Vol. 129, Issue 11
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
SPLIT RESULTS
RICHARD DIZON, OLIVIA RINALDI, AISHA SINGH AND MADDY SITA | THE CAVALIER DAILY
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In Brief
NEWS
CD News Staff
Two amendments passed on Election Day Voters in Virginia overwhelmingly approved the two state constitutional amendments on the ballot Nov 6. The first amendment question on the ballot — which authorizes the provision of partial tax exemption for property which has undergone flood resiliency improvements — was approved by 70 percent of voters with about 99 percent of precincts reporting. The second amendment — authorizing property tax exemption on the primary residence for the surviving spouse of a veteran who sustained a fully service-related disability even if they relocate their primary residence — was supported by 84 percent of voters with 98 percent of precincts reporting. The Constitution of Virginia generally requires that
all property must be taxed. It allows for specific instances of property tax exemption, such as localities granting partial exemption from real estate taxes to incentivize property owners to significantly improve existing structures by rebuilding, rehabilitating or replacing them. The Constitution of Virginia also formerly requires the General Assembly to exempt from taxation the primary residence of a veteran who has, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, sustained a 100 percent service-related permanent and total disability. This property tax exemption is granted to the surviving spouse of such a veteran so long as they continue to occupy that property as their primary residence.
COURTESY FLICKR / PENN STATE NEWS
Both Virginia constitutional amendments passed Nov. 6 with large majorities.
Peabody Hall undergoes renovations
ANDREW WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY
The University has begun scheduled renovations for Peabody Hall, closing the office for at least six weeks. The hall has served as the home for the Office of Admissions and the Office of the Dean of Students for nearly 20 years. Dean of Admission Greg Roberts said in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily that while it has been a good fit for the admissions team, the look and feel of the interior of the building have grown tired and dated. “Prospective student and guest expectations for the Grounds visit experience have changed over time
and we wanted to provide a fresh, warm and friendly environment for our visitors,” Roberts said. The additions to the building will also improve technological capabilities and add better design flow to the building. Roberts also added that the renovations will increase the size of the auditorium to accommodate more guests for information sessions. The renovation is expected to cost $250,000 and will conclude in January 2019, according to Deputy University Spokesperson Wesley Hester.
Peabody Hall will undergo a $250,000 renovation that will end in January 2019.
Student Council passes resolution in support of Jewish community after Pittsburgh shootings Alex Cintron, a fourth-year College student and Student Council president, began the Oct. 30 Student Council general body meeting with a moment of silence for the 11 victims of a massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh Saturday, when an armed gunman opened fire on a Jewish congregation. Student Council went on to unanimously pass a resolution stating its support for the Jewish community both at the University and worldwide. The resolution also encourages students to participate in the upcoming Week of Reflection and Response hosted by the Jewish Leadership Council, which has included
events such as a letter writing campaign to the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and fundraising for the Tree of Life Synagogue. The resolution passed the representative body with a vote of 25 in favor, none opposed and two abstentions. Student Council also approved a resolution opposing the University’s decision to schedule third-year class registration on Election Day this year. The bill also calls upon the administration to refrain from scheduling undergraduate classes on election day in future years.
GEREMIA DI MARO | THE CAVALIER DAILY
Fourth Year Trustees President Galen Green addressed Student Council Oct. 30.
Honor Committee begins compiling key cases of its history, announces two not guilty verdicts
ANGEL MONROE | THE CAVALIER DAILY
Honor Committee Chair Ory Streeter presided over the meeting Nov. 4.
The Honor Committee met Nov. 4 to discuss the upcoming Bicentennial report and announced that the Committee has delivered two not guilty verdicts to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The first was found not guilty on four counts of cheating, while the second was acquitted on two counts. The Bicentennial report announced in early October is planned for release during the Spring semester of 2019. It will feature the stories of cases which were landmarks in the development of the Honor System and will include an analysis of their impact upon the body and the University. The report — a summary of the committee’s activities since its founding in 1842 — is a component of
the 200-year reflective celebration of the University’s establishment. Notable cases the Committee intends to incorporate in the Bicentennial report include the 1971 “Coke case” concerning a student who was expelled following the theft of two soda cans from a broken vending machine. After the ensuing public outcry at the student’s dismissal, the Honor Committee reconsidered the case and overturned its verdict the following day. The “Coke case” raised questions about the role of the Honor system’s single-sanction policy.
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www.cavalierdaily.com • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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Democrats take House, Republicans hold Senate At press time, some races had not yet been called CD News Staff Democrats have won control of the House of Representatives while Republicans have kept control of the Senate in the 2018 midterm elections. Democrats picked up 23 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans won three new seats in the U.S. Senate, as of press time — approximately 12:46 a.m. Wednesday. Below is a compilation of some of the most notable races from the midterm elections. These races affected politics both at the state and national levels, and included historical firsts, including the first Native American woman and the first Muslim women elected to the House of Representatives. In Virginia In Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District — which includes U.Va. and Charlottesville — Republican nominee Denver Riggleman beat Demo-
cratic nominee Leslie Cockburn with 54 percent of the vote. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine won re-election against Republican nominee Corey Stewart with nearly 57 percent of the vote. In Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District, Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger beat Republican Rep. Dave Brat with 49.7 percent of the vote. Virginia’s Seventh District stretches across much of central Virginia, including Richmond’s surrounding suburbs. In Virginia’s Second Congressional District, Democratic nominee Elaine Luria beat Republican nominee Scott Taylor with 51 percent of the vote. The district includes Virginia Beach, Williamsburg and portions of Norfolk and Hampton. In Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District, Republican Rep. Ben Cline
beat Democratic nominee Jennifer Lewis with approximately 60 percent of the vote. The Sixth District encompasses Roanoke, Lynchburg and most of the Shenandoah Valley. In Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, Democratic State Sen. Jennifer Wexton beat Republican incumbent representative Barbara Comstock with 55 percent of the vote. The district is primarily suburban areas of Washington D.C in northern Virginia –– including Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun county, the cities of Manassas and Winchester and parts of Fairfax and Prince William Counties. Nationally-publicized races In the Texas senatorial race, Republican Senator Ted Cruz beat Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke with 51.1 percent of the vote. O’Rourke’s popularity indicated the possibility of Texas flipping from a red state to a blue, a
phenomenon that garnered national attention. In Florida’s gubernatorial race, Republican nominee Ron DeSantis beat Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum with 49.9 percent of the vote. This race gained national attention because of the fierce competition of the two candidates, who disagreed on nearly every topic, and racist comments from DeSantis. In Georgia’s gubernatorial race, Republican nominee Brian Kemp beat Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams with 52.7 percent of the vote. With a Democratic victory, Abrams would have been the first African-American woman to hold a governorship in the nation. Historic firsts In New Mexico’s First Congressional District, Democratic nominee Deborah Haaland beat Republican
nominee Janice Arnold-Jones with 60 percent of the vote. Haaland is the first Native American woman in American history to be elected to the House of Representatives. In Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District, Democratic nominee Ilhan Omar beat Republican nominee Jennifer Zielinski with 78.5 percent of the vote. Omar is one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, along with Rashida Tlaib. Omar, a Somali refugee, immigrated to America over 20 years ago. In Michigan’s Thirteenth Congressional District, Democratic nominee Rashida Tlaib beat Working Class candidate Sam Johnson with 91.1 percent of the vote. Michigan’s Thirteenth Congressional District includes the city of Detroit and its suburbs.
U.Va. community responds to midterm election results Students, community members share their thoughts after attending viewing parties for Virginia campaigns CD News Staff After a national Democratic win in the House of Representatives and Republican win in the U.S. Senate, students gave feedback about local race results at election watch parties. In Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District, Republican nominee Denver Riggleman beat Democratic nominee Leslie Cockburn with 54 percent of the vote. At the state level, Democratic Senator and incumbent Tim Kaine won his re-election bid by securing 57 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Corey Stewart. The Fifth Congressional District encompasses the cities of Charlottesville and Danville, and includes Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Prince Edward and Rappahannock counties. Cockburn, Riggleman and the University Democrats held watch parties for the midterm election Tuesday night in Charlottesville and surrounding areas. Riggleman viewing party Riggleman’s campaign held its viewing party at Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton — 30 minutes west of Charlottesville — Thursday night where about 150 supporters gathered to watch election results come in. After the victory, many of Riggleman’s supporters said in interviews that his victory was hard-earned and more decisive than had been anticipated. “We’re pretty elated, we put a lot of work into this,” said Adam Kimelman, vice chair of campaigns for the College Republicans and a fourth-year College student. “It definitely seems like we did better than we thought we would in Albemarle County and Charlottesville.” Robert Andrews, chair of the College Republicans and a fourth-year College student, said Riggleman’s victory
was accomplished despite a number of limitations facing his campaign. “It’s extremely gratifying, we’re incredibly excited for Denver’s victory,” Andrews said. “He overcame a lot of significant obstacles, not getting in the race until June, being outfunded … I think it serves to the type of individual he is that so many people wanted to give their time and volunteer for this campaign.” Riggleman raised $1.4 million and has spent $976,505, according to federal campaign finance reports filed in October, compared to the over $2.7 million Cockburn’s campaign raised since she declared her candidacy last July. The average contribution for Riggleman’s campaign was $1,291 — nearly triple Cockburn’s $441. “We were confident this would be the result,” Andrews added. “However, we couldn't be complacent, we knew there was a lot of energy coming from the Democratic base so we were going to have to put a lot of effort to hedge against that.” Charlottesville area resident Dan Moy said he supported Riggleman's campaign due to his independent mindset and stated willingness to break with the Republican Party if necessary. “I think what we really need are independent-thinking leaders,” Moy said. “Because the electorate feels that once people get to Washington, they tend to just fall in line with whatever the leadership is telling them to do. I think it is important … that he keeps that focus and that center so that when he’s advocating issues on Capitol Hill, he remembers who sent them there.” Frank Vretos, an Albemarle County resident and a 1973 graduate of the Col-
lege, said Riggleman’s willingness to go against mainstream conservatives would serve as a valuable asset for promoting bipartisanship in the House of Representatives. “I think we need to have dialogue, and I think we need to make the right decisions,” Vretos said. “I absolutely do not believe [in] party lines on anything … I like the fact that he's [Riggleman] willing to cross the aisle to talk to Democrats, and I think he will be very successful in Congress because of that.” In 2014, 32,824 voters turned out for the congressional elections in Albemarle County — 15,581 of whom voted Republican, while 15,686 voted Democratic. In this year’s elections, 53,279 voted in the congressional elections in the County — 18,788 of whom voted Republican, while 34,372 voted Democratic. In the City of Charlottesville, 10,650 individuals voted in the congressional elections in 2014, — 2,404 of whom voted Republican, while 7,657 voted Democratic. In this year’s elections, 17,850, with nine out of ten precincts reporting, voted in the congressional elections in the City — 2,694 of whom were Republican, while 15,103 were Democratic. In the Fifth District as a whole, 204,945 people turned out to vote in the Congressional elections in 2014 — 124, 735 of whom were Republican, while 73,482 were Democratic. This year, 307,541 voters turned out in the district with nine out of ten precincts reporting — 164, 795 of whom were Republican, while 142,211 were Democratic. University Democrats viewing party The University Democrats held their party at The Biltmore bar and restaurant on the Corner. Mary-Alice Kukoski,
president of the University Democrats and third-year College student, spoke at the viewing event about the efforts the organization undertook in the days before Election Day. “We knocked over 2,000 doors,” Kukoski said. “We knocked on more doors this past weekend than we did all last year.” Joseph Dennie, a third-year College student and communications director for the University Democrats, told The Cavalier Daily that Sen. Tim Kaine’s victory was unsurprising, noting that he looked towards Kaine’s victory on Election Day as inevitable, “barring an act of God.” First-year College student Emily Quick-Cole spoke about her disappointment over the results of the Fifth District House race. Quick-Cole mentioned that the presence of Olivia Wilde — an actress and daughter of Leslie Cockburn — on Grounds in the days prior to Nov. 6 and the extent of Cockburn’s campaigning made the loss feel more personal due to Quick-Cole’s personal investment in the effort. However, despite Cockburn’s loss, both Kukoski and Quick-Cole said they remain hopeful for the Democratic Party’s success in national elections. “The blue wave is starting,” Kukoski said. “Get excited.” Sam Finkel, vice president of the University Democrats and a fourth-year Batten student, said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm he observed during the campaigning process. “Here’s what we’ve seen in 2018,” Finkel said. “We’ve seen tremendous enthusiasm. While we may not have seen a blue wave that we had hoped, we’ve seen a blue wave in terms of constituent en-
thusiasm ... I’ve never seen so many volunteers, so much enthusiasm — not just around a candidate, but in willingness to engage with voters.” Cockburn viewing party Cockburn and her supporters gathered at Three Notch’d Brewing Company in IX Art Park in downtown Charlottesville to watch election results. Asst. Drama Prof. Katelyn Hale Wood, who attended the viewing party, said she was not happy with Cockburn’s loss. “I’m not super surprised [that Riggleman won],” Wood said. “But it is disappointing.” Wood also said that she supported Cockburn for her stances on gun regulation, education, black voters’ rights and her efforts to combat racism and promote women’s rights. Second-year College student Emma Karnes also attended the event to support Cockburn’s campaign and expressed how she would like to see Democrats secure a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I’m supporting Leslie Cockburn because I would like to see Democrats gain control of the House,” Karnes said. “I am really concerned about Trump and the power that Republicans may have in the future to further policies that I do not agree with and some other dangerous practices that are frightening our democracy.” Riggleman will represent Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District for two years. Kaine will continue to represent the Commonwealth Virginia for another six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
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NEWS • www.cavalierdaily.com
Riggleman wins Fifth Congressional District seat Republican secures 54 percent of the vote to beat Democratic challenger Leslie Cockburn Amanda Pallas | News Writer Republican candidate Denver Riggleman defeated Democratic candidate Leslie Cockburn in the U.S. congressional race for Virginia’s Fifth District seat Tuesday. Riggleman won approximately 54 percent of the total vote, while Cockburn earned about 46 percent of the vote in the Fifth District. “Right now in the Fifth District, this is the ‘Fighting Fifth,’” Riggleman said Tuesday evening. “Liberty lives here.” Riggleman will represent the largest district in Virginia. Trump won the Fifth District by 11 points in the 2016 presidential election, even as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton took the state by more than five points. Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie won the district in 2017 by nine points, even though Democrat Ralph Northam won Virginia overall by a nine-point margin. Riggleman, a University alumnus, former Air Force intelligence officer and current craft distillery owner, and Cockburn, a former “60 Minutes” producer and investigative journalist, were both political newcomers vying for the seat previously held by Rep. Tom Garrett (R-Va.), who announced in May he would not run for reelection for a second term. “We have proven that we can a run a campaign with class and integrity and dignity,” Riggleman said. “I think we’ve proven that we can run a campaign on the issues.” Throughout his campaign, Riggleman raised $1.4 million and has spent $986,554, according to federal campaign finance reports filed in October. His campaign had an average contribution of $1,291 — nearly triple Cockburn’s $441. In a debate held Sept. 28, Riggleman called for deregulation and said he would support the president when his policies supported the Fifth District. He said he supports a crackdown on illegal immigration, though he supports a guest visa program to support farmers in Virginia. “There’s a time when I think when everyone has to fight,” Riggleman said during his victory speech. “There's a time when you have three positions you can take when you're going against this sort of government overreach and what we’re trying to do with this liberty movement — you can either be in the feedle position and accept what's happening, you can run away or you can fight.” Riggleman said his commitment to serving others and mak-
ing a difference on people's’ lives was what allowed him to win the Fifth District seat. “I think everybody has this opportunity to live the American dream … I would never be here if it wasn’t for my family, and what got me here was the belief that all of us have a chance to serve and have to serve,” Riggleman said in an interview with The Cavalier Daily. “If all of us sort of put our foot in, maybe we can make a difference, because I do believe one person can make a difference.” Cockburn has said that she decided to enter the political arena because of mounting frustration over President Donald Trump — a sentiment the Democrats hoped would resonate with voters in Charlottesville and other liberal-leaning pockets in the largely rural district, which spans from northern parts of the state down to the North Carolina border. Some of her goals in the House were to pass environmental legislation, promote free community college and lower student debt in the district. In a speech to supporters at Three Notch'd Brewing Company in Charlottesville, Cockburn conceded to Riggleman. “We’ve looked at the numbers and the gap will be much narrower, but he did win this race, so I want to formally concede to Denver and I wish him well and I hope he can do something positive,” Cockburn said. Cockburn’s daughter — actress Olivia Wilde — told the crowd to continue with the momentum that came with the campaign. “I don’t know about you, but that determination that I found through this is only more powerful now, and we have so much work to do,” Wilde said. “But we have made a lot of progress, so please, please, as you ingest all of this tonight, just think about that word progress and think about how you took part in that and take pride in that because I am proud of all of you.” Breaking with his party, Riggleman supports the decriminalization of marijuana. At a debate hosted at Piedmont Virginia Community College, Riggleman emphasized the need to balance the science of climate change of climate change with promoting job creation and economic growth through the creation of a non-partisan commission. Riggleman will start his term in Congress Jan. 3, 2019.
GEREMIA DI MARO | THE CAVALIER DAILY
Former Air Force intelligence officer Denver Riggleman secured 54 percent of votes to win Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District seat.
GRACE CODELLA, JIE YING HUANG AND MADDY SITA | THE CAVALIER DAILY
As of press time — approximately 12:46 a.m. Nov. 7 — Democrats had won enough seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to secure a majority, ending an eight-year Republican majority in the House.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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Kaine wins re-election to U.S. Senate The Democratic senator won nearly 57 percent of the vote to defeat Republican challenger Corey Stewart Tadd Luhan | Senior News Writer Incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) defeated Republican nominee Corey Stewart to retain control of one of Virginia’s two U.S. Senate seats in the 2018 midterm elections Tuesday. Kaine claimed victory in his first re-election bid with approximately 567 percent of the vote across the Commonwealth, beating out Stewart’s approximately 41 percent in Virginia after a nationally-prominent campaign. “THANK YOU, VIRGINIA!” Kaine tweeted after exit polls indicated a clear victory. “In the Senate, I'll always listen to you. I'll take your ideas and values to Washington, and keep fighting to solve your problems. We have to keep Virginia moving forward and put our country back on the right track. That starts now!” Stewart delivered his concession speech roughly two hours after some news outlets had declared Kaine the victor. Stewart acknowledged the difficulties facing his campaign in flipping the senate seat Republican but maintained his support for President Donald Trump and the trajectory of the administration. “I don’t regret a thing because what we did, we gave it a good fight and we have a great president of the United States,” Stewart said. “[I just got] off the phone with Senator Kaine and I wish them God’s best and him and his family and he said ‘Look, you were walking into this, you knew it was a headwind’ and I said ‘I certainly did’ and it was a headwind and a little bit too much for us to overcome but there’s a lot of victories tonight, folks and it looks like we have a brand new Congressman in the Fifth District in Denver Riggleman.” Kaine’s platform throughout the campaign generally followed most mainstream Democratic policy positions, emphasizing gun control, the protection of former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare policy, the Affordable Care Act, and opposition to Trump’s immigration policies. Kaine has had an extensive career in Virginia politics, beginning with his election to the Richmond City Council in 1994 where he served four terms, including two as mayor between 1998 and 2001. Kaine later served as lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2006, then won the governorship. He was succeeded in 2010 by Republican governor Bob McDonnell. At the national level, Kaine’s national profile rose with his
ascension to chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011. Following his election to the Senate in 2012, in which Kaine defeated George Allen, a former Republican governor and congressman, the senator was nominated in 2016 to serve as the Democratic vice presidential candidate alongside running mate Hillary Clinton in a failed presidential bid that year. The re-elected senator significantly outdid his challenger in terms of fundraising, with over $22 million raised throughout the campaign, according to the Virginia Public Access Project — more than Stewart’s $2.6 million. The majority of Kaine’s funding — around $12.7 million — was raised through individual contributions, with the remaining money coming from either transfers or political action committees and other committees. Stewart raised a little over $2.6 million during this campaign cycle, according to numbers published by VPAP. Of this amount, nearly all, $2,606,790, was obtained via individual contributions, with an additional $22,249 received through donations from party committees, PACs and other contributors. Prior to his Senate campaign, Stewart was elected as the chair at-large of Prince William County’s Board of County Supervisors, the county’s elected government. Stewart has held the post since taking office in 2007. The candidate also unsuccessfully campaigned for his party’s nomination as a candidate for lieutenant governor in the 2013 elections. More recently, in December 2015, Stewart was tapped by now-President Trump to chair the latter’s Virginia campaign, a move that boosted the politician’s career to the national level as an outspoken supporter of the president’s policies both during and after his campaign. This nomination was followed in 2017 by an unsuccessful attempt for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, in which Stewart lost by a narrow margin to his opponent Ed Gillespie. An advocate for Trump’s “America First” agenda, Stewart campaigned heavily on promises to bring back jobs to Virginia and create a less-restrictive environment for businesses operating in the state. The new senator’s platform also echoed mainstream Republican stances on illegal immigration, gun rights and abortion, in addition to other goals of lowering taxes, building a wall on
COURTESY RICHARD DIZON
Tim Kaine won his first re-election bid to the U.S. Senate by securing nearly 57 percent of the vote.
the southern border with Mexico and repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. Stewart has also been viewed as a controversial figure within the GOP, especially given his past statements that echo the views of white nationalists and other far-right factions. Stewart has made upholding the legacy of the Confederacy, including Confederate statues and monuments, a key focus of his past and present political campaigns. Additionally, a number of the candidate’s staff members have been shown to have ties to white supremacist individuals, with several white nationalists openly volunteering for Stewart’s campaign. Kaine’s victory reinforces a solid Democratic hold in the Commonwealth in terms of its representation in the Senate. A Republican has not held either of the state’s U.S. Senate seats since 2009. Mark Warner, Virginia’s other senator, will not be up for reelection until 2020. “Virginia showed who we are and who we aren’t,” Kaine said, according to The Washington Post, at his victory party in Falls Church.
Republican Democratic Not called as of press time
AKHILA DANAM AND MADDY SITA | THE CAVALIER DAILY
Republicans increased their hold on the U.S. Senate by three seats as of press time — approximately 12:46 a.m. Nov. 7.
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LIFE When you think of Asian comfort food, you probably think Got Dumplings, ramen or Chinese takeout. Now that we’re approaching hibernation season, however, there’s nothing more satisfying than some good old-fashioned Korean food. I’m talking tteokbokki bibimbap, bulgogi, galbi and sundubu. Some background information on these traditional dishes — Tteokbokki is stir-fried rice cakes typically served spicy when mixed with gochujang, a type of Korean chili paste. The best bibimbap comes in a sizzling stone pot full of rice, mixed vegetables, an over-easy egg and sliced beef — thoroughly stirred together right before eating. Galbi is typically composed of short ribs marinated in soy sauce. Similarly, bulgogi is thin, marinated slices of beef or pork. Sundubu, or soft tofu kimchi stew, is served simmering in a stone bowl with vegetables and either seafood, pork or beef. To try and find legitimate versions of these dishes in Charlottesville, I invited some friends along who grew up in the Korean food scene. We sought out Kuma Sushi Noodles & Bar on Elliewood Avenue and Doma Korean Kitchen on
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A search for Korean comfort food Move aside, chicken noodle soup — spicy rice cakes and warm tofu stew are where it’s at Elise Kim | Food Columnist West Main Street to hopefully find something representative of our childhood in their cuisine. We ordered comparable dishes at each restaurant to try. However, there were slight discrepancies in this comparison because in terms of a comfort meat dish, Kuma only offered bulgogi, while Doma only served galbi. We took this difference into consideration when we chose our winning restaurant. At Kuma, we were pleasantly surprised by the tteokbokki’s authenticity. First-year College student Sumin Lee found that it was relatively palatable. “I think it’s better than most restaurants’ tteokbokki,” Lee said. “I can’t eat spicy food, but I think the spice level is good. I’d give it a seven out of 10.” Kuma’s bibimbap and bulgogi, however, didn’t quite meet our expectations. I personally found them nontraditional and bland, lacking the sweet but savory flavor punch that Korean food is known to pack. Second-year College student Soobin Cho attested to this — both of the dishes were also oddly full of cabbage — an unusual addition to bibimbap and bulgogi. “There’s too many vegetables so
it kind of defeats the purpose of bulgogi,” Cho said. “I wish the ratio between bulgogi and vegetables was portioned more correctly.” Neither satisfied nor disappointed, we made the brisk 15 minute walk to Doma. The ambiance was lively and bustling in contrast to the quiet, homey feel that Kuma exuded. We agreed that this energetic vibe was more invigorating and waited in anticipation for our food. Because of its business, however, we did notice that we waited over twice as long for our dishes to arrive. First-year College student Christian Ro, after trying the bubbling sundubu, found that it was reasonable, but vaguely average. This was particularly surprising given that this Charlottesville take on a go-to Korean stew is usually enjoyed by many, especially to recover from a cold or warm up from the cold weather. “It’s a bit on the sweeter side,” Ro said. “I would give it a six and a half out of 10, not because it didn’t taste good, but because it seems lackluster and not unique. On another note, I was sick, so having a warm brothy meal was satisfying and the soondooboo metaphorical-
ly detoxed my body.” Collectively, we were content with Doma’s interpretations of bibimbap and galbi. The bibimbap reminded me of how my grandma would make it for me back home. The nostalgia was evident in my friends, as well. “The Doma bibimbap definitely has more traditional ingredients than the one at Kuma and I like the texture of this one more,” second-year College student Yubin Kang said. Instead of cabbage, Doma includes more traditional ingredients like bean sprouts, mushrooms and carrots, balancing it well with the rice portions. Traditionally, some of the rice hardens as the stone pot continues to cook the bibimbap when it is served, termed nurongji. "Although the neurongji was still evident at the bottom of the pot, I felt as if it blended with the bibimbap much better,” Cho said. I would give it a higher ranking than the one at Kuma, for sure.” Similarly, the galbi struck us as one of the highlights of the evening. First-year Engineering student Tae Chang was surprised at its unique flavor profile. ”It’s not as sweet as most galbi
that I’ve eaten but I like that better for some reason,” Chang said. For our final dish, Korean-fare-meets-American was written all over the tteokbokki slathered in melted cheese — a topping Doma offers for a small additional charge. Our reactions were definitely split on this modern take. “It was more of a fusion dish. It was less traditional and had more American components to it,” Lee said. “Taste-wise, I think I actually prefer Kuma tteokbokki more — Doma’s felt like it was another dish.” In contrast, Cho thought the tteokbokki was visually appealing and enjoyed the cheese, especially because this trend has been on the rise with numerous Korean dishes. After much debate as this hunt for Korean comfort food came to a close, we ultimately decided that Doma invoked more nostalgia for us. It was able to give us more of the satisfaction we needed to fulfill our cravings for the Korean food we missed from back home.
ELISE KIM is a Food Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at life@cavalierdaily.com.
World Mental Health Day made my mental health worse How the way we talk about mental health, mental disorders and mental illnesses is wrong Merriam Abboud | Life Columnist I have tried everything that I can think of to make my mental health better and to make my mental disorder go away. There have been different doctors and diagnoses, I’ve tried medication and CBD oil and raw veganism. I wish that I could tell you that it has all helped, but it hasn’t. Every other day I question what I’m doing and why I’m doing it and if it’s worth it and when my head will fix itself. And I’m not sure if it can — with my class work piling up, promises to professors and promises to myself are hard to uphold. My mom told me that I should make all of the struggle I’m facing in my head into a happy message, but I can’t. Because mental disorders do not end in happy messages. We only can really find out how much someone is hurting after they’re gone. I still hurt all of the time, and I want people to know. If I talk about what my head does to me, I can only be an Emi-
ly Dickinson or Virginia Woolf. But, right now, I’m mad and I cry in public and can’t be close to friends because I don’t want to get out of bed, and I never want to talk about it. It seems that a lot of the normal expectations aren’t working in my favor. I learn things, but it takes me more time. I do things, but it takes me more time. And it’s scary to admit this because I am smart, and I know that I can work hard under the right conditions. Would you still want to give me a chance if I told you some of what I go through? I will be your friend and hang out with you, but not all of the time. And this really isn’t enough for some people, but what do I say? I feel this way, other people feel that way, so why don’t people understand? Where do I work? How do I work? How do I succeed if I tell people what’s wrong? There was a day dedicated to
talk about mental health, mental disorders or mental illnesses. World Mental Health Day was the day after I shared my first article onto Facebook. I was raw and honest about how things needed to change, but all of what I said was stuck in a flurry of posts with suicide prevention numbers. I got several messages from people admitting to me their own struggles — which I’m grateful for — but I also got messages like “You are loved,” and I know I shouldn’t be mad about it, but I am. It hurt me because I knew that some people only reached out to me because they were on a World Mental Health Day high. I know that none of the posts were made with malice, and I know that it was nice to see it being talked about, but they still seem so wrong. World Mental Health Day made me feel worse. We see mental disorders as a cool phenomenon, like how insane Van Gogh must have been.
We talk about it at its worst, like what we could have done for someone who killed themselves. Everyone seems to be trying to improve their own mental health, but not everyone is discussing their own experience, so it’s hard to understand what is really happening. The discussion has to be changed, and it has to happen every day. We should check in with people that we care about. A “You good?” would be nice every once in a while. Everything shouldn’t happen on one day a year when it’s asked of you. Don’t tell me that “it’s temporary” because that’s false — my brain can’t change that easily. People with mental disorders and illnesses need help to not reach a tipping point when mental health is low. You might think some mental disorders and illnesses are cool. It’s not cool. It’s scary, and it hurts and having to deal with anything can be nearly impossible.
Take time to research, but don’t assume. You can understand what symptoms are and how someone may feel, but the only person who really knows their circumstances is the person struggling. I guess this is a little call to action — don’t let anyone make assumptions about you. Mental health doesn’t have to end like it did for Emily Dickinson. We shouldn’t have to reach a tipping point. You are the authority on your own mind.
MERRIAM ABBOUD is a Life Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at life@ cavalierdaily.com.
www.cavalierdaily.com • LIFE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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How to be the best customer when eating out A few tips that will make your server’s shift a little more bearable Marlena Becker | Food Columnist As a server, there are few things more frustrating than getting a table that acts like they have never eaten at a restaurant before in their life. Customers like these can be difficult, time consuming and rude without even realizing it because they don’t understand the norms of the restaurant. The next time you eat out, follow these tips and hopefully you can make your server’s dinner rush a little less hellish. Call ahead This is key if you are coming with a large group of people — six or more — and are going to a restaurant that does not take reservations. There’s always a chance that the restaurant will be too full for a large group. Even if the restaurant will eventually be able to seat you, it’s ridiculous to expect that a table for 10 will be ready the moment you get there. Calling ahead is a good way to get more information and give the restaurant staff a much-needed warning.
If you have any questions about the restaurant — parking, dietary restrictions, hours — it is always best to call ahead and ask. It can be really distracting to have to explain complicated parking instructions to a customer while I am in the middle of serving, so I think it is always best to ask that kind of question over the phone, rather than bothering a server. Listen I cannot tell you how many customers start telling me their drink order as soon as I put their waters down without giving me a chance to say a word. Let your server greet you and tell you anything else they need to. You never know if the special is going to be your favorite food, or if the restaurant just ran out of the drink you were about to order. Also, it’s rude to interrupt — servers are people too. Read The answers to so many of your questions are in the menu, I prom-
ise. It will save everyone involved time if you take a few minutes to read the menu thoroughly instead of bombarding your server with 20 questions before you order. Often, menus will also have valuable information about other aspects of eating at that particular restaurant. They may explain how the restaurant deals with allergies and dietary restrictions, whether or not they will split checks and when gratuity is included in your bill. Be aware of your personal space When you eat at a restaurant servers and bussers are constantly rushing around you, usually carrying full drinks or heavy plates of hot food. Even the most coordinated of us have trouble with this at times, and it only becomes more difficult when a customer’s purse is in the aisle or someone has failed to push in their chair. Remember how the system works Your server is responsible for
taking your order and bringing you your food — that’s pretty much it. We don’t cook the food, determine the prices, decide where the air conditioning vents are placed or how vegan friendly the menu is. Before complaining to your server, try to remember the things that are very clearly out of our control. We want you to have the best experience possible and will do everything in our power to ensure that you do, it’s just that not everything is within our power. Assume the best intentions Everyone has hard days, so if your server seems tired, stressed or even slightly unfriendly remember that this could be the last 20 minutes of the worst eight hour shift of their life. Try your best to be understanding and empathetic, and remember that at the end of the day, it’s just brunch. Say thank you It’s so simple! Genuinely thanking your server is so easy and so
appreciated. Know the hours While most restaurants will technically serve people right until they close, it makes closing up the restaurant a lot harder for the staff. We can’t start sweeping or cleaning anything until you leave, which means that we have to stay later than we were scheduled. Do everyone involved a favor and Google the hours before you leave. Tip Everyone has their own philosophy on tipping, but my honest opinion is that anything less than 15 percent is never appropriate. Remember that servers make as little as less than $3 an hour, so our paychecks are almost entirely tips.
MARLENA BECKER is a Food Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at life@cavalierdaily. com.
Charlottesville’s top daily meal deals Hunting down the cheapest restaurant dinners for every day of the week Hailey Eaves | Food Columnist I love a good deal. When that deal involves food, nothing in the world can beat it. A dedication to the pursuit of free and discounted food is an integral part of the college student's creed. I have become obsessed with finding the best deals on food in Charlottesville lately. Whether that is comparing grocery store prices or ordering multiple sides instead of an entree at a restaurant, I’m on the hunt for the cheapest way to eat my way through second year. Although it is often cheaper and healthier to make my own food, as a student, I can’t always find the time or muster the energy to cook. At the same time, I don’t want to end up spending too much money or eating junk food. While it’s manageable to fit in breakfast and lunch, I often find myself forgetting to eat dinner, or completely exhausted from my day that I dread the prospect of cooking an evening meal. With the help of a few fellow foodies — and a few lazy chefs — I went on a hunt for Charlottesville's best meal deals for weeknights. While some of these deals last all day, we focused on the best dinner options that we could find. The options here run every week, Monday through Thursday. These meals can help you to manage your hectic schedule with ease and leave you full,
while not emptying your wallet. Monday Sedona Taphouse 1035 Millmont St., Charlottesville, Va. 22903 $6 steak and potatoes Sedona Taphouse is a upscale restaurant located just behind the Barracks Road Shopping Center, not far from Grounds. Their menu includes many fine dining options, and their focus is on combining great beers and choice steaks and seafood. Normally this would be too expensive for the average college student, but their Monday meal deal makes it a feasible option for any budget. For this meal deal you get an eight-ounce wood grilled Angus Flat Iron Steak and whipped potatoes as long as you purchase a beverage. They offer many gluten free and vegetarian options on their regular menu as well. The best part of this meal deal is $1 from each of their Monday night special sales is donated to charity. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse 3924 Lenox Ave., Charlottesville, Va. 22901 Half off a large deep dish or tavern pizza Mondays offer a couple different options for dining out, and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse also offers a great deal on their pizzas. Although pizzas are on the expensive side
— around $30 for a deep dish pizza and $15 for a tavern cut pizza — this deal would be great if you are dining with a hungry group. The deep-dish pizzas are huge and filling. They have unique flavors, like Creamy Carbonara and Buffalo Chicken, but also classics, like pepperoni and cheese. The best part of this deal is that they have vegetarian options available as well. Tuesday Maya Restaurant and Bar 633 W Main St., Charlottesville, Va. 22903 $12 menu Maya is a southern kitchen located between the Corner and Downtown Mall in the bustling Midtown section of Charlottesville. It is open for dinner seven days a week but offers an extensive discounted Tuesday menu. For just $12, you can get your choice of one out of six entrees and any two sides. The entrees include Chicken Fried Chicken, Blackened Tilapia, 1/4 Rack Babyback Ribs, Hanger Steak and Pulled Chicken BBQ. My favorite part of this deal is that you can also order an entree consisting of just four sides. Their down-home sides include collard greens, cornbread, sauteed broccoli, whipped potatoes, macaroni & cheese and sweet potato fries. The
variety of options for this meal deal makes it unique and versatile and the perfect spot for a cheap date night. Wednesday Bonefish Grill 269 Connor Dr., Charlottesville, Va. 22911 $6 Bang Bang Shrimp This appetizer is just $6 every Wednesday. If dining alone, however, it could easily serve as an entree that you could pair with one of their side salads for around $5, or another of their sides, which are all $3 each. Their sides include garlic whipped potatoes, potatoes au gratin, jasmine rice, French fries, steamed vegetables, French cut green beans, sauteed spinach and coleslaw. The restaurant’s distance, however, might be a deterrent to this meal deal, as Bonefish Grill is located in the Hollymead Town Center, which is about a 25-minute drive from the University. Thursday Trinity Irish Pub 1505 University Ave., Charlottesville, Va. 22903 $3 burgers and chips This was the only meal deal that I found on the Corner. This makes it both the cheapest and most convenient option that I have found. Trinity burgers are a classic. While this deal does not provide volume
since the burgers are fairly small, the quality for the price is excellent. The burgers consist of a single patty on a toasted bun with American cheese, pickles, ketchup and mustard. It is paired with a side of their homemade potato chips that are fried to perfection. This meal deal is the most convenient option for University students. Unrestrained by a specific day, Brixx — located in Barracks Road Shopping Center — has a meal deal that can get you buy one, get one pizzas Monday through Sunday. The only catch is that this meal deal starts after 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday night and after 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday night. With the tight schedule and budget of students, having a variety of options for cheap food can be the difference between going hungry or getting the energy you need to study. Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most important things to learn during your college years. When finding a meal is quick, easy and cheap — as it is with each of these deals — I’m left with no excuses for skipping a meal. HAILEY EAVES is a Food Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at life@cavalierdaily.com.
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U.Va. students weigh in on voting locally or absentee Students differ in opinion as to where peers should vote Madison Masloff | Feature Writer Voting in college can be daunting for students who are pressed with meeting absentee voter registration and ballot submission deadlines. Most are not as fortunate as first-year College student Johnny Riordan, who is a resident of Charlottesville. “Being from Charlottesville, I didn’t really have to focus as much on the registering to vote in Charlottesville or absentee information that they were spewing,” Riordan said. “I will go to my voting location.” Although Riordan didn’t have to deal with the trouble of voting absentee, he said he is grateful for all the University has done to facilitate the voting process for its students. He said he has noticed the tables set up around first-year dorms encouraging and offering incentives for students to vote, as well as the people that have come into his classes informing students
of important voting deadlines. Riordan said he doesn’t have a strong opinion on whether students should vote in their home district or in Charlottesville’s, he said he just feels that people should simply vote. “I think it’s most important that students are voting, whether it’s in Charlottesville or absentee, that’s their personal decision,” Riordan said. “I think it’s just making sure you register to vote and figure it out before the deadline hits, which I know a lot of students miss ... Also, going out on the day of voting or filling out your absentee ballot and sending it — that’s the most important part.” Joseph Dennie, University Democrats communication coordinator and third-year College student, said in an email to The Cavalier Daily the organization feels that voting absentee or in Charlottesville is entirely up to
the individual. “Our main priority as an organization is ensuring that students use their voice to take part in the electoral process,” Dennie said. “We advise students to take advantage of the option that makes this most convenient for them — whether that means registering to vote here in Charlottesville or voting absentee at their home address, it depends on their individual situation.” The on-Grounds voting location moved to Slaughter Recreation Center — the building right across from Observatory Hill — from University Hall, where students previously voted. This new location is closer to first-year residence halls. On the other hand, the College Republicans encouraged students to register to vote in Charlottesville instead of voting absentee. “We think it’s important to
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TYRA KREHBIEL | THE CAVALIER DAILY
Voting in college can be daunting for students who are pressed with meeting absentee voter registration and ballot submission deadlines.
have a stake in local issues since obviously students at U.Va. are in Charlottesville and in the Fifth District for most of the year,” said Robert Andrews, fourthyear College student and College Republicans chairman. “So that’s typically how we do that, but we understand why people would want to vote in their home districts and vote absentee so we make sure to help them in that process if that’s what they want to do. But yes, we strongly, very much encourage people to vote here.” Likewise, AJ Donovan, a second-year College student, feels that students should register to vote in Charlottesville because it is where they currently reside and probably will reside in the foreseeable future. Emily Kellam, a second-year College student, said she believes the decision to vote absentee depends on the political leanings of a person’s hometown and his or her political ideology. “I think if someone is strongly more liberal and they’re from a more conservative area than Charlottesville, then they should vote absentee because Charlottesville is already … likely to go Democrat so I think that their vote has a better chance of swaying in a more conservative area,” Kellam said. Kellam planned to vote absentee in the election on Tuesday, just like she did last year for the gubernatorial election. Andrews said University students’ impact on the Fifth District election depended on how close the race was. He noted that if only a couple hundred students vote then they may not have a consequential effect, however if a couple thousand vote
then they could make a difference, especially if there’s a small margin of error. “U.Va. students will have a major role in determining the outcome of the election in this district,” Dennie said prior to the election. “With the election having the potential to be so close, every vote will be incredibly important.” A New York Times poll of 501 people projected the race in the Fifth District to be close, which meant that University students could have played a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the election. However, the final split was not actually this close. Republican candidate Riggleman won with 54 percent of the vote. Cockburn secured only 46 percent of the vote.54 percent of the vote. Democrat Leslie Cockburn secured only 46 percent.
www.cavalierdaily.com • LIFE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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Top 10 non-political things to get political about Let the non-televised debates begin Paige Waterhouse | Top 10 Writer
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Coffee
Coffee — the elixir of college life. In order to function, I need at least one cup every morning, and judging by the traffic at the O’Hill coffee station, I would say the majority of students are in the same boat. Since grabbing a cup of joe is such an essential part of our daily routine, it is no surprise that people have strong opinions about which type of bean juice they prefer. Grit, Starbucks, Einstein’s and Greenberry’s all offer different blends to choose from, leaving room for debate over where is the best place to get your caffeine fix.
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Now that Halloween is behind us, apparently we’ve jumped straight into December. Thanksgiving? I don’t know her. Stores in Charlottesville are already pulling out their holiday gear, and I’ve already sat through several Christmas music jam sessions with my roommate. I agree, it is the best time of the year, but why does everyone jump in so quickly! I need someone to take my side on this one — please help me slow down the holiday season.
The Right Side of the Sidewalk
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Nameless Field
Is the expanse of green space behind Mem Gym actually nameless — that is, lacking an identifying title — or is its name in fact Nameless Field? If the latter is true, then the title Nameless Field is misleading because this means that the green space is in fact named. On the other hand, if the space is truly nameless — and is intended to remain so — we should refrain from ever referring to it, to avoid sticking it with a name. Choose your side wisely for this one, this controversy can get complicated.
This one is not really up for debate, it’s just common courtesy. Don’t get me wrong, I love bumper cars just as much as any average girl, but I most certainly do not want to be playing it with fellow students on my way to class. To avoid collision and allow ample space for those with faster feet than you, please stick to the right side of the sidewalk. It’s really not that difficult. Stand — or walk — with me, and together we can work towards clearing the pathway for pedestrians everywhere!
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Bike Lanes
I can’t be the only one who gets a little anxious when I see a biker whiz by a UTS bus with only a couple inches of room to spare. I get it, biking to class is super convenient and honestly pretty cool if you are one of the kids who can do it with no hands, but in reality, it can be dangerous. Therefore, I propose that there should be more bike lanes around Grounds to ensure the safety of students pedaling to class and to keep traffic flowing more easily. Any volunteers to write a petition? Just show me where to sign.
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The Color of the Columns
If you are up to date on the most recent University renovation projects — as all good Hoos are — then you are quite familiar with the heated debate over the column restoration project. This ongoing project has been active since the summer of 2017 and involves the careful stripping of the twin colonnades that run down either side of the Lawn. During the process, workers discovered that the original materials used to construct the columns during Mr. Jefferson’s time were actually tan, rather than the iconic white we know today. And thus, the debate ensued whether or not to restore the columns to Mr. Jefferson’s original vision or maintain the modern standard we Hoos know so well today. So, in your honest opinion, which color really brings out those red-brick pavers?
The Laundry Games
If you are an upperclassman enjoying the comforts of your cozy apartment with your personal washer and dryer, congratulations. However, if you are a student staying in dorms, I’m sure you can relate to the nightmare of doing laundry on a Sunday. The last day of the weekend is consequently the same day everyone decides to get their lives together and prepare for the week ahead. Thus, the laundry room is an absolute war zone, as students compete for machines and shelf space to store their laundry bags. Televised political debates may get ugly, but the laundry games get downright dirty. One minute late to pick up your load? Don’t worry, your freshly cleaned clothes can be found sitting on a dusty shelf, promptly rejected from their appliance by a competing, machine-hungry candidate.
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Christmas Music
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Different Grading Scales
If you are a type A student like me, then you agree with the saying “consistency is key.” Unfortunately, this is exactly what all my classes are missing. I understand that different professors have their own ways to go about grading assignments, and I respect that. However, a consistent grading scale would not be too difficult to establish! It’s frustrating to have to flip through syllabi to try to decipher the different grading scales to figure out how well I have to do on the next exam in order to get an A in the class. All I am asking for is a little reform and some structure!
Water Bottle Fillers
Everyone loves being eco-friendly, and consequently, everyone needs to drink water! Naturally, the handy water bottle filler machines that stand next to most water fountains around Grounds seem like a great way to check both of those boxes. There’s only one problem — there’s not enough of them. Few dorms are lucky enough to even have one dispenser and in some buildings around Grounds, a convenient place to fill up your jug is nowhere to be found! Plastic is filling up our oceans fast, people, so it’s time we took a stand to invest in reusable thermoses and advocate for a greener Grounds
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New Dorms vs. Old Dorms
Another hotly debated topic is the state of New Dorms versus Old Dorms. Being a resident of the New Dorm community myself, I have nothing to complain about as I enjoy my room’s comfortably regulated temperature. However, my friends in Old Dorms will not easily forget those months that they suffered in the stifling summer heat with no AC. Thus the slight grudge between old and new dorm residents will forever remain. Thankfully we all get heat, right?
Graphics by Jie Ying Huang, Grace Codella, Nikita Sivakumar and Tyra Krehbiel
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SPORTS
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KEYS TO THE GAME Contain Liberty’s quarterback
PLAYERS TO WATCH Virginia running back Jordan Ellis
COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS
Chris Peace and the pass rush will have to contain Liberty Saturday.
COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS
Jordan Ellis will have to step up against Liberty Saturday.
Early in the season, senior running back Jordan Ellis looked as if he could carry this Virginia offense. Against Richmond, he exploded for 146 yards, and against Ohio, he put up 171 yards. However, his production has died down — against Pittsburgh, he had 46 yards on 10 carries. As a team, Virginia had a net of 44 rushing yards against the Panthers. The Cavaliers can’t put up those kind of numbers and get the offensive success they need. “Our run game can't just be Bryce [Perkins] on zone read pull and then quarterback scramble,” Coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “That can't be the majority of the yards. That can be complementary, but it has to come off of run game execution off our core plays. Right now it's shifting in reverse order.” Virginia needs Ellis to step up and help the team re-establish a more consistent running game.
Virginia safety De’Vante Cross
THE KEYS TO FOOTBALL
Virginia vs. Liberty — a breakdown
In three of the four games the Flames have won, they have collected over 350 passing yards, including a 472 passing-yard game against New Mexico. Their starting quarterback, junior Stephen Calvert, is averaging 316 passing yards per game and has a 55.9 percent passing completion rate. Limiting the threat of Calvert will force Liberty to run the ball more. Considering the Flames are averaging 153.5 rushing yards per game, compared to 323.9 passing yards per game, it’s clear that they are more comfortable passing. Virginia senior outside linebacker Chris Peace — who has nine quarterback hits this season — can be especially crucial for the Cavaliers as they contain Calvert and Liberty’s passing game.
Get the run game going
CD Sports Staff
CHRISTINA ANTON | THE CAVALIER DAILY
Injuries have forced De’Vante Cross to adjust to playing defense.
While at Virginia, sophomore safety De’Vante Cross has done a little bit of everything for the Cavaliers. He was recruited as a dual-threat quarterback, but he has not played at quarterback for Virginia. Instead, Cross played wide receiver, cornerback and special teams last year, demonstrating his versatility and willingness to help the team wherever it needs him. This season, Cross prepared to play exclusively at wide receiver. He played there until the Miami game, when he was moved to free safety, replacing junior free safety’s Chris Moore as sophomore free safety’s Joey Blount’s backup after Moore had a season-ending injury. Cross’s athleticism and high school experience at quarterback allow him to be adept at reading coverages and making plays. Against Pittsburgh, Blount also went down with what looked to be a serious injury, and Cross was forced to play a larger role. In the Liberty game, he will be a crucial part of a secondary tasked with limiting Liberty’s high-power passing game.
After falling to Pittsburgh last week, the Cavaliers look to rebound against non-conference, and instate opponent Liberty. The game marks the last home game of the season for Virginia, and will serve as Senior Day, where 27 seniors will be honored at the game. The Cavalier Daily sports staff takes a look at some key players and keys to the game that could help the Cavaliers (6-3, 4-2 ACC) defeat the Flames (4-4) at Scott Stadium Saturday afternoon.
COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS
A strong rushing attack will help get Olamide Zaccheaus going.
Virginia’s success is dependent on getting its run game going. In the Cavaliers’ wins, they have done well rushing the football, and in their losses, they haven’t been able to establish a consistent ground game. Virginia averages 201 rushing yards per game in its wins and just 108 rushing yards per game in its losses. The importance of establishing the running game was especially apparent in Virginia’s loss against Pittsburgh. The Cavaliers’ offense was stagnant, and they picked up just 44 yards rushing, a season low. Running the ball is what makes Virginia dangerous, opening up the field for the likes of senior wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and junior wide receiver Hasise Dubois to make plays. Early-down inside run plays will make Liberty’s defense vulnerable on the outside, and junior quarterback Bryce Perkins should be in good position to tear apart a defense that allowed a whopping 777 yards last week against UMass in a game that was decided in three overtimes. Establishing a solid running game will also allow Virginia to control time of possession, limiting Liberty’s potent offense.
www.cavalierdaily.com • SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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Women’s basketball to open season Friday night Tina Thompson to make debut as head coach Colin Cantwell | Associate Editor The Virginia women’s basketball team will open its season Friday night at home against No. 6 Mississippi State. “We opened against them last year and that was a fun, exciting game, but now they get to come to our house, so that makes it even better,” junior forward Jocelyn Willoughby said. Friday’s game will be Tina Thompson’s debut as the head coach of the Cavaliers. She replaces Joanne Boyle, who retired in March after seven years with Virginia. Athletics Director Carla Williams hired Thompson as Boyle’s replacement in April. Last season, Virginia reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010, earning an at-large bid as a No. 10 seed after finishing seventh in the ACC during the regular season and losing in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers won their first NCAA Tournament game 68-62 over No. 7 seed California, before falling 66-56 to No. 2 seed South Carolina in the second round. A day after Virginia’s elimination from the NCAA Tournament, Boyle abruptly retired and was replaced by Thompson, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer . In her playing career, Thompson was a 4-time WNBA champion and 2-time Olym-
pic gold medalist, retiring as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2013. After retiring, she served as assistant coach and associate head coach at Texas before coming to Virginia. “The choice of putting me in this chair to lead this team and this program is probably not the easy choice,” Thompson said. “It's a choice of courage to take a chance on someone like me that is not as experienced as maybe a sitting head coach who has a lot of experience.” Under Thompson, Virginia will attempt to build on their NCAA Tournament appearance last season. “Making the tournament is an expectation for us,” Willoughby said. “It’s about getting back to that point and advancing further each year.” The development of junior guard Dominique Toussaint will be crucial. Though Toussaint led the team in scoring last season with 11.4 points per game and assists with 122, she also turned the ball over 101 times — 24 more than anyone else on the team. Toussaint also only made 37.9 percent of her field goals last season, below the team average despite attempting 71 more shots than anyone else on the team over the course of the year. The Virginia offense will once again run through Toussaint this season, and
much of its success will come down to her shot and pass selection. “I think the skill work and my shot percentage will go up over time,” Toussaint said. “What I focused more on [before the season] was leadership, being a third year and having that experience under my belt.” Willoughby was the only player to start every game for Virginia last season and has started every game of her Virginia career. Willoughby was third on the team in scoring last season and was recently named to the preseason watchlist for the Cheryl Miller Award which honors the best small forward in the nation. Two seasons ago, Willoughby made the ACC All-Freshman team. She was the only Cavalier with two 20-point games that season, leading the team in rebounds with 6.2 per game and averaging 9.8 points per game. However, Willoughby regressed statistically last year as the Virginia offense occasionally struggled to score. “[This season,] we’re looking to play a faster-paced game and put more points on the board,” Willoughby said. Junior center Felicia Aiyeotan will also return to the starting lineup for Virginia. Aiyeotan was named to last year’s ACC All-Defensive team,
leading the conference in blocked shots with 69 and finishing 11th in the conference in rebounds per game. At 6-foot-9 Aiyeotan is also tied for the tallest active player in NCAA women’s basketball. Thompson’s coaching may also end up being beneficial for Aiyeotan’s development. At Texas, Thompson worked closely with centers Imani Boyette and Kelsey Lang. Under Thompson’s tutelage, Boyette became the first player in Texas history to reach 1,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds and 200 career blocks, while
Lang is sixth in Texas history with 190 blocks. "I think [Aiyeotan] can continue to improve," Thompson said. "She has a wealth of knowledge of the game. To me, a lot of it is confidence. That's what it is in most players." "I remember my first year, and just looking back at it this summer, I couldn't believe the progress that I've made, just [in terms of having] confidence on the court and knowing the things that I could do," Aiyeotan said. Friday’s game will tip off at 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
ANDREW WALSH | THE CAVALIER DAILY
Tina Thompson will make her debut as Virginia’s coach Friday against Mississippi State.
No. 5 men’s basketball cruises to 73-42 win over Towson Jerome guides Cavaliers to 1-0 start for the season Emma D’Arpino | Senior Associate Editor The historic UMBC loss is officially behind No. 5 Virginia men’s basketball as they got the 2018-19 season off to a successful start with a 73-42 win over Towson. “It’s a new year, it’s a new team and it didn’t feel any different to me than any other starts to the year,” Coach Tony Bennett said. The Cavaliers (1-0) came in to John Paul Jones Arena Tuesday night with a starting lineup consisting of junior transfer guard Braxton Key, sophomore guard De’Andre Hunter, junior guard Kyle Guy, junior guard Ty Jerome and senior center Jack Salt. “Any time we play basketball, we’re so excited — however last year ended.” Jerome said. “But then again, given how last year ended, I think we were even more excited to come out and get a win under our belts and just play basketball again.” In the first half, Virginia’s defense was on display as they held the Tigers (0-1) to less than 20 points and forced 28.6 percent field goal shooting.
However, not a lot came easily for the Cavaliers on offense either, as they shot 37 percent overall and 28.6 from three in the first half. Jerome led the way with 11 points, going three-for-five from behind the three-point arc and scoring two free-throws. Hunter also contributed to Virginia’s early offense, getting seven points within the first 20 minutes of play. Though it was Key’s first game as a Cavalier, it didn’t take him long to look comfortable in JPJ. Key had five rebounds, one block and three points in the first half. Another new face for the Cavaliers was freshman guard Kihei Clark, who played for 13 minutes in the first half and recorded three assists. “He’s super quick, and I think what separate him is that he really has a great feel for the game too, so when he mixes those two things together… he can really control the game,” Jerome said of Clark. “He’ll be a really big piece for us this year.” Normally a lethal three-point
shooter, Guy struggled early in the game and missed all four of his three-point attempts and shot onefor-five overall. Still, the Cavaliers did enough to head into the locker room with a 28-19 lead. Virginia started to pull away in the second half, especially thanks to Jerome. He finished the night with a team-high 20 points – including six three-pointers – and four assists. “You don’t want to live and die by the three, but we got some good looks and I thought that ignited us,” Bennett said. “Ty made some big shots … he has pretty deep range and he’s not bashful to take it.” Last year’s ACC Sixth Man of the Year, Hunter also helped the Cavaliers stay on top of the Tigers with his 13 points and 10 rebounds. He was the only player on either team to record a double-double on the night. “It was fun to get back out there, I haven’t played in a while and just being back out there with the team, it was really fun and me,” Hunter said. “And Braxton and I played
really well together. He’s very versatile.” Key continued to look solid for Virginia, finishing with seven points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal. “Braxton has practiced well, once we knew he got the waiver,” Bennett said. “He brings versatility. He’s a physical player that rebounds … he’s versatile and brings physicality and awareness, so I thought that was important … and some good passing offensively." Clark had a team-high six assists, with only one turnover, while sophomore forward Jay Huff finished with eight points, which included both a few dunks and a three-pointer. Guy never quite found his rhythm on offense, finishing with just eight points — compared to last year’s average of 14.1 points a game — and went onefor-five from three and two-for-six overall. As a team, the Cavaliers shot 48.5 percent overall and 38.5 percent from three.
Virginia’s defense held Towson to 31.7 percent shooting and forced 14 turnovers. Guard Tobias Howard had a team-high 10 points. No other Towson player reached double-digit scoring. “I thought we had some good defensive stands, at times we played some decent defense and then gave up offensive rebounds,” Bennett said. “A couple of times we got out of position. I thought their physicality was a bit much for us … I did think we picked it up for the most part positionally and rebounded a little better and took some stands defensively … no matter how good your defense is, if you can’t limit them to one shot, then it’s not good defense and that became a problem for us.” The Cavaliers will stay in Charlottesville for their next game, which is a matchup against George Washington Nov. 11 at 2 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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LEAD EDITORIAL
Carry lessons from Charlottesville to Congress
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Charlottesville must remain at the center of Kaine and Riggleman’s concerns
n the 2018 Midterm elections, Sen. Tim Kaine was reelected to a second term and Denver Riggleman was elected to the Fifth Congressional District. In their upcoming terms, Kaine and Riggleman should remember the University and Charlottesville communities in their legislative agendas. As one of the largest areas in the Fifth District, Riggleman has a responsibility to recognize the individual needs of our community as they contribute to the wellbeing of the entire district. On the statewide level, Kaine should recognize Charlottesville as a focal point throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. In terms of both legislative opportunity and symbolism, Charlottesville’s needs and history should influence the activity of recently elected officials. As the most expensive health care market in the U.S., Charlottesville residents are in dire need for
increased medical options. Health insurance providers are often concentrated in areas with higher population density, and as a primarily rural area, Albemarle County suffers from reduced accessibility to providers. As the incentives for providers to stay involved in the individual insurance market provided under the Affordable Care Act have been reduced, premiums have skyrocketed and many individuals do not have the means to pay. In his campaign, Kaine recognized the importance of accessibility to health care across Virginia. His particular plans include an expansion of Medicaid and a plan called Medicare X, which would allow for increased personal choice at lower costs. While the specific plans Kaine offers may not provide the best solutions, he should listen to his constituents to determine the best course of action as the re-elected U.S. Senator from Virginia.
Riggleman’s plans to address the health care crisis in the Fifth District stand in stark opposition to that of Kaine, but Riggleman still has the opportunity to address his constituents’ need for improved health care coverage. In response to the Fifth District’s high premiums, Riggleman campaigned on a repeal of the ACA and increase in choice for individuals with respect to their providers. He also proposed shifting Medicaid to a more consumer-driven model, where private companies will provide better options than a government-driven market. Although Riggleman and Kaine’s policies contradict each other, they can each learn from their constituents in Charlottesville when implementing their legislative agendas. Charlottesville has become a microcosm of the nation both in terms of cultural and political movements. Over the past several years, events
have transpired at the University and in greater Charlottesville that should force our recently-elected officials to consider the community in any policies with wide-reaching consequences. Regardless of its factual inaccuracies, Rolling Stone’s 2014 article “A Rape on Campus” brought sexual assault back into the national spotlight, with Charlottesville and the University as the backdrop. The assault of Martese Johnson in 2015 occurred amongst a nationwide wave of police brutality, and was similar in nature to the violence that prompted the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Finally, the events of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 showcased the rise of violent extremism reemerging in the American context. Charlottesville over the past few years has served as a battleground for the larger conflict between rising white supremacy and activism for racial justice.
With this said, the new and returning congressmen for both the Fifth District and the state serve more than the University and Charlottesville communities. Because of Charlottesville’s place in national politics, our congressional leaders need to mediate on a national level these fierce debates that divide us locally and as a country. The level of leadership required to serve as a public servant efficiently is peak excellence — the stakes require it and the nation watches us.
THE CAVALIER DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD is composed of the executive editor, the editor in chief and three at-large members of the paper. The board can be reached at eb@cavalierdaily.com.
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s u b m i t a l e t t e r t o t h e e d i t o r a t @ c av a l i e rd a i l y . c o m THE CAVALIER DAILY THE CAVALIER DAILY The Cavalier Daily is a financially and editorially independent news organization staffed and managed entirely by students of the University of Virginia. The opinions expressed in The Cavalier Daily are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration of the University of Virginia. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Cartoons and columns represent the views of the authors. The managing board of The Cavalier Daily has sole authority over and responsibility for all content. No part of The Cavalier Daily or The Cavalier Daily online edition may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief. The Cavalier Daily is published Thursdays in print and daily online at cavalierdaily. com. It is printed on at least 40 percent recycled paper. 2016 The Cavalier Daily Inc.
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MANAGING BOARD Editor-in-Chief Tim Dodson Managing Editor Ben Tobin Executive Editor Jake Lichtenstein Operations Manager Sonia Gupta Chief Financial Officer Nate Bolon EDITORIAL BOARD Jake Lichtenstein Tim Dodson Audrey Fahlberg Tom Ferguson Katherine Smith
JUNIOR BOARD Assistant Managing Editors Alexis Gravely Gracie Kreth (SA) Alec Husted (SA) Alix Nguyen (SA) Aaron Rose (SA) Anne Whitney (SA) Hannah Boehlert
News Editors Jake Gold Maggie Servais (SA) Kate Bellows (SA) Geremia Di Maro Sports Editors Alec Dougherty Jake Blank (SA) Emma D’arpino (SA) Zach Zamoff Life Editors Julie Bond Natalie Seo Arts & Entertainment Editors Dan Goff Thomas Roades (SA) Darby Delaney (SA) Ben Hitchcock Health & Science Editors Tina Chai Ruhee Shah Focus Editor Abby Clukey Opinion Editors Brendan Novak Jacob Asch (SA) Gavin Scott Humor Editor Veronica Sirotic (SA) Ben Miller Cartoon Editor Mira du Plessis (SA) Gabby Fuller
Production Editors Mark Felice Zach Beim Elizabeth Lee Print Graphics Editor Aisha Singh Maddy Sita Photography Editors Christina Anton Andrew Walsh (SA) Chandler Collins Video Editor Raymundo Mora Engineering Manager Leo Dominguez Social Media Managers Ashley Botkin Libby Scully Translation Editors Yuqi Cheng Natalia Chavez (SA) Felipe Buitrago Marketing & Advertising Managers Avantika Mehra Sales Representivies Lydia Kim Abhi Opesh Business Manager Kelly Mays
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
www.cavalierdaily.com • OPINION
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ELIMINATE NEEDLESS OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES Many occupational licensing requirements create significant barriers to entry for certain professions while providing few benefits to consumers.
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nly five percent of American jobs required occupational licenses in the 1950s, a figure which pales in comparison to the quarter of American professions that are currently subject to licensing requirements today. Occupational licenses — government regulated certifications for practitioners within a certain field — were initially created to protect the public interest. Medical professionals, for example, whose daily career consists of life or death situations, obviously fit under this category. However, these licensing schemes have since come to regulate many non-dangerous professions for completely arbitrary reasons. In some states, make-up artists, interior designers and even florists to are required to obtain licenses before becoming legally certified in their professions. Ultimately, many state-mandated licensing requirements do little more than protect industry insiders and prevent well-intentioned entrepreneurs from pursuing honest work that poses no serious threat to public safety. Hair braiding is one of the most arbitrary occupational license requirements currently on the books. Despite the differences between hair braiding and other cosmetology professions, 16 states currently mandate braiders to spend thousands of dollars on cosmetology school, which often requires thousands of hours of training in order
to become legally certified. Cosmetol- served no legitimate public purpose specific markets. This issue became ogy schools teach students how to cut and existed only to funnel money to particularly apparent in North Carolior use chemicals on hair, skills which the funeral-director cartel.” Although na State Board of Dental Examiners v. are completely unrelated to hair braid- IJ succeeded in overturning this par- Federal Trade Commission, when the ing. The District of Columbia and 14 ticular law, Louisiana still prohibits Supreme Court held that a state-listates require licenses specifically for people from cutting, arranging and censing board which banned non-denhair braiding alone, which demand selling flowers without a license. tists from selling teeth whitening between six and 600 hours to become The campaign to reform occupa- products was a violation of federal certified. Seeing as hair braiding pos- tional licensing is not limited to one antitrust laws. The court ruled that the es no significant public safety threats, side of the ideological spectrum. Even North Carolina State Board of Dental there is no logic in allowing these li- the Obama administration sought to Examiners violated the Sherman Ancensing requirements to stand. reduce irrational occupational certi- titrust Act because it allowed a state Even funeral licensing board, casket-making comprised mosthas become subly of dentists ject to irrational who were active The campaign to reform occupational licensing is not occupational liparticipants in limited to one side of the ideological spectrum. censing schemes. the market they Until 2013, when were regulating, a landmark case to exclude comoverturned a forpetitors and cremer statute, it was illegal in for anyone fications that serve no purpose other ate a monopoly over teeth whitening but a government licensed funeral di- than to raise consumer prices, create products. rector to sell a casket to members of monopolies and construct signifiAlthough this case held that certhe public in Louisiana. The brothers cant barriers to entry for low-income tain incidents of market protectionof St. Joseph Abbey — a Louisiana workers who are simply trying to ism are unlawful, the court’s decision monastery — tried to sell handmade make ends meet. clarified that so long as occupational caskets to the public in 2007 to fund Existing licensed practitioners of- licensing boards are “subject to active their health care and and educational ten lobby state officials to expand li- supervision” by the state, they may not expenses, but were prohibited from censing requirements so that they may violate antitrust laws under the Parker doing so by the Louisiana state gov- benefit from reduced competition Doctrine — which holds that the Sherernment. The Institute for Justice, a within their field. By expanding legal man Antitrust Act does not apply to libertarian public interest law firm, barriers to entry, practitioner associa- government agencies. Ultimately, the helped overturn this statute in a unan- tions limit the pool of certified indi- precedent established by North Caroimous decision in the 5th U.S. Circuit viduals within their profession, allow- lina State Board of Dental Examiners Court of Appeals, which ultimately ing them to drive up the price for their v. Federal Trade Commission is all but ruled that “this arbitrary restriction services and create monopolies within useless because occupational licensing
boards can still legally monopolize their own markets and exclude competition so long as they get bureaucratic stamp of approval by their state government. Occupational licensing schools are also to blame for the red tape associated with licensing requirements. In claiming they have industry “expertise” within a certain field, certification schools construct arbitrary training requirements and charge astronomical tuition fees for students, perpetuating a system in which low-income individuals are unable to enter the labor market due to such significant economic obstacles associated with pursuing their chosen career path. States need to recognize that the costs of occupational licensing — on both consumers and would-be practitioners — significantly outweigh the benefits. Elitist occupational licensing associations should not be empowered by states to monopolize professional markets, kill jobs and create undue barriers to entry for those who cannot afford both the time and monetary requirements associated with licensing certifications.
AUDREY FAHLBERG is an Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at a.fahlberg@cavalierdaily.com.
SUPPORT THE ERA AT U.VA. The Equal Rights Amendment is exactly what we need, especially here at U.Va.
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ith momentum from the #MeToo movement, the upcoming November election and the uproar of activism across the country, especially on college campuses, the women’s movement has been a recent hot topic for discussion. This energy has culminated on the central idea that there is still more to be done. Behind all of the specifics and details, most feminists can agree on one thing: there needs to be an amendment in the United States Constitution. The 14th Amendment simply is not enough to guarantee equal rights and provide a clear, legal standard for cases of sex discrimination and inequality. Women deserve the same, clearly stated legal protection as all other citizens in this country, and now is the perfect time for students to get behind it. As Virginia’s next General Assembly session in January is fast approaching, so is the hope that a crucial piece of legislation will finally be ratified nearly one hundred years after its conception — the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA was first proposed by women’s rights activist Alice Paul in 1923, after which it was continuously shut down by Congress until 1972 when it passed in both the House and the Senate. It is made up of three sections, the most essential stating, “Equality of
rights under the law shall not be de- finding its way to the University in gue that the 14th Amendment already nied or abridged by the United States the form of an ERA Bus. The “10 Days accomplishes this by being applied to or by any State on account of sex,” of ERA” Bus Tour will make its way a sex discrimination case for the first meaning the highest, most respected throughout the state over the course time in 1971, it still does not provide law in our country would finally have of 10 days, stopping at the University the needed foundation that having a an addition ensuring equal rights to all the morning of Nov. 14. Movements definite and precise law would. The citizens regardless of their sex. such as these are playing a crucial role ERA would provide a uniform standHowever, amendments require in spreading awareness, gaining sup- ard for equal rights across the country, ratification in 38 states in order to be port and funds, encouraging student which would be monumental for both added to the U.S. Constitution. And involvement and most importantly, sexes. Additionally, the ERA could while the deadline for ratification has pressuring our elected officials. unify the bipartisan political outlook passed, women of women’s rights across the nation and link the arms are urging Conof both parties. gress to uphold Inequality on the The 14th Amendment simply is not enough to guarthe ratification basis of sex in the of states both eyes of the law antee equal rights and provide a clear, legal standard prior to and past affects not only for cases of sex discrimination and inequality. the 1982 cut off, both sexes, but it especially conalso affects those sidering that 37 aligned with all states have curpolitical parties. rently ratified After all, this is this essential addition, leaving us one Thus, it is important that students not only a democratic women’s issue. vote shy of legally recognized sex- know how the ERA would affect them Most importantly, having an ERA based equality. upon ratification, so they can make in- amendment could finally put a founSince Virginia is one of the 13 states formed decisions and secure the equal- dation beneath the age old debate on that has yet to ratify this critical doc- ity women very much deserve. As sex equality, both in the eyes of the law ument, communities and college cam- mentioned above, the ERA would ex- and in the eyes of society. To quote Fepuses across the state are rapidly ral- tend the so-called all inclusive protec- licity Jones, who portrays Ruth Bader lying to support what can arguably be tion of the 14th Amendment by explic- Ginsburg in the upcoming film “On considered one of the most monumen- itly stating that discrimination on the the Basis of Sex,” “Changing the cultal pieces of legislation in the history of basis of sex cannot take place on any ture means nothing if the law doesn’t the women’s movement. This energy is level of the law. While some may ar- change,” meaning the nation needs
support from “the people who hold the levers,” as the Notorious RBG once said herself. Lying beneath all of the reasons for ratifying the ERA is the question of how we can make it happen, and the answer is students. Virginia is the state that can make the ERA a reality in our nation’s constitution. However, history is not changed overnight, and it is definitely not changed without hard work and dedication. Students have the perfect opportunity to rally behind a magnificent and much needed cause that goes beyond our school and even our state, as it would be monumental for the entire nation. The ERA is a long time coming, and students can be a part of the historical, life changing decision, which is why their involvement is essential in this process. Whether it’s through voting, protesting, tweeting or simply talking about this issue, this is a crucial moment for students, and it could be a crucial moment for our entire country.
HAILEY YOWELL is a Viewpoint Writer for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.
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HUMOR Election Day can be hard, especially for those who have never done it before and don’t know what expect. For those of you who are freshly 18, it can be a daunting experience and you might need some guidance as to what will happen when you get there. Here are some people you are certain to see at the ballot box. Exercise moms As you pull into the elementary school parking lot to get to your voting precinct, a minivan cuts you off to drop little Jimmy through the “kiss and ride” car line. After idling forever to make sure Jimmy gets all the way in
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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THE MIDTERMS THAT MATTER Heath Yancey | Humor Columnist the building, the minivan driver finally pulls into a spot. Suddenly, a woman in exercise clothes emerges from the driver’s side in leggings, UGG boots and sunglasses twice the size of her eyes. Starbucks in hand, she strolls into the voting precinct to cast her vote. The hecklers On the way in, you must pass through the sea of monsters, aka those who think you have no idea what you’re doing and want to tell you exactly how to vote. The sea of monsters is not for the faint of heart, and many do not make it through with their brains and opinions intact. Despite this daunting obstacle, one must pull on experience walking to swipe into Newcomb and crossing the Lawn. All University students have been preparing for this with avoidance of eye contact and fake
phone calls. Always remember — dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. You have U.Va. to thank for your ability to duck people trying to get your attention. “I took time out of my day for this.” As you waited to vote, you likely encountered some people more put out by the process than the rest of those voting. Namely, the busy business tycoons who clearly had to miss a meeting in order to cast their votes in this election. Their assistants likely forgot to file for their absentee ballots, and now they have to cast their votes in person in order to keep their corporate worlds alive. They, no doubt, huffed and puffed at you from behind as you, no doubt, took too long to get your photo ID or to submit your ballot. At least they graced you with their presence.
The mama bears Strolling into the gymnasium, you see a bleach-blonde mixture of a bob and a pixie come through the door. Her makeup and outfit is confusing and reminiscent of her past, but she is clearly trying — but failing — to embrace the future. Behind her she drags her son who has a video camera attached to him. After the Kavanaugh confirmation process, she wants to make sure that no one accuses her son of anything. Instead of teaching her children about consent or actually parenting, she wastes her money on video equipment. Voting officials Did they bring people back from the dead to verify people’s registration information, or are they just old? No one knows, but the skeletons checking you in were not leftovers from Hal-
loween, but actual volunteers trying to participate in the civic process. They have voted in every election since the first time Kennedy was on the ticket and volunteer now to make sure that their vote gets counted first, as it’s the highlight of their year. Half the reason they come is to make sure that no one thinks they’re dead and tries to cast their vote for them. Just think what you have to look forward to in life. No matter how stressful voting is or who you see it is always important to get out and vote! This is the one midterm that you should not miss.
HEATH YANCEY is a Humor Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at humor@cavalierdaily.com.
When Football and Basketball Seasons Overlap Gabby Fuller | Cartoonist
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WEEKLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE Dan Goff | Arts and Entertainment Editor *THE SOLUTION TO THIS PUZZLE CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEXT ISSUE
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Across 1. Retail store ___ & Barrel 6. Lots 11. Physical work 12. Scientific study of light 14. Humorous, ironic — as a work of art, usually written 16. Thomas More's vision 17. Biblical text containing the book of Psalms 18. Those who use straws, say 20. City in northwestern Italy 21. Capital of Norway 23. "Crash ___ me" 24. Under- or be26. Nickel, dime 27. Light beige 28. Painful red bumps in eyes 30. The place where you're probably working on this puzzle 31. Fishing tool 32. Shock, frighten 35. Keep safe or store up 36. In Monopoly, you get to collect $200 once you pass this 38. Some say it's just a number 41. Another number 43. Informal synonym for gutsy — almost identical 47. Loads — two words 48. You must do this with sources
in a paper 49. Oak, elm 50. Unknowable aspect of a deity 52. Autocracy with origins in Russia 55. Shakespeare term for destroy 56. Emit energy or light 57. Before signing up for one-down, make sure this person doesn't have a hold on your SIS account 58. Classic Disney movie being remade with Mena Massoud 59. A deck of cards has four 60. I apologize if the theme of this crossword gave you ___
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33. One who doesn't like to get involved in things 34. It can be scrambled 37. Beat someone in a horse race, say 38. With sound 39. Fancy chocolate brand 40. Relating to national and cultural origins 42. Tropical fish popular in aquariums 44. Groups of three people or things 45. Male reproductive organ 46. Country on the Arabian peninsula plagued by famine 47. City which contains the Taj Mahal 51. Absence of difficulty 53. ___ of the earth 54. Charlottesville musician whose most recent album is "The Rapids"
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
A& E ARTS &
VFF’s ‘The Front Runner’ is a wake-up call Jason Reitman’s film is politically relevant, but unfortunately forgetful
ENTERTAINMENT Academy Award-nominated director and screenwriter Jason Reitman’s new film, “The Front Runner,” was shown as the closing night film for the Virginia Film Festival at 7:30 p.m. last Sunday at the Paramount Theater. The movie challenges, outrages and brings into question America’s current political system. Although the characters and story took place in 1988, this true story is politically relevant now more then ever, regardless of political affiliation. Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman) is a United States Senator from Colorado and running for the presidency for the Democratic nomination in 1988. This came after his unsuccessful run in 1984, when he was a close second behind former Vice President Walter Mondale. With many political opponents deciding not to challenge him, Hart is seen as the front runner. Despite Hart’s arrogance and desire to talk only about political issues and not personal choices, a sex scandal emerges and consumes his campaign. He is caught entering his D.C. townhouse with a mysterious woman who had no relation to him, personally or professionally. This occurred without his wife’s knowledge, over a weekend that he was suppose to be campaigning and after he had stated in an interview that personal lives should not be of concern to journalists. This scandal is primarily structured within the three weeks of Hart’s 1988 presidential campaign. During those weeks between April 13 and May 8 of 1987, Hart went from the prospective Democratic candidate to a political leper. What overshadows this film the most are its themes of social commentary about women’s roles in society, the political system and journalism. Women as a second class Of the many themes of “The Front Runner,” the most overwhelming is society's mindset towards women and the broad complications that can manifest. Disturbing and realistic, many of the problems represented in 1988 are still issues for women today.
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Mark Felice | Production Editor The issues are best displayed through the performances of three types of women. First is the woman at the center of the scandal, Donna Rice (Sara Paxton). Hart and Rice’s situation is something seen often with political sex scandals — married politicians sleeping around in secrecy — but the treatment of Rice is appalling. Rice was in her late 20s during the course of the scandal and had graduated with high honors from the University of South Carolina. Even though she was accomplished academically, Rice was treated like an object. In a pivotal and difficult scene to watch, she admits that she has tried to prove to everyone, men in particular, that she is smart. Her voice and candor shout that she doesn’t want the look of inadequacy that she is accustomed to receiving from men. Her story alludes to the fact of gender bias in observing these scandals. The men may sometimes get away with it, receive a slap on the wrists by the public — or it may not even be perceived as news. Yet even when it was a big deal with Hart, the woman was still objectified and thrown to the wolves as a way to tone down the rhetoric of the scandal. Next is a working woman trying to make it in a male-dominated culture. Irene Kelly (Molly Ephraim) is a member of Hart’s inner circle and advises the early days of his campaign and announcement. Once the scandal comes to light, she is tasked with easing the pressure off of Hart and getting the details out of Rice regarding her relationship with Hart. Kelly is reluctant, ultimately distancing herself from the campaign. She doesn’t want to trick Rice and throw her to the reporters. She admits that she doesn’t feel pretty and doesn’t experience the objectivity that Rice does. However, it is apparent to the audience that she is very much an object to her male peers and is not respected. Third is Oletha “Lee” Hart (Vera Farmiga), Hart’s wife. This performance is the least obvious to the theme, but it stills shows
the role of a wife who stays with a continuously disappointing husband. Lee says that in marriage you make certain “allowances” to your husband. At the same time, she is not happy, almost enraged with her situation. It’s her calmness that speaks louder and makes the audience think she will eventually snap, but she doesn’t, and the Harts are still married to this day. Washington as the new Hollywood In the film, Hart is presented as a man who was very reserved and disliked the idea of sharing his personal life with the general public. By today’s standards, he would most likely not survive a round in the political arena. There is this constant question hanging over the film and Hart as to how much the public should know about its political candidates. Hart wishes to discuss the issues rather than go into any detail about his marriage, even when many were suspicious of his “traditional” marriage. In another key scene, a journalist asks Hart whether he viewed himself as a moral man, also getting his view on infidelity as a mortal sin and wondering if he had committed adultery. Hart ultimately does not answer the most important question and ends his campaign a few days later. Hypocrisy is explored constantly through these scenes. Hart gave the impression of a family man of high morals, yet had an affair. The news cycle asks if this was information the public had the right to know and to what extent. Regardless of the viewer’s opinions on whether such information should be known, it has become increasingly relevant in today’s politics. For example, the media often reports on President Donald Trump’s alleged marital and sexual impropriety. In another vein, political candidates regularly appear on “Saturday Night Live” during campaign seasons. Candidates release their favorite music, film and food. Candidates tweet, Facebook live stream and post Instagram stories. Where is the
COURTESY SONY PICTURES
“The Front Runner” was shown on the closing night of Virginia Film Festival at the Paramount Theater.
line of personal sharing drawn? Journalism or tabloid gossip The least obvious aspect in the film is on the media. During the scandal, The Miami Herald was the news publication that broke the story of Hart’s affair. However, it wasn’t an easy road to discover, publish and defend the story. There was hesitation by some of the editors of the paper about the timing and accuracy of the reporting, but eventually the story was published. The Herald viewed it as bringing up a point about Hart’s judgement and his avoidance to deliver the truth to the American public. Others found it appalling that the scandal would be published for everyone to see and judge. In the search for truth, news publications have always tried to raise questions and bring answers to their readership. Accountability has also taken a larger role in the era of Trump. However, the question of what needs to be public knowledge continues.
“The Front Runner” could be studied and unpacked in hundreds of articles about what it was trying to say and what it was trying to ask its audience. It was clear in its social commentary, but for some reason, the film is forgetful. The writing is good, the cast is well-placed and the story is relevant. But ultimately the commentary is so obvious that it detracts from the performances and the quality of the film. It forgets to tell viewers why watching the film is important in the first place. It doesn’t properly relate it to today’s culture. There is so much to learn from “The Front Runner,” but just like a sex scandal in today’s news cycle, it will soon be forgotten.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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VFF’s ‘Green Book’ presents tale of racism and friendship Opening night film charms while skirting the more difficult questions Dan Goff | Arts and Entertainment Editor The Virginia Film Festival’s “Race in America” series is a collaboration with James Madison’s Montpelier and is, in the words of the Festival website, “a multi-faceted series of films and discussions inspired by and built around Montpelier’s ongoing commitment to exploring its own legacy of slavery.” After an impressive first year, successful largely for its inclusion of special guest Spike Lee, the series’ second run includes documentaries — such as “16 Bars” and “Charlottesville,” which discusses the white supremacist rallies of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 — alongside fictional movies. As an adaptation of a true story, “Green Book” falls somewhere between the two categories. The stars are taking on the roles of real-life counterparts, of course, and the tale itself is compressed, altered and made more tonally whole — in short, a piece of history is transformed into a work of entertainment. The film was shown at the Paramount Theater Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7:00 p.m. It was introduced by Jody Kielbasa — director of the festival and vice provost for the arts — who, in turn, was introduced by University President Jim Ryan. Aside from giving a personal anecdote about seeing “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Festival as a law student, Ryan also provided more information about the title. A green book, as would later be seen in the movie, was a 20th-century guide for African-American travelers in search of hotels or theaters — places of safe passage in a segregation-plagued country. According to Ryan, the Paramount Theater was one of the few “green book” venues. He discouraged the applause which followed his announcement, clarifying that black spectators were confined to the balcony of the theater. Kielbasa’s introduction was briefer than Ryan’s. Perhaps sensing the audience’s eagerness, he only spoke for a few minutes before leaving the stage, signaling the start of the movie. Like every other story working from historical inspiration, “Green Book” is faced with the
same responsibility — how to give proper homage to the history in question. Director Peter Farrelly, known largely for crude comedies like “Dumb and Dumber” and the notorious “Movie 43,” oversees the film with a surprisingly restrained guiding hand. The tone is humorous at times, maybe to a fault, but that humor is mostly tasteful. Whether dramatic or goofy, “Green Book” is meticulously planned so that nothing offends except what is obviously supposed to. The story opens with Tony “Lip” Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) working at the Copacabana as a waiter, bouncer and general tough guy. When the Cabana is closed for renovations, Vallelonga must find another source of income to support his wife Dolores (an excellent Linda Cardellini) and their kids. That source comes in the form of Don Shirley, played by Mahershala Ali — the unquestionable standout of the film. From the moment he strides onscreen, clad in a cream-and-silver robe and what seem to be diamond-studded loafers, anyone in the audience who recognizes Ali from past roles in “Moonlight” or “Hidden Figures” knows to expect a drastic, dramatic departure from his previous characters. Shirley as portrayed in “Green Book” is a brilliant snob. He abhors smoking cigarettes, eating with his hands or shoplifting. He is impeccably well-spoken. Basically, Shirley is the antithesis of Vallelonga — so once their characters meet in Shirley’s decadent loft, the unlikely-buddy dynamic is established. For those unfamiliar, Shirley was a Jamaican-American pianist renowned for his innovations of classic tunes. In the film, he is planning a tour through the American South and needs a driver and a bodyguard — or, as Shirley so delicately puts it, someone with the “ability to handle trouble.” Vallelonga fits the bill and, although his racism holds him back, he needs the money. So he agrees, marking the start of an unusual relationship. As Vallelonga and Shirley journey further and further south, their dynamic morphs
from strained work acquaintances to something resembling friends — per the rules of this sort of movie. They journey through states and concert venues, becoming more comfortable with one another and setting aside their preconceived notions. Vallelonga realizes Shirley is a virtuoso. Shirley realizes Vallelonga is a caring husband and father, helping him write love letters in some of the movie’s most hilarious scenes. In short, each accepts that the other is a person. It’s a sentimental road-trip tale that wraps itself up neatly, leaving viewers with thoroughly warmed hearts. Depending on the viewer, however, those fuzzy feelings might be tainted with the sense that some aspects of the story weren’t properly explored. “Green Book” presents two forms of racism in its characters. There is the obvious, clear-cut prejudice of the concert hall owners who refuse to let Shirley dine with the white audiences or use the same bathrooms, confining their esteemed guest to servant’s quarters. Then there is the comparatively goofy racism of Vallelonga, always disguised as one of the character’s jokes and meant to be laughed off. Vallelonga gets away with it because, in the film, he is more caricature than character. He participates in a hot dog-eating contest to raise money for his family. He steals a cheap, polished stone from a highway store because it’s “fun.” When two black plumbers fix the Vallelongas’ sink, Dolores offers them glasses of water. After they leave, Tony throws the glasses in the trash. It’s an uncomfortable moment that verges on real, though unpleasant character development until a few scenes later, when Shirley interviews Vallelonga for the job and asks him if he anticipates problems with having a black employer. Of course not, Vallelonga exclaims, saying that he and his wife had recently entertained a couple of black friends in their apartment. “We had them over for drinks.” The audience is expected to laugh, and on Thursday, the predomi-
COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES
“Green Book” was shown during the Virginia Film Fesitval as part of the Festival’s ongoing “Race in America” series.
nantly white crowd did. Vallelonga, although he grows closer to his employer throughout the film and confronts concert hall owners for a few of their more blatant acts of racism, has meager depth or growth when compared to Shirley. The pianist’s character is compelling, tortured, made irresistible by Ali’s handling of the figure — and also remains largely obscure to the viewer. It seems strange that Vallelonga was chosen as the protagonist, but this mystery is lessened when considering that Vallelonga’s real-life son contributed to the screenplay. There is no major flaw within “Green Book” to render it unwatchable — on the contrary, it is a supremely entertaining film bolstered by Ali’s performance, which at least merits an Academy Award nomination. But its glib treatment of racism, shielded by a veil of humor which either sidesteps or perpetuates the problem, makes the movie a weak inclusion for the “Race in America” se-
ries. Among a collection of films which puts some of the country’s most relevant concerns under an earnest spotlight, “Green Book” amuses but ultimately asks little of its audience.
H&S HEALTH & SCIENCE
Each year, the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities collaborates with the University’s School of Medicine to produce the Hayden-Farr Lecture in Epidemiology and Virology. The lecture honors the work of two distinguished University doctors — Medicine and Pathology professor Frederick Hayden and the late Barry Farr. Jeffery Taubenberger — chief in the viral pathogenesis and evolution section in the laboratory of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health — gave this year’s lecture on Oct. 31 on the history of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic and how it can be used to develop more effective preventative vaccines in the future.
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Talk highlights centennial of Spanish influenza Jeffery Taubenberger uses experience sequencing the genome of this virus to provide ideas about its prevention Elise Fisher | Staff Writer Through his hour-long lecture — titled “On the Centenary of the 1918 Flu: Remembering the Past and Planning for the Future” — Taubenberger explained the history of influenza pandemics, the biology of how the virus works and evolves and how this information can be used to improve medicine. The pandemic of the 1918 flu, otherwise known as the Spanish flu outbreak, is estimated to have killed about 50 million people in a period of nearly nine months. The disease induced severe inflammatory responses in the body of those afflicted with it, and many cases at this time were marked by secondary infections of bacterial pneu-
monia that proved deadly if patients lived long enough to accrue them. On top of the extraordinary scale of mortality, this flu pandemic was also abnormal in the types of people it impacted most. Taubenberger explained that usually, the influenza A virus has the greatest effects on the “extremes of life” — babies and the elderly — but this specific virus hit the human lifespan differently, with 28-year-olds being the group with the highest mortality rate on average. Another aspect of the 1918 virus deemed important by Taubenberger was the property of antigenic drift, which stems from biological structure. The virus consisted of a single RNA
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strand and lacked a mechanism for proofreading, meaning that the genetic code of the virus could succumb to very frequent mutations, either positive or negative. This proclivity to change and mutation would most often be seen as a detrimental quality in biological molecules, but for a virus like the 1918 influenza, this was a key survival mechanism that has proven difficult to outsmart. Mutations are what have allowed the influenza virus to evolve each year and form new biological disguises that are difficult to foresee and treat preventatively. Taubenberger called the 1918 virus “the mother of all pandemics,” explaining that genetically, all subsequent influenza pandemics shared many of the same proteins and structures as this virus. The lecturer and a team of his colleagues made it their goal to understand the 1918 flu virus in hopes of applying it to all of the other more recent flu pandemics that have occurred and finding a better method to fight against the ever-changing virus more broadly. His team meticulously sequenced the genome of the virus in a ten-year effort. “I had this crazy idea that we could perhaps use PCR-based approaches to find gene segments of the virus that caused the 1918 flu in autopsy tissues of people who died in the 1918 pandemic … and this project worked,” Taubenberger said. After having achieved a successful “resurrection” of the unique 1918 influenza virus, Taubenberger and his team used this for what the doctor calls “model pathogenesis” in his laboratory. They utilized this reconstruction to understand what elements of the virus were most involved in the mutations of it. This was done through special types of studies called volunteer challenge studies. “Healthy and very carefully screened volunteers are brought into the hospital and intentionally infected with circulating wild-type influenza viruses to study basic pathogenesis and immune correlates,” Taubenberger said. “We use this as a basis for Phase II studies, which are very efficient in terms of ability to look at efficacy of novel drugs, therapeutics and vaccines in small numbers of patients.” Through these volunteer studies, the team found that one part of the virus that remained relatively constant
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throughout the constant evolution was the stalk of the hemagglutinin surface protein and inferred that vaccines that targeted this aspect of the virus might be more effective in preventing outbreaks, despite the unpredictability factor. Taubenberger then described the application of these findings to the idea of a “universal vaccine” — a “broadly protective” approach to influenza inoculation that would account for a more vast and diverse spread of flu viruses so that evolution would not always be outrunning doctors and researchers. “This could mean perhaps a vaccine that would give you better breadth of protection from seasonal viruses, so that maybe you don’t need to be vaccinated every year, maybe you only need to be vaccinated every five years or every 10 years,” Taubenberger said. “A broader one would be a vaccine that could actually be a pre-pandemic vaccine that no matter what bird or horse or swine flu that could get into people, of any subtype, that you could have immunity.” A main idea delineated was that by using a non-infectious mixture of avian flu viruses hemagglutinin proteins, a wider scope of viruses would be accounted for, and an exact match of a specific year’s seasonal virus with the vaccine antigen would not be as necessary as it is now for efficacy. Taubenberger concluded his talk by summing up that his team of researchers hopes to conduct volunteer challenge studies by next year with new universal vaccine types they have been making. After the lecture, members of the audience, whether current students at the School of Medicine or physicians themselves, praised Taubenberger and the thoughtful analysis he provided. Hayden, one of the namesakes of the lecture, was in attendance and described Taubenberger’s talk as a “tourde-force and very much appreciated.” Marcia Childress, director of Programs in Humanities at the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities, closed the event by announcing that there will be no Medical Center Hour the week of Nov. 5 and aptly advised, “Don’t come next Wednesday — go get your flu shot instead.”
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018
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Computer Science department plans to change curriculum Newly-launched pilot program in computer science trials alternatives to core classes Nisha Dabi | Senior Writer The Computer Science Undergraduate Curriculum Committee is considering curriculum changes to both the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees for computer science. During this current fall academic semester, the CS UGCC has initiated its first pilot program with the goal of full implementation by the fall of 2020. These changes come from considerations in a 2013 nationwide report that provided an overview of recommendations for computer science curriculum. The report proposed a set of goals to encompass the flexibility of the field, including designing a more broadly based curriculum that would prepare its graduates for a variety of professions in fields like computational finance or chemistry and informatics. Specific recommendations include developing a system-level perspective, problem solving skills, a project-based component and broadening the participation of students in computer science by building a more flexible minor. The report also recommended incorporating new knowledge areas to the curriculum by implementing courses that focus on Information Assurance and Security — a set of
controls and processes that intend to protect information and information systems — and Networking and Communication, which includes topics like web development and network security. These guidelines encouraged the Computer Science Department to focus on components in the curriculum that are missing from the current computer science major. “We were trying to identify areas that we could improve,” Assoc. Computer Science Prof. Mark Sherriff said. “In computer science, the material is changing rapidly, so we are constantly trying to find ways to teach these classes to get the material across.” The process to change the computer science curriculum also involved talks with the Computer Science Industrial Advisory Board — a group made up of companies, such as Capital One and Leidos, that hire students — as well as current computer science students and faculty. “We interviewed nearly every CS faculty member individually and asked what they would like to see in the program,” Sherriff said. “We also had open houses where students could come and give input.” According to Sherriff, the pilot
program allows a gradual change in curriculum, where refinement takes place in later iterations of the initial pilot program. Although this approach lengthens the timeline of program implementation, it also allows the department to try the new curriculum and classes and receive feedback from students and professors following each pilot program. Eventually, the finalized curriculum will need to receive approval from the School of Engineering, the computer science department, the CS UGCC and the College. The College is also involved in this process, as curriculum changes would affect Bachelor of Arts Computer Science majors in the College. The primary changes include revisions of the current required courses — or Foundation Courses — that aim to reorganize and refocus core content to align with the 2013 recommended curriculum changes. Eventually, the department hopes to introduce Tracks — sets of additional required and elective CS courses that allow students an opportunity to specialize in different computer science fields. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee has already approved the
teaching of two classes for the current fall semester in the first initiation of the pilot program. Students in the program are taking Data Structures and Algorithms and Computer Organization and Architecture. “These new courses are fast paced, especially for first-years, but the professors do an excellent job at tending to the needs of the individual students and are actively looking for feedback,” said Roy Jad, a first-year Engineering student in the pilot program. “The small class sizes make this close attention possible, so it will be interesting to see how circumstances change with the implementation of the curriculum pilot into larger lectures.” “We are realigning our material to tell a better story and have a more gradual movement through the courses,” Sherriff said. In this first pilot program, there are about 55 students. Sherriff said most students in the Bachelor of Sciences Computer Science program are first- or second-years that have taken an introductory computer science course or have received AP credit for the class. Additionally, some third-year students are also enrolled in the program, hoping to acquire a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science.
“The other thing were are trying to do is that the B.A. and B.S. have a different set of requirements and we are trying to bring those closer in line with each other so that BA and BS students have a similar experience in the core classes,” Sherriff said. Next semester, the program will incorporate classes such as Computer Organization and Architecture 2 (CS2501) and Data Structures and Algorithms 2 (CS2501). From there, the CS department will gain feedback from faculty and pilot students to refine the material and classes. Sherriff said he hopes that the program will be implemented in full effect by fall 2020. Although the proposed changes to the computer science curriculum may be drastic, with changes affecting more than a few classes, the evolution of curriculum occurs in nearly every discipline, according to Sherriff. “This is what we do as academics — we try and find the ways that are the best ways to present the material and create new learning experiences so that students have a good experience and have the skills they need,” Sherriff said. “It’s always evolving.”
Science-focused organizations offer STEM policy proposals The Science Policy Initiative and Cville Comm-UNI-ty release memorandum addressing key science policy issues Cecily Wolfe | Senior Writer In the weeks leading up to the 2018 midterm elections, the Science Policy Initiative at the University and Cville Comm-UNI-ty — a nonprofit composed of Charlottesville community members promoting STEM literacy — have asked for scientific issues to be on the minds of citizens. A press release published in Charlottesville Tomorrow by the organizations urged candidates and people in the Charlottesville community, the state and the nation to consider science policies when designing their platforms and casting their votes. Founded early in 2017, the Science Policy Initiative is composed mostly of graduate students in the Engineering School, the biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry and biology. It serves as a resource for students thinking of pursuing a career in science policy after graduation, as well as a means of raising awareness for the importance of scientific research in everyday life. The SPI promotes awareness through hosting different programs for students, including seminar series, career panels and symposiums focused on engaging the University and the wider Charlottesville community as a whole. “We are interested in both how to
reset policy that governs and regulates scientific research and research funding,” SPI Community Outreach Chair Matthew Diasio said. “We are also interested in how to better incorporate scientific evidence into the general policy making process.” As a part of the National Science Policy Network, an organization dedicated to supporting students and young professionals in science, engineering and politics, SPI was awarded the Advocating for State-Level Science Policy microgrant in the fall of 2018. Their grant proposal included hosting their own debate, which did not take place due to candidates’ busy schedules. Instead, for the Virginia Fifth Congressional District Debate held in Garrett Hall in late September, SPI submitted questions members had hoped to ask. Ultimately, the press release stemmed from these questions and issues SPI wanted candidates to address. “We want people to get involved in elections and to show them how science matters in the government and how research matters to our local community,” Diasio said. SPI then partnered with Cville Comm-UNI-ty to gauge Charlottes-
ville’s political climate regarding science policies at the federal, state and local levels. Utilizing the list of 10 questions for House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates proposed by the organization Science Debate as a starting point, SPI and Cville CommUNI-ty surveyed their members and the Charlottesville community on multiple scientific and technological issues. The questions generating the most interest were organized into a memorandum summarizing the major topics of interest and offering non-partisan suggestions to Fifth District candidates. According to Cville Comm-UNIty Executive Director Elizabeth Hoffman, the goal of the memorandum — and the overarching objective of Cville Comm-UNI-ty and SPI — was to urge voters to examine candidate views on research and the scientific sides of policies aimed at societal concerns. “The more people who are aware why science is important, the more that will consider that when looking at politicians’ platform and when they are voting,” Hoffman said. “People should look at how candidates incorporate science and evidence-based policies into their actions they want to get done if elected.”
Specifically, the press release focused on federal research funding, health disparities, immigration and science and the environment. Federal grants resulted in millions of dollars of economic growth within Virginia in 2017, a trend the memorandum urges candidates to maintain. SPI and Cville Comm-UNI-ty’s statement recognized the lack of healthcare access for rural, low-income and minority people and encourages candidates to address this issue. Additionally, the memorandum proposed the difficulties many international STEM graduate students face relating to visa restrictions and hopes candidates will resolve issues regarding immigration. Finally, SPI and Cville Comm-UNI-ty asked candidates to support environmental and community well-being — advising that industrial projects such as the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which create jobs and perpetuate economic growth, will disturb natural habitats. “The hope is that we can make more candidates and people cognizant of the importance of science and issues related to written policy for healthcare, technology and how we treat the environment,” Diasio said. While any impact the joint memo-
randum had will not be apparent until the polls close, both SPI and Cville Comm-UNI-ty hope to continue facilitating conversations concerning local and state projects and laws with scientific components. The two will partner on additional initiatives in the coming months in an effort to reach those outside of the science and University communities. “Moving forward, we hope to keep engaging more community members,” Hoffman said. “We want to keep engaging more community members and hope to reach people that wouldn’t necessarily be coming to science things. We want to get a more diverse group attending out events.” Diasio affirmed Hoffman’s aspirations and also emphasized the role that students have in achieving these goals. “On our end as grad students, we can start reaching out in ways that are useful to people and doesn’t seem distant,” Diasio said. “We live here every day. And we’re scientists, and we want to humanize that and also be responsive to the needs in our communities.”
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An open letter to the voters of the 5th Congressional District: Clean energy has created thousands of new, high-paying jobs in Virginia and is spurring billions of dollars of investment across rural America, including Southwest and Southside Virginia. This is America’s future. And as an emerging clean energy hub, the opportunity is now for the 5th Congressional District. It was encouraging to see clean energy discussed at the 5th Congressional District debate. Unfortunately, Denver Riggleman’s comments that linked climate action to job loss are just plain wrong. The transition to a clean energy economy will address climate change AND create jobs. For the past two years, our 5th District representation has worked against the interests of our local clean energy industry. We can’t afford another two years of the same. It’s time to take a stand. We need action, not talk. Commitments, not excuses. It’s time to support clean energy—and our local economy. This is about our changing climate. And it’s about creating jobs in the fastest-growing industry sector in the heart of the 5th District. Cutting-edge clean energy companies in the 5th District are eliminating carbon emissions through innovation. Only one candidate intends to lead the charge for clean energy jobs and protect future generations from the devastating effects of unmitigated climate change. That candidate is Leslie Cockburn. We urge you to vote to support a clean energy future for the 5th Congressional District on November 6.
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