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Where do you go to see a world-renowned cancer specialist? Right here in Erie. Dr. David Bartlett is the new Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute Chair. He’s a proven leader, a pioneer in new cancer treatments, and he’s taking new patients right now at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital. It’s one more way you can be sure that if you get the news nobody wants, we’ll be ready. And always close by. The future of cancer care is at AHN. erie.ahn.org CONTENTS From the Editors Where do you go to The only local voice for news, arts, and culture. JUNE 17, 2020 Pomp and consequence Editors-in-Chief f you’ve ever attended a commencement ceremo- Brian Graham & Adam Welsh see a world-renowned ny, you’re certainly familiar with Sir Edward El- Managing Editor COVID-19 and Colleges: Learning in the Time of gar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” the official theme Nick Warren I Copy Editor a Pandemic – 5 song of graduations everywhere [with apologies to Matt Swanseger Vitamin C, composer of “Graduation (Friends Forev- cancer specialist? Local universities celebrate recent graduates, er)”]. Contributing Editors Ben Speggen plan for future However, you may not be aware that Pomp and Jim Wertz Circumstance is not the title of a single march, but Contributors Digital Divides in Education – 8 rather a series of marches — and the one that gets all Right here in Erie. Liz Allen Unequal access to the ‘new normal’ the spotlight is actually entitled “Land of Hope and Mary Birdsong Glory” (Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D). Charles Brown Furthermore, you’re unlikely to ever hear the piece Jonathan Burdick New Erie Grads Prove Resilient – 10 Katie Chriest in its entirety during a procession, just a continuous Symoné Crockett Pandemic instills lasting lessons loop of its two-minute “B” section. Despite its regal el- Chloe Forbes The Class of 2020 in Their Own Words – 12 egance (it was initially played during the coronation Tommy Link of Britain’s King Edward VII), it’s curious that the an- Hannah McDonald Aaron Mook As commencement ceremonies are revised, them for “moving forward” and “going places” should Dan Schank student graduation speakers hone their voice repeat in such a circular fashion. Tommy Shannon Inevitably, though, diplomas and degrees will be Melissa Sullivan Shimek awarded and the orchestra will fade out, punctuating Ryan Smith Erie Equal: A Conversation with Andrey years of hard work and expectation, and off they’ll go Jen Sorenson Rosado – 16 Rebecca Styn to traverse the “Land of Hope and Glory” — or at least Cara Suppa The founder of Erie’s latest activist group that’s the idea. As we’ve seen in 2020, the landscape is Forest Taylor riddled with obstacles and questions, and for many Bryan Toy explains how it began and how they’re leading the discussion feelings of hopelessness and inglorious ends. Those Photographer born into privilege often march toward their destina- Jessica Hunter George Floyd and Candidate Joe Biden – 17 tions relatively unobstructed, in measured and con- Interns fident strides. Meanwhile, those born into struggle Madeline Bruce Erie Will Make the Difference Hannah Wyman often feel as if they’re marching in place. Sometimes, the struggle originates in poverty. Others, it origi- Cover Design Kristy Gnibus Prepares to Race Kelly for Nick Warren nates in the color of one’s skin. Often, unfortunately, Congressional Seat –18 they are far from mutually exclusive. 1001 State St. Suite 1315 Local leader motions for ‘getting up and doing As America has witnessed in the death of George Erie, Pa., 16501 Floyd and the subsequent protests across the coun- [email protected] something’ try — including the riots in Erie on the evening of May 30 — systemic racism and subjugation are alive The Erie Reader is published every Thinly Shrouded Racism – 20 other week and distributed at over and festering. It’s been playing on a continuous loop 350 high foot-traffic locations in The Ku Klux Klan and white supremacy in Erie for centuries, tirelessly, as those in power constantly Pennsylvania from North East to feed into its tip jar. Whether the band wears matching Girard to Edinboro. In addition to 2020 Virtual Pridefest Goes Digital at an costumes (the Ku Klux Klan) to stand out or civilian appearing in print, Erie Reader adds new content daily at ErieReader. Uncertain Moment – 22 attire to blend in, they’re playing the same hate-filled com as well as social media sites. Northwestern PA Pride Alliance and Erie song that should’ve faded out ages ago. Although it’s All rights reserved. All content been percolating through the airwaves for months, © Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 Playhouse get creative COVID-19 is a radio jingle in comparison. State St., Suite 1315, Erie, Pa, When do we graduate from this? How many times 16501. No part of this publication Television Reviews – 23 may be reproduced without do we as a species need remediation in kindness, permission. The opinions of our Some casts fair better than others in new respect, and empathy? This year’s graduates — mil- columnists and contributors are lions of talented young men and women — have the their own and do not always reflect summer series chance to change our collective tune, just as the class- Dr. David Bartlett is the new Allegheny Health Network Cancer that of the editorial board or organization. Direct sales inquiries to Movie Reviews – 28 es that came before and those that will come after. In Institute Chair. He’s a proven leader, a pioneer in new cancer 814.314.9364. For editorial inquiries, Erie, the recent approval of a community college at email [email protected]. Of New Mexico frequencies and Japanese treatments, and he’s taking new patients right now at AHN Saint least extends a hand to economically disadvantaged Zombies individuals and minorities to band together as a larg- Vincent Hospital. It’s one more way you can be sure that if you get the er and more diverse skilled workforce on the stage. news nobody wants, we’ll be ready. And always close by. Cartoons – 29 In the Oval Office and other positions of power, the From Melissa Sullivan-Shimek, Bryan Toy, Brad instruments of hate have arena-sized amplifiers. Ev- Pattullo, and Jen Sorensen eryday civilians young and old must play their part The future of cancer care is at AHN. — even if they stumble to articulate the right notes Music Reviews – 30 at first — and play them loudly. We should demand more from our leaders than deflective pomp in ev- Run the Jewels, The 1975, Coriky, and Bibio ery circumstance; it’s far past time we commence ac- countability and advance the universal best interest. erie.ahn.org June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS COVID-19 and Colleges: Learning in the Time of a Pandemic Local universities celebrate recent graduates, plan for future The novel coronavirus outbreak brought an abrupt end to in-person instruction during the 2019-20 academic year, with institutions scrambling to pivot to a virtual model. Erie’s local universities plan to return to modified in-person instruction during a condensed fall semester, with numerous safety precautions and a heavy reliance on virtual classrooms in effect. microbiology, molecular biology, anat- omy, and stem cell biology working to create that safe environment. “We’ve got pretty strong leadership when it comes to managing something like this,” he says. “It doesn’t mean we’re perfect, doesn’t mean we’ve got all the answers, but what we do have are brains smart enough to listen to the CDC and listen to the Department of Health and listen to the people out there that really are living this every day.” Hallmarks of the new plans appear as many might expect: social distanc- ing in classrooms, a relaxed attendance policy to accommodate for students needing to isolate or quarantine, and SYDA PRODUCTIONS SYDA students, faculty, and staff donning masks in public spaces. There’ll be By: Ben Speggen on, its blows to both public safety and — from doctorates to associates, a 102 increased cleaning and sanitizing of the economy continue to land hard. increase from last year — the Gannon spaces, thermal scanners and ther- y mid-March 2020, many col- But there are still credits to earn, de- plan is to resume classes on campus mometers to measure individual tem- lege students throughout the grees to complete. And for many, the Aug. 10 and conclude Nov. 16 with finals peratures, dining services emphasizing Bcountry had already packed up. college experience is just about to be- week to follow and students to head takeaway options, and more. They departed their dorm rooms and gin. homeward before Thanksgiving. The “Based on the approval date of Erie apartments not in anticipation of sum- “With infectious-disease experts fore- modified schedule omits a fall break. County’s transition to Green status, we mer break, but in the wake of the first casting recurring waves of COVID-19 The full plan, which is available on intend to cycle some employees back outbreaks of the novel coronavirus. contagion, a number of colleges are the university’s website, remains flex- to our Erie campus beginning July 1 so Whether social distancing practices to coalescing around a plan to send stu- ible, Taylor acknowledges. that the university is fully operational flatten the curve of increasing positive dents home by Thanksgiving this fall,” “I have been talking about creating by the time students start arriving in COVID-19 cases and deaths would last wrote Bennett Leckrone for the Chron- the safest environment we can and July.” a few weeks or a month then remained icle of Higher Education on May 20.