The Seahawk

OPINION: UNCW must require students and staff to receive COVID-19 vaccine to attend in-person classes

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • January 3, 2021

Scientists from several different pharmaceutical companies have been scrambling to develop a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19. Now that vaccines are ready for distribution, many people are hesitant...

OPINION: Fermented foods may improve America’s mental health problem

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • December 20, 2020

Studies have shown that the microbes and probiotics in fermented foods promote optimal gut health, therefore resulting in healthy levels of serotonin. Fermented foods must be added to diets nationwide to encourage strong mental health. This is especially necessary during these stress-ridden and unprecedented times.

OPINION: Trust in healthcare is rapidly decaying amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • December 18, 2020

On Dec. 14, the U.S. began administering COVID-19 virus vaccines to high-risk healthcare workers. This monumental day was filled with anxiety as shipments of the vaccine were quickly distributed throughout...

OPINION: School dress code policies perpetuate sexism in American culture

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • December 12, 2020

In 2018, the Alameda Unified School District in San Francisco eliminated their traditional dress code policy. Now allowing students to wear what they want, including midriff shirts, ripped jeans...

OPINION: Should minors have access to COVID-19 vaccine without parental consent?

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • December 5, 2020

Various COVID-19 vaccines have been in development since the virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Pharmaceutical companies and scientists worldwide have been scrambling for the...

OPINION: UNCW is not doing enough to improve inclusivity of minority groups

Hannah Horowitz, Staff Writer • November 30, 2020

The simple fact is that we are in the year 2020. Universities should no longer be getting praise for having minority student organizations or holding minority student panels. The existence of the Upperman African American Cultural Center, Centro Hispano, and the LGBTQIA+ Resource Office should be givens, not talking points.

OPINION: American restaurants need COVID-19 aid now

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • November 22, 2020

Restaurants, particularly small businesses and bars are the backbones of communities nationwide. These establishments welcome tourists, families and locals to come and enjoy the area’s cuisine. If these businesses are so beneficial to community, then why is the government reluctant to give aid during these difficult times?

OPINION: A Biden presidency will heal the nation

Nicolas Ziccardi, Contributing Writer • November 21, 2020

However, indirectly or otherwise, a Biden presidency may in fact be the catalyst for real change that many people desire and his creed to heal the “soul of our nation” could very well be a more prophetic statement than once believed. Mr. Biden's most advantageous asset may well be his very presence.

OPINION: “The Queen’s Gambit” is much more than a women’s empowerment story

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • November 19, 2020

“The Queen’s Gambit” tells a compelling story about a young girl and has deeply moving morals. However, this show is not just about the empowerment of women; it’s about showing the real destructiveness of substance dependency and how one can overcome it with the support of friends.

OPINION: America cannot afford another shutdown

Jacob Sawyer, Staff Writer • November 17, 2020

Regardless of the success of this or any other stimulus plan, no amount of free money can compensate for the severe fallout of home confinement. The “thin bandage” of the stimulus, writes the National Review, would be unable to prevent the economy’s partial recovery from bleeding out.

OPINION: The holiday season will bring another wave of COVID-19

Hannah Horowitz, Staff Writer • November 17, 2020

This is not time to let our guard down just because of the holiday season. It is important to remember that the world is still experiencing a global pandemic. We may be tired of the virus, but the virus is surely not tired of us.

OPINION: UNCW must reconsider rejection of pass/fail option

Emma Sheeran, Opinion Editor • November 14, 2020

The pass/fail option is absolutely necessary during these unprecedented times. If courses are only offered online, then it is only fair to present students this option. Experts are saying that “the mental, emotional and academic impacts of the shift to remote learning are likely going to be challenging.” Many students are struggling to adjust to the new format for several reasons. Lack of hands-on experience, unsuitable study spaces and increased distractions are just a few of the reasons remote learning is challenging students.