Protestors gather outside CDC following recent round of firings
By Siya Kumar and JacoB muScolino News Editors
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) departments emailed 2,400 employees on the morning of April 1 to terminate their employment. A CDC employee who has worked for the organization since 2004 said some employees were only notified of their termination when they arrived at work, when key cards of laid off employees were deactivated. The employee requested anonymity over concerns about maintaining employment. Public Broadcasting Service reported that some employees arrived at work to find their badges did not work.
Community members, employees, friends and family of CDC staff gathered in front of the CDC building on Clifton Road NE on the afternoon of April 1. The protest began at about 3:30 p.m. and reached about 150 protestors at its peak, with protestors hoisting signs that proclaimed “Save the CDC” and “CDC cuts cost lives” for over three hours.
That same morning, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the firing of these 2,400 CDC employees.
This follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s February announcement to cut 10% of the CDC’s workforce.
ElliE Fivas/Editor-in-ChiEF
Community members gather outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Headquarters on April 1 to protest U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s firings of 2,400 CDC employees early that morning.
Emory University and the CDC share a close partnership in conducting infectious disease and prevention research for various public health initiatives. The CDC has given the University $180 million in research funding over the past 10 years.
A second CDC employee who requested anonymity to protect her employment mentioned their initial reactions to the layoffs when she arrived at work that morning.
“It’s just like it’s not even real,” the employee said. “I feel like I’m just in this horrible nightmare.”
Assistant Professor of Biology Chris Rodgers said he was concerned about the future of scientific research at the CDC and Emory.
“Everybody who works in science or cares about science should be very concerned,” Rodgers said. “There’s people who have already had their grants cut for important work, includ-
SGA adjourns early due to committee controversy
By aaruSh Kumar SGA Desk
The 59th Student Government Association (SGA) confirmed the new Vice President of Finance, Grant Lichtman (26B), and the Assistant Vice President of Finance, Kennedy Nieves (25Ox), at the inaugural meeting on April 2. Following the confirmation, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Sophia Rubinstein (26C) requested to reconsider Bill 59SL01, which did not include former Assistant Vice President of Finance Jessica Malvin (24Ox, 26B).
SGA Executive Vice President Zoe Grotjan (24Ox, 26B) said that Lichtman and Nieves were “more than capable” of making needed changes in the Finance Committee. Though the bill initially passed without motions for Q-and-A or debate, First Year Council Director Maahi Sethi (27C) later questioned SGA President Tyler Martinez (26C) and Grotjan about their decision to not include Malvin in the finance committee. Sethi said Grotjan was not responsive when she reached out to her beforehand about the decisionmaking process for selecting the vice president or assistant vice president of finance. Grotjan denied these claims, writing that she decided not to include “external” opinions in the decision-making process.
Martinez wrote in an email to The
Emory Wheel that Sethi did not previously mention concerns about his and Grotjan’s selection for vice president and assistant vice president of finance prior to Monday’s meeting, and Martinez and Grotjan felt “completely blindsided” by Sethi’s remarks.
Grotjan wrote to the Wheel that she and Martinez made their decisions based on applications and direct interviews.
“If these specific concerns were brought up prior to the meeting I would have provided the bias training, interview materials, explained our process, and given insight into Tyler and I’s decisions—all of which would have easily clarified the issues presented in the meeting,” Grotjan wrote.
Martinez clarified that Malvin was “not left off of the Finance Committee” and that Martinez and Grotjan invited Malvin to apply for an executive cabinet position. He wrote that he and Grotjan selected Lichtman and Nieves for the vice president and assistant vice president roles “after careful consideration.”
Martinez said some students reported “not so great experiences” with the previous Finance Committee. He said he wanted to make sure that club treasurers would have their needs met and have a vice president of finance treasurers could confide in.
“As President of the Belonging
and Community Council, I have engaged in numerous difficult conversations with organizational leaders who expressed concerns to our treasurer, Executive Vice President, and me regarding the handling of their financial matters by the VP and AVP of Finance of the 58th SGA,” Martinez wrote. “Many felt their concerns were not addressed with the care and equity they deserved.”
Grotjan said that they made the decision based on the interview process the pair conducted rather than relying on a candidate’s prior experience.
“When we were interviewing we had quite a few people really come up to us and express some concerns,” Grotjan said. “I do believe Jess is more than qualified, but I also believe that Grant is also qualified.”
Grotjan said that the interview process was extensive and that she would be willing to share notes from the interviews. She also added that many student treasurers reported concerns about finance code changes.
“If club treasurers and club presidents are coming up to us saying that they don’t feel comfortable with finance code changes or they don’t feel comfortable coming up to present their case for getting supplemental funding, it’s kind of a big issue,” Grotjan said.
Malvin said she felt “surprised” to hear of these complaints, espe -
ing at Emory.” Lauren Owens (14PH), a CDC employee in the Division of Overdose Prevention, warned layoffs in programs, such as for pregnancy monitoring and smoking prevention, have the potential to cause deaths across the country.
“It’s just devastating because we know that these programs, it’s like a spider web or like a big safety net,” Owens said. “Any one part might not
be the only thing that’s holding up the country, but together, we ensure the safety and health of the nation.”
Moreover, Owens expressed her concerns that the layoffs would have ripple effects on the local job market because she knows many former CDC employees who live in DeKalb County.
“It’s really, really awful to now know that people, they’ve been offered two months of administrative leave, but come June 2, this will be people who don’t know how to pay their rent, don’t know how to get their groceries, don’t know where their health insurance is coming from,” Owens said.
The announcements employees received came from HHS and not the CDC, according to Owens. She added that her center director claimed to disagree with the decision to lay off employees.
A third CDC employee, who requested anonymity to protect their employment, said that these firings represent a larger encroachment on the public health field. The employee said these changes in the CDC have brought morale to a low.
“As a whole, the public health field really feels on attack right now,” the employee said. “A lot of the partnerships and a lot of the grants that come through HHS will also have an impact on how health departments do their work, on how NGOs do their work.”
Emory community reflects on impact of Trump cuts on internship opportunities
By Siya Kumar News Editor
U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions are rippling outward from Washington down to Atlanta, where Emory students, faculty and community members are feeling the federal government’s budget cuts firsthand.
On Jan. 20, Trump issued an executive order pausing all foreign aid and halting the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) operations for 90 days. USAID is an independent federal agency whose mission was to provide support to countries across the world. Following the executive order, his administration announced plans to cut 90% of the agency’s international aid contracts. By March 28, the administration informed Congress that it would eliminate most of the remaining jobs at USAID and shut down the agency.
The federal government terminated Shruti Nemala (26B) who said she was surprised to learn she was being terminated from an internship at USAID due to funding cuts.
“I was originally told that I was not going to be affected by the cuts because I was technically hired before Trump was elected,” Nemala said. “Then when I was doing my orientation, meeting with my managers … I’ve been doing my security
clearance, which took me around six months to get, and then just randomly I got an email saying that I was actually being terminated.”
Nemala said that the government’s uncertain future has impacted her career plans.
“Originally, I was thinking of doing something more on the intersection of business and government, and that that is probably not something I’m going to explore as much, just because I don’t think there’s a lot of opportunities for it,” Nemala said.
Throughout the country, many students experienced disruptions in internships and job opportunities due to Trump policy changes.
Delaney Arnold (26Ox) said the decreasing number of internship opportunities in her home state of New Jersey following the recent budget cuts complicated her summer plans. Arnold, an aspiring human health major, said the cuts are wiping away public health opportunities previously offered in her hometown.
“There’s several programs, including county programs, that typically have internships in public health and they’re just completely not offering them for this year,” Arnold said.
On March 27, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to lay off 10,000 workers, including about 2,400 staff members at the Centers for
Emory University’s Independent Student Newspaper
Students shift internship plans amid political changes
Martinez, Grotjan address nomination concerns at inaugural SGA meeting
University students.
Continued from Page 1
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Arnold said she is questioning her career choice amid the “uncertainty” in the field of public health. She added that she considered whether Public Health would even be a viable career path when she graduates.
“I’ve definitely considered whether I should switch my major,” Arnold said. “There’s a lot of worry that comes with it, especially for fields that are so important, like public health, where you know it contributes to public safety.”
Associate Professor of Political Science Andra Gillespie said the potential long-term effects of the Trump administration cuts on leadership and expertise are a huge loss for students hoping to pursue careers in public policy.
“Losing out on that generation might make it more difficult to be able to solve some problems,” Gillespie said. “In a few years, it might mean that you have fewer people with the requisite type of knowl-
edge and experience of these agencies to be in a strong position to be good leaders of it.”
Gillespie warned that these administrative cuts could weaken the United States’ political and global power in the long term. She added that these cuts could reduce the strength of U.S. agencies during times of instability.
“Some of the cuts in places related to global public health or USAID, where the U.S. is ceding soft power, and that might haunt us geopolitically later,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie emphasized the difficulty of the adjustment period that students and other federal workers must endure amid budget cuts across agencies throughout the federal government.
“People are going to adjust to the new normal,” Gillespie said. “That adjustment is possibly going to be painful, and people should be prepared for that.”
— Contact Siya Kumar at siya.kumar2@emory.edu
Continued from Page 1
cially given her platform for the position, which she said would prioritize bringing clubs into the Finance Committee’s decision-making process. She added that she had been training for the position for a year and felt qualified to assume the responsibility of vice president of finance for the 59th SGA.
Outgoing College Council Assistant Vice President of Audits Elijah Robuck (26C), who Martinez and Grotjan nominated to serve as SGA’s chief of staff, also shared concerns that College Council had with Malvin and the 58th SGA’s Vice President of Finance Michael Cao (23Ox, 25C).
“The only reason the College Council was informed of those finance code changes was because we had a meeting with Michael and Jess where initially Michael and Jess refused to share those changes with us, and we had to repeatedly ask them over and over,” Robuck said.
Robuck added that he was concerned about some students’ complaints of Cao and Malvin.
“Some boards from students of color and students of marginalized identities that were a little uncomfortable with getting active with them,” Robuck said.
Outgoing College Council Vice President of Finance Ben Damon (23Ox, 25C) said there was a lack of transparency regarding information with Malvin and Cao.
“I’ve been asking for many months now to have a folder where you see all the past supplemental budgets that SGA passes,” Damon said. “As the College Council Vice President of Finance, I have voting responsibility on all the budgets that you guys
passed.”
Co-Vice President of OxfordAtlanta Relations Addie Travis (24Ox, 26C), who introduced herself as Grotjan’s friend, shared her concerns over potential bias from Grotjan in the selection process.
“I’ve heard some of the negative things that she said,” Travis said. “I also do have some screenshots I have that are very concerning.”
Travis then left the room and declined to comment further or share the alleged screenshots with the Wheel. Grotjan wrote that she did not know what screenshots or conversations Travis was referring to.
After Travis’ remarks, Third-Year College Council Legislator and SGA Ranking Member Sohan Bellam (26C) requested that SGA move to a closed session, which the legislature voted for.
Martinez expressed dissatisfac -
tion with the events of the 59th SGA’s inauguration and assured community members that this will never happen again under his leadership in an email to the Wheel.
“I am extremely disappointed in the events of Monday night,” Martinez wrote. “What was supposed to be a celebration and welcoming of the 59th SGA was turned into a night of harm, deep emotional hurt, and confusion.” Grotjan echoed Martinez’s sentiments, writing that she hopes to ensure that future dialogue will be “respectful and productive.”
“I am deeply disheartened at the events of last night and I wish that we were made aware of the issues surrounding our appointments and potential bias earlier,” Grotjan said.
— Contact Aarush Kumar at aarush.kumar@emory.edu
College Council Pathway Committee begins initiative to help students network
By PooJa Sanghvi Contributing Writer
Inspired by the importance of professional networking for college students, the College Council’s Pathways Committee is launching a Student Involvement in Professional Success (SIPS) event. The event mirrors KEGS, the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Council’s premier networking series for BBA students. The Pathways Committee is inviting Emory College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS) students and faculty to connect outside the classroom for the first installation of SIPS on April 24.
According to the College Council Third-Year Legislator and Pathways Committee Chair Ayush Kothari (26C), the event aims to create an environment where students can build connections in a more casual setting while fostering community between faculty and students.
Kothari said the event will expand students’ mindsets on traditional career pathways and help them find professors and alumni who can support them on their professional journey.
Faculty and administrators representing various ECAS departments will be invited to SIPS to engage with students, according to Kothari. He added that the event will be open to all students in ECAS.
Kothari developed SIPS after see-
ing similar networking events at the Goizueta Business School. He said that the Pathways Committee has been planning the event for the past two semesters and hopes to challenge students’ view of networking as a daunting process.
“One of the primary motivations for this event was understanding that oftentimes students feel that networking is very complex and it’s very rigid,” Kothari said. “Sometimes they have difficulty engaging in these spaces.”
Kothari said that bringing professors and students together could help students build upon their professional goals.
“By providing a more informal opportunity to speak with professors outside of classroom or office hour settings, speaking with their peers and getting conversations going, we can really help broaden perspectives and help students find different career opportunities and paths that they hadn’t previously considered,” Kothari said.
College Council Oxford Legislator Dantrell Cheng (24Ox, 26C) explained that the Pathways Committee is a liaison between students and the Pathways Center, helping organize the new event series. The Pathways Center focuses on career-driven resources, providing students connections to alumni and faculty and aiding in undergraduate research, scholarships and advising.
College Council Fourth-Year
Legislator Aanya Sethi (23Ox, 25C) said the committee is meeting with the Pathways Center weekly to plan the event and to discuss logistics. Still, Kothari said the committee is maintaining some control over the direction of the event.
“The Pathways Center has taken an operational lead on this, but they have given us a lot of flexibility on how we program the event,” Kothari said. “Our focus is a lot more on how are students engaging in this space.”
In order to help expand students’ views of various careers, College Council First-Year Legislator Aidan Park (28C) said that the Committee is interested in featuring professors whose resumes diverge from traditional career paths. For example, he mentioned Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Chemistry Dennis Liotta, whose work includes 18 U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved antiviral therapeutics and over 100 patents.
“We’re thinking of inviting Dr. Liotta,” Park said. “Formally, Chemistry would fall under pre-med, but to diverge along that straight premed pathway, we’re showing pharmaceutical drug development, something that isn’t necessarily just an MD career pathway.”
Kothari said that he hopes the event will build community and support students who find the college large and challenging for making connections. The opportunity would allow students to meet a diverse group of faculty members.
“Ultimately, we want all faculty within the College to help promote this event and really generate student excitement, something that can help bring a greater sense of community,” Kothari said.
College Council President-Elect Vlad Senenko (27C) said he hopes College Council and the Pathways Committee will work to hold this event frequently. In order to make this happen, Kothari said the Pathways Committee is encouraging as many College Council members as possible to get involved with SIPS.
“It’s definitely going to be something that we’d like to carry on as a College Council legacy in a sense, and make a tradition perhaps every year or every semester,” Senenko said.
Park said that some of the previous partnerships between Emory University and Atlanta organizations have faded in engagement and resources, and that he hopes to revitalize them in the future. He hopes to find institutions in and around Atlanta that will support the efforts to continue creating programs and events through the Pathways Center to increase community and cater to student interest.
“I want to, along with [Career and Professional Development] Pathways, just be able to create these programs that existed before for college students and a lot of the organizations outside of Emory,” Park said. “The focus for me, that I envision, is building on the
resources that we may have lost and just creating new areas where students can engage that they currently don’t have.”
Senenko said that through hosting events like SIPS, College Council can fulfill its mission of supporting and directly engaging ECAS students.
“We’ll be continuing on into next year, so that way we’ll have some continuity in terms of the people involved in the planning,” Kothari said. “Having some of that experience with this first run of the event can help bring better perspectives as planning comes on for the next academic year.”
— Contact Pooja Sanghvi at pooja.sanghvi@emory.edu
CourtEsy oF WikimEdia Commons/sEan spiCEr
U.S. President Donald Trump has directed various funding cuts for departments in the U.S. federal government, impacting internship opportunities for many Emory
CourtEsy oF ZoE Grotjan
Student Government Association President Tyler Martinez and Executive Vice President Zoe Grotjan discussed their choice of executive cabinet appointees after their inaugural meeting.
CourtEsy oF vladyslav sEnEko College Council President Vlad Seneko (27C) will oversee Student Involvement in Professional Success.
Emory political science professors reflect on Trump's second term
By JacK meSSicK and Tori mooney Contributing Writers
In just 72 days, U.S. President Donald Trump has set the record for the most executive orders signed in a president’s first 100 days. Amid these changes to the federal government, over 50 Emory University community members gathered in the Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies Building on April 1 for a panel of five Emory political science professors discussing Trump’s second term.
The Emory Department of Political Science, led by Department Chair and Professor of Political Science Michael Rich, organized the event.
This event is the first of a twopart panel entitled “Trump 2.0: Norms, Anomalies and the Future of American Democracy.” The panelists covered issues related to domestic policy and American political institutions. Associate Professor of Political Science Alexander Bolton, Professor of Political Science and Quantitative Theory and Methods John Patty, Professor of Political Science Jeffrey Staton and Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science and Director of Experiential Learning Matthew Baker joined Rich in the panel discussions.
The professors focused on the impacts of federal spending and tax cuts, precedents for Trump’s executive actions and limitations to his executive power. The next panel, “America and the World,” will be on April 8 at
4 p.m., focusing on this administration’s effect on foreign affairs.
Each panel member gave a 10-minute presentation about policy changes within the Trump administration. Assistant Professor of Political Science Kiela Crabtree moderated the event, which concluded with a 30-minute Q-and-A session with audience members’ questions.
Baker, a former public defender, focused his presentation on the role of courts and their injunctive power to block executive branch actions.
Injunctive power refers to the ability of courts to stop specific political actions.
“Any judge can issue an injunction that's binding on all courts, and then, as we know for the literature, that presidents also pick judges for this reason,” Baker said. “They want them to implement their preferred policies.”
The courts have used their injunctive power more during the first two months of Trump’s second term than in the entire term of some administrations. The injunctions have halted several orders, including an order to freeze broad swaths of federal funding.
Some panelists focused on the role of the Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, which have enabled the Trump administra tion to expand its executive power without legislative checks. Rich referenced the lack of interference from Congress on Trump’s orders, such as the reduction in funding for the National Institutes of Health.
Community members speak on public health
Continued from Page 1
Elijah Brawner (26T) said that although the protest may not have a large impact on policy, he hopes employees leaving work see the solidarity and know they are supported. He also said the work of the CDC is important to not only the world at large but even his own family.
“I have immunocompromised family,” Brawner said. “I have family with rare illnesses. And so if it weren’t for the CDC, I might not have as much family as I do.”
Barbara Masterson, who came to the event to protest the recent firings, said the purpose of the protest was to support the mission of the CDC and its employees. Masterson said despite political differences, historically public health has been a bipartisan issue, until now. The protestors stood until 5:30 p.m. as cars honked to show sup-
port as they drove by.
Emory receives nearly $500 million annually from the federal agency. The University has started experiencing financial consequences, such as a recent hiring freeze, reductions in operating expenditures and other cuts.
Staton explained the relationship between threats toward judges and policymakers signals weak democracy and the potential for regime collapse.
“It's basically that [the judiciary’s] primary function in terms of stabilizing democratic regimes, is incentivizing people in power to chill out, to slow down, to be prudent, incentivizing people out of power who can mobilize people onto the streets with weapons, to accept short term losses,” Staton said.
“The executive branch is even more empowered, in part because Congress is not serving as much of a check on that branch as much,” Baker said.
Jordan Antwi (23Ox, 25C) attended the panel and said that despite the discussion of current political instability, the panel also emphasized the importance of staying focused during periods of uncertainty.
“Even though it’s a very trying time, and it can draw our attention in several different directions, I think my main takeaway from the event
Emory University Department of Political Science Professors reflect on U.S. President Donald Trump's recent policy actions.
are more acquainted with all of these organizations and the different processes also understand its uncertainty, and we have to wait for it to play out,” Sosa Llanos said. “It’s only until then that we can make more rash judgments or come to conclusions.”
Yichi Zhang (22Ox, 24C) said people feel less comfortable discussing sensitive political topics since Trump took office.
“People prefer to not discuss those topics these days, even as permanent
ments to continue to support the student body in light of recent changes.
“Whatever [colleges and universities] can do in order to help the students is probably the best course of action,” Sosa Llanos said.
Antwi said hosting the panels is an important step in promoting discourse on campus and keeping students informed on political changes.
“They needs to hold more events like this,” Antwi said. “I would say holding more events like the one that tori moonEy/ContributinG
HOLY WEEK & EASTER AT GLENN
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“We’re here to support the employees but even more so to support the institution, and the work of the institution and the health of America,” Masterson said.
— Contact Siya Kumar at siya.kumar2@emory.edu and Jacob Muscolino at jake.muscolino@emory.edu
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Editors-in-Chief Ellie Fivas and Spencer Friedland ellie.fivas@emory.edu spencer.friedland@emory.edu
Founded in 1919, The Emory Wheel is the financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University in Atlanta. The Wheel is a member publication of Media Council, Emory’s organization of student publications. The Wheel reserves the rights to all content as it appears in these pages, and permission to reproduce material must be granted by the editor-in-chief.
The statements and opinions expressed in the Wheel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Wheel Editorial Board or of Emory University, its faculty, staff or administration.
The Wheel is also available online at www.emorywheel.com.
8:30am, Little Chapel 11am, Sanctuary
Sunday, April 20 7:15am Sunrise Service, Lawn 9:30am Brunch, Fellowship Hall 11am Sanctuary Palm Sunday April 14
Good Friday April 18 6:30pm, Organ Prelude 7pm, Sanctuary Maundy Thursday April 17 7pm, Fellowship Hall
CourtEsy oF ElliE Fivas/thE Emory WhEEl Community members stand with signs outside the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to boost morale.
The Emory Wheel Opinion
EDITORIAL
Refuse Trump’s gag order, stand up for speech at Emory
In a March 6 address to Congress, U.S. President Donald Trump made a bold assertion: “I have stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America.” However, this boast immediately proved to be false. In the weeks following the speech, the Trump administration has detained at least nine students who legally reside in the United States for exercising their right to protest and speak freely. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said that the State Department revoked the visas of at least 300 international students as of late March, indicating that the arrests of activists like Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil mark only the beginning of the administration’s crusade against free speech.
These deportation attempts signal an ominous trend. The Trump administration is cracking down on demonstrations that conflict with its proIsrael foreign policy agenda, especially those sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
While the U.S. Constitution protects free speech, the Trump administration’s interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 grants the federal government the power to revoke visas and deport individuals based on vague allegations of foreign policy or national security concerns.
These detentions reveal Trump’s blatant hypocrisy and represent a dangerous turn toward authoritarianism, treating those who express an opinion contrary to his agenda as political enemies whose rights are expendable. At Emory University, students cannot be afraid to exercise our rights to speak out against Trump’s politics of subjugation.
As Emory students, we are a part of an institution that claims to foster “an environment where open expression of ideas is valued, promoted, and encouraged.” However, we stand face-
to-face with a government that undermines its self-professed democratic principles and threatens universities’ status as institutions of free discourse and debate. On our campus, these national debates have become increasingly relevant.
Student organizers exploded in outrage after an alleged screenshot on Emory Students for Socialism’s Instagram displayed Chabad at Emory Executive Director and Rabbi Zalman Lipskier encouraging students to report their peers to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for “support of terrorist organizations.”
Jewish students across the country have also voiced fears about the increasingly violent nature of campus protests since last April. Some of these protests have led to acts of vandalism, property destruction and intimidation of Jewish students. At Columbia University (N.Y.), protesters reportedly vandalized campus property and disrupted classes, raising safety concerns.
While ensuring the safety of all students on campus is an understandable priority, exploiting the Trump administration’s targeted deportations by reporting student activists to ICE is not only irresponsible, but vindictive. Whether the post was authentic or not, Lipskier’s position as a leader requires him to quell inflammatory action within Emory’s community. By not publicly addressing the allegations, Lipskier is only further isolating international students who are already facing increased scrutiny and dehumanization on campus.
ICE has a pattern of ignoring due process and interrogating detainees in inhumane conditions, wrought with medical neglect, punitive solitary confinement and discriminatory treatment. Individuals found guilty of criminal charges should be punished
through the legal system, not handed over to a government agency that disregards their Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel.
Moreover, ICE is actively attempting to deport individuals who have not been convicted of any crime, including Tufts University (Mass.) graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk.
Ozturk, originally from Turkey, held a valid F-1 student visa before the federal government revoked it. On March 25, plainclothes officers detained Ozturk as she was heading out to meet her friends for Iftar, the evening meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan. ICE flew her to a detention center in Louisiana, 1,000 miles from her home, without notifying her lawyer.
In a statement posted on X, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin alleged that Ozturk was involved in terrorist activities with Hamas, even though she did not provide evidence or specify what those activities entailed.
“A visa is a privilege, not a right,” McLaughlin said.“Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated.”
McLaughlin’s statement demonstrates how the justifications for these deportations are often vague,
unsubstantiated and ultimately, undemocratic.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has joined Ozturk’s legal team, believes that her arrest is the result of an opinion piece she wrote for The Tufts Daily in March 2024.
In the article, Ozturk and her coauthors condemn the Tufts administration’s inadequate response to the resolutions the Tufts student government passed, which included a call for Tufts to “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide” and disclose and divest the school’s investments from companies tied to Israel.
If the ACLU’s claim proves true, then Ozturk was criminalized merely for expressing her opinion. Civil liberties organizations argue that, based on historical precedent, that the First Amendment protects non-citizens. Ozturk’s article clearly falls under freedom of the press protections.
However, to the Trump administration, her actions violwwate Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, a rarely used law which holds that an individual can be considered “deportable” if their actions seriously endanger U.S. national security. Equating the criticism of American governmental interests with criminality sets a dangerous limit on the extent of free speech.
If a student like Ozturk, whose only crime appears to be criticizing her university and America’s political agenda, can be subjected to deportation, then any international student who tangentially engages in so-called anti-American activities could be targeted. From encouraging others to attend a demonstration to sharing a post with pro-Palestine views, all of these could be considered deportable offenses on such undefined grounds.
Non-citizens everywhere, including international students at Emory, are at risk. As members of The Emory Wheel’s Editorial Board, we acknowledge that free expression is the foundation of our work. We have outwardly expressed grievances toward the authoritarianism of the Trump administration throughout our tenure and now decide to speak out against his purposeful erasure of the diversity within American thought.
The discourse surrounding freedom of speech is especially relevant as protests continue to unfold on Emory’s campus and throughout the Atlanta area. Now more than ever, Emory students must stand in solidarity with those facing unjust detentions or deportations by refusing to conform our opinions to neutrality.
The legacy of robust student expression on campuses must not bend the knee to the fear of governmental repercussions. We must challenge policies that undermine free speech and ensure our University upholds its commitment to open expression. Those who are citizens should wield their privilege and advocate for their peers, even if the administration does not directly affect them. It is time to loudly protest for our right to the freedom of speech — before our community becomes another casualty of Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
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Disha Kumar Senior Copy Editor
Malia Yap Copy Editor Aimee Zhang Copy Editor
The above editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s Editorial Board. The Editorial Board is composed of Editor Carly Aikens, Mira Krichavsky, Hunter Buchheit, Allie Guo, Carson Kindred, Justin Leach, Eliana Liporace, Niki Rajani, Ilka Tona and Crystal Zhang.
Ha-tien nguyen/Senior Staff illuStrator
Politics endanger America’s classrooms
By niki raJani staff Writer
Restrictions in education are surging across the United States, with legislators and school boards targeting content deemed controversial. This wave of censorship mirrors changes seen in institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, where leadership has revised exhibits to align with Trumpian political narratives regarding American history. Beyond institutional targeting, affronts on literature have swelled. In 2023 alone, the American Library Association reported a 92% increase in books targeted for censorship compared to the prior year, disproportionately challenging works on race, gender and LGBTQ+ identity. Bans like these, primarily enacted in public schools, not only target marginalized communities but also threaten academic freedom for all public school students and distort education by filtering content through a political lens.
Notably, the Florida Department of Education banned the Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology course in 2023. The College Board, which manages and distributes AP curricula, attributed the state of Florida’s decision to the course’s content on sexual orientation and gender identity, which they deemed non-compliant with state law. Similarly, Florida banned AP African American Studies, erasing critical historical narratives and sending a clear message of exclusion to students of color. These moves disrupt thousands of students’ academic plans and impede the quality of education for future Floridians, contributing to a broader national trend of political interference in education.
Political agendas are also driving the increases in book bans, including those in Texas and South Carolina. This assault on education must end to protect the integrity of learning today and safeguard the minds that will shape America’s future.
Education should expand knowledge, not restrict it. Yet, politically and racially motivated course bans are doing just that. Blocking AP African American Studies — which is facing criticism and restrictions in some states for addressing systemic racism and Black history — denies students the opportunity to engage with the full scope of American history and culture. Without this foundational understanding, students enter college and society without essential critical thinking skills and a grasp of complex social dynamics. These restrictions do not just narrow academic exploration — they undermine the development of informed, empathetic citizens.
Beyond statewide bans on AP courses, federal authority over education policy has grown more influen-
tial in shaping academic curricula.
In February, the U.S. Department of Education expanded the application of Title VI to include protections against anti-white discrimination. Title VI was originally established as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to combat race-based discrimination against historically marginalized groups. This shift to protect against anti-white discrimination reframes Title VI’s intent and risks undermining efforts to address systemic racism in education. By positioning discussions of white grievance on equal footing with systemic racial inequities, the federal government could discourage professors from teaching students about the realities of racism in the United States, contributing to historical erasure.
No matter one’s political affiliation, providing students with a balanced curriculum that encourages critical thinking and open discussion should be a common ideal.
Educators, students and administrators are right to worry about consequences for engaging with race and gender in schools and colleges — with President Donald Trump’s new federal actions, educational content is at risk. Trump’s administration denied 11 book ban complaints in January that local school districts filed before Trump took office, meaning the federal government chose not to support efforts by schools to remove certain books from classrooms or libraries — often due to concerns about content related to race, gender, or sexuality. This shift in national leadership is further politicizing education policy enforcement, compromising the integrity of academic standards and undermining efforts to provide an unbiased, inclusive education.
Supporters of the Trump administration’s policies claim decentralization empowers local communities, but civil rights organizations and education advocates argue that these measures disproportionately harm marginalized groups. For instance, in Texas, a recent ban of 801 books, many with LGBTQ+ and racial justice themes, has restricted access to essential perspectives in the classroom. Through book bans and education restrictions, educational opportunity is inequitably anchored to geographic locations with less censorship rather than maintaining a shared national standard. These politically driven policies erode intellectual freedom, deepening divisions in U.S. education
and compromising its credibility.
Censorship turns classrooms into political battlegrounds where fear replaces inquiry and debate, ultimately undermining the core purpose of education. Subjects that should inherently evoke critical thinking are increasingly restricted because they broach subjects such as mental health, systemic inequality and LGBTQ+ identities.
In spaces where difficult conversations should foster growth, many students instead worry about judgment or retaliation for expressing their perspectives. Reflecting on my experience with The Emory Wheel’s Editorial Board, I’ve seen how addressing uncomfortable topics can lead to deeper understanding and collective problem-solving. When dialogue is stifled, we lose the opportunity to challenge biases, consider new viewpoints and grow both intellectually and emotionally. Without these conversations, we fail to equip students with the tools to navigate a diverse and complex world.
The effects of restrictive educational policies have worked their way upstream into higher education. Emory University is among the nation’s finest institutions for its programs in psychology and neuroscience. A well-rounded high school education equips students with the critical thinking skills essential for research and discussion-based learning at Emory.
In contrast, censoring topics or framing them through a political lens can create knowledge gaps and biases that hinder objective analysis. Research from the National Association of Scholars shows students with a more comprehensive high school education are better prepared for college work. Consequently, high school students facing curricular restrictions will struggle to adapt to higher-level analysis required in higher education.
Students are not just passive victims of education censorship — they are resisting. All across the country, students have protested and affirmed their right to an uncensored education, and it is apparent that the battle for intellectual freedom does not end at the schoolhouse door.
Emory students need be no exception. As students at a university committed to academic excellence and civic engagement, we have a responsibility to act — be it protest, advocacy or lobbying lawmakers. Administrators will not win the struggle for academic freedom alone; it requires courage from students who will not accept a censored education.
While we must oppose the politicization of education and defend academic freedom, we must also acknowledge that education policy embodies ideological fault lines — policymakers, by definition, are politicians. A commitment to education should go beyond partisan interests.
No matter one’s political affiliation, providing students with a balanced curriculum that encourages critical thinking and open discussion should be a common ideal. If policymakers shape educational policy based on ideologically filtered views, Emory students must ensure that the university acts as a check, protecting intellectual growth and preserving access to a wide range of perspectives.
— Contact Niki Rajani at niki.rajani@emory.edu
Dear Doolino, it’s spring — point me to green!
By DooLino Campus Overlord
Dear Doolino,
I am simply broke after blowing all of my father’s – I mean, all of my money on campus shenanigans (and a quick spring break trip to the Maldives). To make matters worse, my dad is following in Emory University’s footsteps after the new campus budget cuts by cutting off my allowance! How will I spend thousands of dollars per month on Ubers to Maggie’s Neighborhood Bar, Tongue and Groove and the Jimmy John’s down the street? Oh, Doolino, what do I do?
From, Broke Beau
Dear Broke Beau,
Upon reflecting on your troubles, my mind is drawn to the word “class” — it is a funny word, isn’t it? Presumably, you attend classes here at Emory. Additionally, you seem to be lacking a bit of class regarding social skills. If you had any, you would be presenting worthy issues to Emory’s oldest and most majestic skeletal mascot, Doolino. Most importantly, however, you seem to be woefully unaware of the class divisions that plague this wretched Earth and, by extension, your beloved University. I am a busy skeleton, Beau. I do not have time to educate you on the importance of practical spending — you, Goizueta Business School nepotism baby who never had to take his own laundry out of the dryer before coming to college. In hell, our best torturers regularly add billionaires to the nightly stew, making it only marginally tastier than the unidentifiable slop served at the Dobbs Common Table (DCT). Forgive me, then, if I am less than sympathetic toward your financial woes. Despite the fact that your problems are laughingly asinine, I will try my best to answer your pleas. It has been a few weeks since spring break, and while both slackers and overachievers just barely survived midterms, all students will soon be suffering through the academic slog of final exams and papers once more. Therefore, I will pity you, Beau. By sharing your pathetic problems with the world, I will provide the more intelligent students among us with some slight entertainment.
Beau, I know that this is hard. How will you afford an Uber to Emory Village? Are you truly expected to slum it like the common folk on campus and walk five whole minutes to CVS? Such an action is surely entirely and horrifically unheard of. While I am sure you are used to arriving at Dave’s Cosmic Subs with the air of a king and the limousine to prove it, those days may be behind you. Now, you may simply have to brush the dust off your running shoes, stretch out those tight hamstrings of yours and begin the long trek from your cushy Raoul Hall dormitory to the bustling streets of Emory
Village. Look on the bright side: All the unexpected cardio from walking everywhere may transform you into an utter machine, flooded with potential mates. Perhaps this was your father’s plan all along — far from being concerned about your spending habits, he may have merely been disappointed in, for lack of a better phrase, your resounding lack of game. Regardless of his reasoning, your father clearly wants you to lace up those shoes and take to the streets.
If participating in physical exertion is too painful a punishment to bear, consider another alternative: Donate your body to science. For those unaware, Emory is an R1 research university, meaning that the institution focuses a very high amount of funding toward research and doctoral studies. As such, there are no shortages of scientific studies available for you to donate your body and mind to — at least until the federal government shuts down funding for body farms. Consider participating in a psychology study. Perhaps the researchers will hypnotize you into being more responsible with your money! The more you subject yourself to being poked and prodded for experimentation, the quicker your financial situation will be remedied. However, you may find it easier to resign yourself to eating at the DCT every night and give up. It seems, my friend, that your daddy dearest has you in check, and you simply have no white knights left to defend yourself with. If you do not have the intelligence to understand my highly sophisticated chess references, let me phrase my response in a way you can understand: You’re out of luck.
I am aware that this advice may sound unconventional coming from me. Is Doolino, Emory incarnate, undead master of the ages, truly giving in without a fight? While I am a paragon of inimitable power, immovable strength, boundless wisdom and particularly snazzy fashion, I am also something even better: financially responsible. Spending money and defying parental figures can be thrilling, but I am no idiot. You are clearly not paying for your tuition, and judging by your use of syntax, you are no Robert W. Woodruff Scholar. It seems you must holster your misgivings and resign yourself to an Instagram post to chronicle your expensive Emory ventures of the past. You could caption your post with something witty and original, such as “Can’t wait to make more m(Emory)s this semester!” If you are desperate, pool your remaining Dooley Dollars at the Eagle Emporium and wow your father with a smorgasbord of ramen, ice cream pints and stale turkey kaiser sandwiches — he may yet take pity on you. Now, if you will excuse me, I am returning to my slumber which you so rudely interrupted with your asinine blathering of a question. I might purchase a mattress topper before I do so because Emory-provided coffins are impossible to sleep in. Ah, it is nice having money to spare, isn’t it? I suppose you would not know. Next time, consider conserving money. If you are itching for a fun weekend getaway, perhaps you should ask a Dobbs Hall resident if you could camp out underneath their bed — I am sure the roaches would love your company. Enjoy your sad, free DCT chicken patties, Beau. And always remember: Doolino knows best.
—
Contact Doolino six feet under the Quadrangle
ginna neBrig/staff illustrator
Courtesy of John r a Mspott/WikiMedia CoMMons
Protestors against book bans hold signs in Atlanta in 2022.
Trump’s foreign aid freeze is a death sentence for Sudan
By yasMeen Mannan ContriButing Writer
A pivotal moment in Sudan’s ongoing civil war unfolded on March 21 as the Sudanese military seized back control of the presidential palace and captured most of Khartoum, Sudan’s capital city. This marked a dramatic shift in the conflict as civilians witnessed the overthrow of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war, which has raged between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023, has left more than 30.4 million people in dire need of humanitarian support, and now, with the country thrown into further turmoil, more civilians will likely suffer.
Fueled in part by President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, this insurrection mirrors a larger trend of instability on the global stage. In its first two months, the Trump administration already caused the upheaval of deep-seated political, social and economic norms in the United States. From lofty proposals for the acquisition of Greenland to mass deportations of migrant communities, his policies have set the nation on an unprecedented course. Rooted in the idea of protecting and prioritizing American interests, the platform seeks to upset decades of a system in which others “shamelessly exploit” American altruism.
Included in his agenda is the freezing of billions of dollars of foreign aid and humanitarian assistance programs for 90 days, which began on Jan. 20. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
is the largest recipient of these funds, receiving nearly $40 billion annually before the freeze, and the impact of Trump’s new policy has been catastrophic. Millions of people around the world have been cut off from essential aid, such as healthcare and vaccination programs, which includes those severely impacted by the conflict in Sudan.
Among the program cuts are disease treatments for malaria and HIV/ AIDS, as well as disease surveillance and health supply chain systems. As a result, the unchecked spread of diseases like avian influenza, Ebola and monkeypox is expected to surge. With additional plans to terminate nearly $2.6 billion funding of Gavi, a critical vaccination program for children in developing countries, Trump’s policies pose a threat to the health of millions of global citizens.
Ending U.S. international aid will be disastrous for global public health efforts, endangering the availability of vital medical services and food programs for vulnerable populations across the world. Without this aid and these services, hundreds of thousands of people could die. Immediate action is critical — Emory University stu-
dents must support campus education initiatives about the crisis, amplify fundraising campaigns and pressure elected officials to demand the continuation of aid to Sudan. Due to political tensions in Sudan and the restriction of direct government-to-government assistance, USAID was paramount in channeling American foreign aid into life-saving development programs.
Now, organizations in Nyala, Sudan’s second-largest city, have been forced to stop providing water to displaced people. In Khartoum, programs that provide basic healthcare, food and sexual and reproductive health supplies have been completely shut down. As long as the future of funding remains entangled with present legal disputes, vulnerable populations in crisis-impacted areas like Gaza, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan will continue to bear the brunt of prolonged uncertainty and bureaucratic deadlock.
As Emory students — many of whom are aspiring to be healthcare professionals, global health researchers and policy advocates — we cannot ignore the role that Trump’s foreign policy plays in exacerbating the effects of the war on Sudanese civilians. Much
CLOSE TO CAMPUS UPGRADED APARTMENTS
of the advocacy work by students on our campus aims to advance health equity and humanitarian relief, even as Trump’s policy decisions continue to undermine these very efforts abroad.
To combat the realities of this civil war on Emory’s own campus, Emory for Sudan was founded in February 2024. Last April, the campus organization launched a week-long campaign titled “Eyes on Sudan Week” that focused on education, awareness and fundraising for the roughly 8 million people that the Sudanese civil war displaced at the time. Events like these are great at increasing awareness about Sudan, but Emory, as a community that prides itself on public health advocacy and social justice, cannot rely on the efforts of a few campus organizations to sustain its collective advocacy as the Trump administration freezes foreign aid.
We must start on an individual basis — educating ourselves, friends and family about the current crisis in Sudan and fervently working to stand in the face of misinformation that floods our social media pages and morning headlines. Blindly consuming unilateral narratives, such as sensationalist reporting of Western protagonism in regional diplomatic initiatives and erasing marginalized Sudanese voices is harmful in promoting propagandized media efforts. We should actively seek out diverse sources of news from experienced journalists on the ground in Sudan, such as Zainab Mohammed Salih and Mohammed Alamin, amplify the voices of Sudanese activists and scholars and assess reports from varying politi cal angles and regions of the world.
We have the responsibility to hold the U.S. government accountable for its actions; additionally, we must end the selfish narrative that a crisis abroad is a crisis unconnected to us.
Emory students are privileged to choose from a number of educational paths that can prepare us for a lifetime of uplifting humanitarian efforts, including law, global health, international studies and more. For the ambitious pre-health students who dream of curing illnesses or solving the most pressing public health challenges, without advocating for Sudan today, it is difficult to envision how students can truly excel as the healthcare professionals of tomorrow in a field that demands global awareness and compassion for the world’s most vulnerable populations.
It is our duty to take advantage of these relevant resources and become professionals that advocate for and achieve tangible change in tackling the misallocation of funding and advancing humanitarian efforts in the United States and abroad.
Engaging with organizations like Emory for Sudan is an optimal start for students to engage in discourse with other Sudanese activists in the Atlanta area. But, as the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deteriorate, we must prioritize our efforts on pressuring lawmakers and international organizations to restore foreign aid. This will ensure the continuation of programs essential for a nation whose suffering Western geopolitical concerns have overshadowed.
Yasmeen Mannan at ymannan@emory.edu
By Alex Gerson
D eputy e D itor
Outside of Convocation Hall, Arianna Ophir (25C) began shading in a chalk drawing of Charlie Brown and Snoopy on a quiet March morning. Ophir, commonly known by her Instagram handle, everybodychalks, noted that the only thing preventing “perfect” chalking weather was the 60-degree weather that morning — a few degrees too cold for her.
As Ophir chalked, a couple was walking their dog through Emory University’s campus and stopped to admire the half-finished sketch of Snoopy.
After a few minutes of small talk, the woman realized that Ophir does these kinds of chalkings around campus often — and that she has seen her work countless times before.
“You’re famous!” the woman said.
The Emory Wheel Arts Life
These kinds of interactions happen often for Ophir. However, she insists she does not chalk for campus celebrity status, as evidenced by her Instagram anonymity. Ophir draws to remain connected to her craft amid college chaos — while she has always loved art, she feared her creative passions would be pushed aside in college as an Anthropology and Human Biology major.
“When I got to college, I didn’t think I would have time to be creative — especially as I was taking those harder core, preliminary STEM courses,” Ophir said. “Once I matriculated through those and finally did have time, it was the best thing ever. That’s when I really got my start with this.”
Ophir started the Everybody Chalks project and its subsequent social media account to spread joy throughout the Emory ecosystem in her free time.
“This is something that I really like to do,” Ophir said. “If it’s something that can make people’s day nic -
er in any way, it’s a nice thing to do.”
While Ophir identifies as an artist, she was reluctant to study the subject as she feared intellectualizing her art would lead to resentment. As such, she turned to the casual and creative medium of chalking, which reminds her of being a child. To Ophir, the act of chalking is less serious and has lower stakes than creating more permanent art.
“I just like [chalking] the most because you can play and it’s forgiving — you can erase,” Ophir said. “Because when you have a canvas, it feels more official. Right now, I feel like a child, like a kid. It doesn’t matter.”
Despite the intricacies of her final products, Ophir completed this Charlie Brown and Snoopy design in just over an hour and with little preparation.
“All I know is I work from the top to the bottom and other than that, there’s not really a set way of going about things,” Ophir said. “I really like the freedom that comes with it.”
Since creating Everybody Chalks,
Ophir has created over 30 little masterpieces around Emory’s campus. These chalkings usually depict children’s cartoon characters, such as Curious George, Spongebob and Garfield. The drawings are always accompanied by a caption, usually song lyrics from Ophir’s favorite artists, like Simon & Garfunkel or Elton John.
Ophir’s drawing from March 22 was reminiscent of the first drawing she posted on her Everybody Chalks Instagram, with both art pieces featuring Charlie Brown on the concrete outside of Convocation Hall.
With a vibrant pink background and portraits of Charlie Brown and Linus, the first post’s caption reads, “Caring is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do.”
While the Charlie Brown cast has appeared multiple times in her work, Ophir is inspired by a variety of cartoon characters.
“Something that’s really important to Ari is her love of cartoons,” Rachel Goldberg (25C), Ophir’s roommate, said. “Mixing her favorite cartoons in her childhood with these positive messages is something that’s really special to her.”
Alex Vasilakopoulos (25C), one of Ophir’s friends, thinks her chalkings’ youthful nature speaks to viewers. Engaging with Ophir’s art evokes memories of viewers’ childhoods, according to Vasilakopoulos.
“What I like about it the most is really just the idea of trying to embrace everyone’s inner child and really to bring back that childhood naivete,” said Vasilakopoulos. “Just because you’re an adult now, everyone was a child once, you still have that youth and that playfulness. And it really helps to remind everyone of that.”
While Ophir never intended to take over campus with her art or become an Emory celebrity, Goldberg said that watching her roommate’s chalkings gain notoriety has been a “magical experience.”
“When
you have a canvas, it feels more official. Right now, I feel like a child, like a kid. It doesn’t matter.”
— Ari Ophir, @everybodychalks
“When she first started it, she was talking to me and our other roommates about it and saying that it was mostly just a form of expression for her and a way for her to get that artistic fulfillment,” Goldberg said. “But it’s really turned into something that spreads positivity all over campus, which is so cool, and that’s something she hoped for, but not something she necessarily expected.”
Over the past decade, Emory community members have used chalk to engage in politics, even garnering national attention.
Throughout the last year Emory community members have used chalk as a means of political protest and expression on Emory’s campus, especially regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Yet, Ophir keeps her work apolitical.
“Chalk is a really unique form of expression in that you can literally
do anything you want, but it’s not gonna last forever,” Ophir said. “So, I don’t mind political chalkings. I just don’t want people to think it’s me. This is meant for everybody, regardless of political ideology.”
Ophir’s belief that her chalk drawings should be for everyone also motivates her to keep her Instagram account anonymous — she wants people to focus their attention on her art rather than herself.
“Chalk is a really unique form of expression in that you can literally do anything you want, but it’s not gonna last forever.”
— Ari Ophir, @everybodychalks
Although she knows people can walk by and find her chalking, she still believes in the sanctity of widespread anonymity.
“Removing myself from [the account] makes it more about what I’m doing as opposed to who I am,” Ophir said. “When I’m out here, it takes one or two hours.
The art stays out here for usually a couple days at least and it exists a lot longer than I exist.”
Despite her anonymity, people still reach out to Ophir to commission her for their organizations.
People across Emory have asked Ophir to create special chalk designs for them. Individuals have even requested designs for their romantic partners.
“I’ve gotten cool opportunities from it,” Ophir said. “People have asked me to design advertising for their businesses; people have asked me to illustrate their books.”
While Everybody Chalks is a solo venture, Ophir hopes Emory students will continue the project’s work after she graduates.
While she has not found anyone to pass the torch to yet, she believes that the childlike nature of chalking ensures that anyone can pick up the craft and help cultivate positivity on campus.
“I hope that I can find someone to take the reins and do it on campus,” Ophir said. “Maybe start ‘Emory Chalks.’”
After graduation, Ophir hopes to work as a cosmetic scientist, combining her passions for STEM and art. In New York City, where she is planning on moving, chalking on the ground is illegal. However, Ophir is not entirely discouraged.
“I’m going to chalk until I get in trouble,” she said.
As Ophir finished her chalking of Charlie Brown, she got up, collected her belongings and took a picture of her drawing before walking away. Despite the artist’s anonymity, the work remains a testament to the power of public art on campus, leaving little drops of optimism for all passersby to find.
—Contact Alex Gerson at alex.gerson@emory.edu
Want to hear more from Everybody Chalks? Listen to Ophir’s apperance on Clifton Culture!
ivana Chen/ visual eDitor Ophir adds the finishing touch to her Charlie Brown chalking outside of Convocation Hall.
ivana Chen/ visual eDitor
Lucy Dacus’ ‘Forever Is A Feeling’ offers tender moments, lacks impact
By mArthA CAroline Powell C ampus D esk
Although often photographed in a suit alongside her bandmates, Lucy Dacus is the soft side of the sharp songwriting group boygenius. The critically acclaimed group, composed of Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, won Best Alternative Music Album for their 2023 album “The Record.” While the trio shares a deep bond, each member has carved out their own solo career, cultivating signature sounds that transcend the group. Bridgers offers melancholic melodies, Baker is a rising folk star and Dacus embodies all things ethereal.
After years of speculation, Dacus confirmed her romantic relationship with Baker during a March 17 interview with The New Yorker. This flame burns loudly on Dacus’ third studio album, “Forever Is A Feeling,” released on March 28. “Forever Is A Feeling” centers on love and presents a more subdued sound than her previous work — with fewer intense guitar riffs — yet, the emotional depth of the record is undeniable.
Marking her transition from her previous label, Matador Records, to Geffen Records, a major label, “Forever Is A Feeling” is Dacus’ sweetest and most sentimental album, gently easing from the fiery intensity of her earlier works. This shift takes time to appreciate fully and requires multiple listens to process.
I will admit, I was initially nervous about diving into “Forever Is A Feeling,” especially after reading some negative reviews from outlets such as Pitchfork. After listening, I would say these reactions are
ALBUM REVIEW
‘Brighter
B y A meli A B ush a rts & l ife e D itor
merited. As a whole, the album did not meet the high expectations I had for Dacus’ intense, devotional songwriting.
Songs in “Forever Is A Feeling” lacked the familiar swells of emotion I usually associate with Dacus’ music, such as the ferocious “Night Shift” (2017). However, while the album feels different from her past work, it is not a negative change. There are still plenty of enjoyable moments — tracks like “Talk,” “For Keeps” and “Come Out” stand out.
“Ankles,” the album’s first single, captures the raw vulnerability of lust with lyrics like “What if we don’t touch? / What if we only talk / About what we want and cannot have?” The lyrics ask that instead of being physically close, the only connection between the two people in this relationship is talking about the desires they cannot fulfill. This song is about wanting something out of reach, creating a sense of frustration and emotional distance.
In tracks like “Talk,” a raw and sensitive exploration of an unraveling relationship, Dacus has some great poetic lyrics, like when she questions her lover about their deteriorating relationship: “Why can’t we talk anymore? / We used to talk for hours / Do I make you nervous or bored? / Or did I drink you to the last drop?” Dacus’ ability to articulate the unraveling of intimacy with such vulnerability and sharpness is a testament to her skills as a songwriter, transforming personal longing into universal emotions.
In “For Keeps,” Dacus warmly describes her lover: “If the Dеvil’s in the details / Then God is in the gap in your teeth / You are doing the Lord’s work / Every time you
smile at me.” In this track, she highlights how imperfections, like a gap between teeth, can be uniquely beautiful, even divine. Furthermore, Dacus imbues her lover’s smile with a sense of spirituality, implying that each small gesture of affection from her lover has a profound impact on her. It is a poetic way of saying that even the simplest, most authentic moments — like a smile — carry extraordinary weight in the context of love.
The third verse of the track “Come Out” showcases the lyricism we have come to expect from Dacus, and it is here that the depth of her affection for Baker truly shines. “I used to think that’d be the worst / To grow old and run out of words / Now I have seen some incredible things
/ I could never describe if I tried,” she sings. Dacus captures a poignant realization about love and connection, reflecting a sense of awe and gratitude for the experiences her and her partner share — moments too profound to put into words.
With “Lost Time,” Dacus takes listeners into her memories as she seeks fresh backdrops for her new relationship: “Not only stolen moments in abandoned halls / Quiet touch in elevators and bathroom stalls.” Yearning for something beyond the secrecy and temporality of past flings, Dacus searches for a place where lovers can share something open and enduring, not just confined to stolen moments. Reflecting on how fleeting connections often feel short-lived, this song is a bittersweet
meditation on the struggle between the longing for permanence and the allure of transient intimacy.
Dacus uses “Forever Is A Feeling” as a diary of her evolving relationship with Baker. However, while the pair’s emotional depth is undeniable, Dacus doesn’t provide enough narrative variety to carry the album forward.
While the introspective nature of the project is compelling, it leaves little room for the variety and narrative expansion that could help carry the album forward. Though I enjoy the album overall, it’s not my favorite of hers. It lacks the sharp lyrical bite and the vigorous guitar-driven energy that typically elevates her work and complements her storytelling.
“Forever Is A Feeling” marks a significant shift in Dacus’ musical journey, showcasing vulnerability in a more subdued, contemplative style. While the album offers some elegant moments, it also highlights artists’ challenging task of exploring new directions without losing the essence of what makes their earlier work so compelling.
Dacus’ focus on her relationship with Baker adds intimacy, but the album’s emotional arc feels too narrow, falling short of the monumental emotional impact of her previous albums “Historian” (2018) and “Home Video” (2021). Despite this, Dacus’ sincerity and artistry continue to shine, and “Forever Is A Feeling” serves as a thoughtful, if imperfect, exploration of love and the passage of time.
– Contact Martha Caroline Powell at martha.caroline.powell@emory. edu
Is this a black-and-white scene? / If so, then I’m in the gray one,” Grande sings.
has in the past — perhaps a product of her “Wicked” (2024) vocal training.
After a grueling divorce, Oscar nomination and a new relationship, it seemed pop-superstar Ariana Grande would be taking a break from music to focus on acting.
However, she defied expectations in releasing “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” the deluxe version of her 2024 album “eternal sunshine” on March 28. Along with the add-on music, “brighter days ahead,” a 26-minute short film, was also released.
The album presents a sunny future for Grande, one in which she is healed, or in the process of healing, after a breakup and a public witch hunt.
The “brighter days ahead” short film, inspired by the premise of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), centers on the idea of erasing old memories.
Featuring Grande’s music, both new and old, the film flips through real clips of Grande’s childhood and other scenes showing Grande getting lifted into darkness by a spaceship. This scene also serves as the deluxe’s cover art. The film highlights everything the deluxe album is about: passion, love and inner peace.
The deluxe album kicks off with “intro (end of the world) - extended,” but does not get better until “twilight zone.”
While “intro (end of the world)extended” is not a bad song by any means, it was lacking in extra spice and drama that is expected from an extended version of a song.
True to its name, “twilight zone” starts off with a sparkling, dazzling intro. Referencing the television series “The Twilight Zone” (1959-1964), the song encapsulates how it feels to be lingering between fiction and reality. “Stuck in the twilight zone /
While the song has some introspective lines, “twilight zone” mostly focuses on the other person in the relationship. With snarky comments like “Hope you win for best actor / ‘Cause I
While occasionally showing off her signature upper vocal range, Grande likewise hits some smooth low notes, adding a surprising touch. “twilight zone” strikes listeners as effortless, showcasing Grande’s vocal prowess
had you completely wrong,” Grande does not hold back on criticizing her ex-partner, presumably.
Her rawness in this song encompasses what the original album tried, but ultimately failed, to do: Be vulnerable.
But “twilight zone” is not just lyrically good. A solid backing rhythm keeps the song moving, and Grande enunciates her lyrics better than she
without taking away from the emotional depth of the track.
“warm,” track 16 on the album, is, at its core, a pop song with good lyrics and strong vocals. “‘Cause I’m cool / On my own / But it’s warmer / In your arms,” Grande sings. With audible line breaks, the song is broken up in a digestible way.
Grande has fun here, playing with rhymes in lines like “‘Cause it’s nice
to unravel, tears, how they travel.” The singer even potentially references her viral “holding space” meme from the “Wicked” press tour by questioning, “Can you hold the space I require?” The funny, appreciated nod to Grande’s current life helped convey the fun-loving energy the song emits.
Like the other tracks on the deluxe album, “dandelion” has a strong intro, but differentiates itself by incorporating a trumpet, which plays until the bass kicks in.
“dandelion” plays into the track’s flower metaphor with lines like “I’m thinking you should plant this seed,” adding a layer of sexual innuendo that, while not present throughout the other deluxe tracks, adds depth to the album. In “dandelion,” Grande taps back into her high vocal register. While the song is repetitive both lyrically and sonically, the beat and backing track are gripping enough to keep the listener engaged.
Contrary to the floral metaphors in “dandelion,” track 18, “past life,” employs a more cosmic theme, evoking the science fiction imagery present in the album’s cover. “Woke up with a ghost by my side / Kissed by the passing of time, time,” Grande begins, setting the tone for an intense and beautiful song reinforced by a scratchy, edgy backtrack.
The lyrics shine in this song, revealing that contrary to her lover’s perception, Grande will be fine on her own. In this track, Grande decides that a relationship only works when she keeps her standards high, and she realizes that she deserves better: “I used to think you were the medicine, but you were just code blue.”
The album closes with “Hampstead,” which details Grande’s relationship with her partner as well as with the media and general public. “Threw away my reputation, but saved us more heartache,” Grande
sings, referencing the recent scandals surrounding her such as her controversial romantic relationship with “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater.
In “Hampstead,” Grande finds a middle ground between defending herself and recognizing her misdeeds.
The song mostly steers away from attacking those who judge her, but Grande spices things up with the line “I think to be so dumb must be nice.”
Ultimately, “Hampstead” consists of Grande defending her love as she sings, “I would rather feel everything than nothing every time.”
The narrative arc of her discography surfaces in this track as she nods to her 2020 hit “pov” by admitting “I’d rather be seen and alive than dying by your point of view.”
However, contrary to “pov” where she sings, “I’d love to see me from your point of view,” Grande no longer needs or wants others’ perspective on herself.
On this track, Grande’s voice is softer, yet still powerful, perhaps reflecting her resignation and reluctance to engage with unrelenting critics. Instead of combative lyrics or belting, Grande merely muses.
Here, she doesn’t hide from scandal, rather, she embraces it, pointing out the flaws in the narrative people paint of her without being too defensive.
Overall, in “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” Grande embraces her life outside of music, creating a personal and beautiful album that showcases her multifaceted talent.
Employing a plethora of outside influences — from cinema to science fiction to her lived experiences — this record charts an evocative journey through secrecy, scandal and self-acceptance
– Contact Amelia Bush at amelia.bush@emory.edu
photo m anipulation By a melia Bush
photo m anipulation By a melia Bush
Lights, camera, fashion: BLACKSTAR* puts on show
B y e mily G u
C ontri B uting W riter
Overnight, the Emory University Barnes and Noble Bookstore underwent a stunning transformation.
A striking runway replaced the quiet, familiar space typically lined with academic apparel racks. High-energy beats pulsed through the store, completely shedding its book-centered atmosphere. As the evening arrived, well-dressed guests poured in, ready for a bold night of fashion.
Barnes and Noble and BLACKSTAR*, Emory’s first and only Black student publication, hosted a dazzling fashion show on March 28, showcasing Emory’s latest merchandise alongside BLACKSTAR*’s “To the Max” streetwear collection. Barnes and Noble General Manager Kate Stacks and Associate Director for Special Projects Cedric Blatch collaborated with the magazine to create this project.
The first half of the show starred Emory merchandise, while the second featured BLACKSTAR*’s fashion line.
BLACKSTAR* Editor-in-Chief Zo Lorenzo (25C) explained that the organization aims to celebrate the Black community’s creativity by providing a platform for fashion enthusiasts.
“Originally BLACKSTAR* served as just a magazine for Black Emory highlighting the excellence, creativity and beauty within our Black population,” Lorenzo said. “Since I joined BLACKSTAR* as an Editor-in-Chief, I wanted to expand BLACKSTAR*’s reach by serving as a creative vessel for other orgs, and not just orgs, but just other departments at Emory.”
The bookstore reached out to BLACKSTAR* in July 2024 to collaborate on a fashion show, according to Blatch. He described his desire for the show to bring a fresh perspective to students.
“I had this idea in July of, ‘What if we did a fashion show to show off some of the merch?’” Blatch said. “I wanted to do something creative, something that maybe hadn’t been done before here at the university.”
The night started with a mixer, allowing the audience to mingle with fellow fashion enthusiasts. The audience members’ dress did not disappoint, as some styled sports jerseys, pleated skirts and stiletto boots — exuding individuality and reflecting the shared interest in style that brought them to the event.
Among the guests, Ruth Wei (26PH) expressed her awe for the audience. “I also noticed, not just people on the runway, but everyone else was dressed so nice, so fashionable,” Wei said.
As the show approached its start time, the audience entered the third floor of the bookstore. Upon arrival, a photo backdrop welcomed guests and visitors eagerly posed for snapshots. Further into the venue, a long runway stretched across the room, lined by rows of chairs for the audience.
The show opened with an energizing speech from Blatch, hyping up the crowd before the models took the stage. When the show began, the lights dimmed and music filled the room as the audience sat in anticipation.
The first half of the show featured the bookstore’s latest merchandise. The models strutted onto the stage, displaying their individuality with playful poses as the audience roared. One look featured a white Emory crop top paired with lowrise, ripped baggy jeans and a stylish pair of Timberland boots, all tied together with chunky accessories — adding a streetwear flair to campus merchandise.
The second half featured BLACKSTAR*’s streetwear collection, showcasing various influences from Black culture on fashion. These influences span across multiple eras, starting with the ’70s. In particular, the collection drew upon the fashion of popular Black artists throughout history.
“We did theme photo shoots on how these different Black eras influence fashion,” Lorenzo said. “We looked at Grace Jones, we looked at Prince.”
According to Lorenzo, another key element of BLACKSTAR*’s collection
is maximalist themes, which embrace extravagance through layers, patterns and textures in clothing. The magazine wanted to blend historical influence and contemporary streetwear to understand and highlight the intricacies of Black fashion.
“We wanted to explore how certain Black aesthetics are seen as excessive but capture the beauty within the excess of Black culture — so crazy hairstyles, grills, heavy jewelry, really oversized clothing,” Lorenzo said.
The first model entered the stage in a camel-beige trench coat, sashaying down the catwalk as she mouthed along to a pre-recorded introduction to the show.
As she approached the end of the stage, she paused, then reached the lapels of her coat and swung it off. The trench fell away, revealing an oversized dress shirt layered with multi-colored plaid designs, juxtaposing workplace chic with maximalist elements.
The over-the-top introduction and the dramatic reveal set the tone for the show, cementing BLACKSTAR*’s unique character. The show culminated with a final walk from all the models and the crowd cheered as they exited the stage. Audience member Sylvia Chang (26PH) reflected on the event’s impact.
“It really gives students the opportunity to show their creativity, to have a platform to share it with people in the community,” Chang said.
This novel intersection between campus apparel and student-designed streetwear celebrated Emory students and staff’s commitment to innovation.
Not only did the event showcase the talent and creativity of the community, but it also testified to how the passions of the past and present can coincide.
“The sky’s the limit when it comes to creativity,” Blatch said. “You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it. And I want students to recognize — don’t let anyone tell you no. If you have an idea, find a way to execute it.”
– Contact Emily Gu at emily.gu@emory.edu
CROSSWORD
Little Women
The
Callahan Award winner puts frisbee team on the map
Continued from Back Page
area. Atlanta used to be pretty exceptional in the youth ultimate scene, but over the past three-ish years, it’s slowly fallen off. So a lot of our best players have come from high schools across the country.”
“It
- Jason Evans
credited former Juice member Justin Burnett (23C) as one of the influential figures in putting the team on the map. In 2023, Burnett became the first Juice member to receive the
By Justin Guo Staff Writer
Heading into a weekend series against New York University (NYU), Emory University’s baseball team had compiled a 14-6 record good enough for a 25th-place national ranking. Sophomore infielder Aidan Conley said the Eagles felt battle-tested and ready for a long stretch of University Athletic Association (UAA) opponents.
Conley said that the team’s resilience has been critical to their success this season, including in a series against Piedmont University (Ga.) from March 14-16, in which the team dropped the first two games before pulling off an 18-11 win in the series finale.
“We’re a really tough team, we respond well to adversity,” Conley said. “Win the Piedmont series — we lost those first two games, but we just bounced back. We just keep bouncing back.”
The team’s grit was on full display against NYU as the Eagles swept the Friday doubleheader by thin margins and rallied in the second half of the Saturday doubleheader, winning 19-9 after a tough loss to begin the day.
The Eagles found themselves down 4-1 in the middle of the fourth inning in the series’ first game but teed off for 11 runs in the next five innings for the comeback win. Senior infielder Brok Liu led the Eagles with three RBIs, while senior outfielder Matthew Sicoli and senior infielder Jack Halloran chipped in with two RBIs apiece. Halloran also added to his home run tally, bringing him up to seven on the season. Conley was active on the basepaths, scoring three runs. Junior pitcher Josh Zuckerman allowed five earned runs and struck out five in 5.2 innings of work.
While the Eagles tied the game 4-4 after the fifth, NYU regained the advantage going into the bottom of the sixth. There, the back-and-forth continued, with Emory rallying toward a 7-5 lead. After yet another tie at 7-7 during the top of the seventh, the Eagles took the lead for good and went on to win 12-9. The high-powered and complementary nature of Emory’s offense was on full display.
“Our whole lineup is just absolutely stacked,” Conley said. “I love it. … It’s just nonstop monsters at the plate and I absolutely love it. We have the best offense in the country.”
Prior to the second day of doubleheaders, Emory honored legendary coach Mike Twardoski, who threw out the first pitch. Twardoski managed the Eagles for 25 years before retiring last spring.
“He still talks to guys to this day,” said junior two-way player Adam
Callahan Award, which USA Ultimate awards to Division I Ultimate’s most valuable player.
“It was the craziest thing, honestly,” Evans said. “It was so sweet because I had played with him for two years, and it was just great to see that success go to somebody who deserves it so much.”
Kim said the inclusivity of the team is what helps them maintain a strong team year after year, and expressed confidence in the future of the team.
“It’s all-around good vibes and a really fun time,” Kim said. “I don’t have any questions or doubts or concerns about how the future is going to look. It’s in extremely capable hands, and it’s just going to keep running smoothly.”
— Contact Charles Segal at charles.segal@emory.edu
Justin Whitening/staff Photogra Pher Senior pitcher Bennett Speicher sets up to the mound for a pitch at Emory University on Feb. 15 against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Geller. “He still shows up to the field and is giving guys advice on swings and pitching. He’s one of those guys you just like to be around even if you’re not on the baseball field. He’s been a great mentor to the team.”
Game three did not bring the Eagles the same fortunes that games one and two did, with NYU jumping out to an 8-0 advantage midway through five innings. The Eagles scored three in the bottom of the inning with Conley hitting a home run, but it ended up being the only runs they produced all game. Geller got the nod for game three, striking out four and allowing five earned runs through 5.0 innings of work, but the Violets emerged with a 12-3 victory nonetheless.
After a brief intermission, NYU wasted no time establishing its offense in the second Saturday game, tallying five runs in the top of the first inning.
Fortunately, the Eagles’ offense quickly bounced back to its old ways, teeing off on NYU pitchers for a monstrous 11-run first inning.
“That was a great inning and we responded well to down five nothing,” Conley said. “It showed who we are as a team.”
Though a four-run fourth inning brought NYU within two, the Violets were no match for Emory’s offense as the Eagles scored 19 total runs, ending the game via a 10-run mercy rule. Conley had a giant game at the plate, lifting his second home run of the series to tie Halloran for the team high at seven, racking up six RBIs and scoring four runs himself. Dincman and sophomore outfielder Mitchell Smallwood followed Conley who each
had three RBIs. Sophomore pitcher JT Rattigan drew the start, allowing nine earned runs and striking out two batters across four innings.
The Eagles began game two of the doubleheader by continuing to attack NYU pitching, taking a 5-0 lead after the first inning. However, NYU clawed back with a big third inning to tie the game at 6-6. Senior pitcher Ryan Reynolds was able to go 6.1 innings on the day, striking out a season-high six batters but allowing eight earned runs. After surrendering three runs in the top of the seventh, the Eagles found themselves trailing 9-8, but cashed in on two runs to hold a lead heading into the eighth. Emory’s relief pitching secured a very successful day at Chappell Park, shutting out NYU in the eighth and ninth to secure the 10-9 win.
Emory will begin their busy April — in which they will play a UAA series every weekend of the month. This Friday the Eagles will take on Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) in a four-game series. Geller credits the team’s detailed preparation for their success and believes they will be ready for a heavyweight series.
“We do a lot of preparation for the series, and this one is going to be especially important — it’s probably gonna dictate who wins the UAA,” Geller said. “We had a routine all spring, all fall, we’ve been practicing. So this week we’re going to practice for it really hard and we’ll be ready for them.”
— Contact Justin Guo at justin.guo@emory.edu
of their games. Head coach India
Chiles said the team had some challenges adjusting due to the travel, but it helped them mentally prepare for a postseason run.
“At that point of a season, everyone’s body is pretty beat up and tired, and you have to find a way to bring more to the game mentally than your opponent,” Chiles said. “We got a really strong taste of that in Hawaii, and I’m really proud of our team for that.”
The team extended their winning streak to 13 when they took on Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) this past weekend, winning all three games. With eight freshmen, eight sophomores, four juniors and no seniors, Chiles said the young team is as confident and determined as ever.
“Compared to last year, we didn’t have the confidence and the belief level that we’ve taken into this season,” Chiles said. “So the really cool thing is, we’re performing. The bats are working, our pitching is working and we know that we have more to do.”
Chiles said that despite the team’s lack of seniors, the juniors are stepping up to the plate with their leadership.
“All of the upperclassmen have been mentors to me,” Ballog said. “They just provide a lot of advice about classes and what to do if you’re struggling with classes or on the softball field. They’re all there to do extra reps with you — just super supportive.”
Chiles added that the Eagles also have a chemistry that aids them tremendously in supporting each other and ultimately winning.
“The level of respect is remarkable from this group of girls,” Chiles said. “They play for each other, and whether they’re in the starting nine or on the bench, they have such a strong desire and passion for one another’s success that is very unique and very hard to get with a team where everyone really does have everyone’s best interest at heart.”
Looking ahead, Duford said the team has demonstrated the depth and resilience necessary for a deep postseason run. As the UAA Championships is just six weeks away, Chiles is focused on helping the team maintain balanced lives to keep them motivated to finish the season strong.
“It’s really just trying to make sure that I and our coaching staff see them as human beings, not just softball players,” Chiles said. “That’s how we balance it out and keep them hungry and fighting and thankful for the program that they’re in, and in return, they work really hard.”
The team will look to add three more wins to their record as Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) comes to Atlanta to take on the Eagles on April 4.
— Contact Alex Waryn at alex.waryn@emory.edu
Evans
The Emory Wheel
Sports
Men’s, women’s tennis teams in the swing of things as UAAs approach
By sukhroop sinGh Contributing Writer
The Emory University men’s and women’s tennis teams are enjoying solid seasons and looking forward to their schedules’ final stretch.
The men’s team began the season strong but have hit a rough patch, losing their last three matches. The Eagles now sit at 7-4 but, according to sophomore Christian Liew, they are not shaken, even after their recent loss on March 27 against Georgia Gwinnett College.
“We’re really strong,” Liew said. “Although we lost, we all played really well. We’re hopeful that we’re able to carry the momentum.”
On the other hand, the women’s team is flying high, notching a win against No. 17-ranked Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) on March 30 to improve their season record to 11-3. Junior Emily Kantrovitz said she feels confident in the team’s success and is looking to build on that as the season heads into the final stretch.
“We’ve come up with really great wins, and we’re all at a great place for setting us up later in our spring season,” Kantrovitz said. “I’m feeling very good, but obviously there’s a lot of work to be done until we get to the point that we really want to be.”
In late February, the men’s team traveled to Saint Peter, Minn., and the women’s team traveled to Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Indoor Championships. Across the three-day tournament, the Eagles competed against several highly-ranked Division III teams. Kantrovitz said the event helped the women’s team gauge their form against top opponents.
“It’s a good marker to see where everyone is at the beginning of the
season,” Kantrovitz said. “It’s a really good way to match how you prepared in your offseason with the other teams.”
Following a first-day loss against No. 5-ranked Denison University (Ohio), the men’s team quickly rebounded to win their next two matches and earn a fifth-place finish in the tournament. Junior John Lasanajak ended the weekend with two wins, including a straight-set win on day three against No. 9 Swarthmore College (Pa.). The duo of freshman Ruilin Feng and Liew was strong, as they swept their opponents 6-0 for their second win of the weekend.
Liew has known Feng since they were kids and noted their experience playing doubles together before coming to Emory has helped them succeed this year.
“We have this good understanding of each other’s games as well,” Liew said. “But we also do lots of practice and we really analyze our past matches and stuff like that and see what we could do better.”
The women’s team performed strongly in an impressive third-place finish in Tennessee. In Emory’s day one win against No. 3 Wesleyan University (Conn.), the doubles pairs looked solid, as senior Eliza McPherron and sophomore Yanire Marte earned a 6-0 win. Juniors Iris Berman and Izzy Antanavicius won 6-1. Kantrovitz and graduate student Dakota Fordham were winning but did not finish their match, as the other two pairs’ victories were enough to clinch the doubles point.
Kantrovitz said that her doubles partner, Fordham, is new to the team this year so it was important for the duo to build chemistry and understand how each other plays in different situations.
“A huge part of doubles is trust and
Softball shows drive through mid-season mark
By Alex WAryn Contributing Writer
With spring in full bloom and the days growing longer, the Emory University softball team is hitting its stride at the perfect time. As the Eagles pass the midway point of their season, they have established themselves as a formidable force within the University Athletic Association (UAA). Marked by dominant pitching, timely hitting and disciplined defense, the team has put together an impressive 20-2 record reflecting their talent and determination. As the squad enters the second half of the season, with 16 games left, the Eagles look to build on their momentum and continue their pursuit of their first championship appearance since 2019.
The team began the season with seven wins in a row, including four at the Emory Classic, a tournament hosted by Emory University. At the tournament, the Eagles faced off against Buena Vista University (Iowa) twice, winning both matchups.
Just two weeks later, Emory hosted No. 17-ranked Pfeiffer University (N.C.) and St. John Fisher University (N.Y.) at the Eagles Elite Invitational. The Eagles won their matchup against
Pfeiffer, but St. John Fisher handed Emory their first loss on March 7. Freshman utility player Rylie Ballog said the team did not dwell on their mistakes after the loss, allowing them to stay focused on their next games.
“We all pick each other up in the locker room after a loss,” Ballog said.
“We’ll focus on the positives and what we need to work on, so it’s not a super heavy, sad talk after the game, which helps us move forward.”
The team bounced back and beat St. John Fisher in the last game of the invitational on March 8. Junior pitcher Mackenzie Duford, who was on the mound for most of the game, credited her teammates for helping to secure the win in the rematch.
“We had lost to them before, so we were kind of down about that,” Duford said. “But then coming back on Sunday and being able to win against them … my defense had my back the whole game and then the offense was able to squeeze out that one run for us was amazing.”
During Emory’s spring break, the team traveled west to Hawaii to play at the Division III Ulili Softball Invitational, where they won all six
communication,” Kantrovitz said. “A big aspect of it is learning each other’s game, learning how each other reacts in different pressure scenarios. And chemistry is a huge thing. You want to know what to say to lift them up and what not to say. ”
The women’s team took a close loss in the semifinals against No. 1 University of Chicago (UChicago), before getting a 4-0 win in the thirdplace match against No. 2 PomonaPitzer Colleges (Calif.). Kantrovitz said that in order to rebound after their loss to UChicago, the team focused on the future rather than dwelling on the loss.
“The minute you start to let your previous results affect your current matches, it’s gonna be detrimental,” Kantrovitz said. “We really have focused on having a short-term memory with the losses, but seeing what we can learn from them and then apply to the next matches.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams are now looking forward to the remainder of the season, which includes the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships. Liew said the team is emphasizing being fit so they can play well when it matters most.
“The mistake we did last year was a lot of people played well at the start of the season, but towards the end they faded out,” Liew said. “We’ve been ramping up on fitness — we know UAAs is gonna be hot, so we wanna be fit for that.”
Kantrovitz said building team spirit and camaraderie ahead of the conference championship will be crucial to their success.
“One of the main things that we focus on going into UAAs is our team spirit and being loud,” said Kantrovitz. “People know that when they have to play Emory that we’re gonna come out
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
and we’re gonna fight for every point every single time.”
Feng echoed that sentiment, saying that he does not have any individual goals and is more focused on team success.
“I don’t have [a] specific goal for myself,” Feng said. “I want my team to win. Obviously, I want [to] win my own match, … but I also want my teammate[s] to win and try to win the UAA.”
The opponents that both teams face in the UAA matches will be familiar, as many of them are opponents they have faced throughout the season.
Marte said that the team would likely go into the conference tournament ranked second after UChicago, a team they are looking to rematch after losing to them earlier in the season.
Going into the final stretch of the season, both teams seem confident that they can perform under pressure in the postseason.
“This season, we’re working up to great things,” Kantrovitz said. “I’m very positive about our outcomes and very optimistic.”
— Contact Sukhroop Singh at sukhroop.singh@emory.edu
Men’s ultimate team is juiced up for postseason
By ChArles seGAl Contributing Writer
Emory University’s club men’s ultimate frisbee team, Juice, is gearing up for numerous postseason tournaments, hoping to earn a spot at nationals for the first time in team history. Juice competes in USA Ultimate’s Division I where they face off against colleges from all across the country.
“People are just there to have a good time.”
- Jason Evans
Juice is climbing USA Ultimate’s standings after a 3-2 record at the Florida Warm Up in Gainesville, Fla., and a 6th-place finish at the Easterns Qualifier in Wilmington, N.C. Standout freshman Reece Davidman said the team came away with an important win against Brown University (R.I.) at the Florida Warm Up, one of the biggest tournaments of the regular season.
“Last year they won the national championship,” Davidman said.
“Going into the game, we were not favored. And then everyone played well, I thought I played pretty well, and we ended up winning 13-11. We all went crazy afterwards, it was a great result for the team.”
Despite being a club sport, Juice requires a lot of commitment and the team’s practices are intense.
“It’s definitely not as intense as a varsity sport, and the commitment isn’t as extreme,” Kim said. “We obviously want our players to be committed to coming to practice and things like that, but we totally understand that people are students first here. If they miss a practice here and there it’s totally okay, as long as they’re just communicating with us.”
Senior co-captain Jason Evans said across the country, ultimate frisbee is known for its vibrant and inclusive community. He said the team’s sense of connection is what “keeps people coming back.”
“People are just there to have a good time and not necessarily to win so much,” Evans said. “That was an adjustment for me [because] a big focus for my other sports was just winning and getting results, but coming to college is a lot of fun to have a game where my focus was just enjoy
my time and having fun with other people.”
With the regular season coming to a close, Juice is hoping to make a big push at their sectional and regional tournaments. Kim said the team is focused on making the most of their postseason opportunities, hoping for a spot at nationals.
“You have to place a certain spot high enough to make it to regionals, and usually, we get one bid to nationals [from] our region,” Kim said. “We might get two bids this year because [the University of] Georgia and Georgia [Institute of Technology] are both doing really well. But if we beat one of them, then we have a shot at going to nationals which would be super cool.”
Kim and Evans both feel like there’s something special about this year’s team compared to past teams, and they believe they have a real chance to make some noise in the postseason. Evans attributes this to the steady influx of talent from across the country.
“We keep getting so much great new talent,” Evans said. “It used to be because of connections to the Atlanta
natalie sandloW/senior staff Photogra Pher Junior Iris Berman gets ready to serve in a match on Feb. 23.
