IN THIS ISSUE WOMEN IN STEM MAIL-IN VOTING HALLOWEEN

SPOOKY PLAYLIST

HOW TO DEAL WITH A MESSY ROOMMATE

MASKED OCTOBER 2020 Volume 3 | Issue 2

ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR’S STATEMENT Jennifer Serrano | What’s It Like Being Happy Spooky Season from INKED! This A Female STEM Student? month’s theme, Masked, is represented Kelleigh Stevenson | Mail-In Voting: throughout the issue in so many ways. Just What Do PSH Students Think? take a look at Shaina Maclaren’s story “Mas- Chris Sebastian | Temperature Drops... querade,” a magical short story that keeps COVID Rises? you intrigued until the very end. Looking Cailey Greenwald | How To Still for something spookier? How about my own Celebrate Halloween story “How to Still Celebrate Halloween” Cayla Garman | Messy Roommate Yes, you can still safely celebrate Halloween during COVID-19. Shaina Maclaren | Masquerade Speaking of COVID-19, have you ever Emily Dempsey | Post-Pandemic Account wondered what life will be like after the pan- of a Masked Market demic is over? Emily Dempsey’s poem will give you a fascinating insight into how our world may change once we have a vaccine. ISSUE PHOTOGRAPHERS Cailey Greenwald Halloween isn’t the only big event com- Managing Editor ing up, however. Election season, anyone? Julia Slezak | Brad Shover With mail-in voting becoming more popular this year due to the coronavirus, we Kristina Rezkalla | Devon Linville decided to see how our students felt about this issue. Check out our Inside PSH section to find out what Kelleigh Stevenson discovered. INKED STUDENT STAFF Thank you for reading our issue. We at INKED hope everyone stays safe and enjoys the upcoming holiday season. If you haven’t followed us on Instagram yet, Managing Editor | Cailey Greenwald follow us @inkedpsh_. Tell us which stories you liked best! Art Director | Devon Linville Photography Editor | Julia Slezak We are calling for new staff members and submissions! INKED accepts stories, Promotions Director | Lauren Lopatic poetry, artwork, comics, and photographs. Get published in our paper and add it Advertising Specialist | Kaylee Fuller to your portfolio! Story Content Editor | Kelleigh Stevenson We are also looking to add writers, reporters, editors, photographers, artists, and promotional assistants to our staff. Get real-time experience and earn college SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES credit for accepting a significant role.

Catherine A. McCormick INKED is published by the Penn State Harrisburg School of Humanities. Faculty Media Coordinator For information on contributing or advertising, contact Denise Saunders, Denise Saunders Communications Program Assistant at [email protected] or 717-948-6596. Communications Program Assistant Opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by the college or the editors. ADVISORY COUNCIL

Jadrian J. Klinger, President PA Interactive LLC, UX Content Strategist Click here to go to the Media Insti- Amy Peiffer tute website, where you can listen to Penn State Health, Social Media Mkt. Specialist MIXED, the PSH School of Humanities Justus Humphrey, M.F.A podcast, and stay up to date with the Assistant Teaching Professor of English latest issue of INKED. Denise Saunders The next episode of MIXED drops on Communications Program Assistant October 12th. Broadcast Media Specialist Make sure to follow INKED and MIXED COVER PHOTO on Instagram to keep up with the latest news at Penn State Harrisburg! Brad Shover, 2020

2 SCIENCE BYTES WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A FEMALE STEM STUDENT? By Jennifer Serrano students. In her engi- many disadvantages. She cause she plans on hav- her with a male worker neering lab, only three does feel that she will be ing a family one day and that does not have to take The STEM (science, out of thirteen students discriminated against will need time off to take care of kids. She hopes technology, engineering, are females. She says she when she is out in the care of her kids. She feels that this does not happen and mathematics) field gets very happy when she actual field. Mikhail be- that they will discrim- to her because she wants is mostly dominated by sees other females in the lieves that she will prob- inate against her while to be a female that works males. Per 2018 data classes, so she doesn’t ably have issues with she is gone taking care and can have a family at from the National Sci- feel alone. future male workers be- of her family and replace the same time. ence Foundation, women Mikhail’s typical day make up half of the total as an engineering major U.S. college-educated is very busy. Tuesday’s workforce but only 28% are her long days. She of the science and engi- is on campus by 8 a.m. neering workforce. for her 4-hour engineer- Trisa Mikhail (pic- ing lab class, has a short tured right) is a 21-year- lunch, and then goes to old civil engineering class again at 1 p.m. until major at Penn State Har- 7:15 p.m. with only little risburg. Originally, she breaks in between. enrolled into Penn State Since engineering Harrisburg as a biology is mostly a male-domi- major, but then after the nated career, Mikhail’s first semester changed parents were very upset to civil engineering. A upon hearing about their civil engineer is formal- daughter going into this ly described as one who major. “I was born and designs, constructs, and raised in Egypt,” Mikhail maintains large public says. “In Egypt they think works, especially those this degree is meant for relating to social infra- a guy, not a girl. Most of structure such as bridges, the work is outdoor and railways, tunnels, dams, you have to walk around airports, power stations, carrying things.” Moving and more. Mikhail’s love to the United States a lit- for engineering began tle over seven years ago, when she took an ar- she saw other females do- chitecture class in high ing STEM majors, and it school. “I didn’t feel made her think she could like bio was my thing,” do it too. “I really like Mikhail says. “I am the math, I don’t really like kind of person that likes office jobs, and I would to understand the pro- like to be out moving cess more than to mem- around,” Mikhail says. orize it.” Mikhail has no- She says that while ticed that her engineering she is in college for engi- classes are mostly male neering she does not feel Kristina Rezkalla 3 INSIDE PSH MAIL-IN VOTING: WHAT DO PSH STUDENTS THINK? By Kelleigh save time and vote from pus, shared her fear and a Stevenson home… currently, no one possible alternative: “The has an excuse not to vote, mail is scary, and I prefer When asked about their and we all need to make in-person voting… If you opinions on mail-in vot- sure we’re taking proper ask me if, it should be an ing, most Penn State precautions.” online poll… I’ll vote on- Harrisburg students had What exactly is mail- line so it’s less likely to the same reaction: fear. in voting? In Pennsyl- get lost.” Many students at PSH vania, mail-in voting is Though a small hand- are afraid that mailing-in the process of requesting ful of students expressed will mean that their vote your ballot through the that they do not plan to will get lost and will not mail, receiving the bal- vote in the upcoming elec- count towards the elec- lot in advance before the tion, the overwhelming tion at all. On the oth- election starts, and then majority planned to make er hand, other students completing the ballot and their votes count despite have been using absen- sending it back in. Many their fears and worries. tee ballots for years and places have moved to Multiple students wish stand strongly behind the strictly mail-in voting op- for more options, such choice to have mail-in tions due to the Corona- as online polls, but what Amber Reichwein voting. For example, Alex virus pandemic, hoping Hedly stated rings true- tions/. Many government ing in particular, the time Hedly, a senior majoring to lessen numbers at poll- - voting has never been official websites exist to is now to register to vote in English at Penn State, ing places to reduce the easier. There are many make it easier to learn and get your voice heard. stated that “I’m regis- risk of spreading disease. resources available on- about your rights as a Mail-in ballots need to tered to vote in Maine, Though it seems like a line that students can use voter and clearly explain be requested by October so I’ve been using absen- straight-forward process to learn more about this the guidelines for voting 27 in order to arrive in tee ballots since I started on paper, students are year’s voting process in this year and in other time for the November 3 to vote and I think they still wary because of the Pennsylvania and other years’ elections. election. Whatever your are an underrated way of before mentioned fear. states they may reside No matter what po- fears may be about this voting that more people Julia Wanner, a senior in. One of these sources litical party you are affil- upcoming election, just haven’t taken advantage majoring in Humanities is https://www.pa.gov/ iated with, or what your remember that it is your of. They allow people to at the Harrisburg cam- guides/voting-and-elec- stance is on mail-in vot- voice, your vote.

Brad Shover 4 keep the number of cas- es down,” said Joe. Joe’s TEMPERATURE DROPS... thoughts are not uncom- mon; most people are in agreement that we have to keep doing what we have been as a country in order to slow the spread in this upcoming and un- COVIDBy Chris Sebastian worsen with the falling colderRISES? weather, people Joe Hennesey, a PSH certain time. It’s up to the temperatures. What do will refrain from going Communications Depart- socially-distanced team- Whether it’s enjoyable the students on campus outside and participat- ment alumnus, gave his work of the whole popu- or not, the temperature think about this? A sud- ing in outdoor activities. opinion on the upcoming lation to keep numbers is falling as quick as the den spike of cases in the Spending time outdoors fall’s effect on the virus.: from spiking. leaves. This time of year colder months can cer- allows people to spread “In my opinion, just like As stated before, an- has its benefits: cooler tainly change the tides of out and safely socially with the common cold, other serious concern is temperatures, football worry. distance. As the tempera- numbers will always the cold weather’s abili- season, and the beautiful Not only do some in- ture drops, people will spike from Summer’s ty to lower the functions changing colors. Howev- fectious organisms, like seek entertainment in- transition to Fall. I truly of people’s immune sys- er, what does this change flu viruses, thrive in the doors such as at bowling feel that at this point it tems. While this may mean for the Coronavi- cold, but there is also ev- alleys, movie theatres, all comes down to the in- not be very concerning rus? So far, the United idence that shows cold arcades, and other pub- dividual to protect them- to young students, it can States has been strug- temperatures can sup- lic spaces. While these selves and their families certainly be dangerous gling to put a stop to the press the immune system, types of places will have just like anything else in to those who are more spread of the virus. A ma- causing opportunities for safety precautions set up life. This is a very unique high-risk, like the elderly. jor concern that haunts infection to increase and and enforced, the risk of thing going on in our Matt Lathrop, a former healthcare professionals opportunity for recov- spreading Covid through country and there are Penn State Harrisburg across the country is that ery to fall. However, the close gatherings will still plenty of preventative student who now works this global pandemic can main concern is that with exist. measures we can take to at Griswold Home Care, an elderly home, shared his opinion: “We just need to focus on keeping ourselves clean through practicing healthy sanita- tion habits. Use these un- certain times to continue practicing healthy habits. It is so important to pro- tect the elderly so we have to sanitize and practice distancing for their sake, however I have seen how much the lockdowns have taken a toll on their men- tal health,” said Matt. Walking around the Penn State Harrisburg campus, it is easy to see the many precautions that have been put in place to protect the stu- dents and staff. No mat- ter the season, it’s im- portant for everyone here at Penn State Harrisburg and everywhere else in the world to keep prac- ticing safety precautions and work to keep them- selves and others safe. Julia Slezak 5 HOW TO STILL CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN By Cailey Greenwald celebrate while still being safe. Fall is officially here! That Kayla Doros, a sopho- means pumpkin spice more at Penn State Har- in everything, sweaters risburg, would normally every day, and of course celebrate Halloween by Halloween. But in the wearing a costume and age of COVID-19, how going to a party with her are Halloween festivities friends. This year, parties going to change? To pref- are not safe, so Doros will ace, obviously Hallow- be changing her plans. een is a minor concern Instead, she will cele- in the wake of the coro- brate Halloween with navirus, but that does just a few close friends in not mean the spookiest her apartment. holiday of the year must While Doros knows be cancelled. There are what a college Halloween so many ways Penn State party is like, freshmen Harrisburg students can like Caitlin Cowen are

Julia Slezak naïve to the festivities. says that, “COVID-19 will thon, and carving pump- Though Cowen must wait greatly affect my Hallow- kins with her small group another year to experi- een. With being at col- of friends. ence Halloween at Penn lege, I am not able to go Though the coronavi- State Harrisburg, she will home and do that with rus still weighs heavy on still be having plenty of them. And trick-or-treat- the atmosphere of a col- fun with her friends. ing will probably be can- lege campus, there are In past years, Cowen celled.” This year, Cow- numerous local things would have gone trick-or- en will spend Halloween students can do to cel- treating with her brother eating candy, having a ebrate Halloween. Just Julia Slezak and neighbors. Cowen Halloween movie mara- remember to socially 6 Brad Shover distance and wear your You could even take a mask! road trip to Gettysburg One of the ways stu- for one of their famous dents can enjoy the chill ghost tours. Finally, stu- of Halloween night is by dents can attend Pump- going hiking at Wild- kin Glow at Hershey wood Park. It is the per- Gardens in late October fect place to relish the to see some pretty pump- fall foliage while getting kins. some nice exercise in the These are scary and great outdoors. Students dark times to live in, but can also pick apples and that does not mean stu- pumpkins at Strites Or- dents shouldn’t have chard or travel to Sey- fun. Students can follow fert’s Orchard, which in the footsteps of Doros offers hayrides and corn and Cowen with a low- mazes for students to key Halloween, or they navigate. can check out some of the Another way students local hotspots for Hal- can get involved in the loween activities. What- spirit of Halloween is by ever way students choose checking out the area’s to celebrate, they should spookier attractions. For be sure to do it safely. instance, head over to Happy Halloween from Hersheypark for Her- INKED! sheypark in the Dark. Amber Reichwein 7 FROM THE MARGINS MESSY ROOMMATE By Cayla Garman “Yeah, you know me. there is nothing I can do I’m just having issues right now, so I get into In a eukaryotic cell, DNA concentrating on my bed and fall into a rest- is contained in the nucle- notes,” I reply. less sleep. us- “Trouble concentrat- ~ Wait, the nucleus? Or ing? What’s up with that? Waston and Crick de- was it the nucleolus? That’s unlike you.” veloped the struct- DNA is contained in “Uh, yeah,” I begin, “Guess who?” Tay- the- not willing to tell her the lor jokes as she walks in. “Heelllooo!” calls real reason for my drift- I don’t even look up to Taylor, my roommate, ing focus. “Must just be know that at the door, she as she gets back to our the nerves.” is doing the same messy room after her late class, “Well, you still have routine. I haven’t gotten completely breaking my another day. Get some much studying done to- (poor) concentration. sleep maybe?” night either and the pres- I look up from my “Yeah, goodnight sure is getting to me. I binder to see her already girl.” have to say something. ripping off her shoes, “Goodnight,” she says “Actually, Taylor, can mask, and jacket before with a smile I wish I could we talk?” I cautiously ask tossing them into a pile return. as she jumps into bed. beside the door. Upon I wish I could tell her “Uh, yeah. What’s hitting the ground, the what was really distract- up?” she replies, inquisi- pile already blends in ing me: the mess in the tively glancing over. with the other piles and room. I am a very orga- “Well,” I begin, and misplaced items littering nized person, and the I explain to her how the the room. She navigates scattered room constant- mess she has been ab- the mess of the floor and ly pulls my eyes from my sentmindedly leaving be- Brad Shover flops onto her bed, some- notes. I’m not used to hind has been getting to or hurt her feelings. I I am so relieved - this how missing the teeter- going into an exam with- me. I explain how I can’t make sure she knows I was something we could ing pile of dirty laundry, out good study time, but concentrate on my stud- am not mad at her, just solve! Talking more, we chip bags, and chargers. I don’t know how to bring ies, and I was afraid to her habits. decide that after my exam “Still studying, huh?” up the subject without say something because I As I’ve been speaking, tomorrow, we are going she asks, half-teasing. seeming rude. I decide didn’t want to seem mean Taylor has listened in- to clean our room. She is tently. She doesn’t seem going to work to be more angry, which is a relief, mindful of the mess, and but I’m dying waiting I can help keep her on for her to say something track. Also, whenever back. she feels overwhelmed, Finally, she begins to we can talk about it and explain that she has been work through those feel- so stressed with her class- ings together. es and new independence We came away from she hadn’t even noticed that conversation with a the mess she was leaving deeper understanding of behind. She never real- each other, so our friend- ized how many new re- ship is even better. We sponsibilities living with- can help each other suc- out her parents would ceed. bring and she was sorry It’s crazy what just her oversight affected one (hard) conversation me. She wants to do bet- can change for the better. ter moving forward. Brad Shover 8 MASQUERADE POST-PANDEMIC By Shaina Maclaren long stain of red ran right in her dance partner’s down the front of her arms, she couldn’t help ACCOUNT OF A The candles gave the golden orange dress. but think of him and his room an eerie glow. Of The man smiled. ease in using magic. The MASKED MARKET course, it was supposed “Apologies, my lady. If only ones she knew that By Emily Dempsey to be eerie. That was what I may...” He waved his practiced it in this king- an All Hallows’ Eve mas- hand, and the stain van- dom were the royal fam- The masks evolved to a full-face ornament, querade ball was for after ished. “Might I ask for a ily. Years after the virus subsided. all: to create a spooky at- dance as recompense?” “If I may, Miss, could Their once protective function turned mosphere. A blood-red Leto nearly replied I know your name?” See- Into a means of individual expression punch was at the dessert aloud, but she caught ing her hesitation, the And a signifier of class. table’s head, followed by herself. She had been man chuckled. “Perhaps On trips to the grocery store, an assortment of cakes, warned. If she spoke, if I told you mine first, it I enjoyed surveying the false faces chocolate, and other del- she would be caught. So, would ease your mind. I Grazing the produce, icacies. Ladies and Lords she smiled and nodded am Prince Arianiti.” Peering into refrigerated tubs danced together in swirl- meekly. Before she could de- Of discount, pre-cooked meatballs. ing silks and satins.This The music started cide whether or not she Nobody spoke unless to call attention to the obvious. was the scene to which again. It was a soothing should reply, the sound “Those cartons of juice are leaking.” Leto appeared. She could waltz, the kind that could of a trumpet from outside “This bag of rice is heavy.” smell the sugary icings leave you dancing forev- the hall signaled her to “These boxes of meatballs are half-off.” on the cakes and the er if you weren’t careful. leave. With barely a nod Occasionally, a child would liberate themselves heady perfumes worn The dancers on the floor of thanks to the prince, Into a ballad of tearful blubbering, by the women. For once, moved as if in a trance, Leto was gone. She skill- Or somebody’s grandfather she was glad of the heavy held merciless by the fully ducked outside the Would attempt small talk with the butcher. mask that concealed her melody. city walls, racing to an Both were swiftly pacified features. Sometimes, it To herself, Leto had encampment on the oth- By a rubber teething ring, was easier to be yourself to wonder why they were er side of the river where Or silent disregard. when people couldn’t see playing this song. It had a man waited for her. One day, as customers marched about the aisles, your whole face. been nearly thirteenyears “Leto. How did it go?” Advertising their hand-crafted masks No one noticed her since the Treaty of Yield- She pushed the And flashing helmets with LED trim, as she stepped down the en Hold that banned the thoughts of the man she I had a vision of the Independence Day Parade stairs. No one noticed as use of magicallycharged danced with out of her In the town I was raised. she squeezed along the music. But there was lit- mind. “It is a beautiful My brothers would paint their faces ring of people watching tle time to dwell on it as city and well-fortified. If And weave between the red and blue clowns. the dances. No one no- the song ended. an army were to march up They would sneak behind big gliding floats ticed as she approached Right on the heels of tomorrow, they couldn’t Pretending to move them all on their own, the table with thedes- that song came another take it.” Leaning into them as if pushing the heaviest serts. Well, no one no- waltz, this one far more The man chuckled shopping cart. ticed until one of the energetic. Some left the and strode away towards When the parade was over, men watching the dances dance floor, but many the sea of tents, leaving The streets were left littered took a step back too far, stayed, the effects of the Leto to follow. “Well, With beer cans and firework waste, and the girl shrieked in spell still not thoroughly daughter, we’ll just have And pacing up and down the pavement horror. Sure enough, a shaken. As Leto twirled to strike tonight, then.” Were those same clowns Wearing cream-colored custodian uniforms. They looked like a Greek chorus Creeping around an empty stage. I broke from this musing And found myself adrift In the fresh produce section, staring At some character that strutted near the lettuces. Posturing himself as a connoisseur of greens, He plucked a head of cabbage And spun it in his hand. His mask stretched past his chin With a gaping, oblong mouth. It looked as if he were inhaling The stalks out of each plant, Like a snake sucking yolks in the birdhouse. Devon Linville 9 INK BLOTS UNMASKED: UPCOMING EVENTS FROM ISSS Check out these upcoming events from Penn State Harrisburg AN INKED PLAYLIST International Students Support Services (ISSS) By Devon Linville Penn State Football comes back on October Workshop: Skills for Writing a College Research Paper Happy Halloween, Penn 24th. I threw that last Thursday, October 15th at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm EST State Harrisburg. track on there to get Learn how to research and write American college academic papers by enhanc- For this month’s everyone ready for the ing skills such as gathering information, developing an outline, writing a thesis playlist, the INKED staff grand return of Coach statement, revising, and citing sources. picked out some our fa- James Franklin’s Nitta- vorite grunge feeling ny Lions. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) songs to get you in that Click here to follow Thursday, October 29th at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm EST spooky mood. the playlist on Spotify. Learn more about the background and significance of Dia de Muertos, or the And don’t forget: Enjoy! Day of the Dead, while listening to students share their experiences of celebrat- ing the holiday.

Career Workshop for International Students Thursday, November 5th at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm EST Song Artist Learn useful tips on how to write a cover letter, how to compose a resume, how to utilize networking opportunities, and how to interview in the United States. Runnin’ with the Devil Van Halen

Paranoid Android Radiohead Diwali Celebration Thursday, November 12th at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm EST Fluorescent Adolescent Arctic Monkeys Join us to celebrate Diwali, known as the festival of light, and experience per- Black Hole Sun Soundgarden forming arts and cultural presentations from students and community artisans.

Them Bones Alice In Chains Thanksgiving Virtual Lunch Howlin’ For You The Black Keys Thursday, November 19th at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm EST This event provides international students with the opportunity to have a vir- Heart-Shaped Box Nirvana tual lunch while learning from domestic students about US customs, traditions, and holidays. Even Flow Pearl Jam Killing In The Name RATM Global Citizenship Workshop Thursday, December 3rd at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm EST Man in the Box Alice In Chains This workshop will give you a better understanding of the idea that one’s iden- Show Me How to Live Audioslave tity can transcend geography or political borders and how we can, as students, take part in the movement. 2 + 2 = 5 Radiohead strawberry lipstick YUNGBLUD Event – Free and Open to the Public The Ghost In You The Psychedelic Furs Ed Berenson KILL4ME Marilyn Manson Nine Is God Wavves “Blood Libel in an mummy mummy BIGMAMA American Town” Loner YUNGBLUD Thursday, October 15, 2020 • 7:00 p.m. When You Were Young The Killers via webinar bit.ly/30lmth0

Run Foo Fighters For additional information, contact Neil Leifert Everything In Its Right Place Radiohead at 717-580-2954 or [email protected]. 777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057 Kernkraft 400 Zombie Nation You can register to vote now using your campus address. You can vote early. You can vote by mail. You can vote on Election Day.

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