yoni ki baat • sports recaps • clarkie of the week • and more
volume xcv, no. 13 • february 26, 2016 | clarkscarlet.com | the.clark.scarlet | @Clark_Scarlet
Women’s Swimming & Diving Breaks Records at NEWMACs Orzechowski Qualifies for NCAA Championships
Shell Shoked in Jefferson Kosovo War Brought to Life with Film By T.J. Anania scarlet staff
photo courtesy of clarkathletics.com
By Scott Levine sports editor
Clark Women’s Swimming and Diving finished the season with a bang, notching an eighth place finish at the NEWMAC Championships, and breaking several school records in the process. Melissa Orzechowski (‘17) broke the school record in the 200-yard free-
style, 500-yard freestyle, and 1650-yard freestyle. Two of the records were her own. Orzechowski’s performance earned her a second-team all-conference honor, and qualified her for the NCAA Championships where she will compete in the aforementioned events. Orzechowski also teamed up with Karina Urquhart (‘17), Quinn Mitchell (‘19), and Kelsey Clary (‘16) in the 200-yard medley relay, with Charlotte Gray (‘18),
Clary, and Urquhart in the 400-yard freestyle, and with Gray, Clary, and Amelia Muratori (‘19) in the 400-yard freestyle relay to break team records in all three events. Urquhart also broke Clark’s 200-IM record, while Clary broke the school record for 50-yard freestyle. continued on page 14
Rarely does a movie make me feel empty, let alone leave me in physical pain. But that’s exactly what happened after leaving Saturday’s screening of Shok. The 21-minute short, set in 1998 in Kosovo, sent me home with a stomach full of knots. That’s not to say it isn’t a fine film. In fact, I hope it takes home the Oscar for best short film. The film follows two Albanian 12-year-old boys, Petrit and Oki, as they try to maintain a sense of normalcy in their quickly deteriorating world. The majority of the film takes place in 1998, a time when ethnic Albanians in Kosovo were essentially at the mercy of Serbian paramilitary forces. Jamie Donoghue, the film’s writer and director, along with
Eshref Durmishi, one of the film’s producers, skyped in for a Q&A session following the screening. Topics ranged from casting the film’s young actors, who were found through Facebook, to film as a medium for this topic. This pre-Oscar screening event, organized by Deni and Iva Hoxha (‘17) along with Clark’s Sociology department, also served to commemorate the eighth anniversary of Kosovo’s Independence Day on Feb 17. Shok does a great job juxtaposing scenes of childhood carelessness and innocence, like passing notes in school and staying out past curfew, with tense scenes that find Petrit and Oki struggling beneath Serbian forces. The former quickly gives way to the latter, as the last scene depicts the characters’ harrowing loss of innocence. continued on page 12
2 | news
The Scarlet
The Scarlet
february 26, 2016
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY
CONTACT scarlet@clarku.edu | clarkscarlet.com
[ Friday, Feb. 26 ]
EDITORS
Naomi Klein presents “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. Climate” - 7-9 p.m. in Atwood
Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Cramer Executive Editor: Ethan Giles Editor-at-Large: Anna Spack News Editor: Kate Summers Opinions Editor: Alex Grayson Living Arts Editor: Matt Emmer Sports Editor: Scott Levine Creative Director: Rose Gallogly Layout Editor: Christian Rentsman Photo Editor: Erin McKeon Managing Editor: Anashua Madhubanti
COLUMNISTS Molly Powers
CORRESPONDENTS News: Alexis Stabulas Living Arts: Alika Gillard
FACT CHECKER
InterVarsity Game Night - 7:30-9 p.m. in the Grind Anime Night - 8:30-11:45 p.m. in Jefferson 218
[ Saturday, Feb. 27 ] Oath of the Gatewatch Draft - 2-7 p.m. in Lurie Refugee Student Craft Day - 3-6:30 p.m. in the Grind Matt Jaskot’s Seasonal Soundscapes - 3-4:30 p.m. in Traina Beginner Ballroom Dance Lessons - 4-5 p.m. in Atwood
[ Sunday, Feb. 28 ] Open Jam Sessions - 8-11 p.m. in the Grind
Daniel Juarez
SCARLET STAFF T.J. Anania Megan Baynes Molly Caisse Steven Castiglione Max Elias Pat Fox Kayleigh McHugh Simone McGuinness Pooja Patel Lynn Pescaro Maria Rotelli Jenny Rubin Tyler Terriault Nikolas Wagner
[ Monday, Feb. 29 ] Fiat Lux Honor Society Application & Info Session - 5-6 p.m. in Grace Ukrainian Jewry on the Edge - 7-8:45 p.m. in Lurie
LAYOUT & WEB STAFF Jocelyn Ng Ryan King
PHOTO STAFF Jonathan Edelman Soraya Madlala Uyanga (Melody) Mungunchimeg Erika Schaper Julia Schroeder Bernie Tuson Krithi Vachaspati Emily Valante Illustrations: Santiago Jose Herdozia Ponce
For a complete list of events, visit clarku.collegiatelink.net and follow What’s Happening At Clark on Facebook or @clarku_events on Twitter.
Corrections: In the Feb. 19 issue of The Scarlet, the article “Mean Girls: Bachelorette Style” mistakenly wrote that Gabrielle Seligman is a junior. Seligman is actually a senior.
The Scarlet in no way endorses its advertisers. In addition, The Scarlet maintains the right to decline any advertisements it deems unsuitable.
The Scarlet
february 26, 2016
news | 3
The Scarlet/News CUSC in Brief By Nikolas Wagner scarlet staff
During public comments, Treasurer Rohan Roger (‘18) expressed his concern regarding the lack of diversity in CUSC and stated that they should implement a screening process for cultural competence so that CUSC could be more representative of the student body. Finance Chair Andres Gvirtz (‘18) announced that the Finance Committee will start club check-ins with every campus organization, which is indirectly connected to the annual budgets. Student Life Committee Chair Anny Un-Ain (‘18) stated that office space evaluations will occur on Friday afternoon, and that sales for spring break busses will begin shortly. During the Judiciary Committee Report, CUSC approved the internal procedures of the Student Life Committee. Complications occurred during the Election Committee report, as Chair Caleb Horton (‘17), the last member on the committee, had resigned. Due to this, President Kevin Kim (‘16) appointed Adam Katzman (‘18) to chair. A mandatory meeting for the candidates of the election was scheduled for Thursday Feb. 25. The election is to occur between Tuesday night and Thursday of this past week. During operations reports, Kim stated that he would be working with Katzman in getting him up-todate for the election. Kim also said that he was “deeply concerned” about Student Council, due to the fact that it becomes increasingly “dramatic” with each passing year. Vice President Amy Fallon (‘17) asked council members for help in selling tickets for spring break busses, which will be going to Boston and New York on March 4 and March 5. Roger presented Amendment 105.02 to Bylaw 308, which intends to make the process of being recognized as a club easier. Discussion persisted for some time, as some members believed that this amendment would only increase the workload on SLP. Having not come to a decision, the issue was tabled for one week Then, a closed meeting was called by Judiciary Chair Lauren Howard (‘17), at which point the press was asked to leave. Secretary Jenna Libera (‘18) sent The Scarlet an abbreviated version of the minutes of the closed meeting. During this session, Fallon moved to impeach First-Year Class Representative Eric Barrase (‘19), Minority Representative and Communications Committee Chair Sahil Shah (‘16), and Off-Campus Representative Bareesh Chowdhurry (‘17). After Council members voted via secret ballot, all three motions did not pass. Grants: • The Ping Pong Club was allocated $125 to purchase a ping-pong table. • Heather Riesenberg (‘19)- $160 to purchase four squash rackets and a box of balls on behalf of Clark Athletics • Clark University Emergency Medical Services- $1,900 to pay half of the cost for an Emergency Medical Technician Class for four students at WPI. • Intervarsity Christian Fellowship- $2,500, with a two-week waiver, to send 25 students to ServeUP New Orleans. • OPEN- $1,000 to pay for Dark Matter, a trans slam poetry duo, who will be visiting the university. • Rodrigo Saavedra (‘16) and Yuanzheng Chen (‘17)- $590 to help pay for their trip to the International Students and Scholars Advocacy Day in Washington DC. • The Equestrian Team- $249 to pay for two days worth of transportation costs. • Hannah Rosenblum (‘16) and Yuka Fuchino (‘16)- $900 to pay for expenses during their trip to the Conference of the Association of American Geographers in San Francisco.
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The Scarlet
4 | news
february 26, 2016
CLARKIE of the WEEK
by Kayleigh McHugh
Scarlet: What made you pick Clark?
It’s a lot. But it puts food on the table. But for the most part
Tiang: A recruiter came to my high school in Ethiopia...
I enjoy it. If you’re working in the van you can play your own
I lived in Ethiopia for five years. We moved around quite a
music, which is nice. You can also work almost as much as you
bit because of my mom’s job. I guess senior year a recruiter
want, which makes it a good job on campus. You can work up
came from [Clark], and I was like wow that sounds like a
to forty hours a week.
great school. Scarlet: There have been forums on race and affordability this Scarlet: What’s your major?
past year. Have you been?
Tiang: Cultural Studies and Communication. I want to get
Tiang: I went to the…one [in November] and it was amaz-
into marketing and PR, particularly for movies and TV. That’s
ing. I feel like we are living in a time of great social change.
what I’m all about. I see myself working in the marketing
And people of color are starting to speak out more. There’s
section of a big movie studio. Like Fox or Paramount. But
definitely this atmosphere of racial tension, but it’s only
even like a startup would be really interesting. I think it would
because people of color are now starting to speak out. I think
be cool to grow with a business like that as opposed to an
it’s something great to see. Even though there have been some
established one. I’m actually really interested in South Africa
negative repercussions [nationally], I think it is important for
because the entertainment industry there is booming. Also,
people of color to speak up, and not be victims of a racially
I’ve been there a lot so it would be cool to work there.
institutionalized society. I didn’t get to go to the one on affordability because I was
Scarlet: What clubs are you involved in on campus?
working [laughs]. So yeah. But I think that it was great we had
Tiang: I’m in Hip Hop Collabo. Hip Hop Collabo is my life.
it. I’ve seen a lot of positive change here; more conversations
I’m in Global Scholars program as well. I also work for Escort.
are being had on these topics, and people are more conscious. And all of that works in conjunction to [make] this a more
Scarlet: How long have you been in Hip Hop Collabo?
racially accepting atmosphere.
Tiang: Since freshman year. Which is crazy, because freshphoto by johnathan edelman
Tiang Maphosa Tiang Maphosa (‘16) is from Zimbabwe and is a Cultural Studies and Communication major. He works at Escort and dances for Hip Hop Collabo.
man year feels like it was a few months ago. And now here
Scarlet: Have you seen Worcester change at all, in the past
I am. Time flies. It’s crazy. It’s the best group of people you
four years? Do you like it?
could ever imagine. I don’t know where I would be without
Tiang: I love it. I’m a person that likes to walk around a lot. I
them, as dramatic as that sounds. They are so great. I am so
tend not to take Escort even though I work there. I’ve gotten
glad I auditioned and got in.
to know [Worcester] quite a bit. I think people have always been really friendly. I know it has a reputation, and I can see
Scarlet: Has dancing always been a big part of your life?
why, but if you know where not to walk and where to walk,
Tiang: Yeah. In high school I danced with my best friend,
you should be all set. It’s a great place, it has a lot of personal-
because we were the only two really into hip hop dancing. I
ity. There are some beautiful places in Worcester. [My] fresh-
guess I nurtured my talent then. Coming here, I had never
man year I explored a lot and I think that really helped.
been a part of a dance team, so that was a big transition. Then learning how to choreograph, and learning the vocab of
Scarlet: Any wisdom you want to offer underclassmen?
dance. I don’t know how I even got into [Hip Hop Collabo],
Tiang: I guess figure out where you want to go, and then go
honestly. Thinking of where I was to where I am now, it’s
after that. Just have a general idea of where you want to go. I
honestly surprising that they let me in. But thank God I got in.
feel like I dabbled around in a lot of different things fresh-
It’s such a great creative outlet.
man year. At one point I thought I was going to be a bio major [laughs]. That did not work out, which is good because I did
Scarlet: What’s it like working for Escort?
not need to go into bio. I guess part of it is figuring that stuff
Tiang: It tends to suck your soul out. [laughs]. Especially
out. Also, cherish not having to have to have all the answers.
dispatch where you have to deal with everyone and their mom.
Now that I’m living off campus, paying bills and rent, I miss
february 26, 2016
The Scarlet
news | 5
the dorms. Just have fun. Don’t take life too seriously. Take life with a grain of salt, and you should be all set. Scarlet: Any fun facts? Tiang: I speak four languages: English, Dibili, Zulu, and Xhosa. I’ve lived in three countries. And I’ve been to a lot of different countries. I’ve been to Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Ethiopia (which absolutely changed my life, I love that country so much), Egypt, Belgium, UK, US, France, [United
CINEMA 320
in Jefferson 320
Arab Emirates], and the Netherlands. Yeah so thanks to my mom’s job I’ve definitely gotten a global perspective. She’s an amazing woman, I love her. Scarlet: What did you like about Ethiopia so much? Tiang: The culture was so rich. It also is one of the few African countries that wasn’t colonized. So it really has been evolving on it’s own since the beginning of time. I wasn’t culture shocked when I went, I think because I’ve been so many places, but I think most people would be taken aback. I really just sank right into it. They are a very proud people. It’s just
MUSTANG (Turkey 2015; 97 min; NR; Subtitles) Tuesday, March 1 @ 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3 @ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5 @ 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
like a whole other world. I think the contrast between Zimbabwe and Ethiopia was really interesting. Zimbabwe, where I’m from, is considered a very “white-washed” country, because it was colonized for so long. But Ethiopia is so in touch with its roots and still has such a strong and rich culture and
NOTE: No Sunday matinee this week. Saturday matinee substitutes.
Direction: Deniz Gamze Erguven
language. Like they have their own alphabet. It’s crazy. It’s so different. It’s so beautiful. They are a really friendly and nice people. And so spiritual too. I can’t see my life going anywhere else but there. I really want to go back. I have a lot of family there too. Scarlet: What is your spirit animal?
Description: Five spirited young Turkish sisters are placed under increasingly strict supervision and, ultimately, outright confinement by their disciplinarian father after an innocent lark with some schoolboys is needlessly blown up into a family scandal.
Tiang: I guess an owl. I function best at night, like after 10 p.m. Concentrating during the day is a struggle. I’m very comfortable being by myself. When you move a lot you become used to being able to let go of people. Like I’ve met a lot of people that I’ve become great friends with, that I know I will never see again. I’ve always admired owls too. They’re confident, they know who they are—I guess I’ve always thought they were really cool. Scarlet: Any shout outs? Tiang: Shout out to Hip Hop Collabo for being everything, all the time. Thanks for the interview, Tiang!
Email scarlet@clarku.edu if you have a suggestion for Clarkie of the Week!
“ What begins as a playful look at five young women’s rebellion against their strict upbringing soon becomes something far more stirring and emotional.” — SCREEN INTERNATIONAL
“Erguven’s film, beautifully shot and beautifully performed, cuts its storybook tone with starker, more brutal truths. Anger—aimed at a conservative social order and those complicit in maintaining it—courses through this sad, striking tale.” — PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE, BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
For more information, please visit Cinema320.com or follow us on Facebook @ facebook.com/cinema320
The Scarlet
6 | opinions
february 26, 2016
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.
Why We Shouldn’t be Taking Wage Cues from a Clinton The Numbers Behind Hillary’s Minimum By T.J. Anania scarlet staff
Do you want to make more money? Of course you do, every poor schlub does—so get in line. The whole “money doesn’t buy happiness” spiel is both clichéd and totally ridiculous. Money may not yet be directly exchanged for emotions, but it can buy just about everything else that can make someone happy. Given money’s popularity with the American voters, it’s surprising that only one political party is talking about raising minimum wage this election season. Not surprisingly it has been the Democratic Party. They’ve traditionally had the backs of the lower and middle classes ever since crazy ol’ LBJ declared war on poverty. The GOP won’t touch the issue with a ten-foot pole. They seem to have an ingrained hatred for the poor. Really, raising the federal minimum wage is not a controversial issue; a recent Gallup poll reported that seven out of 10 Americans support a raise. The only controversy arises when you look at the dollar amounts. Hillary Clinton, by all accounts the establishment candidate, has proposed a new federal minimum of $12 to be implemented in the next few years. She has also encouraged areas
where the cost of living is higher to consider a moving themselves to a higher minimum of $15. Her supporters and former Obama administration economist, Alan Krueger, agree that it’s a sensible way to address the issue. Meanwhile, the radical populist candidate Bernie Sanders has stated his support for the $15 minimum across the board—just $3 an hour more than Hillary’s proposal. According to Krueger, $15 is inconceivable, rooted in fantasy, and would end up damaging the economy. So how does a $3 difference make Bernie’s policy completely unfeasible and damaging? Well, Hillary and Krueger haven’t backed up their claim with any evidence, they’ve just continued to say that it will. Sorry, but just because your last name is Clinton doesn’t mean everything you say is validated. Sure, there are some legitimate economic concerns regarding wage policy and the implementation time frame. Done too quickly, and the economy could experience higher levels of inflation and then the hike could be all for not as the purchasing power, i.e. the amount of goods that dollar could buy, would lessen. When put in perspective, the additional $3 makes a huge difference. Under Hillary’s plan a full-time minimum wage worker would bring home
$24,000 a year. Bernie’s plan would increase that to $31,000. That $7,000 could make or break the financial situation of millions who are stuck working low-wage jobs. Maybe the former First Lady just doesn’t get it. $7,000 is peanuts to her; hell, her hourly speaking rate is normally $625,000. In 2014 alone Hillary netted $28 million with $10.8 million from speaking fees. Again perspective might help us here; from speeches alone Hillary made the same amount in one year as a full-time worker under her $12 wage would earn in 450 years. So it’s time to drop the nonsense claim that paying workers $15 an hour would hurt the economy. The money is out there Hillary, you and your family have quite a lot of it. Your friends over at Goldman who helped wipe out the savings of the middle class and who shell out over half a million to see you speak sure have a lot of it. Yet you still have the gall to say that when it comes time to make sure those who most desperately need more money can earn it, that a $15 minimum would “damage the economy.” But hey, I get it, you one percenters gotta stick together right? Again the question is: do you want to make more money? Of course you do. So get in line and make your vote count.
By Sarah Cramer editor-in-chief
On Sunday, my roommate’s dog came to visit us for the day. A black standard poodle with a shy disposition, Phoebe crawled into our apartment a bit overwhelmed by the five of us eagerly awaiting her arrival. While we tried to control our instincts to sink our hands into her soft, curly fur, she tentatively sniffed our furniture and floors, trying to figure out this new college scent. Since my dad is allergic to fur, I never had a furry companion growing up. Nor did I have any pets, not even a fish. When my sister was young, she felt very wronged by my parents’ no pet policy; she would cry whenever she went into a pet store and she even asked our mom if we could get a dog when Dad died. I never particularly had strong feelings about pets either way. Sure, I enjoyed playing with my friends’ dogs, but there was always an understanding that I wouldn’t have one, and I didn’t think much of it. When Phoebe came into my life for a brief yet wonderful visit this past weekend, her cuteness made me reflect on how devoid of animal interactions my life has been. Watching Cassie (her owner) play with Phoebe, I began to worry. Has my chronic petlessness caused me to miss out on a life-changing experience? Should I have cared more about getting a pet when I was younger? What kind of heartless child was I that I didn’t want a dog? Is it too late now for all this? Will I be doing my future children a disservice if I don’t let them have a pet? I’ve since calmed down a bit, but those questions remain in the back of my mind. For the next year and a half while I’m still in my apartment leading a hectic school-filled life, pets seem out of the question. As for the future, who knows. Maybe I’ll become a crazy cat lady and never look back.
The Scarlet
february 26, 2016
No Publicity Stunt: Congressman McGovern Spends Night in Homeless Shelter Raises Awareness for Most Vulnerable Constituents By Kayleigh McHugh scarlet staff
Growing up during an age of political gridlock and cartoon-like political figures [Insert Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, etc.] I have learned from a very young age to be skeptical of the U.S. politician. The age of the “public servant” seemed to be something of a tall tale. Reading about figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Abraham Lincoln in history class appeared to be a long lost period of charisma. As I’ve grown older I’ve learned that every politician is a person with strengths and weaknesses just like myself. Some have an unfortunate amount of ineptitude, yes, but I don’t believe every politician goes to Washington with the intention to royally screw things up. People are people no matter how small (their brains are). Still I often take what politicians say or promise with a grain of salt. So when I heard that a Massachusetts congressman was staying the night in a homeless shelter, my first thought was: publicity stunt. Upon doing more research on the congressman, I had to reevaluate my snap judgement. James McGovern (D) of Massachusetts second congressional district, spent January 18 at the Interfaith Hospitality Network Homeless Shelter of Greater Worcester (IHN). Congressman McGovern has brought reform to the district for almost two decades. He helped develop a commuter rail from Worces-
ter to Boston and he has always been an advocate for food stamps (now SNAP). Recently he has championed local farming reform and battled local hunger. This past fall, he strongly disagreed with Governor Baker’s decision to barr Syrian refugees from entering the state. Overall, his domestic policy always seems to be in the best interest of his constituents. This was McGovern’s second time at IHN, hoping to raise awareness about homelessness in Worcester and for the shelter itself; which is primarily run by volunteers. IHN is a family homeless shelter that is able to accommodate six families at a time. It is funded primarily by donations and fundraisers from the First Unitarian Church. McGovern said of his visit that people there defy the stereotype of being homeless, and that this remarkable shelter needs help from the community. According to McGovern, the people there, especially the children, are optimistic, positive, and hardworking individuals. McGovern wants to see more government involvement around homelessness, and is on a task force with Bishop Reilly to address this issue in and around Worcester. Though the effort was inspiring and well intended, it did lack certain things I wish would have been brought to light. McGovern’s latest stand for the homeless failed to acknowledge that the majority of the homeless in Worcester are battling addiction, mental illness, or disease. Overall, when it comes to Washington politicians, I’m glad to have Jim McGovern on our side.
opinions | 7
Why Apple Should Not Help The Feds Unlock San Bernardino Shooter’s Phone The Individual Pursuit of Security Makes Everyone a Little Less Secure By Brendan Burgess contributing writer
The recent scuffle between Apple and the FBI has largely faded out of public view, but the ideas at stake promise to be some of the most important of the 21st century. A large component can be attributed to the remarkably poor job the media has done in explaining the principles at stake in terms that people without an extensive technical background will understand. By focusing on the specific details, the media ignores the main point behind Apple’s, and many privacy groups’, objection to the FBI’s request. Apple is in no way opposed to giving the FBI access to the phone of Syed Rizwan Farook, one of the two San Bernardino shooters. They are opposed, however, to the specific method in which the FBI wishes to access the data. To fully explain the issue, I feel it is prudent to first clarify the involved technology. Imagine for a moment a secure vault in a large bank. We have all seen the like in movies: made entirely of metal, impossible to crack, and impervious to damage. The only way inside is through the front door, something that is nearly impossible to achieve without the correct key. This is how secure the current state of encryption is on most devices. Without the owner’s permission, any attempt to break into the
phone will take at least weeks, if not months or years. The FBI requests that a “backdoor” be put into the systems so that, upon request, they have access to the data within. Going back to our analogy of a bank vault, there are two main problems with this request. The first is simply a matter of practicality. The FBI is asking that a secret door be put into this incredibly secure vault. Since there is limited space in the vault, there is no feasible way that this new door can be nearly as strong as the one already installed, in all likelihood only as strong as your own front door. The FBI promises that they will be the only ones able to use this door because they have the only key. However, if there exists a weak point in the vault, any criminal after the vault’s contents will use it. Additionally, if critical documents were being stored in this hypothetical bank vault, it would make no sense to ask the creators of the vault to install an easier way to get into all similar vaults just to access those documents. The obligation for an appropriate use of the vault is clearly the owners’, and stops being the creator’s the moment it is sold. Yet because this vault does not physically exist, it is much harder for all sides to come to an agreement on how it should be approached. The FBI could ask Apple for information, and Fhas successfully done so, on who bought their products, what credit card they used, or for a host of other information and expect Apple to comply, but it makes no sense for them to be asked to change their product. Despite the far more controversial arguments about whether or not the
government should have easy access to the information on our phones, this vulnerability is what has caused many people in the tech sector to be so concerned. In the words of Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, “…while the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control.” The biggest threat here is not, as much as some people would lead you to believe, the government, but is far less benign hackers. The 2013 hack of Target exposed the financial details of around 40 million individuals’ personal financial details and caused billions of dollars of damage. As of March 2015, 700 million iPhones have been sold. Complicating the situation, these phones don’t just contain individuals’ financial records but also email accounts, photos, and incalculable amounts of personal information. Hundreds of celebrities, business leaders, and high powered governmental officials all use these on a daily basis, ensuring that any hack would cause unimaginable levels of destruction. The San Bernardino shooting is a heart-wrenching and tragic incident, and the search for quick justice is completely understandable. There is a concept in political science, however, that our individual pursuit of security in the end makes us all a little less secure. The information on the phone of Syed Rizwan Farook would undoubtedly be extremely valuable in preventing the future radicalization of Americans, but when the method for accessing it presents a far greater threat to the daily lives of millions of Americans, we as a nation can take a pass.
The Scarlet
8 | opinions
february 26, 2016
Legislating With Shameful Discrimination House Bill 1008 Systematically Shames Transgender Youth By Max Elias scarlet staff
Just last Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill proposed in South Dakota known as House Bill 1008. The ominously named piece of legislation would abolish the ‘transgender bathroom,’ which is a bathroom designated as unisex, so that people who don’t identify as their biological sex can have an alternative solution. The official language of the bill says that all bathrooms need to be “designated for and used only by students of the same biological sex” as the sign on the bathroom door denotes. It is not entirely clear what the point of this bill is. The rationale offered by supporters of it is that it
protects children’s privacy by not requiring them to see members of the other gender going to the bathroom. But the thing is, the innocence of South Dakota’s children was never endangered by transgender people using one or the other bathroom. Let’s examine a hypothetical scenario: a trans boy uses the girls’ bathroom. Now, any girls’ bathroom has only toilets stalls that have a door and walls. Now the roles are reversed: a trans girl uses the boys’ bathroom. It is true that the boys’ bathroom has both urinals and stalls, but girls of any gender identity cannot use urinals, as genitals don’t work that way. Additionally, in both of these gendered bathrooms, the doors of the stalls have locks. There is no realistic danger of seeing trans people going to the bathroom.
So where is the problem here? House Bill 1008 doesn’t protect anyone because the ‘moral offense’ it was drafted to protect does not exist. It merely singles out a group of people whose rights are already on rocky footing, and tries to undermine them further. As an example of this, Republican Senator David Omdahl, one of those attempting to push forward this bill, said when challenged on it “I’m sorry if you’re so twisted you don’t know who you are.” This entirely misrepresents what being a transgender person means—in an intensely offensive fashion. The bill will intensify already present feelings of vulnerability among transgender children in schools. Studies have shown that around two-thirds of transgender
students feel unsafe about being forced to use locker rooms and bathrooms associated with their biological sexes. In addition, transgender adults experience ridiculously high suicide rates by virtue of society’s discrimination against them. No one is going far enough as to say that House Bill 1008 will lead directly to suicide in transgender youth, but it cannot lead to anything good. Unfortunately, realistically it seems as if the bill will become law in the near future. That’s because the decision rests with Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota who admitted to never actually meeting anyone he knew was transgender, and not seeing his ignorance of the transgender community as a problem regarding his decision. He did concede to meeting with some transgender students
“
before deciding, which statistics show usually changes perspectives on the LGBTQ community. Given time to consider and hear cases then there might be a chance to prevent discrimination. But there isn’t very much time; according to law, if no veto or signature is provided within five business days of reception of the legislature then it will become law regardless of feelings on the matter. Why does it appear as if that could be reality? Because it’s clear, based on past events in this story, that this issue doesn’t take priority for the governor. Before agreeing to eventually meet with transgender students, he tried insisting that his schedule was too full. The most foreseeable scenario is one where South Dakota establishes itself as an enemy of the LGBTQ minority community.
”
Is there a difference?
by Santiago Jose Herdozia Ponce
The Scarlet
february 26, 2016
WHAT’S MORE
IMPRESSIVE GRADUATES. THAN OUR STATS? OUR
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1-800-462-1944 | Hamden & North Haven, Connecticut
opinions | 9
10 | living arts
The Scarlet
february 26, 2016
The Scarlet/Living Arts Intersectionality at Clark Yoni Ki Baat Breaks Barriers
By Jessica Macey contributing writer
“Who would you be if the world never gave you a label?” asked the EBoard of the South Asian Students Association (SASA) at this year’s performance of Yoni Ki Baat. Bringing to light poignant experiences of a variety of groups, the Feb. 19 and 20 performances were successful, as well as meaningful. Traditionally a SASA production, this year’s show was put on in collaboration with other student groups, including the International Students Association (ISA), the Caribbean African Student Association (CASA), the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), and more. These partnerships were intended to ensure that the performances included the perspectives of many cultures, according to SASA E-Board member Reuben Datta (‘17). Split into two unique nights, the show included a diverse assortment of pieces. The timing of Yoni Ki Baat, falling shortly after The Vagina Monologues, is part of a conscious effort to ensure that many voices are heard, rather than only those that fit within a certain category. “We feel that The Vagina Monologues focuses on issues faced by white women,” said Datta. This performance broadens the scope, allowing others to share
their experiences. This relationship to The Vagina Monologues is not solely present at Clark. Yoni Ki Baat was created by the group South Asian Sisters (SAS), who decided after seeing The Vagina Monologues that they wanted to create a version of the show that specifically shared the experiences of South Asian women. The group contacted the play’s creator, Eve Ensler, who gave them permission to create the show. Ensler and the SAS continued their correspondence, providing support and advice on each other’s works. At Clark, Yoni Ki Baat consisted of scenes directly from the SAS’ script, outside poems, and pieces written by the performers themselves. One of the monologues featured in Saturday night’s show, “Unborn Dreams,” deals with the concept of son-preference and the resulting consequences for female children. The speaker described a woman’s life through memories before revealing that “none of this ever happened. None of this is real.” This monologue came directly from the South Asian Sisters. Yoni Ki Baat did a fantastic job of including a variety of races, cultures, ethnicities, and genders. In Brennin Consalvi’s (‘17) performance of “People You May Know,” originally written and performed by Kevin Kantor, men’s experiences of sexual violence were also high-
lighted. The poem explores memories and flashbacks of rape through Facebook photos discovered when the poet’s rapist appeared in the “people you may know” section of Facebook. The poem addresses rape culture, stating that “nobody comes running for young boys who cry rape.” It brings up the important facts that rape is not exclusive to one gender, and that society’s approach to rape is detrimental. Marika Thompson (‘17) performed a self-written piece titled “Tired,” which criticized prejudices she has experienced. In the beginning of her piece, Thompson addressed assumptions made about her appearance, saying “I go here. That’s not a joke. I actually go here.” She also spoke about the Black Lives Matter movement, discussing the problematic response of “all lives matter.” Well-written and extremely powerful, Thompson’s piece was an integral part of the night. The show culminated in a group performance by the SASA EBoard, in which they spoke about labels and the harm they cause to individuals and society. Calling for unity and acceptance rather than division based on differences, they summed up the major themes of the performance. An incredibly powerful and significant event, Yoni Ki Baat was a massive success.
PHOTO BY ERIN MCKEON
At yoni Ki Baat
february 26, 2016
The Scarlet
Photos by Erin McKeon & Krithi Vahaspati
living arts | 11
12 | living arts
The Scarlet
by Tyler Terriault
Alarm’s going off... In my dream? Or is it real? Awake or sleeping? It was going off for real. Crap. Now I for real have to go to class. Now I’m in class, but I hear my alarm going off... IT’S STILL A DREAM Well, I’m awake for real real now and I slept through class... Way to go, me.
Shok Review Continued continued from page 1
Music and cinematography are used with incredible precision in this film to create an atmosphere of uneasiness. In one standout scene, where the two main characters are delivering cigarette papers to Serbian forces, the audience gets a sense of being utterly trapped. This is further compounded by the score to create a feeling of terrible immanence. While reflective of the characters’ situation, it also had bearing on the audience; we were trapped too, with no other option than to ride it out. Once the film was over and the lights were turned on, I turned to two friends who had come with me. We had shown up in good spirits,
it was Saturday after all, but now they looked, and I felt, slightly shellshocked. Ultimately that’s exactly what the film was going for. A genuine war film is supposed to invoke feelings, and not necessarily good ones. The fact that Shok does all of this with only 21 minutes without feeling rushed is downright impressive. One Clark student, Feston Idrizi (‘18), lived through the Kosovo war, and described the short as an “emotional unloading” for Albanians, many of whom have repressed their experiences regarding the war until now. Shok is certainly emotional. It is both a beautifully executed and horribly claustrophobic experience that leaves you feeling drained. However, it is certainly worth the watch.
february 26, 2016
The Scarlet
february 26, 2016
The Scarlet/Sports SPORTS RECAPS Men’s Swimming & Diving By Simone McGuinness scarlet staff
This past weekend, Clark Men’s Swimming and Diving team finished in seventh place at the NEWMAC Championships hosted by MIT. David Powers (’16) and Mark Crisafulli (’16) both came away with admirable performances. Powers advanced to the “B” final of the 200-yard breaststroke with a 2.13.94 time. Powers’ time is the second fastest time in Clark history, and gives him three of the top six spots on the school’s all time list in that event. Crisafulli joined Powers as a Clark record holder. With a time of 2.00.19 in the 200-yard butterfly, Crisafulli now has three of the top five butterfly times in school history. Powers, Lukas Leung (’16), Julian Ortega (’19), and Dylan Schrama (’19) achieved a seventh place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3.16.74, which placed them in sixth on Clark’s all-time list. Clark divers Steven Castiglione (’18) and Tyler Terriault (’16) dove in the threemeter “A” final with Castiglione coming away with an overall score of 317.80, and Terriault with a 240.55. Diver Marco Moneti (‘19) said he was “proud of the team’s effort this past weekend.” He added, “Over the course of the season we definitely showed improvement, and as much as we’ll miss the seniors next year, we have a lot to work forward to and will continue to get better.”
continued on page 14
All photos and statistics courtesy of clarkathletics.com
sports | 13
The Scarlet
14 | sports
february 26, 2016
Sports Recaps Continued continued from page 13
By Scott Levine sports editor
Women’s Basketball Clark Women’s Basketball ended the season on an optimistic note with a win against Simmons College on Feb. 18 and a close loss against Smith on Feb. 20. The team was down 18 after three quarters but was able to cut Smith’s lead to eight before the team ran out of time. Forward Sami Dokus (‘16) had eight of her twelve points in this quarter, draining two threes. Dokus wrote in an email to The Scarlet that the team’s ability to claw back into the game was indicative of their will to keep playing hard even when down. “I think our resilience in the fourth quarter is a great example of the progress we’ve made throughout the season,” she wrote. Dokus contrasted the Smith game to the Connecticut College game early in the season in which the Cougars got down early and struggled to get back in the game. “I think we were put in a similar situation in our loss to Connecticut College, where the other team went on a massive run on us, but throughout the season we’ve learned to not give up so easily,” she wrote. The senior forward added that the the road to improvement was very rewarding. “This season may have been the most challenging I’ve experienced so far,” wrote Dokus, “but it’s also been my favorite, largely due to the wonderful people who are a part of the team. All of my teammates and coaches have been my favorite part of the season.”
Men’s Basketball Clark Men’s Basketball wrapped up a year of competitive games, but their record fell short of what the team was aiming for. It was playoffs or bust for the Cougars this year, and they had just enough unlucky bounces in late game situations to disqualify them for this year. Despite the fact that the team fell short of their goal, this was not a season without exciting and triumphant moments. Clark won tense overtime games against Wentworth Institute of Technology on Dec. 29 and Coast Guard on Feb. 3 in the Kneller, and also beat conference opponents Wheaton and Emerson when both teams came to Worcester. The team also drew one of the largest fan turnouts in Clark Athletics history during Midnight Mayhem on Nov. 13, in which the Cougars beat Worcester State handily. Guard John Pisacreta (‘18) wrote in an email to The Scarlet that Midnight Mayhem was one of his favorite games of the season. “When [the] student body comes out to support us like that, we feed off the energy and it was such an exciting game to play in,” he wrote. Pisacreta added that he is optimistic about how the team will look next year after enduring the trials and tribulations of this season. “We had a rough year this year, but are returning a lot of core guys which hopefully will lead to a more experienced and better team,” he wrote. While the team will enjoy a decent roster turnover next season, they will also have to make up for the departure of Corey Gomes (‘16), Tyler Huffman (‘16), and Luke LaLima (‘17). Huffman and Gomes are graduating at the end of this semester, and LaLima is transferring to Columbia University as part of Clark’s 3/2 Engineering program. “They will be missed. They were great leaders and even better teammates,” wrote Pisacreta.
Women’s Swimming & Diving continued from page 1
Niki Lew (‘17) wrote in an email to The Scarlet that she was ecstatic with how NEWMACs went. “Of my three seasons as a part of this team, this was one of the best NEWMAC championships we have ever had,” wrote Lew. “Both personal records and team records were shattered every single day of the meet and it was great to be a part of it...My favorite moment this season would probably be watching as people looked up to the scoreboard after races only to be blown away by the times they were putting up after all the hard work they put in this season,” she added. Lew wrote that along with the successful trip to NEWMACs this year, that she will remember “watching the seniors do such a great job in pushing, leading, and guiding this amazing group of people to have such a great finish to our season, and getting excited about how we, as juniors, will have to take on that responsibility next year in order to keep making this team a great place to be.” She attributes this culture to laying the groundwork that allowed the team to swim their best at NEWMACs. The Cougars are looking forward to next year, during which the team will hopefully break all of the records they set this season.
Baseball By Anna Spack editor-at-large
Clark Baseball played Worcester State for the first time since 2001 this past Sunday, Feb. 21, an unusually early start date to the season due to recent warm weather. Although the Cougars outhit the Lancers 15-14, they left nine runners on base and ended up losing to Worcester State 16-9. Conor Walsh (’18) was Clark’s starting pitcher, giving up four runs in three innings, all of which came in the first. Teddy Downing (’18) scored the Cougars’ first run in the third inning after hitting a two out triple and being driven home on a base hit by Kyle Bonicki (’18). Bonicki had a total of three hits and three RBIs in the game. Michael Eglow (’16) had a five-hit game, while Downing had three hits and two RBIs. Combined, Downing and Bonicki went 6-for-9 with six RBIs. The Lancers scored their other twelve runs against relievers Patrick Robinson (’18), Joe Gouveia (’17), and Taylor Serrano (‘15). “We didn’t get the result we wanted, and there were a lot of things that became clear we still have to work on, but there were also positive aspects that came from it,” Downing said. “Our offense played well, and that’s always a good thing to see at the start of the season, especially in a game that took place so early in the year.” The Cougars’ next game is at home this Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12 p.m. against Elms College. Downing added that the team “expect[s] big things out of this year.”
The Scarlet
february 26, 2016
sports | 15
COUGAR of the WEEK Scarlet: So tell me how your season went. Has there been anything memorable and noteworthy? Leung: It’s been really fun. I haven’t been worrying about how fast I’ve been going. I have been more focused on getting to know the people on the team. I have been noticing more how hard people are trying, specifically how people hit these mental walls and just have the ability to overcome them. These mental walls can come from times that they are trying to hit, or dives that you smack on and get back up and do it again.
photo by jonathan edelman
Lukas Leung men’s swimming & Diving Lukas Leung (‘16) is from Germantown, Tennessee and has been a member of the Clark Swimming & Diving team for four years. Leung is a captain along with Mark Crisafulli (‘16) and David Powers (‘16). He is a computer science major and a math tutor. Leung sat down with The Scarlet to recount his swimming career after finishing his collegiate swimming career with a career best at the NEWMAC Championships at MIT this past weekend.
Scarlet: You have had quite the transformation from your first year to your senior year. You have come a really long way, can you tell me what that was like and what went into it? Leung: Well I started my time here at Clark not as an experienced swimmer, mainly just swimming competitively in high school, so I had quite the shock going from four to nine practices a week. Alex Santos (‘14) had a huge impact on me. He tried really hard and would do pretty good in season, but at finals he did great because of all the hard work and extra work he would put in. Both he and Josh Kent (‘14) had a huge push on me to train hard in the offseason. I started out my freshman year at 214 pounds, and for this NEWMACs I weighed 175 pounds. In the off season I tried to live a healthier lifestyle: eating healthy, working out daily, and just trying to be a more active individual. I have five pages of Google Docs of workouts and health regimens to help me become a more fit individual. I can’t really remember who told me, but someone said, “Whenever you think you are working as hard as you can, you can always work harder.” Scarlet: What has been the most rewarding aspect you learned from swimming at Clark? Leung: My junior year, Lydia Berry (‘15) said that she had loved seeing how everyone pushed themselves so hard and was not afraid to show just how vulnerable they are. Because if you do truly do the best you can do, there is always the chance that you fail and that is a very scary and sometimes disheartening thing to have happen. Despite this, everyone has always tried their hardest and this has given me the courage to do the same, not just in the pool with my teammates but outside in the classroom and in my social interactions...learning how to not be afraid to do your best. Scarlet: Who on the team, past or present, has had a lasting impact on you? Leung: As a first year there was one man on the team named Ben Solomon (‘13) who really stood out to me. He was a junior at the time, looking to complete the 3/2 program. In doing so he was taking five classes, working in a lab, doing directed study
by Steven Castiglione
working on several projects, and always giving his best effort to swimming despite serious tendonitis issues. He was never particularly fast, but he was definitely one of the overall hardest working people that I have ever met. To me, he has always been the ideal swimmer who I’ve aspired to be. Scarlet: Do you have any hobbies or hidden abilities? Leung: I really like cooking food, and trying different things to an extent. I am really interested in other cultures mainly because I’m multicultural. Ever since a young age I’ve traveled with my parents back to their motherlands since they were born in different countries. I also really love speaking Swedish, which is kind of annoying because not a lot of people here know how. I spend a lot of time working on schoolwork, working out, and deepening the connections with people I already have. Scarlet: In ten years, what will be the thing you remember the most about Clark Swimming & Diving? Leung: Probably the fact that this is a family, and no matter what I can always come back and be with people who accept you like family with unconditional love. [Also] the blood sweat and tears that went into all of those hours, and the results of what can come from it. Scarlet: Who do you think has changed the most from the beginning of the year for the better? Leung: Performance wise I have to give it to Tyler Terriault (‘16) because he was not a diver at the beginning of the year and now he is part of the top ten dives of Clark. Attitude wise, it’s Dylan Schrama (‘19), who made a total 360 at NEWMACs. He said that he has never truly tried a full season before in his life and he is ready to now. In terms of work ethic it would have to be Kelsey Clary (‘16). Since she has had severe injuries, this has been the first year she has been able to actually practice, and she is on the record board several times now. Scarlet: What impact do you think you have left on the team? Leung: Hopefully what I left is to enjoy every moment and always try your hardest because then after it is all done with, you won’t be able to have any regrets. Thanks for the interview, Lukas!
The Scarlet
16 | extras
Police Logs
february 26, 2016
What happens in The Scarlet office stays in The Scarlet office... sort of
Compiled by Maria Rotelli Wednesday, Feb. 17 12:46 – Party calling to report a stolen laptop. Called back to report it found. 15:54 – Caller reports two parties arguing out back on stairs on Main Street. Thursday, Feb. 18 1:15 – Units assisting State Police on a call. Friday, Feb. 19 1:26 – Units out with a group of intoxicated parties. 5:03 – Caller reports a male party sleeping in the grass on Woodland Street. 7:20 – Parties removed from the Goddard Library. 20:01 – Report of a male hanging from stop sign screaming profanities in the area of Charlotte and Florence Streets. 23:33 – Caller reports possible narcotic activity in the alley near Dana Hall. Saturday, Feb. 20 0:24 – Units removed nine individuals from the President’s House property. 0:28 – Units with an individual pulling an air compressor down the street. 2:37 – Assisting Worcester Police with checking for possible gun shots. 23:46 – Units checking on a large group in the Gates Street area. Sunday, Feb. 21 0:31 – Units out speaking with individuals at a loud party. 0:57 – Units back out clearing out additional people from the loud party. 1:08 – Units out removing a large group from behind the President’s House. 1:15 – Manager at the Bistro calling to request officers clear out a large, disorderly group. 2:50 – Report of possible fight in the Oliver Street area. Monday, Feb. 22 7:32 – Parties removed from the Goddard Library. 14:26 – Caller reports that her purse was stolen, and credit cards were used. 17:40 – Caller reports an attempted B&E that occurred on Main Street this morning. 19:17 – Caller reports loud music coming from a vehicle in the Woodland Street area. Tuesday, Feb. 23 0:31 – Caller reports an aggressive pan handler in the Woodland Street/Main Street area that put his hand on her.
“I have Cougar of the Week.” - Lynn “You are cougar of the week.” - Anna “I’m year of the pig.” - Kate “I’m dog.” - Anna “I’m unicorn.” - Lynn “Is anyone good at computers?” - Kate “Define ‘good computers.’ Do you mean like looking up porn? Then yeah.” - Lynn “Yo, Scott is chilling.” - Chris “Yo, Scott! You chilling?” - Chris “Yeah.” - Scott “Yo, Scott is chilling.” - Chris “Everywhere I am is 4 a.m. material.” - Chris “The Scarlet isn’t actually printed on paper.” - Chris “Golly, what do you mean by that, Chris?” - Scott “It’s printed on 4 a.m. material!” - Chris “Wowieee!” - Scott “Are your eyes big or do you just have big eye holes?” - Scott to Sarah “Well, I’ve never taken my eyeballs out to see my eye holes, so I’m gonna have to say that I have big eyes.” - Sarah “I guess no one knows the Legally Blonde script as well as I do.” - Scott “Salsa.” - Sarah