THEOakland University’s IndependentOAKLAND Student Newspaper Volume POST46 l Issue 8 lSeptember 30, 2020 ‘Moving Forward’ faculty art exhibit Page 10 POLICE TRAINING BREONNA TAYLOR ESPORTS COMPETE OUPD and Housing join Disappointing verdict causes unrest Teams gain learning experience together for new training video for many BLM supporters at the start of their season PAGE 7 PAGE 12 PAGE 14 PHOTO BY: MAGGIE WILLARD SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 | 2 THIS WEEK PHOTO OF THE WEEK THEOAKLANDPOST EDITORIAL BOARD Michael Pearce Emily Morris Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor [email protected] [email protected] 248.370.4266 248.370.2537 EDITORS COPY&VISUAL Ben Hume Web Editor Meg Speaks Design Editor [email protected] Sam Summers Design Editor Liz Kovac Engagement Editor [email protected] Sophie Hume Photo Editor Sergio Montanez Photographer Cayla Smith Campus Editor Ryan Pini Photographer [email protected] Maggie Willard Photographer Jeff Thomas Life & Arts Editor [email protected] REPORTERS DISTRIBUTION Bridget Janis Staff Reporter Jaylon Johnson Distribution Director Lauren Karmo Staff Reporter [email protected] Autumn Page Staff Reporter Lauren Reid Staff Reporter Kimmy Guy Distribution Assistant Rachel Yim Staff Reporter Erika Beechie Distributor BE BEAR-Y CAREFUL In the Oakland Center, a taxidermized bear sits with a bandana covering its mouth, protecting all who enter The Habitat from its germs. Good job Bear! PHOTO / MICHAEL PEARCE ADVERTISING ADVISING Kaitlyn Woods Ads Director Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser [email protected] [email protected] 248.370.4269 248.370.2105 Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser [email protected] 248.370.2533 4 7 13 LETTERS FOR ST. JUDE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS JUST TAP IT IN Office for Student Involvement Netflix releases “The Devil All the Women’s golf team begins practicing VOTE AND CONNECT AT: holds letter drive for hospital Time” with Tom Holland for postponed season Photo/BORGEN Magazine Photo/Netflix Photo/Golden Grizzlies oaklandpostonline.com POLL OF THE WEEK LAST ISSUE’S POLL WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NEW RELEASE ON WHAT SHOULD REPLACE CHICK-FIL-A IN THE OAKLAND CENTER FOOD NETFLIX? COURT? A) “LOVE: GUARANTEED” B) “THE BOSS BABY: GET THAT BABY! (INTERACTIVE SPECIAL)” 47% 33% 4% 16% A) B) C) D) C) “THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME” VARNER SOUTH FOUNDATION NORTH FOUNDATION MATH AND SCIENCE D) “RATCHED” CENTER CORRECTIONS CORNER:The Oakland Post corrects all known errors of fact. If you know of an error, please email [email protected]. LOOKING BACK SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 | 3 Housing environmental committee promoted recycling and being“ environmentally aware in 1990 AUTUMN PAGE Kelley Lind, a Vandenburg resident, spoke about the Staff Reporter positives of the bins. “My roommates and I went and got one of the recycling bins The resident halls council environmental committee started To be successful, you need continuing they’ve been giving out. It’s not like it’s hard to recycle and a to place recycling bins throughout the buildings. lot of good comes out of it, so why not?” Lind said. “We want to maintain and promote a nice environment to education about recycling and continuing Terbrack didn’t know how the program would pan out, and be seen outside and inside the campus,” said Kathy Terbrack, had set an evaluation for the end of the month. vice president of residence halls council and coordinator of the support from the administration. “We’re really pushing the program in hopes of the environmental committee. entire campus getting involved. It’s really easy to The Oakland University recycling program began in 1989 Rebecca Wasko, co-chair of the recycle,” Pokorski said. when several students encouraged a program to be made. Preserve and Protect Club OU wasn’t the only one getting involved in recycling, Terbrack gave credit to social media and Earth Day. Oakland Community College (OCC) began a program during “I’d like to see enough support for recycling on both sides of “ the spring semester of 1990. the bridge,” said Mark Weptstein, member of the environmental “It’s good that they started this kind of a program for the The Auburn Hills campus collected 2,000 pounds of office committee on campus. more environmentally conscious students at OU,” she said. paper the first month, according to Rebecca Wasko, co- Instructional booklets were left at the front desks of residence Items that could be recycled are flyers, typing paper, note chairperson of the Preserve and Protect Club. halls. The booklet had information on what can be recycled pads, computer paper, brown grocery bags, corrugated Wasko urged the importance of education about recycling and taken by Bushman Disposal in Oxford, the company OU cardboard, glass containers with no lids and metal containers, and taking action. uses to remove waste, and where items can be recycled. like pop cans. “To be successful, you need continuing education about “We’re trying to get everyone on the floors involved. The recycling bins were placed on every floor of the recycling and continuing support from the administration,” Basically, we’re sending out flyers, giving out recycling residence halls for accessibility. Wasko said. baskets and we’ve been talking about holding contests to “More people seem to be getting interested,” Weptstein said. On campus today, there’s a task force with the goal of get people involved,” said Heiedi Pokorski, chair of the “A lot of waste is being thrown into the recycle bins on each campus sustainability. A key element is the OU Recycles environmental committee. of the floors.” campaign, and the club partners with other communication Amy Novak, a resident at Hill House, took notice of the areas of OU to spread awareness. changes and liked the new addition to the halls. 4 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 CAMPUS ‘Letters to St. Jude’ initiative taking place through Oct. 31 LAUREN REID my heart for kids who are suffering from life-threaten- Staff Reporter ing illnesses.” Make a Difference week is also coming up, beginning Oakland University students have the opportunity to Oct. 19 through Oct. 24. Each day will come with a dif- write a virtual letter to St. Jude patients until Oct. 31, ferent volunteer opportunity where students can partici- as part of an initiative by OU’s Leadership and Volun- pate either virtually or in-person. teer Center. “In the past, it’s been Make a Difference Day, where we “The Letters to St. Jude Patients is part of our initiative sent students to locations off-campus to do community ser- this year to provide high impact, virtual or long distance vice,” Bernas said. “[This year], because of COVID-19, the service opportunities for students and staff,” said Jeremy school can’t sponsor any travel events, so we knew it had to Heinlein, coordinator of leadership and service programs be either on-campus or virtual.” at the Office for Student Involvement (OSI) via email. Make a Difference week spans five days, kicking off “Our goal is to stay community focused even during re- with the creation of audiobooks on Monday, Oct. 19 and strictions placed due to COVID-19.” wrapping up with an in-person volunteer opportunity at To write a letter, students can visit the letter's to St. the student farm on Friday, Oct. 24. Jude patients page on the OU calendar and click on the Other Make a Difference week opportunities include link, where they will be redirected to St. Jude’s website. writing thank-you letters to blood donors, making dog From here, students can select artwork for their card toys out of t-shirts and blankets and coloring motivation- and write a message, either personalized or pre-written, al drawings for sick children. and it’s free. Amidst all of the uncertainty COVID-19 presents, Ber- Emily Bernas, graduate assistant for leadership and nas mentioned students still want volunteer hours and or- service learning at the OSI, mentioned finding commu- PHOTO COURTESY OF PR NEWSWIRE ganizations still need lots of help. nity service opportunities is difficult amid COVID-19, Until Oct. 31, students can write letters to St. Jude “It’s not only me trying to get creative with commu- but writing letters came to mind as a safe service outlet. patients through the Leadership and Volunteer Center. nity service opportunities, but it’s nonprofits getting The Letters to St. Jude opportunity popped up with a creative trying to get help without having in-person quick Google search, as said by Bernas. Bernas believed the Letters to St. Jude opportunity was gatherings,” Bernas said. “It’s been interesting to see “Once I clicked on the [page], I [realized] it was su- perfect to put up on GrizzOrgs, and hopes students will how creative people have been and how open to new per easy to write a letter,” Bernas said. “St. Jude [will] keep writing letters. ideas [they are].” print the letters out and deliver them to each room as “[Last] summer, I worked with a nonprofit organiza- For more information on upcoming initiatives and ser- they go. It takes probably two minutes, it’s super quick tion similar to Make-A-Wish but exclusively for chil- vice opportunities, visit the OSI homepage. — I hop on every morning [to] do one and send it in.” dren in Michigan,” Bernas said. “I have a soft spot in SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 | 5 The Oakland Post is looking for CONTRIBUTORS Get your work published! - Work a flexible schedule - Cover a variety of events, pople and topics - Gain real-world experience in journalism - Network with other student-journalists Contact [email protected] & [email protected] with a resume and three writing samples of any kind. 6 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 CAMPUS Professor wins engagement award in nursing GRIZZLIES BRIDGET JANIS they would be seeing,” Hernandez said.