the avion
embry-riddle aeronautical university • daytona beach, florida • october 20, 2020
issue 7 • volume 154
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CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS Executive Board
Editor-in-Chief Victoria Jordan
editor@theavion.com
Managing Editor Vipul Telang
managing@theavion.com
News Editor Oliver Du Bois
news@theavion.com
Photo Editor Alani Seaman
photo@theavion.com
Business Manager Samantha Stirmel business@theavion.com
Staff Advisor Ronnie Mack
Assistant Director of Orientation & Communications
Contact Information (386) 226-6049 theavion.com 1 Aerospace Blvd, SU 219 Daytona Beach, FL 32114 @theavionnewspaper u/theavionnewspaper @The_Avion @TheAvion
Fantastic Beast Fanatic Salim Roig Staff Reporter Embry-Riddle is a place full of creative and passionate students. I was recently given the opportunity to interview Alexandra Gates, a sophomore specializing in flight, who taught herself how to make realistic looking models of dragons, velociraptors, and other fantastic beasts. Here is the transcript of the interview. The Avion Newspaper: When did you start making these models and how challenging was the process? Alexandra Gates: I started making these dragons during the end of the spring semester last year. At first, it was difficult, but with enough time and practice, I was able to earn the skills I have today.
AG: In my opinion, the most difficult part is having enough money to make these things. Stuff like nylon and paint run at an expensive rate, so I often have to buy cheaper paint and fabric. Although now, I think another tricky part of making dragon figures would have to be the patience required. It could take weeks to even months just to build a single model. A lot of time is spent waiting for paint to dry, materials to cool down, and for parts to glue together. I’ll be honest; I should probably learn how to be more patient because I keep burning my hands on accident while waiting for hot glue to cool down. In summary, money and patience are a must have for this hobby, even if just a little. AN: Do you make these figures for fun or profit?
AG: I mostly make them for fun. People have come to me before saying that if I made them a model, they would pay me. However, because I barely have free time due to classes and everything else, I decided not to accept commissions. Still, down the line, that may change, but I make these things purely for fun as of now. AN: In your opinion, which is your favorite model and why? AG: I think, for now, my favorite model would be a black dragon that I made using plastic-rubber, nylon, and hot glue. As for why, probably because of all the hard work I put into it. I was also able to make it glow in the dark and give it a cool mythical design, so I am proud of myself for that.
AN: What inspired you to make these dragon figures? AG: One day, I was looking through YouTube when I came upon a video where a guy made this nylon-based figure. After that, I fell into a rabbit hole and eventually decided I wanted to make one for myself.
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AN: How were you able to teach yourself how to make dragon figures? AG: I mostly learned how to design figures by watching YouTube videos. Anyone could do it if they give themselves enough time to learn the craft. Luckily for me, I started this back during the summer when I had nothing but free time. AN: What is the most challenging part of building these dragons?
Salim Roig/The Avion Newspaper
Sophomore Alexandra Gates shows off her favorite nylon dragon with glow-in-the-dark features. Gates also makes other detailed creatures such as velociraptors.
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
Opinion: Professors’ Feedback is as Essential as Classroom Instruction Jordan Thomas Correspondent As the semester progresses on, the cry from students is getting louder and louder. As students, we are stressed out about turning in assignments on time, trying our best to actually learn the information professors are presenting to us and more. Needless to say, being in the middle of a global pandemic does not ease the stress we feel; it does the opposite. After speaking with many students, a common frustration has come to light. Why are professors not expected to post the grades of tests and assignments within a certain timeframe? In addition to the material given in class, students also rely heavily on graded assignments and the feedback from professors to assist in understanding subjects and in studying for exams. The delay in receiving this feedback unintentionally hinders the learning of students. In most classes, deadlines are set from the beginning of the semester for students to meet. Professors, in theory, know before anyone else the schedule the class is supposed to follow for the semester. This proves especially true for classes that are fully online for the semester. Not only do professors plan the schedule of the class, they also know the material to be taught and what will be covered in the assignments and tests. With this wealth of knowledge, professors should then be able to properly estimate and minimize the time necessary for them to properly grade assignments and provide feedback to students. A common reasoning presented by professors when asked about the long turnaround times after students turn in an assignment is that there is a high number of students within their multiple classes. This is completely un-
derstandable as some professors are tasked with instructing multiple classes that total an excess of over 100 students per semester. It must be reiterated, however, that professors know this information before the semester begins and should be able to properly plan a schedule that allows for the results on assignments and tests to be returned within a timely manner, in order to allow for feedback to be useful to students. Too often have I been in classes where midterms are a week away, yet I have no idea what my standing is in the class at the moment, nor do I know whether or not I have properly grasped the material in the class. It is beyond frustrating and increasingly stressful
for a student to attempt studying for a test without any knowledge of if they have done the work properly or satisfactory thus far. It is unreasonable to expect a professor to have grades back on all assignments and tests the day after they are submitted. However, it seems more than reasonable to ask for the feedback and results to be returned at least one week before an exam, especially since the ideal turnaround time has been noted as seven to ten days. If students are held to standards of turning in numerous assignments in a timely manner, then professors should be expected to grade and return these assignments in a timely manner as well.
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Page Editors Cover Photo Hunter Lyons Campus Editors Gianna Castano Vipul Telang Hunter Lyons Aayush Shah Jordan Thomas Korbin Martin Andrea Gamble Romeia Al-Hajeri Jack Rachek Oliver Du Bois Carly McDonald Industry Editors Alani Seaman Victoria Jordan Vipul Telang An Tran Comics Editor Vipul Telang Copy Editors Kevin Gellin Abigail Laveroni Marlena Purcell
Contributors Reporters Photographers
Salim Roig Hunter Lyons Oliver Du Bois Alani Seaman Samantha Stirmel Korbin Martin Andrea Gamble Romeia Al-Hajeri Jack Rachek
Hunter Lyons Korbin Martin Samantha Stirmel Alani Seaman Jack Rachek Salim Roig Oliver Du Bois
Correspondents
Carly McDonald, An Tran, Emily Rickel, Olivia Roa, Jessica Grapentine, John Matulebick, Jordan Thomas
The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff. Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 1200 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by both the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.69. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion.
4 CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS Opinion: Safety Should Trump President Trump Alani Seaman Photo Editor Gazing out over the tightly packed sea of red, white, and blue, one can almost forget about the deadly pandemic that has claimed over one-million deaths worldwide. At the Trump rally in Ocala this Friday, masks were few and far between, especially on the faces of our fearless leaders Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump. Not only did President Trump downplay the effects of the pandemic in his speech, but he continuously holds rallies against his own CDC’s guidelines. He also boasted about the United States’ impressive decline in the virus and blamed China for “doing this to the world.” The hypocrisy truly cannot be overstated here, and the irony is apparently lost on Trump and the people who help write his speeches. Upon entering the rally, people were carted past signs saying, “Unmask us now!” which really set the tone for the day. There were shuttle buses in place to move people closer to the entrance, destroying the claim of safety because the event was outdoors. Despite being a short bus ride up to the front, people were tightly packed, not socially distanced, into a confined space, without masks. In a study done by Hiroshi Nishiura, Hitoshi Oshitani, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Tomoya Saito, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Tamano Matsui, Takaji Wakita, MHLW COVID-19 Response Team, and Motoi Suzuki, it was found that: “closed environments contribute to second-
Image Courtesy/Johns Hopkins University
ary transmission of COVID-19 and promote superspreading events.” Trump rallies take the cake for superspreading events; a group of tightly packed people, many of whom do not believe in the virus and thus do not take precautions in their everyday life, jammed together in a tight space, who then stood close for several hours without face coverings. What could go wrong? The Ocala rally was chock full of people wearing all the Trump merch money can buy, yet by my estimate, only about a quarter could purchase and wear a mask. During his speaking portion, Trump mentioned that he was not a politician. Given this evidence, that makes sense; he is still a celebrity with no business in the White House. Amongst Trump’s many bogus claims, one of the most concerning is his attempt to convince the American people that his administration’s handling of the pandemic was a success and that numbers are decreasing. President Trump is tired
of hearing and speaking about the virus, of which he has labeled the “China Virus” or the “plague from Wu-Han,” showing incredible sensitivity to the areas most affected by the virus. He wants to claim that the virus is near its end, but scientists and doctors are struggling every day to fight the virus in their patients. They are working to create vaccines, research its spreading ability, and so much more. For example, Johns Hopkins University has been tracking COVID-19 in depth for nearly the entire year, and their numbers paint a much different picture. There has been a steady increase in deaths in the United States over the past few months, and the curve does not appear to be flattening in the slightest. Additionally, President Trump cited the United States as having a steady decline while Europe was experiencing an uptick in cases. However, the U.S. is seeing an increase in confirmed new cases, corresponding to the reopening plans in many states.
Alani Seaman/The Avion Newspaper
Alani Seaman/The Avion Newspaper
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
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Making America Social Again Hunter Lyons Senior Photographer Over the past week, I have been lucky enough to photograph the President on two separate occasions. With the election getting into its final stretch, President Trump is spending a lot of his time in key states. With the majority of polls showing Trump trailing Biden, he has been hitting the campaign trail hard, with Florida being one of his biggest targets. My experience started a week before his rally in Orlando, Sanford. While I was talking to my mom on the phone about my time at The Avion
Newspaper so far, a Trump ad came on television; it was a lightbulb moment for me. I’m not the biggest fan of Trump, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to photograph the President. That night, I had found information about the Sanford rally and applied for press credentials on their website. There is a part of this story I will leave out because it is well known how everything unfolded. The night before the rally, Trump and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19, and the event in Sanford was canceled. However, just days later, Trump would be cleared of the virus, and the rally was back on. Upon arriving at Orlando-Sanford International Airport, I showed my ID and press credentials to the staff and had my temperature taken. Once the Secret Service checked my bags, I was allowed to enter and set up my gear. To my surprise, the press was extremely friendly and helpful. I talked to numerous photographers and reporters who kept me company during the four-hour wait. To be honest, the time flew by. Before I knew it, we heard Air Force One getting cleared to land on the loudspeakers, and the aircraft slowly came into view. As President Trump stepped off the plane, the crowd went crazy. I saw people cheering and even some crying. What really stood out to me was the passion
of these supporters. I’ve looked at footage from presidential rallies from past presidents, and I can’t say that I see such enthusiasm anywhere else. The entire time he was speaking, I felt like I was playing whack-a-mole. I would stand there with my finger on the shutter, and every time he’d point, make a face, or do one of those classic Trump hand motions, I’d fire the shutter and take as many photos as I could. This proved to be a rewarding and exciting way to operate. Still, it did become boring during the times when he was reading off the teleprompter. There are many ways to tell when he’s on and off the teleprompter, but I would say the main sign is his gestures. He becomes much more animated when
he’s speaking off the teleprompter, and that’s photography gold. Once the President was finished, we had an hour to pack up and leave. I was expecting the traffic to be light, considering I left so late. I was wrong. I spent about an hour and a half waiting in traffic and can’t say that I enjoyed it. The second rally went similar to the first; however, I was sure to get there much earlier and got a great spot on the risers. Another interesting difference was that my temperature was not taken. I can honestly say this was the most fun I had photographing an event yet. While I’m not on the Trump train, I would never turn away an opportunity to photograph the President.
Photos by Hunter Lyons & Alani Seaman/The Avion Newspaper
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CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
Opinion: Ready for a Raise?
Samantha Stirmel Business Manager This upcoming election ballot has more than just presidential candidates on it. In Florida, it also offers the chance for voters to put their voice behind six amendments to the Florida State Constitution. The one most likely to affect Embry-Riddle’s student population is amendment two, which aims to increase the minimum wage in the state of Florida to $15 per hour by 2026. If passed, it would go into effect in September of 2021 and bump up the current minimum wage of $8.56 to $10 an hour and continue increasing by the dollar until 2026 where it will stop increasing at the $15 mark. Advocates for the amendment state that $8.56 is not a livable wage and Florida would be following many other states in trying to provide a decent wage for struggling families in the state. According to Therese Davis, Director of Student Employment, this would directly impact the
wages of almost 1,200 students working on-campus jobs. When asked how this would affect the campus, Davis responded that we would not know the full affect until the amendment is voted on and causes Embry-Riddle to come up with a plan. However, there is a model for the campus to follow, as the Prescott campus recently had to deal with a change in minimum wage from $12 to $12.15. Though this is not as drastic of an increase over the years, it points to the fact that the Prescott campus compensates all students at the minimum wage rate. Currently, the Daytona Beach campus compensates students at different levels based on the responsibilities that they have in their job. Regardless of if the measures are passed or not, Davis states that “Embry-Riddle values our student employees and […] we want their on-campus jobs to be a source of learning and preparation as well as financial support for them.” The fact of the matter is that this amendment also impacts any stu-
Salim Roig/The Avion Newspaper
Salim Roig/The Avion Newspaper
dents who work off-campus. An increase in the minimum wage could make school and the associated expenses much more affordable. Right now, a student who works minimum wage can barely afford lunch at Qdoba after an hour of work. If this measure was passed, they would soon be able to not only afford lunch but be able to chuck back a dollar or two into a savings account. This may not seem like much on this small scale, but when looking at how it would impact the affordability of living off-campus, it could make life a lot easier for many students. The averages for being able to afford a standard apartment in Eagle Landing go from a student having to work about 46 hours per month to more than 80 hours (these numbers do not factor in income tax). This also uniquely impacts students who make more than the minimum wage already, both on and off-campus. The question of the wages of those students being raised in joint with the minimum wage raise goes unanswered and highly depends on the budget of the business or department they
work for. Money doesn’t just come out of thin air, and the passing of this bill could cause things to get a little messy and limit job opportunities while businesses are adjusting. A good model for this is Seattle, WA, where the minimum wage was raised from $9 and is currently in the process of increasing to $15 in 2021. This process is not going especially well for Seattle as there is controversy over the benefits of the raise as it’s implemented. There is pressure on businesses now to go above the minimum of $15 trying to catch workers’ attention. One thing that has been consistently reported on in the case of Seattle is that the raising of the minimum wage gives workers security, but with that security makes them less likely to work more hours. This could be echoed on the Embry-Riddle campus by seeing a drop off in student employment on the campus. If students can work less hours and dedicate more time to their studies while still being able to make ends meet comfortably, the impact could be huge for both students and the institution.
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
Blasting off with ERFSEDS
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All photos by Hunter Lyons/The Avion Newspaper
The Embry-Riddle Future Space Explorers & Developer’s Society (ERFSEDS) Club participated in the monthly Spaceport Rocketry Association (SRA) launch in Palm Bay, FL. The launch aimed to test features of the Artemis rocket, including an enhanced Global Positioning System (GPS) to help recover the rocket after launch. The initial attempt was scrubbed due to a failed guide-rail on the rocket, but the team was able to fix the malfunction and re-try the launch near the end of the allotted time frame. This was the first launch that ERFSEDS received live telemetry data from their rocket, including velocity, altitude, and position. Unfortunately, Artemis suffered an anomaly shortly after liftoff. According to ERFSEDS member Brian Danaher, there was a fault with the rocket’s motor which caused it to burn hotter than anticipated. As a result, Artemis pitched over and traveled further downrange than expected and did not follow the expected launch profile. The rocket reached apogee at a much lower altitude with a higher-than-expected horizontal velocity, causing the main parachute to fail. The drogue parachute deployed as designed, however, and Artemis landed successfully. ERFSEDS will continue to improve design changes to Artemis and will eventually use the rocket to compete nationally!
8 CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS Army ROTC Cadets Soar in UH-60 Blackhawk During Leadership Lab Korbin Martin Staff Reporter On Oct. 17, Embry-Riddle Army ROTC Cadets started off their weekend with a six-mile battalion ruck march on the ERAU campus. Following the ruck march cadets broke off into company-sized groups for classes. Training started at 0700 and was completed at 1800. Eagle Battalion was lucky enough to have the G Co 5/169th GSAB Medevac Unit attend the lab to teach cadets about Aviation Medevac as well as taking cadets on flights in a UH-60 Blackhawk. Roughly 50 cadets received the opportunity to ride in the Blackhawk during the leadership lab. It was a great learning opportunity and an experience that most cadets wouldn’t be able to get at any other university. The Medevac Unit did a great job, and every cadet learned something from their time with them and gained practical knowledge of how a Medevac actually works that wouldn’t be gained from simply studying. Cadets were taught how to carry a casualty on a litter into the Blackhawk, how a hoist works, how the Medevac unit responds when they get a call, and much more. In addition to learning about Aviation Medevac, cadets also rotated through stations on Operation Orders and Troop Leading Procedures while at the ERAU campus. Once a company finished their stations on campus, they proceeded to drive to
Camp Tiger Bay for Tactics classes. At Camp Tiger Bay MSIV cadets instructed MSI and MSII cadets on basic tactics. There were stations for actions on objective, ambush, and movement to contact. This training will benefit the MSI and MSII cadets greatly when they get to their MSIII year, when knowing tactics and how to navigate the Ranger Handbook is key. MSI and MSII cadets were familiarized with lifting and shifting fire, limit of advance, 360-degree security, LACE (Liquid, Ammo, Casualties, Equipment) reports, clearing and searching an objective with enemy prisoner of war teams, aid and litter teams, how to call in a nine-line medevac, withdrawal plans, and demolition teams. With what was taught throughout the day, the MSI and MSII cadets will be well prepared for their MSIII year. Knowing operation orders, troop leading procedures, and what to do once on the objective already means that these cadets will be more than ready to put together and practice all of these concepts for their MSIII year. Overall, Eagle Battalion did an excellent job at Leadership Lab and received a lot of valuable training. Despite starting the day off with a six-mile ruck, cadets were energetic and motivated. Social distancing was maintained and masks were worn throughout the day in accordance with Embry-Riddle policy.
Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper
The UH-60 takes off from the field with cadets from Charlie Company riding inside.
Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper
Cadet Cha recieved an oppurtunity to sit in the right pilot seat of the UH-60 Blackhawk during training.
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
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The Standards of Society Speak Truth Through Grading Systems Andrea Gamble Staff Reporter
Background Knowledge
realistic example, one we have all been through: writing a paper. She speaks about how many times you may have to crumble up that rough draft, start again, and again, and yet again until you have sufficiently satisfied your needs. This (failure) is an essential process of learning and expanding one's mental growth. Carr also speaks about Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000-hour rule regarding the numerous failures that must occur to conquer anything completely. Overall, she is very adamant that without failure in writing, you will never be able to see the amount of success you can achieve. A Change of Perspective
"Failure is Not an Option," written by Allison D. Carr, is an argumentative piece speaking about the misconceptions behind failure. Carr argues that instead of continuing with the norm of negative connotation, failure should be "actively sought out, signaling as it does both the presence of creative, risky thinking and an opportunity to explore a new direction," (Carr, 76). She writes about the history behind the connotation of failure, being from the 19th century when industrialization began to take off. Literacy skills became one of the most significant factors in the division of people, causing those who were literate to take on the highest prestige, looking down on those whose reading and writing abilities were sub-par. "Failure" to capably read and write was viewed handin-hand with shame and disappointment. This leads to her argument of how we should change the viewpoint of failure. She brings in a
Instead of encouraging and praising the word "failure" in writing, as Allison Carr argues in "Failure is not an Option," people in educational settings should stop using the word in totality. However, by keeping the concept of learning from our base performance, we can improve without the idea of needing negativity to produce positivity, especially in classrooms. Accepting failure in classrooms can be difficult since failure is not seen as an option in school. For example, an international student (Student A) who does not know the English language takes a writing placement test for the first time and scores 0%. They begin practicing their writing skills, retake the test, and after two weeks scores 50%. Another international student (Student B) who is familiar with the English language takes a writing placement test for the first time and scores 50%. They begin practicing their writing skills, retake the test,
In my COM 20 class, we were given an assignment that I feel would be useful for all college students to read. We read a chapter called "Failure is Not an Option" and wrote an argumentative response to it. In this reading, you will learn what the argument is and the controversial ideas that this topic proceeds with. This topic should be shared throughout all education systems and truly inspire others to think about the world we live in and how contradicting it can be.
and after two weeks scores 100%. The rate of improvement shown between Student A and Student B are the same: 50%. However, according to the traditional grading system, Student A is seen as a failure, and Student B is seen as a success. Student B can now exceed a passing grade, and Student A now has to work extremely hard just to receive an average passing grade. Student B is also seen as a golden child, while Student A is viewed with concern by teachers, parents, and other students. This can cause discouragement, doubt, and sadness, leading to agitation and feeling of defeat from Student A. These overwhelming feelings of negativity brought to Student A's life from a "failure" can lead to actual failure within school and life.
Many believe that having failure is very useful in real-world living by opening new ideas for exploration and creativity. By seeing your mistakes, you can learn from them and now know what not to do the next time around, getting you one step closer to the end goal: success. However, taking "failure," a disheartening word, and trying to use it for positivity is unrealistic in classrooms. With the given standards by educational influences, there is no such thing as positive failure, no matter how much anyone in society tries to praise it. As a people, we can continue to grow without "failures," but with achievements and reconciliation. Failure does not have to be an option, but growth does.
What does this Mean? School systems set high standards and discourage failure instead of seeing it as a point of growth. A high GPA is viewed with success and intelligence, while a low GPA (failure) is viewed with stupidity and hesitation. This repeated history of failure being frowned upon in literacy skills will continue to repeat until either the school grading system changes based on individuals or the school grading system is taken out as a whole. Right now, the standard of the grading system sets all students at the same level, so when students feel that they are not at that level, they will get down on themselves, causing a lack of motivation to improve. The Opposing View, and How it’s Wrong
Photo Courtesy/Getty Images
10 CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS Making Tidal Waves: A Little Bit of Good Goes a Long Way Romeia Al-Hajeri Senior Reporter What comes to mind when you think about paddleboarding? Do you picture the beach and the continuous ebb and flow of the waves? A smooth, serene paddle down the river? Most people would probably imagine a scene similar to these, but the concept of paddleboarding is not quite as simplistic as this. It might come as a surprise to some, but paddleboarding is actually considered a cardio exercise that can build up an individual’s strength and endurance. While anyone can learn to paddleboard, the motivation, work, and time you put into the process make all the difference. Business owner and athletics enthusiast John Matulevich understands this concept very well. His company, Ruthless Performance, is all about helping athletes – a good majority of them being swimmers – become the best versions of themselves that they can be through
Photo Courtesy/John Matulevich
John trains on an open lake on a nice, sunny day to build up strength and endurance for his upcoming event.
strength training and conditioning. John’s motto revolves around doing the most good for the most people through athletic advancement and what he is most uniquely suited to do. With a wide-ranging background in athletics, John has a lot of woodsmanship experience with hunting and similar activities that contribute to his athleticism, almost proving to be skilled for “survival experience.” Now, it may sound crazy, but the commonality between running his business and being involved in athletics was paddleboarding. More specifically, attempting to break the record for paddleboarding from Cuba to Florida within a 27-hour time span. For John, this is not such a wild undertaking. Prior to planning this paddleboarding event, he completed a 4,000-mile bike ride across the United States to raise money for dog rescues. With many of John’s family members being cyclists, they would do charity bike rides from Philadelphia to Atlantic City on a regular basis, which is about a 65-mile ride. John, on the other hand, had not even owned a bike at the time. However, it does not go without saying that, in a sense, John has been training for the entirety of his life for an event such as this. Without much athletic training outside of the general strength and conditioning that he’s familiar with, there was not much of a focus on cycling in his realm of athletics. So, how did he do it? The first step was buying a bicycle. Once he got the bike, he put a good number of miles on it, but still under the 4,000-mile mark; so,
less than the total duration of the bike ride itself was done during bike training. John says that this was, in part, intentional, as he didn’t want to have any burnout or instance in which he got sick of the bike before he even got to the starting line. With this being said, a lot of John’s conditioning was done off-bike and included a lot of swimming, rowing, and other activities of that nature that would help him build up the endurance and strength he would need for his journey. He noted that although it sounds unusual and strange, the “bike ride was the lowest common denominator between about four or five different things combined together in [his] life,” being athletic performance, animal rescues, cycling, and journeying. John got into animal rescues by getting involved in his local community and through his own experience adopting and fostering dogs from each of the dog rescues in his hometown of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He would even drive down to Georgia regularly to help with puppy transports and dog transports and bring them back to his hometown to put them into the hands of people who are interested in adopting. Until someone would come along to adopt a dog, John would often have some transient dogs staying with him for either a few weeks, months, or whatever the case happened to be. So, when he decided that he would utilize his athletics background to raise money for nonprofit organizations, dog rescues were at the forefront of what he’d been thinking about.
Photo Courtesy/John Matulevich
John rides his bike from San Francisco, California, to his hometown of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, stopping to take a quick photo when he reaches Colorado.
John’s goal for the bike ride was to raise $10,000 to be split between two dog rescues that are local to his home in Pennsylvania. Much to his surprise, they exceeded their goal, raising just under $13,000. Much like the bike ride, John is utilizing the most time that he can to do the paddleboarding event from Cuba to Florida. To train for the paddle, he plans to “paddle as much as [he] can over a variety of different types of water; so, open water, rivers, lakes, all kinds of different things under different circumstances: strong headwinds, without strong headwinds, tailwinds, waves, etc.” Above anything else, one of John’s top priorities in preparation for the paddle is to build up a high level of aerobic conditioning while also really fostering his competency on the paddleboard. >>Continued on page 11
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS >>Continued from page 10 Having the paddleboard become an extension of himself, almost like his legs or arms, will be a way to accomplish this. One of the biggest challenges will be the weather. With the weather becoming more unpredictable each day and the astonishing number of hurricanes forming in the oceans, this ride could be dangerous for John. Luckily, he will have people to accompany him to determine when he should push off with the best likelihood of success on his journey. John describes this feat as essen-
tially attempting to break a record based on his ability to maintain physical duress while also managing something as complex as international affairs. While the nonprofits he plans to raise money for this time around are not confirmed, they are all going to be 501(c)(3) organizations centered around maintaining the cleanliness of water bodies, whether it be freshwater ocean water or public access to the water. Ultimately, John hopes that raising money for this type of nonprofit organization will get people more exposure to nature and make the en-
vironment a better place. He also hopes to get Yuengling as a title sponsor for his event. People CAN help. John is not asking for donations of any kind, but being that this is such a big project, the call to action is to get signatures on the petition to show companies that people are interested and that they would like to see this event happen. Moreover, it shows companies that we are concerned about clean waters and are willing to make a change. In John’s own words regarding the climate and environmental crisis, “we’ve gotten to a point where it’s almost now or
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never.” If there is one takeaway from all of this, it’s to realize that there will be things you won’t get to do in life. In saying this, it’s essential to understand that ANYONE can do ANYTHING they put their mind to as long as there is motivation, work, and drive behind it. Do not be self-limiting, do not make excuses for yourself, and never say never. If you’d like to help John in getting Yuengling to sponsor a paddleboarding world-record attempt for cleaner oceans, you can sign his petition at the following link: Change.org/Expedition118.
International Education Week 2020! Jessica Grapentine Correspondent It is that time of year; International Education Week is almost here! Although this year will look a little different from previous years, there are still plenty of events planned to celebrate international education! This year, International Education Week will run from Oct. 26-30, with over 20 departments and offices throughout Embry-Riddle participating in events all week long. International Education Week (IEW) is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote international education programs, highlighting the benefits of participating in exchange programs. IEW is celebrated in over 100 countries annually, with colleges and universities leading most of the events. This year marks Embry-Riddle’s fifth year hosting
events for IEW on its campus. As society is becoming increasingly global, the importance of having an international experience before setting out into the workforce is more prominent than ever. IEW emphasizes the importance of these international experiences by promoting exchange programs currently being offered to students. IEW also celebrates our international students on campus, highlighting the diverse student population we have here at Embry-Riddle. In fact, 14% of students on the Daytona Beach Campus are from outside the United States. Students come from all over the world, with 104 countries being represented on campus! The top three countries that international students come from are Korea, Saudi Arabia, and India. During IEW, Embry-Riddle celebrates our international students and the different cultures they
come from! Although things look different this year, IEW 2020 offers a variety of virtual and socially-distanced events to take part in all week! Join us for live cooking from around the world, international dishes at Boundless and the Refueling Station all week, as well as virtual events highlighting the numerous benefits of having an international experience. On Monday, Oct. 26, we will be having our Flag Parade from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., where students will be carrying flags from where they originated around our campus! The parade will begin at the Student Village, going across campus to end at the Student Union. We are looking for more volunteers to carry flags for the event. If you are interested in participating or would like more information about the event, please contact Merafelina Chotoo at chotoom@ my.erau.edu.
Image Courtesy/Office of Global Engagement
A great way to get an international experience that will significantly help today’s global environment is participating in a summer, semester, or full-year study abroad program! A wide range of classes are available for all majors, so there is definitely a program for you! For more information about studying abroad, contact the Office of Global Engagement at goglobal@erau. edu, or visit our website at studyabroad.erau.edu.
12 CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS Offshore Sailing Team Takes Second Place in Commodore’s Cup Jack Rachek Public Relations Manager On Oct. 11, the Embry-Riddle Offshore Sailing Team competed in a local regatta hosted by the Halifax River Yacht Club. The newly minted offshore team competed on their Evelyn 32-2 racing sailboat and brought tough competition while representing Embry-Riddle in a unique event.
Jack Rachek/The Avion Newspaper
The Embry-Riddle Boat “Lively” sits docked at Halifax Harbor Marina while the team preps the boat for the race.
Sunday’s race was part of a more extensive offshore racing series hosted by the Halifax River Yacht Club (HRYC). Once a month, the
yacht club organizes a race on the ocean just outside of Ponce Inlet. This month, the race had a unique twist. In an effort to promote sailing, the course for this race was designed to be closer to shore and pass by Sunflower Pier so beachgoers could get a better view of the race. Starting at the sea buoy outside Ponce Inlet, the sailors raced up the coast, first passing a buoy a mile or so off the beach before sailing up to the Sunglow Pier. Once the sailors passed to the north side of the pier, they turned around and raced back down the coast, around the buoy, and to the finish line at the Ponce Inlet sea buoy. In total, the race was approximately five miles long and took over two hours to complete. The long race presented many unique challenges to the Embry-Riddle team. With a noon start, the Florida thunderstorms began building as the race progressed. The team found themselves with a strong position at the start line and quickly pulled away from the fleet to maintain second place for the race’s entirety. On the return leg, the team found themselves headed straight into a heavy rain front. Quickly, the team prepped the boat, and within minutes, they found themselves sailing through a storm. Visibility was reduced to only a few hundred yards and wind gusts up to 28 knots. The beach, which was once in sight, was no longer visible, and the team was forced to rely on the boat’s compass for navigation. While sailing through the storm, the boat was forced over onto a 30 to 35-degree heel and sailed only a
Jack Rachek/The Avion Newspaper
Jack Rachek/The Avion Newspaper
Sailing up the Halifax River, the team makes the ten mile trip to Ponce Inlet for the start of the race.
For offshore races, the team uses custom fitted race sails. These sails are lighter and higher performance than standard sails.
few degrees off the wind to reduce power. The crew worked to control the boat, adjusting sails and riding out the powerful wind gusts. After several minutes of chaos, the wind began to subside into sustained gusts. The wind decreased enough for the team to get the boat back on course and start ripping along at eight to ten knots reaching downwind. In normal conditions, six knots is average. In contrast, eight to ten knots is beyond the theoretical hull speed of the boat. Like a bat out of hell, the Embry-Riddle team began pulling away from the fleet and closed the distance between the first place boat. When the storm finally passed, the Embry-Riddle
team had amassed a nearly onemile-long lead over third place. On the final leg of the race, Embry-Riddle was in a constant battle to make up ground. Sailing spinnaker downwind kept the boat moving fast, but it ultimately was not enough to get the team to first place. Finishing second place, the team was still happy with their performance. Being the third competition for the offshore team, this race presented many challenges and opportunities to improve. All in all, the team sailed exceptionally well and is looking forward to representing Embry-Riddle in more offshore sailing events in the future.
CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
13
The Spark Which Brought the Rainbow Celebrating LGBT+ History Month as an Embry-Riddle Student
On June 29, 1969, the LGBT+ community left their mark on American history, as a spontaneous demonstration, led by transgender women of color such as Marsha P. Washington, began in New York City. This demonstration, known as the Stonewall Riots, took place at the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich, in response to a police raid at the Inn. The Stonewall Riots became the catalyst for the gay rights movement not only in the United States but globally as well, as trans women of color paved the way for every success and triumph the LGBT+ community would have the chance to experience. Flash forward 51 years later, and now we celebrate these women, and other LGBT+ historical figures, in what is known as LGBT+ History Month. October became national LGBT+ History month starting in 1994 and was created by Rodney Wilson, a Missouri teacher. The month, which also incorporates National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), was further endorsed by GLAAD, the Human
Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the National Education Association. The purpose of LGBT+ History Month is to allow for the LGBT+ community to celebrate their heritage and normalize the contributions made by historical figures that they can relate to. What, though, is the meaning of this month for the students at Embry-Riddle? How can this month be so impactful, and why does it need to exist for the world’s youth?
“
Trans women of color paved the way for every success and triumph the LGBT+ community would have the chance to experience.
“
Oliver Du Bois News Editor
LGBT+ History Month was intended to inspire school boards, teachers, and professors to recognize
Oliver Du Bois/The Avion Newspaper
oSTEM President, Max Wilson’s presentation on historical figures for LGBT+ History Month.
and share the triumphs and importance of historical LGBT+ figures. Unfortunately, this is not always accomplished, as many schools never once add the LGBT+ community to their historical curriculums. Because of this, many students, including our students here at Embry-Riddle, must take the challenge upon themselves to share what their predecessors have done. The Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) Club here on campus hosted a virtual meeting, where oSTEM president, Max Wilson, gave a presentation on STEM-based historical figures who were members of the LGBT+ community. The list from this presentation included Alan Turing, Leonardo Da Vinci, Sally Ride, Ben Barres, Florence Nightingale, and Alan Hart. While many likely knew about Alan Turing, it was apparent that some figures were more surprising to learn about, such as Da Vinci, a homosexual man, and Barres, an intersex and transgender male. Learning about these figures allowed students in oSTEM to see themselves in the past, as if acting as a reminder that even though the LGBT+ community is still subject to discrimination, they can succeed regardless. For me, a vocal member of the LGBT+ community, learning about these different historical figures means that and so much more. It de-stigmatizes the LGBT+ community and contradicts individuals who believe being in this community is a trend and a choice. In a more progressive nation such as the United States, where gay couples are still fighting to adopt children, and transgenders must go to court to do something so simple as using a pub-
lic restroom, the fight in this community to be treated as equals is nowhere near complete. Because of this, LGBT+ History Month is a spark of hope for not just myself, but the entire community. It allows us to pay homage to trailblazers like Marsha P. Washington, who paved the way for us. It also allows us to recognize that we have always been on this Earth and will continue to exist on this Earth.
Oliver Du Bois/The Avion Newspaper
A sign displayed during St. Petersburg Pride, 2018, showcasing retailer allyship.
The LGBT+ community has faced and will continue to face tremendous struggles. From an increase in hate crimes in the last four years, to the consistent mourning of our transgender brothers and sisters, to the desperate voting in hopes that our rights will not be taken away, we have been put through Hell and back. Simply put, this month is a testament to the fact that we will not back down. It is a beautiful month, which will continue to light a fire under this community and give us the inspiration we need to fight for our rights in the United States and globally.
14 CAMPUS LIFE AND EVENTS
XOXO RiddleRegards2
An Interview with the Campus Anonymous Gossip Page Carly McDonald Correspondent On April 25, the original RiddleRegards Instagram account made its first post. When the original RiddleRegards account disappeared for one week, RiddleRegards2 was born. Upon the return of the original account, the second account ceased posting. Less than one month later, after 388 posts, the original account owner mysteriously disappeared on June 22, this time for good. Without warning, they stopped posting confessions. Several days later, on July 1, RiddleRegards2 decided to restart their page and follow in the original account owner’s footsteps. With over 2,000 posts, RiddleRegards2 has become the new center for posting students’ gossip, confessions, questions, and advice. The Avion Newspaper: What pronouns are you? RiddleRegards2: I am the page, so I go by They. AN: Do you know who the original riddleregards is/was? RR2: I have an idea of who the original one was, but I cannot confirm. The account had been shut down, so I jumped on the opportunity and created one. Four months later and the student seems to have surpassed his mentor. AN: Why did you decide to start RR2? RR2: I initially saw RR as a way of
connecting students and asking questions that we, as freshmen, were too shy/embarrassed to ask. When they disappeared, I still had a bunch of unanswered questions, so I decided to do it myself. AN: What’s the goal or goals for RR2? RR2: The main focus of RR2 is for people from Riddle to come together as one, asking questions from the likes of “What professor is the best for [...]?” to sharing concerns about the school and sharing funny experiences and images/videos. More globally, it was to help. I get many people DMing me about their concerns and bad experiences. I try to be as helpful as possible; it is always easier to speak to an anonymous account than a real person. I take advantage of that and try to “counsel” and defuse situations.
RR2: I got 45 today! [October 14.] I assume it varies between 40 on relatively calm days and like 80 on drama days. AN: How many people know your actual name and why? RR2: 3 people know my actual identity :(, I accidentally DMed one with the wrong account, the other one saw something I had accidentally posted on the wrong account, and the last person was genuinely nice, so we started talking, so I sent them my face.
AN: Is there anything you want the whole school to know about you or the account in general? RR2: My DMs are always open and safe. If a post disturbs you, just let me know. AND you will not be able to get into the account because I use DUO mobile just like my bud ERNIE told me to do and you should all do. AN: What do you think about all of the drama that has resulted from RR2? RR2: Drama? I do not see any. I love my fans!
AN: How much time does RR2 generally take up? RR2: Riddle Regards does not take that much time. I usually have about 30 messages when I log in. 1/4 of those are not posted because they tend to negatively target someone or a group of persons. It takes me about 5-10 minutes to post all the submissions, then 5-10 minutes again to go through the comments, pin the funniest ones and sometimes post polls on my story. AN: You mentioned that some submissions are not posted. How many do you actually post per day? Carly McDonald/The Avion Newspaper
Samantha Stirmel/The Avion Newspaper
16 INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
AR in Retail Gives New Meaning to “Try Before you Buy”
Emily Rickel & Olivia Roa Graduate Researchers Emily and Olivia are students in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different technologies typically used by Embry-Riddle students. Got your eye on a new piece of furniture but unsure whether the style matches your current room decor? Interested in buying a new TV but uncertain as to which size will fit best on your wall? Wanting to change up your look but desiring a chance to “try before you buy?” Several retailers have recognized that these types of questions play a significant role in a customer’s purchase decision-making process. As a result, many companies have launched mobile apps that leverage augmented reality (AR) technology to create unique product interactions that users can experience without leaving their homes. Depending on the product that users want to preview, these mobile apps use either the front or rear-facing camera to scan the user’s environment or body and overlay the real-world with virtual depictions of the retailer’s products. The RUX Lab has been researching retailers who provide customers with mobile AR experiences of their products. So far, we have found that retailers use AR experiences for
three main categories of products: Interior Design, Beauty, and Clothing/Accessories. Interior Design Many retailers that stock furniture and home decor have launched AR experiences that allow customers to virtually place these products in their homes. For instance, IKEA customers can download the retailer’s secondary app called IKEA Place to put true-to-scale models of furniture in their own space. Once a user selects the piece of furniture they want to view in their space, IKEA Place uses the phone camera to scan the user’s surroundings and search for an empty space to place the product. Users can rotate and move products within their space until they are happy with the final placement. When products are placed, users can walk up to the product and get a better, more detailed look at its finishes and features. Users can also “pass through” products to get an inside look, which helps visualize the size and shape of drawers and shelves that may be obscured by cabinet doors or other parts. Android users can also take advantage of IKEA Place’s Visual Search feature. With this feature, users can take a picture of an item and find comparable IKEA products to add to their shopping list. Home Depot is another retailer that supports mobile AR experiences for home goods. Similar to IKEA Place, users can browse and place virtual depictions of products within
their immediate surroundings. Users can also toggle a feature that displays the product’s dimensions to understand its measurements better. Home Depot’s AR capability recently went viral as users found out that the feature was available for an outdoor, 12-foot tall skeleton Halloween decoration with “LifeEyes.” Many people have flocked to download the app just to place the spooky skeleton in their space. This national spotlight demonstrates
that AR in retail can also serve as an effective marketing technique. Beauty AR for beauty products has taken off by providing many ways to try on different products before purchasing them in-store or through the app. >>Continued on page 17
Image Courtesy/Shivani Patel & Jessyca Derby
Home Depot's use of mobile AR recently caught national attention as users placed a 12foot tall skeleton within their home.
INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
17
Image Courtesy/Nike
Nike Fit uses your smartphone camera to scan your feet and find your perfect shoe size.
>>Continued from page 16 One retailer who exhaustively uses AR within their app is Ulta Beauty. Their in-app AR GLAMLab has a wide array of features, from foundation matching, to false lash try-on, to even trying different hair colors. GLAMLab provides information about the product that the customer is trying, including the shade, brand, and cost. It also allows the user to add that product to their shopping cart or their favorites list to remember which shades they tested and liked. Another beauty retailer that utilizes AR is Sephora. Sephora’s Virtual Artist allows the user to try on products like lipsticks, eye shadows, and highlighters. Users can toggle different shades offered with a specific product, and they can even adjust how much of the makeup is put on their faces. Another helpful feature that Sephora provides is a description of how to use the product if the user decides to purchase it.
Clothing/Accessories AR used by clothing retailers is another helpful way for customers to try on different styles from the comfort of their own home. Nike’s in-app AR experience scans users’ feet and provides purchase recommendations based on the morphology of their feet. It also measures shoe size so customers can better understand what size to order when purchasing a new pair of shoes. The scanning feature takes less than a minute and provides customized information on the shoe the customer is viewing. For example, the app may recommend different sizes for different shoes depending on the shoe’s purpose and performance intent. A product page for running shoes requiring a more secure fit may suggest a smaller size than an everyday wear shoe designed to be less snug. The app also saves the user’s shoe size after the scan so they do not have to scan their feet
before every shoe purchase. Warby Parker also lets customers try on different accessories with AR. With permitted access to the user’s camera, Warby Parker allows users to try on eyeglasses before purchasing them on their website. Customers can try all colors of the frame that are offered and adjust the size of the eyeglasses. It also provides a feature that lets users buy, favorite, or take a picture with the glasses “on,” which then can be shared to multiple social media platforms. Final Thoughts Now that the RUX Lab has a better understanding of how retailers utilize AR, we have several follow-up questions that we will continue to research: How frequently do users interact with retailers’ AR experiences? What do users think about these experiences? To what extent do these experiences influence whether a customer purchases a product?
Image Courtesy/Jessyca Derby
Warby Parker’s AR app scans and overlays your face with digital images of eyeglasses so you can “try before you buy.”
While we don’t have all of the answers to these questions yet, we think it is safe to say that AR use in retail has significant implications on customer experience, especially within today’s COVID-19 world. Providing customers with mobile AR product experiences makes products more readily accessible to individuals who reduce their time in public shopping areas. Additionally, AR applications for beauty products allow users to circumvent the discontinuation of in-store makeup testers and samples that resulted from COVID-19 safety precautions. Overall, AR use in retail provides a unique twist on a customer’s desire to “try before you buy” and shows promise for changing the future of shopping and purchasing processes.
18 INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
Near Miss at Low Earth Orbit
An Tran Correspondent On Oct. 13, 2020, LeoLabs Inc., a company dedicated to tracking and monitoring satellites and space debris in low Earth orbit, first identified a high-risk orbital approach that was to occur on the evening of Oct. 15, 2020. The satellites in question were Cosmos 2004, a decommissioned Soviet-era communications and navigations satellite, and a spent Long March 4C upper stage, a Chinese rocket body left in orbit. As the time to intersect passed, LeoLabs later confirmed via their New Zealand based radar that the rocket body was still in one piece after the close pass, indicating that there was no collision. A few hours later, LeoLabs
also confirmed that Cosmos 2004 passed through safely. The final risk assessment computed out the miss distance to be around 11 meters. Cosmos 2004 was a communications and navigations satellite launched by the former USSR on Feb. 22, 1989. After its operational lifespan, Cosmos 2004 was decommissioned and was left in low Earth orbit due to a lack of a propulsion system to deorbit the defunct satellite. Likewise, since the spent upper stage did not contain enough propellant to deorbit and reenter Earth’s atmosphere, the rocket body was also left in Earth’s orbit. With the lack of propulsion and maneuvering methods between both objects, the approach was unavoidable. In the case of a collision, the two
objects involved in the thousands of kilometers per second collision would have disintegrated and flung debris around numerous orbital inclinations and altitudes in low Earth orbit, posing a hazard to other satellites and even crew on the International Space Station. To avoid adding further clutter to an already crowded space, present-day satellite operators typically deorbit or bring satellites to a “graveyard” orbit, an orbit that brings defunct satellites away from the path of operational satellites, once a satellite comes to the end of its operational life expectancy through the use of a propulsion system or atmospheric drag. An example of this comes in the form of SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which is designed to orbit low enough above Earth to allow for atmospheric drag to decay its orbit until it eventually reenters and burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. Similarly, launch providers, such as United Launch Alliance, normally leave enough propellant to deorbit spent stages upon the completion of a mission. In addition to this, research is being done by numerous companies, organizations, and universities to develop ways to clean up such hazards. A solution to this problem comes in the form of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Obsolete Spacecraft Capture and Removal (OSCaR), a CubeSat that’s designed to find and deorbit space debris. Another option is Northrop Grumman’s MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle), a vehicle that’s designed to dock and prolong a satellite’s operational lifespan of which successfully docked to a commercial communications satellite earlier this year. Even SpaceX has something
in development, with its upcoming BFR and Starship, a fully reusable launch vehicle and spacecraft designed to be rapidly reused upon return from orbit.
An Tran/The Avion Newspaper
Falcon 9 launching the Starlink-12 mission, adding 60 more Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
An Tran/The Avion Newspaper
A Falcon 9 first stage, B1060, returning to Port Canaveral after being reused for the 2nd time during the Starlink-11 mission.
SPECIAL FEATURE
19
Bryce Canyon National Park Samantha Stirmel Business Manager Bryce Canyon, one of America’s many National Parks, is located in Utah. The park became protected by the National Park Service back in 1924 as a National Monument and become a National Park four years later. Bryce Canyon has averaged around two million visitors a year since 2010. As a smaller park, Bryce Canyon is a hiker’s paradise with plenty of backcountry camping to do through the many trails it offers. Its diverse landscape that changes at whim during the seasons is sure to awe all who visit. In the Winter, snow rests upon everything in a beautiful white powder, turning the landscape into a wonderland. However, when the day starts to heat up, magic happens: the sand and rock heats up from the sun extraordinarily fast, making the canyon walls seem to smoke as the snow evaporates away. What’s left behind is a little bit of wet, red dirt and burning colors that jump out at you against
a bright blue sky. The rock formations that burn when uncovered all throughout summertime are called Hoodoos, and they scream for the attention that they outright deserve. Sunset Point is the most frequently offered trail, but there are trailheads all along the canyon walls leading you down into the forest of rock. Along the Navajo Loop, there are many unique formations that can be seen, like Queen Victoria and even Thor’s Hammer. These formations look just like their namesake and can be seen throughout the park. Though Spring Break on the Embry-Riddle campus might be off for 2020, this is an easy park to visit over a short weekend and is worlds away from Daytona Beach. The most expensive part of a trip here would be the plane to get to Bryce Canyon’s Airport. Besides that, camping is cheap and grants the opportunity to stay in a National Park and hit the trails early in the morning. The adventurous Riddle pilots will be pleased as well, as there is an airport available for them
Samantha Stirmel/The Avion Newspaper
The Navajo Loop leads to this incredible view off of Inspiration Point at 8,222 feet and gives one of the best views of the canyon.
Samantha Stirmel/The Avion Newspaper
This view is from the Navajo Trail Loop, which leads from Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon. The March snow which fell that morning gradually turned into steam as the temperatures rose.
to fuel and fly out of to experience the area in VFR conditions. If airplanes aren’t your style, you might instead enjoy a helicopter ride. These rides can go over some of the further reaches of the 35,000 acres of majestic geologic formations, which have been aweing people for years. Depending on how adventurous you want to be, it is possible to also visit some of the other natural wonders just around the corner. The American Southwest is full of National Parks and Mon-
uments for anyone to discover, but getting lost in the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon is by far one of the best experiences around. Despite how daunting it sounds, the best time to experience the park is in the Spring, when the snow steams off of the rocks in the hot morning sun.
k r
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COMICS & GAMES Recipe of the Week
64. Thomas __, American cartoonist
Piadina Neapolitan
CLUES DOWN
1. Dutch word for “language” 5. Popular music style 8. Body part 11. Largely dry valleys 13. Brew 14. Ancient Greek sophist 15. Where rockers play
16. Human gene 17. One point east of northeast 18. Adversary 20. Small cask or barrel 21. About ear 22. Benign tumors 25. In a different way 30. One charged with a crime 31. Chinese principle underlying the
universe 32. Long, narrow straps 33. Passover 38. Ottoman military commander 41. One who does not succeed 43. Data 45. 3D image 47. Whale ship captain 49. Japanese title
beginner
50. Made of wood 55. Yokel 56. Exercise system __-bo 57. Supreme being 59. Playing card with three spots 60. Hostelry 61. Spiritual leader 62. Single lens reflex 63. Time of the 90th meridian, used in the central U.S.
Makes 2
Tomato Basil Piadina Dough 11/2 cups unbleached flour 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon for oiling the dough 1 teaspoon salt 3 ounces tomato paste 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves 2 Tomato Piadina rounds 4 slices fresh mozzarella 6 large basil leaves 4 slices tomato Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Measure the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the salt, olive oil, water, and other ingredients into the well. Mix thoroughly, stirring with a strong spoon. The finished dough should form a ball, unless it is too wet or sticky. If so, add tiny amounts of flour, until the dough comes off the sides cleanly and forms a ball. Lightly flour a clean, dry countertop. Place the ball of dough on the counter, and press down with the palm of your hand. Fold the dough over itself and press again. Continue to roll and press the dough for about 8 minutes. The dough will change and soften, and become more elastic. Lightly oil the ball of dough with olive oil. Wrap it in plastic and let it rest about 30 minutes. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces and roll them into rounds about 8 inches in diameter. Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle until it is extremely hot. Lay the dough rounds on the hot surface. Cook for about 1 minute, or until bubbles form on the surface. Lift the piadina with tongs to check doneness. Turn the piadina over and cook for another minute, until the bottom is light brown. Place each piadina on a plate. Lay 2 slices of mozzarella on one side of each piadina. Add 3 basil leaves and 2 slices of tomato. Season with salt and pepper, then fold in half. Brush the top of each piadina crust with olive oil. Return the piadinas to the skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place each piadina in the pan, oiled side down. Brush the top halves with olive oil. Press down on the piadinas with a spatula while they cook, about 2 minutes. Turn the sandwich over. It should be golden and crisp on the outside. Continue pressing down, about 2 minutes more, until the cheese inside is melted. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
intermediate
Finished all the puzzles? Be the first to email business@theavion.com and win a prize!
SUDOKU
CLUES ACROSS
1. Shuttered airline 2. Swiss river 3. Port city in Yemen 4. It can be straight 5. Tennis playerÕs tool 6. Estranged 7. Garden archway 8. Assists 9. Grain crop 10. Millisecond 12. U.S. Founding Father Adams 14. Small, deerlike buffalo 19. Easily manageable 23. Male parent 24. Nearsightedness 25. Patriotic women 26. Decorate a cake with frosting 27. __ fi (slang) 28. A joke rooted in wordplay 29. Attack violently 34. Keyboard key 35. __ juris: independent 36. Corporate executive (abbr.) 37. Adult female bird 39. Pertains to knowledge 40. Pashtoes 41. Prefixed title for Italian monks 42. To be fired from a gun 44. A way to position 45. __ process: produces ammonia 46. Follow instructions 47. Humanistic discipline 48. Throw 51. Swiss river 52. American hate group 53. Actor Idris 54. Seizes 58. Baseball stat
advanced