Vol. lv iSSUE 2 www.umassmedia.com the massUMass Boston’s independentmedia student newspaper September 20, 2020 Virtual Convocation 2020 Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco gives the Fall 2020 Convocation address from behind the screen. This year’s convocation was live streamed on the UMass Boston website, YouTube, and Facebook. By Abigail Basile News Editor Mass Boston’s 2020 virtual Convocation Student Assembly President Jenn Pletcher spoke “To the students of UMass Boston, I want you to ceremony was held on Thursday, Sept. 17. briefly. They introduced themselves, and welcomed know that we are all rooting for you, this year more At 11 a.m., the ceremony began streaming students and new Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco than ever,” said President Meehan. “We know how on the UMass Boston Convocation in a variety of languages. many of you have already overcome challenges just to UWebsite, the UMass Boston Facebook page and the Javier introduced former Coordinator of the get here, and that you will continue to face even more UMass Boston YouTube channel. Black Student Center and current Program Assistant challenges in the pursuit of your college degree. We Emily McDermott, Interim Provost and Vice of the Office of Social Justice Leadership and Service, are here to support you, most of all because we are Chancellor for Academic Affairs, welcomed Stephanie Beauvil. Beauvil spoke to the sense of counting on you to lead the way to a more just, fair, viewers to the virtual ceremony with a video of her community at UMass Boston, and a meeting she had and healthier nation and world.” in ceremonial robes, standing at a “University of with Chancellor Suárez-Orozco. Next, Imari K. Paris Jeffries, a member of the Massachusetts” podium. McDermott introduced a “I can happily and honestly say that Chancellor University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees and video of Ashley Villard, an undergraduate music Marcelo is going to be a wonderful addition to our three-time graduate of UMass Boston extended a major, singing the National Anthem. UMass Boston community,” said Beauvil. message of welcome from the Board. Following the video of Villard singing A video of Chancellor Suárez-Orozco Interim Provost McDermott then introduced the National Anthem, Undergraduate Student in ceremonial robes at the podium followed. new faculty and newly promoted faculty. She also Government President and Vice President, Janrey He introduced President of the University of announced Aimi Maeda as the winner of the annual Javier and Jaely Pereira respectively, and Graduate Massachusetts, Marty Meehan. John W. Ryan Award, an honor that recognizes the Continued on page 3 Welcome Week adapted for remote campus By Abigail Basile News Editor elcome Week, hosted by the take place on campus. However, with UMass student coordinators, Paige Groves, via email years apart because it really feels like we are Student Arts and Events Council, Boston functioning on a nearly fully remote interview. “We are still learning the best way all six million light years apart working from has taken on a “Six Million Light- basis, the tradition is being carried out a bit to have virtual events, but this Welcome home,” said Groves. “It was also a play on WYears Apart” theme and a virtual form for the differently. Week is jam packed full of fun events, just words since we all need to be six feet apart to Fall 2020 semester. “This is our first Welcome Week from like how it would have been if we were all be safely socially distanced.” Normally, Welcome Week consists of a home and of course, it is way different on campus.” series of events involving various clubs that than we are used to,” said one of SAEC’s “We chose the theme six million light Continued on page 3 www.umassmedia.com News 3 Virtual Convocation 2020 the Abigail Basile “As scholars, scientists, artists, indigenous communities with deep commission released called “Our News Writer humanists, and practitioners who respect, and we honor you.” Common Purpose.” are committed to social justice, “Even from behind a screen, “My hope is that you will junior with the highest GPA at the we must reflect on our privileges I could really feel Chancellor look at this report, consider its university. Finally, Interim Provost and act in all that we do against Suárez-Orozco’s passion for the recommendations, and think m McDermott announced Professor the systemic racism that impacts community,” said junior Shanarah about how you can contribute to Kristin Murphy as the winner of our community and the children Bargan via text message. “He was rebuilding a healthy democracy on the UMass Boston Manning Prize and families who we serve,” said going through formalities, sure, your campus at UMass Boston,” for Excellence in Teaching. Chancellor Suárez-Orozco. “We but I can also tell that he really said Dr. Allen. m Following Interim Provost must address racism and anti- does care about this school and Following Dr. Allen’s remarks, Contact: McDermott, Chancellor Suárez- blackness and its impact on the I’m honestly excited to see what he the “The Bare Necessities” from [email protected] Orozco gave his Chancellor’s daily lives and opportunities of all does here.” Disney’s The Jungle Book was Address. individuals of color.” Following Chancellor Suárez- performed virtually by Wylsner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “Moving forward, our “If you are an immigrant, Orozco’s speech, Dr. Danielle Bastien, Val Marroquin, and Molly Grace Smith responsibility—your responsibility, documented, or undocumented ... Allen, the James Bryant Conant Halpin. as new members of the beacon UMass Boston es su casa,” said University Professor at Harvard Throughout the ceremony, the Managing Editor community is significant,” said Chancellor Suárez-Orozco. “If University, gave her keynote Facebook livestream had about Kaitlynn Castillo Chancellor Suárez-Orozco in his you are a Muslim, UMass Boston address. 30 viewers, while the Youtube speech. “In the age of ... hate, anti- is your house. If you’re a person Dr. Allen spoke to the political livestream had over 150. PRODUCTION Staff science, and anti-rationality, higher of color, it is your house. If you’re state of the world, a commission To view the convocation, visit Shanarah Bargan education offers precious tools LGBTQ, it is your house. If you’re regarding democracy on which https://www.umb.edu/convocation. for science, logic, and facts based a native person, we know we’re in she and Chancellor Suárez- debate.” your house. We acknowledge our Orozco worked, and a report the COPY EDITORS ady harris-fried menaka ravikumar West Coast sees record breaking wildfires in 2020 andrea kline Genevieve Santilli look like a scene out of sci-fi or Many other news sources, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, News EDITOR News Writer horror movie. such the LA Times, ABC News and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Abigail Basile As wildfires in California and Accuweather say that California and Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon The West Coast of the United the West Coast have intensified, is far from being in the clear have all come out publicly stating SPORTS EDITOR States and specifically the state of more wildfires are reaching toward from wildfires as the Santa Ana that climate change has been the Jonathan Hopkins California has always faced the heavily populated areas where winds have not come in yet. The major driving force for the intensity threat of wildfires, but in the most wildfires were not common in past Santa Ana winds brings warm air of the wildfires. recent decades, wildfires have decades. currents from the south up through “It’s maddening right now ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR become more and more intensive Many scientists and researchers California which help to feed some [that] we have this cosmic challenge Mikayla mACKAY and destructive. are pointing to climate change wildfires. to our communities, the entire West Recent wildfires have as one of the main reasons that Firefighters in California have Coast of the United States on fire, OPINIONS EDITOR expanded far along the West wildfires have become increasingly been exhausted due to the fires that to have a president deny that these Matthew Reiad Coast, with images of the smoke frequent and destructive. Record have been raging for two months are not just wildfires, these are blanketing the West Coast seen heatwaves in California have also thus far. With the coronavirus climate fires,” said Gov. Jay Inslee Photo Editor from space satellites in what looks intensified the range and power of pandemic still at high levels in to ABC’s “This Week” program. Dom Ferreira like a white cloud covering the the wildfires. the United States and in Canada, President Trump, according to entirety of the state of California. According to the Accuweather containing the wildfires has been Al Jazeera, plans to go to California News Writer The LA Times reports that so website, the combination of very more difficult than in recent years. to meet with federal and state Genna Santilli far in the wildfire season, which dry winter months and not a lot With many fires raging across officials. He has also stated that is still at is beginning stage, 2020 of precipitation in the winter and the state of California, the amount the wildfires are due to poor forest has already broken a record, with spring made California prime of deaths from the wildfires has management. Photographer 3.2 million acres having burned territory for wildfires this season. amounted to more than 30, with Presidential candidate Joe Delaney Hooper already. Air quality has caused a lot many more people missing. Biden stated that the wildfires were Residents of California have of the West Coast of the U.S.