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volume xcvi, no. 11 • feb. 3, 2017 | thescarlet.org | the.clark.scarlet | @Clark_Scarlet
Clarkies Participate in Protests Students travel to D.C., Boston, and Worcester in wake of the presidential inauguration
Women’s Basketball Bounces Back After Tough Two Years By Scott Levine sports editor
photo by celine manneville
By Ethan Giles editor-in-chief
“It’s so much bigger than just marching,” said Courtney Thomas (‘17). “As a black woman, I am here because I am afraid for this [presidential] administration and I want them to protect my rights. But then I also realize that there are so many
other people that are affected by this as well. In ways, [they] are in more danger than I am, so how can I support them?” In the last few weeks many Clark students have protested the aftermath of the 2016 election. The day after the inauguration, many Clarkies travelled to Boston to join the Women’s March. The Clark bus to Washington D.C. was organized by Ruth
Fuller (‘20) and Nicole LeRoux (‘15) and was sponsored by the Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) Program took 55 students, staff, and faculty to the march. A member of the Massachusetts State Organizing Team for the march, Fuller began planning for the event Nov. 2016. continued on page 3
Clark Women’s Basketball Head Coach Pat Glispin did not land any recruits this offseason. She required surgery in March for lingering back issues; prime recruiting time for Division III college basketball. “I was not 100 percent all. I did come in to meet some people, and I think my energy was low. And that doesn’t bode well for recruiting,” said Glispin. Glispin’s health has improved since then, and so has her team. Not having new players has become a strength for Clark. The team played flashes of high level basketball at the end of last season, and has been able to pick up where they left off. After going 3-13 in the NEWMAC last year, the team is sixth in the conference at 5-7, and would make the playoffs if the season ended today. “We’ve had a rough couple years, and now we’ve kind of grown
together as a team,” said co-captain point guard Sam O’Gara (’18). Team chemistry has led to defensive improvement. Clark has allowed 58 points per game after allowing 65 last year, validating Glispin’s strong emphasis on defense. “[Coach] only focuses on defense,” said co-captain forward Haley Wilder (‘18), prone to hyperbole. However, players have been quick to internalize Glispin’s messages, for they have seen their defensive effort pay off in the form of wins. “Sometimes we forget that it matters, but when we do it, we’re like ‘Oh, yeah, that’s what we’re supposed to do, and it does work,’” said Wilder. Wilder has revamped her defensive effort this year, and invented herself as an indispensable starter who does the little things that help the team win.
continued on page 10
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The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
The Scarlet THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY
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The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
news | 3
The Scarlet/News Marches Continued
Tilton Hall Rises With New Year
continued from page 1
The first general interest meeting had 100 people in attendance, but there were only 55 available bus seats. Initially they were going to do a lottery for the seats, but were concerned that a random lottery could lead to minorities being underrepresented. To combat this problem, they reserved half of the seats on the bus for individuals nominated by leaders of clubs that represent students from communities that have been historically marginalized. The rest of the seats were put in random lottery for other interested students. The bus left Worcester at 6 p.m. the night before the march, arriving at Union Station in Washington D.C. at 2:30 a.m. The passengers spent the next five hours in the station, many attempting to sleep on the marble floor. Around 9 a.m., they attended the rally where many speakers shared their stories. The rally lasted longer than expected, leaving the Clarkies only about an hour to march before heading back to their bus. Multiple attendees noted the speech by the six-year-old hispanic activist, Sophie Cruz, as the most memorable moment, who gave her speech in both English and Spanish. While many viewed the march as successful, it did not go without flaws. Delayed marching made protesters impatient.
“We had been standing basically from 8 a.m. until this march,” said Joanna Hamilton (‘19). The wait annoyed many of the protesters, who began chanting over some of the speakers in order to try to start the march. “There was a moment where Angela Davis came to speak,” Thomas said, “and people...started shouting over her ‘March, march, march’ ... But when bigger celebrities came like Alicia Keyes and Madonna everyone was quiet.” Regardless of the problems some of the protestors had with the event, all who spoke with The Scarlet felt the protests were overall effective in encouraging people to continue to question and call out the new presidential administration. “One of the main feelings when I was back on the bus … was a feeling of like ‘well that was cool, but what did I really do?’ I really didn’t feel like I did anything, honestly.” said Katherine Landesman (‘16). However, upon further reflection Landesman was happy to have been a part of what she thinks will be a historic moment. She also expressed that she has “been more politically active than I was [before the rally].” Landesman’s experience with increased political activity was mirrored by the other protesters who spoke with The Scarlet. “It was extremely effective be-
KSA Hosts Lunar New Year
cause there is a lot of organizing going on on [Clark’s] campus right now, and a lot of the people are organizing to resist action by the current administration that we don’t believe in,” said Fuller. The march on Washington D.C. meant different things for everyone who went. One of the protestors, Sara Nasah (‘20), was most impacted by “the amount of Muslim speakers at the march.” Nasah grew up as a Muslim American outside of Boston, and hearing people speak on behalf of her religion “drove me to tears.” “Growing up a Muslim girl during middle school everyone made fun of me…[calling] Osama Bin Laden my uncle and things like that” Nasah said. “It just finally felt like acceptance, and I didn’t know how much I craved it until I got it.” This past Tuesday about onehundred Clark students also attended a protest at Worcester City Council Meeting. Students marched down Main Street and into City Hall to protest Councilor-at-Large Michael Gaffney’s proposed resolution to reject naming Worcester a Sanctuary City. This would mean that police would be allowed to investigate the citizenship documents of those who get an arrest commissioned against them.
By Katherine Hamilton contributing writer
Students filled Tilton hall Saturday evening to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Korean Student Alliance’s (KSA) first ever event, which featured an assortment of traditional food, games, and décor. Not only did the New Year celebration mark the inception of 2017 on the Korean lunar calendar, it also represented the starting point for KSA. The club was officially founded in April 2016, but this was their first program open to the rest of campus. “We want to bring a little more Korean culture to the whole campus,” said KSA president, So Jung Kim (‘19). Kim welcomed students as they filtered into Tilton Hall and took their seats around large tables throughout the room. Once the ceremony began, she spoke in Korean to describe the traditional foods and games of the new year celebration, while another member translated into English. “We give out a traditional Korean food,” she said in a later interview. “Getting together and playing games is just a way of celebrating the new year.” Representatives from each table participated in the game Yut Nori, which involves throwing sticks and counting up a score based on how the sticks fall. After the game, students were served a traditional noodle soup and rice with special cabbage sauce. According to Kim, this holiday is one of the most important in Korea, and there is a strong emphasis on spending
it with family. Because there is no vacation time during the celebration to visit family, she remarked on how valuable it is that “the Korean students gather all together because there’s a very small number of Korean students at Clark.” Kim said that prior to this event, KSA’s work mostly consisted of collaboration with other clubs such as the Asian Culture Society (ACS), but they are now trying to reach out to the community. “We’re hoping to do some more very Korean events,” she explained, “like White Day, which is a little like Valentine’s Day.” Kim remarked that no plans had been finalized yet, but the Lunar New Year celebration was the first step to getting the word out about the club and Korean culture. She also noted that many cultures with smaller representations on campus tend to be less emphasized. She gave an example of the Chinese culture, which she said is much more popular and celebrated than that of Korea. “We have our own distinct culture, but it’s just less well-known. So that’s our main goal – to make Korean culture better understood.” Along with increasing awareness and understanding of Korean practices, KSA also serves the Korean students of Clark. Sophia Kim (‘20), commented on how much the organization helped her to feel welcome and included in the community. “It’s been really great hanging out with these people who have similar interests and understand the Korean culture the way I do,” she said. “They just make you feel like you’re at home.”
The Scarlet
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feb. 3, 2017
CLARKIE of the WEEK protein, and then we try to isolate and purify it. My protein is being very difficult to purify. It’s not soluable, and you really need a soluble protein to do any sort of trials with it. I’ve tried a bunch of different things, and I still haven’t been able to get it right yet, but I’m still working on it. Hopefully this semester we will have it done. For my fifth year project we are expanding on it to include another student, Aaron Bogle (‘18). Scarlet: How is your current research related to cancer research? Rachel: The protein itself does not directly relate to cancer research because it is a drosophila transcription factor. It’s kind of the bigger picture. It is for us to understand how strongly transcription factors bind to their target, which is something that people don’t really know right now. They know what different binding sites there are, but they don’t know the strength of those bonds. We are also trying to figure out if they bind more strongly to the sites that they most often bind to. Things like that. We just want to find out if there’s a range.
photo by celine manneville
Rachel Orlomoski Rachel Orlomoski (‘17) is from Canterbury, CT. She has two oncampus jobs and does research in Clark’s Spratt Lab purifying proteins. Rachel hopes to continue her research after Clark. Scarlet: Why did you choose Clark? Rachel: I wanted a small school, and I wanted something that wasn’t too far from home. I liked the idea of being able to do research as an undergrad. Since sophomore year of high school I’ve wanted to do cancer research. To get to do research with a professor was a big selling factor. The free fifth year was another bonus. Scarlet: How did you first get involved in research? Rachel: I started in Prof. Drewel’s lab doing work on a honeybee methylation project. Then he decided that he wanted to do more of a collaboration project with Prof. Dresch, and then also added Dr. Spratt’s lab for protein expression. I ended up working on a project to set up transcription factors. Scarlet: What are you currently working on in the lab? Rachel: Now I’m trying to purify that protein in the Spratt Lab. Hopefully I’ll get some binding affinity data to Dresch, and then she will be able to make an algorhythm. Basically we express the
Scarlet: What do you want to do after Clark? Rachel: Hopefully get a job and do medical research of some kind. But I’m not planning on doing a PhD right away or anything. I’m kind of just ready to be done, and I’d rather get paid and get some good experience. Then if in the future I want to get a PhD, that’s fine, but I might not even need it. I kind of want to continue to do benchwork at this point. Scarlet: Do you have any hobbies or talents? Rachel: I’ve played the french horn in concert band since freshman year. I’ve been playing for 12 years now. Originally I really considered doing a performance major. I looked at bunch of different music schools, I was prepping for auditions, and then I decided not to. I don’t think I’d be able to take the pressure of it. Ultimately, I decided to do science instead and band on the side, which is good for me. It was a big thing for me in high school though. I would audition for festivals and stuff. I did regional festivals and I did all-state twice. I auditioned for this national thing and I got accepted. The concert was at Carnegie Hall. That was awesome, but in college I’ve just done concert band. I don’t really have the time to practice as much as I used to. I also do cross-stitch. It’s a big stress relief for me; I have all this pent up energy that most people would want to go to the gym and exercise, but I just sit and focus solely on that one thing. It’s fun. It takes a long time sometimes, and can be frustrating, but it’s good for me. The final product is nice. Scarlet: What has your favorite project been? Rachel: I’ve only made three things so far. Two have been gifts to friends, and then I made the Harry Potter emblem thing. It was my first project. It was a big undertaking, but it came out really nice. Now I’m making a “The Office” thing for one of my friends. The pattern is really frustrating, because it’s black and white, but
by Kayleigh McHugh
there are all these colors in between to make it look like it came out of a copier. Hopefully she’ll like it, and hopefully I’ll finish it by her birthday in September. Scarlet: What do you do for work? Rachel: I have two jobs on campus: event planning and the chem stockroom. I know Ernie and stuff, so it seemed like a good fit. Originally we didn’t have a stock room manager, so it was mostly students prepping the labs. But now we have one, which is nice, so we are just helping him out. For event planning, we book all the spaces for events on campus. We book tabling, and meeting, rehearsal, and performance spaces for clubs. We work closely with SLP too. Scarlet: Any fun facts? Rachel: I have a dog named Abby, she’s a basset hound. I also had two goats growing up. Scarlet: Did you have to milk them? Rachel: They were boys, so that’s not possible. I got them in 5th grade. Their names were Toby and Max. We’ve always had chickens, or ducks, or that sort of thing. My dad always liked having animals. They were two pygmy goats. They just passed away about a year ago. Scarlet: Sounds like you came from a small town, what was it like coming to the city? Rachel: We don’t have a stop light or anything. There’s only like 5,000 people. I’ve kind of always hated the city, so it’s kind of shocking that I ended up here. Clark just kind of fit, and I enjoy the options of restaurants in Worcester. Rachel: Taking any interesting classes your senior year? Scarlet: I’m taking “Fairy Tales of the World.” I thought it seemed interesting. I have a lot of reading for classes, so that’s kind of new and interesting. I kind of exhausted all the science classes I wanted to take. I wasn’t going to take anatomy because I didn’t want to dissect things. Thanks for the interview Rachel!
Email scarlet@clarku.edu if you have a suggestion for Clarkie of the Week!
opinions | 5
The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
The Scarlet/Opinions 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.
Manning: Was The Sentence Commutation Justified? By Julia Baldacci contributing writers
In July 2013, United States Army soldier Chelsea Manning was convicted of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses after disclosing nearly three-quarters of a million classified or unclassified military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks. She was sentenced in August 2013 to 35 years’ imprisonment, with the possibility of parole in the eighth year, and to be dishonorably discharged from the Army. Manning was ultimately charged with 22 offenses including aiding the enemy, which was the most serious charge brought against her and could have resulted in a death sentence. Manning is a transgender woman who, in a statement the day after sentencing, said she had felt female since childhood. On Jan 17, 2017, President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s sentence to a total of seven years of confinement, starting from the date of arrest by military authorities. Needless to say, public reactions to Manning’s sentencing and commutation were mixed. Many viewed her as a traitor to the country, while others saw her as brave for standing up for what she
felt was right. Some of the most controversial material leaked included a diplomatic cable from the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik, Iceland and a video of a Baghdad airstrike in 2007. This material was released on April 5, 2010, during a press conference in Washington, D.C. The video showed two American helicopters firing on a group of 10 men in the Amin District of Baghdad. Two were Reuters employees there to photograph an American Humvee under attack by the Mahdi Army. The helicopters also fired on a van that had stopped to help wounded members of the first group. Two children in the van were wounded, and their father was killed. On July 25, 2010, WikiLeaks and three media partners began publishing the documents that became known as the Afghan War Logs. This was followed in October of the same year by classified military reports that became known as the Iraq War Logs. Supporters of Manning argue that she ultimately revealed the truth to the American people, giving them the actual numbers of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other classified details that the American people had the right to know about.
In addition, transgender people face much harsher conditions in prison than cisgender people. It is difficult for them to obtain therapy when they need it, and Manning attempted suicide twice while undergoing several hunger strikes during her time in prison. An online petition to commute Manning’s sentence surpassed the 100,000 signatures needed in order to guarantee a response from the White House in Dec, 2016. While Manning did indeed break several serious laws by leaking such large amounts of information and deserved to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for her actions, many believe that her sentencing was far too long. In this day and age, we value information and honesty. In addition, Manning was not leaking information to U.S enemies, but to the American public. Obama fully reserved the right as head of state and government to commute federal sentences. Manning served her time, and it was right to commute her sentence. Although she should not necessarily be celebrated or made a martyr, she was not safe in prison and ultimately the leaked information ended up only harming our trust in our government.
Remembering the St. Louis America’s reactions in times of refugee crisis By Casey Bush contributing writer
On Jan 27, as millions of people commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order arranging a visa ban for refugees from Muslimmajority countries, as well as the shutdown of the U.S. refugee resettlement program. This Executive Order is unsettlingly reminiscent of one of the most disappointing moments in American history. In spring of 1939, the transatlantic liner, the St. Louis, transported over 900 passengers–mostly Jews escaping persecution–from Germany to Cuba where they were to stay until they could enter the U.S. When the Cuban government turned the ship away, the captain and passengers set their sights on America. Close enough to the Florida shore that they could see the lights of Miami, the Jewish passengers cabled the U.S. government asking for refuge. When this request was also met with resistance from both the White House and the State Department, the passengers were forced to turn around and return to Europe–the very continent they were trying to escape. The recent Executive Order is disturbingly similar to the voyage of the St. Louis in that it would essentially shut down the refugee resettlement program for months, possibly years,
thus leaving victims of terror trapped in their home countries or in refugee camps, which are often themselves hotspots for violence. Though many fear the entrance of radical Islamic terrorists into our country, this fear and paranoia is unfounded. Refugees go through the most extensive screening process of any category of traveler or immigrant to the U.S. The vetting process lasts 18-24 months before they are even able to set foot on U.S. soil. To assume that a person wishing to cause harm to the U.S. would endure two years of intense screening when there are much easier methods of entering the country is absurd. We cannot sit idly by as those who have waited for months or years to call the U.S. home have their “ship” turned away. It is easy to see how Trump’s recent Executive Order puts the U.S. at risk of repeating the mistakes of the past. As Clarkies who care, we must encourage our elected officials to speak out against this betrayal of American values. I urge you to call the Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker, as well as the elected officials from your home state and demand that they publicly speak out against President Trump’s Executive Order. We must send the message that we will not let prejudice and fear prevent us from being a beacon of hope for refugees in Syria and around the world.
The Scarlet
6 | opinions
feb. 3, 2017
Progressive Lesson Plans By Ethan Giles editor-in-chief
Philadelphia Public Schools teach Black Lives Matter
So there’s a lot going on in the world that I could talk about. What’s going on around us is horrifying, things that I never imagined would happen in my lifetime. That being said, there are a number of articles you can find online that
By Elyse Wyatt contributing writer
analyze and opine on these events much better than I can, and I don’t believe that adding a less informed voice will help much. So I’m not going to focus on the important events of today in this space. Rather than attempt to take on Donald Trump and Uncle Sam, I’m going to look closer to home: Uncle Sam’s Pizza. Uncle Sam’s has been getting away with mediocre food and poor customer service for too long. Their pizza is subpar at best, their sandwiches are fine, but not a single person in that store has any common decency. They are mean to most of the people who enter the door, not to mention the typical poor delivery service. This stuck out to me the most one fateful Sunday near the end of last semester. I woke up at 12:30 as usual, and decided I’d like an Uncle Sam’s rib sandwich while watching my hometown Philadelphia Eagles play football. I called their “restaurant,” they said the sandwich would be there in 45 minutes, and I was more than eager to eat it when it arrived. However, an hour and fifteen minutes later, no food had arrived at my door. I called them asking for an update, and they told me they had to turn the fryer on, so it would be another 45 minutes. This seemed odd to me, but I had to accept the additional delay. Unfortunately, this tale gets worse. Another hour and fifteen minutes after the second call, my sandwich was still not on my doorstep, and I was getting hungrier by the minute. I called the establishment again to find out what the problem was, but kept getting hung up on. About five calls later a gentleman finally picked up. When I asked him what the deal was, he pretended that it was a new order and that he had no idea of the prior order and promptly hung up. Now I was just plain angry, and another five calls later told them to cancel the order, cursed them out, and informed them I would never give them my business again. How is this a thing? I know I cannot be the only person on this campus to be treated like this, and I’m tired of it. Poor customer service is never acceptable, and is only tolerable if the food is good enough to warrant it (see the “Soup Nazi”). Uncle Sam’s food is only good at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, just by being open and edible. But I for one have had enough of their shenanigans. I will never eat or set foot in Uncle Sam’s for the rest of my life. I will enjoy the pizza and customer service at Worcester Pizza Factory, and if they are not open, I will even eat the cheesy, saucy mixture Dominoes insists is pizza. I encourage you all to join me, and maybe Uncle Sam’s will learn they have to start caring about the customer to remain in business.
To complement Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a teacher’s group of the Philadelphia School district has decided to implement the Black Lives Matter movement as part of the primary and secondary curriculum. This action is building off the momentum of recent nationwide protests and rallies, according to the article “Philly Teachers Plan Black Lives Matter Week - Not All Are Happy,” published in The Inquirer Daily News. The article explains that the curriculum would be developmentally catered to different age groups. This would include coloring pages with phrases like “The Revolution is Always Now” for younger students, and biology lessons on skin pigmentation for older students. The material would not be mandatory, and it would be up to individual teachers whether or not they use the material in their classrooms. Though optional, the material would foster critical thinking and questioning of contemporary controversial politics. More than 70 percent of the students attending Philadelphia public schools are students of color, according to the same article from The Inquirer. The history and existence of their white peers is taught as a core subject a narrative people of color are largely excluded from. The new curriculum would be an opportunity for these students to see the current and historical significance of people who look like them a refreshing change from the all-too-familiar sea of white men in history books. Opening up conversations about the movement would also provide students with the opportunity to talk about and validate the realities of their existence, such as unfair treatment by
police and the everyday instances of racism they face. The controversy surrounding the introduction of the subject into the curriculum serves to prove its necessity. It is counterproductive to teach children that the current political climate is not up for discussion in schools, and that not offending someone is more important than standing up for what they believe in. Teachers are invested in preparing young people to be successful adults capable of handling the realities of the world, which requires covering sensitive topics. The ability to respectfully disagree is a fundamental skill. Regardless of the controversy surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, it is indisputably a significant social movement that will influence policy affecting the children in the Philly schools. Just like many classrooms elect to include current events in their curricula, Black Lives Matter is a relevant aspect of our nation’s political discourse that students should be exposed to in a formal setting. As the article published in the International Business Times, “Do Black Lives Matter in Schools? Philadelphia Teachers Launch BLM Week” points out, students are already exposed to the movement on social media and in their daily lives. This curriculum would bridge the gap between casual dialogue and formal analysis, and would give students a larger framework from which to shape and articulate their opinions on the issue.
feb. 3, 2017
The Scarlet
The Henry J. Leir Luxembourg Program-Clark University’s May Term 2017 in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg in Europe “Trump has bared his fangs to Merkel. He will do untold damage to Europe”- 17 January 2017, The Guardian “Trump Takes Aim at the European Union” – 24 January 2017, Foreign Affairs
Europe at the Crossroads: Challenges to a Unified Europe
Today’s headlines tell us that we find ourselves in uncharted territory. The European Union is a unique experiment in international understanding that includes 28 countries and almost as many languages and cultures. Does the Brexit vote in the UK and the rise of European populism opposed to the European Union (EU) place the future of a Unified Europe in jeopardy? This summer, The Henry J. Leir Luxembourg Program’s May Term offers you the opportunity to explore this question, and others, on site in the heart of Europe. Taught by Clark Professor John Brown, the course, Europe at the Crossroads: Challenges to a Unified Europe, runs for ca. four weeks (May 16 to June 9, 2017) that feature a unique blend of classroom and experiential learning. The course conducts field trips to relevant sites in Luxembourg, France, Germany and Belgium that include presentations by people involved in numerous aspects of the European experiment: the common currency, migration, agricultural policies and the free movement of people. In-class sessions provide the necessary background to the policies that make for a unified Europe. This course allows you to understand this historically critical juncture in this historical experiment to draw countries and peoples closer together by tearing down the walls that divide them. Open only to Clark students, this May Term offers an invaluable learning experience. The Leir Luxembourg Program has heard student voices and believes in the importance of offering this course this year. So, we are: • Reducing the program fee to $4,900 (each accepted student will be subsidized by The Leir Foundation by ca. $1,700); • Increasing the 8 available The Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Merit Scholarships to $750; • Increasing the 8 available The Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Excellence Through Diversity Scholarships to $750;
And extending the deadline to Monday, 20 February 2017. As always, students on need-based financial aid during the academic year also qualify for financial aid. The range of aid in the past has been between $200 and $2,100.
Europe at the Crossroads:
Fulfills one full Clark academic unit; Fulfills the Global Comparative Perspective; Is taught in English; Has no pre-requisites, and Is open to all Clark students, including first-years.
For more information, check our website http://www.clarku.edu/offices/leir/mayterm/ Application and scholarship materials are available in the Luxembourg Office (Geography Building, Room #101). You can also visit us on facebook.com/llpcu; or e-mail: luxembourgprograms@clarku.edu; ext. 7634. Also, please feel free to contact Prof. Brown directly at JBrown@clarku.edu The LLP-CU reserves the right to amend or cancel its programs or any program element at any time without prior notice.
opinions | 7
8 | living arts
The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
The Scarlet/Living Arts It Came From The Grind First PEC Show of the Semester Packs The Grind by Eddie McCluskey
Welcome back my dudes And dudettes, to another Joyride semester!
By Anna Schaeffer scarlet staff
The Grind was crowded last Friday night as students gathered to see the first PEC show of the semester. Cougarfest 2k17 featured Clark’s very own talented students with a lineup of Clark bands and solo artists such as Good Soup, Olivia Frances (‘19), Zohaib Bilal (‘19), and Casual Lean. All of the artists that performed on Friday have tracks on the album, “It Came From the Grind”, which is a project that PEC will be producing soon. It Came From The Grind has not yet been released, but can be followed on the PEC Facebook page for updates. The musical style of this PEC show was generally low-tempo indie rock, with a few artists experimenting with country music and even jazz. Good Soup, formed by Ben Bergeron (‘19) of Portland Maine and Greg Farrington played a mix of moody, quirky rock that was received with great applause. Bilal stunned with a melancholy solo performance accompanied by his remarkable talent on the guitar as he sang to his own songs, “Snow”’ and “Cross Fire”. Casual Lean, a five-person ensemble, gave a jazz-rock fusion interpretation of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” complete with a funky
No lying… How long Did it take for you to skip Class to take a nap? Who likes swimming? Me! Well that’s lucky! Clark has our Last meet this weekend! Pundits get surprised When the demagogue does what He told us he’d do photo by krithi vachaspati
bass and trumpet solo. Schwartz performed as Olivia Frances and treated the crowd to a folk-country-rock show complete with a ukulele, and the crowd sang along to Frances’s song “That’s How My Heart Felt”. Frances provided a background story to each of her songs, highlighting her travels in Nashville and her beginnings as an artist, when her Piano teacher wouldn’t teach her the guitar. “That’s why you’re seeing me here right now!” The Grind was full, a very good turnout for the first show of the sea-
son. The crowd was energetic and attentive to the artists, many of whom were familiar faces around campus. “I think that there is considerable talent here,” said Alden Welles (’18) of the performers. Thanks to PEC for showcasing Clark’s amazing talent. Hopefully the Grind is just the beginning for these young artists’ careers.
DO NOT PUNCH NAZIS That’s how you break your hand… try Palm-strikes… or elbows
The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
People on the Street by Amanda Quiñones
What’d I Miss? The Story Of The Hamilton Open Mic Night By Sheila Ford scarlet staff
The Grind was alive with the sounds of an exciting modern musical as well as some classical music and rock ‘n roll. Although the night started off a little slow, the artists soon began to play, and people trickled in to listen to the wide variety of music. The night began and ended with “The Schuyler Sisters” from Hamilton, performed by members of Clark Musical Theater (CMT). CMT and MSCU (Music Society of Clark University) hosted the open mic last Thursday night. The performance provided an upbeat and exciting tone for the night. “Washington On Your Side” and “Guns and Ships” really got the crowd going. Although Hamilton was the theme for the night, many of the singers performed songs from other genres. Some of the crowd favorites were Lital Dotan (‘20) and Samson Martin (‘18). Dotan got
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big cheers as she sang “When He Sees Me” from Waitress. Martin tantalized the crowd with his renditions of “No Diggity” by Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen, and “Stolen Dance” by Milky Chance. Also popular was Max Elias (‘18) with some wicked improvisation on guitar. Other performers included Jacqui Savageau (‘18) and Lyndsey Hawkes (‘19) who sang “Have a Little Priest” from Sweeney Todd, and “Take Me or Leave Me” from Rent. Asir Arif (‘18) performed an original piece about the pain of love as well as some Frank Ocean. Will Clark (‘20) enjoyed the performances at the open mic night, saying “Listening to music by yourself is fine, but listening to music with other people allows you to get emotional feedback which is really nice,” said Clark. All around, the open mic was a success and everyone seemed to enjoy the variety of musical talents present.
How Many Clark Squirrels Do You Think You Could Take in a Fight?
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One. Just one. After that I’ve lost the battle.
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- Nia Slater-Bookhart (‘19) photo by amanda quiñones
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I don’t think I could take any, I feel like they would run me over. If I had to I’d probably end up stomping on them, but not really, because I’d feel bad.
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- Emily Uechi (‘19) photo by krithi vachaspati
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I think I could tackle a solid fifteen. Wait no, seven. Nevermind, I’d get killed.
- Natalia Raja (‘20) photo by sheila ford
photo by krithi vachaspati
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10 | sports
The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
The Scarlet/Sports Women’s Basketball Bounces Back After Two Tough Seasons continued from page 1
“When she arrived, she so badly wanted to be a three-point shooter, she wanted to be an off guard,” said O’Gara, who played her post-grad year with Wilder at Vermont Academy. “But, I think it has helped her improvement as a player to focus more on her defense than her offense.” Wilder has taken two fewer shots per game this season, resulting in her playing more efficiently on offense and focusing more energy towards defense. “Her shift from coming in as a very offensively oriented player, to becoming a very sound defender has really made a difference,” said Glispin. Wilder comprises an imposing frontcourt defense with center Ogechi Ezemma (’19). Ezemma ranks fourth in the NEWMAC in rebounds per game with 9.7, and leads the conference in blocks per game with 1.8. “Playing with ‘Gechi is extremely fun. When I play with her, I know she’s got my back, and that she will be in the system and know what we need to do,” said Wilder. “We’re very lucky to have [Ogechi],” said Glispin. Clark’s defensive stops have led to high percentage looks and free throw attempts for their two star guards, co-captain Aretha Sullivan (’17) and O’Gara (’18). Both love pushing the ball in transition after a missed shot, and both draw a lot of
fouls. O’Gara leads the NEWMAC in free throw attempts per game with 6.2, and Sullivan ranks third with 5.3. “Getting to the free throw line early helps me get my game going,” said Sullivan. “The shots might not always fall, but if you attack the basket, you have a good chance of getting the bucket or getting fouled.” O’Gara and Sullivan both live in Worcester, and work together during the summer with Diago McClain, who is the founder and CEO of Worcester PIF (Pay It Forward), which teaches Worcester youth basketball over the summer. He has been working with the two since 2009. “This summer, we really focused on not having to go through a losing season,” said O’Gara. “We worked on our fundamentals, our passing, our dribbling, and Diago was obviously able to help us do that.” McClain attends every Clark home game, and has enjoyed the team’s rise in the NEWMAC standings. “From 2009 to now is a huge difference,” said McClain. “They really worked at it. They put the time in, and it’s starting to show.” An offense with two ball-dominant, basket-attacking guards like O’Gara and Sullivan has the potential to be discordant, but the two have built a strong chemistry. Along with training in the summer together,
they both played for the Main South girls’ basketball team in high school. “I think we both know the difference between our roles,” said O’Gara. “She’s kind of the off-guard who will attack off the dribble, and I’m the person who is creating and making sure everyone else has that opportunity.” As the two actualize their roles on the team, their chemistry on the court continues to strengthen. “In my 33 years at Clark, I have never seen a backcourt so entwined with each other,” said Glispin. The team’s improvement has come not just from the starting unit, but also from their depth. All 15 players on the roster play more than five minutes per game, but only O’Gara, Sullivan, Wilder, and Ezemma play more than 15 minutes per game. Glispin described balancing her deep rotation of players as “one of the great challenges of the season, for the coaches and the players.” Glispin said it has been made possible by players handling spotty playing time well, citing that the senior leadership of Gwyneth Ivory (’17) and co-captain Sami Dokus (’16). Both play slightly fewer than ten minutes a game, but have been accepting of their roles. “They have done what they’ve been asked to do, as well as they can do it, whatever it is. They’ve had to sacrifice for the team, and I think
they’ve been great at that. “Those roles are not easy, and them handling so well, I think that forces younger players to handle roles as well,” said Glispin. The team has grown used to relying on its bench for bursts of scoring or defensive energy. Maya Kerstetter (’19) chipped in seven key points during her five-minute shift in the fourth quarter to tilt the Smith game in the Cougars’ favor. Sullivan attributed the bench contributions to the overall experience of the team, as many of the bench contributors are now sophomores. “They’re past the nerve stage, and are realizing the role that they bring to the team, and aren’t afraid to shoot,” she said. The depth will likely be an advantage against conference opponents as Clark looks to clinch their first playoff berth in four years. “A few teams have as much depth as us in the conference, but not many do,” said Glispin. Clark will work to actualize this potential during the rest of the regular season. The team has four conference games left. They will play a tough road schedule, traveling Babson on Saturday, Feb. 4, and MIT on Wednesday, Feb. 8. They will return to the Kneller on Saturday, Feb. 11 to play Emerson for Alumni Day. “It’s important to be playing your
best basketball late in the season,” said Glispin, who said she hopes the team continues to improve its consistency and demonstrate mental toughness to weather the storm against tough NEWMAC opponents. No player on the current roster has been in the tournament. O’Gara thinks the team can do more than simply qualify. “I think, honestly, our team has the most potential in this league,” said O’Gara. “We can compete with anyone.” Wilder shares the optimism of her teammate. “We have a huge shot these playoffs. In our conference, anyone can win it,” she said.
The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
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COUGAR of the WEEK games? Kacey: It feels good finally being able to win and compete well against some of these teams where last year we struggled playing a full forty minutes. This year we are more focused on making sure we are doing what we’re supposed to when we’re supposed to. We are a really huge and deep team. Scarlet: Was it a hard adjustment from volleyball to basketball when the seasons overlapped? Kacey: I’m not going to lie, it was really hard. I sort of knew what was coming because my sister was a multi-sport athlete, so I knew what to expect. It was very time-consuming and very difficult with both teams wanting me to be there at practices. There were a couple days where I was spending six hours in the gym from volleyball to basketball. It was hard and I told myself to be prepared, and it ended up being very cool because I was playing two sports at once.
photo by celine manneville
Kacey Legare women’s basketball & women’s volleyball Kacey Legare (‘19) is a psychology major and two-sport athlete from Chicopee, Mass. She plays volleyball and basketball for Clark, and has stepped up at small forward due to starting small forward, Dominique St. Pierre’s (‘18) recent concussion. “She’s a strong defender, and plays really hard,” said Clark Women’s Basketball Head Coach Pat Glispin. “I think she’s been terrific competitively.” Scarlet: How is the basketball season going? Kacey: Basketball is going really well. We’ve struggled the past few seasons, but we’ve pulled it together. We’re playing better and are definitely thinking about playoffs. Scarlet: The team had significant wins against Smith and Wellesley. Can you share what it was like to win those important
Scarlet: What has been the most difficult game for the women’s basketball team so far? Kacey: I’d say one of the hardest games we’ve played this season was Babson. That was definitely a game where we need to watch how we played, hopefully before we play them again. They are always just at the top of our conference, always good competitors, and they are a very solid program. That’s who I personally look out for, but WPI is another team that we have to keep an eye on especially since they won NEWMACs last year – to everyone’s surprise. Scarlet: If you could play another sport at Clark, what would it be? Kacey: I would probably try rowing because that is something I have never done and it seems very interesting. But if Clark got a track and field team I definitely would want to join that because it seems really fun to me. I’d like to try something more individual based since I’m on teams and I’ve never done that. Scarlet: If you could switch your major to something else what would you want to pursue? Kacey: Well I’m a psychology major, and a women’s and gender studies and education minor, so I guess if I had to look into something else than I would definitely look into something like political science or sociology. I am really interested in the social sciences. Scarlet: What aspect of basketball do you find most rewarding? Kacey: Basketball is one of those sports that has a quick turnaround time, which I think is amazing and a great part of the sport. It’s like if you make a mistake, you have the chance to make a turnaround and actually improve. You miss a shot, and you can get back on defense. There is always an opportunity to correct and improve the way you are playing. Scarlet: What aspect of volleyball do you find most rewarding?
by Steven Castiglione
Kacey: The most rewarding aspect of volleyball is kind of how you have to rely on your whole team. In basketball, if you have a star player, they can usually take over in some way or another, but you still need a whole team – they just have a strong influence over it. In volleyball if you have one player who can’t serve or receive they’ll be targeted by the other team. Volleyball is different because unlike basketball, once the ball drops it’s over and you start again. Scarlet: Is there anyone on the team who you view as a role model? Kacey: That’s a tough question because leadership is one of the things our coach emphasizes. There are multiple people I would say are kinda role models to me in their own ways. Sami Dokus (‘16) is like a mom of the team. She is very in touch with our emotions. Haley Wilder (‘18) is one of my suitemates. She’s more of a supportive person on the court; she’ll tell me when I’m messing up or when I need to be doing something. Scarlet: If you could be stranded in the desert with two people from your team, who would you bring and why? Kacey: I would probably choose Haley Wilder (‘18) and Arielle Pierre (‘19). I live with them now, and they are super fun to be around and they’re two people I trust. I think between the three of us, we’d be resourceful enough to make it out of there. Thanks for the interview, Kacey!
12 | extras
The Scarlet
feb. 3, 2017
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 17:50 - Report of a stolen iPod
Police Logs Compiled by Celine Manneville
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 00:02 - EMS responded to a call 20:02 - EMS responded to a call Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 15:54 - EMS responded to a call 22:58 - EMS responded to a call Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 10:08 - EMS responded to a call 11:13 - EMS responded to a call
What happens in The Scarlet office stays in The Scarlet office... sort of “Well now your mom just hates me For all that I have done But she looks great for her age Maybe she could be the next one” - David W. Jacobsen “If I wasn’t talking to myself editing it would have been weird.” - Jess “I’m kind of like the bad guy in Oliver Twist, or the Soup Nazi. Actually no, I’m the opposite of a Soup Nazi. I’m part of the Soup Allies.” Giles
“Soup Schindler.” - Pat “I am a gift to you all.” - Amanda, while wrapped in wrapping paper “I want Amanda to constantly be playing in the background of my life.” - Kayleigh “I saw Nickelback and they were good.” - Alika “It took Bill Murray 80 years [in groundhog day] to learn to not treat people like shit?” - Jake