Thursday, February 14th, 2019

Page 1

The Cavalier Daily

Vol. 129, Issue 19

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Emma Klein | The Cavalier Daily


THE CAVALIER DAILY

N

2

This week in-brief

NEWS

CD News Staff

Lawn room acceptances released for the 2019-2020 school year The University extended Lawn room offers last Thursday to 47 rising fourth-year students for the 2019-2020 school year. Seven out of the 54 total Lawn rooms are endowed or reserved for members of certain student organizations — including the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and Kappa Sigma fraternity — and have not yet been filled. A total of 236 students applied for a Lawn room this year — 133 identifying as female and 103 as male, of which 27 females were selected and 20 males were selected. The total number of applicants was a slight decrease from 282 applications in 2018. By school, 28 of successful lawn applicants are students in the College, five are in McIntire, four are in the Engineering School, four are in Batten, three are in the Nursing

School, two in Curry and one is in the College and Curry School. 31 applicants who received offers identify as white, 11 as Asian, seven as African American, and three as Latinx. One selected student did not identify a race, and some students identified as multiple races. According to Dean of Students Allen Groves, the mean GPA of the selected applicants is 3.76, and the mean GPA of all applicants is 3.57. Fourth-year College student Joan Lee is the current Senior Lawn Resident and chair of the Lawn Selection Committee. Lee advised committee members to primarily consider the depth and impact of each applicant's work at the University or within the Charlottesville or Albemarle community.

DANNY BASS | THE CAVALIER DAILY

236 students applied for a Lawn room, which is an honor reserved for 54 students.

National Geographic, U.Va. partner for science and storytelling symposium

SOPHIE ROEHSE | THE CAVALIER DAILY

The symosium, located in Old Cabell, will take place March 1-2.

The University and National Geographic have partnered to bring a science and storytelling symposium to Grounds. The event — called National Geographic on Campus — will take place March 1-2 and is open to all current students, faculty and staff. The event was organized by the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Outreach and the Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts. The event series will begin with a talk by photographer Jodi Cobb in a free event for community members at the Paramount Theater Feb. 28. Cobb was the first female photographer to join National Geographic as well as the first woman to be named White House Photographer of the Year. She will present a retrospective of her career as a photojournalist for National Geographic when she often went undercover to reveal hidden societies and

even exposed human trafficking situations. Following Cobb’s presentation, there will be a symposium on Grounds March 1 at Old Cabell that will feature panels of speakers discussing the topic of resilience in areas such as the global water crisis, support of mass population growth and preservation of culture. The final day of the symposium will allow students to engage in interactive workshops to further explore the skills of resilience in real life scenarios. There will be full-day and half-day programming available that will give immersive experiences in the arts, journalism, science, technology, storytelling, humanities and more. The workshops will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in various locations around Grounds, including Newcomb Hall.

IRC hosts event to honor Black History Month In honor of Black History Month, the International Residential College hosted an event entitled “Where Do We Go From Here?” Saturday afternoon to discuss Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D-Va.) blackface scandal, Attorney General Mark Herring’s blackface confession, cultural appropriation at Bid Day, the Beta Bridge vandalism and issues of diversity at the University. The event was structured as a discussion circle and Grace Eva Leffler — a second-year College student and the minister of external relations of the IRC — moderated the conversation. Leffer started the discussion by touching upon Northam’s medical school yearbook photograph depicting a man in blackface and a man in Ku Klux Klan hood. Northam later denied being in the photo even though he initially apologized for it. He instead admitted to wearing blackface for a Michael Jackson dance contest in 1984.

Students in attendance discussed the public calls for Northam’s resignation and the question of whether or not his views have changed in 35 years. Manan Shah, a first-year College student and event attendee, described the Governor's actions as “unforgiveable and immoral,” but mentioned that Northam’s commitment to underrepresented minority groups might indicate a change in his character. Yudel Martinez, another attendee and first-year Engineering student, stated that Northam’s apology does not indicate growth. Participants also talked about President Jim Ryan’s statement on Northam’s scandal. Ryan sent an email to the University Feb. 3, addressing the photograph and its impacts on the community and the Commonwealth. Some of the attendees said they believed Ryan indirectly called for Northam’s resignation in his email.

RILEY WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

IRC hosted an event in light of recent political scandals in Virginia.

Chase Bank to replace former Qdoba location on the Corner

GEREMIA DI MARO | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Qdoba closed its Corner location in July 2018, after 15 years of business.

If the Board of Architectural Review gives signage consent at their meeting next Wednesday, a Chase Bank will officially replace the former Qdoba location on University Avenue. The Board’s final step is to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness Application which is slated to occur at its regular meeting. The location of the bank will be in the Chancellor Building, located at 1415 University Ave. in the Corner Shopping Center. Because this area is in one of Charlottesville’s designated historic districts, any renovations to the facade of the building is subject to review by the BAR. “Our purview from where I sit is singularly about what designs are being proposed,” said Jeff Werner, the City’s Historic Preservation and Design Planner. “And in that regard, we were pleased with

that we got [Chase’s architecture firm] to not necessarily restore [the building] but to bring back the facade.” At the BAR meeting last November, a storefront rehabilitation and repair movement was approved for the location as the proposed motion satisfied the Board’s criteria and was compatible with this property and others in the area. However, this approval was contingent upon the building’s leaded glass window not being removed. The future location of the Chase Bank formerly housed Qdoba Mexican Eats. In July 2018 — after nearly 15 years of serving University students and Charlottesville residents — the restaurant closed.


www.cavalierdaily.com • NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019

3

Honor releases comprehensive report on its history The Committee’s Bicentennial Report compiles several decades of demographic case data, reflects on past century of history Erica Sprott, Riley Walsh and Geremia Di Maro | CD News Staff

CHANDLER COLLINS | THE CAVALIER DAILY

The Honor Committee released a historical and statistical review of the Honor System at the University Monday which revealed that African American students at the University have consistently been subject to higher Honor sanction rates thatn other student groups since 1987.

The Honor Committee released its long-awaited Bicentennial Report to the public Monday — a historical and statistical review of the Honor System at the University compiled and analyzed by the Committee’s Assessment and Data Management Working Group. The report is the largest internal review of Honor at the University, featuring data from a century of annual dismissals, three decades of data on all sanctions and six years of full data from reports and outcomes. Sanctions are those outcomes of cases in which a student is ultimately considered guilty — whether through an informed or conscientious retraction, leaving the University admitting guilt or through a guilty verdict as handed down through an Honor trial. The most recent review conducted by Honor was the Honor Audit Commission in 2018 in which the Committee assessed how the body is perceived by the student body. As a subcommittee of the Honor Committee, the Assessment and Data Management Working Group is — in the words of the Bicentennial Report — “tasked with creating and maintaining transparent, consistent, and secure systems to store pertinent demographic, pub-

lic opinion, and internal evaluation data to inform Honor policy and dialogue so that Honor is accountable to itself and its goals and its members can make informed decisions on how best to serve the students and the University.” The foremost goals of the report, as stated in its executive summary, include creating conversation, educating students and opening the door for further analysis of the Honor System. “We hope this report fosters conversation about how students experience Honor at the University and begins an open dialogue on how we can all work towards a better system together,” the report states. Between 1987 and 2017, according to the report, certain student groups at the University have faced sanctioning by the Honor Committee at disproportionate rates relative to the school’s total population. The white student population at the University has typically received between 30 and 40 percent of sanctions, although the rate was about 46 percent between 2000 and 2004. Since 1987, African American students at the University have consistently been subject to higher

sanction rates than other student groups, although this disparity has declined significantly in recent years. Between 1987 and 1989, African Americans comprised 42 percent of sanctioned students, while the African American student population at the time was estimated to be around only 9 percent. As the Asian American student population has gradually increased since 1991, the sanction rate for these students has significantly outpaced their presence at the University. The sanction rate increased by nearly three times to almost 21 percent between 1990 and 1994, despite only a slight increase in the Asian American student population. The rate more than doubled to nearly 50 percent between 2010 and 2013 and increased to about 53 percent from 2014 to 2016. Between 2012 and 2017, Asian American students comprised 27.2 percent of all reports, while African American students made up 8.7 percent. By comparison, about 30 percent of reports were white students, and white students made up 58 percent of the student population in 2017. African American students are over-represented at 8.7 percent of

reported students while making up only 7 percent of the student body. However, the report states that the proportion of black students relative to all reported cases has declined significantly over the past 30 years. Hispanic students are underrepresented, making up 6 percent of University students but 3.6 percent of reported students. In an interview with The Cavalier Daily, Ory Streeter, fourthyear Medical student and Honor Committee chair, commented on the importance of the report for reflecting on the role of Honor at the University, specifically with regards to closing racial and other demographic disparities in the system. “It cannot be overstated how important releasing data like this is, just because the Honor Committee for so, so many years, just has not released data like this,” Streeter said. “We're hoping is that this is going to set a precedent for more transparent communication with the University community about the information that we do have.” As part of the report, the Informed Retraction sanction option for students was reviewed in-depth. For the past three years, according to the report, around 40 percent of reported students have chosen to

file an informed retraction. The IR allows a student who has been reported to the Honor Committee for an alleged Act of Lying, Cheating or Stealing to take responsibility both by admitting such offense to all affected parties and by taking a full two-semester Honor Leave of Absence from the University community. After the Informed Retraction (IR) was incorporated into Honor’s Constitution in 2013 via University-wide referendum approved with 64 percent of the vote, the Committee’s sanctioning process was immediately altered, according to the report. Under the previous system, students could be found not guilty through an Honor trial or could submit a CR for an Honor offense, in which a student admits guilt before being reported and is allowed to make amends. Otherwise, a guilty verdict still resulted in an immediate dismissal from the University. Between 2012 and 2017, the IR comprised the majority of all sanctioned outcomes and more than 22 percent of all cases.


4

THE CAVALIER DAILY

NEWS • www.cavalierdaily.com

Paging through the past: An examination of Corks & Curls Northam scandal prompts University community to reckon with its own yearbook’s racist history Abby Clukey & Nik Popli | Managing Editor and News Editor Since the recent emergence of the photograph on Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D-Va.) 1984 medical school yearbook page depicting a person in blackface and another dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan, the Virginian political sphere has been in turmoil. In the days that followed, not only has Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax been faced with allegations of sexual assault, but Attorney General Mark Herring (D-Va.) has announced that he also once dressed in blackface for a party — while he was a student at the University in 1980. The resurfacing of these images has prompted investigations into the University’s own history of racist incidents and their lingering effects — and into the Southern collegiate culture in which individuals like Herring and his friends felt comfortable donning black face paint to impersonate a group of rappers. According to The Washington Post, the name of the University’s official yearbook — Corks & Curls — is actually a reference to blackface, “slang for the burned cork used to blacken faces and the curly Afro wigs that were signature costume pieces.” The yearbook’s name has gone unchallenged for over a century, and John Edwin Mason, assoc. professor in the Corcoran Department of History, admitted part of that is due to a lack of general knowledge about the history of minstrelsy. Mason himself, who has examined the early editions of the yearbooks, was unaware of the meaning behind the phrase “Corks & Curls.” “As much time as I’ve spent

looking through Corks & Curls and as well aware as I am of the kind of racist imagery that appeared in it in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I myself didn’t know about the connection with blackface minstrelsy in the name,” Mason said. “I think that’s really obscure.” Until this weekend, the story of the yearbook’s namesake was available to read on the Corks & Curls website. According to their site, a student first coined the name back in 1888, and a contest was subsequently held to determine the best rationalization of the name. Allegedly, a student named Leander Fogg’s explanation that “cork” represents an “unprepared student who was called upon in class but who remained silent, like a corkedup bottle,” and “curl” meant “a student who performed well in class and who, when patted on his head by his professor, ‘curleth his tail for delight thereat,’” ultimately won out. Ansley Gould, third-year Commerce student and editor-in-chief of Corks & Curls, said this account was written by a secondary source, not by the yearbook staff, so she took it off the site and replaced it with scans of the inaugural book’s preface which tells a similar story without the mention of a need for a “rationalization.” “I don’t believe it was ever a rationalization,” Gould said. “I think that we represent –– at least in this day and age –– we represent ourselves with our name being what the students are, and we’ve never associated it with this minstrel slang.”

CAROLYN LANE | THE CAVALIER DAILY

An image from the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity page of the 1971-1972 edition of Corks & Curls depicts a student wearing blackface.

RILEY WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

An independent, student-governed organization, Corks & Curls was published regularly from 1888 until it went defunct in 2008. It was revived during the 2014-2015 school year.

An independent, student-governed organization, Corks & Curls was published regularly from 1888 until 2008 when the lack of financial backing led to the publication going temporarily defunct, according to Jenifer Andrasko, president and CEO of the University Alumni Association. Corks & Curls was revived during the 2014-2015 school year by funding from alumni donations and assistance from the Alumni Association, to “further the yearbook’s important journalistic and historical mission of capturing student life.” “A group of students said, ‘We want to start a yearbook,’ and needed some support and needed space to have some storage, and they needed a mailing address,” said Andrasko. Since its revitalization, students who work on the yearbook have been attempting to spread awareness of its existence on Grounds, and say they attempt to represent the student body in a positive and comprehensive way. “It’s supposed to be a moment in time at U.Va., to me at least,” Gould said. Like the current Corks & Curls staff, Andrasko said no one from the Alumni Association was aware of the double meaning behind the yearbook’s name until last week. “The controversy over the name

is brand new,” Andrasko said. “We’ve never heard before the theory put forward in the Washington Post … However, at the same time, we can see how some can read a double meaning in the name and the nonsensical nature of the explanation and that there’s not much historical support for that reasoning.” Upon examination, it has become apparent that Corks & Curls — the publication whose mission is to encapsulate the University experience — contains controversial elements within its pages as well. In its earliest volumes, racist attitudes manifested themselves in cartoons, stories and poems. For example, in the 1907 edition, a poem entitled “Janitopor” employs racial slurs and illustrations to describe the black janitor tasked with cleaning the students’ rooms. Mason said that examples like this are commonplace in the yearbooks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “None of this is new,” Mason said. “Those of us who have been working on U.Va history over the last few years are very aware of how much racist imagery is in Corks & Curls. Sometimes it’s the little cartoons that accompany a fraternity or a club, or sometimes it’s the photographs. There’s a series of photographs of the Glee Club in blackface from earlier in the century, and

it’s not surprising for all kinds of reasons.” Mason continued that the pages of these early yearbooks served to perpetuate racial stereotypes and allowed white Americans to exude an air of superiority. “It reflects a larger, American visual culture — a visual culture that grew out of white supremacy and reinforced white supremacy,” Mason said. “It’s a visual culture that allowed people to literally see African Americans as inferior, African Americans as docile, or African Americans as humorous or African Americans as vicious.” Though many of these examples are found in the pre-Civil Rights era — before the University was integrated or even coeducational — others are not so distant. Volumes from the past few decades are peppered with instances of candid cultural appropriation, blackface and yellowface, most often within the context of costume parties and other social events. In the 1972 edition of the yearbook, separate scenes from fraternity parties show two students with dark paint smeared across their faces and upper bodies mingling with the other guests — all of whom pictured are white. Occurrences of this nature extend into the next millennium. In Nov. 2002, the Kappa Alpha and Zeta Psi Fraternities threw a party where three students arrived


www.cavalierdaily.com • NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019 in blackface. Kappa Alpha was suspended by both the Inter-Fraternity Council and its national headquarters immediately after the incident, though its national headquarters lifted their suspension over the University chapter two days later. Some of the racist imagery found in the yearbooks does not seem to be in jest. In the 1971 volume, a photograph of what appears to be a staged lynching is displayed on the two-page spread allocated toward the Chi Psi fraternity. It depicts a group of armed individuals in dark, hooded robes surrounding a tree where a mannequin dangles by its neck from a rope, its face painted black. “You know I’m not black, but there’s a whole lot of times I wish’d I wasn’t white,” reads the Frank Zappa quote on the following page. When The Cavalier Daily posted that specific image to Twitter Thursday evening, it was met with a multitude of reactions, ranging from shocked disgust to hollow dread. Mason’s response was a simple, two-word tweet — “My God.” He said this photograph’s proximity to the present particularly jarred him. “You know, 1971 is comfortably within my lifetime,” Mason said. “I know people who were in school in 1971. 1971 is my history, and to see it in a period that feels, to me, so recent, I think is what surprised me.” Fourth-year College student Komi Galli also reacted to The Cavalier Daily’s tweet Friday. “This week I picked up my cap and gown to celebrate graduation,” he wrote. Noting that the dark robes of the individuals in the photograph resembled graduation gowns, Galli asked how, as black student, he was supposed to feel about graduation now. “When I saw the pictures, I just felt frustrated that it seems like it was something everyone was participating in,” Galli said. “And I guess it made me wonder, how much of this still goes on, behind closed doors? Just because, it doesn’t seem like it’s something that would have died out, because it wasn’t that long ago.” Galli had heard of Corks & Curls before this incident, but he didn’t know that it was still an ongoing publication. He said that the name of the yearbook should definitely be changed, but there is a lot more that needs to be done at the University level to alleviate the consequences of this resurfaced history. “I think one of the main things that needs to happen is that there needs to be a platform where students of color can just express their reactions to what is going on right now,” Galli said. “I feel like it’s been pretty overwhelming for a lot of students to the point where it seems like we don’t want to talk about it. It’s just another thing going on that’s a bit exhausting for a lot of students of color, to just wake up everyday and continue to go to school here and find out that there’s

so much racism rooted at this University.” Gould said that she had never examined volumes before the year 2000 prior to this past week, and was upset by the content of the yearbook’s older editions. “Since this came out, obviously I’ve been looking back through some of the old ones,” Gould said. “But what we’re really trying to push is that is history and we know we can’t change it, and it’s something that’s disturbing to us as well. But we want to move forward and show that even in recent years we’ve been pushing for more diversity in the book because this is a book that’s supposed to represent who U.Va. is and our student body at the time.” Gould added that she is currently in the process of attempting to change the yearbook’s name. “I’ve been in touch with some people on the University level about changing the name and going about the best way to do that,” Gould said. “But because now it will forever be associated with this racially charged incident, we should change it, and we want to be able to represent the yearbook in the best way possible.” University President Jim Ryan shared a statement Friday addressing the racist images from Corks & Curls editions that had been circulating on social media recently. “Many of these photos are extremely offensive and painful to view,” the statement read. “But while the photos themselves are shocking, their existence is not.” Ryan added that the work currently being done by The President’s Commission on the University in the Age of Segregation has been influential in acknowledging the University’s history with race. Members of this Commission, led by Asst. Dean and History Professor Kirt von Daacke, have been reviewing the University’s yearbooks and other publications since November 2018, as well as the meaning behind the name “Corks & Curls.” Through its research, von Daacke said the Commission has found two other allusions to lynching in the yearbooks — one in 1914 of a cartoon image depicting two students in blackface being lynched and the other in 1959 depicting former University Dean B.F.D. Runk in blackface hanging with a rope around his neck from a tree. He said they have also found several references to blackface minstrelsy, yellowface and cultural appropriation — which begins to disappear in the mid-1980s. “They are filled with this material from 1888 until the 1930s and it appears as cartoons, as photographs, as stories,” von Daacke said. “They spend a lot of time in student publications writing stories in imagined slave dialect, so it’s something that’s going on here in the classroom and at all times.” Von Daacke added that many students — not just those in frater-

nities — participated in these activities during “Old South” and “plantation” themed parties, which were common among Southern schools. “It’s part of the culture in Virginia and certainly apart of the culture at U.Va. — and I think this explains what we’ve been seeing in the yearbooks,” von Daacke said. “Corks and Curls would have been the common parlance to describe a minstrel performance that was done in blackface.” He added that the University’s yearbook should change its name due to its connection to blackface minstrelsy. “There's lots and lots of material that early on speaks to the use of corking and curling as a generic term at the University, but then also lots of concern about white supremacy and lost causes in student publications in written form from

the 1860s on so it's part of who this University really is from the very early period,” von Daacke said. According to von Daacke, the Commission is considering a plan to publish their findings online through an email to the University community to start a conversation about race relations. The findings would be sorted into themes — including eugenics, clan and racial violence and gender — with context and historical background from experts at the University. Next fall, the Commission plans to host a series of public events throughout Charlottesville to present their findings. Additionally, some believe that while addressing the University’s history through measures such as the Commission is an important step in the school’s road to recovery, the destructive effects of its wrongs

5

need to be examined even more urgently. “We know that we have to do more than acknowledge the past,” Mason said. “We have to do more than acknowledge the harm that this University has done to the city, to the region and to the state, and look for ways to repair that damage.”

NIK POPLI | THE CAVALIER DAILY

In the 1970-1971 edition, a photograph of what appears to be a staged lynching is displayed on a two-page spread allocated toward the Chi Psi fraternity. “You know I’m not black, but there’s a whole of times I wish’d I wasn’t white,” reads the Frank Zappa quote on the following page.


www.cavalierdaily.com • LIFE

L

6

UPC works to reach a wider audience UPC provides free movie access to University students

LIFE

Neha Kulkarni | Feature Writer The University Programs Council hosts a plethora of events to enhance University student life, including movie screenings shown at Newcomb. From “A Star is Born” to “Green Book,” UPC has made it a priority to show a variety of movies to students free of charge to create nights of relaxation for all students. In recent years, UPC’s Cinematheque committee has been working directly with studios and film distributors and licensors such as Swank Motion Pictures and Criterion Collection. With the help of these organizations, UPC has begun to show movies of many different genres, as well as showcase movies well ahead of when they typically get released as DVDs. Jill Villany, fourth-year McIntire student and cinema director of UPC, revealed that Cinematheque’s budget is approximately $25,000. The licensing rights for each movie fall in the range of $800 and $1,100, dependent on the movie’s popularity and how recently it was released. Out of the

12 movies that UPC typically screens a semester, most have costed around $1,000. The leftover money is then dedicated to creating larger movie events — those involving food, performances, raffles or awarding prizes for UPC’s Oscar Ballot Competition. The Cinematheque committee also works with a Universal Studios representative on Grounds. By collaborating with Universal, UPC has recently been able to implement advance screenings of recently produced movies to students for free. “‘A Star is Born’ is kind of a crazy story,” Villany said. “One of the [representatives] reached out to my advisor and said, ‘We have one spot left for a college to show this — first person to respond gets it’… We were the last people to secure the spot.” In the past year, the University Dining service has provided free popcorn for students at the screenings, creating more of a movie-going experience. The Cinematheque committee is also making efforts poll students on what movies they’d like

to see in order to get more audience input. To increase awareness of movie showings and provide a unique, fun weekend activity, UPC has begun working with other student organizations. Hiu Hiu Sau, fourth-year College student and vice chair of UPC outreach, said this is done through co-sponsorships, such as when UPC invited Hot Kids Comedy — a student sketch comedy group — to perform before their screening of “A Simple Favor” in November 2018. On February 2nd, UPC partnered with the Black Student Union for the screening of “The Hate U Give” and also held a sketch off before movie with The Whetherman, Amuse Bouche and Hot Kids Comedy. “Movies [themselves] are a strong staple of programming, but when we get the opportunity to enrich that with co-sponsorships with other student groups, we are really branching out and improving the experience for everyone involved,” Sau said.

In addition to collaborating with other student groups, UPC marketing efforts have evolved considerably to reach more students on grounds. This has ranged from creating trailers, Instagram stories and Facebook events to promoting on HooView screens on Grounds. Third-year Engineering student Nia Blibo acknowledged UPC’s efforts to show a variety of genres. “There are some movies that are more popular than others, but they do their best to make sure they are accommodating as many students as possible,” Blibo said. “And I think they try to provide a wide array of movies to show, not just the same kind of genre. More like a plethora of stuff.” Blibo has taken advantage of the advance screenings, a special incentive UPC has been able to provide only recently. “I’ve only gone to a couple [screenings], but it was cool that they showed ‘A Star is Born’ before it came out in theaters and that you

could go in for free,” Blibo said. “I was definitely going to pay the $15 to watch that on my birthday, but it was nice that I could go the day before and not have to pay.” Looking forward, Villany hopes that people continue to gain interest in the movie screenings and take advantage of the advance screening opportunities. “This year has been really great — we’ve over-doubled our attendance from last year,” Villany said. “That’s been really exciting for me, seeing the impact.”

The soup to make when you want to be at home Because when the cold hits in the midst of a week of exams, all you want is your dog and some soup Isabel Salken | Food Columnist It’s after 8:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, and you just got out of your organic chemistry exam — or maybe it was microeconomics. Whatever the class, we’ve all been there. The temperature is a nice, chilly 42 degrees, and it’s raining — because we are in Charlottesville, Va. after all. There are two things I can think of that would make me feel better in this situation — a big bowl of hot soup and my dog. One of the two of these is possible, thanks to this recipe. Soup can be a pretty broad category. I would even consider it to include stews, curries and chilis. Growing up, my family was a pretty big fan of soup. A pretty random dish to favor — yes — but never lacking in flavor. Pea soup, chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, matzo ball soup, all the soup — we love it. My Nana used to make the most delicious Brunswick stew, a traditional soup within my family. This soup is made with a tomato base, beans, potatoes, vegetables and a meat, like chicken. It’s full of flavor, so much so I used to find myself returning for thirds — or even fourths. So here we have a healthier, college version of this soup, made from easy-to-shop-for ingredients — and

an incredibly fool-proof, time-saving method. Brunswick Stew Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 50 minutes Servings: 5 Ingredients: 1 can of no-salt-added diced tomatoes 1/4 cup of tomato paste 1 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth 1 can or 1/2 package of fresh or frozen lima beans 1 package of fresh or frozen green beans 1 orange bell pepper, chopped 1/2 an onion, chopped 1 sweet potato or regular potato, chopped 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tsp worcestershire sauce 1 rotisserie chicken if you’re not vegetarian or vegan * If you like things on the sweeter side, I suggest adding 1 tbsp of light brown sugar. Directions: 1. Place chopped onions and potatoes in large pot with a little olive oil to coat the bottom, and sauté until the onions are barely translucent.

2. Add in all other ingredients except chicken and stir, raising heat to a boil. 3. Once boiling, turn heat down to low, and let cook for around 30 minutes. 4. Add in shredded rotisserie chicken, and let cook for around 20 more minutes. 5. Enjoy! This soup will stay in the fridge for 3-4 days or can be frozen for up to six months. To make this recipe vegetarian and still get a good source of protein, you can add a can of chickpeas to the mix, and it will taste delicious. You can also add in other vegetables to this dish very easily. Some other favorites of mine include zucchini, mushrooms, peas, corn, carrots and parsnips. The great thing about this recipe is that you can practically throw your whole kitchen sink in it, and it will still taste good. The more the merrier! For non-vegetarians, rotisserie chicken is key for this soup. While you can cook your own chicken, ground turkey, pulled pork or even beef, rotisserie chicken is by far the easiest option. They are are juicy, incredibly flavorful and come cooked

ISABEL SALKEN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

If you are feeling homesick or stressed, this Brunswick stew can bring you a taste of home.

to perfection. They are incredibly easy to buy from grocery stores around Charlottesville, including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods and Wegmans. Wegmans has the best price at $4.99 for the rotisserie chicken — and they are always very flavorful. Just head to the prepared foods section, and there is usually one sit-

ting under a heat lamp, ready to go. No matter how stressed or homesick you may feel, I hope you find this recipe to be just as comforting and nourishing as I do. A taste of home always seems to do the trick.


www.cavalierdaily.com • LIFE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019

7

U.Va. students address underrepresentation in OLs Fostering discussions to increase diversity among Orientation Leaders Maya Das | Feature Writer Orientation Leaders are often one of the first faces newly admitted students encounter when arriving on Grounds. As an OL, the primary task is to welcome new students, make them feel comfortable at their “new home” and make new students feel like they made the right decision in choosing the University. Orientation sessions give students the opportunity to ask questions, familiarize themselves with Grounds and get to know new people from housing and dining services, as well as academic advisors. Despite the integral role they play at orientation, there has been a lack of diversity among OLs. Current diversity statistics published by the University indicate the University is above the national average in the diversity of its student population. More specifically, 59.5 percent of the student body is classified as white, followed by 12.8 percent Asian, 6.5 percent black, 6.3 percent Hispanic/Latino and 14.9 percent either non-resident alien or “other.” Sarah Dodge, assistant director for orientation and new student programs, gave some insight into the diversity among OLs. “I always think about the big visual, so in the past we have had 52 leaders on the team,” Dodge said. “We have a good representation of white folks, and then other then that, … minoritized groups on Grounds are not particularly visible,” Dodge explained that increasing diversity among OLs has been an issue they have noticed and are at-

tempting to resolve by reaching out to different communities that are not fully represented on the team. On Jan. 16, University students received a Facebook invitation to attend an information session on the OL program that was held at the Multicultural Student Center. An important goal of the session was to address concerns and have an open dialogue on the issue of underrepresentation amongst OLs. Komi Galli, fourth-year College student and orientation leader, was one of the students who attended the information session. “As Orientation Leaders and people of color, we really think that our representation on the team has a huge impact for a lot of minority students that are coming because U.Va. is known to be a predominately white school,” Galli said. “We felt it was important to make sure that people who are here now can get an understanding of what it is like to be an Orientation Leader and how to deal with being a minority.” In addition to information sessions, the Orientation and New Student Programs department is thinking of having students be nominated to apply for the positions. “If we get that process started of folks nominating their friends who may represent all of these different populations, that encourages that friend to apply,” Dodge said. This past year, Orientation and New Student Programs made a more conscious effort to look at the de-

mographics of their applicants since last year’s applicant pool was not as diverse as they had hoped. Dodge made the point that representation of different minority groups ebbs and flows over the years due to the cyclical nature of the University. “This year one of our major pushes was the for the Asian-American and Desi populations,” Dodge said. “But we also know that people that identify as black are underrepresented on the team, people who identify as Latin-American are underrepresented on the team, and so all of those groups in our mind are ones we want to improve.” Dodge noted that diversity goes beyond race as well. “We know that people that identify as part of the LGBTQ community are not always a visible identity, but it is something that we can continue to grow on our team,” Dodge said. Dodge, however, believes that all organizations around Grounds can help students interested in becoming an OL. “There are different types of questions that different types of people have about being an Orientation Leader, and to that end we need to be mindful and every organization on Grounds needs to be mindful of helping students to get those answers when we need them,” Dodge said. Orientation and New Student Programs also works with OLs who identify as a minority as intermediaries to connect with a greater range of

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Orientation leaders show off their signs.

students. Meghna Shankar, third-year College student and orientation leader, is a member of the Asian-American Orientation recruitment team. “The issue is not that minority students aren’t getting the position of OL — it is that we are not able to get them to apply in the first place,” Shankar said. “A big thing from the Asian-recruitment side is [that being an OL is] not considered worthwhile way to spend your summer.” Shankar also cited efforts to recruit students with diverse personalities. “With the posters we had all these different phrases like ‘We are

Asian-American, we are Orientation Leaders,’ ‘We are introverts, we are Orientation Leaders’,” Shankar said. “There are so many different identities within the team and of course it can still become more and more diverse hopefully… the University is becoming more diverse. We need our team to reflect that.”

The best and worst of the protein bars A guide to choosing a protein bar that’s not simply dessert in disguise Maggie Trundle | Food Columnist Especially for college students, protein bars are without a doubt one of the most convenient ways to squeeze in some nutrients when your schedule just doesn’t allow a lunch break. As a big fan of protein bars myself, I have tried quite a few and have found the musts and the busts in the world of protein bars. Despite alluring packaging and deceivingly low calorie counts, many bars sneak in added sugar and loads of other junk. There are hundreds of options for easy protein bars, but among the options, there are some clear winners and losers. Starting with the worst, the first bar that I recommend avoiding may be a disappointment to many. The classic Clif Bar — typically advertised for extreme sports such as climbing, kayaking or mountain biking — is

not as healthy as it may seem. First you have to ask yourself, if this bar is meant to sustain energy while scaling a mountain, do I really need it as a study snack while perched in Clem for three hours? Next time you feel the urge to reach for a Clif Bar, you may as well just go for a Snickers instead because the amounts of sugar in each are shockingly comparable. With brown rice syrup listed as the first ingredient, most Clif Bars flaunt a whopping 22 grams of sugar, while a Snickers has 20 grams of sugar. Second on the worst list comes thinkThin bars. I had a phase where I thought these were some of the best, and I am certainly regretting that blind optimism in retrospect. Don’t let the name fool you! These low calorie, high protein options — such as the peanut butter-flavored thinkThin

bar — advertise “zero grams of sugar” right smack on the front of the wrapper. They are far from lacking sugar though. These bars replace traditional sugar for a different evil — sugar alcohols, which are derived from sugar and used in many foods, in replace of table sugar, as an artificial sweetener. Even worse, the ingredients list contains a long array of unpronounceable words, which is always a red flag. On a brighter note, there are some true winners in the protein bar business — RXBAR. From flavors to ingredients to packaging, I can’t say enough good things about RXBARs. With less than five ingredients listed on the front of the bar, you know exactly what you are putting in your body — whole foods. The sweet flavor of RXBARs comes from dates, which, while having their own natu-

ral sugars, are not nearly as terrifying as added sugars. The easily recognizable ingredients in the bars, such as tree nuts, egg whites and dates, are incredibly important and a big success in avoiding added sugar. In terms of flavors, a cult favorite is the chocolate sea salt RXBAR. You really can’t go wrong with this one — it’s simple yet somehow stands out from any other chocolate protein bar. With real chunks of chocolate and sea salt sprinkled on top, it feels much less processed than the powdery chocolate protein bars that resemble Twix bars. Some of my other favorite flavors are blueberry and coconut chocolate. While RXBARs are my favorite protein bars, there are some others that get a 10/10 on the health scale and still taste yummy. Honorable

mention definitely goes out to GoMacro bars. GoMacro Bars are made up of real ingredients and plant-based proteins such as cashews. With a delicious, chewy texture, these bars are another great way to indulge without feeling like you may as well have eaten a Snickers! Another honorable mention goes to the Health Warrior Chia Bars. Made up of almost entirely chia seeds, Health Warrior Chia Bars are perfect for when you want to switch things up a little. Overall, my top recommendation goes to RXBARs because of their simplicity when it comes to ingredients, taste and flavor variety. Even if RXBARs are not your thing, cutting out the occasional Clif Bar — or Snickers in disguise — is always a good call.


8

THE CAVALIER DAILY

LIFE • www.cavalierdaily.com

Top 10 types of college love A single’s attempt to sum up what we call crazy, stupid love Paige Waterhouse | Top 10 writer

2. 3. 4.

1.

Unrequited love

Severus and Lily, Gunther and Rachel, Sharpay and Troy — what do all of these iconic fictional duos have in common? The desperate, failed attempts of one yearning to acquire the love and affection of their long coveted crush. Frankly, unrequited love sucks, but there are still many ways to attempt to win over your beloved. Maybe try selling your service to the Dark Lord, or offering them exorbitant amounts of coffee, or what about arranging extravagant dance numbers? If you still have no success, then I’m afraid I am out of ideas, friend. Just know that you are not alone in your struggles. Maybe one day — cute guy from my COLA?

Instagram love

Ah yes, the Instagram couple. Both of their pages are post after post of cuteness, matching costumes for parties, fun coffee dates and of course — anniversary posts. We get it, you’re in love and we are so very happy for you — really, we are. It would just be nice to see some new faces on my feed. Mix it up with some shots of colorful sunsets or adorable puppies just to reassure us that you have a little variety in your life. Don’t worry, you’re still “totes the cutest couple ever!” as all of your followers can clearly see.

Best friend love

There is no purer form of love than best friend love. A best friend is someone you can talk to 24/7 and never get annoyed. A best friend is someone you can not hang out with for months and then still pick up right where you left off. A best friend is someone who secretly restocks your snack stash with Clif Bars when she realizes how sad you were you forgot to buy them at the grocery store. Whether you have one or 10, show your besties some extra love today, because without them, life — and your snap stories — would be exceedingly dull.

Girl you met at a party love

Want to find love fast? Some may suggest online dating or sitting in a cafe waiting for your inevitable rom-com meet up. Both are inefficient compared to the instantaneous love you can find by bumping into a girl at a party. She tells you that she absolutely loves your top, and you say that her makeup must have been done by the goddess Aphrodite herself. A few more compliments later and boom — you’re best friends. You give each other relationship advice in the bathroom, and two songs later, she’s asking you to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. Sadly, this beautiful womance is short-lived and will fade with tomorrow’s hangover.


www.cavalierdaily.com • LIFE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019

5.

9

Your crush from lecture love

A large lecture hall is one of the best places to people watch. Skimming the rows, you are destined to find at least one cutie, studiously taking notes and chewing on the end of their pen cap. And suddenly, after one look, this person has become your lecture love. This person is the one you are destined to admire from afar and never actually interact with. You sit too far away to spark up some small talk, and there’s no chance of discovering their personality through class discussion — so you create a story in your head. You discover their quirks, favorite food and acquired music taste all by staring at the back of their head. Are you being creepy? Maybe, but it makes the slow moments in class a little more interesting.

6.

Sibling love

If best friend love is the purest form of love, then sibling love is the most authentic. If you are an only child, please feel free to skip ahead, but if growing up you always had to share the spotlight — this one’s for you. Sibling love is strong because there is no one else in the world who has pretty much experienced every aspect of your life alongside you. No one else understands the dynamics of your family, has witnessed every single embarrassing story and has force fed you too many grapes as a child — “accidentally.” Siblings are great because no matter how old you get and how your life changes, they’ll always be there — it’s like a “no subscription required” type of love. They give you advice, hand-me-downs and above all — unconditional love. Make sure to give them some back today.

7.

Roommate love

8.

Hoo Crew love

This is a unique form of love that takes three distinct forms. Form number one is mutual understanding. When asked by family members, you describe your roommate as “nice” and “chill”. You probably met them on Facebook and decided to room together based on the sole fact that you both love “Harry Potter”. Now you realize that being in the same fandom doesn’t equal automatic best-friendship, but at least they respect your space. Form two is the “I would wake you up if the fire alarm went off” love. You don’t get along, and they kind of get on your nerves a lot, but they’re still a struggling student like you, so they deserve a little love, right? Form three is genuine love. I’m talking “stay up till 2 a.m. debating whether or not narwhals are real” kind of love. That’s when you know it’s real, and your roommate needs to watch more Animal Planet.

One of the most powerful forms of love — Hoo Crew love — knows no bounds and is shared across Grounds between each University student. This love is especially evident at sporting events when the crew goes wild cheering for beloved teams. Looking at the orange and blue body paint and giant heads of our favorite players floating in the crowds, some may say the love is too strong. But no, Hoo love is a mighty bond that is here to stay, getting us through our most devastating losses and blossoming with our most triumphant wins.

9.

University staff love

If you are going to show a little extra love to anyone on Valentine’s Day, share it with our University staff. Maintenance, dining services, groundskeepers, Ambassadors, professors, administrators, our beloved President Jim Ryan and all other members who keep the University running are worthy of our affection. Drop a simple thank you and a smile to spread some well deserved appreciation.

10.

Self love

Today is a day to celebrate those that you love in your life, but it is also a day to celebrate the love you have for yourself. If this seems to be the particular type of love that you struggle with, you’re not alone. There are many types of love to experience in this world, and chances are, you feel a lot of them each day. If you can find yourself loving some of the people listed here, then you too are also worthy enough to receive of such affection. So love yourself because just as you feel it for others, there are a lot of people out there that love you too.

ANGELA CHEN, ELIZABETH AMOROSI AND LAUREN MOHAN | THE CAVALIER DAILY


10

THE CAVALIER DAILY

ADVERTISEMENTS • www.cavalierdaily.com

THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

To our UVA employees and dependants.

The Obvious Choice For Your Health. • McArthur Squash Center • 4 Gyms • 2 indoor pools • 2 indoor tracks • 1 Climbing Gym • and much more for less than $1/day. *UVA affiliation required *Fees paying students have automatic access at no additional cost.

Get Started At recsports.virginia.edu/CD

FROM THE CAV DAILY COPYCAT

EXPLORE YOU R FUTURE W I T H N AT I O N A L G E O G R A P H I C

MARCH 1-2 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA Register at natgeo.virginia.edu

I N PA RT N ER S H I P W I T H


S

SPORTS The Virginia baseball team will open their 2019 season Friday at 7 p.m. against No. 1 Vanderbilt in Scottsdale, Ariz. as part of the MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament. The game will be televised on MLB Network. Virginia faced Vanderbilt in the 2014 and 2015 College World Series, coming away with the title in 2015. However, the Cavaliers missed the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time in 15 seasons under Coach Brian O’Connor. Virginia finished with a 29-25 record, going only 12-18 in ACC play. This year, the Cavaliers were chosen to finish second behind defending division champion No. 7 North Carolina in the ACC Coastal in a preseason poll of ACC baseball coaches. No. 4 Louisville was chosen to win the conference. Virginia opens the season unranked, losing starting pitchers Derek Casey and Daniel Lynch, reliever Bennett Sousa, second baseman Andy Weber and center fielder Jake McCarthy to professional baseball and several more players to graduation. The Cavaliers add 13 freshmen and 3 transfers to the roster this year. Freshman right-handed pitcher Mike Vasil will slot immediately into the Cavalier starting rotation in 2019 as Virginia looks to replace Casey and Lynch. Vasil was a potential firstround pick in last year’s Major League Baseball draft before sending an email to all 30 MLB teams informing them that he was withdrawing from draft consideration in order to attend Virginia. “A baseball career doesn’t last forever, and as I think about my future I realize that I want to be known as more than just a good player,” Vasil wrote in the email. “ A t tending

www.cavalierdaily.com • SPORTS

11

Baseball to open season in Arizona this week Cavaliers seek to bounce back from a disappointing 2018 season Colin Cantwell | Sports Editor the University of Virginia will afford me the tools for the next phase of my life.” Sophomore right-handed pitcher Griff McGarry had a rough freshman season for Virginia, posting an 8.15 earned-run average in 11 appearances. However, McGarry started along with Vasil in the Cavaliers’ Orange and Blue World Series fall scrimmages and will likely be a starting pitcher for Virginia this year. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott spent the summer playing for the Orleans Firebirds in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Abbott was a starting pitcher for the Firebirds but worked out of the bullpen in the team’s Orange and Blue World Series and will likely continue to do so for Virginia this year, potentially replacing Sousa in the closer’s role. Senior infielder Nate Eikhoff and Sophomore infielder Tanner Morris, as well as sophomore outfielder Alex Tappen, joined Abbott in the Cape Cod League. The three were teammates on the Harwich Mariners. Morris had the most successful summer of the three, batting .331 with 2 home runs, building on a freshman season in which he was second on the Cavaliers with a .298 batting average as the team’s starting shortstop and leadoff hitter. Eikhoff, however, only hit .220 for Harwich, while Tappen was out for most of the summer and only appeared once in the regular season and twice in the playoffs. Tappen started all 54 games his freshman year in right field and will likely be back there on Opening Day for Virginia. Senior outfielder Cameron Simmons missed all of last season with a shoulder injury but will return for the Cavaliers. His sophomore year, Simmons hit .352 with nine home runs and 57 RBIs. Over the summer, he was selected in the 15th round of the draft by the Texas Rangers but did not sign. "I'm thankful for the Rangers for picking me," Simmons said. "It was awesome, but it just wasn't

the right time for me to leave. I'm just excited to be back and get another opportunity.” Though Simmons was the Cavaliers’ starting right fielder his first two seasons, he will move to center field this season. “Cam's got really, really good speed,” O’Connor said. “He can run, and think [sic] he's a very good outfielder. He just hasn't had the opportunity to play center field here, because of [former Virginia outfielders] Adam Haseley and Jake McCarthy." Sophomores Brendan Rivoli and Devin Ortiz both went 9-18 in the Orange and Blue World Series and will also play important roles for the Cavaliers this year. Rivoli is a catcher who mainly served as the designated hitter last season, while Ortiz made appearances as both an outfielder and a pitcher in 2018. Virginia will also take on No. 19 Texas Christian and No. 25 California State-Fullerton this weekend in Arizona. The Cavaliers will return to Disharoon Park for their home opener on Feb. 20, hosting VMI at 3 p.m.

REED BROWN, ANGEL MONROE AND EMMA KLEIN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Senior outfielder Cameron Simmons will return from a shoulder injury that cost him all of last season.

COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS


12

THE CAVALIER DAILY

SPORTS • www.cavalierdaily.com

5-on-5 basketball roundtable: Entering the final stretch As men’s and women’s basketball close out conference play, five Cavalier Daily sports staff writers take a look at five pressing questions for both teams By CD Sports Staff

ANDREW WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Rajon Rondo were in attendance for Virginia men’s basketball’s loss to Duke Saturday night.

Which game on the men’s basketball schedule scares you the most? Luke Stievater, Columnist: Feb. 18 at Virginia Tech. In each of the past three seasons, the Cavaliers and Hokies have split the season series. Virginia won the first meeting this year 81-59 and Virginia Tech has dropped three more since then, but I have a feeling they will be tough to beat twice. Going into a hostile Blacksburg environment will be difficult, and the Cavaliers will certainly be tested. Brandon Johnson, Associate Writer: The March 4 contest at Syracuse will be a game worth watching. A slept-on Syracuse team has already proven their ability to take down the best after handing Duke their second loss of the season, 95-91. The Orange also have a very dangerous front court in junior guard Tyus Battle and senior guard Frank Howard. This will be a great test for the Cavaliers heading into the ACC Tournament. Christian Guynn, Columnist: The Feb. 23 matchup at Louisville will be tough for the Cavaliers. Louisville is having an up-and-down season with some tough overtime losses and some quality wins — their victories against a dangerous North Carolina squad and a talented Virginia Tech team stand out. Louisville will come out strong at home and will be looking to make a late season statement headed into the ACC Tournament — the Cavaliers better be ready. What’s gone wrong for the wom-

en’s basketball team this year? Mara Guyer, Feature Writer: I’m going to answer this, but I’m also going to spin it a little. Even with a losing record and what feels like a major regression from last year’s trip to the NCAA tournament, there have been bright spots this season. The team’s January comeback against Virginia Tech was genuinely thrilling, and they showed a lot of tenacity and offensive potential in the latter half of that game. Junior small forward Jocelyn Willoughby led the nation in three-point shooting percentage at the time. I think this is an adjustment period for the team and coach — I’m not panicking long-term. CG: Simply put, growing pains. After an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, it looks like the Cavaliers are going to miss the tournament this year after a disappointing first season for Coach Tina Thompson. However, this will not be the new normal for the Cavaliers. The team is adjusting to a new coach, and she is adjusting to them. Once she adds her own recruits and builds stronger relationships with her returning players, they will be serious contenders for another tournament run next season. Who or what has surprised you this year from the men’s basketball team? MG: Mamadi Diakite. I would not have guessed at the start of the season that he would be such an anchor for this team. He was certainly missed in the second half of the Duke game, and the widespread

concern over his injury, which he returned from to play North Carolina, was a testament to how central he’s become. His versatility has really improved, and his blocks — especially at Notre Dame, where he tallied four — have made his defensive value clear, along with seven games where he’s scored in double-digits. CG: Jay Huff. Huff has contributed consistently for the Cavaliers. With senior center Jack Salt lacking in offensive output, Huff certainly fills a void in inside scoring. Huff drained two threes in Saturday’s Duke game, a testament to his ability to extend his scoring to the perimeter. If he puts on some weight this offseason and improves his defensive positioning, he should play an even more important role next season. Look for him to get more minutes as the tournament nears as he continues to show the depth of his talent. Luke Beasey, Columnist: As an occasional critic of Coach Tony Bennett’s mover-blocker offense, I have been very impressed by the Cavaliers’ offensive efficiency this season. While the Cavaliers still have some strong defenses to face, they are currently averaging 5.1 more points per game then they did across the 2017-2018 season. The Cavaliers are driving into the paint more but are not doing so at the expense of three-pointers. In fact, the number of three-pointers attempted by Virginia so far this year has increased from 19 per game last year to 20 per game this year. With improved inside scoring and continued dom-

inance from beyond the arc, it’s not only the Cavaliers’ defense that is giving opponents the fits. How can the women’s basketball team show signs of progress through the rest of the season? LS: Winning an ACC Tournament game would be a big confidence booster at the end of the season. In reality, the Cavaliers will not make the NCAA tournament unless they win the ACC Tournament. And while we are all hoping that happens, I believe that winning a game or two in the tournament will give this team the confidence they need to build upon for next season. LB: Unfortunately for the struggling Cavaliers, the roughest stretch of the season still lies ahead. They will face two of the top teams in the nation in No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 2 Louisville, a North Carolina team that has won five of its last six games and a talented Virginia Tech team in a rivalry road game. I would consider winning one of these games, in addition to defeating an average Georgia Tech team at home on Feb. 24, a sign of progress for the season. Why was LeBron at the Duke game? MG: I mean, none other than Alicia “I-have-fifteen-Grammysand-Michelle-Obama-loves-me” Keys has ever flexed as hard as Mike Krzyzewski mentioning that LeBron texted him Friday night to say that he would be at John Paul Jones Arena. I think that relationship and the elite nature of the matchup were

probably part of it. Rajon Rondo was also there, so it seems to me that the Lakers’ week on the East Coast was the ideal time to scout out Zion Williamson and maybe even R.J. Barrett. Either way, I hope they tried Bodo’s while they were here. LS: Despite the fact that Charlottesville has some fine wineries to offer King James, I think he came to witness perhaps the most hyped prospect since he entered the league — Zion Williamson. Even though LeBron may be accused of tampering once again, why pass up the chance to see the NBA’s top prospect in a top five matchup? Also, LeBron has played for Coach K in the Olympics, and they are known to have a solid friendship. BJ: LeBron was there for one reason and one reason only — recruiting. If you have been following the NBA at all in recent weeks, you know that he is willing to trade away his team if it means he will be receiving another All-Star in return. The Blue Devils and the Cavaliers boast some of the highest prospects for this upcoming NBA Draft, and LeBron was just trying to get a glimpse of some potential future teammates that could help him get his fourth ring.


www.cavalierdaily.com • OPINION

O

LEAD EDITORIAL

U.Va.’s hospital must disavow Paul Barringer

OPINION

B

13

Because of Barringer’s promotion of eugenics, his name should be removed from the hospital

oth the City of Charlottesville and the University are frequently condemned for failing to sufficiently address the blatant racism that has plagued the community for centuries. From Confederate statues to the names of various parks, community members have recently begun to hold the City and University accountable for the pervasive culture of racism that makes many feel unsafe and unwelcome. This includes renaming buildings that continue to honor the legacy of those who spread prejudice in the community, such as the recent calls to rename Alderman library due to President Edwin A. Alderman’s promotion of eugenics. However, one such place has gone widely unnoticed in the public sphere for quite some time. There is a wing in the University hospital named after Paul Barringer — one of the highest ranking officials during his time at the University. He was a prominent researcher and professor at the University of Virginia School

of Medicine, as well as an essential figure in the initial establishment of the hospital. Outside of the Charlottesville community, he was also an extremely well-respected scientist from the late 19th to the early 20th century. Barringer was also known in particular for his work in the field of eugenics, where he advocated the superiority of the white race. His views are clearly racist and deserve condemnation, regardless of how beneficial his contributions may have been to the community. It is shameful that the University's hospital continues to honor Barringer, and we strongly believe his wing at the hospital should be renamed. Barringer is perhaps most famously known for his essay “The American Negro: His Past and Future,” which was first presented in 1900 at a medical convention in South Carolina. In this essay, Barringer presents several racist arguments regarding the roles slavery played in America and in the lives of African-Americans. He often stated that the

newly freed black community was “savage” and posed a threat to society because they possessed “no self-control.” He went on to say this “dishonesty gives theft, anger gives murder, and desire rape. This state of being is pathognomonic of savagery; and the African fills the bill,” demonstrating his belief that there is a connection between criminality and race. He even went as far as to say that abolishing slavery, a necessary “controlled environment” in his eyes, would only give rise to an increased number of “black beast rapist[s].” Additionally, Barringer’s essay supports the idea that African Americans actually benefited from slavery, as a result of their “inherent savagery” and “genetic inferiority,” which according to Barringer, also added to an increase in illnesses such as syphilis in the black population. These ideas held by Barringer not only demonstrate his individual racist tendencies, but they also greatly influenced those around him. In fact, some

of Barringer’s students went on to be prominent leaders in the infamous and highly unethical Tuskegee Study, where researchers conducted an experiment on 600 black men — 399 with syphilis and 201 who did not have the disease — without informed consent, all while knowingly misleading participants for 40 years. Even after penicillin became a customary treatment for syphilis in 1945, the physicians conducting the experiment deliberately left participants in the study untreated to observe how the disease would affect the human body. As for his other works, Barringer was well-respected in his time and commonly cited for his promotion of eugenics in post-slavery America — when in reality, he should be condemned for it. Eugenics was used to justify laws prohibiting interracial relationships, encouraging racial segregation and purifying the white race. Such a legacy is reason enough to finally remove Barringer’s name from the Uni-

versity’s Hospital. Values such as those held by Barringer are not acceptable, tolerable or representative of the message Charlottesville and the University should be supporting. Barringer's legacy also serves as a reminder of the many other racist historical figures who continue to exist in the University's landscape. When confronting Charlottesville’s past, it is more important than ever that such racism be both acknowledged and removed from the everyday lives of community members who deserve a welcoming and safe environment. A good place to start would be to remove names such as Barringer’s from the buildings around us — his hatred should not have a place here. THE CAVALIER DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD is composed of the Executive Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the two Opinion Editors and their Senior Associate. The board can be reached at eb@ cavalierdaily.com.

THE CAVALIER DAILY THE CAVALIER DAILY The Cavalier Daily is a financially and editorially independent news organization staffed and managed entirely by students of the University of Virginia. The opinions expressed in The Cavalier Daily are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration of the University of Virginia. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Cartoons and columns represent the views of the authors. The managing board of The Cavalier Daily has sole authority over and responsibility for all content. No part of The Cavalier Daily or The Cavalier Daily online edition may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief. The Cavalier Daily is published Thursdays in print and daily online at cavalierdaily. com. It is printed on at least 40 percent recycled paper. 2016 The Cavalier Daily Inc.

HAVE AN OPINION? The Cavalier Daily welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns. Writers must provide full name, telephone number and University affiliation, if appropriate. Letters should not exceed 250 words in length and columns should not exceed 700. The Cavalier Daily does not guarantee publication of submissions and may edit all material for content and grammar. Submit to opinion@cavalierdaily.com or P.O. Box 400703, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4703

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS To better serve readers, The Cavalier Daily has a public editor to respond to questions and concerns regarding its practices. The public editor writes a column published every week on the opinion pages based on reader feedback and his independent observations. He also welcomes queries pertaining to journalism and the newspaper industry in general. The public editor is available at publiceditor@cavalierdaily.com.

FOLLOW US @CAVALIERDAILY WWW.CAVALIERDAILY.COM

MANAGING BOARD Editor-in-Chief Gracie Kreth Managing Editor Abby Clukey Executive Editor Jacob Asch Operations Manager Aisha Singh Chief Financial Officer Sonia Gupta EDITORIAL BOARD Jacob Asch Gracie Kreth Audrey Fahlberg Gavin Scott Hailey Yowell JUNIOR BOARD Assistant Managing Editors Aaron Rose Ashley Botkin (SA) Alec Husted (SA) Abby Sacks (SA) Arsema Asefaw (SA) Emma Bradford (SA) Caroline Daniel

News Editors Nafisa Mazumdar Nik Popli (SA) Caroline Stoerker Sports Editors Zach Zamoff Colin Cantwell (SA) Alex Maniatis (SA) Vignesh Mulay Life Editors Pauline Povitsky Natalie Seo Arts & Entertainment Editors Kate Granruth Robin Schwartzkopf (SA) Elliot Van Noy Health & Science Editors Vyshnavi Pendala Zoe Ziff Magazine Editor Meagan O’Rourke Opinion Editors Audrey Fahlberg Gavin Scott (SA) Hailey Yowell Humor Editor Ben Miller Cartoon Editor Gabby Fuller

Production Editors Carolyn Lane Nikita Sivakumar Ankit Agrawal Graphics Editor Maddy Sita Tyra Krehbiel Photography Editors Riley Walsh Emma Klein Video Editor Rachel Liesendahl Social Media Managers Libby Scully Sierra Krug Translation Editor Wilson Tosta Marketing & Advertising Managers Avantika Mehra Finance Manager Malcolm Mashig Business Manager Kelly Mays SALES REPRESENTATIVES Lydia Kim Dan-anh Hoang Amanda Pallas


14

THE CAVALIER DAILY

OPINION • www.cavalierdaily.com

IN DEFENSE OF SAFE SPACES Conservatives have hijacked the conversation surrounding safe spaces and trigger warnings to make both seem like examples of a weakened younger generation.

T

here is a lot of talk among older people about how soft the current generation is — they say that we are too sensitive, we cannot handle criticism and that we will not survive in the “real world” where we will not be coddled through life. They point to the existence of safe spaces and trigger warnings as proof. This argument is an attempt to knock young people down a peg and paint empathy as a sign of weakness. In reality, saying that safe spaces and trigger warnings are used due to hypersensitivity oversimplifies the situation. These ideas exist to protect vulnerable and marginalized groups from the day-to-day challenges they face that are unique to their identities and experiences. Trigger warnings and safe spaces are simply displays of empathy, courtesy and respect for others. A safe space is a space in which that people can enter to protect themselves from certain language or actions that may be traumatizing to them. The concept of safe spaces originated in the gay liberation movement in the 1960s, with the idea being that these spaces existed for queer people to be able to fully express themselves without fear from social or political repression. Around the same time, the women’s liberation movement also created

safe spaces as a means to protect women from violence and to organize for political purposes. Trigger warnings are notices given to another person when something that is being discussed could “trigger” emotional pain or trauma. This term was originally used in reference to victims of post-traumatic stress disorder. When they were reminded of their experiences or discussion turned to the traumatic event in question, they would experience flashbacks and deep emotion-

of fear of violence. Some cannot even be themselves at home out of fear that their families will not respond well to it. When we are not safe anywhere, even in our own homes, we need spaces where we know we will be comfortable enough to properly express ourselves. We recognize that these spaces are not airtight — due to our identities, there is a limit to the sense of safety we feel in public. Even in spaces designed to protect us, we do not feel completely safe, which is something we as human be-

Trigger warnings, like safe spaces, are not implemented to shelter young liberals from talking about difficult subjects or having their views challenged. Trigger warnings are implemented out of common decency and respect for another person’s identity or experiences. PTSD is a very real and difficult disorder to live with, and it is very easy for a person suffering from this disorder to be reminded of their trauma and fall back into the extreme negative emotions felt as a result of their trauma.

Trigger warnings and safe spaces are simply displays of empathy, courtesy and respect for others. al pain, as if they were reliving the event that caused their PTSD. The purpose of a safe space is not to protect some theoretical arrogant college student from having their views challenged, as is argued by conservatives. The purpose is to protect vulnerable people from the violence and suppression we are subjected to every day. Speaking from my own perspective as a gay man, there are very few places where people like me can express ourselves safely. Many queer people are not able to be themselves in public out

ings should be entitled to. Though our spaces are sometimes not completely safe for us, these spaces are necessary to at least help us feel safe. It is unfair to ask us to subject ourselves day in and day out to suppression and prejudice that many people will never be able to fully empathize with. If individuals want to retain their rights to call us slurs and threaten violence against minority groups, we should at the very least be entitled to a space where we are not subjected to such threats and violence.

If a person has been raped, they have experienced an extremely severe form of trauma and have every right to be sensitive to the topic. Is it not simply common courtesy to make someone aware that the upcoming conversational topic might be difficult for them to talk about? In my mind, warning someone that their trauma could flare up again due to certain content is simply showing respect to the needs of that person. Conservatives claim that we do not have trigger warnings in “the real world” but this claim is false.

Movie ratings tell people how appropriate films are for certain viewers to watch. If anyone wants to expose their seven-year-old child to films like “A Clockwork Orange”, “Cannibal Holocaust”, or “The Human Centipede” to “own the libs,” I suppose that is their right. However, parents are still provided with the knowledge to prevent possible traumatization. This entire debate has been blown completely out of proportion. It is right and just for a society to want to be courteous and accommodating to vulnerable and marginalized members. There is nothing wrong with issuing a warning before graphic or potentially traumatic content is discussed or shared, and there is nothing wrong with creating a space where people can safely express themselves without being subjected to prejudice and violence. Safe spaces and trigger warnings are simply extensions of common courtesy and respect for the existence and experiences of people who are different, and strong opposition to either shows a lack of empathy for vulnerable populations. CHRIS HOPKINS is an Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com

CONTINUE LETTER GRADING FOR MUSIC ENSEMBLES In order to support the music department and its students, the University must continue using the traditional letter grading system in performance ensemble classes.

T

here has been a recent movement by University administration to make music performance ensemble courses credit/no credit, meaning that students would no longer receive letter grades in these classes. According to Dean Ian Baucom of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Cavalier Marching Band and Basketball Band will be credit/no credit starting in Fall 2019. There are no direct plans to make other music ensembles, such as the University Singers, Charlottesville Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Klezmer Ensemble, credit/no credit — although this may be changed in the future. Students in performance ensemble classes dedicate tremendous time and effort to produce high-quality music every semester, and grades are necessary to reward that hard work. Student Council recently passed resolution SR19-03: A Resolution in Support of the Continuation of Letter Grading in Music Ensemble Courses. As the chair of Student Council’s Arts Committee, I support continued letter grading in all music performance ensemble classes due to the immense amount of time and effort demonstrated by these students as well as their representation of the

University on a higher level. Graded ensembles are necessary to grow and strengthen the University’s music department. Letter grades for ensembles convey a level of respect for music, the work that students dedicate to those ensembles and the music department in general. Making them credit/no-credit signals that the per-

classes is a reflection of just how invested University music students are in their ensembles. At the same time, like all classes, a poor effort is recognized with a poor grade. For example, missing rehearsals, not having music prepared and poor rehearsal etiquette may result in a bad grade. If a student misses a concert, he/she receives a failing grade. The same can be said

Charlottesville Symphony, the Cavalier Marching Band and the University Singers performed at the Bicentennial Launch Celebration last year. The University Singers’ recent performance of Bernstein’s Mass at the Paramount Theatre showed the Charlottesville community the talent at our University, and every year the Symphony puts on events at the

Students in performance ensemble classes dedicate tremendous time and effort to produce high-quality music every semester, and grades are necessary to reward that hard work. formance aspect of the music department does not satisfy the University’s standards for academic importance and intellectual rigor, compared to other disciplines that receive letter grades. Unlike most other classes, students must spend hours preparing to audition for the ensemble, and in many cases, only a relatively small of students are accepted. Many participants are not music majors, but they often spend more time rehearsing and practicing for their ensembles than they spend on any academic class. The large percentage of A’s and B’s given out in these

about skipping a final or failing to hand in a paper in a typical academic class. University ensembles represent the best of our University on Grounds, in Charlottesville and beyond. On any given weekend, music ensembles can be found performing across Grounds from Old Cabell Hall to John Paul Jones Arena. For example, the Wind Ensemble and the University Singers performed at President Ryan’s recent inauguration, and the Chamber Singers performed at the Rotunda Reopening in the fall of 2016. Additionally, the

Downtown Mall for families that foster a greater appreciation for music. Recent ensemble tours have brought the best of our school’s musicians across the country and globally, and the Marching and Basketball Bands have traveled all over the United States supporting our athletes and enhancing the Wahoo spirit. These students create an image of a talented, energetic and caring University. Their support for the University of Virginia should receive support from the school in return. Student Council provided official support for the traditional grading

system in ensemble classes through the resolution passed last week, and students and faculty involved in these classes have shown continuous support of letter grades. Thomas Sumner, the current President of the University Singers stated, “Switching music ensemble courses to credit/no credit will not just mpact USingers and other groups but our Music Department as a whole. Removing letter grades from these classes is simply degrading the accomplishments of our student musicians and musical excellence.” If University administration wishes to continue maintaining a strong and growing music department, their support for the continuation of letter grading for music performance ensemble courses is critical. Between acknowledging the time commitment and effort combined with the high-level performances by students, letter grades demonstrate the respect and recognition for academic rigor in music performance ensemble classes.

EMILY WILLIAMS is a thirdyear student in the College and currently serves as the Chair of Student Council’s Arts Committee.


H

HUMOR Everyone likes to imagine themselves as the heroic character from the movies they watch or the books they read, especially when they’re little. I would literally have given my left pinky toe to live in Rick Riordan’s world of “Percy Jackson” — which tells you a lot about me, really. For one, I place little to no value on my toes. Who needs them? I honestly think that they only have a metaphorical value — like when you say “it keeps me on my toes, or “tip-toeing around something.” In a literal sense, toes might as well be the appendix of the human body. I hear the exchange rate of toes, in terms of U.S. dollars, is approximately 38.4. That’s worse that the Nicaraguan córdoba. Heck, my grandmother only has five toes, and she seems to be doing absolutely fine. Secondly, getting back to Rick

C

CARTOON

www.cavalierdaily.com • HUMOR/CARTOON

15

I could not be a fictional hero Riordan’s absolute masterpiece — I had bad taste. The “Percy Jackson” books were the knockoff, storebrand, Hot Topic version of “Harry Potter” for kids who decided that wizards weren’t nerdy enough to obsess over. Furthermore, when I had the opportunity to give them another look, 10 years later — when I was procrastinating with a wild, reckless abandon — I found they did NOT hold up to any extent. They legitimately seem to be written by a 12-year-old boy — lotion in one hand, tissue in the other, pen in mouth, wet dreaming of ancient Greek mythology. My first realization as an adult revisiting the action/adventure staples of her childhood was I literally never questioned that, in the event of an apocalypse, only 12-year-olds were available to save the day. There would be, say, an “Avengers”-scale disaster, and everyone immediately turns to a prepubescent child because … ? I cannot fathom it. And

I know, I know it is not necessarily supposed to be realistic, but how could I have never batted an eye — or a toe — at these plots? I guess you would expect as much from someone who, until eighth grade, failed to recognize that “Beauty in the Beast” takes place in France — despite, you know, the literal opening song being called “Bonjour.” And the character Lumiere’s French accent. I have studied French for over 12 years. I have no defense. I’m also 12.8 percent French, so for white person, that means I’m basically a descendant of Joan of Arc. I’ve also become disillusioned in the sense that it’s becoming harder and harder to visualize myself in the role of the hero or even the protagonist. I’m less of a “hot velociraptor wrangler at Jurassic Park,” and more of the “middle-aged man in Bermuda shorts frantically downing margaritas even as pterodactyls attack.” On a purely physical level, I just don’t have the reflexes or stamina to

be a hero. Furthermore, I really don’t know how to respond to conflict. Case in point — me almost getting curb stomped on my own street on my way to school. When I’m nervous, I crack my knuckles. I don’t even need both hands to do it, I’ll crack those suckers automatically when walking down the street because of, how do you say… anxiety. I then walked past a woman who stopped, grabbed me and proceeded to aggressively ask me: “Did you just crack your knuckles in front of me? A grown woman?!” I literally could not respond to her. I mumbled in the sort of way that you’d imagine someone to if they’d awoken from a five year coma — perhaps the sort of coma this random, five-foot woman was fixing to put me into. She had dark blue lipstick on, but that’s all I remember. I was in full disbelief. She followed up by demanding, “Don’t you ever try to do that again. I will beat you. I will. Beat. You. Don’t

Cut from the same cloth Gabby Fuller | Cartoonist

even try me.” What do you say to someone who talks to you like that? If a villain ever monologues me, I wouldn’t be able to come up with a witty response, I’d just probably say “UhhhhhHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhHhHhhhhHHhHhhhhHhhhhhhhhhhHhhhhhhh … cool. Sorry?” I wouldn’t even be able to fabricate a reply to compete with a fictional 6th grade boy named Percy Jackson. At the time, I thought this woman was going to throw punches, and I probably wouldn’t have had the foresight to duck. Dead, curb-stomped, bleeding out in the gutters of my street — voided of the excellent opportunity to apply to this fine organization by way of vivid, slightly humorous descriptions of my own incompetence.

CAROLINE CARUSO is a Humor Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at humor@cavalierdaily.com.


A& E

THE CAVALIER DAILY

Dawes show their growth at the Jefferson Exceptional songwriting drives California soft-rock band

ARTS AND

ENTERTAINMENT “Why we all are here tonight / Is to see how far we’ve come,” Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith sang during their first set at The Jefferson Theater last Friday. The California soft rock group stopped by Charlottesville in the midst of a tour supporting their latest album “Passwords,” released in June. To be sure, Dawes have come a long way. On the heels of their sixth studio album, the group has been eager to show how they’ve matured since arriving on the scene a decade ago. Dawes early music was often tinged with a heavy dose of world-weary adolescent confusion. “Anyone that's making anything new only breaks something else,” sang Goldsmith on “When My Time Comes,” one of the band’s early hits. “Yes, you can stare into the abyss, but it's staring right back.” Now, that youthful angst has been replaced

16

Ben Hitchcock | Senior Writer by something a little more self-assured. “Gonna sing a song about my wife,” Goldsmith announced during the show on Friday. Goldsmith married actress and musician Mandy Moore in November, and his happy romance has influenced the group’s songwriting. The comment lead into “Never Gonna Say Goodbye”, one of the standout tracks from the new album. Goldsmith turns his clever songwriting to an earnest end. “Like the last few boys at the Alamo / Like Cusack holding that stereo / Or what Juliet hears from Romeo / I’m never gonna say goodbye.” Goldsmith’s songwriting has always been the group’s ace in the hole, and at The Jefferson, the group put that songwriting on display. The highlight of the show came early, when the band closed the first set with a drawnout rendition of “A Little Bit of

Everything,” from their second album. A twinkling, almost classical piano solo from keyboardist Lee Pardini led into a spare verse from Goldsmith before the rest of the band jumped in piece by piece. The song tells three stories that could easily feel saccharine in less distinguished hands, but Goldsmith’s deft touch manages to convey melancholy without too much melodrama. A man on the Golden Gate Bridge ponders jumping, a retiree reflects from a buffet line, a woman writes wedding invitations. Goldsmith’s commitment to small details keeps these stories surprising. The man stands on the “bridge’s side that faces towards the jail,” and says he’s been driven there because “It's the mountains / It’s the fog / It’s the news at six o’clock / It’s the death of my first dog.” The man in the buffet line wants “The biscuits and

the beans / Whatever helps me to forget about / The things that brought me to my knees.” These stories, somehow, have a sense of humor. Dawes play soft rock — they are the sonic equivalent of a warm shower. The music flows with the gentle constancy of rushing water, slowly refreshing, rarely energizing. Goldsmith’s voice amplifies this sense, so often dripping the notes lower and lower as a line progresses, starting high and reedy before tumbling down into a quiet baritone. Their music is distinctive for its rounded corners. But Dawes have always retained just enough fire to set them apart from the rest of the pack. They leaven their melancholy with wit, and on Friday, they showed that they can leaven their soft rock with real electric chops — Goldsmith let loose an impressive solo on “Time Spent

in Los Angeles.” The show had energy to spare, as the group put a little extra crackle on numbers like “When the Tequila Runs Out” and “Waiting For Your Call.” The group has developed a reputation for playing long shows. After almost two hours onstage, Goldsmith asked The Jefferson audience if everyone was “ready for a long night.” Dawes are now in their thirties, getting married and touring in support of their sixth studio album. But seeing them perform, it’s easy to believe Goldsmith — they’ve still got plenty of songs to play before they call it a night.

BEN HITCHCOCK | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Dawes performed at the Jefferson Theater Feb. 8 on the heels of their sixth studio album.


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019

www.cavalierdaily.com • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

17

Hari Kondabolu and the culture of comedy Comedian gives his perspective on the overlap of comedy and politics Robin Schwartzkopf | Arts and Entertainment Editor

COURTESY HARI KONDABOLU

Hari Kondabolu speaks with Arts and Entertainment about his work, family and Charlottesville prior to his appearance at The Southern.

Hari Kondabolu wants comedy to show people another side of truth. The comic — who will bring his act to the Southern on Feb. 28 — reflected on his comedic inspirations, his view of what is “political” in stand up and the future of the form. “I feel like for years I have avoided talking about my family and personal things because I was worried what other people would think,” Kondabolu said, when asked why he emphasized his mother’s influence on his comedy in his 2018 Netflix special, “Warn Your Relatives.” “[They’ll say,] ‘Oh, he’s just talking about his immigrant parents and he’s exploiting that … it’s hacky,’” Kondabolu said, explaining his anxieties about public perceptions of his act. “There’s all these thoughts in my head and things you hear other people whispering. And now, especially in the last few years, I don’t care what they think.” For Kondabolu, continuing to exclude his family from his act would go against his goals to be more personal, bring more honesty to his comedy and not worry what others think of him. “I know tons of white comics who talk about

their parents. Do you know why? Because they’re their parents … To deny my experience with my family and their unique experiences would be doing myself a disservice.” It seems the greatest service comedians can do for themselves is to listen and adapt — and, in doing so, avoid being labeled “old.” Comics who complain about “political correctness” — a term Kondabolu feels has been overused and warped into meaninglessness — will be left behind. “When culture changes, you either adjust to it or you don’t,” Kondabolu said. “When you don’t, you’re old … Your job as a comic is to find things that bother you, or you find inconsistent, and point them out in a humorous way, using free speech … How can a comic complain that ‘I’m sick of other people complaining?’ What do we do?” Kondabolu related these questions and the power of the majority to the “hashtag activism” which populates Twitter and other social media platforms. “On one hand, it has brought up issues and created movements, whether it’s Black Lives Matter or #MeToo … but at the same time, it’s not like a well-

oiled machine ... it’s majority rule. And when you have majority rule, majority rule is often based on emotion.” Circling back to his initial point, Kondabolu added, “If we’re not listening to how the audience is responding, haven’t we failed as comedians to some degree? Like ... part of what we do [is] not only to shape what people potentially could think, but by making them laugh, you’re clearly caring how they respond.” Kondabolu did not decide to come to Charlottesville until after the white supremacist attacks of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 brought the city to national attention. Kondabolu speculated as to why he started receiving so many requests to play a venue in Charlottesville — as many inquiries, he said, as bigger cities like Austin and Detroit. “I kept getting messages from people telling me to perform in Charlottesville … People want me there, and I think they want me there for the same reasons why … audiences in general want me in a place … they need a little bit of laughter and catharsis,” he said. Kondabolu also noted his own

curiosity about the city and its complicated history from its shadows of a colonial past to contemporary struggles for civil rights and social justice. “I find the place fascinating and — I don’t know — it’s sadly a part of history in a way that maybe or definitely people who live there would know, and I feel like it’s important to talk about.” Identifying what is important to talk about in comedy — and the overlap between comedy and politics — is a priority for Kondabolu. For him, the situation is nuanced. “It depends on how you view the idea of politics. When I talk about race, gender or sexuality — all these big topics, whether they’re regarding identity or history … I don’t see that as political,” Kondabolu said. “I think people on a base level are more politicized than they were before, because it’s so in their faces now.” “One thing I will say,” he added, “is that this predated Trump, and to me when Trump’s gone — whenever that is — it doesn’t mean the issues go with him.” The conversation ended with a big question — what does the future of comedy look like? Kond-

abolu responded with cautious optimism. “It’s not a simple answer,” he said. “But I will say, I can see a certain kind of thoughtful comedy … I see people from marginalized groups being able to more freely express themselves … My hope is, and what I think I see happening, is that you have people taking bigger risks, being able to share their stories which are unique, which aren’t necessarily stories of the majority. That’s what I love.” Comedians and storytellers sharing new perspectives gives the audience what they really want — the chance to think about new things. “Part of comedy isn’t just saying, ‘It’s funny because it’s true,’” he said. “It’s also trying to show people another side of truth. It’s also showing people, ‘this is a truth that exists and you don’t know about’ … There’s so many stories … we’re gonna get more stories, and that’s good for everyone.” Hari Kondabolu at the Laugh Your Ass Off Comedy Showcase at The Southern Café and Music Hall on Feb. 28.


18

THE CAVALIER DAILY

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • www.cavalierdaily.com

Thank U Ariana Grande for saving pop music Singer goes from popular-ish to full-blown megastar with fifth studio album Darryle Aldridge | Staff Writer Ariana Grande is hard at work. Less than six months after the release of her fourth album, “Sweetener,” she managed to score two Grammy nominations, two number one singles and release her fifth studio album, “Thank U, Next.” In an interview with Billboard Magazine she said, “My dream has always been to be — obviously not a rapper — but, like, to put out music in the way that a rapper does. I feel like there are certain standards that pop women are held to that men aren't.” Grande not only challenges these standards—she shatters them. True to her word, Grande started the “Thank U, Next” era by surprise releasing the title track of the album in November of 2018. In doing so, she not only released music like a rapper but reimagined pop

music in the process. Grande is the biggest star in the music industry right now, and she knows it. From turning down a performance at the Grammys to being so culturally relevant that singing about her hair sparks internet debates and inspires think pieces, this newly discovered self-assuredness in her celebrity and artistry shines through on the album. The LP finds Grande at her most creative. Co-writing and producing every song, the singer crafts her most cohesive and honest body of work to date. On the album, Grande collaborates with R&B singer-songwriters Tayla Parx and Victoria Monet, as well as pop hit maker, Max Martin. Using well executed samples and ethereal outros, Grande avoids the major blunder of

“Sweetener”— having multiple producers creating an album with two different sounds — and perfectly creates her own blend of pop, trap bangers. Lyrically, the “Into You” songstress trades in the saccharine lyrics of “Sweetener” tracks such as “R.E.M.” and “No Tears Left To Cry,” for raw honesty and confidence. The stand out tracks on the album are “Fake Smile” and “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored.” The former is about Grande deciding to stop masquerading and embrace all her emotions. With lines like, “I’m happy for the love and all the above / If I’m being honest I done been through way too much” and “It’s getting hard for them to shock me / But every now and then it’s shocking / Don’t blame

me”, the song is the most vulnerable moment on the LP. It begins with a sample of “After Laughter” by Wendy Rene and leads into a beat drop. Mixing the throwback sound of previous songs like “Tattooed Heart” and “Leave me Lonely” and current popular music, Grande finds her sonic sweet spot. “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” is the dark and sexy closer of the album. The track interpolates “It Makes Me Ill” by NSYNC on its second verse. Lyrically, it tells of Grande attempting to convince a man to leave his girlfriend to get with her. With the line “Took one f— n' look at your face (Hmm ) / Now I wanna know how you taste (Mmm-mmm),” and the clever double entendre of “Practically on my knees,” the track stands

out as one of the sexiest songs on “Thank U, Next,” and in the discography of Grande. At 25-years-old, Ariana Grande has become a household name — one to be screamed, not shouted from the mountain tops. “Thank U, Next” is not just a follow up to “Sweetener,” it is her magnum opus. Grande continually pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a female popstar in a male dominated industry, all the while showing both artistic growth and personal maturity in her new releases. Ariana Grande is saving pop music, and her listeners say, Thank U.

Sartorial Spaces: Fashion at the Fralin Student style on display at Final Fridays Sydney Bradley | Senior Writer “Where is the bean dip?” someone asked with an urgent, joking tone — disappointed that the rounded tray, about two feet wide, was not yet on the main table. “I feel very underdressed,” another student said, wearing gray joggers and an olive green shirt. Given the atmosphere, he was. In the main lobby of the Fralin Museum of Art were students, faculty, staff and community members dressed in a casual blend of cocktail hour and artist-chic attire. In the corner of the room was a jazz ensemble, playing just loudly enough to make you raise your voice in order to speak to the person standing next to you. At the end of each month, the Fralin hosts the event “Final Fridays,” highlighting the current exhibits of the museum before they change. Ruffin Hall hosts visitors as well, displaying the work of students, faculty and other artists. The event, however, is more than an invitation to visit the museum during after-hours over some wine and cheese. It is a social event to mingle in the lobby and chat with friends, a time to wear the heels that sit on that shelf in your closet that you never really wear and a place to pretend, for a moment, we are adults sipping wine and IPA beers over art, jazz and good conversation. In the middle of the mingling mass of visitors, a student said to her friend, “You should have worn that lipstick to match!” referring to

the burgundy accents she had woven into her outfit. Burgundy, the maroon shade of red which Pantone named Marsala as the 2015 color of the year, never really went away. The art in the lobby of the Fralin varied in color and style, but the body of students dressed for the occasion seemed to have its own palette — shades of red, mustard yellow and elegant black. Students wore black heeled boots and booties, one was seen wearing black pumps. Accents of red lips and mustard sweaters were scattered throughout the attendees of the event. Some challenged and pushed this scheme while others embraced it. In the room adjacent to the front lobby, where William Wylie’s “Pompeii Archive” is on display, a female student stood dressed in a synchronized outfit of red and black. She wore a cherry red bodycon, ankle-length dress with a black sweater and black boots. Her black patched purse was delicately embroidered with red flowers and her earrings, red tassels. As she stood in front of the large black and white photographs, her look contrasted with the grayscale of the room — a sight of its own. Three girls — one dressed, of course, in maroon — stood against the wall leading to the upstairs exhibits. In their hands, they held their free wine and beer, talking to each other in a triangular forma-

tion. These bundles scattered across the event, groups of students talking by the art, but maybe not about it. Final Fridays is a space where students get to experience art and conversation over free wine and

cheese. It is also a playground for performing what we students perceive as adulthood. Between the jazz ensemble and the dolled-up outfits, the experience of Final Fridays is about expressing notions of high brow and ideas about class.

The only thing that could make Final Fridays more classy — and maroon — is red wine. Going to the Final Fridays in February? Make sure you wear red, yellow and black with a hint of glitter for the full effect.

SYDNEY BRADLEY | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Three girls — ­ one dressed, of course, in maroon — stood against the wall leading to the upstairs exhibits.


www.cavalierdaily.com • PUZZLES

P

19

WEEKLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE Dan Goff | Puzzle Master

PUZZLES

*THE SOLUTION TO THIS PUZZLE CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEXT ISSUE

Across

1

6 Atonement 7 Prefix for sound or violet

3

4

6

9 Dua ___ won Best New Artist at the Grammys 10 Janelle Monáe performed this three-word track at the Grammys — and Lady Gaga loved it

2

5

7

9

8

10

11 Study of crime, prison management 13 This forms on your hand if you do a lot of physical labor 15 With "browns," you can get this dish at Waffle House Scattered, Smothered, Covered, Chunked, Topped or Diced 17 Foolish, fatuous 18 Be an omen of an outcome

11

15

12

16

13

17

14

18

19 Hush-hush 20 Reserved, saying little 23 This band's 2018 album "And Justice for None" tragically did not get any Grammy nods — ___ ___ Death Punch

19

20

21

22

26 Decisive defeat 27 "I must bid you ___"

23

24

25

26

28 Used for the storage of fat Down 1 "We must be kind to ___ ___" — two words

27

2 Dark blue

28

3 Cryptozoological concern, or water bottle brand 4 Nodular lesion in the lungs 5 One of Buddy the Elf's favorite toys — "___-a-Sketch" 6 Students get a discount on this Amazon feature 8 Amaze, astonish 12 It raises bread dough 14 Two-word kitchen tool which a Maine chef might use to cook his favorite crustacean 16 Gambino won Song of the Year for "This is ___" 17 Mysterious or fascinating quality 21 The first solo woman to win Best Rap Album 22 "Moulin ___" — 2001 Nicole Kidman flick, with a ! 24 Title of various Muslim rulers 25 "Get it in ___"

* SOLUTION FROM LAST ISSUE

E A R T H L Y

N G O A L D E M E O D A M E L A W A C O K I R R K S H A S

R A F T F P A I K I N P H I E A D P H I L E A S S E L O R T T W A T E R L A P A N K Y L G A D I A T E U I L Y B E E N

R E E S I G E G O F P O I K R A U O E R T I V E S A L O U M I C E R U R R E I N L S A S H M A

A M P U T E E D H A N S A K

CORRECTIONS In the Feb. 7 issue of The Cavalier Daily, the article titled “Woodson Institute to release podcast on Jefferson’s legacy,” incorrectly stated that the promotional podcast was in video form with a release date was Feb. 4, instead of the correct release date of Feb. 6 and the correct audio format. This article also misstated that Hahna Cho was an intern with the Woodson Institute and misnamed the host as Prof. Debra E. McDowell, instead of the correct name of Prof. Deborah E. McDowell and Cho’s position as an undergraduate research assistant with the Woodson Institute’s annual Citizen Justice Initiative Summer Research Program.


20

THE CAVALIER DAILY

ADVERTISEMENTS • www.cavalierdaily.com

NOW LEASING S TARTING

@

$ 1, 619. 00

THE FLATS @ WEST VILLAGE

LUX UR Y

S TUDENT

LI VING

CON VENIENT LO CATI ON TO U VA GROU NDS AN D D OW NTOW N

ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED ( EXCE PT EL E CTR I C)

FU R NIS HE D A ND UN FU RN IS HE D OP TI ON S AV AIL A BL E

1 X1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.