ISSUE 104
TALON
TALON
Spring 2020
The Glitter Girls and our Cheer team putting on a show before campus shut down
INSIDE STORIES FEATURED:
P 6 COVID-19 STIMULUS PACKAGE | P 8 THE VIRUSIS HERE| P 10 THE STRUGGLE
P 12 GROCERY STORECOVID STYLE | P 14 TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF| P 16 HEAD IN THE GAME
P 18 YEARS OF OUR LIVES | P 20 TIME TO STAY FIT| P 22 THE BRIGHTSIDE | P 24 PUTTING YOURSELF FIRST
Check out talon360 on issuu.com to see all of our published content! If you have a story, poem, etc to contribute email them to our editor! parris473881@avila.edu
CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR IN-CHIEFSAVANNAH PARRIS MANAGING EDITORSARAI JORGENSON COPYING EDITORBRELANDE EDMOND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORSARAI JORGENSON SPORTS EDITORJOSH DYSON DESIGN EDITORSARAH DAVIS/ SAVANNAH PARRIS
DALLAS MOSLEY ADRIAN GUZMAN GEORGE HOWARD IV SARAH DAVIS GUILHERME BERBEL MANNY HERNANDEZ MADELINE SCAVUZZO SAVANNAH PARRIS
INSTRUCTOR/ ADVISORDR. J ANTHONY SNORGRASS
PHOTOGRAPHERMARLON JONES
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ON THE COVER & BACK: SARAH DAVIS ISSUE 103 |
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FROM THE EDITORS This issue is going to be a little different. There aren’t any sections splitting up stories based on topic. Every story written that is in this issue is about the coronavirus, COVID-19. From personal experiences, to opinions, it’s all here. It is by no means meant to offend others and the editorial team went through each story thoroughly. It is a tough situation for all of us to endure. The Talon is an amazing way to be able to express your feelings with words and pictures and in a time like this, it helps. All of us on the team are wishing success for each and every one of you! We are always here for other students on campus and if you need a listening ear feel free to reach out, or write about it and send it our way to be published! Wash your hands, practice social distancing, stay safe, and don’t forget we are Avila strong!
Sincerely, Savannah Parris Editor-in-Chief
What’s up guys! I hope everyone is staying safe over our unfortunate break from campus classes! If you ever want to take a trip down memory lane, my accounts are all up and running! Marlon Jones, Photographer
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I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at this time. A lot is going on right now and it’s okay to feel scared and anxious, we are here for you! We can help you find the resources you need. Sarai Jorgenson, Social Media/Managing Editor
Hey y’all. I hope you are staying safe during these crazy times. It can be challenging for those who struggle already, so don’t be afraid to reach out to friends or family. Stay healthy and stay home! Sarah Davis, Design Editor
During this time I’ve been overcome by a vast of different emotions. I have family on the east coast but thankfully no one has been affected. Josh Dyson, Sports Editor
Six feet isn’t helping anything if you’re still going to several places in the same day. Brelande Edmond, Copying Editor
EDITORIAL POLICY The Talon News Magazine is produced by students of Avila University. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Talon News Staff, the Trustees, administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The Talon News Magazine encourages letters to the editor. These may be submitted electronically or in writing and should include the writer’s name, address, and telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be mailed to the Talon News Magazine Editor, Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. The Talon reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space, clarity, or inappropriate language. Copies of the Talon News Network Operational Guidelines may be requested by writing to the above referenced address.
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COVID-19 STIMULUS PACKAGE What this means as a college student Dallas Mosley
The COVID-19 virus or better known as the Coronavirus has wiped through the world like wildfire. The USA has moved to the number one country with the most affected people in the world. With the total coming up to 165,594. Deaths are at 3,180, and recovered at 5,995. With the numbers that we have gotten, the government has decided to shut down all non-essential jobs, which are then restricted to what can be sold and what hours the companies can be open. But with all this going on, many people have been forced to file unemployment. With the economy going down the gov-
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ernment decided to pass a Stimulus Package to help big and small businesses and also a one time check to everyone who meets the requirements. So how much is this check and how fast will it get sent out and how much will you get? So as many college students are out of school and working for right now because of the required quarantine, many of the college students who opted to live off-campus have to figure out how they can pay their rent and how they will keep themselves fed. So when they heard that they were going to get a Stimulus Check they thought it would be a blessing. Little did they know that the government
would just pull the carpet off from under them. With the rules of this Stimulus Check, they have a tiered system of how much people will get from the government. This looks great for the college students but this is not what it looks like. If you were put down as a dependent on your parent’s taxes you will not receive a Stimulus Check. This is not a good thing for those students living off-campus and also not working. They will not see a cent of the money. As well as their parents won’t receive the $500 bonus check “A taxpayer is allowed to claim a fulltime student between the ages of 19 and 24 as a dependent, so the parent will not get $500 for a college student, nor can the college student generally claim $1,200,” says
Holtzblatt. The parent will still receive their $1,200 check, if eligible.’’ This is not going to help the parents of the college students who are just sitting at home unable to work and unable to receive their own check. This may not be the best thing for the people in college and will not help the people who have college students sitting at home not making anything because of the working laws right now. The best thing the people can hope for is that we are able to get through this whole quarantine and back to work as quickly and safely as possible. And that we are able to get a hold of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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THE VIRUS IS HERE Let’s work together to prevent it Adrian Guzman
So with everything going on in the world, it seems to be the end of the world for most. There is a killer disease that is wiping hundreds to thousands of people across the whole world. There seems to be no cure yet for COVID-19 aka Coronavirus, but we are told to take precautions and certain measures to slow down the spread of the disease to try to stop it. It has caused so much hardship for people around the world who cannot fend for themselves or their loved ones. We have been given the order to basically isolate ourselves to our homes or to groups no bigger than ten people. We have been told this will help slow down the increasing toll of the infection spreading to people around us. By social distancing, it will help keep everyone healthy to an extent but also keep the numbers from increasing. You should only leave the house if it is necessary or you have to work. Protecting ourselves first is also protecting other people’s lives. You should as an individual remember to be aware of what you are touching and to keep yourself out of big groups and try to stay home. If not, what I have been doing when I leave the house and I am gone for more than 20 to 30 minutes is to shower as soon as I get home. I may not be rubbing skin to skin with people but going to grocery stores or even visiting people, I can still bring home germs. Being aware of what I am doing and who I am with will help protect not just myself but my family as well. The COVID-19 is causing such an uproar in society that grocery stores have to put a
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limit on how many items you are allowed per person and per purchase. They are even putting time for the elderly because it seems that people have gotten greedy and forgot there are people who cannot move as fast or even shop for themselves. Proverbs 28:22 says, “The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.” This verse describes the epidemic of what surrounds the world and how things are going especially for those who cannot afford or are able to get everything they need. The greedy people who over buy will more than likely use up everything without realizing or even aware. People should buy what they need and not the whole store or stock of what is there. In conclusion, this epidemic has brought hardship but also heartbreak for college senior athletes who were able to go to nationals to play couldn’t even do that, spring senior athletes could not even start or finish their season, and to the family members who have lost a loved one to the sickness. This disease is a fast and deadly virus that is easy to get and very hard to get rid of. There are so many people who are misinformed about the virus itself that they are either poisoning themselves because of what they read or were told but not using common sense. Not every “treatment” is a “cure” to the sickness. So if anything just do what the news and doctors are telling people and that is to stay home and be safe when leaving. When you are sick, stay home. Cough and sneeze in your sleeve. Use hand sanitizer and wear gloves. Do not rub skin or touch others when outside of your home. Do not go out and party or be in groups of more than ten people. Like the Kansas virtual boards on the highway say, “STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES.” ISSUE 104 |
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this virus.. Where do I begin? George Howard IV Everything is closed, barbershops, restaurants, some stores. This pandemic is absolutely crazy, people are losing their jobs (myself included) with no compensation pay at all like they are just terminating folk out here. Oh and gyms are closed..Lord have mercy, I think the worst thing about all of this is how cities are locking down after a certain time, this REALLY reminds me of the movie Purge like the lines are running too close together for me. Interesting about this whole thing is that our big cities are becoming “normal” size cities. I went to Atlanta, Georgia and first off there was like nobody in the airport at all, second there was virtually no traffic. ATL is basically like LA when it comes to traffic and I went from the airport to my sisters house which is normally a 40min drive (with traffic) it took me 15mins. WILD ! I will say this though, this virus has its ups and downs. It’s not completely terrible but it’s not great either, not by a long shot. This online school is AWFUL! I hate it, sometimes I forget I’m in school (sorry Dr.J) I need the routine of coming to class to be in that classroom setting. Another downside to this virus is the gyms closing, when I tell you I lost ALL MY GAINS .. I mean they are gone, there are only so many push-ups 1 person can do...250 then I just hung it up. This pandemic is crazy though, I took some pictures while I was in ATL and I really feel that the world is going to eventually turn to ruins, the way the world is reacting to this crisis is
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something I’ve never been a part of before. I’m really curious to see how this all plays out for the US and the rest of the world. In the meantime, stay safe out there people and WASH YOUR HANDS.
photos by George Howard IV
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GROCERY STORES Unexpected heroes we need Sarah Davis
Paramedics, nurses, and doctors have all done their fair share of working long days and nights amidst the battle against COVID-19. Rightly so, they have all had their praises sung, and have even been the subject of a bill passed that allows them to get testing done. They work around sick people all day, so this measure is not absurd by any means. No matter how much good they do, they aren’t the only ones risking it all to serve the community. During the month of March, many grocery store employees have put in some grueling days. Cashiers and sackers face an enhanced risk, as they are working directly with the public, yet some of them continue to make just $10 per hour – and even less. In fact, at one Kansas City Metro grocery chain, a number of them continue to make just $9.95 per hour, though they show up to work and put their best foot forward during this time of crisis. A meat department worker, who wishes to remain anonymous. says that he has not had a day off all month. Many other employees echoed him in that regard, but noted that they would continue to work hard to make sure that the community was still able to buy groceries. What many folks don’t realize is that, while these workers do have “job security” right now, it is scary to go to work, knowing that they could encounter many people that have the Coronavirus.
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- COVID STYLE Those with compromised immune health are at risk, and even perfectly healthy people put their loved ones at risk just by being in such an environment. At what point does making less than a living wage matter more than someone’s life? Workers at national chains like Aldi, Target, and Walmart, though exposed, are being compensated very well. Target is paying many of their employees $15 per hour, Aldi is paying their cashiers $17 per hour, and Walmart has already said that they will be providing bonuses early this year, in order to reward employees for their hard work. At many stores, the employees that have made the jump from 15 hours every week, to nearly full-time, or more, are students trying to pay for school, moms trying to make ends meet, or retirees. Panic shoppers are not just overwhelming those in the grocery industry who support themselves, but they are overwhelming ordinary people, who have a lot more going on than making sure they get all 156 packets of Kool-Aid scanned quickly. Before entering a store, always remember that, without these people, stores would not operate, and the 80 boxes of pop tarts that were purchased would still be on the shelves. These workers have families, children, and other things that preoccupy them. Worrying about whether they contracted a fatal virus – that they can’t even get tested for – because somebody decided to make ice cream sundaes essential, should not be one of them.
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TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF
Things to do to for self care during the virus Sarah Davis
The novel coronavirus has brought about some hard times in the country, and even across the world. People have been laid off, filed for unemployment, or been told to work from home until the virus threat is over. Almost all students have now adapted to an online way of learning, and most will lose out on funds for room and board at school. Because of all the changes and uncertainties of life, and several states being placed on a shelter-in-place order, those with mental illness are struggling more than they often would around this time of the year. Though there is not a lot to be done about the situation, there are steps that you can take to improve your mental health during these trying times. Go Outside Studies have shown that an increase in vitamin D can help boost your mood and decrease your risk of infection. The best way to get vitamin D? Sunlight. There is no harm in getting out to take the dog for a walk, going for a stroll with a friend (socially distanced, of course), or moving your workstation outside for the day. Even if you can only get outside for five minutes everyday, it may relieve that “cabin fever” many start to develop after weeks and weeks at home. Write in a Journal It can often be difficult to express your feelings if you are trying to cope with mental illness. Journaling has many benefits, and could lead to a more successful day. There doesn’t have to be a ton of detail, but making a “to
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do” list, jotting down some memories, or writing down some goals you’d like to achieve has shown to boost your mood, improve your cognitive function, and also strengthen your immune system. Video Chat with a Loved One Being sheltered in place is supposed to mean that you have minimal contact with people outside of your home. If you are hanging out with friends, constantly going to pick up fast food, or other non-essential activities, you aren’t doing it right. If you are following the rules, being away from your loved ones is extremely difficult. Seeing them talk with you over video chat, versus just normally talking on the phone will help you feel like they are a bit closer. Find a New Hobby If you find yourself at home, without any work to do, try turning off the television for a bit. Sitting in front of the television may lead to mindless munching, which will always make feeling good difficult. Instead, learn a new skill or find a new hobby. You could learn to knit or bake, write a book, or try a new recipe. You could even teach your pet basic commands. After all – you will be spending a lot more time with them. This is a new experience for most people. It can be difficult to make a complete 180-degree turn in your life, without any time to adjust or assess the situation. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, it is okay to reach out for help. Many college campuses are offering free mental health services currently, for all of the students who pay campus fees. Additionally, you can call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8755). ISSUE 104 |
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HEAD IN THE GAME Student athlete converting to COVID lifestyle Manny Hernandez Before the virus my life was an ongoing cycle of soccer, school, and working out. It was a routine I had engraved into my brain. I am a part of the Avila men’s soccer team and now my spring season is gone and so is my ordinary life. The NAIA has cancelled all sports till the Coronavirus is gone, Meaning there are no sports, all school facilities are closed, weights are no longer a thing, and morning training sessions with the team is done. I had to improvise, adapt, and overcome these unprecedented circumstances. As places started to close down, my gym was one of the last places to close until it did. I began to do my own home workouts with the weights I had at home. Luckily I have enough to keep me busy till this all blows over. Gears in my head began to turn and I began to get to make a home gym. I bought pulleys, anchors and rope from Home Depot and made my own cable machine. My porch had become my own personal gym. Home gyms are not the same as an actual gym and the workouts are kinda sad. My mom isn’t too happy that I have exercise equipment all over the place either. Making sacrifices for others, working together, and practicing social distancing at the end of the day will shorten the spread of the virus. There are multiple things you can do at home without weights, you can do yoga, body weight exercises, and you can always go on a jog or run. Many “stay at home chal-
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lenges” have surfaced on social media to help us and keep us entertained at home. These challenges are fun and interactive and had increased in popularity over this time. Not playing sports has given me a lot of extra time to do things that I personally never had time for, such as going on walks, spending time with family, and getting things done around the house. My work hours have also been shortened to just working weekends and school is all online now which is really different. Going from having a lot of responsibilities to almost none is a sense of culture shock. I don’t know how people do this as an ordinary life. I have to stay occupied or I’ll go crazy in my moms house. Some tips in staying occupied would be, facetiming a friend, doing your online work, and going for a run. Now is the time to clear your head and check up on your mental health. The times are tough, but everything will go back to normal sooner than later. As an athlete I’m not used to staying home and sleeping in and now it is something I’m beginning to enjoy. I hope we have a soccer season next fall and this COVID-19 outbreak goes away as fast as it came. I miss my old life and wish it could go back to normal. photo by manny hernandez
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years of our lives ...but I am stuck inside, social distancing Manny Hernandez Before the outbreak I had landed a job at Chipotle, I did not enjoy it at all. When the government began closing “non-essential” places, luckily Chipotle was an essential workplace. I was able to keep my job and not be unemployed. I began to appreciate Chipotle a little more than before. Chipotle’s lobby is closed and no one can go inside, but the online deliveries and food delivery businesses are keeping us busy. School became online, and online school sucks. The reason I believe that is because I have no motivation in doing the work, and or attending the video conferences. I had my first experience with a teleconference and it was a different experience. I am glad the university is always checking up on and asking us if we need anything and they are always open to help us. All my professors have emailed me and checked up on me, and that is a gesture I appreciate. Social distancing means I can’t see my friends, teammates, and go to social gatherings. It has become a dry season for the students. I spend a lot of time at home now, I went and bought Dragon Ball Z season 4 and 5 to keep me entertained while I’m at home and keep me from going anywhere. I facetime my friends and teammates just for some social interaction and keeping in touch with them.
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I haven’t seen some family members due to the social distancing that is supposed to last through April 30th. This makes you reflect on how you’ve taken your ordinary life for granted. I want to enjoy my summer vacation this year and hope this will be all over soon. Having group assignments during this is hard and you have to have a lot of communication with everyone. Staying in contact with professors and other students is key to passing your classes this semester. Living in an age where we can all communicate through the internet is amazing and helpful in times like this. This is not the first Coronavirus outbreak in history; it is actually the third. Experts say it has never spread this fast though. There are over five hundred thousand cases all over the world now. Keeping distance between each other is hard, but it’s effective towards curving the spread of the disease. The weather has been nice enough to go on walks and spend time outside and not being locked up inside. This disease has cancelled all sporting events and it’s sad that I can’t play the sport I love. We need to take care of each other before we go back to normal life. Getting used to this life is different and weird, we can all do it though. The scary thing is that online shopping is more tempting than ever now. I now eat because I’m bored and can’t go out and now we give fist bumps from 6ft away. It will hopefully be over soon for us to enjoy summer break.
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TIME TO STAY FIT At home workouts to do during the virus Guilherme Berbel and Madeline Scavuzzo Sitting on your couch and watching movies is nice. However, it can get old real fast. Ever since the Corona Virus started taking over our daily routines we have been trying to come up with ideas to help us stay active. We should all take advantage of this opportunity and work on our physical and mental health. Take this time to lose the quarantine 15, not gain it. Many health organizations and influencers are doing what they can help everyone during this time. Posting their fitness routines online or even live stream workouts. “I joined in on a live stream workout the other day. It was actually really fun.” (Madeline Scavuzzo) You can simply google at home workout routines. And that is exactly what we did. We went back and forth sending each other at home workouts. After the endless amounts we came across, we finally found one we both like. Coach Magazine offers endless amounts of workouts. Now, this workout does require you to have dumbbells. If you don’t have any, find a book or something else that is somewhat heavy to lift. I have used books before and they do just as well. This workout is a four-week training plan consisting of three workouts a week. That doesn’t sound to bad, right? Make sure you start off by warming up. The last thing you want to do is pull something. The plan offers a great way to warm up before each workout. They have the workouts set up for Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. We suggest that you do exactly that. Allowing
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your body time to rest in-between. Each day sound take you anywhere from 15-30 minutes. We have been doing this workout plan for only one week. Let us tell you though that it definitely will kick your butt. Take this time to work on your physical health. Working on your physical health will help with your mental health during this time. Remember, lose the quarantine 15, not gain it!
coachmag.co.uk article about homework outsphoto by savannah parris ISSUE 104 |
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THE BRIGHTSIDE Things to do during quarantine Madeline Scavuzzo With everything going on right now in the world I find it important to look towards the bright side. It is normal and okay to be upset with being quarantined for who knows how long. However, I don’t think it’s okay to be upset for the rest of your life because of this. There are numerous things that we all can do at home to make this time more enjoyable. Social media is becoming such a larger thing than it was before, even though it was already huge. People are making groups on Facebook and people from all over are joining them. If you are 21+ I suggest joining the Quarantined Beer Chugs group. If you want a good laugh this one’s for you. It is so nice to see people coming together to make the best of the situation. If you are a creative person this next bit is for you! I have decided to take up needle pointing. You can laugh if you want but honestly it’s so therapeutic. If needle pointing doesn’t sound like something you want to do, you can take up crocheting or knitting. Some of my friends have decided to make tie blankets for the local shelters. Tie blankets would be a great craft to do if you have younger siblings. Another idea is paining. Order some canvases off Amazon and go to town. I know you have a Pinterest account. Look up some inspirational quotes or landscapes. Sit outside on your patio, enjoy a nice glass of wine (or soda if you aren’t
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21+) and paint your view. This next one is by far one of my favorites. Create themed dinners for your family. Take turns coming up with the theme and making dinner. You can get so creative with this. Pretend you are on an airplane or a luau. You could even dress up as your favorite celebrities. If you need some inspiration @caitcanoe on TikTok has plenty. He considers himself the “CEO of family dinners”. His creations are simply hysterical. Now, these are some ideas that I find interesting. You have an imagination out there. It is time to find it and have FUN! Remember to think of this time as a positive thing. Don’t dwell on the negative! There is always a bright side at the end of a dark tunnel.
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Putting Yourself First Being symptomatic, but not taken seriously Savannah Parris I work at a pet store which is deemed essential during times like these. Which is completely understandable because pets deserve everything they need, just like us humans. I took precautions, as did my work. We had extra cleaning procedures and I stayed doing what I needed to. I even had to ask customers to step away from me because they would get too close. I am one of the only employees that didn’t change their availability and was still willing to work. Things went well at the start and I felt that it was going to be almost impossible to catch it. Then a customer called saying she was outside and she was exposed but
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she needed dog food. Nobody else was willing to risk it so I was the one who carried it to her car and tossed it in the trunk. I didn’t touch anything of hers and she stayed in the car, but it as still risky. I disinfected everything and washed my hands immdiately. Then it went downhill. I started not feeling good and watched my symptoms. My cousin is a doctor and she told me that the virus presents itself in different ways in different age groups, so I went ahead and called my work so they were aware I wouldn’t be there for a few weeks and I set up a doctor’s appointment. By the time I could get to the doctor, I was super sick. I
slept most of the day, had an ongoing headache, congestion, and even had body chills. My family doctor is in a small town and she was booked so I had to see someone else. I got tested for the flu, which was negative, and then they asked me to leave. No medicine, no treatment, nothing. I went home and called the health department and they told me I could only be tested if the doctor filled out a form for them but the doctor said I didn’t have a fever so I wasn’t somone she was worried about. I was sick like this for almost two weeks. I wasn’t able to work, and had to fight for my pay. The doctors acted as if I was making it up and didn’t even want to give me doctor’s notes.
I was extremely frustrated and felt as if I wasn’t taken seriously. I eventually started feeling a little bit better and have started working again, but my main point is that I wasn’t treated how I should’ve been. I get that there isn’t a lot of tests and that they are doing what they can. It just seemed as if my health didn’t seem as bad as others at the time so I was swept under the rug. But if I feel as if I am risking others health, I did the right thing by staying home. I am thankful that Avila is taking the pecautions they need to, even though it is a difficult transition. They are offering a ton of support and most professors are willing to talk about things and fill you with reassurance.
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