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NEWS

News Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu

IUP master’s student admitted to fellowship program BENJAMIN BRUMBAUGH

Staff Writer msqy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

An IUP student has been admitted into the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

Vincent Thompson, who graduated from IUP in December with a dual major in physics and mathematics, was selected to be a part of the program.

“The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions,” according to www.nsfgrfp.org/.

“The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution.”

Thompson, who is currently enrolled at IUP in the master’s program of applied mathematics, plans to pursue a doctoral degree in mathematics (abstract algebra) at Rice University in Houston beginning this fall.

Thompson was elated when he was informed that he had been selected for the prestigious program.

“I was ecstatic,” Thompson said. “It was almost surreal.”

“I woke my girlfriend up and we freaked out together, and then I started to contact graduate schools,” he said.

Thompson is excited about the professional opportunities that could stem from being accepted into the program.

“It’s a nationally competitive fellowship, and so it’s prestigious in that right,” he said. “It’s given to people who the federal government believes will have an impact in the field that they study.”

“In that way, it’s sort of like a vote of confidence from an outside source. So, when I’m applying to jobs, they’ll see that,

News

(IUP/Facebook) Vincent Thompson (left) graduated from IUP in December and is now in the master’s program of applied mathematics. He has been admitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) (right). and it gives them a reason to take another look.”

Being accepted into the program also had more of an immediate impact on Thompson’s academic prospects.

“Before I had won the GRFP,

I had good offers from good universities, but once I won it, I started to hear back from higher-ranked universities.”

One of those universities was Thompson’s top choice – Rice University.

“It was the attraction of a small campus,” Thompson said.

“I was looking for a graduate program like that, and Rice has a small community (about 7,000 students).”

“That was the big thing was I liked small universities, but I also really like the research that they do there,” he said. “They’re one of the best research facilities in the whole country.”

Thompson was very active as a student during his time at IUP. He completed research with Dr. Greg Kenning (physics) and Dr. Francisco Alarcón (mathematics), and he was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship during his junior year.

He forged close relationships with many of his professors over the years.

“Vincent was an excellent stu-

April 28, 2021

dent,” Alarcón said. “He always sought to challenge himself and would always want to go beyond the class requirements and pursue areas related to the course content that he found interesting.”

“Vincent is organized, disciplined and hard-working,” Alarcón said. “He is also talented, but often in science, and in mathematics in particular, it is not enough to have talent, but it is equally important to be dedicated, committed and hardworking.”

“Vincent was just special,” Kenning said. “He was a little bit older, and he came in very mature.”

“In this field, a lot of your ability to survive and work has to do with your academic maturity,” Kenning said. “He was absolutely at the top.”

“He’s an incredibly bright guy who is going to be able to do anything he wants to do in life.”

“I am proud that Vincent was selected for the NSF fellowship,

but it was not a surprise,” Dr. Charles Lamb (mathematics) said.

“It is a well-deserved honor.”

Thompson has also forged many close friendships during his time at IUP. He credits those friends with helping him achieve the success that he has.

“Vince exhibits a myriad of traits that qualify him for this scholarship and his other accolades,” Micayla Schambura (senior, chemistry) said. “His intellectual ability in science and mathematics is beyond that of any other individual I am acquainted with.”

“He displays strong commitment to the goals he sets, and he speaks with an undeniable fervor for topics he is interested in,” she said. “In the simplest terms, Vince is an achiever.

“He is very persistent with his goals and finishes what he sets out to do, and I’ve admired that the entire time I’ve known him.”

Students who want to learn more about the NSF GRFP can visit https://www.nsfgrfp.org/.

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April 28, 2021

News

‘Nursing is an art...it requires an exclusive devotion...’ ~Florence Nightingale Nursing student awarded scholarship for level of commitment GABRIELLA BYRNE Staff Writer bmwx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP An IUP student was voted by classmates as most deserving to win the Indiana Lion’s Club scholarship.

Indiana Lion’s Club offers an annual award for graduating nursing students of $500, and Brooke Zawalnicki (senior, nursing) was this year’s winner.

Seniors are allowed to vote for the classmate that has the most compassion, respect, knowledge and good communication skills as well as able to remain calm under pressure and be detail-oriented in patient care delivery.

“I was hopeful that I would win this award because I knew how honored it would make me feel to be selected by my own classmates,” Zawalnicki said. “When I got notified about winning this award, I was completely shocked.

“I got a huge rush of excitement and felt as though my hard work was being noticed by others.”

Zawalnicki’s award will go towards her student loans with the plan to pay them off in two to three years.

Nursing majors require a commitment to the program as well as patience in understanding the material needed for patient care and health. Time and energy will be expended in this profession, and it can be a difficult decision to make when deciding if a nurse career is right.

“I chose nursing as my career path because I have always had a sense of empathy for others,” Zawalnicki said. “There was never a specific time that helped me determine my passion for nursing.

“Instead, it always just made sense to me that I was going to be a nurse because it was my calling.”

Zawalnicki did not have to apply for this scholarship; she earned the award through her dedication to her career and her

(IUP/Facebook) Brooke Zawalnicki (left) is the winner of the Indiana Lion’s Club scholarship, which goes to nursing students and is up to $500. work in class. She offers advice for those that may have trouble or have doubts about winning scholarships.

“I would suggest becoming more involved with your major and academic life,” Zawalnicki said. “This helps to build a stronger connection between you and your professors.

“Because of this rapport, you may feel more comfortable with asking professors or other stu-

dents about scholarship opportunities that are available to you.”

The opportunity that the Indiana Lion’s Club provides for nursing students is one of 35-year-long-standing tradition.

According to e-clubhouse. org, the Indiana Lion’s Club is part of a larger organization that works to serve their communities through environmental care, feeding the hungry, helping seniors and disabled individuals.

The main goal of the Lion’s Club is to raise awareness of and aide in the fight against blindness. This includes distributing medicine, vision screenings and equipping hospitals and clinics.

Through this organization’s active Lion’s Clubs in these communities, it provided support for an IUP student with a promising career in nursing, who will then be able to give back to communities through her life’s commitment to helping people with this career choice.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped me through my college career thus far,” Zawalnicki said.

“My family, friends, classmates and professors have all been so supportive during this journey, and I will forever be appreciative of all the guidance I have received.”

Demolition begins at dining hall

(Steven Langdon Jr./The Penn) Demolition on Foster Hall, located next to Sprowls Hall on IUP’s campus, began Friday. Foster Hall, which was once a dining hall, has been closed since 2017.

April 28, 2021

News

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Finals week has students preparing across campus ISABELLA BENSON Staff Writer hpjy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Finals week is approaching fast.

Whether you have been learning on Zoom or participating in a few in-person classes, finals week calls for studying, studying and more studying. IUP students shared how they prepare for this busy week.

IUP has many places you can study in quiet, especially before the pandemic. You will catch many students with their heads in the books in the library. But other students might choose to go to the Hadley Union Building (HUB) or various computer labs around campus. Some might even take to the Oak Grove for a relaxing environment.

Others go off campus to study, somewhere where caffeine is right at their fingertips.

“I usually find a quiet place each day like a coffee shop to review my notes or re-watch lectures until I feel confident that I know the material well,” Diana Simpson (senior, psychology) said. “I prepare by sitting down and figuring out what time each of my finals are and how long I should spend studying for each of them.”

Having a planner or desk calendar can also be very helpful during this time. According to Very Well Family, a planner can reduce stress, reduce ineffective study habits such as cramming and increase productivity.

“I go to the library every single day of finals week and go through dates in my planner to plan accordingly for this week,” Luckie Santell (sophomore, nursing) said. “I want to make sure I have enough time to study for each final.”

Quizlet is a popular website among students in which you can practice premade flashcards or make your own. According to an article by Petersons, flashcards allow you to repeat the act of learning and memorizing until you are an expert on the information.

“To prepare for finals week, I usually re-read my notes and make flashcards,” Kaitlyn Armstrong (junior, psychology) said.

Another important aspect to finals week is sleeping and eating well.

“I really focus on my sleep schedule and eating habits during this week,” Kaila Dean (junior, psy-

Some students prefer to study outside, in the Oak Grove, where it is peaceful but refreshing. chology and criminology) said.

“Maintaining a good sleep schedule and staying on top of healthy eating is a main focus of mine during finals week,” Sydney Mather (junior, education) said.

“Having a balanced diet keeps me energized while studying.”

According to Affordable Colleges Online, a proper night's rest improves grades. Studies show that students who get a good night’s sleep perform better academically. It can also improve memory, decrease your chance of getting sick and improve your mood.

Time management in another big component of finals week preparation.

“I take lots of breaks while studying, but I also try to manage my time pretty well to reduce stress,” Darby Anundson (senior, education) said.

According to an article by Oregon State, spreading out your studying time helps your brain remember information more effectively and can improve your concentration and motivation while studying.

When you take a break from studying, find something relaxing and rejuvenating to do with your time, especially if you have been working for a straight 45–60 minutes.

However you prepare, have a safe finals week.

(James Cannon/The Penn Archives)

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April 28, 2021

News

Verdict in Chauvin trial; guilty on all counts CAIO GOMES Staff Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP On April 20, Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer infamous for killing George Floyd, was found guilty of both murder and manslaughter by the jury.

Jurors had considered three charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

He was found guilty of all three.

This caused some people to question the verdict, believing that it is contradicting to find someone guilty of both murder and manslaughter for the same killing. This comes based on the belief that while a manslaughter charge implies that the killing was accidental, a murder charge implies that the killing was premeditated. This is not necessarily the case, however, as the charges are not mutually exclusive.

A second-degree murder verdict establishes an intentional, yet unplanned, killing driven by the “heat of the moment” (also known as a “crime of passion”) or unintentional killing caused by an intention to provoke harm (also known as “unintended murder”).

Chauvin was found guilty of the latter and faces up to 40 years of prison for this crime.

On the other hand, a third-degree murder verdict indicates a that killing has not been premeditated and it was caused by a serious reckless disregard for human life. This charge does not imply intent to cause harm, but also doesn’t imply the lack of it.

Chauvin faces up to 20 years for this charge.

Finally, the second-degree manslaughter charge implies that the person is guilty of creating an unreasonable risk by consciously taking a chance of causing somebody’s death or injury.

Chauvin faces up to 15 years of jail for this charge.

Because the jury agreed that there was enough evidence to believe that Chauvin had the intention to inflict pain, that he had shown no regard for Floyd’s life and that the situation could have been avoided had Chauvin been more reasonable, they were able to convict him of all three.

This sums up to a possible 75-year sentence.

“I’m glad he got convicted of all three charges,” Winter Cunningham (freshman, interior design)

(Facebook) George Floyd (left) was killed May 25, 2020 by former police officer Derek Chauvin (right), who has now been found guilty on all counts in a verdict reading April 20. said. “I thought [the jury] were going to let him go freely or give him the weakest charge, but instead he got charged with all three.”

Although he could potentially face 75 years of prison, it is still unknown if the judge will give him such sentence. There is room for both: a shorter sentence or a longer sentence.

Because all of his charges derive from the same crime, and he is a first-time offender, Minnesotan law says he needs to be sentenced for only the most serious of the charges. In this case, Chauvin would face up to only 40 years – the maximum sentence for second-degree murder.

Prosecutors, however, plan on seeking a motion called an “upward departure.” An upward departure happens when a sentence is longer than the maximum established by guidelines because of additional aggravating factors.

According to NBC, prosecution will petition for an upward motion, citing that Floyd was treated with "particular cruelty" and that his death occurred in front of children as aggravating factors.

"If the judge finds that those conditions have been met, then he may depart from the sentencing guidelines and sentence Mr. Chauvin to a term higher than the recommended sentence," John Stiles, a spokesman for Minneso-

ta’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, told NBC. "This will all play out over the next several weeks."

Although it’s still unconfirmed if he will do so, some media outlets such as Fox News have suggested that Chauvin may appeal the jury’s decision claiming that they deliberated under public pressure, citing the role media has played while covering the trial as evidence.

Media has indeed played a big part with covering the trial. Ac-

cording to the Nielsen, the company that measures TV ratings, more than 18 million people were tuned in to watch the verdict reading live.

That is in the U.S. alone.

Internationally, the trial has also sparked interest of the public eye.

Canada’s first minister, Justin Trudeau, welcomed the verdict and claimed that Americans have seen “accountability for the murder of George Floyd” but warned that, despite the outcome, systematic racism remains a problem in America as well as in Canada. His support, however, was met with skepticism, given that Trudeau himself had his share of racial controversy after a picture of him doing blackface was leaked.

In the United Kingdom, leaders of both the Conservative and Labour Party expressed support regarding the jury’s decision.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that the verdict must be the "beginning of a real change, not the end" and sympathized with Floyd's family, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his thoughts were with Floyd’s family.

Countries in Latin America, especially Brazil and Colombia, were particularly interested in Chauvin’s trial.

According to Globo, nearly 49 million Brazilians tuned in to watch the “Jornal Nacional” (National News) on the day the

verdict was read.

This comes after the Black Lives Matter movement inspired people in both Latin American countries to take the streets and protest police brutality in their land as well.

Both Brazil and Colombia share a similar history of racial disparity and colonial roots with the U.S. In America, citizens took the streets to celebrate the convicting but also to remind each other that the fight against systematic racism is far from over, as they came together to protest against the killing of Daunte Wright, the Black 20-year-old that was killed by a policewoman merely 10 miles away from where Chauvin murdered Floyd.

Kim Potter, the officer responsible for Wright’s death, claims she mistook the gun in her hand for a taser. She’s been charged with third-degree murder and awaits her trial in her house, which has been secured by Minneapolis’ city government.

“I think is ridiculous that the city is spending money protecting her but won’t spend money educating officers,” Darius Flewellen (freshman, English) said.

The outcome regarding her trial is still unexpected. However, if there is anything we can learn with Chauvin’s trial, it is that there will always be hope for justice in this country.

News

April 28, 2021

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Opinion

India showing the worst of COVID-19 still to come COVID-19 may seem like so two years ago to many people, but it is still more relevant than ever. The world has changed a lot in the past year. With vaccinations becoming more readily available, to many people it looks as though COVID-19 may be behind us. Sadly, we are still very far away from this pandemic being over.

Let us face it, we see people disregarding social distancing and health and safety regulations left and right. We are at an awkward point in the recovery process from COVID-19.

On Sunday, the CDC reported that 28.5 percent of the country has been fully vaccinated for the deadly virus.

With about a third of the country now being fully vaccinated, there is now a new player at the imaginary card table of this beautiful game called the pandemic.

There has always been a group of people who are naturally opposed to the vaccination and health and safety regulations. Now almost a third of the country can be grouped together as being “safe” from the virus.

We have begun to see push back from numerous individuals who do not understand why vaccinated individuals would be forced to wear masks. Sen. Ted Cruz even mentioned during a press conference in March that he would not wear a mask after being asked to by a reporter.

People like Cruz have pushed back against health and safety regulations for vaccinated people. As more people receive the shot, the more discontent seems to be visible to me.

Sadly, this public discord could not be coming at a worse time.

Despite almost a third of the population being protected, we still averaged over 50,000 new daily this week in the U.S. While new cases seem to be on a slow decline, we are still far from being COVID-19 free in the U.S. This begs the question: “when will we be able to go back to normal?” The answer right now appears to be disappointing.

In human history, there has only been one disease to be completely eradicated: smallpox. The odds

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(Google) As vaccines continue to roll out, the country becomes closer to being fully vaccinated. of COVID-19 being the only other disease to be completely eradicated are very slim.

The people have not been the only one’s changing. Since its inception, COVID-19 now has two variants running rampant through the U.S. The variants were first reported in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil - where COVID-19 has been running rampant - and have spread internationally. Studies suggest they are more contagious. Drug makers say their vaccines should still work, although some are looking at new versions. Some researchers have warned the shots may need to be updated to maintain their efficacy.

After talking to some people, I was surprised at how many individuals were completely unaware of the state of COVID-19 in the U.S. Ironically enough, some of these same people who were unaware of new strains want health and safety regulations lifted.

In America, we are beginning to see more and more people push against health restrictions imposed in the U.S. Even though numbers are still staggeringly high, and herd immunity is still nowhere in sight.

Regardless of your political ideologies, this pandemic is not going away. While the numbers

may not be an exact science due to misdiagnosis, there are still far too many cases for individuals to

April 28, 2021

act as though COVID-19 is not a problem anymore.

While I want more than anything

to go back to normal, we need to do it in stages as the numbers permit. Our daily cases are still in the tens of thousands. Until those numbers go down to a more acceptable level, COVID-19 is always going to be a talking-point in the media.

If you truly want COVID-19 to go away, try to put up with the rules a little longer. While unrealistic, if everyone follows these guidelines the numbers will fall.

It seems like with everything else though, COVID-19 has become the latest victim of our society’s need for instant gratification. This pandemic has been hard on everyone, it is only going to get harder if it continues to rage on like it has.

Hopefully as more of the population becomes vaccinated the numbers will continue to fall. Until then, mask up people.

Brought to you

By The Penn Staff

Opinion

Culture

Culture Editor: Eva Tillich – jxsbc@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Haley Brown – tbfx@iup.edu

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes their influence and contributions.

(Facebook)

While there is much ado about a silent majority, the APAHM highlights a silenced minority CAIO GOMES Staff Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Saturday marks the start of Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM).

The APAHM was first created in 1977 when Reps. Frank Horton (R-NY) and Norman Mineta (D-CA) proposed establishing the first 10 days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. It was later expanded onto a whole month in 1990 when former President George H.W. Bush signed a bill expanding the celebration.

May was chosen for two reasons. First, because according to U.S. records, the first immigrant from Japan arrived on May 7, 1843.

Second, because on May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. was completed with sig-

Culture

nificant contributions from Chinese pioneers.

“Asian Pacific American Heritage Month provides a special opportunity for all Americans to pay tribute to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) whose countless contributions – in science and technology, arts and media, business and social work, politics and more – have left a lasting legacy on American culture and society,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said in her statement regarding AAPIHM in 2003.

This year, the APAHM has been receiving much more attention than it generally does. Many believe that the rise in Asian hate is caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, wrongly called “China Virus” by former President Donald Trump.

The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed caused a spike in anti-Asian

and anti-Islander hate.

According to the Pew Research, 40 percent of Asian-American adults reported believing they started being treated differently after the start of the pandemic.

Additionally, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, hate crimes against the AAPI community in Orange County (greater Los Angeles) alone has risen up by 1200 percent from 2019 to 2020.

This led to the proposition of the “COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act” passed in the Senate earlier this month on a 94–1 vote. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) was the only vote against the bill. The bill requires the Department of Justice to appoint a designated officer or employee to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19-related hate crimes.

“By passing the bill, we will send a powerful message of solidarity

April 28, 2021

to the AAPI community that the Senate won’t be a bystander as anti-Asian violence surges in our country,” Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), the first female Asian-American senator and co-sponsor of the bill, said when introducing it on the Senate floor.

While COVID-19 saw an increase of anti-AAPI hate crimes, the history of anti-AAPI sentiment goes beyond that.

In 1854, a white man named George Hall killed Ling Sing, a Chinese miner; however, Hall was not convicted for murder. Instead, the now infamous ruling in his case (known as People v. Hall) declared that people of Asian descent could not testify against a white person in court, virtually guaranteeing that white people could escape punishment for anti-Asian violence.

This landmarked the first of many anti-Asian legal decisions.

Fewer than 30 years later, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The act banned Chinese immigration in the U.S., denied citizenship for Chinese-born U.S. residents who qualified for it and limited work opportunities. The passage of the act led to a period called the “Driving Out” era, in which white supremacists did what they could to “[scare] them back to China.”

During the “Driving Out” era, the infamous Rock Springs Massacre of 1885 took place. During this event, white miners invaded the Chinatown in Rock Springs and burned down the homes of Chinese mine workers and additionally stabbed, robbed and shot multiple victims. While it is confirmed that at least 28 Chinese miners were killed, there are reports of up to 50 deaths during the attack.

Continued on Page 10

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April 28, 2021

Seniors give pointers, tips to underclassmen

(The Penn Archive) Seniors recommend that freshmen should reach out to their professors whenever they need help.

LANE LANNAN Staff Writer ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP College can be stressful. Luckily, seniors have some tips.

When new students arrive on campus, it can be a whirlwind of new experiences and people all at once.

It is important not to get bogged down in the beginning and to stay on track with school, friends and mental health.

Get involved If there is a club that you find interesting, go to meetings, or sign up for it. It is good to be outgoing and try new things, especially if there is the chance that you could meet new people with shared interests that you could hang out with. Clubs can be a great way to experience more of campus, as well as offer a way to have fun.

Take breaks It is very important not to compromise mental health for schoolwork. Remember to take breaks from work – whether that is just walking around your dorm to stretch your legs or going outside for an extended amount of time to get some fresh air.

Spend time with friends You may spend five days of the week in class all day, and then doing homework in the evening, but don’t let that stop you from being social. Try to slot out time to make sure you can interact with people. Keep in mind that humans are social creatures.

Just meeting with friends for as little as 30 minutes can change the outlook you have on a night.

Don’t be afraid to message professors If you need help with something or have any questions about an assignment or class schedule, ask your professors.

They are normally happy to help you. Professors would rather you ask about something rather than being confused and not being able to correctly do an assignment. They can sometimes seem scary to message, but they are here not just to teach you, but to help you.

Don’t get too far behind Sometimes schoolwork can sneak up on you – it happens to the best of us. The most important thing to remember is timeliness. Staying up-to-date with schoolwork can be the difference between passing or failing a class. Procrastination is something that affects almost

every student at some point.

The key is to realize that you are distracted, and then being able to turn it around and get the work done that you need to get done.

Try meeting new people Connections can mean a lot.

You never know who you will be friends with later in life, so making connections now can be very important. Whether it is the person that has their camera off in your Zoom math class or the one other person that went to the in-person day for class, try starting up a conversation.

Culture

APAHM hightlights a silenced minority Continued from Page 9 “Race prejudice is the chief factor to originating these disturbances,” former President Grover Cleveland said referring to the massacre during his State of the Union in December 1885. “All of the power of this government should be exhorted to maintain the amplest good faith towards China in the treatment of these men.”

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is up until this date the only law to have been implemented with the sole purpose to prevent all members of a specific ethnic or national group from immigrating to the U.S. However, it was not the only legal measure to do so.

In 2017, less than a week after becoming president, Trump signed the Executive Order 13769, colloquially known as the “Muslim Ban.” The order restricted immigration from yet another part of Asia; this time several countries in the Middle East were the target of the decision.

Anti-Arab sentiment, especially anti-Muslim sentiment, has been rising consistently after the start of the War on Terrorism. Many far-right politicians have been using the terrorist activities of groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda as justification for pushing anti-Arab legislation.

This is not a legitimate excuse whatsoever. First, an entire ethnicity should not be held accountable for the actions of a slim minority.

Second, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 67 percent of terrorist plots and attacks in 2020 were caused by white supremacist groups, not Arab-Americans, as some extremists suggest.

Colorism also plays a big role in Arab-American lives. In some states in the U.S. Census, they are recommended to identify as white, not Asian. This is mostly due to the

stereotypical image of “Asians” in the head of racial profilers being the image of Eastern Asians, that is Chinese, Japanese and Korean people.

This stereotype erases and leaves out millions of Americans who not only have to face racial prejudice but also are stripped from their Asian identity and have to claim whiteness, even though they do not get the same treatment as white people do in America.

“I am a Saudi-born American of Palestinian and Armenian origin,” Rashad Al-Dabbagh, writer for the LA-ist, said. “[While filling out the census] I didn’t find a box I could identify with, so the next thing that made sense was ‘Asian’ since Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Armenia are all geographically located on the Asian continent, but people like me are told to identify as white.”

Indian Americans also get their “Asianess” questioned often.

Earlier this month, several activists took the streets and social media to question why many media outlets were not reporting the FedEx shooting as a potential hate crime even though half of the victims were Indian Americans and members of the Sikh community.

Just like any other ethnicity, Asian and Pacific Americans come in diverse colors, religions and cultures. There’s one thing in common, however: being American.

We as a nation must work hard to ensure that every American, regardless of ethnicity, gets the same rights. Otherwise, we can never ensure “liberty and justice for all.”

“Ultimately, this is about who we are as a nation,” Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Asian American to hold office in the White House, said. “[We] have the right to be recognized as American, not as the ‘other,’ not as ‘them,’ but as ‘us.’”

Get enough sleep Especially in the case of having a class early in the morning, you want to be sure that you are getting enough sleep. After all, you don’t want to be falling asleep in the middle of class. Sleep is needed for mental health, as well as physical health. You wo not be able to academically perform at your best if you are tired.

These skills can help you navigate the landscape of life here at IUP. Just remember to be patient and not too hard on yourself if you miss an assignment or spend too much time out with friends, because new skills take a while to fully learn.

(Facebook) Educating yourself is the first of many steps to work towards the elimination of discrimination and racism.

Culture

11

April 28, 2021

STATIC wraps up the year with cookout, Bill Nye STATIC HALEY BROWN tbfx@iup.edu

I am Haley and will be writing weekly about the upcoming events for STATIC. Stay tuned.

This unique semester will conclude with a cookout and an evening with Bill Nye. The first event of this final week will be the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) Cookout 2021, featuring food trucks, yard games and tie-dye. The event will take place Friday on the Hadley Union Building (HUB) front patio, as well as some games taking place via Zoom. The event will last from 5 to 8 p.m.

There will be various trucks to get delicious food, plenty of yard games and free tie-dye. To attend in person, participants will need a valid I-Card, but admission is completely free.

“The cookout will feature various local business’ food trucks, including Kona Ice, PA BBQ and Bona Pizza,” Cassidy Krug, STATIC’s executive chair, said.

“We will be running a ton of games, such as cornhole, cup pong, ladder golf and inflatable ball games. We will also have a tie dye station with shirts provided by PNC Bank.”

While the majority of the excitement will take place on-site in front of the HUB, the games taking place via Zoom will be a distanced option, where students and IUP community members alike can still take part in the fun in the safety of their own homes.

STATIC members that are not currently in Indiana will host virtual “JackBox” games.

The games online and in-person will have winners, but there are no specific prizes, only some great community fun and bragging rights.

(The Penn Archive) The STATIC Cookout will take place in front of the Hadley Union Building from 5 to 8 p.m.

While STATIC eases its events slowly back toward in-person, members are still ensuring the health and safety of IUP community members. All COVID-19 regulations will be followed and enforced by the STATIC team members running the event.

“We will be scanning I-Cards to help with contact tracing,” Krug said.

“There will be 6-foot markings spacing out the food truck area, and masks will be mandatory when moving around. We will disinfect the games between plays as well as offer wipes at each one and have hand sanitizer and mask stations.

“There will be signage around the venue reminding attendees of these protocols, and failure to follow them will result in removal.”

On Saturday, STATIC will present Live at IUP: An Evening with Bill Nye the Science Guy. The event will take place via Zoom and will begin at 8 p.m. and come to an end around 10 p.m.

No preregistration is required for this event. There will be a Q&A portion of the night during which a few students may be able to ask Nye their questions directly. Questions must be submitted in advance through STATIC’s instant messaging through social media accounts or by email.

“When we found out that [Nye] was doing live events, we knew we had to invite him to talk with us,” Krug said.

“He was a large part of so many people’s childhoods, and we thought he would have some interesting stuff to share with the

IUP community.”

The evening’s discussion will be managed and moderated by Erin Wilhelm, STATIC’s entertainment chair, and Zach Clark, STATIC’s staff adviser. The two will be engaging with Nye in a manner similar to some of

STATIC’s previous live speaker events. Clark and Wilhelm will be asking some of STATIC’s prepared questions as well as some of the questions submitted in advance by students.

“We’re not sure of any demonstrations yet; you’ll have to tune in to find out,” Krug said.

“I’m sure science will come up in our conversation with him, but we haven’t received a ton of info from his management yet about the exact flow of the event.

We’ll be asking Bill about his TV shows, his books and his organization, The Planetary Society, just to name a few topics.”

Not only does this event excite many who watched Bill Nye as children, but the STATIC team is also extremely excited for this event. Nye was a big part of many people’s younger years, and the night with this guest is sure to bring about nostalgia for many, if not all, of the attendees.

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April 28, 2021

Culture

The Juliana Theory

Students go into finals Indie rock with a dash of creative squabbles week with mixed emotions Local Bands LANE LANNAN ffpcc@iup.edu I am in the top .001 percent of The Beach Boys’ fans on Spotify.

I also like playing games and vibing with my party lights.

Interested in an alternative indie band with some great songs?

If so, The Juliana Theory is the band for you.

The Juliana Theory formed in 1997 by Joshua Fiedler, Neil Hebrank, Chad Monticue, Jeremiah Momper and Brett Detar.

“We really stared out as a joke,” Brett Detar (lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist) said in a 2008 interview. “Slowly, we started to like the music we were making with The Juliana Theory more than the music we were making with our regular bands.”

After spending time touring to build a fanbase, the band signed with the independent record label Tooth & Nail. This record deal allowed for the group to record and release their first album, which was “Understand This Is a Dream” in 1999. This was followed

by Momper leaving the band and Joshua Kosker replacing him. In 2000, the band released its second Tooth & Nail album, titled “Emotion is Dead.” That album features the band’s biggest song, “We’re At The Top Of The World,” which has more than 4 million streams on Spotify.

“I think the song (‘We’re At The Top Of The World’) was really good,” Isaac Ryer (freshman, nursing) said. “I really liked the way the lyrics sounded.”

Ryer went on to say that, despite liking the song, he would not end up listening to it regularly. Ryer said it did not fit into his style of musical taste.

Combined, “Understand This Is a Dream” and “Emotion is Dead” sold almost 130,000 copies.

Despite this small success for the new band, creative clashes with Tooth & Nail led to the band leaving the label in late 2000.

The Juliana Theory was without a label for only a short time. In 2001, the band signed with Epic Records. This led to an EP released in October of 2001 titled “Music from Another

(Facebook) Brett Detar (left) and Joshua Fiedler are the only current members of The Juliana Theory.

Room.” After the release of the EP, the band saw another lineup change with drummer Hebrank’s being replaced by Josh Walters.

Following the lineup change, the band moved into recording a new album. This album became the 2003 release “Love,” which peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard 200.

“Do You Believe Me?” is the most streamed song from the album.

“I liked the way that the song (‘Do You Believe Me?’) sounded,” Gaby Allison (freshman, undecided) said. “It reminded me of indie music that I hear people listening to sometimes.”

Allison said that the lyrics of the song worked really well with the feeling that the background instruments were giving off.

Allison also liked the effect that the backing vocals had on the song, specifically saying that their inclusion made the song a bit better than if they were not there.

“Love” sold more than 100,000 copies, despite little promotion from Epic Records.

Following disagreements with Epic Records, the band left the label and moved on to form their own label called Paper Fist. Paper Fist was affiliated with another label, Abacus Recordings, which is traditionally a heavy metal record label. Now being in complete creative control, The Juliana Theory released another album, 2005’s “Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat.” The song “Shotgun Serenade” is the most streamed song from the album, according to Spotify.

“I liked the sound of the song

(‘Shotgun Serenade’),” Joey Semetkoskey (freshman, accounting) said. “The guitars and drums were really strong and carried the song.”

Semetkoskey went on to say that lyrics of the song also felt very charged and aggressive, which also helped to carry the song and make it have a hard rock feel.

Following the releases of “Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat,” the band announced Feb. 9, 2006, on MySpace that they were breaking up.

Following the 2006 separation, the band reunited a couple times to do live shows, but they never truly reformed to make an album.

This changed when Detar and Fiedler reformed the band into a rock duo and signed to Equal Vision Records.

This new Juliana Theory duo and new record deal led to the release of a single in late 2020 called “Can’t Go Home.” The single was soon followed by another single released Jan. 1 called “Better Now.” Both singles led to the new duo recording a new album with Equal Vison Records called “A Dream Away.”

The album features re-imagined versions of old songs, similar to what another Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift has been doing by releasing new recordings of old songs.

Currently, The Juliana Theory has not released any new music, but the door is open for more to be released.

Finals week starts Tuesday.

EVA TILLICH Culture Editor jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Finals are here, and students feel conflicted about them.

Many students have expressed concerns about how they will perform since they have been taught completely virtually. Others feel prepared and cannot wait to finally wrap up their year.

“I’m honestly nervous about my finals next week,” Sydney Greitz (freshman, exploratory) said. “Since I am a freshman, I have only had one finals week so far, so they are still sort of new to me.”

Gretiz said that, while she feels prepared for most of her classes, she is nervous for her final exam in psychology.

“I think, like a lot of my classmates, I have gotten to a point where I am pretty burnt out academically.”

Greitz said she planned on finishing the year out strong.

“I want to do well on my exams so I am studying terms and creating flashcards for myself so I can practice.”

Despite Gretiz’s concerns with her psychology exam, she is excited that the semester will be ending soon. Greitz said that she will miss at friends at IUP, though.

“Finals week is kind of bittersweet because it means that you made it to the end of the year, but after the tests then you have to say goodbye to the friends here.”

(IUP)

Another student, Bri Demagall (freshman, psychology) said that she too is a little bit nervous for her finals.

“I don’t feel like I am entirely prepared because some of the classes I have this semester are asynchronous.”

Many students had to take asynchronous classes this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While classes this semester were both in-person and on Zoom, many students decided to participate remotely.

Demagall said she is excited to wrap up the year, but she will miss her friends. She said she will not be able to see them until the fall semester. Demagall plans to stay in touch with people through technology.

“I feel nervous about finals week, but I also feel good at the same time,” Evan Orr (junior, actuarial mathematics) said.

Orr said that he said nervous because he wants to do well and because he does not feel that prepared for them.

“I am currently and will be studying through the last week of classes,” Orr said.

“All of my classes have finals, including math proofs, computer science, accounting and Spanish.”

Orr said he also has a final presentation for his math seminar class.

Even though there is nerves, Orr said he looks at the bright side and that he is excited to finally complete his first year at IUP. Orr said that he is looking forward to a productive summer.

Culture

13

April 28, 2021

Donating blood is always A+

Student, staff help with Red Cross Blood Drive

(The Penn/Eva Tillich) IUP has held several blood drives through various organizations, like the Red Cross, throughout the school year. Countless students, professors and staff members participated in the drives and gave back to the community. Donating one pint of blood can potentially save up to three peoples’ lives so participation inn blood rives in encouraged. Donating also ensures that hospital do not run out of blood to use. If interested in donating in the future, individuals must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds.

Sports

Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu Lead Sportswriter: Austin Smith – A.S.Smith7@iup.edu

Dare to be great

Paige Mikesell’s big weekend helps IUP capture first title since ‘99 Steven Langdon Jr Editor-in-Chief pbyw@iup.edu @ThePennIUP A 22-year wait came to an end for the IUP women’s swim team as they claimed the PSAC championship on Saturday in York.

It marked the end of a special season for the team, culminating in the first conference championship since 1999 and the first under head coach Chris Villa.

“I think excitement encapsulates it all for me,” Villa said. “I am excited for the girls on the team this year. It was a grind for them, too, but they stayed positive and focused on the task in front of them.

“I am excited for all the alumni that came before, striving for the same goal. Lastly, I am excited for the future; the team this year has set the standard in so many ways. They have laid the foundation for more success in the future.”

“It was so exciting to win the team title and celebrate this achievement with my team,” Paige Mikesell (junior, kinesiology health and sport science) said. “My teammates are what get me through hard practices and bad days.

“They are so supportive of me and everyone else on our team.

Winning the team title was just so assuring to all of the hard work that we put in this season.”

IUP scored 1658 points, which was 341.5 points better than second-place Bloomsburg. The team had six total victories in the two days of competition.

The star of the weekend for the women’s team had to be Paige Mikesell, who had seven victories to her name. She scored 128 points by herself, enroute to being named PSAC Most Outstanding Swimmer for a second consecutive year.

“This weekend, my mindset was to just have fun and support my teammates as much as I possibly could,” Paige Mikesell said. “This team, especially this year, has been through so much, but they make every practice and every bad day worth it.

14

(IUP athletics) The IUP women’s swim team won its first PSAC Championship since 1999 on Saturday.

“It was so much fun and so exciting to cheer them on and see their hard work pay off. This weekend, I did not swim season best times, but I had so much fun with my team. I learned more about how I swim and what I need to do in order to be better.”

Paige Mikesell said she will take a few weeks off but is determined to work just as hard this offseason to defend her national championship.

It was a fast start for the Crimson Hawks, collecting four wins and scoring almost half it’s points on the first day. Paige was able to collect three victories, two individual and one relay. Her victories came in the 200yard individual medley (IM), 100-yard butterfly and 400-yard medley relay.

Also part of the relay were Parker Fanella (freshman, nursing), Erin Moyer (freshman, fashion and interior design) and Iliana Oikonomou (senior, philosophy), finishing with a time of 3:49.02. Rachel Johnson (junior, hospitality management) won her first conference championship in the 400-yard IM, finishing in 4:30.48 during the first day.

One of the Crimson Hawks’ best events was the 200-yard IM where they had the top four swimmers. Af-

ter Paige Mikesell finished was Johnson, Claire Mikesell (redshirt senior, kinesiology health and sport science) and Amber Baldani (sophomore, international business). That helped them score 113 points between the four of them.

The team of Baldani, Moyer, Claire Mikesell and Oikonomou finished the first session of day one collecting a second place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. IUP also finished in second place for the 200yard freestyle relay with Oikonomou, Baldani, Claire Mikesell and Johnson with a time of 1:35.80.

Day two started with Baldani collecting another second place in the 100-yard backstroke. The Crimson Hawks had another big event on day two, finishing top three in the 100-yard breaststroke. Claire Mikesell collected her first victory of the conference championships with a time of 1:02.05. Following her were Johnson and Moyer, finishing second and third respectfully.

The final session started with Clara Garcia (redshirt sophomore, computer science) and Kaylee Kassa (junior, food and nutrition) continuing the success, finishing third and fourth respectively in the 1650-yard

April 28, 2021

freestyle event.

They were followed by Paige Mikesell defending her title in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 51.01. A little more than a second behind her was Oikonomou, finishing in third place with a time of 52.15.

In another event, another second and third place finish for the Crimson Hawks in the 200-yard backstroke happened. Baldani finished just in front of Fanella by 0.42 seconds.

In event 37, IUP finished one-twothree for a third time in the PSAC Championships. This time was the 200-yard breaststroke with Claire Mikesell winning comfortably, followed by Johnson and Moyer.

It concluded what could only be a dominant weekend for the IUP women’s swim team. They came in hot after a strong national championship over a month ago and put all the shortcomings of not winning a conference championship behind them.

The men’s team also competed during the week as they swam on Wednesday and Thursday.

It was not the finish they would have hoped for after coming in fourth place, 64 points behind third

place Gannon, but they still had some individual success.

Luke Mikesell (freshman, criminology) was the biggest standout on the team after collecting two conference championships. He started out of the gates strong, with the first event of the championships being a dominating first place win in the 1000-yard freestyle. His 9:31.99 time was a season best, and almost 15 seconds faster than the next swimmer.

Another highlight came in day two of the competition when he won the 500-yard freestyle. His time of 4:26.91 was an incredible 0.02 second away from breaking the meet record from 2016. With Luke Mikesell only being a freshman, current record holder Victor Polyakov will need to watch out.

During day one of the championships Luke Mikesell was able to finish in second place during the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:37.94. That time was almost good enough to break the meet record, but Andy Thomas of Bloomsburg finished ahead of him with a time of 1:35.53, which was almost two seconds faster than the record of 1:37.36.

Continued on page 15.

Sports

April 28, 2021

Sports

15

IUP swim wins PSAC Continued from page 14.

Day two was definitely a better day for the Crimson Hawks, as a part from the first place in the 500-yard freestyle, Luke Mikesell, along with Adam Morrison (freshman, computer science), Blake Hendricks (junior, accounting) and Cole Thomas (freshman, social studies education), finished in second place of the 800yard freestyle relay with a time of 6:52.66.

Luke Mikesell finished in second place again during the 100-yard freestyle, falling to Andy Thomas again, who broke the PSAC record.

It was not all Luke Mikesell for the men’s team, as David McLean finished fourth in the 200-yard butterfly.

Shane Scudder (junior, college of natural science and math) also finished fourth in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:42.78. Finally, Taylor Auger (junior, info systems and decision science) finished just outside of the top five after missing it by 0.41 seconds in the 200-yard backstroke.

At the end of all the events, the Crimson Hawks’ combined team score was good enough for second place. They were 171.5 points off from the overall winner in Bloomsburg.

With the end of the swim season now here, the Crimson Hawks wrap up a season full of success. Villa tried to put into words what this season was like.

“It was a blur and a grind all at the same time,” Villa said. “This season had it all…the bad: injuries, positive COVID cases (including my own), quarantine, pre quarantine, and the good: 13th in the country at NCAA, a NCAA National Champion, PSAC Champions, team records . . .etc.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions all year. There were times where I wasn’t sure we would even make it to the finish line. Our kids stayed focused and adaptable all season. If we needed to make a change or the NCAA threw a wrench into our plans, they never wavered.

“I am proud of our swimmers and my staff and everything they overcame just to make it to the meet, let alone the successes,” Villa said.

“I am thankful for the support we received from IUP and the athletics administration.”

The team had success both on a local and national level. Hopefully this year will build confidence, and with that, the pool closes on a historical year for IUP swimming.

(IUP Athletics) The Hawks hunger for another victory after their stellar performance against Gannon.

Hawks second-half scoring frenzy leads to victory against Gannon AUSTIN SMITH

Lead Sportswriter A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Get out the sunglasses and hats as the Crimson Hawks lacrosse team soared through a 12–8 victory against the Gannon Golden Knights in Erie.

Playoffs are storming up, and this was a key win for the Hawks. The Hawks have two regular season games left: Mercyhurst and Lock Haven. The Hawks have scooped up victories against these two opponents before, but it’s that time of the year during which every team is going to give their best out on the field.

The victory against Gannon on Monday started with a 4–1 lead with four minutes into the game with Sarah Reustle’s (freshman, academic affairs) notching two goals.

“Sarah is a work horse,” coach Brenna Gallagher said. “She is defensive-minded, but her goal is to become more of an offensive threat. Being a freshman, she is

looking to improve. She can be as big as an offensive threat as she is defensively, and her shot placement has been great.”

Being able to be a two-way player will only make you more stellar as you move up in years, especially in a collegiate sport.

Gannon did rally back with some offense themselves, though, and made it a 7–6 lead going into the half.

The Hawks had an answer after refreshing during intermission. IUP came out flying with four straight goals from Reustle, Chantal Jimenez (freshman, biololgy), Jordan Kulp (sophomore, nursing) and Katye Zeiler (senior, exercise science) which pushed it a 10–7 lead in their favor with about 10 minutes to play.

“The first half we went up by four; our team took a seat back after,” Gallagher said. “Going into the second half, I told our team we need to think of it as if we are down 1–0. We need to go out and finish it. In the second half, offensively, our spacing was great.”

Sarah Reustle

The pep talks from Gallagher really sparked a second half offensive fury just as the Hawks started out the game. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh mind to start where you left off. Gannon would rally back and make it close to the end. None other than Kulp and Jimenez tallied another two goals to cap off the 12–8 win.

As previously mentioned, this win put IUP in the driver seat to the road to the playoffs.

“If we win these next games, we can host Saturday in the first round,” Gallagher said. “[We] will be third seed if we go 1–1 in these last two games.”

The big picture is, if the Hawks manage to pick up two more victories and improve to a 7–4 overall record, they will have home-field advantage. Even if the Hawks go 1–1, they will play a lower seed and may still have a chance at home field. If the odds do not go in the Hawks’ favor and they lose the last two games, they will have to travel and most likely play a higher-seeded team.

“Our biggest thing would be consistency,” Gallagher said. “Our defense needs to be lights out. If we can play with consistency, we can control the clock and the pace of the game.”

The Hawks have had a solid season with being able to bounce back after a loss, but consistency goes a long way especially being able to make it far in the playoffs. IUP can be a dangerous team in the playoffs with the talent and the ability to bounce back. Opponents are going to have to keep an eye on the Hawks as their defense improves because in the end, an offensive- and defensive-threat team is going to be hard to beat.

“We need to come out and want it,” Kulp said. “As a team, we have everything we need to do well. We just need to follow through with our game plan, win hustle stats and take care of the ball.”

The Hawks will be ready to go against Mercyhurst on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Erie.

Chantal jimenez

April 28, 2021

16

Sports

Shed(ding) some light on the IUP rugby situation GABRIELLA BYRNE Staff Writer bmwx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The IUP rugby teams were denied a storage shed in 2016 after previously securing approval.

Head coach of the men’s rugby team since 2019, Seth Erwin, discussed the shed incident that started in 2014 and still has not been fully resolved due to delays and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Lawrence Bouma, another head coach of the men’s team, met with administration of IUP in 2014 to inquire about placing a shed on the south campus for the men’s and women’s rugby teams.

The agreement was that the shed had to be donated or cost IUP no funds in securing the shed but ultimately was approved.

A few years later, a former rugby player in the late ‘90s, Anthony Chappie, used his connections to have the 84 Lumber company donate a shed.

With a shed secured, Erwin and Chappie were directed to talk to Michael Brown from facilities in order to get the signature and location input on the shed.

They were denied, and through attending an open forum, it was stated by Brown that he was not aware of the previous agreement and that it was impossible to add a shed due to square footage and the space available.

The donation is no longer available due to time passing and Chappie leaving the program.

“Currently, we are still without a shed,” Erwin said. “Though, we have done a crowdfunding campaign and are hopeful for getting a shed this fall.”

COVID-19 regulations have required coaches to not meet on campus, but, before campus closed,, Erwin and the other coaches of the rugby team were working with Todd Garzarelli, director of athletics, to discuss the options and location of a storage shed.

“The part of all this that is frustrating is that we are trying to better the university and bring students, to not only our program, but also [to] the university,” Erwin said. “Since we are a club, we are absolutely treated by some, not all, that since we are not varsity, we are on our own.

“We don’t ask for much, but in anything we ask for, there is lots and lots of fighting that we need to do.”

The men’s rugby team started in

(IUP Rugby Social Media) Despite being promised a shed, the IUP rugby teams have had to fight to get what they were promised.

1974 with a Division I classification that has bounced between DII and D I-AA since 2006.

They will be playing in a newly-formed Division II conference in The Allegheny Rugby Union but have played the likes of Penn State, Naval Academy and Virginia Tech in the past.

“Since my time at IUP, we have had a successful program, making playoffs in DII to being moved up to D I-AA,” Erwin said. “I would say, without looking at old records, we are likely 50–10 record-wise.”

Erwin credits Bouma as leading the most successful team in IUP his-

tory, citing the 2000 D1 Final Four national playoffs in Florida.

Approximately 30 percent of the yearly budget of the rugby team is supported by the IUP Co-oP fund while most funds come from fundraising or donors like Marty Patti from “Al Patti’s.” Bouma invests in traveling funds.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the men’s rugby team has not been able to play since fall 2019.

Sean Zimmerman, developmental and sevens coach of the men’s team and a former player that decided on coaching due to his aspiration for teaching, discusses the

difficulty of not being able to meet due to the current pandemic.

“I am just hoping things can get back to normal and we can get back on the field for the fall 2021 season,” Zimmerman said. “I never really realized how much rugby has become part of my life until COVID-19 hit, and we have not been able to do anything in about a year and a half.”

Erwin followed up with a comment about the effects of COVID-19 on the men’s team.

“Watching varsity teams meet and play, we again feel like we are on the back burner,” Erwin said.

“We understand that most club sports and clubs on campus are student-run, but we are a team with a full coaching staff that could perform contract tracing.

“Since we shut down, we had to decline a bid to a national tournament that potentially could have had us nationally televised; [it’s] just heart-breaking for our players.”

If you want to learn more about the men’s rugby team, check out their Crimson Connect page or reach out to their two captains, RJ Beech and Dalton Cain. If you want to support the rugby teams, check out: iup.edu/supportiup rugby.