Clark’s CPG Sees Record High Visits
The Scarlet THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY FEBRUARY 16, 2018 | THESCARLET.ORG
Content warning: This piece discusses mental health, and mentions suicide and trauma
By Kate Summers Scarlet Staff
Fitzgerald’s showing is called “Stamina” and consists mainly of pieces that effectively blur the line between sculpture and photography. Her work uses photography tools to create 3D images that combine artistic innovation and the age of technology. The “Stamina” series was Fitzgerald’s first exhibition in Worcester and her sixth independent showing in the United States. In addition to Fitzgerald’s avant-garde artistry, the work of the emerging collegiate artists displayed a plethora of different art forms and levels of mastery. Pieces ranged from politically-charged representations like “Tracksuits & Espionage,” featuring Vladimir Putin and Don-
“I’m in a place where I feel uncomfortable. There are some students I wish we could see much more frequently and we can’t,” said Megan Kersting, Director of the Center for Counseling and Personal Growth (CPG) at Clark. In Kersting’s first academic year at CPG, 2012-2013, the center saw a total of 333 students. In Fall 2017 alone, they saw approximately 435 students in one semester. “I’m in a place where I feel students are deserving of more intensive levels of care. There are some students I wish we could see much more frequently, which would lead to them having a more positive social and academic experience,” she said. Last academic year CPG saw 523 students; 99 of them were suicidal. Nationally over the past five years, college counseling centers have seen a 30 percent increase in student visits. At Clark the increase was 57 percent. Kersting says there are many reasons for the increase. “We use our devices to emotionally regulate ourselves,” she said. When people are upset or bored they use their phone to distract themselves. “Our ability to manage unpleasant emotions is really kind of going away.” Kersting said that social media is part of this. “Before we … had our one life to worry about. Now, everyone really has two lives: we have a virtual life we have to maintain … and real life,” she explained. “People think that everyone else’s life is perfect and view their own life as a failure, when in reality social media is a
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CPG PG. 4
Art aficionados pack The Aurora Gallery during “The Fourteenth Annual College Show.” Photos by Olivia Knightly.
STUDENT ART GLOWS AT LOCAL EXHIBITION
Nandita Modhubonti Scarlet Staff
On a windy Friday evening, Arts Worcester, the only remaining private art gallery in Worcester County, hosted their annual College Art Show. This was the 14th year the gallery has featured artwork from Worcester college students, including pieces from students at WPI, Worcester State University, Assumption College, and Clark University. The history behind the establishment of Arts Worcester is an interesting one. Starting out as the Cultural Assembly of Greater Worcester nearly 38 years ago, it acquired its current name in 1992. The gallery continues to encourage the expression of contemporary art in its many
forms within the Worcester community. Despite numerous budget constraints and location changes, the ethos of “exhibiting and advancing regional artists” has remained intact within the organization. Currently housed in the historical Aurora Hotel, Arts Worcester is constantly hosting a variety of events and exhibitions. Along with work from local college students, this year’s College Art Show also displayed works from the winner of the Present Tense Prize, Colleen Fitzgerald. This prize is awarded by Arts Worcester to “an artist whose work exemplifies new practices, artistic risk-taking, and excellence in execution,” according to their website.
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The Scarlet
The Scarlet
FEB. 16, 2018
Police Logs
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY
2/1/2018–2/11/2018
EDITORS
Editor-in-Chief: Jessica Macey Managing Editor: Alika Gillard Layout Editor: Ryan King News Editor: Giulia Elena Casella Opinions Editor: Elyse Wyatt Living Arts Editor: Katherine Hamilton Sports Editor: Natalia Raja Photo Editor: Amanda Quiñones Social Media/Web Editor: Ari Reyes General Manager and Fact Checker: Daniel Juarez
Thursday, Feb. 1
SCARLET STAFF
- Females reported loitering near apartments on Main St. Moved along. - Parent requested wellness check on student. All was well, family was contacted.
Julia Baldacci Drashhti Bilimoria Steven Castiglione Kate Summers Sara Conroy Max Elias Sheila Ford Sabrina Hallal Eric Keller Simone McGuinness Kayleigh McHugh Nandita Modhubonti Sarah Reinbrecht Arianna Reyes Andrew Rose Monica Sager Anna Schaeffer Andrew Vontzalides
PHOTO STAFF
Rodney Cargill Olivia Knightly Emily Monahan Morang Krithi Vachaspati
CONTACT
Website: thescarlet.org Email: scarlet@clarku.edu Facebook: The.Clark.Scarlet Twitter: @Clark_Scarlet Instagram: clarkscarlet
Compiled by Jessica Macey - Report of four disorderly youths in the parking garage. Removed from the premises. - Report of individual having an allergic reaction. Medical personnel dispatched.
Friday, Feb. 2
Saturday, Feb. 3
- Report of individual walking down Florence St with a street sign. Individual was spoken to and the sign was confiscated. Kept sign at CUPD station for city to pick up. - Assisted WPD in removing disorderly individuals on Charlotte St. - Report of youths on bikes in the parking garage. Gone on arrival.
Sunday, Feb. 4
- Report of intoxicated student in dorm. Transported to hospital. - Assisted WPD with a loud party complaint. - Report of individual yelling and stumbling in the street. Units responded and spoke with the individual, along with WPD. Individual was transported to the hospital. - Sharps found in bag on side of road. Units removed and disposed of them.
Tuesday, Feb. 6
- Report of unsteady individual. Units located and spoke to individual in a wellness check. - Report of student having allergic reaction. Transported to hospital.
Friday, Feb. 9
- Report of women near the AC calling themselves “God the Mother” and approaching students in an attempt to recruit them. Group was allegedly on campus earlier as well. Reporting party was instructed to report any future incidents. - Report of suspicious woman in red coat near Blackstone Hall. Units located and removed her. - Report of individual begging students for money. Spoken to and removed.
Saturday, Feb. 10
- Report of loud party on Gates St. Units responded along with WPD. Party dispersed.
The Scarlet in no way endorses its advertisers. In addition, The Scarlet maintains the right to decline any advertisements it deems unsuitable.
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The Scarlet
FEB. 16, 2018
Clarkie of the Week by Giulia Elena Casella
Photo courtesy of Rose Wine Photography
Mary Yohannes Mary Yohannes (’19) is a biology major with a concentration in mathematical biology and bioinformatics, and she is on a pre-med track. She sat down with The Scarlet to talk about Ethiopia, being a STEM teacher, InterVarsity, doing research on nematodes, and potatoes. Scarlet: Where’s home? Mary: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It means “new flower.” The capital used to be another place, but then they brought it to this mountainous area. They saw this beautiful view, and they made it the capital. Scarlet: What do you miss most about home? Mary: Oh my god, everything [laughs]. The community definitely. Back home, you know your neighbors. When you have a celebration, you go out and call them. Like,
Holy Cross Crusades for Tradition: Controversial Mascot Decision
“come have a meal with me!” One of the symbolic ways is “gursha,” so when you’re eating, you would roll it and feed it to other people. Other times, when we’re sitting down and eating, if people pass by you say “come, let’s eat!” Even if you don’t want them to eat you still have to say it [laughs]. And speaking my own language -- I can express myself well because it’s my first language. And the jokes… Oh my god, the jokes. Jokes in my language are funny, but when you turn them into English they’re not funny [laughs]. Family is definitely one of them. And the weather... Oh my god, the weather. I hate the weather here, it’s too cold. Back home, it’s sunny and nice all year round. Food too. Good homemade food, definitely. Scarlet: Why did you come to Clark? Mary: Because Clark gave me a lot of money [laughs]. No for real though, it was the first school that accepted me, but it was my safe school. Then I got in, and out of all the schools that I got accepted to, Clark was the one that gave me a good scholarship, but also had a good science program. Scarlet: Has Clark lived up to your expectations? Mary: No, I thought it was a city school. Because I grew up in the capital, I wanted to go to a big school in the city … My experience in the U.S. in general didn’t meet my expectations. As an international student,
Katherine Hamilton Living Arts Editor
On Feb. 3, the Board of Trustees at the College of the Holy Cross announced that the school’s mascot would remain the Crusader. The decision was the result of months of deliberating among students, alumni, and faculty. Although the Crusader has been Holy Cross’ mascot for nearly a century, the Board created a committee to discuss and examine the appropriateness of the mascot last fall. While the main concerns focused on the medieval religious wars known as the Crusades, the Board’s final state-
you have this idea of what a college would be like or what the U.S. would be like in general because you see all these movies. There are places back home that are more developed than here. It just opens your eyes. And I’m really glad that I came to the U.S. because I got to see that. And in another way, I’m glad that I didn’t go to a bigger school. My sister goes to a big school and she barely has time with her professors. And the fact that it’s such a small campus is actually really convenient. And I met a lot of people … That’s what I realized: the more you get involved, the more your experience becomes better.
cause you have to take account of their background and what they’ve gone through. Every behavior that they act on has a reason behind it. So that’s a bit hard, like behavior and disciplining. But once they know that you’ve got their back and once they know you well, they’re so nice. They’ve been through situations where they’ve lost trust so often that it’s hard for them to give you trust. But it’s a chance for me to impact someone. You see how just caring for someone can go a long way.
Scarlet: How do you like it? Mary: I really like it. All the students know at least four languages, and that’s amazing … It just makes you grateful that you have the opportunity to see what they’ve been through being a refugee, and then how far they’ve come. Even though they’re still young, they’ve been through so much. It’s a motivation for you to keep on going and do better in this world. It gets tough be-
Scarlet: You have also been on InterVarsity’s ServeUp trip, what was that like? Mary: It’s amazing. I did it twice. The past two years when I have gone it has been in New Orleans. But now it’s in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We basically go there for a week over Spring Break. We build houses and we interact with the community and talk to the people. I actually got involved in InterVarsity a lot more after going to ServeUp my first year. You meet so many people that you wouldn’t have met otherwise because you stay there for a week and you talk about deep stuff. Last year we talked about racial reconciliation, we talked about race and justice … There are a lot of people who have a strong feeling about how Christians are, like “they think they’re better than all of us.” As InterVarsity, we try to show that that’s wrong and to show what it really means to be a Christian through different events and going to ServeUp.
ment argued that the Holy Cross Crusaders refer to a different definition of the word. “We talk about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dorothy Day as crusaders for justice,” explained Holy Cross President Rev. Philip Boroughs, S.J. in a video message about the decision. “That spirit, I think, is really how the Holy Cross community sees itself in this terminology; not as connected to the horrific wars.” The issue has been a topic of much controversy for years because many students view the symbol as an icon of Holy Cross traditions and
identity, while others feel it is racist and exclusionary toward Muslim and Jewish students. In 2016, however, a report brought this issue to the Board’s immediate attention. The report was originally compiled to orchestrate a dialogue about the name of Mulledy Residence Hall, which was named after a founder with controversial ties to slavery. However, it also prompted a year-long discussion about the college’s mascot, which culminated in an eight-week process including two public forums and 1,800 responses from the community. “This was an important conver-
Scarlet: I know that you teach off campus, what exactly do you do? Mary: Yes, so I’m a STEM teacher for the Saturday program at African Community Education (ACE). It’s an organization that provides afterschool programs and Saturday programs for African refugees. I teach from a 5th grade to 10th grade level, but it really depends on their English proficiency.
Scarlet: Can you tell us about your research in Florida last summer? Mary: It was so nice. I was at the University of Florida. I stayed there for two and a half months. I did research with a professor in the Entomology and Nematology Department … I learned how to reproduce nematodes efficiently using another worm … So, basically you have waxy worms, and you put them in a petri dish, add nematodes on it, and then add water. Nematodes have bacteria in their guts that kill the waxy worms, and once the waxy worms decay, the nematodes feed on them, and then they just replicate … My main focus of research was a farmer who gave us a sample of soil, and he asked us to figure out which nematode was present in it so that he could use the best pesticide and not spend money on the wrong ones. So we took the soil, we extracted the nematodes from there, we isolated its DNA, and then we amplified it. This way we figured out what the type of nematode was. Scarlet: If you were a food, which would you be? Mary: If I was a food, I would be a potato. Because everyone likes potatoes in any shape or form. There’s French fries, mashed potatoes, wedges … potatoes [laughs]. They’re good, they fill you up … they can’t be confined to one category. Thanks for the interview, Mary!
sation,” Boroughs maintained. “It was important that we examine this issue closely … and that we transform the meaning of the word Crusader to something that’s appropriate – continually appropriate – in today’s society.” Adding to the debate, the college’s student newspaper decided to drop its name, The Crusader, just one day before the Board was set to release its decision. The editors explained that they would change their name to The Spire in honor of the iconic spires atop Fenwick Hall at
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The Scarlet
Photographic Memories: Our AfricanAmerican Ancestors Daniel Juarez Managing Editor
A buffet of portraits, personalities, and refreshments were on full display in the Higgins Lounge at Dana Commons this past Thursday for its “Descendants” event. Sponsored by the Higgins School of Humanities, the event converted the Lounge into a miniature gallery displaying colorless, African American portraiture taken by the guest of the hour, African-American photographer Lou Jones. Although attendees who arrived early had the chance to partake in the beverages and wander the gallery, it wasn’t until Professor Meredith Neuman’s introduction of Jones that the event truly began. “Mr. Jones’ eclectic career has spanned every format, film type, artistic movement, and technological change.” She continued, “Based in Boston, Jones’ work has been included in collections among the Smithsonian Institution, the DeCordova Museum, Wellesley College, and the University of Texas among others, and now at Clark University, where we’re really glad to have him.” Leaving behind a treasure trove of over five thousand glass negative photos by the time he died in 1918, itinerant photographer William Bullard had miraculously managed to take over two hundred portraits of African Americans and Native Americans. Being an extremely rare collection, the Worcester Art Museum had been more than happy to dedicate an entire exhibit to the “Bullard Sitters,” as they were called, this past fall. It was during this exhibition that Mr. Jones had captured the portraits on display in the Lounge that night, where visiting descendants had the chance both to see their ancestors in an entirely new light and meet long-lost family members for the first time. Before handing the microphone
off to Jones, Benetta Kuffour, a descendant of the Jackson family– one of the families on display–had a few words for all in attendance. “As an African-American, it isn’t always easy having information from the past so you can talk about the future,” she started. “But these photos and the exhibition at the art museum have allowed me to do more research about who my family is and where they come from.” “My great-great grandmother was a former slave,” she went on, “and she was bought for seven hundred dollars -- she and her son -- and because of that, she ended up in Worcester, and because of her is why I stand before you today.” As the applause simmered down, it was Jones’ turn to comment on his work. “Frederick Douglass was the most photographed person in the world in his era, more so than the President of the United States– he knew about the power of photography.” He continued by explaining the significance of photography in recording moments of history, and how these moments can be lost if photos such as the “Bullard Sitters” remain hidden. “Photography is the universal language. We don’t need Rosetta Stone classes. We don’t need translation– people all over the world merely need to look and see what people look like any year of their life through photography.” In emphasizing that photographs– for family members especially– can have monumental effects on one’s legacy, he opened the discussion up for questions.
DESCENDANTS PG. 5
CPG CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 distorted view of life.” Parents also play a role in the lack of resilience among young people. “Parents want to keep their children happy and protected. In this vein, many are doing their very best to shelter from negative experiences or hardships. While this is creating a comfortable place for a child, it’s not giving the child the tools to face hardship, obstacles, or uncomfortable emotions,” said Kersting. This means that when students move out of their parents’ home, they do not have the skills needed to battle obstacles. In addition, Clark students come into college with more trauma than those who go to other universities. According to the Association for University and College Counseling Center Director Annual Survey, the top three things students are dealing with nationally are anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. This is the same at Clark. However, at the Clark the fourth highest-presenting problem is trauma. Nationally, it is tenth on the list of presenting problems. Prior to arriving at Clark, students experienced a lot of abuse and bullying. Kersting believes this is because of the University’s motto “Challenge Convention. Change our World.” She explained that Clark attracts a lot of students who are non-conventional. “What happens to non-conventional people when they’re in very conventional places like high schools? They get bullied,” Kersting said. According to Kersting, students see Clark as a safe haven. “When you’re in a traumatic situation, you are so focused on surviving and getting out .. .Once you’re in the safe place and you’re not so focused on survival, that is where all the distress and the sadness around everything … bubbles up, and that’s what we see here.” Clinicians at CPG have caseloads of up to 60 people. “It’s a strain on the staff. We do struggle,” Kersting said. She said that during her time at CPG there has never been adequate staffing because the demand has always outpaced the resources. Right now some students have to wait up to a month and two weeks for appointments. When a student is really struggling and requires more intense clinical care, they will meet with a clinician more regularly. Talia Gallagher (‘17) is receiving her Master of Arts in Teaching at Clark. She has been going to CPG
FEB. 16, 2018 since she was a first year. “I struggle with mental illness and it affects just about every part of my life. I’m under a lot of stress being a student and managing emerging adulthood and that really chips away at my mental health,” she said. In the past, Gallagher was able was able to meet with a counselor every other week. She found her sessions made a huge difference to her mental health. When she went in at the beginning of the semester, she found out that she would only be able to meet with someone every three weeks. “That just really disheartened me,” Gallagher said. Kersting said that clinicians have to look at the student’s situation when scheduling appointments. “Are they in a place where they could potentially hurt themselves? How much distress are they in? Are they in so much distress that they can’t function here? Are they in jeopardy of dropping out?” These are the questions they must ask when determining when to see the student again. ”It’s tough and I honestly wish we could give more frequent care than we are right now,” said Kersting. Three of Isabella Frederick’s (‘19) family members died during her first year at Clark. She had never gone to counseling before, but she saw that people in college were making an effort to take care of their mental health, so she decided to do the same. She used her bi-weekly sessions to check in with herself and to work through the death of her family members. This year she decided to go back to counseling. However, the first two appointments she had were a month a part. After her second appointment, she was able to schedule an appointment for two weeks after that. However, her appointment was canceled because her counselor was sick. Frederick was told she would be contacted to reschedule the appointment, but wasn’t contacted for several weeks. During the gaps between her appointments, she journals, does yoga, and uses CPG’s Mental Health Toolbox to take care of herself. “I think it’s really great that Clark encourages people to take care of their mental well being. I just wish there was more support,” said Frederick. CPG does refer students to care off campus, but it is difficult to encourage students to pursue those resources. CPG is free, and other resources are usually not. Most of the care is not within walking distances, and many students cannot af-
ford to take a taxi to appointments. Additionally, people do not want their family to know that they are in counseling, and the appointment would show up on their health insurance bill. There are long wait lists for psychiatrists in Worcester. The minimum wait for an appointment is three months. “If a student is in crisis, they can’t wait three months,” said Kersting. At the moment, CPG brings in a psychiatrist for 8 hours a week for internal referrals. In the fall semester alone, there were 65 referrals made to the psychiatrist. He stabilizes students with medication and once a student is stable, they must find care elsewhere. The psychiatrist is free for students. The University began to pay for this service at the beginning of the academic year, but Kersting is unsure if the funding will be continued next year. With this increase in visits to CPG, the staff is trying to determine how to care for a large volume of people. They have implemented the Student Support Network (SSN), a six week training for students and staff to learn how to help peers who are struggling. According to CPG’s website, it includes training on active listening and support skills, responding to signs of mental illness, and how to connect students to resources. To help manage the volume of students who requested mental health treatment, CPG implemented Wellness Workshops last semester, teaching students basic coping skills such as managing anxiety or learning mindfulness. They also would like to implement psycho-educational groups that include acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or dialectical behavior therapy. These are skill-based therapies that can be facilitated with larger groups. Kersting would also like to see a Healthy Minds Study done on campus. This study would survey the whole campus to see what exactly students are struggling with. This would help determine types of support services that students need and the best training for the campus community. Kersting is currently preparing financial proposals for senior administration to review. “It’s a great place full of really hard-working, caring people, but they need the resources from Clark to be able to do their job,” said Gallagher.
A New Generation of Female Political Activists Sarah Conroy Staff Writer
About this time last year, Hannah Smith (’19) was asked by her advisor, Professor Heather Silber Mohamed, if she would be interested in New Leadership New England. With a passion for politics and a desire to be a female leader in this male-dominated field, Smith began her application. After being chosen for the program, she attended the event with a cohort of twenty to twenty-five female students from across New England. The New Leadership New England program is a five-day intensive learning experience for young women who are interested in educating themselves on women’s roles in public speaking, networking, and leadership. It seeks to teach and empower a group of young women to be the leaders of a new generation of women. The program included presentations from politically-active women in New England as well as a visit to the New Hampshire State House, which gave the young women a chance to engage with other female leaders and visit their workplace. The program’s overarching goal is to bring passionate and powerful women together so that they can learn from one another and gain the skills necessary to make them as successful as their potentials promise. Smith has been asked to share her experience in a presentation for Professor Silber Mohamed’s “Women in Politics” class, and she shared some of what she learned with The Scarlet. She divulged that in reality, the program is not specific to running for public office or to political campaigning, but that it holds value in the idea that “everything is political.” Smith stated that the program is open to women in all industries, whether they are interested in media, business, or education, their field still intersects with politics, and the program would be beneficial to
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The Scarlet
FEB. 16, 2018
them. What she took away from this message is that women of all industries should be politically active to truly become part of the sisterhood with other powerful women in a strength-in-numbers approach to the unfairness women face in their industries. Speaking more on this topic, Smith said that each day was dedicated to a different industry. There were days for media, law, and business, consisting of daily panels and speakers who were women in positions of power in that specific industry. Beyond learning from the female speakers, the students acquired soft skills that are necessary for success in any industry. Each student was asked to introduce a different speaker as a public speaking exercise. They also had workshops on topics such as professionalism, dress in the workplace, how to respond to inappropriate comments from coworkers, networking, interviewing, and diversity in politics. Another engaging exercise the group of young women completed was taking a bill from the state house and creating a mock forum. Each student took on the role of a legislator or an engaged citizen, and they all made testimony in the forum regarding the bill. The lead sponsors on the bill itself were able to come in and work with the students as facilitators of the mock forum, and Smith said it was incredibly valuable to work first-hand with the political process and the politically-engaged citizens and legislators. Smith expressed that she was pleasantly surprised at how diverse the group of women at the program were. Women of various races and ethnicities were represented, and Smith said that this really added to the experience of the program, as well as to the welcoming and open atmosphere of the discussions. She also noted that the program is not income discriminatory. The colleges themselves pay for their se-
lected students who stay at the fiveday program. Smith was only asked to pay for her transportation to New Hampshire Institute for Politics on the Saint Anselm College campus. There are many local programs across the nation so that students from all different states can attend the one nearest to their home. Smith expressed that she was glad that students of all socioeconomic backgrounds have been encouraged to attend and add their experiences to the wealth of knowledge in the group. In talking about her experiences, Smith picked up on an important topic in both her program and in the current political movements. Many political activists are pushing to move towards more intersectional political and social movements. Today, society is composed of a diverse group of people who identify with various social categorizations. Programs like New Leadership New England address how women of all races and ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, academic histories, and industry pursuits need to come together to tackle the issues that plague our society. Smith said that she looks forward to applying what she learned from the program to her studies and her political activism. The most important thing she learned while at New Leadership New England was that “as women, we do not have to stand alone to be successful.”
HOLY CROSS CONTINUED FROM PG. 3 the heart of campus. In their letter explaining the change, the co-editors, James Gallagher and Jack Godar, referred to the paper’s previous name change from The Tomahawk. “The Tomahawk was a vestige of a bygone era; keeping the name would have been an exercise in blind traditionalism,” Gallagher wrote. Last year, the former Crusader received a letter signed by fifty faculty members that urged it to reconsider its name, citing rising xenophobia in U.S. politics and a publication by the KKK that shared its name as reasons to change. Even though the letter stimulated a lengthy discussion about the name, the current editors asserted that it was neither current politics nor the KKK publication that affected their final decision. Rather, it was the legacy of the Crusades themselves that ultimately pushed them to change.
DESCENDANTS CONTINUED FROM PG. 4 One audience member asked why he’d removed color from the descendant portraits. “I was nervous about putting color– BIG colors, in my photographs next to the tiny photographs [of their descendants], so we made a decision not to overwhelm what is important– why we are interpreting them the same way as the [Bullard] originals.” With final question, attendees were invited to continue the discussion one-on-one with Jones, welcomed to the food buffet, and encouraged to continue the conversation amongst each other of the black-andwhite gallery on the wall.
The editors said that the paper’s role as a platform for all Holy Cross students was impinged upon by its association with the religious wars. “Surely, the word ‘crusade’ has come to mean ‘an energetic campaign’ in common parlance,” Gallagher conceded, “but can a school whose mascot wields a sword and shield really lay claim to this interpretation?” Gallagher refers here to the school’s physical mascot, Iggy the Crusader, who appears at sports events in a white tunic and helmet, carrying a purple shield. Although the Board made no mention of Iggy in its final statement, Rev. Boroughs said, “we do think it’s important that we also assess the alignment of our values and how we understand being a crusader with the ways in which we depict that on our campus and in our publications.” The president praised the Holy Cross community for its participation and passion in such a controversial dialogue but did not mention further proceedings on the topic.
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The Scarlet
FEB. 16, 2018
Alum Max Stern and His Ninth Graders Rap about Imperial Rule Students Perform February 16 On Protests Throughout History
Monica Sager Scarlet Staff
and also taught dance to kids in the Worcester community. He said that the current project has almost followed suit, in that it bridges literacy, spoken word, rapping, and rhyming together. “I feel like it’s important to recognize this culture,” Stern said. “It allows the kids to see me in a different light.” Stern continued that this assignment establishes culture and comfort. It’s also a different outlet for kids who don’t excel in tests. The World History students will present their rap or slam poems in front of a panel of judges that includes Raphael Rogers, a Clark professor in the Department of Education; Shaun Holt, Assistant Director of Admissions for marketing and communications at Clark (who actually had a short-lived college rap career); Thu Ngyuen, who is part of Youth Outreach Worcester; and two to three students who won the competition last year. “The R.A.P. F.A.I.R. is a display of student work on the histories of people that have fought against op-
pression, exploitation, and imperialism for independence and self-rule,” an email about the event said. Stern started this project with his students four years ago, but he got the idea before that. “This idea originated when I was in MAT,” he explained. “It allows the kids to dig into the material more.” Over these four years, the assignment has become more competitive, with more countries represented and greater access to resources for the students. This year, the competition is more competitive as well, thanks to the Jacob Hiatt Center for Urban Education, which “supports youth and educators, along with members of the community and Clark University, in developing spaces for youth to engage the world, inquire into possibilities, and become creators of new realities,” according to their handout. The Hiatt Center has made it possible for first, second, and third prizes to be handed out to the teams of students. For first place, each stu-
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tions taking place all around, from the artists interacting with their families to friends reconnecting and enjoying a night out. Looking around, there seemed to be a number of Clarkies in the crowd, supporting friends or simply admiring the art. The night ended with an important event for all the artists present: the award ceremony. For this year’s contest, there were 253 submissions of art, photography, and sculpture, with only 65 chosen to put on display. An independent curator, Mary Tinti, juried this year’s contest. The actual distribution of awards was preceded by a light-hearted yet encouraging speech by the executive director of Arts Worcester, Juliet Feibel. Even though Feibel commended the work of all accepted submissions and appreciated the winners’ artistic ability, she made it a point to speak to all the artists who did not make it into the show this year. She explained that even though the world of art is full of rejection, emerging young artists should never stop trying. She went on to to ask the
crowd to applaud not only winners, but also all artists who had submitted a piece. Feibel’s speech was followed by the distribution of awards to the winning artists, and announcements about the next week’s events at Arts Worcester. Afterwards, as the crowded gallery began to empty and people filed out into the biting New England wind, there was a positive energy that radiated around The Aurora. The Annual College Show, in addition to numerous other exhibitions and events hosted at The Aurora throughout the year, holds testament to the vibrant art scene that Worcester has to offer.
Max Stern and his group of ninth graders from University Park Campus School (UPCS) are performing their Revolution And Protests that Fight Against Imperial Rule (R.A.P. F.A.I.R) on Feb. 16 in the Grind. Stern graduated from Clark in 2012 with a degree in American History and a minor in Theater Arts. He also did the Master Art and Teaching (MAT) program, graduating in 2013. He currently teaches high school history at UPCS, where he has been working with a hip-hop education curriculum. “Throughout my teaching experience, I’ve been consistent with many aspects of my teaching philosophy: establishing trust with students; capitalizing on student interests through culturally relevant methods; and teaching history to make students better individuals, intellectuals, and members of society,” Stern’s website said. While at Clark, Stern was a dancer and choreographer in Hip Hop Collabo, in which he performed
ald Trump, to more intimate, intricately-detailed pieces like “Translating Cancer.” There was even a painting on display that used Oreo dust as a medium. Additionally, the gallery had a few small-scale sculptures on display such as the amusing “This Happens,” a pastry-themed piece by Michael Brown from College of the Holy Cross, and a delicate origami cut-out that visitors could touch. Attesting to the high quality of the content was a diversely full house, ranging from students and faculty to parents and other artists. In the middle of one of the second exhibition rooms, previously the bar and ballroom area of The Aurora, lay a large table with a variety of food catered by Deadhorse Hill, an upscale restaurant on Main Street. There was a fully stocked and staffed bar as well. There was a lively murmur of voices and good-humored interac-
dent per group (usually two or three) will receive a $50 visa gift card and a two minute interview with Worcester Magazine. The second place winners receive a $20 gift certificate to Acoustic Java, and third place students get $10 at Dippin Donuts. Small prizes will also be awarded to remarkable acts, such as best solo rap and the “Hype Master.” There are plans to make this a city-wide event in the future. Stern said this will make learning go beyond a grade, and hopefully others will recognize it too. The students “have studied the way European countries and the United States have taken advantage of other people by extracting natural resources and imposing their cultural values,” the email stated. They have studied multiple aspects of the fight against imperial rule, such as the Partition of Africa, French colonialism of Indochina, and United States imperialism of Latin America. Many of the topics can hit close to home, as well. Stern spoke of a student who escaped Kongo who is now learning about
Photos by Olivia Knightly.
how the war started there. Stern and his students are putting their performance on in hopes of showing that “the native and indigenous people of all these places…were not silent and passive about the injustice and oppression they faced.” “It’s not the solution,” Stern said, but it’s a way to “bridge the gap between students and teachers, students and culture.” Local b-boy group, 4 Elements, is set to perform at the R.A.P. F.A.I.R. The 4 Elements is a youth program in Worcester. They use hiphop, as their Facebook page states, to help kids achieve “greater selfconfidence, leadership development, and community empowerment. There will also be radical printmaking with the League of Just US, which prints in the streets for social movements, according to their Facebook page. Food will be provided by Nu Cafe.
Mass Shootings and The Media: A Complicated Relationship Jason Fehrnstrom Staff Writer
On April 20, 1999, a pair of alienated, vengeful students went on a deadly shooting spree that killed 13 and injured 20 people at their Colorado high school. These horrific images seared themselves into the minds of the American people. The shooting, typically referred to as “Columbine,” commanded widespread media attention and ignited political debates regarding gun control, bullying, violent movies, and a litany of other contentious issues. In the months following the aforementioned killing spree, mass shootings occupied a space at the forefront of the national consciousness. Consequently, the American public demanded meaningful change from their representatives. Anti-bullying programs were enacted, school security improved, and congress nearly passed a law requiring universal background checks to purchase firearms. For a brief moment, it appeared that the innocent slain on that fateful day did not die in vain. Unfortunately, less than twenty years later, the phenomenon of the “active shooter” has become a fixture of modern American life. To be alive in 2018 is to have to constantly bear witness to tragedies that were inconceivable merely a generation ago. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit institution that tracks gun-related deaths and injuries in the United States, there were 345 mass shootings in 2017 alone. It seems as though these events have lost their capacity to hold the media’s attention, let alone inspire meaningful political change. For instance, on Jan. 23, the nation suffered its eleventh school shooting of the year when a fifteen year old in Benton, Ky. opened fire on his classmates, killing two and injuring more than eighteen. According to Media Matters for America, a non-profit institution concerned with navigating today’s fragmented media environment, Fox
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News, CNN, and MSNBC dedicated only sixteen minutes of coverage to this shooting in aggregate. Evidently, the American public’s continuous exposure to these horrific crimes has rendered them as insignificant as any other evening headline. The fact that these events have receded into the background of our media landscape demonstrates that the American public has become accustomed to ritualized mass violence. This desensitization is certainly disconcerting, however, the lack of media coverage is not necessarily a cause for concern. Disseminating information about mass shootings is an extremely delicate task, and the mass media has repeatedly demonstrated that it is incapable of doing it properly. Media Matters for America did an analysis of the media coverage regarding the horrific attack in Las Vegas that killed fifty-eight concert-goers that demonstrates this incompetence. The analysis revealed that “conversations about how to solve gun violence -- via policy or other means -- were few in number and quickly tapered off in the days following the shooting.” Additionally, the small portion of news segments that actually mentioned legislative solutions “disproportionately featured Republicans with ties to the gun industry.” The lionshare of media coverage regarding the Las Vegas shooting can be adequately described as having a cinematic, sensational quality. Major networks focused their coverage on details about the perpetrator, the weapons used, the timeline of the shooting, the stories of victims, and videos of the shooting itself. There is a formidable amount of evidence that suggests that sensationalized coverage devoid of substantive, solutions-oriented segments inspires “copycat” shootings. Before carrying out their gruesome killing-sprees, many of America’s most notorious mass shooters formed imaginary bonds with previous shooters.
For example, Seung-Hui Cho, who killed dozens of students at Georgia Tech a decade ago, idolized and studied the Columbine shooters for years before carrying out his attack. Before carrying out an attack on an elementary school that killed twenty-six people, Adam Lanza collected news stories about previous mass shootings to find the strengths and weaknesses of his predecessors. Media coverage of mass shootings is having the opposite of its intended effect. Irresponsible, soundbite reporting is causing the general public to cower in fear of senseless violence, rather than demand meaningful change from their representatives. Additionally, media coverage of mass shootings emboldens sick, vengeful people to carry out their atrocities, as it emphasizes the fear these attacks can inspire. If we are to put a stop to this madness, the news networks need to completely reimagine their journalistic approach to these events. News networks should dedicate their coverage to educating the public about sensible gun control, the social maladies that prompt mass violence, mental health services, and the signs that indicate someone may commit an attack. It is entirely possible that a strategic reformulation of this sort could save innocent lives.
The opinions enumerated in this section represent those of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of the editorial board, The Scarlet, or Clark University.
True Crime, False Perceptions Andrew Rose Staff writer
It does not require an inordinately observant person to notice that the United States is awash in crime. Crime is everywhere -- it’s in local newscasts, TV docudramas, the tabloid stands at the supermarket, internet clickbait, and the President’s speeches. Chances are, it has even infested an entire shelf of poorly-written books in your local bookstore (if you still have a local bookstore). The signs of our national crime wave are most evident on daytime TV; the homicide rate on some channels is truly appalling. Murder is by far the most common (the perpetrator is usually a jealous wife, troubled teenager from a privileged background, or depraved serial killer). In short, crime is ubiquitous, affecting every facet of our collective experience. It truly is everywhere. Everywhere, that is, except our streets, homes, and spaces for public recreation. In fact, violent crime has declined by 74 percent since 1993, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The FBI pegs the drop at a more modest 48 percent. Either way, it is indisputable that Americans face a lower risk of being a victim of a violent crime than they have at any point in over fifty years. And yet, the American people are convinced otherwise. Polls conducted by Pew Research reveal that an overwhelming majority of American adults report that they believe crime rates to be rising. This has consistently been the case over a 17 year period, even as crime rates have fallen. This is more than just another example of the general public being poorly-informed; the fiction that the world is becom-
ing a more dangerous place has real life consequences for real people. Indeed, if parents believe that danger lurks around every corner, they are less likely to let their child play outdoors; if the elderly believe that the outside world poses an exigent threat to their well-being, they are more likely to remain housebound; if middle-class shoppers believe that certain urban areas are dangerous, they are more likely to steer clear of said area, and thereby deprive it of much needed economic activity. Worst of all, the widespread perception that crime is an increasing threat has made the public vulnerable to law and order-themed demagoguery. It’s not hard to see how wall-to-wall coverage of violent crime has contributed to all of this. The damage done by the True Crime industry and its media enablers is not insubstantial, but its problems do not end with the baleful effects it has had on society. Indeed, the existence of a genre of entertainment devoted to recounting, and sometimes depicting, acts of lethal violence in fulsome detail is troubling in itself. The victims of these crimes were actual human beings, replete with loves, hates, and passions. To use their last moments as fodder for popular entertainment is morally questionable at best. Moreover, the attention paid to people who commit acts of murder is deeply unsettling. The more heinous the crime, the more attention paid. There is something wrong with the fact that virtually everyone can name a serial killer, a school shooter, or some other murderer whose only distinguishing feature was a willingness to commit brutal acts of violence against innocent people. The suffering of real people should not be the stuff of entertainment.
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CDC Director’s Tobacco Stock Purchase Raises Ethical Concerns
The Case for Excluding LGBTQ People From Solitary Confinement
Ari Reyes Social Media/Web Editor
On Jan. 31, Brenda Fitzgerald, the director of the CDC, resigned after it was reported that she had bought shares within the tobacco industry. She expressed that she was sad about resigning but knew that it was what she had to do because it was interfering with specific goals the CDC is currently working towards. The stocks were bought a month after she become director, despite her knowledge that one of the main priorities of the CDC is preventing the use of tobacco products and limiting smoking. However, Fitzgerald claimed to have no knowledge of the purchase because the shares were purchased through a “separate entity” hired by her investment manager. The fact that the CDC director, only a month after being promoted, had allegedly unknowingly bought shares within a tobacco company is baffling. Fitzgerald must have known something about it before she went public with the information. Trying to sell her shares before resigning was the right thing to do in her case, however I feel that she should have came clean with her supervisors and coworkers when she found out what was going on. On the other hand, I do understand she was trying to resolve the situation before it became a controversial issue. The situation as a whole was completely unethical due to the fact that one of the CDC’s main priorities right now is to find a way to stop the use of tobacco products. The fact that their director bought these shares within the tobacco industry contradicts all the work they are doing
to try and stop the use of tobacco products. Through the purchase of these specific shares, Fitzgerald was also promoting the tobacco industry, and in a way she was contributing to the making of the harmful products the CDC opposes. However, her claim that she did not know that these shares were purchased on her behalf suggests that she was not aware of the support she was giving the companies. By Fitzgerald and her husband having an investment manager hiring people to invest their money into shares, she would not have the knowledge of every share that she was involved in. The investment manager had free reign over where the money could be invested to, possibly leading to the answer of why her money was invested into a stock she did not want to be affiliated with. However, in a way she brought the situation on to herself by trusting her money with another person and not knowing exactly where this person was putting it. In doing so Fitzgerald affected her career and possible future career opportunities because there was no real reason as to why her money should have been invested into those shares. In closing, the entire issue is unethical, and Fitzgerald should have been more careful in how and where her money was going in order to protect herself and the organization she was working for.
Mike Cox Contributing Writer
There is currently an ongoing initiative to reform the use of solitary confinement across the nation. The focus of these reforms often addresses the duration, frequency, and conditions of solitary and its impact on people with mental health issues. Other arguments call for the complete abolition of solitary confinement because it is torture. One aspect of these conversations that is often missing is the LGBTQ experience in solitary confinement. According to a 2015 study by The Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly 30 percent of LGBTQ inmates were placed in solitary confinement while only 17 percent of their heterosexual peers were placed in solitary confinement. So, what explains the disproportionate impact on LGBTQ prisoners? LGBTQ inmates are at an increased risk for sexual assault and harassment while incarcerated. Many fear for their lives. As a result, prisons use solitary confinement as a way to ensure their safety. However, solitary confinement poses its own safety risks. Self-harming behavior, suicide attempts, and psychosis are regular occurrences in solitary confinement because of the extreme isolation and barbaric conditions. Another factor that funnels LGBTQ inmates into solitary confinement is the guard culture. This culture is steeped in toxic masculinity which, in turn, fuels homophobia. Much like police officers, the majority of decisions that guards make are discretionary. This can lead guards to make biased decisions that unnecessarily land an inmate in solitary confinement. For example, while I was incarcerated, my friend gave me a hug goodbye in the prison yard. Within moments, six guards seized us and threw us in solitary confinement un-
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der the pretense that we were being investigated for rape! These particular guards were known to be harsh to my gay friends and they could often be heard using derogatory language when referring to gay and transgender inmates. Are these the people we trust to use the crushing power of solitary confinement? Black and Pink, a national organization whose members are LGBTQ inmates, conducted a survey and found that 85 percent of their 1,200 respondents were placed in solitary confinement at some point during their incarceration, the majority of whom were held in solitary confinement for two years or longer. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan E. Méndez, named solitary confinement beyond fifteen days torture. By this definition, LGBTQ prisoners are regularly subjected to torture in American prisons and jails. Not only is it more likely for LGBTQ prisoners to find themselves in solitary, but the negative impact that these conditions have on them are also magnified. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, gay men experience depression at 3 times the rate of heterosexuals while the National Center for Transgender Equality found that 40 percent of transgender people have attempted suicide. Placing these at-risk populations in solitary confinement guarantees that their underlying conditions will be exacerbated. Often these impacts are not reversible upon release from solitary confinement. With great power comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, the state has proven time and again that it is not capable of wielding the weapon of solitary confinement responsibly and we need to take action to remove this weapon from their arsenal.