Thursday, October 3, 2019

The Cavalier Daily

Vol. 130, Issue 7

Thursday, October 3, 2019

TYRA KREHBIEL & EMMA KLEIN | THE CAVALIER DAILY COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS

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The Cavalier Daily

NEWS

This week in-brief CD News Staff

U.Va. Police Chief resigns The University announced the resignation of Police Chief Tommye S. Sutton Tuesday morning in a press release to the University community. Sutton had been on paid leave since Sept. 19, with his resignation going into effect Sept. 27. The reason for his leave and subsequent resignation remains unclear.

Tim Longo has been named interim police chief for a 12-month term. Longo served as chief of police for the city of Charlottesville from 2001 through 2016. Since then, Longo has served as the program director for the Master of Public Safety at the University’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

McGregor McCance, assoc. vice president for communications, declined to comment on the situation surround-

ing Sutton’s resignation — citing a policy to not discuss personnel matters. McCance did, however, offer a commendation of Longo’s qualifications for his new role.

“The University has the utmost confidence in Tim Longo to serve and lead us through this transition over the course of the next academic year,” McCance said in an email to The Cavalier Daily. “Chief Longo has a lengthy track record of success, has served on UVA’s SCPS faculty, teaches at the U.Va. Law School, and has a deep knowledge of U.Va. and the surrounding communities.”

“I am looking forward to working with the great team in place at the University and the committed, hard-working officers here at UPD, many of whom I’ve known for years,” Longo said in the press release.

RILEY WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Sutton had beeen on paid leave since Sept. 19, with his resignation going into effect Sept. 27.

New students elect First-Year Council officers, Student Council representatives

SAM SPREEN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

The University Board of Elections announced New Student Election results Sept. 26. In the first-year elections, approximately 35 percent of students voted for First-Year Council president, 33 percent for First-Year Council vice president and 31 percent for First-Year Student Council representatives. Out of 655 eligible transfer students, 57 students — or 8.7 percent — voted in the election for the transfer representative.

First-years elected College students Jared Rooker and Anisa Mohamed as First-Year Council president and vice president, respectively, and Engineering student Cutter Huston, College student Neha Rana and College student Cooper Scher as Student Council representatives.

In addition, transfer students elected second-year Col-

lege student Raheel Tauyyab to the Student Council transfer representative position. Tauyyab said he hopes to bring the University’s attention to challenges that are specific to transfer students, such as adjusting to academic challenges and community-building.

Turnout for First-Year Council elections improved compared to last year’s lows, when only 30 percent of students voted for president, 28 percent for vice president and 24 percent for representatives.

Compared to last year, transfer student turnout dropped slightly. Transfer student turnout has been consistently low in the past — within the past five years, the highest rate of transfer voters in this particular election was just over 15 percent in 2016.

First-year voter turnout increased over five percent from last year’s numbers.

Homer statue on South Lawn will be restored by the end of this week The University’s Homer Statue, built by Jewish-American sculptor Moses Jacob Ezekiel in 1907 as the “Blind Homer With His Student Guide,” is currently under restoration on the South Lawn and is expected to be completed this week.

The University Police Department were contacted on Jan. 27, 2019 regarding damage to the statue, as the student guide’s lyre reportedly went missing. However, the lyre was later found by a student on the ground next to the statue.

University police contacted Facilities Management and gave the lyre to them, according to Charles McCance, assoc. vice president for University Communications.

Since then, a conservator has been hired by the Univer-

sity to restore the statue and is expected to complete the project within the week, including repairing the missing strings on the lyre. In addition to the lyre, the workers also reinforced one of the hands that had become wobbly and added on a layer of protective wax to the statue.

In the time since the initial incident, there has been some speculation regarding how the lyre broke in the first place. One theory is that someone tried to climb onto the statue and the lyre pulled off, while another is that it may have been a more deliberate challenge to steal it.

“Upon close inspection of the lyre, the original mounts were severely corroded,” McCance said. “It would not have taken much force to remove the lyre.”

RILEY WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Statue under restoration after the statue’s lyre went missing in January.

Honor passes new bylaws on jurisdiction over non-degree students, executive ability to amend bylaws

FATEME TAVAKOLI | THE CAVALIER DAILY |

The Committee also discussed a new internal disclosure policy.

The Honor Committee passed two proposed bylaws regarding non-degree students and administrative abilities of the executive committee during its meeting Sunday night. The decisions were unanimous, and the changes were put into effect Monday.

The non-degree student bylaw clarifies Honor Committee’s jurisdiction over students seeking certificates and specific program credits, such as iXperience — an accredited summer abroad program in South Africa, which combines liberal art studies with skill-based learning through internships and professional training opportunities. The bylaw also applies to certificate-seeking students in credit-granting programs, such as in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Lillie Lyon, a fourth-year College student and chair of the Honor Committee, said non-degree students accused of honor code violations will undergo the same trial procedure as other University students.

The Committee also passed a housekeeping and amendment bylaw. Prior to the new policy, any amendment to the Honor Committee's bylaws had to pass with a majority vote of the Honor Committee. Now, the executive committee can make housekeeping updates without a vote of the entire Honor Committee, as long as the entire Honor Committee is made aware of such amendments at least 24 hours prior to their adoption.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 3

NEWS

Emails reveal how the admissions watch list works University admissions, development and administrative personnel coordinated on list of “high-priority” applicants Gracie Kreth & Abby Clukey | Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editor The Cavalier Daily obtained emails between University officials, board members and donors that reveal the influence of the admissions watch list first publicized in 2017. For the last 20 years, the University has used a list to track certain applicants, who receive an additional review and many of whom are connected to major donors.

The documents from 2010 through 2017 show that alumni, donors and friends of the University would write to officials such as Sean Jenkins, senior assistant to the President, on behalf of certain applicants. The University would then flag the applicants they deemed “high-priority” in the admissions cycle.

Former University spokesperson Anthony de Bruyn said in 2017 that admissions decisions were made entirely by admissions staff. He added that donors would contact the Advancement office to recommend students, and the office would provide them updates on an applicant’s status. However, he said that the Admissions and Advancement offices do not have access to each other’s records.

“The Advancement Office does not determine whether an applicant is admitted,” Acting University Spokesperson Wes Hester said in an email statement today. “However, this practice allows development officers to serve as a buffer with those alumni, donors, and friends who have provided prospective student endorsements during the admission cycle,” suggesting that this practice still exists.

The emails reveal nearly a decade of coordination between the personnel across offices. Jenkins served as the central liaison in communicating information between advancement and admissions personnel and individuals asking to flag certain applicants.

The documents show the links between the watch list and this Admissions office — not only are borderline applicants on the list afforded a second review, but the emails reveal that the Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts received information about applicants on the list.

This process is “better than outside recommendation letters,” according to an email Jenkins sent. “I can ask the student for an interview, but more importantly we should put her on our watch list,” he said in another.

Several emails mentioned direct collaboration between Jenkins and Roberts over the status

of flagged applicants. References to private, in-person meetings with Roberts are scattered throughout the documents, as are mentions of staff meetings between Jenkins, development officials and other administrators such as Dean Ian Baucom of the College.

Other emails describe potential strategies to push less-qualified applicants past the University’s threshold — which sometimes involved deferring and waitlisting applicants instead of denying them. Jenkins promised in one such email that he would review a particular applicant’s file with Roberts personally that January, but he worried “based on those scores a deferral then a waiting list might be best-case scenarios.”

According to 2019 admission statistics provided by Hester, 13 percent of applications from the total pool were waitlisted, while 43 percent of applicants from the watch list were waitlisted. Only eight students — seven percent of the watch list applicants — were offered admission, making the percentage of accepted watch list students only 0.08 percent of all total admission offers.

“Being on a list does not guarantee that an applicant will get in, as every student offered admission to U.Va. must be academically qualified to be here,” Hester said.

Hester also said if the Advancement office knows of a prospective donor with a family member in the applicant pool, the University will suspend gift conversations during the admissions cycle.

The emails show that some prospective students would be flagged before they even applied to the University. Locke Ogens, who at the time was Chief of Staff for External Relations at the Darden School Foundation, emailed Jenkins in 2013 on behalf of an applicant whose alumna mother was “very engaged at Darden.”

“Leonard, Greg, and I met about this one two years ago,” Jenkins responded. “We’re on top of it.”

Ogen did not respond to a request for comment.

Requests to place applicants on the watch list often came from prominent figures in the University and Charlottesville communities. The documents reveal many high-profile individuals who emailed Jenkins on an applicant’s behalf, including novelist John Grisham, former Board of Visitors member Georgia Willis

CASSANDRA PLEMONS | THE CAVALIER DAILY

According to 2019 admission statistics provider by Wes Hester, 13 percent of applications from the total pool were waitlisted while 43 percent of applicants on the wacth list were waitlisted.

Fauber and former University President John T. Casteen III. In an email titled “RE: Pat Lampkin suggested I be in touch with you” from April 1, 2013, Jenkins responds to an individual whose name is redacted, saying that he is delighted to learn of a particular applicant’s interest in the University, “especially given the long legacy of family ties!”

Patricia Lampkin is the University’s vice president and chief student affairs officer.

Other requests came from people publicly affiliated with the University’s donors. In one email exchange, James Wright, president of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, wrote to Jenkins, “Below is a preliminary list of applicants who are critically important to the Foundation and the University…. More to come later, but all of the above are of the highest priority.”

University officials also corresponded about the status of “high-priority” applicants who had already been denied admission, and this practice appears to have occasionally involved the former President Teresa Sullivan.

In a 2017 email titled “Re: CONFIDENTIAL DONOR INFORMATION,” Jenkins asked Nancy Rivers, chief of staff under President Sullivan, if they could discuss an applicant who was denied early action, so that Rivers could brief Sullivan on the situation when they spoke later.

Because the digital correspondence of the administrative staff of public universities are

subject to Freedom of Information Act requests, Jenkins made it a practice to talk with University personnel about the watch list in person instead. In one email, he wrote, “Because of FOIA requests I look forward to more in person.”

The emails also show that University officials thoroughly research the families of certain applicants and accepted students.

Emails between Jenkins and Ryan Emanuel, a strategy manager in the Development Office, discuss the family of a newly admitted high-priority student whose father died after a “high-profile contentious divorce.”

“This is all helpful and interesting background,” Jenkins said.

“Just let me know how I might begin a relationship with the student and family as they enter the fold.”

The vetting of certain applicants’ families could also result in an applicant not meeting the standards required of a “high-priority” flag. In an email exchange between Jenkins and Dirk Katstra, executive director of the Virginia Athletics Foundation, Jenkins tells Katstra that a certain applicant’s name “is unfamiliar to me, which in and of itself speaks to the priority.”

Jeff Thomas, an author based in Richmond, obtained these documents through a FOIA request when researching for his new book “The Virginia Way: Democracy and Power,” published in July 2019. He gave these documents to The Cavalier Dai-

ly. Thomas obtained the original documents regarding the watch list through a FOIA request in 2017.

Some of the obtained emails are dated in the spring of 2017, just after the watch list was publicized. In one email from April 25, 2017, Jenkins tells Tyler Blue, a member of the Advisory Board for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, that in the fallout of the articles he has “stayed away from Greg [Roberts].” In another, William Tyson, a member of several University boards, thanked Jenkins for checking in on an applicant sitting on the waitlist and dismissed the significance of the Post’s reporting.

After the watch list was first publicized in 2017, Student Council conducted an investigation but found no evidence of admissions decisions being changed as a result of donations to the University. Data obtained by The Cavalier Daily shows that the watch list was used as recently as last year. Hester said 110 applicants were on watch list during the 2018-2019 admissions cycle.

“Our aim is to recruit an exceptionally talented, diverse, resilient and service-oriented group of students, regardless of their economic circumstances,” Hester said. “That will continue to be our focus going forward, and we encourage anyone to recommend any prospective student that they feel would be a good fit at UVA.”

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NEWS

‘Stock the Pantry’ event raises 800 pounds of food The food pantry partnered with UVA Dining to exchange meal swipes for donations Ali Sullivan, Quintin Jepson, Emma Scales & Jacquelyn Kim | Senior Associate Editor & Staff Writers The U.Va. Community Food Pantry partnered with U.Va. Dining Sept. 25 to raise 800 pounds of food through its “Stock the Pantry” event. At Newcomb Dining Hall, students had the option to donate a meal swipe to secure one pound of food for the pantry — a student-run volunteer initiative, started by former College student Gwen Dilworth, that seeks to alleviate food insecurity on Grounds.

Overall, 400 students chose to exchange a swipe for a pound of food, and UVA Dining matched that number. During lunch hours, one meal swipe is equivalent to $11.

The Community Food Pantry, which is located in the Runk Green Room, opened Oct. 2018.

To keep their shelves stocked, the pantry conducts various food drives around Grounds and utilizes a grant of $6,192 from the U.Va. Parents Fund.

Mairin Shea, a fourth-year Batten student and executive director of the U.Va. Community Food Pantry, said the pantry partnered with U.Va. Dining in 2018 for a Stock the Pantry drive prior to to the pantry’s launch.

According to Laura Renigar, marketing manager for Aramark, U.Va. Dining donated close to 1,000 pounds of food to the U.Va. Community Food Pantry last fall.

“One pound of food is roughly a jar of peanut butter, can of soup or beans, or eight boxes of macaroni,” Renigar said. “A typical

donation includes canned soups, beans, vegetables, tuna, fruit, snacks and other packaged items.”

Shea noted that pantry use has picked up since it opened its doors in 2018 — during the spring 2019 semester, the pantry disbursed 681 pounds of food. The pantry is open to undergraduate and graduate students as well as University staff, and Shea estimates the pantry serves a roughly even ratio of students to staff.

“When people come into the pantry, they can take however much they need, there's no limitations or anything,” Shea said.

“They just come, we weigh the food and then they can go.”

Right now, students and staff can access the pantry in the Runk

Green Room — a multipurpose room available to other student groups — but next semester, Shea said the pantry will relocate to what is now the Student Activities Center Kitchen, located in Newcomb Hall.

“Right now we have to share the space with other groups who reserve it, so our pantry is mobile, it's on wheels,” Shea said. “We pack it up every time we open and close the pantry.”

Ellie Dilworth, second-year College student and communications coordinator for the Community Food Pantry, explained that the pantry doesn’t present itself as a solution — it’s just there to alleviate the stress that accompanies food insecurity.

Although there is no specific data on food insecurity at the University, a study from the Wisconsin HOPE Lab at the University of Wisconsin — an organization that has conducted extensive research on food insecurity on college campuses — reports 36 percent of university students report experiencing food insecurity.

“I think a lot of people think that on college campuses, [food insecurity] is not a thing,” Dilworth said. “You have meal plans, unlimited swipes or whatever, but I think [food insecurity] really is a thing that is very real.”

U.Va. shifts LGBTQ+ center, creates Latinx and Interfaith spaces The relocated LGBTQ+ Center and new Latinx center will be on Newcomb’s third floor, and the Interfaith space will be on the fourth Zach Rosenthal | Senior Writer Over the summer, the University announced plans to relocate the Multicultural Student Center and the LGBTQ+ Center, both of which previously located in the basement of Newcomb Hall.

Additionally, the University is creating a Latinx Student Center and an Interfaith Center.

The Multicultural Student Center is being moved to what was formerly the Game Room on the second floor of Newcomb, while it was decided this semester that the LGBTQ+ Center is being moved to what is currently the Kaleidoscope Room on the third floor.

The new Latinx Student Center, which will be located where the Newcomb Gallery is presently located, and the Interfaith Center will be on the fourth floor of Newcomb in what were formerly rooms 428, 432 and 436.

University Spokesperson Wes Hester said the University plans to open these new student spaces early spring, adding that these spaces in Newcomb are meant to serve students.

“Ultimately, all space decisions are being made to enhance overall student engagement and community,” Hester said.

Third-year College student Mazzen Shalaby, president of the Muslim Student Association and the Virginia Interfaith Coalition, is satisfied with the progress be-

ing made on the projectt.

“Given how quickly these things are moving? Yeah, I'm pretty happy with [the space],” Shalaby said.

Shalaby did acknowledge that he would have liked a bigger space, although he stated that simply having a space for interfaith use is important for those in the University community who have no other place to worship.

The current space on Newcomb’s fourth floor that is frequented by students looking for prayer space is “slightly bigger than a closet,” Shalaby noted.

“There's a bunch of different groups that are part of the Interfaith Coalition that don't have any places of worship in the Albemarle Community, [including] the Sikh Student Association and the Hindu Student Council,” Shalaby said.

Creating an Interfaith space will allow these individuals to store worship materials and have a place to congregate as a community, he explained.

Blake Hesson, a fouth-year College student and president of the Queer Student Union, is similarly excited about having a new space for the LGBTQ+ community to gather.

“I think the size and location is perfect, especially since we will now be closer to the gender-inclusive bathroom on the 4th

floor,” Hesson said.

According to an interactive bathroom map provided by LGBTQ Student Services, the one on the fourth floor is the only single-stall gender-inclusive bathroom available in Newcomb, but it is not handicap accessible.

Hesson also noted that while the LGBTQ+ Center’s former location in the basement had some positives — it was a more private safe space for students who have not come out yet, as it was somewhat hidden — they are looking into taking measures to create a sense of privacy in the fourth floor location as well.

Hesson also said the new location allows the LGBTQ+ community on-Grounds to be more prominent. According to Hesson, the new space is larger than the basement location — the Kaleidoscope Room can hold up to 121 people, whereas the current LGBTQ+ Center is limited to 50.

“With the new space, we can be more present in space of the University and hopefully be more present in the culture of U.Va.,” Hesson said.

Natalie Romero, a fourth-year College student and co-president of Political Latinxs United for Movement & Action in Society, said in June that she hoped a Latinx space would work to not just support the Latinx community but also to promote institutional

AGUERAN MAYEH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Currently the LGBTQ Center is located in the Newcomb Basement.

change at the University.

“What really needs to be done is to make U.Va. a space that is welcoming to its disenfranchised students and marginalized students, even the DACA students or undocumented students,” Romero said. “Like we have a Latinx space, but how many Latinx undocumented students are being accepted to the University compared to other universities in Virginia?”

The University announced that this fall it would begin offering financial aid to in-state stu-

dents who benefit from DACA, which was established by the Obama administration in 2012 to allow those who are undocumented and arrived in the U.S. as children to stay in the country. Hester said in a previous statement to The Cavalier Daily that aid for DACA students is an “extension of AccessUVA,” which is the University’s financial aid program that meets all undergraduate students’ demonstrated need.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 5

NEWS

U.Va. organizations register voters as deadline nears The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 15. and Election day is Nov. 5.

Kate Bellows | Senior Writer With the Nov. 5 general election just over a month away, and the Oct. 15 voter registration deadline only two weeks away, student groups are working to make sure all those eligible to vote are registered. In Virginia, all 100 House of Delegates seats and all 40 Senate seats are up for grabs, though there are no federal offices on the ballot this year.

During National Voter Registration Day last week, Student Council, University Democrats, College Republicans, the University Center for Politics, University Libraries and NextGen America teamed up to register students to vote all around Grounds.

On Central Grounds, volunteers were stationed at Newcomb Hall, Observatory Hill Dining Hall, South Lawn and Engineer's Way. “It was wonderful to work alongside other UVA organizations since encouraging voter registration at the same time meant we could amplify each other's voices throughout the day,” said Amber Reichert, University Libraries content strategist. “I look forward to working alongside other U.Va. groups to make voting second nature to members of our community.”

Virginia Chambers, campaigns chair for University Democrats and a fourth-year College student, said 200 people were registered to vote that day.

During move-in weekend in August, University Democrats, College Republicans and Student Council collaborated to register 475 voters.

“We provided them with information about where their polling place is [and corrected] misconceptions,” said Alex Hendel, Student Council vice chair of legislative affairs and Batten graduate student.

The groups have pursued voter registration initiatives on their own as well. Hendel said Student Council volunteers have registered voters in classrooms and residence halls. Meanwhile, University Democrats host registration drives around lunchtime on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, during which they register a few dozen voters, Chambers said. College Republicans has been registering people near firstyear residence halls and around Central Grounds.

“We're going to have our own voter registration efforts in the future because we need to continue registering students to vote until the deadline,” said Matthew Nalls, College Republicans president and third-year College student.

Compared to midterm and presidential elections, off-year elections such as this year generally do not receive high turnout. According to records provided by Jamie Virostko, assistant registrar with the Charlottesville Office of Elections and Voter Registration, total voter turn-

out among 18, 19- to 21-year-olds and 22- to 25-year-olds registered to vote in Charlottesville in the 2017 general election — the most recent off-year election — was lower than in the 2016 and 2018 general elections.

Neither the Charlottesville office nor the Albemarle County Registrar’s Office track whether a voter is a student or not when they register to vote or cast their ballot.

At Charlottesville’s student-heavy Venable precinct in 2017, 0.8 percent of 18-year-olds registered to vote there turned out, as did 46.4 percent of 19to 21-year-olds and 20.9 percent of 22- to 25-year-olds. At Charlottesville’s Alumni Hall precinct, which also draws in many students, 17.1 percent of 18-year-olds registered to vote there turned out, as did 35.6 percent of 19- to 21-year-olds and 33.1 percent of 22- to 25-year-olds.

In 2018, of those registered to vote at Venable, 8.6 percent of 18-yearolds, 85.5 percent of 19- to 21-year-olds and 22.6 percent of 22- to 25-year olds turned out to vote. Of those registered to vote at Alumni Hall, 68.9 percent of 18-year-olds, 66.2 percent of 19 to 21-year-olds and 39.2 percent of 22- to 25-year-olds showed up.

“We have a really important election coming up and everyone has the opportunity to use their voice to have a say in how our government operates for the Senate, for the next four years, and for the House of Delegates, for the next two years,” Chambers said. “And so it's exciting to hear about the flashy presidential election, but we have another really meaningful election before then.”

By the numbers A report released by the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement in September revealed that the student voting rate at the University in 2018 was higher than the average student voting rate at other universities studied in 2018. Whereas at the University, the voting rate among eligible students was 45.8 percent in 2018, the average voting rate at other participating institutions that year was 39.1 percent. 39.6 percent of University undergraduate students voted, compared to 44.2 percent of University graduate students, though this rate does not account for ineligible voters, such as non-citizens.

As of Friday, 2,567 people have active registration to vote at Venable and 2,802 people have active registration to vote at Alumni Hall. A voter may be flagged as inactive, Virostko said, if the mail sent by the registrar’s office has been returned as undeliverable and the voter has not voted in two federal elections. It does not mean the voter is unregistered, however. But if the voter does not respond to attempts by the State Board of Elections and the individual registrars to get in

contact and obtain confirmation of the address, they will be purged from the voter rolls.

The numbers of registrants, of course, can change over the next several weeks.

At the last off-year election, in 2017, 2,813 people were registered to vote at Venable at the time of election day and 3,022 people were registered to vote at Alumni Hall. In 2018, those numbers rose very slightly to 2,871 registered to vote at Venable and 3,067 registered to vote at Alumni Hall. Yet the turnout rate jumped from 30.96 percent to 47.27 percent at Venable and 47.25 percent to 57.32 percent at Alumni Hall.

In Albemarle County — where many other students are registered to vote, especially those living onGrounds — 3,687 people have active registration to vote at Slaughter Recreation Center, the county’s University precinct.

Albemarle County registrar Jake Washburne estimated more than half of those who vote at Slaughter are students.

“It's tough to be exactly precise, because we are we don't have anything,” Washburne said. “We don't classify them by their student status … but just because of the shape of the precinct and the residential structures in the precinct, I would say well over half of the registered voters in the University precinct are University students. There are a few … residential neighborhoods within the precinct, but I think it is mostly students.”

Washburne called the boundary lines that carve out the University “squiggle-squaggles,” in that some of the University is considered part of Charlottesville, an independent city in Albemarle County, and some of it is Albemarle County proper. These boundaries determine whether someone votes at Alumni Hall, Venable Elementary School, Slaughter Recreation Center or elsewhere.

Last year, Washburne said, Slaughter drew 2,333 voters — 45 percent of registered voters at the time of the election.

“We encourage everybody who's eligible to get registered to vote and vote,” Washburne said. “So I hope that happens.”

But, he said, make sure to check whether your address is in Albemarle County or Charlottesville City and what precinct you are registered to vote at, to avoid an election day mishap.

“Every year, inevitably, a few will show up at Slaughter Rec,” Washburne said. “And we look them up in the phone book, and say, ‘Sorry, you know, you gotta go down the street to Alumni Hall,’ and vice versa. But the best thing to do is to have them check, and they can check it online before

YUJIN OH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Members of the University Democratts registered students to vote outside of Newcomb Tuesday.

election day what precinct they're registered at.”

Correcting misconceptions Representatives from organizations registering voters said many students have misconceptions about voter registration — one being that the process to register to vote is lengthy, according to Nalls.

“It's fairly quick to register to vote,” Nalls said. “And to me, I think that that's incredibly valuable, because voting is such a special power that we have to hold our own government accountable.”

Washburne said the process is straightforward. When registering to vote, he said, one must give their name and residence address; affirm U.S. citizenship; certify that they will be at least 18 by the November general election; verify that they have not been convicted of a felony or, if they have, that they have had their rights restored; and sign and date the application.

Nalls said that the State Board of Elections provides the registration forms to groups registering voters, after which the groups give students forms to fill out and then send the forms to the board. The board then mails students confirmation of their registration. All volunteers must complete a training module from the Virginia Department of Elections before registering others to vote.

Another misconception, Hendel said, is that one cannot register to vote until they are 18.

“In Virginia, if you'll be 18 by the general election, and you're a citizen of the United States, and you're a resident of Virginia, you can vote here,” Hendel said.

He said that out-of-state students or those not from Charlottesville can still register to vote in Charlottesville with their school address.

“If you live there, then you are able

to vote there,” Chambers added.

Students may also choose to vote at home or absentee with their home address. The last misconception Hendel said was that if students have class on Election Day, they simply cannot vote. In fact, he said, students who have class on Election Day can vote absentee even if they are registered in Charlottesville.

On Tuesday, the Center for Politics hosted a meeting with University Democrats, College Republicans, University Libraries, the Charlottesville registrar and the Albemarle County registrar to discuss voter registration and student engagement.

Glenn Crossman, programs director for the Center, said in an interview before the meeting that he believed it would be helpful for those registering voters to get each others’ contact information and exchange ideas for voter registration.

“We want to encourage that [voter registration is] still student-run,” Crossman said. “But we're there to just answer questions ... there’s so many student questions, they want to know if they're registered in the state. Can they register here? How do you do that? It may seem basic to a very engaged student, but it's not obvious to a lot of people.”

Nalls said he appreciates the fact that groups from various political and apolitical affiliations work together to register voters.

“I think the collaboration in voter registration is actually the beauty of our country,” Nalls said. “I think basic freedoms and rights that we have should come before any political affiliation … I hope that collaboration continues.”

People who register to vote for the Nov. 5 election will stay registered for the 2020 presidential primary March 3.

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The Cavalier Daily

LIFE

ASU kicks off its annual ‘Not a Model Minority’ campaign The “model minority” stereotype was discussed during an open panel Sarah Rigazio | Feature Writer

COURTESY TAHIRA TAUYYAB

ASU’s ‘Not a Model Minority’ campaign encouraged participants to advocate for nonconformity, as demonstrated by one of the campaign leader’s, Zoe Pham.

Fourth-year McIntire student Jannette Nguyen grew up and attended school in a predominantly Caucasian area. As one of the few minority students at her school, she recalled frustration at being targeted as part of the very common “model minority” stereotype. This myth perpetuates the stereotype that Asian Americans are all smart, successful and superior to other minority groups.

“If we did well on a test or something, people would just say, ‘Oh, it’s because you're Asian.

Of course you’re smart,’” Nguyen said.

Nguyen shared this story with the group gathered in Ern Commons Sunday night at a kickoff event for Asian Student Union’s annual Not A Model Minority Campaign campaign. NMMC will be in effect Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, and the goal of the campaign is to demonstrate why and how this seemingly positive stereotype is destructive.

Sunday night’s “Kickoff Discussion” included a panel of fourth-year College students Eileen Ying and Vilas Annavarapu, second-year College students Katie Zhang and Ankit Agrawal, as well as Nguyen. The panel answered questions about their

own experiences with the myth and some suggestions as to how to combat it. Roughly 20 students came to the panel.

“I felt that [growing up with the myth] was really demeaning because I worked so hard for what I did [in school], and it was frustrating to hear ... ‘Oh, you could have gotten it anyway because you're Asian — you're just naturally smart,’” Nguyen said.

“I think [the myth] can be viewed as minority groups being used as a tool against other minority groups,” Annavarapu said.

“I would say it tells a very incomplete story about Asian-American experiences in the United States. There are plenty of people who aren't privileged in the way the Asian-American stereotype is presented. It erases a lot of history, a lot of oppression and a lot of pain.”

After the panel, attendees and panelists were encouraged to stay and engage in small group discussions.

“Great discussions were raised after the panel about the intersectionality of [Asian-American] issues, personal experiences encountering and defying the model minority myth and connections made between students,”

said Zoe Pham, second-year College student and co-chair of the ASU advocacy committee.

The Not A Model Minority Campaign was first introduced to the University in 2000. The goal of the campaign is to promote discussion and bring visibility to Grounds surrounding the issue of “model” stereotypes against the APIDA community.

APIDA is a term used by ASU to embody those who identify as Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi-American.

While commonly perceived as a positive stereotype, it is ASU’s mission to educate students on Grounds that this concept is actually destructive. According to Valerie Young, third-year College student and president of ASU, the stereotype erases individuality while generalizing all Asian-Americans as disciplined and quiet, for example. The stereotype creates an indirect hierarchy among minorities as well.

“It makes other minorities think of us as the better minority,” Young said. “It puts minorities against each other when we should all be working together to achieve the same goal of equality,” Young said.

In bringing the NMMC to

Grounds, the ASU strives to educate the greater University community as to the problematic nature of the myth and to redefine the stereotype as harmful rather than positive.

“While [the stereotype] may be representative of some good qualities relevant to the APIDA culture, it definitely hides a lot of the socioeconomic and cultural diversity within the APIDA community,” Pham said.

Moreover, the ASU aims to ignite a realization among University students — both APIDA and non-APIDA — as to the reality of the issue. Though the stereotypes are often sensed starting at a young age, both Young and Pham recall realizing the weight of the model minority myth once they got to college.

“I know that in high school I wasn't really exposed to social issues at all, but I was exposed to the idea that all Asian Americans are expected to be really disciplined and all be the same,” Young said. “I started tabling for the campaign when I was a firstyear and didn't really know what the issue was. I remember realizing the myth as I was talking to people and as they were asking me questions.”

Pham also detailed her experience participating in her first NMMC week after joining ASU as a first-year.

“I had never actually heard the term model minority until I came to U.Va. … I understood what the myth meant, but I didn't really have a term to call it or have the vocabulary to explain why these seemingly positive things were actually bad, ” Pham said. “I was pretty happy to find something to call this thing that I've experienced my whole life and just to be able to talk about why this is harmful.”

Though debunking the myth is a yearlong commitment for the ASU, the group works to advocate for one week every year.

The week will consist of daily tabling and promotional flyers.

ASU will hold chalking opportunities through Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whispering Wall, during which anyone can chalk a message of support and solidarity. Chalking will be held at Newcomb Dining Hall Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ASU encourages anyone to participate in the campaign by stopping by and will hand out stickers as well.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 7

LIFE

Pizzeria personalities: If C’ville pizzerias could talk Food columnist Hildy Maxwell compares your favorite Charlottesville pizza shops to people Hildy Maxwell | Food Columnist Charlottesville has plenty of pizzerias, but not all are the same. We each have our favorites for one reason or another — whether it’s the old man who works the counter, the crust that’s chewy just the way you like it or the fact that they deliver at 2 a.m. You could say each pizzeria has its own distinct personality — so if your favorite pizzeria was a person, who would they be?

Benny DeLuca’s Benny’s is by far the biggest personality in the room. They love being the center of attention and jokes are kind of their thing. Growing up in the Bronx, they basically lived on a strict diet of pepperoni slices from their neighborhood pizza joint but don’t be fooled — this guy’s a major foodie.

Just because the Sheetz workers know Benny’s grilled cheese order by heart doesn’t mean they don’t know good, honest food when they see it — they’re just more low-key than most. Benny’s loves company, so their door is always open — literally. Unapologetically themselves, Benny’s has the level of confidence we all wish we could have.

Crozet Everything Crozet owns smells like incense. Crozet was vegan before it was cool — but don’t worry, they won’t mention it until they’ve known you for at least a week. Always dressed in crop tops and exotic printed pants, Crozet is inherently and beautifully chill. They have a home flower garden that would make your kitchen herb

plants look like a couple of yard weeds — can somebody say green thumb?

Oh, and I should probably also mention they’ve hiked every trail in Shenandoah National Park — not just once, but twice. If you scroll through their Spotify playlists, you’ll discover some of the best jam bands that nobody’s heard of. Keep on spreading the positive vibes, Crozet.

Lampo Have you heard Lampo, like, studied abroad? They spent four months in Naples, and boy, does it show. Lampo is almost always busy, so finding a time to hang is impossible, but when you do, you have their undivided attention. Nobody can rock the Euro-minimalist look like they can — oh, and did I mention their Italian is flawless?

Lampo is 5-foot-2, perpetually dressed in subtle earth tones and is always the coolest person in the room without even trying. Caught somewhere between the Italian nonna you never knew you needed and a Roman fashion model who summers on the Amalfi Coast, Lampo is truly unique.

MOD MOD has had a job lined up with a tech startup in Silicon Valley since the end of third-year. They were probably voted “Most Likely to Be a Billionaire” in their high school yearbook, but somehow there’s nothing pretentious about them. They are an everyman — people-pleasing is their middle name.

Born with an innovative mind, MOD can build just about anything from a

COURTESY LIBBY MAXWELL

Each Charlottesville pizzeria has its own distinct personality — so if your favorite pizzeria was a person, who would they be?

pile of junk. Consistency and efficiency might as well be tattooed on their forehead — if only ink didn’t hurt their chances in the job market.

Mellow Mushroom Mellow is truly, well, mellow. They live in their vintage Grateful Dead tee and Birkenstocks and longboard all over Charlottesville — even in the winter. Mellow’s bohemian attitude makes them just funky enough, without leaping over the fence into flower-child territory. And even though

you might only see them for their weekly trivia nights, their personality immediately puts everyone at ease.

Easygoing, reliable but never boring — what’s not to love?

Christian’s Christian's is that guy you always see out but can never — for the life of you — figure out how you met. Everyone likes them because they’re always the life of the party. Don’t try to walk down the Corner with them — one minute they’re leaning over the fence

at Trin and next thing you know 30 minutes have passed, and you’ve only just made it to Boylan. Nobody really knows why they love Christian’s or how they somehow always end up with them, slumped on a couch, next to an empty box of College Inn cheesy bread — but I’ve never heard anyone complain.

Nutella pumpkin muffins will get you ready for fall Let’s be real — I had you at ‘Nutella’ Isabel Salken | Food Columnist There’s something incredibly special about the change of season. I get that many people love summer, but I’m definitely more of a fall person. The leaves change, the weather gets cooler, the holiday season approaches and Halloween festivities ensue — not to mention Thanksgiving, sweaters, football, hiking and fall baking.

Ah yes, fall baking — pumpkins, apples and cinnamon galore. There is perhaps nothing more basic but also nothing more exciting and warming than these three fall baking essentials. Don’t get me wrong, I personally love these flavors and could eat them year round. But in the coming weeks, I am sure you will be seeing your fair share of cinnamon rolls, apple cider donuts and pumpkin spice lattes.

Needless to say, pumpkin spice can quickly get overhyped, so I’m

introducing these Nutella pumpkin muffins before you even have the chance to get tired of this seasonal speciality. And did I mention Nutella?

This recipe was inspired by Sweet and Simple Kitchen — a food blog that I have been using as baking inspiration for years because I’ve always loved the outcomes of their recipes. This recipe has since been slightly modified by me.

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour 1/2 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/4 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup butter, melted 1/3 cup coconut oil 3/4 cup buttermilk 1 cup pumpkin puree 2 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Nutella Preparation: First, preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Then line either giant or regular-sized muffin tins with muffin liners — be sure to grease these with either cooking spray or butter. I prefer to use coconut oil spray or ghee oil spray — healthier alternatives to vegetable oil because of their healthy fats and sustainability. This recipe will yield around six giant muffins or 12 average-sized muffins.

In a large bowl, combine together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt. In a separate

bowl, whisk together melted butter, oil, buttermilk, pumpkin puree, eggs, maple syrup and vanilla. Use a spatula to gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry until it just comes together, but no flour is left unmixed. The batter shouldn’t be firm like cookie dough, as it will need to pour easily into the muffin tin.

Fill the liners halfway with batter. Proceed to make a small hole in the center of the muffin batter using a spoon and drop a generous spoonful of Nutella into the hole.

Fill the rest of the liner with batter. Then, melt some Nutella in the microwave until it becomes easy to drizzle, and pour over the top of each muffin.

Place the muffin tin in the oven to bake for about 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick comes out relatively

clean — with the exception of melted Nutella possibly sticking to the toothpick. However, there should be no remnants of the pumpkin batter. Set your muffins on a rack to cool for a couple minutes and then enjoy!

If you make these muffins and enjoy them as much as I did, be sure to tag @del_iz_cious and @cavalierdaily on Instagram so we can see your creations. I hope these make you feel as festive and cozy on the inside as they do for me!

8 | www.cavalierdaily.com

LIFE

Top 10 ways to stun at the internship fair Put your best foot forward Ben Rosenthal | Top 10 Writer

1. Show up on time In order to talk to more recruiters and explore all of the wonderful options that are out there at the internship fair, give yourself as much time a possible to explore.

Show up to the event on the earlier side so that you can browse, mingle and network without feeling threatened by time constraints. You’d hate to have a fantastic conversation trimmed down to a mediocre one due to time pressures.

2.

Dress appropriately

5. Remember your own name

This is a true story. Once, I was at a blind date function with my friend and his roommate, Frank.

After gathering up our courage and going over all of our best conversation starters, we approached a table of gorgeous women, ready to give it our best shot. As we sat down, these words left Frank’s mouth — “Hi, I’m Frack.” The conversation was immediately dismantled. The evening was unrepairable and ruined. I can only imagine how bad it would have been if this had happened at an internship fair.

There are a wide range of options available to students, ranging from business casual to business formal. Anything from a nice polo to a classic button-down is a solid choice. Bright colors can be a risky move — will the outfit showcase your personality or just shock people?

3.

Bring a resume

Recruiters will want to see a resume so that they can look at your GPA, work history and extracurriculars. In fact, bring at least 10 copies of your resume — just in case you drop one down the drain.

Maximize your internship chances by distributing them to as many companies.

with the 8. Converse recruiters A classic rookie mistake that people make at internship fairs is being too afraid to engage with the recruiters. They are here to talk to people like you — engage with them. Too often, people simply shove their resumes onto the table without saying a single word to the recruiter, out of fear of being judged.

This is actually a mistake, as it gives off an impression of arrogance and aloofness to the recruiter.

6. Don’t bring in food Try to eat a hearty meal either before the internship fair or plan on going out to eat afterwards. Recruiters tend to frown heavily upon people bringing in food items from the outside, as eating during a recruiter’s pitch can be seen as a sign of disrespect or disinterest.

You should try to remain present — both physically and emotionally — during your conversations.

7. Don’t bring in pets When I said “don’t bring in any food,” you were probably like, “Oh, that’s alright because I can still bring in my pets.” Well, if that was you, than you were actually quite wrong. Whatever you do, don’t bring in your pets — unless it’s a service animal.

This is a move that actually has very little upside.

VYSHU PENDALA | THE CAVALIER DAILY

KHUYEN DINH & SHRUTHI NYSHADHAM | THE CAVALIER DAILY

9. Be qualified

for the position

While the other eight suggestions I’ve listed here are clearly all very important and all very objectively stated, I believe that this step is the most significant of them all. The best way to get an internship is to be qualified for the internship. Little known fact — recruiters come to internship fairs looking for qualified students to fill summer positions. If you are qualified, this is a great way to get a leg up on your competition.

10. Stay calm and know

4. Introduce yourself

you’ll be OK

It is of the utmost importance to introduce yourself at the beginning of every conversation. Shake the recruiter’s hand, state your name and feel free to sprinkle in your major, interest in the company and so-on. If you know the recruiter, you can probably get away with a quick hug, but anything beyond that is pushing it, particularly in a formal context.

TYRA KREHBIEL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Above all, you need to know that not getting an internship this year isn’t the end of the world. The only real failure is the failure to show up and try. After all, what is one summer without an internship? Sure, the degree market is becoming oversaturated, and people with good grades in respected fields are having difficulty finding job offers because even entry level positions now have an insane amount of experience requirements.

But you’ll be absolutely fine if you end up lifeguarding again for the summer. Absolutely fine. Loser.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 9

PUZZLES WEEKLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE Dan Goff | Puzzle Master * THE SOLUTION TO THIS PUZZLE CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEXT ISSUE

Across 8 Unit of electric current 9 Two-word term meaning retired lady 10 Unrefined petroleum — two words 11 Beat in an auction 12 Worldwide discussion system for computers 13 Types of roads often named after presidents 15 Money unlikely to be paid off — two words 17 Desirable feature of a building 20 State of temporary suspension 22 How one's eyes might be before drinking coffee 23 The next break after two-down — Thanksgiving ___ 25 You might take a short one of these during two-down 26 Russian empresses — one of several spellings 27 Alcoholic drink made with orange juice Down 1 Food of the gods 2 Oct. 7 is this, and so is Oct. 8 3 Controversial presidential action regarding immigrants 4 Mistakes 5 Numeral or Chinese character, for example 6 Cereal brand 7 Who you might visit during twodown 14 Thanks to the recent weather, it feels like this will never arrive 16 Blessings 18 Type of protagonist in Roald Dahl's "Esio Trot" 19 Member of Muslim religious order — often preceded by "howling" or "whirling" 21 Informal, relaxed 22 Turned into 24 Single European currency

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* SOLUTION FROM SEPT. 19 ISSUE

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Black Enough’ shines with complexity and beauty New series from Micah Watson features past and present students, University setting Dan Goff | Senior Writer “What makes up a black girl?”

The question is posed by a disembodied voice during the opening moments of “i. double consciousness,” the first episode of the new web series “Black Enough.” As the voice continues mulling over the question, hazy, indistinct images of black bodies move and stretch across the screen.

This voice and several others insert themselves into the narrative of the episode at different points, in seeming response to the initial question. Late in the episode, a voice says, “I once heard that black girls were concocted by God.” It’s important to note, however, that a consensus among the voices is never reached, a tidy definition never found.

Searching for the identity of a black girl — and more broadly, the identities of young black people — is the task taken up by “Black Enough,” which gave viewers a preview of what to expect by screening the initial three episodes at Vinegar Hill Theatre last Saturday. These episodes — “i. double consciousness,” “ii. #BlackGirlMagicPotion” and “iii. touissant” — were followed by a talkback with members of the cast and crew, including 2018 University graduate Micah Ariel Watson, the series’ writer, director and executive producer.

“Black Enough” follows the experiences of Amaya (Tiffany Gordon), a black freshman trying to address the complexities of her identity while being pulled in different directions by her peers — several of whom are played by past or current University students.

The explicit struggle of Amaya’s character is the question of her character itself, as she doubts time and again whether she’s “black enough” to meet the expectations of others.

As Amaya questions her identity, the series works to shape and define itself, testing and then breaking through boundaries of experimentation. The stylized montage of dialogue and visuals which starts “i. double consciousness” and is carried through the next two episodes is far from the only cinematographic risk Watson takes — the preview, though hardly longer than half an hour, proved formally inventive and daring.

Watson occasionally utilizes a split screen to impressive effect. The story was also interrupted by montages tangential to the main narrative, like when Amaya practices saying “black” words and phrases in the mirror or when BrownSkinnedBarbie_72 (Brandi Jaray Mcleain) appears onscreen to provide beauty tips in the format of YouTube videos. These narrative tricks and styles, aside from creating

a thematically relevant kaleidoscopic effect, also bring to mind the similarly diverse structure of the “Black Monologues,” which Watson co-founded while an undergrad at the University.

“Black Enough” takes place in the fictional Weston College — “the gem of the mid-Atlantic and the lovechild of slavery,” as one student labels it — but it was shot in the academic spaces of the University itself, making the series feel literally and figuratively close to home. Amaya’s friend Lena (fourthyear College student Natalie Pendie) convinces her to attend a Black Student Union interest meeting held in a Range room. Amaya bonds with her classmate Jaheem (Randy Melton) while walking by Bryan Hall and browsing in the University bookstore.

According to Watson, there was “no other place [than the University] to shoot.” During the talkback, moderated by William and Mary graduate student Ravynn Springfield, she explained that her time as an undergrad was transformative for her identity as a black student. “My experience in Charlottesville was in communities of black people,” she said. She also described Charlottesville as a place of “support, not just in terms of equipment or space,” and cited University professors Kevin Everson, Claudrena Harold and Theresa “Lady T” Davis as local sources of encouragement.

Branika Scott, a Los Angeles– based actress who graduated from the College with Watson and has collaborated with her on multiple productions — from the “Monologues” to 2018’s “Canaan” — also had a lot to say about the power of community in determining one’s identity. In “Black Enough” she plays Vaughn, the seemingly ultra-confident president of the BSU, but Scott’s own pre-college experience as a black woman was radically different. She grew up in a small town in southwest Virginia and, she said, the Scotts were “pretty much the only black family in our town … I hardly ever saw people like me.”

Scott said coming to the University then was a culture shock. “Finally there are people who look like me, but I don’t know how to act around them,” she said. But the transition ultimately proved powerful — through the guidance of “Lady T” and her peers, Scott said she was able to find “black community and black friendship.”

Scott got on this subject thanks to a question late in the talkback that requested each cast and crew member present to explain their idea of what “black enough” meant. The answers — of course — varied, and often varied from an actor’s character to his or her

COURTESY MICAH ARIEL WATSON AND JEREMY RODNEY HALL

Micah Ariel Watson previewed her new web series “Black Enough” at Vinegar Hill Theatre Saturday.

real-life counterpart. While Melton said that he didn’t think his character Jaheem knew “what ‘black enough’ is — he’s never had to make that distinction,” Melton himself defined it as, among other things, “exceeding the expectations of our ancestors.”

Mcleain said jokingly that learning how to flat twist for her role as a beauty vlogger in the series was the greatest challenge she faced, but then took on a note of serious contemplation. “I am black enough even if I can’t flat twist,” she said.

“Black Enough” is inundated with ideas of God, another trait synonymous with the “Monologues.” He also came up more than once in the talkback. Watson’s father is a pastor, she

explained, and her Christian faith is a direct influence on her work. She discussed the concept of being black enough in the context of God’s expectations — namely, that He doesn’t care about such things. “God loves all of me,” Watson said. “I don’t have to be someone I’m not.”

The question of what is black enough was clearly something to which the cast and crew had given considerable thought. In fact, everything about the event — from the talkback to the episodes themselves — was both thoughtfully constructed and thought-provoking. An enormous amount of work had been poured into this project, Watson and the others emphasized more than once.

These are clearly labors of love, however. “If this touches one person … it’s been a success,” Watson said when asked about her goals for the series, then amended her statement, saying that it was already a success because “I got to meet these people!”

“Black Enough” is still in its infancy, and in the crazily competitive world of media, it’s unclear whether this series will get the recognition it deserves. But as a beautifully constructed meditation on black college culture with ever-increasing relevance, it’s hard to imagine “Black Enough” being anything other than successful.

Season one is available to stream now through black-enough.com.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Tesoros” closes out third annual SIP Film Festival Final screening blends childhood nostalgia, inclusion and technology Loree Seitz | Staff Writer The third annual Spanish, Italian and Portuguese Film Festival took place this past weekend on Grounds and in downtown Charlottesville. This year’s theme was “Visual Narratives of Diversity, Displacement and Inclusion from the Mediteranean and Latin America.” The film festival was sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the UVA Arts Fund for Artistic Excellence, the Latin American Studies Program, the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality, the Institute of World Languages, the UVA Library and the Department of Spanish, Itailian and Portuguese.

The film “Tesoros” was screened on Sunday afternoon as the final screening of the festival.

“Tesoros” was directed by Maria Novaro, a filmmaker born in Mexico City, whose work primarily focuses on feminist films. The film was introduced by Federico Cuatlacuatl, assistant professor for the Studio Art Department in the College, who highlighted Novaro’s involvement of children in the film. He emphasized how the childhood perspective made the film accessible to a wider audience as the children tackle issues of colonial history to discuss race and class.

“Tesoros” begins with “the white kids,” Dylan, Andrea and Lucas moving to Barra de Potosi, a fishing community on the coast of Guerro, Mexico. Jacinta, a six-year-old in the community, narrates the story of the children assembling to find a treasure that the pirate Francis Drake hid in the area centuries before. Using a tablet and their curiosity, the kids band together with excitement to uncover the treasure.

The theme of treasure first appears with Dylan playing a game on his tablet about pirates and their conquests. From this, Jacinta creates an interesting narrative surrounding the history of colonization, particularly focusing on pirates and their role in shaping the history of colonized lands. She pays special attention to age-old colonization narratives, clarifying that the conquests did not mean that the Europeans were the first to discover the Americas, and also that the Spaniards stole from people living in the Americas.

The discussion of colonization provides an interesting background as children engage in conversations about race, mainly surrounding the “blondies” and the “brownies” in the community. Race does not seem to be an

overt issue in the children’s interactions, as the darker students welcome Dylan, Andrea and Lucas on their first day of school.

The children quickly find unity as they come together over the clues of the treasure, unaffected by their differences in skin tone.

As one of the young children puts it, some of them have their father’s color, and some have their mother’s color.

Further, “Tesoros” highlights the usage of technology, making it an integral part of daily life as a source of entertainment and information for the kids. Dylan’s pirate game on his tablet becomes not only a source of entertainment but of imagination, filling his head with images of pirates and hidden treasure. After informing his friends about the treasure he suspects is hidden nearby, he and his friends search for treasure maps on the Internet, and later their teacher guides them to use Google Earth to see their location and the region’s surrounding features. In this way, technology serves to inform their treasure hunt by furthering their knowledge of the local area, therefore creating a sense of independence as the children drive this search primarily on their own.

In the discussion following the film, Cuatlacuatl described how telling the story through the children’s perspective gives the film a certain empathy, how building the story through the children’s eyes gives an interesting perspective to time, one that is malleable and shaped by creativity and imagination. He informed the audience that Novaro chose not to give the children a direct script of dialogue and encouraged them to improvise, creating a raw and natural narrative.

Additionally, by maintaining low camera angles, the audience is able to build a closer relationship with the children and become fully immersed in their imagination.

Throughout their journey, the audience is able to relive the pure excitement exuded by the children in their friendships as they come closer to reaching their goal, creating a sense of longing for the days of young childhood.

COURTESY SIP FILM FEST

The third annual SIP film festival took place Sept. 26 - 29 with the theme “Visual Narratives of Diversity, Displacement and Inclusion from the Mediterranean and Latin America.”

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The Cavalier Daily

Freshman forward on joining the reigning national champs From hometown stardom to joining Virginia men’s basketball, Kadin Shedrick is a force to be reckoned with Hannah Young | Associate Writer Gone are the high-school themed outfits coloring basketball stands full with friends cheering your name — one can only imagine the pressure of transitioning from a team that revolved around a smalltown star to a team fresh off of winning a national title.

Despite this frightening idea, 6-foot-11 freshman forward Kadin Shedrick is not fazed. “[Playing with the defending national champions] isn’t intimidating necessarily, but it’s definitely humbling,” Shedrick said.

Hailing from Holly Springs, N.C., Shedrick averaged 15.9 points per game between his junior and senior seasons. Shedrick was responsible for 934 points throughout his entire career at Holly Springs High School according to MaxPreps. Playing at center, he was, and still is, a force with which to be reckoned.

Shedrick didn’t start playing basketball full-time until his junior year of high school — a fact that makes his story even more unique. “[Shedrick] is one who is willing to delay gratification, and I think

it’s part of his intelligence and coming from a strong family,” Holly Springs basketball Coach L.J. Hepp told the News & Observer, tying back to his late-blooming basketball interest.

Initially, Shedrick was interested in baseball, but as he started growing, Hepp said Shedrick began to enjoy playing basketball a little more and to work hard at it.

Childhood friend Trey Redfield also has much to say about Kadin Shedrick’s transition into basketball. Redfield met Shedrick in sixth grade, and the two were teammates on a Holly Springs recreational basketball team.

“I always knew Kadin would be a star,” Redfield said. “No matter if it was baseball or basketball I knew he would be the hardest working player in his sport. He’s a great kid, and that is something that will not change.”

Shedrick’s character is validated by peers like Redfield, his 2017-18 Player of the Year award, Coach Hepp and his self-effacement on the court.

By senior year, it was no won-

der HighSchoolOT reported that Shedrick had more than 30 offers when it came to recruitment time — Florida, Louisville and Xavier were just a few of the main contenders.

Shedrick announced his top eight schools in August of last year — Florida, Indiana, Louisville, Providence, Virginia, Wake Forest, Wisconsin and Xavier. Six days later, he announced his final decision to become a Cavalier. Shedrick mentioned the “winning culture” of Virginia and his hopefulness in continuing that notion.

“The coaching staff played a big part in me choosing U.Va.,” Shedrick said. “They were up front … about what I could expect, and I liked that.”

Part of being up front means that Shedrick will possibly be redshirting under Coach Tony Bennett’s “long-range plan.”

“As [Shedrick’s] body fills out, he has a big upside on both ends of the floor,” Bennett told ESPN. From previous interviews, Shedrick seems optimistic towards bulking up and using this season to

adjust, similar to previous redshirts like Jack Salt, Mamadi Diakite and Jay Huff — all of whom played vital roles in the Cavaliers’ 2018-19 campaign. Despite the limitations of red-shirting, Shedrick’s freshman season will definitely be advantageous to his development in future seasons if his growth turns out to be anything like the aforementioned players.

One might presume that the transition from high school to collegiate athletics is daunting, and Shedrick believes nothing different. He suggested that the biggest difference between the two levels is the “intensity in practices.”

“Facing the challenge of guarding guys like Mamadi and Jay every practice is a lot,” Shedrick said.

Despite the challenge, Shedrick seems to be doing just fine. He enjoys spending time with his teammates and commented that his favorite perk of being an athlete is “having a group of guys all around you all the time that you know will have your back.”

Another critical factor in Shedrick’s adjustment was his early

arrival to Virginia to begin practicing and familiarizing himself with the team. Over the summer, Shedrick was able to orient himself with the University as well as get into a routine. Getting used to college isn’t easy for anyone, but the Virginia basketball program has made Shedrick’s college transition smooth.

When asked about his expectations for the upcoming season, Shedrick said the team is “poised to surprise a lot of people,” and that he’s excited for the season to begin.

Undoubtedly, Cavalier fans will be sad to see some faces missing from the court this year. However, the new faces — if anything like Shedrick — surely will not disappoint. While this time the crowd will be a sea of orange and blue of fans from across the state, it won’t take long before the small-town star has Virginia fans cheering his name.

Men’s basketball is scheduled to tip off Nov. 6 at Syracuse at 9 p.m. and will be broadcasted on the ACC Network.

No. 1 men’s soccer headed towards an eighth national title A stingy defense and well-balanced offense have long been the Cavaliers’ keys to success Akhil Rekulapelli | Senior Associate Between 2014 and 2019, much has changed in the realm of Virginia athletics. Men’s basketball went from winning their first ACC championship in almost five decades to winning a national championship. Football has turned from the doormat of the ACC to an ACC Coastal Division contender.

However, for men’s soccer, the winning formula has stayed constant.

Throughout its dominance of collegiate soccer, Virginia has relied on a strong defense combined with an offense with multiple players capable of both playmaking and scoring.

This year, the Cavaliers (9-0-0, 3-0-0 ACC) are led defensively by senior captain and defensive midfielder Robin Afamefuna, freshman defender Andreas Ueland and junior defender Henry Kessler. The three defensive stalwarts have started all nine games for Virginia, with the latter two playing all 813 min-

utes and the former only missing four minutes all season. The trio have led the Cavaliers to eight shutouts in nine matches this season.

In fact, junior goalkeeper Colin Shutler has only had to make an average of 2.22 saves per game, attesting to how impenetrable the Cavalier backline has been. Furthermore, Shutler has faced just 22 shots on goal this season, allowing only one goal in a 3-1 win against Duke.

Looking at the historic 2014 season when the Cavaliers rebounded from a second-round ACC tournament loss and went on to win the program’s eighth national title, it is evident that numerous parallels exist between the defenses of the 2014 and 2019 squads.

In 2014, then-senior goalkeeper Calle Brown posted 3.43 saves per game, which was 130th out of 150 ranked goalkeepers, attesting to the defense’s ability to limit scoring

chances for its opponents. Furthermore, Brown allowed 0.675 goals against average, which was 20th out of 150 goalkeepers.

However, Brown wasn’t the only stand-out in the 2014 Virginia defense. Then-freshman left-back Sheldon Sullivan played all 2174 minutes for the Cavaliers, while his older brother — then-senior right-back Kyler Sullivan — played all but 55 minutes for Virginia. The two were instrumental in helping Virginia secure 11 shutouts in 23 matches, two of which were the final two games of the NCAA tournament.

Returning to the current Virginia squad, the Cavaliers have also shown an adept ability to spread the ball out on the attacking front.

Eleven different players have scored for Virginia this season — five of whom have multiple goals. Furthermore, eight different players have at least one assist, putting an

exclamation point on the attacking strength of the 2019 team.

Sophomore forward Daryl Dike and junior midfielder Joe Bell have been especially excellent for Virginia, with both players posting multiple goals and assists on the season.

Dike has two goals and four assists on the season, showing exceptional footwork inside the 18-yard box, while Bell has been a force in the midfield, picking apart opposing defenses with precision passing.

The 2014 squad similarly boasted a balanced offense, as 12 different Cavaliers scored throughout the season, six of whom had two or more goals. Like Bell, then-junior midfielder Scott Thomsen served as the spark for the Virginia attack throughout its championship run with eight assists during the season.

Overall, in both the 2014 and 2019 seasons, the Cavaliers have combined an efficient and proportional offense with a brick-wall de-

fense in order to win a championship, and in the case of this season, win nine straight matches.

Over his last 24 seasons as head coach, George Gelnovatch has developed a fool-proof formula that has resulted in four ACC championships and two national championships. This year, his dynamic combination of Bell and Dike on the attacking front, as well as Ueland, Kessler, Afamefuna and Shutler on defense has proven to be an integral core of a true contender.

As such, if Gelnovatch and the Cavaliers are able to stick to their laurels in a conference that boasts seven teams in the top 25 and against an increasing pool of talented teams, a national championship is firmly within reach.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 13

SPORTS

No. 1 women’s soccer picks favorite USWNT players Led by Coach Steve Swanson, the undefeated Cavaliers have many ties to the 2019 USWNT Caroline Lund | Senior Associate The U.S. women’s national team generated international buzz with their extraordinary World Cup run this summer in France. A handful of national team stars played at Virginia for Coach Steve Swanson, who also served as an assistant coach on the USWNT. Becky Sauerbrunn, defender and Class of 2007 alumna, Morgan Brian, midfielder and Class of 2014 alumna and Emily Sonnett, defender and Class of 2015 alumna, all took on major roles at Virginia.

While each member of the USWNT deserves recognition, the Virginia women’s soccer team named a few favorites.

Sauerbrunn, the most seasoned of the former Cavaliers, generated a lot of support from the team. Sauerbrunn’s grit and no-nonsense style of play have served the 34-year-old well as she has represented the U.S. in three World Cup tournaments.

“I like her because not only is she a very intelligent and technical player, but she is also a strong leader of both the USWNT's defense and overall team as a whole,” freshman midfielder Emma Dawson said.

Sauerbrunn isn’t interested in taking center stage. Rather, the veteran defender is the team’s backbone, getting the job done and willing to do anything to help her team win. “[Sauerbrunn] seems like an incredible and genuine person,” senior midfielder Zoe Morse said.

“I was so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to train with her once when she visited Charlottesville and saw just how much care she took with her training, as well as the people around her.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Michaela Moran summed up Sauerbrunn’s warrior mentality.

“She’s always a player you can rely on to get the job done,” Moran said. “It isn’t always pretty or perfect, but she gets it done.”

It wasn’t perfect and certainly wasn’t pretty when Sauerbrunn went head-to-head with a Dutch defender in the 2019 World Cup final. The collision left blood streaming down her forehead, but Sauerbrunn reentered what was likely her last World Cup match with a bandage wrapped around her head, determined to keep playing.

Many Cavaliers praised the technical skills of forward Tobin Heath. They admired her creative playstyle, playmaking ability and fancy footwork.

“The way she is able to go [oneon-one] at defenders and beat them nearly every time is incredible to watch,” junior midfielder Sydney Zandi said. “Her footwork is unbelievable, as it allows her to create lots of goal scoring opportunities

for the team.“ Sophomore forward and defender Ashlynn Serepca and senior forward Alissa Gorzak also enjoy watching Heath play.

“I love her creativity on the ball and her work ethic,” Serepca said.

“She is never afraid to take someone [one-on-one] and her ability to score from anywhere is inspiring.”

“I love how energetic she is, her ball skills are incredible and she is one of the most clever players on the team,” Gorzak added.

Midfielder Julie Ertz also gained a lot of votes from the Virginia soccer squad. Multiple players identified Ertz as a someone who is competitive and relentless on the pitch, utilizing every opportunity to score.

“She’s an absolute baller and plays her heart out on the field,” senior forward Megan McCool said.

Sophomore midfielder Alexa Spaanstra added, “She is very versatile, competitive and always finds a way to score.”

Spaanstra was able to relate to Ertz’s experience in moving between positions. ”In college, she was a forward/ midfielder for Santa Clara,” Spaanstra said. “When she first started playing for the national team she was put as a center back and is now playing center mid. My first year in college, I was an outside forward, and now during my second year, I am playing center mid.”

Sophomore midfielder Lauren Hinton also pointed to Ertz’s dedication to giving back. “[She] and her husband recently launched the Ertz Family Foundation that supports youth in sports, school teachers and building community for families that need it the most,” Hinton said. “She also just seems really fun to be around. I like to think we'd be good friends.”

Rose Lavelle made her World Cup debut in France. The Cincinnati native left her mark on the international stage, earning the Bronze Ball — awarded to the thirdbest player in the tournament — and establishing herself as a rising star in women’s soccer. Her beautiful solo effort against the Netherlands produced the final goal of the tournament and cemented the U.S. as world champions.

“She’s young and didn't come from one of the soccer powerhouses but paved her own path,” junior defender Mckenna Angotti said.

“She’s super talented, fast on the dribble and can strike a ball with both feet. She’s very fun to watch.”

“She is also ridiculously creative, especially in and around the 18,” senior defender Phoebe McClernon added. “She is an amazing

COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS

Senior forward Meghan McCool and Virginia women’s soccer celebrate a goal against rival Virginia Tech.

distributor but also is not afraid to be selfish and capitalizes on her opportunities.”

Lavelle plays with a creative flare, and junior midfielder Anna Sumpter said she tries to learn from Lavelle’s unique style of play.

“Her tenacity and creativity going forward with the ball is something I'd like to adopt into my own game, especially being a midfielder myself,” Sumpter said.

The star that generated the most attention this year was Megan Rapinoe. An athlete, activist and fashion icon, Rapinoe captured the hearts of fans across the world with her outspoken personality and unmatched talent. The veteran forward earned the Golden Boot in France this summer and was recently named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.

“She is relentless and extremely creative,” junior midfielder Taryn Torres said. “She loves the game, and it shows when she plays.”

From burying the penalty kick that secured a U.S. victory in the World Cup final to fighting for equal pay, Rapinoe is a national icon on and off the field.

“She is not afraid to make a scene and she is not afraid to stand up for what is right and what needs to be done to make a situation right,” senior defender Courtney Petersen said.

Freshman forward Diana Ordoñez also says Rapinoe is her favorite player “because of how consistent she is in her performance and her ability to execute her role every game.”

“I also love her style off the field and how she dresses day-to-day,”

Ordoñez added.

A Nike athlete, Rapinoe is often seen wearing iconic sneakers paired with similarly fashionable clothing.

Some Virginia players have even played alongside USWNT stars.

Junior goalkeeper Laurel Ivory named defender Tierna Davidson — the youngest member of the women’s national team at 21-yearsold — as her favorite player.

“She is a friend of mine, and I have loved watching her journey through the national teams,” Ivory said. “Playing with her was a privilege and to see her at the biggest stage is so unbelievably encouraging.”

While it’s hard to compare any team to the 2019 USWNT, the Cavaliers have been outstanding this season, outcompeting opponents in every aspect of the game.

Similar to the national team’s performance in the most recent World Cup, Virginia has tallied significant goals and shutout opponents with ease this season. The Cavaliers are second in the NCAA in total goals with 38. Virginia’s 7-0 and 6-0 wins against UC Irvine and Liberty at the start of the season are comparable to the national team’s 13-0 and 3-0 shutouts in the first two games of the World Cup. The USWNT backline certainly took some heat prior to the World Cup, with many skeptical that the defense would hold up through the tournament. But the team overcame expectations to allow just three goals over the course of the World Cup. Similarly, Virginia’s senior captains McClernon and Morse have led a defense that has held opponents to just four goals

this season.

Virginia’s roster is filled with players who have represented the U.S. at the international level, and possibly some who will go on to represent the nation at the highest stage. Ivory was one of 24 players called up for play with the U23 women’s national team at the Thorns Spring Invitational earlier this year. Morse and Torres were also named to the U.S. under-20 women’s national team in 2018. McClernon, Spaanstra and Ivory were added to the Hermann Trophy preseason watch list, an award Morgan Brian received in 2013 and 2014.

Swanson has been incredibly successful as an assistant coach to the USWNT, helping lead the team to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. He recognizes the tremendous impact the 23 national team members have on his Virginia players.

“It gives all our players somebody to watch, somebody to emulate,” Swanson said. “I think when we look at where we were 10 years ago — it was hard to find a televised women’s national team game — to where we are now, and it’s come a long way, and I think we can be educated by them, we can grow from them, we can learn about handling success and failure all those things that come with being world-class athletes.”

14 | www.cavalierdaily.com

SPORTS

Roundtable: Most pressing questions for fall sports Taking a look at what’s to come in fall sports as men’s and women’s soccer remain undefeated CD Sports Staff Virginia fall sports has started the season strong. Football started 4-0 for the first time since 2005 before falling to No. 10 Notre Dame on the road. Volleyball is off to its best start since 2015.

Field hockey is ranked within the top ten in the country. Men’s cross country is ranked.

Men’s and women’s soccer are having historic seasons as both are undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country.

With all this success, it’s time to take a look ahead. The CD sports staff answers the most pressing questions in Virginia sports at the midseason mark.

Which fall sports team has the best shot at bringing Virginia its 28th national championship?

Luke Stievater, Sports Columnist: Women’s soccer has been dominant so far this season, as can be seen by its undefeated record. In 11 games played, the Cavaliers have recorded seven shut-outs and have never allowed more than one goal in a game.

With a stout defense and a balanced offensive attack, they are in a great position to compete for and eventually win a national championship.

Muhammad Amjad, Associate Writer: Men’s soccer is a team with championship pedigree and a body of work that demonstrates the Cavaliers’ strength.

With wins against then-No. 1 Maryland and then-No. 2 Duke — both ACC rivals — this group is ready for any test it might face. Coach George Gelnovatch has brought out the best from sophomore forward Daryl Dike and junior midfielder Joe Bell, but this team’s strength is in its well-rounded play on both sides of the pitch. With such versatility and depth, the Cavaliers may be hoisting their eighth championship trophy later this season.

Chad Whych, Staff Writer: Although field hockey suffered its first home loss to No. 1 North Carolina this past Wednesday, the team is poised for a bounceback title run. Currently ranked No. 5 in the country, the Cavaliers have conceded just 11 goals in nine games played. With a stout defense and powerful home presence, Virginia can use this loss as motivation to top the Tar Heels when they likely meet in the ACC and NCAA tournaments and take home some titles.

Who’s been the most exciting athlete to watch this fall?

LS: Senior wide receiver Joe Reed has been electric both offensively and on special teams.

He leads the team in receiving

EMMA KLEIN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

EMMA KLEIN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS

Virginia women’s soccer, football and field hockey have just three combined losses in 2019.

touchdowns with four and is second in receiving yards with 322.

Throw in his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against William & Mary and it’s evident that his stats are tremendous.

However, what makes him so exciting to watch is that every time the ball is in his hands, you know something amazing could happen.

MA: It’s no accident Virginia has had a historic start to the young football season. The defense deserves a ton of credit, but what senior quarterback Bryce Perkins has been able to do with his arm and his legs has been the difference this season.

He’s shown a level of accuracy and decision-making ability that few quarterbacks in the country possess. He has an array of tools under his bet including downfield throws and designed runs.

This has been crucial for Virginia in a season where the rushing attack and pass protection have not been terrific. No matter what situation, Virginia fans know Perkins can always pull a great play out of his hat — just ask Florida State.

CW: Virginia’s women’s soccer team has a knack for goal scoring. In 2019, the Cavaliers have outscored their opponents by a margin of 38 goals to 4. A new leader of this potent offense has

emerged in freshman forward Diana Ordoñez. She is a true playmaker, leading the team with 10 goals and posting two assists so far this season. Her most exciting attribute, however, is her ability to perform in clutch situations.

She already has three game-winning goals this year, proving that she is a clinical finisher when the game is on the line.

Will women’s soccer remain undefeated?

LS: As touched on above, the women’s soccer team has a solid chance to stay undefeated. Of its seven remaining games, only two come against currently ranked teams — No. 6 Florida State and No. 22 Louisville. Although no game can be overlooked, the rest of the schedule seems to fall in the Cavaliers’ favor. While the postseason will be more difficult, Virginia is championship caliber and can do whatever it takes to win it all.

CW: Oct. 13 is a truly frightening date for the women’s soccer team. The Cavaliers head to Tallahassee, Fla., for an ACC clash against No. 6 Florida State.

This is the only meeting which has true upset potential for the Cavaliers. The Seminoles have yet to lose a home game and have an average fan attendance of almost 7,000 at the Seminole Soccer Complex. This will be a

daunting road test for Virginia and perhaps the team’s first loss of the season.

MA: It’s possible — but not likely. We’re in the thick of ACC play which means the teams who know us best are itching to knock off the top-ranked Cavaliers. On a game-by-game basis, Virginia is capable of going undefeated.

However, as attrition sets in and underdogs like Boston College and Louisville play with little to lose, the threat of Virginia’s first loss looms large.

What’s your boldest prediction for the remainder of the fall sports season?

LS: The football team will make a New Year’s Six Bowl and win it — making it one of the biggest wins in program history.

After the Notre Dame loss, Virginia will run the table, win the ACC Coastal and face Clemson in the ACC Championship. Although the Cavaliers will likely lose against arguably the best team in the country, they will earn a bid to a New Year’s Six Bowl, after finishing 11-2. They will then defeat one of the top teams in the country to once and for all prove that Virginia football is back.

MA: Field hockey will be a final four team this season. The team has had a resurgence following a disappointing 2018 sea-

son and have a strong record to show for it. With wins against perennial powerhouses — Penn State and Maryland — Virginia has likely played its toughest opponents already and played exceptionally well. The attacking core of freshman striker Laura Janssen, junior striker Makayla Gallen and senior back Anzel Viljoen lead a star-studded group that’s hungry for its first championship. The only challenge for a deep tournament run will be inexperience.

CW: Virginia football will defeat Virginia Tech by three touchdowns or more — bringing the Commonwealth Cup back to Charlottesville for the first time in fifteen years. Virginia has outscored its opponents 161-107 through four games this season.

Virginia Tech, on the other hand, has struggled to produce at home.

The Hokies survived a close game against FCS opponent Furman two weeks ago and lost to Duke by 35 points last week. Given their disappointing play on their own home turf, the Hokies will likely struggle in Charlottesville in November.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 15

OPINION LEAD EDITORIAL

Reinstate the Alternative Sanction Working Group The Committee must consider community input before ending efforts to reform the single sanction system

I

n the spring of 2016, a referendum to allow the use of a multi-sanction system in Honor trials was 2 percent shy of reaching the 60 percent threshold for passing. This close vote gave momentum to representatives who wanted to craft new sanctioning policies to replace single sanction. Much of this research took place in the Alternative Sanction Working Group, a committee within Honor that considered potential replacement options for the current single sanction policy. In 2018, some in the Honor Committee floated the idea of creating a non-binding poll with potential options for a multi-sanction system to be voted on during student elections.

While Honor did not follow through with the poll, the Alternative Sanction Working Group continued into the spring until

after student elections when the newly elected Honor Committee decided not to renew it. We emphatically disagree with the decision to do so and believe the working group must be reinstated.

To justify the working group’s disbandment, Lillie Lyon, a fourth-year college student and Chair of the Honor Committee, gave two reasons as to why the working group was suspended in an interview with The Cavalier Daily news team.

The first reason she provided was that the working group had achieved its goal. However, it is unclear to us whether this is actually the case given no viable alternative sanction has been voted on or proposed. It is hard to conceive of a working group completing its mission if exactly no concrete change was derived

from its work. Disbanding the working group without releasing any findings, putting an alternative up for a vote or giving substantive reasoning for why alternative sanctions are unworkable call into question how exactly the working group completed its goal.

Secondly, Lyon noted in her interview that Honor would be redirecting their efforts into new projects such as their upcoming “Popular Assembly,” which in her words “will provide great opportunities for us to discuss the current state of the Honor System and garner input on the Honor System from the student body.” We certainly agree that, as an incredibly important committee on Grounds, Honor should be making every effort to gather input from the community. However, the election in which a clear

majority voted to overturn single sanction is probably the strongest input the community could give into what they believe Honor should be focusing on.

Ending the working group also limits Honor’s ability to tackle deeply ingrained inequities within the single sanction system. As last semester’s Honor Bicentennial report revealed, some minority groups are disproportionately penalized under the single sanction policy. To tackle this complex problem, alternative sanctions should be part of the discussion.

Single sanction is a divisive subject, but it cannot be ignored that the current system is severely flawed. Investigating alternatives and presenting them to the student body for a vote is a much more democratic way to preserve the University’s historical com-

mitment to student self-governance. By ending the Alternative Sanction Working Group, the Honor Committee has taken away one incredibly important tool to combat some very serious inequities that exist within the sanctioning system. It is time for the Committee to step up to the plate and reinstate the working group, both the University community and the minority groups disparately impacted by the single sanction will thank them for it.

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.

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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.

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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 Victoria McKelvey 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 Nik Popli Jenn Brice (SA) Ali Sullivan Sports Editors Zach Zamoff Vignesh Mulay (SA) Caroline Lund (SA) Akhil Rekulapelli Life Editors Pauline Povitsky Elise Kim 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) Victoria McKelvey Humor Editor Ben Miller Cartoon Editor Walter Sharon

Production Editors Carolyn Lane Nikita Sivakumar Ankit Agrawal Graphics Editors Lauren Mohan Tyra Krehbiel (SA) Emma Hitchcock Photography Editors Riley Walsh Emma Klein (SA) Sophie Roehse (SA) Ariana Gueranmayeh Video Editor Bailey Vaughn Emily Dhue Social Media Managers Libby Scully Sierra Krug Translation Editors Edward Contreras Sylvia Wang Finance Manager Malcolm Mashig Business Manager Kelly Mays

16 | www.cavalierdaily.com

OPINION

EXTEND COLLEGE DROP DEADLINE C

ollege is known to be a time for students to explore academic interests, especially for first- and second-year students who have not yet decided on their major. As such, many students will enroll in classes as a way of figuring out if they wish to further pursue academic interests in that area of study. If they decide that it is not something they wish to do, they are able to drop the class from their schedule. However, the current deadline to drop a class in the College of Arts and Sciences does not allow for students to effectively explore different academic areas.

This year, classes started on Tuesday, Aug. 27, while the deadline to drop a class in the College was only two weeks later, on Sept.

10 — the same two-week deadline we see every semester. Allowing students only two weeks to decide whether or not to continue a class is not long enough, especially as grades for many classes are not really available until after this deadline. The School of Engineering already has a longer deadline — their drop deadline is October 15. The College needs to follow in the footsteps of the School of

Engineering and extend this drop deadline to this later date, allowing students more time to decide if they want to keep a class on their schedule Hunter Hess, a fellow Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily, wrote a column a few weeks ago about instituting a shopping week for classes, discussing how he realized that many of the classes he had signed up for were simply not

variety of different classes, which is only possible if we provide more time to explore a class before a student is required to decide on whether or not to drop it.

Moreover, many courses don’t have enough grades in the gradebook during the first two weeks to enable a student to gauge their academic performance in the class. In my own experience this year, there were only a few small

to dedicate enough time to — however, they are not able to drop the class, as the drop deadline is before the first exam.

After the drop deadline passes, students do have the opportunity to get rid of a class on their schedule by withdrawing from the class within the first eight weeks of the semester. This, however, would show up negatively on a student’s transcript, which discourages

The current deadline to drop a class in the College of Arts and Sciences does not allow for students to effectively explore different academic areas. for him. This is the experience that so many students at the University have, especially younger students who are still deciding on a major. Searching for what they want to do, they enroll in a variety of classes in different areas. We expect students to be able to explore interests in college and to make a future career path based on what academic areas spark their interest. In order to really allow for this, students must be able to sample a

homework grades in by this drop deadline, with most major exam or project grades coming later in the semester. If a student is attempting to decide whether they can handle the class and whether they are able to devote enough time to it with their schedule, they need more than two weeks of exposure to the material before making that judgement. Students may decide after the first exam that the class is not something they will be able

many students from using this option. Students may decide to stay enrolled in a class in a field that they do not wish to pursue further simply because they do not want a “W” on their transcript. Remaining in these classes can have harmful effects on a student’s GPA and affect a student’s ability to devote time to other classes that are possibly of greater importance to a student’s future. Remaining enrolled in a class that a student has already

decided against pursuing does not benefit the student or the University in any way.

Students should be encouraged by the University to seek out new paths and explore different academic areas — this early deadline only discourages academic exploration. Attending the first two weeks of a class does not provide a student with a good indication of what the rest of the semester may yield. The University is asking students to make a decision on a class that, after two weeks, may have only met on four occasions.

We should be providing students with the tools necessary to make informed decisions on their majors and on their future career paths.

Extending the deadline for dropping classes by a few more weeks would provide students with enough information to make these decisions about their future at the University.

ZACK PASCIAK is an Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

ABOLISH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR THE RICH O

ver the weekend, The Cavlier Daily broke the story that the University’s administration was deploying resources to aid applicants connected to wealthy donors. A similar incident occurred in 2017, when it was revealed the University had a “headsup” list of individuals for them to look out for and give special treatment during the application process.

In the aftermath of the 2017 scandal, Student Council commissioned a laughable report that came to no conclusions. The problem was then shelved when then-Student Council President Sarah Kenny said the scandal was not a priority for her administration. It is unclear what actions, if any will come of this newest revelation, but The Cavalier Daily’s recent findings are just one example of a much bigger problem in the higher education landscape in this country that tips the scale in favor of a rich — largely white — elite.

Examples of the rich buying their way into prestigious colleges have been made common knowledge following reporting on the “Varsity Blues” scandal, but there are several legal policies, such as legacy admissions, connections to donors and athletic status that disproportionately help wealthy

applicants.

One particularly egregious example of preferential treatment for the rich occurs at Harvard University, arguably the most prestigious institution in the United States. There, 43 percent of all white students were either connected to Harvard through donors, legacy status or athletics.

One analysis concluded that with-

the size of preferences for underrepresented minority applicants,” which puts into perspective exactly how much help well-off applicants get during this process.

Advantages for the wealthy in the college admissions cycle unfortunately do not end there. At many struggling private colleges that have been facing low enrollment numbers, lower achieving

ily income of the student who is taking it and are a worse predictor of college success than high school grade point averages. Additionally, rich families can pay for armies of tutors, professional essay writers and expensive extracurriculars to help craft an application that will look appealing to admissions offices at prestigious school.

Given this landscape, it is not

By catering so brazenly to the well-connected, the University is failing to serve as a vehicle of upward mobility for the underserved in the Commonwealth.

out these advantages, only 14 percent of this overwhelmingly white group of students would have been admitted based on their academic credentials. Moreover, these estimates also find that white legacy and athlete admits have a much higher acceptance rate (34 and 87 percent) to Harvard than African-Americans (13.2 percent) and Harvard’s cumulative 4.9 percent acceptance rate.

Speaking more broadly, a study from researchers at Princeton University found that, “admission bonuses for athletes and legacies rival, and sometimes even exceed,

wealthy students are given preferential treatment due to their ability to pay full tuition rates. This financing system unfortunately often elevates rich and disproportionately white applicants for no other reasons aside from the fact that they are able to afford it over more qualified and often minority, low-income students.

Even without preferential treatment in the admissions process, the entire way students are admitted to colleges in the United States is stacked in favor of the wealthy. Success on standardized tests is highly correlated with fam-

surprising that less than one percent of children from the bottom fifth of the income distribution attend prestigious colleges, compared to around one in four rich children. It is also important to note that whites make up 82 percent of the top 1 percent of earners in the United States.

And while it is not particularly surprising that many private universities have preferential admissions, what is so troubling about the recent revelations regarding the University is that it is happening at a public institution. As a public college, that receives state

dollars, U.Va. is meant to serve the whole public, not just the richest among us. By catering so brazenly to the well-connected, the University is failing to serve as a vehicle of upward mobility for the underserved in the Commonwealth.

But don’t take my word for it, the data shows that 67 percent of all University students come from the top 20 percent, the median family income of a student here is $155,500 a year and a relatively low percentage of pell grant recipients study at U.Va. Because the educational landscape is so clearly tilted toward the well off, it is important that prestigious public colleges like the University must ask themselves seriously who they really want to serve. The administration should be mindful that having a watch list and any other programs that disproportionately serve the wealthy more generally, are yet another signal for the poor kid — who already probably views the University as an elite institution — that U.Va. is not really a place for people like them.

JACOB ASCH is the Executive Editor for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at j.asch@cavalierdaily. com.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 17

HUMOR Dream big, they said Since a young age, I’ve been told to dream big because “anything is possible.” If we try hard enough and put our best foot forward, our biggest and brightest dreams can come true! Right?

This idea has been ingrained in my mind and the minds of many others, I’m sure. We hear it from our parents, teachers, mentors, friends’ parents, preachers, celebrities, etc. that the only limit is our imagination in what we can dream and thus achieve. In a world rife with discord, most everyone seems to agree on this one big idea. The repetition of this simple phrase so frequently by so many people made it seem like fact. And for about 18 years it almost seemed realistic to me too, until I came to the University.

I started having suspicions shortly after starting my first

year here, and with the furthering of time, my greatest fears have only been proven true. It all started when I moved into Tuttle-Dunnington, one of the most plush and palatial dorms on Grounds, just a mere 12 months ago. I had to share a room with someone for the first time in my first-year dorm. It was not a horrible experience, my roommate was pretty chill, but I blame her for shattering the validity of this mantra. I’m not sure that she exactly tore down the smokescreen of my youthful indiscretion, but it was through her that I slowly came to see the light.

As we grew closer as roommates, I learned more about her, and thus more about myself. As an incoming first-year I was bombarded with well-intentioned advice about how to build a good relationship with

my roommate, and the one that was at the center of them all was good communication. We shared our own hopes and dreams, each hoping to shoot for the stars someday. We shared the small irritants that ruffled our feathers and hoped that they would be well-received as parts of who we were. At night, we would say goodnight, even if one of us would be grinding hard until the wee hours of the morning.

Sometimes in the morning, we would share our dreams from the previous night. It became a nice routine for us, one of familiarity that helped to make Virginia feel more like home, and for that I am grateful. Unfortunately, it was through this giving and receiving and having and sharing that we had and gave and received and shared that I learned not everyone can dream big, or should

dream at all.

My roommate would wake up in the morning excited by her dreams. Not her metaphorical dreams for the future or whatever, but the series of thoughts, images and sensations occurring in her mind during sleep. She would have these fantastically outrageous dreams where she would be whisked away on the back of a dragon by Mamadi Diakite.

Other times, she would deep sea dive without a snorkel and find the entrance to nirvana tucked away in Squidward’s right nostril. Whatever the scenario, the night before, my roommate had undoubtedly dreamed big, and I had not. I started keeping my REM sleep ramblings to myself after getting a look of pity after detailing my dream of having petting a friendly calico cat outside of Alderman Library.

CARTOON An easy mistake Walter Sharon | Cartoon Editor

With time, I have come to accept that, contradictory to popular belief, not everyone can dream big, or at least not in the literal sense. Yes, I do still believe that everyone can aspire to achieve their goals, but I think that John Lennon should have been clearer about which type of dreamers he was referring to in his classic song “Imagine”. Of course, I can “dream big” but my dreams are not larger than life, they could be adequately described as unextraordinary. Hard work does not alter the ability of my subconscious, and that should have been specified.

RILEY POWER is a Humor Columnist at The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at humor@cavalierdaily.com.

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The Cavalier Daily

HEALTH & SCIENCE Facilities Management aims to keep recycling clean University seeks to keep recyclables uncontaminated for eco-focused waste management Lucie Rutherford | Senior Associate Editor Each year, thousands of University students occupy both onand off-Grounds housing options.

From morning K-cups to lunchtime to-go boxes and plastic water bottles to endless Amazon package deliveries, trash builds up quickly.

When it comes to certain days like move-in and move-out, dumpsters are constantly reaching their maximum capacity. To keep the endless disposals of the University at bay, University staff such as Nina Morris, sustainability outreach and engagement manager, and Sonny Beale, recycling superintendent for the University Academic and Health Systems, work behind the scenes to keep the University environmentally focused. For offGrounds residents, recycling options are not as available.

The University currently recycles aluminum and other metals, cardboard, electronics, glass of all colors, various plastics and white and mixed office paper, as well as E-cycling items such as batteries.

In order to separate the products, the University has decided to steer away from single-stream recycling — in which all trash is combined and sent out in collection trucks together — and instead separates it themselves. The reason behind this lies in the importance of cleanliness of the recyclables to ensure their re-use.

“We are fortunate to have an amazing team within Facilities Management that collects and hand-sorts U.Va.’s recycling to help make sure the recycling we collect is high quality and can be turned back into usable products,” Morris said. “It’s important that all recyclables are rinsed and properly sorted so we can ensure materials are truly recycled.”

According to reports from material recovery facilities, contamination due to commingling of recyclables, also known as single-stream recycling, is what many times sends materials straight to the landfill. Sonoco Recycling, the University’s contracted vendor for collecting recyclables, is more able to convert materials into new products when there is little contamination, such as broken glass or wet paper. This is important when it comes down to how much trash the University community puts out.

Each month, the University as a whole produces 34 to 36 bales of recycling measuring 30 inches by 36 inches by 60 inches in size. Once filled with recyclables, these bales

EMMA KLEIN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

The University has steered away from single-stream recycling — instead, Facilities Management sorts through recycling themselves.

are sent out to separate facilities.

Aluminum bales weigh 350 pounds each, plastic bales weigh 750 pounds and steel can bales weigh 900 pounds. In addition, two tons of cardboard is collected around Grounds each day.

For those not living onGrounds, recycling throughout off-Grounds is not as centralized, due to the fact that apartments and houses are owned by many different companies. According to CBS Rentals, a popular off-Grounds housing company, recycling is not available to residents. Beale claims that recycling for companies is getting harder due to today’s current economy.

According to Beale, the issue hindering the recycling process is due to the fact that the market value of recyclables has been on a continuous decline. For many companies, the cost of collecting and processing recyclables outweighs the money they receive in return from recycling collectors.

“If you're willing to pay a couple bucks extra a month, [rental companies] have no reason to say no,”

Beale said. “A lot of students are very questionable about why their apartment isn’t recycling, and I don't think many people think about what it costs.”

Second-year Kaylie Puccinelli has lived in Dovecote, a CBS rental property, since August.

“I think CBS gives us the option to recycle cardboard, but besides that there are not any other recycling options,” Puccinelli said. “It is frustrating because there is nowhere off-Grounds to recycle, and I wish there were more options.”

According to a past Cavalier Daily article, Recycling on vs. off Grounds: What’s the Difference?, students living in non-recycling apartments have the option to sign up for free recycling through the City of Charlottesville, though lack of curb space makes this difficult.

Since Beale has been working at the University, the University’s recycling team has won 19 awards, both locally and nationally. Though great strides towards a greener Grounds have been made, Beale and Morris both believe that

much improvement can still be made in educating the University community about what and how to recycle.

“The more U.Va. departments and our community understand the importance of recycling and how and where to recycle, the less U.Va. will send to the landfill,” Morris said.

Despite his belief that greater awareness is needed throughout the community, Beale has seen major improvements throughout his years in the recycling department.

“In the past 10 years, I've seen a major increase of awareness and people wanting to do the right thing,” Beale said. “Over the past five years, that has increased at least twice.”

The idea of repurposing materials is something that Beale wishes more people throughout not only the University and Charlottesville need to start paying more attention to but also the world.

“We're capturing the materials before they go to landfill, but we should be focusing more on slowing down the purchase,” Beale said.

“Society in general is so consumerized and commercialized. The first time something comes out new, people have to go run out and buy it, and then they've got this still good product that they have to find a new home for.”

To lessen the University’s carbon footprint, Beale and his team have implemented both the ROSE Program and ReUSE Store to repurpose anything from staplers and printer cartridges to desk chairs and filing cabinets.

Both of these programs are based out of the University’s recycling office on Leake Drive and is open to the Charlottesville community in addition to the University.

With these programs, Beale aims to minimize the presence of useful supplies in landfills.

“More and more people are really thinking about our environment or thinking about the economic benefits of not landfilling materials, and how things can be repurposed,” Beale said.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 19

HEALTH & SCIENCE

BEATDiabetes program created to assist Type 2 diabetics Dr. Susan Blank uses text messaging platform to combat the disease epidemic and help diabetics with lifestyle choices Swati Srivastava | Senior Writer Susan Blank, Class of 1995 alumna and endocrinologist has recently created a motivational text messaging program, BEATDiabetes, to help patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes make lifestyle changes that helps them manage the disease — and do so at a potentially lower cost than pharmaceutical options of a similar efficacy.

The program provides tips and motivation to patients outside the clinic and encourages them to regularly make healthy lifestyle choices, ultimately improving their prognosis. Blank hopes that BEATDiabetes will help those in areas with limited access to healthcare and plans to partner with employers to be able to offer the program as part of employee wellness programs.

While working as an endocrinologist, Blank noticed a pattern among her patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

“I was trying to figure out ways to support [patients] between visits,” Blank said. “As a doctor, I would see somebody every three or four months and ... I would think that we're both on the same page ... and then they would go back into their regular lives and gradually go back to what they were doing before.”

She became concerned and wanted to help her patients make the choice to lead a healthier lifestyle. After reading an article about how text messaging helped pre-diabetic patients avoid becoming diabetic in India, she was inspired to use texting as a platform to help her patients. Her additional interest in behavioral economics was the third major ingredient that led to the development of BEATDiabetes.

The program consists of text messages and financial incentives for participating patients. Patients begin the process by signing up online or on paper and answer a questionnaire about their individual condition and preferences for the program. The information from the questionnaire is used to personalize messages — such as ensuring that a disabled patient does not receive a text reminder to take a walk — and to schedule custom messages, such as inspirational song lyrics, Blank explained.

Patients receive text message tips about three to five times a week. Some examples of these texts include saying to fill half your plate with vegetables or to drink water before meals to feel fuller. Patients can opt to receive more reminders for things such

as checking blood sugar or taking medications.

“The hard part about diabetes is you just make so many choices in the course of your day about what you eat, how much you eat [and] how much you move,” Blank said. Because of this, she said, it seems helpful to remind patients once in a while about healthy choices to make.

Another problem Blank mentioned is the lack of motivation in many Type 2 diabetes patients due to the lack of major health consequences for 10 to 20 years.

This apathy commonly found in many patients led Blank to add financial incentives to the program in order to further encourage patients to make lifestyle changes.

One example involves lowering hemoglobin-A1C, a protein quantified in diabetes patients as a measure of blood sugar levels. If patients can lower their A1C by one point or lower it to the target of seven while in the program, they are entered for a $1,000 drawing.

In order to confirm the patients’ progress, the BEATDiabetes program has access to patients’ clinical records with their consent on a release of information form.

The information is analyzed for awarding financial prizes as well as to shift text messages if patients start to show signs of improving their condition.

Blank first launched the program in the fall of 2017 and ran a one-year pilot with 44 Charlottesville patients who were identified as being part of a high-risk population with an average A1C of 9.3.

Blank explained that the pilot also included financial incentives to patients. She wanted to determine if adding this feature to the program would be a beneficial choice at larger scales.

According to Blank, the average A1C of patients in the program for 12 months decreased by 0.8. For reference, she said that studies have shown that a one point drop in A1C is associated with a 37 percent reduction in microvascular complications and a 21 percent reduction in diabetes-related death.

After the successful pilot, Blank applied to the iLab’s Incubator program — a program that provides resources and mentorship to start-up ventures. Jason Brewster, director of the Incubator program, explained why Blank and her program seemed promising.

“What she found is that the outcomes [of providing financial incentives] could be as good

RILEY WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Dr. Susan Blank offers affordable assistance to patients with Type 2 diabetes.

or better, dollar-for-dollar, than somebody taking medicine," Brewster said.

According to Brewster, this finding and the pilot’s success were indicators of a good fit for the Incubator program.

“Once you have early indications of success, then our program is very good at helping you figure out what you need to do next, [and] how you start thinking about this around scale and support,” Brewster said.

Blank said that she found the program helpful from the perspective of someone outside of business and further added that she enjoyed working with others like her who were facing similar struggles with their start-ups.

“Along with the personal relationships with mentors and fellow participants, I think my main takeaway was a framework to think about entrepreneurship,” Blank said.

Blank decided to make BEATDiabetes a non-profit organization, with current funding coming mostly from grants. Patients do not have to pay any fees to participate, as she wanted to target those who may be facing financial hardships and are not able to afford expensive medicines to manage their diabetes. In the future, she hopes to receive government funding, as well as include her program as a part of employer wellness programs offered by companies.

In terms of the future outlook of the program, Blank hopes that it can help bring care and attention to patients with little access to healthcare.

"I think especially for patients who have limited access to care, who live in rural areas, telehealth, text messaging … anything that you can use to help reach patients who may not otherwise have any access to care is super helpful," Blank said.

Brewster also expressed high hopes for Blank and BEATDiabetes, saying that entrepreneurial success relies on “who you are, what you know and who you know” and that Blank exemplifies the interweaving of these qualities in her program.

“She's a physician, she's classically trained, she knows the problems, the indicators, the complications of diabetes,” Brewster said. “And she knows how people can improve their lives — people who are diabetics or pre-diabetics,” he continued.

Harrison Professor of Medicine and endocrinologist Ananda Basu, who works at the Center for Diabetes Technology at the School of Medicine, also said that the program is a good approach that leverages the power of technology to help patients.

The CDT consists of faculty as well as biomedical engineers who do research and come up with technological solutions — such as the artificial pancreas — to help

patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Basu also expressed concern over patients’ ability to afford treatment options, including technological devices such as glucose monitors that have been shown to be effective in multiple studies. According to Basu, insurance coverage is the single largest limiting factor for patients.

“I see that the majority of my patients don’t have insurance or are on Medicaid or Medicare or are on financial assistance,” Basu said. “And the majority of my patients cannot afford these simple technological devices just because they have to pay a large amount out of pocket.”

In this vein, Basu said that a program like BEATDiabetes could be very powerful, saying that all diabetes patients could benefit from lifestyle changes.

"The hope for the program is, if you do it for a year, that these changes become habits,” Blank said. “And we had one lady who told us, 'Now I'm even checking my blood sugar before I get the text message.' And that's what you want to see, that it becomes routine and habit and even when you take away the prompts and even when you take away the extra motivation of money, that people will continue on that same trajectory."

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