October & November 2020 - Let's Talk About It

USFENCOUNTER USF ENCOUNTER NOVEMBER 2, 2020

PRESENTS

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT

Editorial Board Student led, student written

UNIVERSITY

4 Letter from the Editor 5 Editorial Columns 6 "Ask A Queer Person" - GSA 9 WCSF Top Ten

NEWS

10-11 Encounter News 12 29th Annual Writers’ Conference 13 Saying Goodbye to "Momma" 14 In Memory of Elva Dawson

ENTERTAINMENT

16 Cobra Kai: A Kick-a** TV Show

FEATURE

24-25 Lack of COVID-19 Updates 26-27 Mental Health is Essential

28 Awkward Zoom Encounters 29 Cancelling Cancel Culture 30 The Life and Legacy of the Notorious RBG

COMMENTARY

32-22 Can Friendships Overcome Politics?

34-35 Menstruation is Real (In Case You Didn’t Know) 36 Is College a Scam?

37 Save The People - Prevent 17 The Last of Us Part II: How a The Hate Story Should Be Told 18-19 The World of Sports: Updates and More 20 Cringe-worthy TV Shows 21 Cuties: A Harsh Look at Today’s Youth

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Front cover photo courtesy of Beatriz Sindac.

Janelle Suriaga Editor-in-Chief janellemariesuriaga@stfrancis.edu Mary Mathieu Assistant Editor marymathieu@stfrancis.edu Richie Mroz Layout Designer richardmroz@stfrancis.edu Lauren Wozniak Layout Designer laurenwozniak@stfrancis.edu Beatriz Sindac Photographer beatrizannesindac@stfrancis.edu Dr. Scott Marshall Advisor smarshall@stfrancis.edu

Staff Writers Clarissa Del Rio Cosme Lozano Elizabeth Badalamenti Evelyn Odum John Raspante Rodolfo Pérez Sara Cahill

Are you stuck at home? Attending class in-person?

Send your stories and opinions to The Encounter! usfencounter@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of Beatriz Sindac

Policies The USF Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, Illinois, 60435. The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The USF Encounter phone number is 815.740.3816.

As a member of USF Campus Media, the USF Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writing and design.By reporting on issues that may be sensitive in nature, the USF Encounter aims to educate, inform and persuade students on topics that affect their lives on and off campus.

Editorial pages provide USF Encounter staff with opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics.

Letters to the Editor represent the opinion of the author and are not necessarily opinions of the USF Encounter Staff.

Publications of letters to the editor are subject to space availability and management discretion. Letters are also subject to editing.

Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the USF Encounter office or emailed to encounter@stfrancis.edu As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.

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Letter From the Editor Dear Reader, To say that this past couple of weeks have been a blur would be a complete understatement. Adjusting to this semester has been extremely challenging. The word that best describes how I feel right now is tired.

Firstly, we didn’t get our usual fall break— a full week of no classes— which I really underestimated the impact of. I thought to myself, “No big deal, I can work with it.” In the past, I used fall break as a time to recover, with the hopes that I could resume our regular schedules and finish the semester strong. But for many students like me, that wasn’t really the case this semester. Students had a weird mix of midterms given to us before, during and after our shortened fall break, with many not really getting the chance to properly rest. I caught my mental health slipping up this past month and it’s really easy to burn out at this time of the year. The conditions that COVID-19 presents us can even worsen our mental health. I highly recommend talking to a counselor or mental health professional if you’re feeling stressed, anxious, extremely sad or any combination of those three. We’re lucky here at USF because we have easily accessible mental health professionals. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. This is your reminder to prioritize your well-being, so I hope you do something for yourself today.

Another form of tiredness is the kind that arises when expectations are let down, the tiredness that arises when we get disappointed more than once. Real talk: I was excited to go back to school and I had really high hopes of how USF would handle COVID-19. I saw the infrared screens, the masks and designated entryways. But as the weeks went by, I saw how enforcement of the rules — social distancing, mask-wearing— became more lenient. I would see people wearing masks like they were chin guards. I could observe groups of students congregating on campus on my way to class, at a time where Illinois’ case count has been steadily increasing. And most notably, I noticed that USF had not really communicated anything about COVID-19 cases. That is until The Encounter published an online opinion article by an anonymous writer, which criticized the university’s lack of COVID-19 communications to students. Publishing the article worked; it resulted in the clarification that many students wanted.

I realized that having these kinds of difficult and uncomfortable discussions is tiring. It can take a lot out of you but sometimes it can be used for good and help you grow. Talking about your mental health to improve your mental health, that can be tiring. Voicing concerns about COVID-19 and how that affects your college campus, that can also be tiring.

We’ve titled this issue “Let’s Talk About It” and devoted it to topics that might be difficult, awkward and uncomfortable. These topics include USF’s COVID-19 communications, menstruation, mental health issues, political differences, and many more. I promise you that this issue is not all serious and depressing topics. But I do hope it makes you wonder what kind of uncomfortable topics you have to address in your personal life and your community for true growth and improvement to occur.

Janelle Suriaga Editor-in-Chief

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EDITORIAL COLUMNS

Thoughts and opinions of the USF Encounter staff is not reflective of those of the University of St. Francis.

I’m Going to Upset Some People

Blue Collar Gratitude

By: Lauren Wozniak Layout Designer

By: Richie Mroz Layout Designer

I’m going to say it. I will upset some people but I’m not afraid to be controversial. There’s a line that has been drawn in the sand for years and I am ready to show what side I am on. We are divided now more than ever but I believe it is important to speak our minds. I stand firm in my beliefs and it is time that you all know:

Every weekday of my life, I always know one thing. My dad will be up at 4:00 AM eating breakfast and will be out the door by 6:00 AM carrying his lunch pail with his bandana tied and his work boots on. I don’t see him again after he leaves until 4:00 PM when his truck pulls into the driveway.

I like pineapple on pizza.

My dad is a Union Millwright. According to Wikipedia, a millwright is “a high-precision craftsman or skilled tradesman who installs, dismantles, maintains, repairs, reassembles, and moves machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.” For nearly 20 years, my dad has busted his hump every day to support my family. In the summer, he works in facilities with temperatures above 100 degrees and in the winter he works outside in below zero temps. He has traveled to different states, worked in dangerous situations, and also worked extremely long hours in order to complete a job. I really don’t know how he does it. I would be nowhere without both my dad and my mom.

Some of you may be asking yourself why I would say something so horrendous but here me out.

It really isn’t bad. It is definitely worth a try. I will admit, I was apprehensive at first. I love pineapple. I also love pizza but could I possibly like both at once? The answer is yes! The sweet and savory balance each other well, especially with the salty ham on Hawaiian pizza.

There are more vile and weird things that people put on pizza other than the innocent pineapple.

Anchovies and olives are just two examples among the millions! Also, it isn’t like we don’t already make sweet pizzas. There is barbeque chicken pizza and you don’t get berated every time you say you like it!

Come on people! It’s 2020 and it’s about time we accept pineapple on pizza as a normal meal option.

My dad is not the only one either. Millions of blue-collar workers such as electricians, carpenters, pipefitters, lineman and operators bust their hump every day. They are the backbone of this country and that is why I am writing this appreciation for the blue-collar worker, because they deserve it.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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Ask A Queer Person “Ask A Queer Person” is a new column where people can ask about queer things!

Got a question on your mind? Submit it to usfencounter@gmail.com!

How do you know which "label" you fit in? I see terms like "non-binary" and "gender-queer" but I don't even know how people start to identify themselves like that. Do they experiment with their expression?

In the technical realm, expression is more so the way we express ourselves and by we, I mean everyone queer or not. For example, if an afab (assigned female at birth) wears a dress and uses what our society considers feminine actions, then most people would automatically assume that this person is a woman (i.e. identified as a woman). But what if I told you this person identifies as a man? I imagine you would be very confused because the actions and attire indicate what you and most others think of as a woman. That’s why expression is tricky because how someone expresses their gender varies per person. It is more likely that you meant to ask how we (i.e. genderqueer people) identify and if we experiment with labels until we find the right one.

I can’t speak for others but I can say that I experimented with labels for my gender identity. I first really considered the possibility that I might not be the girl that everyone saw me as in middle school. I even asked my close friends to refer to me by a different name on the days I wore a rainbow necklace, but later on I realized that the fluctuations I felt weren’t binary. By binary, I’m referring to the societal idea that there are only two genders, man or woman. I wasn’t a girl on some days and a boy on others like I had assumed. I felt no particular attachment to either. I was boyish and girlish and not and obviously this was probably the most confusing thing to deal with as a middle schooler. It wasn’t until high school when I decided to compile a wattpad book on queer identities that I crossed words like non-binary, genderfluid, agender, demiboy, and etc. It was then that I started to try these different labels with definitions that seemed most like me.

However, even now I’m mulling over whether I should change the labels that I identify with because I found something more appropriate.

What’s important to remember is that even if the gender identity of someone you know fluctuates or changes, it doesn’t mean that they are lying to you when they tell you or change their mind. People can only identify themselves by what they know is right or wrong. It is only when the label provided by society doesn’t fit that people seek out labels that do.

-E. Porter, GSA President Is it really possible to be gay/bisexual/transgender and still be a Christian?

The Bible preaches of love and depending on your sect of Christianity, often sharing that God loves you for you. As long as your soul is in the right place, you’re fine. I personally believe God wants everyone to just be happy. There’s definitely a whole philosophical conversation that can be had but many believe the body is a vessel and the soul is who you truly are. Although God’s creation is perfect, the first sin has allowed for mistakes to be made. Where your soul and spirit stands with God is more important than where your body does.

-Anonymous GSA Member

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Photo courtesy of Beatriz Sindac

Don't Forget Your Mask! usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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Upcoming

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November 2, 2020

MONTHLY

Top 10

Staff Picks

Artists Let’s get in touch!

musicdirectorwcsf@stfrancis.edu -- 815-740-3697

1. SLOW PULP

“Keep Me In The Moment” Jeremy Camp

2. JOHN CALE

“Sit Next to Me” Foster The People

"Lazy Day” [Single]

Beautiful Motors

4. WORTHITPURCHASE Dizzy Age

5. EMMY THE GREAT April

6. DREW CITRON Free Now

7. YO LA TENGO Sleepless Nights [EP]

8. BATS, THE

Foothills [Advance Tracks]

9. RICHARD SHIRK Artwork courtesy of WCSF

With Clairvoyance

10. KURT VILE

Speed, Sound, Lonely KV [EP]

“Truth Be Told” Matthew West “Nothing in Return” Beatriz Sindac

Moveys

3. GOODBYE PARTY, THE

The USF Encounter Staff took to Spotify and shared their favorite songs from this month in their "Monthly Staff Picks" playlist

“Lonely” Cailin Russo “Because I’m Me” The Avalanches “Indigo” NIKI “Ice Cream (with Selena Gomez)” Blackpink “Shot In The Dark” AC/DC “My Way, Soon” Greta Van Fleet “Change My Tune” Emily Ann Roberts “Cruel Summer” Bananarama “I Could Be Good For You” 707 “Glory of Love” Peter Cetera “Forever After All” Luke Combs

Want to hear more?

Follow us on Spotify!

“Dreams”

Fleetwood Mac

“Positions”

Ariana Grande

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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ENCOUNTER News

By: Elizabeth Badalamenti Staff Writer

SGA Elects New Senators Five new senators have joined USF’s Student Government Association (SGA) this past month. These students will be representing their respective classes during SGA meetings and will sit on various committees to assure that student opinions are considered in university decisions. Alexus Maldonado, the newly-elected freshman class senator, is focused on improving the commuter student experience at USF. Maldonado says that she “enjoy[s] being active in [her] community” and looks forward to the opportunity “to initiate change” on campus. Mary Mathieu, SGA’s sophomore class senator, is prioritizing students’

mental health. Mathieu notes how she strives to “[uplift] others during this time of darkness” and has hopes to “[unite the campus] as one USF family to overcome the circumstances of the time.” Juniors Michelle Osei Larbi and Craig Kampmier will be serving as SGA’s junior class senators and have the goal of connecting students with each other and with the administration. Larbi plans to improve dining at St. Clare campus and Kampmier wants to find new ways to get student input on important issues. The final new senator to join SGA is Miryam Perez, who will be serving as a Senior Class Senator.

Perez’s focus will be on improving

sustainability at USF and plans to work closely with the sustainability committee to make this happen.

Due to the pandemic’s disruption to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, SGA’s senate elections were postponed until mid-October. While five senate seats have been filled, Student Government is still searching for a freshman, sophomore, and senior class senator; two senators-at-large; and a Vice President of Publicity. Those interested in running for these positions should email StudentGovernment@ stfrancis.edu for more information.

Photo courtesy of the Joliet Patch

The Future of the Joliet Kmart

Pending review of Joliet officials, the empty Kmart store at West Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue may soon house indoor and outdoor storage units, a 60,000 square foot grocery store, and one or two restaurants. While the 10.6-acre space has been vacant for the

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past four years, it caught the attention of 1801 Jefferson Development LLC, an investment group that intends to convert the space. According to the real estate attorney representing the group, Michael Hansen, if all goes as planned, the redevelopment project will be

approved later this year and construction of the storage units will begin in the spring of 2021. More information will be announced as plans are finalized and approved.

USF & Local News covered by the USF Encounter USF Freezes Tuition and Housing Rates Until Fall 2022 On October 12, USF President Arvid C. Johnson announced that the University of St. Francis will freeze tuition rates for all undergraduate, transfer, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs along with room and board rates for residential students. The decision, which the USF Board of Trustees approved in their October 9 meeting, comes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Dr. Johnson, the university is trying to do their part to help students and their families as they cope with the pandemic.

He explains that “by freezing [tuition and room and board] rates, USF can make

planning for college easier and increase the value of our offerings to incoming students.”

USF senior and SGA president Rodolfo Perez thinks the freeze is “a great decision on the university’s end, as it will save a lot of students money” and believes “it’s a good step forward in addressing one of the many facets of this pandemic.” However, Perez does worry that students will continue to struggle financially amid the pandemic and hopes the university will continue to provide support in any way possible.

When asked for her opinion on the

school’s announcement, sophomore Hanna Spodarek thought that the university should work to do even more to help ease students’ financial burden amid the pandemic. Spodarek said she pays for tuition on her own and, despite working two jobs, it has been difficult.

When asked the same question, juniors Peyton Dummitt and Shannon O’Brien both thought it would have been a more effective decision for the university to lower tuition rates, rather than just temporarily freeze them.

Joliet School District 86 to Continue Remote Learning Until Mid-January At the October 14 Board of School Inspectors meeting, the District 86 school board determined that students will continue with fully remote instruction until mid-January at least.

The school came to this decision after reviewing parent and employee survey results as well as COVID-19 data for Region 7, which contains Will County.

According to Dr. Theresa Rouse, District 86’s Superintendent, “As much as we would like to see students and staff back in our schools, as long as coronavirus

cases remain high, it’s not safe. We will continue to review the data to see when transitioning small groups of students to schools makes sense.” While the district, which teaches students in Kindergarten up to eighth grade, will continue to host classes virtually, families are still invited to pick-up free grab-and-go meals for children 18 years and younger.

On Mondays and Thursdays, Dirksen, Hufford, and Washington Junior High schools will have meals available from 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. Dirksen, Gompers,

Hufford, and Washington Junior High schools will run the free grab-andgo meals from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Gompers Junior High will also run the program on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30 - 6 p.m.

According to their website, District 86 includes fifteen elementary schools, four junior high schools, one early childhood center, and one alternative school and, as of September 30, enrolls 10,337 students.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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By: Eve Odum Staff Writer

Dr. Elizabeth McDermott of the USF English department has done it again! She organized USF’s Annual Writers’ Conference even amid a pandemic. This is a special year because it’s the first time in the conference’s 29-year history that it will be hosted virtually. The conferences will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12 from 6-8:30 P.M. McDermott’s goal is that attendees foster connections that last beyond the two-day event. This will be encouraged by “promoting dialogue among presenters and allowing for more audience interaction,” says McDermott. Normally, everyone is dispersed in different classrooms but the virtual setting will allow everyone to stay together and build deeper relationships.

The conference will open with guest speaker Anya Davidson. Davidson is a cartoonist, musician and printmaker residing in Chicago.

She has authored several graphic novels and has appeared in numerous publications. McDermott encourages students interested in the visual arts, creative writing, teaching, business or music to attend, as Davidson will appeal to a vast audience due to her many talents and knowledge of different fields.

Following the guest speaker, USF students will be presenting their writing and research on a broad range of topics. In the past there have been presentations on transcendental poetry, original short stories, musical compositions, science studies, and English in the secondary classroom—just to name a few. Drop in to support and hear what your fellow classmates are working on!

Have something you're working on? Consider submitting it for next year's conference.

A full program and how to attend virtually will be sent to your USF email within the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!

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Photos courtesy of Disney+

Photos courtesy of unsplash.com and comicvine.gamespot.com

29th Annual Writers' Conference

Saying Goodbye to “Momma” By: Clarissa DelRio Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of thetimesweekly.com

When we encounter someone for so long who genuinely cares and has nothing but pure intentions for us, the thought of having to say goodbye is something that we undoubtedly dread. In light of her retirement after over four decades of service to USF and the community, I had the bittersweet pleasure of interviewing one of USF’s most iconic staff members, Diane Reed. However, to most of us students, we know her as “Miss Diane” or “Momma” due to her nurturing manner, genuine love, compassion and care for students.

Miss Diane has welcomed students with open arms and a listening ear for every one of us who has stopped by the cafeteria, leaving not only our bodies nourished but our souls as well. For that, we thank you. Miss Diane will be officially retiring on October 30th, 2020.

How long have you’ve been a staff member at the university?

“Actually I came here in 1977 with the nuns at the Motherhouse and when they closed down through the University then I came here to the University of St. Francis. So with the nuns it was about 25 years and in total with my time here at St. Francis it has been a total of about 45+ years.”

What made you want to work for this organization/university?

“Before I came here at the Motherhouse with the nuns, and my mom worked there. So my mom brought me in as she was the head cook there running the kitchen. She brought me in as her assistant cook and I’ve been there ever since. My mom of course eventually passed away and I stayed with the nuns and when the nuns left I came to the University. I was a part of the trade over for the Motherhouse and all that. Me and Mike Decman and a couple of us [staff members] all came from the Motherhouse together.”

What roles and responsibilities were you in charge of during your position through Sodexo/Quest?

“I was the Catering Supervisor, when the bistro opened I was the manager there, and I’ve done the banking for Sodexo, I did so much! I’ve done pretty much everything from catering, banking, to now cashiering, so I’ve done pretty much all of it.”

Was it a tough decision leaving this job?

“It really was. It has taken me three years to really come to terms with it. I’ve been retiring for three years but now I’ve finally set a date. It’s hard because this is my second home. [However,] because of my age and my health and it’s just that time.”

What are the next steps for you after USF? “Grandkids! I got a couple of great-grandkids too so I’m very excited about that.”

What could convince you to stay?

She laughs and says, “I mean… nothing. I think this is it. But if I did stay it would be for the students. That would be the only reason.

[Aside from that] I’m done!”

What was your happiest experience at USF? “The students. I love interacting with them. Some of them it’s their first time away from home ever and they needed somebody to reach out to and I was always happy to be able to be that person that was there for them. I got a lot of children [here at USF]. That’s how I got to become, ‘Momma.’”

If you had the chance to alter one thing about your job, what would that be?

“That’s a tough one… With my position really nothing. I’ve been happy since I’ve been here. I’ve been satisfied with my position. I can’t think of anything I would change!”

A food item/s from the cafeteria you will miss dearly?

“Soft serve ice cream! That one was easy!”

What message would you give the person taking your place in this organization?

“Try to learn from the students. Just realize and understand that we are here for them. They’re not here for us, we are here for them.”

What will you miss the most after leaving USF? “My students! It’s all about the students here! I’m not gonna miss working, I'm going to miss you guys… You’re getting me emotional now… But yes, the students. My children. My babies. I’m going to miss them so much. I’ve got to keep focused though because if I don’t, I’ll back out again as I did before! This is the third time that I’ve said I was going to retire and I ended up not going. But, I’m ready this time.”

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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In Memory of Elva Dawson Photos courtesy of stfrancis.edu and clipart-library.com

By: Janelle Suriaga Editor-in-Chief

“Larger than life”, “inspiring” and “compassionate” are words that encapsulate what Dr. Elva Dawson was like. Dawson served as the associate professor of radiation therapy here at USF, where she was a clinical coordinator and instructor.

Dawson’s radiologic career started at Chicago State University, where she received a Bachelor's in Radiation Therapy Technology. Her experience as one of the few African American students in her degree program left a lasting impression on her, so much so that she authored a qualitative study about the clinical experiences of minority radiologic science students in the journal Radiologic Technology in 2017. She then went on to receive a master’s degree in educational and instructional technology from her alma mater in 2000 and a doctorate in education from Argosy University. Dawson was a highly-educated, intelligent woman who used her experiences in the healthcare industry to teach her students what it means to be a healthcare professional.

One of her former students is Dr. Leia Levy, who currently serves as the Director of USF’s Radiation Therapy program. Levy had only great things to say about her former teacher, who ended up becoming a dear colleague and a valuable friend. “Working with Dr. Dawson was great. Our working relationship was really like a partnership,” she recalls.

“She was one of my first clinical teachers over 30 years ago and has left an impression on me. Having an internship is difficult. You’re asking people who work professionally in healthcare to teach you and they are trying to do their job while doing so. When their main focus is on the patient, sometimes you get pushed in the back,” Levy states. However, she remembers that Dr. Dawson was the opposite of that. “That is what made Dr. Dawson stand out to me as a clinical instructor.” Dawson was hands-on and encouraged her students to be actively involved as a part of the healthcare team.

When it came time for Levy to become a teacher of her own, Dawson was one of the first people she had reached out to for help.

The connection between the two was long-lasting as Levy would eventually end up working with her former clinical instructor beginning in 2007, when they taught alongside each other in Rockford, IL. And the right circumstances allowed them to teach together again, this time at USF beginning in 2013.

It should be noted that Dawson was not only an experienced healthcare professional but an avid sports fan. Levy recalls how she and Dawson would talk on the phone for hours on the weekends about certain games during football season. Dawson was also a gifted speaker and was constantly asked to be a motivational speaker for students. She encouraged students in such a way that made them feel empowered and ready to take on their career goals.

Dr. Elva Dawson was a beloved member of the USF community and she will surely be missed. She exemplifies USF’s best values and our condolences and prayers go out to her family, students and colleagues. Dawson’s family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation (dawsonBMFdonate.com).

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Upcoming Are you interested in writing, editing or photography?

Join the Encounter staff in producing USF’s very own student-runStaff news in magazine.

Join the Encounter producing USF's

student-run Forvery more own information, email our magazine!

Editor-in-Chief Katie Wozniak at KatherineWozniak@stfrancis.edu

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A Kick-A** TV Show

In 2018, my brother bought a subscription to YouTube TV to watch this show he was very excited for called Cobra Kai. He explained to me that it was set in “The Karate Kid” universe 30 years after the events of the original movie, which was released in 1984. At the time, I was thinking YouTube TV? The show cannot be that great if it is on YouTube. I also had never seen any of the original four Karate Kid movies, so the show did not necessarily peak my interests. In June 2020, Netflix acquired the show and I finally decided to give it a chance. After watching the two seasons available, I have to say it is one of the best shows ever made.

Cobra Kai focuses mainly on Johnny Lawrence, the “antagonist” of the original movie who Daniel LaRusso, the main character and “protagonist” of the original, faces off against at the end of the movie. At the start of the first episode, we learn how the events of the first film have affected Johnny’s life nearly 30 years later. Fallen away from his wealthy lifestyle as a teenager, he now lives in an apartment by himself, drinks a lot, and works as a part-time handyman. We also learn that Johnny has a teenage son named Robby who he does not have a good relationship with.

Now in his 50s, we see Johnny stuck in the glory days of the 1980s driving a 1991 Pontiac Firebird, listening to Poison, and struggling to keep his life together.

Daniel LaRusso, who was raised by his mother in a lower class neighborhood, is now living the high life. He is happily married, has two kids, and owns several successful car dealerships in upper class Los Angeles. Right away we are acquainted with the fact that the two main characters’ lives have flip-flopped.

One night Johnny witnesses his kid neighbor, Miguel, getting bullied and beat up by other kids from school. Reminiscing

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on the past, Johnny decides to open his own karate dojo to help Miguel learn how to defend himself. He names it Cobra Kai, after the original Cobra Kai from the movies. Daniel, who learns about Cobra Kai coming back, eventually opens his own karate dojo to compete against Cobra Kai. He names it Miyagido, after his mentor Mr. Miyagi.

Cobra Kai ends up attracting a group of bullied social outcasts who find their self-confidence through the leadership of Johnny and the teachings of Cobra Kai. Miguel and Johnny’s relationship turns into a father-son bond, resembling the relationship Daniel had with Mr. Miyagi. Jealous of the attention his dad is giving Miguel, Robby gets a job at one of the LaRusso dealerships and meets Daniel, who is unaware of who Robby actually is. Daniel eventually takes Robby under his wing and trains him under the techniques of Miyagi-do karate. The overall story revolves around these primary relationships, which lead to conflicts that are ultimately the product of Daniel and Johnny's inability to move away from the past.

The show’s writing team takes the “can’t offend anyone” mentality and sidekicks it out of the window. Much of the comedic relief of the show comes from Johnny’s character not understanding today’s world. Johnny doesn’t know what “a Facebook” is. He doesn’t know how to work a computer and he doesn’t like the “garbage” music being played in 2020. The show hits heavy on 1980s pop culture and offers several nods to the original movie series. It is an absolute masterpiece. I have gone back and watched the original movies and Cobra Kai enhances the experience of watching those films. Season three will be released on January 8, 2021 with season four on its way after and you better believe it will be kick-a**.

Photo courtesy of www.espinof.com

By: Richie Mroz Layout Designer

HOW A STORY SHOULD BE TOLD By: Rodolfo Perez Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Naughty Dog

The first feeling one often has when starting the story line of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II is one of familiarity. The highly anticipated sequel is one that truly shifts the direction of storytelling in gaming.

It is a piece that, although subject to some controversy, is definitely seen as one of the best video games of the year. It is also one of the most memorable achievements from Naughty Dog since Uncharted first began appearing in stores more than a decade ago.

I will admit that I do not play a lot of video games. As far as video games go, I have trouble maintaining the motivation to continue unless one of two things are present: (1) a great storyline and (2) a good deal of replay ability. Fortunately for The Last of Us Part II, one gets the best of both worlds. There is a fantastic story filled with heavy themes and a lot of fluidity as to what a player can do even though fans of the first installment are left to recollect pieces from the original The Last of Us as the plot is split between two women.

There is Ellie, one of the two main characters from the first game, who has grown considerably in age, ability and thirst for revenge. Then there is Abby Anderson, the new addition to the game that brings about a refreshing take on strength, love and comprehension in a world that has been torn apart by a deadly virus and

several terrible disasters. Although the plot is split between the two characters, players have a lot of time to get to know each character, their motivations, and what they lack in their lives.

Two of the best aspects of this game are the plot and the attention given to detail. The Last of Us Part II takes players through a roller coaster of emotions as we follow two distinctly contrasting paths. On the one hand, this game shows that as far as storytelling goes, there is no excuse for why the player should not feel as though their character is morally ambiguous. Both Ellie and Abby exhibit this ambiguity, since they are both strong and willing to kill in order to reach their destination.

Gamers also see that even the most battle hardened soldiers break sometimes when faced with complicated situations.

To say that The Last of Us Part II is a masterpiece in gameplay, storytelling and art is an understatement. This is a game that will take you through a variety of places and will lead you to fight monsters that aren’t recognizable until you look in the mirror. It is a game that will truly live on as a unique piece of gaming history and it is also one that everyone should try. And this is coming from a guy who doesn’t really play video games.

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The By: Cosme Lozano Staff Writer

L

WORL

ebron James has done it again. In the NBA bubble playoffs, Lebron and the Lakers secure the 2020 championship.

This is another milestone in Lebron’s already hall of fame resume. Lebron's championship total is now at four. He played like a man on a mission this series, almost averaging a triple double. Marc Stein of the New York Times said, “The Lakers won their 17th championship — and their first with LeBron James as their centerpiece — with a victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday night in game six of the N.B.A. finals. It was only a mere 355 days after the Lakers played their season opener before a packed crowd at Staples Center in Los Angeles.” This championship is even more special, as the franchise mourns and celebrates the life of perhaps the greatest Laker of all time, Kobe Bryant, who unexpectedly passed away earlier in 2020. It will truly be remembered because of this, as well as the irregularities of the season. Congratulations, Laker fans!

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OfSp Photos courtesy of Disney+

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ports

The NHL resumed their season on August 1 and did not conclude until September 28. The Tampa Bay Lightning would emerge victorious from this year's playoffs, winning the Stanley Cup Trophy against the Dallas Stars. Talking to fellow USF student and host of the Sport Matchup, Jordan Missig states, “I am happy for the Tampa Bay Lightning on winning their second Stanley Cup. It has been 16 years since they won their last cup back in 2004 and it was nice to see them back in the finals since 2015 against the eventual Stanley Cup champs, the Chicago Blackhawks. Yet the Lightning found themselves versing another central division team in the Dallas Stars, so it was nice to see the Lightning kind of redeem themselves from the loss in 2015.” This championship comes as a hard earned victory as the team has faced adversity over the years. The Lightning was always a good, competitive team but they could never put it all together. This reached a boiling point last year, when they were the top seed in the playoffs and were knocked out by the eighth seeded Columbus Blue Jackets. Carol Schram of the New York Times commented, “This season, the Lightning came back mentally tougher, in part thanks to the addition of some other veterans who felt they had something to prove.” It is nice to see Tampa Bay having the championship after it has eluded them for most of the last decade. Going into a new decade now, the Lightning is victorious.

Photo courtesy of www.newyorker.com

This year's MLB playoffs have not disappointed despite the unusual times.

This was the first time in 12 years that both the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox would be in the playoffs at the same time. There was a lot of hype and buzz about both teams being in the playoffs this year. Many expected the experience of the Cubs to help guide them on a potential run. However, this would not be the case. The Cubs would be swept by the Miami Marlins 2-0. This was very disappointing to see; in both games, the Cubs would only generate one run. The teams wildly inconsistent offense this season would be their achilles heel in this series. Looking at the White Sox, their talent alone made them a dark horse world series candidate. Oakland Athletics reminded everyone that they were still far

away from competing for a championship.

The White Sox would win game one but would lose the next two, ultimately losing the series. While the loss is disappointing, this is still a very young team and the expectation is that they will be frequents in the playoffs for years to come. Speaking of their postseason, Missig explains, “For the Cubs, I would point towards their execution and consistency on what hurt them the most. As for the Sox, their inexperience and questionable calls from the bull pen would cost them. Just some interesting moves that you normally would not see in a regular playoff series.”

The nature of football is violent. This is what makes it so polarizing for most Americans. Injuries are a natural part of any sport but when injuries occur at an excessive rate, concerns start to pop up.

This season has seen some of the NFL’s best go down with season ending injuries.

Players like Von Miller of the Denver Broncos never even got a chance to play a game, as he was injured in camp. Once the season opened, in the first few weeks alone, we saw names like Nick Bosa, Christian Mccaffrey, Solomon Thomas, Drew Locke, Saquon Barkley, Tarik Cohen, Nick Chubb, Cortland Sutton, Derwin James, Marlon Mack and many more all go down with serious injuries or season-ending injuries. Most of the blame is put on the sudden start of high intensity work. Much of the off season activities we usually see are cancelled this year, only giving teams a couple of weeks to prepare for week one of the season.

Apart from injury, the league has also been dealing with COVID outbreaks, most notably with Tennessee. The Titans have had 23 positive tests and the number is likely to go up still. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said, “Yes, some are furious with the Titans over their alleged handling of the protocols, which, the thinking goes, opened the door for all of this. But others saw what the NFL did the other day as, in the words of one executive, ‘shaming’ Tennessee in an effort to distance the league office from the outbreak.” The NFL season is still young and they have a ways to go until the Super Bowl. Many are left with the question of whether we will even get there.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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Cringe-Worthy Shows You Should Absolutely Watch The art of the ‘cringe’ is hard to master. The ability to touch on uncomfortable topics and socially-awkward situations while entertaining a massive audience is usually reserved for only a select few shows. When people think about these kinds of shows, household cringecomedies like Arrested Development and Curb Your Enthusiasm come to mind. There are many more shows that excel in the ‘cringe’ and they happen to be streaming on common platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Here are some cringe-worthy shows that you should absolutely add to your watching list.

PEN15: Hulu

If there was a show that encapsulated the female middle school experience and how absolutely awkward it is, it would be PEN15. Yes, it’s pronounced the way you think it is. The show, named after the unofficial club most middle school girls were tricked into joining in the 2000s, depicts the antics of two seventh-graders as they traverse the social dynamics of adolescence. The series stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle and is spearheaded by the same people that brought viewers The Lonely Island, according to Hulu. Konkle and Erskine, who are clearly adults, play versions of themselves as middleschool outcasts and are surrounded by actual thirteen-year-olds. Hilarity ensues with love notes written in gel pen, middle-school crushes, and AIM usernames galore.

Sex Education: Netflix

“Last night I looked at some cheese and got an erection” is an actual line from this Netflix comedy-drama. It stars Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn, a shy and inexperienced highschooler, whose mom just so happens to be a well-known sex therapist. Equipped with his mom’s advice, Otis starts a sex therapy business of his own with fellow classmate Maeve, played by Emma Mackey. Most of the humor from the show comes from fellow students in Otis’s school and their lack of sexual education. However, this show is more than capable of portraying serious and uncomfortable issues that the main characters go through, problems such as homophobia, sexual assault and parental abuse. Sex Education is not as much so about the actual sex therapy business as it is about the struggles of the people running it.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Netflix

Have you ever had a friend make some questionable moves and you just watch as a trainwreck unfolds? That is the feeling one gets when they watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, a musical comedy-drama from the CW. Rachel Bloom plays Rebecca Bunch, an Ivy Leagueeducated lawyer who suddenly uproots her life from New York to the small town of West Covina, California, to chase after an old ex-boyfriend from summer camp. She is joined by her coworker and new BFF Paula Proctor, played by Donna Lynne Champlin, who enables Rebecca’s odd behavior by suggesting odd schemes, assisting in illegal antics, and giving problematic advice. Bunch suffers from mental health disorders and constantly makes impulsive decisions that tend to harm herself and others around her. The show touches on several serious topics— suicide, depression, emotional trauma— and yet it manages to entertain viewers with witty jokes and original comedic music. With catchy songs like “Let’s Generalize About Men” and “Antidepressants Are So Not a Big Deal,” serious topics that once were off-topic on television are slightly more palatable to viewers.

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Photos curtesy of hulu.com, imdb.com, reelgood.com and clipartix.com

By: Janelle Suriaga Editor-in-Chief

Cuties:

A Harsh Look at Today's Youth

By: John Raspnte Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of netflix.com

Netflix is constantly dropping new original content and it’s difficult to try and keep track of it all. However, back in early September, a film was released on the streaming service that was very hard for anyone to miss. Cuties is a French coming-of-age drama written and directed by Maïmouna Doucouré. According to Netflix’s official description of the movie, “Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family’s tradition.”

The film focuses on Muslim Senegalese immigrant Amy during her family’s move to Paris. It captures her journey of becoming accustomed to Western culture. Amy ends up joining a dance group with other girls her age and they try to win a local dance contest with the help of a risque routine. Before the movie was released, social media was fuming with things like #BoycottNetflix and #CancelNetflix due to the promotional material for the film seeming to sexualize the young female characters.

I was disgusted by what I saw too; I thought the film was promoting that kind of material and message. However, when I sat down and watched the movie myself and saw how hard hitting it was, I realized it wasn’t what everyone thinks.

Amy goes out in public wearing makeshift crop tops and short shorts, trying to fit in with the other girls and act older than she really is. She and her friends watch inappropriate videos together, take inappropriate photos of themselves and other people, and teach themselves provocative dances based on videos they see of older girls online.

Now, I don’t have any personal experiences like that, but I do have a nine year old sister who I’ve seen do some of those things.

She constantly wants to wear makeup and is dressing up. She has

googled things like “how to twerk” on her iPad and tries to act older than she is, all based on stuff she sees online. In a digital age, kids are growing up with so much information at their fingertips.

With social media, kids feel pressured to act a certain way, which leads children to stop acting like children. USF sophomore Sarah Vandermolen reflects, “I was one of the people who read all the tweets bashing this movie, and thought that it should be cancelled.

But, when I watched it, I realized how relatable it was for me and my friends when we were growing up.”

Ultimately, the film helps open peoples’ eyes to children being sexualized at a young age due to social media and the internet.

Contrary to popular opinion, it is not promoting the things people complain about online. In an article from the Washington Post, the director of the movie explains, “We, as adults, have not given children the tools to grow up healthy in our society. I want to open peoples’ eyes to what’s really happening in schools and on social media, forcing them to confront images of young girls, made up, dressed up, and dancing suggestively to imitate their favorite pop icon.” The film is looking to start a conversation about the issues and this conversation is far from over.

“'We, as adults, have not given children the tools to grow up healthy in our society.'" usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT

Where's the Transparency?

Lack of COVID-19 Communication Leads to Student Confusion The COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 a year of uncertainty by introducing the challenges that come with adapting to these unprecedented times. From social gatherings to grocery store trips, everything has requirements that we would not have imagined a year ago. From wearing a mask and staying six feet apart, to avoiding large groups and outings, this year has been one filled with change. This is especially true in the university setting. When USF went into lockdown last spring, it sent its residents home and switched to an online format.

A sense of uncertainty and anxiety about what would happen next spread across the student body.

As with anything in science, it is only through time and observation that we can learn more about COVID-19 and what activities and practices increase or decrease the risk of contracting the virus. The CDC has claimed that attending colleges and universities is safe as long as social distancing, hygiene, and mask-wearing practices are followed. However, many students on campus are still hesitant about how safe it is to be on campus during the pandemic. After asking several students their perception of the state of COVID-19 on campus and an interview with Dean of Students, Mollie Rockafellow, I ventured off to find transparency on the issue.

Before talking to the administration, I wanted to get an idea of how students viewed the university’s handling of COVID-19. Kassandra Cazares explains why she thinks communication on the university’s part has been lacking, “I feel like the school is being very secretive. They try to do the best they can to keep us safe, but people at school have allegedly tested

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positive. I feel that by not announcing updates of COVID cases, they are trying to make us think they’re doing a better job than other schools. Ultimately, I believe they are trying to avoid a ‘move to online’ petition like last semester.”

created a comfortable and ‘home-like’ environment that I think is crucial, especially in moments of crisis. If I have any concerns I feel comfortable seeking help or asking questions to any administrators, whether it be by e-mail or in person.”

Other students like Leslie Delgado recognize that USF is doing everything it can, but there is also room for improvements.

Delgado states, “So far I feel as if USF has been handling COVID-19 very well and is about as organized as it can get. It was and still is an unprecedented event, so it’s not something that can be pinpointed. This makes it extremely difficult to plan for the future. I do feel a bit lost without knowing the number of cases on campus, but also feel safe because I know that it is being regulated. I believe knowing the specific amount of cases would make me feel more reassured and would also reduce the risk of contact and spreading even more. Potentially implementing weekly testing to be sure that no one has the virus would also be greatly reassuring.”

I also asked students if they know where they can find updates on COVID cases on-campus. USF student Timothy Wade answered, “Covid updates are on the TV's or in our email.” All other students interviewed claimed that they had no idea on where to go when looking for consistent COVID-19 updates aside from student rumors.

There is also uncertainty about how to bring up COVID-19 related questions to administration. When asked if she knows what to do to bring valid concerns to the administrators Cazares responds, “I don’t.

I can speak to a professor but they’ll just reassure me that the school is doing the best they can. Administration will tell us the same thing and let us know that it’s okay to take time off from school but there are students like myself who can’t afford to do that.” Another USF student Elizabeth Tuck states, “I have no idea what I would do if I had a concern.” Delgado states that she does feel like they can reach the people in charge. Delgado stated that, “USF has

•

After talking to several students to get their feedback on USF’s handling of COVID-19, it was clear that some of the biggest concerns are: • •

•

How many cases of COVID-19 have been reported on campus whether it be students, faculty, or staff ?

Where can students go to report any concerns or ask questions regarding COVID-19?

Is the University aware of its students’ concerns and the rumors spreading around campus that allegedly multiple students have contracted COVID-19?

Why is the University not communicating consistent updates regarding the number of cases?

To find clarity and truth, as well as to dispel rumors, I brought up these concerns through an interview with Dean of Students, Mollie Rockafellow.

Students are hearing rumors that there have been COVID-19 cases on the football team and softball team, but

Photo courtesy of Beatriz Sindac

By: Clarissa DelRio Features and Commentary Editor

there have been no updates from Student Life acknowledging these concerns. Has the administration been made aware of these rumors? How does the university plan on working to dispel these rumors and clear the air for its students?

“We are working to have a consistent communication plan with students. If there are cases that are reported to us we work directly with the students involved to address any need to quarantine or isolate.

Students are requested to consult with their county health department and their physician. We have an obligation to respect students’ privacy through this process. If we believed there to be a chance of exposure per CDC and Will County Health guidelines we would contact those students directly. We ask all students if they have a concern about their own personal safety to reach out to the Wellness Center or myself. Also, we ask that all students work to stand up to any rumors as they are not helpful for anyone during this stressful time.”

Many students feel as if there is not a direct way to reach the administration with their concerns. How should a student go about making their voices heard when faced with uncertainty on campus?

“If a student has a concern they can bring it to the department that it is most connected to. If they are unsure they are able to submit it on the portal https://myusf.stfrancis. edu/portal/secure/student/complaints where it would automatically route for them and the outcome tracked. As the Dean of Student Life, I am also a resource to help students navigate this process.”

Many other colleges are releasing numbers about how many people have tested positive or even the number of students that have had to quarantine or isolate. For example, Lewis University has a weekly updated tracker of cases on campus that can be easily accessible online. Why has USF not done the same?

“Colleges and universities across the country have identified practices that work best for their respective school community and overall COVID-19 response. The University has not had any on-campus transmissions.

This means that no one has contracted the virus on campus. We don’t have any numbers to report at this time.”

How is the university tracking its COVID-19 cases?

“Any on-campus COVID-19 related processing is coordinated through the USF Wellness Center. We also continue to work closely with the Will County Health Department.”

Is there any data to reference how effective USF’s current policy and preparedness plan has been so far?

“The data we have is that there are not any reported on campus transmissions. We believe this is because as soon as people realize they are not feeling well, they do not return to campus until they are sure that they are feeling well. When students use the Involvio app to report they are not able to come to campus, we contact them to coach them through the process of contacting a medical provider and not returning to campus until they are well. In talking with our peer institutions, we are aware that they have similar policies and guidelines and are experiencing low case numbers as well.

It is important to note that our safe return to campus speaks volumes as it pertains to the outstanding job the entire USF community has done with adhering to the USF Preparedness Plan and the four general practices we introduced over the summer.

This ‘Saints United’ approach is imperative in helping to keep our campus healthy and safe, so the USF community has a lot to be proud of with how the fall semester has progressed.”

Without violating any HIPAA laws (not naming names, but only numbers) have there been any students, staff, or faculty members that have caught COVID-19?

The University has not had any on-campus transmissions. This means that no one has contracted the virus while on campus.

We are not reporting on cases that are not present on campus.

Theoretically, if I had tested positive for COVID, what would be the next steps? Would my COVID case be communicated to the student body?

id=11) and then after that, contact tracing would be done through the Will County Health Department to identify if the virus was caught on campus or not” Why are only “on campus transmissions” being reported?

“Any off-campus transmissions are so low that if they were communicated on a weekly basis, there would hardly be anything to report. Also, the concern with reporting off-campus transmissions is that students’ privacy will be violated. If we do release off-campus numbers students may be able to, by process of elimination, find out which individual contracted it. We want to uphold and protect individual privacy on campus.”

How many cases would it take for a university-wide communication to be sent out to notify students that the Coronavirus is on campus?

“In an event of an outbreak on campus, the University would communicate this information immediately with everyone on campus. According to the Will County Health Department, 5 instances of positive tests from one exposure is considered an outbreak. This would be determined through the contact tracing done via the Will County Health Department.”

Overall, it has been difficult to find transparency on the issue of COVID-19 cases on campus. The university’s emphasis on on-campus transmissions rather than the total number of cases has led to an abundance of confusion and has influenced the spread of rumors on what the numbers are. It has been confirmed that the administration has recently begun to meet with Student Government Association (SGA) to discuss some of these concerns; however, until numbers of all COVID-19 cases (on-campus transmissions or not) are reported, students will continue to turn to rumors rather than to the truth and clarity that comes with consistent updates on total cases on campus. For now, all we can do as students is our part in following the policies and procedures put in place to protect ourselves when navigating the college campus.

“The next steps would be to fill out the COVID campus leave form (cm.maxient. com/reportingform.php?UnivofStFrancis&layout_

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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Mental Health By: Mary Mathieu Assistant Editor 47.6 million. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), this is the amount of people in the U.S. that were diagnosed with a mental health disorder in the year 2018.

This means that one out of every five Americans battle mental illness each day. Despite these statistics, the stigma surrounding mental health is still very real. Mental illness is often ridiculed due to its “invisibility,” but this invisibility is often a result of ignorance. Education is key to ending the stigma surrounding mental health. When we choose to educate ourselves on mental illness, we are choosing to save lives. People who are diagnosed with a mental health disorder need someone to truly understand them, just as any one does. Knowledge is essential to this understanding.

At the end of the day, we all want to know that we are not alone and that we have someone to support us in our darkest times. This universal longing is the same even for those living with mental illness. Despite frequently being outcasted, individuals living with a mental health disorder are a lot more alike than different when compared to individuals not living with mental illness. By choosing to work towards the end of the stigma surrounding mental health, we are caring for our friends, classmates and families. As USF Psychology student Rebecca Giese states, “The stigma surrounding mental health is an awful and terrible thing that leads those who are suffering from it to feel as if they cannot escape the feeling of being judged by others for being open about their mental health. We normalize talking about physical health by helping those with broken arms and legs. Why can we not do that with mental health and help those with broken minds and thoughts?”

The signs of mental illness often go unnoticed, even among the people we encounter each day, but they do not have to anymore. We can be the change if we choose to be.

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Is Essential

"

"

Being authentic and vulnerable are two of the greatest strengths today, especially with the stigma surrounding mental health being present.

The Mayo Clinic defines stigma as “someone viewing you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that is thought to be, or actually is, a disadvantage (a negative stereotype).” The stigma surrounding mental health is one such stigma that ridicules individuals living with mental illness. They are discriminated against just because they are different. Why is being different such a bad thing? Some of the greatest people of the world— Mother Theresa, Gandhi and even St. Francis himself— were different but look at how many people love and respect them. They chose a life of service and poverty over a life of luxury, something that most people cannot even imagine. Their lifestyle often did not make sense to others but they continued to be the person God had created them to be, even amid criticism. They did not let others or even their own minds get in the way of the plan that God had made for them. It goes to show us that it is our differences that make us great, not our similarities. Staying true to who you are, especially when battling mental illness, is extremely difficult but not impossible. Amid criticism, personal discovery and growth are awakening. No one or nothing (even mental illness) can stop you from becoming the person you are meant to be if you believe in yourself. The pathway to forgiveness and acceptance starts with self-love. Once you find self-compassion, everything else will fall into place.

Photo courtesy of www.wallpapersshare.com

If you are an individual living with mental illness, know that you are not alone. Despite the stigma, mental illness is still very real in the lives of many. It is a scary war to face. Some battles in the war will be lost but others will be won. Despite the war, the beauty of life surrounds us. Even on our darkest days, there will be a light. The people we consider friends and family are the ones that help us prove victorious over the enemy known as mental illness. With them by our side, we are invincible.

We all need support and it is okay to not be okay. We do not have to put on a brave face anymore, and act as if nothing in the world bothers us. We can “fake it till we make it” all we want but that will never solve anything. Being authentic is essential, because without authenticity, others will not know that we need help. Needing help is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it is a sign of strength because with asking for help, you are being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a frightening concept, but with the fear it provokes, a new sense of strength in the individual arises. Being authentic and vulnerable are two of the greatest strengths today, especially with the stigma surrounding mental health being present. We may feel like we need to have it all together but none of us really do. We are all just doing our best to make it by each day, especially during the current pandemic.

There is no specific manual that teaches us how to be happy, unfortunately. We all have our own journey to embark on to explore and define happiness for ourselves. Along the way, remember that it is more than okay to ask for help. Asking for help takes tremendous strength and you are strongly admired for doing so. You are a survivor and always will be. And to those supporting a loved one battling mental illness, thank you for being a mental health hero.

If you are struggling mentally, please make sure to visit the USF Counseling Center located on the 3rd floor of Motherhouse.

USF’s Sister Gayle regularly encourages students to reach out for help. “I don’t hesitate to tell students that I see a therapist.

It’s my way of helping to remove the stigma. It’s okay to seek support from a professional,” Gayle states. The USF counseling office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. To learn more, visit the USF Counseling Center online site at https://www.stfrancis.edu/student-affairs/counselingwellness-center/. Amid COVID-19, we all need extra help. It is okay to need this help. You do not have to go through this alone anymore. Your USF family is here for you!

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By:

Sarah Ca

h il l

riter Staff W

Who would’ve thought that technology would have made life more comfortable while going remotely! Or, has it?

Everyone has become familiar with virtual meeting programs like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Most classes are using this software, whether they meet in person or not. Zoom allows students to be “in class” when they’re out for COVID-related reasons or for members in a class to chat without the need to physically meet. And these tools aren’t just being used at the University of St. Francis. Schools, including at the elementary, middle and high school levels, have jumped on using Zoom. These virtual meetings have redefined teachers’ pedagogy and have the potential to reshape how schools handle sick and snow days.

But, what happens when meeting virtually becomes incredibly awkward?

Everyone can remember the first time using this software. I distinctly remember how painfully awkward it was to follow along with someone’s discussion as my WiFi cut in and out. Or how a professor would prompt a question and everyone would just stare at their screen in silence. Zoom and Microsoft Teams have been wonderful tools to include everyone in the classroom but it has led to the awkwardness that you spend your life trying to avoid. Thankfully there are resources online on how to not be socially awkward on Zoom, like from eternitymarketing.com for example. But sometimes, no matter how many tips you can get, it still will sting.

Students at USF have had their fair share of awkward Zoom encounters. For example, one anonymous student explained that an awkward exchange happened in their sign language class. They commented, “My awkward Zoom encounter happened for me when we transitioned online. When it’s quiet in a classroom it’s awkward already, but it becomes more awkward when the whole class is silent besides the students’ background noises. For instance, someone in the class had baby chickens in their room that chirped throughout the class and their screen constantly popped up on my screen.”

Thankfully, students at USF aren’t the only ones experiencing the awkwardness. People in other schools, jobs, and interviews have all had their fair share. I watched a viral YouTube video titled “Awkward Team Meeting” where four members of a team ended the Zoom but one of the members forgot to turn their camera off and accidentally showed himself in his underwear! He got up and walked around his living room, with his team members busting out laughing until one called him to tell him what they were seeing. So, if you experience a Zoom encounter that shakes you to your core, you’re not alone! The best thing to do is just laugh it off!

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Photo courtesy of publiccounsel.com

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Cancelling Cancel Culture

By: Lauren Wozniak Layout Designer

“Cancel culture” is defined by Dictionary.com as “the popular practice of withdrawing support for public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.” It seems like something that has been going on for ages but it has only become a thing in the past few years. The start of cancel culture coincides with the start of the #MeToo movement back in 2017, as people started holding public figures more accountable for their actions, according to MerriamWebster. People like Bill Cosby and Louis C.K. were being “canceled” by social media users everywhere. As time has gone on, cancel culture has led to anything any public figure has done wrong, no matter how long ago, being resurfaced.

The movement has even gone beyond social media, as people are fired from their jobs from their past mistakes.

An example of this is James Gunn, who tweeted offensive jokes over nine years ago, according to highonfilms.com. The posts were dug up by two conservatives who were hurt by Gunn’s criticism of Donald Trump. Gunn apologized for these tweets and expressed that he had changed but it did not help him. The internet “canceled” him and Disney fired him from “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Gunn wrote and directed the previous two films in the franchise, both of which he was hired for after he had already tweeted the offensive posts. Since this incident, Gunn has been hired back to write the third installment.

"...it has turned into a meaningless way to call people out for any mistake made..."

Not only have people been wrongfully canceled but people have also been rightfully canceled. The effect, however, does not last long. Take Logan Paul, for example. On December 31st, 2017, he put out a very jarring and inappropriate video in a Japanese forest known for its high suicide rate, according to VICE News. The video was taken down on January 1st, 2018. After Paul released an apology video and YouTube temporarily disabled his monetization (which is how YouTubers make money on their videos), the internet canceled him. They celebrated “the end of his career” using #LoganPaulIsOverParty. Paul continued to make money on other social media sites, however, and his monetization on YouTube was later reinstated. Over two and a half years after Logan Paul has been “canceled,” he is still thriving on YouTube. According to YouTube, Logan Paul’s channel has 22.5 million subscribers and his most recent video has over four million views as of October 16th, 2020.

When asked if he thought cancel culture was effective or not, USF senior Caleb Campbell said, “There's a reason you are innocent until proven guilty. Sometimes people cancel others before there is solid evidence that what is claimed is actually true. It seems like it’s just mob mentality with a cool hashtag.”

Cancel culture started as a way to seriously call out the extreme wrongdoings of public figures, specifically in terms of sexual assault. This was good, as it held people accountable for their hurtful wrongdoings. Now it has turned into a meaningless way to call people out for any mistake made, even if they have grown since the incident.

Even when people do horrible things or do not grow from the past, the “cancel” only lasts for a bit of time.

The problem is that the internet is so big and it is hard to get so many people on board. Even then, it is difficult to completely ruin someone’s career because nowadays there are so many channels of income for celebrities. The canceling becomes ineffective pretty quickly as time goes on and new issues arise elsewhere.

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By: Eve Odum Staff Writer

By now you’ve heard that Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court passed away back in September. You may have seen videos of her pumping little weights, heard she could do 20 pushups or even sent one of the countless memes and gifs featuring her headshot.

But what many fail to realize is that this badass woman argued a case in front of the Supreme Court about gender that uprooted decades of discrimination. She is one of the sole reasons that women have as many rights as they do today. RBG famously quoted Sarah Grimke’s quote, “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” This is what RBG sought to do.

At the time Ginsburg was becoming a lawyer, it was legal for American workplaces to fire a woman for being pregnant, banks required a husband to co-sign for a woman to get a credit card, and state-funded schools did not have to admit women. She helped to argue for equality, not only for women but for all people.

She grew up in an era where women were discouraged to become lawyers because people didn’t want to hire a female. She defied all odds by becoming the second woman on the U.S. Supreme Court; on which she served 27 years.

While on the court, RBG and Antonin Scalia, another Supreme Court justice, became best friends even though they had opposing views on the law. They even hung out outside of Court duties.

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Before holding a position on the highest court, she argued and won five out of six cases before the Supreme Court. She co-founded the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU is a nonprofit organization that continues to fight for civil rights.

Early in life, her mother taught her to “be a lady and be independent.” In other words, don’t give in to negative emotions and be able to support yourself, both of which Ginsburg had gotten accustomed to. Even so, Ginsburg was immensely grateful for her husband, Martin Ginsburg, because of all the support he gave her.

Not many men in the 50s willingly embrace their wife’s intelligence and career goals.

The legal status of women is the way it is because of her work in the 1970s.

But there’s still more work to be done.

Let her life be an example to us all that “Real change, enduring change happens one step at a time,” said Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

If you’d like to listen to the full story of how she, as a young lawyer, persuaded an all-male U.S. Supreme Court to acknowledge discrimination against women as a serious issue, listen to Radiolab’s podcast episode called “More Perfect: Sex Appeal.” You can find more information about the civil liberties issues the ACLU is battling at their website aclu.org.

Photos courtesy of wikipedia.com, pixy.org and freepnglogos.com

The Life and Legacy of the Notorious RBG

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Breakfast

Breakfast Sausage Burrito

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Caffeine Fix Caramel Macchiato

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Yes,

Friendships can overcome politics By: John Raspante Staff Writer Politics have never been an important part of my life, and even though I have been able to vote for a few years now, I don’t identify with one party or another. When an election is coming up, I simply look at the candidates and what they stand for and choose my side based on whichever one I feel will be the best for the country and my family, regardless of their political background.

Due to how little focus I put towards politics in my own life, I don’t judge my friends based on their political standings. I judge them based on how they treat me, their friends, family and others. I am almost positive that some of my friends have similar political beliefs to me; and even though others may disagree completely with my judgments, that doesn’t matter to me. What these individuals believe in does not define them, no matter the circumstance. These friends of mine are still going to be my friends no matter what because I love and respect them for the people they are.

I have talked to one of my friends about this topic and she feels the exact same way as I do. One of my closest friends, University of St. Francis (USF) sophomore Jessica Scroppo, believes that “Friends can 100 percent have differing opinions on political beliefs, but they should always be able to respect those differences if that friendship is important to both of them.”

My friends and I really only talk politics when there’s a big election coming up like there is right now. When we do discuss the topic, it is always a very eye-opening experience for all of us. Being able to talk about politics, especially with friends or other people you care about, is a great thing because we really get to see what matters to the other person and what they believe will help benefit our society as a whole.

Also, we’re able to see how these friends feel about specific controversial topics that are going on in the world and how they want problems to be resolved. By having these discussions, it allows us to see certain issues and problems from a different angle, while also giving a better overall understanding of these conflicts.

All in all, political beliefs should never have any effect on a friendship. True friends will care for and support one another no matter what they believe in or who they endorse. According to www.psychologytoday.com, if you can walk away from a political discussion where you settle on ways that you’re both right, you’ve not only saved your friendship, but you’ve also embodied what democracy stands for— the individual freedom of thought.

"By having these discussions, it allows us to see certain issues and problems from a different angle, while also giving a better overall understanding of these conflicts."

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No,

friendships cannot overcome politics TW: Sexual Assault, Rape

By: Janelle Suriaga Editor-In-Chief

When it comes to deep and long-term friendships, politics do matter. Politics helps shape policy, which can disproportionately affect entire groups of people. As a Democrat, female, Asian-American and former immigrant, certain policies hit home. I am the person I am today because certain laws were in place that allowed me to prosper as a citizen. Political figures have the tendency to represent values and ideas that are behind the policy.

Photo coourtesy of lifehopeandtruth.com

When then-candidate Donald Trump told an Access Hollywood camera crew about his nonconsensual endeavors with women, that he could “Grab ‘em by the pu***” because he was a star, I and many other females were disgusted. When we found out about the 43 allegations of sexual misconduct against women, some even young teenagers at the time, people started calling him a predator. Yet here he is today, the 45th president of the United States. Many people, some who are in my family and who I work with, actually voted for this man to be in power.

If you don’t think that figureheads and their “political personalities” don’t damage policies designed to help the vulnerable, you are sadly far from reality. The “Grab em’ by the pu***” president unsurprisingly makes it harder for survivors of sexual assault and rape on college campuses to come forward. According to the regulations released by the Department of Education this past summer, sexual misconduct is only ever to be considered in the court if the misconduct is “so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive” that it denies the victim access to the school’s education programs. These new rules from the Trump administration help the accused, reduce the legal liabilities for colleges, and decrease the scope of cases schools will be mandated to investigate, according to TIME. The already abysmal chances of a college sexual assault survivor getting justice against their perpretrator now seems impossible.

It seems wrong to make the assumption that people who belong to a certain political party will always support their leading political figures.

But that is reality. 94 percent of Republicans continue to support Donald Trump, according to the most recent Gallup poll. Even when the country suffers from the pandemic and economic difficulties due to a virus that the President called a ‘hoax’, one political party still overwhelmingly approves of him.

I cannot be friends with a Trump supporter or a die-hard Republican, I really can’t. If you are a “friend” that voted for him, who supported his intentions to take away the rights of women and immigrants, then you are not cognizant of the harm you’re doing to a sizable part of the population by enabling people like him to be in power. And it takes a certain amount of privilege and ignorance to ignore politics when policies run our everyday lives.

"Politics helps shape policy, which can disproportionately affect entire groups of people." usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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Menstruation is Real (In Case You Didn't Know) By: Elizabeth Badalamenti Staff Writer The first time I learned about the glorious menstrual cycle was in the fifth grade. Our class was ceremoniously split into two groups based on our binary gender and led to separate classrooms to watch a VHS tape explain to us the wonders of puberty. While I can’t recall the exact content of this video, I distinctly remember the shock I felt while watching it. In my ten years of life, no one had ever mentioned that women regularly bleed out of their vaginas let alone experience intense cramping, headaches, nausea and dizziness as a result of it. In fact, most of the adult women in my life always seemed pretty healthy. Now, having experienced the “joys” of menstruation for several years myself, I understand why.

We live in a society that doesn’t believe in menstruation.

Ok, before you track me down in the hallway to show me a Wikipedia article on menstruation to prove me wrong, I will acknowledge that society does recognize the existence of periods.

After all, packages of Tampax and Kotex products can be found in nearly every superstore (albeit stealthily tucked in the back corner). However, I think it is important to distinguish the difference here between recognizing and normalizing. For many women around the world, their menstrual cycle is an aspect of life that they must keep private, a concept that desperately needs to change. While periods may be far from an enchanting experience for women, that shouldn’t mean they need to create the illusion that they aren’t real. However, recreating the perception of menstruation within society is no simple task.

The first obstacle we face is changing the way we talk about feminine health. For many men— and even some women— it can be uncomfortable to talk about tampons, blood and vaginas.

In a study conducted by the International Women’s Health Coalition, there are 5,000 euphemisms for “menstruation” across ten different languages. While phrases such as “Aunt Flo”, “shark week”, and “the Republican party” may be easier to

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say in a crowd, avoiding open discourse about menstruation is damaging for our society, especially for young girls as they try to understand their changing bodies. When senior Fernanda Sandoval got her period for the first time, she remembers feeling embarrassed to ask for help and thought older women would look down on her for asking for advice. Senior Miryam Perez was taught to hide her period from others, especially men, which caused her to feel as though menstruation was something to be ashamed of. However, in senior Clarissa Del Rio’s all-female household, “Talking about periods wasn't really an uncomfortable issue at all. Menstruation was simply seen as a natural thing like any other bodily function.” Consequently, Clarissa never really felt that uncomfortable talking about periods except around men.

Society must also overcome the obstacle of how menstruation is taught within our education system. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Illinois public schools are required to teach human growth and development and provide medically accurate information regarding sexual abstinence, although parents can opt their child out. However, when addressing these conversations, students are often split into separate groups based on their binary gender to watch different presentations. In doing this, students are kept ignorant to the realities of life. While a boy may never experience menstruation, it is still important for him to learn about it so that he can develop a better sense of empathy for women. Further, the conversations within these health classes often focus solely on the scientific aspects of menstruation and do not adequately prepare women for its realities. According to Perez, her high school health class spent just two days on reproductive health, with most of the conversation focusing on safe sex and STDs rather than menstruation, UTIs or proper feminine hygiene. Because schools failed to properly educate her and any mention of feminine health around her family was considered taboo, Perez was unaware of these topics until her late teens/early adulthood.

When asked what she wishes she knew sooner about periods, Clarissa stresses the value in learning how to regularly track menstrual cycles. “Nowadays,” she explains, “there are all sorts of ways to be on top of your cycle, such as using phone applications or calendars.” When asked the same question, Sandoval wishes she would have become more comfortable with the idea of periods sooner. As she explains, “You’re supposed to be comfortable with what comes out of your body, not grossed out by it. Feeling disgust towards your period makes managing your health way harder!”

Perez would have liked to have learned about “the normalcy of menstruation” sooner in life. Had menstruation been a topic more openly discussed at home and school, she would have felt far less embarrassed to ask questions about her health.

Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Badalamenti and Beatriz Sindac

At the end of the day, women understand that life cannot be put on hold one week out of every month. However, this doesn’t mean our culture can continue to lack empathy and understanding for this significant aspect of womanhood. While it will likely take several years to break down the stigma against menstruation, we can start with those in our households and social circles. Everyone can work to normalize conversations about menstruation and feminine health with their friends, children and siblings and work to create a safe space for them to ask questions and vocalize concerns. As women, avoid the temptation of stealthily slipping a tampon up your sleeve on the way to the bathroom or quickly creating an alternative excuse for not feeling well.

With enough luck, we might just be able to prove to the world once and for all that menstruation is real.

To help normalize menstruation, here are some period facts provided by Healthline:

• Women in the U.S. spend over $2 billion dollars on menstrual products each year • The average menstruating person uses almost 17,000 tampons or pads • Only five states do not charge sales tax on menstrual products: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon • A 1974 study found that the less men are involved with childbirth and childrearing, the more likely they are to hold a negative perception of menstruation.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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Is College a Scam?

By: Richie Mroz Layout Designer

"

According to the Federal Reserve, the average student debt for American college students is around $32,000.

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One of my favorite movies is “Good Will Hunting”. There is a line in that movie that goes as follows, “You wasted $150,000 on an education you could’ve got for $1.50 in late charges at the public library.” That movie was released in 1998 and I think that line resonates more now than ever. In my major in particular, you work with a lot of different computer programs such Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and Adobe InDesign.

With the invention of the internet and more specifically YouTube, searchers can find anything and everything they need to know about a certain topic. My major is no The most popular option is to go different. There are thousands of to college. According to the Bureau Photoshop tutorials on YouTube of Labor Statistics, nearly 70 for the beginner to the expert. If percent of all high school graduates one were to dedicate six months of choose to go to college. College their life learning to use Photoshop gives students the opportunity to through YouTube tutorials, they further their education and earn probably could become an expert a degree in something they feel with the program. YouTube doesn’t passionate about. College also cost $32,000. It doesn’t even cost hands students a bill for several $1.50. It is free. thousands of dollars before they even step foot on campus.

However, there are some things that a “YouTube education” does I chose to go to college and major not offer that a college education in Communication and Media Arts. does. College is organized and As a senior, I can say I think I sticks by a strict and regimented made the right choice. I feel that I schedule. Students take this have a knack for many of the tasks particular class, taught by this in this type of field and I cannot specific professor, on this particular see myself pursuing anything day, for this amount of time. A else. I really enjoy the major and schedule is a motivator. It keeps the extracurricular activities that you on track. College also offers a go along with it such as writing community of connections. Most and designing for this magazine. importantly, it gives you a piece However, like many, I will be in of paper known as a degree. This debt several thousands of dollars piece of paper may not necessarily for the route I chose. According be important to you but it is to the Federal Reserve, the average important to the world. You can student debt for American college do all of the internet browsing you students is around $32,000. With want but if you don’t have that this begs the question, is college piece of paper, you are stuck. In a scam? Am I getting what I that respect, I do believe college is paid for? USF graduate student a scam. “You wasted $32,000 on an Madison Scheel states, “College is education you could’ve got for free a great way to get a good job and is on the internet.” beneficial in the long run.”

Photo courtesy of www.imdb.com

A

fter receiving their diploma, high school graduates are faced with a tough question: what am I going to do now? High school graduates are typically faced with four main answers to that question. They can continue their minimum wage job, join the military, go to college, or join a trade. They may even choose a combination of those answers.

Each answer has its upsides and downsides. There is no right or wrong answer. It is really all about what you feel passionate about and what you are willing to sacrifice in order to pursue that passion.

Save The People.

PRevent the hate.

By: Diego Quevedo Carrasco President of Saints for Progress The distinction between freedom of speech and hate speech is very difficult to make. Even people of the same political groups have vastly different opinions on what constitutes the distinction. Hate speech is generally understood as discriminatory and hateful language on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld that there is no distinction. Justice Anthony Kennedy states, “A law that can be directed against speech found offensive to some portion of the public can be turned against minority and dissenting views to the detriment of all. The First Amendment does not entrust that power to the government's benevolence.

Instead, our reliance must be on the substantial safeguards of free and open discussion in a democratic society.” This suggests that hate speech laws are often used to silence political dissent.

I agree with Justice Kennedy. There is likely no way for the government to fairly enforce hate speech laws.

Some examples of this include the current Trump administration silencing scientific data, journalists and doxxing of protestors and previous administrations silencing anti-capitalist and anti-racist groups. My reluctance to accept hate speech laws from the government does not mean that I support hate speech or that hate speech is actually free speech.

Some on the far-right such as Charlie Kirk, Ben Shapiro and Stephen Crowder have made millions complaining about “cancel culture.” Others such as Richard Spencer act as crusaders for the right of white supremacists and neo-nazis to speak and spread far-right

propaganda on college campuses. These fascists and fascist enablers are wrong.

Though I agree that sometimes people on social media can be ridiculous in attempting to pull up past incidents of wrong to unacceptable behavior, this does not mean that universities, private businesses, schools and people have to allow individuals that promote harmful ideas into the public sphere of discourse. The paradox of tolerance by philosopher Karl Popper states that, “In order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance.” We should be able to silence hate and expel hateful people out of institutions. Hateful students become hateful lawyers, doctors and teachers.

Many conservatives, especially the conservatives I mentioned earlier, may claim that this will lead to the suppression of conservative thought.

To that I respond, you should stop enabling and allowing white supremacists and their rhetoric into your groups and ideology. We should not give these people platforms. Ben Shapiro has partly inspired terrorists such as the man that shot six people in a Quebec City Mosque and the El Paso Walmart shooter that killed 22 people. The Quebec shooter frequently visited Shapiro’s Twitter and the El Paso shooter echoed Shapiro’s rhetoric of Americans being replaced by migrants.

The line between hate and free speech will always be arbitrary and blurry and should not be up to a government to define. However, the populace should be vigilant and prohibit hateful people from gaining a platform. Failing to do so has resulted and will continue to result in the death of innocent people.

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We should be able to silence hate and expel hateful people out of institutions.

Hateful students become hateful lawyers, doctors and teachers. usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

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