Owls host voter Students Virtual debate registration for participate in idea is shut students treasure hunt down Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 WWW.THESOUTHERNNEWS.ORG OCTOBER 21, 2020 VOL. 59— ISSUE 8 Homecoming celebrated virtually A mix of online and on-ground events keep the yearly tradition alive hunt, events that LaCharity hunt was also held. By Jessica Guerrucci said could easily appeal to Students searched for Editor-in-Chief wide range of people. treasure chests hidden “We’ve been really throughout the campus for The crowded football pleased with the outcome prizes. game, the pre-game and the attendance from It appeared to help with tailgate, parade and copious our students and the the stress because when amounts of free food were alumni,” LaCharity said. there is incentive to win all put on hold this year Office of Student money or prizes, LaCharity as the annual tradition of Involvement Graduate said students did not seem homecoming switched Intern Chelsey Cerrato said to mind running around from in-person to a virtual since the university usually campus at 8:30 a.m. format due to COVID-19. “goes big” for homecoming, “Students were going “For a while we weren’t they wanted to bring out crazy about it,” Cerrato even sure if we were going the best they could for both said. “Our Instagram was to do anything,” said Eric the students and alumni. blowing up.” LaCharity, assistant director “What we did keep is Another on-ground of Student Involvement. everyone doing banners event that was held was “It’s really hard to replace that the clubs and a dual drive-in movie on PHOTO | JASON EDWARDS homecoming because it’s organizations and residence Oct. 18, where students really about people coming halls and INQ classes can could park in their cars People watching a movie in the Brownell parking lot on Oct. 18. back to campus and just do,” Cerrato said, “but and choose between find anything. Her sister that too much on campus homecoming brings people celebrating being together instead of in-person we “Remember The Titans” or was able to win a her this semester just because together more, but she and celebrating our made it virtually.” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Nintendo Switch. so many people are either understands that isn’t university.” With midterms around He said there is a core Even though at home because they have possible at this time. When they decided the corner, Cerrato said it group of about 30 students homecoming was being nothing on campus, or I “I think it’s what we can to move forward with was important for students who attended almost every done virtual, Barajas said just don’t see them.” do for now,” Mondia said. the event, LaCharity said to be able to relax and have event they put on, so it it was a good alternative Other students didn’t “I think it will work if there Student Affairs and alumni fun. shows that students who and helped build a sense of participate in the events, is attendance, if people decided to work together to Though all the events want to be involved in the community. such as psychology actually show up, but I do a mix of virtual and on- were virtual, LaCharity said events are doing so. “It nice to see so many major Alyssa Mondia, a think everyone is definitely ground events. 200 people attended bingo, English major Lupita people really getting sophomore, simply because going to miss in-person The week consisted of 80 for trivia, and 40 for the Barajas, a senior, said she involved in [the treasure of the virtual nature of the homecoming.” virtual trivia, bingo, game scavenger hunt. tried to participate in the hunt],” she said. “I feel like events. shows and a scavenger An on-campus treasure treasure hunt but couldn’t I haven’t been able to see She said in-person See Virtual Page 2 Masters program approved behavior management, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and creating professionals By Jose Vega sustainability, substance there were only 400 who can affect change in Contributor abuse disorders, brain certified professionals in their communities and injury rehab, animal 2000, 10,000 in 2012, and help different institutions For several years, a behavior, et cetera.” 40,000 in 2020. reach their goals. new master’s program in College of Education Bilingual elementary According to the applied behavior analysis Dean Stephen Hegedus education major Alexis Board of Regents agenda, has been underway. Now was one of two who Woods, an undergraduate, “Southern’s commitment that it has been approved presented the program said at first glance, the to liberal arts and by the Board of Regents at to the BOR, noting that program seems to have professional disciplines the university will being there is a great need for a lot of versatility and means an applied science starting fall 2021. Board Certified Behavior gives the chance to work of learning, used to Department of Special Analyst (BCBA) licensed towards helping students support a variety of Education Meghan Brahm personnel and consultants understand the world individuals, is an excellent said the ABA coursework in Connecticut and across around them. fit.” will help to prepare the United States. “I think it’s important Elementary education students to work in all the The program’s mission we think of ways to major Olivia Zembruski, different fields that will is to prepare students increase their knowledge junior, expressed her to use the applied skills and understanding,” interest in the program, require the skills learned PHOTO | NEWS.SOUTHERNCT.COM throughout the program. learned in the educational said Woods. “This new saying it will help her Dean of the School of Business, Ellen Durnin. “Area of focus or and/or therapeutic program will be a great and others like her better expertise can be tailored environments with way to benefit those who understand the behaviors based on the student’s individuals that may or are special education of children who might be clinical experience,” may not have disabilities. majors, psychologists, etc. facing mental and physical Durnin retiring said Brahm. “You will It will also prepare them to to further enhance their obstacles with their regularly find behavior pass the BCBA exam and knowledge and provide education. analysts working in fields apply to become a licensed better improved students “I want to work with such as sports/health Behavior Analyst in the experiences in and out of critically ill children in a this school year and fitness, prevention State of Connecticut. school.” hospital education setting,” By Bernadotte Sufka School of Business can and intervention in The field of behavior The approved program said Zembruski. “I can see apply and be granted with child maltreatment, analysts has grown will align with the that doing my Master’s Features & Opinions Editor career-focused workshops behavioral gerontology, considerably in popularity. university’s mission of in that would help me with speakers and experts organizational According to the U.S. serving the public good understand and be able Ellen Durnin, Dean of to enhance their different to help a lot of the social/ the School of Business, has career options. emotional pieces of long officially announced her “I don’t know her per- stays in the hospital, as retirement at the end of sonally, but Dr. Durnin well as help the children the 2020 academic year. gave good advice at the adjust to life outside those “I’ve been very proud to program,” said marketing walls.” be the Dean of the School major, Bridget Wilkinson, Brahm said with interest of Business for the past a senior. “She was really primarily being shown 10 years,” said Durnin. “I nice and informative. She by private companies, think we have accom- talked about how to nego- she is enthusiastic about plished some amazing tiate one’s salary and was spreading the news of things. But also, it’s time a very good speaker at the a new masters program for me to step away and program. She has so much and said they are in the for new person to come in experience.” process of expanding into and take them to the next Durnin may be retiring undergraduate studies in level.” soon, but she said that did the future. Her contribution to the not stop her from going “We hope to start talking university has not gone out and accomplishing to students as SCSU about unnoticed. She has aided more. The School of the MS opportunity,” said students within all the Business building will be Brahm. “We are also in programs the school of expanded into a larger one the process of creating an business has to offer. and she said the works undergraduate ABA option One of them includ- for it have already went for students at SCSU and ed the “SCSU School of underway and will soon be hope that will be available Businesswomen’s Lead- PHOTO | JOSE VEGA built. within the next few school ership Program,” where Department of Special Education in Davis, which is part of the new program. years.” female students in the See Durnin Page 2 Page 2 News October 21, 2020 Changes made to dining ‘to-go’ system By Donovan Wilson container. Students are system is the online food also given a travel cup to app for the campus called Reporter fill with the drink of their Bite U. The app is available Trial and error is a choice. Drinks will be the but not yet fully functional. major component of only thing students have to Once it is, students will the current COVID-19 serve themselves.