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THEOakland University’s IndependentOAKLAND Student Newspaper VolumePOST 46 l Issue 20 lFebruary 3, 2021 Golden Grizzlies racing into 2021 After COVID-19 challenges, Formula SAE looks to compete Page 7 LAPTOP LOANS OUSC ELECTION HAIR HISTORY New batch of laptops and President, vice president and Natural Black hair is more than hotspots for students in STC legistor roles to apply and run hair, it’s part of identity PAGE 4 PAGE 6 PAGE 13 PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FORMULA SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS 2 | FEBRUARY 3, 2021 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 Jodi Mitchell Design Editor [email protected] Meg Speaks Design Editor Sophie Hume Photo Editor Sam Summers Design Editor [email protected] Maggie Willard Photographer Lauren Reid Sports Editor [email protected] Cayla Smith Campus Editor [email protected] Jeff Thomas Features Editor [email protected] REPORTERS DISTRIBUTION Andrew Bernsdorf Staff Reporter Jaylon Johnson Distribution Director Bridget Janis Staff Reporter [email protected] Autumn Page Staff Reporter GIVING GRIZZLIES Oakland University kicked off its first-ever Day of Giving, a day Matthew Scheidel Staff Reporter Kimmy Guy Distribution Assistant dedicated to encouraging alumni and supporters to give to their favorite gift funds. Oakland Dean Vaglia Staff Reporter Erika Beechie Distributor University Credit Union agreed to match all donations up to $50,000 Rachel Yim Staff Reporter PHOTO / OAKLAND UNIVERSITY ADVERTISING ADVISING Lauren Karmo Marketing Director Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser [email protected] [email protected] 248.370.2105 Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser [email protected] 248.370.2533 4 15 16 INSPIRE THE CHOIR OFF TO THE RACES PUT ME ON THE SHOW VOTE AND CONNECT AT: SMTD to bring in Grammy winner Track and Field teams open their How to win The Bachelor, with sleeping and composer for choir workshop. season at SVSU Invitational. and funky dresses. oaklandpostonline.com Photo/Oakland University Photo/Golden Grizzlies Photo/Michael Pearce POLL OF THE WEEK LAST ISSUE’S POLL WHICH REALITY DATING SHOW WOULD YOU MOST DO YOU THINK HAVING YOUR CAMERA ON DURING ONLINE CLASSES WANT TO BE ON? SHOULD BE REQUIRED? A) THE BACHELOR B) LOVE ISLAND C) LOVE IS BLIND 12% 56% 29% 3% D) TOO HOT TO HANDLE A) B) C) D) YES NO IT DEPENDS ON THE IT DOESN’T MATTER TO CLASS TYPE ME CORRECTIONS CORNER:The Oakland Post corrects all known errors of fact. If you know of an error, please email [email protected]. FEBRUARY 3, 2021 | 3 CAMPUS Using sewage to GRIZZLIES track COVID-19 PROTECT MICHAEL PEARCE will alert staff in the building about the Editor-in-Chief levels of COVID-19. Both Stone and President Ora Hirsch Sewage at Oakland University can Pescovitz feel that using the sewage GRIZZLIES contain more than just the usual “crap,” it tracking system can not only help prevent can contain trace amounts of COVID-19. the spread of COVID-19 on campus, but In November, Oakland administration also be a useful tool for local hospitals announced their plans to monitor sewage and health care officials. with Aquasight, a Troy, Michigan “As a physician-scientist, I also company, in an attempt to improve understand that if we can monitor infectious contract tracing on campus. diseases through this process, it will give Since November, the university has government officials and health care been closely monitoring the results from providers a big advantage in controlling the sewage surveillance program to limit the spread of disease,” Pescovitz said in the the spread of the virus on campus. Vice November press release. President of Research David Stone feels In addition to tracking infectious the system has been “pretty effective” in diseases, the sewage tracking system the few months it has been implemented. can also track opioid use, which Stone “We’re able to track the virus from all believes could help communities fight the of the buildings we’re tracking, and it does opioid epidemic. Cumulative on-campus positive seem to move up and down and give us an “We’ve forgotten about the epidemic, additional datapoint,” Stone said. “We’ve but it didn’t go away,” Stone said. “In cases since January 2nd: got people in the residence halls who are some cases, the things that brought it on — COVID-19 positive but asymptomatic.” depression and mental health challenges — The sewage tracking is especially have intensified, if anything.” 47 important for those asymptomatic cases. Stone believes in combination with Stone and the research team feel the extra the BioButton — which is still available data point has been useful to help prevent in the Oakland Center and in residence those asymptomatic people from going to halls — tracking sewage can lead to more class or traveling into common spaces. information to assist in contract tracing. The tracking system works by placing For Stone and his research team, Faculty or staff: sample collection tools in manholes “triangulating” data is critically outside of each residence hall that is important. The university cannot afford being tracked. Almost every dorm is to constantly test people on campus, and 4 being tracked, except for Van Wagoner even if it could, people would get “testing and Hill Houses. fatigue,” according to Stone. Every couple of hours the device opens “We’re trying to keep one case from up and takes some water. Twice per week, becoming 50 cases in a dorm or on an Students not living in OU Housing: the kits are pulled out of the manhole, athletic team,” he said. “The sewage then analyzed. testing helps us limit cases from From there, if there are certain becoming outbreaks. This is a way to 22 levels of COVID-19 in the water, the identify cases and nobody has to do University and Leadership Committee anything, so it’s handy in that way.” Students living in OU Housing: 21 On-campus isolation rooms occupied 1/105 All information is from OU COVID Public Dashboard JOHN MCTAGGART PHOTOGRAPHY Vice President of Research David Stone is leading the sewage tracking system at Oakland Universty. 4 | FEBRUARY 3, 2021 WRITE FOR THE OAKLAND POST WE’RE LOOKING FOR CONTRIBUTORS FROM ANY MAJOR BACKGROUND CONTACT: [email protected] FEBRUARY 3, 2021 | 5 CAMPUS ‘Inspire The Choir’ New technology workshop brings in Grammy available for students EMILY MORRIS Previously, technology was only Managing Editor available for a week at a time, but STC winner and composer extended the check-out time to a full The Student Technology Center (STC) semester to accommodate for increased has introduced 100 new laptops and 100 online class. WiFi hotspots for students to borrow, “We have to make it one semester at following increased demand. a time,” Debiaggi said. “[If needed,] While the majority of classes are still students can certainly put in [a request] to online, Leo Debiaggi, senior director rent it again.” of STC, noticed an increased need The new Dell laptops have five gigs for technology and their inventory of RAM and are capable of “run pretty dwindling. With 100 new Dell laptops much any application,” according and 100 new WiFi hotspots added to the to Debiaggi. Students have full existing collection — MacBooks, DSLR administrative access while borrowing cameras, webcams and various software the laptop. Each comes with Microsoft — there should be enough resources. Office, and students can install any other PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY “The demand has been great actually,” necessary software. Grammy Award winner Eric Whitacre and composer Stacey Gibbs will lead a virtual work- Debiaggi said. “We had rented out every The hotspots are from AT&T and Verizon shop on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Zoom. single laptop we had at our disposal.” with LTE high-speed internet access. the past, and Boover was particularly Whenever staff and faculty have “Oftentimes, people have internet DEAN VAGLIA interested in how he can help the SMTD noticed a technical need, students have access… but it might be spotty,” Debiaggi Staff Reporter with introducing historically Black been referred to the STC, according to said. “Giving someone a hotspot might music into the curriculum. Dean of Students Michael Wadsworth. be the break they need to complete their The Oakland University School of “One of the many things [Gibbs] Check-outs have been fueled by course work without any issues.” Music, Theater and Dance (SMTD) will does is he arranges and sets American emergency relief requests from the Once a student returns any technology, host the “Inspire The Choir” workshop spirituals,” Boover said. “This is a kind Dean of Students office, the Center for it’ll be wiped of any personal information on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. of American music where I think some Multicultural Initiatives and the Office of and restored to its original state. Free and held over Zoom, Grammy Award people are hesitant to take ownership Student Involvement. If there were any damages, the winner Eric Whitacre and accomplished of it because it comes from a tradition “Nobody planned to go into pandemic- student will be held responsible for any composer Stacey Gibbs will feature at the of slavery … This is something that he mode, and I’ve just been really happy replacement costs. workshop. has been talking about for years, so we to see the resources from the Student “I will say that’s extremely rare that Open to singers and music educators of wanted to bring him in to talk to our Technology Center gathered and put there’s actually any damage,” Debiaggi all levels, the event will feature lessons students and say ‘This is what this music out for students,” Wadsworth said.