Eastern is a unique university in many ways. From the small classroom environment, to the strong sense of community, Eastern is a place where many feel comfortable. However, there is one space that makes some Eastern students rife with anxiety: the state of the art fitness center.

The fitness center is beautiful, with brand new equipment and music blasting throughout, but there are some aspects that make some uncomfortable. For one, Eastern has one fitness center; the fitness center that the NCAA athletes use for their team weight lifting sessions is the same fitness center that non-athletes use to get some steps in on the treadmill.

It makes sense for Eastern; the small student population does not need multiple gyms. Still, that does not keep gym anxiety at bay.

One Eastern student expressed the following concern about the fitness center: “I feel like I’m constantly being judged. I’m not an athlete (or athletic for that matter) but I am still trying to do better for my own health. At this point, I’m doing yoga in my dorm to avoid the stares”.

Since the rise of COVID and the at-home workout, many students have retreated to doing workouts in their rooms, both for the sake of their anxiety and convenience. YouTubers like Chloe Ting and Lilly Sabri have become pioneers of the at-home workout, creating quick and easy workouts that come with results.

Another great way to stay fit while staying away from the gym is taking hikes to Wayne. Downtown Wayne is only about a mile away from campus, and it is a beautiful hike to make.

Between the lush greenery of the Fenimore woods and the great food of downtown Wayne, taking an hour to explore the area is not only a great way to stretch your legs, but it can be a great source of meditation and self-reflection. Remember to stay six feet away from other hikers and bring your mask!
If you can not avoid the gym and are still having anxiety, do not hesitate to ask for a workout buddy or ask for help from the fitness center staff; that is what they are there for! The strength and conditioning team at Eagle even has their own Instagram account (@ironeaglessc) filled with nutritional and workout advice.

While the gym is not for everyone, it is important that everyone gets some sort of exercise a few times a week. If you’re having gym anxiety, never fear. There are plenty of alternatives.

In the world of sports, there are a variety of jobs and responsibilities that go beyond playing the game. While coaches, athletes, and trainers can obviously have a career in sports, there are a number of career paths that one can have while still being a part of the sports arena.

Eastern alumni Sabrina Thomas (‘20) is currently pursuing her Masters in Sports Business at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management. Thomas played softball as an Eagle for three years and did her capstone project on the representation of women in sports media. While pursuing her education Thomas has made strides in creating connections and has made a headstart in her job hunt as a woman in sports.

Thomas says that creating connections is the most important step in being successful in the world of sports. She recommends creating and refining an account on LinkedIn, a social media site that is geared towards the professional world. On LinkedIn, members can follow their favorite sports teams to get updates on job opportunities for that specific team or sport.

Thomas also recommends reaching out to people in jobs that one aspires to have. “It’s more than just reaching out to these people on LinkedIn and hoping for the best. You need to message these people and follow up.” She also talked about doing informational interviews. “You’re not necessarily asking for a job, but you’re putting your foot in the door.”

Sarah Todd, director of Eastern’s career center, also had plenty to say about pursuing a career in sports. Todd explained that many teams host career nights for college students to network and learn more about the field. While these nights would have been in-person pre-COVID, most of them have become virtual.

Todd also recommends joining on-campus athletic organizations while still pursuing one’s degree. Between writing opportunities for the Waltonian, interning for the Athletics Department, or helping a team with game day activities, there are a large number of on-campus opportunities that she recommends for students.

Another great resource Todd recommends for a career in sports is TeamWork. TeamWork is a website that professional sports teams use to post job and internship opportunities for those interested in the field. It is free to use and they often send updates to job seekers via email.

Of course, Todd’s office is always available for career advice. Todd and her team are ready to help Eastern students get the career of their dreams. Whether it is refereeing a local youth soccer game or doing accounts payable for an NFL team, there are plenty of opportunities to work in the world of sports.

As Chief Justice John Roberts shook the hand of President Joe Biden and said “congratulations Mister President”, I let out a huge sigh. For the first time in my adult life, I have a president who has empathy. While some may argue that former President Donald Trump was empathetic, I happen to disagree. As a young disabled woman, I never felt empathy from Trump. However, with Biden as commander in chief, I feel seen and understood in ways that Donald Trump never made me feel.

In late 2015, presidential candidate Donald Trump got on stage at a campaign rally and openly mocked Serge Kovaleski, a reporter from the New York Times who suffers from arthrogryposis. Shaking his head and flailing his arm, he openly bullied someone like me: a disabled journalist who was trying to do his job and report on the campaign. A few days later, Trump defended his statement, saying that if Kovaleski “is handicapped, I would not know because I do not know what he looks like.” Trump never apologized to Kovaleski or the disabled community. It was at that moment that I knew that Trump lacked the empathy that my community needed.

On the contrary, presidential candidate Joe Biden was seen in 2020 having a conversation with Brayden Harrington, a 13-year-old boy with a stutter. Biden, who also suffered from a stutter in his youth, encouraged Harrington and gave his parents information about speech therapists that Biden had worked with in the past. Biden took time out of his day to sit with the Harrington family and encourage them, regardless of who they were voting for.

Outside of the campaign trail, Biden has consistently been empathetic in his personal and professional life. It is well known that Biden advocates for having bipartisan friendships with other lawmakers. Before his untimely death in 2018, Biden was a close friend of John McCain, his senate colleague and member of the Republican party. They were often on opposite sides of legislation that was being voted on in the 1980s and 1990s. Despite this opposition on the senate floor, Biden and McCain were close friends who were always supportive of each other. On the other hand, the thought of former President Trump having a Democratic best bud seems blasphemous, since Trump spearheaded the extreme divide that has plagued American politics since 2015.

While Joe Biden is not the perfect person, he has shown an immense amount of empathy to those in this country who are oppressed. He has said numerous times that he originally planned to forgo running for president, but the Unite the Right white-supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia was the catalyst for his campaign. While he has continued to display empathy with the numerous executive orders he has signed, one can only hope that he will hold true to this standard and not fall victim to the corruption that has shaken American politics over the past few decades.

Sources: Washington Post, Time

To the girl who I used to be,

I know that life is hard. You’re exhausted. It seems like there is no end to the pain you feel; that the heartache will never end. I’m here to tell you that things will get better. You’ll forget him, the scent of his cologne and the smile that felt like it could change your life. He left, that is true, but that does not mean that your happiness has to leave with him.

You’ll learn to love yourself. It will be harder than anything you’ve ever done; you’ll spend hours crying in therapy and to your best friend. The process will be slow, but trust me, you will get there. You’re mood will get better, and people will notice.

You’ll stop thinking about him. You will stop doing everything for his attention. His Instagram handle will fade from your memory and you’ll stop checking his page for updates.

You start living for yourself. You get the tattoos and the sparkle in your eye returns. You’ll feel guilty for a bit (because a pandemic is afoot), but you’ll learn that you can find happiness in the dark times.

You finally find joy in the little things. Sitting on the couch with an oat milk latte will be the highlight of your day. That isn’t a bad thing, you’re slowing down. Growth is gradual, and one day, you’ll truly love yourself. Just wait a few more years.

Love,
Lillie (no longer Lily).

“Fly, eagles fly, on the road to victory…” If you’re from Philadelphia, you definitely know these words. In Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, traditions run deep. It is a city with so much American history, and tradition is ingrained in the Philadelphian way. This is no different than in the sports teams that represent the city and its people.

Traditions, superstitions, and good luck charms are staples in sports all over the world. Many athletes of all ages and play levels have good luck charms; some have lucky socks, others may grow out their hair in hopes of bringing home a win. Pregame rituals, such as putting on a uniform in a specific order, are not uncommon either.

In Philadelphia, however, many of the major professional sports teams have traditions that run deep and have been embraced by the community. The 76ers, Philadelphia’s home basketball team, has exemplified this in their somewhat new tradition of “ringing the bell”. In 2013, the 76ers purchased a bell that looked very similar to Philadelphia’s iconic Liberty Bell. Philadelphian celebrities, cancer kids, and other Philadelphia athletes are now invited to ring the bell before each home game as a way to bring a positive outcome to the game.

As mentioned before, the Eagles have their iconic fight song that is sung by fans before each home game and frequently throughout the game. Technically called the “Eagles Fight Song”; the tune was created in the 1950s but reached a peak in popularity in the late 1990s. The song was echoed throughout the area during the 2018 postseason, when the Eagles secured a spot in the playoffs, and eventually, their first Super Bowl win.

While not an official fight song, Frank Sinatra’s “High Hopes” has become a staple at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies. Harry Kalas, longtime announcer and fan of the Phillies, called the song his personal anthem. After Kalas’ death in 2009, the song became a favorite among fans and is now played after every home win.

While there are many different sports traditions around the world, few hold the meaning and significance of those in Philadelphia. After all, we are the city of brotherly love.

Sources: Sports Illustrated, Philadelphia Eagles

This past Wednesday, the United States celebrated Veterans Day. The holiday (which started out as Armistice Day after the end of World War I) is celebrated to thank those who have served their country in the military. Eastern’s community is extremely supportive of the armed forces; there are a number of Eastern students who participate in ROTC, are on reserve, or are veterans. While this is no surprise, it is great to see that a number of these military students are members of Eastern athletics.

John Mirrione is a senior business administration major and a pitcher on Eastern’s baseball team. He
grew up in a military family; his grandparents and uncles served and taught him to respect the uniform. He originally had no plans to enlist in the military, but after a difficult school year at LaSalle University, he decided to enlist. He enlisted with the United States Army National Guard in 2018, and he has been on reserve ever since he finished his training.

Coach Scott Renauro recruited Mirrione in 2018, and Mirrione was a part of Eastern’s pitching rotation
by the fall of that same year. While he was set to have a successful career at Eastern, an injury set him back and he was unable to play in 2020. These injuries have also dashed his hopes for deployment post-graduation. As the 2021 season (and graduation) approaches, Mirrione hopes to not only continue to serve his country, but he also hopes to get more time on the mound.

Joon Jeong, on the other hand, always knew he would one day be a part of the military. Jeong, a
senior in the athletic training department, was born in South Korea, a country that has mandatory military conscription for all men. All male South Korean citizens must serve a minimum of 20 months in the military due to the tension between North and South Korea. Jeong, who began his time at Eastern in 2014, took a two-year break from 2016 to 2018 to serve his country.

When he returned to Eastern for his sophomore year, Eastern’s men’s volleyball team was just beginning
to form, and Jeong joined the team. Jeong is a defensive player and right side hitter for the Eagles. He ended his first season with the team with multiple digs and winning streaks. Jeong hopes to finish out his senior season strong and is excited to return to South Korea come graduation. He plans to attend dental school in Korea and use his athletic training degree as well.

While these two young men have unique perspectives and circumstances regarding their times in the military, they both came to Eastern and played their hearts out on the field. From all of us at the Waltonian, we thank you, John and Joon, for your service.

“Ew, you like K-pop boys?” said my date with a scoff. We were discussing music tastes and interests. He liked Juice WRLD and the Weeknd, and I stated that I enjoyed K-pop, specifically ATEEZ and Stray Kids. It was clear that this date would go nowhere, but my love for my boy bands was staying strong.

Boy bands have always been underappreciated and oversimplified by the mainstream media. They are simply pretty faces with mediocre voices, handpicked by media executives to bring in revenue to the elites. That might have been true twenty or thirty years ago, but the fundamentals of boy bands have changed significantly since the rise of NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

The most popular boy band in America right now is arguably Why Don’t We. The five-piece was created
in 2016, and they have since released a number of fun singles and been on multiple tours across the country. Their recent single “Fallin (Adrenaline)” hit number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, and they have seen a rise in listening over the past year. Through social media, Why Don’t We have not only increased their popularity (with “Fallin’’ gaining traction on TikTok), but they have also shown their fans their creative process and daily lives. Fans are able to see band member Jack Avery raise his one-year-old daughter, Lavender, and see youngest band member Zach Herron attend his senior prom. This new age of boy bands humanizes these young men, while letting them showcase their creative side.

This fan interaction is not inherently new, as the age of social media began in the early 2010s, around the time that One Direction entered the scene. Even after their disbandment in 2016, all five members of the group continue to thrive. One member of the group, Harry Styles, has become an icon in the LGBTQ+ community. Styles’ androgynous style and gender-neutral love songs led to his popularity among both straight and queer women. Styles was even featured on the cover of Vogue, wearing a soft blue dress with his brown curls beautifully styled to expose his forehead. Harry Styles is not just an attractive boy bander; he is a beautiful artist defying gender norms for all the world to see.

On the other side of the world, Korean pop and Korean boy groups have taken the world by storm. BTS have become the biggest boy band in the world, selling out multiple tours in the United States and Europe. They have also reached number one on the Billboard charts and have received Billboard Music Awards. Despite their successes and achievements, many have boiled their success down to their physical appearance. While they are all extremely beautiful young men, this discredits them from all of their hard work. All seven of BTS’ members have song-writing credits and work incredibly hard to learn the rigorous dances that accompany each of their songs.

While boy bands are still going strong in the music industry, they are still being oversimplified and under-appreciated. Give their music a chance; you might just enjoy it.

In New Jersey, voters overwhelmingly supported public opinion question number one: legalizing recreational marijuana. While the decision to legalize the substance was put into the hands of voters, the nuances of the legislation regarding cannabis are ultimately in the hands of state legislators.

Contrary to the belief of New Jersey voters, the tax revenue of recreational marijuana, which is set to begin sales in 2021, will not be going to causes such as rehabilitation, education, and drug treatments. New Jersey legislators have created bill 21, The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act, in response to the election results. The bill states that cannabis revenue will go to “ training costs associated with the attendance and participation of a police officer in a Drug Recognition Expert program”, i.e., police funding.

While the decriminalization of marijuana is a huge win for those paying high prices at medical dispensaries, the taxes and “fees” that have been vaguely identified by policymakers leave many people with questions. How much will consumers truly be taxed? One can only wait for dispensaries to open their doors to find out.

This issue is not exclusive to New Jersey. Five states across the country voted on marijuana this past election, and none of them outline regulations or tax information on the ballots. This leaves voters confident about their vote while still left hanging by policymakers on what will actually happen. Yes, marijuana will be legal recreationally, but how much will it cost, and how much will one be able to buy in one trip? Will those incarcerated with marijuana charges be released, and will their records be wiped? One can not tell that from a two-paragraph blurb on the back of a ballot.

As New Jersey moves forward with bill 21 and the legalization of marijuana, voters seem to be optimistic about it. As a New Jerseyian myself, I am excited to see what kind of fundamental changes our government will have about the handling and treatment of marijuana and other drugs.

Sources: NJ Bill 21

Over the past three years, Evan Wildermuth’s name has been in Eastern Athletics’ headlines. A Track and Field athlete who does jumps, Wildermuth brought his A-game to meets at every chance he got. From his amazing performances at conferences in 2019 and his title of MAC Indoor Athlete of the Year, he has been on the top of his game throughout his collegiate career.

When his junior season was cut short last year, many believed he would come back stronger than ever for his senior season. However, few expected the next move he would make. On August 31st of this year, Wildermuth made the announcement that he would be retiring from Track and Field.

I met with Wildermuth for a socially distanced phone interview to talk about this decision. Wildermuth has been a track and field athlete since seventh grade, which is almost ten years ago for the now-senior. He was nationally ranked his sophomore and junior seasons and was on track to keep the streak going before his junior season got cut short.

So, why is Wildermuth retiring rather than quitting? “I’m hanging up the shoes instead of just quitting,” said Wildermuth, “there is a possibility that I still come back. It’s possible to unretire but it’s not possible to unquit.” It is not uncommon for athletes to quit here at Eastern. Whether it be to focus on academics, losing interest, or mental health reasons, a few quitters is kind of the norm in Eastern Athletics.

While Wildermuth has put his track and field days behind him, he seems to have a lot to look forward to in his future. Shortly before he announced his retirement, he proposed to his girlfriend of five years, Kenzie Taylor. Wildermuth and Taylor are currently planning their wedding, and he is very excited to marry the woman he loves so much.

On top of the upcoming nuptials, Wildermuth has begun a new fun hobby: streaming video games. Under the name Critical Warning, Wildermuth has spent his afternoons playing games for his friends and family. He streams on Twitch, the same website that Eastern’s E-Sports team streams on. Wildermuth expressed that he would play for Eastern’s E-Sports team if they offered the games he enjoys, but for now, he is staying a non-athlete. Although he has hung up his running shoes and his jersey, Wildermuth looks back on his time as an athlete with happiness.

What is most important to you when picking soap? Is it the scent? Could it be the packaging (or lack thereof)? For me, it is the ingredients. Reading the back of soap bottles might be time-consuming but it keeps me sane. The ingredients in my cosmetics can keep my skin from getting inflamed, congested, and flaky; most synthetic cosmetics give my skin some kind of negative reaction.

Recently, natural skincare and haircare products have been all the rage. Long gone are the days of scouring for companies that are 100 percent natural; companies like Burt’s Bees, Milk Makeup, and Fresh are staples at the drug store and high-end retailers.

In December 2018, I was hired by Lush, a beauty company that is famous for its fresh, natural, and cruelty-free products. Working at Lush gave me the
education and experience that kickstarted my journey with natural skin and hair products.

But do these natural products work better than the synthetics? Honestly, I do not think there is a correct answer. Just like we all have different skin tones and hair colors, we all have different skin types. While a natural skincare routine cleared up my acne scars and evened my skin tone, I have friends who prefer synthetics because they better suit their concerns.

My esthetician, Angelina Sosi, who is certified in five different skincare companies, said that incorporating synthetics into natural skincare products can aid those who need more invasive skincare methods. While I am an avid fan of natural beauty products, I see Sosi every few months to clear the cystic acne I get in extremely stressful times or when the seasons change.

Being trained about different ingredients gave me the tools to understand not only what works, but what works for me. For example, lavender and lavender oil are used to calm both the mind and skin, so lavender is an ingredient that I search for in my skincare products, as I deal with redness and sensitive skin.

If you have oily skin, oatmeal is surprisingly a wonderful exfoliator and it is naturally anti-inflammatory.

The most cost-efficient way to go natural with your skincare and haircare is to make your own products at home or in your dorm room. A favorite of mine is my homemade charcoal face mask. It is a 2:2:1 ratio of bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and activated charcoal. I use this as a spot treatment for cystic acne or a deep detox when I’m stressed. All of these items can be easily found on Amazon for under $20 total and will last for months.

If you are unsure about what natural skincare products would work for you, Sephora has a free skincare quiz on their website. All of the natural products have a green “clean” sticker on them, so it is easy to find synthetic-free products. Wherever your skincare journey takes you, there is one thing you need to remember: check the ingredients.

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