SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • APRIL 15, 2020 | VOLUME 105 | ISSUE 23
TABELLA’S HEALTHCARE HEROES PG 3
ODA STUDENTS ADAPT PG 5
FAST FOOD WORKERS PG 7
Pandemic leaves questions regarding job search
McLemore Hall on the Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus stands empty after Career Services moved to online-only.
Jack McCallum | Printz
JACK MCCALLUM
ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION EDITOR he COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses to close, universities to shut down and employers to stop accepting new applicants. With all of Southern Miss being pushed online, many students fear what their job search will entail once they graduate. Graduating Southern Miss seniors were told on March 17 that their commencement ceremonies would be rescheduled, with the new dates later being announced as August 2022. The panic of COVID-19 combined with confusion and rescheduling has upcoming graduates concerned about what kind of economy they might be entering. Rusty Anderson, Director of Career Services, said there are still jobs out there, but students may need to situate themselves to the likelihood of not immediately obtaining their dream job. “We don’t exactly know how [COVID-19]
is going to affect [the job market] in the next 12 months. This has just been so sudden,” Anderson said. “These new graduates won’t necessarily have to settle for a job, but they’ll have to be less selective about what they’re willing to take.” Anderson, noting he is not an economist, said he does think the country could enter a recession. He compared the job search for upcoming graduates to those who graduated during the Great Recession of the late 2000s. “I know during the cycle of 2008, we had students that were getting jobs, but they weren’t always at the pay level they anticipated. And over a ten-year period, it showed they had actually earned less than a typical graduate probably should have,” Anderson explained. “I think we’ll see a little bit of that also. But I really think you’ll see a compressed job market with a lot of people, both experienced people and new graduates, fighting for some of the same type of jobs.” The Great Recession saw 73,000 job losses in Mississippi from the fourth quarter of 2007 to the third quarter of 2010. With so much still unknown about COVID-19’s lasting effects,
Anderson said the job market could still turn around, and not be as negatively affected. Still, he added that students might also receive fewer job offers than usual. “Whereas two years ago when we were in a really good job market, a student may get, if they’re working real hard at it, three or four job offers. Well now they may get one or two,” Anderson said. With everything now online, Anderson made sure to emphasize that Career Services still welcomes virtual meetings and still has all of its services available. “We’re using bookings on our website through Office 365, which students should have access to. We’re promoting that real heavily. We’re aggressively emailing students to let them know that we’re still available and that our services are still individualized,” Anderson said. Southern Miss had announced its plans to shut down campus and move classes to an online-only format on March 12. At the time, there was one COVID-19 case in Mississippi. As of April 9, that number has since risen to 2,469 cases in Mississippi and 82 deaths.
With COVID-19 cases still rising and students still at home, some are worried about what this means for gaining in-person experience. Keisha Green is a senior broadcast journalism major who is graduating in December 2020. Green was originally going to graduate this May, but thought she had more to gain from her college experience. Now, with the state in lockdown, she is thankful that she has more time to look for jobs and gain experience. “At first I wasn’t sure whether or not I made the right decision. But now, in the midst of the pandemic and everything that’s happening, I’m actually super grateful because I feel like everything happens for a reason, and this is God’s way of telling me that there is more work for me to do,” Green said. “As far as obtaining a job, I definitely speak for myself when I say I don’t feel as nervous anymore because I feel like I have plenty of time to search.” Even though Green is not nervous, she said that many of her fellow classmates who are graduating in May are.
CONT. ON PG 4
NEWS APRIL 15, 2020 MEET THE STAFF Executive Editor
Alyssa Bass alyssa.bass@usm.edu
Copy Editor
Mary Murphy mary.murphy@usm.edu
News Editor
Morgan Usry morgan.usry@usm.edu
Advocates raise awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month MEGHAN FULLER EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Entertainment/Opinion Editor Jack McCallum john.mccallum@usm.edu
Feature/Lifestyle Editor Lillie Busch lillie.busch@usm.edu
Sports Editor
Makayla Puckett makayla.puckett@usm.edu
Multimedia Editor
Blair Ballou blair.ballou@usm.edu
Social Media Editor Bethany Morris
bethany.morris@usm.edu
Photo Editor
Brian Winters brian.s.winters@usm.edu
Design Editor
Emily Brinkman emily.brinkman@usm.edu
Graphic Designers Kathleen Hetherington kathleen.hetherington@usm.edu Alexandria Moore alexandria.casey@usm.edu Marissa Haas marissa.haas@usm.edu
Printz Advisor
chuck.cook@usm.edu
The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submission must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@ gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.
Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
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pril is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Southern Miss organizations are participating in SA AM to raise awareness and provide education about the dangers of sexual violence throughout Hattiesburg. The Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassadors is an on-campus organization led by students advocating for those affected by sexual violence. SAPA also provides resources and education regarding sexual assault and prevention. Selma Newbill, the president and founder of SAPA, explained the virtual efforts being made. “Looking back on other years of SA AM, no matter what, those who want to end sexual assault and abuse will always find ways to advocate for awareness and prevention,” Newbill said. SAPA encourages anyone and everyone to advocate. While many feel isolated while quarantined at home and feel as though they don’t have a voice, Newbill said
there are many ways to advocate throughout April. For anyone interested in advocating for sexual assault awareness, Denim Day, which encourages others to wear jeans for sexual assault awareness, is on April 29. “You do not have to be big and grandiose with your showing of support; being quiet but firm in your beliefs is OK too,” Newbill said. “All kinds of support is needed and welcomed to make sure people feel safe around others and to put a forever stop to sexual violence.” Title IX is also still assisting survivors locally. Rebecca Woodrick Malley Ph.D., the Title IX coordinator for Southern Miss, said counselors shouldn’t be the only ones there for a survivor. “Friends and family can help survivors by getting them in touch with resources,” Malley said. “It’s important for family and friends to not allow themselves to become surrogate counselors.” In addition to SAPA holding virtual events, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center is hosting an Instagram challenge called #30DaysofSA AM. Megan
Thomas, the communications specialist for NSVRC, explained the importance of online engagement. “We’re hoping this is a way for people to build community and share inspiration virtually,” Thomas said. “Getting involved in SA AM looks a little different this year than it has in years past, but there are still plenty of ways to get engaged online.” The SA AM events include trivia games and virtual walks as well as graphics for reposting. Many can even donate online to their local rape crisis center in order to raise funds for survivors. Along with monetary and online support, Thomas urges assistance for survivors in a more personal manner as well. She feels the most important way to positively affect survivors is to make a personal connection with them simply by starting a conversation. “You can start by just being there for them and listening non-judgmentally if they want to talk,” Thomas said. “Letting them know that you believe them and are there for them can make a world of difference.”
NEWS APRIL 15, 2020
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Tabella’s Healthcare Heroes serves meals to hospital workers WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER
n Friday April 3, local Italian restaurant Tabella launched Tabella’s Healthcare Heroes program, which is aimed at providing meals to those working in hospitals and clinics during the coronavirus pandemic. Robert St. John, the owner of Tabella and other restaurants in Hattiesburg, said he launched the program after noticing how healthcare workers were having to work overtime in dangerous conditions. “We received numerous calls from people asking if there was any way our businesses could help out, so we started making the meals and supplying them to the hospitals,” St. John said. When a customer calls Tabella, people can place an order for a meal to a doctor or other medical professional. Once the orders are placed, they are delivered to the hospitals and doled out amongst the different sectors. “Everyone is at home while these guys are on the frontlines fighting the virus. There are two types of heroes at work, the first are the ones out in the field, and the other type is the people who call and order meals for them to have,” St. John said. Restaurants in cities around America have initiated similar programs. They all carry the same goal: support healthcare workers. While Tabella works to provide meals to hospital employees, local charity group Extra Table is working to ensure soup kitchens and food pantries don’t run out of supplies. With the unemployment rate up at 14.9%, many are resorting to charity organizations for support. “The purpose of the organization is to provide food and other goods to food pantries and soup kitchens, but because
Courtesy Photo from Forrest General Hospital
of the epidemic we have expanded our operations. We are now taking food donations from restaurants because since they’re closed, they aren’t able to use the ingredients in their storage,” Martha Allen, vice president of Extra Table, said. Allen said the biggest challenge the organization is facing is ensuring all of their employees are safe. “We want to ensure everything delivered
Nurses at Forrest General Hospital pose with sign that says, “ICU Loves Tabella!”
is in good condition, but we are also making sure our volunteer workers are safe and healthy,” she said. Programs like Tabella’s Healthcare Heroes and Extra Table give people an incentive to help out one another during the epidemic. With many local businesses and restaurants closed around Hattiesburg, supporting medical workers and everyday citizens gives a new reason for those to keep working.
“People who live paycheck to paycheck are finding it harder than ever to do things like buy groceries. Because of this, charity organizations are starting to face supply shortages, but this is why groups like Extra Table are present to find and supply what they need,” Allen said. So far, Tabella’s Healthcare Heroes has raised nearly $13,000 and will continue to support hospital workers.
COVID-19 changes the work landscape EARL STOUDEMIRE PRINTZ REPORTER
any students pursue internships in their junior or senior year to help gain valuable experience in the workfield. However, many of these opportunities have been put on pause this year due to COVID-19. Many companies have had to cancel their internship opportunities for college students due to safety and economic concerns. Bailey Bynum, a sophomore accounting and finance double major, said this was why her tax internship with the Carr, Riggs & Ingram accounting firm in Jackson was canceled. “It was paid, and I’m devastated that it’s not going to happen. When they contacted me regarding my internship status, they mentioned it had to be postponed since the regular employee’s salaries would have been cut by 20-30%, which wouldn’t have helped anyone in these economic times,” Bynum said. Senior therapeutic recreation major Elizabeth Winder, however, was still able to keep her internship at the Wood Activity and Therapeutic Center in Clinton. For Winder, working with elderly groups changed her work routine. “At first, I did worry. especially since the population that we serve is older adults, but we have taken precautions to be clean and safe. Even though our participants cannot physically come to the center, we are taking various measures to still allow them the chance to stay active. Overall, we’re looked at as a required field that is assisting people of all ages during these troubling times,” Winder said.
Brian Winters | Printz
Career Services has recently shared link portals to access applications for virtual internships. While this isn’t the preferred experience many students were looking towards, Jon Pluskota, Ph.D, an assistant professor in the media entertainment arts department, said this might be the new future for some work experiences. “The idea that distance learning and work being here for the long run might become
Students are being notified via email about internship changes due to COVID-19.
more of a reality. The question is if we were behind the curve before this occurred. It just required more thought, innovation, ingenuity using technology. I think that as far as careers, education and internships, we are going to see a move towards online in some capacity,” Pluskota said. Pluskota said a big part of making online or remote internships work is increasing communication.
“If you’re going to have a micro-internship, you’re going to have to know that the support is there and the person is a good mentor,” Pluskota said. “It can turn into a disaster if you’re not in constant communication and just have people throwing stuff at you. If the workforce is going to be more remote in the future, as long as there is connection everything will go fine. It forces us all to learn more on our own.”
FEATURES APRIL 15, 2020 CONT. FROM PG 1 “We aren’t really able to practice on actual news cameras and f ilm news packages because of the quarantine. So that puts us in an awkward position, because when it comes time to apply for news stations and we’re supposed to show them a newsreel, we won’t have a lot to show,” Green said. “A lot of us had internships at news stations, but because of the pandemic, our internships were canceled. It sucks because you can only learn so much from school.” As some students have dealt with their internships falling through or having their hours cut, others aren’t sure whether this is a good time to apply for internships. However, Paige
Jones, Program Director of Center for Pathway Experiences, said there are still remote internship opportunities available. Jones also said many companies offering internships are hopeful that things will turn around by summer. “A lot of companies are still emailing us, and while they might not be accepting right now, they still, for the future dates, have it open and going,” Jones said. “Everyday in Handshake, I’m still approving over 50 internships. So that is why I send emails out. To let students know that they are available, but it will be at the student’s discretion if they want to wait to see if things will open back up so they can have it inperson.” Jones said that for some majors and f ields, specif ically healthcare, she
wouldn’t expect for those students to do an online residency. Though she does say that one downside about the remote internships is that they are unpaid. “A lot of it is because they don’t have the money right now to pay for an internship like they normally would,” Jones said. Jones said she can still help students with Pathways internships through virtual meetings. She thinks gaining experience in a time like this can make an individual stand out on their application. “Right now, the experience that any student will gain from an unpaid, virtual or remote internship is experience that, just with the dates that you’ll be able to place on your resume, people who look at it are going
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM to know this student went and sought an internship during a pandemic and completed it in the f ield they want to be in. That will stand out,” Jones said. “It’ll just show the type of character and professionalism that student has and the precautions they’re willing to take to make things work.” Jones, like Anderson, does not think the search for job and internship positions is hopeless, though. “If you stop looking, then there’s no opportunity to get a job,” Anderson said. I think students just have to work smarter and harder on the job search. They should use all of their resources, use all of their networks— Career Services, faculty members, alumni, friends and family members— to try and get connected to these job openings.”
Christians adapt to Easter away from church
Bethany Morris | Printz
BETHANY MORRIS PRINTZ REPORTER
or the Christian community, Easter is a time of ref lection as they dig deeper into the love of Christ. In the middle of pandemic fears, churches and believers around the Hattiesburg community are still worshipping, whether through Zoom video chats or Facebook Live streams. Junior speech pathology and audiology major Callie Crider attends St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Hattiesburg. In response to quarantine, Crider now live streams mass and communions in her apartment. “I’ve been looking at the tragedy surrounding the pandemic and looking at the season of Easter as a reminder that Jesus rose from the dead and that we can place our hope in him,” Crider said. Crider and her cousin are in
quarantine in Crider’s apartment, so they plan to wear their Easter dresses and watch mass in their living room. They want to celebrate the day even if they cannot physically attend church. This is because, in the midst of the chaos, Crider believes we still have to look for control and certainty in our lives, and the only certainty we have right now is in Christ. “Have hope and have faith. God is good and people are good. We will be okay,” Crider said. Junior elementary education major Sarah Sandoz also attends St. Thomas Aquinas. Similar to Crider, Sandoz plans to spend Easter in quarantined Hattiesburg this year, so she plans to livestream mass service. “The Catholic church being very strong in tradition when doing communion every Sunday and to not being able to physically receive the eucharist is a strange and unprecedented time for our church. A number of churches
have started livestreams of mass daily, so I’ve tuned into a live stream mass every Sunday,” Sandoz said. Sandoz is amazed by how technology has allowed the visual aspect of worship to remain. Worship may look different, but the spirituality remains. Sandoz said she believes that the pandemic is a ref lection of the true meaning of Easter. “It’s interesting that the pandemic came at the time when we’re entering Good Friday, and when Jesus was crucif ied. It’s almost symbolic. We can’t go to the physical church building, and we’re in a time of darkness that we can ref lect on the sorrow and love that Christ had on the cross,” Sandoz said. Paul Howayeck, a college pastor at Petal-Harvey Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, said he thinks this time away from the physical church building has caused modern Christians to realize true worship begins in the hearts of
believers.. “We don’t worship comfort.. We worship the comforter,” Howayeck said. During this time of social distancing, PHBC has moved all church services online to Facebook, YouTube and the church’s website to stay connected with their congregation. They’ve also utilized Zoom and other video chats for smaller services. Howayeck hopes that, through this pandemic, believers realize that church is not a building. He also believes the pandemic happening on Easter could be symbolic. “Every Sunday is resurrection Sunday for believers. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus when we come together. Without the crucif ixion, death and resurrection of Jesus we have no hope or redemption, so this Sunday we’ll have that on our mind while we tune in online with our church family,” Howayeck said.
LIFESTYLE APRIL 15, 2020
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ODA students search for balance working from home EARL STOUDEMIRE PRINTZ REPORTER
Illustration by Derrick “DJ” Reed | Printz
nline classes are def initely a chore many traditional college students didn’t expect. With a million deadlines pushed down throats and Canvas announcements blowing up phones, students should ideally be submitting work on time. However, that is not the case. Many students cite procrastination as the reason they struggle with schoolwork. Students who use the Off ice of Disability Accommodations, however, have more legitimate reasons for struggling with schoolwork, especially in these hard times. Freshman Ashley Grantham is a biomedical sciences major with severe ADHD & anxiety. The benef its ODA gave Grantham on campus included taking tests in their off ice, access to powerpoints, ability to record in class and a good relationship with her professors. “It was really helpful because a lot of
my professors understood I’m in a lot of classes that were 60-120 people. It’s hard to make a personal connection, but that [ODA benef its] really helped me connect with my professors so they knew me. They were very kind when reaching out to me, and it helped me so much to get ahead of my work,” Grantham said. Now off-campus for the rest of the semester, ODA students have had to create new routines to stay on top of their work. Tarikat Khan, a sociology major, also has anxiety and ADHD. “In the beginning, when I started maintaining a planner, I’d always think, ‘Why am I putting myself through all the trouble?’ But working on the planner seemed to be therapeutic for me, so I made it a habit. It helped me with feeling overwhelmed and calmed my nerves down a little, knowing that I had everything written down that needed to be done,” Khan said. As Grantham and Khan planned their routines to get their work done, environmental changes, like working from home, still pose issues for students. Freshman psychology major Abigail Keenum, for example, lives in a crowded household. “I live in a household with two younger brothers as well as my parents
and my father’s service dog, which doesn’t institute for a quiet calm work and relaxation environment like I had on campus in my residence hall. I’ve had to mentally work a lot harder to force myself to f ight the strain of what’s going on in the outside world
while making sure I still complete my school work,” Keenum said. Like students without accommodations from the ODA, these students said working online doesn’t provide the same feeling as being in the classroom.
Thrifted Gold: DIY Facemasks BETHANY MORRIS
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR attiesburg Mayor Toby Barker issued a new executive order requiring business employees in the city to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, since it is hard to find them these days, why not make your own? In the midst of a global pandemic, it’s our job to f latten the curve anyway that we can. This could be the perfect time to use those thrifted headscarves for a lifesaving cause. The simplest way I’ve found to make a face mask is with either a bandana or a thrifted head scarf, as well as clear elastic or ponytail holders. Here’s the step-bystep process to make your very own face mask, perfect for you or any family members! Step One: Lay the bandana f lat. Step Two: Fold the top of the bandana to the middle. Step Three: Fold the bottom of the bandana towards the middle so it meets the top. Step Four: Flip the bandana over, and fold the top and bottom to the middle again. Step Five: Flip the bandana over again and thread the ends through both hair ties, dividing it into thirds. Step Six: Fold the sides of the bandana in so the hair ties from outer loops that
Bethany Morris | Printz
you can put behind your ears. Step Seven: Flip it once more so the pleats are facing outward, and the mask is complete. If you’re handy with a sewing machine or a sewing needle, then you may want to try a more advanced way to create a face mask. Here’s what you’ll need to complete the project. 1. 2 pieces of 100% cotton fabric that measure about 7 inches by 9 inches—cotton T-shirts, dish towels and pillowcases are good options (make sure
all fabric is washed and dry) 2. 2 pieces of cotton fabric that measure about 1.5 inches by 40 inches for the mask’s strap (in a pinch, you can use something like shoelaces or ribbon) 3. A ruler, sewing pins, a pair of scissors, thread, an iron and a sewing machine It’s important to follow CDC guidelines on face masks. The masks should fit snugly, but comfortable against the side of the face.They should also include multiple layers of fabric. Most importantly, the masks should be secure
while still allowing for breathing without restriction. It is also important that they are able to be laundered and machinedried without damage or change to their shape. The CDC also recommends wearing cloth-face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Grocery stores and pharmacies, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission, are great places to wear face masks.
ENTERTAINMENT APRIL 15, 2020
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The Strokes’ new album reflects unsure identity LILLIE BUSCH
FEATURE/LIFESTYLE EDITOR he New Abnormal” is The Strokes’ first album in seven years. An ode to ‘80s artists, the album sounds like a hand labeled, Billy Idol mixtape you would discover in your parents’ attic. However, this isn’t to say that it is a completely standout album. Rather, it meanders with its separate messages. Some tracks rebel, such as the opening “The Adults are Talking”. Some meditate, such as in “Selfless” and “Bad Decisions.” The album is only cohesive in its ‘80s-inspired and reflective undertones. The nine-track album opens with “The Adults are Talking,”which the band premiered during their so-called global comeback show in Los Angeles. Casablancas’ voice begins hushed before gradually increasing with an urgent tempo. It also adds to the old mixtape feel of the album with a bit of studio talk at the song’s end. The second track, “Selfless,” is a personal favorite. It is one of the few songs on the album that clearly portrays a relationship, with Casablancas lamenting the fact that he can not live without his lover. The lyrics alluding to body-shaming, however —“How did this fit in your story / why’d you let them judge your body?” — contribute to
the album’s meandering messages. Another personal favorite is the tongue-incheek “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus.” The track is reminiscent of not just ‘80s bands, but old Strokes
music a la the early 2000s. What truly cements “The New Abnormal” as a love letter to the ‘80s is the album’s sampling of iconic tracks from the era. The Strokes’ “Bad
Illustration by Marissa Haas | Printz
Decisions” borrows the main instrumental track from Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself.” The Psychedelic Furs’ “The Ghost in You” is sampled in the album’s “Eternal Summer.” The emotional ballad “At the Door” is perhaps the saddest song on the album. The song’s narrator speaks of a goal always out of reach, which supports the idea that this album represents The Strokes’ current state of mind. With the quiet strings and Casablancas’ inimitable falsetto, the song is perfect for that nighttime, long drive home. Two more introspective tracks close out the album. With the simple guitar strings and nostalgic lyrics, “Why are Sundays So Depressing” is reminiscent of the late Tom Petty. “Not the Same Anymore” alludes to many different interpretations: that the band can not please the fans; that Casablancas has caused the end of several relationships; that the band members have evolved over the past seven years. Contrasted to the quiet, reflective “At the Door,” “Not the Same Anymore” instead features grueling questions from Casablancas, his voice no longer soft, but gurgling rocks. “Ode to the Mets” ends the album. The final song is not just a love letter to New York, but also the band members’ history together. It is truly the best song to end such an introspective album. Overall, “The New Abnormal” is reflective of the Strokes’ current state of mind: hopeful, but still stuck in transition, trying to find their footing after seven years’ hiatus.
Netflix shines light on the Hasidic Community in ‘Unorthodox’ JOHN HOLLINS
PRINTZ REPORTER etflix’s new original series “Unorthodox,” is a must-watch, four part series centered around a young woman’s emancipation from her Hasidic Jewish community in Williamsburg. Inspired by Deborah Feldman’s memoir, “Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots,” “Unorthodox” tells the story of 19-year-old Etsy Shapiro, played by Israeli actress Shira Haas who escapes to Germany, leaving behind her husband and entire community, after discovering she is pregnant. Etsy struggles in learning how to maneuver and function in the modern world after spending her entire life in a community that does not even allow the internet. Etsy, while being practically homeless in Berlin, befriends a diverse group of music students who show her the ways of our world. The irony of a Jewish woman finding freedom in Germany is not glossed over. Modern-day Germany is shot to look like the pinnacle of modern achievement. For someone who’s been as repressed as Etsy, it certainly appears like a utopia. Yet all she can think about are all the Jewish ghosts, an especially relevant concern today, as many still struggle to come to grips with the success we have while also coming to terms with the tragedies of our past. Yet the Germany presented in “Unorthodox” is one that has moved on from, but still acknowledges, its bleak history. At one point, Robert, Etsy’s German love interest, points across a lake they are swimming in toward a villa and tells her how it once hosted a conference where Nazis slaughtered Jews. “And you swim in this lake?” Etsy responded
with disgust. His response has to be one of the best representations of what this show is trying to say: “Well, a lake is just a lake.” The story doesn’t only focus on Etsy’s life in Germany. It is split between her time in Germany and flashbacks to her former life in Williamsburg, which is a real treat for the audience. While Etsy feels like a fish out of water in Germany, the audience gets that similar experience seeing the authentic portrayal of the Satmar Hasidic Jewish community, who are directly descended from Hungary Jews that either escaped or were Holocaust survivors. From costume to rituals, it is obvious that the show has vested determination in portraying this community as accurately as possible. Yiddish is even the primary language for the majority of the show. While the audience may get lost in understanding what is exactly going on, there is such a universal quality to the writing that no characters’ intention will be lost on you. “Unorthodox” should be a reminder to the film and tv community why diversity is so necessary in art. Stories like Etsy’s show that, regardless of what community we are born into, the necessity to be allowed to express oneself is universal. In learning to move on with Etsy,
“Unorthodox” gives us a chance to be engrossed and love a culture that is not our own.
Illustration by Alexandria Moore | Printz
OPINION APRIL 15, 2020
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Fast-food workers aren’t treated like essential employees JAKORI BEAUCHAMP PRINTZ REPORTER
ecently, in Waco, Texas, Nelson Santiago quit his job at Wendy’s after being sent a bag of candy from corporate to commemorate their work during the pandemic. If fastfood employees are being treated terribly, working in poor conditions and still being underpaid for their hard work, then they should not be listed as essential employees. At this point, minimum and low wage workers are making even less than people who receive unemployment checks. There should be some form of hazard pay given to those they call essential employees. Just this week alone, there were several incidents of walkouts and protests from employees across the country because their employers weren’t treating them well. One of the main reasons employers say fast-food workers are essential is because healthcare workers and truck drivers need places to eat. After working long shifts at the hospital, healthcare workers may not have time to cook or grocery shop. So, with that being the case, why are fast-food workers being paid so poorly and putting their lives at risk for a country that treats
them terribly? It makes no sense. If employers consider fast-food workers essential, then they need to be treated as such. Give them benefits and safety precautions that will keep them safe and, if something does happen, covered. In other words, don’t consider fast-food workers essential if they are going to be treated like expendable workers. The minimum pay for being an essential employee should also be raised. The current average for minimum wage in the United States is $7.25. Now that being in close proximity to others is considered a danger, fast-food workers deserve hazard pay. However, hazard pay of $15 an hour is just a start to treating these essential workers correctly. McDonald’s, like Wendy’s, is also coming under fire for poor treatment. Instead of sending all of their employee safety gear at the same time, they only sent it to some, and only then, because it was required by law. During this time, a McDonald’s employee where protective gear was not sent tested positive for COVID-19. Because of McDonald’s poor safety precautions, the other employees could have been potentially exposed to the virus. On top of that, they are still only paying their workers minimum wage. These incidents have sparked non-union workers in California and McDonald’s
workers alike to protest, demanding masks, gloves, soap, hazard pay and sick days. There are plenty of teenagers that work fastfood jobs in this current e co n o my, over 30%. My sister works at Sonic and is co n s i d e r e d an essential employee. I don’t feel comfortable with college students being exposed to such an unpredictable virus due to the mistreatment and poor safety precautions given to them by their employers. Until fast-food employees are treated and paid like they are essential, they should not be subject to these conditions.
Illustration by DJ “Derrick” Reed | Printz
We should be turning to billionaires to save us DIPIN SUBEDI
PRINTZ REPORTER Illustration by Emily Brinkman | Printz
he coronavirus pandemic is worsening day by day. There is an astronomical surge in both the number of infected people and those who have died due to respiratory illnesses caused by the virus. Businesses
and schools have closed, people are sick and unemployed and, worse of all, they have no idea what will come next. On top of handling COVID-19, the government has to assuage people’s anxieties aggravated by the recent economic meltdown. However, as in any crisis, the government’s slow administration process, further hurt by the lack of a leadership authority, means little immediate relief. The people we should instead turn to right now are billionaires, who have both the money and power to get us out of this predicament. Billionaires, previously assumed to be hoarding riches without regard for those struggling, are now suddenly seen as messiahs for the poor. Though the amount they contribute might not leave a dent on their overall wealth, they are doing a better job at utilizing efficient money spending strategies over the government. A recent poster boy of
coronavirus philanthropy Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who has donated $1 billion for COVID-19 relief efforts. Similarly, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently donated $100 million to Feeding America to support 200 food banks in the United States. He also hired 100,000 new employees and raised wages for current employees to regulate demand for shipping essential household items and medications. Former Democratic candidate and CEO of Bloomberg LP, Michael Bloomberg, has spared no efforts to fight against the pandemic. Through his charity Bloomberg Philanthropies, he is donating billions to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This will give public professionals the tools to save lives and contain the virus. His $40 million Coronavirus Global Initiative will not only help the people
in our nation, but will seek to tame the worldwide outbreak of the virus. Bill Gates, another multi-billion dollar man, has also been working on the treatment and detection of the virus. He, alongside his wife, Melinda Gates, have donated through their foundation $100 million to help efforts to diagnose and develop vaccines for coronavirus to protect people all around the globe. Have the billionaires failed us in their efforts to stop coronavirus? In this current situation, I would say they have not.