7/25: Theatrical Activism at Its Finest 3 2 6 10
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NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020 VOLUME XLIX • ISSUE 4 THE COLLEGE VOICE CONNECTICUT COLLEGE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER, SINCE 1977 Did You Fall Asleep in Mod. 1 Classes? 7/25: Theatrical Activism at its Finest any of Conn’s academic departments have faced AMANDA SANDERS lasses look a little different this se- BROOKE SPONZO mester. Instead of the typical class challenges this semester, whether that entails desert- MANAGING EDITOR STAFF WRITER M Cduration ranging from twice a week ing in-person lectures, getting creative in the transition to for seventy-five minutes over fifteen remote labs, or battling internet connectivity during class discussions. But for theater majors, the pandemic has been particularly dire: for how do weeks that we are used to, Conn is experimenting with a modular you stage a play in the age of the coronavirus? class format. Professors had the option to teach a fifteen-week class “With lots of hand sanitizer,” jokes Erin Flannagan ‘24, a member of the early October or to compress 15 weeks into 7. The decision made to either com- production of 7/25, a show written by Conn alum Ana Daniela Reyes-Rosado ‘20 that dives press or keep their class has a trickle down effect and decides how deep into issues of police brutality, censorship, and colonialism. often and for how long they will hold class, which have lead classes The show tells the real-life tale of two young Puerto-Rican activists who were murdered by to meet either four times a week or twice a week for three hours. Re- police after attempting to broadcast a pro-nationalist message to their country’s population sponses from students who are currently taking three-hour classes via radio tower. The production detailed the media and political cover-up that followed and are mixed. the dangerous climate created during the area’s oppressive Gag Law that spurred the duo to Josh Coleman ‘21 took two of these 7-week classes in module take their stand. one. “I feel like for 400 level classes they’re a bit better, the topics “It's poignant and theatrical activism at its finest,” says Will Hite ‘22, who played one of are harder so it’s nice to go in-depth, but I wouldn’t feel the same the killing’s key witnesses: a taxi driver losing sight of the truth as he’s repeatedly inter- way about easier classes. It has pros and cons,” he says when asked rogated by a group of corrupt officers. Despite being penned before the events of this about his current course load. “To be honest, I would rather have a summer, the show mirrors our current era all too well, bringing up the same themes of two-hour lecture and a one-hour [lecture] later in the week because institutionalized violence and injustice that we are finally seeing highlighted in our news sometimes you need extra time but you do reach a point of satura- feeds today. “Aside from being a story about the events that led to the horrific incident that occured on July 25th, 1978,” Katherine Hurst ‘22—who plays one of the show’s villains, an tion [during a three-hour period].” undercover agent plotting the demise of the activists—adds, “this is also a performance Josh Moylan ‘23 doesn’t mind the longer classes. “As long as I have a coffee, I’m fine [...]“I’ve zoned out twice in the entire module so Sabrina Notarfrancisco far.” He attributes this to having his class in-person and admits that when it was on Zoom that it was much more difficult to focus. Leelah Klauber ‘22 is not a fan of the three-hour class session. While taking one module course, her professor divided their course into two chunks of seventy-five minutes with a thirty-minute break in between. “It’s definitely impossible to retain all of the informa- tion; after the first half of the class it’s so apparent that everyone’s energy levels are so much lower, and this doesn’t make for good dis- cussion. I also don’t think it helps that it is at 8:30am on a Monday.” As someone who just completed a virtual modular course twice a week for three hours, I have to say I am not a fan. However, this is in no way the fault of my professors. Three hours is just too long for most to pay serious and consistent attention at all times, especially when online, on mute, and sitting in your room alone. “It’s definitely easier to lose focus,” admits Coleman. Reports of breaks during class also vary from student to student and class to class. In Coleman’s experience, one of his two longer classes will give him breaks, but the other just ends early. Morgan Mac- cione ‘21 takes two three hour classes on the same day and when asked *** *** Article continued on page 6. Article continued on page 8. IN THIS ISSUE SPORTS OPS LeBron vs Jordan Flight 93 3 Eli Christopher 6 Peter Gattuso NEWS ARTS Mental Health and the Pandemic MOBROC Setbacks in Pandemic 2 Elora Roy 10 Leelah Klauber THE COLLEGE VOICE 2 • EDITOR’S DESK OCTOBER 27, 2020 Question the Numbers Hello TCV readers, welcome to this new subsection of News. This year, News Editors will be producing a “Question the Numbers: The Backstory of Statistics” series in which we examine commonly circulated statistics and work to make sense of what they mean, and how THE COLLEGE they might be limited in representing a given situation. Since numbers are often treated as neutral or objective we hope to use this section to explore this assumption and better understand what purpose it serves. Have any thoughts, questions, or suggestions for what numbers to The views and opinions expressed in The College Voice are strictly those of feature? Reach out to the News Editors at [email protected] and [email protected]. student authors, and not of Connecticut College. All content and editorial decisions remain in the hands of the students; neither the College’s adminis- n 2019, the National Alliance on Mental Illness in 5 adults in America suffer from a mental illness is tration nor its faculty exercise control over the content. (NAMI) reported that nearly 20 percent—or very likely an understatement, even before the dev- 1 inI 5—adults in the United States experience a astating impacts of COVID-19 — and we currently diagnosable mental health condition each year. These have no better means to assess what the real number numbers are based on results from the National Sur- might be. These statistics presented by NAMI may Jozette Moses ’21 vey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which selects help initiate conversations related to mental illness, a sample group of the population to participate in the however, regarding them as absolute only marginal- Editor-in-Chief study, and then adjusts the data to the general popu- izes those suffering with their mental health who do lation. This year, for example, approximately 70,000 not have a diagnosable illness in our current classifi- participants have been selected. The National Survey cation system. on Drug Use and Health states that “households are Though it is difficult to give precise estimates at this EDITORIAL BOARD randomly selected through scientific methods” but time, the above numbers are expected to worsen after does not specify exactly how their selection methods the pandemic. Those with pre-existing mental health can be both “random” and “scientific.” Additionally, conditions have found their conditions worsening Amanda Sanders ’22 the survey emphasizes that participation is very im- due to quarantine and disruptions in daily life, while Managing Editor portant because “no household can take your place,” rates of anxiety or depression related symptoms have but again it does not adequately explain why. We also significantly increased among the general public. have very little available data as to how representative Based on a survey conducted by KFF, 36.5 percent Elora Roy ’23 these randomized samples are of the general popu- of respondents reported symptoms of an anxiety or Abigail Acheson ’21 lation. While a well-written survey distributed to a depressive disorder per week during June, compared large, randomized sample, like the one used in this with only 11 percent in the same survey conducted News Editors study, is one of the most accurate means to under- during January. While no statistics were provided, stand overall trends in a given population, it does not one NIH study predicts that rates of psychosis will in- portray a perfect representation. It is important to crease in relation to the pandemic. Among those with Lucie Englehart ’23 remember that the 1 in 5 estimate is just that—an es- pre-existing mental health conditions that were previ- Kelly Wallace ’21 timate—and should not be treated like concrete data. ously in remission, disruptions due to the pandemic Opinions Editors The survey itself is conducted by a representative have caused high rates of recurring symptoms. Based from RTI international, a group that defines them- on one study published in the International Jour- selves as “an independent nonprofit research institute nal of Eating Disorders, nearly two-thirds of survey Eli Christopher ’22 dedicated to improving the human condition.” Based respondents from the U.S. in recovery from anorexia on guidelines listed on the NSDUH’s website, the nervosa reported increased rates of restriction and Elizabeth Berry ’21 survey consists of an online questionnaire that the fears about being able to remain consistent with their Arts Editor participants fill out directly into a computer provided meal plans, while one-third of those recovering from by an RTI representative.