Thursday, April 2, 2020 Members of the Rider community, The student staff of The Rider News will continue to provide ongoing coverage related to campus news, sports, features and entertainment, and opinion, throughout the spring semester. Due to the university's transition to remote learning in response to the coronavirus outbreak, The Rider News has transitioned to a fully digital, online publication of our weekly newspaper each Wednesday, effective April 1, 2020 through April 29. This Week's Stories News The coronavirus has changed course for the entire country, with millions of people now on lockdown and stripped of work. The steps that Rider has taken in the face of a global pandemic (By Austin Ferguson) Tony Whalen, '97, former president of Student Government Association and founding member of Rider’s chapter of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, died on March 25 due to complications related to COVID-19. The legacy he left behind, and the impact he had on students, staff and faculty during and after his time at the university (By Lauren Minore) Rider elects to implement a pass or no credit option for students during the spring semester in response to remote and alternative learning procedures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What the new policy means for current students and faculty (By Stephen Neukam) As students suddenly left campus, community assistants raced for answers about their pay. The movement to secure pay for the community assistants and how this rift has caused tensions between them and the administration (By Tatyanna Carman) Although the university transition to remote and alternative learning to allow students to go back home for the semester, several students decided to stay on campus and abroad for the semester. A student living on campus and a student abroad weigh in on the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on their experiences (By Hailey Hensley) Opinion From a Rider and Rider News alumnus: How the internet is making sure journalism, in such an important time, can go on. Letter to the Editor (By Ron Panarotti) Opinion: DC and Marvel superhero movies play a critical role in society. How "Birds of Prey" inspired one student and gave her more self-confidence (By Cassandra Stathis) Features and Entertainment After months of rehearsals and practice, Rider's mainstage productions have been canceled in the face of the coronavirus. The disappointment and dismay that the cast members feel, and the bond that still continues between them (By Jason Mount) With the undergraduate commencement ceremony postponed, several seniors express their concerns and emotions to The Rider News. Seniors reflect on their semester cut too short (By Christian McCarville) Sports As Rider students navigate the difficulties of the coronavirus at home, other Broncs face the pandemic's effects in another hard-hit country: Spain. Three Rider soccer players detail how their lives have changed and one at the epicenter of the crisis in Spain — Madrid — on how he is coping with new realities (By Shaun Chornobroff) Following the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's decision to cancel the spring sports seasons, track-and-field, basketball, and baseball players discuss their emotions about the sudden end to their seasons. How Rider's student-athletes are adjusting to life without sports (By Dylan Manfre) As college basketball careers end for several all-star Broncs, new recruits look forward to beginning their journeys at Rider. Introducing the eight players verbally committed to join Rider's men's basketball team for the 2020-2021 season(By Austin Ferguson) We encourage you all to follow The Rider News on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for breaking news, stories, and updates. If you wish to subscribe to our digital email list, for weekly emails with links to our stories and updates, please fill out this form with your name and email address. The staff of The Rider News wishes you all health and wellness during this unprecedented, historical time. Thank you for your continued support and readership of our publication. Sincerely, Stephen Neukam and Lauren Minore Executive and Managing Editor of The Rider News News Rider takes drastic measures in response to international pandemic By Austin Ferguson After the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Rider University announced on March 17 that it is moving to remote instruction for the remainder of the spring semester, starting on March 30. The university’s update through a campus-wide email supersedes the previous decision to continue remote instruction through April 10 in light of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order to close all New Jersey schools. Rider University @RiderUniversity Update March 17: The University is extending remote instruction through the end of the spring semester, including exams. Residence halls will close with limited exceptions. Commencement ceremonies have been postponed. Full details here: https://bit.ly/3a1je11 Update on University operations | Rider University Dear Rider Community, We are writing to share new information in light of recent guidance announced by President Donald Trump, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Secretary of Higher rider.edu 3:52 PM - Mar 17, 2020 Rider’s campus-wide email also stated that both Lawrenceville and Princeton’s campuses would be closed with “limited exceptions,” allowing for students whose primary residence is on campus and students who are unable to return home to remain on campus. Students that were able to return home were asked to do so by noon on March 20, while students returning to campus to gather belongings were asked to do so between March 19 and March 29. Students were assigned move-out time slots between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on each day of the move-out period in order to stagger the number of students moving out in accordance with social distancing advisories. The university added in its update that final exams will be administered remotely. Final exams were originally scheduled to take place on both campuses between May 4 and May 12. Murphy announced at a press conference on March 16 that he was putting a stop to in-person instruction at all New Jersey schools, including colleges and universities, until further notice. https://youtu.be/Fq6XeCWsgnM “[Schools] will remain closed until such time as it is deemed by health officials to be safe for them to reopen to students and staff and for classes to resume,” Murphy said during his press conference. “And we don’t know when that will be.” Both Westminster Choir College (WCC) and Rider University’s commencement ceremonies, which were originally scheduled for May 15 and 16 respectively, were also postponed, per the university’s message sent on March 17. Senior sociology major Brianne Remy was disappointed about not being able to experience senior week but understood what needed to be done. “It’s really unfortunate,” Remy said. “I was looking forward to senior week and being able to end college with people at school…I think at this point it is about being able to understand what’s going on and how to move forward respectfully.” Senior sports media major Jake Ross was not too concerned with a change in date for his commencement ceremony. “I haven’t thought too much about it. I’m hoping [COVID-19] can be under control within the next few months. Once that happens, I’m sure a future date for commencement will be figured out,” Ross stated. University President Gregory Dell’Omo delivered a message through a campus-wide email on March 19 that, as many other officials have with their dealings with COVID-19, outlined safety as the chief concern as to how to proceed. “These decisions have been guided by two main priorities,” Dell’Omo said in the message. “Protecting the health and safety of our campus community and ensuring continuity of instruction so that students can complete their academic requirements for the spring semester.” Dell’Omo also expressed gratitude toward the response of the Rider community during the pandemic. “How we respond to this unprecedented situation matters, and I’ve been inspired by the response of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. I want to thank each of you who has responded to the demands of this moment not just by meeting them but exceeding them,” Dell’Omo said. On March 16, the university announced that a Westminster Conservatory student, who is not enrolled at WCC or Rider University, along with their parents, had tested positive for COVID- 19. It was announced that the family had visited the Princeton campus on March 7 and 8. On March 21, the university announced that a Westminster Conservatory instructor, who was in contact with a limited number of individuals, tested positive for COVID-19. The university’s notification stated that the student and instructor’s cases were not related. As of March 27, there were 11 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Lawrence, New Jersey, none of which were present on Rider’s Lawrenceville campus. An updated list of confirmed cases in and affecting the Rider’s campuses can be found on its webpage dedicated to COVID-19. Dell’Omo concluded his March 19 message by acknowledging the difficulty of the situation the university faces ahead. “We have more work to do, and the challenges are likely to grow in the coming weeks before they begin to subside,” Dell’Omo said. “As they do, not all of us will bear the burdens and misfortunes of this outbreak equally. As always, we are committed to supporting all members of our community. We will get through this together.” Fallen Rider alumnus leaves his legacy on campus community By Lauren Minore Tony Whalen, left, died on March 25 from complications related to the coronavirus.