impossible and unrealistic pressures that are placed onto females, specifically young women. He takes this understanding to reflect on himself to be conscious of any messages he extends to the audience in front of him.
Peightal wants anyone who is struggling with an eating disorder to know that we as human beings are not fixed with no potential for growth. When something traumatic or an experience changes us, we adapt and evolve. Human beings are very capable of fluctuating towards a positive direction. He mentioned validation being a step in the difficult nature of recovery, so the person who has the eating disorder can have encouragement and a support system. It is a hard and difficult journey to recovery that needs positive reassurance. “I think the world would be a better place if we all thought a bit more about how our actions impact others,” Peightal said. Cabrini senior reflects on eating disorders Juliana Khanuja, a senior exercise science and health promotion major, has had friends who had eating disorders. She noticed her friend changing from being so happy to not so much anymore. “I saw her body changing with a dramatic weight loss in a small amount of time,” Khanuja said. Being the kind and supportive friend Khanuja is, she reassured her friend that she will always be there for her. Since she is an exercise science and health promotion major, she could give her friend some advice on basic nutrition to keep a healthy mindset but never being pushy. “My best friend is at a healthy weight currently and is not as self-conscious about what she eats,” Khanuja said. “She enjoys food now and makes sure that she eats without feeling guilty.” ANNASCHMADER1324@GMAIL.COM
After telling her friends about what she was going through, they helped her grow and that helped her mindset in recovery. “As someone who knows how scary it can be to start on the recovery journey, I want to tell you it is so worth it,” Mottolo said. “I find myself very nervous of even the chance of getting into the old habits,” Mottolo said. “That is something that’s still on my mind a lot and I am still learning to be comfortable in my own skin.” What do the professionals say? Dr. Sandy Sarcona, a registered dietician nutritionist, provided further advice. She has helped with specific diets due to different diseases, provided nutrition counseling for weight management, conducted wellness and fitness programs, worked with college athletes on peak performance with nutrition and is currently a professor of nutrition at West Chester University. Sarcona mentioned that someone who is trying to learn more about eating disorders should know it starts with attitudes about food and body image. This stems right from infancy as parents and caregivers can interfere with appetite regulation. “Parents and caregivers should plan and provide what the child eats,” Sarcona said in an email interview. She further mentioned intuitive eating, which is listening to our inner body, eating when we’re hungry and stopping when we are full. Sarcona also believes disordered eating begins when we look at foods labeled “good” and “bad” since we may feel guilty when we eat less healthy foods. She said she likes to use the motto “all foods can fit” where we should let ourselves have some cake and just enjoy it. Over her time as a dietician and nutritionist, she has given workshops at middle schools on body image since this is the prime time when bodies start changing. “Letting adolescents know that body acceptance is so important, and that dieting can be dangerous and lead to disordered eating,” Sarcona said. By keeping your
Sam Mottolo
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
THELOQUITUR.COM | 9
My experience working for the Philadelphia Eagles MATTHEW RUTHERFORD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Isn’t it every kid’s dream to work the games for their favorite team? It was for me, and my dream has become a reality. I work for the Philadelphia Eagles on the game day staff for the merchandise department. I have done two seasons with the team and plan to continue. I was talking with my brother one day. He is a sports management major at Drexel, and he told me he had gotten an email saying that the Eagles were looking for college students to work game days. He forwarded me the email, and I applied. At first, I was put on a waitlist because I had said that I could not make the training day that was on a Wednesday evening. I got an email about a month later about another training day, also on a Wednesday. I emailed the person who had sent me the email and explained how I was really interested, but have class on Wednesday evenings, so I couldn’t make the trainings. A couple of days later, I received an email from someone in the merchandise department telling me
there is a training day on a Saturday for merchandise specifically.
at Lincoln Financial Field, including the annual Army-Navy football game.
I filled out all the required paperwork and went to training that Saturday. I was then required to work the game the next day that was against the Jets. I was stationed behind section 232 and was the “runner.” The runner’s job was to grab the items from the stand and hand them to the cashier. The Eagles won the game 31-6, so that made it much more fun.
The game started at 3 p.m. and we were required to be in the stadium by 9 a.m., because the gates open earlier for the cadets and Donald Trump, president at the time, who were going to be in attendance, so we had to go through Secret Service security.
For a 1 p.m. game, I typically have to be in the stadium at 10 a.m. to get everything ready to go before the gates open up to fans. I go to park in the lot right next to the Nova Care Complex and have the choice to take the shuttle provided, or walk the mile down Pattison Ave. I typically choose to walk, because I love the atmosphere in the parking lots and like to see what is going on in the parking lots pregame. Once in the stadium, I get to go through the wonderful security experience. We have to follow all the same rules that fans have to follow with bags and all. We are required to work special events held
I went through the metal detector and either my belt or lanyard set it off, so I had to get a pat-down. It was really awkward, because the agent was making small talk with me while patting my butt to make sure I did not actually have anything dangerous. Once through security, I report to the instadium warehouse, right behind the Pro Shop. There we receive our assignment for the day. From there we go to our assigned stand and set it up. We open the stand by the time that gates open that day. Each stand deals with hundreds of fans per game. Every employee in the stadium gets a $20 meal voucher, and on our half-hour break, we can go get food. I always like
to go down to the Chickie & Pete’s stand to get an order of crab fries and a soda. Once finished, I spent the rest of the break watching the game. Once the game is over, we stay open for a little while. After a little while, we close up shop, clean up the stand, count the money in the register and report back to our supervisor to make sure we are good to go. Heading back to the parking lot can either be really fun if the Eagles win, or really upsetting when the Eagles lose. We get a post-season party at the end of the year that comes with some fun perks. We did not get one this year because of COVID-19, but last year I got to meet Pro Bowl defensive lineman Fletcher Cox as well as get an autograph from Super Bowl LII champion running back Corey Clement. I love working these games and being with the fans. I get paid to go to Eagles games, and it really is a dream come true. MATTEWRUTHERFORD24@GMAIL.COM
Matthew Rutherford
Outside of the Lincoln Financial Field.
What it was like to grow up as a triplet MEGAN FEE WRITING MANAGING EDITOR
As a triplet people often expect us to be alike but the truth is we couldn’t be more different. My siblings and I are fraternal triplets, so we do not look alike enough for us to switch places with one another. I have one brother and one sister and we were all born one minute apart from each other. My sister, Maura, is the oldest, my brother, Brian, is the middle child and I am the youngest. Being the same age, we went through everything together. We shared birthdays, we learned to walk and talk together, went to school together and achieved several other milestones and adventures together. As toddlers we had our own secret language and as teens we had our own inside jokes, usually with me being the butt of it and I have to admit that some of the stuff they came up with was actually really funny. We laughed a lot when we were together and when we weren’t playing games and fighting, it really was like having a ready-made party. I have always loved being a triplet because it was something unique and
has always been one of my go-to ice breakers. However, being one-of-three has not always been easy. Many times we were clumped together as “the triplets” or “the Fees” or even the “Feesters,” which made it challenging to be recognized as individual people. Some people would compare us or even label us or other times I would be stuck in a role as being Maura or Brian’s sister. I have had people tell me that my sister was “the smart one” my brother was just “the boy” and I was either “the quiet one or the nice one.”
we all attend different universities and have different interests and have come to learn not to care too much about what some people think or say. I always found comfort in the fact that we were going through life together and were all experiencing similar stages of life at the same time but deciding to go to different universities gave us the chance to grow more as individuals. We still always have each other’s backs and it makes life a lot less scary to know
that I will always have an extra special bond and connection with them. Being a triplet has been one of the best experiences of my life and has helped define who I am today. I was never alone and basically had built-in-best friends that I experienced the ups-and-downs of life with together and I will always be forever grateful for that. MEGANFEE17@GMAIL.COM
It seemed like many people had their own ideas about who we were and it could be hard to get out of those roles. I did not understand why people even had to compare us because we were just like any other siblings and why we could not all be called “the smart one” or “the nice one” or more than that in some people’s eyes. We were all different people with different personalities, strengths and weaknesses after all. Thankfully, this was not always the case though and has not happened in a long time. That is probably due to the fact that Megan, Maura and Brian on their last day of being together before freshman year of college started.
Kate Fee
SPORTS
10 | THELOQUITUR.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
The Arizona Cardinals sign a new player and unretire an old number RODRIGO CAMPOS-SANCHEZ ASSISTANT PERSPECTIVES EDITOR
From nine years at the Houston Texans, to now being at the Arizona Cardinals, the Cardinals have signed the freeagent defensive-end, J.J. Watt. On March 1, 2021, Watt signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. The contract includes $23 million guaranteed, a $12 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of $14 million. From playing college football at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to eventually being drafted by the Houston Texans in 2011, Watt has earned many career highlights and awards. In 2014, Watt made it into the NFL history books by becoming the first to record a two 20+ sack season in one career. Watt has also written records at the Houston Texans by recording the most sacks during the 2012 and 2015 campaigns. Sports Illustrated also named Watt its Sportsperson of the Year in 2017. To add to Watt’s awards and titles, he has also earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards and has made five Pro Bowl teams “I think that the Arizona Cardinals made a smart and professional move when they signed J.J. Watt. Watt is a solid player that deserves to be at a good organization,” Vincent Moffa, sophomore business major, said. “It is great that the Cardinals signed him in the last few years of his prime.”
Photo of Watt while still playing for the Arizona Cardinals
J.J. Watts Instagram
With the signing of J.J. Watt, also came the uncovering of a retired jersey number. Since the year 1950, the number 99 has not been worn by any other football player at the Arizona Cardinals. The last football player to have ever worn the number 99 at the Cardinals was Marshall Goldberg. Goldberg’s jersey number sat in retirement due
to his service in the Navy during World War II. In 2006, Goldberg died due to brain injuries. Today, Goldberg sits in the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Watt has worn the number 99 since playing football at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009 and 2010. The thought of a new number on his back would have been weird for Watt but lucky for him, the retired jersey number was unretired. Watt received the blessings from Goldberg’s family to wear the number 99 on his back after so many years in retirement. “It is so interesting that the Arizona Cardinals actually signed J.J. Watt and he was allowed to wear the number 99. The number 99 has not been worn for 71 years. It is incredible that he is actually wearing it now. He has so much to live for,” Lauren Swint, junior education major, said. She also hopes that he will represent his new team and the number 99 well. Watt will be able to wear the number 99 for the 2021 season and for all his time at the Arizona Cardinals. “After he signed, he was already posting pictures of himself weight lifting and wearing an Arizona Cardinal t-shirt. He also changed his profile picture on Instagram to him wearing the logo of his new team,” Tess Dever, sophomore digital communication major, said. She also hopes his move will be successful. RC78190@GMAIL.COM
Men’s lacrosse putting in the work JYAIR FIELDS STAFF WRITER
After the abrupt ending to the 2020 season, the Cavaliers are looking to defend their 2019 national championship. A new start to the season brings changes as COVID-19 testing for athletes has become an everyday occurrence. The men’s lacrosse team is practicing six times a week preparing for the season. They are roughly practicing two and a half hours a day and often spend time in the weight room. Players are fully aware of all protocols and always being 100 percent safe following the proper NCAA COVID-19 guidelines. There is a list and time of the day each player gets tested on and before games all players must test negative to continue the season. “We have pods for multiple scenarios and we all wear our mask under our chinstraps to avoid COVID-19 during practices,” Colton Padgett, sophomore business management major, said. “We are doing population testing similar to the number of people the drug test would be taking for all athletes. We just need to continue to be smart so our season won’t fall short again.” During fall and spring practices, the Cabrini athletics department allowed players, at first, to practice within pods of six until transitioning into full team practices. With COVID-19 testing being a new normal amongst NCAA athletes, many of Cabrini’s athletes are optimistic about the safety procedures that have taken place. According to COVID-19, Cabrini sports struggled with having set schedules for game days. The NCAA has allowed all sports to have a shortened season to keep athletes in shape and a part of the athletic program. On Saturday, March 6, Cabrini claimed a 17-15 victory against Southern Virginia. Cabrini transfer, Drew Supinski, netted three goals for a hat trick in his first game as a Cavalier. The tough win gave the men hope that there is a chance to defend their national championship.
“It was a battle for our first game, but we finished strong,” Dan Bennett, freshman exercise science & health promotion major, said. “As I watched on the sideline there’s no doubt in mind that we will not lose a game this season. Our communication skills are magnificent and even everyone that’s not on the field is loud helping one another.” Players are working hard every day at practice focusing on weaknesses, fixing and adjusting their team issues to better their communication skills on the field so everyone is on the same page. “I am confident with all of my teammates trusting them with doing their jobs and playing their individual role which is the best for the team,” Ty Kostack, senior communication major, said. “We are hungry to keep winning and we have a national championship trophy to defend this season,” Kostack said. The last time Cabrini beat Salisbury was in 2019 during the national semifinal game. Cabrini will face Salisbury, who they defeated in the 2019 national semifinal game, on March 19. Peter Hewitt, a sophomore exercise science major and offensive midfielder, hopes to what the team has been building over the past few years and add to their legacy. “It makes me want to do the same exact thing they did and I have two years to do that. I think the kids in my grade want to do the same exact thing, obviously two times more and it just makes me want to do the same exact thing as them. I will take no days off and continue to practice and play like it’s my last day.” The Cavaliers will enter the 2021 campaign riding an NCAA record streak of 121 consecutive contests and 19 straight conference titles. FIELDSJYAIR8@GMAIL.COM Sophomore, Zach Kaut, doing footwork drills.
Tyler O’Connor
SPORTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
THELOQUITUR.COM | 11
Super Bowl LVI bubble KEVIN MCLAUGHLIN SPORTS EDITOR
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just recently won Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs, will look to defend their title throughout the 2021 campaign. With a clear target on their back, there lies the million-dollar question of which team will stop Tampa Bay from repeating as world champions. The bubble of Super Bowl competitors consists of only five teams, which still includes the defending champions. The Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs are the four who sit behind Tampa Bay. NFC Competitors: After reaching last season’s NFC Championship, the Green Bay Packers fell shy of reaching the Super Bowl in a 31-26 loss to Tampa Bay. However, after compiling a 13-3 regular season, Green Bay will look for revenge next season. With the reigning MVP of the league, Aaron Rodgers, anything is possible. Since head coach Matt LaFleur took over in 2019, Green Bay has gone 26-6 in the regular season, and 2-2 in the postseason. Expect this dynamic duo to reach for the next step in 2021. The Los Angeles Rams, who finished 10-6 last season, was just recently part of a blockbuster trade. The franchise was able to acquire star quarterback Matthew Stafford, who played for the Detroit Lions from 2009-2020. Los Angeles traded quarterback Jared Goff, along with two first-round draft picks and a thirdround draft pick to finalize the deal. With one of the NFL’s brightest offensive-minded head coaches, Sean McVay, expect Los Angeles to vigorously fight their way to the Super Bowl. They have the top-ranked defense, which is led by All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. AFC Competitors: The Kansas City Chiefs, who finished with a 14-2 record in 2020, sat atop the NFL. The Super Bowl LIV champions fell short of repeating as world champions after a debacle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They were defeated by a final score of 31-9. However, the highest-scoring offense in the NFL looks to rebound this season and reach the Super Bowl for the third straight season. The 2018 MVP of the league, Patrick Mahomes, who also has a Super Bowl ring, is being put in the position to dominate this season. With head coach Andy Reid leading the way, Kansas City aspires to be nothing short of great once again. All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, and All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, look to continually dominate the league in 2021. The Buffalo Bills, who finished with a staggering 13-3 record, appeared in their first AFC Championship for the first time since 1993. Although they were defeated by Kanas City, they proved many NFL aficionados wrong. Since the acquisition of All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the narrative has officially changed in Buffalo. Not to mention, the 24-year-old Pro-Bowl quarterback Josh Allen, is looking to take his game to the next level in 2021. Head coach Sean McDermott, will do everything in his power to bring the franchise its first-ever Super Bowl victory. With a highly ranked defense, led by AllPro cornerback Tre’Davious White, Buffalo contains an elite balance on both sides of the football. KHMCLAUGHLIN25@GMAIL.COM
NFL lawsuit highlights racial inequity in concussion compensation RYAN CODKIND STAFF EDITOR
A concussion lawsuit filed by two former NFL players focuses on the existence of racial bias in science, leading to differences in financial payouts for players. Late last August, Najeh Davenport and Kevin Henry accused the NFL of discriminating against Black players when evaluating those who have suffered concussions in order to qualify for “dementia-related payments” from the football league. According to their claim, the two players felt that the neurocognitive tests that are conducted to determine if they are eligible to receive these payments, use “race-based adjustments,” which put them at a major disadvantage when trying to get compensation. In 2012, a lawsuit was filed to represent over 4,500 former NFL players who believed that the NFL should be responsible to compensate retired players who suffered head injuries as a result of playing football for the league. Those players won their lawsuit in 2014, which then required the NFL to provide compensation for these types of traumatic head injuries. While this has allowed some players to get significant financial payouts, it has been stated that “over two-thirds” of those players who have requested this compensation have been denied. Davenport and Henry’s lawsuit takes into consideration that there have been a large number of players who have not been able to receive these payouts. In their lawsuit, they specifically state that the way in which players are tested in order to qualify for these “dementia-related payments” discriminates against black players as they use a cognitive functioning test that has a different baseline which is based on race. This practice is known as “race-norming,” where neuropsychologists use “historical trends” on cognitive tests to show how
the average scores of various races differ. Based on these averages, neuropsychologists have set a variety of benchmarks that are used to determine the level of cognitive impairment that one may possess. While the initial process was designed with “the goal of reducing inaccurate diagnoses of cognitive impairment” for Black people, these two NFL players have stated that these lower benchmarks have made it so that they cannot receive an accurate diagnosis of their cognitive impairment resulting from their head trauma. As a result, they were unable to qualify for the concussion payouts that they may have had otherwise.
“I think the University as a whole is working on new initiatives to continue to promote diversity and inclusion. There is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council that was created by the Board of Trustees that has worked since the summer to take a deep look at the University and will be presenting recommendations to President Taylor over the next several weeks,” Howell said.
Within the past week, the two NFL players have come out to say that they want their own representative to be present at a mediation where they will address the issue surrounding the use of different benchmarks to determine cognitive impairment. After back-andforth conversations with the NFL about these racial benchmarks and how they may have impacted several players in the past, a resolution has not yet been reached.
“I think we make it a point to treat every studentathlete the same, no matter their age, race or sport. As administrators and coaches, our goal is to give all of our student-athletes the opportunity to compete in the sport(s) of their choice to their best best ability,” Howell said.
An investigation has been launched into how these race-based benchmarks have been used in the NFL and the way they determine cognitive impairment in their players. More information is needed before a final resolution will be reached in this case. At Cabrini, diversity, equity and inclusion have always been an important topic. The events of this past year have brought increasing attention to the need to continue to address issues of inequity. When asked about the work that Cabrini is currently engaged in within this area, David Howell, athletics communication director and athletics diversity & inclusion designee, shared his thoughts.
One specific area of campus that continues to pay close attention to equity and inclusion is the athletics and recreation department at Cabrini.
Issues like race-based benchmarking in the NFL highlight that there is still work that needs to be done in the area of equity and inclusion. Cabrini is one institution that has committed to continuing its work in this important area. “Over the last several months, both the University and Athletic Department have acknowledged that we are always working to learn and get better at creating a diverse and equitable environment for our entire community. That work does not have an expiration date,” Howell said. Just as Cabrini continues to evaluate its own institution each day, organizations such as the NFL continue to do this work as well. RNC1214@GMAIL.COM
NEWS
12 | THELOQUITUR.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
FALL 2021 ROOM SELECTION
IMPORTANT DATES:
• Housing Application Opens: March 2nd • Complete Housing Application by March 25th at 11:59 PM • March 29th View your lottery selection # on your MyHousing account • Room Selection will occur April 7th & April 8th
Room Selection in 4 EASY STEPS! 1. Complete the Housing Application in your MyHousing Account 2.
Prepare – Attend a Virtual Housing Info Session Event
3. Form your Roommate Groups! Search, Select and Send & Accept requests through your MyHousing Account 4. Pick your room during your assigned time, April 7th & April 8th
To replace the spring musical, Cabrini Theatre put on their live Student Cabaret. On March 18, students performed a series of Broadway classics at 8 pm, which were streamed virtually on Facebook and Instagram Live. There were eight performances, some by seniors who were performing for the last time at Cabrini.