DON’T USE THIS PAGE MARIST CIRCLE 1 • PRINT EDITION OUT BI-WEEKLY ON TUESDAYS POUGHKEEPSIE, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2020 MARISTCIRCLE.COM | VOL 75 ISSUE 10 INSIDE: THE LONG VIEW ITNTHER HODUistoCRYING OF MARist’S FaVORITE THEPICNI CCL SASSPOT OF 2024 The Story of a Song and a President’s Second Farewell EXTheE CVanderbiltUTIVE Boa MansionRD PAGE 4 • FEATURES PAGE 5 • FEATURES COVID-19 DASHBOARD Reflections from Mohamed As of Wednesday, May. 19, 2021 and Hill on their Administration BY GRACE MAEDA Analytics Community, Marist Model U.N. and the African Student Associa- tion. By chartering these clubs, Hill said she’s excited that it increases the diver- Student Body President Roda Mo- sity of club types and involvement. Spring 2021 hamed ‘21 and Vice President Roselyn Every semester creates its own unique set of challenges. From the start to have led the student body through a of the fall 2020 semester, Mohamed im- globalHill ‘21 pandemic are the firstat Marist presidential College. Fromteam mediately prioritized mask campaigns the start of their term, they faced chal- followed by vaccine campaigns in the 22,545 lenges not only created by COVID-19 spring. Along with COVID-19, Mohamed but also a tumultuous social climate. Total Tests Conducted and Hill had to also navigate a tense Quickly after being elected Presi- social climate following a summer of dent and Vice President of the Student grieving and protests for the deaths of Government Association (SGA) in early multiple unarmed Black men caused by March 2020, Mohamed and Hill realized 665 police. “As women of color, we came in they would address challenges never when there was so much chaos and we faced by the college. Shortly after their Total Cases SGA President Roda Mohammed ‘21 and Vice President Roselyn Hill ‘21 are the first were able to create space and opportu- election, Marist students vacated the team to have led the Marist student body through a global pandemic. nities for the whole student body,” Mo- campus while COVID-19 rapidly devas- Source: Mohammed and Hill Adminstration hamed said. tated the world. “Most of our goals are either accom- Throughout the summer, Mohamed campaign, Mohamed and Hill’s main the student body and give that feedback plished or close,” Mohamed said. “Like 10 and Hill created a detailed agenda to priority was always to represent the to the college administration because the diversity, inclusion and equity cur- prepare for the upcoming school year, student body and be liaisons between they were living through something riculum, we are in the process of creat- Total Employee Cases taking into consideration the prospect the students and the college adminis- they have never experienced either,” ing a course.” of a virtual semester. The duo also led tration. Mohamed said. “As soon as we got back to campus, it Along with on-campus initiatives, There will always be new issues re- quiring SGA’s focus. For the upcoming members and creating a cohesive plan was a bit of a shock,” Hill said. “Around Mohamed said that this year, SGA de- fall semester, Mohamed said, “Not only throughoutSGA’s summer their session, departments. briefing cabinet The veloped a stronger presence in Pough- 655 will the college have to deal with the summer session was also an import- sat down and realized our goals are keepsie. Working with a local high two weeks into the first semester, we virus, the college will also have to deal Total Student Cases ant period for SGA leaders to become going to be very different than planned. school, SGA created a program to help with half of the student body feeling acquainted and develop their relation- We realized we were dealing with more - productive online and half the student ships. SGA consists of 77 cabinet mem- short-term advocacy opposed to long- eracy. students learn more about financial lit body preferring in-person classes.” bers, making strong communication term goals.” While addressing various issues Nevertheless, Mohamed is reassured essential. The SGA administration directed on-campus and conducting outreach that SGA is being led by a motivated “Coming into the semester, Roda and their focus to issues like Conklin Hall in the community, Hill believes the SGA Current Campus and well-equipped team. On April 21, I had a very comprehensive plan from housing and quarantine. For Mohamed, administration maintained an under- Tenzin Tsundu ‘22 was elected Student Cases the summer,” Hill said. “Throughout our it also became imperative to be the lying focus of their long-term goal of Body President alongside Caleb Davis administration, we tried to keep the voice of the students. “Our feedback has creating more diversity, inclusion and ‘24 as Vice President for the 2021-2022 idea of diversity, inclusion and equity been more important than in previous equity at Marist. school year. present throughout all of our initia- years,” Mohamed said. “We were challenging the adminis- “Both individuals that are going to 1 tives.” be leaders next year have been in our Following the SGA elections in March heard many grievances about Saturday the student body,” Hill said. “I think we Total Active Cases During the first semester, Mohamed tration to be more inclusive and reflect administration and have been watch- - classes from students and professors. were able to be a critical voice and also ing us this year — learning what we’ve lim female president of the Marist stu- She decided it needed to be addressed a voice of reason in certain instances.” done well and where we could have dent2020, body. Mohamed Along becamewith Hill, the they first are Mus the to improve students’ experiences Six clubs were chartered this year improved,” Mohamed said. “If they rep- - during an already challenging school which include the National Society for 1 resent the student body, then they’ve tions together. From the start of their year. Black Engineers, Pre-Physician Assis- done their job.” At Home/Off Campus Cases first women of color to hold their posi “We were able to communicate with tants Society, Marist Moderates, Marist 0 On-Campus Isolation Space The Board of Trustees Approves Dyson Center Renovation BY GRETA STUCKEY in the fall of 2019 with a tentative com- the-art enhanced acoustic treatments the building. The new location was Managing Editor pletion date in 2020, but it was delayed. and presentation capabilities. The en- chosen to allow for a more interactive 0.00% Marist will focus on using sustain- hanced technology in the classroom and inviting space for students and able elements in the overall design setting will allow for better engage- faculty. Marist 7 Day Positivity Rate of the new renovations because it is ment and will also be used as a venue Renovations will positively impact The Marist Board of Trustees ap- part of the college’s larger expansion for guest speakers. the School of Social and Behavioral proved massive renovations for the mission. The size of the Dyson Center “As a psychology major who has a Sciences, which houses the College’s 1.25% Dyson Center. The renovation is valued will nearly double, going from 60,000 lot of classes in Dyson, I am really ex- programs in Criminal Justice, Educa- at $45 million and will provide students square feet to 110,000 square feet. cited to see that it is getting upgraded,” tion, Psychology and Social Work. The Dutchess County 7 Day and faculty with dynamic new gather- Kaitlyn Hastings ‘24 said. “The lounge is building will have a dedicated STEM Positivty Rate ing and learning spaces. excited because I take a lot of psycholo- a major plus because I feel like that is laboratory classroom for teacher ed- “The Board of Trustees has not yet gy “Theclasses renovations for my major definitely and spend make a melot something lacking at Marist.” ucation candidates and maker spaces made a decision on the timing for the of time there,” Tori Mariano ‘24 said. “I The building will also become the to support student projects across start of the Dyson renovation and ex- also love how there will be more lounge new home for the school of Manage- campus. pansion plan, although the overall de- areas and space to do work.” ment’s Student Investment Center The center will also have a new If you feel symptoms of sign, budget and logistics for the project The expansion will include a new which is currently located in the Han- emergency management hub for crim- COVID-19 or think you have been mapped out and have met cock Center. The investment center will inal justice training and research as their approval,” Executive Vice Presi- tables, chairs and other working op- well as multiple psychology labs. have come into contact with dent Dr. Geoffrey L. Brackett said. tionscafé and available lounge for on thethe Maristfirst floor commu with- and will be located in the atrium so it “I am looking forward to having a someone who has COVID-19 - nity.The building will also have new willfeature have a highfully visibilityfunctional to trading visitors floor and dedicated lab space for psychology contact Health Services, struction in 1990 and has not under- multi-purpose collaboration spaces the campus community. and cognitive science majors,” Hast- goneThe large Dyson scale building renovations finished since then.con available for student and faculty use. For student convenience and acces- ings said. “Overall, I am really excited Construction for the new Dyson reno- The renovated building will feature sibility, the Center for Career Services to see what it looks like when the reno- (845) 575-3270 vations was initially scheduled to begin a 155-seat lecture hall with state-of- will be located near the café lounge in vations are complete.” 2 • INSPIRING STUDENT VOICES EST.