Student Run Since Volume One Thursday, August 27, 2020 | Vol. 65, Iss. 1 In This Issue............ continue as noted in Gator Life...........................2 UHD plans to keep returning Step 2 ORANGE. If the change to Step News..................................6 3 YELLOW occurs Opinions............................13 while planning the Arts and Entertainment......16 students safe amid pandemic spring semester and By Sheryl Sellers the previous semes- ry? The list below includes until Sept. 8. ter (fall) was at Step Returning to the some concise but important 1 RED or Step 2 ORANGE, fall semester under the information regarding which Step 2 ORANGE: Sept. 8 - additional hybrid, online pandemic that disrupted the students can enter campus TBA interactive and low capacity spring semester can feel and when. This is up to date face-to-face classes will be overwhelming. Students are as of Aug. 26. The difference in scheduled for that coming coming back to a semester classroom instruction modes semester. like never before. The virus Step 1 RED: Aug. 24 - between Step 1 RED and During Step 3 contamination between Sept. 7 Step 2 ORANGE regards YELLOW, students will be spring and fall turned for population density. It is allowed on campus for class- the worse rather than for the Classes will be held anticipated that hybrid, face- es or to use services based on Faculty Spotlight better. Students check and online or online interactive, to-face and online interactive availability. Students will be double check their classes see Gator Life, Page 4 i.e. class held via Zoom at will operate as scheduled if allowed to drop in at Student and the mode of instruction the stated class time. Classes population density is con- Affairs and Enrollment Man- they will receive and make that can be held on cam- trolled. The Provost will agement. any necessary changes. Ex- pus, face-to-face and social prioritize courses that need perience in adaptability and distanced, will be approved to meet face-to-face based Step 4 GREEN: TBA flexibility abounds. We must by Provost Eric Carl Link, on content and floor to floor learn the steps to continue to Ph.D. This small selection balancing of population if If the situation changes from be flexible. of classes includes those with density becomes an issue. Step 3 YELLOW to Step 4 UHD is operating critical instructional needs or Students will be allowed on GREEN during mid-semes- under the same Response resources like classes with campus during the time sur- ter, classes will continue as Steps put in place via exec- lab portions. Students are rounding their face-to-face noted in Step 3 YELLOW. NY Attorney General utive orders of Texas Gover- only allowed in the building class(es). If the change from Step 3 nor Gregg Abbott (see Figure for their face-to-face class Student access is YELLOW to Step 4 GREEN sues NRA 1 below). The campus will or to connect with a specific allowed to visit with stu- occurs while planning the see News, Page 8 begin the fall semester at student service during its dent support services or by next semester (spring) then Step 1 RED. Although UHD available hours of operation. appointment with Student normal course planning will can move into Step 2 OR- Students may be Affairs or Enrollment Man- resume with all available ANGE on August 24, the able to enter the campus by agement. Students are not modes of instruction. Normal decision was made to operate appointment with a specific allowed to study or gather on activities will resume. the campus at Step 1 RED to service, for instance, to pick campus. In this sense, “go- make an easier transition to up supplies or textbooks. ing green” takes on a whole Step 2 ORANGE on Sept. 8. Face-to-face award ceremo- Step 3 YELLOW: TBA new connotation. Though What exactly does nies, student conferences or the safest route may seem all this mean for the student, activities are not permitted. If a change from the longest, here’s to “going and even more so, what does UHD will begin the Step 2 ORANGE to Step green” in the fall semester... this mean for the first-time semester in Step 1 RED and 3 YELLOW occurs during or sometime soon after. Remembering student navigating what is will continue in this phase mid-semester, classes will activist, John Lewis already unfamiliar territo- see News, Page 9 Step 1 - RED: Severe, Uncontrolled Community Transmission Step 2 - ORANGE: Significant, Uncontrolled Community Transmission Step 3 - YELLOW: Moderate, Controlled Transmission Step 4 - GREEN: Minimal, Controlled Transmission Fund our Future Figure 1 - Phases of the spread of COVID-19, used to gauge the safety of returning to campus. see News, Page 12 The University of Houston-Downtown 2 Gator Life Thursday, August 27, 2020 Editor’s Note: In the previous issue, Vol. 64 Iss. 0, published July 1, 2020, The Dateline printed a statement referring to student, Victoria Jackson as BSA President. The Dateline retracts this statement, as Victoria Jackson is a BSA member, not BSA UniversityTHE ofDATELINE Houston-Downtown President. 1 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 The mistake has since been fixed in the online version of The Dateline. Office: S-260 Phone: 713.221.8275 The Dateline apologizes to Victoria Jackson, BSA member, as well as to the actual [email protected] BSA President, Samantha Mosely. Fall 2020 Staff Editor.............................................................Jaida Doll Assistant Editor......................................Aansa Usmani Social Media Manager..........................Varah Thornton SGA announces #MaskUpUHD Business Manager...................................Sheryl Sellers News Section Editor..............................Indira Zaldivar Gator Life Section Editor...........................Laura Dunn and introduces new officers A&E Section Editor..............................Varah Thornton By Indira Zaldivar Opinions Section Editor..........................Briana Garcia The Student Gov- senators at-large. Mosley up on your career, your Faculty Advisor................................Joe Sample, Ph.D. ernment Association is also the new attorney dreams, or goals that you (SGA) wants to see your general for SGA. have in mind. Keep push- selfies! Members of the ing forward,” Chavez The Dateline is the official student newspaper of In support of the legislative board rejected added. the University of Houston-Downtown. Since its first Mask-Up campaign, SGA four nominees running for The director of issue in 1982, The Dateline is proud to be “Student has invited our Gators to senior senator positions for health and wellness is a Run since Volume One.” We strive to meet the needs submit selfies wearing a the Marilyn Davies Col- new position, and SGA of a growing university as well as the growing metro- face mask. lege of Business, College said they welcome stu- politan city that surrounds us. Kassandra Apari- of Humanities and Social dents to apply. cio, director of commu- Sciences, and the College Also addressed Submission Policy nity outreach with SGA, of Science and Technolo- were the plans for Wel- The Dateline staff consists of students from the invited Gators to post gy. These positions remain come Week Fall 2020. University of Houston-Downtown who complete all pictures of them wearing open as well as senior The current pandemic tasks required to produce the newspaper, which masks and attending online senator positions for the forced the accommodation serves all UHD campuses. The opinions and classes and to tag SGA College of Public Service of most Welcome Week commentaries expressed within reflect the views of in social media platforms and University College. Events onto a virtual plat- the contributing writers. No opinions expressed in using the #virtualgators SGA also has 13 open sen- form. Furthermore, due to The Dateline reflect the viewpoints of the UHD, its hashtag. Similarly, SGA ator-at-large positions and Hurricane Laura, the only administration, or students. Vice President Leboriah is accepting applications in-person event sched- The Dateline reserves the right to edit or modify Chavez, announced that for assistant justice and uled for Welcome Week, submissions for the sake of clarity, content, grammar, gators could be featured in student defender. “Drive-in Movie at the or space limitations. All submissions become property a social media campaign Mario Torres, Bayou Lot,” has also been of The Dateline and may not be returned. by UHD’s Office of Stu- current Pro-them Speaker canceled. All paid writers must be currently enrolled stu- dent Affairs to “reinforce of the House, and “Shay” The meeting con- dents at the University of Houston-Downtown. the importance of wearing Tatum, Chief of Staff, said cluded as Meghana Karra, Press releases, story ideas, news tips and sugges- masks.” Students who that even if students are senator for the College tions are always welcomed. We encourage all students wish to participate must not accepted the first time, of Humanities and Social to contribute. post a photo wearing a they can re-apply again to Sciences, urged students to Any student interested in joining The Dateline mask and tag the social the same or a different po- attend general assemblies staff may request more detailed information sending network accounts of the sition. Nominees can also to voice out concerns and an email to the editors at editordatelinedowntown@ Office of Student Affairs ask the board to provide an obtain help. gmail.com. and include the #Mask- explanatory report in case “We’re always UpUHD hashtag in their of a rejection. here to provide support posts. Taiya Youngs, a and give the best answers Follow us on Social Media! In addition to nominee, said the reports to your questions,” Karra announcing the campaign, are important so that said. “Stay safe and take the executive board con- students can learn what care of yourselves. We firmed the nominations to improve on for future look forward to seeing of three senators at-large.