CHRONICLE Richland
Vol. XLXII Issue 5 October 6, 2020
Coronavirus invades the White House Pg. 2
• Campaigns hit the homestretch
Pg.2
• Love in times of COVID-19
Pg. 5
• Grocery shopping from a distance Pg.6 Pg.6 RichlandStudentMedia.com
Richland Student Media Media
@RLCStudentMedia
Richland Student Media Richland Student Media
2 POLITICS
October 6, 2020
Trump, still infectious, returns to White House unmasked President Donald Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House Oct 5 after leaving the military hospital where he has been receiving an unprecedented level of care for COVID-19. He immediately ignited a new controversy by declaring that despite his illness the nation should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans — and then he entered the White House without a protective mask. Trump’s message alarmed infectious disease experts and suggested the president’s own illness had not caused him to rethink his oftencavalier attitude toward the disease, which has also infected the first lady and several White House aides, including new cases revealed on Oct. 5. Landing at the White House on Marine One, Trump gingerly climbed the South Portico steps, removed his mask and declared, “I feel good.” He gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter from the portico terrace, where aides had arranged American flags for the sunset occasion. He entered the White House, where aides were visible milling about the Blue Room, without wearing a face covering. The president left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where his doctor, Navy Cdr. Sean Conley, said earlier on Oct. 5 that the president remains contagious and would not be fully “out of the woods” for another week but that Trump had met or exceeded standards for discharge from the hospital. Trump is expected to continue his recovery at the White House, where the reach of the outbreak that has infected the highest levels of the U.S. government is still being uncovered.
Photo The Associated Press
It was revealed Oct. 2 that the president and first lady tested positive for coronavirus.
Still Trump indicated he won’t be kept from campaigning for long, tweeting before leaving the hospital, “Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!” Trump’s message that people shouldn’t fear the virus alarmed infectious disease experts and suggested the president’s own illness had not caused him to rethink his often-cavalier attitude toward the disease, which has also
infected the first lady and several White House aides, including new cases revealed on Oct. 5. “We have to be realistic in this: COVID is a complete threat to the American population,” said Dr. David Nace of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an expert on infections in older adults. “Most of the people aren’t so lucky as the president,” with an in-house medical unit and
access to experimental treatments, Nace added. Conley said that because of Trump’s unusual level of treatment so early after discovery of his illness he was in “uncharted territory.” But the doctor also was upbeat at an afternoon briefing and said the president could resume his normal schedule once “there is no evidence of live virus still present.” Both Nace and Khan expressed fear Trump won’t properly stay isolated at the White House -- and that he hasn’t learned his lesson about wearing a mask. “We know he hates the mask, we know he hates to be restricted, we know he’s unpredictable,” Nace said. “The rest of the American people are held accountable to a 10-day isolation period.” Conley repeatedly declined to share results of medical scans of Trump’s lungs, saying he was not at liberty to discuss the information because Trump did not waive doctor-patient confidentiality on the subject. Conley also declined to share the date of Trump’s most recent negative test for the virus — a critical point for contact tracing and understanding where Trump was in the course of the disease. Trump’s nonchalant message about not fearing the virus comes as his own administration has encouraged Americans to be very careful and take precautions to avoid contracting and spreading the disease as cases continue to spike across the country. For more than eight months, Trump’s efforts to play down the threat of the virus in hopes of propping up the economy ahead of the election have drawn bipartisan criticism. - The Associated Press
The unpresidental debate: Donald Trump v. Joe Biden
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Reagan Davis
Staff Writer The long-anticipated first debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden began with a bang Sept. 29 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The moderator, Chris Wallace with Fox News, asked both candidates a series of questions on topics that included COVID-19, race relations, the economy, healthcare and climate change. The debate devolved into chaos from the beginning with shouting, interruptions and often incoherent cross talk as both candidates tried to appeal to the public and take the lead in the political race. The debate put the spotlight on one of the most prevalent issues in the United States, the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States. Biden claimed Trump didn’t care about the American people and that he had done nothing to provide aid to those struggling with the pandemic. “We had 10.4 million people in a fourmonth period that we’ve put back into the workforce. That’s a record the likes of which nobody’s ever seen before,” Trump said. Biden quickly refuted the claim.
He panicked, or he just looked at the stock market – one of the two – because guess what: a lot of people have died, and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter, a lot quicker,” Biden said. The debate became progressively heated as new topics were introduced. Biden responded to Trump’s taunting and interruptions with comments like “shut up man” and “he has no plan.” The aggressive outbursts increased when the topic of race was brought up. Trump immediately defended himself claiming right off the bat that he wasn’t a racist and that the news had painted him in a bad light whereas the media painted Biden in a better light. Then he said that it was fine with him because “he was used to it.” Trump said Biden and the Democrats won’t mention the law or say anything about police officers because “he’s afraid to lose votes” and claimed that would be the first reason why Biden loses their support. Then Biden hit back just as hard. “You talk about helping African Americans. One in 1,000 African Americans have been killed because of the coronavirus. And if he doesn’t do something quickly by the end of the year, one in 500 African Americans.
This man has done virtually nothing. Look, the fact is, you have to look at what he talks about. You have to look at what he did, and what he did has been disastrous for the African-American community,” Biden said. “You have treated the black community as bad as anyone in this country,” Trump said.
“The American public is what matters. Their views matter,“ Biden said several times during the debate. The first presidential debate of 2020 is available to view in its entirety at https://bit. ly/36qFvqe.
Photos The Associated Press
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the debate on Sept. 29.
Octorber 6, 2020
Photo The Associated Press
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett speaks at Notre Dame in 2019.
Trump quickly names his Supreme Court nominee Dave Freeman Staff Writer
The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was buried Sept. 29 in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, and was laid to rest beside her husband and near
some of her former colleagues on the court. Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18 at 87, was honored in Washington, D.C. with two days of public viewing of her casket at the top of the Supreme Court’s steps Sept. 23-24. On Sept. 25, the women’s rights trailblazer and the second woman to join the high court laid
NATIONAL/CULTURAL 3
in state at the U.S. Capitol, becoming the first woman to do so. The court’s eight justices gathered for the first time in more than six months to mark Ginsburg’s death from cancer on Sept. 25 after 27 years on the court. Mourners came from all over the nation, from many different backgrounds and walks of life, from her longtime personal trainer to a generation of women inspired by Ginsburg, who came to pay their respects. Chief Justice John Roberts called Ginsburg a “tough, brave, a fighter, a winner,” but also “thoughtful, careful, compassionate, honest.” On Sept. 26, President Donald Trump named Amy Coney Barrett, a federal appellate judge, as his Supreme Court nominee to fill Ginsburg’s vacant seat despite the late jurist’s reported last wish that her seat not be filled until after Election Day on Nov. 3. According to printed reports, Barrett met with the Senate Judiciary Committee after the White House contacted her Sept. 19, the day after Ginsburg died. Trump reportedly made the offer when Barrett visited the White House on Sept. 21. “I accepted,” Barrett said. Barrett’s nomination has stirred controversy; one being that it comes to close to a presidential election. Her very conservative views on abortion and healthcare are “far outside” the mainstream as Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Senate minority leader, said in a recent interview. Some students are in favor of the
nomination. Political science major Beth Loya said, “I’m going to be honest with you, I did not align with some of [Ginsburg’s] views. I hate the fact that she passed away, however, I feel the last statement they decided to release of her was very political and not fair to the current administration.” Other students, however, are very opposed to the election-year nomination and raised many questions. Broadcast journalism major Reagan Davis said, “I think that Amy Coney Barrett would not be a suitable addition to the Supreme Court, despite her credentials, prestigious clerkship, published academic articles and good evaluations as a law professor. The matter at hand is how she will handle herself as a member of the Supreme Court, and after a look at her past judicial opinions and public statements it’s clear that her immigration and abortion cases are fueled by her beliefs rather than factual evidence. “Amy Coney Barrett has openly voiced that she is anti-abortion and has stated her disagreement with the premises of Roe v. Wade. As a female and a pro-choice supporter I feel concerned that Barrett will seek to abolish Roe v. Wade completely, banning the procedures of abortions all over the United States,” Davis added. With the court facing a conservative majority, the rights that Ginsburg fought so hard to establish and protect for women may be brought to an end by the woman who replaced her.
The Moon Festival is a reverential Asian holiday tradition Staff Writer The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is celebrated in many East Asian communities. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which is usually September or early October. This year it falls on Oct. 1. The Moon Festival is the second most important festival in China after the Chinese New Year. Even though Richland students can’t go on campus, the Multicultural Center, ALAS (Achieving Latino Academic Success) Student Club and the Richland Campus Office of Student Life all hosted special Instagram online gatherings to tell stories and demonstrate how to make paper lanterns, origami and mooncakes. Ikuko Fujiwara-Jodlowski, an instructional specialist in World Languages and Cultures at Richland, demonstrated how to make an origami bunny and shared the popular Japanese story, “The Rabbit on the Moon.” It is a belief in Japan that the moon presents an image of two rabbits pounding mochi rice cakes with a mallet instead of a man on the moon. “I love this idea that it’s about harvest time. You know it’s the end of summer,” Fujiwara said. The Moon Festival cannot be celebrated without the iconic mooncake. It’s a type of pastry with a sweet or savory filling. They can either be round to reflect the shape of
the moon or square. They are usually golden brown and stamped on top with the name of the filling. Professor Zelaya of the ALAS Student Club said the Moon Festival is “really the signal of a new season is about to begin” in her Instagram live demonstration of how to make the treats. The sweet mooncakes are filled with sweet bean paste, lotus seed paste or red date paste that envelope duck egg yolks. Savory fillings include ham, Chinese sausage, roast pork, radish and at times nuts and dried fruit. The tradition of gifting mooncakes is similar to that of Christmas fruitcake. The Moon Festival has a history of 3,000 years leading back to the Zhou Dynasty. At the time, certain customs were picked up such as worshipping the moon and singing and dancing in the moonlight. This is also a harvest celebration as rice is supposed to mature and be harvested during this time of the year. Other Asian countries have adapted this harvest celebration to their own customs. In South Korea, it’s known as Chuseok. Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns, share a feast of traditional food, dance together, enjoy the moon and even go to cemeteries to honor deceased loved ones. They also eat songpyeon, which is half-moon shaped rice cakes steamed on fresh pine needles either filled with mung bean paste or toasted sesame seeds. Soju (Korean liquor) and makgeolli (Korean rice wine) are popular to drink during this celebration for those who like alcohol. In
Sri Lanka, the nation shuts down to pray in temples for sermons or moon worship. In Singapore, galas are organized. There are even garden tours and dragon dances. In Vietnam, it’s considered a Children’s Day. In Japan, the Mid-Autumn Festival is referred to as Tsukimi (moon-viewing), which was introduced to Japan 1,000 years ago. Tsukimi-dango is made which is a round rice dumpling representing the full moon.
The Moon Festival is equivalent to Thanksgiving in American culture, making it a special time for the Asian community to gather with their families. Although public celebrations are not being held due to the pandemic, family gatherings are still taking place. Ke Yang, a UTD 2019 graduate of Chinese descent majoring in computer science, said he will “still eat dinner and celebrate [the Moon Festival] with a good meal.”
Staff Photo Angela Ly
Mid-autumn festival celebrates fall’s harvest with fruits mooncakes and prayer.
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Ritchie Manalastas
4 ENTERTAINMENT
October 6, 2020
Lose yourself in time while watching “The Old Guard” Ricky Miller
Entertainment Editor With her latest lead role in “The Old Guard,” Charlize Theron portrays an eternal soldier named Andy, the leader of a group of immortals who have been around since the First Crusade (1096-1099). Her troupe, for all intents and purposes, are freelance mercenaries who rarely receive payment. “The Old Guard” is based on the graphic novel of the same name. It came from a series that ran under the Image Comics banner and was written by Greg Rucka and artist Leandro Fernandez. It had its initial six-issue run in the early to mid-1990s. A soldier named Nile (KiKi Layne) has just learned of her powers and, in essence, is recruited by the corps to become part of the immortal team. Nile’s colleagues on the warrior base essentially shun her because. They are scared of her because they cannot comprehend her ability. Also woven into the story is Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Copley, who recruits the group for a botched mission. Ejiofor is a great actor having appeared in one of my favorites from the early 2000s. Joss Whedon’s “Serenity” (2005) updated the short-lived “Firefly” (2002) which ran on Fox.
Be forewarned: “The Old Guard” is as violent as all get out. A lot of people meet their demise, but in the end they deserved it. Gina Prince-Bythewood directs. She has been around a while with directing and screenwriting credits on “Love and Basketball” in 2000. She then segued to directing chores for the musical-drama “Beyond the Lights” in 2014 and later delved into the comic book universe by directing an episode of the Marvel TV series “Cloak & Dagger” in 2018. Theron returns to the immortal world. Some people probably don’t realize this, but she was one of this unexplainable breed in Peter Berg’s “Hancock” in 2008. Her part was that of Mary, a loving mother and housewife who forgot about her past from many a moon ago. She was paired with lead Will Smith. I have watched this enjoyable yarn a couple of times. My ritual is to always watch the nifty trailer beforehand to get me in the mood. What is really cool about “The Old Guard” is that it has gotten such a positive response that the follow-up is coming sooner rather than later. Netflix is striking while the iron is hot, so don’t be surprised if you spot multiple chapters in the next couple of years. “The Old Guard” is a great movie that deserves repeat viewings. Grade: B+
Photo courtesy IMDB
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Charlize Theron, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Luca Marinelli in “The Old Guard.”
“Hellboy” (2004) – This is everything a comic book movie should be and more. Director Guillermo del Toro, adapts the Dark Horse comic book to the big screen with excellent results. Ron Perlman is the demon from another world who loves sugar. Try to get the director’s cut on Blu-ray. A+
John Leguizamo in “Latin History for Morons” (2018).
Photo Courtesy Summary.org
Latin American history that you missed while in school Damon Craig
Online/Special Proyects Comic actor John Leguizamo (“The Pest,” “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” “Moulin Rouge”) is “here to unmoronize you, destupefy you and unidiotize you” in “Latin History for Morons,” written and performed by Leguizamo himself. Released as a Netflix stand-up comedy special in October 2018, then again on Audible in November 2019, “Latin History for Morons” is Leguizamo at his finest. While both productions are fairly similar in nature, there are some minor changes between each performance. The audio version mixes classic, Leguizamo-style comedy, heartfelt storytelling, palpable frustration and historical facts as he takes us through the many great contributions Latin-Americans have made throughout history. After discovering that his son was being bullied due to his heritage, Leguizamo began to help his son with his history project in which they were looking for historical heroes of Latin descent, only to find that in most modern textbooks, a great deal of their contributions had been swept under the rug. While Leguizamo uncovers some truly amazing facts about Latino history, his efforts often result in further complications for his son, which are played up to full, comedic effect. The true genius in these performances lie in Leguizamo’s delivery and the way he blends historical fact with elaborate, and in the case of the Netflix special, physical humor. What he provides for the audience are real,
“The Shape of Water” (2017) – A couple of years ago, your beloved film critic and Chronicle entertainment editor correctly picked this gem to win both Best Director for Del Toro as well as Best Picture for this fantasy/love hybrid tale, starring Oscar-nominated Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones. A
“West Side Story” (1961) – Rita Moreno and co-star George Chakiris won Oscars for their supporting roles in this Robert Wise-directed musical that plays out as a modernday “Romeo and Juliet” featuring opposing fingersnapping gang members.
B-
historical events about various Latin-American countries, statistics in terms of population and heritage spanning from the Aztec to modern times, including a review of topics as the Spanish Inquisition, Montezuma and Cortés and the Inca, all the way up to World War II. In the Audible version, he mentions a woman who dressed herself as a man in order to fight in the U.S. Civil War on the Confederate’s side. Another interesting fact is how the Latin-American people have fought and served in every U.S. war, contributing funds and provisions dating back to the Revolutionary War. Do be warned: For the uninitiated, Leguizamo’s humor can be crude, so those with sensitive ears may want to avoid this one. There are moments in which he uses Spanish slang and, while he does translate some of it in the Audible version, the Netflix version offers translations in the subtitles. Although the language may be off-putting for some viewers, it was certainly not the case here and, in some ways, perhaps improved the experience overall.The use of stage direction in both performances is expertly executed, cutting in sound effects and music during the Audible production and offering additional details and skits that were omitted in the live performance. The Netflix special seemed more like a one-man play, setting up the stage like a classroom or teacher’s office complete with file cabinets, a blackboard with chalk, office chairs and related props. Sound effects, music and lighting played out different scenes to full effect. Grade: A
“Coco” (2017) – This Best Animated Feature Film and Academy Award-winning gem is a magical Day of the Dead- inspired tale about a young boy who loves music despite being forbidden to play it and the family roots he explores on an eerie adventure.
A-
“Traffic”(2000) – Supporting actor Benicio Del Toro and director Steven Soderbergh were Oscar winners in this amazing and fluid tale that dealt with the drug trade south of the border in Mexico. Soderbergh’s plot has more intersections than a big city cloverleaf with twice the frenzy. -Ricky Miller A-
Dating during a pandemic Isjina Luckett Staff Writer
Searching for love can be a challenge. From first dates to long-term relationships, many college students may be navigating the challenges of personal relationships for the first time. Add a pandemic to those challenges and students may not know just what to do. The Dallas College Health and Wellness Center presented the virtual webinar “Dating during a Pandemic” on Sept. 22. It was hosted Chris Schlarb, service learning and civic engagement coordinator with Dallas College and guest speaker Paul Lavigne, project educator with UT Southwestern Medical Center. The webinar provided information to students on precautions to take while dating the pandemic. “I think, because of the whole social distancing thing, people are even more so interested in having those emotional connections and physical connections when it comes to relationships and when it comes to friendships as well,” Schlarb said. Through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are longing for physical connections. It has caused those who are without a partner to feel isolated and magnify the experience of loneliness during these times. The webinar provided some date ideas for both virtual dates and in-person dates while in the pandemic. “I believe that people will find connections
by simply being themselves. It’s easy for someone to pretend to be someone else online or pretend to live a certain lifestyle online, but just be yourself and you should attract likeminded people,” Lavigne said. The panelists encouraged students who are dating in person during the pandemic to get tested for COVID-19 prior to those interactions. “It is highly suggested that we are not going to people’s homes or visiting places that we were not frequenting before the pandemic, but if you insist on doing so I highly recommend getting tested before entering some one’s home especially if it’s the first time,” Lavigne said. Schlarb and Lavigne recommend students engage in clubs and organizations offered through Dallas College to help them stay connected and build relationships. “They’re having discussions and getting to know each other and that’s a way to build like friendships, which could later you know evolve to dating,” Schlarb said. As shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders shut down most parts of social life, singles are turning to online dating to fill the gap. According to The Associated Press, the dating app Hinge reported a 30% increase in March over the previous two months. Trifari Griffin, a Dallas College student, shared her virtual dating experience using the website Plenty of Fish. She described her first experience as being complicated as she discovered her date was going through a divorce. “My first date, we didn’t make it to the
dating stage because he was dealing with a divorce,” Griffin said. “Yeah [that] sounds selfish, but I know divorces get messy.” Griffin made a match after a couple of tries and, after talking to her second date, decided to meet him in person. “I actually stopped talking to him because
CAMPUS 5
Photo Illustration courtesy Pexels.com
he had done something to make me mad. Funny, I know. But within two to three months, I finally met him. Since we met up the first time it has been nothing but positive vibes,” Griffin said. “Who knew just having fun on a dating site can turn into a fairytale? I never knew would happen to me.”
RichlandStudentMedia.com
October 6, 2020
6 LOCAL
October 6, 2020
The joys and perils of curbside grocery shopping
CHRONICLE Richland
STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Design Editor Entertainment Editor Online/Special Projects Online/Special Projects
Dara Jones Angela Ly Barbara Gandica Martinez Ricky Miller Damon Craig Ryan Bingham Duff
ON THE COVER A COVID-19 cloud hovers over the Whitehouse as the Trumps and several staff members test positive for the virus. Photo Illustration: Barbara Gandica Martinez
BACK COVER Presidential campaign buttons. Photo Courtesy: Meg Fullwood
COVER AND FONTS Certain cover fonts are provided by the following www.nymfont.com – www.bvfonts.com
STUDENT MEDIA STAFF
A Kroger employee loads a customer’s groceries in their online pickup area.
Dara Jones
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Editor-in-Chief When I first started buying groceries through curbside pick-up, it felt a little bit like the 1930s speakeasy days as I drove around to the back of the building and interacted with a masked person coming out of an unmarked door, bringing out the “goods” and putting them in my trunk. Yes, the anonymity of it is almost like picking up a case of bootleg liquor. When I get home and start unloading the groceries, I realized that I played roulette and lost this time around. Those bell peppers that I needed to put into my salad, the main reason I went to the store, were not there. Apparently, they were not available. Now those three sacks of precooked frozen chicken I added to the order to make the $35 minimum will join the four bottles of olive oil I bought the last time. That’ll be great later when I want chicken, or a bottle of heirloom olive oil to hand down to my nephews, but today my salad is going to be boring. Welcome to the world of curbside grocery shopping. I’m not complaining. In the midst of a pandemic, it’s a gift to have someone else do your grocery shopping. In past years, I’ve used this service during flu season. Now that we are in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I figured it was time to learn the ropes. There definitely is an art to it. Most of the major grocery store chains offer curbside pick-up or have an in-store Instacart employee. I prefer using the grocery store’s service. Instacart charges fees that vary from $1.99 to $3.99, depending on whether you hit the $35 minimum or not. I have used them to shop at Aldi and Sprouts with varying results. When there is a problem, there is no way to contact the store by phone, but they are great with refunds and credits. I do like that I can use the service to shop at these two stores. After a couple of episodes involving damaged goods at Sprouts, I realized the problem may have been with the employee who worked
the morning shift, so I started ordering in the afternoons and haven’t had a problem since. My go-to grocery store for most curbside pick-ups is Kroger. The main reason I use them is because they have waived the $4.99 pick-up fee and do not require a minimum purchase. That means if they are out of something I ordered, I can come back the next day without being required to hit a minimum. They also offer downloadable coupons, the same in-store “buy five save five” discounts, and will accept paper coupons on site. If something goes wrong, it’s “on them.” Last week, when I was still being charged for items that were missing from my order, I notified them. They credited my account and gave me the products on my next visit. What’s not to love? My second go-to store is Walmart. I don’t go there as often. From day one, their curbside service has been free and I suspect this is why Kroger is now waiving their fee. Walmart has a wide selection of nongrocery items such as office supplies, garden equipment and more. I keep a running list of groceries that are cheaper there and put them with my office supply or “whatever” list and make a run every month or so. If something is damaged, I can immediately go online and ask for a refund, which makes it easy. Curbside shopping is not without its glitches. Fresh fruits and vegetables are particularly challenging. It is not uncommon to receive overripe or spoiled produce, including avocados with thumb squeezes all over them. Sometimes, I can order three tomatoes and get three tomatoes, other times I might get three pounds of tomatoes depending on which employee filled the order. The last green avocado I bought had a large black crater in it. How could someone not see that? I have learned to write out “please, don’t thumb the fruit” or “just three, please” and this has helped quite a bit. I learned the hard way to uncheck the “allow substitutions” box at the top of the order and individually add it back in for things I don’t
Staff Photos Dara Jones
mind a substitution on. Otherwise, I may open the trunk to find a number of products I would have never purchased had I done the shopping myself. The downside is that a large order can turn into a tiny one, which will require yet another visit. If you’re delving into the world of curbside shopping, my guess is that yours will be a learning experience just like mine has been. No doubt, you may prefer other stories than those I mentioned. My last, best piece of advice to you is to call the curbside pick-up department supervisor and ask them the best days of the week and the best times to shop and you’ll be well on your way to a successful curbside shopping experience.
David Acosta Reagan Davis Ryan Bingham Duff Dave Freeman Nabeela Iqbal Jalen Jordan Isjina Luckett
Ritchie Manalastas Fernanda Pargas Bryan Pham Thinh Pham Glen Pierre Adina Ramirez Orlando Silva
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Erica Edwards
Tim Jones
Jack Fletcher
James Ragland
Meg Fullwood
Larry Ratliff
ISSUE DATES October 20 November 10
November 24 December 8
STUDENT MEDIA AWARDS Student Organization Community Service Award, 2019 Student Organization of the Year, 2019 CMA Pinnacle Two-Year TV Station Award, 2018 CMA Two-Year Radio Station Award, 2018 ACP Newspaper Pacemaker Winner Award, 2016 ACP Best of Show Award, 2015 ACP Photo Excellence Award, 2015 CMA Newspaper of the Year Finalist, 2014 1st Place – TCCJA Overall General Excellence, 2014 2nd Place – Pinnacle College Media Award, 2014 1st Place – TIPA Sweepstakes, 2005 3rd Place – TIPA Online, 2005 & 2006 Over 270 Texas college journalism awards since 2000
CONTACT INFORMATION El Paso Hall, Room E020, 12800 Abrams Rd., Dallas 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079; richlandchronicle@gmail.com Advertising: 972-238-6068 Email: Advertise@dcccd.edu Staff meetings: Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m. in E020 Letter Policy Letters to the editor may be edited for space. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements. Letters must be the work of the writer and must be signed. For identification and verification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s classification (grade level), full name, address and telephone number, although address and telephone number will not be published. Editorial Policy The Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration.
A Walmart sign asks customers to stay in their cars for everyone’s safety.
© Richland Chronicle 2020
October 6, 2020
SPORTS/GAMES 7
Weather cools off, baseball heats up Jalen Jordan Sports Writer
October is the beginning of fall and with the change of seasons comes a time for costume searching for Halloween and, for sports fans, the beginning of one thing and one thing only: the Major League Baseball playoffs, also known as the Fall Classic. The 2020 season was shortened from 162 games to 60 games because of COVID-19. The first game of the season was played July 23 featuring the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals. Fifty-nine games later, the teams have reached the playoffs. Due to COVID-19 protocols, fans were not allowed in stadiums, until recently. A few weeks ago, it was announced that the National League playoff series and the World Series would be held at the brand-new Globe Life Field in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers. The MLB wild card series began on Sept. 29 and featured all American League games, such as the No. 1 seed Tampa Bay Rays vs. the No. 8 Toronto Blue Jays; No. 2 Oakland Athletics vs. No. 7 Chicago White Sox, No. 3 Minnesota Twins vs. No. 6 Houston Astros, and lastly, No. 4 Cleveland Indians vs. No. 5 New York Yankees. In the National League it was No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. No. 8 Milwaukee Brewers, No. 2 Atlanta Braves vs. No. 7 Cincinnati Reds, No. 3 Chicago Cubs vs. No. 6 Florida Marlins and No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 St. Louis Cardinals. The NBA Finals At press time there were only two teams standing in the NBA bubble, the Miami Heat
and the Los Angeles Lakers. According to The Associated Press, current Los Angeles Lakers players Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo were once trying to defeat their current team, the Lakers, in the NBA Finals over a decade ago. In 2009, the Lakers faced the Orlando Magic, the team Howard starred in, won Defensive Player of the Year and made All-Defense, and All-Star appearances. A year later, in 2010, the Lakers made the
finals again facing the Boston Celtics, the team where Rondo was a pivotal force as a point guard and was well-known for being a floor general and controlling the pace of the game. Both Howard and Rondo lost in those finals. Now, according to AP, “They finally have another chance, this time trying to support rather than stop the Lakers.” Both of these key players are now part of the team that is trying to stop the Miami Heat just down the road from where the Lakers celebrated their
2009 NBA championship victory. Another interesting fact is that former Miami Heat and current Lakers guard Dion Waiters will be receiving a ring, regardless of the outcome of the finals. At the beginning of the 2020 NBA season, Waiters was a shooting guard for the Miami Heat. He was cut by the team a few months later, signing with the Lakers. Since he was a part of both teams and played at least half a season for each one, he would earn a ring from either winning team.
AP Photo
Tampa Bay Rays’ Brandon Lowe (8) dives back safely to first base ahead of the throw to Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a pickoff attempt during the first inning of Game 1 of a wild card playoff series baseball game Sept. 29 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Fernanda Pargas Staff Writer
The new Sony PlayStation gaming systems hit the market Nov. 12. The announcement was made in mid-September amid much anticipation for the fifth-generation consoles. Here’s what you need to know. There will be two versions of the console: The PlayStation 5 and The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. The PlayStation 5 is retailed at $499 and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will have a retail price of $399. The difference between the two is that the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will not have the 4K Blu-ray disc drive. This will leave users to download their games through the PlayStation store. This might be a concern for gamers whose collection will outgrow the storage on their PlayStation 5 or for those who like to keep a physical collection for their bookshelves. The design is a change from the previous PlayStation systems. It features a sleek white
exterior that wraps around the black center of the console, detailed with the classic PlayStation blue light. The same color themes are available for the new PlayStation controllers, a design that looks sleeker than the earlier bulky, black devices. The new controller comes with a built-in microphone and shoulder buttons with haptic feedback so that the gaming experience expands beyond the TV. Sony’s announcement also revealed a couple of new accessories that gamers can buy for their consoles like headphones, a web camera and remote control that all match the sleek, duo-tone design of the PlayStation 5. The PlayStation 5 also has an impressive list of exclusive games, including Marvel’s “SpiderMan: Miles Morales,” “Deathloop,” “Ratchet
& Clank: Rift Apart,” “Gran TurismoTM 7” and “Horizon Forbidden West.” Both of the new systems have backward compatibility meaning that older games are playable on the consoles. Games like “Grand Theft Auto 5,” an online video game that Sony insists on promoting every chance they get despite the decline in popularity since it first was released in 2013. Maybe the new update to the game, planned for 2021, will be enough for gamers to play it again on the new console. Virtual reality fans can enjoy their PS-VR games through this console and the new web camera. Although there has not been any talk about new VR games, players can trust that the backward compatibility of the console will allow them to play PS-VR games on the PlayStation 5.
PlayStation 5 flaunts a high frame rate of up to 120fps with 120hz output. Games designed for the console will include ray tracing, which will simulate light in the worlds of games like “Horizon Forbidden West.” The game’s world will be expanded thanks to an integrated I/O that pulls data from the SSD faster. Nov. 12 is the day the PlayStation 5 hits the market. It will be exciting to see if the console meets the expectations of users, based on the exciting announcement and anticipation that Sony has built up for its fans. Specs-wise it does seem like an upgrade and the lineup of exclusive games might be enough to spend $499 on the PlayStation 5. It will be exciting to see on Nov. 12 if the console meets the expectations of users ...
UPCOMING EVENTS now online at richlandstudentmedia.com
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Gamer’s guide for new PlayStation 5
VOTE!
8
October 6, 2020
RichlandStudentMedia.com
mythology, spooky stories and folk lore
RichlandStudentMedia.com
eclectically themed events
Richland Student Media
@RLCStudentMedia
Richland Student Media