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Monday September 23, 2019 vol. cxliii no. 73
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BEYOND THE BUBBLE
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Hundreds gathered in front of the Princeton Public Library for Friday’s global Climate Strike.
Members of the Eastern Service Workers Association attended the Climate Strike, representing lowincome workers disproportionately burdened by the cost of climate change-related weather events.
Hundreds take part in Climate Strike protest By Rose Gilbert Senior Writer
Last Friday, over six hundred demonstrators took part in the Princeton Climate Strike, gathering in front of the Princeton Public Library before marching onto campus and finishing their protest in front of Frist Campus Center. The demonstrators joined the approximately four million other people who participated in hundreds of Climate Strike events around the world. From Princeton to New Delhi, Berlin to Antarctica, protesters marched to raise awareness of the climate crisis before the United Nations Climate Action Summit, which begins today. Speakers addressed a wide
range of topics related to the climate crisis, including the massive environmental impact of the U.S. military, the feasibility of the Green New Deal, and the Trump administration’s removal of climate science information from government websites. The global Climate Strike, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, was fueled by young people afraid of what climate change means for their futures. “I’m scared and I want people to understand why,” said Zahra Lohoue, a local ninthgrader who has led multiple climate change strikes at her school. “I do not want hurricanes to be the end of us, I do not want wildfires to be the end of us,
I do not want pollution to be the end of us, I do not want global warming to be the end of us,” she continued. Lohoue ended her speech by calling upon the protestors to take action, and left the stage to huge applause. Members of Ellipses, the University’s oldest spoken word group, performed “Not to Breathe,” a poem emphasizing young people’s anxiety about climate change and frustration with the lack of action by those in power. “When the world ends, it will be legal,” they recited. “The world is ending, we are ending it.” Parents who marched cited concern for their children’s futures as their primary motivation for joining the climate
strike. Devin Carsdale, who works as a sustainability compliance auditor for Ikea, shared his concerns. Holding his six-month-old daughter, Ava, Carsdale said he is “super-passionate about sustainability,” and worries about what kind of world his daughter will grow up in. “I’ve been able to enjoy this world for the last thirty years,” he explained. “I want to make sure that she’s able to take advantage of those same luxuries of breathing clean air and drinking clean water, not having to worry about food scarcity, and we know that it’s going to increasingly become a problem in the years to come.” Elena Reimero attended the
ON CAMPUS
STUDENT LIFE
demonstration in her stroller, accompanied by her mother, father, grandmother, and great-grandmother. “We wake up thinking about what the future holds for her. Nothing could be more important,” said her grandmother, Heidi Fichtenbaum. University English professor Rob Nixon, who addressed the protestors, noted that environmental justice had become central to the movement, which increasingly focuses on low-income communities and communities of color, who are often the most impacted by climate change through droughts, pollution, flooding, and temperature fluctuations. “I have never seen such a See CLIMATE page 2
ON CAMPUS
Ghanaian president dis- Alexander cusses globalization Road closed for 6 months
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Members of USG attend the weekly meeting.
USG finalizes task forces, approves budget By Marie-Rose Sheinerman Assistant News Editor
At their weekly meeting, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate weighed in on new task force proposals and listened to a presentation on a potential new guest speaker invite system on Sunday, Sept. 22. Tyler Eddy ’21, a student in the astrophysics department, presented his proposal for a new mechanism for students to invite speakers to campus. The goal of the program, according to Eddy, would be to “expand dialogue on campus by creating more diverse events and speakers.”
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“It’s not an issue of quantity or quality of speakers,” he clarified at the start. “It’s an issue of ‘Is it representative of the country and beyond?’” The new mechanism would allow students to propose a potential speaker and endorse speakers they would like to see come to campus. Each speaker would only need a minimum of 10 endorsements to move on to the next voting round, a rule that Eddy believes would promote individual voices on campuses, as opposed to those already empowered by large student groups. Eddy also envisioned stuSee STORY page 3
Columnist Shannon Chaffers argues that California’s new law permitting some forms of pay for student-athletes is a step in the right direction, and columnist Emma Treadway criticizes the lack of substance in the recent Democratic primary debates. PAGE 4
On Friday, Sept. 20, on the stage of a Richardson Auditorium brimming with students, faculty, and community members, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, spoke with Program in African Studies Acting Director and Professor of History Emmanuel Kreike about his presidential goals, the barriers to Ghana’s development, and the African Union’s role in continental development. At the start of the event, Kreike briefly introduced the president, solemnly stating that Akufo-Addo ascended to the presidency in 2016 at the start of “a global future that is African.” Kreike highlighted Akufo-Addo’s previous political experience in Ghana, including his role as Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007. He also emphasized Akufo-Addo’s devotion to national education. “The president sees education, in particular high school education, as the key to economic development,” Kreike said. “His objective is free education from preschool to, and including, high school for every Ghanaian. One of the first laws he introduced after taking office was to make secondary schools free for all.” Akufo-Addo took the podium following the introduction and explained the need for continental unity and development among the African Union.
“We cannot be proud when nearly 413 million of the population of SubSaharan Africa are impoverished,” Akufo-Addo said. “There are 114 million African youths being unemployed, and 89 million children of school-going age out of school.” To combat these issues within Ghana, Akufo-Addo outlined his plans to target illicit mining, decrease foreign resource exploitation, and restructure the national budget and employment policies, pointing to the Ghanaian devotion to and increased interest in democracy. “The Ghanaians have manifested in this era a deep attachment to the principles of democratic accountability, respect for liberties, and human rights,” Akufo-Addo explained. Akufo-Addo described this year as “the year of return” for Africa, referencing the 400th anniversary of the first documented slave importation to the United States in 1619. “We intend to use the symbolism of the year of return to bring together in Ghana Africans, persons of African descent, and all well-wishers and lovers of freedom,” Akufo-Addo said. “We’re also using the commemoration to deepen the ties in Africa of their kith and kin.” Following his speech, Akufo-Addo answered questions from the audience concerning topics such as continental peace, refugee crises in much of Africa, and universal healthcare. Prior to the public lecture, Akufo-
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Alexander Road in Princeton will be closed for approximately the next six months as the town works on renovating it. The county plans to build two new bridges and a culvert to replace and improve current traffic flows. The closure is scheduled to begin Nov. 6 and end by April 20, 2020. According to Planet Princeton, the new project is receiving $250,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation and contains plans to build new, five-foot shoulders with ultra-wide lanes. These changes are expected to result in the road better handling the through-traffic of Princeton’s Tiger Transit bus line. Mayor Liz Lempert voiced concern over the closure’s impact on traffic. “We understand the need for the two bridges to be replaced, but are obviously concerned about traffic impacts, especially during rush hour,” Lempert said. Lempert explained that
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Today on Campus 4:30 p.m.: Lecture / Workshop with Ayanda Clarke: The Relationship Between Music and Dance Wallace
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WEATHER
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Iyer ’22: Today our dream becomes a movement, not a moment CLIMATE Continued from page 1
............. comprehensively international and diverse movement,” he said. “This is a movement led from below by the people who will be the most deeply affected by climate change, including the younger generation.” In keeping with the increased presence of social justice within the environmental movement, the Princeton demonstration began with a land acknowledgement by Jessica Lambert ’22, an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation and a first-generation descendant in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as president of Natives at Princeton. Lambert called on demonstrators to remember that the land on which they stood, as well as the rest of New Jersey, had originally been inhabited by the Delaware people, who were driven west to Ohio and Kansas and disenfranchised by broken treaties with the U.S. government. Also present were members of the Eastern Service Workers Association, who represented the low-income workers often disproportionately burdened by extreme weather events,
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which are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change. In addition to calling attention to the destruction and urgency of the climate crisis, speakers at the Princeton demonstration called on the audience to demand change from their legislators, and to vote in elections. Pranav Iyer ’22, who said he has relatives in India struggling to get access to drinkable water due to droughts, implored the crowd not to give in to “negligence and complicity,” and to hold their political leaders accountable. “As citizens of this country we have an obligation of the people, by the people, and for the people,” he said. Although he acknowledged the severity of the climate crisis, Iyer expressed hope that the American people, if not the American government, would be able to pull together to address climate change before it was too late. “What happened to the country that said we do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard?” he asked, provoking huge cheers from the crowd. “Today our dream becomes a movement, not a moment.”
Monday September 23, 2019
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Demonstrators carrying signs walked past Firestone and though East Pyne on their way to Frist Campus Center.
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Demonstrators march past Frist, chanting “This is what democracy looks like!” and carrying signs.
Akufo-Addo talks Ghanaian democracy GHANA
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Addo met with approximately 30 undergraduate and graduate students of Ghanaian heritage in Richardson’s basement lounge to engage in a more intimate conversation. Justin Hinson ’21 was among the undergraduates present. “It was nice to hear him speak up close in a rather comfortable setting,” Hinson said. “I really wanted to have a meaningful experience related to my cultural heritage, given that since I’ve grown up in the States, I never really had that.” “It makes you proud to say that you met the most important political figure of a country that you care deeply about,” Hinson said.
Months of planning went into Akufo-Addo’s visit, which was originally slated to be included in the University’s inaugural Africa Summit, held in April 2019. Africa Summit co-director Blessing Jegede ’21 explained that the Ghanaian president was to speak at the two-day conference, but had to cancel at the last minute. After Akufo-Addo confirmed the revised date, Jegede, along with the rest of the conference team, devoted significant time over the summer to ironing out the details of his fall visit, dealing with many different time zones and internship schedules. “We had to deal with logistics and come up with a production plan,” Jegede said. “We had to worry about where [Akufo-Addo] would be at every minute of his visit.” Next fall, Jegede hopes to host an-
other African head of state in a leadership series to bring more attention to African studies as a discipline and as a crucial component of international policy. “It’s meant to be a learning space for everyone,” Jegede said. “More than 670 tickets were [claimed] for this conversation. It means that we have people’s attention.” “A Conversation with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana” was co-sponsored by the Program in African Studies, Africa Summit Princeton, Princeton in Africa, the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), the JulisRabinowitz Center for Public Policy and Finance, Innovations for Successful Societies (ISS), and the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD).
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Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo talks as Professor Emmanuel Kreike looks on.
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Elena Reimero, pictured in her stroller, attended the Climate Strike with her mother, father, great-grandmother, and grandmother (pictured from left to right).
Monday September 23, 2019
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Closure to end April 2020; Eddy ’21 proposes new system to invite speakers infrastructure to be improved USG
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dents promoting their speaker options through comments on a webpage created for the speaker election system and even campaigning in Frist Campus Center to get more classmates to endorse them. The webpage would also allow for a “Create Conversation” option, where students can design a dream panel of speakers so long as they have the endorsement of a faculty member. The presentation’s example of such a panel featured Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University Cornel West and McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence Robert George. Although Eddy stressed that the proposal “doesn’t have anything to do with two-party politics,” the presentation noted that the faculty and staff has a “30:1 political affiliation” ratio, while the “student body” has a “2:3 political leaning,” as represented by the “national average.” The proposal received mixed reactions from the audience. Rachel Hazan ’21, a U-Councilor and junior in the Woodrow Wilson School, questioned Eddy on which University funding avenues he intended to pursue, pointing him toward a fund called “Campus Conversations” intended specifically for such events. Gabriel Duguay ’22 argued the new system would be redundant with pre-existing mechanisms. “There are already two clear ways for students to invite speakers to come to campus,” he said, naming the Whig Clio Society and student groups. USG then heard from Senators on task force proposals. Claire Wayner ’22 will be spearheading the Sustainability task force, balancing it with her role in the Office of Sustainability. Her task force will focus on developing the newly approved student “green space” in Frist, leading the Scope 3 emissions faculty-student task force approved by last term’s referendum, and introducing a sustainability training component to first-year orientation, perhaps through Outdoor and Community Action programming. Duguay presented on the Indigeneity at Princeton task force, which wants to work with existing indigenous student groups on campus to promote
the hiring of indigenous faculty, recruitment from Native American reservations, and University acknowledgement of its situation on Native land. He also mentioned the long-term goal of potentially establishing an Indigenous Studies certificate at the University. Allen Liu ’22 argued for the revival of the Mental Health task force, which aims to raise awareness of existing sources for special needs funding and collaborate with McCosh Health Services in a number of ways. Tania Bore ’20, a senior in the Woodrow Wilson School, proposed a task force on creating a web resource that would streamline the process through which students select thesis advisors, particularly for those looking outside of their departments. Hazan suggested that the task force collaborate with students in COS 333: Advanced Programming Techniques, to create a resource similar to princetoncourses.com. The final task force proposal came from Andres Larrieu ’22, who emphasized USG transparency and outreach. His task force will focus on making USG more approachable to the student body, potentially via Wednesday night town halls. Brad Spicher ’20, the USG treasurer, closed the meeting by presenting the fall budget plan, which totaled at $231,687.50 with $7,575.97 remaining as a deficit from the Spring 2019 term. The budget over-allocated slightly for the fall term, which Spicher explained was in line with USG tradition to spend approximately 55 percent of the year budget on the fall term and 45 percent on the spring. The budget was voted on and approved unanimously by the Senate. USG President Zarnab Virk ’20 kicked off the meeting with the “President Report,” summarizing upcoming events, such as the CPUC meeting on Sept. 23 and the Transportation Advisory Council on Sept. 26. The report also included expectations for senators moving forward, such as the “no screens” policy for meetings to limit distractions, and an emphasis on being “proactive, open, and honest” with communication. To welcome new members, all present partook in a brief introduction, stating their names, concentrations, and role on USG. The meeting was open to the public and took place at 8 p.m. in Lewis 138.
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the town is working with the University, NJ Department of Transportation, and New Jersey Transit to lessen traffic disruptions. Director of Community and Regional Affairs Kristin Appelget expressed that the closure, while inconvenient for many on campus, would ultimately lead to a far better infrastructure overall. “We understand that the upcoming closure of the Alexander Street bridges will be an inconvenience for the campus community, just as it will be for our neighbors in the region,“ Appelget wrote in an email to the Daily Princetonian. “However, we appreciate that the bridge replacement project will improve this crucial transportation infrastructure.” Appelget emphasized the importance of communication with those right outside the Orange Bubble. “To support our community and collaborate with all those affected, we have joined representatives from local government and area businesses to meet with NJDOT and Mercer County as they have planned for the project to ensure that information about the clo-
sure is shared broadly,“ Appelget wrote in an email to the ‘Prince.’ “ We expect that these robust lines of communication will remain open as the closure is implemented. Updates about the closure will be shared with the campus community through University communication channels starting later this fall. Appelegt wrote that the closure may cause those on campus to seek “alternate roots to and from campus,“ and added that the “Dinky service will continue during the closure, and this will be a viable alternate route for some to consider.” According to Lempert, this work will include urg-
ing local employers to consider instituting flex time programs in order to decrease rush hour issues as well as prompting “discussions with NJ Transit to ensure reliable operation of the Dinky and other ways to encourage ridership.” “The road closure comes at a difficult time for our local retailers — right at the start of the holiday shopping season,” Lempert said. “We’ve been working closely with the Princeton Merchants Association on ways to get the word out during the road closure that Princeton is still open for business — and also on plans for events and other activities to draw shoppers and diners into town.”
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Construction work on Alexander Road last April.
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Sherry Dudas and Jim Kinsel, managers of Honey Brook Organic Farm, attended the march hoping to raise awareness of how climate change is impacting agriculture around the world.
Brian Epstein and his daughter, Ella, held up homemade signs at Friday’s Climate Strike outside the Princeton Public Library.
Opinion
Monday September 23, 2019
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California’s student-athlete bill is a step in the right direction Shannon Chaffers Columnist
In 2017, an FBI investigation uncovered a bribery scheme in the complex web of collegebasketball recruitment. The investigation revealed, among other offenses, a meeting in which a Louisville assistant coach, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) coach, and an investment advisor discussed paying a recruit. After hearing about this meeting, Sonny Vaccaro, a former marketing executive for Adidas, Nike, and Reebok, told The Washington Post that “everybody around [the player] in that meeting ... is making money off of him, and he’s 17 years old.” Vaccaro’s comment concisely sums up the main injustice at the heart of the broken collegiate athletic system — that the source of the entire multibillion dollar industry, the players, cannot receive any of the money they generate. The NCAA has thus far refused to resolve this disparity, but some state governments have decided to take action. A California state bill that unanimously passed the state legislature and now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval would allow studentathletes to profit off of their names, images, and likenesses, enabling them to pursue endorsement deals as well as earn money from autographs or clinics, beginning in 2023. While the main responsibility should still lie with the NCAA to fairly compensate their athletes, this bill acts as
a bridge until such a time, and places pressure on the NCAA to take further action. The NCAA’s principal argument for not compensating student-athletes is that doing so would take away their focus on academics: “In the collegiate model of sports, the young men and women competing on the field or court are students first, athletes second,” they stated. While a noble idea in theory, the reality is that at elite schools, the opposite is true. In 2016, more than twenty schools were being investigated for academic fraud, as universities encouraged their athletes to neglect academic work in favor of athletic performance. The NCAA’s stance paints a rosy picture of college athletics, but falls apart in the face of reality. If the NCAA wants the focus to be solely on academics, why did they allow a multibillion-dollar industry to develop around the players? Why, for example, was the University of Alabama’s football coach Nick Saban allowed to make $7.5 million last year? After all, it is because the coaches and universities are under financial pressure to succeed (Saban earned an extra $600,000 last year for making it to the championship game) that they neglect academics. The NCAA can’t have their cake and eat it too. Another argument against compensating student-athletes is that it will ruin the so-called “purity” of the sport. Tim Tebow recently articulated this argument on ESPN’s First Take, arguing that paying athletes will take away the “authenticity and the realness and the passion” from college athletics. Like the NCAA’s ar-
gument, this take glosses over the reality that college sports are already business. It paints an idealistic version of college athletics in which everyone is fighting for the good of their university. But the recent FBI investigation is just one of numerous examples that show this is not the case for coaches, schools, and companies. The argument is similar to one that comes up when talking about equal pay in regards to women’s soccer. Marc Skinner, manager of the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League recently said he feared paying women more would take away the purity from the game: “I’m not going to go into the equal pay row because I think that I’d still love to see the women do something the men haven’t done, and that is to continue to love football not just for the money but for the love of the game. I think that’s the purity of women’s football, I really do,” he said. This invocation of purity is used to justify undercompensating athletes while looking the other way as everyone else profits off their labor. Additionally, there are clear examples of athletes who make millions of dollars, who are still very engaged with their community. LeBron James, one of the richest athletes in the world, created the I Promise School for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. This argument is not only demeaning to these athletes, but is also disingenuous. This reasoning also comes from a place of privilege, as it ignores the fact that many college athletes need this money to support themselves and their families. Former Univer-
sity of Connecticut basketball star Shabazz Napier said that he would sometimes go to bed hungry because he didn’t have enough money for dinner. Meanwhile, his jersey was being sold and he saw none of the profits. Tebow also said, “there’s that opportunity [to make money] in the NFL,” neglecting the fact that only 1.6 percent of college football players will make it to the professional level, and even fewer will make a career of it. The statistics are similar for other sports. The NCAA has taken specific issue with the California bill, arguing that it will give California schools an advantage in recruitment. That would be a positive development, actually, because it would encourage other states to pass similar bills and force the NCAA to reconsider its stance. While a lot of the focus on deserving pay is on the major revenue-generating sports like college football and basketball, this bill will also positively impact lower-profile athletes. For example, they could now run clinics for younger athletes and make money that way, enabling them to engage with their fans and develop business skills. California’s bill allowing student athletes to make money off of their own person is a step in the right direction for fixing the broken industry of college sports, and until the NCAA does something about it, these types of bills appear to be the way forward. Shannon Chaffers is a sophomore from Wellesley, MA. She can be reached at sec3@princeton.edu.
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Taylor Jean-Jacques’20 BOARD OF TRUSTEES president Thomas E. Weber ’89 vice president Craig Bloom ’88 secretary Betsy L. Minkin ’77 treasurer Douglas J. Widmann ’90 trustees Francesca Barber David Baumgarten ’06 Kathleen Crown Gabriel Debenedetti ’12 Stephen Fuzesi ’00 Zachary A. Goldfarb ’05 Michael Grabell ’03 John Horan ’74 Joshua Katz Rick Klein ’98 James T. MacGregor ’66 Alexia Quadrani Marcelo Rochabrun ’15 Kavita Saini ’09 Richard W. Thaler, Jr. ’73 Abigail Williams ’14 trustees emeriti Gregory L. Diskant ’70 William R. Elfers ’71 Kathleen Kiely ’77 Jerry Raymond ’73 Michael E. Seger ’71 Annalyn Swan ’73 trustees ex officio Chris Murphy ’20 Taylor Jean-Jacques’20
143RD MANAGING BOARD managing editors Samuel Aftel ’20 Ariel Chen ’20 Jon Ort ’21 head news editors Benjamin Ball ’21 Ivy Truong ’21 associate news editors Linh Nguyen ’21 Claire Silberman ’22 Katja Stroke-Adolphe ’20 head opinion editor Cy Watsky ’21 associate opinion editors Rachel Kennedy ’21 Ethan Li ’22 head sports editor Jack Graham ’20 associate sports editors Tom Salotti ’21 Alissa Selover ’21 features editor Samantha Shapiro ’21 head prospect editor Dora Zhao ’21 associate prospect editor Noa Wollstein ’21 chief copy editors Lydia Choi ’21 Elizabeth Parker ’21 associate copy editors Jade Olurin ’21 Christian Flores ’21 head design editor Charlotte Adamo ’21 associate design editor Harsimran Makkad ’22 cartoon editors Zaza Asatiani ’21 Jonathan Zhi ’21 head video editor Sarah Warman Hirschfield ’20 associate video editor Mark Dodici ’22 digital operations manager Sarah Bowen ’20
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Monday September 23, 2019
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The danger of the Democratic debates Emma Treadway
Contributing Columnist
Housed in the austere Whig Hall, with Woodrow Wilson staring gravely upon them, a couple hundred students sit on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next Joe Biden slipup or incendiary roast from Julián Castro. I, too, sit with my friends, pizza and drink in hand. If Joe Biden confuses himself again, the room cringes; when Julián Castro calls Joe out on his confusion, the crowd roars in laughter; when Andrew Yang so much as opens his mouth, he is met with ridicule and snickering. These are the 2019 Democratic Debates. From the description above, they are scarcely discernible from a Bachelorette watch party or a comedy show. Arguably, few partake in watching these debates to fulfill their democratic duty as a citizen; rather, the debates serve as entertainment. And this is far from a positive development in our election process. Since these debates are some of the only times many
Americans are ever exposed to the candidates and their platforms, it is crucial that they emerge informed and better equipped to choose a candidate who aligns with their own individual goals and vision for America. Unfortunately, the debates have left most audiences with only the following: fleeting stump speeches, catchy (and ridiculous) slogans, and ill-defined policy proposals. First, none of these debates have allowed candidates sufficient time to explain their comprehensive plans. Since the emergence of the debate tradition during election season, debates have presented candidates with less and less time to impart substantive ideas to their audience. In the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858, candidates opened with an hour-long speech and their opponent was granted 90 minutes to reply. In the 1960 debate between JFK and Nixon, each candidate received eight minutes for their opening speeches. The September primary debate presented candidates with a mere 60 seconds to announce their platforms and to respond to questions from moderators. Notably, these are primary debates, not Presidential ones, but even the 2016
Presidential debate allowed candidates some two minutes to answer questions. The July episodes this time around were even worse — with a crowded stage full of many unfamiliar faces, participants received a measly 60 seconds for answering questions and only 30 for rebuttals. How can anyone possibly be expected to sell themselves to the country within 60 seconds? Even Joe Biden, who spoke the most in September’s debate with a total of 17.4 minutes of airtime, could not have given the audience a clear view of his policy initiatives in so short a time. Instead, candidates are forced to vie for dominance and a lasting impression in the debate, competing to say the most memorable (or sometimes the most ridiculous) sound-bites that might stick in the heads of audiences come primary election days. On this note, we come to Andrew Yang, one of the candidates who has relied on these sound-bites to propel himself forward in the polls in the miniscule amount of time he has had to speak in the debates. The defining slogan of Yang — perhaps one of the only things for which any viewer will remember him — is that he can beat Donald Trump because “the op-
posite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math.” And, in the September edition, he used the quip “Now, I am Asian, so I know a lot of doctors.” Yang’s playing into stereotypes is problematic on its own, but it is also emblematic of what candidates have to do to get the attention of the American people. In reality, Andrew Yang is much more than this slogan; he has several well-defined and comprehensive policy proposals, left untouched and unopened by the Democratic debates. For example, NPR Politics Podcast does “On the Trail” segments with 2020 Presidential candidates, exploring their lives and their particular policies. During his feature, Yang was composed and down-to-earth, explaining clear and well-defined initiatives regarding climate change and other issues. When asked about the Asianstereotyping slogan he uses, Yang noted, “I used it at the next event and it got raucous applause and laughter and then said, “OK. Not being a total idiot, I should probably say that again.”” He himself admitted that it was a stereotype, but it did successfully gain him attention. This portrayal of our government leaders is problem-
atic in yet another sense — it taints the way American people perceive their government. Rather than a serious and pressing discussion of issues, the flashy stage and witty comebacks are more like an SNL skit. And, since this may be the only opportunity many citizens have to see the candidate selection, it acts as a representation of what our government means. At a point where only 17 percent of Americans trust the government to do the right thing, we cannot afford to further undermine what respect remains by trivializing and glamorizing what ought to be an intellectual and deeply reflective discussion of public ideals and substantive goals for our nation’s future. If the televised debates do boost voter turnout or at least prompt individuals to actually delve into political issues for themselves, it is perhaps better to have the debates than to have nothing at all. But in the future, I would suggest that we take a more guarded approach when judging candidates by their debate performance. Emma Treadway is a sophomore from Amelia, Ohio. She can be reached at emmalt@princeton. edu.
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Sports
Monday September 23, 2019
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Davidson shines as Princeton football beats Butler to open fall 2019 season By Jack Graham
Head Sports Editor
Senior quarterback Kevin Davidson spent the first three years of his Princeton career backing up Chad Kanoff ’18 and John Lovett ’19, two quarterbacks who won Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year awards and signed NFL contracts. In the 2019 season opener, Davidson started to prove he is a worthy successor. He completed 18 of 21 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns, and Princeton beat Butler 49–7 to start the 150th season of Princeton football with a convincing win. “John and Chad were tremendous mentors,” Davidson said. “They both called me yesterday and said, ‘it’s your time, go out and play like we know you prepared to play.’ It felt great.” The win Saturday bore a striking resemblance to one of the many lopsided wins in Princeton’s undefeated 2018 campaign — the Tigers scored early and often while stif ling the opponent’s offense. After failing to convert a 4th-and-short in the Butler red zone on its first possession, Princeton went on to score touchdowns on its next six drives. Meanwhile, Princeton’s defense allowed
only five first downs in the first half, and the Tigers took a commanding 42–0 lead into halftime. Reserves started to enter the game in the third quarter, and Princeton coasted to a 42-point win. “I thought we came out today really energetic,” said head coach Bob Surace ’90. “Our poise and execution were really good.” Princeton will face tougher opposition than Butler this season, but if Davidson continues to play the way he did Saturday, Princeton has reason to be optimistic. The Bulldogs struggled to match Princeton’s size and physicality on the interior and speed on the perimeter. Davidson showed off his strong arm, throwing one ball over 50 yards in the air accurately for a long completion. He also made smart decisions with the football, committing no turnovers and completing passes to eight different receivers. It was the senior’s second career start; he filled in for an injured Lovett in 2018 and threw 299 yards and four touchdowns against Brown. He practiced with the starters throughout the 2019 training camp and seems to have cemented himself as the primary op-
tion behind center. “I think it probably eased his nerves,” Surace said about Davidson’s experience last season. “Once you do it, you know you can do it. He’s practiced so well in the spring, he’s practiced so well in camp. I think he feels really comfortable.” His job was made easier by an offensive line that gave him ample time to throw, and receivers who consis-
tently got open. Sophomore receivers Andrei Iosivas and Dylan Classi, junior receiver Jacob Birmelin, and senior receiver Andrew Griffin played little last season at a position dominated by Jesper Horsted ’19 and Stephen Carlson ’19, but they demonstrated their talent against Butler and combined for 257 yards. “Over the summer, we would throw like five
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Kevin Davidson made his second career start against
Weekend Review
“2019 starts with a victory count!! 49-7 #Tigers win! #MakeHi2t0ry” Princeton FH (@ TigerFH), field hockey
NOTES Sophomore receiver Andre Iosivas recorded his first two career catches — both of which were touchdowns. The second came on a nifty trick play with wide receiver Dylan Classi delivering the throw. Senior Tavish Rice handled the place kicking duties on Princeton’s extra points. Rice is a kickoff specialist with a powerful leg, but junior Nicolas Ramos did most of the field goal kicking last season. The official depth chart listed three “starters” at QB: Davidson, senior Zachary Keller, and junior Cole Smith. Keller entered the game for a handful of short-yardage situations, but Smith didn’t see much playing time until late in the game.
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Men’s soccer @ Fairleigh Dickinson: W 4–0 After defeating Monmouth University 2–1 on Wednesday, men’s soccer travelled to Fairleigh Dickinson University on Saturday for their third-to-last non-conference match. Junior midfielder Frankie DeRosa and first-year forward Walker Gillespie brought Princeton up 2–0 in the first half. Another goal from DeRosa and one from senior midfielder Benjamin Martin in the second half closed out the game 4–0. Junior goalkeeper Jack Roberts, in his first start this season, kept a clean sheet. Senior goalkeeper Mohamed Abdelhamid finished out the game with an incredible three saves in a row off of a penalty kick in the final seconds. Women’s soccer vs. William & Mary: W 1–0 Sunday’s game against William & Mary saw the return of former women’s soccer head coach Julie Shackford to Roberts Stadium — this time at the head of an opposing team. Princeton didn’t hold back, however, and in the 43rd minute Olivia Kane, a junior midfielder, hit the ball into W&M’s box, where it was smashed into the right side by junior defender Tatum Gee — her first goal of her Princeton career. Senior goalkeeper Natalie Grossi kept a clean sheet for the whole game, bringing her career total to 29 and tying the Ivy League record. Sunday’s game marked the end of the team’s non-conference slate. They will host Yale for their conference opener on Saturday. Field hockey vs. No.21 Rutgers, No. 4 UConn: L 2–1, L 2–1 No. 6 Princeton field hockey suffered a pair of narrow home losses this weekend to Rutgers and UConn. Against Rutgers, Princeton got on the board early with a goal from sophomore midfielder Hannah Davey, but the offense could not generate any goals after that. Rutgers notched the equalizer near the end of the first half and scored the go-ahead goal off a corner with seven minutes to play. The loss against UConn was even tighter. Princeton trailed 1–0 for most of the game, before a goal from sophomore midfielder Julianna Tornetta sent the game into overtime. Svea Boker scored the game-winner for UConn just four minutes into OT, however, and Princeton dropped to 0–2 on the weekend. Men’s water polo vs. Wagner, Navy: W 9–3, W 12–10 Princeton men’s water polo bounced back from losing three out of four at last weekend’s Princeton Invitational with a pair of wins at DeNunzio Pool this Saturday. In the first game, Princeton jumped out to an early 4–1 lead over Wagner and coasted to a comfortable six-goal win. The Tigers benefitted from a balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring two goals apiece. First-year goalkeeper Antonio Knez made 13 saves. In the second game, Princeton led by four entering the fourth quarter, but Navy rallied to make the score 11–10. Junior utility Miles Cole put Navy away with a goal with 29 seconds remaining, and the Tigers won 12–10. Women’s volleyball vs. Temple, La Salle: W 3–0, W 3–0 Princeton women’s volleyball faced Temple and La Salle over the weekend, sweeping both teams. Temple held a brief lead in the beginning of the second set after a victory in the first set, but the Tigers came back to secure the victory in the second. Temple took the lead for most of the third set until the Tigers called a timeout and didn’t let the Owls score again. La Salle held a lead for most of the three sets played against Princeton, but the Tigers ran off with the victory. Senior outside and right side hitter Devon Peterkin finished the weekend with 29 kills and 23 digs while sophomore outside hitter Elena Montgomery followed behind with 25 kills. Senior setter Jessie Harris lead the Tiger offense with 74 assists to finish the weekend sweep out.
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times a week,” Davidson said about his receiving corps. “We have the trust factor, that really helped us today.” On defense, Princeton limited Butler to just 274 yards of total offense. Junior defensive back Delan Stallworth led the way with eight tackles and an interception. Princeton continues nonconference play next Saturday at Bucknell before returning to Princeton Stadium Oct. 5 to open Ivy League play against Columbia.
Natalie Grossi, Women’s Soccer (2020) Grossi’s clean sheet for women’s soccer on Sunday was her 29th career shutout, tying Dartmouth alumna Kristin Luckenbill’s Ivy League record (and the regular season hasn’t even started yet!). Grossi has been instrumental in the team’s two year Ivy League champion streak.
Frankie DeRosa, Men’s Soccer (2021) The junior midfielder scored two goals against Fairleigh Davidson as Princeton won its second consecutive game.
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Senior goalkeeper Natalie Grossi tied the Ivy League women’s soccer record with her 29th career shutout.