the avion
embry-riddle aeronautical university • daytona beach, florida • october 5, 2020
issue 5 • volume 154
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CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS Executive Board
Editor-in-Chief Victoria Jordan
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A Star in the Making An Interview with Ani Clemons
Jordan Thomas & Victoria Jordan Correspondent & Editor-in-Chief Ani Clemons, stage-name ANI, is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Engineering Physics. The Naples, Florida, native has brought her talents to the Embry-Riddle Campus, showcasing that you can have a passion for both technical expertise and the performing arts. We had the opportunity to interview with ANI after her live performance during Open Mic Night, an event hosted by ERAU Musician’s Club for all students, faculty, and staff. ANI also performed an original song entitled “Cinnamon” and has a new single “Anyone Anything,” set for release on Friday, Oct. 9. The Avion Newspaper: How long have you been singing? Ani Clemons: Well, my whole family is like really into music and stuff. There’s 10 of us; I’m number 10, so long line of all of them doing music. And I guess I’ve been singing my whole life, but I got a ukulele like a year ago, and I started writing my own songs. Cinnamon, the one I played down there, that’s mine, and it’s on Spotify, iTunes on all that stuff. And my next one comes out next Friday. AN: Any insider details on the upcoming single? AC: It’s very simple. I like to keep it sweet and simple. And it’s like my sister; she’s a producer. So she was like, hey, I heard your writing songs. You better play them for me. And I was like, okay, fine. And
she decided to record them and produce them. And my twin is the harmonies. So when you hear harmonies on the track, that’s my twin. She doesn’t go here. And yeah, it’s kind of like a family production. AC: My sister is producing it; my twin is in it. And then I was singing, and the next one coming out is called “Anyone Anything.” AN: How long does it take you to write a song? AC: Not long, maybe like an hour, I don’t know, it just comes to me, I just write it down. AN: Do you have a musical inspiration? AC: I love artists like Billy Martin. They’re just very simple, just kind of acoustic, simple, and sweet. AN: So, where do you draw your inspiration to write your music? AC: Just like little things or little things that’ll happen in my day. Or I try to write about things that I won’t regret later. Like it wasn’t like I wrote that in the moment of being angry about something. It’s like I want something that I can listen to 10 years from now and still appreciate it the way it is. So that’s my goal. AN: What made you sign up for tonight’s event? AC: Actually, the guy I was singing with, [Jay] he took a picture of a poster, sent it to me and was like,
hey, we should do this. And I was like, okay, let’s do it. So that was awesome. AN: What is it like balancing being like in a technical field, but also being like an artistic person? AC: Yeah, so I was more into, like, engineering before I was into music. And so that kind of made me the oddball in my family. But then I found that like, music was such a good outlet. And it’s kind of like how you, you know, you have a diary and everything. That’s kind of the way I journal. And I was like, wow, this really helps me just relax. It helps me like, have something to give my brain a break, you know? So that’s why I like it. It’s nice. It’s hard to balance because it’s like I want to be consistent, like posting on Instagram and like getting those singles out. But it’s fun. It’s a fun balance. AN: Have you ever experienced any form of stage fright? AC: I guess the first time I got on the stage to sing was when I was 13. I was a background singer because my dad’s a singer. And so we used to do like shows with him, me and my sisters. And that’s when I was first, like, really nervous and then, like, we just did it more and more and more and more and more. And then when I got here, I just started singing with people and jamming with different people. And it’s basically just like comfortable now. Oh, yeah, lots of fun. >>Continued on page 3
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS >>Continued from page 2 AN: How do you decide which of your music is going to be a single and what would be on like your regular album? AC: Let’s see here; I recorded 19 of my ukulele songs. That’s going to be two albums, and they’re going to be like acoustic, and then we’re just releasing each one by itself. And then the album will have like a bonus song. And so that’s how I determine that they’re all going to be singles. But after the two albums, maybe I’ll start doing like collabs and stuff because I still have more to record. We’re like, let’s stop there for a little bit and then move on from there.
AN: Who would you want to go on tour with if you can pick any current musician? AC: I’d love to go on tour with this band called Sure Sure. I love them so much. They have a really good following on Spotify and everything. And I’ve texted them, and I talk to them all the time, and I’m their biggest fan. I would love to go on tour with them or Billy Martin. AN: Who is another under the radar artist you think we should pay attention to, that you see on the rise? AC: Definitely Sure Sure. Nobody knows who they are, but they’re
great. I could not recommend them enough. I love their music. My favorite song of Sure Sure, I love “Funky Gallileo” or “New Biome.” Those are both really good, like their album I could listen to each song like a million times. I love that about them. I don’t get sick of them, so definitely check them out. ANI is a rising star and a breath of fresh air in the Riddle community, known mostly for its technical work. Her music can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. With a second single coming out on Oct. 9, ANI is sure to continue to bring the simple yet beautiful tones and harmonies that are heard in her first single.
A Smile A Day Andrea Gamble Correspondent Everyone knows the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctors away.” If you don’t, you must be living under a rock. But what about speaking? What about smiling? We are living in a tough time right now, and it is not the easiest to communicate while a three-layer mask locks away half our faces. However, as college students, we should begin to realize the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication on campus. Being on campus at Riddle, let’s assume everyone has had at least one encounter of the ‘awkward moment’: when you are heading in one direction, and a fellow Eagle is heading in the other. There is a brief moment of stiffness and nervousness to avoid eye contact as much as possible between the two of you. This can be very uncomfortable for many of us, and you can be the one to stop it. It only takes one thing: interaction.
The time we live in consists mainly of technology, and more importantly, media platforms. Smiling and speaking with one another is not considered cool, but to smile and speak into a camera by ourselves and have everyone else watching through their device is. Contrary to popular belief, this is not good for you. Spending numerous hours on media platforms can lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety, and depression. Isha Gupta, a neurologist from IGEA Brain and Spine, spoke about how impactful smiling is on the Better by Today News, “a smile spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain hormones including dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness. Serotonin release is associated with reduced stress.” Take a second and think to yourself, do you smile/speak to students on campus? Or are you that ‘awkward moment’ contributor? Anyone around you can use an exchange of words or a smile, including myself, so just try it!
Now, with this being said, not everyone is the most socially outgoing. Some people may not smile, speak, or even make eye contact. It happens to me all the time. Do I let this stop me from living my best life? No. By doing your part, there is one less person on campus going through that ‘awkward moment.’ Continuing with this can also allow you to break those who don’t feel at ease communicating with others out of their comfort zone. You never know what anyone around you is going through, for we are all in the time when happiness is a crucial part of life. By smiling/speaking to someone, you can develop a relationship, reduce stress from school, or simply feel better. By doing your part and never giving up, you will always find a piece of joy in your life, no matter what anyone else is doing. Smiling is contagious, and a smile a day can lead you to a world of possibilities. Will you smile through your mask today?
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Page Editors Cover Photo nbcnews.com Campus Editors Vipul Telang Victoria Jordan Oliver Du Bois Industry Editors Alani Seaman Vipul Telang Oliver Du Bois Comics Editor Samantha Stirmel Copy Editor Oliver Du Bois
Contributors Reporters Photographers
Vipul Telang Vipul Telang Rajan Khanna Alani Seaman Victoria Jordan Rajan Khanna Romeia Al-Hajeri Jack Rachek Alani Seaman
Correspondents
Jordan Thomas, Andrea Gamble, Emily Parcell, Edward Grondin, Carmen Van Ommen
The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff. Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 1200 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by both the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.69. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion.
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CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
Opinion: Right to Party!
Edward Grondin Correspondent For college students in Florida, COVID-19 has many far-reaching effects. There are restrictions on class sizes, new social distancing rules, and restricted access to staff, faculty, and student services. It has also forced many students here at Embry-Riddle to contend with the nightmare that is the Canvas app. Refer to the Avion article from Sept. 21, 2020, "Canvas: A Student's Best Friend or Worst Enemy?" One of the biggest points of contention between students and the administration has been the school’s harsh rules about hosting or attending events off-campus. This point of contention was only exacerbated after the school made the mistake of hosting an event on campus in the Student Union without requiring the same safety restrictions that everybody else on campus must follow. Refer to the Avion article from Aug. 29, 2020 "Double-Standards: Controversy Arises as Embry-Riddle Holds First External Event." This double standard has since raised concerns with students, alumni, and donors. In addition to the restrictions, Embry-Riddle has hired students to patrol the campus and enforce the new rules with monetary fines. There is now some relief on the horizon for college students in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis has held a roundtable discussion with Dr. Levitt, a Nobel Laureate and Professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University, Dr. Kulldorf, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical, and Dr. Bhattacharya, Professor of Medicine at Stanford
Medical School. Dr. Bhattacharya explained why the PCR tests are ineffective due to the way they duplicate any viral material present, which causes a high percentage of false positives. Dr. Levitt backed up Dr. Bhattacharya’s statements and went further to say that we have never used PCR tests in this way before and that testing is not a solution. He also brought into question the effectiveness of contact tracing. Dr. Kulldorf does not believe that masks help at school, but he does support the continued efforts to keep classes clean and to refrain from holding any large school gatherings. He also reinforced the idea that people who are sick or showing symptoms should stay home.
Dr. Kulldorf has also come forward to explain that the lockdowns were not an effective way to prevent the spread of the virus. The Governor has already taken action to roll back rules that place restrictions on businesses and provide new rules to protect the population from riots and violence. Now he is setting his sights on the overly restrictive regulations that colleges have instituted. Governor DeSantis stated at a Tallahassee news conference about public health, “I personally think it’s incredibly draconian that a student would get potentially expelled for going to a party. That’s what college kids do.” He is now proposing a students' "Bill of Rights."
With colleges overstepping their authority by enforcing rules on students when they are off-campus, Governor DeSantis has taken steps to stop these draconian rules. For updates, watch the Governor’s social media and the local news outlets. This legislation will directly affect life at Embry-Riddle. At the time of this publication, no law has been passed that will affect the current policies of Embry-Riddle, meaning that all of Embry-Riddle's COVID-19 protocols, for both on and off-campus, are still in effect. Still, people in the Florida government are closely watching the situation in colleges across the state.
Image Courtesy/Joe Burbank
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at the Aug. 26 roundtable discussion on theme park safety protocols and the impacts of the pandemic.
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
Staying #CinemaSafe
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Regal Theaters Reopen with New Health and Safety Measures in Place Remember going to the movie theater on the weekends with your friends, stuffing your face with popcorn and Coca-Cola? It seems like a distant memory when you think about it now, doesn’t it? Regal Cinemas all over the country experienced a closure in early March of this year, and concerns about the pandemic caused a striking decrease in the number of ticket sales even before the closures took place. Without an immediate plan for social distancing and other safety measures, movie theaters were just another establishment in COVID-19’s disruptive path. On the contrary, with streaming services such as Disney+ making the most of the current state of affairs by releasing movies via their platform, the closure of movie theaters might not seem so bad as you can watch movies in the comfort and safety of your own home. However, for avid moviegoers, the experience is simply not the same without the sensation of watching the films come to life on the big screen. Well, moviegoers, I’m happy to report that there is no need to fret. As of August, Regal Cinemas started to reopen theaters across the country with extensive COVID-19 measures in place, including our local Regal Pavilion & RPX in Port Orange and Regal Ormond Beach Cinema. According to Regal’s website, these new safety and health procedures were created with CDC Guidelines at the
core and also take into account feedback from employees and moviegoers about what safety measures are most crucial for their return.
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The staggered reopening of Regal Cinemas brings a little glimmer of hope that the cinema industry and entertainment companies will bounce back.
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Romeia Al-Hajeri Senior Reporter
Here are some things you should know about the new safety and health protocols per the Regal website: Employees are required to undergo daily health screenings that include temperature screenings where applicable. They will also be required to wash their hands every 30-60 minutes at a minimum and must wear a mask. In addition to the ability to purchase movie tickets through the Regal mobile app, guests now have the option to purchase concession items from the app while they visit the theater. To maintain social distancing, every other register will be closed. A reduced food menu will be offered, and self-service condiment stands will be closed. If you want to get a refill on your popcorn or drink, your prior cup or popcorn bucket will
be exchanged with a new one. Guests must wear masks at all times while in the lobby, auditorium, hallways, and restrooms, and may only be removed while actively eating or drinking while seated in an auditorium. If you arrive at the theater without a mask, one will be provided for you. Employees will monitor auditoriums throughout the movie as they were before. If socially unacceptable behavior is observed by an employee, including the non-wearing of masks, the patron will be addressed. As per Regal’s terms of admission, any guest who refuses to comply with the new protocols will be asked to leave and will only be welcomed back once they are compliant. Guests will be encouraged to proceed to the designated auditorium as soon as possible after arrival and exit the theater in a timely manner once their movie has finished. Where required by state or county mandate, auditorium capacities will be limited to 50%, and group sizes may be subjected to a limited amount of people. To help circulate more fresh air throughout the auditorium, the fresh air intake will increase by 50-100% above normal levels. The online reservation system will automatically maintain two empty seats between parties to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Arcade games will be closed where required by local governance, and water fountains and vending machines will not be available for use. Regal also includes a Guest
Wellness section in their new safety protocols that encourages guests who have a fever or are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms to refrain from attending the theater. They also ask that you self-quarantine and avoid the theater until you are symptom-free for 72 hours if a guest has knowingly been in contact with an individual who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. While the staggered reopening of Regal Cinemas brings a little glimmer of hope that the cinema industry and entertainment companies will bounce back, the reality of it is that attendance remains low. There is no telling how long Regal Cinemas will remain open or if the reopening will prove to be more trouble than it is worth. Nonetheless, now is probably one of the best times to go and check it out for yourself. Several movie favorites are showing now at reduced prices, including Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Bridesmaids, Despicable Me, and Magic Mike. Hocus Pocus is also showing now just in time for Halloween, along with a few new releases. As a reminder, it is important that you make safe, responsible decisions when engaging in off-campus functions and activities. The movie theater is no exception. Make good choices and abide by the new safety and health measures. You are not only keeping yourself safe by making smart choices but are also ensuring the safety of those around you. Make sure that you stay safe out there, Eagles!
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CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
Bye Bye Spring Break
Victoria Jordan & Emily Parcell Editor-in-Chief & Correspondent A week for restoration, traveling, and catching a tan on the beach, this was the traditional description of Spring Break. However, with the release of the Embry-Riddle Spring 2021 Academic Calendar on Sept. 21 in a University Communications email, we have traded a traditional Spring Break for an 'Open Zoom Meetings' window. Rewinding to March 2020, the tipping point of the global pandemic had been reached. It felt as though the moment we were released for Spring Break, positive COVID-19 cases skyrocketed. Suddenly, in-person conferences were canceled, schools and universities closed for the remainder of the semester, and stay-at-home orders began to go in effect. Now that we have acclimated to living in a pandemic, the plans of reopening schools and universities are constantly being examined under a microscope. For Embry-Riddle, this means creating a schedule that can keep the campus open and maintain students, faculty, and staff's health and safety. Embry-Riddle’s Spring 2021 Academic Calendar • Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday • Jan. 19 – Orientation • Jan. 20 – Classes Begin • Mar. 16 – Reading/Study Day • Apr. 7 – Reading/Study Day • Apr. 29 – Classes End • Apr. 30 – Reading/Study Day • May 1 and 3-5 – Final Exams (Daytona Beach)
• May 1 and 3-6 – Final Exams (Prescott) What is Different? We will be starting classes a week later than usual. Spring Break and Presidents Day are no longer holidays on the academic calendar; therefore, classes will be expected to remain in session on these days. There is also the addition of two Reading/Study Days, in which Embry-Riddle will remain fully operational while classes will be canceled. The Available Course Options To align with the current Fall 2020 semester, Spring 2021 will go over the same learning modes. This includes face-to-face, hybrid/split, and online courses. The Student Perspective The schedule is not thrilling at all. The biggest issue with the schedule is that there are not enough breaks. However, we understand the University's thought process behind not wanting us to have days off, as they do not want people to leave and spread the virus once they return on campus. With this calendar being as strict as our current fall semester, we are constantly at school with classes on Labor Day and Fall Break. There is no time off to do anything. It is a constant cycle of Monday through Friday, filled with classes and work. Saturday is a catch-up day on homework and projects, Sunday allows for a little time for self-care time, and then we are back on
Monday to continue the cycle. Let us consider the students this semester that have classes on Saturday. There is no Saturday catch-up day; everything just gets piled onto Sunday. For students that work or practice their religion on the weekend, when do they have a break? The calendar only expedites students and faculty being burnedout. Normally, students can pace themselves to make it to milestone dates such as Fall Break and Spring Break to recharge and shift gears to end the semester on a high note. However, we do not have that now. If you fall behind one week, then the next week, you have double or even triple the amount of work to do the bare minimum. You could argue that students are just lazy, but if you do, then you are not closely examining the situation. Students are given more work to do in a shorter amount of time because we supposedly have more free time and flexibility to do more due to split and online classes. When the time we have is less as we try to cram in more hours on our jobs to make up for the income loss
due to the pandemic, or devote time to reading the textbook from front to back to understand the bits and pieces of information given during lectures. There is also no need to start the Spring semester a week later. We could have started the same time as the previous schedule because we are ending the semester at more or less the same time. We could have started early and had more reading/study days throughout the semester to account for days we would have been given off for spring break. Questions Remaining • Will there be Saturday classes? • Will the room capacity increase for the next semester, as the campus has a low amount of positive COVID-19 results? • Will the students in the residence halls be allowed guests? • Will the school have in-person graduation?
Image Courtesy/Dirk Shadd
Photo Courtesy/Michael Seely
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INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
Are Today’s Escape Rooms “Virtually” the Same as Before? Carmen Van Ommen Graduate Researcher Carmen is a student in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different technologies typically used by Embry-Riddle students. Once upon a time, long long ago, a group of friends could meet together in one room. Their goal? To escape before their time ran out. There were dozens of locks, hidden keys, and riddles designed to frustrate you to no end. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has put a damper on in-person activities, and businesses have had to pivot to ensure that their services abide by social distancing guidelines. Since part of
the fun of doing an escape room is to actively collaborate with your friends and scour a room for clues to solve puzzles, what does this experience look like in a virtual setting? Overview As part of a department bonding activity, we chose to do a virtual escape room. Our story was set in an art museum. It was suspected that the museum curator had stolen a famous and expensive painting, and it was up to us to break into his office, steal back the painting, and escape without being caught. Our group of six met on Zoom, and we were provided with a link to a website where we could see a 360° view of the room we were in (similar to street view on Google Maps) and had a dashboard of clues. The Importance of a Field Agent
Photo Courtesy/Barbara Chaparro
The group was shown videos to set the stage for the heist.
Photo Courtesy/Barbara Chaparro
The gallery referred to in the art heist escape room. Viewing images from the location in question was essential to the success of the game.
One of the biggest differences in a virtual escape room is the fact that you cannot physically be in the room. One workaround to this was to provide our group with a "field agent," who could be our eyes and hands. This person was equipped with a camera that gave us a view of what she was seeing, and a microphone and earbuds in which to hear and communicate with us. A challenge with this is that it limited our field of view to only what the field agent was looking at, and we could not physically manipulate the objects. Additionally, our entire group was looking at one screen instead of being able to explore independently. Having a restricted field of view meant that we could sometimes miss essential objects in the room. Our group solved a puzzle and found a key, but we weren't sure where the lock was, so we held onto it for a while. After work-
ing on another clue, the field agent moved her camera over the desk, and we suddenly saw a keyhole that our previous key would fit into. If we had been physically present in the room, it is unlikely we would have missed this lock for so long. Not being able to explore the room also limited us to solving the puzzles in a more linear and focused fashion. One of our clues opened a small door in the wall, through which we could see the museum curator's office. While it was too small for someone to fit through, I couldn't help but think back to my times of doing an escape room in person and how likely it was that someone in the group probably would have been trying very hard to contort themselves to fit through that hole while the rest of the group looked for other clues! Individual differences and strategies for looking around the room are also what can make your group successful. >>Continued on page 9
INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY >>Continued from page 8 I would have never thought to try to pull on the objects in the room to see if they moved, but thankfully other members of our group had that idea, and we were able to communicate that idea to the field agent. While utilizing these individual strategies was not impossible, it took more communication with the group and with the field agent to implement due to the lack of individual autonomy. In my opinion, being a field agent has to be a challenging job. They have to balance between carrying out what the group is suggesting and not being too helpful. If the field agent were to twitch or make some sort of movement towards a clue when we were discussing, it would have told us that we were on the right track, and we would have been less inclined to figure out the clue for ourselves. Instead, we might have adopted the strategy of just throwing out random letters or numbers for the lock and see-
Photo Courtesy/Barbara Chapparo
This image shows the hieroglyphic code used in the escape room.
ing if the agent’s reaction meant we were hot or cold. However, the field agent was helpful to our group in small ways. Some of the clues involved moving objects in a certain way or to a certain place, and she was able to have some autonomy in that. One of the examples of this were two puzzles that had to be put together. Instead of us saying “put this certain puzzle piece in this place” and wasting a lot of time when it doesn’t work out, the field agent put the puzzle together on her own. When Technology Limits the Experience Every time we interacted with something of significance, that object appeared in our “dashboard," which allowed us to review, zoom, and inspect them on our own, without having to ask the field agent to hold it up to her camera all the time. It also helped us in the sense that we knew what was important and could ignore other distracting objects in the room. Additionally, we knew when we had solved a puzzle because the related objects would disappear from our dashboard. While this was helpful in some ways, it also presented some challenges. Those on the team using one screen instead of dual monitors were encouraged to have their Zoom window open on one side, and the dashboard opens on the other. This caused the clues to sometimes be very small and hard to read. Furthermore, we could only look at one clue at a time. If multiple clues interacted with or corresponded with each other, we either had to switch back and forth between the two multiple times or come up with a creative way to see both at the same time. I resorted to taking a photo of one of the clues and looking at it on my phone while the other was on
my computer screen. One other disconcerting element for one group member was the constantly moving camera display of the field agent. After a time, this team member experienced mild nausea and a headache similar to simulator sickness. As mentioned before, looking at only one view of the room and having one field agent required the clues to be solved more linearly. Instead of having multiple puzzles that could be solved in any order, each puzzle we solved unlocked the following one. While the room was in no way easy, it seemed like it had been simplified. The linearity of the puzzles may have contributed to that. Additionally, it seemed like we were
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spending a lot of time communicating about each clue, since we had to ask the field agent to perform certain tasks instead of trying it ourselves. Conclusion While there were many differences between a physical escape room and a virtual one, there were many similarities. If you have participated in an escape room before, you didn't feel out of place or that the format was unfamiliar. Even though it was different, it was still a lot of fun, and we all felt a sense of accomplishment and positive user experience when we were able to escape!
Photo Courtesy/Barbara Chapparo
The participants celebrate a successful game in the virtual escape room.
10 INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
Starlink: The Military Alternative The U.S. Army Considers SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation as an Alternative to GPS
Jack Rachek Public Relations Manager As SpaceX continues to build out its new low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation, Starlink, many have begun to speculate how Starlink can be used for other applications. Starlink’s primary goal is to create a constellation of thousands of satellites in orbit and provide high-speed internet worldwide in remote locations with unreliable service. This is a monumental task, but if successful, such a constellation would make way for various advancements in communication
and internet services. The U.S. Army has become one of SpaceX’s first customers and has begun exploring the possibility of using Starlink as a new and improved GPS. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a constellation of 31 satellites in medium Earth orbit that many rely on for navigation and location services. GPS was initially created by the U.S. Military in the late 1970s and is still currently owned by the U.S. Government and operated by the Space Force. Flying at over 20,000 kilometers from Earth, GPS is a very weak system that is easily jammed. Due to the satellites’ distance from
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the Earth, the signals they project to the ground are fragile. GPS signals are easily overwhelmed and buried in noise from other devices. This makes for a somewhat unreliable system that can be easily jammed in warfare. These flaws have motivated the U.S. Army to look for alternative solutions in LEO satellite constellations. The reason being, LEO satellites fly significantly closer to Earth, allowing for stronger GPS signals to be transmitted and received. In the case of Starlink, each satellite flies at 550 kilometers, much lower than the 20,000 kilometer orbit of standard GPS, and researchers estimate Starlink transmissions could be 1,000 times stronger than GPS. This dramatically changes the capabilities of the U.S. Army and would be invaluable in a war-zone. The increased signal strength makes it significantly harder to jam and would solve many problems with interference from other electronics. In addition to stronger signals, the data capabilities of Starlink are
staggering. Current GPS satellites are capable of transmitting data at less than 100 bits per second. That is an extremely small amount of data and severely limits the information that can be shared by satellites in the GPS constellation. Looking at Starlink, each satellite is capable of transmitting data at 100 megabits per second. That is one million times more data than current GPS satellites. This opens the door for more precise and accurate location services and the highest quality data than the current system. Currently, SpaceX has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the U.S. Army to test the Starlink constellation over the next three years as a way to transmit data and communication. During this program, they will evaluate Starlink’s performance and how it can be used for military applications. If successful, this program could prove beneficial for the U.S. Army and show the array of other uses for the Starlink constellation.
This is a panel event with Northrop Grumman professionals. If you have questions surrounding Northrop Grumman’s Diversity & Inclusion goals and efforts that you would like answered during the session, please submit them Brittany.J.Ross@ngc.com prior to the event.
Please email Kristi Kim at kristi.kim@gulfstream.com if you would like to receive the invite link for the calendar invite. Watch our video to learn more about Gulfstream Aerospace. https://vimeo.com/454783289/4b6d64f17e
Shop online for an extra 30% off select masculine and feminine career dress apparel, shoes & accessories. To receive your Extra 30% off coupon, text ERAU to 67292
Student Union 313 • careers@erau.edu • 386.226.6054 • careerservices.erau.edu
Photo Courtesy/medium.com
A batch of Starlink satellites line the night sky, visible to the naked eye.
INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
11
Opinion: Is NASCAR Coming Back? New Tracks for 2021 Could Revive Dying Sport Vipul Telang Managing Editor NASCAR officials released the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule last Wednesday, introducing a series of exciting changes to next year’s schedule that will be sure to spark hope in the dormant fan base. Three new tracks, six road courses, and a dirt track! Has NASCAR finally listened to fans? One notable addition to the 2021 calendar includes a first-ever trip to Circuit of The Americas (CoTA) in Austin, Texas, on May 23. The purpose-built circuit for Formula One has also hosted a number of other series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship, IndyCar, MotoGP, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 3.4 mile, 20-turn counterclockwise circuit has long been rumored to be added to the sport’s calendar since it was built, so it’s great to see that NASCAR finally added it, albeit nearly 10 years after the circuit was completed. NASCAR also made the bold decision to convert the Mar. 28 Bristol date to a dirt-track surface, marking the first time since 1970 that NASCAR’s highest division raced on dirt. On Sept. 30, 1970, Richard Petty won at the half-mile at North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, said that developing the 2021 schedule “was done with one primary goal: creating the most dynamic schedule possible for their fans.” Other calendar changes include changing the layout of Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the classic oval-but-really-rectangle to the road
course, adding Road America for the Cup cars (which previously only hosted the Xfinity Series), and changing the All-Star race location from Bristol to Texas. To make room for the new tracks, NASCAR removed races from Kentucky Speedway as well as Chicagoland, which have been on the calendar for 10 and 20 years, respectively. Unfortunately, Chicagoland announced that they would not be hosting any races in the future, and the venue would be closed indefinitely. Sadly, 2020 has not been easy for the sport. COVID-19 forced the suspension of in-person racing. As a result, many of the races at the beginning of the season were run virtually on iRacing, an online simulation racing game, and were broadcast on live TV. Meanwhile, executives scrambled to put together a schedule that would be both engaging and fair. The series went on hiatus
from Mar. 8 to May 17, and when racing resumed, tracks were devoid of fans, and races were eerily quiet. Fans were only allowed back on Jun. 22, and even then, they were limited on what they could do and where they could go. As the season finale in Phoenix on Nov. 8 draws closer, it will be interesting to see how NASCAR sells tickets and fills seats, assuming attendance restrictions will still be in effect. As I wrote in Issue 4, Spring 2019 of The Avion, NASCAR’s popularity seemed to be on the decline, and only time would tell if NASCAR returned to the popularity seen in the early 2000s. Recent decisions by the sport, however, indicate that things might be turning positive. After events following the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests earlier this year, NASCAR took a stand and banned Confederate battle flags from tracks nationwide. This move angered thousands of fans in the South who
saw the ban as an insult against their heritage. Even this week at Talladega, Alabama, fans continued to line up outside the venue and wave the offending flag. But NASCAR sticking to what they believe is right might earn more fans than they lose. I applaud the organization for making that tough call, especially when they knew that they would be calling out some of the sport’s deep-rooted fan base in the South. With the addition of the schedule change, I believe that NASCAR is doing better than they were a year and a half ago. The changes look very promising for the sport as a whole. Fans who have been clamoring for changes will no doubt be relieved to see that NASCAR has once again begun to take risks to make the sport more appealing. Although I don’t usually watch NASCAR races in their entirety on television anymore, I cannot wait to watch the series attempt to tackle the new tracks and layouts next year.
Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper
The striking red, white, and blue curves of Circuit of The Americas are distinct features of one of the newest tracks for the 2021 NASCAR Cup schedule. The 20-turn, 3.42 mile-long circuit features elevation changes of over 150 feet throughout the course.
12 INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
California is Still on Fire Alani Seaman Photo Editor With a United States presidential election and global pandemic, it can be easy to forget clippings of news articles we may hear from time to time. However, raging fires remain an everyday occurrence in southern California. Fires catalyzed by lightning strikes in August continue to terrorize people into October. As global temperatures rise, climate patterns change; regions all around the world with traditional temperatures in each season of the year are experiencing higher and higher records with more deadly natural disasters. Florida itself has gone through a freak hurricane season, where there were up to five or six potential hurricanes hovering over the Atlantic. Without a massive effort by the world leaders, climate change will only continue in an accelerating path of destruction. While a wall of flames is a more pressing threat, the fires have had an enormous impact on the air quality for California and its neighboring states. The entire west coast has been dealing with the effects of these wildfires. The City of Los Angeles has set up Smoke Relief Centers at several local recreation areas. The smoke quality can be seen and felt all along the western coast of the United States and is beginning to reach all the across to the opposite coast. The NASA
Earth Observatory cites the appearance of smoky air blown across the continental U.S. by the jet streams. However, the recent storms have had interesting interactions with the smoke. The smoke traveled high in the atmosphere, approaching the presiding hurricanes at the time whose winds dominated the local area. The circular winds were able to clear away a great deal of the smoke. The destructive force of hurricanes served as a benefit to the citizens along the east in keeping air conditions favorable. The wildfires have kept firefighters busy and in active recruitment for several months straight. The Los Angeles Fire Department puts out daily alerts on fire patterns, air quality alerts, and traffic warnings. These first responders have been on the front lines of the wildfires, accompanied by some unexpected guests. Inmates in California have long been allowed to volunteer as firefighters in times of crisis. However, this heroic service was never enough to wipe their records clean. Experienced firefighters were unable to become professionals after their terms were finished. California Governor Gavin Newsome made history by signing a bill into action that allowed them to do so. He tweeted out: “Inmates who have stood on the frontlines, battling historic fires should not be denied the right to later become a professional firefighter.” The bill excludes violent
offenders, helping convince the voting public of the bill’s value for the state. As these historic fires continue to sweep through California, homeowners are forced to live in fear of the next evacuation, atrisk citizens struggle with breathing, and firefighters combat a
seemingly endless battle. To mitigate these risks, the people must lend a hand to the western coast and vote individuals into office who care for the losses the citizens are suffering. Slowing climate change must be a collective effort for the safety of the coming generations.
These images from NASA’s Earth observatory, taken two days apart, show the difference in black carbon particles in the air. The two hurricanes, Sally and Paulette, pushed a great deal of the particles out over the Atlantic Ocean.
The background images show before and after photos of the California landscapes decimated by the wildfires. The fires thrive in the open areas flush with vegetation and spread through the cities.
SPECIAL FEATURE
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison Rajan Khanna Former Editor-in-Chief When someone mentions canyons, images of the Grand Canyon immediately come to mind. However, there’s a much grander canyon in southwest Colorado. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has one big draw: a 2,722 ft. drop into the narrow canyon center. The world’s tallest skyscraper can fit perfectly in the canyon with no height to spare. The park is situated 15 miles away from Montrose, CO, and 11 miles from Crawford, CO. The name comes from the canyon’s deepest part, which only receives 33 minutes of sunlight per day. The river that passes within the canyon, Gunnison River, drops further down in 48 miles than the entire Mississippi River does from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. In stark contrast to last week’s national park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon is one of America’s hidden gems. The park has an average of only 190,000 visitors annually. Black Canyon of the Gunnison
boasts one of the most extreme terrains in the United States. One wrong step on some trails and a hiker can fall into the canyon. Relatively popular trails have a railing, but the trails with the most extreme views are unprotected. The canyon’s South Rim has four main trails to take in the views, all moderate difficulty with some considered strenuous. Pets are not allowed on any South Rim trail except Cedar Point Nature Trail, as the terrain may be too difficult for them, or deer may fight with them to protect their fawn. The Cedar Point Nature Trail features a famous view of The Painted Wall. The Painted Wall is the tallest sheer cliff in Colorado at 2,250 ft. It has lines of pegmatite dikes that paint the wall in a wavy pattern. Although it may look painted, it is completely natural. The North Rim has three trails that range from easy to strenuous. Chasm View Nature Trail is a short onethird mile trail that involves little climbing ability but provides an amazing view of the canyon. It provides a sense of scale as the people across the 2,000 ft. drop
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
As you enter the park through the South Rim entrance, you are greeted by this picturesque view of the canyon.
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
This view from the Cedar Point Nature Trail showcases the Painted Wall, the tallest sheer cliff in Colorado.
are only 1,100 ft. away. A big draw of Black Canyon of the Gunnison is its certified dark skies from the International DarkSky Association. All the lighting in the park is directed at the ground to preserve an unaltered black sky. There are over 5,000 stars visible to the naked eye year-round. It is dark enough to see your shadow from the light off of the Milky Way Galaxy. The park uses a unit of measurement called Sky Quality Meters (SQMs) to determine the darkness. The maximum level is 23, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison averages 21.5 annually. Wildlife within the park is lim-
ited due to the high altitude of the rim. Various large birds fly throughout the canyon while bears, deer, coyotes, and bobcats line the canyon walls and base. Outside the park boundaries, countless hiking trails take adventurers around the Gunnison River. Up the river, hikers can visit the Morrow Point Dam, white water raft down the river, and enjoy the infinite beauty of the Colorado desert.
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COMICS & GAMES Recipe of the Week Chocolate Crumble Pie
Serves 8 Ingredients:
CLUES DOWN
CLUES ACROSS
1. They look out for kids 4. Play 7. Water (French) 8. Prayer leader 10. Small constellation 12. __ Carta: influential royal charter 13. Pressure unit 14. Extrasensory perception 16. A symbol of ‘Aloha’
17. Portion of the small intestine 19. Psychedelic amphetamine 20. Very long period of time 21. British overseas territory 25. Cereal grain 26. Car mechanics group 27. Wish harm upon 29. At a specific prior time 30. Peyton’s younger brother 31. UK firefighters’ union
32. Carroll O’Connor’s screen partner 39. Popular show honoring musicians 41. Basics 42. Honk 43. Trent Reznor’s band 44. Patti Hearst’s captors 45. Long-legged wading bird 46. Specialized biological grouping
1. Boston hoopster 2. A type of bribe 3. SE England county 4. Returned material authorization (abbr.) 5. ‘Hotel California’ rockers 6. Italian province 8. Mischievous child 9. Popular street name 11. Boxing promoter Bob 14. Snakelike fish 15. Break into pieces 18. The Bay State 19. Time zone 20. Port city in Yemen 22. In name only 23. 007’s creator 24. No (Scottish) 27. Baseball’s Gordon and rock’s Snider are two 28. Pie _ __ mode 29. Don’t know when yet 31. Supervises interstate commerce 32. Make a ringing metallic sound 33. Helps little firms 34. Pound 35. Lilly and Manning are two 36. Put on the back burner 37. Baltimore ballplayer 38. Cuddle 39. Poker stake 40. Drinks to celebrate a birth (Spanish) 44. Pouch 47. Not around
Photo Courtesy/Metro Comics
Pie Dough Scant 11/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/4 cup superfine sugar 1 egg yolk 1 to 2 tsp cold water Filling 2/3 cup heavy cream 2/3 cup milk 8 oz chocolate, chopped 2 eggs Crumble Topping 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 3/4 cup toasted pecans 4 oz semisweet chocolate 3 oz amaretti cookies 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa
To make the pie dough, sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, rub in the butter, and stir in the sugar, then add the egg and a little water to bring the dough together. Turn the dough out, and knead briefly. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Roll out the pie dough and use to line a 9-inch loose-button tart pan. Prick the pastry shell with a fork. Line with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or baking beans. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and take out the paper and beans. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. To make the filling, bring the cream and milk to a boil in a saucepan, immediately remove from the heat, and add the chocolate. Stir until melted and smooth. Beat the eggs and add to the chocolate mixture, mix thoroughly and pour into the shell. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven, and let rest for 1 hour. When you are ready to serve the pie, place the topping ingredients in a food processor and pulse to chop. (If you do not have a processor, place the sugar in a large bowl, chop the nuts and chocolate with a large knife, and crush the cookies, then add to the bowl with the cocoa and mix well). Sprinkle over the pie, then serve it in slices.
Finished all of the puzzles for this week? Be the first to email us a picture of your solutions to business@theavion.com to get a prize!
SUDOKU
48. A coin goes in it 49. Of the wind 50. One-time measure of length 51. A very large body of water 52. River in NE Scotland