The Student Newspaper of Lawrence University Since 1884 THE VOL. CXXXIX NO.LAWRENTIAN 11 APPLETON, WISCONSIN JANUARY 29, 2021 Junior Kelsi Bryant re- elected as LUCC President Gannon Flynn tainability committee, LUCC students dropped by four. Despite Sports Editor hopes to create consistent op- the seeming stagnation, there’s ___________________________________ portunities to make the Lawrence still the challenge of dealing with After another round of elec- campus more sustainable. Ac- how the virus affects student life tions, the Lawrence University cording to Bryant, this commit- — after all, Lawrence prides itself Community Council (LUCC) has a tee would be continued work to on close relations between faculty new president; junior Kelsi Bryant address immediate on-campus is- and students as well as small and was selected over her opponent, sues without creating permanent personal classroom settings. Bry- Judicial Board member junior institutions that lose relevancy ant hopes that LUCC will be able Jessica Toncler. As an incumbent over time, which Bryant believes to promote that type of environ- to the position, this was a re- makes a more efficient LUCC. ment while maintaining COV- election for Bryant, who won with Bryant is also interested in ID-19 safety protocols. 62.82 percent of the vote. making changes to Lawrence’s “With help from a current class “My current presidency has Office of Diversity and Inclusion, representative, we hope to make been very short, and there is so specifically with Title IX. Title IX more spaces, virtual and on cam- much that I am looking to do in is a federal law banning sex-based pus, where students can interact my future terms,” Bryant said. discrimination within educational safely,” Bryant said. “However, my most fulfilling ac- institutions. In an effort to make Specifically, for this term, complishment was being able to matters regarding Title IX “more LUCC is in the process of plan- give LUCC committees the sup- effective in its thoroughness and ning a speed-dating event for Val- port they needed to accomplish all investigation into sexual miscon- entine’s Day. It’s a small gesture, that they did.” Bryant continued, duct cases,” Bryant plans to in- but it’s one that puts effort into “In addition, we worked on mak- troduce a proposal to the Council keeping Lawrentians connected ing LUCC more approachable and shortly after her second term be- through lonely times. transparent. I think we have taken gins with the goal of addressing Though the outlook for on- significant strides in the right di- this issue. campus life is difficult to predict so rection.” Bryant went on, “I have One of the most significant late in the term, Bryant expressed a great team of students working topics on campus is the recent in- a commitment to preserving a around the clock on many differ- crease of COVID-19 cases that rose connected student body regard- ent things. There has been little sharply upon the start of Winter less of the obstacles of the current pressure to do certain things be- Term, reaching a 1.57 percent test pandemic. cause LUCC has been actively positivity rate, with 11 students “The most challenging thing working on many of Lawrence testing positive — as well as nine about being LUCC President is be- University’s issues.” additional students who received ing president during a pandemic,” Now, Bryant is turning her positive results from a testing Bryant said. “A primary goal of focus to the future with specific center off campus. This was the mine is to make Lawrence a more emphases on sustainability, adap- highest percentage of infections accepting and supporting com- tations to the Title IX process and the Lawrence campus has seen munity. It is difficult to build com- promoting campus connectivity since reopening in September. munity when our students cannot LUCC President, junior Kelsi Bryant has begun planning for her upcoming term in office. amid the challenges of COVID-19. However, in just a week of further interact with each other.” Photo by Pei Robins. Through the creation of a sus- testing, the number of infected D&IC re-opens, plans events for Winter Term Hannah Amell Staff Writer events for both on- and off-campus centered on Black History Month, ing Black in America” on Feb. 9 and dependently. Setting Up For Success _____________________________________ students this term, including a Lunar which is celebrated in February. a follow-up discussion of the film on will provide students with self-care, The Diversity and Intercultural New Year celebration, opportunities In previous years, Lawrence’s Lu- Feb. 16. studying and time-management tips Center (D&IC) is planning several for students to de-stress and events nar New Year celebrations — which “We feel it’s important [to host from the D&IC, the Center for Aca- are a collaborative effort between the Black History Month events] because, demic Success and the Wellness Cen- D&IC, Lawrence International and in years previous, when there is Black ter. various student organizations on cam- History Month, there isn’t any formal Sophomore and D&IC program pus — have included live performanc- planning, at least around the univer- coordinator Lara Ramirez said of the es and food. This year, the celebration, sity. The D&IC felt this was not only an planning process for these events: taking place Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7 opportunity but that it was something “When I go into planning events, I p.m., will be held virtually. However, needed to have this programming for keep three things in mind: how can on-campus students will be able to our student body,” said sophomore I keep the students engaged, de- pick up goodie bags of treats and ac- Malcolm Davis, one of the D&IC’s pro- stressed and allow them to have fun tivities to accompany the event. gram coordinators. while learning? I also keep in mind [if The D&IC’s Black History Month Additionally, the D&IC’s Crystal students can] be part of this event both events, which were developed in col- Making event on Feb. 4 and the “Set- on campus and off campus ... When laboration with the Black Student ting Up For Success” event on Feb. 20 students come in, they feel a certain Union, are occurring at 6 p.m. each are opportunities for students to de- way, and we just want them to leave Tuesday during the month of Febru- stress and take time for themselves. feeling refreshed. And, not only that, ary. Events include a jeopardy game Crystal Making is a grab-and-go event but when they come to D&IC events, The Diversity and Intercultural Center, pictured above, has offically re-opened and is plan- on Black history on Feb. 2, a film in which students can take supplies we want them to make connections ning several events to take place in Winter Term. screening of the documentary “Talk- and instructions to make a crystal in- Photo by Sebastian Evans. See page 2 Sports Variety Features A&E Op-Ed The Great Midwest Trivia NFL Playoffs Credit Wear Credit Is Due Student recital wows Dad, I’m proud of you. Contest Explained PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 6 PAGE 8 PAGE 10 THIS WEEK 2 NEWS January 29, 2021 THE LAWRENTIAN New Disability Working Group focuses on campus accessibility Hannah Amell needed to be a really large-scale con- Chronic Illness Support Group and ences, according to senior Jojo Maier, volved in developing the “curriculum Staff Writer versation, and it needed to involve large-scale campus events like the Dr. LUDWiG’s social coordinator. This or series of classes that makes talking _____________________________________ students, faculty and staff.” Chand Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service month’s social mixer takes place to- about disability more open to Law- Lawrence University Disability continued, “I started drafting over disability advocacy workshop earlier night, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m. The mixer rentians, that really focuses on the Working Group (LUDWiG) is a new the summer — How do we have these this month. is structured around questions and disabled voice.” Currently, Lawrence student organization on campus de- conversations? How do we facilitate “It’s nice because this group is kind discussion but is also a place for stu- does not have any programs dedicated voted to discussing disability and change on campus? How do we make of pulling the conversation together,” dents to socialize. Questions that will to disability studies. While some high- making Lawrence more accessible. sure that these conversations we’re Chand said. “People are having these be discussed at the mixer can be found level courses relate to disability, they Senior Alex Chand, who founded having are relevant and integrated conversations, but they’re usually be- on LUDWiG’s Facebook page, @Law- require prerequisites and are not ac- LUDWiG last term, said that the inspi- into other existing conversations? hind closed doors, and people with renceUniDisability. cessible to most students outside of ration came from frustration with in- Disability doesn’t exist in a vacuum; disabilities often aren’t in the room. In addition to these events, LUD- the major. accessibility on campus and speaking disability is one aspect of identity, and It’s really great that, all of a sudden, if WiG is working with the administra- Chand also hopes that LUDWiG with other Lawrence students about it intersects with every other aspect.” you want to have a conversation about tion and other groups on campus to will someday be funded in an official their experiences during an inclusion This resulted in the creation of something related to disability and make the Lawrence campus more capacity and that space dedicated to summit last summer.