January '14: ACÉ by The BLACK ACE Magazine

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

table of contents editors’ note 3 music 4

MY WEEKEND LOVE AFFAIR WITH MUSIC

culture 6

THE HONEY BEES OF MEDICINE

co-editors-in-chief Chasidy Lowe chazlowe@gwmail.gwu.edu Adam Middleton admmdltn@gwmail.gwu.edu

copy editor

Brooke Oki okib@gwmail.gwu.edu

layout

Angel Veliz sdotfly@gmail.com | www.sdotfly.com

on campus 8

BEHIND THE TITLE: TOLONDA HENDERSON EVENTS AROUND TOWN! WHO’S UP NEXT

promotional team

politics 12

_______________________

RACE AND THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Bryson Rouzan-Thomas Betsy Awelachew thenewace@gmail.com

founder

Sam P.K. Collins

study abroad 14

DIVERSITY ABROAD: A CHECKLIST

editor-in-chief emeritus Kwasi Agyeman

cooking corner 16

faculty advisor

RECIPES WITH DANICA

Professor Robin Marcus

spotlight 18

THE GAY AGENDA

We’re looking for new staff! Email us personally or at thenewace@gmail.com if you’re interested in writing, reporting, photography, design, publication, or simply in helping out the premier publication of the multicultural community at GW!

The Ace Magazine is funded in part by a generous grant from Generation Progress, a national organization that works with and for young people to promote progressive solutions to key political and social challenges.

thenewace@gmail.com | @theacemag | theacemagazine | @theacestagram

editors’ note

Severus Snape Chasidy Lowe

At this point, I’m pretty sure that a pre-requisite for being a senior is a never-ending sense of nostalgia; and that nostalgia kicked in recently when I was reflecting on my beginning tenure with The Ace and how excited I was to find a space where my unique voice was valued. In essence, that is what the magazine is-a space for students of color to self-actualize and express themselves within a world that largely subverts the identities of people of color. As the 2013-2014 academic years comes to an end, I am reminded that I only have one semester left with The Ace! I’ve seen our past Editorin-Chiefs graduate and move on from the magazine, and while they make the transition appear effortless, I feel it will be difficult to leave the magazine behind. In the meantime, we are dedicated to generating great content for our readers and further cementing our legacy at GW. Hopefully all of you find something in this issue that can inspire you in the New Year. From music to current events, we have covered all of the bases in this release. And I’m looking forward to my last, and hopefully best semester with the magazine! Cheers!

Regulus Black

Brooke Oki

Happy New Year! We’re ecstatic to begin the semester with a new issue of The Ace Magazine. We hope that this edition serves as a beacon of promise and productivity among all students and student organizations in the multicultural community. Let’s get the semester started right.

Normally, I am excited about this time of the year; the holiday season has just ended, the beginning of the semester is here and my birthday has come and gone. But this year, as a nostalgic senior, nearing the end of the year does not shine off in the distance as brightly for me as before and I met 22 with only a figment of the gleeful anticipation that I had embraced 21.

The next fifteen weeks will be actionpacked, from the first syllabus you receive all the way until the advent of finals. In my three years at GW, spring semester always brings a multitude of moments and memories. I am certain 2014 will be no different, with an amazing Black Heritage Celebration on the horizon and other staples of the semester like Spring Fling. Of course, 2014 also brings the departure of perhaps my favorite class at GW; but I’ll save my goodbyes for the Senior Issue in a few months. In a nutshell, what we want to do this semester with The Ace is continue stepping into a new direction of providing a voice to the multicultural community that will resound for generations to come. The Ace is a written record of the ideas, activities, and aspirations of each and every one of us here. As we work to create a phenomenal magazine, please remember that your input is invaluable. This is not simply Chasidy, Brooke, and Adam’s magazine—it belongs to anyone reading these words. Thanks for your support and enjoy the issue!

The Ace Magazine Mission: last issue

Bellatrix Lestrange

Adam Middleton

But upon reflection, and in the spirit of the passing holidays, I have learned to simply appreciate the fact that I attend an exceptional institution and to be thankful that I have seen yet another year. This first issue for 2014 is certainly another reason to be thankful. Within this issue, we have included articles on current events and updates on several on-campus groups. With the addition of our newest staff photographers, sophomores Nana Aygeman and Eric Darnell, this issue has a personal touch we hope to carry on. And so, I hope you enjoy our first issue of 2014 and look forward to a promising New Year.

The Ace Magazine connects the multicultural community to the university at-large with contributions from student writers and faculty members. Since 2008, The Ace has sparked discussion between campus groups furthering our belief that “we all have similar issues no matter our color.”

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

MY WEEKEND LOVE AFFAIR WITH MUSIC By Chasidy Lowe

“Y

eah, I’m friends with the band.” It’s a phrase I have probably dreamt of saying my entire life, although admittedly as a child I pictured Prince and the Revolution or The Spice Girls; but nonetheless, I became friends with a band by the name of Hiatus Kaiyote.

At the end of the evening, Simon and Perrin invited us to come to their Philly show. Following the energy and spontaneity of the evening, we obliged and decided to ride up the next day. We saw their last US show in Philadelphia at the North Star Bar and the experience was well worth the incessant stream of tolls. The audience, once again, was extremely diverse and the show was just as exciting as the first. As soon as we walked in we saw a marriage proposal; but not just any marriage proposal, we saw the proposal of Taylor McFerrin, Bobby McFerrin’s son (that is 10 time Grammy winner and singer of hit song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”), who was also in attendance at the concert.

Hiatus Kaiyote is a self-proclaimed future soul group from Melbourne, Australia, which consists of lead vocalist Nai Palm, bass player Paul Bender, drummer Perrin Moss, and keyboardist Simon Mavin. Aside from borderline perfection, their music can be best described as a mix between Little Dragon and Jamiroquai. However, the group’s musical influences range from soul to hip-hop to jazz. Their first album Tawk Tomahawk, released through Sony imprint Flying Buddha, is truly a piece of art. Artists like Erykah Badu, Questlove, and Q-Tip have taken notice, and represent a few of the individuals that have taken it upon themselves to join Hiatus Kaiyote’s pro-bono promo team. A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of covering their D.C. show at U Street Music Hall, and the whirlwind experience that followed is one I am compelled to share to spread the word about their music, and more importantly, make everyone extremely jealous of this experience (no shame at all).

What I find most interesting about Hiatus Kaiyote’s performances is that they are never the same. Even between the two shows I saw back to back, they changed up the tempo and melody to their songs, keeping their performances fresh and engaging. They are true artists in every sense of the word, and the dedication to their craft is one of the reasons fans fall in love with their music over and over again. At the end of the evening, we said our final goodbyes to the band, and thanked them for an amazing weekend, one that I’m sure I will be telling my future grandchildren.

First and foremost the band is amazing live; it’s almost like their music is solely to meant be heard through that medium. Nai Palm’s voice is a gift from the gods, one I would gladly trade for my own any day, and all of the instrumentalists are exceptionally skilled. But when they perform together, it’s magic; the kind of magic that can remind you why you fell in love with music in the first place. I was immediately transported to my grandmother’s apartment back in Baltimore, where I was first introduced to music from every corner of the world. And one fan at the show, exclaimed that she had not been so excited about music since she first heard the grown and sexy music of Prince at age 8 unbeknownst to her mother.

Here are some other Sony Music artists to be on the look out for:

YO GOTTI

One of the perks of my job is the ability to indulge in all of the musical interests; specifically the inner-ratchet within that Baltimore has created within me. Those of you from the DMV area know of Yo Gotti’s name, and those who don’t, have no doubt heard his music. The hip-hop artists from Memphis, Tennesse, has been in the game for over 15 years, and is known for hits like “5 Star”, “Women Lie, Men Lie”, and more recently, “Act Right” and “King Sh*t”. His album I Am, released November 19th, and I had the pleasure of meeting the artist and covering his recent concert. He naturally, did not disappoint. My favorite tracks on the album are “King Sh*t” ft. T.I. and “Cold Blood” ft. J. Cole and Canei Finch, a collaboration that is suprising at first, but well worth a listen.

I had the pleasure of seeing Hiatus Kaiyote, not once, but twice in one weekend. Following the show my friend Emanuel and I had a brief conversation with the band; what we didn’t realize was that this conversation would be the beginning of an amazing night with some of the band members. While passing Howard Hospital, the drummer, Perrin screamed to gain my attention after recognizing my face from the concert and quickly after realizing he wasn’t an impending threat, I responded. It just so happened, bassist, Bender, hit his head on equipment and had to come to the hospital to get stiches, so the other members were waiting outside while he was being seen. My friend Emanuel and I engaged in conversation with the band, particularly drummer, Perrin, and keyboardist, Simon. Eventually they invited us to come to an after party at a venue in DC. Rather than taking their car, they casually rode with us in my friend’s car to the club. On the way there we talked about everything from music to the taste of kangaroo meat, all while blasting new West African music Perrin was currently listening to. After arriving at the club, we all bonded and danced to live jazz and funk all night long. It was by far one of the best nights of my young adult life. Who doesn’t dream of passing the funk in a circle full of strangers and newly acquainted musician friends?

EASY LANTANA

“All Hustle, No Luck!” is literally all you will be singing from now until forever after you listen to the artist Easy Lantana’s single. The track’s remix features an impressive array of veterans including Pusha T, Bun B, and ya boy Yo Gotti!

ERIK HASSLE (RCA)

Erik Hassle is a blue-eyed, Swedish soul/pop singer. Those who are fans of Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake will definitely appreciate his music. His single “Talk About It” is out, make sure to check it out!

HIATUS KAIYOTE

Congratulations to Hiatus Kaiyote for their recent Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance for their hit song Nakamarra ft. Q-Tip!

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

THE HONEY BEES OF MEDICINE: FIGHTING FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE IN MEDICINE By Ashleigh Evans

merica has entered a crisis for black male doctors. Although the depleting numbers of black male medical students has been on medical professionals’ radar for quite some time, the issue made its way into the public eye in 2012, when it was revealed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC’s) Chief of Diversity Dr. Marc Nivet that there were fewer African American males enrolled as first year medical students than there were 32 years ago in 19811.

my premed classes I decided there was no option out except to make it to the end.” Some students have not taken the statistics lying down. In light of UCLA’s black male population’s public castigation of the well-renowned institute’s horrible diversity numbers, GW’s Black Men’s Initiative in partnership with the Kappa Alpha Psi chapter took a minute to reflect on GW’s own issues with black male retention, a rate that is approximately 10 percent lower than its female counterparts. In an effort to address, analyze, and provide some resolution to the problem, study tips were provided and a frank conversation about the troubling phenomenon was had.

“If we don’t effectively intervene in this pipeline and hold our institutions and ourselves accountable for finding the talent that we know exists, we have failed those 32 million people soon to be disenfranchised Other people have taken to the streets, and we have failed ourselves,” stated Nivet creating programs and partnerships to Dr. Marc Nivet at the Howard University Symposium. A encourage minorities to stay in the academic Association of American Medical Colleges deeper investigation of his statement makes pipeline. Biology major and premed student Chief of Diversity the diversity issue all the more unnerving. Chidi Agbaeruneke has recently assumed According to an article published in the the position of American Journal of Public Health, “underrepresented minority ...the ones who will President for the physicians are more likely to care for medically underserved patient newly re-established most be affected Minority Association populations2. This means that the ones who will most be affected by the absence of African American male physicians are the ones by the absence of of Premedical who need help most – racial minorities (Native Americans in Students (MAPS), an African American male organization dedicated particular), the poor, and residents in rural areas. physicians are the ones to addressing the What could be the cause of the shortage? Though contributing paucity of minorities who need help most in the medical field issues range from the 47% high school graduation rate to the harrowing statistics of suspension and expulsion rates among – racial minorities..the and pipeline. With a African American male elementary schoolers, GW junior and staff advisor in the poor, and residents in medical school and premed student Chukwuma Onyebuenyi shares his thoughts on the matter: “There aren’t many resources,” he states. When asked to rural areas. a budding relation elaborate why he has made it thus far, he explains, “I knew that I with GW School of wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a kid. I questioned whether Medicine and Health Science’s Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, I wanted to do it freshman year, but after I started doing well in MAPS is on its way to navigating GW minorities through all the right channels.

1 Allen, Freddie. “Insight News.” Insight News RSS. NNPA, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

For More Information on MAPS, please join the GW Premed Minorities

2 Xu, S K Fields, C Laine, J J Veloski, B Barzansky, and C J

Martini. The relationshipbetween the race/ethnicity of generalist physicians and their care for underserved populations. American Journal of Public Health May 1997: Vol. 87, No. 5, pp. 817-822.

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

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music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

BEHIND THE TITLE: TOLONDA HENDERSON By Adam Middleton

t’s with a warm smile that Tolonda Henderson greets me on the entrance floor of the Melvin and Estelle Gelman Library. Following a fire alarm that evacuated the building a little after 4 p.m., we settle to our seats in a quieter corner of the library and begin our conversation. Who exactly is Tolonda? Well, paper says she’s a reference librarian from New England with a B.A. in sociology and an M.A. in library science who simply got here by following her family. The minute you begin talking to her, however, you know it’s not that simple as her kindness and candor whipped me around on a timeline of her recent years until we arrived at the very day on which we talked. “I became a librarian by fluke,” she begins. After years of jobs in public services, including some work in a library, the uncanny knack for knowing her way around books led her to change plans: study them. Tolonda completed library school and voila, a librarian was she. Her move to the Washington metropolitan area was a little more intentional. Her brother relocated to the area from New Hampshire, then her family, and finally she joined them about six years ago. A job posting for an instruction librarian is what brought Tolonda to GW. Interested in the pedagogy involved with the position, Tolonda took the job and to this day works with students of UW20, the university’s mandatory freshman writing seminar, to develop their research using the library’s resources including online collection guides on Gelman’s A friend brought expansive website.

me to an open mic and I was completely intrigued by people framing an experience.

So that’s Tolonda the librarian. Now meet Tolonda the poet. Another self-proclaimed “stumble upon” like her day job, Tolonda is a skilled slam poet in the district’s thriving arts scene, although she’s very clear that it’s still relatively new to her. “A friend brought me to an open mic and I was completely intrigued by people framing an experience,” Tolonda says, speaking of her first time at a performance. From there it took her about a year to get into it and finally grace the other side of the mic. Already being recognized for her talents, just last year, Tolonda nabbed a spot in the finals for the Beltway Poetry Slam’s national slam team.

or Michael Jordan driving to the net in the heat of competition. Tolonda’s juice is connecting with the audience, being comfortable in your environment, and not having to worry about forgetting (or remembering) the words. She mentions in an aside a particular instance where she habitually adds a stanza that was taken out of a poem in its final version because she committed one of the drafts to memory. There’s also the constant fear of audience apathy. “What if nobody cares what I have to say?” As a poet who writes about who she is and how that’s expressed, whether regarding her weight, race, sexual orientation, or social anxiety, Tolonda puts herself in a vulnerable position in every performance. Still, the job has its rewards, earning the poet some headlining slots at a few of D.C.’s most popular and trendy venues, like Spit Dat in the Shaw-Howard neighborhood or BloomBars in Columbia Heights.

Even in her short span as a performer, Tolonda has been on more than enough stages to collect some interesting experiences and learn some of her preferences at the mic. “I enjoy the performance the more I’m able to be present in the space. [And] when the audience is there also,” she says. “I love to be the center of attention. I’ve known that since I was 4.” Of course, not every performance goes as well as others; as Tolonda put it, sometimes you can’t turn on “the juice.”

It may sound like a dichotomy; the sweet research librarian by day and raw slam poet by night. Nevertheless, Tolonda assures that the two words aren’t as different as one might think. “There’s a lot of performance in teaching. They’re [poetry and teaching] trying to get people to understand the world in a new way. It’s a connection with the audience, and that’s what I like.”

Performers across the spectrum have discussed “the juice” time and time again, whether it’s Beyoncé taking on her Sasha Fierce persona

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

EVENTS AROUND TOWN!

GET THIS SEMESTER AND YEAR STARTED RIGHT BY EXPLORING WHAT D.C. HAS TO OFFER OUTSIDE OF FOGGY BOTTOM. THE ACE HAS CULLED A GANG OF EVENTS AROUND THE DISTRICT FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IN YOUR QUEST TO SEE THIS AMAZING CITY!

SPIT DAT! OPEN MIC

JAY Z: MAGNA CARTER WORLD TOUR

Spit Dat is a weekly open mic where a poetry venue with all the freedom of expression meets a church with none of the restraint. Spit Dat is an experience one has to have to truly understand.

Supporting his twelfth studio album, Blue Ivy’s daddy is travelling the world on his first headlining solo tour in almost four years. Showcasing a slew of hip-hop’s biggest hits and with Timbaland serving as the show’s supporting act, this is definitely one of the hottest tickets in town.

$1 Suggested Donation

Every Thurs., 8pm The Emergence Community Arts Collective, 733 Euclid Street NW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADIEU BERTHE - L’ENTERREMENT DE MÉMÉ FILM SCREENING $5 (for students)

Selected at both the Cannes and Hamburg Internation Film Festivals, Adieu Berthe - l’enterrement de Mémé (Granny’s Funeral) is what Variety calls a “crowdpleasing comedy about that downer of downers: laying a loved one to rest” and Screen Daily says has “the potential to amuse audiences wherever it’s shown.” The screening is in French with English subtitles. Tues., Jan. 14, 7pm The Embassy of France, 4104 Reservoir Road NW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTJAMZ ARTZ BAZAAR $15

The Artz Bazaar is hosted monthly and seeks to combine the participatory fun experience of ArtJamz with the promotion of local artists with the intent to help grow art collections and promote local artists. Tickets include 3.5 hours of studio time, one free drink, and access to paints and art materials. Thurs. Jan. 16, 8pm ArtJamz, 1728 Connecticut Avenue NW

$32.50 & up

Thurs., Jan 16, 8pm Verizon Center, 601 F Street NW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAUL MOONEY $37.50

Few comedians have the scathing wit or résumé as Paul Mooney, boasting over 40 years in the business. He’s worked with everyone from Dave Chappelle to Richard Pryor, often offending anyone in his crosshairs with riffs on racism and celebrity mishaps, though doing so with an impeccable basis in fact. “I always drop history,” he explains. “It’s knowledge. There’s always a message in my comedy and you may not get it that night—it’s like time bombs. It’ll get you a week later. You’ll understand.” Sat., Jan 18, 7:30pm The Howard Theatre, 620 T Street NW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014 SIPS

$95 ($70 is tax deductible) Organized by the DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table, Sips celebrates the contribution young people make to feeding and supporting their community. This year’s focus is a lively cocktail reception featuring top artisans, chefs and mixologist preparing their signature dishes and craft cocktails, featuring GW’s own José Andrés. Sat., Jan. 25, 7pm Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Take an Uber: Use the code uberACEMAG for $20 off your first trip!

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

WHO’S UP NEXT? By Bryson Rouzan-Thomas

f you are aware of the state of involvement from students, especially student leaders, within the multicultural community here at The George Washington University, you will openly admit that there is work to be done. With diversity becoming a critical pillar to GW, leadership within the multicultural community will continue to be a reoccurring need for the university. A leader is defined as an individual who has the ability to command or delegate tasks to others. At GW, we have a vital need for student involvement and administrative leadership in our diverse community because it will assist in creating better programming and resources to underclassmen who struggle to find the balance between involvement, social life and education. Students and staff at the 4th Annual MSSC Student Leaders Retreat

On November 5 in the Gelman Library, the Black Student Union hosted their annual “GDUB 101” event; one that focused on helping freshmen, sophomores and transfer students by providing a comfortable environment for underclassmen to ask the questions they’ve been urging to discuss without the eyes or judgment of administrators. I hosted the event and moderated the discussion with a mix of questions from the audience and pre-event generated topics such as managing GWorld’s, Student Judiciary policies, Greek Life and more. Questions were fielded to a hand-selected panel of eight upperclassmen including junior Adam Middleton, senior Simi Ojuri, senior Senzwa Ntshepe, junior Shawn Crowley, senior Maronel Stewart, junior Tavyen Williams and junior Maurissa Walls. The room was filled with approximately 50 students who came to not only ask for but offer it as GW does a poor job advice, well.

BSU decided to sustain the annual GDub 101 event as part of their programming this year, she said, “Students, especially students of color, need guidance from those who have experience navigating their way through the 4 years of their collegiate experience.” Brown also mentioned that the event served two purposes. It was first a way to promote the resources offered on campus for multicultural students such as the Multicultural Student Services Center, the GW Williams House and specific contacts who continuously advocate for multicultural students in financial aid such as Linda Brown, Assistant Director of Colonial Central, and Karen Thomas-Mitchell, Assistant Director of Student Financial Assistance. The event also served as a call to action for underclassmen to take the wheel in regards to community involvement and student organization leadership.

of creating meaningful minority experience outside of the mainstream culture of this school.

One of the main topics of discussion was on how to find a balance between one’s social life and education during college. Shawn Crowley, representing Greek Life as a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. mentioned, “If you are not opening your books every day of the week, I can already predict what your grades are.” He continued to mention that as important as it is to maintain a social life as a means of relieving stress during college, it is exponentially more important to maintain quality success in one’s education.

On November 11th the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the Black Men’s Initiative hosted “The Crisis: Black Male Retention” as a state of the union for the black community to recognize the growing epidemic of low retention, specifically for underclassmen without mentors, at GW. Wilmon Christian III, an Undergraduate Student Experience Advisor in the School of Business, moderated the event. Christian’s focus for the event was to influence underclassmen to set success as an expectation to achieve graduation. Similar to GDub 101, both events stressed the importance of using resources such as the MSSC, the University Counseling Center and access to professors as easy ways to achieve your goals. Ikechukwu Umez-Eronini, a senior at GW and member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. said, “GW does a poor job of creating meaningful minority experience outside of the mainstream culture of this school. Events like “The Crisis” are designed to give all GW students, not just the ones comfortable in the dominant space, an opportunity to access and receive a quality education and student experience.”

Nana Agyeman, a sophomore transfer student from La Salle University, mentioned “GDUB 101 was an effective way for upperclassmen to express the experiences they’ve had at GW and to advise freshmen about the ins and outs of GWU.” Danica Brown, Black Student Union (BSU) President, has made it her mission this year to provide a balance of programming involving the intellectual and the social. When asked about why the

According to the statistics provided in the event, only 68% of

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight the black students who enroll at George Washington University graduate with a diploma. Shawn Crowley, who introduced the event, mentioned that reasons for this rate are due to the overwhelming racial climate, inadequate preparation prior to university entrance, financial instability or being first generation college students. Both organizations are taking the lead in breaking the silence about retention on campus by acting as role models within our community, specifically to African-American males.

and organizations on campus within the multicultural community. Our community has reached a point that not only is lacking in the presence of student leaders, but more importantly role models who have the ability to impact the success of an individual’s collegiate experience. It is time that upperclassmen take on the torch that was passed down to us years ago to lead and set the standard for achievement. Simple conversation with freshmen can create great change in these drastic retention rates listed above on our campus.

I use these two past events as examples for all student leaders

Who’s next to lead?

RETENTION RATE AT GW 13.0% Underrepresented Minority 14.4% Black 6.8% Latino 7.2% Native American 0.3% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.1% Asian 10.0%

Student Characteristics

Pell Recipients Amongst Freshman

55.5%

White

0.8%

Two or More Races Female Male

6.9% Part-Time 7.3%

44.2%

55.8%

Age 25 and Over

Data courtesy of College Results Online

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

RACE AND THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN By Brooke Oki

uring the late afternoon on October 14th, Politico writer, Roger Simon, simply stated in his article that, “This weekend, racism came out of the closet.” His quote was well received by Politico’s more liberal audience but pointed towards a more important growing connection between anti-Obamacare Republicans and racial difference. The correlation between race relations and the October government shutdown was two-fold. On the one hand, there is race and Obamacare. There has been a long-standing stereotype of minorities and low-income citizens in the United States becoming dependent on government aid and support which many conservative Republicans believe Obamacare feed into. On the other hand, and in a slightly more complicated sense, many Democratic Party members believed that ultra-conservative Republicans opposed Obamacare not because they disagreed with its actual provisions, but because they saw Obama and the socio-cultural change that he represents as a threat to their way of life, cultural norms, and ideologies. Race influenced our government because it is run by people. People with different experiences with racial issues, economic disparities, and equality. So when those people grow to become legislators posed with the tasked of voting for or against a law with heavy impact on minority citizens, their socio-cultural background and personal experiences with racial difference came into play.

conservative political platforms. Just a short list of these attacks include: ordering extensive investigations into Obama’s personal past, doubting his birthplace, claiming that he wished to socialize the US economy, boasting that he was inexperienced in foreign policy and most prominently, attempting to repeal Obamacare a whopping 41 times. In recent decades, there has not been a president who has faced such forceful opposition from every angle. President Obama’s interracial heritage, his support of gay marriage, his pro-choice sentiments and his opinions on immigration are all viewpoints that many conservative values find problematic. These attacks have even entered the realm of being disrespectful to The shutdown was simply the nation’s highest office another event (like (Newt Gingrich even once President Obama the the Trayvon Martin called ‘food stamp president’).

case, for example) that illuminated the embedded racial discrepancies in the United States.

Larry Cohen of Forbes magazine described this ‘Obama opposition’ as the, “dread of cultural change taking place around this country.” Additionally, in her October 1st article for Salon.com, editor at large, Joan Walsh forcefully stated that the Obama opposition is, “the culmination of 50 years of evolving yet

Inevitably these two points, among others, caused enough partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill to shut down the government. Since President Obama’s victory in 2008, Republicans have viciously attacked him and made numerous attempts to retain more

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight consistent Republican strategy to depict government as the enemy, an oppressor that works primarily as the protector of and provider for African-Americans, to the detriment of everyone else. The fact that everything came apart under our first African-American president wasn’t an accident, it was probably inevitable.” This fear of cultural change and the threat of a non-white nation are certainly ways in which race and cultural difference became a strong foundation for the government shutdown. Finding quantifiable evidence is an issue that arises when discussing racial implications on politics. So while many Democrats may be warranted to tie racial prejudices in with the shutdown, the proof is hard to illustrate. This was a problem that The Washington Post writer Michael Tesler attempted to tackle in his October 22nd article on the shutdown. Tesler critiqued, as he phrased it, the “racialized dynamics of the shutdown by examining who voted against last week’s [Oct 17th] bipartisan deal to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling.” Tesler utilized graphical diagrams that compiled statistics from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study and the Cooperative Campaign Analysis Project. He illustrated how a voting district’s level of racial resentment (a phrase coined in Donald R. Kinder and Lynn M. Sanders’ Divided by Color to measure how much individuals think racial inequality is due to the inner failings of African Americans) correlated with the district legislator voting against Obamacare. Tesler found that in Republican districts with higher racial resentment scores, probability to end the shutdown was lower. He writes that, “the results suggest that the much publicized divisions within the Republican Party correspond to a divide in their constituents’ racial attitudes.” These finding are quite telling. Racial resentments certainly play a role in a constituent’s socio-cultural beliefs and, therefore, directly affect their elected officials voting. Racial sentiments develop

from social interactions and multi-cultural experiences. The legislators on Capitol Hill are affected just as much as the ordinary citizen by these interactions and experiences. They have regional backgrounds, personal beliefs, and social ideologies that impact their voting. Senator Ted Cruz [R-TX] and Representative John Boehner [ROH], two GOP leaders during the shutdown, carried their lifelong sentiments on the political issues surrounding Obamacare with them to the Senate and House floors, just like ordinary citizens carry these sentiments with them to the voting booth. Race did not have a wholly quantifiable effect on the shutdown. No number or percentage can be derived to illustrate the racial implications, but the impact of race and the government shutdown was the same as the impact of race on our society’s beliefs as a whole. The shutdown was another event (like the Trayvon Martin case, for example) that illuminated the embedded racial discrepancies in the United States. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin exclaimed to President Obama amidst the imminent shutdown that, “It’s dangerous. It’s very dangerous. I believe, Mr. President, we are at one of the most dangerous points in our history right now. Every bit as dangerous as the break-up of the Union before the Civil War.” While his statement was taken by many as an overstatement, the racial disparities rooted in American culture warrant such a bold statement and, therefore, Harkin’s quote lives on as one of the most meaningful statements made during the shutdown.

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

DIVERSITY ABROAD: A CHECKLIST By Chasidy Lowe

GW students exploring Chile and South Africa while studying abroad.

2. YOUR NATIONAL IDENTITY TENDS TO OUTWEIGH YOUR OTHER IDENTITIES WHEN YOU TRAVEL.

n November 13, the Black Student Union in collaboration with the Office for Study Abroad hosted a panel titled “Diversity Abroad” that explored issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and identity abroad. The panel consisted of six students who openly shared on their experiences with the audience about their experiences in various parts of the world. From Europe to Latin America to Africa, students represented a wide array of backgrounds and had extremely valuable insights about the issues potential study abroad students might face. Below are some of the highlights from the discussion with insights from panelists, and some from myself! And if these words of wisdom aren’t enough to convince, just take a look at some of these photos from students to inspire you to take the leap of faith and go abroad!

American stereotypes are ubiquitous, and when you travel you will find that your national identity tends to be the most salient. Panelist Mignotae noted that although she isn’t particular patriotic, while traveling she, to a certain extent, become more patriotic because her American identity came up often. While traveling you inadvertently become a spokesperson for your nation, and while you will surely criticize your home country, you will always become a little defensive while abroad.

3. YOU HAVE TO GO ABROAD WITH AN OPEN MIND, BECAUSE YOU WILL MOST LIKELY BE APPROACHED IN WAYS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR UNCOMFORTABLE.

1. RACE IS A FACTOR WHEN YOU TRAVEL ABROAD, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT WILL BE THE SOLE DEFINING FACTOR OF YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You will be in a completely different culture where different norms dictate the way people live and interact. But this is all apart of the experience! Panelist Shelby told the group about her time in Ghana and highlighted one such uncomfortable incident. One day Shelby and her friend went to the marketplace, and on this particular day her friend was dressed in clothing that may not have been so appropriate for this particular setting. As soon as they arrived men began touching her friend and she found that the women were laughing at them rather than helping to prevent the harassment. She noted that in Ghana, foreign women are seen as a threat to Ghanaian women’s relationships because they are “exotic” to the men; as a result, the Ghanaian women were not willing to jump at the opportunity to help them. Shelby noted that obviously the situation was uncomfortable, but you have to be open to these experiences because they can be enlightening.

Obviously this is also contingent upon where you study abroad. If you are a black student abroad in Ghana, people will assume you are Ghanian. One panelist Amber mentioned that people refused to believe she was African American when she told them in Ghana; however, her experiences varied when she went to Spain since she once again was the minority. At the end of the day yes, people are cognizant of race in other countries, but this will not define your entire experience. In my own travels in Latin America, I was called morena a lot, but nobody treated me any differently than my white peers. Studying abroad will make you aware of your race and highlight issues surrounding it, but it will not completely define your experience while abroad.

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

GW students at The Coliseum in Rome, Italy.

4. MO’ MONEY, ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS!

5. EMBRACE YOUR FEAR AND JUST DO IT!

There are organizations willing to make it rain just to send you abroad I can assure you. I was able to finance my own travels with a scholarship from the State Department called the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship. I managed to receive $5,000 from them and it financed one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! In retrospect I would’ve applied for even more. GW has scholarships and you can find diversity scholarships for students of color that want to go abroad as well. Make sure to stop by the Office for Study Abroad or visit them online for more information! And if you want specific information about the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship please contact me!

At the end of the day there are a million reasons not to go abroad. But when will you ever have the opportunity to explore another culture for four months, with no major responsibilities or obligations, and get other people to finance it for you? I assure you post-graduation, this opportunity will be practically non-existent unless you decide to become the sugar baby of a multi-millionaire. So seize the moment, own your fear, and enjoy your life!

GW students soaking in the wonders of France and Argentina while abroad.

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

RECIPES WITH DANICA

Broccoli and Spinach Veggie Medley Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes • 4 tablespoons of parmesan • 1 tablespoon of garlic • 5 Russet Potatoes • Salt, Pepper, Seasoning Salt- To taste! • 4 tablespoons of butter

Boil about 4cups of water in a large pot. Add salt and olive oil to water once it begins to boil. Peel your potatoes and dice them into about 6 blocks. Then add them to boiling water. Once potatoes are soft (test with fork) then drain them in a colander. Place potatoes into a bowl and in a separate small bowl melt the butter in the microwave, then add it to the potatoes. Add in salt and pepper to taste and garlic and parmesan. Use a potato masher to mash the mixture to your liking.

Cumber and Tomato Salad • 1/4 of a small onion • 2sprigs of cilantro • 1 small lime • 1 or 2 tomatoes • 3/4 of an English Cucumber • 2 teaspoons of Feta (with Mediterranean Herbs) - Buy @ Trader Joe’s

Dice the onion, tomato, and cucumber into a small bowl. Warm your lime in the microwave for 7 seconds, then cut it in half and squeeze as much juice out of it as you can.

• 1 Head of Broccoli • 2 Handfuls of Spinach • Soy Sauce • Garlic • Olive Oil

In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil and garlic over medium heat. After washing broccoli, toss it in the pan and let it steam. As broccoli begins to turn vibrant green, add in spinach. Then the spinach begins to wilt pour in soy sauce to your liking and garlic. Toss until broccoli is tender but not soft. I had Sun-dried Tomato and Basil chicken sausage in the fridge. All i did was put them in a small sauce pan with some olive oil and red pepper flakes. So that was meat with the meal.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER

KING

Jr.

DAY OF SERVICE 2014

A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF Join together with other members of the GW community as we celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through service. Date

Monday, January 20, 2014 Time 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;4pm Where Opening Program in Marvin Center Grand Ballroom; Service Projects throughout DC Registration for groups and individuals opens on Monday, November 11, at http://serve.gwu.edu. If you have any questions, please email mlkdos@gwu.edu.

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight

THE GAY AGENDA

n honor of Transgender Awareness Month, The Ace spotlights The Gay Agenda, the George Washington University LGBT Resource Center’s weekly newsletter. The LGBT Resource Center serves to support and empower the queer and questioning community at GW. They run events focused on education,

advocacy, and support. The Resource Center is located in room 103 of the Multicultural Student Services Center. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, contact lgbt@gwu.edu and ask to be added to the Listserv.

NOVEMBER 6, 2013 - ISSUE #6 QUEER SEX ED 6:30 PM, November 15 @ MSSC

November is Transgender Awareness Month! Transgender people are people whose gender does not match their sex assigned at birth. Join the Resource Center in celebrating transgender people in our community. Transgender Remembrance Day will be on the 16th! Keep your eyes on the newsletter for other trans* events during this month. Swing by the Resource Center or talk to our trans* outreach coordinator Jay Fondin for more information or with questions!

AQWA hosted Monica Hannon, a queer OBGYN, to speak about queer sex, safety, health, and anything else you want to know. Facebook event here.

Timothy Kane Director kanet@gwu.edu Carolina Chica Graduate Student Coordinator cchica713@gwu.edu

G-LIFE EXPO 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, November 9 @ Washington Marriott Wardman Park

6:30 PM, November 12 @ MSSC

This all-day event provided a chance to network with GSM professionals around the city and learn about available internship and service opportunities. Check out their website here for more info.

For this event, students joined the Native American Student Association in collaboration with the LGBT Resource Center in this discussion of the lives of twospirit Native Americans, individuals who are considered neither DIVERSITY ABROAD PANEL male nor female in many Native 6:00 PM, November 13 @ Funger American tribes. The discussion Hall 103 was led by Kandis Quam, a twospirit native of New Mexico via At this event, students joined Skype Video Conference. Learn Allied in Pride, BSU, GW Office more about the event here. for Study Abroad, OLAS, SCA, and AIESEC for an open discussion and Q&A session with study abroad returnees about race, gender, orientation, and identity abroad.

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Erin Frith Lesbian / Bisexual Women’s Issues Coordinator erinfrith@gwu.edu Jay Fondin Transgender Issues Coordinator mjfondin@gmail.com Travis McCown Gay / Bisexual Men’s Issues Coordinator mccown93@gwu.edu Grace McFassel LGBT Library Coordinator gracem@gwu.edu

The GW LGBT Resource Center @GW_LGBT

gwlgbt.tumblr.com QUESTIONS? E-MAIL US AT lgbt@gwu.edu

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight 8th ANNUAL LGBTQ ACADEMIC SYMPOSIUM

Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 16 @ American 6:00 PM, November 16 @ TwinUniversity’s Mary Graydon Center brook Baptist Church in Rockville, MD The LGBTQ Academic Symposium featured discussions and All members of the panels on LGBTQ issues and community came together to topics for undergraduates, gradu- raise public awareness of hate ates, faculty, and staff. GWU stu- crimes against transgender dents had the most panels at the people and publicly mourn and symposium of any school, includ- honor their lives. The Rememing one run by our own trans* brance service was followed by issues staffer Jay Fondin! More a community dinner. Facebook info on the annual symposium event here. here.

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The Martin Luther King Day of Service will be on January 20th. Applications to be a Volunteer Leader or Site Captain have ended, but you still have an opportunity to volunteer and promote the idea that “Service is a Queer Value!” General registration is now open for the event. Please email mlkdos@gwu.edu with any questions.

EQUALITY HEALTH Equality Health is an organizaAssociation of Queer Women Allied In Pride Allied’s General tion for health sciences students Body Meeting happen monthly in in the graduate school that is And Allies (AQWA) is an onthe MSSC! For more information dedicated to supporting LGBTQ campus group that reaches out on Allied, their Facebook page is students and patients by advoto queer women of GWU and cating for the inclusion of LGBTQ their allies. For more information here. issues in medical school curricuon AQWA, their Facebook group lum and improving the quality of is here. patient care through physician Lambda Law is an organization of law students interested in lesbian, knowledge and sensitivity. For gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT*) legal issues, employment more information, their Facebook concerns, and the fostering of tolerance and awareness at GW Law. group is here. For more information, see the Lambda Law Facebook page here.

NOBODY PASSES: REJECTING THE RULES OF GENDER AND CONFORMITY This month’s picks of the week featured trans* movies and literature! For this pick as well as hundreds of other LGBT*QA books, DVDs, and journals, visit the LGBT Resource Center!

edited by Mattilda, A.K.A Matt Bernstein Sycamore Nobody Passes is a collection of essays that confronts and challenges the very notion of belonging. By examining the perilous intersections of identity, categorization, and community, contributors challenge societal mores and countercultural norms. Nobody Passes explores and critiques the various systems of power seen (or not seen) in the act of “passing.” In a pass-fail situation, standards for acceptance may vary, but somebody always gets trampled on. This anthology seeks to eliminate the pressure to pass and thereby unearth the delicious and devastating opportunities for transformation that might create.

Multicultural Student Services Center LGBT Resource Center 2127 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20052 (202) 994-9175

music • culture • on campus • politics • study abroad • cooking corner • spotlight