Fall 2020 by CisternYard Media

journalistic THE THE

arcana AKA Meet the Staff

Shannon Murray

bryce warner

Katie Hopewell

Sophia barham ď Źď Ź

Zoe Murrie

Josiah Thomason, Iriana Rucker, Mia Jennings, Jersie Messervy, amanda weiss

emily turner Tyler McCormack

Table of Contents 5

Letter from the editor

beyond the blue mat

Dis/placements: revisitations of hom

making a house a home

before your very A tarot reading experience eyes

the co$t of learning

Men's club volleyball

a farewell to CYM

Social justice profiles

Charleston ghost stories

from the editor’s desk

fall 2020 N

eedless to say, 2020 has been the strangest year I think any of us have lived through. As a college student, it has been especially strange. Between online classes, an impending (now as I write this contentious) election, and isolation from our friends all of us are re-learning how to have fulfilling routines. As so many of us are home now more than ever, in this issue we contemplate the idea of home through the interior decor of other college students, and the Halsey’s dis/placement exhibit about the meaning of “home.” Also check out our feature on the men’s volleyball team and join us as we ask SGA hard questions and journey through the world of professional cheerleading.We hope this issue brings you as much joy reading it as we had making it and maybe, for a moment, you can reside in our pages and leave the strangeness that is 2020.

e i r r u zoe m

BeyonD The

investigating abuse in the cheerleading industry by Katie Hopewell

heerleading: what began with a single man cheering on the sidelines of a college football game, evolving from all-male pep squads, to “ra-ra” cheer squads with pleated skirts, sweaters and megaphones, to what is now a multibillion dollar industry encompassing school, recreational, collegiate and all-star teams. The societal perception of the cheerleader role has historically been one of a disciplined and involved ‘good girl,’ as well as a more deviant and sexualized ‘popular girl,’ neither of which acknowledges the cheerleader as an athlete. Although diminishing and misogynistic in nature, these misunderstandings of cheerleading have propelled cheerleaders to establish themselves as more than just character archetypes in a high school drama. Cheerleading has become increasingly athletic and its caliber has become that of a sport, due to the emergence of its all-star genre. Unlike the image that crops up in many of our minds, one of cheer squads sequestered on sidelines, all-star cheerleaders are the main focus of their sporting events.

All-star teams compete against one another, constrained by divisions based both on age and athlete skill levels; they each perform two-minute-and-thirty second routines consisting of group stunting, synchronized tumbling and high energy dances. Routines are judged based on ability to properly and fully execute the routine, how well the contents of their routine align with the guidelines of their division level and overall performance dynamics.

Cheerleading as it exists now hardly fits its stereotypes that have been sustained for almost a century. As we move farther and

farther away from the days of “ra-ra” cheerleaders, it becomes clear that the real enemies of cheerleading are not the external critics who refuse to call it a sport—they are the sexual predators who disguise themselves as coaches and fellow athletes. Early this year, on January 8th, the Netflix Original program, Cheer premiered on Netflix. The docuseries followed Navarro College’s co-ed cheerleading team from the beginning of their season, all the way to their title-win at the National Cheerleading Association’s collegiate national championship. Throughout the docuseries, the stereotype of the cheerleader is deconstructed by the life stories of Navarro’s cheerleaders, and is rebuilt into something much more awe-inspiring. A seeming standout athlete, Jerry Harris, emerged as a main character throughout the span of the show’s first season. Harris was adored by Cheer watchers across the board, cheerleaders and not, because of his sheer ardour and unrelenting love for the sport. Following the show’s premier, Harris received all sorts of popular media attention: interviewing celebrities at the Oscars with Ellen DeGeneres, entertaining a crowd with Oprah Winfrey and encouraging young black voters to vote alongside 2020 Presidential candidate Joe Biden. Because of Cheer, Harris became the underdog that everyone was rooting for. That was so, until the headline, “Jerry Harris from ‘Cheer’ under FBI investigation for allegedly soliciting sex from minors” from USA Today surfaced on September 14th of this year. Harris was then arrested by the FBI on September 17 and charged in a Chicago federal court for production of child

Blue Mat pornography. Harris’ case involved 13 year-old twin brothers whom Harris, 19 at the time, had approached via Snapchat and text messages seeking lewd images and sex in early 2019. The twins’ mother claims that she had initially written off the potential harm done by such communications, until her sons were sexually assaulted by another cheerleading coach in May of the same year. Frustrated with abuse occurring twice within the institution of all-star cheerleading, the twins’ mother acknowledged that there may be a norm of tolerance about sexual misconduct pervading the cheerleading industry. Former all-star cheerleader, and now cheerleading coach Ashley (last name redacted for anonymity purposes) stoutly agrees. Ashley is one of dozens of cheerleaders who have experienced abuse at the hands of a coach—abuse so severe that she “left cheerleading completely,” she noted in an interview.

leading differs from many sports in that its coaches interact with athletes much more intimately. Whether it is the physical contact involved with spotting athletes on tumbling skills or the emotional connection formed during a season, the nature of cheerleading alone necessitates exceptionally close relations between the two, which are not nearly as common in other disciplines. It is the intimacy inherent to the sport that leads cheerleaders to continually disregard instances of abuse. “Now knowing what happened [to me] and kind of knowing the definition of what it was, it’s too scary to think that can happen in such a safe space for people,” Ashley mentions.

“the twins’ mother ac-

knowledged that there may be a norm of tolerance about sexual misconduct pervading the cheerleading industry.”

Like other young survivors of abuse, Ashley was unable to recognize her coach’s misconduct as such, and chalked it up to just being part of his coaching style and personality. “You know what feels uncomfortable; but you don’t know if it’s wrong, or if it’s even worth saying anything [about],” she explained. Cheer-

The standard of negligence regarding misconduct in cheerleading extends far beyond the individual gyms, however. When the mother of the twins harassed by Harris decided to report Harris’ misconduct, she did so on May 15 of this year, through the U.S. All-Star Federation (USASF), a governing body for cheerleading. The initial report incited an unhelpful response from USASF’s Vice President of Membership, and Harris was not effectively suspended from USASF-sanctioned activities until after a second report from the twins’ mother in July and the publication of USA Today’s report on his misconduct allegations. The time that elapsed between the first, fruitless report and the second allowed for an owner of Cheer Athletics, a prominent gym

within the industry, to warn Harris of the allegations and urge him to destroy any evidence. Aside from allowing the victimizer to throw his phone away, USASF’s initial hesitation to take action against Harris raised plenty of eyebrows both inside the cheerleading industry and out, and necessitated a closer look into the body intended to protect athletes. USASF is one of two groups that set guidelines for cheerleading coaches and athletes, the other is USA Cheer. Although seemingly separate from one another, as USASF’s domain is constrained to all-star programs while USA Cheer is responsible for all disciplines of cheerleading, the two are actually owned by the same parent company: Varsity Spirit. If you have ever been a cheerleader, then you know Varsity Spirit. The Memphis-based, for-profit company is nearly ubiquitous in the sport; they design and sell uniforms for teams, create practice apparel, host annual summer camps and host nearly every all-star and collegiate competition. Varsity Spirit was founded by Jeff Webb in 1974, in order to boost the overall athleticism of cheerleading. After several company mergers took place, Varsity expanded its overall domain within the cheerleading industry to encompass nearly all of the individual event producers that are responsible for hosting national and world championships. The continual growth of the company since its emergence has resulted in three different class-action lawsuits against Varsity, claiming that its overly expansive market hold violates federal antitrust laws. While Varsity’s proliferation may seem to embody a desire to dominate the industry for financial gain, the intertwining of the governing bodies with the monopolizing, for-profit company suggests

“At this point, they are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. So just ignoring the problem is their solution. USA Gymnastics tried that too. That just doesn’t work for me,” something much more sinister. Not only does Varsity dominate the industry, but seats within the bodies of governance as well. Both USA Cheer and USASF are organized as panels; six out of the 15 available seats on the former’s panel, and seven out of the 13 seats on the latter’s board are held by Varsity Spirit employees. The blatant bias that exists within these governing bodies demonstrates that they will remain incapable of taking sexual misconduct allegations seriously and will continue to fail to protect athletes until they are no longer influenced by Varsity Spirit. A former gymnast and survivor of former gymnastics doctor and sex offender Larry Nassar’s abuse (name redacted for the sake of anonymity) echoed these sentiments in an interview: “There needs to be unbiased governing bodies not exclusively represented and funded by Varsity Brands and their employees. Once that is established, concrete guidelines need to

be implemented with strict consequences for crimes against children. This whole ‘we’ll investigate this claim’ is bullshit. Because USASF ignored the initial complaint against Harris, it provided a gym owner the opportunity to tip off Harris and allowed him to dump evidence. The current USASF employees are absolutely not qualified, nor objective enough to do any investigation” she explained. Although her expertise remains in gymnastics, this woman now advocates against the tolerance of sexual misconduct that appears to be institutionalized in cheerleading, gymnastics, youth football and youth hockey. She is not alone in her upset with Varsity Brands; countless parents of cheerleaders have taken to social media, mostly Twitter, to express their frustrations and disappointment with the company. Anonymous Twitter accounts held by these parents even uncovered another extensive pattern of systematic abuse by a highly sought-after cheer music producer that USASF failed to acknowledge. “At this point, they are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. So just ignoring the problem is their solution. USA [Gymnastics] tried that too. That just doesn’t work for me,” the advocate explained. Willful ignorance is the least effective and least humane method of combating sexual misconduct within the industry, but Varsity Spirit continues, regardless. Their failure to condemn sexual assault until USA Today’s report on Harris was published, and USA Cheer’s Twitter page that contains at least 19 tweets about bullying prevention and only two that directly denounce sexual misconduct demonstrates a clear intention by Varsity Spirit to repeatedly dodge blame for the harms being done to athletes and maintain a

watchdog masquerade. Until the authority of Varsity Spirit is broken up and governing bodies are filled with unbiased chairs, the industry will continue to suffer. Guidelines for the sport need to be rewritten and firm consequences for misconduct against children need to be set, in order for this sport to be safely navigable for athletes of all demographics. It is abundantly clear at this point that the institutions of cheerleading are not looking out for athletes’ best interest, so that is why we must continue telling our stories and speaking out against the abuse that occurs.

Dis

placements:

REVISITATIONS OF HOME by Emily Turner

While the damaging path of COVID-19 has caused rampant displacement in our daily routine and home life, this shifting perception of “home” is not a recent phenomenon. In many parts of the world, home is a battleground of political and social cleavages. Home is a place of terror and instability, where certain personal beliefs and passions are not accepted. Even in a place defined by comfort, many feel an absence of safety. The Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art’s latest exhibition addresses themes of movement, diaspora and cultural identity within a wide variety of media – from painted portraits conveying narratives of Chinese political turmoil to multimedia representations of the struggle of Black males in America. “Dis/Placements: Revisitations of Home” showcases the work of ten artists reflecting on displacement from ancestral homelands.

The exhibition is available for viewing online at the Halsey Institute website, where virtual conversation recordings with each artist have been posted. Each of the artists’ exhibitions have an accompanying essay written by independent art critics, directors at the Halsey Institute or professors at the College of Charleston. Although they are united by a common theme, the salience of variety within the exhibition is not lost upon its curators. Each painting, photograph, sketch, watercolor and sculptural depiction has been heavily influenced by the multicultural background of these artists. One of them, Jiha Moon, combines her Korean childhood with her American adulthood in a series of paintings, ceramic and mixed media pieces. Art writer and critic Lilly Wei conveys Moon’s internal cultural ambiguity resulting from this background in the artist’s exhibition essay: “she does not feel that she quite belongs to either culture, a feeling that has generated the imagery that festoons her work and comprises its core.” The traditionally Asian brushstrokes and Korean motifs are intertwined with some recognizable American elements – including, but not limited to, Georgia peaches and American tattoo designs, with bananas serving as a cultural metaphor. Accompanying writer Wei offers the idea that Moon’s pieces “are spoonfuls of sugar laced with bite.” To take only one glance at each piece would render any viewer foolish –

Art by Jiha Moon

“Home” connotes an assumption of comfort. Picture a roof, floors, a front door. A warm bed for sleep, a sink for running water. A place where family convenes. As we spend more and more time at home in quarantine or isolation, our definitions of this space may change. Perhaps home is no longer a sanctuary of relaxation – maybe the kitchen has begun to look like a home office, maybe the couch has become a substitute for your favorite chair at work.

Other artists, like Fahamu Pecou, bring these questions closer to home. Pecou’s featured series draws from one of his earlier exhibitions, entitled grav•i•ty. The combination of canvas, performance and installation art within Pecou’s series poses a double entendre of “gravity” to convey both the physical burden and grave nature of the Black man’s struggle in America. Pecou’s subjects bend dramatically, as if in poses of submission, exhaustion. “The artist suggests that the Black male in America is at home only inside of his own skin and that his body is his house and his home, and the only thing that Black men are allowed to own in this country,” writes Ruth Rambo in Pecou’s exhibition essay. There is no rest for the bodies who must move constantly, running from prejudice and discrimination and bias. In a country so boastful of its “melting pot” of race and ethnicities, a wide sect of the population does not have a home, a place of comfort. “This series is provocative and stimulating and contemporary. It is of our time. It is for our time,” Rambo declares. Pecou’s series is a vulnerable exposition of Black masculinity in America—one which reminds us that home appears differently beyond your own front porch. Fahamu Pecou’s work reminds us—in the words of Ruth Rambo—the “time for reflection and (re) imagination has arrived suddenly, involuntarily, and unexpectedly on the wings of our pandemic-plague.” The art presented within “Dis/ Placements: Revisitations of Home” is symbolic of shifting notions of home, lifestyle and identity. Each of the 10 artists included in “Dis/ Placements: Revisitations of Home” has found a creative outlet for thoughts, feelings, opinions, stories and beliefs in search of their own understanding of home. As the pandemic persists, temporary living solutions become more permanent and “when COVID-19 is gone” seems further and further out of reach. There is no better time than now to contemplate our purpose, our contributions and our place in the world.

A digital collection of images accompanying artist biographies and virtual conversations with artists and writers can be found on the Halsey Institute’s website until December 12th, however the main gallery has opened for socially distanced viewing. Videos from previous virtual conversations are also available online. Visitors will be required to wear a cloth face mask covering if visiting the Halsey Gallery and while on campus. Visit displacements.org to view and learn more about this exhibition, and search halsey.cofc. edu for more information about the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston.

Art by Fahamu Pecou

Moon’s pieces beg for meticulous eyes and deeper comprehension. Woven between her imagery and aesthetics are pieces of the puzzle Moon struggles to place together—her own questions of race and cultural belonging.

Making a House a Home H

by Shannon Murray photos by Sophia Barham

ome. It’s the scent and ambience, the solace and the serotonin. It’s the couch that welcomes you every afternoon and the familiar bathroom mirror that has seen you at your worst. It’s the chipped wall paint that your brain blocks out or the rug that has felt your running and dancing. Home is safe, but it makes us wonder, what makes our homes so special and how do we make a home feel like it’s an extension of us?

Plants bring life into an otherwise stale room. Put one on a floating shelf, bar cart or next to your bed for a brighter space. Not to mention, indoor plants have proven to purify the air, sharpen your focus and imporve overall health.

Our favorite home decor pieces 1. Velvet accent chairs 2 Gold floor lamps 3 Whicker baskets 4 Neutral throw pillows 5 Plants

Home of Sophomore Joy Gay

Choosing a color palette for your house is a great place to start when decorating a room. Deeper blues and reds can create a sensual and mysterious space while neutrals reflect a light and sunny energy. Pops of color bring excitement into a room, but has to be done right. To develop a personal color palette, take cues from your closet. If denim is your go-to, try starting with a navy couch. Dress your rooms like you dress yourself for a more personal space.

Home of Sophomore Kerrigan von Carlowitz

Facebook Marketplace is your friend, and there is no shame in making someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s profit your newest obsession. Second hand shopping isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only cheaper, but a good way to develop a one of a kind space and a good way to shop sustainably. Look at Goodwill or other second hand stores for your next DIY. When thrifting, look for statement and whicker pieces. Also keep an eye out for antique frames and mirrors to hang next to your favorite piece from the more expensive stores.

Home of Senior Shannon Murray

When in doubt, keep it simple. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to have more neutral pieces than too many pops of color. When building up a room, work from a neutral rug and up.

Our favorite home decor pieces 1 Large area rugs 2 Homemade art 3 Macrame/ tapestry 4 Floating shelves 5 Vintage frames

according to NPR. In a report released by USA Today, protests had erupted in every state to speak up against the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The United States Postal Service had declared a postal service crisis. Over 5 million acres of land in California, Oregon and Washington had burned due to historic wildfires, according to The New York Times. A lot can happen in seven months. And our campus community has been busy. In a year defined by unprecedented events, Student Government Association (SGA) President Jeremy Turner and Vice President Cookie Desai have taken initiative. The College’s 36-Senator-strong SGA has already passed numerous resolutions dedicated to the Turner-Desai administration’s five-point campaign platform prioritizing diversity, safety, accessibility, transparency and wellness. Our campus community has been busy. And yet, the results of an October poll conducted by CisternYard Media – which surveyed over 150 individuals via social media – showed that 58% of respondents do not feel confident in their knowledge of SGA and its activities. 57% reported that they had not heard about or engaged in recent SGA campus events, and only 54% stated that they had voted in the recent Fall election. Perhaps most strikingly: 46% of the respondents do not feel represented within SGA.

BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES A Conversation with SGA by Emily Turner pictures by Josiah Thomason and Aidan Toumey The College of Charleston’s 250th year was one to remember. As the coronavirus pandemic blazed across the globe, College administrators faced a critical decision: proceed with in-person classes, or shift to entirely virtual instruction for the remainder of the semester. It was a long and eventful seven months before the first wave of students returned to Charleston, after being sent home for spring break in March. By the time that students returned to campus for in-person instruction on September 14, almost 200,000 individuals had died as a result of COVID-19,

It is clear that students have very little connection to or understanding of SGA – if any at all. This is something that President Turner and VP Desai are looking to change during their administration. “When Jeremy and I were campaigning for our administration, we had a point that diversity and equity in general was going to be a priority for us,” says Desai. “We have really tried to be there for all of our students, especially those that don’t normally have a voice that is heard or listened to.” On June 2nd, SGA leadership released a statement in solidarity with Black students and the Black Lives Matter movement. As this statement announced, “The Student Government denounces the

Association strongly denounces the actions of racist institutions and is offering support in any way we can to prevent these unacceptable actions from being repeated. We pledge ourselves to help reshape the systems that are negatively discriminating against Black lives.” Furthermore, SGA openly rejected the “abuses of power by police” specifically within the Charleston Police Department against peaceful protestors. “We stand firmly in our belief that racism and brutality have no place on our campus. This is not a partisan issue; it is a human issue.” While the language of this statement was fierce and assertive, according to Desai, “it means nothing if we’re not actually working to uproot systemic discrimination that some of our students face.” In fulfilling their commitment to support, SGA teamed up with the National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPHC) and the CofC Black Student Union (BSU) to

second year on campus, and 2) how we can improve the campus environment to make sure that they not only stay on campus, but really feel like this campus is a home for them,” says President Turner. “One of my biggest goals is to make sure everyone feels like they have a community here, and feels like this school that they’re extending all of their money to, and they’re spending all of their time trying to better, is a community that wants to see them grow and is fair and equitable,” says Desai. SGA has created a Historical Review Taskforce specifically to address this trend. In light of the pandemic, SGA acknowledges the challenges of effective outreach in the current conditions, but also embraces them. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, prior to students’ return to campus, SGA was an early pioneer in supporting mandatory mask policies. Led by Turner and Desai,

Action during October, with each day of the week presenting a new resource. Yard signs with informative QR codes linked students directly to resources about the BLM movement, police brutality, and racial inequality. An “I Stand” wall placed encouraged students to share what they stand for and support. SGA offered methods to call and text representatives, while emphasizing the importance of mental health and encouraging students to “Know Your Rights” to protest as a student at CofC. “This week of action is just one of a few that we’ll be doing throughout the year,” says VP Desai. “We don’t want to do empty gestures, we don’t want performative allyship or anything like that. We want to actually help people.” As the first Asian-American woman to fill the position of Vice President, Desai hopes that her term will see greater representation of minority students. Turner and Desai both point out that the College holds a historically low retention rate of minority students. “our minority student transfer rate skyrockets after the first and second year on campus. We’re trying to see if there’s any way we can find out 1) what is causing those students to transfer after their first and second

and Charleston city residents, so that students might be more likely to return to campus safely. This sentiment was followed by the creation of the “Cougar Pledge,” which outlined student expectations upon campus reopening. When Immigration and Customs ment (ICE) threatened that international students would be deported in the event of virtual instruction, the Turner-Desai administration worked to compile a roster of professors available for independent studies, to ensure that international students at CofC would be protected and could continue their education. More recently, SGA also passed a resolution in support of the repeal of the Heritage Act, a piece of South Carolina legislation which requires a ⅔ vote from the South Carolina legislature to change the name of or remove any memorial, flag, or other public entity for any war, historic figure or event. “Anyone who runs for SGA after me and ran for SGA before me was meant to be the voice of the student body,” says Turner. In light of this administration’s leadership, perhaps the most vital advances on behalf of the CofC student body are being made right before our very eyes. Now is the time to get busy.

“We don’t want to do empty gestures, we don’t want performative allyship... We want to actually

t h e History of the Tarot

The beginning of Tarot dates back to the early 1500s in Northern Italy. It began as a card game that has since become a tool for fun, spirituality, and self- discovery. Since then, the deck of cards has traveled the world and picked up some different meanings, interpretations, and even negative stereotypes. Together, we’ll cover some of the basics of Tarot 101 and debunk some of those stereotypes.

Getting to Know the Cards

If you’re thinking about getting your cards read or learning to read them yourself, it doesn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with the deck. There are 78 cards in the traditional tarot deck. Though, you may see some with more or less, depending on the deck. It is divided into two groups: the major arcana and the minor arcana. The major arcana consists of 22 cards, and are a little bit more unique. The minor arcana has 56 cards. While each card has its own meaning, the minor arcana follows a sort of pattern. Its broken down into subcategories:

art of Wands: Usually represents creativity and passion. It is associated with fire astrological signs (aries, leo, sagittarius). Cups: Cups in the tarot represent emotions and love. These cards are associated with water astrological signs (cancer, pisces, scorpio). Swords: The sword cards symbolize intellect and communication. These cards are associated with air signs (gemini, libra, aquarius). Pentacles or Coins: Pentacles, or coins, can represent school, work, and stability. These cards are associated with earth

signs (taurus, virgo, capricorn). From here, there are other things to draw from. There’s the traditional meaning of the cards, numbers, illustrations, and even your own interpretation. It might sound like a lot, but it’s supposed to be fun! The more you do it, the more comfortable you become with it.

Let’s look at your past, present, and future

Typically, movies and tv shows show a three card spread that represents your past, present, and future. But there are so many spreads and questions to choose from. My roommate’s personal favorite is the 7 day spread. She says, “I do it weekly because it gives me a positive outlook on events to come”. Again, it’s up to your interpretation. That’s the fun part. So, start by thinking about what you want to know. Think school, work, romance, or anything else you might want some insight in. Most tarot decks come with book guides to help you find the meanings and spreads you’re looking for. Keep an eye out for those. So, if you’re feeling a little bit off about the idea of tarot, or you’re looking to do a reading, then there’s some things to consider before you do. First, be open. This doesn’t mean that you have to disclose anything you don’t want to. It just means that you should be open to the experience of possibly getting clarity. Second, do not panic. The death card and the devil card can be off-putting. But don’t worry, it almost never means what you’re probably thinking. ‘Death” typically means transformation, or the ending of a situation. The devil card can represent vice in general, and not related to anything satanic. Lastly, only take what resonates. If someone were to predict something negative for the future, remember that they’re interpretations. We all have the free-will to create our own futures. Remember, tarot can be fun!

Tarot

by Mia Jennings

Tarot

Getting My Cards Read

Before getting my tarot cards read, I had genuinely no idea what to expect. I grew up in a relatively liberal Southern Protestant household, the kind that let you read Harry Potter for its literary value (pre-its author’s transphobia) but drew the line at anything that bordered what they deemed the serious occult. Unfortunately, tarot fell within this realm. The day I got my cards read, I had a pretty eventful day at work- I made my first sale, which was a big deal, but the way it happened was very strange. Fifteen minutes before close, two girls came in to look at shoes. Given the late nature of their visit, they were moving quickly through our selection, and I was the employee they grabbed to get them extra sizes. After pulling several pairs, they finally made their decision, and I made a $600 sale by accident. The excitement of this carried me through the rest of the day; I was on an excited phone call with my mom after work when I realized I’d completely forgotten about my tarot reading. I told her about this commitment before hanging up, which ushered in a mini-lecture about being safe. Needless to say, her lecture was unwarranted; I had my cards read by Mia Jennings (who wrote the rest of “The Art of Tarot” article), and it felt as though, once the reading began, Mia sat back, taking a backseat and translating the dialogue between me and the cards. She shuffled the deck, but I chose each card: in a roundabout way, I had control over my own future. Our first reading was about my love life, which I’ll spare the gruesome details of, but provided lots of insight into my regular life as well. She laid them in the celtic cross, a ten card spread that provides pretty much everything you need from a tarot reading: your situation, helps and hindrances in that situation, your goals, advice, and more. The first card that connected with me was the King of Cups: we’re both Cancers that are known for overextending themselves. A common theme began to run throughout: I drew the Queen of Pentacles as well, a card known for her focus and work ethic. When we got to the part of the Celtic Cross where the cards discussed my aspirations, I drew the Empress. As Mia described, the Empress is “all about having her **** together.” Perpetually a day or two behind on homework assignments, Tinder messages, and life in general, the Empress is definitely an aspiration for me. Things began to look up, however, when I drew the Knight of Cups, an Earth sign who is supposedly on his way. Following a scarily specific love reading, we did a reading about my work/professional life. I literally have three jobs, so this can have a little bit of a confusing definition. This was evidenced in the reading; the love reading seemed to fall into place gently and easily, whereas this reading clattered and clashed. The 10 of Swords and the Tower were the first two cards drawn; as Mia began to translate, the cards didn’t click like they did in the first reading. Traditionally, she explained, these two cards would serve to indicate an omen or the ending of something. After a few minutes of furrowing our brows to figure out how the cards were connected, Mia asked the deck for clarity, and with what was either a manifestation of her power or an incredibly smooth sleight-of-hand motion, two cards shot out of the deck. One of these, the 3 of Pentacles, suggested that a higher-up at work had noticed my potential. This card served to recontextualize the 10 of Swords and the Tower as an epiphany or major event that’s not necessarily negative, or, as Mia described it, a “Tower moment.” Like that, the cards began to click. I brought up the sale I made at work, and she said that could be what the cards were referencing, but to be on the lookout; since the reading, I’ve changed my major and I got a promotion at work. Having my cards read really changed my perspective on the art of tarot: whether you believe there’s divine intervention in which cards you draw or not, the process of learning the cards’ meanings and comparing them to your own life is a useful tool in working through emotions and finding creative solutions to your issues. My biggest piece of advice is to keep an open mind; if the reading doesn’t make 100% sense at first, give it time! Your “Tower moment” is probably on the way.

art of t h e

by Tyler McCormack

The Co$t of Learning "GIVE US ALL OF YOUR MONEY AND WE'LL SEND YOU THE ZOOM INVITE!" by Josiah Thomason In the midst of a global recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, American universities and colleges are asking just as much from families as before, if not more. When quarantine began back in March of 2020, many believed that after a short month indoors, everything would be back to normal, as there was no certainty about what would come of this new virus. As the news hit the United States, institutions of all educational levels shut down and sent their students and families into a frenzy. Many well-known universities only allowed students a few days or less to pack up and get out, without any plan to bring them back.

Eight months later and the situation has not improved. Decisions were left in the hands of governors and business leaders, rather than made by communities, which has endangered more than aided them. Over 30 million people were collecting unemployment checks by mid-July and the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gross domestic product rate dropped more than 30% by the beginning of the third quarter of the year. Despite these facts and a glaringly widespread need for financial aid, universities have ignored pleas from families and continue to charge students full-price for tuition, housing and other expenses, even if students are forced to earn their degrees from home.

GET

OUT

NOW

Universities such as those in the Ivy League (Harvard, Yale and Princeton) announced that they will engage through completely remote learning, as the entirety of their campuses will remain closed for students until further notice. About 40% of universities followed this model, while the other 60% went through with their plans to bring back their students through the use of a hybrid learning system. This system would splits the school population into groups where students attend in-person courses on specific days and others remain remote. For institutions such as the College of Charleston, the staﬀ and students are able to make the choice of whether they are willing to hold or attend in-person classes or stay online and operate from wherever they please. And yet, no matter their decision, students are still being charged full tuition and fees for a school they can’t physically access. The decisions to complete degrees online or defer from university have never been more widely considered. Many students and their families find it foolish to throw money to universities when there is a high possibility of school closures as numbers of COVID-19cases inevitably rise. Among a friend group of mine, seven people have decided to take a gap semester and work full time rather than pay outrageous fees to attend university through a computer screen. Families are barely able to aﬀord their children a full college experience – meeting friends, joining social and academic clubs, traditional fraternity parties – and now those same institutions are asking for the same amount of money for students to Zoom into classes, meetings and more from their bedroom in their hometown.

Although colleges across the country may have promised tuition freezes, after taking a closer look at bills and fees, other areas have increased in price to make up for it. “[R]oom and board actually increased … even as an RA [where housing prices are reduced]” said Claire Natiez of CofC Class of 2023. Claire is another student who took the semester oﬀ from university and is taking courses at her local technical college back home. “I get fifteen credits for free/ covered by my LIFE scholarship. I’m also working about 30 hours a week to save up for a place in Charleston next semester.” In economically uncertain times like these, individuals and families are doing all they can to keep a secure grip on their futures, as institutions continue to lack consideration for their customers. Marissa Haynes, a Class of 2022 student, made the decision to take a leave of absence from The College in order to financially stabilize herself and family. Back in August, after spending three months in her hometown, she returned to her apartment in Charleston and, with necessary counsel and conversation, made the ultimate decision to remove herself from the equation. “At the end of the day I’m not just in school to earn a piece of paper,” she writes. “Paying out-ofstate tuition has always been tough, but I’ve been able to justify the cost with the benefits like incredible new relationships, personal growth, extracurricular activities.” Haynes clarifies that she agrees with the decision to hold courses online for the safety of students, families, and the greater community but also believes the cost is not justified for giving up so much. “I’m looking forward to returning to the college and continuing my education both in and out of the classroom, but for right now it is a necessity for my family that I work full time and save my earnings for my tuition [in the future].” Haynes’ dissatisfaction is justly shared by students across the country; in a time when the negative impact is prominent, it’s important to do what is best for oneself.

In June of 2020, College of Charleston announced it would participate in a ‘tuition freeze,’ which is when an institution chooses not to raise–or lower–the price of tuition from one school year to the next. This may seem like wonderful news at first, but then implies that there will not be any sort of discount for those students who are unable to physically return to campus. Meaning, students who live in their college town full-time will be paying the same amount as those six-thousand miles away in their family’s homes. No discount oﬀered. No lowered rate for tuition, book fees or class fees. In the midst of the worst pandemic in human history, higher education institutions have shown their true colors – that they do not have their students’ best interests in mind.

Photos provided by Marissa Haynes.

Men's Club Volleyball

by Bryce Warner Photos by Sophia Barham

Coming into his freshman year at the College of Charleston, Caden Albert noticed that there wasn’t a men’s club volleyball team. So he recruited some of the guys who regularly attended Net Night at the F. Mitchell Johnson Physical Education Center and created the club men’s volleyball team in November of 2019. He would later name Alex Trubey co-captain of the team in February of 2020. While the team received a lot of interest at first, it was hard to keep people committed. “We had a lot of guys show up at first, but you know, you’re in college; you got work, you got other things to do. We started off with like 14-15 guys and by the time our first tournament rolled around we had around eight” said Albert. Since then, the club has experienced a great amount of growth through adding more players, developing a stronger chemistry between players and receiving sponsorships for the team. “I cannot put into words how much we’ve grown… we’re recruiting guys that turned down D1 scholarships to come play here. It’s a big thing now,” said Albert. Being on a club sports team requires ample commitment. Some players don’t have as much time to set aside as others, but they make the sacrifice to be there for their team every chance they get. Some even put extra time into their craft to be better. The team is coached by a group of sophomore students: Allison Wiggs, Madeleine Ellegard and Payton Tyler, who are also on the club women’s volleyball team. While being both a student athlete and coach can be tough at times, the girls still manage to find it fun. “I just really enjoy coaching people, because I love the sport so much. I’ll always set time away for that,” said Ellegard. There is a wide range in experience on the squad. Some players have been playing the sport for many years before they joined the team and for some, this is their first time playing the sport. But regardless of experience level, the coaches and other team members do their best to develop players’ skills. “They’re really coachable and excited to learn a new sport,” said Wiggs. “We like to take individuals aside and do one on ones so that we can really focus on them and what they need help with,” said Ellegard. Since the team has had exponential growth in less than a year, their eyes are set on competing in a national tournament. “The fact that we’re even thinking about making a run at nationals is out of this world. If you asked me in November ‘Hey, what do you plan to do in two years?’ Hope a guy can hit a ball, hope a guy can make a pass. Not hoping to go to Oregon or Texas, wherever it may be to go play in a national tournament. It’s insane,” said Albert. Most of the competition they play ranges between Division II teams and club volleyball teams from other colleges—all of which are highly competitive against the Cougars. The boys won’t be facing off against any of those teams this semester, so the main focus is to steadily progress as a team for next semester.

Something worth noticing about this team is the fact that they are friends outside of their volleyball endeavors. The guys would normally get together to eat in the dining halls or hang out. Some even hit the gym together to put in extra work outside of practice. “I think it’s a lot of outside the gym that binds us together,” said Albert “We’re very competitive with each other, probably more than other teams. And that’s why we’re growing so fast. The intensity during practice keeps people wanting to play,” said Co-captain Alex Trubey. Being one of the newest club teams on College of Charleston’s campus, the club men’s volleyball squad wants to become a staple in College of Charleston athletics with hopes of one day becoming a Division I program. Until then, the Cougars will be making great strides in progression to reach that point.

Hell o all, all Hello

Many of you may have never heard of me, but many of you had heard from me, or have been influenced by me. If you have read any edition of The Yard, you have probably come across an article written or edited by me. Hello, it’s nice to finally meet you! I’m Shannon Murray — Opinions Editor for CisternYard News. I am the longest-lasting paid staff member of the organization, and am writing a farewell letter to the thing that I have loved most the past four years. My days in the CisternYard office will come to an end in December when I graduate, and I wanted to share with you some things I have learned and gained from being a part of this organization. Like most freshmen, I came into school already knowing which major I wanted to declare. I was confident that I wanted to be a communications major, and knew that I wanted to have a career in journalism. As a competitive student, I decided that I needed a leg up on my classmates. What better than to be a published writer online and in print? After some research, I learned about CisternYard Media: College of Charleston’s only institutionally-recognized, student-run media organization. It has five different branches: News, Radio, Video, Sales and Public Relations. Through my time with CisternYard, this is what I have learned:

1. Being a published writer gets you a lot of internships. The College recommends 2-3 internships while in school to get to know the workforce. Because of my experience as a writer and editor, I landed three internships in three years. I had the opportunity to work for Support Military Spouses as a social media coordinator, East Cooper Baptist Church as a communications intern, and an editorial intern at Charleston City Paper. I wouldn’t have had a chance in getting these without CisternYard. 2. I have developed a love for graphic design and page layouts. Each edition of the Yard is designed and organized by the editors and writers. What originally seemed like a really overwhelming task, turned out to be one of my most strongly-developed skills that I will use in future jobs. 3. Lastly, I’ve learned to work with a team to create one desired goal. Being a part of a news organization is like a never ending group project. While sometimes we disagree, it trains you to be a better team member in the long run. There is nothing like being a part of a driven, creative and hilarious team. So, goodbye. Goodbye Opinions section. Goodbye team, and goodbye CisternYard. Your role in my life will never be forgotten.

Shannon

coming April 2020

es es es es

o f r i p l Soc e c i ial j u s t o f r i p l Soc e c i ial j u s t o f r i p l Soc e c i ial j u s t o f r i p l Soc e c i ial j s t u Soc o r f p i l e c ial i t j s u o Soc r f p i l e c ial i t jus o f r i p l Soc e c i ial s t

es es es

In your opinion what is the most effective way to bring about change? Building relationships is the most effective way to bring change. Storytelling, listening to each other’s experiences and building trust within communities. It is good to go to protests and volunteer, but the most effective way to bring about change is not a one time performance. It is building long standing relationships and understandings that will actually make change. There is this quote I always hear floating around activist work along the lines of- We didn’t get here in one day, it’s gonna take some WORK to fix the roots of our society. Who is an activist that you look up to? I really admire my sister. She is a low key activist in Charleston but she puts in the work. During Covid she worked to set up a local mutual aid fund, where people could donate their stimulus check (or a part of their stimulus check) to those who did not get one or needed extra economic support. She has a full time job Monday to Friday and still finds the time to be an activist. She can be exhausted or backed up on a project at work, but she will make it to the 7pm meeting on a thursday night because that’s what activism is. Especially for grassroots organizations, activism is not a full time job for most people that do it, but you gotta put in the work!

Richella Acosta Junior

Internationahl studies It is hard to stay motivated. Especially in the South, there isn’t the same moHow do you stay motivated to make change in your community?

mentum as some bigger cities because there isn’t much of a diverse population. I really value check-ins with friends, centering pleasure and joy in your life so you can have the energy to continue to put in the work and make change in the community.

At what age did you start to get involved in your community?

Who is an activist that you look up to?

How do you stay motivated to make change in your community?

I wanna say I was always within the community ever since I was little. It may come as a surprise, but I was a weird kid with not a lot of friends, and from it I had a lot of free time on my hands to be involved and constantly learn new things, but I didn’t start doing my part till I was older. Maybe highschool. I think 10 year old me really did think she was doing her job but just being involved and around different people I started educating myself from a young age which could definitely count as part of activism

I don’t know if she is considered an activist per se, but I admire her ability to lead and bring attention to important issues, so in my eyes she’s an activist and hopefully one day the future president of this country: Alexandra Ocosia-Cortez. Regardless of your personal political views, her strengths and abilities to bring about change and bring attention to important topics through facts are very impressive.We can learn from her to implement our own change by changing opinions with the facts. She does her research and educates herself about everything before making an opinion and I appreciate that more than anything. Especially nowadays where information is spoonfed to us in less than 30 seconds that will only tell us what to believe according to an agenda, it is more imperative than ever to slow down and really critically think about your socio, geo and eco, etc. -position

Honestly, for me it was anger and hopelessness. I was sick and tired of feeling hopeless and seeing injustices and not being able to do anything about it. Also, guilt. I never spoke up growing up when people would say things because I didn’t want to be ostracized or going against the group and after educating myself and recognizing that people like me were the biggest part of the problem I knew I needed to change. Also, the dumbasses that deny the existence of climate change and the orange sexual predator that started degrading all the environmental and animal conservation progress we made really raised my blood pressure.

Tamara Alquza Senior

Chemisty & Communicatoins

How do you stay motivated to make change in your community? Anyone who is passionate about social activism knows it can be mentally exhausting at times. We are dealing with really heavy, oftentimes disheartening issues. I think giving myself regular breaks where I watch detach myself from the real world, whether it be taking a walk, going to the beach, or watching a light movie, is vital for staying motivated and not getting burnt out.

Who is an activist you look up to? What made you want to get involved in the community around I look up to my Grandmother, Alice you? Wyche Hurley. She was a young, thriving, Black professional in a Since I’m an empath by nature, it time where discrimination on the is hard for me to dissociate myself basis of race and sex was still legal. from the struggles of others. I don’t As if this were not enough, she dedi- think I ever made a conscious decicated her free time to the advance- sion to get involved in my commument of her people. She co-founded nity because my activism is so authe Columbia Urban League, which tomatic. There is a particular quote is a non-profit that promotes finan- by Ella Baker that resonates strongly cial stability and racial inclusion in with me. She says, “We who believe the greater Columbia community. in freedom cannot rest”. As long Furthermore, she has served on as there are social injustices in my additional boards dedicated to social community, I will always advocate justice. and get involved.

Aliece Hurley

Sophomore Political science & International studies

the haunting of

Charleston

south carolina

ne of Charleston’s biggest draws is our status among the oldest cities in the United States. Because of our age, Charleston is populated with some of the most senior buildings in the Nation, beautiful cemeteries and some spooky places. While these spots can be kind of eerie, they’re often well-maintained, beautifully landscaped and tell the stories of Charleston and our Nation. This fall season, take some time to check out the holy city’s haunts or just take a walk, you’ll probably see more than you think— or just enjoy our photo story.

pictures by Jersie Messervy